Breaking down the big, hairy, scary goals.

My child recently looked at me with that look of panic in the eyes while trying to complete a homework assignment. I could hear the thoughts without the words ever being uttered, "It's too hard. I can't do this. I'm going to fail." 

We all have those thoughts, and in the moment they can feel devastating. So I tell my child what I try to tell myself when I need it, "those that CREATE success have one thing in common: they break down their big hairy scary monster of a goal into smaller more manageable goals."

Whether it's completing a major school assignment, getting a new client at work, or losing weight and getting healthy, the steps to success are fundamentally the same. 

For example, if you want to lose 50 pounds you may think it'll never happen. But consider how much easier it would seem if you narrowed your focus to losing those first 10 pounds. If that seems too far off, break it down further to five, maybe even one pound, or perhaps simply celebrate that first 30-minute workout you made it all the way through even if you had to modify some of the exercises. Breaking down our big hairy scary goals into smaller ones gives us a sense of accomplishment which allows us to keep moving ahead. 

Together, my child and I took a deep breath and decided what the first step should be. It wasn't too long after when that same child looked up at me with those big excited brown eyes and exclaimed, "I'm done!" (Insert choir of angels here.)

When you're a kid, or frankly anyone who has a big hairy scary monster of a goal, it seems so incredibly daunting, if not altogether impossible, at the start. Doubt is a powerful thing. Believe in yourself. That's the key. Believe in yourself and you WILL get there. I believe in you. xo

Never Give Up

Have you heard the story of the runner who forgets to pack her running sneakers and doesn't realize it until it's too late to go back for them? 

I've often wondered how someone could forget something so important. 

Yet, as I was unpacking in the hotel last night, the awful truth struck me: my running sneakers were not among my morning race gear but, in fact, back at home. Noooooooooooo!

So many thoughts raced through my apparently addled brain...

Can I go home and get them? -- Ugh, no, I didn't drive my own car.

Does this mean I can't run the race I've trained for the last few months? -- No way, not an option. 

Should I try to run in my Converse flat bottomed sneakers, which, as cute as they are, aren't even all that comfortable for walking long distances? -- Images of cute sneaks covering not-so-cute bloodied feet quickly came to mind. Gross, no. 

And still more. What time is it? Are stores still open here in Brooklyn? Can I get lucky enough to find my trusty Asics nearby?

In a mild yet growing panic, I headed down to the hotel concierge to tell them my embarrassing tale and find out my limited options. 

My first three shopping attempts were met with steel bar-covered doorways and darkened windows. At the suggestion of my friend we headed to one last option and, with only ten minutes left until closing, we grabbed a pair of sneakers off the rack. Definitely not my usual brand, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Long story short, I guarantee this is a mistake I will NEVER make again. 

I didn't earn myself a PR but finished in a very respectable time nonetheless. 

Never Give Up. 

Even when your knees are throbbing and you have eight miles still to go...even when you feel the blisters forming....

If you can still put one foot in front of the other, keep going until you cross that finish line. You'll be glad you did. 

I know I am. 

Five Fun Facts from the Pawling Tri

This past weekend I participated in my first "sprint" triathlon in Pawling, NY. It was an amazing experience for me, one that, had you asked me when I first signed up for the race, I was not sure I'd be able to complete.

As athletic as I've become in the last couple years, I am NOT a swimmer. Don't get me wrong, I can hold me own in a pool, because at a moments notice I can grab hold of one of the sides, but I never go in a lake without a life jacket buckled, usually in three separate places, safely around me. Call it peace of mind. Call it safety. Call it what it is: I don't want to drown.

Since life jackets are not allowed in a triathlon (silly, rules!) I decided I might need some practice. In retrospect, I probably should have considered it long before. But after doing my first practice swim in a nearby lake only two weeks prior to the race, I quickly realized I needed help. Professional help. And FAST.

