14 FEBRUARY 2013
Now...this guy is like freaking Superman! I mean, who does that?!?! This for sure will give you some motivation when you think that you are unable to do a certain type of exercise. Remember that the sky is the limit with what you CAN do...look at that dude who jumped from space?! Big shout-out to TEEMAJORFITNESS for showing the rest of the world how motivation, dedication, and hard work pays off!!!

14 FEBRUARY 2013
The one thing I will never understand is why there needs to be only one day where people spend $$$ and go out of their way to celebrate love and friendship?

Yes...it is nice to get flowers and receive a gift and even get on with the sexy time. But is that the message that we want to give our loved ones? That they are special enough to be celebrated only once a year? 

We should celebrate those loved one on every possible occasion because the one thing is CERTAIN in life is that life itself is an UNCERTAIN bastard that on any given second decides to make you go "bye-bye" from the world and those who didn't celebrate you but once a year were probably not able to say their last good-byes!

I'm not throwing stones because I am as guilty of this and probably even WORSE than many, but that is one of the things that I have on my list of to-do's from now on.

 14 FEBRUARY 2013
It is crazy to look back at all of the schooling that we have had at some point or another and see how far we have become from not knowing one single item on the required textbook....to being able to teach those who go through the same training AFTER you have successfully graduated and are ready to tackle whatever obstacles the world has going your way.

Today made me realize that all of the hours that I put into studying for my Pharmacy Technician course were all worth it. As I sat on that IV hood all geared up and ready to make IVs for actual patients, I got to thinking that no matter what task I am given in life, putting 100% effort in all that you do pays off. I wasn't given any extra points during my exams, I took the same test as everyone else and on top of everything I made sure to help out as much as I could whenever I knew about a subject because I wanted everyone to succeed in the course.

As I sat there and let the success soak in, I thought about all of those people in my class that would smile to my face and turn around and talk to instructors to have me removed from being the class leader to place themselves in such position. I thought about all of those people that genuinely made my life a living hell with their attitudes and misunderstood selves. I thought about those who just didn't care to be where they were and didn't even try. I thought about all of the bathroom conversations that were directed at people's opinion of how good/bad of a leader I was based on what they thought...and even though I'm listing the negative first, I also thought about the lasting friendships I built while at METC, I thought about the fact that during this course of training, I was able to improve my GPA not only from the last training I was sent on, but from my Undergraduate degree. I thought about how much stronger my bond with my hubby has gotten and the great things that have occurred during the last 4 months. I thought about the future from the minute I return to my beloved Yorktown for the years to come....

YES...I had one of those flash-before-your-eyes type of moments because at that moment, I finally understood that all of the things I have been learning have not been for nothing. If there is someone out there that I can help by being an EMT, Corpsman,  Pharmacy Tech, or fitness instructor...then I will try my hardest to LEARN all that I can to be able to do so.

I smile because at the end of the day...it wasn't about being THE best...it was all about being MY best and that sure as hell happened. If people would focus their time on themselves and not trying to be like others or beat others...maybe more of us would be happier.

That is all! :)

20 JANUARY 2013:
As we embark on another year, I just want to let you know that I think you are an amazing person and that God blessed me with your love! No matter how bad things get in life...I hope that we sail through the calm and rough seas, supporting each other and enjoying our marriage for eternity!

To another year of blessings (even if those are in disguise)!!!!

20 JANUARY 2013:
Enough with any and all excuses that I have come up with for having fallen off my working out and fitness wagon for a few months. As the new year started and I am THAT much closer to getting back to my unit, I realized that there are a few things that I want to accomplish and damn it if I don't get those done this year!

Before leaving my unit, I was designated as the Unit Health Promotion Coordinator (1 of a few Coasties who have had training in helping others achieve a healthy weight and meet the CG Weight standards). I realized that I was in no shape to expect from others that I could not do myself. Now don't get me wrong...I am way under my max. allowable weight for the Coast Guard...but does that make me any fit and healthy? Umm....no! How can I attempt to counsel other Coasties on their weight when I am not in MY best shape? I OWE it to everyone I work with as a UHPC and the members that we help to give them my 100% as I expect 100% from them.

We have at our unit a group of permanent party members that assist the tech schools with doing early-morning physical training on a regular basis in order to keep everyone in a shape that will ensure these members pass their Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) prior to graduating from class. I was always intrigued by the possibility of being the second female fitness instructor to help with this PT...but did not pursue the idea any further when I was told that I had to pass the PFA myself prior to being able to help anyone else...that was before I left in 2012 for training. Since the beginning of this year, I have started to train in order to pass my own PT exam upon returning to my unit and becoming that fitness instructor that I wanted to be for so long, but was not in the right mind-set to pass the exam that everyone in the DOD services is required to do on a regular basis!...crazy!!!

