SweatPink

I am so excited and honored to announce that as of this week I am a new Sweat Pink Ambassador!!!

So what is SweatPink??

SweatPink is a FitApproach movement with the following mission:

We believe that kicking ass is best done in pretty shoes. We’ve learned that real women sweat, and sweat hard. We know that assertiveness, strength, and ambition are the ultimate feminine qualities. We concede that sometimes it takes hours to get ready, but we’re also no strangers to just rolling out of bed and going. We’re convinced that we run faster in pink shoelaces. We believe in pushing ourselves, and we believe in giving ourselves a break, too. We’re all about the rush of endorphins and the thrill of the challenge. We’re all for looking great and feeling even better. We’re committed to finding our best fit, and making it stick.

I feel that this is exactly where I am right now.  I have been trying to be a better me and am finally on the right path.  I hope that through Sweat Pink I can inspire and encourage others to strive for a better self.  I know first hand that it's not an easy task and there are many bumps in the road and Sweat Pink is there to smooth all of that out. 

~Kathryn

Weigh In Wednesday - SUCCESS!!!

I'm Back!!!

The last few weeks have been kind of crazy and the last thing I wanted to touch outside of work was my computer.  So, now that things seems to be calming down, I'm back to blogging.

With all of the craziness, workouts haven't been the most consistent - so I'll be getting back Workout Wednesday next week.

This week, I'm doing something new.  I'm linking up with Heather, Ash, Bailey and Amy for Weigh-In Wednesday.

This actually ties in with something new that I started this month.  I've been on a mission to lose ~30 lbs for some time now.  I've "tried" to eat better, changed and increased my workouts, and have essentially gotten no where.  Well, last month I was reading Elle Noel's blog and she was talking about a new meal plan/way of eating that she was starting.  It's based on Macros (the ratio or Protein, Carbs, and Fat in your diet).  I wanted to check it out and see what it was all about.

I started following Ashley Leahy on Instagram (she is the one that did the meal plan).  Ashley works with women to help them achieve their fitness goals.  After seeing the progress of a few of her clients, I decided to email her and find out more.  I immediately knew that I wanted to give working with Ashley a try.

I started the plan on Sunday, June 2.  What she gives you is not a cookie cutter plan.  It is a plan based on you.  You let her know about you and your goals and she devises the plan around that.  I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything either.  In fact, there are some days that I feel like all I do it eat - but the foods that I am eating are much better choices than I was having previously.  You know the numbers that you are supposed to hit every day.  That way if there is something that you are wanting or you go out to eat, you can build the rest of the day around that if you need to.  Once a week I have a high carb day and that is my day to enjoy my beloved Chipotle!

Whether it's just losing weight, toning up, or preparing for bikini competitions (she is literally a Pro competitor herself), she is there for you 100%.  I check in with her every 5-7 days with what is going on and my progress and she always has encouragement for me.  She also makes adjustments as needed to your plan to keep you on track to meet your goals.

So, what has this plan done for me?  Well, last time I weighed in here was on May 29.  That day I was 149.2 lbs.  My official start weight for the program was 147.2lbs on June 2.  Today I am at 143.4!!!  So that's a loss of 3.8 lbs since I started with Ashley 17 days ago and a loss of 5.8 lbs since my last weigh in on here 3 weeks ago.  It doesn't sound like much - but I'm 5'1" so it makes a big difference.  My clothes are fitting better and I've even had people take notice and say something already.  I'd say that is a success!!!

If you are interested in contacting Ashley you can email her here.  She not only provides the meal plan program but also workout plans. I am just doing the meal plan right now, but am looking at possibly adding the workouts after my Tri in  August.  She is wonderful to work with and has also created a community of clients that can become a support system for you during your journey.

I'm SO glad that I found Ashley as it seems that this plan was exactly what my body needed.   I can't wait to see where this journey leads me and I'll take you along for the ride as I track my progress on here.

Next week - back to Workout (and Weigh-In) Wedneday!!

