Everything in Moderation

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Freschetta. All opinions are 100% mine.

Since I've been on a journey to healthy living and lost 45 pounds people immediately assume that I deprive myself of good food. That is not true. I am a true proponent of everything in moderation. I certainly indulge and when I do, I go all the way. If I want to eat chocolate, I'll eat Godiva. If I want ice cream, I'll go to a specialty shop or eat a premium brand. I am a native New Yorker and New York is known for its pizza. Here in the South, it has been difficult to find good pizza and I generally don't eat it unless it is a brand found in the frozen food section or I make it myself. Before yesterday, I'd only had pizza once in the last six months and I crossed my fingers hoping that the Ferschetta roasted portabella, mushrooms and spinach pizza I was trying would be worth the indulgence.

I'd been sent a pizza kit from Freschetta and was excited to try it out. Unfortunately my pizza stone arrived broken but I decided to channel Tim Gunn and "make it work".

The pizza crust turned out nice and crispy and the taste of the pizza was truly delicious. To put it in context, because my husband is both lactose intolerant and doesn't like tomato sauce he rarely (if ever) eats pizza. He saw that the Freschetta pizza did not have a red sauce and he just couldn't resist the urge to try it. He absolutely loved it and believe me when I tell you that an endorsement from him is huge, he is an extremely picky eater.

So, my verdict is Freschetta knocked it out the box. I do not regret indulging in this pizza that rivals good New York pizza and the calories were totally worth it. At 310 calories a serving, 12 grams of protein and 11 grams of fat it actually is a great choice. I rounded out the meal with a nice salad and some fruit. This is certainly a meal that I will be repeating soon, probably tonight!

If you want to try Freschetta FlatBread you can visit the website for a $1.00 off coupon. I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as my family did!

Fashion Hauling at TJ Maxx

So far on my journey to healthy living I've lost 45 pounds. After carrying those extra pounds for a couple of years, my wardrobe is clearly in need of an overhaul. Lucky for me, the good folks at TJ Maxx/Marshall's decided to provide me with a giftcard to add some items to my wardrobe. The catch?

I had to choose an outfit inspired by the movie Sex and The City 2. Everyone that is a fan of SATC knows that the fashions make the movie. However, most of us with children don't have the budget to splurge on Manolos and Louboutins frequently, nor can we shop at Dior or Chanel. Like most moms, I do bargain shop and TJ Maxx is one of my favorite places to buy designer clothing at discounted prices. Armed with a $50.00 gift card, I went to TJ Maxx to find a SATC inspired outfit.

As usual, I blew my budget by finding a dress that was spectacular, reminiscent of Samantha and looked fabulous on me. At $59.00 the Calvin Klein dress was a bargain and just goes to show you don't need SATC money to look SATC fabulous!

The Incredible Shrinking Woman takes the Summer Shrink Challenge!

This week I've been on a hiatus of sorts. I've been reading books on my new iPad like it is going out of style, I've celebrated my son's birthday and enjoyed my family visiting from out of state. I've been relaxing my mind and my eating habits too. Having cake and ice cream in the house has triggered the "I love ice cream" area of my brain and I've had copious amounts of ice cream and cake over the past few days. Today that all ends. I have to get back on track with eating, the summer is just around the corner and I am running the Race and Relax 5k in about ten days. Plus, today marks the beginning of another challenge at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans - the shrink into summer challenge.

This morning I weighed in at 158.6 pounds. I am less than 10 pounds away from my goal and I think if I focus over the next few weeks, I will make it to 150. Sadly I've had a little glitch in my exercise this week, I have soreness in my left hip when I walk and it started on Monday evening after my run. I rested yesterday and iced my leg, I am hopeful that I'll be able to run this evening. If not, I'll just walk because I don't want to be idle. I am going to play it by ear because if walking is too much I may just resort to yoga (if I am able). I don't want to injure myself and be unable to exercise at all for the long term. I know rest is the best thing for me so if necessary, I will rest for the duration of this week and pick up my training next week before the race. I think if you'd told me last year at this time I'd be forcing myself not to exercise I would have thought you were crazy but here we are, I am saddened that I'm injured but know that healing will come quicker if I rest.

