Sharing 20 of YOUR Tips for Healthy Eating

I'm getting a slow start to 2019 with regard to health and fitness goals. And if you've read here for a while, you know that I often struggle with healthy eating (despite loving healthy food!). I get caught up in my hobby of baking and end up in a cycle of homemade sweets, bread, and -- now -- sourdough bread. I don't want to give up on baking entirely, but I do need to find a way to get back to healthier eating. Not so much for the number on the scale . . . but because I just feel so full and sluggish.

Here are the tips you guys sent me yesterday. My criteria was that I don't want to go all or nothing when it comes to food. I don't want to label foods "good" or "bad" . . . and I want to continue doing some of my baking. You guys delivered some great tips, and here are the 20 that were most shared.

Start the day with a huge glass of water

Resist eating sugar -- even fruit sugar -- at breakfast

Read the book Intuitive Eating

Eat way more protein

Skip alcohol for a while

Choose one meal to focus on and go from there

Only bake bread + desserts on weekends

Drink more water throughout the day, especially before meals

Prep meals on weekends for the whole week

Pack lunch the night before to resist daytime snacking

Stop buying all processed foods

Eat meals on smaller plates

Split lunch up to avoid crashing mid-afternoon

Fill half your dinner plate with vegetables

Roast a large pan of veggies and refrigerate for easy grabbing

Stop eating at 7PM and don't eat again till 7AM

Try sweet potatoes + other whole carbs vs. bread

Eat more healthy fats

Choose fruits that are lower glycemic (cherries, apples, etc.)

Even if it's hard, stick with it for 21 days to make a habit

THANK YOU for all your advice. 

If you, too, are struggling, I hope these tips are helpful to you. I'm sure many of you are in the same place I am . . . we KNOW what to do, it's just a matter of actually getting back into the rhythm. I'm going to check back with you all in 21 days to see how things are going. My main goal is to get in more protein, drink WAY more water, and fill most meals with vegetables. 

(But I also hope to expand my sourdough baking skills this month. I'll just try saving that activity for weekends only. Also: Image source.)

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Why I Finally Ditched the Scale

You guys have been telling me for years to stop nitpicking my weight. In theory, I wanted to -- really, I did. I'd go 3-6 months at a time without stepping on a scale. Then, I hop on and get frustrated with the number I saw. It's no wonder I felt this way, especially given my history with an eating disorder. As I look back at posts I've written in the past, I can definitely see where I've defended the many "reasons" why I wanted to keep track of my weight. And some still make sense to me.

Still, it's been over 6 years since I've eliminated or restricted foods as part of my disorder. If I've learned anything from healing, it's that it's a gradual process . . . not a clearcut end. For me, the scale continued to taunt me week after week. Though I wanted nothing to do with being High School Skinny, I'll admit that for a long time I felt great at certain numbers and not-so good at others.

I think about this now especially as I approach the possibility of another pregnancy. I was at a very lean "happy weight" before getting pregnant with Ada. I look back and see how coming off marathon training, eating extremely clean foods on a predictable schedule, and having most of my free time to myself to exercise and otherwise move. It was all totally in my favor.

As a now 30-something, my metabolism has certainly changed -- noticeably, but so has my desire to spend all my free time on my body. I still look (and weigh, at least as of my last physical) pretty much how I did at 6 months postpartum. Over time, the not-getting-back has bothered me less and less. I look back at my quest to return to pre-pregnancy size and cringe. I look and feel totally fine at my current size and shape!

Instead, I like being the Ashley who can easily run 10 miles on a Monday night, not because I'm training for anything, but -- just because. I love being the Ashley who can get equally an amazing endorphin feel from simply walking an hour the next day. The kind of Ashley who can bake a batch of cookies and not count the calories or care if they have some sugar or fat in them. The Ashley who no longer labels food as "good" or "bad" or whatever else. And, yeah. I like being the Ashley who can go about my day without having it influenced by a silly number, whether the scale or size in my jeans.

It took me a REALLY long time to get to this point.

And this isn't to say I don't still have my moments. I have a closet full of clothes that are just a bit too small for me. I'm finally getting rid of them versus holding on hoping I'll someday return to my previous sizes. Lose those last 10 pounds that never stayed off my frame. It does occasionally bug me when I think about how all my healthy living isn't working quite the way it used to. At the same time, it most definitely IS working! I'm capable of so much and continue to smash PRs and keep active.

I just wanted to share because I have reached this new milestone in my healing process, and I'm excited about it. I didn't know if I'd ever get to this point. Yet, here I am!

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Pinning Some Blame on Spinning

So, I gained back that pound I had lost last week. But, honestly -- with everything that was going on with Ada, I wasn't trying very hard to whittle down. In fact, I definitely ate one of those frosting-filled sandwich cookies in pure jubilation Tuesday afternoon. Sometimes we need that stuff. Or at least I'm still in a place where I am using food to celebrate, perhaps more than I should.

Some great news: I got in an amazing long run after that conflicted hot yoga class that took me out for a couple days -- so I was feeling great on the fitness spectrum, extra 7 pounds on my frame or not. 10 weeks till the half marathon! My 1:40-ish goals seems somewhat in reach.

Maybe. Possibly?

I can't believe I didn't think about this until last night. I only recently started weighing myself after a long hiatus. And, yes, I weigh a bit more, my pants are definitely tighter, which is why I weighed myself in the first place. So, let's think. What -- if anything -- has changed about my health + fitness regimen in the last several months?

Regular indoor cycling! (Here's details + tricks for how I do it at home.)

I'm taking part in an actual coached half marathon plan for my May race, and there's an emphasis on XT that I haven't really taken on before as seriously as I am now. I gladly saddle up on the bike to get in 45 minutes to an hour of 150-160 BMP type riding once a week because, in my experience, it actually helps me run faster. And I've even added a few 30-minute sessions every now and again for good measure/extra activity in these cold winter months.

This photo is ancient.

2010 ancient.


You may have seen last month's news from Gwyneth Paltrow's trainer about how cycling is making us fat. It's misleading, though, because she's mostly saying that all cardio and no solid resistance training (weights, kettlebells, etc.) can be a recipe for stalling out. And that "fat" is most likely bulk in the legs/thighs due to added, awesome muscle (because spinning DOES provide resistance that running does not).

ETA -- clarification, I in NO WAY agree with the person interviewed that muscle bulk is fat or bad or anything negative. I was actually surprised to see it described this way, and somewhat outraged.

So maybe that's IT. Or at least part of IT.

The "struggle" that is really just irksome more than anything else, but I'll take muscle weight, that's cool. You guys have had such thoughtful comments about this latest quest of mine to "get back" to a certain weight, and I think it's understandable that some of you are frustrated/concerned that I care at all about the number on the scale. Honestly, I'm not fixated as much as it may seem, but writing things down in a blog can sure make it seem that way.

I focus on weight, the silly number, because it's an easy, quantifiable ways to gauge what's going on. I may find out in the end that I just can't get down to what I weighed before I had Ada. In which case, all these small tweaks and dietary modifications will be purely for my health -- and I'm cool with that. Mostly, I've been on a diet of pizza and beer, and it's a small way I can work toward eating better and feeling better.

