I know what you're thinking....

Ok ok ok...I know you're thinking I fell off the Fitness Planet.  But, good news...I DID NOT!  It's been a crazy beginning to a New Year.  But, I have been having a GREAT time being super active and getting my workout on!   Here's a re-cap:

Jan 1st- Rest Day
Jan 2nd- Strength Training 40 mins (ChaLean Extreme PUSH 3) + 3 Miles Running + Pilates
Jan 3rd- My Bootcamp 60 minutes (2 min intervals of cardio + endurance lifting) + Pilates
Jan 4th-Strength Training 40 mins (ChaLean Extreme LEAN 1)  + 4 Miles Running + Pilates
Jan 5th- 20 minute jog + Yoga (it was a lame yoga workout I found online)
Jan 6th - Turbo Kick Class @ a local Middle School (SO MUCH FUN!!!)
Jan 7th- Strength Training 40 mins (ChaLean Extreme LEAN 2) + 5 Miles Running + Pilates
Jan 8th- Rest Day

I've been really amping up my strength training workouts and trying to do them at LEAST 3 times a week.  I feel like thats the area in my life that is slacking, and even if I don't lose weight..... toning up and getting compact would be great.  I'm noticing a difference, and I love it!

I know you're wondering what "My Bootcamp" is I will tell you.....and if not...I'm still going to tell you.  So, basically I love getting a good workout in, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood to fight the crowds at the gym, or it's too cold outside for a run, and I already did heavy strength training the day before, etc.  I have many excuses in my book, trust me.  So, in these cases...I use a stop watch (on my ipod), a set of 5lb weights, a note pad with your plan, and a good TV show.  And I get my intervals on! It's a great cardio workout.  Here's a sample:

Warmup-- (I use my 5 min Turbo Kick warmup...but you could do just about anything- run in place, jumping jacks, 5 minutes of your favorite workout DVD, kickboxing warmup, etc)
(2 min cardio) --2 jumping jacks + 8 high knees
(2 min strength)-- squats
(2 min cardio) --2 knees + 4 punches (split evenly between left & right sides of body)
(2 min strength) --overhead press
(2 min cardio) -- switch kicks
(2 min strength) -- reverse lunges
(2 min cardio) --  one-leg basketball shoot (lunge down, touch floor with opposite hand, jump in the air- split evenly between left & right sides of body)
(2 min strength) -- overhead triceps (use both weights)
(2 min cardio) -- 1 minute mountain climbers + 1 minute burpees
(2 min strength) -- bicep curls
(2 min cardio) -- 1-2-3  Knee (Heisman)
(2 min strength) -- push ups
(2 min cardio) -- 4 hi-lo punches L&R + 4 Tuck Jumps
(2 min strength) -- double row

Repeat......

My TV show of choice was Biggest Loser.  Nothing quite as motivating to workout to as watching people work out to the max while Jillian Michaels is yelling "Unless you puke, faint or die...keep going".  The girl is crazy.

source

I have to admit I had never seen The Biggest Loser until sometime in September.  I saw it on our Netflix and decided to start watching the series.  I'll also admit that at first I really did not like Jillian Michaels....but over time I've grown to like her a little more.  I won't say that I'm a big fan...but I don't cringe as much when I hear her talk to contestants.  

Also...if you are planning on attending my TURBO KICK classes they will be held Tuesday & Thursday 7pm @ The Hart Building.  First day of class is Thursday January 19th!

Happy New Year!!

[ChaLean Extreme strength training + Pilates + 5 mile run]
Today was a great day! Justy woke up at 4am to go meet up with a good friend to go elk hunting. It was the last day to hunt so he went. He felt bad for going on New Years Eve day but I was excited for him and eager to get some good hard workouts in with him gone. I know it sounds crazy but I feel like I can't workout as much when Justin is here because I like to spend time with him and Saturdays are a precious day when both of us are home.  Especially when he doesn't have school work.  I have to take advantage and plan fun things to do!  Today I woke up around 8:30am.. It felt good to sleep in a bit.  I did some Turbo Kick to warm up and wake up, then I did ChaLean Extreme Push Circuit 2 (strength training) and then I had a protein shake and some scrambled veggies & egg whites.  Then I decided to try out my Pilates video.  It is SO hard for me to be patient enough to do those workouts.  I feel like I have to be moving, and its hard for me to get into Pilates & Yoga.  But, I have a goal to do better.  I made it through a 30 minute Pilates workout.   Ate some cocoa roasted almonds.  Then I decided to go to the gym and watch a movie on Netflix while I ran on the treadmill.  After yesterday's 50 degree weather it decided to snow last night.  Crazy.  Then I made a cheese quesadilla with avocado.  Yum.

 I had a great day avoiding chores while my husband was hunting.  I was able to get a few things done around the house, started writing my family newsletter, went grocery shopping and cooked up a storm.   When Justy came home I had our traditional New Years Eve dinner ready. Crab legs, shrimp, baked potatoes, homemade cheddar biscuits, broccoli, and sparkling grape apple juice. Yummmmmm. This has been our tradition since we aren't near family for the holiday and most friends are out of town.

