Friday, September 27, 2013

Fun Friday!

So- last week- this happened :) 





Then today this popped up in my FB feed.  I have never listened to the original (not my style or lyrics) and after the brouhaha that was going on about a month ago I knew why.  Anyway- this- well, this is just funny and I am quite taken with this version :)




Old school with Javy Lopez in it :)

You can read the article about it here.

Oh yeah- and Go Braves!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Hydration

*I was provided with samples of Oral I.V. to test and review.  All reviews are my own opinion.

All athletes (and non-athletes) know the importance of hydration.  Water is extremely important to a body's health and as I found out in my half marathon on the first day of summer this year- without the proper hydration- trouble can ensue!  A few weeks ago I was offered the opportunity to try Oral I.V. which is a rapid hydration ultra concentrate.  You can read more about it here including how to best use it.  Basically you should use it before you exercise and then again as needed.  It is a little vial and I drank it straight out of the vial (you can also add it to water).  I'm still playing around with it and want to try it in a different manner (cold, add to water, etc) to see if that changes anything.  I will say that when I have had it I have noticed I have been able to run a little bit longer and stronger.  I have no idea if that was because of the actual product or the thought in my mind that I had had it (which is why I want to play with it a bit more).  The product is an crystalloid electrolyte rapid hydration fluid and is designed to prevent dehydration.  I am starting to add in some longer runs (after being sick and busy) so will continue to sample this and see what I notice.






What do you do to stay hydrated? 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Fun Times

Amy over at Coffee, Scarves, and Running Shoes (and bonus, she is local to me so hopefully will get the chance to meet her in person one of these days) nominated me for a Liebster Award- it's just a fun little award where I answer questions so you can get to know me better- so here goes:

1. If there was a movie made based on your life, who would play you and why?

I honestly don't know.  I would want it to be someone like Meg Ryan.  She's quirky and fun and could easily play all the facets of my life.

2. What was the last thing you Googled?
Let's see the last thing I googled on my computer was to pull up the Merriam Webster Dictionary.  On my iPad it was either the Knoxville Track Club website (to look for races) or the score of the Nationals/Marlins game on Saturday night (it got rained out)

 3. What is one of your guilty pleasures?
I guess it would be watching tv- Braves baseball, Biggest Loser, and Criminal Minds (on Mondays- reruns).  Food wise it would be white chocolate m&m's

4. What is something you know now that you wish you knew "then?"
That the future isn't as scary as it appears and that Romans 8:28 is not complete without verses 29 and 30.

5. What do you consider to be one of your greatest accomplishments?
Completing the two half marathons and signing up for the Knoxville one again. 

6. What is one thing not many people know about you?
That I originally planned on being an athletic trainer or something in sports (radio/tv) but ended up at Johnson University in Knoxville (was Johnson Bible College when I went there).  I only planned on going a year but God's call on my heart won out and I eventually transferred to the education program.

7. If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about your life, would you? What would it be?
You know- gut reaction is yes, of course (and that would be past relationships) However, when I look at my life- I am who I am based on those things happening so my answer would have to be no!

8. What is your favorite Disney movie?
Hands down- Beauty and the Beast! 

9. What is something you've never done, but would like to try?
Run/walk a marathon- someday!

10. Where is your favorite place to be?
I would have to say- probably not where I am right now.  I love TN, love my friends but my favorite place to be would have to be with my family.

11. What is your favorite blog post you've written?
My favorite post I have written (well, I have a few but this was one of my faves) is Beautiful.  I like to reread it to remind myself every now and then.

As part of the Liebster process, I'm nominating 11 more blogs for this award. Should you so choose to participate, here's what you should do:

Rules:

  1. You must link back to the person who nominated you.
  2. You must answer the 11 questions given to you by your nominator.
  3. You must pick 11 bloggers, each with under 200 subscribers, to be nominated for the award.
  4. You must come up with 11 questions for your nominees to answer.
  5. You must go to their blogs and notify your nominees.
I'm going to be honest- I don't have 11 specific people so I nominate ALL of my readers- complete this- link it up in the comments and I just want you to answer these same questions!  I "stole" them from Amy and I think they are great ones!

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Sabotage, Clean Slates, and Overcoming

Sabotage is defined as: the act of destroying or damaging something deliberately so that it does not work correctly or n act or process tending to hamper or hurt.  

I have mentioned several times that I have been struggling- I finally admitted to a friend that I am in a cycle of sabotaging myself.  I am not sure why but I can pinpoint when it started- all the way back in June when I went to the doctor.  When she changed the number she wanted me to weigh I felt the wind go out of my sails.  I kind of took the attitude of "I worked so hard to get where I am and now it's all changing again."  The sad thing is I started to gain some of the weight back a little before the doctor but then that just made me feel defeated.  

