Hood to Coast

the time was 720pm. i rolled into the movie theater, solo dolo style. yep, that's right. i had the guts to go to the movies by myself. i had to get my fix. the wisdom of running fix. i had to see exactly how a 197 mile relay race looked and felt.

i found my seat and quickly noticed that i was the only one in jeans. everyone else was in either running gear or lounge wear. awesome! quickly i told myself, "welcome to the movie theater of running." this was awesome! i was in the midst of people who shared the same passion as i do! where were my business cards?! (www.laceupcrew.com) LOL.


i got comfortable watching previews, and one after another, race promos popped up on the screen. "yep, i'm going to portland this spring, and i'm running!" i was over joyed that the nike store blasted the info on facebook so i could catch the encore showing in phoenix! moreover, i'm so proud of myself for buying a ticket and going even though others around me weren't so interested. this is called growth. expanding my horizons. challenging myself to learn something new. (these were the thoughts in my head)

this documentary follows different running crews that set out to embark upon a 197mi long journey, starting at mt. hood, ending at the beautiful coast of portland. each running crew has their unique story to share, and in the end, you as the viewer connect with all of them.

i cannot ruin it for you, and tell you the story...but i must say that you have to see it when it comes out on dvd. i walked out of that theater motivated, inspired, and humbled. this movie was thought provoking and emotional. it challenged my love and passion for running. it is still out in theaters in select cities, click here for more info.

Hood to Coast Trailer

peace,

t.

happily ever after

with today being valentine's day, i've had the opportunity to stop and reflect on all the love that consumes me. i am in love, deep love with myself. i mean, i don't need a day on the calendar to do this, i do it daily, but really today is a day that i set aside to really reflect on the love that i have inside and around me.

running is a big part of this.

we all know from our dear mother that, "you have to love yourself in order to be loved." today i asked my student if she was enjoying valentine's day. she replied, "no, i hate this day." i simply told her that this was a day that she could take to love on herself.

there are so many different types of love! for me, today i'm celebrating agape love. it is a type of love that is not limited to being held hostage by its environment and someone's perception. agape love is based upon the commitment of a decision. it entails the decision to proactively seek someone's well-being.

you and i must both love ourselves so much that we want to take care of our bodies. years have gone by, where i have been insecure about my health. instead of being insecure,so with those running shoes i made the decision to start showing love toward myself with every stride across the pavement. i am too beautiful to be unhealthy. i love myself too much to let my health go down south. more importantly, i love God too much to waste His greatest gift, LIFE.


take this blog to heart (literally), find something cute to buy at the nike or running store, and get out there and hit the pavement. go on. do it.

happy valentines bloggie. love you!

iPhone SOS

Hey Bloggies !!

Boy have I got a story to tell you....! So last week I ran to the bathroom in between teaching classes and decided to take my phone with me in case any kids wanted to steal Ms.Harris's phone. I told myself to just leave it in my desk...but I decided to put my phone in my back pocket. After handling my business, of course I pulled up my pants and heard a thump!

You won't believe this...my iPhone fell in the school toilet! GROSS. (well, I actually dropped the F bomb)

How unfortunate. I had to put my hands in the toilet that tons of dirty kids have used. Ok. I'll stop here with painting ugly pictures.

Long story short, my iPhone still works, it just shuts down randomly. So what does this mean for running with my Nike Plus application? (sheds tear) I immediately became discouraged. I sold all my iPods when I got my iPhone in hopes of getting rid of clutter and getting cash. I'm waiting desperately for the new Nike Watchband to come out...so in the meantime I have decided to run with my iPhone even though it was a hot mess, minus the hot.

Then last night happened.

I went to the gym to get a 5 mile run out of the way before tuning into the Bad Girls Club on Oxygen (don't judge me). On mile 2, the lady said in my ear, "2 miles completed." I was in the zone listening to Nicki Minaj's "Save Me." I just knew this 5 mile run was going to be successful. I was looking forward to syncing my run with nikeplus.com because I'm trying to get to the blue level. 200 yards later, my iPhone just powered off. I hit the stop button the treadmill and stormed out of that gym. I had a "f the world" mentality. No, really.

Now, I could've stayed on that treadmill and just ran until the minutes on the treadmill said 45:00min. But instead I stormed out of there like someone had stolen my bike. I was frustrated and discouraged.

Moral of the Story
(this is where the music plays)

You see, there will be times when you are discouraged or things will get in the way of you accomplishing your goals, but you have to stay focused and determined. If you are a real athlete/runner, you will do whatever it takes to get your run in. Who needs an iPod to run anyway? Who even needs a treadmill? Some people don't even need their Nikes (shout out to barefoot running). If running is in your heart, you'll do whatever you need to do to run. I could've kept running! Why did I throw in the towel on myself?

Now the issue here was technology. Your issue could be no money for a gym membership. My answer to that is run outside.Your issue could be horrible snowy weather. My answer to that is to find a treadmill indoors. Your issue could be lack of time. My answer to that is to get over it and start investing in your health.