~Kathryn

Workout Wednesday

I love long weekends, but at the same time they tend to throw me off.  I'm definitely not complaining about a short work week - just feel off this week.

So with the holiday weekend came travel to MS.  I did better than I figured I would on the working out, but the eating was a different story.  

Here's how my week went.....

Thursday

I ran the Zoom Through the Zoo 4 mile race.  4 miles in 44:15.  It was pretty hot and humid, but I just need to get used to it as summer in Memphis isn't going anywhere any time soon.

Friday

Today was a rest day as I had an event to go to Friday night.  I missed my HEAT class and can't wait to get back to it next week.

Saturday

I got up and got in an 11 mile bike ride in just under an hour before I headed to Jackson.  I knew this was the only way that I could get in a workout that day.

Sunday

I slept in longer than I had planned, but still managed to get in a slow 3 mile run in 35:36.  I thought I had had hot runs already this year, but this one was horrible.  It was hot and humid and no shade the entire route.

Monday

Today was another rest day.  I was traveling back home and the gym also closed at 5:00 - so again, no HEAT class.  

Tuesday

I got in a 4 mile run in 45:18.  I had major cramping in my calves again.  I've got to get this under control.

Wednesday

I got in my Yoga class this morning and I'm planning for a run and a swim this afternoon.  I think I'm going to start loging my workouts Wednesday-Tuesday instead of Thursday-Wednesday since my main workouts on Wednesday are typically after I post.

Weekly Weigh In

Last week - 148.8

This week - 149.2

Weekly change - +.6

This was actually better than I expected.  This weekend had 4 cookouts and 2 batches of homemade ice cream.  I'm SO ready to get back to better eating.  

I'm linking up with Skinny Meg again this week.  Check her out.....

~Kathryn

Race Racap - Zoom Through the Zoo

Last night I (along with about 1400 friends) participated in the Zoom Through the Zoo 4 Mile Race here in Memphis.  This race has been on my race list for a while now, and I was excited to get to run in it this year.  

Based on what I've been running, I was hoping for a time in the 43-44 minute range.  I had a plan break the race up into 2-2 mile segments and go from there.  Well, that plan went out the window the moment the race started.  I immediately felt super tight calves in both legs and the shin splints flared up in my left leg.  I decided to take the race one mile at a time.

The course starts just outside the zoo then finds its way into the zoo for a little over a mile before heading back out to Overton Park for about 2.5 miles.  There were a few smaller animals out and about 2 elephants.  With the heat and humidity that comes in late May in Memphis, it highlighted the "smells" of the zoo......not what you want to be smelling while running.  The finish is literally at the zoo's gate.....and it wouldn't be a race in Memphis if it wasn't followed by BBQ!

I ran the first mile in about 9:30 - which is really good for me, but too fast at the same time.  I was feeling major tightness in both hamstrings at that point (in addition to the calves and shin splints) and realized that my "A" goal of 43:00 probably wasn't going to happen.  I felt like I was in yoga when they tell you to listen to your body and see what was talking to you.  Well, the legs weren't talking, but rather screaming!  I decided to take a walk break at each mile and see how I was feeling.  Finally around mile 3 the hamstrings loosened up and my legs settled into it.  That's fine on a long run, but for this the race was 3/4 of the way over by then.  

In the end, it wasn't the race I wanted, but it was still a PR, so I'm happy about that!!  

Time: 44:35

(that was clock time - my watch said 44:15 and 4.07 miles start line to finish line)

734/1392 Overall

358/861 Females

81/196 30-34 Age Group

~Kathryn

Workout Wednesday

It's been another week of somewhat consistent workouts - but not where I want them to be.  I've really got to get my head in the game and just get a game plan together.

Here's how my workouts happened this week......

Thursday
I got in 4 mile run in just over 44 minutes.  Not great - but hey, it was a run!  After that I went to the gym for some time in the pool.  I got in 800 yards in 30 minutes.

