Time to mix things up

Happy Workout Wednesday day!  I have a great overall body workout that I did with my friends yesterday.  Behold:

Tabata plank for 8 minutes (20 seconds on 10 seconds off)

8 stations 1 1/2 minute each for 3 rounds

Ladders

High Sumos

Burpees

Chest press or flys

Frog hops

Bicep Curls

Mountain Climbers

Side to side push ups

We finished with 100 walking lunges with a leg lift and 100 side abs (50 each side)

I love working out with my friends, but I workout harder when I’m solo!  I need to STEP up my game!  When I work out harder and I’m not talking MORE often, I eat a lot CLEANER.  I used to go to the BEST boot camp classes at Gold’s that left me completely fatigued.  I’m going to up my HIIT (high intensity interval training).  I’ve gained a few extra pounds and I’m bugged.  I’m giving myself 2 weeks to get to my goal.  Maybe sooner (:  This is what my workouts will look like:

MONDAY: 6 mile tempo run.  Legs.

TUESDAY: My full body workout.  3 mile interval run.  Body Attack

WEDNESDAY: Back and Bi’s  Zumba

THURSDAY: 4 mile tempo run.  Body Combat.  Shoulders

FRIDAY: Chest and Tri’s  Spin.

SATURDAY:  Long Run 8-12 miles

That looks pretty intense I know.  I’m going to try it for a couple weeks and see how it goes!  This weekend we have a little getaway planned with some of our favorite friends!  A couple days of hot tubbing, movies, hiking, games, karaoke, and more.  I soooooo need a relaxing break!!  I’m going on my favorite run tomorrow morning with my friends before we leave but then I’ll hit this schedule hard on Monday!!

Find what motivates you.  This chick’s body makes me what to keep at it.  Perfect arms.  Her top is one of my favorites too.  Under Armour.

Have a happy FALL weekend!!

Day 24

Hello!  Today is Day 24!  I have some new goals and motivators on my mind!!!  What does that mean?  It means I haven’t keep my last stinkin’ goal of 100 days without sugar and I need a new one (:  I’ll tell you all about it on Monday!  I know the suspense will be hard to bear!

This little post will be quick.  I have many things to do and if I don’t keep moving I’m going to fall face forward and be out cold in 2 seconds.  I was up at 4:30 this morning, mostly because I couldn’t sleep, but really because we ran our 20 miles today!!!  YIPPEE for US!!!  There were 4 of us crazies today!  Perfectly cool weather and a great run!  I really have nothing scary to report.  My hips were feeling it near the end and my legs cramped up after we stopped.  I was on a mad search for bananas or oranges and thought a Diet Coke would suffice.  It didn’t.  Other than that I felt GREAT!!  The race is in 3 weeks and the weekly miles will start to taper.  I want to really focus on quality and speed for the rest of my training.  It will be HARD I know.  I’m not a natural at marathons.  Thank goodness for my friends!!!  They are the best.  Lately I’ve been thinking of how blessed I am for the many people in my life that are ANGELS to me!!  I know I am well watched over and I’m grateful to tears (:  Happy tears of course!

Let’s see if I have any cool pictures to share!  Oh, here are a few!  My son and I walked around with a group of his football buddies to check out the high school!  Our high school is the craziest floor plan.  I have nicknamed it Hogwarts and my son thinks it looks like one big bathroom.  It was recently remodeled with a whole lotta tile.  I think it should have been more designed to look like a castle!  Here we are.  Yes, it is my alma mater too!  I’m so proud (:

He looks so happy!

Here is a pic. of me and my daughter playing miniature golf!  So fun!  We had a GREAT party for my husband’s work up in the mountains with lots of rides and activities for the kids.  We did have a sudden drop in temperature yesterday and it was sooooo cold!  I’m a baby!

Everything is fine and moving along!  School starts on Monday and it’s a NEW start and a NEW school for all 4 of my kids.  They are a little nervous.  Fun adventures always!  Have a fantastic DAY!!!

A bit of advice for the new school year.

Lucky #13

Winter is in full force and I’m glad when I can enjoy some color and life.  This makes me happy (:

Another great year is coming to a close.  This morning I went on a cool 20 degree run above the city.  It felt good to warm up and run with the light snow fall.  I wish it could have lasted much longer*!  I started my official 3 month “GET RIPPED” workout and diet.  After the run, I met my friends at the gym and we did a great back workout.  My hands are sore.  Buy some good gloves if you want to lift weights.  In a nutshell, we’re lifting 6 days a week and adding runs and cardio on some of the days.  Diet is lots of water, PROTEIN with every meal, and no sugar or white flour.  I’ll have one day off each month to eat whatever I want.  It’ll be awesome fun!  I’m thinking March 30th I’ll check the body fat status.  I’m hoping for %15.42*  We’ll see.

We’ve had a LOT of snow lately and as beautiful as it is, I need some sun.  I switched my screen saver to this yesterday!  Heavenly…some day!

 I thought I’d talk about MUSIC today!!!  I looked at my ipod for the last year and checked to see which songs and groups I listened to the most.  Here is the list!!  Most of them are GREAT workout songs.  I love having good music to work out to!

