BL's Sunny...I think I wanted her to win?

     I really don't have a "favorite" this season, which makes me sad.  I usually pick the one person I think will take it all the way until the finale and lose a crazy amount of weight and share their story and passion with millions for years to come!  Ha, okay so I may not predict the winner every season, but I'd like to think I'm pretty darn good at it! 

     Last night I was pretty bummed to learn that Sunny was eliminated.  Maybe because she was from Texas?  Possibly because I felt for her, after all of those years not "living" her life.  Secluded and not doing things with her husband and children...all because she was hiding behind her weight.  We all know people like Sunny.  You know they can be SO much more...and you want so much more for them.  Bob said Sunny reminded him of his very own sister, struggling with weight most of her life.

Sunny, 41 from Frisco, Texas
Fifth Grade Teacher, Starting Weight: 277 lbs.

all photos taken from NBC.com

and when they showed "where she is now" in her weight loss journey after this episode aired...she looked even MORE amazing...almost losing 100lbs!  Yay Sunny!
Do you have a favorite this season? Did you think Sunny should have made it to the final four?

Goals for 2012

As I reflect back on 2011, I can't help but start to focus and set goals for the New Year!  You all know that training is underway for my first half marathon that takes place in 2012, so that is definitely at the top of my list:

• FINISH the Aramco Half Marathon(Houston, Texas) -January 15, 2012!
• GET INVOLVED in my community!  I want to find ways to spread the word about health and fitness in my area.  Organizing a health fair, local 5K or family walk/run, anything to get our community ACTIVE, together!
• Start teaching aerobics at a local gym.  I miss that part of me.  I used to love the music and the motivation of being an aerobics instructor...I gotta update my certification and get back into it!
• Tone up my tummy!  It's not a pretty sight when bathing suit season comes around...so I need to take my core to a whole different level in 2012!  
• Take my running to the next level...possibly a full marathon?  Hmm...not so sure about that!
• Expand The Move It Momma!  I'd like to reach a larger audience in many different ways!  The possibilities are endless, but there's one thing that I know...when I started this blog, I decided that THIS was something very important to me.  Sharing my story, my struggles, my successes was something that helped others relate.  Helped others know that change is possible.  Helping my readers get the tools they need for success!  Knowing that this blog has allowed me to reach and inspire others...it's THE greatest feeling in the world.  

What's on your list for 2012?  
Follow through with things that you want in life.  Keep those goals in mind with everything that you do.  Make THIS the year for something great...a weight loss success, a healthier way of life, a healthy life for your children, quitting smoking, heart-healthy eating...anything!  The sky is the limit!  Set your goals to where you WILL achieve great things in 2012!  We can do it TOGETHER!  How will you make 2012 your healthiest year EVER?

Exciting News!

I am very proud to announce that I will be joining the FitFluential team of Ambassadors! Woohoo!

When I started my weight loss journey over 11 years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would use my knowledge, personal experience and passion for healthy living with as many people as possible, and if I changed ONE life then I did my job! Right? Wrong! FitFluential will help me reach a larger audience, touch more lives. I may help motivate others and help them understand that change is always an option, it is always possible to gain your life back. This will help me share my story and hopefully that will inspire others to spread their love for health and fitness! Finding a new way of life was THE best thing that I did for myself, my family, my children, my husband and I am so excited to begin this new journey with FitFluential!

Today's Workout: 5K on the jogging trails near our house! It's mid-50's and windy here in Texas today, but it was a great run! I felt good and finished in 32:12! My goals for this month will be to sign up for my first ever 10K! I figure I might as well do one ASAP since my half marathon is coming up very soon-January 15th! Yikes!

*Also, I am sad to say that I do not have another Inspire Me! story to share with you all today...that means YOU need to send me an email rissarose80@yahoo.com and tell me something inspiring! That's IT! Do you have a weight loss story, do you make time for exercise every day, have you run a marathon? Half? Tri? 10K or 5K? Do you have a goal to be healthier in 2012? ANYTHING! I'm waiting to hear from you...

No Excuses! and some cereal...

After my huge accomplishment the other day(thanks to all of you for your kind words and support!), I was feeling some pain in my hip and knee, so I decided that a 3 mile run would be great.

I set out and then it started..."I need someone in front of me, pushing me", "I would be faster if I had a running buddy", "If my hip didn't hurt", "I shouldn't have eaten so much on Thanksgiving", "I should have worn a better t-shirt", "my knee hurts"...and on and on! Then I realized, there are NO EXCUSES for my speed-or lack thereof. I finished those 3 miles in under 33 minutes, but I knew I hadn't truly PUSHED MYSELF to my limit like I had the other day. But you know what, that's ok. I woke up, worked out, took care of my heart, my body, my mind.

I did this for me, my family, my life. NO EXCUSES.

So, why did I feel like you should know my struggles? Because we ALL have them. We must all make NO EXCUSES. We must all push ourselves. Whether we are athletes, wanting to lose weight, get healthy, just starting a weight loss journey...whatever! We are our own support group, our own personal trainer, and yes-support from your family and friends is SO important, but it's not up to those people to push us, we MUST push ourselves. Every day.

