Hey guys! I have several fantastic posts for you today! Some are bit deeper than others, but I’ve read some really great posts this week (despite my lack of commenting fervor, haha). Hope you all have a beautiful weekend!!!

I used to be the “I don’t have a lot of girlfriends, because girl are so damn catty!” girl. I used to be. I’m still extremely picky about friendships, but not in a way that I actually discriminate against my own gender. I’ve found that over the past few years, that other women are exactly what I need for support. (Aside from my wonderful husband and his mind-blowing – yet should have been obvious – genius. <Side note: He finds this quite hilarious. lol It should have been obvious to me, but it wasn’t, so bah-bam! The husband blew my mind. Haha.) Charlotte wrote How Do you Ask For Help When You Don’t Know What You Need and it was phenomenal!!! It really made me think about the way I’ve approached female friendships over the years…and about how much I’ve grown into a “girl’s girl”.

I’ve been writing a lot about my shift in focus from weight loss to just being a healthy me. I’ve been focusing on my will and my strength and actually feeling a difference in my body rather than doing everything I’m doing for one reason (weight loss). Jess wrote about finding her fit truth and her words always resonate with me at just the right time…and reminds me that none of us are alone in the way we feel about things. The confusion, the clarity, the frustration – whatever it may be . Jess has found her clarity…and what I loved most about the post? “My fit truth – it’s about Health. Wellness. Vibrancy.” Vibrancy. LOVE it. I haven’t felt more vibrant than I do now.

I personally used to work in a surgical pathology lab that “specialized” in breast health, and it killed me as I watched as woman after woman went from biopsy, to lumpectomy, to partial mastectomy, to radical double mastectomy in order to demolish BRCA. What woman should ever have to go through that much surgery and recovery for breast cancer? So I made the decision a long time ago that my breasts don’t define me as a woman and I’d lop ‘em off the moment I knew I had a problem. Angelina Jolie’s voluntary double mastectomy became a huge news story recently, and women’s health has become a huge topic of discussion – and of course, there’s always some dingbat from the media that manipulates interviews to spark some controversy. As she did with Krysten. Krysten’s post, Me, Angie, and What It Really Means for BRCA, was beyond “incredible” as a rebuttal. It was intelligent. Graceful. And it made me realize that sometimes it takes a little celebrity publicity to really spark discussion about women’s health. Sometimes I’m a bit too quick to brush off celebrity gossip as just another time a celebrity dishes private information for the sake of publicity. Sometimes you just need a famous face to get a movement noticed.

Okay. I got a bit deep with those, so here are a few that you’ll enjoy that are bit lighter, more funny, and have just downright become some of my favorite blogs to read. (And I apologize to you writers…I’ve been terrible about commenting recently.)

Olive’s letter to her sports bra. (Side note: loved her signature. LOL)

Heather’s Tips For Backpacking with Your Dog. (H and I would love to take our pup Marla with us hiking more. Such great tips!)

I started the #HealthyBudget series here on my blog, and Greatist had a great post on Fridge Makeovers this week. You should check it out!

Feel free to leave a comment below with a link to some of your favorite posts from the week!!!

Last week, I posted my first of several posts I’d like to write as I participate in Under Armour’s What’s Beautiful Campaign. It was my time to let go of the scale, and it’s my goal to let it go for good.

Disclosure: This post and my participation in the What’s Beautiful Campaign is sponsored by Under Armour and FitFluential. The opinions expressed here, however, are my own.

***

I’m not one to take self portraits. Sometimes I do, but 90% of the time, I take them and delete them. Why, though?

Sometimes I give the excuse that I’m too modest.

But most of the time, I see the things most other people do not see, despite the fact that I’ve accepted that this is who I am.

Imperfection.

(The more I think about that, the more I understand I’ve accepted who I am…but not quite what I look like. If that makes sense.)

Over the past week, though, I’ve worked on letting go of the thoughts that come with weight loss territory. You know, the ones where you critique every inch of your body. The ones where you look okay in clothes, but keep telling yourself that you should look better naked. The ones where you walk past the mirror and cringe at anything that remotely looks as though you’ve got a lump or bump in an area you “shouldn’t”. (And really? Who the hell ever told all of us where those lumps and bumps shouldn’t be? Oh, that’s right, photographers who use PHOTOSHOP to alter well-known, celebrity bodies have set the rules on what we “should” look like. Silly me. I forgot that we’re all supposed to be computer generated perfection. Oh boy…I’m digressing.)

