Fitness recap for the past few months

The downside of having three blog posts and working as a reporter is that sometimes, things suffer. So here is a recap of my current fitness challenges and state.

In the past few months, I have participated in a number of races including:

My first Tough Mudder!!!!

The Burpee 5K (yup, it was as bad as it sounds)

The Rockman Challenge (3 miles padds, 16 miles bike, 5K run, ¼ mile military style obstacle course and 50 meter sack hop across the finish line)

It's Glow Time 5K

Warrior Dash Wisconsin

Don't Mess With My Tutu (virtual race)

Still upcoming this year:

Ugly Sweater Run

Run, Santa, Run

(both set for Dec. 6, 2014)

Earlier this year, I was fairly heavy into working out and was working with a personal trainer on Sunday for an hour for about 10 weeks. The reason? I was with a group of five people who were training to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro from July 1-7. Our group received strength and endurance training, and it really paid off.

Day 4 climbing up Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro, "The Roof of Africa"

Unfortunately, I had a little mishap the day before the climb. I was getting into a car in Tanzania and did not have my head completely in when I stepped up into the van. As a result, I hit my head, with much force, on the doorframe, causing my neck to snap back violently. I was in tears immediately, and a rather large bump formed on my head.

I figured the safest place for me was on Mt. Kilimanjaro - what is there to hit my head on there? So the next day I went with the rest of my team to begin the ascent. I did not make it completely to the top, I had to turn around at about 16,404 feet. But considering it was my first mountain climb and my first time above 3,000 feet (and I was the only person on our team who had never climbed a mountain before), I was pretty pleased with the result.

After I returned stateside, I was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, which really threw a twist in my workout schedule for two months. As a result, I have put on 8 lbs. (and probably gained back the 1.1 percent body fat I lost on Kili). However, I am doing much better now and am determined to get back into a good fitness regime.

Creating a pattern is the tricky part. I work long hours and have had some setbacks in my personal life, but I am happy to report that I ran 2.2 miles last night and another 2.2 miles before work this morning. It would be great if I could get another run in today still and slowly make this a pattern. I have found that when I run in the morning, I have more energy and a better attitude when I go into work.

I am trying to make a conscious decision to change, and that includes blogging on a regular season. Here is to a new and improved me!

Embarking on a new year

My horrible habit of not blogging regularly creeps back up - it has been almost a year since my last post. Let's hope I can do a little better this year, huh?

So my 12 Weeks to a Better Me went as planned, and I successfully trimmed 15 lbs., bringing me down to 180 lbs. from 195.

Me with a friend at a martial arts tourney in March 2012.

Now, I am back at 190 lbs., but I am not upset. Why, you may ask? Well, my double chin has disappeared, I have lost some weight from my midsection and my thighs do not touch as much as they used to.

In the last year, I have stepped up my training. I do martial arts about twice - sometimes three times - a week, I have gotten back into running again, and Artemis and I love our walks. Also, during a recent doctor's visit, I learned that my body fat percentage is at 30.5 percent. It used to be 35 percent. So while it may be higher

Me this past December. Would you believe I weigh the same?

than it should be, I am celebrating the fact that I have shed 4.5 percent body fat! And it is just the beginning!

So while my scale may be telling me one thing, I know the truth: I have traded some of my fat for muscle, and muscle weighs more than fat. I used to look at the scale, look at the mirror, and hate myself. Now, I am thinking, my weight is not that bad. I would like to lose another 10 lbs, but I am quite happy with how I look.

That being said, things are not perfect. I have been having lower back pain recently, and as it turns out, my pelvis, lower lumber and neck are out of alignment - my neck is actually out of alignment in 2 areas! So my running has taken a hit, and my martial arts, at least until my spine gets back in place.

But I am hopeful that things will work out, and I am not allowing myself to give up completely. I do some stretching on a balance ball, and still get out for short walks. I stick to eating healthy meals, and look forward to slowly trimming the fat, one inch at a time.