Hoo boy.

On one very large hand, I failed my challenge pretty spectacularly as of August 16. On another hand, I didn't because I've been getting at least 60 minutes of exercise/activity every day since August 14. I've come home the past week and crashed, utterly exhausted from the new job. I didn't expect opening a new store would take this much effort, but it's been crazy awesome.

On a bright note, I haven't gotten behind on my running. Huzzah!

Ow

About a week ago, my knee was really weird—it was fine when stationary, but move it and I got this sharp pain to the right of my kneecap. Not in the, wow-I-just-got-a-great-workout way but in the ow-ow-you-should-not-test-me way. So, I rested. Next day, it felt fine, so I did a slow, easy jog/walk for exercise. I felt fine during, and I haven't had problems since.

Well.

Actually.

I didn't have problems until I put my left foot in during the first set of lunges today. Hands on hips, left leg goes forward, shift body weight forward, bend knee, and ow. Not this-is-irreparably-torn ow, thankfully. I was more the kind of ow you say when you aren't warmed up enough and haven't been stretching enough for the type and quantity of exercise you want to do.

Well, that's embarrassing. I am one of those people who will look at you aghast and mystified if you tell me you don't warm up before you work out or cool down and stretch after. It goes against everything that I've learned, and I just won't stand it. Only, I've been slacking on those essential parts of my workout, especially the nice, long stretch I used to do after a run.

I finished the workout, yes, but I cut the lunges in half, and I took a good five minutes to stretch all of my muscles when I was finished, not just the ones that I'd used.

We'll see how tomorrow goes. I'm driving down to Springfield, and, though I may not post the workout that day, I will do it as much as my knee will allow. And if it won't allow, I'll switch exercises so I don't strain my knee. If it persists, I'll talk to my doctor.

So, the workout today. Obviously, it's modified.

Here's how it went down:

• :15 Plank
• 50 Jumping Jacks
• 10 Lunges
• 10 Squats
• 10 Plie Squats
• 10 Side Lunges
• 20 Glute Kickbacks
• 15 Bridges
• 10 Side Leg Circles
• 20 Glute Kickbacks
• 15 Squats
• 10 Plie Squats
• 20 Jumping Jacks

Then, I stretched for about five minutes, which was very relaxing and felt awesome.

The last set of jumping jacks was difficult, too, and I had to work to keep my knees soft as I landed so that I wouldn't feel any twinges. No running today, though I might start adding a short jog before these workouts, too, just to make sure I'm warmed up properly.

Questions? Comments? Want to let me know that I'm an idiot for even thinking about continuing the workout on a possibly wounded knee? Let me know!

I'd Rather Be Owling

Today's workout was all about the plank. Apparently, my planking prowess has diminished in the last month or so, and I was a little shaky through this workout. I did as suggested (the small, hard-to-read, pink text at the bottom) and did this shortly after my run, and it was definitely a good, short core workout. It took me almost seven minutes, though, because I gave myself a little resting room in between each exercise.

I am also ten times better at arm-extended planks than elbow planks. I have no idea why, since the extension is supposed to make it harder.

The official workout for today:

• :10 Plank (plank challenge, yo!)
• Week 5, Day 1 of 10k Trainer by Zen Labs
• :30 each of:
• Elbow Plank
• Right Plank
• Left Plank
• "Up-Down" Plank*
• Plank with Leg Lifts
• Right Plank
• Left Plank
• Plank
• Advanced Bridge/Tabletop**
• Superwoman

What I love about the workouts that you find one Pinterest is that they are very short and can be used when you don't have a whole lot of time in your day. You can also put them at the end of your main workout or run without adding too much time but still getting a boost.

I would still rather be owling, though.

*So, I should have done the exercise you can see in this FitSugar video. That's not what I did. Instead, I started from an arm-extended plank position, moved into a right plank, back to the center, then moved into a left plank and repeated. Not sure what that's called. Remember that rule that I should look up anything I don't know? That is not what happened. I've done both exercises before, though, and they're both good plank exercises.

**I am not quite sure why this made it into a core challenge, though your core is engaged during the exercise. Your core should be engaged for any exercise, truly. This is just more of a butt workout that an ab workout.

