Are you like me?

If you are like me....just 2 and 1/2 short years ago, you would be feeling like you were about three minutes from being bed bound. Back then, I was 274 pounds. Which is heavy, OK fat, but not as big as some other people. But for me, at 5'4"...274 pounds was unbearable. Every day I felt like I was getting closer and closer to being bed bound. My body hurt....I'd get weird ailments and pains that were unexplainable and sometimes untreatable. It was hard for me to move....I could not squat, bend over, walk very far ~ let alone run, my body just was not functioning as it should....I truly feel, if I did not get control of my health, I would be chained to my bed forever! Is that where you are today?

If you are like how I used to be, I challenge you today, to make a difference in your life. The way I was headed...the way you are headed will only lead to misery and maybe even death. I was on a one-way train heading for my final days of life.....even before I actually got to live some life. How devastating is that!!!!

I never knew.......

That by changing my life and keeping my focus on good health and fitness how WONDERFUL life can be! The things I've been able to do since losing 74 pounds has been amazing!! No longer are days of watching TV and eating junk food considered a good day. Never do I desire to stay in bed and not face the day.

NO WAY!!

Now the days just don't seem long enough! I want to do so many things....

Biking, running ~ 5k's 10k's and half marathons, strength building, camping, boating, golfing, playing with my grandkids, entertaining family and friends, traveling, exploring and on and on!

The other day, I decided I wanted to try to learn to golf. So Hubby and I went to the driving range. I was able to hit 105 golf balls, fairly straight and about 100 yards. Not bad for my first time. Then we got to go to the putting place (mound.....holes - I don't know what you call them). Anyway, I'm standing there with balls everywhere ~ practicing and I happen to look up and take in my surroundings. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny May day. The air was crisp and scented with flowers. I looked around and realized that the place was just beautiful. The breeze was warm. And all I could think about was how free I felt. Free to be silly missing my shot, free to try, free to be successful in getting in a good shot, free to be just like everyone else. Free to just have fun!

It was amazing!!!

So if you are where I was 2 and 1/2 years ago.....start today to change your life...make small changes toward good health. Surround yourself with your health and fitness team. Set goals and focus every day on achieving your health and fitness goals. Because life is worth living!!! Don't waste it!!!

You can do it!! I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!

Keep focused!

Oh Yeah We Got This!!!

Are you with me?? We can do this!!

Push through!!

JUST DO IT ANYWAY!!!

Keep focused!

Just do it anyway!!!!

Today, are any of you not interested in your health and fitness plan? Are you tired of exercise? Tired of eating plans? Tired of recording food? Tired of drinking your water? Tired of the focus on all of this?

Is that you today? It's kind of me today. OK it is me today.

Well even though you and I are tired of it all.....JUST DO IT ANYWAY!!!

Each day we put our focus on our health and fitness....it's one more day we are closer to our goals!!!!

Don't give up!!! Stay the course!!! And DO IT ANYWAY!!!




You won't be sorry!!!

I'm off to my treadmill!!!

Keep focused!!

OK ~ Enough is Enough!

So.....it's been over a week since my last 1/2 Marathon...Have to say, I've spent this entire week....healing and....feeling sorry for myself!

Doing two 1/2 Marathons....in a week was, should I say...a little hard on my body! OK a lot hard on my body!  I think most things on my body hurt and if hair could hurt, then mine did!

My knee was the most troublesome part. It was just achy and sometimes even had some pretty good pain. Then my feet and calves just hummed with pain....if that's ever happened to you, you know what I mean. Just a constant reminder all week of the punishment I caused myself.

The feeling sorry for me part was.....I am just disappointed once again, that I'm dealing with injuries. I know most athletes experience injuries, but I'm feeling that I've had more than my fair share! I'm tired of it!

Even though my legs were definitely hurting and sore last week, I still went to the gym and did what I could do. Monday it was rowing and upper body weights. (Don't know why rowing did not hurt my knee, just glad I could do something) I did a couple of days of walking....2.4 speed on my treadmill, slow...but at least I did it. Water aerobics one night and and another day of upper body weights. All week long I did my stretches and iced my pains.

Finally today, I feel back to normal and I will start my training again tomorrow. The other thing is I've readjusted my attitude and I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I'm feeling strong and ready to go!!

How to you handle injuries?

Keep focused!!

Stretching Myself (Part 2)

Really really REALLY did not think I could do this....First of all, I just finish a 1/2 Marathon last weekend and since then, I was nursing a sore knee. Besides the pain of that, I had an extremely busy week. So I did not feel prepared, physically or mentally, for my next adventure. So doing this event and the other things that came into play really stretched me to my limit!!! I would be doing this all by myself....NO SUPPORT from family or friends.....going on the train to Portland (which is scary)....not prepared....it was raining....to push my body to new limits!!!!

Even though I did not feel prepared, I was alone and I was scared...

I DID IT ANYWAY!!!

So with my trusty running gear, I set out for another 1/2 Marathon!!!

Always have Margene in my pocket!! Because if she can do hard things...so can I!!

Getting on the train is not that big of deal. It's getting off and finding your destination that's hard. But not to worry, I just had to follow all of the other crazies out there to find the race. Unfortunately, I got there about 10 minutes (poor planning) before the race started and I needed to go to the bathroom. But the lines were too long, I could not chance it. Then I got my I-Phone set up for my tunes and it would not connect. I started to panic because I could not do this without my music! Fortunately there was a lady there who assured me that it was most likely that everyone was doing the same thing and it should connect soon. Which it did ~ Whew!!!!!

Because there were thousands of people there, they sent us off in packs. The race started at 8:00am, but my pack did not take off until 8:15 or so.

Then to make things really fun, it started to rain.

Fortunately I did wear the proper clothing and I was perfectly warm the whole way.

My plan was....because I was not really supposed to be in this race, was to run my scheduled 4 miles (for my training) and then walk the rest of the way.

My knee did pretty well, only had trouble on mile 11 (what's up with that mile...I really struggle there) and I only walked a couple of minutes the whole time. I can't for some reason, run and drink the water or sports drink, I can only walk while doing that. Oh and then I had to stop for some lights....but the rest of the time, I ran. THE WHOLE WAY!!!!

Came in at 3 hrs and 32 minutes!!!!

So EXCITED!!!

Now I'm focused on my final 1/2 Marathon of the year and that is on June 9th.

How about you...How was your weekend?

Keep focused!

Stretching Myself!!!

I'm off to do something kind of crazy and daring for me.....

I'll let you know what it is......when I get back.

Please pray...

YES it's legal. Geez!!!

Keep focused!

What are you thinking?

All week long my mind has been other places. I'm thinking about things that are on the dark side. Bad things....things I should not be thinking about Like......

• Candy
• Bread
• Being lazy
• Fast food
• Yes stay up late
• Sleep in
• Waste your day

It's like I have a very large mouth screaming at me in one ear about all of the bad things I want to do and in the other ear, I have this faint little voice saying......

• You should be stretching
• You should be eating more veggies and fruit
• You should drink your water
• You should push yourself
• You should get to the gym
• You should run an extra mile
• You should.......you should.......you should!!!!

Where should my mind be?

Well I'm training for another 1/2 Marathon ~ it's June 9th....My mind should be focused on that. I should be preparing my mind and body for this event. Not straying off and wandering around the dark side.

WHAT AM I THINKING!!!!

Obviously I'm off track.

So today...I am focused on my goal...Because I AM AN ATHLETE!!!

How about you...What are you thinking?

Keep focused!!