Elizabeth Jambor, CPT... almost.

It's November already? Goodness. That means its that time of year again...

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: Candy, candy canes, candy corn, & syrup."

Don't forget turkey, biscuits, and pies. Oh my. Don't forget to exercise that will power either. January, a.k.a. resolution time, is coming, too! ;) Its not too early to start those resolutions and lifestyle changes now. Get the ball rolling and you'll be ahead come January.

Resolution time or not, there's never a bad time to think about your health. I heard a quote the other day, "Want a slow, painless death? Focus on your health." Or to put it less morbidly, "Want to live life to the fullest? Focus on your health." Whether you want to run a 5k in 20 minutes or want to slow down the aging process, the key is to take care of yourself.

I was asked to make a plug for Mesothelioma awareness. Figured I'd make a general health and prevention plug while I was at it: Why do I push health? Because prevention is better than a cure. Whether its type 2 diabetes or, heaven forbid, cancer. Most things can be prevented by eating right, staying active, monitoring exposure to health hazards, and early detection. No, you should not live in fear of ever being sick. But you should actively work on keeping your body in the best shape possible as a steward of the body God has given you. This is also why I have officially signed up to be a certified personal trainer! Woo! I plan to take the test in February of next year. Until then it's study time.

I'm also responsible for the plateau I've hit with swimming. I've swam the same pace for months. Time to step it up for the month of November while my running mileage will be down til Marathon training. Not 100% positive which half and/or full I'll do. But I've got some time.

And Ragnar! Ran from Chattanooga to Nashville relay style with my team of 6. Had a blast.I thought that the 36 hours we were about to run would seem like an eternity but it went by pretty quick. Ran a total of 34 miles (196 total for the team) in 6 legs. All my two a day training paid off as none of the runs did me in. I didn't have to take walk breaks. And even though my hamstring was shot by the end my legs were only a tad tight for 2 days. I think the hardest part was the cold. I would much rather run in the heat myself. It was more of a mental battle for me as well. Had to focus on the miles behind me, not the ones ahead. That helped a lot.

Next race is Buddy's 5k. Which I hope to PR(Personal Record) in like nobody's business. Then that might be my last race til February.We'll see.

And there are new recipes on my Cookoo account! Look me up on cookoo.co. My username is ElizabethAnn.

Run from it or learn from it. I can do both, right?

Flashback to 2009. First trip to Colombia, South America. I ran maybe 3 times a week (no swimming, very little cycling) while I was stateside. 30 min 5ks. 150 lbs. Craziness.

Fast forward to 2013. I run 3-5 times a week. Plus swimming, cycling, and weight training each twice a week. 24:09 5k time. 135lbs? (I haven't gotten on the scale in a while).

Interesting to look back and see how much life has changed in only four years. And I had typed out a long story about how I thought I had life figured out, got sick, saw how wrong I was, blah, blah, blah. Then blogger freaked out on me and deleted the whole thing. I don't even remember what all I wrote. Ha. So we'll skip ahead to the good part.

YOU SHOULD NEVER THINK YOU HAVE LIFE FIGURED OUT. I've learned God doesn't like to keep us in our comfort zones for long. After all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right? I knew change was coming when I was in Colombia last in 2011. Didn't think it would be cancer. Didn't think it would be a rethinking of the missions calling. Didn't think I'd ever be fitness crazed. Didn't think that after working with Dad for 6 years in the family business he started 20 some years ago that we would think about completely changing our careers.

My dad started his weight loss journey in 2008 and has kept off 70 Lbs by running and eating right. If you've kept up with me on Facebook you know I've been working on losing the weight I gained during treatment, staying healthy, and have become a triathlete. We have talked for months about becoming personal trainers and we have started to take steps to make it happen. We're figuring out all the ends and outs of the business and are working on getting certified. Hopefully we'll have that up and running soon (Get it? Running?). We're going to test this out for a year and cut the carpentry business back to just playgrounds while we get the new business rolling. Should be interesting. *Fingers crossed*

On top of all the planning we've been doing for this new business venture we've been gearing up for RAGNAR TENESSEE!!! I've just gotta run 34ish miles next weekend (In 6 short runs instead of 3 long ones now). No biggie. I've also got to finish my race schedule for next year in the midst of all this other planning so I'm ready. I know I want to do Knoxville Half Marathon (March), Storm the Fort Olympic Triathlon (August), and Atomic Man Half Ironman (Sept) for sure. Then there are some little races that I could do if I wanted. Look at me, 10ks and sprint tris are now little races.Speaking of little races. I can taste a 22 min 5k for Buddy's Race Against Cancer this year.