Still, I do think checking weight can serve a purpose, at least from time to time. As someone with an eating disorder in her past, I certainly try to keep these methods to a minimum. Which is one reason I don't do calorie counting. I don't want to get High School Skinny or anything like that.


// MOVE MORE

Between running 4-5 days a week, cycling 1-2 days a week, and doing some yoga -- I think exercise is going well. We finally bought a kettlebell, so I'd like to start doing 1-2 days a week of a 30 or so minute workout with it to supplement, along with getting back into my bodyweight strength routine.

// DRINK LESS

I haven't had beer or wine during the week, and I'm feeling really good about it. In the winter, I tend to forget to drink as much water, so I'm usually operating on a small level of dehydration, which alcohol just exacerbates. So, I've been waking up in the morning feeling much clearer-headed. I love that feeling. I still need my nice, tall dark beer on the weekend, and I'm looking forward to celebrating Stephen's 30th on Saturday!

// CHALLENGE MY BODY

Thankfully the snow has melted, so I'm going to be able to get in a solid fartlek and hill workout this week. My long run showed me that all those weeks of slugging along in the snow weren't for nothing. I've still retained my usual pace and may have even become a stronger runner through my hardcore outdoor running attempts in slush.

// ADD MORE VEGGIES

I showed you guys a glimpse into some of the cheap foods we eat in winter this week -- and beyond that, I've been eating lots of veggies. I have a great recipe I'm hoping to share tomorrow that involves a bunch of roasted veggies in a burger . . . with enough extra the next night or two to make quesadillas and even soup!

// SKIP DESSERT (ON OCCASION)

I found an 85% dark chocolate that I love, and I've been sticking with a bar or two of that versus lots of baked goods for the last couple weeks. It's satisfying and I'm also getting all those awesome benefits of chocolate -- of which there are many.

// WEAR REAL CLOTHES

With recording all those fun videos for my new YouTube channel, I've been putting on more makeup and dressing up more. It's sort of an added benefit of the whole thing, which is great! I'll take it.

// WRITE IT DOWN

Nope. I didn't write anything down this week. But you guys have told me that even a simple paper account of my eating/exercise will show me little areas for improvement and opportunity. So, I'm going to try to get on that soon.

Alright. Check-in time! 

How are your diet/fitness goals going?

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Blaming My Weight Gain On My Family

I mean, I'd like someone else to blame besides myself when it comes to these extra 7 pounds I'm carrying around. Yesterday I may have discovered I lost one whole pound over the course of a week, but the scale bounces back every other day it seems. (Which is why I hate using it to measure in the first place. PS: Have you seen this 5 pounds of fat versus muscle photo?)

OK. So, one of the hardest parts about trying to lose weight now versus when I was younger is -- as mentioned in the title -- having a family. Well, having a husband was enough, too -- but now I'm responsible for making sure my toddler's belly is full with good foods at all meals. I no longer stock the refrigerator entirely for myself. I don't cook meals just for me. I can't necessarily eat meals when I feel like eating or shift according to my particular schedule on any given day. Or cater randomly to my own mood or feelings.

Yeah. Call me a whaaambulance. But balancing food, diet, and family is difficult.

Don't you agree?

When I was working outside the home, I had control over my breakfast and lunch because I ate these meals alone for the most part. I had a good, no, great routine down and certain go-to meals that worked, but since I started working from home (Video), this has all changed. I now cook almost all our meals -- save breakfast -- with the entire family in mind.

Stephen runs over 50 miles a week, along with some intense cross-training, so he eats like a college athlete and is rail thin. And somehow I'm surprised when I match his eating and gain weight. Hmmm. Ada, on the other hand, goes every other day with being super picky and I feel like I often spend much more energy paying attention to what she's eating and neglecting my own plate in the process. However, unlike a common mistake a lot of moms make, I'm not forgetting to eat. Quite the opposite. I grab whatever is most convenient and filling and pleasurable to fill my stomach and move onto the next task.

And with being so busy and distracted, I've also allowed my mental energy at meals to dwindle. I find myself rushing through meals, even when Stephen and I get a chance to head out to eat ourselves. The food is gone in two seconds flat because I'm so used to shifting my attention to the next thing. Food has truly become fuel, and I guzzle whatever gives me the most energy, even if it's candy.

It sounds like a bunch of excuses and I know I could be managing it better. I think it was important for me to pinpoint the whole family thing as an issue, though. Now I can try and move past it. So far, my non-dieting methods are working OK. I can't say I've been able to stick with all of them, but here's a check-in:

// Move More: 

I did three 30-minute moderate intensity bike rides in addition to my running last week. They were at a pace that would be similar to a brisk walk. I think it helped me not only get my body moving to burn some calories, but also got my energy up through nothing more than additional activity. So far this week, I haven't been doing as well, so maybe I'll get on that today.

// Drink Less: 

Geez.

It was a holiday weekend, and I feel whenever Stephen is home, it's not a weekday . . . even if it's, say, Monday. I would like to limit drinking to one drink maybe twice a week. But I definitely had drinks 3 or 4 nights in a row, probably because I was solo nervous about Ada's MRI. Back to sparkling water for me this week. I notice a huge difference in bloat even from just one drink.

// Challenge My Body:

I did a great interval workout last week, but then we got another snow storm, so it was difficult to get in some harder workouts running-wise. Once the clouds parted, I did head out and do a challenging hill-repeat workout on the snow-covered sidewalks/roads. It wasn't as fast as I would have normally done it, but I was proud of myself for doing the hills and not skipping them and making excuses regarding weather. I ran 29 miles outside last week.

// Add More Veggies:

I definitely did a good job with this one. I like making lunches using frozen veggies and topping with eggs. That's a really easy way to do it. Otherwise, if we made pizza, we topped it heavily with vegetables. And I put a nice dose of greens on the side of most meals last week. Adding more protein for breakfast has helped my mornings, though.

// Skip Dessert (On Occasion):

I did OK for a couple days, but then I was back again with those "healthy" Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites . . . and that sort of did me in. I need to work on this area this week. I used to make chocolate greek yogurt, like this "recipe" here, and maybe that will be my new go-to, at least for a while.

// Wear Real Clothes: 

Yup. It's not as comfortable, but wearing my jeans and regular shirts sure does keep me aware of how my body feels. I'd be lying if I told you I like wearing my real clothes right now. They are tight and actually put me in a bad mood. I wish I could be more motivating and positive about my current body image, but it's the truth.

// Write it Down:

I started the week trying to track some stuff using MyFitnessPal, but honestly -- I don't like entering numbers. I get too caught up in it -- so I stopped. Instead, I think I might try something written out versus on the computer. I like the idea of this weight chart and a little incentive system (yeah, apparently we use bribes for Ada . . . and I think they might work for me, too!).

POUNDS LOST: Looks like 1 lb in a 1 week. At least that seems sustainable.

Are you trying to lose weight? How is it going for you?

