Fitness Inspiration Wednesday

Helo all!

Hope you're enjoying your week and staying focused on whatever goals you have!

Maybe this will help you stay on track...

(Photo courtesy of Shape magazine). I've actually had that photo on my phone lock screen and it really helps me stay focused on any goal I've put in place.

Thinking about motivation, I've notice more and more the people who inspire me to stick to my fitness goals.

This week I want to focus on my gym "support group". I've been working out at the same gym for about four years and tend to keep my workouts to myself. Mainly because of my super-crazy school schedule, but I can also be pretty shy (only give me a few days and you'd never believe it!) For the past few weeks though I've been able to spend more time at the gym taking classes I enjoy. As a result my network of fitness buddies has definitely grown! And I am absolutely thrilled about it :)

I really enjoy group fitness classes because I tend to stick to the same routines. Lately, I've been going to spinning classes several times a week and it's always a great workout! Last week I completed a triple-spin with a great group of people! Each one was so motivating to make it through each class (even when I thought I might fall off my bike, haha). After our successful workout, we celebrated with some much deserved Mexican food and margaritas! Although my body was not up for much celebrating, I was so proud of my accomplishment!

I love going to the gym and seeing so many people support each other reach such a wide variety of goals! Everyone checks on each other and seems genuinely excited when a member accomplishes something they've sent out to do. Working out has been come less of a requirement and more of a social session filled with laughter and love!

Who/ what motivates you to stay on track when things are getting rough? 

Happy Hump day!

Summer Smoothie Challenge

With the warmer weather finally settling in, I've decided to take on a new fitness challenge! For 30 days I will test out thirty different types of protein shakes/ breakfast smoothies. I love how easy it is to fit is a whole serving of fruit (or sometimes vegetables, if its a green smoothie) into breakfast smoothies!

While I tend to be a creature of habit and make a recipe I love over, and over, and over again, I struggle with finding protein shakes that keep my energy levels up, and the hunger monster down. So my goal here is to try as many shakes in the next thirty days in hopes of finding the best the support scorning energy!

I actually began this challenge two days ago, but unfortunately couldn't snap a picture of two I've made so far. I will do my best to add photos to the summary of the smoothies with each post!

Monday I started off the challenge with Bob Harper's protein shake from his book The Skinny Rules. Harper's smoothie calls for:



1 1/2 c. frozen berries
1/2 c greek yogurt
6 oz. water or almond milk (I used Silk's unsweetened vanilla almond milk)

Unfortunately, I did not have enough frozen berries, so I substituted half of a frozen banana for the rest of the berries. While I enjoyed the flavor and texture of the smoothie, I found myself ready for a pick-me-up about two hours after drinking it.

Today, I created a hybrid of a smoothie. I based my shake today off of a a recipe for Peach Cobbler Protein shake from Dashing Dish and Banana Cheesecake Shake from peanutbutterfingers.com. The recipe included low-fat cottage cheese, frozen peaches, half of a frozen banana, almond milk, and a cinnamon wedge of Laughing Cow cheese. I LOVED this shake! I only wished it made a larger serving because it was gone way too fast! It also was a bit more satisfying than Monday's smoothie.

I'm not sure what tomorrow will feature (I desperately need to go to the grocery store!), but I'll be sure to fill you in with a photo and a summary of what I thought!

Back At It

         After completing my first marathon two weeks ago, I had a hard time getting back into exercising. I don't just mean back into a routine, but I was having a hard time getting into it because I stopped enjoying it. Today I laced up and headed to the gym hoping to find the fun in my workouts. When I set up a bike for spin class several people stopped to ask me about my race. It felt so good to hear people asking about my fitness milestone! And it helped me realize that I enjoy beating these challenges which means I have to sign up for the next one. While it may take me some time to be as "obsessed" as some argue I once was I felt great to be back at it.

      I thought I would take a break from grading papers this afternoon and continue the "back at it" theme by writing a post. After seeing this survey on PeanutButterFingers I thought it would be a nice way to catch up after being gone for almost a year.

