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Friday, July 29, 2011

Singing in the rain

So it looks like I'll be singing running in the rain tonight.  Although given that it's July, I'm just happy the sun isn't blazing.  It was raining this morning, now it's gray, and the forecast is storms for tonight.  Apparently the race is on and if there are storms in the area they'll wait it out for 15-30 minutes and see what happens.

I'll update you on Monday.

Last night's class was a disappointment.  Last week I had 27, last night I had 11.  That's actually the lowest attendance I've had since I started teaching.  I blame the summer.

Thankfully last night's ride was easy to adapt from 45 to 60.  I just added 3 songs at the end...
Bring Back the Funk - Krafty Kuts
Lighters - Bad Meets Evil featuring Bruno Mars
The Time - Black Eyes Peas

I seriously HATED The Time when it first came out.  I despise that Dirty Dancing song so of course I had to like any song that sampled it.  Thing is, that song has a great beat once you get past the sample.  Now I'm not afraid to admit that I LOVE it.  It totally gets me pumped!

Anyone watch America's Got Talent?  I think the show stinks, although in all fairness I've never watched a full episode, but Carlos was watching the other night and he called me down to check out a performance from Fighting Gravity who won last years show.

Check out a clip from their 2010 performance below.  They've got some cool stuff on youtube but I didn't want to put up anything too lengthy.

Fighting Gravity - America's Got Talent 2010

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Running help


This is so me!
Source
I have a 5K tomorrow, which isn't the issue.  Yes, I haven't run over 2 miles since the last 5K I did at the end of April, but that's besides the point.

Thing is, it's a sunset run, so it's at the end of the day.  It starts at 6:45p to be exact.

As you probably know, I have a weird stomach.  I know from experience that I can't eat peppers on any day where I will be spinning.  But I'm not sure what to do about running.

Usually a run is early AM in which case the stomach isn't an issue, but this time I'm stumped.  I obviously need to eat all day but I'm just not sure what to eat and what to avoid.

Any suggestions?

Chia Oh My-A


Is it just me or have you been seeing the words "chia seeds" all over the blog world?

I'll admit, aside from guessing that they're seeds, I know nothing about them.

Enter google.

Here's what I found...
Chia seeds are harvested from the Salvia hispanica plant, a type of sage in the mint family. The seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids and have versatile uses in the kitchen. Chia seeds were a staple of the ancient Aztec diet, and they are now grown commercially in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico.


Chia seeds may be eaten raw or prepared in a number of dishes. Raw, they are an excellent source of dietary fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids. Chia seeds may be ground into pinole, a meal that can be used for porridge or baked goods. They may also be soaked in fruit juice or water to make a dish known as chia fresca in Mexico. Chia seeds are very absorbent and develop a gelatinous texture when soaked in water.

In recent decades, chia has seen a resurgence in popularity and has been hailed as a "super food" with many dietary benefits. It helps the body retain fluids and electrolytes, it forms a gel in the stomach that slows the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar, and it helps build muscle and other tissues. Chia is a source of protein and boron, which aids in the absorption of calcium. Chia seeds can be used to make a gel that one can substitute for oil or other fats in a variety of recipes. Chia gel can be added to any sauces, jellies, or baked goods, for example.
Source

Have you done the chia thing?

I usually stay away from seeds because some of them mess with my stomach but perhaps these are worth a shot.  If you've tried them, let me know what they taste like and how you've used them.  Thanks!


Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Green monster

This is NOT me.
I do feel bad "borrowing"
this image, but who puts
a picture like this up online?
Source
Sorry Boston, this post is NOT about you or that yucky team of yours.  Sorry, born and bred yanks fan here. :)

Do you ever have repeat dreams?  Or dreams where one part happens frequently?  Like being caught naked at school?

I keep having dreams about being out and about with a facial mask (Queen Helene Mint Julep mask to be exact) on my face.  In last night's dream, I took a train to Philly (I think) and then took a bus to Baltimore.  During my trek from the train station to the bus I found it odd that no one was being friendly to me.  Once on the bus I randomly saw some college friends and it was the looks on their faces that reminded me that I had a green mask on my face.  WTF?  See image to the right.

