here goes nothin'

i don't think i'm ready. i'm freaking out. you're the reason why i'm even a bit hopeful. all your text messages, facebook comments, tweets, and phone calls are the only things keeping me going. thank you.

you guys... january 16, 2011 will be the day that i knock down one of my walls (fears). i will run my first half marathon (13.1 miles) in phoenix, az.

i have no other choice but to do it. and i will. i'm up to 10 miles, but after writing this blog, i feel the need to run 13.1 tonight. what do you say? i'll keep you posted...

knocking down walls

i am a firm believer that life is what you make it. don't just sit around and wait for life to happen to you. what you are reading here is me making my life work for me. that's just what this blog is about. me confronting my fears and knocking them down one at a time. that's what life is all about, isn't it? confronting your demons, beating down tribulations, and clearing out the mess in your life.

everybody has a wall in their life. for me, it was nutrition and exercise. for you, maybe it's spirituality or relationships. let 2011 be the year of change for you. let 2011 be the year that you beat down every wall staring you in your face. let 2011 be the year you take on the challenge of your life.

i have a lot of readers that wish to become runners and start eating healthy. ok, let's do it. there's no time like the present. start putting YOURSELF first. or should i say....start putting your FUTURE FIRST.

i was in the middle of mile 5 when i realized how happy i was in my life. there was no question about my weight. there was no guilt about what i ate earlier that day. if i were to die later on that day, it wouldn't be because of my high blood pressure or heart disease. finally, at the end of my run i began to feel proud of my new lifestyle. i cannot believe i let all these years go by without being confidant in my physical health. this is serious folks.

take personal inventory. look in the mirror. i dare you. grab a post-it note and pencil and write down what you ate today. are you proud of what you ate? ok, now write down your weight and the last time you did physical exercise. are you proud or content with this?

no judgment here, because back in august i was a hot mess. eating in-and-out burgers, mcdonald mcflurries, and binge drinking on the weekends. no bueno. i was so bad that i rationalized everything i ate. i knew better. i just didn't feel like doing better. i just didn't have a blog to read like you do now. so do it, take advantage of these words and jump on it. 2011 is your year.

you're probably like, "where do i begin?" well, you already started by reading this blog. just make the commitment. you owe it to yourself. say YES to your healthy future. say YES to your favorite skinny jeans. say YES to smiling while stepping on the scale.

this new year it's all about leaving all your fears to burn down.

quick notes on getting started
pick a goal (rockclimbing, running, weightlifting, ect.)
sign up
pick a day/develop a schedule
be vocal (tell everybody and they momma)
DO IT, even when you tell yourself no, JUST DO IT

just ask yourself, which will fall down in 2011, you or your wall?

p e a c e

t.

got any plans?

As Christmas draws near, my mouth is just watering thinking about all the good food I will eat. Not to mention all the yummy cocktails that I will enjoy when celebrating the company of loved ones. It seems like around December 27th or so, you begin to feel guilty thinking about all the calories you consumed. In addition to this, you begin to reflect the person you've become in 2010.

As you prepare to step into 2011, I encourage you to take this time to build goals. I noted yesterday on Twitter that your goals do not have expiration dates on them. It is NOT too late to become successful. So what if you didn't lose the 40lbs that you wanted to in 2010. God promised you LIFE. So, show him how much you appreciate it and lose the 40lbs in 2011! It's NOT too late to become successful! I will say this, however, it is important to reflect and define your goals. If you don't have goals, you don't have a starting point or anything to aim at.

The tradition over the years has been that we choose 1 goal (New Year's Resolution) and stick with it for the year. Well. That's not the mentality you and I should be having in 2011. Why just limit yourself to 1 goal? I thought you and I were powerful beings. Why not 3 goals? Who knows, those 3 goals may be the ones that change your life.

I do believe that in my nakedness, I will be able to clothe someone else. In that, I will be open with you all along my journey. I will share with you my goals, and hopefully this will give you ideas for your goals.

My Main 3 Goals
1. Become a vegetarian
2. Run a half marathon 1.16.2010
3. Lose 40lbs

I'll be looking to you all for support and accountability.

Do what you gotta do to be successful. Look in that mirror and tell yourself exactly where you wanna be when the ball drops on 12.31.2011. Will you be the same old you? I hope not. You have 365 days to be a better you. Don't let life change you. YOU CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

Check out this blog, hopefully it will get you motivated. You'll need the Nike Plus chip or wristband to join the challenge. Hopefully you and I can run against each other.

NEW YEAR CHALLENGE

what are your goals for 2010? i'd love to read them! post them below!

p e a c e ,  t.

@pyt1920 (twitter)

transition to greatness

this blog goes out to anybody that is having a hard time letting go of their old self. you know, the self that ate whatever it wanted, walked past the scale every morning, and ignored the calorie count on the starbucks latte day in and day out.

this blog goes out to anybody that is having a hard time imaging their new self. you know, the self that will have no fear jumping on the scale at the dr.'s office. the self that will sign up for 10k runs in support for breast cancer research. the self that will devote more time to eating healthy. the self that will be a health advocate for others looking to change their lives.

i love you. just because you read my blog. i really mean it. now, stop allowing me to be the only one loving you and start loving YOURSELF enough to start running! i have spoken to countless people during the month of november, and they always say..."i want to start running!" of course i get super excited and immediately want to jump through the phone and hug them.

you guys, i am rooting for you. it's only right that you believe in yourself and start challenging yourself to grow. nobody said that it would be easy. there are no shortcuts to success, you have to take the stairs...

a quick reflection. allow me to restate why i decided to become a runner.

on may 17th (the day after my 26th birthday), i was gifted a pair running shoes and a nike plus chip. i was so thankful for this gift, as i had been eyeing the commercial for this movement for a while everytime i went into finishline. i would go home and talk about how cool it was, and boom...i got it for my bday!

my jaw was on the ground for about 20 minutes after i opened the gift, no lie. i was so thankful! i quickly understood what would become of it, and told myself that it would be a slap in my friend's face if i didn't use the gift.

starting may 17th, i belonged to the largest running club in the nation world ((nike plus)). you know, i was one of "them." the cool fit people that could run for hours upon hours! they opened their membership up to me! all i had to do was put the chip in my sneaker and hit the pavement.