I have been taking the time to start training my thoughts to move away from what I would typically think as I try to lose weight. Some people do wonders in weight loss mode. But me? It’s been something I’ve been trying to do for too long, and something isn’t working for me. Yes, I’ve dropped 70 pounds. But I’ve gained some back, lost it again, gained some back, and lost it again far too many times. Something isn’t working. I don’t want to critique myself through to maintenance. I don’t want to keep expecting that my body should be looking a certain way as I lose. (Read: I’m always expecting to see my waist tighten up and look a certain way, when instead, it looks the same, but smaller…if that makes sense.)

I’ve been so focused on what I “should” be looking like as I lose weight to not notice some of the fabulous things I’ve gained from the journey I’ve been on: no more tinnitus, lower blood pressure, no more headaches, looser clothing, stronger muscles, clearer skin, softer hair, more energy, better gum health, better digestion, better eyesight, better confidence (despite the critical thoughts) better moods, and…

my not-so-imperfect-after-all body.

So I’m going to do something I rarely do: post photos of myself. I’m not super toned…I’m not a lot of things…but I’m learning to love what I am.

My thighs touch. Big wooptie crap. These babies carry me miles.

They’re not “guns” yet…but they’re not too shabby either! (Do I see definition?)

This is me. Not my thinnest ever. But my healthiest. My strongest. My fastest.

 (Sorry for the blurry photos.)

(Side note: That shirt? Totally couldn’t wear that in February!!!)

So instead of focusing on what I think my body “should” be looking like, I’m going to focus on that goal of mine and set small goals throughout the campaign. And that’s why I started Team Empower. To focus on goals that don’t require a scale, but will allow for a focus on changes made by strength and will.

To do my first unassisted pull-up.

To lift heavier weights.

To do a 5-minute plank.

To see improvements in my pace.

To see more definition in my legs and arms.

And screw that tight, taut, “perfect” midsection. That’ll come one day. Or maybe not. But I’m not going to miss out on all that I have gained, waiting for something that may never happen. It it does, great. If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t. For me, success is going to be how strong I become physically and how strong my will becomes.

And just as an update…I haven’t stepped on the scale. But I did take measurements for an initial set to compare to at the end of the campaign.

16.25″ down since February. (And psst…most of that came from my waist. WHAT!?!? See. Focus on the scale, and you miss out on what’s really going on behind the scenes.)

Happy Wednesday, friends.

Time for this week’s Healthy Living, Healthy Budget post!!!

So who here loves apps? Last week I talked about how to get started when it comes to eating healthy, meal planning, and saving with coupons and sales.

I’ll admit, I’m a little more old fashioned, so I go through note pads pretty frequently. I’m working on letting my iPhone and iPad make things easier for me, but I may be a little stubborn.  Just a tiny bit.

I do have a few apps that I do love to use for when I’m planning meals and doing my shopping!

1. Grocery Guru.It took a few tries with a few different grocery apps for me to find one that I actually like. This one’s pretty awesome. It gives you the ability to create grocery lists, check your items off while you’re in the store, and share your list with other family members or friends in case you forgot something or need it while they’re out. The app can be used on the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.
2. Saving Star.With this app, you can go through electronic coupons (which usually consist of the weekly coupons sent out by RedPlum and SmartSource) and have them added to your loyalty cards at your favorite stores. Then, instead of clipping the coupons (Tina, I heard you on the clipping!!), all you do is use your store savings card, and boom! They’re automatically deducted from your total.
3. Weekly Ads.I don’t always have the weekly ads on hand. In fact, I usually throw them away after I’ve searched through them. When I’m out, though, it stinks when you can’t find the ad to compare the prices of something. That’s where this app comes in handy. You can look through all sales or choose the store you want, and then you can go through the list of what’s on sale for the week for that store. Love.

There ya go. Three apps, three different purposes, three ways to save money. All you have to do to keep the Healthy Living, Healthy Budget going? Pick the right foods.

