Just A Little Late - Challenge #12: Add More Fruit and Veggies

My apologies for being late this week.  I have a decent excuse in the form of an allergy induced cough that has kept me up all night for the better half of this week.  No worries, though, last night I finally got a full 8 hours of sleep in!  I feel like a whole new woman now.

For Challenge #12 lets try adding a fruit AND a veggie to each of our meals.  I'm thinking this sounds more difficult than it really is, so here's some brainstorming ideas on how to make it happen.  (This is also a great way to get a little creative in the kitchen, plus a great excuse to visit your local farmer's market.)

• Add onions and green peppers to all your meat. 
• Grill some fruit on the BBQ
• Check out your local smoothie shop.  There's some great options there to get an ENTIRE serving of fruits and veggies into your day.  Some smoothies are so filling they can even substitute for a meal.
• Bring out the blender and make your own juice and smoothies.  (I love doing this)
• Mash up some bananas, mix with peanut butter, then freeze.  When you're ready to eat it tastes just like ice cream.
• Make some zucchini bread, or sweet potato fries, or add cucumbers to your sandwiches, etc.
• A new secret of mine; when making spaghetti sauce add some grated sweet potatoes.  It's a nice sweet flavor that is really subtle and good for you!

The point is to be more conscious of what you are putting in your mouth, and body.  Pay attention to the fact that we all need to be getting more of these amazing foods from mother nature into us.  Believe it or not, your body really does crave those much needed vitamins and minerals that come from nature.  Did you know that most nutritionists believe that we are all chronically malnourished?   The reason is because most of us are neglecting to add the most essential and basic foods to our diets.

Take another step in the right direction to better health this week.  Eat your fruits and veggies!

Challenge #11: Swap It Out

Hopefully you've eaten a bunch of apples this week :-)!  I did pretty well.  Probably got about 5 out of 7 apples in for the week, so I'm happy with that.  The funny thing is, though, once I start eating more apples, I start craving more apples.  Anyone else have this happen too?  If so, that's awesome!  It means your taste buds are changing and are seeking out those good for you foods more and more.

Now, we're going to take the apple a day challenge a step further.  For week #11, switch out any one of your normal 'bad' snacks for another fruit or veggie.  Drop the potato chips, the cookies, the HORRIBLE 100 calorie packs (they are SO bad for you!), the salt covered everything, the sugar coated everything else, and pick up one of those amazing fruits and/or veggies out there.

Pick up the strawberries, the blueberries, raspberries, apples!, a banana or try some cucumbers, baby carrots, celery, bell peppers.  They are all so good and so good for you!  Dip the veggies in some hummus, or try this recipe for a healthy homemade ranch dressing!  Find someway that you like to eat those foods and EAT THEM!

Get the fruits and veggies in and it will pay out 10 times better.  Trust me! 

Challenge #10: Eat An Apple A Day

I'm posting this a few days early because tomorrow we leave to go on our first family camping trip - which probably means no internet.

So really quick, this week I want you to make an effort to eat at least 1 apple a day.  This weekend, while you're out running errands and such, buy 7 apples and plan to eat them all.  The method behind this sort of 'madness' is to get more of those awesome foods into your daily plan. Apples are a great place to start.  They are portable, tasty, good for you and easy to combine with other things for added flavor.

Try apples with peanut butter, almond butter (tastes just like peanut butter), hazlenut butter (though look for one where sugar is not the first ingredient listed), apples dipped in honey flavored greek yogurt, hummus, or just a plain old fresh apple. 

When I get back from the camping trip, I want to host a little confessional of mine.  I want to let you know the things from these challenges that have stuck around for me, and the ones that I'm having a hard time working into the routines.  Remember, it's not about perfection, it's about improving.  Even if you are only doing one thing differently, better, today than you were yesterday, then you are improving.  Keep working, keep finding those small changes to a better you and it WILL make a difference.  I promise!

Have a great weekend and invest in some delicious apples!!

Challenge #9: Eat Breakfast!!

It's time to make time for the most important meal of the day!  Get your body, your brain, and your mood off to a great start with a healthy breakfast.  (Yes, it must be healthy! McDonald's drive thru does NOT count!)

Eating breakfast is like making sure your gas tank is on FULL at the very start of the day.  Your body can run better all day long on a full gas tank right from the start.

Cereals low in sugar are a good quick option.  But so is a banana and yogurt, a smoothie (my personal fav!), granola, eggs (hard boiled for portability), oatmeal, fruit, nuts, whole grain toast with all fruit preservatives or peanut butter.  Seriously, there are so many options!  Stop making excuses and make it happen!

Here's an article I found that discusses the benefits of eating breakfast:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/lose-weight-eat-breakfast

I have a personal story to go along with this breakfast eating challenge.  A few weeks ago, the hubster and I decided to try and overhaul our diets.  Not to drag him through the mud, but he'd fully admit his needed a bit more overhauling than mine.  For example, he never ate breakfast.  In fact, he wouldn't eat until about 2:00 in the afternoon.  By then his body was literally in starvation mode, which leads to all kinds of stresses on the body - as in, it's so bad for you (said with love). 

Well, when we started this new diet overhaul I decided that in order to add more fruits and veggies into my diet I would start making smoothies for both of us to have at breakfast, or even as our breakfast (some of these smoothies are very filling!).  In a few weeks time, the hubster lost 5 pounds by ADDING a meal to his day!! I promise you, not much else changed in his diet (hey- it's baby steps for us too, right?!)  So there you go - eat breakfast! 

Challenge #8: Sleep More!

That's right I want you to sleep more!  Seriously, go to bed! 

