my intro to summer running (and your intro to running period)

A good friend told me I once said I would only run if someone was chasing me (I admit, I do vaguely remember saying that ).  Well 125 lbs slimmer and 2 marathons later I am a running addict.  I do other exercises, but I will always be a runner.  Today the temp went from the 50's yesterday to the 80's today...holy intro to summer running.  It was a slow run (I am a winter runner...I drag in the heat), but I did it.  4.5 miles (and a 1.5 mile walk btw. warmup and cooldown.)
Do you want to start running?  When I started I could only run about 30 seconds. Here's how I transitioned.
Beginning week
5 min warm up walk
run 1 min, walk 4 minutes
Repeat for a half hour.
When you can do that well
Run 2 minutes walk 3 min
Repeat for a half hour
(Never forget your 5 min walking warm up and cool down to prevent injury)

Run 3 min walk 2 min...repeat for a half hour.

Continue this pattern until you run for a half hour straight.  Don't worry how fast you are or how far you go , just build stamina.....once you get to the half hour you can decide to increase distance or speed.
***Stretch after you run, not before.

Try it and let me know how it works!
Today's activity: 4.5 mile job, 1.5 mile walk
Meals:
 2 eggs, half cup oats
Shack: greek yogurt
Lunch: pork tenderloin, corn, potato
Snack: pear
Dinner: strawberry shakeology with fresh blackberries
Snack: air popped popcorn (no butter)

fitting a healthy lifestyle into a busy life

Running my facebook challenge has been enlightening to see how hard people think it is to fit being healthy into their lives.  I realized today that for a long time, I didnt make healthy a priority.  It seemed like everything got in the way of being healthy: work, friendships, relationships, just plain ole laziness.  Having lost over 100 lbs, I realize that being healthy is really the most important thing.  How can you be a good parent, child, sibling, worker, student, whatever roles you are filling if you don't have your health in the state it should be?  It took me a long time to realize this , but now I do.
I set goals for myself every day , and I adhere to them as though they are part of my schedule.
I figure out what type of workouts and when I'll do them on SAturday , so I am "set up" for the week.  Any commitment I make to myself I'm firm on and if I said I'm exercising, I'm exercising.  I prepare healthy meals that can stay refridgerated on sundays when I have more time, and actually, Shakeology has cut down on my meal prep time (so much easier to run the blender than cook). 
A really good tip I would give anyone trying to squeeze in exercise is to try to do a few days in the morning before work...especially your "long days" or Mondays or Fridays , when we tend to be most tired after work.  LIke right now, I'm thrilled that I already did the Monday am workout.
I prioritize being healthy every day....so can you.

Today's exercise: weights-shoulders, triceps, biceps, abs
Insanity Speed and Agility DVD -35 minutes

Today's diet:
egg whites with spinach
fruit salad

Snack: greek yogurt with fresh strawberries

Lunch: black bean burrito
Snack: celery with hummus

Dinner: Chocolate shakeology with a banana

Snack: baby carrots

REady to embark on your own weight loss journey?  I can help.  Email me at april6678@sbcglobal.net
or check out my beachbody site
http://beachbodycoach.com/april6678

rainy sunday at the cheshire healthy living expo

I spent my Sunday selling Beachbody products at the Cheshire Healthy Living Expo.  I usually run the 10k race every year, so I was a little bummed not to run, but I loved the chance to meet new people, and hopefully help new people get to their weight loss goals.  It's so hard to explain to people how much better they will feel when they just dig deep and decide to go for it and lose weight.  I'm hoping to get some new members in my facebook challenge...the more the merrier, and seeing others push pushes me.  This was the 30th straight day I've exercised with no rest and I feel awesome.

