Couch to 5K: "KISS OF DEATH"

So, I've been making alot of progress with the Couch to 5K program, except for the fact I'd been so tired since I began the program 5 weeks ago. I continued to feel so drained of energy that I decided on Tuesday to go the doctor to have some tests run. Low and behold, turns out I have MONONUCLEOUSIS. Yeah...like also known as the kissing disease, EBV, or mono for short that most people get in high school. EW! Well, that explains why I've never gotten the energy high from running and Zumba!! It also means the end of my running program, at least temporarily. You see, most people don't know when you have mono you aren't supposed to run because you can have an enlarged spleen (from the mono infection). If you have an enlarged spleen and you play contact sports or participate in strenuous activities (aka running) you can rupture your spleen!!! And bleed out and die!! How horrible! So, in the meantime, I dream of running and I'm stuck like a sitting duck. Of course this would only happen to me! I pick a 9 week running program for the first time in my life, and halfway through it, I get mono. This is a temporary blow to my athletic plans, but still a kiss of death in the running world. Oh well, guess I'll rest up...

Couch-to-5K: Week 4

I started my forth week of the Couch-to-5K program, and let me just be honest...yesterday I had my first session of the week and I nearly died. No exaggeration. I was red-faced, sweating profusely, falling on the ground hyperventilating, and people literally gave me a width berth in which to die a slow and painful death. No exaggeration. Today, I had my trusty and dependent jogging partner, Abbey, with whom I don't like to look weak, so surprisingly the session was MUCH easier today. LOL! No one wants to be the quitter, so you keep pushing on and on, and eventually you've completed the jog. Viola! I can't believe we're halfway through the 5K training program, and to be completely honest I know it's gonna be much harder in the weeks ahead...


Such a great accomplishment thus far though, I can run a 1/2 mile straight no problem (for several intervals too)!! Two months ago, I would get super winded after jogging just a 1/4 mile, so I'm definitely progressing!! I love how great I feel after each run too. I'll admit at the beginning of each week I actually get really nervous, my heart speeds up, and I get knots in my stomach just thinking about the next weeks session. I don't want to quit or fail, but I've never made an athletic goal before and sometimes I have doubts as to whether my body can push hard enough to finish. A very wise woman told me today, "I love running because the only thing that can hold you back is yourself." Well, she's so very right! I can do anything I put my mind to, and I decided long ago to do this 5K race. So, cheer me on as I leave my doubts in the dust!!! No pain, no gain!!!

When I run, my tongue hangs out of my mouth like this too ;)

Couch-to-5K

I'm sure many of you have heard of the "Couch-to-5K" training regimen, which involves baby steps to get you from couch potato to runner in about 9 weeks. Well, last week I decided to embark on this endeavor with the help of my trusty "up-for-anything" pal, Abbey.  In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, information on the "Couch-to-5K" schedule is posted here. What's great about this training schedule is the sessions are short (20-30 minutes, three times a week), the interval training is extremely basic (short bouts of jogging/walking), and I don't feel like the next session is so out of my league anymore. It feels like I might actually attain my goal of running in a 5K this year! WOO-HOO! I love trying new things and actually succeeding LOL.


I just started my second week today and I love that the weather has been cooperating so nicely with my jogging schedule. When I workout I feel like I get extremely overheated, and I'm not able to push myself as hard as would be possible if it were cooler. So, since the last few weeks have been in the 50s/60s its been perfect! Not sure what'll happen as the hot air evicts the arctic breeze out of the East Tennessee valley, but hopefully I'll have established enough of a routine that it doesn't affect me. 


Ok, I promised to share the nitty, gritty details about running, so here you go for your reading pleasure. I can currently can jog/walk a 13 minute mile LOL! Yes, kinda sad, but you know what?! I was doing a 15 minute mile last month, so :-P !! I'm making slow and steady progress. For the last two months (and more seriously the last month), I've also been keeping a food diary, which makes you more conscientious of your food choices and portion control. And you know what?! I'm almost down to my pre-Rob weight. HEHE! I must have become one really happy girlfriend over the years, but now I'm starting to shed some serious pounds. Boo-Yah! I don't feel I look any different, but I sure do FEEL different. I feel empowered, I feel great, I feel in control! I feel like I could conquer the world, and that's what really matters. When it comes down to whether I lose weight, get toned, get fit, or rejuvenate my psyche, sure I'd like all the above. But, I just want to feel motivated and driven about something again. Hey, if a 300-400 lb person on Biggest Loser can learn to jog and lose weight, I'm pretty sure I've run out of excuses.


