It's not the heat...

...it's the humidity. Or something like that.

I hate the heat. The hottest July on record does not help either. I am so looking forward to fall's cooler temperatures and lower humidity. We may be past the worst of it, but unfortunately those fall temps are probably still a couple months away for me.

I just came back from a three-miler and I am soaked with sweat. It wasn't that hot, even a breeze every now and then, but it was quite humid. Humidity is like a straight pin popping a balloon... it seems to take all the air out of a run. I am slower, crankier and sweatier (which I didn't think was possible.) Running definitely does not come naturally to me and humidity just makes it harder.

But I don't think there is much I can do about it - with the exception of leaving the United States' sauna... a.k.a the South.

I hear about dedicated runners getting up at 5 a.m. or before to beat the heat/humidity. This is so not happening. Besides the fact that I am not a morning person, my work schedule does not allow for me to be up that early. I get home from work about 11 p.m. every night and about the earliest I can get up is around 7 a.m. And then I always eat breakfast, have a cup of coffee, etc. before I run. Usually it is about 9 a.m. before I get on the road, but hey at least I am doing it!

Well, there is my rant/whine about the heat and humidity. Any runners with any summer running tips?

Beth :o)

So close I can taste it...

I am not sure how much I have talked about my weight loss journey on here. I started the blog toward the end of it. I used to weigh myself every week. As my weight loss slowed I have only weighed myself every few weeks or so. And let's be honest, I put it off sometimes when I know I ate too much the weekend before. Anyway, I just weighed myself recently and I am less than two pounds away from my goal!!! A goal at one point I thought was unattainable... a long shot if you will.

I am the lightest I have been in my adult life and probably in the best shape I have ever been in. I am also almost at the 50-pound weight loss mark. Hard to believe I have come this far. It has taken a lot of work and dedication. It does help quite a bit that my husband has been a huge supporter and going along the journey with me. He has lost almost 100 pounds now!!

Our before picture... April 2011.

A little history... from college up until I was about 23 I was heavy. Looking back on pictures, I was not just overweight, but fat. In January of 2005, something clicked and I started working out for the first time in my life and really focusing on eating more healthy. I curbed my soda, fast food and candy addictions, and managed to lose almost 60 pounds. I pretty much kept that weight off until my husband and I started dating. Let's just say his love of burgers, wings, fries and beer rubbed off on me and I gained back about 30 of the pounds. But I can't just pin it on him either... I was making worse and worse food choices on my own and my workouts had become few and far between.

In August 2011, my husband got a wake-up call from his doctor. At 29, he was put on a statin for high cholesterol. My husband was determined to get off that medication - and he did. That wake-up call spurred his weight loss and mine. None of my clothes were fitting and I was unhappy with my weight. I was determined not to go back to shopping in the plus size section, but those were really the sizes that fit me. I just couldn't bring myself to buy those 18s to have something to wear. Now, I am wearing a 12... sometimes even a 10, I think.  To be honest, I am not sure what size I wear these days. I have been putting off buying new clothes until I get close to my goal. Well, I think it is safe to say that I am there.

Anyone ready to go shopping?! 

Beth :o)

Back in black

Heat wave over... yay!!

I didn't run at all last week. I didn't want to risk it in triple-digit heat and running on treadmills doesn't agree with my knees.

But then there was rain, rain and more rain. I can't win!! But finally, Thursday after almost two weeks since my last run, I had an opportunity and I grabbed it. The weather was not too hot and finally no rain.

It was actually a good run. I ran two big loops around the neighborhood for about 3 miles. I even had a little milestone. I actually ran 1.5 miles without taking a walking break! I know that is not much for some of you serious runners out there, but it was huge for me. I am sure I could have done it previously, but I think my brain has finally gotten caught up with my physical abilities. I am sure my extra spin classes and elliptical time have helped my cardio capacity as well.

Anyway, it was nice to get back to running and to have a good run at the same time. I actually don't hate running any more... hard to believe, I know!! Hopefully, the heat this summer won't keep me from running.

Happy running everyone!!

Beth ;o)

Sidenote: Even after losing almost 50 pounds, I hate bathing suit shopping. I tried on quite a few. I am convinced that none of the cute ones are made for anyone over the age of 20 or bigger than a size 6. Boo on that!! I found something that I think will work, but not before getting annoyed in the process!

