July is MY moth!

This is going to be MY month!

I have been winging my fitness and my food plan for several months... vacationing in Montreal for a month, and then having a horrible cold for 3 weeks after we got home has really put me in a downward trend.

But I am back in the groove!

I am running regularly. The runs are slow and short, but I am seeing improvement already... just like a beginner.

I have an eating plan, and am tracking and logging my intake. That works best for me to help with focus and assessment.

I have that pair of skinny Jean's uppermost in my mind.  And by the end of the month I will be wearing them proudly again.

So glad Summer is here... really enjoying all the outside time right now.

How is July coming along for you?  Sny big Summer plans?

January Mid-Month Check In

Here it is, the middle of January already.

I like to check up on my progress every couple of weeks.  Itis good to see how well I am doing with reaching my goals and also allows me to make changes if necessary.  A review also shows me where I am straying or may even just need a kick in the butt!

I started out the new year with a short run on January 1st.  My plan is to run once a week until the weather warms up... a lot!   I am not a fan of cool weather running, or running in the rain or in strong wind so once a week takes the pressure off considerably.  So far so good on that item. My runs are short and slow, but I think the discipline of making myself get dressed and get out there is good.   If the weather cooperates, I will add a second session.  That sounds like I do not really like to run.  I do, but I like the conditions to be right!

This is 4C of course, and that is about 42F I think... with a light misty rain.

I am doing a full body workout with my Lebert Equaliazer Bars every 3 days. I originally started every 2 days but was blowing off that 3rd workout some weeks because my upper body was just too tired to do it.  This is a much more difficult workout for me than I ever would have imagined but I love it and I can see that I am making progress... both in strength and form... so I shall plug along.  And the every-third-day routine changes up the days of the week that I am working out too. I like that I am not doing the same thing every week. I get pretty bored with a set routine.


My nutrition plan is to concentrate more on food as fuel, and this has helped me relax a lot on the meal prep front.  We are eating simpler and healthier and smaller meals.  It is so much easier and takes the stress out of meal planning with not feeling like I have to come up with new and exciting all the time!

So far... so good.   And one more thing I am quite pleases about, is having been selected again this year as a Nuun Ambassador.  Nuun is a product I use almost daily and I am happy to be able to share the Nuun news and shopping opportunities with family and friends.

How is January shaping up for you?  Are you staying with your New Year goals?

Reflections

It is the last day of 2018.  As I look back over the year, I am also somewhat looking forward to the next... making some plans and some decisions.   

2017 ended on a very happy note for me.  We had a sudden opportunity to spend a few days before Christmas on a whirlwind trip to Manhattan in NYC... the flights were very long and there were some delays but it was so worthwhile. We had only 3 days and nights to pack in as much siteseeing as we possibly could. We also took in a Canadian Tenors Christmas concert and had the opportunity for a meet-and-greet afterwards. They were very gracious, especially after learning how far we had come to see the concert.

We loved being in NYC, especially with all the glitter and glam of the holiday season, and definitely would like to go back and see more when the city is green and the weather is warm.  It was so much better than we could have imagined.  The Captain particularly liked the ferry ride to Staten Island past the Statue of Liberty. Any time we can get on a boat...

A few days after we arrived home the Captain was hit with a really horrible cold virus and of course  shortly after, I was too.  It was quite awful. We spent most of January 2018 in bed, trying to recover.  It knocked us both for a real loop. I had no energy to work out, and no interest in blogging.  I had nothing to share in the fitness or healthy living arenas.

As the year wore on, I was not inspired to get back to blogging at all.  I let it go almost completely.  I participated less and less in the social media groups I had joined. I did keep track of some, but with waning interest.  A few times I was tempted to write a post, or share a recipe, but just did not.

So here I am... on the last day of 2018, looking back at my year, and trying to make some decisions about going forward. Blogging holds more interest for me right now. I miss the camaraderie of some of my groups. I feel like I am planning things that I would like to share.

We found some terrific new local restaurants this year.  You will not be surprised that most of them are on the waterfront!  And we also discovered a little pub in our neighborhood that is funky and very comfy.

I did not run very much in 2018.  I have missed it.  I did walk though... a lot...  Walking is definitely easier than running when you don't feel very well and doesn't take the effort of putting on special clothing... or even require a shower afterward if I am being totally honest. Walking is also easier when it is raining. I hate running in the rain, but walking does seem right.