Very much looking forward to another Couch-to-5K session this week :)

Get motivated!

Springtime!

Ahhh.....the joys of springtime! And boy have I been busy, what with moving my furniture in (FINALLY!), redecorating the whole house, painting, visiting my sister in Nashville and my new nephew (I <3 my Corbin!), wedding planning....ahh...the wedding planning NEVER ends!!! I am wore out! Typical week in my shoes has become exhausting, and I really don't know what it's like just to relax anymore. But, the list is long and needs to get done!


It's also Springtime!! Gotta enjoy the sunshine, and stop and smell the flowers! The flowers that Rob planted last week while he was off work :) YAY! I got to take gardening off my list of things to do...finally shortening the list a bit rather than adding to it. I hope ya'll are loving this gorgeous weather, cause it's definitely my favorite season. I'm sad to say jogging has been put on the back burner for the last couple weeks. I've been watching what I eat consistantly, but definitely need to get back into the swing of things once all the chaotic-ness dies down.

On a side note, Rob finally booked our honeymoon, and boy was it a BIG surprise!! Originally, all we ever talked about was going to a Sandals resort in the Bahamas. But, he booked an 11 day cruise to the Mediterranean, and it includes various stops in Italy, Greece, and Turkey. I'm more excited about the honeymoon than my own wedding! HAHA! I'll be marking so many things off my bucket list in just this one single trip. I am beyond estatic! Life has just been so much sweeter these last three years while dating Rob. So glad I can call him my very own in just six months <3 Some cool Mediterranean pictures for your viewing pleasure :)


Amalfi coast in Italy



Santorini, Greece

Istanbul, Turkey

Mykonos, Greece

The Jogging Chronicles

To keep up with my athletic goal of running a 5K this year, I've been regularly visiting a local park in which to train. It was suggested by a fitness guru and friend that in order to keep up my endurance I needed to strengthen my leg muscles. Here's some background information about myself: I walk crooked, therefore I jog crooked, I've had exercise induced asthma since I was in middle school, I have a rather large handicap (hint: it's attached to my chest), and ultimately I'm trying to build more muscle tone.


That being said, I'm going to chronicle my progress, experiences, and results (mental and physical). I'm going to get painfully honest about how I'm feeling, whether it's embarrassing or not. For instance, at the start of this training I could only run a quarter mile before getting winded. That's kinda embarrassing. Maybe you can run infinitely longer than this (maybe you can't) but either way, a goal's a goal. For those who aren't aware, a 5K is over 3 miles....so, obviously I have a long way to go.


There are a few things I must have when jalking (my intervals of jogging/walking): my iphone/ipod and headphones, my new Garmin GPS watch, my inhaler, and gum. On really humid days, I have to swing by the car between laps and take a swig off my rescue inhaler (yes, embarrassing!). I've also come to realize I perform better if I chew gum while jalking, because it clears my nose, mentholates my gums, and keeps me from getting dry mouth. It really works! Try this tip if jogging is difficult for you. My GPS watch allows me to record my route and my time. Very helpful right now as I'm trying to perform quicker each time I complete the route. Lastly, my awesome 'fitness mix' that keeps my heart rate up and pushes me to complete that last bit of distance when I just want to quit. This personal concoction of items are what's keeping me from dropping dead on the trail.


Currently, I'm training 2-3 times a week with an average of at least ten miles. It's really all dependent on the weather, as I prefer to jog outside versus jogging on a treadmill at the hospital gym. The reason? It's extremely difficult to jog on a moving object when my legs are crooked and don't jog straight. It's really my worst enemy, so ex-nay the treadmill. As long as it's not raining and at least 50 degrees, you'll find me at the park after work. So, stayed tuned as I whip my butt in shape!!

Accurate representation :)

Extreme Makeover: Living Room Edition

About three weeks ago, Rob and I decided to redesign the living room to a more feng shui environment; a room where we could congregate with friends, relax, and actually live. At least that's what I wanted, so fast forward to tonight and the room is pretty much complete, except for a few odds and ends (ie. art to hang and more collectibles to showcase on our new twin bookcases). 

