Shopaholic in Alabama

Hello and Happy Almost The Weekend! I promised I was back and here I am again!  I wanted to share part of my recent journey with you all. In December of last year, I made a decision to get my health back. My weight was out of control and I was concerned for my general health. Health issues in my family include cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. I had no desire to be diagnosed with any of these either now or in the future. While it's true, we can only do so much to fight genetics, I was determined to do everything in my power.  On December 26, 2014 I took some of the money I was given at Christmas and bought a year's gym membership. I paid in cash, for the entire year of 2015. I figured what the heck, if it's paid in full, I would feel guilty if I didn't go and do the work.   On Saturday, December 27, 2014 I went to my first gym classes in more years than I want to admit. I took Cardio Step - think old school Step Aerobics. I thought I was g...

Hello my friends! It's been a long time since I blogged regularly and I have really missed it! I've made the decision to blog again, likely 3-4 times per week. I sure hope some of you are still with me and will read!  What has everyone been up to? I left my job (which I really didn't enjoy) the day after Christmas 2014. Since that time, I have been blissfully unemployed and working on myself. I've been dieting and exercising and have lost some weight, and plan to lose a lot more! I have also been enjoying the summer with family and friends here at the beach. My plans for future posts: diet and exercise tips along with what has worked for me, healthy recipes (we'll start with Meatless Monday and my experiments), fashion finds including my favorite current Lilly Pulitzer pieces, and much much more!  Who is still with me? Take a moment to drop me a comment! Have a fantastic Tuesday, I'm off to Yoga. 

Have you heard of KLUTCHclub yet? If you haven't, it's the newest monthly "box" subscription service that delivers a package of goodies relating to fitness, wellness and healthy snacks. Each monthly box is filled with products worth at least $50. What's really cool about this service is you get a chance to "test drive" items before purchasing them yourself. (check out their website HERE ).  Most of you are probably familiar with other box subscription services like Birchbox or Glossybox, but this is much more interesting to me. As you all know, I have long struggled with my weight and trying to get back into shape (and stay in shape!) after turning 40. I love the idea of trying a variety of hand-selected products each month - and let's face, who doesn't love a surprise box of goodies at the door? Each monthly box has a theme. Last month it was "Spring Clean Your Body" and included so many wonderful items!  Opening the box was...

TGIF, Shopaholics! I hope you have an exciting (or maybe relaxing!) weekend planned. Today I'm having lunch with friends down from ATL; off to Tuscaloosa tomorrow for the Alabama - Arkansas showdown and then plan to relax on Sunday!  There is nothing that motivates me more than a good bet. My Father also loves a wager, especially one he thinks he can win. (I suppose I got that honest!)  My poor Father - he doesn't know what hit him...he actually bet me an undisclosed sum of $$$ that he could lose more weight than me before Thanksgiving. I told him "get prepared to pay up"! :-) So here is the deal - we weighed in last week. That was painful as no one else knows my weight. Not my DH, not my BFF(s), not my sister. (Well maybe my doctor but only because I have no choice at the doctors office.)  We weigh in again on Thanksgiving Eve. (smart, huh?). The person who loses the highest percentage (%) of body weight, wins. Period. Not the total pounds, as he weigh...

TGIF, and welcome to another edition of Fearless Fitness Friday.  Hopefully I'm not boring you to death with the FFF postings. Please know that it is helping me achieve my fitness goals, feeling like I have to be accountable on the blog for what type of progress I am making. Additionally, I have had a lot of personal emails from readers and friends who say the updates are motivating them. If my failures, successes and challenges are helpful to others - then I'm all for it! :-)  My newest struggle is getting blisters on my feet. More specifically, on my toes. On the bottoms of my toes, in between my toes, and on the sides of my big toes have all been a problem. These are only a problem for me after running/walking my 4 miles here at the beach - I absolutely never get a blister from taking a group exercise class at the YMCA.  Last week they were really, really bad. When I went to the salon and saw Phillip on Thursday, I showed him and he freaked out. I thought he w...

TGIF! Welcome to the newest edition of Fearless Fitness Friday!  Today I'm thrilled to report - I have lost 23 pounds on my weight loss journey. Believe me, I am planning to lose more and need to lose more (at least another 23 pounds); but for a brief moment I would like to celebrate losing the 23!  I have been discouraged along the way. Even at 23 pounds lost, I feel like it has taken way too long and I should have lost more weight already. However - it's important to take a step back and realize this is quite an accomplishment. Imagine my surprise when I googled to see what 5 pounds of fat would look like and found the image above. Take a good look at what an extra 5, 10, 15 or 20 pounds of fat looks like. It's quite disgusting actually - to think how much extra weight I have been carrying around for the past eight or so years. Gross!  Over the last two - three weeks I haven't been on my game as much as I need to be. Oh I have a boatload of excuses, like thes...

                                        TGIF, Shopaholics! Are you all ready for the holiday weekend? The DH arrives home today and I'm so excited - he's been gone for over two weeks!  Welcome to another edition of Fearless Fitness Friday. In the spirit of keeping me honest, I thought it would be a great time to update you guys on my progress.  I've been working toward my goal for seven weeks now. Although it's really more like eight weeks, but I took eight days off earlier in June so I'm only counting seven weeks. Shopaholic Math at work! :-) It's official: I have lost fifteen pounds. That is a little over two pounds per week, and 2-3 pounds lost per week was my original goal. However, I know I could be doing better. I haven't been quite as restrictive on my eating as I should or could have been. I could do better about eating dinner too late, sometimes it's 7:30-8:0...