How I'm Gonna Make It Happen

There’s only a couple hours left in 2014 and I’m perusing people’s new year resolutions thinking to myself “how am I going to stay on track in 2015?” Everyone has such lofty goals. Some want to lose 20 pounds (I’m part of this group) and others want to save enough money to buy a new house. Some folks want to go back to school and some want to learn a new trade.

I already touched on my New Year resolution but I feel like there’s going to be more to it than what I originally stated.

I’m going to kick the soda habit once and for all. Starting tomorrow, January 1, 2015, I’m just going to quit. This isn’t going to be difficult. We don’t keep it in the house and I wont be at work for the first five days of the year. That’s enough time for me to get past the caffeine headaches and the sleepy mornings.

But what I’m really looking to do means doing what I need to do as far as nutrition and physical activity every day. And that is a really huge thing to try to commit to. Every day? EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. No matter what. That’s really enough to make me vomit.

So here are a couple of individual things I plan on doing most days. Life will get in the way. I will need a night where I lay around and drink wine and not kill it at the gym. There will be days where the gym and a run will simply fall to the side because of other responsibilities. And that’s ok. But, generally speaking, these are going to be my top 5 ways to ensure success of my goals for 2015:

1.       I am not going to weigh myself.
This should be rather easy. The scale is already put away and I have no interest in seeing where I’m starting the year off. I’m instead taking weekly “progress photos” which will be a much better indicator of progress than some bastard number on a scale.

2.       I am going to eat for fuel and not for fun. I will eat because I’m hungry and not because I’m bored or needing a quick snack to make me feel better. Food is fuel – that’s it, that’s all. If I don’t want to steam some broccoli to eat then I’m not truly hungry. Period.

3.       I’m going to start each day fresh. Every day will be a new opportunity to eat the right things, do the right workout and to treat myself with kindness. One day at a time. No more of this “let me plan the entirety of my month and when I miss a workout or something derails, I’m going to go into a fit of panic” – that’s ridiculous and it makes me very tired. One day at a time planning.

4.       I’m going to list things my body CAN DO instead of the things it can’t. Trust me, the CAN list is a lot longer than CAN’T.  (I CAN run a marathon, I CAN squat 200lbs, I CAN nearly bench press my weight).

5.       I will not compare myself to others. Just because they are thinner/taller/prettier/whatever doesn’t mean that they have everything. There’s a lot more to me than my physical appearance or running pace. It’s time I give myself credit for all the things I am and not compare to only the things I can see.

I figure that  if I do these things, the rest will fall into place.

Cheers to a new year, everyone!  

What Do I resolve to do in 2015?

Ugh. Resolution time, again? What else can I promise myself next year that I'm going to absolutely do and then by the end of February feel like a total failure when I inadvertently do whatever it is I resolved not to do? What a miserable set up. With all the odds of the world against us every day, why not add another spike to the coffin? Not a big deal. It's kinda like that meme that's been floating around on Facebook/Instagram - "Why would I weigh myself when I could light myself on fire and then roll around in glass and feel exactly the same way?"

Here's a list of what I know:

• I ran a marathon this year. 
• I have become much stronger through not only running but weight lifting and various cross training such as Barre and Yoga.
• I have improved my overall endurance from not being able to run .25 of a mile when I first started to being able to run lots without stopping. 
• Running/sweating/lifting weights makes me feel GREAT. 

Despite knowing all of these killer, awesome things - I also know this: No matter how kickass I feel I'm doing, the digital number that pops up on my scale has the ability to shatter the floor I walk on. I mean destroy me. How is this even possible? I'll talk shit and put anyone in their place in a heartbeat if need be but somehow an object (that I purchased!) has the ability to slice me? This girl? The one with the loud mouth and excessive sarcasm? Yeah. It's basically more ridiculous than American Idol still airing on television. 

So, this year, I've decided to do something incredibly positive. I have resolved to not weigh myself in 2015. 

That's right - you heard me (well, kinda). I've put my scale away (the boo thang uses it) and it is out of sight and somewhat out of mind. I'm tired of the ridiculous bullshit I put myself through mentally and physically because of a number that should have nothing to do with my actual health.

I do the right things. I eat well, I exercise hard. I like to drink beer and have cake and that's absolutely okay. I'm not going to continue down this ridiculous path. If I eat something salty, the next day the scale is like "OH HAI, SHAMOO. WHERE YA BEEN?" And why should I allow some sort of horrific punishment for indulging? It's not like I wont drink a gallon of water the next day and add in some more reps to make up for it. Shit.


Long story short, THE SCALE IT OUT. I'm not going to say "no more sweets" because I really like sweets. I'm not going to say "no more carbs" because that's truly dangerous to everyone. I'm simply going to say "no more scale" because truthfully, it's proven to be the most dangerous to my health.

Oh, yeah. I ran a marathon!

SURPRISE!

I'm not dead. I didn't die after week #5 of training. I made it through all of the training and rocked my marathon! Well, by rocked I mean I finished and I had a great experience. I wont share my finishing time not because I'm embarrassed but because it simply doesn't matter. This race wasn't about finishing times or trying to prove that my speed is superior. I had a wonderful time and couldn't have really gone any better. I never hit The Wall where I questioned my sanity as to why I made this decision. I never felt like quitting. I never stopped smiling. That's really what matters the most for me. I did it. I accomplished this huge thing that I never thought I could until I did.

At the end I cried big, ugly tears. They gave me my medal, took my picture and I was off. It was like this dream had just happened. Totally in la la land for at least a day after. The recovery wasn't too bad and I'm moderately considering running another one in a couple years. For now...the goals change and the work continues.

The 2015 goal is to run every race in the Atlanta Track Club Grand Prix Series. Totally doable and most of them are free since I'm a member. Shorter distances and a faster pace. Let's see where this train goes!

I Hate Roller Coasters / Marathon Training Week #5

Theme park visits were always my least favorite part about summer vacation as a kid. I am short (5'3" on a good day) so I'm breathing everyone's recycled air and I'm stuck in the middle of everyone's body heat. My legs are big so I'd get sweaty and they would chaff something fierce. And then there was the roller coasters. I can't stand them. I'd rather walk across fire than deal with the ups and downs and swiggles (technical term) and cork screws. I'd get woosy and want to vomit every. Single. Time.

And as much as I hate roller coasters, I was like "omg I should totally run a marathon! What an awesome goal!" (Okay look - I count on you people to keep me from making ridiculous, irrational decisions. Ya messed up.)

Marathon training is, by far, the biggest roller coaster I've ever had the (dis)pleasure of being on. I can't tell you how many different emotions I feel towards it one day. Literally. Excited. Nervous. Scared. Pumped up. Let down. All of it. In one big tornado of fun.

Here's to hoping that it all kinda calms down as I get further into training. It didn't help that I had an awful experience at my group run week before last. In short: I didn't have a coach with me, I got lost, finished last as they were packing up the truck and was then told that I had a map and a cell phone so it was my own fault for getting lost. Thanks for that kick in the face, bro. I left feeling absolutely deflated and feeling like I could have saved my $85 and ran for free, by myself. I don't need to pay money to feel bad about myself.

Thankfully, Meg came to my rescue and ran my long run with me on Saturday so I didn't have to run with those folks. It was a wonderful 11 miles! I was pretty sore the day after but it was much better than running alone and feeling like a total loser.