Any dream interpreters out there?  What might this mean?

Anyway...
I didn't make it to the gym last night.  My lovely cyst was acting up so I wasn't feeling up for much.  Instead of going straight home, I hit up Home Goods and Walmart.  While in Walmart the sky opened up so I got caught in a bit of a summertime downpour.  I bought Bran Flakes as I hope to try Julie's peanut butter protein bars sometime this week.

For dinner I made some kale chips.  The kale was a little old and I was a little impatient so they weren't quite as crunch as I'd like, but they were still good.  Over the weekend Carlos had whipped together some veggie burgers.  Or rather, a veggie burger mush which you then shape in to patties.  He tried one on the grill on Sunday and it was an epic fail.  I didn't watch him make them, but from what he told me he used baby bella mushrooms, canned beets (to make it look like meat he said), peppers, chick peas, onions, breadcrumbs, one egg, and brown rice (ironically cooked in chicken bouillon).  He made them in a vitamix so the veggies are totally unidentifiable but I think it tastes great!  You can totally taste the mushrooms and the brown rice really helps with the texture.  I'll try to snap a photo later but be warned, they look kind of yucky in their raw state.

That said, any recommendations for home made veggie burger recommendations?

And now it's time to be productive.  Happy hump day!!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

smoothie

Pay no attention to the fact that I clearly
don't know how to remove stickers.
I've been seriously craving smoothies for breakfast.  Thing is, I didn't have any frozen strawberries.  My mother picked up a big bag for me from BJ's but in my haste on my last visit home, I forgot to take them.

In a fleeting moment of genius, I purchased fresh strawberries, washed them and cut off the stems and put them in the freezer.

This morning they were ready for use...

In to the Vitamix...
about 1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 frozen banana
1 cup almond milk
about 1 tbs PB2
1 scoop chocolate protein powder

Normally I'm so excited to drink my smoothie that I start it before I walk out the door, drink it in the car, and then finish it up in the office.  This morning I exercised restraint and didn't touch it in the car.  When I got to the office I put it in the freezer and went about starting my day and having my coffee.  About 1.5 hours later I took it out, let it thaw a bit and then enjoyed it.

Yummmmm!

While delicious, my smoothie recipes are pretty limited.  If you have any suggestions, please send them my way. Thanks!

Weekend recap, a day late

Good morning!

I just reread one of my posts and I mentioned that this weekend was going to be "productivity city".   Um yeah, not exactly.

It was productive in that I did one of the things I set out to do, but it wasn't nearly as productive as I expected.

My condo has a spare/storage room at the back of the garage.  During the kitchen renovation, there was a leak, which resulted in the need to rip down a good chunk of the ceiling of the storage room as it's right under the kitchen.  Since it's just a room off the garage, I left it a mess since I didn't have the time to tackle it.  Plus, there was insulation everywhere and I knew that would be a bit more complex than just a quick clean.

Sunday I donned a beautiful mask and rubber gloves and had at it.  I'm happy to say that it's nice and clean.  Or as clean as possible.  Down the line I should probably re-do the ceiling and pull up the gross carpet and lay a concrete floor.  Add that to the to do list.  In tidying up the back room I was able to move stuff from the garage in to the room, getting me one step closer to actually being able to use my garage.

I'm not sure whether it was the insulation, the drywall particles, or the mold spray but I spent the rest of the day with a bad headache and nausea.  It was pretty miserable.  My goal of a super productive day went out the window.  But at least the back room was cleaner.

I also had plans to spend some time here...


But alas, that didn't happen either.  Saturday was just too darn hot, and Sunday, well, I just explained Sunday.  Hopefully soon!

