Black Toenail

This might be a gross topic to some of you but it is important to me so I am going to blog about it. If you are squeamish or HATE feet like my friend Michael does, you might want to NOT read this post. If you can handle it, read on.

I have a black toenail. It isn’t the first and hopefully won’t be the last. Here it is for all to see:

Dirty...I know!

The first black toenail I got was after my 10k in November. I had my toenails painted red and that same one looked like a darker color. I didn’t think too much about it until I noticed that the toenail seemed thicker than the others. I decided to take the nail polish off and investigate. Sure enough, it was thicker and darker in color.

Hmmmm…let’s just see how much I can clip it with the toenail clippers. I kept clipping and clipping and clipped the whole top of the nail off (I have recently read up on the topic and we are NOT supposed to do this so don’t if you are having this issue). There was a nail already growing underneath and it didn’t hurt at all to clip it all off!

I did a little research online, found out this was normal for runner, and thanked God it was winter and I could wear socks and shoes while it grew back.

It had just grown back for my half-marathon and I had a growing suspicion it might not last long! Sure enough, after my half marathon, the nail was VERY tender. Then, two days later…BLACK.

Well darn!  Here we go again…

I thought maybe it was because my shoes were too small…NOPE!

I thought maybe it was from running downhill…that certainly wasn’t the case for this half marathon…it was so hilly!

I did a little MORE research and found this very insightful article. Apparently, this is VERY common among runners who run long distances. It is just another example of how I really am a runner!

I guess I will just have to go and get a pedicure to cover it up with some dark nail polish…oh darn!

There...that's better!

Have you ever had a black toenail from running? If you have, consider yourself a “real” runner. If you already consider yourself a “real” runner and you haven’t had one, consider yourself “real” lucky!

Me…A Runner?!?First Half Marathon – Registered

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Fun Exercise: Ice Skating

Last Saturday we went ice skating!

I haven’t been in a few years so I thought I might break my neck but I got up to speed pretty quickly. I only fell twice and though my knee ended up badly bruised from one fall I felt it went well.

I’ve loved spending the last couple of weeks doing new fun active things with Kepa. This time we went with a few friends and now we are all looking forward to more adventures (especially a snowboarding trip this year).

Finding a bunch of cool daily deals that allow us to try different things at half price has been awesome. GrabOne has been my best friend lately giving us ideas for fun things to do at half price. I love doing these kinds of activities that are both fun and active. It’s made being in New Zealand a lot more fun to be honest.

Ice skating for over an hour was a pretty great workout that didn’t even feel like work because it was fuuuuun! It isn’t something I do often so it was a nice switch from normal cardio activities.

On a different note…

While I love blogging, I’ve noticed I really needed/need a break. I haven’t felt like blogging yet this week and last week felt forced. That’s a sign that I need a blog break at least from this blog and all the stuff that goes with it in my head. I’m doing well with the fitness and food and finally actually lost weight… but I still need a break from posting so often and thinking about the blog.

I’m probably going to keep a slow/whenever-I-feel-like-it posting schedule for a while. There is a lot going on right now that makes me think I just needed to slow things here for a minute and focus on other things. And you know… just be me. Mary without the blog. So yeah. It was a good break and the forward blogging plan feels good.

Love you guys. Keep chasing your healthy and happy lives. Go ice skating or do something fun! <3

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Weight Loss Competition Is Over

Final Competition Weigh In!

Well…yesterday was our last weigh in from our weight loss competition at work.

How did I do, you ask?

I did not do good at all. In fact, I sucked.

I officially came in last place and didn’t really lose any weight over the entire course of the competition. But, here are the things I did accomplish while this competition was going on:

Not only that, I facilitated a group of people and in the end, the winner lost over 50 pounds and the group as a total lost almost 200 pounds! Isn’t that amazing?!?

So…this time around I was certainly not the biggest loser but I gained so much in the process that I am OK with that.

I am off to Florida with my BFF and her three munchkins for Spring Break! I am excited about playing with kiddos, sitting by the pool, finishing the third Hunger Games book, and exercising!

Are you going away for Spring Break? If you are, where are you headed?

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Half Size Me Podcast

My before and after picture!
Happy Monday everyone from sunny Florida!  I had a fabulous day yesterday relaxing in the sun and catching up with my BFF Kristen.  We have yet to run out of things to talk about so we are good for at least a few more days!
We did get a nice long walk in yesterday morning and I hope to again today.  It is always nice to have someone to talk to while working out.  It makes the time go by much faster.
While I am taking time away from the normal routine of day to day, I want you to head on over to Half Size Me.  Heather, the owner, asked me if I would do a podcast for her blog to tell others all about my weight loss and of course, I said , “YES!”  Anytime I can reach out to new peeps and let them know my story, I am there!
We had a great conversation that lasted about 30 minutes but it was so great to tell my story to new people who don’t know.  I hope you will head over to her site and check it out!
If you have a chance to listen to it, leave me a comment and tell me what you liked about it!
That Doesn’t Even Look Like You
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Weight Loss Tips for Beginners

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People who have realized that they have put excess weight on their body might think about starting of different exercises and follow different diets for getting rid of their extra weight. People who have never done any kind of weight loss exercises or weight loss diet should have followed first create are aware of the correct things that can make them lose weight. We give here, a few weight loss tips for beginners.

