Happy Thanksgiving!

This is my 400th post since starting this blog! Holy Shit, I need a life!

While it's really easy to always mention our complaints about life, it's nice to actually "think" how many things we should be thankful for. As I've evolved into the person that I am, I have given some thought to my list of "thanks".
Grab some coffee or your favorite beverage and enjoy. I'm sure a lot of these we have in common!
These are in NO particular order, just how the brain sent them to my fingers!

I am THANKFUL for:

*my husband, Jeff
*my son, Jared
*my cats, Lucy and Scotty
*making it for another year without some major health issue
*my extremely high level of motivation
*my dedication to anything important to me
*the fact that I can walk on my own
*the fact that I can breath on my own
*the kettlebell
*being trained in the ways of the kettlebell
*being bitten by the triathlon bug
*having to learn all the swim strokes in high school gym class
*the cop who pulled me over for speeding while on my bike because it made for a really memorable story!
*my (fat tires and all) bike
*my rewarding career
*those patients at work who've taught me "it's all worth it"
*meeting and learning from the "best of the best" in the world of kettlebells at the HKC workshop
*trainers and what they can do for you
*never stepping into a gym
*the strength to endure anything that comes into my life
*having the best friends anyone could ask for, both nearby and far away
*having a roof over my head
*having food on my table
*heat in the winter and AC in the summer
*great blog friends
*Glavin's sense of humor
*Elk Velvet Antler and how it keeps my body and mind whole
*Diana and Bob Susen for keeping me stocked up on the velvet antler and elk meat
*having the best parents one could ask for for as long as they were given to me
*being a Mom
*tootsie rolls
*diet mountain dew
*I Love Lucy which makes me laugh EVERY time
*disco music
*any music from the '70's
*David Bowie
*clothes on my back and shoes on my feet
*knowing what's right and what's wrong
*my strong, bitch-ass attitude
*competitiveness
*being able to say that snatching a 16kg feels "light"
*having the ability to be able to turn others on to kettlebells
*having the freedom to say what ever the hell I want on my blog
*living in the best country there is
*having the "know-how" to cook great food
*not having to rely on shit, processed foods from the frozen food section of the grocery store
*my GI doctor
*my sports medicine doctor
*the fact that I don't have to take high blood pressure medication anymore
*the fact that I lost over 100lbs
*my profile picture of me and the fat me to keep my mind focused
*the opportunity to have my Dad walk me down the aisle on my wedding day
*completing my triathlons
*my first 1/2 marathon
*my first century ride
*Road ID and the safe feeling it gives me when I'm out alone
*those drivers who "move over" when they pass me while I'm either biking or running
*spandex biking shorts
*Title Nine sports bras
*GU energy gels and Chomps
*chocolate milk
*vitamins
*eggs
*SPAM
*the "awesome" finisher's medal my husband made me for completing my first 1/2 marathon
*Jared allowing to let kettlebells change his life as they did mine
*Runners' World magazine
*"Enter the Kettlebell" book
*completing the "flex arm hang"
*my iphone
*having the knowledge to realize that doctors are "NOT" always right and having the balls to call them on it
*helpful co-workers during a busy ass shift
*being able to get an ABG on the first poke
*working holidays-hooray for time and a half
*NOT having had gastric bypass surgery
*being part of a great community
*Slinger school system
*the ability to read and write
*all the generations of my family who came before me and helped make me who I am today
*all the troops who are deployed right now and away from their families to make my life safe and keep my freedom alive
*knowing how to shoot a gun
*the deer and other critters that come to my yard to eat
*having a yard that allows me to feed the critters
*the ability to fling a 100lb bag of corn in my arms to fill those feeders
*a car to take me places where I want to go
*my dentist for making the absolutely STRONGEST set of dentures one could ask for
*my surgeon who did a fantastic job of getting the gallbladder out without any complications
*my anestiologist for making sure I didn't remember anything about being intubated for the surgery
*my tattoo artist and all my tatts
*the beauty of a sunset and sunrise
*football
*not being a "materialistic" person
*realizing that it's "OK" to put myself first instead of my family at times
*the "people of walmart" website for an awesome laugh every now and then
*fresh, clean, cold water to drink whenever I am thirsty
*finally seeing Southfork Ranch, not once but twice!
*shaking "Bobby Ewing's" hand
*going to Lucille Ball's hometown celebration in NY
*Saturday Night Fever...........the movie and the soundtrack
*road trips
*being "inspired" by others to push myself to new heights
*having gotten to know all types of athletes from kettlebell kings and queens to triathlon ironmans
*my bike trainer so I can still ride Fred during the coldest, snowiest days WI can throw at us
*being able to properly perform a squat and NOT hate doing them
*realizing that there is STILL a TON of shit I can learn
*the day I got to host my favorite saturday night disco show at the local FM radio station with my good friend
*making a new goal of running a full marathon within the next 2 years
*my plans to get my RKC next fall


I'm sure there's more to think of, and I hope you all take the time to sit and think of just how "thankful" we all can be. Sure there are things in all of our lives we want to change or are wondering "why me", but the list I've listed reminds me of just how frickin' lucky I am in this world.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!
Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

Have a great day wherever you are!

