Running for the weekend

This past weekend I had a chance Saturday morning to go for a run and I took advantage of it.  It was cooler out in the mid 40s which made it take even longer for my lungs to adjust to running and my cold still didn't help.  But I did it!  My goal was to go out for 30 minutes and I did.  Did I have to walk some?  yup But who cares.  I'd say I ran somewhere between 50-75% of the time.  

I had to play mind games with myself.  The runner inside me is still there but that doesn't mean this is easy.  My legs get tired and I have to really push through it.  Making goals of getting to the next mailbox, stop sign, next block and then I can stop.  And I only allowed myself to stop a few seconds after I could tell I was warmed up.  Did I hate having to stop?  Yup.  But I just kept telling myself that interval training is the best way to get in some great cardio and burn the most calories so who cares if I gotta walk.  I did it!  It felt great and I was glad to be out there doing it.  

Here's some pictures from the weekend.  I haven't taken any front/side view shots in a while but here they are.  I'm still 7lbs higher than my lowest but I'm getting there!  

I hate my front view...I am definitely a square/rectangle shape.  Where the heck is my waist???

Side view and I'm not sucking in at all.  Not bad if you ask me.  Definitely some junk in the trunk there though!
 Don't I look gorgeous?!  That's me literally right out of bed and just pulling my hair up in a pony tail mess. 

Boom!

I didn't die....score!!!

And there you have good ole Ohio Hill Billy-ness for  you. 
Now that's some funny shit!
(get it!! hahahaha)

Have you seen my motivation???

I'm still here, my motivation has been lost for I think 2 weeks now and I just can't remember where I put it. 

It's a problem.

And then I got sick with a massive cold that is hanging on for dear life and I swear it's trying to kill me.  And now it's settled on my voice, so let me tell you I got the whole sexy voice going on.  If sexy sounds like a old man whose a smoker with a slight teenage boy feel to it....yup...I got the sexy voice going on. 

It is getting nice out and I need to get outside!!!  There is no excuse for it anymore. 

Well that's not true....I know it's going to be hard.  I know I can push through it but it's going to be hard.  My lungs will hurt afterwards, I'm going to have to walk more than I want to but oh well!!! 

SUCK IT UP SARAH!!!  <<<---- what she said!

On the good news...I'm down 3lbs in the last week!  My size 14s are fitting much better.  Amazing what 3lbs can do.  And I'm actually eating really good.  So I may be a slacker in the running department but it's all smiles and rainbows in the eating department!!!

Also good news...I signed Miss H up to be on the swim team this summer.  Good for her because she's a fish in the water and I think she's going to love it.  And BONUS for mom, there's an hour practice 3 days a week during the school year and 4 days a week during the summer.  I seriously then have no excuse to not run on those days...and I will.  I know I will!!  It'll be in a part of town where I never get to run and I love running in areas where I have never been before. 

Sorry I'm being a slacker lately....but at least I'm down 3lbs right???  :) 

You Just Can't Compare!

In the past week I have basically had the same conversation with two of my friends, my BFF and my new friend Anita.  Don't ask me why I keep calling her my new friend Anita...but I, for some reason, can't just call her Anita....she's my new friend Anita.  Odd I know!  She'll get used to it! 

So anyways, the conversation we had was about how different our bodies are.  We have all been trying to lose weight and I know for me it is absolutely weird, strange, unexplainable, and awesome all at the same time how my body has changed from years ago when I was skinnier...like 30-40lbs lighter from where I am today...and I'm wearing the same size I did then.  Yeah, right now I'm in between a 14/16.  The 14s are snug because I ate junk for 3 months and did no running at all but 16s are too loose but fit better than the 14s. 

I honestly can't remember the last time I was a size 14 but I know it was back in college.  And I was skinnier then!  How nutso is that??

Does that even make sense??? 

That's how much different my body is now.  That's how now I swear by exercise.  Pushing our body hard and sweating regularly! 

That's why I think just dieting itself isn't going to be enough, EVER.  You gotta do them both at the same time. 

