Competition Jitters

The WellQuest Finish Line is looming, and I'm getting anxious.

I don't consider myself competitive, I tend to yield to others (unless it's a merge lane..."you knew you had to turn right, don't try to race up and cut in front of me!"). But, I feel like we have to win. We had the best entry video; put on a show at the Weigh-In (sporting I "heart" beer/pizza shirts until we revealed our GTO KO tees on-stage); drew the award winning gym/trainer; and have the Working Well's Inspiration Award Winner on our team.

Will we live up to our hubris?

Will we be proof that Boot Camps To Go kicks a$$?

We've been busting our butts, and our individual accomplishments are noticeable. But, have we worked harder than the other teams? I have no idea how the other teams are doing; their blogs are not quite as detailed/frequent as ours. Hopefully their blog enthusiasm reflects their workout/diet regimen.

Although the true goal of the WellQuest Challenge is to get us to develop healthier lifestyles, I want to see the GTO KO's bring home the Gold!

We've only got a couple of weeks left...we can do this...we will win...right?

Hi, My Name is Katy, and I am addicted...

Ok, blog followers. I have a confession to make. I feel that I am becoming addicted. Yes, I know, addiction is bad. Hi, my name is Katy and I have an addiction, all that good stuff. Step 1 is acknowledging that you have a problem. Here it is: 3 of the past 4 weeks I have been running in 10k races. One of which was a particularly grueling Mud Run in Jacksonville. And it’s not enough. Hours after I finish a race, I feel the familiar twinge, and start scratching, scratching, scratching.

I can’t get enough! I am researching races, constantly looking for my next fix. Can I make a 15k run in North Carolina? Surely I can drive 14 hours just to run, right? It’s all normal behavior….right? I am certain that I even kick my legs in my sleep (yes, just like a dog). A 5k? Child’s play. I’ll have to run it twice just to keep the withdrawals at bay (FYI- running withdrawals may include nightsweats, unexplained shaking of the limbs, the intense desire to run circles in one’s apartment, that sort of thing).

Here I am, furtively buying new, expensive running shoes, trying to get more and more out of each experience. I just can’t help it anymore. And I cannot be stopped! Lord knows what I will do next weekend; there is no race, no fix for this running junkie. I may just run off into the sunset.

So, dear blog followers, if you see a brunette running off into the sunset in a pair of bright fuchsia Vibram 5 Finger shoes, please have a moment in silence, knowing I have succumbed to my addiction.

Criminal Behavior

Sooo, I left last night's inspirational "time to tighten up" meeting ready to step up and take the remainder of this Challenge to the next level.

This morning, I slipped and fell face-first into a plate of illegal quiche. It was the most incredible meal I've had since beginning this diet...and it certainly is not included on the food list Laurel provided at the meeting.

Forgive me GTO KO's, for I have committed a crime. While Katy was running the 10K at Springtime, I was savoring every bite of a spinach-artichoke-mushroom-goat cheese-and-other-unholy-ingredients Slice of Heaven.

I met my mother at Craig's Killer Coffee for breakfast. While I knew this could be a potential set-back—and planned to eat my Grape-Nuts with low fat milk before meeting her—I hit the snooze bar too many times and left the house with an empty stomach. (Entered into Evidence as "Excuse #1).

Mom is visiting from out of town (Excuse #2). There was no fruit option (Excuse #3). It was a healthier choice than the Triple-Chocolate-Muffin (Excuse #4). I drank black coffee instead of the myriad of decadent Killer Coffee choices (Excuse #5).

While the jury acknowledges those excuses hold weight...it's literal, as in calories and fat.

The inner Judge denied my plea. I've become too educated about diet and exercise during this Challenge to justify a meal that possibly exceeded my caloric/fat intake for the entire day. However, I did notice a difference in how I handle personal failure, which has always followed a mantra of "you've already screwed up today, might as well fall off the wagon and start again tomorrow." So I partially served my sentence by: taking my dog on a long walk; doing push ups, sit ups, lunges, and dumbbells; eating an apple when finally hungry again (that piece of quiche lasted me 7 hours); taking a 45 minute high-intensity walk.

Did the punishment fit the crime? Only if I scale back on my calories/fat intake and increase my exercise for the next few days to burn off that quiche. Otherwise, my Offense will only manifest itself on my hips and thighs (and scale).

A public apology to my KO's: I'm sorry I screwed up. I will resist temptation for the remainder of our Challenge. I will do my best to ensure that we are the Winning Team!

But, allow me to praise Craig's Killer Coffee for being an awesome Accessory to the Crime. Their quiche/pizza/baked goods are AMAZING, and they have the BEST coffee in town. They're located inside Video 21 on Lafayette St. (across the Parkway from Governor's Square Mall). If you succumb to criminal behavior, you'll at least be supporting a local business.

The body is a wonder!

