Welcome:
Welcome to “The Running In Pink Project”. This is a blog about trying to get fit and be happy. I think the key to success is all about balance. That’s why this blog will show the good, the bad, the ups and downs of learning how to get fit and stay healthy. One of my major fitness goals is becoming a runner. By that I mean gaining the knowledge and stamina to really run. It is going to be a process but I think that is part of the fun.
Im Sara, a just 30-something girl who wants my 30’s to be my healthiest decade yet. I am a busy busy girl which is just how I like it! I have a full time career in the human service field and I go to graduate school part time. After getting my MA in Human Relations in 2008 I realized I had found my niche in the work place. I am currently working towards a MA in Marriage and Family Counseling and hope to one day someday get my counseling license.
I live, laugh, and love in Virginia with my husband of 2 years Bryan aka Monkey aka Fraggle aka Rabbit (you’ll hear to me refer to him by many names) and our two marvelous pups. Our Shihtzu Carrie (aka CareBear aka Bear aka Stinks McGee aka Stinks ) and our Corgi Harlow (aka Low-Bean aka Bean aka Low-Low) are maybe the two most opinionated dogs on the planet but I adore them. I also adore nicknames in case you didn’t notice!
The Pups~
The Hubs~
I have a pretty long path to my ultimate fitness goals ahead and I hope that this blog will serve to inspire those that are just starting their own journeys. It can be pretty confusing (and intimidating) to just see a finished product and have no idea how someone got there. I am dedicated to finding the regimens, products, and foods that will best help me reach my goals.
Finally, Don’t forget to have fun. If you want to climb then ditch the stair stepper and hike a trail. If you want to bike then take a mini road trip and bike with friends. Do what makes you smile and feel happy. That is why when I run….I run in pink!
My Background:
I spent my childhood in WV in a beautiful but boring little town. Most of my fitness centered around dance from a young age. I had dance class 2-3 nights a week and dance team practice daily. Through my teen years dance remained a huge part of my life and identity and it remains a passion to this day.
During this part of my life I never spent much time thinking about health and fitness. Meals were planned for me and I had pretty constant physical activity. Once I got to college however, that all changed. I gained the dreaded freshman 15 and then some and then a little more which made me self conscious about heading into a dance class full of peers who did not seem to be having this problem. Quitting dance perpetuated the problem and four years and 1 degree later I was totally and utterly out of shape. I felt “bad” but really could not figure out exactly where this nagging feeling was coming from.
I decided to pick a city and move so that I could truly “make it on my own” with no friends or family. I applied to graduate schools and ultimately settled on The University of Memphis in Memphis, TN. I spent 2 ½ years there discovering who I was but not learning really anything at all about fitness. I spent mornings in the gym doing the elliptical daily and shed a few of those college pounds but my terrible eating habits and crazy schedule ultimately sabotaged me (or so I thought). It had yet to occur to me that this was something I could control.
During this time I had a lot of wonderful experiences and made some great friends. I was contemplating on where I was going to live after finishing school. At this point I had a major relationship fail in a devastating and dramatic way as major relationships tend to do sometimes. However there truly was a light at the end of the tunnel as I literally, just weeks later, met the man who would eventually become my husband.
After several months of dating I decided to move from Memphis to Virginia. A few months later Bryan proposed and a mere 22 months later we were married. (Ive never been one to rush anything). Ha! Some of my reluctance I am sad to say was wanting to lose weight before the wedding. While I lost a little I was nowhere near where I wanted to be in terms of health and fitness and frankly I was trying with a little t and not with a big T.
Once I was married I decided to devote some time to my career and some time to this and that and everything else it seemed. Finally, 2 years into my marriage and suddenly there were no more “but I need to just get this done first excuses”.
So here I am now; Losing weight, getting fit and getting healthy. My husband and I have switched to a 75% organic diet with limited red meat and limited sugar. I am also following Weight Watchers as a guide for caloric intake and attending those meetings weekly. I am in the process (trial and error) of finding a fitness routine that works for me. I love running but am relatively new to it. I am dying to get stronger and faster so this is my project to train and learn how to get there. The most important thing is to keep going with a smile on your face. This is life you are living so be happy and get healthy!
Other Interests:
I love traveling. Whether it is a day trip, a weekend trip, or a long trip away I am up for it. I am a huge fan of Disney and try to go twice a year at least (even if it is just for a weekend). In staying with that theme I love Alice In Wonderland which is one of the only things I “collect”. I prefer “old school” Alice but this “new school” Alice is growing on me and I have found myself buying a few things here and there.
I also love music. My favorite band is U2 but I like music in general. In staying with that theme my husband and I both love musicals (Wicked is a favorite) and we try to see 2-3 musicals a year. The tours help since we can’t always make it into a bigger city to see them.
We love good food and drinks so I am always interested to try the next “great” restaurant. I think if you are going to indulge every now and again it should be on something worth those calories. In terms of sweet treats cupcakes and baklava are my weakness.
I love the color pink and “Alice” blue. Guilty pleasures: Twilight Series, Britney Spears, and teen TV-Gossip Girl/Vampire Diaries/90210. (At least I can freely admit it!) I also love cooking (not baking which I am terrible at).
Finally, I have a love for fashion which I will likely blog about quite often. I am especially fond of bags and shoes (just ask my husband- he will tell you ALL about it!). I also heart Audrey Hepburn movies and have Audrey photos/art scattered throughout my home.
I am a huge huge football fan and have loved The Dallas Cowboys since as long as I can remember. I hope to see them play (in Texas) someday. (*Edit- I FINALLY got the chance to see them play in Dallas Nov 2010). The beach is one of my favorite places and there really is no place like home (for a visit). But these are the things (along with friends and family) that can always put a smile on my face.
Contact Me:
runninginpinkproject@gmail.com
We are extremely proud of what you are doing, but you might want to mention that you do have a mom and dad once in a while!!!
Love you too parents. 🙂
Awwww, I love Wicked. Saw it live in Dallas couple years ago. I hope we can get together for dinner when you come down to good ole Texas!
I would love that! Cant wait to see Texas!