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?