TTT...Get moving!

It's Thursday!!!  Yahoooo!  Almost to the end of the week!  These past few weeks I have been doing State standardized testing on my students so the days are full of filling in bubbles and reading directions...sounds like a blast doesn't it!?  Probably because of this my mind is on moving...since I have to stand and watch my students take tests all day!  Enjoy!!

Stop Stroke Shuffle 5K...Fellow ZOOMA Ambassador and just amazing runner (she just completed the Dopey Challenge....amazing) Dani is hosting a virtual 5K in February.  She ran the Boston Marathon last year with Tedy's Team raising money for the American Stroke Association and she is back at it again this year!!  $25 gets you an adorable finisher medal and gets Dani one step closer to her $5000 goal!  I know I'm going to be lacing up my Sauconys and grabbing myself one of these babies!

Click on the medal to head on over!!

Burpee Challenge...I saw this challenge and right away thought of my Thursday night KB buddies...you know since we love a good challenge that threatens to make us throw up!

courtesy of She Rocks Fitness

In all seriousness a burpee is a great exercise to get the heart pumping!  Since winning the latest Under Armour gear gets my heart doing the same I'm in!  Are you?

#CoreCommit...If you follow me on Instagram...and if not then what is the issue...you have seen the last few days pictures of me doing core exercises. 

I joined Ericka from The Sweet Life with Ericka and her Core Power Challenge. 

After having two C-Sections it is safe to say that my core muscles need some attention.  Not only were they stretched to the max twice but then they were cut...three times (surgery prior to children).  Now while my scars are probably going to keep me from becoming the next Giselle (among other things...like height), I know that core muscles are going to help me with just looks.  After long runs I can feel my lower back getting sore.  I'm liking the challenge and getting into the habit of doing core work each day!  Are you part of the challenge?

******DON'T FORGET!!!!!*******

 My Fit February Challenge with Dietbet is starting on February 1st...yes Saturday!!  Don't miss out!  Sign up now!!!

Reflections on Reset

For 21 days I have been part of Laura's awesome January Reset Detox Challenge. 

This could not have come at a better time for me as I was done with feeling bloated from my holiday disgresions and ready to be focused and kick 2014 in the you know what!  With Laura's support and weekly meal plans/shopping lists, I was able to not only able to focus my eating but also learn so much about the things that make it run the way it should. 

Thoughts on the detox

Like I said I have learned some really great things while on this detox about my body and what types of food keeps it running well.  Here are just a few lessons learned.

• Sugar is not my friend...at least if I want to ever get rid of this belly fat!  I laugh because as a teenager I can remember surviving off of Mike and Ikes and Swedish Fish because they had no fat.  If I only knew then...or if I only had my metabolism from then now!
• Gluten is right up there with sugar....getting away from the sugar and gluten I was able to get rid of the bloating and sluggish feeling I was having.  I felt lighter and had more energy.  I had pizza a few days ago while out to dinner and I was burping it up and feel so sluggish the next day!!
• I could be a pescatarian...seriously I not only loved eating only fish (week1) but I felt so much lighter doing that.  I didn't miss any other meats at all but it was harder to plan since my hubby is certainly a carnivore!  
• I have to make a decision daily if I want to eat what I'm craving or eat what is going to make me feel good.  I know that eventually what makes me feel good will become what I am craving (at least I hope so!)
• Food is fuel...not a punishment or reward...Laura helped us to see that these changes weren't because we were punishing ourselves but because we wanted to fuel it the right way!

Favorite meals

Although I didn't try all the foods that I wanted to (I have some in the memory bank that I am ready to try) there were a few of my go-to meals that I loved in a pinch!

fritata with spinach, peppers, onions, and mushrooms

Tuna Avocado salad courtesy of Laura

My always favorite green monster smoothie

Scrambled eggs with spinach and mushrooms

grilled salmon with lemon juice over lettuce (forgot to picture the banana peppers...i die!)

