AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH

I am in the process of climbing an extraordinary mountain...not a literal one at the moment, but one that is helping me climb out of this "shell" that I have been in bondage to my whole life! It's a daily climb.

I have been switching my workouts up a little bit since the beginning of the new year and will continue to do so as I start to feel less fatigued or bored with what I am continually doing.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday I spend the first 40 minutes on the elliptical and then the last 20 minutes I have been working on a 5K training program that Tara Costa sent me.  It is a "conditioning" program which will help me eventually be running A LOT more that I presently am.  I have been climbing HUGE mountains (or obstacles) with this already.    I start at a steady 3.5  for 90 seconds walking then run for 60 seconds at a 5.0.  Then Walk again back at 3.5 for another 90 seconds then run at a 5.5. Go back to the 3.5 and go up on the running minute sprints by .5 every time.  I do this for 20 minutes 3 times a week for this week.  I have actually enjoyed it and I feel so fulfilled and tired when 6am comes.  Then I hop in the shower and head off to work.

On M, W, F at nights right now I just put in an hour on circuit training.. Usually 30 minutes elliptical, 15 minutes bike, 15 min treadmill.  I am going to find some evening classes to take to change this up so I don't get bored of my small condo gym... (I will admit it is actually pretty ghetto, but it calls my name if I am home and that is what I need!)

Tuesday is my Biggest Loser, last chance workout..which is funny cause I don't weigh-in that night or the next, but it works so... I will let it!
I stay for 2 straight hours on Tuesday nights (no AM workout) and when I leave, I have to practically mop every machine in the place of my nasty sweat.   I made a choice when I moved into my condo that I was NOT going to get cable.  It was the BEST choice I made FOR MY LIFE!!  Now If I want to watch a show (Biggest Loser or Celebrity Wife Swap as an example) I have to go to the GYM!  It works!  And 95% of the time I am the only one there and don't have to beg for the remote :)  On Tuesday I do a lot of Circuits on the weights mixed in with the elliptical.

Thursdays, at my 5am morning workout I do The Biggest Loser Resort Mountain class. I will tell you this was my LEAST favorite class and the reason why is because I knew how HARD it was and I would PSYCH myself out that I couldn't make it to the top of the "mountain".  What I forgot to focus on, is when you get there, it is SOOO rewarding!  Now I push myself to do it time and time again.  Because Thursday mornings has proven to be one or my most challenging mornings for pushing myself I have chosen this day as the day to CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN and it has worked well.

Here is a video of how "mountain works".  You really should try it, you will be surprised how you push yourself to get to the top.  Great way to FUEL your day, knowing you accomplished a hard thing.

Thursday evenings I have been doing a switch between elliptical, stationary bike and weights. 

Saturday's (as long as the weather lasts here in AZ) will become my hiking/outdoor day.  I want to enjoy Arizona more and see things I have never seen.  I also don't just want to sleep all day (which I have been doing).  I want to keep a routine so that I can get ALL the things done I need to for the next week (Shopping, food prep, laundry etc).

Sunday's is my day of rest both for religious purposes and for exercise purposes...oh how I love you Sunday! :)

Here is a real life picture of me after one of my mountain classes I did for myself..It is a serious workout!

I think it is important to remind myself of the "mountains" I am climbing in my workouts right now as well as reference it later as I change things up as well, to see how hard I worked to get to my goals.  

This is a lifelong journey.  One of much sweat and tears.  I love that I can feel my heart conditioning as I climb through this journey.  My breaths are smoother, my moves more consistent. I am making progress each and EVERY day!

As cliche as it is, I wanted to share the words of the song The Climb by Miley Cyrus... I feel it every day when I hit my feet at 5am. I use it to propel me through my first one hour workout of the day.
Here are the words so you can see how much it applies to MY journey:

I can almost see it

that dream I'm dreaming

But there's a voice inside my head saying "You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking (in myself)

But I gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose (weight)
Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes might knock me down

But no, I'm not breaking

But these are the moments that

I'm gonna remember most, yeah

Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong

Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb...

Keep on moving, keep climbing

Keep the faith, MEG

It's all about, it's all about the climb

Keep the faith, keep your faith.. (in your journey, in yourself)

I work on believing in this dream, this journey everyday while pushing all the negative talk that I have told myself all these years out of the way.  I AM worth this!  I can do this!  The mountains will start feeling smaller and smaller, all I have to do is...

 KEEP CLIMBING!