NIKE PLUS COMMERCIAL

my first run was on may 17th, i ran 1.36 miles at a pace of 14:45/mile. all this means in the running world is that i walked my way through the run. but who cares? i completed my first run, which means i'm awesome. i was tired as hell, but couldn't throw in the towel. that little ghost named ACCOUNTABILITY hovered over me like you wouldn't believe.

here are some things i did to keep myself motivated.

1. start talking about it. tell everyone you know, including the annoying people in your life that you have decided to become a runner. i'm a private person, but what this does is allows people to bring it up and ask you later how the running is going. you'd be surprised how well this works. on the week i decided to be a pig and eat everything in site, someone walked up to me and asked, "how's running going?" gasp. i took my butt home and laced up that night. enough said.

2. accessorize. i'm big on this. refer to my blog titled, "it's like waxing your eyebrows." buy yourself some new running shoes. buy the nike plus running chip. buy a new cd on itunes. get a cute water bottle. even get a new membership at the gym! these things will motivate you to get going! i swear, it worked for me!

3. invite. do you know someone in your circle or even at work that wants to lose weight in 2011? well invite them. it's fun to workout with someone, especially when they have the same goals as you. it's also difficult to cancel on someone that is counting on meeting up with you. think about it.

4. sign up for races. once you pay the money to run for a cause, you are held accountable for running the day of the race. 5k (3.1mi), 10k (6.2) half marathon (13.1), or marathons (26.2) are good races! start at the bottom and work your way up! you'll be surprised at how much fun these races are! you meet people and get free stuff....and on top of that, you are helping your community fight for a cause.

5. get a plan. with nike plus, you can set up goals and challenges for yourself. your goal could be to run 4x a week. maybe on your fridge post a running regimine. here's my suggestion for a new runner:

monday-1mi (run half, walk half)
tuesday-rest
wednesday-2mi (run 1, walk 1)
thursday-1mi (run entire)
friday-rest
saturday-5k (3.1mi, run 2 walk 1)
sunday-rest

always consult your doctor. a rule of thumb is, if you are out of breath while you're running and talking...you're probably running too fast. so slow it down and pace yourself. you can work on your pace once your cardio gets better. just focus on finishing strong. after a couple of weeks or so, increase your distance. a good friend of mine told me it's about distance, not pace at the start of your journey. just, "get those miles in," as he would say.

i'm here if you need me. let's continue to transition to a life filled with HEALTH AND PROSPERITY.

viva las running shoes.

p e a c e,

t.

i whip my hair !

the first thing that ladies think about when it comes to fitness is their hair. allow me to first say this, your health is more important than your hair. i personally put my health first, however i tend to sweat my hair out after every workout. this bothers me because appearance is important. i am constantly changing my hair styles becuase i get bored quickly. hopefully this post will provide some insight on great hair do's that will fit into your fitness routines.

for the past 6 months i have been rocking different kinky twists.

these past 6 months have been heaven because i didn't have to worry about maintenence after running! all i had to do was shampoo and get my braids re-done whenever needed.

before i was a serious runner, my hair do was the typical flat iron look.

well now, i'm transitioning to the world of natural hair and ready to take blend running and hairstyles.

here are the hair do's that i will be trying the couple of months:

1. straw set --- this hairstyle is great for those who are transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. i absolutely love the playfulness of the style and the fact that it lasts for a week!

picture from thirstyroots.com

 2. low cut -- this look may require a relaxer (if i decide to break down) but i really love short hair and would looove to wear something like this when i run.

3. straight up natural low cut --- this is what i wore in college when i first went natural. it was the easiest style i have worn to date and i really loved it!

ladies, what works for you? guys, what are your opinions? i'd be ineterested in seeing what my readers think!

p e a c e,

t.

Moo & Oink...

It dawned on me, as I sat on the couch and watched Sarah Palin's Alaska show, that killing animals and then eating the meat takes a lot of work. Not only does hunting take a lot of work, but it takes a lot of work for my body to digest the meat.

Science shows that the more meat we eat, the sicker we get -- heart disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and every other major degenerative disease. If eating meat were so natural, it wouldn't destroy our health.

I have decided to give up meat for the first 6 months of 2011.

In my efforts to become a better athlete, nutritionist, and philanthropist I believe that it is only right that I try something new. 

I'm not sure if you have ever read the book Skinny Bitch, but it is amazing. It is very blunt and tells you exactly what you need to cut out of your diet when it comes to slimming down. It touches on every food and beverage you could possibly think of. My favorite part of the book was the meat section, as it really provided some insight on what happens in those slaughter houses. Check it out when you get a chance.

 

I'm not about the looks of things. You'll learn very quickly that I do my research and then take on new challenges. It's not about being a skinny bitch...it's about being healthy. I could do without the title and cover, it's really about the substance of this book.

My Personal Reasons for Vegetarianism 

-If you switch from the standard American diet to a vegetarian diet, you can add about 13 healthy years to your life, says Michael F. Roizen, MD, author of The RealAge Diet: Make Yourself Younger with What You Eat.  

