There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
​

This is part three in a series where I'm documenting my running goals that I've shifted thanks to COVID towards increasing my time! You can check out part 1 and part 2 if you'd like, but not totally necessary to understand what I'll be sharing today. 

So, I have good news and bad news (well, for myself, really). The bad news: my mile time was longer than I thought. The good news: now I can accurately gauge my pace! 

So, I had done pretty exclusively treadmill runs thus far. I made the mistake of not calibrating myApple Watch before getting right into it once I switched from my Garmin and my times were not accurate, to say the least (my Garmin was old and in need of some replacing, haha).

This was discovered after calibrating and running on pavement with Anthony for the Crowned Athletics free Together in Paris run (P.S. you get 10% off their products with the coupon MagicallyFit) and a local free virtual 5K that we did (thanks, Healthy West Orange!), and found out that my pace wasn't between 9 and 10 minutes per mile, but was closer to 13-13:30. Oops! 
​

​But! The good news is now I have a more accurate gauge for how much faster I actually have to go and can train accordingly... especially since I signed up for the runDisney Princess 5K in all its virtual glory. I figure if I'm gonna attempt a 30 minute 5K, I might as well have something to show for it, and whenever I get there at least I'll have a medal I can engrave with the date and time, right?

Since the race is in February, so I figure beyond just having a medal to show for my accomplishment, it'll be a good way to see how far I've come (even though my goal isn't necessarily to get a 30 minute 5K for February, but just to gauge my progress - I'm not rushing this so I don't hurt myself!). 
​

I got the Rincon by Hoka One One a few months ago (when I decided to start this challenge for myself) and I absolutely love the shoe. It's super lightweight but still really supportive, which has been really important with me because one of the main reasons I would run/walk/run would be to avoid flaring up sciatic nerve damage. With these shoes (and proper stretching, but trust me from experience - the shoes do make a difference) it hasn't been a problem, so I'm super happy about that. 

Balega is the only brand of running sock I've truly not had blisters in (and my husband swears by them as well, not just for running but day-to-day life) and I love the AfterShokz bone conducting headphones for when I'm running outdoors since it allows me to be super aware of my surroundings but still getting to listen to music or chat with my husband. Best of both worlds!
​

I love Halloween. I love Halloween music. I love the spooky season, you guys. So, with that being said, I had to create a Halloween workout playlist for when I'm running or hitting the weights. It's been super fun and is reminding me to not always take myself so seriously when training (because it's supposed to be fun!) and makes for a really good time, especially when I'm looking for something different to work out to. It's fun to mix things up and to be festive!

Check out the playlist on Spotify.

So, my goal for the rest of the month is to shift that 13 minute mile closer to a 12:30... and then in November, I'm hoping to get it closer to 12. If I can shave at least 30 seconds off my mile each month, that should put me at an 11 minute mile in February, which is pretty close to my goal. We'll see if that actually pans out, though - again, I'm not going to force it.
​

You May Also Like

• Weight Watchers Halloween Candy Guide
• Virtual 5K Training Tips 
• Disney Halloween Costumes You Can Get On Amazon

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
​

Halloween will be here before we know it - and did you know that this year, you can wear your Halloween costume to Magic Kingdom since Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party got canceled? Whether you're hitting the parks or just want to feel festive at home while you binge Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown on Disney+, here are some options you can get on Amazon.
​

There are a ton of Disney Princess costumes available on Amazon! A lot of them available are through Leg Avenue, a company known for making sexy versions of costumes, but you can get some dresses that look pretty similar to the actual dresses. This is a great option for Halloween since it won't be as heavy as a traditional gown you'd see a cosplayer wearing at Comic Con.
​

Whether you're looking for a full blown Minnie Mouse costume for yourself or your kids, a Disneybound for an easy costume to wear to the theme parks, or for a Mickey Mouse onesie to stay comfy in while you hang out at home and watch some of your favorite Halloween movies and treat yourself to some candy, there are a ton of options on Amazon that you can try!
​

If The Nightmare Before Christmas is on your list of must-watch movies this Halloween, you'll feel right at home in these costumes available on Amazon. There are some more simple costumes that will help you live your best Jack and Sally life, but also some more involved costumes that would look super cool with a ton of makeup to impress the kids in your neighborhood for some (socially distanced in 2020) trick-or-treating.
​

If we're all mad here, then you'll want to check out some of these fun Alice in Wonderland costumes! This is a classic that never goes out of style, and with a bunch of different adaptations of this story (including from Disney), there are so many options for all the characters.
​

There are a ton of Pixar Halloween costume options on Amazon. From superheroes to personified emotions, there are so many fun characters you and your family can choose from!
​

The Force will be strong with you in these costumes! There are a ton of Star Wars costumes out there with the new franchise and television series, so you can have a ton of fun with these costumes. Again, you may see some cosplayers with way more legit-looking costumes, but these are fantastic for those looking to just get into cosplay or who just want something comfortable for Halloween night or to walk around Magic Kingdom in. 

There are so many cool superhero costumes you can choose from these days thanks to the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe! These costumes are great for Halloween because they're less involved than a traditional cosplay, so you can still be comfy while looking like your favorite hero on Halloween night. In general, a lot hero costumes are zentai suits, which can be really comfy since its a glorified body suit.
​

What will you be wearing for Halloween? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to  tag me in your photos on Instagram so I can see what you're wearing (especially if it's something from this list)!

