Destination: Fitness

My Weekly Progress Report...

2017-02-06T20:37:00.001-08:00

Courtesy of Fitbit! I don't recall seeing these emails before, but maybe I just deleted them without paying attention. But now that I have this tracker on my arm most days, It is amazing the stats it has on me.

Fitbit weekly results

I honestly thought, I was more active this week, but Fitbit says ... NOT SO! I am doing better on my sleep! When I first started tracking my sleep I was only getting about 4.5 hrs of sleep per night. No wonder I was always so tired.

Well I hope to improve on these numbers this week, I hope to exceed what I did. I initially set forth the goal to work out 5 days each week, and that was a goal I actually meet! I think it is time I kicked up the intensity though. I started on Saturday with some jogging intervals on my treadmill session. I survived..I will try again!

Here's to better health!

I love Coconut Oil!

2017-01-28T15:35:00.001-08:00

To think, January is almost ending. The first month of the year has flown by. Today I meet with my nutritionist, and we recapped what I have been doing for the last 2 weeks. I gave her my story about my experience with adding coconut oil to my life. I am sure you have heard about all the great health benefits of coconut oil, so I decided to give coconut a try.

I have added it in my coffee and in my tea. I cook with it, it has replaced the kitchen staple of Olive oil. Scrambled eggs now gets scrambled in CO, so does my stir fries, and all veggies that get sauteed! I feel like it has given me a boost of energy, and I feeel my digestion and "purge" process has improved, and I feel like I have less of a muffin top and my jeans felt a nit looser than usual. There was some downward movement on the scale which is a BONUS! yes a bonus..Cause the way the oil is making me feel is GREAT! It will be a keeper! Oh and the most important thing about my coconut oil review is that, I don't even like coconut! You'd never see me drink coconut water, coconut chips, and if I attempted to eat German Chocolate cake, the frosting came off! So trust me when I say...try coconut oil! You will not regret it.

Hello 2017!

2017-01-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

First blog post of 2017 and I just wanna say I made Pizza!

Time to dust this here blog off...

2016-10-01T21:03:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks this blog of mine has been on my mind. I am gonna get back to it. Stay tuned!

Memories...

2015-07-04T12:05:00.001-07:00

This post is so not weight loss related, but I needed to write it!

Last night July 3rd, I went to a concert at the Greek Theater here in L.A. It was my first time at the Greek Theater and it was a couple of old 80/90's R&B singers. Who could pass up T.R.O.O.P, SWV, Ginuwine, Tony Toni Tone and Blacksteet? I grew up listening to them, it was the much of my childhood! And better yet, it was free my Friends won the tickets!

That being said, I had a really great time! The concert was great...I could have done without Troop & Tony Toni Tone in all honesty, but Ginuwine & Blackstreet put on really good performances. SWV, I love them, but they had such a short set. I think they sang for only 30 minutes, they could have sang for an hour. I wish they did more.

I am a fan of all the artists, but who I really wanted to see was Blackstreet and they were the last to hit the stage and seeing what they did, it was the perfect closing act! They had an hour on teh stage and I am sure they could have gone on for like 3 more hours. So here I was anticipation built up, waiting for them to come on the stage and there they were. Teddy Riley and 2 dudes, whose names I never bothered to remember. They sang a few seconds of some Blackstreet songs as a teaser and guess who comes on stage...DAVE HOLLISTER! I officially was in the Blackstreet moment. In my Eddie Murphy voice from Coming to America, "That boy can sing" LOL! I had not listened to Blackstreet or Dave Hollister music in so long, I forgot how much I loved his voice! Listening to him sing was AMAZING! Well he had the opportunity to sing a new song, he is releasing an album. Teddy Riley did a solo set, which was incredible which leads me to the MEMORY. In Teddy Riley's solo set, He brings out Kool Moe Dee! And while I can't tell you much about Kool Moe Dee, and I can't name most of his songs, there is one song of his that I know, and I create that knowledge to my brother. On comes Kool Moe Dee Singing Wild Wild West! While he is performing, my memory goes back to maybe 1987/88ish? Not sure of the real year, but I remember this song from my childhood with my brother Kevin. I don't know what we were trying to do. But my memory of this song, is he was trying to get me to rap the song. He had written down the words, I remember him standing behind the bar at our house with our old record player like he was a DJ and I am trying to rap the song!

