Back on Track

Mondays don't get the credit they deserve. Everyone is always complaining about how awful they are, but to me I see it differently. Mondays are good for one thing...a fresh start. With the snow melting, the sun staying out later and temperatures feeling like spring means it's time for my fresh start and to get my butt back in gear. I've been so lazy about so many things this winter, but that's all going to change starting today.

The half marathon I ran (mainly walked) two weeks ago proved that I was more out of shape than I thought. It also reminded me that I do enjoy running (when I'm in shape) and it's time I make it work as a mom. For the past year, Charlotte has been my excuse, and to be honest she's been the best excuse, but it's time to do this for me, no excuses. 

Running isn't just about what it does physically to my body but mentally as well. When I'm exercising regularly, I find that it reflects on all aspects of my life and makes me a happier wife, mother and employee.

So to start, I have set a few goals for this week: To drink more water (anything will be an improvement from before when I was drinking next to nothing), pack my lunches (no more gorging on sit down lunches with friends or raiding the vending machine when I'm too busy to go out) and to run at least three times this week (now that it stays light until after 7pm I really have no more excuses).

If you're like me and need to get back on track with your diet and exercise, stop talking about it and just do it! I'd love to hear about your plans and progress along the way, so be sure to leave a comment so we can encourage each other. Here's to a fresh start!

Thinspiration Thursday

It's been 7 months since my whole world changed, both physically and mentally. I am now a mom. My priorities have shifted; my body has shifted, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. The pressure to lose the baby weight right away can be unbearable and I find myself constantly beating myself up for not being able to fit back into my wardrobe by now. I mean it's been 7 months! How am I still 10 lbs away from my starting weight?! Oh that's right, my whole life changed and I'm still figuring this whole "mom" thing out. But can we take a minute and celebrate that I already took off 45 lbs (yes, I gained 55 lbs, don't judge) since the day before I gave birth?

I keep telling myself, "Just put your head down, make it a priority and it will happen". Of course that's easier said than done. Before I got pregnant, all I had to do was meal plan during the week and run after work. I could even have cheat days and skip runs! My biggest excuse would be, "I just washed my hair, so I'll have to run tomorrow". Now, I have new obstacles excuses that center around my baby. I come home from work, she needs to be changed, fed, bathed, then changed again and put to bed. By the time that's done, it's 7:30 and I haven't even thought about dinner. Well, since nothing has been started and I don't want to eat at 8:30, one of us will walk to Subway or drive through somewhere. Now it's 8:00 and I definitely can't run now because I have a full stomach and it will be dark soon. Not only am I not running, but I just ate fast food! So alas another day comes and goes, and I did nothing to forward my progress. Not to mention, my wallet is taking a hit from all these quick meals because I'm not cooking or grocery shopping.

No better time than now for a good dose of "Thinspiration". What better way to get motivated than to bust out all my favorite Lilly dresses that I haven't been able to wear in 2 years? I even took it one step further and decided to try them all on. It actually wasn't as bad as I had feared, but the reality is half my wardrobe still doesn't' fit me. And as much as I would like an excuse to buy new clothes, I need to make these ones work (remember the whole budget thing I just finished talking about?!). 

So what am I going to do about it? I'm going to start by taking it one pound at a time. Every 5 lbs will be a new goal. I'm going to make the time to run. I signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon (my second time running it) so now I have something to train for that will force me to run. And lastly, I'm working really hard on drinking tons of water during the day, not eating out for lunches and cooking more at home.

Now I need your help. I'm going to start my weekly weigh-ins again and post my progress AND struggles right here. If a Thursday has come and gone and there has been no update, please please please call me out. I need to be held accountable! After all, nothing worth having is easy. I CAN DO THIS! 

Weight Watchers

I haven't done a weight loss update in quite a while so let me take a minute to catch you up: I haven't lost any weight. Ok, now that you're all caught up let's move forward. I gained weight one week and decided not to post about it which only lead to failure after failure week after week. If I didn't post about it, it didn't happen right? WRONG! It's time to be honest and hold myself accountable for both the good and the bad.