I keep reminding myself that this is a lifetime of health and fitness, a few days will not stop me from continuing the good habits that I've developed. I will just use this time to reflect and think about what new and lofty goals I can set for myself- like losing this last 8 and a half pounds!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Boy!

Three years ago today I gave birth to this adorable little boy. We are celebrating this momentous occasion today with a visit to the movies, the aquarium and of course the requisite birthday cake.


We are also celebrating the changes that my family has made to ensure that we all have more birthdays. As a member of the blogger advisory council for the American Cancer Society I have joined the movement for More Birthdays and my journey to healthy living, changing my diet and including exercise is helping me to be around for more of my son's birthdays. Tomorrow ACS celebrates its 97th birthday and I hope that you join the campaign too- make a difference in your life, today! Visit More Birthdays.com for more information. You can also create a birthday dance video at Birthday Dance.com

My mom is creating a world with more birthdays!

My aunt is creating a world with more birthdays!

Won't you join us and create a world with more birthdays too?

Polar FT60 Review - A Heart Rate Monitor and so much more

My first introduction to heart rate monitors (HRM) was in January when I attended the EA SPORTS Active retreat. During our hiking trip Gerard (the EA trainer) and my friend Christy both had heart rate monitors. The most impressive thing for me about these devices was the fact that they were able to accurately report the number of calories burned on the hike and Gerard's also told him the distance. Up until this point, I was only familiar with machines at the gym that calculate this information and EA SPORTS Active also does it - but it is an estimate because there is nothing that actually monitors the individual and levels of exertion are different.

I knew that at some point in the future a heart rate monitor was on my list of things to get. This tool would enable me to see how hard I am training, if I am training too hard or not hard enough, providing me with the information I need to train more effectively. Call it Kismet or fate but the stars aligned and I have been given the opportunity to try out a Polar Training Computer - FT60. Although this is my first foray into the world of HRM, I have to say that I love this little device. It is available in designs for men and women and in two colors, black and purple/lavender. I have the purple/lavender version and it is cute. So cute in fact, I can wear it around town without people wondering why I am wearing a clunky fitness watch! It isn't a small watch by any stretch of the imagination but the color and design make it very fashionable.

Cuteness factor aside, this training computer is functional too. It is paired with a chest strap that monitors your heart rate during workouts and provides the info to the wrist piece. To use the chest strap you must wet it and then put it on. I have found it to be extremely comfortable and I tend to forget I am wearing it. Before training with the FT-60 I took a fitness test which basically determined my level of fitness. Don't worry, it isn't an extensive test, you simply relax for five minutes while it does the calculations. I was happy to find that I am in very good shape, not elite yet but I'm on the way.

After taking the fitness test I had the option to choose three different types of goals - improve fitness, maximize fitness or lose weight. I've chosen the lose weight option and the computer provides me with weekly targets for calories burned, training time and intensity in each of the three training zones. At the end of the week I can check in and see if I've met or exceeded my goals. Although I haven't purchased a polar link - if I had one I could also upload this information to the free Polar website to keep a history of my efforts. As it stands, my wrist computer will keep up to 1000 workouts on file, I think that suits my purposes and I can always manually put the information on the site.

In addition to training zones, for each workout I am able to see my average and maximum heart rate, the number of calories burned and what area of my fitness I am improving. It also tracks the length of time of my workouts. There is a feature called Own Zone that I haven't utilized yet, but basically you do a fitness test and it makes an assessment on your best training range. This provides useful information to check in with during a training session. I honestly just forget to try this out but will do so later this week.

As I mentioned, the computer keeps tally of all my workouts and at the end of the week will give me information about my performance. My first full week ends on Sunday so I have yet to see this in action but I know that it will give me guidance on how hard to train the upcoming week, if I need to do a recovery week, if I need to train more or less, etc.