I think that I have gone to a new level here. I'll name it the,  
"whatever it takes" level of running.


Tonight, you might see me running from Arizona to California...with or without that damn iPhone. I don't care. I've got a full marathon to train for, and you've got a future full of awesome health to look forward to. Let's both scratch the dramatics and be the masters of our fate. What do ya say?

see you here,

t.

L A C E U P

this is insane. finally, there's an urban running crew in your neighborhood that's committed to helping people lead healthy lives. you'll know us by the races we run in, the gear we wear, and the charities we support.

it is our goal to create a culture of runners that support one another at races and special events. in addition to this, we  hope to be at the forefront of societal demands when it comes to educating our people of living a healthy lifestyle.

yesterday we met up for a photoshoot so that we could spread the word. i'm really excited because i know that there are a lot of people out there that really want to get back in shape but don't know where to start. what makes this running crew so awesome is that runners are grouped by pace and experience. so there's no embarrassment here, it's all a positive experience.

we are launching the crew's website in 2 weeks...so get ready to lace up with us, as we will be meeting once a week to RUN THE CITY. the site will be loaded with mixtapes, conditioning advice, nutritional facts, and also running gear reviews. get readdddddy !

(( chicago. cleveland. miami. phoenix. ))

Ms.Twenty Six Point Two

it's about to be onnn and poppin !! (in my chris brown singing voice)

it has always been a dream of mine to run a full marathon. it wasn't until i ran 10 miles (on a long run day), that this dream could actually manifest in my life. marathons have always been a foreign event to me. nobody in my neighborhood ran, unless they were trying to beat curfew or catch the bus.

just the other day a black teacher from my school came over to me and asked, "ok now, black girl...how did you get into running?" she and i both laughed, no offense was taken because through the eyes of the arizona community, she really had a point. i quickly responded, "i know right! but you'd be surprised how many blacks are getting into distance running." i went on to tell her about the blog and about a running group that my friends and i are starting (LACE UP--coming this february).

i have to take this time to acknowledge those that have or are b r a v e l y stepping into a new direction. people that are doing something that they're "not supposed to do" for whatever reason. this acknowledgment goes far beyond running. i want to take this time to identify with you, and let you know that by embarking upon a new journey, you've already won.

it's time to abolish those social norms and stereotypes. black women don't run marathons? old men in their 70s don't lift weights. white women don't teach hip hop dance? black men don't blog? latinos don't become vegetarians...you get the point here. they are all absurd.

i truly believe that when you chose to control your thoughts, you have the ability to become             
p o w e r f u l.


and in a brave manner, this black young sista is running in the rock n roll san diego FULL MARATHON on sunday june 5, 2011. hollaaaaaaa !! run across the beach? don't mind if i do...hair blowing in the wind and all.

i start my training today with nike plus. i'm looking forward to it. you can join me too. i have a 12 week schedule, hit me up and i'll email it to you. let me know if you're interested, i'll pass the registration information along to you as well.

cheers to knocking down fears, because you and i both know that fears limit us in our ability to become successful and happy.

p e a c e,

queen t.

running with boobs

a long time ago, i decided that running was not for me. there was no way you were going to see me dashing across city lines with these boobs. for starters, i didn't want to knock myself out. people agreed with me and simply told me to swim instead.

it's unbelievable how we limit ourselves just by our inability to be open minded. i cheated myself out of blessings that God had for me years ago...all because the Lord gave me a little bit more up top (wink).

well, not this year. not today. not ever. you and i will not allow our conditions or circumstances to get in the way of our beautiful future that is promised to us. (pun intended)

i received an awesome message via facebook the other day... "ok tiffany, you have the same problem as me; big boobs. what sports bra do you use?"

that message made my day. you guys, when i started running in may last year i made it a point to ignore the big boobs. i told myself that if i had to use duct tape just to run a 5k, then that's just what i had to do. shoot. i appreciate that message because it's a reminder to me that there are others like me that want to run, but have this minor issue.

quick points before i get crazy and start posting pictures and links...

1. FULL COVERAGE is key. this goes for daily life too ladies. if you're falling out of your bra, it doesn't fit.

2. There's a HUGE difference between your regular bra and a sports bra...no matter how big or small you are. You need to invest in a good sports bra. It will help improve your posture...and even your performance.

3. Wireless makes life convenient. Leave the wire bras at home when it comes to running.

4. You get what you pay for. Don't expect a $10 bra to help you run faster.


Ok, now that we got that taken care of...here's what Queen LaTiffany runs with:

Moving Comfort ($46) www.movingcomfort.com
Full coverage, so nothing poking out. Makes the bouncing go away, and the straps have cushion. I remember running a 5K once, and I literally had bruises on my shoulders. Look for straps with cushion and support. If you can't afford this, go to Macy's and find something similar to it.

Nike Pro Compression Tank ($30)
www.nike.com

This adds support, and reinforces the bra. In addition to this, it has Dri-FIT fabric to wick sweat away and help keep you dry and comfortable. I dare not run without my compression tank. Trust me, grab 3 or 4 of these. You may be able to get them cheaper at Sports Authority or any department store.

