Went Running Again! Finally!

I finally bit the bullet again and went running and walking again last night. Now it wasn't in the proper shoes but it was nice to get out and enjoy the warm weather and enjoy the running again. It was quick short sprints in flip flops but it was fun. I was pushing my 1 year old nephew in the stroller and I enjoyed myself. I did a little over a half mile last night but I did well over my steps for the day which is what I wanted to do for several days now. I have been keeping track of my calories and what I have been eating via MyFitnessPal. I have cut out all soda and am so proud of myself too. I have officially been soda free for a week now and can't be any happier for myself. I have been drinking sweet tea but that is about it but not too often. I have found a new drink called bai and love it but sticking to water mainly for me.

I plan on getting a small run in later on for me and or walk in and that is about it. :) Time to get my training in for the Wine and Dine Half now!

Back at it!!! Finally!

So I have decided that since I didn't make my goal for the month of June or May but I have decided to try again for the month of July. I had set my goal of 30 miles for the month of July but so far I'm already at 21.1 miles for the month of July. So I have reset my goal to 60 miles! Yep, I know this is going to be an easy goal to obtain considering that I have been going out with my mom for the past several days! She has been pushing me to go and I'm glad she has been! If it has not been her pushing me then I might not be going out and losing the weight or anything else. I'm noticing that I'm starting to slim down and my pants and things aren't fitting like they used to. Yes! Something I've been definitely working on and am so proud of how it's coming along!

I will update more later but let the running and the blogging begin again! My funk is gone finally!!! Off to go for a run with mom again! Peace out people!!!

Goals for June

Ya know one thing that I have been bad at since my half marathon in February is sticking to the goals that I set for myself. I also had a hard time sticking to them before the race too but I think that now that I am losing more and more weight and am able to fit into more clothing, I am getting more confident about going out and running on my own. I want to be able to run a 10k before August 4th this summer so I need to find one that I can run. Also I have sent a goal for June this year! I have set a goal for June to run at least 1 mile a day or more! I can also walk if I need to like yesterday because my asthma was causing an issue for me but even walking it felt good for me. I like how I feel the next day when I get out and exercise! It also sets a good example for Olivia as well. This week is their last week of school and while it's all half days it's still worth it to us! We're excited about the summer and having all the fun things for us to do like next Monday heading to Myrtle Beach for a few days to go camping! Yay! I too will get out there and run! Can't stop me!!

So far in the month of June I have done 4 miles our of the 30 I want to do! I am starting my training now for the Wine & Dine so that I will be ready for it by November and will not injure myself then. I want the race to be enjoyable and not painful like my first half was! So bring it on people!

Birthday Weekend

Yesterday was my birthday and so what a better way than to spend it with my best friend and her family! We have known each other for almost 10 years now and it's like we are practically family so going to the beach for the weekend was nothing for us. It's just a hop, skip and jump for us to go there too!

I wasn't planning on running while I was there but I did a little bit of jogging while there. We took the dogs for a walk on Saturday and took the girls up to the neighborhood park to play. We did a good mile and let's just say I was still wanting to go more but the kids looked like they were going to die!!! It was so funny! I have to say that I love the neighborhood that Tonya lives in because it's so big, yet so peaceful to be able to run in. I wouldn't mind getting up everyday to run in the neighborhood! Lot's of friendly people too! Now if I can only get my husband to agree on the move then we would be down there in a jiffy. But I guess now is not the right time!

I will be uploading my workouts from my Garmin onto the connect soon but until then, I might go for a 3 mile walk tomorrow if it doesn't rain! I'm praying it doesn't rain! I so need the walk and I might do some running while I'm at it. I feel lost since I haven't ran since the race. Who knew I'd get addicted to such a fun sport and intriguing sport! Bring it on!

Clifbar Review & Giveaway

Before we left for our Disney Racecation I received a nice sized box from Clifbar of Clifshots & more! I reached out to the company to be able to do a review on their product and they were generous enough to send me a wonderful collection of their Shot Bloks, Clif Shots and Hydration Shots. I was more than impressed with the amount that they sent me and I waited until the race to go ahead and use them. I figured that I would be able to really put them to the test for that weekend.

