Dedication

Las Vegas Athletic Club

Quote of the day:
"HA! Obsession? It's called dedication."


It's 5:30a.m. when the  buzzer on my phone starts to go off. Aahhh!!! I turn and kick in bed, 10 more minutes turns into 1/2 an hour. Okay, Okay, I say to myself. I jump off bed get my training gear on, pull my hair up in a pony tail and before I have time to think about the chilly mornings in Las Vegas, I am out the door.

Cycling class starts at 6:00a.m. and with about 5 minutes left I assemble my bike. I begin to peddle and am amazed at the full class. With the deemed lights it is still possible to see all the morning faces, people who probably had to slap themselves here and there to get themselves off their bed lol also known as, dedicated individuals.


                                 "Discipline means doing what needs to be done, even when you don't want to."
                                                -Anonymous

The music starts with a steady tempo, you know an old school song usually and then it gradually turns into a faster paste. "Add resistance," you hear the instructor say and with everyone doing it you have no choice but to follow along.

The sweat starts to pour down, I can taste its saltiness on the tips of my lips. "Add more resistance", the instructor demands. Forty minutes into the class and my legs feel like they are gonna fall off. I complain to myself and say I had enough! Then my instructor says that the last 20 minutes in class we are going to do intervals of speed drills. I wonder why we couldn't do the hard thing first and get it over with. Fine, I'll cooperate but if I pass out it is not my fault, I complain to myself.

Push, Push, Push!!! 10,9,8.....2,1!! "Good job guys, start to bring your heart rate down by pedaling slower and come to a complete stop," says the instructor. Wow! that's it, am done?

I stretch a little with my peers and thank my instructor for helping me break a good sweat. I am alert, awake, and ready to go boxing now!

Some say I train a lot or that am obsess with the gym. I just turn and say, " The best way to predict the future is to create it and in my future I look fit, toned and healthy."

The Better You

When all the weight of the world is on your shoulders and it feels as if YOU can't overcome the challenge
Inhale a big breath in and push off all that mess once, twice, as many reps as it takes to achieve your goal
Because what once use to weigh YOU down
YOU can use to your advantage to build a better YOU
An individual who is stronger, braver, and greater now than what YOU were yesterday.

-Ideco F.

"Sweat Everyday"

Wow! Has it really been that long since I've written? Okay to catch you up to date...I haven't been running as much as I've been going to the boxing gym but I have been keeping up with the goal, "Sweat Every Day", Under Armor. There are days I have to change it up a bit, like last night. I didn't run or go to the gym but I did run up and down a flight of stairs for an 1hr. Here is the math... 110steps x 20=2,200steps (no breaks). Pretty good workout, nice and simple with the company of the cool pouring rain.

Remember: To get out there and do at least an hour of physical activity a day. Challenge your body and your mind.


                                                            Quote for the Day:

                                    " The first and best victory is to conquer Self".
                                                               -Plato

Just The Right Timing

Verse of the day:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own[so focus on achieving the goals for that day]. 

-Matthew 6:23

I always tell myself that everyday/life is a learning process in itself and trying to make the best of every decision I am confronted with is my goal.

After about two months with a different working schedule I have been struggling to find a good routine that allows me to work, workout, study, and find time to fellowship with others. Let me say this hasen't been easy at all but I finally feel comfterable with my weirded out schedule. I figured since it takes me a while to actully come "alive" in the mornings even when my eyes are alert of my sourroundings,but my body seems to be glued to the bed. So my new routine  actually includes getting up when the alarm rings and pulling myself with my blanket to the living room were the sofa is to watch some Joyce Meyer or Country Top Hits. After about 10minutes my brain starts to work. After those ten minutes passes am ready to start the day. However, I find it really hard to not start of the day with coffee and a little reading of the Word and whatever novel I am readying at the time. I can't remember who said this once but someone has said that, " if you know you have to do something do it, even when your feelings tell you otherwise because most likely your brain is smarter than your emotions." This has been what I've been reminding myself every-time I get off of work and debate between going to the gym or going home and taking a BIG nap. Sometimes you just got to do what you got to do or as better said by Nike, " Just do it!"

One thing I am thankful for is that I have awesome co-workers and managers. This totally makes the day better and worth the time, well other than the fact that bills have to be paid lol.