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Sustainable Fitness: Fitting It In

One of the hardest parts about completing workouts and, therefore, keeping fitness consistent and sustainable is finding time. Our days fit together like puzzle pieces, and those jigsawed edges are constantly morphing depending on a number of life factors. No matter what, we all need to assess our unique situations to form some realistic expectations and be sure to take care of ourselves first and foremost.

Finding time and desire to move often requires adaptability and creativity. We can forge paths to the places we want to go with our fitness goals -- even big goals. But it's not always simple or straightforward.

I think we all can relate that sometimes fitting in exercise is easy. When the weather is nice and the sun lights the sky for long stretches, those hours for activity seem infinite. Everything feels brighter and lighter, even the number on the scale slides in our favor. Our motivation is boosted in all regards. We move more because it feels good -- and -- a body in motion tends to stay in motion.

Then there are those darker periods of time when work or home or other extenuating circumstances get in the way. When it's cloudy and icy and beyond frigid almost every single day. No one loves going out in that mess. We skip exercise one day -- and -- it somehow landslides into the following week or even month. Hibernation feels good at first, but eventually it manifests in this nagging emotional weight + makes us feel stagnant.

The good news: I strongly believe that most people can fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, not matter the time of year or level of stress or busy schedule at work or insanity at home.

The tricky part: It takes effort -- and that doesn't always feel good/comfortable/worth it.

+     +     +     +     +     +     +

// GET UP EARLY

I think one of the most commonly shared tips for fitting in regular exercise is setting the alarm clock earlier. How far back is up to you, but even 45 minutes could allow you to exercise and shower before you start your day. It's not always fun to transition to morning workouts, but -- from personal experience -- it can be done.

Just make sure to get enough sleep and adjust on the going-to-bed side accordingly. And if you're waking up super early and still plan to do some serious moving, you'll want to eat something so you don't bonk halfway through your workout!

// USE YOUR LUNCH

If you know your day is going to be crazy, a simple walk during lunch can do the trick. I've had a variety of work situations, from working on a campus with awesome trails to working in an industrial park where I walked indoors, etc.

A walk usually doesn't work up too much of a sweat, but if you have shower facilities (or can go home!), you could even do some more intense stuff like running or biking. Just be sure to pack a portable/simple lunch so you don't skip your nutritional needs for the mid-afternoon.

// UTILIZE ALL OPTIONS

We used to be members of a gym, so working out whenever childcare was offered helped tremendously. You may have that option -- and it's worth going through a potentially rocky transition to earn it. Otherwise, consider swapping childcare or asking the grandparents or other relatives to watch children.

If you don't have children, think about walking/biking/running to work. There are a number of ways to find time or reasons to move no matter your stage of life. I'm sure you spent enough time thinking, you might discover some awesome opportunity you never considered before.

// BECOME A NIGHT OWL

I actually prefer working out at night. I always have. After all tasks seem completed for the day, lace up and head out for a jog around your neighborhood (here are some tips for running in the dark). Or after you put the kids to bed, pop in an exercise DVD from Jillian's Shreds to Barre to Yoga.

Stephen even does core and body weight exercises in the late evening because they're quiet and contained. When I exercise in the later evenings, I eat a lighter dinner and then munch on more after I've completed my training.

// SWAP ACTIVITIES

Ever notice how much time you might waste on social media? Consider cutting that out for even a week and see how much time it frees up. Or do you have a TV habit? If you don't think you have time to exercise, examine what IS taking up your time first before you restate it as fact. We all engage in things that suck time away from us . . . it's just a matter of identifying what these activities are an shifting accordingly.

// WRITE OUT A SCHEDULE

One of the more frustrating parts in my own experience is balancing out my goals/workouts with Stephen's. He's at a higher level and, as such, runs many more miles/hours than I do each week. Since I work in the mornings and we quit our gym membership -- we're sometimes at odds with who gets to run first and who gets the priority when it comes to time.

So, we worked out a schedule where we've both had to compromise. Long runs sometimes happen on Saturdays or Mondays depending on who is racing or wants to go with the group that week. Stephen might want to do some hard workouts every single day, but has decided to keep it between 5-6 so I can get my 4-5 and we can still eat dinner together. It's such a balancing act and can be hard to figure out -- but it's worth the effort!

// LOAD YOUR WEEKENDS

Another option is to exercise more when you have larger chunks of time to devote. For a lot of people, this means the weekends. Say you need to skip a lot of days during the week due to a project for work or other responsibilities. Start making Saturday mornings your gym ritual. Spend time doing cardio and weights. Maybe add a yoga class for stretching, too. You can also simulate gym stuff at home with DVDs.

Or do an extra long run or ride, provided you've worked your way up to whatever the distance is already (to avoid injury). In other words, take advantage of the time you do have and move the most you can with it. Just be sure to get in at least one or two shorter workouts in the week to balance things out.



How do you find time to move?

If you're catching up:

#1: Sustainable Fitness: Assessing Your Unique Situation
#2: Sustainable Fitness: Redefining Success
#3: Sustainable Fitness: Thinking Holistically

Automatic Healthy Eating Tips:

#1: Stock up on frozen veggies 
#2: Buy greens and actually USE them 
#3: Create simple, go-to meals
#4: Learn to love alternatives
#5: Prep, Make, and Store
#6: Add In: Convenience to your advantage
#7: Eliminate Food Waste
* 20 Ideas for Make-Ahead Meals

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Healthy Living Celebration: We Want Your Stories!

Those of you have been reading us for a while might remember our Healthy Living Celebration -- featuring FITspirational stories of self-made athletes and others who used real-life wake-up calls to change their lives for the healthier. It's been a while since we've accepted new stories for this series, but we've missed hearing from you.

Good news, though! We're looking to get the fun started again.

If you missed 'em the first time, you can get caught up on these stories now:

• Laura overcame her eating disorder to embrace exercise.
• Josie quit being a quitter to get healthier and fitter.
• Chrissy found her inner athlete and rolled her way to running.
• The Nerdy Runner learned to love whole foods and marathons despite her busy schedule.
• Ashley (yes -- that's ME!). Enough third person. I share part one of my healthy living story: How I understood health as a child and struggled to find my way.
• Maissa became the gazelle of her dreams, falling head-over-heels for running.
• Jen embarked on an awesome journey from being overweight to in-charge of her health.
• Amy went from curling up on the couch to, well, CURLING!
• Brittany used to hate the gym. Then she found she had a thing for yoga.
• Karen went from restricting to living the healthy life through running and vegetarianism.
• In Part II of my Healthy Living story, I tell you all how I fell in love with running.
• Alysa overcame disordered eating habits/self-image and found a strength she never thought she had through running and yoga.
• Jenna went from letting herself go . . . to being ON the go with her cute Collie/Lab pooch.
• Maddie's fitspiration started at Lululemon and continues with half marathon training.
• Jen danced her way healthy with Zumba . . . and keeps it up with running and eating whole foods!
• Kerri ran/walked her way through a couch-to-5K program and is now eying 10Ks and half marathons!
• Nina went from smoking and starving to running and stretching.
• Samantha is learning to find balance with diet and exercise, embracing healthy habits.
• Rowena suffered through a crash and found there's more to health than fitting into THE dress.
• Jessica learned there's no such thing as a "real" runner and rocked a half marathon!
• Marike never thought she'd be a runner. Now she can't see life any other way!
• Loving Myself writes about her struggle with exercise anorexia and how her friends helped her heal.
• Ariel went from gym-obsessed and drained to running with a smile.
• Laura learned to love whole foods and running, as well as the healthy living community!
• Alison took a leap of faith and started running. Her goal? Run the Chicago Marathon!
• Kati went from eating crap and hating gym class to biking 100K and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
• Jenn went from living rules and restrictions to loving the healthy life.