So many of us are constantly depriving ourselves of a good nights sleep.  Staying up later and later at night to watch the TV, clean the house, play a game, or work is stressing us all out.  A body under stress cannot operate at its best, so it is super important that you take your sleep seriously. There are serious side effects to sleep deprivation such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, overeating, high blood pressure, increased sensitivity to pain, decreased ability to fight infections, etc., etc.  We all need more sleep!

 

I know this is easier for some than others.  New parents will obviously have a tougher time with this, but trust me, I've been there too (twice!) and it does get better.  When it does get better, get to bed earlier!  You're human and you need sleep!  I'm giving you permission to leave the dishes for the next day so you can sleep more tonight.

So to be more specific, I want you to go to bed 10-15 minutes earlier this week.  Just that little bit might have an astounding effect on how you feel the next day. If you can't get to bed earlier than try to sleep 10-15 minutes later.  Lay your clothes out the night before, take a shower the night before, pack your lunch and water bottle the night before (because I know you should be carrying that water bottle around like it's attached to your hand at this point!).  That way, possibly, you could afford the opportunity to sleep in a little extra in the morning.

Here's what a good nights rest can do for you:

Nighty, night!

Challenge #7: 10 Minutes, Just. For. You!

If you're following along with my challenges, then by now you should be working on two main points:

• Drinking more water because of this:

...and more!

• And, putting some extra activity in your day.  Walking and stretching for 10 minutes a day are great ways to start!

If you're having trouble doing these things, don't try to be perfect, just think of the 80/20 rule.  The 80/20 rule really just stresses the fact that we should all be trying to do those good-for-us things at least 80% of the time. 

I love this rule because I'm not perfect (I know, hard to believe), but I don't expect you to be perfect either.  As long as you're aiming at adopting these challenges to 80% of your life, then you're doing GREAT!

Challenge #7 asks you to take some time for yourself.  Please know, though, that I believe all of these challenges mean that you are investing in yourself - SERIOUSLY!  When you start to believe that you deserve to feel as good as some of these challenges can make you feel - then you will never fail!

So in honor of taking more time for yourself, in our seventh week I'm challenging you to turn off the TV, the computer, your phone, get away from your kids, coworkers, pets, parents, whoever or whatever for 10 minutes and just be quiet.  Sitting quietly can be so incredibly rejuvenating.  We have so much noise around us all day long.  So many 'things' and people biding for our time and attention that it is hard to remember who we really are.  It's hard to just get some quiet time in. 

Use the quiet to sit outside, listen to the birds, or the rain, or watch the snow fall.  Grab a cup of tea, or WATER (had to throw that in there) and just be in the moment for 10 minutes.  Again, the world will not fall apart while you are 'stopping to smell the roses'.  That's how you enjoy life, you stop in the midst of it!

Confession: This one is going to be REALLY tough for me, but I'm going to try my best because I know I need it.

Challenge #6: Stretch Yourself

In keeping with that 'Use Your Body' theme I started last week, this week's challenge is to stretch those muscles and ligaments.

Stretching is SO good for you and it is so easy to do.  You don't even have to break a sweat to make those muscles feel better.   

A good, healthy stretch is one where you feel a little challenged, but listen to your body.  It should NOT hurt, just be challenging.  AND remember to BREATHE! Try to hold each stretch for at least 5 deep breaths.  With each breath try and push the stretch a little more.  The oxygen your breathing in can get to your muscles and help them lengthen and expand, which should help you take that stretch a bit farther each time.

This is so easy and so good for you.  Stretching and challenging your body to open and expand with deep breathing is a simplistic synopsis behind what it means to do yoga.  In my opinion, yoga is a sort of active meditation that forces you to concentrate on your breath, your mind, and your body - basically, YOU!  How often do we stop to do that?  I know I wish I could do it more.

So take 10 minutes out of your day and breathe deep into that body of yours. 

Here are some links to some super easy and stress-relieving stretches:

*NOTE: Don't worry if you can't do these perfectly.  You're not meant to it first.  It's about teaching your body a new way to move, so do the best you can and be patient.  It will be challenging at first, but that's what changes us, so keep trying.  I promise, not matter what, you will feel better after you do it.*

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=1262 (A great beginners routine)

http://www.symptomfind.com/healthy-living/stretching-exercises-for-flexibility/  (Great for  beginners and overall felxibility)

http://www.kaizenvision.com/2010/07/10-easy-stretched-to-relieve-your-stress/ (Stress relieving stretches - My favorites!)

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stretching/WL00030 (Office stretching!)

http://www.fitsugar.com/Stretches-Relieve-Lower-Back-Pain-Open-Tight-Hips-409369  (One of my personal favorite stretching routines)

Or use Google to find some of your own stretching ideas! They're easy, relaxing, energizing, and again, GOOD FOR YOU!

Challenge #5: Walk It Out!

I'm working on something fun that will start around mid-March, so all of the challenges for February will focus on getting more active.  That's right - I'll expect you to use that body of yours too!

Don't worry, though, I'm not asking you to commit to a marathon.  All of my challenges for this month  will be something that I promise everyone CAN do!  I promise :-)

So this week's challenge is to make time for a 10 minute walk every day.  Try to put some pep in that step too!  Make those 10 minutes count for something!  Yes, 30 minutes/day is ideal, but even just 10 minutes of brisk walking can have some great benefits on your health.  Still don't believe me?  Well read this:

"Even just 10 minutes of walking altered levels of 20 blood compounds tied to better health, including ones linked to burning fat, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, building energy and protecting cells from free radical damage. Walking also moved the needle on compounds the researchers didn't know exercise affected, such as niacinamide, which boosts sensitivity to insulin (a good thing). They found another hidden bonus, too: After a 10-minute walk, you get to enjoy the beneficial changes for up to 60 minutes."  - From a syndicated column co-authored by Drs. Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen

That means....

