Hello, my Healthy Stride family!

I hope you are all healthy, happy & doing well.  I have really missed the “Healthy Living Community”.  I carried so much pain and sadness with weight and I just really want to help people.  I want people to know there is hope and that if I can do it, they can do it too!  I am nothing special and was able to achieve great goals. I want to show you that you can also achieve great success.  

I am super stoked to introduce a project that has been several months in the making and you are the first to find out about it!  I am now blogging and consulting over at www.pretendingiknow.com

As a special gift to my past readers and fellow supporters I am offering 50% off any of my e-consulting packages with the code HealthyStride, making them even MORE affordable.  It is my way of telling you THANK YOU for remembering me, sticking with me and believing in me.  I can’t wait to catch up with you over on www.pretendingiknow.com.

Love and healthy wishes, 

Lindsay @pretendingiknow on IG

First Long Run

Saturday was my 1st long run....long being a whopping 2.5 miles! However I am in Utah this week visiting family. So my run was on my old stomping grounds! Which also happens to be MUCH higher elevation. It was fine though the first half wasn't my favorite...the second half was much better. I was pretty sure I was GOING to die when I was done I was wheezing and panting. I survived it and had my headphones nice and loud so that I couldn't hear myself TRYING to breathe. My pace was almost 3 minutes faster. So it is true that I am getting a little bit faster :)

My tip of the day is-
Run with headphones nice and loud so you don't hear yourself ALMOST dying :)

I am excited for this week, lots more time playing with family seeing old friends and a few more training runs this week!

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!
Make this a great week :)

Picking a Training Plan-

I have searched training plans several times before, and always end up back at Hal Higdons plans. I love how easy it look and how do able he makes it seem. He spells it out so well that it makes me feel like I can do it! He says "Put one foot in front of the other and run. It sounds pretty simple, and it is. Don't worry about how fast you run; just cover the distance-" That sentence alone confirmed that YES anyone can do this. 

I also really liked this plan too because let's be honest who doesn't like PINK.... I found this one here. 

It is pretty close to Hals Plan so I am doing a combo of both of them!  I might just even cover the completed days with and awesome gold star. 

I know I am only 4 days into training this go around however I really think what is helping me mentally is knowing I don't have to worry about week 7 or even week 3 I am taking it day by day and not STRESSING out about the weeks ahead. I think that is what will make it doable. 

Remind me of this when in a few weeks I am questioning.....

 WHAT I have gotten myself into?

Until then....Find yourself a race pick a plan and hit the road :)

Day 3 Done-

Today was my kids first day of SUMMER!!! Late I know um hello it is the 19th of June but....here in the PNW that's how things roll. So I let them sleep in when they woke up I greeted them with these awesome lists :)

 

(I had forewarned them so they were not totally shocked.)

Knowing how thrilled they would be to kick their summer of with these list! 

 

I laced up my shoes and headed out for my 2 miler.

 

I was greeted with this sweet message!  Uh oops I guess I haven't turned this baby on for 2.5 years. 

I headed on out for 2 miles...

 

Ran past these beauties....

Finished Strong and 2 minutes and 30 seconds faster then Mondays run!

I felt great and didn't hate it. Yes I know it is slow but... as they say...I am lapping everyone on the couch ;)

Tomorrow bright and early we head to UTAH for a summer visit. I'm excited to see family and friends!!! I am hopeful that I will get my runs in and stay on top of my training....I am a little worried about the elevation change! I am banking on it making running easier when we return from our trip.

I'm off to pack...long day of driving ahead!

I am alive and crazy-

 I AM alive...

 

I must be crazy!  I swore I hated running got into cycling and LOVED it still do. However I am scared for my life riding here Oregon...yes is it considered VERY bike friendly. I swear that the roads here have zero shoulder, no bike lane and the speed limit is like 50 MPH everywhere...  Because I really love my husband and kids I find myself not wanting to ride here, for fear I will never return.  Plus it's not the same riding without my Utah BFFs. So I have done the unthinkable and signed up for a 10k....I specifically remember pulling out of my half. I wrote there I was hoping to have running be my passion, however right now it isn't! WELL I am hoping that it can be my passion again because as Brittany Spears says OOPS I did it again.... 

