Today We're Getting Real Honest about Fitness & Weight {Real Talk}

How many times have y'all seen a headline like the one above? How many times have you written one yourself? I took a cursory look through my blog [using the Weight tagline] and I personally have around 20 or so posts dealing with my body image and fitness level. Some are recounting HIGHS [Whole30, the Spartan and BODYPUMP] while other posts detail how unhappy I feel in my skin and how much I wish I could change my body.

Honest truth and reason for this post… I'm the heaviest I've EVER been in my life and right now I am trying to figure out how to shed the extra 9 pounds I picked up while gallivanting through Europe and moving to a new state. My discipline was nothing while in Europe [more on that later] and I also struggled with eating healthy while at my parent's home and even here in Tennessee. I'm not happy for multiple reasons; my clothes don't' fit right, I'm out of shape, it's bathing suit season at the lake and I just feel blah.

I know what I need to do to get back to where I was before I left. I, like many people, just wish it was a bit easier. Le Husband and I ate our way through Europe and I can honestly say I only regret four meals/snacks over the entire trip. I drank two Cokes I really didn't need [nor did I enjoy], the pomme frites in Paris/Versailles were a lil over the top and a nutella breakfast muffin was a complete disappointment while in the Milan trains station. Other than those few blahs, everything else we ate was delicious and PART of our journey. We ate and drank what we wanted because we knew food was such an important part of the cultural experience. A bazillion delicious croissants while in France, lots of pasta and pizza in Italy and of course, all the gelato EVERYWHERE. Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset about the delicious food I indulged in, I wouldn't change anything about our trip. We worked out when we could [thank you TRX and cruise gym] and we walked close to 200 miles seeing all the sights. It is what is and I'm okay with they why, just not the what.

Originally I anticipating a quick jump back into healthy eating when we finally made it home. However, our first two nights home were spent eating out with dear friends and the food at each place was amazingly delicious, just not healthy in the least. Le Husband left to visit his family a few days after we arrived home so I figured 'hey, I can just do meals for one, no big deal'.  But then all the texts and calls came pouring in and suddenly I was eating out four days a week for dinner, plus buying meals for lunch because I hadn't been to the store to buy my normal healthy meals. And then of COURSE there was all the celebratory cake and drinks at work.

Home life was not any easier, mostly because I let myself get lazy and just ate what my parent's ate. Not that they eat poorly or unhealthy, they just eat differently than I do now and I know what works for my body and I failed to prep or plan. The same situation has happened down here in Tennessee. Le Husband and I are trying to mold into my aunt and uncle's routine but it's not quite ours so things food wise are still off. We've had delicious cookout meals, fish tacos, and fajitas but all of the meals have been accompanied by a glass of wine, margaritas or extra food stuff we normally never have in the house. I mean how do you say no to homemade peach cobbler after you helped slice the peaches?

But today marks the spark of change. Today I'm documenting my next fitness journey. I've taken measurements, stood on the scale [barf] and began planning my attack. It is not going to be easy, it is not going to be fun and it is not something I'm honestly looking forward to doing. I will start saying no to things I know won't help me reach my goal and start revamping my workout routine. Now that I'm teaching BODYPUMP twice a week [give or take] I need to invest in my strength training so I can lead by example. My first class back from the trip was a huge wake up call and now that I have the tools at my disposal it's time to start taking action.

My new routine will consist of running, strength training, swimming [in a pool or the lake] and of course a lil bit of water skiing, too. If I get my act together I'll document my work outs to share [if that's of any interest to anyone] or just to have for myself. I'm also currently studying for my AFAA license so I think tracking food and workouts will be helpful if I ever want to take the next step in training.

Props to you if you've made it through the whole post, I know it was quite wordy and honestly it a was mostly for me to put out in this public forum for accountability. Hopefully by the fourth of July I'll have some results to share and I'll be feeling better about myself.

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Smile, it's almost Friday. Have a wonderful day, friends! < 3

Let's Talk Fitness {Ten on Tuesday}

No surprise here, right? While I'm technically a 'lifestyle' blogger [whatever that means], I've always had a great interest in working out and fitness. Growing up my parents kept us constantly active in sports [soccer, gymnastics, tennis, swimming, diving, track and running] and I was fortunate enough to compete at the college level in soccer for four wonderful years. After college I continued to lift weights as a hobby while growing my knowledge of the current fitness trends and just last summer became a certified BODYPUMP instructor. Throughout the blog years I've shared some of my favorite fitness workouts, eating plans and am hoping to get my AFA and NASM certifications this coming year so I can share even more knowledge with y'all. Today I thought I'd share ten of my fitness tips while joining Karli for her Ten on Tuesday.

