Whoa Nellie!!!!

Getting out of control!!!

Okay so about a month ago I decided to go for a run.  No big deal. 

Downhill and back up!

THAT WAS THE WORST THING I COULD HAVE DONE FOR MY BODY!!!

I hurt my left hip and have not been able to really exercise like I have in the past.  Therefore, it has lead to me gaining...

6 lbs. BACK!!!!

Not feeling very happy about it either.  So I need to lose 19.5 lbs to get to the 200 lbs. mark.  I was so close.  :-(

But, school is almost over and I am starting a Zumba class up at my church. 

I had to admit this to you and me for me to be able to move forward.

Now lets get this back on track!!!

Journey 2 Fit {Day 147-161} Real life

This it!!!  Real life.  How this usually goes right? 

I have been in a rut for the last few weeks and trying really hard to get out of it.  I think it is because I am getting ready to enter a different phase of my life.

I've been in school for almost 2 years now and getting ready to graduate.  Unlike a lot of graduates, I don't plan to go out and get a job right away and I am starting to miss the life of being a college student, before I am even done.

What am I supposed to do?

I honestly think that I am supposed to now focus on my health.  My boys and I will be on summer break and during that time I know I will be doing a lot of outdoor stuff and in order for me to enjoy any of it I will need to be in even better shape.

I will do this.

Real life is where I have to live.

Journey 2 Fit {Day 130-146} Weighing Down

So tired.

I have been up and down these past couple of weeks.

Studying, Exams, Debates, Orientations, Presentations are all taking a toll on me.  I am tired.

Haven't had a lot of time to Zumba like crazy or jump rope.  So tired.

Journey 2 Fit {Day 117-129} How to beat "The Visitor"

Taboo subject or not...it is what it is...

Periods!  I do not like them.

As a pre-menopausal lady, I have not had to deal with the body temperature swings, emotional imbalances, etc, but what I deal with is the bloating, ravenous chocolate seeking, cramping, restless, exhausting mess of a period....I guess I do deal with the menopausal crap, just not on the same scale as my older "sisters."

My poor husband, hears it every month, "I HATE HAVING A PERIOD."  What is the worse part for me is during this journey, my period takes a huge toll on me, especially the week before. 

Am I the only one who has the hardest time getting out of bed to go for a run or do a ZUMBA class?  I have found that I can't give even 50% during that time and all I want to is eat sweets and sleep.  I have been lucky enough to be conscious of what I put into my system during this time....and to my surprise I haven't gained any lbs.

My recommendations (if you are having the same struggle as me):

•  Fiber One 90 cal. Brownies (I hide them from my kids and they help me satisfy the chocolate cravings without the guilt.  They are really GOOD, especially the fudge ones!)
• Multi-vitamin (I take one everyday.  I am not a dietitian or a doctor, so don't go taking a vitamin based on my words.)
• Drink H2O (I drink 32 oz. before I have breakfast.  I figure it gets me started on making good food choices.  Not to mention, I think that it moves my period along a little faster) 
• Spinach Smoothie (I have to keep this going.  I have one for breakfast or lunch everyday.  It is chalk full of  fresh veggies and fruit, which is probably helping the mood swings.  It's the one treat I do share with my boys.  They love em' and that makes me happy.) (if you want one of my receipes, leave a comment and I'll post one for you)
• Walk (I will admit, the one good thing about having a period to me are the leisurely strolls.  I guess I use it as a week of recovery.  I do about 30 minutes a day of easy walking.)

Well, there's my rant on how I beat "my visitor." What gets you through?

Journey 2 Fit {Day 103-116} Graduation Outfit Search

The pounds are coming off----CHECK

The inches are melting away----CHECK

Husband is taken 2nd glances---CHECK

The wardrobe is getting updated---NOT CHECK!!!!

NOT CHECK!!!!!!

I have not been this low in weight and inches in a long time.  My clothes are SOOOO baggy.  My boobs don't fit in my tops anymore and I am constantly having to pull up my pants.

{I must admit, I love having this problem.}

I need a shopping trip.  I need a new wardrobe.  I am about 15lbs. from my 1st goal and I see that it is going to probably be met before the scheduled end date (April 28).  But what I have not planned for is the fact that I am getting to the point where I can't fit into my BIGGER "duds" anymore and they are DUDS!!

I need some ideas here.

When I graduate this May I want a new outfit to go with the new physical change in me as well as my well earned degree. 


Tell me your idea of a great graduation outfit and don't forget the post the link.   

Who was serving who?

The experience of the orientation will forever be a blessed memory. The couple I met were Muslim and middle-aged (37 not middle-aged, right?). I had to teach them how to use public transportation to be able to get to our agency and back home. I was worried that I might offend, not knowing their religious etiquette. Right away they put me at ease.

When I first arrived at their home, The mother answered the door crying.. Her family has only been here just under a month and she really misses her family back in her native country. I'm a hugger. So I did what came natural to me and I wrapped my arms around her and let her cry. After about 2-3 minutes she began kissing me on each cheek and saying Alla had sent me to her. I then told her that I was from the IRC (which ironically is called the International RESCUE Committee). 

We got on the bus and headed downtown. All I was thinking about was not offending. Making sure that I did not accidentally nudge let alone touch her husband. All the while she kept talking and talking and talking.

She told me of how it came to be that she and her family ended up in the US. It is a very spellbound sacred history. My heart broke for her.

We made it to the IRC.

