Isn’t she lovely

Alysia Montaño Runs USATF Championships Pregnant

Now, I know the human body is capable of incredible things but this is just another testiment to that.  I have the hardest time dragging my butt out of bed or off the couch to get a run in and this lady is motoring … WHILE MAKING A HUMAN.  I feel so lazy now……

Note: Pregnant ladies, check with your doctor first, always and consistently!

Seven months pregnant and running a half mile in slightly over two minutes and 32 seconds.  I can’t even.  I might be able to eat a meal in 0:2:32 if I was pushed into it.  When I ran the Marine Corps Marthon last year, there was a woman that was very visibly pregnant running the race as well.  Granted, she wasn’t running a Speedy Gonzales pace, but she was keeping a good 11-12 minute mile clip with her husband beside her.  26.2 with a baby on board?  Sheesh!  I see women with their swollen baby bellies gracefully striding on the dreadmill beside me at the gym.  I look at Alysia and women like that and think ‘Damn.’

Run, Momma, Run! (image from article)

Get it, girl.

Now I’m going to go drag myself to the gym.

10+ Reasons I Love My Ugly Body

Holy mac and cheese – I admire this woman so much.  With all of the weight shaming that happens intentionally and unintentionally now a days, it’s refreshing to see a woman so confident in her skin – even if that body isn’t one you’d see in a magazine.  Andrea has worked hard to be healthy(you’ll see from her pictures) and has a great sense of humor to boot.  She’s strong.  She’s flexible.  She’s a damned athlete too.  Get it, girl.  I can’t do a pull up!  I can’t do a cartwheel!  A split? A straddle? HA!  I’m jealous.

Boom. Strong (image from article)

Proof that you can do anything you put your mind to and reason why Andrea is force to be reckoned with.

you’re beautiful, it’s true.

I’m in a battle with myself.

I’m a fat ass.  No no, for real, I am.  This isn’t some kind of body dysmorphia issue.  Okay, maybe it is, but I am jiggly.  My wii fit mii is a pudge.  The scale is tipping over 182 (the most I’ve weighed EV ER).  Pants, shirts, you name it – tight.  I’m a milkshake in a plastic bag.  Dis.like.

Real talk time.

I’ve been battling with my weight since college.  When my ‘woman body’ decided to finally show up, I was already so comfortable in my 5’3 110lb frame that I’d be chilling in since high school.  I had cute clothes.  I looked cute in them.  I had ab lines.  Ab lines.  I could’ve used a little more in the top section, but that’s why they make awesome bras.    If I could go back in time and smack the shit out of younger me each time I uttered ‘Ugh, I’m so fat!’ I would.   Insert college here with a lack of physical activity, copious amounts of beer, bad food and little sleep.  The metabolism dropped and one day I was sitting in class and actually felt my stomach rolling over on itself.  Lovely.

We’ll all float on alright

Today couldn’t have been a more beautiful day for my first float experience.  I had heard about Halcyon from my trainer, Erik.  We’ve both got our aches and pains from injuries and we both want to continue doing what we do, which means recovery is key. We joke around about hyperbaric chambers and the healing pods from that movie Elysium.  E heard about the floaty place, told me and he had very little convincing to do.

A short sub/el ride to Girard Ave and an even shorter walk had me at 209 Girard – Halcyon Floats.

Oh hai

I had thoroughly read the website and came prepared- fresh out of the shower with no lotions, oils, perfumes, or deodorant. I walked in and was greeted by Lauren who explained the float to me a little bit more and then showed me to my room.

This is starting to feel very Fringe like…

There are two float rooms. I had seen pictures on their Facebook, but I was still a little nervous about the size of the box I’d be climbing into (hellooooooo claustrophobia!). Standard procedure is you come in, you strip down, shower up -no conditioner!, put in your ear plugs, turn on the floaty light, kill the room light, climb into the box and close the door.  Yes.  Close the door to that twin bed sized box that’s taking up most of the room.

What’s in the box?!