Over the next couple months, we'll be featuring up to 20 new healthy living stories from our readers. If you'd like to submit your own post, here's all you need to do:

1. Write up a thoughtful story about what made you want to be fit. What inspired you to eat more healthfully. What sport you thought you could never do. What situation served as a wake-up call to your need for a healthier lifestyle.
2. Anything goes -- nothing is too silly or insignificant. (But please write something new -- don't just send us a link to an already-published post.)
3. Email this story to us: neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com. Use the title: HEALTHY LIVING STORY.
4. Also send along 2 (or 3) photos to help illustrate your story. We'd prefer they be at least 500 pixels in height or width.
5. Include your contact information (name, what you'd like us to call you, blog address -- if you have one, etc.)
6. Be patient. We'll get back to you ASAP -- but publishing on the site may take several weeks.

Of course, if you have any questions -- just leave 'em in the comments section or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

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What Joan Crawford and I have in Common . . .

I'm in such a funk today. I'm tired. My head is pounding. My stomach feels, well, blah. My skin is itchy and weird. I'm grouchier than the grouchiest Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest. I can't quite pin it down, but I think a lot of it has to do with my diet and sleep schedule. Exercise, too, has been off week. The weather? Suddenly freezing and icky. I could go on . . .

(All of this despite my awesome progress with running!)

I tend to do that. Fluctuate between healthy habits and less healthy ones. Eating well and eating horribly. Being optimistic and then pessimistic. Etc. I think everyone goes through this almost bi-polar phenomenon to an extent. For me -- it's somewhat remarkable how one day I can be enthusiastic about eating steamed broccoli and brown rice. The next? Nothing will satisfy my cravings but pizza and chocolate.


This time of year, in particular, is difficult. We're dealing with less sunlight. Colder temperatures. Overcommitment in our work and personal lives. Stress g.a.l.o.r.e. So, it's no wonder I'm feeling this way. And the cause of it all matters little. That stuff is here to stay.

What does matter is what I'm going to do about it.

#1: Drink H2O -- it's a cure-all.

When all that seems to calm my nerves is a cold mug of beer at the end of the day, I'm going to resist the trap. Hydration is so important as it gets colder outside. We're in heating cars and buildings all day. Sucking the moisture out of our bodies. Headaches are often a symptom of dehydration . . . and a healthy body is a hydrated one. So, to ward off sickness and agony, I'm going to sip water and herbal tea like it's my job.

#2: Exercise, but only moderately so.

Now's not the time to go insane with aqua jogging, running, or any other physical activity. In fact, that can only drain me more sometimes. What I've always traditionally done in the winter months is scale back my training. Vary it, too. Sometimes a good hour-long walk after work is all I need to return home smiling. On days when I have more time (and when the sun is out!), I like to head outdoors for my runs. Soak in as much vitamin D as possible. Even if it isn't sunny, being outside does wonders for my mood.

#3: Schedule sleep. Miss TV if I have to.

We're both much more couch-bound these days. This means we're also more likely to get sucked into mindless hours of TV. (Embarrassing, but I know we're not alone in this!) I'm putting my foot, er, remote down! There's no reason I need to beg my tired brain for another hour of 16 and Pregnant when all I really want to do is dive into bed. The dysfunction will play out on MTV again tomorrow, I'm sure. Plus, that's what On Demand programming is for!

#4: Prioritize and then prioritize again.

Seems like everyone -- friend or not -- is hosting get-togethers, going to holiday programs, planning shopping outings, etc., etc., etc. (Does this sound like your life, too?) There's so much going on that before I know it, my weekend is entirely full of stuff I don't actually want to do. We want to be everything for everybody. We want to help. We want to have fun. But this shouldn't be at the expense of our sanity. Starting this weekend, I'm divvying up my time according to my own needs and desires. The week is heavy with work . . . so that downtime is more important than ever.

#5: Eat well. As well as possible, at least.

Cookies and cakes are popping up everywhere. Starbucks is tempting me with peppermint mochas. We're having holiday parties at work and at home. Cold weather means a heavier appetite for heavier foods. I'm eating a ton of sugar, fat, and refined carbs. It's shocking my system (well, maybe not THAT dramatic . . . but I can feel it!). Now's not the time to forget to eat breakfast (which I did twice this week!) or forget to bring lunch (which I did THREE times this week!). Nope, I need to plan ahead. I've said it so many times before -- but you are what you eat. And right now, I'm like 10 Hershey's kisses, a big cup of coffee, and a food court PB&J on white bread. Yuck!


Are you grumpy or feeling blah, too? How do you deal with the onset of winter? The mad rush into the holiday season? I'd love to hear how you keep your body and mind healthy and happy. Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Healthy Living: Jenn's Story

Jenn writes:

Hello (never home)maker fans! So great to see ya. Here is a bit about me and this story of health of mine:

I remember standing in the Texas Wal-Mart, full of frustration and thinking to myself, "Look at this body. Too much of this. Too much of that (pointing to my belly and my hips). No more food for the rest of the day Jenn. That banana and slice of toast you had is it." I was 15. And that became my world for the next 13 years.

I grew up in a healthy and active home. My mom raised me (and my two brothers) by herself. We lost my dad when I was 5. But she was the rock star of the house! We had everything we wanted: I danced, played tennis and volleyball. I had my first boyfriend in middle school. A very standard life, if you ask me. But in high school my standard life became a battle. A battle that I started. I began to hate my body. I began to think that it was never good enough, thin enough, small enough, or pretty enough. It just wasn't enough. I was still playing tennis, dancing and living my life with a smile. I still had a boyfriend. But on the inside, I lived in a world of restriction.

At 15, I began to do what I saw most of the other girls around me do, I stopped eating. I had a small breakfast, skipped lunch and then somehow either skipped or barely ate dinner. I got thinner. I got very thin. I got attention. I thought I felt happy. But not truly happy because you see, I was still never good enough.

One day after eating just an apple for breakfast, my mom picked me up from school. She had stopped at my favorite bagel shop on the way and the car was filled with the blueberry and starchy aroma. It was an incredible smell! Without even controlling my hand, my body or my mind, I reached into that bag and inhaled a blueberry bagel. By the time we got home I had eaten nearly 3. I topped off that day with about 4 bowls of Special K, a huge plate of pasta and a pint of ice cream. That was my first binge. I was 16.

