Greetings, friends! I come to you today with a little DIY project. I know I don't post these very often (mostly because I don't have a lot of time for DIY projects these days), but I thought this one was fun, and could be a little motivational nudge for those of us out there who are looking for a fun way to continue losing weight -- especially since we're officially into the summer! This is a super easy, cheap, and quick DIY project. In fact, most of the supplies for this project were purchased at the dollar store (or 99 cent store, for my NYC friends)! What is the purpose of these weight loss jars? Well, there are a few answers to this question. First and foremost, I have found that it is a lot more motivating for me to continue my weight loss journey when I can actually see  results. With these jars, you can see the marbles disappear from the "Weight To Lose" jar while you fill up your "Weight Lost" jar! Another good use for the jars is to e...

Oh, hello summer! I can't believe you're finally here! It's that time of the week where I link up with Sarah and Tamieka ! This week, we're talking about our favorite summer activities. For me, fitness is easiest to incorporate into my routine in the summer. Yes, I know that the seasons shouldn't  matter, but the reality is that they do! I am not a cold weather person, so winter is a real struggle for me. Spring and fall are great seasons for fitness too, but there's something about the summer that makes fitness -- especially with friends -- so much easier! In the DC area, it seems like just about everyone is doing something outdoors at least once a week. It's great! Okay, so I don't just do all fitness all the time (I'd have a 6 pack and killer traps if I did). I love doing all types of activities during the summer, and most of them are outdoors. My summers have been a mixed bag the last decade or so. No summer is the same, which is ju...

It's the start of a new week! Are you excited? I know I am! I have a challenging week up ahead, but I'm ready to be back into my regular schedule, with some hot yoga with friends sprinkled in throughout the week. I've been getting in my marathon training runs, and this heat wave we're beginning to experience in the DC Area isn't making that any easier! It's been just about a week since running the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon as a BibRave Pro, and while I've been training and playing volleyball and all that jazz, parts of me are still in recovery. Those parts include my poor left foot, one of my toes, and my dignity. :-| In case you couldn't tell from my post image on the left here, this was not my best race ever. I did not PR. I did not smile at the finish line. I did  finish, however, and sampled a lot of wine at the finish line. As an athlete, I have known the old adage that, "you win some, you lose some," for quite some time,...

Happy Thursday, everyone! This week has shaped up to be an excellent week for fitness for me! I'm down a few pounds since this time last month, and my body is finally feeling ready to really get into my marathon training. This week, I've played a volleyball double header (I subbed one match for my friend's team after my game on Monday), I did some hot yoga with my friend Jackie on Tuesday (our first time at Pure Om Bethesda ), and on Wednesday I hit up Sarah's yoga class after work, followed by an interval workout at a local track . I've been stretching and foam rolling, hydrating, weight lifting, and eating much healthier, and I feel GREAT! Since it's Thursday, that means I'm throwing down my thoughts on my summer vacation plans as part of the Thursday Throwdown ! This is where you get a chance to link up with Tamieka , Sarah, and me each Thursday! ...

Exciting news, you guys: The Thursday Throwdown is moving to a weekly format! Woohoo! Hopefully that will make it much easier for you lovely people to link up with us when you want. This month, we'll be focusing on summer, especially since June straddles two seasons. Today's theme is Transitioning to Summer Fitness Activities . This is one of my favorite things about summer: I can do all of my favorite things outside now! (And I love being outside!) Last summer, I got the chance to do a lot of outdoor activities for the first time, or for the first time in a long time. I got a chance to try stand up paddleboarding and kayaking on the same day, and I had the chance to play some grass volleyball and go for a long bike ride with friends. Last summer rocked! This summer, you have a lot to live up to! Each year, around this time, I am trying to reconfigure what I pack for workouts/runs. I take things out of my gym bag that I won't need for months (e.g. my running glove...

Happy Global Running Day, friends! For the second year in a row , I am linking up with my fellow Sweat Pink Ambassador Kristen from Jonesin' for a Run  for a National/Global Running Day Interview ! I'm also linking up with the Wild Workout Wednesday ladies, especially since they're focusing in on Global Running Day this week. Bonus: Nicole from Fitful Focus included one of my speed workouts in her Ultimate Running Workout Roundup post today! I love reading about people's relationships with running, and am often inspired by what gets people running in the first place! I usually learn something new about running when I read these interview responses. I hope you get a chance to read some too and learn a little something extra about running today! ...