Memorial Day Weekend

This is a pivotal weekend for me for a couple reasons:

1.  I'm going to turn 31 on May 26th
2.  I have to officially start training next week
3.  Summer starts

Ok, maybe not that pivotal, but the official start to training is a big mental date in my head!  July marks the time frame when most people start full on training, but June is when I condition myself for my consistency runs.  I will be running four days a week, around 2-6 miles depending on the days.  I know that is not a big deal, however the consistency is what gets me into the habit of training and trust me, if anything, you need to feel like it is second nature to wake up at the butt crack of dawn and run, sometimes for hours.  Once you know it's just what is done then there is no getting out of it.  At least that is what worked for me last year and I felt good last year.  I am a fan of the morning run for a couple of reasons.  First, you get it over with, second you feel good (no belly full of food) and third there is not thinking about it, you wake up and go.  That is the goal of June.  To wake up and go and get into that mode.

Also, I am going to be 31!  I'm excited about this one.  I pretty much had a mental breakdown last year, turning 30 was a big bummer for me.  I am not 100% sure why, but it was.  This year, I really don't mind.  I'm going to be 31 and this year is going to be amazing!  I will get married, run a marathon, go to France and perhaps many other life changing things.  I'm excited for all of them!  31 is going to be great!

Summer starting, well it is, but hell I just couldn't think of a number three, ha!  I love summer and everything that goes with it.  The heat, the sweat, the sun, the thunder storms!  I love it all! 

I spoke before about doing a modified master cleanse this week, it didn't happen.  That thing called life got in the way, but the next two weeks I have cleared my calendar (it really is a matter of clearing social obligations) to do the following cleanse:

Breakfast   Master Cleanse Lemonade
Lunch        Salads (piled on with healthy options, but a big salad)
Dinner       Master Cleanse Lemonade and large glass of almond milk

Snacks - Lemonade or teas

Yes, this is not the cleanse, but the lemonade is really great at satisfying any hunger pangs I have and I need a lunch.  I know that about myself and I want to have something that can give me a boost to lose some pounds before training, but not tire me out completely.

This weekend will be filled with BBQs!  I am prepared though, each BBQ I have a plan of attack when it comes to healthy options!  I'll try take photos to recap on Tuesday!  Have a healthy and happy Memorial Day weekend!   God Bless our United States Armed Forces, your lives where not taken in vain!

Feeling like a woman!

I got my hair done this weekend!

What do you think?

I lightened it up just a bit!  A perfect bit!   I'm going to do it one more time before the wedding.  It is crazy how great your hair looks when you leave a salon!  I wish that I had some hair style skills!  I loved the lighted up look and am so happy I did it.  It kind of took a long time, but worth it 100%.  I feel like such a W.O.M.A.N. when I leave the salon.  My hair has bounce, I don't cringe when I see a reflection of myself on the way home!  I wish I can harness that feeling and look forever! 

I do have girlfriends that look great, pretty much 100% of the time I see them.  They get up early, take their time getting ready.  Blow dry their hair with a round brush, put make up on, the whole shibang.  They look great, really they do.  I wish I had that in me sometimes.  I just don't.  I don't even wear makeup really (example the picture above).  I am not one of those naturalists either.  I do think make up and getting done up is beautiful and more importantly it makes you feel beautiful.  That being said, I'm really nervous to get my make up done the day of my wedding.  The last time I got it done was for my sister’s wedding and it scared the crap out of me.  I know it looked really pretty, but I felt like a Kardashian, like a clown.  I didn't feel like myself.  Wanting to look beautiful for my wedding is important, but I still need to look like myself.  My poor make up girl, I will probably have to do a million trials! 

Other than that my weekend was uneventful in the best way!  B and I met up with my old work friends on Friday, so fun!  Saturday I did my hair and we went to dinner and Sunday we did brunch with his parents.  I did get the wedding stuff I wanted to get done this weekend completed too.  All in all a great weekend if you ask me, despite the crappy weather!  Also, the "stuff" is gone and we are back on track!!!!
 

Shame Cycle

I feel shameful after a binge.  It drives me crazy that I still at almost 31 years old have binge cycles.  I know what sets them off and I continue to do it from time to time. 

Sometimes, every once in a while, B and I enjoy a little herbal stimulants.  Although, it fully relaxes me and puts any nerves to a complete mellow, I also mentally give myself a free pass to eat and eat and eat.  I don't even think it is anything directly from the herbs, but instead just myself saying, F it, go for it, who cares.  I know I have a binging mentality.  I have had issues over shopping, over drinking, over eating, over working out.  It took years of hitting low points in each area to fix.  Whether it was racking up so much debt I couldn't sleep, which I paid off 100% every penny and now I rarely shop at all, or working out so much and so hard that I pass out on a treadmill, I used to push to an unhealthy place.  I know I am not perfect, but I have found a good place at 31 for almost all of my vices, except when I enjoy this little thing.  It isn't even enjoyable for me when I wake up the next morning feeling fat and lethargic.  I swear off it and then BAM it is in our apt. 