That was the memory replaying in my head all night and even today, the day after the performance. Strangly this memory struck me, I often remember all the things my brother has done that angered me to no end! I can recall them in a heart beat, that I forgot that we actually had some good times. When I think of us trying to DJ & perform Wild Wild West as kids, I remember then having fun, it was just the 2 of us. My sister and brother weren't around at that time. If they were I don't remember then partaking in our performance, I just remember it being me & "Kevi" as my sister would call him. It's my good memory of my brother among all the bad ones, that I have, but I cherish it deeply. I was maybe 10/11 at the time and Here it is 20+ years later, that Kool Moe Dee at a concert would remind me, that I had good times with my brother, things weren't always bad. So I say to myself and to anyone that may read this, We have good memories, we have bad memories. Hold on to the good ones, and let the bad ones go! Real talk!

To finish off this post and to make my memory complete, and audio snippet of last night Kool Moo Dee performance! Kool Moe Dee-Wild Wild West

Dueces!

Small Changes...

2015-06-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

Well Hello there!

The mid-point of the year is here! AHHHH!
Well I am going to try to not focus on the lack of time I have. I know once I get serious and get into a routine, anything is bound to happen.

Things have gotten a little better. My eating has gotten better. My workouts, are few and far between. But I hope to change that shortly. Summer is around the corner, we have extra daylight after work and I am now keeping a few changes of workout clothes in the car. The goal is...When traffic is bad, instead of sitting on the 405 freeway, I can stop and go to the gym or even stop at a park and go for a walk. I have a plan, it's time to implement it. I have been driving around with a change of clothes in the car since Tuesday! It's going to happen I promise. The plan in place...Implementation will happen shortly!

Good news...my legs are no longer cramping up. But for some odd reason my right leg continues to swell up on me. I always thought it as dehydration, but I have been drinking anywhere from 2-3 liters of water these last few days and no relief. It is not painful, but there is no reason why just my right leg would be swollen. I plan to go get some celery & apples and juice them. Get some stuff to help flush my system and my liver.

My Victory for the Week: I've gone all week w/o Soda!

Time to Re-evaluate things...

2015-05-18T22:29:00.000-07:00

Man time is a flying. My last post was in March and back then I said, I was resetting my weight loss journey. I am now in May and well the reset button has not been pressed yet! What is wrong with me?

Today was a different day of sorts, I really had the desire to do better today. I got up this morning and frantically prepared myself for work. And it was frantic since I did not prepare anything the night before. I made my breakfast, a protein shake, my lunch, and ironed my clothes all before leaving the house this morning. And when I say made my lunch, I really mean made. I was cooking chicken at 4:30am! LOL! I must have been meant to be, I got it all accomplished in time and made it to work on time...actually 10 minutes to spare.

When I was at work, I was taking inventory..June is almost here. June...6 months into the year and little to no progress has been made on this weight loss Journey. If I remember correctly, I have 31 weeks until the end of the year? I will double check that fact, but...time is running out on me! I have got to kick it into high gear! I was moved today to apply to be a PrayFit Ambassador. I just felt like it would be a goal, something I should try. We shall see what happens, all they can say is no, but I tried.

Monday May 18th...Fuel and Fire
Pre-Breakfast: Protein Shake mixed with 6 ounces water, 2 ounces of milk, dash of magnesium, and a dash of Spirulina powder.

Breakfast: 4 Scrambled Eggs, Seattle Best Drip coffee, Banana

Lunch: 1 Chicken Breast, boiled Broccoli

Dinner: Lamb Burger, Cranberry Cooler, & Passion Fruit Cheesecake

Fire: Evening walk...51 minutes

My legs have been cramping up a lot lately. I read online that muscle cramps are a sign of magnesium deficiancy, Luckily for me, I have some powder magnesium tat my doctor gave me last year to help with constipation, so I am using it to see if it will help my muscle cramps. I'll let you know how that works out.

Today I felt really inspired, really motivated to move forward, so I hope this is the beginning of a new path.

Reset...

2015-03-10T20:09:00.001-07:00

Time for a do-over! Time to reset and restart.

