It’s been a week and a half since I ran my first 1/2 marathon. I am finally coming off the high I had for the days following.  It really was that exhilarating. I’m not even joking about that. Don’t get me wrong, I felt like I was going to die or my knee shatter into tiny pieces (I’ll get to that in a minute) during the last 3 miles, but for about 5 days post race I felt the best I have in a long time. I don’t know if was the physical aspect, the adrenaline during the race, or just the pride I felt once completing it, but it felt good.

I didn’t get much sleep the night of the race. My alarm was set for 2:45am, but I was terrified I wouldn’t hear it and I’d miss the whole thing. So I dozed off and on for the 6 hours I was in bed, and eventually woke up before the alarm even had a chance to go off. I put my princess attire on, got all my race day gear and food together, and headed out the door. I rode with a few other women, some of which were training for full marathons. They were a bit intimidating, but offered some great advice.

There were SO many people there. We walked about 20 minutes to our starting corrals, took a bathroom break, and then lined up. It was insane, but super exciting. I think the fact alone that it was in Disney World pumped me up, and then seeing all the people in their costumes and the anticipation to run added fuel to the fire.

Another girl and I were in the same corral so we lined up together. Because of our potty break, we were in the back of the bunch so we made our way about half way through and patiently waited. Soon after we lined up, the Fairy God mother and a few other announcers came on a big screen and got the race started. I was in corral B so we had to wait our turn.

The Fairy God Mother and all the other racers shouted “bippity, boppity, boo” and it was on. Fire works exploded and people ran. Of course we had to wait for corral A to go first, but they had fire works for each one.

Once they got to ours I was ready to go. We made our way across the starting line and slowly picked up the pace. There were so many people that it was hard to get around everyone. I was weaving in and out, passing in the grass, and dodging slow people. This went on for about a mile or so, but it got whole lot better.

I felt so good for the first few of miles. My first one was a 8:15 min/mile. Awesome I thought. I knew I’d get slower as I went on, but I was shooting for a total of 2 hours and 10 minutes (around a 10 minute mile). I was at my goal at the half way point. If I would’ve stayed on track I would’ve finished in 2 hours 5 minutes. Then mile 9 happened.

My knee started to bother me. Great. I started having knee problems around Christmas time, but it had been fine for a little over a month. I thought I was in the clear. I kept going. I did not want to stop, but another 1/2 mile went by and I did. I was limping and upset.

I walked off and on for the next 2 miles. Every time I passed by the medical team I ran. I did not want them to see me limping for fear they would make me stop. At this point my goal time was out the window. All I wanted to do was finish. I got to mile 12 and started running again. Seeing all the family and friends cheering on their loved ones made me keep going. I didn’t want to stop that last mile.

As I saw the finish line approach I could feel my body tell me to stop. I crossed the finish line. I did it. I achieved a goal I made about 2 years ago.

Once I crossed and they placed the medal around my neck, all I could think about was water and sitting down. I did not like that they made you walk an extra 1/2 mile (or what seemed like it) to get water. They should have given you the medal and a bottle of water or Gatorade.

I walked to the finishers tent, got my knee wrapped, sat down and chugged a bottle of water. It was so humid and muggy, and I was dripping with sweat. It was gross, but I didn’t care. I ate some food and called Seth. He and the kids were waiting for me at the finish line. I think I sat there for another 15 minutes before I got up to meet them.

The kids were looking at me like they had no idea who I was. Maybe it was the crown on my head or being covered in sweat, but they were like uh, mom? Haha.

As soon as I got home I took a cold bath. It sucked, but it helped my muscles. Then I jumped in a nice hot shower. It was the best shower of my life.

My favorite part of the race was around mile 6. They lead you to the Magic Kingdom and you run down lit up Main Street towards the castle. You go through Tomorrow Land and the park. They lead you back through the castle while taking your picture. It was pretty awesome.

People ask if I would do it again. My response; in a heart beat. It was awesome, sucked, fun, exciting, painful, and great all at the same time.

