Thru Thin and Thick

when I almost shat on the treadmill

2012-02-14T08:35:00.001-05:00

I bought a new pair of shoooooes before my Germany trip.

Saucony's Guide 5

My Asics are in desperate need of replacement but unfortunately they didn't have them in stock and these Sauconys felt better than the Adidas in reference to comfort but... I think they are going back. They were rubbing my heal, and I felt various pains elsewhere. I dunno... I may take them for another 2 or 3 mile spin.

To test these buggers, I finally hit up the gym after being gymless for nearly 2 years!

my locker and new lock

We belonged to LifeTime back in the day, but since I was the only one using it, I couldn't justify $120 a month on it once I lost my high-paying, yet unsatisfying gig. The gym is a now perk of working for the Y, and since I had to break these ~~bad boys~~ Sauconys in without running on asphalt, I tracked my hiney over there to use their treadmills.

It wasn't that simple though, I had to stop at Target for the lock and a new pair of headphones. I was ready to call that my workout..

they were cheap, but so far so good

The plan had been 5 miles but around mile 2, I had to start quenching my buttcheeks harder, and at mile 4.3 I had to run off the treadmill. God knows I didn't want to be known as the girl shat on the treadmill.

Embarrassing much?

Routine: Healthy Habit #7

2012-02-13T09:15:00.003-05:00

what a whirlwind trip last week and I'm still here to tell about it.

although really...there is nothing to tell, this pic explains it best..

eat drink and be merry!

I actually feel pretty damn fucking awesome considering these short trips with high levels of stress leave me burnt out. True, I changed my attitude about it and was realistic about what I could actually achieve while I was there and that really helped reduce my stress to near zero.

What does that even mean? I sent all my expectations packing...I didn't workout, I didn't meditate nor did I get my sun salutations in. I just went with the flow and tried not to disturb my grandpa's routine.

It was glorious in all of it's self-preservation glory.

the night of my grandpa's party with family members!

This morning was rough. Sun salutations sans music (my Iphone died last night), meditation (but I left my journal downstairs and didnt want to disrupt my flow), shower, oh wait, I have to make my lemon water first, then shower.. it's all a bit fuzzy. Like a crappy hangover minus the nausea.

Except that I haven't felt this great in a fricken while. I can't explain it...I feel 100% and ready to tackle myself and my to-do list and with that I'm off!!

Have a fan-fricken-tastic Monday!!!

Meditation/Visualization whatever the hell you want to call it: Healthy Habit #6

2012-02-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

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Since last July, I've been quite optimistic about everything working out in my life. Granted, this whole journey hasn't been easy and there have been plenty of down times but I began to see every positive and negative experience as a learning opportunity.

As things were coming together, and I was/am being pulled in 10 million different directions, I felt even more frazzled than before, continued to gain weight and just feel blah. I knew something had to change because clearly what I've been doing hadn't been working.

I'm not sure how I landed on meditation, it all seems so hippie-ish and green to me, but I knew that the 1000s of thoughts that were racing through my mind in the morning, and the stress I experienced after browsing threw my various social net-work sites were just contributing to the overall blahness I was experiencing.

I really wasnt sure what the heck I was doing but I downloaded some apps with gentle music, got a special pillow, a pretty journal, and an awesome smelling candle and just sat there the first couple of days.

my meditation station

and slowly, things came into focus... i repeated positive affirmations, visualized how successful the day was going to be, channeled my energy into projects I planned on dominating and above all, focused on myself. (<-- i know, this sounds so hokey!) the first few days, I could barely sit for 5 minutes, now, 8 minutes seems barely enough.

I love it, and feel off on days when I don't do it (i've only missed a handful since it's become such an important part of my morning). I enter the day with a sense purpose and clarity of what I need and want to be doing. It has helped reinforce almost all of the other habits I've been working on, in particular positive thinking.

I've chosen only now to make it a healthy habit because... a week in Germany brings up a lot anxiety (although I'd admit, it might be exasperated as I'm 12 lbs heavier than the last time I was here, and my family is overly critical about any surplus of weight!) so now I need to be ever more positive and peaceful (with the choices/career I've decided to pursue) than before.

Continuing on with my meditation while here will hopefully allow me to remain positive and in control without having a complete meltdown upon my return home since I often suffer extreme bouts of burn out after a trip to Germany.

I'd love to hear your own experiences, especially since I'm new to this and feel like I have no clue what the heck I'm doing!

howdy ho neighbor

2012-02-05T11:37:00.003-05:00

i had no intention of disappearing this past week but it happened, so let me instead tell you what i've been up to... in bullet points nonetheless:

Girls on the Registration opened and let me tell you... seeing grown women cry because their daughter didn't get on said team is hilarious and disturbing at the same time
Preparation for our trip to Germany
Acquiring food poisoning on our way to Germany
Alternating the use of 1 bathroom between 2 sickies
Gearing up for what is going to be a fun-filled yet stressful birthday week
I just completed my last run the week (NO EXCUSES!)

I hope to be able to blog this week but no promises... Have a great start to the week!!

Sun Salutations: Healthy Habit #5

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm no yogini so where this desire to do Sun Salutations came from sort of surprises me but I feel like it's the natural progression from this....

more to come next week...I promise!

to this....

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Let's just say the Universe told me to do this, mmmkkaaayyyy?

Does anyone else start their day with yoga? Sun Salutations?

newest fad: juicing

2012-01-29T12:34:00.001-05:00

if any of you follow me on my private Facebook page, you'll know I went ape-shit crazy at the end of December trying to find a juicer, or any info about juicing.

So, despite wanting to run out and buy one ASAP, I made myself wait till the end of January, you know, just in case it was one of those hot minute fads I easily jump on.

But... last week finally came and I let myself bust out some Christmas cash and purchase a juicer...

I've used it twice since then and must admit, it's a lot easier to use than anticipated and the clean-up really is a cinch. It does however take up some precious counter space...

The manual suggested using a plastic bag to line the pulp container but instead I've been using the produce bags I get..a) they are smaller and b) they all fit nicely in the container when not in use... I also keep it already lined so that it's easier for me to use. Prepping the fruit and veggies is a bit much considering I already complain about the prep work for my weekly salads, but hopefully I can start doing it all at once..

So far I've juiced:

Apples, Carrots and Celery: had a very overwhelming celery taste and as of now, I don't plan on making it again.
Orange Pepper, Carrots and Grapefruit: was much more palatable. In my opinion it had a nice sweet taste.

Do you own a juicer?
Do you have a favorite juice recipe?

Everyone is recommending beets!

stoooopid

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Who else read the NYT article "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body" ? If you haven't, hear ya go...

I love an interesting read, especially one that I know is going to rile the yogini bloggers up, and boy did this ruffle some feathers.

After reading some of the crap that people did and then wondered why they were hurt didn't surprise me because really...why do the sides of coffee cups need to remind us it's hot. It's coffee, it better be hot!

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So I really liked this response when I saw it float around Facebook... in particular #5, the highlighted part

5. This article is actually more about how no one should go to a bad yoga teacher, but, you know, who would want to read an article about that? This article focuses on Glenn Black, a yoga teacher whose own injuries forced him to evaluate both the teaching and practice of yoga. He mentions “teachers jumping on people, pushing and pulling and saying, 'You should be able to do this by now.'” Well. I don’t want to go to class with any of these people either, but the existence of bad yoga teachers comes neither as a surprise to me nor some sort of proof that the practice itself is flawed. I have never been shocked to come across bad teachers, bad policemen, bad psychologists (are there any good ones? Please let me know), bad dry cleaners or bad restaurants. I’d rather go to a bad yoga class than a bad restaurant. At least you can take a nap. There’s a way to avoid doing stuff you don’t want to do in class, and it’s called 'having boundaries.' If your yoga teacher looks like they might jump on you—and whimsical hair style, body odor and overuse of the word "magic" would all be danger signs—approach them before class and ask which side of the room is for people who dislike being jumped on. - written by Sarah Miller for the AWL

Anyways, total common sense right?

So there I was 2 weeks ago at a sampler Cardio Tennis class. By sampler I mean they, the program heads, were seeing if this class would be something they could offer to the gym members down the line and we were the guinea pigs. I was geeked because I havent taken a cardio class since I had to give up my gym membership, and god have I missed cardio gym classes, in particular Zumba!

Anyways, I knew within 10 minutes (because the first 5 were warm-ups) that we hadn't been properly warmed up and my calf was already yelling at me. So basically for the next 30 minutes, I keep pushing it because god knows I AM NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT WIMPS OUT (even though we were all visually dying) I wasn't going to be the first one to yell MERCY! and finally it happened...a sharp pain, maybe popping, I can't remember because the only thing that was running through my head is...OH FUCK, I BETTER NOT HAVE GOTTEN INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS SHIT!

True story: so at this point I'm told to walk it out..which I can't because I can't straighten out my calf, and yeah...now I feel stupid. Like really stupid because everyone thinks I'm this undertrained pussy which might not be half wrong but I'm the only one who got hurt and goddamn if this ruins my running plans...I will sue someones ass! oh, but what I'm really mad about is that I knew better and didn't do a goddamn thing about it.

It took my calf a week before I could run on it again...A WEEK!

Anyone else do something stupid when you knew better?

Treat Yo Self! Healthy Habit #4

2012-01-24T08:13:00.000-05:00

Happy ~~Monday~~ Tuesday y'all!!!

How was your weekend? Mine was tumultuous but thankfully I'm feeling 100% myself today which is something I couldn't say for most of the weekend!

Today marks the 4th week already...can you believe it?! holy cow..where has January gone!?

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Tracking calories is really my arch-nemesis..I know it's necessary but hotdamn...it's tedious and I swear my calories drain faster than my bank account!

Every day, but Sunday I logged into myfitnesspal, and I was only able to "complete" 1 full day. I always get hung up on

Homemade meals. I find it tedious to have to go on-line to create the recipe.
Going out to eat. I'm such a stickler about am I posting the correct serving size, but there are 3 different options, yada, yada yada..

But it's all good...progress not perfection!!!

Oh, and I feel completely dumb for saying this but.. I had no clue that once you "complete" your day, other people can see what you ate (if your settings are set up that way)!?

Anywhoo..it's a new week, and another day for me to succeed.

In fighting the good fight, I think it's only necessary that you treat yourself to a little something, and when I say little, I mean little, mainly because my budget can't handle much more than ~~free~~ $5. So these are a few little things I like to treat myself too after a rough week.

1. Manicure - Pedicure

So, I hate getting my nails did because well, they chip so damn fast and now I have to rethink my pedicures too so for Christmas I asked for some supplies.

I love looking at my nicely manicured hands, it just makes me feel so much more confident. It's the little things...

2. ULTA

These are semi-new to Michigan, and are basically a beauty store/salon. A mix of high-end and low-end products and they send out monthly coupons. $3.50 off $10 and I can still get my fix off of new product without spending a fortune or feeling bad about it.

3. Birchbox

I've been a subscriber for 3 months now and I love it. For reals, every month you receive a box with 4-5 samples of beauty products for $10. This month, I received a full Stila eye-liner, a $20 value, so clearly my box paid for itself.

If you're interested, here is more info

4. Gift Cards

Who doesn't receive them?! I currently have a whole slew of Starbucks ones and once a week, I grab myself a cup of Joe. Cost: Free!

How do you treat yourself?

YSFE Recipe for Success

2012-01-21T10:12:00.001-05:00

Thank you to Ubisoft for providing me with a copy of Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012 and sponsoring this fitness diary series. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

I can't believe 5 weeks has already come and gone...at the most busiest time of the year, and I'm only now getting my working out mojo back..

You can read my recaps here: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, and Week 4

Pro's to the game:

You can do it at home!
No equipment required
Nice variety of strength training and cardio
Awesome for someone starting off weight training, and not quite sure how to create a training plan.

Cons:

the MAJOR con, really is the poor projection of your person

My recipe for success:

consistency - you need to make the time on a regular basis
progression not perfection - don't throw the day away because you overate at lunch or caved and ate an entire Snickers. people didn't get overweight because they ate a Snickers, once.
water, water, water

I am giving away one Your Shape Fitness Evolved, comments close this Monday at 8 AM.

Go make the weekend awesome!

living in the now

2012-01-19T08:12:00.001-05:00

I feel like I haven't shared much of my journey with you guys this past January, I'm definitely approaching my life (incl. weight issues) with a much more holistic approach than in the past.

Thing is, I feel like career wise, I am definitely in an amazing place. I have my Girls on the Run gig which I am loving even though I wish I had more hours. I'm beginning to help plan for the Plymouth Father's Day 5K (more hours!), and come March I hope to several Couch to 5K programs launching.

I don't want to be one of those people that never has time, is constantly fretting about what needs to get done, and above all reliving the same moment over and over trying to figure out how I could have changed the ending.

and so came about the novel idea of just shutting off the voices.. the nagging ones about everything. the ones that made me feel like a failure, a loser, not good enough, pretty enough, fit enough, thin enough... hell i lived with a lot of anxiety and stress, ALL THE TIME. I was uptight and tense and couldn't roll with the punches, even on the dumbest shit...

and you know what... i was just done with it.

it's funny when you are ready to make change, you normally do. it's easy to stick to resolutions because you are 100% behind them. and I am behind not feeling stressed, and anxious ALL THE TIME.

I never did the rubber-band thing, I didn't have too... I've been able to pinpoint when I'm fretting because I get anxious, angry, irritable, and it's then when I yank myself back to now. Does it always work? No, but with everything... progress not perfection!

Other live in the moment approvements:

Iphone addiction: i've had several family members mention their disapproval at my constant need to be in the know with email, facebook, Twitter - so I'm really trying to cut back there
enjoy moments: it seems silly but so often i am someplace doing something, and I'm already thinking about the next thing on my to-do list

It's all work in progress and as long as I can pinpoint the behavior I definitely feel like I am on the right track. It will be interesting to see what i have to say on this in December... doi!

Anyone else addicted to the phone, and been in an intervention?

Running..what's that?!

2012-01-18T08:42:00.002-05:00

For the past 2 weeks I've planned on writing about my base building and yet ever day comes and goes and I have yet to write about my training.

I feel especially inclinced to write about it now, as I believe, I'm literally falling apart.

I had a long run planned for Sunday, or was it Monday, (I can't remember!) but due to some calf issues, which then turned into upper-back/neck/arm/chest issues, I've been side-lined since...Saturday?!

who the hell knows?! all i know is i'm pissed...and a tad bit scared, especially about the last part but it's been 3 days now so I will be calling the Dr. about my upper-back/neck/chest issues, right after I attempt 4 miles though.

December consisted of 12 runs:

4x - 3 miles - check
4x - 4 miles - check
1x - 5 miler - check
1x - 6 miler - check
1x - 7 miler
1x -stepback week (5 miles)

I'll admit I thought I had both 7 and 5 in the bag...hell I would be in Florida, I would have amazing weather, nothing would hold me back...but once I got there...

I was severly limited by lack of sidewalks where we stayed. i was just able to eak out 4 miles.
alligators.. i have no clue where they live but anything swampy scared me and there were lots of swampy areas
the pool...i swam laps instead..

sssooo...wish me luck neither of my current ailments hold me back from these 4 miles.

trust me..walking the same 4 mile route you typically run, is no fun!