So fast forward a few weeks and it was race weekend. I packed up everything that I had in that box into my bag and it was time to set off to head to Orlando, Florida! I was ready to go ahead and get a headstart on trying out these amazing products. I had already tried the strawberry clif blok before and loved it. But after trying the margarita one it soon became my favorite one and I had to grab several more at the expo to get me through the race too!!! That one became my lifesaver for the race because it helped me not get any cramps which for me was amazing! I normally get severe cramps in my legs and sometimes in my feet and this go round I did not! Amazing!!!

I also tried several of the shots which I have tried before the GU Gel's and I honestly hate the way that those tasted so I was a little hesitent in trying these out. I tried the Razz out at the Expo and was plesantly surprised that I liked the taste and the texture so when picking out what I was going to take with me on the run Sunday I chose the Razz and a few others like the Mocha and Cherry Chocolate. Very good! I didn't have any of the hydration shots while running but I did have them as recovery while I was walking the parks on Sunday and it was nice to be able to get those going. Gave me energy that I just didn't have. I highly recommend using these when training, running, or just on the go!

Clifbar was so generous to send me several and some that I would never use so I want to share with two readers! I will send two readers each a ClifShot Gel and a Hydration Shot! See the Rafflecopter Below:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 "This review has my own opinions on the products but the company did provide the product to me."

Gigabody Review & Giveaway Opportunity!!!

With the running that I have been doing and yet it's still been pretty nasty outside lately, I've had to be resourceful and do some indoor activities as well. I was lucky enough to have been chosen to review a great online exercise video regiment called "Gigabody". Gigabody.com is a great new way to be able to workout to videos such as cardio, dance, and strength training. These videos have been helping get ready for the princess half marathon I'm getting ready to run and I'm so happy I was able to be able to do a 2 month free trial thanks to SweatPink! Without this amazing site I wouldn't have been able to strengthen my core some compared to how I was before watching the videos.

The videos are easy to do and some are difficult to do. I can say that I am so happy that I was able to find this service. The price to be able to join is $8.99 a month and for me that's doable considering I don't want to join an expensive gym around town. I would rather do these videos at home and be able to go shower immediately after in my own shower rather then a shower in a gym. Yes I have issues with that at times. I do admit it there. This site also has yoga, sculpting, kickboxing and so much more which is even more exciting for me. I have found that the yoga has helped me with stretches in my hips for running. Yay!

Now here's the kicker..(no pun intended here)...I am giving away to one lucky winner a 1 month Trial Subscription! Enter in the giveaway tool below:

Giveaway has Ended!



"I was given a 2 month trial subscription to Gigabody from Sweat Pink to be able to facilitate my review. My review has all my own opinions on how I have felt about the product." 

Funk

So lately I've been in a funk. I haven't been running like I should and I need to get cracking! The race is just a month away from today and honestly I hope that I can finish the race. I feel like this funk has just put me in a mood that I don't want to be in. I don't lately want to run and yet I still want that medal so badly it hurts. Yeah I know it's crazy.

So I have been thinking...what if I had a running buddy? What if I did decide to join a gym just for a month to train? Would it be worth it? I don't know if it would or not. I am excited about the friends and new people I will get to meet and yet I am still nervous too. I think all of this goes along with it being my very first race. I was going to run in Rocky Mount but I am still not sure about it. I want to spend time with Olivia and Jason on that day so we shall see.

But thinking of what songs to put on my playlist got me thinking...one of the songs that I love to listen to while running is "Shake it Off" by Taylor Swift. That song is so catchy and honestly I have been known to stop dead in my tracks and dance to it as well. Yeah I love doing that. So what is something that you like to do while you run? I wish I had a treadmill here so that I could go ahead and run right now while I'm somewhat out of my funk but I might go for a quick little run later. We shall see how I feel that is.

WDW Marathon Weekend & Dopey Challenge

This weekend has been the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and Dopey Challenge! I am so happy for my friends who have accepted the Dopey Challenge and just completed it today! I am so proud of them for doing this challenge because not only is it a big challenge to take on but it's something that one day I would love to do.

The challenge that I am speaking of is the Dopey Challenge. With this challenge you have to complete the following races in order to get your Dopey Challenge medal: 5K, 10k, 1/2 Marathon and Marathon. All these races have to be completed in order to receive your medal! I would love to do this of course with my husband but he would have to start to run in order for us to complete this together. Maybe one day I can get him to commit to run. Just haven't gotten him to commit just yet. I need to get to running now because the weather is only going to get colder and nastier this week. :( I'm not looking forward to it.