I ended up finishing in 2 hours and 19 minutes (although my GPS said I ran 13.89 miles). Not too bad for a bum knee and my first half. Next time I will do it in 2 hours. That’s my goal!

This past Sunday a few of my friends, my mom, and I did the Color Run. I gotta say that it was a ton of fun! It reminded me of something I would’ve done in college. I haven’t participated in something like that in a long time.

If you are confused about what a color run is, well this is the run down. It is a 5k race (which is not timed, so most people walked it). There are volunteers that are stationed at every 1k and throw colored powder at you. Every kilometer is a different color, so by the end of the race you look like a beautiful (or rather messy) rainbow. What’s the point you ask? To have fun really. The proceeds went to the Harvest Food Bank and you get to have a lot of fun with your friends, which we did! See for yourself.

Before

All the people

{Photo from Anna Goins Photography}

See that little guy above? He is why I chose to run a 15k. His name is Aiden and is now in Heaven with the Lord, but he was my inspiration to run 9.3 miles.

This Saturday I am joining many other people from Central Florida to run/walk a 15k or 5k. The race, Miracle Mile, is to help raise money for the expansion of the NICU at Winnie Palmer Hospital, which is where I delivered both my babies. So far they have raised over $40,000!

Aiden was greatly taken care of in this NICU during his 3 months of life. It only seems appropriate to run a race to help expand the very place he had such great care.

But there’s more to the story. See, Aiden was born without a trachea, a case where there is little to no survival. Aiden survived. By the grace of God he lived and touched so many lives as he fought for about 3 months. He endured many surgeries and his little body went through a lot. People prayed, lives were changed, and Aidens memory will live on. He has a twin brother, who is oh so adorable by the way, and is healthy and thriving. He was in the NICU as well until he was strong enough to go home with his parents.

I want to run in memory of this tiny miracle. His life touched me and showed me that no matter how big or small you can press on. Keep fighting. Keep pushing. The Lord can give you the strength when you feel you want to give up. If this tiny baby could fight for 3 months without a trachea, then I can run 9 miles!

Thank you Aiden for your inspiration. And thank you Lord for this tiny person who changed so many lives. Jesse and Jessi, Aiden has touched so many and your little miracle has inspired my heart.

{Photo from Crickets Photo Art}

Yesterday I wrote about my weight loss journey post baby and what my exercise regime has been. Today I want to talk about food. Being healthy is a combination of exercise and healthy living/eating.

I just want to start by saying I don’t believe in crazy diets or fad diets. I believe in well-balanced food choices, healthier decisions, and not depriving yourself. With that being said, here is what my daily food plan has looked like.

Right now I am doing the 24 Day Challenge so I drink Advocare’s meal replacement shake. I love all the flavors (they don’t taste like nasty protein shakes), but I am a chocolate girl. But on a normal day I like to have a salsa egg wrap or scrambled eggs on whole grain toast, oatmeal, or a fruit smoothy. I find that eating sugary cereal only makes me hungry an hour later, so I’ve been staying away from those lately. Protein, fiber and whole grains make me feel fuller longer.

For lunch I normally have a salad, but sometimes I have left overs or chicken salad. I don’t use dressing anymore. I make my own. If I’m on a cleanse I only use balsamic vinegar mixed with Truvia (Stevia or Splenda). Other times I make dressing with any kind of vinegar, Greek yogurt, Truvia, and a little olive oil. Mix it all together and pour it on top. Also, if I have chickpea salad made (here is my latest favorite recipe) I will mix that with lettuce and put a little extra vinegar on. Yum! If you don’t like vinegar, try mixing greek yogurt with a bunch of seasonings (or an Italian/Ranch spice packet, just remember those have sodium) and olive oil. I also like to make wraps and my own flatbread pizzas. Use Flat Out brand wraps. They are only 90 calories and high in fiber! Here’s a link to my sweet potato humus too. It’s great with carrots for a snack.

There are so many ways to cook chicken. That is why I love Pinterest. I have found some great recipes through it! Just mind the cream sauces and salt. I always alter the recipes I find to be healthier (subbing sour cream for Greek yogurt, etc.) Here are a couple of links to some great tasting and healthy meals I have made. Monterey Chicken, Grilled Bruschetta Chicken. I also love roasted veggies! I could eat those with every meal! You can find a recipe for them here.