Healthy Habit #3: Track My Calories

2012-01-16T10:48:00.002-05:00

Happy Monday, Martin Luther King Jr Day!!

I not only have today off but so does the bf...whoot whoot...long weekend!

Healthy Habit #1: still streaking... going 15 days strong!

Healthy Habit #2: I actually ended doing 2, one tangible and one intangible. Today I'll discuss the tangible habit, vitamins!

I managed 6 out of 7 days.. I started taking them at night and since we were out, I never got around to it. However... it did allow me to get on a morning schedule which I prefer (read: easier to remember!)

I'm no Dietician or Doctor so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I won't be going in-depth discussing water-soluble vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins, toxicity etc. unless that is something you guys would like to hear more about. I'm just trying to keep it easy and general.

my daily dose

Vitamins: organic compounds that are essential in small amounts to promote and regulate body processes necessary for growth, reproduction, and the maintenance of healthy.

The FDA does not regulate vitamins and supplements, so please do some research as to how much you should be taking, whether there might be any complications if mixing with prescription drugs, etc.

The best way in acquiring vitamins is through eating whole foods, a little from every color family.

However, for a varied of reasons, it is good to add a multi-vitamin to your daily routine. The number one reason being that fresh food can lose some of it's vitamins due to light, air, heat etc.

Another option is going with frozen foods, they are picked and packaged at their ripest, meaning they have some of the least nutrient losses.

my Hell Kitty pill box... I'm obsessed..yes, I am!

I don't think I take anything out of the ordinary besides the CLA..fish oil (1 shot with breakfast), B-12 (I really think it's been helping with my energy and productivity), Calcium with Vitamin D (they have a co-dependent relationship) and zyflamend for my joints.

CLA..conjugated linoleic acid, is supposed to help with fat loss while building lean body mass. We'll see how this works..this is my first round with it and I'll decide whether or not to continue on with them once my stash runs out.

What vitamins do you supplement your diet with?

so now comes Healthy Habit #3...Track my Calories. It's all happening a bit sooner than anticipated but I had a major meltdown yesterday while getting ready for my MIL's retirement party...nothing fit!

The holiday weight has really done a number on me, and even though I've lost 3 of the 7 pounds.. I still NEED to get 4 off ASAP!

I'm on myfitnesspal, so I beg of you: stalk me, hound me, etc... I already skipped out on tracking yesterday.

water, water, waterrrrrrr

2012-01-14T13:47:00.001-05:00

so I've been tracking my water intake again this week with this handy dandy app from Healthy100

love it, minor the fact that it doesnt reset itself every day but it's free so... I'll deal with it.

so yeah...I've been drinking more lemon water and sugar/caffeine free tea, and not counting it towards my daily intake. needless to say, I haven't been reaching my daily target.

Speaking of which, what are your thoughts on the new recommendation of drinking half your weight in oz?

If anyone were to ask me, I'd totally say track the lemon and sugar/caffeine free tea towards your daily intake, but yeah...I clearly like to set the unattainable guideline really high.

Thoughts?
Would you count your lemon water and sugar-free, caffeine free tee towards your water intake?

YSFE Week 4

2012-01-13T08:56:00.000-05:00

It's been a crazy little week over here...my first week back and somehow I got a lot, and at the same time, nothing accomplished!!

However...I've been pretty successful on the workout front this week...I think..maybe...

Each activity is 13 minutes..only shy by 17 minutes for the recommended amount of physical activity the average Joe is supposed to be doing daily.

I started off with the Children's Activity..

I was super excited about the description "Superhero moves for cardio crime-fighting. Punch, kick, move and have fun!" Unforunately it didn't live up to the hype... it was a cardio class!

I envisioned a reality Grand Theft, now that would have gotten kids up and moving. You know, running through streets, beating up bad guys, running from the cops... all that fun stuff! Not sure how exciting a cardio class would be for them?! just some food for thought...

Strengthen your Heart... well, the actual workout was very similar to Healthy Kids.

The green bars represent the level of intensity you are supposed to be working at (beats per minute). Now I am assuming they based it off my input information, and this would then be individualized, but I'm not really sure. I think it's great they added the BPM but if you dont have a heart rate monitor a) you can't track what your heart is at and b) i think utilizing the range might have been better.

Lastly, I did Aging Gracefully...by far my favorite in regards to actual programming.

This session was really geared towards the elderly crowd with lots of low impact exercises. I thought it was the best thought out exercise out of the 3. My only question would be how many elderly people have a Xbox?

I really think this part of the game could be pretty awesome especially since it's sponsored by Humana and they have such an extensive resource of information. It just needs to be worked on a bit better..

Don't forget to comment at the end of the 5 weeks, I'll be giving a YSFE game to a lucky reader!!

Have a great weekend!

Healthy Habit #2: Vitamins & Being Present

2012-01-10T08:59:00.000-05:00

Happy ~~Monday~~ Tuesday friends!!!

I hope you had a great weekend...I did and even better better Monday...gasp! Amazing what not working for the weekend will do to your overall perception of life.

Healthy Habit #1 is going well... I have officially been streaking for 9 days!!!

Only 19 more days to go before hopefully this has been turned into a habit. How are you doing?

I am using an app called Way of Life which allows me to input goals that I am tracking and everyday you fill out the form and it tracks how long you've been streaking! It even turns the data into graphs for you!

Love it...and it's free! I was using another app which I really liked as well, Track & Check, unfortunately the free version only allowed you track 2 items at once.

Healthy Habit #2: NOW

It's not something I'll be able to tangibly track so I've added a goal I've needed to work on... taking my vitamins! but let's talk about healthy habit #2 a bit..

Now. I struggle being in the NOW.

I've worked very hard getting out of my past where I mostly spent time dwelling on the items I regret. I don't mean this to be dramatic because sure there are some major life things I could have changed but I'm actually talking about the day to day minutiae. I think any weight-loser can attest to this, it easy to let one wronged meal, or one missed workout mess with your head and determination!

So I yanked myself out of the past only to focus on the future, when I lose x pounds...when I have buff arms...when I have the perfect job.... I know a lot of that behavior had me wishing away the days, dreaming of when I would be the right size, when I would land that dream job when things were good. Not perfect but definitely not as dramatic as I sometimes made it out be.

Surprisingly, by focusing on now, it's also taken away a lot of the anxiety I experienced. Focusing on today, on this very minute has really calmed me down. Has taken the overwhelming feeling away.

I haven't mastered the art yet, please don't think that. I still catch myself often enough berating myself for something I did yesterday, or wondering what will happen in March but I've become more aware of my thought patterns and am finding it easier, and easier to reign myself back in.

Anyone else trying to live more in the now?

Someone suggested I wear a rubberband and "snap" myself when I have a non-present thought. As much as I would love to have something like that, I'm not sure if self-punishment is the route to go.

Thoughts?

YSFE for the Kinect - week 3

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

I have to admit that despite bringing the X-Box with me on vacation, I wasn't able to stay indoors to workout. Between the awesome weather and having a pool, I either went running or swam laps! I figured I could pick-up the YSFE once I was back in snowy Michigan.

NOT Michigan

Anywhoo... I'm back and ready and rearing to get my body back into shape so getting into YSFE was no problem. I decided to try another new warm-up, Stomp It or something like that, but I didn't do too well at it...

Doesn't this remind you of Simon?!

Brick punching is still my favorite!

Anyways, this week I tried two different workouts..

The first one was Hip Hop..gosh how I love me some dancing...

The nice thing is they break it down for you. There are two practice sessions called Learn It, then you can Rehearse It and finally you can Speed It Up however I'm a white girl and unfortunately, this one can't dance.

Not sure if I'll be doing this again, however I will be doing the kick-boxing again. That one is sweeeeeet!

The same format as above which means you can go at your own pace. Learn the moves and then kick a$$ doing them!

Did anyone receive a X-Box for Christmas?

Don't forget to comment as I'll be giving one of these games away in 2 weeks!!!

back and ready to attack, maybe?

2012-01-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

I've been back about a day now...the drive back from Fl was a tad hellish, we ended up having to overnight in Tennessee because of a crazy snow storm. I didn't think there was snow past Kentucky, then again, I would have guessed Florida was also 80 in December! Thankfully the second driving day was fast and uneventful.

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Michigan is normally dreary and snow covered, thankfully neither of them are the case, but it is still amazing all the grand plans I came up with while in Florida seemed harder and harder to achieve the closer I got to Michigan.

It's so easy to come up with grand plans and goals while away on a sunny vacation, but when you come back and reality hits. It's definitely a bit more of a challenge, especially with how early the sun sets, it seems like I'm 100% ready to curl up on the couch and read or watch TV.

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How do you get done what you need to do in the dreary winter months?

I'm really trying to focus on how I want my life to be and doing the things I need to do to achieve it. It sounds easy and to some degree it is, but I'm trying to not get overwhelmed and just focus on 1 task at a time.

I'm also trying to remember that I've been doing the things I've been doing for years and change isn't going to happen overnight so I need to be flexible and forgiving.

As always, easier said than done.

Healthy Habit #1: Dress for Success

2012-01-02T08:00:00.032-05:00

surprised to not see any New Year's Resolutions up in herrrrrr?!

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I figured since I rarely stick to them, I'd try something new. This year isn't about resolutions but more about healthy habits. I figured I could handle 1 healthy habit per week, you know.. to make it stick!

I've spent a lot of time this past week thinking about why I constantly struggle with my weight ...1) I know how to eat right and 2) exercise right, so why can't I keep the weight off?! I've devised some healthy habits to hopefully assist me in working through my baggage.

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Healthy Habit #1: Dress for Success!

Cliche, I know, but I don't know how else to word it. I know I'm not the only one who lets themselves go once the scale starts to creep up. I think I do it for 2 reasons: 1) I want to hide behind baggy and dull clothes, so that no attention is drawn to me. 2) I feel like a loser for not having succeeded so I may as well look like one too.

My dress for success is actually: doing my make-up. I'm not a huge make-up wearer to begin with.. it could be that I went to an all-girl high school and didn't need to wear make-up but it was something that just wasn't impressed upon me and it's easy for me to fall into the trap of not doing my hair or make-up. Thing is, I feel much more confident when I do.

Confidence (to me) = making healthier choices.

I've also timed it... doing my make-up takes max. 8 mins.
My long hair takes a bit longer now but what it boils down to is...

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So, I'm shooting for 7 days of make-up. There is no reason that I can't take 8 mins out of my morning routine to do my make-up. Hell, I spend more time waking up to Facebook and Twitter than if I did my make-up. If it makes me feel better, therefore helping me make better choices, I need to do it. Period.

Do you struggle with dressing for success if you've gained a few pounds?
How do you combat feelings of failure?

Tokyo Dining

2011-12-31T14:01:00.000-05:00

Two posts in 1 day... crazy right?! Have you checked out my Christmas at Epcot post?

I thought I'd discuss our dinner at Epcot in a seperate post, especially since there are plenty of pics from it.

We opted to go the route of buying a special dinner pass so that we would get priority seating for the candlelight processional.

Basically all those that purchased the dinner pass, got into the arena before the non-paying people, which also means if you don't have a pass, there is a possibility that you don't get into the concert.

Dinner Companions

We chose Tokyo Dining since we are all sushi lovers and this place didn't disappoint. For those of you familiar with Benihana, it totally reminded me of that. A modern interior with great quality fish.

The menu was pre-fixed with our choice of appetizer, entree, and dessert. For it being Disney dining, the prices were actually very decent. Comparable to a Benihana. Funny since a German pretzel was $4.50, and an ice cream was nearly $9!

Pork Shanks and Salmon Salad

Spicy Salmon Tempura Roll - because we always fear leaving hungry!

Sushi Sampler

It was delicous and more than enough...I actually had to force down the last few rolls because I didn't want to send them back or carry them around with us.

I'd totally go back but probably won't since there are so many other delicious restaurants we saw at Epcot.

Have you eaten at Tokyo Dining?
What is your favorite Disney Restaurant?

Trader Joe's Peppermint Hot Chocolate

2011-12-29T08:30:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd talk about a recent Trader Joe's find instead of rambling on about our vacation, although I will admit...we haven't done as much the last few days as we did the beginning of our vacation and honestly, that is fine by me!

I'm sort of new to the whole peppermint drink thing, and experienced my first spiked peppermint hot cocoa a few weeks back, and let me tell you, I've been bitten. Needless to say, when I saw this at Trader Joe's I had to give it a try...

It's really quite decadent, and I'll admit I can't remember the last time I drank non sugar free hot cocoa!

Real Chocolate Shavings!!

Per the instructions it says to use 3 tbsps, per 6 oz. We only use 2 tbsps per 8 oz. It's really that minty which I guess if you like that is fine but I don't. I like a nice little complement to the hot chocolate.

2 tbsp = 1 oz.

I've also found that using a whisk to whisk in the hot milk makes the hot cocoa super frothy.

Do you like pepper minty drinks?
Have you tried Trader Joe's peppermint hot cocoa, love it? hate it?

Btw.. my Trader Joe's already ran out of the peppermint green tea! so bummed...

Christmas at Epcot

2011-12-28T08:00:00.045-05:00

We wanted to do something unique while down in Orlando for Christmas and seeing that Epcot has a Candlelight Processional in December, we thought it would be fun to spend Christmas Day there.

entrance at Epcot

Los Tres Amigos

Joyful Band

I'll admit I had no clue what Epcot was about and from what I remembered I thought it was more science/technically based. Boy was I wrong. The whole back-end of the park is broken into countries so you walk from Mexico, into Norway, into China, into Germany, then Italy, then you come to Independence Hall, to Japan to Morocco, France England and Canada.

Our linner reservations were for 4:15 so that we could make the 6:45 viewing of the Candlelight Processional..by buying tickets we were guaranteed seats for the viewing.

pre-show

entire ensemble

Blair Underwood narrating

This candlelight processional was exactly what I needed to get into the spirit..I sort of wish we had been able to see the 4:15 show instead. I would highly recommend participating in this if you are in ePCOT. It was lovely!

My only gripe with Disney is that everything is so damn expensive if they could charge you for the air to breathe they would, but it was a fun day. We didn't make it past Morocco which was a bummer, and Nate didn't get to the Race Track but overall, it was one hell of a Christmas!

What is your favorite park at Disney?
Read my Animal Kingdom recap here!

Birthday Celebration - in pictures

2011-12-27T09:43:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve started off with a bang as we celebrated my mom's 50th birthday!

Birthday Girl

European Breakfast Spread

From my moms bestie - can you spot the gnome?

Snow White Torte

We continued the celebration at La Luce at the Hilton Hotel on Disney property. It was amazing. It had awesome reviews on Yelp, which I believe is how we found it.

Please excuse the poor quality of photos, I was too embarrassed to use flash and I hadn't figured out to use the indoor lighting on our dslr.

How did you celebrate you Christmas Eve?
Ever been to a Donna Scala restaurant?

Christmas Firsts

2011-12-26T11:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone!!!

Getting a late start over here... hard not to when your on vacation, although I have my fair share to prepare for a phone conference tomorrow...hopefully I'll have more deets to share here soon!

I still can't believe we are in Florida for Christmas. If you live in the South where the temps are warm and there is no snow, how do you get into the spirit? I didn't think I'd be that dependent on cold and snowiness but alas...I am!

