Boating on a speedboat....something I never had the guts or courage to do. My good friend Lynn and my bestie Jackie came along for the ride. The 2 of us sat up on top and enjoyed the ride and sunset on "Big Pimpin" Jackie also set up some horseback riding with her mom in law Debbie. I hadn't been on a horse in 10 years and the last time I was pregnant with my daughter and got bucked off. Despite being nervous as hell I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the trails along the Vedder River in Yarrow.
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Something that I have always wanted to do even before I lost weight was the ever famous Grouse Grind. Never in a million years did I think I would or could do it. I have to say that it was the most amazing feeling to be able to finish it.....not only with 1 of the most important people in my life but as a birthday present on my birthday weekend. One of the Vancity OCR members organized a get together to do the grind. My good friend Mardeanna that I have hiked with and blogged about in the passed joined in as well. Her and I kept a good pace along the trail while Dave still was waiting for hernia surgery went ahead and took some breaks waiting for us to catch up. I'm so thankful to be able to say that I completed this. Covered in sweat and bugs..it was all worth it. Natures stair master.
So I have always wanted to to Tough Mudder but have been so intimidated by it. I signed up for the 1/2 Mudder in June which was held in Whistler. We got a hotel and 2 of my gals Bobbie/Jackie came along to party it up in the evening and support me.
I actually found it relatively easy and wished I had signed up for the Full Mudder...but there is always next year. Dave wasn't able to do it because he was out of commission due to a hernia but he still came along to support me and the team. I got to run with a surgery sister's son, and OCR athlete and her husband. I would highly recommend this event! I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it and how it pushed me. So I've lead a very sheltered life. As I've said before haven't done much travel just your typical Disneyland, Vegas and Mexico trips. I've know about Dave for about a year. He had weightloss surgery just like msyelf and has changed his lifestyle. He puts in the hard work, trains hard and is pretty intense that way. I look up to him and use him as an inspiration to better myself. We recently got in personal contact with eachother and have been developing a relationship. We have done 2 road trips now and have started training together. SeattleOur first road trip was to Seattle. We stopped at the outlet malls in Tulalip and did a little shopping. It was my first time going to Seattle and I really enjoyed it. We met up with some of Dave's friends. Got to see the Space Needle, didn't get a chance to go up in it because the line up was hours long but it was pretty cool to just see it in person. Had lunch at a little cafe downtown, walked around a little bit then came home. He got to see how I eat my Reese Peanut Butter Cups...which he keeps me in full supply of. Our second road trip was short but sweet. We went up to Chase, BC which is a small town or otherwise know as Village with a population between 2500/3000 people. It's located 15 mins away from Shuswap and just past Kamloops. Chase has a bakery that is totally to die for. Got some cookies and fresh homemade blueberry pie. If anyone is ever in the are I highly suggest you stop in and get some goodies.
This coming weekend Dave is doing some Spartan Races up on Mt. Seymour, I'm super stoked to go along and cheer him on and again visit a new place that I've never been to before. I feel so blessed to be able to visit this beautiful piece of paradise. I've now been to Mexico 3 times but this was the first time I got to go when I was 'skinny'. What a thrill be able to rock a bikini on the beach and at the pool. Despite all the excess skin and the mental insecurities that came with that I put on my suit and rocked it. My favorite spot was perched up on these rocks. Closing my eyes and listening to the waves crash against the rocks. The little crabs running around were kinda scary. I worried one would make there way up to me and give me a little pinch. This was the view off the patio from our room. We stayed at the Fiesta Americana in Puerto Vallarta. I lot of people prefer the Cancun/Mayan Riveria but Puerto Vallarta is where my heart is. The culture is rich, the people are so nice and friendly. The beach and water were amazing. The last time I went to Mexico I was close to 400lbs. I had to sit sideways in the seat because my body could just not fit. This time around not only did I fit in the seat I had room! I could cross my legs and even take a selfie without impeding on anyones personal space. Most people take life for granted without evening thinking of the small things. It's so freeing and such an exciting experience to do something as simple as fitting into a plane seat.
Mudderella has always been a dream for me. Honestly I thought it was something I would never do or achieve. I would see the photos online and it looked like so much fun but my mind doubted me that I could do it. One of my friends invited me to join her group that was going. Low and behold another frined decided to sign up too! We ended up being a big group of 17 women with the name "Muddy Girlz" This was a pretty intense obstacle course event. We started off dry and clean and ended up covered in mudd, bruised up and exhausted. My husband and daughter came along, we got a hotel for the weekend and it was a blast. Wondering around Whistler we shopped in the villiage, went to The Duke of Dublin for irish grub and dancing to a live a band. I would highly recommend doing this event but you must be in decent physical shape. We climbed over hills, thru mud and water, under barbwire, through the forest and up a 3/4km ski hill. Believe it or not the hardest part of the whole thing was the ski hill. It just felt like it would never end. The course took our group almost 5 hours to navigate but we all made it across the finish line. This is me at the finish line. The best feeling in the world completing one of my dreams. I had mud in my mouth, and every orfice of my body. I love this photo of me and my daughter Alessandra. She wanted to do this event with me but of course she was to young. She stood on the sidelines and cheered me on. I snuck her onto the course here for a quick photo op. This photo was taken by the professional photographer at Mudderella. This obstacle was going under the barb wire in the mud. The rocks dug into my knees, I learned the easy way was to lay flat and pull myself with my arms to avoid getting the rocks into my knees. I had bruises for weeks after because of those darn rocks! Another Mudderella photo of my friend Misty and myself. She carried me first then we switched and I got to carry her. Honestly I didn't think she would be able to piggy back me but she lifted me up like a champ. We had a lot of laughs that day and memmories to last a life time.
With weight loss it has given mobility in a way that I can physically fit into things and I have the stamina to participate in activities. I'm wanting to conquer my fears and push myself to the limits. Explore what the world has to offer and enjoy it. I want to travel, go bungee jumping, sky diving, white water rafting and whatever else comes my way. I have an insane fear of heights....it's debilitating. My weight loss journey has given me the courage to try new things though. I never thought I could loose the weight, I never thought I could meet goal. I never thought I would be able to sky dive. But I lost the weight...I met goal...I'm below goal....so I know I can get past my other fears as well. This is at Radium Hot Springs, I went and visited it this past weekend. We were in Cranbrook visiting my brother and this is about an 1 1/2 drive from their. The scenery is stunning, up against a mountain back drop. True paradise and I would highly recommend a visit here. The Rocky Mountains that border BC and Alberta....just so breath taking to see in real life. Such a shame that it took me 35 years to see them.
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