This is definitely something that I no longer want around me, not because I am against it, in fact I am a huge supporter of legalizing it, but because I become a fat ass from it!  I need B's support in keeping it out of the apt and I just haven't gotten it yet.  I will say again, we do this every once in the while, so it is not something that is in our apt a lot, but I feel it is a cycle.  We do it, get lazy and fat, then stop, I get back into shape, and we do it again. 

Well I want out of this cycle!  I am hoping putting it out there will nix any desire that I may have to do it again.  I want to be 100% balances on all my vices, including binge eating!!!!!  I promise to write every time I have a binge and what caused it.  It may  not work, but at least I will feel embarrassed putting it out there and think before eating everything in my kitchen! 

This weekend is actually a pretty relaxed one for the most part, I am getting my hair done though!  I'll put up a pic when it's finished!  Also, next week I'm going to attempt to do a version of the master cleanse from Mon-Fri.  My co-workers are out all week, so I will be doing lunch alone!  Perfect time to try this since I will have no pressure to socialize at lunch :)  Have a happy, healthy weekend!

Being healthy by environment

Well, the wedding adventure is over!  It was so beautiful in the Outer Banks and they had perfect weather for their special day! 

We got there around 3pm on Wednesday night and stayed in the house with the bridal party (B is a groomsman).  The house was massive!  Three levels and tons of bedrooms each with their own bathroom, views of the ocean, a movie theater room, pool and much more!  They had a welcome BBQ that night which was filled with ribs, salads, mac n cheese and so many other delicious foods!  I actually stuck to a pretty decent plate of salads and veggies.  I was drinking though.  Pinot!  Usually when I drink my appetite is minimal.  This is me and B on the porch swing outside our room right before the BBQ was about to begin.

He is so serious and I'm a total cheese ball!

We woke up super early to seize the beautiful weather and my girlfriend Marisa and I went for a run.  It wasn't the easiest run, hungover and kind of out of shape, but I think we did about 2.5 miles and walked on the beach back.  After the run we hit up the beach and chilled out for most of the day on Thursday.  It was beautiful out but the water was way too cold to swim, so it was mostly just sitting on the beach.  Then came lunch!  I mean it's vacation, so you want to eat like fat lards right?  Wrong!  The people that where in the house, who where awesome btw, all ate really healthy.  I mean grilled chicken and grilled veggies healthy!  They were up for runs, training for iron mans, doing it all and you know what, it's contagious.  I wanted to do those things and eat like they did.  It felt good.  It goes to show you how it is easier to have a healthy lifestyle if your partner has one!  It spreads! 

Thursday night was the rehearsal dinner, I only drank a little bit and ate pretty modestly.  B was having a great time and I was getting so tired and wanted to make sure I was ready to go for the wedding day the next day so Marisa and I walked back to our houses.  It was about a mile away and I saw a shooting star!!!  No joke!  I made a wish and will remember that star forever!!!!  Actually the whole sky in the Outer Banks looks like a planetarium.  So many stars, it was so peaceful.  I went to bed super early and woke up around 7am ready to GO!  Marisa and I went for another run (B had a lot of groomsman duties to do during the week) and then started helping out. 

Friday consisted of everyone helping out to put together the reception/ceremony area and making everything just right for the bride and groom.  The finished product was beautiful and the bride and groom where stunning!  A total success!  I would post pictures of the bride/groom, but I didn't take any with my phone :(  I forgot it!  I took some with my friends phone and she is going to send to me!  She did send me one of me and B though!  This is near the water where they had their ceremony.

I actually hate what I'm doing here, but B looks like a hottie!

The wedding was over and we finished the weekend kind of lounging and driving of course!!!!  Outer Banks is not a hop and a skip away from Hoboken, NJ.  Sunday we got back after spending time with our respective mothers and crashed!  Monday was back to work and busy busy busy!

Today, Brendan said he is starting a full on diet.  Let's hope we can keep a healthy environment that was down there!  I felt great eating those foods and being so active.  I hope we can keep it up and lose some lbs in the process!  Let's not forget my fitting is June 8th!!!!  Holy Moly! 

Surpise!

It was me and B sitting at the bar McCloones on an amazingly gorgeous day on Saturday.  We decided to go to the bar to meet my sister and my brother in law for a drink and hour before my step mother’s retirement party.   Well that is what I thought anyway.  I get a frantic text from my sister that the retirement party is earlier than the time my father had provided (which would be very much likely, my dad is a ditz) and I should hightail it over there before speeches start.  It was being held at the historic center of Monmouth Beach, NJ.  We pull up, we park in a frenzy and I dash in with my card out, trying to get in before my step mother speaks, then flash bulbs!

The first person I saw was my mother and I immediately knew, this is “my wedding shower”!!!!  The room was so girlie.  White, cream  & pink colors surrounded the room and little pink potted plants where in the center of each table.  My bridesmaids are seriously the most thoughtful beautiful all around ladies.  I am so lucky to have such a great group of friends!  There was sangria, wine and water on a main table and there were gifts, EVERWHERE!  I hit the jackpot!  It took me a while to calm down.  I walked around the room and hugged each person, but I was still completely frazzled.  I sat down ate a bit and then we got down to business, I got in the big chair in the front of the room, the supposed “hot seat” and my girls asked me all types of questions about Brendan and our relationship.  I knew most of the answers and I definitely knew the ones I should have known!  It was really sweet hearing the answers he said to some questions.   Then gift opening.  I am not sure how it was for every other bride to be, but I was so shocked and amazed with how generous everyone was.  We got so many great items off our registry and the only thing left now is to get a house! 

