Notice anything? or maybe a lack of something?

My skin…is…clear. I’m not breaking out for the first time in months.

What’s changed?

I started taking Vitamin A/Beta Carotene supplement and a Cod Liver Oil supplement before bed every night and I’ve stopped taking all acne medication I was on, and stopped using all doctor prescribed topical medications and ointments. 

I’ve added at least a tablespoon of virgin coconut oil (100% fat) to my diet every day (I either cook with it, or add it to my protein shakes). I’ve also been eating an avocado almost every day (another good source of healthy fats). I’ve lowered my carb. intake by more than 50%, and upped my protein as well. 

And on top of all that, I have been scrubbing my face and back and chest with organic sea salts from Whole Foods at least every other day, then rubbing a small amount of that same organic coconut oil that I used to bake with on my back, chest, and face. These are all places that have been breaking out in terrible cystic acne for the past 5 months or so. TMI? Maybe. I just wanted to say…that one week of a diet flip, and change of skin regimen…and I’ve finally…handled it? Wuuut

These things:

So, take these before bed, Beta carotene, Cod Liver Oil. Shower with Sea Salt, then moisturize with Coconut Oil (eat it too!). I’ve also been wiping down my face, chest, and back, before a vigorous work out with these wipes (in the areas that I sweat the most, like hair line and the nape of my neck). Oh, and eat better.

Hi. I ran 13.1 miles in the rain yesterday. My time was 2:04 which is either exactly the same as last time or two minutes faster than last time. I’m okay with that! I thought that I wasn’t going to be able to run it at all.

Fact: There’s no way to take a cute post race pic. We look noooot nice. 

My week in preparation for the race: I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. Breakfast was always oatmeal with around 2 tablespoons of chia seeds. The day OF the race, I ate my blueberry overnight oats around 2.5 hours (and a large cup of black coffee) before start time. I truly believe in the advantages of chia seeds and their ability to power long distance runs, from personal experience! Aside from that, I did a few short runs throughout the week but mostly took it easy. I made sure to have a consistent sleep schedule and all this had me fairly confident when approaching the starting line Sunday morning. There ya go! ;)

Interesting thing about this…just in case you were curious, as to what gave my weight loss/fitness journey a health boost:

It’s Sunday morning, or maybe it’s Sunday afternoon. I don’t know. I am wasted. I have no idea what happened last night. It’s June, I’m sitting in the laundromat with my forehead resting in my palms. I refuse to open my eyes because it hurts too much, and I was just woken up from being passed out in the public bathroom. Good place, right?

Half of my and my father’s wet laundry lay strewn on the floor and kind of in transit between the washing machine and the basket. I am so dehydrated that I literally do not have the energy to pick up wet clothing. So, I continue to see if I can recollect my…beingness. When, a voice says; “It’s not that bad.”

Ugh.

“Ha!” is all I have to say in response, I squint in the direction of the voice. A young man sits next to me, facing forward. “It’s really not all that bad.” “Yeeeah.” “No, really. Look, I don’t know what happened to you but I’m an alcoholic and I am in my 30’s and you have your whole life ahead of you. I had to take a taxi to the laundromat because I totaled my  car, drunk, and I can’t afford washing machines to do my own laundry with. My own mother, whom I live with, wouldn’t even drop me off. Just don’t make the same mistakes I did, kid.”

Little did he know, that I was (still) wasted after finishing a third of a bottle of vodka to myself from the night before. I hadn’t eaten anything (or at least not enough) for days in hopes of losing weight all while battling depression and just a general self-hatred.

Well, fuck. So, I smiled at him, I thanked him. I stood up, I walked to the super market and I bought myself a bottle of gatorade and a protein shake. I finished my laundry, and I called my parents and apologized. Less than a month later, I was applying to return to school and had been accepted for an internship and was training to compete in a triathlon.

That guy may have just been looking for someone to vent to, I don’t know; but…it did end up meaning more to me than I could have ever imagined.

(Source: justlittlethings)

First thing I did this morning was chug 12 ounces of ice cold water, as soon as I got out of bed. 

Mama looked at me like I was crazy, “Uhh, you thirsty?”

Why did I do this? because Caveman Power told me to.*

*”Every Morning

First thing upon waking - slam down a big cup of water. You will get a ‘brain rush’ and your body will come to life rather quickly.”

See Also: Enjoying my cup o’ black coffee as I usually would

Me, post work out. Post shower. Phre$h ta death. I’ve got mermaid hair.

Day 2/52: Another successful day in the life of Sans Pizza

Ate like a health conscious rabbit who’s concerned about her figure, and ate enough of it.

Then got swole at LA Fitness again. HIIT+ lower body + abdominals + swim sesh = 650 calories burned

& I walked to work today.

& I torrented the entire Insanity set of videos. What is the law

Ran a 5K this morning kind of on a whim, and placed 3rd for my age group, and 66th/250 overall. ;)

8 minute mile!