Grasping and Running (Or Trying To Run)

So it's been since FEBRUARY since I posted anything. I have been busy! I did 6 weeks of a fitness boot camp (which I barely made it through). Since those treacherous 6 weeks of pushups, jumping jacks, situps, and a ton of yelling; it has given me a boost and jump started this long process of a much needed makeover. I have been exercising just about every night since boot camp ended.

Since I have been neglecting this blog (and been wasting precious world wide web space with no posts), I am going to try my hand at a different approach. I may get spiritual or humorous or even ridiculous; but it's a true statement that you learn something every day and I learn some during my exercises. It could be an idea or something that happened or even just something I remembered from another experience.

It seems that I have been learning something new every time I have exercised. I am going to try to post about my experiences every time there is one. Course, there are a few that may not need posting to keep my integrity. Hahaha. If I have that anymore. For example, use the bathroom before running, do not wear pants that are too big, watch out for rises in the concrete because that parked truck that my head is about to slam into isn't moving out of the way, etc. (I think you get the idea!).

I have had other humorous experiences, as well. Such as, hearing someone cat call at me and I turn around and its a blue jeep, otherwise known as my husband, honking at me while driving down St Rd 48; giving my husband the dirty "Stremming" look when he is telling me to run and to keep moving; trying to talk on the phone or text while running (that can have a huge affect on what words are typed...sometimes not good!)

Today was too beautiful to skip out on a great run. My husband has been "training" me, or at least trying, on starting to run. The first 2 weeks I was running one minute, walking two minutes. This week I have upped that to running one minute, walking one minute. I notice my legs are aching more and more since I changed my technique; but it's a good hurt. I am the type of exerciser that if something doesn't hurt, then I didn't work hard enough.

The idea that I learned today was I realized the real reason why people wear spandex or tight fitting pants when running or biking. I started to run and suddenly realized that I needed to just run right back to my house and get a different pair of pants. Needless to say, my pants kept falling when I was running...what a picture?!? Sorry everyone for that imagine. That is definitely a true story...lesson learned.

I still have about 50 pounds that I want to lose. It's slow, but worth it!

Till tomorrow's learning experience(s)...

Memories: Please Stay With Me Forever...

Lately, I have been getting together more frequently with two awesome friends from high school: Ashley and Jennifer. Whenever I get with these two, the memories start flying. I don't know that I would want to go back and completely re-live my life, but there are certain days, or events, that are in the back of my mind that I would love to re-live and not change a thing. Then there are certain days, or times, in my life that I would love to go back and do things differently...completely re-do. If I did that, then I might not be where I am today. I have a great life now, but I do sometimes wonder what would be different if I myself had do things differently.

Here are just a few lovely and funny memories (do remember, these are during my junior and high school years): the drive-thru scavenger hunts, toilet papering (we were nice about it, though); getting chased by Lucinda's dad on the windiest road in Morgan County; sneaking in boxed Chinese food to the movie theatre; learning to try and cut hair with Jennifer and Tricia (my poor baby dolls and I think one of them ended up with an uneven trim...LOL); listening, singing, and dancing to Strawberry Wine at Tricia parent's house; goofing off and laughing too loudly on the buses to the basketball and volleyball games; riding in the Kawasaki mule and people falling out of it; Ashley's mom driving the mule and 5 of us crammed in the back; having a shaving cream fight with Jennifer and Tricia; dressing up like hobos and going to the royal motel and then out to eat with Brynn, Ashley, and Maria (we made our parents so proud!); wearing our disco fever shirts and disco ball earrings to school (well, only Brynn and I did that and I was the only one that got in trouble for it); spending the night in Ashley's mini barn and writing our favorite sayings all over the walls...there are many many many more memories that I love (some that I wont incriminate people with either). 

It will be 10 years this May that the Tabernacle Class of 2001 will have been high school graduates. Amazing how the time flies so fast.

Pictures Are More Then Just a Thousand Words...It's Called Reality!

So, I was looking at pictures the other day of myself and realized that something needs to be done. I need to get my rear in gear and lose those 30-50 pounds that I want too. I know that everyone says this after January 1st pops around, but I have done it before and it will be done again.

Tomorrow Today is the day!

I am promising myself to get up earlier on at least two days of the week to get on my elliptical for about 15-20 minutes. This will be the first couple weeks to a month. Then progressively I will up the time and quantity of days. This is added onto the exercising that I do in the evenings already. In the spring and summer, I would like to start running regularly.

