Monday Motivators

OMG, I am actually writing a Monday Motivator post on Monday morning!  It’s like a fitness miracle!  (In fact, I’m even posting before Laura this week, so the link is to last week’s MM.)

And also a really good indicator of something I am going to tell you today:  I feel better!  I know it’s only been six weeks since I found out I was stupid anemic again, but you guys!  I have a shit ton of energy lately and my breathing troubles are all but a memory at this point.  When I went out for my run this morning, I really, truly could not slow myself down.  My legs wanted to fly!

 

So, how did I recover so miraculously this time around?  Honestly, I don’t know.  But if I had to guess, I would say there were a couple of factors:

• I rested like it was my job.  Last year, I didn’t even tell anybody I was anemic until I had been suffering with it for months.  I was pushing myself through – still running, still working, still making YouTube videos.  Yes, I took them all down a notch, but I didn’t really give myself a break.  This year, I told all my running clients that I was on sabbatical and I cut my work days in half.  This, by the way, is why it’s freakin’ awesome to be your own boss.  (And, yes, I was my own boss last year, too, but whatever.  Just go with me here.)
• I took iron like it was my other part-time job.  I know I tried to be diligent last year, but since I somehow managed to stop taking iron just a month or so after my blood work came back happy, I would say that I was a little lackadaisical about it.  This year, I’ve also added a Vitamin C supplement (because it helps your body absorb the iron), and I actually feel like that was the wonder drug.  And since the hematologist basically told me I would be on iron until menopause, I think I’ve just sort of wrapped my brain around the fact that, yes, I take pills now.  Of my options, I’ll take this over lots of other meds!
• I aggressively pursued a reason for the anemia like it was my third part time job.  Last year, I think I just sort of rolled over and accepted my fate.  I knew I had been pushing myself pretty hard, so it just made sense that my body would push back.  But this year?  I was barely even running regular mileage again and suddenly I was back in the gallows.  There was no accepting that!  And even though the subsequent testing hasn’t shown any underlying causes for anemia, I feel a huge mental relief that I’m trying to figure shit out.  And that I’m really, really healthy other than my bloodwork.  Because that’s nice to know!

Anywho!  Since this is still a Monday Motivator post, let me tell you about my goals for the week.  I haven’t set any for the last two weeks, so I’ve got nothing to report.  I suck.  This week, my goal is singular:

• Hold back

I think I know myself pretty well at this point, and I am nothing if not overzealous and enthusiastic about returning to running after an “injury.”  So, my one and only goal is to hold back and proceed with caution.  Four days a week of running, maximum!  Mileage somewhere in the low teens!  Pace in the “easy” category!

I can totally do this.

What are your goals this week??  You know, besides entering my giveaway!