Do something GREAT for yourself today!  Soooo step away from your desk; take a quick walk around the parking lot after lunch; take your kids outside for a walk after school; take the dogs in the morning or early evening; hop on the treadmill while dinner cooks; take a walk in the parking lot while waiting for your kids to get out of football practice, baseball, dance, band, etc.  You can do this! 

And remember....

Challenge #4: Water Only At Restaurants

Okay folks, this is it for the first month of challenges!  If you've been playing along, then you should take some pride in the fact that you are now up to at least 3 whole glasses of water a day - at the least! If you're swapping out your calorie-filled 'other' drinks, then you should also be happy to know that you are saving yourself over 1 pound in calories per week!!

For week #4 I'm asking you to do one more daily concentrated effort to drink more water.  There are two ways to go about it. 

1. Only order WATER when you go out to eat from now on!  Seriously, this is so easy...and it's saving you some money, too!  Money and calorie savings = Win! Win!

2. Simply drink ONE more glass of water daily.  Already, you are drinking one glass first thing in the morning, one glass of water after dinner, plus one additional glass at a meal.  Just drink another one in between to make an even four glasses (at the least) per day! 

Once you're in the habit of drinking 4 glasses per day, you'll be drinking more in no time at all.  KEEP IT UP!!!

This will be my last post for a while focusing on increasing the amount of water you drink per day.  That means, it's up to you to keep up the good work from here on out!  So, I'll leave you with a few reminders about why this H2O stuff is sooooo darn good for you:

From the Mayo Clinic:
Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body: 2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate internal
organs
1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion
1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure
1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

Water at bed time will also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a Charlie Horse.

 

 

From Undergroundhealth.com

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Challenge #3: Swap A Drink

Continuing on with the water theme, this week's challenge will be to swap out one of your regular 'other than water' drinks for a glass of H2O. 

So pick the meal that works best for your lifestyle and add water to it.  Oh - and go get a new water bottle to carry around with you throughout the day.  They have great BPA-free, re-usable cups and bottles out there now that are super handy and look great too.

Here are some tips to make that glass of water a little bit more special:

• Add lemon or lime.  (http://lajollamom.com/2011/01/drink-warm-lemon-water-in-the-morning/)
• Add fruit.  Slice up the fruit, add to water and refrigerate overnight.  It tastes amazing!  Great for the summertime too.
• Add a small amount of all-natural cranberry juice.
• Use all-natural 100% juice to make ice cubes.  Add them to your water for a little added sweetness throughout your glass.
• Mint leaves are a simple way to add some flavor too.
• A personal favorite, add sliced cucumbers.  So yummy!
• Freeze citrus slices and use them as ice cubes, too.
• Freeze watermelon to add as ice cubes, or forget the freezing and add watermelon to the bottom of a pitcher of water to drink throughout the day.

Hope that helps give you some ideas to make those glasses go down easier.  Keep up the good work!  You can do this!

Drink Water, Save Calories?? Sort Of...

Before I get to the next challenge, I wanted to congratulate everyone sticking to the 2 glasses of water per day!! Guess what - You have saved yourself nearly 1 pound worth of calories over the past two weeks!!!  Seriously!!

I did some rough math, based on my addiction to Cokes - seriously, it's bad. I know not everyone drinks a 'Coke' the way I do, but we all have some calorie-rich liquid substance that we can equate to my Coke drinking.  And if you're saying 'Nope, I drink diet' or 'Nope, I drink something-other-than-water-that-is-advertised-as-zero-calore' then, yes the calories may not be there, but your body's addiction to sugar is.  Sugar, or sugary like substitutes equals weight gain!  Check out this article http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2011/12/01/8-dangers-of-diet-soda/

So back to my original point.  1 can of Coke has approximately 150 calories.  However, in my quest to drink more water I, theoretically, swapped out 2 Cokes per day over the past week.  That's 300 calories per day saved! Add that up over Challenge #2's week and that's 2100 calories saved!  Challenge #1 had us all drinking at least 1 glass of water per day, saving at least 150 calories per day.  150 calories per day, for one week is an additional 1,050 calories saved!  The total calories saved over the past two weeks has been 3,150!!  Did you know that one pound is equal to 3,500 calories (http://www.howmanycaloriesinapound.com/) ??  With these simple challenges we have saved nearly 1 pound of calories.  For my 'diet' drinkers, you've saved a TON of sugar substitutes too! Meaning, you are also re-training your brain to use sugar and insulin properly (read the bottom paragraph in this article http://dishmag.com/issue120/health/13775/the-secret-dangers-of-diet-soda/)

So CONGRATULATIONS!!  Your simple efforts to drink a glass of water in the morning and 1 more after dinner have already saved you nearly ONE POUND in calories for the past two weeks!!

I'll post more calorie-saving, water-drinking (uber-hyphenated) challenges tonight!!!  Go Team!!

Challenge #2: 1 Glass of Water After Dinner

This one may be an easy one for some of us, but stick with me.  Most of you who joined us for the first challenge of drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning have already taken the water drinking a step further and are drinking water all throughout the day.  That is AWESOME and congratulations on doing something that is so GOOD for you!!

However, I'm making it a commitment to make these challenges do-able and keeping them in baby step form so that EVERYONE can see how easy, simple, and possible it can be to change your health and your lifestyle one little step in the right direction at a time.

Keep that in mind for all of my challenges this month because they all have to do with making a conscious decision to add water to your daily routines.

So this week's challenge is, in addition to your morning glass of H2O, I want you to make another commitment to drinking a glass of water after your evening meal.  That's one 8-12oz glass of water at the end of dinner.  It will help you relax, it will help your body digest your food, it will help your tummy stay full longer (reducing the temptation for any late night snacks) and it will help flush out all those toxins you built up throughout the day.

