Princess Pull-ups and AARP Cards

It hit me at about 10am today that holy crap, its 2014.
Yes, to some extent I am a New Years cynic....going out is more expensive, the odds of me staying up to see midnight are slim, and waking up feeling like an assault victim on the first day of the year is both ironic and unappealing.  Have I done it?  Like a champ,...but I hate myself every time.
Generally, I'm so tired by 11:45 that I'd rather fake a pass-out just to lay down...
This year I was asleep by 12:06 and up by 6:30 ready to face the world with a functioning liver.
Despite the last image being Miley Cyrus and Ryan Seacrest in Times Square, (mini nightmare, although I might pay to see that fight), I slept like a baby.

My New Year's Eve festivities began with a nap at 3pm (in which, a phone call from Sparkles killed that dream..literally...about an hour later).  My God I could have slept until today.  Nonetheless, I got up, filled a 32oz container of coffee/liquid meth, and headed to their house to chaperone...
1 creeper, 1 menopausal woman, and 2 sugar-laden girls under the age of 5.
Given the age categories, I realistically knew that with all the laughing and running around, anyone could potentially wet their pants.
Whatever, I was so hyped up on coffee it would have just added to the entertainment.
2014 here we come.....what an awesome way to spend the last day of the year... Loved. It.

I've had clients emailing me left and right about goals for the new year and basically getting "refocused" if you will.  Its been great to see people finally GET that its going to be rough at moments, its going to require intentional effort on a daily basis, and simply owning the fact that it is a CHOICE. 
That is huge.
Personal responsibility is truly at the root of every element at work.  Discipline, motivation, behavioral changes, perspective, etc...once we as individuals truly own the fact that I am MY responsibility, a fundamental shift occurs.  Suddenly, we no longer see ourselves as victims to the world/environment around us, but rather as valuable contributors with limitless potential.  Combine that with the desire to improve, and you've got yourself an unstoppable, beautiful mess.
Very cool stuff.

Many people have asked me what my personal resolutions are, and I'll be honest...I'm not too big on New Years resolutions.  Ironic given my profession, I know.  But its because I truly believe that if you're ready to change, you'll do it.  Whatever it is, and whenever it is....January 1....May 18....September 3rd...doesn't matter.  Shouldn't matter. 
However, with that said I do face 2014 with exciting goals for career, health, and life in general.  An overarching theme if you will is intention.  Living out every aspect of my life deliberately, intentionally,...placing value and time in the things and relationships that truly matter and make a difference.
I love the question: "What are you doing today to better the you tomorrow?"....it spans everything...physical, mental, spiritual, relational...

I'll leave you with that loaded question for your evening. ;)
Happy New Year folks....make it exceptional.

Strapped On and Bracing For 2013

Last day of 2012.
Looking back over the year I am truly amazed its coming to an end.  Its been a year of change, refocus, and daring to move forward in various aspects of my life.  But at the end of the day, its two steps forward.  I firmly believe that perhaps even worse than regressing, is remaining stagnant in who we are and where we are not going.
Life is too short and our impact too great to not move forward. 

Many people will make New Years resolutions...and while I'm not a huge fan of setting unrealistic, lofty goals after too many drinks and no consideration to the actual level of focus and determination required, I will inevitably be a part of many of those journeys.  It does amaze me though how often we make these health-related aspirations, and begin them hungover, sleep-deprived, and bloated from the festivities the night before.
Want to see me personally fail at something,...let me start in that very condition right there.  Hell, just knock 2 hours off my normal sleep time and I am a hot mess for the next 48 hours, and will pretty much live in misery until I can hit the pillow for a solid 7.
With that said, if you have plans to "Eat better!", "Lose 25!", "Exercise more!", or my favorite non-specific goal "Get in shape!" starting tomorrow, you better strap on the big girl/boy pants and embrace the suck for the next few weeks before it becomes routine.  January 2nd you will wake up ready to roll, probably having slept in your spandex and pre-gamed the night before with a protein bar.  But come January 23rd you are tired, don't feel like it, and will have to muster up every ounce of will power you have to drag yourself out of bed.  Do it.  Acknowledge you don't feel like it, but do it anyway.  You have to learn to push past those points.
The inability to do that is why come February, majority of people are in the same boat they were in on December 31st.  Unfortunate, but true.
Healthy choices fuel healthy choices.  Its a cycle that YOU can control for yourself, and yes, its your responsibility.

Do I have a resolution?
Eh,...not really.
But perhaps I need to resolve not to sport duct tape on my car for the 4th or 5th time in my life.  I've lost track.
Its absurd,...I pulled into the drive-thru at the bank the other day and made a mental note that I pulled a little too close (trying to avoid the 'ol hanging-out-the-window move to reach the machine).  Well, after sitting there for more than 20 seconds, I forgot about the mental note and pulled away like I was filming my own version of Fast and the Furious. 
Nailed the stupid pole with my side mirror and the next thing I know its dangling like a broken appendage.  I was so pissed I wanted to rip the thing completely off and hurl it across the parking lot.
I refrained.
I was in a rush to make an appointment, so I drove across the parking lot to the dollar store.
Scissors and duct tape,...I was going to have my own arts and crafts moment right there in the parking lot.
Its all fun and games until you're nearly getting frostbite trying to reattach car parts with duct tape.
I was hating life,....AND the old man sitting in the truck enjoying the view of this entire ordeal.
I'm sure he found it hilarious.  Although, my skills at this particular activity are sadly up to par, so laugh it up big boy.

