Luna bar and 40 days.

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! My weekend was great other than waking up Monday morning to snow. It defiantly looks beautiful but hopefully this will be the last week.
Last week, I was sent a box of new Luna bars from you beauty.  It's the new Luna fiber bar, and they're awesome! I got the chocolate raspberry, which was a chocolate cookie with raspberry filling.  I eat a lot of candy so I'm trying to hold back the urge and eat more "healthy" options as snacks.  Candy is my biggest diet problem.  I could eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

There are 40 days until the Pittsburgh marathon.  I'm getting ready to run my very first half and I can honestly say that I haven't been training like I should be.  I run or workout at least 5-6 days a week but it's more strength training then running.  I have a really hard time running in the cold with my asthma and we're still getting snow, so that threw me off my schedule a little bit.  A few weeks ago I had a seven mile run that did and felt great afterwards.  I'm not as worried about my first run as I should be because this is my first run.  I'm still going to train hard for it.  My goal for today is to go to the local running store and get my feet fitted for a new pair of runners.  My calves have been killing me this past week and I realized that I've had my running shoes for almost a year so It's time for a new pair.  I went running Saturday and couldn't do two miles without so much pain that I couldn't walk. So, after going home and to work a night shift, I decided to try my cross trainers yesterday.  I did 4 miles of hills with minimal pain.  I'm so torn when it comes to buy new running shoes.  I hate new running shoes because I can never tell which shoes are best for my feet and my favorite running shoes are black, all black.  Pretty much all you can find now are colorful. So I might have to make a change.  I am committed to having a new pair of shoes by the end of the week, and my running goal is to do 9-13 miles on Sunday morning.  Happy Easter to me! 

What are your favorite kind of running shoes? Are you picky about the color? 

First Half Marathon Thoughts.

Guess what?! There's 44 days until the Pittsburgh half marathon! I'm kind of nervous but kind of not.  I was more nervous after I clicked the "Submit your entry" button.  My thought after I did that on October 3, 2012 was,"Oh, shit! Now I have to do it!" So with this post I want to share my thoughts and advice leading up to my almost one month away from my first half marathon since I posted a few weeks ago here:

1.) Stop killing yourself training. As soon as I start telling myself, "I HAVE TO DO THIS." Shit goes down hill fast and I stop wanting to workout. I started to workout because I want to be healthy and cross this off my bucket list.  Really, 4 or 5 years ago, running a 5k was just a thought totally a reality. 

2.) Don't pressure yourself on your finishing time: When I first started My goal was to finish this in 1:45:00. Then I realized about 4 months into training that my Nike app was completely off. My new goal is 2:10:00 but seriously, if I don't hit that goal, it's not a big deal.  I'm more concerned with crossing the finish line without passing out and needing oxygen. 

3.) Cross-Train: I probably cross train more than I run.  Maybe not. But, I kickbox, do yoga, and also lift weights(not heavy ones)[Just kidding...I'm getting some pretty sick guns]  Always make sure that you're doing something active everyday.  One day of lazy rest makes it a lot easier to quit all together.  

4.) Take rest days: That kind of goes against what I said in number 3. Get over it. On my rest days, I try to at least do yoga or work at my weekend job (I'm always on my feet) If you have an injury or are really sore, take a whole rest day all together.  At least try to do something with minimal activity though.  Go for a walk or do a few minutes of floor exercises. Do something! 

5.) Your diet is just as important: I'm not saying go on some crazy fad diet or all organic, but cut out the fast food cheeseburgers. Seriously.  If you have to have it once in a while, fine. You're in training mode now, no more alcohol, fast food or overly processed food.  Hello water,  fruits and veggies! Let yourself have something small everyday.  It will keep you on track and you won't binge it your favorites all at once. My treat everyday is chocolate. I can't give up dark chocolate, I love it too much.  I usually try to eat a protein bar with chocolate in it to get my fix. Really though, bodies are made in the kitchen.  You'll feel so much better when you eat healthier. 

My best advice to fellow first time half/full marathoners, 5k-ers, 1 mile-ers: Do this for you.  Have fun with it. Don't make it a chore, that's not why you signed up in the first place.  I've learned in the past year of training that the real runners and supporters could seriously care less about your time.  They care that you made the honest effort to finish. That's what I love about fitness and running.

For more awesome fitness advice, leave a comment or send me an email :) 

Bulu Box.

I recently became a bulu box ambassador.  I bought three months worth of boxes last month and I loved them so much that I became an ambassador.  Bulu Box is the first company that personalizes vitamin and supplement boxes with 4-5 samples a month. You pay for as many months as you want upfront and once that subscription is over, you buy more or just leave it go. So you never have them emailing you for more subscriptions.  

Last night I tried my first sample of dream water.  Dream water is made to help you sleep and relax.  I've never taken any kind of sleeping pill or anything to help me sleep other than advil PM so I was a little nervous to take this.  It was awesome! I took it when I got home from the gym because I was planning on taking a shower and going to bed. As soon as I laid down I fell asleep.  I slept well too.  Usually I wake up a bunch of times through the night and last night I didn't.  I defiantly recommend this! 

