Wordless Wednesday - Nicolas Cage sightings

trying new things....

I'm sure it's no surprise, running is my #1 go-to form of exercise, and that's been the case for two years now. Before running, I loved to go to the gym and take power-lift (aka body pump) class.  It was my lunch of choice. I enjoyed pushing myself and lifting, and then life at my office got hectic.

I have often thought about returning for class, but I was usually in training mode and I didn't want to risk sore muscles on my long runs. So this never ending cycle of skipping the gym continued. That is, until now.... as part of the #whatsbeautiful campaign, I have been trying new things and pushing myself to improve.

This past week I tried two classes that have been out of my routine. They each are totally different and they were a great change of pace. I am starting to see it's important to shake things up a little. Let me tell you about the classes.

The first class I tried was Cross Xtreme (think Cross Fit meets YMCA). I have been wanting to try Cross Fit and the fact that my gym has its own version makes it that much easier. When we walked into class there posted on our wall was the workout. Its the kind of class that you go at your own pace and push yourself to get through. For this class in particular we did:

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50-40-30-20-10
Double Unders  (jumping rope, if you can't do double then you 2x the #, so I did 100, 80, 60, etc.)
Sit Ups

then we had to do (2x):

Walking lunges (with overhead weights) down the gym
Run back (weights still overhead)

I did this class on Tuesday, the same day that I did a HILLY morning run and have been 2+ weeks into daily runs.

Thoughts:  INTENSE!! I learned I loose count during sit-ups and cannot tell you how many I actually did, but I made sure if the girl next to me started 30 seconds before me, I did 30 seconds worth after she got done. And I learned that my core is WEAK! 

The next day we all went to Barre. When we walked in, the instructor had us grab a ball and 1 pound weights (what, 1 lb., you have got to be kidding me). The hour long class started out with Pilates. She focused at first on arms, this is where I learned that 1 lb weights could feel like 20 lbs. and in a quickness.

OMG, I think this perky little lady was trying to kill us, I can't for the life of me understand why she was so happy, she must love watching us suffer, lol!

After our arms turned in to buttah, we moved on to core. This was not so bad for me, I do better with crunches, and other of those ab exercises (unlike the sit-ups from yesterday). Following Abs we moved on to what I was waiting for, the BAR!

Allyson was so kind and kept telling all of us how we looked like ballerinas, I am so sure she was just buttering us up for what was coming next. My legs were shaking from the first squat. We spent 20 minutes pulsing and squatting and screaming out for our Momma's! I'm sure she is hoping the "runner's" never come back!

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So, besides the classes, I also ran every single day, at least a mile, and today I am meeting Melanie to run 5 miles in Bay Minette.

Overall, I really loved the classes, and I can't wait to go back this week. Cross Xtreme is on Tuesday and Thursdays, I am one of the weaker ones, but that won't stay that way. Barre is only offered on Wednesdays, I plan to add that in on a regular basis.  As I begin my first MARATHON training sessions this August, I plan to go in stronger and more determined than ever. I will rock this Marathon and do so with Cross training being a regular part of my schedule. 

Adding in new things has been good for my fitness morale this week, I am looking forward to exercising again, that's always a good thing!

QOTD:  What have you done lately that is new to you? I would love to hear about your new fitness classes/workouts, etc.

getting in shape for summer.....

Now that summer is here and in full swing, everyone seems to be focused on being active and working to get in their swimsuits and shorts. Where I live it is way too hot to hide behind big bulky clothes. Needless to say the gyms are packed. I have been running consistently for two years now, and work load permitting, hitting the gym.

One thing I have learned, you can’t depend on working out alone to get the results you want to see. You have to eat a healthy diet packed with choices that are good for you. It's all really common sense. What makes it hard for me, is being on the go all of the time. It is a challenge for me to eat healthy. I really want to eat well and would love to have the extra time to food prep, it just isn’t working out for me lately….

So what is a girl to do? Enter Diet To Go! My food crisis savior!  They offer people like myself an option to eat healthy when our schedules don’t allow it.

 I have been an Ambassador with Diet To Go for a few months now, so I was excited when they reached out to us to participate in their June Summer Shape Up events! They have so much going on this month,  that it is hard not to get excited.

Here is how you can get involved, trust me, you don’t want to miss out on this!

