running with a purpose

Not many people know the story behind my love of running. Its rather ironic because its not something that started out as love in any sense of the word. It would have been better described as hate. When I was young, say 7th or 8th grade, people would always tell me I needed to play basketball. "You're so tall, you should play basketball!" "Do you play basketball?" "I bet you play basketball!" Ugh... NO! I was the furthest thing from a basketball player. Well, 9th grade rolled around and I reluctantly went out for the team. What was I thinking? I'm pretty sure everyone makes the team in 9th grade...because I did, and so did Erica. Oh what a season! I don't remember the slightest thing about our record other than we were not good. I do, however, remember three things. First, on the night of our home opener I didn't fit into the home uniforms. They didn't have shorts big enough for me. So, I wore blue shorts while everyone else wore white. I stuck out like a sore thumb! Not one of my proudest moments. Secondly, one afternoon between class and practice I thought a milk shake and fries would be an appropriate snack. Said snack reappeared on center court after practice. Again, not a proud moment. And finally, I remember I HATED RUNNING! It was awful! I was horrible at it! I was slow and my form was bad! I'm pretty sure I was as graceful as an elephant running laps around that gym! I couldn't run. Fortunately for me, someone burned our gym down later that year and girls softball was introduced to the Forrest City High School athletic program. I gladly made my exit from the world of basketball...and so began my softball career. We still ran some in softball. However, I loved softball so I put up with the occasional lap around the field. Flash forward to Thanksgiving 2007. My friend, Todd, gave me the idea that I might actually be able to run. He proposed that if I ever wanted to run a half marathon he would run with me. I let the idea marinate for a few months. In the spring of 2008, as an obese 27 year old (former high school all conference softball player), I decided I would run...for the sole purpose of proving to myself that I could! That May I ran my first mile and I haven't looked back since. I love what I once hated. Something that I once considered pure agony is now something that is pure joy! I am a runner! I run to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. I enjoy running 5Ks, though speed has never been my strong suit. And I took Todd up on his offer. I ran my first half-marathon in March of 2009. I've run three since then with the hopes of running at least one a year as long as I'm physically able. Running is a part of me now. BUT... I have always said I will NEVER... EVER... run a full marathon unless I get the uncontrollable, un-ignorable urge to do so. I have stood firm in this belief since crossing the finish line of my first half. I could not justify putting my body through the training, let alone the amount of time it would take to log the miles necessary to finish 26.2. Well, I'm running the Mid-South Championship Marathon on November 5th in Wynne because that 'urge' appeared in late April/early May of this year. My mom... my hero... my best friend, was diagnosed with breast cancer. WOW! WHAT? REALLY? I won't lie or sugar coat it. It was a major blow. A shock. A punch to the gut. But, she's a fighter and hasn't let it knock her down. It WON'T knock her down! Her attitude is amazing! And most importantly, her faith is rock solid! She's got a really good prognosis and her treatment is going good. She'll have surgery in a few months followed by radiation. This time next year she will be brushing her hair and will have added 'survivor' to her repertoire. But until then, I will do what I know to do...run...and I will run with purpose.

100 days

The Biggest Loser at Fitness Bootcamp is over. Finished. Done. What was so highly anticipated at the beginning of the year has come to pass. I set out with one goal...and one goal only...to win. I lost 51 lbs in 100 days. That's 22.1% of my initial body weight. I started at 230.5 on January 11 and weighed 179.5 on April 21. I'm very confident in these numbers, but don't know official results yet. Until the winner is announced, I'm going to enjoy looking back on the accomplishment of the past few months and tweak my new lifestyle that has slowly become my normal. For those 100 days, I did not faulter on my diet! And I mean it. I had one sip of Inca Kola from Peru and one bite of fondant icing from Corn and Tif's wedding cake. That's it. No fruit, no dairy (other than fat free cottage cheese), no refined sugar. I've been squeaky clean! I also made muscles I didn't know I had. I actually have something resembling abs! I can see my triceps on my shadow when I run. As the days progress I discover new cuts and definition. Its as shocking to me as it is to anyone else! I feel lighter on my feet and run with so much less effort than I did 30, 20, even 10 pounds ago. None of my clothes fit! Its great!
So, where do I go from here. No, not Tamollys! Eating bad is the LAST thing I want to do! The first thing I wanted to eat was plain Greek yogurt with blueberries, strawberries and walnuts. I had it this afternoon and I'm pretty sure if heaven has a taste that's it. Wow! Yummo! Then 10 minutes later I was almost doubled over with indigestion. The acid from the berries made my throat burn. I'm still feeling the bloat 8 hours later. I guess its going to take a while to incorporate fruit back into the diet. One thing I won't do is over indulge on processed foods. I can't even name a processed food that sounds appealing to me right now. I've managed to retrain my brain to not want refined sugar.
I'm still in the 3rd phase of the Body By Design program. I'll finish that program shortly after our half marathon on April 30. This lull between the contest and race day is giving me a little time to focus on my next goal. I'm such a goal oriented creature that I have to have one to thrive. Question is, what will my next goal be? Luckily I have a few days to think and pray about it. Until then, I'll continue with my clean diet and work out schedule...and go buy a new wardrobe!