Another great site for any kind of healthy recipe is Dashing Dish. Her site has changed my eating and I just love her healthy takes on food. She is also a faith filled woman and for that I admire her.

Now here is my favorite after dinner treat, because lets face it; dessert always follows dinner. Put 4-5 ice cubes in the blender (I use a Magic Bullet) along with 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa, 3 tablespoons of Splenda/sweetener of choice, 2 tablespoons of PB2 (can be found here) or peanut butter, 2 tablespoons of oats, and 3 tablespoons of cottage cheese. You will not taste the cottage cheese, trust me. It makes it nice and thick. Add about 1/4 cup to a 1/2 cup of water or almond/coconut/ soy milk. You can alter any of those measurements to suit your taste, but I like mine nice and chocolately.

I hope that these last two posts have helped you change the way you think about food and exercise. I don’t like to call it a “diet” because I believe in a lifestyle change and making healthier choices to be a better, healthier you. Honestly, I want to continue making healthy food choices to be an example to my children. Yes, we indulged in pizza once in a while. Yes, we like to go out eat just like any other American, but it is occasional and not daily habits. Start by making small changes and you will feel a difference in not only your body, but your over all health.

I hope my words have been of an encouragement. Let me know if you have any questions. I will gladly answer them!

Let me start by saying (which I’m sure you already know) everyone is different. What may have worked for me may not for you, or you may need to alter the work outs to fit your time, lifestyle, and fitness level. I believe there is no “magic” weight loss pill, body wrap, or secret food. With hard work, dedication, and a well-balanced diet you will get the results you are looking for and maintain a healthy weight. It may take you longer, or you may lose it quickly, but don’t give up! Trust me!

With that being said, here is what has worked for me and how I lost the baby weight.

About  4-5 weeks after having Andrew I began working out again. I started slow. Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred was my go to work out, and I will be honest, it was hard. See, I hadn’t work out in about 7 months and I was about to pay for it.

Once I got the “OK” from my Dr. I started running again. My first run was only about a half a mile. I felt like such a loser because I was practically starting over again. Every run I gradually increased my distance until I was back up to 3 miles.

I didn’t stop there. I pushed myself (probably after about 3-4 months of running 3 miles) to run 4 miles. I hadn’t done that since before I was pregnant with Rylie! It felt great!

Jillian Michael’s Shred wasn’t cutting it any more so I added Insanity to my weekly work out routine. The title is correct–it IS insane. I was huffing and puffing through the work out for the first couple of weeks. I stuck with it, interchanging Insanity and running through out the week. I got stronger and started to see a change in not only my body, but my endurance.

At about 6 months postpartum I got this brilliant idea to sign up for a 15k–only 1 1/2 months away! I think I had a brain lapse or something, but I am so glad I did it on a whim (actually I signed up for it while in NYC for BlogHer). It’s pushing me to run longer and faster than ever before. It has given me a new goal and helped me lose those last stubborn 5 pounds.

I also started the 24 Day Challenge about 3 weeks ago. I cut out sugar, and let me tell you that was hard. I am a sugar addict. My body has adjusted, and I’m finding that I am not craving sugar like I use to. I made a ton of sweets for my parents anniversary party and I didn’t sample a thing. I didn’t want to. It wasn’t appetising. Maybe it was the stress, but I believe that my body didn’t want it.

As of right now I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight and feeling great! I encourage you to try something new. Limit your carbs to only whole grains. Cut out all that cheese (that was another problem of mine). Eliminate sugar! I have an occasional sweet now and then, but I don’t gorg myself with it any more. It has changed my life. The Advocare products along with the 24 Day Challenge have made me feel better, have more energy, and help me get back to eating right again. I will be done with the challenge next Friday, but it is not a temporary change. It’s a lifestyle change.

Here is my daily work out routine as of right now. I am training for a 15k in September, but you can shorten the long runs on Saturday’s to what you feel more comfortable doing. Just remember it’s about balance, replenishing and hydrating.