In addition to the basic features of the F60, I also am utilizing the optional S1 foot pod. This is a great tool because it helps me keep track of my training outdoors during my runs and walks. At the end of my workout I am told the average pace of my run (walk) and the maximum pace I achieved



as well as distanced traveled.



I LOVE this option. Although the pod itself looks large, it really doesn't weigh anything. I don't feel it at all and I wore it during my 5K run last weekend(in my excitement I forgot to turn it on but that is another story). The pod used triple A batteries so I can change it myself but I admit I had my husband help me because I had a little difficulty understanding the pictures for the battery installation. It also took a minute for me to get the food pod to work - to initiate the device you have to hold the on button for a few seconds until the light flashes green, somehow I missed that tidbit of information.

Overall, for my purposes the Polar FT60 coupled with the S1 foot pod is great. I love having feedback on both my daily workouts and my weekly workouts. I also like knowing that I will receive guidance on how to improve my training and at any point I can change my training goals. If you are in the market for a Heart Rate Monitor - plus some great features, I highly recommend the Polar FT60.

Disclosure: I received the Polar FT60 and the S1 Pod for this review but all of the opinions are 100% my own.

Every Day Fitness!

People always ask me how I find time to fit exercise in my daily schedule. If we are truly honest with ourselves, we have the time -it really is about finding the motivation to exercise. Remember, exercise does not require the latest greatest DVD or Wii fitness product. Find exercise in your regular daily routine.

For instance, today I planted a garden. This is major, I am far from a dirt person, I have no plants in my home and oh yes, I mean soil person. But. My mother had the brilliant idea to plant a garden with my son and has been talking about it with him for months. She is visiting for his birthday and today was planting day.

My mother is unable to be in the sun so I gave her the job of supervising our work. I decided to strap on my Polar training computer because I know that gardening is hard work and sure to burn off some calories. Clearing out the area where the "garden" (I use this term loosely because we have a tomato plant and added some snap peas, marigolds and a couple of carrots to the mix) is located took some work. I had to fight with weeds, rocks and of course Georgia red clay.

Mekhi had the time of his life - dirt, water and a trowel? Heaven for a three year old! Here are the fruits of our effort. For a first attempt I think that we did pretty well and this was more of an exercise to teach Mekhi about the cycle of life, hopefully something grows!

As far as the workout is concerned, after an hour of gardening I burned a formidable 122 calories. I will likely do a formal workout later today but even if I didn't, I'd be happy knowing I burned calories doing a household chore. Think about it, moving that vacuum, going up and down the staircase to do laundry and even chasing kids burns calories. If you have a HRM strap it on when you have a specific task and see how you do or put on your pedometer and see how many steps you take in a given day. You may surprise yourself and challenge yourself for the next time!

You can fit exercise in - every day chores count too!

What a difference a year makes!

Looking back to go forward.

All too often we criticise ourselves. We overlook our accomplishments and focus on what we have not done. Like most people, I too am guilty of this. I look at my jiggly thighs, arms and stomach and focus on how much further I have to go to get the body I know I deserve. I may celebrate my achievements but just for a brief moment before moving on to the next. As I sat in my bed reflecting on the past year, I decided to look at the photos on my facebook page. I do this sometimes when I need a reminder of just how far I've come on this journey to healthy living.

Although I became truly committed to losing weight and getting healthy in November 2009, I started thinking about it and doing things long before then. Perhaps the most public thing I did was be one of 12 challengers with EA SPORTS Active last April prior to the official release of the game. During that 30 day challenge I successfully lost 10 pounds. The picture above was taken before I started the challenge and honestly, I am not sure how much I weighed, I think I was about 200 pounds.

Today I am weighing in at 157.4 pounds. Over the last five months I've worked really hard at making this my way of life - I know I say this repeatedly but this is something I want everyone to understand. Unless living a healthy, active lifestyle becomes a way of life, you won't be successful. Losing weight for an event, for someone else, or because you are in the public eye never works over the long term.

I exercise and eat healthy now because I know the health benefits, I know that I am extending my life, I want to be the best me I can be. I am choosing me and refuse to revert to my old ways. I refuse to look like that woman in the picture on the left. I challenge myself to be as fit as the woman in the photo on the right for now and for always.