And now for exciting news. My aunt has been on a journey to lose weight and is doing AMAZING. She is so healthy, knows what foods are good for her body, knows portion control and exercise! Wow. She's doing it! Her and I were talking about healthy foods and products and she says in the morning she lives by, Uncle Sam cereal. Oh my goodness, was this a product I hadn't heard of? YES. I had to learn more. She said it tasted so good and controlled her appetite. 10 grams of fiber? I was all over it. Have you tried Uncle Sam cereal? Attune foods has a great, informative website that's all about their products. They have gluten-free and high fiber products. What's sad is that this cereal has been in production since 1908. I had never heard of it but once I saw the box, I did recognize it from the stores. I am going to have to give this cereal a taste and I'll tell ya all about it.

Do you find yourself making excuses when it comes to exercise?

What's your favorite, healthy cereal?

I had my game face on and pushed myself harder than EVER before...

for my morning run! And I looked like this when it was all over...

red cheeks with a smile on my face! Why? Because I set out to run a 10K! Started off at a pretty good pace(we had a cold front and mid-50 temps-Yay!) and at about 3/4 of a mile, I caught up with my competition! Ha, not really but without a running buddy, I decided to use this woman as my motivation! She was going pretty fast, so I decided to put my game face on and TRY and keep up! I hit the 5K mark at 29:54...INSANE!!! I never run that fast, EVER! I felt great, no pain and my legs felt like they were flying! Seriously, I know that is not incredibly fast, but for me-it totally was! And then there it was...6.4 miles in 58 minutes! OH MY GOODNESS! Not even sure how that's possible, but I have my Nike+ to prove it! I was shaking by the time I was finished!

Proof that pushing yourself harder is ALWAYS an option! Here I thought I was pushing myself to my limit, however this competition proved that I can push harder! Wow. I don't even know the woman that I was "chasing" but I'm sure thankful that she was there! She motivated me and she doesn't even know it. Amazing how our minds are SO powerful. I told myself I would and guess what? I did. I am feeling good and after burning over 900 calories, I'm ready to enjoy some turkey and cranberry tomorrow...Mmm, my favorite!

Lucy Review and my 5K PR!!!

Have you heard of Lucy? If not, it's fabulous women's active wear and clothing! I recently had the privilege of reviewing the Lucy Hatha Leggings! I took them right out of the package and tried them on! Super comfy, great fit and I loved the length!

Allow me to model them for ya,
Maybe you are looking for tops, skirts, dresses, hoodies, jackets, bras and accessories...
well, you're in luck because Lucy has it all! An item on my wish list would have to be the Lucy Hatha Power Capris! Super cute and seems like they'd make the perfect bottoms for any workout! The 10K seamless cami bra seems great too!
Anyway, I decided to try my Lucy Hatha Leggings on a little 5K run! The result: It was a fabulous race and not sure if the pants had anything to do with it,
but I hit a 5K PR: 33:49! WOOHOOO!!!!!!



and here's a post-workout picture too! I loved the way these pants fit! Very comfortable and great for running. I personally think I look a little silly in them, but that's ok...they did the job! I guess the next item I need to try is a running skirt! I've heard great things about them and I know I'd probably love it but I worry that it'll "ride" up? Hmm...
All I know is that I will be racing in Daily Vitamin "F"virtual Thanksgiving 5K and I'll be wearing my new Lucy Hatha Leggings!

What's your favorite brand of active wear?
Do you wear compression shorts/pants?

Disclosure: I received a pair of Lucy leggings at no charge in exchange for my honest opinion and review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Set an example

I'm trying to set a positive example for these boys...and every one around me!

As I find inspiration through fellow health bloggers, I find a trend and it is that we all strive to set an example for our families, our children, our parents...everyone.

Having an active lifestyle WILL impact your family in a positive way. We can't just want our children to be active, we must make healthy living a priority in our lives as well. I hope as a parent that I am doing just that.

I feel very strongly that we must associate physical fitness with fun and happiness, not as a chore or punishment! Too many times it is used incorrectly and we want our children to have a passion for being healthy and making exercise a positive part of their life.

Having been overweight myself, I find that people have found encouragement through my weight loss journey and I am able to serve as a "she did it, why can't I?" person! Yay! I couldn't ask for more than that. I think that also helped me relate to the overweight children I had the privilege of teaching. I helped them understand that change is possible and that their health is important! I wanted them to make a positive connection between exercise and feeling good!

So, I ask that you and I work together and set an example in our lives and the lives of our loved ones...spread your passion and love for health and fitness!

It will catch on and be contagious, I promise! As my husband's life changed and health became a priority, I watched my boys find a higher interest in exercise! They wanted to be like Daddy. They wanted to run fast like their Daddy and those moments for me are priceless!

It's never too late...EVER!

How will YOU set an example?

Yesterday's Workout: a great 5.4 mile run in the ridiculous heat! Yes, I said heat. While some of you are having to layer yourselves, I was dripping in sweat and could barely breath in the insane humidity! A cold front is approaching and I'm hoping it'll stay cool long enough for me to get a long run in this week?! My husband runs better in the heat and humidity and I am the total opposite, I'd rather it be freezing cold! Ha! What about you? Do you prefer hot or cold temps for running/exercise?