When I first started this blog in June 2011 I weighed in at a whooping 371. I dieted, excercised for a couple of years, got under 300...and now...

I am knocking on the door of my 2011 weight! I am honestly but a mere 5 lbs away! March 1 - I got on the scale 366 lbs. A serious reality check! I never thought I would see myself back at my highest weight, but here I am. Back at square one! I can't believe it! I am so disappointed in myself.

So folks, I am back at it, this blog helped me back in 2011 and It will help me in 2015. Time to return to the basics, time to return to what helped and worked in the past. My goal for this year is to permanently release 100 lbs. That is 2 lbs a week for 52 weeks...well a little less than 52 weeks, since I missed out on Jan & Feb, but none the less, by Dec 31, 2015. I hope to be 266 lbs or less!

Let the countdown begin...100 lbs of fat on the wall. Let's sing a new song!

This thing called Love...

2015-01-26T19:13:00.001-08:00

Sigh!
I wrote on my vision board the word Love! That one little word...those 4 little letters are the HARDEST to understand.

2014 much to my surprise..my heart was pleasantly surprised. A guy who looked and gazed at me with what I called such admiration and love. It was a struggle for me to receive it. I ran and hid from it for song long. We talked about it, spent time together...I was scared to let my heart be completely open to it. I took baby steps into it, at times I stood still from the fear and at times, I did a full out retreat.

And here it is now 3 months have gone by, and the gaze of admiration, the gaze of love is gone. At first I was okay, well at least I told myself I was okay. I prayed, I said God you are in control. I have feelings for this one, I really felt I could be in love with this one, and I am trusting that things will work out in time. That's where I left things...Trust in God, though I missed seeing him, and talking to him. I am trusting that he will come back to me. No he is not with someone else, but is currently out the state, something he does, he has family there, and his kids are there. 3 months he has been gone..and what broke me of all things?

A picture, a simple picture of him with his song, hanging on the wall at his mom's house. I have been so messed up and jacked up since seeing it. LOVE...so heavy. The matters of my heart...so heavy.

I just truly hope Love find it's way back to me.

3 Days in...

2015-01-03T12:23:00.000-08:00

Start the third day of the New Year! There is so much in my head and my heart, I don't know if I can contain it in a post!

My excitement for the New Year continues. With that excitement comes some serious heart and life issue that I must deal with. It is so easy for me to fall into guilt, shame, and depression, when I consider what all I have to take care of!

I started off the New Year with one of my loves, take pictures. I started 2015 at a neighborhood park watching the first sun rise of the year. This is my second year doing this, and it is the most amazing thing. Yes the sun rises every year, but it just seems like that first sun rise is better. It was really cold that morning..39 degrees. When I got to the park it was dark, I was alone, no one was there yet. I didn't want to get cold and for safety reasons I stayed in the car until my friend showed up. Even the the moments of darkness in my car, my eyes caught these 2 amazing trees in front of me. They were beautiful! My eyes began to wander and again, I caught a glimpse of lights coming from some of the houses in the neighboring hills. I don't know what it is, but the smallest light in darkness is so pretty. My eyes kept wandering around the darkness and much to my surprise I could see the highrises of downtown Los Angeles! Here I am at a park maybe 12-15 miles away and in the darkness, I can make out the lights and words on the buildings. I could see Citibank, U.S. Bank, Aon...amazing! That made me get out of the car with my camera in hand. I was determined to get a good shot of Downtown in this darkness! Well all my attempts falled, it was so cold my hands were shaking and every picture was blurry! Oh well I said, I got back in the car...and boom...Life lesson!

Even in the darkest of situation there is good, there is beauty! Darkness is not blindness! As dark as it was, my eyes were fully functioning and I could see. I saw alot in the darkness! But why? Because I took the time to look! It made me think of that scripture ears to hear, eyes to see. Clearly not a direct bible quote, but you get the gist. We have eyes, but are we using them to see what is around us? We really don't have to be succumb to the darkness around us. Yes there is a lot of darkness and lots of bad times, but in those bad and dark times, there is something of beauty in it, there is someting good in it. I just have to make my eyes wander and look for the good!