(Sunday is always my rest day)

I don’t always do the work outs in this order. Sometimes I move things around depending on Seth’s work schedule, Dr. appointments, or anything else that my prevent me from doing a particular workout on a certain day.

When I weight train I normally do both upper and lower body, unless I am doing a long run the next day. Then I focus on upper.

HIIT stands for high intensity interval training. It could be Insanity, but I usually do my own thing. There are a couple of workouts I found on Pinterest that I like, but I have my own I created. I will post that soon!

I would love to try Crossfit, but it’s just not in our budget (and I don’t have the time for it) right now. If you want to try something really intense, try crossfit!

Tomorrow I will post part 2; some yummy recipes and what a normal day of eating looks like for me. Being healthy is not only the physical activity, but what you put in your body as well.

Feel free to ask me any questions. I am an open book and would love to share my experience with you!

I had the most intense run last night. To catch you up, I am training for a 15k at the end of September. This is the longest race I will have run. After that I will be training for my first half marathon, the Disney Princess one! I am very excited, but nervous at the same time.

A friend of mine gave me a training guide for the 15k. I had seen some for the upcoming half marathon, but the one she gave me was specifically targeted towards this race. I quickly read through the workouts, and thought “no sweat”. As this week approached  I came across a run that I wasn’t too sure about; 6×800. Remember, I am a newbie long distance runner, so I had no idea what that meant. I asked her about it on Sunday and she informed me it’s an interval training day. You run at a very fast pace (about 8 min mile or under for me) for 800 meters and then repeat 6 times! That’s about a half a mile almost sprinting. She said that is a hard workout day and you should feel like you are going to die after words. I thought to myself “that’s only 3 miles. I got this”. Boy did it prove me wrong.

I warmed up for about a 1/4 mile and then began my first interval. By the end of the first 800 meters I was panting, out of breath, and ready to turn around and go home. But I kept going. It was brutal. I averaged about an 8 minute mile, which is 2 minutes faster than I’ve been running my long distance runs. And I have to do it again, but 8 times! At least I get a week break before that comes up again.

The whole point of interval training is to increase your overall speed. This is something I’ve been trying to do for a couple of months, but haven’t been successful. Thanks to a couple experienced runners (Jessi and Nanette) who are guiding me through, I might be able to accomplish my goals by race day.

My feet hit the pavement and I take a deep breath.

With every step I feel stronger, more alive.

I am alone. Nothing but the open road and my thoughts.

My prayers are lifted to God and I think about what’s ahead.

Sometimes they are thoughts about the day and other times about the future.

What will the kids and I do today? What will our lives look like in a year?

As the thoughts race through my head I breathe.

My heart is pumping and my body is moving.

No one asking me for a snack.

I don’t have to pick up a single toy.

It’s my time.

It’s 30 minutes to myself.

As I reach my destination my breath is heavier and my steps are faster.

I finish strong and sprint to the end.

My body stops moving and I feel accomplished.

I feel stronger than I did the day before.

I am greeted at the door with a hug and a kiss.

My daughter says “mommy you’re back” and I smile ear to ear.

Now it’s back to being a mom.

My favorite job in the world.

I stretch my body and take a few deeps breaths.

The pain endured is worth it in the end.

I look in the mirror and see a change.

It motivates me to keep going.

I feel stronger.

I have more confidence.

I am healthier.

That is why I run.

After having my first child, Rylie, I bounced back to my pre-pregancy body within 4 months. I am now 4 months postpartum with my second child, Andrew, and I still have 10 pounds until my pre-pregnancy weight. I’m sure it takes longer to lose the baby weight after having a second child, but I blame it on my laziness during my pregnancy. I exercised all the way up until delivery with my first. I ran for 5 months and then continued to do the elliptical until about 8 months pregnant. This pregnancy? Forget it. I attempted to work out for 2-3 months and then quit. My excuse was having a busy toddler and moving. The moving I can justify cause we were really busy, but now I get in a work out everyday with a toddler AND a baby. It can be done! No excuses!

