This week, Barb had the honor of choosing the next awesome lady (or man) to be in the spotlight here at the Sisterhood!
From Barb:
I know everyone else says this, but I was completely surprised to see that I was nominated last week for the Sister Spotlight. Thanks so much to Shera! I can honestly say that without the Sisterhood, I would not have completed a half-century ride this year – I was so inspired by all the Team Shrinking Jeans sisters who trained and ran a half marathon. I kept seeing tweets about training and blog posts about the joys, triumphs, and trials everyone was going through. I started to wonder if I could actually do 50 miles…even carrying 100 extra pounds. I’d done 30 miles in past years at a similar weight, but it was always my longest ride, done once, and it completely wiped me out. I decided that I wanted to try. I found nothing but encouragement from all of my Shrinking Jeans Sisters. And I did it…I totally did it in September.
I’m just happy that I can give back to the community that has so inspired me. Of course, this isn’t supposed to be about me….I get to nominated someone else here who has inspired me. I’m choosing Jamee at A New Kind of Normal. I “met” Jamee during my first group challenge at the Sisterhood, the Spring Fling. I was nervous about doing a group challenge, but of my Team G (Groovy Girls Gettin’ Goin’) girls were awesome. Jamee often visits my blog and leaves encouraging comments, as well as encouraging others. She’s recently reached her goal weight (check out her Weight Loss & Training page for awesome before-and-after pics!). The one thing that struck me about Jamee is that she is doing this journey while also dealing with chronic illness and pain. I felt a connection to her because my BFF also suffers from an “invisible illness”, and I suffer from chronic headaches (which are not nearly as debilitating, except when I’m under a lot of stress). An invisible illness is one that is not outwardly visible, but has a profound impact on the person’s life – people with an invisible illness often get told, “but you don’t look sick”, as if their pain can’t be real because we can’t see it. So not only is Jamee struggling with all the healthy-eating and exercise issues that we all deal with, she is doing it while trying to manage chronic pain. She shares some of her struggle on her blog. Oh, and she did it while being a Mom? Her adoption had just become final before our Spring Fling challenge! This means that any of us who don’t “feel like” exercising or eating right, really have no excuses. We think Jamee is a wonderful choice! Yay, Jamee!!! Now it’s your turn! Please submit your choice for the next spotlight to us by Friday at [email protected]! (Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)
Melissa is the Co-Founder the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans and the Shrinking Kitchen. She has been married to a wonderful man forever and is mother to six amazing children (18,15, 11, 11 and 3 and 1!). Melissa has reached her goal weight, and is now trying to find ways to fit fitness into her crazy busy schedule. She loves kickboxing and hates running, even though she has completed 4 half-marathons. When Melissa isn’t helping her little girl battle her brain tumors (Love for Jazmine Joy), she loves to travel, laugh, tend to her chickens, and dream of sunshine and mountains.
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