Last Saturday I participated in my second “official” triathlon! It was a blast! I went into it knowing that I was not fully prepared, due to an inconsistent training regime (I’ve liked using that word lately..regime.. ha) the past semester, but I was ready for the challenge! … Or so I kept telling myself.

We got there early to check in and set up my transition station. It was preeeetty cold so we retreated to the car for some last minute snacks.

After listening to the course info, we herded walked over to the starting line where I tried to get everyone to squish together to keep me warm. Ha, jk. It was chilly, but I guess not THAT bad. 

I was ready to go! …. And go I did! About 27ish minutes later I came back, switched my gear, and I was off again!

The bike was probably the most challenging part of this race.. But not all of it, just one hill (that we did twice, since it was a double loop). But I made it! Thank goodness! I came back in and headed for the pool! 

Thank goodness the swim was indoors. Otherwise my wetsuit would have been very handy.

I finished 4th in my age group, and 99th out of 430 people, with an overall time of 1:17:something seconds. Yaaay! I was pleased! :) 

I think the best part was the free water bottle I won afterwards from the raffle! haha Yaaay for free stuff!  

Thanks for a good race, friends! 

Hopefully my hubby will be doing the next race with me! 

Woohoo! I did it! I graduated from college! Crrrazzyyyy! I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. Enter the grown-up world. I guess I have to get a real job. I can do this! … Right?

Helloooooo World! Gimme what you’ve got! 

Hey everyone! I’m in a contest to win some muuulah (in the form of a giftcard) from JGOOD, an awesome jewelry company! I need to get the most likes on my photo posted on their Facebook page. If you can take two seconds, click HERE and just “like” my picture! It’s one of my graduation announcement photos. Your like can be my graduation present! THANK YOUUU!! :) 

Oh, I love this video! The first time I saw it, I cried; it hit so close to home. 

admittothetruth:

Trust God, and believe in good things to come.

“Even if you cannot always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can, for He is the very source of the light you seek.”

“Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead”

I testify that I know that my Savior lives and loves me. Trials come, discouragements, heartbreaks and setbacks come; but these are for our own good and it is up to us to choose how we react and deal with them. I choose to take these experiences and look at them as a lesson to be learned and as something to gain. In times of ‘Wo is me’, I try to wake myself up, look outside myself and understand that not only does my Savior love me, but He knows what i am feeling. It doesn’t stop there though, there needs to be another step further, charity. Serving others, thinking outside ourselves can bring us the joy that we so diligently seek.

We all have great potential, and it begins now. I strive to be the best I can, to take each bump in the road with patience and understanding; for I know of the redeeming and healing powers of Jesus Christ. He does not give us things that we cannot handle, we are never set up to fail; we are given trials to test our faith and our character. I am striving to prove Him, so seek after others and follow in His footsteps. I know that the Lord loves His children, and not one of them will He lose.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

(full article) http://lds.org/ensign/1999/11/an-high-priest-of-good-things-to-come?lang=eng

I made this video for one of my classes. What do you think? 

P.S. it’s only 57 seconds long, so you won’t be using up too much of your time :) 

Wowza, what a BUSY semester this has been!! Sorry that my posting has taken the back burner. Graduation is in 3 weeks! Wahooo! I’m sooo excited! But a bit nervous to enter the real world.. For now, I just need to make it through the next 3 weeks. I can do this. 

Came across this article and was shocked by their before and after pictures! Don’t they look great?! Doin’ it the healthy way!

… but you can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may you choose a positive attitude. 

- Thomas S. Monson

Hello everyone! One of my friends wrote this helpful article and I thought I would share! What a “smart” way to be successful! Check it out! :)

No more New Year Resolution Blues: Tips to Your Success!

Written by: Christina Wright

“I’m going to be healthier this year.” Have you ever made this your New Year’s Resolution? Or perhaps vowed to change your eating habits, stop smoking or biting your nails, decided to find your soul mate? Every year, approximately 40% to 45% of Americans make a New Year’s Resolution, but 88% of those people don’t keep them (FranklinCovey Organizational Products Survey 2012). It’s disheartening to hear that number, but you say to yourself “I’ll be part of the 12% that will make it!” Well, make 2012 the year you accomplish your resolutions by making a S.M.A.R.T. goal to improve your chances of completing it. This goal uses the acronym S.M.A.R.T. which helps you create a concrete, action oriented plan to achieving your goal. Let’s say your goal is to “be healthier” in 2012, the next few steps will help you create a concrete goal that makes it easier to attain!

* Specific: Make your goals specific. Instead of saying you want to be healthier, do you want to lose weight or add more vegetables to your diet? Decide on one specific thing you want to work on, then write it out. Ex. I want to eat more vegetables this year.

* Measurable: Once you have decided on your specific goal, determine how you will track your progress. This makes your goal much easier to track your progress. If you want to lose weight, determine how much weight you want to lose in pounds. Or in our case, determine how many more servings of vegetables you want to add to your diet. Ex. I will add five servings of vegetables to my diet daily.