Back to Day One | Day Three is this way!

Day One

Happy August!

As you may have read in my previous post, I am challenging myself to work out with a new Pinterest workout every day. I have the workouts planned and ready, written in six or seven places to remind myself (I'm not even joking!). Some of the workouts I have tried before, but most are new to me. Then, after I've finished my grunting and growling and sweating, I'll blog about it. Hurrah?

Also, I firmly believe that the universe is giving me a huge "You go, gurl!" high five. Firstly, there's the beautiful weather we've been having. Then, there's the fox I saw on my run. Finally, not only were there high fives, I'm pretty sure there was a butt smack in the form of 25-cent avocados. I prettymuch peed myself over these. We definitely had a moment, those avocados and I. Too bad I could only take four home with me. Have no fear, though, I'll be back you majestic, lovely, delicious—

Oh, you came here for the workout of the day? (Haha, WOD. Now I sound like a CrossFit junkie.)

Ok, workout.

The original, not-modified Lean Arms Workout

For the first day of the challenge, I chose a workout that I have completed before and tend to modify. It's the Lean Arms Workout. Yay, arms.

The actual workout I completed:

• 50 Jumping Jacks
• 10 Wrist Circles Clockwise
• 10 Wrist Circles Counter-clockwise
• 20 Arm Swings
• 2 Push-ups + 8 Kneeling Push-ups
• 10 Triceps Dips
• 10 Small Arm Circles, Clockwise (no weights)
• 10 Small Arm Circles, Counter-clockwise (no weights)
• 10 Big Arm Circles, Clockwise (no weights)
• 10 Big Arm Circles, Counter-clockwise (no weights)
• 10 Triceps Dips
• 20 Incline Push-ups
• 5 Burpees
• 5 Triceps Push-ups
• 20 Arm Swings
• 2 Push-ups + 8 Kneeling Push-ups
• 5 Burpees
• :10 Plank (For the Plank Challenge)
• STREEEEETCH

The workout took approximately 10 minutes, even with my modifications, and is really easy to fit into your day.

You may have noticed that I skipped over the "one full bridge". Erm, apparently I haven't done this enough, and I completely missed it as I went down the list. No big drama. I also include a stretch portion to all of my workouts. It's the most important part of making sure you don't hurt yourself. Plus it feels awesome.

In hindsight, I'm going to do the rest of the plank challenge at the start of my workout, especially when the workout focuses on arms. I'm normally pretty good at planks, by my arms were shaky as I held even the 10-second plank.

That's today's workout as it's not a running day. It's only the first of August, so I have plenty of time to reflect on my workouts!

Questions? Comments? Want to let me know you're joining my crazy? Want to let me know I'm crazy? Let me know!

Follow me to Day 2!

Introduction to My Crazy August

I am about to embark on something crazy. I have a fitness challenge for myself in the month of August, so of course I'm going to blog about it.

My challenge: to do one Pinterest workout every day for the whole month PLUS a modified version of this May Plank Challenge PLUS my regular running.

Want to join in my crazy August? I'll link the workouts at the end of this post. If I've already blogged about the workout, you'll be directed to my blog, but if I haven't yet reached that day, I'll share the link to the pin, so you can follow along.

THE RULES:

1. Do the assigned workout every day.
2. Blog about the assigned workout every day.
3. If your body starts complaining, listen to it! You can always modify an exercise or take it easy. You can't buy a new body (yet).
4. If you don't know what it is or how to do it, look if up.

The Plank Challenge | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Days 4-10 | Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14 | 

Day 15  | Day 16 | Day 17 | Day 18 | Day 19 | Day 20 | Day 21 | Day 22 | Day 23  | Day 24 | Day 25 | 

Day 26 | Day 27 | Day 28 | Day 29 | Day 30 | Day 31

Questions? Comments? Want to cheer me on? Want to join me? Let me know in the comments below!

I Rarely Run in the Rain

You know how sometimes you just KNOW that you won't get in the workout you planned? Well, that was my day today. I planned on getting my run on this afternoon, but I as soon as I looked out the window, I could tell it was one of those days where it was going to be gross and rainy all day.

