where I have been

It's been awhile....Have I ever mentioned I'm not great at keeping a blog? But here is my attempt to at least TRY to re-start.

I've been working on my overall health in a few different ways....

1) Slow, sustainable weight loss - Since Oct, I've been working on my slow, sustainable fat loss using Weight Watchers. And so far it's been going pretty well. I've been successfully eating the foods I enjoy, upping foods that are better for me than others (ie, fruits and veggies), and overall living my life without a lot of food guilt or restricting. And the result is that I've lost 12lbs. Which averages out to a 1/2 a pound a week since I've started. It's slow, but it's going. What I'm most proud of is that I've learned to incorporate WW into my life and I've tailored it to me and not the other way around. It's liberating to both eat all the foods you enjoy and also lose weight. Who knew right?

2) Drs appointments/check-ups - I HATE blood tests. They are awful for me, including lots of light-headedness and vomiting. But I knew it was time, I hadn't had blood work since 2010 and I wanted to know how my levels were. So I bit the bullet, gave the blood, passed out, threw up, and got my results. And I'm happy to say ALL of my numbers got better and some by a LOT! It's important to know your numbers, don't be afraid!

3) Therapy - yes, therapy, a shrink. I, after many, many years of avoiding it, have decided to head back to therapy. Its been almost 7 years and it's time. It's time to take care of my mental health and not just my physical health. So I start today, and I'm scared. But I got this, I can do it! And I will do it!



Keep up with my story on my Facebook, where I update much more often - https://www.facebook.com/patiencetoprogress

Polar Product Day - M400

Product: M400
Designed for: Runners/Walkers and people who want to keep an eye on their fitness
Price: $199.95 w/o Heart Rate Sensor; $249.95 with Heart Rate Sensor
What Comes In The Box: M400 Unit, H7 Heart Rate Sensor, USB Cord, Getting Started Literature (No Heart Rate Sensor if purchased without it)

Say Hello to Polar's newest training computer, the M400. This little guy/girl is a truly all-in-one unit, especially if you are a runner or walker.

Since around September, I have been using a Polar Loop and the Polar RC3  in conjunction with each other. The Loop is an all-day activity tracker; it tracks your activity, sleep, calories burned & steps, and if used with the H7, can be used during workouts (see my previous blog post). The Polar RC3 is a GPS and heart rate monitor, that I used during workouts & races, including my half marathon.

But this little baby, it replaces both of those! How? Because the M400 is an all-day activity tracker & a GPS all rolled into one sleek, great looking watch. Now you might be saying "Man, this Polar ambassador is really laying it on thick", but I swear to you, I'm not making ANY of this up. I am seriously in LOVE with this watch. Since the day it was announced (which of course escapes me at the moment), I've been waiting to get my hands on it! And now that my hand is on it, I'm not taking it off!

So, lets get some nitty gritty details shall we? The M400 has built-in GPS, so you can track your distance, pace, and altitude. And if you are looking for new routes on your runs, the Back to Start feature is awesome! The M400 tracks your daily activity, including calories burned and steps taken. But what I love about the unit is it tells you how much more "activity" you need to reach your daily goal (the photo above is an example. The activity can be standing, walking, or running. It's not just steps, it's any activity, which I love. This unit is magic somehow (kind of like the Loop) and can judge your movement super accurately. I hear there are tons of little sensors in it, but it got kinda technical ;)

As with the Loop, the M400 syncs up to Polar Flow (web) and to the Flow mobile app (iOS users only right now. Polar expects Android service to be up and running soon, to which I am patiently waiting)

The M400 comes in Black and White and the compatible heart rate sensor, the H7, comes in a variety of fun colors!

As always, let me know if you have any questions!

GET MOVIN GIVEAWAY - Win a POLAR FT4

Would you like a chance to win a FREE Polar FT4? This is the giveaway for you!

The kind people over at Polar have offered up a FT4 to give away to one of my lucky followers! So what better way to try to win it than to MOVE?! So...let's get movin!

Here is how it works...

