Running

So, if you're new around here, here's a little history run down of my relationship with running.

I have never been a runner.

I repeat: never.

This past year, I started getting really into going to the gym. I had weekly classes I would take, my favorite being Lower Body Blast.

But when I went home to visit the fam, I didn't have a gym to go to. So when facing the issue of how to get a workout in without the gym, I resorted to running.

I vividly remember gearing up for that first run. It had been a while since I ran, so I was fully prepared to struggle.

I'll walk when I get to that stop sign, I'd think to myself.

And then I'd get to the stop sign, and lo and behold, I could keep going.

I didn't realize it, but all of those gym classes were building up my endurance. So suddenly I could run much farther and for much longer than I ever had been able to before. That first day I think I ran about the distance of a 5K without stopping.

Something I had certainly never done before. 

So I decided to sign up for a few races. A 5K mud run, and a half marathon.

I was so excited to start training for something. It felt amazing.

Until it started to feel not so amazing, and I noticed pain in my foot. I kept running on it, thinking it was probably nothing.

Insert lesson learned here: Do not run on pain. Get it checked out, especially if it persists/gets worse!

Cue stress fracture. (Fun times)

But now everything's all healed, so it's time to get back on the training horse.

I've officially signed up for a 10K!

This one, to be exact:

And in case you haven't noticed from the pics, I've got me some new running shoes:

I'm gonna be real though, if I can do this, anyone can.

I went for 2 runs this past weekend, and I am literally in horrible shape.

I'm talking can't even run a mile straight without stopping to walk.

Total speed with all of the walking is about an 11 minute mile.

Looks like the break from the stress fracture took a toll, huh?

So here goes nothing! Back in training mode, hoping these apps will help kick me back into shape:

Ignore the Turtles, Huh? game on my phone. I'd like to say I downloaded it for my sister to play with.

I didn't.

So anywho, there you have it folks. Got 2 months to get myself back into running shape.

Ready, set, run!

Fitness

I want to talk about fitness today. 

2012 was a big year for me fitness-wise. There were some serious health goals that I accomplished (and some that I almost accomplished).

The keyword there: were.

I want to be honest here. Ever since my stress fracture, I have pretty much completely lost it. Some of that has to do with getting out of the routine. The other part has to do with switching jobs. Instead of working M-F 8-5, I'm working 9 hour days with every other Friday off.

And believe me, I am STOKED. But when I'm getting in to work at 7AM instead of 8, it's tougher to get to the gym in the morning.

I could honestly list a long list of excuses for you right now. And they all most of them make sense, but really, that doesn't matter.

I'm not as happy as I was before.

I have less energy.

I just don't feel like myself anymore.

For a solid 9 months of this year, I was feeling so much stronger than I ever have before. I may not have noticed a difference on the scale, but I could feel the difference.

And honestly? The only reason I wasn't seeing a difference on the scale was because of me. Was because of my diet choices.

You can only work off so many feasts of Mexican food, am I right?

I want to get back there. 

Screw waiting for New Years to make resolutions, I want to start now. 

And I want to do it better than before. Instead of throwing all of my energy into my work out routine, I want to focus some on making better diet choices too. I already cut out meat (still pesky and going strong!), so might as well make it count right? 

After all, subbing carbs and sweets for meat won't do the trick, will it?

So here's to change. 

Did it once. I can do it again. 

Let's call it a bump in the road, shall we?

Yupp, that's right. This girl's a bit crippled, and will be for the next 6 weeks. 

What does that mean, exactly? 

It means that I have a stress fracture. No fun.

It also means that I can't run in either the Mud Run or the Half Marathon. Also no fun. 

Am I disappointed? That's an understatement. But here's the time where I have to practice what I preach. The whole focus on the good bit? This is where that becomes a challenge. 

And I like me a good challenge. 

So what else does this stress fracture mean? 

It means that I'll be focusing on my diet for the next 6 weeks, something that I've been trying to do for the last 9 months. But with working out so much, I became wayy lax with my diet. So it's time to switch things up, and pay a lot more attention to what I'm putting in my body. 