I'm going to give the group one more go this week. If I'm not feeling like it's going to be a good place for me to continue my journey to the marathon, then I'll be asking for a partial refund and I'll continue to train on my own and with friends as their schedules allow.

So - there's the roller coaster of the day. BANANAS. But - all in all - not bad. Just gotta keep on running. AH!

I'm Back! // Marathon Training 2.0 is Underway!

No, I didn't die. I'm just horrifically bad at blogging when life keeps me so darn busy.

Let's see here...where to begin? I think I've found my running mojo/selfconfidence/whatever back. It's nice to feel motivated to get out there again. Well, to get out there and not quit once the pain hits. And when you have lost the endurance you kicked so much butt to develop - it's tough. Hurting after mile one is a giant punch directly in the ovary.

So far I'm in week #3. (ALREADY?!) Week 1 with the training group felt like the first day of class. Awkward. I didn't know anyone. I had the choice between a 6 mile run or an 8 mile run. I knew I should do the 8 but I wanted to fall back on the 6. Nope - powered through and did the 8. SO glad I did. Week 2 - well. It rained. Not just rained. But epically friggin' downpoured. So, I missed the group run. Some really brave souls made it out and did the course as outlined. I'm a pansy and simply didn't want to get hurt due to me slipping and falling. No worries, I got my 9 mile run in later in the day. Yeah, right when the humidity was juuuust high enough to be miserable.

Today's run was simply opressive. Anyone in Georgia for the summer will understand. It wasn't the heat. It was the humidity and dew point. UGH. But, I got out there and got it done. One more check box off of the training schedule. Tomorrow it's 6 miles with the lovely Meg. YAY!

So far, so good. I don't hurt while walking up the stairs and I'm taking things nice and easy. Not going to pressure myself into success.... #savannah2014

Things I'm Loving Tuesday?

So, on all the blogs that I read, they do these fancy "what I ate Wednesday" and "Things I love Tuesday" and various other themed daily entries. Well, I'm not that creative and I wont be making up my own so I'm stealing the idea. That, and I found a lot of things I really do love and want to share so I figure I'd try to make it into something kinda nifty. (It's a really great thing that I don't blog for a living. I'd be broke.)

Things I'm Loving Tuesday Version 1.0

1. PALEOmg.com
   
   Considering I'm working on improving my overall health by attempting (and currently succeeding!) at eating for my blood type, this site is simply perfect. According to my blood type (O Positive), my diet is basically that of Paleo. No carbs. No Dairy. This website has an array of delicious and creative ways to mix things up a bit. Most recipies are super easy to make and don't take a lot of prep.
   
2. 10+ Reasons I love my Ugly Body 
   
   I don't think I can "like" this enough. Roni recently posted about women's health magazines and the real effects that they may have on society as a whole. I commented and was quoted in the blog post (omg quick write something worthwhile in case anyone clicks the link to my blog...). It reminded me very much of this article and how much I love it. It's not what anyone looks like on the cover of a magazine or what we assume other people think beauty is. It's how freaking awesome our bodies are for what they can do. Huzzah!
   
3. GIANT PANCAKE VIA RICE COOKER
   
   I don't have anything to say about this. Just yes. All of it. And please add all the other things I'm avoiding kthanks.
   
4. My new Garmin Forerunner 220
   
   Having a new Garmin means all new PR's! My garmin connect has all my old records but the watch itself has all new data....so every time I complete a run I get a new record for longest run! And really, what makes you feel better than knowing you've ran further than before? Not to mention the watch is filled with bells and whistles that are incredibly helpful. OH! And the battery life? WAY better. CHECK. 
   **Garmin still hasn't accepted my request to be a sponsored runner. Something about I drink too much wine and I don't run fast enough. Anyway, they didn't pay me to write this. All opinions are my own.
   
5. How to insert the number "6" into my boyfriend's Son's birthday cake
   So - I've been on Pinterest. I think I may really have a problem. I've got to remove the app from my phone...but I just can't bring myself to do it. Today I actually found something useful. My boyfriend's son turns six soon! Hooray! And I found this link that gives instructions on how to insert numbers/shapes/letters/whatever into the cake so that when you slice it, the number shows! AMAZING. So, like the amazon whore I am, I ordered the numbers cut out set and will do a test run as soon as it gets here! Hooray!
   

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Five Days Down - Twenty Five to Go

So here I am - five days into this crazy new diet scheme of mine. That's not fair, I shouldn't call it a scheme. Experiment, maybe? I updated you all with the news that I'm was going to begin to eat based off of what my blood type is (O Positive). So, I ordered the book from amazon (NO I couldn't get it on my Kindle...damnit). I got it in the mail and my heart sank a little more with every turn of the page.

A lot of things that I love are out. And a lot of things I prefer not to eat are in. According to this book, I'm basically supposed to shift to what's very similar to a Paleo diet. No dairy. No Wheat/Carbs. No potatoes. No avocados. My heart is literally empty.

But five days in and I can say I've made it. The hardest part is having to literally think before putting any food in my mouth. I've had some slip ups (namely: skittles). But no dairy or carbs or anything like that. I do feel better and my tummy is no longer screaming at me. The flat belly feeling you have when you wake up first thing in the morning? I have that all day. It's kinda nice. I haven't weighed myself so I don't really know if there's improvement there. I'll let you know after a full week or maybe 2.

What it really boils down to is this: I can't live my life eating cheese and bread and such. I desperately need to expand my food horizon and this is a great way to do it. If I'm going to not be hungry I'm going to have to learn to love other veggies and such. Either that or I'll starve - and we all know that simply isn't happening.

Food journals are super easy when you're not eating carbs or dairy. Everything you're allowed to eat is mega low calorie so days like today I didn't even bother. I know I was at my weight loss calorie intake amount. And I'm not hungry. I'm not painfully full either. Content - nourished.

I just have to keep repeating: I eat for nourishment not for reward or comfort.

I had to have The Why Talk

I’ve talked before about “The Why.” I truly feel it’s important for people to have a solid reason for why they have set any goal and why they should ruthlessly pursue it through all the hard times that failure surely seems more imminent than success. Life isn’t butterflies and rainbows. It’s tough and cut throat and either you’re going to work hard and make it or…you’re not.

Anyhoover, last night I had to have a very strong “why” discussion with myself. As I mentioned before, I’m attempting to “eat right for my type” which cuts out a lot of things from my diet that I thoroughly enjoy. Avacados…gluten…dairy. Basically, I’m left with meat and veggies and most fruits. I grilled organic steaks and burgers and sausages. All of these things I’m allowed to eat (plain, of course). But…there was also Mac and Cheese and French Fries.

I had a bad day. And let me tell you about what happens when I have bad days. I eat. A lot. And I eat everything. Food is (and always has been) synonymous with comfort for me. So. I had the talk with myself. “I am doing this because I have a weight loss goal. I have a fitness goal. I want to sleep better and have a better functioning body. Some of these things simply aren’t good for me and should not be a part of me because they’re only going to make me feel bad.”

I didn’t eat the Mac and Cheese or the French Fries. It felt like a victory. Me:1 Food: 0. I ate my meat and snow peas and was left feeling satisfied and not needing anything else. I promised myself that I’d try this for 30 days to see if it helped. Maybe it will – maybe it won’t. The only thing that I can do is try. And now that I’m 5 days in, I can say I slept better last night and my tummy has been much happier.

