Today before coming to work I decided to leave home early and get a quick 20 minute workout.  My plan was to do the stairs in the bottom bowl of the stadium and then do as many laps around the track that time would allow.  Before heading out the house I put on my new running shoes; New Balance RevLites.  

Let me just say that shoes do make a difference.  These shoes made my workout very comfortable.  They were great on the concrete steps and while on the track I felt like I was running on air.  They were amazing.  I can honestly say that I felt like my pace was a little bit faster than it was.  I did three-fourths of a mile along with the stairs.  Next time I will actually clock my mile but I think that it is a little faster than my 5K mile pace (13:60).   

The shoes that I raced in last year were Reebox and they were good too, but these New Balance are AMAZING!!!  So I think that any future running shoes that I purchase will be from this brand since I like them so much.  

Here are a few tips for those who are thinking about starting running or  working out.  First of all, buy new shoes.  New shoes will protect your joints and prevent injury.  This is very important.  Also, continue to purchase new shoes after you have worn out the shoes.  I'm sorry but you can't buy a new pair of shoes tomorrow and hope to use them for a year or more.  According to LiveStrong you should change your shoes "somewhere between 350 and 550 miles, depending on your body weight, the surface on which you usually run on and your running style."  There are apps that you can get for your phone to help you keep track or you can have your own handwritten notes.

Also, if you are a new runner, take your time.  Don't be afraid to pace yourself.  You don't have to go out there and run a mile.  I will be the first to admit that when I first started out I had trouble running 30 second straight intervals.  It's hard work.  But, if you keep it up you will see yourself getting stronger.  In no time you will be running for miles.  But don't feel discouraged if you're the walker on the track.  We all have to start somewhere.  Trust me I know.  

Finally, just remember that you can do it.  It will take work, but it will also pay off.  

Till another day....


Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/211320-when-to-buy-new-running-shoes/#ixzz1qTcF1Wv4

Today has been a very chill day.  So I spent most of my working hours listening to some new (to me) music.  There was one song in particular that had me hitting the repeat button; Usher's new song "Climax".  His voice sent chills down my back as I listened.   You would almost think that the song would be about sex.  But if you really listen to the words it's about a relationship.  A relationship that has reached that point where it has to end.  You can hear the emotion throughout the song.  I feel like during the verse, when his voice getting higher, he's almost crying.  But at the bridge he's pleading.  He doesn't want it to end but it has to.  I'm really loving this track.   

Take a listen and let me how you feel in the comments below.  Till another day....

Hey Everyone!!!

I hope that everyone is doing well.  I just got done with Spring Break.  It was very uneventful.  I chilled in St. Louis for the weekend and then came back to Springfield.  I didn't really do too much here.  All I really did was work on cutting out some hats for my brother. 

I just wanted to share something that I found out this week.  I went to the doctor, just for a physical, and discovered one of the "hidden" benefits of my new healthy life journey.  I have a very healthy heart.  To start off, my blood pressure has lowered.  Just last year it was 120/80 but now it is 115/76.  Also, my resting heart rate was in the upper 90's lower 100's and now it is clocked at 67 bpm.  I guess I have that "athletes" heart rate.  

Seeing this internal change has increased my motivation to do better.  I have decided to go ahead and kick it up a notch.  This week I will start running.  I really want to do a half marathon in November and I think if I start now, I will be ready.  I will start off slow and work on my endurance.  I hope to start working on pace during the summer but we will see.  

Till another day....

Hey All!!

I just realized that it has been a whole week since I last posted.  Not too much as been going on for real.  I really just wanted to do a quick check in.  Let you all know I was still alive and I hadn't forgotten about you.  I will get my thoughts together and get a post on here soon.

Later!!

Today Wiz Khalifa's new mix tape hit DatPiff.  To his fans this project has been much anticipated.  I follow Khalifa on Twitter and was a little excited to give it a listen.  My brother, Jeremy, who is an avid music listener was also looking forward to checking out the tape.  You can check out his review at JMintsMusic.  

So did it live up to the hype?  I think it did.  I took a listen to the mix tape and found myself bouncing to the beat.  It has a very chill sound.  I like how "relaxed" it felt.  The interview in between each song was a nice touch.  Just hearing where Wiz is and and where he came from was refreshing; they were good interludes to the song to come.

Since I follow Wiz I checked out Twitter to see what people were saying.  People were definitely talking about him as he was a Top Trend.  There is a lot of positive feedback on this tape.  There was also a lot of talk about his girlfriend, Amber Rose, being featured on one of the tracks.  I personally liked the track "Never Been Part II" which featured Rose and Rick Ross.  She really didn't do too much.  I think she was just featured for her sound.  I liked the dynamic that she added to the track.

The site, DatPiff, where Khalifa dropped the mixtape has been getting a lot of traffic for this mix tape.  Just in the hour that I have been listening to the stream, the number of streams went from 51,000 to 57,000 and the number of downloads went up a good couple thousand as well.  People are definitely interested in checking out Khalifa and his new project.  

All in all, I would recommend a listen and a download.  This mix tape has a great sound and feel to it.  The mix tape is "strong" as my brother says.  It will definitely be on repeat in my car.  I just can't wait to see him next month when he comes to Missouri State for his show.

So, check it out!!  Till another day... 

Over the weekend I went to Barnes and Noble to find a book that could help me with my weight loss journey.  I think I was in the nutrition and diet section for about an hour just looking at different books.  I was just about to feel discouraged when I found 100 Days of Weight Loss.  It seemed like exactly what I was looking for.  I was looking for something that could not only help me keep track with my weight loss but also get down to the dirty about why I am where I am.  