Off to get started on To Do Tuesday. :)

Monday, July 25, 2011

Golden arches

This morning I went to McDonald's for breakfast.  I usually bring dry cereal with apple sauce (since I don't drink milk solo).  In an unfortunate accident, the apple sauce jar crashed to the ground and shattered on Saturday.  I taught at 6a and needed food so Mickey D's was just fine in a pinch.

The fruit and brown sugar oatmeal is good in a situation like this.  With 290 calories it's a filling breakfast that isn't too bad for you.

I would normally do the drive through, but this location doesn't have one, so in I went.  I couldn't believe how crowded it was.  While I was waiting, I was listening to what people were ordering, nothing too crazy.  This one woman comes up to the counter.  She's overweight.  Not overweight as in a few extra pounds but overweight as in her health could be at risk.  She ordered the big breakfast.  That's fine, no judgement here, but I was curious about the big breakfast so I took a look at the McD's website.

First, there are a bunch of versions you can get.  I heard hotcakes mentioned, so I looked at that one.  Big Breakfast with Hotcakes (Regular Size Biscuit) (did you even know biscuits came in different sizes?), 1090 calories, 56 grams of fat.  Yup, almost an entire day in one meal. Wowsers.

Maybe this is the marketer in me, but if it's that bad for you, don't call it the Big Breakfast, that's just too obvious.  Give it a "prettier" name.  Unethical, maybe, but then at least people can play dumb and say they didn't realize that it was that bad for you.

I've said this before and I will surely say it again down the line, read a nutrition facts brochure for your favorite chain restaurant, it's VERY eye opening.

So now I was curious as to what the WORST offender was on the menu....

The good news is, it's not a sandwich or fries...it's the 32 oz chocolate triple thick shake which clocks in at 1160 calories, 27g fat, and  128g sugar.  (That's over 25 teaspoons!)

I have a huge sweet tooth but reading something like that turns my stomach.

On that note, who wants a snack?  Ha ha ha.

Friday, July 22, 2011

nifty

Hey spinners or cyclists..



A friend just sent me this link...
http://www.proform.com/tour-de-france/

I tried to post the video from the site but it won't let me.

Check it out.  Would you buy it if you had an extra $1300?

401

Wow, this is my 401st post.  Nuts!

I'm up to 13 followers, woo hoo!  Still striving for 20 :)

Like every Thursday, I taught last night.  Class was awesome.  I had way more people than ever before.  Maybe it was the weather or maybe the word is getting out.  I don't even care, it was just great to teach to an almost full class.

Since I was teaching, Carlos was on dinner duty, as he is almost every night.
Dinner was super simple yet mega delicious.
On the menu:  Chicken Sandwiches (Trader Joe's multi grain flat, grilled chicken, kale, tomato, honey mustard (just mixed honey and spicy mustard) and mango).
The mango made the sandwich.  What an amazing and healthy way to add flavor to a meal.

I'm not sure if I've said this before, but I'm a huge fan of fruit mixed in with meals.  Pineapple pizza, mango in sushi, apples on sandwiches, you bet!

On the food topic.  Carlos also made kale chips the other night.  I guess he just tossed kale in a little olive oil and spices and then baked it.  Amazing!

OK, now I'm hungry.

This weekend is going to be productivity city but also relaxing.  Easier said than done but I am determined.

Have great weekends and if you're in any of the many areas experience record breaking temperatures, stay cool and hydrated!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Here we go again

I have a 5K next Friday.  That's 8 days from today.

In the past month, I've run approximately 2 miles, total.

It's a sunset run, so it starts at 6:30ish.  Keep in mind that it's July and on a day like today, at 6:30 it will still be over 80 degrees.  I really hope that's not the case next week.  Heck, if it's like today, with air so thick you can grab it, I'll probably walk it.

I have a cyst.  I'm still not sure if I'm supposed to run but I'm hoping for the best.

