Life Lately

A couple months ago I signed up for a 10K, was all gung ho, and even went out and bought a heart rate monitor for my training. Three weeks from the race I downgraded to a 5K. Here's why- LIFE! I know excuses, excuses... new opportunities came up though and my time had to be redistributed. If you are a regular reader you know I have a full time job in addition to my blogging which sometimes makes it difficult to find real free time, and waking up at 5 AM to go run is not something I'm willing to do. I applaud those of you that do.

I still feel like I'm letting myself down, but then again at least I'm running a race at all. I could just bail out entirely and not even run the 5K... don't worry though I'm doing it even if I only have an eleven minute mile average. Oh well, I'm not on the couch and I'm doing something. Right?

A photo posted by Meaghan A. (@justmeaghan) on Oct 10, 2014 at 4:29pm PDT

Onto the business that is life. St. Augustine Social gave me three full blown articles to write for their first print magazine over the last few weeks. {Insert excitement here} So cool! I got to interview a few people around town and had fun weaving everything together into the articles. I can't wait to hold the magazine that my first print pieces are in next month. :)

A photo posted by Meaghan A. (@justmeaghan) on Oct 10, 2014 at 4:50pm PDT

Follow me on Instagram @justmeaghan.

Let the 10K Training Begin

If you are following along on my Instagram account you may have seen my recent fitness post noting that I'm training for a 10K while completing Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide. I'm not looking to lose weight - I need to gain it. With a goal (race) on the schedule I think this will be the best motivation for me to keep up a fitness schedule. My appetite has already increased from the training and I've gained 3 pounds of muscle over the last month. Wooo!

I'm currently holding my own for solid 25 minute runs, about 2.5 miles for me. I've got a loooong way to go but I am so ready for it. I'm following the 10K training guide from Self Magazine, recommended by the Tone It Up girls. It takes you through training for a 5K, then a 10K and onto a half marathon if you want to continue.

Over the weekend I registered for a 10K in November as part of the St. Augustine Half Marathon Weekend. My goal for this race is to be able run the whole thing injury/pain free. I am really hoping I can run it in 62 minutes; 10 minute miles for 6.2 miles sounds totally doable right? I guess I will see how my training goes once I get past the 4 mile runs. In all honesty I have never run more than 4 miles, I've done a couple of 5K's and really enjoyed them though and look forward to the challenge of this 10K. I was originally considering a half marathon but decided I should try for the 10K first and then go from there if I want to bump it up.

Do you have any 10K tips or is there any techie running equipment you think are a must have?

Changing Tastebuds & Finding New Favorites : : : Why You should Try Vegetarianism

If you have been following for a little while you may remember that I tried out the whole strict vegetarian thing for a year, then added poultry and seafood back into my diet. I still really enjoy vegetarian meals a couple times a week. There are so many combinations out there using beans, vegetables and other meat alternatives that it feels like another world of food and flavors. Over the last two years I have fallen in love with olives, come to like onions, and I'm starting to like red peppers...totally crazy and out of the norm for me. I think a lot of it has to do with a cleansed palette if you will; not having steak, burgers or bacon has made me want to try new things and see what else there is out there.

I'm glad I stuck with it for a year and I could see myself switching back. I just would need to do a bit more research on getting all of the vitamins I need to allow me to workout still, which is the main reason why I added seafood and poultry back into my diet. I would get about 3/4 of a mile in on a run and be at the brink of exhaustion. Protein powders made me break out like crazy and most of them tasted like chalk — so that wasn't cutting it. A couple weeks after adding poultry and seafood back in I was fine for at least 2 miles before I felt even a little weak.

The norm of what my meals look like in a day. Not shown of course are the in between snacks I can't live without.
I.e. granola bars, guacamole, occasional dark chocolate, coconut fruit bars and other various sweets... 

I am now about two and a half years into not having a hamburger, steak, bacon, etc. and I don't even miss it! Sometimes when I smell a steak cooking on the grill it makes my stomach grumble, but have you had vegetables on the grill? YUM! Veggie burgers are surprisingly tasty (with cheese) and I have found that I like tempeh. Tofu is good, but only when it's prepared right. Order this out at a restaurant for your first time, don't try it at home as you won't be impressed.

Struggling with what to make for dinner is a major determent for sticking with any diet.  Pinterest is a huge help when deciding on dinner but it is often overwhelming with soooo many recipes. A lot of times I just flip through my cookbooks until I find something. The easiest for me as a vegetarian and now a pollo-pescetarian has been to make a meal plan for the week and construct my grocery list from there. I can cut my trips to the grocery store from once a week to once every 10+ days when I go that route.

A quick vegetarian meal I found recently and really enjoyed as a chicken salad lover is the Mashed Chickpea Pitas. So easy and hubby (meat eater) even liked it!

If you are considering testing out the vegetarian waters I say go for it, try it for a day. Challenge yourself to a week, a month... who knows you might end up loving it and finding a new favorite food!

Have you tried vegetarianism? Do you have any favorite recipes to share?

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Weekly Workouts Roundup

Today I'm linking up with Kat of Sneakers and Fingerpaints for a summary of my workouts for the last week. With some help from my UP band and Instagram checkins for Tone It Up I was able to come up with my miles and training for the week.

Week of 7/15/2013

7/15 - 1.34 mile walk with the dogs after work. Summer Arms from the 1st Beach Babe DVD.

7/16 - Bikini Abs from Beach Babe at lunch. 2.84 miles (10:27 minutes/mile) after work followed by the Long and Lean stretch from Beach Babe.

7/17 - Rest Day

7/18 - 1.65 mile jog before work. This was my first pre-work run around 6:30 AM, so not fun but something I need to get in the habit of doing for the evenings when I have plans and no time for a run. Also squeezed in Summer Arms over lunch.

