Almost Healthy

Good news, friends.  My cough is on its way out!  It's only taken three weeks,  but I'm finally getting there.  I'm hoping I'll be able to run by the end of the week.  All the weight I lost from my squats, planking and every other day runs will be shed yet again, and then some.

Oktoberfest this weekend!  I am so so so beyond pumped.  Favourite night of the year FOR SURE!  And I just recruited three more of my favourite people to go.  Then, off to the cottage for Thanksgiving with the fam jam and friends.  I can't wait.

Super short entry, but the cough starting to dwindle is a huge victory!  And Oktoberfest...  well, that's my xmas.   And long weekends are just heaven sent.

Much love,
M

Weekend Love

Oh my god, it was so gorgeous today (and still is!), so despite my incessant sniffles, I had to go for a run.  It wasn't the longest or greatest ever, but it was so nice just to breathe in fresh air.  Plus, there's something about the fall air that just makes my heart happy.  Caysee loved it too!

I made a huge to do list of things I need to get done today and while I have laboured away (pretty much all day long) I don't think I've stroked anything off of it other than "squats" and "run".  I still have a couple hours before I have to be anywhere, so I'll try and smoosh piano in since I really, really need the practice.  My teacher is probably like "you are the worst student I've ever had" every time I go in and haven't practiced.  Haha.  Then, Beertown tonight with one of my favourite people that I haven't seen in SO long!

Tomorrow = bridal show!  Favourite season in modeling world, hands down.  Despite the whole awesomeness of wearing wedding gowns and getting all dolled up, the girls I model with are usually the same ones every show and it's like being with my family. 

Hope everyone is happy a super weekend!

Love for life,
M

The Countdown Begins Today

Well, my friends, my christmas is just TWO WEEKS AWAY.  Oktoberfest...  the best time of the whole year!  And whilst I am breaking my tradition of opening night at Queensmount with Walter (who has signed my body four times), I am happy to try out a new venue with some of my favourite people (one of them being a special birthday boy!).  One of my slo pitch buddies hooked me up with a code to get free tickets to Bingemans on the 12th...  NO CATCH!  So, naturally, I ordered 10.  4 are spoken for, so I'm looking for 6 more people who'd like to hang out, get slightly intoxicated, dance to polka and then be extremely intoxicated by 9pm!  You know who you are.  Long weekend.  Oktoberfest.  Thanksgiving weekend.  My company.

In other news, I'm almost fully healthy again which means that I can (thank god) start running again.  Not only did I miss it, but as I got dressed after my shower today, I felt somewhat like a sausage.  The binging while ill, I'm sure, had something to do with that.  

In the meantime, please enjoy a couple of shots from last year's festivities.  As I do a countdown towards the best two weeks of the year, I'm sure I will find and/or post more.

Love, love and then some more,
Megs

Peacin' Out!

Being back at work is both invigorating and exhausting.  I spent a lot of the summer being an insomniac and this week has been awesome for tiring me out and getting me back to the real world.  Running every other day is also super helpful. I ran 3.92 km today without stopping and I powered up every hill I came across!  I'm super super proud of myself.

Tomorrow after work, I head for Albany...  Should be a great six hour drive with two of my Arbonne besties.  We have a conference all day Saturday and then another six hour drive home!  Hopefully I am awake enough for the entire drive!  And hopefully we all remember our passports!

Needless to say, it's unlikely I'll be posting tomorrow, so have an amazing weekend, my amazing readers!
 
I'm off to Kellie's for what will be a great evening of chatting, catching up and filling buckets.

Love always,
Megs
 

Running

I dumbly/smartly signed up to do a 5k obstacle course/zombie chase/run at the end of this month.  I've been a "runner" on and off for a few years now.  I use the quotations because I've been off more than on, and I was never really the biggest fan of running...  until this weekend.  Two things have made running progress from "dislike" to "like" (and hopefully one day to "LOVE"!): 

1) It is so underrated in terms of being alone and disconnected (and yet connected) from/to the entire world.  Running is one of the few times my phone is ignored, my music is pumped and I can ignore everything, except for myself.  It gives me time to think, evaluate, and then re-evaluate my first thought all over again.  I've come to many epiphanies lately while running, most of them related to personal growth and why I feel the need to compare myself to others constantly (this is a big one, but I'm definitely working on it). 

