2 DAYS TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey guys,

So sorry for the absence yesterday, I was down most of the day with a migraine - last thing I wanted to do was stare at a computer screen! Anyway, I AM much better today!!!

I am, have been and WILL BE so busy this week! It's awesome. I am so happy and feeling wonderful...........it's crazy!

FIRST, my final journey article will run in tomorrow's edition of the Ottawa Citizen!! For those in the Ottawa area pick up a copy and check it out - looking forward to your feedback. I will also post the link as soon as it becomes available. I am so excited to see it! :) A special thank you again to Alison Korn for doing such a wonderful job with the series of articles on this journey - I really appreciate it!! Thank you! :)

SECOND, I have been feverishly taking "AFTER" pics!! I will be posting a few before shots and have attempted to replicate those shots wearing the same outfits/clothing and trying the same pose so you can truly compare...excited for you to see those ones. I will also be taking my standard pics in the same outfit that I took the very first pics back ALMOST 1 YEAR ago!!!!!!!

THIRD, you will notice a HUGE difference in my pics and I'm not talking about the weight loss!! :)

FOURTH, putting on the final touches in the planning of the Journey Celebration Dinner on Saturday!! Looks like it will be loads of fun!! For any of you interested in coming, please confirm by Friday December 11, 2009 - 4pm THE LATEST!! Thank you - Looking forward to see you all!! I will post the pics from the event on Sunday...I doubt that I will be in any shape to post on Saturday night (or should I say the wee hours of Sunday morning)! :)

I'm going to take the morning off on Thursday and here is my plan for Thursday December 10 (THE DAY):

5:15 am - Wake up! Take off ALL my clothes and STEP on that scale for what will probably be the last time this year (maybe).... and hope for a nice loss!!

5:30 am - Head to basement for an awesome Weight Training Session (even though Thursday is not a "scheduled" weight training day, I JUST WANNA DO IT!!! Drink water!

7:05 am - Then head to the shower and have a nice long shower (long for me is 20 minutes!)

8:00 am - Make and have an awesome breakfast with my son and husband (with a special prayer that morning - one of "thanks" more than anything). My husband will take our son to daycare and head off to work. I will then hit the computer and start blogging!!!! Hopefully I will have all the pix uploaded by 10:00 am that day (probably way earlier)!! Then head to work for the rest of the day. I'm planning on getting my Jiu-jitsu class in at lunch time!! I don't want to miss it!!

Anyway, that's it for now!! We'll be on tomorrow!!

Until next time
Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Day 23 of My 30 Day Countdown

Hi guys!!

Great day today!! Had a great kickboxing class. Unfortunately, Ingrid (the instructor) hurt her foot and as she said, "that would slow her down a bit today!!!" Well, it didn't seem to slow her down one bit, she still worked our butts off!! That woman is tough as nails!!! She's awesome!

Food was great today as well as water consumption. I'm in a groove right now and loving it!

On another note, I received an email from Alison Korn - the writer from the Ottawa Citizen newspaper who has been chronicling my journey with periodic articles on my progress. She wants to do the follow up (final) article which should run in the paper, early next week. The photographer will most likely be coming by on the weekend. Since the article will run in the paper early next week, you will get a sneak peek at the new me :)!! Exciting! I'll keep you posted with the details and post the link for all of you not in the Ottawa area! :)

I really want to take a pic with my trainer...I'm hoping they'll allow it or maybe if I could take it at the dojo doing some kickboxing/Jiu-jitsu move or something!! Who knows? I'm doing the interview tomorrow, so I'll see what she says! :)

Until next time...I am only 7 DAYS away from the BIG DAY!!!

Joania (2KMINE!!)

An Article on My Journey

Hi everyone,

I received an email from a writer/journalist, a few days ago requesting an interview with yours truly. The topic would be health and fitness, my journey etc.

I responded to a series of questions and the article was written. Please check it out here:

http://hartwellsottawa.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/joania-burnett-blogging-for-weight-loss/#more-308

I really like this article and the way it was written. Thank you Britt! :)

Until next time...
Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Ottawa Life Magazine Top 50 People in the Capital Issue

I received a wonderful email from my friend Katherine at ParticipACTION yesterday!! She sent me a quick message with a link to Ottawa Life Magazine's Top 50 People in the Capital issue. Check it out here. My picture is on the cover of the mag, with a write-up/bio on the inside!! This is awesome. I'm in pretty good company!! Check out the pictures (and biographies) of the other 49 people - I'm certain you'll recognize quite a few of them, including "ALFIE" (Daniel Alfredsson - captain of the Ottawa Senators - GO SENS GO!!!); Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada; Canadian Olympian Kristina Groves and so many more.

