Friday, June 20, 2014

REVIEW: Fuel your Better VegaSport

 I received a box of Vega Sport Performance Protein in chocolate flavor to try.  I was not at all sure about the idea of a plant based protein powder, but I was excited to give it a try.  The ingredients were right for my pickiness, nothing added that shouldn't be added to a protein!  All natural ingredients and some great promises for what the protein can do for you!

This is the description on the Vega Sport website ...


A complete multi-source, alkaline-forming, plant-based protein powder blend, featuring 5,000mg of BCAAs and 5,000mg of glutamine per serving, Vega Sport Performance Protein is formulated to:
  • Improve strength and exercise performance
  • Repair and build muscles
  • Reduce recovery time between training
The recent innovation to Vega Sport Performance Protein comes from the addition of SaviSeed (sacha inchi) protein, a rich, plant-based source of the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is a key component of serotonin production(1). Serotonin—the feel good hormone—helps with the mental aspect of recovery, so you’ll keep the drive alive and be motivated to train again. Take Vega Sport Performance Protein within 30 to 90 minutes of your workout or throughout the day to meet your individual protein needs to recharge and repair so you can do it all again, sooner.


Well, my first try of this product was less than ideal.  I hated it.  I wanted to throw up BUT once I got it down my stomach felt great and I had no reactions whatsoever, which is not always the case when I take protein shakes.  So, since I had more than one sample, YEA!, I tried it another way the next time.  I mixed it with soy milk and a little peanut butter in my magic bullet and it was DELISH!  I loved it.  The next time I worked out I used soy milk again and added a few strawberries to my blender and it was once again Delish!  I am sure it is an acquired taste, as most proteins are and I'm on my way to loving this product.  I do love the way my body feels after I drink it, energized and ready to recover from the work out I just put it through.

Go check out all the #fuelyourbetter products and information available.  They have stuff to prepare you for your workout, stuff to sustain you during your workout and the right stuff to fuel your body to recover from the workout, pretty great if you ask me!



*I received Vega Sport products free of charge to review with my own, unbiased opinion. I received the opportunity through the Fit Approach, Sweat Pink Ambassador community.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

REVIEW: #GOVOXBOX

I am a part of the Influenster Team and I was so excited to get this Box!  The #GoVoxBox had so many things in it that fit my lifestyle!  I was so so excited to open it, I mean who wouldn't be excited to test all of these products for free?  I have actually really enjoyed some of them and will make them a regular in my routine.

I've completely enjoyed trying all these products!
* Next Step shakes and a shaker bottle from Vitamine Shoppe.com
* Triad Orthotics and Pedi-Rock from ProFoot
* Tampons  PlaytexSportandGentleGlide
*Blueberry Almonds from Blue Diamond
* Bath Salts from Aqua Spa
 **Greek Yogurt from Muller Products

I'm one lucky gal!  Can't wait to try another Influenster Box some day!

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

REVIEW: Profoot Triad Orthotic Insole

I received a sample of the Profoot Triad Orthotic Insole and Profoot Pedi-Rock from
 Influenster in my #GoVoxBox.


 I've actually tried several different insoles before and never really found the ones I like the best.  I am happy with the way these are helping my ankles, feet and knees so far!  I have noticed a difference in the soreness of my feet and knees while running and even biking.  I've totally enjoyed having them to try!  I'll keep you posted as I wear them through this season.

The Pedi-Rock is pretty awesome too!  I always have dry, cracked heels by the end of the season and I have completely loved how this makes my feet feel so soft and comfortable after using it!  Thanks #GoPROFOOT for making a great product!

--What is your favorite product for your feet?
--What do you do to treat your body right?



Tri Talk Tuesdays: Pre-Race Jitters

Tri Talk Tuesday


Oh man, jitters!  For me there is really no avoiding them.  After all the training the anticipation of the start is inevitable!  But, I LOVE IT!  It helps me know I'm ready. It helps me know I want to do well. It helps me know I CAN!

A few things I do to deal with the jitters:

** I stretch.  I make sure I am all warmed up.  I typically take a few strokes in the water, time permitting.  I make sure my legs, shoulders, neck are all warmed up and stretched out.

