Brady Bands and their awesome-ness

Gooooood morning! 

I don't know about you, but I've had a nice productive morning so far.

• I woke up to the boyfriend complaining about cat puke in the kitchen
• Cleaned up said cat puke (it is my cat)
• Washed my hands (duh!)
• Made a little iced coffee with yesterday's coffee leftovers
• Made blueberry oatmeal
• Watched a little Today Show
• And then read something that made me cry my eyes out

Yeah, about that last one. One of my favorite bloggers had a guest post today from a chick named Amy who is also the creator of one of my new favorite finds, Brady Bands. Now I knew from purchasing these bands before that every purchase helps to fight childhood cancer but I didn't know exactly how close this cause was to Amy until I read this post. 

And now I want to buy every Brady Band she has. 

Butttttt let's be real - home girl has bills to pay. So I just bought another 4.

Brady Bands are these magical non-slip headbands that I wear when I work out. I have that annoying baby fine hair that never holds any cute hairstyles for long and whenever I wear those normal grocery store headbands, I am constantly readjusting them to keep them in place. Not these bad boys - no, no, no.

Brady Bands have this velvety material on the inside that seriously makes the band NOT MOVE. It's amazing.

The only downside to Brady Bands? They get stinky after a long run or a few workouts. But no biggie! I throw them in the washer with my clothes and BOOM! they're back in action.

I just bought 4 this morning. It was a remarkably good deal too because she has a coupon code right now for $1 off each headband for every purchase of 4 or more so I got all 4 for around $22. And this time I got some cute ones! Stay tuned for pictures when I receive them later this week (the shipping is pretty quick, holla!).

*Disclaimer: I was not in any way paid to review Brady Bands. And I paid for everyone of them at full price. Hell - this lady doesn't even know that I'm talking about her today... this is my own personal stream of consciousness. 

What are you going to do to make your Tuesday awesome?

Boobless and Twitter - but not together.

First things first. I got a Twitter account.

I am so 2006 over here. Until yesterday, I felt pretty confident in my social media expertise. Annnnd then I got on Twitter and suddenly felt like a 100 year old woman trying to figure out e-mail. And then I saw something about some crap called Keek? And SnapChat? I can't handle all of this junk... I'll get the hang of it, I guess.

Wanna follow me? Of course you do. I'm too mentally slow to figure out how to add the Twitter button to my blog (SOMEONE HELP ME!) but my handle is @HealthLittleMe so jump on it!

Today I'm going to speak on behalf of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee. Remember that time see Sam run complained about her big boob greatness? Yeah, well I'm here to tell you that this grass is always greener on the other side. 

The one problem with me losing around 20 pounds? 
My small boobs have become even SMALLER. 

I'm saying these bad boys are INVERTED. And all of a sudden, I've started to develop a small boob complex about myself. I yearn to be able to walk around without a bra on and not get mistaken for a 10 year old boy. I'd love to be able to have actual cleavage; I'd kill for some side boob action in a tank top. Jesus all I want is a true A cup - is that too much to ask?!?

The other day I was in Victoria's Secret doing my usual panty shopping when an all too enthusiastic salesgirl approached me to ask if I'd been measured lately. Me, in all my flatchested-ness (which was even worse at that moment because I was wearing a sportsbra) all but fell to her feet sobbing. Help me! I wanted to cry. This was definitely a rare moment for me because I'm too much of a cheapskate to ever speak to anyone in a sales position; I know they want to sell me their most expensive shit they've got. But at this particular moment, I was ready to drop some cash on my lack of a rack. $50 is cheaper than a boob job, right? And this whole no boob thing is started to seriously eff with my confidence. 

30 minutes and 5 bras later, and I proudly marched out of that store with a Bombshell push-up in hand. That bad boy adds 2 cup sizes and makes me look like I have a legitimate pair of knockers. Crisis averted and boob job plans delayed.

Don't get me wrong - I actually like having little boobs. But there's a difference in LITTLE boobs and NO boobs. 

Being Positive Polly, I tried to convince myself that being flatchested is cool.

I mean, I can and have gone for a run before with no bra on. And didn't even notice the difference. (see Sam run is shaking her fists at me right now, I know it.)

I can also do the downward dog in Yoga without motorboating myself. (I went to Yoga once with a BIG busted friend and she was having a time!)

