Fit, Fabulous, 40's, Friday

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!

Hope you are having a 

FABULOUS week!

I'm feeling so blessed this morning!

I wanted to share what I did this last Sunday!

I ran my 3rd -1/2 Marathon 

to earn the 

Beach Cities Medal!!!

I received the medal on the left for running the OC 1/2, 

then received the medal on the right after completing the 

three Beach Cities 1/2 Marathons in consecutive order, 

the Long Beach,

Huntington Beach

and finally 

the Newport Beach 1/2.

It was beyond great and I'm all about getting a deal!

3 runs and 4 medals,

extra BLING!

My friend Lisa has run with me in all three 1/2 Marathons

and it has been special since neither one of us had ever run a 1/2 Marathon before.

Saturday I went to the Costa Mesa Fair grounds to pick up my bib and t-shirt.

My daughter Kiana has come with me the other two times to pick up my 

bib and it has been tradition.

It was really windy when we got there-

and I ran into my friend Anna, a man who I met years ago at the gym,

got cancer but actually put the very first seed in my mind to run

and that I could possibly do it,

and also ran into a gal that I went to High School with that runs the

full marathons for fun.

Here is a picture of my bib #..

I have to tell you that I was a little unsure of how I would do this time.

I hadn't trained very much and wasn't mentally prepared or focused on it as I had been with the other two, but I did decrease my time in the Surf City (Huntington Beach)

by 10 minutes!

But, I had a goal to do ALL 3 1/2 Marathons and no matter what,

I was going to at least finish!

Lisa drove over on Saturday night and slept over.

We got up around 4:30 so we could leave by 5 to get to the Fair Grounds by 5:30.

We ran a little late, but weren't worried.

Here is a pic of us when we got there.

 There was a long line to the buses that were shuttling everyone down to the starting line 
which was right by Fashion Island.

 As we waited, we walked by the finish line- 

I thought it was great to see people remembering those who ran the Boston Marathon- 

see the thin orange line at the bottom of the banner?

It says, "Run for Boston", and there were many people showing their support through t-shirts, etc.

When we finally got on  then off the bus,

we all walked to the start line.

I must say it was somewhat anti-climactic.

For the first two 1/2 marathons we ran, we were at the starting gate with ALL of the runners,

and they put you in "gates" depending on your finish time.

It's pretty exciting to be with all the runners.

Well, we were so behind everyone else, that when we got there, it was pretty empty.

No announcer,

no crowds, 

no runners waiting.

In fact, it looked like they all had a party and stripped and we got there after everyone had disappeared!

There was trash all over the streets and it was hilarious to see all the sweatshirts, sweaters and shirts that were thrown off and left on the sidewalks!!!

Someone was collecting them in a trash bag- 

I hope they wash them and donate them to the homeless.

So, we got there and saw the start line, looked at each other, smiled and just started jogging.

There were probably about 4 or 5 other buses loaded with runners behind us, so we weren't completely alone, but it was just weird.

As we got into our groove, we began passing more and more runners.

One thing I love is the sheer number of people you are running with, the energy that comes with that, and also a sharing of this special experience.

The run was fabulous.

We ran through streets with beautiful homes,

by the water,

a trail

and finished at the Fair Grounds.

One of the really amazing things about participating in something with so many people involved is you get perspective,

I am a part of something bigger.

You also get inspired!

There are people older, younger, heavier, lighter, more fit, less fit,

faster, slower, walkers, runners.

ANYONE can do this!

I must admit, in my head, I believed anyone who ran 1/2 marathons+ had to look like the runners I've seen in the Olympics.

I don't look like them so I never really saw myself as a runner.

I know this is really an immature and superficial way of thinking, but I'm being honest.

I never SAW myself THAT way-

I still don't but I won't let that stop me!

I'm inspired!

So Lisa and I ran, and ran and ran.

We had a potty break, actually 2 and slowed down at almost every water stop, and I was praying all the way!

And we finished!!

Here we are with my friend Sophia.

She ran it under 2 hours! What a Rock Star!

All said and done, 

Bib: 6088 Name: Janet Hertogh Gender: F Age: 48 Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA	Overall: 4656 out of 10050 Women: 2232 out of 6034 F 45-49: 218 out of 645 Age/Grade: 53.44% Place: 2830 Finish: 2:16:16 Pace: 10:24 Tag Time: 2:16:16 Gun Time: 2:48:42

So I had a 10.2 minute mile and was just a tiny bit over my first 1/2.