Enough of that. We're down to 45 days until the Pittsburgh Marathon! I'm freaking out.  I read a blog last night about being "undertrained" and not caring but doing better in a race, so I thought I would skip the gym.  Yeah, that last until 8:30pm. I made it to the gym around 9, which was awesome because there wasn't anyone there.  It also helped that I went during the Pens game and RMU basketball game. I did two miles of speed work, which I did way better than I thought I would. Then I worked on strength training.  SInce I did speed work last night, I think tonight I going to work on speed with hills. 

I'm defiantly planning on going for a half marathon run this weekend. I need to just do it and get it over with so that I'm confident in myself for doing it. 

How long were you nervous for before your first big race?

I'm not going to lie, I've been nervous since I started training.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Yesterday was the Fat bird run/walk 5k at Nemacolin.  It was in the 30s when I woke up in the morning so I was nervous that it would be freezing but when we got there it was in the 50s, so perfect running weather.  My dad took me so I didn't have to go alone, which was really nice because I haven't seen him in a really long time.  It gives you a little extra motivation to get to the finish line fast when you know some us waiting for you at the end. 

This was the first time I was ever a single digit number so I was pretty excited! I ran one of my fastest miles of 9:16 as well.  I still finished around 31 minutes, which isn't the best but I was defiantly happy that I worked on hills friday before I went because it was defiantly 3.1 miles of up hill both ways! 

This run was sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters and 100% of the proceeds went to the organization.  That's usually the only time I like to sign up for races.  If it isn't benefiting something I feel like I can just run on my own. I love knowing that I can help a charity out and have fun as well. Oh, and there was beer. I love beer. That was the first thing I said when I crossed the finished line, "I want beer." It was the day before St. Patrick's day, you have to have beer.  

This is the last race before the half marathon.  I'm still pretty nervous but I think I'm going to go off of my training course and go for a 13 mile run next weekend. After my 7 mile run last weekend, I feel really confident about it. This was the first race that I was concerned about myself and only myself.  This will be my biggest problem during the marathon, I'm always concerned about what other people are doing and how fast they're going because I don't want to be last.  I know I won't be last and my only goal is to make it to the finish line without needing paramedics and oxygen! 

How was your St. Patrick's weekend? 
Did you do any races or anything fun?

Clean Eating.

So I'm two weeks into hard training, like everyday training.   I can see changes in my body and muscle is building pretty well.  Besides training, I'm eating extremely cleanly. If that makes sense? No highly processed food, no alcohol (except for tomorrow because I get a beer at the end of my run. There aren't many more exciting things then that.) The foods that I eat the most of are:
-Bananas 
-Greek yogurt
-Eggs
-Peanut butter (a little more then what's probably healthy) 
-Cofee

Those are just foods that I eat pretty much everyday. Something I learn from the years of dance that I've had, I've learned that your "practice" is your rehearsal. When you rehearse, you rehearse the same way that you would if you were on stage, right? So that's what I do. My long runs on on the weekend, so the week leading up to that long run, I'm eating and testing food before those long runs, that way, when it comes to the big day I'm confident and ready to go. 

My breakfasts, lunches, and snacks are consistent daily. I'm not sick of those foods yet. My dinners however, change.  They change weekly, by the amount of time I have to cook, and by how often I get sick of them.  I always eat a meat or fish; rice, wheat noodles, or orzo; and a vegetable.  Healthy portions and no fattening dressings. Here are some examples of my daily eating:

Weekend breakfast: fried egg, brussel sprouts, banana,turkey bacon

Whole wheat noodles with spinach and diced tomatoes

Peanut butter the size of my lunch box

Salmon with lemon pepper, brown rice, veggies

End of day snack: Luna Protein bar

Those are just examples of my eating with training.  My body feels a lot better than it has in a while. I don't eat fast food and usually when We go to dinner, I get really sick.  I don't spend a lot on food either.  I probably spend $150 at the grocery store a month for myself. 

Fact: There's exactly 50 days until the Pittsburgh Marathon! Are you ready?! 

Why am I doing this?!

So this weekend was the first nice weekend in a very long time.  I needed to get a long run in so I used Sunday for it.  Even though for the first time in a long time I didn't get out of bed until 8a.m, I got ready and went to the park for my first long run before the Pittsburgh Half. My sister was supposed to meet up with me to run a little so I sent her text before I left saying that I would be at the park and to not call until she got there because I would be running.  When she finally got there I had already ran my 7 miles and walked a mile and a half cool down lap.  She's so fantastic that she brought be coffee! I love coffee. 

Once we finished our coffee and she had her bagel, we walked around for a slow two miles.  As we were talking, she asked what brought up all this exercise and why I was so into running a half marathons now. She said it was very admirable but she just wanted to know what conspired all of my ideas.  I told her that there were a lot of things and I could just pinpoint one reason. I kind of held onto her question for the rest of the day and I really started to think about it.  Why the hell would I want to run and work out as much as I do? Currently, I work two jobs, sometimes I work for almost an entire month without a day off but I still find time to run and work out.  As I took the rest of the day to think about it, I came up many reasons. [ Most were my top-of-my-head answers to my sister when she asked] I'm going to share these with you.

