January

Ha. I obviously stink at blogging!

Truth is, I haven't had much to blog about. My life has been a bit boring. But here's a few updates.

I'm running according to a sort-of schedule. I'm loosely following the Hal Higdon's Novice 2 Half Marathon training plan. Found here.

It looks something like this:

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1	Off	3 mile run	3 mile run	3 mile run	Off	4 mile run	60 min cross
2	Off	3 mile run	3 mile pace	3 mile run	Off	5 mile run	60 min cross
3	Off	3 mile run	4 mile run	3 mile run	Off	6 mile run	60 min cross
4	Off	3 mile run	4 mile pace	3 mile run	Off	7 mile run	60 min cross
5	Off	3 mile run	4 mile run	3 mile run	Off	8 mile run	60 min cross
6	Off	3 mile run	4 mile pace	3 mile run	Off	5-K Race	60 min cross
7	Off	3 mile run	5 mile run	3 mile run	Off	9 mile run	60 min cross
8	Off	3 mile run	5 mile pace	3 mile run	Off	10 mile run	60 min cross
9	Off	3 mile run	5 mile run	3 mile run	Off	10-K Race	60 min cross
10	Off	3 mile run	5 mile pace	3 mile run	Off	11 mile run	60 min cross
11	Off	3 mile run	5 mile run	3 mile run	Off	12 mile run	60 min cross
12	Off	3 mile run	2 mile pace	2 mile run	Off	Off	Half marathon

Except I'm not exactly training for just a half marathon. I want to do a 25K! That's a little over 15 miles! It will not only be my first 25K, but my first trail race! It's called 'Haulin in the Holler' (what can I say, it's West Virginia). There's actually a 50K as well, but ummm...no. Haha. The race is March 22nd. I haven't officially signed up for it, but I already have it in my head that I'm going to do it. I just hope there isn't tons of snow and it's hotter than 35 degrees! 

Source

Oh yeah and look at that elevation! Eeeep!! I'm a little scared of it, but I'm not going to go into it with a time goal, just a finish and don't die goal! My plan goes to 13 miles before tapering off, I'm on week 5 right now. And I know I'll have to put these hills to use if I'm going to survive this race!

On a fun note, my boyfriend got on a kick to buy a juicer and this is what has happened...

Sorry for the fuzzy pictures. We've started making a juice full of kale, spinach, carrots, apples, berries, whatever for breakfast in the morning. They are actually pretty good! I've kind of thought about doing a little juice fast, but I'm still thinking about it. Watching Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead will make you think about it. Detoxing sounds kind of nice about now, with all the not healthy stuff I've been eating.

My eating has been better, but still has a lot to be desired. I feel like I'm starting to get back in control a bit though. So I'm hoping that even if I don't do any sort of fast, that I can lose some of the weight and get healthier!

A couple quick runs I would like to mention, is the Runs for Cookies 5k I did Sunday. I did it as part of my long run on the treadmill and was proud that I didn't walk except for my one minute warm up at the beginning! And then there was the MegsMiles for the poor mother who was killed by a drunk driver while running. Thousands of runners ran in her memory and yes I was a part of that. I got to run outside that day, 6 miles, and all I could think about was how lucky I was to be able to feel the sunshine, move my legs for six miles, and be happy in the moment. 

Even if life isn't perfect, you don't like your job, you're overweight, you're unhappy in a relationship, whatever it is, pick a moment every day where you feel happiness. Have a cup of tea, go on a run, read a book in bed, whatever it is. I think it's important to make our own happiness. Get out of your head once in a while and think about the bigger picture, what really matters to you in life. Then go for it with passion. 

Have a good week all.

New Year

A New Year A New You.

That's supposed to be the motto right? Well I need that motto right now. I'm struggling and I need support like crazy. However I think I'm just gonna have to buck up and take charge. These past few weeks have just been crazy crazy and I hope that things will slow down a bit. But if they dont then I still have to be responsible for getting my workouts in and choosing healthier foods!

So even today, when I'm frankly a little hung over, I'm going running. And I'm going to make some goals for this year. I've already been thinking about them and I'm not going to choose a certain weight to work towards but have some racing goals, tracking my food goals, and new adventure goals!

I'd like to say that I've had fun letting go these past two months but the truth is I don't feel good. I have headaches again, I don't feel good about myself, and a lot of times I come home just feeling gross and sick. So really enough is enough. The holidays are over and im ready to make this town fit into my lifestyle, not change my self to fit into this town's lifestyle!

