Bananzattack

Top Ten Favorite Things About 2009

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:04:00 -0600

10. Being Blonde
I tried my hand at being blonde over the summer of 2009 and I did, as they say, ‘have more fun’. I didn’t think I could pull it off but a little piece of blonde stayed with me even now that I’m back in brunette. I’ll revisit the lighter locks again in 2010!

9. Sobriety
I took my last drink of alcohol on October 10th, 2008. That means 2009 was a completely sober year for me! I’m not doing this because I was an alcoholic (though I might have been becoming one), and I’m not doing it because of the empty calories in beer. I’m doing it because I remain clearheaded and in charge of my own decisions. I never wake up regretting what I did last night (or wondering what it was that I did!). I never suffer on a Saturday morning because I overindulged on a Friday night. I don’t need to lean on liquid courage for a night out. And I rarely spend more than $10 at a bar!

8. Pain in the Park
What could be more fun than a good old fashioned homemade workout with a dozen fun people at a beautiful Milwaukee park? Nothing, that’s what! I’m so glad I discovered Pain and all the people that make it happen. I can’t wait til the weather gets nice again so we can pick up where we left off. Keep up the good work, Painers!

7. Milwaukee Admirals
Last year Tom took me to an Admirals game. I had fun! I went to another, and another. I was hooked. This year our Christmas gift to each other is season tickets to the Admirals. The thing about hockey is, I get it — the puck goes in the net = score! No safeties or whatchamajigs. Just fierce aggression on a sheet of unforgiving ice. In a strange twist of irony, I (a girl who doesn’t know the difference between a first down and a traveling call) might even be able to call myself a sports fan. And that’s pretty awesome.

6. Disneyland
Going to Disneyland with my brother, sister-in-law, and my niece and nephew for a week in August was the greatest fun I’ve had in ages. Wade and Basia, you’re amazing people and you’re raising two of the best kids I’ve ever met. I missed you the moment I left.

5. FitMilwaukee
When you are starting out on a fitness journey, there are so many things you have questions about. I was in that place just a year ago. I’m not an expert on fitness by any means, but I have learned a few things over the past year. I enjoy sharing them with others through the FitMilwaukee.com website. I am still learning while I’m researching articles, and discovering new tips from all of you that read, RT, and comment on our posts. I think 2010 is going to be an amazing year for Fit Milwaukee.

4. Twitter
I joined Twitter in 2006, began using it more actively in 2007, and tweeted like crazy in 2008. It wasn’t until 2009 that I began to venture out and meet people from Twitter. I struggled for a long time with being socially anxious and awkward. I believed I sucked at small talk and wasn’t interesting enough to be introduced to. Many people invited me to “tweetups” but I was hesitant to venture outside my comfort zone without a safety net. After meeting just a few people here and there, I began to come out of my shell more. I began to realize how positively AMAZING Twitter people are, and as I went to more events I found that I was actually able to converse with almost anyone! Twitter became reason for the introduction and the default topic when I was fumbling for what to say. This says nothing of the amazing bonds I’ve made with people on Twitter, but speaks more to the power of Twitter for social networking — social media the way it was MEANT to be used. Oh and also, Twitter is just plain RAD.

3. The Marathon
If there is anything that has changed my life more than Twitter, it’s running. Running has become a part of me just as much as Twitter, and I believe the two go hand in hand. Yes, it was ME out there pounding the pavement for over 1,000 miles in 2009. But I couldn’t have done it without the support of my friends — and at this point in my life the majority of my ‘friends’ are through Twitter! My absolute favorite moment of the year was immediately AFTER crossing the finish line at the 2009 Lakefront Marathon. I was exhausted, decrepit, and felt like I was dying… and I looked up to see a dozen gorgeous faces and bright, beautiful signs. It wasn’t the gates of heaven retrieving me from an untimely death at the finish line. It was my Twitter marathon support crew! I am overwhelmed with emotion now just thinking about that outpouring of support. Everyone who came to cheer me on that day (you know who you are <3), I cannot thank you enough. The experience was made 100 times more memorable because you were there.

2. Friends

Tracey G- I am so blessed to have met you and found a running buddy in you this year! Your dedication inspires me time after time. I’m sure about a thousand people on Twitter would agree! You’re a great writer and we make a good team on FitMilwaukee.com. I am so glad to call you a friend!

Tom B- My boyfriend probably won’t read this but there needs to be a shout-out to acknowledge all he’s done for me to support me over the last year. He does laundry and listens to me whine about being sore. He pays for my personal trainer and keeps dinner warm until I get home from my workouts. I love you Tom, and thank you so much for being there for me!

Brennan S- Thanks for all your hard work on FitMilwaukee. You’re the idea guy! Keep it fresh and we’ll keep it coming. And a special thank you for helping me come out of my shell this year.

Bruce D- You’re one of the funniest people I know. It’s been great getting to know you, because we’re kindred spirits in more than a few ways. Thanks for being there to listen and offer support. Keep up the good work on your return to running and your fitness routine. You inspire!