Gross, rainy days do not inspire any sort of energetic need to cavort in the wilderness. Not for me.

Instead, I did a short workout in my basement with the promise of running if the weather cleared. Well, it's later, and my energy is firmly sapped, and the weather is still gross. I am not 100% sure that I'm skipping the run just because of the rain, but I am glad that I worked out today. Plus, my run tomorrow will be even better.

AKA The Finicky Runner

I am what you might call a "finicky" runner. Until I get in the zone, I am absolutely useless if one thing breaks me out of my stride—an undone shoelace, a bug in my face, a headphone falling from my ear. It drives me absolutely nuts, but it was worse when I first started running.

In fact, those little annoyances could actually ruin a run for me when I first started. I would get into my warm-up, ready to kick a run's booty...and then everything seemed to want to annoy me. An ear piece would fall from my ear, so I would fix it. In the process, I pulled its mate from the other ear and had to fix that, but I couldn't get it comfortable. Pandora wouldn't play the songs I was in the mood to listen to. Since I hadn't yet learned to double knot my shoes, they would come undone. The new knot brushed at my shins, making me feel like something was crawling on my ankles.

Add to that, before my body got used to sweating (I used to brag that I didn't sweat!), I would get this painful prickling sensation along my skin. I am not 100% certain that sweating was the cause, but it would not happen unless I was getting to the point of working up a sweat. Thankfully, I don't experience it anymore.

I would get so worked up in the first few minutes of my run that some days I just quit. I turned around in the middle of the street or sidewalk or grassy knoll and marched home in a huff because my body felt out of whack from little tiny things that I had no control over.

That changed one day last summer. It was hot and muggy, even though it had just stopped raining, and I wasn't in the mood to run anyway. Even in my warm-up, I was annoyed. But I had already tied up my laces, slipped into my running shorts, and gotten out the door, so I might as well do this thing they call exercise.

I got less than thirty seconds into my run before my foot caught on a sidewalk that I had run countless times before and would run countless times after. I went sprawling, one hand out to catch me, the other pulled tight to my chest to protect my case-less iPhone. My glasses flew from my face. A car passed by, silent, but I could just imagine the driver, face pulled into a laughing grimace.

Humiliated, I pulled myself from the ground and picked up my glasses. I check my phone. Not a scratch. I looked at my hands, the right with a minor scrape down the side, the left fine and dandy. I looked down at my knees. The left had taken the brunt of the impact and blood had started to well up in the scrape left there. The right was scraped but not nearly as badly. Both were covered in gravel.

I was done. I had so had it with the day.

I turned around and glowered on the way back to my apartment.

From where I had fallen to my apartment was a straight shot, and, as I walked, I calmed. My footsteps became lighter—less like a toddler stomping to get her way—and, suddenly, with no thought to it, I turned down a side street and began to run.

I know that I must have looked like some sort of crazy running fanatic, face focused and blood dripping down from the wound on my knee.

I felt awesome. I was awesome.

Yes, my headphones still annoy me. Yes, the feeling of a shoelace brushing against my ankle sends me into a momentary bug-fighting frenzy. Yes, I have to brush the hair out of my face 400 times before I'm sweaty enough that it just sticks where it lands.

But I don't give up on a run anymore. When I run, I'm reminded that I can do anything that I want regardless of my unathletic past or my neurotic present.

When I run, I run for my future, and that's a lot more important than any slight annoyance.

Questions? Comments? Let me know in the comments below!

Frolicking through the Future of Publishing

This month, July, an event takes place that is lovingly referred to as Camp NaNoWriMo. It's a fun, summertime version of the regular NaNoWriMo. I use this time to start writing snippets of what will eventually become longer books, but quite a few people tackle the challenge. Props to them.

A brave few of those authors will send out inquiry letters to agents or publishers. Most of them will be rejected several times. Have no fear, though, because self-publishing has arrived with a way for authors to bring their works to the public quickly, inexpensively, and without going through the inquire-and-reject process.

