Category Archives: Progress

The State of the Thompsons

It is a big day here at the Thompson house!

  1. I already have our Halloween decorations down! YAY!
  2. Cub is at daycare, meaning I had time to take the decorations down without tripping over a sippy cup.
  3. I put creamer in my coffee. That’s right folks! Living large today!

Ok, really, I know those are non-important things that you don’t care about, but my point is that we are status quo here at the Thompson compound, and I  couldn’t be happier about it. Chas’s season starts on Thursday, and being at status quo going into that is an accomplishment with a 16 month old. Oh by the way, he thinks he is two and throws temper tantrums like it as well. In fact, I took him to school this morning, and before I could even walk out of the room, he hit his teacher. I bolted like I was on fire. I already suspect that they don’t like him there, simply because I spend half of my day not liking him some days.

My goal for November is to work towards a more regular week so that I can get more done. I spent last night creating an hour by hour list of how my day was going to go, and I am happy to report that in hour 3 of the day we are on schedule. Yes! The whole motivation for trying to start November differently is that I have some big personal goals in mind that I want to have time to work on. I recently went to a conference where the hashtag #StayHungry was used. I really like that hashtag for multiple reasons:

  1. I am always hungry, or hangry.
  2. It’s certainly motivating.
  3. It gave me something to write on my white board instead of a grocery list that consisted of diapers, toothpaste, and paper towels, all of which I finally just subscribed to on Amazon because I forgot every time I went to the grocery.

While I would like to continue to tell you about what I have in mind, I am on a schedule, and with only 4 minutes left in my “writing a blog post ans drinking coffee hour”, I have to wrap this puppy up.

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween and a great start to November!

The Unsexy Side

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When I look back on my life prior to marriage, kids and mortgages, it is amazing to me how different actual life is compared to what I thought life would be back then. I used to see the white picket fence, kids running in the yard, and the perfect dinner waiting on the table for the family. I never thought about the Kansas wind blowing the fence over, or the stretch marks from carrying multiple kids for way to many months, or the millions of grocery trips needed just to get frozen chicken nuggets and a salad on the table by the time my husband gets home.

The day-to-day struggles that make moms pull their hair out exist much more than the happy, calm, relaxing moments you dream of as a youngin. That’s not to say I am not happy or don’t love my life. I love it very much. You just don’t expect to be peed on or step on a Hot Wheels car in the middle of the night, or have your husband suddenly exclaim that he has friends stopping by and they need a feast brought before them.

I have been struggling with my fitness since well before Cub was born, and it is still a struggle today. I am trying to get better about planning it out to make sure it happens, but its hard to wake up at 5:30 am when you have had a kid kicking you all night long. With wrestling season just a week away, I know that it is going to be harder than ever to get back to where I want to be, but I have 3 months until I have the honor of getting inducted into the Milton-Union High School Athletic Hall of Fame, and I’ll be damned if I don’t look right for that. The blood, sweat and tears are the unsexy side, but they are the side that makes it all worth your while. I would have the opportunity to even be in the hall of fame if it wasn’t for them.

Life isn’t as sexy as it seems. Kids make a mess. Dogs make a mess. Husbands make a mess. Fences need painted and real food needs to be cooked, with love of course..

Change is a comin’

Change is of course inevitable. Over the past 10 months, Cub has grown and changed more than I could have ever imagined. He waves, kisses, laughs and cries. He loves brushing his teeth and feeding Goldfish crackers to the bulldogs. He is such a fun kid… when he is in a good mood anyway.

As a family, we decided to make some changes that would be beneficial, one of them being our location. While we have no intentions of leaving Hays in the near future, we did feel that our family would be better off by change where we lived, so we decided to try putting our house on the market. We worked so hard for 3-4 straight days sorting through closets and decluttering everything. Much to our surprise we easily sold the house in just 2 days. And even more to our surprise, we found a house that met almost all our criteria in a very desirable neighbor (and well within our price range) almost just as quickly. So July 8th, we will be closing on 2 houses and moving to a place that will allow our family to easily grow with no problem at all.

We are so excited for this new transition, and the best part is that the week before we close, we get to go celebrate at Walt Disney World for Cub’s 1st birthday!

Day 96/366- Driving Ms. Emotional

For about 2, if not 3 years now, I feel like I have been a woman posing as a runner. My stats have been atrocious, my runs few and far between. Becoming a wife and a mother, moving halfway across the country from beautiful, sunny Northern California to windy western Kansas and dealing with sleepless nights and so much time without Chas during wrestling season has put a damper on my athletic spirit. In my mind and heart, I am a runner, but in actuality, I am a fraud.

