::My New Challenge~~Running a 5k::

I hate running.

I don't think anyone could hate running more than I did/do. 

Not because of the endurance...I loved pushing past that pain and experiencing a certain nirvana.

Not because of the intensity...I love breaking out in an extreme sweat.

But because I feel very self conscious about the way I ran. I mean, if I pound the pavement people would see me pound the pavement. I didn't like people watching me exercise.

However, after coming back from a family reunion where I was poked and prodded and comments like, "Oh, she gained weight and [my sister] lost it," and "She's the fat twin now," I began to wonder whether or not I had let myself go. I realized that my one year of graduate school,  stress of teaching, working on the weekends and my new romance (which failed miserably) allowed me to eat, eat and eat. And it wasn't until 2 weeks ago, when I stepped on the scale at Publix (Hey! You have too...admit it) and it read 145 lbs that I knew I needed to change.

145 lbs and feeling every pound!!!! How in the hell did i let it get that bad?

Well, I actually know the answer to that question. Every time I announce I'm going to lose weight, I've always been told that I looked fine.

"You have the perfect shape."

"That's not love-handles, that's ass-meat."

"I love your thick thighs."

But, I've come to the realization that I want to lose weight for me. I want my body to look a certain way and that's ok. It doesn't mean I don't love myself, I just want to better myself.

My Body-Idol: Teyana Taylor

So, a week ago at my internship, I received information that the organization was hosting a 5k run/walk and a light bulb came on.

I'm going to run a 5k which is equals to about 3 miles in October and I'm extremely excited.

I'm pushing my insecurities to the back of my mind and going for it! Besides, have you ever sense an fat runner?

By using the Couch to 5k Program, I found a regimen that is easy to follow and makes me feel really good about the hard work I'm putting in.

I can't wait to get that lovely runner's body!!!!

Or a body like Teyana Taylor's. :-)

:: You Might Be a Black Bohemian If.... ::

I saw this post from Beauty in Baltimore and thought it was pretty interesting because I've be coined as a Black Bohemian/Afrocentric/Hippie just because of how I looked and what my opinions were. There are 41 points, but I've decided to hit up just 5 I thought were pretty cool.

You might be a Black Bohemian/Conscious/Hippie if:

1. You are a black woman with natural/naputral hair and you absolutely refuse to use a chemical hair straightener or flaming tool of torture(blowdryer,curlers, hot comb etc.) on your hair.>> Now, I use blow dryers only because I'm not going to wait ALL day for my hair to dry so I can style it... Sorry.

2. You love and will STAN(D) for the following artists:Jill Scott,India Irie, Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.>>Heck Yeah!

3. You will cut a bitch for tickets to a Erykah Badu show. Furthermore, Erykah Badu is to black Bohemians and hippies what the Grateful Dead is to older white hippies.

4. You can speak standard English when you are with one crowd and Ebonics when you with another. All black people should be able to do this...

5. You are super liberal politically. You believe that what adults do behind closed doors is their business, but you want rich people to pay more taxes. Somewhere on your list of changes you would like to see Americans one day have universal health care, limited work hours and mandatory 8 weeks vacation.>> One sweet day :-)