Showing posts with label accomplishing your goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accomplishing your goals. Show all posts

Saturday, January 11, 2020

BE the light

What a week+ it's been since I last wrote.   The rundown...

This morning, my dear Uncle Russell passed away after a brave fight with colon cancer.  He was diagnosed in November, so it feels like it came out of no where.  We are very sad as we mourn his passing.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18

With the loss of my uncle, my heart is very heavy and none of what I have to share seems worth even mentioning.  Yet I committed to keeping up the blog on my journey, so let me fill you in on the whirlwind since the last time I shared with you.

Happy New Year meant back to work and immediate high level stress.   So much so that the things I typically do to help work through it simply weren't working.

I turned 50 in September, so last week I had my initial colonoscopy screening.   Less than fun. (All clear though.)
This is what I stocked up on for my pre-colonoscopy diet.  Ended up just drinking water and sipping broth and apple juice, but...stay tuned.

My husband retired after 32 years on the Springfield Police Department.   I love him so!

Got a haircut with a slightly new and shorter style.

Finally celebrated my son's birthday with him.  He moved to the eastern part of the state last March, so we don't get to see him as often.  It was a month late, but we got to see him and I got to love on him.

I don't have a picture from this 25th Birthday celebration, but here's one from four years ago.

I developed a stomach virus that kept me home from work for two days.

AND I had to have a root canal for an infected tooth that was causing me a lot of pain.  On the SAME day as I was fighting the stomach bug.  The SAME day.


Let's just say that I haven't been up to writing.  Yet, despite the many detours that have been sent my way, I still remain focused on renewing my commitment to wellness - physical, emotional, spiritual.  Sometimes that means accepting the grace that comes when you can't measure up to your expectations and demands that you place on yourself.   When you can't do more, Keeping it simple IS more.


I've been so sick that I haven't been able to eat solid foods at all.  And getting to the gym is on the back burner until I feel strong enough to just walk..  Thank God for my colonoscopy stash (pictured above), because I've been living on the Powerade, jellos, soup and smoothies.   To get in calories, I've even been eating ice cream.  As of yesterday, I'd lost 8 lbs. SINCE my colonoscopy.  Not sure how that will hold up once I start actually eating again.  Right now, I'm depleted and dehydrated, so my even my muscles are suffering. 

I'll get back to it soon!
I recently discovered the Abide app.   Abide is a Christian medition app that leads you through different meditations.  I don't pay for the subscription to the app because they aren't exactly what I need from meditation.  That said, I do receive a daily meditation that I can listen to online.  It's a 2-3 minute reflection and prayer to start my day off.   This has kept me going through the ups and downs of the past week.


As I finish this week's blog, be reminded that sometimes life just hits you.  Through it all, keep your focus on what is important.  Family.  Love.  Health.   I saw this today on Facebook and I had to share it.   I don't want to live in a world where love is invisible.  I want to BE the change, BE the light.


In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Fullness by Elevation Worship
Pour it out, let Your love run over
Here and now, let Your glory fill this house.


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Sunday, September 16, 2018

When what you DO isn't working

Over the past nearly five years, I have been focused on my journey towards health and wellness.  It's been a total transformation of body, mind and spirit.

This means, when what you've been doing isn't working anymore, you really have to sit down and say, "What's wrong?"

Back up.  Like thirty steps.

I haven't posted anything in months, so I feel bad jumping in like this without some background.

In June, 2016, I hurt my shoulder.  I continue to struggle with the pain which comes and goes.  That October, I had surgery on my varicose veins, from which I developed several superficial blood clots that kept resurfacing.  To correct that, had more extensive surgery in December.  That was 2016.

In February, 2017 I hurt my back.  In March, I slipped on black ice at work and re-injured my already compromised back.

The pain was so bad, I had to go to the e.r.  I could not walk.
Followed by MONTHS of recovery...
For days, I pretty much just laid flat on my back on the floor.
Fast forward to November, 2017 and I was feeling frustrated by the lack of progress in my training, my now significantly weakened body, and a slow increase in my weight and change in body composition.  My pants weren't fitting anymore.  I was still watching / counting my calories and macros, but I wasn't seeing any results.  In fact, I was going backwards from where I wanted to be.

