Week #2: The Fully Raw Challenge

I remember privately thinking to myself that the 21 Day Fully Raw Challenge was going to be a.) exhausting b.) impossible and c.) stressful. But, I wanted to change my lifestyle around. I wanted to sleep better, nourish my body and skin, and lose a few pounds. I was desperate for something that wasn't a "diet", but more of a "try-on" (a "try-on" is something that is much more long term than a diet but to see if you can actually live its lifestyle you first try it on for a month.) Well, with within week #1 you know I lost 7 lbs--which is crazy, and I know way too much to lose in one week, but I also felt calmer, clearer, more relaxed, less stressed, my skin cleared, and sleeping better than I have in years for that post please visit: Fully Raw Challenge: Week #1 Complete for recipes, favorite dishes and more! I am currently at the close of week #3, but I wanted to recap what happened in week #2. So read on to find out more about this lifestyle journey. 

CONTINUE READING

City Living: One Lucky Duck

New York City caters to over 8.4 million people, now imagine multiplying that number by the number of taste buds in each person's mouth. With different tastes and different lifestyles it is no wonder that within every area from Meatpacking to Chelsea to Midtown there are places where you can get fresh pressed juices, all natural smoothies, vegan meals, and gluten free cookies! Another intern and I, love going out for lunch to get some fresh air, take in some sun (when it's out!) and try some of the great restaurants around our area. We are a couple of lucky ducks to be a 5 minute walk from Chelsea Market and this little health food takeaway and juice stand called, One Lucky Duck. 

CONTINUE READING

FullyRaw Challenge: Week 1 Complete!

I promised to write about the health journey I've been taking and I never break a promise. This is a review of the Fully Raw 21 Day Challenge. I have successfully completed 7 days! (Further than I thought I would get sans coffee!) At the end of each week I'm discussing the pros and cons of taking the Fully Raw 21 Day Challenge and everything you need to know about eating fully raw. Yes, I have been gluten free, vegan and all that jazz and I am here to tell you all about this experience thus far. 

CONTINUE READING

21 Day FullyRaw Challenge: The Beginning

[Photo @fullyrawkristina]

Raw. Meaning nothing cooked!? Wait, you mean the way my hands feel in the winter time raw? Why would anyone want to eat this way? How am I going to go to family functions? I am Italian for goodness sake! I'll be scoffed. I'll have eyes rolled every which way at me. If I am over in the corner sipping my food my family might disown me. What if friends invite me out places? Can I have a social life? Isn't this just the next over the top diet fad? I try to not pass judgments on anything until I have tried it, and only then do I discredit something as "it just wasn't for me". But these were honest thoughts running through my head as a friend of mine asked me to do this challenge with her. I knew if I was going to accept the 21 Day FullyRaw Challenge I first needed to do some research into this lifestyle and see if it was something I could even accomplish. But, as I am always up for a challenge, and trying new things. I sighed, purchased a juicer, and here I am...the day before I start eating completely differently and the first day of the next 21 day program. Are you ready to take this journey with me and see what I find out? Here goes nothing...(But I'm really thinking here goes pizza, champagne, and chocolate on top of the respect of my family, my social life, and the patience of my boyfriend. No big deal, right?)

CONTINUE READING

To Juice Or Not To Juice?

Liquiteria is known as the pioneer for cold pressed juices in NYC and Dusk & Rubies had the opportunity to sample three of their flavors for free: Grasshopper, All Greens, and Royal Flush. We not only reviewed each of these flavors, telling you how they taste, but also what time of day we would drink them, if we would consider trying the cleanse, and tips and tricks to drinking all 16 oz if you're not used to drinking pressed juices like the ones showed above. 

CONTINUE READING

7 Ways To Up Your Cardio Workout This Week

We love a good cardio session! We feel less stressed, more energized, and more confident after we've got our blood pumping. And, when added to your gym routine, cardio can significantly assist in your fitness progress. So fitties and newbies here are 7 ways to get the most out of your cardio workout this week.