Things have shifted and moved and toned etc....it's weird!  I mean how is that possible that I can wear a 14 now and 4 or 5 years ago when I was the same weight...I couldn't wear a 14?!? 

It's all because I started walking/running regularly.  I do strength training now too.  Which that in itself is pretty amazing.  You wanna make running easier??  Strength train!  This summer when I was doing the 30 Day Shred consistently and running here and there....one time at band camp...errr I mean one time while out on a run with Miss H while she was on her bike....for the first time EVER running felt EASY and it was because I had been working my legs and lifting weights.  I couldn't believe it, it almost felt like I was in someone else's body because it surely couldn't be mine! 

So I'm not really sure what the message or point even of this post is...but I guess it's to not think your body can't change significantly even if you weight doesn't as fast as you want it to.  Heck give me 20 more lbs off and I'll be in a 12 for sure and THAT hasn't happened since my early college days/senior year of high school!  

Plus don't compare yourself to someone else who you think is smaller....YOU might actually be in a smaller size then them but weigh more!  It just goes to show it's not about your numbers...it's about how YOU FEEL!!! 

So put on your best sexy face and make yourself feel good!!!!

too much???  no??  Kinda scary??  I figured!  err!!  :) 

#MomFail

So yesterday Miss H jumps in the car after I pick her up and she's all excited because she got her pictures back.

I'm immediately in panic mode...what pictures??

Miss H...you know mom...the ones you forgot about!!

opps...my bad

Didn't turn out too terrible though for us completely forgetting it was picture day. 

She may blend in with the background but at least her hair is combed and she's got a cute smile. 

RIGHT??? 

Oh well...memories people...it's all about memories!!

Also yesterday I did 2, yes TWO, workouts yesterday. 

I ran/walked while Miss H was at tumbling and then after dinner I did the 30 day shred. 

BOOM!!!

I am loving the scale this week too...I'll report on that Friday or Monday...which ever day I'm not feeling lazy!  <--- ha I'm funny!   (no you're not)

Messages from the Toliet Make my Heart Smile!!!

First things first...Miss H has been doing the cutest thing lately of grabbing my phone and taking pictures of herself or leaving me a video message.  It is the BEST surprise I get when I look back at the pictures on my phone and realize she left me a surprise.  My relationship with her has truly started to bloom lately.  I'm not sure what has happened but it's like she's finally opening up to me and talking to me about stuff and I love it!  This is something that I have always struggled to get her to do with me.  I want her to talk to me about anything and the fact that it's already forming makes my heart smile. 

Picture I found from Saturday this past weekend. 

 Her most recent video...yes she's on the toilet leaving me this message too  :)

This also happened this weekend.  Sunday morning while Miss H was at religion class I was going to head out for a walk.  Didn't plan on running just because it's still pretty painful to just walk a fast pace and I'm trying to slowly working my way back up and NOT get injured this time.  After walking a mile I was like, screw this I'm running even if I just run a block and then walk a block, I want to make this workout worth my while.  Mind you I had on a sweatshirt and my glasses on.  Obviously I wasn't planning on running!! 

It was tough but it was doable.  I was freaking hot with the sweatshirt on and we all know I don't like to be hot when I run!  Towards the end I wasn't walking at all, just running a nice slow and even pace and it felt so good!!!  I was shocked to see how many calories I burned!  And the weather was awesome.  Spring is here in Ohio and I couldn't be more happy about it.  Bring on the Spring/Summer runs!!!  I am ready!!!

30th Birthday Cake *Challenge*

So....my 30th birthday is coming up towards the end of this month. 

Am I freaking out about turning the big 3-0??

Hell to the NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I honestly can't wait to turn 30. 

Call me crazy. 

*YOU'RE CRAZY!*

ouch

In all seriousness, I'm serious when I say I'm seriously ready to turn 30...seriously!

hahaha  did that get on your nerves?? 

*like seriously*

FOCUS SARAH FOCUS!

I cannot wait to turn 30.  My 20s have pretty much sucked, I've gotten my monies worth out of them and it's time to say SIANARA!  (<--- is that how you spell that??)

I'll write about that in another post but my BFF texted me early this morning with a new idea!