Facebook Sweepstakes:  They will be giving away free meals and one grand prize winner will win ONE MONTH of free meals! ENTER HERE

Official Dates for the Sweepstakes:

• Starts: June 10th, 2013 @ 12:01am (EST).
• Ends: June 28th, 2013 @ 11:59pm (EST).
• Winners chosen on July 1st 2013.

Eligibility

• Legal U.S. resident.
• Must be 18 or older.
• Employees and family members of Diet-to-Go are not eligible.

Prizes

• Winners chosen at random.
• 1 grand prize winner will receive 1 month of free meals (4 weeks total - 15 meals per week)
• 5 winners will receive 1 week of free Diet-to-Go meals.  (15 total meals for each winner)
• Each winners may choose between a low-fat, vegetarian, or low-carb meal plan.
• Current customers are eligible and upon winning will receive the value equivalent of the prize applied to their Diet-to-Go account.

Diet Bet:  You may have seen these on Twitter or Facebook, they have been pretty popular lately. You pay $25 into the pot and everyone that loses their 4% of weight in the 4 weeks gets their share of the total pot!

Twitter Chat:  Join us Tuesday, June 18 at 9-10 p.m, (EST) for a Twitter chat to discuss common-sense methods and practices YOU can use to stay fit and get your summer shape-up on. Use hashtag #diettogo to join.  1 randomly drawn chatter will win a Fitbit Flex Wristband.  3 randomly drawn chatters will win a week of free meals. DietBet

You can also find DTG on Google+:  “Common-Sense Healthy Living” on Google +: Looking for a place to get real healthy living tips, weight loss ideas that actually work, recipes and much, much more? Then join ourfun Google + community, where people just like you share what’s worked (and what hasn’t worked) for them. You can come be a part of this fun community on Google + by clicking here.

Don’t miss out, this is going to be great!!

I was on a boat....

My family and I got home today from our 7-day cruise. We were all sad to see it end, but those seven days were exactly what we needed!

June 2nd, we left out of New Orleans headed out to sea for seven days on a Carnival Cruise. Before you say anything, it all went fine, no fires, we weren't stranded, and we had a blast! Please don't let a few unfortunate moments keep you from traveling with Carnival, I have been on 3 cruises and have never been disappointed.

Our itinerary was 1 fun day at sea followed by Key West, Freeport and Nassau then 2 more days at sea. I love the fun days at sea, I could cruise to nowhere and be so happy. This was the first cruise for the kids, they were excited but I was a little nervous about traveling with 4 kids, and getting on and off the boat at ports. It all went really smooth.

I was really excited about the ports, i was planning to run at all of them, that was my thought. I also planned on catching up with blogging while I was gone. That's what I get for trying to make plans on vacation. My Internet would not work, so the blogging was OUT. And I was only able to run on land in Key West, the Bahama ports were out after we were notified that the US Embassy felt US citizens might be less than safe while at ports. Needless to say that cut out my running.

In Key West it was raining, and we had no plans for the day. We did not have a good stay at port. We walked way out of our way looking for a beach, when we found one it was more like a boat dock and there were random people passed out on the beach sleeping under tarps (WEIRD!). After a less than ideal day, we ate lunch at the Hard Rock because it was easy and close. I spent $100 on cheeseburgers, stupid! 

the Hard Rock in Key West

Then Gavin and I got to run.... great way to save the day! We ran for 10 minutes, down a few streets and around the port and surrounding area. We came upon a random chicken and saw some really pretty buildings. I left my foot pod at home, so I couldn't track my distance, but I feel it was a mile.

Gavin and I after our run!

We were ready to get back on the ship and rest. I really wish I had seen Key West on a beautiful day and had more time, I was disappointed in my time there. 

The next day we stopped over in Freeport. Again, we had no excursions planned. We had a family of 7 to pay for, so excursions were pretty much OUT. We did get a limo and head out to the public beach at Port Lacauya. 

The beach was nice, aside from all the hustlers pushing hair braids, banana boat rides, wave runners, etc. Lordy, let a girl relax please. Joby and the kids went on the hour long banana boat ride while I stayed on the beach with Susie and Jeff. We walked some, tanned and got in the water. When the Family got back, we hung out for a bit then headed back to the ship. It was a nice and relaxing day. 

Freeport beach

Banana boat ride...

