let's be realistic: 7th and 8th week of change.

hi, long time no talk! I know it has been a minute since my last post, but it's been crazy busy around these parts!

to be honest, i didn't want to write over the last two weeks. I had been in such a negative, dark place that I was worried it wasn't ever going to brighten up. Negativity can be incredibly insidious; it spreads like an infection, and can be chronic like a disease.

and that's not something I wanted to share.

luckily, i'm on a come up. I got to take some time off, go on a vacation, and hang out with my absolute best friend in the entire world. Before jetting off, everyone kept telling me how much I 'need this'. I didn't realize it at the time, but everyone was right. 100%. Without doubt or question. I needed it.

i wanted to keep this post short and sweet. Because of the funk I was in, I needed not to focus on my physical gains but more on my mental ones. You have to want and strive to be not even good, but okay. Being okay is manageable. Being okay is doable. Being okay is, bare minimum, what we need. And sometimes, that's the hardest thing you'll do.

so instead of discussing what I ate, how far I ran, or what muscles/weight I've gained/lost... I'll just leave you with some pictures.

enjoy!

xo,

adrienne.

let's be realistic: 6th week of change.

finally, finally, spring is officially here in michigan. We haven't seen snow in about 2 weeks, and it was consistently sunny and warm over this past week. Praise the lord, hallelujah.

and with this weather comes with many positives, and a few negatives. Let's get the good out of the way: warm weather = long runs outside, and late nights around the bon fire.

now for the negatives: everything is covered in pollen, and me and pollen don't mix. I was one of those kids who never really got sick or had allergies when I was little. By the time I turned 14, though, I spent about 3 years in and out of doctors' offices and hospital rooms. My allergies kicked in when I was about 15, and they were off the charts. My body rejects most things foreign: all trees (except palm trees), all weeds, most grasses, soy, apples, pears, gluten, hops, cats, and many hearty herbs and flowers. On top of all that, I also have asthma.

so now with every plant/tree coming out of hibernation, my allergies and asthma have been off the charts. My life over the past 10 days has consisted of antihistamines, albuterol, and steroids.

my life, currently.

luckily, though, at 24 years of age I have a system figured out for this time of year. Clean, allergen-free eating; specifically timed medications; closed windows at night; no booze (except a glass of pinot noir, occassionally); and constant showering and laundry to get the pollen off my body. It's annoying, but not that bad and totally do-able! Even better, with this system of pills and treatments, I don't have to sacrifice my running!

pinot noir + popcorn on a saturday night. just call me olivia pope.

i've logged about 26 miles over the last week. I've run more than that weekly before, but I'm still so happy that I'm getting back into my running shape of seasons past. I managed to throw in  6, 7, and 8 mile runs over the weekend and I'm feeling amazing.

still running slow, but I'm finally back in the #25miles a week club.

those miles traveled have helped me clear my mind on a few things. Lately, I've felt like I've been putting in so much energy into my relationships. I feel like I've been clear with my needs and intentions, but I'm not receiving much in return.

and that sucks. 

i've been trying to focus on treating people the way I want to be treated, and making sure I give a little extra to my friendships. I've been focused on this for about 5 months now, but I feel like it hasn't been reciprocated. These solo miles I've put in on the pavement have helped me clear my mind and settle my thoughts on it: just because this effort hasn't been given back now, doesn't mean I'm completely off the good-karma train.

running, as i've said countless times before, makes me so much more level-headed. Things are clearer, I'm calmer, and it puts me in a much better place. If you haven't jumped on my run-wagon, you're missing out!

besides running, coloring books is my therapy. 

anyway, here's my week in review:

wet hair, baby abs poking through, and a messy room. sue me. 

fitness: 26ish miles ran, and some at home yoga #ftw
food: with my allergies in full swing, I've been doing pretty well. Recipes to come!
weight: I honestly haven't been keeping track, whoops ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

cold brew + hemp milk = caffeine and 27g of protein! if you live in southeastern michigan, stop by DROUGHT. it's currently my new raw obsession. 

that's it! Not much more, not much less.

spring on, sprouts!

xo,

adrienne.

let's be realistic: 5th week of change.

hi, my name is adrienne and I ate a hotpocket. And it was good. Really good. So good that I almost didn't regret, with 100% of my being, eating it. Almost. I needed to be honest, but... i digress.

ann arbor murals: we named her gloria shakira maria del toro.

