WorkItOut100: Week 10 Recap

Today marks day 70 of 100...wow! With my half marathon in a little over a month, I am more committed than ever to stick to my training schedule - injuries or not. I cranked out my 9 miler on Friday and it reminded me that running is such a mental game. After 1 mile, I kid you not, I thought there was no way in heck I was going to be able to run 8 more. But, after mile 5, there was no way I was leaving without running my full 9. The last 4 miles were a breeze and I felt AMAZING after I finished! Mind over body, right? 

I drove to Evergreen (about an hour away) and hiked the Three Sisters trail this afternoon. The weather was 70*, partly cloudy, and a little windy, but it felt great to be outside amongst the mountains and everything else beautiful that surrounded me. 

Friday Favorite: Unroll.Me

There is nothing more annoying than checking out at a retail store and them asking for your email address because it's for "return purposes" or whatever random reason they have. What's even more annoying than that is the junk mail (ahem...Victoria's Secret...I don't need to buy new underwear every. single. day!) that starts coming your way the second you leave that store.

Instead of constantly clicking the garbage can icon, I have recently discovered Unroll.me. Within minutes your inbox is clear of all subscriptions that you wish to no longer receive! Here's how it works:

1. Go to Unroll.me 

2. Get started by typing in your email address and password.

3. Sit back, relax, and watch as this website takes a trip through your inbox!

4. Once complete, it will give you the option to read through the subscriptions and give you a final say as if you want to "toss the junk" or keep certain ones. 

Pretty neat, eh?

P.S. Do you have a handy website that you recommend? 

Psst...

|| via Pinterest ||

WorkItOut100: Week 9 Recap

Nothing too out of the ordinary happened this week other than I attempted a run Friday after work. After 2 weeks on "running vacation", I couldn't wait any longer to see if giving my foot a break was what it needed to get it back to it's full potential. I started off slow and within minutes I had shooting pain. Ugh. Here's a little fact about me though - if I say I'm going to run 4 miles, I'm going to run 4 miles. I probably looked pretty pathetic through the eyes of strangers but boy did it feel great to get back at it again! 

After consulting with my doctor dad, he suggested that it might be my shoes that are causing the discomfort and not a stress fracture like we had originally thought. Yesterday afternoon I stopped by the running store to figure out what my options were and to see if this sort of injury is common among runners. 

The worker said it is very common and suggested I try orthotics first, as my pair of shoes are high-end and he would hate to have me spend more money on a new pair. So, $40 later (I thought he didn't want me to spend more money?!), I had orthotics put in my Brooks and I was out the door. 

The weather was TOO PERFECT not to run today...so I did. Guess what? MY FOOT HARDLY HURT! I was elated, relieved, and now I feel more motivated than ever to get back in training mode! 

1. HIIT Elliptical

Time: 30 Minutes

Targets: Legs/Glutes

Lovin' It (based on a scale from 1-10): 8.5

I never thought the elliptical could be so challenging until I stepped off after this workout and felt like my legs were going to give out on me. The increase in speed paired with the increase in incline is quite a deadly match. As always, it was good to switch it up and shake up my routine!

Friday Favorite: Races

I find myself signing up for a race when I need something to look forward to or just want to set a goal and prove to myself that I can and will reach it. I've ran in a handful of races ranging from 5k's to half marathons to marathon relays. None have killed me yet so I just keep running and signing up for more!

There are many reasons I love races including:

Swag

From free shirts to bags to samples of protein bars and Gatorade, race swag is always an added bonus!

Post-Race Grub

Beer

Beer after a race never sounds appetizing to me but somehow I always seem to down one in no time!

Medal

I have a wall of medals in my bedroom as a reminder of the races I've been a part of. It's not a way to "show off" to others what I have done but more a visual of memories that these races have created in my life. 

Spectators

I always tell first-time race go-ers that running in a race is a million times easier (and more fun) than running by yourself. The adrenaline you get from spectators cheering you on from the sidelines is exhilarating and makes you second guess yourself when you are thinking about stopping....I mean, do you really want to stop when people are there to cheer you on? No. 

P.S. What is your favorite part of a race?

Question & Answer

I grew up going to church but will be the first to admit that I spent more time doodling on the Bulletin than reading the words that were printed in it. I dreaded Lent because that meant I had to go to church twice a week and hello, I was a teenager with a social life to maintain.

During college, any sort of religious building was nonexistent. The only time I prayed was before a test I didn’t study enough for and Sunday mornings were spent Google searching “quickest hangover cures.” But the second something didn’t go my way, I blamed God for leading me onto unleveled ground and slowly lost trust in the one person that I was suppose to trust the most. 

My faith today is the strongest it has ever been but that’s not to say I have no doubts or questions about it. I pray, attend church, and for extra brownie points I read my pastors recently published book before bed each night. It may be strong but I still have my uncertainties and let's face it, faith can be a scary thing when you indulge yourself fully in it. 

I catch myself retreating back to my college ways from time to time, quickly blaming Him for taking me through a rainstorm without an umbrella and rain boots. I ask him question after question, and getting a quick answer back is usually not the case. But then I catch myself reflecting back and seeing that overtime, my questions are being answered and my trust in Him still remains.

It’s normal to question faith because it’s a confusing thing. Let’s be honest, some stories in the Bible sound completely Harry Potter mixed with Chicken Soup for the Soul. We need to trust Him enough with the big questions because we have enough trust that He will answer them.