Going forward

Like I have said several times in this post, I learned so much about how my body feels while certain foods in it and how it feels without those foods.  Even though I of course want to fuel myself with the best foods, I know that I am not perfect.  My goal going forward is to continue to be mindful of what foods I am eating and fill my cabinets and fridge with those foods that make me feel great!  Once I plan and prep my week, it is very easy to stay on track so this is a goal as well.  It was an awesome experience and I am thankful that I was able to do it!!

Let's Talk Training Week 3

As I mentioned in yesterday's post it is chilly here...I say chilly because after watching the weather this morning for the nation, it is like the tropics here compared to the craziness that is going on in the mid-west!!  I'm so sorry for you people out there!!!  Do you need me to send fleece?  Seriously that is just silly cold!

I'm on my third week of training for the New Bedford Half Marathon and I think that this week I finally feel like I'm reaching the place mentally where I need to be.  I was talking with Jill on our run on Saturday about the mental strength that it takes to run.  With training plans and miles to run, you need to mentally be prepared for a long stretch of putting one foot in front of the other.  I think that is why I get so excited about Kettlebells or cross-training because it is a different mental focus.  Not only do my legs need a break but my mind does too!!  Here is how this past week shook out!

Monday...3 miles...I did this on the treadmill plus another mile
Tuesday...X-train...Early morning kettlebells and 4 miles down!
Wednesday...6 mile tempo run...I got to 5.3 before raging heart burn sent me packing!  I did this as a ladder workout...loved it (minus the burping fire part...sorry for the TMI!)
Thursday...Rest...KBs and the bike...I upped my weights this week and boy oh boy it hurt so good!!
Friday...fun workout...Yeah my "fun" workout ended up being me sitting in Boston traffic (Can I say how much I DO NOT miss this traffic...give me back ups on bridges!) as I put on my professor hat this weekend!  I exercised my restraint muscle as I did not want to scream!
Saturday...10 miles...A very windy 7.3 miles with my BRF Jill!!  On my way to Boston I knew I was staying with Jill and that she is training for the London Marathon.  I also knew that she was just as crazy as me and that I missed running with her BADLY!  A run was a must...even in the crazy wind!

Sunday... Rest...Yes I embraced this today (kind of) as I got to snuggle extra with these ladies...

Looks like Em is the only one that can look AT the camera!

and have a breakfast out with the whole fam!  One thing about the Cape...we enjoy going out to breakfast much more in the winter when you aren't waiting 2 hours for a table!!

How was your week last week?  Do you find the mental part of workouts sometimes more strenuous than the actual physical part?

Monday Motivation

Lately around these parts it has been colder than Alaska....let me let that sink in...my seaside town in MASSACHUSETTS is colder than friggin ALASKA!  No offense meant to people in Alaska but you pretty much know what you're signing up for if you live there...dark, cold winters and moose!  I feel like this kind of weather separates running...those who head indoors until the Groundhog gives his OK and those who bundle up like Nanook of the North and hit the road.  I'm the second.  This past weekend I was up teaching just outside Boston and was able to join my BRF Jill in our crazy running quests...Jill is training for the London Marathon.  It was stupid cold...like my eyes water and freeze cold...with wind to add a little flavor to the morning!  By myself this would have been horrid but with Jill and I running step in step it was an hour and half of catching up on life and laughing!  It had me thinking....about those who wait...about waiting for the perfect conditions to start something...the perfect time...the perfect temp.  One thing running has taught me is that you can't wait!  You never know what Mother Nature is going to gift you on that day so you need to have experience running in anything!  This quote is so true with so much of my life.  If I wait for it all to line up perfectly...I would still be waiting!!!

What have you been waiting to do until the stars aline perfectly?  

GO DO IT!!!

I couldn't resist!!

Fitness Friday...Fit February Challenge with Dietbet

Ok all...time to put your money where your mouth is!  Some of you have made goals this year that include weight loss.  Some of you like competitions...I mean really who doesn't?  Well let me give you a chance to combine the two and keep your resolution going strong as the winter temps dip down!  I'm hosting my very first DietBet!