But gosh do I miss cheese.

Feeling Some Kinda Way...

...Not really sure what kinda way that is. One where I haven't been too pumped up to blog. I've been swaying in and out of what I think is the right method for me and how I think I should continue down my running path. I think I'm getting out of my funk, so cheers to that. Here's a freaky-fast update: (Note: I HATE Jimmy Johns. Gave my entire office food poisoning when we ate there the day before Christmas Eve. And they wouldn't even refund out sandwiches. Dicks.)

• I got a fancy new Garmin for my birthday on Saturday. Specifically, the Garmin Forerunner 220. It's amazing. And purple. I cannot wait to run tomorrow and see how much faster this bad boy makes me... oh... That's not how it works? Crap.
• I donate blood to the American Red Cross 4 times a year. They finally got around to sending me my donor card with my blood type on it. (I'm O Positive!) I've been doing a good bit of research on Eating for your Blood Type and apparently there are thousands of people who have seen dramatic result from eating specific things and avoiding specific things based on what their ancestors with that blood types ate. IE Don't eat things that you ancestors didn't have access to. O Positive people apparently have slow metabolisms, slowly functioning  thyroids and are predisposed to obesity. HOORAY! Oh what's better? Everything I like to eat are things that I'm not supposed to eat. Carbs. Dairy. Avacados. CRAP. So. I'm going to give it a whirl and see how it goes. This weekend was filled with a buuuunch of stuff a good, healthy person shouldn't eat anyway in preparation for tomorrow's Day 1. I'll keep ya posted.

Really, that's about it. I'll let you know when something amazing happens. Or I'll simply let ya know if my Garmin made me Bad Ass Rocket Machine.

Cheers!

Running Group Success

First off, let me go ahead and tell you how much I love my running group. Last Saturday, rain was in the forecast. I’m not going to lie, the first thing I did when my alarm went off at 6:30 AM was check the radar and the hourly predictions and hoped for a bunch of rain so I could stay in my warm bed with my handsome man and snooze away the morning. But what did I find? Only clouds and no chance of rain until much later in the morning. So I got up, got dressed and headed towards the meeting spot.

As usual, I got really nervous before we started. I’m still not over my fear that I won’t be good enough or I’ll slow the group down. Once we got started, the first mile was brutal. I don’t know why mile 1 is always such a crappy 11 minutes of my life but it is. The beauty of this group is that there are so many volunteer coaches that no matter what pace you’re going at, you have a coach with you. This week I was with one other girl who was running and then two coaches were with us. Susie, the coach I talked to the most, is 62 and has been running for 5 years. She has completed 4 marathons and is amazing. Throughout the entire run she was so nice and talkative and encouraging. She and the other coach that was with us routinely told us how great we were doing and kept our spirits up.

This is exactly what I was hoping to get from this. It makes me so excited to be doing my long runs for marathon training with them. I’ll need all the help and support that I can get during the super long runs.

In other news, my Visalus shakes are going pretty well. Due to some poor eating choices over the weekend, I’m not really sure if they’re effective or not yet. I’ll give you a full report at the end of the week. The protein powder is much tastier than others. It’s also a lot easier to add things to it and blend. I’ve added both veggies and fruit to it and it’s been wonderful. It’s something I’d probably purchase again.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week thus far and I’ll catch up with you this weekend from the BEACH!

WHAM! (said the scale)

Yeah - I did it. I stepped on the scale. I'm now in "oh my GOD I'm going to the beach in 2 weeks and I am an elephant (and not the cute baby kind)" mode. The only good thing that has come from this is I am strictly looking at portions and eating totally clean. #hopeitworks #gottagetintoahabbit

Let's see...oh! Group run last week! Super awesome. Was very pleased with getting to run with a group of people who weren't judgmental or mean. Just there at different levels and wanting to run. I'm honestly looking forward to going back again this Saturday! It was a short (about 3 miles) course but it had some killer hills. I know I'll for sure get my money's worth. There are coaches with every "group" so each pace has someone there cheering them on and talking the whole way. I love it. And they stress so much that time doesn't matter. Maybe if I hear it enough, it'll sink in ;)

And now some photos to capture the week...

Spring in Atlanta also means "hot as balls" This was after a lunch time run - omg. 

Panera style lunch. Love their classic with chicken and avocado. Nom! 

Flew kites on Sunday with my loves! 

This is Kennessaw Mountain. It's pretty wonderful (and local!)

A mile straight up, up, up! 

The view from the top! 

And on the way down we made a new friend! He was literally 10 feet away. Just hang in' out and eating like it was no big deal that a bunch of humans were in the woods....

Here's to another great week and some great decisions! 

The Quote that Let me Know I Wasn't Alone

You know, I used to be really good at running. I was putting up some pretty fantastic times and had lost a bunch of weight. I weighed probably 15 pounds less than I do now. When you're only standing about 5'3", 15 pounds is pretty considerable. Fast forward through tearing my achiles tendon and being forced to take 6 months off of running....and then just losing the will to run anymore which turned into a year out of running and the 15 pounds gained and here we are today. And I've had a hard time really describing what it felt like to try to make a come back from what I used to be.

I was reading articles on CNN Health and came across this one. It's about a guy who was faced with cancer and had his health taken away from him. Now that he's cancer free, he's making a giant come back. Truly an inspiring article.

One thing in particular that stood out for me was this quote:

Exercise isn't new to me. It's something I used to thrive on. Training for a triathlon isn't even new to me. I had a regimen before. I'd swim in the mornings before work. Saturdays were my big workout days. If I wasn't doing a big run or ride, I'd take a spin class and jump right on the treadmill after and run 4 miles. Interestingly enough, that doesn't make it any easier. It's often more frustrating. Not being able to do what you used to do sometimes makes you not want to do it at all. It's a constant fight I have with myself. Trying to push through one barrier only to be stopped at the next makes me feel helpless.

It's like the sun just started shining again. This is exactly how I still feel today. I look back on my old mile times and I can't help but be sad and beat myself up. Why can't I run like I did before? What's keeping me from going as fast? Why can't I run 13 miles without stopping like I used to? Why haven't I lost any of this weight like I did a couple years ago? And let me tell you - it's exhausting.

It's exhausting to train. It's exhausting to constantly analyze and wonder and think and try to fix whatever problem you think you have that is preventing you from being what you once were. I haven't aged a decade. I don't smoke. I drink too much wine but the intake is about the same as it used to be. I can't figure out why I can't get to where I was. We're talking 8min miles vs 11min miles here folks. Absolutely frustrating.

And as a result, the motivation is uneven. Some days are just a bare to get out for a walk and others I wish I could run for miles and miles and miles. I miss the constant motivation and the will to do better and run faster. Instead, I'm faced with constantly battling the "why bother?" thoughts.

It's nice to know that maybe I'm not as crazy as I thought I was (or that he's just as crazy). I highly suggest you read the article - great story and a great outcome!

Atlanta Marathon CANCELLED

So, today as I was perusing Facebook, a fellow runner posted that the Atlanta Marathon had been cancelled. Yeah – THE marathon. The one I have signed up for a training program for and everything. I frantically searched my E-mail for the undeniable truth – the Atlanta Track Club had cancelled the marathon and is putting all their efforts into the 10 miler set for the same say.

