BWC Goody Bag

The Baltimore Women’s Classic was a great run.  I am SO glad I did it.  Not only was the atmosphere of the race spectacular, but the rewards were stellar!   When I signed up for the race I knew I would get a t-shirt and a goody bag, but wow! 

The shirt is New Balance brand and made of technical material.  It is great quality and has a nice cut.  I really like it!  The yellow goody bag is the cloth grocery carrier type.  There were tons of samples stuffed into the bag, like:

 A full size box of Success brown rice

Three packets of True Lime

A two pack of full size Blistex

A pack of Totally Light 2 Go Energy Rush

A pack of Totally Light Tea 2 Go half and half

A packet of Emergen-C

A mini Luna Bar is White Chocolate Macadamia

A Rev Raw 100 Bar

A bottle of Tend Skin

A packet of Blister Shield (I used it on race day are really like it!)

A Goody Mosaic comb

A lanyard

A few magnets

My race bib (number 2088)

Safety pins

Timing chip

Several coupons for local and on-line run related businesses

Flyers for upcoming races

I was amazed by all the stuff in the bag!  A runner friend of mine told me not to expect this good of a goody bag from every race and that the BWC goody bags are always the best.  Thanks everyone at the BWC for arranging all of these great perks for running! 

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

****I have been working hard to set up some more GREAT giveaways for you!  Keep an eye on my blog to find out what they are!

What “technology’’ do you use?

A blog follower/new friend recently e-mail me and ask me what running stop watch I use.  I replied to her that I do not use a stop watch, but that I do us Runkeeper on my iPhone.    Since you all were so helpful and gave me some really great suggestions when I asked about a running playlist, I have another question for everyone.  What type of running “technology” do you use? 

I am not much of a technology buff.  I like my laptop and love my iPhone, but I use them to do basic things.  When I first started running, I did things kind of old-school.  I used a regular old pedometer and the stop watch on my iPhone.  Once I got into running more, I looked into running apps on iTunes.  I don’t really like to pay for apps, so I downloaded a few of the free ones.  I downloaded Run Keeper, Nike+ GPS and Endomondo.  I have given all of them a try and I have chosen the one I like best. 

RunKeeper is a really easy app to use.  You just tap the app to open it, tap activity type (running), tap to start playlist to get the music pumping, and then tap to start activity.  It’s so easy!  There is a place to tap to hear how far you went, you total time and you minutes per mile time. The app also periodically chimes in to report your progress.  You can control your play list right in the Runkeeper app, and even take a photo of your surroundings.  Once your run is over, you tap on activity complete to hear the details of your run and see your run mapped out by GPS.  The run is then uploaded to Runkeeper.com, so you can log your progress. 

The other apps, Nike+ GPS and Endomondo, worked well but I like Runkeeper better.  What type of running “technology” do you use?  Do you use a GPS watch, an iPhone app, or something else?  What do you like and dislike about it? 

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!  Or even better, click at the right to share my blog with your Facebook friends!

****I have been working hard to set up some more GREAT giveaways for you!  Keep an eye on my blog to find out what they are!

Bondi Band review and Giveaway!

I was so excited when the great people at Bondi Bands wanted to send me one of their headbands to tryout. Knowing that I am training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon, they sent me a Bondi Band with a tiara on it—so cute!  Bondi Bands are no slip, no drip headwear so you can look good and get on with your life.  The price on Bondi Bands is very fair at eight dollars each.

To make sure I could give you an accurate review, I have been using the Bondi Band for about a week now.  I have worn it during a long run, as well as a spin class.  The most important thing I was looking for in the Bondi Band was that is stayed put during my entire workout.  I always wear a headband when I work out to hold back all my long, thick hair.  I HATE when I have to slow down and readjust it.  I am happy to tell you that the Bondi Band did just as I had hoped…no readjusting during a long run or an hour spin class.  This is a huge plus for me. 

Bondi Band headbands are cute!  I have to admit it, I am a girlie girl.  I like to look cute when I work out.  The Bondi Band looked good on me while I worked out and even after.  I often run errands on my way home from the gym.  The Bondi Band kept my hair in place and looking good during and after the workout.  Since it does not look like workout gear, I felt fine wearing my Bondi Band to the bank and the grocery store on the way home from the gym. The Bondi Band headband is made out of Lycra, so it wicks sweat.  Like many of you, I am a sweater when I work out.  The Bondi Band held back the sweat from running down my face!  Over all, I really like my Bondi Band and plan on getting a few more.