now that it's the 5th week of change, I can honestly say that I'm seeing some legitimate change. I obviously still have the some of the same terrible no good fatty  indulgent, 100% human tendencies when it comes to food. I also, though, have a lot of motivation to go try something new, and embrace the growing green gardens of the spring. I feel leaner; it takes far less energy to complete the hardest of tasks, and I greet the easiest ones with gusto.

this past week has been relatively good, all things considered. There were some major ups, and a couple of downs, but plenty of room for growth.

my childhood summed up in one picture: Dairy Deluxe.

for some reason, this past week was crazy stressful with my work. It was just one of those weeks where I started off slightly negative but with every day I ended up in a worse mood. I was in a bit of a funk. I've had a lot on my mind regarding grad school, my career, my relationships, my life. I've been worried about my best friends, and the trials life keeps putting them through. I've been worried about the girls I watch, and how badly I just want them to be okay. The funk I was in took over completely.

yes, i definitely rubbed the buddha belly.

so what did i do? I ran. I definitely pushed my body, 1 week post bed-ridden, harder than I should have. But the runs healed me. I didn't run fast at all (averaged a 10min mile). And I definitely didn't run far (averaged 3.5 miles per run). But I did it. I gave my body and mind exactly what I needed, when I needed it.

i gave myself a major time out. I had lost my presence in my own life. I had lost grip of my dreams, and set in to a stagnant pace. And that's something I hate. So I grabbed a latte, snagged my kindle, and headed out into nature to try to get back to where I needed to be.

everything i needed: sunshine, good reads, and fresh air. 

but what else did I need? A nice day trip to Ann Arbor.

an ann arbor favorite: Frita Batidos.

my classic feast: Frita Batido's chorizo burger w/ fries, and the hibiscus batido (milkshake).

ann arbor, my college town, is where I grew up. Though it was over the course of an undergrad bachelors degree, post-high-school and pre-adulthood, it was where I developed into the person I am today. Check it out if you ever get the chance.

hot guys, cold hand crafted drinks. 

and then the cutest couple you'll ever meet.

post ann arbor, there was some awesome meal prep for the upcoming week. I made some vegan, gluten-free kale falafel bites (the perfect on-the-go food) and a bomb ass natural, skinny margarita. Recipes coming soon!

the falafel mise en place. 

10g of protein, 100% vegan goodness.

because cooking is better with a good German riesling. 

and now, here's my week in review!

weight: stayed the same, but I'm starting to see my hip flexors again! Yay for gains!
food: besides the hotpocket and some pizza, I'd call it a good week.
physical activity: logged about 12 miles, and got in 3 nike training workouts

all-in-all, I'm looking forward to this upcoming week. It luckily won't be another 45 hour week of straight work, but it'll be a great week of working productivity.

shine bright, my diamonds. 

xo.

adrienne. 

let's be realistic: 3rd & 4th week of change.

it's been a week (or two) of setbacks. I'm currently writing here, stuck in bed, and recovering from one of the nastiest bouts of the stomach flu I've ever had. It started this past Tuesday; I woke up early to go for a run, powered through about 5 miles, and got my day started. But I was exhausted by the time 9:30pm came around. I went to bed, slept solidly through the night (which never happens), and woke up at 5:45am on Wednesday in a fog. I wasn't hungry (which NEVER happens for this foodie). Before 10am even hit, I was in desperate need for a nap.

the 6:30am hint of a beautiful sunrise.

obligatory post-run pano of my deserted town.

i napped for about an hour, and got back to work. I thought it was probably my allergies kicking my derrière, which is typical this time of year. But by 2pm, a full on full-head headache kicked in. And so did a sore throat. It was horrible, but I have been in worse pain, so I kept on keeping on. I decided to go to Pobbleton Park and play some catch, and hope a little bit of fresh diamond air would make me feel better.

hahaha, the level of wrong I was about that is incalculable. BIG MISTAKE. HUGE.

as soon as we had walked over there and tossed the ball about, eh, 4 times, I started to see the twinkling spots that come right before I pass out. So I sat down, took some deep breaths, and then tossed up everything from that day. Needless to say, I've never felt as sexy as I did in that moment **rolls eyes to the other side of the room**.

hammock + tea + netflix is the best way to mend on sunny day. 

and that's how I've been for the last few days. I'm on the mend, but I feel so weak. It's going to take a while to get back to where I was, physically. Which sucks.

yogi tea = the best tea for any/all occasions.

on the bright side, though, my body has kind of reset itself. I don't know about you, but after I've been really sick, my body only craves good things. It must be an evolution thing, but I crave things with high nutrients that (probably) heal my body from the inside out. Is anyone else like this?