I confess, I have not been doing this one for too long, so it is a change to my daily routine that I will be adapting too along with you.  Let's keep up the good hydration and keep downing those glasses of goodness!

Go Team!!

Challenge Week #1: Drink More Water

Our first challenge of the '52 Challenges' challenge (say that 5 times fast) is to drink one 8-12oz size glass of water first thing in the morning.

Starting tomorrow morning, drink a glass of water every day before you have breakfast and even before your morning coffee.

Why?  Well we all know how good water is for us and that we should be drinking more of it, however, fitting those glasses of goodness in during the day can be tough.  This is one way to make sure you are getting that oh so beneficial drink.  Once you down that glass you're at least ONE more glass of water up on the day.

PLUS, studies have shown that drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning can do some amazing things for you like: jump start your metabolism for the day, get your intestinal tract moving to fight constipation and dehydration, and flush toxins from your body to help it run smoother and help you feel better!

I have to admit, I've actually been doing this for a few weeks now and it's so EASY.  My trick, I fill the glass up before I go to bed and put it by my bedside so it is there right when I wake up.  All I have to do is chug-a-lug as soon as I'm up.  And I REALLY do notice a difference when I get that glass of water in versus when I forget.  My energy is always much better and I just feel better, which is always a bonus!

And just in case you're interested in taking on a few extra glasses of water during the day, here's a list of a few more benefits from drinking water:

1. Water keeps you healthy by helping your blood (which is over 80% water) create new healthy blood cells.
2. Drinking water helps your lymphatic system get moving, which can help lessen pain in your body.
3. Water helps remove waste from your body.  I'm sure we'd all agree that getting the waste and toxins out is a pretty good idea.
4. Every cell and joint in your body requires water in order to function properly.
5. It is calorie-free!  Plus, drinking a glass or two before meals can help you maintain a healthy weight because drinking water is filling. 
6. Dehydration raises the levels of cortisol, the "stress hormone" in your body.  By drinking more water you can actually help lower your stress levels.
7. Drinking more water can keep you from getting sick.  Your whole body functions better the more hydrated it is, which allows your body to fight off infection more effeciently.
8. Water saves money!!
9. Improves your skin complexion by flushing out toxins and hydrating your skin from the inside. It's the best and cheapest anti-aging treatment around!
10. Drinking more water puts you in a good mood.  When your body is operating at its best then you feel good, too!

So accept the challenge and get your drink on!  One glass of water at a time.

52 Challenges?!

Hi everyone!  I'm baaaack and I've got a new plan.  Something fun that you can join me on.  Think of the number 52...as in 52 weeks in this new year!!

I've never really been one to make resolutions at the beginning of the new year. However, I do believe in the power of something new and the beginning of a new year is something huge and new.  It holds so much potential and it's so unknown, for good and bad!

So, that being said, I know I want to step into 2013 with a positive attitude open to personal growth and change.  That's what I want, but sometimes life throws us curve balls and sad, dark, bad things happen that are scary and challenging to get through.  We all know people who have been there, are there, and we've all been there ourselves.  My point is that we can't prepare for everything, we can't control everything or everyone, but there are aspects of our lives that can be set right, for the better.  That, to me, is what the resolution season is all about.  Setting those things, which we know should be set right, on the right track.  Take control of the things we really can control!

My idea with the "52 Challenges" is to challenge myself on a weekly basis to change something for the better.  Challenges should be a little bit difficult and certainly out of our comfort zone.  Something that is difficult and out of our comfort zone is something powerful - it forces us to change, to consider something new, and to grow!

My 52 Challenges are all something that EVERYONE can do and I invite you to join me in this year long endeavor.  They will all be small little changes/challenges/additions to our day to day life on a weekly basis that I think are great ways to improve your health, your attitude, your relationships and even your perspective!  At least, that is the expectation I have for myself in this endeavor.

Keep in mind, though, I'm no professional.  I'm a stay at home mother of 2, who is working VERY hard to adapt my lifestyle to help me become something POSITIVE, HEALTHY, SPIRITUAL, and FULL OF LONG TERM POSSIBILITY for me and my family!  This is who I am.  I make no guarantees that my successes or suggestions are going to translate exactly to yours, but I do believe that all of these challenges are certainly worth a try!  Who doesn't want to have the opportunity to try and experience something positive and something you could possibly feel good about?! 

This is how it will work: I'll release a challenge at the beginning of each week.  Yes, I realize I'm a little late for the EXACT start of the new year, but hey - there's no better time than now!

You choose to accept, or not accept the challenge along with me.  Throughout the week I'll post pictures and little snip-its about my progress and certainly my struggles too and I'll invite you to do the same.  Most of it I'll keep up with on this blog, but also the Miles for Mitzie Facebook page too.

Now, most of these challenges are meant to built one upon the other.  So start with week 1, then add to it the challenge for week 2, then week 3, and so on.  My expectation is NOT to have all of these challenges stick by the end of the year, but instead to have a few of the ones that work best for the life we are trying to create stick at the end of the year.  Your 'sticking' challenges will not be the same as my 'sticking' challenges (as in the ones adopted long term), but I hope they'll be as effective!

Also, keep in mind that these challenges are just ideas.  I think sometimes the biggest struggle in making a change in our lives is figuring out where to start.  These little changes are meant to be a start line, a jumping off point, a beginning.  Most importantly, be you, but be the best, happiest and healthiest you possible!

Yes, I'm still all about the annihilation of ovarian cancer, but first and foremost we must take care of ourselves.  Some of my challenges will even be built around my Miles for Mitzie events!  (I've got something great planned beginning in March!)

So what do you say?  Is it time to do something new?  Would you like to grow with me?  I promise, you can do this.

