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Page 1 of my 3 page article in REDBOOK, May 2009 issue!! *Spread the Spark*





We spent the week in Jamaica pretending it was our Honeymoon!! Haha!!





First night out in Jamaica, mon!! 5.23.09, 130 lbs.



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To Live Each Day Strong, Focused, and Determined.

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"
~ Judy Vilmain

Would you hop on a treadmill and allow yourself to feel the satisfaction of completing your first one mile run?
Would you walk into your gym's weight room after checking your pride at the door, so you could gradually see your body transform before your own eyes?
Would you sign up and train to run a 10mile road race, having never run more than a few miles at best, and raise your hands up ...
"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"
~ Judy Vilmain

Would you hop on a treadmill and allow yourself to feel the satisfaction of completing your first one mile run?
Would you walk into your gym's weight room after checking your pride at the door, so you could gradually see your body transform before your own eyes?
Would you sign up and train to run a 10mile road race, having never run more than a few miles at best, and raise your hands up high as you cross your first "finish line"?
Would you then dare to sign up and train for a marathon so you could stare at your finisher's medal with teary eyes and say, "There were days that I did not know if I could run a marathon; I now have a lifetime of knowing I did."

Would you learn to swim and conquer your fear of drowning?
Would you learn to ride a bike and overcome lifelong anxiety?
Would your swim, bike, run your way through your first triathlon, inspiring your Husband to later do the same?

What would YOU attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

My name is Magda. In 2007 I ran my first mile (ever!)
Today I am a 2nd place 5k winner, multi Half-Marathoner, two time Marathoner, and a Triathlete. I have discovered my INNER ATHLETE, and as a bonus, lost 27 lbs along the way.

And I have only just begun.

Since starting my journey I have learned that "if my mind can conceive it, my body can achieve it."

I have also learned that "letting go" is an act of strength and courage. By "letting go" I can free myself of the weight of the past, and open doors to a new future.

And, admittedly, throughout this journey I have fallen, but I've never given up. Because with each fall, and with each rise, I have found that I become stronger, more focused, and more determined. And I learn from my mistakes and press on.

This is my mission:
To be both a student & teacher of life, enlightening me & those I love. To live each day strong, focused, and determined.

And to never give up on my dreams, because to not give up is to not fail.

So I ask You one final time, "What would YOU attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"

************************************
I am a Wife, a Friend, a Professional, an Athlete. These are my "Secrets" to Success .....

1. THERE IS NO SECRET. No quick fix. No diet pill. No miracle contraption. There is no secret to becoming the healthiest you possible. There is only proper nutrition & focused exercise. Every day. No exceptions (OK, few exceptions!) For me proper nutrition means 50% carbs/30% protein/20% fat/8 cups of H20/35 grams of fiber For me focused exercise for weight loss meant 6 days a week consisting of at least 10hrs of Cardio & 1.5 hrs of Weights. Now that I'm maintaining & training for marathons/triathlons focused exercise means 4 days of Running + 2 days of Cross Training + 4 days of Circuit Training = 5-6 days/week @ 9 - 12 hrs/week. What does proper nutrition & exercise truly mean to you?

2. FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL. On all accounts. You must plan your meals every day. And you must stick with your plans. You can't allow every lunch meeting, office party, dinner date, etc to get in the way of this. You must stick with your plan, and make few exceptions. You must also plan your workouts in advance. And you must stick with these plans. Take team each Saturday to plan out your next week's workouts day by day, workout by workout. Put them into your planner to ensure you don't have scheduling conflicts. Wake up each morning remembering these are obligatory appointments. You don't decide each morning if you'll go to work that day, you just go. Treat your workouts with the same level of priority. Don't give yourself the option of backing out. Afterall, this is your health we're talking about.

3. IF YOU FOCUS ON RESULTS, YOU'LL NEVER CHANGE. IF YOU FOCUS ON CHANGE, YOU'LL GET RESULTS. Don't get bogged down by the numbers on the scale. Do, however, get bogged down by the changes you need to make in your life that relate to your nutrition & excercise. Stick with it for at least 6 weeks. And then evaluate if it's time to make another change (new workout routine? new healthy meals?). If you focus on these changes, you will get results. Guaranteed.

