EXCUSES STOP NOW!

As my friend Arty from Biggest Loser Season 11 would say, "I'm just keeping it 100!"

Truth Day 101



Have you ever found yourself caught in a PITY PARTY?!  The kind of pity party where it feels like everything in the world is against you?  Where you question WHY you had to be let down the way you were?

The last 2 weeks I have been letting those negative, defeating voices into my life.  I had an OLD injury caused by the stupidest thing you could ever think of creep up on me...

A CAN OF HAIRSPRAY!

Yes, you read this right.  I injured my toe back in December by dropping a can of aerosol hairspray on it!  The day I did it I continued my workouts at BLR (hike, H20, Mountain) and then right after mountain (one class away from being done for the day) the pain became to much and I started crying and ended up at Urgent Care. 

At Urgent Care the doctor X-rayed my foot.  Found that I had a hairline fracture on the tip of my toe (nothing could be done about that) and then drilled a hole in the top of my toe to RELEASE the pressure the blood underneath caused.  I can't even tell you how GOOD it felt when they burnt a hole right on the top of my nail that day.  It definitely relieved pressure.

Just as I usually do, I carried on and continued to not let throbbing and soreness get me down. I was told it would just take "time" and so that was what I assumed was happening. 

Shortly after my birthday 5k, I started to notice more pressure and more pain in my toe area.  Doing my daily sprints on the treadmill became VERY painful and I noticed myself not pushing as hard during my workouts because the pain was getting intense.

One evening after working out, I came home and just sobbed.  I took off my shoe and sock and noticed something new.. my toe nail was lifted. (For those of you who don't like gory details, make sure to pass the first series of pictures I am about to post and don't read the rest until after those pictures. But please read on, cause the video I am going to share may REALLY inspire you!)

I freaked out when I realized that under my nail there was a "growth-like" mushy thing.  After the nail came off it was instant pins and needles pain.  I couldn't get any relief, I didn't know what to do and I am not going to lie, I was scared by the sight of it. After talking to several people and trying to weigh out all my options I headed to Urgent Care.  When I got there, they had just closed the doors for the night.  It was such a painful night of sleep and discomfort. 

I called into work the next morning (only 2nd time in 2 yrs) and asked to come in later.  I went to the doctor at 8am, he wouldn't touch it and sent me to a podiatrist.  The podiatrist freaked me out.  He had never seen anything like this before..really? A podiatrist?!  He was sure there was surgery in my future!  He sent me with his nurse for an Xray.  When he came back he said he was glad to see that it was a hematoma and not bone coming out of my toe. He gave me several shots in my toe, froze it with some hydrogen and began cutting away and then cauterizing my toe nail.  He told me to keep it clean, keep Lamisil on it and take pain meds for discomfort.  Also no working out till my toe was healed up and had no pain.

The stages of my toe (NOT FOR THE FAINT)

Today as I put on my Lamisil cream I realized something.. it didn't hurt..could it really be?!   I know it is ridiculous that I let something as small as an UGLY toe let my world stop.  Of course it didn't totally stop, just my exercise lacked and that has been all I've known for so long and is my main source to stress relief, I let it get to me.. WAY TO MUCH!

Why do I share all of this with you, and record it for me?  Because I don't think I am the only one that has let a small thing, a small set back, some pain, some emotional or family problems become a MOUNTAIN in our lives. We let it become so much  more detrimental than it needs to be, instead of facing it head on and "adjusting" your schedule to IT, we let "IT" take our schedule away from us! 

Now, I am going to be 2 weeks behind on my goals, have a lot of make up to get to where I was... and unfortunately I can't get that time back.  But I DO plan on moving forward and that is what matters most at this point!

Tonight as I was planning out what I wanted to do to get back in the swing of things this week, I decided to turn on Biggest Loser Season 7 (back when Biggest Loser used to REALLY inspire us). Sione Fa is my BOY and seriously it was MEANT TO BE that I re-watched this episode tonight!! 

ANYONE that needs to be inspired, PLEASE watch this! 

 I recorded it with my phone cause I wanted you all to see it! 

How many times have we let ourselves become a victim to the "I CAN'T FLU?" 