howdy stranger

Wow! So...uh...it's been a while. Sorry. I've been crazy busy as mentioned in a previous blog...but life could not be better!  I don't even know where to start to catch you up on all of the amazing things that have happened in my life. I guess I'll go back to the day before my last blog post...February 22 Cruz made his appearance and became the newest member of my family. A precious little baby boy born to my sister, Leann. I was sick the day he was born...I was at the hospital, but unable to get near him for fear of making him sick. Apparently I was so out of it when I blogged the next day that I failed to even mention him. He's awesome! And Cooper is going to be such a great big brother!  It amazes me to see my sister with her boys. She's such an awesome mom. I pray I'm half the little momma she is when I'm finally blessed with kids.

Later that week I missed the first race of the season because I was still suffering the effects of bronchitis. Then my first day back at bootcamp the following week I rolled my ankle. HA! It was one of of those instances where my best option was just laughing. I eventually got over it all and fortunately it didn't have a negative effect on my weight loss competions.

Michael and I went to see Chris Tomlin when he and Louis Giglio came to Jonesboro. Wow, what an amazing worship! God was at work in the Convocation Center that night! It was powerful to say the least. The music and the message really spoke to me!

Michael and I have continually increased our mileage every week in preparation for the Kentucky Derby Festival Half Marathon. We're both getting pretty excited about race day. This will be my fourth half marathon and Michael's first. I can't wait to share this experience with him. In celebration of this milestone and our seven year wedding anniversary we're going to head out to Scottsdale, AZ for a few days! Michael's dream is to play the TPC course there. He's so excited he can't stand it. I get the biggest thrill out of seeing him happy, so its a win-win! I'll ride with him while he plays his round and take TONS of pictures!

The bodybuilding.com $100,000 Body Transformation Challenge ended Tuesday, April 5. I lost 43.5 lbs in 12 weeks! I am thrilled with my results. I actually bought a bikini for the first time in my life to wear in my 'after' pictures. I'm struggling with posting those for the world to see. I'm very happy with them, but have mixed emotions about posting them here. Something doesn't feel right about it. They were intended for the bodybuilding.com contest and that's what I'll use them for. So, I'm not posting them on my blog. They are available on my bodyspace profile for those that care to see them. The final weigh-in for Biggest Loser has been extended to April 21st due to all of the snow days earlier in the year. I hope to continue losing at a rate of no less than 2 lbs a week. I'm really hitting the weights and the cardio hard right now and I have my eyes set on first place! I'll definitely keep you posted. 

Finally, the biggest development since my last post is that I'm going to Peru on a mission trip this summer! God has given me a heart for missions and I could not be more happy about being led in this direction! I will be sharing the Gospel to people who may have never even heard of Jesus Christ! I'm already in touch with a wonderful guy via facebook who is one of the translators. Its been such a joy getting to know him. I don't know that I have ever had someone so far away praying for me and me for him...but now I do and its an amazing thing!

I am absolutely floored at the abundance of blessings that have been bestowed upon me. God is at work in my life and heart and I can see it and feel it. He's been doing some big things.  He's placing people in my path that are having major impact on my life. I've tried to explain what their friendship and leadership mean to me, but there aren't sufficient words. I pray that they can understand how truely grateful I am for their prescence in my life. He is also revealing Himself to me daily through His Word. I have never claimed to be a Biblical scholar. I'm actually ashamed of my lack of Biblical knowledge and have often made the statement that I enjoy learning on the level of my students and Cubbies. But lately verses are presented to me daily that speak directly to me! Amazing!
 
