Sick Saturday and Sunday

This weekend didn't go so well.  I was fighting something off most of Saturday and all of Sunday.  My husband tells me that every time I go all guns blazing into a workout regimen I end up sick within a week or two.  Well I think he is full of beans even if I did end up sick!  Speaking of beans…I often find myself extremely hungry after workouts, and lacking in the energy department during workouts.  I tried eating some dinner before going to Zumba one evening to see if it would help me focus better and it did.  I have been experimenting with different things to try and find things that work for me and I stumbled on this.

After every half marathon, there is always chocolate milk at the finish line.  I used to find this disgusting, but then I tried it one time.  It was really good after a race.  So, I became a milk after running distance addict.  I usually eat the banana that they hand out or the oranges.  I also was given a "KIND" bar one night after Zumba and fell in love with them.  So what are your favorites after you exercise.  Share them and maybe the recipe so we can all benefit!  

My overall diet usually consists of eating what I want just in smaller portions.  If you know me very well you know I am completely addicted to this…  ANYBODY?

I told you dieting isn't my thing, but I will try to out exercise my bad habits until I decide to change my eating style.  I almost always have at least one can if not two of this sugary sweet goodness every day.  I even carry one in my car to consume after long races, and have been known to ask my sister to find me along the course during a half and bring me one!  It took her a few more miles than my body was wanting to go without it but she did eventually catch me on the course.  Don't believe me?  My gym partner will totally vouch for me on this one!  I will say I did try a new recipe tonight to take to my BUNCO group.  I made a pasta salad (yep it was the not so good for you pasta kind).  I replaced the mayo with plain greek yogurt added some pepper and Mrs. Dash for flavoring added some avocado and BAM healthier pasta creation by Leslie.

Tabata Thursday

Tabata Thursday

So me and my gym partner are getting creative with the Tabata workouts.  However, today I ache from them!  Today's routine was Skullcrushers, twisting planks, 6" and holds, chair dips, alternating plank and pushups, side to side jumps.  Yesterday we had burpees and mountain climbers.  I did remove the burpees from today's workout because I don't like them (mainly two days in a row of them would have killed me).

A few of the repetitions of planks looked a little like this too!  My goal is to be able to hold plank pose for 3 minutes with out shaking or falling.  So far I shake and fall after a few rounds of them for 30 seconds…someday I will conquer the PLANK!

Tomorrow I am declaring FITNESS FRIDAY!  At least for me it will be.  I am taking a long weekend off from the gym and won't be back until Tuesday morning so I need to make the most of the workout tomorrow morning.  I have made it there 3 times this week and tomorrow will make 4 so it has been a good week for me.  I probably wouldn't push myself as hard as I am but having a gym partner is helping SO much.  

Now on to one of those interesting facts that you find on the internet.  True or not true it is something to think about.  Muscle burns more calories than fat!

Gym Junkee

Yesterday I decided to join a gym.  Today I joined the gym. Tomorrow I will go to the gym!  Yes, it seems like baby steps, but it was the only way to complete the process for me.  I decided after multiple spin classes being cancelled or rescheduled this was the route I was going to have to take.  Spin class is AMAZING though.  I have talked a co-worker into going with me for a early bird workout 3-4 times a week.  I have planned some workouts for us and I am ready to go!  Tomorrow morning will be 30 minutes of cardio followed by Tabata workout for 16 minutes and some machine workouts for the remainder or our hour.  I plan on purchasing one more fitness item in the next week or so. Yurbuds! I had a pair of these and absolutely loved them, but I lost one of the covers and then lost the other and a few kids with scissors later I had none.  I commandeered my oldest sons ear buds and have struggled with them since the day they became mine.  Maybe it was just bad karma from how I became the new owner of them, but it is time to get new ones and give his back!

