Finding Inspiration ....

I LOVE THIS! And I found this at the right time... no matter how badly I want to quit, I can't because tomorrow is another break-through, another chance for greatness, another day closer to my goal.

I made lots of copies of this. There is one in my bathroom, one in my closet, one of the fridge... anyplace in my house where I feel discouraged or temptation. 

So last month I moved my elliptical machine and it's now facing a wall, and let's me honest no one wants to stare at a wall even if they are wearing an iPod. So I decided that every month I would add a little inspiration to my wall. I'm a calorie burning woman on a mission to lose the pounds and an attractive (slightly nude) man was exactly what I need to stay on that machine. So this month my inspiration is non other than super studly, Olympic swimmer Anthony Ervin:

Let me tell you how awesome and inspiring he is 

• his tats are and glasses giving me hipster realness
• he wears pretty panties swim trunks
• he's a Cal alum/swimmer ...what's in that water at Cal Berkeley they have an awesome swim program that but do they also require their males to be completely gorgeous (have you seen Nathan Adrian??)
• his hair (wow do I sound like a fan girl???)
• this is the kind of cat that I can see myself sitting down with a cup of tea having a deep, meaningful conversation with
• he swims the 50 Meter
• his story is completely inspiring 

I'm always to say that weight has been a life-long issue for me. There has never been a time when I haven't been fat. Okay that's not true, there were a few years when I was normal weight as referenced in this picture (I was so ahead of my time fashion wise... how many little kids do you know that can rock a periwinkle swing trench-coat?)

I always remembered high school fondly, and I guess I sugar coated it by "remembering" myself with an athletic build..I don't even think I look the same, in all fairness I have been through a life-time of medical issues since then (numerous illnesses, hospitalizations, and two liver transplants). And in my lifetime I have been anywhere from 160 to 300 pounds... strangely enough before I decided to actively lose weight I was larger than I was in that picture (I estimate I was 250 lbs in that photo)

Tyra @ 17                                          Tyra @ 35

So why is this so inspiring? It reminds me that I've come s long way...and still have a long way to go!

About a week ago Sunshine proposed a challenge to her teams to create a collage as part of a contest. I've used this silhouette before in a collage that was in this post and thought that it would be perfect for the contest. The theme: Different Women, One Goal. I think at the end of the day that sums up the Blue Team. I love them, they inspire me EVERY day. We share our challenges and our successes and it makes this journey so much easier to travel. I can say 100% that if I didn't have the support I would have gotten this far, and would have quiet a long time ago. 

Inspiration is Everywhere, even online.

"Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement."
Brian Tracy, Eat that Frog

FMM: Quick and Random

Quick and Rando

Quick and Random

1. Choose three songs that would be on the soundtrack of your life.  "Bruised but not Broken" by Joss Stone, "It’s My Life" by Bon Jovi and "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" by Cindy Lauper.

2. Share the details of one project that you're currently working on.  Not currently working on a major project. But I have been doing a mini nail project for breast cancer awareness.

3. If you could learn to do one thing overnight what would it be? I'd learn to ball room dance, before I die I wanna do a sexy Sambra roll.

4. If you could be a fictional character which one would you be?  .Elinor Dashwood...I just love that book/movie

5. What's your favorite thing about the month of October?  Football, and every day in the month of October I try to wear something pink in honor of breast cancer awareness, then the month ends with Halloween….my favorite holiday

6. Share one TV show that you're embarrassed to admit you watch.  Couples Therapy on VH1. It’s a train wreck and I watch every episode faithfully more than once. I even have my mom watching it. This whole Courtney Stodden/Doug Hutchinson gross me out, yet intrigues me .

7. Name one friend that you're thankful to have in your life today.  I'm extra thankful for my cousin and good friend Aisha, we are kindred souls in more ways than one.

8. What was the most relaxing part of your weekend?  The entire weekend was pretty relaxing; we got a lot of rain in Chicago this weekend, so everyone was pretty mellow and lazy…even my cat

 9. Do you like to dance?  I love to dance, but I don’t do it will… I can’t even describe it properly… it’s a mess.

10.  Share one thing that you're looking forward to before the end of the year.  I don't know if I'm specifically looking forward to anything. I just want to continue the year in a positive and healthy way.