Her husband who spoke very little to no English, was determined to be able to find his way back to there place. Especially after I had told them that they would have to show how to get back home. He knew what he was doing. :-)

We talked a lot. When I told her I was married and had children, she just shook her head and kept saying, "Nah, nah, nah, nah, that's not true."  She kept saying that I was too young to have children as old as I did.  She also would not believe me when I told her I was not Arabic.  It was fun to talk with her and she even danced and sung with me on the corner.  She was a very HAPPY woman.

She grew fond of me and wanted me to stay for lunch.  Unfortunately, I could not.  As I was saying goodbye, she kissed me again several times on each cheek and cupped my face and told me that when she looks into my eyes, she can see my heart.  That she can feel the warmth of my heart and that it brings her close to me.  And to my surprise, her husband grab my hand and patted it and then touched his chest and nodded repeatedly.  I wasn't nervous anymore.

I have never had anyone who has only met me for 3 hours say such beautiful and kind things to or about me.  I was only doing a service.  But I left lifted and blessed, having been served.

Journey 2 Fit {91-102} 100+ days on this "trip"

This has been the most insightful experience thus far.  I have learned more about my own limitations and how I need to respect them. 

Limitations should not be seen as just stuff you "can't" do but in my humble opinion, they should be viewed as "check points."  They are there to make you aware of your abilities and capabilities.  They demand and require RESPECT.

The "check points" I have seen in myself are:

• Not running faster than you have strength for.
• Not doing the easy thing just because it is easy (This one was an extremely eye opening lesson.  I have to do a separate post on that)
• To shut my mouth and just listen and hear.  (There is a great deal you can learn in silence)

And the list can go on.

My journey is not done.  I have pit stops along the way.  I would love company, but you can only get on the ride when it is your time.  And that's another thing I have learned in these 100+ days.  This trip is a long one and those who get on to support you eventually have to get off the train to deal with their stuff.  But others may join you.  Yet and still, there are others whom you will pass by who are not ready for the trip. 

And that's okay.

When you are ready, I will be here for you to support you along the way.

Journey 2 Fit {Day 88-90} Oh Holy S.W.E.A.T!!!

S= Sound
W= Weight loss
E= Energy Boosting
A= All Natural
T= Treatment

Yep, that's what it is!!!  Over the last 90 days, 30 of them I have dedicated to Zumba and fit2fat2fit.  In those thirty days I have done something I have never done in my life before.

SWEAT

In the past I have only allowed myself to get to the stage of "glistening."  Who wanted to sweat?!?!  Sure as heck not me.  I had convinced myself that sweat was not necessary for ME.  Everyone else needed it to see results, NOT ME.

So now I have been sweating daily!! And to my surprise....

I LIKE IT!!!!  A LOT!!!!!

To my understanding, sweat is the body's natural temperature control, when the body gets hot or too hot, you will SWEAT.  So in my little brain, I comprehend that to mean that, if I am sweating, I am burning something...right? 

What is that burning? 

SUGARS & FAT!!!

YEA!!!!!!!

So I will sweat some more. 

What's your S.W.E.A.T acronym breakdown?

Journey 2 Fit {Day 79-87} Feeling Light

So I've been doing Zumba for a while now and definitely feel the change within me.  My spirit is light, my weight is lighter and the endorphin level is high.  This is all good.

Things are becoming clearer to me and choices are becoming easier to make.  For example, last night, date night with hubby we went out to dinner at Applebee's.  I had there under 550 cal dinner, so did hubbs.  But what struck me was that I was stuffed!!! 

I over ate.  I have never had that feeling before.  I recognized that this was something different.  That my body had done some changing.  Now I know what that feels like.  The abuse I was doing to myself.

It was enlightening.

The uncomfortable feeling helped me know my limits and now I can make better choices.

I love this journey I am on.  I love what I am learning about me. 

This week I gain 1 lbs...I am thinking that is muscle, because I definitely feel stronger. :-)

Journey 2 Fit {Day 58-78} Closing that Chapter

I haven't given up if that is what you have been thinking.

VERY far from that.  I have been workin' it out!!

This past Christmas I got Zumba for the Wii and it has been nothing less than REMARKABLE!  It is so much fun and I look forward to doing it everyday.  Since my last post I have lost about 6 lbs in 20 days workout.

Another thing I have been doing is find my peace in my fractured relationship with my mother, sister and father. 

It's been one month today, since I last spoke with my mother or father and even longer since I spoke with my sister.

That is the most difficult part of this whole journey.  In an earlier post, I talked about how the lbs. found a home on my 5'3" frame all due to emotional situations that I allowed to affect me NOW.

Not anymore, I can't afford it.

In my, what I believe, is my last visit back east, I was pushed beyond my limits and I can never, nor will I ever do that again.  I wish them well, I hope for prosperity, good health and joy for them, but I know I can't be a part of it.  My bad dealings with them will not be added lbs. on my frame.  I think of them, but I can't hurt myself in order to help them. 

The whole experience has brought to light that I am not important, and really haven't been that important in their lives.  I have extended myself to them, but it has never been reciprocal.  I had to let go and move on.  It's hard and it hurts, but it is what it is and I have turned to exercise and making better food choices to deal with the depressed feeling I have.  Luckly, I have seen the positive results to deal with the stress of losing yet more people I love.  Another sad chapter in my life I will have close. 

I now depend on my husband and boys to fill me up....and Zumba...they are all I have now.