See Jane run half and Updates

Phew, another week here again. I am super tired as usual. This past weekend, I ran my 4^th half marathon! I ran the See Jane Run half marathon, they gave out champagne and chocolate at the end. I am happy to report that this was my best half yet, even though I didn’t train for it I noticed a HUGE difference from my lifting and sprints lately. The course was flat through our greenbelt and the scenery was really pretty.  I met quite a few really nice people too. Miles 1-7 I paced myself at about a 12 min mile, then 7-10 I slowed down slightly I’m guessing a 12:30-12:45 pace, then finished off a little slower because of the pain. I really can’t say that I have too much to say about this run, it wasn’t intensely hard as far as the course goes and all of my weight loss/strength training journey have really  made me stronger mentally. I certainly wouldn’t say it was easy, but it wasn’t the worst I have felt either. The See Jane run half gave out some pretty cool finishers swag too, I got a running shirt, a medal, and a champagne glass. They let you fill up the glass as many times as you wanted, so you know that was my favorite part! I do think this would have gone better in a bigger city. The course where I lived was somewhat unorganized and I had trouble finding any information about it beforehand. In fact, I didn’t see a full race map until I was running! My husband volunteered and he had a pretty awful experience too. Regardless of this, I still really enjoyed it and am happy with my performance.

Other weekend happenings:

Friday, the husband and I went to see Monster’s University. I LOVED it. I really thought it was more of an adult movie than a kid’s movie. We also went to dinner so that I could have chicken and my new obsession- sweet potatoes. I’ve never liked sweet potatoes until I started eating clean. Now, I am obsessed and since I missed out for so long now I have to make up for lost time by eating them daily.

Macros Update:

My macros plan is going really well. I’ll be honest, last weekend I didn’t stay on track in terms of counting them. I was off on most of themSaturday and Sunday, but even though I went over I still ate clean foods. I didn’t eat pizza like I really wanted to. I also didn’t lift for 3 days, since the half I have been super sore but I am going back to the gym today for arms and light cardio. I’ll let you know how the weigh in goes this week!

 

Grit Girls!! Pre-Leg Day!

Happy Monday!! How was your weekend?

Anniversary weekend

Another Monday…It’s one of those days where I feel like I have a “weekend hangover” I had such a relaxing time that I just can’t seem to get in the groove of work and another week. So onto my usual weekend recap- Thursday and Friday really didn’t count in my opinion we had so much going on that I was busy running around the whole time and then sleeping. This past weekend was my husband and I wedding anniversary. We celebrated Saturday with dinner at a steakhouse. It was amazing and probably didn’t fit into my macros, but I had planned well for it and woke up today with no weight gain. I did however forget to snap a picture of us at dinner and I totally regret it now because that was probably the first time I have dressed up in a good six months. We spent the rest of Saturday relaxing and spending quality time together. Sunday I had to get back to the gym for arms and cardio followed by gift exchange between me and the husband since Sunday was our real anniversary.

He got me a record player, and a few records including the Justin Timberlake album. We had been talking about getting a record player for a while now and it did not disappoint. I also got a new workout top and some fun owl stuff. I didn’t get pictures yet of everything but I’m sure some will appear this week especially since I got an owl lunchbox and water bottle for my work food. My gift to the husband was booze and some new clothes haha, as you can see I’m pretty creative there.

Now I am just hoping that this week flies by because I seriously have NO motivation for anything. I’m back to my macros 100 percent and the 5 day a week gym sessions. No more cheats until July 13^th! C4 has been my lifesaver for those days when I lack motivation to hit it hard, if you haven’t tried it I highly recommend it. C4 is a preworkout supplement that will give you a big energy boost to power through, plus it tastes yummy and comes in awesome flavors like strawberry margarita! I’ll keep this short and sweet because I feel like I am lacking focus right now. I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!!

Any fun weekend plans?

Me and the husband before dinner

Flowers, a gift from my aunt in our centerpiece vases

My dinner outfit 

The cocktails :)

Macros update & June Goals!

Happy Thursday!

I can’t believe that it’s already Thursday, that long holiday really throws me off. I feel like I’m still trying to get back in the groove. This was one of the first weekends where we didn’t have too many plans and it was so nice. We caught up on season 4 and 5 of True Blood, and went to see the Hangover 3 movie.  Hangover 3 was hilarious, just as good as the first two. I got in some workouts, and we spent some time with family- I got to squeeze my niece, so those are the only new photos I have! Now I am back to work and dreading it.