***

On a side note, I’m so sorry this post is a wee late this morning! I was super busy enjoy this all weekend:

A 5-miler with my husband yesterday that ended with my two little ladies that presented me with these:

And this awesome fruit basket:

And these new Mizuno beauties:

I’m blessed.

I hope that all my momma readers out there had a BEAUTIFUL Mother’s Day!!!

***

QOTD: Do you prefer the old-fashioned way of list making or do you prefer apps? Which are your favorite?

Friday. Man that has a lovely ring to it, doesn’t it?

Friday.

And you know what that means!!!

This one’s going to be tough – I’m super inspired this week, by so many of you, and I’ve been reading #whatsbeautiful post after post! (And I haven’t had much time to read much otherwise! The husband’s been out of town on business, which means the kiddos have been all mine!!! Extra cuddles for me!) Here are just a few of my favorite posts from the week:

• First, I want you to yourself a favor. I can’t pick a favorite post of Ilene‘s. She’s the phenomenal writer at The Fierce Diva Guide to Life. I haven’t commented on her blog in a while, and I hate that. But I’ve read her words daily. The eloquence just flows when she types, and I’m not sure how else to explain it. She’s a beautiful soul. (And I LOVE the closing – before the dedication – to this post.)

• Ever been curious about why foam rolling works or how it works? Tina‘s one of my favorite sources for information and she gives you great options in this post. (Not to mention provides an awesome chart for you to pin!!!)

• Honestly? Who doesn’t love Lindsay of Cotter Crunch? Her post for the #whatsbeautiful campaign can be summed up in one quote from it: “I’m not OVER PLANNING a goal, I’m climbing it. One rock at a time. Human strength with God sized dreams.“

• This isn’t a post…but it’s a video that literally stole the thoughts right out my head. Rebekah Boruki is my mom crush – you can’t help but feel positive and uplifted after reading something or listening to something she has to say. I’m sure you’ve heard about the Abercrombie & Fitch bit that hit the news this week? Watch this. It’s some great truth. I just want to high five the crap out of her.

Also, as I mentioned last Friday, I’m sharing pages on my own Facebook page. I’m really enjoying being able to spread the love, so if you’re looking for some new inspiration or would like to share your own page, head on over, lend me a ‘like’, and share your page on my wall!

Have a great weekend, y’all and a HUGE Happy Mother’s Day to all you mommas out there!!!!

Two days ago, I publicly announced that I was ditching the scale and giving up on trying to lose weight. I shared a weakness I have, and you all embraced it and lifted me up. Today, I want to share some of my greatest accomplishments, because despite the fact that I’ve lost 70 pounds since our youngest daughter was born nearly 4 years ago, I have been so centered on more more more [weight loss] that I haven’t given myself a real chance at celebrating who I’ve become beyond the number on a scale.

***

I am not about owning material “things”…but this baby?

I earned it. I cherish it. I’ve cried (more than once) over it. I have prayed over it. I have conquered 13.1 miles – something I never thought I could ever do. (And I’m going back for more. There’s the kicker!! I didn’t give up!) I am a runner. I am strong. I have become something I never thought I’d become.

My daughters say the following:

• “I am beautiful.”
• “I love being healthy.”
• “I want to run like Mommy.”

And they compliment others all. the. time! And my Lord are they bright. They own their beauty and brains, accept compliments graciously and without disagreement, never put themselves down, spread the love to others, and they’re growing up loving to be healthy and active! I’ve become the role model I’d always wanted to be to my children. That’s my #1 victory right there.

I’ve lost 70 pounds! Sure, I’ve plateaued according to the scale…and sure I’ve let that piece of crap rule my life for far too long…sure I still have some work to do. But 70 pounds is not a wee little feat, and I have no idea why I have never sat back and reveled in the glory of it all. I’ve made changes to my lifestyle that have blessed me with better health. So while I may not have reached my ultimate weight loss goal or met whatever image I’ve had in my head for so long, I have owned the last 4 years of my life. I’ve busted my ass. I’ve fallen down and I’ve gotten back up. I never give up on myself.