Side note....I made baked sweet potatoes this year instead of red potatoes and I did not like them.  I love sweet potatoes when I cut up the potato into chunks and season them as fries or as chunks, but as a whole potato for some reason I didn't like them at all.  Weird?

My cute little hunter

Yummy New Year's Eve dinner

I wouldn't even let him shower...I was soo hungry! 

Happy New Year!  May 2012 be filled with happiness & peace!  

50 degrees....in December?

The weather has been crazy warm!  I've been trying to take full advantage, because I can't very well complain about winter and cold weather if I don't get out and enjoy the nice weather we do have.

I hate working at a desk job, so on my lunch break today I decided to take a nice walk along the river.  It was the perfect temp-- 50 degrees-- and the wind wasn't too overbearing.

I keep walking shoes in my desk, and during the springtime walking along the river on my lunch break is my favorite thing to do!   But, I never would have thought I'd be doing a walk during winter!! 

Beautiful view of the Falls... the running trail follows the river & the falls.

Another pretty picture of the Falls.

It was jean day at work...once in a lifetime.  And I keep these shoes in my desk always.

Pretty day!

The wind never stops in these parts....but it was still a fun walk.  I was HAPPY to get away from the office for a bit!





Can you believe its already the end of 2011?  I've been thinking a lot about what I've accomplished this year, and I'm so excited for another year.  I am in the process of writing down my goals.  Because, let's face it...if you don't write it down, it doesn't seem real.  The thing I like about New Year's Resolutions is that it is an opportunity to reflect on what we've done and what we can do.  My philosophy is that I'm a continual work in progress.  If I'm standing still...then I'm moving backwards...so I have to constantly set new goals and keep pushing forward and improving. 

It's a Wonderful Life....Pt 2

On Christmas Day we slept in, ate a delicious breakfast, took a sneak peek at what Santa brought, and then got ready for Church.  While the rest of us finished our breakfast Mandy couldn't help herself and HAD to make sure Santa Clause brought her an Elmo doll.  Santa knows her pretty well.  I think he's brought her a new Elmo doll every year for the past 10 years.  It's Christmas tradition!  And she loves Elmo.  Ahhh...I love that girl.  She is too funny.  I wish everyone could meet her in person.  

The day after Christmas I got another run in... a quick and snappy 4.5 miles with the hubby.  It was cold and we had plans for the day so we hurried.  Plus, we were up WAY too late on Christmas playing crazy games and eating too much food so we slept in pretty late.

Kinda cool, eh?

SAME exact sign I saw two days earlier that said "No Swimming".  I love it!

Later in the day we went bowling, watched football, played games, sat in the hot tub and watched some movies.  Have you ever played Balderdash?  It's a pretty fun game, especially when playing with Al Pal- Justin's other sister.  She came up with the most hilarious definitions.  We also played Wacky Sixes...which is great fun. 

Tuesday we got out AGAIN and went for a run together.  It had finally snowed so we enjoyed our nice 5 miler in the snow.  It was pretty and we were some of the first tracks in the snow.  It felt good!    We got a nice hard run in so we could enjoy some scones, apple cider & skeet shooting later in the day.  Me like to shoot guns. (More pictures to come soon!  Oh goodie goodie!)

We had to prove that it actually snowed!

Haha...I beat you, boy!

We did it!

While on my relaxing Christmas break I was able to sit down and enjoy some quiet reading time.  I started The Help and I read the first 300 pages in 2 days of reading.  It's a great book and I can't wait to see the movie Justin got me for Christmas!    Did I also mention that I got a sweet gift card from my sweetie for a day at the spa???  I'm pumped!!  Plus I got a Christmas piano book with beautiful artwork, some pajamas, Turbo Kick music, new books, movies, that beautiful black/gray striped sweater I'm wearing in my pictures in the previous post,  perfume, and some other great gifts.  He sure knows how to treat his lady!  It was a fun Christmas!

Now...I'm back to the grind.  Our Christmas present from my in-laws????? A trip to San Diego for the fam!  We're all going to San Diego to create some bomb-diggity memories.  So, what does that mean for me???   I've got 2 weeks to get my butt into major gear!

It's a Wonderful Life...Pt 1

I hate that I left my post right before Christmas on a "bad" note, but while I was on my Christmas vacation, I just really needed to relax---so I put all my electronic devices in my bag and left them there.   It was refreshing.  I loved not being connected to the world.  I even started reading a book! 

My first run was the morning of Christmas Eve.  It was cold (13 degrees).  It was beautiful.  It was glorious. I went alone.  My husband asked if it was ok if he didn't go with me, and I was thrilled.  I just needed some me time.  I ended up with 7.5 beautiful miles. 

You can't see them...but the rolling hills are beautiful in the background.

I love this little running trail next to the road.

Me!  It's dang hard to take a picture of ones self while running.  Yes, I'm talented.

Ran by this sign and I thought it was funny...

