Happy New Year

I can't believe I have not posted since September!   Life has been kind of busy lately.
Let's see.... In September, my husband and I participated in the Talladega Half Marathon and 5k Race.  That wasn't my best 5k.. It wasn't my work either. My husband had only ran his FIRST race (a 5k) two weeks prior to this, but I am so proud of him. He ran and didn't stop for the entire 13.1 miles! He finished in about 2 hours and 14 minutes. This is incredible time!!! Especially for someone who was NEW to Running!
He has done an excellent job, lost a good deal of weight since then (including having to nearly buy an entire new wardrobe of clothing because all of his were too big!) What a great reason!!!!!

I'm impressed with my times from my Races so far. Although I have only ran 5k's, Its been fun.
Let's recount this year of races for me.
My very first 5k ever, (I walked most of it) my time was 43 mins even.
My second 5k was the Talladega Half Marathon and 5k and my time was 39 minutes
and then the Liz Hurley 5k which I did in November with both my husband and our oldest child, Our 9 year old boy (who has run several 5k's so far) was 37 minutes.  I've also participated in various VIRTUAL 5k runs as well.

I took off the month of December for running because it was really hard (schedule wise)..-I know. BAD MOMMY!  and I am paying for it now.

For the Year of 2013..Here is what I have planned so far.
My goal is to run 500 miles, with hopes of hitting 1000 before Dec 31 2013.
I have the Dirty Girl Mud run, that I am running with a few of my members from our Moms RUN this town chapter in our area.  If you are a runner, check out www.MomsRUNthistown.com   and find a chapter near you.  We have over 300 chapters across the nation and Canada. It's a free running club for moms (You can be any kind of mom, Moms of humans, mom of pets, basically as long as you have the required body parts of a woman, you can join!  ;)   Whether you walk, jog or run! Push a stroller, carry a leash, or just an ipod... Check us OUT!


In April, I have the SuperHero Scramble.  This is a 5-6 mi run with 20+ obstacles. These aren't your everyday obstacles and looks to be MUCH harder than the warrior dash.. If you like mud runs and want to be covered in SLIME, you need to go to www.superheroscramble.com and check them out.

I also would like to run in the "Lead me to the Cross" this year, as well as the Cotton Row Run again in May.  If I can, I would LOVE my first half marathon to be the Huntsville Half in November 2013.

I encourage you all to check out http://www.losebigfat.com/ as this site has a ton of information on becoming healthy!

I hope you all had a great 2012, and I look forward to posting more in 2013!
With the official launch of my Girls Modest & Fun clothing line (www.kallialba.com) and still doing the Bridal Line full speed, Its going to be a busy year.

Challenges

I should have posted this the beginning of September, when I started it.  You can probably use this for any month though, there are always health and Fitness challenges out there.
During the Month of September I started seriously working on my butt and thighs.  I cant count the number of lunges and squats that Ive done, and there have been days where it was hard to walk, and especially hot to sit, but I made it through.  I've even got something to help you get through those painful days a little bit easier.

I'm posting a picture of a challenge from a site that I visit a lot on Facebook.  I got this from Health and Fitness Chick.   This lady is a Killer Workout Lady.   She's got some awesome stuff going on.

Okay, I do NOT only do the workout's in this challenge. This is just like a mini workout. (I have done this on several occasions while the kids were eating breakfast and getting ready for school.  I also do an entirely different workout that includes Dead Leg Lifts, more squats and lunges, side lunges, side squats, bridges, donkey kicks, one leg squats, etc.  On top of all this, I am consistently running almost everyday. I normally run at least 3.1 miles, but some days I go 3 1/2.  Of course, there are a few days, where I only make it 2 miles.  -But hey, at least I'm doing it, right.   GOT Young kids?  No problem, put them in a stroller and start walking.. Heck, At the Talladega Half and 5k, I saw people RUNNING pushing their kids in an Umbrella stroller.. As long as its a flat road like surface, this isn't a problem, but if you want to be extra safe and don't want the child to asborb all the shock, check out craigslist and look into buying a used Jogging Stroller.  Or a new one if you have the funds for it!.

