7 Day Clean Eating Challenge: Day 1

Today is day 1 of the 7 day clean eating challenge that I am doing with a group of girls.  A good friend of mine started it and I am so glad she invited me in it.  I have been wanting to start a new diet, because the way I am eating now is just not getting me to my goal.  I have actually gained a little over the holidays... So I am hoping that this clean eating diet will stick with me for more than 7 days so I can lose this holiday weight and THEN some.  I need to lose about 12 lbs to get to my goal of 140 lbs.  I had a very filling breakfast..  a serving of oatmeal (steel cut oats), 1 cup of blueberries, and about 20 almonds.  And then for lunch, a nice big salad with spinach, cucumber, tomato, mushrooms, chicken, and light balsamic vinaigrette.  Feeling good and not hungry at all.  When I feel like I want to snack, I just drink a lot of water, and it helps.  Also, we went to the movies after lunch, so I chewed a piece of peppermint sugar free gum to help me with the smells of the popcorn and candy :)   I am proud of myself, and right now (the afternoon) is the worst time I snack, and I haven't given in!  Just keeping my water by my side.  Here are my starting measurements/weight:

Bicep: 11
Chest: 35
Natural Waist: 34.75
Hips: 37.5
Thighs: 22.25

Weight: 151 lbs

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Today is MLK day, so my hubby and I both got the day off!  We did our run this morning.  I did an easy 4 miles and felt a little sore still from the long run this past Saturday.  I love to speed up during that last mile and finish strong.  Such a rush!  On Saturday, I did my first 16 mile training run.  It is so surreal to me that I am running at that distance.  And what is even more surreal is that it felt great!  I completed it in 3:09.. which was 2 minutes faster than the 15 miler I had done the previous weekend.  I felt so strong.  I am so excited about this marathon in March! This is my first, so I guess I shouldn't set a goal time, but I hope to finish in 5 hours.. that would be AWESOME!

Hello old friends!

Well it's been a LONNNG time since I have written on here.  I decided that I was spending too much time on blogger, so I gave myself a break.  I was just too much into entering give aways and such... and my hubby was kind of getting on to me for always being on here.. oops!  Haha

SO.. since May 30 of last year.. 2011... I have done a lot with my running!!  I ran 3 more 5k's, one of which I ran in 26:53!!  That's an 8:30 avg pace that I NEVER thought I would be able to do!  AND it gets better.... I finally ran my half marathon!!!  In fact, I ran TWO half-marathons! Here are some pics from the half marathons:

Gulf Coast Half Marathon in Mandeville, LA
Time: 2:13!!
How it went:  This was my first half, and I ran it HARD!  I ran it strong and did not give up!  It felt so great to complete this race.. I was brought to tears when I saw that finish line.  I can't describe how great that felt... but I'm sure my runner friends know all about it :))

Whiterock Half Marathon in Dallas, TX
Time: 2:33
How it went:  It was cold, wet, and rainy!  But it was fun "swimming" through this 13.1 miles with my fabulous friend, Christina!

As far as my weight loss goes.. I am still maintaining my weight loss of 75 lbs!  I haven't been doing that great with my diet since the month of December is evil for diets.. especially for me since both my birthday and anniversary are in that month!  Here I am with my hubby on our 2nd year anniversary on Dec. 19. He is looking pretty darn good himself... he has lost 20 lbs and has gotten into running! YAY!

So what I am up to now... I am training for my first FULL marathon!!!  I am running the Rock n Roll New Orleans Marathon on March 4th.  I am so excited and nervous at the same time.  And my hubby is doing  the half marathon!!!!!  So proud of him!! :))

My training has started getting really tough.  I ran a 14 mile long run this past Saturday.  It felt great, except for some heel pain in the last 2 miles.  I have been stretching a lot, and I think I am good now.  I did a 6 miler today, and it didn't give me any problems at all.  So, maybe it was just my body showing me some love and telling me to slow my booty down!  I am just sticking with a nice 11-12 min avg pace, since the stress of adding mileage is enough on my body. 

Well, that's enough for today!  I will try to update more often, as I do want to journal my experience with weight loss and running!! :))