It's Time For Fall Races!!!

This is the most AMAZING sight and feeling to experience!  My first time participating in a half marathon (13.1 miles) was October 2007.  Two months before the race I didn't even know what a half marathon was, lol...  I was following some other members of a running/walking group at work and signed up.  Once I found out what it was and what was required I began to pray for courage to make it through to the end.

The closer it got to race day I began to lose sleep and have nightmares that I wouldn't make it and I would be disqualified.  One of the requirements to participate is that you have to make it to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel in Canada by a certain time or your OUT!  I was so scared and wanted to drop out but I didn't want the other team members to know.

The night before the race I couldn't sleep because I thought I would be late and not make it to the race on time.  I finally fell asleep and didn't hear the alarm clock go off and missed the bus.  I ended up running over two miles trying to get to the race on time to line up.  By the grace of God I made it with only minutes to spare!  The next hurdle was to get to the tunnel by 9:30 a.m.  The gun went off and my heart began to race, I didn't want to start off to fast but I didn't want to be disqualified either.  I started off well doing my first two miles at a 10 minute pace, then I saw the incline to the Windsor Bridge.  That mile took almost 20 minutes and I got scared again.  It felt like I needed to go to the port-a-potty but the lines were long and I didn't know how much farther the tunnel was so I held it.  I pushed on and to my surprise reached the tunnel by 9:05 a.m. I was home free or so I thought, at least I wasn't disqualified lol.

I made it up the last two inclines and turned the corner where I could see the crowd lined up and the tears began to flow like a river down my face.  All I could think about was my mother and how proud she would have been to see me complete the race and how much I wish she was still with me to hug me after I crossed the finished line in 3:02 time.  Thanks for seeing me to the end Ma, love you!!!

Happy 'LABOR' of LOVE Day...

Ever year at least one or two people ask me What is Labor Day?  No difference this year, lol...  Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers. 

This Labor Day is very different for me, I'm celebrating a 'LABOR' of LOVE as a Independent Team Beachbody Coach!  I've been helping, encouraging and motivating hundreds of people over my first year as a TBB Coach using Shakeology to keep me energized!!!  If you have a passion to help other and take your income to the next level, now is the time to join my team as a TBB Coach.

September is SHAKEOLOGY Month!

Next month, September 2011, marks my 1 year anniversary using Shakeology!  Shakeology has taken me to my lowest weight in OVER 25 years and has given me more energy than I've ever had!  In celebration of my success, I will be offerings a few different specials throught out the month.  Also, I'm looking to put together a trial group of people wanting/needing to lose over 25 lbs and enjoy the benefits of better health and energy like I have experienced.  If you know anyone who may benefit from this trial program, please feel free to share this info w/ them:

 

            ********** SPECIAL Offer From Now Until 11:00 p.m. Wed. 8/31/11**********

 

                                                 Call TODAY to get started (850) 702-4521.

HEY, Hey, Hey... It's a FABULOUSLY Fit Friday!

"You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there." ~Edwin Louis Cole~

I read this AWESOME quote the other day and stopped to take a moment to reflect on it.  There have been times on my health/fitness journey that I've fallen off, been so frustrated that I didn't want to workout or eat the right thing and just simply wanted to give up.  I'd cry a little then pray for the strength to get up and get started again, saying to myself "...this too shall pass!" 

If there's anyone out there like me who sometimes finds themselves 'falling in the water' just know that you don't have to 'stay there'.  Get up call me (850) 702-4521 or anyone that is really there for you to help you get back on track, because it all does eventually PASS!  Sending you All love as we continue this journey together!  Have a FABULOUSLY Fit Weekend & Abundant Blessings!!!

It's a Terrific Tuesday!

Greetings Friends,

I want to hear from you... please share what makes your day TERRIFIC?  What achievements have you accomplished lately?  What progress have you made toward reaching your life long dreams?  I find that as we share with one another it just might spark a thought for someone else to work on or a different direction to try. 

Here is one of my dreams, lol... for my back to look like this when I reach her age 75.  Go Ms. Ernestine GO!  I can do it, I can do it, I WILL do it!!!

