The Before and After!!

Ok, so I fibbed a bit. First of all, I said if Jonathan let me post the before and after pic I wouldn't say (type) anything. Ok, I lied. Buuuut I have to clear up something. I said he lost 100 lbs and he lost 65 lbs. So, that's all I am going to say. Oh yeah, one last thing, JONATHAN IS THE SHIIIIITTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And truth be told, I think he is alot smaller than he is in this pic! Either way, he looks phenomenal and ALWAYS motivates me to be my best. You see that wrap on his knee? He injured himself running. But do you think he let that stop him? NO! He got his crazy self into some physical therapy and got back on the road. STOP MAKING EXCUSES!! What people fail to realize is obesity is an excuse within itself. And if that last sentence seemed to miss you, hopefully you will understand it sooner than later! :-P

Let's turn up this weekend good people. And by turn up I mean sweat until the death!! 5 miles and Power Yoga in the morning for this girl! LIGHTS OUT!

For My Dear Friend Jonny :)

My dear friend Jonny sent this to me this morning. It tickled me to death because I SWEAR I look in  ditches when I run.  Knowing good and well if I see any dead anything, I am going to keep running. As a matter of fact, I am going to run even harder. Jonny said that if he sees a dead body it's just going to have to wait until he finishes his run! Hahaha! Spoken like a true runner! 

For those of you who don't know Jonathan Wood bka JDubbs, he has ALWAYS been a beacon of light and laughter. He is one of the most candid spirits I have ever met in my life. He is my running partner when I am in McKenzie, TN. It is pretty awesome because we run at the same exact pace and both LOVE to talk. I must say he has a pretty awesome running route- hills, flats, long distance, shorter. JDubbs has lost over 100 lbs by dedicating his life to health and fitness. He hasn't authorized me to upload a before and after pic... oooohhhh but when he does! When he does, I swear to post only the picture. No caption needed. :) So, no matter your goal, know that it is attainable. Persistence, strength, and determination go a long way!

Jonathan sent this picture to me a few weeks back. I almost cried because he knows and understands the path to fitness. We both knew each other when cheeseburgers and french fries just weren't enough. Now we know each other when 5 miles just isn't enough! Love my Jonny and the motivation he sends my way! XOXO!!

It was all about the YOGA!!

There was a Power Yoga class today at Winter Garden Yoga. I got a LivingSocial deal-10 yoga classes for $20. It was a steal, so I went for it. Plus, I see a lot of results from yoga. I took at yoga class my final semester in college and LOVED it. I was sore after my first class, and I am convinced it was from stretching muscles I HADN'T stretched in years. I enjoy Power Yoga because it is identical to your traditional yoga class (slow breathing, deep stretches) but at a much faster pace with more intensity. I LOVE it! You get a light sweat and a deep, deep, deep stretch with lots and lots and lots of breath work.  I highly recommend yoga sessions for anyone who likes to "work it out"<--- :-P ;-). Your body gets really tense when being active. The yoga is like your body massaging your muscles. Plus, it is nice to get a light day. :)

What is the saying? "If you want God to laugh, tell him your plan." Power Yoga was my plan HA... yea, this girl forgot her gym bag at home. By the time I remembered, which was at 5:30 pm when I went to my car to get my gym bag, it was too late. I would have had to drive home, change clothes, and then get to Winter Garden 25 minutes away from my house. #epicfail #notgoingtohappen #thisgashasbeenbudgeted. I was so frustrated. I was looking forward to this class. But whatevs. I signed up for another this Saturday morning. I need it! And there are PLENTY of other things on my body that can use a little TLC. LOLOL! #sosincere. 