I got really down about it all and couldn't figure out why I wasn't successful. It couldn't have been the chocolate chip cookies at work, Chick-Fil-a breakfasts or going out to lunch right? No way! After a brief real talk with myself, I decided to go back to what I know works; Weight Watchers.

I did weight watchers 4 years ago and lost nearly 30 lbs, so it is time I go back to the system that worked. I'm a firm believer that everyone is different on their weight loss journey, so the key is to find the program that works best for you and your lifestyle. Portion control and eating out is my biggest downfall, so as soon as I start counting points and paying attention to everything I eat, I become successful.

So after way too many weeks at 170+ lbs, I am now proud to say I'm 167 lbs!!

I started Weight Watchers on Monday and after just 3 days I've made huge strides. It's finally in my head that I'm going to do this. Instead of officially signing up, because I've done it before, I decided to use the tools I've been given to do it on my own. I simply went here to calculate how many points plus I get a day and then go here and type in the nutritional value of my food to calculate the points plus value.

Eating Lean Cuisines and Smart Ones for breakfast and lunch takes the guess work out of everything. It's dinner that is usually more tricky. Since I am cooking meals for both my husband and myself, I have a hard time figuring out how many points my meal is. It's tedious but you really have to count every ingredient and divide by portion size and then you'll have a pretty close idea of how many points your dinner is.

The nice thing about Weight Watchers is you get 35 points every week to count towards a cheat day or if you go over a few every day. So far I've been using this reserve every day to help me get through the day. I've only gone over my points by 2-3 every day so I don't think I'll use all 35 points which will be good.

I can't wait to share how this next week goes. I'm going to get on a regular running schedule now that the weather is warmer in order to make even more progress. If you're in a similar situation, just remember to take it one day at a time and one meal at a time. If you mess up a meal or snack, just acknowledge where you went wrong, and make the next meal a good one!

Weekly Weigh In: Week 5

I know I'm posting this super late, but I want to make sure I stay on top of documenting my weight loss because it's what holds me accountable.

This week has been super busy and overall a good week. I still struggle getting myself out the door and running, but I tell myself even if it's only a few times a week, it's better than not at all. My ultimate goal is to get myself running 5 days a week.

I took advantage of the nice weather and went for a run around my neighborhood. It's not my favorite route but it was good to encounter some inclines and soak up some vitamin D while I was at it. I'm making progress and am able to run longer with less walking, so I consider that a big success. And before I know it, I'll be back at the pace I was last year!

For my weigh in, I was down a pound which puts me at: 168.6. I'm very happy with this number for this week and hope I can keep it up. I worked very hard on my eating and I'm continuing to make smarter choices without sacrificing the things I love.

I know this was just a quick update with no pictures, but I needed to at least keep up with tracking my progress. I'm hoping to get a little more creative for next week!

Weekly Weigh In: Week 4

Seriously, how am I already 4 weeks into this?! I feel like I haven't made much progress, but I also haven't been trying as hard as I know I can. This week really got away from me and I only exercised twice. The first was just walking 2 miles on an incline because my body just wasn't running that day. I've learned over the last few years that listening to your body is the most important. If you're having a bad day and can't seem to run, don't. It's so much better to listen to that warning than risk injury.

I had a great run yesterday that helped boost my confidence. I am getting faster every run and walking less. I will be running 9 min miles in no time!

As far as my actual weight loss goes, it's not as big as I was hoping for but it's better than a gain. I really can't complain considering I didn't run like I should have. I weighed in at 169.6 lbs which is a loss of .6 lbs from last week and .2 from my lowest so far. Slow and steady and in no time I'll be back to where I was, maybe even less!

Weekly Weigh In: Week 3

I'm a little bummed this week. I made a few changes that I thought for sure would make me successful, but somehow I managed to gain weight. Not much, but no gain is a good gain. Instead of getting down about it, (because let's face it these things happen) I'm going to focus on the good that came out of it.

The first major change I made to my everyday life was packing up my maternity clothes. This may not sound like a big deal, but I truly think I was using them as a crutch. As long as I had clothes that fit me, it didn't matter what size I was. Now that they are all packed up, it was just the kick in the rear I needed because now I'm being forced to wear my pre-pregnancy clothes!

