The first step I had new woman sign up for my class recently who is on a quest to lose close to 100 pounds and she did a great job. She has to take 2 buses to get to the class, but she is determined to do this. For those of you who need to be motivated let me say thisyou have to take that first step to get there. Sometimes I think about my own struggles and how at over 300 pounds it was a constant battle in my head to take care of myself, so do not think I do not understand what some of you go through. I would wake up and cry most days and wonder how was I going to change my life, who would help me and where I would go. I can tell you this, I was alone in thisall I had was me. Somehow, with my desire to not to die and with God I got the strength to move forward to change. You can change your life one step at a time. There is no magical pill or cure. Its all about you and the motivation and support that I want you to get from coming to the classes and taking that with you. You have to take that first step. Debra

Robin Castorina 10 miles. Never in my life did I think I could achieve such a thing. When Debra said she was putting together this team, I thought, why not jump on board and see how far I could push myself?? The first week was great, then, there was a setback for me. I fell down a flight of steps and hurt my foot. I called Deb in tears and told her what happened. The ER doctor told me to forget about Broad Street. When I talked to Deb, she told me to rest and she KNEW I would be back. I came back, did a little at a time, and then I had to leave for two weeks for work trips. So yet another setback for me! I did a total of FOUR weeks training for the Broad Street, and guess what?? I was able to finish. By the 9th mile, I didn’t think I could go on. But if I came all that way, how could I possibly quit?? It was so great to see Deb and the rest of my team at the finish line and I couldn’t wait to jump into their open arms. Having this fantastic group of girls cheering me on was really all I needed to cross that line. I figure if I can do 10 miles with just 4 weeks of training, what else will I be able to accomplish? Robin Castorina

Lisa Paolone, pictured on left in blueand before picture on right My legs are so sore!!! I am incredibly proud of myself and all the other ShapelyGirls who completed the Broad Street Run race…this is my third time doing this race and each year I am getting a little better. This year I jogged the first 5 miles without stopping!!! I walked the last five and finished soaking wet! I’m grateful to all the girls for their support and motivation….training with them helped me push myself a little harder. I can’t wait until next year!! Anybody wanna start training now? Lisa Paolone

2009 Broad Street Run Well…they did it! All 14 runners, mostly non-traditional size 2’s or even 4’s, who took the challenge to train and participate in the 10 mile Broad Street Run, all finished. The weather conditions were not so pleasant as it rained most of of the day but that did not scare them off. The night before, I sat and thought how hard they trained and that most of them had never even ran a mile let alone 10 in one day and what a celebration it would be for them. I always believed in them, even when they did not believe in themselves. I remembered my first race and how nervous I was and after the first 5 miles wondered what the heck I was doing it for. Then I remembered…I did it because I could and I wanted it to be a personal challenge. They emailed me and called me and got cold feet sometimes but through it all I had so much faith in them; I knew they could do it. There were those early morning power walks in the cold weather and weekends that they needed to be trained. On the day of the race it rained most of the time but they still hung in there determined to see it through. As we gathered on race day I was so proud to see them with their official numbers on their shirts and I could tell that most of them were nervous, but we started as team and we would finish the same way. With a little pep talk and the gun going off we were on our way. The SHAPELYGIRL FITNESS TEAM was officially a part of history; 27.000 runners and we were a tiny piece of that. It was now time to do our thing and get to the finish line. As I took off and got into a nice pace I let my mind wander off knowing they were behind me somewhere amongst the thousands, but I always felt their presence around me. As I approached the 4 mile marker and it began to drizzle lightly I began to cry. I was in my own zone thinking of my own journey and how fitness became a big part of my life beginning at 300 pounds, not the size I am today, I remembered the first person who motivated me and let me believe that I could do it and that my SIZE did not matter, that it was the ATTITUDE that I needed to really believe in myself. Prior to that I always thought that I could never get fit and healthy. I did, and have been on that journey for many years. So, does size really matter? Well, ask my girls who feel and look terrific and finished a 10 mile race on Sunday. Their size did not stop them from doing what most people half thier size only wish they could do. Debra