The magazine should be on stands soon (if not already) but in the meantime, you can check it out online. This link takes you to the cover page with pictures of all the top 50. My pic is in the third row from the bottom, third pic in from the left. Click on the link above the page titled, "OLM's Top 50 People" to see the articles on each person. I'm on Page5.

So that's my big news...
Weigh-in results will be posted later this evening!

Until next time...
Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Newspaper Article

Hi again,

A friend of mine brought this to my attention. I had no idea that this article was published. Last week, I participated in the SunLife ParticipACTION Inspire the Nation Tour (I wrote a post about it here)which launched in Ottawa on June 29. It was a lot of fun and I was actually given the opportunity to speak to the assembled crowd and media. I was on TV that evening.

It was a wonderful opportunity. I got to meet Kelly Murumets, president and CEO of ParticipACTION, Josée Dixon, a regional vice president with Sun Life Financial and former Olympian Sue Holloway of Active Ottawa. We each addressed the group (gave speeches)...it was awesome!! I can't believe all the wonderful things I've been able to partake in because of this journey. It's just fabulous.

Anyway, here's the link to the recent newspaper article written from that event. Check it out here: http://www.emcottawaeast.ca/


Here are a few pics from the event. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get pics of me speaking or of Kelly Murumets (president/CEO ParticipACTION)... I guess in all my excitement, I forgot to ask someone to take a few shots using my camera.







Until next time...
Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Updates and Things...

Hey guys,

I just wanted to come on quickly to thank all of you for all the nice comments regarding the citizen article and just the support in general. Thanks!

On another note, I just finished my very first run today (as part of the C25K -Couch to 5K Training program) in quest of my first 5K race later this Fall. Check out my training blog for details here. It was quite intense.

Tomorrow I will be heading out of town once again on business. It won't be a long trip, I should be back home Thursday evening (Friday- the latest). I will take my lap top with me so that we can stay connected.

It's a really busy time for me at work right now, however it should hopefully quiet down next month.

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Follow-Up Newspaper Article

This picture was taken by Wayne Cuddington for the Ottawa Citizen article .

I didn't get a chance to post this on Wednesday, but here it is! Enjoy!! Let me know what you think....

It's the link to the follow-up newspaper article in the Ottawa Citizen, written once again by Alison Korn (thank you Alison - great job). The story ran on Wednesday!!

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Health/Joania+journey/1679889/story.html

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

The Ottawa Citizen Interview

I had the follow-up interview with Alison Korn of the Ottawa Citizen today. It was really good talking with her. She asks such great questions and I really liked the last article she wrote. So I am looking forward to this one as well. I will provide them with a current picture as well!

The article should run in either the June 11 (Thursday) or June 13 (Saturday) edition of the paper. As soon as it's confirmed, I will let you know. I will post the link to the on-line version as well!

I've had a great day today! A good workout; good, healthy food and two great telephone interviews!! Awesome!!!

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Newspaper Article - Ottawa Metro

Hi guys,

I'm still away on business but had to come on quickly to put up the link to the newspaper article. It ran in the paper today and my husband picked up a few copies this morning. It's available on line, and here's the link:

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/local/article/227085--joania-s-amazing-journey

Tell me what you think!!!

Until next time....

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

More Big NEWS - Metro News Ottawa!!!

Hi everyone,

I've got news again!!!! A couple of weeks back, I was contacted by a representative from Hill and Knowlton -the public relations firm supporting ParticipACTION's Inspiration campaign.

Since my story was chosen to be featured in the upcoming ParticipACTION commercial, they (the PR firm) wanted to share my story with the local media and some of Canada’s marketing media. They wanted to know if I would be okay if they went to the media with my story. I told them, "Sure!" ;)

Anyway, I received a telephone call from Metro News Ottawa and gave a telephone interview to a writer named Tracey Tong. She was super nice. Anyway, the article will run in Tuesday's (May 12th, 2009) newspaper!!! The day after the participACTION commercial goes to air!! It will discuss how I feel about being chosen for the commercial, my blog, fitness routines, trainer etc. I'm so excited!! I'm out of town so of course I've tasked my husband with picking up a few copies!! :) My scrapbook will be awesome! Too bad I don't scrapbook!! I am not very artistic when it comes to things like this. Maybe I'll take a scrapbooking course!! It's a thought! :)

Anyway, can't wait to read it and I hope all of you will check it out and like it!! For those not in the Ottawa area, as soon as the link becomes available, I will post it!!