 I signed up for another 10k!!! BOOM August 10th I will rock the Huckleberry Half and 10k. Will I be as fast as I was 3 years ago probably not, will I finish? Absolutely! Have I talked my friends into doing it too? You betcha MOTIVATION in numbers! 

 Did this medal have anything to do with it? Totally! Look how cute it is. eeek!

So far I am 2 days into my training!

 I ran 2 SLOW miles yesterday and swam tonight for 25 minutes for my cross training!

Wish me luck!

Water Bottles.....

I had to laugh my friend sent me a text this week and all it said was "What is your secret to drinking lots of water?" I replied its my magic water bottle! It turned into a HUGE facebook thread about the water bottles and I have to say  A LOT of my friends are now owners of these magic water bottles too. Who would have thought that my simple response could cause such a stir in the FB world!!!!   However it never leaves my side and I refill it a BILLION times a day.  I refill it with water that is not ice cold,  that way I can drink it lots faster.

Plus my kids refill it nonstop for me too just so they can drink out of it! They all are "earning'' their own water bottles now! Best $15 bucks ever spent! Okay they really are not magic I just love the convenience, lots of water in every swallow and plus they are super cute! I  used to get all my water down this way . Now I  just use my magic water bottle.... No you do not have to use this water bottle....just pick a favorite cup, with a lid and a straw and you'll be golden :) Turn it into your FAVORITE way to drink lots of water.

Which brings me to why water is so important in weight loss and in general health!

• When you lose weight your body creates toxins/ waste, and water helps flush them out of your system.
• Keeps your joints and muscles well lubricated and helps them move smoothly! Water is the WD-40 for your body! 
• Helps with hydration. When you are dehydrated you feel sleepy, and lethargic which makes you GRUMPY!
• Helps with the "BLOATED" feeling. 
• Ice cold water actually burns calories as your body heats up to digest it and adjust to the cold water you just drank. 
• Helps with muscle soreness.   
• Keeps you feeling full, which in turn helps with cravings. 
• Keeps your skin looking fresh and clear. 

My water bottle goes everywhere with me, if I go upstairs it goes with me, when I go to bed its on my nightstand. It goes to PTA meetings, church meetings, girls night out, date night. Oh the stories my water bottles could tell......

Do you drink enough water?

What are your secrets to drinking lots of water?


*I bought my water bottles at Costco!

EXCUSES

Today would have been a GREAT day to say aww I'll miss out on my workout.... I was woken up at 3 am to limbs falling off the trees! Those things crash and are freaking scary.....even more scary when you are home alone! Then again at 4:30 to loud thuds of more stuff crunching and breaking! 

 Back to sleep until 6:30 to find it was a SNOW DAY!!! 

 Say what....growing up in Utah the weather didn't look like a snow day to me....but none the less!

NO SCHOOL....

I'll take it though.....So we slept in until 10:30ish I knew I still needed to shower and had a lunch I needed/ wanted to be at at noon. So I left my house all dressed and ready for the day! Enjoyed a great lunch, came home treated my kiddos to Happy Hour @ Sonic! Wasn't even temped for a DDP....yay must mean I have gotten those craving out of my system. 

So now here I am writing post workout and I had a million and one reason/ excuses to NOT go!

  I am proud of myself for staying dedicated and getting my workout in. It would have been much easier to sit home and do nothing....However leaving for the hour and getting my workout in will make the rest of my day SO much better I won't have guilt for cheating myself out of a workout. Plus it shows me mentally that I am dedicated and driven to achieve my goals.

NO EXCUSES!!!!