However, the good news is that it's my second 5K and the first one didn't have official timing, so I'll definitely have a personal best!  :)

Other exciting news for me is that my friend is letting me borrow her hybrid bike.  So excited!  I had gone to the cycle store last week to get some information and get an idea of prices.  Of course I ended up totally overwhelmed with information and unsure whether to go the road or hybrid route.  When I asked for her input she reminded me that she has an extra that has been in her garage for years.  Score! So this weekend I'll pick it up and maybe even give it a whirl.  Stay tuned for that.

Have a great evening!!

Smile for today

You know what makes me smile?

Animals driving cars.



If you make a commercial that involves animals driving cars, I'm going to like it.

Anyone else?

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Let's Date

Tonight I'm off to host one of my 8 Minute Dating events.

I really enjoy the events when they're happening, but the couple of days leading up to an event are always rather stressful.  I blame the men.  Sounds funny, but I'm serious.  Men don't want to sign up for these events for fear of being deemed a "loser".  I've heard this from men, I'm not making it up.

Thing is, women LOVE this sort of thing and I always have plenty of women to attend.  If only men realized this, they might be more likely to sign up.  Maybe?

So in the last few days leading up to an event I'm usually scrambling to find men to attend.  Not fun.

So instead of going to the gym to visit my beloved TRX, I'll be at a bar.  About even, right?

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Last minute spinning

It's 2:23p.  I'm teaching tonight at 5:30p.  Yikes!

I got a call this morning asking if I could sub.   5:30 is tough for me so I just hoped they'd find someone else.  They didn't.  They called me again.  I was the last person on their list so if I didn't take it, the class would be cancelled.  

Maybe I'm just too nice but I couldn't do that to the members.  So now I have to sprint out of the office at 5p to get to the gym in time to change and teach.  Fingers crossed that it goes smoothly but I guess even if I'm a few minutes late it's better than there being no instructor.  Right?

Soreness makes me smile

I like being a little sore after a workout.  I like knowing that I did something that used my muscles.  Of course sometimes soreness is bothersome, like when your quads are super sore and you have to go down a lot of stairs, or when your abs are really sore and you have to cough (or get out of bed). But even then, while I'm cursing, I'm still kind of enjoying the feeling.

So I'm happy to say that I am sore today.  Yesterday morning I hit the gym before work.  I did a quick run (just under 2 miles) outside (by quick, I mean short, not fast), then took a TRX class.  This class has a different instructor than the Wednesday class and it's interesting to see what each instructor comes up with.  Overall I liked the Wednesday night class better, but this was fine too, plus it wasn't packed which makes a HUGE difference.

Do you remember this guy?  The ab wheel?

I think these probably became popular in the late 90's.  I had one in college.  You use your core and ab muscles to stabilize during the roll out and then roll back in.

Well, apparently you can do something very similar on the TRX.



Source
 It's called a roll out.  It's essentially the same as the wheel but since you're hanging, you have to use even more muscles to stabilize yourself.

This exercise is the main reason I am sore.  My entire core is sore.  Upper, lower, side, you name it.  It's awesome since we all know how hard it can be to work that area.

Yay TRX!  So, have you TRX'ed??

Monday, July 18, 2011

Support the girls

Good morning!  Happy Monday!

I hope you had wonderful weekends.  Mine was nice.  I finally got some time in by the pool so I no longer resemble a ghost.  The weirdest thing was that I was the only person at the pool.    I guess people deemed it more of a beach day, which is fine.  Personally, I don't go to the beach in CT because I think it shouldn't even be called a beach, but that's just me.

So....


Both my sister and I are huge fans of the Target sports bras. They were on sale last week so between me, my sister, and my mother, I think we bought about 7.  Then a few days later my mother went back to Target with her friend who is also obsessed and they both bought more.

So what is so great about them?  They're really comfortable and while they absorb sweat, you don't feel wet.  Plus, they come in the most wonderful and bright colors. I knew I was in love when I found my first tie dyed sports bra.  Love.

As you can see, there are two styles, the more substantial standard style and then the bra-let type style.  Both are great.  However, I'm not sure how either would do for someone with big girls.  I think the bralet one is probably low/medium impact.  Although if you're like me, many of my shirts have built in bras which turns a low impact into a more solid medium impact.

