Playing Catch Up: Pie Party, Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Been wondering where I’ve been? Things have been really busy. I’ve been traveling too much and trying to cram too much into too little time. My blogging has suffered a TINY bit! I was in Alabama and then had to come home to work…and then host some holiday festivities. I thought I was going to have Wednesday off but it didn’t happen that way. I went to the gym and ended up teaching a spin class to help someone out.


On Wednesday, we through a “pie party” for Jeremy’s birthday. We wanted to do something nice for him and Willie really wanted to make pie. I thought since all these people were coming over I was going to be able to cook a big meal, but time really got away from me. I had to settle on ordering pizza instead. Willie and I ate salads while everyone else ate pizza and pie! Willie made crack pie, peanut butter chocolate pie and strawberry pie. I made a pecan pie and someone else made pumpkin, blueberry and cherry pie for the event. Everyone seemed to have a really great time and it was so great to have all of our friends together just enjoying each other.

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After everyone cleared out it was time to start on Thanksgiving preperations which meant cleaning up the kitchen and trying to get some shut eye because the Turkey Trot was in the morning. Willie and I both ran the 10K, along with Tyson and Emmy (our god daughter) ran the kids K! It was really cold when in the morning, but we were all ready to run with very low expectations.

Turkey Trot and a PR by 3 mins. #running #runchat #thanksgiving

I PRed by 3 minutes. It was amazing because I was running some pretty consistent 9:xx miles and my mile 3 was less than 9 minutes. My watch was beeping at me the whole time to slow down because you know I’m supposed to be in taper. (The marathon is 7 days away!) I felt good and I really just wanted to finish. I had no idea I was going to be running that good. And Emmy looked so cute and happy running her race. It was a good time. Willie also PRed and Tyson’s never run a 10K so he set his person best.

Whoops, we didn’t take any pictures at Thanksgiving which is pretty horrible. Everyone is interested in what we had for the special holiday. I’ll tell you what was on the table first: turkey, ham, broccoli rice casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, potato salad, green beans, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce and macaroni and cheese. I had turkey, ham, dressing, a load of green beans and sweet potatoes (cause I made them my way). I sampled the potato salad, casserole and mac and cheese, but not too much. While everyone else was chowing down on the left over pies and the sweet potato pies my brother made, I ate a mixed berry crisp I had after I finished all the food.

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Thanksgiving was pretty uneventful but we were trying to find out where we would do some Black Friday shopping. Last year it went seamlessly for us so we thought it would be the same again. We started off at Kohl’s but it was too crazy so we headed to a more calm venue: Target. We left the house at 7:30 and we were back by 9:15 pm with everything we wanted. We got up again this morning to continue the shopping. I purchased a lot of gloves and socks.

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I went for a run today for some nice easy slow miles and then we ate Indian food. It was Tyson and Willie’s first time eating it but they really enjoyed it!

Now I’m gearing up for my first marathon!  I’m excited and nervous at the same time.  I’m ready to become a marathoner!  I never would have thought I would want to run a marathon much less do one.  This week will be all about prepping for the marathon and just living the moments!

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you go Black Friday shopping?

Happy Late Friday from the road

Happy Late Friday from the road

I’m a bad blogger, I didn’t post anything at all today. I have a good excuse, I was driving in the car all day. It’s Ruben Studdard Celebration weekend which means I’m gearing up for the 3rd Annual Magic City Half Marathon. I am looking forward to the race even though it’s supposed to be really COLD.  I’m trying to decide if I’m actually going to run this race or just have a good time.  To try to PR or not?  I AM supposed to be in taper! I wish I could say I am having a good day but…

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Quick tips on how to eat healthy

Quick tips on how to eat healthy

I’ve been so busy lately and I will admit I’m tired.  It’s already Wednesday and I have to leave again on Friday.  All this fall travel might be starting to catch up with, but I don’t regret any moment of it.  I’ve taken two days off of running because my hamstring has been a little sore after 20-miler Sunday. I’m hoping that I can get back on it today and see where it goes. I started my taper this week so it’s time to rest up for the big marathon in 16 days! Eating healthy is always a struggle and…