You may also like:

• Weight Watchers Halloween Candy Guide
• Walt Disney World Re-opening Guide

Halloween is just three weeks away! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but can be pretty stressful on Weight Watchers. Over the years, I've learned the best approach is to pick a candy that I really want, pre-track it, and then stick to that so I don't feel deprived. It's really important that we don't restrict, because restricting can lead to binging or "falling off the wagon." I also like to remind myself that these candies are available whenever I want, so there's no sense in overdoing it just because it's Halloween. But it is a good excuse for a treat! 

That all being said, here's a guide to how many SmartPoints some of your favorite candies are on myWW this Halloween.

​There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
​

With the rise in popularity of the keto diet (something I'm not super fond of due to how much it has you restrict, but that's a whole other conversation!), there has been a rise in popularity with sugar-free candies in chocolates. If you have a sensitive stomach, beware - a lot of these products contain sugar alcohols, which are known to cause gastrointestinal distress. They don't bother some people, but can be troublesome to others, so if you start to feel kind of gassy after eating any of these, look for anything on the nutritional label ending in -itol. A lot of "diet-friendly" sweets have sugar alcohols like erythritol (the least offensive of the bunch), malitol, sorbitol, and xylitol in them. 
​

If you like gummies...
TrySmart Sweets! Smart Sweets sells a lot of candies that are reminiscent of the bags of candies you can get at a drugstore and touts that they don't use any sugar alcohols. One bag of their Berry Sweet Fish, Peach Rings, Sour Blast Buddies, or Gummy Bears are 3 SmartPoints. You can try them on Amazon.
​

If you like chocolate...
Try Choc Zero! Choc Zero (available here on Amazon) sells a bunch of different chocolate sweets that are free of any and all sugar alcohols - thank goodness! They sell chocolate squares and peanut butter cups and they use monk fruit as a sweetener instead of anything that could cause you any tummy troubles. I've tried their chocolates and their syrups (1 tbsp is 1 SmartPoint) and absolutely love their products. You'd never know it was a keto-friendly option.

One peanut butter cup is 3 SmartPoints and one of their milk chocolate squares is 2 SmartPoints. One ounce of their keto bark is 5 SmartPoints. 
​

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
​

It's official - Amazon Prime Day is coming! This October 13 and 14th, Amazon Prime members can get some pretty big savings on products throughout the site. There are all sorts of deals, and I've rounded up my top 10 based on things I've used for my own weight loss journey or I've heard wonderful things about from fellow WW memnbers. And if you're not an Amazon Prime member but want to take advantage of the sales, you can try a free 30-day trial here!

They're having a few sales now, though, as we wait for Prime Day - these are subject to change, but when Prime Day comes around, you can get notifications in the app for when an item may go on sale for Prime Day. You can also look for Prime Day badges in blue on products.
​

Tons of deals will be popping up on October 13th and 14th, so be sure to keep an eye out on the app and sign up now for your free trial so you can be ready to go once more deals start rolling in. Let me know in the comments what you got and what you liked! 
​

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
​

How many times have you scanned the barcode of a protein bar on the Weight Watchers app and been shocked at how many points it is? High sugar content from chocolate coating and dried fruit (which is not as good for you as whole fruit), surprisingly high fat, and chalky textures are the bane of my existence. But luckily for you, I've tried nearly every protein bar out there so you don't have to.

I never recommend replacing a meal with a protein bar (I actually advise against this), I do think that protein bars are fantastic for an on the go snack or for pre-workout fuel. So that being said, here are some of my favorite protein bars to enjoy on Weight Watchers that don't totally break your SmartPoints budget.
​

​SmartPoints: 3-5 
Calories: 130-180

Built Bar is at the top of the list because they are by far the lowest SmartPoint option and also have a really wide variety of flavors. While certain flavors with nuts can range from 4-5 SmartPoints, most if not all of their 130 calorie bars are only 3 SmartPoints. Built Bar recently (late summer 2020) revamped their formula so the bars are slightly less sticky than they were before, but they still do have a similar texture. I'd describe the interior as being similar to a marshmallow.

They're also coated in dark chocolate, so that's a plus! You can shop now by clicking this link. You can also get 10% off if you use the coupon MagicallyFit. My personal favorite flavor is the Cookies and Cream, and my husband really likes the Cherry Barcia.

​SmartPoints: 5 
Calories: 180-200

Pure Protein is another favorite of mine. They're not chalky, and the flavor profiles are pretty strong. They don't have as many flavors as Built, but I really like their chocolate chip  and birthday cake bar flavors. These bars aren't chalky but do have a chewy texture to them (similar to the old Built Bars).

Try a variety pack now on Amazon!
​

​SmartPoints: 5-6 
Calories: 220

ONE has a soft texture to its thin (yet long and wide) bar. They have a wide flavor variety, but some of the flavors can taste kind of similar to one another. However, I do really like these bars and they usually have some tasty seasonal flavors, too.

Try ONE on Amazon, and also check out their minis for an option to curb a sweet tooth. They also have some plant based options that are vegan friendly.
​

​SmartPoints: 2
Calories: 90

These 90 calorie bars are pretty small, so I recommend these more so as a dessert than I do as a snack. While Built is a good dessert, too, I like to save those as pre-workout fuel and then use these if I want a bar for dessert since they're smaller and good for curbing a sweet tooth. At only 2 SmartPoints each, they remind me of the dessert bars that WW makes (but a bit more affordable and accessible).

​Try them on Amazon! 

*Note: price discrepancies below are due to certain selections being a single box vs. multipacks. Don't fret, it's not $35 for a box of 10! I wouldn't do that to you.