The ABC's of BetterJNel

I never realized on how attached I was to my iPhone until I did not have it.  My phone died on me Saturday night.  Thanks to AppleCare I will have my phone by Wednesday.  Due to my careless this AM, I forgot to set my regular alarm (instead of relaying on my phone alarm) and overslept my training sessions.  This has caused a significant off balance all day long!  

My online friends came to the rescue as Karen at www.karenlovestorun.com tagged me the ABC of me  post.  It was great to get to know my online friends in a different matter.  So here we go....

A. Attached or Single? Attached to my domestic partner, Josh, for 4+ years.  

Josh, My Guy

B. Best Friend? Josh & Jennifer (my sorority little sis)

C. Cake or pie? Vanilla Cake

D. Day of choice? Friday: Due to my work schedule, this is my first day of my weekend so I get to mark tons of my list!  It is a truly a "Jennifer" day as Josh works on Fridays so I am able to get everything I need done.

E. Essential Item? My phone (as I am learning this week)

F. Favorite color? Silver, but I do wear a lot of pink these days (#sweatpink)

G. Gummy bears or worms? Neither!  Gummies hurt my jaw. Rock Candy!

H. Home town? Even if I was born in Iowa, I consider my hometown as Quincy, IL as I lived there from 2 years old to 18 years old.

I. Favorite Indulgence? A southern tea: long island iced tea with peach

J. January or July? January as it is my birthday month!!!  (But last year, I may July my birthday month as well)

Dolce & Chanel

K. Kids? Furry kids: Dolce (dog), Chanel (dog), Godiva (cat), and Turbo (step dog)

L. Life isn’t complete without? Family and a good book

M. Marriage date? Passing on this question...

N. Number of brothers/sisters? 1 older brother, Todd

O. Oranges or Apples? Apple.  

P. Phobias? Being off the ground (like more then two feet freaks me out), snakes, and sedatives 

Our recent Bike Night/Date Night

Q. Quotes? You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching; Love like you'll never be hurt; Sing like there's nobody listening; And live like it's heaven on Earth" - William Purkey  

R. Reasons to smile? Date Night/Bike Nights with Josh

S. Season of choice?  Spring.  Excited to see all the new growth and having warmer days

T. Tag 5 People  @annicanicole @missriki7 @FromFattyTo @thinfluence @holleyjollyk

U. Unknown fact about me? Washington DC is my favorite city.  I have all the metro stops memorized.  The city energizes me!

V. Vegetable? Spinach

W. Worst habit? Burping

X. Xray or Ultrasound? Had my fair share of both.  Xrays are quicker!

Y. Your favorite food?  Kraft Mac & Cheese (not clean eating, once a year treat)

Z. Zodiac sign? Capicorn 

Happy Birthday Electra Daisy!

Through out this journey to health, I have mini-goals and rewards along the way.  Last year, to buy a bike and start riding again.  When I was younger, I remember I was always on my bike.  I would be riding with my two best neighborhood friends up to the pool.  I even remember challenging myself and riding the 6 miles to my voice lessons or to my church.

Bike riding was something as I got older, I was always envious of those who did ride.  Because of my weight, i never imafined me fitting on the seat.  I imagined myself weighting down the bike where the wheels would flatten.  Knowing biking is a great form of "fun exercise", I had a goal weight I wanted to obtain prior to getting to that bike.   

While I was just short of that goal, the perfect bike came up on craigslist.  After @HLASpringfield Yoga on at the Square session last June, Josh, my partner, called me about an Electra Daisy in which he found online.  Now Electra's are the perfect cruiser for just a casual bike rider.  I went to the see the bike that afternoon.  While I did not have the money for the Electra, I put at the best offer, and it was accepted.  

My Electra Daisy got customized by Josh with a matching back rack, baskets with flowers, and even a customized nameplate tank.  Last summer, I rode the bike everywhere..to the Farmer's Market, out to eat, riding to workout, even to the St. Louis Arch.  I have become skilled rider in traffic as well as trails around Springfield.  There is sometime to say about having a super cute bike, you want to ride it all the super cute time.  

Our bike riding adventures have continued as we transitioned to a full bike riding couple.  Beyond the Daisy, I am the happy owner of two other bikes: Globe Specialized and a converted Electra into a customized Hello Kitty bike.  We strive to have weekly date bike nights where we base our activities where we can ride.  In the fall, we do the ultimate vacation by biking the Katy Trail!