It means that I'll be focusing on my faith for the next few 6 weeks. I have complete faith that God is in full control at this point. I recognize that my identity lies in Him, and I think over the past few months, I've been letting things get in the way of our relationship. I definitely feel like this fracture is a blessing in disguise, a reason to devote more time to my relationship with God. 

It means that when the time is right, I'll start hitting up the gym again by focusing on weight training. Especially the abs region, stomach flab: you are no longer welcome. 

Basically, there is definitely a lot to be disappointed about. But, I have 6 weeks to focus on other things, and I fully intend to make the most of them. 

Also, to all of you who sent tweets/texts/instagram comments my way yesterday? Thank you. It meant more than you know. 

**Also, Happy Birthday!! to the most amazing Dad that I ever could have asked for. I love you so, so much!!**

Ask Amy's Gym Buddies

Back in February, I had officially gotten a consistent workout routine down, and decided to share my tips. When I first started linking up with the Inspire Me Healthy series (which I've failed at the last few weeks), I knew I wanted to do another post on workout tips. 

You know, since that's the only part I have down. Tips on eating healthy would be greatly appreciated, please and thank you.

But since I had already shared my workout tips with you, I decided to interview my gym buddies for you guys. I met these two gorgeous ladies at the gym, and coincidentally work with one of them. Believe it or not, the gym has served as a great place to meet new friends!

Without further adieu, I give you my gym crew:

How often do you work out?

Renee: I try to get to the gym or take a run 4-5 times a week. On the weekends, I like to stay active and have fun by taking part in beach volleyball, softball or going on a hike. 

Emma: It has really varied over the past 5 years (college produces strange habits). Totally agree with you there, Emma! My freshmen year of college I NEVER worked out... after having unlimited dining commons meals and drinking my body weight in alcohol every weekend, I started working out every day, often twice a day during that summer. Now, I think I have found more of a balance. It feels GREAT to work out as often as I have time to. It really depends week to week, but I would guess that I make it to the gym 4 - 7 times a week currently.

What do your typical workouts consist of? Do you have a standard routine, or do you mix it up?

Renee: I try to mix it up with the majority of my workouts involving cardio and adding some weight training. I love going to lifting classes for a nice all around muscle improvement. For cardio, I switch off between running and indoor cycling. I don't really have a standard routine, I try to add new movements so I don't get tired of doing the same thing over and over again. 

Emma: I really like doing low heart rate cardio. It is meditative for me, and burns fat. If I have had a rough week or something has been bothering me, climbing the stair master feels AWESOME. I feel powerful, which is a great feeling for a woman. Weights are important, and toning up is a great feeling. My normal routine usually starts off with an hour of cardio and then a half hour of weights if I have the time, and am not taking a class with the gym. 

What is your favorite thing about working out?

Renee: I am the WORST person when it comes to stress. When I went for my first run senior year of high school after an incredibly stressful event in my life, my whole world changed. Working out is now my therapy, I cannot live without it. I run for all emotions I'm feeling: happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, regret, bliss, etc. It's a time that I can just hang out with myself and mull over anything that's on my mind. I always find my head much clearer when I finish a run, and that is a feeling I wouldn't trade for the world!

Emma: The meditation! I sleep better, feel better about myself, and it definitely influences my eating habits to be much better. I like working out with friends, listening to my music, SWEATING! There is a lot that I like about working out, but I would say the meditative aspect of it is my favorite - you can really get in the zone.

Have you always worked out the same amount that you do now? And if not, what changed for you?

Renee: I've always been big into running since high school, but lately I've been upping my weight training. It all started when my friends and I signed up for a Tough Mudder (completed Feb 2012, highly recommended if you want to push yourself to the extreme and come out laughing!). Before I would only run, but when I started growing muscle strength thanks to Tough Mudder training, I realized how awesome it was to see myself look and feel stronger. Ever since then, I've been working to get more definition on my body, and am happy to see results appear slowly but steadily. Tough Mudder 2013, here I come! I might be coming too, Renee!