I was introduced to my trainer, Pat who is AMAZING.  A completely new focus on my training meant injury recovery and strength building, which meant I had to EAT!  And so I ate... pretty much whatever I wanted.  Days went by where I would log my food, but I didn't care if I went over my calories.  On days when I splurged (which became far more frequent), I logged breakfast and lunch, but left dinner and snacks out.  MyFitnessPal kept telling me I'd be super thin in 5 weeks, but the reverse is what I witnessed.

Come spring and the weather finally turned warmer and my bike came out of hiding.  And I struggled.  Pat would say something like this:  "Tracey, you have to eat.  You can't lift heavy, ride your bike for 30+ miles and lose weight without a compromise.  Something has to give."  Uggh.  I don't want to get fat again.  I want my clothes to fit.  I want to ride my bike and I want to lift heavy weights.  I want it all.

Literally, I wanted my cake and eat it too!

When I started this journey, one of my goals was to complete the Ride to Remember.  This year was my 4th year doing the ride.  Each year has been a unique experience.  I trained so hard for it the first year that I actually felt easy.  That said, in the years that followed, my training waned slightly each year, on top of struggling with chronic pain.  This year was going to be different.  I was NOT going to let pain interfere with my ride.  And, I was determined to train hard for the ride without obsessing like I did the first year.  This new mindset and focus paid off.  I will write more in another post about the day, but to sum it up, this year's Ride to Remember was an amazing ride!!!

BUT...Friday night when I was packing my clothes for the ride home on the bus, I was looking for a comfortable t-shirt to wear.  I took out both of my favorite Wonder Woman shirts and neither fit.  Too tight.  I took out another Wonder Woman shirt and IT didn't fit.  WHAT THE HECK!


While I could put them on, they looked tight and I looked ridiculous in them.
Now, I had already been talking to Pat about changing the focus of my training after the Ride to Remember.  And I knew that clearly, while counting (and eating) calories and macros had been helping me to build strength and train for the ride, it wasn't helping me to stay lean.  I asked him what he thought about the Keto diet.  It scared me.  I am carb dependent.  I really am.  I've tried low carb before and it's always been a complete disaster.  I am such a fan of flexible dieting that I really struggle with the mindset of restricting / eliminating food groups.  Flexible dieting allows you to eat cake!  Not all the time, but on occasion.

In all seriousness, I knew that was used to work for me wasn't working anymore.  I'm getting older. At 49, the pre-menopausal hormone fluctuations mess with my body and ability to sleep.  I live with fatigue and have aches and pains where there were none before.  Sleep often daunts me, so I live with fatigue.  I have aches and pains where I didn't used to have them.

I knew change is necessary and I believe it starts at the core.  Nutrition.  This is why keto intrigued me.  I had read how good it is for people who have certain medical conditions, as well as for burning body fat.  And that is key to me.  While the numbers on the scale haven't changed that much over the past year or two, my body composition has changed and I want to lean out.  To see definition in my muscles, even on days when I don't work out!!

This week, I jumped off the cliff, into the deep and and began my KETO journey.  The keto diet is a way to transition your metabolism from using carbohydrates for energy to using fat.  Today is Day 7 with my new food plan.  It has NOT been an easy initial transition.  I am carb-dependent, so the severe cutback really got to me for the first several days.  AND I still want to ride my bike, so I am going to have to figure out how to carb-cycle on days when I ride.  I tried to ride yesterday and it was not a good ride.  Despite the rocky start, I am committed to make this work.  I know seven days is not enough time to fairly say this is or is not working for me.

I am focusing on the positives.  I don't feel or look bloated anymore.  I don't look like I'm pregnant anymore!!  I still feel like I'm in a caloric deficit, I'm already past the cravings and the feeling like I have to eat all the time.  The scale is not the sole guideline for success, but I have lost 5 lbs. so far.  And Pat put together a new training plan for me that focuses on both strength building and fat burning.  I start that today, so I'm looking forward to that! 