This became my life through high school, most of college, and then my first few years as a professional. Restrict, binge, restrict, binge. Repeat. I gained 50 pounds, I lost it the wrong way and gained another 60. At 28 I was unhappy, unhealthy and lost. I had tried every diet in the book at least 5 times. Something had to change.


It was a Sunday. I was watching the movie Serendipity (I'm a sappy romantic!). Something in that movie made me pause and sit up. I can't even tell you what it was but all I remember was this: "I am not living my life. I am existing. And I am tired of it. I want to change." So, I marched into my room and grabbed the book that had been sitting there for about a month, titled "Intuitive Eating." I sat on the couch and read every single page.

On June 1, 2008, I changed my life with very small, simple changes. I stopped dieting. I stopped restricting. I gave myself permission to eat. And to eat well. This step took weeks to truly live. I had to remove the forbidden label from food and relearn how to listen to my body, to eat when I was hungry and to stop when I was full. Such simple but such powerful concepts. This was no easy task for me. Every food in my world had a good or bad label. It had a calorie count, a carb count and a protein count attached to it. And I had a rule book that existed in my head. But now it was time for a new rule book. One that encouraged making peace with my body and making peace with food.

My thoughts on exercise changed. I decided that exercise should be nothing but fun. Fun that makes ya sweat and sometimes yell because it hurts but overall, I wanted to have a blast with my workouts! I found out that I love kickboxing, spinning, weight lifting and hiking. I began using a workout called "Turbo Jam." That was when I really started to enjoy fitness.

These changes were small. They were simple. No pressure was attached. No expectations or results demanded. I just began to choose healthy. I began to choose to feel good, to eat what felt good and to move in a way that felt good. And yes, that often included Oreos and ice cream! Since June of 2008 I have lost 60 pounds. I have started a new career in health and fitness as a wellness and fitness coach. I love, love, love my job! I love teaching group fitness classes and live for sharing everything I have learned with others. It's been quite the road since 2008. I grow, learn, hit all the bumps on the road and try again.


But the best part is that I now feel that I am living my life FULLY. I am present. I am having fun!

Thank you so much for allowing me to share this story. I hope you will come and say hi, maybe even stay a while at www.LiveWellFitNow.com.

Jenn

In need of some healthy fitspiration? While you're here, you can read more great stories like Jenn's -- as well as submit your own healthy living story to be featured on our site!

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Healthy Living: Kati's Story

Kati writes:

As a kid, I hated gym. LOATHED it, might be a better word. It was actually the only class that I had less-than-stellar grades in (er, not to brag? but I don't think that's something to be proud of!!). Our gym classes were very running-centric, and I just couldn't do it. Last one in the mile, every time, and on the verge of passing out to boot. When I was 15, the elephant-on-my-chest feeling was finally diagnosed as asthma. I'm what you might call "bottom heavy," and I wished that I could find a sport that would use my tree-trunk legs but wouldn't aggravate my lungs (and knees, and ankles). I loved swimming, and wasn't half-bad at it, but sadly my school had no swim team.

My diet was also less-than-stellar. My mom is a great cook, but she was raising two kids on her own (and my brother is special-needs), so we were responsible for whatever we wanted for breakfast and lunch. One summer (and most of a school year) this meant that my lunches consisted of EZ Cheese, "buttery" crackers, Sour Cream and Onion potato chips, Oreos, and chocolate milk. All through high school, breakfast was a donut and a cup of hot cocoa or chai mix. I was a kid, I thought I could get away with it.

Then I went to college. Like many of the others who have shared their stories, I gained the Freshman 15+. I discovered that I compulsively stress-eat, and college brought plenty of stress. I thought becoming a vegetarian would solve all that. In practice, I was a "pasta-tarian" -- starch, starch, and some more starch to round things out. And, oh boy, the pints of ice cream for dinner.

One meal credit = one pint. I'd eat the whole thing.

My energy plummeted, and my moods swung like a pendulum. I remember coming home from class at 4PM some days, and sleeping through until 7AM the next day. My roommate couldn't even wake me up for dinner.


However, around this same time I was inspired to finally find a sport I'd enjoy. I had always admired athletic people, and desperately wanted to be one (my mom is quite athletic, also). On a total whim, I took my beater bike to a college-sponsored mountain bike race. It hurt. A lot. Both the cardio, and the crashing into things. But somehow, I loved it. I bought a new bike, and was hooked. But my race diet consisted of Fritos, M&Ms, and gas-station cappuccino. Not exactly performance-food.

I also signed up for an Outward Bound backpacking course, something I had wanted to do in high school but never had the guts (because I was the unathletic, dorky girl). It was amazing, and sparked a real love of the outdoors in general, and backcountry in particular.

Then, I studied abroad. I was miserable. I didn't speak the language as well as I thought I did, I had no friends, and I drowned my sorrows in 20-oz cafe mochas and jumbo slices of tres leches cake. Daily. Along with some super-sugared espresso and chocolate-covered cookies to get me through class. I came home 30 pounds heavier, ringing in at my all-time high of 160.

When I was home, I got a new job at an outdoor equipment outfitter and started teaching environmental education. My eco-minded co-workers brought to my attention the connections between what we eat, your health, and the environment, and I started thinking more about what I was putting in my body. What was it doing to me?! What was it doing to the environment?!?! It finally hit me that my horrible mood swings and low energy might be part of a vicious cycle. I felt miserable, I ate crap. I ate crap, I felt miserable. It just wasn't sustainable, least of all for my body.

I turned my obsessive stress-eating habits into something more productive. I figured, I loved thinking about food. Why not learn how to plan and cook meals with real food? Using mostly vegetarian cookbooks (food blogs are a more recent discovery for me!) I taught myself to make vegetable-centric meals from whole ingredients (confession: I usually add in some animal protein). Lucky me, I also found a guy that likes to invent healthy meals, though sometimes our definitions of "healthy" diverge ;)

In general, I've found that I can eat whatever I want, as long as I stay active and focus on making my main meals as veggie-centric as possible. I stopped weighing myself, but I feel good and my clothes generally fit, so I think I'm in a pretty healthy weight range. Granted, I have a deep love of cheese (we do, too, Kati!) and it is a frequent dinner guest. But I have significantly reduced my sugar-intake: instead of mochas, cocoa, or chai, I drink plain coffee with milk, no sugar. We'll have a piece or two of dark chocolate for dessert (not an entire 1-lb bar, like before). And breakfast is protein-packed eggs with any number of leafy greens and other plant matter. I actually can't stomach sweet stuff that early in the morning now. I guess I've re-programmed my palate!


Eating healthy and staying fit has almost eliminated my asthma symptoms (I still get allergy- and winter-induced asthma). I practice Vinyasa Yoga, which I find helps keep me centered. I do a Master's Swimming program. Last summer I trained for and finished a 100K mountain bike race, which hurt like heck -- but I loved it and plan to do it again! And in February, my mom and I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro together.