And I'm allll about it. 

One thing me and my BFF share, is our love for cake!  So it's perfect for us. 

Put cake in front of us and tell us what we gotta do to get it and you bet we are gonna do it! 

So bring on the cake challenge!!!!!

1 Year Anniversary

This week marks my 1 year anniversary of my weight loss journey.  I realize towards the end of March that it was almost a year, which I can't believe, and I was sad. 

Taking a few months off from running and letting my emotions getting the best of me brought back some of my old eating habits and guess what....I gained 13 lbs! 

I can't even tell you how mad I am at myself.  I'm mad and I'm disappointed for several reasons.

I let my running get away from me and now it's a struggle to run half mile.  My shins hurt again, my feet kill me, and my lungs burn.  I forgot how much it sucked in the beginning when I started out.  I used to be able to make it all the way through Jillian Michael's level 1 of the 30 day shred without having to take a break...now I have to take a couple of 5 sec breaks to rest. 

The weight gain bothers me...but to see how weak I am right now is probably more upsetting but it's also encouraging.  I was once there and STRONG and I didn't realize how strong I was at the time but man I really was!  But I'll get there again. 

I'm back on it again and determined to do better this next year.  I'm back to counting calories and working out daily.  I am SO SORE today it kills to sit down into my chair.  Which really isn't a sit it's more like I fall into my chair I'm so sore.  ha!  But it feels good!  I feel like I'm back in control of doing something different with my body. 

And even though I may have gained some weight....I'm still A LOT better than what I was a year ago at this time.  I'm ahead of the game from a year ago and I just gotta keep going. 

That's the difference now I believe....I'm not quitting.  I'm not letting myself settle even though I did for a few months.  Just last fall I was able to run 5 miles...I can and WILL do it again.  Watch me! 

No one ever said it was going to be easy...and that's ok.  I'm not going to make this sound like it's super easy cause it's not...it takes a lot of determination and not wanting to quit. 

I am so incredibly bloated in this picture I hate this but whatever!  This dress/sweater will be the oufit I try on periodically to see how I'm doing. 

Here's to another year!!!

Can I Be.....a Morning Person???

Hi I'm Sarah....I am a Snooze-aholic, I have slept in ALL week and skipped every single one of my workouts.

All together now.... Welcome Sarah!

I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON!!!!!  

Never have been...I wait until the last second I need to get up and then rush around to get us ready and out the door.  

And I hate it!  

I would LOVE to be one of those mom's that rises before her children and has had breakfast and has time to sit down on the couch and drink some coffee and watch the news in the morning.  

Seriously you women who can do this....even though I don't understand you...I'm jealous you can do that!  

I'm kind of weird about it too...because I CAN get up early if I have to.  Remember this summer I was getting up at 4:30am! to run with my BFF or sister...I did it.  It's like knowing that someone was going to be at my door soon had me jump out of bed.  

Not sure how feasible that is to have someone come show up at my door every morning at 5am.  

Even on the weekends...I rarely sleep in.  Honestly!  The sun is up and I'm up even if I went to bed at after midnight I'm up for the day.  But why during the week can't I do it??  

 

 For example...last night I was in bed at 8pm.  Honestly, I was exhausted after Miss H went to bed, and I put a movie on in bed (I know bad habit there) and I only remember seeing the first 15 minutes of the movie and then I was out....so I'd say I was for sure out by 8:30pm...so one would think it would be no problem to get up at 5am to go to the gym.  

ERRR!  WRONG!  

I hit the snooze button all the way until 6:15am.  

wow did I just admit that...that's kind of embarrassing

And I'm being honest here...I really want to be a morning person.  I know that when I get up earlier it just makes  my day feel so much better.  I'm in control of the day and setting my family up for the best way possible for them to also have a great day.  At least that's what I envision instead of me yelling for Miss H to hurry up and get dressed cause we GOTTA GO SISTA!  

I mean I honestly would LOVE to be able to make my daughter a hot breakfast in the morning....there are so many reasons why I should get up out of bed in the morning!  

This morning I got to work and opened my good friend...Mr Google.  And this is the article I found...