After talking with a friend and getting a friendly "Gibbs slap" (but not literally) I realized I had two choices.  I could continue to whine and complain about it.  Or, I could have the attitude of "suck it up buttercup", gather my resources, pull up my big girl panties, and wipe the slate clean.  Obviously, I chose option 2- and I literally wiped the slate (or in my case the mirror clean).  I had been keeping track on my bathroom mirror since the journey started of my weekly weigh ins.  I was getting discouraged by looking at them so I wiped it down and am starting fresh on Monday.  I need a new start- to realize that I am not who I was and not yet who I am going to be.   


Because, you see- that night I got home, got on FB and this picture is what I see- along with the note on the FB page that I follow about not allowing old habits back in, no sabotaging yourself- literally within minutes of voicing out loud what I have known for a while.  

 

I feel like I am being watched and criticized for every little food/drink choice I make, every day I don't exercise, etc (and while that may not be true- I feel like it is).  What I have come to realize is this- there will be days where I don't do as well, where I have that pizza, or cake, or even soda- and guess what?  It's okay- it doesn't make me bad- it does make me normal.  As long as I don't make that my steady diet then it will all be okay.  My goal is to focus on healthy choices 80-90% of the time- the rest will work itself out.

So- to that end- I ask for your support, your prayers, your prodding and accountability.  I want someone to get on here, or on my FB page, or my twitter and ask me if I got my workout in or how I ate today. 

And this- well, this is the song that has been on my heart  and on my playlist lately- especially as I have struggled my way through this past week (oh and get the tissues out)





My challenge for the week: to stick with my workouts and my eating.  I have a busy week but I think I can do it and do it well!  I did not stick to my no soda- BUT I did cut way back so there's progress!  I will get there!

Saturday, September 14, 2013

MIA

Yes, I know I have been MIA lately- I feel like a broken record with my posts so I just decided to lay low for a while.  I have not run in two weeks- since Atlanta.  It was either pouring down rain, I was sick or I had a 3 hour meeting after work on the days I had available to run.  I didn't make it to spin class because a meeting took longer than it was supposed to.

 I DID however, make it to a strength circuit class this week.  I think it will be a good addition to my week!  I also had a pretty exciting week.  I won two things- one was a bracelet from a contest on FB and the second was a big one- I won a trip for 2 to The Greenbrier in West Virginia.  Mandy Hale (the author of the book on being single and sassy) was giving away a girls weekend for 2 to the Greenbrier for a yoga retreat.  I am not typically a yoga person but I do keep hearing that it will help me be a better, stronger, more flexible runner so this could be a good thing.  Oh, and the place- well check out the website and you will see why this is a big deal!  I live about 5 1/2 hours from The Greenbrier so it will involve some travel- but the travel is all I have to pay for.  So excited!

In other news- I am dealing with this sinus stuff yet again!  I was told on the 4th that I had a sinus infection and ear infection (one ear), they gave me a z pack and I went on my merry way missing three days of work last week.  I was still pretty congested (nose) on Monday when I went back to work but it seemed to work itself out.  By Friday my cough had become worse and I could feel it start moving into my chest.  Today (Saturday), I woke up so excited to go for a run, but when I opened my eyes my world was spinning.  I had a touch of dizziness so the run got nixed.  After I finally got up and moving I was able to run some errands.  By the time I got home I was ready to crash again and interestingly enough was having some ear pain in my other ear.  Oh yeah, and I did I mention that I am, once again, losing my voice and coughing.  :(  Not sure what's going on but am thankful that I have an allergist appt on October 1 to try figure things out.

I have also been doing a lot of thinking and looking at some of my health habits.  And, I believe it's time to give up soda once and for all.  I'm going to have to figure out how to like hot tea and how to like the addition of lemon/lime/etc in water.  I saw the following and it was very convicting.  I know soda is not the best- but I also know that it's my one "vice".  And the fact that I refer to it as a vice should tell me it's time.  So, I have one in the fridge right now- I plan on having that tonight and then working on it again tomorrow.  The thing that I need to  realize is that, if I "faitl" and have one- it's not cause to give it all up- it' just means I need to start fresh the next day.  I'm going to shoot for 21 days and then go from there. 




Wednesday, September 4, 2013

The Best Laid Plans

ugh- aren't going to happen... I had big plans for my workout this week- but those allergy issues I thought I had?  Weren't just allergy issues.  Not sure if it's a sinus infection or a virus all I know is that at one point I was so congested I couldn't breathe, I have been running a fever and I have NEVER had a a headache this bad- not even with my migraines.  The pressure is ridiculous.  So, my body is forcing me to take a rest week.  While I am not happy, I know it must be done and will start back slow when I can (hopefully sooner rather than later).  Meanwhile, in taking today off of work (due to the fever) I can hopefully get caught up on things that I am super behind on.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Adding a Dash of Sass...

