This is the start of something good.

Hey all! I hope you had a healthy start to the week. Did you set your healthy intention for the day?

Since my post yesterday I have decided to take on another fitness challenge. After seeing Julie’s and Courtney’s posts this morning about Best Body Fitness’s Bootcamp  I knew this was just the challenge I needed.  I was super bummed because the registration closed on the 4th, but I was so lucky that Tina reopened registration for yesterday only! For $25 I will be getting 8 weeks of a bootcamp plan with the chance to win prizes every week and a cash prize at the end. I can’t share any specific workouts but I will say that I think it is going to fit in really well with my current half marathon training.

Like I was saying yesterday, my strength training left something to be desired. I used strength days to do a few planks and do a few bicep curls but not anymore! Yesterday’s stretch and strength workout left me tired and wiped in the best way possible. The workout focused on full-body strength.  I did the weights circuit three times through then followed up with 20 minutes on the elliptical.

The one move that was the most difficult for me was the new-to-me Shoulder Press with Leg Extension.

I used 15 pound weights for the first set but I was super struggling through that set. I dropped down to 10 pounds but I wish I could have done it with 12 pound weights (we don’t have those at my gym). This move is a killer and a total body toner.

One final aspect of this plan is that we have to set two personal goals. Mine for this week are:

• take my vitamins everyday
• eat at least one serving of veggies a day

I say eat because I usually get my veggies through juicing so I feel like I should actually eat them once in a while.

So there you have it, my new fitness challenge! I think I am going to do a before and after post with pictures…eek! I think this plan is what I have been missing and I’m hoping that this plan, coupled with my 1/2 marathon training and tracking my nutrition, will really be what makes the difference in my pursuit of healthiness. Stay tuned!

Inspiration Board and Resolutions

Hi guys, I hope you had a great weekend! It was a low key but great weekend here in the Jerz. It was beautiful out so we walked all around our town and went to some great restaurants, including the Beer Garden.

Beers the size of my head (split with Dan)

and cute flights of beer (also split with Dan) were the highlights of the weekend.

This weekend I also took time to finish my inspiration board.  I got the idea from The Fitnessista to create a board of resolutions and things I’d like to accomplish this year. Since this is the first full year of my big girl life, there are a lot of things I want to accomplish.  Now that I am adjusted to our new town, I want to take advantage of opportunities I have and to be firmly rooted in my new life. So here’s the board:

Left side:

Right side:

I broke down my resolutions into two categories, health & fitness and personal. 

Health and Fitness Resolutions and Goals

• Record all workouts-I have been trying to do this for the past few weeks and I really like it.  I try to write down ahead of time what I am going to do at the gym so I’m not wandering aimlessly around the weight section.  It’s also a great reference for future workouts.  I keep them all in a notebook, along with recipe ideas.
• Workout 6 days a week-This may seem like a lot but with the plan I am following for the half marathon, I am supposed to workout that much.  And since I’m not exhausting myself each workout, I really only need one day of rest.
• Yoga once a week- Seeing as we have yoga at work every Wednesday, I don’t think this will be very hard to accomplish but I still want to make sure I’m getting my ohm on at least once a week.
• Choose healthy meals out- I think my biggest healthy eating downfall is eating at restaurants. I always get into the mind set that, because I eat out so seldom, that I can indulge when I do.  I am going to make an effort to order the healthiest thing on the menu and substitute fries for a salad.
• Yoga/fitness instructor-Since I was about 15 years old (when I worked at a gym) I have wanted to become a group exercise or yoga instructor.  I think it would be so much fun to teach a class or two on the weekends, and what better time to get certified than when I have no other responsibilities?
• Meatless Mondays- I wrote about this before but I want to continue to go meatless on Mondays.
• Food journal- I’d like to start writing down all of my meals again.  I did this my freshman year of college and lost 10 pounds.  The food journal holds me accountable for everything I am putting in my mouth, which makes me more conscious about my choices. It’s a good idea for anyone who wants to know how much they are really consuming.
• Run 13.1- This particular goal got its own card because this is the most important thing to me this year.  I am definitely crazy for committing to this race but it’s what I really want to do. Each long run I complete each Sunday will be the farthest I’ve ever run. Yesterday’s run of 3.5 miles was the most I’ve ever run and it was a huge accomplishment for me. I can’t wait to conquer those little mile-stones each week!

Personal Resolutions and Goals

• Deep clean the apartment once a week- I pretty much already do this but I want to hold myself accountable for this each week.  I love it when everything is shiny and clean!
• Organize and keep apartment tidy- It is so easy to leave my coat on the back of the chair every day when I come home from work, but it’s just as easy to put it into the closet.  This needs to be a priority because it’s so easy to do!
• Save more money- ‘Nuff said.
• Reduce weekly grocery bill- I spend a lot of money on groceries each week because I buy tons of produce and a lot of organic items.  I need to start couponing and saving more money each week. I’d like to cut our bill by $10-$20 each week.
• Freelance- I would love to write for online or print publications about health and fitness.  Hopefully I will be picked as the Cox Rhode Scholar and I will be writing once a week for them!
• Take more pictures for blog- I’d love to put more photos on this little bloggy, so I’ve got to start taking more. Easy enough.
• Photography- I want to learn how to take better pictures with the point and shoot camera I have.
• Join a group- This is one of the things I’d like to do to meet more people in my town.  There are two running clubs that meet a few times each week that I’d love to get involved with once I become a little bit of a stronger runner.
• Volunteer- I have been so fortunate in my life that I want to give back to others.  I’d love to get involved with Girls on the Run or the ASPCA.
• Read one book a month- I really like leisure reading and I want to do it more often. This month’s selection is the Hunger Games.