I was immediately very upset and even texted the handsome man that clearly this was a sign that 26.2 just isn’t for me. Nashville fell through and now Atlanta just wasn’t even an option. At some point a person just has to accept what the universe is trying to tell them, right?

The good news is this: I told the universe to suck it. They are allowing everyone who registered for the marathon to run the 10 miler AND transfer their marathon registration to either the Savannah Rock n Roll Marathon on November 8th or the Silver Comet Marathon which is on October 26th. I chose the savannah because it is F-L-A-T. I was lucky enough to be able to get a hotel down there still. So. My Marathon Dreams are not squashed, just postponed to the following weekend. I now get to run the 10miler with a friend of mine and I still get to get my triple peach medal. And let’s be clear – I am ONLY running the Peachtree Road Race to get my snazzy medal.

And truth be told, running the savannah is probably a blessing in disguise. Running my first 26.2 on a totally flat road without any humidity may be the best plan of action. Get my confidence up and then I can come home and tackle the hills that are Atlanta.

In other news…things are going pretty well. Nutrition is…so so. Getting my perception of food and what I’m eating is going better. Not perfect and not aiming for perfect, really. Just trying to make it through.

I’ve got the group training run on Saturday morning and then barre. Pretty excited to have a fun filled weekend in the sun!

Nothing to see here, folks...

Well, if it were a contest to see who could drink the most beer or eat the worst food... I would have won for the weekend. No guilt - we had a blast. Baseball game, music festival and friends. Can't really ask for too much more than that! Back on track on this wonderful Monday morning. 

Planning a nice run for my lunch break and then maybe a spin class after work. Can't decide if I want to spin or swim. I also have yoga this evening so I could spin at 6:30 and then yoga at 8. Decisions, Decisions... 

I've been working a lot on my overall mental state as far as working out and eating go. I've been trying to equalize them and make them into one rational thought as oppose to a total explosion of guilt and guilt eating. I think it's coming along well. Slowly but surely, I suppose. Yes, I continued with my smoothie for this morning. Excited that I've gotten my money's worth out of the nutribullet and that I'm taking in more natural vitamins and nutrients. 

I promise I'll have something much more exciting to update about at some point but for now I will leave you with how much I LOVE the show Boundless. It's amazing. If you don't know what I'm talking about... go google it. I'll do a review here at some point... 

Keeping it Simple

I've been spending a lot of time lately trying to keep things simple. I'm constantly guilty of over complicating things. And when I say things I really mean everything. Specifically when it comes to weight loss, exercise, running etc. I over think, over analyze and end up spiraling into a giant pool of crazy.

This past week I've kept up with my morning veggie/fruit smoothies. Simple. Come downstairs after getting ready for work, throw a bunch of stuff in my Nutribullet, blend and go! Lots of nutrients, low calorie and a good choice to start the day. Simple.

I've lowered the amount of time that I'm spending at the gym. I'm running fewer miles and making each mile worth it. Starting over, so to speak. I can run longer distances but I'm attempting to change the way my brain thinks about running and tackle my expectations. Hobbies are supposed to be fun. Running became something I resented. Running easy miles and rebuilding my confidence is helping it become fun again. Simple.

I joined two training programs that actually start one right after the other. The simple runs for the 10k are going to help me make more running friends and help me feel like I may not be the worst athlete in the world. I'll go to a specific meet up place, work with coaches and have fun while running. Simple.

I am making good, simple choices to lead me to where I want to be. I'm trying to decompress my brain and remember how fun this all used to be. Eating right, doing great things for my body and becoming a great athlete.

And now... some pictures. You should probably just follow me on Instagram so you can see them in real time :-)

I'm a vitamin whore. 

Mother Nature has given us some AWESOME weather this week!

I wanted to eat every single bag of this. Don't worry - none of it made it into my cart.

Group Runs

Well, I've done it now. I've made myself accountable via money. I've done something that I've always really and truly avoided - I signed up for a group training program. Two, actually. One for the Peachtree Road Race and one for the Atlanta Marathon. I know that I can run a 10k. The problem is that I'm clearly doing something wrong. I don't see real improvement. I'll have one really great run and then I'll be right back to almost a minute slower pace for several weeks then another great run will happen and the cycle continues. I've clearly got something wrong with how my body trains and I think that this will be a great opportunity for me to learn some new things. I want to not just run the Peachtree but RUN it. Looking for a killer run and I'm hoping that the coaches and motivation from my group will be helpful.

I don't run with people for a really ridiculous reason. I get super embarrassed. Like...really bad. I'm my own worst enemy and hopefully these group runs will help! And if not...well. The money wasn't that bad and I know that I will have had tried.

Let's see....in other news. HOLY BOSTON, BATMAN! So proud of everyone who ran today! I got chills watching MEB cross the finish line. Finally, an American win! USA! Home of the brave, y'all! One day maybe I'll be there running with the other 30,000 people.

Still going strong with my morning smoothies. Starting to get use to the taste/texture. Juicing has its perks but I'm hoping that this takes my nutrition to a different level.

Alright - off to get ready for bed. Early wake up call for some fitness types of things :) Have a great week, y'all!

NutriBullet Day 3 and a Kick in the Butt

I wish I could post pictures from the computer I’m at so that I can verify day 3 of my NutriBullet use! I forgot to stop and get Almond milk to add to it so I’ll have to do that today if I have time. This morning it was….one each of the following: carrot, apple, pear. A giant handful of spinach. And a chunk of pineapple. It’s so much easier to throw all the stuff into the cup, put it on the blender, take the cup off and place the lid on and GO! I won’t stop juicing all together – I paid a lot of money for that juicer and there’s nothing better than watermelon-vodka-tonics in the summer…amiright? But for the mornings when I’ve barely got my mascara on and I need to make a quick exit while still treating my body to something wonderful and nutritious – this is totally the way to go.

The only downside to living in Marietta now is that I don’t have access to a farmers market. There will be a local one that is hosted Saturday mornings starting in May though!. Can’t freaking wait. This is only about 10 minutes from my house and we all know how much I love supporting the local economy. Nothing beats fresh fruits and veggies grown in the rich southern soil and sun!

Today I woke up and weighed myself. I can’t decide if it was a mistake or just the motivation I needed for the morning to reconnect with my goals. Not looking for a number but the number was a reminder that I haven’t been doing as well as I should. So, as I’m writing this post and drinking my green smoothie I’m planning out my meals for the rest of the day and praying nothing happens in between to get me off track. Not going to lie – I have a goal weight for my birthday. I won’t share it. It’s nothing extreme. But it’s doable and something I’d like to prove to myself that I can do and do it right this time. I’ve been on a much better path as far as my relationship with food had gone. Now instead of maintaining I need to push myself to lose the weight and keep with my new found healthy habits of nutrition and not yoyo. Fingers Crossed! (Meanwhile we are celebrating a coworker’s birthday today and there are muffins AND cupcakes AND cake. FML.)

So excited for everyone who made it into the Chicago Marathon! Can’t wait to see you all succeed!! Maybe next year I’ll try to do it, also! For this year we’re going to keep it local. Best of luck, y’all!

**NutriBullet didn’t pay me any money….still.

What is your biggest bridge to cross when it comes to weight loss?

Do you have a game plan for your summer race series?