Below is the information for the Coast Guard PFA (for my age of course 26):

1.5 mile run under 15:26
23 push-ups (1 minute)
32 sit-ups (1 minute)
19.25" Sit and Reach
12-min 400 yds swim

I may need to work on the swimming upon my return to my unit, but at least that would be the only item to work on. I found a great website with information regarding pass the PFA and how to get your body PFA-ready! The best piece of information I have read so far and what I'm currently going by are Stew Smith's superset information for Push-ups and Sit-ups (crunches) training!! Since my upper body strength is really slim to none...I started doing the sets with only 5 push-ups (on the knees) per superset and have actually worked myself to doing supersets with 10 (male) push-ups in a 2-week period...truly amazing what the body can achieve in such little time with a bit of will and dedication to achieve a goal!!!

Upon returning home...there is another piece of the Fitness-Puzzle that I need to complete and that is to actually complete a set of Insanity training! I bought the DVD collection last year, started my training, and ended up hurting my calf muscles due to I don't know what! There is no way that I spent all that money on getting the DVDs and there is also my "I EARNED IT" T-shirt waiting to be sent to me after I complete my challenge....hell yeah!

Besides Zumba (which I already wrote about)...I also will be getting my Turbo Kick Certification during the month of April 2013!! I'm super excited to be able to finally attend the training that had to be postponed from last year as I was in NC doing my EMT Certification Course. The best news of having to postpone the training is that I now get to learn a completely new routine as I attend the Turbo Kick Round 54 training! I hope to be able to get the routines for my other two favorite Turbo Kick Rounds: 38 and 51 taught by the amazing Jocelyn and Evy at the Headquarter gym!!! Turbo Kick was the first Fitness class that I attended and it was the class that got me started on this roller coaster of wanted to be fit...teach Turbo, Zumba, and whatever else I am fortunate to be able to learn.

So yeah...in the topic of fitness...let this be the year where Summer is not going to be dreaded! Let this be the year where sitting down will not exposed extra-cushion around the stomach...let this be the year where dimples disappear from my ass and legs...and let this be the year where my arms are toned and sexy!...

Yeah...let this be the year of the SEXY!

19 JANUARY 2013:
On 08 JULY 2012, I embarked on a journey that would change my life a months down the road (say...today). After having completed my AFAA Group Instructor Training Certification, I also completed my Zumba Licensing course for Zumba Basic 1. Now...don't think I have a list of professional classes that I have taken...or expert choreographers that have been my instructors...or a line of events that I have taught or anything like that! My only taste with structured dancing  was during the my training under the amazing Samay  at MDC and while I was a member of the her company after having taken all of the Bellydancing levels from beginner to professional.

Why Zumba? The only reason that I can give is that having been born in Colombia, I grew up in the heart of salsa, merengue, vallenato, and the many types of genres that Zumba was created from! My little heart jumps up and down to the beat of the music as I let loose and allow my feet to take over!! I have just been out of the area where I would like to start teaching classes until March of this year...but then have plans to immediately start working on the amazing idea that came to my mind after waking up this morning and while staring out of my hotel room window pondering what my change for this year would be....

I may not have the best technique or be the most talented Zumba instructor out there...but I have the heart and the WANT to make it in that industry and be able to teach classes at locate fitness facilities in my area...that is why I have registered for the Basic 2 Instructor course and will be attending the August 2013 Zumba Instructor Conference in Orlando, Florida (yay...I get to see my family as well)....

With the realization that I want to be able to teach my first Zumba class this year...also came the realization that I have a LOT of work to do....choreos, technique, exploratory classes of other genres (jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop), youtube choreo-sharing, and most importantly...start preparing for the journey that will begin as soon as I get home!...today was the day for planning the course of how my year will go...but more on that later.

31 DECEMBER 2012:
Now I don't know about you...but there is nothing that I absolutely love more than to be able to fall back to my place of comfort...my family! That's exactly the case after being stuck in San Antonio, TX for Pharmacy Tech School since late October...

Being able to go home during "EXODUS" was a nice break from the routine and being able to celebrate Christmas and New Years at home was the perfect way to end 2012!!!! Now...Latin people like to par-tay like the world is going to end...and that is exactly how our New Year's bash turned out to be! With a banging Latin-mix playlist....the afternoon of the 31st started early...with lots of Aguardiente...and my ass did not stop dancing for about 7 hours!!

With the "parranda", also came the realization as that "Midnight countdown" arrived, as the "magic ball" fell, as the alcohol really set in my body, and as I saw smiles and tears of joy and suffering that this was a year to never be forgotten...I'm not going to lie...that midnight strike opened up the waterfall of pent-up feelings I had been trying my hardest to bury all year long.

January 26 2012: I felt that shock that many feel once they find out that the little pregnancy test shows "POSITIVE" for the FIRST TIME EVER!

February 27, 2012: life-changing moment of pain, suffering, and agony of not being able to control the loss of my Fetusaurus...God wanted another little angel in heaven and my baby was the chosen one.

May 25, 2012: I am given the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to integrate into the Active Component of the US Coast Guard...after being a reservist for 8 years and being able to obtain so much knowledge from the civilian world...I was given a chance to take my knowledge and become part of such a great service 24/7.

June 17, 2012: Culmination of when my world really started to change for the better, positive, and spiritually fulfilling...I was baptized and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior...I was given a chance to live life following in His righteous ways and bettering myself as I learn about His teachings to the world.