We turned my mom's 50th and Christmas into 1 big extravaganza, and opted to celebrate in Fl.

I've been bitten by the house rental bug... I absolutely love having a private pool and jacuzzi..

Plus it's pretty affordable if you go with a large group.. We use homeaway.com for all of our rentals. I'm thrilled with the house we are staying at. We had a very eye-opening experience in February and I did a lot more research and question asking this time around.

Nate's parents rent a home on Lake Michigan every Summer and we expected to have the same amenities as we do there but that wasn't the case. This time we lucked out, so if anyone wants to contact info/website, I'll gladly pass it along!

Christmas Firsts..

Miniature Tree

sitting poolside

Epcot 2011

How was your Christmas?

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

From me to you...may all be Merry and Bright!

Happy Birthday Mutti!!!

2011-12-24T09:05:00.000-05:00

Today and forever, I wish the most amazing, strong, charismatic and beautiful woman I know a very Happy Birthday!!

May the next 50 years be even better than the first.

YSFE for the Kinect - week 2

2011-12-23T17:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everyone!! How is everyone?

We just made it to Orlando and oh em gee… the last 24-48hours were a tad intense. Nothing like sticking the entire family into a ~~Cube~~mini-van and driving South. But it's 85* and I couldn't be happier!

What are some rules you guys follow when road-tripping?

Our number 1 rule is that the driver gets say what we listento. A tad frustrating for my mom since she couldn't drive..

Anyways.... since last Friday I’ve worked out 3 times? I can’tremember but I know it wasn’t more than 4 times and I made a conscious effortto eat better. Not perfect but I’m not waiting till the New Year.

Determined to use YSFE like it was intended for, I set up aprogram for myself..

I became my own worst client and instead of being honestwith myself and listing myself as a Couch Potato (I’ve done no strengthtraining in over 8 weeks! And been quite inconsistent cardio wise until 2 weeksago when I started running again) I put down Sporty…oy vey… I paid for itlater!

Basically you fill out a little questionnaire and then itkicks out a schedule for you.. for me 3x’s a week, 60 minutes per session, for4 weeks! Oooppsss…

It even flags the exercises for you that should be doing.

I hula hooped last week as my warm-up’s and figured it wasgood to try something new this week.

I broke bricks..

Can you spy me?

Super fun! And very much like boxing.. Then I went to jumproping..

one of my favorite cardio exercises since it’s such anefficient calorie burner but I couldn’t really get into it, since the Christmastree began shaking with all my jumping…oooppsss….

Do you see those foot prints in the water, matching thosedetermines your efficiency with the game. I wasn’t very good at it. =(

If there is one thing I wish they could better is to enhancethe scan of yourself, you can see how my legs are chopped off and my face isnever recognizable. Honestly, at that point I’d rather they just create acartoon of me, or a hologram like they use in the Zumba game I’ve reviewed.

Anyways… after my warm-up I went into my strength routine.

Now this feature, in my opinion, makes the game awesome… Youchoose how long you can/want to be doing a routine for

Which means if you are just starting out, start off by onlydoing 2 minute exercises, strapped for time and only have a half hour, do 4 or5 minute sessions. Remember, NO EXCUSES!

On the downside, if you are new, and not quite sure whatexercises you should be doing, it could be overwhelming because you pick whatareas you want to focus on.

There are typically two ways you can break down yourstrength training, either a full body workout or you focus on specific areas.In my opinion, and especially for beginners, full body workouts are the way togo!

Upper body workout:

Lower body workout:

Ab work:

And then it was over... so simple and yet so awesome. I'll admit I was hurting and that was lame considering I should have been able to do all that without breaking much of a sweat but that's whatcha get...

Don't forget to comment because I'll be giving one game away in January!!!

Wave Torte

2011-12-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I've talked about my Nikolaus celebration but I wanted to share the recipe since it was such a smashing success.

Since my theme for Nikolaus this year was Winter Wonderland, I wanted to add a white torte to the buffet and although my inclination was to make a Cloud torte, but I thought that was somewhat boring since I had already made it once before. I don't bake often so I need to make it count, right? Right!

I'm beginning to realize I am much too confident in my cooking skills and should probably lay off trying new things for company. Unfortunately my schachlik sauce was a major fail Nikolaus!

Anyways.. this sounds really time intensive but it wasn't. I was actually surprised how fast it all came together! Click on the print button in the footer of the post if you want to recreate it!

Wave Torte - Recipe by GU (a German recipe book)

clearly the torte got it's name because of it's wavy top!

The Ingredients - for the batter:

125 gr. soft butter

325 gr. sugar

4 eggs

150 gr. flour

20 gr. almond slices

2 tsp baking powder

The Ingredients - for the filling:

1/2 cup sugar + 1 packet of Vanilla Sugar from Dr. Oetker

3 lemons (I only used 2 since they were big!)

3TBSP pudding powder

2 cartons whipping cream

2 packets Whip-It from Dr. Oetker

Directions - for the batter:
Note: You make the entire batter first, but you will be baking half of it because the tort is comprised of 2 halves. The top and the bottom.

Pre-heat the oven to 350.
Whip the butter and 125 gr of the sugar.
Seperate the egg yolk and whites, and put the white's aside.
Add 3 TBSP of water to the egg yolks and add to the butter/sugar mixture.
Sift the flour and baking powder to the mixture (this prevents clumps! trust me, I KNOW!)

My suggestion, because if I would have to do it again, I would do it this way:
Split the egg whites, so that you're only whipping half of them and so that they form nice stiff peaks.
Whip 2 egg whites with 100 gr. sugar.
Add in 10 gr of the almond slices, but don't stir them in, fold them in.

cake batter with egg white mixture

Pour half of the batter into a spring form (where the bottom drops out).
Add the egg white mixture on top.
Bake for 25 minutes.

Whip the last 2 egg whites with 100 gr. sugar.
Add in 10 gr of the almond slices, but don't stir them in, fold them in.

Skip to Directions - for the filling.

By now the 1st cake should be done.
Pour the last half of the batter into a spring for.
Add the egg white mixture on top.
Bake for 25 minutes.

Directions - for the filling:
Cook up a half a cup of water with 1/2 cup of sugar.
Mix 3 tbsp of the pudding with the juice of the lemons.
Add the pudding mixture to the water, cook it until it forms the pudding consistency.
Let cool.

cake bottom with pudding mixture

Whip whipping cream with 1 packet of Vanille sugar
As it begins to get stiff add the packets of Whip-It.
Mix whipping cream with the pudding mixture.
Put the pudding mixture onto the less prettier cake.
Place the other cake on top.
Refrigerate at least 2-3 hours.

Enjoy!!

Let me know if you plan on making this!

I would love to hear how it turns out!

Tex Mex Salad

2011-12-19T09:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday friends!!!

Can I tell you how amazing it is to not have to do anything and feel guilty about it?!

The only major thing I did this weekend was paint my nails. True story. Oh, and start Mockingjay, the final book in the Hunger Games serie. It's glorious.

So I mentioned Friday I am trying to get re-focused before January, and I can proudly say I ate at home Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday being a delicious taco salad.

I'm pretty big about making my own salad dressings, I only have an entire shelf dedicated to olive oils and vinegars, but a) I store a bottle of Greek Dressing at work and b) Ranch is good to keep on hand for carrots, chicken fingers etc.

Tex Mex Vinaigrette:

(measurements based for 4 people)

1 Tbsp lime juice,

1/2 tsp sugar,

1 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp sherry wine vinegar...

However taco salad wouldn't be complete without a drizzle of Ranch...cue....

I'm already a huge fan of the Marzetti line, in particular the Raspberry Cabernet which I use for a Steak and Blue Cheese salad... delicious I'm telling you! So I was excited to try one of their new Simply Dressed dressings.

I really wanted to try their Greek as I keep a bottle of Greek dressing at the office for my daily salads, unfortunately my Meijer didn't carry it, and since I was out of Ranch opted to try that one instead.

A huge selling point for the Marzetti line is that there are no preservatives, trans fats, corn syrup, MSG or artificial flavors.

The above could explain why this particular Ranch tasted different. It's hard to explain but it didn't taste like the regular ranch I keep at home. Then again if you compare the ingredients from Marzetti to Kraft, they are vastly different.

As of now, I probably wouldn't repurchase this particular bottle but I do believe taste buds adapt so who knows how I'll feel at the end of this bottle.

However, I can't wait to try their Greek though as I am still searching for the perfect replacement of the Good Seasons I used to purchase (before they were bought up by Kraft! and the ingredients re-worked, and not for the better!)

Oh, and they need to re-design the cap..I had the hardest time unscrewing it! I can't imagine how someone with arthritis could try to get it off!

Who elses uses Marzetti?
What's your favorite dressing?
Do you have a vinaigrette recipe you'd like to share?

I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Simply Dressed review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.

YSFE for the Kinect

2011-12-16T12:27:00.007-05:00

Things have been straight up crazy over here, but I'm officially done with school and now comes the hard stuff.. deciding what to do! (i know, i know, i said i had made up my mind but then i unmade, and I keep on flipping back and forth!)

Through all of that, I've let myself go..like majorly... I'm not even talking about the scale, it's my muscle definition and strength. The weight gain is only the icing on the cake. Although..after having avoided the scale for 2 weeks, it wasn't that bad, but it's better now to nip it in the butt then wait another few weeks!

My family, when asked to help out in the kitchen, prefers to either grab take out or just go out to eat, I'm slowly beginning to reign it in. Mainly because I'm just getting sick and tired of eating out. Have you read the End of Overeating? Eating at traditional chains straight up grosses me out...I'll be re-reading it over break and talking about it some in the New Year.

So, I've been gymless for a year now, relying on my home-based gym, exercise on demand and Kinect (check out my Zumba review!) to keep me in the buff, so when CGC offered to send me a Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012, I couldn't turn it down.

Source

Heck, these games ain't cheap and because I want to share the love, I'll be giving one away too at the end of my 5 weeks! Each week you'll have the opportunity to add your name to the bucket, so comment away!

So, I started playing around with the game and found several tracking devices which seem neat.

Shows you what day your own, how many calories you've burnt, which I do wonder how they gage that as it didn't require that I put any info in about my height, weight or age.

Push-ups, crunches and broken bricks?! Bring it on...

If you look in the upper right hand corner, you'll see I burned 12 cals hula-hooping!

Other warm-ups, since it's hidden by the hand icon, which sorta blows.. anyone watch White Noise? It totally reminds me of that! Are Juggle It, Pump It, Kick It, and Hurricane. I hula hooped and was pleasantly surprised that I worked up a minor sweat without feeling like my heart was going from 0 - 60! I think overall there is a lack of warming-up in fitness, but I digress..

Check back next week as I review some of the other options on this game.. and don't forget to comment, a lucky winner will receive this game!!!

Do you own a Kinect?
Love it?
What's your favorite game?

2012 Running Goal

2011-12-14T11:04:00.001-05:00

Yup, you read that right...Goal...not goalS but Goal.

singular. not plural.

Source

General: Get faster.
Specific: Run as close to a 2 hr half as possible!

Current PR: 2:18
Previous PR: 2:25

I'm changing my mentality a bit this year, I'm beginning to start training for the season, not a race. I've got roughly 20 weeks until my first 2012 Half: The Martian Full-Half Marathon, remember...I volunteered it last year. and half of that is base building.

Why am I starting so early?

Tip: The best way to improve overall time is consistency and getting in those long runs.
10 weeks will be spent running double digits. 10 WEEKS.
Despite having planned to run the Detroit Turkey Trot, I ran solo that Thursday and struggled with 6 miles. Not completely surprising as I've only been running 2x a week since Oct. and max 4-5 miles, but I knew it was time to get back in the saddle.

My first week concluded last night: 3 mi, 4mi, 5 mi. Total mileage: 12 miles.

Disclaimer: I am a certified RRCA Running Coach. Everything posted here is my opinion. I'm no doctor, and as with anything on the internet, take everything with a grain of salt.

figuring it all out

2011-12-13T09:35:00.000-05:00

hhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee!!!

Happy Tuesday!!!

I'm sipping my 2nd or 3rd cup of Wintry Blend this season...anyone else notice the price hike? I could have sworn it was only $6.99 last year and this year it's $8.99! i still bought a can tho...

that darn water bottle...always has to be included! ;)

Last week was just straight up crazy. I'm not really sure how I got from working and school, to job hunting and new program searching?!

I can however say that I feel much more clear on where I am heading than I was last year at this time. I haven't really talked much about my unemployment/lay off but there are a ton of emotions and feelings you feel and you feel so alone with them because no one talks about what they go through.

I floundered early on this past year, but I can now honestly say that every choice I made has led me to where I am right now. I can see what I want to do and what I need to do to get there and it feels good. That I didn't waste my time. It's all still a bit maddening though and I still have to get through this Chem final.

My first week of training wraps up today, so I'll be sure to post my plan and my goals for next year tomorrow!

it ain't so bad

2011-12-09T08:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everyone!!

Bittersweet up in herrrrr, on one hand I'm thrilled it's the weekend...whoot whoot and on the other hand it means Nate's heading out and it's cram time!

Exam 4 is on Monday with a cumulative final on Friday...let the good times begin!

I've finally resigned to the fact that that I am getting my first B...I'm bummed yet also know that I shouldn't be. Math and Sciences don't come easy to me and the fact that I earned a B with all the stuff I had going on in my life is pretty damn badass. I need to remember this.

I'm on the quest for full-time employment again which is frustrating. It's like dating all over again, where as soon as the date is over, you hope he calls you. So you sit and wait, and wait, pick up the phone to see if it's still working. There is nothing like waiting for a phone call that may never come. I wish companies would just be so kind as to send out an email stating, no thanks, we aren't interested.

Anyone else hate applying for jobs?

So...despite a lackluster start to the week, things are looking up. They aren't spectacular but not as dire as at the beginning of the week. Did I mention I wrote out my training plan for the next few months? Oh yeah...I think I've got my running mojo back!

What's on your agenda for the weekend?

Igloo Bundt Cake

2011-12-08T10:00:00.001-05:00

I still can't get over how adorable my bundt cake ended up.. but it couldn't have been possible without the form. Although Martha does have a great recipe..

Source

But since I had no use for a frosting, this was easier...although I did have to cut off the a tad of the bottom portion because the igloo started off looking like a turtle!

I used this Eierlikoer/eggnog recipe from last year for my cake, and after a hard lesson learned last year that you can't use olive oil because it's too heavy of a oil, I used this one..

The cake came out amazing!! I couldn't be happier at how moist and rich it tastes. Instead of powdered sugar, I added a simple glaze since I wanted it to appear icy.

However, the funnest part was this little guy...

the little bump on his head is the tip of the toothpick sticking out

I just rolled some marzipan and colored it with food coloring. That was a tad sticky but it's rock hard now and hopefully good to hold for a while.

I'm thinking of trying these next..

Source

You give them to friends and family on January 1st, and they are supposed to bring good luck throughout the year!

Have you ever played with marzipan?

Holiday Comforts

2011-12-06T09:52:00.002-05:00

This post is sponsored by Tempur-Pedic, the brand millions of owners trust to deliver their best night’s sleep every night. Enjoy our Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer now and give the gift of custom comfort to someone you love.