When: Starting today lasting until December 31st at 11:59pm EST
Where: My Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/abbysgettinfit
How: 
Step 1) LIKE my Facebook page. You MUST like my page for a chance to win!
Step 2) GET MOVIN' - this includes walking, running, dancing in your kitchen, playing with your kids or pups, swinging, swimming, lifting, etc and so forth! Any way you can get your body moving, do it! I don't care how long, how far, how heavy, just GET MOVIN'!
Step 3) SHARE YOUR PHOTO - share you photo in the event I have created on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/892956804078001/. For every "workout selfie" you post, you receive ONE entry toward the grand prize of a Polar FT4! Don't care for selfies? That's cool, post the equipment used, the dog you walked, the kids you played with, the shoes you wore, ANYTHING! This is supposed to be fun, no pressure, no (okay, almost) rules!

Step 4) REPEAT! You can receive an entry for every movin' photo you post (up to 1 per day) So you can enter once a week or once a day, it's up to you!

Want some bonus entries? Here you go!

For these to count, post a screenshot as proof in the event of each

Bonus entry 1: Like the Polar USA and/or Polar FB pages
Bonus entry 2: Follow me on Twitter - @abbysgettinfit
Bonus entry 3: Follow Polar on Twitter - @polarglobal
Bonus entry 4: SHARE the contest on your personal page - extra bonus - you will receive 2 entries for this!
Bonus entry 5: Use hashtag #getmovingiveaway on either Twitter or FB when sharing about the giveaway
Bonus entry 6: Follow me on IG - @abbysgettinfit

A winner will be chosen at random from the entries! Obviously the more you post, the more chances you have, but that shouldn't mean you burn yourself out or over exercise to get more entires! This is about having fun, enjoying your body movement, and not feeling the pressure (because we have enough of that don't' we?!) And don't forget, like and comment on other people's photos in the event! This is all about having fun and encouraging all of us to move in ways we love!

Please note - this entire giveaway will take place on my Facebook page, so please read here than head over there! Any photos posted here will not be included in the entries.

US ONLY please! Sorry other countries, I'll get ya next time!

I am a half-marathoner!

Yesterday, October 19, 2014, I became a half marathoner. After months of training, weeks of worrying, hours of doubt and anxiety, I crossed the start line AND the finish line.

In late 2013, I decided I wanted to do a half marathon and in January 2014, I signed up for the Detroit Free Press International Half Marathon. I struggled with training, quit a plan, stopped running almost completely, and than somehow finished a second plan and made it to the starting line.

On Saturday, October 18th, I headed downtown (Detroit) with my fiance to head to the Expo and pick up my packet. The minute I walked into the Expo, everything started feeling real. I wouldn't call it nerves, but I wouldn't NOT call it nerves either. It was a strange mix of excitement, nerves, anxiety, and everything else you could possibly feel.

After the expo, we went to our hotel and relaxed for awhile before going and getting something to eat. I decided on a hamburger and fries for dinner, because it never usually upsets my stomach (more on that later!)

I ended up falling asleep super early, around 8:30, which was great, because I worried I would be to nervous to sleep. Before sleep, I made sure I had everything I needed for the morning laid out and ready to go.

Morning of, I woke up at around 4:30, a half hour before my alarm was going to go off. I laid in bed for a bit than got up and started getting ready. I was strangely calm, the nerves seemed to go away, I knew there was NOTHING I could do at this point to further myself or get myself more ready, at this point, it was what it was. I had some breakfast, got dressed slowly, and put on more Body Glide than I think I have used my entire training time, and got ready to leave the room, but not before some selfies...

Our hotel was about a mile away from the starting line so my boyfriend and I headed down there, and it.was.cold!!! Starting time temps were around 33º, far colder than I had originally thought. Thank goodness for my fiance, who suggested, at the last minute before we left the house, to grab another long sleeve shirt. I ended up keeping that shirt, the jacket in the photo, and a tank on for nearly half the race, the long sleep shirt came off around mile 5 or 6.