 

-Avoiding meat is one of the best and simplest ways to cut down your fat consumption. Modern farm animals are deliberately fattened up to increase profits. Eating fatty meat increases your chances of having a heart attack or developing cancer.

-'Meat' can include the tail, head, feet, rectum and spinal cord of an animal. A sausage can contain ground up intestines. How can anyone be sure that the intestines are empty when they are ground up? Do you really want to eat the content of a pig's intestines? (GROSS)

-If you eat meat, you are consuming hormones that were fed to the animals. No one knows what effect those hormones will have on your health. In some parts of the world, as many as one on four hamburgers contain growth hormones that were originally given to cattle. (This is why your 6 yr old sister has matured so quickly!)

-Vegetarians are fitter than meat eaters. many of the world's most successful athletes are vegetarian.

Starting 1/1/2010 I will become a vegetarian. I'll be blogging to keep you updated folks! You'll know the good, bad, and the ugly! Hey, this may not be for you, but I'm sure you'll be interested in watching the process.

p e a c e,

t.

210mi in 2010 Nike Challenge

Hey Bloggies!

Not only am I bizack, but I'm 22lbs lighter with GREAT NEWS...

I have officially completed my 210miles in 2010 Nike Challenge. I remember freaking out about the commitment of running at least 11miles a week to make the goal, but I have about 3 weeks left, and I am at 226.92mi. Come on guys...not only did I make my goal, but I beat it! Thank you to everyone that sent text messages and emails encouraging me to keep going. Thanks to everyone that left messages on this blog or my facebook statuses. I really appreciate the support, and you don't realize how much you helped me to succeed. The next question is....

Can I make it to 300 before NYE?!

This challenge has taught me so much about myself. I have developed discipline and strength. At first I thought that I was going to be running the night of 12/31/10 just to get to 210miles.

A person really never realizes their ability to accomplish a goal until they are staring it right in the face. I dare each and everyone of you to look your goal right in the face and accomplish it. The goal becomes easier and easier as you take steps towards accomplishing it. Nike doesn't mean failure. Nike is the Greek goddess representing victory and speed. So ladies, when you lace up those Nike running shoes, know that you are a woman of victory and speed.

p e a c e

t.

210mi Reality Check

Hey Bloggies,

Just doing my usual Nike+ Challenge check in for the challenge I signed up for. For those that don't remember, here's the blog where I was freaking out when I first signed up.... 210 Miles Blog

As of 11/24/10 I have 202.27 miles completed !

Can you believe it? When I signed up for this challenge, I was freaking out! 7.73 miles left to go, and I will have officially completed the challenge well ahead of time!

A N Y T H I N G  I S  P O S S I B L E  !

Peace,

Tiffany

life's ups and downs

These past couple of weeks have been really tough for me. I have been struggling to finish strong in my M.Ed program, re-evaluating my friendships/relationships, and gaining comfort in my new position as a teacher. All while I have been doing this, a huge bomb is dropped on me; my grandmother may be diagnosed with lung cancer this week right before the holidays. The worst part of this is that I am living here in Phoenix while my family is back east, and of course flying home would cost a lot so I'm forced to wait it out until Christmas.

Not to get too sappy here, but I get homesick sometimes, and hearing that my grandmother is ill only makes it worse.

This week has been full of ups and downs. I have my moments where I want to cry, but with the support of my close friends I have been able to be strong for my family.

With that, I must pose the question: What do you do to channel the daily stresses of life?

I must say, when I got the bad news about my grandmother I immediately shut down. I didn't want to talk to anyone except for her and my mom. The entire day, I received alerts from social websites about friends being excited to hang out and run with me at 9pm that night. I was a mess but I could not cancel on them.

I got myself together at 845pm and hit the door to meet up. Half way thru the run tears fell down my cheeks. All I could think about is how healthy I wanted to be, and how I wanted to live a long life for the sake of my family. Thoughts of heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure rolled around in my mind, and with every pace I took it felt like I was fighting them one by one. I finished a 4 mile run that night.

I used running as my escape, and I am glad that I did. I was able to get out of the house and turn the negative into a positive. With the endorphins going off in my brain, how could I be depressed?

We all handle stress differently in our lives, but I encourage every reader to find one positive thing to do everyday before bed that will help them release negative energy.

Some alarming statistics on stress

According to the American Medical Association, stress is a factor in more than 75% of sickness today. And according to the World Health Organization, stress is America’s #1 Health Problem.

Having difficulty dealing with America’s Financial Downturn?  You are not alone according to the APA Poll released October 7, 2008:

• 50% of Americans say that they are increasingly stressed about their ability to provide for their family’s basic needs.
• 80% of Americans stated that the economy is a significant cause of stress.
• 83% of women are stressed about money vs. 78% of men
• 87% of women reported dramatic increases in stress associated with health problems affecting their families in relationship to the declining economy. 

So stress is nothing new here.

some ways to relieve stress

-throw on some music (thank God for miles davis)
-take a walk with a friend
-set up an area in your house where you can relax (reading nook or spa)
-PRAY
-write in a journal (this will allow you to reflect)
-keep a stress ball at your desk/job (if you don't have one, you can make one! just google it)
-surround yourself with positive energy (i went to see the roots in concert with friends. glad i did)
-you tube some breathing exercises (this will help with anxiety also)
-read your favorite magazine

Just for kicks, here's a stress test that you can take. It may put some things in perspective. 

FREE STRESS TEST

Thanks for your support guys. I'm sure my grandmother will be ok. I'm looking to run 10 miles tonight to channel some energy.

Peace,

Tiffany

run off the holiday pounds !!

my homeboy is a nike run reporter...check this blog out, and join the challenge !!