That's right!!!  Get out your best Vegas betting hat out and join in!!  It's simple to join in on the fun.
Here's how it works...
Head on over and join the game...Lose 4% of your weight in 28 days...hit payder...I mean split the pot!  You heard that right!  Get PAID to lose weight!  Yes please!  Don't forget to spread the word!!  Tell all your friends, family, the person in front of you at the store...the more people that join the bigger the pot grows which means more money in YOUR pocket!!!

Oh and did I forget to mention...I'll be with you the whole way!  You get daily challenges and motivation from none other than this Lil Fancy Nancy herself!!   Need more motivation to get you to head on over and join in?  I know this little fact will be staring me in the face as I pull on another wool sweater!!

TTT...Why I Need Wine

So for today's three things I'm going a bit off the random path and more onto the PLEASE I'm on my knees PLEASE path!  ZOOMA Women's Race Series which you all know is near and dear to me is having a contest to send one blogger (that would be me) and one reader (that would be you) to NAPA to run in their inagural Napa Valley ZOOMA Half Marathon.
This may sound familiar because I was just talking about ZOOMA a few weeks ago and telling you all to head on over if you are blessed enough to live in Napa to enter to be an ambassador....well now I want to join you and here are three reasons why you should click that pretty button, head over to Facebook and vote for ME!!!

Snow Days...

I'm a teacher...I have two small little ladies...snow days are well...quite different from when they were before!!!  Before kids I would do the happy dance for snow days knowing I could kick my feet up and catch up on chick flicks all day.  After kids I am like a vacation director for people with the shortest attention span EVER!  Not to mention that we no longer get little snow storms...we get snow DUMPED on us and sub zero temps......I NEED WINE!!!

 California...

 

California is the place I think I was meant to be.  Don't get me wrong I love living on Cape Cod but just the thought of a place where I can go to the beach all year round sounds like it has Fancy Nancy written all over it!!  I visited family there once when I was young and it was great but this time around I'm an adult....and I NEED WINE!!!

Teenagers...I work with teenagers for 50% of my day.  If you've never encountered a teenager let me please illustrate it for you.  Imagine a person with the body of an adult but the maturity level of someone much smaller...perhaps a toddler trapped in an adult's body at times.  Add in hormones...you know those things that keep you thinking about all things about the opposite sex and NO things about you know...homework, passing school, or paying attention.  To add flair imagine that this giant toddler knows everything...done everything...is perfect at everything so no need to try to steer them in the right direction!  Getting the picture....I NEED WINE!!!

All joking aside I would love it if you could head on over and cast your vote for your favorite Lil Fancy Nancy and maybe you'll be picking grapes and running 13.1 with me....oh yeah and the wine!!!

Learning to Dance

This post has really been circling in my head for many weeks now...thinking about the many times lately I have flopped into the couch opposite my husband after another long day and cried thinking about all the things I didn't get done...all the times I barked at the girls...all the times I fell short of my expectations.  Then yesterday I read this post from the blog Raising Humans.  Her words went straight to my heart...and made me think, truly think about what I had envisioned this time in life to be like...and how I wanted the future to look.

When I dreamed about being a mom I dreamed about those Hallmark moments when mom and daughters were baking cookies and laughing.  I dreamed of days at the beach when we hadn't a care in the world and we were laughing and jumping in the waves.  I dreamed of days making snowmen and going sledding.  I dreamed of days being creative and doing crafts together.  In my dreams I was (of course) a svelte mom who held in her hands the perfect balance of exercising and crafting in a perfectly cleaned and happy home!  These days my dreams seem to slip farther and farther away as I add more and more balls to juggle each day.  I am realizing however that this is life....this IS the dream.  REAL life is what happens when the director calls out CUT!  My job...the road...social media...email....messy dishes and dirty laundry will always be there!  The choice is to find happiness in that....to put down the phone....look away from the mess and show my girls how to dance.