I'm also taking some risks with my cooking, like these pan-seared scallops and roasted asparagus.  The scallops don't look "seared" because I'm new to this and figuring out how to blacken them without them sticking to the pan is a work in progress, but they were SOOOO good!


I'll be writing more as I endeavor to be successful on this new segment of my journey.  I'm looking forward to sharing with you both the ups and the downs.  The measure of success for will be how I feel mentally and physically, as well as how I look in the mirror / how my clothes fit.  Stay tuned.

I want to look good in a sports bra and short shorts again!
This was taken yesterday.  It's my new before shot!
Stay tuned for more, including all about this year's Ride to Remember! 

Meanwhile, be the champion of today!

Questions for you:  (Answer in the comment section below.)

How is your nutrition going?  What food plan do you follow?  Have you ever tried keto?  Any tips to share, let me know!!

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Want information about personal training?  
Contact Pat!  He's AWESOME and you will really like working with him!

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Are you kidding me?

One thing I always wished I could do, but never was able to do is push-ups.


I tried and tried.  I struggled.  What looks so easy, for me was super hard.  I made being able to do them a goal.  As my strength improved, I wrote about the progress I saw in doing them:  Five and Ten.  It was exciting to see real progress.  Eventually they became so easy that I stopped doing them, except as part of a HIIT routine.  When I hurt my shoulder, I was under strict orders to not do them until after my shoulder healed.

Since that time, being able to do push-ups well and "easily" has plagued me.  So after my back injury last February, I made it a goal to improve upon them again.  But it has been difficult.  In May of last year, I was able to do three sets of 15 push-ups.  So hard!  I mean super hard.  It wasn't so much doing them as the weakness in my shoulder.  Not for nothing, when things are hard, you tend to shy away from doing them.  Why do I want to do this if it's this hard?

When I started training with Pat, he had me doing three sets of 15-20 push-ups.  I was like, "I'm not going to be able to do that.  I can barely do 10 push-ups and you want me to do 15?"  He said, "If you can do a Dumb-Bell bench press with 25 lbs., you can do 15 push-ups."


So for three weeks, I did three sets of 15 push-ups (never 20).  And it was NOT easy.  One week I couldn't even do one single push-up.  Not one.  "It's a mental block," Pat responded.

I hated doing them.  Unlike three years ago when doing push-ups motivated me, this time around, I was not enthused.

Then the next three weeks, he changed it up and had me doing four sets of 12-15 reps.  I always tried for the 15, but four sets was a lot.

This week, he changed it up again.  When I looked at the plan for this week, it changed from 4 sets of 12-15 to FIVE sets of 20 push-ups.  That's 100 push-ups.  Are you KIDDING ME???


So when I saw him this week, I said, "What in the world are you thinking?"

He said, "You can do it."  Confident as can be, like it's no problem.

I was like, "I can't do that!  There's just no way."

He said, "Yes you can.  Easy."

I said, "Well, I can't do five sets of 20 push-ups all together like that.  It's just not going to happen.  I mean, maybe I can do them if I work them throughout the entire workout.  One set after each group of exercises, but not all at once."

His response, "I don't care how you do them, just get them done."

Get them done?  Doesn't he know I have a shoulder injury?  Doesn't he know these are super hard for me?  What does he mean, "Just get them done."



"Ok, boss."

And so Friday night was the moment of truth.  100 push-ups.  Five sets of twenty.

We get to the gym, I figure, let's get the first set done now and just see, while I'm feeling strong, how I do.  Is 20 even on the table?  (Great way to think positive, isn't it?)

And I do it.  20 push-ups.  No problem.

I decided to do 20 at a time, throughout my workout, allowing my shoulder/ body to recover before attempting the next set.  And it worked!  Twice I had to take a 10 second break in between to finish the 20 reps, but I did all 100!


Here is my last set:

So, what's the point of this whole post?  Overcoming the way you think and feel about food, about exercise, about yourself:  your self-image, your abilities, your potential... This is so key to your success.  Over four years into this journey and I still struggle.  I have doubts.  While they may be based on reality (I do have tendinitis in my shoulder, there is weakness there, I do continue to have pain), the fact is I can do more than I believe I can do.