So I called in a favor to my wonderful cousin, Crissy Lemieux, who just so happens to be a swim coach, and arranged my very first lesson a few days later. The lesson went pretty well, giving me more confidence with my swim form and strokes. (Thanks, Coach!) Now all I had to do was transfer that knowledge out of the pool and into the murky lake water. Easier said than done.

I did two more practice swims of the same third of a mile distance as the upcoming race, but never quite completed the full distance without at least once stopping or touching bottom. I was disappointed in myself and, needless to say, still extremely nervous.

On the morning of the race I awoke earlier than usual to the sounds of birds singing just outside my window. It took about three seconds before my brain registered the date and my heart began a sprint of its own. From that point on I was a walking, talking bundle of nerves.

The butterflies-turned-angry-birds flapping in my stomach did not dissipate on my way to the race, and were even captured in the photo above just as the first wave of swimmers was entering the water. (I'm the one bent over in silent prayer.) I took a few deep breaths and as the gun signaled our own start time, my legs began to carry me forward as everyone around me began their strokes.

My nerves instantly switched gears, straight to survival mode. I spent the next seventeen minutes trying desperately to avoid being kicked in the face, choking on lake water, and going off course--all while being lapped by other waves of swimmers and trying to avoid the ropes or buoys so I wouldn't inadvertently be disqualified.

I knew as soon as I made it out of the water I'd won what I set out to do. My family and friends cheered my name and, though as I stepped on shore I felt like Bambi first learning to walk, I knew I completed the lofty goal I'd set for myself.

I love seeing the Before and After pics above, because it reminds me how triumphant I felt finishing what was, for me, the hardest leg of the race. I hope it can also be a reminder to anyone else who thinks they can't do something, whatever it is, to just try. You will be amazed at the strength you'll find within yourself, if you give yourself a chance and dig deep. I believe in you...

...and now I even believe in myself too.

Here are Five Fun Facts I learned from my first triathlon experience:

#1:
It's best not to pack up your wetsuit during the transition time. No one will take your belongings and you will waste several valuable minutes. (Oops!)

#2:
Only first timers use a hybrid during the bicycle portion of the race. Many first timers have been known to borrow or even rent road bikes to greatly improve their time. (Oops!)

#3:
Seemingly strong and energetic legs turn to logs you are forced to lift with every step during the last section of the race. (Holy crabgrass!)

#4:
You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to. All you have to do is want it bad enough. If others tell you that you can't do it, or that you shouldn't bother trying because you might get hurt, use their comments as fuel to push yourself closer to your goal. Surround yourself with positive people who are working toward a similar goal. You CAN do it!

#5:
As lovely as it is to receive a medal at the end of a race, keep in mind, the only thing that truly matters is how you feel afterward. Did you accomplish something new for yourself? Did you do your best and give it your all? Well, then you're a winner in my book! 

What will your next challenge be for yourself? Please share in the comments below. I'd love to cheer you on!

Making progress. One day at a time.

Confession time. I ate a lot of cookies over the holidays. I also made and ate A LOT of my very favorite chocolate/peanut butter bars (not the "healthy" granola kind either, in case you were wondering). The kind made with butter and powdered sugar, and other not-so-great things. I couldn't stop myself. They just teased me sitting on my counter, or in my fridge, and even later when I moved them to my freezer. Who was I kidding with that move anyway? 

Am I the only person who thinks it's better to eat all the crap themselves than, God forbid, throw it away and (gasp!) waste perfectly good food? I know I'm not alone here. Please, tell me I'm not.

Ironically, I watched the documentary "Fed Up" last night which discussed the growing obesity rate in America, Diabetes in children, and the general overuse and addiction of sugar. One thing that struck me was a study which showed lab mice being given a choice between cocaine and sugar water, and they chose the sugar water...every time. All of a sudden I realized I am the little white mouse and instead of sugar water it's kettle corn. (Not the microwave kind. This junk food junkie has her standards after all. The pre-made variety as if it came from the county fair. If only. At least then the indulgence would be but once a year.) I had to stop buying it or I'd eat the entire bag...every time. It's not surprising to hear sugar can be considered as harmful as a drug. As it turns out I, too, am fed up. With myself. 