So I formed a list of LAME excuses that NO one should use :)

• I don't have the time! PLEASE everyone has 30 minutes your reading this right now right.....you could be getting a workout in.
• I don't have clothes to workout in! Sheesh Pajamas work great then. 
• I don't have shoes.....Come on now...EVERYBODY has a pair of tennis shoes! Gym shoes do NOT need to be anything special!
• I ate bad so why work out??? Um HELLO the more reason to get a quick workout in.
• I don't have a gym membership.....LAMEST EXCUSE in the book! You have 2 feet walk out your front door walk 15 min one way turn around and walk home. Now you are thinking the weather isn't ideal then do some simple circuit training at home, a DVD, and online video or On Demand!
• I'm to fat to exercise....Nope no your not! Get off your booty and get moving. 
• I don't want to get my hair sweaty I just washed it! YUP I have totally used that one :)
• I'm to tired!!!! Well then a workout is exactly what the Dr ordered. You will feel those endorphins and they will power you through the rest of the day!

These were just a few I thought of real quick off the top of my head! I am pretty sure I have used everyone of them plus a million more!

What EXCUSE do you CHOOSE to use???

Make the CHOICE today to NOT make any EXCUSES!

I don't want to regret....

NOT blogging this next part of my journey.  Plus I have secretly missed not blogging..... okay okay and maybe just maybe finding a picture of me pinned on someones pintrest board kinda sorta helped A LOT in remotivating me to blog again too. I CAN'T believe it has almost been 1 year from my last post!!! So crazy.... Almost as crazy as my last year was ;) With the move came LOTS of adjustments, making new friends loosing old cycling BFF's :( a daughters ruptured appendix out of state, lots of visits back to Utah, 10 days in Hawaii....purchasing a new home, a puppy, ear surgery on my hubby x2.....lots of craziness! So blogging took to the bottom of the laundry list of things to do and accomplish! With that being said....My personal health and fitness also took bottom of the list......Knowing what happens when I don't put myself first and foremost I started getting a lil freaked out! January rolled around and so did an EXTRA 20 pounds that I don't care to have on my body....granted that isn't SO terrible for the changes and adjustments and lack of attending the gym for pretty much a year. I knew that 20 could easily turn into 40 then to 50 and then.....eeek! I got scared, got re-motivated and have been bitten by the health and fitness bug once again!

SO..........

What HAVE I done about it......?

Found myself a new workout routine that I feel comfortable with and am loving. I am also eating super clean! Cleaner then I have ever eaten my WHOLE life!!!!! I have not had any sugar, my beloved Diet Soda, or dairy....okay the only dairy I wasn't willing to give up was Greek yogurt to much protein and and a quick easy meal to give it up.I have been logging every last item that enters my mouth and drinking more water then my bladder can handle!

 How long have I been eating this way..... Today marks my 15th day without any of those foods!  You know what....I feel great too.....surprisingly, I have not had hardly any cravings either. SHOCKING I know!

I plan on keeping you all up to date on what is going on! I have gotten a TON of emails from people and was totally RUDE and didn't reply....I feel like I am a little bit more under control now and have BIG hopes to keep up on my blogging and emails :)

This post was pretty much just a quick catch up and I WILL be  blogging here lots more often :)

Couldn't stand a ride post without PICS

Soooooo what did I do? 

Went out and took pics of the route! In my car.......not that ambitious to ride it twice in one day :)

I know I am not a professional picture taker but come on have you EVER seen such BEAUTY????

LOVED this little small town!!!!  The mossy trees AMAZING and so fascinating!!!! 

YUP I know I am totally weird for taking pics after the fact, but I just love all the BEAUTY that surrounds me :)

Back in the saddle AGAIN!!!

27 MILES

After 4.5 months of not cycling!!!! 

It was awesome it was my first official ride out here in the PNW!!!  I had my tires pumped and ready to go and my phone rang and a friend was wondering if I wanted to ride today so my first ride wasn't even solo! Which is probably a great thing I wasn't alone. I have a fear of getting lost and not being able to get home for hours!!! So a friend was greatly appreciated. 