Kitchen adventures

This blog has typically about running and weight loss, but both of those things are fueled by good nutrition. So, I will be posting occasionally about food. Enjoy!

I am not really one for experimenting when it comes to cooking. I have certain things that I know how to make and family recipes that I have written down. The problem with some of the recipes I know and love is that they are not all that healthy. I decided last week to try out a healthier recipe for pasta salad via one of my favorite healthy eating blogs, SkinnyTaste.

The July Fourth holiday and the heat wave got me in the mood for food that was not hot! ;o) Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the pasta salad that I made but to the right is the pretty picture of what it should look like from skinnytaste.com!

I took the opportunity to try it out on my in-laws and I think it turned out pretty well. A serving is only supposed to be about 115 calories, so that sounded great to me.

I did make some adjustments to the recipe and have ideas for what I want to do next time. I bought all of the ingredients according to the recipe except I used rotini wheat pasta which we already had at the house. I think the wheat pasta worked great in it.

The recipe called for red wine vinegar, but I think next time I will use balsamic vinegar to add a little more of a punch to it. I always have that around (had to buy the red wine vinegar). And I think less mayo and more greek yogurt would taste just fine.

We had it as a side for pork, but I think it would great for a cookout as well. Leftovers were just as tasty - if not more - and I made it a whole meal out of it by adding a pouch of Starkist tuna one day for lunch.

I count this experiment a success!!

Summer reprieve

I think summer - its heat and humidity - is going to be the bane of my running existence. Last week was quite hot and I only ran once. Running on a treadmill does not agree with my knees, so I have been trying to avoid that when I can.

I just hate the sticky feeling while running. I sweat a lot... kinda like a large, hairy man. The super hot N.C/Va. summers do not help. My clothing - and hair - gets soaked and I end up sweating into my eyes. Not fun people! I came back from a run the other week and my father-in-law asked if I had jumped in the shower with my clothes on... sigh.


This week, however, I have gotten a reprieve. Typically, I have been doing two short runs (3 miles) and one long run (6 miles) a week. Keep in mind my "runs" do involve some walking breaks... I am not quite up to running the whole time yet. We have been lucky to have two days with only highs in the 80s and I have taken advantage by running two days in a row. This weekend, however, looks like the triple digits will keep me from running my long run. Guess, I will have to stick to finding ways inside the gym (i.e. spin) to get my cardio time in.

Any tips to running in the heat? I have been trying to wear cool clothing, sunscreen and making water available. I really could use some sort of headband to keep try to keep sweat out of my eyes.

Beth :o)

A hummus problem

I am slightly obsessed with hummus. Some people (i.e. my hubby) might even say I have a problem!

There are much worse foods I could be stuck on. Chickpeas are good, but the tahini does add quite a bit of fat to the dish. But my main problem is what I like to dip in the hummus. These little things called Pretzel Crisps. All well and good if you can stick to the serving size - which I can do, sometimes. I think they are part wheat and part crack! ;)

One thing in my diet that I need to work on is more whole foods like veggies/fruit and less Pretzel Crisps. Maybe my hummus problem wouldn't be that bad if I was dipping cukes or green pepper strips in that hummus (I am partial to the roasted red pepper variety.).

This post is making me hungry! Off to go find some food...

-Beth :)

Everyday I'm shufflin'

Running is not easy for me. Never has been. I can't run for more than a mile without a walking break. I have been doing run/walk intervals when I run. For the longest time, I have been stuck at running for three minutes and walking for two. Part of it is mental, I think. Going up to that four minutes of running just seemed so hard - and my calves burned a lot.

My husband (who is a trainer and soon-to-be marathoner) suggested I change my gait. I had him watch me run and we talked about the running shuffle. Basically, not making my stride so long...it is apparently more efficient and more of the strain is on bigger muscles like the quads and hamstrings.

So far, I would say it has worked great! Although it has initially slowed my running down a little, I can run for a lot longer distance. My first "shuffling" run I ran for 10 minutes straight!! That may not seem like much to some natural runners, but it was a huge milestone for me!!.

I think I will keep shuffling along!! ;)

-Beth