When you get to the point when you feel like, "What am I doing?" or "I can't do this" or you feel like just giving up, stick with it.  You have SO much more potential than you can even begin to believe.

I did 100 push-ups.  Not five or ten like I did three years ago.  One-Hundred.   I didn't think I could.  I thought Pat was crazy.  I was even miffed with him a little.  It wasn't clean, it wasn't perfect, but I did it!  

- - - - - - - - - -

"Why Have a Trainer?" is a topic I discussed in January.  Having someone push you beyond your own self-expectations, to basically say, "It's no big deal, you can do it."  THIS is why I have a trainer.  I struggled with one health issue after another over the past 18+ months and tried to figure out how to get back on the path by myself.  Every set-back and every self-doubt left me feeling badly about myself and where I was going.  Not really knowing what to do to get things back on track left me frustrated, which is WHY I sought out Pat.  He is really awesome.  

If you are thinking about having a trainer, you definitely want to check him out.  The rates are affordable and he is amazing.  If you live in the area, you can train one-on-one with him.  If not, he does online coaching as well.  Check out his website for the details:  Patriotbody.com.  I cannot say enough about him.  Training with Pat means you will see growth, you will make change, you will accomplish your goals.  Either way, check out his website.  There is contact information for him there.

There's a saying out there, "Put on some gangster rap and get over it."  Here's the newest song on my playlist:
Not Afraid by Eminem
And I just can't keep living this way.  So starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage.  I'm standing up, I'mma face my demons.  I'm manning up, I'mma hold my ground.  I've had enough, now I'm so fed up.  Time to put my life back together right now!

Question for you:  (Answer in the comment section below.)
What holds you back?

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Instagram:  @tracoleman99


My new mantra:  Be the Champion of Today!
Have a great weekend!  Go get 'em!

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Running for a Cause

Someone asked me, "Why do you run?"

The truth is, I really am not crazy about running.  In fact, most people I know who run say the same thing.  Running is hard.  Super hard.  Yet, runners do it anyway.

Last week, my husband, Joe and I ran the Bubble Run in East Hartford.  Here's a glimpse...

We were like little kids running through the bubbles.  It was sooo much fun!  

So, even with my history of knee problems, that's why I run.  It's hard work, but it's fun!  I actually sort of started running by accident.  Last summer I started by doing intervals on the treadmill.  This turned into running outside to doing 5Ks.
SWEAT
One of the most appealing things about running is doing the races.  Local charities and non-profits organize races to raise money for their organization or to raise awareness for their cause.  A lot of people sign up for them either as a training run or to push their record to do even more.  I can tell you, there is nothing quite as exhilarating as a pack of runners rallying together for a good cause.  There is a tremendous amount of group energy and inspiration when everyone is laced up and ready to hit the pavement.
Maria & I at the Boston Run to Remember
So exciting!!!
For me, that's the thrill of the 5K.  Some day, maybe I'll train for a 10K or a 1/2 marathon, but for now, I am proud do do the 3.1 miles.  I feel like I just started running, and like I said, running is hard.  Super hard.  So, again, why do it?

I do it for me.  For the thrill, for how I feel after the run.  But I also do it for the cause.

I've run six different races.  My first run was last December and that was my best run.  I ran my best time, I think I was super nervous and I just wanted to kill it.  And so I did.
Our running team... I'm in the front, center.  This was a fundraiser for autism.
After recovering from the severity of my back injuries, I started running again in late April.  
The Tarentino Strong race is in honor of Officer Ronald Tarentino, Jr. who died in the line of duty in May, 2016.
When I started my blog, I started following other weight loss / fitness blogs.  RunEatRepeat is probably my favorite.  Monica Oliveras has a fun way of writing about running, food, health and life related concerns. She is a runner and she encourages her readers to get out there and run too.  Following her really motivated me to try running.  My husband has run for years and I've always watched from the sidelines.  It's disheartening to feel like I can't run.  Monica motivated me to try.  She's great for saying, "Just put on some shoes and run.  Yeah, that's all you have to do."