My overall goal is to “Be the Best You.” This isn’t some kind of “try your best” crap but rather being the best version of yourself.  This doesn’t mean that I need to win the half marathon, but I sure want to put my heart and soul into it and kick some butt along the way. I want to be the best runner I can be, the best PR pro I can be, the best friend, girl friend, daughter, sister, whatever I can be. I am going to apply this to every aspect of my life.

Phew, that was a long one! If you’re still with me,thanks! If anyone else has made an inspiration board or has any goals they’d like to share, let me know and I’ll write a post with other’s goals and resolutions!

Have a great week everyone!

Meatless Mondays

I don’t know if you’ve heard about a trend that is sweeping the nation, but I’m here today to tell you about Meatless Mondays.  MM is a movement where people pledge one day a week (mainly Mondays) to going meat-free.  After weeks of trying to go meatless, then forgetting it was Monday each week, I finally was able to make it work. Now I avoid meat on Mondays as best as I can.

People do this for a variety of reasons, some for ethical, others for environmental, and more still because they like the idea of vegetarianism but aren’t sure they can fully commit to it.

I fall into the latter category.  I keep telling myself I want to be a vegetarian, but then I forget and eat a buffalo chicken wrap. I took on Meatless Mondays because I wanted to learn about new meals that aren’t centered around meat.  I found myself eating turkey sandwiches for lunch and chicken for dinner almost every day.  I think most people find themselves stuck in this same pattern. I used Meatless Mondays as a way to challenge myself to find alternatives to my very mundane meal plan.

I thought lunch would be the hardest part. What was I supposed to eat that wasn’t a turkey sandwich? I couldn’t survive on PB&Js or yogurt every day, so I found a new-to-me alternative. Almost everyday I now eat Amy’s Soups. 

(Source)

Amy’s Soups are made of all organic ingredients and each one is vegan and good for you.  My three favorites are Split Pea (pictured above), Lentil Vegetable, and Black Bean Vegetable.  What I love most about Amy’s is that you can read and pronounce each and every ingredient.  Take a look at their Lentil Vegetable ingredient label.

(Source)

I know what each of those ingredients are and I have most of them in my kitchen.  That makes me happy knowing there is nothing yucky added to it. Check the label of soups you buy, because not all of them are as simple as Amy’s. The more of the ingredients you can pronounce and recognize, the better!

Dinner is less of a challenge than I thought as well. I keep it simple on Meatless Mondays with salads, rice, veggies and pasta.  Some times I mix it up and add lentils or quinoa when I have extra time. I was so used to centering my dinners around an animal protein that finding vegetarian options is a fun challenge.

According to the Meatless Monday website, they chose Monday because it is the day when people set intentions for the week.  Diets start on Mondays and it is the first day of the work week.  Also, people carry over behaviors they start at the beginning of the week to the rest of the week.  The hope is that people will not eat meat on Mondays and be inspired to try to go veg for the rest of the week as well.

I am not saying that I am a meat convert, but I do think this is a valid idea.  I like participating because it make me more aware of what I am eating and challenges me to come up with new ideas. It has also inspired to go veg for this whole week after the juice fast.  I will write an update once this week is over.

I still like meat in some cases, but I also like the vegetarian options I am exposing myself to.  I just recently signed the pledge to go meatless, will you try it to?

Are you a vegetarian? If so, why did you decide to go meatless?

Do you ever consciously stay away from meat? Why do you do it?

Healthy Intentions for 11-11-11

Hi guys! I hope everyone had a great week and is looking forward to a fun-filled weekend.

Healthy Intentions

One thing I like to do each day is set a healthy intention when I wake up in the morning. This can be as small as putting a smile on my face or as large as completing a 5 mile run. Whatever that intention is, I try to stick to it as best I can. Even the small steps can lead to a healthier life. Here are some healthy intentions that you could set each morning:

• Eat a fruit or vegetable with each meal.
• Log 5,000 sets with a pedometer.
• Sit up straighter at your desk.
• Pack a healthy lunch.
• Go meat-free for a day (not as hard as it seems).
• Go to bed 1/2 hour earlier.
• Track how many calories you eat in a day.
• Do a sun salutation right when you wake up and right before you go to bed.
• Avoid sugar.

As you can see, none of these are monumental changes to your day. Each of these things can be done without much preparation and will be a step in the right direction to a healthier life.

This weekend I am going to my cousin's baby shower. I am so excited to be surrounded by my family but with this can come some unhealthy behaviors. It is very easy to skip your daily workout, lose track of how much you are eating or drink too much when you are having fun, so it is my healthy intention this weekend to be conscious of exactly what I am putting into my body. I don't need all of my health and fitness progress to go out the window just because I am having a good time. I'll let you know how it goes!

I also wanted to thank all of the veterans for all they have done to protect our country. Enjoy today!

What healthy intentions will you set this weekend?