Darci's Favorite Things: Fitness Edition...

Darci's Favorite Things: Fitness Edition!

I'm going to make this pretty easy, starting at the top and working my way down...if you know what I mean! 

Urban Halo

These are the best headbands if you are a sweat hog like myself!  They can be worn wider or more narrow, the material actually wicks the sweat!  Amazing!  There are tons of different designs and colors!  They also have great sales, otherwise they can be a bit pricey, usually buy 3 get 2 free!

urBeats

Anyone that runs or works out knows how important MUSIC is and I like my music LOUD!  The urBeats ear buds from Beats by Dre are honestly the best ear buds I've ever used, the sound is clear, the bass is awesome and the volume gets LOUD!

Moving Comfort

A great sports bra can make or break a workout!  Eek!  I'm a big fan of Moving Comfort's Sports Bras. When I first started running again after having Norah (that's my nice way of saying when I was heavier) I loved the Juno!  It was supportive and strapped my Heavy, Saggy, Two Babies Later, Full Sized D's down; definitively locked and loaded.  After losing most of the baby weight and having my breast lift this past Spring, I'm now more loving the Rebound Racer Style.  It's not as "hardcore" as the Juno, easier to get off and on and not so structured (but in a good way).

 Juno by Moving Comfort

 Rebound Racer by Moving Comfort

iPod Nano 8th Generation

I could not live without my iPod Nano!  I'd die!  I just about do every time I head out and it's dead!  Ugh!  I have the 8th Generation iPod Nano and I honestly didn't even know they changed the style/design until I went to the Apple website today; personally I think they made a bad choice!  I know it doesn't bother some, but I can't stand to run with my phone!  Whether it's on my arm, in my bra, in a pocket, in my hand or a fanny pack, whatever...I cannot do it!  The 8th Generation Nano is square and tiny and has a clip on the back...genius!  I always strap it to my sports bra and go, light weight, no bulk, nothing making me feel lopsided by being on my arm.  I love it and when it finally kicks rocks, I will be searching eBay to buy the same model!  And yes, mine is pink!

RufflesWithLove

Until the last 6-9 months or so I hated, despised, wouldn't do it, wearing tank tops PERIOD!  Now, I love them and I'm partial to the RufflesWithLove tanks! The sayings are so cute, the quality is great and it's just FUN!

Garmin Forerunner 210

I love this watch!  I bought a bundle that had the HRM with it!  Couldn't be happier!  I haven't been running outside for a few months now because it's just too damn hot and humid, but I still use my watch all the time with the HRM...whether I'm running, walking, taking step aerobics or just doing strength exercises at home!  Love!

 Bottoms

I have to be real honest here and say that I don't have a favorite workout pant, capri or shorts.  I found some shorts this summer that I really loved at Academy, but they aren't on their website anymore and I can't remember what brand or style they are.  I will say that I hate the super thin "compression" material that's running around lately.  I like something a little thicker because no one needs to see all my jelly bouncing around in thin ass shorts!  I don't like the typical Nike running shorts, my thighs for days don't go for those at all!  So I do like compression type bottoms or at least fitted.  Oh and lastly, no underwear allowed! Ever! Eek! 

So, I need some recommendations!  What are your favorite workout bottoms? 

Thorlo Experia

These are the most bestest sock in the world...if you like running in padded socks, which I do!  The feel great on, it feels like you are running on clouds (that's a bit dramatic), and they hold up well!  Just make sure you don't get them too big, in my experience if they are too big then your foot can/will really get to moving around in the sock/shoe.  They have lots of colors like the neon's below, or just your plain white or black, to chose from!

