Okay...so tomorrow is the last day of school, aka "short time to breath within the year." :) I am doing summer school but its a 'breeze.' I will miss this year's class as I know I will never have another one like this amazingly unique bunch. Ugh, tear! So I plan on returning to my sweet little abandoned blog.:) So much has happened since March. The Texas budget has directly affected our sweet district and has changed the "make-up" of our school. It has been a stressful few months to say the least. The positive time has come. The good news is that second semester usually brings more time , less stress time to work out. Lifetime is still my beloved "extra" family member that dote on frequently. Love that I have made new friends with the regulars that come to the same classes.... Totally worth the money I pay for the gym fee!(everyone thinks I am loca!)
On to the next blog thing I have wanted to blog about, Crossfit. So its the latest thing I have I heard about and I had to try it. My sis went to one in the city where she lives and was saying it was pretty intense. The more friends I had saying, "oh I know this girl who does it and she looks great." Challenge? Uh Yes! I was intrigued. So my apartment complex offers tons of free fitness services that I don't try very much (b/c I pay a ton for Lifetime, why would I?), including a free Crossfit class weekly .So I went down feeling a little nervous. The guys that were running it showed up in a hummer, had us sign a waiver, and we were starting! We started with a pretty nice little warm up that reminded me of warm ups from my college bball days. I was starting to feel very warm after a couple rounds of light sprints, bear crawls, skips, jumps and more. The next part was spent on form and this is where it got a little slow. On top of this, they were telling us a squat form that was opposite of what my coaches had preached to me for 15 years (knees go out to the side as you get lower!!??!) We spent a good 20 min on form and a standing exercise. I was like geeze, lets get going. Then I got my wish. We were on a team of five and had to run to a nearby street, get 300 kettle ball swings, and 200 burpees (hit chest to ground, jump up to a high knee jump), then run back to the street and back. The team of five split up the work going two at a time. However, one of our team members decided to sit b/c he was so tired so we quickly became a team of four. Missed the rest time that the team member would have given us for sure! This surely pushed me to zone four as I was exhausted. For 20-30 min, I was feeling it. I will rant on this portion for sure. Supposedly the sessions usually don't last as long as this one did. I think it varies each time. My final take is this: I think if you want a community and aren't apart of a great gym, why not do it? It kicks your butt and there is no way you can't get in shape. Reminds me of boot camps with a little higher intensity. A little P90X ish. Just my opinion. As for me , I will probably go again but will stick to my beloved classes at Lifetime.
On to the next round of this post today. I made the best, light, summer dip the other day. Here is the recipe:
2 boxes of strawberries
2 avocados
Parsley
1 bag of Stacy's Cinnamon Pita chips
Cut the strawberries and avocados into tiny chunks and put in a bowl. Add the parsley. Easy and amazing. Put it on the chips and the mix of flavors is life changing, and slightly addicting. I ate WAY to much of this! Ha, human. Sorry no pic. Just trust me, you want to make it!!:)
Well, glad I'm back on my blog circuit again.... I have been blog stalking like crazy on teacher blogs and style blogs. Ugh. when I figure out how to post them to my wall, I will share this world with you. :) Until then,
Happy Work Outs. :)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
These chips rock my face off...
Happy Work outs!!:)
P.S. Swimsuit season is coming up faster than you know it!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Water, Water, Water
So I used to be on the train of "I hate drinking water." Then something happend where I changed my mind. I drink water 98% during the day, and sadly the other 2 % is my morning coffee. I can't say I noticed some life changing event when I started guzzling water like nobody's business. But I did notice how "healthy" I felt knowing that I was making a great choice of drinking, almost mainly, water!
Now, after saying all the water I drink, I do like to keep it snazzy by adding lemon juice. I don't always care for the plain tasted of water so I feel that is a natural way to give it flavor. In California, the hotel we stayed at had cucumbers and strawberries in two sepereate pitchers. The water had a very light taste of it even though it had been soaking all day. It was soooo refreshing!!! The packets of flavor from Crystal Light aren't for me. I also heard somewhere that when you add those kinds of packets to water, your kidney had to filter that as opposed to just plain water. Thus, not "counting" as your daily water intake. Not sure if thats true or not, but I def took to action after hearing that! Here are some benefits of drinking a good amount of water daily:
Organicfacts.net:
Health benefits of drinking water include maintenance of pH balance, body temperature, metabolism, breathing, prevention of constipation, heartburn, migraine, gastritis and ulcers, kidney stones, cardiovascular disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, backache and osteoporosis.
Water plays important roles in the functioning of circulatory, respiratory, excretory and nervous systems, along with metabolic reactions, maintenance of skin components and prevention of a number of disorders.
Now I do know that some medical studies claim that water intake isn't necessarily a health benefit. I think there are contradicting articles regardless the topic. However, it does make sense, that dehyrdration can cause so many issues, so why not drink water to help aide with the onset? Plus, we are made up mainly by water, so it can't hurt to up the intake if you don' t drink it.
