A Running Kentucky Filly

I am a twentysomething recent graduate living with my finace in the DC metro area. He takes good care of me and I try to take good care of him by filling his belly with delicious and nutritious foods.  I am originally from Kentucky and still think fondly of it as home. Hence the name of this blog!  For any of you out there wondering what the heck a filly is, let me enlighten you! A filly is a young female horse. On the day before the Kentucky Derby is the Kentucky Oaks where the fillies run for the lilies. Clearly, where ever I am, I am still a Kentuckian and proud of it

Anyways, my weight loss and healthy living habits started about a year ago (Jan 2009). I was approaching my graduation date and realized that my unhealthy habits were not a good start to being out in the real world. I was lazy and sat around all day on the computer either surfing the web or doing homework. I never exercised and I ate whatever I wanted. Actually, most of my life I have always eaten whatever I wanted not what was good for me. I have been a picky eater my entire life which made things worse. I didn’t like fruit or vegetables and therefore didn’t eat them. Growing up I was involved in sports, particularly swimming, which helped keep my weight under control. However, once I went to college I stopped my activity level completely and continued my eating habits. Bad news.

I got tired of looking at pictures of myself and instead opted to be the goofy one to make up for my appearance. I didn’t feel comfortable in my clothing and found myself outgrowing everything. That’s when I decided to change. I began reading blogs about healthy habits and started to exercise and cook for myself. I received little support from friends but didn’t care because I had people online I could relate to. The healthy blogging community truly motivated me to change my habits for good. A  year later and I am down 30+ lbs and at a healthy weight. I am more athletic and feel like I could do anything if I set my mind to it.

As I started my lifestyle change I also started to run. I wanted to build up my endurance for long runs and swims again so I started out slow. For months I could only run a steady mile without stopping. One day I decided that I was going to run a 5k straight no stopping because I knew I could do it and I just had to overcome my wall. I completed that hurtle and haven’t looked back. I have run in a 5k and 10k race. I preparing for my first half marathon this May.

Other things about me:

• I hate onions. You will rarely see them on this blog. If you do it’s because I picked them off of something
• I do not count calories. It’s too stressful. I did it when I was first starting out. I work toward balance rather than calorie count and I am happy.
• I am currently job hunting. Sounds fun doesn’t it
• I am a Trader Joe’s junky. But really, who isn’t?
• I love independent music and movies.
• I am an anglophile and avid tea drinker.
• I love to thrift hunt and find vintage goodies.
• I have a soft spot for cute dinnerware and bowls.
• I have a fish and his name is Jacques Cousteau. He’s a beta who thinks he’s a shark.
• I have the greatest fiance in the world. He helps keep me sane through the wedding planning and job hunting. I love him very much!

If you want to know anything else about me, please ask. I hope that my journey can be of some support to someone else!

-Erica