Goodbye....

As we all come to an understanding amongst ourselves, we make decisions. We must then live up to them. My standards are high. To just do it.
This morning I did a weigh in. It's been a while, only because I "knew". My lowest weight was 187, with the want to be 150. That 150 just got farther away than I would prefer. It's not out of the question, nothing ever is if you "just do it". I'm pissed at my current weight of hitting the 203 mark. That disgusts me. But, really, will being mad about it do anything? Nope. I've stopped "heavy" triathlon training. I haven't run much due to the foot issue. I haven't been in the water (swimming) since my last triathlon in September. The only thing I haven't stopped is eating like I'm in heavy training. DUH, it's easy. Calories in-calories out=weight loss. Haven't followed that for a while. These new 12 hour shifts haven't helped since I now eat another "meal" on those days just because I'm up more. I will need to figure out this working schedule.
But, in the meatime, I say goodbye to Marinette, I say goodbye to West Bend, I say goodbye to Green Bay. These are all the places I've done triathlons and other races. I now say hello to St. Paul and the RKC
I have all the faith in the world that I will be back to my previous weight with doing mostly kettlebells. It got me there in the first place, it will get me there again. My training for the RKC will be what I do for 2010. This is extremely hard to do. Not just the training, but the giving up of other things. When the warm weather comes back (actually hasn't left quite yet with unusual warm November weather) it will be hard not to "lace up" and go. But then again, swinging a bell outside on a nice warm day is great too. With doing the "doubles" the other day and reaching something new reminded me how versatile and great they are.

ONE BELL + ONE WOMAN = GREATNESS

Doubles anyone??

Yesterday I watched a video of one of my "friends" on Facebook which was awesome. It was a double swing, double snatch, double squat move that would send any non-kettlebell person into the fetal position to cry! Yes, it was THAT sick! I don't mean gross or anything, by sick I mean a very difficult task. SICK just sounds better and it seems to be my favorite word lately. Another thing that was sick yesterday was how great these cookies I made turned out. They are pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Unbelievable the smell that creeped through my house all afternoon! BTW, just a tid-bit of info-they totally make your poop orange!
OK, back to the original story here......
2 kettlebells were used in the video, both 14kg's. Double swing to a double snatch, then into a double squat and back up to do it again. Then moved up to using 2 16kg's. What absolute power and strength that took. I sound like I got all turned on and shiz, I think I did kind of-but in a way to go get my 2 12kg's and have it. After all, we all like to think; "pfffftttt, I can do that"! So, here goes nothing! I pick up the 12kg's, get the swing off, into the double snatch (BTY...FIRST TIME EVA DOING A DOUBLE SNATCH!) and then I try to squat. hahahahahahahahahaha, got down a little, but knew if I went any farther, there was no way I'd be getting up. OK, so I'll leave the "hard" stuff to the pros and just keep that in the back of my mind as a goal. Nothing like having a little competitive attitude!
Here's how today's WOD actually ended up going!

Today's WOD:
warm-up.....joint mobility and stretches
TGU's w/12kg x 3 per side
Windmills w/12kg x 3 per side (first time w/12kg)
then......
Double swings to double snatch w/12kg's x 15 seconds followed by 30 sec rest
done x 5 rounds for total of 15 reps of swings and 15 reps of snatches
Double cleans to squats w/12kg's 3 x 5 rounds for total of 15 cleans and squats
Followed up by......HUGE "PR" HERE FOLKS!!!
Snatches w/16kg of 5R/5L x 15 rounds for total of 150 snatches.
Absolutely sick this workout was.
My love for this crazy ass hunk of iron grows more and more.
For all you weak guys out there deer hunting this weekend, I am available for hire to "drag" your dead deer out of the woods for ya! hahahahahahaahaha!
After the kb's I did a short run to test the foot.
Run x 2 miles (24:17)
Not bad on the foot, at about the 1.5 mark, my foot hurt with every pound. Stopped running to walk for about 30 seconds-back to running, never felt it again. Whatever that was, who knows. My legs felt hard, no lifts in the shoes will take some time getting used to.
The sun is supposed to come out some time today, it's been cloudy and rainy the last two-the sun will feel nice if it comes out. Temps are still hanging in the 50's and it's great. Next week, they are calling for some snow flurries on the day before Thanksgiving. Not sure if I'm still into this snow thing anymore! UGH!
Back to work for the weekend! Hopefully it's a little quieter than the beginning of the week. If not, oh well, just show up, do it and go home.