My friend arrived and we ventured to spot where we thought we'd see the sun come up. I have noticed that the sun likes to play and hide and seek. We stood in area looking for the colors in the sky to change and we saw nothing. We walked over to another area, in the same park and the sky was completely different. We could see the oranges, and the reds and the yellows. We knew that the sun was coming up over here! Now the sky is pretty darn big, but its amazing how at that moment time. the sky was many different colors. If you looked one way, you could see "sunrise" colors, another area it was grayish blue, and in another area it was completely blue and very light, like the sun had already came up! It takes but a few minutes from the moment we saw the sun peak up from behind the mountain to it full risen state. The sunrise is beautiful, but its the changing in the sky that always captures my attention. It's like God puts on a pre-show before the sun comes up! Those 15-20 minutes before the sunrise is just spectacular!

After my sunrise adventure I meet a friend for breakfast. We don't hang out that often but when we do, we seem to always have these heartfelt conversations. I don't really consider myself a people person, and certainly don't open up to people. But somehow this friend, that I have only known for a short time, I feel comfortable with. I tell her things, that I have never told anyone. She is really easy to talk to and she gets me, well I think she gets me. She understands what I am trying to say when I can't really phrase it well. So after our 2 hours in Ihop...yes we ate and sat in IHOP talking for 2 hours! She left, saying well, I hope you don't mind, but I am going to check in on you, to make sure you are doing what you are supposed to be doing. I told her that was fine, I needed the help. Even me saying I need help, is a big step, but we'll save that one for another day.

Friday (day 2 of the New Year) nothing to Epic to write about. I had to work, just is just so useless, so boring. I hate being there, I really do. But I need a pay check.

So here we are the beginning of day 3. What a day it has already been! My doctor had recommended to me that I attend these overeaters anonymous meetings. TRUTH: when she first recommended it, in my head I said, I am not going. I really refused to go, and every time she asked about hte meetings, I made up an excuse as to why I had not gone. I had my monthly check in with my doctor and in her usual fashion she asked if I started the meetings. I said no, and again said, but I will. Full well knowing I had no real intention of going! Something changed with me from Dec 15th to Dec 31st, because here I was on the computer when I got back from Vegas looking for a meeting I could attend. I sent 2 emails and I got one response and here I am, January 3rd, I have attended my first meeting.

Most of the meeting was alot of talking. Which we all know I am not a fan of, but there were some things that were said that were helpful and motivational for me.

God will do for me what I can not do for myself
I am among equals, I am not better than and I am not less than. We are all equals
Admit you are Powerless
Ask for Help (again a discussion for a later date)
Feeling disconnected is essentially lacking love
Ask God to change your perception

I could write ooodles on these,, and like I said it was random people talking. People went forward and shared there experiences and these are some of the things said that rang true for me. Looking over this list, that I wrote. on the back of a christmas card I had in my purse since I didn't bring a notebook, much of it relates to things I put on my vision board.

As with anything new and with my overly critical nature on the drive home, my thoughts about the meeting ran through my head. Thoughts of well I didn't like this, I don't like that, I am not sure if this is for me. I got off the freeway and decided to stop at the 99 cent store for a notebook. I figure I will need a notebook just for these meetings. I parked and I sat in the car for a while and bursted out in tears! TRUTH: On the drive from Santa Monica to the 99cent Store I had almost talked myself out of continuing these meetings. TRUTH: It was in the few moments of just sitting in the car I realized I have a problem with asking for help! I sent a text to my pastor while I was sitting in the parking lot. My text was:

There is a part of me that likes being a problem solver. But I'm the problem and I can't fix me.

The response: Yes, now we can surrender to God

Which made me think of #1: God will do for me what I can't for myself.

The words I Can't as of today, January 3 have a completely new meaning for me. I can't do this in my own strength, I can't do this on my own period...I need help, I can't rely on will power. I will rely On Jesus, cause HE WILL do everything.

So on that note, I end this post. There is much more to say. I could talk about how this has exposed a whole other area of PRIDE, UNBELIEF, etc, but enough has been said. I have 362 other opportunities to write and I am sure at some point all these things will be discussed or at least come up again.

But now I need to rename this blog...It's no longer just about Fitness. It's about everything. At somepoint the name will change not sure, but if you come on here and see a new name, you'll know why.