1.) As a child I got made fun of so bad for being heavy and over weight that I went home crying almost everyday and when my mom would try to call the school, nothing would get done.  Though I'm only 23 and haven't lived very long,but I don't remember a time when i was so miserable than when I was in the third to seventh grade. I'm not going to lie, seeing the girls that used to make fun of me for being "fat", "ugly", and "over weight", that are now twice my size makes me so happy. It's so mean and cruel but I get a secret excitement when I see them out. They made me ABSOLUTELY miserable.

2.) 4 years ago, I couldn't run a mile without stopping.  I went running with a really good friend after work one day and we were only going to go a mile.  Pretty much every few feet I kept asking if we were there yet.  It was pretty embarrassing but a few days later we found out that  I had asthma and I never want to feel like that again. 

3.) It's supposed to make your asthma better. So, have you seen the commercial where the girl is talking to the guy and she tells him that they can't post anything on the internet that isn't real? And her new boyfriend walks over that looks kind of mediocre and she says she met him on the internet and he's a french model? Yeah, that's me. I believe a lot of things that I see online.  Not everything, but positive motives towards health I do. If someone tells me that running will help my asthma, then I'm running. Now, I'm on a lot of medicine and it's going to be a very long time before I'm off all of it but if it helps me to breath, then I'll do whatever I can. 
4.) One day my sister and I were running together and she said that she thought it would be cool to finish a marathon or half marathon.  At this point in my life, I'm not getting younger. I'm not old either. But, if I don't do this now, when will I? I can't keep saying I'm going to do it.

5.) Though, my gramma was my best friend, I don't want to be like her. My gram had a lot of health problems.  So did the rest of my family.  We were a lot alike too.  I worry like her, we always had the same opinions on things. I love her but I don't want to go through what she went through in her last 5 years.  

6.) There are so many health problems that run in my family and I don't want that to happen to me. When I went to the pulmonary doctor for the first time, they send you a packet to fill out of health issues with your families heart and lungs. Yeah well, I ran out of room writing things down just for my immediate family. Isn't that awful? Almost every person in my family has something wrong with either their heart or lungs. 
7.) I could never understand how those people could run for so long without stopping. I wanted to be one of those people.  I envied them. I I would run a little while and huff and puff a walk. Now they are leaving before I'm finished running.  It makes me happy to know that I am one of "those people".

8.) I feel better about myself. Most people will tell you this.  Working out sucks.  Once you're finished or starting to lose weight, you'll start to feel so much better and energized.  It will help with stress too. 

So, those are most of the reasons I have as to "what brought up my exercise addiction". I'm sure I can't find more, but those are the first things I think of when someone asks, what brought this up. I wasn't always athletic.  I was in a lot of sports and I kind of looked athletic but I wasn't athletic. At all. I'm finally happy with my body and proud of how far I have come and will go. 

Your turn! 

What brought up your "reason to run or workout"? 

How do you feel now?

A good doctors appointment and some goodies.

Yesterday was my 3 month appointment at the pulmonary doctor.  I was surprised at how well it went.  I'm still currently on all the medicine that they put me on the last time, but I'm feeling better.  I remember times when I was absolutely miserable in the heat and cold because I couldn't breathe and I'm not feeling that anymore.  It probably helps that I'm on 4 different medications twice a day, but hey, whatever makes you feel better.  I even got a prescription changed to the another brand for a little bit of a cheaper price a month.  That was pretty exciting! Since my appointment went well, I don't need to go back until September.

Since I got to leave work a little early, I finally got to go to a store near my doctors office that I never get to go to because they're always closed! Where I live, we don't have a Whole Foods or many "natural" or organic stores.  I live in a small town that has been taken over by bars, pizza shops, churches, and newly developed dollar stores.  I hate dollar stores. So when I finally got the chance to visit Nature's Way, I took it.  I went in with a list of sale items: Chia seed($7.99) Chocolate macaroons ($3.79) Tea (2/$5).  What did they have out of all of that? Nothing. The sale ad that I was looking at was for every store so I knew that they may not have what I was looking for.  I still found some goodies though! 

Organic buckwheat pancake mix,
organic flax seeds,
wild raspberry hibiscus tea,
banana nut bread Clif bar

I bought the buckwheat pancake mix for my fiance to try since he love pancakes and waffles.  Since I went in originally for chia seeds and they didn't have them, I thought i would try flax seed.  The flax seed was a quarter of the cost of chia seeds and I've heard there isn't much of a difference so I thought I would try these first.  The raspberry hibiscus tea was on sale and I've never had raspberry tea before, but I had it with my dinner last night with some Splenda and it was great. I usually buy Clif Bars at Walmart or Target but I haven't been able to find banana nut bread anywhere so I was pretty excited to find these. This trip was pretty successful and I'll defiantly go back whenever I can for more finds! 

I need advice!
What do you prefer, flax seed or chia seeds?