Mom Works It Out by Angela Gillis

The importance of being you

I guess today is a little inspirational post.

Over the course of my marathon training, I’ve struggled with doing things for myself. I’m sure a lot of you struggle with this too, especially when others who are dependent on you. I don’t have any children but I’ve been left to task of caring for my mother as she battled cancer along with many other responsibilities. I declared this time in my life as a time to do something for myself…and I got flack for it.

The most important thing to realize is that NO ONE is going to be 100% behind you in anything that you do. People will question, people will judge and yes, some people will want you to fail. There are a lot of negative forces out there in the world, BUT YOU SHOULD NEVER LET THOSE THINGS STOP YOU FROM BEING YOU!

When I was bigger people judged me for being big, when I lost weight people complained I was too skinny. When I wasn’t working out and I was eating mounds of food on the couch, no one ever said anything to me, but when I started working out, some people questioned my behavior and said I was working out too much! And then there was the running which came with lots of negative conversations…my point in telling you this is no one is going to be happy. People will always find something to complain or pick about!

You have to remember anything that you do you’re doing it for yourself and no one else! If you’re trying to lose weight, ultimately you’re doing it for yourself! If you love cooking, you cook to make yourself happy. If you devote your time to reading books, you’re reading because it makes you feel good. These are the moments that become all about you and no one else. If it makes you happy, and it’s not a destructive action or behavior (sorry I had to throw that in), then do it. Dance like no one is watching and have a great time because it’s going to make you happy.

Don’t let anyone stand in the way of something you want because you deserve any dream in life. You deserve any dream BUT you have to go after it!

Marathon mind

Marathon mind

Excuse me as I take a break from talking about anything else that’s going on in life because I can’t think about anything EXCEPT the marathon.  Yesterday I was in tears because I feared the race would be canceled. NO ONE even mentioned the possible cancellation, it was just one of those things I didn’t even want to occur. Why would they cancel you might ask?  Winter weather! I intended on the weather being on the chilly side back in February, even though Willie said it wouldn’t happen like that. I didn’t expect a winter storm to literally snow on…

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Keeping it real for the holidays

Keeping it real for the holidays

The holidays are a hard time for people who are food conscious.  Just because I lost all this weight doesn’t mean I don’t have issues with food and right now I just feel like my eating hasn’t been that good.  My eating habits probably aren’t as bad as I’m making it seem; it’s just that I’m eating foods that I usually don’t eat.  I am desperately trying to get rid of the leftovers in the house so I can put the holiday behind me.  I hate wasting money and throwing away food is just wasting money to me.  This morning…

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Playing Catch Up: Pie Party, Thanksgiving and Black …

Playing Catch Up: Pie Party, Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Been wondering where I’ve been? Things have been really busy. I’ve been traveling too much and trying to cram too much into too little time. My blogging has suffered a TINY bit! I was in Alabama and then had to come home to work…and then host some holiday festivities. I thought I was going to have Wednesday off but it didn’t happen that way. I went to the gym and ended up teaching a spin class to help someone out. On Wednesday, we through a “pie party” for Jeremy’s birthday. We wanted to do something nice for him and Willie…

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Happy Late Friday from the road

Happy Late Friday from the road

I’m a bad blogger, I didn’t post anything at all today. I have a good excuse, I was driving in the car all day. It’s Ruben Studdard Celebration weekend which means I’m gearing up for the 3rd Annual Magic City Half Marathon. I am looking forward to the race even though it’s supposed to be really COLD.  I’m trying to decide if I’m actually going to run this race or just have a good time.  To try to PR or not?  I AM supposed to be in taper! I wish I could say I am having a good day but…

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Quick tips on how to eat healthy

Quick tips on how to eat healthy

I’ve been so busy lately and I will admit I’m tired.  It’s already Wednesday and I have to leave again on Friday.  All this fall travel might be starting to catch up with, but I don’t regret any moment of it.  I’ve taken two days off of running because my hamstring has been a little sore after 20-miler Sunday. I’m hoping that I can get back on it today and see where it goes. I started my taper this week so it’s time to rest up for the big marathon in 16 days! Eating healthy is always a struggle and…

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Find your motivation

Find your motivation

Happy Friday! I’m getting ready for my 12th half marathon this weekend. The training plan called for an easy 3 miles today so I did that after going to Group Power at 5AM! My biggest motivation for getting up at 5AM to work out is really not having to do it in the afternoon! I’ve been trying to talk to blog readers about their struggles with weight loss and lifestyle change and motivation keeps coming up. Most of the e-mails I get about the weight loss are about my motivation to lose weight and how I stuck with it. Willie…

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Challenge: I CAN…Be Active

Challenge: I CAN…Be Active

It’s that time of year again when people say they are busy but aren’t too busy to eat. The holidays are about spending time with family and friends and buying gifts, so why not give yourself a gift? The holidays are filled with treats and great food so practice moderation with those foods. BUT I’m also asking you to get active! My best friend Mandie has already jumped on the challenge and she’s been working out to shed some pounds and just get an active lifestyle. Why can’t you do the same over the holiday season? There’s A LOT of…

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I’ve been cooking

I’ve been cooking

There’s been so much focus on Willie cooking, I think people may have forgotten that I like to cook too.  I must admit he’s been picking up a lot of the food slack in the house because marathon training has kept me busy.  He keeps me well fueled. I’ve had a little bit of free time to make some food lately and I wanted to share with you what I’ve been making. The Runner’s World Cookbook hit stores in October and I couldn’t wait to get a copy.  I was trying to find one in stores but no luck so…

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What did you eat to lose all that …

What did you eat to lose all that weight?

This week I’m taking the time to answer the many e-mails I get about our weight loss journey.  Most of the questions are the same, but this question is the most frequently asked question.  Before I venture any more into this subject, I want to remind everyone that it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change.  Also, there wasn’t one magic food that changed our lives and helped us drop the weight.  The weight didn’t come off overnight because it was a process. The easiest way to answer this question is to tell you what we stopped eating.  We stopped…

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Do you reward yourself with food? Stop it!

Do you reward yourself with food? Stop it!

If you answered yes, let’s stop this bad habit.  When I was heavier, food was always apart of the celebration.  Had the best day of my life? I had ice cream because I deserved it.  It’s my birthday or Willie’s birthday or my cousin’s twice removed birthday; let’s chow down.  Got a pay bump?  Let’s spend that extra money on a really decadent meal that will leave me knocked out later. Food is used as a celebratory manner in our lives, but does it always have to be that way. I even fall victim to it now.  I run a…

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