Give me strength. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, everyday we get treats in our mailboxes every day; chocolates, pretzels, candy. At the end of the week we will have a luncheon. I am going to be strong.
Read more... I ran 95.4k in the month of January! OMG! That is almost two marathons! Crazy. February...lets's try for 105k! This morning we did 8.2 k, since I didn't go to bed until 2:30 am, I was exhausted and the run was never ending. Nevertheless, I did it and treated myself to a dark chocolate latte made with skim milk. I got medium, but next time I will get small. It was too much and I ended up pouring out half for my mom.
My body is looking leaner, but the scale is frozen. Ah well, all I can do is keep pushing. This week at work will be another busy one. Only got in three days of activity last week because it was so busy. Hopefully, I can get my 6 days in this week. I have also been slacking on my journal writing, have to get back on that pronto.
Currently reading book two of the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire, LOVE IT!
Remember-- This is not a race, the habits you are forming, the body you are creating will last you a lifetime. You are worth it.
I AM alive (barely). I am so busy with work that I do not have time to sit and write anything. I will be back soon to sort out my blog. I DO have time to read the second Hunger Game's book, Catching Fire and I am enjoying it. Hope everyone is well. I may not be commenting, but I am reading!
Remember--Everyday is an opportunity to reinvent yourself to be the person that you want to be forever.--MissHaneefa
Had way too much chocolate cake today, but I ran a combined 10 k so I don't feel so bad. 6 of those 10 involved hill training which I am getting much better at. Boo ya!
Did a core class on Monday and I am still feelin the burn. Love it!
Smile! Your getting fit!
Sunday night I had Indian food. Butter chicken, naan bread and a bit of biryani. I felt so full when I was done. I need to control myself when I eat yummy food. I have learned that I should never eat until I am full.
There is this girl in my classes that annoys the sh*t out of me. Every word that comes out of her mouth is a complaint. "What more?", "I can't do that!", "My legs hurt". All she does is whine, she should fuckin come with cheese. I am just waiting for the day that I get fed up and say something. Soon, soon.....Maybe I should be like JWow and Snooki and write a letter.....
I tried Zumba Tone last night. We did half an hour regular Zumba and then we held two pound weights and continued the class for a real arm workout.
I just finished reading the book Hunger Games. If you thought the Twilight series was good, you have not read anything yet! If anyone has read it, let's discuss.
Ran 6.2k in the -14C weather. It was damn cold, but I have already forgotten about it. Look how happy I am to go running!
I couldn't today. I am even more tired than yesterday, so I skipped classes and decided to stay home and rest. Going to try and be in bed by 9 pm. I will pick it back up tomorrow with yoga and maybe some weights. I think TOM has me feelin weaker than usual. Sunday they are forecasting -26 C, might have to stay home from my run, even run-a-holics have a limit.
Water intake was better today at least.
Remember--- Your body is the baggage that you carry for life, the more excess the baggage the shorter the trip.
Tomorrow is Friday! Woot Woot! 
I am exhausted. I finished work and I did not want to go to running. I changed into my running clothes, I still did not want to go to running. Then I remembered Trinidad and I went to running. We ran 6k, but I was all the way at the back the whole time, I was almost in a different area code. I didn't care, because I was there. Nevertheless, I finished and I am happy. Work has me stressed and busier than a (insert funny analogy that I cannot think of right now because I am so tired). Tomorrow is Muscle Challenge and Ball Pilates, yeah!
After the run, I came home, ate, prepared lunch for tomorrow and took a nice hot bath with Epsom salts. If you have sore muscles, fill a hot bath with a cup or two of Epsom salts (I have the one with eucalyptus) and chill in the tub reflecting on how damn good you are doing with your healthy life style!
Have a great night and keep up the fantastic work *pats on the back all around*
Journal--->
Memo to self I need to drink more water!!!!!
As you can see I have been journaling. Knowing that I am accountable to you is great. Before I put something in my mouth I have to remember that you will all see it and could potentially yell at me ( or at least shake your fists at your computers) and that pressure keeps me on course. Before I put something in my mouth, I think, "Do I really want this? Maybe I should have a (insert healthy item here) instead. I plan to post a pic of my journal each time I blog. I am leaving for Trinidad is less than six weeks and I really want to drop ten pounds. I have to wear that sexy costume and I need to be as ready as possible.