  How to Become a Morning Person  

According to this article, I need to find my normal internal clock and I need to reset my internal clock.  

1. I need to plan to get 8 hours of sleep a night, so if I want up at 4:30-5am to run in the morning, that means bedtime at 8:30-9pm.  WOW, that's a lot different than I do now, going to bed at 10pm was doing good I thought.  

2. Need to have a regular schedule, no sleeping in on the weekends, it's gotta be consistent every day...ok I'd agree with that.  

3. Create a relaxing sleeping atmosphere:  Start preparing for bed 30 minutes before hand. 

           1. Take a hot bath (won't argue there!)

           2. Jot down things on mind in a diary/journal

           3. Meditate on relaxing your body (if you say so)

4. Put your alarm clock away from your bedside so you actually have to get up out of bed to turn it off.  hmmm...I've been known to climb right back bed...

5.  Get outside of the house within 10 minutes of waking up....I agree this works because by the time I get to the gym I feel great already.  

Sounds like a good plan...and I WANT to be a morning person.  Just going to take some adjusting to but I can do it right???  

Any suggestions to give me from you awesome morning people???  

Wish me luck!!

 

Remembering Why I started

I'll be honest...I've slept in the last two mornings and have no gotten to the gym.  It's my fault because I went to bed too late and I can't get up that early if I go to bed at 11pm!  Duh Sarah! 

This morning I saw it some where, not sure if it was on facebook or pinterest but it said

"Remember why you started" 

And I've kind of forgotten and lost my drive and I think that's exactly why. 

When I would start out on my runs I'd push myself harder by constantly thinking to myself

"I want to set a good example to Miss H"

"I don't want to be the fat mom amongst all of Miss H's friend's mom"

"I want to be in pictures with Miss H and like them and want them all over my house!" 

I honestly can't remember the last time I thought about those things. 

When I want a cookie or something sweet that isn't healthy....I need to put Miss H in front of that and make myself pick between her and those empty calories. 

Of course I'm going to pick my child over anything else but I've stopped putting that visual in my head. 

I just have to remember my WHY and WHY I want to lose the weight.  WHY I want to be healthy! 

My Why begins and ends with my daughter.  She's the most important thing to me.  Ever since she's been born I've made some HUGE decisions based on what is best for her.  It is best for you to have a mom who is healthy and happy with herself! 

I owe that to my daughter.  

Snuck of picture of Miss H playing "beauty shop" with my hair

Holiday Break Photo Dump

Finally back to our normal routine this week and it's been rough getting used to getting up before the sun is up again.  I was off work between Christmas and New Years and couldn't have enjoyed it anymore.  We were lazy, we played games and ate too much, played outside in the snow, built snowmen and opened way too many presents.  It was a great Christmas this year.  It was different having another whole side of the family to go to and celebrate with but each time I get together with Tony's family, I love them more and more each time.  They just fit perfectly into our lives and we seem to fit pretty well into theirs as well.  It kind of feels like they've always been there, as cliche as that sounds. 

I also realized over break that I have to bite the bullet and just join a freaking gym already.  Can I afford it, not really, but should I?  Yeah!  I have gained the holiday 5lbs and it makes me sick and mad at myself. 

I have not only fallen off the bandwagon but I can't even see the dust of the waggon leaving me behind.  I am disappointed in myself.  I went back to my old ways and they clearly don't work.  I stopped looking at food as fuel for my body and as an emotional way for numerous reasons.  That is not me or who I want to be.  It just isn't.  Plus I'm getting married in a 11 months and I don't want that day to come and for me to regret how I look.  I want to look and feel amazing on that day and so I need to join a gym to get myself back on track. 

Working out makes me think better about my food choices.  It makes me happier.  It makes me feel strong and good about myself.  And I miss feeling physically tired from a good work out. 

Hardest part is going to be getting up at 5am through the week so I can be at the gym between 5:15-5:30am and back home by 6:30.  I am not a morning person....this is going to be a challenge but I am going to do it even if I have to set 10 alarms all around my house to get me up! 