The only drawback?  They bleed.  I haven't found the tie dye ones to bleed, but I have a pink with black straps one and a neon orange one and they both bleed.  The pink one only bleeds on to my skin.  This morning I wore the orange one and it tinted part of my shirt.  It does come off in the wash though.  My sister has had some serious issues with this, tinting her tshirt and then tinting the towel she was holding.  That said, I'll issue a buyer beware but it hasn't stopped me.  I just bought a black one but since I haven't worn it yet I can't say if it bleeds.

Have you tried these?  Do you like them?  Hate them?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

smiley face

I really think I'm starting to feel like myself again.  It feels great!

I can't say what changed or exactly when things shifted but I feel good and I'm going with it.

So let's see...
Today is Thursday so I have a one hour class tonight that I'm not at all prepared for.  I'm hoping to have some down time at work or during lunch to throw together a 60 minute ride.  I really had no idea how time consuming it would be to have to adapt all my old rides.  I also really had no idea of how little spare time I have in a week.

Yesterday I bought myself a little present.


I got the pink one and I was lucky enough to find it at Marshall's on clearance.  It was missing a straw but I was sneaky and took one from another cup and put it in.  Is that stealing?  I hope not!

Since I've finally figured out how to make a smoothie that tastes good, it's been one of my favorite summertime breakfasts.  Thing is, I was pouring it in to a cup and then taking it in the car, sans lid.  Thankfully it only made a mess once, but I figured a cup with a lid was probably a good idea.

Maybe I'm pathetic, but I'm REALLY excited to use it.

Last night I finally went back to the TRX class at Crunch.  The class was at 6p and I had to be there by 5:30 to sign up so I did some incline walking pre-class.  They have those crazy treadmills that go up to an incline of 30%.  I only made it to 18%.  It's tough!  I wanted to run but it didn't feel right and due to a health issue (more below) I decided to stick with walking.  

The class was great.  Unfortunately it's only 30 minutes so it's a bit rushed, but I do enjoy moving quickly from one exercise to the next.  The only other downside is that there are a few too many TRXs for the space.  They are all mounted along one side wall and the back wall.  Some mounts have 4 TRXs on them, which just makes for very close quarters.

Pardon me while I get up on my soapbox.  I think TRX is a bit more advanced of workout method.  It assumes that you have knowledge of form and core strength.  Clearly many people in this class did not have this knowledge.  Since it's a quick and crowded class, I don't think there's enough one on one critique.  It pains me to see people using incorrect form, but it's not my job to help them.  Maybe an intro TRX class would be a good idea.  On a side note, I'd really like to get certified to teach it, but I think then I'd probably need a few other certifications too.  Since I just realized I have no free time, that's probably not an option right now.

And back to earth...

So once again I'm dealing with a health issue and once again it's female.  Ugh.  I again have an ovarian cyst.  I have no clue why all of a sudden I'm having these issues, but I am.  The last time the doc initially told me to do no physical activity.  This time he just told me not to twist.

I did a quick google search regarding running (I'm signed up to run a 5K in 2 weeks) and was amazed by how much talk there was on this topic.  Have any of you dealt with this sort of thing?  What did you find in terms of your working out?

For now I'm going about things as usual but if something feels off I'll stop.  Sounds logical, right?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Bumper cars


Am I the only one out there who thinks that we should be allowed to hit other cars?  For example, when someone does something stupid, like cut you off or brake for no reason, you should be able to give them a little bump, just to say "you idiot!".

Anyone?

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

I have a confession

I packed lunch this AM but then left my lunch bag at home.  Duh.  I have this little problem that whenever I go to Fresh Market for lunch, I just have to get a cookie.  Many of them were disappointing, but instead of turning me off, it causes me to keep trying new ones.  Weird, right?  So....

Immediately after eating my lunch, I ate a cookie.




Not just any cookie...