Feelin' kinda photo heavy!

Oh my god it's so nice to be able to update from my regular laptop. The other computer I've been using does NOT like the compose feature and makes me update using HTML - meaning, I have to enter all my own codes. ARGH. Because of that, I haven't been including any pictures either. And that's just boring.

Anywhoo - an update in pictures!

First up are my new Nufoot mary jane slippers that I wear for barre. They're super cute, inexpensive and have tiny anti-slip grippers on the bottom that help keep me from falling all over the place during barre. Definitely a great buy! I'd pay attention to the sizing chart next time though...I got a small (which fit but are snug) instead of a medium. So far the only thing I don't really like about them is my feet get super sweaty in them. So far it hasn't been an issue but I definitely notice that they sweat more in these rather than normal socks with anti slips on the bottom.

I typically juice fruits and veggies. It can be really frustrating though - it takes a lot of effort (mostly because of the cleaning afterwords!) and I just don't always have time. As a result, I don't do it as a frequently as I should or want to. I finally took the plunge and got a magic nutribullet. I didn't prepare by shopping for veggies first so all I had were carrots, apples, pears and spinach. I added a table spoon of Chia seeds and some ice cubes to chill the mix. 

Overall, it was pretty good. The ice cubes made it into more of a slushy than a drink which was kinda weird. Definitely a great refreshing drink post barre and run, though! So far so good. Clean up was a snap. I LOVED that I blended in the same cup I drank from. Fewer dishes to wash = happy Shauna. I'm definitely going to make sure I have berries and pineapple on hand. The only downfall is that I can't use FROZEN berries with this. It specifically says not to. Womp womp womp. 

Next is my Sports authority splurge with coupons and reward points - under $20 for the total haul! WIN! 

Annnd finally, today I spent my afternoon laying in my bikini in this handy fold up hammock - and when I got a sunburn (about an hour later. omg so white) we went to the square for amazing strawberry ice cream! That was the kid's cone -_- Way too much but it sure was yum! 

I hope everyone had a FANTASTIC Saturday!! Tomorrow promises to be just as gorgeous outside so I'll be paying a visit to that hammock again as well as getting my fitness in via Yoga and a run! Wahoo! 

**As usual, no one paid me to review any products mentioned here. All ideas and opinions are my own. 

How are you spending your weekend?

Do you have a fun new workout routine that is helping you get through a plateau? 

Gearing up

This week has been a fitness disaster. I went hard on Monday and for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the only place I went was out to eat. Failboat. On the bright side, the handsome man informed me that he’s enjoyed spending more time with me in the evenings since I haven’t been at the gym for hours after I get off work. That’s a plus! Now here’s to hoping he enjoys my company with some extra pounds…

I’m still trying to find a balance. A balance that will help me obtain my goals, make me feel good about what I’m doing for my body and NOT put me into the psycho obsessed with working out category. I’m strongly considering seeking out a running coach. And not a “oh well I ran cross country in high school and I totally ran a 7:30/mile the first time I ever ran” running coach. Because I’m not that person. I want someone who started off like me. Slow but motivated. Maybe I’ll look into that this weekend.

I’m gearing up for some gorgeous weather in Atlanta this weekend. I’m pretty sure that means some early mornings runs and a barre class and a yoga class sprinkled in….the rest of the days will be spent in my hammock in the sunshine with some cold lemonade and my kindle. Perfection.

I hope everyone had a great week and is going to have a fabulous weekend!

What a WHIRLWIND

What a whirlwind of a week!

I’ve got several reviews that I need to write for y’all…Invigo Day Spa, Nufoot Mary Jane Slippers, and a bunch of Organic/All natural goodies that I’m trying in attempt to satisfy my need to snack and my need to eat clean.

While I haven’t been blogging, I have been doing a lot of writing. There’s just a lot of stuff that I don’t really think needs to be published on the internet…ha! Trust when I say I’ve been doing my best to keep up with my clean eating April challenge. It hasn’t been perfect. But I’m being conscious of the things I’m eating (even if it happens to be a lot…)

I was able to get to Barre again on Saturday. It was a sub this time and I didn’t quite like her as much. She had never taught the class before so it wasn’t as smooth as the previous week. She was gorgeous though. She was incredibly fit and toned in a pretty way – not in a “Are you a man or a woman I can’t tell” way. No offence to the ladies out there who like the super huge muscles – it’s just not my cup of tea. Anyway, due to her amazing level of fitness, I felt like she was disconnected with the athletic abilities of the class. And as a result was asking us to do things that

Yoga Sunday was pretty decent. Again, another sub. Can you tell it’s spring break for the kids where I live? These instructors are taking their kids to do fun family things leaving me in the dark for my fitness goals – GOSH! HA!

Monday was “I’m in a really terrible mood so I’m going to sweat it out” day. I wanted to do spin at 5:30 and then my BFF was on board for our Monday night yoga at 8. So, I just left work and stayed at the gym until we were done with yoga at 9pm. WOO. An hour of spin, hour of weights and an hour of yoga. Feelin’ it today in the best way. Today is, clearly, a rest day.

Here’s to hoping you all have a Terrific Tuesday!

Gorgeous Weather !

Oh my lord I feel like Mother Nature is apologizing for the horrific winter she put us through! It has been absolutely gorgeous this week. Today when I got home from my 5k (more on that later) it was a wonderful 80 degrees and sunny! I couldn't wait to get out of work, hop in my car, put the windows down and drive through the sun. Uh-mazing.

Yesterday a surprise nap got me and I did NOT get my lazy butt up to hit the pavement. Instead of going bonkers over it, I accepted it and moved on to today. I did a much better job with my clean eating and made it a point to run. I got home and immediately changed and headed out. I'm still running without looking at my Garmin. My pace during my runs is of no value to me right now. I'm running set distances but not at a set pace. I'm making sure that I can breathe and that I'm not burning myself out. Proper breathing. Good form. I want to feel good while I'm running and not kill myself. The speed and strength will come. This time around for my training I want to take it slow and steady. Training isn't a race - I'll get there.

I'm excited to have a solid mix of exercises to strengthen my running capacity. I'm definitely going to be doing Barre classes every Saturday morning. I've been making it to Yoga Sunday mornings and Monday evenings. I'm aiming to swim for cross training on Sundays. Spin on Monday and Friday mornings. Intervals with weights Monday/Wednesday/Friday mornings. I'm excited. And this time - if I'm tired, I'll rest. I'm not an olympian, I haven't been running since I was a kid. Never did track. Never ran cross country. Not everyone progresses at the same time.

I am no longer comparing myself to anyone else. This is what is going to help me reach my goals. And I'm pretty excited about that.

Did you have an awesome workout today?
Has Spring finally made an appearance where you're at? 

Spring Cleaning

Eat Clean April. I'm looking at it like Spring Cleaning for my body. So... Spring Cleansing ? 

I’m not usually one for “challenges.” I don't do diets.I just do my best to eat well and remain active. For whatever reason, I’ve decided I need to make an honest-to-goodness attempt at eating clean. That’s why I’ve decided to make April a “Clean Eating Event.”