So, there you have it. That's what I've been up to. As my competitions end and the semester of EE draws near, I hope to have more time to write. I can't make any promises because I have no idea what tomorrow holds. But know that I will blog when I have time.

sick

I'm not complaining about being sick...quite the opposite. The title of this blog is 'sick' because I am merely sick today. I've been feeling pretty bad since Saturday. I think my amazing husband gave me a bug that started giving him trouble last Thursday. It started with a cough and then got really mucus-y, then an ear ache, body aches, no energy...when it finally moved to my chest and I was scared my lung was going to pop out of my mouth I decided to take the afternoon off and go to the doctor. He confirmed the obvious...I'm sick. Asthmatic bronchitis, accute sinusitis and ear infection. I'm not too sure what the 'asthmatic' means...I don't have asthma, but whatever. Steroid shot to the hip, antibiotics and cough syrup. I'm in bed with my dogs this afternoon with no plans of running, lifting weights or bootcamp until...hmmm...this weekend? I have a race Saturday morning that I don't think would be smart to run...but don't count me out yet. So, I'm left here blogging and watching some woman on Oprah who apparently had A LOT of money and lost it all. She did say something I like just a minute ago.  When asked if she was now living from pay check to pay check she said 'no, I'm living prayer to prayer.' That's good stuff. I got a couple of magazines at Walgreens when I went to get my drugs and I have no plans of leaving this bed to do anything other than eat and go to the bathroom until tomorrow morning. And then, only if I'm feeling better, will I go to work. Do you know how many dreary days I've sat at my desk and thought of how nice it would be to snuggle up in my bed with my dogs? A few. But, I'm never able to do it because of obligations or other responsibilites. Today, I get to do it. And I don't feel bad about it. Sunny, Dallas and I are all snuggled up enjoying each others company. They aren't saying much...its really just me doing the talking, but its fun to just hang out with them and do nothing. Yay for this little blessing...of being sick. ;)

*Biggest Loser/Body Transformation weigh in #6...down 3 lbs for the week for a total of 27.5 in 6 weeks! I'm thrilled that I haven't slowed down in my losses yet. I'm at 203 now...lighter than I've been in some time. I'm seeing big gains in my lifting too. I'm getting alot stronger and getting more definition.

busy

Wow, its been a while! When did my life get so busy? I used to not have a life outside of working, working out and sleeping. Now Michael and I are both training for a half marathon, I'm training to be assistant director of AWANA Cubbies, I'm doing EE, we are teaching Sunday School, I'm on the planning committee for the Jonesboro Marathon, I'm still working, I'm trying to get in two workouts a day and I still have to find time for at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Throw in a diabetic dog, five or six meals and a gallon of water a day and you have my life as I know it, right now, in a nut shell. I also have an article for fitnessforus.com that I'm supposed to be working on (BTW great site! Check it out when you can!). Whew! I say all of this because I'm really bummed I haven't had more time to blog. Who am I kidding, I haven't had time to even think of a topic to blog about. So tonight, you get me blogging about my busy life...that I would have NO OTHER WAY! I'm so blessed I can't even wrap my mind around! Yeah, my stress level is higher than normal, but I'm not stressed out. When I approach stressed out I stop everything I'm doing, find a quiet place, take a few deep breaths and pray. Immediately I'm brought back to my reality which is that God is in control and everything will work out according to his plan. Then, I get back to it and give it my best, which is all I have to offer. So, there you have it. I hope to improve on my time management skills and have the opportunity to blog more soon. But in the meantime, rest assured that I'm doing one of the above mentioned activities and loving every minute of it! :)

*Tuesday marked the end of Week 5 of my 12 week Body Transformation/Biggest Loser Contest. Its also the end of Phase 1 in the program I'm following. I lost 24.5 lbs and I'm pretty excited about my results so far. That's more than 10% of my initial body weight which should have me close to if not at the top of the competition. I also posted progress pics on my bodyspace profile which can be found by clicking on the link to the left. I'll spare those that don't want to see them, but you really can tell some big changes are happening.

**My sister is having her baby Tuesday! Cruz Smith Haralson should make his appearance around 2:30. I'm pretty stinking excited about it! Please keep Leann, my sister, in your prayers. Thanks. :)

ham

There is a story about a little girl who was cooking Christmas dinner with her mother. They were preparing a ham and the mom cut off both ends of the ham before placing it in the pan and into the oven. The little girl asked her mom why she cut off such a large portion of the ham. The mom replied that she did this because her mom did. The curious little girl went to her grandmother and asked, 'Grandma, why did you cut the ends of the ham off before cooking it?' The grandmother replied that she had always done so because her mom had. Still not satisfied the little girl went to her great grandmother and asked 'Great Grandmother, why did you cut off the ends of the ham before cooking it?' To which the great grandmother replied 'because the ham was too big for the pan, honey.'

Really? You mean to tell me these crazy women have been wasting all this ham for no reason! Its a good thing Great Grandmother was still alive to tell the poor child the reason she cut the ham in the first place. Now little Suzy, or whatever her name is, can stop the vicious cycle and be the first woman in her family to get her money's worth out of her Christmas ham. Sound familiar?