Getting corraled up was such a exciting experience. There was so much excitement and the energy was awesome! My fiance gave me a big hug and looked me right in the eyes before getting behind the fence and told me I was going to do great. That was when the water works started. I was finally here. Finally going to do this. There was not more preparing, there was no more training, it was here.

One of the main reasons I wanted to do THIS race is that it has some special aspects to it, including an international half/full marathon, meaning you get to run both in the US and Canada, crossing the Ambassador Bridge and than coming back through the Tunnel, which is UNDERWATER. This race has international border crossing AND an underwater mile, how cool is that?! 

There is no feeling quite like running up a HUGE freaking hill, that leads you to the Ambassador Bridge, knowing that so few people ever get that experience. There isn't anything like looking out and seeing Canada and the US from the bridge, as the sun is rising. It took my breath away, and I'm fairly certain that wasn't JUST because of the HUGE freaking hill........did I mention the hill? Holy hell, the hill!

The first 5 miles of my race, which are usually my most difficult, were my easiest this time. The energy of the crowd got me going. But as time went on, I wasn't as much a part of the crowd, since I was further back, and I started to lag a bit. My worst mile was mile 8-9ish, which was the underwater mile. I walked the majority of it, was starting to have a lot of pain, and the worst thing happened.......I had to poop. As I was half way through the tunnel, the pain in my belly couldn't be ignored, so as soon as I got out of the tunnel, I bolted to the porta-potty. The LAST thing I wanted to do during my race was poop, but it happened. and it couldn't be stopped. But I did my business, pulled up my big girl panties (literally) and got back on the road! But after that stop, I slowed down a lot. I was still in a bit of pain in my stomach and I was just plain getting tired.

The last 3 miles seemed to go by pretty quick, but I had to continually remind myself not to stop MOVING. Over and over again I had to keep saying "Keep moving, keep moving, don't stop, keep moving, keep moving, if you keep moving, you will be there sooner, keep moving"

And than suddenly, the final stretch was within sight, I could SEE the finish line. There it was. Throughout my race, my fiance, best friends and parents let me know they were standing on the right side, near corral C, to look for them. As I got closer, the water works started again. I couldn't wait to see there faces, it'd been over 3 hours since I saw my fiance. And than suddenly, a neon green and neon yellow sign popped up, that said "GO ABBY" and there, behind the signs, were the most important faces I could see. And I started crying, tears streaming, paired with the biggest smile I could muster. I ran by them and onto the finish. I was running so fast, I was so happy to be done, I was so proud of what I had accomplished. I crossed that line, and got that medal, and wanted to collapse! 

So it's over. After months and months of training, it's over. And I've never had such a feeling of pride. This is something that not EVERYONE has the guts to do, it's something that not everyone CAN do. and I both had the guts did it. The time didn't matter, it didn't matter I walked a lot, it didn't matter that I was in the second to slowest corral. It all didn't matter. What mattered was I finished, I accomplished what I set out to to do.

Now, I will continue repeating to myself that someday I will want to run again. That the pain will go away. 

You Gained During Training??

It has come to my attention that my jeans are tighter than they were a few months ago. And this doesn't make me happy.

I see transformation photos allllll day long of runners who have lost 100's of pounds, and here I am, half marathon training, and I've gained. Yes, gained. How many pounds? Not entirely sure and it doesn't REALLY matter. Point is, pants are tighter, I gained.

So how did it happen? I could spout some shit about how it is all muscle and blah blah blah. But no, muscle didn't make my pants tighter in my waist (however, muscle HAS made my jeans tighter in the calves and thighs, #stronglegsforthewin)

Want to know why my pants are tighter? Because I ate more calories than I burned. That's right, I've been eating like I'm training for a marathon, not a half. But does this mean I've failed? Hell no. I've trained for a half marathon, that I will be running in 19 days, and no one can take that away from me.