Since I can't count, the 15 in 15 Challenge was suppose to be over last week. But I will wrap it up this Friday. On the heels of the 15 in 15 Challenge I was thinking about heading up another one. Since next Monday will be about a month until I leave for Trinidad, I was thinking, why not "Ten for Trinidad"? I know that you are not going to Trinidad (if you are holla), but we can all stand to be ten pounds lighter. What do you think? Are you down or are you all challenged out? Be honest. I can see the banner now, black, white and red (Trinidad colors), with palm trees and steel drums......
This will not be easy, we will have Valentine's Day ahead if us and Teacher Appreciation Week. Chocolates, candies, cupcakes,blah,blah,blah. We will need to stay strong. We will need to remember why we are in this in the first place. We want to be healthy, we want to be fit. We have each other, we can definitely do this. We can do this together.
In Zumba class they played Trey Songz "Bottoms Up" it is a great song to get down to. The best is to see all the older women getting down and whining their waists, I love it.
Just spend an hour a post and lost it. 
So annoyed.
Just saw this quote on Twitter:
The President and The First Lady find time to work out and so can you. #NoExcuses
From Jeanette Jenkins Hollywood trainer
Hair before:
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| Watch out Amber Rose! |
Now that I have calmed down from last night's post (thank you commenters for the kind words), I guess there is nothing that I can do but keep doing what I am doing. I know that my post seemed a little rash ( for some reason that does not sound like a word), but this blog cannot be all roses and chocolate, I have to report the good days , along with the bad.
You know what I realized? I completely forgot about my blogaverasy! January 3rd marked one year that I have been blogging. I will write a proper post, but I just want to say thank you for all the readers and welcome to all the new readers. I really enjoy blogging and I am happy that I have this outlet to communicate my feelings and frustrations.
P.S. Tomorrow or Friday will be the big semi-big chop. I am frustrated with my hair, so I am going shorter (again), I will post a pic. Wish me luck. Hey, now is as good a time as any. I will just have to wear a little more make up and some big earrings, I am excited!
I don't know what is going on, my weight is not moving. Let me rephrase that, my weight is moving -- in the wrong direction. I am running, lifting, eating normally. My silhouette looks good, clothes are fitting fine, but the scale keeps moving up. I am getting so frustrated. Trinidad is in eight weeks and I look like sh*t, to be honest not really sure how much I can do in eight weeks, but I know no matter what I do I will still not look as good as the ladies that I am going to be with. You know how you see a group of girls and there is always that one girl who looks wack? ME.
Read more...
Yeah! Finished my first 10k race in an hour and nine minutes. Even better than I expected. The route was nice, but it was crazy windy. Can I tell you that I burned about 1030 calories!? CRAZY! Now it is time to relax and enjoy the last day before I go back to work tomorrow.
Happy Sunday!
Do you get offended by the music that is played in your exercise classes?
In Zumba on Tuesday night the teacher played a song by Lil Jon that had a lot of f**k you's in it. One lady came up to the instructor after class and complained. She said that if our instructor keeps playing that music, she will not come to the classes anymore. This lady also says that she doesn't come to the other instructors classes because of his music ( think hip hop and r and b top 40-- Trey Songz, Nicki Minaj, Kanye, Lil Wayne, etc....)
I like the music so I have nothing to say. To be honest when I am concentrating in an exercise class I don't have time to focus on the lyrics of the song.
I remember my old spinning instructor (who had the wickedest music) said, "If you don't like the music get the f**k out!"
On Wednesday I went to my last meeting for my 10k clinic. We discussed what is the next step for each of us. Some of us will be repeating the 10k clinic again and some of us (like me) will be moving on to the Half Marathon Clinic. Our "leader" was talking to us and I found her speech super negative. Instead of encouraging us and telling us that we are ready for the half, all she kept saying was how the half is so hard and that we will have to watch our diet so carefully. She continued to say that if we do not run at least four times a week the half clinic is going to be hard. They do not hold our hand, blah, blah, blah. Honestly, I wanted to get up and shut her up. I could not understand how someone who was suppose to lead us could be so negative as many of us were about to take the next step in our running journey. Many runners in my group were doubting themselves when I KNOW that they can do. I font care if she thinks that I am ready or not. I have paid my 70$ for the race and there is no turning back. If I have to crawl across that finish line I am going to finish thy race.
On Sunday, we are going to have a 10k race to end our clinic. I am hoping that I can do it in an hour and fifteen minutes of less. This will be my first 10k race, I am very excited.