Macros Updates:

I have been on my macros plan for 12 days now, and I haven’t cheated at all. It’s been getting easier as time goes on the cravings wear off. Yesterday morning, I got up at 4 am to make it to the gym. Strangely, it wasn't THAT bad. I took some C4 for caffeine and busted through arms and cardio. I don't think I'll keep up with the 4 am wake-up time but I'd like to accomplish that 2 days per week. 

 Since I didn’t do an update/weigh in last week, I’m going to do a mini one today. I feel like I’ve really been putting in major work at the gym and hitting those weights hard, so it’s a little discouraging that I haven’t seen a major change yet. Being the impatient person that I am, these things don’t go well for me but I’m trying to work on it. That being said, last weigh in was this morning and I lost 5 lbs. I’m hoping for another loss equal at least this week. I will say that I’ve noticed big improvements at the gym, I’ve been able to increase weight easier and I’ve been recovering faster. I have stuck to working out 6 times a week, and hopefully muscle gains are the reason my weight isn’t flying off. If you’re interested in finding out more about the macros meal plan, email Ashley. For now, I’m just keeping my head in the game and continuing to eat clean. My next weigh in is Wednesday! Eek! I’ll be sure to do a post on how it goes.

I've also written up a list of my goals for the month of June! I got this idea from a fellow Grit Girl and I think it's a great way to get your head clear and have an idea of what you want to accomplish.

June Goals:
-No Cheats (I have one planned for the hubs birthday July 13th)
-Lift and Cardio 5 X/week
-Hit Macros DAILY
-Two 4 am workouts/week
-NO alcohol

What are your June goals?

I hope you all had a fabulous holiday weekend!!

 

How are your workouts going? Any good new workout songs? Fun holiday plans?

Life updates!

I’ve had so much going on lately! I guess that is a good thing though because it means I have a lot to update you all about! 

First off, I have half marathon number 4 in June. I have some exciting news about that too! The event is sponsored by the company See Jane Run. I love that store and was peeking around their website back in December and saw an ad for an ambassador program. I applied, I had to write an essay about why I think I should be a Jane ambassador and I just found out I got chosen! The position means a lot to me, and a lot for the blog too. I’ll be doing posts about the event, and I’ll have discount codes to the See Jane Run store/site for my readers! I don’t have a ton of information just yet but I will soon! Right now though, I have a discount code for 10 percent off of a See Jane Run race registration in your area! The codes are specific to city though, so email me and I can get you a code! They've got a 5k, 10k, and half marathon and the code will work for any distance registration. I've been looking forward to this race for months, they've got awesome shirts, medals, swag when you finish!

The other big news?! I am started new diet plan. As you know, I’ve been trying to lose weight/run for a while. I focused a lot on the running but now I am ready to focus on the weight. I’ll be real honest here, I’d been having a super hard time with that lately more on the emotional side of things. I just haven’t been happy. That might sound superficial, but feeling that way ends up seeping into all aspects of life. I’ve been grumpy, impatient, and just generally unhappy. I really started to feel like my weight was a big part of that. I’ve lost my confidence. I’m honestly not even really comfortable saying this all right now, but I feel like it’s important to know that weight struggles really do affect a person more than just physically. Juggling everything- work, family, relationships, housework, and trying to add in a weight loss journey is hard. I’m finally at a point where I hate losing so much time to meal planning and working out but I hate feeling this way more. I think most of us who start and continue a weight loss journey get to a point like that. I’m a beginner at my job, so clearly I can’t afford a trainer at all however, accountability is super important to me. I was browsing on Instagram the other day and came across Ashley (you can find her on Instagram @ashleyjobikinipro, she's a bikini competitor and amazing support system. If you’re on IG then you’ve probably seen some people talking about Ashley lately. I emailed her right away before I knew any details. She provides meal plans, and if you want even workouts. I needed help with ideas for workouts, and I thought that her pricing was beyond fair for what she provides. Locally, training and meal plans are hard to come by for less than 300/month. Let’s just say I was sold! She is super sweet and will let you ask her a million questions (I’m so clueless about this stuff). I can’t tell you how relieved I am to have her and the other girls she works with support. I started my plan this past Friday. It's been a learning curve, trying to calculate all these macros but its worth it. I've already lost a couple lbs but I can't wait for what the next few months will bring. I will be sure to share progress pics and update on how its going. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, email Ashley here and tell her I sent you! I would love to see more girls involved in the program!

