Will Run For Ice Cream

Ya’ll, I’ve lost it. No really, I’ve lost it. I’ve struggled my entire life it feels like with nutrition related issues. But exercise for the most part has never been an issue for me. It was just something that I did. Sure, I’d get off track here and there. I’ve been known to blow off some training runs. I’ve missed workouts due to sickness and injury and life in general. But with those things I’m talking days, not weeks. Even when I was injured I found some way to stay active. Now, don’t get me wrong. My step count will tell you that I’m still on the move, but that’s my daily life movement. Without exercise, I’m averaging around 100,000 steps a week. If you read my last post ( Taking Time For You Is Not Selfish - It's Necessary ) then you know that I haven’t exercised consistently since September. Since that post, I’ve struggled to stay on track. In fact, I haven’t exercised since I wrote the last post. I will pause a moment for the collective gasp. So, I’m back here with you ...

Recently I reached a point where I stopped checking in with myself. I stopped asking what I needed. I stopped listening to those emotional cues telling me that I needed a break. It started when I got that horrid virus in September. It really took it out of me. For weeks and yes I said weeks the exhaustion was unreal. All workouts stopped, it became about just making it through the day. It was getting everyone fed, making lunches, planning dinner, struggling to get it all done, making sure homework was completed, getting laundry done... the list goes on and on. As I eventually recovered, I still kept pushing through. I didn’t check back in. I just kept going and going to the point that I reached that point. The point where you have to blow off steam, the small eruptions before the big one. Exercising was non-existent. Binge eating sugar became the norm. And my mini meltdowns became more frequent and larger and larger.

This post contains affiliate links. Well, when the stomach bug hits it's stop drop and clean up the puke. Lil Man has had it bad. I mean bad. I had to take him to the ER this week because he literally couldn't keep anything in. He's missed school. I've missed work, and everything has just been put on hold. Talk about holiday stress! At one point I touched my forehead to feel something only to find out that it was dried vomit. And no, not my own. I kid you not peeps, it's been a rough week! Thankfully, I had already finished my Christmas shopping. I just need a few last minute things ( wrapping paper for the big guy ), and some odds and ends. But if that doesn't happen, then you know, it is what it is. I haven't left the house in 5 days other than to take Lil Man to the ER or to the doctor. So today, I told Hubby that I just had to get outside to get some fresh air and clear my lungs of the stench of sickness. So I grabbed

Walking - who knew that it would be so simple yet so satisfying.  (And for anyone who may have missed it, you can catch up here on ( How I'm Adjusting To My New Normal ) But since distance running isn't a part of my life ( see above mentioned post ) I'm actually embracing walking. And I'm not currently talking about power walking, but just walking. Now keep in mind,  I am running twice a week and doing spin class weekly. So I have several days out of the week where I am pushing myself to improve my cardiovascular fitness. I realize that leisure walking isn't necessarily going to increase my cardiovascular fitness. But I will say that although my legs have been muscular for years, I think they are the

Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Find Your Trainer. All opinions are entirely my own. This post also contains affiliate links.  Do you have goals? Have you ever wanted to try something, but you weren't sure how to start? Do you need help making sure that your form is correct? Do you need the accountability to stick with a program? Would you like having access to someone who can answer your questions concerning your workout routine and exercises? Image source FindYourTrainer.com I have answered yes to several of these questions, and that is why I have worked with a personal trainer in the past. For me, it had a lot to do with form - especially concerning strength training. I didn't want to injury myself, but I also wanted to make sure that I didn't pick up bad habits when it came to lifting. Honestly, I could probably use a refresher course! But working with a personal trainer has been one of the best things that I could have done for myself. Because of p...