Today was a weigh in day for me so that I would be able to see where I was at before starting to go to the gym.  I would like to make something clear though,  each persons "happy" weight is different so I don't get caught up too much on the actual number.  I do pay close attention to my BMI though.  So please don't think that I am dreaming of the day when I weigh 100 pounds…BECAUSE IT WILL NOT HAPPEN!  EVER!  This is me at my largest.  This picture opened my eyes to what was happening to my body and made me realize I didn't like what path I was on.  

December 2014

Notice the arms and the chest in each picture, even my face.  Now here is me a few years back.  This is my goal.

November 2013

This isn't my smallest over the past few years, but I was at a "happy" weight here and this is completely doable for me. 

So here it goes...

Motivation for the day

WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE
QUITTING
THINK ABOUT WHY YOU
STARTED

2015 - New Year, New Me

2014 is gone and the only thing that is still hanging around is some extra weight.  Along with how many other millions of Americans I made the new year's resolution to get healthy and shed some pounds.  I heard a statistic on the radio the other day and it was scary how many people haven't stuck with their get healthy resolution 3 weeks into the year.  I developed a plan to hopefully help me stick with mine!  I have enlisted the help of a friend (several hundred miles away) to be my support system and hold me accountable.  She knows I fail (sometimes daily), so I am okay with telling her that I had no will power and ate the cupcake on the break room table, but later felt terrible that I did it so I ran two miles to burn it off.  I have a Fitbit that I wear daily.  The only way it come off is to charge it or if I earn the ability to take it off.  I also track workouts through Garmin and Daily Mile.  I love actually being able to see the number of miles add up.  Oh, I also got myself a new piece of workout gear.  Ever heard of a Bolder Band?  I had heard about them and was certain they would be like every other head band that falls of, but I finally decided to get one.  Absolutely worth every penny spent on it!  I have never had a head band that stays put like this one.  Crazy I know but,

this is what makes this work for me.

Today my motivational quote is this

You will see lots of these from me!

Follow along on this journey and see how far I get.  I might just get brave and post some pictures…MAYBE.

Let's do this!

Thankful November

Thankful November

Everyone on Facebook has been posting things they are thankful for so I am converting this into a weekly blog post for an entire month.  Here I go…

November 1
Family - I am thankful for the wonderful family that I have been blessed with.  This is a picture of my husband and I with our children.

Left to Right:  Me, Gunnar, Kelly & Trey

We have just added a new member to the family this month, and my kids absolutely adore her.  Welcome to the family Kyree.  The newest member and all her nephews.  We couldn't have flower girls because there were none!  So three ring bearers and two greeters prepared everyone for the bride to make her grand entrance.  

Left to Right: Rylan, Brendan, Dylan, Kyree, Eric, Gunnar & Trey

November 2

Nature - I am thankful for the changing beauty around me everyday.  Ever stop and just look around at your surroundings and realize it is amazing how there is beauty in everything.  It is just how you look at it.  Fall has brought fantastic colors!

November 3

Friends - No matter how great the distance between us I have some amazing people I call friends for life.  I think this picture represents just that.

November 4

Running - I couldn't be happier that my body allows me to do this.  Sometimes I am not always great about doing it very frequently, but when I do it takes all the worries and stress off my mind and shoulders.  I am still chasing a dream of the marathon…someday I will achieve it!

November 5

Sister - Our bond has went from the "wicked witch" sister which yes she made a construction paper project in second grade the was a witch and the hat had my name on it, to a loving sister bond.  It took us awhile, but we got there!

November 6

Food - Sometimes you forget what has went into getting food on your table.  The wheat fields are coming up like crazy around here and I couldn't miss an opportunity to get a picture of it in the field and the place it ends up for processing.

Small town elevator in our area.  Not the actual storage bin, but couldn't resist the photo opportunity of their storage buildings in the sunlight.  That was part of my photo challenge for the day.  Using flares from the sun to make an interesting picture…I hope it worked!