1|| Lifting weights will help you lose weight more so than just cardio. Gone are the days of running for 30 minutes and seeing results. You need to mix in weights to tone that body up, only cardio won't cut it.  Despite what most women think, you won't bulk up by lifting weights, TRUST ME! I've lifted since high school and only in the last TWO YEARS did I start bulking and that was by design. Pick up those 10-15 pound weights and start incorporating lifting into your workout plan.

2|| If you don't know where to start ask a professional or ask questions of your fitness friends. Everyone started at the beginning at one time or another and we [fitness instructors] are all here to help each other. If you choose to go the personal trainer route, make sure they carry the correct certifications so you know you'll be getting the best bang for your buck and won't get injured.

3|| Fitness can be and should be fun. If you hate running, take Zumba for cardio. If lifting sounds like torture pick up a resistance band or take a group fitness class if you are part of a gym. I have yet to try barre, due to the cost and not wanting two gym memberships, but I have so many friends that swear barre classes are a great workout and fun.There are so many unique fitness routines out there and the options are endless so do your research and pick your workout poison.

4|| There are TONS of free classes online and there ain't no shame in getting your sweat on at home. I've used Jillian Michaels, Billy Blanks, Yogadownloaddotcom, TurboFire and I'm very interested in Les Mills On Demand. All you need for a good workout at home is your computer/tablet/phone or dvd program, a wifi connection and a good attitude. When you think about it, what could be simpler to get your sweat on?

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5|| Change creates change. You can't keep doing the same thing and expect your body to continue to change. Our bodies are smart and they adapt to stress so it is important to try new exercises if you want to see constant results. I just added the TKO 4 - Way resistance band to my workout regimen and it is a FANTASTIC tool for functional training and core exercises. I've used it at home for an additional work out after teaching BODYPUMP and have also grabbed it for a quick functional workout when I can't get to the gym. The four way band is quite compact and perfect to throw in a bag to use while traveling. I used it while we were away last weekend and plan to take it on our European adventure to keep my muscles in shape while we are vacationing. #norestfothegymrats #dontwanttolosethetone

6|| Cute workout gear doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Yes, Lulu products are pretty and their leggings are worth the money, but you can find cute gear at your local Target. I've snapped up quite a few cute leggings and sports bras for cheap prices and plan to add these tops to my collection as well. #hangdrytomakethemlastlonger

7|| Speaking of clothes, check your leggings and make sure they aren't see through. If you are going to splurge on apparel, leggings are where you should splurge. You want to make sure they provide full coverage and move easily with your body. I love my Target leggings and you can't go wrong with Zellas [buy them during the Nordstrom sale, trust me, you'll love that price point]. Zellas are also fantastic to travel in a well so they are quite the bang for your buck.

8|| Invest in good shoes. Sure the brightly colored sparkly shoes are cute, but they probably don't have the support you need. I highly suggest going to a running store and getting fitted correctly for shoes if you are looking into any type of running regimen. If you just want to cross train I am partial to these Under Armour these New Balance and Reebok shoes. 

9|| STRETCH! Stretch! Stretch!!! I admit I used to be the WORST about stretching, I just wanted to get on with my evening once the work out was done. Then I found myself getting injured and being sorer than I should be and I realized I wasn't taking care of my body after I stressed it out. If you don't stretch immediately after take 5 minutes while you're watching television at night and get down on the ground and stretch.

10|| The most important quote to remember fitness-wise is this "You can't out work a bad diet". Sorry, I know that statement sucks but it's true. If you're eating highly processed foods you're not going to much of a change in your body no matter HOW much you are working out. Cut out the crap and start eating whole foods. I am a huge advocate of Whole30 [round one, round two and round three] because that was the first program where I noticed a difference in my body, but find what works for you. You don't need to starve yourself on 1,000 calories a day, it is all about smart food decisions and not wasting calories on sodas and coffees. #garbageingarbageout #youcanchangeyourheatinghabits

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Do you have any fitness tips you want to share? I love learning from others and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to email me or ask them in the comments section. Have a fabulous day! < 3

linkinguphereandhereandhere
***I was provided a TKO 4-Resistance band for review, but as always all opinions are my own***

