Monthly Archives: November 2012

Fitness Goals for the Rest of the Year

In the beginning of 2012, I set a bunch of goals.

One of them was sub-4 or bust in the marathon. I got really damn close, but didn’t quite get there.

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Maybe I just need a more aerodynamic ponytail. It must have slowed me down a lot, flying all over the place.

Another was a sub-1:50 half. Well, that was audacious. It turned out I only had the drive this year to push hard for a full, and that’s fine.

For the rest of 2012, I have two big fitness-related goals to focus on.

1. 1,000 miles for the year.


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72 miles, 5 weeks to go. My running motivation has been low since the marathon, but I’m pretty sure I can bust out 72 miles in the next 5 weeks. You can follow along on DailyMile.

2. Operation Feel Confident in a Bikini

That’s how this whole weight-loss journey started a few years ago. I was going to Aruba for a friend’s wedding, and wanted to feel confident on the beach in a bathing suit. I lost 35 pounds by the wedding (and the last 15 in the following 6 months), and felt so damn confident in that bikini. I lost 15 pounds after that, but somewhere along the way, I lost a bit of that body confidence, too.

For the past two years, I’ve been obsessed with running and completely neglected strength training, and my core shows it. Running is amazing for me mentally, and it has definitely helped keep the weight off, but hasn’t done anything for muscle definition.

I’ve tried again and again to get into strength training, and just couldn’t make myself. I contemplated working out with a trainer again, but I really want to be able to make this something I can do on my own, and I know that when I work out with a trainer, I get complete workout amnesia and can never remember afterwards what we did.

I’m going to St. Croix over New Year’s and want to feel awesome in a bikini. So I’m working with Jess for the next month on strength. She develops a strength training plan for me that I do on my own. (Full disclosure: I get a discount on her services as part of her social media influencer program.) I’m also trying her nutrition counseling services. I know what to eat to lose weight, but my goal here is really to tone up and have abs that I don’t hate. And abs are made in the kitchen and all that.

What are your fitness goals for the rest of the year?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving?

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I am most thankful for going nowhere near a mall today.

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After yesterday’s turkey trot (that post is updated with official + Garmin results, FYI), I came home and got to work on making my contribution for yesterday: maple-glazed Brussels sprouts with bacon.

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I feel like they taste like one put more work into them than one actually did. Which is what I always go for when cooking.

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The bird with the bird. Long story behind it, but one of my mom’s nicknames is Bird. (So there was some cannibalism yesterday?)

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Antipasto. (My dad made his yearly “I’m pro-pasta” joke.)

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…And everything else.

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Including this little snuglebunny, Lexi, my cousin’s daughter. I can’t believe it was just a year and a half ago I headed up to Rhode Island with my family to pick her up. She’s now walking and talking. Guaranteed giggles for hours? (From me and her.) Ask her if she’s a good girl. Every single time she says “Bad girl!” and giggles with glee.

How was your Thanksgiving? What’s your favorite Thanksgiving dish? Mine are stuffing and (not pictured but still there) spaghetti and meatballs.