I’ve noticed that I’ve just become so lackadaisical about what I’m eating and drinking. For example, last night as I was munching on Reece’s cups and multiple glasses of wine, I took in probably an extra 600 calories. SIX HUNDRED. Each Reece’s cup was 100 calories. I had 4. I had what was probably equivalent to 2 glasses of wine. Well over 200 calories. Mind blown. And the worst part? I had these thoughts WHILE I WAS DOING IT and KEPT GOING. Ridiculous.

Gotta stop. No way I can expect my body to perform at its best if I’m not willing to give it the best. Time to refocus. Not to diet. I don’t do that. I’ve got to be better to my body. I’m expecting great things from it – losing weight, looking fit, running faster…but none of that can happen if I wanna sit on the couch and shove my face with indulgences that should be left for special occasions. Please note: I don’t think that you’re terrible if you want to sit and eat Reece’s or drink wine. I just realize I have been doing it way more often than I ought to. And as a result, I’m not seeing results. Cause and effect.  Not dieting. Just doing better things for my body. #imisscookiesalready. 

I made it to a really wonderful yoga class with one of my BFF and loved every painful moment, ha! I've got to do a better job of stretching before and after my workouts.... 

HA...if only this were an option...

Self Magazine's Hot Water

You know, we've all been there. A total foot in mouth situation. You said something that you shouldn't have. But...is this the case with Self Magazine? It has been producing a monthly publication for women across the world for years. They've supplied endless articles about health, nutrition and general well being. Generally speaking, they supply women with a positive outlook on themselves and the world we are building. They are a place for women to come together and support each other through thick and thin (pun intended). With the release of their recent article surrounding the lameness of TuTu's they seem to have missed their mark entirely.

You can see a snap shot of the article and read some of the back story here. Basically a woman named Monika Allen, who is battling cancer, was photographed wearing a tutu at a marathon last year. Self got a hold of the photo and reached out to her asking if they could use it in the magazine. When a nationally recognized magazine asks for your awesome picture - of course you say yes.

Well, unfortunately, they had malice intent. They used the photo to point out what they thought was "lame." Now...I don't know about you, but any woman who is running 26.2 miles is anything but lame.

It's not the fact that Monkia had (and has survived) cancer. It's not that she makes the tutu's for a charity. It's about the fact that they took another human being and humiliated her for no good reason. They failed as writers, editors and compassionate human beings. They diverted entirely away from their "do good" intent. And...that just makes my stomach turn.

They issued an apology. When I read it I got the feeling they were simply sorry they got caught.  I've posted screen shots of both FB and Twitter.

Call me old fashioned, but reaching out to someone online hardly seems personal. Why would she want to be covered in a magazine that did something like this? How is she supposed to trust them again? It's just so odd. It's so odd that they think that this is enough. I would have expected a personal apology that she let something like this appear in her magazine. The insensitivity was absolutely intended and avoiding blame is just going to escalate the issue. 

Now I want to share with you an AMAZING response to this apology on their FB page. 

I can't stress to you enough how amazing I think this is. Jamie is truly a stand up gal who let people know EXACTLY what the problem is and why we wont accept it. Kudos to Jamie and everyone in the running community who has stepped up for what is right. Between t-shirts being made and profits being donated to Monika's charity and twitter exploding with #tutusrock - I know we'll overcome Self's disgusting journalism. Remember - we control more than we think. We can choose to continue to support people who intentionally pin women against one another or we can stand up in unison and support one another. Support every shape, size, color and yes - even fashion decision! Unite in being human and amazing in our individual ways! 

My First Barre Class - Holy Smokes! - Review

Yesterday morning I attended my first Barre Class at Dance Stop Studios in Marietta, Georgia. I had been reading a bunch about how beneficial Barre can be for lengthening muscles and overall strength.  Unfortunately, in my area these classes are so expensive. You know the drill - once something becomes popular, the prices skyrocket and all of a sudden only the financially elite can participate.

I managed to find a great studio! Dance Stop Studios offers both traditional dance classes and fitness classes. The drop in rate for the Barre Classes is $10/class or you can buy 10 classes for $80.

When we walked in, the facility was gorgeous. Big, bright and clean. The woman at the front desk was super friendly and accommodating. She offered to let us take the class before we decided if we wanted to simply pay for the one class or if we wanted to take advantage of the 10 class value package. She offered us clean grippy socks to wear and directed us where to go.

When we walked in, the barre class studio was huge. The instructor was setting up our weights, straps, gliding pads and balls. The weights were only 3 pounds. Honestly, I was thinking to myself "How hard could this be?"

By the end of the hour long class, my legs and arms were screaming. I honestly can say that muscles were hurting that I didn't even realize I had. It was a great work out that went by fast. I can't wait to go back!

I definitely took advantage of the 10 for $80 deal! It's good for any fitness class at any time. The zumba classes are less expensive so you may not want to use it for that. Can't wait to go back next Saturday!

As for this Sunday, we're supposed to be experiencing some wonderful weather! I'm thinking a nice 10k and then some hammock and kindle time out on the back patio! I hope all of you have a fab rest of your weekend!!

Did you do any fun, new classes this week? 
What's your fitness plan for today?

Marathonfoto WIN

You know, I've run a lot of races through out the years. I've had many a run-in with the folks from marathonfoto. It wasn't until this race that I actually got a GOOD photo. And dare I say it - maybe multiple photos that aren't so terrible that I'm ashamed they even uploaded them?! Since I was the cheerleader and not the competitor while completing these past 13.1 miles I was able to not only spot the marathonfoto creepers but make sure I looked overwhelmingly happy! I'll be shocked if I'm not on running posters around America (kidddddding!)

Anyhow, hopefully tomorrow I will be back in the gym full-force and doing work. The Orthopedist said my foot should be good to go with lots of ice and not running for a couple more days. Didn't say I couldn't spin and work some intervals though. Not sure if I'll make it to do that tomorrow morning seeing as how it's already so late. But if not tomorrow AM then tomorrow afternoon for sure. Nothing like starting a weekend with a solid workout, right? Right. Pretty positive the weekend will be filled with wine, hammocks and friends. Gotta make sure I earn those beverages ;) 

What's your workout plan for the weekend? 

has marathonfoto ever gotten you at your worst? Your best? 

Brooks Ravenna 5: Running Shoe Review

If you've been reading for a couple weeks you will have read my review of the Big Peach Running Company. During my wonderful experience, I hate to report that I was misfitted. I was put into a pair of Ravenna 5 running shoes.

Don't get me wrong - they felt great at the store. They felt stable and firm. Unfortunately, that's exactly what ended up causing me so much pain. The shoes themselves were very light yet incredibly structured. They were pretty (come on - you know it matters!). I was pretty excited to be in a pair of what I saw to be "elite" shoes. All the super fast runners are in snazzy shoes like these.

Sadly, I've spent Monday and Tuesday nursing sore ankles and feet. When I went into BPRC I had always thought that I ran on the outside of my feet. IE, I underpronate. (If you don't know about pronation, you can read about it here. I was stunned when they told my I actually slightly over pronate. The pain I'm experiencing is directly related to being put into shoes that caused me to underpronate even more. The structure in my shoes forced me even further outside the "normal" range and put a LOT of stress on the outside of my ankles and feet. I've decided that my short 10 seconds on the treadmill in my work clothes just wasn't enough to get into a normal gait/stride.

Thankfully marathonfoto got some great pictures of my foot actually striking the ground. Notice that they captured both my right and left. Clearly, I do not over pronate. Looking at these photos makes me wonder how I didn't break my ankle. EEK! 