What's New With You {Linkup}

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Work: As mentioned before, a lady at my work went on maternity leave at the end of January and I'm covering half of her work load. Did I mention it's the important crucial part of her load? Have I mentioned the influx of emails in my inbox and the new tracking systems implemented? Or the high profile titles that continue to have issues that I have to stay on top of daily? No?! Oh, that's because more of my day has been eaten up by work and it's draining my blogging and responding time at work. Which honestly sucks, big time. Clearly work time is work time, but I've always been able to balance some blog time at work or on calls. Hopefully things will calm down a bit in the next few weeks and I can find a new balance. I miss chatting with y'all daily and hope none one things I'm ignoring them. #newbalanceinfebruary


Health: Overall it's good which I can't complain about. I know yesterday I wrote about eating clean but this week has been a bit of a mess so my food prep  and clean eating took a bit of a hit. Which means my energy and attitude hit bottom. I was so out of sorts I didn't even eat dinner last night and felt fine which is strange. Normally I'm always hungry at meal times, however I think abundance of crap food has thrown my body for a loop and so I'm suffering. What's crazy is the fact my weight hasn't fluctuated. Usually this week would be a recipe for five extra ell bees yet everything is staying the same. Honestly, I have to thank teaching. All of the classes and practicing has revved up the metabolism and I'm finally feeling happy and good with the number on the scale and the way my clothes fit.


Life: January flew by in a blink and all of a sudden here we are in the first week of February. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite excited for this week {especially this weekend} and am happy to put cold snowy January in the review mirror. However, it suddenly feels like there is NEVER enough time to get anything done. Maybe it has to do with the fact I'm trying to learn three new BODYPUMP releases in two weeks. Or the fact I'm trying to get to bed at a decent time while also getting up to do yoga. Or maybe I feel like future plans are still in the air and I'm grasping at everything to put it all in place. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy and blessed and healthy which is a win/win/win in life, but I still feel stressed and a bit all over the place. I think a weekend of girl time and maybe a few drinks is just the key to figuring it all out and wooosahing back to normal.

So there you go, that's what's new with me. What's new with you?

linking up with Kristen, Natalie & Kristin

Sun Warrior Protein Makes Me Strong {Review}

Hello friends! How are you doing today? We are slowly thawing out up here but would you believe they are calling for snow again later in the week? Crazy town, y'all! I spent a couple hours with Le Husband and a friend digging my car out yesterday. So thankful for a helpful friend and a super strong husband. #nogymneededthisweekend.

Speaking of the gym, y'all know I love to workout, eat healthy and stay as fit as possible [snow weekends excluded] so I was THRILLED when SUNWARRIOR asked me to review their protein powder. Since completing three Whole30s I've been a bit meh towards protein powders because of alllll the random ingredients. SUNWARRIOR is plant based and their break down of amino acids and ingredients on their packaging [and website] keeps my mind at ease when it comes to what I'm putting in my body. I find that protein powder is a great way to stay on track when you need a quick boost of energy and a great addition to any workout and healthy eating routine. #workitoutandeatright

I chose to try their vanilla protein and once it arrived I began trying it out different ways. Since it's gotten colder, oatmeal has been my go to breakfast at least three times a week. However, I found that it never kept me quite as full as eggs, until I added in SUNWARRIOR protein. Just a half a scoop and I'm set until close to lunchtime. The vanilla flavor enhances the oatmeal itself and is mild enough of a flavor that it does not detract from any extra add ins [big fan of blueberries].

Protein oats in the morning.

I also found SUNWARRIOR tastes DELICIOUS in overnight oats. Everyone has their own version of overnight oats and I've always found they are a bit lacking without a good protein power. Until SUNWARRIOR, I had not found a protein that enhanced the taste of the oats without overpowering it or creating a grainy taste.Add in a half scoop to a scoop with your overnight oats and be prepared not to be hungry until lunchtime.

I like my oats with coconut, cinnamon, chia seeds and of course, Sun Warrior.

You know what never goes out of style? The classic protein shake. Well, only when you have a protein powder that mixes in with water [or liquid of your choice] without leaving a grainy taste. I had a few protein shakes before soccer and kickball games and found I had great energy but felt a lil water logged from all the liquid so close to game time. I knocked it back to two hours before games and felt a lot better on the pitch.

