[Fitness, Health and Happiness]

Because I Don't Have Enough to Do In Real Life

This post is actually my reminder. Over the weekend I realized I hadn't realized how many virtual events I signed up for. My husband is going to read this and either shake his head, roll his eyes or both!

I take full adavantage of the holiday season :)

Virtual Holiday Calendar 2011

Holiday Blogger Gift Exchange

Third Time's A Charm Runner

Just Trying for Little Girls

Run to the Finish

Run with Jess

Jingle Bell Hell 2011

Daily Vitamin F

It's all too much fun to pass up! How are you celebrating the holidays? Real life only? Virtual races? Gift exchanges? 

Time to workout! 

Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge || Week 2 Review

Week 2 Review After kind of a crappy start to the week (with almost every workout being a conversation with myself about how much I didn't feel like working out) I ended the week with the best run I've had in about 3 weeks! 6 miles, with the exception of mile 1, at an average 9:32 pace! It felt so good to begin feeling like I wasn't recovering anymore. I smiled while I ran and for the rest of the day!

This was the second Saturday of joining a new running group. We started together but didn't actually run together this time. They were doing track work and I just wanted the mileage. No worries. I felt great, ran a new route and enjoyed myself the entire time!

Week 3 Goals

Workout Plan

Sunday - run 5, Stretch X
Monday - Chest, Shoulders and Triceps ; Ab Ripper
Tuesday -  run 6, Ab Ripper
Wednesday - Back and Biceps; Ab Ripper, Interval Plus
Thursday - Yoga X, run 5
Friday - Legs & Back; Ab Ripper, Kenpo
Saturday - run 10, Ab Ripper, Stretch X 
(all strength training, cross training and most core workouts are P90X and P90X Plus)

Continuing with the same Nutrition Goals from last week. 

• Shakeology smoothie - 7 days
• vitamins - 7 days
• stick to the weekly plan everyday! (the holidays and 2 December birthdays in the family make this tough but worth it) 
• more water (I can't seem to get enough water)

Adding One More Goal this week.

• more sleep 
• no matter what time I wake up I will not get out of bed until my actual wake up time of 4:00 am

And lastly, I leave you with this because I'm a sucker for Nike ads and I wish this was my lunch hour.

Now the link up! Share your HBBC 2011 updates, recaps and reviews!

How to Particpate

1. Follow me, the host, at [Fitness, Health & Happiness] on Google Friend Connect in the sidebar and leave a comment. 

2. Create a HBBC blog post.  

3. Using InLinkz below link directly to your HBBC post. Post URL only please.

4. Visit and comment as many other blogs as you wish.

5. There will be a new link up every week.

If you're new to link ups here is an example to give you an idea of how it all works Fitness Friday Blog Hop. Contact me if you have any questions using the "Contact Jill" in the menu bar above.

 

 

Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge || Week 1 Review

Before I get to week 1 of HBBC, I started a new running club yesterday and while in the store I saw this quote. I loved it and immediately thought of the joy of simply running because you can.

Week 1 was all about the points! Nothing like a little friendly competition to keep you motivated.

Review Week 1: Being off from work for the holiday and a little more flexibility with time made it relatively easy to accomplish my workout goals for the first week. Nutrition goals? Not perfect but not derailed by the holiday either. Other than a candy cane truffle from Godiva in the mall I wasn't really tempted by sweets/desserts. We'll see how long that lasts :) The best part...I ate what I wanted and didn't have even one moment of guilt!

One thing I noticed this week was how I felt after eating more carbs that I typically would. Kind of sluggish and not a lot of energy. 

Week 2 Goals 

 Workouts

• strength training - 3 days
• running - 4 days
• kenpo - 2 days
• abs - 4 days
• stretch - 2 days

Nutrition

• Shakeology smoothie - 7 days
• vitamins - 7 days
• stick to the weekly plan everyday! (you can see an example of my weekly clean eating menu here Commitment to Health and Fitness) 
• more water (I noticed a few times during the week that I didn't feel like I was drinking enough water)

How did week 1 go for you? Are sweets your biggest temptation during the holidays? 