I cut back on my running because I started to look really skinny and not toned. It wasn't the best look. But, running is my workout vice. I am what they call a "cardio whore." Of all the cardio in the world, I just can't get enough of a good run. Thus far I've gotten 8 miles this week. We will see how the week finishes. Since I have increased my miles, my thighs and hips have become a little tighter. This is normal for me and WHYYYY I wanted to Power Yoga it up today... relieve some tension in these hips, Lord! Anyways, with or without the yoga, my workout was a success. I moved some things around and maximized my time at the gym today, which was great. The earlier you can get out of the gym the better. Seriously. 

Today's Workout

2 mile run

Ab Ripper X

1st Circuit

Seated Row 70 lbs

Push Ups

Decline Abs

2nd Circuit

Standing Dumbbell Military Press

Arm Lifts (LOL! I am laughing because I have no idea what this exercise is called. I used 10 lbs weights. Ten pounds in each hand, you lift your arms horizontally to shoulder height, and bring back down. That is one. 

Lying Leg Lifts (R, L)

3rd Circuit

Dumbbell Curls 20 lbs

Dumbbell Tricep Kickbacks 10 lbs

60 Second Plank

Each circuit was completed 3 times, and depending on the exercise, they were completed 8-15 times per circuit. I wasn't going to do the abs, but I reminded myself that I WANT a 6 pack. In case you didn't know, Heidi Mae usually gets what she wants. :-P

Speaking of ABS!!!

*AB ALERT! AB ALERT! AB ALERT! AB ALERT*

This is a progress report. I can def see more definition! So, I can't lose the faith! :)
 -PS excuse my dirty mirror. It's pretty ridiculous!

Soooo befitting!!!!!!!! This... THIS!! This, is what I am going for!! Whoooo!!!! #hotlikefiyah

Tomorrow is a new day, and I PRAY that God allows us all to be a witness. Amen! Stay strong good people! XOXOOX!

The Runs!!

Today I set out to run 4 miles. I knew it would be a challenge. I haven't ran 4 miles in quite some time. My weight dropped to the 120's, and I was looking frail. I decided to cut back on the running. But for anyone who LOVES to run, as I do, you know that your body can crave a nice long run. I wasn't super excited about my run today, but I was ready. One thing you should know if you plan to take up the sport of running: always have a bathroom in route. At 1.75 miles, my body decides that I have to go to the bathroom... and I have to go BAD! Mile 2 is my starting point. I really wanted to just get back to my starting point, use the bathroom, and get back on the road. NOPE! Stomach was NOT having it. I thanked God for Panda Express today! Why?? Because Panda Express saved my life and my stomach. HAAA! I can laugh about it now, but I was soo frustrated! Totally ruined my grove. So, I didn't get my 4 miles today. I ran 2.13 miles, with a stop at 1.75 for a bathroom break. We'll perform better tomorrow... I hope LOL! :)

After my run I did some ab and core work to make up for missing those extra 2 miles. The 6 pack is shaping up nicely by the way. I will post another picture sometime this week.

I am currently watching the Oscars, and I am  soooo distracted. I promise to give you guys my undivided attention later. However, right now, I need to see the great actors and actresses, who made the movie industry a success this year, accept awards and make awesomely cheesy jokes.

Happy Sunday my good people!!

And Today, Today We Struggle!

Hello my good people! So, as promised, I hit the ground running (literally) today. I said I was going to kill myself, BUT I thought it through and I want to run ALOT of miles tomorrow. With that being said, I allowed myself a death pass today... but we still went bonkers!

I went to the movies before my workout, decided I would catch the early bird showing of Les Miserables. The movie was EXCELLENT but super long and draining. There are sooo many emotions, highs and lows, this girl was really tired after the movie. My original plan was to go straight to the gym after the show, but I wasn't feeling it. So, I went home, took a nap, and woke up rejuvenated. It took me awhile to push myself out of the door. Had it not been for iHeart Radio, I probably wouldn't have made it through the workout.

Today's Workout:

2 mile run (According to my Nike+ app, I hadn't ran in 25 days. What the? I've been on these weights super tough. I missed my runs! The 25 day notification was discouraging, but I pushed through... almost died, but stayed in stride <--- cheesy but you like it! LOL!)

