A Lesson And Lentil Soup With Lemon & Dill

I went to several appointments today thinking I was going to hear some very bad news. I thought I could just get up and go back to eating meat. Instead, my blood labs confirmed what I knew myself. That I cannot eat meat if I want to feel better or live to see my daughter grow or have any grandchildren. My weight has stayed consistent at least. Hasn't gone up, hasn't gone down though. I think we may have found a good combination to lower my sugars...FINALLY where meds are concerned. Maybe I'll actually see the scale go down and have more energy to get through a workout and my day.

I started a new Reboot. Today I've eaten all plant based and the best part is Doug has made my favorite soup. Lemon-dill lentil soup. I'm happy!

LENTIL SOUP WITH LEMON & DILL

PRINT PREP TIME 10 mins COOK TIME 25 mins TOTAL TIME 35 mins Author: Amanda Maguire 

Additions in parenthesis made by my husband, Papa Bear.

Recipe type: Soup Serves: 6-8 INGREDIENTS 3 C. Dried Green Lentils 8 C. Vegetable Stock 2 C. Water 6 Garlic Cloves, thinly sliced 1 Tbs. Dried Dill 8 Carrots, roughly chopped 8 Stalks of Celery, roughly chopped Juice of 2 Lemons Salt & Pepper to Taste

INSTRUCTIONS In a large stock pot, combine lentils, garlic, carrots, celery, and dill. (I put them in an Instant Pot pressure cooker) Add vegetable stock and water. Cover and bring to a boil.(In the Instant Pot, press the Soup button and let it cook for 20 minutes) Reduce heat to simmer, and cook uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until lentils are tender. Stir in lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.(I added 2 more cups of water at the end because it was too thick for our taste. Also added 2 tablespoons of Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base) Serve with your favorite crusty bread. NOTES Fresh dill would be excellent in this recipe instead of dried. If you're using fresh, I'd recommend about 1 C. of roughly chopped dill as a garnish, rather than adding it in with the other ingredients. I ended up not using any oil in this recipe, but I think a drizzle of olive oil just before serving would be awesome.

Yummy Mummy Chia Pudding!

1 cup of Chia seeds

 3 3/4 cups of soy milk

 1/4 cup of vanilla coconut creamer

1/2 cup of date syrup (the secret ingredient wink emoticon).   

Let it set overnight. I added raspberries on top and Aldi's 85% cocoa vegan dark chocolate which I grated at the top. I believe you could get 6-8 servings of this recipe.

Hell Yeah It's Vegan Zucchini Bread WITHOUT the oil!

• 6 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 1/2 c warm water
• 2 c turbinado sugar (or light brown sugar)
• 1/2 c oil (I omited the oil completely and doubled the apple sauce)
• 1/2 c applesauce (I used 1 C. in place of oil)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 to 2 1/2 c grated zucchini (~3 medium-sized ones)
• 2 c all-purpose flour (I used 3 C. of Whole Wheat Pastry Flour)
• 1 c whole wheat flour (3 C. instead of 1)
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 c chocolate chips or raisins, optional

Add the Flax to the warm water and let it sit.  While waiting for it to thicken add your sugar, oil if your using it, applesauce and vanilla in a separate bowl and mix it together then add the flax mixture in.  Add the grated zucchini and mix together.  

In another separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients. Slowly add to the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together completely.

grease your pan with coconut oil, add sugar to coat it and then fill your loaf pans half way.  

Bake at 350 degree's for 50 minutes. Let it cool and eat OR wrap it in parchment paper then put it in a freezer bag until you need it. It's just as good!

Maple Baked Beans by Oh How She Glows

2 small cans of grandma browns baked beans or 1 big can. e. 

1 large sweet onion chopped and sauteed until see-through

3 TBS of blackstrap molasses

3 TBS of local maple syrup

2 TBS of mustard

2 TBS of apple cider vinegar

1 8oz can of diced tomatoes

pinch of sea salt

small handful of cranberries

mix all ingredients together and bake for 30 minutes or until you see the beautiful bubbles. Cool and serve. Oh Yummy!