My advice for the day, month, or even year is to set your priorities straight. This might sound cheese but grab a pice of paper and pen go on over to Starbucks (okay it doesn't have to be Starbucks lol but a quit place) and wright down the things you most value. Then write them in order of importance and try to work them into your schedule. You might have to do this a couple of times as you start to realize that somethings just don't fit well. This is what I call the Real World, when you have to sometimes sacrifice somethings for others or just have patience while being persistent to accomplish many goals. The last thing I can say is to pray above all. No one can do things alone but our heavenly Father can give us the strength and confidence to make it through those "not so good" days. :)

K, I'll write later have to go to work

Fighting+Faith+Friends= Fun Day

Quote of the day:
1 Timothy 6:12
 "Fight the good fight of faith."

I always tell people that running is my favorite hobby but boxing is my favorite sport. Today was the first day in about a year and 1/2 since I had the opportunity to hit those bags. Let me tell you that, it felt great. No easy thing training for two hours but doing it again and having coach consitantily nagging besides me kinda reminded me of the earlier years when I initially grew to love boxing in Las Vegas.

Why I love boxing? For many reasons. I love the adrenalin rush you get from hitting the mitts or "expecting the unexpected [punches]." But I always tell people that when I hear that bell ring it's like hearing the firefighting sirens, I get super excited and focus. The sport is not only a challenge in its-self but its a very tactical sport that takes practice, patience, persistence.

My favorite part of the day was inviting two other individuals to share the rush of boxing with me. I met the first individual from a campus group called core (i believe) who go out to different campuses and share the gospel with various individuals. I owed this kid (okay his older than me but I like the term kid) after having the courage to take the time to encourage a stranger after a really hard day and pray for me. I truly believe God puts certain people in your life at perfect timing. So I thank this person for that. The other individual was a friend of his from the same group. They both enjoyed boxing so it was totally worth the time, even after being lost and making a big loop to find this place lol.

Yes boxing is my favorite sport but I can't abandon running. I feel like running is the core of all sports just as having faith is the core value of my walk with God. Overall, today was a good day... even when I have to fight through those hectic days.

Hiking w/ Friends

I have never been a big hicker, not because I disliked the idea but because the opportunity has never arrived. Being in Alaska however,hiking is a common thing to do and sooner or later I knew the opportunity would arrive.

Finally, today was the day to go hiking with my peers/co-workers from an EMT volunteer group. Let me say that after running those 15miles on Monday, hiking the Bird Ridge trail seemed way harder. My concious told me if I didn't keep up with my usual running routine I would of probably not made it  far on that trail. However, all the sweat, tripping over rocks, and exhaustion was worth the shot.

The view once we reached the the top (a top) was priceless. I had the opportunity to see a large body of water that tourist kill to see. Instead of joining my other two companions who wanted to hike alllllllll the way to the top, my partner and I decided to sit an enjoy the beautiful view. Something about the refelection of the sun and the tides was just so peacful. Not only did I get a great workout but I had the opportunity to appreciate the wonders of outdoor activities and wildlife with a group of people that had all the knowledge of outdoors; like what to do if you stumble across a bear DON'T RUN. I now see why people enjoy outdoors. The outdoors in Alaska with its summer weather is just perfect.

After our three hour hiking adventure my friends and I decided to hit subway. I was totally craving a six inch flat bread with tuna and avocado, oh yeah and bannana peppers and lots of spintch (i love spinach). WOW! That sandwich never tasted so good!

 So this is the exact view I got to see but since I do not have a camera or i-phone YET (I know sad day lol) I found this picture on-line. What a beauty!


Later in the evening:
Even though I enjoyed the hiking workout  with my friends, it  is always nice to give my self solotiary time by taking a run or going to the gym. I decided to do just that and after a short nap went to the guy. I spend the time biking for 20min. and running on the treadmil for 40 min. I feel that after a long week,  giving myself the time to enjoy outdoors or a long work out totally makes up for all the stressful times I would want to pull out my hair lol.

My Partner In Crime

Want a good work out? Chase a child on their bike. You will get a kick out of it. This whole week I've had to babysit my little niece and finding time to workout in between that and work has been a challenging task. Then I had an epiphany. I would take my "partner in crime" to the track and have her ride her  bike while I run besides her. This would allow me to keep a close eye on her for sure. She loved seeing me chase her and the faster she went the more I wondered if this was a good idea lol. 

It was fun over all but  it only lasted about 25minutes  then the complaining about the heat began. It was worth the shot and I got 2 miles in and a couple of ropes (jump roping).