I don't really have much for my usual weekend update, I did a lot of meal prep. I lifted two days, and ran a 5k. We did go see the Great Gatsby though, I am currently OBSESSED with the soundtrack. It's great for all moods. The movie was pretty good, I felt like it was a little slow but I loved the graphics, costumes and special effects. Its definitely worth seeing. I've been enjoying catching up on rest this weekend and getting in the groove of my new meal plan. I'm off to another work week, but I've got a couple posts for this week. I'll be guest posting on Marcy's blog tomorrow! 

Now for a few of this weeks photos....

                                              

Post run

                                  

Loving all my supplements for my meal plans. I'm a huge fan of the vanilla whey mixed with orange
gatorade!

                                 

Me and my niece at her birthday. Love this pumpkin pie!

How was everyone's weekend?

Finish the....

Happy Thursday!!
I am so happy I am getting to post today and join in the linkup! You know I never miss these, and Thursdays are always good days for me to blog because I get Fridays off meaning I can stay up later today and get everything into my day! I do have a couple of fun and exciting things to share with you as far as weight loss goes, but you'll have to check back tomorrow!! 

Onto the linkup, I'm linking up with Holly and Jake! Go show them some love and linkup too!

Unlike my sibling(s) (that I love very much).... I'm always on time!

People call me... Funny, Picky, stubborn... mostly stubborn

I most often dream...Dreams where I get in scary situations and then no voice comes out when I yell

The best part of my day... Is usually my drive home and then right when I first get home. I like the drive to zone out and listen to music, I like getting home and seeing my pooch and husband.

I really don't understand... Country music, yuck! 

I get really annoyed... When things don't go as planned, when things take too long, anytime I have to be patient. Also get SO annoyed when someone wakes me up.

There's nothing like a... Fat girl Friday complete with champagne and going out to dinner. 

Lately, I can't get enough... WATER!!! OMG. It sounds really like a stupid answer but I've been creepily thirsty, to the point I think I over hydrate. Also, the voice. I am obsessed with that show and I hate myself for it I tried so hard not to like those shows. Anyone else like it?

One thing I am NOT is... A healthy eater, a morning person. Both things I am desperately trying to change. 

I spent too much money on... Right now, probably clothes? but those were for my new job. Otherwise, probably upcoming vacations. I try to live cheaply though, I'm in the writing biz doesn't pay much!

I want to learn.... Paddle boarding, always been something I really want to do but my husband hates oceans so we don't really do vacations like that. 

If I ever met _________, I would...Kim Kardashian, I would steal her money!!!

I can't stop... Sweating lately. Gross, I know. Our work hasn't had AC and its been almost 90 inside. Then I go to the gym and sweat more, come home where we have shitty AC and get drenched again.

Never have I ever... Eaten Nutella! I'm probably a loner there, but I'm not huge into peanut butter either. So, I don't know what all the rave is about.

Reese Witherspoon... Is one of my fav celebs, always will be. She's still smarter, prettier, a better person than most other famous people. Legally blonde love forever!

Me and My other man

Alright, I'm out for the night. Be back with a post tomorrow!!

Weekend Update

Hey everyone!
I've brought back the weekend update this week, and surprisingly I also have a couple other random posts drafted up for the week too! As usual I feel like I end the weekend waiting for the next one. This past week, its gotten hot. I went for a couple runs after work, what was planned to be 8 miles ended at 5 due to being so hot I could puke. I realized that this means I will be training this summer before work. Getting in runs and workouts at 5 am will be an adjustment, I get to work by 6:45 am and work 10 hour days. Tomorrow will be the first test of this but I don't have much choice. I can't give up time with my husband after work and I can't survive a substantial run in 85 plus degree weather. I will update on how this goes. :[ boo.
On to the weekend, I didn't do horrible with eating. Friday night started off a relaxing night at home and turned into watching dateline, skinny chicken lettuce wraps, and then going out for a couple glasses of champagne. That afternoon on my day off I got in an arm workout, lunch with my dad, grooming my dog, grocery runs, and a few random errands. Saturday was a sleep in day, we had our free pizza we had won- we got to take leftovers. I worked extra hours saturday night, like 8 hours. Needless to say this ended up being me needing extra sleep afterward. I know, so exciting. Sunday, we did go out for cinco de mayo. I got a couple margaritas and a grilled chicken burrito. We usually use Sunday as lazy day since I have to get up at 5 am tomorrow. We rented "Broken City" which is pretty good, worth renting for sure. We also watched "The Guilt Trip" which wasn't good at all. I could hardly get through it. I am currently waiting for the husband to cook breakfast for dinner while I type this. Skinny pancakes, hash browns and eggs.
I'm back to work again tomorrow, boo. I do really like my new job though. My goals for the week are 3 weight training sessions, 2 short runs, and 1 long run. Hopefully I don't get too tired. Sleep seems to take priority over a lot of things these days, including blogging.