[Photo @running_momma]

CONTINUE READING

New Year Essentials

Hey lovely! Here are some of our favorite new year essentials complete with my favorite running squeakers and a fresh new journal. Motivation comes in all forms, and sometimes I am motivated to hit the gym when I buy a new pair of pants, sneakers, or work out gear. I also love starting off a new year with a journal. There is something about a blank page that makes me feel inspired, and like anything can happen!

New Year Essentials by duskandrubies featuring nike hats

Eos beauty product

$9.91 - austique.co.uk

Nike hat

macys.com

NIKE sports headband

dickssportinggoods.com

Victoria s Secret sports headband

victoriassecret.com

Under Armour clothing

sportchek.ca

Victoria's Secret activewear pants

victoriassecret.com

Yoga activewear

$53 - debenhams.com

Asics shoes

kohls.com

The Best Is Yet To Come Sinatra Journal

paper-source.com

Weekly Health and Fitness Printable - Weight, Sleep, Activity Tracker...

etsy.com

Weider 25 lbs Adjustable Speed Weight Dumbbell

wayfair.com

Victoria's Secret Hobo Gym Bag

victoriassecret.com

Victoria's Secret Incredible by Victoria’s Secret Sport Bra

victoriassecret.com

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions

I can never make just one New Year's resolution, and I think that is a good thing. Why not reach for as many goals as one can muster in one year? Plus, I don't want to put all of my time and energy into losing weight- that would just drive me crazy. Instead, I always make a few resolutions for different areas of my life like, relationships, health & fitness, aspirations, family, spirituality, career, and self. This way as each year passes I am moving forward in as many ways as possible. I also don't beat myself up if I don't reach my goal in one year. Some goals take more time! 

For my health & fitness resolution, I wanted to lose weight the healthy way. I wanted to lose weight, gain muscle, go to the gym more, and maintain healthful eating habits. Although I started losing weight in February and not December 31st at 12 am, I am continuing my journey of healthy weight loss going into 2014. This year I am 13 lbs lighter than I was last year. I consider this a complete win, and am enjoying taking my time as I lose weight and move towards my goal!

Here are some tips to help you keep your resolutions this year:

1. Celebrate your efforts towards your goals even if you haven't met, or completed them yet. It is the steps we take in the right direction that count. 

2. Don't measure your progress strictly by "how much". Meaning, don't measure by how much money you saved, or how many pounds you lost, but by all the changes you have endured and the growth you see in yourself as you have steadily worked towards your goals.    

3. Remember, some goals take more than one year to complete! Think about the goal you are setting. Is it a two-year goal? Three year? Four year? Setting appropriate goals means understanding what you can actually achieve in a certain time frame. Reaching our goals is supposed to be fun and gratifying, not stressful and overwhelming. 

4. Keep yourself motivated throughout the year. With weight loss, I find it works best to give myself short goal incentives. At the end of every month I would celebrate with something special like a new dress, a small stay-cation, or a new book. 

5. Make more than 1 resolution! Instead of focusing on the resolution you didn't meet, what about all the ones you did, or are in progress? Having more than one resolution gives you more than one opportunity to make it stick. 

Want to know how to make these completely motivational weight loss trackers? It's simple...

DIY: MOTIVATIONAL TRACKERS

Step 1: Find or buy 2 glass jars (Mine are candle holders from the Dollar Tree)

Step 2: Hot glue one of your glass jars/ candle holders onto a glass candlestick holder (also from the Dollar Tree) 

Step 3: Use scrap booking letters to label your two glass jars. For an even easier DIY use stickers to label "pounds lost" and "pounds to go". Further decorate your glass containers however you please! 

Step 4: Find or buy marbles, buttons, glass gem filler, or anything else you can get your hands on to use as counters. Pebbles from the beach will work as well, and they're free...and Voila! 

Step 5: With every pound you lose, you will be able to move a stone from your "pounds to go" pile into your "pounds lost" pile. It is a very rewarding feeling! 

You can use this DIY to track anything! It could be miles you ran during the week, money you saved, or even each resolution you plan to reach this year. Find what inspires you to be better this year, and start moving towards it.

What are you planning to make your New Year's Resolution this year? Share with us through e-mail, facebook, instagram, or in the comment section below!