Anything Is Possible

This is kind of how Ironman Texas began for me, 20 seconds of insane courage.  It was over a year ago that I signed up for the race.  I had only done 2 triathlons up to that point, but I knew I wanted to be an Ironman.

I wasn't sure if this was the year, the right time, if I had the right training up to that point, or if I even truly understood the time commitment that training for this event would be.  I was a ball of nerves that day, waiting for my turn to fill out the form online. 

I had a million doubts and fears running through my head, but I jumped, i.e. pressed 'Submit' on the online form.  As in, submit to a year of preparation for one race, submit to a sensible amount of pain and sacrifice in the effort, submit to a bit of failure and disappointment along the way, submit to conquering a challenge that seems impossible to so many, submit to the glory of the mind overcoming the body, and submit to the love of a good challenge!

Most of you followed some of my training and racing that led up to May 19, 2012, so I'll just start with race day:

At 4:30am the alarm finally goes off.  "Finally!" I said because I had been laying in bed awake in anticipation of the day since 2:30am.  I jumped out of bed! 

I had a hard time finding a good song to listen to pre-race.  This is a very important part of an epic day because it is very likely I will have THAT song playing in my head all day long.  It must be a good one!  I settled on Sixx A.M. "Life is Beautiful"  Kind of morbid, but with lots of energy.  Ha!  It was perfect!

We arrived at the swim start just before the sun started to rise. 

The bridge over Lake Woodlands.  North Shore park and the start line are in the background. 

First body marking, potty break, breakfast, and some more pictures.



2 out of the 3 amazing friends I did the race with!

By the time my family and friends arrived, it wasn't very long before they were calling the pros into the water.  They were off at 6:45am and then it was our turn.  I hugged, and I mean REALLY HUGGED my family and friends goodbye.  We shed a few tears and headed to the water.

I can't explain the incredible feeling of anticipation that I felt as we walked to the edge of the beach.  It was just a 'Wow!' moment.  My friend Marium grabbed our hands and we all marched off to fulfill a dream today and accept each moment as it came, no matter what.  We all hugged, wished each other good luck, and jumped in. 

It seems like every time I get into the water, the nerves just wash away and it's one of the few moments of my life that I actually find myself living in the moment. It was the same here. My mind just cleared and it was just me, 2700 competitors, and the water. 

Then suddenly, Mike Reilly (the voice of Ironman) called for the kayaks to move out and the gun went off!  Ironman Texas 2012 had begun and I was in the middle of a washing machine of fiercely competitive athletes all headed in one direction. 

I felt lucky, because I didn't get kicked or pulled under at all.  It took me about 500 yards to find a line and a space to swim in, but I got there pretty comfortably.  Before I knew it, we were at the turnaround and heading back towards our right turn into the Waterway canal. 

The Waterway is the most unique feature of Ironman Texas because of the amazing spectator opportunities.  I know of no other open water swims that you can hear people cheering for you nearly the entire time.  Swimming into the Waterway was amazing, but as you approached the swim exit the cheers got louder and louder.  You could almost feel it in the water and it was so exciting!!!

I swam to the nearest set of stairs and exited the swim.  2.4miles done!  It was a great swim, too!  Better than I expected and I felt so energized as I got out of the water that I ran to the changing tent.  I sprayed on a ton of sunscreen, put on my bike gear and ran again out to my bike! 

I had a prime bike spot on the end, two rows back from the exit!  It was great, too, because my family and friends could stand right by my bike, making it super easy to find, and lots of fun to get it ready for the 112 miles I had ahead of me.

The 'fam' even got the chance to set up one of my amazing signs a friend made for me.

Holla!!!

Yep it was all pretty exciting!!  I headed out on the bike with a lot of anticipation for my best ride yet.  After all, this would be the only time I've biked this course with aid stations every 10 miles, traffic controlled for the race, port-o-potties (a huge advantage!), and even food to eat along the way!!  Plus, the added bonus of friends, family, and perfect strangers to cheer me along.

I had a great bike out to the Sam Houston National Forest and averaged about 16mph, which for me is great! The heat wasn't full force yet, and I was still in a great groove leftover from the awesome swim!! 

It's really a beautiful bike ride through some great Texas countryside with rolling hills throughout.  Around mile 36 you hit the forest and its so nice.  The forest is super shaded and stays much cooler than most of the rest of the course, but there is a really fun turn that allows you to ride down hill for nearly a quarter of a mile.  It was so fun and I guess you could say, relaxing, to just kind of coast downhill in this beautiful national forest for a while.

Again, there were spectators everywhere throughout this race and they were all over this bike course too!  I loved the little LSU group I kept seeing out there, moving all over the bike course - they were really obnoxious in the best way possible!  Every time I passed them I'd yell out my best 'Geaux Tigers!'

As we headed into the small town of Richards, TX my body started to ache.  Not just soreness and fatigue setting in, but I was just aching all over.  I had accidentally dropped my bottle of salt tablets in a port-o-potty back at T1, that I was NOT going to reach in for!  That bottle also contained my Aleve for just this sort of pain.  I was suddenly cursing the convenient little pocket on the side of my shorts that I put the bottle in.  The same pocket that held the same bottle that I landed on in my bike crash in the Galveston 70.3 that bruised the crap out of my hip.  Yeah...I'll be finding a new way to carry those tablets from now on.

Some of my family made it out to mile 63 on the other side of Richards, TX.  They had a smallish (not!) sign that made it easy for me to spot them from nearly a mile away!

Pretty sweet, huh!?  Another cool surprise!  I was so glad to see them because it gave me the opportunity to put my order in for some Aleve.  It was like the telephone game, but I had to ask my family in Richards to call my husband, waiting at mile 110, to get some Aleve and salt tablets in a baggy ready for me when I rode by the house (at mile 110) some 3 hours later.  Here's what that looked like:

But they got it and I was on my merry little way again, praying mile 110 would get here faster than I expected!  I remember just as I was leaving the 'fam', my dad yelled out "You're doing great and averaging 16mph!!  Keep it up!"  Yeah, that little bit of motivation blew away with the headwind I turned into as I headed south back into The Woodlands.