So what DOES this mean? It means that, once my half is over, I'm going to work on losing some of my excess fat. It doesn't mean I'm going to jump into a low-carb, low-cal, no gluten, Beachbody/Advocare hybrid. No, it means that once my half is done, I will give myself a few days to recover, than work at losing some excess fat, in a slow and sustainable way. I will keep moving, keep running (less miles and less often), I will add in some body weight exercise, I will walk, and I will eat for the lifestyle I live, not for the lifestyle I think I live.

Most importantly, I will remember that the number on my pants and the scale is not everything. But in order to ensure I can run for years to come, taking some extra weight off my joints won't hurt. I don't want to lose 100lbs over night (or ever probably). I don't want to lose 30lbs in 30 days. I want to lose weight as my body lets go of it, while still enjoying my life. Because THAT is what works.

Polar Wednesday - H7 Heart Rate Sensor & Polar Beat App

Product: H7 Heart Rate Sensor & Polar Beat
Designed for: Various Sports/Training
Price: $79.95/App is free
What Comes In The Box: H7 Heart Rate Sensor and Strap

If you are looking for a reasonably priced training aid, the Polar H7 Heart Rate Sensor is perfect for you. The H7 is a heart rate sensor that is bluetooth enabled and links up with several of the Polar products.

But what sets this heart rate monitor strap apart from the others is the integration with the Polar Beat The H7 will turn your phone into the training computer, creating a pseudo watch/heart rate strap experience. Turn on your phones GPS, and you have a GPS device, turn off your GPS, you have a cross-training device. It work for all types of exercises and fitness.The Polar Beat app is available for both iPhone and Android\and is completely free. But the information you get from it is invaluable.

You are able to plan, train, analyze and share (because a workout isn't a workout unless it's posted on FB, #amiright?)

Polar Beat will allow you to plan your training sessions, allowing you to set  calorie burn or distance goals. In the Training mode Polar Beat with give you "real-time graphical and voice guidance" to ensure you are reaching the goals you set. Once your session is done, you can analyze your heart rate zones, distances, calories burned, etc, with great charts and easy to read outputs. Finally, you can share your training results to Twitter or Facebook, showing your family and friends how totally awesome you are!

The H7 is also compatible with several other Polar products, including the new V800 and the Polar Loop (which I will be doing a write-up on soon, as I've been wearing it for a couple weeks now).

The H7 comes in three great colors, Pink, Blue and Black and is waterproof and can be used in conjunction with other waterproof Polar products.

If you have any questions - let me know! Are you currently using a the H7 or the Polar Beat app?

Out of my Element

For the past 10 days, I have been dog-sitting at my boyfriend's parents house. And to say it threw off my game is a bit of an understatement...let me explain

Things related to their house that threw me off my game...

1) They live on a dirt road, that is not grated, so there are tons of holes and places for me to severely injure myself. This alone scared me out of running most days.
2) Their house is surrounded by main roads and factories, so the options for running were few and far between
3) There neighborhood is not the "nicest" so being out after dark wasn't an option for me

Things not related to their house that threw me off my game.....

1) Felt a cold coming on, the stuffy nose, the cough, the exhaustion, it was all there, just waiting to strike
2) Another type infection threatening, and I'll leave it at that
3) Lack of good sleep due to not being in my own bed

So, I'm here to admit, that with only 5 weeks left until my half, I ran a grand total of 1.5 miles last week...........ouch. I walked a 5k yesterday with a friend and we kept a good pace but actual running......1.5 miles.

But I'm not stressing. Because it's over, it's done with, and that off week certainly isn't going to make or break me. In fact, it may have even helped, allowing extra rest time and recovery of sore muscles. I'm here to tell you that "falling off" doesn't mean you failed. It means you lived, that shit happened. So are you going to sit around and beat yourself up over it for days? Or make a change. I personally plan to make a change.

Today, I am back at it. I usually run Tues/Thurs/Sun but this week I'll be running Mon/Wed/Sun, due to a hair appointment tomorrow (yup, I change my schedule for hair appointments!). 5 Monday, 5 Wednesday, 10 Sunday! Here we go!

Who's running with me in spirit this week?