Friday

Rest Day

Saturday

After a day of running errands I set out on what was planned to be another 4 mile run.  The humidity was unreal!  I decided to call it a 3 mile run.  I finished in just under 33 minutes, and I looked like I had gone for a swim when I got back home even though it was at 7:30 at night.

Sunday

I made it to my favorite Yoga class today!!  After that I headed to Shelby Farms to get in a bike ride on the Greenline.  I got in 12.11 miles in 1:03:57.  Considering that's only my second really bike ride of distance, I'm pretty pleased.  After that I decided to walk around Patriot Lake.....that's about 1.75 miles.

Monday

I managed to work it out with work to work 7:30-4:30 on Monday's so that I can still make HEAT!!  The class was a killer this week.  We had 4 exercises (Burpee-Barrier Jumps, Pull Ups, Push Ups, and Leap Ups).  We started with a round of 20 reps of each, then a round of 19 reps of each and so on.  I managed to finish the round of 8 reps of each about the time that we had to stop......that was after 47 minutes and 728 total reps.  I think if there hadn't been a class at 6:00 in the same room that our instructor would have had us go until we either finished or passed out.....my bet is that the passing out would have come first!

Tuesday

This was an unplanned rest day.  The weather was horrible and my body was still exhausted from Monday's class.

Wednesday

I made it to Yoga at 6:00 this morning again this week!!!  

Weekly Weigh In

Last week - 149.8 lbs

This week - 148.8 lbs

Weekly Change - -1lbs

Not much, but at least it's in the right direction.

I'm heading out of town again the weekend, so my goal is to be better about my eating and workouts over the weekend.

Check out SkinnyMeg for her Workout Wednesday Link-Up.  You may find something that is just the motivation you need to keep on going.....

~Kathryn

Where'd the Weekend Go

Why do the weekends go by so fast!!!!

I could really go for a 3 day weekend and a 4 day work week......every week and not just holiday weeks.

My weekend started out Friday night when Rodan + Fields corporate came to town.  We had a business presentation Friday followed by Groundswell Training Saturday morning.  It was a great time and I got to meet several of the top consultants in the area.....one day I'll hopefully be up there with them.

Saturday afternoon was a mish mash of a lot of things.  

First off, Miss Poppy had a BADLY needed day at the groomer.  She went from this......

to this.......

She looks like a completely different dog, but it's the same fun loving Poppy.  Now we can see her eyes!!

Saturday was also a time for running errands and I finally joined Costco.  Boy, that is going to be dangerous!!!  Yeah, the cheap gas is nice, but I'm scared of what all I may come out with when I go there to shop!!

After a VERY HUMID 3 mile run at 7:30 Saturday night (Hello summer in Memphis!) I decided to try out some new nail polish colors.

First off, I tried Orly in Frisky.  Previous to this, I had only used the Orly base coat.  The polish is ok to me. I feel like I have better coverage from some of the others that I use.  As for the color, it's a bright turquoise and is so not me, but I like it.  Not one that I will do very often, but sometimes the summer just calls for something different on your toes.

Orly Polish in Frisky

For my hands, I used Essie in Come Here!!  I love Essie polish!  This one is pretty bright - kind of a coral color.  I wasn't too sure about it at first, but it's really growing on me now.  I'm usually pretty "traditional" when it comes to polish and I decided I needed to step out of my comfort zone.  I did, and I'm loving it!!

Essie Polish in Come Here!

I had plans to be on the road by 6:00 am Sunday morning to head down to Tunica, MS, to watch the Memphis in May Olympic Distance Triathlon.  Several of my friends that I run with were participating and I wanted to go support them (and I didn't feel that it would be a bad idea to go watch with me getting ready to my first triathlon in August).  Well, the morning didn't start quite as planned......I rolled over and looked at my clock and it was 5:46!!!  I somehow had turned off my alarm and had gone back to sleep.  I hurriedly got ready and got on the road.  I was still able to make the 7:00 start.....somehow!!