Looking forward to the New Year

2014-12-31T17:41:00.001-08:00

2014....What a year! Today the last day of the year. Just about 6 and a half hours away from a brand new year!

365 days make up a year...and I plan to make the best of every day. Most of those days were wasted in 2014. 2015 will not be a wasteful year. That is the ultimate goal...Don't waste any more time. Yes I made a vision board, but that Vision Board is filled with things I have wanted to do for so long! Things I wanted but never did and things I wanted but I let fear and insecurities stop me. Goals can't be reached without a plan, without action, or without commitment.

2015...I am ready for you!
Not 365 days...but 365 opportunities to move toward my goals.
I will make the most of every opportunity.

Today December 31st 2014, I have registered for my first Photography Class at Samy's Photo School! It's a basic course for my Canon 60d. The lessons will be for specifically for my camera. There is still so much about my camera I don't know, so this will help me so much! The class is on February 7th..so one thing from my Vision Board underway!

2015 Vision Board

2014-12-29T17:37:00.002-08:00

Trying something new for 2015. A have a few days before the New Year rolls in, and the last few days, I am trying to prepare myself for a different 2015. There was an event among some friends of mine to create a vision board for 2015. I was not 100% clear on what a vision board is, so let me give you some tidbits from what I found online.

What is a Vision Board?
A vision board is a tool used to help clarify, concentrate and maintain focus on a specific life goal. Literally, a vision board is any sort of board on which you display images that represent whatever you want to be, do or have in your life. Making use of vision boards serves several purposes, some of which include helping you to:

Identify your vision and give it clarity.
Reinforce your daily affirmations.
Keep your attention on your intentions.

This appealed to me since I am such a visual person. Why make Resolutions? I think them up, rarely write them down and certainly I never keep them. My group of friends made their Vision Boards with poster board and magazine clippings, but since I was out of town, and I don't consider myself the arts and crafts type, I was able to find an app in the App Store to create a Vision board on my phone! The down side to the app is that I don't have a poster to hang somewhere, but the positive is, I was able to save my vision board as an image, which I have now save has my background image on my phone. Since I am always with my phone, and always doing something on my phone...my vision board will be seen, many times throughout the day. I will print the graphic and hang on my fridge and also on the bathroom mirror. I think the more I can see it the better.

The app was very easy to use, there were a lot of graphics built into the app and if you wanted, you could use photos from your phone. So if you are interested, the app is Iphone & Android friendly. There is a quick tutorial on the webpage to help you navigate, but it's really easy to use. Feel free to check it out if you are interested. Jack Canfield - Free Vision Board App

So I am excited for 2015, It won't be an easy year, but it will be a year of change, a year of transformation and growth. Here is my vision board for 2015

The Countdown Begins...

2014-11-30T18:53:00.000-08:00

Here it is a Sunday night...not just any Sunday night, but the last Sunday in November. December 1 is tomorrow. 2014 will be ending in 31 days. There was been such a war within in me these last few weeks.

As you can see this year, I have completely fallen off from my blog writing. As I take inventory of myself during 2014, I have completely fallen off on the majority of things in my life. I won't list them all here, but last week I commented to a friend, my life is just completely out of control. Why?

The Why actually hurts my heart to say. But I must be honest with myself because I know it is only in my honesty that I can begin to change. Why...cause I have lost my love for God. I have forgotten the foundation of my relationship with my Lord and Savior. I have forgotten to Seek Ye First...

There is such an emptiness within me, I feel like I am dying. I had a dream last night, it was kind of weird I don't have complete understanding of the dream, but to dream that I was bleeding from several areas of my body, can not in any way represent anything positive. In my dream I was bleeding from my arm, my nose and my forehead, like someone had cut my forehead right along my hair line and I just saw the blood dripping from my forehead. In the dream as I was sitting in the chair, I was thinking why am I bleeding. As I think about the dream now, I am a little concerned that I was wondering why I was bleeding as opposed to trying to stop the bleeding. I guess that also depicts my just complacent, nonchalant attitude about things that I should be more concerned about.