I hate wind!  I'm sure all cyclists hate the wind.  It is so demoralizing because it is completely out of your control.  A hill is somewhat within your control.  All you have to do is get to the top, then it stops, and the fun begins.  Wind does not care how hard you just worked to get to the top of the hill, it will still make you work just as hard, or harder to get down the hill too.  I hate the wind!

But this was the Ironman, and before the start of this day I made a promise to enjoy every moment of this day because I would never get it back.  No matter what, I was going to find it within myself to thank God for whatever this day brought me because I just felt so lucky and privileged to be able to be a part of it.  So I thanked God for the headwind.  I thanked him until the headwind was gone, then I thanked him for the heat, then the aching in my legs because that meant I was working hard, then I thanked him for the volunteers, the water, the downhills, the miles that I had already done...before I knew it, I was thanking him for the mile 90 sign!! 

90 miles down, then 100 miles down!  12 miles to go and I was back in The Woodlands and closer to my biggest cheer squad's location.  As I approached the little stretch of road in front of my house I got a little teary-eyed.  The anticipation of seeing my husband, my kids, my best friends, and neighbors and extended family with all of the Miles for Mitzie road signs was so exhilarating.  So was the thought of finally get some Aleve ("I hope Kyle got the message!" I kept thinking)!!

Finally, I turned the corner and there they were!!  Cheering their hearts out for me and all the other athletes, too!  SO AWESOME! 

Just a few of the crew!!

And look at all these amazing signs!!!

I stopped because I was so scared that the Aleve hand off would not go well.  Ha ha!  I did not want to fall in front of all my adoring fans - or at least my amazing support crew!  I tried to acknowledge them all, but it was impossible.  It was a big boost for those last 2 miles to T2, though, that's for sure.

As I headed into T2 I spotted my former Team In Training coaches yelling for me.  Another great surprise!  I got off the bike and offered it to some ladies in the crowd, for free!  I was pretty sure I was done with this biking thing and would never want to get on it ever again.  That feeling has faded, only slightly, since then.

I was so glad to get off the bike that I just walked into the changing tent.  I needed some time to cool down and get my feet back under me.

In the changing tent I had another great surprise.  The volunteer who helped me get my run stuff together was our Honored Teammate from Team In Training last year.  Honored Teammates are survivors of leukemia or lymphoma who we all compete in honor of their fight.  Nicole was a big boost to me there, very uplifting, and just one more reminder of why I do these events - so we can have more inspiring people like her around!

Once I got my run gear situated and I headed out of T2, I got super excited to get my run on! It didn't even occur to me that it was a complete marathon that I was about to do.  I was just beyond thrilled to be off the bike and closer to the finish, with my favorite event standing between me and that little white line!

The marathon is 3 loops around the southeast side of The Woodlands.  A good portion of the run is along the amazing Waterway where the crowds are especially enthusiastic and fun!

My first loop went great, perfectly!  I felt good and was enjoying the run.  The ice at the aid stations was a great relief to keep me cool and I kept up a nice pace. 

The second loop started off great, but I was getting tired.  I never felt the soreness or muscle fatigue I usually feel on a marathon, but my body was approaching complete exhaustion.  I remember at one point closing my eyes for a second and fighting the urge to fall asleep.  I was just so tired.

It took a while for me to find my family and friends again along the run route, but when I did it was at just the right time.  I was feeling so tired and kind of 'down' that when I rounded the corner right at mile 16 it was a huge relief to know they were there.

Walking, trying to smile, 10 miles to go!

One of my best friends and co-conspirator in triathlons and marathons, Christie, totally picked up on my attitude.  Couldn't hide it from her - ha!  She ran up with me and just having her to kind of talk to helped so much.  I literally and figuratively turned the corner at that time.  After Christie's pick-me-up, I felt more determined than ever to run that final lap as much as possible.

As I rounded another corner my Team In Training coach popped up in front of me.  Luke had done this race last year, so I couldn't exactly hide my exhaustion from him either.  He ran with me for a while too and helped get my mind off everything.  He was another huge lift, right when I needed it.

Then I approached the beginning of lap 3, my final lap!  And there was EVERYONE...Christie, Michelle, Luke, Norma, my sister Sarah, my dad, my step mom...WOW! 

 I was suddenly thrilled to be running, and even more thrilled that it was my third and FINAL lap.  I started high-fiving the crowd and waving at the spectators when I had an extra energy to spare.  It was a great place to be!!

It's a unique run because you run just underneath the finish line several times before it's your turn to finish.  It's so fun and motivating to hear all the other finishers before you being called an Ironman, you just wish it was your turn.  Well on that third lap it finally hit me that my turn was coming.  Only one 8-mile loop stood in my way.

I ran as much as I could and finally approached the Waterway again.  My current coach, Karen found me and pumped me up even more.  The crowds get particularly crazy and fun once the sun sets so that was awesome.  My family made it around to both sides of the Waterway which also ROCKED!  With every single step the excitement kept building and building.  I was almost there!

I ran past my teammate Kristine just as she was making the turn to the finish.  I gave her the biggest hug I could...I was so proud of her!!!

Then I hit the last water stop, and as any self-respecting, soon-to-be-photographed-a-lot female athlete would do, I fixed my hair.  Ha ha! Now, I was ready to be an Ironman!