Emma: No, I definitely have not. In high school I played tennis, which was only during the fall and that would pretty much sum up my exercise for the year. After gaining the freshmen 15, I started working out with a personal trainer. Now reflecting on what he taught me, I think he made me a little too obsessed with working out and eating healthy. I became very hard on myself. Now, I think I have found more of a balance and workout out for my personal enjoyment, while having a lot of other life engagements that are priorities to working out. 

What are 3 pieces of advice or tips that you would give someone who is trying to change up their workout routine?

Renee: 1. My mother burned her advice into my brain, so I'll pass it on: "Everything in moderation." Don't overdo it! I tend to get burned out and lose interest if I try to work out too much. So if I want to take a day off and be lazy, I do! There's nothing wrong with that, it's O.K. to take a day or two off.

2. I really like reading inspirational quotes. I pick a few and save them to read whenever I'm feeling discouraged. So here's one I'd like to share: "I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it." I couldn't agree more with this quote, and it reminds me that the last pushup will burn, 30 more seconds in a squat will hurt, and that last quarter of a mile may make my legs collapse, but it's all WORTH IT.

3. Lastly, having fun is the best way to keep motivation for working out! Friends make exercise so much better. If you don't know anyone at your gym... meet them! After all, that's how I met Amy! :)

Emma: 1. Find something you enjoy! Switch it up and do things outdoors, I love going for walks up in the Santa Barbara mountains. 

2. Find friends to work out with.

3. And no matter what, don't be too hard on yourself. You should workout for you!

Thank you, thank you to my amazing gym buddies!

I really love these girls, not to mention knowing they will be at the gym drags me out of bed most mornings! These past few months, my workout routine has only gotten more consistent, and a lot of that is thanks to meeting these two. 

I hope you enjoyed their workout tips as much as I did!

And like I said, any advice on how to stop those late night munchies or sugar cravings, would be greatly appreciated!

Inspire Me Healthy!

So how's the health kick going for me, you ask? 

Well, per usual, I have good news and bad news. 

Let's start with the bad, shall we?

I suck at eating healthy. Like, suck. Portion control? I have none. Cravings? Got tons. Do I give in to them? Pretty much every.single.time. 

Yeahh, it's been rough ladies. For some reason, I just can't stick with this healthy eating kick. And I really don't know why, because I do like healthy food. Spinach? Tofu? Big fan. Quinoa? It's one of my favorites. So  why do I keep reverting back to my Mexican food / ice cream / chocolate cravings? 

I don't know, but I'm going to kick that habit. Just watch. 

Here's what I want my dinners to look like from now on:

And here's the recipe that I've been meaning to share:

Baked Trout with Dill and Caper Cream

Ingredients:

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/8 teaspoon salt

4 (6 ounce) trout fillets

Cooking spray

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2 tablespoons capers, drained

4 lemon wedges

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Sprinkle pepper and salt evenly over fillets. Place fish on a foil lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes; sprinkle evenly with dill. Bake an additional 2 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. 

3. While fish bakes, combine sour cream and capers in a small bowl. Place fish on a serving plate. Squeeze 1 lemon wedge over each serving. Serve with caper cream. 

Now if only I can make my next week worth of meals this balanced, I'll lose 10 pounds no problem. Right?

Alright so now for that good news:

I am officially in training for a half marathon! This one to be exact. I have about 3 more months of training, but so far, it's been good!

After Saturday's 5 mile run

Ignore my chipped nails and extremely pale legs, please. Hey, it's the progress that counts, right? 

I also signed up for this 5K in October, and could not be more excited for my first Mud Run. Expect picture overload. You're welcome. 

And there you have it guys: the good, the bad and the ugly. Definitely room for progress for next week. 

{Last day to enter the Missionary Kerrie's Giveaway! Check it.}

It's About Time

I've been wanting to write a post on my fitness/health goals for a while now, and seeing that Raven and Kristen are going to start a weekly link up gave me just the push that I needed. 

If you've been around for a while, you might remember this post. It was my first post of the new year, and it detailed my fitness resolutions. 

Fast forward to August, and where are we at? If anything, I've gained weight. 

And you know what, it's actually not because I haven't followed any of these resolutions. I now work out more than I ever have before, and not because I have to. Because I enjoy it. 