I still have ups and downs, but I find that if I keep my food-focus on whole, healthy things, I can stay pretty balanced. When I'm balanced, my motivation to stay active is easier to maintain. And then in turn, my mood stays positive and it's easier to eat healthily! A new, positive cycle :)

Thanks for reading!

Kati

In need of some healthy fitspiration? While you're here, you can read more great stories like Kati's -- as well as submit your own healthy living story to be featured on our site!

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Sit Down, Stand Up: Office Survival Guide

In our last work-related post, I learned that many of you love when I got all office on you. Well, you're in luck because I have a confession to make: I get incredibly, ridiculously, INSANELY jealous of people who don't work desk jobs. Jealous of people who don't have to sit all day. Jealous of people who don't have to wait for their 15-minute breaks or half-hour lunches to move around a bit. Five. Days. A. Week. Every week.

Oh-so very, very jealous. Green with envy, in fact.


Before I throw a full-on tantrum (because I just realized the other day I've worked behind a desk for nearly 5 years now!), I'll get on with my point. There are indeed things we office workers can do to stay healthy and sane while keeping butt-bound all day.

(And disclaimer: I realize that people who stand all day also have major issues, too. I've worked trade shows and other events for long stretches. To the point where I couldn't move my legs from standing. Ick!)


1.) Develop Habits. If you get breaks, which I believe are required by law if you work full-time, TAKE them. It's so easy to forget them when you're busy. That time just slides by. And once that time is gone, you can't get it back! Set reminders in Outlook or another scheduling program. Something that will pop up, sound an audible alarm. Write a sticky-note and put it on your monitor. Or use those electronic sticky notes on your desktop. Set your cell phone alarm. ANYTHING to remind you to take a stroll around your cube. Or, if you're lucky, outside.

Moving your legs is good for circulation, your muscles, and your mind. If you have an office, you may even want to close your door briefly. Do some yoga poses. Push-ups. (Yeah, I do them. In a skirt. Almost every day.) Dance, if that's what you're into!


2.) Make Friends. You don't have to love your coworkers, but sometimes an office pal can be a great daytime buddy. When I worked one of my first desk jobs, I was fortunate to work with friends. For example, my friend Lindsey (the pretty blond pictured above) and I would take walk breaks like clockwork no matter the weather. Outside if nice. Loops around the office if not-so nice (and that was the case more often than not).

Likewise, we'd often get out of the office and have lunch with Sarah (the gorgeous auburn). Good times.

Not only is making a buddy good for getting out. It's also great for your soul. A laugh. Support. Just taking your mind off stress, too! So, just as in "regular" life, the office life is made better by personal connections. Get some! It's easier than you might think. And even if your office is full of Dwights, Creeds, and Andys -- there's bound to be a Jim or Pam in the mix somewhere!


3.) Drink Water. Take Potty Breaks. Repeat. (Coconut water works, too!) There are entire days when I don't drink any H20. Or others when I don't get up to use the bathroom. At all. I somehow find myself glued to a project on my computer screen. Crazy with a specific task with an ASAP deadline. I could sit for hours cranking out assignments. Or if I'm in meetings, I just simply have no time.

But water is essential to life. If you don't have a water cooler, bring some from home or find a "safe" water fountain (I know they can be gross). You'll feel better. Have fewer headaches. It will promote brief walk breaks. Just keep everything, well, flowing, if you get my drift.

And I've been there. Tied to my desk. Ignoring my needs because I'm preoccupied. Take bathrooms breaks, please. There's no reason to live in discomfort. You know who you are!


4.) Take Advantage of Lunch. I know. Sometimes you can hardly get time to eat let alone have an uninterrupted lunch break. But if you can, carve out that time. I often eat little snacks and not a true "meal" . . . I eat while I'm working . . . throughout the day. So, when lunch rolls around, I can use those scads of free time (SARCASM ALERT) for other purposes.

I walk. I run errands (but park as far away as I can from wherever I'm going to -- yup -- walk some more!). Sometimes I even do yoga in my office. My coworkers will be surprised at that one, I'm sure. If I'm not feeling well, I occasionally nap or read. Or if the weather is awful, I try to get lunch with friends (there's that often-forgotten aspect of health: the MENTAL/SOUL part . . . and seasonal depression runs high in these parts!).

It's hard for me to get off campus, so I make the most of what I have. But I try my very best to not skip lunch. That time is really mine. I even stay late occasionally if I have to. I just require a break mid-day . . . or I get in a terrible mood.


5.) Go Old-School. Get up and TALK to your fellow coworkers. Email is just lazy sometimes if your office is literally next to the person you're writing to. Or get some face time in instead of picking up the phone. It's a way to sneak in some extra steps.

Occasionally I meet with one of my coworkers in a "walking meeting" where we go get coffee and chat about work-related stuff along the way. It beats just sitting in a conference room staring at each other! The fresh air helps more than you can imagine. Plus, I can think more clearly when I'm on the move.


6.) Inspire Yourself. Getting through the day goes beyond time at work. Sometimes you can be so drained and stressed, your workouts and after-hours life suffers. I've created a solution: Make an inspiration board. I stick a couple photos of myself running, some race finish certificates, photos of the outdoors, etc. on my board. Anything to remind me that there's life outside my office door. There's natural sunlight above these fluorescent bulbs.

Bring in some of your race metals, too! They make great conversations pieces. Maybe even help with tip #2 (making friends)!

And even if my legs are restless all day, I remind myself that I CAN and DO make good use of them whenever I am off the clock. Staying motivated for my runs after work isn't just good for my physical health . . . it also helps me mentally cope knowing that I sit for hours on end. I'm planning to update my inspiration board sometime soon, so I'll be sure to snap a photo and share.


So, though I'm incredibly jealous of my non-office-strapped friends. Bloggers. Family members. Etc. There are things I've been able to do to make my situation more bearable. I've found that when I get up and move as much as possible, I have fewer aches and pains. I don't need as much caffeine to power through my work. I avoid that "wall" that hits around 3PM . . . when all energy is zapped.

I take it all one day at a time.

Office workers out there. How do you cope?! Do you have an tricks for staying active during the day? For avoiding the energy suck that creeps into the night? Now the the evening darkness is starting earlier and earlier, it's getting more difficult. We'd love to hear your advice! Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

And be sure to check out our advice on Staying Healthy While Working Full-Time.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Healthy Living: Alison's Story

Alison gave us permission to reprint excerpts from her healthy living story on Fueling for Fitness:

The day I went skydiving, I promised myself to stop being afraid of what I could do and where I could go. I promised myself that I'd try harder to take charge of my life and challenge myself by doing things that excited me, that scared me, and that I knew would help me grow as a person.

I made a top-secret list of life goals, and one by one, I started working towards them. I didn't expect anything to fall into my lap. I lived my life accepting mediocrity as the card I was dealt in life and it has forced me to develop a work ethic that always pushed me to work to achieve what I want. It wasn't easy. I failed a lot. I know I am going to continue failing; I would expect no less.

One of these goals? Run a marathon.