The best part of my Bondi Band review is that the nice people at Bondi Bands want one of you to try a Bondi Band free!  That’s right; I am doing a Bondi Band giveaway!  To enter the giveaway, you must be a follower of this blog. Here are the ways to enter the giveaway:

1)      Go to the Bondi Band website; check it out and comment below which Bondi Band headband pattern you like best (mine is the pink leopard!).

http://www.bondiband.com/index.php

2)      Like Bondi Band on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/?closeTheater=1#!/pages/Bondi-Band/150788588853

3)      Share this page with your Facebook and/or Twitter friends.  (To do this, click to the right where is says “Share this on Facebook” or “Tweet this”.)

Each blog follower can enter the giveaway up to four times (check out the website and comment below, like on FB, share this page on FB and Twitter.)  In your comment below, be sure to tell me how many entries you get.  You can enter until 3 PM Eastern time on Saturday June 18^th, and then I will choose a winner!  Check for a new blog post that evening to see who the winner is!  Bondi Bands will send the winner their favorite headband!  Good Luck everyone! 

Should I hire a trainer?

I have been considering getting a personal trainer and would like some advice.  My reason for getting a trainer would be for weight training, not marathon training.  For marathon training, I am reading Marathoning for Mortals by Bingham and Hadfield (I will review the book when I have completed the program!).  Many of us have heard that weight training is a very important component to losing weight and getting fit…but I feel a little lost as to where to start. 

Weight training videos were my first venture into weight training, but they become very redundant after doing then a few time.  I have also done some web searches to find some good weight training moves, but I am worried that I am not doing then correctly.  This brings me to the question of good form.  Having good form when exercising is very important.  If your form is bad, you risk injury, or not getting the desired results.

I already know who I would choose as my trainer.  Her name is Mary B and she works at my gym, Strictly Fitness in York, PA.  I LOVE her spin classes.  Mary chooses awesome music for class and sequences the exercises perfectly.  She is great at motivating me, while giving support and encouragement at the same time.  Others at my gym rave about Mary as a trainer.  I would love to give it a try, but I have a few questions for my online friends. 

In a perfect world, I would like to meet about once a month and get a program to work on for the month.  We would meet again the next month and tweak the program a bit and continue this until I felt I could do it myself.  How realistic does this sound to you? 

So, I have come here today to ask, what has your experience been with a personal trainer?  Did you find it worthwhile…and worth the price?  How much did it cost and how often were you required to meet with the trainer? 

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!  Or even better, click at the right to share my blog with your Facebook friends!

I still have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Supermarket Challange!

I have been looking into ways for my family and me to eat healthier....but how?  In our world of fast food on every corner, high fructose in everything, carbs are evil culture…how does a mom know where to start?

 I started to think about my local grocery store, Giant.  Where in the store is the healthy food?  What part of the store should I avoid?  It occurred to me, for the most part, that the healthiest foods are around the perimeter of the store.   Fruits and veggies in the produce depart on one side wall, meat and milk on the back wall, eggs, other dairy products (proteins) and whole grain breads along the other side wall.  Eating healthy would be easy if only I made good choices while shopping only the perimeter of the store.  So, I decided to challenge myself!  I would go grocery shopping for the family and try to buy at least 75% off our food from the perimeter of the store.  Wish me luck!

Pushing my cart through the doors of the store, with my daughter Andrea in the seat, I was ready!  First, we start at the produce department.  I pick up carrots and cucumbers to snack on. We then head toward green beans and broccoli for dinner sides.  We finish up in produce by getting some apples.  Next, I pick up a rotisserie chicken and half a pound of turkey at the deli.  Now it’s time to enter the forbidden zone, the center aisles.  My husband favorite dinner is Spaghetti with meat sauce, so we head down the pasta aisle for a box of whole wheat pasta and some spaghetti sauce.  I also make a stop in the cereal aisle for a box of oatmeal. 

Now it’s time to hit the meat section.  I start out by picking up some lean ground beef for Mike’s spaghetti.  I also choose some chicken breast and pork chops.  Andrea and I keep moving across the back of the store to the milk section, where we get some skim milk.  We turn the corner to the other side wall of the store and pick up some Chobani Greek Yogurt (my favorite!!!) and some fat free regular yogurt.  We continue toward the front of the store to the bread section and grad some Weight Watchers Whole Grain bread to go with the deli turkey for lunch.  Now it’s time to round out the shopping list and head into the forbidden zone one last time.  This time, on the agenda is apple juice for the kids and almonds for my snack. 