At first, I couldn't run very far at all.  I measured success by driveway lengths.  With each run, I tried to go a little further until I finally could run a mile, then 1.5, all the way to 3 miles.
I did a great little run in May to raise money for a Rotary Club scholarship.
Running can be hard on your joints, so it's important to have good footwear and stretch.  Flexibility is key to mobility, strength and endurance.  You want to take good care of your joints!

A little at-home yoga.
Races really help to keep your motivation up too and they are a great way to raise money for worthwhile causes.  Several years ago, a lady from my church started a ministry to raise awareness of human trafficking and to raise funds to provide care for its victims.  The name of the ministry she started is SHINE, which stands for Stop Human Trafficking In New England (the T in trafficking is not part of the acronym).  The major fundraiser they sponsor is a 5K run/walk.  As it is not just open to our church, it brings awareness of the problem to our community and raises money for partnering organizations involved with fighting the problem.  
My husband did the race in 2014, way before I was running.
It's a great event!
I realize I don't have to pay money to run.  It's probably the cheapest sport out there.  All you really need is a decent pair of sneakers.  But running for a cause does motivate me to improve.  It makes me happy to support local non-profits.
On National Sports Bra Squad Day, I ran the Westfield 5K to raise money for the local Boys & Girls Club.
It's rare, but you don't have to pay for every race you run.  The Tortoise and the Hare 3 Mile Run in Nahant is one such race.  You just show up, get your bib and run.
While on vacation in Nahant, we ran their annual 4th of July 3 mile fun run.
Like I said, the cause is a HUGE reason why I run races.  Raising money for scholarships, memorials, research and treatment for illnesses or just to support awareness - it's a huge part of why I pay that $20 - $30 to run a race.  If you are trying to raise money for a cause, think about sponsoring a 5/10K race.  I recommend making both an option to attract a bigger crowd.  It does take a little more planning, but if your purpose is to make money, you want to get as many participants as possible.  I have run races with under 50 runners and I've run races with hundreds, even thousands of runners.  It's a HUGE draw.  A well run, organized race will draw return runners who will bring their running friends.  You could even sponsor a few training runs in advance of the race, to get some new runners to participate.

So, what does it take to organize a race?   First of all, you need a cause.  What is it that you are passionate about and needs funding?  Then, get a team of people to support you in your efforts.
The Boston Run to Remember is in honor of first responders who died in the line of duty.
The most important part about planning the race is to get runners, so advertising is key.  I recommend using an online site, such as EventBrite to promote your race and help with your registrations. There is a small fee to these sites, but EventBrite is very reasonable and most of the proceeds go directly to your cause.
I wore old sneakers for the Bubble Run because I didn't want to ruin my good running shoes.  They were soaked by the time we were done!
To keep costs down, ask for donations for things like ... t-shirts, prizes, water and nutrition for runners.  See if you can get a local DJ to donate his/ her time and equipment for the event.  Contact local law enforcement agencies to inquire about the cost to keep your race safe.   You want to make sure runners have a safe path and do not have to run in traffic!  Many police departments will donate their time for good causes.  Or, perhaps there is a local park you can use with trails / roads for your runners.  Unless you have access to a facility with open restrooms, don't forget porta potties!!!!  Runners need to go!!!  And make sure you have enough of them!  There's nothing worse than running a 5K and then not being able to relieve yourself because there is a long line for the bathroom.

A couple things to consider....

Water stations along the run.  Runners need to hydrate and it's wise to have one or two areas where runners can grab a small cup of water or gatorade while they are mid-race.   You'll want a trash area close by because usually we quickly discard the cup after we swallow.

Fun activities.  Maybe you can have some prizes for costumes.  A good DJ will play great music at the start / finish line and adds a lot of fun to the race.   A pre- or post- race kids fun run is a way to ge the whole family involved.  Have some other related fitness contests after the run, such as a pull up bar, or jump rope / hula hoop contests.  While it may seem gimmicky, a lot of runners are fitness fanatics and love this kind of thing.  But, it's optional.
After the Bubble Run, they shot cannons of bubbles at us and it was so much fun!!  We were completely soaked in bubbles.
Professional photographers.  Your runners LOVE to see themselves run and it's great to have photographers stationed along the run.  Upload the pictures to your website and use a search tool to help runners find their picture (with the bib).
I kept every bibs from each race I've run.
Signage!!!  Make sure you have LOTS of signs for your runners.  Where to park, where the start line is, where registration is (day of and pre-registration), and MOST importantly, where to turn along the way!!!

