Now That I Have Your Attention…

Geeze, I sure took my sweet-ass time posting the next update didn’t I? The sad thing is that I have FIFTEEN blog entries on various topics started, just waiting in my drafts for me to flesh them out. My promise to you: I will provide at least one update per week, where I cover a topic of interest and/or provide status updates. Here are some of the topics that are on the agenda: Fruit vs. Fruit Juice, Sweetener Showdown, Butter vs. Margarine, a TFG original recipe, and a few TFG Tried & Trusted Pinterest recipes. I spend a lot of time researching for many of my articles and will link back to my resources. If there are any topics you would like to see me research and write about, let me know in the comments! 

Updates

I weighed in for the next 8-week Kosama fitness challenge (I am competing for body fat percentage loss and weight loss this time) on Monday. My weight was down from my last weigh-in (174.6 from 177.6), BUT, so was my muscle mass, which means I am not eating right. After doing one week of the cleanse diet in March, I did not re-incorporate some of what I was eating before (e.g. greek yogurt for my morning snack) and I have long been negligent in consuming my evening protein snack before bed. With the amount of working out I am doing, I really need more protein to support my muscles. It is also clear that I have not been doing a very good job sticking to my nutrition plan in general – too many “cheat” meals, snacks, etc… – as my body fat percentage has gone back up to where it was on 2/25 – making the month of March a wash.

I am disappointed, but I am going to get back on track. I am already working on re-incorporating what I SHOULD be eating, and combing my Pinterest boards for healthy meal ideas to keep me interested and motivated. When it comes to a life-long commitment to being fit and healthy, you really cannot afford to waste time feeling bad about poor results. If I did, I would be stuffing my face with bad food, skipping the gym and feeling sorry for myself. If nothing else, I have at least set myself up for a potential “win” with this next challenge, if I really re-commit myself to following the dietary guidelines that have been set for me. I may have been going to the gym at least 5 days a week, but that doesn’t change this:

This weekend I’ll go shopping, stock up on healthy, protein-rich snacks, stop skipping snacks, and rein in my indulgent eating a bit. A meal or two (or a snack or two) a week that is indulgent isn’t going to throw off my progress, but polishing off an entire jar of Nutella by yourself will.

So, I may as well focus on things I can be thankful for:

• I have gotten significantly more fit since the disaster that was “whale in a pink lace dress” at the company Christmas party. Body fat percentage not withstanding, I AM fitter, healthier, and I feel better than I did just a few months ago.
• My legs look FABULOUS (and far skinnier than just a few months ago) in my very cute Lauren Conrad heels (in nude) – which are surprisingly comfortable and easy to walk in for someone who’s job has pretty much relegated them to flats. (They do, however, need to be stretched out at the ankle, as I gave myself a nasty abrasion wearing them on my anniversary…)
• “The Dress” – fit!!!!!!! Yes, the dress I wore on my anniversary last year, a time at which I was in better shape, fit. Sure, it’s got a bit of elastic in it, but it seems to fit exactly the same as it did this time last year, complete with the usual inability to keep “the girls” contained (I am going to have to find a tiny safety pin…). If nothing else, it’s a sign that I am back on track to be where I was last year, and maybe even better if I can continue to be resolved in eating healthier.

Ahh, the Neon Run, which we ran on March 23rd. Such a disaster of a race for the organizers (no water; unsafe, unlit pathways; no actual “neon”; no blacklights, lasers or fog; and no free beer). Of the numerous runs I have participated in over the past few years, this was definitely the worst as far as delivering on promises goes. HOWEVER, the run, which should have been a 5k (3.1 miles), was 3.56miles, which I.ran.straight.through. That’s right, for the first time EVER I ran a 5(+)k from beginning to end without stopping. And I finished in 40 minutes.

Is that a great time? Not really – there are people who finish 5ks in 20 minutes – but I felt GREAT! I was never tired, never gasping for breath, and even though my calves and achilles were a bit tight, I felt great. I even neglected to roll out on the foam roller ahead of the run and I STILL felt fabulous. While I definitely feel (along with thousands of other runners) that the race organizers owe at least a partial refund to participants (and should probably donate way more than a measly $2500 to Ronald McDonald House Charities), I also feel like it was my best run ever. To be able to run straight through that distance, and in that time, really gives me hope that I can complete a 5k someday in less than 30 minutes. I DO think that the trail we ran and the fact that it was at night probably had a positive impact on my run though, and there’s not much time left in what I consider “my” running season out here in AZ to try on another 5k to see if I can do it again. However, I do have this awesome photo of me looking skinny to remember the night by.

Need Motivation?

Are you struggling with your own fitness journey? Do you have a difficult time getting your mind set on making more health conscious decisions with your dinner? Did you know there is inspiration all over my blog (and Pinterest)? Check out my Mantras page for my latest pins to my fitness motivation board on Pinterest, OR, check out my Pinterest boards for more motivation and healthy recipe ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Be careful to read the ingredients, as I HAVE pinned some things for cheat meals, so not everything is going to be your best bet. And keep an eye out for TFG Tried and Trusted recipes too – I’ve included links back to my blog on the pins for recipes I have made and loved!