I look over my list one last time.  I have enough here for three healthy dinners for my family, plus breakfast and lunch for me while Mike is at work and Nathan is at school.  The big question is:  did I meet my goal?  Did I get 75% of my grocery purchase from the perimeter of the store?  Here is a list of what I got:

From the Store Perimeter	From the Forbidden Center Aisles
Carrots	Whole wheat pasta noodles
Cucumbers	Spaghetti sauce
Broccoli	Oatmeal
Fresh Green Beans	Juicy Juice
Apples	Almonds
Deli Turkey
Chicken Breast
Lean Ground Beef
Rotisserie Chicken
Pork Chops
Skim Milk
Chobani Greek Yogurt
Fat free yogurt
Weight Watchers Whole Grain Bread

So, how did I do?  I got a total of 19 items, five that did not come from the perimeter.  That means only 74% of my purchase came from the perimeter.  I did not meet my challenge, but I think I did a pretty great job!

Now, I challenge you!!!  Try to get a majority of your food from the perimeter of your grocery store.  How did you do?  Tell me what you found easiest and most difficult about shopping this way?  Do you have any tips or advise for others about healthy grocery shopping?  I would love to hear from you!

Portion Control

I read somewhere that in 1970 the size of a 7 Eleven big gulp was 12 ounces. Now, the size of a big gulp is 44 ounces! Now, my numbers might not exact, but we all know that portion control has gotten out of control here in America. At McDonalds, the size of a typical kids meal now is what the size of an adult meal was forty years ago. Most dishes at the Olive Garden contain about three servings of pasta. As we all know, I could go on and on….

Portion Control is very important, whether you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. I have a few quick and easy ways for you to keep your portions in check on the go, using simple, everyday objects to visualize the correct portion.

One cup (pasta, rice, cereal): about the size of your fist.

Half cup (veggies, juice, salads): about the size of a tennis ball

3 ounces (meats, fish): about the size of your palm, with out fingers

1 ounces (meats, cheese): about the size you’re entire thumb

Something I have been doing lately to ensure portion control is using a simple kitchen food scale. A cheap food scale can be bought off the shelf at the big box stores. When I got home and started using it…wow! I was surprised! I was doing a good job at visualizing portion size of meat and pasta, but not cereal. I really enjoy a bowl of cereal as an evening snack. The milk is good for muscle recovery after a hard workout and the whole grain in the cereal is heart healthy. When I put my typical bowl of cereal on the scales, wow! I was eating about double the amount of cereal as the portion on the box. I plan to use my food scale every day to continue in my training efforts.

What have your experiences been with portion control? What do you do to ensure proper portions?

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Try, Try Again

Since my first spin class was such a success, I decided it was time to try it again! Today I went to an evening class with a different instructor, Scott. The class had a different feel, but was still great. Scott is an older man, but is in great shape.

We started the class with a quick warm up and we were off! Unlike Mary’s levels, Scott told the class to work at a percentage based on our maximum effort. For example, he would yell “eighty”, meaning he wanted the class to work hard, at eighty percent of our possible effort. I prefer Scott’s percentage system to Mary’s levels.

While I much preferred Mary’s music choices to Scott’s, I enjoyed how Scott incorporated the songs into the exercise he had us doing. For instance, when we were listening to as fast song, Scott had us doing intervals of seventy percent to one hundred percent. During the slow songs, we went at a slower pace and had time to recuperate. I also enjoyed Scott’s little arm dances and bike push ups when they fit well into the songs. Scott was a very motivational instructor and I will be taking his class again.

What I learned from my second spin class is to keep trying things, even if you think you already know the outcome. This was proven to me twice this week. The first time was when I did not enjoy my first Zumba class. I gave it a try again, and found a better fit for me. I would not have known about a better fitting instructor if I had not tried again. The second time was trying a different spin class, even though I already found a class and instructor I enjoyed. Now, I have two different classes/instructors to choose from and enjoy.

Things to try over again can include activities, gyms, and foods. Keep trying new things and trying things over again you have in the past. You may find something that works for you.

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Spin!

I finally made it to my first spin class at Strictly Fitness! The class was taught by Mary B, a very sweet, tan, and tiny women. The class was very full. Mary immediately recognized that myself and the women next to me, whom was also a newbie in my first Zumba class the other night, were new to class. She come right over to us, introduced herself, and showed us how the bikes worked.

Mary B then cranked up some super great, super energizing music, starting with Black Eyed Peas “Good Night.” I added that song to my running play list! She explained to us her four levels of spinning. Level one is slowly with no resistance. Level two is faster, with a bit more resistance. Level three is very fast, with the same resistance at level two, while Level four is high resistance, making it impossible to go very fast. We started class at one, then quickly moved to two. Mary cycled us through all the levels, adding standing and push ups on the handle bars.