I can rock those little strapless bikinis on the beach. 

I can wear something backless and go sans bra.

I'm not saying being flatchested doesn't have its perks - see what I did there? I'm just saying when I'm wearing regular clothes I feel a little... without.

All of my flat chested women - what tricks do you use to make your boobs look bigger?

Happy Thursday, people. 

Short Spandex and my Love/Hate relationship

So I finally cashed in a gift card for Dick's Sporting Goods that I received for my birthday. I'm honestly way too cheap to shop in that store but nothing helps you break out of your skin like spending someone else's money. 

And the verdict is: I love that place. All of the cute running clothes? I wanted to dive in head first and never leave. I can't tell you how hard it was to stay within my gift card amount, actually I may have gone a teensy weensy bit over but whatever.

I told y'all the other day how hot the summer is in North Carolina. Given my recent struggles to beat the heat, I decided to take a plunge and buy something very new to me.

I bought compression shorts.

It wasn't easy. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that there are currently around 50 different types of compression shorts sold at Dick's. And man some of those things are TINY! I mean they look like underwear. I chose something kind of in the middle - not too too short but still short (the long ones I tried on did absolutely nothing for my short thick legs). And as much as I want to be, I'm not in love with them.

I made the boyfriend snap this picture yesterday after my run. I told him to, "try to get the most flattering picture you can," and this is what I got.

The Pros:

• These are made by Under Armor and the fabric is AMAZING! I know my butt was super sweaty after yesterday's morning run but touching the fabric, you couldn't tell. 
• They definitely beat the heat - when I do need to run in the hot-ass afternoon sun, I'll definitely be rocking with these.

The Cons:

• They definitely ride up when I run. I literally felt like I was running in my underwear yesterday - which I guess I'm cool with but I should probably pay attention to the area of town I'm in when I'm wearing these.
• I feel SUPER self-conscious in them. Y'all I am PROUD of my legs and what they are able to do. I've put some SERIOUS mileage on these gams since the beginning of the year and I really do think they are looking better and better (I'm rocking skinny jeans on the REGULAR for Pete's sake). But I'm not 100% comfortable in these things - there is something about a pair of tight spandex shorts that makes even skinny girls feel a tad insecure. 

But hey! I ripped the tags off of them and threw away the receipt so they are HERE TO STAY! I'll warm up to them eventually.. right?

Speaking of my legs and the badass things they are capable of doing, I signed up for another race yesterday. Yep, I'll be running a 10k next Saturday for a Father's Day themed run. Y'all know I'm a sucker for a good race t-shirt (although see Sam run thinks I have a hidden shrine somewhere because I never wear them) and because it's the Dash for Dad, they are printing mi padre's name on the back of my t-shirt! 

HAPPY HUMP DAY, everyone. 

Haters gon' hate.

Okay - first thing first. 

I've jumped on the wagon with see Sam run and I'm here to tell you that the 30 day squat challenge sucks. 

It doesn't suck at first. That first day seems pretty easy. And so does the second day. And then you wake up on day 3 and have no clue why it hurts to walk up stairs. And then you get to day 4 and PRAISE HIM for the word "rest". Annnnd that's where I'm at right now.

But today's post isn't about the squat challenge - it's about something else. The summer. And, here comes the shocker, WHY I HATE THE SUMMER IN NC.

If you're from a humid hot place, I don't need to spell it out for you.

But if you're not, let me tell y'all this: summertime in North Carolina is MISERABLE for running, and walking, and drinking... okay I'm just being dramatic with the whole drinking thing but whatevs. 

I dropped the boyfriend off at his summer class the other day (10 AM - 12 PM) and decided to go for a little run around the campus while I waited on him. Let's just say I'm about to barf even thinking of it now. 85 degrees and as humid as a steam room filled with hot baking grease. The shade was farce and the sun was hot. I tried my best to keep my mind off of it - but it's hard to ignore the blend of sweat and last night's mascara as it slowly drips into your eyeball while you're trying to ignore the heat and listen to some Flo Rida. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

Just yesterday I tried walking the dog 5 BLOCKS to the nearest crack, uhhh, coffee shop at like 9 AM. Annnnd once we returned, she laid on the cold hardwood floor in the dining room covered in wet wash clothes and in front of a box fan for like three hours. Shit is real, y'all.

