Tough Mudder Madness Team St. Louis: Meet Kim

Kim didn’t win the Tough Mudder Maddness giveaway but she has registered for the St. Louis event and we will be running together!

Hi – I’m Kim – and that is ME in my tight-as-all-get-out Mudder Training T-shirt. First let me explain…. I was so excited and nauseous to register, I thought – I want a T-SHIRT to train in and one at the finish line… I wanted an extra large – but ordered a large because I thought it would make me slightly uncomfortable to wear a shirt that didn’t have a lot of bag-and-sag to it… well, imagine my surprise when I pulled out this –ahem – LARGE shirt that was more like an extra-small!!! At first I was disappointed – but then, I decided it was PERFECT for my before pictures.

Ok – back to me… I am 45 years old and currently weigh 208 pounds. My “goal” weight is 140ish pounds – which cracks me up because that’s what I weighed when I got married 24 years ago and I thought I was SO overweight then. I know most of you can relate to the battle we fight every day that exists between our ears – but as I gave some thought to this whole Tough Mudder journey and writing a guest post, I was struck by how I have let the numbers on the scale define my daily repetitive, caustic, insane thinking. I remember the first time I stepped on a digital scale when I was 13 years old… I had ripped through puberty – lost my baby fat and developed curves and hips. I went to a friend’s house and she showed me the fancy scale – I couldn’t wait to hop on!!! We were in our bathing suits so I knew my weight would be accurate – and it said 111 pounds. My friend weighed 93 pounds, had no boobs or hips and she gasped at my weight. From that point on – I was fat no matter what the scale said. It has been a mind game ever since – and I was losing the game.

I have spent my entire life since then believing I couldn’t do anything physically challenging because I was fat. I believe that had a direct result on my being afraid to do anything adventurous. My weight consumed my thinking… I let my fearful thinking dictate my every move. I didn’t go to college. I didn’t pursue any particular path that interested me – but I became one heck of a follower!!! I learned I was an excellent encourager, supporter and cheerleader for everyone else – but me.

Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely LOVE my life! I love my hubby and two amazing kids (23 y/o son and 18 y/o daughter). I love my job and the people I work with – and I wouldn’t change a SINGLE thing about my life!
This brings me to now – in a moment of sheer crazy – I entered this contest and am now on a path that is all about ME. If you care to follow along and see my crazy up close – I invite you to follow me @ zerotomudder.tumblr.com

Roni, rather than ask you any questions, I just want to say thank you for putting yourself out there for myself and others to be inspired by – and to relate to. I can’t wait to see you in St. Louis! ;O)

You are so welcome Kim! I can’t express how excited I am by all of this!

I haven’t had time to reach to everyone I’m running with this year, but if you want to also introduce yourself on the blog please send it to me. You are all so inspiring!!

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Be your own self-care SUPERHERO.

This was *so* not the plan for today, but I really need me a tiny break to snag back my superhero status & SPREAD the superhero smiles around OAKtown.  Cape and ALL Im off to cavort & cause trouble. And LAUGH.  Because for ME laughter is the ultimate in self-care.

Guess what? Ive decided to change things up today.

Spontaneously.

Join me?

Tags: I Am My Own Superhero, Ive gots CAPE!, OAKtown smiles, self-care

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A Silent Sensational Sunday

I was planning a more detailed Sensational Sunday post but I’m just not feeling up to it tonight. I’ve been fighting a funk and I tried my hardest to get over today, but it’s lingering. So instead of being long winded and giving a play-by-play, I’m just share some of the photos I shot today.

Looking through them make me smile. That’s what I needed.

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OAKtown six weeks later…

my REAR VIEW mirror…

It blows my mind out, as the Tornado no longer says, Ive been in OAKLAND for six weeks.

It feels as though it’s the perfect time to look backward (fleetingly! ephemerally!!) take stock and see how well I did (or didnt do) with those lies I told myself back in Austin.

I give you my OAKtown musings.  (Too long.  Too rambling.  You’ll have that.)

I freakin love the diversity.  VISUALLY.  Id grown so accustomed to how all the homes in my ATX ‘hood looked the same (limestone anyone?) I’d stopped noticing.   My new Oakland ‘hood is a FEAST for the eyes. one.small.example.

I freakin love the PEOPLE diversity.  I’d thought Austin was diverse.  Everyone informed me Id adore the diversity in Oakland & I noticed it the moment we stepped off the plane.  Our Jew-By-Choice, tattooed/Born-A-Jew, & Jewtemalan trio is quite the boring family in our new town….and I love it! we are sooooo dull.

I love the people.  From the moment we deplaned & the child was presented with this to last week when we were both invited on a spontaneous play date— the people in Oakland are friendly and welcoming.Oakland is me.  For myriad reasons.  All crystallized in the fact there’s very little emphasis on the trappings of the vessel.  No need to be fancy.  Fantastic if you choose to always look amazeatastic.  The vibe is completely (all together now) those who mind dont matter and those who matter dont mind. Im myself…and thats ok!

