5 K Sunday!!

Hi guys,

I can't believe how quickly time flies!! A few months back, I decided that I was going to start training for a 5K run. I even started up a blog to keep track of my training. Check it out here (http://www.My5K.blogspot.com).

I decided that I would run the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure here in Ottawa on October 4, 2009. Well, it is ONLY 3 DAYS AWAY!! 3 DAYS!!!! By this time on Sunday, my 5K run will hopefully be a wonderful memory!!

I have not been as diligent with the "Running" training as I should have been but I've been doing other forms of excersise which I hope will help with my fitness and cardio. I think it will! The good thing about this race is that I have the option to walk or run. My goal is to run for most of the race if not all of it, but it's nice to know that I will be able to take a walk break if I need it and I think I just might!!

Crossing that finish line will be an amazing moment for me, just the thought of completing a 5K race brings me shivers and goose bumps. I think I'll cry even if it takes me 2 hours to cross that line!! This is one of the items on my bucket list, so I'm hoping to cross that one off the list as soon as I get home on Sunday!! :)

I must admit, I am getting a bit (okay, A LOT) nervous but excited at the same time. It's really hard for me to believe that I am here, in this position, getting nervous about running my first ever 5K race!! A 5K race!! I could barely walk to the end of my street about 9 months ago, and I barely moved my butt from the couch and here I am about to do this!! Anyway, wish me luck!! I had an awesome workout today at kickboxing class!! YEAH!!

I will be posting pictures on this and the other blog after the run!!

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!!!)

Let's Check Out My Food...

Hi guys,

I have been really trying these past few days to take pictures of my meals - I find that it truly does help me to say on track and let me tell you, I can use all the help I can get. So here we go...

Dinner: this is baked chicken breast (with onions, garlic, mushrooms and red peppers) with mixed veggies (broccoli, spinach, red pepper, mushrooms, onions, skim milk, seasonned with pepper, curry, garlic & onion powder) with a very small amount of whole wheat spaghettini. It was delicious. I don't usually have pasta but I splurged. It really wasn't a lot (maybe 1/4 cup); more veggies than pasta!

Close-up... The following was for lunch one day. A simple garden salad (spring mix & cherry tomatoes) with left over roasted chicken breast shredded on top. About 1 Tbsp of home-made dressing (EVOO, pepper, vinegar). It was great, quick, tasty and more importantly - filling! :)

Close-up... (you can see...very, very light on the dressing).

Dinner: My husband cooked this one. He was the grillmaster on the BBQ...Salmon skewers with grilled zucchini. There was also corn on the cob which he prepared on the grill but I didn't have any.

The following was another quick lunch. Sliced cucumbers with canned sardines (in water). I literally sliced up about 1/2 of an English cucumber, opened the can of sardines and poured it in the same bowl, added pepper, mixed it all up and ate it!!! No dressing required as the water from the sardines did the job. It was yummy - I've always liked sardines.

Close up...

Dinner: Roasted chicken leg with steamed broccoli and sweet potato mash! I baked a whole chicken (seasonned with pepper, garlic & onion powder, cayenne pepper). I baked the sweet potato in the oven, once it was done, scooped out the potato from skin and mashed it up in a bowl. It was quite moist. That's it!! This was a very filling meal and I had a lot of chicken left over to use in salads and for another dinner. Below is a close-up. So that's it so far. I have also been drinking between 3-4 litres of water each day. Hoping I can continue taking these pics. Just knowing that I have to take a picture helps me to plan what exactly I will be eating! Anyway, that's it for now, just a "food pic" post.

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Saturday Weigh-In ~ Week 35...WTF????

Starting Weight: 258 lbs (Dec 10/08)
Last Weigh In: 197 lbs (Aug 8/09)
Current Weight: 198 lbs
This Week's Loss: 1 POUND GAIN...WTF????

Total pounds lossed to date: 60!!!


Okay, I'm pissed off with this week's weigh-in, in addition to being frustrated and baffled. I stuck to my diet like you wouldn't believe with the exception of Wednesday, when I had a late breakfast and a multi-grain bagel for lunch. I never missed a work out, so WTF??? Why am I gaining weight!! I'm heading in the wrong direction, according to this feking scale!!!!


