Shopaholic in Alabama

Hello There! Hope this post finds everyone doing fantastic and taking time out to enjoy the holiday season! Sorry I have been such a loser about posting this year, I plan to do a MUCH better job in 2016! My last post was in August and was all about losing weight. I had such tremendous support both here on the blog and on Facebook, I thought it was time to update you again. I have continued running and working out, and to date have lost 66 pounds total. My husband and I completed our first half marathon the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the Kaiser Coastal Half in Orange Beach, Alabama. It was such an amazing feeling, knowing that this time last year I couldn't even run a quarter of a mile. Now, I'll be honest. My time was terrible - 2:47:47 - but I completed a half marathon! Today I am sharing pictures - one of me with my husband, and one with my husband and our friends Gwen and Lindsey. Gwen has been a friend of mine since high school, and we have been running together s...

Hello Everyone! Hope you're doing fantastic and enjoying these HOT summer days. I am a certified beach bum and sun lover, but this weather even has me looking forward to cooler temps!  Yesterday was my 45th birthday (even I can't believe I'm this old). Anyway, I digress. I posted the above picture yesterday on my Instagram and Facebook pages, proving a point that even on my birthday I managed to squeeze in a short workout. This picture has led to a lot of questions from FB friends about how I'm losing weight, as I have now lost 51 pounds.  So I decided to start documenting some of my habits and what I am using, what I've learned, etc.   Let's start with some of the questions I've received. Hopefully this will help others in their weight loss and fitness battle...because believe me, it's a battle. No doubt about it.  Question 1: "How did you get started?" This one is actually easy: I joined the gym and starting going to the classes. Wh...

TGIF! The DH is returning home for a short visit and I'm looking forward to a nice, relaxing weekend! What fun do you have planned? Welcome to another edition of Fearless Fitness Friday. Today I want to talk about something that has been bothering me all week. Why do we feel compelled to compare ourselves to others? Especially when we know - in our head at least - that we are all so different. Our heart is a different story, of course.  I've been beating myself up bad (not with the pink boxing gloves, don't worry, but mentally) all week. I feel like this weight isn't coming off fast enough. I feel like I am the fattest one of my friends. I feel like a giant in a photo next to others. Frankly, I feel like a loser - a failure - for letting myself get to this point. When did this weight get so out of control? Why didn't I take the necessary steps years ago to fix this? Why didn't my DH (bless his heart) make me get my butt in gear? Especially before I turned ...

TGIF! What are your plans for the weekend? I'm looking forward to a visit from one of my BFF's and a birthday celebration - details on that tomorrow! :-)  Welcome to another edition of "Fearless Fitness Friday"....one that I almost didn't write because I am so embarrassed. I have been a total lazy bum this week. I haven't exercised - nope, not even one time. In addition, I have been eating out and drinking lots of poison Diet Coke. DH left for another trip on Monday so I'm off my game - plus my Mother was here visiting and we hit all the good restaurants in town.  I'm not even going to attempt "good behavior" again until Monday - and by then, I'm thinking a good cleanse and/or detox program will be necessary. Do you have any recommendations?  Have a Fantastic Friday! 

Happy Monday, Shopaholics! The DH and I enjoyed a long weekend out of town with family, sorry I deserted you guys for a few days! I've been having a great time around these parts. Eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and only exercising "sometimes". Having concoctions like Sangria, Pina Coladas or Mudslides at will.  Guess what?!?!? I am paying for it now! Some of my favorite clothes are feeling tight, I absolutely *loathe* the way I look in photographs, and I generally feel bad about myself. What's a Shopaholic to do? Today is the day..."detox" begins. This means: ***No sweets (this include Lilly animal crackers, sad), no white bread/buns (there goes my Nathan's hot dogs!), white rice, etc. ***Back to the grind of five days a week at the gym or taking my 4-mile walk/run. ***Cooking dinner more often than not, and laying off the dining out and fast food. Not sure when I'll get a Beef and Cheddar from Arby's again! ***Water, w...