Category Archives: Healthy Living/Running

Lookout for Fatty Friday Back Soon

Written on May 25, 2012 in Healthy Living/Running

Please welcome Janet as my guest poster today. I asked he if she would be willing to share her journey through weight loss, and she has been candid enough to share it here with you. I hope you will show her some love – leave a comment, and visit her blog. ~ Ghada

I talk a little on my blog about my weight loss struggles, but it always helps to share it around in other places. When Ghada said she wanted some guest posts about real life, this is the first thing I thought about. I haven’t updated my own readers about my struggle lately so maybe this will inspire me to get back into gear.

Hubby and I started a new eating plan in May 2010 when we were both at our highest. I was 345.6 lbs on May 1, 2010 and he was over 450 lbs. We were working with a company who provided a high protein, little to no carbs, diet combined with weekly weigh-ins, appetite suppressants, and B12/B6 combo shots weekly. Around October/November 2010, I had lost almost 90 lbs and I was somewhere around 255-260. Hubby had lost over 160 lbs and was teetering on going under 300 lbs. Then, the Holidays hit.

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Fabulous Time at FITNESS Meet & Tweet #FitBlogNYC

Written on May 17, 2012 in Featured, Healthy Living/Running, New York

Yes, I left with one of those boxes of RealFlex Transition shoes from Reebok

It’s been a week since the inaugural FITNESS Meet & Tweet that was held in New York, yet my mind is still buzzing from the information that was exchanged and the other bloggers I was able to meet. Like all good conferences, it takes awhile to digest and pick through all the information that I consumed with my eyes and ears and to pick out what was most relevant for me.

Their were some interesting speakers who touched on diet, fitness and even makeup and beauty, but the most relevant to me were the sessions on How to Turn Your Blog into a Business and Gym to Street: Fashion Tips That Will Help Stretch Your Spandex Beyond the Gym. I wrote more about FITNESS Magazine Fashion Editor Argy Koutsothanasis’ fashion presentation for Stylehunter.com. What I most liked about what she had to say was this…

Confidence looks great on everyone.

- Argy Koutsothanasis, FITNESS Magazine Fashion Editor

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Mamavation Monday: Rocking the Skirt

Written on May 15, 2012 in Healthy Living/Running

Not too too much to report except I did 4 miles for the Social Fabric Virtual Race along with a few other small runs last week. It was nice to know that they will be donating $1 for each mile I ran. I would have loved to have ran more, but with new shoes you just can’t push too much. The shoes felt great, but at the same time I really felt different muscles being worked, so best to wear them in slowly as they are more minimalist than I am used to.

Did I mention I also got to meet some new and old friends at the FITNESS Tweet & Meet, including one of our very own Mamavation Moms (@weightsover) and @Momma_Oz? Their were some interesting discussions and the swag was unbelievable. I am still working on a recap post and should be able to link to it next week. Little Miss 6 months was there with me and it made me very proud that their were a few mamas who were envious that she was with me while they left their littlies at home I missed out on the workout at the end of the day, but I’m so happy I didn’t miss the whole day because I was unsure if baby would have been welcomed. It was a great crowd and I cant thank our fearless leader enough for putting me on to this one.

- image courtesy of Steven Meyer

The weather continues to play havoc with me getting out and about for runs – its either raining cats and dogs or sweltering hot. Though I love sunshine, I don’t do to well in hot hot heat. I’m prone to heat exhaustion, having collapsed once when I was a camp director – not a good look. If I can get out early in the morning, I’m sweet. Let’s just say there is no way I would have been running in the recent record breaking hot temps of the Boston Marathon.

We just got a kid’s yoga DVD and Mr 4 loves it! So this has been a great addition to the days where he is at home with me. As always, I’m just focusing on something small each week (food wise). I’m still doing green smoothies about 3-4 times a week and feeling the benefits of that, including less sugar cravings and the fullness from the fiber.

Next Monday when I update my inlaws will be here from New Zealand. I am really looking forward to seeing them as well as seeing how my exercise and eating is with them around.

