About I’m not a skinny girl in a fat girl’s body. I’m a fat girl in a fat girl’s body. These are my thoughts. I'm not a doctor, so don't take my thoughts as medical fact. I won't be held accountable if you do.
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Amy posted this in Emotions, Fotos on August 10th, 2010
You know, it makes me sad to think how much time I missed out on swimming these last four years. I bought a swimsuit 4 weeks ago and have gone swimming every single week since. I love swimming. I always have.
I could have been a lifeguard when I was in HS but didn’t want to sit out in the sun all day (gotta protect my gorgeous porcelain skin). Swimming was always one of my favorite summertime activities.
As I got older (and fatter) it became less and less exciting and more and more anxiety-causing to go swimming because I was so uncomfortable in my own skin.
Three years ago, I weighed 10-15 pounds less than I do now. Then, I wouldn’t be caught dead in the pool. Now I’m very comfortable in my swimsuit. Sure, I’m no SI swimsuit model, but I can wear a suit in public without rushing to wrap myself in a towel.
I guess you finally just say to yourself, “Get over it. If people are judging you because you’re fat and in a suit, they’re the ones with the problem. They can go screw themselves.”
So here it is world, me in a swimming suit.
Coincidentally, all of these [...]
Amy posted this in Emotions, Funny, Races on July 27th, 2010
Last weekend, I completed my first half marathon. I wasn’t first, and I wasn’t last. My time was, well, twice that of some of my friends, but in the end it didn’t matter. I checked the ol’ half marathon off my bucket list. I also learned some valuable lessons throughout training and the race itself. Oh, and I got a kick-arse medal. Let’s not forget about the medal.
Before the race:
 Pee. Trust me on this.- Drink lots of water all week long, especially the day before and morning of the race. This is why #1 is important.
- Don’t drink four margaritas 18 hours pre-race, even if you tell yourself it’s okay because you’re getting top-shelf margaritas on the rocks with extra lime and salt on the rim. Margarita salt is not an acceptable substitute for an electrolyte sports drink.
- Go to the race expo. Pick up your packet. Make some impulse purchases you will later regret because everyone else is buying that balance bracelet. Stare at your race bib. Smack yourself in the head for thinking you could actually do a half marathon.
- Follow a training plan. There are so many plans out there – find one that works for you and your schedule. Mine included 3 days/week of walking and/or running, 1-2 cross training or strength training days and 1 active recovery/yoga/pilates/easy walk day.
- Don’t be afraid to modify the plan. I suffered many setbacks due to knee problems and a sprained foot/ankle. I made adjustments (like biking or doing the elliptical instead of walking or running because they were low-impact). I had to cut one long “run” short because my foot hurt so bad.
» Continue reading Lessons I learned from my first endurance race
Amy posted this in Emotions, Races, Team Challenge WI, injury, milestones on July 25th, 2010
“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.”
- John Bingham
It started out like any normal Sunday. Well, any normal Sunday where you get up at 4 a.m. to get ready and catch a bus at 5 a.m. to your first half marathon. You know, the usual. My first half marathon experience was nothing short of amazing. God spoke to me through Freddy Mercury, I never stopped to use the bathroom, I ran about 3 miles, I kept smiling and joking throughout and got to see almost every single teammate along the way. I am so grateful for this experience.
 Me and Coach Anne – the cool kids in the back of the bus.Team Challenge Wisconsin met for one last team cheer before the walkers nervously boarded our fancy bus to Napa. I was a ball of nerves. Yes, I’m smiling in the photos above, but my stomach was in knots. What had I done? Did I really sign up for this? What the hell was I thinking? Who in their right mind – at 249 lbs – would do a half marathon? I mean, really…
Well, I guess I’m that crazy fool.
Shortly after we boarded the bus, Dave, one of my teammates, said to me, “You look nervous.” Duh. Of course I was nervous. I had been dealing with an upset stomach all week leading up to this moment.
» Continue reading Race Report: Starting (and finishing) my first half marathon
Amy posted this in Inspiration on July 25th, 2010
I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your words of encouragement, your blog comments, e-mails, tweets and Facebook posts kept me going in Napa. Here are just a few of them.
You are rocking your own world. You have been faced with more challenges than anyone I know, yet you still keep a positive attitude AND find time to help others in their goals! The thing that amazes me is your honesty. You get frustrated, and you let us know. And you get over it and move on to the next thing. You have been kicking butt for CCFA and taking names, all while going through your own struggles. Well, that finish line is waiting for you. I know in my heart you’ve earned it no matter what happens out there.
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, “Always do what you are afraid to do.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
I am so proud of you for what you have already done. I know you are thinking about Napa as a milestone, but I have already seen enough to know that you can do it. [...]
Amy posted this in Emotions, goals on July 12th, 2010
Can you believe the big race is just 6 days away? It all seems like a dream. Someone pinch me. I honestly never thought I would be doing this – training for a half marathon, raising $3800 for Crohn’s and Colitis research and flying to wine country for a race?
Insanity.
There’s nothing else I can think of – except insanity.
I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your love, support and financial donations. Without you, this would have NEVER happened. Your e-mails, phone calls, blog comments, tweets, Facebook comments, letters and encouragement have made this possible.
Together, we have raised $3800 for Crohn’s and Colitis research and programs – like sending a child with IBD to a special summer camp with staff trained to deal with these diseases. Together, we are helping CCFA fund cutting-edge research studies at major medical institutions. Together, we are helping find a cure for the diseases that have plagued my family for too long.
Since January, I have lost 25 pounds and 36 inches. I have pushed myself harder than I thought possible. The human body is amazing. And it’s not to say that my training was problem-free. I was plagued by knee problems and then [...]
Amy posted this in Fotos, Inspiration, milestones on July 11th, 2010
My parents have asked us to go through all our boxes at their house to decide what we want to keep and what we’re ok getting rid of. As I worked my way through one of the boxes filled with trophies and breakables from my youth, I came across this:
I would like to note that this is how I wrapped up a bunch of ribbons from gradeschool… in protective paper and in a box with breakables. Hilarious. These are the athletic ones I found (there were also some science/art fair ones):
I would like to point out something here. There are five – count ‘em – FIVE first place track and field ribbons. FIVE. Plus four second place and two third and one fifth.
Want to know what they’re all for? Well too bad if you don’t, because I am sooooo bragging about this right now.
Softball throw. I pretty much rocked at this.
Long jump.
Every single one of these is for running. YES RUNNING. What the heck?
Apparently, in 7th grade I did the 100 yard dash in 15:31.
Not too shabby at the 220 and [...]
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