Okay, now that I got that off my chest...I realize that these things happen and the body does some weird and crazy things at times so I just need to keep my focus and move on!! A 1 pound gain is not that bad, I will bounce back. One of my friends told me that the weather has an impact as well. The last few days have been extremely hot and humid so this could just be my body holding on to some of that extra water/fluids I've been drinking - I don't know...whatever it is, IT SUCKS!! But I digress.


I will move forward. After this post, I will go and do my workout. This evening, I plan to go for my run. I've also decided to start taking pix of my food again (it takes a lot of effort to take those pix and load them) but I think it helped me to be that much more disciplined... I took pictures of my dinner last night and this mornings breakfast (see below).


So today, I'm not too thrilled with the results but this will just make me push harder.

Last nights dinner (curried chicken breast (roasted) with broccoli (lightly curried) and of course...WATER!!!

This morning's breakfast was a 3-egg (2 egg whites, 1 whole egg) omlet with spinach and green onions:

That's all for now...I don't know what I'm having for lunch as yet, but I will take a pic and post it maybe later on.

Until next time...

Joania(2KMINE!!)

Most Recent Pic

Hi guys,

Sorry I haven't posted a pic in a little while. Here's a picture of me on my way to a wedding (just a couple of weeks ago). I'm actually wearing a dress (size 16)....a dress (size 16). I was pretty impressed with size 16 pants but when a dress fits and it's size 16, it makes me happy!!

Anyway, I've been really busy lately and that pace will continue for the next little while. I will be gone again on another business trip on Wednesday, should be back home on Saturday, and will be visiting with family the 3rd week of August. I will continue to update posts on the blog and should post a more detailed blog soon (hopefully tomorrow).

Until then, here's the pic...tell me what you think. I can't get over how flat my tummy looks (No spanxx, ladies..)!!! My "girls" have also gotten a lot smaller, which I don't mind at all (my husband does - but hey, whatever)!!

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

PICTURES!!! Finally!!!!

Hi guys...so my husband and I finally got a chance to take some pix...it was a gorgeous day today so we went out and had some family fun with our 2-year old! We just got home about an hour ago and took the following pics.

A few things...

You will notice that I've changed my outfit...I wanted something different and new and SMALLER :))...I will use the original outfit in my final pics which I will take in December. But for now, I've changed it and who knows, I may get a new outfit with each new pic...we'll see. Anyway, this outfit is SIZE L for Large y'All!!! Not, 3x or 2x or even XL...it's L - LARGE. I love it...I kept it similar to the colours of the other outfit. Here's a couple of pictures showing the size I am now wearing.

Top - L/G...Large/Grand (en framçais) YEAH!!

Pants - L/G...Large/Grand

A pair of size 'L' pants fit over my butt!! Incredible!

I noticed a few things with these pics and with me overall. First of all, those "Lagana Lunges & Squats" have really started to shape my butt. Now I know that we black women have been "blessed" with having a little extra junk in the trunk, but for some reason, it skipped me - if you look at my 'before' pic from December (Back Shot), you'll notice the bootie wasn't as "shapely" as it now is. I'm not sure that I want everyone staring at my bootie but take a look at the pic below of me from the back....LOOK AT MY BUTT!!! LOOK AT IT!! All I have to say is "Lagana Lunges and Squats!!!"

Now for the pics....

Front: Me NOW...201lbs..June 28/09

In my new outfit, I might add

Me THEN: 258lbs, Dec 2008

Back: Me NOW - 201lbs June 28/09

LAGANA LUNGES & SQUATS!! LOL!!!

Me THEN: 258lbs Dec, 2009

SIDE: NOW 201lbs June 28/09

THEN - 258lbs Dec, 2008

This is my "Just for Fun - I think I'm Kinda Hot Shot" lol!!













THAT's IT!! Let me know what you think!

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Saturday Weigh-In...Week 28

Starting Weight: 258 lbs (Dec 10/08)
Last Weigh In: 202 lbs (June 20/09)
Current Weight: 201 lbs

This Week's Loss: 1lb!!!