4. START EVERY WORKOUT WITH A CLEAN SLATE, EVERY MEAL WITH A CLEAN PLATE. You're human. I'm human. We're all human. We make mistakes, and that's ok. But we can't turn that one or two mistakes into five or ten. Move on. Immediately. Now. Don't dwell on the past. Leave it behind. And embrace the opportunity that exists with every workout & every meal.

5. BE YOUR #1 FAN. This journey is a long one. Friends & family will be there cheering you on along the way. But you must be your #1 fan. Reward yourself for overcoming obstacles. Smile at your own reflection and the beauty that you see. Shout out in your loudest voice, "I am proud to be me."

6. HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE. HAVE DISCIPLINE TO GET THE JOB DONE. You can accomplish whatever you put your mind to. And that's a fact. Have faith in yourself today, tomorrow. Do not allow yourself to get weighed down with worry. Remind yourself "this" will not happen overnight, it will take time. But it will happen, as long as you remain disciplined in your goals & objectives. You will find yourself get stronger with each day. And before you know it, 6 months will have gone by .... and you'll be able to look back on all of your many accomplishments .... accomplishments achieved through faith & discipline.

7. FIND YOUR INNER ATHLETE. Once you do, you'll never want to turn back! Focus on training & competing in athletic events, where crossing the finish line fills you with complete satisfaction. Always have that next race & finish line in mind; you'll soon realize there is no "finish line" to your inner athlete's journey.

"If your mind can conceive it, your body can achieve it!" No Doubt!

***********************
Wow! Wow! I was featured on the Daily Spark Blog on 4.29.09: http://tinyurl.com/dcks8a
Thank you SparkPeople, Stepfanie, and Grant, I'm honored!

WooHoo! I was the Community Highlight on 1.10.08:
http://tinyurl.com/2gjbvk
Thank you SparkCoach_Jen & SparkPeople, what an honor!

************************
OFFICIAL Results of my 1st (of many) Triathlons! (Danskin Sprint Triathlon, July 28, 2008)
FINISH TIME: 1:47:38
OVERALL RANK: 1704/2468
CLASS RANK: 235/484
SWIM TIME: 26:16 (1/2 mi)
SWIM RANK: 2435/2468
T1: 8:20
BIKE TIME: 47:50 (12 mi)
BIKE RANK: 1021/2468
T2: 3:37
RUN TIME: 21:34 (5K)
RUN RANK: 68/2468
************************
OFFICIAL results for my PR 5k (October 5, 2008)
GUN TIME: 22:53
GUN PACE: 7:22/mi
CLASS RANK: 2nd/93
GENDER RANK: 7th/180
OVERALL RANK: 35th/305
************************
OFFICIAL results for my PR Ten Miler! (November 9, 2008)
NET TIME: 1:21:43
NET PACE: 8:10/mi
GUN TIME: 1:22:31
GUN PACE: 8:16/mi
CLASS RANK: 12th/56
OVERALL RANK: 125th/391
************************
OFFICIAL results for my PR Half-Marathon!! (Westfield, MA, April 5, 2009)
NET TIME: 1:47:51
NET PACE: 8:14/mi
GUN TIME: 1:48:33
GUN PACE: 8:17/mi
CLASS RANK: 4th/18
GENDER RANK: 31st/127
OVERALL RANK: 129th/327
************************
OFFICIAL RESULTS of my most recent race, a PR Marathon! (Providence, RI, May 3, 2009)
NET TIME: 3:56:15
NET PACE: 9:01/mi
GUN TIME: 3:56:40
GUN PACE: 9:01/mi
CLASS RANK: 59th/190
OVERALL RANK: 266th/750
HALF-MARATHON TIME: 1:53:45
HALF-MARATHON PACE: 8:40/mi
************************

MY 10 "MUST HAVES" FOR SUCCESS:
1. Heart Rate Monitor / Garmin Forerunner
2. iPOD
3. Weight Lifting Gloves
4. Workout Journal (Plan Ahead & Track Daily)
5. Stability Ball (instead of Desk Chair)
6. FUEL (Gatorade & GU)
7. PUMA Running Kicks / Cute Workout Outfits
8. Gym Buddies
9. Bikram Yoga
10. My Bubsie's Love & Encouragement

BONUS: Always Having "My Next Race!"
************************
MY COMMUNITY JOURNAL: Lessons Learned ... Lessons Shared!
A compilation of my favorite articles, writings, resources, etc ... all the things that have inspired & helped me reach my goals!