****Note:  If you don’t have grandma browns in your area any navy beans or baked beans will do but I HIGHLY recommend Grandma Browns if your able to get them or purchase them online. 

1 large sweet onion chopped and sauteed until see-through

This recipe in it’s original form came from Oh how She Glows 

Comparison of where I was to where I am.

Wow! I feel so self conscious right now about the weight I still have. Mainly the belly fat that seems to take forever to lose. 

I decided to compare where I was with where I am right now. I'm glad I did! 

It's amazing what 270lbs, some courage and determination will do. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm so much further than where I was physically, emotionally and spiritually.  This winter has been a tough one. It's given me a run for my money and played with my head at times. Whether I was sick or had symptoms from the side effects for a drug I am since off of or whether it was the many feet of snow paired with longer, darker nights I just figured I had gained and felt awful from the battle playing in my head. Looking at this comparison has given me joy and courage to keep moving forward. I must be doing something right. I just have to tweak a few things.  Thanks friends for the encouragement.

60 more pounds to go. 25lbs to finish my short term goal which has been the hardest 25 pounds to lose. Hopefully after that, the big apron belly will start to shed. Be gone belly, be gone!

Starting from Scratch or so I feel...

It's been a while since I posted.  I was sick from Thanksgiving until the beginning of January (no joke!).

I also am coming back from a vitamin D deficiency and SAD from the longer-darker season. I LOVE the snow but this winter has kicked my bum!

Y membership starts up in a couple weeks (I've been waiting PATIENTLY for flex spending to get their act together). I've been doing some HIIT workouts but holy cats are they hard! I feel like I'm starting from scratch again. I'd like to enter another Tri this year but it's been too hectic and there are simply other priorities we need to catch up on financially. My heart aches though as I see friends updates and see how hard their working and the camaraderie growing among the group. I can't stop though. If I can't do it in the group I was in last year, then I HAVE to use what I learned here at home. The only backside is I'm continuing to tweak meds. I'm not feeling the greatest lately. My knees are acting up again and I just feel utterly frustrated. Back in the water I go soon. I've been looking forward to the Y to gain momentum and just start feeling energetic again without putting too much weight on my knees.

Struggling

I have to say that I am feeling quite icky. I'm not sure if it's hormones, or the fact that I have a tipped uterus or even a multiple of issues but I'm achey all over including my knees that I have issues at times with running. I have pretty bad headaches, my lower back is extremely bad and man am I depressed!  Moody just isn't describing the way I feel right now. I know that getting a regular menstrual cycle is a good thing but maybe not having had it regularly for years is making up for lost time.

To top things off I feel HUGE. I'm not sure if I've actually gained 60 pounds or just feel like it but man do I feel like a lead balloon!

I figured I'd jot this down so that I can look back and see how my body is changing and what I'm going through.

I don't have a whole lot to say. I'm taking things minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day.  By the grace of God!  I seem to be functioning for the most part and am keeping myself busy so I don't get too stagnant.

If anyone out there is reading this. I pray you have a day filled with blessings in Jesus name.  Keep on keepin on!

Another Step Forward!

I couldn't write this in my regular status post on FACEBOOK but I wanted to jot this here.

I've been exercising and eating "mostly vegan" for a while now.  I have had many medical issues pertaining to hormone and endocrine issues. PCOS, Hypothyroid, Type II diabetes, hyper-prolactinemia, fertility issues, etc. etc. etc.

The past two months I've been getting my menstrual cycle. Something I haven't had since it stopped when I was about 16 years old. I was told I'd had PCOS, but at the time it was such a new diagnosis that Dr.'s didn't really know what to do with it. So he put me on The Pill to regulate the menstrual cycle and when I got off it because I felt awful 2 years later, I found myself with full blown type II diabetes and hypothyroid disease. It masked the cause but covered the symptoms.

