What’s your excuse?

Good morning, y’all!

As you know, I’ve been participating in the #SweatPink #NoExcuses challenge. The challenge is pretty amazing, actually. It’s all about getting moving, being fit and healthy, and staying motivated all year long. Many of us come off the New Year with high expectations of health and fitness, only to fall off the wagon at month’s end. #NoExcuses doesn’t let up for the entire year. So whatever excuse you have just won’t work here.

Today I’d love to tell you what #NoExcuses means to me. 

My story starts in 2010. I was one year postpartum. I was still carrying baby weight. At the time, my best friend was rail thin. She was a beauty, that’s for sure, but she had the rare body type and metabolism that allowed her to eat the contents of her entire fridge in one sitting, and not gain an ounce. Unfortunately I compared myself to her a lot, more than I should have, and I began realizing how truly unhappy I was in my own skin. Not only because my best friend was basically a supermodel, but because I couldn’t even fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes. I spent the summer buying new, larger sized tank tops and shorts *gasp* and I was straight up miserable. I decided I could take it NO MORE! 

I started running. And I haven’t stopped since.

My weight dropped, my muscles toned, my outlook on life changed. I was a much happier person a mere three weeks after I started running. I could see results, which kept me super motivated. I was even featured on LIVESTRONG.com as part of their My Plate tool for weight control. (I posted an entire dialogue about my weight-loss adventure titled “I’m a Livestrong Girl” for those of you interested in reading up on that.)

Now I’m at a healthy weight, I love the skin I’m in, and even though I still have (and probably always will) a baby pouch where my little people lived for 9 months, I am confident, happy, and determined.

I live my life day-to-day with a #NoExcuses outlook. I’ve come a long way since 2010. I couldn’t run for more than 5 minutes without taking a walk break. No sweat, right? Because you gotta start somewhere. And if I gave up and used and excuse then, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now.

Today, I’m in the third week of training for my first marathon. I’ve completed a 10-mile race, two half marathons, and I’ve got several more long distance races on my race calendar for 2015. And I’m looking forward to every single one. And not because I like racing. I prefer not to race, to be honest. But I love training. And I love that when I sign up for a race, I’m locked in. I don’t have a choice and I literally have no excuses.

#NoExcuses is a life-changing attitude shift. I love how far I’ve come, and I can’t wait to see how much farther I can go.

What’s your excuse?

xo

Are you participating in the #SweatPink #NoExcuses challenge? 

Fruits or veggies? 

Nuts or berries?