Total pounds lossed to date: 57

Slowly but surely, I'm getting close to breaking that 200 pound mark!! I thought I would have done it this week, but either way I WILL GET THERE!!

I'm happy with the loss...A LOSS IS A LOSS and WAY BETTER THAN A GAIN or NOTHING AT ALL...so I am happy with it. One pound away from next reward level...almost there. This month's total loss was about 5 pounds which is a bit low compared to other months,but I realize that I won't have a huge loss everytime and I did have a lot of changes in my schedule this past few weeks. I'm still happy quite with it! :)

Where the heck are the PORGRESS PIX, Joania?????

I've been so busy and out of town so often the past couple of months and my poor husband (my photographer), he has been so busy with his work and taking care of our son while I'm away, that we haven't had a chance to take some pix. He worked today....by the time I opened my eyes this morning, he was already out the door. He's off tomorrow so we will have a big photo shoot in the morning. I apologize for taking so long to post these pics....there is a recent picture of me from the last Citizen newspaper article....it was from a couple of weeks ago..but it's not the same as my full body, front, back and side shots...tomorrow for sure!!

Believe it or not, I received a couple of emails from people who thought the reason I haven't posted my progress pics is because I'm gaining weight and I don't want to share that, basically calling me a liar...which is nothing short of BULLSHIT and it ticked me off at first but I just shrugged it off - not even worth my time. Pix will be posted tomorrow and the proof will show. Some people...I will not waste my time on it!!

ANYWAY... I've got myself a new outfit which I will be posing in and I may even show some skin this time...I actually have curves in my waist and I may just show it off (still deciding!) :)

Until tomorrow...
Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Weigh-in Wednesday ~ Week 25....1 More GONE!!!

Starting Weight: 258 lbs (Dec 10/08)
Last Weigh In: 206 lbs (May 27/09)
Current Weight: 205 lbs

This Week's Loss: 1lb!!!

I lost another pound today...bringing my total to 53 pounds lost!! Gone!! I'm quite pleased. I weigh 205!! 205!!!!! 6 more pounds and I'll be in Onederland!!!! (the 100's - WOW!!!)

I sent in my pictures to the citizen today so you may get a sneak peak of what I currently look like, depending on when the article runs in the paper. I will be taking my monthly pics next week (on the 10th).

So good things all around....

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Three Month Anniversary Pics...FINALLY!!!

Sorry for the delay y'all..you know the week I've had...anyway, here are the pics taken earlier this morning, just before doing my workout.

Can you believe it's been three months?? It's seems like just the other day, I decided to start this journey and do it for real this time. Incredible!! I'm amazed at how quickly the time has gone by, really! Here I am 3 months in and down 33 pounds! This is amazing!!

My clothes are just falling off me, especially my pants!! I'm losing my booty y'all!! But it's all good. I'm so excited for what's to come - I can't wait to see where I will be next month when I take my 4 month pics!! I'll take some more pics to show how some are my pants/clothes are fitting AND NOT FITTING :) I know this may be "too much info" for some but my underwears are so comfortable now....no more "tighty whiteys"! It's a great feeling. I've gone down in bra size as well from a DD42 to a DD38 and really it should be a D38 by now because there's a lot of "space" in the cup. When I started, my loose fitting dress pants were size 22....now I fit comfortably in a size 16!! I was wearing size 16 Jeans just the other day - it's nuts!!! I will add some pix to show you guys. I'm feeling really good too - I haven't been breathless in months and even when I workout really hard ("Push it to the max, no limits" as my trainer would say), it's a different type of breathless - I recover quickly. It's awesome.