And can we be real for a sec? I'm tapering (lowering my mileage before a race). And no, just because I run all the time DOES NOT mean I can eat whatever I want whenever I want. All things in moderation. But one would hope that your appetite would lower with lower mileage. WRONG. I've got a serious case of the runchies all the time. I need to remember: Keep it healthy! There will be much experimentation with vegetable chips in the near future.

But God...

I've realized that in writing a blog where you talk about your life you sound a little full of yourself. I hope you all realize I use my life as a testimony. And I'll be honest, complements are nice, but that's not my goal. My goal is to show the grace of God in my life. Which brings me to my first topic: But God...

That should not be read as a complaint. "But God... why?" It should be read after a problem and before a story of grace. I was planning on writing about this anyway. But then the teaching at church was very similar and got my gears turning. Take Joseph's story in the Bible. He was thrown into a pit by his brothers who then sold him into slavery. Then we fast forward a bit, BUT GOD made him second in command of Egypt because Joseph kept trusting in God's plan.

Another honesty moment: It is hard to keep sight of God's plan when life isn't going your way. But if you can keep focus, God will do His part. Elizabeth was diagnosed with cancer. BUT GOD made her stronger and healthier as a cancer survivor. Why do I make health my focus? Because it's my "But God".

My "But God" has gone from cancer survivor; to needing to get back into shape after treatments; to wanting to be a swimming, biking, and running machine. I ran 30 miles this past weekend in case you missed that on Facebook and Instagram. ;) Anyway, I remember thinking during treatments, "After this I need to focus on my health. But I don't want to turn into one of those health freak survivor's who are all 'FOOD IS FUEL!'" Whoops. Ha! But I want to make something clear: I believe food is the slowest form of poison or the best medicine. BUT I do not live in fear of being sick again. If you are going to eat anyway, why not use it as fuel and not sabotage? Eat for health, eat for performance. Although I do enjoy milkshakes from Cookout and New York style pizza every once in a while. Moderation is key.

Tapers are key, too. And thank God for them. I've built up to my 30 miles and it's time to bring it down. I may throw in added long runs between now and Ragnar. But nothing more than 18. I've also reworked my training schedule for after Ragnar. There's always a rest day, but this new plan has two mornings and two evenings off. My body says, "Yesssss", my addicted mind says, "You're gonna skip FOUR TRAINING OPORTUNITIES?!?". Yeah, we'll see how that goes. Ha.

And switching back to "food is fuel" for a sec, look at this beautiful loaf of sweet potato sandwich bread I made! I used to be terrible at making breads. And considering I winged this recipe I'm quite pleased.

1 cup Sweet potato puree
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar (or honey)
1 banana
1 cup applesauce
4 eggs

Mix wet ingredients together, that includes sugar and the banana. Mix dry ingredients. Then combine the two. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Sprinkle some oats on top if you'd like. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Ta-Da!

Change.

"...last published on Dec 31, 2012" Oh my.

Ahora esta un boton para la traduccion en el lado de la pagina -->
He vuelto perezosa, yo se... jaja ;)

Guess I had better do a recap of this ENTIRE year...

Ran my first marathon in April to celebrate being cancer free for a year.
Did a half century ride in June to celebrate being done with chemo for a year. Thanks again to everyone who supported me on that ride! Went on my first since cancer to, and my first ever trip to, Nicaragua the end of June. Felt like I needed to switch churches yet again which was a decision months in the making. And now here we are in SEPTEMBER. Crazy stuff. And I'm about to do my third sprint distance triathlon which will mark a year of triathlons for me!

Also, figured it was time for a name change as life is COMPLETELY different. (What's with the caps today Elizabeth?) His redeeming BLOOD, my SWEAT while running, and one of my favorite things: FOOD!