So here's what's going on now in my world:

Current Book(s):

My students are reading To Kill A Mockingbird and I am loving reading it with them. I never was assigned to read the book in high school so it kind of fell below the radar. My sister teased me for years about how disappointed she was with the fact that I had never read it so I saw this as the perfect opportunity to take her recommendation.

Current Music:

I'm still enjoying my marathon playlist whenever I hit the gym! I love the wide range of genres on that list! It really helps keep me interested in my workout!

I'm also getting into summertime with some country music! I love summer country concerts and this summer looks particularly promising: Tim, Kenny, Blake, Jason, and Luke!  

Current Guilty Pleasure:

Sleeping in! I forgot how much I love it!

Current Nail Color:

Trying to decide between bright pink or Tiffany's blue. Place your votes in the comments section!Current Drink:

I have a bottle of Sequin white wine chilling in the fridge! I loved the design of the bottle so I hope the flavor is just as lovely!

Current Food:

I switched back to almond butter a few days ago and the jar is already gone! I need to find an economy sized one at this rate!

Current Favorite Show:

Still Big Bang Theory! I LOVED the season finale and hate that I have to wait months for more good laughs!

Current Wish List:

Books on C.D. I love listening to them on long drives!

Current needs:

Suggestions for summer races around the Midwest area!

Current Indulgence:

With the warmer weather and invasion of summertime thoughts we've been frequenting OrangeLeaf more than usual! I love the new fruity flavors with the warm weather! I can't wait to try all the combinations!

Current Blessing:

My family has been unbelievable supportive through the crazy and exciting year! From student teaching to my first full time teaching job to finish a marathon and everything in between, my friends and family have been fabulously supportive, as always!

Current Outfit:

Comfortable skinny jeans and rocking' the Batman t-shirt!

Current Excitement:

Summer! I can't believe there are only two weeks of school left. I can't wait for all of the fun summer plans in the works: concerts, sand volleyball league, weekend-get-aways, and much more!

Hurtling: Overcoming Health and Fitness Road-blocks

Time for a little honesty:

I know this challenge was mainly designed to help me get "back on track" with my healthy lifestyle. And while I feel as if I have been fairly dedicated to following the rules Harper explicitly lays out in his book I know I have not been as strictly adherent to them as I probably should be. There are two conclusions I draw from this: first, I consider myself to be a fairly healthy person. I'm not super rigid about my diet and perhaps I should be a little less lax. Second, I'm not sure I can reap the full benefits of these rules, in the sense of seeing clear changes, because I'm already a pretty healthy person. I'm not in any medical danger due to my size, nor would I consider myself (the BMI doesn't either) "overweight".

Therefore, I think I need to change my approach to achieving my goals. What I really want to focus on right now is getting leaner and stronger. When I think about the time I felt happiest with myself I immediately think of when I was at my strongest. I wasn't worried if I missed a workout or decided to splurge a little while out with friends. At the same time I was also more conscientious of sticking to a cleaner diet and a stricter gym routine.

So how do I get back to where I was? Well as I mentioned in my first post, I enjoy challenging myself physically and my newest challenge is CrossFit! I'm really really excited (and unbelievable nervous!) to start the program. I've been very interested in CrossFit for about six months now. Groupon just sent me an offer for a local CrossFit facility (http://www.crossfitanax.com) so I thought, "its now or... once I get a better income!" I love the idea of mixing intense strengthening moves with high-intensity cardio bursts. Since I'm not great at balancing these two out, I think following a program (and having  instructors pushing me to my limits) will help me achieve my over-all goal.

I still don't know very much about CrossFit so I'm sure I'll need to do some more research before classes begin. Walking into a session without a mild understanding of the concept of CrossFit just doesn't seem like a wise thing to do. These workouts are intense and I don't want to be surprised, or scared... too much! Anyone with any CrossFit experience or tips feel free to leave comments!!