Front: (Top) - Feb 10, 2009 - 233 lbs

Front: (Bottom) - Mar 14, 2009 - 225 lbs

Side: (Top) - Feb 10, 2009 - 233lbs

Side: (Bottom) - Mar 14, 2009 - 225 lbs

Back: (Top) - Feb 10, 2009 - 233 lbs

Back: (Bottom) - Mar 14, 2009 - 225 lbs

Fun: (Top) - Feb 10, 2009 - 233 lbs

Fun: (Bottom) - Mar 14, 2009 - 225 lbs

Here's what I noticed about this month's pix:

1. Front Pics - My Legs/thighs are getting smaller (THANK GOODNESS), the space between my leg has increased; the skin around my abdominal area is much looser than last month, the fat on my chest is melting as you can see the bone (my chest bone); my shoulders and arms are getting some definition. My head is smaller...that hat wouldn't fit properly before ...lol!!:)
2. Side Pics - I don't really see much difference in my side shot...it looks like I'm sucking in my stomach/holding my breath BUT I SWEAR I WASN'T...i was just about to smile....oh well.
3. Back Pics - my back and waist is definitely smaller, you can actually see the looseness of the fabric in the shirt as opposed to the "maximum stretch in prior pics. That shirt is much more comfy now - there's room! Less back fat; my bum is tightening up (whoo hoo!); my legs are gradually getting smaller; my right arm looks smaller than my left (I am right handed) so that may explain it.
4. Fun Pics - Less back fat, less fat under my arm, stomach is a bit smaller, my arm is smaller

I took a couple extra pix to show the little definition starting to show in my arms...THERE IS MUSCLE!! It's not a huge change but I'm starting to see definition...hope you guys are able to notice it....I feel so strong!!

Anyway, that's it. Let me know what you think, please!! I will take some more pix showing my ever "loosening" clothing!

Until next time....

Joania (2KMINE!!!)

Anniversary Pics Comparing Dec 10 vs. Current (Feb 13)

Hi again,

I've received numerous requests to post my original pics taken on Dec 10/08 with these current ones taken today (Feb 13/09). It will show EXACTLY how far I've come. So here they are...

FRONT: Top - Dec 10/08 (258lbs) Bottom - Feb 13/09 (233lbs)

SIDE: Top - Dec 10/08 (258lbs) Bottom - Feb 13/09 (233lbs)

BACK: Top - Dec 10/08 (258lbs) Bottom - Feb 13/09 (233lbs)

FUN: Top - Dec 10/08 (258lbs) Bottom - Feb 13/09 (233lbs)

Two Month Anniversary Pics

Hi everyone,

It's been TWO MONTHS!!!! Two Months and 25 POUNDS less!!! That's more than 10 pounds per month AND I'm doing it the right way with proper nutrition and exercise - no quick tricks, just hard work and dedication. There is NO turning back now. I am so pleased and proud that I have been able to last this long and I have no doubt I will make it to the end!! This is the longest I've ever TRULY and HONESTLY committed to losing weight and getting healthy!!! I really feel like I am on my way to making this a permanent lifestyle change. The longer I do this, the harder it will be for me to go back to my old ways and I'm thrilled about that because I DO NOT want to go back!!

I feel amazing, full of energy!! I'm feeling so much stronger especially during and after my workouts! It's awesome!

To be totally honest, I don't see a huge difference like in the last pics but I do feel smaller and stronger and for now that's important to me.

What I've Noticed...

The Front Shots: My stomach, hips and legs are a bit smaller, less fat on my chest, under my neck area

The Side Shots: My stomach (especially the lower abs area), less rolls, butt's smaller, thighs just a bit smaller

The Back Shots: My waist and hips are a bit smaller, things feel different, I feel like everything is falling down wards! My legs appear bigger this month - I dunno!!

The Fun Shots: My arms seem smaller and shoulders more defined, thigh is smaller and starting to get some definition, my butt is definitely getting smaller.

Anyway, really anxious to hear what you guys think. I'm hoping that next month's pics will show much Bigger changes!

Anyway, here are the pics. I've posted last month's to compare to this month's!

FRONT (Top: Jan 10/09 - 242 lbs, Bottom: Feb 13/09 - 233 lbs)

SIDE: (Top: Jan 10/09 - 242 lbs, Bottom: Feb 13/09 - 233 lbs)

BACK (Top: Jan 10/09 - 242 lbs, Bottom: Feb 13/09 - 233 lbs)

FUN (Top: Jan 10/09 - 242 lbs, Bottom: Feb 13/09 - 233 lbs)

Until next time...

Joania (2KMINE!!!)