milestones and progress…
Well, on Wednesday, I ran a 5k distance in the morning for National Running day! I had a pretty fair time too, but nothing earth shattering. That morning I weighed myself, and I finally reached it.
20 lbs!
This is a pretty big milestone, and I have to say that it is a pretty cool number.
I’ve never posted any before/after pictures before… probably because they are obviously embarassing, but… what the hell. I suppose I might as well. It might inspire someone else to get out there and change their life too.
I still have a long way to go, and I know that… but it is a start that I’m proud of…
Before: Pant size: 14-16 /171 lbs
Today: Pant size: 8-10/151 lbs
Okay, then…. not sure what to say now, so I’ll leave it at that.
I’ve got a 4 mile race in the morning! Wish me luck. 
10k training progress, and the end of weigh-ins!
Hey everyone!
I hope you’re having a great week!
I’m feeling pretty darn good, most days! It seems that health and fitness really is 90% mental, because I’m still on the wagon and going strong!
Training for my 10k is going well, my training schedule looks something like this:
Monday: short run for time (30 minutes or more)
Tuesday: stride run on the track of varying times and distances
Wednesday: Full body strength
Thursday: short run for distance (usually aiming for 3 miles)
Friday: short circuit of abs, back, arms… maybe a little legs, depending on how I feel
Saturday: long run (working up to 8 miles before the 10k)
Sunday: rest
Along with that, I also try to do yoga once or twice a week, and I’m stretching EVERY day.
So far, I’ve lost 16.4 lbs in 4 months.
Tonight, I set out for a 3 miler, but for some reason, my legs were sooooo tight!! Front to back, top to bottom, both of my legs in their entirety were so sore. I’m going to stretch well tonight, rest up tomorrow, and prepare for my long run on Saturday.
Well, I mentioned my love of yogurtoats, and this morning, I tried a new concoction. Oat bran with raspberry preserves.
I used 1/3 cup of Bob’s Red Mill Oat Bran, and a tbs of raspberry preserves… plus a little milk to loosen it up. YUM!
For lunch, I had a wrap, with homemade red pepper hummus, kale, sprouts, and some button mushrooms. Double yum!
Can we talk a minute about how freaking GREAT the White Chocolate Macadamia LUNA BARS are!?!? Seriously good. I’m so glad my Kroger stocks these… *drooool*
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In other news, tomorrow is the end of the biggest loser competition at my work.
YES.
I’m so glad, because I need to stop stressing about the ups and downs of every week. I’ve ranted about much I wish I hadn’t signed up. Mostly because I’m not trying to do a quick big loss! AND, I’ve mentioned how weight loss isn’t even my focus, and that I know healthy living is way more important to me (and that weight loss will most likely follow 
) Anyway, I’m really glad to have that weighing pressure off my back.
Have awesome Fridays, guys, and I’ll talk to you later. 
Holy YUM!!!!
Hiatus over!
Hey friends! I’m happy to announce that my unofficial blogging hiatus is over! I’m sure you were all waiting on baited breath for my next post… well at least my mom was, (Hi mom!! ) I’m sure!!
I’m feeling so good lately! I’ve been accomplishing great things, and achieving big goals. And in an effort to seamlessly get back in the blogging groove, I’m doing the unthinkable… a bullet point post. Here goes!
Things I’ve done:
- Daron and I have found a great landscaping plan for the backyard, and we’ve started planning things, establishing phases, and doing some prep work! Expect lots of pictures of our progress!
- We bought our tickets to see RENT in May, which is going to be so freaking great, because Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp of the original cast (and the film) will be playing their iconic roles!
- On Saturday, I ran 3.68 miles!!! NON STOP! I can’t believe that, I mean… a few months ago, I was stopping after 30 seconds…and now… well, As Daron says, I’m just going to have to start believing in myself and STOP being so surprised every time!
- I went to Kohls yesterday to buy 2 pairs of “in-between-pants”, which those of you on the health and wellness journey with me, will know are meant to fill the gap between the clothes that are way too big now, and the size you think (hope) you’ll actually end up. Well, after almost having a panic attack at the unearthly number of clothes at kohls, I ended up getting a pair of jeans, and a pair of khakis in a SIZE 10. And people… a size 10 is a freaking dream. At Christmas, I had a few pairs of 16s… and before that, I’d been in 14s for at least a couple years, and 12s a couple years before that. 10s are pre wedding, Jr/Sr. year of high school… I don’t know what I’ll do when I can put on 8s. I really don’t. I had 1 pair of size 8 pants for about 3 weeks in sophomore year of hs… yes, I actually remember them.
- I bought a snuggie and a smooth away!
- I got a good grade on my friday night exam… which should be outlawed, by the way.
Things I’ve eaten:
- While some of my fellow bloggers used fast food breakfast as April Fools Jokes, mine was the REAL DEAL!! This morning, I gave in to the cravings I’d been fighting for at LEAST 2 months, and had a delicious and completely horrible sonic breakfast! It was really SOOOOOOO good.
- Other than sonic I have a new everyday breakfast love… I am in love with Whole Soy & Co yogurt!!! I can’t even tell you how much I love it. I don’t ever want to eat yoplait again… mmmmmm. My favorite method of consumption is with rolled oats. YUM! Thank you Whole Soy & Co for making such delish yogurt. It may not be pretty, but it is soo good.
Things I’m excited about:
- Graduate Meghann is having her second blogger bakesale to raise money for her Team in Training!
- Jenna from Eat, live, run is selling e-cookbooks of DELISH desert recipes for a $10 donation to her Team in Training!
