Upcoming fitness challenges for 2013! Check it out and commit!!

This is the time of year where everyone gets geared up for better health and fitness for the new year!! I've started signing up for events/groups already and wanted to share them!! Maybe it will inspire you to start a new fitness or eating challenge-it will at least keep me accountable to what I'm committing to! :-)

First up...

The "Run 13 races in 2013" hosted by Jill Conyers

2013 Running Challenge
Details:

1. Run 13 registered virtual or real life races in 2013.
2. The number of participants will not be limited.
3. Prizes throughout the year. Hint: Some of my favorite running and fitness products!
4. We have set up a 13 In 2013 Facebook group to support and encourage each other and share the experience.
5. To support everyone reaching their goal Jen and I will host 4 virtual races throughout the year. The first virtual race will be in February. More information coming soon.
6. Share with Instagram and Twitter using the #13in2013 hashtag.

You might be wondering what distance we will be challenged to run? Unlike 2012, when everyone was running the same distance, in 2013 you pick and commit to one...

How to join:

1. Sign up [and commit] using the Google document. Sign ups close midnight (EST) on December 31.
2. Post the button with the distance of your choice on your blog on your sidebar (HTML will be provided if needed).
3. Update the Google document with your progress and completed races.

If you’re having reservations about committing be on the lookout for an upcoming post, Tips for Running 13 Races In One Year!

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Jill at jillconyers@gmail.com.
Are you ready to commit? Do you have a running goal for 2013? What do you think would be the toughest part of running 13 races in one year?

THE DIRECT LINK TO THIS POST IS HERE:
http://jillconyers.com/2012/11/fitness-friday-are-you-ready-to-run-13-in-2013/

Because of my work and personal schedule, I will mostly be doing virtual races. I already have 3 just for the month of January!! Leave a message below if you want to find out more about virtual races!! I just discovered them several months ago and its an awesome concept!!

Second....

"5 by the 5th Virtual Races" hosted by mommy run fast

 



I’d love for you to join me for “5 by the 5th” – a virtual race series in which we run a 5k or 5 mile run by the 5th of each month (for time or for fun), from January to June, 2013.

The 5 by the 5th series will run from January to June, with the option to run a 5k or 5 miler by the 5th of each month. You can run once, or every month, and it will begin with the Resolution Run on January 1, 2013.
The series of virtual runs provides an opportunity to win prizes every month, or to get competitive with yourself and track your speed or progress each month if you’d like to. New runners and walkers are also welcome!
Details:

• All of the races are free.
• Record your time each month as evidence that you ran, and each run recorded will count toward monthly prizes.
• If you only run one race, your name will stay in the drawing through all six months. If you run all six races, you’ll have six entries by June’s prize drawing.
• Tweets and shares will count toward additional entries.
• If you blog about your races, I’ll provide a link up each month to share your post.

We’ll kick everything off with the Resolution Run. If you are local to Houston or Miami, you can also opt to meet up for a local fun run that morning. I’ll email details about the Houston run, and the Miami fun run will take place at 9 AM at South Pointe Park, Miami Beach (neither one is timed!)
Prizes! Prizes will be pulled each month!!

THE DIRECT LINK TO THIS POST IS HERE:
http://www.mommyrunfast.com/5-by-the-5th-virtual-run-series-registration-is-open/

This is a great opportunity to get 6 of the 13 races done for this year and be in the drawing for prizes!!

and Third....

A New You Beyond the New Year hosted by Skinny Mom.com

 

... let’s stop trying to achieve a “New You” during the first few weeks of the new year and let’s take small steps each month that make positive changes lasting all year (and beyond!) long.

We want everyone to create sustainable change. Start small and build on top of practical goals. Stop being SO results driven. That’s exactly why we have set up our New Year, New You Challenge month by month, and better yet, day by day. Let’s face it, simply saying, “this is my new years’ resolution,” is not…well, a resolution.

Here are the guidelines for our challenge—yes, “our,” the Skinny Mom team is doing this with YOU!

• Each month Skinny Mom will pick a positive topic related to improving wellness (mental and physical).
• For Example: clean eating in January, heart healthy habits in February, balanced nutrition, family health, etc.
• Focus on incorporating positive habits based on our monthly topic each day during that month.
• At the end of each month, Skinny Mom will pick a New Year, New You Winner based on the results of the challenge
  • Each participant will have the opportunity to fill out a form sharing their change. We will send out the form on our social media links (sign up below!) and newsletter.
• We will provide tips, goals, and challenges each day through email, SkinnyMom.com, and Skinny Mom social media outlets.
• Keep yourself and the Skinny Mom team updated and accountable through social media.
  • Post pictures and status updates on Facebook
  • Tweet @skinnymomonline
  • Pin it on Pinterest
  • Follow/share on Instagram — We will have a Photo a Day Program going on each month as well. The more you follow the Instagram Photo a Day, the more chances you have to win!
  • The more you share, the more we motivate one another!

What’s in it for you? What, you mean you are not solely motivated by incorporating positive changes in your life all year long? Okay, well how about some PRIZES?!?! That’s right, each month we will pick a participant based on the changes you share to win AWESOME PRIZES from Skinny Mom and our partners.
Are you ready for changes that last all year long?! Make sure you are signed up for our newsletter to become an official member of the 2013 Skinny Mom New You Beyond the New You Challenge. Your participation is completely FREE so what do you have to lose? Except maybe a few negative habits? Join us now!.

