It's a man's world? Oh please.

So I guess I was pretty active last week. I think it was the joy of the sunshine and 70 degree temps. Yes, it snowed again yesterday but I'm totally trying to block that out of my memory.  I finally broke 100,000 steps for a week and it felt great!

What's even better about it? Kara and Melody are breathing down my neck and bringing their best step game as well. They are neck in neck and closing in on me with a vengeance! I love it! I'm going to have to be super focused the rest of this week if I want to come in first again.  I leave for C-town tomorrow after work and will be home for 5 days.  Yes, 5 days in my danger zone.  Thursday I'll be sitting at Mayo Clinic all day with the family.  Maybe I can walk some laps on the hour? Friday is open so I can go up to the fitness center in town or hit the trails if it's nice.  Saturday and Sunday we have Easter at each of the Grandma's and we are also squeezing in a birthday party for Michael and maybe a dinner with my favorite preggo cousin, BT. It will be a busy few days, surrounded by tasty but terrible food choices and I will be out of my element.  I won't be doing my lunch walks with Melody or my nightly workout routines at the YMCA. I am packing some snacks and my vitamins to take with me. I will try desperately to get in at least 10,000 steps every day and just do the best I can on food choices.  That's all a girl can do.

Speaking of being a girl...I've noticed when it comes to the basketball court at the Y, it's a man's world.  One of the front desk workers commented the other night how I am often the only female in the gym shooting hoops.  She said it like it would bother her and could possibly be the reason that more women aren't in there. It doesn't phase me at all.  I'm surrounded by adolescent boys and sweaty men trying to relive their glory days in a pick up game with their buddies.  More than once they've tried to "run me off the court" but I always stand my ground. There's 6 hoops in here people, you can play on the other 5.  I just need my one. And if you ever want to play me for my hoop, bring it on. I can play horse with the best of them and love some competition.  I appreciate my parents raising me to be blind to societies idea of gender roles not only in sports, but in life. There is not much of anything you can tell me I can't do because I'm a woman.  Except pee standing up. I've tried it, it's not for me.  Men, I will give you that one. I wish the lady at the front desk and more females would come in and play in the gym.  And I love seeing when young girls come in once and awhile with their friends.  I always make sure to encourage their good shots or hustle.  But most days I just put on my headphones and ignore the testosterone that surrounds me. I'm not there to socialize. I'm there to get my sweat on and sink basket after basket and find my happy meditation zone.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Ok, I don’t really have seasonal affective disorder but this snow and nasty winter is making me down right crabby! If I hear the word polar vortex one more time, I might lose my mind.  I long to walk around Gray’s lake, play outside with the boys and sniff the fresh spring air.  Our new house is right by the trails that run through town and I can’t wait to explore them. Why oh why are they still covered in snow and ice?

Last night the snow had me feeling restless.  I did my 2 miles at the Y, did Day 5 of my guns, buns and abs challenge and then did an arm workout during commercials watching The Voice.  I cleaned. I folded some laundry. I ran errands.  I couldn’t sit still. And I couldn’t sleep either.  It stunk watching the clock tick tock all night and only getting about 4 hours of sleep.  No wonder I have a massive headache today. 

I’ve been super excited to buy the new Fitbit Force.  Sunday morning I went online to order my newest fitness toy and found terrible news! Fitbit has recalled one of the most popular fitness gadgets on the market because it was causing rash and skin irritation on 1.7% of the people that wore it. What’s odd is the band is the same material, as far as I can tell, that the Fitbit Flex has and they haven’t recalled that.  So now my dilemma is do I go ahead and order the Flex or wait for them to fix/revamp the Force.  It could take months or longer and I’m not sure I can wait that long but I was really looking forward to the digital display on my wrist.  I think I will have to go with the Flex because I’m impatient and it will sync with my iphone so I can check that whenever I want. Plus it’s waterproof so you can wear it in the shower, doing dishes, etc. 

Speaking of Fitbit, I think it’s safe to say I straight up dominated last week! I have upped my steps again! My highest week ever in steps and miles.  It will take a lot of work to top this week but that’s what I will try to do for next week.  That’s the key.  Keep setting that bar high and when you reach it, set it a little higher again.  Complacency is the killer of healthy living. 

I have to give mad props to Kara for sticking with me in the guns, buns and abs challenge.  It's only day 5 but it's wicked hard and every night we check in with each other when we've completed it.  Great motivation. It's so important to surround yourself with positive people.  I saw this last night on Pinterest and it totally struck a cord with me so I thought I would share.  Have a super week!