Brooks Ariel 12

 I've been wearing Brooks for about 9 months or so now.  Before them, I wore whatever I thought was cute...because I was an idiot!  I got fitted for the second time at the local running store, The Run Around, and I couldn't be happier! I was wearing Asics GT-2000 and I didn't hate them, but I also didn't love them   I have very flat, archless, wide feet...like double-wide!  Not kidding!  So, for now, I'm a Brooks Girl...but who knows what might come next.  I haven't been running long enough to be brand/style specific, so I'm open to trying new shoes, I've also just accepted that due to my asshole feet I will NEVER have a cute pair of running shoes! 

 There you have it!  My favorite fitness things! Yay!

What are your must have fitness items!? Things you will literally NOT workout if you don't have!?

V Watts' Thoughts...

Hey Y'all!  I'm a total Blogging Loserette!  Blah! But today I want to introduce you to a very special Lady, Veronica!  I remember Veronica was one of the very first ladies to contact me over a year ago right after I started the blog!  We instantly connected over our common past.  I fell in love with her instantly and to say she has been kicking ass and taking names in her weight loss journey is an understatement!  Enjoy! 

Hi you guys! My name is Veronica. I live over at V Watts' Thoughts; I met Darci via her friend Holly some time last year. I remember connecting with her right away because of her cutting sense of humor. I ♥ her big time. Today I wanted to share with you all my weight loss journey and how it's been going so far. I still have about 25-30lbs left that I'd like to lose. I feel determined to make my goal. I hope you enjoy reading on how I've lost 55lbs so far.

50 Pounds Lost - Front Progress Picture

I have quite a few people that are asking me how I've lost this much weight. The answer is several things really. The scientific answer is exercise and eating right. But if it were that simple I would have had success a long time ago. See, I've been on this weight loss journey for yyyyeeeaaarrrsss now. I did lose 80lbs in my early 20's. And for those who've read my very first post, you know that it led to a 6 year struggle with bulimia. I was skinny, yes, but I hated myself the entire time.

50 Pounds Lost - Back Progress Picture

Then I got into recovery on August 25th 2008. Within the first 2-3 months of recovery I gained about 35-40lbs. Of course I was upset by this but I had to want recovery more than I wanted to be thin. Then as I began to get my mind right again about eating and exercise I began getting back in the health game. I would have a few successes, 5 pound loss here or there. But I'd inevitably gain the weight back. I get very close 180lbs and it felt like everything would just stop. I never really felt good about my body. Even when I would lose a good deal of weight my mentality was still, "Well, I've been much much thinner than this before so why should I be excited about being this weight?"

50 Pounds Lost - Side Progress Picture

Around October of last year Cole and I started seeing a couple's counselor. He was a Christian and thus he worked a lot on our spiritual wellness as much as our mental wellness. He opened my eyes to see just exactly how negative and controlling I was about myself. In general and to the naked eye I am a delightful person. I thrive on being nice to people and being the comic relief. But I compartmentalized the angry/negative side of me. It was something only myself and perhaps my husband ever got to see. It was a very painful truth but one that needed to be addressed.

So, what did I do about it? I started to pray that God would begin to change my heart about the way I saw life and chiefly about the way I saw myself. I prayed that I would allow Him to cut myself slack and love myself just the way I am. I prayed that I would be able to let go of the reins and stop trying to make things happen from within my own strength and to allow Him to help me make changes occur. In the Bible there is a verse that reads "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philipians 4:13

And I can truly tell you that I didn't notice the changes at first. I can tell you that it took practice to start having a better attitude about weight loss. I had to remind myself that I am worth loving even if my weight and body aren't where I want them to be. I can't pin point the day it happened but all of a sudden positivity began to flow from within me. I even started to see my setbacks as just a tiny harmless portion of this journey. I didn't dwell in sorrow about it like I used to. I was looking at my body that was still around 210lbs or so and I liked what I saw. I used to have a body that looked good in a bikini and at 210lbs I can tell you with all surety that my body was not bikini ready but I.loved.my.body. It wasn't a vain love. It was a love that went beyond putting restrictions on myself like: "I will love my body when it looks like xyz".