So why am I telling you this? Well, for one, if you say a goal out loud or write it down then you are more likely to stick to it. Also, I need to admit to myself, I have a problem. I am addicted to unhealthy sweets. There, I said it. 

Am I obese? No.  Far from it some would say. But can I say with 100% certainty I am healthy on the inside though I appear so on the outside? I cannot. 

Therefore, starting now, I will not eat the crap just because it's there. 

I have will power and WILL resist the temptations that come my way. Damn. I just remembered I have Bunco in two days and there is always a treat within reach, but no matter...

I will stay strong. 

Will I be perfect? Probably not. And that's okay.

I will make better choices.

I will become a healthier eater. 

Because I am worth it. 

And so are you. xo

My Fitness Journey

When I turned 40 I joined a gym and was committed to getting back in shape after 2 kids and a lot of excuses. I was good for a year, signed up again, and slowly lost my motivation to keep it up. I cursed myself for letting my monthly gym fees go to waste. 

The following year, just as I was debating whether to rejoin the gym scene or not, I discovered P90X. I decided in the time it would take me to travel to and from the gym, I could be halfway through a workout at home so I went for it. 

I won't kid you. It was hard. And at the start of the program I truly struggled to get through a lot of the moves, but by the end I was proudly keeping up with Tony Horton and his gang. I completed the full 90 days of the P90x program and felt AWESOME. 

After recently turning 45 (gasp!) I've re-committed myself into getting into shape once more. I love that the newest Beachbody programs push me in only 30 minutes and I can go about my day knowing I've started it off on the right track. Incorporating delicious, nutrient-packed shakes into my routine has been the easiest and best part of it. Chocolate for breakfast is crazy good!! 

But what can I say, I'm practical. Actually, that's code for cheap. I will gladly spend money on my husband and family, but not myself for some bizarre reason. In order to (self-) justify my new hobby, I became a coach for a discount on the shakes and all my future workout programs. As a coach I didn't need to be a fitness professional, or a sales person (which I'm definitely not) just have a love of the products which I definitely had...and still have.

With the help of a friend and fellow coach, we created our first joint challenge group. This was a group of amazing women who all had their own fitness and health goals. We supported each other every day with online check-ins. Many of us picked a brand new program that incorporated daily 30-minute home workouts with clean eating for 21 days. After the first week on the program I was shocked to see I'd lost 2 inches in my waist! I kept it off and completed the program having lost 2.7 pounds and 4-1/4 inches overall! Everyone in the challenge group was so excited by their results we all decided to go another round! 

This month we'll be starting a new challenge group and look forward to seeing more great feedback and success stories from the challengers. Everybody has their own goal. Whether it's to lose 50 lbs or 5, to tone up and see muscle definition, or simply to like who you see staring back at you in the mirror each day. 

If you have something you'd like to work on, be sure to let me know. I'd be happy to help find a program that can fit your goals and fitness level. I may be 45, but I'm a happier, stronger person than I ever was in my 20s. And you can be too. The hardest part is deciding, and saying, " today's the day I'm going to start making it happen!" xo, A

When did everything become such a problem?

I'm not sure when it happened exactly, but seemingly overnight an overwhelming majority of people (under the age of thirty mostly, but don't hold me to it) have swapped the polite and simple phrase of "you're welcome" for a new turn of phrase: 

"No problem." 

If you've not yet experienced this phenomenon, well, you need to get out more. 

It's everywhere.

Give it a try the next time you're at the deli counter in your local supermarket. 

Order your half pound of what have you and say "thank you" as it's passed to you over the counter. I guarantee nine out of ten times the response you will hear will be, "no problem." 

Hearing this in retail is where it irks me the most. 

No problem? Really? You're doing your job. One for which you are being paid. 

So, I ask you, where exactly is the problem? 

Why add a negative connotation to something where there shouldn't be one? 

Perhaps it's the English major in me. But it's maddening, I tell you, MADDENING!

