Running
I really like running outside, but in the winter it’s just too cold!! I found this headband that has a space for your ponytail that I think will make all the difference in the world! The fact that it’s cute and keeps my ears cold is a bonus!! This will be perfect for the Turkey Trot!
“Hi Impact”
Ponytail headband Ear Warmer: https://amzn.to/2KTaAam
Girls on the Run 5K
The Girls on the Run program is so empowering for young girls. This year I got to take my niece with me. I was amazed at how far she could run without stopping. I was the one who held her back!! We ran about 2.5 miles of it, then I had to take a break and run/walk the rest of the way.
I will have to say that being 30 lbs. lighter, really helped me with my running. I just started back at Orange Theory about two weeks ago, after I hit my goal weight, and really didn’t expect to be able to run as far as I did.
BTW, I got my cute Sherpa Sweater at my favorite boutique in Rowlett! Girlfriends is such a cute store! Definitely stop in if you are ever in Rowlett!! 
Born To Run
I am not a very good runner, but I kind of enjoy it. I’ve successfully completed Couch to 5K…several times. I usually quit running right after I get to 5K. This happens EVERY time I start running. My friend and I signed up for the Dallas Half Marathon, but about 3 weeks before the marathon, I quit running on a regular basis. I finished the Half Marathon, but it wasn’t pretty. By the 11th mile, I couldn’t even alternate running and walking and had to walk the last two miles. That’s ok. I still finished and I still got a medal. Of course I said I’d never do another one, but within 3 days, I was already planning to try again. This time I’m going to be in better shape!!
My friend found this work out on pinterest. I’m not sure where it originated, but since she did it, I had to, too!! I didn’t think I’d make it through the first time, but I did it!! Now I’ve done it twice!! I’m so proud!! I am hoping mixing it up like this will help me with my training for the Cowtown Half Marathon!! Maybe this will be the year that I actually lose some weight, too!!
Broccoli Chicken Casserole
Last weekend I ran in the Rock and Roll Half Marathon. I guess “ran” may be a bit of an exaggeration. I ran part of it. I ran for the first 2 miles and then I hit a real steep hill and had to walk to the top of it. I ran for another 2 miles and then had to take a bathroom break, (which is kind of gross when all you have is a port-o-let). After that I had to alternate walking and running in much shorter increments for the remaining 9 miles. I got a little added motivation to keep going at miles 5, 9, and 13 when I saw a very good friend cheering me on with a poster made especially for me with my favorite colors on it. Every time I thought I couldn’t go another step, I thought about how I would be seeing her standing there in just a little bit. I appreciated her being there more than she will ever know!! I kept all my miles, (except the bathroom break mile), at under 13 minute miles. I finished at 2:43:02. The last time I attempted a half marathon, I finished in 3:07, so I was pretty proud of myself. I love my medal. I want to start doing more races that give medals so I can start a medal collection. I’ve found lots of cool display frames for them, but it would look pretty silly with just one medal hanging there. This weekend I will be riding in the Tour Dallas, but no medals for that!! 
This week’s recipe turned out really good. It is low carb, so I’m hoping by eating it for dinner this week, I will start to lose some weight. I’ve put on a few pounds and I don’t want to let my weight get out of control!! I’m getting back on track with my food and my exercise!
Ingredients:
Rotisserie chicken (I guess you could cook you’re own chicken, but why?)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
8 oz of cheddar cheese
1 bag of frozen broccoli
Sliced mushrooms (I bought them pre-sliced)
2 tsp of lemon pepper
Get a Rotisserie Chicken from the grocery store.
Put Pam in a 9 X 9 casserole dish and tear up the chicken for the bottom layer.
Put broccoli over the chicken.
Put mushrooms on top of the broccoli and sprinkle lemon pepper over the mixture.
In a bowl, mix cream of mushroom soup, half a can of water and about 6 ounces of cheese.
Layer the cheese/soup mixture over the chicken, broccoli and mushrooms. Put in the oven at 350 for about 45 minutes.
Pull out of the oven and cover the casserole with more cheese and put back in the oven for another 10 – 15 minutes.
Pull out of the oven and eat. This casserole was even better the next day!!
Dash Down Greenville
One of the best things Dallas does is the St. Patrick’s Day parade and run. I wasn’t too sure I was going to go this year, but I’m glad I did. This was probably the first time I ever ran a whole 5K. I almost always get tired and have to walk. My friend ran with me and kept me going, so I didn’t want to embarrass myself. At about 2.5 miles, she took off and I could have quit, but I kept going. I got a text telling me I could do it right at about the same time I was about to start walking and that kept me going until I crossed the finish line! Since I ran the whole way, I think it was my fastest 5k, too. I did it in 32.39 minutes. I came in 41/142 in my age division, 2146/4253 overall, 853/2349 in gender. I’m so proud!! Thank you to those of you that helped push me to run the whole thing!!!