Enough is enough of this sitting thing... like.. no... really... I'm done. I was told that I could run - it would just hurt. So after about 2 weeks of just sitting and pain and basically just not moving, I couldn't take it any longer. I told myself that if I could get a shoe on, I was running or walking or something. Let me tell you, the shoe was painful! But, I got it on.. and I got on the treadmill. Cute Lioness skirt from Skirt Sports in Free Love Print  I can't really put into words how great it felt to just move my body again. I had said a mile,

Since I'm a 'runner', most of my workouts well... are... running. But with this injury ( Injured Again - Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome ) I'm turning to cross-training. And I don't mean just a temporary thing to do until I can run again.  Seriously, I don't plan to 'just run' ever again. I think this injury has really made me stop and think about my health goals.  As I said in a previous post, I don't plan to do anything back to back. And, when I can run again, I plan to either rest before running again or cross-train.  And, I'm finding that in the past, I made cross-training more complicated than it had to be. I considered it less important than running. When the reality is, in my opinion, I think it should be just as important as running. It doesn't have to be an activity to fill time until you can run again. Instead, it can actually be enjoyable.  And trust me, I never thought that I would say that! 

Full Disclosure: I received products free of charge for the purpose of providing a review. My opinions are completely my own based on my experience. Recently, hiking has quickly become a favorite activity for me and Lil Man. It's been a pleasure to watch him experience the outdoors. But I'm also finding that he requires more things that I do on a hike :)  The Skorch Waterproof Backpack couldn't have come at a more perfect time. Did I mention that it was waterproof?

Full Disclosure: I received products free of charge for the purpose of providing a review. My opinions are completely my own based on my experience. As most of you know, the preschool year is coming to an end here, and turkey season (hubby is a hunter) is for the full month of May < insert groan >.  So I'm having to get more creative with my workouts. I've been utilizing the playground ( Make Playgrounds Your Gym ) for strength training and cross training, but getting in run time can be difficult especially if I want to get outside. After our harsh winter and spending time on the treadmill, the thoughts of running inside when it's so beautiful outside just isn't something that I want to do. I pulled out the old jogger from last year and took Lil Man for a run. Wow, I could tell that he's bigger this year than last - and the old jogger isn't on the sleek side. So when I tried out the Thule Urban Glide , I couldn't believe the difference in how easy...

This past year I've tried tracking my calories, restricting food, detox teas, nothing 'too extreme', but the reality is I've gained weight instead of losing weight. I told myself that I really hadn't put on that much weight, but when it came time to try on clothes, the reality was in the seams - the bulging seams. Nothing fit - nothing in my entire closet. I found one pair of pants that I could still button - and they were snug. It was time that I stopped pretending that the 'scale' wasn't correct. The truth is, I have gained 10-12lbs over the past year. And my obsessing over the weight has caused  me to put on more weight. For me, personally , calorie counting made it worse. Don't get me wrong, counting calories and using calorie counting apps work great for a lot of people. However, I am the exception. I would see calories over nutrition. An apple with peanut butter can equal the same amount of calories as a serving of chips. Of course the appl...

Today's #TuesdayTidbit is about how sometimes doing what you don't want to do is exactly what you need to do. For example: You could do cardio all day long but hate doing strength training. Or you could do strength training all day long but you hate doing cardio. You prefer speed work over long slow runs so you stick with speed work but lack endurance. Or you prefer long slow runs and skip speed work. You've never uttered Namaste, but you can bench press your weight - you just aren't flexible enough to touch your toes. I think you get my point.

*This is a sponsored post. As you know, Running is my 'thing', but I'm also branching out and trying to make sure that I cross-train and strength train to try to work on any muscle imbalances. When I was doing Physical Therapy, it was quite evident that I have a lot of muscle imbalances. So as I'm healing, I'm trying to make sure that I incorporate other exercises into my routine. I'm hoping that it becomes a habit. Currently I'm doing yoga, strength training (both at home and the gym), and the elliptical and other cardio equipment. The hard part for me is trying to find the balance. Because as I've upped my other activities, my running has suffered a little since I've been so sore. But I'll find the balance. I'm learning to listen to my body. I'm not there yet, but I'm learning. If you know me, or have been following my blog, then you know that I usually don't skip on my workouts. And that means