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Find your motivation

Find your motivation

Happy Friday! I’m getting ready for my 12th half marathon this weekend. The training plan called for an easy 3 miles today so I did that after going to Group Power at 5AM! My biggest motivation for getting up at 5AM to work out is really not having to do it in the afternoon! I’ve been trying to talk to blog readers about their struggles with weight loss and lifestyle change and motivation keeps coming up. Most of the e-mails I get about the weight loss are about my motivation to lose weight and how I stuck with it. Willie…

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Challenge: I CAN…Be Active

Challenge: I CAN…Be Active

It’s that time of year again when people say they are busy but aren’t too busy to eat. The holidays are about spending time with family and friends and buying gifts, so why not give yourself a gift? The holidays are filled with treats and great food so practice moderation with those foods. BUT I’m also asking you to get active! My best friend Mandie has already jumped on the challenge and she’s been working out to shed some pounds and just get an active lifestyle. Why can’t you do the same over the holiday season? There’s A LOT of…

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I’ve been cooking

I’ve been cooking

There’s been so much focus on Willie cooking, I think people may have forgotten that I like to cook too.  I must admit he’s been picking up a lot of the food slack in the house because marathon training has kept me busy.  He keeps me well fueled. I’ve had a little bit of free time to make some food lately and I wanted to share with you what I’ve been making. The Runner’s World Cookbook hit stores in October and I couldn’t wait to get a copy.  I was trying to find one in stores but no luck so…

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What did you eat to lose all that …

What did you eat to lose all that weight?

This week I’m taking the time to answer the many e-mails I get about our weight loss journey.  Most of the questions are the same, but this question is the most frequently asked question.  Before I venture any more into this subject, I want to remind everyone that it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change.  Also, there wasn’t one magic food that changed our lives and helped us drop the weight.  The weight didn’t come off overnight because it was a process. The easiest way to answer this question is to tell you what we stopped eating.  We stopped…

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Do you reward yourself with food? Stop it!

Do you reward yourself with food? Stop it!

If you answered yes, let’s stop this bad habit.  When I was heavier, food was always apart of the celebration.  Had the best day of my life? I had ice cream because I deserved it.  It’s my birthday or Willie’s birthday or my cousin’s twice removed birthday; let’s chow down.  Got a pay bump?  Let’s spend that extra money on a really decadent meal that will leave me knocked out later. Food is used as a celebratory manner in our lives, but does it always have to be that way. I even fall victim to it now.  I run a…

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Happy Halloween! Is it all about candy?

Happy Halloween! Is it all about candy?

It’s the day that we all loved as kids because we could dress up like anything and get free candy for it!  And of course, there are the pumpkins.  Children get so excited about pumpkins and most adults don’t enjoy the carving process.  I wonder if it’s because it’s too messy or just too time consuming? Last Saturday, we took our god daughter to the pumpkin patch. She was running around that place so fast and having the time of her life, even though there weren’t many pumpkins left. That’s understandable though because Halloween was very near. She is all…

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Six reasons to exercise

Six reasons to exercise

I was thinking about some of the reason I like to workout. It’s not just running folks, I like to do other things too. This was the perfect time to talk about a few reasons to exercise and get on the road to an active lifestyle. 1. We all need to live an active lifestyle.  It’s about getting up and getting moving.  Want to lose the weight? The best way to start is just to get moving. 2. It makes you happy. People have commented on my cheery disposition and I have to say, it’s all due to exercise.  I…

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It’s National Oatmeal Day

It’s National Oatmeal Day

I don’t know about you but I love oatmeal. In fact, I’ve been eating oatmeal a lot lately. Last week, all I wanted to eat was oatmeal so I proudly shamefully admit I ate oatmeal for dinner last week and tried to do it last night, but Willie stopped me. This is how much I love oatmeal! I had all of these pictures and more on my phone. Most mornings you will see me eating oatmeal. I love steel cut oats, but for time I make overnight oats almost every day. When I’m not eating oatmeal, I’m probably eating pumpkin…

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