3 tips for losing weight

One week into July!  I’m back from another weekend getaway!  This has been the third sleepless weekend in a row for me.  We had a wonderful time and I’m not complaining!  We went to a beautiful cabin in the mountains with two other families.  14 kids between us!  We were amazed at how well everyone got along.  We played all day and all night!  We went to the rodeo, boating at the lake, polaris riding, game playing, and food making!  Here is my collage of the trip!  One of my friends had a nicer camera and was snapping many other pictures.  I’ll have to post some of those later!

 

One morning a few of us woke up and went on a “walk”.  I’m changing that to hike now!  It ended up being 2 hours of up and down all over the mountain!  We had a song from the trip too.  We listened to this one on the boat and all the kids loved it.

Now I’m back to reality and mounds of laundry.  I’m ready to hit the exercise hard and eat CLEAN!!!  Part of my nutrition plan and a way to eliminate sugar from my diet is to have 4 treat days in July, 3 in August, 2 in September, and 1 in October!!  Easy Peasy!

I’ll end with my best Monday advice!!!

1. Workout first thing in the morning.  Especially if you are busy or tired.  I think that means everyone!  You’re more likely to get it done.  One of my friends wants to get stronger and exercise more.  She doesn’t do much of anything right now.  I told her to STRENGTH TRAIN 3 times a week and do CARDIO 2-3 times a week.  Her strength training should include UPPER, LOWER, AND CORE.  This will be part of my beginner training program that I really need to get working on.  August 1st is when my training starts again!
2. Prepare food once a week.  This includes shopping.  Load up on fruit and veggies.  Cut up veggies, cook meat, and have brown rice or quinoa cooked.  Keep the fridge stocked with healthy food.  This can be difficult in the summer with so much coming and going and random schedules.  
3. Limit high sugar foods and processed foods.  This includes chips, baked goods, candy, frozen processed stuff etc…  Try to eat foods as close to their most natural state as possible.  Drink lots of water too!!!

I’m thirsty now and need to get ready for swim lessons!  I’m hoping my days go by really slow this week.  Summer is flying!  Good bye with a bouquet of flowers I brought home from the  mountains!

How to fit into white pants

Happy MONDAY!!  Today started off awesome with a 7 mile trail run!  I’ve been a little worried about my narcolepsy.  If you don’t know what that is, look it up (:  I don’t think one can live a vacation lifestyle, stay at home Mom of 5 kids lifestyle, and a running like crazy exercise lifestyle at the same time without symptoms of narcolepsy!  Lately, this is me on most days!

We’ve taken our kids everywhere, been to concerts, out to lunch, up mountains, and down rivers.  Here we are at a few outings this past week!

My favorite day trip was a visit to my Aunt and Uncle’s cabin in Provo canyon.  A childhood favorite filled with memories.  We hiked up a mountain that was falling apart!  We floated down the Provo river on tubes with my 80 year old uncle and cousins.  I was proud that I got all 5 of my children down the river safely!  I can’t say my diet has been totally clean these days!  It’s been too much fun to snack and enjoy yummy summer food.  I think that’s fine if you don’t stay off the wagon for long.  I’m going to try and keep it in check this week so I can fit into my favorite white pants for my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary party on Saturday!  You’ll have to see if I made my goal by what I’m wearing!  I am lucky that I’ll be running 16 miles that day!

After my 15 miler last week, I realized this is the ultimate post workout stretch!!

It was a great run!  I didn’t feel super strong, but at one time during the run, my fastie friend told me to slow down!  What a compliment!

Onto my advice for how to fit into a favorite pair on pants!  Besides running and lifting, which you should do EVERY day as effective and strong as possible, you should fill your body with good fuel!  I follow a fitness enthusiast that helps keep me motivated.  She’s real close to my height and build.  Her name is Erin Simmons.

When I get in a non healthy eating rut, I pull out inspirational people’s eating plans.  She also has amazing abs!  Here is a great video for abs that I want to try too!

Click HERE to see here daily eating plan!  For the most part I need to fill up on protein, fiber, fruits, and vegetables.  This will help!!

