Friend Makin Monday - uh, Tuesday.

Today is masquerading as a Monday, so I figure it counts.  

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers.

My friend Regan has some amazing tips.  She is a weight-loss tip encyclopedia, so hop on over to her page for some great advice.  I'll add a couple...

Treat food as fuel, not treats.  As Regan says, "You're not a dog.  You don't need treats." But, you do need fuel.  For whatever you're doing.  I loooove greek yogurt, and the genius is, it's also great post-workout fuel.  Almond butter on whole wheat with a little honey?  It's delicious.  It's a treat.  But it's also great pre-run.  If you change your attitude about food's purpose, you'll go a long way.  (I could go on about this for days.  Perhaps a follow up post is required)

Find an activity you love.  This is a "duh," but if you hate running, it's pointless to do that for weightloss because you won't stick with it.  Sure, people have lost all kinds of weight swimming, but it's not for me.  Stick with what you love - be it yoga, zumba, spin, whatever.  Leave the rest.  Don't feel like you have to be an exercise Renaissance man.  If you're moving, it counts.

Find a buddy.  One is good.  10 is better. Make plans to meet them regularly.  You might not keep your promise to yourself to go to the gym 3 times a week, but you'll do it for your friend!

Blog/journal/post, but do whatever you need to do to share your goals.  I think a lot of people don't want to share their weight loss goals in case they fail.  I've found that spending time writing this blog and putting it all out there helps keep me motivated.

Lift weights.  Big, heavy ones. 

Don't just focus on the scale.  "weight loss" is sort of a cruel term.  It should be, "dress size loss" or "fat loss."  Muscle is heavier than fat.  You may actually weigh more but be in much better shape.  (I say this, but it's one of the hardest things for me to remember.)  My friend Jade says, "Strong is the new skinny."  She's right.

Sarah

2 weeks in... how're those goals coming?

OK, I know it's a little early for a report, but I'm doing well, so I thought I'd share!

Eating goals:

• 2-week sugar/"white stuff" detox.  I did pretty well.  I did have a chobani that had sugar in it, and I had a couple of hershey kisses truffles left over from Christmas.  But, for someone who was eating dessert after every meal for a while there, I felt really good about the accomplishment.
• I haven't cooked anything new, but we did eat at home all last week.  I actually think I was waaay under calories.  I'm trying to eat a larger breakfast.

 Fitness goals:

• This weekend I actually met my 5k PR goal!  33 minutes almost dead on (race results say 33:33, but I'm going by my watch since I started it as I crossed the line).  It was a flat, cool, race and I really pushed myself.  ROCK! 

 Family/personal goals:

• I visited my grandmother last week.  We had a nice chat during my lunch break.   
• I'm not doing well reducing screen time.  I'll keep trying!  Motivation to read more!  (PS, I get what all the Hunger Games hype is about.  The story is clever and new, (but dark), it is well written, and the heroine is definitely someone I can rally behind - unlike that whiny Bella Swan. (Sorry, Twilight fans, I know you say the books are better, but the one movie I've seen just left a really sour taste!)

Today I'm watching hoarders and cleaning the house.  If you are ever lacking motivation to clean, watch hoarders.  Works like a charm.  I'm taking a huge load of stuff to Goodwill!

Sarah

Today I...

PRd a 5k. By 3 minutes!!! 33 even. Awesome!

Bought a dress for $30 from banana. Fits perfectly.

Had lunch with my cousin and cousin-to-be. And drank sangria.

Ate the best cupcake I've ever had.

Blew bubbles with Landon.

Watched Landon giggle when the mariachi band at dinner sang twinkle twinkle little star.

It was a good day.

Sarah

Gear I can't live without

I had a good chat with my dental hygienist yesterday.  She wants to start running, and I want to help her learn!  During our conversation, it came up that while everyone says, "Running is cheap -you just need a pair of shoes!" that's a lot of hooey.

So, I thought I'd tell you about some of my favorite running gear!


