{Obstacles}

Hey everyone!

I am having such a hard time getting into working out right now. It seems like as soon as I start getting into it something gets in my way. I am trying to coordinate workouts between work, school, boyfriend, and seeing family, not to mention homework and sleep that I have to to fit in somewhere. Well, I had finally started getting a routine down, and was actually on my treadmill several times! Then I hurt my foot. I am not sure what is wrong with it yet, but I have a guess. I was diagnosed with something called Friebergs disease when I was about 13. Basically it's where the bone in my second toe starts to deteriorate and creates spurs that poke my muscles. Yes it is very painful, but only when pressure is put on it, so as long as I am sitting I am not in pain. I am still trying to do some ab and arm workouts, but without the cardio I won't burn the fat. I can't get in the pool and swim for too much longer (and it's hard to do that late at night in the dark too). Hope you all are doing well and beating your obstacles!

<3 

Karen

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{sweat like you mean it}

Good morning fitness family,

Another week has passed us by! The weekend is over, and it's time to start fresh again. How was the first week of September for all of you? I had an amazing week. It was a perfect food and exercise week-- meaning I was within cals everyday, I made mostly healthy choices, and exercised 5 days! I completed my first week of C10k training [couch to 10k]. I couldn't be more excited! It's a 13 week program so I'm hoping to do a run sometime in December! More on this later.

This post will not be comprehensive on the topic, but I really want to talk about sweat. I love sweat. First of all, it's a great way for your body to rid itself of toxins. It's completely natural. But I feel like we, especially as women, have been brainwashed to believe that we have to look perfect all the time. I know some girls feel insecure about working out because they "sweat more than normal." We see fitness videos of  women with perfect bodies showing us 2 or 3 reps of something we are doing 20 of, and they have perfect hair and makeup. Magazines, even fitness magazines, show women in perfect outfits, with perfect bodies, and are completely airbrushed.

I just really want girls to know that sweating is good for you. It's a natural function of the body. It's beautiful in the way that tears are beautiful. It's how our bodies work. Sweating is sexy. It shows courage and hard work and perseverance and determination and effort. And it's OK.

I'm working on a "sweat like you mean it campaign" and while I don't know what all this entails yet, I would LOVE if you fellow fitness men and women would send in photos of your real workouts. The kind where you are grungy and sweaty and your hair is wet and your face has no makeup. Let's show the world that sweating is beautiful, and that women are beautiful without being all made up. With permission I'll share your photos on my blog. Let's be a community that builds each other up and that is REAL. We are not airbrushed. We are real people with real lives who sweat.

I love sweat. I love the word and I love talking about it. Send your photos dear friends! I might even do a drawing and a giveaway [working on the details].

Sweat on friends, sweat on.

<3,
Meg

{ School! }

Hey friends!

AHHHH!! I (Karen) have started school again for the first time in years! I am still working full time and it's very hard to keep up with the diet, but I am doing decently well so far. The only thing I am struggling with is snacks during school hours. I don't have a place to keep things cool, and I can't take food or drinks into my classes, so anything I bring has to be able to sit in the car until I get a break, or I buy it from the vending machine which I am trying super hard not to do! I am in class for 6 hours with just a few minutes of a break! Any ideas on some healthy filling snacks I can bring that do not require refrigeration are more than welcome! Please keep positive thoughts for me starting this very exciting venture in my life!


And a little late, but here is our official weigh-in photo from September 1st, 2013.

<3,
Karen

{splendid september}

Greetings friends,

How was Labor Day weekend for you? I hope you were able to relax, let loose, and eat good food.  I was able to enjoy the company of some sweet sister-like friends that I've known since we were all toddlers. We went swimming, painted our nails, and grabbed a glass of wine and a turkey burger at a local eatery. The day ended in a perfect sunset.

On the fitness front, Karen & I have started training for our couch to 10k program (C10k) and are very excited to be working out full time again!

 The program is a walking/running interval program and we use the iPhone app called "Run 10k" for anyone interested.

I have created a "fitness calendar" for myself for the month of September to make sure I am moving my body every day (with the exception of my rest days.)

So far it's working out well and I've completed my first week of the program and I couldn't feel better. 

I've been struggling with weight gain (not muscle related-- stomach bloating) even with my new changes, so I'm hoping as I continue my routine things will start going better!

All in all, things are falling into place and it was a wonderful weekend with great choices, amazing friends, and a refreshing start to a new month!

<3

Meg

{{September 1st // Update}}

Dear sweet friends,

We're back.

TFS is changing it's format and there will be some site changes coming soon too! We're excited to get back in the swing of things with summer wrapping up towards the end of this month.

Yvonne is taking a short break from the blogosphere as her two toddlers are keeping her extra busy lately, but Karen & I [Meg] will be here strong as ever. You can expect "letters to you"-- [our new format] several times a week + weigh-in photos & recipes as we discover new ones ourselves. 

We will do our best to post body photos too & share all our exercise plans with you.

Each month we will have a NON SCALE challenge (sometimes multiple ones) that you can join in & share your experiences. This month's challenge is tracking calories/food every day. 

Karen & I have set new goals which should put as at our goal weights by Christmas 2014 & July 2015 respectively. Yes, these are realistic long term goals. We hope you are part of our journey! 

Today we start our month looking like this: 

Karen's [[curent weight]]: 158.2 // Karen's [[Ultimate Goal Weight]]: 130.0

Megan's [[current weight]]: 258.8 // Megan's [[Ultimate Goal Weight]]: 165.0

Our next weigh in will be October 1st, but check back in for all our fun blogs and tips until then!

Love. Live. Support. It's a lifestyle not a diet!

Happy healthy thoughts <3

Meg