7/19 - 2.1 mile run (10:42 minutes/mile) followed by the Sunkissed Abs workout.

7/20 - Bikini Sculpt Routine from Beach Babe. This is a 40 minute full body workout with back to back circuits using your body weight and 3 pound weights. Kicked.my.butt.

7/21 - Ran .87 miles with my Doberman and was down-poured on, then when out again after the storm went by for another 2.14 miles. Averaged 10:29 minutes/mile.

Total Miles: 10.94

If you've been keeping up with my blog you know that I recently have been trying to run on a regular basis. I'm three weeks in and I'm already noticing a difference in my pace and endurance.

If you don't know about Tone It Up, I highly recommend checking it out. 

Via Tone It Up

These 2 girls are fun and motivating, tie that in with the supportive Tone It Up community and you've got all the inspiration you need to get fit. This skinny girl is on the road to becoming strong, just in time for my wedding!

Are you a runner? What keeps you motivated to stay fit?

Early Morning Booty Call (Tone It Up)

5 weeks from today I'll be in Jamaica going over wedding details with the wedding planner. That means our wedding is less than 7 months out! To get bikini ready for next month I've amp'd up my fitness routine with plans to continue the momentum through the wedding. I want those bikini toned arms and legs for my wedding day!
The Tone It Up girls and my Jawbone UP are keeping me going more consistently than in the past. I've completed the first T.I.U. Beach Babe DVD too many times to count, and the workouts never seem to get old.
I started today with what the Tone It Up girls call a Booty Call, no not that kind! It's just some form of fitness training to get your body moving early in the morning. Perfect for when you have evening plans, like a blogger meetup!

Via Pinterest

It was strange to be up and running before 7 AM, but as the day goes on I definitely feel a little more positive. Although, I don't know if it's the feeling of accomplishment or the endorphin's from the run still pumping. I'm glad I got a quick 20 minute jog in and can go to the blogger meetup tonight not feeling guilty about missing a day. Hey - I might even squeeze in some Summer Arms over lunch!

Do you workout in the morning or evening or both? :)

Shop Less, Run More

In an effort to save money for our wedding, I have really cut back on my spending and not allowed myself to step foot in a Marshall's.

I really haven't bought any clothes since the first week of May. I almost feel like I deserve a standing ovation for that, consider the fact that I used to frequent a Marshall's at least once a week and almost always leave with some article of clothing. It's a problem.

But, with the wedding coming up and my need to save money and think further out in the future I have kept the reigns in on spending. We've cut back on dinner outings too, limiting to only once or twice a week to go out. The real sad part of this is that my fashion appears to be suffering in reference to fashion blogging. I have nothing new so I feel like I have nothing to post for you all. Hence the many sets I've published recently like this one, and this one. Expect to see more of these.

You can also expect to see some workout posts incorporated in, this is a lifestyle blog so I figure I'm allowed to. It takes up time, makes me feel better and for the most part saves me money by keeping me occupied. Only pitfall is my inclination for techie gadgets, all of the watches with strapless heart rate monitors and distance/gps trackers sound too cool! I might have broke down and bought one.

Jawbone UP

The Jawbone UP, I got it in mint of course in an effort to stay in line with wedding colors. "Sweating for the wedding" over here people! This was the most attractive and fashionable looking fitness band I found in my hours of research. The band itself tracks your activity (distance and intensity) and sleep patterns, then there is an app that you log your food, mood, etc. There is an idle setting where you input a set amount of time, if you are still for that long the UP will vibrate and tell you to get moving. It's also got a pretty sweet smart alarm that will wake you up at the "perfect time" based on your sleep patterns. I'm really interested to see how many steps I take each day, 10,000 or 5 miles is a recommended amount. That sounds like a lot to me, but I want to get myself in better shape and feel strong, not just thin. I can't wait for it to arrive and try out all these features. I'll be sure to report back and let you know how it works for me.

Have you tried any fitness bands out?  Do you have any unusual tips for saving money?


Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Pink guns, tofu pudding and getting fit

 This may be one of the weirdest, oddball, conglomerates of a blog post many fashion bloggers have ever read, but this is me and here it goes.

In addition to my pescatarian eating lately, I've been trying to get fit.  I am actually underweight for my height, but I am starting to notice the little things that need toning up.  This probably has something to do with the fact that I'm getting "over the hill" tomorrow. No longer will I be in my early 20's, 26 here I come!!

I've been running, practicing Yoga and doing the Tone It Up bikini series. Karina & Katrina are awesome- if you haven't worked out to one of their videos before you should totally check them out. They are so motivational and you "check in" with them and their other followers regularly to keep you on track.  

I ran a 5K a week ago and cut my time from the October 5K that I ran by over 8 and a half minutes! You better believe I am a happy girl about that!  Now to keep going and get my time under 30 minutes for the next one.

My birthday is tomorrow, and here's what I'm getting from my man! A pink Sig Sauer Mosquito .22 pistol. :)  I can't wait to go take it out to the range this weekend and blow some targets away.

My Birthday Present

Dee shooting at the range

My turn!! Good shot of my ombre hair too ;)

We went to the range after my 5k and made the day that much more EXTREME! haha

A yummy dessert was very needed after all of my healthy endeavors, so I made some Chocolate Tofu Pudding.  Non-tofu eaters, before you turn up your nose- this stuff was gooooood! It was like a healthy, slightly thicker chocolate mousse.  Here's the recipe in case you want to try it, it was so easy
.

I'm on the look out for more vegetarian recipes to keep on track with this new "diet" of mine so any readers with recommendations please send them my way.

Chocolate Tofu Pudding Ingredients, just add water.

Thanks for reading, I hope y'all are having a good week!