I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and long weekend! I sure did 🙂 I enjoyed all the company I hosted as well as all the super delicious food that was eaten. YUM.

It was definitely a packed condo I had, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Two bathrooms (thank god), two twin beds (put together into a daybed), one queen blow up mattress, one double bed I shared with my cousin (who I love dearly…but DAMN it was small), and 6 full bellies and grateful hearts. We ended up taking out from Mazzaro’s Italian Market which was so good and so easy!! My mom was determined not to kill herself in the kitchen so after careful thought, we went with Mazzaro’s. We had all the traditional fixings and sides plus pecan and pumpkin pie. Not only did I host Thanksgiving for the first time (with my mom’s help), but this was the first Thanksgiving I ENJOYED the food I ate without attaching any guilt, shame, deprivation, or restriction to it. In the past I would have had all the anxiety of consuming “unclean” foods, then give myself a hard time about it. I had not one single disordered thought and it was AMAZING! I’m so glad I spent my energy on creating memories with my family instead of tracking my food or running off to exercise. So liberating!

Running has been on and off for a bit now. As soon as I felt “better” I would feel aches and pains in the same spots on my ankle and shin after a run. I knew this was chronic at this point, so I switched over to spin classes for the time being. I also contacted a few running buddies of mine and they sent me over their recommended specialists they saw for similar issues. I made an appointment with Bayshore Podiatry while my mom was in town last week and I’m so glad I did. I don’t have a stress fracture, which I thought I did, but instead just have chronic overuse and weakness in my front right shin/lower leg. I was told its muscle imbalance which can be fixed with physical therapy. YAY! I’m excited to learn something and get back into running ASAP. I have some big goals for 2019 (marathon again…:) ) and I know getting the rest and strength now is better then later. I go to my first appointment on Thursday. I’m pumped!!!!

In a weird way, this time off from running has given me a new appreciation for it. I’m learning to include my low impact workouts too. Spinning, walking, strength training on my own, and yoga are a few new types of fitness I’ve really been enjoying. Running will always be my favorite, but there is something to be said for including other types of fitness in your workout routine! Even as a person working in this industry, I even need this reminder!

Yoga, the Peloton, and strength training I do at work. I treat myself a couple times a week to Soho Cycling which I love. I also would like to get back in the pool too since that would be a good addition! I do hope I can start running like 1-2 miles soon (maybe Friday, the day after my appointment…? :)) to get back that endorphin kick! Spin and yoga are cool, but I really just don’t get that same empowering endorphin trip that running gives you, ya feel??

In other news, I’m hosting a Christmas Tree Decorating party on the 9th, which I’m so pumped for my also very nervous…LOL. I’ve always been hesitant to through a party for more then like 2 people, but I’m so proud of my little home in St. Pete I wanna show everyone! (…I have about 8-10 interested in/planning to come. O.M.G). I got a real tree with my family this week, and my place smells AMAZING. I wish you readers could smell my place because CHRISTMAS has arrived! I’m gonna do a lasagna, salad, and garlic bread, some wine and egg nog, and christmas cookies. My mom wants to drive over for the occasion too! UGH I’M SO EXCITED.

I hope you had a good first day back to reality after this eating good weekend 🙂 I have turkey coming out of my ears for the next several days so complaints here!

Have a great week, friends!