Last week I ran twice. It was so refreshing to wake up before anyone else and know that while everyone in Hays, KS, was still fast asleep, I was working hard and showing the world my perseverance. Morning runs are really about putting one foot in front of the other. I generally have just nursed the baby, and instead of crawling back in next to my husband, I opt for the cold, windy tundra that is Main Street at 5:30 am. I run an out and back usually, trying to complete one leg faster than the other. Pounding the pavement that earlier makes a person ponder big things, future goals, the meaning of life, etc. In a way, it makes me feel superior, the fact that I can do this, that I have the will power to do it, even if just for my usual 2 mile stretch. When I walk back in the door, I am no longer free or powerful. I am mom, Marketing Director and chef, but I feel more empowered in my daily activities, and more patient in my handling of crying babies, dog messes, and dumb emails. A run can certainly mellow a Type A personality like myself, but at the same time makes me feel more secure in who I am and what I am doing.

Besides my running lately, I have been playing in a rec volleyball league and working on some Nike Training Club workouts. On Monday, we played a team that had 3 former collegiate players on it. By former, I mean just graduated. Being 11 years out from my playing days, I am confident in my ability and skills, but am most certainly a step behind where I was when training was my life. We lost the game on Monday, and I left the facility feeling embarrassed and angry. They other team was cocky, stuck up, and not fun and light to play like most of our “Rec” league opponents. I hate that feeling. But then I started thinking about my NOW self as opposed to my 11 years ago self. When I was in the same position as the cocky girls we played Monday night, I am sure I was similar, and enjoyed beating up on older people. But I will tell you why they should be bowing down to me:

I am 11 years out of my volleyball career and I still was blocking the crap out of them.
I have the guts and moxy to put myself in that situation knowing that I am not the same 100% I used to be.
Those girls don’t know what it is like to be up all hours of the night nourishing a human being.
I created a human being with my own body!
I can work a 50+ hour week, cook, clean, and nurture my family while still looking to maintain my health and the health of my boys.
I am setting an example for my son, showing him that anything is possible and fitness is forever.
Those girls aren’t up at 5:30 to make themselves better.
Oh, and they certainly don’t know that people may not remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

I am a mom, a fit mom. A mom that is continuously trying to make herself a better person, wife, employee, and human. I know everyone is fighting some kind of battle, as I am. I know that there were probably days when I acted like them, but now I see the world in a different light. Someday they will too.

The best of intentions- Day 80/365

No parent finds out that they are going to have a child and says to themselves, “I am going to do everything in my power to screw this kid up.” I truly believe, well at least hope, that all parents have the best of intentions. They may not be happy about the situation they are in at the time that parenthood comes along, but no doubt their intent is to provide what is best for the child. The biggest problem is that no parent can teach their child things that they don’t know. If kindness is not the parent’s strong suit, there is a pretty good chance that it won’t be the child’s either.

Well my situation is pretty much the same. I have the best of intentions in raising Cub. I want him to be strong, articulate, smart, athletic… you know, a lot like his mother. But I have a fast temper, I am impatient, and I like to get my way… and so does my son. He is only 8 months old, and he is an exact replica of me. Poor guy. He is so smart, super fast, sweet and fiery. He has a lot of unnecessary rage in his future. I know from experience.

We are almost 9 months out from Cub’s birth, and I am as close to normal as I can get. I am back to my pre-baby weight, my hair is finally growing back, and (fingers crossed) weening will commence very soon! But lately my baby joy has turned to baby sorrow. I went through a spell of depression over the past few weeks as I sort of realized what my life is now. I am a slave to another, and my lack of productiveness, my instant rage at moments, and the lack of get up and go that I am now strapped with is overwhelming some times. Chas has been gone alot lately, the perks of being a coach’s wife, and the survival mode that must be initiated when he is gone makes for an exhausting few days. Plus I always miss him like crazy. Now that wrestling season is over, I am hoping to start working on some of the goals I have for myself, namely in fitness. I want to schedule a race, but have been hesitant to do so because I have to make sure schedules align.

There is certainly no shortage of excitement in our lives right now, but the new normal is taking some getting use to.

Day 38/366- The Irony of Parenthood

668bc110c6fa8462fda88543f5e47eeaThere are basically 3 elements to my life nowadays. The first is Parenting. The second is work, and the third is attempting to get back into shape. I am taking the first day by day. I mean, how else to do you parenting. Very little planning can be done, and the messes are inevitable. I still have yet to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time in going on 8 months. However, my little boy is growing up to be a fierce, tough and determined young man, but then again what else should I have expected? He is half Ginn after all.

