First there was the stomach bug over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Then bronchitis hit me. Then consequently laryngitis, which left me voiceless on New Years Eve and New Years Day. Then when I didn’t think I could feel any crappier, I got pink eye — in both eyes.

Not my best showing this holiday season.

But I am alive.

I took 17 days off from the gym. It was longer then the time I took off for recovery after Ironman Lake Placid. In fact, it was the longest I had gone in 2017 without working out. I think I started getting depressed because I was so sick. I would get home after work and just climb into bed. This went on for weeks. I have only just started to feel more like my regular old self. Five miles on the dreadmill left me hacking up half a lung, but I had survived, proving to myself that I was making a slow come back.

I started the Advocare 24-Day Challenge on Monday. I have done it every January for the past three years and I usually lose around 8lbs. (My husband on the other hand, has lost 20lbs while on it before! Ugh, men.) But despite weight loss, the whole program just makes you feel better and it reinforces clean, wholesome eating. I also like it because during the year my diet is pretty clean, but during the holidays I tend to splurge. It’s always a refreshing start come January to get back in the swing of things. There’s something about meal prepping and being in a program that lights a fire under my butt!

Prepping for week 1 of Advocare

A few times this week I started feeling the old familiar pings of motivation. (Something that has been few-and-far between ever since the Ironman.) I don’t start training for Ironman 70.3 Muncie until March 26 — which honestly feels like FOREVER from now. But just being back in a regiment and routine makes me want to work hard again.

Meal planning and workout planning.

In my last post I wrote down some short term goals I wanted to accomplish for myself.

Here’s an update:

• Register for Ironman 70.3 Muncie
• Order and read Be Iron Fit half Ironman training book
• Complete a 10 mile run and feel OK – Does 8 miles still count?
• In January join a new gym with a new pool — So I joined Planet Fitness, which doesn’t have a pool, but it’s seriously 2 minutes from my house. I just can’t bring myself to swim yet…I know I need to, but I’m going to procrastinate just a bit longer 😉
• Purchase a treadmill for my home gym — This might not be in the budget for a little while still. Plus with joining Planet Fitness, which is super close to my house, I can get away with using those treadmills for a bit.
• Try to hopefully become part of a 2018 tri team — I am so excited to represent FE Strong Racing and be an Ambassador for: Nuun Hydration, BOCO Gear and Honey Stinger!!
• Get a new Garmin watch — I LOVE my new Garmin Vivo Active HR!! (Shout out to my amazing husband on THE best Christmas present of 2017!!)
• Keep consistently working out 6 days a week and moderately watch my nutrition over the holidays — Sooooo kinda?? 🙂 Despite my 17-day hiatus when I was bed ridden, I was consistently hitting 6 days a week before and am doing so again now in my recovery from being so sick! Also being sick left me with very little appetite.
  

So here’s to 2018 and chasing down my next dream. It has been a slow recovery from illness and an even slower mental recovery post-Ironman, but I am determined that wherever I go from here in 2018 — it will be the right path for me.

Celebrating turning 28 on December 16th by riding 28 miles. Obviously this was pre-sickness!

Tried out a spinning studio called “Cycle Bar” and absolutely loved it!! I’m going to incorporate it into my winter training.

I have also been trying to incorporate Insanity or P90X (both Pylo workouts).

CHEERS to 2018!