Big Motivators

When deciding to clean up my diet, I had some pretty big motivation to do so.

First, I realized that I was consuming so much more food than I needed for my body. I would finish dinner and be so full and uncomfortable. I felt sluggish all the time. Even though I was still working out at least 3 times a week, I didn't feel more fit or healthier. My clothes kept getting tighter. I realized I was eating serving sizes as large as my boyfriend. No wonder why I was gaining so much weight. 

Second, I started having some really bad gut issues. I would bloat. I had horrible gas(TMI, but it's true). I would wake up with a "sour stomach" almost every morning and after most meals. Never in my life, have I experienced the "sour stomach" to that extent. I remember thinking, 'What the hell is wrong with me? I have never had stomach issues like this.' It. Was. Awful.

Third, my skin. Oh, my skiiiiiiiinnnnnnnn! I have always had great skin. A breakout for me was 2 zits, seriously. My breakouts turned into zits all over my face nonstop.

And last, I realized everything I was eating was packed with sugar! I couldn't remember the last savory meal I had. Or the last meal where I actually tasted the true flavor of the food.

I finally reached a breaking point one day. I knew my weight gain was because of the food choices I was making(duh!). I came to the conclusion that my gut issues were due to the types of foods I was eating(*hint* I was right!). My bad skin was due to a new makeup I was using, but I knew my diet wasn't helping the situation. The sugar, well the sugar is because I am addicted to sugar and I didn't want to be anymore.

It is amazing that it took so much to get me serious about Paleo. I lost all of my weight while training for my 1st half marathong(<---Ha! I always type marathong.), I lost all my weight by eating really clean. So, it's not like it is totally foreign eating to me. It's just getting out of the habit and eating foods that are convenient.

Paleo

It is no secret that I have been wanting and trying to get to my goal weight for quite some time.

I found when I was training for my first half marathon, calorie counting worked for me, but this time around not so much.

My bestie did a whole life challenge and had amazing results.

I have wanted to try eating more paleo, but always thought it looked like too much work and I thought I would get bored with the food choices.

Let me tell you though, it is not boring at all! It is actually really fun.
Check out tonight's dinner

Excuse the iPhone photo. Ha! That is macadamia nut/shredded coconut encrusted tilapia with roasted veggies and honey mustard dipping sauce. The honey mustard was made out of homemade paleo mayo, mustard, and honey. It was simple, but delicious!

I have so many fun things I have been eating!
Paleo spaghetti
Chicken salad in butter lettuce leaves
Eggs sunny side up on salads
Nut butter and banana most nights for dessert
The list goes on and on.

I am about 75% paleo now. I would like to be more like 90-95%. It does take work, but it is worth it.

Since going paleo, I have lost 6 pounds in 3 weeks and I couldn't be happier with that.

I feel better about myself, my skin is clearing up, running has been easier, and I sleep better at night.

I look forward to sharing more meals with you soon.

On the running front, this week was good. It was a step back week. I love step back weeks. Sometimes my body just needs a rest. It was definitely ready for the rest this week. I do look forward to the 11 miles next Saturday.

I have been slacking on the lifting, but I look forward to getting back to it this week.

have you ever eaten paleo style?

what is your favorite strength training move? And what muscle group is your favorite to workout?

Once A Month Blogger

Has it already been a month since I ran 7 miles! Wow, time flies. Let me catch you up on the latest happenings!

• I am still training for the half marathon. My running in the past 2 weeks has slowed down a bit, but I am still feeling really confident. 
• I have started eating more "Paleo Friendly". I will have a whole post on that tomorrow. I am not 100% paleo, but come back and you will find out more ;)
• I went to the local farmer's market 2 weeks ago. 
• My Boyfriend had his 30th birthday!!! Happy Birthday, Sweet Cheeks! I love you!
• We went camping to celebrate!
• I had 10 miles scheduled on my training plan for when we were camping. I ran 7 of those and I am happy with that! 
• It is the busy season at work! I love the holidays, most stressful time ever at work. However, I love seeing my friends and family! 
• 
  

7 Glorious Miles

Okay, so it's been a while. I am still pretty much on top of half marathon training. I haven't done a weekly rundown, because I haven't really been tracking my workouts. I am gaining speed and my endurance is so much stronger after only a couple weeks of training. So, let's talk about my 7 miles from last week. 6 miles does not intimidate me, but 7,8,9....you get the idea, really does. I get anxious. I over analyze about it. However, once I do it. I crush it.

I woke up last Saturday ready to rock 7 miles, I hoped.

I was incredibly happy with how the run went. I felt strong. I walked when I wanted without beating myself up over it. I was faster at the end, which is how I hope the Halloween Half goes.

I am also going to be doing as much uphill and downhill in this training cycle as I can....

The first 5 or so miles of the halloween half are straight downhill. That is hard to train for. So, I am going to do what I can to get in as much hill training as possible.



I am happy to say that I have found my love of running again. It is fun to me and something I love.

Here's to tomorrow's hopefully great run!

My Baby Love Went To Heaven

This is a long one.......

The summer of 1999 was awesome. I was getting ready for my freshman year of high school. I remember having one of the best summer's of my life.

One day, my best friends sister came running up to me and said, "There is a cat under your house!". I thought she was messing around with me at first, but when I bent down to look in the opening under our deck, sure enough, I could see a cat. I tried to coax the sweet thing out and she would come close and then get spooked. So, I decided to leave her alone for the time being and just let her stay there.

The next time I tried, I was successful. Only because I sat out there by the opening and said what felt like a billion times, "Come here, Baby! Come on, Baby!". Eventually, she came right out and let me pet her and inspect her for tags. She did not have any identification. She also had been declawed. I felt so terrible for her. I knew at some point she had had a home with someone. I asked mom and dad if we could keep her and they said very firmly, "NO!". If you know me in real life, you know that I am very stubborn and I always try to get my way.