#WorkItOut100: Week 8 Recap & Workout Suggestions

Look guys! One whole week with NO running! My heel is still on the mend so going to keep training "smart" and lay off running for a few more days. The weather this week was ideal for outside time, making my Monday workout a walk to the park to kick around the soccer ball with the girl I nanny. You can never go wrong with fresh air and sun on the skin!

We all know routine can get boring after a while and the same goes for workouts, too. I tried 2 new ones this week and I have shared my thoughts on them for you to see if they would be something you would like to try out. Both workouts are linked - click on the text to begin!  

1. Jillian Michaels 6 Week 6-Pack Abs Video

Time: 30 minutes
Targets: Abs
Lovin' It (based on a scale from 1-10): 10

Abs are what every woman wants...am I right? We want our stomachs toned, tight, and looking pretty while being paired with a swimsuit. If you are looking for 30 minutes of straight up abs with a sprinkle of overall body work, look no further! This video doesn't only target abs, but uses isolated moves, cardio spurts, and hand weights to give you an overall body workout. Another thing to rave about is that you don't have to leave your bedroom to get the sweat dripping. All you need is an open space, one hand weight, and YOU!


2. Gluteal Elliptical Workout

Time: 30 minutes
Targets: Glutes 
Lovin' It (based on a scale from 1-10): 8

This is a great workout if you are looking to switch up your Elliptical routine. If you are like me, you are already checked out after the first 10 minutes on the machine and you swear the clock is broke because you can't possibly imagine being on it any longer. This workout keeps you multitasking by changing the resistance and speed every so often which in turn makes the time go by faster. I didn't feel like I was challenged enough but once I got off to wipe my machine down, my legs were already feeling it! 

Alright friends, time to hit "Publish" and hike a new trail in this beautiful state I live in!

P.S. What do you do when your routine needs some revamping? Where do you find new workouts to try?

Friday Favorite: Music

This week's Friday Favorite is brought to you by my lovely cousin, Sarah! We have many (and I mean many) things in common...one being we are both bloggers! When reading her words, you would never think she is only a senior in high school. Her sentences are mature, thought-provoking, and every post will leave you looking closer at your world and how you are living it. Check out her spin on life at "The Roots of My Happiness"  - alright my lady, take it away!

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I love music. In fact, I have my headphones in right now! Whether I’m listening to it when I’m attempting to study, when I’m out taking a jog, or when I’m in the car with friends putting the infamous “dance like nobody’s watching” quote to the test, music keeps me going. That is why I chose it as this week’s Friday Favorite!

 I am sure you can all relate to having that one treasured song in which you play over and over again, yet never seem to grow tired of.  Certain songs have the ability to provoke certain emotions. For example, there are light and fun pop songs that typically put a smile on my face because they remind me of summer. Or, there are songs that give off a “you’ve got this!” vibe in which I enjoy listening to when working out.

Acoustic covers by Boyce Avenue or Jasmine Thompson seem to have the ability to lull me to sleep, while Turn Down For What by DJ Snake/Lil Jon, Put The Gun Down by ZZ Ward, and Timber by Pitbull do the exact opposite.

Although most lyrics of today’s top hits have absolutely no correlation to my everyday life, they never fail at causing me to get up and dance! I greatly encourage everyone to listen to music more often. If you already do, try venturing out to different genres! Always keep an open mind.

P.S. When do you most often listen to music? While at the gym? In your car? At home? 

Breakfast Blend? More Like Breakfast Blah!

I decided (on Friday night) that I was going to no longer have “Folgers in my cup” during Lenten season. I knew it would be a challenge as coffee is always…and I mean always…a part of morning routine. But the more I thought about it, the more it was clear that I didn’t necessarily feel any more awake with coffee and it always left me with a stomach ache and one big hot flash after sipping the last drop.

I’m on my third day of no coffee and I must say that I’m surviving quite well. That is, if you ignore the irritability I had the first day and the pounding headache that is still hanging around up there.

I’ve searched the internet for coffee substitutions and tea is always the first recommendation. I’m not a tea lover; I’d say more a tea liker. I have friends that are as obsessed with tea as I was with coffee, but I can’t seem to get hooked on it. It just doesn’t have that same “consistency” as coffee...more watered down than I would like.

A couple of friends have commented on my Facebook saying they have given up coffee and I would L-O-V-E to hear if you have, too! If so, what are you drinking in place of it? Are you a tea drinker? If so, what is your favorite kind? Do you add anything to your cup? 

#WorkItOut100: Week 7 Recap

With week 7 ending, plantar fasciitis is just starting. I've had this problem before, but with the help of a compression sock, it eased the pain and made running tolerable. That's not the case this go around. I can barely walk without wincing once my left heel meets the ground and the second I try to transition from walk to run, the pain shoots up from my heel to achilles tendon. Oye! Taking these next 7 days to give my running feet a rest and trying out my elliptical and bike feet. 

I am currently sitting outside in the 70* weather with the sun beating down, and the thought of not being able to run in this is killing me! But I need to be smart and not push myself or else I could end up injuring myself even more. I am headed to meet some friends at the park to play volleyball...something I haven't played in years! You never know, maybe my abs will work the most from all the laughing that is to come? 

P.S. Are you experiencing any injuries? What are you doing to still stay active all while being smart and giving your injury the care it needs?