Keeping up with the "Skinny Rules": Week 2 Day 3

Today is off to a much, much better start than yesterday. Let's just pretend yesterday didn't happen and we're just starting fresh today.

This morning's workout was a much needed endurance run. Its been a long time since I've done some distance running and I'm finding myself more and more intrigued by the idea of a marathon. After my half-marathon experience last October I was convinced I wanted nothing to do with running a full marathon. The race was boring, not well attended. It was cold, damp, and lonely. Not exactly what I call an inspiring motivational experience. After the race I was in so much pain. I curled up in a ball and was shaking my muscles were so fatigued. However, the feeling of accomplishing such a challenging task was absolutely amazing! It was worth all the hard hours spent training, stretching, strengthening and sweating!  I'd like to try a destination run because I think that would offer all the motivation to get backing into logging those miles! I'm open to any suggestions!

So after logging a five miler today I finished up with some ab work (planks, Russian twists, bicycles, and traditional sit-ups) which had me sweating away!

Last night I made an egg-white breakfast wrap for this morning. It was a whole wheat wrap topped with some shredded mozzarella, spinach, tomato and of course, the eggs whites (I used 3). It was the perfect way to refuel after my run this morning and helped keep me full until my "mid-morning power boost" which was a mix of melons and some pineapple. Perfect for summer!

Thanks to my wonderful boyfriend, getting lunch together for today was a cinch! We had Chipotle for dinner last night and I used half of my salad for lunch today. Paired with an apple, my belly is full and I'm ready to keep up with the girls all afternoon.

Tonight will be the biggest challenge for staying on track since we're headed to the Red's game. I'm really excited (and hoping they play better than last night) but there is nothing better than a pretzel and a beer while watching Zack Cozart bat. I'm not sure Bob would be thrilled with those choices so I might have to pack a little snack along that is more "Skinny Rules" friendly.

The challenge for this week: Rule #15: Make 10 or more of your meals at home!

Normally this would not be a challenge at all since I really enjoy cooking. I have a slight recipe addiction problem if we're being completely honest haha. There's something rewarding about having a delicious meal and knowing I created it  (even if all I did was follow the recipe :) ). However, this week is so busy with friends and events that its getting more and more challenging to make the meals. I think if I stick with the other rules set by Harper, I'll still be able to post a successful week.

Here's to the afternoon!!

Keeping up with the "Skinny Rules"- Day 5

So the theme for this week is hurtles. Sometimes I feel like I am constantly jumping hurtles to make sure I stick to this new plan. But what's a challenge without anything to overcome? Well, its nothing really because challenges are just obstacles we overcome.

This week has a few major obstacles standing in the way. First, and probably the easier one to get past is being aware of my surroundings. I love being social with friends and family, especially in the summer when things aren't as hectic. However the social aspect usually involves eating out. Whether its grabbing a bite with a friend I haven't seen in years, or opting for the most convenient dinner choice, I feel like I have frequented a larger percentage of restaurants around the area lately. Its such a challenge to stick to the skinny rules when out on the town. I'm learning planning ahead is really the key to being successful. Plus suggesting making dinner is usually well received and keeps the bulk off my body and in my wallet. Nothing wrong with a chubby wallet! :)