More on the gym later...but for now...here's a massive photo dump from pictures I took over Christmas Break. 

Attempt #1 at getting a cousins picture....Miss H has to control these boys somehow...

About as good as it gets peeps! 

My crazy godchild....love that crazy kid

And then we got dumped on...and I realized how weak I really am in my arms by shoveling this junk!

it just kept coming! 

Miss H got her first American Girl Doll

Lots of games played!

playing in the endless amounts of snow

Miss H "helping" me one day at work for a few hours

Overall it was a great break and I'm sad to see it go. 

Come back tomorrow for more on the gym experience! 

Cause I've Been Avoiding this Topic like I avoid Milk Chocolate...

Y'all are probably wondering when I'm ever going to report in about my weight loss.  I haven't posted about it in a while and it's just because nothing exciting is going on.  I mean I can only report I'm stuck so many times, ya know? 

I'm STILL stuck right in the same area. 

Yes it bums me out and I kind of feel like I'm slight failure because of this but I still feel really good. 

I haven't measured myself in a while but I'm guessing that I'm exactly the same there too.  My clothes fit the same and nothing is baggier. 

Even though this bothers me...I'm not really worried about it.  I'm more motivated about my running right now more than anything.  Which makes sense really, if you think about it. 

Running = lots of good endorphins

Focused on weight loss = time on scale = negative energy created due to wanting to throw the scale out the window.

Duh on why I'm focused on running right???  Big O'le DUH there! 

Plus I figure if I keep running and doing it more often, the weight has gotta come off eventually, right?  Or I'll at least keep getting more toned.  Plus when I run, I tend to just eat better and take better care of myself. 

Here's some pictures for you just so you can see I'm still the same size. 

I love this sweater.  Got it from Marshall's this past weekend.  It's length is longer AND it's a boat neck and we all know I LOVE a good boat neck top!!! 

So there ya have it...I FINALLY updated ya on my weight loss.  Exciting isn't it??  blah!! 

Happy Hump Day!

Happy 7 Months of Running Anniversary!

I just realized this week that on November 2nd, will be my seven month anniversary on my journey to becoming a runner and losing weight. 

Wow, seven months!  That's a long time, something that I can't really grasp my mind around. 

I may be frustrated with my weight loss and that I'm stalled right now but I am not frustrated with my running at all.  The weight will come off, I know it will and so I just continue to focus on running. 

Where I have come in the past seven months amazes me, it truly does and if you are a reader of this blog (thank you) but I also hope that my journey inspires you that you can do something that you never thought you could do.  For me, that was running. 

I so badly have always wanted to be a runner.  After all these years of seeing people who were runners and being intimidated by them and just in awe of them and their ability to do something that seemed so hard....and now I'm apart of that group.  And sometimes I really can't get my mind around it.  Sometimes it really feels like an out of body experience and I find myself questioning..."wait I did what??"  My old me can't believe what the new me can do! 

I started out on April 2nd, just walking.  That's it, walking three miles several times a week with shin splits that I thought were going to rip my calf apart.  Working through that point and having the courage to take my first run.  It was only a block or two...but I did it.  And for the first time ever, I felt like I could maybe do this running thing.  And I worked at it.  A lot. 

I'll  never forget how nervous I was to buying my first pair of actually running shoes.  Going into that running store and having the courage to face the real runners and telling them that I wanted to be fitted for a proper pair of running shoes for myself when I was clearly not a runner. 

I dragged my daughter out on her bike and I followed her around our neighborhood. 

I asked friends and family to run with me even though I knew I'd be a lot slower than them. 

I ran in the heat, the hottest heat, which now reminds me to be grateful for the cooler temps. 

I remember the street I was on when I felt like I could go a lot further and ran my first mile. 

I remember ever so slowly working up to two miles and when two miles became "easy" and my comfortable distance. 

I know how hard I had to work to get to 3 miles, which was just a lot of running and getting my legs used to it. 

I've learned how to breathe on my runs and my lungs have gotten used to it.  They don't burn anymore. 

I've ran four 5k races...two of which I could only run half or 3/4s of but I signed up for them anyways. 