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Now the link-up

How to Particpate

1. Follow me, the host, at [Fitness, Health & Happiness] on Google Friend Connect in the sidebar and leave a comment. 

2. Create a HBBC blog post.  

3. Using InLinkz below link directly to your HBBC post. Post URL only please.

4. Visit and comment as many other blogs as you wish.

5. There will be a new link up every week.

If you're new to link ups here is an example to give you an idea of how it all works Fitness Friday Blog Hop. Contact me if you have any questions using the "Contact Jill" in the menu bar above. 

 

 

Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge 2011 || Beginning

(Run to the Finish)

This is my first year to join HBBC. I started yesterday with strength training, stretching and fruits and veggies. Not bad for Day 1. For the challenge I will focus on running, strength training, cross training and nutrition. The ultimate goal is to stay on track thoughout the holidays and enjoy myself too!

Goals For This Week

Workouts:

• running - 4 days (this is my first week back running after surgery so this goal is if all things go well)
• strength training - 5 days
• stretch - 2 days

Nutrition:

• Shakeology smoothie - 7 days
• vitamins - 7 days
• follow 11/20 - 11/26 clean eating menu (you can see an example here Commitment to Health and Fitness)

What are your goals for the week? Is this your first year of HBBC?

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With so many blogging friends joining HBBC what better way to keep up with their efforts, progress and accomplishments than a link up.

Amanda gave me the thumbs up to post a weekly link up for HBBC participants to share their blog posts. I will post my week in review along with the link up on Sunday morning and it will remain active through Saturday of that week. 

How this works: 

1. Follow me, the host, at [Fitness, Health & Happiness] on Google Friend Connect in the sidebar. 

2. Create a HBBC blog post.  

3. Using InLinkz below link directly to your HBBC post. Post URL only please.

4. Visit and comment as many other blogs as you wish.

5. There will be a new link up every week.

If you're new to link ups here is an example to give you an idea of how it all works Fitness Friday Blog Hop. Contact me if you have any questions using the "Contact Jill" in the menu bar above (third tab from the left).

 

 

A Commitment to Health and Fitness

Sunday
Breakfast: 6 egg white scramble with 1 tbs ground flax and 1 1/2 ozs mozzarella, 1 slice Ezekiel
Snack: 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, 1/2 c fresh blueberries, 1 tbs. chia seeds, 1/4 c toasted walnuts
Lunch: The Best Tuna Salad, 1 slice Ezekiel
Snack: edamame with sea salt
Dinner: Thai Lettuce Wraps

Monday 
Breakfast: Protein Fruit Smoothie with Ground Flax
Snack: 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, 1/2 c fresh blueberries, 1 tbs. chia seeds, 1/4 c toasted walnuts
Lunch: Thai Lettuce Wraps (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Turkey Burger (P90X recipe), 1 slice Ezekiel, 2 c red leaf lettuce, tomato slice

Tuesday
Breakfast: Egg White Sandwich (4 egg whites, 1 tbs ground flax, 1 oz mozarella), 2 slices Ezekiel
Snack: 1 oz dried edamame, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: Turkey Burger (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: 6 ozs grilled chicken, Eggplant Tomato Bake

Wednesday
Breakfast: Protein Fruit Smoothie with Groud Flax
Snack: 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, 1/2 c fresh blueberries, 1 tbs. chia seeds, 1/4 c toasted walnuts
Lunch: Grilled chicken and Eggplant Tomato Bake (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Grilled Chile Lime Chicken, Raw Summer Squash Salad with Feta and Tomatoes

Thursday
Breakfast: Egg White Sandwich (4 egg whites, 1 tbs ground flax, 1 oz mozarella), 2 slices Ezekiel
Snack: 1 oz soy nuts, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: Turkey Burger (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Grilled Chicken Bruschetta, 1 c steamed green beans with sea salt

Friday 
Breakfast: Protein Fruit Smoothie with Ground Flax
Snack: 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, 1/2 c fresh blueberries, 1 tbs. chia seeds, 1/4 c toasted walnuts
Lunch: Grilled Chicken Bruschetta (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Pasta Dinner (Alec is making the menu for this meal.)

Saturday 
Breakfast: Whole Wheat Bagel with 1 tbs almond butter (pre 20-mile long run)
Snack: Easy Energy Almond Smoothie
Lunch: OUT
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: The Best Tuna Salad, 1 slice Ezekiel, 1 c fresh fruit

Today I'm starting Round 3 of the P90X 90-Day Challenge altered just slightly to include running instead of some of the cardio workouts.