Today's workout:
Power Kata from Body Combat 45 min, Shock Plyo from Body Combat 30 min, body weight exercises 20 min

Meals:
Breakfast: Fruit Salad
Snack:Apple
Lunch: Chicken fajitas
Snack: celery with hummus
Dinner: strawberry Shakeology with blackberries and strawberries
Probably a plain rice cake with natural peanut butter this evening
Want to try a sample of what I'm always blogging about? Email april6678@sbcglobal.net to learn how to get a shakeology free sample.

one of the harder lessons I've learned along the way

I was reflecting this morning (while for some odd reason I could not sleep) on everything I've learned (and continue to learn) along my journey to weight loss.  I want to share everything I can to help you do the same, and I want to continue to learn from my own experiences...and mistakes in many cases.:)
Something that has been hard for me is realizing when to let go of people in your life who aren't making it better.  This can be interpreting wrong, so I want to  explain.  By making it better, I don't mean loaning you money or being at your beck and call...I mean supporting you , encouraging you, just putting a smile on your face when you need it.  
I'm also not suggesting turning your back on someone when they need it,,,everyone goes through rough patches, and I definitely have been through my fair share. But do you know that person is your life who is always miserable?  Who is always complaining about what they don't have or what they need to do , be it lose weight, find a good partner, a new job, make more money...but then does nothing about it? This is who I'm talking about.  If you think about it, everyone has someone like this in their life....friend, family member, co worker, etc.
It's so hard to let people in your life go....I'm thinking of someone I was around for a long time.  Always complaining about the same things, but then continually putting themselves in the same situations.  Never striving to make positive changes...always talking about what went wrong in the past and how this is everyone else's fault.  Then I looked at my own behavior around this person.....when I was around this person, I tended to complain more, I thought about unhappy moments in my past....I wasn't being productive.  To help myself , I had to distance myself.  I still do some calls and texts (admittedly, it's probably with the hopes the person with change....and they may not) but once the negativity begins I move away.  Remember, you can't help anyone else until you yourself are happy.  I know I'm still working on being the best me I can be.  I would be doing myself a disservice by letting anyone drag me down.
How does this relate to weight loss?  Don't listen to anyone who says "Again" or "that won't work" when you are losing weight.  Who cares if you failed before?  WE learn a lot from failure.  And everyone fails at something.....the only real losers are the ones who are scared to fail so they don't try.  And if you screw up...so what?  Don't let anyone else (or yourself) discourage you.  Everyone screws up...I screw up multiple times daily:).  Learn from it and push forward. 
Many people in my online Facebook challenge have said they're scared to tell others they're trying to lose weight because people say "Again".  My thought......good for them to keep trying.  What you think about yourself is most important.  Think of three good things about yourself today and celebrate those.
Here's mine: went from couch potato to athlete, great motivator, enthusiastic.
What's yours?

Want to be part of a winning team?  Join my online facebook challenge ..it's free:) Message me for details.
Want to try the products that have made me lose 125 lbs to date?
http://beachbodycoach.com/april6678
Don't be afraid to contact me to ask what will help you reach your goal! I love to help.
April

Thinking about the past and how to help others

One of my passions right now is helping others to avoid getting to the state I was (or help them if they are already there).  I remember myself 125 lbs ago (not to be preachy....it definately takes self control every time I turn down chocolate:).  I had no idea how to go about losing weight.  I wasn't happy with myself, and I tried every diet known to man.  LOL, here's a short list...I can't even remember them all: WEight WAtchers, ATkins, grapefruit diet, the Hollywood flush (or some similar name, can't remember), and I'm ashamed to admit I did try several diet pills: OxyElite Pro, Dexatrim, Jillian Michaels diet pills, Roxy Lean, and probably more.  All of these worked to lose 10 lbs and then gain it back plus
Really, I am happy that I decided to use Shakeology. It's a nutritious shake that keeps me full , and at risk of sounding like a pig, I love the chocolate vegan shake because it gives me that little taste of chocolate that I love and helps with cravings.
I sell Beachbody products now, and it's so hard to convince people that this will work...but I know it will, literally nothing worked for me (lol see list above) besides this.  I hate seeing people do things like take diet pills....it's such a temporary fix, and so bad for you, and I don't want them to have to learn the hard way like I did.
I guess today's wondering is how to help others get on the path to getting healthy.
I know I've started out correctly....I became an exercise instructor to help those who are overweight, and I know I have made some changes there (one of my clients got to his over 100 lbs lost last week), and I'll keep thinking about how I can continue to help others. 
I'd love feedback...if you lost weight, what was your turning point to change?
If you are struggling, what would help you change?