** I meditate.  I go through what I want the race to be like. I visualize the finish in my head, the transitions, the awesomeness I am going to feel throughout the race!  I visualize my success.

** I make sure I am nourished.  I don't eat much, a banana and a protein shake usually, but I make sure I have something to sustain myself.

** I smile!  This journey was fun and the event itself is even more fun!  Smile, enjoy those butterflies and get going!!



--what do you do for pre-race jitters?
--what is your favorite race?

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

REVIEW: Next Step Protein Drink

I received the sample of Next Step Protein Shake and an awesome Shaker from Influenster from my #GoVoxBox.


I am kind of a picky protein gal and this one lived up to all my expectations!  It was creamy, just the right amount of chocolate flavor and it didn't leave my mouth dry!  It comes in Berry and Vanilla flavors, which were good, but I'm a chocolate protein shake kind of girl, but I do like to have the options of others every once in a while. I am so glad I received this product as a free sample, it will become my staple protein drink!


Monday, May 26, 2014

REVIEW: Playtex® Sport® Fresh Balance™ tampons

I received a box of Playtex® Sport® Fresh Balance™ tampons from my #GoVOXBOX from Influenster.

I have actually hated wearing tampons and cringe every time I think of having to use them during an actual event or even training.  These may just have made that cringe go away!  I had no worries, no leaks, NOTHING but good to say about these tampons. 

I have trained using them already and I wouldn't hesitate to use them during an event I've been training for.  I can still hope I don't have to though :).

They are lightly scented too so that is nice to make me feel fresh longer.  They are sleek and come in a cute little package, bonus, right?  Go out and get you some and let me know what you think!


I received this product complementary, but all opinions are my own!

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Tri Talk Tuesday: Goals!

Pretty excited for this next season of triathlons for me.  Going into my 2nd season is quite a bit different than the first.  The first go around all I wanted to do was finish, which I wasn't even sure was possible.  This year, I still want to finish, but I want to finish strong!   Since I've had a few weeks to ponder my goals for this season, this link up party was the perfect opportunity to get them written down so I can stay accountable.

Short term goals:
*Improve my time for each of my triathlons.
*Get clipped in on the bike!  (SCARY!!)
*Enjoy the journey more this year.
*Feel more comfortable in the water.
*Incorporate weight training into my schedule.

Mid-term goals:
*Commit to run a half marathon.
*Run hills this year...not only flat!
*Olympic distance tri?

There I have it.  I am hoping for another great season of triathaloning this year!

--what are your short term goals?
--Do you have any long term, bucket list type goals?

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Toxins ...

I've been doing a lot of research into why my body isn't releasing fat even though I am eating very clean and exercising almost every day.  It has been a frustrating journey to say the least and I think I am finally opening up a window of help for myself.  I've talked before about energy healing and I am a firm believer of it working well to help people reach their full potential.  One of the things that is on that energy healing level is a toxicity group.  Our bodies are thrown toxic waste from every direction these days.  It is in everything we eat, everything we use as cosmetics and in just about everything on the earth.  It is normal and nothing really to be afraid of but if your body isn't functioning on a wonderful level, which mine wasn't, you can easily build up a toxicity in your body that will inhibit you to lose more fat.  It literally locks up your fat cells and doesn't let anything out because your body thinks you are under attack from foreign objects that it doesn't recognize.  Crazy, right?

Some of the ways to release the toxicity build ups are cleanses, another way is to sweat a lot, drink lots of water, stay 'regular' and take vitamins.  All great ways!  Another way is to do it through energy healing, which is the way I've been able to release a lot of toxins.  For one example of mine I have always sweat A LOT especially in my underarms.  Sometimes it was so embarrassing because in warm weather it would soak through my undershirt and my shirt!  I wouldn't want to even raise my arms.  Because of this I always used antiperspirant thinking that would help my problem.  Until I did some research, I had no idea it was actually making things worse.  Antiperspirant has aluminum in it and I have a reaction in my body towards aluminum and it was making my body go crazy and actually just building up the aluminum in my body without getting rid of that foreign object in my body!  So crazy!!  I stopped using my antiperspirant and released the toxicity in my body, started using a natural deodorant and even though I am in the hottest climate I have ever been in, I am not longer sweating through my clothes.  Hooray!  No more embarrassing armpit sweat circles...only a healthier body!