I know, I have. This is a battle I REFUSE to lose again.  The only losing I am going to be doing for now on is inches and pounds!  Thank you Sione Fa for your words on and off the show! 

This clip is LIFE!  I love it! 

FINISH WHAT YOU'VE STARTED!!

That's what I started out to do, and that is what I am GOING TO DO!

I want to give a special shout out to my sweet Biggest Loser family.  There are so many people I have met through the Biggest Loser Resort as well as contestants who I can now call friends.  You have inspired me, believed in me, pushed me, followed up with me and continue to be my friends. 

There are also MANY others of my friends/family that INSPIRE me, encourage me, cheer me on and REALLY just love me through all my follies, successes and trials and to ALL of you I say thank you! 

Thank you to my Twitter and Facebook family as well.  Your posts sometimes give me the UMPH I need to get to the gym, I hope I can return the favor.

Bottom line:  I am doing this ALL for me and nothing else, but your words, comments and compliments ring through my head on days that I just want to RETREAT! 

Newest Biggest Loser Resort Announced: Buffalo, New York

I HEART Biggest Loser Resort and I HEART that they brought one to Buffalo, New York!

BLR NIAGRA! 

 Could life get any better?! 

One of the MANY reasons I think it is SOOO awesome is because each time I went to Malibu, there were loads of Canadians and New Yorkers there! How great is it that they bring their services closer to their clients and can you get a more beautiful place than Niagra Falls area?!

I left a part of my heart at the Biggest Loser Resort Malibu as well as I have as over 30 of my pounds (from my 3 visits)!

Can't wait to see what THIS resort looks like, what they offer, and how many more lives they are able to change!

Check out the OFFICIAL announcement here:

http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2012/02/the-first-biggest-loser-east-coast-destination-to-debut/622463/1



If you happen to live in the Western NY area, they are doing a ONE WEEK giveaway for FOUR guests her is the information on that contest:

To celebrate our newest Resort we are offering four (4) lucky local Western New Yorkers the chance to win a one (1) week stay at BLR NIAGARA.  
To enter, email your :60 (second) video telling us your personal story about why you want to lose weight and/or be more healthy.  
You can upload your video here: http://www.wgrz.com/life/contests/biggestloserniagara/default.aspx

Ten people will become finalists, but only FOUR will win. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY 

BIGGEST LOSER RESORT FAMILY!! 

 I KNOW that you have much success in Niagra with many awesome people walking in and out your doors changed, as I have also had experienced that change.

If you would like to know more about the locations of the resort and the services they offer read my blog or check out their website at: http://www.biggestloserresort.com/

Biggest Loser: Sam Poueu and Stephanie Anderson's first interview after his accident. True Love has NO BOUNDS!

If any of you have followed me on any of my blogs it will be no surprise that I am THE Biggest Loser Super fan.  I love these people.  The Biggest Loser Alumni/Family has my heart! They are warm and kind hearted.  They have been where I am. They have conquered their journey's further than I have.  They have been PIVOTAL in my weight loss success!  There are many of the alumni who will be forever friends of mine because of the returned friendship, love and support they have always shown me!

Steph and Sam (and family) are some of those people.  I was a BIG "fan" of them while they were on the show and followed them and their love story after the show.  When I was able to go to Season 11 finale, I got to meet Sam in person! I was honored and thrilled.  When I found out he would be one of my trainers while at Biggest Loser Resort Malibu (BLR), I was completely ECSTATIC!

While at BLR Malibu, I learned so much from his classes!  He was hard core!  He was AMAZING at motivating!  He could push you further and further than you ever thought possible and until it was over, you didn't even had a clue what you had just accomplished.  His Mountain and Water Aerobics classes could leave you weeping they were so hard, yet you felt so accomplished!  I couldn't WAIT to get back to do it again!

On September 3, 2011 Sam had a horrible fall while visiting friends in San Francisco.  When I found out on the 4th my heart was traumatized!  I was so worried and scared about what this meant for someone who was a "super hero" to me.  I was stuck to my computer for days trying to find ANY information about him and how he was doing.