When the opportunity presented itself to write a post about Holiday Comforts, I knew I wanted to be amongst them as I have several traditions which are important to me to create the festive spirit of Christmas.

This past weekend with all of it's busy-ness sums up the traditions I keep.

1. Advent Wreaths
I am by no means a devout Catholic so my Advent Wreath isn't for holy reasons, it's purely out of tradition. I grew up with one and it brings me back to my childhood.

2. Advent Calenders
I've already said it once, but I will NEVER be too old to have one!

Last year's Advent calender.

3. Baking
Despite loving it, I just don't bake..for a myriad of reasons except for at Christmas time.

I was gifted a Kitchen Aide this past year from Nate's grandma, and I busted it out this past weekend.

I have no clue how I survived these past years without one. After 5-6 hoursof baking Saturday, I had 3 batches of cookies made and today I found out I canuse a dough hook for my "kneaded" doughs. I dread those the most andput those off since they take longer!

Here is the first batch... the pretzel rolo's and the coconut bars are thecrowd pleaser so far!

from left to right: rolo pretzels, spritz cookies, bear claws, and coconut bars

3. Nikolaus
Nikolaus usually kicks off the Season for me and this year was no different.It was actually a bit more important than usual as Nate is going to be gone forthe rest of the month...

This year's theme was Winter Wonderland.. (which I also carried into my advent wreath!)

I'll be posting more about my cakes later this week, but another picture of the igloo cake.

What are your important holiday traditions?

Comfort is the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday gift list, so be sure to take advantage of Tempur-Pedic's Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective

2nd. Advent

2011-12-04T13:58:00.000-05:00

a week late but nonetheless, it's here...

I've gone the fake route in the past since I didn't think I'd be able to find the real deal here in the U.S. but I made it my mission to find one and I did. They sold them for a mere $10 at English Gardens. Decorations are my own and I absolutely love it.

Anyone else have an advent wreath?

T-1 hr till my Nikolaus feier....argh!!!!!

Trader Joe's Candy Cane Green Tea

2011-12-03T10:27:00.002-05:00

it's been quite a while since i've posted a Trader Joe's review...my bad, and it just goes to show you that I'm not there as much as I had been in the past.

The green tea isn't new, but it's the first time I've brought it into the home. I sampled it last year at a store and wow, talk about not enjoying it, but I've been on a tea kick and decided to try it again. This time, my taste buds were doing the happy dance.

So old school..

Other awesome Christmas-y items at Trader Joe's you should try are:

you can read my review here!

and

however, does anyone know if the cranberry apple butter is discontinued? i haven't seen it at my local store recently.


you can read my review here!

Have you purchased anything new I should try at Trader Joe's?

because one isn't good enough..

2011-12-02T10:54:00.000-05:00

you know -ish is bad up in herr when i've reduced my hours and still i can't blog!

yesterday marked the 1st of December and who couldn't just be happy with 1 advents calender!? moi!

ok, so only one of them is mine, any guesses which one?

full disclosure - part 1

2011-11-29T08:40:00.000-05:00

my mental health day/days was awesome. really. except for the fact really could have used the extra time to study for Chem. instead i used it to come to terms with the fact i'll be getting my first B and building this monstrosity (which has been in the works for 3 yrs now!)

I'm in love, if only the back portions were done..Oh, not sure what it is? It's basically a booth (banquette) for the kitchen. Our dining room/kitchen is tiny and thanks to this space saving unit, we can fit more unit into our tiny little eating area while still letting other peeps into the kitchen without having to take the round-about way through the living room, 2 little hallways and FINALLY the kitchen.

truth: after a year of demo in the kitchen area, we still aren't done. that's just how we roll... i could list off a gazillion other projects we still need to wrap up because adding the finishing touches is just not our strong suite.

but lets get to the full disclosure part:

it took me 4 weeks to lose 8.5 lbs, i even dipped back into the 50's! i hadn't seen those since February!
it took me 11 days to gain 5 of em back.

true story, and the story of my life...le sigh...

eating out is the death of me and out of those 11 days, we ate out at least half of them.

but i got back to it Sunday night, we ate left-overs and yesterday due to lack of time, we grabbed a rotisserie chicken, my ultimate can't cook but dont want to eat out meal.

these next 11 days are going to be crazy as well as Nate leaves for Germany on the 9th, and we are trying to see family and friends before the Holiday as we leave for Florida the 22nd and Nate returns the 21st!
truth, we've got something going on every other night that involves......wait for it.....food!

but I'm gonna give it a fair shot this month, if I can at least get these 5 lbs off, I'd be pretty damn happy.

What's your plan to get through the New Year?
Anybody want to start a support group? =)

7 Great Stocking Stuffers for Runners

2011-11-25T12:27:00.001-05:00

This is cross posted at Train with Purpose Coaching.

One of my favorite parts about Christmas as a child was my stocking. I'd usually find it later in the day and it would be filled with cute little knick knacks that I used to be more excited about than my actual Christmas presents.

In an effort to bring back the Christmas stocking, I compiled a list of $30 and under gifts for the runner!

1. Handheld Water Bottle

Common brands include: Nathan and Camelback. Prices range from $10 - $25. You can buy them anywhere from Marshalls to a Running Store.

2. Running Belts

I own a Spi-Belt, and they retail from $20 - $25. They can be found on-line and in some retail locations. Another brand is ifitness belts.

3. Socks

I hate buying socks, it's one of those things I just hate to spend money on so when I get them, I am thrilled!

Source

4. Arm warmers

Source

These are perfect for the Spring and Fall when your just not quite sure how whether to wear a long sleeve or short sleeve! Arm warmers come in various styles and range from $20-$30.

5. Fuel

Source

Another one of those items I hate to purchase for myself, but a necessity for once you start seriously training for races.

This also allows for your runner to try a plethora of things without feelig guilty for having spent $$$ on items she/he may not like.

About $2 per item.

My favorites are GU Energy Espresso Gel and Sports Beans.

6. Subscription to a running magazine
Like Runners World, Trail Running, Women's Running and Running Times. 6 - 12 issues $10 - $20.

7. Specifically for the ladies, a certificate for a pedicure... awesome for a post-race indulgence! Our toes take a beating during training! $25-$50

Anything in particular you'd like to see in your stocking this year?

mental health day

2011-11-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

i seriously thought it's been longer since i last posted but it's only been Friday...thats how long the last several days have seemed.

my chem class, and 2 back-to-back Girls on the Run 5K's last weekend have seriously left me exhausted. mostly physical but I feel burnt out.

i'm taking today off from school, work and anything else that doesn't need to get done tomorrow.

Source

i tweeted last week that i feel like i can't take days off anymore. i don't work full-time, i'm not taking classes full-time and yet I'm busy. all. the. time. i need to find balance. can you find balance as an entrepeneur?

seriously looking forward to Thanksgiving but today I am tackling my cookie baking list!!

any must try cookies on the list this year?
I'm writing up my shopping list now so link me up with some new recipes to try!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

What's in your purse?!

2011-11-18T07:42:00.000-05:00

I saw these tweet on Twitter and clearly had to chime in...

I thought it was fitting as I embarrassed the boyfriend to death 2 weekends previous as I busted out my syrup at Panera..

So normally I only carry the syrup and measuring cup with me, as you see, having the right balance of half-n-half is instrumental to having the right tasting syrup. It's an art I tell you! But with me being gone for most of the week, I've also schlepped my own half-n-half around as I never know when I might need a fix.

Other items I carry with me...

my traveling coffee mug, thermos, and a picture of my little bottle of syrup that accompanies me everywhere!

So you are probably wondering why I carry a thermos of hot water with me eh...

I'm sure my mother is mortified by now and ready to cal the hoarders on me...

What's in your purse?

Anyone else carry a mobile drinking station with them?

Eating Healthy on the Go

2011-11-15T08:30:00.000-05:00

I feel like my current state is very atypical for people my age... they aren't rushing to school or to work after, but are generally in 1 location for the majority of the day.

and I think that is where I got lost last October and packed on the pounds. I didn't need to make my meals in advance anymore as I wasnt heading to work, and had the entire kitchen to my disposal.

It's been 3 weeks since I've been back healthifying my eating, and by far the BIGGEST change I have made is: not go out to eat so much.

My family loves eating out and I literally have to pull teeth to get my dad and bro to eat in with us, but I've stuck to my guns and tried to maintain only eating out once a week and that only if I am too tired to cook.

My early days are Mon/Weds/Fri, so this week I pre-made a crustless brocoli quiche so that I can pop it into the microwave and eat!

4 servings...plenty to get me through the week, and very tasty! I'll admit I had been resorting to eating sugary cereal on those days!

Next, I only have my salad for today but the lettuce is ready and waiting to be assembled into salads for tomorrow, the day after and the day after. No need to drive through the drive-thru or pay $8 for a similar salad at Panera!

Last but not least, I made a dinner menu (another thing I haven't done in forever!) That way, no one can convince me otherwise to go out or I won't be grabbing through the cabinets to eat something while I furiously try to decide what's for dinner.

It's very simple, nothing ground breaking but it's gotten me back to where I need to be in an effort to lose weight.

What are you doing today to live a little healthier?

8'oclock coffee...how much I love theeeee.....

2011-11-14T07:56:00.000-05:00

so, given the crazy hectic week i have ahead of me...

another exam, I swear I just had one...oh wait, I did..last Tuesday!

2 5K's this weekend (1 Saturday, 1 Sunday)

and I may as well start my coffee drip now.

I've mentioned before what a feign for coffee I am...I swear it's become worse now that I spend more time at home, and so I've been tasting my way through various coffees.

The latest I've been drinking is 8O'clock, which I have to admit I had always been hestitant to drink given the old school experience, but it appears they are in a midst of a revamp. Just don't go their website, the graphics are horrible.

Source

Anywhoo..We were almost out of coffee on Saturday and since we weren't planning a trip to Sam's or Costco, I hit up my local Kroger to purchase a packet of coffee to tide us over, and lo and behold I see...

OH EM GEE.... I LOVE HAZELNUT COFFEE!!!! Seriously, I've gone to major lengths to recreate hazelnut creamer, and the Godiva sample I received, I've squirreled away for special moments.

I figured it couldn't hurt to try, and it was on sale, so I figured if it didn't taste that great, I was only out $6.29, by far one of the cheaper brands, but don't let that fool you....

IT TASTES AMAZING!!!!

I've tried several flavored coffees and seriously...this stuff rocks my socks off, that I went back yesterday to buy 3 more bags before the sale ended.

those noodles soups aren't mine...fyi!

I'm so not getting paid to endorse them, I just love it so much that I may have to start buying it on the regular even though I prefer grinding my own beans...I swear it's more flavorful!

Have you tried 8 O'clock coffee yet? Love it, hate it?

Isn't the revamp modern and fresh?

Cold Weather Gear

2011-11-13T08:03:00.000-05:00

This post has been cross-posted at Train with Purpose.

Since Winter is finally upon us, lets talk about temps, clothes and what to wear.

Some fun facts:

We run most optimally at 55 degrees
An extra layer of clothing is worth about 15 degrees

Here are some guidelines that I like to follow when dressing for certain temps.

This doesn’t mean this will work for you, but it's a great starting point for you to figure out what your best combination is.

Temps:

50-60 degrees: Tshirt and shorts, sometimes capris

40-50 degrees: Long sleeve shirt, or T-shirt with gloves; shorts, capris or leggings (yes, even men wear running leggings!)

30-40 degrees: Long sleeve shirt, fleece vest, capris or leggings – gloves, earband

20-30 degrees: long sleeve shirt, another shirt/jacket over that, leggings, specialty warmth socks, gloves, hat/earbands, and neck gaiter per Matt's recommendation

Your base layers, those closest to your skin, should always be moisture-wicking so that it gets drawn to your clothes instead of accumulating on your skin and letting you become chilled. No cotton!

I recommend specialty socks for anything colder than 32 degrees Fahrenheit where frost bite can get your toes. Remember, shoes are meant to expel warmth and let coolness in.

Lastly, you don’t need expensive gear!! I love the C9 Champion line from Target!! Old Navy has a great running leggings and $1 gloves are my friend. I have lots missing it's pair!

Any other tips you want to share?

duo-athlete

2011-11-11T08:00:00.012-05:00

I've been reading blogs long enough to know there comes a point where most runners start adding triathlons to their mix. Well, today is not that day for me =), but....

Last weekend Nate and I headed Up North for his annual bike race, the Ice Man, and as the Slush Cup gang was heading out, I got all teary eyed. I blame it on the fact that I get teary eyed around any sporting event..

heading out

Despite not liking the whole mountain bike thing since it's dangerous. For reals... flipping over handle bars, riding on single tracks and the whole gamut, but...

I am actually contemplating training for the Slush Cup. It's only 8 miles and I heard the course isn't too bad. Nate doesn't look too bad coming in...

Anyone mountain bike?

Any tips?

I get totally freaked out anytime I'm on a mountain bike track.

1 year later

2011-11-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

oh..hai!!!! it's been a while no?!

no one could have prepared me for the hecticness life has become.

it's been over a year now since I was let go, and although I struggled the first 6 months with many emotions, i felt like I finally saw clearly early this Spring and since then I've working towards making my dreams/wants come to fruition.

My Chem class right now is killing me. There is so much work and with only 2 semesters left before I can apply to the program, keeping my GPA up is critical. <-- per the programs advisor

Girls on the Run is busy as ever. I'm in the midst of two 5K's, one for my council, and me volunteering for the Council I initially began to volunteer with. Yes, this may have to change.

Trying to launch Train with Purpose is also proving more time consuming than I initially thought.

I'm not complaining. Sure, I'm a bit over-whelmed and busy but I love everything I'm doing. I just wish there was a bit of a manual of how to juggle it all.

and maybe that is my complaint...how do i juggle it all while still trying to stay in the moment?

anyone have any tips to share?

more thoughts on the Detroit Half

2011-11-02T08:16:00.000-04:00

since I had my first successful run since the Detroit Half, I thought I'd finally share some more thoughts.

it's a tough course. between the congestion on the bridge, lack of runner etiquette and the tunnel. the half is nothing to scoff at, which is why despite not meeting my time goal, I'm still ueber-proud of my accomplishment. not sure if this race will become a yearly tradition.

realistic expectations. i took months off from running after my last Half. i blame it on a myriad of things but something major which I could have planned better for was my goal time. or realistically, i should have just been happy to finish!

i think you can tell by my face how spent i was.

ideal weather temps. ideal weather temps to run in is 55 degrees.
they say you aren't supposed to change anything race day, and yet i struggled the entire time about whether or not I should continue on with my running intervals. i trained with them and yet here i was unsure of whether or not i would be able to make my time goal if i took my walking breaks. in the end i did, 5 mins running x 1 min walking. I skipped a few along the way for a myriad of reasons but my handy Gymboss was on my Spi-Belt. I'll do a review here shortly but I am selling them now, if you would like to purchase one, they are in the column in the sidebar!

for a brief second, i thought that it is quite possible that i could run a marathon. i blame it on endorphins.

Do you take walking breaks during a half/marathon?
Any aditional comments to the Detroit Freep?

the midgies got me!!