Like clockwork I got my menstrual cycle yet again.  I don't remember EVER having a regular menstrual cycle that came when predicted. I was told we could never conceive for YEARS because I never had an actual period. The Dr.'s just assumed if I didn't have one, I couldn't ovulate to get pregnant. BOY were they ever wrong! In 2009 without fertility meds we conceived Jackson on a mini vacation. I thought I had rectal cancer (no joke, later I found I had a tipped uterus and my left ovary was literally somewhere close to the sphincter)! Most close to us know that our son later passed at 22 weeks gestations just 25 minutes after he was born prematurely to what I later researched was an Incompetent Cervix. 2 years later after we conceived through IUI fertility treatment we had our little rainbow baby.

I'm sure you must be laughing by now. It is funny, but I can assure you that it's NO LAUGHING MATTER for my husband.  I get lower back cramps and I'm worse than a witch to deal with! I have been sick to my stomach, have had the munchies which is abnormal for me and just undoubtedly off emotionally and physically then...SURPRISE!  Holy Cats!  I knew I was hormonal and figured it "could" be but counting the days between the last cycle it was literally shall I say predictable?!

I'd imagine some of you ladies are wondering what all the big deal is but when you go for YEARS without any cycle at all and then have two predictable cycles though I will say I should be quarantined so not to raise hell with those around me for being too forward and too moody.  One gets excited that maybe all the hard work has been paying off.

I WILL say this though.  I am bloated. I wore typical cotton pants, I hated walking out in public feeling bloated but I didn't give a hoot! I feel a ton and it doesn't feel all that great.   Whoa Nelly! Someone help my cranky mood swings and don't look at me the wrong way or my evil looks will haunt you for months!

So, I'm guessing this is a sign that the hard work of eating healthy and exercising is working. Right now however, I am moody, I'm tired, I'm bloated and get the heck outa my way if your on the roads or look at me wrong! Hahaha

Happy Weekend Everyone! Go have some peace and joy. I'm going to find my happy place!

Vegan Apple Cake Recipe

I took a friends Apple Cake recipe and made it vegan. It came out EXCELLENT!

One Bowl Apple Cake - This cake is so moist and rich and just perfect for this time of year. (and easy to make!)Ingredients:

2 Flax Eggs (1TB of ground flaxseed and 3 TB of water = 1 Flax egg. Double this recipe for 2)

1 3/4 cups sugar I used cane juice crystals

2 heaping teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 C. of Apple Sauce in place of oil

6 medium Gala or Fuji or Honey Crisp apples

2 cups Whole Wheat Pastry flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

Directions:Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mix the Flax eggs, sugar, cinnamon and apple sauce. Peel and slice the apples and add to mixture in bowl (coating as you go to keep apples from turning brown.) Mix together the baking powder and flour and add to the ingredients in the bowl. Mix well (best with a fork) until all of the flour is absorbed by the wet ingredients. Pour mixture into a greased one 9x13 or two 9″ round pans. Bake for approximately 55 minutes.By getting rid of eggs and oil we're virtually losing the fat. The flavor and moistness are in there. Trust me...It's EXCELLENT! There's still sugar. I'm working on a healthier replacement but the alternatives haven't worked in place of cane juice crystals. 

Winter Salad Recipe

My interpretation of Strong Heart Cafe's Winter Salad. I didn't have roasted beets and used roasted winter squash in place of sweet potatoes.

Ingredients:
1 large bunch of curly kale, tough center stems discarded, leaves shredded
1 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored and chopped
roasted winter squash or sweet potato cubed
2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds or walnuts

For dressing:
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons of Agave Nectar (more if you need it)
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 garlic clove, finely grated
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:
1. Combine lemon juice, vinegar, Dijon mustard, agave nectar, shallot, garlic, salt and a pinch of pepper in a small bowl. Set aside to let flavors combine. Check the dressing to be sure it's good to taste.
2. Mix shredded kale, apple and sweet potato or squash cubes and toss with dressing to coat. (You may not need all the dressing. but be sure to massage the dressing REALLY good into the leaves) Garnish with pumpkin seeds or chopped walnuts.