I thought about joining planet fitness but the problem with joining planet fitness is I have to drive to town and honestly I don't feel like driving to town half of the time. I normally don't go to town unless I have to. Yes that's lazy or that's smart to save on gas. We are also looking into purchasing a treadmill for me to be able to train at home. I only wish we had a home that had a basement because then I could go to the basement and train right there and it wouldn't matter what I looked like. I am still self conscious about myself and I'm working on that but for now I will continue to be self conscious.

I do however need to go to Walmart to get some running tights to be able to run in outdoors. I need something warmer than what I run in. What do you suggest?

Milage for the Month Goal

So with it being a new year and a new month, I have decided to start with a goal and keep it. No more I am too lazy to run or anything. Unless it's thundering out and then I won't run outdoors! Sorry but I refuse to be struck by lightning in the south! But I have made a goal of running 50 miles this month. I have already done 3.5 miles even though the picture above says 3 miles. I did another half mile and just never posted it on there. But I plan on going on a 3-4 mile run tomorrow. Yay! This should be fun! I have never done a run that long before so this should be interesting for me indeed. Let's see how I fare tomorrow. But what are your goals for the month? Are you keeping up with what you run or walk?

Christmas & Setting Goals...

 Christmas has come and gone and it was a wonderful one for me. I was blessed to have my husband home with us for a week and he was able to spend a lot of time with the family. He even got to meet our nephew who was born back in October but has since been on the road and not been able to see him.

Christmas came with lots of goodies too for me to eat and I admit I pigged out on them too especially while I was at my MIL's house in South Carolina. Oh My...she made a delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake and let's just say it was amazing. I need to be working out but it seems that I might have caught a little something or it's the steriods leaving my system that has caused havock on my stomach. I'm guessing it's the second one. But for Christmas, Jason and Olivia gave me a Garmin Forerunner 220 GPS Watch and Jason gave me a Raw Threads Cindy Shirt. The day after Christmas I also ordered myself a Sparkle Skirt which I can't wait to receive it in the mail. I should be out today running but it's cold and rainy out and well I just don't feel real hot to do it. I will be making up for it tomorrow and tomorrow is a no excuse zone for me. I will be walking 2 miles, then running 1 mile, then walking another 2 miles. That's a total of 5 miles...but I have to get ready for my half marathon which is only 50 days away people!!! Yep I said it!! 50 days away!!!

On the lighter note, I will be working harder since I got the watch because it also has a heart rate monitor on it. Not expected but I'm super excited on what I can do! Bring it on!

Getting Excited...

I have to say that since December is almost over...I'm getting really excited knowing that the race is only 2 months away from Monday! It's hard to believe it will be here before you know it and yes I still need to book my resort and room and all that and I will do that but I am so slack lately on it. I need to crack down on it. We have been trying to figure out if we wanted to fly down and where to stay and all that so we may have figured it out. Jason said he would look more at it when he comes home next week and he has a little more time to really look at it and the prices since he will be the one paying for it all. I have been looking for a used treadmill that I can set up in the garage to run since I have been wanting one. Whenever we move we will take it with us but it will be nice for me to use on the super cold days and I can play my music via my speakers and all that out in the garage. If we had enough room in the bedroom, the treadmill would be coming upstairs in the room with us but right now we don't have enough room.

Speaking of treadmills...I will be posting a different post just asking some advise on one. Since I am looking at a used one instead of a new one I will be asking very specific questions. But until then, I will leave you with a picture of me showing my progress of what I looked like last year compared to just this past week. I feel great too which is very nice to feel after feeling like crud all last year! The picture above is from tonight from when I arm knitted this beautiful infinity scarf for myself. It's not perfect but that is ok with me!

School is on Break! Finally!

Finally we have a break for School. I feel like a free woman! I can focus on spending time with my family and my training. I am now allowed to go running and I went for a walk yesterday but not long and forgot to charge my phone to record it. This is why I would love to have a Garmin Forerunner Watch to keep track of my runs/walks. I have been good in losing the weight still and have been able to continue to watch what I eat.

More than getting ready for the Princess Half Marathon, I am thinking of signing up for a local 5k race in February and I need to sign up before it's too late. It's the sweetheart 5k and this would be a fun race to run with friends here locally just before the big race.

SPIbelt Review & Giveaway

Have I told you all how much I'm actually enjoying running? Well even though I still get leg cramps and stuff, I'm getting used to going outside and running or trying to look like I'm halfway doing it. I'm not as coordinated as others but that's alright because I have my own way of doing things.