There was a time that I had such peace, I was content, borderline happy. I remember thinking at times that I was truly enjoying life. That was my favorite thing I was enjoying life while having this fantastic relationship with God! Growing up I always ran into "church" people that gave this impression, that being in church equalled no fun. There are times church is not fun, but my relationship with God was not just about church. I have had awesome times with God, just me and him, without being in church. These are truly the moments I miss. About this time last year, I was very deeply hurt, and without even having the opportunity to go talk to anyone about the issue, He was right there to talk me through it. I remember waking up the morning after and He was singing to me. God sang to me! To me...yup me, Little ole me. And it touched my heart so, and brought me to tears, that my big great God, would even think to sing a song to me.

I am hurt very much again almost exactly a year later. And he again is still talking me through. I am not gonna lie, this time, it's a bit harder. He helped me last year with a hurt done by a man. This year I need help with the hurt I have done to myself. The hurt I have done to myself by walking away from him. The hurt I have cause from letting my desire and wants come before Him. The hurt I have caused from my own self will, my own disobedience, my own rebellion...I hurt. I hurt deeply. I hurt a hurt I have yet to feel before. I have been so wrapped up in me, and doing what I wanted, it has completely overtaken me. How quickly I have forgotten his promises to me. How quickly I have forgotten to have no other gods before him. How quickly my heart has backslidden, how quickly my heart has gotten cold, how quickly my heart has become hardened. Letting go of all these things that have drawn me away is hard. I do good one day and the next day those same things are pulling at me and like the addict I go, I follow, I allow to be overtaken.

My heart today is truly broken for I now know what it feels like not to have love returned. After all the times he has been chasing, after all the times he has called, and I turned away and ignored him. My God is hurt, I realize today, He is hurt. And now I am hurt, hurt the way He is hurt. I think it was September when a friend and I had the awkward conversation of our feelings. We both said we had "more than friend feelings". It has been a month since I have seen him, or even spoken to him, calls and text unreturned. That hurts, I feel so rejected and deeply hurt. I have no idea what is going on with him, if he's okay, or nothing. 30 days of no communication. I want to be angry with this guy but I can't be. There is a lesson to learn in every situation. This unfortunately is a hard lesson to learn, but definitely a lesson that needs to be learned.

This morning as I was driving around, my mind clicked and said, is this how you feel God, when I didn't respond to you? If this is just a small portion of his feelings when I don't return his call...I owe him the biggest apology. God doesn't deserve this from me. He has been the loving gentleman he always has been, and I have been distracted, I have ignored my greatest love, and His big heart hurts deeply for I have rejected Him. In my feelings of rejection that I feel from Mr. Man, I relate to the rejection that I have served up undeservingly to God.

I don't want to wait until January 1 to make change, I am trying to change now before the year ends. Tomorrow is not promised to me, but every day I am striving to do my best to return to my Lord.

In years past this blog has been such a great outlet for me. It was very therapeutic, it was a place I could be honest with no judgment. So I plan to come back, hopefully before January 1. Things will likely change on this blog, time to add some other parts of my journey on here, cause my weight loss, healthier living journey is just not a natural one. Hope to stick with me, but if not, its completely okay. I understand.

Happy New Year!

2014-01-08T16:26:00.005-08:00

I can't believe that a new year is here! So Happy New Year!
Last year around this time I already knew what my goals for the year would be. This year, I have no idea what my goals should be. For right now the goal is to finish the goals I did not complete in 2013.

I am glad 2013 is gone...It had many ups & downs, and the downs just beat me down like I could have never imagined. But yet I am still here, TRYING, to get heatlhy, continuing to keep moving and TRYING to lose weight! It is not a easy task, but I am not giving up!

I did not lose the weight I wanted to last year, I did complete my 36 mile bike ride! So that was a huge accomplishment for me. Another long Bike ride is probably gonna get done in 2014. Still leading up group run with Black Girls run and I have picked up a new group, so now I have Monday Evenings, and Sunday morning events that I host.

I started off the year doing a 5k..I finished, not the greatest results, but I am glad I was able start the year off with a race. So for now my race calendar includes the 5k - at the LA marathon in March, and a 10K in April at the Hollywood Half Marathon. I'll wait and see what else I can get on the calendar.

I hope this year I will be more consistent with my blogging! Here's to a New Year with New Adventures!

