30 Day Shred....and Random Bits...

For some reason I thought it would be fun to start this yesterday:

I just followed the YouTube video here.

I watched it first all the way through yesterday morning, and thought it didn't look too hard. 

Well it sucked.  Right after, my legs were jelly.  I could barely walk down the stairs.  It really kicked my butt! Supposedly you are supposed to start level one and do it for 10 days and then move on to level two and so forth.  I don't know if I'll buy the dvd yet, but I'm going to try to do level one for ten days and see where I'm at.   

The nice thing about it is that it is only about 25 minutes long and you are constantly moving.  There are no rest periods at all.  So it's over quickly.  I made my husband do it with me, and he was also sweating by the time we were done.   

I'll update my progress as I go....

This little super hero was being such a cutie the other day....I put her brother's cape on her and she loved having it on.  She is just like her big sister and thinks she's already a big girl and loves to copy her big brother and sister.  :) 

Charlie's newest fascination right now are cowboy boots.  Or in this case cowgirl boots.  He loves wearing his big sister's boots.  I really need to get him some, I just hate spending the money on such nice boots when he will grow out of them so quickly! 

Onto a new recipe I just tried from Pinterest:

I've been wanting to test these tasty little things out for a while now.  I love hot dogs and I especially love a good corn dog.  I made them for me my kids and they absolutely loved them.  I ended up changing the recipe a little because I thought it called for too much sugar and also had to add in a little more milk because the batter was so thick I could barely scoop it.  

Here is the link the recipe.  

Mini Corn Dog Muffins

I would definitely make these again, but maybe next time use larger hot dog pieces or cut them into smaller cubes and just add them to the batter.  Overall it was a great recipe and one that everyone enjoyed!

10K Training Schedule

This is my 10k training program.  The 10k that I'm running is actually about 9 weeks away, but I decided to make the training schedule an even 8 because next week is my first race and so I'm not starting the 10k training until the next week.  

I did one in black and white in case anyone that wanted to follow the same schedule could print it off. 

Show Up. Train Hard. Repeat. and W.O.D {6}

The reason I went to Chicago was for my dad's weightlifting competition.  While we were there they had a ton of different t-shirts and hoodies with different sayings.  I ended up buying one that had this quote on it: 

I picked this one because it is the complete truth.  Every single day I have to make a decision to "show up and train hard." Sometimes it is extremely difficult to make that decision.  

Somedays I want to be lazy and do nothing. 

 Somedays I would rather eat a pint of ice cream than do another squat or push-up. 

Somedays I would just like to give up.  

But I don't.  Every single day I show up.  Not only physically, but mentally.  I don't want to be the person I was before.  I want to be strong, I want to be healthy, I want to be a better me.  It's hard.  It can really suck. But it is so rewarding! I have never felt better! I have never felt in more control of my life.  I feel awesome, and because of those feelings, I always make the decision to show up the next day.  To try harder than the day before, to push myself more. 

{At Navy Pier in Chicago wearing my new hoodie}

Yesterday I complained that I had to run on the treadmill because it was too hot and windy, but I actually ended up running and doing my workout with my man.  It about killed him. I was laughing. It was funny because my husband is actually pretty physically fit and I was killing him.  I loved it.  Every single minute of it.  At the end we sat on the floor dripping sweat and he looked at me and told me I was an inspiration.  It was great! I love my man. :)

Today's W.O.D is not going to be fun.  I'm already dreading this one.  Why?  I hate burpees. They suck. I just couldn't bring myself to put 10 reps on my workout.  Eight sounds much more reasonable to me. :) 

W.O.D #5

I made it back from Chicago on Monday and I am exhausted! Vacations are tiring.  I was able to fit in a couple of runs at the hotel gym while I was there, and we walked EVERYWHERE.  So I didn't completely quit working out, but I did a lot less and I definitely felt the difference when I went for a run yesterday.  It about killed me.  

The air in Chicago is much thicker, and it actually was beneficial when I ran.  When I ran yesterday I wanted to die when I hit a mile.  My lungs were already burning.  Which is weird because my lungs usually don't burn until about 2 miles.  I didn't even do my exercises after my run, because I was so tired.  

My training schedule is also messed up, so I am improvising this week.  Yesterday I ran 1.5 miles.  Today I am going to do another 1.5 miles maybe 2, and then do my W.O.D.  I am going to be running on my treadmill today because it is too darn hot outside and I will not wake up at the butt-crack of dawn to go running.  Plus it is really windy today and my allergies are killing me, so I made the executive decision to run on the treadmill. :)

W.O.D #4

It's Day 5!

I am still sore from yesterday.