I regret being a lazy bum this time around, but I learned my lesson. It’s taking me a whole lot longer to lose the weight and for a while there it was frustrating. I keep reminding myself that I was way out of shape after having Andrew, plus it’s only been 4 months! I am finally starting to see my hard work pay off and it keeps me motivated to KEEP GOING!

My diet consists of lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, little to no sweets during the week and just healthier food decisions. I love making home-made pizzas for lunch which really are just a tortilla with a bunch of healthy toppings. My favorite is honey mustard sauce (just honey mustard with greek yogurt), cut up apples, shredded chicken and a sprinkle of fat-free feta. Bake at 350 until golden brown. It is so good! If I am in the mood for pizza I do a tortilla (Flat Out brand is only 90 calories) pizza sauce, chicken, turkey pepperoni, and a sprinkle of cheese. I also take Advo Care products such as the muscle gain, spark, meal replacements, and post-work out recovery. Those are pretty much the only ones I can take due to breast feeding. The other very important thing I do is drink a lot of water. 96 oz a day to be exact. I mostly drink that much because of breast feeding, but it still would be important even if I wasn’t.

My exercise routine has gotten more intense in the last month or so.  I started out with Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred. Once I was cleared by the Dr. to exercise I added in running which was only about 1.5 miles. It was brutal, but I stuck with it. Now I am up to 3 miles (4 miles once a week) 2-3 times a week and I decided to take on Shaun T and his Insanity program. It really is insane, but I love it. It’s the only video that makes me feel the way I do after a run.

If anyone wants a work out buddy let me know. There are some fun apps out there that let you share your progress and results with each other. You can work out together with out being together. It’s a good way to stay accountable.

I hope to come back in a couple of months and share my final results. Hopefully I can lose that last 5-10 pounds with out getting discouraged.

I haven’t done a fitness post here in a long time because lets face it–when you are pregnant there is not much “fitness” going on. But now that my baby is here (almost 3 months!), I’m feeling great, and I have those extra pounds to lose. I’m ready to spend my extra time (what little of it I have) to banish this excess weight.

It’s hard to find time to exercise when you have a toddler and a brand new baby. Between the messes in the house and a needy baby, I have to work out when I see the opportunity.

I hear moms complain about not losing the baby weight–and their “baby” is 2. Honestly, if you aren’t putting in the extra effort you won’t lose the weight. You can’t keep your nightly bowl of ice cream routine if you expect to see the pounds shed. I do understand that some people have a harder time losing weight than others. Age, health, and stress can all play a role in this, but like you see on the Biggest Loser, anyone can lose weight it just takes commitment and determination.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when trying to shed those unwanted pounds. Don’t get stuck on the number the scale reads. Take note of how your clothes fit. You may see your formally tight jeans are now a little loose, but your weight remains the same. Remember muscle is leaner than fat so while you are losing bulky fat (that is if you are working out), lean muscle will be replacing it. Your clothes will fit better and you would look as “lumpy”. You don’t have to work out to lose weight though. Studies have found that dietary change, specifically eating less fat, produces more weight loss than changes in exercise. But it also shows that changes in one kind of behavior may help promote changes in the other, especially among women.

Snack throughout the day. This may sound counter productive but it doesn’t mean snacking on chips and cookies. It means eating things that will keep you feeling fuller longer and give you the energy you need throughout the day. Nuts, fruit high in fiber like apples, and even a plain rice cake with some peanut butter are all healthy options. I’ve gotten into granola lately. I made a toasted coconut granola that is excellent and it makes a great energy boosting snack.

Drink lots of water. Keep a big mug with you throughout the day and refill it as much as possible. It may seem like a struggle at first, but once you start drinking more water you will crave it. I still carry my big hospital water jug from when I had Andrew and I refill it 3 times a day. That’s about 96 oz! Granted I am drinking more because I am currently breast-feeding, but that’s all I drink. Also, drink a glass of water before you eat. It will help your stomach feel more full helping you not to eat as much.

