Wednesday, April 17, 2013

My Favorite "R" Word

I always have a routine. Making lists, staying organized, and color coding are all things that put me in my happy place. Routine follows me everywhere and is involved in almost 99.9% of the things I do.

I wish at times I wasn't this way as being structured comes with challenges. For instance, I cringe at the words: "go with the flow", "see where the wind takes you", and "we don't know where we are going, how we are getting there or when we should leave, but we will figure it out".

When these situations arise, the only thing I can do is take a deep breath and, well, go with the flow.

I love being healthy. I love learning about nutrition and fitness and the newest diet fads that DON'T work (hint...hint). I can't wait to get home at night so I can start a bath and open my book (Which Comes First, Cardio or Weights by Eric Hutchinson), highlighting and scribbling away and soaking in as much information as I can. I search the internet for new recipes, new blogs to follow, and new work out clothes to drool over and wish I could afford.

I get approached by friends quite often with questions like how often should I run? What do you eat? What is this Foam Roller thing you always rave about? How did you survive eating no candy on Easter? I LOVE when I can educate others on living out a healthy lifestyle and the support I give them motivates me to keep eating clean and exercising daily. First thing I tell them is it starts with, you guessed it, a routine!

Morning: Within 20 minutes of waking up, I eat. A typical breakfast for me looks likes this:


One sliced banana, a cup of strawberries, and a sprinkle of PB2 on top to make this party complete.

After breakfast has settled, I turn up the music for that extra "push" to the gym and lace up my sneakers. I always switch up my workouts, going through the cycle of lifting and running and biking and Pilates. I plan my workouts weekly to give me something to follow.




Side note: Thanks to Taylor for the candid shot of me. Please excuse the facial expression as I wish I had a reason to give you of why I look like that...


Post workout snacks are key. I usually reach for an apple and Almond or Peanut Butter to get some protein in my belly!


Afternoon: Lunch varies for me depending on what my tastebuds are craving. It could be a sandwich or a shake, a salad or leftovers. Either way, this is the last meal of the day where I eat fruit. 



After lunch it's off to work I go! I pack with me a snack and usually eat it around 3pm to keep my metabolism going and my stomach from rumbling. Oh, and my Camelback travels with me like it's my child. I try to refill it 3 times a day to make sure I'm getting enough water. 

Snacks I typically bring are: carrots, almonds, raisins, or a Lara Bar. 



Night: Living "in the city" means that my commute is 30 minutes and even longer if there is traffic. Working late means my stomach is literally screaming at me to feed it by the time I finally walk in my door. Since I don't sit down to eat until 7:45-8, I tend to gravitate towards meals that are quick to make and easy to clean up. My "staple" dinner meals are Tilapia with veggies, Chicken with veggies, or a big salad with Chicken and Edamame. Boring? Slightly. Healthy? Yes. 

On Sundays I usually bake enough Chicken Breasts to get me through the week. I add them to salads and sandwiches at lunch and eat them whole for dinner. 



Snack: 5 egg whites before I clean my face, brush my teeth, and shut down all the apps on my iPhone! 


There is my almost daily routine. As a disclaimer, what I eat and exercise works for me but might not work for you! I'm sure I eat certain foods at the wrong time or run too often, but let's remember my degree is in Elementary Education, ok?! 

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