Have a great day wherever you are!

You go.....I go!

While I seriously should be under my blankets in bed, I'm just too excited to sleep. Ya see, for one thing, I am a HUGE Bee Gees fan and they were on Dancing with the Stars tonight. Of course they sang THE best disco song eva....."You should be dancin". So now I'm too fired up to go to sleep, instead I will speak of my last few days.
I last reported the great, proud moments of working with Jared and the kettlebells. I had to work the last two days, and seriously, they WERE very demanding days to say the least. No details are needed, just to mention that I barely had time to pee pretty much sums things up. Anyone who works in the wonderful, rewarding world of health care (yup, a little sarcasm there!) knows we all have days were eating is out of the question. I pretty much have lived off of diet mt dew for the last 48 hours. I brought "great" food to eat. Homemade soups, great slow simmered pork chops, hard boiled eggs, cheese, salads, etc.........however, only to be carried back home again and try again the next day. Same results again. I did manage to get some of the cheese and the eggs down. I woofed a salad down in like 10 minutes. Just awful for eating, but nothing can be done. You just get it done, toss the pager to the next shift and out of there. Once the door to my car closes in the structure, it's game on! What to do when I get home?????
Monday I decided to get some snatchin' in. It was absolutely SICK how light my 16kg kettlebell felt. ABSOLUTELY SICK! To think, only a short time ago, I was pissin' and moanin' about the 12kg. BUT, my form sucked at that time. Now that it is top notch-this shit is fun. Even after a hard, busy, kick-ass 12 hour shift, I looked forward to letting that bitch fly!
Total WOD for Monday night:
warm-up: joint mobility and 5R/5L w/12k for 3 rounds
then: 5R/5L w/16kg x 7 rounds for total of 70 snatches.
NOT bad for "after" work. I then, within a 1/2 hour felt it. It hit me. The wall that always comes eventually! I went to bed right after Jeff left for work at 8:45 only to be awoken via a very full (lots of dt dew!) bladder at 11:30. I remember thinking; "damn, how long am I going to pee-I should really install a seat belt on this throne so I don't fall off when I fall asleep"! Next thing I remember is alarm going off at 3:14am! UGH! Back to work for another 12!
Again......just plain busy. Enough said. Love my patients, but seeing them for so many rounds in one day? Well, lets just say, the small talk gets old!
I pretty much limped through the day. Then around 4pmish I felt a little twinkle. Knowing I was going to be free from patient care for the next 3 days in just a short 2.5 hours, suddenly sparked my energy level. Knowing today was Jared's workout day AND mine-I thought to myself how I could combine them so as NOT to miss my beloved BEE GEE's on DWTS tonight! Then it came. Of course, how stupid could I be? Why didn't I think of this right away????
The fun "you go, I go" workout!!!! DUH!!!!
Goes like this.
Tonights' WOD:
warm-up.......joint mobility
then...
Jared and I did 30 seconds work/30 seconds rest. When I rested for my 30, he swung. When he rested for his 30, I swung. And so on, and so on. He used his 8kg and I used the 16kg. His highest to date has been 12 sets for 251 swings. Tonight we cranked out 15 sets each!!! He got 293 swings and I did 299. Woot-woot for the Mom and Son team!
I am so proud of Jared, he cranked tonight. No time for rest. It was bam, bam, bam! I can tell he feels good. He was pretty competitive for this tonight. His form never failed either with the increase in speed. He usually took a full minute rest break after set #5, then #10. Not tonight...it was all back and forth. I think he likes the "you go-I go" workouts! He's even made some pretty impressive changes in his eating as well. He's not talking much, but he will eventually. I can tell he's excited. Tomorrow is his weigh-in day. I hope he does well-he's on such a roll. I never look at the scale-he does it all on his own and I trust him. I can tell when he tells me the results. He wouldn't lie about it.
While he was just a smidge disappointed when we counted the totals up, we both thought for sure we hit 300 or more, but then again, that just gives him the "fuel" for next time! Another PR for sure!
And so now, I'm really, truly, exhausted and my bed calls me. I, at least get to sleep in tomorrow! Rise and shine at 6 instead of 3! Yeah! Then, I'm thinking, and just thinking, how I'd really like to run tomorrow to see how the foot feels "without" a lift! Weather calls for rain all day, so it would have to be on the dreadmill, and that just sucks....we'll see. Then again, I may "bonk" and do nothing but watch sappy TV all day!