November 7

Adventures - So glad that I have been given the opportunity to see and do so many things in life.  Every things we do should be looked at as an adventure even if it isn't the best one we have ever went on.

I am posting this a day early as tomorrow I have a day full of adventures and know I will not be around the computer to post it.  

A fun packed week

BUSY BUSY BUSY…that is what we have been up to all week!

We started the week in slow motion and ended it in fast forward.  Friday night my flag football team was invited to scrimmage before the local high school game and boy did we have a blast!  At half time, all the kids were recognized for a great season. Saturday morning we were up bright and early to head to our final game.  The weather was fantastic just long enough for our game to finish and then a rain shower was upon us.  Below is the team picture minus one of the players.  A big thanks to all of them and to the assistant coach Ray.  We had a fantastic last game and to brag just a bit…Gunnar made a fantastic catch!!!

Flag Football 2013

On a running note I have decided to start running again after moving and trying to adjust to our new adventure.  I have started slow and I have decided to just focus on running the entire time.  I am on my second actual run (IMPRESSIVE RIGHT?!)  I ran 5 miles last weekend and I did 5.5 today in 1 hour.  I couldn't resist going out and running with views like this.  It looks incredible cold but it was PERFECT day for a run.

This was taken about mile 1.5 and the stop ahead sign was something I kinda chuckled about because I knew I wasn't stopping this time!  Today the roads had very little vehicle traffic and it was one of those days when you just zone out and take it all in.  My goal with running again is to stay in shape and tone up.  Since I haven't ran I have noticed dramatic changes in my appearance and it is time to fix it!  This girl is on a mission to loose 10 pounds hopefully by the end of the year, but that may be pushing it for me.  Stay tuned for progress reports.  I hope to report falling numbers!!!

I read something this week that I thought was a good message for everyone to think about.  One of my good friends posted a picture of a sunset and with it she said someone once told her you "should never miss seeing a sunset if you can help it"  Here is your the sunset from where I am sitting for the day.

The weather is getting cooler and the summer colors are fading so I have started my photography adventure onto other things.  My oldest has been playing flag football every weekend and thanks to my sister I have a few pictures to share (I am the coach and I find it very hard to take pictures while trying to keep players where they need to be).  Gunnar and his team have improved so much in the last 4 weeks.  They are making touchdowns and running the ball better than I could have ever hoped for.  This was Gunnar's great run from the game last week.

Even his brother is learning some new moves!

October brought with it the opening of the local Pumpkin Patch in our town, and the boys and I enjoyed a Saturday afternoon there playing and hunting for the perfect pumpkins.  Catching a great picture of these two is kinda like trying to achieve the impossible!  I will keep trying!!!

Still trying!!!

Maybe if they don't know I have the camera pointed at them it will help. Nah, but I still Love them!

Photography business is still slow sad to say, but this is a few of my latest.  These were taken just down the road from where I grew up.

I am going to keep on taking pictures to improve my skills and maybe someday I will get brave and actually open the studio I would love to have.

Recently I went on a horse riding adventure with my sister and Aunt.  We spent the day riding the trails, climbing steep and rocky hills, and pushing our horses to the limits for trusting us (and us having to trust them too!)  We had an amazing time and I am so looking forward to doing this again very soon. The weather was chilly to say the least, and we all three slept in the living quarters of my sister's horse trailer.  We roughed it ladies style!  

This is my horse Bullseye and I crossing a fairly deep river crossing and the picture above was taken at the top of one of the rocky hills we found. I apologize for the quality as they were taken on a phone.  To rough of terrain to carry my camera, and I didn't want it ruined if something happened.

The boys decorated their pumpkins...should have put this picture farther up the blog...oh well.

Trey trying his best to smile for pictures...this kid hates taking pictures.  I had to bribe him to get this smile!

Well I think this is my longest blog ever (yep out of 5 blogs).  So I will leave you with a picture that I believe captures innocence and love for one another.