I met up with some other friends and once everyone was in the water we went to find another place to see them swimming before heading to watch transition.  Once they were all off on their bikes we went and found a spot at bike dismount to sit and watch.  We saw a little bit of everything.  Some dismounts left you wondering when they actually got off the bike.....you'd see them riding, then all of a sudden they were running while carrying their bike.  Some were not so graceful.  A few couldn't get out of their clips and either asked to be caught or they ended up on the ground.  

The three we were watching got kind of spread out on the bike so we stayed to watch them come in and missed all but one heading out on their run.  We didn't have long before the first one was getting ready to come in on her run so we went and found a good place near the finish to camp out until they were all finished.  

I had a great time down there watching everything (and getting sun burned......I realized I forgot my sunscreen when I was half way to Tunica).  

I headed home around lunch time and had a ton of house work to do.  I got just enough done to say I'd done something when I decided to head to Yoga.  From there I decided to go for a bike ride on the Shelby Farms Greenline.  12 miles and just over an hour later I decided I wasn't through.  I had though about running around Patriot Lake, but since it wasn't planned when I left home I didn't have my running shoes with me.  I went on and walked the 1.75 miles just to get the feel of moving my legs like that after a bike ride.  Let's just say I have a lot of work to do between now and August!!

By the time I got home I was hungry and exhausted.  At that point it was pretty much dinner, shower, sleep.  

My list of what all needs to be done at the house is still there and growing.  I can always do that stuff later!!

Monday morning came too fast!!  I'm already looking forward to this coming weekend.....and getting a 3 day weekend!!

Hope everyone has a great week and it goes by fast!!

~Kathryn

R+F Friday

Today I'm not talking about any products in particular, but rather the excitement that is building for Rodan + Fields in the Memphis area.

This weekend is the beginning of something BIG in Memphis.  Corporate has come to town!!  Tonight they are hosting a Business Presentation and tomorrow is the beginning of Groundswell Training for Memphis.  This area has barely begun to develop and Corporate sees the potential that we do - that's why they are here.  They want to put R+F on the map in Memphis and are here to help us do so.  I am SO excited for this.

Next weekend is another big weekend as well.  On Friday night 2 consultants from north Mississippi will be in town to be presented their Lexus.  There are less than 100 consultants that have earned a Lexus and once these 2 get theirs that will make 6 from Mississippi, several in Nashville and NONE in Memphis!!  That right there tells you that Memphis is ready to explode with R+F.  I mean - who doesn't want a brand new shiny Lexus - all paid for?  I know I would love it!!  And with R+F there is no reason you (or I) can't reach this goal.

YES, PLEASE!!!

Right now there are 12 consultants that are considered the creme de la creme.  They are what is called RFx. Currently, they are on an all expense paid trip to the Four Seasons Resort in Bora Bora.  Let me tell you - seeing the pictures and hearing the stories are so inspiring.

None of this existed 5 years ago and now R+F is literally taking people all over the world (next year RFx consultants will be going to Paris!!), giving people cars and changing lives of consultants and customers. And we are only just beginning.  12 RFx consultants.  18 Elite Consultants.  Less than 100 Lexus earners.  Less than 500 Level V Consultants.  In the top 100 of Global Direct Sales companies (and we're only in the US). And now this.......

Rodan + Fields has been named a finalist in the Consumer Products category in the 2013 American Business Awards, the nation’s premier business awards program. More than 3,200 nominations from organizations of all sizes, and in virtually every industry, were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. We are honored to be a finalist in the Consumers Products group.

We will begin our introduction into the global market in 2014.  

I'm still in disbelief that all of this has happened in just 5 years....and there are some states that are still virtually untouched by R+F - Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kansas just to name a few.  There are no limits to where Rodan + Fields can take you.  I truly believe in this company and what it has to offer me.  I can't wait to see where I go with it.  I'd love to share it with you.  If you are even remotely interested, I love to tell you more about this company.  This is the time.  R+F is going places and wants to take all of us along for the ride.

kathrync.myrandf.biz

~Kathryn