Last minute success

I almost didn't make it today. All day I was planning on going to yoga at 5:08 and meet my friend (the instructor) afterwards to go over something we're planning for work. So I worked 7-3 and then went to the mall with my other work friend. After a lengthy shopping trip I realized I wasn't going to make it back in town for yoga, but thought "no big deal, I just need to get back for 6:08 to meet my friend" forgetting that was the sweating I had planned for work.

But I pulled through and did 30 day shred level one when I got home and now my arms are nice and tired, and Im feeling great. Work was crazy today. It was tax free at our store so it was mega busy but super fun. Its super easy to get stressed out and angry in that crazy environment but for the most part all the girls and guys working make an effort to keep the crazy fun and even relaxing. Its like we thrive in chaos. And it is super fun.

I think something that Im gonna do is just blog my eats for the day. Another way to keep me accountable and will help me with the saying NO part of my goals.
Breakfast: 2 slices of toast+1 egg with margarine. And one tea with milk AND one XL coffee with milk.
Lunch: Sushi- 1 veggie roll +1 avocado roll+miso soup.
Snacks: cookie+gummy bears at work. This was my best oppurtunity to say no today. Although I had a few GB I could have had a lot more and I only had about 1/2 of one cookie. Which Im pretty proud of cause it was delish.
Sup: Veggie and hummus wrap with every veg possible at the foodcourt of the mall (+tzaziki and feta) and let me tell you, it was delish. I also had 2 samples of pretzels they were giving out at the mall.

And I think thats it so far. Im sipping on a refresh tea from Starbizzle and about to try making sushi for the very first time! On a friday night....by myself. Love my life. And Im not kidding! See ya's tomorrow.

Small Victories.

So, day one is complete of my week of sweating and making small adjustments in my diet. I went to UFIT tonight which is a class taught by one of our lululemon ambassadors (Ryan Cairns, he is amazing!). It's basically an hour of dancing, sweating and FUN! Its my second time going and so much better this time. I think the first time I went I was nervous about how I would look or whatever and this time I wanted to sweat and have fun.

Saying no was interesting. Instead of having a few pieces of candy at work (which I usually don't think twice about) I just had water. And I went to BK after ufit for a veggie burger and instead of having sprite for a drink (I can't handle caffeine this late at night) I had water. Yes, I still had french fries but its all about small victories people!

And obviously Im blogging, and loving life. I've got a mega busy weekend coming up but lots of fun planned too, including Sunday-my first day off in 2 whole weeks. Unfortunately I have to go to work for a staff meeting but they are so much fun that its not like work at all.

Thats all for now, lovelies. See you tomorrow!

New commitments

Here are my goals for this week (and yes, I am starting my week today because I believe in doing things NOW):
-sweat once a day
-say no once a day
-blog once a day

Yes, I have a lot on my plate right now by working 40+ hours a week but these are positive steps that can be made for me to become happier and healthier.

SWEAT: Running, yoga, gym. How can I complain, I have the gift of free, unlimited yoga! My job affords me the amazing opportunity to visit 8 fabulous local yoga studios as often as I want. Running is always free. And now that Im slowly starting to get back into it, a 2 mile run is the perfect way to allow my body to get used to it again. And the ol gym. Body pump is friggin amazing, I cant explain how much I love it. I think 3 classes a week is totally doable.

SAY NO: There are always lots of options to make a meal less healthy, or have a snack at work that I just don't need. Here's what I can commit to doing. Once a day I am going to mindfully make the healthier choice, whether it means no dessert, no cookies, or no quizno's, this is something that I need to remember and commit to.

BLOG: Yes, this one might be the hardest, but 30 minutes a night spent reflecting on my day and my commitments and goals. A step in the right direction I'd say.

Today was spent at work, at Moksha yoga in Dartmouth, and volunteering. But Im not including today in my goal, because that's just cheating.

Another week. Another challenge.

Still not running. I went for 2 miles on Tuesday and had to stop at pretty much exactly 22 minutes, due to some stabbing knee pain. This was not a fun feeling. Now I've taken exactly one week off and plan on trying 5km tomorrow night with the run club at work. Im hoping this break was enough to fix whatever was out of whack and the 5km will be no problem. Hoping, being the key word there. Im not sure what to expect yet.

Im not too upset about the whole lack of running, because Ive managed to stay fairly active so far with yoga and one body pump class. But I have a Goodlife membership starting TOMORROW which I am so excited for. Im hoping to get in at least 2 body pump classes a week, a long with my 2 yogas.

Ive also managed to continue eating fairly healthy (although Im still eating out WAY too much, more than once a week). So this week is IT. This is the week that I am only going to buy ONE of my meals. I've already made lunch for the next 2 days (not so healthy homemade mac and cheese, but Im pairing it with fresh veggies and fruit). Im done wasting my money on food that I can get at home.

Thats all for tonight. Ive got cookies to make!

Check it out.

