Motivation Monday

Good morning folks!!  Happy Monday!

The past 2 weeks have been the hardest, most challenging that I've had in quite some time. I'm hoping that this week might go a little more smoothly! I hope that you all had a good weekend!!

Saturday, I got up and did a chest and triceps workout. Then hubs and I did the weekly grocery shopping. We went to Ross and I got a pair of workout capri pants and a new pair of Nike Pegasus, too. We went out to a friend's birthday party later that night. Yesterday, hubs went to our place at the lake to do some work on our trailer and I stayed home to do the chores and weekly food prep. This week, I prepped steaks, yellow squash/zucchini, ground turkey meat, spaghetti squash, brown rice, baked sweet potatoes, hb eggs, and broccoli.

One thing that I really enjoy about blogging is the networking aspect. Recently, I "met" Danielle Prestejohn and I had an opportunity to work with her for the past 21 days. She is a Beachbody coach and gave several of us a chance to try the new 21 Day Fix workout program from Beachbody. I've tried other Beachbody programs in the past and really liked them, so I was excited about this opportunity.

This particular program includes an eating plan based on portion control. I believe that is where most people struggle on their weight loss journey. It is a very simple plan to follow. There are color coded containers that represent different food groups: protein, vegetables, fruits, starches, fats, nuts and seeds. You calculate that amount of calories that you need for the day and then you follow the guide that shows you how many color coded containers to eat for the day. For instance, the 1200-1499 plan includes 3 greens, 2 purples, 3 reds, 2 yellows, 1 blue and 1 orange. Super easy!!

As you know, I am already a meal planner/prepper. I weigh and measure all my portions. In all honesty, I didn't feel like I was eating enough. I felt hungry when I followed the plan. I noticed that I was loosing weight and that isn't my goal. I want to maintain and could actually afford to put on a few pounds of lean muscle. It was easy for me to adjust my intake by simply stepping up to the next meal plan. I think it was helpful for my husband to get a visual of correct portion sizes and how much food he should be eating as well as what types of food and when to eat them.

My favorite part of this program are the workouts. There are 7 different workouts. Each one is 30 minutes in length and are easily modifiable for beginners or if one is injured, etc. Although the workouts are short, they are effective. Scientifically, short bursts of exercise with short rest periods (HIIT) are highly effective for weight loss and fat burning. I love these workouts and will continue to incorporate them into my fitness regimen.

I'm pleased with my progress, so far.I'm seeing subtle little changes everyday.

Here's my workout schedule for the week:

Monday--Upper body strength training, back/shoulders/biceps
Tuesday--Total Body Cardio Fix
Wednesday--Upper fix
Thursday--Double day Lower fix and Pilates fix
Friday--Chest and triceps
Saturday--Dirty 30 (or 3 mile run if we are at the lake)
Sunday--yoga fix

Until next time--get up, get out, get moving. And whatever you do today, be awesome at it!

Your friend,

Theresa

What are your workout plans this week?
Have you tried the 21 Day Fix?

Workout Wednesday

Good morning!!  What day is it??  It's "Hump Day" aka my second favorite day of the week!!  It means that we're halfway through this work week and we all know that I'm just working for the weekend!!

Last night, I was scheduled to meet my new trainer for the first time. But it was not meant to be. I had to stay late at work and will have to reschedule with my trainer. It had been a long, frustrating day. All I wanted to do when I got home was crawl in my pj's and go to bed.  But, I didn't. I worked out instead. I doubled up and did Total Body Cardio Fix and Upper Fix from the 21 Day Fix program.

I've been more consistent with my workouts the past 3 weeks. I'm already starting to see some changes in my body and I love it! I'm excited about the changes I'll see in the future!
Today is leg day and I am planning to double up again. I'll do the 21 Day Fix Lower Fix with an additional core workout.

Another reason this is my favorite day, is because it's "Workout Wednesday" That's the day I choose one of my favorite workouts to share with you. Now that it's starting to warm up and summer is right around the corner, that means short sleeves and tank tops. We all want sexy arms that don't jiggle. So, for today's workout, I'm sharing my quick "Sexy, Tank Top Arms" workout with you.

