Double Portion Inspiration

Two years ago I was at my heaviest weight. If I would've put my pinky toe on the scale, it would register 200 pounds. My blood pressure was on the rise and I just didn't feel healthy. Now, with that being said, I was still a beautiful black woman. I just had a few more curves and edges. When I visited with my doctor for my yearly physical and to discuss next steps regarding my blood pressure, she suggested that I decrease my sodium intake. I quickly realized that it was poison to my body. So many foods that I loved were high in sodium. I remember looking at the sodium content for a grilled chicken salad that I frequently enjoyed at a local restaurant and it exceeded 1100 mg of sodium! That's almost a daily supply of sodium in one salad. At my doctor's suggestion, I decided to make small changes. Over time, those small changes led to 21 pounds of weight lost in a 2 year period. Here's what worked for me: Decreased my sodium intake Decreased my food portion...

Confession…….relaxing is hard for me.   That’s why the message at church today was just for me.   My pastor talked about the necessity and benefits of relaxing.   He pointed out that even God rested from creating the heavens and earth.   Genesis 2:1-3 (TLB) Now at last the heavens and earth were successfully completed, with all that they contained. So on the seventh day, having finished his task, God ceased from this work he had been doing, and God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he ceased this work of creation. I've come to realize that I can be a workaholic .  Gosh, I can’t even believe I’m saying that out loud.  It’s amazing how much we can deny certain truths about ourselves.  Between being a wife, mommy, career woman, blogger, involved community member, church volunteer and runner, there’s not room for much more.  My days normally begin at 6:00 am and end around 1:00 am.  If ...

Our view this weekend! During the spring our evenings are filled with track and t-ball.  Each weekend Alton and I head different ways.  Normally I'm on the track and he's on the t-ball field.  If Hannah has a track meet, Alton quickly leaves the t-ball field and heads to her meet.  I'm so blessed to have a husband who desires to play a big part in our children's lives.  I wasn't sure if he would make it this weekend because unfortunately he hurt his back and traveling two hours would prove painful. Up until the last minute, we didn't know if he would make it.  Hannah didn't vocalize any disappointment in not having her dad there but I know she enjoys having him there.  Much to our surprise, he drove the distance to see her.  Unfortunately he missed her first event but arrived minutes before her 800 meter dash.  We are so thankful for his sacrifice . Tyson Gay-Olympic athlete visited the trac...

Let me first start by saying this was a fantastic weekend.  It was full of adventure and milestones.  From celebrating my 17th anniversary, spending time on the track at my daughter's first track meet of the season to running my 3rd half marathon, it was awesome! It's been two years since I've run a half marathon.  I took two years off to focus on finishing my graduate degree and taking care of my health.  Sometimes you have to put your priorities in order and say "no" to some things.  I decided in January to run another half marathon because it would be a great way to lose my holiday weight and get back in shape.  It also causes you to depend heavily on your inner strength that is fueled by faith. Pushing yourself to reach your goals is the most rewarding feeling .  Ready to start the race!   I went into this race knowing that I wanted to finish my personal best.  I felt it could be accomplished with the help of a wonderfu...

A recent trip to Kentucky inspired me to embrace the new season of Fall.  The weather was crisp - a chilly 46 degrees.  The array of colors sprawled throughout the city, with the changing leaves was breathtaking.  It appeared as if someone took a paint brush and delicately painted a canvas for all to enjoy.  During my morning run, I saw many commuters driving into work.  They jumped out of their car not stopping for a moment to enjoy the view I found mesmerizing . Florida stays green all year, so I enjoyed being nestled into true Fall weather.  The crunch of the leaves while running made me giddy inside - how about you?  What do you enjoy about Fall weather?  What Fall fashion piece is a "magical must have" for you?  For me, it is a pair of leather riding boots. Enjoy a few photos from Louisville, Kentucky! (Posted by Roslyn)  

Yesterday, I finally got a chance to run.  I hadn't run in over a week because South Florida was soaked with consistent rain.  In that small amount of time it felt harder than ever to push myself to run again. As I was running a cyclist passed by, looked at me and gave me "the finger" ( thumbs up ).  He also yelled to me, "keep  going"!  It seems so small and insignificant.  But, with sweat pouring from every part of my body I felt a fresh wind of encouragement .  It was something so tiny but it came at just the right time . As we head into the weekend, you try it.  Try to encourage someone in a small way.   A thumbs up, a smile, a gentle hello, or just sincere eye contact.  You never know how meaningful it will be in that person's life.  It might come at just the right time .  Leave us a comment or tweet about your " thumbs up blessing ".  Have a great weekend!

 Guest blogger-Casie Dussia Founder of Run with Endurance  My first half marathon is Sunday and I'm taking the week off from blogging.  If you missed last week's hair tips  click here .  Guest blogger Casie Dussia is sharing her top ten tips to help you stay focused, healthy and injury free! 1. It's all about the shoes! What is the most common conversation among runners? Shoes! They make all the difference! I highly recommend that you go to your local running specialty store and take advantage of their knowledge. Ask them how often you should replace your shoes. They will answer that question in miles, so keep track of how many miles you put on your shoes. If you're keeping a running log, this is simple - put a star on the date you start using your shoes! And only use your running shoes for running! 2. Drink some water, then drink some water, run, then drink some more water! General rule: take your weight, divide it in half and drink that in ounces per d...

Today I am exactly one month away from running my first half marathon and I am beyond excited.  It's week two of Finish Line Friday's and I'm dedicating an entire blog post to training attire.  Hopefully you had a chance to watch the video from last week.  (Click here to watch the video and read last week's post) Running is one of the most economical exercises to take part in.  You don't have to buy costly equipment to participate which is a great advantage.  ~Your success is contingent upon good shoes and the right clothing.~ I highly suggest that you visit your local running store .  Sure there are plenty of sporting goods stores around and even athletic wear sold in Walmart or Target, but I don't feel anyone understands running better than the associates in your local store.  Most of them are runners themselves and know what's needed to make the time on your feet enjoyable. The purchase of a good shoe before starting on ...

Welcome to  Finish Line Friday's .   Hopefully you had a chance to watch  the intro video that gives a glimpse into the journey we will take over the next few weeks.  I'm often asked why I decided to run 13.1 miles.  Honestly, I'm not sure.  My girlfriend asked, and after a few days of thought, I said "why not."  I've been training about five months and never imagined that my preparation for the race would provide so many life lessons. Most don't realize that when I committed to run, I couldn't even jog a 1/2 mile without heavy breathing, knee and back pain.  Despite that fact, my journey  started with a decision .  Maybe you're sitting there without the ability to even run/jog one minute.  Don't let that intimidate you.  If you have the determination to commit to your decision, you can do it!  Perhaps your training will begin with alternating between a one minute run ...

Happy Friday! Starting next week we will begin a new blogging series called Finish Line Fridays .  Many of you have asked that I share my running tips and the blog seems like the perfect place to reveal my great training tips and resources.  As the date of my half marathon draws closer, we will cross the finish line together.  Stay tuned and stay inspired! (Posted by Renee)