Category Archives: fitness
Just Do It! Ready to Do My First Marathon
I must admit that I was never into running. I mean I really didn’t care for running and unless someone was chasing me I didn’t see any reason to do it. In fact, if someone was chasing running wouldn’t be the first thing to some to mind in the past. Well, a few years ago some colleagues encourage me to participate in the Chase Corporate Challenge with them and when I hit the treadmill for the first time I thought would die!! I did not give up, but it truly took me awhile to get into this running this. Then I graduated to running outside – that’s right, ME. The first time I did a run outside along the Chicago lakefront I paused half way through and thought “who is this chick???” Well, several, 5Ks, 8Ks, 10Ks, 15Ks and one 1/2 marathon later I am still getting into this runnin thing. I realize that I have no desire to run a 8 min mile. However, I am amazed that even as a curvy girl I had the ability to run miles and miles a few times a week. This year I am determined to meet the ultimate running challenge (for me at least) by running my first full marathon.
I am so thankful that I am 1 of the 45,000 people who registered for the 2012 Chicago Marathon. Last year registration closed in 31 days and this year registration closed in 6 days! I rarely sign-up for running events as quick as I signed up for the Chicago Marathon, but I am glad that I did this time. I will be doing my training with the Elijah Running Club (ERC). ERC is great and they helped me through my first 1/2 marathon. The couple that runs ERC are simply delightful and they are truly a blessing.
I will be adding a few posts about my pathway to my first marathon. This will be my 1st marathon, but I am positive that it will not be my last….thought I have no desire to have what is known as a runner’s body. I just want to enjoy challenging myself.
Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser) – A Vegan Fitness Guru???
Bobb Harper decided to embrace a vegan diet after his doctor informed him that he had high cholesteral as noted in the blog post: Bob Harper – The Biggest Loser. Bob noted the great benefits of veganism, but did not maintain this lifestyle. However, Bob noted later that his body “needed more” in A Reuter’s interview. This may be the case for Bob, but there are vegans who live very athletic lifestyles.
Here are a few examples: John Salley (Basketball Player); Robert Cheeke (Bodybuilder – Founder and President of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness); Venus Williams (Tennis Player); Daniel Byran (Wrestler); David Zabriskie (Cyclist); Ed Templeton (Skate Boarder) and so many more people….
So, embrace what is best for your body! I’ve had lots of energy working out flowing a vegan lifestyle. However, I do feel it if I am not eating properly or make drastic changes to my diet (like eating something that I have removed from my diet).
22 lbs Lighter & Feeling Great!!!!
I decided to make a lifestyle change when I decided to embrace veganism & hit the gym more consistently. I know that there are many people who embrace veganism because they are animal rights activist. That is fine. However, there are more and more people are embracing this lifestyle because of the health benefits. Many people are virtually forced into this lifestyle due to sickness and disease while others are simply fed up with taking so many meds. Whatever you reason in it doesn’t matter is you follow a vegan diet once a week, 1 meal a day, 2 weeks or month or transition your entire nutrition lifestyle, studies show that many people can benefit from following a plant-based diet to some capacity. I realize that this process is a personal journey. Some people who have been vegan for years some how forget that process of change in the beginning and that irritates me. There are also some people may wake up one they and immediately change their diets, not everyone is like that. We cannot let people put us in a box because we don’t do what they do in the manner that they did it. I know they have good intentions, but one of th best things someone can do is to simply encourage a person to embrace change one day at a time according to their personal life steps. I have not followed this lifestyle perfectly, but honestly January 2011 I wasn’t thinking about being a vegan. However, I am doing it quite well in 2012 and I’ve lost a few pounds to boot 
It Feels Good!!!
This morning I did something that I haven’t done in two weeks and IT FEELS GOOD!! Today I hit the gym!!! It is so invigorating to get your body in motion first thing in the moring and if possible later in the day. I am so glad that I am got up & out this moring!!!!! IT FEELS GOOD…….Oh Yeah!