In this post, I would like to discuss the future of publishing and self publishing. These are my own personal predictions and only time will truly tell where publishing will go in the future.

My predictions:

• Yes, more authors will begin to self publish.
• Yes, this will become a norm.
• The future of publishing will come in three waves:
• The Rejected: The future starts with those brave few who have tried and tried to get published the "traditional" route. Many of these books are fantasy, erotica and homo-erotica, fanfiction, spiritual, and religious. While many of these books are digital copies only, a few brave souls will offer both print and digital copies. Most of these books will...need work. I believe that we are at the beginning of this phase right now.
• The Hype: A small number of books digitally published will take off in popularity causing thousands of people who had never once before considered writing a book to write, publish, and try to sell their words all online. Most of these books will...need work. Although we are starting to find popularity in self publishing with the success of books like 50 Shades of Grey, I think we will see a few more years before the true hype begins.
• The New Norm: The Hype is over, and consumers are demanding good quality content. Pioneers in the publishing world are rethinking the relationship between print and digital media. What's left is a new normal, where authors and publishers work on building more content online and breaking the mold of conventional publishing. Agents book both physical book signings and simultaneous webcasts of the author answering questions. And I will leave social media for another day entirely.
• Publishers and agents will have to adjust to this influx of digital content and should prepare to focus on selling e-books first, print copies second.
• Physical books will never disappear, but they will get more and more expensive.
• New books published will come out as digital copies long before they are ever introduced in print.
• Technology is going to play a huge role in bringing readers closer to their books and inspiring people to read instead of staring at Facebook 23 hours a day. Think Pottermore but with the release of the book rather than after it.

Not convinced? You can read more about trends in self publishing with Trisha from The Book Case who touches on a possible future precedents of authors selling installments of books using Hugh Howey's Wool as an example. You can also check out this post about Penguin Books by Graeme McMillan, and how its acquisition of Author Solutions could set it up to identify talent in this digital age.

Yes, publishing is changing. For publishers, agents, and writers it's an exciting, terrifying time. I am more than excited to see publishing evolve and maybe publish a book or two myself.

Agree? Disagree? Comments? Questions? Leave me a comment, and I will do my best to figure out an answer!

Adventures in St. Louis

So, I recently made the move to St. Louis. It's been quite an emotional journey, and I am still not entirely sure that I want to stay in the city for very long. Instead of dwelling on that, though, I am finally making the most of my time in a city that is absolutely full of places to run.

The first place I ran was just up and down my (very hilly) neighborhood. We have some beautiful houses, and my parents' little dogs loved the exercise (for the first five minutes, then they were done). It honestly was not very inspiring, and my running, which I had already slowed on, became almost non-existent for a few weeks.

Yes, weeks. Weeks that aided in the emotional hurricane that was my move to StL.

I finally found my step when I started volunteering at Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Not only did it get me out of the house, but I was able to work with dogs in a way that helped them and got me active. Let me tell you, walking dogs that have been cooped up in cages for hours takes both upper- and lower-body strength. It's also awesome. These pooches are so excited to play and make friends that you really can't have a negative thought in your mind.

That evening, even after three-and-a-half hours of walking rambunctious, lead-pulling dogs, I hit Grant's Trail and Clydesdale Park. The run was good for my soul, my mind, and my body. I ran some—more than I expected—I walked some, and I sneaked through the trails of the park, trying my hardest to be silent because I could. And my mind ran with me, thinking about stories and nature and running and the reasons that I run.

I was good. It was much needed. It was beautiful.

Adventures in Looking Back

I had my gallbladder taken out when I was sixteen years old.

I had gallstones. Gallstones are crystal-like deposits that occur in the gallbladder. They can be small—the size of a grain of sand—or large—the size of a golf ball. The longer they stay and the larger they get, the more likely they are to cause inflammation, infection, and pain. Women are two times more likely to get gallstones than men. They are also common in the obese, people have lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time, or people with diabetes, among other causes.

I started feeling pain months before I told anyone. The pain woke me in the middle of the night, and I would spend hours pacing my floor and rubbing my side to try and soothe my angry body. When the pain started to come every night, I finally told my parents.