THIS is where the happiness is!!  Planting those seeds that THEY ARE ENOUGH to make me happy!  Life is busy...messy...crazy at times but those times that I dreamed about are there.  These days our house is noisy and there are very few car rides where there isn't a constant monologue coming from the back seat, but I know there will be a day when the silence will be there and I will miss the sound.  NOW is the time I need to learn to dance...kick up my heels and show my girls that life is GOOD and THEY are what's important!!

Let's Talk Training Week 2

I have to say that I flip flopped a lot last night and this morning in preparation for writing this post.  In my mind I didn't want to write it but in my heart I knew I had to.  A fellow mother runner and former swimming lesson buddy commented on my Instagram last week thanking me for my honesty.  So thank YOU Kathy!  I need to be real and honest with my successes and struggles and so here's a recap of my not so perfect week!
Monday:  3 miles:  3.3 miles on the mill...learning to embrace the mill!!
Tuesday:  cross-train:  4.2 miles and a killer KB workout
Wednesday:  rest:  3.5 miles of birthday speed work (with an odd jump off the mill and throw up moment thrown in!)
Thursday:  Speed work:  Late night at the gym!  Awesome kettlebell workout with birthday burpees to end it!  Then I jumped on the mill for 7.7 miles of speed!  I felt perfectly drained after!
Friday:  3 miles: Rested...took the ladies to the park to play with friends on an rare mild day!
Saturday: 12 miles: Got in a 3.5 mile run/walk with my sister and for #MegsMiles! 

Yes that's right...9 miles short but it was worth every mile to be able to catch up with my big sis while it rained!
Sunday: Rest: Swung the kettlebells with the ladies and my sister after a far too fun night out doing this:

Looking at this all written up it wasn't as bad of a week as I had thought.  For me falling short on my long run mileage plays with my mind a lot.  It chips at my confidence!  This weekend I am getting it in!  Some miles with my BRF and some longer miles are things to look forward to!! 

Monday Motivation

I apologize for the delay in this morning's motivation...still licking our wounds here in New England after a hard loss yesterday.  Clearly wasn't feeling very inspired last night!!

I saw this quote and thought it was perfect!  Consistency is part of every day life...why wouldn't it apply to my workouts and diet?  In order to get my girls to behave and sleep through the night, I need to be consistent in my expectations and consequences.  In order for my class to run smoothly, I need to be consistent with each and every student.  PRs don't happen just because you decide you want one and muscles don't just appear simply because you write it on your blog.  You need to get out there and put in the work...make the hard choices...stick with the plan...CONSISTENTLY!! 

What do you do consistently?

TTT

Here's you dose of randomness for the week!!  I have far more than three things but I'll spare you all!!

Honoring a fellow mother runner...I was saddened when I heard the news about fellow mother runner Meg Menzies who was killed Monday by a drunk driver while out on a morning run en route to the Boston Marathon. 

She was a wife and mom of three...my heart hurts just thinking of those little kids living without their mom.  I could rant about how much it angers me that yet one more innoscent person is killed because someone can't be responsible enough and NOT get behind the wheel of a car after drinking.  I'm instead going to do what Meg loved and use my miles.  There has been a facebook page estabolished and on Saturday runners nationwide are going to lace up their sneakers and run #MegsMiles. I thought it was beautifully put one the Facebook page:

This Saturday, January 18, 2014, no matter what your distance, no matter where you live, run for Meg. Take in the fresh air, be aware of your surroundings, keep your headphones on low, feel the heaviness in your lungs, the soreness in your legs, and be grateful for it--for all of it. The sweat, the pain, the wind, the cold…everything. Be grateful for that moment.

Mom birthdays...Yesterday was my birthday.  Birthdays as a mom are different....they are awesome and then sucky all at the same time.  Awesome because Em was so excited about it! 