SUNWARRIOR has been a saving grace on Monday mornings before teaching my 6am class. I can't eat much before I work out but found after my first I was on the struggle bus hitting it hard without anything in my system. I started drinking a protein shake before class and man, the difference was incredible. I was able to lift a lil more weight and I didn't feel like I was dragging the last two tracks of class either. Bonus, I can make the shake the night before and it's grab and go at 5am.

Good morning, protien shake!

I've started to keep a serving or two at my office to keep the afternoon crash at bay and to drink before I teach on Thursdays. SUNWARRIOR gives me the energy I need when I'm feeling a bit low and also keeps me full so my tummy isn't talking while I teach.

If you're looking for a new protein or just want to try one out look no further than SUNWARRIOR. They are plant bases, have great flavors and keep you full when used as a meal replacement. I'm more than happy to answer any questions so feel free to leave them in the comment section.

***I was provided a sample of Sun Warrior for this review, but all opinions are my own***

linkinguphere&here&here

Confession Session

I confess...

... I was more upset then expected when no one showed up for my Monday morning 6am class. Yes, I know it was a holiday Monday but I had a bit of hope SOMEONE would show. #bueller

... after I stopped pouting I practiced for my lunch class later that day, hit some cardio, stretched, foam rolled and NAILED A MUSCLE UP FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. It might not have been Crossfit legal but I DID IT!!!!

... I'm more excited than I should be about the muscle up. #aintnoshameinmybraggame

.... I want to get certified in another Les Mills class, eep!

... a woman at work is going on maternity leave and I am so thrilled we won't have to listen to Wendy Williams anymore. She has the tv right next to her so she kind of controls the channels and I just CANNOT stand Wendy's voice, yuck.

... I am NOT excited about the lady going on maternity leave because guess who gets to cover all her work?

... I hate the cold, but I'm loving my warm sweaters during the chill. I also LOVE my suede boots even though Le Husband calls them my Pocahontas boots. I'd love to link where I bought them, but alas, I bought them in Chile 2008 when we visited Babyspice for a week. #mendontknowfashion #ilovemyboots #suede

Thanks for the sweater tip, Kristen.

... I left work early to get a massage because my shoulders and back are both a mess. #mymasseuseagreed #healthandwellness

...  my plan to stick to a Whole7 or Whole14 has not been as streamlined as anticipated. However, I'm at my precruise/post sickness weight so I'm not fussing too much. We made stir fry last night and it was the first time I've added rice to the dish and oh man, rice makes a big difference. Cheers for leftovers tonight. #dontforgetthepopcorndessert

Home made stir fry for dinner, yummy!

... I'm stubborn and I know it. #workingonit

... while I miss my husband when he's on overnight work trips, I very much enjoy the quiet evenings of pampering and not having to share the remote. #gilmoregirls Or the bed. #keepthehousetemperaturehighertoo

… people in the NOVA area are NUTS when it comes to snow. We are possibly getting a decent amount this weekend and the stores are already over run by scared lil people. Come on now, peeps, it's snow and then it's gonna be 40 degrees and 50 degrees, I think we will be okay. Now let me by my hot cocoa milk and whipped cream PLEASE!

Linking up for confessions & here & here

Pork Overload {Recipe Files} & Whole24 {Round Three}

One of the tough things about Whole30 [in my opinion] is the lack of CRUNCHY foods. You aren't allowed to fry anything so even though meals are super tasty [ Salmon w/citrus salsa, Spaghetti Squash, Zucchini Poppers] they are all pretty soft. My palate was craving some crunch and after perusing recipes I came across the two below. BOTH are super easy and really jazz up food in my opinion.

Porkitos aka Prosciutto Crisps: 
I found this recipe via Nom Nom Paleo and it is super simple. I'm talking you need five things simple: prosciutto, tin foil, cookie sheet, wire rack and your oven. Full disclosure, Whole30 prosciutto is NOT cheap, but understand these cracklins can be used in multiple different ways and don't contain those nasty sulfates in regular prosciutto.

Nom Nom has great step by step instructions, but here is the quick and dirty. Preheat oven to 350. Spread out prosciutto pieces on a tin foil covered cookie sheet [to keep clean up to minimum and to keep prosciutto from sticking]. Place sheet in oven for 10 -15 minutes and watch your crisps the last few minutes so they don't burn.

When they are done, remove from oven and place pieces on a wire rack to cool. They will crisp while cooling so don't fret if they still feel soft when you move them from the pan.