The music the instructor chose was perfect. It kept the class going. Mary would get off her bike every few minutes, walk around and pump everyone up! It was a great class! As a little added entertainment, Mary challenged several of the men to push up contests. Wow, was I impressed! She keep up with and out did all the men. Way to go girl! On a side note, I would recommend anyone who takes a spin class, get a nice seat for yourself. About half way through the class, my butt started to hurt, LOL. Several vets in the class told me to get my own gel seat. They said that is does wonders, so I will be getting one tomorrow!

I also did a two mile walk/run on the treadmill and gave Zumba another try. The Zumba class had a different instructor and seamed to be more fast paced this time, which I enjoyed. My time on the treadmill did not improve, but I still completed two miles in under 16 minutes a mile. I will continue to slowly increase the time I spend on the treadmill, hopefully to get faster and farther.

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility

As an accounting major in college, I had to take several economics classes. The study of economics includes the study of human behavior. One concept in economics that has always intrigued me was the law of diminishing marginal utility. Simply put, the law of diminishing marginal utility states that the second unit of a product does not give the consumer as great a level of satisfaction as the first. It continues to say that the third unit is not as satisfying as the second and so on.

When we put this concept into weight loss, it can lead us to more mindful eating. Think about a food you love (for me, I am choosing chocolate cake!) First, look at the food and take it in with all your senses. It looks great, it smells fabulous. You take a piece. As the law of diminishing marginal utility teaches us, the first bite will be the most satisfying. When you are ready to take the first bit, make sure you are in a place physically and mental to enjoy it. Yum! Now, on to the second bite. Wow, it was great too, but not quit as good as the first. Time for the third bite, then the fourth. Are you still getting a high level of satisfaction? If so, have another bit! But if not, put your fork down and walk away. You do NOT have to clear your plate. If you are not getting a high level of satisfaction from each bit, then it is time to stop. Make each bit worth the calories you are taking it. This method can save you hundreds of unenjoyed calories.

I have put this concept into my eating habits over the past few days. Over the weekend, my husband and I went to dinner to a local place that has my absolute favorite chocolate cake (that is why I chose it as my example.) It has layers of mouse, cake and chocolate slivers….soooo good! After dinner, my husband and I ordered a piece to share (another good option to slim down.) When the waitress brought it to our table, it looked so good. I picked up my fork for the first bit. Wow, so good! Then the second, third, then forth. It was time to ask my self, was I still getting a high level of satisfaction out of each bit? Yes, I was! So it was time for a few more bits. Then, it was time to ask my self again. This time, the answer was no. It was time to put my fork down and push the rest of the cake to my husband.

This concepts really works for me. What do you think? Have you tried it? Please tell me about you experience with it.

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Spin…I mean Zumba!

Today, I went to a new gym, Strictly Fitness in York PA, for a Spin class that I signed up for at our township building. I was so excited to get out of the house and take a really challenging class. When I got to the gym, a really nice lady gave me a tour. My first impression was that the gym was nice, but it still felt very intimidating to me. There were lots of really fit people working out. I learned that tanning and child care are included in the cost of membership, which is a big plus!

So once 5:30 rolled around, I went to the spin room. There I found a class just letting out. I went back to the front desk, only to find out that the township had the time wrong. There is no 5:30 spin class! I was very disappointed. Scott, the man that teaches Spin, and the women that I had met early for my tour were great! They took such good care of me. Since the 6:30 spin class was full, they gave me a great alternative. They gave me a 20 visits punch card that will allow me to visit the gym 20 times, at any time I want. They got me into a spin class that starts in next week, and suggested I stay for a Zumba class today. Wow, was I impressed!

Since the Zumba class did not start till 6:30, I decided to spend a little time on the treadmill. This is my first timed experience on the treadmill since I have committed to the marathon. I did a walk/run combo for 20 minutes, with 4 minutes walks at 3.5mph and 2 minute runs at 5.5mph. It took me 14:45 to get in one mile. In my 20 minutes, I went 1.35 miles. I wish I would have had my new running shoes to try out. It is good to know I can easily do a mile in under 16 minutes. Now my task is to get faster and add to my distance!

