Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Group Project-"Be Fearless" Jonathan Alpert

For those of you who are like me and tend to live closer to the "living in fear" side of the street I encourage you to work through this with me. I'm saddened that I've let myself live this way for so long but better late than never when it comes to rediscovering and embracing my fearlessness.

Step 1-Define your dream life.  Create a "Dream List". On it write everything YOU would do if YOU wouldn't feel limited by fear.

So far on my list:
  1. run
  2. sing
  3. laugh openly
  4. smile
  5. teach in a classroom
  6. act
  7. own a cafe/coffee shop
  8. wear more feminine clothing (including make up and wedges/heels)
  9. freelance writer
I also wanted to put move to the east coast but that really isn't realistic considering my current marital status.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Living the Healthy Life

I often joke that it's more expensive to live/lead a healthy life then it is to be lazy 
and get fat

but I guess the joke is on me cuz I got to thinking that it might be just as expensive being lazy and getting fat

if not more so

But truth be told I'm having more fun attempting a healthy life

I've met people I would never would have otherwise met

I have done things I never thought I would do (half marathons!!)

I've tried new recipes

So it'll be alright, the pocket book that is

because either way you look at things

"a life" was gonna cost me

and I'd rather not pay with my life.

Friday, May 18, 2012

And the dress saga continues...

As you know the bridesmaid dress I need to wear for a July 7th wedding will not zip up. I panicked momentarily but calmed myself with the fact that I did have just under two months to fit into it comfortably and surely I could do it.  By diet and exercise, or, if all else fails by letting the dress out a few.  Because surely it can be let out...all OTHER bridesmaids dresses have a lil fabric left over for the option of letting them out. NOT this dress. I checked it out this morning due to pure curiosity and so glad I did. There is NO extra fabric (therefore no other option but to lose weight); what you see is what you get. Thank heavens letting out the dress wasn't my first choice of  to begin with!

As I also mentioned before I have a friend who promotes AdvoCare products. She sent me some samples of the Spark Energy Drink and I LOVE it! No unnatural energy spike, just a nice easy "be bopp" feeling. Loved it so much that I now buy it on a regular basis (it doesn't kill my intestinal system like 5hr energy seems to). Prior to the dress not zipping she had approached me about trying a few other products that may assist with some womanly issues (you know the premenopausal ones: stubborn weight,  moodiness, energy) and I said "ah, I think about it"...because I won't lie; AdvoCare products are NOT cheap.  And not that one should "skimp on their health" one often wonders if they must auction off their first born just to get the "best products"!

So when the dress didn't zip I went to her for some "off the record" advice (because neither she or I are doctors) on products and made my selection for what fit my needs (and budget).  The three products are:
Carb-Ease
MNS® Max 3 Kit

Catalyst
Now, I've not rec'd the Catalyst or the Carb-Ease but I have rec'd the MSN Max 3 Kit (follow the link for specific details regarding what the product does) and I'm feeling pretty confident that I went to the right place for help.  It's a 14 day kit (vitamins, supplements, energy drinks, meal replacement shakes) and VERY easy to follow.  I started using/taking the kit Tuesday morning and by Thursday midday I could notice a difference in energy as well as appetite. This morning I even realized that my body itself did not feel near as drained as normal (my bones aren't feeling achy) and that walking the dogs at 530 am this morning wasn't so painful. With the meal shake I've added fruit to "add more substance" and notice that it drinking it at 8am it's not until after 11 that I'm hungry (for me that's good).  I start drinking the energy drink about 830 and nurse it until lunch. Both those products you just add water to. Now with it only being four days into the kit I can't say yeah or nay to whether it works for weight loss or not BUT for appetite control and energy so far so good.  And can't wait to add the other two supplements! And of course add in more activities!!  I've got two 10ks coming up in the next four weeks!! woohoo!!!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Oh shit.

In just shy of 2 months I will be doning a bridesmaid dress at a friends wedding. The dress came in the size requested, the size that best fit at time of "choosing dresses" but no longer zips up. I look like a lil sausage roll. I quickly realized that I had tried dresses on just prior to gaining 20lbs.

