Hi. I am Abena, and my goal is to connect my head to my heart in this weight loss journey. I have lost 50 lbs in less than a year before, so I know what to do re: exercise- I just need to translate that into running/walking daily beyond the safety of a secure college campus. (My current residence is in a gated community, but it backs up to woods, so I am a little scared of the ducks, deer, and coyotes now:))

Grad school in the Midwest has done a number on my health- I became more ...

Hi. I am Abena, and my goal is to connect my head to my heart in this weight loss journey. I have lost 50 lbs in less than a year before, so I know what to do re: exercise- I just need to translate that into running/walking daily beyond the safety of a secure college campus. (My current residence is in a gated community, but it backs up to woods, so I am a little scared of the ducks, deer, and coyotes now:))

Grad school in the Midwest has done a number on my health- I became more sedentary (long cold winters, marathon study sessions, and no African dance classes- though I started taking fun Indian dance classes). I am back in the South, and I was doing well with tracking calories, water, and fitness in September and October 2012 after I joined, but usually when I get busy with school or funds get tight- i.e., no membership at the county rec center, my exercise regimen goes to the wayside (diet is usually pretty good). I am committed to living a more balanced life in 2013, and making sure I give energy to all of my priorities. Thanks to a SparkMail message that reminded me I had joined this great community for a purpose, I decided to create a SparkPage and connect more dynamically with others on the site. When funds improve- I am also going to join Black Girls Run on some of their treks, to conquer my fear of running (knee problems/arthritis run in the family, even at healthy weights). Here's to a great year, not of resolutions, but of self-love, belief in the goodness of God/the universe/divine intelligence/law of attraction and all of its prophets/manifestations (including people of all backgrounds), and a commitment to being present in every moment.