NIKE CHALLENGE

m u s i c

Hey!!

So last night, I'm at the gym lifting weights. All of a sudden one of my jams comes on, and right in the middle of pumping iron I begin to smile in the mirror. My friends all look over at me and start to laugh! No but for real though! It was one of my jams, so I just had to move/dance to it for about 3 seconds (only 3 seconds so that I wouldn't be the crazy person at the gym known for dancing). And of course they have those ridiculously large mirrors with the weights, so I just had to seize the 3 seconds and get my cute dance on. LOL !!

Music does that to me. I cannot get enough of good music. I mean, shoot, music has gotten me through some tough miles, and has really allowed running to be enjoyable. It contributes to my meditation and level of thought. It provokes emotion.

The first thing I ask my fellow Nike+ runners is, "what's your power song?" That can tell you a lot about a person. For those that don't know, a power song is a song you chose that get's you PUMPED. Right as you're running and you begin to feel faint, you press a button on your iPod/iPhone and instantly your power song plays.

For those that don't know, my power song is M.I.A.'s "Bamboo Banga." I think I just looove the part when she says, "road runner, road runner...going a hundred miles per hour. with your radio on!" (I'm signing it right now)....

For those that are new to running or just need some new workout music, I have come up with a Winter 2010 workout mix for you! I will be coming out with a new mix every season.

1.Globtrottin by Green Dynasty
2. Runway Love REMIX by Kanye West
3. Too Freaky by Chris Brown
4. Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi
5. Million Dollar Girl by Trina
6. Find Your Love by Drake
7. Fancy by Drake
8. Day 'N' Nite (Crookers Remix) by Kid Cudi
9. Make Her Say by Kid Cudi
10. Announcement by Common


I'm working on creating an iMix for you guys so you can download it from iTunes,  but I'm havin some technical issues! Hopefully this list helps in the meantime!

KEEP GOING, DON'T STOP!!

Peace,

Tiffany

what is it?

so everyday, my runs are uploaded to facebook and twitter. i have gained much support from many of my friends and followers. i have noticed that people are retweeting, liking, and commenting on my nike + runs on these social web sites. i must admit, nothing amuses me more than receiving feedback and encouragement as i share my world with you all.

the other day, my 5k run posted onto my facebook wall. this was my fastest run to date. one of my friends asked me a simple yet complex question...a question that provoked so much emotion that it took me almost a day to respond.

"what's your secret for remaining steadfast to running?"

after all these days and nights of running, i never wondered what kept me going. i mean, at first the whole running thing was a pain in my @$$ but i have really grown to crave the feeling the "runner's high" after i finish running.

what keeps me running 5-6x a week? let's see...

1. it was never God's will for me to be overweight. what good is life if i'm too sick to enjoy it?
2. life is a gift. by me shoving food down my throat everyday i am taking days off of it.
3. i have created a running blog, which serves as constant reflection of my dreams, wishes, and goals. there's no turning back now tiff.
4. i have inspired many people to start running. who am i to stop? i must continue to push others to reach their goals, so me going a week without running is not cool.
5. i have got 40 more lbs to lose!!
6. jan 16, 2011 pf changs 1/2 marathon is a goal i committed myself to back in may when 2 miles seemed impossible.
7. nike + is a constant motivation because it is tracking my runs daily. it tells me how many times i run every week. if i only run 2x a week, i feel like a slob.
8. i'm a foodie. i will eat anything in sight... running is a great way to burn off those calories. by running 10 miles, i burn about 1800 calories. (gasp)
9. my biggest secret to remaining motivated is....

YOU. 

My supporters. Those who push me to reach my goals daily. Those that are keeping an eye on me. Those that ask AWESOME questions like that. Those that I randomly run into that are wearing shoes that I recommend on my blog. Those that curse me out when a new blog isn't posted at least 3x a week. Those that come up to me at the gym and say, "can I run with you tomorrow?"

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. YOU MOTIVATE ME DAILY.

Personal shout out to my friends that run with me when they have time. For those that are beginning their fitness journey, I encourage you to get someone that will be just as committed as you. On the days you don't feel like working out, they will keep you in line...and the other way around. Same goes for food. The second you are weak and want to give in to a cupcake at work, shoot a quick email or text to your buddy, they will surely give you a check into reality.

(there's no turning back now...)

team green !

I know I know...I haven't blogged in forever! FORGIVE ME! This will NEVER happen again bloggies! My job blocked blogger.com and now my life is forever doomed!

..not really, but you know.

So, in other news. I want to update you all on my Nike + status!

I am currently at ..... 158.28miles !!

Yeahhh boi! That means I only have 51.72 more miles to go for my 2010 Nike challenge!! For those that don't know, I signed up for a challenge on Nike Running and I have to run 210 miles by NYE. I was freaking out at first, but I know that I got this in the bag!! I usually run 12-15 miles per week, so I am sure that I will beat this goal.

In addition to almost beating my Nike Challenge, I have FINALLY MOVED UP A LEVEL! Your girl has ditched the orange play ground and is now reppin' TEAM GREEN!

These are the levels:

Nike+ Levels is a new way to recognize the total distance you’ve achieved since joining Nikerunning.com.

There are six Levels that correspond to total kilometers run:

Yellow (0-49km, 0-30mi)
Orange (50-249km, 31-154mi)
Green (250-999km, 155-620mi)
Blue (1,000-2,499km, 621-1552mi)
Purple (2,500-4,999km, 1553-3106mi)
Black (over 5000km or 3107mi).

Here's the before picture::

After...

How are you guys doing since you've started your new lifestyle of fitness? I'd LOVE to hear about your experiences!!

Peace,

Tiffany

Feelin' Good, Feelin' Great !