I also am pretty sure I have a sinus infection and it is really kicking my butt. I haven't slept well for the past week.  I'm going to see my doctor today and see if there is something I can do about it, because I can't go on with no sleep. 

Here is the workout I have planned for today.  I decided to do a bodyweight workout that focusses on strengthening my legs.  So here it is:

W.O.D #3

Day 4.

Kicked my butt.

I am so tired. 

My body feels like rubber. 

I can barely lift my baby out of her bed. 

Have I mentioned that I'm tired? 

Besides all that......

I feel GREAT! :)

It sucks to feel sore, but at the same time it feels awesome! Because I know my body is actually being pushed harder than before!  

This workout that I planned for myself today sucked.

I thought I was going to die, by the time the third round started. 

I was dripping sweat, after the second round.  When I completed everything I was soaked.

When I do these workouts, I try to do them as fast as possible.  Well, by the third round I felt like I was going at a snails pace. But I completed it! And like I said, I feel great! Tired, but great. 

My run wasn't too bad.  It was a little too hot and running back the wind was going against me and it really sucked, but I made it.  :)

{W.O.D} #2

It's day 3 of my 4 week training schedule for my 5k.  So far I haven't really had to change much, I just am running longer distances.  Before I decided to do a 5k, I was already doing strength training exercises twice a week.  I know a lot of people don't have any gym or exercise equipment, but you can do strength training exercises with just your body weight.  However, I do have gym and exercise equipment and so I get to change it up a bit!

Here is my W.O.D:

I am focussing on upper body strength as well as a few core exercises.  I have really been working on holding my planks longer every time I do them.  I do one at least everyday and have my husband time me. Today I held a 1:11 second plank.  I eventually want to try and hold a 4 minute plank. 

I also took my kids on a 45 minute walk this morning and when I got home I did 

25 jumping jacks

20 russian twists

10 push-ups.

Here are some links to some of the exercises I'm doing today, if anyone wants to try it out! :)

Chair Dips

Tricep Kickbacks

Lateral Raises

Standing Shoulder Fly

W.O.D {workout of the day} #1

After my runs I try and do a 10-15 minute workout right after.  This is the workout I did today.  I try and do everything as fast as I can so I burn more calories.  By the time I was done today I was dripping sweat.  :)  You can also repeat the workout (minus the run) as many times as you can within a timed period. 

I found a new running app that I like tons better than what I first downloaded.  This app will tell you every five minutes your distance as well as your pace.  It was awesome!  This was my run for the day!

You can find the app here. 

Let's Talk About Running......

I have always hated running. No, hate is not a strong enough word.....I absolutely loathe running.

In fact, when I was in Jr. High I got my first A- (which was a huge deal for me because it wrecked my perfect GPA) because I failed the mile run.  How do you fail a mile run you ask?  Well, you don't complete it-that's how!  Yeah, I was that girl.  I was the last one huffing and puffing my way through the mile, and couldn't finish it.  Now, I can honestly say I thought I was going to die when I was running it because I do have asthma and have had it almost my entire life.  So I honestly couldn't run it.

I was traumatized by that experience and I actually got a note from my asthma doctor and didn't have to take PE in high school. It was great.  Did I really need to be excused from PE? No, not really.  Looking back, I'm pretty sure I was just lazy and used my asthma as an excuse.

Now, back to the present.  I still have asthma.  I still hate to run.

I no longer despise running. I actually kind of like it.  I decided to start up this very daunting form of exercise about 6 weeks ago.  One day, I decided I am going to run a mile. For real. Actually complete a mile without stopping and run the entire distance.  I had my husband measure the distance on our road and then I ran.  I ran.  I mean I really ran.  The ENTIRE distance.  This was HUGE. This was MOMENTOUS! I have never ever in my entire 26 years of living done such a thing! When I finished I felt like dying.  No, I thought I WAS going to die.  But I did it.  And that's all it took.  I now have the running fever.  I actually enjoy it.  I actually look forward to running.

But lets talk about my running.  I am a slow runner.  I mean extremely slow.  That very first mile I ran, it took me about 13 minutes to complete.  But, six weeks later my time has improved.  In fact, today I ran my fastest mile. I ran it in 10:58.  Which blows my mind.

I only run 1 mile at a time.  I think I have this mental block that says you must only run one mile, or you will die of exhaustion.  So I am really going to try and increase my distance each week.  My goal is to be able to run a 5k by the end of the summer.  If you would have asked me 3 months ago that I wanted to run a 5k, I would have told you that you were out of your ever-loving mind. Now, I know it's possible. I know I will be able to do it and I know I won't actually die doing it!