Situations like this are happening in families from all walks of life all over the world. Some little girl is learning behaviors and beliefs from her mother, who learned it from her mother, who learned it from her mother, who...you get the point. And its not just ham we're dealing with. We're dealing with all aspects of life. Behaviors and beliefs that are taught without explanation. Behaviors and beliefs that are learned and never questioned. Behaviors and beliefs that are passed through generations.

I'm not saying that all behaviors and beliefs little girls (or boys) learn from their moms (or dads) are wrong. The point I am trying to make is that they are accepted without being understood. Unfortunately it is often both the parent and the child who don't understand. We need to step back and ask ourselves why we behave and believe the way we do...and 'because my mom did' isn't going to fly.

Think of the possibilities of change that exist if everyone took a moment to self evaluate. I've pondered this all afternoon and the three things that I can't stop thinking about are religion, health and prejudice.

What if every Christian studied the reason they believe? What if they attended church every Sunday because they want to obey God, learn and worship instead of attending church only because they grew up thinking it was the right thing to do?

What if young adults stopped accepting their obesity because their parents are overweight and got out and exercised? What if they were proactive with their health instead of accepting what they think they are genetically predisposed to?

What if adults asked themselves why they use racial slurs? What if they questioned why they raise their children to be less accepting to people of a different ethnicity?

And how many more days of Christmas leftovers could have been had all those years if the ends of those hams had never been cut off?

comfort

Anything in my life that I consider worthy of being called an accomplishment was not achieved in comfort. Think about it. Its a fact. Everything worth achieving is achieved when stepping outside of your comfort zone. For example when I learned to drive. I can remember being as young as 10 years old wanting nothing more than to drive! But learning to drive was a little intimidating. Uncomfortable. Having control of a ton of steel and NOT having control of all the other tons of steel on the road was scary. However, stepping out of my comfort zone and taking the wheel was well worth it! The same goes for a baby learning to walk. Though I can't remember it personally, I've watched my nephews learn to walk and there is nothing comfortable about a fall. Or, I've heard having a baby isn't the most comfortable of happenings, but any mother will tell you it was the most rewarding experience of their lives. Any diploma, award, promotion, or medal I've ever received has been earned through hard work which required stepping outside of my comfort zone. If it wasn't then I didn't appreciate it. That's fact.
I say all of this tonight because I just committed to a twelve week program at church called EE, Evangelism Explosion. During the next twelve weeks I will learn how to share the Gospel with others. I'm terrified! But regardless of how scared I am, I know that this will be THE MOST rewarding and important task I can possibly take on as a Christian. I'll face self doubt, time constraints and many more obstacles placed in my way by the devil. I pray for strength and courage. Feel free to pray as well.

***Biggest Loser Update: Tomorrow will be my third weigh in. I was down another 4.5 lbs last week. That puts me at a total of 14.5 lost so far. I've gone from 230.5 to 216 in two weeks. I have not faultered on my diet! I have however missed a couple of workouts. I've dealt with some sinus issues over the past week and I've allowed myself a little more rest than I wanted to. However, I know I needed it and it will be best in the long run. I'm feeling really good tonight and hope the sinus issue is behind me.

I hope your Monday was great and that your week is wonderful! Thanks for reading! :)   

mirrors

Last night I lifted weights while Michael was at boot camp. I always lift weights in the evenings, but usually its in the garage with a space heater. Since I knew he wouldn't be home any time soon, and I didn't need the weight bench, I decided to move my workout inside in front of the mirror in the living room. Its a known fact that lifting weights in front of a mirror can work wonders on your form...and for your self esteem for that matter. I benefitted in both aspects. I noticed I could improve on my bent over row. I noticed my left shoulder sits a little higher than my right shoulder...I'll try to correct that with some extra shoulder shrugs on my right side.  And I noticed some really nice cuts in my bis, tris and shoulders as I lifted. Needless to say, I loved working out in front of the mirror. I need a mirror in my garage, no doubt! Then I got to thinking. I need a mirror everywhere I go. Not for vanity purposes...strictly for form critique. Imagine the effect it would have. What would I change if I saw what others saw ALL DAY LONG? Wow. That's something we could all stand to ponder. I'm sure I would smile more often. I would probably stand up straighter. I would be more aware of my facial expressions and reactions to others. I would probably make a point to wear something other than jeans and a t-shirt everyday. To take it a step further, what do I WANT TO SEE in that mirror? Do I want to see someone that is more caring, more compassionate and eager to help others? Definetly! Do I want to see someone who is easily approachable and always willing to listen? For sure! Do I want to see a great wife and friend? Yes and yes! So, I'm challenging myself to go about my days as though there is a mirror with me at all times. I'm going to make an honest effort to critique my form and make adjustments where I see they are needed. In the end this 'mirror' will serve the same purpose as the living room mirror did last night. It will help me improve my life form.
What would you see in your mirror? What do you want to see in your mirror?

