Healthy Holidays: Part 2

Part 1 can be found {here}

Best Laid Plans:

For those that do not want to wait for January to begin establishing new habits and want to get a jump on changes, having a plan in place is even more important or failure will almost be a certainty.

• It is important to plan a menu and then prep the steps for each meal. Washing and cutting the vegetables ahead of time can make it easier and more likely for them to be eaten. 
• Planning every meal of each day right down to the snacks you will eat will eliminate mindless snacking and make poor choices less likely. 

• Prepare your meals in advance and have them ready to go in the refrigerator and keep healthy snack options available on the fly so you can munch and shop at the same time.

 Do you plan your meals?

Healthy Holidays: Pt 1

Does wishing yourself a Happy Holiday consist of noshing on nuts, ingesting eggnog, and consuming candy? When the Holidays roll around we usually give ourselves a vacation from healthy choices and chalk it up to tradition. Study after Study has shown the negative results of this mindset.

What about doing it differently? Why wait for the New Year to make small changes or even big changes? Those that choose lasting change don’t wait for the following Monday or the next month, they change now because they can!

Even Steven:

Often the best plan going into the Holiday season is not to drop a bunch of pounds but to be even steven by not losing or gaining weight. This is a solid approach that works best if you have healthy habits already established, such as a regular fitness and meal prep routine. Also, having a plan in place prior to celebrating will take the guess work out so you can concentrate on enjoying the best of what this season is all about.

• Never skip a meal, such as breakfast, and consider eating before you go to the party.
• Plan on having dessert as deprivation can lead to overeating, however, be strategic in your dessert choices by only eating your absolute fave sugary treats and limiting simple carbs throughout the day.  
• When you’re done eating chew a piece of gum or pop a mint to signal to yourself that you are now done eating for the night.

 What healthy holiday choices have helped you the most?

Originally posted {here} 

Race Report: Run Michigan Cheap Saranac

When I ran my first 10k in August it felt great to accomplish what had been an impossible task for me, up to that point. I decided to find a Half Marathon plan and shoot for a Half in November...which means the end of long distance running here in Michigan so my choices were limited. I ran across a race series called Run Michigan Cheap and thought it looked like a great affordable close to home option. 

Pros

Affordable: the Half was $25 early on and still only $30 or $35 for late signups. 

Location: close to home for the win!

Pictures: Lots of pics loaded quickly onto their Facebook page.

Medal: A race medal for the 5K, 10k and the Half.

Time limit: No time limit!

Water stations: Plenty of water stations

Cons 

Only one porta-potty

Cheap cotton tee 

No food offered at the end and if you weren't prepared for that after running a Half Marathon that could be dangerous. While I fueled well I saw NO ONE else with fuel so I know they were drained at the end. Bagels and banana's shouldn't add too much to the cost of the race, charge me an extra dollar or two. 

Overall, I really think the race series has a place and I hope they continue to offer races well into the future. I think that they dropped the ball by not offering quality food at the end. I came prepared with a protein bar but what if I hadn't....I was completely drained at the end and needed to eat something right away. Also, sort-of a picky thing but the cotton tees have been dropped for tech tees for a very good reason....you do not want to be racing in a cotton shirt...tech all the way baby.

For those who care about times....I averaged 12-something a mile and finished in 2:41. Not a bad place to start...I can improve upon that!

Where was your first Half Marathon?