WorkItOut100 Week 14 Recap

Week 14 is my last full week of this challenge as Tuesday marks day 100! I will be doing a more in-depth "review and reflection" once my journey is complete. Stay tuned! 

Friday Favorite: Yogi Organic Tea

When I made the decision to give up coffee for lent, I immediately regretted it the following morning when my head was pounding, and I was immediately on the hunt for a replacement drink - fast. After talking with friends, it was almost unanimous that I turn to tea.

Now, I've had tea prior to this but never loved it which made going coffee-free for 40 days even more of a challenge. Going to coffee shops wasn't as enticing when I knew I had to tell the barista I wanted tea. Does anyone else feel like that's a sin? That's like ordering a salad at McDonald's.

I headed to the grocery store to stock up and was overwhelmed like whoa. Have you guys noticed how many different kinds there are? Bedtime Tea. Slimming Tea. Calming Tea. Detox Tea. Cold Season Tea. Immune Tea. So there I stood in the aisle, searching for Tea That Tastes Like Coffee Tea.

I left with Caramel Apple Spice Slim Life Yogi Organic Tea.

It took me a couple days to get acquainted with the taste. Not that it was bad but it didn't have the same consistency as coffee. After a week or so, I was hooked and the nightmares of not being able to have my usual cup of joe subsided.

Another thing I love about Yogi Organic Tea? Each tea bag has a quote and being a girl who lives on quotes, I may or may not rip them off the bag when finished and store them in a Ziploc bag for a future craft project.

P.S. What is your favorite tea? 

He Was There

After receiving some less than stellar news on Friday, I was thankful that my weekend was going to be busy and able to push my emotions to the back burner. It seems, though, that whenever one thing goes poorly it stews up every little worry in my head and makes them seem like earth-shattering events.

One positive thing about being down is that you always can count on your friends to pick you back up. Let’s take a look at how my weekend played out and how a friend wasn't the only person that played a role in it.

Friday

1.     I was a hot mess after work but had to keep it together until after my lab appointment where I had to get my Potassium level tested. The nurse came in and looked more like a high school student covered with tattoos than a medical professional. She didn’t say one word to me as she tied up my arm, took my blood, and wrapped it with a band-aid. I felt awkward and uncomfortable and thought more than once that she could potentially beat me up if we “took it outside”. As she finished, she gave me the biggest smile and told me to have a great weekend and a blessed Easter. At that moment, I heard God.

2.     I threw on my running gear and set out for my long run for the week. After that “less than stellar news” I got earlier, I couldn’t wait to run hard, run far, and run long. The sun was beaming and the temp was warm, making it a challenge to stay cool but hey, my winter skin needed some color so couldn’t complain too much. After the 2^nd mile I thought there was no way in heck I was going to run 8 more and when I returned back to my front door and looked at my phone saying I had ran 10.5 miles, I felt like a new person. It’s mind-blowing that a week ago I could barely walk on my foot and now I’m running pain-free. Maybe it’s a stretch or maybe I’m dead on, but God knew I was going to need running and for that, He healed me.

3.     I met my friend Michelle for dinner at our favorite Denver restaurant. We talked in between bites of pizza and sips of wine. As we debriefed about the crummy couple days we had both had, I left feeling more “me” again and reminded how time with close friends is a guaranteed mood changer…for the better. That, right there, is when I felt God.

Saturday

1.     Michelle and I arrived at a church minutes from downtown Denver around 9:30. We were volunteering with a group from our church and taking part in Extreme Community Makeover. Our project for the day was to clean alleys in a nearby neighborhood. There are really no other words to describe these alleys other than dirty, filthy, disgusting, and heartbreaking. The amount of garbage that was tangled up in weeds and overflowing from the dumpsters was jaw dropping and eye opening; I felt like I had been plucked from Colorado and dropped in Mexico. When the sweat was dripping from my brow and my arms were growing tired of digging and raking, I lifted my head to see a gentleman whose backyard we were cleaning up approach our group with a handful of water bottles. Through his actions and his way of giving thanks, I knew God was there.

2.     As a “thank you” for volunteering we were given tickets to the Rockies game. Michelle and I met some girls for drinks before heading to the stadium. The weather was cool and rainy but the company was refreshing and perfect. As I sat and looked at the mountains in the background and laughed with the people around me whom I had just met that day, I was reminded that I’m exactly where I need to be and I have God to thank for leading me here. 

Sunday

1. COFFEE HAS RISEN! IT HAS RISEN INDEED! First stop: Starbucks. With a Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte in hand, dress on my body and heels on my feet, it was off to church we went! We arrived early to save seats for everyone and with that extra time we decided to fill up on more coffee (I wish I was kidding). As soon as the music started, I knew I wasn’t going to leave that building with a dry eye. The week had been full of personal “tests” and the service itself was sacred, important, and overwhelmingly special in the heart of any Christian. After the teaching I bowed my head, spilling my thoughts through prayer and accompanying it with tears. I felt a touch on my shoulder as my roommate, Anna, leaned in for a hug. More tears. Then from the other side, another hug from my roommate, Taylor. More tears. God was there in those moments, in those hugs, in every part of my weekend.

