Move along.

Wow! I cannot believe that this is the first posting of twenty-ten! Goes to show you how busy I've been. So in case I haven't told my readers...Happy new year. My life has been insane. So here is the quick and updated version of it: Christmas was great...I got everything I wanted and more (new running shoes, Wii, Wii Fit, iHome, just to name a few. Seeing my family was the best part though. New Year's Eve...bananas. I went to the Raleigh First Night with my best friend from high school, Ashley and my way cool dad. Then Ashley and I had a blast at a techno dance party (definitely one of the best get-togethers in a while). After New Year's, I started the official training for my half-marathon. Guess how much weight I lost the first week....(drumrollll) 4 lbs! I was impressed. Another cute thing that happened was that my boyfriend came back to the U.S. earlier than scheduled and surprised me (He lives in Trinidad and Tobago). I still can't quite figure out how he put that one past me! School started and my social life I gained over the break died. I'm now taking an online class through UNC so life is a little tougher. Not to mention, I have also started my senior thesis and started babysitting for a new and cute family! Ok, ok, enough about what's been going on.

My training for my half marathon has been progressing. Although, my body aches every single day and it is extremely hard to balance my life...I know it will be all worth it in the end. It has not been all peaches and roses...and there have been about 2 days where my body has been so exhausted that I almost broke down to tears. But, I'm determined. Determined to finish what I started. Determined to be healthy and to continue being healthy for the rest of my life. No one ever said that training for this was going to be easy, and I am a witness.

Along with training, I have also been keeping my calorie-intake low and make smart & healthy eating choices. I haven't always been a junk-food eater, but ever since college happened my junk-food intake had increased. I made a vow to myself that I will no longer harm my body. My friends, it's time to get real about your weight and health. Not for your own sake, but also for your future children's sake (in the majority of the college kid's case). Making healthy decisions is very important to your health. First of all, it's not attractive and if you don't want a stroke or clogged arteries by the age of 45...LEAVE THE JUNK FOOD ALONE. Did you know that obesity in young adults is at an alarming 20% right now? FOLKS, this is about 1 in every 5 people. This has become a problem and it needs to be solved. And trust me, if you want to be helped then you can be.

Taking control of your weight does not mean to stop eating your favorite foods and start eating celery sticks. It's a little something called substitution and cutting-back. Instead of reaching for those bag of Doritos, choose 100-calorie snack packs. Ok, I know what you are wondering now? How in the world do you get full off of those things? EAT SLOWLY. It takes about 20 minutes for your body to recognize that you are full. So eating like you are in a hot-dog eating contest can have you overeating. Instead of eating your normal favorite recipe of spaghetti...try it with a twist. Replace the pasta with whole-grain wheat pasta and try lean beef for once. It's really good, I would know. Don't get me wrong, junk food isn't bad all the time. We are all human and sometimes we all crave it. If you eat it like once a month and in moderation. Another tip is to replace every junk food, calorie-packed item in your cupboard with a lower-calorie, leaner alternative. Remember to substitute and not eliminate. Elimination is just a set-up for failure. Don't do it.



I'm coming to an end of my fitness soap box moment for tonight. Stay healthy. Please. I beg you. Save your life and then help a friend or two.

Peace, Love, and Running.