25 by 25 update #2

I can’t believe it’s been 2 months since I started my 25 by 25 challenge!! You can read the original here, and update # 1 here

March has been a bit of a tough month, mostly because I have spent most of it with a cast on.  I broke my wrist on March 4th, and haven’t really had the chance to exercise since then.  I’ve gone on a few walks, and done some ab work, but nothing to really work up a sweat. 

funny.exercise.cartoon.1 (source)

Having been a fairly sedentary person for a lot of my life, I never imagined that I would be someone who missed exercise when I couldn’t do it.  Well here I am, and I am crawling the walls to do anything physical.  I’m trying to focus on CAN instead of CAN’T, but I can’t wait to get outside and run, or go to a yoga class again!!

IMG_0054 (I miss this view so much!!)

In order to counteract this self-inflicted exercise ban, I have really started to pay even more attention to what I’m eating.  I’m following the plan set out in my original post, and it has really helped to curb boredom eating and excess snackage. 

So what are my results for month 2 of the 25 by 25 challenge? 4 pounds lost! This brings me to a total of 9 pounds lost, and 36%  of my goal.  I’m getting comments from family and friends about how I’m looking, and that is really helping me focus on the purpose of this challenge.  I’m sure some of this weight loss is muscle loss from not exercising as much, and I think the weight of my cast is interfering with the results, but overall I’m really pleased with my progress this month. 

New Shoes!

I love everything about buying new shoes, especially running shoes! I love to try a bunch on, and jog around the store trying them out.

A few weeks ago I noticed that the Brooks Beast shoes I bought about a year ago were feeling less than supportive.  I check out prices online to simply replace them, but I’m always wary about buying shoes online, so I decided to go to a real store.

I picked a new running store in my area, called Running Free. Boy was I impressed.  From beginning to start, I received great service, and lower prices than their competition.  They didn’t have any of the Brooks Beast in my size in stock, but the salesman took the time to show me a bunch of similar shoes from other brands.  After I tried the other brands, he told me that he would order me the Beasts, or the women’s version the Ariel, and I could directly compare them to the other brands.

A week later he called me to tell me that my size-11 Brooks Ariels were in, and I should come and try them out.  They fit perfectly, and I was oh-so-happy to bring them home.IMG_7110-1 

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They fit even better than the Beasts did, and they’re cute and green!  It is really difficult for me to find women’s shoes in my size, so I was very happy that Running Free offered to order these straight from Brooks for me.  Thanks Running Free!

Where do you buy your shoes? Online or in a store? Do you have a favourite running store you love to go to?