The Best Things in Life are Tees

It’s that time of year again when Old Navy asks selected Style Council members to participate in a sample share. This time, my friend and I sampled the Women’s Best Tees in 2 styles: vintage and perfect. 

My free tees. The pink is vintage style, while the red is perfect.

I’m very familiar with Old Navy tees as my closet is full of them, but I was super excited about to get more as I need smaller sizes. It may not be reflected on the scale yet, but I know I’m toning up and losing fat. The last time I purchased tees at Old Navy I bought an XXL. This time, I came home with an L and that fits comfortably! Also, the last pair of pants I modeled for Old Navy was a Sweetheart shaped size 22 and this time I showcased a size 18 in the Rock Star cut! I’m not where I want to be yet, but every day I’m getting closer :)

August 2011: size XXL shirt, size 22 pant

April 2013: size L shirt, size 18 pant

The important stuff:

Our Old Navy store (Washington Pike, Knoxville, TN) was very well stocked and the sales staff was helpful in answering questions.  They were very surprised to see our Style Council vouchers as they hadn't seen them before; I guess there aren't many of us in East Tennessee.

My friend and I had a great time mixing and matching different looks with our tees. We were able to create several looks based around a simple basic tee. My favorite look of the day on me was a ¾ length sleeve coral tee paired with a colorful scarf and a pair of black Rock Star pants (picture above). I really loved the soft feel of the tee and the stretchiness of the pant.  Pelagie’s best look (in my opinion) was what I called PhD prep! She paired her jeans with a floral button-down top layered under a basic white tee.  To complete the outfit, she added a cropped denim jacket (picture below)!

Perfect PhD Prep!

My only complaint (and it really isn't a complaint) is the choice of only 2 styles of tee. Many of the tees we found didn't fit into one of these categories, so we could get those with our vouchers.  I specifically had to ask the associates which tees qualified and which ones didn't.

Overall, we had a great time shopping! I can’t wait until the next sample share. I could really use a new pair of pants (hint, hint)!

My Next Challenge

Hello again and happy day after Easter! I hope everyone enjoyed the last series of blog posts.  For the next month or so (maybe longer depending on how things go) I've decided to focus my posts on running and the benefits/pitfalls of running. Now, I’m not a runner by any means, so I’m challenging myself to become one.  I did a few calculations (and you can too with any online exercise calculator) about running.  At my current weight, if I ran/jogged for 1 hour I could burn 885 calories! That’s a lot more than I burn now during my normal exercise routine. Running/jogging for just 15 minutes a day I can still burn up to 221 calories!

Getting started will be the hardest part, so I did some research about that too. Here are a few tips that I was able to gather from a multitude of running experts.

• Weight training--specifically the quads and core; a definite must-do for runners.  I will share my routine in another post.
• Take shorter strides as that makes running feel easier. As such, you should be able to run faster and longer.
• Breathe correctly. Most runners follow a 2-2 breathing pattern: two steps while breathing in, then 2 steps while breathing out. You can also try 3-2 breathing.  3 steps while breathing in, then out for 2 steps. Figure out what works best for you.
• Eat more. You’ll get fatigued much quicker without adequate calories. You don’t have to tell me twice!
• Stretching. Do a run warm-up for about 5-10 minutes, and then stop to stretch. Also, don’t forget to stretch again after your run. Doing both helps prevent injuries, and who doesn’t need to stretch more?
• Follow the 10% rule. Only increase your distance by 10% each week. If you increase your speed quickly you are really prone to an injury. There have been multiple studies done proving that you are less prone to injury increasing your mileage by 10% each week.
• Start slow, and then pick up the pace as you warm-up.
• Wear the right shoes. This, I think is the most important tip. Go to a running store for your shoes. They’ll point you in the right direction.  I went to the store and consulted Runner’s World magazine for the best shoes. For me, the best pair was Nike Lunarglide 4! Ask the experts and try on your selection before you leave the store! You have to be comfortable or you will be miserable! 

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I can’t wait to start this new challenge! Stay tuned for what I know will be both fun and fitful! 

Here I Go!

Reaching the Finish Line

So, I Googled "finish line" images and this was the first result. That's me after my first AHA Heart Walk!

Well, my roll came to a halt on Thursday. I felt better when I woke up that morning, so I decided to workout. Bad idea.  I’m pretty sure I spent more time in the gym coughing than actually exercising. As such, I've been recovering; breathing treatments are now my best friend. While I haven’t hit the gym again this week, I have tried to be active by enduring some spring cleaning. My house now smells lemony fresh and bleach-y clean! The last few tips will be general ones that can easier be incorporated into your daily routine.  Read, and hopefully, enjoy!

42. Abandon your car. Walk or bike to work for a slimming commute. This is easier said than done if you live in a suburb like I do.  In those cases, try to park far away so that you have to walk to your work place. This tip really became a necessity parking at the University of Tennessee as the closest parking spots there are still 15 minutes away from everything!  This tip works well when shopping too :)

43. Eat breakfast. Those who enjoy a morning meal have been shown over and over to be slimmer than breakfast skippers.  This makes sense if you really think about it; you fast all night as you sleep. When you awake in the morning, your body is hungry and needs fuel. If you skip breakfast, by the time lunch comes you are ravenous.  Then, you tend to overeat. The later you eat, the less likely you are to work off those calories with daily activities and exercise.