Have a great day wherever you are!

Bragging rights

As you may be aware of or not, I've started training kettlebells with Jared. He started back in the end of October. We didn't keep track of any numbers or anything at first, just worked on him and his form. Being a part of the wonderful autistic world, he has Asperger's Syndrome and his motor skills are, for lack of a better word, clumsy. His feet were a tough part to conquer. In order to properly swing the kettlebell, your feet must be planted to the ground and the entire movement shoots up your body from the driving force of the heels. Jared's right foot is the worst of the two. He never puts his heel down when walking on that foot. Therefore, his ankle has NO, NONE, NADA, EL-ZIPPO mobility in it. With lots of joint mobility stretches and working with bands, his ankle is better. I don't think it will ever be perfect, but then again, NO one is. I found a great way to get him to focus on his heels by using a piece of 2 x 4 to place his toes on while he swings. Therefore, making him use his heels to drive the hip snap. That only took one time and he got the message fast! Love the autistic-fast learning.
On the 5th we started to keep track of reps. Finally, Jared can see numbers. He has been doing 30 seconds on-30 seconds off of 2-handed swings. His first attempt while counting was 8 sets for 145 swings. He was tickled pink. He got a grin from ear to ear. Now, of course the nut usually doesn't fall from the tree, he's got my competitiveness in his blood. Yes! Proud Momma moment! I get him swinging every other day and his next attempt pumped out 147 reps. On the 9th, he pumped 10 sets for 198 reps. Breaking 200 was in his sights! 2 days later on the 11th he cranked an extra set out. He did 11 sets for 213 reps! He did great. Last night, being Friday the 13th-time to really give her. He cranked big time and did 12 sets for 251 reps. He was averaging 20 swings per 30 second time! I did a little "speed drills" with him to boost his speed and he kept it up on his own. He was sweating bullets.
Another great part of this story is he is down 3.5lbs since starting! He's excited about the workouts, wants to do it everyday! Typical-again taking after his Mother, as he has no patience with the workouts! Workout till you drop. Not sure if I have the "proud Mom" feeling or the "frustrated trainer" feeling!!!
He's enjoying the workouts, and eventually I may throw the 1 arm swing in there and eventually give the get-up a shot. For now, we have lots of things to do with the 2-handed swing. I can increase "work" time, I could have him try the 12kg, I have lots of possibilities. For now we continue on building his numbers! That makes him happy. Seeing the numbers on the swings go up and seeing the numbers on the scale go down are really making his day.

Here's a pic of Jared from last night. He wasn't really happy about me taking a pic, but that's the proud Mom/trainer in me coming out and there was no option!

I apologize for the crappy quality of the pic, but it's hard to take when the "subject" doesn't really want it taken!

BTW............I have a picture of something else to. It's the "actual" cure for obesity. Guaranteed!

KETTLEBELLS!

How can I be so bold???? Because of this pic..........

This pic just NEVER gets old..........to me! I know I keep shoving it down your throats, but I say to that.......TOUGH SHIT SUCKERS! Be inspired! Go take a kettlebell lesson. If you're in CA, call Tracy! If you're in TX, call Kori! If you're in WI, you better be calling me!

Have a great day wherever you are!

Oh-oh, now it's in writing.......