drought raw apple + thieves juice. Picked this up at VegFest, and it definitely made me feel better!

with this re-set, i feel better than I have in that last month. I'm definitely feeling the need to get back in the kitchen and whip up some delicious nutritious goodies. Perks of being sick and unable to get out of bed: endless recipe pinning and blog stalking. Can't wait to share what I've found!

anyway, here are the last two weeks in review:

left: end of week 2; center, top right, bottom right: end of week 4. Pardon the awesome Michigan socks. 

weight: down 3lbs, but it's just from being sick

food: mostly gatorade, tea, and saltines. Bleh.

phsyical activity: pre-sick, I killed in running and getting some gym workouts. post-sick, can barely move.

i'm definitely starting to get stir-crazy, so I can't wait to get back out and get back at it!

also, don't forget to wash your hands. It's still cold & flu season, people!

xo,

adrienne.

april run+workout playlist.

when it comes to running/working out, music can make or break you. At it's very least, a good playlist can make that last half mile tolerable; at it's very most, it will inspire you to crank out another 2 miles, easy peezy.

i try to change up my music every month. I get bored way too easily, and if I don't then I'm faaaaaar less likely to get up and get a workout in. My taste is pretty eclectic when it comes to music (my first concert was Bob Dylan, and my last one was the Griz). Luckily, that varied taste makes for a varied playlist which makes for a better run. 

there's a little bit of everything in this playlist, which makes for a bit of something for everyone. Enjoy!

19 songs; 1 hour, 7 minutes

april run+workout playlist.

• Hey Mama, David Guetta
• Shotgun, Yellow Claw
• Where Are Ü Now, Skrillex  & Diplo
• Trap Queen, Fetty Wap
• Bailando, Enrique Iglesias
• Truffle Butter, Nicki Minaj
• Break Free, Ariana Grande
• Jealous (feat. Tinashé), Nick Jonas
• Style, Taylor Swift
• Shut Up and Dance, WALK THE MOON
• Alone Together, Fall Out Boy
• Somebody to You, The Vamps
• Best Song Ever, One Direction
• I Bet My Life, Imagine Dragons
• Favorite Record, Fall Out Boy
• Don't It, Billy Currington
• Bartender, Lady Antebellum
• Looks Like Sex, Mike Posner
• The Man, Aloe Blacc

if you don't feel like downloading, here's a link to the playlist on my 8tracks account: april run. 

race on, bunnies.

xo,

adrienne. 

let's be realistic: one week of change.

wanna lose 10 pounds in 1 week? Um, duh. Want to shed 20+ inches in 7 days? Without a doubt! Want to become a top model, coveted by top magazines, designers, and photogs? SIGN. ME. UP. Just let me do all that riding my unicorn, with $1billion in my pocket, dating Oscar winning Leonardo DiCaprio.

let's be realistic people. 

if you're like me and are a normal job juggling, tax paying, pleasure succumbing person, non of the above is realistic. In my last post, I declared that I am 'losing the wait.' I'm giving up the negative self-doubting and self-questioning, and picking up positive, balanced thinking, and healthy habits.

and realistically speaking, I wanted to share (amongst many, many other things) my health-centric journey with you. This isn't about losing weight (I'm well within my BMI), but it's about getting healthy, physically and mentally. It's about being the very best version of myself: healthy, honest, and strong, without denying myself the wonderful pleasures of this world (I'm looking at you, Pinot Noir).

so here is my journey of change, week one. I made sure to only change one thing in my routine: physical activity. Having coming out of the down season, and taking 3 weeks off from running due to injury (right foot, left knee, hips), I wasn't quite in my best running shape. But I laced up, stretched out, and pounded that frosted Michigan pavement.

i didn't change anything I ate. Don't get me wrong: there was salmon, smoothies, and salads. But there was also McDonalds, bagels/schmear, and a trip to Dunkin Donuts. What? I'm being honest, here!

it's been one week since I started my journey, so here's my week in review:

left: monday 23rd march 2015, right: monday 30th march 2015

physical activity: 

• ran 7.23 miles, over 2 days
• completed 1 fifteen-minute Nike Training ab workout

food:

• not my best. Can I just live?!

weight:

• starting weight: hahahahahahaha... nice try.
• current weight: down 5lbs. mostly water/margarita weight.

left: monday 23rd march 2015, with the newspaper to prove it. center: monday 30th march 2015. top: first week. bottom: newspaper of first week. 

i'm not going to lie: i actually feel a little better. Maybe it's physiological, but it's probably just psychological. Sharing this with everyone, and just having a plan has given me that nudge to get it right and get it tight.

live on, everyone!

xo,

adrienne. 