I graduated from high school with highest honors. I earned my Bachelor’s degree. I’ve worked at least one job since I was 14 years old, nailing all but one position for which I’ve interviewed. I countered my one and only lay-off with the chance to better myself…to educate myself…to advance. I’ve gotten two certifications in less than 2 years. I’m about to get a third, and I’m applying for my Master’s. All in a field of which I never felt remotely worthy enough to be a part. If I want it, I go after it, and I get it. Plain and simple. Even if it scares the shit out of me.

I have an incredible husband and that’s no joke. I never thought I’d get married. I grew up thinking I wasn’t worthy of love. That I was too fat, too ugly, and too shy to find a guy who would accept me for who I am. I used to think that because I had enough willpower to avoid conforming or caving to the pressures of adolescence, I’d never find love the way the “other” girls would. I was wrong. I think it’s safe to say, I nailed this one. (Ha. The 13-year-old inside me found that quite funny. ) I do. I have a phenomenal man. He’s intelligent. He has great morals and values. He’s funny. He’s athletic. (I hate how easy running seems to be for him. Ass.) He takes chances, he’s spontaneous. He’s a go-getter, values hard work, dedicates himself to his work, and is a pretty smooth dancer, I might add. He’s full of romance, he spoils the crap out of me, and I can’t even begin to to describe him as a dad. If I had to pick one word to describe him as a father? Perfect. And he’s all mine. I used to say, “Somehow I got lucky.” But over the last nearly nine years (in 3 days!), he’s helped me understand that I am worthy of great love and I have it. 

Am I sounding a little bit too confident? Yes? Good. I’m celebrating today.

This post wasn’t about sitting atop a soapbox. This post was written to my present self to remind her of some of the incredible things she has accomplished. I’ve focused on all that I haven’t done or “can’t” do for far too long. It’d be a tragedy to leave this world never having acknowledged your life’s achievements, wouldn’t it?

So, join me today. Comment below. Brag. And not just any brag. BRAG. Celebrate yourself. Own your victories.

**This post and my participation in Under Armour’s What’s Beautiful Campaign is sponsored by Under Armour and FitFluential. My opinions expressed here are my own.**

You know those moments when you feel something deep down in your gut that something big is about to happen?

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve had that feeling, and the moment I received the email that I was chosen to join some other amazing female FitFluential ambassadors and be a part of the current Under Armour What’s Beautiful Campaign, I knew. I just knew. BIG.

On top of that “big” feeling, I’ve had this nagging “something’s got to change” feeling. Put both of those feelings together and what do you get?

An opportunity.

Do you remember the post where I talked about the 12 Ways to Measure Weight Loss Success Beyond the Scale?

My husband’s wise words have stuck with me.

I started feeling self conscious at the innocent age of 7, when my weight began to creep up. It was at a time when my parents were separated and I lived with my grandfather and my beautiful, Polish, dessert-loving grandmother. I’m not sure I remember how the self-consciousness started, but I know that it’s been with me ever since. It wasn’t until I was about 10 years old that the scale began to take the reigns on how I defined myself.

I’ve written several posts about my weight loss journey, not wanting to experience the moment of “it’s now or never”, the frustrations I’ve had, my fight with the scale and the mirror, and the acceptance of my body. The only problem is that despite the successes I’ve had along the way, I’ve held on to the notion that my weight – the number on a battery-operated slab of plastic and metal – defined my success.

A stupid number.

A number that looms over my head, despite the victories I’ve experienced over the past 3 years.

I’ve robbed myself of the true feeling of pride in my achievements over a stupid number.

It’s hard to admit that to you, and it may even be harder to admit that to myself.

So when I boo-hooed about not losing weight the other night and heard my husband’s nonchalant “then stop trying” response, some sort of mental switch was flipped and I got the immediate feeling that something may just be happening for me.

Then I got the Under Armour email from FitFluential.

Perfect timing. My opportunity.

I don’t want *this* anymore, so I chose my goal and I want to scream it here, loud and clear:

It took me a little while after setting that goal to feel the emotion of it, and my husband, my new running partner, my rock, was the first to hear it.

I’m tired of stepping on the scale and using it as a way to label myself.

I’m tired of forgetting that I have a great pair of legs, a perky rear-end, muscular calves,  strong lungs, and a powerful will.

I’m tired of focusing on one not-so-perfect area of my body.