2011-11-01T08:56:00.004-04:00

i was determined to make it through this halloween without a sampling of the goods.

i even went so far as to not buy any candy i liked. no snickers, reeses peanut butter cups, baby ruths, butterfinger, kitkat, m&m's...nada! i came home with tootsie pops and gummy crap. yes, part of me was seriously annoyed by the fact that i spent $8 on candy i didn't even like but i had no clue world war 3 would erupt when i got back to my house on saturday.

anyways... yesterday was fine. all fricken damn day. I even had plans on indulging in a chocolate kefir milkshake. i stopped at 7-11 to grab a bag of ice, where the teller asks me whether i am having a party? i politely reply no and he asks me why i am buying ice? of course i can't tell him that the bf refuses to fix our ice maker because the dinky little part costs $13 and well dont really use that much ice to begin with (even though we can't utilize the water function and we've bought enough brita filters since then, i could probably own a new fridge!) but instead i tell him the short version which is the ice machine is broken. oh, and he shorted me .10!

and i'm not even sure what happened but all of a sudden i found myself grabbing for the tootsie rolls.

truth is i felt a tad overwhelmed with school. a tad saddned by how things weren't done this past weekend. annoyed with work and maybe even a tad surprised that i had sworn off chocolate and pizza when traditionally we have both.

and as the holiday are coming around, i struggle with observing the old traditions while trying to change the new me. and maybe that is all that that comes down to. taking time to mourn that certain traditions just need to get booted for new ones.

however today is a new day, and as we embark on the holiday season, i need to be mindful that my acting out may just be a form of resistance, fear of change, etc. but as long as I keep at it. The easier it will be.

now i remember

2011-10-31T08:20:00.000-04:00

i sat on the couch Saturday night exhausted.

i hadn't done anything beside prep food all day, and it was then that i realized why i slipped out of the habit of eating healthy food and into eating out instead.

the amount of involvement healthy eating takes.

maybe i've gotten lazy. maybe i'm looking for that elusive shortcut but hotdamn... standing in the kitchen all day and only have food prepped for half the week is maddening.

i've been at this long enough to know this bi-weekly prep must become a central part of my life for it to stick and yet i struggle with it. i know, i know.. it's only one day out of my week but it's a weekend day!

i'm back at it...less than 2 months till Florida..

any recommendations for fun, fancy restaurants in the Orlando area for New Years Eve?

Running is a cheap

2011-10-29T12:20:00.000-04:00

This is cross-posted at Train with Purpose.

I have to admit, I am always somewhat surprised when I hear newbie runners or non-runners exclaim how expensive running is.

I scratch my head and politely ask, why they think running is expensive.

They end up listing a myriad of reasons, which are true, but as a beginner runner or generally new to fitness. Running is the cheapest sport out there.

You do not need a fancy gym.
You do not need fancy equipment.

You need two, maybe 3 things if your a lady, to run.

A good pair of running shoes, supportive bra for the ladies, and your front door. Your neighborhood is the perfect place to run.

Yes, races, Ipods, compression gear, etc can get expensive but is by no means necessary especially not for a beginner.

So, stop making excuses as to why you can't run, and lace up those sneakers and head out.

truths

2011-10-21T11:28:00.000-04:00

Truth: I haven't worked out since Sunday. Maybe today I will get 3 miles in.

Truth: I haven't been watching what I eat. I've been indulging in everything my body is craving.

Truth: I've given myself the week off from everything. Come Monday I'll be back for sure.

Truth: I've been tired, unmotivated, and hungry.

I blame it partially on Michigan weather, it's been rainy, dreary and cold, as well as having over-extended myself.

How are you adjusting to the new weather?

Tommie Copper Compression Sleeves

2011-10-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

So I mentioned in my Firsts post that I had tried out the Tommie Copper sleeves so it's probably best I finally do a review, no?

I had meant to get it up several weeks back but alas, life got in the way. Or should I say procrastination finally caught up to me.

Anywhoo, Jordan the social media face behind Tommie Copper was a breeze to work with. He was not only prompt in returning my emails, but also helpful. Some other companies could learn a thing or two from him.

Let me state, that these sleeves were sent to me with no strings attached so these thoughts are completely my own!

First and foremost, I wanted to try out the sleeves because of their price..$24.50.

At a recent expo, a sleeve seller was charging nearly $30 for 1... who can afford 2 at that price?! I can't.. I work non-profit now! =)

Secondly, they are copper infused which means a few things:

copper stimulates the immune system to fight infections, repair injured tissues and promote healing
copper has been shown to neutralize "free-radicals" which can cause severe damage to cells
copper is necessary for the growth, development, and maintenance of bone, connective tissue, brain, heart, and may other body organs
if you want to read more about it, check out their FAQ

These are my first pair of sleeves so I really have nothing to compare them too besides my compression socks, which might be unfair..apples to oranges much?

Two things:

Sizing, technically according to their size chart, I was a Large but after consulting with Jordan, he suggested I size down to a Medium. I wonder if I should have gone with a small.
Relating back to 1, they aren't as tight as I like my socks, but had I started out with them, would this be an issue?

I wore them on two long runs, and despite them being ok for my calves, I felt like my feet were more swollen than usual.

I like them and I'll be re-wearing them, just not for my long runs, I need a little more support in my feet that the sleeves obviously can't give.

Have you tried them?
Do you have a preference...socks or sleeves?

Detroit Free Press Half Marathon Race Recap

2011-10-18T10:20:00.002-04:00

howdy folks... it's been way too long! almost a week now if I remember straight...

things have been dandy... i really have no clue where the week went but yeah, it's Tuesday..

the test went swimmingly...until I found out I got an 80 yesterday...not stellar but considering an A- is 87.5 maybe I didn't do that bad, no? i still learned my lesson and tomorrow i'll start studying for the next test, a mere 3 weeks away!

the whole weekend was a blur that centered around the half, and yet it still wasn't as magical as the 1st. I'm planning on traveling everywhere for my races from now on!

the official playlist

I wont bore you with all the morning off stuff, but if i had to do it again, I would totally get a hotel room. Getting up at 4:30 is no fun...although it did beat Disney's 2 AM wake-up call!

Since Rose runs with the 501 group, I was able to chillax with them at the 501's conference room which was sweet since a) it was warm and b) it had toilets although they stunk like port-a-potties from the get-go and even ran out of the toilet paper. Shame on Doubletree for not being better prepared!!

Anywhoo, I was slotted for Corral G but bumped back so that I could start with Rose's group who was in K. I figured that too would prevent me from starting out too fast.

In the end, I think I may have started out too slow...but anyways...

Mile 1: 11:40
Mile 2: 10:49
Mile 3: 11:49

Mile 3 was the middle of the bridge and although they had given us more room to run, the walkers were everywhere... sometimes even 4 persons wide. I'm thinking a pamphlet needs to be added to walker's bags.

Mile 4: 10:27
Mile 5: 10:18 <-- goal pace
Mile 6: 10:20
Mile 7: 10:34

Once I was over the bridge, I knew it was time to pick up the pace as I wanted to make try to regain some of the time I lost in the first 3 miles.

I have to say that I didn't take in as many of the sites as I wish I would have but I was in it to win it and didn't have much time to take look around yet alone snap shots.

coming out of the tunnel, right at 8

Mile 8 was the famous underwater mile, where we take the tunnel to get back in to the USA. Everyone warned me how horrible it was, but I didn't think it was that horrible. The worst complaint would be that 2/3rds of the way through you were hit by heat and wow... hello humidity. The descent and ascent were also a tad misleading as I cruised down but then struggled up and out of it.

Mile 8: per the Garmin 11:50 - per the chip 10:25

the look that says...i am crazy for doing this!

Seeing Nate and his cousin Josh, a fellow runner!, and his gf Karol there definitely gave me a boost of confidence.

Mile 9: 9:56
Mile 10: 10:10
Mile 11: 10:03

Mile 12, the fatigue kicked in. After an encouraging text from Nate, I took my last Gu and told myself I only had a mile to go.

Mile 12: 10:16
Mile 13: 9:30

Nate was standing right around mile 13.. both pictures still have me looking strong and smiling. That is definitely a plus!!

last .1 mile: 1:07

Total Time: 2:18:49
Average Pace: 10:36

This race was so different from my last one, that I'm already planning my next! I'll post some more thoughts later this week.

trying something new.... eek, the week of a race!

2011-10-12T14:38:00.000-04:00

i know you aren't supposed to try anything new the week of a race but....

i don't think this will be too bad...

I'm creating a playlist..I normally stream Pandora but I remember fidgeting with it because no good music was playing.

So...what should I add to my playlist?

I like to end with LMAFO's - Shots, as my last song.
Then maybe some Kate Nash to start out with or even half way through.
Some Lil' Kim.
Eminem because angry music makes me run faster.
Some Diddy and Kanye...

help a sistah out!!!

Detroit Freep Goals

2011-10-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday peeps!!

With how much dread I went into this week, I can't believe I'm already back but I did receive some happy news re Chemistry yesterday so the weight has already been lifted off my shoulders and I can focus on more important things like my race on Sunday!!

Besides the general antsiness, I'm in such a more relaxed yet focused place than I was back in February gearing up for my first Half.

I'm sure that can be attributed to the fact that I really had no clue what I was getting myself into, what to expect, a hip injury, etc. I went into it with a lot of false pretenses... I expected there to be a lot of camaraderie (hello, it was going to be nothing but women!), the possibility of meeting some bloggers and finishing in a time that was clearly beyond my reach.

It's been with those experiences that I've been quite hesitant throughout this entire training process.

I didn't want to rely on a group that most likely wouldn't be running the race with me. Why would they, they have their own goals to achieve? As do I, which means I need to follow my own plan and not let others influence my training. So I roughed it running by myself.

Despite seeing my speed, I'm fearful to choose a goal which might demand a tad bit more out of me.

I think finishing my first Half at 2:25:42 was a huge, huge disappointment for me. Granted, I never even considered that at 6 AM the humidity would be at nearly 90%! I didn't properly adjust my race plan.

I've been hemming and hawing the past week, do I make my first goal wimpy and vague... Beat my current PR..while ultimately shooting for my 3rd goal which would be run a 2:15?

Or do I woman up and own it, because deep down, I know I can run a 2:15 and make a lofty 3rd goal like run a 2:10 Half?!

Thoughts?

can you feel the excitment tonight

2011-10-10T08:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday friends!!

Can you feel the ~~love the tonight~~ excitement in the air?

I think it's a mix between the nerves for my Chem exam on Friday and then the Detroit Free Press Marathon on Sunday.

I have 4 days of studying, 3 runs left, and hopefully 2 results that will make have made all this worthwhile.

I may be MIA for the majority of the week, but keep those fingers and toes crossed for a good Chem exam!

Finally Friday

2011-10-07T08:22:00.000-04:00

can I get a whoooooo-hooooooo for it being Friday?!

besides a Site Visit I need to do today, the rest of it is being dedicated to Chemistry.

I have my first exam next week and sadly, I have yet to dedicate much time to it at all. I'm rather ashamed but the bf is gone for the weekend on a dude weekend so I plan on becoming one with my dining room.

I've gotten 3 workouts in so far this week and anticapte another 2... a shame considering I've probably undone all the good work by binging.

Why I've binged this week:

Stress
School stress in particular brings me back to my orignal days of college when I could easily down a lb of M&M's in a study sess
Not eating during the day because nothing sounds good!

On that note, I feel like life is finally calming down. At least for a bit.

Plans for the weekend?

overwhelmed

2011-10-04T10:07:00.001-04:00

Hello lovelies....how you doin? hope your week has been off to a great start!

Things have been a tad chaotic over here.

Mainly...

I'm tired
Unmotivated
Stressed

Last week was pretty off, I only did 3 workouts...2 runs and 1 strength routine.

I've been craving junk food...indulged in 2 candy bars...a rarity over here. This week I'm swapping out the candy for decaf coffee at night.

I'm officially tapering.

I ran 10 miles on Sunday which just flew by...crazy right?! I'm loving 10 milers right now...Threw in 1 3 mile pace run and hit my targets. I was actually a tad faster but I'll have to make up some time since I'm expecting my first 3 to be slower than goal pace.

Truth is, I'm just trying to keep my shit together these next 11 days, and even reconsidering whether or not I'm going to "race" the Turkey Trot.

That's all I've got..sorry I'm light on posting..school, work, trying to get things rolling with Train with Purpose are just all consuming my time right now.

chat soon!

14 miles

2011-09-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

the longest I've run to date and it didn't feel like death. sure, my legs and hips were sore, but other than that...i felt amazing!

I had my 14 scheduled for late Sunday afternoon, I had 3 hours blocked for it, but after a desperate plee from my mother to attend a dinner with her at 6:30, I pushed my run up an hour and wow...I was beyond scatter-brained going into the run. My thoughts were preoccupied with things related to Train with Purpose as well as hoping that I could complete the run on-time so that we wouldn't be too late to dinner (we were btw).

I headed over to the Metro Park because a) I was running alone and didn't want to think about where to run, dodging cars etc. and b) wanted to be close to restrooms in case Flat Top would come back and haunt me!

I started out at an easy pace... Mile 1: 13:07, Mile 2: 12:36

At Mile 3: 13:06, I began to worry. I knew I would run through the 1st park but I wasn't expecting to run through so much of the 2nd Park yet alone hit the 3rd Park (the parks are all adjoined by paved paths) but seeing where I was mileage wise, I knew I still had a lot of pavement in front of me.

Running 3 - 6, was pretty freaky. I don't want to say the path is remote but it sorta is and although people were biking back and forth, I still sorta wished that I had a can of mace, and a knife to keep me company! I normally start fueling at mile 4, but since I had had a big breakfast and carbo-loaded for most of the weekend...I passed. Looking back, I wish I would have started fueling at 4.

Mile 4: 13:16
Mile 5: 12:59
Mile 6: 12:40

It's around 6 that I realize I will reach the end of the 3rd park and part of me is thrilled because wow... I just ran the entire route whereas most people just bike it! Plus there was a bathroom and a cooled water fountain! I had emptied my water bottle around 5.5.

Quick picture and some Skittles and I was back on my way!

Mile 7: 12:48
Mile 8: 12:31
Mile 9: 12:27
Mile 10: 13:02
Mile 11: 12:38

I decided to try a gel at mile 7, just to see if it a) tasted good and b) would give me any issues. thankfully it tasted delicious and didn't aggravate my stomach. I've decided I'm going to try 2 on this upcoming weeks run.

These miles were quite boring. At mile 10 I received a notice that my Garmin's batteries were low, so I switched my RunKeeper on just in case. As I'm doing that, I receive a message from my Iphone that it's on 20% battery life. awesome! Mile 11 my phone officially craps out which means I am praying to god my Garmin doesn't die. Running music-less wasn't half bad but constantly checking my Garmin was annoying. I really wanted to make sure that I caught a glimpse of it before it crapped out.

I finish the run with
Mile 12: 12:47
Mile 13: 12:55
Mile 14: 9:35

Total Time: 2:56:35

YAY!!! I still have enough umph in me that I was able to sprint the last mile.. it gives me hope that I can run the Half at my goal time.

I was ready to try my first ice bath but given the time constraints, I ice showered instead. It definitely helped with the recovery of my legs, but my hips were sore for two days after. It was the weirdest and painful thing ever. Thankfully after a strength workout the soreness seemed to disappear.