Over the next few weeks, I would leave cans of tuna out for her. I had to make sure she was fed, but I was just waiting for the day when she would find the person or family that loved her.

Then, it started turning into fall here in Utah. It was cold outside and I couldn't let the poor thing be out in it alone. So, I started bringing her in at night and during the day when mom and dad weren't home. She was so sweet. She was cuddly and playful. I always wanted a dog, but this cat would absolutely make the whole "dog as a pet" thing go away. I could live with having a cat! Ha!

I remember coming home one night to hear my family talking "baby talk" in the living room. When I turned the corner, there she was "Baby". My first thought was, 'Shit! I forgot to put her outside. Are they going to yell at me?'. Then my mom turned to me and said,"Tiff, we had to bring her inside, she doesn't have any claws. We can't leave her outside defenseless.".

After that, it was a sealed deal. I had my first pet.

My precious "Baby Love"

I later learned she was a calico and siamese mix. Her eyes were the brightest blue and she had a personality that wasn't like any other cat I had ever met. I used to always say she is my cat that acts like a dog, and she did. She came when you called her. I would yell up to her from the basement that it was bed time and she would run down stairs to cuddle up in bed with me. She wanted to go potty outside. She was the best!

In a lot of ways, she saved me. I went through some pretty difficult emotional struggles in my teens and into my early 20s, but I always had my Baby Love. She knew when I was down and would always come rub up against me. She would let me cuddle her like a little teddy bear when I would be bawling and inconsolable. She definitely put a smile on my face.

I love her so much! She definitely turned me into a crazy cat lady. Whenever she would walk into a room, I would stop whatever I was doing and start calling to her and talking to her. Haha! I might have been a little crazy obsessed in love. 

When I moved in with Chad, she stayed at my parent's house. I would still go and see her from time to time, but not nearly as much.

Last Wednesday, my dad asked me to call him and when I did, he said it wasn't good news. Baby had been sick for a couple of days. He had to crawl through some furniture in their pool house at 4AM to bring her inside. Once she was inside, all she would want is to be outside. She was too skinny, very frail and stopped responding when called to. My dad called a local vet and asked what could be the problem. They told him with all of the symptoms she has, it sounded like the best thing to do for her was put her down.

So, after work, I headed to Dad's house for my final goodbye to my sweet girl. We cuddled, I cried, I talked to her, I thanked her for finding me, and I kissed her a thousand times. Also, we took 1 final picture together on the car ride over.

I walked into the vet's office, not quite prepared for what was to come. I have never had to do this before! They took Baby Love into the back room to put her catheter in. Then, they brought her back to us. She laid on the table and I cuddled up to her for the final time. Within seconds of the shot going into the catheter, my Baby was gone. She looked so peaceful and beautiful.

My Dad went and picked up her ashes this past week. Now, Baby Love is home!

Baby Love,

I miss you so much! Thank you for being my best friend and the best cat a girl could ever have. I love you forever and always. I will see you again someday, Princess.

Rest In Peace!
Love,
Your Momma

Fun Topic

Today's Workout

3.01 miles in 29:37
45 Minutes Elliptical

I decided I need at least 1 day a week totally dedicated to cardio. From now on Tuesday will be my cardio day. My workout schedule will now looka  little like this:

Monday-Rest or light cardio/strength day
Tuesday-Run and elliptical/stair climber/bike day
Wednesday-Cardio and strength day
Thursday-Run and strength day
Friday-Rest
Saturday-Long run and lots of stretching/yoga day
Sunday-Cardio and strength day

So, I will be strength training about 3-4 days a week. Which is pretty good for me. Doing (most of) the LiveFit Training program really made me fall in love with the weight room. My arms are starting to look so good. I even see a hint of a muscle coming through. I will take a photo and show y'all sometime soon. I am pretty impressed.

Fun Topic of the Day

I am not engaged, nor do I know when I will get engaged. Chad and I have been together for over 5 years now(living together for about 4 and a 1/2 years) and the question comes up often. It is mostly said in 2 ways:

"When are you going to make an honest woman out of her?"

and

"When are you two FINALLY going to get married?"

The questions do not bother me. I am in no rush to run down the aisle. Somedays I want to get engaged, like now! Somedays I just think, 'eh, it'll happen whenever'! Either way, I want my 1st marriage to be my only marriage.

One thing I didn't realize about relationships until I met Chad was that they are work. From day 1 to day 5 billion they never stop being work. I love being with Chad. Even in the bad times, he is my best friend/partner in crime/life partner. I love coming home to him at night and telling him about my day and hearing about his. After 5 years, I still get butterflies. I am always excited to see him no matter how long we have been apart.

I don't know when we will get engaged and I don't want to know until the moment that it happens. However, I do know that one day I will be getting married in Las Vegas!

And I am 100% happy with that!!

Are you in a relationship? If so, how long were you together before you got engaged?

Waiting to exhale...

My title is for no other reason that "Waiting To Exhale" by Whitney Houston has been stuck in my head since Saturday.

Onto today's workout. I had zero intentions on going to the gym this morning. However, I did not turn off my 4:50AM alarm. So, I decided a gym session was happening.

Workout: Arms/Abs & 35 mins easy elliptical

My legs feel so much better after some Epsom salt in my bathtub last night. Thank goodness! I have some speed work on schedule for tomorrow and dare I say, I am looking forward to it.

I have a lot of fun posts to share with you guys this week. I just need to write and schedule them!

How was your weekend?
Is there a song that gets stuck in your head that you just can't get rid of once it is there?
I have so many. Poker face by Lady Gaga(or lady blah blah as I call her) is probably the most frequent and it drives me crazy!