Work is as busy as ever with no end in sight. It is satisfying to help the company grow, be in charge of a lot of the daily going abouts, and watch kids blossom into wonderful journalists. As we continue to grow, I am hoping that my role will continue to expand, as I feel like I am a good advocate for the brand and have spend the last 4 years of my life dedicated to its well-being.

The final is really what this blog is all about, right? I mean, I started The Running Year to not only document my goals and achievements, but I also wanted to hold myself accountable by having those things written in a place that more than just I could read.

dailyburn-logo-colored_0As I have told you on my last post, I have started using a service call The Daily Burn. It basically gives you access to workout videos via an streaming device. I have found it very convenient because I don’t have to pack up Cub and got to a gym or class. As soon as he goes down for a nap, I can flip on the Roku and work up a sweat. I highly recommend it to moms looking to get their body back. It is only about $15 a month, and I definitely feel like I have gotten my moneys worth in just the 3 weeks I have been using it.

So anyway, I decided to try a little bit different of a workout the other day. Instead of the normal tabata workouts that I had been doing, I found a hip hop dance workout to do. I thought it would be fun to try, as well as amusing, as I am not a dancer. I am just not coordinated in that way. Well I definitely didn’t disappoint. Honestly, I don’t know how one person could possible be as impossible at dance moves as I am. The coach would show a move and with all the confidence in the world, I would swivel, shake or shimmy the way I felt was appropriate to make myself look just like her… NOT HAPPENING. I was TERRIBLE! Honestly, I finally just laughed at myself and made up something that was as close as I could to what they were doing. It was a comedy act. Needless to say I am not elegant or graceful on my feet in the dancing sense.

Now, back to the title of this post. The irony of parenthood and trying to get back into shape after baby… When you are trying to get into shape and lose weight, exercise, healthy eating and water consumption are so important. Yet, as a nursing mother, I am getting absolutely NO sleep (I was up at 3 am turning on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for my 7 month old last night, and OMG that hot dog dance). A tiny human is sucking you dry every 3 hours, so if you sweat, you have to drink 2 times the normal amount of water to even break even. I am also hungry ALL THE TIME, partly because I get my furnace running when I exercise, so I burn calories more easily throughout the rest of the day, and while nursing, you need extra just to sustain your milk supply. It feels like a constant uphill battle. Let’s face it. It IS an uphill battle.

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Here’s the good news. I only have 2 pounds to go before I am back at pre-baby weight. I am feeling strong and confident about my body again. I am eating healthy, which is the best thing I can do for Cub, because what I eat, he eats. And finally, I am setting a good example for my son. Making time to exercise whether it be doing a Daily Burn class, running, taking a walk, whatever shows Cub how important it is to move, and hopefully that is a lesson that he will take with him for the rest of his life.

Day 33 of 366- The work is getting done

This year is already flying by, and my little baby is 7 months old. He’s crawling, talking, standing up on everything and is turning out to be this stubborn, tenacious little person. He is such a great combination of both Chas and me. We went to the doctor the other day, and he is in the 19% in height and only the 5% in weight. We are a little worried about that, but the kid is an eater. We just have to work a little harder I guess. Another light weight in the family.

I have spent the last 5 weeks working really hard to make good decisions and lose weight. After speaking with a nutrition coach, we decided that I was getting too few calories as a nursing mom, and that was one of the reasons why my weight had plateaued. After increasing my calorie intake, I started dropping again, and am getting closer and closer to my pre-Cubby weight.

I am super proud of my workouts lately. I actually have been doing some running and walking, but I have been taking at least one workout class a day, and I am always exhausted and starving the rest of the day. I have subscribed to the Daily Burn, and I really love it. It gives me so many workout options, and I think it is really worth it. I like pushing myself to do the workouts, and even when I feel tired, knowing that I can push through it gives me a lot of pride.

I need a direction right now, as I am feeling sort of lost besides work, dieting and raising Cub. I feel like I am drifting at the moment, and I need to find a project or something. Any suggestions? I’m open!

Week 1/52- Progress Begins

We are officially one week into the new year, and I am happy to report I am making good progress on my resolutions. I have run all but 1 day this week, and for I sat that day out for good reason. I played 3 volleyball matches on Sunday night, and my knees were so sore from diving that I could barely walk, let alone run.

My starting weight last week was 143.5 lbs. That is 8.5 lbs. above my pre-baby weight. My goal is to lose about 20 lbs. I would like to be close to 125 by Cub’s first birthday. I think this is doable in 6 months, and I am already making good progress. At the end of week 1, I am down 1.5 lbs. I honestly think I could have dropped more, as I know I could have worked harder than I did. The problem is that as soon as I start something, I quite often get interrupted. I try to walk while Chas is having practice, and Cub will start screaming, so we have to stop and move on to something else. The same happens with the blog actually. I have started 3 different posts this week, none of which I have finished. I lose my train of thought in the interruption and just can’t get back to what I was doing.