I'm ready for the Detroit Freep only15 days away!!!! whooot whooot!!!

Have a great weekend!!

w(h)ine

2011-09-28T07:53:00.000-04:00

I'm a bit overwhelmed...I've been on the go since last Thursday.

Some appointments have been my own, others not. I feel exhausted and stressed. Not the ideal combination for a stress eater.

I had plans last night, I backed out of them since I'll be out again tonight. The glorious 5 hours barely covered dinner, school and my workout.

I've already missed my workout today.

The 14 mile recap will have to wait till tomorrow...hopefully.

On the plus side, I made my lunches.

HELP! I need more time!

Firsts

2011-09-26T08:19:00.000-04:00

1. Longest distance evah!!!

2. Hammer gel gu in espresso...omg, it was delish and i didn't have any GI issues! have you tried this flavor?

3. New Tommie Copper sleeves.. do you prefer compression sleeves or socks?

I'll be back tomorrow with a full recap!

Goals and Priorities

2011-09-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

sometimes it just hits you, and it hit me sometime this past week... I want to not only PR, but I want to majorly PR at this Half.

i feel ueber-confident about my training and where i am at and despite weight-loss still being an issue, my PRing this race trumps what the scale says.
.
This past year has really shown me what makes me happy, and you know what... it hasn't been because I hit goal weight. Remember I gained 20lbs from my lowest last April. (But thankfully have lost 9.5 lbs since June!)

I have a little over 3 weeks left where my purpose, and goals are focused on the Half. Then I can focus on all that other stuff.

It's weird... but I feel like I've had somewhat of a breakthrough in regards to how I view myself and my body. It's just not the most important thing.

conundrum

2011-09-22T08:34:00.000-04:00

you've heard me state before that i love the work i do...

i'm beginning to see a possible future doing this...but I'm not working full-time yet, which means i still need to continue either going to school or find another part-time job. I'm not sure if/when I would even be offered a full-time position, but it has me thinking..do I switch my educational goals?!

Go for a Masters in Business Administration instead of a second Bachelors in Dietetics?

I won't be able to apply to the Dietetics program until next Fall, which means if I get in (only 18 applicants are accepted per year) I wouldn't even be attending until the following Fall. If I were to get into an MBA next Fall, I would be 1 year closer to...something?!

I don't even know how important post-graduate degrees are...I know so many people with Masters and PhD's are out of work... will I be another over-qualified unemployed person?

Thoughts?

Anywhoo...could I pretty, pretty please get a like on my business, Train with Purpose, facebook page?
Pretty please and thanks!

1st Day of School

2011-09-20T09:20:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!

I'm hoping it stays dry today... yesterday was a very Fall day with lots, and lots of rain. Perfect for the first day of school...

The only thing missing was a schultuete!

This is a German tradition where on the 1st day of school, 1st graders receive this paper cones filled with candies, school supplies and other little trinkets to help ease the stress of the 1st day.

Speaking of Fall.. my tablescape for September...

Isn't the owl jar just the cutest?! For $4 I couldn't say no, although Home Goods may slowly be the death of me!

We are in the midst of mocking up our banquette, which is why I am lugging this heavy piece of wood around the perimeter so that I can figure out whether or not I like it...

yes, that's blue painters tape under the cabinets!

a tad late considering I refuse to buy more of the brown chairs!

I'm also now realizing that our light fixture won't be centered over the table. I'm trying not to let it bother me! It just makes finding a rectanglular mirror for the large wall prove more difficult...

Anyone else obsessed with Home Goods?
Found any recent awesome decorations?

8 - miles

2011-09-19T07:31:00.000-04:00

I am NOT a morning runner.

My Saturday's are spent sleeping in, and if I can do it on Sunday's too, I will. I would go out on a limb and say that my best running probably takes place after 4 PM.

So after post-poning this 8 mile run all weekend, I finally headed out the door yesterday afternoon at 4.

The plan called for track repeats, but since the local HS is under renovation, i would have to drive a bit to get to one and honestly, that isn't my idea of fun so instead I thought I'd run a higher (lower since I have 14 scheduled next weekend) mileage and throw in some mile sprints.

My first two miles were faster than I would have wished, ranging somewhere between 11:30-12:45 but after having taken 2 days off, my legs felt refreshed. Note: take 2 days off pre-Half.

My first mile sprint took me 9:12, my recovery mile jog was probably still in the high 12's.
My second mile sprint was in 8:54, my recovery mile job is now in the 13's (ideally where i try to train).
My final sprint was in 8:36, my recovery sprint is still in the 13's.

I have to say, I haven't felt this amazing in forever. I'm not gonna lie and say those mile sprints flew by...no they didn't but overall these 8 miles flew by, and I felt like I still hadn't some energy in the tank.

Considering my last post talked about me being over training, as in I don't want to train anymore, this run really set me up mentally, and I hope I can carry it with me till I start my taper.

How was your running?

Friday Randomness

2011-09-16T09:15:00.000-04:00

I'm on 5 hrs of bad sleep because I couldn't put this book down.

I hope the rest of the trilogy doesn't get boring... I read the Uglies series and haven't been able to finish the 3rd book yet!

The scale has dropped 3.5 lbs since Wednesday... weight loss is typically a sign of over-training (when your not trying to lose weight!)

I'm the closest I've been to the 150's since my last half...truth: I'll be holding on to the 150's much tighter than I did back in February.

until my next half... I'm sort of over training for it. I just want to run it, now. I want to focus on speed. For now, I'm quite happy with running a Half...no Full is on the schedule yet!

Glad it's Friday even though the craziness of Girls on the Run won't be over till mid-week next week, and we'll be assembling these two pieces.

What do you have planned?

Giving Back

2011-09-15T10:12:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Walgreens for sponsoring my writing. Help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote.

I hate to admit that volunteering, service work and any sortof giving back is foreign to me. I’m sure the Catholic HS I attended wouldcringe too, especially since they didn’t enforce the whole “you need to volunteer 18 hours or you won’tgraduate” requirement very well. I may or may not have fibbed.

It probably wasn’t until 3, or maybe even 4 years ago, thatwhen the economy took a nosedive that I started realizing how good I had it.How good the bf and I both had it. His place of employment has been pretty bigon giving back. They have charity jean day on Friday’s and at Christmas timethey adopt families in need. It broke my heart when I saw the items listed thatthe families requested. It rarely was anything fun, and usually just the basic necessities like shoes.

My own volunteer work didn’t begin until I was absolutelymiserable at my job and needed a positive outlet. I had recently heard of Girlson the Run and reached out the nearest council, within 2 months I was sittingon their 5K planning committee. 6 months later I had the ability to Coach aTeam, by far the most stressful, exciting and

The thing is this, regardless of how stressed or unhappy orpreoccupied I was, whenever I came back from having Coached, I always feltamazing. I had just spent an hour giving a group of girls a smile, a hug, and some positive attention.

The thing about giving back is that you don't have to volunteer your time, donations are just as important to non-profits as volunteers. I ask that you please head over to Walgreen's facebook page and help them, give to charitable partners like Feeding America, American Diabetes Association, AmeriCares, the National Urban League, League of Latin American Citizens

Don't forget to help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do."

The time I almost passed out aka the 17 day diet

2011-09-14T08:16:00.000-04:00

So, I was on the fence about whether or not to start this diet two weeks, but after weeks of being stalled at the same weight, I decided it was time to change something up.

Lemme state that this diet is like the South Beach Diet on steroids. It's intense for reals.

I lasted a day and half before I was so weak and barfy, I succumbed and ate fries with dinner.

The whole weak feeling is my own fault, I didn't properly prepare and had only consumed maybe 800 calories by 5pm and was overall just feeling dis-illusioned and spacey.

Lesson 1: Be Prepared!
Seriously, I know having food prepped and waiting in the fridge is one of the keys to any weight-loss success but since you can't have any carbs, only 5 fruits before 2, and only 3 forms of poultry. You have got to be prepared. I was not.

Lesson 2: There is a reason why you are only supposed to work out 17 mins a day
I'm in the final weeks of my Half-Marathon training, is this really the ideal time to be trying to lose weight? Surprisingly a lot of hits have been coming in, in response to this post... weightloss & half marathon training

There are a few sections he is vague on, in particular the milk thing, or even soy replacement products but after some googling i've decided it's ok if i use hazelnut milk for my coffee.

I've gotten on board with the whole lemon water first thing in the AM and actually like it. What I haven't gotten on board with yet is the whole green tea thing. I'm not a tea drinker and this may just kill me.

Anyways, I haven't reattempted it since 2 weeks, although those two days did help me drop 2 lbs, both of which I've refound. =)

I've contemplated going straight into Cycle 2, where you basically alternate carb days with non-carb days, but I am determined to make it through at least 1 week of Cycle 1, even if it kills me... =)

anyone else try it yet?

the books are never in the book stores so I'm sure there are plenty of followers out there!

Jay Oh Bee

2011-09-13T09:29:00.000-04:00

i haven't talked much about my new job, and since i just passed my 2nd month anniversary, i thought it was about high time!

Source

it's true...and i believe i have come off as annoying to some, but i worked in a job that i hated, was verbally abused and overall under-appreciated. i was miserable the last two years.

the work is refreshing and exhilarating and I'm being pushed to boundaries and asked to grow...I can't even put into words how fulfilling this has been. don't get me wrong, i still deal with office politics, which is probably worse now that there are only 4-5 people in the office compared to 100+, and there are still rules and regulations to follow but when I am talking about the actual work that I do. i love it, it makes me feel alive, i think about how i can make things better for my Coaches, what i wish i had when i volunteered for them last year and was so miserable (i never blogged about it because the whole experience really brought me down. funny that i now work for them!).

so, what do i do? I'm a Program Coordinator and am responsible for a specific area (4 cities) and executing the program successfully in this area. Everything from acquiring new site locations, recruiting more girls, new Coaches and overall just building an amazing experience for our volunteers.

My personal goal, is to really focus on volunteer appreciation. The heart and "sole" of the this program revolves around volunteers and given my own personal experience last Spring, i want to make sure they feel inspired, appreciated and overall excited about the experience!

So tell me... what has made a great volunteer experience? a bad volunteer experience?
What tokens of appreciation do you prefer?

new digs

2011-09-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

so...whatcha think of my new look!?

isn't it amazing?! it's been in the works forever... Bailey and I had quite the technical difficulties along the way so I am so glad to be finally unveiling this new design!

don't get me wrong..i loved my last header but I just felt it was time for me to move onto something new...anywhoo, if things are still a little wonky, please forgive it...we are still working out the kinks!

I saw this at Marshall's today and was tempted to purchase but figured a picture would do!

anywhoo...how was your weekend?

mine was bueno..seriously...these weekends are going by faster and faster! is it because's it's Fall or maybe because I'm in the midst fo what i like to call "rush" week for GOTR?! last week was super busy and this week is going to be even busier, but i am determined to not be slacking off in the working out department anymore!

Ok, had the pasta been shaped in HK's, I would have totally bought this!!

so my blog is getting changed and the house is slowly coming together and things are good.

Life is good. The best it's ever been, really, so before I bore you with even more Hello Kitty pics..

I hope you guys have a great week!

12 miles

2011-09-09T11:49:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't talked much about my half training, truth is, there isn't a whole lot to talk about that I haven't already mentioned.

I'm following Galloway's method.
I'm running 3 times a week

Tuesday: 3 miles (recently bumped it up to 4)
Thursday: 5 miles
Sunday: long run

I hit my first double digit run 2 weeks ago at the Crim and this was actually the longest distance I ran while training for the Disney Princess Half last Spring.

If I were to give a tip to newbie Half Trainers, it would be...run more! Start training earlier so that you can work in a 12 miler before your actual race. I think mentally it really makes a difference. Thoughts from others?

Normally I would do my long distance on Sunday but I skipped last weeks and thought I'd help a friend out who was running her first 18 miler, so when she cruised up into my driveway at 6:30 AM, we were ready to rock-n-roll.

ahhh yes, almost an hour later and only 2.5 miles more I stumbled into the house at 9:30.

i felt good though, better than I did post Crim and now I'm wearing my compression socks, which I typically wear during my run and am trying to recoup before I head into work.

fueled with Skittles again and the only difference I notice between candy and actual running fuel is that i don't have the dry mouth I normally do if I were take jelly beans or chomps. 1 bag = 12 miles = 250 cals.

Anyone else exclusively fuel with candy?

Happy Friday peeps!

now i can shut up about it...

2011-09-06T09:35:00.002-04:00

Happy ~~Monday~~ Tuesday friends!!

How you doin?

My weekend was fabulous...seriously...very relaxing..exactly what I needed!

Work wise things are going to be super intense these next two weeks as we try to get all the girls registered before the season starts on the 19th. Exactly in time for when my Chem class starts!

Despite all the hecticness, I do love Fall and the promise that it brings for new beginnings. Granted, I am NOT ready for the cooler temps (I swear, summer just began, right?!) but I'm quite optimistic about what this Fall holds for me.

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably have been listening to my ramblings for the past 2 weeks about whether or not I purchase the Garmin.

Truth is, between my iPhone battery dying, the RunKeeper app acting loco, me trying to improve my time, I've just been itching to upgrade.

If there is one thing I've learned by the insane amount of home improvements we've made over the years, is that with the proper tools, you really can finish the job faster/smoother/etc.

and with everything else, I want to train more efficiently, successfully, etc. and it only made sense I get the Garmin.

I love it already..I've only run with it once but already, I feel positive about making the right choice. I need to play around with my settings and my screen shots because my already deteriorating eye sight is going to get worse if I have to squint to see my HR.

Anywhoo...that's whats new with me...what's new with you?

What purchase were you glad you made after the fact?

and then it was over...

2011-09-05T12:26:00.000-04:00

it's been a little under 2 months since I found out I was a finalist in becoming the next columnist at digitalrunning, and yesterday at noon it was over.

just like that...this past week was intense...blogging, tweeting, facebooking, rallying all of you, and I'm amazed by how many votes I was able to acquire with the help from everyone.

it's humbling.

very humbling to see how many people are rooting for me to go follow my dreams.

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART for seeing me through these past 6 weeks and helping me become a finalist.

Godiva Coffee

2011-09-03T10:57:00.000-04:00

Have you voted for me to become the next digitalrunning columnist? Today is the last day to do so!!! Thank you!!

As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received Godiva Coffee for free however all opinions stated are my own.

I have to admit I was beyond thrilled when I saw this opportunity pop into my inbox.

I love coffee, I think I've grown to love it even more since I switched jobs. I love it so much, I've begun to drink decaf in the evenings sometimes. I guess I had to sacrifice my love of diet soda for coffee.

To say I was ecstatic when I saw that one of my bags was Hazelnut Creme, would be an understatement...I love, love, love anything hazelnut flavored and you guys know I've gone to quite the extremes to find a decent hazelnut creamer substitute.

I also love ice(cream) coffee, so what a awesome opportunity to put Godiva's Chocolate Truffle to the test.

Add cold coffee, and a container of ice cream...although let me state this little tub of Java Chip Frappucino was clearly not enough. Next time I need a pint!

Blend and serve!

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Holiday weekend!

Running Tips I Now Follow

2011-09-01T09:48:00.000-04:00

There are still a few days left to vote for me becoming the next digitalrunning columnist...pretty, pretty please head on over and "Like" me!