She made me a crown full of shiny jewels and proclaimed that she was going to give me hugs all day long....then the day started.  I hit black ice on my way to school and got pelted by a sanding truck chipping my windshield.  My students...well they're teenagers...and we ended the day with both girls screaming in the back of the car, over-tired from a day that started far too early (my fault for running below their bedrooms).  It will be fun on Saturday when hubby and I go out and can complete a sentence and perhaps a whole thought without getting interrupted but it had me thinking back to birthdays before children....when I relaxed and pampered myself for one day.  That will come back...but then I'll miss our kids! :-)

Burpees...Tonight I have my date with a few friends for kettlebells.  It's our weekly workout/butt kicking and I have come to look forward to it.  Last week it was someone's birthday and we did burpees to match her age....and I'm grateful today that I am younger and won't have to do as many today!!!  As we were doing them I noticed the different versions of a burpee and hubby and I were even discussing while watching the Biggest Loser the real version of a burpee.  I was taught that when you did a burpee you went chest to the ground like so...

I have also seen people do it like this...

What type of burpee do you do??

Let's Talk Training Week 1

One thing that I am going to try to do this year is to document my training better as I gun for my goal for a sub 1:50 half marathon.  This past week was a clash of the titans as I started my training for my first half of 2014....

4th year in a row!!!

and started the January Reset with Laura!

Let's talk first about how my first week in the reset went.  This past week we were focusing on detoxing our bodies and so sugar, wheat, meat, and dairy were out.  I have to say that I didn't realize how much my body and mind needed this week!  The first 3 days I didn't eat much (compared to what I had been eating) and I didn't even find myself super hungry!  The rest of the week, I began to eat more but it felt awesome to not only be back in control of my eating but also not to feel so bloated anymore!  I have found ways to feed my sweet tooth a little better (I'm currently obsessed with a mix of walnuts and blueberries....random!) and to be more conscious of what I am eating and why.  I know my trigger times (after school...the afternoon munchie monster emerges) and are starting to find ways to get through that (playing in the basement FAR away from the food!).  All in all it was a great week!!  This week and the next few weeks of the challenge, I want to start to be confident in my food choices and not cave to my environment.  So often I don't want to draw attention to what I'm eating or put people out when I'm in social situations.  These next few weeks I'm going to work on being prepared and sticking to what makes me feel good!

Now...

I have to say that as the week went on and my fatigue level rose, it was harder and harder to run.  However, my kettlebell workouts went really well.  This week I'm going to focus on getting those runs in and not making excuses!!!  I'm sure Kara Goucher is tired....but she still gets her tiny hiney out of bed and kicks ass!
Monday: 3 miles (with 2 miles tempo): Late night basement run...tired to start but awesome at the end!
Tuesday: 4 mile bike and kettlebells: I'm loving the kettlebells!!  The workout is only 25 minutes but it kicks butt!
Wednesday: 5 miles: Yep...I was tired...and cranky...hubby worked late...so...I bailed
Thursday:  6 mile bike and kettlebells: Did the bells with the ladies at night...love it!
Friday: cross train: Tried to make up for Wednesday's flop...ran 3 on the mill at night
Saturday: 10 mile long run: 8 mile sucktastic run!  Everything hurt from step one!!  I came home and immediately said I need a massage!
Sunday: Rest: It was so nice outside after our arctic vortex so we took the girls for a nice walk around the neighborhood.  When we got home, Em wanted to keep going so I tallied up 2 miles!  Plus both girls too a nap....score!!!

I'm determined this week to hit my goals!!!  I know I just need to get in the zone and get it done!!  No excuses!!!

What do you do when your motivation is low to get you out the door?  Anyone had massages that helped with running?

Monday Motivation...Vision Board

Motivation is like starting a new relationship.  At first it is very easy to love the task ahead of you and be pumped to do what it takes...much like when I first met my husband I didn't think twice about staying up for hours just talking and getting to know each other.  As the weeks go by and your body is hurting from pushing it each day and you're tired, your motivation begins to waver....to get cloudy much like now my husband and I weigh the benefits of sleep higher than most things!  You have to work at staying motivated just like you have to work at relationships...if you expect to ride the motivation high the whole journey, you will be ill prepared...feed your motivation!!