I’m tired of seeing myself in the mirror and feeling unsatisfied.

I’m tired of knowing that I’ve lived 14 years of my life trying to “lose weight”.

That’s a long time. It’s too long.

But how do I go from stepping on the scale at least once a week for the past 21 years to letting it go? It’s like an addiction.

Amazingly, my husband hid the scale from me before I could even tell him my goal. He flipped the switch that set my journey in motion and he hid from me the one thing slowly tearing me apart.

I’m truly blessed.

So for now, as I attack this Under Armour’s movement to redefine the female athlete, I will not step on the scale for the duration of the campaign. 

This campaign runs about the same length of time as my training for Chicago in July, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect. #IWILL cross-train like a beast. #IWILL find strength and life within my legs. #IWILL fuel my body with nutritious food, not because I want to but because I must. #IWILL cross that finish line knowing I’ve not only conquered 13.1, but that I’ve also kicked my addiction to losing weight. That I’ve let go of the toxicity that has ruled me for more than half of my life.

In July, I’d like to answer the following question:

What happens when you stop trying to lose weight and you start celebrating your strength?

QOTD: Do you have a goal that you’d really like to meet? If so, have you signed up to conquer it with Under Armour?

How many of you struggle with eating healthy on a budget?

You’re not alone.

I’m my opinion, we have a very broken food system in this country. Great guidelines, great resources, upside down food system. Everyone knows that eating healthy, whole foods is the way to go, but what’s cheaper? A double quarter-pounder meal from McDonald’s or a meal of fruit salad, lean protein, and a fresh green salad? You guess it…the McDonald’s. It’s our reality right now…it’s cheaper to buy processed “enriched” foods or fast food! But there is a way to make it cheaper. I can’t guarantee it’ll be cheaper than eating a value meal all day, every day, but there is one I try and remind myself of:

Pay a little more for healthy foods now, or pay far more in medical bills later, right?

After spending several semesters studying and discussing issues I was never even aware of before, I can tell you I’ve spent many days coming home from class livid. This could turn into a really long blog post, just focusing on this particular issue, but it fueled a fire in me to change everything about the way our house handled food. My first thought, though, was “my God, this is going to get expensive”. So I went on a mission: to live healthy and to keep our food budget healthy as well.

I was spending $200+ on groceries a week. Now? I try to spend $100 or less on food a week, and that’s for four people – two children and two adults. So far, I’ve done pretty well! I’ve even had two weeks where I even spent $75 or less.

When I’m planning meals, the things I look at most, aside from using whole foods are:

• What I already have in the pantry.
• What’s in season.
• What I have for coupons.
• What’s on sale.

Those last two help. Big time. I’ll get to them in a second.

The first things I did before I started this new process was:

• Cleaned out the pantry. I got rid of anything processed (donated – I’d rather do that than throw it out) and anything expired (trashed).
• Took an inventory of everything in the pantry, cabinets, fridge, and freezers.
• Printed out separate weekly calendars, because I love to write things out. (I do have favorite apps, so I’ll write about those next week!)

I have been sitting down every Sunday/early Monday morning, and I have been planning my meals. It’s amazing how much control over your meals you can have by planning (in regards to weight loss), but the amount of money you save by planning is just…wow. I used to spend nearly $200 or more a week on food, as I mentioned above. Produce would go bad. Yogurt would go bad. I’d forget about what we had! Big waste. Big cost. Boo. So, I started planning like this:

1. Look at the family schedule (school, things with the hubby and the kids) and write down what days may be busy (or busier than normal, I should say).
2. Look at the weather. (If it’s raining, it’s a great night for chili or stew. Not for grilling. Yep. I do get that detailed. Haha.)
3. Plan meals so that if specific ingredients are left half used, they can be used in the next meal (specifically dinner).
4. As I write out meals, I check my pantry, fridge, and freezers. If I don’t have the ingredient, I’ll write it down on the list.
5. As I write out meals, I remember what’s in season.
6. Then, I check sales and coupons. (I often do this as I’m planning, too, to get the most of the sales/coupons.)