Remember the yoga/pilates instructor from the other night? I went to his ball pilots class tonight and it was murdah! My body is already on pain. We did over 150 sit ups and all kinds of work with the ball. He told us to talk our waist and hip measurements because he guaranteed us that in two months we would a reduction in the number of inches.
Yesterday, I was on my way to Zumba class, I was in the parking lot walking to the door and I see an older black man coming my way. This man has a gold tooth and looks like he could be a friend of my dad. First thing I think is, " Great, this guy is going to have something to to me."
He asks me if I am going to the Zumba class, I reply yes and he says that he is the new yoga instructor at the studio.
Ooooohhhhhhhhhhhh
I introduced myself and told him that I would be seeing him soon because I am a member of the studio. I am going to his class tomorrow so I will let you know about that.
I felt so bad. I guess that I assume that an older black guy can't be a yoga/pilots instructor. I really need to stop making assumptions.
Have you ever made an assumption about someone or something that you later felt bad about?
Like I said in a previous post, I have been asked to do a post on running. I started running at the end of May. This being said I am no expert and I am still learning myself.
I was looking for something new to add to my fitness routine. I had always shied away from running because my breasts have always been so large that any type of jumping while exercising hurt. But since I have lost some weight got a better bra and threw a sports bra on top the pain is gone. I had heard about the Running Room and we have one near my house so I went a few times to check it out. I finally joined their Learn to Run clinic which was ten weeks. At the end of these ten weeks one would be able to run for 20 minutes with a one minute walk in between. Now before I continue running is not for everyone, that I can understand, but the fact that you can do it anywhere and you feel so free, I urge you to give it a try. I started by running one minute and walking one minute for 20 minutes three times a week. Each week I increase my running time by a minute but I always kept that one minute walking break (this was similar to a Couch to 5k routine). Within a month I wanted to see how I would do in a 5k race so I signed up and did it in a little over 37 minutes. I realized that I was really started to like running and signed up for more races. I was hooked. I have just finished my second 10k clinic and in February I will begin to train for a half marathon, on the date of the half I wil have come full circle. I am really impressed with what I have accomplished so far. I have compiled a few helpful things I think anyone who is starting out as a runner should know.
I do not run with music because I really like to observe what is going on around me. I find it relaxing and it gives me time to think and/or clear my mind. But you are more than welcome to, just be careful and if you run alone make sure that you tell someone where you see going, you know just in case :)
When you run there are a few things to note:
- Get good shoes. If you have a running store in your area ask then to look at your feet and tell you what shoes will be best. The type of shoe depends if you pronate or not (the is when your food leans in or out when you stand), Trust me spending 150$ on a pair of shoes is worth it, but if you are not ready for that yet, go to a larger sports store where they might have that model on sale and get them. If you run regularly your shoes will last you for a year MAX.
-Dont over dress when you run, your body increases by ten degrees so remember that when you are getting dressed. Even when I run now in -5C I wear a long slipped shirt with a short sleeved shirt on top and a windbreaker type jacket and that is it. "Cotton is rotten" it will keep up wet. Avoid corton t-shirts. When you run you can wear your workout clothes if you have anything made with synthetic material such ad Nike DriFi. this will keep you dry.
- If you get chaffing when you run, I used to get "bra burns" from the bra rubbing against my skin, I now use a product called Glide, but Vaseline will do the trick also. You can also put it on your feet if you get blisters or between your legs if you wear shorts. Men you can also put it on your nipples (some male runners get bloody nipples from their shirts rubbing against them, I know too much info)
-Try to run against traffic so that cars can see you, if you decide go run at night make sure that you have some type of reflective material on or a light. I wear a bike light on my shoes.
- You may be tempted look down when you are running, don't, keep your head up and try too look at the tops of houses or straight ahead. I know personally that this is easier said than done especially if you are running in the snow and are afraid of slipping
- Breathing is so important. Make sure that you are constantly breathing. Try to inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Keep your shoulders back and relax, this will open up your chest and help you to breath by allowing more oxygen in. As we run many of us ( myself included) tend to bend forward and hunch our shoulders in, this makes it even harder to breath and restricts lunch capacity.
- Stay hydrated. Bring a water bottle with you and drink from it especially if you are running in the heat.
-Have fun!
I am sure that there are things I forgot to mention, if you have any questions or additional info feel free to leave a comment.
Happy Running!
There was interesting radio program on CBC today. The show was on obesity and has some great info.