Until next time--get up, get out, and get moving! Whatever you decide to do today, remember to be awesome at it x

Your friend,



Theresa

Checkin' In

Good morning y'all!!

I missed you yesterday!!  I assumed that I would have time for a post from work, but it was far too busy and I never got an opportunity! I even had to eat lunch on the fly at my desk!  I really dislike days like that!! I always feel so scattered and I know that there are tasks that didn't get completed. I'm hoping today is a little slower so that I can get caught up!

Last week was not a good week for me. I was really sick! I thought it was my allergies initially, but I'm not so sure it wasn't bronchitis or something a little more serious. On top of that, my mother in law fell and broke her hip. Late nights at the hospital with her coupled with not feeling well led to a very tired, cranky, emotional girl!!  Sorry!!  She had surgery to repair her hip but has been having various other complications. Due to an abnormal heart rhythm, she hasn't been out of bed since the surgery. She is quite elderly and frail. We were talking about rehab initially, but I'm afraid that we may have to rethink our current discharge plan. Unfortunately, neither hubs nor I are in a position to quit our jobs and we're not equipped to bring her to our house. Caring for her will now be a full-time job, I'm afraid. I'm fairly certain we're going to have to pursue placement in a long term care facility.

We did get out to blow off some steam last weekend. We both needed it! I had planned to treat myself to a pedicure for Mother's Day. I ran into Ulta to choose a nail color. When I came out, I really felt compelled to check out the T J Maxx next door. I hit the jackpot!!  I got some new workout tops and shorts in addition to other assorted goodies! Then I went to Old Navy and found some additional bargains. I ran out of time for the pedicure but the retail therapy did the trick!

I had an "A-ha" moment that morning. I was getting ready to go to town. I grabbed a pair of jeans out of my closet. I didn't pay much attention to which ones they were. They went on effortlessly. Only after they were on and zipped did  I realize that they were size 27 Miss Me jeans that I never wore because I did a pretty descent sized muffin top in them. What a nice surprise!! 

Sunday was Mother's Day. I did my usual Sunday household chores and meal prep. But hubs told me if I got everything ready, he would cook it all on the grill so that could have a little break. I could really get used to that!!  This week we prepped grilled chicken, grilled steak, grilled veggies (zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus, peppers and onion), brown rice, mixed veggies, salad, and hard boiled eggs. I really try hard to keep meal prep simple and that strategy is working out for me, so far.

This is week 3 of the 21 Day fix. I'm going to continue the workouts. And tonight, I meet with my new trainer for the first time. I'm going to start with 6 weeks and see how that goes. I'm really excited about it!!  Strength training is something that I've really wanted to focus on for some time now. I've tried some home workout programs. But I'm tired of pussyfooting around. I really want to step up my game and challenge myself.

Until next time--get up, get out, and get moving! Whatever you decide to do today, remember to be awesome!

Your friend,

Theresa

Weekly Wrap Up

I don't know about y'all, but I'm so glad it's Friday!

I can truly say this has been one of the most challenging weeks I've had in a long time. I try my level best to be as positive as possible here on the blog. Nobody wants to hear from a "Negative Nancy" or "Debbie Downer" all the time. As bloggers, we put ourselves out there for public scrutiny.  But we choose what we want to share with our readers. Obviously, we don't share every aspect of our lives. So, as readers, you might think you know us. But, just remember, not everything is as it seems. We are human beings too with faults and imperfections just like everyone else :)

This week, I'm thankful for my wonderful co-workers. I'm not sure I would have made it all week without their grace and support!

Despite feeling poorly and all the stress in my life, I've been consistent with my diet and my workouts. I'm super excited about starting to work with my new trainer next week! I'm sad about not coaching Pathways this session, but I'm excited about gaining some strength to hopefully help decrease running injuries in the future! And I'll try to sneak in a run with Pathways here and there for old times sake!

No big plans for us this weekend. I'm going to sleep until I'm not tired tomorrow morning. Then I think I'll treat myself to a pedicure for Mother's Day.