THE DIRECT LINK TO THIS POST IS HERE:
http://skinnymom.com/2012/12/11/a-new-you-beyond-the-new-year-healthy-challenges-all-year-long/

I just saw this posting this morning, and this sounds so inspiring!! I think its a great concept to continue through the year to aspire towards healthy goals. I think alot of people are really focused in the month of Jan and maybe into February but then after that, not so much!!

LETS START AND END this upcoming year of 2013 right!! I hope you will also commit to some challenges like I have done-whatever will work for you and your goals. Just make sure to stay consistent and keep it up!!  

PV Body exercise clothes subscription-review

I am so excited to tell you about this new company I found a couple weeks ago!!
Its called

and its a monthly exercise clothes subscription!!

 

How cool is that??!!
I was so excited to find this company and even MORE excited when they said I could become an "abassador" and offer discounts to my friends on facebook and here on my blog. I will also get a small commission for anyone who buys through my specific link.
I did some research ahead of time because I don't want to be representing or spreading the word about a company that I don't know anything about. They are just starting up, but so far so good in regards to customer reviews.

So, How does it work??

First, click on my specific link...
http://pvbody.com/try/craftsnfitness
then...

IT'S EASY AS
1 - 2 - 3

Take the quick quiz and create a personal pv.body style profile.
Our experts will put together a personalized outfit for you.
We ship your outfit to your door for free!

 

So, for $49.95 every month you can get a shipment of one top and one bottom shipped to you for free!!

 

First, shipping is expensive, so thats awesome they aren't charging extra for that.

Second, in your profile style you indicate what sizes you wear and what kinds of workout clothes you prefer. If something doesn't fit, you can contact them and exchange it for another size!!

 

So, are you ready for the best part??!!

I can offer you a 20% OFF DISCOUNT on your shipment box if you click on my link above!

So the total of the box would be $39.96!!

 

If you have ever gone shopping for GOOD name brand exercise Tops and Bottoms, you know this is a STEAL!! What do you have to lose? You aren't tied into monthly shipments-you can cancel at anytime! You can decided to get one shipment, you can decided to get one every other month-its super easy!!

 

I got my first box last night, so I wanted to post pictures for you all to see what I got!!

 

It came in this super pink mailer envelope which is so cool because it felt like I was getting a gift and I couldn't wait to open it! My top and bottom were wrapped separately in tissue paper.

 

 

First, I opened the bottoms. They are gray size Large by American Apparel-performance sportwear collection. They are super soft and stretchy. I was kinda worried because they are "leggings" but the fit was perfect when I tried them on! Its important to me for my clothes to be form fitting when I'm exercising so I don't have to keep pulling them up around my waist. And the length was perfect-not too long which is great because alot of yoga pants and leggings are too long for me. (I'm 5 feet 4 inches)

 

 

I googled American Appearl online and found this link

http://store.americanapparel.net/product/index.jsp?productId=rsaak300&c=alloy

which I'm pretty sure are my exact pants pictured above, and they retail for $48.00!!

 

Next, I opened my shirt which was by NuxUSA in size medium. The fabric again feels very soft and super stretchy! When I held it up, I seriously didn't think it would fit me. It is snug but my husband reminded me that it will fit perfect in the spring because I keep losing weight and a large would have been too big. (Isn't he sweet?)

 

 

I googled NuxUSA  and found the link to their camis and tops.

http://www.nuxusa.com/index.php/tops/cami-and-tanks.html

I didn't find my specific top, but its safe to say that this top retails between $50-55!

 

Here's some pictures of me wearing my set! I'm going to wash them and wear this week to see if they wash well and roll up or bunch while I exericse. I don't anticipate I will have any problems.

 I know in my picture it looks pretty snug, but the leggings are ment to be tight (size large) and the top (size medium) will  fit be better in the spring.

 

So, if you want to try out this super cool subscription notice, click on my link below to save 20%!!!

http://pvbody.com/try/craftsnfitness

Overall, I was very pleased with the customer service, fast shipping (I got it in one week) and the quality of my pieces. I won't have to return anything and I feel like my pieces are well worth the $49.95!! Let me know if you have any problems with placing an order and I'll help! Let me know if you give them a try! Will post again when I get another box!

 

Athena Book review! book 4 of Newport Ladies Book Club series

Athena is book 4 of the Newport Ladies Book Club. Like the other books (Olivia, Daisy & Paige) they follow the same time period, but they don’t have to be read in order to understand the series or characters.

At first, I found the book a little slow and hard to get into the story line, but realized the character herself, Athena, is “boring” at first because she has allowed her life and schedule to be the same thing day after day. She works alot so she rarely has any opportunities to do anything else. When she decides to make some changes in her life, like joining a book club and reading books based on a strangers (Grey) recommendation, the book gets more interesting.

I also liked that this book seemed to have less of the other characters involvements (probably because Athena kept more to herself) so you don’t read a lot of events that are mentioned in the other 3 books of the series. In other words, you don’t feel like you are reading one of the other books all over again.

I liked that this book showed Athena’s struggles to change and to understand her parents’ marriage and illnesses. I can’t even imagine trying to take care of a sick parent, especially one that could be violent or not even remember you!

Heather Moore did a wonderful job of expressing Athena’s emotions and struggles. Although I couldn’t relate to Athena’s experiences like I could with some of the other characters, the book itself and the emotions was very well written!!

I cannot wait to read the other set of 4 books, to be released in 2013. The other set of books will not cover the same time period, so the characters we have come to love in the first 4 books will be mentioned and we will see how their lives have changed!!