fifteen month photo

September '11

Here it is!  Still a work in progress.  I apologize for not taking more pictures throughout my journey, but I'm not vain.  Sure, I have all of the equipment to take pictures, I just keep my time booked with the 'doing' part and less the vanity.  I know, you're saying that I should in order to encourage others.  So this is why I took about an hour before my workout yesterday and jimmied the camera and tripod, with some really stinky lighting tricks...whallah!  There you have it.

Remember this...

June '10

cluttered home is a cluttered head

For months, I've struggled with organizing my living space.  Indeed.  It's a tiny little shoe box that I call home, but it doesn't have to look like I hate being there.  Of course I moved in, dropped anchor, and was off to care for my ailing mother.  But the time has come to get it together.  Hoarding is an illness.  After a few minutes of planning and several hours of modification, I went from a storage facility to a well maintained closet.  I still can't believe I erased the before pictures.  I really was intending on sharing with you this sad but true story.  At least you would see what depression looks like.  But now, it's officially starting to take shape.  I have order!  Thank you LORD!  Who would have thought the very thing I was determined to pitch became the best closet organizer kit ever.  With a small budget of $50 I spent 42 on two more sets.  You can do amazing things on a friendly budget.  Get Busy, Get Organized, and Get Happy!

what's grillin'?

Labor Day was not flawed by any means.  It was less donned with the trims, fanfare, and gorgeous weather, but I did make it a point to enjoy the festivities in the quiet comforts of my home.  It featured non other than MorningStar Farms Hickory BBQ Riblets.  They were tasty!!!  This is one the new vegan menu items from MSF and it passed the test.  You typically can't go wrong with MSF and then Hickory BBQ sauce?  Forget about it!

I enjoyed it with corn on the cob, coleslaw, layer salad, mac n cheese, and baked beans.  While most were working the Labor Day picnic is some truly shoddy weather, I was enjoying a bite and then some.  The meat from the riblets is very moist if you don't over cook it.

So, if you need an idea to fit into the trendy meals of carnivores?  Feeling a little slighted while folks are tearing back on some swine?  Can't help but dip your spoon into the sauce, wishing there was something for the herbivores to chew?  

Get with MorningStar Farms!  And do you know Kroger had the goodies on sale for the holiday?  Now you can't do much better than that!  Enjoy!

give your sole for Parkinson's

On October 1, 2011 I will 'give my sole' in support of the Michigan Parkinson Foundation to honor my mother, the late Georgia B. Moore who battled this disease. Please join me in support of this worthwhile cause.

...have you ditched the scale yet?

How many ways can I say it?

If you are praying to a scale, I bet you really don't enjoy the new body you have or the one you are hoping to have some day. You deserve to be miserable. No. Really. If you are committed to the scale controlling your life, then you deserve what it gives...and that's usually nothing, even if the number excites you. If you have more slips than stills, more falls than gains...something is wrong and you need to evaluate. There is nothing wrong with a built in cheat daily, not to big if the craving hits you. But still you need to add into your daily caloric values.

Fall is approaching.  Like spring, it comes with a reason to fit up for the marathons. Work it Lovelies...kick it up, clean up the diet, drink plenty of water, and get proper rest. Just Do It!!!

making strides

Hi everyone!  Today is August 1, and we are two months away from the Brooksie Way 5K/Half Marathon.  If you recall, I was inspired to run this race last year after visiting a vendor at the Oakland County Arts Beats & Eats.  I set the goal, crazy??? Yes.  I had about 4-5 weeks to prepare, and I finished it.  So this year, I intend to shatter the record I set with a new amazing finish, not misplace my car (lol), and I hope that you will be there this year so we can support each other.

Many of my FACEBOOK fans found out I was running and wanted to start.  I'm not new to this.  No one asks me questions during the winter.  They all want BikiniBods and rush me like a cold sweat for my results.  I can't promise them that.  I don't think I could arrive with that in a package even if the exchange was a half million dollars.

You have to be willing to put in the work.  It's a life style change.  It's something you must commit to for the rest of your life.  And really, why not?  After 30, it's all down hill unless you fight to keep what you've got.  We've all started at different places.  We all can arrive at the destination unlimited.  Just get started!

how much cardio?

I honestly can't answer this question. Experts say 30-45 minutes of moderate aerobic activity at a minimum of five days a week.


Here's my breakdown:

Day 1 - 45-60 mins. Cross Training Cardio [increased speed run and (2) bike/arc trainer/elliptical] + 15-20 mins Core Strengthening + 10-15 mins. stretching

Day 2 - 12-15 mins HIIT RUN + 45-60 mins Upper Body Resistance Training + 12-15 mins. cardio machine + 10-15 mins. stretching

Day 3 - 45-55 mins LONG RUN (3-5 miles) + 30-45 mins. core strengthening/stretching

Day 4 - 12-15 mins HIIT RUN + 45-60 mins Lower Body Resistance Training + 12-15 mins cardio machine + 12-15 mins. stretching

Day 5 - Muscle Recovery
Day 6 - Muscle Recovery


MINIMUM: 168 MPW


AVERAGE MAXIMUM: 190  MPW


You have to take into account that my workout week is six days, and not seven. The reason for that is so that I'm not doing the same exercise the same day each week. See we typically fall into patterns when we perform similar activity.  In the gym, I can toss that up easily by simply increasing the weight on one apparatus, or increasing the speed on any cardio machine. But when we regularly eat the same thing or do the same things patterns develop. I just want my body to remain challenged, open, ready for adaptation. So in actuality, based on my 6 day week, I'm essentially getting five days of workouts on a typical 7 day calendar. And that means 5, not 4 days of cardio every seven days (on the average).  


If you take into account that all of my cardio is performed at increasing speeds or at speed intervals, then it's nearly doubling the intensity that is performed at a steady pace. My minutes could literally double (x2).