Quite a bit has changed over the last year for me - both on the outside and on the inside. After finally dealing with the emotional issues tied to my weight I've been able to overcome it, not for the short term but for the long haul. It is my hope that my journey can inspire others to take baby steps and make forward movement to reach their goals. If I can do it, anyone can do it.

My journey is just beginning and I have to ask if you haven't already done so, are you ready to begin yours?

Motivation

Apparently I sometimes make this healthy living thing look easy. It isn't easy. Making this commitment to healthy living has been a long journey that has now become a way of life for me. Like everyone, I struggle to find motivation to workout, as I type I am thinking about how I am going to fit in an hour cardio workout in my day. This is not something I "have" to do but I want to improve my health, run a faster 5K next time and even though I am not focusing on it - I'd like to lose the final few pounds to get to my goal weight.

In order for me to stay motivated I surround myself with like-minded people. Some I know in real life and others have no clue I exist. The participants on The Biggest Loser fall into that category. I have never met any of the individuals on The Biggest Loser but for this entire season I have watched them battle to save their lives. Every Tuesday I cheer for them in my family room and sometimes shed a tear. As I watch the scale move for them on a weekly basis, I keep my own expectations in check. These folks are making exercise and healthy living a full time job and their results are far from typical.

When I workout - especially with Jillian Michaels dvds I keep the challengers on The Biggest Loser in mind and think - if a 400 pound person can exercise and push their bodies to the limits, so can I! A couple of weeks ago they ran a 5k and that motivated me to push my race date up. I keep thinking of Darius and the fact that he ran the 5k in 17 minutes! 4 months of intense training, over 100 pounds lost and this young man has truly become an athlete!

Next Tuesday, May 25th is the season finale. The at home winner and the overall winner will be revealed. Although the competition is for money, I personally believe everyone on the show is a winner. Tonight, as usual, I will be live tweeting the show, but next week I am on a panel with Mamavation during the finale. If you plan on watching the season finale, join the party by signing up here.

I am sure I will shed more tears and be inspired. Shay, a competitor from last season will return for a weigh-in and will be rewarded by Subway for all of her hard work. They pledged to give her $1000 for every pound shed, I can't wait to see how she well she has done. Her story and the stories of all the people on The Biggest Loser motivate me on a daily basis. I also carry the memory of what I used to look like and use that as motivation too. What is your motivation? What will get you off of that couch and truly invested in you?

Mission Accomplished!

On Saturday I ran my first 5k in years. Unfamiliar with kilometers? Well, 5k is equal to 3.1 miles. This is a great distance for beginning runners, training for 6-9 weeks you should be able to do this distance, it is just long enough to run but you can get away with walking the entire distance too. I trained for the race for about 3 weeks BUT I have been exercising consistently for five or six months now and many years ago I was a runner. My body has felt good and when I did a long run on Wednesday I felt great. When I woke up Saturday morning I had tons of energy so I cleaned my room (actually I thought the a/c repair man was going to have to come into my room so I wanted it to be presentable- ahem). I later tried on different running outfits and no it was not a fashion show but we were running in skirts and I wanted to look cute and have a functional outfit.

I settled on my skirt with leggings and a tank top it had to be at least 86 degrees and I wanted to be unrestricted and cool as possible on my run. I arrived at the park about an hour and a half before the race began to pick up my microchip that records race time. That took no time at all so my husband and I walked around the park and chatted about the other runners. We saw some folks that looked ready to win the race and were gearing up with sprints beforehand. I watched as folks trotted by while I found a comfortable spot beneath trees to relax in. Race time came quickly and at the start line a childhood survivor of cancer spoke to us and thanked us for our participation in the race. A portion of the proceeds were going to the Rally foundation which conducts childhood cancer research. The young woman gave a very moving testimony and it definitely helped put everything in perspective.

