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....

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.....