From The Heart

It always seems impossible until its done.

Nelson Mandela

20 kilometers, 12.4 miles, that is how much I ran yesterday.  If you had told me this a year ago, I would have called you crazy and asked what you were smoking.  I still cannot believe it.  Last year I started running (read the post where it all started), and in two weeks I will be running my first HALF MARATHON, that is fucking BANANAS!  I went from running for 1 minute and walking for 1 minute (similar to a Couch to 5K program) and not I can run for 3 hours.  I cannot believe it, I have come so far.  I remember the days when I could not run on the treadmill, my back would hurt because of my breasts, my shins would burn.  Since I have lost weight that is all gone.  Granted when I reach 13K, my knees and ankles begin to cry a bit, but that is normal.  I am so proud of myself, I really cannot believe it.  I look at myself in the mirror and although I have gained weigh since my recent low of 209, I am fit, I am healthy, I am beautiful.  I often get asked if I ran track in high school (no), because I just have that shape.  I am very lucky that I am proportional enough that I do not look my weight (217), I guess that I am also blessed with a nice height also (5'9'').  I am happy that I am living a healthy lifestyle and I am also happy that I inspire others to do so also (at least I hope I do).

Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read this little old blog and comment, it means the world to me.  Those of you that are struggling (I am there too), remember that you are doing this for you, you will see changes and you will not regret them.  Your family,  your future family, you have the opportunity to change their outlook on eating and activity.  You can change your family history, you can lower your blood pressure, you can lower your cholesterol.  You can be the size you were before you got pregnant.

Let me tell you a story about a pink and black shirt...

Once a time there was a cute pink and black shirt at a plus size store.  The only size they had let was X (smaller than 1X), at the time I wore 2X, but I loved the shirt so much that I bought it even thought it was tight and I said to myself one day this shirt would fit me.  As I began to lose weight pink and black shirt fit.  Last week I put on said shirt and I am now swimming in it.  I smiled to myself and remembered the feeling I felt when I paid for it and prayed that one day it would fit.

Everyone has a "pink and black shirt" in their wardrobe, something they want to fit into, YOU CAN DO IT.  Trust me it might take you 2 months or it might take 2 years, but you can do it.  Forget the nay sayers and the haters, let them hate, haters only hate what they cannot imitate.

Once again THANK YOU!  Keep doing what you are doing, I promise it will pay off!

p.s

Thirteenlbs these are burpees, they were invented by the Devil :o)

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Sweatshop

I wish that I was talking about making 2.25$ an hour sewing soccer balls. But I am talking about a class at the gym I went to last night. This was the most I have sweat in a long time, I will definitely be attending this class again. We did lunges across the room floor in different variation (with weights over our heads, while doing bicep curls) My legs were shaking by the end. Then we had to do donkey kicks.

A few times and I swear , I was crying out in pain. That wasn't the end, no, we think did a little step routine and some burpees. He then told us to go down on the mat. I was so happy, until he said to getup, then go back down! I thought I was going to die. Although my body is in pain, I love it!

Tomorrow is my last long run before the half marathon in two weeks! 20k baby!!

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Weight loss is a funny thing.

      Once again I am not seeing any movement on the scale, but my clothes are fitting better and I am wearing a smaller size.  I tracking my food and drinking water.  I know that you have heard this many a time from me before and I am thinking of going to see a dietitian to help me, I am eating a lot more fish and last night make a breaded tilapia that was delicious, I made a little sauce out of mustard, honey and scotch bonnet sauce (super hot sauce) to go on the side.  I am not sure why things are no longer working.
    The weather in Montreal is finally nice and it really helps with running outside, the 19.5K  on Sunday was actually better than the 18K the week before, but I think that also had to do with the flatter terrain.  I will be doing speed work again tomorrow and I am going to try and head to the gym today, I have been slacking on the weights.  I hate when I go to the gym and they have changed the teacher for a class, because I never know what the intensity that teacher will have and when I do not have time to waste, I do not want to go to a class with a stranger teacher that I will not enjoy.

     Read this quote on twitter the other day (@MissHaneefa) and I really like it.  I really think that it can apply to weight loss, you can work really hard in a week and the scale will not show much but those habits will stay with you for life!

"Not everything that is counted counts and not everything that counts is counted"

--Albert Einstein

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19.5

     That is how many kilometers I ran today!  It is hard to believe that I started running a year ago and now I am almost done a half marathon distance. 1.5 more and I am at the half marathon distance. To all those of you running, if you like it stick with it.  This activity makes me feel so good, so free.

This my mom Icis on her wedding day in 1978. Happy Mother's Day Mom!  I love you more than anything, if I can one day be half the mother you are, I will consider my job done.  I love you.

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Are You Some Kind Of Health Nut?

This is what I was asked today. I went to a group interview and had lunch with one of the fellow candidates. We went to a place that was serving breakfast, I ordered a cheddar and bacon omelette with brown toast, I then asked to replace the home fries with fruit, they said they do not do that, but could replace it with tomato slices. I agreed to this. The girl I was with then said, "What are you some kind of health nut?". I explained a bit about my weight loss journey and that seemed to intrigue her. She congratulated me and that was the end of that. Has anything like this ever happened to you? Do people make comments about your healthy meal choices?"

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Bringing Back The Stars

I went back in time, no silly, not literally, I went back and read my posts from last year at this time. I read and reflected on what worked at what didn't and you know what? It is time to bring back the YES YOU CAN STARS! When I was on this system I lost 9 pounds in a month and I need to get back to where I was when I came back from Trinidad. I have been eating well for the last 3 days and it is working out. Unfortunately, I have a brunch on Sunday for Mother's Day and it is a West Indian Brunch, you know what that means? Bake and salt fish yummy!



I did speed work on Wednesday, it was a bitch in sheep's clothing.

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18K and Positive Self Talk

I did it. I ran 18K. It took 2 hours and 27 minutes but I did it! The weather Sunday was great, perfect running weather. The first 12 K were good, I was running with this great girl and we had tons of laughs along the way. When I reached the 13th kilometer things started to go downhill, my legs started to hurt and I felt that I could no longer continue. Then I remembered my first 5K race and I remembered how happy I was when I finished, I could do it. I did it! I finished. Today is another story my legs are in pain but it is a good pain. The race is in less than 3 weeks, all I have to add is 3k to my distance and then I am done!



This week we are working on speed work. Someone will run as fast as they can on the track and we will have to catch them for 1 -2 minutes, in essence we are playing tag.



Running Room puts out a magazine each month this month there is an article on POSITIVE SELF TALK, here are a few phrases to think of when you are having trouble:

• I am in control of my own thinking, my own life and emotions and direct the pattern of my performance, health and life.
• I am fully capable of achieving the goals I set today, they are within my reach
• I learn from my problems and setbacks, and through them I see room for improvements and opportunities for personal growth.
• Everyday in some way I am better, wiser, more focused, more confident and more in control

Have a great week!

P.S this was my Royal Wedding swag from last Friday;

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