Earlier this week Angelina Jolie released news that she had tested positive for BRCA and and consequently decided to have a double mastectomy. There has been a lot discussion in the media. As always, some positive and some negative. I thoroughly understand how controversial the issue of genetic testing is. But it exists to give women (in this case) a choice. It allows them to make an informed decision with the help of their medical professionals and hopefully their family.
Here’s the thing. If you don’t believe in genetic testing, well then don’t get tested. If you don’t believe in preventative surgery, don’t have it. But don’t minimize the enormity of what it takes to make the decision. Because no part of it is easy.
I’ve been fortunate to develop a friendship with Krysten (The Misadventures of a Darwinian Fail). We’ve been friends through the surgeries and the recovery journey. I’m proud of her for making the decision. I’m proud of her at how hard she’s worked on herself both in physical and emotional recovery. And the work that she does in advocacy about the issue truly makes the world a better place.
Krysten was recently quoted in a negative article about Angelina Jolie’s news. She’s written a rebuttal and I really hope you will go read it.
Who brags about sleeping? Bloggers, bloggers do. Yeah I totally do it. When we had our big blogger race weekend I had many conversations with bloggers about going to bed early. This actually happens all the time. We like sleeping. Mostly because we like getting up early and getting our workout in.
Last night I was feeling pretty smug as I climbed into bed just before 9:30pm. Seriously, I was like “what, ya look at me, I’m so awesome getting my eight hours of sleep.”
I even brag about how awesome I am at napping. Cause seriously I’m so good guys. Some days I’m at my desk, studying away, then I hit the couch for 10 minutes and BAM back up to the desk. The key here is setting the timer, not the alarm. If you set the alarm you’re just going to hit snooze. If you set the timer there’s a sense of panic. You simply cannot close your eyes again or you risk losing possibly an hour or more.
Early bed time for you? Anyone else want to brag about napping?
Disclosure: I’m also the blogger who brags about wolfing an entire large pizza, just keeping it real my friends
There are people who say that healthy eating is easy. I don’t think it’s easy, I think it’s worth it. It’s true that it takes a good chunk of time to prepare most of my meals at home. It takes a good chunk of time to plan my meals. It takes a good chunk of time to visit multiple grocery stores and health food stores to get everything I need at the best possible price. Healthy eating CAN be done on a budget, but yes that even takes more time.
I have no more time than anyone else. I make a choice to spend it on things like eating healthy and physical activity. It also takes a lot of work to get an A+, to raise kids, to get a promotion. Every person has to make a decision about what to fill their twenty four hours with.
I was complaining yesterday about waking up two hours before work to get all of my food prep done for the day. Yeah it kind of stinks sometimes. That’s probably why I have to write this whole “it’s worth it” post. Because seriously it is. But seriously, I have to go make some protein pancakes right now .
Thankfully I have a partner in crime on my meal plan this week. Thanks for keeping me accountable Katie.
(this is a sponsored post from Under Armour though Fitfluential)
A whole bunch of awesome ladies are teaming up with Under Armour for their third round of the What’s Beautiful contest. You know I love me some awesome fitness apparel (running tights errrrrryday ) but what I particularly love is the slogan for this contest:
What’s Beautiful: a competition to redefine the female athlete.
How does this work? Anyone can sign for this challenge. You go Under Armour’s What’s Beautiful site and make your profile and then get. down. to. business. Start by making a person goal. Mine:
I will complete my first obstacle course (Warrior Dash).
And you can also join a team. I’m so excited to join a team with my fellow Warrior Dash girlies. Our team goal:
Train for and Run an a Muddy Obstacle Race!
Goal Race: Warrior Dash July 20th! We will be warriors!
Let me share some of their personal goals with you.
Roll Call!!!! I wanted to make a list of all the awesome people I was with this weekend. On Saturday night we started at the race expo and then headed over to the Spaghetti Factory for a big carb loading session. Delicious spaghetti mmmmmm .
We had all the runners who were racing on Sunday plus a few extra bloggers who came to hang out. LOVE the Toronto area bloggers, there’s so many of us and everyone is so friendly. If you’re looking for some new blogs to check out here you go:
Brian (the guest of honour, not from TO area) Pavement Runner
And one more blog roll shout out to my bff from school – Katie!!!! She just started her blog and I made her come to the Spaghetti Factory to meet everyone even though it was scary cause we were such a huge group. Go check out her blog:
Speaking of blogging, I gotta run to work. I’m helping to train at Blog Camp today. We’re getting trained on how to engage and help transition students with social media. I’ll be presenting on digital identity and writing for the web.
Time to post about the awesome-ness that was my 5K at the Toronto Goodlife Marathon on Sunday. I spent weeks leading up to the event saying “oh I’m just doing the 5K.” Because we had some friends in our blogger group doing the half and the full marathon I felt I needed to differentiate by also adding the “just” part. I’m always good at downplaying myself, making it be known that I don’t think I’m as good because I’m only running the 5K.
But for me, the 5K is challenging. For my body, with it’s constant injuries and hours and hours of physical therapy, any racing is tough. In the middle of running my race on Sunday I realized that there’s nothing wrong whatsoever with running that distance, or any distance for that matter. There are very few runners who enter a race to win it. Thousands, no wait millions of runners race in road races every year and most of them do it to compete only with themselves. Sometimes you’re entering a distance for the first time, sometimes you’re trying to set a personal record, sometimes you’re coming back from injury. Sometimes you just want to race because you love it, and crossing that finish line is exhilarating no matter what the circumstances.
This weekend was just the best for so many reasons, one of them being my amazing friends.