So for the next few months, I will be running, walking, and doing all other outdoor activities at the ass crack of dawn or in the evening (and let's be real - it will definitely be evening).

What else do I hate about summer?
-mosquitoes
-sand spurs
-high ass electricity bills
-sunburn
-falling asleep on the beach and getting sand in my mouth (yes, really)
-flea season (hello big white dog in my house!)
-peeling skin after the aforementioned sunburn
-frizzy hair (thanks, humidity!)
-pit stains (there - I said it)
-beach traffic
-overload of tourists

Annnnd I think that's it.

I want you to know that I realize what a bitch I sound like right now. Everyone's all counting down to summer all year and here I am Ebeneezer Scrooging it for everyone. And honestly, summer is wonderful... but it's so DAMN hot.

This reminds me of a 5K I ran last year.

It was right at the end of June on a Saturday morning around 9 am. It was called the Run for the Red and was an effort for our community to raise money for the local Red Cross. Cute, right? Except it wasn't. It was 95 degrees before the humidity was factored in and the route had literally ONE TREE for shade. All I'm saying is this: it's a good thing the Red Cross was there because I thought I was going to die. And I was having a worse time than others because of see Sam run. That's right. Not only was she sitting this race out but she decided the night before to go bar hopping and force me to drink red bull and vodka with her all night. I'm pretty sure the only thing keeping me going during that race was the motive to murder her immediately afterwards. (wait - did I just say that out loud? hehe)

And speaking of good ol' see Sam run, did y'all miss her or what on Saturday?

Uhhh she's kidding, right?

RIGHT?!?!???

See y'all tomorrow. We'll talk about compression shorts and why I love/hate them.

MIA but I can explain!

Yep, I've been MIA for a hot minute. And as much as I want to SNEAK back in and act like nothing happened - a lot has happened since my last post. Let's get right to it.

So in chronological order, this is what I've been up to.

Did this. Yep, see Sam run and I may have done a little late birthday celebration. The day started out so innocent - a little bike ride around a city park. But the innocence didn't last - and after a day of drinking copious amounts of Pinot Grigio, shopping under the influence of said Pinot, and bar hopping later with less drunk friends - our day was finished and our havoc wreaked. Who says turning 25 is old and boring?

Speaking of old and boring - HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY to see Sam run. I just saw her today and she still doesn't look a day over 22... 

I also did this. I know what you're thinking - what's a wild possum doing in a vet's office? Well that, ladies and gentlemen, is not a wild possum. It's my peculiar cat Phoebe. And for the record, the vet is super expensive. Clean my cats teeth for $200?! She licks her own genitals - I think the teeth clean is too little too late, but thanks anyways.

Then I did this - my home away from home... AN AIRPLANE. I got sent back to Oklahoma City for another two weeks of work - this has almost everything to do with my absence on the blog. Let me expound:

14 days of 12 hour shifts spent staring at a computer. I felt like Jack Nicholson in The Shining. I mean I was DONE. And even if I did somehow get motivated to write a HLM post, the company I work for is BIG BROTHER like crazy with their IT programs and there was NO WAYYY I was logging into blogspot on their internet. 

 The good thing about working in the office - I got to dress pretty! What I do in my career is not relevant to this blog therefore I need not talk about it. But what I can say is this: I do NOT get to wear pretty office clothes often. So I went a little crazy - note the shoe collection I brought with me above.

I could really get used to wearing cute outfits on a daily basis...

I also did this - drank shit tons of water. Was it good? Nah, just OK... hehe.

Oh and oh yeah - I forgot to mention that the day before I left OKC, I was around 5 to 10 miles from the Moore, OK tornado? Yes. It was so scary, ya'll. One minute the skies are blue and the birds are chirping and the next minute the sky is black and covered with hail, wind, and rain, and the tornado sirens are going off outside of my door. 

But my eyes were glued to the local news streaming from my phone the entire time and by the grace of God, we were missed. 

It is always hard to watch the aftermath of natural disasters on the news no matter where they've occurred. But there is nothing more sobering than seeing emergency personnel dig for people in piles of rubble on a national news station and realizing that that could have been you. My heart was broken leaving OK the next day and it still is. It's just amazing how devastating those storms can be with only a 45 minute warning.

