Sweat. There are no short cuts.

A year an a half ago, Kendayl and I posted this blog post about the reason we were taking the goal of getting healthy more seriously. Based on what we learned from our grandmother and saying goodbye to her, here is what I realized:

Some days I will choose to not care. But everyday I wake up, I get to make that choice and I get to live with the consequence - both good and bad.

It's been an exhilarating road. I was on a high for finishing the half marathon and then plagued with issue after issue with knees - then my hips and hamstrings and thyroid.

What I know is that many days are hard. But I get to choose - doing nothing about it clearly gets me no where and sends me backwards. I don't always get the exact results that I want as fast as I want but everyday I make a smart decision, everyday I choose to workout over sitting on the couch - I move in the right direction and ultimately feel better about myself.

For running, Sports Backers and their awesome awesome training teams. By the way - did you know that they are a non profit? I didn't! I met with them this week and learned all abou their Active RVA campaign, kids programs and desire to help get Richmond moving. Absolutely $0 of the race fees that we pay go back to them to help grow these programs. Fees only cover the cost of putting on the race. If you've been inspired by our story, or your own and want to help yourself and others get and stay healthy, consider donating. In fact - in honor of my 30th birthday, year long LIFE celebration, I've committed to raising $1,301 dollars for Sports Backers - you can help me by donating here. And YES - that's a PlanG Personal Fundraising Campaign :) So really, you're helping me in two ways. LOVE.

Even with all that inspiration and logic - I need a little motivation and a reminder that I can do this. ENTER: SWEAT and owner Evan Settle. This guy gives Tony Horton a run for his money.

In this video - she is doing 15 pound weights in each hand - I do 20 or 25 depending on how Evan decides I should be tortured.



I'm now going Tuesdays and Thursdays after work with the girls from work and I go for a private session on Saturday. I've been going now for about 6 weeks. I get both nervous as crap and excited right before it's time to head over to his gym. Evan is sneaky - he loves to up my weights and not tell me. Coolest part is that I can usually do it. My weight isn't coming off yet - which is frustrating but my body is changing. I have muscles. I can do push ups. I have callouses on my hands and my running is even getting easier because of these new muscles in my legs. I cannot explain how much I'm loving this.

My next goal is to be able to do a pull up and have other people see my muscles - (be toned).

I push myself so hard in my professional life and I have seen so much goodness from that. Why wouldn't I push myself that hard for...myself?

I DESERVE TO BE STRONG AND HEALTHY AND LOVE MY BODY! That's what I'm working on. Everyday I get closer. I can now do 15 full on, no knee push ups. And there might be a Bicep peaking through, too.

Healthy Snacks = A Delicious Surprise.

With all the injuries and subsequent PT and health issues I've had over the last few months, I'm finally starting to feel like I can get my feet out from under me and get moving again. And my friends and family have been the biggest supporters in some unexpected ways.

It's not secret that I love food - I'm southern and from a family that believes in making things from scratch (or buying things that say they've been made from scratch). For me, food and drink is about the experience - the memories, conversations, laughter. Who wants to feel like their depriving themselves? Healthy choices don't have to be disappointing. After all, you're more likely to stick with healthy habits if you enjoy those choices.

This all leads me to two things that I've found. One I have tried and LOVE and the one I will be trying this weekend. I'm so excited.

Now that I'm putting all my energy in to a Start Up - I'm finding that I'm honed in to other start ups. I have so much appreciation and love for what it takes to get a company going - it's exhilarating and fun and something you want to brag about. As it so happens, I have a friend who feels the same way that I do. Meet Molly.

Christina, Me, Molly at Foxfield 2008

Molly has had an incredible life and story - UVa graduate, FIJI Wife, Officer in the Navy and now the first employee at a fantastic start up called NatureBox.

Their Mission: NatureBox helps you eat healthier without needing to change your eating habits. We focus on snacks because that’s the easiest habit to change. Do you know that the average American eats almost 25% of their calories from snacking? In fact, snacking is the leading cause of childhood obesity. NatureBox helps you get more out of your day without wasting calories on the bad stuff. 


It's fair to say that I'm a little skeptical about anything considered healthy - surely, it can't be that good?! But, in an effort to support my fellow first employee - I signed up. A monthly shipment of their healthy snacks is just $20 and includes shipping. So here's the conversation I had with myself: "Do it, Hil! If you don't like it, just cancel it. At least you can say you tried it." 


My first box came in:

It also comes with a little one sheeter about all the snacks. One of the snacks- top row middle of this picture - was some kind of flax seed chips they claimed would take away your craving for potato chips. Flax Seed? Turns out - my new obsession. That bag was gone pretty quickly.

My second month was even better - White Peach rings, Apple Rings, Citrus Kick almonds - all good, healthy options to snack on when I need a little something during the day. It comes to me every month, is only $20 and introduces me to food that I otherwise would never have tried.

HIGHLY recommend that you give them a try. Just go to their website: www.naturebox.com and at check out enter REFER25 and you'll get 25% off your first shipment. You can also check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatureBoxcom

SECOND - my lovely friend Katinka runs a blog called Incredible Crunchy Flavor. I love reading her tips and tricks and recipes. This week she posted a GREAT recipe that I can't wait to try:

One Ingredient Ice Cream

Go check it out - it's HEALTHY and looks amazing and I implicitly trust her taste buds :)

HAPPY SNACKING!!!!

The Long and Short of it...

I know it must look like we haven't been up to anything with the sheer lack of posts on here. Fear not! We've been busy. I know Kendayl will fill you in on her adventures soon - once she's back from San Francisco!

Here's the long and short of it: In May, I had 2 weddings and a Bat-mitzvah that I organized and ran. June 1st was the 5th Annual Hokie Spirit Memorial Golf Tournament. We raised $25,000!!!!! That same day my company launched our website to the public - MyPlanG.com. We've been fanatically working ever since to collect feedback and further enhance the site before we do our official roll out this fall. Celebrated Kendayl and Mike's engagement! I went on amuchneeded vacation and started working out with a trainer - Evan. More on him later. 

My girlfriend Natalie and I have decided to celebrate our 30th year by pushing ourselves to new limits. Here's the plan: Richmond Half Marathon in November, Princess Half in Disney in February, Monument Avenue 10K in March/April AND THEN FULL MARATHON NEXT NOVEMBER! I'm saying this out load to y'all in an effort to make it real. I still can't believe we've concocted this plan.

I'd also like to state for the record that my Aunts - B&S have also said they will somehow participate in the half and/or the 10K next year. Couldn't be more excited about this if I tried. Fitness it a family affair! Now, if we could only get my mom in on the action :)

Now that you've been caught up on the last few months...it's time to kick this blog back in gear!

Love and good health,

H