Another fan of Sam's, Erin Bowling, was quicker than me to the attack and formed a Facebook group, "Pray for Sam Poueu" https://www.facebook.com/groups/171343502940911/ and the family soon jumped on that group and started leaving information on his well being, giving updates and legitimate articles that we could reference as to information about Sam and his progress.

In the days following I saw them throwing around Erin's idea of getting wristbands started with his favorite saying.  I felt that Erin so desperately wanted to head up this idea but didn't quite know where to get started and how to the have the time since she is a full time student.  I have headed up many fundraisers in my life and knew I had the skills to jump in and help out. I wrote to Erin and inquired about taking it from her and running with it. She obliged.

I spoke first to Sherry Johnston (Pink team from that season and also like family to him) to ask her if this was something the family could stand behind. She did the behind scene's work and I got an approval call from Stephanie a week or so later.

We got the wristbands ordered https://www.facebook.com/BLTEAMSAM?sk=app_135607783795 (The wristbands are Grey, the color Sam was on BL and Purple, the color of Steph.  The quote the family helped pick was, "Family First, God above all").  Once the wristbands arrived the Sam bandwagon started. We sold a lot in the first month!  I was so busy processing orders.  Every night I spent a few hours addressing, stuffing and recording all the order's that came in.

On the back of each order I hand wrote "PRAY FOR SAM" hoping this would generate some extra attention and a reminder that this is why they are being sold, to get as MANY prayers and reminders to pray for him out there on a daily basis.  We all know that when "two or more are gathered" in God's name, miracles can happen!

 As time consuming as the process was, it made me so happy to help in even the smallest of ways. The plan, to relieve a little financial stress from the family involved as well as help them feel the love and support they had out there.  Update: Order's trickle in slowly every week. And I fill them one by one.  I look forward to when I can announce that we met our goal and sold out of them!  

I would like to give a shout out to ALL the people involved on the Pray for Sam page.  First, Erin Bowling who started the ball rolling and was the brain child of this effort. Next, to all the moderators who help keep all the friend requests accepted, keep all the family information sorted and in the right folders for easy viewing as well as helping get the word out about wristbands available.  There several moderators that help and I am afraid I would forget one of them if I tried to list them, but they know who they are!  Also to Patti Anderson (Steph's Mom) and Sam's Sister Tracey who were staple's to this page and really helped calm many nerves and troubled hearts with info on Sam's progress.  It doesn't take just ONE person to do something for someone else. It takes an idea to get planted and then many willing hands to keep it all going! I give props and love to EVERYONE who had any part in this.

We also had some businesses offer incentives to people to purchase larger quantities of wristbands.  Thank you Wholly Guacamole and Shut up and Sweat Gear for your generous donations!!  Also to Biggest Loser Resort Malibu who offered wristbands for sale several times throughout the last few months! It is companies like you that make me proud to support you and your efforts! THANK YOU!

Anywho, I just wanted to give you a little background of WHY I was so driven to put a little effort in to helping these two. Their love story is so precious and knows NO bounds.  I adore them and was THRILLED to see this update and hear Sam's voice again.  He is a fighter! Life will only get better and sweeter from here on out!  God is GOOD! We are STILL praying everyday Sam and Steph!  Have NOTHING but love for you two!

Here is the real reason you are reading this.. to get the scoop!

I WISH EVERY GIRL KNEW THIS..

I know I am behind in my blog and you will be see seeing a lot more in the next few weeks but for tonight I just wanted to share this!  I think EVERY scale should come with this on it...

• Are you hard on yourself? 
• Do you weigh yourself more than once a week? 
• Do you forget to remind yourself that you are not DEFINED by a number? 
• Do you beat yourself up when you have one bad day, one bad meal, one missed workout?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, the time in NOW to take action on how you feel about you!! You will have a lot harder time with success in your journey with negative self talk, self doubt and self sabotage.  Maybe, your scale needs a make over! 

I do not allow the scale, or a number to determine my success any more.  I am not a SLAVE to my scale.  I use it ONCE a week to gauge if there is anything I need to try to do a little differently for the coming week.  If I have several weeks in a row where the results are not showing on the scale, I try to do something a little different. 

 

If you find yourself in the dumps by the number this contraption gives to you.. maybe you should give it a scale make over and change the things YOU CAN CHANGE!! 