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Mamavation Monday: Quick update

Written on May 7, 2012 in Healthy Living/Running, New York

It’s Monday morning and I’m trying to remember what I did last week. It’s all a bit of a haze of rushing around trying to get things done in between a whole lotta rain. My eating was way off last week, as I seemed to have so much on and was not able to keep up with eating right and all of my commitments. I let my sweet tooth take over and I suppose the more sugar you have, the less clarity you have, uuugh…not going to let that happen this week. I had a fantastic weekend, getting in a run on both Ssturday and Sunday – one pushing little Miss 6 months and one by myself. When I went out by myself, I really focused on my breathing – taking long deep breaths at intervals, shaking out my shoulders and making sure to drop them. My strides felt long and strong. Have I mentioned I love running?

So, this week, be damned the rain I need to get my run on! I’m lucky enough to be attending The Fitness Meet and Tweet on Wednesday and meeting some awesome peeps including some fellow Sistas, as well as taking part in the Social Fabric virtual 5K on Friday. I’m on track to finishing the 26.2 miles for the Joggermom Marathon by the end of the month, and have my fingers crossed to win some great prizes while I’m at it.

This is what I see on my runs in the morning

So, while the balance between “having it all” as a mother, someone who enjoys exercise and work still continues to shift all the time, I’m pretty positive I’m getting better at it every day.

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Introducing Joggermom Marathon and a Giveaway

Written on May 3, 2012 in Giveaways, Healthy Living/Running

Do you remember how I said earlier this week that ANYONE can run a marathon right now? It was in reference to the Joggermom Marathon happening now. Though officially registration closed on April 30 so that everyone could run their race through the month of May, there are still spots available through late registration til May 15.

Why register for the Joggermom Marathon?

I’m doing it, so we can support each other! It’s a perfect way to kick start your spring running, either do small runs and space it out over the month, get a few long runs in and you’re done, or a combination of both. The joggermom Marathon website has tips for staying motivated through the month, playlists, and tools to help you calculate your mileage.

But wait! There’s more! It’s not about how fast you go, it’s just about finishing. Everyone who finishes the 26.2 miles by the end of May is in to win some pretty awesome prizes. I’d be happy to win just about any of the prizes, but the BOB Stroller is at the top of my list.

Win it!

Kelly (@Joggermom) has been nice enough to give me one ticket to giveaway to one of you! To be in to win just leave me a comment below answering this question

In a perfect world, what would make it easier for you to keep up with your fitness routine?

My answer to the question would be perfect weather! I love running in the rain, but the logistics of running in the rain with a dated stroller are nightmarish. So, in a perfect world, my ideal running conditions would be not too hot and humid, a slight breeze and just enough sunshine. I would get those conditions on any day that I wanted to run. Ok, your turn now.

Good luck! Comments will be closed on Wednesday, May 9 at 9PM. Only one entry per person please.

Check out Joggermom on Facebook for more updates on the Marathon.

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Mamavation Monday: The Curious Case of my Shrinking Butt

Written on May 3, 2012 in Healthy Living/Running

Skinny jeans are my new best friend! Holds everything in

Note: This is my super duper late Mamavation Monday post that has been sitting in my drafts since Monday. I’ve had internet issues all week, so I finally got it posted. Yeah! See you for my next update on Monday. Interested in joining the Mamavation Sistahood, go here.

Last week was pretty full on for some reason. Momentum has been building here on the blog and ideas for how I want to progress professionally are starting to take form. Though my brain seems to race ahead faster than life itself. I was a little burnt out by the end of the week and hubby suggested we meet up at Mr 4.5 year old’s preschool for Mexican on Friday. It was a GREAT idea, Of course I didn’t drink but had a big ole burrito! Running is going so-so, but I was motivated nonetheless to just get in what I can and am looking forward to the Joggermom Marathon, the Brooklyn Half, Mamavation 5K and the BlogHer 5K. I’ve come to the realization that the logistics of getting away to ‘real’ races will continue to be a mission for the next couple of months, with subway rides and 2 kiddies to account for before getting to the starting line in the early morning.

With that realization is also the idea that everything happens for a reason and eventually everything falls into place. I took my measurents well over a month ago, but didn’t weigh myself. I hate hate the scale and find it is never a true representation of how being active makes me feel or how I look. When I drink heaps of water and green smoothies, my skin glows. When I run, I have more energy and I want to run more. A scale cannot measure any of those things.

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