Nutritional note: I did not use oil in the recipe on purpose. It cuts your fat intake completely. You can add it back in, but why mess with a good thing. The point is to cut out the fat for health. Your heart is more important than adding unneeded fat in your dressing. 

Happy Eating. This salad turned out AMAZING!

Quality Time With The Family

Hello Kitty & Mommy what a fun day. Little Bear was her energetic self and finally on the mend after a virus and ear infection. Daddy is feeling better today too!

She loves "her Meteorologist Wayne"! Thank you for being so kind to your biggest little fan Wayne.  

Little Bear Decided She's Native American. They let her in for a day. 

This is why when people look at me for having a halter and leash on my child, I'm perfectly okay. She's active and will dart when she see's something exciting. Hahaha 

Gramma, Little Bear & Mommy on the left behind Carrie Lazarus from Channel 9 News. 

Carousel picture at Strong National Museum of Play®

Little Bear LOVES train sets.

The Brighter Side Of Life

I felt so good today that I decided to take a picture to document my loss from size 24 to 18. 

Not many people get to see my hair down. 1.) it just rained 2.) My hair needs color BIG TIME and 3.) I'm REALLY self conscious about my thin hair and hair loss from thyroid and insulin resistance all these years. I've always wanted natural hair extensions to thicken things up a bit but it's pricey. 

I haven't really mentioned anything in a while but today I stepped on the scale thinking I gained weight but I felt like my clothes were feeling bigger. The scale stayed the same but I went upstairs to try on some older clothes to find I went from a size 24 to a size 18. I feel great in them but I still have the dreaded rolls on the tummy. I'm still waiting patiently but I suppose that this is a good sign. I'm pretty proud of myself. It's been busy this month.
I'm looking at the bright side, I'm am healthier than I've ever been!

THE RACE Part III

The week of the race, I trained a little more. I  was blessed enough to swim, bike and run the Iron Girl course with an amazing and diverse bunch of women.  Women who experienced the course on their own journey or have been triathletes long enough to help out the new athletes in some way physically emotionally or spiritually.



I made it to the Saturday before but not without panicking and wondering with each text message, call or facebook post if I was really cut out for this race. I made it early, met a lot of great friends I'd made along the way and talked my way out of nervousness.   Thank God for Kathy, who put my mind at ease on plenty of occasions. Somehow knowing that my friends new and old were either IN the race or cheering me on helped me get through that itch to run the opposite direction.  I waited in line for registration as I set Betty on the rack to wait. Looking at the registration table, I knew every face but 2. It had a calming affect on me. I love these ladies. I truly do!  As I stepped up for my turn, I took some Iron Girl temporary tattoos for myself and Little Bear. Honestly I took enough to last me for 6 years but I worked hard for this race and I would wear them and wear them WELL!

The name was misspelled but I forgot to have it changed. Oh well!


Next I ran over to get my registration packet which included my wrist band, a cool shirt, my cap which was cardinal red (more like a brown really) and this tracking doohickey thing that I've heard about but wondered how to use. "Doug will know how to use it!" I thought. There IS instructions. I rant to get my bike like I was ready to transition out of the park already. I ran so I could get that good spot I figured out in my head. I ran through these people who wanted to see my wrist band.  Mary Lou from the Tri Club I've seen on occasion was very kind with her help and sweet smile. She directed me and I ran to find my numbered area.  "Where is my numbered rack?" I kept asking myself and anyone who would listen.  "They must have tagged me as nuts. I'm already talking to myself for crying out loud!" I said.   Finally with several odd looks in my direction (because OBVIOUSLY I didn't learn how to count in preschool) I found my...What the?!  WHAT?  No! All I could do was laugh.