 

You are BEAUTIFUL!  I am CHEERING you on!  YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!!!

AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH

I am in the process of climbing an extraordinary mountain...not a literal one at the moment, but one that is helping me climb out of this "shell" that I have been in bondage to my whole life! It's a daily climb.

I have been switching my workouts up a little bit since the beginning of the new year and will continue to do so as I start to feel less fatigued or bored with what I am continually doing.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday I spend the first 40 minutes on the elliptical and then the last 20 minutes I have been working on a 5K training program that Tara Costa sent me.  It is a "conditioning" program which will help me eventually be running A LOT more that I presently am.  I have been climbing HUGE mountains (or obstacles) with this already.    I start at a steady 3.5  for 90 seconds walking then run for 60 seconds at a 5.0.  Then Walk again back at 3.5 for another 90 seconds then run at a 5.5. Go back to the 3.5 and go up on the running minute sprints by .5 every time.  I do this for 20 minutes 3 times a week for this week.  I have actually enjoyed it and I feel so fulfilled and tired when 6am comes.  Then I hop in the shower and head off to work.

On M, W, F at nights right now I just put in an hour on circuit training.. Usually 30 minutes elliptical, 15 minutes bike, 15 min treadmill.  I am going to find some evening classes to take to change this up so I don't get bored of my small condo gym... (I will admit it is actually pretty ghetto, but it calls my name if I am home and that is what I need!)

Tuesday is my Biggest Loser, last chance workout..which is funny cause I don't weigh-in that night or the next, but it works so... I will let it!
I stay for 2 straight hours on Tuesday nights (no AM workout) and when I leave, I have to practically mop every machine in the place of my nasty sweat.   I made a choice when I moved into my condo that I was NOT going to get cable.  It was the BEST choice I made FOR MY LIFE!!  Now If I want to watch a show (Biggest Loser or Celebrity Wife Swap as an example) I have to go to the GYM!  It works!  And 95% of the time I am the only one there and don't have to beg for the remote :)  On Tuesday I do a lot of Circuits on the weights mixed in with the elliptical.

Thursdays, at my 5am morning workout I do The Biggest Loser Resort Mountain class. I will tell you this was my LEAST favorite class and the reason why is because I knew how HARD it was and I would PSYCH myself out that I couldn't make it to the top of the "mountain".  What I forgot to focus on, is when you get there, it is SOOO rewarding!  Now I push myself to do it time and time again.  Because Thursday mornings has proven to be one or my most challenging mornings for pushing myself I have chosen this day as the day to CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN and it has worked well.

Here is a video of how "mountain works".  You really should try it, you will be surprised how you push yourself to get to the top.  Great way to FUEL your day, knowing you accomplished a hard thing.

Thursday evenings I have been doing a switch between elliptical, stationary bike and weights. 

Saturday's (as long as the weather lasts here in AZ) will become my hiking/outdoor day.  I want to enjoy Arizona more and see things I have never seen.  I also don't just want to sleep all day (which I have been doing).  I want to keep a routine so that I can get ALL the things done I need to for the next week (Shopping, food prep, laundry etc).

Sunday's is my day of rest both for religious purposes and for exercise purposes...oh how I love you Sunday! :)

Here is a real life picture of me after one of my mountain classes I did for myself..It is a serious workout!

I think it is important to remind myself of the "mountains" I am climbing in my workouts right now as well as reference it later as I change things up as well, to see how hard I worked to get to my goals.  

This is a lifelong journey.  One of much sweat and tears.  I love that I can feel my heart conditioning as I climb through this journey.  My breaths are smoother, my moves more consistent. I am making progress each and EVERY day!

As cliche as it is, I wanted to share the words of the song The Climb by Miley Cyrus... I feel it every day when I hit my feet at 5am. I use it to propel me through my first one hour workout of the day.
Here are the words so you can see how much it applies to MY journey:

I can almost see it

that dream I'm dreaming

But there's a voice inside my head saying "You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking (in myself)

But I gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose (weight)
Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes might knock me down

But no, I'm not breaking

But these are the moments that

I'm gonna remember most, yeah

Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong

Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be a uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb...