This is not in any way a bash against BPRC - perfection in running is impossible. I would go back again and again. In fact - when I took the shoes back, Carl not only remembered me but was clearly upset that they didn't work out. I didn't go in there looking for a refund - just a pair of shoes that didn't make me want to second guess how badly I needed to pee because walking to the bathroom just seemed like torture.

I exchanged them for a snazzy new pair of Nike Air Pegasus + 30. I've been running in Pegasus for quite a while and haven't experienced this problem. I got the grey and orange ones - super cute and so comfy. I wore them to work today to continue to nurse my poor feet. I'm confident I'll be able to return to the gym tomorrow at full strength.

BPRC, Brooks, Marathonfoto nor Nike paid me a single penny to review them or provide feedback. Just more ramblings by yours truly. 

RooSport Fitness and Travel Pouch - Review

So, last weekend I attended the health and fitness expo for the Goergia Marathon. Now, I've been to a lot of expos so there isn't a lot that makes me go "oh...I need this. Now." After getting my race packet we wondered around looking at the piles of shoes, shirts and various bumper stickers.

But there was one thing that immediately stepped out. The RooSport Fitness and Travel Pouch. I absolutely hate running belts. I hate arm bands. I hate anything that makes me feel restricted while I'm trying to run or workout. My problem has just been solved. This fabulous little magnetic pouch holds your phone, cards and a key. Then it magnetizes to your pants. Okay, so really what it does is it folds over the top of your pants, capris, shorts etc and is held together via a super strong magnet. I used it for the first time during this race and it was magical. It stayed in place perfectly. I did have to make sure that my Nike capris were tied a little snug to make sure that it held up to the weight of my new pouch. 

It is the perfect size - not too big. The magnet worked perfectly. The material is such that I can easily clean it to get the running glitter (also known as sweat) off of it. It's truly a fabulous little gizmo. 

This is the part that faces your body. 

This part shows over your pants - clever, aren't they?

You place the top of your pants along that middle seam and flip the top down. TA-DA!

Anyhow, totally worth the $20 I spent on it. I highly encourage you to get one. And, I'm not going to lie - I really hate it when people don't run with ID and their health insurance card. We're seeing way too many runners injured these days due to car accidents and I want everyone to be prepared. So grab this guy, throw your credentials in there and get to running! 

RooSport did not pay me any money or ask me to write this review. As usual, I offer my opinion free of charge (ha! I know some folks who would strongly agree to this happening often). 

Publix Georgia Half Marathon !

This past Sunday I was lucky enough to participate in a race with my friend of many years, Meghan. She is an absolute Tennis rockstar but is just starting her running journey. I convinced her that she was strong enough to sign up for the Georgia Half Marathon. I can't say it enough - I am truly honored to have been able to be with her as she crossed the finish line.

I think she experienced an entire rang of emotions during this race. She went from "I can't do this" to "why am I doing this?" to "OMG I'm doing this!" to "OMG I just did that!" It was amazing. I am so proud of her.

The race, for me, wasn't about a time or running the whole thing. It was about being there for someone and truly giving them the ability to believe in themself. It was a blast being able to joke around, be wildly positive and pump nothing but positive energy into the air. We made friends along the way and chatted with all the people who were out there supporting us. I received complements from strangers about how much they appreciated my positive attitude. That meant the world to me.

I left that race with a new light inside of me. I remembered what running is about. It's about the journey and all that it can help you realize. Pushing limits and breaking your personal barriers.

The medal this year was pretty snazzy, too ;-)

Gym Boss - Review

I had always heard a lot of talk about intervals. I had never really given them a go until semi recently when I decided I needed to do a variety of exercises during one workout to keep myself from losing my mind while stuck inside due to multiple ice storms in a row in Atlanta.

I have to say that I’m kinda addicted to them now. More often times than not I just pick a place on the gym floor and set up shop. I’ve made index cards with interval routines on them. Each exercise gets either 30 seconds or 1 minute. Each card contains about 5 exercises so that I can easily remember the order without having to reference the card after I complete each exercise. I have a whole stack of them and choose them at random when I get to the gym. I can say “tomorrow at the gym I’m going to do 45 min of intervals and then an hour yoga class.” So I still have my “plan” but the workout is always different.

I absolutely couldn’t do my intervals without my Gym Boss interval timer. Easily one of the best fitness purchases that I’ve made. I purchased the “mini” which, in my opinion, isn’t very mini but it easily clips to my pants, sports bra or you can purchase a wristlet that it will also clip to. You can program it however you like. I THINK it goes up to 3 intervals. I typically use it for 2 intervals, the timing differentiating depending on what I’m doing. (I don’t do the HIIT workouts. Way too nuts for me. I’ve tried and I just don’t like it. Go figure.)

For example, if I’m doing an ab circuit, I’ll do 30 seconds on and then 10 seconds off. Five rounds. This gets me through an entire ab circuit once. Much easier than trying to keep up with a timer. It can either beep, vibrate or both. It has a “loud” or “soft” setting. I typically just use the vibrate setting because the beep is kiiinda bonkers.

I also use it when I’m doing interval runs. Whether it be that I’m doing speed work or if I’m injecting walking into my run, the gym boss allows me to properly keep up with the intervals without having to pay attention to the time. It comes in a bunch of snazzy colors, too. We all know I’m a sucker for things that are cute AND helpful. I definitely suggest purchasing a gymboss for use during runs or intervals!

Gymboss hasn't sponsored me or paid me any money to review them. I think it's an awesome product and I think other's deserve to know :)

Beauty: Define

1. Definition of beauty (n)

Bing Dictionary

o beau•ty

o [ byóotee ] o

4. pleasing and impressive qualities of something: the combination of qualities that make something pleasing and impressive to look at, listen to, touch, smell, or taste

5. pleasing personal appearance: personal physical attractiveness, especially with regard to the use of cosmetics and other methods of enhancing it

6. beautiful woman: a beautiful woman or girl synonyms: loveliness • attractiveness • good looks • prettiness • exquisiteness

So, I put my exact title into Bing and this is what came up. Weird, isn’t it? To absolutely define what beauty is? What it looks like? What it feels like? ”Especially with regard to the use of cosmetics and other methods of enhancing it.” I don’t get it.

I’m going to be completely honest and say that when the yearly Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show comes on television, my stomach turns and I immediately have the urge to work out for hours…and hours… and hours. And I really can’t give you a great answer as to why. I don’t want to look like them – honestly, I think that they’re very thin and very hungry. But, I almost feel like I need to look like them. Embody that image of beauty. Silly, isn’t it? And I know I’m not the only one.

Men catch a lot of the flack for this. But – can we (women) really give them all the blame? Ask a man if he noticed his girlfriend lost 5 pounds and I am willing to guarantee that he will say no. Why? Because that typically just doesn’t matter to them. They don’t have the expectations that we have to look like those we see in ads and television. Just like we don’t have the expectation that they look like a GQ cover model.

As women, I feel like we are constantly in competition not only with ourselves but with each other. Constantly comparing and contrasting and trying to outdo one another. We are constantly wondering if our mate looked at that other woman and liked her hair/makeup/clothes/shape/weight/tan/whatever better. The question is why. I’m guilty. Constantly. A goal of mine is to stop this cycle within myself and to stop it when I hear my girlfriends share these same thoughts aloud. Comparing and contrasting is for fine wine, not for our bodies.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech

4:30 Wake-Up Call Success !