I made it to the split and ran up the finisher's chute to volunteers and spectators yelling "Congratulations!".  I passed my TNT coaches at one end and then my family on one side of the chute.  The crowds and the music was so loud.  The lights were bright and I was feeling my rock star moment coming on...minus the rocking guitar solo.

I made sure and walked the last 100 meters or so.  I wanted to make sure I would remember this moment, so I slowed down to take it all in.  It was great!  The crowd, the high fiving, the music, the lights, and then Mike Reilly's voice "From The Woodlands, TX!" (Crowd got super excited at that!) "Lauri Mazeikas, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!" (He even said my name right!!!) Then he said "Once a homemaker, now an IRONMAN!!" (To which my son said "Is that because you clean our house?") Rock star moment achieved!!!



15:03:44!!

Seriously, an incredible end to an incredible day that I am still thanking God for!  Thank you to everyone who made it possible, all the amazing support and encouragement along the way, and for all the incredible donations to help fight the disease I am trying so hard to change!! 

I highly recommend Ironman Texas to anyone looking for a great race, lots of spectator opportunities, and an awesomely supportive community to compete in.  I'll be there next year too...except as a spectator this time, at Mile 110 cheering you on to T2 and the finish!

Seriously, anything is possible!

More Miles!!!

My fundraising total is now just over $5000!!  That's amazing and such an honor!!  I feel so blessed by all of you who have made this possible for me.  I just can't even say 'Thank You' enough, but I will try...here's some of my newest 'Miles'

Mile #17: Matt and Paula Porrier, "Just Married Mile"
  This mile was claimed by my cousin, Paula and her new husband Matt in honor of their newest status, 'Just Married'.  Thank you for the support and I'm so happy to welcome Matt into our family, too! 

Mile #49: Linda Gremillion Chandler
  Thank you to my other Aunt Linda for claiming Mile #49!  Linda is my dad's older sister and she lives in Wisconsin, so we don't get to see her nearly as much as we would like.  Despite the distance though, she has always been an amazing support system for our family and is one of the first to show up in any time of need, or just to play with her grand nieces and nephews.  She definately has a knack for finding the coolest Green Bay Packers trucks for my son, too - he still plays with the one she gave him several years ago!  Thanks again Linda!  We can't wait to see you again!!

Mile #99: Robin Mazeikas, In Memory of Her Father
  My amazing mother in law donated again!  Thank you, Robin!!  This mile is in memory of her father who passed away in 1999. 

Also, special thanks to Judy Vogel for Mile 61, thanks to Geoff and Heather Burke, Gary and Betty Ann Fillette, and Dad (again!)!

Miles and Miles and Miles...Have Been Taken!!!

Here's some special thanks to my latest mile sponsors and donors:

Mile 16: Jill and Mark Pearsall, "Mile Sweet 16" - THANK YOU!!!

Mile 19: Mitch and Ann Young, In Honor of the Baranowski Family

Mile 91.5-91.75: Laurel Burrin - THANK YOU!!!

Mile 80: Dave and Lynell Harris.  Lynell says this Mile is in honor of all 'her' girls birth year.  Dave and Lynell's daughter, Christie is a wonderful friend of mine (see Mile #1).  Lynell is her amazing mother who has gone out of her way and above and beyone to reach out and be a part of so many of Christie's friends' lives.  She treats all like we're one of her own and we love her for it!!  - THANK YOU!!!

Mile 113: Kristine Anthony's Mile for Sheri.  Kristine is also doing IMTX with me and has already claimed Mile 111, "The Thin Blue Line Mile".  She's also decided to claim Mile 113 for her friend Sheri who is a cancer survivor and an inspiration to all of Kristine's racing. - THANK YOU!!!

Also, special thanks to Julie Miller, Monique Grandinetti, James and Ula Knoepp, Peter Dawson, and Amy Henthorn!!!

Two Weeks and Counting...

I have two weeks until Ironman - AGHHHH!!!  (Breathing heavily into a paper bag)

Two weeks.

Two weeks?

Oh my gosh, TWO WEEKS!!!

Okay, let me stop focusing on that for a second and let me focus a little bit on what the last 16 weeks have been like.  AMAZING, to say the least.  HARD, hardest thing I've ever voluntarily put myself through.  EMOTIONAL, hey I'm a girl...it's almost all emotional.  A SACRIFICE, A JOY, AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME, A GIFT, A MOMENT IN MY LIFE I WILL NEVER FORGET!!!  And that's just the training....

I can only hope May 19 can live up to half of what the training has made me out to be.

More than a certifiable Ironman, I hope, this training has made me so much stronger physically and mentally.  It has made me more passionate than ever to do what it takes to change ovarian cancer. The training has made me disciplined and helped me figure out some things about myself I really needed to face.  Yes I got all that from 16 weeks, 7 days a week (well, most of the time) of swimming, biking, and/or running.  Let me tell you, the training for this event is NO JOKE either!

19 weeks of training has also given me the opportunity to see how lucky I am to have the people that I do in my life.  This journey has shown me so many blessings, especially in the form of my friends, family, their friends and family, and even some complete strangers who I feel privelaged to join me in some special way on this trip.

This trip has also brought some amazing people into my life that I cannot thank God enough for.  I have to say thank you to my coach, Karen, for just getting me through these weeks without the need for a straight jacket and a loony bin (which I thought I might need at some point). 

Thank you God, for one of the most inspiring people I've ever met, Carol - an ovarian cancer survivor, 62 year old triathlete (who looks maybe 50!), and one of the most positive, upbeat, and encouraging people I have ever had the privelage to know.

Thank you God also for the random good lucks, congratulations, and words of encouragement along the way.  The friends I've made, the bike shop who keeps me believing that my bike really is okay, the running store stocked with my favorite shoes and socks, the nutrition store who keeps my 'needs' in stock.  Thank you God for towels...I never thought I'd need so many in my life!