I've gotten faster and not by training, just by doing what I know to do and that's running often. 

I've battled the mental battles and have yelled at myself to keep going. 

I've learned how to "trick" my mind into going further. 

I've won the mind battles and have realized that my body can go a lot further than my mind thinks I can.  

In seven months I have become a runner and am able to run three miles and will soon be running my first five mile race in just 22 days.  

I cannot believe what I have done in what seems like such a short amount of time but it was hard work, determination and realizing that it DOES get easier over time.  

I can't believe where I've come in seven months.  I find it hard to believe sometimes that I've actually been the one whose done this but no one else can do my runs for myself, I have to.  I should be proud of myself and what I have accomplished and I am!  

I set out to become a runner by my 30th birthday and I am already there and I can't imagine where I'll be when it actually is my 30th birthday.  

Happy Anniversary to myself!  It's been an amazing journey in this past seven months, A LOT of sweat, a few tears, some blisters, lots of sore muscles, gallons of water, lots of bad habits broken, new habits formed, and an unbelievably huge amount of physical and mental strength earned. 

Here's to many more months and years!!!

 

I'm Ready for New Things!

Yesterday I was doing some research, aka talking to my BFF, about how I need do something to kick start my weight loss again.  I'm super duper stuck I feel and there is nothing I can do to get below 30lbs lost! 

I've been thinking about doing some kind of detox thing and my BFF suggested one that she tried and lost 10lbs doing so.  Cool!  Sign me up! 

Detox Drink

2 Liters of water

1 medium cucumber sliced thin

1 lemon sliced thin

1 tsp. ginger

10 mint leaves

Leave set overnight and drink a cup before each meal. 

Didn't sound too bad and last night I took a drink of it and surprisingly it was pretty refreshing.  This morning it is definitely stronger in taste but still pretty good. 

We will see what this does!  I'm not much into the whole fad diet thing and so I'm curious if this will do anything. 

Also yesterday I picked up this

Ghost and Goblin 5k

My first ever Race Bib.  This will be my 4th 5k but the first time where I've ever actually gotten a bib and yes I'm a nerd and excited about it! 

Last night I packed my bag for the race and just chilled out and drinking lots of water.  It's supposed to be in the mid 70s today so it'll be interesting to see how this goes since lately it's been mostly in the 50s when I've been running. 

Either way it'll be fun since I'm getting to meet up with some friends and Tony and Miss H are coming to watch! 

Wish me Luck! 

***Fashion Friday*** & more!

I was lazy awesome this week with not feeling well and so I slacked on my Fashion Friday post.  So here it is...in good ole' lazy Sarah fashion in one picture...here it is...

TaDa!!!!!!!!!!

Impressed much??? 

No?  Whaaaaat?? 

Guess I'll need to explain for my fellow blonde sisters out there.  Last week we covered scarves and I'm pretty much in full-mode with wearing them every every other day because I love them.  I'm no fashionista but I love simple fashion and scares are simple fashion in my mind. 

Today I just have a simple black cotton T on from Kohls and I pair it with a red scarf for some color.  But what this Fashion Friday post is about is the fact that you can still wear a necklace with a scarf and I highly recommend it.  It's another one of those ways that just makes you look like you know what your doing that much more!  Long necklaces is where it's act girlfriends!

Frame those scarves with a long necklace.  Yes you are allowed to do this!  And it looks great!  Don't skip out on the necklace just because you have a scarf on.  I know I say this all the time...but trust me!!!  You'll look fabulous darling just fabulous! 

So there ya have it....my simple fashion tip for the week in just one picture! 

*******************************

Other news...and more pictures....last night I did the 30DS again...I'm really digging the weight lifting thing more and more.  I'm sweaty and tired and my muscles are shaking when I'm done...it's like a big bowl of chocolate ice cream....well...sorda but not really.  Anywho...

Miss H grabbed my phone while I was working out and she thought she'd be miss paparazzi

hilarious...I look like I'm blown up like a balloon in the far right picture because I'm doing either jumping jacks or jump rope. 

So there's the proof that I did workout last night.  AND I stayed within my calorie intake yesterday. 