I’m really starting to cling to this “one day at a time” theory. I don’t have my week of workouts planned. I’m finding that doing that overwhelms me and I get incredibly disappointed if life gets in the way and I’m not able to accomplish the entire schedule. So, I’m planning one day ahead. I’ll figure out today what I’ll do tomorrow. This way, if I have a really terrible day today and simply need to sleep in tomorrow to prepare for the day ahead then it won’t be a problem. I can plan accordingly.

As for today’s “plan” – it went well! I woke right up at 4:30, no snooze button needed. I was planning on running a 5k on the deathmill…but I left my headphones at a currently unidentified location. So, I hit the stair climber for a total of 45 minutes instead. That combined with 45 minutes of spin [20 mile ride! Woo!] (I’ll come back to this later), 100 squats and 100 crunches totals out to 803 calories burned before 7:15 this morning. WOO.

I also started back to My Fitness Pal today, also. When I did it, I noticed a difference. I hate it and it’s a pain in the butt. Yeah, that was said in a grumpy voice. But, all in the name of goals, right? Right. I ate m&m’s this morning. I didn’t cheat. I scanned them and added them in. They were super tasty and worth every bit of the 230 calories. You won’t find this girl counting to 100 to avoid a craving. 

Okay, so back to spin. The instructor was a mega buff, super thin and pretty lady. She has two kids, the youngest is three. She really likes to compare her life to the rest of us. And by the rest of us I mean the people who don’t have the pleasure of not working and have all the time in the world to train. One of her kids is in elementary school and the other goes to an all-day pre k Monday-Friday. She doesn’t work. So she trains. ALL. THE. TIME. And she has the nerve to try to tell us (us being the people in the class who are up at the ass crack of dawn because it’s the only time we have to work out) that if we simply put in 2 hours before work and 2 hours after work every day, that we too could look like her. I’m all for people being proud of their accomplishments. She should be proud! She has a killer body that she obviously works hard for. But don’t rub it in people’s faces, especially when you’re set up to succeed and some of the others in the class may not be. It really made me angry. Just as a side note, she would also randomly say during the class “Can you feel the burn?!” – we just did a 3 minute, heavy load, seated hill climb…. WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK?! Rawr. I don’t deal well with this type of individual at 5am. I just don’t.

All in all today was a success! Granted, I’m not quite through the work day but I’ve got a feeling the rest of the day is going to be great.

What are your plans for St. Patrick’s day? What’s your goal for this week?

The Weekend Used to be a Dream....

Ah, the weekend. I'm still getting used to it. I love having two full days in a row to do what I want and enjoy time with my loved ones. I spent the day yesterday in Newnan, Georgia with one of my best friends. We ate Mexican (margaritas included) and overindulged in some ice cream...

It was worth all the hundreds and hundreds of calories. Though, I was kinda shocked that I just couldn't finish it all. I barely got half the cone down. I suppose this is for the best? 

I've been battling a pretty ridiculous ear ache. I've got these bad boys to help take the pain away. It's helping but I've entered into ear infection territory so off to the Dr. I go on Monday... womp womp womp. 

Overall, it's been a really fabulous weekend. I managed to get up and get to the gym in time for Yoga this morning. We asked to focus on hips and... all I have to say is be careful what you ask for. I just know I'm going to be aching tomorrow. I got in a bit of carido before, too so I'm pretty pleased. 

Tomorrow I'm hitting the gym early for spin. After spin I'm going to try to get in a quick 5k and some resistance band work before heading off to the day job. Working out in the morning has started to grow on me. I don't have to "make room" for it in my schedule after work and can just go home and relax. I go to bed at the same time no matter how early I wake up anyway so I may as well get my butt in motion and make the best of all the hours of the day! 

This is going to be my mantra for Monday.

There's no kill switch on Awesome. 

This is how I'm going to go into the week. I'm going to kick ass in every thing I do. I'm going to hit the gym and eat things that help me and not set me back. I'm going to be kind to myself and accept my imperfections as beautiful characteristics belonging only to me. I'm going to do the best I can do and accept when I don't quite meet my own personal expectations. I'm going to do my best and my best is all I can ask for. 

Have a great Monday, y'all! 

How was your weekend? 

Did you complete a kick ass work out? 

The Westview Track - Review

By now I'm sure everyone has seen the letter "to the fatty running on the Westside track this morning..." I've read several reviews of it and I've decided that the more I read about it, the more angry I get. And this is because from what I can see, there is a ridiculous amount of people defending the author. And...I just can't fathom how anyone would think that calling someone else a "fatty" would be motivational at all.

In my opinion it's a clear form of abuse. It wouldn't shock me to learn that in the author's life they depeict verbal abuse on people around them. To insult them in a manner that they know will strip them down to nothing, only to build them back up by telling them "you're awesome!" is an obvious form of abuse. It's a cycle - break you down then bring you back and keep you close by "building you back up again."

Humiliating someone is not an appropriate way to inspire. It's the core of what's wrong with our entire thought process on health and fitness. If this person, who clearly just wanted their blog to go viral, really wanted to inspire them - they would have gone up to them, gave them a huge high five and said "you're doing AWESOME!" They wouldn't have written such a tastless letter.

Someone wrote a response as if they were the person who they were speaking about. I felt it was incredible and very honest. Judging someone else's journey is tasteless. It doesn't make for good journalism and it sure as hell doesn't make you a good person.

So, my response to whomever wrote this letter initially - I hope you never have to face the humiliation and suffering that you put this one annoymous person through. I hope you see the error of your ways without having to learn the hard way. But, if the hard way is the only way - so be it.

All The Exercise!

For a good while prior to me making the difficult decision to postpone my Marathon, I was working out twice a day four days a week. I'm not sure how I was still standing. I was exhausted. I really thought that working out more would make me stronger and thus better prepared for the race. What I'm finally seeing (or maybe, believing) now is that all it did was put more stress on my body and disallow any type of recovery.

I found this article on CNN.com about working out "smarter" and not "harder." I've been reading a lot about this. I do my best to switch up routines and incorporate different intervals into my work outs to avoid the plateau. But I wonder if there's a "best" way to do this? More weights and less cardio one week and then switch the next? Weights VS resistance bands? Treadmill VS elliptical? Don't read this blog if you're looking for the answer to all your burning athletic questions...I've got just as many as you. But, I've also been reading about exercise addiction. Did you know that it's considered an eating disorder just like anorexia? There are treatment centers for it and everything. I can see how addicting it can become and how it can become such a necessity in a person's life.

Speaking of exercise addiction...Taking the day off...not feeling great. Doing my best to "listen to my body" and rest up. I'll probably hit the gym for a bit in the morning for spin before work. Haven't been feeling like myself since the decision. Don't know if I'm depressed or if I've lost faith in myself. Pretty sure it's a good mixture of both. Allowing myself to mope for a little while. Moping includes eating what I want...which is totally counter productive but.. oh well. I suppose I'll cross the back on the horse bridge when I get to it.

To make that matter worse, it's going to rain all weekend. So much for a pretty, no pressure run this weekend. Bleh. But - for now I'll go soak in a bath and read Divergent on my Kindle.

Cheers!