In Canada there is a 3-5 year wait for any type of weight loss operation (gastric bypass, gastric sleeve--they remove 85% of your stomach, lap band etc...). At this moment over one million Canadians would qualify for any of these types of surgeries. Imagine you are 19 and morbidly obese you won't have anything done until your at least 21.
Canada is also lowering the required amount of physical activity required on a daily basis (now it is 60 mins a day for adults and 90 kind a day for children). They say that no one is following the requirements, so even if they lower the required number of minutes people will get healthier. This is sad that we are so large that we do not need 60 minutes a day to stay healthy.
There was also an interview with a Med School student who lost 90 pounds because he felt like a hypocrite being a doctor in training and standing 6 foot and 285 pounds with a 46 inch waist. His eyes were opened when he was doing rotations and saw that being obese effected every aspect in the hospital (patients whose necks were so fat that they could not breath). His id picture was a constant conversation piece with patients because as he lost weight his face looked so different from his real face.
Village On A Diet is a new 10 part Canadian mini series, where a group of health care professionals take one of the most obese Canadian towns and tries to slim them down.
2011 is here and what would a weight lose blog be if I did not make a few goals for the year. I am a bit tired of the word "resolution" so I won't go there. These are a few things that I want to work on this year. As the year progresses I am sure that I will have a few additions.
- They have added yoga to the studio where I train, I want to do this at least once a week. I have never been a fan of yoga, I find it to slow for my liking. Nevertheless, when I did do yoga for a few weeks, I saw a huge improvement in my balance and flexibility. Two things that I need to improve.
- I want to keep running and improve my 5 k time to under 30 minutes. (I ran 7 races this year! Wooo hoo)
- Even though I have run 10k on my own I have not done a 10k race yet. I would like to run a few and see what times I can clock.
- I have signed up for the half marathon at the end of may in Ottawa. There in one here in Montreal in April, if I am up for it I want to try it out to have an idea of what I am getting myself into.
- Run at least 3 days a week with the Running Room and once on my own. I am signing up for a 16 week clinic in February to get me ready for the half.
- Eat as clean as possible, as often as possible. Cut down on the sweets which is really my weakness.
- Once the community pool reopens, get back into aqua-fitness and maybe even look into taking some swimming lessons. I can swim, but not very well and I would like to learn the proper strokes.
- Get to 203 (lowest weight attained in July 2003) once at 203, get under 200. Then 191 (30% loss of my starting weight of 272 from March 2008). Then get to 177 that would be a 35% body loss. I would love to be at goal by my 31st birthday.
- Keep blogging and comment more on all the blogs o read. I love getting comments and I know that the blogs I read would love them too, no matter how short the comment.
I have asked to do a post on running and I am going to get to that this week. I am by far not an expert, but I would love to share what I know.
At my training studio, my instructor could not believe that I weigh around 210. He was convinced that I was around 190. This is a good thing because at least I don't look my weight. I credit this partly to my height (thanks Mom!) I told him my weight story and that I was once 272 . He was shocked ( of course he had to say how close I was to 300 pounds, wow the thought of that is scary). He said that I could get down to 150, the thought of that blows my mind. One step at a time.
New song of the moment is Cee Lo Green's "F**k You".
I am loving this iPod touch so much. I am writing this on it and I LOVE it!
Hope that 2011 is treating well! Have a great week!
P.S. Trinidad is in 9 weeks. Wow, no time to play around anymore I have to get S-E-R-I-O-U-S! A 20 pound loss would be great....
I am so sorry that I have been leaving these "baby" posts for the last week. I was actually contemplating shutting down the blog this week, but decided that with the one year blogaversary coming up that would not be such a wise idea, things in my life are not going so well and I really just feel like being myself, this includes not sharing my blog worries.
I have been reflecting about myself and with a new year here; what has happened to me, my weight lose journey and the blog in the last year. I had started this blog with the original wish to get to 200 pounds by my 30th birthday last August. When I started the blog I was 238, on my birthday I was 209, now I am 211, not bad, 27 pounds in a year. When I started this blog, I was fed up. August 2009, I was 221 by Jan. I was 238, I couldn't believe that I had let myself gain all that weight back. I said to myself that I was not going to undo all of the hard work that I had done. I am happy to say that I have ended this year with a weight debt, even if I did not reach my goal of 200 pounds. I really want to be 175, and someone even said that I should be 150, but let us not get ahead of ourselves. I live a healthy lifestyle 90% of the time. I started running at the end of May and this May I am looking to run a Half Marathon, wow who would have thought. I am stronger and I am in the best shape of my life...
Part 2 to come.....
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