Like always stay lovely, 

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies Blog

CONTINUE READING

The Health Issue: Day #10 of The 10 Day D&R Fitness Challenge

Are you an innie or an outie? And I'm not talking belly buttons. What I'm really asking is do you prefer working out inside, or outside? This is something, that through your time spent completing the 10 Day D&R Fitness Challenge you should have picked up on. Did you like the controlled environment of the treadmill? Or, did you prefer playing tennis outdoors? It is something to reflect on, because working out in a space you prefer will make your workout more enjoyable. And, if your workout is more enjoyable, then you'll be more likely to do it!

Day #10 is the perfect day to test you theories. Today, those of you who prefer outdoors will get in an hour bike ride, while those of you who love a climate controlled room will take an hour spinning class. Both riding your bike and spinning are great forms of exercise when you execute them properly.

Tips for getting the most out of your work out today

 (bike riders):

Know of a hilly area nearby? Biking in an area that changes in elevation will help with conditioning and strengthening muscles.

Sing while you bike. Or, for an extra cardio boost sing along to your favorite playlist. (if you're able to sing every word, and hold out every note you are either a.) not pedaling fast enough or, b.) the resistance on your bike is not high enough. This would mean you need to switch your gear up to a higher number.) 

Tips for getting the most out of your work out today (spinning):

First time cyclers: make sure the seat of your bike is level with your hip while you're standing next to your bike, before you hop on. Make sure, when your feet are in the peddles, that you are NOT able to fully extend your leg straight down. This can cause an injury. If you can fully extend your leg, then your seat is too high. Lower the seat to fix this issue. Your handle bar placement is also important. For those with back issues do NOT have your handle bars too low, or too far away from you.

Alumni Cyclers:  Your instructor should know how to get your blood pumping, but just in case you feel you're not getting the cardio you need, or your RPM is dragging add jumps. 
Jumps are performed by moving in and out of the saddle in a smooth, controlled movement. Jumps help you strengthen certain muscles, and also further develop your timing, and balance. You are employing your muscles to shift from the seat to the standing position and back.

My tip for jumping: Start with 8 full cycles in the standing "third" position, then 8 in the sitting "first" position. Then 4 up, 4 down, repeat 3x. Then 2 up, 2 down, repeat 4x. If you're still not feeling the burn continue with variations of the 4 up/4 down and 2 up 2 down jumps.

All Cyclers: Don't be afraid of adding resistance. 

I know the D&R Fitness Challenge was only supposed to last 10 Days, and that it is a great way to jump start your fitness adventure, but I want to leave you with this thought: If you want to live healthfully, and if you want to live a long life, then try to condition your body to work out more consistently. I know we all go through our ups and downs when it comes to fitness- we can be really into it and go every day for a week, and then we could repel it, because we have no energy, we're drained, and so on. But, all it takes is a 30 minute workout 2-3 times a week, every week, to make a difference in our health, in our energy levels, and in our moods! So keep it up lovelies!

                               

Keep Going, and Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

The Health Issue: Day#7, #8, & #9 of the D&R 10 Day Fitness Challenge

How are you doing? We are reaching the home stretch here so I have three cardio routines that you can try! I am a big fan and believer of interval training and if you're looking for a way to slim down, and tone up lean muscle, then this is the way to do it!

Remember to adjust the speed, interval, and time to fit your needs, but try to push yourself a little further each day!

Dusk & Rubies loves, what we call, "the chorus method". Every time you hear the chorus in the music you're listening to while working out bump up the speed, or the interval while doing cardio! It is a great way to easily add interval training into your routine!

So we'll leave you with one of our favorite songs to interval train to:

Can't View Video? Click Here For Britney Spears' "Gimme More"

You'll be giving more...to your workout!

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

The Health Issue: Day# 5 & Day #6 of D&R's 10 Day Fitness Challenge

I can't seem to post these designed workouts fast enough! So here are the workouts I did for Day#5 and Day #6 of Dusk & Rubies 10 Day Fitness Challenge!

Day #5

The people who make the change to stay fit, and stay fit for the long haul, are those who find ways to fit fitness into their hectic schedules, their workday, and their lives. So, what did I do on day #5 to meet this goal? Well, it depends on the job you have, but here are a few ways to add fitness into your workday like I did.

1. If you have a desk job:

1. Swap out your chair for an exercise ball. Stimulate your core muscles with this easy trick.

2. Eat your lunch at your desk, and use your lunch break to take a walk.

3. It may not be fashionably, but you could wear ankle weights under your dress pants, so that every move you make will have a toning effect. (This will make walking in heels a challenge so we suggest you use this when wearing flats, or shoes with 1" heels.

2. If you have a job that incorporates manual labor:

1. Waitress, Sales, Hairdresser, Doctor: these are all jobs that incorporate a lot of movement so you're lucky. We suggest to buy a pedometer to track how much you move, and the calories you burn. Each day try to meet the goal you set for yourself, or top it!

3. If you have a job that is part time stationary, but has moments where you can move:

1. Teacher, Therapist, Appraiser: If you have a job where you find you can sit or stand I suggest you try to move more. As a teacher, when I had hall duty I would walk the hall instead of sit at a desk.

2. Take the stairs always, and often.

3. If you're traveling, and sitting in a car for long periods of time when at work be more aware of when you're not in the car/ not traveling.  Take breaks in between to walk, to stretch. It is always a good idea to invest in some weighted wristbands, ankle bands, or vest. It just makes every little move you make more important. Park far away from your destinations too, so that you can stretch those legs!

Day #6

So how are you doing? We are more than halfway through? How do you feel? Stronger? More fit?

Today I want you to get outside! Play a game of tennis, a round of golf, a pickup basketball, soccer, whatever and whichever sport you know how to play. Maybe even some yoga in the park!

Doing something you love is an easy way to get exercise in.

Day #5 and Day #6 is all about fitting fitness into your everyday life. We want you to try to make small changes: move more at work, and get outside

Good luck! You're almost done with this challenge; keep it up!

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies 



CONTINUE READING

The Health Issue: Day #4 of The Dusk & Rubies' Fitness Challenge

Are you keeping up?

Are you just getting started?

This is Day #4 recap of the

Dusk & Rubies' 10 Day Fitness Challenge!

Day #4:

Are you feeling the burn? Today we take it down a notch, but don't jump for joy just yet. We take it down a notch by taking a 60 minute Kick & Tone Class. If you have a kickboxing class at your gym, or the P90x Kickboxing DVD this is a great alternative. It incorporates both light lifting and lots of fun kickboxing moves that tones your inner and outer thighs, and glutes!

If you don't belong to a gym, you're new to kickboxing, or you're a little scared to try it I have curated a few videos based on your fitness level! Now you can do these workouts right in the privacy of your own well-decorated home!

Easy/ Newbie

Click Here If You Can't View Video.

Perks: This video is a quick 10 minute video that shows the basics to Cardio Kickboxing. Start with 10 minutes and work your way up!

Medium/ Occasional Gym Goer

Click Here If You Can't View Video.

Perks: High energy, faster paced, and 45 minutes long, but the instructor still explains exactly how to execute each move properly.

#FittieQueen

Click Here If You Can't View Video.

Perks: Do you consider yourself the queen of your workouts? Then, the Jillian Michael's cardio kickboxing video is for you. She is all business, and all about squats...so many squats in this 25 minute high intensity, not a lot of direction, quick paced video.

Stay Lovely, & Get Kicking!

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

The Health Issue: Day #3 of Dusk & Rubies' 10 Day Fitness Challenge

Do Not Knock It Until You Try It!...

So what type of cardio could we possibly try next? Dance cardio, or in other words Zumba! Hey, I was the biggest skeptic. Even as a former dancer I doubted I would get the same type of workout from this "dance class" as I would running, or let's say going to a spin class.

So this morning I gave it a try, and was completely surprised! I was drenched, and completely feeling the high intervals (the fast dances) followed by the recovery dances (the slower dances). It was a 60 minute class my gym offered, and

I would highly recommend giving it a try.

Was it easy to pick up? With a dance background I was able to pick up the moves pretty easily, but messed up a few times. (My samba is not the best) But, it was all good! Everyone is there to dance, and no one is by any means a professional, so even if you're a beginner you'll feel right at home. If you feel nervous about trying the class, don't fear. Most classes are pretty full, and you can take a spot in the back, and blend in with the other bodies just trying to get a workout in, but make sure you have a good view of the instructor!

Food:

Revamp your breakfast!

Oatmeal + Cinnamon + 1tbsp slivered almonds

You need a breakfast that is going to burn slowly, and keep you full. By eating a whole grain with the additional protein in the almonds it is the perfect breakfast for someone who is cardio bound!

Happy Day #3!

Stay lovely

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

The Health Issue: Take The Dusk & Rubies 10 Day Fitness Challenge!

Change your diet; change your exercise; change your life!

Sometimes we fall off the wagon, and sometimes we just take up bad habits like eating dessert with every meal, drinking too many sugary drinks, piling on the extra cheese and extra bacon....sorry, this probably isn't helping. But, what if I told you that you could change this downward spiral in just ten days? Give me ten days of your time, and I will give you the steps you need to reverse the cycle, refresh your outlook, and get back to a happier, healthier you!



So, what are we waiting for? Let's begin!

Day #1:

Workout: Do some fat burning cardio! Use the machine of your preference: the bike, the elliptical, step-master, treadmill, gazelle. Whichever you can use for a good thirty minutes. Yes, we said thirty minutes. Why thirty minutes? Well, including a 5 minute warm-up, and a 5 minute cool-down, we want you to try for at least 3o minutes of  cardio  either outside or inside on a machine today. We want you to try to build up your endurance, your heart health, and your lung capacity. (If you can't do 30 do as much as you can and mark it down. We want to continue to reach for more time as you become comfortable) But the key is to find a speed that you can moderately attain for 30 minutes (meaning you're working up a sweat, but can still breathe comfortably). We don't care if you're walking, jogging, or running. Really try for 30 minutes.

Food: Replace one meal with a fruit, and veggie smoothie. Believe me it will fill you up. We made the following

1 banana

1/2 green grapes

1-2 leafs of kale

optional to add some extra fiber with 1-2 pitted prunes, or 1 tbsp. of wheat bran

3/4-1 c. Ice

CONTINUE READING

The Health Issue: Slow & Steady Wins The Race

I know you have probably heard of the idiom, "slow and steady wins the race", and have probably read the fable that the well known cliche is from. But if not then I'll refresh your memory. It is a story by Aesop titled "The Tortoise And The Hare", and the story involves a turtle who has to race a terribly fast rabbit. Well, my ability to lose weight is one of the turtle lately, and I'm okay with that because guess what? I don't know if you remember but the turtle wins the race.

June 8th marked three months of eating healthfully for me. I have been eating better (eating 3 meals a day and 2-3 healthful snacks instead of my daily 2 pints of ben & jerry's) I have been losing weight the hard way, the right way, and damn I am proud of myself for sticking with it. In three months I have lost 12 lbs.

I could have easily done a cleanse, or only ate 2 meals, or gone vegan, or any one of the plethora of fad diets that are out there, but I didn't. I did it the old fashioned way, because I am tired of losing weight and then gaining it back. I want it off, and I want it off for good!

I'm sure there are those of you who feel the same way. For me, I just can't not have a burger if I want a burger. I can't not have feta cheese if I want feta cheese. And, ohhh, if I want peanut butter, and only peanut butter, then I will eat it off the spoon!

So what does one do when they want to lose weight but not actually go on a diet? Well I knew I didn't want to restrict myself from all types of foods. I knew I wanted to still be able to go out to a restuarant an order a meal, and not feel guilty about it.

I mean go out to eat with a group of women and you will see how crazy we are!

There is the girl who: claims she hasn't eaten anything all day, but really has eaten part of a pop-tart, two chicken nuggets, a bite of someone else's fries, and a diet coke, but thinks its cool to say she hasn't eaten anything.

Then there is the girl who:  

• can't eat carbs
• can't eat meat
• can only eat meat
• can only eat carbs
• can only eat like a caveman
• can only eat gluten free, although she herself is not allergic to gluten.
• can't go over her points
• is using a calculator under the table to count her calories
• won't have dessert but five long island ice-teas are okay.
• will only use artificial sweeteners, but will order dessert.
• lost 7 lbs on a three day cleanse.
• drinks water all day...and only water.
• skips meals.
• eats only dessert and no real food (that used to be me).

What I am trying to say here is that a lot of us (and I am including myself in this) are crazy, straight up crazy, and we will do anything to look like what we think is beautiful, instead of accepting ourselves at the moment, and taking into account that sometimes weight loss is s-l-o-w.

Joy always looks good on you whether you've gained a little or lost a lot.

So although my weight loss has been slow it has also been steady. 12 pounds in three months averages down to a healthy loss of one pound per week. Let me tell you it wasn't always smooth sailing. But, with the understanding and acceptance that as long as I stick with it the weight I wanted to shed would eventually have to come off I have been doing great!

Of course there are those few days when you are craving something not so healthy like: salty snack mix, chocolate covered graham crackers, or pretzels with Marie's Creamy Italian Garlic Dressing, and it is okay to give into a craving once in a while. But if you're eating well chances are you won't crave that stuff that often.

So remember that when you lose weight the right way it is usually slow and steady, and that it's not really a race at all, but rather a way for you to live a longer, better, more joyful life. I mean who doesn't want to be able to enjoy their piece of finish line pie once in a while, and who doesn't want to be able to order chicken parmesan for dinner, and who doesn't want to be able to nourish their bodies? I most certainly do, and I hope you do as well!

Stay Lovely and Healthy!

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk  & Rubies
                                                       

CONTINUE READING

5 Fun Ways to Workout This Summer Without Breaking the Bank

Think back to when you were a young kid. You probably didn't think to yourself: I have to get my thirty minutes of cardio in. Why? Because, when we were younger we wanted to be active. Being active was fun, and a way to socialize. Chances are you were in either soccer or dance, baseball or lacrosse, and you spent your summers swimming in the pool, or playing manhunt. These are all forms of exercise that as kids we never thought about as something we had to do, but rather something we wanted to do.

So, why is being active so difficult for some in our adult life? Well, I can think of a load of excuses: we work too hard, we don't have the time, people socialize now over cocktails not bike rides, we would rather do something relaxing like watch television, or read a book, we would even rather sleep. When it comes down to it most people have other activities they would rather do, or they no longer find being active fun. I have found to be successful with exercise you have to make it fun for yourself. To make sure you're getting your recommended sweat on three-four times a week it has to be enjoyable. Those gym rats who say: your workout shouldn't be fun it should be intense, and you should be crippled in pain; otherwise, you're not getting a good workout ...are completely wrong.

I can still lose weight, get into shape, and have fun all at the same time sans the pain I felt from trying P90X, and you can too. Here are 5 fun workouts that don't necessarily feel like working out at all.

1. Rollerblading: Do you remember a Roller Rinks by your house growing up? If you are a 90's kid, then you sure do. For some reason rollerblading to music with your friends while strobe lights were going was one of the most fun things to do for birthday parties. This still sounds fun to me, and still continues to be one of my favorite summer activities. Plus, if you have a pair of roller blades this workout is free of charge!

2. Hiking: Another wonderful way to get into shape, but without feeling like you are doing required exercise is to go for a hike. There are some beautiful parks on Long Island and all over the United States. Just bring a camera and soak in the nature. Meanwhile your legs and glutes will be doing tons of work!

3. Hula Hooping: Play some jams, and swirl your hips and you have a dance party! Oh no- wait, you're working out your abs. Can't believe it? It is true! Have fun with the hula hoop with friends, and whittle your middle all at the same time. What's better is it won't hurt your back, and you won't have to keep count of how many crunches you're doing. Just hit play and sway!

4. Yoga: Do it on the beach, do it in a field, or do it in your room on a rainy day. Yoga is a great workout and you can do it for free just about anywhere. Don't know the first thing about yoga? You can find videos and tutorials on youtube!

5. Bike Riding: I can't help but think of the movie Now and Then and how the four girlfriends would ride their bikes all Summer long, listen to the radio attached to their handle bars, and discuss the issues they faced with coming of age. This throwback movie reminds me of my childhood, where my sister, cousins and I would constantly ride our bikes everywhere listening to our i-pods. So get your bike, get your friends, and enjoy the ride!

Stay Lovely...

...and get your funfit on!

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING

How To Be Successful...When Trying To Become A Runner

It was back in 2007 when I first decided I was going to try to start running. I wasn't a stranger to exercise by any means. Prior to running, I would work out at the gym by: lifting light weights, and trying different classes. My machine of choice for cardio was the elliptical.

Even after considerable time spent inside the gym, and outside participating in activities like: swimming, biking, and hiking for some reason I was still never happy with the outcome. I blame it on dance and tennis. As a dancer, I always had muscular thighs, and no matter how I worked them out they would never (to me at least) look slender like I wanted them too. Tennis didn't help either. The constant stop and go, lunges, and sprints up and down the court for hours was bound to build up some muscles. (I wish I had a picture of how jacked I looked after coming home from a Nike Tennis Camp where all players were scheduled to play 9 hours of tennis every day. Yikes.)

Anyway, I can't remember how the idea ignited within, or how I decided to do it, but on Easter after eating buckets of candy I realized I needed an exercise evolution. I had heard about the multiple benefits of running from so many people. How running can:

• Slenderize your entire body, because it works many muscles at a time.
• That it helps to break down bulky muscles into lean muscles.
• Burn tons of calories. (About 100 every ten minutes for a 150 lb person)
• Is great for reducing stress.

I also heard some of the negative impacts running has on the body:

• It can, over time, really impair your joints (especially your knees) because of the constant impact with the pavement or treadmill. 
• If you don't have the correct shoes, or the correct stride it could also cause complications in ones joints.

I weighed the pros and cons and decided it was something I was willing to try out. I'm a firm believer in moderation, and slowly conditioning yourself. Although as a teenager I had issues with my knees, because I grew too tall too fast, I recognized that if I were to build the muscles up around my knees, while I started to run that I would be less likely to cause myself an injury. So I incorporated light weight training into my new gym routine.

There was still another obstacle I had to overcome. From the time I was 8 until I was about 18 I had been prescribed inhalers for my asthma. My asthma was brought on by severe allergies, but as I grew up I also grew out of my allergies, and out of my asthma. And although I no longer suffered from the asthmatics cough I still had never exercised my lungs from cardio like many other kids.

So, with some semi-terrible knees, and the lung capacity of an asthmatic I set out to run my first mile. Great start right?

Now, I am not going to sugar coat it. After my first run I was panting like a dog left out in the sun for too long, and my chest felt like it was on fire-burning from the unfamiliarity of it all, but I did it. I completed my first mile. From those humble beginnings I am now able to run up to 17 miles in one run- the most I have ever attained. Many people ask how I do it because they want to start to run (Or, they just think I am nuts).
But if you want to be a successful long distance runner here are some tips that have worked for me:

1. Start slow. I started with one mile, every day, for one week. Then for my second week I ran one mile and a half. For my third: two miles, For my fourth: three miles. I stayed at each interval long enough, and only upped my mileage when I felt comfortable to do so.  

2. Don't force it. Yes, you can force yourself to run four miles the first day, but truth be told the people that I see who do that won't run the next day. What helped me condition myself was that I ran small amounts three, then four, then up to six times a week. Then, I incrementally upped my mileage.

3. Distance first, then time. If you want to be a long distance runner don't worry so much on how fast you are going at first. You can always condition yourself to be faster. There are a lot of people who can run a 6 minute mile...for one mile, but not so many who could run 6 miles total. If you want to run more than one mile, and it's your first time slow down your speed. Try running at a speed of a 10 minute mile and see how many miles you can run.

4. Once you can run 4 miles you can run 6. I know it sounds strange, and you may say "6 miles no way". But many runners will tell you they have a mile they struggle to reach, but once they reach it they can attain more miles. For me, when I was first starting out and had been running for about two months the third mile was always the toughest, but then the following three always flew by.

The main reason why I run now? I love it. It is a great way to relax, and escape. When I put on my music and run my tension or any anxiety I had been feeling gets left on the pavement. I hope these helpful tips, and my story has helped any of you interested in trying to run feel empowered to do so.

Like always stay lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies

CONTINUE READING