What I don’t do:

• I don’t stock up on things I know we’ll never use. Sure, I can stock up on whatever toothpaste is on sale with a coupon. But with food? Why would I stock up on Rice-a-Roni if we don’t eat processed food!? It’s a waste of coupons and money and time. I used to wish I were an extreme couponer, but really? I don’t need that many bottles of barbeque sauce, that many boxes of Easy Mac, or that many cans of Hormel chili. If we don’t eat it, we don’t stock it. (And I certainly don’t want to spend 6 hours in stores once a week. No thanks. Haha.)
• I don’t buy things I know we shouldn’t be eating. If it’s in the house, it’ll get eaten. Like ice cream. Or candy. Or cookies. My downfalls.If I do buy goodies, they go in a cabinet I don’t go into on a normal basis, so I can forget about them.
• I don’t buy produce I know won’t get eaten in time. If it’s on sale for an amazing price, though, I will buy it up and freeze it.Perfect for smoothies and for thawing. (I have a giant tub of frozen spinach leaves that I bought and froze. So much better than the already frozen spinach, in my opinion.) This is a big money saver. Don’t be afraid to buy produce for three days and then go back for the last four days. This will save tons of money on wasted produce.

So how do I know what’s on sale and what has coupons and still have time to actually shop?

My go-to list of websites. Unfortunately, I don’t have a Whole Foods or TJ’s around here. (We do have a Fresh Market at least!) So my grocery shopping happens at Kroger, Walmart, Target, and Fresh Market. Despite the fact that I can’t shop at Whole Foods or TJ’s…I have included them in my list of wonderful coupon sites I use just for you.

The following are sites that list items that have coupons in addition to their weekly sales. I visit them and skim through. I figure out what I need, and if I see anything incredible as far as deals, I write it on my list. What I spend $30 on this week (even if I don’t need it this week), I may save in $30 later, when I may really need spend that money something else:

• Totally Target
• I Heart Kroger
• I Heart the Mart
• Whole Foods
• Trader Joe’s

Scout your Sunday paper for coupons, and follow sites like these that are great resources for getting online coupons to print:

• Red Plum
• Smart Source
• Coupon Network
• Hip2Save
• Coupons.com
• Couponers United
• The Krazy Coupon Lady – this site is amazing. The first tab at the top lists stores for which you can find coupons. (And it has a beginners section to help you learn to coupon. This is the site where”extreme couponing” started.)
• Money Saving Mom
• Southern Savers

Here’s the big one, though…I do buy organic foods often, and often times it’s tough to find coupons and sales on them. Not because they aren’t available, but because they aren’t advertised. I found these sites to be incredibly useful:

• Organic Deals
• Organic Grocery Deals – a forum where people post about sales they find, coupons you can print, anything that screams “bargain!”, basically.

I used to spend hours couponing…cutting out coupons that I would never use, for foods I didn’t want to eat, you name it. Hours. Then I stopped all together. It’s tough feeding healthy foods to a family of four (or even yourself) for less money. It really is. The biggest thing you need to remember is that it’s well worth the time to sit down, plan your meals, and look through sales and coupons. Do not waste your time couponing for things you don’t need. (I wish I knew to avoid that back then.)

SIDE NOTE: You can always visit the sites of your favorite brands, too. They often have links to current coupons or contact information on how to obtain them!

Doing just these few things has helped us save $100-$125 a week now. The one thing you need to remember, though, is that this takes some time getting used to. It won’t happen the first week, but when you get used to it? You’ll see what I’m talking about.

Next week, I’ll share my favorite grocery shopping apps. If you have questions, you can email me at livelovenrun [at] gmail [dot] com. I’ll try and address them on my Facebook page!

QOTD #1: Do you have a favorite couponing/savings site??

QOTD #2: How many of you would want to link up weekly showing off how you’re saving as you live healthier?

I’ve been seeing some of my posts popping up on several blogs on their weekly reads lists, and it reminds me every time that I need to get on that bandwagon and pay it forward! I honestly feel honored to see my posts show up on other people’s blogs! So from now on, every Friday, you’ll be able to catch a rundown of posts and articles that I’ve enjoyed over the week.

This week, I’ve run across tons of great reads! (I’m not sure I’m going to be able to contain myself on this list, but I’ll try! )

• Sarena of The Non-Dairy Queen guest posted on Where’s the Beach? while Heather was away this week. The topic? Inspiration versus Motivation, and what the differences between the two mean to her. Loved this post! Do you think of the two differently?