Once they cool, place in an airtight container in the fridge to keep fresh. I added pieces to my salads, deli roll ups, eggs, and sometimes just snacked on a piece when I wanted something crunchy. Easy, tasty and functional, YUM!

Bacon Wrapped Dates

What You Need
Dates [preferably pitted]
Whole30 compliant bacon [tough to find but is available at Whole Foods]
Backing Sheet
Tin Foil

Make sure you buy the pitted dates, otherwise you'll have to slice into each one to remove the pit [totally the pits, hah]

Cut your bacon in half [or thirds depending on how many dates you are wrapping] then wrap your date with a piece of bacon.

Place on cookie sheet [on tin foil to make clean up easier] and bake at 350 for 10 - 20 minutes. You want the bacon to be a bit crispy but you don't want to overcook the dates.

When the dates are done, remove the pan from the oven and then remove the dates from the pan. Place them on a paper toweled plate to get rid of the excess fat. Note: These are on more one the DONE side because I HAAAAAAAAATE soft bacon, seriously grosses me out. Many other versions are a lot less crisp so make sure you don't over cook them.

Plate up to serve a party or place in air tight container to store in the fridge. I will have one or two a day for an extra special treat while eating Whole30. The sweetness from the date and the smokiness from the bacon is perfect to curb any form of sweet or crunchy craving. If you REALLY want to up the ante - and aren't eating Whole30 - stuff the dates with a lil goat or manchego cheese for a deliciously gooey center.

Whole24 aka almost Whole30 part three. 

Yup, part three y'all. Well, kind of. I skipped the last three day because we were in Orlando for kickball and I was meeting THE GIRLS for a HH. Ain't nobody got time for Whole30 on a blate, right?

After a super diligent winter and spring I really let my diet and fitness routine go over the summer. All the weight I lost doing my previous Whole30s was right back on my hips because I was indulging in whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I'm talking Starbucks for breakfast, Chipotle for lunch and Z burger or pizza for dinner. Yeah, it was bad and I paid for it in my bathing suit and in my energy. I knew something had to change and really wanted to get back on track before the holidays. I like to indulge in homemade treats and a few extra glasses of champs during celebratory times and KNEW I would feel like doodoo come January if I didn't get everything in check. 

I CONFESS, this was not a complete Whole30. I only ate a Whole30 diet for 24 days so I did miss out on the extra six days of benefits. I also did NOT follow the true Whole30 template. There were snacks -- healthy ones -- and I did not adhere to the portion aspect. I simply ate ONLY foods allowed on the Whole30 program [which you can find *here*] and tried to limit my complex carbs as much as possible.

This round fluctuated between being the easiest of the attempts and the hardest. Easy in the fact I knew what was coming, I was comfortable with the program and I had a list of foods I enjoyed. Hard in the fact I was doing Whole30 while Le Husband was just counting his macros and I also weighed myself everyday. Watching Le Husband eat whipped cream, homemade pasta noodles and Pollo Rico rice was NOT fun at all, but I stuck to my guns and didn't cheat which made me feel awesome at the end. Checking my weight everyday was awesome in the beginning because I lost four pounds almost immediately, but after week two my weight pretty much plateaued which was TOUGH when I was eating so clean. There was a point during the last week where I turned to Le Husband and said "If this wasn't the last week, I would quite just now because this is so frustrating". I totally understand why they don't let you weight yourself until the end of the Whole30 program, it would be SUPER discouraging the first time to watch numbers fluctuation so much. 

Here are my Round Three results:

I honestly thought my weight was going to drop more because of everything I packed on, however this round I was still lifting heavy and doing BODYPUMP classes and training so I leaned up more than lost weight. Two inches of my stomach was awesome and almost two off my dorito was even better. Le Husband even told me he noticed my dorito last week so that was great to hear as well. FYI: We call the dorito the spot where your body starts to triangle down to your waist, kind of like a Dorito chip. Basically it is two inches above the belly button if you want a point on the body to measure.