Weight loss began to happen for me. I hadn't seen this type of success before on my personal journey. I only have 45 minutes to workout at the gym so it's not like I was in beastmode and having fantastic 2 hours sweat sessions. I do know that I also had to give over to the Lord my eating habits. I loved food. No, I adored food. No, I WORSHIPPED food. When I began to realize what type of power I allowed food to have over me it was both sad and scary. I prayed that God would give me the strength to resist binging. Do I still have the urges, yes. But I feel like I have much more stability and soundness of mind to make wiser choices.

Christian or not, I'd like to share the sermon that my pastor gave yesterday. He is starting a new series about the power of the tongue (or words). It explains almost to a T what changes took place in my life to get me to where I am now. I was so surprised and excited as I was listening to him preach. It was as if the Lord had given Justen (my pastor) the diary of my life over the past 6 months. Again, even if you are not a Christian I think you might enjoy this. It talks about the power that your words have to lead you towards success or failure. It's about 30mins. I've also included the power point so you can see the points he is talking about. I challenge you to listen and take a read. It will have you thinking differently about the way you talk about yourself.

Listen (look for Part 1).

Power Point

So, I'm a total loser and I don't think the links to the sermon or PowerPoint work!  Ugh!  Sorry about that!  If you want to hear/see them let me know and I will see If V can get us hook'd up!  Doesn't Veronica look AMAZING!?  More than amazing...STUNNING! GORGEOUS! INSPIRATIONAL!

Stay tuned for some new stuff on the blog in the next week or two!  Eek!  I'm excited! 

Love you, B Faces! xoxo

Ten Things Thursday...

I'm totally stealing today's post topic from Ashleigh!  You can thank her by going and checking out her blog if you don't already!  She is pretty awesome!

 

 

[one] I am officially Back to Black!  Holla!  I have to admit, I really do feel more like ME with my dark hair again!  The ombre was really my first journey into the world of hair color and while I liked it, I think the dark just suits my Bitchy personality better!  :-)

 

 

[two]  I'm on Day 4 of the Advocare Herbal Cleanse!  I'm actually pretty proud of myself, food if my number one vice and I've done fairly decent thus far!  Only 6 more days to go!  I only took my weight but I will share the results next week!

 

[three] I'm in a blogging rut...ugh!

 

[four]  We have Christmas Card pictures this Saturday and I have ZERO clue what the hell we are all wearing!  Kill.Me.Now!  Also, I'm totally going to break my number one rule and entertain the possibility of only featuring Jack and Norah on this year's card depending on how I look in the pictures!  Lame, I know, but I've been feeling like such a huge sack of fat shit lately.

 

[five]  My Chicago Quickie last weekend was a blast!  Except for the lack of sleep, leaving me completely exhausted this week!  Womp. Womp. 

 

 

[six]  The Route 66 Half Marathon is in 17 days and to say I'm not prepared is an understatement!  Work has been killing me, thus leaving NO time for my training runs!  Leaving my longest "long" run at a mere 7 miles! Pray that I just finish, alive, crawling is fine! 

 

 

[seven]  Spark is currently keeping me semi-functioning (especially since I haven't had a beloved DDP in 4 days)! If you haven't taken a spin on the Spark train yet, I highly suggest it!  I like Fruit Punch and Watermelon! 

 

 

[eight]  Confession - I hadn't weighed myself in quite some time before starting the cleanse Monday, and well let's just say the scale read 12 pounds heavier than the lowest it had a few months back!  FML!

 

[nine]  I made the mistake of letting "The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?) song come on while Jack was in the car the other day!  Holy Hell!  All I hear is "Fox Song! Fox Song! Fox Song!" It's like an elephant dart to the public's face!  name that movie

 

 

[ten]  I have never done the whole Black Friday shit!  Ever!  However, for some reason I feel like this is something I need to experience at least once in my life...am I bat-shit crazy for entertaining the idea of going this year?!

 

xoxo