Great weekend- salon, friends, sushi, motivation and running!

Happy Monday folks!

While I could spend the next week down in the dumps because my boyfriend is working in Shanghai til next Tuesday, I've been focusing on the positive and how great my weekend was!

Salon
First off, after being bummed dropping off Ryan at the airport on Saturday morning, I quickly got a smile on my face for the rest of the day after visiting my favorite stylist Crystal at the Ulta in Woodbury (MN).  Even though I live 35 minutes away now, I still go back to her every 6 weeks!

I got red foils on top of my red and blonde foils from six weeks ago, I love it!!!

Friends and Sushi
I got together with one of my best friends on Saturday night so we could catch up, enjoy some sushi and have fun!  We went to Sushi Tango in Uptown, sat on the patio and enjoyed funky drinks, I loved my pomegranate tangojito, and yummy sushi rolls!  My friend tried this cool roll called "flame" and it was seared on the outside, just a little bit, I recommend it!

After dinner we headed over to the Pizza Luce block party.  The party was super crowded and it was kinda difficult to get our food/drink tickets and obtaining a beer/slice of pizza took a bit over a half hour, I wish that was better organized. But, we had a good time listening to the last band and being outside on a nice summer night!

Motivation
Whoo boy, did I get a big kick in the butt of motivation from my friend Mariah this weekend!  Mariah races in triathalons! A few friends and I went to Lake Nokomis to cheer her on in the YWCA Women's Triathalon on Sunday. 

A few things I did not realize about triathalons:
1. People of all ages, shapes, sizes and athletic ability participate
2. Pretty much every participant I saw, while exhausted, was elated to be participating
3. People are there pretty much every leg of the way cheering on EVERYONE
4. I can ride a bike, I can run, I can practice my swimming...I can do one with some training!

Hmm, something to think about :)

Running
I did my first ever run all the way around a lake this weekend for my Couch to 5K, Week 8, day 1 run!!! Thank you to Corryn for commiting with me to a run on a hot (over 80!) Sunday afternoon run with me!  I wasn't prepared for all the people and the heat, I got through all my water and my pace was a bit slower than usual, had to walk for a minute a couple times.  I did it though! I went around a lake like a big girl! Lake Harriet to be exact, yay! I plan to do it again in cooler weather and see if that improves my time, I'm sure it will.

Oh! I also got a new running accessory this weekend a Nathan's Quickdraw Thermal Water Bottle. The bottle had a spot where I could attach my car key inside a zip in pouch, which I could definitely fit an ID or some money, etc in along with it.  My water stayed cold, it had a nice handle to slip my hand through, easy to use, loved it! Yay, now I think I can go on longer runs!

I hope everyone had a fun, fulfilling and active weekend!
<3 Merbear

Runner? Me?

Alright so run just under 4.3 mph, but that's averaged out with 5 minutes warm up and cool down, I bet at my fastest I'm 4.5 mph or so, maybe? I need to get that Polar or Garmin soon so I can figure out the speeds on the different legs of my run....okay, yeah that does make me sound like a runner.

I'm done with 7 weeks  of Couch to 5K, I have 2 full weeks left.  This week with the 25 minute runs was a bit of a struggle, but I kinda tested myself today, it was hard to finish the 25 minutes, but after 4 minutes of a cool down brisk walk, I was able to run again! I think I can make it the 30 next week and the 35 in two weeks, I want to run 5Ks, the whole thing, so badly!  Yeah, that makes me sound like a runner, too.

Also, ALSO....I got up this morning, before WORK, gave up SLEEPING IN, and went running! ME! Miss loves bed, miss loves to lounge with my kitties, read my phone, snuggle in....I got up and RAN! Oh my gosh, I feel so good today that I did that! I just feel energized and happy that I'm done with my cardio, wow, love it!

So pretty in the morning!

Pounding the pavement

What is this tree?  It has bean things!
Sorry,I got my phone sweaty.

Anyone wanna tell me a running story? Are you just EXHAUSTED when you finish running? When is your favorite time of day to run or exercise outside? Do you pick a path ahead of time or do you just go with the flow and turn around halfway?

I'm excited for C25K to be done, so that I don't have to time myself and just run when I want, walk break when I want, run some more, etc..I think I'd get a lot further and faster!

So, What...I love food, always have and always will.....

...that doesn't mean my tastes haven't been changing and I love more and more healthy foods!

I was thinking about some of the things that I *love* to eat right now.

I pretty much eat all of these, except obviously the Chobani, in their natural state, not doused in anything, topped with anything, or dipped in anything...yay me!

