Summer Lovin'

Lately, I can't stop thinking about vacation. Who could blame me? All this freezing rain and wind gets old...fast. My husband and I have decided that this year we are going to try to go on a nice vaca (just the two of us) with our tax return money. We've tossed around Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Alaska. My vote at this point is the Caribbean. I have been on quite a few cruises and always enjoyed them so we were thinking of going that route. But neither of us are too keen on sitting with people we don't know and trying to strike up conversation every night at dinner with people we'll probably never see again. So now we are looking into all-inclusive resorts.

All this rambling isn't the point of this post, really.

The point is: what better motivation to get into shape is there than the thought of wearing a bathing suit in 5 months? One problem...I don't own a bathing suit anymore. So guess who has spent a lot of time online window-shopping? :)

While the Victoria's Secret Models in the pictures don't do a lot for my self-esteem, they sure do make me think twice about that ice cream craving I've had for the past 2 days. Here are my favorite suits at this point.

Clockwise from top left:

-I just love the t-back look! I think it's so pretty! I've always kind of liked my back, too (weird, I know) so why not accentuate it?

-Aren't the ruffles pretty? I love the femininity!

-Zebra. I don't think I'll ever get tired of it (in moderation, of course). And VS is so great for making push-up bikini tops. I'm loyal to their-uh-support; this one is almost a must.

-I really just love the color of this suit. This style is also a push-up top.

Each of these suits gets pricey but one or two would probably be a good investment!

And who could forget the necessity of the cover-up? Here is my favorite:

Most resorts and cruises have dress codes for dinner. No problem, here! One of my favorite parts about vacation is getting much more dressed up than you would in your everyday life. Here is my idea of the perfect dinner wardrobe for a 4 night vacation:

Clockwise from top left:

-This dress is so lovely! I love that color-it's so sunny and vacation-y! From Ruche.

-I think the word "sailing" is in the name of this dress. Perfect. From Modcloth.

-I love this romper. It's casual, but with the right pair of wedges and bangle bracelets it could easily be dressed up. From Ruche.

-Formal night! This dress is simple, but so pretty! I love the floof on the top. I think it would be gorgeous with some nude/blush pumps and no jewelry except for a chunky statement ring. From Modcloth.

Ahh...my imaginary closet is happy now.

What are some of your favorite vacation spots? Do you find that thinking of fitting into a bathing suit helps or hinders your workout process?

TGIF

Today is supposed to be the third and final day of Week 2. But, my running partner is going to be gone until tomorrow morning. So, we're going to run bright and early on Saturday! As you know if you read my previous post, I'm in a bit of a funk. It's supposed to be a surprising (and refreshing) 63 degrees today so I can't waste that on sitting around inside. I'm considering running the program today anyway and then I'll just have an extra day under my belt. Maybe I'll hook up the running stroller and take my daughter out to be a "running guy" with me.

Ahh...sounds nice.

Thank you all for reading and supporting me! I love reading your comments and they really mean a lot to me. I don't think there is a notification system that will tell you if I respond to one so check back often because I usually do! Thanks for the encouragement and support!

Be lovely!

Week 2 Day 2 of C25K and New Shoes

Hello everyone! Yesterday was the second day of the second week of C25K (confused yet?) and I had a lovely gift in the mail! My shoes came in yesterday!! In case you missed it, I ended up ordering the Nike Free Run + and I already love them! As soon as I took them out of the box I was convinced. They are so lightweight! Initially, I was concerned because they're so light and flexible that I wouldn't get enough support but immediately after I put them on that concern disappeared. My feet feel perfectly cradled in these shoes. I feel the support without also feeling the force of over-correction. I wore them around the house the whole afternoon and couldn't wait to take them on a run that night.

We went to the Fitness Club again on Wednesday to run on the treadmills. That was the last day of our free trial so for day 3 of week 2 we'll be back outside again! My feet felt amazing during the run, the only thing that bugged me was that I felt a lot more pull on my calves and whatever muscles are around my shin. I'm not sure if my running form isn't just wrong, though. During my run, it dawned on me that I heard somewhere that you're supposed to actively engage your thighs in the pull upward during your run. I could've completely made that up or been smushing ideas from cheerleading together, but it made sense. I tried that and it really did make a huge difference. I concentrated on using my thighs and glutes and I feel it took a lot of stress off my ankles and heels.

At the end of our run, I was sitting on the couch with my shoes off. It was odd how much my feet didn't hurt. I was so relieved. These shoes aren't miracle workers or anything like that, my feet are still a bit achey today as they always are after I've been on them for a while. But, finding a shoe that works with your foot and not against it seems so important! I have to admit, I'm a bit worried that I'm going to become oddly attached to these shoes. I feel like, in a silly way, they are on this journey with me.

Anyway, now that I've officially been a weirdo.

