My Ode to Jillian

For years now, I have turned to my favorite TV personality and personal trainer, Jillian Michaels, for intense workouts, in which she yells at me just like my old boot camp instructors.  (I respond to yelling when it comes to working out!)  I've developed quite the collection of Jillian Michaels DVDs, my personal favorite that for some reason has never gotten easy, 30 Day Shred, as well as Killer Buns and Thighs, xTreme Shred (not that difficult surprisingly) and No More Trouble Zones (ouch ouch and ouch!).  I guess some day I could do a DVD review, but in a nutshell, I'd recommend anything that Jillian touches.  


While I love me some Jillian, I had no idea that she has this whole self-improvement/health life industry on lock.  


Quick Story Break:  On the very same day that I started this blog, I decided to enlist some professional help for my current state of blah (yes that is the medical term).  While talking to my friend about possibly finding a therapist, a more appealing, less expensive idea came to mind: Barnes & Noble!  They literally have the answers to all of life's questions, so it made perfect sense to me.  So there we were, 20-something women, still in our running gear, sitting on the floor in the middle of the "Self-Improvement" section skimming through books on finding happiness, discovering your passion and the like.  Thank goodness they changed the section name from Self-Help to Self-Improvement, or I might have felt like a crazy person.  I was ready to give up the search and just go find a good Dr. Seuss book instead, when I saw her:  the woman who I had always turned to when I needed that little push; the woman who yelled at me through the TV early in the mornings before work, "Make the most of it!"  Once I saw her book, I knew my searching was over...Jillian Michaels "Unlimited: a Three-Step Plan for Achieving Your Dreams."  


So I bought the book and dove right in, and so far I'm extremely happy with the latest addition to my Jillian Michaels collection!  Everything in the book's first 2 chapters has really spoken to me and she even gives little assignments to complete as you work your way through your likes and dislikes to pinpoint your passion.  


Assignment 1: List your hobbies and interests 
I'm somewhat ashamed to say that this was difficult for me.  Hopefully as time goes on, I'll have more to add to this list but here it is so far:
1. Working Out
2. Public Speaking
3. Singing
4. Eating


I'm most excited about Assignment 2, which is a Vision Board!  I eventually want to make a real one, but for now, I'm going to make an online Vision Board.  According to Jillian, you stick any and everything that you want, like or have ever dreamed about on the board and you look at it all the time to give yourself a reminder of what makes you tick.  So this is just a tease, but soon I'll post my Vision Board on here for all to see!


So thanks to Jillian, I've figured out that my 2nd step  off the treadmill will be working through this book to pinpoint my passions.  Who knows, I might have something lurking in my head that I've never discovered, or maybe I'll find that a childhood dream of mine is still my dream today.  


In the meantime, I'm going to keep running and building my physical strength, which someday will turn into mental strength I hope!  This week's challenge is a 5-mile run, that I am not really looking forward to, but I know I'll be so proud when I finish it!  Wish me luck!


*Keep Moving Rita

"Just keep moving Rita"

Today I put the blog to the test and sent it out to my close friends (*hey!!*) and to my mother (eek!).  and then all the nervous thoughts began:  
    Would anyone know what the heck I was trying to say?
            Would they be able to relate?
                   Would they point out my typos and lack of pictures??


But much to my surprise, my friends and family were very excited about the blog and a lot of people said they want to start their own journeys to fulfill their fitness and life goals!


However, I was still a little unsure about this off the treadmill idea until I got my mom's email about the first blog post.  To sum it up she said that even at her age of 40... I mean 30-something, she had been asking herself the same question of how to find and fulfill her life's purpose.  But the best part was the close of her email: Don’t get depressed or stuck, just keep moving Rita.

It's official: mothers always know what to say!


And so, I just wanted to make this quick post, even though I think I'm coming down with what I call the Brooklyn Flu, to say thank you to everyone that sent words of encouragement today, and thank you Mommy for your infinite wisdom and support!  


And to all of you out there,  JUST KEEP MOVING!!


-Keep Moving Rita

And so it began...

In some weird moment of  endorphin-and-sugar-induced state of clarity after a quick 2 mile run with my great friend and running buddy, I had this epiphany that ever since I moved to D.C. for school, I've just been letting life carry me along in one, boring direction, without any good scenery or finish line in sight, just trekking away, kind of like... a treadmill!  So, today I decided it's time to step off that treadmill and start making my own paths and working towards my own goals for once.  And while that short moment of clarity did feel amazing, I quickly realized that I don't have a clue (for now at least) where I want my life to go.... 

WHAT I DO KNOW is that I have some brand new running clothes and shoes (thanks TJ Maxx!) that I cannot let go to waste.  And thus, my very first step off the treadmill-and getting out this funk I've found myself in- will be taking control of my fitness.  I'm truly hoping that as I start to build and define my physical fitness, I can also figure out how build and define my purpose (or purposes?) for being here and thus become a happier me!


So welcome to my very first blog, where I'll track my journey off the treadmill, as in literally running all over the place in hopes of getting into better physical shape and rediscovering good 'ol me in the process.  


Enjoy!


*Keep Moving Rita