Hey Road Runners!

I have some cool things I'd like to share with you all, and welcome you into my world of running! I am going to recommend 2 of the coolest Nike+ running shoes that I have in my closet!

Now for starters, in order to be a great runner, you have to own great running shoes! If you are here in Scottsdale, I suggest that you check out the newest Nike store at Scottsdale Quarter. It just opened and it is 2 stories high! They offer running, tennis, basketball, and also golf. The staff is very outgoing and willing to talk to you about the products. The best part about the store is that you can try on a pair of running shoes and run on their treadmill before you buy them to make sure they feel good enough to buy.

For those who have never been to Scottsdale Quarter, check it out! It's like SanTan Mall, but even BETTER. Here's a pic.

NIKE STORE LINK

Ok, so here are some shoes that you may want to go in and check out.

Here are my latest pair... Nike Free Runs.

These shoes are the next best thing to barefoot running. They shoes allow for improved natural foot movement compared to conventional shoes. I think they are a great strength trainer for your feet...which equals awesomeness. Really comfortable and I absolutely love them. I wear them for all my runs and for my weight lifting. I noticed that after running 10 miles in these shoes, my ankles hurt less than before! 

Nike Lunar Swifts

Pretty fun shoe. They are super light (8.6 ounces) and I barely hear my feet hitting the ground when I run in them. Great cushioning, great support for stability when running, and they have a reflective swoosh for when you are running at night time (how clever).

Both run about $85 each in the store. You may be able to get the Lunar Swifts for $50 at Finish Line. Don't forget to get the Nike+ monitor so you can monitor your runs on NIke Running.

A quick reminder for those who have yet to go pick one up!!....

Buy It. Love It.

Peace, 

Tiffany

Diary of a Foodie

Hey RoadRunners,

Remember that one blog where I said that I could eat something, and love the hell out of it? Yeah. I'm struggling right now, and I need your help!

I have the appetite of  a runner, and I'm in big trouble if I want to drop pounds. I have noticed that by running 10 miles, I burn a whopping 1800 calories. After I run, I am hungry and want to eat my right arm. I force myself to go to bed to ignore these horrible thoughts. I'll usually treat myself to a cup of OJ or half of a Luna Bar. When I wake up in the morning, I am ready to plow through food.

It's so funny. Here I am running my butt off, but needing to lose weight so I can't eat whatever I want.

Just because you all care enough to read my blog, I owe it to you to be transparent and be honest about the things I love to eat.

Horrible things I ate last week::

Cheese Dip (Jays, Scottsdale)
Rattlesnake Pasta (Jays, Scottsdale)
Ice Cream
Gummy Bears/Worms
Halloween Oreos

I can't believe I'm telling you guys all this stuff! AH! Do you see a trend here people? Carbs carbs and more carbs. This has GOT TO STOP. I find myself having the attitude of, "oh I'll just run it off later." But this is not ok...especially if I plan on fitting into my New Year's Eve dress that my friend brought back for me from NYC.

So today, I'm checking myself, like fa real.

Breakfast
Multigrain Cheerios (in a small cup)
Yoplait Yogurt

Snack
1/2 Cliff bar
Sunchips
Apple

Lunch
3' sub
7-9 baked lays

((ok already you can see that I effed up during my snack time, but luckily I didn't finish my lunch))

I'll keep you posted guys, but I am really eating my words that I posted in earlier blogs...literally. What you eat affects the way you run. My 10 mi run on Thursday felt like hell. I wanted to quit at mile 2! How embarrassing. I was really disappointed in myself. This will NOT happen again. WTF Tiff?

The hard part is running 10 miles. The easy part should be EATING!!

I'm getting pissed just thinking about it. I will not be overcome by temptation. I'm a RUNNER which means I have control over my thoughts. I'll keep you all posted on how the weight loss goes this week. I'm expecting to drop some pounds.

I ate Subway today (turkey breast on wheat) but for Tues-Fri I will eat lean cuisines under 400 calories. My goal is to take in 1200 calories a day, but see this could be an issue because I'm running off about 500 calories and of course lifting weights.

Does anyone have advice for me? I sure could use it. I hate meal plans, I'd prefer to be told the total amount of calories I can consume.

Peace Out,

Tiffany

210mi Reality Check

Hey Bloggies,

Just doing my usual Nike+ Challenge check in.

As of 10/19/10 I have 107.80 miles completed !

I told y'all to be ready to party. So..let's get get get it !! Well...I can't party until after my 10 mile run tonight. So holla at me if you wanna get it in to celebrate my half way mark!

Peace,

Tiffany

selah.

Hey Road Runners,

I'm back from Fall Break, did you miss me? Well boy have I got some news for you!! Allow me to start by just saying this. I am humbled by this entire process of becoming a runner. I literally have tears in my eyes as I sit and type to you all. I am blessed to be able to take on a journey such as this, and I thank God daily for life...I truly believe that it has been His will for me to become to a runner, and here I am walking in His will.

This week, I have learned that anything is possible. I am limitless in my efforts and cannot be stopped. Bob Proctor once said, "If you see it in your mind, you're going to hold it in your hand."

My goal was to run 10 mi on Thursday.

I have been conditioning and weight lifting to become a stronger runner. I have realized that I am an athlete and must train like one. Even though all I want to do is run, stretching and lifting weights is a must if I want to pick my pace up and make running easier. If I build stronger muscle, then it will be easier to run a half marathon because it wouldn't take so much energy.

