Couch to ATHLETE!

 *Video displayed above:  https://youtu.be/BGLGzRXY5Bw You say you got a real solution Well, you know We'd all love to see the plan It's a hard thing to acknowledge and accept falling back into old bad habits. It is also hard to accept when tools used in the past no longer work, AND when tools used in the past are necessary. I'm going to acknowledge something here that can be an uncomfortable topic for some people, including me, but really shouldn't be. After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I went through some serious depression. I remember sitting on the kitchen floor of my kitchen sobbing over the fact that I MIGHT lose my mobility, I MIGHT lose my livelihood, I MIGHT never run a marathon again, and so on. What I had to come to terms with is I might NOT, and that I wouldn't know until it happened. Shortly after diagnosis, I ran another marathon, I got a couple of cool promotions, and I am still mobile. Part of my progress in recognizing the fact that I cou

Some say it takes 21 days to establish a habit, and then 66 days to make it a strong habit. Look it up and you will find many studies about it. What's interesting is that you will find research that indicates the 21 day path to a habit is a myth, but you will also find research that supports the claim. What I know as true: My mind is a powerful organ, and regardless of what research says, I can make a decision and stick with it. I mean, I did quit drinking Diet Coke awhile ago and even when put in right in front of me I push that pop away every time.  There are seven pillars of self care that I have learned over the years. The Pillars include: Knowledge Mental Health Physical Activity Healthy Eating Risk aversion Good Hygiene Rational use of Products Seven pillars has always been WAY too much for my brain, and I prefer to categorize and put these pillars into broader pillars for myself. I like to focus on: Mental Wellbeing Physical Wellbeing Spiritual Wellbeing This 3 pillar approa

I used to take tremendous pride in my athleticism; so much so, I got a tattoo to celebrate some of my accomplishments. My friend Chris stood in a doorway watching when the needle first pierced my skin to etch my pride, my joy, what I lived for, on my leg. Chris is a friend that has been by my side at every pivotal moment from my teenage years, to this day. She shows up for me, always. In fact, the first night she spent away from her kids was to support me during my second Half Iron distance triathlon, so it only made sense for her to be there when I got the tattoo. People have invested so much into me and my athleticism. I invested so much into me and my athleticism, so to let it all go is, quite frankly, embarrassing. To go from self propelling myself 26.2 miles by foot, and 70.3 miles by swim bike run, to struggling with getting out of the house with my sneakers on is not a good feeling. It sucks... So how does one go from Couch to Athlete back to Couch? I wish I could put my finger