Keep on moving, keep climbing

Keep the faith, MEG

It's all about, it's all about the climb

Keep the faith, keep your faith.. (in your journey, in yourself)

I work on believing in this dream, this journey everyday while pushing all the negative talk that I have told myself all these years out of the way.  I AM worth this!  I can do this!  The mountains will start feeling smaller and smaller, all I have to do is...

 KEEP CLIMBING!

IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL

This picture and caption PERFECTLY depict how I feel today.  For those of you who haven't guessed it yet, I am not perfect.  I am a normal, overweight since childhood, girl trying to overcome a lifetime of bad eating choices and sometimes, I fall short!  Today was one of those sometimes.

I have the appropriate tools.  I have been given such amazing opportunities and MOST OF THE TIME live up to them, yet sometimes I have a temporary lapse in judgement, where the IDIOT comes out and takes all my goals for that day and puts them on vacation. Today was one of those days, a day I will never be proud of.

Today I freaked myself out by a choice I made.  And after all was said and done, I spent the rest of the day beating myself up about it.  Instead of moving on, going forward and recommitting to NEVER let that happen again!  Why do we do that to ourselves?  Why can't we move on instead of keep torturing your already weak self.  I think the reason for me is that I KNOW I CAN DO HARD THINGS, and yet I showed myself today how weak I still am.

Let me explain my dilemma. And for those of you who think I am "AMAZING" you might reconsider after the truth be told.

I have been VERY ill since Friday.  I have been pushing through migraine after migraine and stomach aches after stomach aches until I just broke down yesterday and couldn't push anymore.. I was hurting and exhausted.  I came home from work at 6pm and collapsed on my bed asleep for nearly 3 hours and slept hard.  I stayed in my bed the rest of the night, no dinner, no workout...I was too sick to even move.

I woke at 6am this morning and knew I was not going to make it out of my bed, let alone to work. I texted my bosses and waited for a response.  They suggested that I try to sleep it off and check in at noon, so I went back to sleep.  I set my alarm for 11:45am, woke up a bit to see if I felt any better, I did not.  I told them I was sorry but I needed to go to a doctor.  I HATE GOING TO THE DOCTOR!  I don't know why it trips me out so much, but I just absolutely hate it!

That decision made me have to leave my bed to get on the computer and look up a doctor that my insurance accepts (I have lived here over 2 yrs and other than the dentist and chiropractor, i have never been to a doctor). Called a few local friends and tracked down an office that has plenty of family practice doctors to help me out and got an appointment.

After booking my doctor I realized that I hadn't eaten in over 24 hours and I was so hungry my other part of my tummy hurt. I was tired, I was weak and I didn't want to make anything (or so I told myself) and the next thing I knew I had a medium pizza delivered to my door.  I paid the driver the $9.38, (they said they don't normally deliver under $20 but they had someone else in my complex just order so they would make an exception...oh how convenient, right?!) shut the door and got back on my couch, under my cuddle blanket and started to eat this pepperoni, pineapple and tomato pizza (with no cheese.. not a big cheese fan on pizza's). I am ashamed to admit that it wasn't till I got to piece FOUR and started feeling OVER FULL that I became a "conscious eater" and said to myself, WAIT A MINUTE, what just happened here?! SIDE NOTE: I will be honest with you, NEVER in my 33 yrs of life have I EVER ordered a pizza to my house all for myself...EVER!  This was the moment I FREAKED!!  What was I doing?!  What was I thinking?!  WHAT AM I EATING?! I picked up the pizza and walked it and the box to the dumpster outside.  I then proceeded to mentally beat myself up for the rest of the day!

Now don't get me wrong here, I haven't sworn off pizza for the rest of my life.  Although pizza wouldn't be my first choice in food to indulge in usually, if I were planning to eat pizza I would save up my 10% (I have talked here before about The Biggest Loser Resort 90/10 plan..90% of the time you eat on target 10% or 2 meals a week for me you can have an indulgence) and have my pizza as a planned splurge.  But this was NOT in the plan, this was very UNPLANNED and very unconscious and that is what scared me!

After a couple hours I tried to move on, move past and go about my planned appointment hoping this would all go away.