Overall this program helped me reset and get me closer to where I want to be health and body wise. I am ADAMANT about continuing Whole30esque [90% -10%] until Thanksgiving and then will only indulge in homemade treats and a few drinks splurges here and there. Whole30 is work, good work, but still work so I don't want to go off the train like I did this summer. I already gained two+ pounds back after my eating bonanza in Orlando so it's back on the healthy train until Thanksgiving. I'm slowly wrapping my head around not getting to my goal 'weight' because of my muscle, so now my goal is to stay lean and keep these abs as long as possible. #babyabsshowingupfinally #pleasedontleaveme

These are me flexing, my abs do NOT look like this just standing. #iwish

Have you tried Whole30 yet? If so, what did you think? Are you interested in trying Whole30? I personally think everyone [except prego mamas and vegetarians] should try it once, just to TRULY understand their body. I've had quite a few people ask me about my experience and I have NO problem chatting via email about my thoughts. You can check out my previous Whole30s *here* and *here*!

linking up here here here here here and here today 

Here, but not really here

That's right ladies, today I'm in beautiful NOLA and I'm purdy darn excited about it. Hopefully by the time you're reading this, I'm enjoying delicious beignets and coffee at the famous Cafe Du Monde. I'll cheers ya one okay?!?!

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1] Pamela Anderson weighs LESS than me -YES! Home girl with hoohas the size of my booty weighs less than I do currently. Did I mention she is 5' 7" and I'm 5' 3" on a tall day!?! I just...can't....I mean....WHAT!?!? Granted she's a strict vegan and I've yet to find a sugary treat I don't enjoy [minus anything pumpkin flavored ;)], so I can see how she keeps lean and I well, don't. I'd like to state for the record that I think she looks amazing and more power to her for completing the NYC marathon last weekend. Guess I need to hit the pavement and toss the leftover Halloween candy ASAP!

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2] Bullying in the NFL - Bullying is wrong, period. I don't care if you are a three year old bullying a two year old, a middle schooler, high schooler, college student, athlete or adult, it's 100% wrong. The story about the bullying of Jonathan Martin, by Richie Incognito is disgusting and horrible. I'm an athlete and I understand the 'hazing' involved with rookies, but there is always an amount of human respect. Sadly, that wasn't the case in this instance. Incognito is a despicable example of a human being and I honestly hope he gets what's coming to him.

3] New Name - Yes, I'm finally taking the time to change my name. I think I'm the only girl in the Facebook world that didn't change her name the weekend of her wedding. I've had many friends married after me and they have already changed their name on Facebook. I know I need to start the official process of changing my name, and I'm taking the steps now, but am I the only one that didn't/doesn't feel the need to immediately change my name on Facebook!?!?

4] Shadier than Slim Shady -I'm talking bout the gubernatorial elections here in Virginia. It was revealed over the weekend that an Obama campaign bundler was secretly helping fund the Virginia Libertarian gubernatorial candidate, in an effort to split the conservative votes.I don't know about you but that's some shady BS!!! I can only imagine the outrage if this situation were flipped and the GOP was at fault. But, of course, it will be glossed over in our media [Benghazi debacle anyone?!?!] since their 'good guy' won the election. As a former journalist the bias in our media makes me so unbelievably upset. The media has been bought by our President and his party and therefore we only get the news they deem worthy. BARF!

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5] Christmas Cards - Alright ladies, I need your help. I'm designing our FIRST Christmas cards and want to ask y'all who is the best [and possibly cheapest] option. I see TinyPrints on different blogs, but haven't used them yet. Are their prices good for their product? Are there any other good picture Christmas card vendors? Since these are our first Christmas cards, I want to include at least one wedding picture, so I'm looking at picture cards. Thanks in advance!

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Slam your body down and wind it all around,

Week In Workouts

Ya like?!?!?

Week three of weekly workouts.

Let's get after it shall we?

Week in workouts 7/15 - 7/21

Monday: 6 am Body Pump Class 2 mile run after work
For the first time in awhile I got my booty up and went to the gym in the AM for a good workout sesh. I chose to hit up Gold's Body Pump class because I wanted to get in a great full body workout and have someone push me as well. The instructor [who is 6months prego] is legit in shape and awesome at motivating. I really pushed myself with the weights and even though I was hurting felt awesome once class was over. My goal is to hit this class at least once a week.

Tuesday: 45 Yoga Power Sculpt Class
I've mentioned Power Scuplt before and it is legit one of my new favorite workouts. The class is only 45 minutes but it's 45 minutes of butt kicking. I wasn't able to use the higher weights due to being sore from body pump the previous morning, but the high reps/low weight still slayed me. I'm not a sweaty person when I work out, but this class I'm dripping and it feels so good. I'll need to hit this class multiple times before the wedding.

