Since writing and blogging is something I want to be better at, and I really want to be better at my Photo-A-Day challenge (one of these months I'm going to finish more than a week!), I thought maybe I could try to combine the two. So for the month of Sept I am going to try combining the photo prompt with a post. I really love the photo challenges over on the blog, Fat Mum Slim. Chantelle does a bang up job every month. There are instructions and everything over at her blog if you want to play along too! I usually share my photos to Instagram, as that is my preferred social media platform.

So as with most things in my life I'm starting this a day late, but at least I'm starting! Here's to a happy September.

Commitment

Commitment is a very hard word apparently. I suck at this blogging thing. I suck at sticking to a workout routine. No really, I do. However, I feel I may be able to get better, maybe. Only time will tell. I know these are things I said, thought and felt so many times before, but this time I feel a little differently. I realize with my husband gone so much I need to find an outlet for frustration, for creativity, for motivation and for letting myself know its ok, even when I feel so sad and tired I don't want to do anything.

Over the past few years many things have changed and heaved and rearranged in my life. Jobs changed, both for me and my husband. With those changes now means he will spend significant amounts of time away from home, and I am realizing I am more dependent on the companionship of another human than I would ever like to admit. I've let the depression and apathy monster get the best of me, I've put on way more weight than I'd like to admit. I've started and failed at so many attempts to better myself and become a healthier version of who I am now. I am hoping that just journaling my thoughts through a blog may help with many of those things. So here it goes again.

Today was my new beginning. I ran a comfortable 1.5 miles, I wasn't any of the things I thought my out of shape self would feel. Instead of sore and tired and weak, I felt energized and good for the first time in a while. Here is to commitment to me and making myself what I know I can become.

Sometimes when you fail, you don't

I rode the struggle bus hard this morning on my run, or at least I feel like I did. Map My Run says otherwise. Its funny how it seems when I feel like I'm at my worst, my numbers seem to be better. My speed increased today versus the past couple days. Maybe I pushed myself harder and I just feel like it was harder (I suppose that's how this whole fitness thing works). I did change up my music. I guess a little Mamma Mia did the trick, thanks ABBA!

3 weeks into the Couch to 5K program. I'm still pretty pumped. However I'm more proud of the inspiration I have given to my friends and co-workers. My boss and another friend at work have both started the C25K and we've been more inspired to talk to our patients about health and fitness goals over the past couple weeks. A little accountability goes a long way. This is the first time I've really felt like I can't quit because I will not only disappoint myself, I'll disappoint so many other people. I'm still terrified of the prospect of running a half marathon in 25 weeks. Eek!

In Need of Advice

HELP! I am in desperate need of advice. If you've read a couple posts back about my re-dedication to blogging/running/fitness you will learn I am a terrible fund raiser. I need ideas of how to raise more fundage for my Tinkerbell Half Marathon commitment to Autism Speaks. I have no idea what to do. If anyone out there has been successful and not pushy in their efforts, please share! I know what I am not willing to do to raise money, and I want to make it fun!

Tomorrow is a new day

Tomorrow starts week 2 of my training. So far so good. I still feel pumped, I still am excited. I also received my first donation towards my fundraising goal (thanks dad!). Although, I have been slightly lackadaisical about my food intake this week. Its funny how easy it is to slip back into your junky eating habits. I still love my chips and salty, crunchy snacks. Bad habits are hard to break.

Each day is a chance to make better choices and tomorrow is a new day. I am truly blessed with friends and family who help keep me honest. I have 2 friends who have been checking in with me frequently to see how I'm doing. Its amazing how much that little bit of long distance support can take me. Running is a wonderful solo activity, it allows for a great amount of introspection. But knowing I have a team of friends encouraging me and cheering me on is one of the best feeling ever.

Here we go again!

Ok, this time I mean it. I am committing to blogging, at least for the next 27 weeks. Why 27 weeks you ask? Well, that is how I came to the decision to re-commit to this whole blogging idea, which I totally failed at so many times before.

Starting this past Monday I started training for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in Disneyland on January 20, 2013. So far so good, but I'm only 1 week in. I've decided to look at this in a one week at a time mentality. Running for me is hard enough. I will be honest with you all, I am in terrible shape. There I said it. I've gotten lazy and gained far too much weight. But like anything else in life, when in doubt, set a goal!

That goal is now about 27 weeks away, 13.1 fabulous miles through Disneyland and Anaheim, CA, and a fundraising goal of $1,250. I have decided to team up with the Autism Speaks team for this particular marathon. I am a terrible fund raiser, well, as an adult I am a terrible fund raiser. When I was little and cute this was SO simple! As an adult it is going to prove to be a much more daunting task.

However, like my training regime, I will also have to look at this in a one day at a time mindset. Every day is a new day and every day is an opportunity. If I can commit to running, raising money is a small task! If you feel moved to help me out, if you know any one who has been touched by Autism, or you are a true saint please help me raise money for Autism Speaks! If only 96 of you lovely folks give me $13.1 (that's only a mere $1 per mile I will run) I can easily reach my goal!

You can donate here (if this link doesn't take you directly to my page, you can search for me- Nicole Sorrentino) http://events.autismspeaks.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1020061&lis=0&kntae1020061=0E20024D1721473C9E8C51FD4218E260

Thanks! You all are amazing!

how much is too much?

I have been pondering this question as I'm debating at least 2 additional trips to Disneyland this year. I have many friends who are as die hard as I am, but they are dwarfed by the amount of friends who worry for my sanity. So it begs to reason, how many trips are too many trips in a single calendar year?

I am an out of state Disneyland annual pass holder. This in and of itself raises red flags in my non-Disney loving friends. To me after 2 week-long trips a year, it seemed silly not to get an AP, however, that logic has a few drawbacks. Those drawbacks happen to include, "but I have an AP now, I HAVE to make the most of it!" and "I can totally take a long weekend this weekend!" among a few others. If I take at least 4 trips in a one year period I've paid for my pass. But what's wrong with a few more? Right?

I'm a big fan of discount travel sites and utilizing any cost cutting measures I can. I am lucky enough to have a flight attendant friend who helps fuel my addiction with discount airfare as well. So with that all added together, I can rationally do a 4 day weekend for around $300 with hotel, car, and airfare. That leaves a lot of room for thought.

Addiction or not, is there really such a thing as too much Disney? The beauty, luxury, relaxation, fun and magic surrounding a few days at Disney is something you do not get to experience every day. Maybe one day I will tire of the magic, but until then, I think that at least 6 Disney filled (both Land and World) trips isn't too much nor is it really enough. Maybe I can squeeze in a Christmas trip too...