The other challenge this week has been keeping my carb consumption to the morning time  (Rule # 7). I love carbs. Plain and simple. In high school I cut back on eating sweets considerably, but I basically replaced them with carbs... granola bars, cereal based trail mixes... those are my kryptonites! Oh and don't forget peanut butter filled pretzels or animal crackers. There's no turning those down (besides its all about moderation right? ;) ) I'm finding though that if I make sure to include carbs in breakfast and a morning snack I'm more successful at ignoring them later on in the day. It will still be a challenge to make sure I follow this rule for the next 3 weeks though. Bob suggests using other motivations to keep yourself in check when temptation is staring you in the tummy. Things such as treating yourself to a new pair of shoes or a movie after following the rules for the week. The more you follow the rules the more extravagant your reward. I love this idea! However, I usually find myself saying, "After completing [insert any event or challenge here] I'm getting cupcakes!" or "Once [whatever deadline I'm currently facing] is over let's celebrate at that new restaurant that just opened!" While this is fabulous motivation... and it really works!... its not the always the best for maintaining the lifestyle I want. I can usually talk myself into rewards involving cupcakes or new restaurants very easily. I read in a magazine though (I think it was Self, but I'm not sure) to use things such as planning a trip, or treating yourself to a spa day, new piece of clothing, etc. as motivation rather than food. I love this idea for two reasons: first, I'll be less likely to yo-yo around with my health and secondly, it stops me from impulse shopping, hahaha!

Yesterday and today's workouts were inspired by two that I had pinned earlier in the summer (I love actually doing or buying the things I post on Pinterest. It keeps things fresh!) Both workouts come from the blog Peanut Butter Fingers. The name drew me in, obviously (Oh how I love peanut butter!) but once I started exploring the site I found so many great recipes and workouts! I highly recommend it! Yesterday I focused on cardio and completed a 45 min interval walk/run workout and today was a strength based day focused on arms and abs. I've used the workouts before and love them both! So effective!

This evening will be filled with an athletic inspiration as well while watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. I love them! Its so fascinating to watch such strong athletes push themselves to the limits as the world comes together to cheer them on! I'm sure I'll be tuned in at some point each day (if not all day) during the whole experience! I can't wait! Go World!!!

Day 3: Focusing on Rule # 2: Don't Drink Your Calories

Bob focuses on making sure H20 is a priority for anyone following the "skinny rules." So much so that his plan calls for a LARGE glass of water within 15 minutes of waking up and drinking 16 ounces before (I drink it along with) each meal. The benefits of staying hydrated are constantly talked about in the world of health and fitness and play a huge role in maintaining a healthy weight.

With all this water intake however, there isn't much room for enjoying just about any other beverage! Not necessarily because the rules "forbid" drinking anything else, but mainly because you'll spend your whole day in the bathroom otherwise! I'm pretty good at staying hydrated already but while adjusting to a frequently changing schedule, coffee and I pretty much go hand in hand. Bob supports drinking coffee, as long as it isn't loaded up with added sugars! He recommends keeping your coffee habits very European: espresso (Or an Americano) or cappuccino (as long as its with skim or unsweetened almond milk). My pallet isn't quite ready for those strong flavors so I try to stick with unsweetened vanilla almond milk for a little flavor boost. Doesn't always work because I am a huge fan of the International Delight and Bailey's brands of coffee creamers! Moderation is key though!

Coffee was a MUST after this morning's early workout. Today focused on chest/ back and oblique strengthening in-between a quick run and some time on the stairclimber. I tried to focus on heavier weights with slower reps to really exhaust the muscles. I'm sure we'll know by tomorrow if it was a successful workout. I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling it then!

Like I mentioned yesterday, I love Bob's combination of greek yogurt, oats, and berries. I wasn't able to get a full 1/2 c of yogurt out of the container before it was gone so I added a handful of almonds for some extra protein and fiber. The strawberry overnight oats tasted great with a much needed mug of coffee!

Lunch was another adaptation of a recipe in the book, Bob's Tuna Niçoise Salad. The recipe (which I love!) calls for the white of one hardboiled egg, however since I used those up yesterday, I used a 5 ounce can of tuna instead of a 4 ounce can. I also added a little cutie for dessert again today and it hit the spot! Such a fancy feeling lunch without worrying if I killed any progress made this week so far.

Dinner is looking like the pesto roasted chicken with steamed green beans, depending on how long my volunteer meeting runs. I would love to share more info but its very esoteric and I'm really excited to be a part of something new to the city! (More details later ;) )

If anyone has questions about Bob's rules or recipes feel free to leave a comment and I'll give you as much feedback as possible!