...1:15:11?

Today's Motivational Monday is a pictorial post. On Saturday, March 25, I completed my first ever 10k. I wasn't the fastest, and I wasn't the slowest, but what counts the most is that I finished. I ran the entire race, and I am happy with my results.

That's me in black coming up to the finish line.

6.5 miles in 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 11 seconds.

Celebrating with bananas, juice, and water is definitely something to curl up with.

...a scorpion?

I love yoga. I always have. I find it relaxing, yet challenging. It gets my heart rate up like no other activity. There is just something special about it.

One of my yoga goals is to be able to do the scorpion pose. I have the flexibility in my back and shoulders, as well as the strength in my arms and shoulders. What I need to work on is the balance and strength in my core. I can easily do this pose if I have the support of a wall, but if I move away from the wall, I end up in wheel pose. So I need more control and that comes with balance and core strength.

I know I will eventually get this pose. It is just going to take some time and practice. And like the best things in life, that is something to curl up with.

...a lie?

Saturday, was a rough day for me. It marked the 4th week of me maintaining my weight of 1.5 lbs more than my goal weight. Which is a great thing however, I don't want to be maintaining when I am so close to goal.

I spoke with my WW leader during my meeting about what I could do to get over the hurdle and she decided to change my goal weight by 2 lbs, and made me reach goal and announced to it to my meeting. I was quite upset by this. If I wanted to change my goal I would have done it weeks ago. I wanted some suggestions to get off the plateau that I am on. Instead, I got a lie and a bunch of people congratulating me on reaching a goal I have not yet met.  

I am trying to see the bright side of this. The silver lining, but I am having a hard time. Theoretically, I should only have to maintain my weight for two more weeks before reaching lifetime, if my goal remains changed. And once I reach lifetime I can stop paying. So that's nice. But, still I feel like I am living a lie, and that is not so nice.

I could go and change my goal back to what it is, but there was such a big deal made of me reaching goal, that I don't want to do that because then I would get asked questions that I don't want to answer.

So, I guess I will just "fake it 'til I make it." It won't be long now. If anything I am more determined to reach MY goal. And that's something to curl up with.

...you've got this?

I am a firm believer in the power of positive thinking. I believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. That if you can dream it, you can achieve it.

Life is hard. It is full of challenges and setbacks, but it is also full of amazing rewards. Just think about how it will feel when you finally reach your goal.

I still haven't reached my goal, but I know I will. I refuse to give up. I am too close to the finish line. Actually,  I don't know how to give up.

And that's something to curl up with.

...my year?

If you read my Motivational Monday from last week, then you know I only have 1.8 pounds left until I reach my goal. I was hoping to reach it on Saturday. Unfortunately, I didn't. I didn't lose any weight this past week. At first I was a little bummed, but then I thought to myself, "What are you upset about? You've lost 69+ pounds. So you didn't reach goal this week. That's okay you'll do it next week."

Thus, my weight loss journey continues, with a positive attitude and smile. As a friend of mine told me... 2012 is my year, and that something to curl up with.

...a great race?

Last weekend I signed up for my first 10k, The Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills. I have to admit I am a little nervous. This will definitely be a challenge, because running has never been an area of strength for me. As a child, I could barely run a 50 yard dash, let alone a 10k. I hated running, I hated being sweaty, I hated exercise. So when a friend asked if I wanted to do this race with her, it took some convincing. Actually, it took more than convincing. It took a sparkle tutu and an invitation to run with "Team Sparkle", to get me to agree. Now, I am really excited and might even go out and buy my own sparkle tutu.

Hmm... Maybe I can find a gold or yellow one, and then I could spray my hair green and dress up as a pineapple. After all pineapple is my favorite fruit...

Wouldn't that be something to curl up with? I think so.

Oh and by the way, I run because of boys like him. If he can do it, I can do it,  and so can you! :)

...a little bit of pride?

You've earned more than your pain. You've earned your pride.

As of Saturday, I have lost 69.2 pounds. I am only 1.8 pounds away from my Weight Watchers goal, and I am left speechless. It doesn't seem real. But it is. And I am proud of myself.

My journey has in no way been painless. It has been hours of exersize and shopping and food preparation. My journey has been stressful and frustrating and at the same time, euphoric. I am not going to say that I have loved every minute of it, because that would be a lie. Although, I will own it and be proud of what I have accomplished.

This is my journey. My life. My body. My pain. My pride. And, No-One can take that away from me. Because, I've earned it.

And that is something to curl up with!