Timex watch.  I rarely take it off. Sure it's a little clunky, but I love it.  It serves as my alarm clock most days (it has the option for 3 different ones, and you can set them by individual days) my interval tracker, lap timer, and general badge of cool.  Arguments for the fancy Garmin watches can definitely be made, but I'm attached to this.  It's super-easy to use and change on the go.

Amphipod belt.  It's adjustable, and easy.  I love the wide band.  I wear it pretty high up since my waist is high.  It has a pouch that is perfect for my phone, and I can comfortably carry 3 water bottles.

Road ID.  This is just for safety. I have a medicine allergy, and you never know what might happen.  I don't always run with my phone or ID, so this is a good back up.


SmartWool PhD socks.  All other socks are inferior.  They are perfect in all weather.  Do yourself a favor and buy some.

So, resolution runners - get shopping!

Sarah

Taking a play from the Regan playbook.

 Regan always does this, and I always enjoy reading them!  So, I thought I'd join in the fun today!  Thanks, R!  Anybody else, join on in!

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers.  The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: Getting To Know You

1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday? I love my Saturdays!  If I'm in town, it's usually running, brunch, and thrifting with Alisha, then spending the afternoon/evening with my husband.  If we're out of town, we're probably with dear friends, so that's awesome too.

2) List your top three favorite TV shows.  Law & Order SVU, NCIS, Raising Hope

3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them?  Meh, I could go either way. 

4) Why do you blog? I started in 2010 when I started to run.  I wanted to chronicle the whole process.  Also, it helped me to stay accountable and to show up.  I like the blog community as well.

5) Share five websites that you visit regularly…

1. Pinterest
2. Etsy
3. Skinny Taste
4. Facebook
5.  My Fitness Pal

6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list who would it be? Andy Borowitz.  Because he is HILARIOUS.

7) List a few of your favorite snacks. Apples or celery with peanut butter, almonds, chips and salsa, and anything mint chocolate/chocolate.

8 ) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind?   Yup!  2 kitties - Eloise (Wheezy) and Lucy.  They are a lot of fun.

9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without? My violin, guitar, and oh, I'll say it, iPhone.

10) What’s your favorite drink?  Probably coffee.  Though a gin winkie is pretty delicious.

11) Do you enjoy cooking?  More and more.  I have a few things I'm good at, but I'm no good at experiments. 

12) Do you have children? No

13) What are your favorite hobbies?  Running, of course, stained glass, sewing, crafting, thrifting, collecting vintage dishware (fo reals), sailing, skiing, knitting, reading.  Wow! I have a lot of hobbies!

14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing? Definitely outgoing. 

15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change? I can get a little worked up and sometimes a bit self-deprecating, but I've gotten a lot of that figured out.  But every so often, it creeps in.  But that'd be about it.

16) Who is your favorite actor/actress?  Sandra Bullock.  Actor?  Matt Damon. or Christopher Plummer.

17) What’s the coolest thing you’ve done this week?  I bought some AWESOME copper canisters at Miss Ashley's thrift shop.  Turns out, they're pretty rare and going for $120 on ebay!  But I got them for $5.  That's cool, right?  It is also cool that I DOMINATED at spin class yesterday.

18) Do you live near your family or far from them?  I live 4 miles from my parents, 5 from my cousins, and only a state or two away from my family.  My  inlaws, on the other hand, live waaay far away - Utah, Colorado, SC (hey Judy!)

19) List three of your talents. Violin, improvisation, and teaching/motivating.

20) What is your greatest attribute?  I can encourage anyone.  It is one of my favorite things. 

Now it’s your turn to share your answers.  Don’t forget to link up in the comments at www.alltheweigh.com!  Happy Monday!

Sarah

Twitter Road Race!

Yo!  Tweeps out there - January 21st is the first #TwitterRoadRace.  Details here.  You in?

I love virtual races.  They make me feel connected to people all over the country.  I'm a big fan of the ones put on by The Boring Runner, and have sweated and frozen my thorns off a couple of times.  I like "real" races, but there is something freeing about trying for a "race PR" even when it's virtual.

If I'm feeling froggy, maybe I'll host one in the Spring.

January 21st - you in?  I'll be tweeting from @smannwillcox.  Rock.

Sarah