I wanted to share my eats lately. Since I started working full time it has been SO much easier to eat healthy. Sure, it'd be easy to eat unhealthy too but it's easier in that no one is around asking me to go out and I'm staying focused and bring my own food. I've been really staying on track with eating a small meal every 2 hours. Today for example, I did my 6:30 am coffee, at 9:30 it was 1/2 a wheat bagel thin with 1 tbsp fat free cream cheese, 11:00 was a cheesestick and since that's not much I at Mexican salad at 12:30. I also had a fat free yogurt at 2:30 and the other half of my bagel thin at 3. I usually don't even have an opportunity for dinner until 6 or after but if I was going to run or the gym I would've had a protein shake at 4:30. Dinner is usually grilled chicken, tacos (lean beef or chicken), taco soup, whole grain spaghetti, or something similar. 

I am really focusing on losing some more weight now, and I hope making time for extra workouts will help. I'm just SO tired all the time. Aside from the pizza cheat this weekend though, its been going pretty good. I have a fun blog update and some other random posts coming this week, so I promise this won't be my only post this week! Thanks for reading! Happy Monday!

My 2nd 50 oz water and Friends. Hopping Sat. Night

The Puppys new hair

Dying after my evening run

Long Day at work, over it.

Anyone have any awesome weekend? Fun Cinco de Mayo?

Half Recap Part Two

Part two of the half marathon experience. Read part one here....

With about .7 miles left my husband came around a corner and found me. He had already finished the half (with a stellar time too) but he came to help motivate me. I guess it worked. He reminded me that he and my dad who came to see me finish were waiting.

 I was really glad my dad came up to see it even though I took forever and by no means came even close to my best time. It meant a lot to have someone waiting for me at the end. It really is a pretty big accomplishment for me even though my time sucked I have come a long way from the last 6 months. I really wanted to expand on this, mentally I really like having someone come and watch me finish a race because it gives me this extra motivator like I would be letting them down if I didn't do my best. 

Finishing this half marathon was a lot different than my other halves. I kind of didn't really feel all that accomplished at first. Looking back now, knowing how hard that race is though I am pretty proud that I even attempted it. I think that this is probably one of those pains that hurts so bad and yet good that I hate it so much right now but I will likely be back next year. If I can get a pass again. Finishing races always reminds me why I love to run. That feeling of accomplishment, of pushing your body past its ability is unlike anything else. Completing this half marathon in my city is like officially initiating yourself into the running community. I think I am officially a Boise Runner. 

I ate pretty clean the weeks leading up to the half, and after 3 cheat days I am back on track. After abusing my body like that, I chowed down on a juicy burger and didn't feel bad at all. I also had to toast with a glass of champagne, but it was kind of a rough recovery so I didn't drink much more than that. 

I spent this week recovering, I took 3 days off and finally hit some running and weight training. I'm planning a 6 mile run for Sunday because.... I have half marathon 4 on May 18th!! This means quick, condensed training but the fabulous news is that this one is all flat!! After that, I've got half marathon number 5 on June 22nd. These are the races I am registered for right now, I may or may not do a few more as part of marathon training this summer. 

I'm going to be plotting out my first marathon training program this weekend. I'm planning to start in june. This would be 4 months of training. Does anyone have any favorite training plans? Portland here I come!! 

How was everyone's week? Weekend?

First time back at the gym!

Me, post half

Me and my husband post half

Gettin my run on

New Fav workout Jam!! Get it!