What I've been doing lately:

Runnning (although this picture was taken Oct 31, no recent long runs)

Working, Im obviously posing for a twitpic in this gem, to show off a beaut new jacket

Baking, one of my true loves.

Volunteering. Last weekend I completed my Advanced Medical First Responder course with SJA.

Oh hey blog.

So, life is legitimately busy right now.  This past week I had 5 shifts, one holiday (Remembrance day), went to 5 classes (4 yoga and one UFIT), did 2 runs, 1 swim session, and 2 hours of volunteering. So, in summary, I am BUSY.

Unfortunately this also resulted in me eating out (buying meals) like 6 or 7 times (I think, I lost count). For the most part, they were pretty healthy, and I had a pretty nice paycheck this week but its still not acceptable. Its super frustrating for me because I love cooking and baking and this shouldn't be such a problem for me. I have the time, I just try to use the excuse of being busy but its not true, I can always fit making a meal in and this is something Im working on.

Also, one of the reasons I've been yoga-ing  so much this week is because I've been taking a tiny break from running!  On Thursday I was planning on at least 5km for a morning run but ended up stopping after 2 miles and walking home because I was having some pain in my left knee. It was bugging me for a bit walking over the next day BUT no pain since. I think Im gonna test it out with a short run on Tuesday morning, but if I have to take a longer break, I will. Im not training for anything right now and the last thing I want to do is hurt it long term.

Some goals for the week:
-More blogging (2 more times this week)
-4 yoga's
-Sweating once a day
-Bringing my meal to work EVERY day

We'll see what else the week brings, I'm always hopeful.

Oh, hey blog.

So much in my life going on right now! I honestly can't remember the last night I had a full night off, with no studying or work on med school apps (or work, or volunteering, or swimming, or you get the point).

So instead of going swimming with the Halifax Triathlon club, like I usually do Monday nights) I went and hung out at my sisters for a while and then came home and Ive been laying on my bed since. Not my favourite thing to do but my body was feeling uber tired and not ready for swimming (and definitely not up for the walk to the pool in the chilly weather).

Not only does this busy schedule have me feeling a little tired, but it's definitely affecting my eating habits. I don't really know when I stopped eating really healthy but I did, and its catching up on me. Not only have I gained a bit of weight (nothing too killer) but I just don't feel as great. At the end of the day I should feel proud of the food choices Ive made, not embarrassed.

So, Im re-committing to making healthy choices with not only my food, but with my workout routine. I've only done one run since my half marathon last Sunday (and it was 2 miles) but it's actually not that I'm concerned about. I know I need to incorporate more than running and yoga into my routine (although Im starting back into 3-4 runs per week tomorrow). So tomorrow also marks day one of the 30 Day Shred.

Here are some of the health committments I'm making for the next few weeks and months:
-Only buy one meal per week from restaurant/fast food place.
-Do 30 day shred each and every day over the next 30 days.
-Drink 2L of water a day.
-No snacking after supper.
-Go for 3-4 runs per week. Including either one speed workout or hill workout AND one long run (8+ miles).
-At least 2 yoga's per week.

So thats my plan. Now its all out there. And Ill try to blog more, because it keeps me accountable! Half marathon re-cap will hopefully be coming soon :)

One more of the season

Heres my life right now:
-Working 40(+) hours a week
-Applying to 4 medical schools
-Training for my final half marathon of this season
-Yoga twice a week
-Volunteering 2 hours a week
-Sleeping 8 hours a night

And yes, sleeping 8 hours a night is a commitment I make to myself regardless of how busy I am. And yes, Im busy. Im also considering the possibility of moving out of my parents home in Dartmouth and into my sisters place in Halifax.

Marathon fever is still taking over me but since I dont really have the money to go to Disney/Bermuda for a January marathon, I think Im just gonna start "training" for a marathon (doing long runs of above 13 miles) and just (haha) do the Bluenose or Ottawa marathon in May. I literally have a craving to do longer runs.

One reason why I know my long runs have been going so well lately...weekly speed workouts! Yes, they are hell and tortuous but they are making me so much stronger. Another reason...yoga! Stretching, core work and strength workouts, yes please!

So, one more half marathon this year. Next Sunday, my father, my sister and I will be running the PEI half marathon. I am ready for this race. My training has been going well and I just feel ready. I am going to run a sub 2:10 race. Theres my lululemon esque goal for the day. Im just so beyond excited for this race.

Anyways, hopefully I can start back up with this blog (especially my experience with some new Personal Distance Record training runs) but thats enough for now. Ill leave you were some TRI pictures :) 

Pre-tri. Looking happy, but I was freezing!

Looking like a sketch bag.

Watching the men go, I was now a few minutes from entering the water.

SO CLOSE ( we had waited for 2 hours )

Off we go. This is an intense action shot of me.

Done swimming, bring on T1

Tank on

LS on....

Shoes...watch...helmet...almost done!

And fast foward to the end of the race. My actual time was 1:51, 3 hours was the clock for the olympic distance tri'ers

Stuffing my face with food...obv.