Three years ago, I couldn't run 1 kilometer without gasping for air. Three years ago, I made every excuse to not pick up a paint brush (I'm an artist, too!). Three years ago, I saw a long, straight path ahead of me and I told myself that I may as well continue walking down it because it was the easiest thing to do.

Why do I run? There are countless reasons that I could list, but the biggest reason that I do it is because it makes me feel alive. It constantly amazes me that having spent the majority of my life in various sedentary positions, here I am, getting ready to taper down and run my first marathon.

For the past few weeks, I have been feeling terrified. Wondering if every little ache, pain, or missed work out would be enough to get me through the race next Sunday. I've been doubting all the work that I've put towards this marathon, and hyper-focusing on race day, forgetting about all of the past events that took place to get me to where I am now.

I really don't know how things will go next Sunday. Really, anything can happen on race day. But a few lines from this cheesy, yet sweet 10-10-10 song sums it up quite nicely: "When we chose to commit, a fire was lit, and I'll be damned if any one of us will quit."

Thanks for reading my story!

Alison (from Fueling for Fitness)


Yup. Alison sent us her story BEFORE she got to the start of that big-deal race (you guess it: Chicago!) on 10-10-10. If you'd like to read all about her race experience, just check out her blog: Fueling for Fitness!

In need of some healthy fitspiration? While you're here, you can read more great stories like Alison's -- as well as submit your own healthy living story to be featured on our site!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Healthy Living: Laura's Story

Laura writes:

Throughout my life I have always struggled with my weight. I can remember the first time I became aware of it, I was only 7 years old and I experienced bullying at school which led to low confidence and self-esteem throughout my teenage years. I did try to do something about it: I would exist on an apple a day to try and lose weight, but -- of course -- this didn’t work. I ended up binging on unhealthy food and eating in secret from my family and friends.

As I got older I tried weight loss clubs, joined gyms and tried various detox diets. Sometimes I did lose weight, but eventually I would fall back into old patterns and regain the weight, plus some more!


When I turned 26, I reached almost 15 stone (210 pounds). I knew I had to do something drastic. I was recently married and I could really see how much weight I'd gained when I looked at the photographs. I was so unhappy and didn't want to spend my life like this. I loved fashion, but never felt comfortable in my clothes and hated the way I looked. I read lots of nutrition and exercise books and decided that I would try and lose weight myself through healthy eating and physical activity. The more I read the more I realized that the best way to lose weight was to eat plenty of fresh "clean" foods and avoid processed foods.

When I realized how many chemicals and artificial ingredients had been in some of the foods I'd been eating, I was horrified! I cut back on heavily processed food (such as ready meals and Cup-a-Soups) and started to experiment with cooking more food myself, and better yet I really enjoyed it! Over the course of two years I managed to lose almost 5 stone (70 pounds).

It wasn't long after that I discovered healthy living blogs, I just couldn't get enough of them. I found them so inspiring that I decided to start my own blog to help me in maintaining my weight loss. I started to become even more experimental with my cooking after being inspired by recipes on blogs, especially the recipes on (never home)maker (Thanks, Laura!!!) . . . and I even started running!


I used to really worry that I would end up regaining the weight that I had lost just as I had so many times before, but then I realized that something had changed. My journey had no longer become about weight loss, it had become about health. A few weeks ago I made the decision to stop weighing myself all the time and to try and eat for health rather than worrying about the number on the scale. It has been wonderful!

My biggest achievement came just yesterday when I completed my first ever half marathon –- The iconic Great North Run in the UK. I entered the race after encouragement from other bloggers. I had never dreamt I would be able to run 13.1 miles. I had never been athletic at all. In fact, before this year, I couldn't even run for a bus! Completing the race was like the culmination of my healthy living journey and I couldn’t have been happier.

I'm now looking forward to where the future will take me. I've already signed up for a beginners yoga class and I'm thinking about what my next fitness challenge will be. I'm becoming more confident in my cooking skills, and I even tried baking my own bread for the first time. I'm so thankful that I discovered blogging and the healthy living bloggers community. I've learned so much, and get so much enjoyment through writing my blog, onwards and upwards to my next challenge!

Thanks for letting me share my story with you!

Laura (from Keeping Slim & Getting Stylish)

In need of some healthy fitspiration? While you're here, you can read more great stories like Laura's -- as well as submit your own healthy living story to be featured on our site!

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Healthy Living: Reader Learns to Love Herself

Loving Myself writes:

I struggled with exercise anorexia for three years. At 5'6" and 85 pounds, I was more than endangering my health. I was always a perfectionist; competitive dancer, restaurant hostess, dance teacher, barista, perfect attendance, and over a 4.0 in throughout high school. I never game myself a break, never cried, never stopped, never stepped out of the lines of my strict diet regime, and always made sure all my friends and family were happy and proud.

My family never intervened, so I never really thought it was a serious problem. I was unhappy about my weight, hated that I had not developed into any sort of woman figure; I looked like a frail 90 year old woman. Clothes never fit me, dresses for my prom and winter formal had to be tailored extra small. I hated looking in the mirror, hated going out because I could feel people staring, feel them judging. But I couldn't stop. Whenever I was stressed I had no idea how to talk about the problem, my only way for dealing with them was to limit my eating and work out all the time (morning, afternoon and evening), the more pain my body felt the more I could feel my sadness and stress being released; counting calories and fat rather than nutrition.

It was not until my second year of college that I finally started to get better. I lived with three girls, who really loved and cared about me, they did not segregate me because of my problem. They showed me how to enjoy life, how to balance exercise, and how it was okay to fail, okay to eat ice cream, okay to take a second helping. One of the girls I lived with was actually a Food Science and Nutrition major (I was civil engineering major) and she shared with me the importance of fats, minerals and vitamins; how to eat a healthy diet based on nutritional value not calories.


That year, I finally realized what it felt like to be happy, to laugh, and to love myself. I also realized that I needed to take care of my health and happiness before others because I will be with this body and my mentality for the rest of my life; and this is my responsibility, no one else's.

I graduated in June 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering; but my greatest accomplishments were internal and external changes I had made in my health. Nutrition and fitness became my hobby and focus; something I always loved and came natural at.

I was an engineer for a few years, but never was never happy with what I was doing and who I was surrounding myself with. So this year I decided to finally go for my dream . . . starting my own personal training and nutritional advising solo company, Pristine Fitness. I want to help people just as I helped myself. As well as share all I have learned about the body (exercise and nutrition) and how to live a happy, healthy, balanced life.

Thanks for reading my story!

Loving Myself (from Pristine Fitness)

In need of some healthy fitspiration? While you're here, you can read more great stories -- as well as submit your own healthy living story to be featured on our site!

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Healthy Living: Jessica's Story

Jessica writes:

Ashley -- I LOVE your blog. Especially the healthy living fitspirations. What wonderful reassurance that we all battle certain demons with getting comfortable with our bodies. (Thanks, Jessica! We agree -- this series ROCKS!) It's been so refreshing to learn how different people have come to appreciate them for the wonderful tools they are. My healthy living post illustrates how I learned to accept myself as a runner -- which wasn't an easy process :-)

I've always identified runners as being tall and thin. They wear short shorts and visors. They have strange contraptions for drinking water and wear big watches. Runners breeze past me as I jog at a snail's pace.