Sunday: Plank-A-Day, Pull-Up-A-Day, Stretch X
Monday: AM- Chest & Back, Ab Ripper PM- Run 6, Plank-A-Day, Pull-Up-A Day
Tuesday: AM- Ab Ripper, Pull-Up-A-Day PM- Run 8, Plank-A-Day
Wednesday: AM- Ab Ripper, Pull-Up-A-Day PM- Chest, Shoulders and Triceps, Plank-A-Day
Thursday: AM- Pull-Up-A-Day, Plank-A-Day PM- Run 6
Friday: AM- Legs & Back  PM- Ab Ripper, Plank-A-Day, Pull-Up-A-Day
Saturday: Run- 20, Ab Ripper

How will you challenge yourself today? This week? 

 

A Commitment to Health and Fitness

Sunday
Breakfast: 1 c. Kashi Go Lean, 1/2 c. skim milk
Snack: 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, fresh pineapple, toasted walnuts, cinnamon
Lunch: Veggie Pizza (leftovers)
Snack: --
Dinner: ANNIVERSARY DINNER AT TEAK THAI

Monday 
Breakfast: Spinach Scramble, 1 Ezekiel
Snack: 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, fresh pineapple, toasted walnuts, cinnamon
Lunch: leftovers from dinner
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Garden Pizza

Tuesday
Breakfast: Protein Fruit Smoothie with Flax
Snack: edamame with sea salt
Lunch: Garden Pizza (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Open Face Salmon Salad Sandwich with Spring Mix

Wednesday
Breakfast: Spinach Scramble, 1 Ezekiel
Snack: 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, fresh pineapple, toasted walnuts, cinnamon
Lunch: Ultimate Turkey Sandwich
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Grilled Chicken, Tomato and Pepperoncini Sandwich

Thursday
Breakfast: Protein Fruit Smoothie with Flax
Snack: soy beans and cranberries
Lunch: Grilled Chicken, Tomato and Pepperoncini Sandwich (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Thai Lettuce Wraps

Friday (Traveling to pick up Alec and Alyssa)
Breakfast: Spinach Scramble, 1 Ezekiel
Snack: soy nuts and cranberries
Lunch: ?
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: ?

Saturday (May still be traveling)
Breakfast: Spinach Scramble, 1 Ezekiel
Snack: edamame and cranberries
Lunch: Thai Lettuce Wraps (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Pasta Salad - Basil, Walnut and Kale Pesto add grilled chicken

This week's menu is planned around 2 things unique to the week. Traveling at the end of the week to pick up Alec and Alyssa :)

And our first week of Consumer Supported Agriculture (CSA). For the next 3 months we will be getting an unknown selection of locally grown and organic produce. This week I planned several dishes using kale, tomatoes, basil, zucchini and summer squash. 

Sunday: Stretch X, 12-Hour Plank An Hour  challenge
Monday: Run- 6, Abs/Core
Tuesday: Legs and Back, Ab Ripper
Wednesday: Run- 6, Abs/Core
Thursday: Run- 6, Abs/Core
Friday: Run- 4, Ab Ripper
Saturday: X Stretch, start new plank routine (long run moved to Sun)
(all strength training, cross training and most core workouts are P90X or P90X Plus)

What's on your menu and/or workout plan this week? Are you or have you recently added anything new to your plans?

A new favorite quote:

You're running on guts. On fumes. Your muscles twitch. You throw up. You're delirious. But you keep running because there's no way out of this hell you're in, because there's no way you're not crossing the finish line. It's a misery that non-runners don't understand.
Martine Costello

 

 

Rest Day Turns Into 12-Hour Plank An Hour Challenge

In lieu of (in addition to is more likely) my rest day, that is actually a Stretch X day, I'm joining the Plank A Day Revolution.

Goal: perform a 1 minute (or more) plank once an hour from 8am to 8pm

Reasons to join....

1. The timing is perfect. Do the hourly challenge now before I go back to work next week.
2. Just for fun.
3. A physical therapist recently told me the benefits of planks for more than just abs.
4. It's one of the best core/abdominal exercises and it's not a crunch.
5. I've been fitness challenge obsessed this summer.

A short how-to and plank variations here Perfecting the Plank.

What are your favorite abdominal exercises?