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...

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...

Happy Tuesday! Remember how I promised to tell you what I did on the 10th anniversary of 9-11? Guess what? I participated in a 5K in Mobile - the "Tunnel To Towers" Run.  This race has been held annually in New York since the 1st anniversary of 9-11.  It pays tribute to all first responders and is named after NYC firefighter Stephen Siller. Siller was on his way home from an an overnight shift when he heard about the attack on the World Trade Center over his scanner. Stephen immediately turned around in his vehicle and headed towards the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to head to WTC. Upon finding out that traffic had the tunnel blocked, this brave man abandoned his car and ran through the tunnel with 75 pounds of gear on his back...nothing would stop him from helping the citizens and his fellow firefighters. Stephen was picked up by a fire crew and transported to West Street and Liberty, near Ground Zero. He was never seen again.  On this, the 10th anniversary of 9-11, th...

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, Shopaholics! Aren't you glad it's Friday? I'm so excited for the weekend - DH arrived home yesterday and we have lots of fun planned. We are going to enjoy the time he's home - even if it's too short! Today I'm starting a new series called "Fearless Fitness Friday". Each week I will blog about a fitness topic. The topics could range from motivation, different types of exercise/classes, fitness clothing and accessories, healthy recipes, etc. I'm hoping this will be a way for us to all share what is (or isn't!) working for us - and help keep me honest about my fitness goals. I hope you enjoy! What's your fitness motivation? Maybe it's the clothes in your closet that don't fit? Maybe you don't like the way you look in the mirror? Perhaps you are battling a health issue and need to get healthy again? Do you want to be more physically attractive to your spouse or significant other? Or maybe you want to reach that certain we...

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today's post is a little unusual - and might just give you an idea of the depth of my ADD. :-) First - I did make it to the gym yesterday. I managed to not eat anything white, drank a ton of water, and the only "sweet" I had was sugar free chocolate pudding last night. This is a major victory, y'all. I took the Tone to Stone class, along with the 15 minute ab class before TTS started. It's possible that I might not be able to get out of bed in the morning. Think lunges with weights, back and forth across the room. Think 50 pushups and I can't even count the situps. My fat body is crying. As Scarlett said - "Tomorrow is Another Day". :-) Second - I am addicted to Groupon! Almost every day there is a deal I want to purchase! Today - a $40 Groupon to "The Body Shop" for $20. The Groupon can be used on their website ( HERE ) or in the store! The best part? The value of the Groupon increases to $45 when you use it ...

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...

Happy Tuesday, Shopaholics! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and a great start to a new week. I've been a little down the past few days, hence my lack of posts. I just haven't felt like there was anything extraordinary to tell you about - and certainly not as exciting as some of my blogger friends out there. Remember, this Shopaholic doesn't live in a major metro area so my life and events tend to be a little simple - beach, time with DH, family and friends. Not necessarily in that order, of course. :-) Moving on...I was just brave enough to take a look at the calendar and I couldn't believe what I saw! There are 86 days until my 40th birthday! Un.Flippin.Believable. For the record, I do NOT "feel" almost 40. I don't "think" I look almost 40. (If you think I do, just don't tell me, not sure I could handle it this week). Here's the thing - I promised myself I was going to lose a whole bunch of weight before I turned 40. So far, I'v...

TGIF, Fashionistas!!! If you're like me, one of your primary New Years goals (I hate to call them "resolutions") was to get into better shape. I've actually been doing very well until this week, as Shopaholic has been mostly sidelined from physical activity with a raging migraine. (It hasn't stopped me from shopping online, blogging, Ebay and Facebook though!) DH says to back away from the computer.........AS IF! Anyway, I digress. I wanted to share a new find with you! A friend of mine from "The OC" has launched a new company. Now, before you ask.......NO she is NOT a Real Housewife! :-) Barbara has long worked in Customer Service management for large corporations all over the west coast, and recently decided she was tired of the corporate "rat race" and is now realizing her dream to become a successful entreprenuer. A little bit about the company and their mission, directly from Barbara: Diva Fitness Duds wants to be your first stop w...

Well lovelies, I was hesitant to tell you about THIS Blog! But I think you can help support me, so I'm going for it. Now please don't judge - nothing but love. ♥ I am trying to lose weight. I've been trying to lose weight my ENTIRE adult life. I woke up on my 39th birthday this year (ssshhhh don't tell!) and decided it was time to get off my butt and start moving. I've had my ups and downs with it, that I can promise you. When I started, I was a size 16. My precious Lilly was no longer being produced in a size 16 at that time, so I had to do something! Now I'm wearing 12s and still some 14s, but progress is being made. It's a daily struggle! Anyway, HERE is the link to my blog titled "Size 16 to Size 6". You're invited to join me over there too, I know sooo many of us try to lose weight every January. Maybe this will help you stay motivated, and keep me accountable at the same time. XOXO, Lori