After the surgery, I spent two nights in the hospital for an outpatient surgery because the gallstones that were meant to leave my body with the organ were so big they actually got caught in the opening that connected my gallbladder to my liver. It took me weeks to recover. Afterward, I was meant to go on a low-fat diet to keep more stones from forming.

My first discovery: soda doesn't have any fat in it.

So, with a promise to a doctor that I would never see again, I resumed my old eating habits and didn't look back until I was much older.

Now, much older, I am a little shocked that I cared so little about my health...but more not shocked. See, I didn't have a family that cared much about what or how much they ate. We lived on Hamburger Helper and Hot Pockets, Pizza and McDonald's. For birthdays, we would get enough cake to feed three times the amount of people at the celebration, and I could eat that (and only that) for lunch for days. Our family of four had to make two boxes of Hamburger Helper plus extra noodles to feed us all.

My eating habits have never been ideal, and I never had anyone in my life who cared about their own health to set an example from which I could learn. It wasn't that my parents didn't love me, didn't care for me, didn't want the best for me—it was that they did. They wanted me to have everything I could ever want, to have the things they didn't or couldn't have. So they didn't put limitations on what I ate because they thought it made me happy to eat what I wanted.

And it did, in those moments of pure gluttony found in my Japanese classroom as I consumed enough chocolate-mousse-filled chocolate cake for three people as my lunch.

But I do regret not having been shown better eating habits at a young age, so I have made a pledge to myself that my children will never know what it is to have an unhealthy diet. (Sorry, future spouse, you have no choice!) They will also not be picky, but that's another story.

I've had in interesting time learning to eat better and how to take care of myself better, most of which I learned after I left the nest. I am always thrilled to discuss and learn more about eating healthy. Everyone's got an opinion, though most people agree that diets high in processed sugar and fat can have major consequences down the road.

Resources:
WebMD
WikiAnswers

Adventures in Product Testing: Karuna Hydrating Treatment Mask

I began receiving my Birchbox about eight months ago, and I realized that I have quite a few products that I have yet to try. Skin products seem most likely to have fallen to the wayside, though I also have a black eyeshadow crayon that mocks me from my makeup collection. So, I've decided to mosey on through some of these products and review them because I like to look up reviews for products I haven't tried but am thinking of purchasing.

Karuna Hydrating Treatment Mask

Full Size: $28/4 masks

This Natto-based treatment promises to help "retain skin's natural moisture levels as it exfoliates to boost the look and feel of dehydrated skin". The mask contains no parabens (hooray!), various flower extracts, aloe, and plenty of Xanthan Gum.

The mask came folded and, with only a little difficulty, came undone to reveal holes for my eyes, nose, and lips. My first thought, as the mask made contact with my skin: "AH! Cold!" (Truth: My apartment stays at a brisk 65, which makes room temperature a little cooler than skin temperature.)

As directed, I adjusted the mask and removed the paper backing to reveal the Phantom of the Opera's child. I adjusted again, and I found the task a little easier without the paper backing. Then, the package instructed, relax for 10–20 minutes.

So I had a dance party. With myself. In a face mask.

Winning.

I waited only 15 minutes before I removed the mask because I had to sneeze. The remaining treatment residue did not need rinsing, but it felt sticky (very much like using too much lotion), so I wiped my face with a dry towel.

The package instructed to use the remaining product, left at the bottom of the packet on my face and neck. I did, again with the sticky results. With a little patience, though, this went away.

Now, the skin on both my hands and face feels very soft, which I think the Karuna people had in mind when creating this product. My hands usually get very dry in the winter, but they feel well hydrated. Another win.

Overall, I will definitely keep this face mask in mind when I search for products to hydrate and exfoliate my skin, though I cannot promise I will ever purchase the Karuna mask. Though much cheaper than a facial in a salon, $7 per mask is a little high for me.

Cheater, Cheater Pumpkin Eater...

The biggest conflict I have as a healthy eater are my "cheat days". On one hand, I can understand the need for a cheat day so viscerally, it's physical and emotional. It's more than a craving, it's a voice in the back of your head crying out for just one of those foods you used to love. Whining, cajoling, pleading in a little voice that you almost recognize.