2) Finishing.  Starting out as a new runner is so tough because you can't go far, you get out of breath, and you feel like a failure because you spend so much time walking...  Lately, I've just started pushing myself to keep going.  If I'm unable to continue, I'll let myself walk and I'll pick something in the near distance "When I get to that ______, I'll start running again" and I do.  I'm starting to go further distances without stopping.  The best part about finishing at the cottage is the little lake.  I basically just strip down and dive in.  So amazing.  

I've already started losing weight and firming up areas that were giving me trouble and I know that continuing to run (and eating healthy) will get me into really great shape.  Additionally, I'm working on planking and doing squats every day to strengthen my core and to stop being such a flat ass!  Haha.

Maybe I'll even be in great enough shape to outrun the zombies on the 28th!  Here's hoping!

Much love and happiness!
M

I'm Back Part Deux

One of the ways I'm looking to grow is with my physical health. As many of you know, I've suffered from light-headed and fainting spells for a number of years now with no diagnosis from a number of medical professionals that I have seen.  One commonality between a few of the "I don't know"s and the "I'm not sure how to proceed with this" was the advice to drink more water.  My blood pressure has always been on the extreme low side of normal; it's usually never over 100 - even during stressful or anxiety-producing situations or spans of time.  After much time spent attempting to force myself to drink more water, I am finally at the point now that I can maintain some level of normalcy in terms of being hydrated.  Initially I had to choke down the water, pushing aside the feeling of drowning, fullness and/or vomiting to get my body used to the amount of water most healthy, able-bodied people drink.  Some days, it's still a struggle...  but then I think of losing part of a front tooth, a couple awful-looking goose eggs and having had my forehead glued back together, not to mention that these light-headed episodes take me out for an entire day, and all of a sudden, my body is much more accepting in taking that H2O.

Today, I hopped back on the running train.  Not only do I have two weeks before I have to appear in a bathing suit in what will likely be a fairly self-conscious scenario, but I also signed up for the Brampton Zombie Run 5k race/obstacle course at the end of September.  I intend to work out at least five days a week, whether it be running/jogging, walking Caysee and/or biking, but here it is written in stone.  I also plan on doing 100 squats a day for the next week (to start) with a 5lb. kettle bell.

Additionally, I am going to stop eating junk food for meals.  Chips for dinner?  No.  Three energy bars for breakfast?  Absolutely not.  8 pieces of toast with jam and/or garlic bread an hour before bed?  NO MORE (so disgusting).  It's not realistic for me to cut out junky food altogether; doing that would enable me to binge and then feel bad about it and then eat more to deal with my emotions.  Ahh, to be me sometimes.

I'll make sure to keep you updated on my journey(s) in all aspects of life so that a) those I don't necessarily keep in touch with on a regular basis get their "Meaghan" fix (totally kidding), b) I get writing on a regular basis and c) I am accountable as soon as I write things down.  Plus, I will have a running record of my small victories on a daily basis!

As always,
much love and then even more!
- M

Happy Hump Day!

Today was super!  Yummy food, a visit from a friend I WILL be better at keeping in touch with, piano, a run, going to see the fam...  Good Wednesday!

Love and more love!
- Meaghan

Longest!

Tonight, I made it to an hour straight of running...  That's the longest I've ever gone!  I actually have decided that I want to run in a half marathon.  There's one in April in Elmira and I think I'm going to go for it!  With Brendon's help and advice (thanks for volunteering and you don't know it yet!), I hope to set a fairly rigorous schedule to get myself on track.  I won't lie, I'm really, really excited and I'm thankful for something to look forward to at a time when I so desperately need it.

Can't stop, won't stop!
Love!
- Megs

Run Run Run!

RUNNING!  I ran today with Cays and it was pretty invigorating.  AND it was absolutely gorgeous out.  I plan on running a bunch bunch bunch more this month and then some...  Mexico in four months!  Ahhhhh!

Love and sunshine!
- Meaghan

Cool Runnings

Running in the rain!!!

Caysee and I are zonked.

Love and light.
- Megs

Cottage Life

There are lots today!

- Watching a child throw a temper tantrum and smiling about it because I still have another week of holidays free of children!
- Caysee listening when we called her after she ran away
- Getting down the the last chapter in my book
- Showering the sand, sunscreen and beach debris away