You may remember my stellar 10K race experience from this past weekend. You may also remember seeing some cuteness like below…

Seeing little Miss M cheering on her mommy with some awesome racing yard signs really gave me a spark of energy each of the four times I got to pass my family. See?

I have always heard other runners talk about the value of support from race spectators. I would think it sounded nice, but didn’t understand the difference it truly makes. I quickly learned. There were certainly a few times along the course on Saturday that I could feel my energy waning, but then in the distance I would see a bright green sign waving around and BAM – instant energy shot. Like tequila…but better…and safer when running.

Awhile ago, Megan from Signs on the Cheap (that’s a name I can get on board with) contacted me about reviewing some of their create-your-own products. My newfound love of racing sent me directly in the direction of cheering signs. We tossed around some ideas and she created these great personalized signs.

I don’t have much creativity dwelling inside me and she worked it out to somehow give me exactly what I wanted. Awesome!

The signs worked perfectly. They are a durable material so we can continue to use them in all my future races. They are lightweight and easy to handle. The bright colors stand out so I can easily spot my personal cheering crew. Other people loved the signs as well and commented on the great idea of using them. Clearly, this won’t be the last time you see the appearance of “The Finish Is Worth It” or “You’re Kickin’ Asphalt” on FFF.

Would you love to create your own cheering sign? Simply leave me a comment telling me how you appreciate support from others in your fitness goals for a chance to win your very own creation!

Winner must be a U.S. resident *excluding Hawaii and Alaska. Giveaway will end Thursday evening at midnight. Winner announced in Friday morning’s post.

It’s that time of the month again! No, not that time of the month. I mean progress check time of the month. Yes, four weeks have already passed since my last check-in on this part of my life. Hard to believe, huh?

Last month I learned from some tough moments that continuing to make regular healthy decisions without going overboard will reap me the most progress. I put that lesson into action this month and despite a trip to Fitbloggin, BBQs, and getting closer and closer to my happy weight, I still saw progress this month.

Front Progress Shots: Month 4 on Left – Month 5 on Right

Side Progress Shots: Month 4 on Left – Month 5 on Right

{Begin Side Note} I always feel SO weird posting pictures like this. It has nothing to do with fearing what I look like or people seeing them. You all know I don’t mind putting myself out there openly. I guess I don’t want to come across as “Look at me! Look at me!”. Yes. That’s what it is that feels so weird! {End Side Note}

I didn’t do anything dramatically different this past month. I simply kept myself focused and determined on caring for my health. It did take some extra drive at times, like when my emotional side tried to lure me into binge eating, but I remembered my dedication to caring for my health while still enjoying life. I stayed on top of regular workouts and choosing nutritious foods to fuel my body. That’s pretty much the gist of it.

However, I will say that it does take effort, planning (in a non-anal way), and compromise to make progress in the physical goals I have for myself. While I certainly do not take a drastic approach, I do have to accommodate certain habits in my life to continue the momentum of my progress.

• Occasional counting of calories and measuring of portion sizes. I do not meticulously track my food on a daily basis. Nevertheless, I remain mindful of how much I eat. I do this by loosely shooting for a certain amount of calories in each meal/snack and consuming proper portion sizes in balanced meals.
• Deciding the best way to satisfy cravings. Sometimes I have strong cravings for some chocolate or ice-cream that I do not honor by feeding myself chocolate or ice-cream. Part of feeding myself well for my progress does involve some limitations. I could happily eat a huge bowl of ice-cream every day. But I don’t. I choose to honor my cravings in a way that suits my progress – with a small portion on occasion, an alternate choice (yogurt or a smoothie instead for example), or distractions in the case of a non-hunger-induced craving. I do try to minimize “treats” to a few occasions weekly, so I don’t feel deprived at all but stay on track. I do, in fact, sometimes have to say “no”.
• Setting and committing to workouts. They are a commitment. I make them happen, unless a true physical/mental need for rest. Other than that, no excuses.

Yet again, I plan to persevere in this upcoming month with my commitment to “Body After Baby”. Does that mean I don’t feel satisfied with my body currently? Heck, no! Does that mean I believe I need to tighten up more or lose more weight? Absolutely not! But – does that mean I plan to stop working hard? Also, no. I still plan to live healthy, challenge myself, and see where my body takes me. That’s what this progress is all about. Staying committed to my healthy lifestyle, testing myself physically, and trusting my body to end up right where it wants. Right where it belongs.

• What is one way you challenged yourself physically this past month?