Recently I was at the doctor's office and the nurse asked me if I was taking any medications. I told her and she said, "no problem." 

Huh? 

Are we so ingrained all of a sudden with using this particular word choice we are now applying it everywhere, even when it makes no sense? 

Or was that her way of thanking me for answering a simple question? 

The worst part is I've actually caught myself using it too! 

After doing a favor for a friend, instead of just saying, "you're welcome," I heard myself uttering those dreaded two words. 

As soon as they brushed past my lips, I cringed. 

I wanted to call them back in, but it was too late. 

And, for me, that was a problem.

Newport and The Cheer Squad

Last month, in Newport, RI, I completed my second half marathon (within the same year I'll add: Toot, Toot!) As I only had the Disney Princess Half for comparison, I was nonetheless amazed by a few of the differences.

Disney, as one might expect, runs a finely tuned event. At each water and fuel station one could easily spot a medical tent equipped with various pain relief items and trained personnel. Such personnel were virtually absent in Newport, with the exception of an occasional ambulance sighting. On more than one occasion in Newport I passed distressed runners, on the ground at the side of the road, often with a stranger and a cell phone calling for assistance. No doubt Disney would have had smiling, if not singing, staff on hand to come to your aid before you could spell out, "M-I-C-K-E-Y." Okay, I may be exaggerating, but you get the idea. Plus one for Disney.

As far as scenery goes, the Newport race lived up to it's claim of being among the "Top 5 Half Marathons on the East Coast." In fact, it greatly surpassed my experience at Disney. Though there are numerous Disney characters to be found along the course for photo opps, I was there to run. Through Disney. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the Princess Half Marathon course took me past the largest Hess gas station I've seen to date. Not exactly the picturesque Disney landmark or refueling station I needed to keep me going.

After rounding the Epcot globe in the final home stretch, we were directed though a back alley with trash receptacles. (That's Disneyspeak for dumpsters.) This is Disney, for crying out loud...the most magical place on Earth! Doesn't trash simply disappear with a wave of Mickey's wand? I've just run 13 miles...shouldn't scents of cotton candy, pancakes, or cinnamon rolls be piped in for all us sunrise runners? Humidity laden, ripe garbage was hardly in my olfactory race plans.

Newport, on the other hand, revealed breathtaking scenery at every mile. It had been many years since I'd visited this beautiful and historic city and I was delighted to be able to run through the streets and gaze upon areas I had either forgotten with time or never traversed. Historic forts, college campuses, multi-million-dollar estates, and ocean views were aplenty. When you need distractions at every step, salty air and rich history outweighs stinky garbage and gas stations EVERY time! Plus one for Newport.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the overall Disney experience as a half marathon first timer. In case you missed it, here's a glimpse of my Disney run: I Ran Like a Princess...Sort of. It's only now that I've doubled my half marathon experience that I can confidently nit pick. :-)

At Disney they have something called the "ChEAR Squad" where your friends and loved ones can fork over upwards of $100 per person to cheer you on in comfort and style. (Mickey Ears sold separately.) I'm not sure how popular this is since my already uber-stylish friends were running with me and my family was in the comfort of our family room back in CT. Yet it's a magical place indeed that can convince spectators to pay money to join a team to watch a race..... 'Nuf said. In Newport we had our own special cheer squad, no registration required, who even brought us pre-race gifts (we are princesses after all!) along with all the encouragement we could ask for, and then some! Plus one for Newport and the CT Princesses!

If I have to be honest I should mention package pick up in Newport was far worse than at Disney. The lines were very long unless you were running the marathon, in which case you were allowed to bypass the line altogether. However, long lines make for some interesting conversations and opportunities to make new friends, including Guinness World Record Holder 1,000-Marathon Larry! Plus one more for Larry!

Though I'd personally love my next half marathon (did I really just say next?) to be at a new location, Newport is certainly one to put on any runner's race list. Wherever you go, be sure to bring your own cheer squad.

Because there's nothing more magical than accomplishing a goal with great friends by your side!