Another change I made was officially tracking my food using the Lose It! app. It's really simple, you enter in your current weight, your goal weight and how many pounds a week you want to lose. Based off that information it will calculate how many calories a day you can have to achieve your goal. You also get to add calories based off your daily exercise. This program works best for me because I'm not a health food nut so I can eat what I want, just in moderation. This combined with exercise has proven to be successful for me.

Lastly, as I mentioned before, I finally started running! I ran 3 days this week and plan to run 4-5 times next week! I am not stressing over miles, just 30 minutes a day. Every run is faster than the one before which helps me to keep coming back the next day. I'm not going to lie, this week has left me nearly crippled from muscle soreness, but I know that will only get better as I slowly get back into shape.

Weekly Weigh In: Week 2

Another week has come and gone and I'm still struggling with a good routine. I started back at work this week, but I'm working from home so my schedule is still thrown off a bit.

I somehow managed to waste away all the beautiful weather we had last week and didn't run. In my head I crave running, but I just can't seem to get my butt out there. I know once I get at least one run under my belt, I will be coming back for more. I just need to get over this hump. So this week my one goal is to run twice, no more excuses! For real!

The good news is I am still working on my eating and making progress everyday. I'm by no means perfect, but I've definitely cut out a lot of soda and calories just by portion control. I was hoping for at least a pound a week, but am going to be happy with any loss. I managed to lose .6lbs putting me at 169.6. This means I am finally under the 170 mark!

Just remember, you don't have to have a perfect week to still be successful in losing weight. If you have a bad day, just start new the next day!

Weekly Weigh In: Week 1

I know it's only been 3 days since I started this chapter in my weight loss, but it's amazing what a few days of not overeating and drinking lots of water can do. I feel so much better already!

I have failed in the exercise department though. The snow really threw me off. Not to mention, my buried treadmill did not get dug out, but that is the goal for this weekend. I'm actually craving a good run and with nice weather this weekend it would be a sin not to get out there!

What did the scale say? I have to say, I was pretty surprised with the number. Today's weight was 170.2 which is a loss of 3.4 lbs! I'm guessing it was so big because of water weight. Cutting out the soda and drinking 100 ounces of water a day, really helps. My goal is to lose 1-2 lbs a week until I reach my goal weight.

Let's Do This!

When I first started this blog, it was to help hold me accountable with my running and weight loss. Now that I'm 7 weeks postpartum, it's time to start up again. Since I had a c-section, I had to wait and get cleared by my doctor. I was cleared last week and then went on a week long vacation to Disney! Now that I'm back home, it's time to get my rear in gear!

I had every intention to start running today, but there is about 6 inches of snow in my way and my treadmill is blocked by about a thousand boxes. I also don't like my weigh in days to be on Mondays because it makes the weekends super hard. So I've decided that I will weigh in on Thursdays. Until I can run outside or clear my treadmill (whichever comes first), I will focus on my eating.

For the hard part, sharing my current weight: 173.6 It's the most I've ever weighed, and I hate it. The good news is, I know it will come off because I've done it before. It just takes time and dedication. So here's to fitting in to my skinny jeans again!

Check back on Thursday to see my progress!

Weekly Weigh-In: Week 6

Another week down in the books and I'm finally starting to see progress! I didn't have a perfect week but I'm continuing with smart choices and working out a few days a week (need to step it up and try for 4 days this week). I am definitely on target with my birthday goal, so as long as I can keep this up, I'll be happy!

This week's weigh-in brought me down .8lbs for the week for a total weigh loss of 9.6lbs! I was really hoping to make it in the 140s this week, but there's always next week!

In other news, I reached 100 followers! And you know what that means?! It's giveaway time! Tomorrow I will host a giveaway for a custom made pom pom necklace as a way to say thank you for all the love and support I receive here.

I hope you had a successful week if you too are trying to shed those lbs! Keep up the good work!

Weekly Wigh-In: Week 5

This was by no means a perfect week, but am happy to report I am down again! I only exercised last Monday and majorly slacked off the rest of the week. But the good news is my dad and are going to start running outside Monday and Wednesdays after work and then one day on the weekend. I'm thinking this will really hold me accountable.