Full Disclosure: I received products free of charge for the purpose of providing a review. My opinions are completely my own based on my experience. I am known as the... umm... Queen of Neon. Most of my clothes are very bright neon, and usually mismatched. Because, honestly, I run usually early morning in low light, and I want to make sure that drivers can see me. I do have a light up vest, but I also wanted a vest that I could use when I didn't need to be lit up like a Christmas tree. Let me show you the MuvePro Reflective Vest  (psst - it also comes with ankle bands)

Today's #TuesdayTidbit is about time - or lack thereof. I often have people ask me how I find time to fit in my workouts. Now granted, there are A LOT more people busier than me, so please don't get the impression that I think I'm the busiest person out there. I'm not. But like all of us, I am busy. And I thought

I am super super super super excited to be a part of the Lorna Jane Fit Challenge ( #LJFitChallenge ). This is exactly what I need right now - with my mileage being so low with my hamstring injury. I'm not able to jump back into my running or strength routine full force; so the #LJFitChallenge is exactly what I need right now.  I know that

Here is another #TuesdayTidbit. Being from Mississippi, I wasn't prepared for Pennsylvania Winters. Now, don't get me wrong, it gets cold in Mississippi, and I did my fair share of running in the cold, but I wasn't prepared for Pennsylvania. My first year here,

I'm like - really?!? I mean enough is enough. Do you know that for the last.. oh... at least 3 years this time of the year I have been injured with something. First it was the stress fractures from My First Half - Hershey Half Marathon  . And I have to say that the 3 stress fractures hurt less than the torn calf that I dealt with at the beginning of this year ( Injury Update - MRI results ) And now, well it's the hamstring. I haven't been to the dr ( yet ). But I don't really see the need at this point because really whatever it is it's going to be rest. I'm better than yesterday. So I'm planning on sticking with the plan of total rest (other than upper body) until next weekend. I did come across this article How To Maintain Fitness by Jenny Hadfield , and I plan to use this as a guide when I easy back into cardio again. But I do feel that I probably need to have total rest (no bike, leg weights, no anything) for at least a week to give it some time to ...

Full Disclosure: I received products free of charge for the purpose of providing a review. My opinions are completely my own based on my experience. I know that some of you use supplements - some of you don't. I'm on the fence. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. I'm not real opinionated about either view. I guess you could say that I have the take it or leave it approach as I have used supplements and other times haven't. I'm talking about protein powder or recovery drinks. I had the opportunity to try the  NeoCell Collagen Sport Ultimate Recovery . Although  these statements have been not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, NeoCell Collagen Sports Ultimate Recovery claims that the collagen  reorganizes  new collagen fibers and helps build connective tissue while strengthening the  extra-cellular  matrix. To my knowledge, the other protein supplements that I have tried have not contained a collagen supplement.  Thi...

Full Disclosure: I received products free of charge for the purpose of providing a review. My opinions are completely my own based on my experience. When I'm shopping for a headband, the first thing that I usually want to know is - Will the headband stay in place or is it going to slip off of my head? Then I want to know if it's actually going to help with keeping the sweat out of my eyes. Let me introduce you to the Bolder Band. My first thought was "wow, this is really a cute headband." But what I really wanted to know was is it going to stay put. And about a mile into the run, it slipped. But, if you notice the placement of the band, you will see that I'm not really wearing it where I should be. I had it too far back on my head. I should have checked out their video on the best way to wear the bolder band.  Once I moved it down during the run, it did not slip , it stayed put, and it felt great . I also have a small head, and there is one si...

Go big or go home-it's kind of been my motto with this marathon training. And I have to say, I think I'm going home. This definitely is not a post  that I ever intended to write. But I think I am going to bow out on the marathon for October 12. I'll pause a moment to let you collect your thoughts :( Why you ask? Well I'm just not sure that I want to do it. I believe enough in myself to know that I could finish the marathon. I even feel that I could possibly have a decent PR. But I also know that that means putting in a lot more hours, a lot of work, and I'm just not sure that I want to do it. See, I don't want to do another marathon just to complete another marathon. I want to do a marathon, and finally have a finishers time that I can be proud of. Because with the first two that really didn't happen. But I'm six weeks away and I'm tired. I'm physically tired-emotionally tired-and this really just isn't fun anymore. I know ...