Doing Pretty Good!

Goodday BlogVille,

I have been doing pretty good with all the changes in my life.

Not all the news has been good news but I will cover that in another blog post. Today is about focusing on the good things that have happened in my life in the last three months,

So I hold on to the fact that I have lost 11 pounds and continue to workout to get to my goal of 25 by Christmas.

I have started school and as of right now am holding on to my 4.0 grade point average... Yes, I have only completed one class but I am still holding on to that as a positive (Small Wins!!).

Was ecstatic that I got to hangout with my Bridgeforth family in Memphis and St. Louis. Got the opportunity to see my Aunt and cousins who I haven't seen in almost 20 years. I LOVE MY FAMILY!!  And we should never let time go that long without seeing each other. Thankful for Facebook, that it has allowed us to connect on a daily basis and remain connected now. In 2009, I started a Facebook page called the The Bridgeforth Family. This has allowed me to find aunts and uncles that I didn't know about. Apparently my grandfather and great uncles were rolling stones and have kids in other area codes. But hey that just makes my family larger. We are at 274 members right now and growing.

I have two more things to accomplish this year... start rebuilding my credit and plan a great getaway.

So again, I think I am doing pretty good... with the help, the Grace, and the blessing of an awesome God...I am still standing and here to make the next day count. Have a struggled...shoot I am struggling right now... but all is well with the world because I know that God's got my back and my struggle is temporary and His Grace is sufficient.

Be easy BlogVille... see on the flipside!
Quiche'

Slow Progress and the New Motivation

There has been very slow progress in my weight lose journey. And that is completely my fault. No excuses here. I just have to do better. So I got up and meditated on the fact that without the right thought process I will continue to be stagnated and not accomplish anything. 

So I went out and paid money for a dress that is two sizes too small and somewhat form fitting so it will tell on me if I don't complete my goal. What goal you ask? 

GOAL: Well the goal is to lose 25 pounds by Christmas. That is exactly 5 months away. I have lost and maintained a 25 pound weight loss before and I am now attempting the next 25. 

ULTIMATE GOAL: The ultimate goal is 75 pounds; which will put me at my ideal weight. Please don't get it wrong. I am happy in my skin. But I just want a little less skin. 

THE PLAN: So what is the plan? The plan is to get back on my workouts and my eating habits. August 1st I begin a Workout and Eating Clean Challenge along with a group of friends (Hey #TeamFIT)...gotta have that accountability partner. I am actively using the My Fitness Pal application on my phone to count my calorie intake.My calorie intake for a day is 1300...so I have to watch what I eat. I have challenged myself to working out five days... and will work to actually go everyday. I will continue to take part in the Black Girls Run! Challenges and try my darnedest to make it to some of their weekly runs. I will take a least two aerobics classes at the gym per month. (SN: I don't like people watching me when I am working out... so this is a big step). The big hurdle is going to be the food. I am an convenience eater. I eat whats handy and whats quick. With this challenge I will have to prepare for meals and not do what is convenient but do what is healthy.

So I am starting this week trying to get my head right for next week. On Sunday, July 21, I completed the Running Nerds Virtual Marathon & 5K Treadmill Challenge. And actually PR'd (that mean "Personal Record" for you non-runners) at 49 min &.45 sec on the Treadmill. 

Now if I can only get that to translate to pavement. 

Its completely different animal... one that I have not tamed yet. 

So with this new found motivation I am all gong-ho to tackle my weight and also focus on finding things that add to my happiness. So I will continue to work on Preserving My Sexy!! 

WHO IS WITH ME?????

*PICKS UP GYM BAG AND HEADS TO THE GYM*

#bridgeFit13

"Retrospective: In the Wake of the Deaths of 3 Young Men" (VIDEO)

The conversation, the argument, the debate, the opposition continues..... in regards to the country's disbelief and for some the justified acquittal of George Zimmerman.

As we approach the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington (August 28, 1963)... "King's speech remains one of the most famous speeches in American history. He started with prepared remarks, saying he was there to "cash a check" for "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," while warning fellow protesters not to "allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force." But then he departed from his script, shifting into the "I have a dream" theme he'd used on prior occasions, drawing on both "the American dream" and religious themes, speaking of an America where his children "will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." He followed this with an exhortation to "let freedom ring" across the nation, and concluded with:

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."

And the marching continues for the things that Rev. King dreamed of on that hopeful day in 1963.

Omar Hardwick, actor and spoken word artist penned this poem in response to tragic death of Trayvon Martin.

                        "Little Black Boys Wonder" by Omar Hardwick  

And though they are not mentioned by name it also touches on the lives, experiences, and deaths of Darius Simmons (13); Jordan Davis (17) and Oscar Grant (22) ...all black young men.

                                                              Jordan Davis                                                            

    

  Darius Simmons

              "Fruitvale Station: Oscar Grant" Dir. Ryan Coogler                

  The Real Oscar Grant

                                                  

All of those who pulled the trigger and ended the lives of these young men all claim to have been in fear of their lives. Well if that is the rationale, than I, as a black woman, can believe that all young white men with clean shaved heads mean me harm. No that doesn't make sense and neither does the justification given for the deaths of these young men.  

The African American or black community is very aware of the ills of our community. We are conscious of the epidemic of blacks killing other blacks. We are aware of the number of unwed pregnancies and homes headed by women. We are aware that we have more black men in jail than we do in college. We are aware that we are disproportionately represented in the welfare discussion. We understand that gang violence is a part of our community. We understand that we still practice the crab in a barrel mentality. And we know that we can be our own worst enemy. 