Even though I didn't run, I managed to keep my eating in check. I haven't been depriving myself of food, but just eating half of what I normally would eat. I used to go to my favorite local Mexican restaurant a few times a week and bath in their cheese dip on the regular. When my friend tempted me to go on Friday, I turned her down! It might not seem like that big of a deal, but it was one of the hardest things I've done. Say no to a 36oz beer and cheese dip on a Friday?!

Instead, it got late and we still hadn't had dinner so we drove through McDonald's (I know what you're thinking....how is that any better than Mexican food?!). I'll tell you how, I got a kids meal that consisted of a small cheeseburger, the babiest of fries and apple slices. It was delicious AND guilt free. So here's the lesson: Allow yourself cheat foods in moderation and you will still be successful!

Enough of my preaching. Let's see what the scale said!

Woohooo! I'm down 2.8lbs from last week which brings me to a total weight loss of 8.8lbs in 5 weeks!

My goal for next week is to say goodbye to the 150s FOREVER! Think I can do it?! I KNOW I can! I am finally starting to see consistent numbers on the scale and for the first time, I feel like my goal is reachable. If you're on a similar journey, how did your week go? I'd love to hear about it!

Weekly Weigh In - Week 4

Staying motivated is the key. I just completed my 4th week of making an effort to get back to where I was just a few years ago. It is challenging to say the least. Everyday, I pass up temptations but still feel guilty that I could've done better. I just have to keep telling myself that I am cutting a lot of bad food out and getting into better habits in general.

Even if it's only a few ounces, a loss is a loss. I know I say that a lot, but hopefully I start believing it. I keep wanting bigger numbers every week, but then quickly tell myself to just be happy for not gaining.

So here are the numbers:

This week I lost .4lbs which brings my total weight loss to 6lbs in 4 weeks.

I'm satisfied with the progress I've made so far, but I think I'll actually be happy once I get out of the 150s, then I'll really feel like I've done something!

Here's what I did in the way of running this week:

Thursday - 4 miles
Saturday - 6.2 miles (Monument 10K)
Sunday - 4.5 mile walk
Monday - 3 miles

Here's to another week! Tell me know how you are doing with your goals!

Monument 10K - Recap

I haven't run since October when I did a Half Marathon one weekend followed by a 10 miler the next. I was on track for my Disney Marathon in January, and I let life get in the way. I no longer had the desire to do long runs or even run short distances during the week. I was burnt out (you can read all about my excuses here).

I've taken time off and have decided that a part (very small) of me misses running, even though I complain every step of the way. I miss the accomplishment and the way I felt after a run. Not to mention, I could tell how quickly out of shape my body was becoming.

I decided to sign up for a race to get me motivated again. I chose a 10K because I knew I wouldn't train if it was a 5K, I would just show up race day and run. My sister-in-law and I signed up for Richmond's Monument 10K and I knew that if I wanted to keep up with her, I would have to put some effort into this. Getting back into it, has been one of the harder things I've done, but after 3 weeks, I finally feel like I'm getting my groove back.

I've heard so much about the Monument 10K and was really looking forward to seeing what the hype was all about. After all, 40,000 people run this thing!

We picked up our race packets on Friday night and had a nice low key dinner while mapping out all the logistics for the morning. This was my sister-in-law's biggest and longest race she'd ever done, so we wanted to be sure we had everything ready to go.

Check out my Minnie headband I found at packet pick-up! You know I couldn't resist! It was like an omen of good luck! Also, I'm obsessed with my new running "Skapri". Target sells them and it is perfect if your shorts under your skirt ride up when you run.

 

We knew parking would be awful downtown, so we left with plenty of time. We stopped by Sheetz for granola bars and water and then made our way to the race. Thank goodness Jessica, knows the city so well, because in no time she had found us parking that was far enough away from everything but not too far to walk.

Here we are all ready to race!

One aspect that makes this race stand out is how they manage the start. There were about 30 different waves each separated by 2 minutes. This helped space everyone out so it never felt like the 40,000 runners it was. In the Disney races, where there are similar numbers of runners, they only divide you into about 10 corals.