I also think that having fun water bottles def help with lugging it around. I think if they are big, then when you down one full container, you are probably almost done with the intake. Its an easier way to set goals of drinking all day. Here are some of my favorites that I am usually lugging around.
Now, after saying all the water I drink, I do like to keep it snazzy by adding lemon juice. I don't always care for the plain tasted of water so I feel that is a natural way to give it flavor. In California, the hotel we stayed at had cucumbers and strawberries in two sepereate pitchers. The water had a very light taste of it even though it had been soaking all day. It was soooo refreshing!!! The packets of flavor from Crystal Light aren't for me. I also heard somewhere that when you add those kinds of packets to water, your kidney had to filter that as opposed to just plain water. Thus, not "counting" as your daily water intake. Not sure if thats true or not, but I def took to action after hearing that! Here are some benefits of drinking a good amount of water daily:
Organicfacts.net:
Health benefits of drinking water include maintenance of pH balance, body temperature, metabolism, breathing, prevention of constipation, heartburn, migraine, gastritis and ulcers, kidney stones, cardiovascular disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, backache and osteoporosis.
Water plays important roles in the functioning of circulatory, respiratory, excretory and nervous systems, along with metabolic reactions, maintenance of skin components and prevention of a number of disorders.
Now I do know that some medical studies claim that water intake isn't necessarily a health benefit. I think there are contradicting articles regardless the topic. However, it does make sense, that dehyrdration can cause so many issues, so why not drink water to help aide with the onset? Plus, we are made up mainly by water, so it can't hurt to up the intake if you don' t drink it.
I also think that having fun water bottles def help with lugging it around. I think if they are big, then when you down one full container, you are probably almost done with the intake. Its an easier way to set goals of drinking all day. Here are some of my favorites that I am usually lugging around.
Find a water bottle that is big and fun that will help with a new goal of drinking more water.
If you are a coke/diet coke drinker, know the effects of high fructose corn syrup as well as aspartame, which is found in diet sodas. I know that the diet has a lack of sugar but read up on aspartame and its effects. You will be shocked on all the negative things it can do to your body. High Fructose corn syrup is that "filler" that is found in tons of foods. But not a good thing to intake. Its fake, our bodies aren't made to take in "fillers." I am not judging anyone who are soda drinkers, just consider stepping out of the soda bubble. :)As an athlete all my life, coaches helped rear my mind away from soda. I did go through a phase in college of drinking it but thankfully grew out of it. Every now and then, like once in a blue moon, I will have a sprite. If I vear from water, its usually to its sister-- tea! :) I grew up drinking tea, making tea, watching my family drink tea. So, naturally its kind of in my blood. If I want to "spice"things up, I will do the tea ( unsweet and then add my own portion of sugar)
If you are contemplating a new water regimen, take it in strides. Go buy a new water bottle or cup. Start with reminders to sip often. See how much better you will feel drinking a clear, natural liquid from the Earth!
Happy Work outs!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
It may be cold outside, but....
It may be cold outside, but it will be time soon enough when we put the little fabric outfit on called the bathing suit. I have def kept this in mind over these last few weeks of super cold weather. Its not easy leaving the house when its soooo cold outside. I was determined enough today to brave the inch iced roads, but was not left disappointed. There is something about being one of the only ones at the gym. A sense of accomplishment, athletic-ness, "you braved the weather" to kick your own butt feeling. And I sure did. To be honest, I enjoyed it more than I have any other work out here lately. I hurt my back a few weeks ago along with getting a strange lightheaded/dizzy sickness, and to be honest, it was throwing me off! Luckily, neither one of those two knocked me out from the gym longer than three days. I put ear plugs in at the gym to help with this ear unbalanced thing, and did alot of spinning the first week back from the back thing.
Which brings me to my next topic, how I have fallen in love with spinning all over again. This has been a 4 year love affair. We had the honey moon stage for about a year and a half. I was head over heels for this new found exercise routine. Loved it! Started pursuing other types of exercises while visiting spin class weekly still. Then, once again here in the last month, its swept me off my feet. I recently bought cycle shoes that "clip"in for a better ride and wow!!! They change the work out sooo much! Its like my eyes were opened. But these days I have started to respect the bike that takes me to high levels of cardio and pushes my limits. I love being in a spin class with 'legit' music. Feeling the rhythm and keeping pace is the challenge I enjoy. Please try spinning if you haven't. Yes, its hard. Yes, its everything you have heard. And yes, only you know how hard you are pushing yourself on that bike,whether you are pushing those limits to make real changes. I love my shoes and I got such a great deal (which you know I am always up for), at REI b/c of the Lifetime fitness discount. You have to buy the clips separate. The bike like this one at my gym. They def vary from gym to gym. Its crazy, b/c if you would have asked my before doing a spin workout if I thought you would get tired doing a bike, I would have said your
crazy. Point of this topic, fall in LOVE with something that makes changes to your health and body for the better. Feel good about laying by the pool this summer or putting on those cute little summer shorts. This is your life, celebrate it with things you enjoy. Yes, every now and then you won't enjoy the hard ones while they are happening, but enjoy it when you finish. Stand tall, feel great and enjoy the hard work.