As promised I present to you my motivation/vision board. 

It is right next to my treadmill so that I can look at it when I want to jump off!!

Keeping my mind on 13.1...and strength

As small as the pic is...I just have to have a pic of my most motivating runner Kara Goucher

Oh yes this is happening in 2014...Ragnar Cape Cod

My favorite slogan...Saucony does it right!  "Find Your Strong"

Fitness Friday...Keeping Motivation Handy

Here we are now into the second week of January.  We've set our goals and are on our way!!  For me I sometimes have a hard time keeping my eyes on the prize.  For whatever reasons this year I will be honest and admit that I am having a hard time getting myself going with my running goals.  I have been doing well with my kettlebell workouts 3 times a week (on my quest to Sarah Jessica Parker arms!) but I'm having a hard time motivating myself to descend into the basement and get on the mill!  I've been procrastinating in the mornings and end up having to do my runs at 8pm...which is not fun in the least!  I want to be hanging out with my hubby then, not sweating it out in the basement!  The other day I saw this quote from MilePost app:

It got me thinking about doing a few things around the house to keep motivation handy...to have kind reminders of the benefits of running and getting in my workouts before the sun comes up not after it goes down!!  Jill at Fitness, Health and Happiness has written a lot about motivation boards.  I even blogged about it last year and actually have all the things to put one together!  I need visuals around the house right now (I'm sure my hubby will be psyched with the new home decor) to remind me of my goals and where I want to go!  Here are some examples I found....

via powerbeautyfitness.com

via myfitstation.com

via Jill Conyers

Basically I need to go old school like I did in middle school...break out my rubber cement and get cutting and gluing!!!  Keeping motivation handy I know will help to get me in the right direction....toward the treadmill and away from the warm, comfy couch!!  I'm keeping myself in check for this and promise that on Monday part of my post will be at least one vision/motivation board!!!  You all better keep me accountable!!

Have you ever made a vision/motivation board?  What types of images/words would you put on yours today?
 

MAJOR announcement here!!!....Many of you know that I’m a Fitfluential Ambassador. I have had so many amazing opportunities through Fitfluential. I'm writing this to let you know that ANYONE can join Fitfluential!!! No fees. No requirements...you don't even need to be a blogger!! Learn more about what FitFluential is here.  Join in on access to an awesome fitness community and great perks like exclusive discounts, giveaways, amazing fitness tips and access to special fitness events in your area.  Head on over an join in!!!...and pretty please mention that I sent you pretty please!!! 

WIAW...Detox Style

I am 3 days into the Winter Detox with Laura and I have to say that I am feeling great!  Now please note that yes I still come home from school and want to eat my way through the cabinets...and yes I find myself reaching for my kids snacks absentmindedly....and sugar is on my mind after dinner...but the difference is I am stopping myself and I've survived!!

I honestly feeling empowered now that I have control over my eating.  I do realize that I have only been in this rodeo for 3 days and am probably in a honeymoon stage, but after the holidays I needed this...to regain control...to let my body recover!  One of the things that is awesome is that I am not hungry!!  Laura gave us a lot of recipes, a sample menu, and a shopping list to start us off...I've followed it pretty closely and I honestly am full most of the day!  Here I thought I would be ready to eat my fist!!  I wanted to share with you for WIAW what my last few days have been like with foods!

Breakfast

Eggs, mushrooms, and spinach

Snack

Lunch

Laura's awesome tuna avocado salad over greens with banana peppers

Dinner

Fritata with spinach, peppers, onions, and mushrooms

I know I had a lot of eggs today but it is just the way it worked out...I needed something fast and quick to make for dinner! 

I'm linking up with Peas and Crayons for WIAW!