1st Circuit (3 Sets)
Decline Ab Crunch W/ 4 lb Medicine Ball
Alternating Leg Lifts (R,L)
Bulgarian Squats W/ 4 lb Medicine Ball

2nd Circuit (3 Sets)
6 Inches (Or is it 6 degrees? One of the 2.)- This is hard. You lift your legs vertically, resting your body weight on your shoulders. You hold your legs vertically for six seconds. (maybe they are called 6 seconds... clearly I don't know. LOL!) Your legs should be straight in the air. They should never go past your shoulders. TRY IT!! BEASTLY!
Decline Russian Twist W/ 4 lb Medicine Ball
Single Leg Kick, Step Lunge W/ 20lb Dumbbells- 3 things you need for this exercise: a workout bench, two 20lb dumbbells, and your sexy legs. Start with one leg on the bench and one leg on the floor. Step up on the bench using the leg that is on the bench. Once up on the bench bring the leg that started on the floor up to your chest. That's one. Do 10 on each side. If you wobble, try your hardest to keep your balance. Engage your core.

3rd Circuit (3 Sets)
Push Up/Oblique Y W/ 15 lb Dumbbells- Another hard exercise. Complete a push up with the 15 lbs dumbbells in hand. When you come up out of the push up, rotate your body into a side plank, keeping your arm straight and bringing the dumbbell off the floor as you rotate your body. Once on the right and once on the left constitute one full push up/oblique y.
Decline, Alternating Leg Lifts (R,L)

4th Circuit (3 Sets)
Standing Shoulder Press W/ 20 lb Dumbbells
Tuck Crunches
Squat Machine 180 lbs 

I didn't die after this workout. And I cannot for the LIFE of me remember my 3rd action item in my 3rd circuit. My sincerest apologies. If it comes to me,  I will update you my good people! XO!

Happy Black History Month!

Zora Neale Hurston

I LOVE this black woman! Ms. Hurston was a boisterous writer who was part of the Harlem Renaissance. She used her background in anthropology at Barnard College to write short stories and essays about African American folklore. Her most famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, was published in 1937. Because some people disagreed with the way she wrote African American dialogue, her works were not initially as popular as they later became. Now, there is no question of her influence on black female writers, myself included :). I love that fact she wasn't the norm. She was herself, Zora Neale Hurston. 

PS BTW- a small town right outside of Orlando has an annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival during Black History Month. It is so nice- food, bands, vendors, it truly is a festival. 

Say it loud... you know the rest! LOL! XOXO!

Confessions of a Country Fried Drama Queen

I've been told a time or two that I am a bit dramatic. Of course when people make mention of my dramatic personality I act completely repulsed by the notion! <-- insert supporting fact here! LOL!  But I am... a country fried, southern DRAMA QUEEN! If something is not right, I am unhappy, or God forbid, you've pissed me off, there will be a live production of Heidi on Broadway. So, the fact that my workload has increased TREMENDOUSLY since my new supervisor's arrival, ONLY encourages the theatrics.

I am telling you this girl has been soooooo incredibly tired that I have not been able to workout all week. Nope, not one single mile ran, no push up, no crunch, no burpee (thank God #deathtotheburpee). I have been on ULTRA exhausted mode.  It's the workload you see, and don't you dare question the drama queen because she knows EVERYTHING ;). It is in part the workload, the other part is me being lazy and not motivated. #womenproblems. So, because I have not worked out in a week, I will murder my body in the gym tomorrow morning. I have to go to work (told you, workload is riDONKulous) annnd to my little friend Toni's 6th birthday party! All sweating must be done before majority of the American people witness the sunlight! It's called grinding!

Pics, recipes, and workouts all to follow! My apologies for being so negligent. There are no excuses for building a body of greatness! Happy love my good people!! Hasta manana!