It was 9am on Thursday morning. I woke up, had breakfast and laced up my Nikes for my first long run. The longest run that I had ever gone on was 4mi...this was the moment of truth. I walked in the gym, stretched and hit it hard. I started signing, "I'm on a pursuit of happiness..." by Kid Cudi. You guys, by mile 7 I had tears forming in my eyes. I thought to myself that even if I quit, I would still be a winner because it was still my longest run.

I didn't give up.

By mile 8.5, one of the gym employees came up to me and said, "girl, where are you running to?" I laughed and informed him that I was training for the PF Changs half marathon in January. He smiled and said that he would be there to support me. How awesome is that? I was humbled by this.

Small note..I out ran that treadmill. It cut off at the 8th mile. Haha. I won! I had to restart it so I could hit 10 miles. Boy am I a beast.

By mile 9.2 my phone rang and my biggest supporter called asking me if I was done yet. I quickly hung up and continued my run. My Nike+ applicator congratulated me on finishing my 10 mile run...and then Lance Armstrong congratulated me on my best mile and longest run.

I looked out the gym window to the parking lot to avoid being embarrassed as the tears of joy rolled down my face. I did it. I finally pushed myself to the limit. I did something that others thought I could not do. I couldn't stop crying, thank God I had a sweat towel to use as a tissue.

I finally got it together, and walked towards the door. The gym employee gave me a high five as I walked out the gym.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE

I was on a runner's high for real. I was floating in my mind and couldn't really express how I felt to my friends who wanted to know how it was. All I could say is, "I'm so thankful. I did it."

This blog is named SELAH for a reason. The Amplified Bible states Selah as "pause, and think of that". Basically, I sat after my run, and meditated and thought about what just happened. This running thing is real...

How many times have you sat and thought about all the awesome things you have done for yourself? I promise that when you do it, you will begin to repeat the behavior because you are acknowledging the fact that you are doing something positive in your life.

Peace,

Super Woman.

great, just great.

This post is not a happy one.

I hate being limited. I just hate it. I have been running for months now, and of course now I can't. Roadrunners, this is serious. My ankle is swollen!! I have had this issue for about a week now, but I have been ignoring it and still running, but after last night's 2mi run, I am definitely a hurtin' unit. I have been icing my ankle for days, but this morning I woke up and could hardly walk!

What is it?! What's wrong with my ankle?! Am I being dramatic? Hell, who cares...running is my drug and the pavement is my crack house. Pardon me for being such an actress, but running is all I have!!

Ok ok, I need to chill out...it's a good thing Bevmo sent me a little coupon in the mail. They are having their 5 cent wine sale...guess who's taking a night off? Yep, I'm going to take tonight to recuperate and celebrate the weeks of running. Now, this is what I was talking about when I blogged about creating BALANCE in your life. Don't kill yourself running Tiff ! I have all my life to be a runner! What's one day off?

Thanks to all my friends that told me to chill out. This week's lesson::

RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression & Elevate)

 Peace,

Tiffany

210mi Reality Check

As you all know, I signed up for a Nike+ challenge. I have to run 210 miles before new year's eve!!  Initally I was freaking out...Now, I know that I've got this challenge in the bag!

As of 10/3/10 I have 76.44 miles completed !

Now when I hit 105 miles, prepare for a party! I am right on track with my goal. I have 12 weeks to complete 133.56 miles. Which means I have to average 11 miles per week which is what I am doing now. The biggest thing here is CONSISTENCY. I cannot tire in my efforts nor can I give up!

I should be able to blow this challenge out of the water!

Thanks for your support!

Peace, 

Tiffany

Aunt Rita's AIDS Foundation 2010 5K

This post is going to change your life.

My alarm went off at 7:15am. Right away, I jumped up and threw on my running clothes and laced up my Nike Lunar Swifts. I grabbed a yogurt and raw granola and hit the door. I had no time to play games...those infected by HIV/AIDS in Phoenix needed my full support today.

I immediately jumped on I-10 headed downtown, as I turned onto 3rd Ave and Washington, I saw a sign stating that there was a special event. I immediately felt a rush, my fingers began to tingle, and of course, my heart began to race. The day was here! The day that I set aside to challenge myself physically...I had a lot to prove this day.

I parked and only took my car key and iPhone with me. I walked up and look what I saw...

SHOW TIME !! It was time for me to get it poppin !! This little logo that I saw online was starring me dead in my face!! I saw people walking around in their t-shirts, and I immediately got hyped up! The day was here!

Here I was in beautiful downtown Phoenix, with a 5K race in front of me. There was nothing that was going to stop me...

I saw tons of runners in the crowd, and as I walked up, I'd politely smile at those I could tell were on the Nike+ team. It's great to come together for a great cause. When you love running and when you love service, the feeling you get after everything is amazing.

I can't get over how many people were there! So many sponsors! Shout out to Walgreens for donating $100,000 to this foundation. The announcer told us to shop there everyday for the rest of the year. LOL. I plan on it. I noticed that the mood was positive and the energy was pretty high! There was music playing and people dancing...of course I was one of them.

I felt so good after seeing that there were other people around me with the same passion for running and servicing their community. I was with a group of women from my illustrious sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Many of them were not runners, in fact they were planning on walking the 5K. There were a couple that were planning on jogging/running. I informed them that I had a goal and was planning on beating a time of 37:30. There was one Soror of mine that told me that her goal was to beat 47:00. I told her that if she ran with me, I'd make sure that she beat that.

Hi, I'm Tiffany...and if you run with me, your life will change.

She politely took the challenge, and as the horn went off we smiled at each other and hit the pavement. There were tons of volunteers and they all were very supportive. I was in my goofy mode, so I made sure to give them all the thumbs up and tell them, "you guys are awesome!" ... of course they responded, "no! you're awesome!"