I went to the doctor. We talked about how sick I have been feeling, what my symptoms are etc.  After doing a few tests on me and checking my stats etc he determined that I was severely dehydrated!  I was shocked.  We talked about my exercise and how I had come home from the resort and then continued 2 hours a day pretty consistently and he was then pretty sure of it.  So I was given some migraine medicine so I could function and assigned to come back on Saturday (after drinking OODLES of fluids) and take a hydration test and do a series of labs and he would determine if I needed to go get an IV or not. 

On my way home from the doctor it had STILL not gone away so I decided to come clean with my battle buddy Joni and tell her what I did.  It felt good for a moment and she didn't act as though she thought it were too big of deal.  Then I spent 2 hours pacing the floor of the grocery store waiting for my prescription.  I was walking and looking at foods, sugar contents, sodium content etc.  As I was filling my cart with good options (like I usually do weekly) I was back at beating myself up for losing sight of what I know is most important for me, my journey, my life, MY HEALTH!

I still cannot understand what came over me this afternoon.  I REALLY am committed to this lifestyle, I am.  I am not looking to make excuses.  I thought that I trusted myself, my decisions and then I was side swiped.  I tend to have a really hard time making "good choices" in social situations, but there was NO social situation here...just me, myself and I.  I think this is really what upsets me, I want to trust my choices, especially ALONE.

So tonight as I lay in bed, still beating myself up.. I decided to reach out to a couple other friends along the way.  Heather and Bri, you helped me more than you know!!!  Thank you for listening, not judging me and understanding the place where I was coming from.  Bri said to me, "If this were easy, I would be wearing a bikini right now!"  That made me smile. Then she said, "Funks are good for you. It shows you how much your health means to you!"

 I love my BLR family, My battle buddy, and all my friends who support this journey! 

Their wisdom and reassurance to me basically says this:

And tonight, I believed them..

I am strong enough!  I have enough courage to go forward and with the support I have, if I PLAN I have

NO ROOM FOR FAILURE!

So the rest of this evening I went back to the drawing board.  I restocked the cupboard where I go when I am too starving to make good choices on meals.  There I have almonds (in 100 calorie servings), Mint Chocolate Zone Bars, Wasa Crackers, Freeze Dried apples etc. Now when I feel that WEAK side come on, I can curb that hunger until I am confident I make the right choices again.  Its ALL about CHOICES!



And Still.. I Rise! NO EXCUSES!

I have been feeling very under the weather since Friday (right in time for vacation). At first when I started to come down with my cold, I thought, not me...not NOW! I LOVE the start of a new year. I love refocusing (even though I refocused when I went to BLR in November) I love challenging myself with goals and making lists and plans etc.

By late Friday night I knew that my normal preparations for my New Year might just be put on hold, I was sick..really sick. The first thing I wanted to do was just feel sorry for myself. To forget about my goals. To eat my way into a New Year coma (although I did use my 10% this weekend for sure, don't get me wrong!). I spent ALL of Saturday in bed or on the couch doing nothing but watching Netflix and chatting on Facebook/Twitter.

By New Year's Eve I was still feeling pretty bad, but I had made a commitment to a friend that I met through twitter that the two of us would work out ringing in the new year (even though we were states away from each other) I wasn't about to let her and myself down...I am LOYAL through and through.

At 9:30pm I pulled myself off my couch and got into my workout attire and started making my way to my gym at my Condo. I didn't feel any better what so ever, but I had changed my mind set, I was going to do this NO MATTER WHAT! Here is a picture of me at the gym that night. I looked and felt like death but I pushed myself hard!! I even ran and beat my personal best with THREE one minute sprints of 7.0 on the treadmill (I have to hold on to the front bar to do this..but I do it!)

When all was said and done, I felt pretty ill but my spirit felt MAGNIFICENT!

Sunday I woke up feeling just as awful as the previous day and I layed in bed to the VERY LAST MINUTE before I had to be at work. It was a chill day with the girls which I was sooo thankful for it helped to not have to go anywhere or do anything. Sunday is my rest day for workouts so I was fine with that!

Monday, I was SOOO sick. My stomach ached and felt in knots. My cough was out of control. I had the headache the size of Texas and my body felt like a train ran over me. I was just sick, that is all there was to it! Again I cancelled all my plans and went between my couch and my bed all day, it was all I could do. I was starting to have a REALLY BIG PITY PARTY for myself and then I saw this video from one of my EARTHLY heroes!