By making small lifestyle changes such as do more physical activities, taking the stairs instead of escalators, eat less and do more work; people can easily reduce their weight. Most of the time, the lifestyle of people is largely responsible for their excess weight. People need to do things like cleaning up their house and no remote to operate the TV to reduce their weight.

Just by walking for about 30 minutes per day, people can expect to lose weight their in a month. A large number of people who have developed a habit of walking know how easy it is to reduce weight by walking. Beginners should start by walking for 15 minutes every day. With time, people can increase the speed at which they run.

People consider not eating fast food as an option even when they are very hungry. Fast food provides empty calories to the body. For avoiding fast food, people need their lunch pack with themselves when they go outside. It is best to eat home cooked foods that are healthy and nutritious.

People need to start doing exercises such as running, cycling, weightlifting, rope skipping, etc.; for losing their weight. Weightlifting exercises should be done under expert guidance otherwise beginners can hurt themselves. Other exercises like cycling, rope skipping and running are also very beneficial for weight-loss and they can be done by anyone.

If you want to get your need to lose weight than you start with 3 to 4 cups of green tea per day. Green tea is an excellent weight loss drink. It contains a large number of antioxidants that have the ability to stimulate the rate of metabolism in the body. Green tea also keeps the mood of the people well. It helps people in burn the fat present in their body. A lot of people could reduce their weight using this drink.

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Are you Fiber full? – Per Weigh In

Are you eating enough high Fiber Foods?

My Monday night weigh in on Weight Watchers wasn't very eventful. I told you about my 2 pound gain last week, but I weigh not. I knew that unless I had lost the two pounds I gained last week, I knew it wasn't going to happen.

I weighed at home Monday morning and dropped 0.4, so I still knew that I was going to be that up when I weighed. Sure enough, a profit of 1.8. Surprisingly, I wasn't too upset about it.

I think a weekend spent in Philly, I was OK with getting not "technical".

This week the meeting topic was all about fiber. Yep … we talked about poop and the digestive system. It was not entirely about poop, but there was quite a bit of poop conversation going.

It was a very interesting topic. Did you know that women are supposed to have 25 grams of fiber in a day and men are believed to have 38? That is a heck of a lot of fibres.

If you have your 4 servings of fruits and vegetables with an additional two servings of food, you have met the requirement. If you're like me, you will not get your 4 servings so that doesn't happen.

I have also learned that corn has a higher fiber than serve brown rice. That was surprising for me! A diet rich in fiber is black beans. Try and black beans add to more recipes to more fiber in your diet.

I must make a conscious effort to try and eat more fiber. I can't eat fiber one bars or three brownies and call it a day. I mean, I could but Holy cow … the gas would be astronomical. Poor hubby if that happens!

An attempt to try and eat more fiber rich foods, let's make this week.

You get enough fiber in your diet or you are lacking in that area as I?

Photo Credit: Pinterest

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Another Friday five MishMash

Woah. Today's been a crazy day. Our internet is shaky and slow because we all used up too early this month and that my work makes difficult since it's 100% online. It is an exhausting, trying day but doing this post will cheer me until I know!

I'm thinking about buying a snowboard. If I have a on TradeMe (can find site that is like Craigslist meets Ebay) could I get one before our snowboarding trip this winter. A visit to Snowplanet rekindled my love for snowboarding and woke me up on the fact that I live relatively close to the mountains now (Memphis was so flat and so far away from them). I'm definitely planning to go multiple times, while I live in New Zealand so becoming a Board and boots would be a good idea. I will think about it more, but it has been added to my "wishlist" of any purchases.

Plus snowboarding is good exercise so I can count that as an activity to weight loss making a snowboard almost necessary. Right? ;)

Wedding Recap: food beverage &-because our food was tasty!

Wedding Recap: what went something wrong-because no wedding is ever perfect!

1. life is short. Yesterday I was listening to a podcast with a caller who had terminal cancer at 36. She said she hadn't prepared because they don't expect. What a reminder that life is short.

2. Sodium overload this week. I have way too much sodium consumed and I know it. I post about this soon, but for now all I can think about is whether my next meal is high in sodium and how I can lower it.

3. measurements. At the gym I noticed in the mirror that my legs appeared smaller than they once were. I couldn't tell if that was my opinion accurate or not so I decided to check my measurements when I came home. Holy moly, I really have lost inches off my body in the past three months. It is pretty exciting. In a few days I have to see my latest LiveFit measurements!

Four awesome things about this Week

JuJu and I had a great week this week. She is finally starting to understand how to walk on a leash without pulling all over her excited little self. Also they now understand the word ball and finds her ball in the garden on the command that amusing. Smart doggy!Chicken enchilada casserole is dinner tonight. I have no idea how to make this but the idea popped into my head last night and it sounded delicious.Tomorrow I go ice skating with a group of our friends here. Even better, today's daily deal was for this exact activity so we go to save half the cost. I used to hate daily deal sites, but lately they have been giving us out and try things here without blowing our budget. I only been ice skating a few times before but it was somewhat fun so I'm curious about this!A reader sent me a donation, because his mother loves to read my blog. This rarely happens and I do not ask for donations, but it made my day. Thanks David and David's MOM!What are you having for dinner next?What is your favorite way to treat/indulge?Baths or showers? Which do you prefer?What is your favorite/most trusted news website? Why?You still get actual read newspapers or simply news online?

That's it for me! I'm done with this internet fight for now, because I know I still have a few days of slow speed to deal with.

Enjoy your Friday and your weekend!

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