And this weekend was the best BECAUSE I SET A NEW PERSONAL RECORD!!!! I was shocked and so very proud of myself. Even though I was injured and even though I had to race with walking intervals, I still beat my time from last year’s Goodlife 5k by almost two minutes. I was absolutely ecstatic. This is proof of how hard I’ve worked in physical therapy over the last year and how much stronger my body is than a year ago.
Official results:
time 30:16
pace 6:04
rank 53/238 in Female 25-29
**If you want to see more pics of the weekend click on over to my Facebook photo album.
Thanks for all your support my friends. I can’t wait to race again
Side note: went to the market this morning!!!!! Yeah add fifty more exclamation marks baby . Seriously, how am I not doing homework right now? Pinch me. This whole taking the summer off of school is still so unreal to me.
It is the day before race day at our house. Well Brad’s not running. However he is also injured. We’re a hot mess. Or should I say a cold mess. We’re trying to be cold at least. I’m pretty certain this doesn’t happen in anyone else’s house, but let’s just check and see. Does anyone else FIGHT over ice packs? Anyone? Bueller? Okay just us. Since we’re both injured right now we are required to do a lot of icing.
Example, my brunch this morning: coffee, banana and peanut butter soft serve. ”cowgirl cookie”, water, annnnnnnd an ice pack.
Truthfully, I’m icing my back and my leg right now my friends. The only reason I can even ice both at the same time is because Brad is gone for the day. In fact, I even told my doctor that we were fighting over ice packs and my doctor gave me a free one just to take the edge off at our house. If you know Brad and I in person, you know that our life is just a big bag of ridiculousness. I think I might end the ice pack war by buying more today. WHOA what a novel idea
I’m just gearing up right now to head down to the race expo. Our big ol Toronto blogger group is meeting there to get our bibs and then we’re heading out for dinner. Carb loading for the win. Even though my doctor told me that carb loading was not necessary for a 5k, particularly not a 5k where I wasn’t running the entire distance. HOW DID HE FIND OUT ABOUT THE SPAGHETTI FACTORY?!?!?!
Good luck to everyone racing tomorrow wherever you are. For those of you running any of the races at the Toronto Goodlife Marathon I hope I get to see you. Tweet me: @LifeAfterBagels.
Yesterday I got up nice and early before work and headed out for an early morning run. I haven’t been great at waking up early for workouts lately. But now that the sun is getting up early, and it’s actually warm out it’s so much easier.
There’s also something about being injured that gets your butt out of bed for training. I never skip workouts when I’m on injury recovery. This is the way I look at it – what’s the point of spending the money to see my doctor if I’m not going to do the training plan he gave me.
And since everyone really liked this pic on Instagram yesterday I better throw it in this blog post as well. A little friend from my early morning run:
Okay now that’s all taken care of let’s talk about my race this weekend. I’ve got the Goodlife Toronto Marathon 5k. Unfortunately with my leg still healing I’m not going to be able to run the race straight out. The doctor has advised me to run again tonight at 3 and 1 intervals and then I should be able to do the race at 4 and 1 intervals. Should, that’s the important word. Wish me luck for tonight’s run.
I’ve got some K tape on, gotta eat well and hydrate properly so my body can heal, and after tonight just rest it out.
The truth is, it’s a little bitter sweet to be injured for this run. Last year’s Goodlife 5k was my first ever race. It was also what prompted me to start physical therapy last year. I spent 14 weeks in rehab and learned so much. My body is undeniably stronger and I do know how far I’ve come. However, I had dreams of actually racing this 5k, not just running it. But better safe than sorry when it comes to injuries, right.
No matter what, I’m still insanely excited about this weekend because we have a huge Toronto blogger meet up planned for the night before. Silver lining y’all
I truthfully don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it before but I la la la love me some Jillian Michaels. I’m currently working through all of her podcasts. Yeah she’s a little rough around the edges, but her message is rock solid my friends.
That’s why I’m insanely excited to get to see her live at the Maximize Your Life Tour. It’s hitting Toronto on May 21st and there’s a handful of other US and Canadian dates left.
Some of my west coast blogger peeps have already seen her. Jenn from Jonesee90 posted to Instagram: “Aaaaaaamazing!! If she’s coming to your city you must go! Loved everything she had to say about the mental side of achieving your goals.” … I commented back with “omg I’m so jealous.” But now my jealousy can fade away into the distance because I get to see her too. Yipppeeeee y’all
Okay let’s hear it. Jillian Michaels fan? Who has seen her tour yet, or is seeing it soon?
To find out more information or purchase tickets for the Jillian Michaels Maximize Your Life Tour, check out the following link: http://bit.ly/15RYLr4
*I have been given tickets to the show in exchange for promoting the tour with this blog post.
Oh damn, no suspense. The picture already told you. I’m going to join the Tone It Up community and embark on an 8 week training plan. I’m the worst at following plans unless they’re right here on the blog for everyone to see. Usually these are my own fitness challenges and so I feel additional pressure to work through them.
Therefore, I’m going to write allllllll about it on my blog (and maybe some video but let’s pretend I didn’t mention it cause we’ll see if that happens).
Also, follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter so you can see my #bikiniseries updates. Let me know if you’re doing the challenge too. Or if you’re just hearing about it for the first time, head on over to Tone It Up to join. Today’s the first day so it’s not too late! Plus there are some pretty awesome prizes (*Canadians can’t win the grand prize.)
My friend Katie is joining too and has been planning the start of her own blog for weeks now. I know Katie is going to read this so this is just some peer pressure to get her first blog post up. I’m a good friend that way
Who’s in? Any other “countdown to summer” type fitness or food challenges you guys are doing?
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