states of consciousness

This week's blogs have centered around two things...being awake and craving sleep. That is my week in a nut shell.
My 'awakening' that I experienced Sunday carried through the days that followed...and I pray it will continue daily. I never dreamed that sharing this experience on a tiny blog that I thought very few were reading would strike a cord with so many. I received several messages thanking me for opening up about my struggles and triumphs. All I can say is that I'm so humbled by the response...and I'm so blessed and grateful that God has chosen to use me in a such a way. I pray that He continues to use me for His glory!
As for craving sleep...Wow! I haven't been so exhausted in a long time. I found myself fighting sleep at work more than once this week. I did great all week with my diet and exercise, but Thursday night realized I needed sleep more than my last cardio session of the day. I promptly went to bed and I'm pretty sure I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. Last night I fell asleep in the middle of a Baker bash...which isn't the most quiet of places. Wow, I was BEAT! This morning it finally hit me...I hadn't taken my iron supplement in weeks! I was probably anemic! When I workout as hard as I've been working out my iron plummets. I was made aware of this when trying to give blood during my first half marathon training. After some research and help from my health guru, Corn, we discovered that I was loosing iron through the high impact of running, boot camp and excessive sweating. So, I popped a couple of my tri-iron folic tablets and seriously felt as though I had more energy within a couple of hours.
So, there you have it. That was my week. I hope yours was a good one, too. I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend and that all New Year's resolutions are still going strong.

week one done

Today was another great day! I woke up at 4:00, had my protein oatmeal and coffee, piddled online, visited with the dogs and headed to the gym. First order of business was weighing in. Drum roll please...220 lbs! Down 10 lbs from last week! I'm very happy with that! I'm slowly getting back to where I was during racing season this year. I miss that 'feel'. I am very in tune with the way I feel when I approach or exceed a certain weight. My knees hurt, my hips hurt, I don't sleep as well, my posture suffers, my shoulders hurt, etc. I hate to admit that in preparing for this twelve weeks, I allowed myself to pass that point and I'd gotten pretty achy since. This past week has been a constant upswing and I'm almost at my 'feel good' weight. I'm looking forward to surpassing my 'feel good' weight and achieving my 'thriving' weight!
So, enough about the weight aspect. I'm also pleased with the habits I'm forming in the kitchen. I've prepared some pretty good meals. Tonight I had grilled asparagus and chicken breast. It was scrumptious! And I'll be the first to tell you that I'm no cook. To be able to fix something quickly and easily that is palatable is an achievement for me! I'm also learning to prepare my meals in advance. I'm cooking once or twice a week in large batches. Then I'll put all my stuff in large containers in the fridge to be divided up the night before I plan on eating it. For example, I'll cook a few boneless skinless chicken breasts at one time, boil a box of whole wheat pasta and cut up all the veggies I need for the next few days. Then at night I'll throw all of the next day's meals together in smaller containers, put them in a Wal-Mart sack and toss it back in the fridge. The next morning I just grab it and go.
The one thing I do hope to improve on in the coming week is my sleep. I'm definitely not getting enough hours a night...and sleep in crucial to weight loss success.
With that being said, I'm going to bed. Good night!

you talking to me?

Wow! What another amazing night at WSBC! Things picked up where they left off yesterday. God just continued to speak to me through Bro. Bob. Tonight when he started his message I'm pretty sure my mouth fell open and tears immediately started to form. It was as though he was speaking directly to me. The message was amazing and continued to build upon what I feel God is trying to reveal to me! I have chill bumps just typing it! I'm so excited about it! Tonight Bro. Bob preached from Psalm 23 and discussed going through valleys. 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.' (Psalm 23:4)
A few things about valleys:
*Everyone goes through valleys in life.
*You are never alone in the valleys of life, God is with you.
*Its in the valley that God tests you, teaches you lessons and teaches you to trust Him.
*Valleys eventually come to an end.
So, after you've walked through your valley, you reach a mountain. You stand on that mountain top and you GLORIFY GOD! You help others, going through that valley that you've been through! You help them...you encourage them...you remind them that they are not alone! God is with them! God works through you!
I am on my mountain top! I want to shout from the mountain top how absolutely amazing God is! That he got me through my valley and he'll get you through yours! You are not alone! He's right there protecting you...herding you in the right direction...you just have to follow his lead! He is your shepherd! Trust him!
By no means am I saying I'm done with valleys. I'm guaranteed valleys. But when I come down this mountain and head into my next valley, all I have to do is put my faith in God and he will guide me safely to the next mountain!
WOW! I can't wait to see what tomorrow night brings! This is good stuff!

