City To Bay - I made it to the finish!!!!

Hi All,

Well, I did it. I conquered a 12Km run from the Festival Centre to the front of the Beachhouse in Glenelg. I was ecstatic to reach the finish knowing I had put in the hard yards to get there. No matter how many times I stopped to have my puffer or get a drink of water from the water stations, I kept going until the end. I felt like I had conquered Mt Everest, it was a huge achievement for me and I raised $120 for the Animal Welfare League to boot. It has given me a new focus and one which I am keeping on this week.

I have decided to walk the 10Km around the River Torrens on the 1st of November in a race called Run 4 Life. It is to raise money for breast cancer research, support and awareness which is important to me as my mother in law was diagnosed with breast cancer in the same breast twice before it metastasized into her liver. She is now fighting the good fight to continue living. I am dedicating my race to her because I feel that she has given me so much positiveness in my life that has helped me in so many different areas that I should give something back and that is now my motto.

So many times we take things for granted and for me that means a lot. I feel that it is now my time to give back to those who have given to me so I have dedicated myself to supporting certain things, believing in certain things and enriching my life a lot more instead of hiding behind closed doors because I didn't feel comfortable.

I've also changed my attitude to food a little and challenged myself to find something new to try each week that is healthy, wholesome and very yummy. I think this is another challenge I can meet! I'm looking forward to weighing in on Saturday and seeing if I made a difference to myself this week with my efforts. If I haven't then I will keep on going because I will never give up.

Have you thought about giving up lately, or thinking it is all just too hard? Maybe you've decided that there are more important things to worry about than your health. I am here to tell you that you should never not worry about your health and well being and that you should make sure you are in top condition because you never know what could happen and I don't particularly want it to happen to me or anyone else. Care to try and make a difference in your life in a positive and healthy way?

Until next time,

Difficult Week

This week is a very difficult week.

I have found out that two people I love and care about have cancer. The one disease that seems to strike a lot of people is one which has now affected me directly. One person is a very close relative and the other a very close friend. It is very dark and depressing and it hurts too. How do you get past something like this? How do you not want to chuck in the towel and say that things are too hard and that you want to enjoy life the way you want instead of adhering to something? It depends on what you consider important.

For me at the moment, the importance of staying healthy, staying sane and doing things for myself help me get through every single day. I am watching my food intake and saying no when I don't feel like something, I am making sure that I don't have money to spend on fatty foods and bringing healthy alternatives instead as snacks to work (gotta love sweet chilli and sour cream rice crackers!!!!) instead of raiding the lolly jar, biscuit barrel or buying a hot dog from across the road. Drinking 1.25L of water a day certainly helps keep you full and keeps your mouth, throat and stomach busy while you are working.

It is too easy to give up and say that life isn't worth living when people around you are dying. For me, shutting down is not an option. Hence why I am making an effort to make sure I keep going. My first conquest is 12Km worth of running/walking next weekend to support the Animal Welfare League. The next conquest is to get back to the gym if I manage to secure the position going at work in 8 weeks time. I will get there, I am strong, I am fierce and nothing is going to stop me.

The question for you is, what strength do you have and how are you going to use it to your best advantage? There are different types of hard in the world (and I am facing mine at the moment) but you are the one who chooses which hard you want.

Until next time,