Living Beyond the Scale

My life.

If you keep up with my blog regularly, you know that I am all about structure.

I schedule when I’m going to eat. I schedule when I’m going to shower. I schedule when I’m going to finish that lesson plan and still get enough sleep for my 4am wake up call the next day. I schedule my client session for Job #2…3? (Who’s counting?) I schedule when I’m going to have that last banana. I have to! For myself, that’s how I get things done. It’s how I finish reports, it’s how I memorize my lines, it’s how I was able to shed 40 pounds. It’s also what fits in with my insane lifestyle.

But I’ll be the first to say that it feels as if “life” gets in the way sometimes.

Recently, I opened my show “Damn Yankees,” without taking any pauses from my “regular life.” Master Kid Wrangler (“The bell does not excuse you, I do!”, Gym Bunny (“Would you like me to show you our Group X room?”), and Private Coach (“5, 6, 7, 8!”) by day…Devilish Temptress by night. (Don’t worry, it’s just pretend.)

Wait, when am I supposed to work out?

Well, I, like many others, fell victim to my own pity party to myself. I was exhausted, running on 3 hours of sleep a night, and barely eating because I didn’t have the energy to make anything and didn’t want to eat fast food. Wake up, work all day, try to stay sane for the sake of the children, eat something small, drive the hour to the venue, makeup on, body warm, dance dance dance, sing sing sing, act act act, come home, peel the false lashes off, wash my face, brush my teeth, sleep. Repeat.

It’s no wonder my body didn’t have the energy to work out like I usually do. How can it when I’m not taking care of it? “Life got in the way.” Um, I’m sorry, what? Ixchel, this IS your life. Prolong it.

The few times in the last couple of weeks that I did run was…let’s just say, I was not in it to win it. Have you ever been running and you’re thinking, “Geez Louis, how long have I been running?” Then you look at your iPod and say, “Oh…I’m still on the first song? Well…alright then.” Then I ran on the beach. I’m pretty sure I looked like a 6 year old trying to run in a jolly jumper. Nope. Not in it to win it.

Today I woke up and realized that it had been THREE WEEKS since I even lifted a single weight. Three weeks! (Sorry to the guys who have to lift me in the show!)

What could I have done to prevent this? Well, I have to stop thinking I’m Super Woman. (I know, I know!) I think allowing myself some rest [maybe lowering my intensity during Tech Week (Hell Week is to Football what Tech Week is to Dancers)] could have done me some good. Taking more time for myself to relax even just for ten minutes? Give myself an extra five minutes of sleep in the morning? Pack my lunches the night before? All of these things, had I planned accordingly, could have helped. My body can’t do all the fascinating things it’s designed to do if I don’t take care of it and give it the proper fuel- sleep and nutrition. The same goes for you! It takes planning!

Today was the perfect day to get back on the wagon. Not because it’s Monday. Not because it’s a new month. Because it’s NOW. Now is the best time. Shi* happens. Don’t beat yourself up. Get back on track. I woke up today still tired from the last couple of weeks. Was it really exhaustion? Or was I just COMFORTABLE now with the lethargy my mind convinced my body I had? The second I got in the gym, headphones blaring with “Titanium,” I knew I was back and I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be.

Decide that wanting it is worth it. YOU are worth it. Just get up! Take a walk! Make a delicious healthy meal! Do some strength training! Something! You don’t have to jump right back into the deep end of the pool- just as long as you get in (metaphorically or literally). Aren’t you tired of starting over? So, don’t stop! I skipped a week and then all of a sudden, it was three weeks. Whoa! That happened quickly! Luckily, I’m dancing so much that I didn’t gain any weight, but what’s more important than the number is that I don’t FEEL as great as I usually do.

So, up, up, up! You can do it. Really. I know you care about your body. Isn’t that why you’re still reading? ;)

Happy Round 2 (or 3, or 4!), Happy Working, Happy Living. :)

Lacing up my shoes and ready for my run. It’s been a hot minute since I ran outside. I’m so ready! Love you, California!

thoughtjoy:

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.

—  William James

LOVE.

(via runningtowardmygoal)

Right now I can either sleep more, lay in bed and watch “How I Met Your Mother,” or get out and run.

I’m up, I’m up.

This is just the most awkward post ever. That headache I had for an entire day straight? That I thought was from not exercising enough or drinking enough water? Yeahhhhhh, so turns out I had a concussion….then I ran two miles and ended up in the ER.

I can’t with myself haha.

I got the concussion from basically being in the wrong place at the wrong time and getting an elbow to the back of the head. It was an accident. I’m really lucky because I felt so bad that I fell asleep. Obviously, I woke up and was okay…with the exception of the worst headache I’ve ever had. The good news was that it wasn’t a hairline fracture like they thought it might be. I got treated for post concussion and was given Vicodin…but couldn’t really take it because it was my closing weekend of “Miss Saigon,” the musical I just finished.

So ANYWAY, I needed to update you all. Ha! Hope you’re having a great week and getting geared up for the holidays. Happy HEADS! Happy Living!

My favorite post run stretch song.

First day back at my workouts since being sick. Running is a no go for me, so I’ll have to ditch the pavement today in exchange for a stationary bike at the gym. I can’t wait for my foot to not have this massively bruised muscle so that I can run again! There’s no cool story here, I just ran (literally ran) into a box brake backstage at my show. I’ve been dancing in heels this entire time and the only painful injury I get is from running into something? Only me.

Thanks, Syd, for the extra encouragement this week. I’ve had a tough time lately with motivation and time management. I love having a trainer that I can always go to! Ginesthoi, everyone! Make it happen! Happy Tuesday, Happy Living!

improving-for-good:

brb going for a run

(via 1healthyhappyfitnessblog)

(via motivate-melissa)