Until next time--get up, get out, and get moving! Whatever you do today, remember to be awesome!

Your friend,

Theresa

Workout Wednesday~~Warm Weather Running Tips

Good morning folks!!

It's only Wednesday and it's been a long week already!!  I seriously could stay home and sleep today.

My allergies have been OUT OF CONTROL the past couple of days. Oak tree pollen is very high right now and it has been super windy the past 3 days. We could actually see a fine yellow dust of pollen blowing of the trees at one point. And hubs decided to mow the yard Monday night, which didn't help any. I've been severely sniffley and sneezy and just plain miserable for a couple of days!

Monday was the first day of a new session of Pathways, the 10k running program that I coach at Fleet Feet Sports Tulsa. For the first time in 3 years, I am not coaching. I've agreed to be a substitute coach but wanted to focus on cross training this summer and I wanted some flexibility with my time/schedule. I haven't coached them since my injury in mid February, so I didn't think it would be a big deal to take the summer off. But, it's a bigger blow than I initially realized. Being a running coach is a large part of my identity and it's strange to not be involved with the group. I'm trying to convince myself that taking this time to focus on becoming stronger will serve to make me a better coach to them in future sessions. It's going to take some time for me to realize that. Right now, I'm really missing them!!  I think I might go run with them once a week so that I don't feel so left out or isolated.

And, as if that isn't enough on my plate aleady.....yesterday afternoon, my mother in law suffered a pretty serious fall. She stood up and was turning around when she fell resulting in a large laceration/head wound and she sustained a hip fracture. We're not sure if she lost her balance and fell or if her hip broke resulting in the fall. All I know for sure is that she is going to have to have it surgically repaired and that it will most certainly be a lengthy recovery for her. She has been able to stay at home with her husband and function fairly independently with hubs and home health support. I think this is the beginning of the end of all that. I'm fairly certain that she will no longer be able to stay home alone. I think we're probably looking at nursing home placement for her. This will most certainly increase the stress level and work load for my husband. He will have to make more frequent trips to check on his dad and will have to make separate trips to check on his mother too. I'm going to do something that I never do here, but thoughts and prayers would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

The weather has been warming up pretty quickly around here, so I thought it would be a good idea to address some warm weather running tips for today's Workout Wednesday.

A few things that will help you with running in the heat:

 

1: Wear light, moisture wicking clothing. Remember, less is more and no cotton! Frog togs are nice!

2: HYDRATE!! Drink plenty of water, Nuun, or the electrolyte replacement of your choice.

3: Wear sunscreen, a hat/visor and/or sunglasses.

4:  Don't eat anything heavy for lunch because you will probably be regretting that choice mid-run. And remember to eat a light snack pre-run for more energy. I really like the honey stinger waffles with a little fruit pre-run.

5: Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and other heat related illness/injury.

6: Adjust your schedule. Run in the morning or later in the evening to beat the extreme heat.

7: Carry water with you or plan your route where you will have frequent water stops.

8: Find some shade to run in. Don't be afraid to take walk breaks. Adjust your pace or intervals as needed to adjust to the heat.

 

Remember, heat can affect your performance 10-20% and that it takes about 2 weeks to acclimate to the heat. Running in the heat may not be ideal but it can be done.

 

Take it easy and be safe!!

 

Until next time--get up, get out and get moving. Whatever you do today, remember to be awesome at it!!

 

Your friend,

 

Theresa

Monday Motivation/Weekly Goals

Howdy, howdy folks!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I hope you're all having a fabulous day, so far!

Sorry for the late post, but I varied my routine this morning so I'm a little late getting to the party. One of the reasons for my running rut recently (say that 5 times fast) is that my circle of running friends have all been going different directions. We're all at different places in our training schedules, training for different races, have different agendas, etc. Some of us are just coming back from injuries, health issues and such. I realize that I can just go run by myself. But I really enjoy the social aspect of running. A lot of my friends have been running early in the morning at 5am. I can't join them that early. But this morning, some of them could meet at 6am. We did 4 miles, are a few gnats, and it was great! I'm hoping we can continue this over the summer! It was a good run. There was a little nagging pain in my heel but it was very minimal. I should have kinesio taped it, but it went away by mile 2. I was able to get ready for work at the gym and made it to work early even. Sometimes, if I vary my routine any, I'm a little "off" all day but today it was really great! Definitely started my day on a positive note!