- I’ve got a lot of homework to do, but I’m entering the home stretch for grad school, so that is pretty great.
- My 10k training plan is going wonderfully, and I’m finally having fun with it again. Super Tom from Runner’s Lounge is amazing, and has been an invaluable resource to me. I could NOT have done it with out him. On another note, Runner’s Lounge is awesome, and any of my fellow new runners should definitely go there, and check out the articles and resources available to you for FREE… I’ve learned a lot.
hibachi, half priced gear, hazelnut spread, and h-onesty!
Hey gang,
Daron and I had a SUPER time at Benihana! I can’t believe my baby bubby is 20. That is crazy, and it makes me feel super old. It seems like only yesterday, I was screaming to mom that he wouldn’t stop looking at me, and wondering why he hated being clothed so much.
I LOVE hibachi, and even more than that, I love experiences that are steeped in other cultures. Now, I don’t pretend that Benihana is a genuine Japanese experience, not entirely, anyway, but I really feel that it is important to respect the experience as much as possible.
On Saturday, we went to the Nike Outlet store in Grapevine Mills Mall, and we didn’t know it, but they were having a HALF OFF CLEARANCE sale! Now, their clearance was pretty well priced anyway, but this was 50% off the lowest marked CLEARANCE price!! Check out what I picked up!!
This GORGEOUS half zip base layer, which is my favorite color, and I LOVE $14
Two super cute hats… (one in hot pink… – I hate white balance, and one in teal!) $2.50 each!
A standard headband, a wristband with internal pocket, and a shoe wallet (all $.50!)
A pair of TEMPO shorts!! I’ve been wanting to take the plunge, and I found this pair for $12!
And a “running” skirt!! (not a tennis skirt!) I’m not totally comfortable in it yet, but I will be… $10!!!
I’m sure you understand how AWESOME it is to get new gear, and how cool it is when it really makes you feel more confident!
In other news, check out what I found at my beloved cupboard:
Ash got me thinking about Nutella the other day, and I was thinking it would be awesome to find an alternative that leaned a bit more towards the hazelnut end of the spectrum!
I think Rapunzel’s Organic Chocolate Hazelnut Butter might be the one! It is so hazelnutty, but also chocolatey! An awesome treat! I highly recommend it!
Let’s see, I’ve covered, hibachi, half priced gear, hazelnut butter, now on to honesty… hawn-esty? hehe… (I need to lay off the H theme… it isn’t that serious… )
Honestly, I’ve been slacking for the past few weeks… not with my runs, but my 6 days a week has dwindled to 4. My 3 runs have been solid, but I’ve not been committed to my 3 strength/cross training days.
I obviously work best with a structured schedule, which is why the 30 day shred, and c25k worked/work for me… The problem that I have with the 30ds now, is that it is SUPER jump-y, and it really is a little much on my recovering-from-yesterday’s-run-knees. I’m stoked to get back on the “wagon” with some more Jillian moves, but I’m going to do her “1 month slim down” workout as featured in March’s SELF mag. It is a lot lower impact, but still an absolute WHIPPING! I’m ready for it!
I think throwing that back into the mix should help re-kickstart my losing, which I am looking forward to. I’ve not been gaining, but I’ve not lost consistently since I cut those workouts.
Good night!
freakishly flexible 5k race report
Hello, hello!
I decided I needed to finally write my race report from this weekend’s “freakishly flexible 5k (fffk)” which was in honor of non runner nancy… who will be having surgery in March.
I don’t really know nancy–even as well as I could know someone from the blogging world–but, I feel so empowered, and THANKFUL that I finally started using my body, that it seemed like a no brainer to offer up a few miles with her on my mind. I’m well enough to run *knock on wood*, and I will not take that for granted.
So, I got to the starting line, after a 6ish minute warm up walk, and a little stretch.
I pressed “start” on my Garmin and took off! I felt really great, and it was such a beautiful day, it didn’t take me very long to get into the swing of things. It helped that earlier that day, I’d taken advantage of the sale on Amazon, and bought No Doubt “Singles” which has some of my favorite old school ND songs (Excuse me Mr., and Spiderwebs to name a couple). I had mapped out a route, and had a pretty good idea of how I was going to be running, but there are a LOT of twists and turns when you’re trying to get 3 miles out of a pretty tiny neighborhood, so I ended up checking the map (which I’d saved to my phone) more than a few times.
I’ve been having a bit of a stitch in my side while running around 2 miles, lately, but it wasn’t too bad, so I didn’t need to stop. I wished I’d had a sip of water around 2.5 miles, but knew I was in the home stretch, so I just kept trucking.
The clock stopped at 35:27!! That is a HUGE improvement from my January 5k time, which was 42:20!!
I’m aware that its a little lame, (and I’m more than a little embarassed at the STUPID look on my freeze-framed face before you click play) but I made a little video after my run, and thought I’d post it.
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In other news, I’ve stayed under my goal calories for the past several days, but I HAVE to confess that I have eaten some real CRAP in those calories. I’m actually eager to wake up tomorrow, so that I can have a wholesome food day. I feel heavy and sticky inside, and its horrible!
Also, the super awesome JoyRuN, got a new belt for Vday, and so, she decided to GIVE away her old, but very gently used belt to the reader who emailed her first.
And it was ME!
First of all, it is so great of her to share the wealth, and gear with someone who loves her blog. Secondly, it is so awesome, because I’ve REALLY been wondering how I was gonna deal with wanting to have some water on runs, but no means to carry it.
So, Thank you, Joy…. So very much.
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