We'll start with blood: So I'm a cancer survivor, right? The fact that God is a healer should be constantly in my mind, right? So why did it take til last Sunday's life group to think about praying for the ridiculous eczema on my face? No clue. My face would get so red and dry it would look like I had black eyes at times. I was about to get extreme with getting rid of it and on top of the cream I put on it, I was going to stop eating yogurt. NOOOOO! Long story short, got prayer Sunday, skin has cleared up. Not 100%, but it is better. I just might overdose on yogurt to test it out. Kidding, but seriously. Now, there is a fine line between asking God for his will and treating him like a vending machine: "God, I'm hungry. Make a sandwich appear." But prayer works peeps.

No body ever drowned in sweat! Which is good news for me with the amount I sweat. Ew. I've started running everyday on top of regular tri training in preparation for: RAGNAR TENNESSEE 2013!!! Oct 25-26. One van, 6 runners, Chattanooga to Nashville (196.3 miles). I have three different runs for a total of 34ish miles. I'm pretty pumped.

I usually post about food and different recipes on my Instagram. But which foods to highlight on the blog... Hmm.. Bananas and corn!

Bananas. Sprinkle some cinnamon on it, add some peanut butter and BAM! "Fast Food" snack. I peel and freeze a lot of bananas so I can blend it with coffee or green tea to make a pre workout frappe! Because I'm big on "food is fuel" and don't use a pre workout powder. Also, you can make ice cream with frozen bananas. And another good reason to always have bananas: if you're ever out of eggs when baking something most times you can sub a banana.

Corn. When organic, corn is an excellent whole grain to add to your diet. Yep, corn is a grain. NOT a vegetable like some people think. Did you know you can make microwave popcorn without buying prepackaged kernels? I bought some kernels at Earthfare the other day because I wanted to try it for myself. You take a 1/4 cup kernels, whatever seasonings you want, put it in a paper bag folded over once and stapled (The staple isn't big enough to spark), then set it up (not on its side) and microwave for 2 1/2-3 mins. Some recipes say to add a teaspoon of olive oil, but I think that just makes a mess and it will pop without the oil.

And maybe I won't wait so long to post a blog next time ;)

New Year, New Me, New Blog

The last day of 2012 upon us! And while the latter half of this year was better than the beginning of the year for me, I'm very much ready to put this year behind me. As well as I can that is. As with anything that happens in life you move on, but never forget. You are forever changed. Let it make you better, not bitter, right?

El último día de 2012 esta aqui! Y mientras que la segunda mitad de este año ha sido mejor que el principio del año para mí, estoy muy dispuesto a poner este año detrás de mí. Además de lo que pueda decir. Como con todo lo que sucede en la vida que seguir adelante, pero nunca olvidar. Se le cambió para siempre. Deja que te haga mejor, no amargo, ¿no?

(I'm stealing our church leader's sermon from Sunday) Take Jacob: he wrestled with God until God blessed him, and was Jacob was  left with a limp and a new name (Genesis 32). Why did God give him a limp, and then a blessing and a different name? So that Jacob's walk, his life, would be noticeably DIFFERENT and so that people would see that he fought hard and was forever a changed and blessed man.

(Estoy robando el sermón del líder de la iglesia de domingo) Mira a Jacob: luchó con Dios hasta que Dios lo bendijo, y fue Jacob se quedó con una cojera y un nuevo nombre (Génesis 32). ¿Por qué le dio Dios una cojera, y luego una bendición y un nombre diferente? Así que el camina de Jacob, su vida, sería notablemente DIFERENTE y para que la gente vea que luchó duro y era siempre un hombre cambiado y lo bendijo.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger (even if you limp, you are stronger).
Lo que no te mata te hace más fuerte (incluso si usted tiene una cojera, que son más fuertes).

Part of that "stronger" is still being in the fight and being able to continue on strong and joyful. Take Mr. Johnston, a friend of my dad and I. He is a believer and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Always has a smile on his face and always as a story to tell. My dad and I recently did a deck for our friend. One day on the job Mr. Johnston and I were talking about cancer, and how we were both survivors. And I remember him telling me, "What I had wasn't as bad as what you had." WHAT I HAD WASN'T AS BAD...

