weekend update

D and I have been thoroughly enjoying the great weather we have right now! 
The way GA's weather changes this time of year, 
we have to enjoy it when we can. 

GSU's baseball season started last week. 
Baseball is my very favorite sport. 
Attending games is one of my favorite parts about living in a college town. 

The Art Department had their annual Empty Bowl Project last week. 
Art students paint bowls and they can be purchased for $10 and you get the bowl and a chili lunch. 
All proceeds go to the local food bank. 
Another perk of a college town, cheap art/crafts!

D and I went cycling everyday this past weekend. 
We usually go between 5:30-6 in the evenings 
and the sun is setting by the time we finish. 
Such a great way to end a day! 
D also gave me my first tennis lesson on Sunday. 
Y'all should feel very sorry for him! 
Even though, he said that I did really well for my first time playing. 
But he could have just been saying that because he is a stellar boyfriend! 

I got some super exciting news from my brother ... 
I am going to be an Aunt again and he is going to be a Daddy for the first time!! 
I absolutely adore my nieces and nephews and cannot wait to add one more to love! 

First pic of the new peanut!
I never can see anything in these ultrasound pictures ;)

running update

It has been a while since I updated y'all on how running is going. 

Well, it has been a while since I update y'all on anything! 

But let's stick to running for now. 

Saturday I completed my third 5k since I started running last year. 

And I finished in my best time yet! 

I finished 10 minutes faster than my last race! 

I cannot adequately express how good it felt to cross that finish line seeing that time on the clock. 

The elements could have contributed to the faster time Saturday. 

It was FLOODING and cold! 

All of my extremities were numb by the end of the race. 

I am still not the greatest "runner" in the world. 

I would definitely fit better into the jogger category. 

And I still cannot run the entire 3.2 miles straight. 

But my walking "breaks" are getting shorter and shorter!

Progress! 

I do not do these races to compete with other people. 

I just want to finish better than I did the last race. 

I may have set the bar a little too high with this one though!

My next 5k is coming up in 2 short weeks on March 9th 

and my sister wants to do another one on March 30th. 

I have not completely committed to the March 30th one though. 

That would be three 5ks in a little over a months time. 

However, she will probably convince me to do it. 

I am a sucker for the, 

"but I do not want to race by myself" argument. 

The things we do for family!

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via ae on Pinterest

time to celebrate!

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Today is my last day

on the No Junk Food Challenge!

Honestly, it has not been as hard as I thought it would be.

But tomorrow is my Birthday

and I am going to splurge big time.

Cake & ice cream here I come!!

Source: theendlessmeal.com via liz on Pinterest

I hit one of my big

weightloss goals this week.

Yet another reason to celebrate!

Doesn't it just feel so good to step on the

scale and see the number you have been working

toward for a while?!

I am telling you Wednesday morning

was a great morning.

And that was even before coffee!

Source: tumblr.com via liz on Pinterest

I am not too worried about the scale.

But I do have an ultimate goal weight that I am aiming for.

Mainly because I need a goal to work towards.

I am not one of those people

who can work out just to work out.

Source: Uploaded by user via liz on Pinterest

My main plan so far is just to lose 1 pound a week.

Slow & steady!

I have lost about 35 lbs since

the beginning of April,

so I am ahead of my 1lb/week plan right now.

But I know I will have up weeks and down weeks.

I am pretty sure next week is not going to be a

successful week because of my birthday.

And I am completely fine with that.

If you cannot splurge on your birthday,

when can you?

Source: thebakerstwine.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

run like the wind

Last summer I started the C25k program.

I really like the idea of the program,

but I really did not have great results using it.

Source: athenasrunning.com via liz on Pinterest

I just could never get the distance.

I could never actually run the full 3.2 miles straight through.

I did complete my first 5k,

but I did not run the entire time.

Source: Uploaded by user via liz on Pinterest

Between frustration with my progress

and the knees of an 80 year old

I just kind of gave up on running in November.

I was still walking everyday

but i was not even attempting to run anymore.

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This past April

I bought a new pair of running shoes

and decided to attempt running again.

I decided not to try the C25k program again.

Source: isawthisimage.com via liz on Pinterest

Instead, I just started running.

I would run until I stopped

and then I would walk the rest of the distance.

So, far this method is working for me.

Source: rippedandfit.tumblr.com via liz on Pinterest

I am consistently running 1.5 miles everyday!

I am still have not hit the 3.2 mile mark yet;

but I feel like I am making better progress than I did last year.

Source: eat-sleep-run-repeat.tumblr.com via liz on Pinterest

Do any of you runners out there have any running tips for me?

i am not a runner . . .

or much of an exerciser for that matter.

I have never hid my loathing dislike of exercise. 

I am just not one of those people who feel good after exercise. 

Despite that I am training for a 5k. 

I am using the Couch to 5k (C25k) program.

So far, I am still alive!

Although, I have been at it 4 weeks and am only on week 2.

I have 3 friends who are doing the program with me. 

And 2 of us have not really exercised in years. 

So, we wanted to start slow.

We did week1 for 2 weeks for us beginners {me}.

Then I tweaked my knee somehow 

and I had to take a week off.

And tonight I will finally finish week 2!

To be honest, 

week 3 scares me to death.

I will have to run for 3 minutes straight

and 90 seconds is kicking my butt right now.

I know 90 seconds or even 3 minutes

 may not seem like a big deal to you runners out there

but just finishing one of those 90 second runs is a huge deal for me.

My birthday is at the beginning of August

and I want to be able to completely run a 5k by then.

That is my goal.

And so far I am SLOWLY completing it!

{click on pics for source}

P90X

I have a confession to make. I hate to exercise. Gyms are my enemy! I am a bookworm at heart and I do not need to be fit to read! But I do need to be fit to live a healthy, happy life. Oh, the conundrum! So, I have bit the bullet and I ordered P90X today. I have heard really good things about this program. Well, good things when talking about exercise.  One of my roommates and I are going to go through the program together. I am determined to stick with this for the entire 3 months!