A cookie with a brownie (complete with walnuts) on the INSIDE!  How is that even possible?

My mind is already wondering how I could possibly replicate this.  Hmmm.

On a side note, I'm now overly full and feeling a bit nauseous, but it will pass. :)

Spin things - 2 cents needed

Of course anyone can read this post but I have a few questions for a few of my fellow spin instructors.  I'd love your input.  If you take spin classes and have any thoughts, I'd love to hear those too.

My certification is up August 1st so I've spent a bunch of time recently taking CE courses.

While taking this last course (which I believe had to do with profile types), it mentioned that the body works harder when in the saddle then when out at 3.  This makes perfect sense since you have your body weight to help when you're out of the saddle.

Since reading that, I've shared it with my classes and tried to shift some of my standing climbs to seated climbs.  Thing is, I know it's not the most exciting position, so I'm cautious about spending too much time in the saddle.  I tend to think that the "i spin because it's fun and I sweat alot" people want the variety, but those who are more serious about fitness understand the benefit and are OK with less moving around.  I'm hoping that by telling them all that they can work harder in the saddle that they'll understand an embrace it.

As an instructor, do you feel a similar pressure to keep them moving?  Have you spent more time in the saddle, and if so, how have you handled the class and their possible desire to be in 3 instead?

Next....
Do any of you teach on the Keiser bikes?  Is anyone Keiser certified?  If so, is there a hand position 1?  I personally find these bikes to be much more challenging than the Spinning NXTs.  Anyone else?
Also, what does Keiser say about pedaling backwards?  I only ask this because I've seen way more people pedaling backward post-class than I did elsewhere.  Perhaps one of the instructors encourages this, I don't know.  What do you tell people who peddle backwards?

OK, I think i've asked enough questions, so thank you in advance!  :)

Monday, July 11, 2011

Monday and a spin ride

Happy Monday!

I can't speak for everyone, but it's HOT here.  Tomorrow is supposed to be even worse, so I'm quite content in my air conditioned office in an office building with covered parking. :)

Since I'm sure you were on the edge of your seat about what I wore to the wedding, I'll tell you that I went with the strapless one.  While I love them both, the strapless was more timeless (and more than half the price of the other), so it seemed like a logical decision.

It was an exhausting weekend and while I'm not happy that I'm back at work, I'm OK with a new week starting.

Tonight I'm subbing a class and am excited to get a class in early in the week.  Plus, I'm hoping it can help me get more people to come to my Thursday class.  So of course I had to tweak a 45 minute ride.  I used the ride that I rode on Saturday.  It was an existing ride but I made some adjustments to the music.  I'm going to post both with the songs to cut out for a 45 in red.

I'm once again posting it as an image file.  For those of you who view my spin rides, is this better or worse than me typing out the play list?  Let me know. :)

OK, back to work, but I'll be back in a bit with a question for my spinners. 

Later gator!

Friday, July 8, 2011

I am here

Sorry I've been a bit light with the blogging lately, I don't have a good excuse, I've just been a bit busy and as a result, wasn't sure what to write about.

But I'm still here and hopefully will be better next week.  :)

But first....

I managed to take some (crappy) photos of me in the two dresses I bought.  I sent them to a few friends for input and am still not sure which I'm going to wear.  I'll try them again tonight for a friend and then probably make the final decision on the fly tomorrow.  Decisions decisions.

Without further ado...here you go...


Now go have a great weekend and I'll catch you on Monday, and let you know which dress I went with.

TGIF!!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

The good news is, I got a dress!  Actually, I bought two, but I plan on only keeping one.

I tried so hard to find pictures online of both but only succeeded with one of them.

the top has a nude mesh detail
If I do a fashion show, maybe I'll post pictures of both, but we'll see. :)

I'm teaching tonight.  I expect it to be quiet.  Stamford, CT (about 15-20 minutes away) has something on Thursdays in the summer called Alive @ 5.  It's pretty much an outdoor party with music.  Tonight MC Hammer is playing, so I'm expecting the gym to be dead.  Guess we'll see.