Wednesday: 45 Minute Swim Workout
Since I've been trying to mix up my workouts, I really wanted to utilize our community pool and Sportyspice's college swimming knowledge. I had her write me up a swim workout [that wouldn't kill me] and headed to the pool after work. It's been super warm lately, so I knew a pool workout would be perfect.  Here's what she had me do:
300 warm up -Swim Kick Drill
10 x 50 odds choice evens free [10 seconds rest between each 50]
4 x 75 IM drill [fl/bk/br, bk/br/fr, br/fr/fl, fr,fl,bk] 
6 x 25 build with 5 seconds rest
Warm down
She kicked my butt, but I felt super accomplished when I finished my workout. I forget how much of a full body workout swimming is and it's super easy on joints too. I will def be doing this as much as possible throughout the summer.

 Thursday: Kickball Game & Bar Dancing
Okay, I'm really not considering this a workout, so I guess it's technically an active rest day. My summer league kickball team is ALL for fun so there isn't much a workout at games. I always try my  hardest to win, but the competition isn't very good so there really isn't much effort required. Yes, I know I sound cocky, but it's the truth. This Thursday was the first time I made it to the bar, so I got some extra cardio in dancing around until 9:30 that evening. I doubt I burned many calories, but at least I was moving and shaking right?

Friday: 
Things got away from me Friday which irks me to no end. I had planned to hit up the 6am body pump class, but my late night kickball bar fun didn't help me get up in the morning. The next plan was to run after work, but it was so steamy hot that I thought better of it for safety reasons. I decided to hit up the pool for a possible workout, but would you believe that it was closed for swimming due to a swim meet? I had my tennis stuff in the car, so I was able to get in a lil bit of tennis with my dad&uncle, but not nearly enough to be considered a workout. I almost did a workout at home later that evening but was too busy having a pity party to really commit. Not how I wanted to end the week but oh well, guess it happens.

I wasn't as consistent as I planned this week and hope I can change that next week. I need to get my butt up in the mornings as much as possible so there is less room for missing workouts.

What workouts did you do?!?!

What's Weight Got to Do With It!?

Yep, that dreaded SIX letter word.

Weight.

It just SOUNDS heavy and horrible.

That *one* number that can

define happiness

for women.

How many of you have stepped on the scale,

and literally

held your breath,

while waiting for the numbers

to appear.

Source: google.com via RMW on Pinterest

I know I do

every

single

time

I step on a scale.

Before you read on, I'm gonna give it to you straight...

Right now I weigh 115-118 and to me

that is too much.

If that number offends you,

or

if you are pissed I feel this way,

please just click the red X to the right.

I 100% understand that I am petite

and my weight is not very much

for an almost 30 year old.

However, I could and should be around the
110-112ish zone
and much more toned than I am currently.

I'm squishy in places I shouldn't be,
and many of my pants are snug in the
stomach and booty area.

When I say too tight I mean
the leaving lines in my skin
kind of too tight.
And no, this isn't just something
that happened recently.

This has been going on for a few years.
Pretty much as soon as I turned 25
my body changed :(!
[that and my shin injury preventing
my normal running program]

I was warned, but I didn't believe
because I was always the girl that could eat
WHATEVER she wanted
and never gain weight.

I used to be able to fit into size 00-0 pants.
And when I say used to, I don't mean in college,
 I mean 3ish years ago.

Now, some 2s and even certain styles of 4s
are too tight.
SO.NOT.OK!

Sure, I understand as we women get older,
our body changes,
gravity happens
and metabolism slows done.

But really?!!? I can't lose
3-5 pounds
and keep them off?!?!

Source: media-cache3.pinterest.com via Tyrone on Pinterest

I've been running and going to the gym for "maintenance"

for the past 6 years.

Well, that's really helped me.

[sense the sarcasm]

I tried giving up certain foods

and I never drank soda

unless there is alchol mixed in the glass.

Again, that's really helped me!

So, I'm trying something new.

I'm being restrictive

and seriously watching

what kind of food enters my mouth.

I told C I wanted to try Paleo again,

because my way of

moderation

hasn't changed my body ONE BIT!

And so far, I've stuck to it for the most part.

There were two days my will power

majorly SUCKED

which uber ticked me off.

But, unlike last time,

I haven't gotten the 'carb flu'

thank goodness.

We've measured biceps,

butt,

chest,

quads,

stomach,

and logged everything into a spreadsheet.

I'm sure I sound nuts!

But, my self esteem BLOWS right now

and this seems to be the only

route to fixing it.