On the other hand, those cheat days are the last thing you want to do, even if they're planned. They're a worry that if you cheat once, you'll never go back. You'll have one cheat day that will lead to a cheat week to a cheat month to an I'll eat better tomorrow.

And cheat days aren't even as good as you imagine. Not worth the worry. Pizza tastes like cardboard instead of magic. Sugar turns the roof of your mouth into a raw, sore, angry place.

I don't always like cheat days. But I have them. They're usually associated with awesome memories, too. Birthdays filled with tiramisu and best-friend date nights to see epic movies and first dates.

And I love these memories. Memories where I could care less about what I ate. I don't remember the food, but I do remember the laughter.

And so I have to wonder about cheat days and their purpose in any diet. Are they a necessary evil? Are they a means to a great night? A night without worry--without being "on" and reminding your friends that you are what you eat.

Here's to the cheat day, whatever you make of it.

Lean, Mean Smoothie Machine

Just in case you were wondering, I make really good smoothies. Fruity, cold, healthy smoothies that are far better for you that most of what you will get when you go to a restaurant. Seriously—a smoothie at certain places can be up to 800 calories with over 100 grams of sugar, some of which is added. Ridiculous.

Lately, I've been a convert to the "green smoothie" movement. A handful of spinach or kale in each smoothie adds a ton of nutritional value and little or no taste. Plus, every smoothie ends up my favorite color!

My suggestions on making any smoothies are this:

• Always use fruit you love. If you don't enjoy your base fruits, you won't enjoy your smoothie.
• Add water to help it blend. Juices or yogurt may taste really good but almost always add unnecessary sugar and calories. I will say that a little juice is all right, especially if you have a fresh orange or lemon that really wants to be squeezed.
• Get a good blender. I really like super smooth smoothies, and I am very lucky to work somewhere that has a Blendtec. The one I have at home does not do my tasties justice.
• Bananas. An inexpensive way to add texture and taste to your smoothies. YUMMY.
• If you like it, don't listen to anyone else! I can give you all the suggestions I want..but it's your smoothie.

Now, for a recipe suggestion of sorts:

Green Pineapple Smoothie

• 1 medium banana
• 1 c pineapple
• 1 mango, massacred
• 1 c spinach
• ice and water

BLEND

DRINK

ENJOY

74.5/730

A Post Brought to You By Broccoli Cheddar Soup

This post is brought to you by the kids behind me eating Broccoli Cheddar Soup in bread bowls. I know that I might be flogged for this thought, but I have never really liked this soup or the concept of cheese soup<, and I think it smells like b.o.

This post, then, is all about what I don't like about my fitness adventure. Wait, what? A post about how there are things I don't like about this journey? Blasphemy.

Though I try to keep this blog filled with over-the-top, unicorns-pooping-rainbows energy and optimism, I want to take a moment to highlight that every journey is filled with positives and negatives. So I do have a few things that I dislike about my weight loss journey, and I want to share those with everyone reading this blog.

I hate being bony. I am not, by any means, thin. I am, however, starting to notice that I can feel the bones underneath my skin, especially when I exercise. Sit-ups are the worst because, where I used to have a lovely cushion to protect my tailbone, I can now feel the ground rubbing against the bone there. My joints are also places that my bones seem to protrude a little extra, elbows feeling uncomfortable as they rest against a counter, knees knocking together.

I hate feeling guilty on rest days. I know, intellectually, that rest days are just as important as my days of physical activity. That does not mean I have to like my rest days. Days off from work at the same time are even worse because I feel like I should just do something active instead of pinning exercises and healthy recipes.

Ugh. Money. I want to attend too many fitness classes and get too many fitness gadgets. I love yoga, group classes, and I would love a personal trainer, plus Nike Fuel Band, cool water bottles, fitness apps. My wants are only limited by technology...and my wallet. I probably would never have lusted after this other really cool water bottle without my love for fitness. Thanks, fitness. You're a real pal.

And that's it. Truly, this adventure has been so amazing and filled with energy and optimism. How can I complain too much about looking great, feeling even better, and getting healthy?

