I Kan Do This

I want to apologize to ALL my faithful followers, both of you. I’m sorry for the lack of interest in the “Rachael Runs” blog. Let’s put all the hard feelings aside and start over, shall we?

Sixteen months ago, I set off on a journey. The same journey I have attempted more than my fingers, toes, and teeth can count. A journey of uncovering the amazing girl that was hiding in the rolls of my belly fat. This blog was a way of encouragement for me. It was created to hold me accountable for every donut, cheeseburger, and gallon of ice cream I would consume. A way to truly face and write down the crazy battles that happened in my head, some of which included eating that 4th piece of cake or putting my tennis shoes on for a short
waddlewalk around the block. This blog failed me. I failed me…for 10 long months.

Today I searched for some old pictures of me from the time I started “Rachael Runs”. It just so happens that around the same time, a photographer friend needed a model for an assignment she was working on. Seeing I had tons of experience from my younger modeling days, I was a perfect fit:

(See, I have the best modeling poses!)

I scrolled through hundreds of unedited photos, looking for the best representation of my body at that time. I found more than I would like to admit. I could totally work some Photoshop magic, and trust me, I know how to work some Photoshop magic (Check out my instant 50 pound weight loss here), but in my attempts to be real with myself, I won’t.

Then, I came across some photos that I had never seen. You know, the ones where your kid gets a hold of your phone, opens the camera app, and takes like a 100 shots of you sitting at the table doing nothing and then you blindly upload them to your server making sure every single one of them is backed up for safe keeping because after you die, you want your posterity to use them in your funeral slide show? Yes, I came across those ones and I...I...actually; I don’t have the words. Just look:

Talk about boobylicious…or is it bootylicious? Either way, I had both. The sausage fingers are what got me though. I have so many things I could say about all these photos, but in an attempt to not offend myself, I will just
go eat a cupcakemove on.

Fast-forward 10 months… The Rachael Runs blog is bone dry and Rachael still wasn’t running. Another weight loss regime was in the works and for all I knew, it was just another pathetic attempt to lose weight because I could barely tie my shoes. So, I
ate another cupcakejoined a gym and Weight Watchers...again.

Thank goodness for those annoying Facebook friends! You know, the kind that post all their workouts, all their meals, and throw it in their fat friend’s faces that they are healthier than you. I have a lot of friends like that. One friend in particular, who I hadn’t blocked yet for her daily (said in the best Valley Girl voice ever), “I’m done with my awesome 5am workout” status updates, posted a link to join her "awesome 5am workout". Through a series of fortunate events, I joined the all ladies boot camp class she was participating in.

I’ll make a long story short because if you’re actually still reading this, you’re probably just skimming by now. (Queue inspiring music now), This boot camp has pretty much changed everything I’ve ever thought, done, or tried to do for a healthy lifestyle. I have so many words rolling around in my head about what it has done for me, that I can’t get them to stay still long enough to type them out, but here are two: LIFE CHANGING!

I am a Kaia Girl and Kaia FIT has provided the perfect way for me to achieve goals that I never would have ever made. I’ve actually never been a goal setter. I kind of am a go with the flow type of gal, but I have learned that I CAN DO HARD THINGS because I HAVE DONE and am DOING HARD THINGS EVERYDAY! In the last 6 months, I have:

~Lost 25 pounds…slowly but surely

~Overcame a serious aversion to exercise… A friend tells me that she is going to buy me a workout headband that says “If I’m doing this, it must be getting cold in HELL” She thinks it’s perfect for me. Apparently I am not the only one who knew I hated exercising.

~Gave up my daily soda drinking habit and changed it out for good ol’ water.

~Worked out approximately 115 days. (110 days more than my last attempt.)

~Changed my sleeping habits to accommodate a 4:15am wake-up.

~Wore out a yoga mat and a pair of tennis shoes (Who knew one could ware a yoga mat out).

~Got myself up into the Crane yoga pose and totally held it! Yesss! (Said in my best Napoleon Dynamite voice.)
.
~Attempted and accomplished a handstand. (Think it's easy? Thinking it IS easy. Trying it is another story.)

~Changed my inner dialog from “I don’t want to” to “I got this”.

~Participated and finished the Kaia Sun Run 5K, my first race ever.

~Signed up and am currently participating in the I Kan Run program so I can accomplish the one goal I’ve always had which is to run a 5K without stopping. Today’s class was to run a 5K…I finished in the allotted time even though I walked some.

~Managed to become “that” annoying Facebook friend and have recruited 4 friends who are now my Kaia sisters and love it as much as I do.

~Have become mentally and physically stronger. I can actually see some muscle now…seriously, it's there, I swear!

~Became a goal setter. (Who me?)

~Traded a breakfast of a Sausage McMuffin, hash brown, and medium Dr. Pepper for a green smoothie and actually like it.

~Learned to accept praise and encouragement from others.

~Made lifetime friends that I like to call my sisters.

AND…

~Inspired others to achieve their goals.

This journey is different this time. I feel it in the depths of my soul! I have changed the way I think and do things so that I can become the girl I know I truly am. That amazing girl is fighting through her ever shrinking belly fat, breaking down layers with every burpee, every Kaia builder, every squat, and every uncoordinated yoga pose she does. She is worth it…I am worth it... And the best part about it all is that RACHAEL IS NOW RUNNING!