Seriously,

I'm just happy I finished it!

Thank you, God, for my Mizunos!

I can't tell you what an amazing feeling of accomplishment I have!

I want to challenge you to step out of your comfort zone TODAY!

Make a decision to do something new.

Yesterday after my bible study, a woman came over to me to me and had some questions about starting a weight training plan.

I wanted to know what HER goals were, what SHE WANTED to do.

She said that she wanted to strengthen her muscles and get into the gym.

After talking a bit,

she confessed that she kind of knew what to do once she was there and then asked,

"how do you get there?"

THIS IS THE BIG QUESTION,

because let's face it, most people KNOW what to do, or at least that they should be exercising- 

the difficult part is the DOing.

I told her that I go for two reasons:

1) because I AM VAIN and I like to see definition on my body,

I like the way my body looks when I'm fit.

(that's just ME)

and

2) I'm over 40 and I want to live a healthy, strong, life and be able to keep up with my children.

I love when one of my sons grabs my hand and tries to take me down and he can't.....yet.

I know that day will arrive soon enough, but right now, I love grabbing them and being strong enough to give them a little challenge!

(again, just ME being honest)

YOU have to find your "WHY".

It will be the reason for almost EVERYTHING you do, 

if you think about it.

The things we DO are a result of our "WHY"s.

I am cooking cleaner- why? So my family will be healthier.

My children are in sports- why? So they can learn discipline, sportsmanship, being part of a team.

We go to church- why? So we can have a strong faith and spiritual connection to GOD.

Yes, it would be easier to not get involved in sports, church and give a hoot about what I cook- 

EVERY single thing I am doing takes some effort,

but each one is worth the effort -

in fact the results are multiplied.

MOVE -forward!

Do something new,

read this and give up something so you can have and do that something new.

Maybe for YOU it isn't something physical,

it could be relational

or spiritual.

I'll admit, I struggle with #3 and #5.

What do you struggle with?

Deciding, Doing, Denial?

Fear?

What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

I would love to hear from you!!

Have a stupendous weekend!

Fit, Fabulous 40's Friday!

Today, I thought I would share a little about what I eat, 

and the journey I have been on and continue to be on, regarding nutrition.

I am NOT a nutritionist. 

I am an encourager, your personal cheer-leader and coach, 

and I'm just sharing what has worked for me, 

hoping that it will give you some sort of comfort knowing that most fit people 

really work at it.

I look at becoming "fit"similar to working towards a degree, or certification.

It is a process of consistently taking baby steps.

Remember "What About Bob?"

Bill Murray was great in this movie portraying someone with a ton of issues- 

he's neurotic.

I loved this movie because ALL of us have some issues

and 

we can empathize with Bob.

( I do have a few....hundred)

I think most of us really want to work on

"our stuff",

sometimes we just aren't sure how.

You must work towards becoming fit or healthy.

 Little by little, chipping away day by day, week by week, year by year.
It came slowly for me,
as I shared here,
but it came!

I had to start looking at how I was using food.

Not just for nourishment,

but for friendship, when I was feeling lonely or bored,

for comfort, when I was nervous,

and for protection, when I was fearful.

I also ate whatever I wanted, when I wanted,

and let's face it,

bad carbs taste the best!

The cool thing about my relationship w/ Jesus,

is that instead of going to food for comfort,

I can go to God.

2 Corinthians 1:3

 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort"

Baby Steps:

Let's start with three Simple Things

1. Correct Portions

How much?

2. BETTER choices.

3. Eat a portion of PROTEIN and a portion of CARBS at every meal/snack.

Eat ever 2-3 hours.

Start today-

I already wrote about your food journal here,

BE AWARE of what you are eating,

BE ACCOUNTABLE to yourself,

and

BE AWESOME!!!

Are you a pretty good eater?

What are some ways you want to improve your nutrition this year?

Fit, Fabulous 4O's Friday!

Becoming Emotionally Fit:

        

This has been a struggle for me,
feeling beautiful,
that is.

Growing up, I never looked like the girls on TV or in the magazines, 

and the ones on TV or in the magazines all had blonde or light brown hair 

and they were all thin and had long legs.

I always wanted blonde hair.
Somehow, an asian with blonde hair was just so wrong in so many ways!

It has taken me a long, long time to really "get" that I am unique,
one-of-a-kind,
masterpiece.