About five minutes later the race began and we were off. I'd like to say it was easy but that would be a lie. It was hot as Hades out there and I felt the difference in my run immediately. I completed the first mile at a 9 minute pace but quickly slowed down as the heat overtook me. Although I hadn't planned on stopping at the water station, I had to because by mile 1.4 I was hot and thirsty. I changed my running plan from running the entire distance to running and walking up hills - I guess I could have pushed it but when it seemed like I could walk faster than I could run it made sense to just walk.

In this race the women had a 3 minute lead and men started catching up to me at about mile 1. Many of them were just racing by but this one guy was clearing having trouble. As he trotted beside me he grunted the entire way. I heard all of this because my iPhone app malfunctioned and I didn't have my music to motivate me. Next race I am just going to make a playlist on my iPod and keep it moving. Running in silence I kept my pace by listening to my breathing and the other folks huffing and puffing around me. By the time I reached the last hill of the race I decided to run for it, I knew the race was almost over because I was familiar with the course.

Church bells were ringing so I knew it was 6 o'clock and I hadn't finished the race in 30 minutes but I was so close I pushed it. As I viewed the finish line and clock in the distance I ran downhill in perfect form (I know this because my husband made fun of me and said watching me run he could hear Chariots of Fire playing in the background!) and crossed the finish line before the two men that were running by my side.


I immediately walked to the refreshment stand to get something to drink, it was funny because all during the race my bladder was protesting but when the race was over I no longer had the urge to pee. Perhaps it was nerves but next time no drinking for me during the last hour before a race!

After my husband found me I got a icy cold beer and a chipoltle veggie sandwich.

I drank the beer and ate the sandwich- happy but a little disappointed that I didn't run the entire race. I changed my tune and decided to just be happy that I finished the race and now have a goal to run the entire time for the next one. My official time - 32.08 and I ran at a 10:21 pace.

Overall I am excited that I finished the race, I was far from exhausted and I will continue to train for the next one. 6 months ago I doubt I could have run five minutes - the weight was just too much for my body to bare and now, I am running races and looking forward to it. Sometimes I forget how far I have truly come and have to remind myself to celebrate the victories. And this 5k was indeed a victory!

Running - In a Skirt!

photo credit: skirt sports website

I am known for my spontenaity. When I was single I used to plan impromptu trips when the mood hit me and travel to interesting places on a whim. As a wife and a parent I don't have the flexibility to just go when I want to but that impetuousness still lives in me. Remember when I mentioned I was going to run a 5K in June? And it is May? Well, tomorrow I am running a 5K. I tried on a running skirt at the running store where I was fitted for my shoes on Monday and although I loved the skirt, I didn't love the pricetag.

When I got home I did some research and found out about this race on Saturday, which includes a running skirt with the price of the registration - part of the proceeds from the race are going to research for childhood cancer so of course that is another big selling point for me!

At the moment I am feeling nervous anticipation. This is my first 5K in years and although I ran for 35 minutes on Wednesday, I am still nervous. Of course I want to do something with this energy. I feel compelled to exercise, running is not an option but I feel like moving! I know I should rest so I am just going to count down the minutes until I pick up my race packet this afternoon. In the meantime, I will tell you about the race - it is called the Skirt Chaser 5K.

The Skirt Chaser is a 5k race series that was founded by Nicole DeBroom, a well-known triathlete and creator of Skirt Sports, a fitness apparel company for women. The biggest seller is the fitness skirt - yes, running in a skirt! Tomorrow I will join thousands of other women running in skirts. This is the one that I am going to wear.
Isn't it cute? I don't like to wear shorts when I run so this is a great alternative for me. I purchased this one(kinda defeats the purpose of running the race for the skirt, right?) because I wasn't sure how short the registration skirt was going to be. Since I'm a bit shy about my legs, I decided to get the capri skirt for my personal comfort.

In this race all of the women get a 3 minute head start on the men and the first person to cross the finish line wins $500. I am not delusional enough to believe I have a chance in hell of winning, a win for me means running the entire 3.1 miles, but I do hope with a three minute lead a woman does win the race. Once we cross the finish line we will be treated to a block party with food, drinks and entertainment. I cannot wait!