I'm thankful I was able to take the RRCA certification when I did. I heard a lot of things, some which I wasn't ready to fully admit and other's I was ready to jump on to. So here are a few changes I've made in my training.

1. The body likes white carbs before a run/race
It's broken down faster so that it can be utilized faster. Whole grains take 24 hrs to be digested and ready for use.

2. Juice is a great fuel pre-run/race
Probably because of all the sugar content. Our instructors mentioned cranberry but I've been drinking 6-8oz of any juice I have at home pre-run/workout.

3. Maybe, just maybe I have been working out too hard.
I don't believe I'm addicted to exercise but once again, I want to do it all. Run and Lift, except well... can one do both successfully? I used to do 2 - 2 a days but have scaled that back to only one. On the day where I only run 3 miles. That and trying to change my fueling has left me with more energy again.

4. Train slow, race hard
I didn't want to believe this method but I've been surprisingly speedy lately during my runs that matter. I've taken 2 minutes off of my pace I used to run and make sure I take walking breaks every 10 minutes or so.

Any words of wisdom you want to share that you've learned from your training?

17 Day Diet

2011-08-31T08:56:00.000-04:00

My final post is up...pretty, pretty please head on over to digitalrunning and vote me to the next digitalrunning columnist!! This has been my most favorite article yet!

so I haven't talked much about my weight since my last post Trying to Win the Battle because truth is, not much as changed. I did see a small dip in the scale but since then zip. nada. zilch.

I'm really torn about whether or not to try this right now.

part of me is so frustrated by the lack of the scale moving and another part of me is like.... your training to PR at your next Half!

and then I realized this is always my problem... I am always attempting to do a gazillion and a half things at once because I fear I'm never doing enough?!

Do I just live with my weight now till the end of the Half and then while in the off season attempt to get this baggage off?!

So I read the first few chapters to acquaint myself with his plan and it's quite similar to the South Beach Diet except that you are allowed to incorporate 2 pieces of fruit into the first Cycle, however, you do have to eat them before 2 PM. Dr. Moreno is a tad more restrictive on the dairy you are allowed to consume...no cow's milk, creamer, etc. for example, but really, nothing too crazy.

You start your day off with a 8 oz of hot lemon water, it supposedly gets your digestive juices flowing, and something I've read in several diet books but never really did. I am drinking my glass now.

Another toughie for me would be, 3 glasses of green tea. Now here I felt he was a tad vague.. I wasn't sure if it was cold or hot. Does it matter if it's flavored?! Overall, I'm not a huge tea drinker so if any of you have any suggestions of a good green tea that doesn't taste like green tea...please share!

I'm still undecided as to what to do... I need to decide what's more important to me right now.

Race or lose weight?

Crim: Festival of the Races

2011-08-29T08:06:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday!!!

Yes...I've become one of those people that actually looks forward to Mondays.

I'm coming off a fabulous weekend, and can't wait to recap it all, so let's start with the first half of it.

Rose and I decided to head up a day early to the Crim to do some shopping at an outlet mall a few miles north of Flint, but truth... we didn't find a single thing to purchase. Seriously...a) nothing fit the way I wanted/needed it to fit and b) I wanted outlet prices not normal retail prices. Anyone else experience a hike in outlet prices?

Anywhoo...we finally got to the Expo around 5ish, maybe.

We made our way through the Expo, picked up our packets and tee's, and headed back to the hotel.

Two things:

I don't need any more cotton tee's so how about you let me waive $5 so that I don't get one?! I know a lot of races are doing this and I think it's a fab idea!
They gave you an option to buy the tech tee for $15.... love it! seriously especially since it's a Brooks shirt.

Thanks to Yelp, we found Luigi's which had amazing reviews, awesome pizza and a full house. Not my typical pre-race meal but I would highly recommend Luigi's to anyone who visits Flint.

The next morning came early, and despite wanting to shuttle from the hotel to the start line, probably about a mile away, the road blocks were already up and we had to hoof it. Thankfully the lovely lady at Holiday Inn told us to cut through the UofM-Flint campus to shave off some mileage. Having taken the long way the previous day, it really did make a difference.

I know plenty of people who drove up the day of the race, but with a 8 oclock start time, and the fact that you needed to find parking, I was glad we stayed the night early.

For it being the 35th Anniversary, it was packed!

starting line ahead of me

While waiting in the portapotty line, I even got to chat with the lady who won the race in 1989.


starting line behind me

the worst part for me is always the waiting until the gun goes off and we finally cross the tag pads, but off we were and let me tell me... this was a fast run.

I don't know if it was the newness of the course, race or the massive amounts of people but the time just flew by.

The hills were also somewhat disappointing... seriously, everyone talks about those Bradley Hills, and I haven't done a ton of hill training but seriously, it was nothing to right home about.

Here's a steep one

The 2 from last weeks 5k were considerably more daunting than any of the ones I ran this past weekend...

Here's another steep one

There was plenty of entertainment and water stops along the course and the only bummer was the lack of Krispy Kreme's... I was hoping to have one, but instead had to eat Skittles.

no joke, this dude was dribbling 3 basketballs while running

So this was my first time trying candy instead of official training fuel, and I have to say I was quite happy with my Skittles choice. After eating training fuel, I typically have dry mouth and need something to wash down the snack but I didn't seem to have that problem with the Skittles, and at $0.79 a pack vs the $1 minimum... I think I'll be sticking to my Skittles!

Anywhoo.. it was a fun run, and one I could see myself doing yearly... it of course helps when your surrounded by fun peeps and get a medal for a training run!

Can you juggle while running?
If not, wish you had a talent you could do while running?

what's in your SPIbelt?

2011-08-26T08:17:00.000-04:00

Happy, happy Friday!

I can't believe I just disappeared like that.. I didnt realize how crazy busy Wednesday and Thursday would be.

Girls on the Run season is quickly picking up steam and I'm seriously all over the place (literally..my schedule is packed with ice cream socials, Open Houses, etc.)! It's great but I'm not used to the pace.

I'm heading with Rose up to Flint today... the afternoon is gonna start with some outlet shopping, then packet pick-up and ultimately the race tomorrow.

I'm not racing this one so I'm pretty chill about it all... it's gonna be an awesome training run that will end with a medal! =)

This is what's in my SPIbelt this weekend...

I'm trying out some new fuel...anyone use candy instead of the expensive beans, gels etc on a regular basis? if so, what's the best kind? I was hoping for some Sour Patch Kids but they didn't have them!

what's in your SPIbelt?

a whole lotta running

2011-08-23T09:14:00.002-04:00

Life has been so busy... I haven't even been able to fill ya'll in all my running goodies....

First things first...

RRCA Coaching Certification Test

Name: Rebecca Mubaraz
Score: 97% PASS

You know what that means....I'M FOR HIRE!!!

Then, NU SHOOOOOZ!!! I'll admit, I do not replace my shoes as often as I should... some say every 300 miles. Others say, you should be running in two pair anyways, and then we have those that say if your running 5-6 days a week, you should be getting new ones every 7-10 weeks. I get new ones every 6 months..

Aren't these shoes super hawt?! I was all set on getting Adidas again but these Asics just felt better. And since I felt ueber guitly about not buying Adidas I bought these shorts...50% off!

Do they look familiar? They should...

I bought these in Chicago back in January

and I think my next purchase is going to be...

The question now is...before or after the marathon?!

I really could use a new flat iron as well...gosh, I miss my old paychecks!!!

What have you bought recently? Or is on your to buy list?
Any recs for socks? I really need some new running ones!

Run the Rails 5K

2011-08-22T08:43:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday friends?!

How is everyone? I had a crazy, awesome weekend!

Nate finally got back from a 2 week business trip so I got to spend some quality time with him, and yesterday I ran the Run the Rails 5k.

I know I haven't talked much about my running lately but I promise, there will be lots coming up these next several weeks.

Truth: I have a huge race commitment issue.

I had planned on running this race for 3 weeks and yet the day before the actual race I still hadn't registered. So, after a quick text to see if Rose wanted to run it with me, I was on my way to Ypsi to register for it.

horribly old pic from Rose and I when we first met

Truth: I had mixed feelings about this race.

I'd never really raced a 5K before. I've run 3 5K's maybe, and well, none of them were super stellar times, mainly because I was always supporting someone along the way.
Since I needed to run a 5K to gauge my possible Half-Marathon time, I put some pressure on myself to do well. I didn't really have an idea of what my time would be but I was hopeful for something close to 30 mins. Sure, a sub 30 would have been fabulous but I wasn't counting on it in a million years.

Recap:
Rose and I got to the race a tad bit early, or you know like 45 minutes early. Despite having looked at last year's age group times and seeing the small list, it didn't register to me that this would actualy be a small race.

After a 5 minute delay, we were off. Does anyone else struggle reading course maps? I always look at them but since I didn't know the area super well, it was foreign to me. Nor did I think of driving it while I was down there on Saturday.

By the time we were out and ready to hit the road, Rose casually mentioned we were running 8:30 something. I minorly freak out in my head, knowing there is no way I can sustain that and if I want to get to my goal of just a shy over 30, I better slow down.

Truth: This was my first race/run where there was almost NO crowd support.

Remember when I volunteered at the Martian Marathon, and there was no crowd support, and most of the run was on an empty road? That's exactly what this felt like. Had it not been for Rose, it truly wouldn't have been half as enjoyable as it was!

Me in Dearborn volunteering for the Martian!

Mile 1, went by fast, according to my RunKeeper we did it in 9:27..uhm...say what?! Mile 1 was also at the ascent of our first hill, minor compared to Hill 2 but still not easy.

As we head down from Hill 1, I see this Huge Hill in the distance and all I hope is that please, please, don't make us go up that. Let there be a turn off before we hit it. It's also around this time, it starts to rain. Not torrential but enough that I wonder why in the hell am I out here?!

Needless to say, there was no turn before it and Rose was kind enough to talk me through it. I probably wouldn't have made it up that hill. Despite knowing Newton's law's, I would have dead stopped on that bad boy, and as we reach 3/4ths of the hill, not only do we hit Mile 2 but, we turn off.

Mile 2, it took me probably a good half mile to recover from that hill. I was beginning to feel a pain in my front calf and all i could think abut was please, please do not let this be a precursor to an injury.

It's also around this time that I begin to realize where we are...we are super close to the car, which also means we are super close to the end!

Its also right around here, that I get my second wind...it's like that juice I drank right before the start is fnally hitting my blood stream and I'm ready to make this run my bitch.

I pick up the pace..chick (<-- new word for me!) an old dude, which I guess isn't really fair right? and pass the finish line at 29:38!!!!

Considering what a tough course this was...BOOOOYYYYAAAAHHHH!!!! I was on a high all day yesterday. Still somewhat in shock about it today.

A sub-30....never in my life time would I have guessed I'd run one.

Overall, it was a fun run. The course was tougher but it was cheap considering we got a sweet Tech tee out of it!

please ignore the drunk look on my face!

Given that I am running The Crim next weekend, I definitely needed a feel good race to get me pumped. I've been warned as to how difficult the Crim is.

Just Dance Summer Party

2011-08-18T08:49:00.001-04:00

Have you voted for me yet? Head over to digitalrunning and "Like" my article! pretty, pretty please!!

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

Since foregoing Life Time Fitness so that I could actually work a job I enjoy, the one thing I've been seriously missing is my dance classes. Between Hip Hop and Zumba...man I got to shake my bootay at least twice a week.

So, I was pretty stocked when I received the chance to review Just Dance Summer Party for the Wii!

Not that I was getting tired of my other two...but it's always nice to add some variety!

There are 3 options to choose from and I first started out with the Just Sweat and later tried the Just Dance.

Pros:

Who doesn't like to shake their rump!?
Good selection of music

Cons:

I know I had issues with the Kinect but I think I may prefer that over the Wii for a better workout. At one point I was standing there just moving my arms and I was still registering ok-good-perfect marks. Plus I was really annoyed by having to hold the remote.
Not sure if it's the game or the Wii but the graphics were a little muddled on my high-def tv

Have you tried it?
Loved it?
Hate it?

pretty, pretty please..

2011-08-17T09:38:00.002-04:00

help me become the next guest columnist on digital running!!

I'll beg and plead and oh I don't know... what else do you want me to do?!

Head over here and vote for me PRETTY PRETTY PLEASE!!

Trying to Win the Battle

2011-08-16T08:40:00.000-04:00

I'm going to come off sounding like an disordered eater. Heck, I'm even questioning whether or not I am a disordered eater.

Since last Wednesday, I've made a conscious effort to add in roughly 500 calories per day. I've felt alert, had no headaches (I've been getting headaches in the afternoons) and haven't been exhausted by night time. The scale was stable with a minor drop Monday.

Then yesterday, mainly due to lack of planning and not wanting to go out to eat, I ate light while at work. I got a headache around 3 or 4. Came home had a killer workout, and re-fueled ok. By 9 I was sorta hungry but not really, and majorly exhausted. My mom couldn't believe it as I had slept till 9:30 yesterday morning. I know that yesterday I didn't get my additional calories in, and today the scale was up, again.

So today marks another day where I am consciously making the effort to eat more. Planning more snacks, more frequently.

Im not starving myself, I'm assuming I've been consuming roughly 1,200 - 1,500 calories, and I've now moved my target to 1,700-2,000, which truly boggles my mind, but it's the only thing that seems to be working right now. and let me state, adding those extra 500 cals in healthy food is tough. they just don't pack the same caloric punch like a Snickers does!

Maybe I just need a break from the scale?

Anybody want a house guest?

Exercise Obsessed, yay or nay?

2011-08-13T10:23:00.001-04:00

I had this conversation yesterday with my mother...thoughts please?

My first reaction was: HELL NO! I don't workout nearly as much as so, and so, and so, and I took 3 or was it 4 rest days last week, and I'm definitely not obsessed like I used to be. I keep my workouts under an hour. The list could go on and on, but yeah, something is off, I too believe I should be stick thin....so what is the problem?!

On that note, I've added 500 additional calories to my day..I'm not gaining any weight and today I actually saw a slight drop in the scale. Maybe, I'll even take pics of the next several days and get your input.

It's just so so frustrating, but I'm not quitting... I'm just keeping on.

not happy

2011-08-10T09:51:00.013-04:00

I've seen this trend around the webisphere that if your thinner and trying to lose weight, it can be looked down upon, that your somehow not accepting who you are.

I call bs, at least for the majority of cases. Being accepting of yourself doesn't necessarily mean your at the right body weight for you. To me, it means accepting, that I have a large frame and will never whittle down to an Olson twin.

It was hard for me to post that picture yesterday and had it not already been up somewhere else on the web, I may have left it off completely. It was glaringly obvious to me how much I dislike my current weight. Although one could argue I don't fit into that previous thin type and girl, and you need to lose weight anyways, it still sucked. A lot.

I don't know whats going on with the scale. It's not budging, which I guess is a good thing considering how out of control my food intake was for the weekend and that I ate out a lot last week.

I'm setting up my BodyBugg today and trying to find out why I'm not losing weight. I've got an idea but not sure if it's right.

I'm not happy here and it seems that I can't get the scale to move despite all the working out I'm doing.