**Not only am I making great strides spiritually this week, but my workouts are coming along nicely and I have not faultered once on my diet. I did 20 minutes on the spin bike this morning and worked my back, upper traps and biceps tonight. I'll hit bootcamp at 5:15 in the morning, but I'm debating on weighing tomorrow or Wednesday. Regardless, when I do weigh, I'll be sure to let you guys know how I'm progressing. Thanks for taking an interest in my life. I hope it makes a difference to you. Good Night.

i'm awake

Yeah, yeah, I know...my last post was all about how much I was looking forward to sleeping. Tonight I'm wide awake. And it isn't because of the blood-pumping cardio session I just finished. Its because of the awakening I experienced in church today. Such an amazing day. I had an 'ah ha' moment in the middle of worship this morning...and God just continued to show himself to me over the course of the day. We're having an 'awakening' at church this week. Keeping with that theme, my bro-in-law led us in an amazing, powerful song -- Chris Tomlin's 'Awakening'. It was during that song that I felt God was speaking to me, showing me exactly what he's been up to in my life over the last few years. He's been awakening my soul. For most of my life I didn't bare my soul to anyone...including myself! No one, including me, knew the true me...except Him, my amazing God! The one and only God! But he's been hard at work on me. And looking back over the last few years, its perfectly clear that he was bringing me back to him...awakening my soul so that I can show others his love!  I remember in January of 2008 sitting in the parking lot of my doctors office by myself, crying because I thought I was never going to be able to have a baby. Those of you closest to me know that I haven't always been this fitness fanatic. This journey actually started because I was obese and not ovulating. It was that day, in that parking lot, that it struck me...in order to glorify God to the best of my ability (which I believe to include having children), I was going to have to take control of my life and lose the weight. It was then that I made the decision to do just that. Little did I know I wasn't the one taking control, He was. At the time I wasn't going to church. Honestly, I hadn't attended church on a regular basis since I'd moved to Jonesboro. Much of that was due to the fact that I didn't feel comfortable in my clothes and my weight issues created social anxiety in the company of people I didn't know. When the weight began to come off, I became more comfortable with myself and consequently Michael and I began going to church on a regular basis. Later that year we joined and were baptized. All the while God was giving me the strength to continue to shed the pounds that had been holding me captive. Since I've made the transformation from unhealthy to healthy, I have been given this avenue to help others while sharing my testimony and baring my soul. My journey has been powered by prayer...Its been helped along by the amazing individuals that God has placed in my life to motivate me and encourage me...And I could not be more blessed! A precious friend told me the other day (at the gym of all places) that I had a 'great spirit' and 'amazing aura'. What an amazing compliment and an even better feeling to know that His work is showing through me. God is great! And what is so cool is He's not finished with me yet!  

blogging from bed

Yay! It's the weekend! I'm so happy that I get to sleep later in the morning. I don't think I've looked forward to sleep as much as I am tonight in a long time. I'm actually blogging from the bed because as soon as I'm done I'm rolling over and shutting my eyes. I'm not sleepy because of pure exhaustion...its more like a craving for recovery and refreshment. Does that make sense? I'm excited about pure rest. I don't know...hard to explain...but I feel like my muscles need the sleep. I actually know they do. Like a therapeutic sleep. Ahhhh...
Today was a great day! I woke up at 4:00 to get my breakfast down the hatch before heading to Bootcamp at 5:15. I'm going to make an honest effort to go to bootcamp at 5:15 every day because, not only is it a great way to start the day, but I need to get it in during the morning so I can lift weights in the evening. Tonight I did shoulders and legs. Great workout! I really pushed myself hard! And if my shoulders and legs are as sore as my chest and tris have been, I might not be able to get out of bed in the morning. But, as mentioned above, I might not be opposed to that.
On another note...yes, I do talk about things other than working out...I had another one of those fist-pumping, praise Jesus moments on my way home from work today. I've been listening to K-Love for a couple of months now and its really had a positive impact on my life. This afternoon one of my favorite Toby Mac songs came on...Lose My Soul. (To read the lyrics click here.) The message in the song really struck a cord with me at that point in time. I got chills and tears. I'm telling you, it was good stuff. I love it when that happens! And its happening a lot lately. Life is good. I'm blessed.
Good Night.

