8Ks and 5Ks...It's All for a Good Cause

Source

I am not a runner...I am not really a jogger...I'm a walker. I'm ok with this. And I think I've officially gone to the dark side when it comes to "races" I admit I enjoy them. I like the atmosphere at the start and the end. It's a big feeling of "we're all in this together." And some of my races have been fun runs, some have been get fit runs, and a few have been fundraisers.

Currently I'm anticipating my 8K this weekend. I'm looking forward to it and I hope we have good weather. I got new shoes for the event, they are Brooks. I love their clothes and so far I love the shoes.

One of the races I did last year was for the Wounded Warrior Project and I'm looking at doing one for WWP again this year in April. I've signed up for another 5K in April already for Be the Match, the organization that works to help find bone marrow matches for those fighting leukemia and other blood diseases. The race is called Be The One Run and I'm running it in honor of my co-worker James who continues his battle with leukemia. And is most likely going to need a bone marrow transplant. So this cause is very near and dear to me.

I'm also looking at doing the Color Run in DC if it works into my schedule. And I'd like to get to the point where I can do the Wicked 10K in October so we'll see how it goes.

How are your fitness goals going?

New Year's Resolutions

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man [or woman].  ~Benjamin Franklin

Every year I set New Year's Resolutions some of them reachable and realistic others not so much but there is something about setting them that feels right to me so I do it every year. So here are my resolutions for 2012.

• To read the Bible daily and do my Bible Study daily instead of all in one day. 
• To walk regularly so I'm ready for the 8K, 10K and possible 10 miler that I want to do in 2012.
• To eat healthier and to start eliminating artificial foods from my every day diet.
• To create a meal plan and to cook at home more often. 
• To get our credit cards paid off.
• To take some classes to expand my knowledge for work.
• To continue yoga and dance classes. And to add weight lifting to my weekly schedule.

I'm sure others will pop up but those are my main focus. What about you what are your New Year's Resolutions?

Real Women Have Curves

I have been giving some thought to what weight, size, etc I want to get to in my weight loss journey. And here are some things I believe.

• Every body has a weight that it is comfortable being - now this doesn't mean I stay at 200+ lbs because I don't want to work to lose weight because my body is far from comfortable right now. I am overworking my body right now. But I don't think I would be healthy looking at 108. I'm aiming for 140-150 and then I'll decide from there.
• Thin is only beautiful if you're meant to be thin - I am meant to have curves. I will never be willowy thin. I'm ok with this.
• Being Healthy is more important than being a certain size - I'm losing weight to look better certainly but one of my main goals is to improve my health.
• Realistic Goals are important - refering back to point one I think it is important to set a realistic goal for my age, activity level, etc.
• The scale is not the only measure - there are other milestones to measure including clothing size, being able to go longer on the cross trainer, being able to lift more weight, being able to go for a longer walk, being more flexible, being healthier, and how my close (one should not type when tired) clothes fit.
• Strength and Beauty are in the eye of the beholder - what one person may think of as too big another may think is a perfect size. What I can do and what I can endure may be different from what you can do and endure and that is ok.
• Healthy Role Models are a good thing - Christina Hendricks (of Mad Men), Sara Ramirez (of Grey's Anatomy) and Kelly Osborne (of the Osbornes) are some of mine. 

Christina Hendricks

Sara Ramirez

Kelly Osbourne

November Goals

I've been inspired by The Life and Lessons of Rachel Wilkerson and Beth's Journey and their lists of November goals. So I decided I would share my November goals.

• Clean up my house...one of the dangers of your spouse being deployed is that it is easy to ignore things because it is just you and you are the only one who has to deal with it. My kitchen counter is slightly buried in mail, my bedroom has piles of laundry (clean and dirty), my carpet needs a vacuum desperately, and I'm tired of it so I am going to get it back under control.

• Weekly Yoga Class...I have purchased some passes for local yoga places on Groupon and Living Social so I've been using them to take a weekly yoga class. I'm really enjoying it and I feel much more relaxed and energized following the class. Sadly Tidewater Hot Yoga Studio is closing at the end of the month but I'm hoping my experience at Zenya will be as good.

• Weekly Weight Lifting...for both the yoga and my dance classes I need to work on my core strength as well as my upper body strength. Also I know that muscle is important in losing weight. And I feel good after I do it. My ultimate goal is two to three times a week but baby steps first.

• Walking Two-Three Times a Week...both the dogs and I benefit from this. I am a person who cannot lose weight just on eating healthy alone I have to have exercise of some sort even if it is only 30 minutes three times a week. My dogs are high energy creatures who need to burn off their energy. If I take them for a walk I get two birds with one stone. (but don't mention birds in front of the dogs).

• Fix and Eat More Meals at Home...I like to cook and further I like my cooking. I also find that when I cook I save money and calories. My goal is to make dinners that I can then bring for lunch. I have a crazy obsession with found many recipes online that I want to try including a pumpkin pasta recipe from Rachel Ray. 

• Daily Bible Study...I saved the best/most important for last. I lead a Bible Study at work called Balanced Living by First Place 4 Health and it has daily Bible study lessons which I usually do in the two days before the Bible study class. I want to get back in the habit of doing them daily.

I will Thrive...Deployment stories

J is in Japan for three years. It is his last three years and we'll get to see each other but it is tough none the less. Most of the time I do fine...I have moments but overall I'm good. And I've decided to set deployment goals for the time he is gone. I figure a) goals are good, b) goals will keep me busy, and c) goals will help the time pass.
Just like my business I've decided that you guys can help keep me honest. So here they are. If the list seems long keep in mind I have three years... (Please realize some of these require outside people)

Personal

• Start my business selling purses and jewelry
• Get back to working out regularly (it really helps with my stress level)
• Work on eating healthier
• Eat at home five nights a week
• Cook at least three nights a week
• Go out with friends or family once a week
• Pamper myself once a month with a pedicure, manicure, etc

Home

• Get our basement and attic organized
• Start getting other rooms cleaned out and put together
• Paint the bedrooms
• Put in a fence for the dogs (and me)
• Replace carpet in the living room and upstairs
• Paint the exterior of the house
• Replace our garage door (it has issues)
• Redo the bathroom

Work

• Get training on inDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop
• Work to expand our Carnival
• Revamp our marketing publications