So here I am entering the new year with a busted mirror, and pulling some Jackie Chan moves to get in and out of my car.
Damn pole.

On a lighter note, we are currently on our annual New Years trip with 3 other couples, a baby, and a growing fetus.  (Not in me just fyi), but our group is growing.
I'm not lactating, so currently out numbered.

Its cold, and getting in a 5 mile jog in 30 degree weather with horrible wind gusts was definitely not my favorite, but its done.
After this coffee kicks in I'll be out for round 2.  It wouldn't be so bad if I could feel my face.  I literally spend the first 3 miles cursing and trying not to focus on the fact that my entire face is getting chapped and my feet are numb.
Its awesome.

Well, its about that time.
Enjoy the last day of 2012, and get your mind right for a new one to come!  :) 

Back to the attic...

Here comes a mid-afternoon blog.
I have a few extra minutes before my afternoon clients so I figured a little word-vomit would be great.  Plus, tonight will begin the Christmas-undecorating-adventure, so there will be little time for anything else.  I dread taking everything down.  Honestly, it will be a bigger mess before it gets better, and I have a lot of decorations...its giving me anxiety just thinking about it.

I just finished my workout...back and biceps, then finished with 20 minutes of jump rope.  I'm not great at jumping rope, and it sort of bothers my head bobbing up and down like a 2 year old on speed.  Probably a totally inappropriate metaphor.  Anyway, I made it through and then got on the foam roller for a few minutes.  Workout felt good, and I've really tried to focus on my tempo lately,...just making sure I keep the eccentric movement slow and controlled.  Everything feels pretty heavy, and perhaps this week its due to lack of sleep and a little wine on our new years trip.  Umm...yes, I can answer that question myself...its totally due to both of those things.  Want crappy workouts?  Just increase your alcohol intake and don't sleep much...that will pretty much do the trick.

Speaking of,...I'm exhausted today.  I didn't sleep well last night and its just been a long week.  I'm nearly falling asleep right now.  Ridiculous.  Don't underestimate my ability to fall asleep while sitting straight up.  I've mastered that art form.

Ok, time to get back on track.  A few more hours to go and then home to take down everything that should have been taken down last week.  I heard its bad luck to leave your decorations up through New Years Day.  Well dang.  That explains the last 12 years of my life....ha, just kidding :)

Have a great day peeps!

Redemption

Its been a long week so far and its only Tuesday.
Honestly, it was one of those days that I get home and just scream at the top of my lungs.  My cat probably peed himself when I did it.  Ha...wouldn't be the first time.  But I needed it.  It was just one of those days when, by 6pm, the smallest thing could have sent me into "a fit" as my grandma would say.  And what a fit it would be...

Part of the issue was my workout yesterday.  I hate having a bad workout.  I don't mind when its hard, or I'm sucking wind, or if everything hurts....that's life, move on.  But I had several factors that created one perfect storm.  I felt nauseous from the beginning (not sure if it was the creatine I took), my heartrate was already in the 80s before starting, I was mentally distracted, and simply could not maintain the mind-muscle connection on several of my lifts.  By the end I was pissed.  I just wanted to hit the shower and go on with my day.  And on top of that, it was the first official workout of the new year...what a downer.  If that is a reflection of the year, I might as well lay face-down on the treadmill and set that bad boy on speed 12.  Rough start to say the least...

So today I needed a redemption workout.  I hit shoulders, triceps, and finished with sprints.  It was a great second day workout and even though my heartrate was 200 on the sprints, it felt ok and I was pleased with the entire workout.  And thank you Zimm for always encouraging me through it!
I really want my delts to pop this year, so I've got to bust it on shoulder routines.  I toyed with a couple of different training splits for the next 12 weeks, and after consulting with a few friends who are pro-bodybuilders, I decided to keep it a 5-day split and only hitting legs once a week.  That way, I can focus on bringing my upper body in proportion with my legs.  If it looks like I could squat a house, it needs to look like I can press a house as well.  So that's the plan for now.  Started creatine cycle yesterday, weight is at 132,...so we'll see where that number creeps to.  But given that I'm not bumping up my calories tremendously, it may not move.  Eh, I'm fine either way.

Ugh, already 8:20 and I need to get a move on.  One of my new year's resolutions was to read more.  And by "more" I mean more than ridiculous facebook status updates.  Sooo...that means I need to actually get in bed before 9 so that I have more than 3 minutes to read.  Otherwise, I will open the book, read 1/2 a page, and then fall asleep.  I never make it through an entire chapter.  Which explains my GPA through high school.  So here I go...

I'll leave you with a few pictures from New Year's:

11.5 hours left...

Last day of 2011...
I slept in until 8:30 and then went for a 5 mile run.  It was my second day of 5+ miles (which I never do), so my body is not happy with me right now.  Shocker.  We're on vacation so I just have to do what I have to do in terms of activity.

Its been nice to have a few days away from the normal routine and craziness of life, but at the same time I find comfort in structure and like to feel productive.  Needless to say, there is little productivity going on with 3 couples under the age of 30 staying at a beach house for 4 days.  This is like college...minus the frat parties and walk of shame.  We're having a great time and gearing up for tonight's festivities.  Yes, I will probably have to take a nap just so I can make it to midnight.

As far as New Years resolutions go I haven't really made one yet,...ha...way to plan Meredith.  What are some of your resolutions?? 

Ok, game time.  Here we come 2012!!  Enjoy the last day of 2011...