Just one day

That's all it has taken, for me to feel how good clean eating and my body get along. I know what you're thinking... Kristin, you've written a million posts about "today's the day, I'm starting over, one step at a time, etc" but really, once you know what to do and you do it... It feels great!

Breakfast
Banana
One egg two egg whites
Fresh mix of, tomatoes, green onions, peppers, garlic, cilantro, corn and black beans (pre-portioned so they are ready to be quickly thrown into the pan in the am)- do yourself a favor like this, you won't regret it
Bottle of water

Mid morning snack
Coffee
Greek yogurt (trying to get away from copious amounts of dairy, but I enjoy yogurt

Lunch
Left over homemade wild rice soup, complete with fresh veggies and wild rice straight from MN! :)
Water
Iced Americano with Splenda and half and half

Mid afternoon snack
Raw carrots and broccoli
Water

Dinner
Baked chicken and mushrooms with a light sauce over wheat pasta (try Murrays chicken, it's a little more expensive but had a ton of flavor and isn't treated with extra hormones and the chicken is very lean, not to mention treated well, too. We've been eating it for awhile now and really enjoy it!)
Salad
Water

There you have it, my version of clean eating for the day! Not necessarily all raw, nor all crazy out there foods you've never heard of. It's about making good decisions while allowing yourself a little freedom, did I "need" that iced coffee? No but it was good, and I didn't go for the Carmel frappe with sugary syrup, whip cream and carmel drizzle...(but ohhhh that would have been good)

To give you a quick glimpse of what my day looked like a few weeks ago it was something to this effect

Breakfast
Eggs and veggies (I started with good intentions)

Mid morning snack
Coffee
Sugary granola bar
Maybe a Christmas cookie

Lunch
Sandwich
Chips and dip
Cookie/bar
Probably whatever is in the kitchen at the office

Mid afternoon snack
Chips or crackers
Candy laying around the house

Dinner
Fish sandwich
Tarter sauce
French fries
Cocktail

Dessert
Cake/pie/something sweet

Now, even though I was eating that I KNEW, let me emphasize, I KNEW, better!!

I could have switched out the morning snack for yogurt, or fruit, lunch for a healthy wrap, salad or something fresh not loaded with sodium and condiments, traded chips/crackers for veggies, fish sandwich sans bun/tarter (use lemon juice) and with veggies or a salad (quick tip, typically down in key west, dinner specials are fish and veggies, and can run you $20.00-$30.00, order a fish sandwich and take the bun off, substitute veggies for fries and you have basically the same meal (more manager portions) and for a fraction of the cost) I could do without the cocktail for now and if I really "needed" that dessert, a small piece of dove dark chocolate usually curbs the cravings!

Make good decisions and remember, running is a pain in the ass, but it'll give you a nice one!

Never in a million years

Did I think;
I would be as physically active as I am now

I would be able to say I have 7 solid miles under my belt

I would say I enjoyed running

I would be setting goals for myself that begin with 13.1 and end with miles

I'd find such support and encouragement through this journey

I would be able to soak up this gorgeous view everyday (picture below)

While running in Key West that my fleece lined running tights would come in handy not only in Minnesota but also in Key West!

Running is a pain in the ass but it'll give you a nice one.

Just down and back

...is what I heard from Bill, after running down the the White Street Pier and doing a compilation of burpees, sprints, planks, even bear crawls through the sand.

Now, those three little words, "down and back" seem small, perhaps even easy?

Not to be fooled, those three little words meant down to Bertha Street and back to the studio, and all though the distance may be short (little under 3 miles total) after calisthenics on the beach, 3 miles is tough.

I told him it was tough, but I made it through and it even feels better after its DONE, he said "join the club" :)

Anyone who has been physically active knows the "feels so good it hurts" burn in the muscles, that soreness that is indicative of a good past workout. Even though I know I'll be sore, I know it'll be difficult and I know it'll push me... if I can remember to look past all that and keep focused on my goals I'll forget about the burn and the sweat in the eyes.

I'm proud and honored to be part of an unwritten "club" that enjoys a good work out, a little muscle soreness and certainly a great deal of accomplishment.

What will you do today?

Running is a pain in the ass but it'll give you a nice one.

We are dedicated...

Just got in from a 3 mile run... Can't say I've blogged lately but today is a new day. I've been saying for weeks even months, "getting back into it" "starting over" but it wasn't until I truly realized, or should say admitted to myself that, yes I have the tools but I'm not self disciplined enough to do it alone.