• Jess of EatDrinkBreatheSweat posted about her need to move. I think people, in general, are caught up in “working out” rather than moving. The health & fitness industry has been focusing on getting people to stop believing they have to run or lift weights to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. It’s just not true. If you don’t enjoy running, don’t do it. Just move. Enjoy being active. Choose what you love. Right? Right.

• The work-life balance myth. Christine of Love, Life, Surf speaks volumes in this post. She overheard “Don’t bother Mommy. She’s on the computer,” and she cringed. I’ve been there. It’s tough being a parent trying to make something of her/himself! (But it’s okay!!) Finding a balance between work and life is tough and we’re all in good company. Being present, even if imbalanced a little, is what’s important.

• Lindsay of Cotter Crunch posted about the slopes in life and how we have the freedom to choose: and upward slump or a downward slump? I agree with her on the fact that the upward slope can often be exhausting and difficult, but it’s well worth the battle. She’s a great wife and friend, and she is one of the most inspiring people I “know”.

• Melissa of Freeing Imperfections wrote about The Plan Perfectionist, and I know most of my readers are planners…and have been plan perfectionists, too. Ahhh…sometimes it’s nice just knowing you’re not alone in this world! I love that she’s honest here and lets it out…and stands by giving herself room to breathe.

• Lindsay, Lindsay, Lindsay…she always knows how to get a “party” started! The beautiful smile over at The Lean Green Bean gathered a few friends…87 the last time I checked…and started a “Pin It Party!” You write up a post (see mine from yesterday) with five of your own posts you’d like to see on Pinterest, and you link up on her blog. From there, people visit and pin your images. Great way to get re-addicted to Pinterest and gain some traffic. (And I’m hoping I see her continue it on monthly…)

•  The Sweet Life’s Erika is another beautiful smile in the blog world. I’ve written about how I find joy in others’ achievements before, and I love that I’m surround by people who feel the same way. Ericka shares her friend’s sentiments on her first half marathon (the Nike Women’s Half that I so badly wanted to run this year!) and Ericka adds in her thoughts on celebrating with friends. You know you’ve got a great friend when she finds joy in your victories.

There – some great reads for the weekend. Please show ‘em some love.

Also, every Friday, I’m planning to share seven pages on my own Facebook page. I’d like to start spreading the love, so if you’re looking for some new inspiration or would like to share your own page, head on over, lend me a ‘like’, and share your page on my wall! I’ll choose seven pages from that week and pin them to the top of my page for the day! Look for the first seven there today!

What to look forward to next week:

It’s no big secret that eating healthy can be expensive. (And I find that we have such a broken food system. Sigh.) SO, I’ve been doing a little research, a little browsing, a little meal planning, a little pantry stocking, and a little couponing and budget setting, and I’d like to share with you, possibly on a weekly basis (yay? nay?) how I’m feeding a family of four (two of which are adult runners, and we know how that can get) on a budget. (Wow. Run-on sentence much?) Healthy living, healthy budget. Look for it on Monday! (If you have any specific questions or ideas you’d like for me to address, comment below or email me at livelovenrun [at] gmail [dot] com!)

Hope you all have a great weekend!!!

Just when I thought I’d run out out of reasons why I love that my husband has joined me on my journey, he proves there is one more.

We were in bed, drooling over my iPad while browsing Mizuno’s website (because everyone knows we’re suckers for a great running shoe), and I, out loud, started feeling bad for myself. Basically, I was throwing a mini pity party. (Yep. I have those.)

Why can’t I lose weight!?!

I knew it was stupid the moment I said it.

I sat there, looking at my husband, mopey look on my face, frustrated with the fact that I’d see a gain on the scale last week…after not weighing in for a month. For those of you about ready to smack me because you saw this on Facebook the other day:

Don’t worry – I’ve done it for you. (I lost 7″, what more do I want?)

I’m not sure what possessed me at the moment my mouth was forced open and stupid was allowed to flow, but it took me over – and my husband’s response was perfect.

Then stop trying to lose weight.