Parte de ese "más fuerte" aún se está en la lucha y ser capaz de continuar fuerte y alegre. Mire Sr. Johnston, un amigo de mi papá y yo es cristiano y uno de los tipos más agradables que he conocido. Siempre tiene una sonrisa en su cara y siempre como una historia que contar. Mi papá y yo recientemente hizo una cubierta para nuestro amigo. Un día en el trabajo del Sr. Johnston y yo estábamos hablando sobre el cáncer, y cómo ambos éramos sobrevivientes. Y recuerdo que me dijo: "Lo que tenia no era tan malo como lo que tenías." LO QUE TENIA NO ERA TAN MALO...

Skip to the last day of the job: He asked me when I went to the doctor next. And I said that I went the next day. He happened to have an appointment that day, too. Then he told my dad and I what kind of procedure he has done. I don't remember how often he goes for this, it might be twice a year. But, he had skin cancer. And his skin continues to make cancerous skin cells. So every couple of months he goes to get acid treatments on his skin and then he can't be exposed to any kind of light for a few days so the acid has time to kill the cancer cells. In short, he gets burned alive every so often and then hangs out in his dark basement for a few days.

Ir al último día del trabajo: Él me preguntó cuando me fui a la próxima consulta médica. Y yo le dije que me iba al día siguiente. Él pasó a tener una cita ese mismo día, también. Luego le dijo a mi papá y yo qué tipo de procedimiento se ha hecho. No recuerdo cuántas veces ocurre esto, puede ser que sea dos veces al año. Sin embargo, él tenía cáncer de piel. Y su piel sigue haciendo las células cancerosas de la piel. Así que cada pocos meses va a recibir tratamientos de ácido en la piel y entonces no puede estar expuesto a cualquier tipo de luz durante unos días para que el ácido tiene tiempo para matar las células cancerosas. En resumen, se quema vivo cada cierto tiempo y luego se cuelga en su sótano oscuro durante unos días.

And you would never know he goes through this by the smile that is always on his face and the joy that extrudes from him. You can't help but listen to him tell this story and think, "How does he still have that smile on his face?" He was laughing as he told us about this procedure, by the way. Not as bad as what I had or not, I would definitely call that a limp. 

Y que nunca se sabe que va a través de este por la sonrisa que siempre está en la cara y la alegría que extruye de él. No puedo dejar de escucharlo contar esta historia y pensamos: "¿Cómo es que todavía tiene esa sonrisa en la cara?" Se reía como nos dijo acerca de este procedimiento, por cierto. No es tan malo como lo que había o no, sin duda me llames así una cojera.

Why did God give Jacob a limp? So that Jacob's walk, his life, would be noticeably DIFFERENT and so that people would see that he fought hard and was forever a changed and blessed man. 

¿Por qué le dio Dios a Jacob una cojera? Así que el camina de Jacob, su vida, sería notablemente DIFERENTE y para que la gente vea que luchó duro y era siempre un hombre cambiado y lo bendijo.

Here's to a new year filled with unexplainable joy.
Saludos a un nuevo año lleno de alegría inexplicable.

I've hit the 9 month remission mark!

I am a nine month lymphoma survivor as of this month!

Soy un superviviente del linfoma de nueve meses este mes!

My health is a complete 180 from this time last year. I had no strength, and looked pretty rough after being sick for six months straight. I remember going to watch the "Buddy's Race Against Cancer" last year and thinking, "I'll be able to be able to breathe next year and I'M GOING TO RUN THIS RACE!!!"

Mi salud es un giro de 180 grados a partir de esta fecha el año pasado. No tenía fuerza, y parecía terrible después de estar enfermo durante seis meses consecutivos. Recuerdo que fui a ver "Buddy's carrera contra el cáncer" el año pasado y pensando: "Voy a ser capaz de respirar el año que viene y ME VOY A CORRER ESTA CARRERA!!!"

A WEEK AND A HALF LATER, on Black Friday, I was told I probably had cancer. Now I've been in remission since March and I just ran the Buddy's race, as a survivor ;) All the survivor's got a medal and were asked what they celebrate as a survivor in one word, (there is no one word that could describe all that I celebrate, but) my word was "triumph".