And we also know that we understand struggle because we have been struggling for over 400 years. First for freedom. Then for our humanity; to be consider human, not as cattle or property. Then for the right for literacy and knowledge, aka Brown vs. Board of Education (1954). Then for the right to be take part in a country that boasts about its dream and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The fights continued to vote in such a country aka (15th Amendment) The Voters Right Act of 1965. And the struggle continues because Affirmative Action was enacted in 1961 and is still necessary today in 2013. 

We are aware of our contributions and the double standards that will forever be present. We also know that we created and invented half of things that make this world go around. We know that a black man perfected the technique used to end the rising death toll of babies knows as blue babies. We know that single mothers have raised amazing people, both men and women. We understand that until the late 1800's it was illegal for blacks to read and now they are CEOs and CFOs of Fortune 500 companies. We know that a society scared of a the power of the black man's spirit has sought to hold him down and now a black man sits in the White House. We know that if the numbers were actually pulled that there are more whites on welfare than blacks. We understand that white gangs have been around forever however they are considered political or civic organizations such as the KKK, the Aryan Nation, and the Tea Party; so we understand the double standard. However we still remain proud. Proud of what you may ask....

I am proud of my great grandfather who was born into slavery but died a landowner. I am proud that my history is one of overcoming and not one of settling and being complacent.  I am proud that my family builds on what those who came before us sacrificed for and continue to pass that down. I am proud of the W.E.B Dubois' of the world, the Martin Luther Kings, the Malcolm X's, the Medgar Evers, the Harriett Tubmans, the Sojourner Truth. We stand on their shoulders... and live, by the grace of God, to continue the fight and make our positive mark on this society. 

We are all not the stereotype that you have in your head... stop judging us...especially if you do not know us.

References: 50^th Anniversary Official Site http://50thanniversarymarchonwashington.com/

RUNNER'S SOLIDARITY 4.15.13

On 4.15.13 the craziness that is hatred was seen again, here on United States soil; this time at the Finish Line of the Annual Boston Marathon. An event that is coveted as one of the big races for runners was in full swing when out of nowhere a blast punctuated the race and the lives of three people and left others limbless and shattered in other ways.

This egregious action effected the world and connected those in the running community. Some of us walk, some jog, some run, and some sprint but we all move... and in solidarity for those who didn't get to finish the running community in Georgia (Atlanta and surrounding counties) came together to make it known that, not only were those in Boston touch by this event.. WE ALL WERE!!! The event was spearheaded by Big Peach Running Co. and including the ladies of the Atlanta Chapters of Black Girls Run. 

I challenge, ask, and hope you will go out and run/walk/jog 26.2 or 2.62 miles, participate for 26.2 minutes of activity.

Send up a prayer before and after your activity for those who lost their lives and those who were wounded.

Remember that even in the midst of all this turmoil and angst, God is still in charge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RECIPE: Summer Vegetable-tian

Ingredients: 

olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp minced garlic
1 medium yellow squash
1 medium zucchini
1 medium russet potato
2 medium red potatoes
1 large tomato
dried thyme
salt & pepper
1 cup shredded Italian blend cheese

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 400°.  Spray 8″ round or square baking dish with non-stick spray.  Saute onion and garlic in olive oil.  Thinly slice all the vegetables (I cut the tomato slices in half to have twice as many).  Lightly sprinkle all veggies with olive oil and sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper.  Place vegetables in the baking dish vertically, in alternating pattern.  Sprinkle onion and garlic over vegetables.  Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove foil, sprinkle cheese over top and bake for another 15 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.

RECIPE: Bacon Wrapped, Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts

INGREDIENTS:

1 boneless skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1 tablespoon green onion, Chopped
2 pieces bacon, Partially Cooked

You can sub turkey bacon for the bacon, and a low fat cream cheese to make this healthier !!

DIRECTIONS:

Pound out Chicken breast so it is about 1/4" thick.

Mix together cream cheese and green onions and spread cheese mixture over 1 side of chicken breast.

Roll CHicken breast up to conseal cream cheese.

Wrap partially cooked bacon around chicken breast and secure with toothpick.

Plase on baking sheet and back for about 30 minutes at 375.

Broil for about 5 minute to crisp bacon.

PIZZA IS ALWAYS GOOD FOR YOU!!

THIN-CRUST PIZZA BY JESS Check out more great recipes at "RUN WITH JESS"
INGREDIENTS Flatout Flatbread (Multi-grain w/Flax) Ragu Pizza Sauce (Homemade style) Finely shredded Mozzarella Cheese Hormel Turkey Pepperoni Chopped Red Onion Diced Fresh Roma Tomato Fresh Spinach Leaves • Preheat oven to 425˚.  Line a cookie sheet with tin foil (helps make the crust crispy). • Spread 1/4 cup pizza sauce onto flatbread.   • Measure out 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle half of it onto of sauce. • Top the pizza with 9 slices of turkey pepperoni, a heaping tablespoon of red onion, a handful of diced tomato, and a healthy handful of spinach leaves (I rip them up into smaller pieces). • Finally top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.  

I let the kids use regular pepperoni and more cheese.
In this one, it looks like I sprinkled on a little cheddar too.

• Bake in oven at 425˚ for about 10 minutes.  Keep an eye on it - I usually don't time it, just pull it out when the sides are crispy and top starts to golden.

• Cool, cut and serve with the side dish of your choice.Like a nice salad!!