I could barely sleep last night I was so excited. When the alarm went off I jumped out of bed & didn't feel tired at all. I drank a glass of water & ate an apple while I cooked some oatmeal with coconut flakes.
I got to the race & it was awesome. Loud music, tons of excitement & 500 people ready. Dan & Jackie Evans from season 5 were there. Dan sang the national anthem & said " I see a bunch of finishers out there!" Before they fired off the shot. I really liked that. There were not winners or losers- just finishers. And all 500 finished. There were plenty of skinny people but a wholllle bunch of big people, a guy on crutches, and tons of out of shape skinny people. Along the course there were big signs with bob & Jillian quotes along the way as well as cheerleaders & volunteers supporting & music playing. It was a really good time. I kept getting emotional with the quotes because I can remember all of them & I remember working out watching the biggest loser on Netflix (like I did every day for the first 6 mons of my journey) and hearing them & being pushed by them. It was like the whole run was just a reminder of when I started. At that time I never imagined I'd be where I am. I was deff emotional. When I ran my fist 5k I was down about 45lbs- so 240s. It took me 49minutes & I was DEAD. But the point is I was coming up with every excuse not to go that morning. Then I literally heard Jillian in my head saying "why are u scared of?! Feel the fear & do it!" And I realized- for the first time- what the fuck she was talking about. I was stalling on going because I was scared. I didn't want to look stupid having to walk most of it. I didn't want to finish last & I was scared. But I recognized if & went. And it was my proudest moment at that point in my life. Then today as I wa running I didn't even have to say the quotes in my head- because they were infront of my face. People kept running by me & asking if it was me on my shirt & many of them didn't believe me. It was super cool & I hope someone running behind me picked up their pace when they saw what I did & what they could do:) the coolest thing was not a SiNGLE person asked me how I did it. Everyone asks me how I did it! Everyone expects me to say I had surgery or take diet pills. No ONE asked me today. Because we were at the biggest loser race & everyone there knows the best way to lose weight- common sense, self control & diet and exercise. That's ALL it takes. Anyone can do it. If u don't have self control at first I will gain it the more I force yourself to act right. Remember the quote " whether you think you can or can't- you're right." You CAN. Your body CAN. Now get your mind in sync. YOU CAN DO IT! Old. Young. Morbidly obese. Sick injured. U can all do it. Turn on the biggest loser if u need proof. Forget the contestants with the million dollar trainers & gym. How many people who are the first eliminated come back looking awesome? Almost all of them. YOU CAN DO IT.
It wasn't my best race- took me 40mins- but I did finish 6th in my age group. I never thoughtd id be top 10 of anything athletic in this lifetime so that's so sweet. Just before the finish line u cross another similar line that reads the chip in your # & displays your name on a screen. So as your about to cross everyone is screaming "come on Ashley! You can do it" it was a really cool touch. Obv I finished I saw Dan & his band mates so I approached him like a fan & asked for a hug. I told him my story & thanked him for inspiring me & my mom. he congratulated me & we took a pic & he gave me a hug. He was really nice. I didn't see his mom to meet her but I'm hoping to at the event in Miami in February. They served gluten free vegan muffins & juice cleanse shots & smoothies afterward. I had a muffin & a cleanse shot. I was in a rush to get there & didn't pay the meter. I didn't even get a ticket lol it was an awesome time & that was the icing on the cake lol the only way the day could've been better is if I could've ran with my mom. She really makes me keep up & I am just so proud of what a good runner she is. Next year we are going to try to arrange her being in town to run this race with me :)
I'm loving the new biggest loser so far. They gave the contestants dri fit shirts- which is cool because they have us dri for shirts at the race & I didn't know why it wasn't just a regular tshirt. They're 3mins 30seconds into the first workout & 2 people already fell off the treadmill. It's so damn amazing how out of shape the contestants start & how in shape they end up! I love Bingo- the kid on Bobs team. Freiken adorable little nugget. He makes me super sad tho. He deff has a skinny kid inside of him but he can't play all the sports he wants to play because he too out of shape :-(
Jillian seems extra vicious this season lol but amazingly she's really sweet & loving with the kids. I wonder if they'd done this before she was a mother if she'd act different lol
I had another great day eating today. I made a vegan dinner for my friend & her family to try & they mostly liked it. Really liked the beets- they'd never had them before! I boiled & mashed them with smart balance "butter", Garlic, & pepper.
I'm feeling super inspired & sense a great week ahead. OH, any my brother weighed in at 199lbs today. He's lost 70something pounds. He's 15.... And amazing.