All this is truly helping me stay on track!! It's awesome!!! When I started on this journey, I knew that being accountable and putting myself out there would help me to succeed!! Never in a million years did I anticipate this level of "accountability". This is one of the reasons I kick my own ass working out regularly!!LOL!! Seriously, it really does keep me motivated.

Anyway, 5 month pix next week!!!

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!)

Awesome News # 2 - Magazine Article

Well here's my awesome news #2!!!!!!! I spent Sunday evening ( about 2 hours) participating in an online interview for Black Woman and Child Magazine, with the focus on my weight loss journey.

A girlfriend of mine, who writes for the magazine has been following my journey from the very beginning. A couple weeks back she emailed me with the suggestion of doing an article. How could I refuse??? So I agreed. The interview went really well and was a lot of fun...it was also a great opportunity to catch up with an old friend. Anyway, as soon as I receive all the final details, I will let you all know!!

I am truly amazed at the amount of people interested in this story. I am quite thankful of the opportunities because this will help me to reach and inspire as many people as I can AND this will keep my butt on track...ACCOUNTABILITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Black Woman and Child magazine tackles the practical and political sides of parenting from a unique cultural viewpoint that you just won't find in any other magazine.
Check them out.

http://www.nubeing.com/bwac/index.htm

Until next time....

Joania(2KMINE!!!)

Awesome News #1 - Mini Documentary!!

Here's my recent exciting news regarding this weight loss journey. I was contacted a few weeks back by a couple of students from the Carleton University School of Journalism. They came across my article in the Ottawa Citizen and were interested in filming a mini documentary staring yours truly (and my trainer Rob and husband and son)!! Can you believe it???? I think the finished product will be between 5-7 minutes long and will be posted on line (podcast) on Carleton Journalism Television (CJTV).

Carleton Journalism Television is a news network featuring content created and produced by journalism students as a part of their curriculum at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario.

Check out their website here: http://www.carleton.ca/sjc/cjtv/index.shtml

Anyway, on Sunday, the students met me at Rob's training studio bright and early, where they filmed my entire workout. Rob really pushed me to the max - it was awesome!! My arms were on fire; I am still store from it!! The girls were very professional and the whole experience was interesting and fun. Since my husband was not feeling well, I had to get back home. They came to my house and filmed the interview portion with me - i was still in my workout gear y'all - looking all athletic (not)!! It was cool, they had great questions and even briefly interviewed my husband (who was such a good sport - because he was so sick). One of my favorite parts of the shoot was when they filmed me slicing cucumbers and boiling eggs - funny; Martha Stewart, I'm NOT!! So that's my news...isn't it awesome???? Can't wait to see the end product...you guys will get a glimpse of the pain that Rob inflicts on me!! Kidding...but it is very hard, but it works!!

So as soon as it's completed and available on line, I will post the link and let you know!!

There's more good news...see my next post!!;)

Until then.....

Joania (2KMINE!!!)..

Oh Happy Day!!!!

Wow!!!!

What a day it was yesterday!!! I was up at 5:00am (did my cardio) and didn't get to bed until after 11:oopm!!!! When I finally put my head to pillow, I was exhausted - funny, I had so much energy all day (I think that was 1 part adreneline, and the rest this new level of fitness)!!

Anyway, I am on such a high from the incredible displays of support and encouragement received from SOOOO MANY especially after reading the article in the Ottawa Citizen. I wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone for the ongoing support!

I quite enjoyed the article myself (thank you again to Alison Korn for doing such a stand up job on it).

So that's it...just a quick post to say thank you to all who checked out the story. I plan to use this momentum to keep me motivated as long as I can or until the next 'big thing" happens. My plan is to continue thinking and being positive, stay focused and DREAM BIG because you never know!!!!!! Who would have thought that trying to lose weight and get fit would be so interesting!!!!!??!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again all!!!

Joania (2KMINE!!!)