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Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday Dear Running Into Shape, Happy Birthday to me! Okay, so I spent all week coming up with this fancy title and song, just to realize that technically, I think it’s my 1 Year blog Anniversary, not birthday. LOL! Nonetheless, One year ago today, I wrote my very 1st post. Way back then, I was just a fat girl who wanted to run, and send emails to my family and friends to keep my self accountable. I guess I’m still overweight, and still wanna run, but my website has grown so much more. I created my own Couch to 5K podcast, and created a Wall of Fame for my successful 5K runners. In January, I had nearly 800 visitors in one day, and have had almost 47,000 visitors total. I’m even a certified group fitness instructor, in the process of making a fitness DVD. This time last year I would’ve laughed it someone would have told me that this is where I would be today. There are a lot of other cool things that happened in the past year, most of which I talked about in my New Year’s Review Post. But just wanted to say, “Happy Birthday Running Into Shape!”
I woke up this morning to the most wonderful thing ever…..Sunshine! I was so excited. I feel like I live in Seattle with all the rain we’ve had here. I think it rained more than 20 days of last month. I’m sure you’ve heard me rant and rave about how much I hate rain; it’s so gloomy and depressing to me. To wake up and see sunshine after having weeks on end of dreary days was truly refreshing. When I let Nyah out, I saw that we had a few inches of snow, fortunately nothing like “Snow-mageddon” in D.C. I was a little worried that the snow would scare people away from my fitness class. The good part about being the teacher is that I can’t really make up too many excuses not to work out. But one thing I still battle with the question, “Do I really need to take a shower?” I think most people who work out in the morning just go, they don’t take a shower, and then come home and take another shower after the workout. That just seems really redundant. But, I feel like as the teacher, you can’t really teach the class wearing yesterday’s funk. So, I went ahead and showered before class. Mom and I rode together, but about 15 minutes later, no one showed up for class. My Big little sister was working at her salon and my little sister was taking her ACT test, and other participants had already called and canceled. Just when I was about to go back home, 2 people showed up. I told them I passed my Group Fitness Instructor test, and to expect a better class because I’ve learned so much. After the warm up, I told the 3 lucky ladies it was time to hit the stairs! After a few runs up the stairs, I threw in a little kick boxing; it was fun. Class is much better now that I actually have a better understanding of how our body works, instead of just throwing together random exercises. I felt so good after class; I wanted to work out more! Last week was just “ugh” I didn’t have any motivation to work out, so I figured I should milk this “want to work out feeling” for all it was worth. When I got home I put on “The Firm- 500 Calorie workout“ DVD. I thought, I’m pretty much in shape, I can do this. This DVD was Extremely advanced and very fast paced. I almost tripped over my feet on more than one occasion. One move was like step, hop, cross, skip, kick, jump, turn and repeat it. I guess if you’re a tri-athlete and need something more advanced, this is the workout for you. I stopped after 15 minutes, so I probably burned 125 calories. That was enough. After starting off the morning so wonderfully, the rest of the day had no choice but to follow the lead.