The course was my favorite part. Not being a native of Richmond, I had never experienced Monument Avenue. It is one of the prettiest streets I've ever seen. The houses, the monuments and the scenery is all stunning! Not to mention, the whole city really gets into the race and there are more spectators lined up and down that street than there are runners. The course itself was very easy to follow. Have you ever done a race where you just felt like you made 10,000 turns and never knew what would be around the next corner? Not this race. It was a straight 3.1 miles down, turnaround and 3.1 miles back. Simple!

Being that this was the longest I have run (not even a training run longer than 4 miles) since October, I was very happy with my results. With the help of Jessica, we didn't walk and maintained a steady pace for both halves. We finished in 1:10:20 which equates to an 11:19 mile. Sure that's not a time to write home about, but just getting out there AND being able to run the whole thing is something to be proud of!

Let me know of any upcoming races you have or better yet, if you too did the Monument 10K!

Weekly Weigh-In AND What to Wear!

So first things first, since yesterday's post was dedicated to little miss Sadie, we are doing two in one today!

Weekly Weigh-In - Week 3

I FINALLY worked out!!! It was a struggle at the beginning of the week, but now that I'm in the groove, I'm on fire! (que Alicia keys "That Girl is on FIIIRRREEE") Yep, that just happened. Anywho, I'm getting pretty confident that I won't die on Saturday's 10K, so that's good. Here are my workout deets:

Monday - 3 miles
Friday - 3 miles
Sunday - 2.5 miles
Tuesday - 4 miles

And the most anticpiated question....did I lose weight during all that? Let's see what the scale has to say!

That's right, even though I still have quite a ways to go, I'm feeling good with my progress. Especially after last week's stagnant weigh in. I am at a total of 5.6lbs since I got serious and I want to thank each and every one of you for keeping me focused!

Now on to the fun stuff: What to Wear Wednesday!

I wore my Lilly all day on Monday to honor the late Lilly Pulitzer, but due to being in the hospital all day awaiting the birth of my neice, I didn't get a picture. Don't worry though, there will be plenty of Lilly featured on What to Wear Wednesdays!

Sorry for the creepy model picture...but you get the point.

I decided to embrace the spring summer weather and wear one of my favorite dresses! I got this dress from Target's Jason Wu collection and have been in love ever since. It is the perfect work dress. Not only is it comfortable, but it's sophisticated and classy. Wear it with heels and you are ready for whatever the day brings. Not to mention, the pearl neckline makes accessorizing a breeze...you don't have to! (I'm the worst at accessorizing so this dress is made for me!)

And what completes this day better than walking in the office only to find your boss wearing the exact same thing?! We couldn't resist snapping a picture. :) At least they were different colors. Funny thing, not a single person noticed and we work next to each other!

Linking up with Lindsay @ The Pleated Poppy for WIWW

Week 2 Weigh In

This week brought on a lot of challenges. I'm not going to say I failed, but I definitely didn't do as good as I had hoped. More on that later, but first I need to tell you a story.

You always hear about how people hit rock bottom on weight loss shows like Biggest Loser. You know, that one moment when they knew they had a problem and needed to turn their lives around. I hit that moment yesterday. The end of last week didn't go over too well. We had food brought into the office (including these amazing giant donuts) and I drank 4 nights last week. Oh yeah, I didn't start working out last week like I said. I wasn't committed. Don't get me wrong, I've made better choices than before, but not enough to make a lifestyle change.

So yesterday morning, I got into work a little early and went to make my Weight Watchers breakfast sandwich and put my lunch in the fridge when I see a box of donuts. Where these donuts fresh? Oh no, these were the same donuts from Friday! Knowing full well the status of the donuts, I put my breakfast away and grabbed one, proudly strutted back to my desk, took a bite when all of a sudden it hit me like a ton of bricks a stale donut. Sure it was still edible in my fat girl opinion, but it wasn't worth starting my day off wrong for a stale donut.

I spent yesterday focusing on drinking my water, which I failed to do over the weekend (beer and wine counts as water, right?) and not mindless eating. I also ran for the first time in a long time. It was hard, but I felt AMAZING afterward. I want to run everyday this week just to have that feeling of accomplishment.