I just cut them in half
and eat them right out
of the "shell"

I love blueberries alone,
they are awesome in Chobani!

Nom Nom Cukes

strawberries



Pistachios


 Of course I still love chocolate, cookies, pizza, tacos, ice cream, cheese, bagels, etc....but I don't crave them like they are the only satisfying savory food anymore.  Yay eating healthier! 

Funny story, I realized, because of one situation or another I had pizza on Friday, twice on Saturday, and on Monday....crazy, eh? But I didn't eat too much of it, or go over my calorie limit, I just ate a lot of pizza.

On Friday night I made it homemade (per my blog), on Saturday morning we made it and had samples during our cooking class, on Saturday night my friends served it for our movie night, and last night, Monday night, it was late, we were tired, and due to lack of planning (whoops) we got delivery. But all is well and good, I managed the cals!

Mmmm, pizza.

One Step, One Breath Priorfatgirl Summer Event

This weekend I joined some familiar faces, made some new friends and learned lots of new ways to think about the mental and physical aspects of my healthiness journey. Jen, of Priorfatgirl hosted this awesome and fun event!

We all met at The Beat Coffeehouse at 8am on Saturday morning, uffdah early, good thing they have wonderful coffee!

The first speaker was Mary Sailors of Fit this, girl! She's a Personal Trainer, Bootcamp Instructor and a Kettlebell instructor and super nice and easy to follow.  She gave us a presentation about how to focus on your goal, what to think about mentally, physically, food wise, and environment wise. She showed us exercises that anyone can do at home with a band, too!

Mary Sailor, Fit This, Girl!

Lets Squat!

Kris @krisgetshealthy.com and Ann @twelve-in-twelve.com

Ann working on resistance band moves

Jen @priorfatgirl.com
pulling those bands!

Yay Jen!

Kris and Ann listening attentively to instructions

Kris's turn!

Work it Kris!

Jen talked about how much relationships can change, can be lost, and new ones can be built as we change our minds and our bodies to become healthier. Our lives, our environment, the people we want around us, the people that can accept our new lifestyle may change who we surround ourselves with and who chooses to stick with us.  She said that 80% of marriages where one spouse loses a significant amount of weight end in divorce...so its important to compromise and to keep lines of communication open!

Jen





Doing her thing






















After meeting a the coffeehouse, we ventured to our 2nd half of the day, which was a cooking class on Healthy Comfort Foods by KitchenWerks.

We learned how to make:

Spaghetti sauce served on romaine or wilted broccoli slaw
(as pasta substitutes)



Topping off the mac 'n cheese with breadcrumbs



mmm organic, gluten free and appropriate portioned
mac 'n cheese

Coconut chicken strips, they are coated in
a flax crumb topping and baked on a sheet
with coconut oil, SOO GOOD!

Pizza made on Joseph's Lavash or Arnold's Sandwich Thins
We used the homemade sauce or olive oil as the base



Jen putting together what she claims was the "best" pizza















I had such a wonderful time catching up, networking, learning new things, tasting new things (you betcha I'm going to serve pasta sauce on wilted broccoli slaw now!)  Plus a healthier recipe for mac 'n cheese and chicken strips, yum nom nom nom!

Made me feel healthy and accomplished all weekend.

P.S.
On Sunday I also ran outside for another 25 minutes w/ a 5 min warmup, yay me!

Homemade Pizza!

It's date night and I made homemade pizza for the first time and then we are going to the movies!

I love Friday!

Whoa baby hormones and some running of course! :)

Can I just start with I ran OUTSIDE for 2.45 miles, I could have done the treadmill easily, but now that I'm on week 7 of  Couch to 5K , its 25 minutes of running and its just gonna be longer and longer intervals of running, so there aren't intervals to keep me *entertained and engaged* and its easy to time 25 minutes, etc...so I figured I better start getting used to being outside if I'm actually going to be doing 5Ks OUTSIDE this fall :)

Heehee, I'm really proud of myself for keeping my cravings in check with my calorie counts, but I definitely had to do some food swaps today. I didn't fuel myself as healthily (is that a word?) as I should have but at least I'm not overeating.

Popcorn and a couple small pieces of dark chocolate replaced my Chobani today, hehe..oh well, I'm satisfied and I guess I'll have salad for dinner :)  

I lifted weights today and rocked out 5mph for 20 minutes on hill intervals on the treadmill this morning, too RAWR!!

What I Love Wednesday

Big bay window in my
new home

Leftover Chipotle Burrito Bol because
I only eat 1/2 at a time, YUM!

black cherry and pomegranate Chobani!

Pretty Pedicures



Pistachios!




I like turtles