up and at 'em

Good Morning, World! I got up at 4:50 this morning. Had my oats w/ protein and my cup of black coffee. I've caught up on everything that's going on in the world online and I'm about to hop on the treadmill for 20 minutes. What an awesome way to start the day!
Yesterday, there were not enough hours in the day to do everything I needed to AND blog, so here I am. Yesterday was amazing! I was up at 5 to have a quick bowl of oats and protein (which will probably be my breakfast for the next 12 weeks) before I ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes. Since I'm being completely transparent to myself and whoever reads this blog I'll admit that my run was bad! I ran at 5 mph!  WHAT!?! 5mph? That's 12 minute miles...my race pace is easily 9 minute miles. WOW! That's what sitting on your rump and eating awfully will get you. However, because I'm so out of practice I managed to work up a great sweat and it got me ready for a great day! I showered and headed to work after my run. When I got to my office it was time for another 'meal' so I had a protein shake with a teaspoon of Optimum Nutrition Fitness Fiber. It was a free gift with my weight loss stack from bodybuilding.com, so I figured I'd give it a try. They should market that stuff as a laxative...and that's all I'm saying. Sheesh. Anyway, the food for the rest of my work day was great! I was pleasantly surprised and proud of myself. After work I headed home for a protein shake and prepared my meals for today as I let the nutrients make their way to my muscles...which I obliterated with the weights!!!! Yesterday was chest and triceps. The program I'm on calls for me to lift to failure, choosing weight that will only allow me to barely complete the last few reps of each set.  I did just that and almost puked when it was over. I loved it!!!! I didn't have any fuel during my workout, which was a rookie mistake that I knew not to make. I was struggling until I got more protein in my system. I'm guessing it was the lactic acid and or low blood sugar that made me feel so awful. Today will be spent looking for a good workout drink to sip on between sets. So, with my workout behind me I showered (which was painful...barely able to lift my hands to wash my face and hair. Yay!) and headed to the gym for a meeting about the Fitness Bootcamp Unlimited Marathon I'm working on. I enjoyed finishing my day with all my Bootcamp family. We're all working toward the same goals and we just love each other to pieces. God has really blessed me with a second family. After the meeting I headed home and my most favorite song came on the radio...He Reigns by The Newsboys.  It was a fist-pumping, sing-at-the-top-of-my-lungs, thank-you-Jesus-for-all-your-blessings ride home! I loved it! When I got home I grabbed the lap top, kissed my husband on the forehead and crawled in bed. The end.
So, now I've got to prick my dog's ear to check her blood sugar, feed her, give her insulin, hop on the treadmill and start this day! Hope your day is great...I've already decided mine will be!

let the games begin

Woohoo! Finally! After weeks of eating horribly and intentionally packing on a few pounds I finally got to weigh in and take my pictures and measurements tonight. I knew I had gained about 20 lbs, so I wasn't shocked when the scale said 230.5 lbs. I know that A LOT of that will melt off within the first week and I planned for that.  However, the pictures were a little more shocking. They are posted online on my bodyspace account along with tonight's measurements. If you want to see them, feel free to click on the bodyspace link to the left. I'm going to spare those that don't want to see them by not posting them here...for the time being. I'll put a before and an after side by side when I'm done with my transformation.
So, after I registered and weighed in I spent the rest of the evening cooking. I bought a new George Foreman grill because I'll be eating a lot of grilled chicken and fish. I prepared tomorrow's meals tonight. Each meal will have a lean protein, complex carb and vegetable. I'll eat every 3-4 hours. Sometimes I'll have protein shakes instead of a meal. After 3 I'll cut out my carbs and focus more on veggies with my protein. I'll take a multi vitamin and CLA. My exercise regimen will consist of cardio 7 days a week; bootcamp 5 days a week; weight training 4 days a week. Most days my cardio will be whatever mileage I'm supposed to run in preparation for my next half marathon, April 30.
Right now, other than being super tired, I'm beyond excited! I know that the next 84 days are going to bring out the best in me! They will test my limits both physically and mentally. I look forward to the growth in ALL areas of my life and I look forward to learning more about myself through the process. I'm thrilled that I have great friends who are taking on this challenge with me. We are going to motivate and inspire each other...and probably talk a little trash along the way.
Let the games begin!

