It's Officially Fall, and I will Keep Standing!

This morning around 5 AM Fall officially started. I could moan and groan about how I really can't stand that time doesn't fall-back until November so it's pitch black dark at 7 AM, which messes up my training runs! But I won't!

I LOVE Fall! I love the leaves changing colors, I love the clothes and the boots. I love the daytime temperatures (in ATL at least); great tennis weather!

In the past, Fall has not been the best fitness time of year for me. Fall is when all the yummy seasonal dishes surface (ah, those darn Pumpkin Muffins! So glad I can make my own clean variety!). Fall is when snuggling up with a blanket and a book as you ease into winter seems like a much better idea than get up and exercising. And----Let's not forget Fall means the start of the holiday EAT-son---Harvest Festival and Halloween Candy, Thanksgiving, Holiday Parties, Christmas and New Year's Eve and those cute little kids selling all the cookie and brownie dough they can!

Not this Fall! I have the Savannah Rock n Roll in November; I turn 35 in November; I no longer have any sizes above 8 in my closet---no, no, no I will not blow off Fall and revert back to bad unfit habits!

This year I will STAND against the urge to skip workouts and eat poorly. I will STAND up for the fit lifestyle I have developed. I deserve this. I've worked hard for this. There will be no post-Fall and Holiday regrets!

I WILL KEEP STANDING! Fall will be my season of PROGRESS toward my goals!

I am Shay Shay! I WILL DO IT!

SPIBelt, Pumpkin Muffins, and Running . . .

It's been almost a month since I've taken time to post. The good thing is this time the lag is NOT because I've fallen off the eat-clean wagon. I've been sticking to it and doing great! I am seeing the fruit of my dedication (wearing size 6 pants--I couldn't wear a 6 when I was in the 6th grade!), and I am truly in lifestyle mode.

My work travel took a break for September, so I've been able to go to the Dekalb Farmer's Market more (LOVE THAT PLACE) so that I can have clean, fresh, ingredients for cooking.

Being home has also really helped me focus on getting in my training runs. The Savannah Rock n' Roll is coming up in a little over 6 weeks. I am so looking forward to hanging with Wifey (http://www.runwifeyrun.com/) and the Race & Relax Ladies. This running thing is still not my favorite (but I get energized by the challenge of it), but knowing there is a group of ladies working toward the same goal with a fun gathering ahead makes the running a great thing for me!

I just made some clean pumpkin muffins with ingredients from the Farmer's Market (I'm vowing to stay away from the Dunkin Donuts pumpkin muffins that contributed to a downward spiral toward pounds, pounds, pounds) and getting ready to go out for my 3 mi training run.

One of the biggest peeves of mine when I run is that my darn crack--ah, I mean blackberry is so big and just not easy to take with me. I want it with me for safety--not to check emails as I am usually caught doing, but it has not been practical.

WELL NOW IT IS! Thanks to Race & Relax and SPIBelt (Small Personal Item (http://www.spibelt.com/), I can have my blackberry and run too! It's actually in there and doesn't feel heavy or bulky! Sweet! Hmmm, I wonder if I could play tennis in it! Could use the lip balm on the courts in the winter!

Ooooh, the muffins just got out of the oven and couldn't help but share! I couldn't even wait for them to cool. YUMMY! Very Moist! Amazing what putting water in the oven does for the muffin's moisture. Hmmmm, mmm.

Okay, off I go to hit the pavement !

Have a great week!