Im finding my Cheers.  I joined a gym.  Less for the exercise experience (Im still PLAYout at home mcgee) and *all* for the stop working, get out of the house & see other people! factor.  The other morning (brace yourselves) a member remembered my name.  Small victories, People.  Small victories. l’chaim!

We’ve found our tribe.  Oakland doesnt BAT the proverbial EYELASH at the fact we’re a motley crew of none-too-religious Jews.  We’re spiritual.  They’re accepting.  We’ve found our tribe. how misfits celebrate Sabbath

There are many members of my other tribe(s) here, too. (throws up  GLUTEN FREE gang-sign)  Ren Man was perplexed by my excitement at discovering the below in a movie theater concession stand (given the fact Im still not eating processed). For me it was yet another sign how inclusive my new home is. GF at a movie theater?!

Ive gots an office!  There is a Starbucks close by.  We all know Id not be one to write at a Starbucks.  Not my spirit.  Ive found my coffeeCHEERS and it has free wi-fi. misfit office. no.cal.branch

My yammerings of LOVE *aside*—-Ive been whining.

Complaining.

LAMENTING.

There are two things about my new town I cannot (yet) seem to let go:

the cold and the smoosh.

The former I *think* Ive gotten the hang of dressing properly for.

The latter Im confident I’ll grow accustomed to (Texas = spacious.  Who knew I adored it so?).

I shall learn to navigate the  smooshed-situation or trade in my vehicle for a….an…uh something which is coming soon and I cannot divulge yet. (<—-foreshadowing!!)

Narrow streets. Big car.

The chill Ive embraced.

Ive learned the fact Ive surrendered flipflops & tank tops does not mean Im not myself.

we’ve bundled

Im still myself.

Id forgotten how I LOVE TIGHTS!

we create our *own* color

now it’s NEVER too hot for this under clothes!

I bring my own blue skies

Still, more days than not, youll find me wearing this under my layers.:

my version of a commitment ring

Im here for the proverbial LONG HAUL as evidenced by the fact I have tattoo plans.

This.

Next year. 

On my ONE-YEAR-OAKtown-resident-’iversary (just the oak tree):

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Yoga for the Head+Heart (guest post).

I’m so honored to be sharing with you my passion and heart for yoga.

I had the delightful pleasure of meeting MizFit on the yoga mat at our yoga photobooth at the Fitbloggin Conference several months back.

If you’ve never done yoga, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Normally, you have to show up on the mat a few several classes, get into downward dog a few dozen times, and relax deeply into Savasana before you really start getting it. Getting that yoga is more than just exercise. Here’s the secret: a really good yoga practice does more for your head+heart than it did for your bones+muscles.

Granted, most people, myself included, were initially attracted to yoga for the physical and health benefits. In a classic over-achiever fashion, I was attempting to run multiple marathons last year & thought I’d take up yoga to avoid getting injured with all those miles. Extended stretching would keep me loose & limber, core strength and muscle toning would help with my endurance, and my klutzy self could use more coordination and balance in my life in general.

Do me good in my head & do me good in my heart. Class after class, I’d show up on the mat. Stretching further, bending more each week. But also, softening, calming, releasing, shifting, and loving.

Each pigeon required me to release- both my muscles and my expectations of my body. Each triangle invited me let go of perfect and accept where my arms & hips shifted that day. Every camel pose taught me to bend over backward, literally & figuratively, for myself, which can only be done with an open heart. Each warrior I challenged me to look in the mirror and see a powerful, beautiful body at my beck and call 24 hours a day.

Put simply, each and every pose was an invitation to physical posture that held doors open wide for head+heart lessons. Leading me through practice was the gentle voice & calming guide: Listen to your body, let go of your expectations, be kind yourself today, breath deeply into wherever your body is calling for air, rest when you feel the need, make this your practice, it doesn’t matter what anybody else is doing, what pose is your body yearning to do, find your own rhythm, and so many other soul nourishing nuggets in each class.

Beginning to practice regularly opened the door for me to value self-love, self-care, body-love, gratitude, peace, and emotional well-being just as much as I valued my physical well-being. I still go to yoga to get my stretch on and see how well I can balance in tree pose, but I deeply desire the way it keeps my monkey mind on track and my heart softened to myself and the world around me. If you’ve never tried yoga or been to a yoga class that was soul nourishing, I encourage you to give it a try a few more times, find the studio & instructor that are right for you & simply show up on the mat, without expectations, and with an open heart.

Amanda is the spiritual gardener at Grow Soul Beautiful, a daily blog that blends yoga, photography, and soul nourishment to encourage women to embrace their beautiful inside and out. Our mission is to feature a variety of ways that readers can enrich their lives through self-love, creative endeavors, and listening to the gentle whispers of their hearts.

The Beauty of Yoga is that it’s a great way to connect mind+body, and the Beauty of Photography is that it’s an easily accessible creative outlet for everybody. To help you Grow Soul Beautiful, we feature an incredible mix of “light workers” who are offering e-courses, workshops, retreats, books, and more to nurture your spirit and nourish your soul.

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I AM a foodie (CaitPlusAte responds)

I’m a foodie.