This lead me to research more into what other toxins are in my body inhibiting me from release fat cells...I ran across this great article.  Check it out!  

---Have you had an experience with energy healing?
---Have you ever looked at toxins as cause for your problems?

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

An emotional journey part 4 ...

Here is part 1, part 2 and part 3...


We were kind of in a stressful time in our life deciding what would be best for our family and hoping it would all work out to travel with my husband instead of me being a single Mom for months.  Well, it did work out and we were on our way to living in Italy for 2 1/2 months!  We were all so excited.  In the hustle of trying to get ready, I didn't take time to take care of myself.  I was ready to be committed while I was in Italy though or so I thought.

A while ago I had stumbled upon a book called The Emotion Code.  My friend had told me about it again so I thought I'd revisit again while I had a little more time being in Italy.  Basically what it talks about is that our energy fields get blocked with trapped emotions and our health suffers from those bumps in our energy tracks.  The book teaches you how to muscle test so that you can learn to release these emotions to put yourself on a better track of health.  I dedicated time each day to find and release these emotions.  I had some BIG ones related to weight and self-sabotage. I released some that were trapped in my neck causing me neck pain and it literally has not come back since I released those, which is HUGE for me.  I firmly believe in this homeopathic idea and am so glad I came across it.  It has helped me have a better attitude towards my weight loss and goals.  I have been able to stop the self-sabotage that I used to have by sneaking candy or chocolate thinking nobody would know if I ate it so it wouldn't hurt me.  I have been able to stop beating myself up for every little 'mistake' I make.  I have been able to move forward again in my healthiness journey with a new found goal, a new found attitude and a desire to break the bad habits that have put me where I am today.

I know it wounds so, so crazy and weird, but The Emotion Code and it's 'sister' The Body Code have literally helped save my life from things I didn't even know where sabotaging it.  I am so grateful for finding it and the help I know it is going to give me on my healthiness journey.  Some day, I will become a certified practitioner for these systems and cannot wait to help others on their journey as well!

My emotional journey to health is not complete.  I will still have cream added to my bucket that I will have to churn into butter, but I am still swimming.  I am still not giving up. I still have faith that some day I will find the key to unlock my fat and become fit and fabulous!

---What cream has been added to your bucket lately?  How do you keep swimming?
--Have you done anything lately just for you?

Monday, April 28, 2014

Mind over body ...

  
I had a fight with my body today while exercising. It wanted to stop.  It wanted to be done with the workout.  It was telling my mind that it was tired and that we should stop and catch our breath or stop completely.  My  MIND won.  I pushed through my body telling me no.  I invisioned my body changing.  I invisioned the toxins and fat cells leaving my body.  I actually invisioned myself crossing the finish line at my next triathlon feeling fit and fabulous and you know what?  I CAN if I THINK I CAN ...

--what do you do to push through a hard workout?
--what is your favorite way to get your mind to control your body?

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

An emotional journey part 3 ...

Part 1 and Part 2 of my emotional journey...

Did I mention I cried?  Well, I did to several people.  One of those people had a friend who had a story similar to mine and had finally found Ideal Protein and did that diet and lost a lot of weight.  I felt like this may be my answer, so I gave it a shot.  Well, it worked, I dropped a lot of weight.  I was amazed to see the scale go down, 5 pounds after only one week!  What? I had been trying for months just to lose 5 pounds.  This was my answer.  This was what was going to make me happy, right?  I guess it did for a while.  I loved going to weigh ins each week knowing I'd lost pounds and inches. BUT, I wasn't really happy.  It is hard to explain because I was happy, but I wasn't.  I was focusing only on the scale and not in other areas of my life to complete my happiness.  I only had a few months to do the diet because I had set a goal to complete a triathlon that summer and I needed to start training and on the Ideal Protein diet they encourage you not to workout hard, I had tried and my body didn't really respond well to it, so I knew I would have to phase off and do just my workouts for my triathlon, which was okay.  I had gotten close to my goal weight and I figured my working out for a triathlon would help me get to the rest.