Now on to the stats....

I mentioned before I didn't do as well as I wanted to (target is 2lbs per week) but as long as I didn't gain, I need to be happy. I think this week is really going to be the jump start I need now that I'm mixing eating right portion control with exercise. Week 3 here I come!

Week 1 Weigh In

Made it through one of the hardest weeks, in my opinion, for dieting: week one. This is the week that you go from eating whatever you want when you want it to actually counting points and making conscious decisions to eat the right thing.

This week was definitely a success. I was even away from the office most of the week, but managed to avoid temptation. I was so worried about having to eat out while in DC. Usually I will cave and eat whatever I want justifying that I was on my feet at a tradeshow all day and deserved it. Then this came to mind:

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I'm such a picky eater (not liking many fruits and vegetables) that dieting for me is all about portion control. It also means to chose smarter from the menu instead of ye ol' faithful chicken tenders and French fries. (Yes I'm aware I eat like a five year old, don't judge.)

So here it goes, the scale says I'm down 3 lbs and that is more than I could have hoped for! Every pound lost is one step closer to getting where I want to be.

Since week one is traditionally the hardest week for me because I suffer withdrawl from the things I love, sugar, soda, and fatty foods I decided to not start a work out regiment until week two. Now that I have the eating thing down I can start running and lifting weights again.

All-in-all I'm happy with how this week went and hope for some big numbers again for week two!

Getting Skinny

Here we go again! I do these "fresh start" posts periodically as an attempt to hold myself accountable (which was this blog's original purpose), but fail every time. This weekend marked three years since I started Weight Watchers for the first time in hopes to lose weight for my wedding. After three years what do I have to show for all that? Absolutely NOTHING. I am right where I was when I started, can you believe it?! How you ask? During those three years I managed to lose nearly 30 lbs and gain every last pound back.

So I got to thinking.  How was I successful three years ago? Weight Watchers. I followed the points system religiously and began running. It was that simple. Simple in the fact that I CAN do this because I HAVE done this. Not simple in that it takes a whole lot of willpower and commitment.

The cruise has come and gone, but summer is quickly approaching and with that so is another birthday. I have exactly three months (before I turn 27 and I want to start that year off right!). Not to mention I can't afford for my summer wardrobe to not fit!) So let it be written: I WILL do this...again., but not without your help. I need to be held accountable. Leave me messages asking about my progress as a friendly reminder to stay on track and I will post my weigh-ins every Tuesday (like I was trying to do before) with no excuses. DEAL?

If you too are looking for a fresh start, join me! The more the merrier!

Yesterday was my first day counting points again and I quickly realized how much I have been eating lately. I came home from work with just 8 points left and felt like I resisted temptation all day. I managed to not go out to dinner (my weakness because I despise cooking) and made tacos. I should have only had two but somehow my brain told my stomach we were still hungry. So three tacos later I was 8 points over for the day. Leave it to me to screw up day one.

I'm not dwelling on this because I did well during the day and drank over 100oz of water and didn't eat anything I shouldn't have (until dinner of course). I thought of today as a practice day/reality check.

Here is today's official weigh in - Never thought I would see those numbers again.



It's Time

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I know I talk a lot about losing weight here, but for some reason I can't seem to commit to the lifestyle change. I know what I need to do, I've done it before, I just need to do it!

The last time I did a Training Tuesday post was over a month ago and I've managed to gain even more weight since then (devastating). Ever since I came back from Puerto Rico I can't seem to shed those lbs I put on while down there. (Damn those lime daiquiris!)

With only a few days left before I leave for the cruise, it's time to have real talk with myself. I can't go back to the weight I was at when I started all this nonsense 3 years ago (I'm only a few pounds away from my heaviest). Habits need to change and they need to change quick and for good!

Everyone needs to hit their breaking point. A moment where there are no more excuses. My moment was yesterday when I was attempting to pack for my cruise. My "go to" shorts and dresses are now obscenely tight and don't look the same as they did last year. I know what you're thinking. "Doesn't she leave in 5 days? How does she think she can change anything in just a few days? Wasn't she supposed to be working on all of this 6 weeks ago?" Well my friends, I failed. I never committed and here I am writing about this all too familiar topic again.