Ok, now, after those 2 things..it's totally up to you. You can just run in the bra and tank if you want. Depending on the weather, you may want to toss on a shirt. If you are grabbing a shirt, make sure it's light and breathable.

Ladies! I hope this helps!! I will be posting another blog about running apparel such as shorts, shirts, and socks SOON!


XOxoxXooOx,

Tiffany

what it feels like.

the first thing i did was stare at the time on my nike plus application. 2:13:58. damn. nice job tiff. my goal was to just finish, but here i am finishing with a good time.

#kanyeshrug

i hit the home button on  my iphone and called mom. the same mom that asked me why in the hell i was running so far everyday. "you got bad knees little girl! go swimming, not running! you need to be careful." she picked up the phone all the way from houston, texas with a calm "hello." all i did was breath... like the crazy person that i am. after 5 long seconds, i said, "momma, i did it. i just ran a half marathon. mom! i just ran 13.1 miles!"

tears ran down my face. the people and music around me me didn't matter. all i wanted to do was tell my mom how happy i was. this was a very emotional moment. the 1 person in all of the world that believed in me needed to know that anything is possible.

you see, there comes a time in life when even the closest people to you will not understand your goals. you may be a little extreme to them. there even comes a time in life when you may be accomplishing that goal solo dolo. it became very apparent to me that being an extremist is ok. people say "no" because they don't know. and that's ok. i love my mom, but she doesn't understand what running has contributed to my life. she doesn't understand how happy running makes me feel. all she wants is for me to be safe.

stand strong on your goals. do what YOU have to do to be happy. because at the end of the day, i looked around, and i was the only one (from my world) standing there celebrating. this was an intimate moment that i shared with myself. running my first half marathon made me love tiffany more.

on mile 2, i wanted to cry because my nike plus application started to freeze and mess up my pace. but then i thought, "there's no crying in running!" well...not that kind of crying. so i sucked it up, and got through the race. on mile 5 i thought, "hell yeah, i got this!"

at this moment, my power song was kid cudi's "pursuit of happiness." straight up, these words go hand in hand when it comes to my running world...
 
"I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold. I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good."

the journey was rough. my left knee was sore, and my body wanted to quit. for me, it was mind over body until the lady said in my ear, "congratulations, you've reached your goal of 13.1 miles."

all i could think about was 13.1 needing to flash on facebook and twitter. i know this sounds funny to you....but i know for a fact that i can help people by setting an example. of course i ran this race for me, but i also ran it for the out of shape mother of 2 that is looking for a starting point. i ran this race for the person that thinks they will always be fat and running is impossible to do. i am running this race for the old me, the runner that is afraid to run anything over 4 miles in one day.

believe it or not, on mile 2, i thought about you and how i was going to get you out there on the pavement. it's time to push yourself. stop creating excuses. just start by apologizing to yourself for not being happy sooner.

after the 13.1 flashed on my profile, my inbox flooded with questions about running. is it hard? when did you start? what was your time? how many miles did you run before the half marathon?

i sat there in my ice bath, believe it or not, with my iphone in my hand answering each message. i was sore as hell, tired, and of course freezing my a$$ off (literally)...but the only thing i could think about was motivating at least 1 person to change their lifestyle.

friends brought me flowers and thanked me for inspiring them. i guess running does have it's perks. (smile)

now, back to us. you and me. what are your goals? define them. remember them. celebrate them.

as for me, i've entered into a whole new world of running. it's amazing. i've got my whole life ahead of me to run. who knows, i may become an ultra runner one day. all i know is that i am going to keep this running thing going, perhaps a full marathon this year? hehe.

peace,

t.

look ma! no meat!

happy new year to my readers!!

now, earlier i mentioned that 1 of my goals for 2011 was to give up meat and become a vegetarian. well, last thursday i gave up meat for 7 days...just to see how my new lifestyle would be. i must say, the 7 days was not difficult at all. i freakin rocked as a vegetarian, and i even inspired a few friends to jump on board with me. (wink)

i will say this, i began to feel a little sick on days 3 and 4, maybe because i wasn't taking in enough protein or amino acids...but i changed that quickly. i stepped my multi vitamin game up and chose carefully what i was going to eat. i noticed that within the 7 days, i dropped 3lbs. the amount of calories i consumed dropped ...which was awesome. i'm feeling less bloated, which allows me to wear clothes that were once uncomfortable for me. (uh...BONUS)

i incorporated more veggies and complex carbs to my diet and shook my head at the turkey, beef, pork, ect... i'm pretty proud of myself. becoming a vegetarian has allowed me to spend more time being creative in the kitchen and i love it.

everyone has been really supportive of my decision to become a vegetarian. one of my friends even bought me a vegetarian guide and cookbook. awesomeeeee. 

i'm not ready to become a vegan...i love dairy too much. sue me.

p e a c e,

t.

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