Let's be real. I've had a REALLY tough past few days. I have gone over my caloric budget the last 4 days in a row and other than the running program, I haven't been doing of my at-home workouts. I don't know what my problem is. I have nothing to blame my lack of activity on. School has been easy as pie (mmm...pie), I'm still very supported. I am going to make myself do a workout today and hopefully that will start the cycle back up again. With all of that said, I do feel more energized than I did when I wasn't running or anything. But I know I can't get to my goal just running 20 minutes every other day.

I've done well today and if I complete that workout I will feel much better about things. My 14 hour semester starts on Tuesday. I'm hoping I can keep up my workout schedule even when I have consistent homework.

Any of you been where I am now? How did you get out of your funk?

C25K Update-W1D3 & W2D1

Last Friday concluded Week 1 of C25K. It was such a relief and a small victory to get through the first week! But, I couldn't rejoice long because I knew that Week 2 was going to gradually get more difficult.

I had a pretty rough weekend. I wasn't feeling 100% and I gave in to the temptation that is a Dairy Queen Blizzard. That one treat doubled my caloric intake for that day and set me in the direction to make horrible food decision the rest of the weekend. I was pretty down on myself but my hubby reminded me that I can just start new on Monday.

So that's what I did! Yesterday was Monday and the first day of Week 2 of C25K. We went to the fitness center to run on the treadmills which I'm beginning to enjoy much more. Week 2 calls to add 30 seconds to both walking and running. At the beginning I was really feeling the extra 30 seconds of running, but by the end of it it wasn't so bad. The worst thing about last night's run was the shoes I was wearing. My Nike Shox had been so heavy and were hurting my feet so I switched to my old cheer shoes, also Nikes. The problem with these shoes was that they were probably 1/2 a size too small. My toes were really crammed and I walked away with blisters. Needless to say, I can't wait for my new shoes to get here!

Today I'll leave you with this: Do not allow one bad choice to have the power to control the rest of your choices, your mood, or your weekend. I think this applies to every aspect of life. If you're caught up in the poor choices you've made, you won't be open to allow yourself to make a good choice. Be nice to yourself and move on :)

And the winner is...

The Nike Free Run+ ! I have done a lot of reading about my foot type and pronation and these seem like the best fit for me. I have yet to try them on which may be a bit foolish but none of the stores within a 50 mile radius of me have these available in-store (dumb!). I ordered from Zappos because they have amazing customer service and I know they make returns and exchanges super easy. But I'm not concerned. I've worn Nikes for cheer shoes and I have Nike Shox that I'm currently running in (not a good idea, by the way) so I know what size I need. And I read tons of reviews and had a good review from one of my best friends so I'm confident! I can't wait til they get here! I'll keep you all posted!

My Workout Soundtrack

I work the best with music. It helps me block out noises of my domestic surroundings and helps me stay focused on the workout and not what's on Oprah. What might surprise some of you is what I like to listen to. I usually turn on Pandora and take whatever it gives me, but through my journey I have found some favorites. I've put together a list of some of my faves.

In no particular order:

1. Get Your Freak On-Missy Elliot (I recommend the radio version...not quite as crass)

2. Push It-Salt N Pepa (this one is a must have)

3. That's Not My Name-The Ting Tings (I also really like Shut Up and Let Me Go)

4. Shake It-Metro Station (This one is fun for cardio)

5. Girls-The Beastie Boys (duh!)

6. The Way You Move-Outkast (again, radio version is optimal)

7. Magic-B.o.B (this is just a fun song!)

8. Renegades of Funk-Rage Against the Machine (a little bit off the beaten path, but perfect)

9. It's Trickey-Run DMC (hello, who doesn't love this song?)

10. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger-Daft Punk (they probably wrote this song for work outs)

What do you like to listen to when working out?

C25K-Week 1 Day 2

Yesterday was day 2 of my C25K training. It was icy and freezing last night and the roads were super slick so we opted to go to the McPherson Athletic Club and run on the treadmills. I was apprehensive initially because I have never been on a treadmill seriously and because working in a gym can be a bit intimidating. There did prove to be some major gym rats there and one chick that looked like Barbie, but I didn't feel inferior or self-conscious. Once we got on our treadmills and I put my earbuds in, I was in my own little world.

I have to say, I enjoyed the change. I feel I ran a lot better when I could set my speed and stay consistent in going that speed throughout the 20 minutes. I feel like when I was running outside I considerably slowed toward the end of my run. Also, because we weren't outside in the cold I didn't have that annoying cold air in my lungs.

We are still going to try to run outside on Friday but we have a free 7 day pass so we'll see!

This morning, I'm feeling pretty sore. I'm definitely going to be doing yoga/pilates for my workout today. I don't think I could handle much more but I don't want to take a complete break.

How are your weight-loss and fitness goals going? Everyone sticking to their New Year's Resolution?