Thank you God, too for my husband because without him this would not be possible.  You gave me the most amazing supportive man in the world and I can't talk enough about how lucky I feel to have him on my side; or in the car bringing me new tires 30 miles in to a bike ride; or at home cooking dinner because I'm too tired to get off the floor; or standing by me as I decide to buy another article of clothing, compression socks, bike tires, water bottle, sports drink, or electronic monitoring device that you don't understand, but you know it will make me happy.  I just love you, Kyle Mazeikas!

So with two weeks left, I'll leave you with a note from my coach:

"Like I’ve said before, you only get one “first” Ironman. It is a life changing experience indeed. Out on the course you may learn things about yourself that you never knew! You may come to grips with something from your past, figure out your future, you will overcome fears, and will discover the true joy of completing 140.6 miles all by yourself, but most important, you will become and IRONMAN!"

Cheers to that!!!

Miles for Mitzie Happenings for May

Here's a quick rundown of some of the fun that's in the works for May:

Saturday, May 5: MD Anderson Sprint For Life


  Miles for Mitzie is doing it again this year!  We have a group created so please join us as we walk this 5K in the middle of the medical center of Houston.  The Sprint For Life benefits the Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Fund at MD Anderson, so your money is going to a great cause.  Plus, an early morning 3 mile walk/run is a great way to justify a margarita later on that day :-)

Go here to sign up with Miles for Mitzie today!!!  http://www.firstgiving.com/sprintforlife



Saturday, May 19: Ironman Texas

 This is the big day for me, of course, but more importantly its a big day for Miles for Mitzie and ovarian cancer awareness.  Kyle and I have already marked out locations for our amazing Mile Marker signs celebrating our donors, and we are working on spectator spots, too.

   Rundown, (So Far...):

1. The race starts at 6:45am from North Shore Park on Lake Woodlands Drive.  If you plan to be at the start of the race to see me off this is the place. 
2. Transition is at Town Green Park off Lake Robbins (behind the Woodlands Pavillion and across from HEB Grocery).  Once I get on the bike it'll be a good 7-8hrs before I return here again.  The GREAT news is that my house is on the bike route...at the very end!!! 
3. Sooooo, Kyle will be hanging out at Summer Morning Ct. for the bike ride, where all spectators are invited to relax, hang out, drink, order food, cook food, and watch the live race feed on the big screen.  Plus, you can get the chance to walk out our front door and cheer your hearts out for the pros and the everyman finishing up a 112 mile bike ride (the louder, the better).  Bring music, megaphones, pom-poms, cowbells...whatever - you name it - I want to hear my little corner of the ride from 5 miles away!!!
1. This little stretch of road is also where we plan to place our Miles for Mitzie Mile Markers for all my donors who bought a mile on the bike course!!
2. There may also be a small group driving up the Richards, TX (about mile 51 on the bike ride) to cheer at a little ranch house there.  We'll have more details on that too as the date gets closer.
4. After the bike it's back to transition I go.  If you watch me ride by on the bike from my house, you probably will not have enough time to get to transition in time to watch me head out on the run....but we are scouting out spots to plant our Miles for Mitzie signs for the marathon...and to watch me run by.  The course is 3 loops and ends near the bars and restaurants at the Waterway.  Kyle's idea is to park at an office he's worked at close by and walk up the course a little to cheer me on some, then head back in towards the Waterway area (and the finish line!) as I run the 3rd loop. 

  Here's a link to the courses:  http://ironmantexas.com/course/

  I think that is it for Ironman right now.  We'll try to get more information out, with phone numbers, directions around traffic snarls (especially near my house), and any extras.

Miles for Mitzie T-Shirts Are Available:
  Because this year's fundraising has been dominated by the Ironman, it is only fitting that the shirts are too!  Yayy!  They are $20/each with a portion of the proceeds going towards my campaign.  They will be gray, but here is a peek at the design:

Even if you weren't able to make a donation directly to my campaign, simply by getting a great looking t-shirt you've done something.  Not only does a portion of the profits from the shirts benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, but you are raising awareness by wearing it around!!  Let me know ASAP if you would like one, please!

Premier Jewelry For The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
  Just a reminder that all home shows and catalog shows for my Premier Jewelry business do benefit the cause as well.  This is a fun, easy way to get some friends together and help a great cause...plus you get some amazing jewelry and hostess benefits out of it too.  Let me know if you'd like to help in this way!

That's it for now!  Please stay tuned!  As May winds down, I'll be focusing more and more on turning this little group into an amazing not-for-profit.  Trust me, I've got a great team and some AWESOME people with amazing ideas flowing my way.  I cannot wait to get moving!!!
    

Mile #5: Ellen Simmons "Kate Johnson's Mile" + Mile #6: Rachel Melville and Mile #9: Christopher Gerardy (Also gave in honor of Kate)

Mile #5: Ellen Simmons; Mile #6, Rachel Melville and Mile #9, Christopher Gerardy: "Kate Johnson's Miles"

Special thanks to Ellen Simmons for Mile #5 in honor of her wonderful friend Kate Johnson.  Kate is, sadly, nearing the end of her battle with ovarian cancer.  This mile is in recognition of a wonderful, courageous lady who Ellen has felt priviledged to know.

I should also recognize Rachel Melville (Mile #6) and Christopher Gerardy (Mile #9) of Fort Wayne, IN.  They are friends of Ellen, and have also had the privilege of calling Kate a dear friend.  They have also made a donation to this cause in honor of Kate Johnson.

Please, from the bottom of my heart, pray for Kate and her family and friends.  Please Lord, let Kate know how much she is loved, how many people she has touched deeply, and how much she will be missed by so, so many people.

Kate, I don't know you, but Mile #5, Mile #6 and Mile #9 are all for you!