I am so missing Marathon Weekend this year. I need to be there. I miss the friends, the magic, the competition and the running. Next year I will be back, and I absolutely cannot wait.

 

Looking Back, Moving Forward

It’s been the best of years. It’s been the worst of years. My baby was born and has made our life full and sent us in a new direction. I haven’t slept in 6 months. Life is so vastly different when you become a parent. “I” have taken a back seat, which means running, health and fitness have all fallen to the bottom of the priority list and shear survival remains at the top of it.

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Yesterday was Cub’s half birthday. He is doing so well, with 2 teeth, eating (what seems like) gallons of baby food a day, and can play by himself with not much help from mom for a few minutes at a time. I finally feel like I am in a good place where I can move up the list just a few notches. And what a perfect time of year. January 1st always gives you hope for a new start and a refresh.

I am ready for a refresh. Being a new mom is so full of joy, but at the same time, it can make you feel completely deflated. I find myself trying to make it from nap to nap (Cub’s naps, not mine), and have to adjust my thinking as to cherish all my moments with him, not just when he is happy and cooing, but when he is crying and crabby too.

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With that being said, I have been pondering my New Year Challenges, which I post every year. I started this blog a few years back to hold myself accountable for my running challenges. It has since turned into a Jen’s life blog, which is fine, but has strayed from its original purpose, sort of like my life.

With just a few pounds of baby weight left to lose, I have upped my weight loss challenge. People only know what they are taught. I, fortunately, had parents that made sports and fitness a priority in their lives, as well as ours. Cub deserves the same. He deserves fresh, healthy meals, opportunities to run, jump and play, and a mom and dad that do everything in their power to stay healthy so that they can live a long, happy life with him.

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So… Here it goes! My 2016 New Year’s Challenges:

  1. Lose 20 lbs.
  2. Eat a cleaner, more simple diet
  3. Keep better track of the good things that occur in my life
  4. Judge less, listen more
  5. Attempt to run at least 1 mile everyday in 2016
  6. Document my strength and struggles here for you all to read

I know there are some lofty goals in there, but I am going to attempt to be a better person than I was this year. I think that all these challenges will make me a better mom as well. Cub deserves the best me, and I am going to do everything in my power to give that to him.

So here’s to being better, stronger, healthier and smarter in the new year.

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The road is long and winding

Well motherhood has certainly had its ups and downs. Baby Cub will be 3 months old tomorrow, and he is more than I could have ever hoped for. He is so fun when he is happy, cooing, kicking and learning new things. When he is not happy, he lets you know quickly and LOUDLY. Cub had found his voice in the past month, and he is not afraid to use it. In fact, one of his favorite past times is howling on command with his dad… yeah I stay out of that one.

When I say he is growing quickly, I am not exaggerating. He is already teething people! 3 month and we have teeth cutting through and making our little guy miserable. We have been on a constant stream of Tylenol and Orajel to keep him happy, and I have spent many more hours nursing than sleeping over the past 2 weeks. I just feel terrible for him. It’s really trying when you have a baby in pain because you want nothing more than to sooth them, but it just isn’t that easy. We are making it through, but wow, it is exhausting.

Cub is already in 6 month sleepers now. He is getting long and is close to 13 lbs. already. My little narcissist loves watching himself in my phone and really enjoys going to watch Chas’ wrestlers workout. He loves the movement and noise. This kid is going to be an athlete!

As for dad, Chas is finding it harder to carry him for long periods of time as he is getting heavier, but loves playing with him and getting him to talk back. Cub spends a few hours a week up at Chas’ office while mom has conference calls or appointments to attend. He had made friends with many of the volleyball players, and it seems that he hasn’t met a human he doesn’t like.

Mom, well I am doing better. The post-delivery issues I was having seem to be dulling with time, and I have started walking more with Cub in the stroller. I even finally hit my 10,000 steps a day goal this past week. I haven’t done that in almost 6 months. Running again is the next thing on my list, and I am planning on that happening sometime in the coming week. I continue to drop the baby weight, which I am working hard to get off. I still have about 10-12 lbs to go, but we are getting there, and I feel like I look better with each passing day.

Motherhood is hard. Like my mom told me, it never really gets easier. It just gets different. When we have gotten one thing figured out (sleeping for more than 3 hours at a time), something else arises (teething). We are taking it all in stride, and learning a lot along the way.