Hello! How has your Thursday been so far? Mine has been super busy, I have had meetings ALLLL DAY! I had lunch in between meetings. It was a left over turkey burger from last night topped with mustard and a salad.

After my second meeting, I was hungry again so I snacked on some apple chips and a handful of mixed nuts.

I think my 5:10 am wake up call is starting to catch up with me, I see a coffee in my near future.

“Ask Me Anything” Questions:

Q: What are some tips for maintaining a social life revolved around happy hours and lots of beer when I’m in the process of losing some weight?  I really enjoy good beer (think: Sunset Cafe), but realize I’m consuming way too many liquid calories in such a short time.  Did you have to cut back on your alcohol consumption when you lost weight?

A: Anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis can tell that I LOVE GOOD BEER. Honestly, beer is one of my favorite things in the world. I love how it tastes, how it feel in my mouth and I LOOOOOVE trying new kinds. I did cut back on drinking beer when I started my weight loss journey. It just had to happen to make it work. Now that I am maintaining my weight, I drink less than I used too before I was trying to loose weight. However, I still do drink beer. I have a once a week rule. Although lately, I have been to soooo many celebrations (wedding, birthdays, retirements) that I have been drinking more than normal. I VERY, VERY rarely have beer on weekdays. If I do, I try to take it slow and sip one for a long time. Hope that helps!

Q: What blogs do you read?

A: I read tons of blogs! But, these are my favorites:

• Healthy Tipping Point
• Carrots N’ Cake
• Eat, Live, Run
• Inner Workings of a College Graduate
• FANNEtastic Food
• Whit is Getting Fit
• Meganerd Runs
• Hangry Pants
• On A Lobster Place Mat
• Kath Eats Real Food
• N’ Her Shoes
• Oh She Glows

Q: I see that you get up early, 5:10 today! What time do you get to sleep at night in order to get up so early? I’ve been trying to do the same so I can run in the morning but I find it so hard to get out of my warm comfy bed.

My other question is, I’ve been trying to start my own blog but not sure how to go about it. I have a live journal account but I was wondering how you started up your blog and what site you go through? Also how much time out of your day do you put into your blog?

A: Question #1- I try to get in bed by 9:30 pm when I get up at 5am. But last night I went to bed at 10:30 pm…which is why  I am TIRED right now.

Question #2: I started my blog through WordPress.com. I am not really sure how much time I spend on it a day, it varies. A few hours at least! It is a huge commitment.

Q: I’m wondering if you have become less strict with yourself (workouts and eating habits…not sure if it’s even possible that you at one point did more than you do now) since you are now maintaining your weight and not trying to lose any more?  I am still in the stages of losing and I’m afraid when it comes time to maintain that I will lose accountability with myself and start to gain.  I know it’s far off as I’m still in the losing stages, but wondering if you had any tips to still stay on track while maintaining and to not lose sight of the goal.

A: Sure! I have become less strict with my eating, but not really with my workouts. My workouts have actually gotten more intense, I would say. Mostly because working out is not just a weight loss or weight maintenance mechanism for me but also a stress management one. Also because, when it comes down to it, I just love working out. I love the challenge of pushing it harder or trying something new and I love how I feel after a great workout. Sometimes, I get a little too loose with my eating habits for what I am comfortable with. I just regroup and make sure I am on track with the next meal. It happens.

I am certain you will figure out how to juggle it when you are in the maintenance stage. There is a small learning curve, but you will figure it all out.

Q: Do you have a locker at your gym or do you need to lug toiletries, in order to shower at the gym, with you to and from on the train and what not?  I feel as though I would be much more prone to get ready at my gym if I didn’t need to take everything back and forth.  Or, do you have a travel case that you just keep packed that you can take to and from?

A: Well, at Healthworks, they have towels there and each shower has shampoo etc, they also have  hair dryers and things like that so I don’t need to bring anything but clothes and deodorant.

Q: Do you have a monthly budget for clothes? You dress really well and I can imagine it can get expensive at times.

A: Nope, I don’t. Well, yes I do…it is $0. I can’t remember the last time I bought myself any clothing. I guess I used to shop A LOT when I lived at home and I am just living off all the things I bought back then. I have had some things altered. So, I have spent money on a seamstress to take things I already have in.

I am accepting “Ask Me Anything” Questions until tomorrow, so hurry up and get them in. To submit an question, click here.

Well, I am meeting with some classmates to work on a project…never ending day!