I. AM. IN. SO. MUCH. TROUBLE.

Thank heavens I know NOW that there is a problem. I can do this. I can resolve this issue. And no it isn't by purchasing a new dress (cuz it's a special order dress that took 3 months to get).....

Monday, May 7, 2012

Getting ready for the weeks ahead

It's amazing how quickly the weekends fly by. Why can't we have 3day weekends more often? The next few weeks are going to fly by too I am sure... Boss out of town this week, jury duty the next, and then hubs out of town after that. I also have a 6 k coming up on the 28th and start training for my next half marathon soon after. Fun stuff I tell ya!

I did a 5k this past weekend. It was hot as molasses at 830 am even.  The black top was NOT forgiving and it was easy to talk my pal into NOT doing any more 5ks until the late fall. Of course I forgot that I ALREADY signed up for the Route 66 10k (June 9th) AND Defiance MO 6k (May 28th).

Shameless plug alert?  A friend of mine sells AdvoCare products and has asked me to test of few of the supplements/products out for her and report back. I've used their Spark Energy Drink (grape flavor and the cherry-which is my fave) and LOVE the "pep in my step" that it gives me with out the "crash and burn" that some other products have done. I've used the 5-hour energy before but I have to be careful about drinking too many in too short of a time frame (ie can't use them everyday) because it really messes with my system. the AdvoCare Spark Energy Drink doesn't do this to me...not that I have it EVERY day but I can if I really want to. Of course the products seem a lil steep in price and that's why I've not tried more products. I can't see paying for something that costs more. Then again, how many times have I bought something cheap and not used it??  So anyhow, the next supplement I am going to try is Carb-ease (Helps inhibit the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates).  I seem to have picked up a passion for carbs that I didn't realize I had. And it hasn't been easy curbing it. Maybe Carb-Ease will help...We'll see. I'd also like to try the Rehydrate Gel...the price is comparable to the G-U gels that I haven't bought but managed to get free. With the summer heat upon us and SERIOUSLY training for my next half marathon (time to beat is 2 hrs 30 mins) I will need to stock up on hydration products...Also, if you all have suggestions for products feel free to let me know. Knowledge is power.

if by chance you have heard of Advo Care and need some products, her link is above as one of my page tabs. If you have not used the products before but are interested in learning about them feel free to contact her via the page link or email me and I will see about getting information for you. I plan on putting my opinion on any products I use on the page tab as an "FYI" not as a "I am a trained professional you must believe me"....I just feel like if a product works and is worth the cost others should have the opportunity to know about them from someone they trust (or might trust?). :O)

have a great week!!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

UNBELIEVABLE.

It was actually a great weekend for walking/trotting/running. Rumors of rain and storms filled the twitter, facebook, and news screens. I wasn’t as scared of the rain as I was of them canceling the runs. I’d already had a run cancelled due to weather (Go STL 5k April 14, 2012) and I wasn’t looking forward to having another one (or two) canceled. But alas, the rain held off (as did the hit-nice and chilly for the runs) and I was able to complete the I-Challenge (5k and Half Marathon) as planned to collect my 3 medals.
To say that I have been training diligently for these two races would be a fib. Doubt and negative self-confidence have plagued me since November 2011. I’ve “trained” but not as enthusiastically as last year. I couldn’t seem to shake “this feeling” that has no name. And although I improved my half marathon time by 15 minutes, I still fell short (by 25 minutes) of finishing in my 2 hour and 30 minute goal that I had set last summer.
But it’s crazy--I’m not sad or disappointed about falling short because at least I improved. Matter of fact I’m pretty proud of myself. I didn’t give up. I kept reaching (monitoring my watch to see when I might finish) and even when I realized that “it isn’t gonna happen” I still kept pushing.
 
My mantra for this half marathon turned out to be “JUST HAVE FUN” (instead of "keep the faith"). And I did…I had fun. I chatted with folks, made goofy faces at the camera man, and when I would "falter"; remind myself to just have fun. Such a simple statement but yet so enriching. I often forget to have fun (yes I said forget); I'm often so worried about others. Which is why I love half marathons. It's all about ME. that time on the course is mine and no one else's.