Well, it didn't.  I completely enjoyed my triathlon training and the struggles and strengths I found while doing it!  I felt amazing.  I was over coming fears, I was doing something I didn't think was possible.  You can go HERE to check those out.  I actually didn't even weigh myself during the summer because I didn't care.  I felt great, I was doing fun things and I was happy.

Triathlon season stopped and so did I.  I was burnt out from the effort, both emotional, physical and mental.  I thought I'd give myself a break of about a month or so and then start back up so I could keep up my fitness level and hopefully eat good and lose more weight ... if only our best intentions always panned out.

My husband started traveling, he was gone for most of October and all of December and you know what those months do to you food wise anyway!  Ugg, it was a very emotional, very hard time for me.  I'd start to try to work out, get too tired, stop, try again ... all the while pretending I was eating well but sneaking things I knew were not going to help me get where I wanted.  But I was lonely and tired and frustrated all at the same time...it resulted in weight gain ... AGAIN!

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Staying committed ...

I finished day #11 on my fitness blender workout plan.  I didn't want to do it.  I kept telling myself I didn't need to, it wasn't going to be worth it, I was too tired.  BUT I did it!  I finished that workout and I felt pretty good after.  I fought myself the whole time saying, I'll just do 2 sets instead of 3.  I'll just do a little less cardio instead of finishing it through.  But I knew I'd be disappointed in myself if I gave up, so I finished it all strong and was happy that I did.

Is it only me or is it super hard to stay committed when you don't see any progress?  Or I guess the progress I want to see?

I haven't seen anything budge on the scale ... not one thing, but I have been able to see progress in my strength and ability to finish my work outs and push my body.  Yes that is wonderful, but I would be lying if I said that was satisfying enough.  I want to SEE changes in my body just not the amount I can lift while working out my body.

Frustration is a hard emotion for me to work through, but I have been working through it this time because while I want the scale to move and I want to look better in my clothes, I also know that I can only control what I can control and I can control how often I work out.  I can control that I don't give up.  I can control that I keep trying to figure out my body and I can control that I will figure out this cycle I am on and figure out how to be the best me I can be ... even if the scale doesn't move.

I have set a goal to not touch the scale until I return home from our travels.  I will continue to work out and eat right and if the scale won't budge hopefully at least I will have more energy and at least look toned. 

I have done a lot of homeopathic work, emotions and otherwise, that hopefully will help my journey along and I am just trying to stay committed to what I hope will help me in the long run!

---How do you work through frustration?
---How do you not focus on the scale and look for other progress?

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

An emotional journey part 2...

 Go HERE for part 1 of my emotional journey...

I have a friend who was probably the sickest person I know.  She could hardly eat anything and she was always sick too.  She had been going and doing some alternative medicine things and I felt like this might be my answer since Western Medicine wasn't helping me anymore.  They were telling me I was normal and that I would just have to function the way I was...or take anti-depressant pills.  No thanks!

So, I started to do some alternative medicine things.  My adrenal glands were not functioning, so I took pills to try to help them.  My iron was obviously still low so I took pills for them.  I took pills for my kidneys because they were not flushing all the toxins out of my body.  Yada, Yada, I took whatever my body tested that I needed.  I wasn't completely satisfied with this either, although I was starting to feel better.  But, I wanted more.  I didn't want to be tied to pills for the rest of my life so my same friend had started trying something new as well for allergy treatments.  Basically the idea is, that our body has reactions to all things that we put it in contact with, some good, some bad.  If you have 'allergies' to these things, your body will react negatively to them each time you come in contact with them.  This treatment is called NAET and it literally changed my life.  It is crazy and amazing all at the same time.  They 'treat' you for your allergy so that the next time you come in contact with that thing, your bodies energy says oh this stuff is okay, I'm not going to act crazy this time.  And it works.  I went through countless treatments and the brain fog I had disappeared, the tiredness diminished, my energy levels started to come up and most of all my iron levels finally stayed normal and I wasn't even supplementing it!  I was so happy!  But, I still had a ways to go for my to be completely satisfied.  I still had some headaches, jaw pain and I still could not drop weight which was frustrating.

