a healthier me

So in recent months events have transpired that have left me searching for a healthier me.  For starters, I am running another half marathon in about a month from now, and had gotten really out of shape since my last one back in march.  This was very difficult for me because I basically had to start my training over from square one and it hasn't been easy.  Also, the hubby and I have been trying to get pregnant since March and while I believe there isn't necessarily anything wrong with either of us and that God is ultimately the giver of life and his plan and timing are perfect (even if I don't understand his plan or timing at this time in my life), I figure getting healthier wouldn't hurt and the healthier I am before getting pregnant only means a healthier pregnancy, easier delivery, and a quicker bounce back to pre pregnancy state.

So here we are.  I have noticed some major changes to myself as a result of the lifestyle changes I have made.  to begin with :

1. I stopped drinking soda.  I usually would only drink soda at work but it always left me feeling sluggish and bloated.  Like way bloated and it felt gross not to mention soda has so much sugar in it and instead of drinking the water I need I was replacing it with soda...not good.  Well I have done really well with this, I actually bought a soda the other night and it was so not good!! It tasted like syrup, I will treat myself to a Sonic Dr. Pepper on occasion because they are amazing but that's more of a treat than a regular thing.

2. Drink more water.  The thing that really helped me with this was the UTI I got about 2 weeks ago, it was miserable and I needed to drink a ton of water and that started the habit, now, I feel like I cant get enough water, my consumption has probably doubled or tripled in the past 2-3 weeks.  I actually feel so much better I don't get as frequent headaches and I feel more energized and less sluggish like I did before. Even though its a pain in tha ass havin to go pee every 40 minutes.

3. Eat more.  I know this sounds crazy to some of yall but I really don't eat enough.  I have this nutrition for runners book that is so informative and has really opened my eyes to things I didn't know before, like you actually need a certain amount of saturated fat especially if your doing vigorous exercises. It made me realize I am not eating nearly enough especially based on the running and stuff that I am doing.  Also, I found this awesome website where I can put in the food I eat and the exercises and daily activities I do and it will show me how many calories I need and have burned.  Yeah...I have been getting about half the calories I need to be eating especially since I'm running so much more my bodies basal metabolism is faster sooo yeah I will follow up with this one.  I am going to track what I eat for a week and then analyze it to see what I need to do. But basically I have to force myself to eat....I get hungry but then nothing is appetizing so I have to force myself to eat frequent snacks and to eat something when I wake up and before bed.  Due to my work schedule the previous sentence is important otherwise I find myself eating once a day (again, not good).

4. Decrease caffeine intake.  This has been very gradual, I was noticing a while back that I was drinking alot of caffeine, several cups of coffee in the morning, energy drinks at work, and like mentioned earlier soda.  This one related more to the trying to start a family aspect than anything because I have heard large amounts of caffeine intake can affect the ability to get pregnant,  So I have gradually decreased my caffeine intake it gets rough at work about 2 AM but if I do some calf raises and walk around a bit I feel more awake.  I have completely cut out the energy drinks except on a rare occasion and I only drink one cup of coffee before work.

Now don't get me wrong I am not all unhealthy looking and such, I get enough calories to maintain my figure and not look all sickly.  This whole thing isnt about the way my body looks I like my body and thats not what I want to change its more of an internal thing relating to the way my body operates. but I want to eat better so I can run better, start a family, and generally just feel better.  So far so good, I have noticed a difference in the way I feel, just healthier in general, and I think my running has been positively affected too since I actually feel good while running and after.  This pursuit of healthiness is still a baby only about two weeks old and I can only look foreword to the positive outcomes in the future!!

Ten On Tuesday

1. How do you take your coffee on an average day? How do you like your coffee if you’re splurging?  I drink my coffee with brown sugar and flavored coffee creamer, I don't splurge that's no such thing to me I usually don't get enough calories in the day to begin with so If I wanted to get some big fattening coffee drink I would but I wouldn't call it a splurge, for me splurging is related to shopping for expensive things not food or drinks

2. What is your genre of books to read?
I love me some chick lit!!! I do read other more serious books too though actually my real favorite books are memoirs the David Pelzer books I have read so many times even though they break my heart and make me cry every time I read them and then any book by Jen Lancaster which are also memoirs are also my faves.

