The Flu is Not Your Friend

Ok, let's face it. The flu is no one's friend. I got it for the first time in as long as I can remember. Last Sunday (not yesterday but the week before) I went on a nice long hike with Bronx and my bff. We did about 5 miles PLUS I got a one mile trail run in to keep the #RunStreakPhl alive. All was well until Monday morning when I had a few body aches, which turned into A LOT of body aches and a fever and some chills on top. I felt awful. I left around 2:30pm and headed home. I barely got Bronx out and back in before I collapsed in my bed, pulling the covers tightly around me despite it being 65 degrees outside. 

For the next week I battled the icky sickies. I took off Tuesday but had to work from home 12:30-6pm to get something done. I went in for a half day on Wednesday but was miserable. I got things done and met my deadlines but I felt like total crap. It was such a waste. Thursday I took off again and stayed off. Friday I returned for a full work day but I was still coughing and feeling sort of out of it. 

Saturday I had to work but I felt a lot better. I even made it out for a run! But I did too much too fast and by Saturday evening I was coughing again every spare second. So Sunday I was down for the count. 

I will say in all of this, I've still managed to keep the running streak alive. They let you do the elliptical or walk, so I've been doing a lot of walking to keep it going. I feel like I ran half the month and walked half the month. Yesterday I walked because I was coughing every five seconds and it was cold and windy. I think tonight I might try a run again after errands when I get home. Tomorrow is the last day of the streak. Another 30 days of healthy habits in the books.

For March I'm doing the Plank Challenge. Each day I'll be doing a plank, uping the duration each week. So Week 1 - one 15 second plank each day; Week 2 - one 30 second plank each day; Week 3 - one 45 second plank each day and Week 4 - one 60 second plank each day. I should have abs by April. This also includes increasing my water intake, my vegetable intake and continuing to run and kickbox. I've lost close to 30 pounds since January 1st, well on my goal of losing 10 pounds a month. I want to keep crushing it. 

So for now, I'm just easing back into my routine, hoping I don't get sick for quite some time. That was no joke. It was especially hard when the weather was amazing outside and I couldn't go play in it. No runs. No hikes. Just brief walks with Bronx before rest again since it tired me out. Blegh. So over it and so glad I'm finally on the mend. I thought I would be sick forever!

Until next time...

Successful #Whole30 and February's Challenge

Done. Done. Done. Done. Done. On February 7th, I completed my last day of the #Whole30 Challenge. All in all, I lost 20 pounds since Jan 3rd, 15 of which were during the challenge. I learned how to cook new foods and broke up with sugar (though we reunited recently with the hopes of breaking back up again). I learned how to eat when I'm hungry not just when I'm stressed or bored. I'm really glad I did the challenge even though parts of it were tough. 

For February, I've entered the #RunStreakPhl challenge...run a mile every day in February. I mean, we only have 28 days, right? At first, I was on FIRE. I would look forward to my runs and I was so excited to see my progress run after run. I could run longer, faster and easier with each day. Until a few days ago...when days of running turned into a bad case of shin splints. Now running is extremely painful. I'm trying to stick with the challenge, rolling my shins/calves and stretching more, wearing compression sleeves and socks, and taking it a little bit slower. I'm determined to finish, I just want to get back to where I was enjoying the stress relief of the run and not the painful stabbing in my legs. 

Halfway there. 

I registered for the Hot Chocolate 15K in April. It is a month before the Broad Street Run (I find out if I made the lottery for that one tomorrow morning) so I figured 9 miles is a good benchmark to see how I'll fare with 10 miles in May. 

Work is busy and at times hectic but I'm making through my days and learning a lot in my new role. I'm currently the Corporate Communications Manager, a promotion I received on Christmas Day. Navigating the Public Relations landscape has been an adventure but turns out it is not that far off from reverse journalism, so the skill set is there. 

Life? Um. It is ok. I've been keeping busy with the challenges I'm doing each month and trying to continue to lose weight so I can skydive for my 30th in August. Been trying to be more social. Not that I'm anti-social, but sometimes a work week exhausts me to the point where I just want to be a hermit in jammies watching Netflix with Bronx. 

Bronx celebrated his 4th birthday last week! 

Little nugget enjoyed a trip to Pet Smart where he picked out (with help from Mom) that flat squirrel toy. He had a birthday cookie and also kindly posed for a few 4th birthday photos in his birthday hat (which he hated and promptly pawed off of his head). His goes to his new vet for his annual checkup this Saturday and then on Feb 21st, we'll celebrate our TWO YEAR adoption anniversary. This little (big) pup has brought so much joy to my life. He is the perfect dog for me and we love going on adventures together. Just this past weekend he came to Valley Forge with me for a nice 5 mile hike. 

That is about it. Here's to hoping I can run pain free soon. It was good stress relief for awhile there. 

Until next time...

#Whole30 Day 24

I can almost taste the cream in my coffee. I'm on Day 24 of #Whole30. I realized I have been going through the timeline a little more delayed than most people. At this point I should experience "Tiger Blood" which is endless energy and a positive outlook on life. While I do feel a small additional pep in my step, what I am going through now is the really insane dreams that involve me eating non Whole30 foods and feeling guilty. Like...oh hey, I'm almost done anyway...I'm going to eat this ice cream. 

In real life, I have no desire to destroy all of my hard work and partake in non Whole30 foods before my challenge is up. They say these dreams are your brain's way of trying to bring you back to your old eating habits and the food you used to gorge on has a psychological hold on you. Creepy right?

In other news, I've officially lost 15 pounds since this all started AND have entered a new challenge for February. I'm in the #RunStreakPhiladelphia challenge and must run at least one mile per day EVERY day in February. I'm hoping I can really stick to it, even if it means banging out a mile around my block 8 times or something. I think I'm going to do a challenge every month or something to keep me on track with my goals. 

I bought digestive enzymes which have been a BLESSING. Now I'm no longer have bathroom issues with the Whole30 diet and should have bought the enzymes on day one. Just one capsule before I eat and everything is fine. No more bloating. Whew. 

SIX days to go and then I'm done. Still considering eating a pint of Halo Top for breakfast on day 31 to celebrate. haha

Until next time...