There was music at different street corners, and of course I just had to stop and dance with the volunteers! LOL. Hey, this was my first race and I had to make it fun! At one point when I was running and becoming weary, I saw a volunteer that I knew! A fellow member of another sorority, Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc. I ran up to her, kissed her on her cheek and kept running. She was cheering me on and clapping. This felt great!

Now, I had to finish with a bang, even if I didn't beat my goal, I had to come in under 40 minutes. I mean, come on, I owed it to myself. So I winked at my Soror, and told her I was going to take the lead. She encouraged me to keep going.

Wait, let me back up...All while we were running, my Soror was quoting scriptures and telling herself, "I can do this, I can do all things." I kept pushing her. I told her not to stop running, to keep going. Never give up...DON'T STOP. She replied, "I have on sunglasses, but if only you could see the look I am giving you!" LOL. I told her that I was going to change her life!

Ok, so I took the lead and finished in 38:36 at a pace of 12:23. Hey, I'm totally cool with this, besides, I was dancing and joking around a quarter of the time. Petting dogs, dancing, joking, and  high fiving. That's what 5K races are all about when you're just starting your journey as a runner!

I hit the corner of 3rd Ave and Washington, and on the big stage there was live music with a guy telling me (or all runners) to push and finish strong. He was thanking us for contributing to such a great cause. People were clapping...the energy was high! Of course I pushed through and finished.

I grabbed a water, caught my breath and looked for my sorority sister that had to beat her goal of 47:00. She hit that corner and finished in 42 and some change. I clapped and jumped up and down! "I told you that you could do it!" She immediately started crying. She sat down and drank water with her daughter on her lap, she said to me, "Tiffany, all while I was running, all I could imagine was myself fighting the bad things in my life, the things I hated or was unhappy with...this race was about me doing something that I thought I couldn't do, and as  I hit that corner, all I could hear was my daughter telling me that I could do it...and just like that, I did it."

Running is an emotional activity...and just like that, your life can be changed at an event like this. Thank you all for sharing this awesome day with me.

xoxo,

Tiffany

It's Official

11:38/Mile.

I'm prepared not to write anything else but just that, 11:38/Mile..

You see, there's a point that you reach in running when NOTHING can stop you from growing. People probably think that running gets boring after a while, but I'm here to tell you today that  it is a very personal experience that allows you to escape from the worries of your life and allows you to grow emotionally and physically.

I went from out of shape full figured woman to an energizer bunny! No really. I have so much energy, as you can see! I am running 4-5 times a week. I have to pick and choose which friends I want to run with during the week.

((clears throat))

Back to 11:38. What you all need to know is that this was my fastest run EVER. I got on that treadmill and ran 4 miles at a pace of 11:38. This run was so outstanding that Lance Armstrong said to me (via a recording) that this was my best run..and of course that I was beautiful and the prettiest runner he had ever seen in his entire life.

((flips hair))

I have a new view on life. I am a powerful being that has gotten rid of her fears. You guys, I can do anything that I put my mind to. Let me change this blog around...


Y O U can do anything (I don't care how big it is) you can do anything you want to do! Don't let anyone or anything limit your dreams. People around you will try and limit you, but it's up to you to accept it or not.

You're probably wondering who I am speaking to right now. I'm speaking to the overweight people that feel like they will be that same size for the rest of their lives. HELL NO. I'm telling you right now to break that mentality and change your life! It's up to you! I never never never thought I'd become a runner. I'm full figured, and of course, I carry 2 big objects with me everywhere I go (if you catch my drift). People would ask me if it hurt to run. I immediately would ignore the possible excuse.

You mean to tell me that I ran 4 miles at the pace of 11:38? Ha! If you would have told me that back in May when I got those running shoes, I would've bet my rent money against it! There was no way that I was going to run 4 straight miles.

And as the gospel song goes..."THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"

That's right. MY best is yet to come! So be prepared to keep reading this blog. Imagine us (you and I) in 6 months. This journey has not been boring at all. It has been quite interesting.

And as the blog is titled, if the shoe fits...you damn right the shoe fits! I was destined to become a runner! It was up to me to accept the blessing God had for me. Ask yourself, "am I walking in my destiny?" Once you accept your destiny, your life will forever be changed....

My body is changing, my friends are changing, and the way I treat life is changing.

i'd rather be running.

i never thought i'd say this...but i can't stop thinking about running. somebody call 911, i'm addicted to the feeling that i get when i put on my lunar swifts and hit the pavement hard. it's come to a point that i enjoy the feeling of jogging to the mailbox or even to the car when i'm trying to make it to work on time.

it's something about the way i stride when i'm in the mean streets of tempe...letting everyone know ((with my body language)) that i'm a road runner...and yep, that's right, I RUN TEMPE. here i am, sitting at my desk, and all i can think about is what time i am going to hit the pavement, and how many miles i plan on running. who cares about what's for lunch? i'm just going to burn it off when the clock strikes 5pm.


"Exercise, like drugs of abuse, leads to the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and dopamine, which are involved with a sense of reward," Kanarek said. "As with food intake and other parts of life, moderation seems to be the key. Exercise, as long as it doesn't interfere with other aspects of one's life, is a good thing with respect to both physical and mental health." [Source: msnbc.com]

i'm offically down 14lbs as of this morning. the funny thing is that i'm running fun and i'm eating to lose weight. i can't wait to post before and after pictures. i'll make sure to do this new year's eve after i beast on my 210 mile challenge.

peace,

t.

The Countdown Begins...

Oh-EM-gee !

I have 5 days and 18 hours until the Phoenix AIDS 5K run !! You guys, this will be my first real race as a RUNNER. I am preparing myself mentally to really beat my new 5K time of 37:55. My goal is to get in under 37:30. I know I can do it!