Don’t keep things in the house that will temp you to eat them. This one is hard for me. I have a husband who loves his treats. I see those Oreos in the pantry and I am tempted, so I try to stay out of there as much as possible. I have really found that the less sweets I eat, the less I crave them.

Portion control is key. If you are eating out, try sharing. My hubby does not share but if I know my meal is going to be a huge portion I ask them to box up half of it before it is served (like at Cheesecake Factory. Those portions are huge!) Or you can order a lunch sized portion if it’s offered.

If you are super busy try exercising while doing laundry or making dinner. Do jumping jacks in between loads or while you are waiting for the water to boil. Do lunges instead of just walking through your house. Your kids may think you are crazy at first, but they will soon join in. Rylie loves jumping around when she sees me doing it.

Do work out videos. Anyone who knows me knows my love for Jillian Michaels. Her 30 Day Shred is perfect for us busy moms–or anyone who is busy for that matter. She has a new video out called Ripped in 30 and it’s the same concept. 30 days, 20 minutes, except this one has 4 workouts instead of 3. That is always a go to work out if I know I am pressed on time. If you want more of a challenge try Shaun T’s Insanity. It really is insane!

Get a work out partner. Even if you can’t work out face-to-face with somebody you can still use them as accountability. My mom and I use a phone app to track our runs. We can look at each others work outs and times. I think it really pushed me after I had Andrew to get back in to running. I would see her runs and it would encourage me to do it too. We call and update each other on our improvements, but we never do a single work out together. Just having

Don’t try extreme weight loss remedies. For example; cleanses that only allow you to drink some weird concoction or pretty much starve yourself. You’ll only end up gaining the weight back in the end. Make gradual changes. Remember that losing 1-2 pounds a week is ideal and healthy. You shouldn’t be doing this to get fast results. Make it a lifestyle change that will stick with you long-term.

I started the Advocare 24 day challenge April 5th. It’s basically a 10 day cleanse and then 14 days to replenish and tone muscle. I decided to take on this challenge because 1) I knew I didn’t go a day with out sugar 2) I want to tone and lose a little weight for our vacation coming up and 3) we are thinking of expanding our family sometime this year. I want to be healthy before hand so I can continue to be through my pregnancy.

The first day was difficult and not because I was hungry, but because I was having sugar withdraws. I never realized how much sugar I consume in just the morning alone. I typically have cereal or some kind of oatmeal for breakfast. Yes, I do eat the “healthy” cereals and oatmeal but they are still loaded with sugar. By 10am I was having the shakes so I grabbed an apple and some peanut butter to help get me through to lunch.

For lunch I had chicken salad with no mayo on a salad topped with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. In all honesty I wasn’t starving which is good. I was hungry enough to eat lunch and be satisfied afterwords. I don’t believe in depriving yourself food. We need food to survive, but it’s the type of food we put into our bodies and how much.

After lunch my sugar withdraw shakes went away. I went over to my grandmas with Rylie and was feeling great. No cravings, no shakes, and had energy. Then 3pm came around.

I sat down to watch the Ellen show. I started craving a cookie. I really wasn’t hungry, but I wanted a darn cookie. So I busted out some carrots and hummus to try and distract me. It did the trick at least for a little while.

Once Rylie woke up I was distracted from the cookies. I took her for a walk around the neighborhood and the rest of the evening went well. We had baked chicken, brown rice and steamed veggies for dinner. But once I put Rylie to bed I started to crave cookies again. Luckily I stocked up on fruit earlier in the week, so I ate that, finished my orders and headed up stairs for a work out.

Today is the 4th day of the cleanse and I am really not craving cookies or sweets like I was. I haven’t had any sugar withdraws since the first day and I feel great! I’m excited to challenge myself and complete this thing strong. Tomorrow Seth and I are celebrating our anniversary at PF Chengs. Of course I am going to cheat a bit, but this cleanse calls for you to be 80% on. I think one night out will not mess me up entirely. Plus, I will look at the menu before hand and figure out what my best and healthiest options are.

I also have a really tasty and easy recipe for anyone who is eating healthy and wants to enjoy something sweet. I’ll post that recipe tomorrow for those of you who are interested.