The spot that was divinely chosen for me. The red seat is my old swim cap. lol It works! Thanks Coach.

If you are familiar with bike racing at all you know that the racks used for many races are long metal racks which I gathered to be about 5ft long.  When I was looking at the numbered signs, MOST of them had around 15ft of room to figure out where precisely to place your bike for the race. I saw people placing their bikes, shaking their heads and changing it again and again and again.  I looked at my rack which was only about 5ft long with only 7 bikes allowed on it and placed it at the very end of the rack so I could run in from the swim, grab Betty and walk WITH PURPOSE again out to bike. This is how much God has a sense of humor in my opinion! People were changing their bikes to strategically place them in a good spot and mine was already chosen for me.  He knows I'm terrible with direction and about to poop my pants! The last thing I need is to have more than one place to choose from.



I woke up at 430am and left so I could get to the race on time. Anyone who knows my husband and I knows that we are night owls. Getting up at wee hours of the morning for a race is miraculous but we were even more astounded that people actually paid to get up and suffer to get to the finish line. ESPECIALLY those of you who run 70.3's, back to back Iron Mans, half and regular marathons.  What I found out during this process is that this hour really IS the land of the living! You get to open water swims early enough to see the sun come up, you make friends, you get to run and bike in freely.  It was this that reminded me how lucky we truly are to live in a free country filled with Gods beauty.  It's an amazing hour to stretch out, take in all the goodness in the world and prepare yourself for the day.  Strength comes from being grateful for these very things. Thanksgiving isn't just one day out of the year. It's every day you get to see a new day. To cherish the people you love, the scenery we get to observe and the overall health and wellness WE have the opportunity to take part in.





It was cold and foggy outside as I warmed up the car.  It took me much longer to get to the site than anticipated. I'm so glad I got there before the parking lot started to fill up.  I slowly looked around at all the women excited to start the race. I got out, grabbed my bucket and tried to remember if I forgot anything. "Let me see", I thought to myself.  For the swim I need sunscreen, goggles, swim socks and my cap. "Oh Lord, please get me through this swim!"  For the bike, "you got this Bek, you got this!" I needed Betty who is already racked and ready to go (my bike named after my gram), my helmet, "put your glasses in there Bek! You don't want the bugs smashed into your eyeballs! That would really stink if your race was cut short because you forgot your sunglasses." bike shoes and sunscreen.  For the run, "dear God I'm scared! I'd ask you to help me run like the Holy Spirit Lord, but then I'd be asking to run all over the place.  Help me jog a a steady pace Lord. Help me to remember to take my helmet off and remember my darn running shoes." SHOES! Oh gee.  I brought two pairs of running shoes. The knew ones I bought specifically for this journey in January and the shoes I bought in 2007 which I'd never run in but I certainly walked to and from places a lot in those years.  I wore them the friday before the race and felt like I was on air. I'm choosing the old dudds! I'm doing the run portion with old sneakers. This may not be a good thing, but I'm doing it! Done!  I run no "walk with purpose" as Kellie tells me, to the transition area where I put my towel down, lay everything out and put what I don't need back in the bucket.  I run to my swim, bike, mom friends to take some pictures and meet everyone. Lindsay has become one of my greatest friends. Had it not been her smiling face during swims, I'm not sure I would have felt comfortable enough to do this. Her strength is beyond anything I've seen and I really love hearing how much she loves this sport and her many stories about Meredith and swim, bike mom folks.  The first thing I ever asked in the local Tri forum, was if there was anyone "like me".  Not only did I find out there were PLENTY of men and women "like me", but there were a whole lot of people with their own journeys. What an AMAZING community of athletes to be among!  Before I ran off, Lindsay handed me a package with Meredith's autographed book and ran off to prepare for HER race.