** Do you want help losing and are stuck?  REspond to my blog or email me privately (april6678@sbcglobal.net)... I love to help out.

Today's victories: 4:30 AM workout, 30 minutes of weights (legs and abs), 40 min on elliptical, 10 min of yoga and stretching
Lots of practical exercise moving my things in my classroom to a new office for next year (I'm a reading specialist too:).
Breakfast: egg white omelet with spinach and low fat cheese
Snack: greek yogurt (plain with blueberries added)
Lunch: black bean burritos (homemade- just a wheat tortilla with black beans and fat free cheddar- just a sprinkle)
Snack: grapes
Dinner:  haven't eaten it yet, but it will be vegan chocolate shakeology (http://beachbodycoach.com/april6678 to check out shakeology with a banana and natural peanut butter (1 tsp)

today's triumphs

LOl, last night I was hit by the craving monster....just a craving for carbs I didnt need.  I seriously considered driving to the store to get cookies (I purposefully don't keep things like that in my house).  I had to stop and think about why I was hungry.  I knew I had my shake for dinner early, and I didnt really want cookies...I just needed some food. I ended up having some celery with natural peanut butter instead and I was satisfied.
If you are about to eat something you shouldn't think about why and learn from it.  I learned yesterday that I need to keep my dinner time consistent to prevent hunger later in the evening...won't make that mistake again.

Triumph today: already worked out ...my personal favorite workout Body Combat.  It's a combo of kickboxing and other martial arts.  Super fun.  Want to check it out?
http://beachbodycoach.com/april6678 - click get fit
Shakeology  plus body combat plus insanity the asylum....my secrets for shredding fat:)
Almost to goal.
How are you progressing on your goal?  Think about what you did today to get you there....nothing yet?  Well it's never too late.

about my beginnings

Hi I'm April.  I've lost 125 lbs to date, and I have 27 to go.  I want to blog to keep me accountable, but I also want to help others who need to lose.  I thought my story might be helpful to some...so I'm sharing.

I was always fit and healthy until I was violently assaulted when I was younger.  I felt alone, there was no one I could talk to about it.  I was embarrassed, I blamed myself, and I hated myself for a long time.  I decided one day I just didn't want attention from men anymore, and I thought a great way to do that was to gain weight.  It sounds ridiculous now, but I loved my fat for a while...it was the blanket that sheltered me from the world and covered my pain. 
I ballooned up to 290 lbs, and I was then overwhelmed.  The doctor told me I was a walking heart attack at age 30.  I was physically in pain from carrying around the weight.  I signed up for Weight WAtchers and lost about 20 lbs. Then I got stuck...they couldn't help me to lose more, so I quit.  The cycle began again.
A good friend told me I needed to talk to someone about what had happened to me.  After a lot of arguing, I signed up for therapy. It was hard at first talking about what happened, but in time, I began to feel better.  I decided to try to become a runner.  Literally, I could only run for 30 seconds at first, but I built endurance. 
I had lost a bit of weight and trained for a half marathon .  After I completed that I decided to do a full marathon.  Everyone told me not to, that I would get hurt, that I couldn't do it.  IN the race, I felt like I wanted to quit around the 20 mile mark, but I told myself no....the quitting is over.  I finished, and I cried when I crossed the finish line....I was really happy with myself for the first time in about 10 years.  I was actually proud instead of ashamed.  I finished something...I achieved a goal and it felt great.
My eating still wasn't great.  I found out about Beachbody products and decided to try the Shakeology.  It was great......kept me full so I didn't purge on junk and my food cravings practically dissipated. http://beachbodycoach.com/april6678 to learn about shakeology if you are interested.

That brings me to today......my life has changed totally.  I love my body (I bought myself boudoir pics for a bday present this year:)..just to show myself how far I've come, I've run 2 marathons and 4 half marathons, I teach exercise part time, and I am a Beachbody coach (Besides shakeology, body combat dvd's have helped me shape my body).
I'm vested in helping myself and others get to their weight loss goal.  I've started a 60 day go hard or go home weight loss challenge on facebook.  Let me know if you want to know more.
I lost 2.5 lbs this week/...and I actually can't wait until the next weigh in :).