OK! OK! I know I am supposed to be positive so allow me to correct the title and say: The body is wonderFUL! I CAN allow a little more confusion in my life right now...but why all the damn hanging skin!?!?! I need to develop a greater tolerance for these constant changes, even though it does absolutely nothing for the self esteem! What a raw surprise to look in the mirror these days! Maybe I can think of the mirror as a movable object, flexible to fit the image! But this is not a circus mirror, this is my body folks!!!!

My concerns are legitimate and it has been a struggle to make this body adapt to ME! I look forward to being flexible and fit right into its constant demands for ICY HOT, PAIN RELIEVERS, MOTRIN and CELEBREX!

If this is a test of my inner strength, then I probably need to add stress relievers to the list above! I often wonder if anyone else in the world wakes up to taking 8 pills a day, a few pills during the day and goes to sleep taking a shot! My common sense tells me we would be in big trouble if we took all the pharmacies out of the equation! Not to mention HEALTH INSURANCE! I will let that battle die for NOW!

I am here to remind myself and my team this is not a failure or lost cause and we cannot or will not set ourselves up for more stress! Right now my behavior requires enormous amounts of emotional labor! However on a positive note I am grateful and feel more educated about the science of the body!

I love having Laurel as my instructor! She allows me to take whatever time I feel I need when exercising, therefore I feel I can't disappoint her and lag behind! My doctor had said "don't let the trainers push you too much!" I assured her that Laurel is not that type of trainer and has even suggested I take time off! Hold on! Wait a minute! I think Laurel was using the oldest trick in the book...you know... Reverse Psychology! She seems to understand the roles of my crazy mental functions! Now I want to work harder than before! You are too slick Laurel and you have stabilized the situation! For that...I love you dearly!

At the end of the day I can honestly say...GIRL YOU ROCK! YOUR TEAM ROCKS! YOU GAVE IT 110%! YOUR TEAM GAVE IT 110%!

Facefull of Awesome (Not)

Nothing our trainer hasn't said before...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Djgt3w8QMk&feature=player_embedded

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

No longer a newbie, I know what Boot Camps To Go is all about: an intense, no frills, cardio and strength-training program that will push you past your pre-conceived notions of what your body can do.

I suppose it's natural—when becoming a member a certain "tribe" (gym, workplace, club, church, political party, etc.)—to find oneself more aware of entities that compete with/oppose your chosen tribe. So, I found myself slightly irked when a client mentioned his daughter was taking "boot camp" at a local dance/fitness facility. I Googled it and had to chuckle...a Pole-fitness studio offering "Booty Camp"? Uh, OK, is that where pirates send their offspring for summer break?

Then today, flipping through an Ad/Max, I came upon an ad from a local karate studio offering Boot Camp in their "indoor climate-controlled training facility." Honestly, air-conditioned boot camp? Shouldn't that be an oxymoron?

Now, I'm not discrediting these businesses. If anything, it shows that they've seen the success of Boot Camps To Go and want to latch on. However, these facilities specialize in other forms of training and are offering "Boot Camp" as an aside. It's like ordering steak at a sushi bar.

Not having the experience of other "boot camps," I can't offer an honest comparison. But, what I can tell you without a doubt is that:

1) Boot Camps To Go is the ORIGINAL (since 2005) "Boot Camp" training workout in Tallahassee.
2) They have the results to back them up: check out http://www.bootcampstogo.com/testimonies.html
3) Laurel and Mike pay attention to your individual physical restrictions and will modify workouts to meet your needs.
4) It's the one place where you can push yourself to ugly—grunting, sighing, cursing, and sweating—and not feel embarrassed....because everyone else is, too.
5) BCTG have the Awards to prove it: Best Overall Fitness Program in Tallahassee, 2008, 2009, and 2010; People's Choice for Tallahassee's Best in the "Fitness" 2007.

And I'm not putting this out there because BCTG signed on to the WellQuest Challenge. It's just that when I see these other "boot camp" ads, I feel like I got the Rolex, and they're pushing the flea-market knock-off.

Dear Diary

Sometimes it's hard to look in the mirror and be 100% honest with numero uno! In order for me to survive in this contest and in life I need to accept fate and move on, right? Wrong!

I can't yield to the seductive pull of self-pity, at least for any extended period of time. Acting like a victim only threatens my future! Am I better off to appear resilient and remain productive?

I will stand proud, pick up the pieces and start putting my journey to health back on track! I am better off to stay focused on what could be lost here and the sacrifices that I need to make rather than my own feelings and pain! To survive in this body I need to accept change! I need to prosper in one of the wealthiest things my body has going on....that is my health!

Rather than banging my head against the wall of hard reality and bruising my spirit, I need to invest my energy and make some quick adjustments! My own decisions are going to determine my success and my own stress level! So from now on...no self pity! No excuses!

Diary I thank you for listening and God I'm asking YOU to make me strong in order to make your temple the best it can be! AMEN! My team mates I am asking you for your support in these hard times! In turn I will be more supportive! I love you all!