Happy FITNESS Friday!

TGIF, Happy fitness Friday!  What is your fitness plan for the weekend?  How will your workout change lives today?  Share it and help someone get moving!  You know you make me wanta SHOUT kick my heals up and SHOUT throw my hands up and SHOUT throw my head back and SHOUT come on now SHOUT!  Hey, hey, hey!!!

It's a Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thankful Thursday!  What are you thankful for today?  I'm thankful for my Brand New ASICS Kayanos that's going to get me movin' a whole lot FASTER for my next race!  Who's got races lined up for this fall?  What type of races will you be doing 5k, 10k, half marathon or full marathon and where will you be racing at?  Who's racing for a cause?  While out training don't forget to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!!! 

The Beachbody Challenge!

Have you decided to take back your health?  If so, join The Beachbody Challenge & Commit to get fit and share the results you achieve with any Beachbody® program.  You'll automatically get a free wristband, a free T-shirt, or BOTH!  If your transformation is selected as the BEST in your age and gender category (18 – 29, 30 – 39, 40 – 49, 50+) you could win up to $100,000!  Ready to win?  Enter today! 
http://beachbodysocial.com/x79

OPPORTUNITY'S Knocking!

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Job Opportunity Available: I am looking for someone who is serious and wants to take part in an exclusive work from home business mentorship program. I did this same program and now I am working from home full time in just 12 months. Serious inquiries only. Interviews will be taking place next week. The program is limited to only 8 people. Please email me at ruf3@ymail.com w/ Job Opportunity Available in the subject line.
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Happy Birthday 2 ME, Join the Celebration!!!

Happy TGIF!  This is me 1 year ago today (my Birthday) doing Insanity and I weighed in at 137. 6. Woo hoo :-)

Here I am today on my birthday doing Hip Hop Abs and I weighed in at 135.4. LOVE that Shakeology for all the energy it gives me to keep going and going and going, lol... even at 50+!!!

Over the last year I have increased in strength and have so much more energy.  Prior to my birthday last year I had been at a stand still with reaching my weight & exercise goals for almost two years.  I had loss over 40 lbs (with Hip Hop Abs) but I just hadn't made it under 140 lbs and my goal was to reach 135 lbs.  June 2010 I came across the facebook page Black Women "DO" Workout! (if you haven't visited that page you should and it doesn't matter what gender, color, race, religion or anything else you are, but that fitness page is AMAZING and life changing for so many people) and was amazed at the women who were changing and reshaping their health and I instantly wanted to do the same. 

I put together a 6 week challenge for myself with Insanity and got down to 137.6 lbs on my birthday last year. I became a Team Beachbody Coach that week and less than two months later I began drinking Shakeology and hit my all time lowest weight in over 25 years of 133.2 lbs! Shakeology gave me so much energy and taste so good that it has become my favorite snack, it's hard to believe that something that good is actually good for you. I'm no longer trying to lose weight, I'm happy right where I'm at, but I continue to drink Shakeology to maintain my good health and the energy. If you haven't tried Shakeology, now is time to change your life for the better! Don't miss the ~C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-I-O-N~ Specials listed on Tuesday's post. Thanks for joining me and have a FABULOUSLY Fit Weekend & Abundant Blessings 2 All!!!

~C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-I-O-N~

~C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E~ Good Times Come On!!!  Help me celebrate my 1 yr anniversary as a Team Beachbody Coach and My Birthday this week by taking advantage of my end of the month specials!  I've just added a BONUS to my Hip Hop Abs and Shakeology specials.  NOW though the end of the month I've added the BONUS of a 30 day supply of Beachbody's ActiVit® Multivitamins!!!

Get the top-quality vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your body needs every day in order to stay healthy while you reach your fitness or weight-loss goals FREE as a BONUS with your purchase of Hip Hop Abs - the workout that jump started my weight loss journey with over 40 pounds loss or Shakeology - that took me to the lowest weight in over 25 years!!!   