Kyra

2 More Hikes in the Book!

2013-10-27T20:51:00.002-07:00

Hey Hey!

Fall is upon us here in California. The weather is definitely cooling off, its dark in the morning, getting dark in the evening and it makes me sad! I miss my sunshine! My outdoor adventures will have come to an end...I think!

Well I have not been posting too much, and for that I truly do apologies!

October has been a fun month! I hiked twice this month. Last Saturday, I hiked Fryman Canyon, it is my second time doing this hike. Yesterday, I did a hike in Rancho Palos Verde. It was beautiful! The course runs along side the coast and is near by the Trump National Gulf Course. My tour guide for this trip was my friend Beverly and I went with Dionne and Hailey. This was also my first hike with hiking boots! Yup...I now own hiking boots! I got a deal at Big 5 Sporting Goods....$19.99!

The weather was not on my side. We had a very very thick layer of fog so we didn't have great visibility. Normally on a clear day, I am told you can see out to Catalina Island and as far north as Santa Monica. Now the day after the hike...not too terribly sore. My sorest area..my calves.

So here is me and Hailey, in what we called, Natures Living Room. A spot we found on the hike, looks like someone built a little temporary shelter on the coast!

It was a very foggy day, the pictures of the scenery probably not as nice as they could have been, but here are some pictures I took on the hike.

Rancho Palos Verde Hike Pictures

Long Run Weekend #1

2013-10-12T21:12:00.002-07:00

LOL! It's kinda sad that I am even calling this a long run. But it is...for me! It is more miles that I have one in a really really long time. With the days getting shorter and its getting darker, I only have time to get in extra miles on Saturdays and Sundays. So today I ventured out there, I had no goal in mind, I just said I would walk until I didn't want to walk any more.

Well I walked 6.7 miles today, and I am happy to report, I could have walked more, but I didn't know where else to walk to. My body felt okay, I actually felt like I had lots of energy. So maybe I can accomplish this 1/2 marathon after all!

Technology aka my Endomondo App says I did an average pace of 4.5mph. 6.74 miles total in 1:29:58!

Not a bad starting point, in my humble opinion!

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/257285984/1940300

The Day In Review

2013-10-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

I know its a boring title for this post, my creative juices aren't flowing. Today mixed emotions. A friend has passed. No warning, she was not sick or ill. Just got a phone call and a text that she died this morning. She will be missed! Wierd cravings this week: 1. I am craving Kale 2. I am craving protein in the morning Breakfast: White Chocolate Latte, Bagel w/ Cream cheese Mid AM Breakfast: Omelette with cheese, green & red peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomato (remember I said I was craving protein) I was surprisingly still hungry after my bagel & coffee so this was breakfast #2! Lunch: Baked Chicken with Yams Dinner: Tuna Nicoise salad Workout: I had planned to go to spin class....BUT got stuck at work late so I went for a walk. 3.81 miles completed! As I was walking tonight trying to sort through my feelings and emotions from my friend passing away, I got to thinking October is almost 1/2 over. December 8th will be here before I know it...how the heck and when in the world will I be able to increase my mileage for the 1/2 marathon? Oh I need to get with it quickly! Time is going by so quickly!

Where's the Blogger?

2013-10-06T21:13:00.001-07:00

Hello? Hello? is anyone still out there? I know I have gone AWOL again, my apologies yet again. This time it was due to technical difficulties. I did not have internet at home so it made it difficult to post regularly. I have internet access now, so I hope I can get back on my daily routine of posting about my journey. The bad thing about journeys is GETTING LOST! LOL! Yes I got lost along the way. Oops. But I have made a u-turn and am returning to right road that will get me to my destination. So here is my welcome back! I know I start off the year with another set of goals, I don't think many of them will be completed, but I will contine to strive to complete them. One new goal has surfaced over the last few weeks. I was asked to do a 1/2 marathon, with a friend. Yikes! My friends it has been a while, since I have done one. If my memory serves me right my last one was in 2007. Here I am 5 years later dreading the idea of putting in 13.1 miles in one day! But as with all things with proper training, and a positive outlook, I can conquer. So stay tuned! I'd love to hear what you have been up to during my time away! Peace!

How to pick the perfect shoe

2013-08-15T21:27:00.001-07:00

Get health and fitness tips at Greatist.com

I've been a bad little blogger again!