Well I was lucky enough to be able to review the SPIbelt recently and was sent their Original SPIbelt in Hot Pink of course! How can it be any other color? I have taken this belt out with me on several runs in the neighborhood and honestly I can tell you it's amazing to have. I have been placing my iPhone 6, my inhaler, and a GU Packet in there and wow! It fits and still has room for more stuff! It's amazing too because it stays put which I love because when I run I don't like it when things bounce or rub at all. It just bugs me like you have no idea. My mom is even looking at using this belt for when she mows the lawn in the spring and summer because it will hold her iPod and won't get in the way either which is a nice feature especially when we have almost 3 acres of grass to mow on a zero turn mower.

SPIbelt is short for Small Personal Items Belt and it's amazing to have on your. Not only will it fit your small things in there it will fit my husbands iPhone 6 Plus in there too...but then it just looks all bulky after that. So not recommended on that part but the good news is that SPIbelt has other belts that may fit your needs. Whether you go bike riding, hiking, kayaking, running and more they have everything for everyone's needs. That's what I love about their products. Plus I love the fact that I can stuff my belt full of crap if I wanted to and not have to worry about a thing. I of course don't because I normally don't run far from home and if I do then it's back and forth from one neighborhood to the other. Pretty nice if you ask me. The SPIbelt is adjustable which is amazing because most belts are not so adjustable. They are also stretchy too which I like...but for me I'm losing my belly and weight so I won't be needing it long to be stretched or pulled out long. Another great reason for trying the SPIbelt out is the price. For just under $20 you can get a great belt for you to take on a run. And they have so many other color choices! Now here is the awesome kicker...SPIbelt is offering to 1 lucky reader their very own SPIbelt as well. Please see the form below to enter.

Entry-Form

Met Goal 1!

Today I met one of my first goals that I had set for me! I wanted to run/walk at least 1 mile and today was the day I met that! I did on Saturday .90 miles but I still felt like I could have gone farther along but didn't push it. Today I pushed it a little more and I did make it to 1 mile and added another .11 miles to the total. So yes I did 1.11 miles in under 22 minutes which is a goal for me. I want to work on getting that down but I'm sure I will pretty soon. Tomorrow is rest day and actually I'm going to be spending time with my husband and daughter instead. I am going to still do my core workout and kill it and know that working out on my rest days are still good enough for me. I also plan on doing day 3 on Wednesday...hopefully I will have some of my winter clothes to be able to wear since come this weekend it will be cold with a chance of snow and wintery mix. Yep..it's coming and we know it is.

I am still kind of shocked that I did 1 mile and I know that with time I will get better! Wednesday going to try and go further than today! My legs are still killing me but it's a good feeling and not a bad one.

What kind of workout did you do today? Did you go to the gym, workout at home or just take a rest day?

Yurbuds Headphones Review

I have been looking for headphones lately that wouldn't fall out of my ears or didn't hurt them for a while. I came across Yurbuds when I was shopping at our local Target and seeing that they were only $20 I decided to get them. I chose the Women's Inspire 100 and went on about my business. I tried them out on my first run on Saturday and I have to say they worked awesome! I didn't have an issue getting them in and they didn't hurt my ears! This is a big plus for them not hurting because many of the headphone or earbuds hurt because I have small ears. 

So what do I think about them? They are awesome and amazing and I can't wait to continue to use them while I train for the Princess Half Marathon! I would eventually like to get the pair that have the microphone on them but that's just something I want and don't need. Now what I really need are running clothes and we'd be all set. 

I was not paid or compensated for this review. This is my honest opinion on them and I purchased them myself! 

Core Workout & Breakfast

 Today I decided to get up and start working out. After I had Olivia out the door for school and I worked on a few things in my room, I decided that it was time to not go back to sleep but to start working out. I did some core work which included some 90 degree crunches, scissor crunches and planks. I had never done any of them so it was a bit of a challenge for me but honestly it felt good. I am planning on going for a walk/run this evening and I'm hoping that the shin splints don't come back. I'm at my wits end with them because no matter how long I stretch for or rest, they still come back. Ack! I'm over them. I try to push through them but that only leads up to me getting a horrible cramp in my calf and trying to walk or run through that is near impossible. I am needing some kind of relief soon.