-The Ride- 

Freaking kicked my butt!!!! Not only did I feel slow I was SLOW. I felt out of shape, however I still loved every last second of it.  My calf cramped a little. I was unprepared and should have had food with me the last 8-10 miles were um... Not sure I even remember them. I needed food, not good!  

-After the Ride-

I couldn't get my PPJ and chocolate milk down fast enough.  I felt beyond exhausted but was overly happy with my 1557 calorie burn. My legs are sore, I am anxious to ride again!

-No Pics-

SAY WHAT???? 

I was way to focused on where I was and just spinning the peddles that there was ZERO snapping of the camera :( 

NEXT time PROMISE!!!

 

YOU ARE PERFECT!!!

YOU ARE PERFECT!!!! 

"You're so mean, when you talk about yourself, you were wrong
Change the voices in your head, make them like you instead
So complicated, look happy, you'll make it!
Filled with so much hatred...such a tired game
It's enough!"

I am LOVING this song, we are all way to hard on ourselves, from our weight, to our flaws, eating or even our workouts! We need to take to day and call it PERFECT :) We are who we are and let's embrace it.

MAKE TODAY A GREAT DAY!!!!!

Vitamin D + Yoga= :)

The sun is shining!!!!

With the sun shining I am soaking in the sunlight :) 

I LOVE where I live I feel so blessed to have this beauty surround me daily!   

On another note: I have become a major fan of Yoga the last few weeks I have been doing it 3 times a week. Sooo good for my body and my head. Not sure I am totally into all the YOGI ways or thinking but that hour that I am there I dig it :)

With that said do you Yoga??? 

Do you like it???

Foggy

I love the mornings that I wake up and look outside and find this!!!! 

I love how the fog just kinda settles in I LOVE IT!!!

It is usually gone quickly but I love the smell of it the crisp air and just standing outside in it!

I love the look of the wet cement...moss covered too.

 On top of that my grass is still green!!!!!

Plus.......we will have weather later this week of 4+ days of 55ish degrees and you know what that means??? 

BIKE RIDE!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait what is your weather like right now???

I'm Loving it.....

That would be my POST workout food yesterday!  Have you tried McDonalds oatmeal yet??? 

So so yummy, make sure you get it without the brown sugar. It is sweet enough with the fruit!

My beverage of choice Diet Dr. Pepper or as I refer to it DDP!!!! 

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS????

I think so :) 

OUCH!!!!

I'm in pain.... not this kind of pain, thank heavens!  Seriously why did I ever get out of my workout groove? I can tell that tomorrow is going to be a day that I live on my main floor and use my little ones to run up and down the stairs for me :) My yesterday's workout was awesome! I really love going to the gym cranking my ipod and zoning out while sweating my worries away!

Which brings to me how do you deal with post workout soreness? 

 

This is how I deal.......

• Drink tons of water
• Stretch out keep those muscles loose
• Foam roll (er Dawn can you do that for me??? left my roller in UT at her house :(.)
• Hot & cold showers.....not a fan but they do work.
• Call on the troops aka little ones to do my bending! 
• Remember the pain so I don't get out of the groove again :)

I am sure there are many more but these are a few I can think of off the top of my head.

What are your tips and tricks???

Could it be.........

That I am finally feeling settled after moving??? I think so! Needless to say it has been a crazy hectic time! My workouts have been a different kind of workout, unloading and decorating a new house, getting kids registered in sports, dance etc. then Christmas vacation! PHEW! That makes me tired just thinking about what the last few months have held!  

 I haven't dared jump on my bike! 

 The weather here is around mid 30's-40's I could jump on and go but BURRR!  

So I have found myself spending lots of quality time at the gym! 

 Well...... okay I just started back to the gym but I plan on spending lots of time there! Gotta get my booty in shape before riding season is here....which I hear is end of February first of Marchish! With that being said I have been plain LAZY the last few months. So time to kick it in to HIGH gear :)  

Which brings me to my PLAN!!!! 

SHHHHHH it's a secret.............