RRCA Coaching certification

2011-08-09T09:37:00.001-04:00

First off, thank you, thank you, thank you so much for helping me get to the next round in the digitrunning guest columnist competition!

I can't believe today is already Tuesday.

Unfortunately, yesterday I had to choose whether to workout or blog before work, and working out won. Given my funk last week, I took an extra day off and missed both a running and strength workout and yet today... I was ready to get back into it and did!

This past weekend was phenomenal. I can't even begin describe how much I enjoyed the Road Runner's Club of America Running Coach certification course. I didn't talk about it a lot beforehand, but given how much I enjoyed coaching my ladies this past Spring and that I am initiating another adult program this Fall, I felt it necessary to educate myself a tad bit more.

Any certification course is usually pricey and add in the fact that I actually had to travel to Minnesota for this particular course, made it even more expensive. 1 perk that I have had to yet experience was that, breakfast and lunch were included both days. I thought that was a nice gesture. Other 2 perks included: incredibly knowledgeable trainers and a plethora of books to take home.


What are the odds of meeting 3 other blogger/twitter-ers?! Especially since we are all from different States!?

Moi, Matt from SiSu-Runner, Adam from TheBoringRunner and Ann from SportyGirlJewelry

Even if your not interested in becoming a Coach but the class comes to your town, I would highly recommend it. I think any runner could benefit from this course

The first day consisted of the Science of Coaching:

Physiology
Nutrtition
Injury Prevention
Psychology
Coaching Fundamentals

For me (and I'm gonna go out on a limb and say for several others), this portion was a nice refresher course. If you are studying to become a CPT, you'll learn this info add on the fact tha tI have taken an exercise physiology course... I knew my fair share.

Day 2 was the meat of the course:

Training Cycles
Training Progressions
Race Planning and Recovery

Honestly, I had no clue about training cycles or race planning and recovery but was quite surprised by my knowledge in training progression.

I think they could have made the course a little longer to allow some more downtime since the info we were given was a lot but I understand they are trying to fit it into a weekend so there isn't much flexibility.

My biggest lesson learned this past weekend: I know my ish.. seriously, I doubt myself a lot and think I need more schooling here and more schooling there, but I've got a solid knowledge foundation going on.

Love, hate certification courses?
What's the most favorite thing you've experience at a workshop?
Interested in getting RRCA certified?

Jalapeno Poppers

2011-08-05T09:08:00.001-04:00

Can I pretty, pretty, pretty please beg you to head over to digitalrunning and "Like" me in becoming the next guest columnist?! Thank you!!

Happy Friday friends!!!

Please don't tell me I'm the only one excited the week is over? It was hellish, just an off-week for moi. I'm hoping my weekend in MN preparing to become Running Coach certified aligns things.

Several weeks ago, a friend of mine was raving about these stuffed jalapenos she had tasted at another friends so what did I see at Meijer the following day... this jalapeno popper rack complete with corer and recipe.

corer

Lemme tell you, I am a sucker for kitchen tools! I don't have as many as the supply section allows but every now and then, you fall in love and since I cook with jalapenos a decent amount this bad boy has come in so handy! It really cleans the insides out quite nicely.

My only gripe about the stand is that the jalapeno holes are way too small! I mean, if your going to stuff the poppers, they need to be big enough you can fill them but then they are too big to fit into the stand. We ended up tooth-picking them to another, and my girlfriend actually rubber-banded them all together!

The recipe on my packaging called for chopping pancetta and mixing it with cream cheese, and wrapping the jalapeno in prosciutto. It was ok, not as foodgasmic as I had hoped.

Her recipe included: cream cheese, shredded cheddar, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, salt pepper, green onions and then wrapped in bacon.

I haven't made them since the 4th of July because a) they were hot, hot, hot and b) we haven't BBQed since then!

4th of July feast

Do you have this neat jalapeno contraption?
Do you have your own jalapeno recipe you'd like to share?

Have a great weekend everyone!

I'd stay this weight, if...

2011-08-03T09:23:00.000-04:00

Round Two of the Digital Running contest is up! Please head over there and Like my article to become the next contributor on Digital Running!

It's one of those weeks where the scales stayed the same, and yet the thought of inputting my calories into MyFitnessPal makes me want to curl up and cry.

So it got me to thinking, I'd proudly wear this weight if I could change 3 things:

I want a flat stomach. No 6 pack but not my stomach either. Maybe 1 day I'll post pics of my odd stomach.
My triceps would need to become more defined so that my arms would look leaner
I could lose some chub rub

What would you "chnage" about yourself, if you could forever weigh what you weigh now?

Truth is, I've felt my body changing he past 2 weeks. I couldn't pinpoint it. I mean I don't notice a huge difference but still there was something going on and my mom confirmed it the other night. She asked me if I had lost weight. I haven't but clearly, I must look leaner.

So lets get back to above...

Would you be ok at the weight your at now if you could change a few small things?
Or is that elusive goal number the end all be all?

Personally, I'm getting tired of fighting the fight.

July: a month of change

2011-08-02T10:09:00.001-04:00

Pardon the absence...I'm on the brink of major burnout and am trying to lay low so as to not end in a complete and utter funk!

July is usually a very chill month for us, but somehow this one ended up crazy.

Lets do a lil recap, shall we...

First the exciting of news of becoming partially employed

Then we had a quick road trip to Jersey.

We landscaped the front yard...

before

after

and last but not least, after 3 or more years of coach hunting...we finally settled on this one...

Elliott Sofa from Macys

and I love it!!! I'm still working on making the living room look cohesive so I'll show better shots once it's actually complete. It always seems to be a work in progress...

I had to back out of a new opportunity because our basement is being worked on. After the crazy Spring weather and all the floods, we finally had to do something about the state of the basement so I've been holding down the fort while some pump is being put in. I'm sorta bummed out about it but at the same time a tad relieved.. I would have had to drive 2 hours round-trip to be able to partake, and that was just another thing I felt overwhelmed by.

What's the longest its taken you to find furniture you can agree upon?
Any thoughts on what I should do for an area rug?

the Special K diet

2011-07-27T09:48:00.000-04:00

hey, hey, hey!

lemme state, I never intended to take part of the challenge, it was more be default and laziness that 4 of the 7 days last week consisted of Special K, and let me also add, I was constantly hungry after eating that ish.

I really don't get it, I already struggle with cereal giving me that satiety but Special K... is like AIR! Although, I should say I do like their granola, although it's not really that healthy!

NatalieDee

No counting, no stressing about what to eat, even though I was constantly hungry while up north.

I really noticed that I need/like meals. Meals with 400 calories to them. It keeps me full and NOT thinking about food all day long.

I also realized how much I enjoy working out. I had 2 workouts planned while up there, I completed both. I came home feeling accomplished and ready to continue with my plans.

I'm not sure why this time is so difficult for the weight to come off. there also seems to be no rhyme or reason as to how the weight comes off when it does.

I lost 1.5 lb this week, which puts me exactly where I was before all of this weight gain mess.

Only thing different this week, is I eliminated 1 workout and allowed myself an extra rest day. I actually think it helped me recover faster from my long run. It's something I might consider adding in every other week. We'll see.

Anyone ever taken part of The Challenge?

It's complicated

2011-07-25T09:29:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday friends!

I know, i know..usually I start with "I can't believe it's Monday already" but I'm glad it's a new week. Despite the promising of a fun weekend, it ended with me in a sob fest Saturday night.

I've been working really hard at not comparing myself to others, accepting me for me, and not living by someone elses's stand, and within a span of 5 minutes, I just sort of lost it.

I'm still trying to recover, as part of me, just wanted to seek out food to comfort the raw feelings.

I briefly touched about this in the past, but it rung true this weekend.

Am I basing my own self-worth on my beliefs or on someone elses? Is that someones belief of me really what they want me to be or am I just projecting something upon them and then resenting them for something they have never claimed to want?

It's confusing and not simple, and hope that after a good cup of coffee, I can start moving forward.

Lastly, THANK YOU all who voted for me. I progressed to the next round, and can't wait to see what this round has in store for me.

there has got to be a better way

2011-07-20T08:29:00.000-04:00

Have you checked out my article on digitalrunning? Please help me become the next columnist by Liking my article. Thank you!

So...I'm trying not to be ~~bummed~~ frustrated by my 1 lb weightloss, but if I look at the numbers, I should have lost more.

That's what irks me, that weight-loss just isnt: calories in < calories out

I'm heading Up North tonight through Sunday, but once back, I think I'm going to give my BodyBugg a second go. MyFitnessPal hasn't helped me shed the big the lb's like I had hoped and before I start chopping off limbs, we'll try that.

On the plus side, I am seeing physical changes in my body and if it weren't for that, I dunno. I just hate knowing I'm doing most of it right and yet still not there. Ya know? It makes me want to run out and try every fad diet there is, but I'm trying to focus my energy on running and working out and that's been helping out, A LOT!

On that note, onward and downward!

It's up! It's up!

2011-07-19T13:25:00.000-04:00

My first article in the competition to become the next digialrunning columnist is up!

Go check it out here and PLEASE help me progress to the next round by "Liking" it!

obSIGGed

2011-07-18T08:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Monday Friends!!!

Who had an amazing weekend? I DID!!

For reals, I had to work Friday and all my accounts were finally set up which means I got to finally do stuff!! Then after-wards the fam and I went to Music in the Park and ate at my favorite pizzeria, Cellar 849! Saturday, we finally had our front landscaped...after 5 years! and yesterday, was just plain productive!

Today I get to go in too, because we are opening registration for the Fall season, so if you want to Coach... we still have some spots open! email me at: rebecca@thruthinandthick.com

After giving up soda, I became a water feign, and since we are super eco conscious up in herrr...instead of plastic water bottles, we use re-usable ones instead.

My first ~~love~~ Sigg...

This one was bought in Germany!

Then, I heard the interior may be tainted with BPA, although I did get an email from there stating that it should be trace amounts so I decided to ask for numero dos as a Birthday present!

Earlier this year, I saw this version at Whole Foods and NEEDED to add it to my collection.

my favorite cap!

Thinking I had them all now, I was surprised to see #4 at Best Buy for a mere $8.99. The cheapest out of the bunch. I should mention, they accidentally mismarked it..it should have been $12.99.

my least favorite cap

Obsessed much? I can't help it... I love Hello Kitty..plus, a girl can never have enough water bottles, right? =)

Has anyone see any other Hello Kitty Sigg Bottles I need to find?

Trader Joe's Biscoff Bistro Cookies

2011-07-15T08:53:00.000-04:00

I ~~nearly~~ squealed standing in fornt of the end cap when I saw these lovelies..

Embarrassing yes, but for $1.99, I can indulge in Biscoff without feeling like I'm breaking the bank. They sell Biscoff at Wal-Mart for $2.79

So Biscoff can't confirm these are actually Biscoff or else they may just be cut off from the retailer but given that they are made in Belgium, have the same shape and design, the same ingredients and virtually the same nutritional info.. I would bet a hefty dollar these are Biscoff's!

Two with a cup of decaf after a dinner makes me feel like I'm living the luxurious life. Smooth, caramel-y and delicious.

Have you made any awesome finds at Traders lately?

Pinch me

2011-07-14T09:15:00.000-04:00

Pinch me.

Seriously, go ahead ~~I'm waiting~~.... I have no clue how I have gotten this lucky!

A few weeks ago, digitalrunning posted a call for a guest columnist and I applied because ya know, why not?!

You can't gain anything unless you ask, or put yourself out there, remember my new job? I got it because I showed interest playing a bigger role than what I had been doing.

Anywhoo.. I sort of forgot about the whole thing. It's sort of like applying for jobs and a month later you finally get the interview call, only that you can't remember what you applied for!

So I couldn't believe when I received the email that I made it to the semi-finale round!

And here is the announcement on their website!!! Can you see me?!

I'm still shell shocked.. I just can't get over the fact I was chosen as 1 of the 5, it's such a huge, huge honor they thought I could offer something valuable!

Next week starts the official "challenges" so I'll be bugging the heck out of you to vote for me! =)

Until then, I'll be counting my blessings that when I set my Priorities in June, I've been doing everything to work towards those.

Remember, if I can do it, so can you!

not even worth the paper it's written on!

2011-07-13T09:07:00.000-04:00

Man...I'm really beginning to dread coming here..

3 weeks in a row, a gain?! This time 1lb! Still down 3.5 lbs

I'm actually shocked. I wasn't expecting a loss but a gain?!

I'm proud of how I handled this past weekend. My food was good. Not great but I definitely exercised portion control, ordered a la carte and even got Nate to split an entree with me!

Oh, and I worked out 3 of the 4 days we traveled! It's beginning to show too.. my batwing jiggle seems to be gone again, and my thighs are beginning to look cut. Now if the pounds would just drop.. =(

oh well... it's another week and I'll be trying my darndest again!

Half Mary 2.0

2011-07-12T10:15:00.000-04:00

If it weren't for this crazy cross country trip, I may have damn near missed the beginning of training!

Truth is, I hadn't given much thought about what training program I was going to do this time around. Heck, I was more concerned about the Crim at the end of August than I was for the Freep in October!

I knew, it wasnt going to do Hal's, I did his for my first Half, and I was injured and burnt out before the actual race took place. It just wasn't for me... it was too much running, too much mileage. I'm sure training in arctic conditions didn't help my mentality although I will say, if you can run in the snow and ice, you can run in anything!

I've been reading Jeff Galloway's Book on Running to prepare for my 5K training club this Fall so when I came across his training plans, I immediately fell in love with them!

Total weeks: 15
Total # of runs: 3 - 2 short ones (anywhere btw 30 - 40 mins) and 1 long one.
Longest distance: 15 miles

So, compared to Hal's:

Overall training is longer: 15 weeks vs 12 weeks
Farthest distance is 15 miles vs 10
Less intense running: even towards the end of training Jeff's plan calls for 30 - 40 mins 2x a week vs 4 - 5 miles 2 weekly (that's almost double!)

If you remember the last month of training, I had to bump down my 3x a week runs to 2x a week because of hip pain. I enjoyed the learning process of my first Half, but I didn't enjoy every single second of the actual training program, and by the end I wanted it to be over and done with.

I don't want that for this race. This race, I'm going to be smarter.

Fast and Furious

2011-07-11T10:09:00.000-04:00

Hello blends!!

What a crazy busy weekend... I think we drove somewhere around 1400 miles between Thursday night and yesterday afternoon!!

Nuts right?! Thankfully we broke it down to roughly 400 miles daily which put us roughly 5 hours in the car...

Anywhoo... the highlight of my weekend would have to be the awesome gym at the Doubletree we stayed at in Somerset, NJ.

sorry for the grainy pic, I was trying to be discrete

It was completely outfitted by Precor and wow... lemme tell you, all hotels need a room like this! I actually think it was nicer than Marriott's in Chicago!

And since when do you hotels give out swag bags to their preferred customers?!

The Doubletree's was also the nicest, although I did appreciate the Holiday Inn's that had a bottle of water but only a bag of pretzels.

Last week was a tad crazy with starting the new job and then being gone for the weekend, so I'm trying to figure out how exactly my new schedule looks like, and find a way to to squeeze everything in so I still feel uber-productive!

I'll be back tomorrow with my Half Mary #2 Training Plan! I have no clue how this happened!?