OMG! It’s Official! I am an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor. I wonder if I get to add credential letters at the end of my signature? LOL. My wildest dreams are slowing coming into fruition. My crazy ambition is gradually becoming a part of who I really am every day. This morning I woke up 10 minutes before my alarm went off, which never happens to me; but I guess it was because I was so scared that I would over sleep. Since I’ve been studying all of this nutrition stuff, I selected a breakfast of whole grain toast (complex carbs) and scrambled eggs (protein), and a cup of 100% fruit juice to get me started on the right foot, and prevent hunger later. Then I was on my way. While I was getting in the car, I started to feel so sick to my stomach, why today, of all days would my stomach want to turn flips. Then I remembered back to the day I had to do the TV Evening News interview, and the day of my All-Star 5K race, and I realized it was just nerves. I coached myself, “failure is not an option, calm down, pray, You only need a 71% to pass, quit trippin’” My stomach began to settle. When I got to the school testing site, there was a huge locked gate with no access to the testing building. “Dang it!’ They said in all the study materials that you should scope out the place before test day to help with test anxiety. I figured, “well it’s 10 minutes away, I can find it.” I started to panic again. I had to start up the positive self talk again, “calm down, you’re 30 mins early, failure is not an option.” I had to go around a few streets and finally made it to the security desk. All week I prepared myself to deal with skinny overly excited fitness gurus to look at me ”ask why are you here”? When I pulled up, the security guard said, “what are you here for?” I replied to take the Group Fitness Instructor test, he said “okay”….then he paused said “Ma’am what did you say?, as he sized up all of my extra curves. I repeat4ed I’m here to take the group fitness instructor test, I’d like to help overweight people reach their goals and become more healthy. “Oh! Thats great” he said and gave me a visitor pass. The school building was so beautiful! It was marble everywhere. I snapped a quick pic for you guys. I logged in to the computer based test and I got really antsy after an hour. I was so tired of sitting there. I decided to take a bathroom break and did some stretches and jumps and kicks to get moving again. Two more hours later, when I finished my test the results popped up and the 1st number I saw was 68%, my heart sank, I read down 71%…..still not good enough, down some more 76%, down some more, in the last section I scored 100%. Averaging about 78%, and finally at the bottom in tiny little writing: “PASS” I can’t believe it, I am a real group fitness instructor! No more audio study CD in the car, no more studying until 2AM, no more flashcards in my purse, no more textbook under my pillow for osmosis, (yes I did this, lol). It’s turning out to be a fantastic year for me….My cousins pastor put it best, “God wouldn’t put the desire to go south in a bird, if he didn’t think it would make it there, just like he didn’t put those dreams in you, if he didn’t think you would make it!”
I’m studying hard for my test. You know… the test to become a Group Fitness Instructor. My mission is to use my journey to help people lose weight and get healthy. It’s funny my Uncle asked me ”so what do you do for the test, run up a flight of stairs?” Uh NO! It’s a lot harder than that. I wish that was all it that was required. In addition to being CPR certified, it’s anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, general health, and nutrition. I have to know all of the muscles and bones and the proper safe way to teach a class, all while avoiding modern day litigation that holds you liable for someone else getting hurt. I’m such a procrastinator, I won’t even tell you what chapter I’m on. I will say I’m closer to the front than the back of the book. Yikes! My test is Saturday, so I may not get a chance to blog until then. I just wanted to let you know what was going on. The test is computer based, and you get your results immediately. So my next blog post title will be ” I PASSED!!!” or “Better Luck Next Time” LOL. Gotta go finish studying. Later.
Hey Guys. Today was just like the title said, Nothing to brag about. I haven’t worked out since Monday, and I’ve been eating sooo bad. Breakfast was okay, I had a Fiber One granola bar, lunch was fried rice and the best crab rangoon from a Thai restaurant downtown. Somehow 2 giant cookies managed to sneak in, or was it three? Ugh, I feel so fat. For dinner I went to one of those run of mill award banquets with my Dad’s job. You know, with the round table chairs too close together and long winded speakers. The creme brulee was deliciously fantastic and I’m sure artery clogging all at the same time. It was however, actually entertaining, at the begining when about 50 protesters crashed the party. They went up on the stage and chanted ‘We Want Jobs!, Give Us Jobs’, through a megaphone. Most of us thought it was a skit, and a part of the program, until they turned the stage lights out, and security ushered them off the stage. Only in America!…On another note, I can however, proudly say, I’m sticking to my ban from soda. I haven’t had one in forever. I still crave one from time to time, but I try to focus on the big picture instead of my immediate desire for a caffeine jolt. It’s so funny, when I tell people I just recently quit drinking soda, they all shriek back in horror and say “WHY????” You would think told people I started doing illegal drugs or something the complete opposite of what I’m really doing (getting healthy). Today at work, one lady told me she was a Coke addict and can easily drink 12 cans a day! I told her about the ingredient they put in there that’s also used to make the fireworks whistle. Hopefully it will influence her as much as it influenced me. Knowledge is power. Note to Self: Just because the cookies and the creme brulee were Free, it doesn’t mean you had to eat it.