I say that with total, complete confidence. The statement is 100% truthful.

Now ask me WHY I call myself a foodie. Well now, I’m happy you asked!

I’m a foodie because the perfect dish awakens a passion inside of me. The first smell of a long-loved favorite meal’s aroma induces hours’ worth of memories. A mind-blowing bite, chewed and swallowed in seconds, sparks minutes upon minutes of enthusiastic conversation and reflection. I experiment throughout consumption of my plate, creating unique flavor combinations by picking out different components to spear with my fork and make up each taste. I eat, appreciate, and repeat.

Sometimes, I spear with chopsticks.

A special restaurant can make me feel as if the world outside does not exist. Seeing a unique ingredient combo or preparation method on a menu elicits a squeal of excitement. I believe each dish’s designer puts a part of him or herself into the food, and that food is ordered and devoured by a foodie as a professor devours books, as an artist takes in paintings at a museum. A foodie is in awe of the creations of other foodies, and lives to experience them.

A foodie and her dad.

Food is so much more than something to shove in one’s mouth on the go just to get hunger out of the way. We are fortunate as humans to need to consume food to nourish our bodies and be at our best. The joy that can come of food is a gift that is not to be taken for granted. It is a special and essential part of life that, as it nourishes the body, feeds the soul. Food is our common ground. We all need it. We can all share this passion. It can be a great divider, but is an even greater unifier.

A foodie and her mom.

A foodie understands all of this, whether he or she has always understood or has had to learn. Foodies are open-minded and respectful of others. They will give any pairing, any use of an ingredient, any cuisine a chance. If they do not like what they taste, they will move on, but also be willing to taste again in time. They will continue to seek out new and exciting ways to stimulate the palate, and the best part is, they will never run out of the ways to do so.

That is because of the existence of other foodies. So long as humans exist, we will need food, and so foodies will exist and create. Foodies long to turn their loved ones into foodies because they want to share the passion they feel with each meal, each snack. Foodies understand that every meal CAN be made special and unique, but does not HAVE to be, so long as each bite is savored and enjoyed and appreciated for what it is – nourishment, memories, emotions, a great equalizer.

Nourishment from salad, happiness from wine, and memories from a friend.

I love bacon. I love broccoli. I love ice cream, and I love seafood. I love wine, and I love coffee. Foodies know no boundaries. A foodie does not limit him or herself to one food group just because he or she enjoys another. For foodies, balance can always exist because of the great variety of food consumed. Moderation can exist because of the acceptance of a vast amount of different forms of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. But foodies don’t have to like everything. I don’t like watermelon, grapes, or beef jerky. But I don’t discount the happiness those foods bring my loved ones and ones I will never meet. I accept and respect their tastes, and ask for the same respect in return.

Salad and wine – balance.

After reading this if you still don’t consider yourself a foodie, that’s fine. But my hope is that more often than not, you will read this and realize you ARE a foodie. You may not enjoy the finest of wines or chicken pate, but if you moan in delight at the first bite of your favorite chocolate cake or can go on forever about a great meal you had at a restaurant, then you my friend are a foodie.

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Cascadian Farms Cereal Whoredom: Cinnamon Crunch and Multi Grain Squares

When the reality of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) started to sink deep down into my cranium, I thought it meant RIP to my cereal whoredom forever. Admittedly, right now I still buy cereals like Apple Jacks & Froot Loops for the family, but it’s in a weaning-off, dwindling down kind of way.

I haven’t forced them to go cold turkey, yet the purchases of the crap cereal are happening less and less. There will indeed come a time when that stuff won’t be in my house at all.

But alas! Cascadian Farm is cereal whoredom approved.

I’ve been on the lookout for healthy knockoffs of mainstream cereal for the family to stuff into their hungry jaws. In the past it hasn’t gone well. It led to rogue cereals of pure nastiness. But organic companies are finally starting to step up their tasty game.

Cascadian Farm Cinnamon Crunch is an excellent alternative to Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It’s got a light kiss of cinnamon, a nice crunch and less sugar, but still totally satisfying. The amazing thing is, you can taste that it’s organic’y. The absence of artificial crap really shines through and makes it taste that much better.

Cascadian Farm Multi Grain squares is comparable to Multi-Bran Chex, but Cascadian’s flavor is waaaay better and comes with all the tasty perks of organic and non-GMO, along with all their other products (according to their website).

See that! I’m making progress. My family is transitioning away from crap cereal and my own personal cereal whoredom is no longer in jeopardy. It shall remain intact.

Cascadian has some other stuff out, too, like Fruitful O’s and their new Chocolate O’s. But I can’t speak on the taste. I haven’t tried those just yet.

But hold on there! There’s two drawbacks you gotta know about: Cascadian comes in smaller packages and can be pretty dang expensive for the size — close to $4 per box, if not more. But it’s still worth you picking up at least one box if you haven’t already. Give it a try and allow your taste buds to experience the healthy, fanciful flavor. If cereal isn’t your thing, just keep any kids in mind that cling to you frequently. Young children are skilled at cereal hoovering, so you may as well make it better for them.

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