Kicking *kitten* In Our Twenties - July Challenge!!

Good morning ladies and happy hump day! :bigsmile:

Thankfully, since this weekend is a long weekend, we actually try to leave work early on Fridays and my folks are flying out to Rome Friday night so I only have about 2 1/2 days of work left (driving them to the airport Fri afternoon) before my long weekend in Ottawa and then Aug craziness is here! August is actually panning out to be an even more ridiculously insane month, with the WD trip, a wedding, my 10 Mile Chocolate Race (!!!), multiple family functions with Ty, and an out-of-town work retreat for 2 days... I am hoping to keep up with you all while I can but it looks like a total whirlwind. Not to mention weeks 6-10 of HH Half Marathon Training booked in there... :noway: Should be lots of fun! Capping it all off with another 4 day camping trip over the first weekend in September. Lots of amazing stuff planned. Cannot wait to enjoy the rest of my summer with Ty and the rest of my loved ones but not to fret - I won't forget all you amazing women!

Aly - GOOD LUCK!!!! :drinker: I can totally understand the desire to just finish what you start but also the nerves that come along with actually finally finishing and moving onto something else. Do you know whether you'll continue racing in the future, or is your plan to focus on weight loss and wedding prep over the next few months/year and give racing a bit of a break? Either way, I can't wait to see you back here more regularly. You've been missed - and this place is just getting sad!

Bethany - So frustrating about the kitchen situation - I have the same problem at Tyler's place. His kitchen is *pathetic* and he hasn't got even the simpliest of things. I've tried to stock it up as best I can, but there is no sense buying all kinds of gadgets I already own again just to have them in two places. I think that likely just moving in there eventually is the only solution... :noway: Wait, WHAT!??! Bahaha Yea right. Glad to hear you are doing so well with motivation, food and general outlook. Sounds fabulous to me! You are always such a great motivator and your posts are so uplifting :bigsmile: Thank YOU for being so freakin' awesome!

Megan - Don't even think about worrying about the 10K as a "training race" - Just think of it as a 10K run, like any other, and resolve to run it the best you can. Races are such an entirely different experience from the normal long run - You really can't anticipate how you will fare under such bizarre conditions, but I can tell you that there is like zero chance of you NOT finishing. Just think about it. You KNOW you can run 10K and we all KNOW that running is 90% mental. In almost every race I've run thus far there is always doubt at some point - doubt that I'll be happy with my time, doubt that I'll be able to maintain my pace or keep my run/walk ratios consistent, doubt that I'll even finish. But there's always that hump that you crest once you realize "hey - there's only 2.5kms left. I know I can run 2.5km... I do it all the time!" and after that, you just run. Run and run and run and with every km marking you gain so much momentum and drive. Your will to finish, to really feel proud of your accomplishments and to be able to tell yourself "I know I can do this", it will all just take over. And next thing you know it'll be over and done and you'll cross the finish line and actually feel a little twinge of sadness that it's over - amidst all the relief and joy of finishing, of course! Whatever positive self-talk you use in your long runs now is going to become crucial on race day, so take note of how you motivate yourself. Just know that the personal stakes are higher on race day, because you're committed and you want to finish what you start. Harnessing that commitment to yourself and your desire to see things through to the end with almost always overcome any physical obstacle you face - whether it's dehydration, exhaustion, muscle fatigue, etc. Your body can take it. And if you've got the right stuff upstairs, you will do it :happy:

Updating the list, just to keep our goals in view for the last stretch of July - One more week ladies...