Okay, so Earlier I mentioned something that can help you get through those days where you are hurting so bad you can barely walk from your awesome workout the day before.  Well first off, SLEEP, but don't stop working out!  Keep it up. PUSH through the pain. -But this will help cut your sore time down..Nightime Recovery   If you want something to start immediate after your workout, you can try this: Post Workout Recovery.
Also, make sure you are eating foods that will HELP your workout, not hinder your workout. This is one of the hardest parts for me. I love food. I love junk food. I love pizza. I love chocolate. I love .........non healthy foods!  -  I have found that I can still eat all of these, just not on an every day basis like I was.  It really does help.  

Fall Beginnings

I know I haven't posted since July, and I can come up with a thousand excuses, but I'm not.  I just didn't get around to posting. That's my final and honest answer.

So what's been going on since the last time I posted..
Well... My husband and I just made a trip to Talladega, where he ran a Half Marathon.  Only two weeks after he ran his FIRST 5k.  Sound's crazy, right?  It is.  No lie there, but he did it! He ran the entire half, without stopping and made excellent time at 2 hours and 12 minutes.

I didn;t do so well on my 5k part but I did ok. I clocked in at 39 minutes.
Our nine year old completed his 2nd 5k since May and our almost 8 year old has taken up running as well.
Their Choice-  They love running now and make a point to go outside and run a mile or more every couple of days.  Our 2 year old like to try and chase them.

I really want to touch on something that has become a huge pet peeve of mine.....
People that constantly complain about wanting to change their life, needing to change their life, SAYING that they are changing their life, but its not working....BUT they are really just sitting there....Pretending to do all of the above..

If you really want to change your life, get healthy, then do it! If you are having a hard time, don't kill yourself over it. Everyone has those days. NO ONE SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE EASY!

Lets say your goal is to .."stop eating so much fast food".. Then do it.  Take a snack in your car with you when you are out, so when you are tempted to run through the drive thru, just because you see the sign and think "that' will taste good"-take out your healthy snack, KEEP YOUR MIND STRONG, and munch on that.

IF you want to exercise- DO IT.  You don't have to join a gym.  Start by walking in your neighborhood or even around your house.
Let me tell you this: 6 months ago, I couldn't even RUN for 2 minutes without being out of breath and stopping.. I even had a NINE week break from running/jogging to let my foot heal from an Achilles Tendon Injury, but NOW I can run an entire 5k WITHOUT stopping. (That's 3.1 miles for all of you that didn't already know that).. In fact, I can actually RUN 3 1/2 miles without stopping.-Maybe more.
I just PUSH myself because I know that If I don't ...NO ONE ELSE WILL.

I can't blame my kids, or my husband, or my parents, or my friends for ME not choosing to be healthy. I am the ONLY one in charge of the food I eat, and the exercise I do. I am the only one that is going to reach MY goals. NO ONE ELSE is able to do that for me.

That being said=-I eat junk food.. ALL THE TIME... I can't just GIVE it up.  In fact, I'm just as guilty as the next person for eating fast food. I am HORRIBLE at eating pizza several times a week.---But I am cutting back. SLOWLY.  -I even planned out an entire menu for my family this week and guess whats NOT on the list- Pizza!   What is on the list.. Yummy delicious, HEALTHY versions of Taco's, Chicken n Dumplings, Crock Pot Chicken, Sandwiches, etc.. and YES I still drink Soda's... But I've cut back a lot from the days where that was ALL I would drink.

Do you have cans of food lying around?   You can use those in the place of hand held waits. It may not be a lot, but its something.  You can do squats while watching tv, or cooking in the kitchen.  You can do to lifts while washing dishes (for those of you that do not depend on a dishwasher to do it all).  You can exercise while mopping or vacuuming.  You may look funny dancing around while doing it, but who cares!  Have a little fun with it.

When I run, and I look over at my gps tracker to see that I've hit a mile, or a half mile, or two miles. I just start smiling and telling myself that I will NOT quit!  My MIND may be saying quit, but my body is more than willing to go that extra mile!

Don't listen to the negatives in your life that tell you that you can't do it!  Turn your CAN'T into CAN and change your life.

Every small change, over time added together turns into a HUGE change!  YOU CAN reach your goals.

