Lisa Love

So my workout buddy, Lisa, and I are back at it! Working out with Marty just wasn't working with my schedule...I'm an early bird. Lisa and I met up again at the gym this morning and she went through my routine (Back and Arms) with HIIT between sets. We were BEAT! It was the best workout I've had in WEEKS! It felt so good to have a partner and to push each other, laugh, compete and chat.

We're meeting again this Thursday and Friday. I can't wait to get back into a groove!

Food for the Family

One thing that has been really great about this lifestyle change is that my family is just so supportive and on board with the food! I am definitely a person who LIVES to EAT so trying recipes and experimenting with food has been a lot of fun (and challenging) for me!

My daughter has been the most excited about the food; she is a lot like me when it comes to food and there really aren't many foods that she doesn't love.

I'm often asked what I feed my kids while on my "health kick" and I always feel surprised by this question. If we're eating healthy, why wouldn't we want our kids to eat healthy too, right???

The picture to the left isn't one of my MOST healthy lunches, but I think it definitely beats what most school lunches consist of; think about the hot lunch options in elementary school with their "mystery meat" and such.

Here we have, mini pita pockets, stuffed with tuna salad (made with mustard and celery and a little added spices) Mixed raw veggies with garlic hummus; water crackers with a cheese wedge and then her "treat" of gold fish. This will serve as her morning snack and her school lunch.

I'm limited because they don't allow her to heat up any food during the day. I can send a thermos, but I'll save that for the colder months. I get away with sending her great salads, sandwiches, wraps, cut up meats and cheeses, etc. We do alright with what we can work with. Of course, my pancakes always make their way into her lunches often too!

My point is, kids will eat what they are used to being fed. If we only serve our kids sodas, juices, sugars and prepacked food...that's what they will want and what they will get used to. For me, I feed my family what I eat. I want their bodies strong and healthy too!

Motivation!

You can see from my previous posts...I'm trying NEW everything. The real issue is that I'm lacking motivation. Blythe called me out today. I haven't been logging my food and exercise and I'm feeling sorry for myself. Why is this so hard? I've trained for a figure competition and did well. I changed my entire body, self image, and life perspective...why is it hard for me to get back into things now?

So no more excuses. I'm hitting it hard and I'm definitely going to work on getting my motivation back! I just need to suck it up and do it! So tomorrow, I restart! Buck up soldier!

New Partner In Crime

Marty and I have really been trying to coordinate our schedules to workout more with each other. I like working out with him because he pushes me and I was really pleased today when I was needed as a spotter for him and helped him get some hard reps at the end of his bench press. I felt like I was helping to push him too!

I've been working so hard to get a consistent workout schedule in, but with working so much this school year I'm having a hard time finding time each day (at least at the same time every day) that works. I need to get back into the mindset that this is MY time, but the mommy guilt and issues from running my own business get in the way and I find myself squeezing workouts in when I can.

For this week, I'm going to do my best to continue to workout with Marty and hopefully I'll get my hard workouts in and feel like I'm making some progress!

A New Routine

Last week I met with Blythe while she was in town. We talked about my current goals and what I would like to focus on over the next couple months. The main objective is for me to gain some muscle mass. I'm at 123lbs now, but I can tell that I've already lost some of the muscle mass that I had gained for the competition. Blythe would like for me to get to about 127, but keep my lean physique and just add muscle. She said that I'll probably look "smaller" but I'll see the scale go up.

Blythe put together some exercises for each muscle group and for my new routine, I'm to pick out two exercises per muscle group and incorporate a high intensity cardio interval between sets. The workouts should only be about 45-60 minutes long (so I've got to move FAST)! For nutrition, I'm to get 150 g of carbs 3 days a week, low to medium the other days, 150 g of protein every day and keep my fats around 50-60 g.

I'll start this new routine for tomorrow's workout! I've got to remember to push heavy weights, keep them intense and fuel my body for energy!

I'll keep you posted!

Dressed for Success!

Have you ever thought about what you wear while working out? I never did before, but then again, I was never really someone who "worked out" before last year. I remember throwing on some old sweatpants/yoga pants, a big t-shirt and grabbing whatever sweatshirt I could find if it was cold... You get the idea. I was FRUMPY and not put together; I didn't think about the quality of my clothing, how I was able to move in it and if it fit the needs of a working, sweating, straining body.

Over the last 18 months, I've learned the value of a good shoe. I wear Asics now. They support my narrow foot, provide the support and cushion I need and have outlasted other brands I've tried. I'm someone that puts a moderate amount of miles on the running shoe and I know that to protect the knees, ankles and legs, you need to invest in a good shoe. I also know that when the sole is wearing down, its time for a new shoe. It doesn't matter what brand you choose, just be sure to get a good shoe that fits YOUR needs.

As for clothing, I've learned that I like to see my body working. I want to see what muscles are used, I don't try to "hide" my body with clothing now; I want to see everything (especially the areas that need the most work!) I'm not saying I walk around in a sports bra and booty shorts, but I definitely wear tighter workout gear so I can see my muscles at work.

I also look for clothing that can "breathe". Lululemon (http://www.lululemon.com/) has great gear! I love their pants; most are reversable too, which helps add versatility to the wardrobe! There is great value in a good pant. A heavy material doesn't allow you to breathe or move. Then you have to worry about your pants shrinking or stretching and not holding their shape. I've never had the problem with Lululemon. You do have to airdry the pants, but I don't mind that, they dry quickly! Don't use fabric softener, as that can ruin the wicking effect that makes the pants so awesome!

I also love their jackets; they are great for running outside during the chilly months. They have the little thumb holes in the sleeve that keep your sleeve down during a run and protect your hands from the chill. They are thin and lightweight, but still offer great warmth, but also allow your body to sweat without getting too hot!

I get my sports bras and shirts from Target. They've got a great selection and they are pretty inexpensive. I like razorbacks and tank tops. Nothing annoys me more than a shirt that bunches in your underarm or feels like its glued to you.

Similar to your work life, you dress for success. You need to be properly dressed/prepared and equipped to do your job...same for your workouts. I'm not saying we all need to be dressed up and sportin' the latest styles, but I definitely feel better about myself and my workouts when I'm not uncomfortable and my clothing is jamming me up!

Happy Fall Ya'll! Pumpkin Pancakes!

In honor of the first day of October, I made Pumpkin Pancakes (a variation from the original Oatmeal Pancakes). OMGoodness, delicious!

2 c. Old Fashioned Oatmeal
1 c. No salt added Cottage Cheese
1 c. Unsweetened Canned Pumpkin
1 scoop Vanilla Whey Protein (I used Optimum Nutrition)
4 whole eggs
2 Tbsp. water
dash of nutmeg
dash of cinammon

Put all ingrdients in the blender, you can add more water if you need a thinner batter, pour onto griddle. Makes 12 small pancakes. 1 serving is 2 pancakes.

I haven't tried any spreads/toppings. I just eat plain; they compliment my coffee very well!

Enjoy!