So as I had my mini breakdown while packing, I immediately stopped, changed into my gym clothes and went to the gym. Talk about seizing the moment! And boy did it work! I had one of the best workouts I've had in a while. I ran 3 miles in under 30 minutes, did arm weights with 10lb weights instead of 8, and even did 45 second planks in between my three sets! That was just what the doctor ordered! I already feel 10lbs lighter!

This weekend I watched history be made. The first ever women's UFC fight was Saturday and boy did it inspire me! A few summers ago, my girlfriends and I joined LA Boxing to get into shape. Not only did we tone up, but I gained the confidence I had always lacked when it came to my body. I felt strong. The fight this weekend made me miss all of that. Maybe that's a sign for me to reactivate my membership?!

Enough about me and my struggles, what was your biggest motivator? Also, what keeps you motivated when you want to quit? Sorry for the wordy post, but I think I needed to get all of that off my chest.

Training Tuesday - 1.15.13

Even though I'm not actively training for anything, I'm still going to keep up with Training Tuesdays to track my progress. Ironically enough, Sunday was the Disney Marathon, and I would be lying if I told you I didn't feel an ounce of regret. I know I made the right decision all around, (you can read all about it here) but a little piece of me wonders how would I have done?!  Something I've learned is to not dwell on failures. Sure, I punked out and didn't do the race, but it doesn't mean I'll never have the opportunity again. Hopefully, next time when I get the itch to do a marathon, I will look back on what happened over the last few months and decide to fully commit. For those of you who ran the marathon, CONGRATS! I was there in spirit cheering you on and can't wait to hear all about it!

With all of that being said, it is another week and I am still meeting my friend at the gym bright and early before work! I am on week 2 of these 5:45AM work outs and I couldn't be prouder of myself. I've always wanted to do morning workouts so my evenings would be free, but I never could make it happen...until NOW!

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Today I am down another pound . I always wish the weight would come off faster (was hoping for 2lbs a week), but they say the slower the better, right? Only 6 1/2 weeks before the cruise and I plan to live in a bathing suit (without feeling insecure) for a week!

Speaking of bathing suits....I'm having major drama trying to find one. Anyone recommend a certain brand or store to get a bathing suit? I NEVER buy swimsuits but because of the cruise, I'm going to treat myself to a new one! I prefer modern one pieces or a skirted bikini. Let me know your thoughts!

Linking up with Helen @ Helen in Between for Tell Me About it Tuesdays!

100th Post Celebration!

I cannot believe that I've stuck with this blog for so long. Usually I'm the kind of person that dables in a bunch of different things but truly never sticks to one thing for long (yes, I'm aware that this is a flaw). So to make it to my 100th Post is quite the accomplishment! (Go ahead, throw the confetti and hoot and holler! "thank you, thank you")

Ok, now that's out of the way. Sure, this blog consists mostly of my own inner thoughts and ramblings, and rarely do I post anything of true relevance, but believe it or not, I've learned quite a bit. Not only has it been a learning experience becasue I didn't know the first thing about the blogging world, but I've been learning a lot about myself (cheezy, I'm aware). However, most importantly, I would not be writing this post today if it weren't for YOU! The fact that you stick around and follow along with me, is more then I could have ever hoped. So for that, THANK YOU!

Now, onto what today's post is really about. My weigh-in...dun dun dun. So a few weeks ago (before the holidays) I told you I'm getting back on board to run more and eat less. I promised I would keep you posted with weekly weigh-ins and monthly measuremnents. Because of Christmas and New Years I didn't do my 2nd weigh-in until now.

Not bad, huh? A loss is a loss right? I feel like this week is already off to a better start than last. I ran for the first time in a very long time on Saturday and again this morning! Yep, I couldn't be prouder! I got up and went to the gym at 5:45 this morning and boy do I feel good! Trying again for Thursday.

How is your weight loss going?! I like to here about how other people are doing in hopes to keep me motivated.