One of my best friends and her husband just moved to OKC from Washington state and they are just as clueless about tornadoes as me. So I couldn't leave town without giving them a parting/house warming present: I got them tornado helmets.

Is this a silly gift? Yes. Is it a joke? Hell no. If something ever hits their house or office, I want to make sure their brains are covered. This is shit no one thinks about until your in the middle of tornado alley during peak season.

The day that I left OKC, I flew to Charlotte, NC and continued onto the mountains  where I met my parents and sister and did some pretty serious wedding planning. 

My favorite part of the week - she said YES to the dress, ya'll! But not before trying on one and a half billion dresses beforehand. She's got such a cute figure so it was hard to not love them all. For the record, this isn't HER dress but here's a little taste of my afternoon shopping... so dramatic! But doesn't she kind of look like the trophy from the Oscars?

And after a refreshing week in the mountains catching up with the kinfolk, I headed back to the shore to hang out with the boyfriend, my friends, and of course my dog. We have been a little obsessed over our backyard and back porch lately... Here's some of our work.

And since I got to Wilmington I have:

• Attended a lovely bridal shower for a friend
• Acquired the most AWKWARD sunburn ever
• Given my dog a bath, twice (white dogs are the WORST!)
• Ordered the Justin Timberlake album on vinyl
• Eaten delicious Thai food
• Gone running, of course

And right now, I'm sitting on my back deck finishing this post and waiting on see Sam run to get here and drink delicious sangria. BOOM. It's good to be back.

see Sam run Saturdays on Sunday: 30 Day Squat Challenge

Oops! It's not Saturday, but you guys don't mind, right?

This post will be just like me, short and sweet. I challenge YOU, readers, to this epic squat battle:

That's right, day 30 ends with 250!! You can do it! I jumped in on day 2 today. Let's go!

 Squats are a girls best friend!

-see Sam run

see Sam run Saturdays: "Post 29" and Control

Happy birthday to me!! Well, yesterday anyway...

Yesterday was my "post 29" birthday. Healthylittleme coined the term because I get nauseous at the very sound of that "T" word!

It bothers me that I can no longer say I'm in my twenties. This particular birthday makes me feel like I haven't accomplished as much as I'd hoped to by now. I don't have a house of my own, or a career, I haven't finished my Master's degree, I'm STILL a poor college student...

This got me thinking about what I HAVE accomplished thus far (way to be positive, right?) I am in graduate school, I have run races, and even a 10k, I bought the car I always wanted, I have two wonderful rescue dogs, I have the love of one of the most genuine men on the planet, I've lived on my own for 11 years now, I have authored books, I have been on NPR, and I have some of the best friends anyone could ever ask for. And now, lets add to it that I am getting in the best shape of my life. Not for anyone else, but for ME.

My pity party is over about no longer being in my twenties. You may return to your regularly scheduled programming.

That being said, this past week has been insane for so many reasons and my diet and exercise routine kind of, sort of fell off the face of the earth. But this is a new week and it's time to get on it! It's time to step it up! It's time to regain control.

I don't know about you, readers, but a big part of my weight struggles and relationship with food comes from feeling out of control. There are so many aspects of life that we are not in control of and I, personally, dealt with that by seeking comfort. Had a bad day at work? Hello cheeseburger and fries! Get a bad grade on an exam? Come to momma, ice cream! I feel like this is probably the case with a lot of people. We turn to comfort food to make us feel better. And it's not only food, it's other things like curling up on the couch and watching reruns of Friends despite the fact that you own every season on DVD and should probably be working on your thesis. No? That just me? My point is we often turn to familiar things of comfort to deal with the aspects of our lives we can't control, and that usually turns into a life of pork rinds and an ass that fits perfectly in the couch. We all need those comfort days, but sometimes they turn into comfort months. You know what's even better than mac-n-cheese and a Lost marathon? Having a fitness level you can be proud of. Having the confidence to wear those shorts you've been eying. Setting a goal and smashing it!

It took me THIRTY (I said it and I just threw up in my mouth a little) years to realize that the one thing you can control is YOUR choices. They may not always be perfect, but they are YOURS. You control you. You will fall, but it's your choice whether you pick yourself up or stay down. What's your choice?

Happy Saturday!

-see Sam run