Beautiful Sunrise At Iron Girl Syracuse 2014. Thank you Deanna <3

Swim bike Mom Army courtesy of Lindsay

 Me, Beth and Lindsay

Christy & I. Thank you for adding to the journey. Love you friend! Way to go Iron Girl!

Dana, Lois and I

My Deanna!

Waiting and waiting and waiting. 

I had one more group to find. My Tri To Train girls. The women of faith who made it a point to pray before the race with each other and wish each other well before they went on their merry way.  MaryJo started this group and has a story of her own. I wonder if she imagined when she started this group that it would be this big and filled with such a diverse crowd of women?   One of those women is my friend Deanna who started this idea in my head during the worst moments of my life when we delivered and soon after lost our son. She came just to see myself and all the other women race.  After our prayer she took me by the hand, showed me the water, smiled and cried with me again.  As I looked at her and took in every aspect of Iron Girl Syracuse 2014, I remembered everything I went through that brought me here. I recalled the bitter moments and the very sweet moments. I thought of my husband and daughter and all that they sacrificed so that I could get healthy. I remembered my coaches love and commitment to helping me persevere through adversity and I thought of my son. I was carrying Jackson Jeffrey with me on this race. I carried every mother who lost a child no matter the age, every widow, every woman fighting disease, depression, anxiety, fear, ageism and body image.  I looked at the water and to spite my fear of failing, I laid it down at Gods feet forever and turned a new corner. I did it for myself, my husband, our daughter and every life that would change because I became an open book. I allowed people in to see the transformation inside and out with each dietary, training, emotional, spiritual and medical change. I did it in Jesus name and wiped that last tear to power through to victory one....more...time!

National Anthem before the swim portion. 

 The water was cool and beautiful though there was a dead fish swimming about and algae which made several pretty sick. The beach was closed the next day. 




It's time to get ready for the swim portion and I wondered how I'd do this. Coach and Steve came up and gave me their approving smiles.  Coach told me to breathe and relax so I wouldn't fatigue out there.   Lindsay and Beth from Meredith's army made it a point to find me in the beginning. They calmed every part of my being at that point. As everyone said, I trained and I was ready as I'd ever be.  I found my friends Jennifer and Christy who were in my swim wave.  Miriam, Maryjo, Lois, Katie and Dana all from the Tri To Train group found me as Deanna was massaging my back and neck (God bless her).  Just before my wave was released, another Rebecca made it a point to share some encouragement and we were off.   I felt good. The water was cool and relaxing. I got out there and tried to stay to the middle of the back left. I was swimming. That was good. I looked up several times to try and spot my target. I knew I'd fall behind some. I'm slow and while I had one REALLY good swim training where I could put my actual head in the water and breathe nicely in freestyle position, I just couldn't seem to get the position I wanted. I heard Joslyn one of my assistant coaches telling me to "just keep swimming".  I didn't feel anything at all like Dory in the movie. I swam side stroke as I kept seeing the stronger swimmers "move to your left to give them some room" come up from behind me. I saw kayaks galore and later heard people were fearful of drowning. I tried to get around the second buoy and someone was holding on for dear life and I was getting caught up under it as more stronger swimmers with different colored caps (at least I thought they were) came swimming on by. There were some dangerous swimmers out there who didn't prepare very well. One held on to my friends leg and ripped off the timer that was on her ankle. Some of the swim was scary but all that kept going on in my head was "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming." I was a bit disappointed with my swim portion but there was no time for that! I kept swimming as someone hit the same wrist I hurt a couple weeks prior to the open water swim. "OUCH!" I thought as I finally started to see I was getting to the end.  I saw many women walking the rest of the way as land got closer. "Screw it!" I said as I got closer and closer. I got out and started jogging. My legs were like bricks and all I could think about was getting to the next destination. I thanked everyone who was cheering me through it and made it to T1. (little did I know that later, I and some newbies would be chastised by a small few for our swim technique and walking).  My assistant coach Joslyn later says, "Don't let Anyone or Anything change how you feel about YOUR experience! Your day was your day and theirs was theirs. You are on a journey and so are they let this path diverge from theirs and keep moving forward! Onward and upward! "

Run Bek Run!