That was just what I needed to hear. He’s right. I need to stop focusing on losing weight. I’m strong. I can run. I eat healthy. I move throughout the day. I educate myself in all things health & fitness. I’m healthier than I’ve ever been, honestly. The scale doesn’t tell me that!!! So this got me thinking: it’s time to re-evaluate my approach, step back and re-focus, and it’s time to find a different measure of success.

So here I am, admitting to you that I have moments of weakness where I place too much emphasis on the scale. It’s hard to break away from the “norm” of judging success by a number on the scale, because unfortunately, the diet industry has created a broken

So here are ways you can measure your success without stepping on the digital devil:

Measurements. Measure the follow every month to determine the loss of inches, rather than the loss of weight.

• Chest: Run the measuring tape directly under the breast or pectoral muscle, and measure around the smallest part of the chest.

• Bust: Run the measuring tape across the nipple line, and measure around the largest part of your chest.

• Waist: About 0.5” above the navel, where the narrowest part of the waist is, run the measuring tape around the torso.

• Hips: Run the measuring tape around the widest part of the hips and glutes.

•  Thigh: Run the tape around the largest part of each thigh.

• Calves: Run the tape around the largest part of each calf.

• Upper arm: Run the tape around the largest part of each bicep.

Waist to hip ratio. If measuring all of the above is a bit much for you and if you want to get an idea of your loss in inches in abdominal fat and determine your risk of weight-related health concerns, try this equation:

• Waist (in inches) / Hips (in inches)
• Then compare the number to this chart:
  • In Women:
  • 0.80 or below: low
  • 0.81-0.85: moderate
  • 0.85 or above: high
  • In Men:
  • 0.95 or below: low
  • 0.96-1.0: moderate
  • 1.0 or above: high

   

Clothing size.This is an obvious choice! As your clothes begin to loosen, reward yourself with a new pair of pants or a new dress…in a smaller size!

Increase in weight while strength training. An increase in weight equates to muscle growth. Muscle growth increases your metabolism! (And we all know what that means!!!)

Increase in running pace. I’ve found that as I lose weight, running becomes easier for me…and I become faster. Less drag. You get the idea.

Ease of everyday movement. This is big. Far too many people complain about getting winded climbing a small set of stairs or after walking 100 feet. As you lose weight and improve your health, you’ll find that you’ll have an easier time performing everyday physical activity.

Decrease in depression and anxiety. Increase in exercise and physical activity has been proven to decrease the instance of depression and anxiety. If you’re finding yourself happier and calmer, it may just be because you’ve gotten a hang of a healthier lifestyle!

Decrease in resting heart rate. This means your heart doesn’t need to work as hard to keep you alive! This is huge and is one benefit I continue to see as I get further into my “addiction” to healthy living.

Decrease in frequency of breakouts/acne. Your complexion will improve greatly. If you find yourself continuing to break out, try food elimination to find what triggers breakouts.

Decrease in frequency of headaches. Headaches can be weight-related. Even (lack of) activity-related. I find that my headaches decrease tremendously when I’m exercising and eating healthy…and losing weight.

And not to mention all the improvements you see when it comes to bathroom activities…

And to round out the list, the always popular…public recognition!! Who doesn’t like to hear “you’re losing weight” or “you look great!!”

How’s that for a big ol’ reminder of why the scale isn’t the end all, be all?

Tell me: how do you measure your success?

Hey friends!! It’s Thursday, and one of my favorite bloggers, Lindsay of The Lean Green Bean,  has started what’s called a “Pin It Party“. It’s a great way to help support other bloggers and remind your own readers of all your great, pinnable!, content! You can find me on Pinterest fairly often, and I’ve seen some great posts go up today with some phenomenal recipes, workouts, and inspiration.

Today, the five posts I’d like to feature are:

Be Unstoppable: #FindYourFit

Tank in 20 Workout

Chia Dreamsicle Smoothie

5 Ways You Can Run Joyfully Today

Spicy Sausage & Butternut Squash Quinoa

A good mix of perspective, movement, and food, right? Haha.

Are you on Pinterest? Leave a comment with a link to your profile so others can find you!

By the way, as you know, Google Reader is going bye bye…so if you’ve been following me there, you can no follow me here:  Follow my blog with Bloglovin’!