At the end of the day, it is weird being the center of attention, but it really shows you how loved you are.  I left the shower feeling so blessed to have all these people in my life from all different times of my life and I am blessed to be marrying such an amazing man!  I cannot wait for this next chapter!  I will post pictures as soon as I get them from the girls!

Other than that amazing, amazing day, not much happened this weekend.  I got to spend time with my bff that flew in from LA for my shower (how awesome is she), her sister (another bff) and her baby on Sunday morning.  Hanging with babies seriously keep me youthful for sure.  I can’t wait to have one to play with!  B left for OBX to help his best friend get ready for his wedding down there on Friday and to play golf!  I am heading down there first thing tomorrow morning to celebrate thier wedding and I cannot wait! 

Food wise, I have been keeping it healthy for the most part, but the shower threw me for a small loop.  Also, I got my lovely friend this week and feel like my body is one big bloated fart!  I won’t be on for a couple of days because I will be in OBX, and will def take pictures!  Sending love out to the internet world-love-love-love!

Wedding Shower

I had my wedding shower this weekend!  It was a total surprise and it was everything a gal could have asked for!  I am super busy today, but will definitely post tomorrow :) 

Happy!

I'm happy today!

It is so beautiful in NY & one of my favorite bloggers, Elle, on priorfatgirl.com is back from a hiatus!  I love the way she writes! 

I kind of binged at Chipolte today at lunch.  I get a veggie salad which is good, but about 25% of the time I also get chips and guacamole....fail.  Anyway, I'm full and completely hyper from too much diet coke, but ready to finish up the day! 

Even though I ate bad at lunch I have been eating very healthy at dinner.  Check out this concoction.  I am not sure if any of you have tasted or tried to cook Kasha, but it is delicious.  To me it has a rice, quinoa texture with a wheat/barely taste, but I cook it in veggie broth and it absorbs the flavor pretty easily.  It might not look like much, but it was so good and filling.  I picked up some mixed veggies on the way home, likely sauteed them in a little bit of olive oil and mixed the prepared kasha and veggies.  I made B pasta/chicken in pesto sauce, but was feeling veggies and grains!

Don't hate, appreciate!

My weekend is low key, so I plan on soaking up the rays!  Have a happy/healthy everyone!

Stress eating

I hear this a lot, I stress eat and I eat when I'm depressed.  That sucks!  Seriously, I know I am one of the luckier ones that actually lose my appetite when I am stressed or depressed.  I can't imagine going through something that is making me completely stressed or depressed and then gaining weight on top of that.  I truly feel horrible for people that have that tendency.  I am, however, a bored eater.  When I have zero to do and the TV is looking good and the kitchen is about 10 steps away from the couch, I look for whatever item I can sit, zone out and pop into my mouth.  Sooooo, I usually try and keep items that I can't do that with.  Like items I literally have to cook.  That is not part of the "lazy/bored" equation so I tend to not to pick.  I know this is not a normal way of life, especially if you have a family including children, but for now that works.

Anyway, I digress.  I ate, eh, this Saturday.  It was a beautiful day, so C and I took a 3 hour walk!  So nice and Clyde was kaput!  Then I went to my moms/grams and my sister came over and we stuff my wedding invites and worked on another wedding project.  It was really nice, so I was happy and just chilling, so I ate.  Nothing too crazy, just a typical trip to family over eating session.  Well the next morning something happened that completely stressed me out and Sunday my appetite was minimal, until I calmed down around dinner time after I worked off some steam walking around Hoboken and doing crunches!  It is so weird how our bodies are effected by feelings.  I was at a point of pure anger and I felt it all through my body.  It took me physically pushing myself a little and talking to friends to get it out.  I felt calm again, relaxed.  I will say this over and over but I am LUCKY.  I can do that.  I know because I see it with my family members that being sad/depressed is no joke.  I am so freaking lucky that I can get it out of my system and it's gone.  I mean it isn't like forgetting anything, just that feeling in my body is gone.  Eating healthy is one thing, but mental health is just as important if not more.  It is not something you can ignore and will effect your physical health as well.  Thank god we live in a society where it is much more acceptable to receive mental health care.

Other than that, not much has been going on since this weekend.  Working, soaking in whatever time I have outside in this amazing weather. Spring is finally here!  And making Pizza Muffins!  Remember those?  English Muffin pizzas?  I haven't made them in years!  Well B and I ate a dinner of just Pizza Muffins :)  It was delicious and made me think of being a kid!  Check out my plate!

I do love me some crushed red pepper!

Today is one of my besties from forever birthday out in LA.  I'm sending love and happiness vibes as far as I can....hopefully they can reach her!  Happy Birthday Kristin!