10 reasons why I run.

"now bid me run, and I will strive with things impossible." -William Shakespeare 

1. because it's hard. Like really hard; and I'm not just talking about running 6 miles of hills in the deep, humid August heat. The hardest part was, and will always be, the first time I decided to run 10 years ago. You will fall. You will break. You will cry, because running is challenging, painful, and demanding...

2. but it's just as rewarding. There's not many things more rewarding than incinerating 700+ calories on a cool 8 mile run on a Tuesday morning before most people's first alarm has gone off. And then eating whatever you want for the rest of the day because you know you earned it.

3. it's free. I'm balling on a budget here, people.

4. it's natural. Just like eating, drinking and breathing, running is one of the most natural things your body can do. Our bodies were built so that we could outrun our predators and catch our prey. Running = survival.

5. and it makes me feel good about myself. This goes back to the whole reward thing. Pounding the pavement gives me a solid high, one that lasts all day. Is it that mythical "Runners' High"? Biologically, sure. Psychologically, without a doubt. After each run I know that I've pushed myself, and done something good for my body, and it keeps me floating high for hours on.

6. it's the best way to get some 'me time'. It can be hard for me to turn off my brain, and tune out all of the external stimuli. I've struggled with it for my whole life, but running has helped. All I have to do is throw on my trainers, put some headphones on, and then go until I run myself into a calm, still oblivion.

7. but that doesn't mean I always go it alone. Running is a really good team sport. The first half marathon I ran I trained for with my best friend/partner in crime (what up, Aconn), and it was probably one of my favorite things we've done together. It gave us time to train (and complain) together; we pushed each other, encouraged each other, and made sure neither one of us gave up on ourselves.

8. it has taught me discipline. After a while, running the same 5k loop in my hometown every day got boring. So I decided to commit myself to running a half marathon. The training is brutal, but worth it. I knew I had to stick with it because I wanted to cross the 13.1 finish line (and also, I'd be pissed if I had wasted $90 on a race I couldn't even complete). Running has taught me how to commit to something just for myself...

9. and what it truly means to be my own competition. Growing up, I always competed against others: softball, poms, volleyball (even chess club. Yeah, I said it). But I never really knew how to compete against, and beat, my own self. Tracking my progress motivated me to go farther, harder, and faster. Beating your own personal record > everything else.

10. most importantly, though, it has made me love my body and love myself. Just like a lot of people out there, I've struggled to accept all of the bits and pieces that make up my being. I have spent weeks, months, years hating this and that about myself; my legs are way too big, my boobs way to small, my arms too scrawny. Lacing up for runs over and over again though, has helped me to appreciate my body for what it is: strong, capable, and beautiful.

run on, my friends.

xo,

adrienne. 

10 reasons to date a fit girl.

... because why would you want to date anyone else?

1. they understand (body) karma. If you put good in, you'll get good out.
2. they know how to greet the day. They put a special focus on the knowledge that how they start their day will help dictate how the rest of their day goes.
   
3. they know how to manage stress. They know that a stressful day of work, a hellish day of school, and a flat tire could easily lead to taking it out on their significant other. They choose not to; they choose go to the gym, go for a run, or take a time out on their yoga mat. 
4. they put their bodies first. Because they know without their healthy and strong body, they wouldn't be able to do anything else.
5. they know how to put in hard work... 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. and how good it feels to attain a goal.
   

   

   
   
7. they aren't afraid to try something new. Tough Mudder? Sure. Oceanside bootcamp? Why not. Boyo? Already there. Fit girls are always the first ones to change up their routine. 
8. they know that, sometimes, we have to make sacrifices. Like all romantic relationships, a fit girl's relationship with her body and self comes with challenges. Sometimes it's forgoing an extra hour a sleep, so that they can wake up and make themselves a healthy, colorful lunch. Other times it's saying no to dessert, because today they just cant even with the gym. Regardless, they know that sometimes you have to sacrifice the little things to get to the bigger and better ones. 
9. they know that pain isn't just good, it's important. They know that after a good, hard workout, the pain they'll feel the next day comes from their body doing exactly what it's supposed to do: mend, strengthen, and grow. 
10. they are extraordinarily, unequivocally beautiful. Literally. From the inside, out. 
    

stay healthy. stay fit. stay positive.

xoxo.

adrienne.