My husband had started going to a new chiropractor who also used a muscle technique that he loved.  It helps get your muscles to fire correctly as sometimes they fatigue and will go into a secondary muscle to help the primary muscle.  Anyway, I decided I should go check him out and see if he could help me.  He helped me so much!  He helped my jaw, neck and head pain diminish!  What a miracle to not be in constant pain in my head.  Loved that!  Another answer to prayers, but I was still so frustrated with my weight.

I was working out, eating what I thought was right and I still could not drop weight, which is ultimately what I wanted.  I wanted my energy levels up. I wanted to feel great, but really, I wanted that scale to go down.  At one point, I figured if I worked out more I would lose more weight so I worked out twice a day for a whole month and still nothing.  I cried.  I cried a lot!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Day #9 ...

I am slightly frustrated again ... big surprise.  I want results much faster than results want to happen.  I want to have seen my body changing already but the only change I 'see' is that I am getting stronger.  I am able to do more reps or use more weight or hold a static exercise longer, which is good don't get me wrong, but I am doing this to look better, not just be stronger so I was hoping to see results quicker.

I will keep pressing on because once I have a plan and know exactly what I need to do each day I do MUCH better.  For some reason trying to chose what to do makes me not want to do it :), so this Fitness Blender 8 week challenge has been great for me.

Today's workout wasn't too bad, except for the burpees.  I actually enjoyed the first 60 or so of them, but the last 20 were not my friends.  Being able to do more with the core exercises than I ever have been able to before was nice too.  I could actually do a reverse crunch (lifting my legs up to elevate my hips off the ground) which I have never been able to do!  That was encouraging.

Onward and forward to get the body my soul desires!

--How are you doing on your fitness journey?
--How do you measure progress?

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Meal plan ...

Day 1:
Breakfast: melon, grapes and whole grain muffin
Snack: carrots, slice of PB toast
Lunch:
Snack: Protein shake
Dinner: Big salad with chicken, 2 slices pizza

Day 2:
Breakfast: grapes, veggie omelet
Snack: cucumbers, boiled egg
Lunch: Protein shake
Snack: granola bar, banana
Dinner: salad w/apples, chicken/veggie stir fry
Day 3:
Breakfast: muffin, cantaloupe, plum
Snack: salad w/chicken
Lunch: protein shake
Snack: carrots, apple and nuts
Dinner: chicken, rice, pita bread
Day 4:
Breakfast: Grapes, eggs/beef sausage burrito
Snack: pretzels, cucumbers
Lunch: pizza
Snack: carrots, ice cream
Dinner: scrambled eggs, pancake
(today was an awful day and I had to resist shoving everything into my face.  We went to a local festival and I chose to try some very yummy mango ice-cream!)
Day 5:
Breakfast: Whole wheat toast, banana
Snack: carrots, boiled eggs
Lunch: protein shake
Snack: PB toast, plum
Dinner: Chicken, pita bread, lettuce

Day 6:
Breakfast: grapes, cantaloupe, wheat toast
Snack: Boiled egg, apple
Lunch: protein shake
Snack:
Dinner: Fish, shrimp, cooked carrots

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Day #6 ...

Wow, I got my booty handed to me today on my workout.  I was feeling crappy yesterday and super tired from not sleeping so I took my optional cardio day to just take it easy.  I still walked around and stretched when I could and apparently that helped a lot because last night I finally slept better and today my hamstrings are not killing me.

I was reluctant to get into my workout today but I knew if I started I'd finish it out and be happy once I finished.  So, I got after it.

But boy, was it a tough workout.  I am still in the 'beginner' area of the whole 8 weeks and they say it gets harder, I hope I am getting stronger :)!  The twisted mountain climbers kicked my trash, not to mention the windmill steps, oh and the reverse lunge skips.  HAHA, my heart was beating, I was sweating!  If you want to check it out it is the Total Body Boot Camp video at Fitness Blender!  It rocked.  Happy to see the WORKOUT COMPLETE
 screen though!

Go me!  Haven't missed a workout yet...

---what is your favorite workout?
---Have you tried any of the fitness blender workouts?

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

An emotional journey part 1...