Mike C- It’s been great getting to know you at various tweetups around the city. Your commitment to running 110 miles in December has really shown me what Dailymile/Twitter/FitMilwaukee has the power to do when paired with a little dedication from people. Plus, you’re hilarious.

Sara S- Sara, you are amazing. If anyone ever said a bad word about you I’d just about fall over. I have enjoyed our chats because you are so honest about everything in your life. You’re easy to like. I have a Twitter crush on you from the bottom of my heart.

Nick S- Nick, you were one of the first people I met from Twitter and it was awesome connecting with you right away. We’ll always have Roscoe. And pie.

Jim S- Jim, what can I say? We’ve become great friends this year and you’ve helped me through some tough times. Thanks for being there. “Milwaukee area good guy” is an understatement.

Joey Blatz- Whether you know it or not, you’ve become more than a friendly neighborhood liquor store. You’re a friend to many people in Milwaukee! When everyone jokingly boo’d you at the holiday tweetup, I think it really showed what a fun and great guy you are, and everyone is just as glad to know you as I am. I hope your business and adventures continue to thrive in Milwaukee - you deserve the success!

John A- I know you’re my trainer but I consider you a friend! You believe in me more than I believe in myself sometimes. Thanks for listening and for pushing me to the limits. I recommend you to anyone who will listen!

Running buddies/Dailymile friends - (Krista, Tracey, Rochelle, Julie, Dan, Sarah S, etc) You’ve helped me through some tough miles, and we’ve had some good conversations this year. Thanks for joining me out there through the good and the bad. It helps me to hear about your ups and downs and trials and accomplishments, so keep up the good work. It’s not easy but that’s why we do it!

I missed so many of you. But please know that you’re all appreciated! I hope 2009 taught you a few things, and that 2010 brings you health and happiness.

1. Me! I have grown to love who I’ve become throughout 2009, thanks to all the things listed above. I’ve gained an entirely new attitude toward life and I look forward to each day. 2010 is going to be amazing.

Check me out as I get a perfect strike on the Human Hockey Puck...

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:19:30 -0600

Check me out as I get a perfect strike on the Human Hockey Puck at last night’s Admirals game!

GPOYW: In which I am wearing something festive and this may...

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:19:00 -0600

GPOYW: In which I am wearing something festive and this may never happen again edition. Oh and that’s my sister, ain’t she cute?

thefondest: missworld: gauntlet: sarahmc: amberlrhea: (via...

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:11:25 -0600

thefondest:

missworld:

gauntlet:

sarahmc:

amberlrhea:

(via macaroononastick)

Don’t forget the vagina tutorials!

Accurate.

Moving the overly dramatic posts down the page a bit...

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:30:49 -0600

…. with filler!

Yay Roscoe! Go Admirals!

Smart Lady.

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:23:28 -0600

TotallyHeather wrote (in response to my low-point post this morning):

You’re doing it for you. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks or does. We all have different bodies and we all have different ways of maintaining our bodies. Some people eat until they need to be moved by a crane. Others don’t eat at all until they look like starving children in third world countries.

You worked hard to look how you look now. You should be proud of that. It definitely shows. And from all of your hard work, you’ve gained knowledge about a subject that she probably knows very little about.

People who have to work for very little in life never have a lot to gain. People who have to work and struggle for what they want, they reap more rewards than just what their goal was.

So just remember that you worked hard. You learned a lot. You became a more knowledgeable and learned person. You’ve taken away so much more from your experience than she has by just being blessed with skinny genes.

Thanks Heather. :-) And thanks everyone else who reached out too. It means more than you know!

GPOYW - Gratuitous Paragraph(s) of Yourself Wednesday

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:05:49 -0600

I’m stuck in a rut. I’m frustrated about how hard I’m working and not seeing any progress. Most of it is all in my head, which is actually the worst place it could be. It all kind of stemmed from this weight loss challenge, when I realized I need to do even MORE to lose more weight (if that’s what I even want to do?). That’s when I get all kinds of crazy.

Then this chick said something to me yesterday that bugged the crap out of me.

“You’re doing so good, I’ve been watching you for a year working out with John and you look great.”

I beamed and said, “Thanks, he’s a great trainer, you should give him a try!”

“Well, I don’t need to do all that crazy stuff to stay in shape. I just come here a couple times a week and walk on the treadmill and I stay like this (exaggerated sweeping motion referencing her figure). But you keep up the good work!”

And I stood there stunned. I thought to myself, ‘What the fuck am I doing? And why?’

And I sort of gulped and thought about how long I’ll have to work this hard or harder to lose any weight. FOREVER. And no matter what I lose it will never be enough. NEVER. I can keep working hard to stay where I am, but I am insanely jealous of those who don’t really have to try. I want to shove their size 2s up their….