Over the holidays, I was very stressed to see the scale was telling me that I ate to many sweets. Lets be honest, I know I was eating and enjoying more than I knew I could keep up with. We aren't talking 15-20 pounds here, but even the extra "few" was def making me feel blue! Luckily, I have my sis as a work out partner at home and even when she left for a few days, I stayed strong going to the local Lifetime. Last week going back to the dr, the scale wasn't disappointing. I didn't believe it when I stepped on the scale and demanded to step on their second scale! No really , I did! I had still been feeling not so great about the weight gain from December, and really was soooo happy I was at my normal "last four years' weight. I honestly think it was the lack of eating sweets everyday and continued work outs. This opened my eyes to see that no amount of over eating will make me feel as good as staying healthy. Those sweets aren't going to feel as good as strong, lean muscles. I have had a re-focus rather than beginning of year goal making. I feel this happens to all of us. Tighter pants, a little extra jiggle, lack of motivation- these should be a wake up call to get going strong again! Don't give up and go into a slippery slope where it takes months to crawl out of.
Lots to type this time... needing to frequent my blog about what I love so much more often.
P.S. Passed my P.E. cert test--- now to find a job in that arena!!!:) until then, I will teach the littles in kinderland.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Fitness is a way of life.... not a goal
Ok, you are probably wondering why not a goal. I feel like there are goals in the realm of working out and staying active, not the actual being a goal. I didn't make any fitness New Year's Resolutions this year, or any in general, b/c I think fitness and staying in shape is a way of life. Its not 'Oh I need to begin to work out' or yada yada yada but rather a lifestyle change. I honestly feel this way b/c so many people fall off after a short time of work outs due to one excuse or another.
I have been studying for my PE cert test and have enjoyed learning so much more about the fitness world that I hadn't known before or a reassurance on things I did know. Being an athlete you learn so much already b/c it is your life due to practices, staying in shape, and focusing on skills to get better. Then when you are outside that world, it still feels natural to be in that environment. I feel lucky to still have my athlete "blood" in me. I mean, playing sports all the way to college ball meant that for the majority of my life I was surrounded by weights, cardio, staying healthy, competition, and pushing physical limits (thanks coach:).Ha. I hate that the gym is full of people that won't be there in March. Its sad b/c if they only realized the benefit of continuing their new interest in the gym, they would probably stay at it a bit longer. Reading on the benefits while studying for this test, even more than I realized, reassured that it is well worth your time to stay active. Here are a few of those:
1. Keeps your bones strong.
2. Strengthens muscles.
3. Makes your lungs and heart healthy.
4. Gives energy.
5. Helps fight against sickness and disease.
6.Better mood
7. Improved complexion
8. Weight loss
9. Builds self esteem
10. Helps with learning
These are just a few of the benefits that will change anyones' life. I am so passionate about this way of life. I have began to mesh my teaching love with my fitness love by pursing my teaching certificate in physical education. I took the test Friday and am hoping for the best:) Hopefully next year I will be a PE teacher at a wonderful elementary. No doubt that I will miss my kinders if this is in God's plan. I will keep updating and let everyone know progress.
Happy works outs and stay strong in the work outs!!
I have been studying for my PE cert test and have enjoyed learning so much more about the fitness world that I hadn't known before or a reassurance on things I did know. Being an athlete you learn so much already b/c it is your life due to practices, staying in shape, and focusing on skills to get better. Then when you are outside that world, it still feels natural to be in that environment. I feel lucky to still have my athlete "blood" in me. I mean, playing sports all the way to college ball meant that for the majority of my life I was surrounded by weights, cardio, staying healthy, competition, and pushing physical limits (thanks coach:).Ha. I hate that the gym is full of people that won't be there in March. Its sad b/c if they only realized the benefit of continuing their new interest in the gym, they would probably stay at it a bit longer. Reading on the benefits while studying for this test, even more than I realized, reassured that it is well worth your time to stay active. Here are a few of those:
1. Keeps your bones strong.
2. Strengthens muscles.
3. Makes your lungs and heart healthy.
4. Gives energy.
5. Helps fight against sickness and disease.
6.Better mood
7. Improved complexion
8. Weight loss
9. Builds self esteem
10. Helps with learning
These are just a few of the benefits that will change anyones' life. I am so passionate about this way of life. I have began to mesh my teaching love with my fitness love by pursing my teaching certificate in physical education. I took the test Friday and am hoping for the best:) Hopefully next year I will be a PE teacher at a wonderful elementary. No doubt that I will miss my kinders if this is in God's plan. I will keep updating and let everyone know progress.
Happy works outs and stay strong in the work outs!!
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