74.5/730

My Favorite Guac

I love guacamole. I would eat guac by the bucket if society would allow for it, but I know that society is fill with guacamole-hating neanderthals.

Tsk tsk.

On my Whole30, I started making my own guacamole. This stuff doesn't last long—I usually eat it, or it turns brown by the next evening—but usually is the perfect amount for two people.

I almost always cook for one, but, on top of being simple in general, the recipe is easy to double or triple or quintuple. Whole30 party? Okay.

I think I am safe to assume that you're jealous of my mad skills. A note: I usually eyeball my spices, then add more to taste, but I wanted to give approximations for anyone who really likes to use recipes. I respect your recipe use. The cayenne is optional, but I like everything spicy, so I occasionally add extra. You, too, can possess this tasty guacamole in your repertoire. If you dare.

Whole30-Approved Guacamole

2 Servings

• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 T lemon juice (approx. 1/4 fresh lemon)
• 1/2 t salt
• 1 dash pepper
• 1 t chili powder
• 1 dash cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/4 yellow onion, minced (approx. 2 T)
• 2 T garlic, minced 
• 1/2 roma tomato, diced (approx. 1/4 c.)

Add all ingredients EXCEPT tomato to bowl and mash together until your guacamole is to your preferred consistency. Fold in tomato. Eat.

74.5/730

The Magic Number: 730

My goal for 2013 is simple: Run 730 miles by the end of the year.

So far, I have run 72.5, which is a little behind (I suppose "little" is relative here), but I blame the weather. Running outside, with the sun shining on my luminescent, sunburn-loving skin, is so much easier than running on a treadmill. I run farther faster outside because I have so many things to distract me!

But I hate the cold. HATE IT. Nothing good ever comes of being cold and running, my mind focused on which limb will fall off first and whether my snot and tears will freeze to my face. Attractive.

So, with our winter actually being winter, I have not run nearly as much as I should have. This whole snow business has truly thrown a slip in my stride. When spring comes, though, I fully intend to run until I can't stop.

At the end of every post, too, I will post a number/730 to let you keep track of my progress with me!

I know, you cannot wait. Neither can my Underarmours.

72.5/730

The Vanishing Girl...Returns!

I keep getting yelled at to blog about my progress and the recipes that pop out of my brain. Plus, I have this nifty blog all set up, so I wonder why the two have yet to combine.

This post is just a summary of the last year as a vanishing girl, and the next posts will be both about current events and flashbacks to where I have come from.

I turned twenty-five on Sunday. For those of you keeping track, that’s St. Patrick’s day. In other words, I have the best birthday on the face of the planet. And it just keeps getting better. Not only do I keep getting more privileges (I mean, no more young driver fee when I rent a car—bring it on!), but I keep getting healthier and getting to better know who I am.

In 2012, I lost 60 pounds. Crazy. I have to admit, I absolutely love when people ask me if I’ve lost weight and tell me that they didn’t recognize me because 60 pounds is a huge deal. 60 pounds is an eight-year-old boy with and eating problem. 60 pounds is a lot of milestones and confidence and smoothies and vegetables and miles.

Oh em gee—the miles. I can confidently say that I logged a good 800 miles last year. Walking, running, biking, skipping. When you walk everywhere and your work is a mile away, 800 miles is easy. Add to that the running I did...

I also participated in Run for Your Lives, a zombie-infested 5K/obstacle course. IT WAS AWESOME.

This year, I also participated in my first Whole30 (yes, there will be another). The Whole30 was life-changing and helped me realize that I do not need sugar, that I might actually be a little crazier that I thought, and that I might have a gluten allergy.

I also created some of my favorite recipes of all time while on Whole30. Recipes that used whole food, that tasted phenomenal, and that left me feeling great about what I was consuming. Brilliant.

Then, I fit into my goal dress. I fit into my goal dress. And it looks phenomenal.

From now on, I will continue to fight for my health and make good food and slip up a little because I do love cake. I want to take you guys with me, invade your pockets and your keyboards, and hopefully inspire you with my words and my choices and my imperfections.

Ready?