I did not follow any specific workout plan in 2018.  My efforts were almost nonexistant the first quarter of the year actually. My upper body strength almost disappeared. My stamina and endurance suffered greatly.   However, part way through the year I won a giveaway and was the happy recipient of a terrific package of gear from Lebert Fitness... a lovely set of pink Equalizer Bars, a Buddy System, and a Stretch Strap.  For the past several weeks, the Captain and I have been working out 2 or 3 times a week with the Equalizer Bars and some dumbbells, in an effort to regain some strength and endurance, and to just get back to the routine of regular workouts. This is something we can do in our own living room and therefore very appealing.  You will hear more about this in upcoming posts, I am sure.

I have been doing a variety of yoga sessions over the past several months as well.  I find yoga to be a good upper body workout and such a relaxing way to stretch. I love to stretch.  It used to feel like such a waste of time. Now I revel in it!

We played a lot of tennis over the Summer and even got in some golfing. I do love to be outside when the weather is nice and we had a particularly warm and dry Summer here. Lovely.

And, on the food front, I am finally in a groove.  I have developed a way of eating that is healthy for me. I can not handle much alcohol. I cannot handle much sugar.  So, I am following a pretty low carb plan,  and happy and comfortable with it.  I am not stressing about my weight even though it is  actually a couple of pounds over my ideal number on the scale. I feel pretty good with all of this and more relaxed. 

So, in 2018, we travelled a bit on the Island, and ferried over to Vancouver and into WA state to a favorite shopping area.  We visited/reconnected with some family and frends. We are looking forward to more of that this next year, and actually have a major trip/adventure planned for late Spring. Will share more about that soon.

All in all I am feeling quite positive. I am thrilled that neither of us feeling ill going into the new year...

knock on wood

and thankful for our health and happy life together.

New Product Find to Share... Stitch and Flow Compression Stockings

Here is a little something new I am eager to share with you.  These Stitch and Flow compression stockings are bright and colorful and quite unique.  I was recently given the opportunity to try them out and I am quite enamoured with them.

The first thing you will notice when you open the package is the bright and colorful pixel design.  The soft weave fabric is a blend of 80% nylon and 20% spandex and the stockings have a graduated compression and each sock can be worn on either foot... no L and R to get mixed up!

The first thing I loved about them is that they were easy to put on... so many times I have ordered compression stockings in what I think should be an ample size, only to really struggle with getting them on and then off, too.  Not these. They go on with relative ease... are comfortable for even a full day's wear and then roll off quite nicely.  They are snug, but not overly so.

I have worn these stockings several times... while on my feet all day doing errands and shopping, and I have worn them while I run and then for a couple of hours afterward to help with recovery.  I will likely wear them on my travel day this weekend where I will be on a 4.5 hour flight and then a 1.75 hour flight shortly after.  I have that much confidence in them.

It is recommended that you hand wash these stockings and hang them to dry.  I normally hand wash my workout gear anyway so this was not a hardship for me.  But the label does say that they can be machine-washed in cold water with a mild soap or detergent.  You choose.

These Stitch and Flow compression stockings are now available on Amazon  and I am pretty sure you will be happily surprised with the price, too.

What do you think?  Do you wear compression stockings?

The Holiday Rush and Some Great Deals

I love this time of year... there is so much excitement in the air with the holiday season upon us and so much to see and do.  Too much really.

I am excited about some special things right now... let me fill you in...

I am taking part in a new 'diet' program with Chalene Johnson.  It is called one3one diet and is a 12 week program of structured experimenting with different eating protocols to find out what works best for people on an individual basis.  This first phase is using ketosis and intermittent fasting to prepare for a longer fast... so far loving all the information and community support.  I am learning so much about inflammation and gut health.

We have had an unexpected little trip fall into our laps!  I won a magazine contest for a 2-day trip to New York City including flights, lovely hotel, and concert tickets to see The Tenors.. also a meet and greet opportunity... which I may or may not take... I am a bit shy so we shall see.  Anyway, because of where I live it is going to involve ALL DAY travel to get there but I think it will be fun. I have never been to New York... never even thought about going and The Captain is pretty stoked too. I know it will be whirlwind so we are going to choose a couple of MUST see landmarks and see as much as we can.

So... some affiliations coming up...

I was chosen to be a nuun ambassador for 2018... so happy for the opportunity to share great discounts and product news with you here.  I do love nuun and use it every day.

Have you checked the Knuckle Lights web site lately?    They have some fabulous promotions going on right now.

FREE battery charger set value $9.99 with every order 

(1 Charger Set for EACH set of Knuckle Lights COLORS)

And they are offering FREE shipping in the U.S.

My friends at Nuzest are also offering a terrific holiday deal...

And if you like, use code eatrunsail at checkout for a 15% discount on your purchase. 

What are you most excited about this holiday season?