While dinner was cooking I sat down with my handicapped sister-in-law (she's SO cute!) and sang Christmas songs.  She doesn't speak in full sentences, but she is really smart.  She will sing the last word of every phrase.  And if she doesn't know what the word is supposed to be (if she's not familiar with the song), she'll make it up.  So adorable!  Or if she doesn't like the word used, she'll change it.  When she was younger she would change the words to Away in a Manger:   (keep in mind she only says the last word or two words of the phrase)

Away in a manger
No crib for his bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down his sweet head
The stars in the sky
Looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the bed

She is so tender and she obviously didn't think that sleeping in the hay was any way for the Lord Jesus to sleep.  So, even though she knew the words she would change it.  So precious! 
 


Merry Christmas!  I didn't notice, but Mandy still had her headphones on when we took this picture.  She was listening to ABBA by request.



"Smile!"  I obviously was concentrating too hard on the music to smile.  Haha...I look constipated.

Later in the afternoon & evening we played some games, delivered Christmas goodies to neighbors & friends, watched the old school  White Christmas, watched The Nativity and discussed it in depth.

Funny story:  Earlier in the day we were playing with momma's new IPAD, taking lots of silly pictures.  And Mandy thought it was hilarious, so she was making funny faces and smiling.  When I pulled out my ipod to take a picture of me & Justin (12 year old boy in the picture) she snuck in the top of the picture with a big ol' grin on her face.  We were DYING laughing afterwards.  So funny.  You can tell by our faces we didn't see that coming.  Hahaha!

Merry Christmas to my love!  Goodness he looks so young in this picture! 



Sometimes it seems impossible

Last night I was in the dumps.  Bad.   I sometimes feel like I work SO hard with health & fitness and I don't see any results.  My pants size has pretty much stayed the same in 2 years, my weight hasn't changed in over a year, and I sometimes just feel disgusted with the way I look.  I think it's normal to feel that way.  But, what do I know?  On the other hand...I have days I just feel so good and empowered by my hard workouts and good eating habits.  I know everyone says the last 10 pounds are the hardest...but I never thought it would seem impossible.  I'm just frustrated.  And I just want to do this the right way.  I feel like this is one thing in my life I can control, and I can't seem to control it. 

When I was in high school I had an eating disorder and I got very thin very fast.  Obviously it wasn't healthy, but I was small.  I was 5'7" weighing 110 pounds, and wearing a size 2/4.  Ironically I wasn't happy then, either.  But, now that I'm trying to do this the right way it seems so much harder.  I had so many bad thoughts about myself last night that at one point I thought having an eating disorder seemed "easier" than what I'm doing now.  Or at least I'd get faster results.  But, such is life.  Nothing is fair.  I want to be healthy and I made a pact with myself long ago that I wouldn't ever re-treat to those unhealthy habits. 

My running shoes are packed in my suitcase, and I AM going to be running on this trip.  I didn't even bring my ipod because I just need some time to reflect...some quiet time.  Time to remember that there are more important things in my life.  Time to just listen to my feet hit the pavement and forget my troubles.  Time to de-stress myself and to remember that I need to be more patient with myself and with the Lord's timing in my life.  Time to remind myself that the judgements that others make about me don't really matter.  Time to remember Christ. 

The Dreadmill & Rowing Challenge

Last night I was stoked to get outside and go for a nice run.  It was supposed to be a Turbo Kick/Strength Training night...but I was in the mood for a run.  Plus, it seemed like a nice night for a run, it was 28 degrees- but NO wind!  Unfortunately when I told Justy the plans of going for an outdoor run he started whining.  He was too cold and wanted to go to the gym.  Ok, ok.  So, to the gym we went.  I hate the treadmill...it's pretty much a last resort.  And I've nicknamed it "the dreadmill" because I seriously dread my workouts when they have to be done on that stupid thing.    I'd rather run on the indoor track, but running in circles the same direction hurts my hips & IT band.  

I brought my ipod and decided I would watch an episode of Drop Dead Diva on Netflix.  The show is kind of a girly cheese bomb, but I like it.  The show is about 40 minutes so I knew I could plunk out at least 4.5-5 miles in that time frame.   The only positive side about the treadmill is I can set my pace to meet my goals.  Luckily I had Netflix to keep me company because it was the most boring run I've had in a long time.

After completing about 4.75 miles, I decided to show my husband the rowing machines at the gym and have a friendly competition.  In my last CrossFit class we learned how to properly...(key word...properly) use the rowing machines.  So, I did my best at explaining proper form to my husband.  And then I came up with a challenge----first one to complete 2000 meters WINS.  Ready, set, go!    I was sweating bullets, it was a hard workout.  Both of us were making funny noises and looking at each other's screens as we pushed through.  Our heart rates were racing.  My poor husband...I have this weird drive that I have to beat him at everything--- Phase10, running, rowing, golf.  (I never do beat him, except maybe running...but I like to pretend that I'm going to.)  He likes it--- I think.  We were pooped by the time we were done, but it was a great workout.  The employees may have looked at us weird when we gave eachother high fives.  It's Justin's way of saying "Great job honey!  But, I'm still a guy." I love it.   Yep... I lost my challenge...Justin beat me by 15 seconds-- about 5 hard rows. He's so strong...it's hot.

 I dare ya to try it out, and its even better if you have someone else to challenge!