#BCChallenge

Hi Friends, 

I had such a great weekend with friends at school I can't wait to share it with you tomorrow.

 

But first I have some news!  Bailey and I have decided to team up and do a challenge to keep each other on track and push ourselves to our next set of goals. 

The challenge will look like...

-Setting one large weekly goal to

- IF WHEN we survive the whole week without caving we put $5 into a fitness fund.  

(We can tap into the fund whenever we want to, but the money can't be used for things like gas or groceries it has to be for something fun. )

Our first goal is mileage. 

This is a great option for us because neither of us has been putting in nearly as many miles as we were for marathon training.  I think this will be the perfect boost to get me into the groove of running again. 

I made us a challenge calendar to track progress: 

I can't wait to get started.  Please let us know if you're interested in working with us.  We'd love to make a group :) 

Catherine

Quitting Sugar

Today was a big day for me.  I made it through an entire day without ANY treats. This is huge!

My biggest temptation is carbs.  I don’t discriminate, but if it’s sugary and white I’m usually all for it.

Here’s my classic Catherine chart to monitor my progress and I have a solid reward for making it through Valentine’s Day with zero sugary snacks.

Annie and Bailey are on board to be my support team (no surprise there) and have already put up with my texts and snaps for one day.  Only nine more ladies J

Research says that the first 72 hours of a new challenge are the hardest and with mine falling on the weekend I am sure that it is going to be interesting.  I have already started off on the right foot with having most of my meals and snacks prepped and ready for me to grab and go.

My friends have all officially been warned, so take this to heart ...

 

Stay tuned for a workout recap and a fun team up with Bailey!

C

Surprise Fitbit!

Today my lovely roomie got a package from home and in it was a FITBIT for me!!! Ahhhh (insert happy CB here) 

I was so pumped to try it out we went to the gym and I wracked up 4,000+ steps! I mean the options were to sit on the couch watching the bachelor or get our butts moving. So obviously I did a double workout today. 

I would say that's success for a day where my eating wasn't top notch. (There were also treats in said care package) 

Tomorrow 100% clean. Period. End of discussion. I'm done with excuses. 

C

That moment when...

Today I had one of those moments that no one wants to have.

I really want to share it with you all so that you understand I too am a real person.

Here I go.

“I didn’t know a girl like that  could lift like that.”

Yes, that’s what I heard today while at the gym. To put it nicely, it broke my heart. 

*note although my music may be loud I’m most definitely not deaf*

Even worse is that it was said by a professor from the Exercise Science department.

What the actual f does that mean?

I am too fat?

  Too muscular?  

Not feminine enough?

 Incapable? 

Different than the stereotype created by the fitness industry? 

That I am not good enough to workout at the gym? 

So I did what any dignified lady would do and I finished my set and walked out with my head held high.

NEWSFLASH: I do NOT deserve to be treated like that.

I have come too far to regress to feeling different and that I am not good enough.

I am a boss. 

I am beautiful. 

I am strong.  

I may not be a size 2, but damn straight I am fit and to me that's worth more than anyone's opinion of me.

What would you have done?  Has this happened to you?

Feeling strong,

C

Ed Camp -Literacy Edition

It has been an insane last couple of weeks in case you haven’t noticed due to my lack of blog posts.  Over the last nine months I have been working with the Central Minnesota Reading Council as well as the university education department to organize this event and it finally happened this past Saturday.

EdCamp: (n.) An un-conference that is organized to fit your needs for your teaching career and classroom; an event that focuses on current trends and learning tools that will enhance your confidence and overall teaching skills.

Here are some snapshots of the breakout sessions. 

All I can say is THANK YOU!

This event taught me a lot about myself.  I take on too much.  I try to make everyone happy even though it does not always work in my favor.  I can’t say no to people.  I like to make sure everything is perfect.

Like these darn centerpieces. 

So needless to say I got no sleep on Friday night in anticipation for this event, but I am proud to report everything went off without a hitch.

Also, Aunt Kim came up all the way from LaCrosse to attend.  It meant so much to have a happy smiling face in the crowd at EdCamp.

And of course we had a great Aunt/Niece Date on Friday night in preparation.

I am so glad that it went off without a hitch and that I was a part of it, but let me tell you I am SO glad it’s over. A huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and I feel like I have so much more time to do things I love (this week especially) like: meal prep, workout, go for a run, and of course BLOG. 

Until next time, 

C

Marnita's Table

There is no font that can adequately describe or explain my experience with Marnita’s Table tonight. IT WAS ASTONISHING!

In my Intercultural Communications class I have already been exposed to a wide variety of experiences and opinions in regards to multicultural students and how to best communicate with them. I can’t believe it has only been two weeks.

I’ll be honest when I got the email about this event I was not all that thrilled.  It was three hours long on a Wednesday night, the menu wasn’t published, and I didn’t really get what I was supposed to get out of it.  I don’t enjoy attending meal style events because I am always worried about over eating…but tonight I did great.  I even left a few minutes early to avoid eating dessert.  (Points for CB)

So let me start with the event.  Here I go!  They opened the doors at 6 pm exactly and insert glorious smell here.  I can’t describe how delicious it smelled. Every table was adorned with food from all over the world.  No one was from the same ethnic group and no one knew each other.

 The purpose of this event was to encourage communication between cultures and to break cliques on campus.  All I can say is it worked!  Marnita was loud and totally in charge of the chaos.  We were not allowed to sit with anyone that we knew.  We had to talk to new people, try all of the food, and intermingle and find our commonalities.

After dinner we participated in a discussion on how to break cultural stigmas on campus and then ended with a candle ceremony.  The ceremony was truly breathtaking.  We all got a candle and spread our light with others.

I learned so much and I can’t wait to continue to work with this wonderful organization.  

Like them on Facebook to get more information!

C

Sometimes life happens

We all have slip ups.  F- ups. And sometimes life just happens.

That was this weekend.  I did totally awesome up until Saturday night when I went out with some friends for game night and well I ate a few too many fresh, gooey, warm from the oven chocolate chip cookies.  I am ready to get myself back on track tomorrow. 

Today my mom came up for a last minute EdCamp decoration delivery.  Much, much more to come on EdCamp this weekend. Along with my birthday pie she brought dips from Brine’s for snacks during the game. WTF mom?  Why?  She knows how much I love both of those things… oh well.  Life is all about balance.  

So as we were eating said pie and dip I meal prepped EVERYTHING for the entire week.  

Here’s the breakdown:

Breakfasts

Kodiak Cakes with banana and PB2

Quiche with Canadian bacon, spinach, and mushrooms

Lunches

Meatloaf a side of berries and cottage cheese

Veggie Burger

Dinners

Pot roast with potatoes and carrots

Pork Chop with potato and broccoli

Crab Cakes with a veg and cottage cheese

I know it may not sound very fun and exciting, but I am pumped.  I don’t think I’ve ever been this prepared going into a new week.

What does your week look like?

C