Move It Monday

A couple months ago, someone lit a fire underneath my post-baby butt. Instead of doing my usual elliptical/freeweights, I started going to a few classes at my gym- and the instructor somehow learned my name and has pushed me to my max every. single. class. I am loving the accountability, and also am finding that I have a new love for group fitness.

I tend to be the type that likes to just focus on my own workout alone, go hard, and then be done. I am not the person chatting it up at the gym, in between machines. However, these classes have really pushed me out of the box as far as pushing different muscle groups and breaking out of my plateau. The two classes I attend regularly now are spin and muscle blast {BodyPUMP is getting there}. Each class, I think I’m not gonna make it through- but I always do and I always manage to push myself a LITTLE further. It’s exciting AND it’s addicting. I find that scheduling my workouts and having people notice when I don’t come are HUGE motivators. Also, I’m not going to be the only one that can’t do 8 million lunges- if SHE can do it, SO CAN I!

On days when we don’t hit the gym, Gabs and I work out together. Usually its a walk or run with the stroller, other days she and I do core stuff. And other days, we eat chocolate chips and salad and cuddle on the couch. This may or may not happen more often than I’d like.

Gabs’ workout compilation comes to you, free of charge.

Planks: She held this for 25 sec.

Bicycles & Push-ups : She’s laughing at me because I still do modified ‘girl’ push-ups. Wimp.

Pull-ups: 

Stretching:

Kettlebells:

There ya have it. She is next Jillian Michaels, and I’m pretty proud. Scared, but proud.

What do you do to stay in shape? I love hearing what others do for exercise!

~M

June!!

These are my favorite mornings.

Sometimes Joey comes in for breakfast when I have the day off of work, and it’s a great start to the day- it’s like a little date before the day begins! Typically we eat breakfast on the fly, since we both have to be at work pretty early. So when we have these special days, we take the time to make something really, really good. Like today, we voted french toast and bacon. I didn’t really follow a recipe for the french toast, just threw a couple eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and a dash of honey into a bowl, lightly soaked the bread in the batter, and fried it up in some butter. I made a ‘skinny’ french toast for myself- all I changed was that I used vanilla almond milk (WHAT?! But you live on a DAIRY!?! How could you?! Are you saying that milk is BAD for you?!) No, no, no. Let me tell you, we drink our milk in this house! Raw, sometimes! But I’ve come to like almond milk as a fun and lower calorie change sometimes- anyways, Joey just planted some almond trees with his dad last year, so we have to support both industries! Also, I just used egg whites. Oh, and don’t forget the pure maple syrup- if you haven’t ever tried pure maple syrup, you don’t know what you’re missing out on! It’s a little more expensive than your regular thick syrup, but oh is it worth the dough. You’ll wonder why you ever acquainted yourself with Aunt Jemimah.

When I had about half a piece of my toast left, I knew that little smidgen I had left wasn’t going to fill this tummy til lunch! So I added a dollop of plain greek yogurt (Fage is my fave), and another little drizzle of syrup.

Sorry, that plate looks pretty gross. It sure was tasty, though!

After our lovely little breakfast date, we parted ways for the rest of the day. I quick took my dogs for a little walk/swim in the canal before starting my to-do list, which felt pretty good after that big breakfast. Aren’t they cute? I think they could smell the bacon on my breath…

I was surprised with a phone call from a dear friend during our walk too! It was so good to catch up- I think friendships are one of the greatest blessings out there. Plus, this friend had a pretty hilarious scary story. She will remain nameless, but if you see a girl walking around with pig teeth marks on her calf, you’ll know who I was talking to. Oh yes, it was a good story.

After I got back from our walk, I gardened a little bit and then headed out for some errands and groceries! I also got my laptop fixed, which will make this blogging experience a whole lot more fun. Those Apple employees are geniuses, aren’t they?! It actually says the employee’s name on their name badge, and ‘genius’ too! Awesome, I wish that was on my RN license…

That breakfast kept me really full well past lunchtime, and by the time I realized I was a little hungry- it was 3:45 and grocery shopping time! We all know it’s dangerous to go into Costco with a rumbly tumbly, so I popped into jamba Juice to try out that new green smoothie they’ve been advertising.

I got a sixteen ‘Apples’n’Greens’, and it was soooo good! Hit. The. Spot. I was slightly disappointed because there wasn’t actually any veggies in the smoothie, just the usual fruit and then veggie juice. I’ll still take it though. This was about 220 calories, and 3 servings of fruit and 2 servings of veggies! A lot of sugar still, but a girl’s gotta have her snack.

After Costco, I squeezed in some gym time! Ran a fast 2 miles on the treadmill with intervals, then about 32 min on the elliptical. Finished up with 2 sets of squats, some dumbells, and planks. Man, planks are killer. I always feel so energized after a good workout, and was looking forward to the usual pit stop at the fruit stand on the way home! Seriously- all this for $8.14?!

I have come to be pretty good friends with the staff at this fruitstand, since I see them once or twice a week! I always look kinda sweaty and gross when I’m there though, since its usually after the gym… sorry guys.

Now dinner time with my man! BLT’s and salad on the menu tonight! I guess we didn’t get enough bacon this morning… gotta keep that ball rollin!

Joey had the true BLT, and I had this beauty. This may well be the best salad of my life! I added a 3 bean salad to the top there- it was a Mediterranean bean salad from Costco, 70 cal for a 1/2 cup and SO good! Plus a scoop of hummus on the side. And tons of veggies and some bacon, of course.

Dessert:

This bowl x 3. Can’t get enough of those babies!

Happy June!

~M

P.S. did I tell you that K is coming over on Sunday again?! So excited! In the meantime, have a looksy at my adorable niece and her beautiful mommy!