All throughout my childhood and high school I was very active and participated in sports.  I was very athletic and pretty fit.  I know that things changed after high school but there must be some underlying issues that have allowed me to get to the weight I am.  It can't all just be because I stopped working out.  I ate well before.  Granted my mother made all my meals but she taught me how to eat well.  Why didn't I continue to have a healthy diet.  I hope that through this book I will be able to start to dig deeper into myself.  I realize now that I'm too old to just let things fall by the wayside.  It's time to own up and grow up.

With this new journey I am on, I am also working towards other goals.  Finalizing my divorce.  Cleaning up my credit.  Just living all around better for myself.  And it's all for MYSELF.  I am not doing this for anyone else.  I know that I have well intentioned people in my life who have been pushing me to do things better.  Unfortunately, all this really did was push me away.  I can say that I am now ready to do this on my own. 

On a lighter note, I may at times write about different activities that I do with the book.  Just to keep you all posted on how I am doing with it.  But that will start on another day....

Last week I was talking to one of the fitness instructors, after an aerobics class, and he suggested that I find someone who I admire to use as motivation.  I thought this was a great idea.  I mean, don't we look to others to motivate us?  I really wanted this person to be someone who I could look up to as a "fit" person.  So, I gave it a lot of thought and realized that Jennifer Lopez was someone who I admired.  

As a thirty-something it's inspiring to see a forty-something look as amazing as she does, even after twins.  Now, I do realize that it is her job to have the body that she does.  She has a chef, nutritionist, and personal trainer working with her daily to get her where she needs to be.  I don't have these things but I feel that if I work hard I can achieve what she has achieved.  Now, it will take a little longer but that's OK.  I don't want that fast instant gratification.  It would be nice, but lets be real.  If I want this to be a lifestyle change, it's going to take my whole life to do it.  

I also chose Lopez because she has the ideal body that I wish to achieve.  She is still curvy and she celebrates her curves.  I find that very admirable especially when all you see on TV and fashion magazines stick thin models.  Plus, I like that she "works" on her body.  She has the amazing abs and arms but she still has a very feminine figure.  This appeals to me most.  As I like looking like a girl.  Not to say that the muscular, athletic look is not feminine.  It's just not what I personally want for myself. I want to look fit but still have the softness that is specific to women.  

So, I searched online for some pictures of Lopez and created a collage.  The title of the collage, "What Would J.Lo Do?"  I taped this collage up next to my wall of motivating words.  I'm using as a way to remind myself of my goals.  When I've already eaten a cupcake and I'm thinking that it wouldn't hurt to have another one, I can ask myself " "What Would J.Lo Do?"  Or when I'm debating on whether or not to watch another episode of TV or go workout "What Would J.Lo Do?"  

Since I have posted the collage I can genuinely say that it is helping.  Just the other day I went to a Scholarship Ball and dinner was buffet style.  When I got in line I saw that food and instantly thought to myself, "What Would J.Lo Do?"  My plate was half salad, a quarter pasta, a piece of chicken, and a roll; I grabbed the butter out of habit but didn't even use it.  I walked passed the second pasta and the meatballs.  I was proud of myself for not completely overloading my plate.  I just put what I thought I would eat and didn't feel bad when I didn't "clean" my plate.  I did grab some dessert; a cookie and a small piece of cake of which I did not eat the icing (not really a fan).

I think that this collage will continue to help me on my journey to a healthier lifestyle.  Maybe one day the collage will be pictures of myself.

Till another day.....

Hey all!!

Today I decided that I am going to share my favorite Bear Fit class.  Right now I go everyday for their 12:10 classes.  These classes are all different each day.  But I must say that Wednesday's Bear Strength will whoop your tail.  It whoops mine every time.

The instructor is Gina.  Gina is a student instructor at Plaster Sports Complex.  She is super bubbly and very nice; until the class starts.  Don't get me wrong she will encourage you through the workout.  But she will also push you.  You can tell that she really enjoys teaching the class and making sure that her students get the workout they crave.  

In this class we do strength training with kettle bells, hand weights, and body bars.  We also do some calisthenics and Ab work.  I really like this class because she incorporates cardio in the strength workout.  This class is also very challenging.  Even though I know it will be hard, I still can't wait to get there.  I tell my friends that I like it because it makes me "cry on the inside".  :D  This is not an exaggeration.  She will work you.  You will hurt.  But I feel amazing and proud of myself when I'm done.  

If you are a student at Missouri State University and have not tried a Bear Fit class I highly recommend it.  The classes are $2 each or you can by the multi-class passes.  I went ahead and bought the unlimited pass and I've definitely gotten my money's worth.  

I will try to get to some of the other classes and will do reviews on those as well.  If you have tried them please post below your favorite.  

Till another day....

Thanks Everyone!!!

I know this is a small feat but I am still very excited.  I wasn't really sure if anyone would really read this blog or not.  But I am so happy to see that there are people who are actually looking at it.

So I counted up all the views and since the first day I have had 306.  This is super awesome.  I hope that you all are enjoying my posts.  Sorry it has been a couple of days since I last posted but I am trying to think of things to blog about.  

But as I think about it... I think I like keeping it random.  Or somewhat random.  I literally have no idea what I'm writing when I sit down to post.  I just do whatever pops in my head.  

If anyone wants to know anything specifically about me just let me know.  You can either post your questions in the comments below or feel free to email me at [email protected].

Till another day...