POPULAR ARTISTS ON MY IPOD

Katy Perry

Queen

Piano Guys

Taylor Swift

Usher

ZZ Ward

Journey

POPULAR SONGS ON MY IPOD

Set Fire to the Rain-Adele

Titanium-David Guetta

On the Floor-Jennifer Lopez

Lights Out-Junior Caldera

Wonderland-Natalia Kills

Stronger-Kelly Clarkson

Rock you like a Hurricane-Scorpians

I love a lot of country songs too!  I’m pretty versatile with my music.  I’m excited for a new year, fresh starts, and goals.  It’s going to be a great year.  13 is a good number.  My family is very superstitious, especially around the New Year.  It’s pretty funny.  One thing that has stuck with me is to get all my housework done and any open ended projects or “to do’s”.  My Mom tells me that I’ll be behind all year if I don’t get them done!!  So…yes I have laundry to do and grocery shopping to get done, etc. etc.

Hope everyone has a spectacular NEW YEAR!!  Make it the BEST ever!!  LOVE Wonderous and Happy new adventures*

                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                    

Color me Christmas

Today I’ve been thinking about the color I want through my new house!  I’ve always loved interior design and I took several classes in college.  I’m not an expert at all, but I love putting colors together.  Soooo, my SITES topic today will be a few ideas for my house and my POWER TIP has to do with a very relaxing and desirable Christmas moment!!!

The four places I’ve been thinking of to decorate first in my house are the OUTSIDE, ENTRYWAY, GREAT ROOM, AND KITCHEN!  Here is an example of the colors I’d like for each one:

Gray house, yellow door. Not sure of the white, I might want to use cedar pillars.

Light gray entryway with white trim, flowers of purple with lots of greenery.

My sea and sun family room! Pale blue walls with orange accent decor.

White or antique white cabinets, wood floor. Yellow and Green decor

Easier shown than done!!  I’ll have to post pictures when we get in of the before and after shots!  We have a hallway to the bedrooms that I’ll probably paint a light yellow.  It’s the sunny side of the house and I think it would make it look so warm and bright.

Now, a change of thoughts.  First of all, I have a confession.  My KILLER dinner and dessert last night did me in.  I CHEATED big time!!  I think I made way too much food and I felt like I had to EAT it!!  So, two days into my diet plan and I failed.  I’m human.  So, I will add one more day to my GOAL and this time I will not give in!  HA!

As for my GREAT tip of the day.  Have a BETTER ATTITUDE!  This is for moi!  I know I come across as sooo positive and sooo upbeat.  Ha, I’m really NOT!!!  Just kidding.  I usually am.  I did make a negative Christmas comment this morning and realized I need a better attitude.  I thought of the BEST Christmasy moment I could think of.  Imagine a soft couch in front of a wood burning fireplace, a strand of Christmas lights above the mantel and a few candles.  A beautifully lit Christmas tree to the side and a little Harry Connick Jr. or Michael Buble Christmas music playing in the background.  *NICE*  Oh, and a view out the window of light snow falling.  Beautiful and Spectacular!

Have a GREAT football day!  Hope the boys WIN!

129

Well, I had great intentions of several exciting posts this weekend and it did not happen.  I don’t usually like to expound on my busyness but I think I have maxed myself out to about 99.9% capacity this weekend.  My brain is tired and I still have 3 more Halloween parties next week.  That doesn’t even include each classroom Halloween party that each of my kids have.  Hurt me.

Biggest surprise of the weekend was this:

Ha ha!  I love the scale.  I’m going against all trendy fitness mantras.  I’m not a secret anorexic either.  In fact, the day before I weighed myself I didn’t even exercise and I ate a slice of pizza and 2 slices of chocolate chip banana bread!  What a diet!  I did however run 9 miles the morning of my weigh in!  Either way, I did not cheat.  I let go of the counter and even jumped on the scale 3 times.  It did not change!  So….I didn’t have to send my hot pink “barbie” shoes back.  The girls at church nicknamed them barbie shoes!

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go to this POST!

Lately I’ve been eating crazy healthy all week and having a 24 hour eat whatever I want break on the weekend!  For the last 3 weeks it’s been great.  I don’t know why I have to binge because I feel disgusting every time, but it’s working.  7 sugar cookies for dinner is what I’m talking about!

Here is my power tip for the week.  Find 1 goal you’d like to work on for the week and DO IT!!!  Whether it be get to bed at 10 p.m., run 3 days a week, eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day, tell your kids you love them and give them a big hug every day, whatever!!  It’s not so overwhelming when you choose ONE goal for ONE week to improve on.  See if you can do it 6 out of the 7 days!  You’ll feel so proud of yourself and be happier that you accomplished something important to you!!

Spiritual thought for this great day.  I was driving today and witnessed a most inspiring sunset to the west and then I noticed to the east the moon rising over the mountain.  I didn’t know how to take a picture of both of them at the same time, but it was a beautiful gift to see.

Enjoy this peaceful song that I love.  I’m teaching the girls in my church several of the Jenny Phillips songs.  They are exceptional!  I couldn’t decide which one to put on here.  Look up a few others if you’d like.

Lighthouse in the Night, Fit for His Kingdom, and Light Keeper.

Goodnight and sweet dreams *