Thank You Maya Angelou for your wisdom! You always speak to my heart, you gave me the courage and the will to RISE this night and keep my commitments to those who are doing at least a mile a day challenge in January..so I hit the gym!

I put an hour in the gym at a very slow pace and a high incline on the treadmill, but I did it! I didn't make excuses, I listened to the wisdom of Maya and despite a difficult situation, I arose to do what I needed to do for me and the people counting on me!

How different would our lives be if on every situation we had this kind of attitude. That when life tries to get us down, people try to shut us down, our own brains try to put us down we would say, "And still, I rise" and go on with our own life journey and not let it get us down?! The world would be changed... I would be changed!

Today with the start of Biggest Loser Season 13 and their theme, "NO EXCUSES" my prayer is that I can continue to adopt this phrase, NO EXCUSES. That I won't allow ANYTHING to come in the way of the journey of health and well-being that I have been on for 2 years now. That I will be able to keep the mindset of Doctor Angelou, and RISE in any situation to achieve my fullest potential!

What have YOU done today, to make YOU feel proud?!

I HAVE DONE IT, I HAVE GONE AND LOST MY MIND!

I think my weekend sick has gotten to me. I just did the craziest thing... I texted my friend Heather in Sacramento (who said she would help me keep my New Years Resolution by participating with me in one of my FOUR 5k's) and asked if she would be interested in this Midway, Utah Race 5k that is on my Birthday, February 4th! She said, YES! 

Now, I am always up for an adventure and an adventure with a challenge is even a little more intriguing, but I think I have officially done it, I think that I have lost my mind!

Here is how the website explains this race I just committed too:

"The snow crunching under your running shoes, as you breathe in the crisp mountain air. You and your closest friends are racing (and sledding) your way over the groomed trail, conquering its several obstacles. Whether you are an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, this race is for you."

The first picture is the one I saw when I texted Heather ( I HEART sledding..and doesn't she look like she is having the time of her life?!) ...I should have looked at the rest...EEK!

Course is a 3.1 MILE, Military Style Obstacle Course with over 10+ obstacles.

Why did I think this was a good idea again? Someone remind me where I thought I was ready for a race of this sort? Maybe this Musinex has some chemical that is stopping the functioning of my brain!

HELP!

I am neither an "elite athlete nor a weekend warrior!" I am a fat girl in spandex still trying to loose this outer shell.. but you know what I do have?

I have...

heart, laughter, joy, the best support group and friends in the world, determination and...

I CAN DO HARD THINGS!

Okay, okay, maybe I just talked myself into it, although I do still think I have gone and lost my mind!

You are ALL invited to join me for my first HEALTHY Birthday Celebration...who's in?!

February 4th, 2012

Midway, Utah

(by Park City)

$40

As long as I am losing my mind...here is one of the 5k's I will ALSO do this year, just don't know which location yet! Thanks for loving me and reading about my crazy adventures if I don't make it through this!

I am ONE STEP closer to meeting my goals of four 5k's...but I have already stayed up past my 10:30pm bed time and thus broken another goal. Oh well, no work tomorrow, so it counts as a weekend, right?!

Courage to Finish What I've Started?! OH YEAH!

A New Year...New Possibilities...New Goals...NEW ME!

Believe in yourself. Trust the process. Change FOREVER.

Looking back on my year I've confirmed what I already knew, 2011 was sooo good to me!! I have no idea how this new year is going to top it... yet, I know it will and I am looking forward with anticipation for GREAT things to come!!

HIGHLIGHTS of 2011

• Caribbean Cruise with my Girls

• Twins First Birthday

• Baby Ellie Jane was Born, my niece

• Nephews and Niece and Joni's family came to visit (This is an ALL-TIME fav pic)

• Winning the Wholly Guacamole Battle Buddy contest with Joni.

• Biggest Loser Finale for Season 11 and finally meeting my FAVS!