WorkItOut 100 Week 13 Recap

It's mind boggling to think that my challenge is almost over and I'm curious to see what my workouts will be after I reach 100 days. My foot caused me little to no pain this week and on Friday I was able to crank out the longest run in this round of training. This makes me even more excited to go home (if seeing my family and friends wasn't enough) and complete my fifth half marathon! 

Worth the Click

It seems like every time I check my Facebook, videos gone viral and pictures worth laughing at are becoming a constant staple on my newsfeed. Some aren't worth my time while others seem to grab attention, suck me in, and with one click of my mouse I am suddenly watching a cat who can do yoga. 

I came across the Easter Version of "Hallelujah" this morning and began watching, listening, and being reminded how important this weekend is...for all of us. 

Work It Out 100 - Week 12 Recap & Workout

After the disappointing foot issue last week, I wasn't sure how week 12 would pan out. I took it easy the first couple days as my ankle was still bugging me. Every night I would ice it and take Advil to get the inflammation down and would wake up with no pain or swelling. As the days went on, though, I noticed it would begin to swell and sitting down while working was much more pleasurable than being on my feet. 

Things took a turn for the better on Thursday and I was literally pain and swelling free...ALL DAY! The temps were in the 80's on Friday and so I set out for a run to see how my foot would handle it. I don't know whether God answered my prayers or the icing and Advil was what I needed, but at the end of my run I was on cloud 9! 

On Saturday I tried a new interval workout on the elliptical and added it to my list of favorites!

1. 50 Minute Interval elliptical Workout

Friday Favorite: Late Night Snack

If you're like me, you need want a snack after dinner. I know it's not the "healthiest" time of day to fuel your body as going to bed follows soon after your last bite, but hey, sometimes we don't always do what's best for us! 

My favorite snack is the concoction pictured above (thank you, iPhone).

Mix together:

Plain Greek Yogurt

Cinnamon 

PB2 

Sliced Banana

Place in freezer for about 45 min. or until frozen. Take out and enjoy!

P.S. What is your favorite late night snack?

WorkItOut100: Week 11 Recap

Confession: I lied to you last week. I said that I was going to strictly follow my training schedule - injury or not - yet this week I ran once. My foot not only hurts when I run but the simple act of walking isn't pain free, either. I'm still unsure what is wrong with it but hoping a little more rest is what it needs. 

My mom is in town for the tail end of my Spring Break and we just returned from a weekend in Breckenridge. Our hotel had quite the fitness center which we both took advantage of. Always nice when you can go on vacation and find a way to burn off those "happy hour" calories! When we returned to Denver this afternoon and were welcomed with 60* and sun, we took a walk around the park to close out our amazing weekend! 

Friday Favorite: Avocados

I was fed a pretty "plain Jane" diet growing up. Meat and potatoes, spaghetti, turkey sandwiches and cheese pizza were on my plate and on repeat. This in no way is a bash at my parents as I had a home cooked meal while sitting at the dinner table every single night, no matter if the entire family was home or if it was just my mom and I.

There are a handful of dishes and foods that I have tried since moving out of my parents house and I will never forget the first time I bought Quinoa – I felt like a wannabe hipster who had no clue how to cook or pronounce the stuff. Fast forward to present day and I now know how to prepare it and say the superfood correctly.

Speaking of mispronunciation, would you believe me if I told you I thought the g in guacamole was silent, making it “walk-amole”? Well you should because it’s true (and embarrassing). Side note: I swear I wasn’t sheltered as a child if that’s where your fingers are pointing.

My most recent food discovery that I don’t know how I lived without is avocados. If I ordered a salad at a restaurant, I would “hold the avocados” because I feared that I would take one bite only to spit it out. It was one of those things that I had never tried but swore I wouldn’t like. Boy was I wrong.

I slice up an avocado and add atop my egg whites for breakfast and add chunks to my salads for lunch and/or dinner. Mm, mm, AMAZING.

P.S. What is one food you tried and loved that you didn't grow up eating? 

I Want to Remember

It’s one of those type and backspace kinds of days. The emotions I’m feeling and the way I want to portray them to you are not lining up like one would like. I want to talk about blossoming friendships and my recent obsession for avocados, how I love Red Rocks Tea at the local coffee shop and why reading a book before bed is a million times better than sitting in front of the TV or my iPhone.

When I begin typing yet the only thing coming out is words that make no sense, I want to remember that. I want to be reminded that, like trying to form an intelligent sentence, we are never going to have a handful of days in a row where point A and point B connect.

There will be cloudy days to remind us to play in the sunny ones. Our car will break down to remind us that we are fortunate enough to have one. A friend will buy us a drink to remind us to celebrate the important moments, big or small. The neighbor next door will complain about the leaves in our yard to remind us that we have a roof over our head.

There will be writer's block and frustration to remind me that writing is never easy, never a given, and never limiting in terms of growth and topics and viewpoints. 

P.S. What are you remembering today?