This morning I had my following up appointment with the sports medicine doc to get my MRI and other results. Good news is, NO stress fractures! Yeah! The three bones she thought to be fractured are badly bruised. That can be healed rather quickly. However, the 6 mile run I did last Saturday (it was 70 degrees and that doesn't happen much in WI during November-hell yeah I ran!) reminded me that there was something wrong. So, no running since then. I need to wait until I am 100% pain free and then back to the 1/2 mile at a time crap. UGH!
The other test I had was Xrays to measure each leg from this point to that point and so on and so on to get a number of just how short the left is compared to the right. Well........it's only 1/2 centimeter shorter! Pfffftttt! Basically, everyone has this difference! So, to be using that "lift" orthotic in my running shoes actually worked the wrong way and caused me issues instead of helping things. I was overcompensating. I only used those orthotics when I ran which explains my hip and knee getting all jacked up on that side just during running. I could put 12 hours on my feet at work with no pain. I could hike trails for hours with hiking boots and no pain. Bottom line? No lift for me!!!! The doc wanted to know what my goals were for next year to help me get the right help. I mentioned the RKC for next year, but then after that, it just came out. "I want to run a full marathon within 2 years." Holy crap, she wrote it down in my chart. Shit, now it's a "gotta do". Not that I wouldn't, but now someone else knows my secret! As well as all of you now! I don't plan to run many of these long ones, but just once, just to say to myself....."yup, did that". Truthfully the only mistake you should be afraid to make is not trying. So, I want to do it. I don't know if it will be a "formal" race or how I did my half marathon-alone. I have the RKC first and that has "dips" on any and all training. Running is definitely a necessity in my life, but training for a full marathon is not-at least for now. This time next year I had better have my RKC and then starting to work on the full marathon training. Good to have a plan!
To think just a short 2 years ago (March 13, 2007 to be exact!) I was so out of shape and so unhappy. Now I'm talking about running 26.2 frickin' miles! THAT IS SWEETNESS!!!!!
I have been doing tons of swings and working on the snatches. All the snatches are done with the 16kg-no point in wasting my time with anything smaller. My new work schedule hasn't really interrupted my workouts. I just do them at night instead of mornings. Last weekend, with the temps in the 70's both days, I spent most of my time outside. Saturday was a 4 mile hike at the state park followed by a 25 mile bike ride. Sunday was a 6 mile run, followed by some waiters walks with both my 12kgs. Woof. Then another 4 mile hike over at the state park. To think when I first started those trails, the smallest one (0.9mile) made me cough up a lung and now I do the longest one without a hitch! Success is sweet, especially when it's earned the right way!
Monday was a rest day-it was Jared's turn! He's doing great, going for a PR tonight! I have confidence he'll pull it off! After all, he's got a great trainer to cheer him on!
Yesterday after work, I did some snatch ladders. Again, all done with the 16kg.
Started at 5 on each side and worked down to 1, took a minute rest, then back up from 1 to 5 per side. Another minute rest and repeated the ladder up and then down. Total of 60 snatches. Followed that with a few clean and presses with the 16kg. 3 per side.
Today's workout came a little late in the day since I had the doctors appointment this morning. Came home, slammed a little lunch, set the timer for 10 minutes, picked up the 12kg and cranked out some 2-handed swings till timer beeped. Did that for 2 rounds of 10 minutes each. First round: 346 swings. Second round: 327 swings. Total swings: 673. Followed by another 25 miles on the bike. Yup, it's still indian summer in Wisconsin and I'm taking full advantage while I can!!! It's suppose to be nice for quite a while, so I'm all over it, because within a very short time, it's gonna be completely white outside again!

One last note of huge thanks to all our veterans who've served in the past, who are serving right now and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice! Without all of you, I wouldn't have the freedom to put my thoughts down anywhere! I personally thank my great-great-great grandfather, Clark Hudson who died in the Civil War. I thank my father-in-law Oscar Behrend who fought in WWII. Thank-you all for protecting us!

Have a great day wherever you are!

Impress-vs-Inspire

It's been a few days since last blogging and that usually means something has pissed me off. Well, that holds true again! I'm so predictable. I won't go to the full details, just let me say this. What "I" did to lose weight is what "I" did. I worked hard, actually very hard. If it was easy, we'd have no obesity problem at all in this country. I did not at any point in time ask to be placed on some damn pedestal. I love how I feel, I love what I do to keep the feeling I have. I love to run. I love to bike. I love the kettlebell. And God damn it..........people GET this straight. IT'S KETTLE-"BELL". NOT kettle-"ball". Boy, if that doesn't piss me off to no end.
When asked what "I've" done. I'll tell you. Do not then use that info for comparison to yourself in any way. I have great passion for what's worked for me. I have great passion for working with kettlebells. If you want to learn how to train with them, I will be glad to teach. I will train you with the same passion I use when I train myself. There is NO other tool which provides the perfect "day-to-day" strength. It makes our activities of daily living that much easier to deal with. Who's used an elliptical? Really, when does THAT motion ever get used in daily life?? NEVER. How often do you squat in daily life? How often does the action of a squat come into play? Yeah, all the time. Or at least it should. Then again, that explains why most of the population has back problems-wrong form with lifting and bending.
If you keep saying you can't stand your body, your body will remain what it is. If you keep saying you're broke-guess what? You'll always be broke. Do or do not. It's not up to me to make your life as mine is. The ball is your own court. I'm here to inspire only-not to impress. We all have problems in our lives-to place them onto someone else is the coward way out. Buck up. Get off the "my life sucks to hell" train and fix it.
The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settle for.