I need the:
extra push
accountability
group setting
consistency
knowledge
and good old, encouragement (you know it you like to hear you're doing well, too)

With all that being said, I also need change, change in my diet, exercise routine and, trainer. Raquel fit perfectly for what I needed in the beginning and many months to follow; working on beginning running, strength, spinning, etc. But now as I'm nearing the half marathon, I'm looking for guidance from someone who is well versed in the running world, and can run along side me.

Even after our first run together, I'm feeling more confident and better about myself. I was pushed harder, taught more and ran faster for a period of time. Bill, with Ultimate Athletics has brought the love of running back out of me in a short 30 minutes. Telling me "you'll get back to the point if loving running"

I want to so badly be there.

Through all the huffing and puffing and even though a point that I didn't think I could come out...words of encouragement seemed to surround me. I know it was a short run, and a very short period of time in both of our busy days, but for those 30 minutes I was reminded again why I started running...

for me

and I CAN and I WILL complete this half marathon!

Running is a pain in the ass, but it'll give you a nice one

(I'm going to upload a photo every week- change is coming, I can feel it!!)

not again...

If you've been following my blog I'm sure you're thinking, "she's already written numerous blogs about getting back on track".

My answer to you: yes, indeed I have. This goes to prove that working out, weight loss, getting healthy and making changes aren't easy, hence another "back on track" blog.

My tips
- anticipate your meals for tomorrow (ie. last night we had grilled chicken so I asked my husband to grill an extra piece for a salad for lunch)
- if sorting and pre portioning help, portion away!
- I'm not saying fill your fridge with only lettuce and celery, but...finish the ice cream, give away the cookies and stay focused. Those things will make their way back, eventually. I know for myself I follow the "out of sight, out of mind" saying.
- With that being said, find something to fix those cravings. Sometimes one small piece of Dove dark chocolate does it for me (the serving is 5 so I feel good about one piece) or green tea with Splenda and a little milk.
- Eat, eat, eat throughout the day!! When I was loosing the most weight I was eating 5-6 small meals rather than breakfast lunch and dinner.
- Find me on my fitness pal. (kjkamm)
- Set goals and get out there!
(These are in no way affiliated with anything research related, just a few things that I know work for me)

I usually take Mondays off, but... I signed up for a Zombie Run this evening. More like a zombie obstacle course... I'll let you know how it goes.

Started today with coffee, one egg three egg whites and turkey sausage. Better than the sugary cereal that is in my cupboard. Snack for today consist of Greek yogurt, almost and dried blueberries Lunch is a nice big mixed green salad, grilled chicken, a little garlic feta, and olive oil dressing. Followed by A LOT of water!!

Running is a pain in the ass, but it'll give you a nice one :)

6:10am or not at all...

My alarm went off at 5:30am, I was restless for about 20 minutes until finally something clicked and I put one foot in front of the other as I got out of bed.

Strength class begins at 6:15am and typically, I like to be there at 6:00am so I can set up my weights and get everything in order, however today...I got there at 6:10am...but for me, 6:10am is better than not going at all.

I'm going to take a minute and toot my own horn; recently it's been more and more difficult to wake up and work out, even difficult to resist the foods I know I don't need. It's the small successes!

I told Raquel that I'm just not committed right now to continue with personal training. I was paying to work out, run and have her look at and critique my food...but my food had been slowly slipping. To me, I was "undoing" everything we had worked on together. And yes, she can help to support me but before I get that extra push of motivation from someone else, I need to find it inside of myself.

So, now I am on my own.
Getting to class on my own.
Making good food decisions on my own.
And most importantly...
Continuing to do this for my self.

Somethings that I want to leave you with:
What are you doing for yourself?
How do you get motivate?
What's your favorite most satisfying "cheat meal"?
Consider an upcoming race...1/2 marathon training begins November 1, 2012

Running is a pain in the ass but it will give you a nice one ;)

Life happens

Where do I begin??

Maybe, I've already answered that question...I should begin with, life happens.

Set my alarm for 530a and before I know it, it is 1030p and I'm doing everything I can to get into bed.

I'm still logging my food using "my fitness pal" and sending the summary to Raquel. I feel good but I'm not loosing like I would like to. I can afford to say good bye to a few more pounds while I'm on my way to getting even more healthier.

Still running, still going to class and still eating desserts. It's a battle everyday, but I rather battle it now when I can!!

The photo here was taken earlier this week, it's hard to tell but the compression shorts/spandex are 5a bit big... something I can't explain about the feeling of putting on clothes that used to be too tight that now are too loose.

Running is a pain in the ass, but it'll give you a nice one!