bad gas

So, I'm still sitting around waiting for my weight loss/transformation competitions to start. I've worked out once this week and I'm eating horribly...i.e. Hardee's for breakfast! Do you know when the last time I had Hardee's was? Its been forever! Hardee's is so bad! But it tasted so good! I follow a guy on twitter, @petershankman, who put it best the other day. He tweeted 'There's nothing better than the moment when you're still enjoying the old behaviors while dreaming of the new you.' He was about to embark on his own transformation. He trained for and completed an Ironman last year...but didn't 'look' like he was an Ironman. This year he is going to lower his body fat percentage to 10%. His blog is http://www.ayeartotenpercent.com/. Check it out...pretty cool guy...very admirable challenge he's presented himself with. Anyway, I say all of this because I am enjoying my old behaviors...to an extent. The food tastes great for short time its in contact with my taste buds. After the taste is gone I feel like crap. My energy level is a fourth of what it usually is. My endurance has plummeted. I have heartburn. My skin and hair even look bad. I'm doing exactly what I know I shouldn't do. I'm filling my tank with bad gas. Just like a car, if you fuel your body with bad gas, its not going to perform at its best. I'm feeling the truth of that analogy as I type tonight. I can't wait to feel the effects of good clean fuel! And I can't wait to see the amazing results from all my hard work!

what's up my sleeve

Ever since I ran the Memphis Grizzlies House 5K on December 4, I've been extremely lax on my diet and exercise routine.  Memphis was the last race of the season and an awesome note to end on.  I went into it with an ipod loaded with praise music and an attitude that I wish I could save in a bottle for a rainy day.  Nothing was getting in my way of having a glorious race...and I did just that!  Then after the finish line I took a break.  I enjoyed the holidays with my friends and family. I didn't stress about my mileage or eating too much fudge.  I ran every now and then quitting when I was tired. I went to bootcamp when I felt like it.  Enough of that I'm ready for my next goal.  I'm ready for 4:30 wake up calls. I'm ready for 10 miles before work. I'm ready for lean protein and green veggies. I'm ready for a soreness that makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning. I'm ready for my next success!  Next Tuesday I'll be registering for two competitions. One is a local 'Biggest Loser' weightloss competition. The other is a nationwide body transformation contest. Both are 12 week programs. In preparation for both I'm reading the book 'Body by Design'.  Right now I'm working on goals.  I've always used social networking to my advantage when it comes to goals.  When training for my half marathons I'll throw a facebook status out there declaring I'm 'going to get in 6 miles before work tomorrow.'  Well, good greif, if you put it on facebook you HAVE to do it!  That's exactly one of the points that this book makes! People who 'declare' their goals have a higher success rate than those who keep them to themselves.  So, here goes.  Here are my goals:

Fixed Goal	To reduce abdominal fat and achieve an overall long, lean look.
Limitless Goal	To continually improve upon my overall physical fitness while learning as much as possible on new methods and techniques.
Opportunities	To use my personal experience to help others better themselves and reach their own goals.
Weaknesses	Poor time management, Mexican food

welcome 2011

2011, you and I are going to be great friends! I took the day off today for a couple reasons.  First of all I hadn't had a day off in quite some time.  My husband, Michael, had a wreck in July and I chose to take all of my personal days off then to help him recover. When the new year rolled around, I was ready for a day off. Also, I wanted to sit down and plan exactly what it is that I want to do with 2011.
I've given a lot of thought to this years resolutions. I spent a lot of last week reflecting on 2010. It was by far the best year I've had. I achieved numerous goals and milestones, but most importanly grew in my relationship with God. I want to build upon that in 2011.
I resolve to further my walk with the Lord through daily prayer and more Bible study. I also intend to better prepare for the lessons I have to teach in both Sunday School (3rd grade) and AWANA Cubbies (3 & 4 year olds).
I will lead a consistently healthy and fit lifestyle. To clarify this one: I'm a fitness dork. I read everything related to exercise, nutrition, weightlifting, supplementation, running, etc. I know my stuff. I've successfully lost and kept off more than 100 lbs. However, I know how to eat and be lazy better than most. Its this time of year when this becomes most evident to me. The holidays and the winter months are brutal on my self discipline. I want to be comfortable, eat and sit on the couch. Yet in the summer I yearn to run and workout. This year, I intend to carry my good habits through ALL 12 months!
I am going to maintain a cleaner house. Housework is so very overwhelming to me. I let the smallest messes turn into the biggest jobs. I vow to break down these big jobs into smaller more frequent tasks which should, in turn, make housework less stressful to me.
Finally, at work I will spend less time accessing my personal email and facebook accounts. I'm as guilty as everyone else on this one. If I can quit worrying about what's going on outside of my office doors and focus on the task at hand I should improve my productivity and efficiency.
If all goes as planned, 2011 is going to knock my socks off. I'm excited to have this blog as an outlet. I look forward to sharing my feelings and experiences. I don't know who will read it, if anyone...but if someone does I hope they enjoy it and get something out of it. Who knows, it might make a difference to someone. :)