**I was not provided anything for this review- I knew when I started reading the book I would share about it here on my blog but the chance to win a giveaway drew me into doing it earlier. :)

Have you ever bought a book because you KNEW you needed to read it... and then it just sat there?  Yeah, I'm speaking from my own experience there.  I am horrible about purchasing a book and plan on reading it and then I let "life" get in the way (that will change- I'm making a goal to read one chapter of a book before I go to bed every night).  A few weeks ago I was on Facebook one morning before work and saw that Pete Wilson (a pastor in Nashville, TN) had posted a status about a new book that was out.  It was written by a lady in his church and was not his typical shout out because it was written by a single woman- Mandy Hale.  In fact, the title of the book is: The Single Woman- Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass.  I found out that our local Christian bookstore carried the book so I bebopped myself over there that weekend and picked one up (the last one on the shelf I might add).  I read the forward that night and was totally intrigued.  She started out by talking about her journey to writing the book, starting The Single Woman twitter page and a FB page.  She mentions how society tends to pigeonhole single women and want to "meddle" in their lives (whether it's intentional or not) and how as a single woman we need to "plan to celebrate my life for the party that it is, even if Prince Charming never does RSVP." (that part made me laugh)


The book is divided into 8 parts and I originally planned on reviewing the whole book tonight.  However, in full disclosure- I am attempting to win a giveaway girls weekend at a Yoga Retreat in West Virginia.  The post needed to be up and I knew I wasn't going to finish the whole book on time.  So, what I decided to do instead was to write an overall review and then break each section down with the highlights on different days.  They won't be days all in a row because there's just so much I can get done and have a life too :) LOL  Plus, there's some GOOD stuff in here and I want to give it the attention it deserves.

Now- on with my thoughts... First, this book does not start overtly Christian-there are references to God and his creation of us, as well as His plan for our lives.  However, the further you go in the book- the more meaty it gets and really touched my heart.  It is still a light read but lots to think on and pray about.  I have tons of parts underlined and marked with papers to go back and quote/reread/journal about.  The best thing- I can totally use this book in my health coaching.  Part of what I want to do is provide resources for people (especially women) to help them have a healthy life.  As I mentioned in my post on Letting Go of my singleness- the spiritual/emotional aspect are integral parts of that.  This book will provide me the resource to pass on to any single women that I end up coaching.  I have been there, the author has been there, and words of wisdom and reflection are always a good thing.  No, it may not be nutrition based but it definitely deals with the emotional side of life.  IIN uses a term called "crowding in"- basically it means that you crowd in the good as you remove/let go of the "bad".  It can be used in all settings- Mandy deals with that in one of the sections on relationships/friendships.


So, even though I am not finished with it- I can't wait to complete this book and write more detailed reviews on each section.  Would I recommend this book?  YES I would-to single woman and even to married woman who are friends with singles.  If you are a single woman or know one- consider this book as a gift- I have a couple of people already in mind to pass this book along to! 

My goal- is to live my life with a dash of sass :) LOL and I look forward to sharing more about this book with you.

I have linked The Single Woman's twitter and FB page up above but here is more about Mandy including her blog and other info: The Single Woman



Sunday, September 1, 2013

8 Down 4 To Go!

Can you believe it's September already?  Seriously, it seems like it was just yesterday that I ran the Calhoun's New Year's Day race in the pouring rain and then the half marathon in Knoxville.  So much has happened since January 1, 2013.  I have met some goals and not met others.  I'm already contemplating how I am going to state and track my goals for 2014.  Today's post is going to focus on September and then some random "stuff".  I want to share some posts of interest but will do so later this week.





September is my month for getting back on track!!  This week should give me a much better idea of what my month will look like- here's my plan- now to stick with my plan:
Monday- run (before I leave Atlanta)
Tuesday- run (if raining, then run on treadmill- will do some speed type work while doing this)
Wednesday- NEW strength class at the gym followed by stretch and flex
Thursday- rest day because of something at school that afternoon/or I might do some treadmill work when I get home
Friday- If I get treadmill work done then I will rest this day
Saturday- run

My mileage goal for September- 50 miles- I know it shouldn't be hard to get there but I want to start "smaller" and build.  I am only training for 5K's right now so my typical mileages will be between 3-5 each run.

My workout goal- to add strength in to my workouts- right now, it could be one day a week with adding more

My nutrition goal- to drink 90 oz of water a day (I'm not going to say cut off sodas but I will be drinking my water FIRST!)- I want to do this 7 days in a week but if I can get it at 5-6 to start out I will be thrilled.

So, this weekend I went to visit my friends in Atlanta and we went to a Braves game (which they came back and won in the bottom of the 11th- whew!).  I decided to do a comparison pic from last September to this September. 

September 2012



September 2013



the interesting thing- I weigh about the same but I can see the difference between last year and this year- not a huge difference but there are changes.  My goal is to use these as inspiration to keep moving forward!


Question- what are your goals for September?

P.S.- I am in the middle of reading a book (which has nothing to do with health and nutrition but it has been a fabulous book) which I need to finish and I want to write a review by Wednesday. :)