3. Where do you want to retire, if you could go anywhere?
I would retire in Antigua, we went there for our honeymoon and the people were amazing the crime is low people really only go there for vacation and it has the most beautiful beaches I have seen in all my life!!

4. The 17-year-old you is told to write a 10-minute speech. What topic would you have picked?
Oh Lord who knows I would need some more direction than that

5. what word describes you best?
Determined or perfectionist, its a toss up between the two and I think each lends itself to the other.

6. What is the next “event” that you are looking forward to? (ex.: vacation, moving, date, job change, etc) probably starting a family I wish it would hurry up and happen already I am getting impatient, otherwise it would be my next half marathon in Va Beach that I'm running with my family!

7. Do you like to discuss controversial topics or do you prefer to avoid those types of conversations? Nope not at all I get to agitated

8. Would you rather add 4 free hours to each day, or add 1 extra day to the week?
I would rather add 4 free hours

9. If you created a sports team; what would your colors and mascot be?
The colors would be hot pink and black and the mascot would be well I have no idea I would have to hire someone to do that part.

10. If you had to be a teacher, what subject would you teach?
I would totally teach home ec!! That's what I am good at so I could easily teach it.

A fabulous weekend

This past weekend was so needed! Being in Houston with no family and friends is pretty lonely and often boring at times.  I shouldn't say no friends as I do have a few friends who live in Houston but they live about 45 minutes away from us and they have normal people jobs that work during the week and off on the weekends, well that doesnt work so well with our schedule so basically it gets pretty lonely in these parts but this weekend was great my family came in town and one of our friends was off on the same day as us!!

On friday the fabulous weekend started off with getting my hair done.  I so needed this!! It has been so long since I gt my hair done and my hair grows so fast and its so thick that I just felt like I had a 10 lb monkey hanging off my head and it was hot and just blah...well I went to a new place thats way closer to where I live and the girl did such a good job, I will most certainly be going back.

 Before:

and After:

Its way shorter but so much lighter. She put a lot of layers in and it feels so much lighter but honestly I miss my super long hair but I know this will grow out some and then be perfect but I do seriously love it.

Then my parents got in town but pretty much just turned around and left because they were going to the Astros v. Reds game and were running behind, which was fine by me because I was so tired since I hadnt slept much that day and worked the night before so I needed to take a nap.

On Saturday we all got up and hung out while trying to decide what to do, we ended up going out to this massive flea market since my parents like to do that sort of thing and even though it was waaaay HOT we still had a good time.  We came home and relaxed and then me and my mom headed to my favorite TJ Maxx in the free time we had before dinner that night to do some shopping.

my momma and me:

my parents:

Saturday night we went out to dinner at this yummy little mexican place right by the baseball stadium, it was called Diego's and it was great, perfect location, delicious foot, and good waitstaff. While we ate my dad went to get tickets and then we were off to the game, My dad is a huge Cincinnati Reds fan which is why they went to the game two nights in a row...and the Reds won both nights, it was alot of fun...I mostly just did some people watching

me and the hubby:

after the game:

On Sunday we met up with a friend from college at one of our favorite spots and watched dodgeball, drank beer, and caught up, It was a great sunday afternoon

And last but not least today me and the hubby both had the day off again which I must say is so rare that we both have three days in a row off together and it was kinda nice to do things like a normal couple. Anyways we just hung out ran some errands and then went to eat at this place I have been wanting to go to for some time

Its called Little Bigs and its this teeny little place that just serves sliders and fries and then they also serve beer and wine.  I got a beef slider and a pulled pork slider and we shared some fries all of which was so delicious and of course I had to get a chocolate shake because I never do that and in this heat it just sounded so good...and it was. We will defanitly be going back to this place!!

So that was it probably the busiest weekend I have had in months but I actually like having things to do I get a little stir crazy having nothing to ever do.

Im back

Ok sorry for being gone so long...I am back now I was in a bit of a funk, I just felt like my life was super boring, I was super lazy, I pretty much slept all the time during my days off and things just werent going as planned...Im a major planner type person and when things dont go as planned I get frustrated.  I just have to keep in mind that Gods timing is perfect and He knows the perfect plan for my life so I am just keepin the faith. 

Im back though and promise to be a more frequent poster...this weekend the hubby and I are both of through monday and my parents are in town so I should have plenty to post about come sunday.   And, I got a new hairdo which I freakin love!! It was due time for a change and I will have pics to post later.

Have a happy weekend Yall!!!