My journey into healthiness has been a long one.  I started feeling completely miserable shortly after I had my fourth child.  Looking back now, my body was starting to give me these same signals after my third, but I didn't listen then.  I just settled thinking I was tired from having 3 children so fast.  I had tried between each child to lose weight, successfully getting down to around the same number each time, only loosing 5 or 10 pounds each time and then getting stuck.  I'd get frustrated, start to not care and then it was time to get pregnant again...the circle always turning.  After my fourth was born, I was exhausted, I was completely sick of feeling awful.  There were days I wouldn't even want to get off the couch to help my children.  Everything was exhausting, every day a struggle.  I ended up having surgery on my foot 6 months after having my 4th child as well.  I think that completely put me over the top of feeling crappy.  
 
After I felt like I had had enough and after a good crying session with my husband, we started to work out together.  He did it to help me try to stay motivated, plus he likes to be fit too and it is hard to take the time unless you have a reason.  He helped me put together a weight lifting routine and I would do cardiovascular stuff too.  Well, around that same time I had an IUD placed thinking it would be an amazing thing for my body because I wanted to wait awhile to have more children, if ever, so why not?  Well, that DID not go well for me.  I bleed, I cried, I had it removed and then I had the most painful pain in my abdomen after lifting one day. I thought I had just pulled a muscle so I laid low for awhile.  It didn't go away, so I headed to my doctor.  I had an ovarian cyst, a big one.  They said to just watch it and see if I could tolerate the pain and it should shrink and go away.  Well, after one week I was in a ton more pain so they decided to remove it via surgery.  Another surgery, another loss of blood, another set back in my goals of becoming fit.

After that surgery, I seriously hit my lowest point.  I had a crazy huge massive headache every day.  I got dizzy when I stood up. I couldn't think straight.  My brain was always foggy.  I was grouchy with myself and with almost everyone around me, including my children.  I went to the doctor and they wanted to put me on anti-depressants.  I knew I wasn't depressed, or maybe I was?  No, that answer didn't work for me.  I went to a different doctor...I forced him to check my blood levels for SO many things.  They thought I might have MS, so we did a CT scan.  Nothing turned up. I was deemed normal.  HA!  This is not a normal way to feel.  I went back to an internal medicine doctor thinking maybe I had diabetes.  Nope.  So, I finally asked them to check my ferriten levels (iron) and I was so extremely low that they almost admitted me to the hospital.  Wow, really?  I'm not just normal?  So, iron infusions came, double dose, twice a month.  Rechecked my ferritin, still not normal.  Another month of twice a month double dose, back to a closer range of normal.  I feel great after I get the infusions for about a week and then I start to feel crappy again. I went through this for about 6 months and then when my levels wouldn't stay normalized I needed something more.

At this point I was exhausted.  I was tired of being told I was normal.  I was tired of feeling like crap and thinking this was going to be my normal.  I was tired of being grumpy all the time.  I was JUST TIRED!  Then, an answer to a prayer...

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Day #3 ...

I have felt so proud of myself these last few days.  I have made no excuses, got my exercises in and eaten very well.  My time right now is kind of unique as I am not in my own home.  I have breakfast available to me each day, I have to fine healthy lunches and have to choose the healthiest option I can for dinner as we are going out a lot because of limited kitchen space.  BUT, I can proudly say that I am making the best choices that I can and when I cannot, I make sure I eat a big salad and only a little bit of whatever else, like pizza. It has been a unique challenge, but it will be worth it when I go home and I am ahead of the game on training for my triathlons this year!  

Exercise has not been super easy to START this week, but once I get going I enjoy it and I love it after when I am done.  I haven't slept real well this week adjusting to our new surroundings and time zone, but I haven't used that as an excuse to get my exercising in.  Yea!

All in all, I am very happy with how the last 3 days has gone. I hope that I see results this week on the scale too!

--What do you do when you are in unique situations to eat the best you can?
--What is your favorite exercise routine?

Friday, April 4, 2014

This is my TIME ...

This is my time.  I finally feel confident enough to get the body my soul desires.  I need to remember that this journey is for me.  This is a way for me to feel like I can shine the light that I am trying to shine to the world.  I want to feel completely confident with my body which helps me be confident in all the situations I am put in.  I want to be an example of joy, happiness and dedication to other people who may be struggling.

THIS IS MY TIME!!!

I will be following a program that I found done by the makers of fitnessblender.com.  It is 2 months, I can do anything for 2 months.  I will try to check in here several times a week, but for sure with a weigh in every week and progress pictures throughout the process.