You can access this journal right on my SparkPage, via a link on the right side of my page (right above my profile pic). I will be updating it regularly, so please come back often!

**Share the Knowledge. Spread the Spark.**
Read More About SMURFETTE0725 (Updated November 3)


Current Status:
SMURFETTE0725 had time of her life in San Antonio!! Danced for 26.2mi with the bestest Girlfriends I could ever ask for!! xoxo
set 5 days ago


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My Weight Loss Progress:

 current weight: 130.0 
 
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Profile

Member Since: 1/4/2006

SparkPoints: 45645

SparkAmerica Minutes: 53246

My Goals:
MAGDA'S MISSION STATMENT : I am STRONG, FOCUSED, and DETERMINED. I am both a STUDENT and TEACHER of LIFE. By ENLIGHTENING others, I ENLIGHTEN myself.

MOTIVATION for 2009:
1. Be the Wife my Husband deserves by putting him above all others/things.
2. Be smarter about our finances
3. Be a positive influence for our nieces and nephews
4. Be thoughtful of my INNER ATHLETE by following through on proper nutrition
5. Be forgiving, accepting, while challenging my INNER ATHLETE
6. Be a mentor for my Team
7. Be nice to Magda. Feed my INNER SELF

ACTION STEPS for 2009:
Detailed in my Blog and on my Community Journal, "Lessons Learned ... Lessons Shared!"

My Program:
Plan includes:
*4 - 5 days in the gym. Cardio each time, 3-4 days of ST
*4 - 5 days at the Bikram Yoga Studio
*Daily calorie count of 1400 - 1900
*Calorie split of 50% Carbs, 30% Protein, & 20% Fat.
*Log into SparkPeople daily for inspiration!
*Do not allow my Hubby to feel neglected, ever.
*Balance of Mind, Body, Spirit.

Personal Information:
"If your mind can conceive it, your body can achieve it!"

Jan 07: Could barely run 1 mile
Oct 07: Lowell (1st) Half-Marathon. 1:54:59
Dec 07: Jacksonville (1st) Marathon. 4:04:54
July 08: Danskin (1st) Sprint Triathlon .75kSwim+ 20kBike + 5kRun. 1:47:38
Oct 08: NB 5k. 22:53 (Won 2nd!)
April 09: Wesfield (PR) Half-Marathon. 1:47:51
May 09: Providence (PR) Marathon. 3:56:15
Oct 09: Baystate Marathon. 4:21:30
Nov 09: NYC Marathon. 4:09:54

"There will be days that you do not know if you can run a marathon; there will be a lifetime of knowing you did."

HW:165/+32% Body Fat/27 BMI. CW:135/19% Body Fat/22 BMI. Metabolic Age: 12. Resting Heart Rate: 50. BP: 94/62.

My Community Journal:
Lessons Learned ... Lessons Shared.

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Happy Thanksgiving
From:
FITSSY

Spa Visit
From:
TEEBOP6

Finish Line
From:
ALLYNMC

Gold Star
From:
TSUZANNE

Relaxation Music
From:
PHEBESS

Workout Shoes
From:
MUSCLEMOM_2




Member Comments:
MISSFIT1980
11/17/2009 4:14:57 PM

Hi Magda

How are you? I LOVE your message in New York! It's about time you had your name in lights!!!

I am getting back into the running this week now my wedding is over - i turn the big 30 next November and i really want to run my first marathon before i get there - i hope i can make it! I know it has been a few years since your first one but did you follow any particular plan or did you just run run run?

You as ever are fabulous and gorgeous - well done on your recent races

Amy x


NATTY792
11/17/2009 3:33:39 PM

You are such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your experience. I have my first race on Sunday.


JHERTERT
11/17/2009 11:53:41 AM

Your story is so inspiring! I want to run the Chicago Marathon next October! What training plan did you follow? You look AMAZING! I want to find my inner athlete!!


IMARUNR
11/16/2009 8:37:07 PM

Thank you for your sweetness! I'm not really sure what to write, but will definitely be thinking about it during my trip this week! Lifes lessons!! :)
Hope you had a great time with your friends...


GRET30
11/16/2009 6:29:23 PM

Had such a great time this weekend...can't wait until we do it again!!!!!!!!!!!


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