2013-08-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

Hello folks! It has been such a long time! Wow. Sadly I only have a few updates. But I had to come on and make some updates and post some pictures. Well the big news of the day is that I completed the Beach Babe cycling classic! 36-miles of bike riding! Yes...36 miles, it's not a typo. I did not stop much to take pictures. A few times along the route, I did a grab the camera and just snap a shot and hoped for the best. Surprisingly, that method kinda worked. I got some decent scenery pictures, which I will gladly share at the end of this post. The ride was very exciting and nerve racking at the same time. The butterflies in my stomach were fluttering all before the race. I began to think, what the heck was I thinking when I signed up for this race! It almost seemed to big to conquer! But once I got going and took about 20 deep breathes, I gathered myself and had the ride of my life! I had a good time! It is something I would love to do again! Since that lovely bike ride journey on July 14th, I have ventured into a new adventure. Golfing. Yes, Golfing...again, not a typo! LOL! I spent almost all day at the Golf course in Arcadia! We had a quick lesson with Andrew at the driving range and then we were left to our own devices to play 18-holes of golf. I will be the first to admit that golf on tv looks really boring and rather easy. I mean come on how hard can it be to hit a little ball into a hole? Well I am here to tell you, it is rather hard to hit that little ball into a hole. And let me tell you, I broke out into more of a sweat playing golf than I did bike riding. And let me also tell you I was sore for 2 todays after golfing and didn't have any soreness after my bike riding. So ummm...don't underestimate the workout playing golf could be! My next update is non-weightloss related, but it is still an update! I started a new job in June! It is exciting to try something new, but at the same time, I am so terribly nervous! So I am running out time, so I must leave you. So as promised, here are the quick shots I took along the path. Enjoy. https://plus.google.com/photos/103845743747978049274/albums/5910564354532631457?authkey=CIDtvtmBkNW9pAE

Why Do I Eat When I'm Not Hungry?

2013-07-11T11:48:00.001-07:00

I wish I only knew! But a good read!

http://greatist.com/health/why-do-i-eat-when-im-not-hungry

New running shoes!

2013-07-07T18:32:00.001-07:00

I did it! After eyeing down all the cool colorful running shoes I see on people, I've decided to take the leap!

My first pair of bright colored running shoes! I can't wait to go run on them tomorrow!

I Had Way Too Much!

2013-06-24T20:55:00.001-07:00

I can't remember the last time I felt this bad. But today I know without a shadow of a doubt, I've over done it!

Yesterday I had that heavy feeling. My stomach feels like there's just stuff sitting in it not moving and today I had lunch with some friends for a birthday celebration. I ate way too much and I feel HORRIBLE!

We had lunch at 11:30 and it's almost 9pm now and I have not been

able to eat anything else. I'm sipping on a probiotic drink right now and I don't think I can finish the 12 ounce bottle. I feeling so sick, so heavy. Walked for almost an hour this evening hoping it would help the digestion, and no such luck so far.

After this feeling I've had all day, I said its time to detox-lemons, veggies, greens...bring them on. I decided to start with this probiotic drink and tomorrow morning I'll start off with my detox teas. I gotta get rid of this feeling!

It Pays to Do Your Own...

2013-06-20T12:30:00.001-07:00

Not to sound ungrateful, but I ventured to the cafeteria at my new work location. I saw on the menu board Protein Salad. I was excited and sad I had to try it.

Please tell me why I got to my desk to eat opened my contain and there is watermelon & cantaloupe on my salad?

Do these fruit have protein content that I am unaware of?

Despite the fruit in my protein salad, it was tasty!

Healthy Women?

2013-06-17T20:09:00.001-07:00

Lol! I should have called his post something else! believe me it's not gonna be what you are expecting!

Today after 2 yrs of living in my complex my neighbor summoned me over. after asking questions and talking about our lingering plumbing issue in the building she says, I have another son, he's 45 and he be checking you out. yes she said it just like that! Lol! She, continues, He likes healthy women.

At this point I am baffled. Me healthy? Never! so, Is "he likes healthy women" the new polite way to say he likes big girls? Please enlighten me & educate me for I am out of touch with the modern day jargon!