BEFORE

Firstly, here are some "before" photos of the living room. Notice how the living room and dining room are one conjoined room, but it was originally designed with the sofa dividing these two spaces. The gigantic entertainment center drew your eye immediately. It was much too large for the small space provided for a living room, but a great, solid wood piece that we eventually moved upstairs into the man cave. Originally, the soaring walls were an unpainted, bland white, but I didn't have photos before we started painting the fireplace. Everything else was pretty unremarkable: a couch that ate you when you sat down, a tan and red rug you couldn't vacuum (or the threads would pull), a brown leather recliner, some decorative red pillows, and a walnut colored coffee table and end table.

I'm standing in the dining room looking into the living room. The front door is to the left of the entertainment center.

View of the fireplace, the sofa, and the decorative red accents

The gi-normous entertainment center, a view of the front door, and the entryway table

The gas fireplace and hanging art

AFTER

Firstly, we painted the walls "Toasted Cashew" from Home Depot. This created more of a difference than I ever could have imagined. Second, no one even knew we had a huge window behind the gargantuan entertainment set!! This lets in a huge amount of light, which is much-needed in a middle condo unit. We also mounted the 50" Samsung flat screen TV above the fireplace to better utilize the space. Then, we bought a new taupe colored sofa and love seat (courtesy of American Signature) along with two matching espresso colored bookcases. I purchased a snazzy area rug (courtesy of Overstock.com), and decorative pillows and curtains (courtesy of Walmart). Rob purchased an espresso colored coffee table with two end tables, and a beautiful mantle to mount above the fireplace. And the end result....VIOLA!!!!

The gorgeous new living room!

Sofa/love seat, and a view of the front door.

Mounted TV and twin bookcases flanking the fireplace. We still need to register for some canvases to hang.

Aerial view of the room up to the edge of the dining room

Brown/Blue curtain panels

The brown leather recliner, bookshelf, and collectibles

My beautiful area rug :)

The view!

I decided to go with a neutral earth tone palate utilizing the browns and blues and every shade in between. I really love everything about the room now, and spend so much more time in it. The carpet is also being replaced throughout the entire condo in a couple weeks. More changes, more to love :) So, what do you think? Feel free to share!

Valentine's Day and What I'm Loving Wednesday

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Hope everyone felt some kind of love yesterday, cause I sure did. Here's what I'm loving on Valentine's Day and this Wednesday.

I'm loving these awesome flip flops Rob got me from the Island Slipper. When Rob and I were in Grand Cayman we found these Hawaiian flip flops, but decided to order them directly from the website. And it's a good thing we did, as it was much cheaper. They're made of a washable Ultrasuede material with a memory foam-like insole, so it's also super comfortable and contoured to your foot.

I loved having my diamond studs upgraded to big, beautiful, and FABULOUS. I wear my studs almost everyday, so definitely a nice Valentine's Day present that will get plenty of use.

I'm also loving the new furniture Rob and I just purchased at American Signature (aka Value City Furniture. Does anyone even like their new store title? I sure don't). We are completely redoing the living room (before and after pictures to come soon!) by adding new paint, new furniture, new accessories, new window treatments, and a new layout design. We are also redesigning the spare bedroom and the man cave/office/work-out room upstairs. Stay tuned for updates and photos! In the meantime, check out our first purchase together as a couple!

Gorgeous couch and love seat in taupe

And we ordered two of these modern bookshelves to flank the fireplace. Super chic, sophisticated, and snazzy!

I'm loving this new Garmin GPS watch my boss found in the woods and decided to give to me. It can calculate the distance traveled and route taken by GPS, and also monitor your heart rate. Pretty spiffy and FREE!



Kinda big, but I asked for one for Christmas and didn't get it. So, this is just PERFECT!

Lastly, I'm very much loving and looking forward to tonight's V-Day dinner celebration at the Melting Pot. It's one of Rob and my's favorite restaurants and I've been eating light all day so I can go crazy on the garlic cheddar cheese fondue :D YUM!

I love Valentine's Day!!

What are you loving this Wednesday?