Rock Star!!!! 

What's in my lunch box for today

Also packed my lunch last night and I'm pretty excited about it....not gonna lie. 

Breakfast - Plain greek yogurt with granola and honey

Morning snack - Laughing cow cheese - have you laughed today??

Lunch - awesome salad with cauliflower, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes and light french dressing and my Luna Bar

Afternoon snack - apple

Yum Yum!! 

Have a great weekend y'all!  We are heading to the pumpkin patch this weekend! 

Bad Girl Reporting In!

So my great plan on cutting back on expenses and saving more money has kind of bit me in the butt...quite literally. 

In the last month I cut my cable bill down to just the basic channels.  No ESPN, no BRAVO (this has been hard), just the basic channels and lucky for Miss H she still gets Disney and Nick Jr.  However, because I no longer have ESPN that means Tony misses out on some VERY IMPORTANT news in the sports world which means when he's over we typically end up somewhere so he can watch a game of some sort. 

Last night the Cincinnati Reds were playing their 4th game in the series and we HAD to head to Applebee's. 

You can really look at it two ways...either I'm winning or I'm losing. 

I'm winning because it means we get taken out for dinner at least once a week. 

or

I'm losing because that means it's EXTREMELY hard to be good eating wise at a restaurant!  I dare you to look it up what your favorites are when you go out to eat and see how many calories are in them.  You'll be shocked!

I think it's more of I'm losing here though.  I ate way too much but I did eat a salad and only had water with dinner but appetizers kills me and I'm a sucker for spinach artichoke dip which is like the worst thing for you! 

Thankfully though I still didn't do too bad with getting in a 20-25 minute run last night IN THE DARK mind you once we got home. 

I should have planned better food wise for during the day and I would have stayed within my daily calorie intake but that's ok.  Everything in moderation and I still worked out!  I may have been a bad girl but I'm ok with it.  The scale went down .2lbs this morning, not great but at least I didn't gain! 

As for my run....well it was interesting.  We got home a little before 7pm last night and in Ohio the sun is setting right around 7:15ish which means I don't have much time before it's going to be dark out.  Got home quickly changed and got Miss H started in the shower and with Tony listening to the reds game on the radio...I headed out. 

I haven't been able to run much lately which sucks but there's not much I can do about it.  I just gotta take advantage of the times I'm able to and go for it.  It also means that I've lost some of my endurance which is really upsetting.  It takes me a mile to get my breathing down and until I hit 2 miles I feel like utter crap while running.  Last night on my run I went out and started running as soon as I got down to the end of the street, made a loop and went around a block and was heading towards my house again.  Wasn't planning on stopping but my body had other plans.  I had to rush home for a "pit stop".  My head was telling me to just stop because it was too dark out but my heart and body were telling me I couldn't be done after just 10 minutes.  I ate way too much at dinner and I couldn't not get a good run in last night.  So after I did my thing I headed back out again. 

I'm not a fan of running in the dark, just creeps me out and I worry about cars not being able to see me so I stick to sidewalks.  I'm a wuss but it's just something I'll have to get used to. 

I have no idea what the temperature was last night I'd guess in the low 50s maybe upper 40s when I was out.  I find it interesting how I have to dress for when it's colder out.  You would think that I would need sweats and a big sweatshirt but I only wear running capris and a running long sleeve shirt and I'm fine.  My hands get cold but I just curl my hands up and hold my thumbs and surprisingly that works great for keeping my hands arm.  Actually running gear definitely makes a difference, I wish it didn't money wise, but it really does.  The running top I had on was similar to this that I found at Kohls and it's a really thin top but it actually keeps me pretty warm.  Not sure it would be warm enough for anything below 40 degrees but for right now it's great. 

When I finally made the loop back to my house 15 minutes later I felt good again while running.  My breathing was under control, my feet weren't litearlly pounding the pavement anymore, and I felt good.  Even though I may be losing some of my groove of running I can tell it's still there it just might take me longer to find it but it's there and that's all that matters! 

Today is MY FRIDAY but still come check out tomorrow's Fashion Firday post on SCARVES!!!