Don't miss out on the opportunity to shed those unwanted pounds and take your health to the next level with a winning combination that's sure to TRANSFORM your HEALTH!!!

This is how a REAL First Lady "Brings It!"

All I can say is "WOW", what an AMAZING 1st Lady we have!  She is such an inspiration on so many levels.  If nothing else she should be remembered as the 1st Lady of HEALTH & FITNESS!!!  She teaches with her life that health and fitness are very important. 

As parents we should be setting healthy examples from the very beginning.  It's taken me a while but I'm on the right track now.  Below is me with my 32 yr old  daughter doing yoga.  We have also participated in the American Heart Association's, Lawyers Have Hart 10K (in memory of my mother) in DC & the White Rock Lake marathon in Dallas together.

As I work on building a legacy of Healthy Living for my family I've had the AMAZING opportunity to work out with my grandsons, Ivan (in the pic below he's 3 yrs) who is determined to teach ME how to do push up, and Idris (in the pic below he's 1 yrs) who always seems to know just when to jump in the picture, lol.. What a solid foundation for our future world leaders, let's keep them healthy.  Have a FABULOUSLY Fit Weekend & Abundant Blessings to All!

"Biggest Loser Shakeology Summer Slimdown Challenge"

Happy Monday To You All,

I trust you had a FABULOUSLY Fit Weekend and you're ready to "Bring It" this week!  Anyone still trying to lose those last 10 - 15 pounds (or more) by Labor Day, I've got some FABULOUS news... One of the Elite Fitness Groups I'm in will be having a "Biggest Loser Shakeology Summer Slimdown Challenge" during the month of August with some AWESOME PRIZES!!!  So let's get started by signing up TODAY!!!  You can contact me for more info.  Make it a FABULOUSLY Fit Week & Abundant Blessings All Around!

Staying Motivated!!!

 

 

Take a moment and think about when you enjoyed life the most?  When I did this I recalled what I looked like and went to my photo albums to reminisce.  I found that 98% of the photos were of me when I was smaller.  There were only two pictures of me over 190 lbs. for a number of years, then I remember that when I was heavier I was always asked to take the pictures of everyone else.  I also made sure to stay out of the way when pictures where being taken because I didn't like how I looked.

In addition to my family health issues, I didn't like who I had become and I had to change that in order to feel better about myself.  Now, I look at one of the only two pictures of me large EVERY day so I don't forget how far I had let myself go, and instantly I'm motivated to stay committed to my health and fitness goals!  You can do it too.  Together WE can do this, let me know when you're ready: Decide, Commit, Succeed!

**"The two important things I did learn were that you are as powerful and strong as you allow yourself to be, and that the most difficult part of an endeavor is taking the first step, making the first decision."~Robyn Davidson, Author.**

An Inspiration 4 ALL, My SHERO!

Ms. Ernestine Shepherd, who next to my mother is such an inspiration for me & is a living testimony that it's never to late to lose weight, get fit or even become a body builder.  At age 56 & 57 she & her sister looked at themselves as they tried on swim suits 4 a party & knew they had work to do :-)  I hear so often from people that they're to old or it's to late to try & it's not.  Ms. Ernestine & her sister found that all U have to do is get started.  They started w/ aerobics classes & then moved to weight lifting to sculpt their bodies.  As Ms. Ernestine made excellent progress she decided to participate in competitions which led her to a diet that required high protein.  She shared that she drinks  liquid egg whites, three times a day & runs at least 10 miles a day. Last month a week before she turned 75, she was in another national competition showing what the article calls, her signature span of chiseled abs! Go Ms. Ernie GO!  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/​lifestyle/magazine/six-pack-ab​s-at-age-74-age-is-nothing-but​-a-number-says-guinness-world-​records-oldest-competitive-fem​ale-bodybuilder/2011/03/16/AG5​lGvCH_story.html?hpid=z2

It's Been 1 Week!!!

If U saw one of my post to visit my blog & make comments to help me learn how to do this, I want to extend my heart felt gratitude & appreciation for your input.  If U don't see your suggestions right away it's because I'm still learning & may not have found out how to do what U suggested yet, lol...