No, whether your goal is to gain weight, build muscle, loose weight, maintain weight, eat healthier, or even just to make your skin look better......There are ways you can get help without destroying your insides.
Click here to see how we can create a plan just for you.  Or you can click Here to see even more.
Let's just start by helping you make healthier choices!  (I'm right there with you).... A little change over time, is a HUGE change over all...... Rome wasn't built in a day.. You are NOT going to see change immediately, but give it time, and you will....Your body will thank you.  

Day 3..of partially clean eating.

Day 3


I gave in yesterday and ate some pizza.  I looked it up and the calories really were not all that bad for what I ate. I think my body was craving some serious carbs.  Day one of clean eating went really well, for breakfast, I had 2 hard boiled eggs. For Lunch I had a caesar salad, and for dinner I had a chicken caesar salad.  I had water all day, no coffee, No coke.


We went to the gym not long after we ate, and I even remembered to take my catalyst this time. Oh, I did drink some spark right before we went. This is what my strength workouts include:


Arm Curl
Arm Extension
Back Extension
Chest Presss
Wide Grip Pulldown
Leg Extension
Leg Press
Shoulder Press
Seated Row
Leg Curl
Hip Abduction
Hip Adduction
Roc-it Abdominal
Abdominal Crunch.
The weights I lift vary with each machine, but I always lift the same each time. I change them when I do not feel that they are helping any more.  I lift 2 sets of 12 reps (24 total).  Usually the first 12 on all machines are fairly easy.  Once I get past the 6th rep on the 2nd set, is when I start to feel it starting to burn (not in a bad way though). If I don't feel this after I finish my 2nd rep, I know I need to increase my weight a tiny bit.
The hardest for me is one of the AB machines. Its incredibly hard for me.  My upper body needs a lot more of a workout than my lower body, but I feel better.


I am supposed to do my strength training 4-5 days a week, while i am supposed to do Cardio 6 days a week.
My cardio is supposed to be 50 minutes. I normally do this by running indoor, or outdoor. (check out www.MomsRUNthistown.com) for other great info for Women Runners.  Lately, since I've had some issues with my Achilles Tendon, I have not been able to do Cardio like I wanted.  I thought that walking on the beach last week was Really going to hurt, but it didn't.  The sand didn't bother me at all.  What bothered me the most, was swimming. Each time I go to kick my feet to swim, It feels as though my left foot is being ripped of. (Pain!!)


So I thought I would take a few weeks off.  I can't take off to much time, because the warrior dash is coming up in September and I've made a committment to run in it.I can't back out of it, unless of course the pain gets so unbearable that I can barely walk. I've been looking forward to the Warrior Dash for more than six months. (www.WarriorDash.com) 
So instead of running, I decided to try another form of Cardio, by doing the elliptical and the arc trainer.  The Arc Trainer is more of a "Stride"  Its actually not so hard on my ankle for the most part. By the time 15 minutes was up, I felt like I had run 3 miles.


After my workouts I almost ALWAYS go into the Dry Sauna to relax.  Most people do not like the 200+ degree heat.  I love it.  I take a book or my kindle, and some good tunes and read to my hearts contest.  I usually try to stay in there about 20 minutes, but I have made it longer before.  The Sauna, although very hot, feels great on tired muscles and to me, it seems to help muscle recovery.  It also helps make my ankle feel a lot better after the torture I've just put it through. :-)

Almost there..EEK!

Wowzers!!! We joined the local YMCA, because they had so many things offered for our three kiddos. Its pretty amazing!!! I started running on the treadmill when we go, to keep my running up, which actually helped me to achieve a new running goal. I was actually able to complete week 6 of C25K and I was able to run for twenty minutes straight.. Yesterday I was suppose to run for 25 minutes straight but I ended up stopping and walking for a few minutes. It felt SO good to get that running out. With the crazy week (non running related) I've had it was so nice to let it all out!

Okay, so updating you on my challenge. Today is Day 10. Final day of the Cleanse phase. Clean eating has been a new challenge for me, but I am really enjoying it. I feel so much better. Even though I DID slip up twice and eat some pizza,  I still feel great!  So far, when I measured yesterday morning. In the nine days since I started the challenge, I had lost 7 1/2 inches and 6 lbs! Yes! I am 100% telling you the truth!  

