i want to ride my bicycle

j and i finally bit the bullet and bought ourselves new bikes! now that we are living in a bike-friendly (well about as bike-friendly as it gets in metro atlanta) area, we wanted dependable bikes! we ended up buying hybrids (yay for comfort and performance). although atlanta weather has been very tempermental which has kept us from riding as much as we'd like, we can't wait to be able to ride around town! jason will actually be using his bike to commute to work which helps lower our carbon footprint!! and decatur has just completed the PATH trail near our house between 2 parks which is for runners, walkers, and bikes! it's beautiful (just see for yourself):


the only downside (there's always a rub) is our neighborhood is verrrry hilly. we took a ride for an hour on wednesday and the hills were almost the end of me. my thighs almost fell off. true story.

anyways, we got our bikes from the local bicycle south shop (they are great if you're in the market for a bike! very great prices and laid back and knowledgeable staff). we couldn't be happier!

j got a 2008 raleigh detour hybrid. only it's grey, not green. he looooves it. now we just need to add a rack and fenders for his commute.

i got a giant brand hybrid that came with a rack, fender, compass (and bell!) already included. only it is blue, not black. good times!



i will get you guys some pics of our actual bikes because they are way cuter. there's nothing like a bike ride to make you feel 10 years old again and unstoppable. i can't wait to ride our bikes towards little 5 points for a snowball (in trying to relive the new orleans trip)!

summer is here, my friends.

[image via the london transport museum]

p.s. the london transport museum has some wonderful posters/ prints. we are actually thinking of using one for our invitation. more on that to follow.

walk at home

like 99% of the population (especially girls getting married this year) i have made the resolution to get healthy and in shape. and by saying i want to be in shape, i'm really just trying to make the fact that i need to lose weight sound better! so anyways, i have started keeping a food journal to help monitor what i'm eating (based on the weight watchers system). i am also trying to train to run a 5K (another resolution!) this year. i also need to get back into the routine of going to my ymca gym. sadly, there were numerous times in 2008 that i was really getting in shape and felt wonderful, but i would get comfortable with my weight, my weight would stabilize temporarily, and then before i knew it all efforts had been lost. so this year my goal is not to diet, but to revolutionize my lifestyle when it comes to working out and eating properly.

to help me acheive this objective, i will be taking advantage of the following things:
1. the ymca's "coach approach" - an exercise support process designed to teach new and returning members how to start and stick with their exercise program.

2. classes at the ymca -with a focus on yoga (another resolution! yessss!)

3. the outdoors - enough said.

4. leslie sansone's walk at home video - i know what you're thinking - walking at home? walking indoors? i was a skeptic too, but after my [super skinny] best friend kept insisting that this video was an intense workout, i figured that i would give it a shot. to my surprise, by the end of the 4th mile, i was sweating bullets and completely worn out due to a great, low impact workout! i would definitely recommend this for those days when it's ugly outside or you can't get motivated to go to the gym. the best part about the below video is that you can do all 4 miles when you want a longer/ more intense workout (the video even includes a fitness band that is used during the 4th mile); however, if you aren't wanting to really exert yourself one day, you can only do 1 mile! 1 mile is better than no miles, right?


are there any specific workouts or exercises that have really helped you reach/ maintain your weight goals? if so, please share!