Happy July 1!

I cannot believe that it is July 1st already! Where has this year gone?!?! This morning I woke up early (well late for me 6am) and decided I wanted to start my day off right with a run. I ran 2 miles and it felt great! I am so excited about how PT might have helped me, but I also know I need to take it slow. I am looking forward to my run on Wednesday, it will be a 4 miler, and I know I will be ready. But, that is not why I am writing. Well, it is, but there will be a blog post about that race. I digress, my revelation for today, Wednesday will be my 6th race of the year, that means that Wednesday I will have run exactly double the number of races as last year! I am so excited to see how many I will run by the end of the year. I need to start running with my phone so that I can take photos to document some things from my run, but the scenary out on the roads is not as scenic as other places.
Oh, today continues my journey of gluten and dairy milk free. I feel like it has helped a lot with the bloating (sorry TMI) and I think it is making me eat cleaner and fresher. I will let you know how this journey continues.

So today, on the 1st of July, enjoy yourself. We will probably be spending much of the day by the pool, hanging out with some friends. I will make sure to get lots of photos! Hope no matter what you do you stay hydrated and cool.
Have fun and be safe!

The following message is brought to you by my colon..

If the title didn't get you to leave and you are still here, thank you. Today is day 2 of becoming someone who eats gluten free. No, I don't have celiac disease, but I have noticed that certain wheat products made me feel really bloated and it was uncomfortable. So, I am trying gluten free eating to see if that resolves my bloating. I also have become dairy-free and even have given up my love for Greek yogurt. Yep, you read that right, I gave up my Greek yogurt.  That's ok, I found something even better. I found Amande Yogurt, made from Cultured Almondmilk and I love it! It was sweet at first, but just like any yogurt may take time to enjoy. There aren't many flavors, but the flavors that they do have are good.  Jumping to giving up cow's milk wasn't a big jump for me, I don't really drink milk, and when I do I usually drink Dark Chocolate Almond milk. I even once tried Chocolate Lactaid, but didn't even like it. I will take my Almond milk anyday.  I am not sure if turning away from Gluten products will help boosted my weight loss path (I have been on a stale mate since I haven't been able to run) but right now it is about how I feel, not what the scale says.

Speaking of running...yesterday was my LAST physical therapy session and I was given the go ahead to run again! YESS!!! So, I will be back to it on Thursday, running 2 miles, but it is definitely better than nothing. I am going to take it slow...I don't want to have any setbacks. Today is my last day I am giving myself off from the gym...I go back at that on Friday, toting along my exercises from Physical Therapy and some ab workout. I know it will be great to be back to running. I never really realized how much running has transformed my life and I also never thought I would ever miss it. I have realized both over the past 6 weeks. I am looking forward to getting running and getting moving again. I am even more interested in seeing how going gluten-free will affect my performance and or my weight loss.

And because some of you don't visit my sister's blog, here is a picture she took, that I just love...

And one more.

Happy Wednesday! I hope you find your passion...and run away with it!

Today's the first day of the rest of your life..

OK, really, that is a song by Rascal Flatts, but it popped into my head as soon as I got home today. Why you might ask? Well, I keep talking about going to the gym, and right now that is not in the budget for Penguin and me. So,my sister J had given me Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred around the time of my wedding and I promise, no I pinkie swore that I would do this tape. Well, I am sorry to say that I didn't. I had every excuse under the sun, and man, to me they were all good ones. The only one that made the most sense was that I didn't have the right sports bra. Well, J fixed that too. see, she told me about this sports bra company that makes bras for well endowed women. I even got a bra in my favorite color PINK. Anyway, I think I used the sports bra like for a week and then put it away. Out of sight out of mind. Well, last night at work it occurred to me that I don't need a stinking gym to get in shape. I can start with the Jillian video and then see where I feel I need to go next. So, that I what I just got finished doing. I did the level one video and it KICKED MY ARSE FROM HERE TO NEXT WEEK!! No seriously, I am sore in places I didn't know existed. And even better, in exactly a month is Christmas, so if I can do this 20 minute exercise every day for 30 days, maybe I will notice a change in myself by Christmas. I am the hardest critic I have. Even though everyone said I looked beautiful on my wedding day, all I see are the flaws and the what ifs. But, I also know that it is possible for me to get back to that day, and maybe better. See, right now I come home and go right to bed. I don't sleep well, I don't eat correctly, heck, even other body systems were wacky. About a month ago I started taking vitamins and I have started to sleep better. I really think I was lacking vital nutrients just because of my sleep schedule. So I figure maybe if I start exercising I will feel the need to sleep. Penguin starts school in Jan, so he won't be able to still be sleeping when I get home from work. In a way that is a good thing because then nothing will stand between me and working out. I just have to remind myself that it is only 20 minutes a day...what is 20 minutes if it means I feel just a little bit better about myself.
I also started looking up smoothie recipes. If you have any good ones, send them my way. I never eat 3 meals a day, so I know I am not getting enough fruits and vegetables in my diet. Add on the fact that Penguin doesn't eat fruit and only certain vegetables you see where my dilemma is. Anyway, I found this awesome recipe and I am dying to try it. See, I am lactose intolerant, so I only do dairy in small amounts. This recipe calls for Almond Breeze, which sounds amazing and I think would be an awesome change from milk. Anyway, today, before my work out I made a smoothie, and I surprised even myself. Here is my smoothie recipe, which I think I am going to try to make again before I go to work. Again, any recipes send them my way!

Mixed Berry Smoothie
1 cup Lactaid (we have non-fat, although I am sure milk will work as well)
1 cup fresh blue berries
1 cup of frozen mixed berries (some concoction my mom gave us)
6 oz of Yo plait yogurt ( mine was peach)
Put it in a blender and puree. If you don't use frozen fruit you may have to add ice.
It was yummo..although I think the mixed berries had raspberries in it because I kept picking out seeds.