June 19, 2012: My departure from Maryland signifies a great turning-point for my new life adventures waiting for me at Yorktown, VA as a Health Services Technician...New apartment in such a great area...new furniture...clean carpet...clean everything for the new adventures.

June 25, 2012: First day as a Corpsman after being out of the field for 5 years and not having had the opportunity to really practice my skills after A-school...WHAT A SHOCK!! My excitement for this field just went up ten-fold when being re-introduced to everything I had missed out on for 5 years...don't get me wrong...I am thankful for being able to complete my AA and BS degrees, having had the chance to work as a Graduate Admissions Evaluator for the FIU Graduate School...having been able to get married and start my life shared by two with the purpose to always be one!...Many long hours of after-work studying...many mistakes in the learning process...many "manys" to go through....but at least I am able to say that I consider myself to have grown so much from that first day I walked through the doors....

September 04, 2012: "Surprise! you are going to EMT Course"...and guess what? I LOVED IT! Call me crazy that feeling like I am going to go crazy from so much studying is something that I crave...I admit it...I'm a freaking book nerd...this course was intense, but it gave me the chance to meet awesome peeps that I know will be my friends for life..shoutout to my buddy KP and O! It feels great to know that after only 15 minutes I came out of that NREMT testing site to find out that I had passed my exam and am officially a NR EMT!

October 28, 2012: "Hey...glad you are back from EMT...want to go to Pharmacy Tech School?...see ya next year!!" LOL I think my clinic wanted me out of their site for at least 6 months!! ¬.¬ hmmm... This has been a challenge to say the least. With my supervisors giving me the "You know...Coastguardsmen always are at the top of the class"-type-of-pressure, I came ready to eat a lion if need be!! What I got was the great news that I would be class leader of 27 individuals (Army, Navy, Air Force) that I wouldn't be caught dead saying this in the past...but I feel that they have all grown (at least from my point of view) since the first day of classes. I have seen individuals do a 180 with their attitudes for the best...I have also seen claws come out in other individuals almost at the end of the journey. My advice for everyone in any situation is to be yourself and always try to be the "better" self that you are capable of being. I know that if you put 100 people in a room and choose a leader....the 99 people that are not leading will always think that they CAN do better...and that is true! We are all different individuals who have had different life experiences, see things differently, and personally....as someone who was out in the field both as a Reservist and while doing Active Duty at different commands...I have a completely different attitude from those who just got out of Basic Training or those who have not been at a non-training-command...people may think I'm crazy for saying this...but it is true...

December 21, 2012: Flew home to my casita and hence the reason why I have written this update...No matter how tough things got for me during 2012...I am writing this as a survivor of LIFE...think about your 2012...your highs and your low...ponder all you want....but at the end, just know that you MADE it...and you are a BETTER person because of it!

Ciao!

25 NOVEMBER 2012:
What the heck has been going on with me?! I miss my bestie Jocelyn and our daily runs..even in 30-degree weather...our long runs and walks in the weekends...our weekly turbo kick and Zumba sessions...

We can't say that we are 100% glad that life has moved forward...because at the end of the day...I really do miss the little things that made me happy when I was at HQ!

It has been a few months that I have fallen off the wagon with my lifestyle and that is not a good thing...not good for my health, mind, body, and soul! I yearn to feel the rush of endorphins at the 6th-8th mile of running....I yearn to feel that outta-breath feeling when you know you kicked ass in a routine and burned at least 650 calories from going above and beyond....I want all of that and I want it now!!!

My hubby has a great way of motivating me. You see....he is still riding the fitness wagon and going hard at trying to get into shape...so he told me I was a bit of a lazy-bummy-fat-ass and that my heart must be filled with gunky cholesterol! In actuality...he didn't say ANY of the stuff I just said...he just said that I needed to get back on track for my health...and in my mind...the lazy-bummy-cholesterol-filled-arteries-fat-ass came to mind...not because he said it...but because that's how I have been feeling about my self....and being sorry for myself is not something that I am willing to take any longer...its has been enough...and I'm done being a bum about my fitness lifestyle!

Wish me luck....I WILL NOT fall off the damn wagon...I AM the damn wagon...ok...I'm a weirdo....

22 NOVEMBER 2012:
Oh boy....you know what this means....the holidays are just around the corner....the stores are going to love your money....your bank account is going to hate you!!!

In the spirit of the holidays to come: Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I didn't get to cook a turkey...side dish...or even attend a party. I did get to make a complete microwaveable meal...skype with my hubby...and then have food coma because of the turkey!! I am thankful of where I am today.

I am thankful for each and every single person that has touched my life...for the better or worse. I am thankful for my family because even though we sometimes don't see eye-to-eye...we always have each other's back....I'm thankful for every single friendship I have ever had...because even though I don't have many now...I value what each individual taught me.

God puts people on your path for a reason...be glad that you have lived enough to realize that your path has changed 1,000 and one times from the kid that used to run around, free of worries, and not thinking into the future....

Hope everyone had a great holiday!