It's not that complicated to plan and organize a race.  If you need to raise some money for your cause, DO IT!
Joe and my hubby, Brian.  My running partners.
If you want to run your first race, just do a google search for "EventBrite races" or "EventBrite 5K races" add your town to narrow down the search.  Don't be afraid to try!  There are new runners at every race I've ever run.  A lot of them walk along the way and that's perfectly okay.  The key is to stick with it.  Run a safe race.  You don't want any injuries along the way, so keep your eyes on the road, watch where you are going and if you have to walk a little bit to catch your breath, so be it.

For a girl who hates to run, I sure do have a lot to say about why I love it so much!

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

Questions for you (answer in the comment section below):
Have you ever run a 5K?  A 10K?  What was your most memorable race?  If you haven't run one?  Why not?  Are you interested?  Message me....

Musical notes    
This is one of my FAVORITE songs!  I just love Maroon 5.  And this video is the best one I've ever seen.  I LOVE how they crash all these weddings.  Add this to your play list today!

Sugar by Maroon 4
Your sugar, yes please.  Won't you come and put it down on me?  I'm right here, 'cause I need
Little love, a little sympathy.  Yeah, you show me good loving.  Make it alright.  Need a little sweetness in my life.

Instagram:  @tracoleman99


Sunday, June 18, 2017

It's Humbling

Happy Father's Day!  I hope you were able to celebrate with the man or men in your life that you love.  I had my dad over for lunch and spent the whole day with my husband.  It was nice.  Relaxing.  No fuss.
Dad & I
My biggest cheerleader
Brian & I
My heart
Back to the blog...so here is the bare honest truth.  This whole getting my game back on thing is extremely humbling.  I am perpetually feeling like starting all over again is just too much for me and the desire to throw in the towel seems to be nagging at me like crazy.

Discouragement knocks at my door every day and this afternoon I caught myself truly feeling sorry for myself.  Stop everything, get out the violins because poor, poor Tracey.  Oh my, when I realized I was wallowing in self pity, I pretty much slapped myself in the head and said, "Cut the bullsh** and get it together!"
So me!
Last week I set some pretty steep Goals for myself.
In my last post, I said to set realistic goals.  Realistic means ones you can actually attain.  Me?  I had a crazy busy week and planned two runs and two bike rides in one week.  I am lucky I got in one of each.

It's probably smart to a lot of people to set high goals so you can push yourself.  But me, I get discouraged too easily if I don't meet my goals.  I feel like I've failed, even if I've tried to reach them.  It's rubbish, but it's my Type A personality.
Courage.  That's what I need.
I did legs at the gym yesterday and my shoulder is bothering me, so I was going to skip working out today and just do some yoga at home.  Instead, I decided to do an at-home workout, followed by the yoga.  It was great.  I feel energized and encouraged.
I did 10 minutes going up and down the stairs, followed by a circuit of Kettle Bell swings, walking lunges, Kettle Bell Squats and bent over rows, that I repeated three times.
at home Yoga....feels so good.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.
1 Corinthians 12:9-10

I also realize that I'm going to need some help as I work my way back.  Even though my proud self feels like she knows everything, I need someone to kick me in the butt.  I do.  So I asked my friend Ashley to help with me and we have plans for Wednesday.  It feels weird to have a new trainer.  This will be number four.  But I like Ashley, so if I feel like I can trust her after our first session together, I know it will be good for me to work with her.


For me, working with a trainer is less about having someone tell you what to do, and more about having someone to kick you in the butt, to encourage you when you're feeling down and to push you when you just don't want to.  I feel super whiney, so hopefully she won't be annoyed with me.
Looking forward to getting rid of the dueling voices and rebuilding my confidence.


This week's goals are a WHOLE lot more reasonable....

Question for you (answer in the comment section below):
Did you do anything for Father's Day?  What?

Musical notes    
A perfect workout tune for me...

There's Nothing Holding Me Back by Shawn Mendes

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