I have a picture of myself

my junior year of college

that I'm using as an unrealistic goal.

Well, unrealistic to the friends

and family that has seen

the picture.

For the record,

my family, boyfriend, friends and acquaintances

have told me I'm ridiculous

and don't need to stress

like I'm stressing.

But, now I'm the girl who can't lose weight.

Many of my friends just stop using salt

run 1 more time a week

give up sugar snacks

do three more sets of abs

change from yoga to pilates

and POOF

weight/bloat GONE!

Not me!

I went 2 weeks without adding salt to anything!

I gave up carbs and sugar!

I switched up my workouts 2304830 times.

NADA

ZIP

ZILCH!

Well that's changing now

and I hope results happen.

I don't want to hate my body

like I do now.

And I don't want to continue

to hate certain foods,

because I know that's not healthy.

Am I taking care to eat enough for sustenance and health?

ABSOLUTELY!

Have I been analyzing everything on my plate?

Yep!

Should I allow myself to indulge more than I have been?

Probably.

But, if I want to reach my goal

I have to take the hard road.

Wanna see my goal?

Source: dietadvices.com via Dana on Pinterest

Unrealistic again?!?!? Probably.

But, staying in 'matinatnece mode' has done

jack $h*t

so now

it's time to

GO BIG

or GO HOME!

Inspire Me: Healthy Fitness Go-Tos

Hello friends, happy Thursday!

CAN I GET A HELLZ YEAH

for a DALLAS COWBOY'S WIN

LAST NIGHT!

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellz YEAH!

I rocked my jersey to work

and I'm glad the BOYS didn't let me down.

Cowboys 1-0, I'm a happy girl!

I'm also happy because TODAY is:

So ladies, how are you? Was the

I CAN RUN AGAIN!

week been good to you?

No, that wasn't a mistake, I was THAT excited to tell you

and myself

I CAN RUN AGAIN!!!!

I've run 3 times this week and my ankle is still kickin'

literally.

I've been rehabbing twice a week

and so far so good.

Morning workouts are back

and I feel like a bazillion bucks.

I have NO IDEA if I've lost/gained weight

in the past 2 weeks,

because I haven't weighed myself.

I am going to try and see where I stand sometime next week.

All I know is I FEEL 2304802384 times better

than the last 2 weeks, because I've been able to move.

Funny, that I can CHOOSE to not go to the gym for

3 months and feel fine,

but the MINUTE I CAN'T workout

because of an injury,

1 day off and I feel like poo.

Crazy right?!!?

Moving on....

I noticed last week some ladies were feeling

uninspired

and bored with their workouts or eats.

So, I thought I would share MY fitness 2 cents.

If anyone is LOOKING for some new workout blogs,

behold two of my favs.

********************************

The Fitnessista is the first FITNESS blog I ever followed. Some people love Gina and some people hate her, but I thoroughly enjoy her work outs. She is one of the few health bloggies out there that ACTUALLY has credentials, which I find refreshing.

Her husband is in the US Army and has been deployed a few times since I started reading. She doesn't just blog about fitness, but also her home life, eats and her new baby girl.

If I'm EVER in a food/workout rut, I'll head to her Fitness page to spice  up my life. Her 2012 Summer Shape up was pretty baller and I LOVE the new Tabata workouts.

She just posted this AB BURNER yesterday

and I can't wait to try it.

Join me?!?!

*************************

I only recently began following Cassey of Blogilates and honestly, it took me awhile to decided whether I liked her workouts or not. I've never done Pilates, so honestly was a little intimidated, but Cassey makes them easy to understand and fun.

Now, I'm sure this will be seen as the pot calling the kettle black,

but homegirl is PEPPY!

If you DON'T like peppy supportive feedback, you won't like her workouts.

Usually I'm good with loud and peppy, but I had to mute once

when it was a 530am workout.

However, you can genuinely tell Cassey LOVES to work out

and works hard for her smokin' in shape body.

Here is one of my favorite workouts she created.

And no, I am not having any boy issues,

I just LOVE working out my arms.

It's only 4 minutes long, YOU CAN DO IT!

Hopefully these ladies can help anyone who feels they are in a rut.

I wish I was fitnessy enough to create my own workouts, and write about it,

but I don't think I'm that creative.

If I EVER stumble upon something super awesome, I promise to share it with y'all.

Can't wait to read about every one's progress!
Keep up the great work CHICKS!