I can't believe it's been a whole week since Bootcamp began & I'm still alive.  In addition to my daily workouts I'm learning so much!  Mostly how to challenge myself to do things I didn't want to do but when I think about the possibility of inspiring someone to change their life to get healthy I see it's worth it :-)

This month I'm highlighting Hip Hop Abs as my workout, mainly because it's the fitness program that I used to lose over 40 lbs. & it's so much fun!  In this picture I'm doing the Fat Burning Cardio workout.  U can check it out: http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/CoachFAITH?bctid=10103956001 I enjoy this program so much that some times I do more than one workout a day.  I look forword to reading your comments.  Have a FABULOUSLY Fit Evening & Abundant Blessings!

Happy TGIF!

Happy TGIF, thanks so much for stopping by! Later this month I will be celebrating turning 50, (YES, again, LOL!) so to completely TRANSFORM my health, I have some healing to do.  On a mission 2 heal, I've joined a '90 Day Extreme Bootcamp' that began Sunday, 7/3/11.  Being a little concerned if I can make it to the end, I woke up that morning & read my daily devotional which was titled "A Strong Example" & it was about Job from Job 1:1-5 & 2:1-9.  I can only pray to come close to developing that kind of strength/tenacity in my attempt to encourage those that want to get healthy, but I'm going to try.  So Bootcamp here I come! Abundant Blessings 2 All!

I've been asked "Why FABULOUSLY Fit 50?"

7/7/11
I've been asked "Why FABULOUSLY Fit 50?"

The year my paternal grandmother, Anna Mae Smith (affectionately know as Ma-Mae), turned 100 yrs old was such a special year for me.  I had never known anyone who had lived that long & she was the only grandmother I had ever known since my maternal grandmother didn't live to see her 41st birthday due to heart disease.  As we planned for the big event I tried to imagine what it must be like to have lived that long.  Finally the day came to pack up the family & head to Clinton, NC.  It would be the first & last time that my mother & grandmother would meet face to face or ever see each other again.  We arrived a few days before the event so that we could spend time with Ma-Mae.  I remember her telling me "Shug, I don't know what Walter is making all this fuss about just because I'm turning 100, I'm gonna be around until I'm at least 106."  It was at that moment that I told my grandmother that I hope to be as active & full of life as she was when I reached half her age.  From that moment on I hoped to be active like my grandmother by the time I turned 50!

My Bio

Who Am I?  As I explained in the 'About Me' section, FAITH! stands 4 = Fully Achieving Independence Through Health/healing.  My mother was a stroke survivor. She suffered a massive stroke after complications resulting from a heart attack. After months of rehabilitation and physical therapy, she recovered well enough to live outside of a nursing home for almost 3 years before loosing the battle to more heart attacks that caused her death on March 30, 2004. The stroke had diminished her quality of life greatly. She was embarrassed about the way she spoke after spending months in speech therapy. Near the end, she would only go out of the house for doctor appointments because of the pain she experienced from trying to walk. It was very difficult to see her in that much pain.  

The foundation for these illnesses were; cigarette smoking (for over 40 years), high blood pressure, poor diet and the lack of physical activity.  Less than a month after losing my mother I learned that I was at risk of the same thing happening 2 me even though I didn't smoke or have high blood pressure.  I have some of the other risk factors & a family history of these illnesses.  With 5 children 2 care 4 at the time, I knew I had 2 reduce my risk 2 break this cycle.  Like so many others I didn't know where 2 begin or what 2 do so I made a number of unsuccessful attempts.  Then one day I saw an informecial 4 Power 90.

Since buying that first Beachbody DVD in 2005, I've lost (& kept off) over 60 lbs, correct my diet/eating habits, workout on a regular basis & share my FAITH! journey with anyone that will listen.  My "WHY" is 2 help others not experience what my mother experienced.  Right now her younger brother is on the waiting list 4 a kidney transplant that is a result of him having diabetes, that's my "WHY."