So here's to one step at a time. Today's goals: go for a run and eat a healthy dinner.

Have a happy and healthy new year everyone!

Failed Week

This week was yet another fail! I continued to drink soda, ate without abandon, and didn't get even four measly workouts in! (I had three workouts that actually count as workouts). It will get better, it will get better, it will get better!!!

I was stupid and let my emotions talk me out of working out as planned on Thursday. For some reason when I get mad, I just want to eat junk food and wallow and not workout. Do I think that gets back at the person I'm mad at?? No, I just feel like crap, let my anger grow, and don't let it out constructively.Yeah, I'm a work in progress that's for sure!

Thankfully it was in the upper sixties today (wth right?) and I not only walked the dogs this morning, but went on a run after we ran some errands and before a work party. Unfortunately, yesterday I was just lazy and didn't workout in the morning. I did lift boxes full of books all day, does that count for anything? (The only thing it counts for is making my sciatica act up! haha).

Needless to say my weight is still at 170. Oh and get this. My feet and legs are retaining water. This never happens to me! Sign that I'm eating too much salt and not enough water!

So my goal for this week, yes I have goals for Christmas week, is to drink more water everyday, get FOUR workouts in at least, and try to make better choices where food is concerned. I know Christmas will probably be a bust, but I also don't have to keep eating and eating and eating. Small portions are my best friend and I need to be reacquainted with her.

I can really tell that I've gained weight. Running is harder, I feel like my stomach is sticking out worse than usual, and I just feel gross. Ten pounds might not sound like a lot to some people, but when you've worked so hard to lose weight, ten pounds is disheartening and frustrating. But I will not let this get the better of me of course. I'm starting to really feel the need to go back to telling people no, passing on desserts, and being picky about where I eat out. It's freaking worth it and I have goals in 2014 that I want to accomplish damn it! Food is not more important than that!

On that note, I'm going to catch up on some Biggest Loser and continue to enjoy my holiday vacation! Happy Holidays everyone!!

Holiday Bust

I am still alive. I have not fallen off the Earth. And I've not been harmed in any way.

The move has been exactly what I was afraid of. I've fallen into some old bad habits, such as drinking soda more than I should. And I was being so good with that!

I feel like my eating is still out of control. I am slowly getting better. I started a full time job last week and the routine is helping me. I've started exercising a little bit. I worked out three times this week and hope for four better ones next week. I think I'm going to have to start what I've been dreading.... morning workouts! UGH! I'm so not a morning person! But every evening something happens and I get side tracked.

For example, one day this week I had every intention of having leftovers when I got home and then doing my workout. What happened instead is my boyfriend decided he wanted anything other than the leftovers that I had planned and wanted to go out to eat and then wanted to do some grocery shopping and run some errands. Unfortunately, I let him talk me into it. After we did all that and got home, it was time for bed!

I did say no to going over to his parents house yesterday because I knew I needed some peace and quiet. Honestly, I almost had some hot chocolate and vegged out on the couch, but I just knew I would feel so much better if I did some running or walking. So I did that instead and did some crunches and hand weights. And guess what! I did feel a thousand times better. I got a second wind and felt much happier with myself.

Today we went to see the Hobbit, did some Christmas shopping and watched a few episodes of Breaking Bad (love it by the way. Its weird but so good! I know I'm late on this band wagon). While my boyfriend watched the end of a hockey game I decided to get on my treadmill and walk with a 5 percent incline. I did that for twenty minutes until he was ready to watch another episode. No, it wasn't much, but it's so much better than nothing!

Now if I can just relearn how to say no to people, which will come in time, things should look better. I'm sad to say I've gained almost ten pounds since I've moved. Blah! And I can feel it. I feel so unhealthy and jiggly and just gross.

Okay, so my plan is for this week:

 Get at least four workouts in (try some morning workouts!).

Choose healthier options for dinner. Dinner is usually wear I do the most damage these days. So just concentrating on dinner will really help I think.

No soda this week. I have two parties to attend. I'll make sure to bring some juice to one to mix with my rare alcohol consumption if there is any and the other one is a work party for my boyfriend so I'll just have water. Parties with friends or families are usually the worse. To counteract that I need to start making tea that has little to no sugar in it so that I'm not tempted!

Winter and the holidays are the worst for losing weight and being healthy when it doesn't come naturally.

Oh and I really will try to make more of an effort to write. I might even take a picture of the scale next week. Eeeeep.