Eat Less-Move More-Drink More Water....( Diet Dr. Pepper is my new weakness...... that's a whole other post!)

Today brings this awesome workout! 

I am going to hit the cardio and full body quickie! Last week at the gym I focused on getting my cardio back into gear I did 40 minutes cardio 4 days last week. Never felt sore and I am ready to tear it up this week!!! I heart my gym time! I'll make sure to be a better blogger and catch you up on how my workout went! 

Until then  GOOOOOO DUCKS!!!!!!!

Portland Oregon

Is where my new life adventures will take place!!!! 

Beginning the first part of November!!!

I can hardly wait, to pedal my little heart out on the streets of Oregon. I am excited to share my new adventures with all of you. 

In the mean time. . . . . . .

I'll spend as much time as I can with my Utah friends and family

Get a few more fall bike rides in

Find a new house

Move a family of 5

Enjoy Halloween

and

Try not to stress to much :)

MOVING to a town near you. . . . .?

When you think things can't get any busier they do...........

We are moving. . . . . . Is it a state near you????

Hum. . . . . . 

Maybe. . . . . . .

 HOT!!!!!

BEAUTIFUL. . . . . . . .

Am I going to be a Southern Gal?

I wanna know where you think 

I am going to call my new home!!!!!

I promise to not leave you hanging for to long :)

SURVIVED

I AM ALIVE!!!!!

I survived 3 months with my Husband gone for intensive training for work!!!!  

 Needless to say my blogging time was filled with kids, football season, long nights of homework etc.!!!!!  I honestly feel like I was in survival mode, doing all I could do to prevent a full on Mommy shut-down :) My blogging hiatus should resume to normal.....I have LOTS of fun things I am dying to blog about!!! 

Great Salt Lake Ride

Wonder Woman 70 Miler that turned into 75!!!!!

The Living Room Hike

How's that for a little teaser??????

Oh and........I have to say that Diet Coke or a Diet Dr. Pepper has been a huge life saver to me the last few weeks!!!! I am sure we will see a day again where I bid it farewell but for now its a "good thing" to have in my life. hahaha

I missed you all and your emails and comments wondering if I'm alive or returning to the blogging world meant a lot!!!!  Everyone enjoy your weekends, I know I will with my Husband home for good!!!!!!!!!!!!

Diet Coke

Today I had woken up gotten my house all cleaned and left to run my errands . Childless mind you my baby started kindergarten :( It was WAY to quiet to sit home alone so what's a girl to do...... I get into my car, crank some tunes and have a mouth watering CRAVING for a Diet Coke!!!!! 

 I have not had one in FOREVER!!!! I even sent out text informing my friends of what I was about to do! This was a BIG deal for me. Needless to say I pulled up to my normal drink stop, and they greeted me with "32 oz water extra ice, fat straw?" NOPE not today I want a 32 oz Diet Coke extra ice with a shot of vanilla!!!! They tell me it's $1.16 dang my water is only .25 who cares I can not wait to drink this Diet Coke they hand me the drink and I go to set it down and ALMOST dump the WHOLE thing. . . . I saved it :) They reminded me see there is your sign you shouldn't drink Diet Coke!!!!! WHATEVER today I made a conscious choice to love the Diet Coke.  I held it, I drank it sooooo slow I wanted it to last. I headed into Tj Maxx for some shopping I debated leaving my drink in the car.....NOPE I didn't want it to melt and become watery. It sat in my cart and shopped with me :) THEN.......as I went to pick up my clothes to try on my Diet Coke SPILLED on the floor the whole thing DUMPED!!!!! 

 It was over half full SERIOUSLY?????  I had to laugh as I wiped the floor up. The drink people were right starting the good old Diet Coke was a BAD idea!!!! Tonight as I write this I am still totally bummed that my nice fresh Diet Coke is sitting in the garbage can at the local Tj Maxx!!!!

So I wanna know do you love your Diet Coke???

Should I be getting me another one to replace todays mishap? Or take it as a MAJOR sign to stay away!!!!