Half-Marathon Has to Wait....

Well, I have some news that I am not happy to share, but dealing with! A few weeks ago I ran my 7 mile run and started having some major pain under and around my knee cap. I went a little easy on it and it started to feel a little better, but then when I ran in Connecticut outside with more hills than I had been, it really started bothering me again. The cold just made it freeze up completely and sitting for very long made it stiff.

I visited an Orthopedic doctor a week and a half ago in hopes he could help me get back on track for my half-marathon that is only 2 weeks away now. He didn't have horrible news, but not great either. It seems an old knee injury from Jr. High was causing some problems, a lot of inflammation behind my knee cap that was causing the tendon to rub on the bone and causing the pain. I was given a steroid shot in the knee and his initial advice was to take a full week off from any workouts. I freaked knowing my half-marathon at that time was only about 3 1/2 weeks away, so he said I could ride a stationary bike for a week and see how it holds up and then try running again. If the pain continued I would have to come back in for an MRI to really see what's going on.

So I did the bike for a week, still had about 15% of the pain. Ran a mile after 15 minutes on the bike after a week and the pain was back the next morning about 40%. I had to make a decision. I could keep pushing myself, I've been so pumped about reaching this goal of running my first half-marathon! However, then I'd chance really doing some damage and having to have surgery possibly and then be out for who knows how long. Well, that decision made it easier for me...through my training I have gotten myself in better shape than I've been in, probably since high school! I'm back in the same size clothes I was wearing before I got pregnant with my first daughter and I feel great! No way am I going to chance putting all that back on for one day of running a half-marathon.

I admit that I am REALLY bummed. However, I look at it this way...I can continue taking it easy for another week with lighter workouts and hopefully the pain will go away and then I can start back to running 3-4 miles 4-5 days a week. If I can get back to that and continue with my weight training there is a chance I can do another half-marathon a little later. Right now I just need to get this pain gone...hopefully without having to go back in for an MRI!

I got into a little bit of a funk with my working out and my home-based business and I have realized it was because I was having so much pain during my runs. If you have read my earlier blog entries, when I talked about running I felt fantastic! I really felt so positive about everything. As my knee started bothering me I was not enjoying the runs as much, just trying to push through them to get to that end goal. I have come to realize it was affecting me in so many ways, not just in my workouts. I was feeling less excited about my work, crankier with my husband, and just all-around less motivated.

Now that I have made this decision I feel I am back on track! My fitness goal has changed, it's not to run my first half-marathon (not this month anyway), but to continue changing my body through running, lifting and having fun with it and with the meal replacement shakes that are really helping me to transform my body by getting rid of the internal fat that has built up! The inches are still coming off and I love it!

I also have a new Mission Statement that I finally put together and have posted to see everyday. I also realized that I stopped following my mentors and was just half-listening to their teachings. I know this has set me back, but I've learned and I am ready to move forward!

Mission Statement:
I am committed to being a devoted wife, mother, and friend who blesses family, friends, and people I meet with a plan to ensure both them and myself to take control of our health, wealth, and time in order to live the lifestyles we desire.

Ambition - Is it a Dirty Word?

The word ambition has been something on my mind a lot lately. I picked up the book "Ambition is Not a Dirty Word" by Debra Condren, PH.D and have been reading through it some in this search for balance. I am trying to figure out how to balance my time as a mom, a wife, and the desire to contribute to my family financially. Looking back, I use to have a great deal of ambition in my career...so much so that I worked MANY hours, sometimes my boyfriend at the time and now husband, felt was WAY too many hours. I don't blame him looking back. I was a recruiter for an agency in New York City. If they set a goal, I got there quicker than expected; I wanted to be the best; I wanted to be in the spotlight. I never missed a function with managers, no matter how long the hours were, I put the time in. If that's what it took for me to advance in my career, then I was there! I learned so much in that job and am VERY thankful to having that opportunity.

8 years later things have changed a GREAT deal! I am now happily married and have two beautiful daughters who are 1 1/2 years and 3 1/2 years old. I read a quote in the book that really hit home with where I see myself trying to be now:
"I believe opportunity is limitless. I am very ambitious. I am incredibly passionate about my work. But I'm equally passionate about my family and friends. If you are a woman who is ambitious, a woman with a vital contribution to make, you needn't choose between a meaningful career and a happy, fulfilling life outside of work. You just have to manage your life so that you can be a full recipient of all of it. Is this goal a virtue, and is it attainable? Absolutley." - Deborah Saweuyer-Parks, President & CEO of Homestead Capital.

I have found the greatest opportunity where I am truly passionate about my work and have the potential to not only make some great residual monthly income for my family, but also the opportunity to set us up for life! And I mean this, this company is offering those of us who have come into the company at this point now until December 31st the chance to set our families up for life! The world of Network Marketing is amazing, especially when you find the right company and right fit for where you want to go.

Where I am having the internal struggle is how much do I let my ambition lead right now and how much do I hold back to make sure I'm managing my life so that I can fulfill this financial goal as well as spend the quality time with my family. There are two huge reasons as to why I made the decision to do this home-based business:
1. Financial Freedom - I want to be able to contribute so that some of the pressure is taken from my husband; so we can go on wonderful vacations around the world; to give my husband more time off (as a musician he does not get paid vacation so it costs us money); for our retirement and our girls college educations.
2. Time - I want more flexibility to do more with my girls and with my husband. Golf with my husband on his days off. Take the girls to do things anytime, not just weekends or holidays (only days you get in a corporate job).

So how do you make it work in trying to have a meaningful and successful career and a happy, fulfilling life outside of work? I'm still working on it! I truly believe this home-based business will get me the financial freedom and the time I'm looking for and I can hardly stand it I'm so excited! I'm learning so much everyday. I have the most amazing leaders in my upline to guide me and teach me and a company who truly aims to make more people healthier and wealthier along the way. And I'm in it at the beginning, positioning is so much in this business. You can't help but be excited about an opportunity when it is with a company owned by Bill Farley and with products endorsed by Dr. Deepak Chopra and the Chopra Center and the chance to really change your life, your families and other individuals along the way. That's a journey I've started and want to share!

I'm committed to my new business and to my family and I'm looking for others to join me. Finding like-minded individuals will help me through this journey because we can support one another and have fun along the way! If you are also tired of working in corporate America, tired of working a job that's just a job that has no passion in it, or if you are tired of simply collecting a paycheck because that's what is expected, I would love to open your eyes to a better way to live your life and to make your dreams a reality. Take this journey with me and start your own business that you can grow at your own pace starting with only $500 to $1000. Doesn't matter if you are a CEO of a company or a stay-at-home mom, if you are interested let me know so I can get you information. Message me at melissadmagee@yahoo.com.

I will continue to share my high's and low's during this journey and look forward to others sharing theirs as well!