Joby, his brother Jeff and Collin

self portrait

Susie and myself soaking up the rays!

I ran after I got back on board, then we ate and caught a show.  we went to bed early every night, I'm old, lol!

The next day we went to Nassau and went to the public beach at Atlantis. We caught up with some friends who were cruising and spent the morning in the beautiful water! We headed back to the ship and I got my run in.

The next two days we chilled and I ran and chilled some more. We ate great food, rested, watched some pretty good shows on board and spent much needed time with family. This was exactly what I needed. I was sad to get off the ship today, but once I got home I was happy, I missed my home!

I read some really great running books and thought a lot about my goals while I was away, I will share more about that this week, I am so pumped about my goals and plans!

Lets end with a few more vacation pictures... I hope you don't mind! Oh..... one more tidbit, I actually cruised for 7 days and came home without gaining any weight, woohoo!! AND I kept my running streak going, so proud!

last night on board, in my Oiselle tee!

Elmer ~ the best waiter ever!

Gavin and I played some golf!

Guy's Burgers ~ best burger ever!!!

Kids having fun!

waiting in line to slide (check out her abs!)

Have a great week, look for most posts about my new goals and plans! 

QOTD:  Do you have any vacation plans for this summer? I would love to hear about them!

#whatsbeautiful wordless Wednesday

#Whatsbeautiful campaign and my weekend!

Happy Memorial Day to everyone! I hope you all got to spend it with your loved ones and remembered why we celebrate today. I wanted to extend a big thank you to all of those who have served, who serve today and who long to serve in the future.

A long weekend is exactly what I needed to help relax. We didn't have any great plans, no barbeque, we didn't hit the beach, we just stayed home and worked around the house. It was a perfect weekend. We are getting ready to leave for a 7-day cruise this weekend coming up, so we did some packing, shopping and house cleaning.

I am super stoked about my run tonight. First of all it was my first run in the Summer 2013 Runners Streak hosted by Runners World. By participating I agree to run at least 1 mile everyday from Memorial Day until July 4th. You should really think about participating. If you join in now, you can just extend it a day or so to make it fit!

I did attempt this streak in the winter, and fell short. I believe I was unable to complete the challenge mostly because I didn't have enough time in the evening. I have to squeeze my runs in when I can, and that usually means in the evenings. I believe in the summer with longer days and less demands (school, sports, etc.) I will be better able to complete this challenge.

Another reason I was excited, I was able to wear my new Under Armor attire that I received as part of the #Whatsbeautiful campaign. I have mentioned before, but I was able to participate in this campaign through my Ambassador role with Fitfluential. 

I ran a 3.25 mile loop in a neighborhood around my mothers house. I have ran it quite a few times before. Its hilly, shady in a lot of spots and a nice change from my normal routine. Joby joined me on the bike this afternoon, that was a nice change. We ran at 5 pm and honestly I wish I would have waited at least one more hour, it was HOT! But we made it and I pushed myself up the hills.  I even had Joby being my personal photographer (thanks babe!)

As part of my Team Super Women challenges, we are setting goals and crushing them. I have set goals to add in speed work and hills, and so far I am crushing them. I am purposely planning routes with hills, rather than avoid them. I am doing everything I can to push myself through them, no walking! So far so good!

I just love my new Under Armor gear that I received! The yellow Tank, shoes and the headband were sent to me as part of this campaign. I absolutely love them! The tank is a mesh tank, it allowed the breeze to cool me off, and the color is perfect for running on the roads, I don't think you can miss me in that eye popping yellow! 

I will continue to push myself and get time in at the gym. Even when we are on our cruise, I am going to make my fitness a priority. I want to build up my endurance, tackle the hills and work on my speed.  

I read something the other day, and it got me to thinking. If I really want something, and am willing to post about it, write it down and share it, then I need to invest 100% into it. I need to fit in my runs, even if I have to run alone. I need to improve my eating and quit all the junk. #iwill quit just saying I want these things and start actually doing them! I know I have a lot of potential, I just need to tap into it.

I challenge you to push yourself, go beyond your routine, do just a tad bit more. Shock yourself!

Have a great week, and I will be posting more about my workouts, runs, etc!

QOTD:  What are you doing to push yourself?

Wordless Wednesday... someone loves to use my iphone camera!