This race is a series and may be coming to a town near you - you can check the website for more information. After the race I will let you know how I did and how I liked running in a skirt. Wish me luck!

Operation Weight Loss - Week 23! The Incredible Shrinking Woman (Video Post)

Milestones! Today I hit two milestones and I am literally jumping for joy! This morning when I got on the scale it read 158.8. 158.8! I haven't been in the 150s since 2001- maybe. It has been a long time and I am in better health now then I was back then. Amazing!

Today I also ran my longest run in years. I put on my new running shoes - Nike Air Pegasus, with insoles for support and I took off. I ran the course for the "Skirt Chaser" 5K on Saturday. I can't wait to get my first running skirt and this race celebrates women runners - that run in skirts! It looks like a fun race, especially since at the end there is a block party with food and drinks. Now that is my type of run, what a way to celebrate.

I'm still on the fence about running but I think I will probably do it - and take photos of course. I ran the route this morning and it has a few challenging hills but it was totally manageable, I ran for 35 Minutes straight - 35 minutes! I haven't done that in at least 5 years. I am very proud of my progress so far and look forward to my first race in that same period of time.

To help with my training, I am now the proud owner of a Polar heart rate monitor. It has a pod to attach to my running shoes so I can track my distance. I will try that out and let you know how I like it. I am so excited about this running thing and will keep you posted on my progress.

Two milestones in one day, I am ECSTATIC!!!

Fruits and Veggies

Although I've been on a journey to healthy living, including healthy eating of course, the members of my family have not quite jumped on board. Both my son and husband are more than willing to exercise we are all on the same page there but eating is an entirely different issue. The littlest member of our household is a VERY picky eater. I've talked about this numerous times because it does disturb me. Luckily, I can get him to eat fruit but vegetables are an entirely different thing. Not too long ago my husband discovered V-Fusion, a drink that contains an entire days worth of fruits and vegetables. Of course, I would prefer my family get their nutritional needs met directly from the source but my husband tasted the Blueberry version of V-Fusion and was hooked.

He even showed me the label and suggested giving Mekhi juice since he is so finicky. I still encourage my son to eat fruits but we struggle with veggies so if his dad gives him V-Fusion I don't have a problem with it. When I was contacted about checking out the new V-Fusion available in the can I immediately said yes because my family are fans. I personally don't drink it (call me greedy but I prefer to eat my calories, thank you very much!) but everyone else does and the cans are the perfect size to take along on outings.

I was sent this great lightweight insulated picnic basket, the book Mom's Guide To Meal Makeovers , cans of the V-Fusion, 2 beach towels and a frisbee. Presumably this package is for a day at the beach but given that Atlanta is landlocked we just enjoyed all the goodies at home and threw the frisbee around in the backyard.

I've given Mekhi a can when we are traveling in the car or out and about in town and he drinks it up. You'll notice there are no blueberry cans in the photo - my husband drank those immediately!

The good folks at V-8 want you to try it too and one of my lucky readers will win a basket like the one above.

GIVEAWAY

V-8 V-Fusion Picnic Beach Basket filled with 16 cans of V-fusion, 2 beach towels, frisbee, Cookbook.

Please leave a separate comment for each method of entry!

Mandatory Entry: All you have to do is tell me how servings of fruits and veggies you eat a day.

Extra Entries:

Tweet this contest - Enter to win V-8 V-fusion gift basket on Cutie Booty Cakes @reneejrosshttp://bit.ly/biMg1X

2. Subscribe for email updates (if you are already a subscriber leave a comment too). You must confirm your subscription! Please respond to the email that you receive.

Enter your email address:

If you already subscribe just let me know in the comments.

Good Luck!

This contest is open until Monday, May 14th at 9:00PM EST. Open to entrants in the US and Canada only.

Happy Mother's Day!

Today I am going to brunch and I may just go shopping for some new clothes - thanks to my son and husband! Whatever I do, I am going to enjoy this wonderful day set aside just for me. If you are a Mother, I wish you a Happy Mother's Day! Relax, you deserve it!