When I reflect back on my last year of biking, I would never imagine that I would have been doing this two years ago.  I would never thought I would look outside on a summer day and think to myself "I can't wait to bike/run/walk".  I guess that is why I am a better me!

Successful Saturday: Galloway & Governor

After a week of rest due to health, I have started back on my running program and finally can start with Juneathon Challenge.  Most participates are across the ocean, but I consider Princess Kate my Princess so I figure we can Juneathon together!  (http://www.juneathon.com)  The challenge is to Run everyday,  Blog everyday, and Log everyday.  I will admit...I am going to keep my rest day as a rest day so you won't see any Sunday logging!

With the success of a personal record on my 5K on Memorial Day, I am putting a lot more focus and effort on creating consistence with my training.  That started this morning with my Galloway training program.  I have struggled to find a place in the running group as they actually make you commit to a consist run/walk ratio.  What I thought was a good interval for me the first week was not!  I became injured and lost on the route. 

On my personal record 5k, my brother helped me find a good ratio (30/45) and while it is not super fast, it is what I can do consistence!  Today, I was able to go the whole 4 miles at that interval!  Big step for me!  Plus no injury and enjoyed it.  They gave me some tips on my posture and running up those silly hills!  The purpose of the Galloway Long Run is to get the distance at a pace in which you feel you are going to slow in...and that was accomplished!

Then I was off to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day with the kickoff of the 100 Missouri Miles challenge!  Governor Jay Nixon is challenging every Missourian to move outdoors for 100 miles by the end of the year.  By moving, it can be walking, running, cycling, swimming, horse backing riding, paddling....just moving!  This is a great challenge as Missouri was just named the "Best Trail State" by American Trails, but still rank in the top 10 for obesity!  (www.100missourimiles.com)

I took Turbo, my step dog, along for the walk.  I did find out Turbo responses to people clapping by barking.  Luckily, the Governor responded by saying he was glad to have the support of the dog community as well as his desire to have the dog travel with him to provide that much encouragement at every event. 

The turnout for the event was AMAZING!  It looks like it was one of the larger turnouts in the state.  (A couple even came from Mid-Missouri to attend!) It was great to walk the trails with the Governor, met with community leaders, and represent Healthy Living Alliance (http://hlaspringfield.org).  

For the 100 Miles Missouri challenge, I am pledging not only 100 miles run/walking, but also 100 miles biking and 100 miles swimming!  I am pretty sure Turbo will join along as well.

Working a Better Community: Healthy Living Alliance

It seems like almost once a month a new chart/listing/ranking comes out which measures the status of

your state.  The healthiest state..the highest rate of obesity....the best city for biking...the worst city for public transportation.  It seems like every city/state is battling to prove their health worthness with stats.

But what is really happening in this communities?  The most recent CDC rankings has my current state ranked the 10th most obesity state and estimated the direct medical cost of obesity per Missourian is at $754.  For some Missourians, this amount might be a whole paycheck.  Not matter what condition your health is, the impact of obesity can be felt for every person. 

Yoga on the Square with Healthy Living Alliance

That is why we are a neighbors to each other should provide the resources to improve our health as a community.  I remember when I was growing up, everyone may age was always out playing and moving and being active.  As an adult, beyond joining a gym program or sign up for a running group, it is difficult to find the community resources to keep us moving (especially with a limited budget).

For me, I have never paid attention to what was happening in my community when it came to healthier resources until I started this journey.  (To be honest, I never really paid attention to any aspects of the community in my twenties).  But on my journey to a Better JNel, I would say an indirect result was becoming a better citizen.

Because of this, I have started a partnership with the Healthy Living Alliance here in my city (http://hlaspringfield.org/).  Started back in 2011 (the same year I started my journey), the HLA has been working on the goal of improving lives, reducing the community cost of lifestyle-related diseases, and strengthen our city's economic outlook.  In our city, the HLA has been hosting school programs to promote healthy eating, campaigned for a successful ban on all indoor smoking in the workplace (twice), and providing free community exercise programs to increase movement. 

It was last year which I became exposed to the Healthy Living Alliance during free Friday lunchtime Yoga on the Square.  It was not until recently in which I expressed interest in being a Healthy Living Alliance Ambassador which by discussing my lifestyle changes, we could use my story to motivate my neighborhoods. 

I am excited to see where our partnership goes as well as energized for another year of Yoga on the Square.  I challenge all of you to outreach to your community to see what resources they have as well as how you can get involved.