I will eat more veggies and just healthier all together. Today, I brought peppers and tomatoes and then items to make a cucumber sandwich. I had a "talk" with my husband the other day saying "If you are at a fast food restaurant and I say get me french fries, I really do not mean that. DO NOT get them for me! This is my other personality coming out". This will be one of the hardest areas for me, cause I love french fries.

I can do it! I just have to make sure that I do this for me and not for anyone else. People are let down by others everyday and most of the time its thought about for a second and that's it. We as human beings are more prone to not let ourselves down. In this case, that selfish attitude is worth it if we are healthier.

I am trying to get my husband to be my personal trainer, but that happened before and it almost called for a lawyer, two houses, two bank accounts, separate names (Well, you get the picture!)...I would blame myself for that cause I am not one that cares for people telling me how to live my life.

Wish me luck or if you see me out in public, give me that drill sergeant evil eye and say "Suck it up, Bethany!"

This Goes Out to the Strong

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in


This was a saying that was written on Elizabeth Edward's kitchen wall. If anyone had to learn imperfections in others, it was her. That is with everything her husband had put her through. I may not agree with everything she believed in, but I will admit that she was one strong woman.
 
Another strong woman was Heidi. It is coming up on 1 year that she left this earth and was made perfect. She was strong; having battled ovarian cancer for approximately 1.5 years. I remember seeing Heidi for the first time since she was diagnosed with cancer in June 2009. I was being picked up by her and Liz at the airport. I did not recognize Heidi; but then a smile came when she saw me. She was still the bubbly and daring girl that I had met in college many a moons ago.
 

I think cancer sometimes happens to the strongest of people to remind us weaklings that life is better then we realize.

2011-Its New Year

Hello all! Its 2011 and a new year. If you did not have the greatest 2010 year, this is your chance to start new. Here is an article that I found on a friend's twitter. Its written to be more attractive to all; not to just someone you are trying to impress (but that would work too!)

http://liveboldandbloom.com/01/relationships/36-ways-to-be-irresistibly-attractive

I think each and every one of these could be for me.

New Year's Resolutions:
1. Lose at least 30 pounds by the end of 2011. I would like to lose more, but this is more realistic at this point. I am doing this for myself and my health and not for anyone else.

2. Make a new meal at least once a month every other week for Kevin and I.

3. Talk Kevin into flying somewhere. I would like to go Hawaii, Guam, Italy, Ireland, Napa Valley, Maine. Those are just to name a few...bucket list!

4. Start using the word "you" a lot more then "I".

5. Ace the big exam I have coming up in the fall. I have already started studying for it.
These are just a few for now. I am sure there are others that I can think of as well. Just maybe I will post those later on.

Hope all my family and friends have a great 2011 and be sure to do something for yourself.

Show your true greatness!  

Christmas @ Granny's Today!

Today is one of my all-time favorite days. Not particularly this actual date, but the event, or occasion, that is happening today.

Its Christmas at Granny and Grandad Burcham's house.

I love my family! Its never a dull moment when all the kids are there (though we will be missing three of the kids today) and everyone is trying to talk all at once. Its a blessing to have such a close family and GREAT! cooks. Some years we will play Bingo (that is if Bailey and I have our way). Its always a blast doing that as well. Course, I am thinking that we need to teach Grandad about the kite tail, the double bingo, postage stamp, etc.

I also am blessed to still be able to say that I have all four of my grandparents still with me today. I wouldn't give that up for anything.

Well, I am going to get ready for the day. Hope everyone enjoys their Sunday. I know I will.

By the way, special shout out to Jessica, Sara, Dustin, and the kids. We will miss you today. Wish you were all here (don't worry! I wont send a postcard). Its definitely not the same without all of you. Cant wait to see you!

Lights On the Christmas Tree

This picture is from Grey's Anatomy (2nd season). I thought this was so fascinating; not sure why. So right after we put up our tree, I tried it. It didn't exactly work for me, though. I couldn't see much! I told Kevin it was because we didn't have enough lights on the tree. If we had it my way, the tree would be nothing but lights and ornaments (my favorite ornaments from my grandparents and parents). I would probably put about 15 strands of light on just the one tree.

So there is one of the crazy things that I have done lately. I am sure there could be about 20 more blogs on the craziness of Bethany, but I don't particularly have the time for all those. Maybe more later or in a little bit if I get tired of cleaning my house.

If I do not blog anytime soon...