* Action-Oriented: In order to attain your goal, you need to create specific actions to achieve the desired result. If you want to add vegetables to your diet, how do you plan on accomplishing that? Most often you have to identify habits that may prevent you from achieving your goal and find a counteraction to it. Ex. Usual Habit: I usually get a mid-morning snack from the vending machine.

o New Habit: I will bring easy to pack vegetables (ie. baby carrots) for my morning snack.

o Usual Habit: I don’t spend much time making dinner because I’m tired in the evenings.

o New Habit: I will buy frozen vegetables that I can microwave to add a serving of vegetables.

* Realistic Make goals that are within your reach. Think about the practicality of achieving your goals and then decide if you need to change your goal to make it more attainable. If you don’t take the time to think if your goal is realistic and change it as needed, you increase your chances of failure and disappointment. Ex. I only eat 1 serving of vegetables normally, so it may be hard to eat 6 servings a day. Instead I will add 2 servings of vegetables a day to my diet.

* Time-Bound: Give yourself a deadline of when you want to achieve your goal by. Again, make it realistic and post your date in a visible place to make yourself accountable for it. Write it in your planner, or put a post-it note on the door so you see it when you go out of the house in the morning! Ex. I will eat 3 servings of vegetables every day for one month, and then I will increase my goal again.

Now, we have a very achievable goal. As Les Brown once wrote, “Life takes on meaning when you become motivated, set goals and charge after them in an unstoppable manner.” Now that you’ve set your goal, this is your chance to begin your new path to success. Good luck!

References

2012 vs 2002: New year’s resolutions. (29, December 2011). Retrieved from http://getorganized.franklinplanner.com/go/2012_vs_2002_new_years_resolutions?c=120106_Res_1_Text&cid=extEmail_120106_Res_1_Text

A guide to new year’s resolutions. (31 December 2011). Retrieved from http://visual.ly/guide-new-years-resolutions

Arina. (12, February 2010). Smart goal setting: A surefire way to achieve your goals. Retrieved from http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/goal-setting-tutorials/smart-goal-setting Brown, Less (n.d.). Les Brown: Unwrap Your Infinite Greatness. Retrieved from http://www.lesbrown. com/english/motivational_quotes.html

Woohooo! Just signed up for triathlon #2!! 

I just want to give a shout out to my mom, Colleen, who is celebrating her birthday today! 

She is a prime example of a healthy, beautiful woman! She recognized a need for change in her life over 20 years ago and has been an exercising hot mama ever since! 

All she asked for her birthday this year, is a picture of each of her children exercising (a little harder than the normal routine), so she could know that she has raised healthy children who love to exercise. 

At first, I thought this was an interesting request, but it just reminded me how important it is to her to be healthy, and how she wants each of her children to recognize that importance also. 

She has inspired me to be healthy and acts as my eternal workout buddy. Even though we live almost 900 miles apart, I still use her as motivation to get my butt to the gym and try new routines. 

I remember watching her participate in 5ks and triathlons, and seeing her come home from the gym as I was just waking up for school in the mornings. I was super excited when I was finally old enough to run races and go to the gym with her.

Mom, you have inspired me to be healthy and have helped cultivate my desire to help others be healthy as well. Thank you for your example of a healthy, beautiful woman!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 

Love, Aleesha

Good morning friends!! I realized midway through last week I totally spaced on posting Week 2 of the jump rope routine, and I deeply apologize. Last week was a crazyyy week, so I decided to take a “rest week.” Ha, I know that sounds ridiculous, and probably pretty lame, but I think I might have pushed too hard the previous week with the start of school and my internship, and everything else going on. By the time Monday rolled around, I didn’t feel like doing anything! So, I pushed through everything else I had to do, and now I’m super motivated to get back on track! Soooo here’s Week 2 of the Everlast Training Camp: Ultimate 6 Week Workout! It’s basically the same exercises as week #1, but you up the reps/time. 

I just have to say this because it’s making me really happy right now:

I’m sitting in the library, and the blinds are open so the sun is shining in on me; it’s sooo warm! It may be 16 degrees outside (and “feel like” 8 degrees), but for a few moments, I get to imagine I’m back in California in the warm summer sun!

Thank you sunshine!

Attitude, to me, is more important than … the past, … than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

- Charles Swindoll

There are many things in life we can’t choose or make happen. We CAN choose our attitude. Make that choice count. 

Came across this link. Great ad campaign going on in Georgia to fight childhood obesity. We all know that child obesity is a huge problem, but what are we actually doing to prevent it? I think this commercial is great. It really made me stop and say, “Woah.” A doctor wouldn’t give the same effect. I do think they should post the website at the end of every commercial though. I would search them out.. But then again, that might be because my career goals are right in line with theirs. 

What do you think?

Do you think this campaign will be successful?

What are YOU going to do to help others be more healthy?