44. Love a cow.  A report recently cited yogurt as a food most identified with maintaining a healthy weight.  You could try yogurt for breakfast paired with some granola and fruit, or blend it up for a quick smoothie. Also, drink more milk! Low-fat dairy consumption seems to speed weight loss. There are many healthy components to dairy foods one being CLA or conjugated linoleic acid. Many reports expound on the benefits of CLA (especially my senior thesis on the subject)!

45. Weigh in daily. For some, the scale is a bummer and a distraction for many. Others however like the daily feedback and accountability. I tend to forget this one just as much as I forget to update my blog. I like to schedule my weigh-ins just like anything else.  Try it, and see if you lose weight. Either way, do what works best for you :)

Beware Idle Hands

42. Get Creative. We all know the saying about idle hands.  Boredom is probably one of the leading causes for overeating. Fill in your free time with a creative activity that you enjoy. Try a new craft project, learn to knit or take a dance class.

I personally like to make my own jewelry and other crafty things.   Not only does that activity give me a creative outlet with something to do with my hands other than feed my face, but I also sell my creations for extra cash.  Talk about a win-win situation!  

Don’t know where to start? Check out local community centers or websites like Meetup.com to find an activity that sounds interesting to you. I’m a member of a few Meetup groups and I really enjoy trying new activities with a group of like-minded people.   Just recently, my ladies social group took a pottery painting class and I loved it! Here is a so-so picture of my treasure, a cupcake trinket box!

You may also want to look on sites like Groupon, Living Social, etc to view limited deals. I know for a fact that they have various deals for fitness and dance classes, so you could try out one of those. If you don’t like the activity, then you are out a few bucks instead of lots of money. My friend and I actually took advantage of a strip-aerobics class deal as part of a bachelorette party. The class only cost us $5.00 a piece and we really got a workout (and a new respect for how hard strippers work)!  

Whatever you do, have fun! Get creative and beware idle hands :)

Just a Little Reminder

41. Remind yourself to eat better. One latest study found that people chose better-for-them foods when they were prompted to "consider the healthiness" before digging in.

I do this by writing out a meal plan at the beginning of the week and sticking to it.  For example, at breakfast I have 1 cup of multi-grain cheerios with ½ cup of unsweetened almond milk.  Then, as a mid-morning snack, I eat a serving of yogurt and a serving of whichever fruit I have on-hand (this week it’s grapes).  For lunch, I choose either a Smart One or Lean Cuisine frozen meal and my afternoon snack is a granola bar (various kinds). To end the eating day, lately I've been taking my own advice and serving soup for supper.  And because I like sweets, I save room for a hot cup of decaf cocoa before I head to bed. I really like the idea of planning and packing my meals ahead so I don’t have to think (stress) about what I will eat and/or drink that day. I do the same thing with my weekly wardrobe but that’s another story!

My thoughts are that if I can eat healthy most days of the week, then I can eat healthy all the time. As you can read, I give myself plenty of food and indulge in my favorites without having to feel guilty about anything.  I know some people who eat the same things every day. I admit I can’t do that as I like too many foods to limit myself to just a few, but I choose to eat my favorite not-so-healthy foods sparingly and on the weekends. It works for me; see if it works for you!

Pair healthy eating with a healthy exercise routine and you will be well on your way to a better, fuller life! That’s what matters :)

Smell This

On a roll…let’s see how long it lasts. I only have 1 more week until Easter, so we shall see :)

40. Don't be smelly. Scented cosmetics make us crave the foods they remind us of, which ultimately makes us eat more, according to recently published reports.  I have to think this is pretty accurate as every time I use my cherry pie or pecan pie 3-in-1 (body wash, shampoo, bubble bath), I crave those desserts. However, I think is it better i.e. healthier to smell like pie every day than to eat it every day! Try this tip for yourself to see how it affects you.  Scented cosmetics, lotions, etc. may be affecting your eating habits without you even knowing it.  

The S’s Have It

The S's Have It

Say what you will, but I am consistent in my inconsistencies. Today’s tips are ones that I practice regularly and enjoy the most.  These are especially good to do when you are sick, but work just as well during times of great health!

Soups come in all varieties. Find ones that you like and Enjoy!

38. Soup-er Swap.   Have soup for supper.   Soup's high water content makes it a low-calorie and filling option. Just steer clear of the creamy kinds. Soup is also an economical option, especially if you make it yourself. Last night, I made 4 cups of an awesome beefy vegetable soup. Even with the cost of beef, the total cost for the soup per serving was under $1.50. Eating soup is another great way to get in multiple varieties of veggies into your diet. The benefits just keep adding up without adding to your waist line!

Spice Up Your Life! Try a new spice and see if you like it. You may surprise yourself!

39. Spice it up!  Cayenne pepper really can rev your metabolism, according to numerous research studies. I’m a fan of sneaking spices into my everyday meals.  When making the above soup, I added a couple of teaspoons of red pepper flakes to the broth; it gave the soup a real, but subtle kick! You can also add spice to your drinks. Spicy dark chocolate hot cocoa is a delicious and healthy treat.  Just a pinch can reap healthy profits!