I named my bike Betty after my Gram. I miss her but she would be proud!

Next was my ride. This was the portion I felt was my strength. I love the bike! I dried off, put my bike shoes and helmet on and walked again with purpose. "It's time!"I said.  I got on the bike and rode off. Though it was my strength, I was not mentally alert. I can barely remember portions of the course as I rode it before. This time it was different. I was trying to get from point A to point B and do it fast! "on your left!" someone said. I must have heard it what felt like thousands of times.  I noticed I was being passed a few times without anyone telling me they were passing on my left. I got to the halfway points and I started hearing people pass but they were telling me "great job...keep going you've got this!" Thank you for the kind souls who did this! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I got past one of the bridges where I started to panic. I was tearing up because I knew I was falling behind. It was THEN that I heard "how are you doing?!" It was my sweet friend Miriam!!! "not good!" I tell her. "I'm way behind the rest of them." I was worrying about failing my husband, our daughter, my coach and especially myself.  "No! Don't you DARE!! Get up here" she demands with love and grace.  "You are not racing against others but against yourself! Let's pray!" she says again as she starts dishing out what I now call the love of Christ banter".  She prayed with me and kept herself behind a few short minutes to encourage and then went on her way.   It gave me the fuel I needed to get through the rest of the course and  "just keep moving forward" as Meredith would say.  I made it back and almost fell off my seat!  I heard later racers were moving so fast down the newly paved portion that there were plenty of accidents at dismounting.

Loving encouragement through prayer. My bike angel!

Coming in

This is just about where I find ...

I got to my bike rack..."wait a minute!  How did the rack move 3 feet and my stuff end up here?"  I noticed the rack was off it's legs and my portion was on the ground. It took me several minutes to lift the rack and place Betty there so the rest of the bikes wouldn't get damaged. Then I ran BACK to my stuff and tried to put my sneakers on with my legs feeling like jello.  I tried to put the braces on my knees since I have patella ulta in both of them. It would help the pain but there was NO WAY they were staying on. I threw those suckers to the wind and just started jogging.



"I hate this portion!" As I smiled for everyone who came out to cheer the racers.  "just keep jogging Bek and shut up already!" It was again at this moment I thought people must think I'm nuttier than squirrel chasing it's tail.  Ah man, not grass!  Oh no sand! Ah !@#$, not gravel!  Just then I notice this woman to my right cheering me on.  She says, you don't know me, I'm Joslyn's friend.  I saw your post and I'd like to run with you would that be okay?  "Oh look, there's Mary Ryan! Hi Mary!" Oh look again! It's Ellen". Sure, I'd like that I said to the woman who introduced herself as Maria. I was tired, I was frustrated thinking about how far behind I was getting but I refused to quit!   2 months prior I couldn't jog 1/4 of a mile without stopping to gasp for air. Friday before the race, I managed to jog 1 whole mile in my old sneakers without getting winded.  "you can do this Rebekah! You got this!" said my angel in running.   There's Lindsay again "Wooooo, Rebekah your AWESOME!" God bless her spirit! Then came Katie from one of my Tri Training Groups who had biked with me. "Way to go Rebekah!"  SHE had her own amazing journey and continues to inspire others.  "are you okay Rebekah?  Do you need to walk? " Nope! I said  "Okay, lets keep moving".  

Photo Courtesy of Steven Buttolph Photography

I heard lots of "your almost there!" from people which were flat out blatant LIES. Whoever tells you that is a lying liar that lies!  Don't believe it ONE BIT! Those dirty buggers had me begging for mercy and the loop even had snow cones, water, and other goodies not to mention the kind soul who handed out beer and margaritas. (which I seriously had hoped most people would ingest so my time would be better) I waved off the goodies and took 4 waters. Two I drank (with serious fear I was weighing myself down) and 2 I threw over my swollen hands along the way.