Allie7383- Finally finish the 30DS, get into the 130's, start and keep up with the bridge to 10k program!
Black_Swan - eat back all exercise calories and keep up with my running plan
Teee2- Lose these next pounds the healthy way with no self harming involved for the next month!!!! (Baby steps!)
marshallj86 - hit 135, ditch the scale, and stick with clean eating (and turn 25! my bday is July 30!)
mkingraham (Megan)- Create a succesful healthy delicious food plan and stick to it, do 30DS with my hubby at least 3 times a week, average at least 6 miles a week of running, own the scale don't let it own me (meaning take my no scale challenge and actually learn and apply the lessons it taught me), get back to my optimistic self!
meagalayne- find time twice a week for strength and make it a priority - don't cut it short!; continue with 1/2 Marathon training plan and make it fit, even when life gets in the way; stop giving myself permission to binge/junk because of training or stress - be accountable and plan out indulgences; drink more water than coffee and sleep >6 hours a night, 5 times a week.
imarunner890s- 155lbs, 10k walkings program, wake up at 8am and get 8 hrs of sleep
guamgrly (Bethany) - no scale!! Focus on the lifestyle, the routine, and meal planning. Work out 3x per week. Drink 8 glasses of water per day. Eat more fruits and veggies
lostalykat- Stick to my calories as best as I can with training, Focus on training these last 4 weeks, Don't worry about the number on the scale but check it weekly to keep me accountable.
Ashleypeterson37- Move into new house on the 15th and wear my HRM, gym 3x a week minimum, try 3 new recipes and drop 8 more pounds, be more active on this page so: post 2x a week!
Mariababe81 (mariam): finish the 30ds and start round 2, zumba once a week and running once a week. once weekly weigh in.allow myself some rest days if i need them! enjoy maintainance!!!
~~KanCrav.... NO SCALE until August 1st!~!~!~!~ Workout 5 times a week, enjoy my trips!
luv_lea~Drink more water-aiming for the general 8 glasses (64 oz.) of water a day, Start 6 Week 6 Pack video and do at least 4 days a week! Continue running 1 mile (or more?) 3 times a week, and lastly, lose 2.5 lbs. for the month of July!
Elmersglue (Ellie): Train for Sept 5k at least once a week, at least 7 hours of sleep 5x a week (!!), no emotional binging (mainly Sunday nights, when life and things tend to catch up), get to know everyone here^^
cmg2008- Finish c25k and continue running at least 3 times a week, finish 30DS, accumulate 1200mintues of exercise, and get down into the low 140s.
tjradd73(Tara)-to lose 4lbs, 30/35 days of 30DS, 10,000 steps/day (Sun-Tue), Tues stretch/yoga, <1400 avg cals,< 4 days over cals total, and try to get <180g carbs, and >60g protein.
tobemotivated - do the 30ds (first day was today!), lose 5lbs, drink more water, eat less sugar!
glitterballv-1. To stop overeating with sweets and cake! 2. Run three times a week, try and start bridge to 10k. 3. Try to get to at least one spin class a week.
Anitanz- Get to 64kg’s. Drink less alcohol. Limit chocolate at work to <100 cals per day.
ComfortFoodAddict: 64 oz water/day, No sodas!, sleep 6 hours 5x/wk, workout at least 4x/wk, drop below 170 *at least* again, log food without omitting anything 6x/wk
Allislefttogain: Start training for my first full marathon; at least 96 ounces of water a day; make initial appointment with a physical therapist; hit 583.33 miles running by month end; at least 2 strength training sessions a week
zerozeta0: Run 40 miles a week. Drink 8 cups of water a day. Limit candies/chocolates to once a week. Limit coffee to 3 times a week. Get down to 105.
emiyr9602 - get through level 3 of the 30DS, lose my last 9 lbs, drink atleast 72oz of water a day, and continue to work through the c25k!
AmberJenay - Lose 5 lbs, workout 4-5 times/week, and continue to build myself up.
annemade- lose 2 pounds per week - therefore 8 pounds this month
lalonmeg000- Drink only water or unsweat tea; Lose .5 inches for each major area of my body; focus on fueling my body by eating throughout the day and not one large meal. ; focus on myself at workouts not the people around me.
3773- work out 3 mornings this week, do 45 min of cardio when I go to the gym, dont go over my 1200 calories.

Alright, better get off to work... As for my fitness and food, I've been really good the last two days. Lots of super healthy food and no binging, plus all my training :bigsmile: Opting out of baseball tonight because I need to prep for my trip and I want to get a good hill run in this afternoon. Technically I've got intervals scheduled but I want to incorporate some hill runs into my training and my run yesterday morning at 5:30am was actually very speedy for me anyway. All my "easy" runs seem to be turning into tempo/speed runs these days... Not too sure why! I just zone out and run, run, run...

Wishing you all an amazing Wednesday. Ill try to be in touch before I leave for Ottawa and will definitely be posting the new thread on Aug 1st - Keep things moving here while I'm away. Counting on you ladies - You're doing an AWESOME job!

Quick post this AM. Work in about 20 mins but I wanted to drop in since I didn't get a chance to post yesterday evening...

Did some hills yesterday but not as much as I would have liked. It was hot, and I was freaking exhausted. Lack of sleep and work stress is wearing on me and I'm definitely in need of a rest. Tomorrow's Rest day thankfully, and I am spending 6+ hours of it in the car driving out to Ottawa for a long weekend away. Hoping to find SOME relaxation while I'm there but I know we'll be busy, and I intend to keep up with my 1/2 Marathon plan as well. At least maybe I'll get some sleep?

This morning I got up at 530am and did my 3mile run + circuits in the park. Cut the corners a bit on my circuits because of fatigue/exhaustion and just a lack of time in the morning. 48 mins total and 442 calories burned. Not too shabby. Tonight's a whirl wind of packing and tying up loose ends before tomorrow... Lots to do, especially with my folks leaving. Likely will not be able to post until at least Friday or Saturday...

QOTD from ages ago - What's my fave healthy meals....

OH GEEZ! Well it's obviously oatmeal, on a practical level. It's comforting and safe and I have it nearly every morning to start my day. On days when I can't have oatmeal I always find myself starving mid-morning and my appetite is nuts all day long. Have it along with fruit, healthy fats (PB!) and greek yogurt for protein and it's a great, balanced meal.

Other than that, I eat spinach salad or some variation with grilled meat every day. It's an easy no-brainer for lunch and I can always switch it up. Snacks are always yogurt, raw veggies, edamame, fruit or homemade protein brownies - or some combination of that.

For cooked meals... I love stewing veggies with diced tomatoes, spices, corn and either black beans or shredded meat and then poaching eggs over top. Adding feta + cilantro if I feel a little saucy Soups and stews are also a fave because they are easy and so filling and delicious, and can be made very healthy and nearly fat free, if desired. Lately we've been doing a lot of fish, pork tenderloin, and stirfrys with different sauce combinations and I'd love to get any suggestions you guys may have. Bring forth the recipes!

OH! And I love love love homemade pico and kimchi. They are absolute STAPLES in my house and nearly always in the fridge. Great addition to any meal!

QOTD - How do you sauce-up / spice-up healthy foods (without overloading on sodium) ? What's your favourite stirfry recipe?

Have a wonderful Thursday folks!