Anyway. The point is — and listen closely kids — it’s EASY to lose weight. It’s fun! People notice you! You are rewarded daily and weekly when the pounds drop off and you give away your fat clothes!

But keeping it off, and dedicating yourself to a lifetime of working hard just to participate in body image issues and comparisons and calorie counting — that’s the hard part. Reality, to put it lightly, bites.

I’ve lost enthusiasm for nearly everything. I’m at a perplexing low point the last few...

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:50:07 -0600

I’ve lost enthusiasm for nearly everything. I’m at a perplexing low point the last few weeks and I don’t know why. I don’t even know who to tell.

Sigh.

So I tell the internet.

I never want to forget this moment. It was the night before my...

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:28:36 -0600

I never want to forget this moment. It was the night before my vacation in August. I was leaving for Disneyland the next morning, and I was up late, laying in bed tweeting on my phone. My Twitter friends had me cracking up, over who knows what. I laughed, and laughed, and laughed. For hours. I didn’t have a care in the world. If you look closely you can see the tears have accumulated on my shirt. haha! I probably haven’t laughed that hard, ever. It felt SO good. Sometimes I have a bad day, like today, and I just look back at this pic and I instantly feel good.

Another fun Pain in the Park. Despite the actual pain from...

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:24:59 -0600

Another fun Pain in the Park. Despite the actual pain from rolling my ankle, it was a fun and tough workout!

The Greatest Christmas Decoration Ever! This is only funny til a...

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:47:34 -0600

The Greatest Christmas Decoration Ever!

This is only funny til a 55 year old lady grabs the 75 lb ladder and nearly kills herself trying to help the fake guy.

Then it’s hilarious.

Cocoa Pebbles

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:17:33 -0600

Me: Can I have some of your cocoa pebbles?
Tom: Just two kernels.
Me: That's IT???
Tom: Yeah, just wet your finger and stick it in there and whatever comes out, that's all you get.
Me: That's what she said.

Too fat to fly? Photo showing overweight passenger raises...

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:10:34 -0600

Too fat to fly? Photo showing overweight passenger raises questions of airline safety, sensitivity

No, Kim. Please don’t turn into a lollipop head....

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:43:31 -0600

No, Kim. Please don’t turn into a lollipop head. You’re my only hope.

GPOYW: I Ran Out Of Clever Titles Edition

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:44:09 -0600

GPOYW: I Ran Out Of Clever Titles Edition

This is an Incredible story!

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:38:23 -0600

In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University .

On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air.

The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully.

He got down on one knee, inspected the elephants foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it.

As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot.

The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments.

Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled.

Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away.

Peter never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenaged son.

As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son Cameron were standing.

The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down.

The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter could not help wondering if this was the same elephant.

Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing, and made his way into the enclosure.

He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder.

The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn’t the same fucking elephant.

This is for everyone who sends me those heart-warming bullshit stories.

Pay It Forward

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:52:15 -0600

It’s such a simple idea. Pass along a compliment to a friend or coworker and everyone ends up happy! When you look for ways to encourage your peers in their healthy lifestyles, the benefits of a simple hat tip can go a long way. It can also aid to squash any jealousy or hostility in its tracks.

Aim to use this philosophy when you talk to people about eating right, working out, and staying fit. Here are some easy ways to do it!

When you hear someone talking about their successes in fitness, encourage them. Think about what you would want to hear if you just finished a heart-pumping sweat session. A simple “Way to go!” can go a long way.
If you can muster the courage, tell someone at the gym that you’ve noticed their weight loss or that you are impressed with their speed on the treadmill.
When you can barely find the motivation to get up off your butt and go to the gym/walk/run, you could probably use some kind words (or maybe some harsh ones!). Offer up motivation to those around you to get up and go!
Be wary of offering people advice unless they have asked you for it. Try to remember to frame solicited advice with a disclaimer that this is something that worked for you and that it may not work for everyone.
Sign up for a site such as dailymile.com and inspire others in their day to day exercise adventures.
When you find a relevant article or book, pass the knowledge along to your friends.
Be honest about your own ups and downs when you talk about fitness. Other people will identify. There’s no shame in not being able to do a pushup or run a mile. Everyone starts somewhere.
Ask a friend to join you on a walk or run. Some of the best conversations among friends happen when you’re moving!

Happy Motivating!

I promise my heart skipped a beat when I saw these! SO PRETTY!

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:22:56 -0600

I promise my heart skipped a beat when I saw these! SO PRETTY!

GPOYW - staged sleep photo at my friend holly’s house on...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:59:06 -0600

GPOYW - staged sleep photo at my friend holly’s house on her birthday 2 yrs ago edition

cuz I didn’t wanna take a new pic today ;-)

scodal: Obama, “I got big hands, you know what they say about...

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:33:05 -0600

scodal:

Obama, “I got big hands, you know what they say about big hands…” lmao the facial expressions are hilarious @scodal

yerawizardharry:

wendyomgzlol:

(via 9gag)

HAHAHA