So basically, I'm not a runner. A jogger, maybe, but not a real runner.

Am I?

Up until last November, I had never run a race longer then 4.2 miles -- Pat's Run in Tempe, AZ. For some reason, around my 26th birthday, I began having hallucinations about completing a half marathon. I call these inklings "hallucinations" because that's how unrealistic it seemed that I would ever actually pursue this. Because every time I went running, all I could think about was stopping.

Nevertheless, with the support of a close friend (a real runner, she's done marathons –- plural), we began training together for a half marathon about a year ago. We had the best of intentions, but the problem was as life got busier, training got more demanding. We both realized about halfway through training that it wasn't a good idea to attempt the race. We instead opted for a 10-mile race that was going to be held around the same time.


After the 10-miler, I was really sore and really tired. And really mad at myself for not working a little harder and going for the half. A few months later, when I got an e-mail announcing the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego, I decided to try again.

Training for the half this time was more successful than before, I think -- in part -- because I told everyone I encountered about it. I made myself so darn accountable that even my coworkers were tracking my mileage.

In the month before the race I ran into a few challenges that almost threw me off course again (two puns, both intended). My hip started bugging me, work got painfully busy, and I caught a cold. I thought, several times, that this was not meant to be. The difference this time around, however, was that I knew better than to come this close and bail again.

The race was in June, over my birthday weekend, and I'm still amazed –- and thrilled –- that it happened. It was a struggle, no glossing over that, but what a rush to cross the finish line!

My friend stayed with me every step of the way -– bless her heart. I had some moments of serious whining and self doubt but refused not to finish.


Revelations?

1. Can’t shouldn’t be in anyone’s vocabulary.
2. Anyone can be a runner.
3. Your time doesn’t really matter, you just ran 13.1 miles.
4. A race expo for 45,000 people is completely overwhelming.
5. Medals are the new black.

I was astounded by the array of people participating in the race. The Rock 'n' Roll series is hugely popular and for good reason. There's so much going on throughout the course, and so much support, there were actually moments I forgot what I was doing. I saw people of all ages/shapes/sizes/abilities/whatnot along the course. I started to have the heartwarming epiphany that not only was I NOT going to finish last out of 45,000, but if all these people were runners, maybe I was too? Corny, I agree.

And . . . I finished. It was really hard, especially the last mile, but WOW -- what a rush to actually finish. I'm so glad I had the experience of the race, and moreso, the experience of pushing myself so far beyond my comfort zone.

Thanks for reading my story!

Jessica (check out her blog (mis)adventures)

In need of some healthy fitspiration? While you're here, you can read more great stories like Jessica's -- as well as submit your own healthy living story to be featured on our site!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Healthy Living: Rowena's Story

Rowena writes:

Hey there, Ashley and Stephen! I've been following your bloggy -- I just stumbled across it recently, and love it. It's innovative and different in a place full of healthy living blogs, your stands out! (Thank you, Rowena!) I'm 26 years old . . . and I'd like to share my Healthy Living journey -- my fitspiration, if you will -- with you.

At age 20, I went to Cyprus where I met my fiance. I was on a girls holiday . . . he was on a lads holiday, and we spent the 2 weeks together, totally ditched our friends and had a blast. When we got home, we kept it going, despite living 350 miles apart. During the "traveling to see each other" period, the weight crept on. Once we moved in together, I think it's fair to say I piled weight on. This was my first "real" home as an adult and I was finding my love for being in the kitchen.


I was a size 18, but still my weight/size weren't bothering me. Sure, I hated pictures of myself. They bothered me at times, but never enough to do anything about it. Then we got engaged, and it all changed: I started wedding dress shopping and realised that I didn't want to be a big bride. Nor did I want to be disappointed looking back at my wedding photos. No, I wanted to be a slim, beautiful bride.

After a few months of playing at it on my own and not understanding why I wasn't losing weight, I joined a slimming class. I got off to a good start, I lost half a stone fairly quickly, and it was working well for me. Then in March last year, we had a car accident. It was a pretty bad accident, too. It saw me off work for 4 months -- badly knocked me up -- my pelvis was knocked out of line and most of my vertebrae were unaligned. I suffered huge deep tissue damage to my back, neck, upper arms and upper legs. I was in pain most of the time. I was undergoing intense physiotherapy and the doctor had me on crazy strong painkillers.

Needless to say, these pills were messing with my insides and more-or-less made weight loss come to a halt. I wasn't putting weight on, but I wasn't losing it either. I still attended class but regularly ended up in tears. I'm a member of a wedding planning website . . . and the girls in the weight loss section offered their virtual shoulders for my tears on countless occasions. The doctor told me I would always be a chronic pain sufferer and I had to adapt my lifestyle to accommodate it and accept it. Perhaps some gentle yoga to increase peace in my mind, she suggested.

This was an all-time low for me.

But I persevered with the slimming club and my physiotherapist kept on relentlessly. One year after the accident (March this year), she discharged me with a clean bill of health! I couldn’t believe it -- that doctor was wrong -- and if it hadn’t have been for the positivity of my family and friends and my online friends from the weight loss forum, I doubt I’d have battled through!

By May this year, I lost 2 stone with the slimming club. I started to read a couple of healthy living blogs and had learned a boatload about healthy living and a clean diet. I was starting to feel like the slimming club was holding me back now, their ways and views weren’t in line with what I was learning about, a basic clean diet, so I made the leap and left the class.

I started running (I’d never run before –- not even for a bus!), following the Couch-to-5K programme. I also started calorie counting and following a clean and healthy diet. I rarely drink alcohol -- and when I do its only a couple of glasses. I read more and more healthy living blogs and even decided to start one of my own: http://broadbeantorunnerbean.blogspot.com/. I completed the C25K programme, and got the full on bug for fitness. I dabbled in the 30-day shred and then decided to move onto Insanity. I’m now on week 2 . . . and I love it!

I feel like I wasted so much time (and the car crash wasted so much time for me, too) . . . and with now only 3 months till the wedding, I’m on full steam ahead. Months and months ago, I bought my wedding dress 3 sizes too small for me! To date I’ve lost 3 stone and I’m about an inch off fitting into it, my goal is in sight!

BUT and here’s the huge BUT -– this is no longer about "the dress" or "the wedding" or "the honeymoon". Sure, these things are forefront in my mind right now, and I get pretty anxious about them on a weekly basis (the girls from my weight loss forum will second that!), but I'm pleased to introduce you to ME! This is ME! This isn't just a phase, this isn't just a diet, this is ME! These choices for healthy food and for exercise are no longer difficult choices, there's no longer a battle going on inside of me. I’m at peace with myself and my choices, and 99 percent of the time, I make the right choice for my health.

And you know what? I kinda like the healthy me!


Thanks for reading my story!

Rowena (from Broad Bean to Runner Bean)

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