How about you?

If I were to ask you right now "Are you beautiful/handsome?" what would you say?

Rather, what would your inner voice say?

Well, she/he is a liar!

I know what your voice is saying because mine says the same thing,
(NO!)

even though I actually DO think I am unique, one-of-a-kind and special gal.

What is it with us?
(women, especially)

Why is is so darn difficult to embrace our beauty?

In the Asian culture,
when growing up, my parents just wanted us to fit in.

We would never want to "stand out" in a crowd for any reason.
And beauty showed itself by being more of a timid and shy young lady-

I tried for a long time to embody this picture...

but I'm really more like this.
Seriously!

For many years I wondered what was wrong with me.

I never felt like I fit into my family.

Having a Sanguine personality in a Choleric culture did not rock.

Growing up,
I was never the "Smart One" like my big brother
or
the "Strong One" like my younger sister-
I was the "Loud One". 

No one told me this: 

Not only that, my mother never liked the bright colors I liked to wear,
how I would yell out the window if I thought I saw a friend walking down the street,
and she never approved of the RED Miata convertible I bought.

"It's soooooo red", she would say in disapproval.

I had some confidence in school because I was popular and outgoing,
and  I always had a boyfriend,
so
my confidence came from those things.

I went to college, got a teaching job and then my confidence came from my work.

I got married, then my confidence came from my husband.

I had my first child and left my job, my income, and most of my friends,
and
 what I thought my main purpose was-
consequently,
I lost the bulk of the confidence that I had.....

then I met Jesus.

HE gave me REAL CONFIDENCE.

Confidence in knowing I am loved...no matter how I look, how much I weigh,
 how much money I make, what kind of car I drive,

I. am. Loved.

And,
so. are. YOU.

Jesus-
He is not about whether you go to church or not,
He is not about what your background is or was,
He is not about where you live,
what you drive
what size or shape you are
or
how you look.

He is about LOVE.
He is LOVE.

As I opened my heart to feel His love,
and allowed it in,

I grew in confidence.
I grew in a lot of other areas, too.

I love being fit and healthy
but I'm fabulous
because I have confidence in a Savior,
the one true God.
Jesus.

"Your confidence is in Christ and Christ alone!"
Philippians 3:3


How is your confidence?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Living The Best of Your Life!

I am so grateful for each new day!

I've been pretty good so far regarding taking small steps each day

towards my goals for the year.

But one question for you -

are the goals that you have set for yourself going to add positively to your life, 

for the rest of your life?

After going to church this weekend,

there was talk about resolutions-

actually

LIFE CHANGES.

One of my favorite words ever:

transformation.

One of my very favorite verses:

Romans 12:1-2

New Living Translation (NLT)

A Living Sacrifice to God

12 And so, dear brothers and sisters,
^[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all 
he has done for you. 
Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. 
This is truly the way to worship him.^[b]
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by 
changing the way you think. 
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, 
which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Instead of making resolutions for 

this year,

what about making

resolutions that will add to the 

rest of your life?

For some reason, 

I was able to see this differently this year.

 My vision 

E     X     P     A     N     D     E    D. 

As I made my resolutions/goals,

I was able to see how each one of them will benefit my

growth, change 
and 
transformation

to the person God wants me to be.

I am able to see my life in a 

life long

perspective

vs.

year to year.

Here are a couple of my goals and how I'm looking at the lifelong benefits:

 I yearn to grow in the Lord and learn more about and absorb his word and we (as a family)

will be memorizing more verses.

We will be starting with Ann Voskamp's memory practice sheets for 

"The Sermon on the Mount".

I desire to stay fit and increase my running times/speed,

so I'm training for the Huntington Beach 1/2 Marathon 

                                                       and will do the OC 1/2 Marathon.

My goal to write a book....

someday,

(with this guy's guidance)

which will be the result of writing everyday of this year

if I could just win this battle:

I've got to write..

one word or 500, 

or something in the middle!

(I think I had previously posted 500 

which is a lot more than I thought it was!)

and realistically, 
I could do at least one word every day,

right?

:-)

I will focus on loving people

not things,

prioritizing my family and friends.

I've actually purchased note cards and will send at least one card out a week.

Send me your address and I'll write you 

a

hand-written note!

I even signed up for this!

Imagine receiving a letter through snail mail!

Imagine!

What IF God could really transform you this year?

He can

if 

you

let 

Him.

Let him.

Have the best day ever!