A Way of Life

The other day a friend of mine asked me to talk about changes that have occurred during my journey to healthy living that are not weight related. I think this is something that a lot of people struggle with. Many times we determine our success by what the scale says but there are so many more indicators of the changes - from wearing smaller sizes to having more energy for playing with kids or just having a more positive outlook on life. Endorphins are well-known mood lifters and at the end of a great workout we generally feel energized - tired, but energized!

The largest change that has occurred for me that is not based on the scale has to do with physical fitness and the role that it plays in my life. Although I may not want to exercise everyday, it is rare for me to go more than two days without exercise. Exercise has become a constant in my life, it is almost as natural as breathing. As much as I sometimes hate to do it, I am compelled to move my body.

No longer can I sit on the couch on my computer for days on end without moving. My commitment to moving my body has rubbed off on other people too. Now when I plan on getting together with friends, I often suggest physical activity - my friend Diquita (pictured above) and I regularly meet to walk/run with our children. We use the time to exercise and catch up with each other and although things sometimes come up, we meet at least once a week and are working on making it 3 times.

I talk to my girlfriend Chiquita about running a 5K together. She is further along in her running than I am but she can help push me to be better. We haven't coordinated a race together yet but it is in the works. Meanwhile, as I prepare for the Race and Relax 5k event in June, I am getting inspired to push myself.

I've had running shoes professionally fitted (a must) and realized I spent money on a pair of sneakers that I was told were running shoes but are not! Now I have the right equipment for my feet and tomorrow I face my longest run - 25 minutes. I am going to run the entire time and I am running the route for a 5K that is this Saturday. Depending on how I do, I may just register for the race, or not, just completing the loop equals success for me.

My life has changed dramatically and I can't imagine living my life any other way. People may say I make it sound easy but once I developed the habit of exercising, saw my body changing and felt better overall, I push myself, even on days that I don't want to because I am doing the best thing I can for me. Loving myself - being healthy and influencing others.

Luna and Stella

Mother's Day is fast approaching and in my house it has always been a success when I've given my husband guidance on what I would like for a gift. My son is still too young to get the whole "Mother's Day" idea but when he is older I will be more than happy to receive breakfast in bed made by his two little hands.

In the meantime, I send Daddy emails with links to things that I like. Enter Luna and Stella jewelry. This jewelry is customized with birthstones that represent your child(ren), husband, partner, etc. The founder of the company Suzanne sent me a ring with my son's birthstone and I plan on adding a ring with my husband's too.

This is a great gift for Mother's Day and if your husband needs prodding just send him a link to Luna and Stella, I really like the new eternity stackable ring and the moon pendant is beautiful too. Your personalized order will be ready in five days - I know that receiving a note in a card that my Luna and Stella jewelry is on the way would make me smile!

Check them out, I think you will find it both beautiful and affordable.

Disclosure: I received a ring to represent my son's birthday but all opinions are 100% my own.

Before and After from size 16 to size 8 (video post)

I've been thinking quite a bit about my journey to healthy living. I realize that I need to take a moment to celebrate my personal success. I may not have reached my goal weight of 150 pounds but I have come so far and feel like I've accomplished so much that I am stopping to smell the coffee, here and now. Please take a moment to watch my video, I am wearing my size 8 jeans!



In my video I am holding a bottle of Mommy's Time Out wine (we can all use a time out) and given that today is National Mom's Night Out I feel drinking it is appropriate. I will drink a glass to celebrate being a mom and also taking the time to focus on my needs. So often as parents (especially mothers) we get lost in the shuffle of ensuring everyone in our family is taken care of and forget about ourselves.

Although I may not be able to attend my planned Mom's Night Out activity tonight, I will be popping the cork on my Mommy's Time Out wine and toasting to myself and all the other moms out there.

I have not been on this journey alone, I hope along the way I've inspired others as much as I've been inspired by having everyone as my accountability partners. Today I thank you, celebrate Moms and all of the efforts that we make. Please take a moment today to celebrate with me -I am lifting a virtual glass in your honor too!