I started yesterday, with my rest day today.  Yesterday was a physical fitness test.

1 mile run: 11 minutes
The rest is how many I could do in a 2 minute time frame
Push-ups: 3 full, 12 'girl'
Crunches: 60
Pull-ups: 20 second hold

I will succeed!  I will accomplish my goals.  I will do all that I can to get the body my soul desires!!!



starting weight: 76.8 kg

--What do you do to be an example?
--What do you desire most in your heart?

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Can I? ...

Is it selfish to want to be a success story? Is it selfish to see people succeeding and having the body that I've always wanted and say I WANT THAT?  Is it selfish to take the time to obtain those goals and desires?

I've had a lot of thoughts run through my head lately...why can't I succeed when it comes to my body goals?  Why can't I stick with something long enough to see the desired outcome?  I know I want to be healthy.  I know I want to be fit.  I know I want to be an inspiration to others, especially my children.  But I wish I knew I COULD.  I wish I knew I could push my body to where I want it to go.  I wish I knew that I could do the things I once thought were impossible.

The funny thing about these thoughts that are swirling through my mind, is I KNOW THAT I CAN do amazing things.  I got through my teenage years (which were a challenge for me) without dying, I ran a half marathon with so much pain in my feet because of tarsal tunnel, but I still did it.   I learned how to swim and practiced it enough to complete 3 sprint triathlons last summer.  I lost weight when I was extremely focused and committed to a 'diet'.  So I've done things that I should be able to draw strength from, so why do I struggle to REALLY know that I CAN?

The conclusion I've come up with is because I've tried so many times, I've started over so many times, I've failed so many times, I've been rejected so many times and I'm sick of it.

I want to be a success story!  I want to inspire others to live a healthy lifestyle, emotional, spiritual and physical!  I WANT TO KNOW I CAN and BELIEVE IT!

--What are your biggest struggles?
--How do you believe in yourself?

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Workout routines...

My family has been given the amazing opportunity to live in Italy for the past 6 weeks and we still have about 3 weeks in Italy and then onto another adventure before we head home to the USA.

I didn't want that to stop my desire to become fit and fabulous, so I packed some DVDs from my home library with the plans of doing those.  Well, I hated them.  I couldn't stay motivated to do them, I didn't like what I was doing, so I never did them.  After praying for guidance on my situation, I searched youtube.com and came across a fitness blender workout!  I thought, well, why not, I have nothing to loose.  I did it and I fell in love!  They are simple, wonderful exercises that got my heart rate up and starting to tone.  I did that one a few times and decided to do a little more research about them.  I went to their website and immediately fell in LOVE!  They have so many, many videos to so many different fitness levels and abilities.  They have stretching, HIIT, yoga, kickboxing, abs everything.  They even have an awesome search engine that you can say exactly what you need.  Since I don't have any home equipment available to me, I have to use that option and they have so much available.  It really has been an answer to my prayers.  

My goal each week is to do 1 lower body strengthening, 1 upper body strengthening, 2 days of cardio and 2 days of P90X Ab ripper and one day of all day walking with our site seeing!  I also give myself the okay to take a rest day if I feel like my body needs it.  So far, it has been great.  I feel great and I feel like I am looking thinner but without a scale, I've had to rely on just that look and feel, that is another post in and of itself!  

Find a way, not an excuse!!

--What is your favorite at home exercise?
--What are your current exercise goals?

Monday, March 3, 2014

Not quitting...

Once again I find myself on the road to getting fit and fabulous.  Life gets in the way, especially of blogging, but I have not done well with maintaining my weight either.  I need to find a balance of what I want to eat and the weight I want to lose.  I'm struggling with how to find the motivation to eat as amazing as I was when loosing weight.  I cannot understand why I had so much motivation then, but cannot seem to keep it up now.

I am determined to find the right balance of emotions, food, exercise, motivation for ME.  I have a goal in mind, a goal to do better at the triathlon at the end of August than I did last year and a goal to get to a better weight for my body.  I will not let excuses get in the way of my goals, even if I am in Italy or another country. 

I have struggled with emotions of eating and weight for my whole life.  I am going to release those emotions forever and find my happy balance.