Also, crazy week. Yes please! What is my life w/o a few crazy turns thrown in there.. On the business side of things we had a Fantastic Photo shoot for Fashion Week AL for my Bridal Line.  The photographer was TRULY amazing and so sweet.  The MUA, The Stylist, The Accessories Lady and everyone involved did such great work. The model was gorgeous!
I honestly can not wait to make another wedding gown similar to this one but a tiny bit different.  It will be MINE for my husband and My vow renewal for our 10th anniversary this summer!  I'm so psyched.  Ten years/a Decade/ is a long time.... Especially when you hardly even knew each other when you got married. (NO LIE THERE).  Our story is unique to us. We just move fast, thats all.  We met, fell in love, (seriously it was like a love at first site type of thing). Got engaged a couple weeks later, four months after that we were married.. Then just barely three months after our wedding day, we found out we had a bun in the oven!
So our first year of marriage was filled with getting to know each other, Me being pregnant with our first child, moving into a new home,giving birth to our first child (ONE MONTH before our 1st wedding anniversary!)..Wowzers.. and We've barely slowed down since. We now have three gorgeous kiddos.
We are blessed in so many ways.. So yes, A decade of us getting to know each other, our kids, and learning to get along., Its not been easy, its been Hard but its been FUN!  Most importantly, We've kept GOD #1 in our lives and are teaching our kids to do the same. That is how we've been able to get through some of the crazy trials we've gone through. Without God, we wouldnt be where we are today.

Anyway, sorry for the long rampant. I get off topic a lot and end up rambling..
Does anyone wanna see a pic from our awesome Bridal Gown shoot. Its my first NON tulle wedding gown!
Well You've waited through all my rambling.. So here ya go!

Photography Credits:

Exclusively Yours Photography

Dress Desginer:

Stephanie of Kalli Alba Bridal Couture

Hair Piece: Be Spotted

Will be showcased at

Fashion Week Alabama

Getting there:

So, I completed all of my week 5 C25K which is where I had to run for 20 minutes straight.  I made it 17 total and walked for 3.   I thought that was pretty good.
Yesterday I started week 6, and I was supposed to walk 5, run 5, walk 3, run 8 walk, 3, run 5 walk cooldown.
At my cool down I saw I was very close to 2.5 miles, I really wanted to hit 2.5 miles so instead of doing my cool down I ran for a few more minutes and then did my cool down.  Just so I could get in my 2.5.  After my cool down, according to my MotoActv when I finished my cool down I was at 2.66 miles, which was really neat.
I missed the deadline for the 5k run here at a local church, that I really wanted to do so I could wear my Moms RUN This Town shirt, but Now I will just have to wait until May to wear it in another 5k that My son and I are doing together. Yes, my 8 1/2 (will actually turn 9 one month after the 5k) and I are doing a 5K together.  He can run a 5k with no problem at all. Kids and All their energy.

Im still hoping to get some more ladies to join me in the Warrior Dash in TN in September to be running partners with.  My running partner may not get to go. :-(

Anyway, so with this whole 24 day challenge that I started on Tuesday.  I am already down almost 6 pounds. I checked my waist measurement (I didnt want to check the rest) and so far, I've lost one inch in my waist..Now come on Hips..CATCH UP..lol... (I didnt measure my hips so its possible an inch or half an inch is gone already)  I feel so much better. I have more energy. My skin already looks much better and I can see my belly being more flat! I'm so excited.  Click here to get the 24 day Challenge.  Its Truly amazing!

So anyway, I had a really great experience yesterday.  A week ago, Fashion Week AL contacted me while I was on vacation to design a wedding gown for an upcoming promo shoot.  I was able to do this as soon as I got back home... It took about two days, and I know if I had more time I could have done a TON better and it would have been even more amazing
The shoot  (from the sneak peek) pictures that I was shown, was totally Amazing!! An amazing photographer, stylist, hair and make up artists, and even accessory designer! AMAZING.....
I want to show you a sneak peek but I have to wait till I get the final edits back in.... SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!

Okay, thats enough for now.....Have a great day!!!! Remember-* No matter how slow you are going, you are lapping EVERYONE on the couch!