I have been horrible this past weekend and past two days in eating and drinking healthy. So today I am trying my best at trying to eat clean. I know that when I go out to eat this weekend with my best friend we plan on heading to our favorite place...flaming Amy's in Wilmington so that will be a splurge for me but other than that I'm needing to be good. Today's breakfast I had two poached eggs, raw green beans with pepper and garlic and a bowl of oatmeal with honey drizzled on top. Yep...clean eating here I come. Trying to think of something that is halfway clean for dinner but I'm thinking of chicken, roasted brussel sprouts and maybe some rice or a salad. I need something good.

What is one of your favorite clean meals to eat?

New Shoes Have Arrived!

My new shoes have arrived and lets say that they are super comfy. I wore them on Sunday to church and while in church my toes were going numb. Couldn't figure it out. Then I figured that it was because I have a high arch and just where the laces were was causing pressure to cut off circulation to my toes. Not good. I went onto pinterest and found a way that I could tie my laces to where that didn't happen again. Guess what? It was a success for me! I love my new shoes and I have even started to walk in them and take them on the road. Thankful that I had a few extra gift codes on Amazon for me to be able to get my shoes. Or else I would be in trouble. :)

New Shoes..On the Way!

I have never in my life been so excited about getting a new pair of running shoes. But I am so excited over it! I have been trying to pick out a pair that would work best for me and found that getting a neutral shoe works best for me. Of course, I chose a pair of Asics and I love the color! I am hoping that I will be able to get them by next week so that the training will continue!

I am still on the fence about if I want to run the race in February or if I want to defer the race until 2016. Jason and I want to be able to get pregnant and add to the family and so if it means me having to wait another year, then that just gives me more time to be able to train. I do however plan on running a few races in the next year so this should be an interesting journey. I'm still going to run my Princess Half Marathon, just might wait it out for a year or so.

And I am loving this weather that we have been having...minus the rain. I could do without that since now the ground is so wet that all you do is sink in the grass. I am looking forward to going for runs in the cooler air too. I am still walking the dog in the evenings as long as it's not raining and I have been so good about not eating out and drinking nothing but water. Yesterday I did however go out to eat at my dad's store so that wasn't too bad. I just watched what I ate. I look forward to going to Chick-Fil-A though and getting a grilled chicken sandwich which is one of my faves now! Hold the fries please and water!

Almost time for Color Me Rad!

It's almost time for the Color me Rad race which will happen on Sept. 6th this year I'm going down to Wilmington the Friday before so that I can get ready for the race. I can't wait and it will be so much fun! I have been looking forward for this race. What new race or races have you signed up for lately or have you ran?

I am looking forward to running this race and might not be fast at all but it's a start. I will be sure to do my inhalers before the race and i will bring them along with me. I hope that this is the start of my addiction to running and losing weight. I have lost 50lbs now and i want to lose another 70lbs and I have to say that after 3 years of not being able to wear a pair of Jean shorts; today I can officially wear them!

My weight loss journey has just begun and I am looking forward to seeing how much I can lose in the next year and keeping the weight off.

It's Official!!!!! I'm Registered!!!!

Registration is now OPEN for the Princess Half Marathon Weekend and who is in? I know that I am! It's official! I'm now registered for the Princess Half Marathon on February 22, 2015 and I can't wait to run it! I have many friends who are running it and some of them I have never met except online but that's the fun about social media is that you can get to do this and meet people! Who would have thunk that I would be open to running a half marathon with having asthma and all that? But I am going to look into getting a better control on my asthma now that I am going to be running and I need to learn to breath while running a lot better. I need to still go pick up my shoes from the running store but we haven't had the time to go up to Durham to get. Between school and mini vacations and getting ready to move it's been difficult to get up there. Oh well, I need to get up there soon and get them! Way before we move or go on vacation so that I can start really cracking down on training!

While I registered I also went ahead and got a Commemorative Pin for the Half Marathon which is a just like a pin that you would trade but this is something that I would not trade. I plan on keeping it!

I'm beyond excited about this opportunity and I'm so happy that I have made this decision to start running and start training and start losing weight. One of the things that I have been wanting to do is to have a baby and in order for us to have a baby is to lose the weight for me to have surgery and so this is a big deal for me to do this. I plan on signing up for a 10k in the Outer Banks in November to get a better corral placement. :) We shall see if I do! :)

Who else is signing up? Better hurry up since they are filling up fast!