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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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!

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.

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?

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). 

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?

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!