We had a relatively good weekend at the lake. I did struggle a bit with maintain my healthy, clean eating. We always pack snacks for on the boat, usually chips, pretzels, crackers, adult beverages and things like that. I had a difficult time finding healthy snacks to take on the boat. And adult beverages are counter productive to any progress that I make during the week. I'm a little discouraged. I love the lake and floating on my boat. I'm not sure how I can do that and maintain my healthy habits. Plus, it ties up my whole weekend time that I usually grocery shop and meal prep. :-/

This week, I'm continuing the 21 Day Fix, week 2. I'm really liking the workouts. I've had to increase the calories on the meal plan though because I wasn't getting enough calories to begin with. I want to maintain my current weight and would be ok with adding a few pounds of lean muscle even.

This week's fitness goals are:

Monday--4 mile run; Total Body Cardio fix
Tuesday--Turkey Tuesday 3 mile run; Upper fix
Wednesday--Lower fix
Thursday--Pilates fix
Friday--Cardio fix
Saturday--Dirty 30
Sunday--Yoga fix

Until next time--get up, get out and get moving! Whatever you do today, remember to be awesome!

Your friend,

Theresa

Wrappin' It Up

Hello, hello folks!! TGIF

Sorry about the lack of posts this week. It's been busy and I've had a bit of writer's block. I'll try to do better next week.

So, here's a quick recap of what's been going on lately.

I haven't really run very much. :-(   I have, however, been consistent with my workouts this week.  I mentioned earlier that I was trying out the 21 Day Fix from Beachbody. It's a nutrition plan based on portion control along with a workout program. I'm loving these workouts!!  They each 30 minutes in length and are easy to modify if needed. Even hubs can do them!!  Here's what I did this week:


Monday: Total Body Cardio Fix
Tuesday: Upper Fix
Wednesday: Lower Fix
Thursday: Pilates Fix
Friday: Cardio Fix
Saturday: Dirty 30
Sunday: Yoga Fix

Yesterday, in addition to the pilates workout that I did yesterday, I did an upper body strength workout at lunch and then I met a couple of friends after work for a little run. We ended up walking most of our 3 miles because Patty's leg was bothering her. And I was ok with that after doing the Lower Fix on Wednesday, my left quad was a little tight too. The pilates workout helped stretch that out a bit though.

So, for 2 weeks, I've been working out consistently and I'm happy about that. I've been thinking about my long term goals and I think that I'm going to take some time to focus on strength training. I love running but I'm tired of being an injured runner. I hired a personal trainer yesterday and we're going to take the next 6 - 8 weeks to work on strengthening my non running muscles so that I'll be ready to return to running, hopefully injury free, when that fall training programs kick off in mid-July. I'm taking a hiatus from coaching the 10k program during this time. I've agreed to be a substitute coach on an as needed basis only. I need more flexibility and I have my own agenda at this time. I feel like I wouldn't be able to be as dedicated to that runners as I should be, so I think it's best to take a break.

This weekend, we're going to Lake Tenkiller to get our trailer set up in our usual camping spot for the summer. It's going to be warm this weekend, so we're going to take the boat out and I couldn't be happier!! I'm definitely a warm weather girl! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE warm sunshine and floating on the water!!  It soothes my soul! So, for the next 6 months, you'll find me at my happy place every weekend!!  We have some friends and family meeting us to go out on the boat, so this should be a very fun weekend! I'm been waiting for this since last September!!  It will be difficult for me to be very productive at work today! I've been trying to make out a list of food and supplies that I need and I'm discovering that boat snacks are going to be tricky this year since I've drastically cleaned up my diet. I still don't have it all figured out, but I will.

Until next time--get up, get out, and get moving. Whatever you do today, remember to be awesome!!

Your friend,

Theresa