• Cali trip with Jen, Ghetto and Joni

• One Week at Biggest Loser Resort Malibu

• Hiked Y Mountain

• Stadium of Fire

• Freedom Festival 5K with friends

• Les Miserables with my Mom, Auntie Kay and Cousin Val in Phoenix (Later this night, we found out that Grandpa wouldn't make it much longer...he passed early in the a.m.)

• Moving into a place of my own

• Working with raising money for BL9 Sam Poueu with the Wristband Campaign.

• Holli and kids came for a visit

• Home for Thanksgiving

• Two more weeks at Biggest Loser Resort Malibu

• A week with my Biggest Loser Buddies (PRICELESS)

• Amanda and Arthur came to visit in AZ (At different times. Arthur May, Amanda December)

I have been blessed more than I could EVER imagine. Thankful for a year full of many ups and only a few downs, although the downs were some pretty hard ones. I want to note two of those downs for the record. I want to remember that even though some days this year felt extraordinarily dark, most days were light and very blessed.

The darkest day of 2011 would be the passing of my Grandfather (who was more like a father to me).

I thought I was better prepared for his passing because he was so willing and ready to go, but it was very hard because I didn't say goodbye and strange to think that on the earth I wouldn't be with him again. I think of him so much. I miss hearing him breathe, hearing his teasings and just telling him what I have been up too. But the brightness of that situation comes because I KNOW I will see him again and he is not suffering as he was. That brings great peace and comfort to me as we move on to another year. We have passed all the firsts that are the hardest and if Grandma can do it cheerfully, SO CAN I!

Another hard time for me this year would be my move from Gilbert to Phoenix. I have truly the GREATEST friends in Gilbert.

Stephy is one of them :)

When I am with all of them, I feel like I am with family. I don't feel homesick, lonely or afraid. I thought I would come here (less than an hour away) and make friends just like them and it hasn't really happened for me. Going from four roommates to NO roommates and having no friends close by was a VERY lonely place. For months I struggled to find my place in Phoenix. After a few dark months in the hottest, most miserable time of year in Arizona I found a friend, her name is Rae and she is a RAY of sunlight in my life and has blessed me to not feel so isolated here all the time. (See, it doesn't stay dark forever!)

I am going to take ALL the things that I learned from in 2011 and turn them into positive energy moving through this new year! I have high hopes, dreams and goals. I have been doing a lot of thinking through this holiday time and think I have found some solutions to help me obtain and keep some of the goals that are most important to me. I am armed with AMAZING tools. A gym at my condo, supportive friends and family, information and knowledge from my stay at The Biggest Loser Resort that I am already applying in my life and most important, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION!

I have decided that in 2012 I am going to do the following not in ANY particular order. Some are one time check off's and bucket lists where others are things I will work on daily.

BUCKET LIST OF 2012:
Go to the Balloon Festival in New Mexico
See Disneyland at Christmas time
Visit Washington DC area
Freedom Festival 10K
Meet my BLR friends in Cali for BL13 Finale and a check in on our Journey's
Christmas in Utah

MIXTURE OF ALL MY GOALS: (I have a more detailed list of how I will accomplish that for myself)
Work towards getting a new car
Build my Paparazzi Jewelry Business
Get out of Debt
Lights out by 10:30pm (everyone knows this is going to be the HARDEST...but I Can Do Hard Things, right?!)
Volunteer for Make-A-Wish-Foundation
Find a social life haha
Four 5K's
Workout twice a day, 5 days a week
Loose 80lbs (20 lbs a quarter is my goal. First 20lbs will be by March) I know this is achievable that is why I chose that number!
Find and meet with a counselor who specializes in Childhood Obesity, work on past issues that are creeping into my NOW.
PAY IT FORWARD. Support, encourage, motivate and most importantly LOVE those trying to do similarly hard things.

Here you have it. It is written down. I am accountable and I will report on my progress on all these goals through out 2012. I WILL do these. You just wait and see!

My Motto for this year is going to continue, "I CAN DO HARD THINGS!"

My verse of STRENGTH comes from Ezra in the Old Testament.

Ezra 10:4 "Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it."

I am going to do just this.. .I am going to ARISE. I am going to take ownership of my own life. I am going to TRUST THE PROCESS. I am going to DO IT!

BRING ON 2012...I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT I'VE GOT!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!