#PureFit

At the beginning of the year, most people like to make resolutions which usually go to crap in a few weeks, months if they're lucky. A few years ago, instead of making a resolution that would be impossible to keep, I decided to make it my "Yes Man" year. Unlike the movie, I wasn't going to say yes to every single thing, but it just meant that it was the year of no excuses. How many times have people asked me to go out and instead of going, I just stayed at home and did nothing? Or didn't go somewhere to avoid an awkward situation? Or didn't do something because of this, or that, or him or her? Whatever. So that was 2009. 

In 2010, I decided that it was the year that I would try to do things I had never done before. It didn't matter if they were big or small.. but just new things. I watched a movie in the theater alone. I learned how to juggle (not well). I learned how to cartwheel (also not well). 

if anyone can teach my how to embed this without it being huge... please do.

I think the years after this, I kind of kept with this theme. I wanted to DO and SEE different and new things. I went to the Virgin Islands. I went to Chicago.. New York. I traveled to New Zealand & Australia.

#nofilter

I flew to San Francisco and New York alone (this was a big one, as I am kind of a scare'dy cat when it comes to flying). I ran a 5k... and then I ran my very first marathon. 

2012 LA Marathon, 04:47:06

It's so corny to say but running that marathon changed my life. I say in my previous posts that before my marathon, I was never-- in any sense of the word-- an athlete. After months of training, I didn't want to stop and lose all my hard work. Suddenly, I was running everywhere. I would even bring my running gear with me if I traveled. When 2013 rolled around, I decided that this year would be my fitness year. 

Sometimes I look at older pictures and wish that I had taken better care of myself at that time. What if 3, 5 or 10 years from now, I think the same thing about present-me? I figure, this may be the best I'll ever look, the best shape i'll ever be in, and maybe the strongest I'll ever be. I decided that this year would be the year I would really focus on my fitness. I ran my 2nd LA Marathon, and my 3rd marathon in June in SF (damn those hills!).  I also sprinkled in 2 half marathons and participated in the SoCal Ragnar series. When the heat of the summer sun rolled around, I decided to give my feet a break. I wanted to try something different. 

This past Monday, August 12th, marks Day 1 of a 6-week program with my #PureFit coach.  So far, I've eaten something I haven't eaten in years (oatmeal -- and i like it!), worked out before going to work (which means waking up at 4:45am), and tried protein powder shakes for the first time.  

All of this is new, strange, somewhat scary and is definitely challenging my taste buds.  The feelings and nervousness I feel about this program remind me of the concerns I felt when I was training for my first marathon.  Stay tuned for updates and maybe progress photos!