I have to run, but on a side note...

Do you know what this means?

After lunch I was driving back to work and came to a pedestrian crossing.  I stopped to let the woman cross but was appalled amazed at how many people just kept going. For some reason this really pissed me off today.

And I'm off....

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Designer hips

Strike a pose!
I am in desperate need of a dress for this weekend.  I didn't order any of the Rent the Runway choices because I was very nervous about fit.  I hit up a few stores a few weeks ago and then came home and tried on every dress I had.  For the wedding last week I wore the silver Phoebe Couture dress that I wore to my friend Jamie's wedding.  I also planned to wear it this weekend.  Turns out, I don't really like it, and thanks to the boning, it's really uncomfortable.

So back to the drawing board.

Yesterday I went to Annie Sez (kind of like TJ Maxx if you don't know them).  I tried on 5 dresses.  Either they were too short or they were just unflattering/ugly.

Today I went to Roundabout which is a designer/couture used/new store.  There I probably tried on 6-7 dresses.  It was in that dressing room that I learned that I do NOT have designer hips.  Or rather, the people designers design for don't have hips.  Plus, their goal definitely isn't to flatter the waif-like models.  It was interesting.  Either things fit and were quite unflattering or they fit on top but not on the bottom.  darn hips!

So back to the drawing board I go.  I may try Lord & Taylor tonight although I dislike that store and it's probably going to be too expensive anyway.

Moving on....

Last night I actually made it to the gym as planned, woo hoo!  I took a body sculpting type class, which was OK.  I'd take it again, I just didn't love it.  It was very leg heavy and personally I prefer to work on my upper body, but perhaps I'm in the minority.  Plus I didn't think the instructor had the best form, but that's definitely something I'm overly critical of.  But really, it was fine, I'm sore today.  Mission accomplished.

After the class I decided to do a quick mile on the treadmill.  Seeing as this gym was pretty crowded, I hopped on one of the only available machines and when the belt started going it felt like there was sand under it.  In other words, it wasn't smooth.  So I took the only other open treadmill.  It felt better so I turned up my music and got going.

The machine was at 6.0, so nothing crazy.  I'm running along doing my thing but noticing that people are looking at me.  Odd.  I keep going.  I come to a break in a song and I hear this horrible, loud sound and realize that it's my treadmill.  Still with my music on, I say to the guy next to me "this treadmill is pretty loud, eh".  Thing is, my music was still on so I YELLED that at him.  Song ended and I was able to speak normally.  But at this point I didn't want to stop, so I kept going with the horribly loud treadmill.  I was totally that girl.

So there we go. Time to get back to work!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

And it's July...


Just doing a google image search for fireworks made me smile.  Try it! :)

Yes, I know it's actually been July since last week, but in terms of my posts, this is the first one in July.

And, July 4th has come and gone.  Wow.

I love the 4th of July, it's one of my favorite holidays.  I think I love it because it's in the summer, it's so patriotic, and it always involves fireworks and BBQs.  Plus it's usually the first day off from work since Memorial Day.

It was fun this year, but the whole weekend was so busy that I didn't do anything on the 4th (by choice) and didn't even see any fireworks, although I did hear them.

A recap:  Friday was time with my parents, erranding and home improvement stuff.  Saturday was a wedding at West Point.  Sunday my condo neighbors and I had a pig roast/BBQ.  Then it was Monday.

I ate a lot this weekend.  Which is OK because I think it will make the transition back to healthy eating easier.  When it comes down to it, my stomach doesn't like bad-for-you food, so I should overall feel better now that it's out of my system.

Today is the turning over of a new leaf!  Healthy eating and gym, here I come!

As it related to a post last week, I signed up for another 5K.  It's in a bit over 3 weeks and is an evening "sunset run".  Hopefully it will help me motivate.

How were your weekends?

The lemon blueberry squares were just as good as I remembered even though I had to use quick oats instead of the original.  Yum!

Any good recipes to share?