Just as I get to the loop who rode in behind me but Team Moxie! My coach and friend.  "Get going! If you can talk, your not working hard enough!" Darn him! Sorry folks. A temporary loss of thought there.  "Keep pushing Rebekah, you've got this!" as my running angel says. Coach keeps moving to the next few paces ahead and tells me to focus.  I'm still jogging. Slow, but I haven't stopped since the very first portion of the run. I REFUSE to quit!  "Tell me what time your swim wave was again?" coach said. WHY?! Did I not make the cutoff?  I didn't make the cutoff did I?!  "You made your bike portion before I expected!" coach said. "Your doing AWESOME in the run time. Keep going!" My angel to my right kept jogging with me and whenever someone wanted to take a picture or talk to me she insisted she get out of the way.  When coach was talking, she'd remind me what he was saying and encourage me to keep going.  "Your almost there!" coach says.   "Do me a favor and hand me your goggles!"  What?! I said, "They're hanging from your shirt!"  Ah hell! I've had those goggles hanging out from the start of the bike portion!  "turn your bib around! You've worked hard. They need to know who you are!"

My mother, husband and daughter. I love them so much!

The only picture I found of my "running angel" to my right.  I'm  jogging and she's STILL right there next to me. God bless her! 



I'm almost there. Over that blasted gravel again then the sand and now the pavement. I see my husband, my daughter and mother cheering me on. I hear cheering from everyone and the little angel on my right had disappeared.  Rebekah...YOU ARE AN IRON GIRL!  WOOOSH! There in front of me is the coach who lovingly reached out to someone very sick and in despair to greet her as the Iron Girl he conditioned from January.  Thoughts raced through my head as I heard cheering but it was all a whirlwind. My health.  My son, Oh the loss,! OHhhh the pain. The debilitating fear that wreaked havoc on my day to day life. Thousands of dollars of medications that were no longer looming over me. Friends, Family...I see a future! Finally I'm becoming...ME! The girl God created me to be.  Coach grabbed me for a hug and I fell to tears. I did it! Over 40 pounds down, I'm off the insulin pump and most all my medications. I'm no longer afraid to drive, no longer a recluse.  I miss my son terribly but I know life continues on. I can either live it or I can choose to die without purpose. Without living for those who are in my life today!

Photo courtesy of Steven Buttolph Photography

Coach grabs me and asks where my family is. I talk with friends. Hug with them and run to my husband who supported me from the beginning. Who also encouraged this with his OWN journey. I see my little girl. I know now that I'm ready to LIVE. I'm ready to be a part of HER life. To encourage a healthier lifestyle for her and watch her grow up.

My Friend Kathy who swam, biked and ran with me when I needed it most. Love her!

Talking with friends and waiting for my family.

The two men in my life who supported my health & wellness journey. Coach and the husband God-handpicked to be my own! I'm a lucky girl. Blessed beyond measure.

My mom, husband and daughter

My journey hasn't ended here. Tomorrow starts a new chapter. Coach hasn't dropped me like a fly. I'm continuing my adventure and am hopeful to lose more weight and get off more medication. I'm hopeful for another race and to meet more sweet friends. Those who will encourage me and those whom I can encourage!

If your out there and hoping to change something in your life. You don't need a tragic story or weight loss to get started. The unique part about accomplishing goals is that you write your OWN story! Don't wait, your ready NOW!


Love, hugs and congratulations to all the Iron Girls.

PS. I finished the swim in 23 minutes, the bike in 1hr and 29 minutes and the run portion in 44 minutes. Considering I couldn't breathe doing ANY of those last year and the fact that I've never done them before EVER is BEYOND phenomenal! If I can do it, you can do it. Now get out there!