UNA SEMANA Y MEDIA DESPUES, el día después de Acción de Gracias, se me dijo que probablemente tenía cáncer. Ahora he estado en remisión desde marzo y me corrió la carrera de Buddy's, como un sobreviviente ;) Todos los sobrevivientes recibió una medalla y se les pidió que se celebra como un sobreviviente en una palabra, (no hay una palabra que pueda describir todo lo que yo celebro, pero) mi palabra era "triunfo".

              Pre-race Survivor's Walk (Didn't realize I was supposed to wear my red shirt til I was there)
   El desfile de los sobrevivientes (No me di cuenta que tenía que llevar mi camisa roja hasta yo estaba allí)

Starting (I'm in the pink)

Empezar (Estoy en el rosado)

My roommate Veronica and I. She plays with Knoxville Pipe and Drum. They played for the Survivor's Walk, hence the Kilt.

Mi compañera y yo, Veronica. Ella juega con Knoxville Pipe and Drum. Jugaron por el desfile de los supervivientes, por lo que la falda escocesa.

This past year was hard. But by the grace of God I made it! And this next year will be spent working on getting my 5k time down to 24 minutes. And maybe I will be able to place as 3rd or 2nd over all female survivor in the Buddy's race next year!

El año pasado fue duro. Pero por la gracia de Dios, lo hice! Y este próximo año se pasó trabajando en conseguir mi tiempo a completar un 5k en 24 minutos. Y tal vez voy a ser capaz de completarlo como tercera o segunda de las sobrevivientes femeninas en la carrera de Buddy's en el año que viene!

Me and my scars at the finish.

Yo y mis heridas en la meta.

Si te da miedo, podria ser una buena cosa para probar. 

I have been a runner and a cyclist for years. I have only been a swimmer for a few months now. And as you might have seen on Facebook, I just did my first Triathlon! After being done with chemo for only 3 1/2 months. God's grace and the human body are amazing. 

He sido una corredora y una ciclista por años. Solo he sido una nadadora por unos meses. Y como ud podria haber visto en el facebook, acabo de hacer mi primer triathlon. Despues de haber sido hecho con quimioterapia por 3.5 meses. La gracia de Dios y el cuerpo humano son asombrosos.

The triathlon started out with a 300 meter swim, outside on a chilly morning. Then a 12 mile bike ride, while still wet and with the cold wind hitting me. And finished with a 3.2 mile run, which I did without stopping. And by the way, I have not run more than a mile without stopping in some time due to traveling so much and being sick. And I finished it all in 1:15:44. Adrenaline is another amazing thing. 

El triathlon comenzo con 300 metros de natacion, afuera en una mañana fresca. Despues, 19.3 kilometros en bicicleta, mientras estar mojada todavia y con el viento golpeandome. Y terminado con una cerrera de 5 kilometros, lo que hizo sin parar. De paso, no he corrido mas de un mile (1.6 km) en algun tiempo debido de viajando mucho y estar enferma. Y termine con todo en 1:15:44. Adernalina es una orta cosa que es asombrosa. 

I remember at youth camp one year Adam Lutts told me that God was going to unfold my life like a map. That there was a plan, but I did not know what was coming. Did I ever think I would travel the world? No. Did I ever think I would be a cancer survivor one day. No. Did I ever think I would be a triathlete? No. But I am liking the plan. Even if in the moment it is scary, painful or is wearing me out. 

Recuerdo que en el campamento de la juventud un año Adam Lutts me dijo que Dios iba a desarrollarse mi vida como un mapa. Que había un plan, pero no sabía lo que venía. ¿Alguna vez creo que sería viajar por el mundo? No. ¿Alguna vez creo que sería un sobreviviente de cáncer de un día. No. ¿Alguna vez creo que sería un triatleta? No. Pero me gusta el plan. Incluso si en el momento en que da miedo, dolor o me hace consada.

So here I am again. Not knowing the plan. But ready. Ready for what? Adventure. 

Entonces, aqui estoy otra vez. Sin saber del plan. Pero listo. Listo para que? Aventura.

La aventura esta ahi fuera.