I was thinking about what to wear, which shoes to run in...but ya know what? I could go out there in my pajamas and come in at 38:00..what really matters is that I'm out there for a good cause. I'm helping people that are living with AIDS in Phoenix.

If you'd like to run, it's not too late to sign up. http://www.aidswalkphoenix.org/

I'll make sure to take tons of pictures and post them so that you all can see the event.

CHEERS !

QLTiffany

growth

I will never forget the way I felt when I stepped off that treadmill yesterday. Allow me to re-introduce myself....I am now a RUNNER.

The time was 9:07pm. I looked down at the Nike+ on my iPhone and noticed that the time said 38:08 with a pace of 12:15. That's right, I ran a 5K (3.1 miles) at about 12 minutes per mile. This is a great accomplishment for me, and I am so proud of myself for pushing my way from the average 13:10min/mile pace to 12:15. WOW!

I was huffing and puffing with sweat rolling down my pretty little face. This queen gave that treadmill a run for its money! I instantly thought about the journey that I took to get to where I was at 9:07pm 9/22/2010. I began to have flash backs of the old Tiffany, you know...the I Hate Running Tiffany. I tried to keep my composure as I walked past the current treadmill runners and Planet Fitness staff....but I had an itch inside of me.I'll never forget the feeling of ACCOMPLISHMENT.

This wasn't just any old accomplishment. I shaved almost 1 minute off of my average pace! I had that kind of itch that made me want to do a cartwheel right there in the gym parking lot. You guys should've seen me. I had a grin on my face from ear to ear.

Now there are runners out there that would probably laugh at my 38:08 5K run. But F them. It's about reaching MY level...not theirs. For anyone that has been reading my blog and may feel intimidated by the term "pace," know this...running is a process. You don't go from 0 to 10 over night. The art of running takes the power of discipline. Take your journey of running one day at a time.

After leaving the gym, I called a running guru friend of mine and he congratulated me on such a great run. I'd like to take this time to personally thank any and everyone that has ever pushed me to go to the next level. Although running is a personal task, you all must realize how much motivation I get from my friends and family. When I am running, you all are right there with me...in my heart, of course. Come January, you all will be with  me when I am running my first half marathon.

Cheers to moving to the next level. Cheers to the sore legs in the morning. Cheers to the bragging rights.

xOxXXOoXOoX,

Tiffany

i'm a hustler baby.

Hey Guys!

I have soo much to blog about! I will try not to overwhelm you but I will make sure to leave you wanting more ;) I hope everyone is doing well this week on their running journey. I am becoming more and more excited about my life as a runner. I feel so good!

Many of you may feel like you don't want to run. But hey, don't ever be stuck in this situation...

Make time for exercise! Do it! If you don't, I'm afraid your health won't be good....and who wants to die due to something that they could've controlled? Today is a new day for you. If you are reading my blogs and still haven't stepped up to the plate, now is the time. Stop creating excuses for yourself.

((You too could be a runner if you stopped creating excuses for yourself. I'm proof.))

This weekend was great for me. I created a goal on Nike Running.com to run 12 miles in 1 week. It was Saturday night at 11pm, and I realized that I needed 0.60 mi to meet my goal. Of course Nike sees Sunday as a new start of the week...I jumped up and ran to the gym and hit a 5k. Hehe.

((That's right. I'm a hustler. I can't lose dude. I'm a hustler.))

With that, I wanted to say to everyone. Don't cheat. Don't take short cuts! Shiv Khera says, 'There are no shortcuts to success.You have to take the stairs. Your hard work will definitely pay off...so just stop cutting corners. Realize that if you cut corners you are only hurting yourself in the long run. 

 Hahaha. That's effen hilarious, isn't it? LOL. Ok, so that's it. Be a hustler. Real athletes hit the pavement hard. Do it.

Peace,

Tiff

Sore and Celebrating

Hey Bloggies!

I hope everyone's day is off to a great start. Let me just say that I am so happy that today is Thursday! I have got some news to share with you...I ran my first 5K solo dolo style last night, and I am so proud of myself! It was my day off and I still went in and ran 3.1mi last night. I felt amazing when I finished my run, although I finished in 40minutes...no bueno. I need to shave that down to 30 minutes at the least.

This morning I woke up sore, as usual, but I have to say, I have lost 10lbs since I've started blogging! Words cannot express how good it felt wearing my favorite black slacks today. The best thing about this all, is that I don't feel like I'm dieting or even trying to lose weight! I'm really just walking into my calling as a RUNNER!

For breakfast I eat yogurt and granola (total under 200 calories), for lunch a nice salad with chicken, and for dinner after my work out I only eat protein, no carbs after 5pm for me. I usually on average run off about 400-750 calories. You guys, the weight is just falling off of me. WOW.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a foodie. I can eat whatever and love the hell out of it. But with me being a runner, I am very conscious about what I put into my body because I need it to perform well when I'm training. I don't want to put junk in my body because when I run a 5K I will seriously want to kill myself and quit right in the middle of the run.

Anyway, although I am sore as hell I am celebrating! Yes, I'm celebrating for 2 reasons, first because I earned all the pain I feel right now. If you go to the gym and walk away feeling like you never went, this is an issue. Secondly, I am celebrating because of the 10lbs that I lost all due to my passion for running.

Not trying to sound weird, but I don't even feel like I'm training for a half marathon, or even dieting. I truly feel like I am  becoming a runner and this to me feels great. I challenge you to make changes in your diet if you're just throwing food down your face. Key word:: CHALLENGE. I challenge you to make fitness a part of your daily routine, make it fun...make it something that you look forward to doing.

Talk Soon!

Tiffany