My first in class Zumba experience was good. Zumba is a Latin-inspired, calorie-burning, dance party. It is a blend of red-hot international music that mixes dance and aerobics. The instructor, Maria, was very nice and keep the one hour class going. The class was a lot of fun, but I wish the intensity was higher. Being used to very high intensity Turbo Fire classes, Zumba was a breeze. It felt really good to have the others around me huffing and puffing, while I was sweating but still feeling really good. I really enjoyed the music and the choreography was fun. Would I recommend this class to other? Absolutely! Will I go back? Yes! Strictly Fitness was a great experience.

I can’t wait to try Spin next week. I will be back to let you know how it goes!

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Choosing a Good Running Shoes

This week, my mission was to find a good running shoe. If you remember, last week I wrote about these awful shin splints I got during my first run. I did some research online about shin splints and how to avoid them. What I found was a bit surprising. It seams I was wearing the wrong shoes! For my first run, I wore my Reebok Easytones. I have had these shoes for about a year and a half and have always liked them.

Once I discovered that my shoes may have caused my shin splits, I began researching about the importance of choosing the correct shoe when running. Wow! There is so much information out there about choosing a running shoe. From what I gathered, it seams that the most important thing you need to know when shopping for a running shoe is what type of foot you have. Foot types include:

Under pronating, or high arch

Neurtal pronating, or normal arch

Over pronating, or flat footed

Most running experts advise you to go to a shoe store and ask an expert in running shoes for help when choosing a shoe. So, that is just what I did.

I went to Dick’s Sports here in York, PA and met a really great salesperson who was very knowledgeable in running shoes. He asked me to take off my shoes and socks. He examined my feet and informed me that I have a neutral to over pronating foot. He then asked me if I can often feel the arch of my foot caving into my shoes as I walk. He was right on! The salesperson told me that I should choose a running shoe that offer really good arch support. He then recommended to me several shoes in many brands and prices. He showed me to look for a shoe with a two part sole, with built in arch support on the inside of the shoe and the outside. After trying on several pairs, I chose a winner!

My salesperson also mentioned the importance of finding a shoes that fits well…not to tight and not to loose. Trying a half size up in a running shoes was a good suggestion., so I tried on an 8.5 and a 9. He also checked to see if I need a wide width, which I did not. I ended up getting a pair of ASICS GT-2160 in a size 9. My trip to Dick’s was very informative and overall a great experience.

The last thing I learned about running shoes and wanted to share with you is that running shoes have a relatively short life. Most experts recommend you replace your running shoes at least every 400 miles. I am sure my Easytones have seen at least double that! Dick’s had an amazing pair of running shoes, the ASICS GEL KAYANO 17, but they were a bit out of my price range for now…but maybe they are just what I will need to finish the Marathon! Once I put some miles on my new ASICS GT-2160, I will let you all know what I think!

What has your experience been with running shoes? Is there any you would or would not recommend?

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy
　
If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Anchoring

Anchoring is a technique that can be used for your weight loss or training goals. When anchoring, you use a physical item or image to create a mental triggers to remind yourself of your goals. When sticking to your plan is tough, look to your anchor to bring you back to what is important to you.

To use this technique, you will chose an item that holds significant to you. As my anchor, I have chosen a cloth bracelet with the words princess printed on it, along with tiaras. This anchor holds importance to me because every time I look down at my wrist, I am reminded of the marathon and how important this goal is to me. Seeing my anchor keeps me motivated to workout and eat right.

Examples of an anchor can be a song, a photo, jewelry….anything that is significant to you. Connect to your anchor when you're having a hard day and it will remind you of your goals. Anchoring can help you achieve your goals by helping you remember what is important to you.

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy


If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Shin Splints!

So, I have been on my quest to transform from a pumpkin to a pretty princess for two weeks now!   To acheive this goal, I am doing Turbo Fire workouts at least five days a week, and following the weight watchers diet. 

Yesterday I did my first Marathon walking practice.  I walked on the sidewalks around my neighborhood.  I timed myself and used a pediometer.  My first time was:

9 minutes to walk .65 miles, doing the math, I would have walked 1.15 miles if I did all 16 minutes, but it was really cold outside.  

This makes me feel better about the pacing requirement.  Disney requires all participants to maintain a pace of 16 minutes per mile or better.  

The worst part of my week is these awful shin splints!  I felt fine after all the Turbo Fire workouts, but the walk around the neightborhood is what did it.  I have been doing some research on shin splits, and it seams I may need new shoes.  The shoes I wore for my walk were my year old and well worn Reebok Easytones.  I read they running shoes need to be replaced around every 400 miles, and that means mine are way overdue. I may be looking into getting new running shoes very soon.  

I am feeling really optimistic about my progress and my ablility to go from a pumpkin to a princess. 

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy