We all have them, those extra few pounds we’ve been trying to drop. Whether it’s post pregnancy weight (like I had) or extra pounds that snuck up on you over the years (which I also had).

I gained a lot of weight when I was pregnant, sixty pounds with Cameron and sixty-two with Logan. It took a lot of work to get rid of that extra weight and it’s something that has become like a work in progress. After Logan was born I did find a way to lose fifty pounds though.

Dieting is not the answer here folks, you have to make a conscious decision to change your lifestyle. You don’t have to make drastic changes, in fact you’d be surprised how effective just a few small changes can be.

I thought I’d share with you my top five tips. They’re five simple lifestyle changes you can make that will help drop some of that unwanted weight. The added bonus? You’ll start feeling more energized too.

1. Drink plenty of water. If you’re dehydrated you might end up reaching for more food, it’s kind of your body’s way of seeking fluids when you’re not drinking enough. Water will also help you feel fuller longer. You’ll probably need to pee a lot at first but your body will get used to the water eventually and learn how to process it. My goal is a gallon (more on running days) a day.

Reach for water before you reach for a sugary soda. Even diet soda can aid in keeping those extra pounds. Flavor your water with fresh fruit instead.

2. Get enough sleep. There are a number of studies that have linked weight loss with sleep but let’s just look at the most basic part of it. If you’re awake you’re more likely to be (mindlessly) snacking. There are actual chemical imbalances that are caused by not getting enough sleep and they have been proven to help you GAIN weight. So get those Zzzz’s. Aim for seven to eight hours a night.

3. Move. It’s not always easy if you’re stuck at a desk all day but get up and moving as much as you can during the day. Park a little further at work or out shopping. Take the stairs whenever you can. When you do laundry take it one small stack at a time to put away. Those extra steps really do add up. I wear an activity tracker (fancy name for a pedometer) and my goal is at least 10,000 steps a day.

4. Think ahead when you eat out. When I know I’m going to be eating out I visit the restaurant’s website to look at their nutritional information. Sometimes what you think is going to be a healthy option is far from healthy. I try to always have my meal picked out ahead of time. If I can’t check things out before hand, I’ll use my phone to narrow down what the best options are for me once we get there.

5. Don’t deprive yourself. If you like junk food don’t completely cut it out of your life. You’ll be cranky and when you do indulge in it you’re likely to overindulge. Instead eat in moderation. Instead of sitting on the couch with a bag of chips, put a small portion on a plate for your snack. Same with the cookies, take a few out of the package and put the rest away. You’re actually less likely to go back for more if they’re put away than if the package is sitting on your lap. Go figure.

Just these few things will have you seeing results.

What lifestyle changes have you made to become healthier and drop a few extra pounds?

You might remember about a month ago I set my biggest running goal yet. I was so excited to get out there and run those 100 miles. I started out with a bang, giving myself some wiggle room should something happen later on.

It turns out that was a smart thing to do because I caught a wicked reparatory bug not too far into the month. I wasn’t too worried though, I still had plenty of time to get those miles in and I had built in that wiggle room earlier in the month.

When I was able to run again I hit the ground hard. I was going to meet this goal come hell or high water!

Little by little my right knee started to bother me. It started slowly as a dull pain while I was running that came on after five or six miles. Within a few runs it was a debilitating pain that left me in tears. After my last run the pain never went away. Now it hurts to walk so running is out of the question.

My first instinct was to push through it and get the miles in, then come September I’d slow it down a little. Then I thought about the damage I may be doing…Permanent damage.

Sure, I’ll get those miles in now but will I be able to keep running later? Not to mention who wants to end every run crying in pain?

The moment I realized that I wasn’t going to make it to 100 miles was pure devastation. I don’t think I’ve ever been more disappointed in myself. Yes, I even cried.

Here it is, I missed my goal by 31.4 miles. I’m disgusted!

Now here I am almost two weeks since my last run and I’m starting to get a little depressed. I have an appointment with the orthopedist on Friday and I’ve promised not to run until he sees me.

I miss being out on the road with nothing but my music and the fresh air around me. I miss the feeling of accomplishment that I feel after each run. I miss flying over the pavement while sweating out my frustrations. I miss burning all those extra calories which allows me to have a little treat on run days. I miss running!

Have you ever been slapped in the face with an unexpected failure? How did you deal?

I dove into a box of red velvet cupcakes.