Next week is the Rock and Roll Half Marathon. I can assure you I won’t be running all of that!!! 🙂
January Fitness
It’s January 1, so you know what that means, right??? It’s time to make resolutions that include exercise. My goal is to not only keep myself motivated with exercise, but to motivate the people around me. Exercise is so much more fun when you have someone to talk to about it. A few things that I’ve added to my daily walks are: Couch to 10K. I’m using this app:
I’m actually on week 2. It starts out really easy, about 30 minutes for the total work out. I think I had to run for minute increments in between walks last week for about 30 minutes. Yesterday, it was 90 second runs alternating between 2 minute walks for 20 minutes. It’s really created for beginning runners. I’m probably more advanced, but I kind of like the slow start to build up my confidence in running.
I also created a calendar to make me do some crunches and sit ups each day. It’s not really difficult and I may change the amount I do each day as the month progresses. Since it is so easy, I should be able to keep it up. (This is the first fitness calendar I’ve created. I’ll get better at making them over then next 12 months.)
I also plan to continue doing KettleWorx once I get back home. I have a love/hate relationship with KettleWorx, but you can really see (and feel) a difference quickly if you do it regularly!
Hook ‘Em
I was really excited today when I found these UT running shorts at Marshalls!! I have been watching the Nike UT shorts for a long time, but they are really expensive and the Bevo looks like an iron on. I’m not even sure what brand these are, but the Bevo is embroidered on, so he should last for as long as I have the shorts.
Did I mention that there are a lot of UT students and Texas Exes in the Olympics!!? So far they are doing really well! hree Olympic medals for men’s swimmers today — Brendan Hansen, bronze, 100m breaststroke; Ricky Berens and Jimmy Feigen, silver, 4x100m freestyle relay (qualifying swim). Keep it up and Hook ‘Em Horns!!!
Couch 2 5K and KettleworX
Today, I finally made it running three miles without stopping. I can’t believe I did it and didn’t feel like I was going to die! I think the Couch 2 5K app on my iPhone is the best thing that I’ve ever done for my running. Since I didn’t go all out and try to get there too fast, I built up my endurance and got there without being discouraged and wanting to quit. It took a little longer for me than the eight weeks it was supposed to because I had things come up and I didn’t get to run on some days, but for some reason I still had the stamina when I started back. Usually that is not the case with me. Usually if I skip a couple of days, I have to start from the start again. I still have two more days of Couch 2 5K, but I have no doubts that I will be able to do it with no problem and I should be able to stick with it!!
I also began incorporating KettleworX in to my exercise routine. I am now on week 2 of the program. Week one cardio had my legs so sore for a week. I kept at it though and now I have completed week 2 of cardio. It already got harder and I hear that Week 3 is brutal! I really like the KettleworX program. The only thing I don’t like is that they used the same videos in the editing if it was the same exercise. I get tired of hearing the same stuff come out of the guy’s mouth each time. But, aside from that it is a really good program. I also think it is helping me with my running because I’m getting stronger through the KettleworX program. Did I mention that with warm up and cool down, the whole tape is 25 minutes!? I love that it’s not too time consuming!!
Pay ATTENTION!!!!
I’m getting much better at the Couch to 5K running. I skipped a couple of runs last week, so I’m still at Week 5 day 2. Today we ran for 10 minutes, walked 3, Ran 6 minutes, walked 3, Ran 5 minutes, walked 5 for cool down. I usually continue walking until I finish my 4.25 mile loop. Today the total for me was 5 miles. For some reason, the app didn’t register Week 5 Day 1, so after I finished day 2, I was messing with my phone to get it fixed and I wasn’t paying attention. I walked straight in to a car that had parked over the side walk!! I swear that is one of the things that bothers me most about having a front garage. People just park anywhere they want. Now, I know I should be paying attention, but cars really shouldn’t be parked over the sidewalk!! I’m probably going to live, but I did hurt my shin.
Couch to 5K
I am not a runner. I want to think I am, but I really am not. I get really motivated to start running, but I just don’t go as far or as fast as I want to and I end up getting discouraged and quit. Usually, this happens right about the time I get to the point when I can run two miles straight. I had finally decided I was going to give up on running and focus on being a walker when someone told me about the Couch to 5K app on the iPhone. About 2 weeks ago, I decided to give it a go. So far it has been an easy work out. It starts out with a 5 minute walk and then has you alternate walking and running. (I have been using the 5 minute walk time as a 5 minute jog time.) As the weeks go on, they add run time and minimize walk time. As of today, I have completed Week 3, Day 1 of the couch to 5K program. Since this starts out slowly and helps you build stamina, I feel like I may be able to keep this up. I guess we’ll have to see as the runs start getting longer if this is going to work for me!!
Fabulous after FIFTY 