Next adventure on the list is a 2 day trip to Bear Lake.  This one will be relaxing, read a book condo style trip.  I still want to run or do a killer workout such as 10 sets of 30 burpees and 30 situps!!  I read that workout on Erin Simmons’ blog!  GEEZ!!  I just might try it.  Scary (:

Hike it off and full body explosion workout

Hello again!  I am back after another camping trip!!  It was short and sweet.  2 days in the Uinta mountains of pristine beauty!  It has become a tradition with my brother.  We are on year #4 of annual campouts!  We enjoyed fishing and throwing rocks in the lake, yummilicious camp food, fires with smores, games, songs, and HIKES!!  My outdoorsman brother that I love to brag about being a marine, member of the SWAT team, cop, and detective took us on a tour of the wild outdoors!  We climbed up and down hills and rocks, hiked through fields of flowers, and overlooked a breathtaking view of the mountains and lakes below.  Truly a gift.  Here we are:

All this bopping in and out of town is rocking my schedule and my fit life routine!  It’s not about to stop either.  For the next 2 1/2 weeks we’ll be entertaining and enjoying LOTS of family time!  I’ve decided I need about 4 of me to get around from family outings to hikes and 15 mile runs with my friends.  We did have a beautiful morning at the track for our workout!  Here’s a pic and the killer workout.  Go fast and keep it heavy!

UPPER AND LOWER BODY EXPLOSION

 20 front raises

20 upright rows

20 overhead press

20 mountain climbers

3X

 20 narrow pushups

20 skull crushers

20 overhead french press

20 burpees

3X

 20 bicep curls

20 reverse pull ups

20 pushups

One length of bleachers and sprint back

3X

 20 hip raises each leg

20 side to side lunges

20 step ups with weight

20 deadlifts

3X

 20 full sit up with twist

20 v-ups

20 hollow rocks

3X

I will try to post again before one more trip we have next week to Bear Lake!  If not, keep it up!  Here is my new favorite song!  LOVE.  Run Hard!

 

 

 

 

The Best of the Best

Many of the places we saw on our trip were amazing and beautiful.  I’ve pinpointed a few of my VERY favorites.  I know they are the BEST of the BEST because I would fly back around the world to visit them again!  One of those places was CINQUE TERRE, ITALY.  I knew nothing of this hidden and spectacular land.  It is 5 small cities along the northwestern coast of Italy.  We took a train from Nice, France to San Remo, Italy and then rented a car.  We drove for several hours along a windy, narrow highway that climbed through mountains and tunnels.  When we arrived at our “hotel”.  I can’t really say it was a hotel.  It felt more like a quaint bed and breakfast.  It was incredible.  Small cottages were built on the side of the mountain among grape vines.  We had to climb down a hundred stairs or so to get to our little abode.  Here is the view from our window.

This is me on the main road in front of the hotel!  The place felt like the seaside hotel from the movie Mamma Mia.

We for sure did not give ourselves enough time here.  We hiked all day between villages.  It’s all up and down along paths and stairs.  It was hot.  We took several shots along the way.

 

This guy ran a very successful business selling fresh lemonade along a steep part of the trail.  We were very grateful for the cool drink!!  We hiked till the evening and ate dinner on the pier in Vernazza.  About a year ago this area was hit by torrential rains and floods.  Several people died and they received very serious damage.  Many pictures of the aftermath and clean up effort were displayed throughout parts of the city.  I was amazed at how the villages and people overcame the disaster so well.  We saw very little effects from the storm.  After dinner we walked up a steep hill to our car.  It was pitch black, the stars were out, and we could hear the waves of the Mediterranean Sea crashing against the rocks.  Breathtaking and a definite “I love this moment” feeling.  Such a sweet and short time we were there.  I WILL return someday!!

Today was a perfect trail run for me and my friends too.  I’ll have to post pictures on Monday.  We were in awe and saying “Look at that” on every turn as we admired the fall leaves.  We caught them at the perfect time.  My body is a little creaky and sore now from the 11 miles.  It was so pretty.  Our theme for the day was, “This is the best day of my life!”

Tip for the day!  Make each day the best day of your life!