{Shocking, right?}

I get to the gym or work out anywhere from 5-7 days a week, and I've recently started throwing in a few double days every week. 

You're probably wondering what the problem is, right? Yeah, me too. 

Actually, I know what it is. The problem is that I have zero self control when it comes to eating. It's honestly embarrassing for me to admit, but it's true. I am a huge stress eater, and when it comes down to it, I just love food. 

But I want to make a change. 

What is the point of all of this working out, if I'm not going to step up and do the other part of it? 

I fasted with some coworkers yesterday for Ramadan, and it was actually a great reminder for me. When I woke up at 4:30 AM to eat my first and last meal until 8PM, I really wasn't that hungry. So I thought to myself, what does my body need right now? And I settled for oatmeal, a nectarine and 2 glasses of water. 

And sometime between the hours of 9AM and 1PM when I realized Woah, I'm not starving, it hit me. Why don't I always think like that? Why I don't I always feed my body what it needs, instead of what I want? Isn't that what food is for, to provide our body with the necessary nutrients? 

Now don't get me wrong, I know that endulging in food is not going to go anywhere for me. I love me a good meal out with great friends, and I fully plan to continue doing that. 

But in moderation. That's what I'm lacking. And you know what, it's about time this girl developed some self control. 

What better way to jump start this new fitness plan then by joining a program? I mentioned that my work is in the middle of a Fitness Challenge a few weeks ago, and for the full 8 weeks, we all get 30% off at Complete Nutrition. I walked in fully intending to just weigh in, and walked out with $120 worth of fun stuff, including:

I got the vanilla kind. Breakfast today is a vanilla/almond butter shake. {It was deelicious!}

A 30 day dietary supplement to burn stubborn fat and target the abs. 

A 30 day dietary supplement to boost your metabolism, burn fat and increase energy. 

The guy working was so helpful in answering all of my questions, and offering me meal ideas. I feel so much more encouraged to start this off the right way. 

The thing is, I think I settled for not seeing results. After working out for 5-7 days for so many months and not seeing any weight loss, I convinced myself that I'm happy with where I'm at. 

But honestly? I can do better. I can feel better. And I'm ready to make the change in the diet department to start making the work in the gym pay off. 

Ready, set, eat healty. 

On Running

So a little while ago, I mentioned that I was training for a 10K.

It's happening, guys! And turns out, I kind of like running! I am constantly surprised at what my body can do when I do my best to tune out those excuses in my head. 

I've realized that I can actually run for a lot longer than I think I can, I usually just want to stop and walk. So when I ignore that and just keep going, I'm able to see what my body can really do. 

And it's a great feeling to realize that it's true what they say, anyone can become a runner. It's totally a mental thing. 

A few months ago, I posted about the exercises that I've learned in this class.

Guys, if I didn't say it enough then, I seriously can swear by this class. The results are ahhhmazing. My legs are so much more toned than they were before. And I think that has played a big part in my running. I'm finding that I can run longer than I have ever been able to, and without training really. When I was at home for Easter, I had to run for the first time in forever (no more gym membership at home, sad day). I was fully expecting that run to be a sad little pathetic run/jog/let's face it--walk. 

And I was shocked to find that I didn't need to stop to walk. Not once. And I ran farther than I've ever run before. 

I give all the credit to Christine and her BLAST of a workout. 

I can thank her when I cross the finish line of the 10K.

Oh another note, I've found that my body is definitely not loving all of the effects of the running. My knee has been hurting a bit after each run, so I've resorted to trying to stretch more, and icing after. 

Anyone got any suggestions? 

Besides that, I would say that I am loving this new running kick. And I'm definitely hoping to stick with it. 

Yay for running!

Fit Club {and A Recipe!}

I bet you thought I had said so long to my Fit Club goals for this year, huh?

You would be about 50% correct. 

So I'm bringing back these Fit Club posts to try and get back on track. Working out, I've kept up with. Eating healthy, ehhh not so much. 

This week, I'm making a few changes to try and switch things up. I find that I crave what I eat, so I'm hoping to cut out some of the carbs and desserts to sub in more of the healthy stuff. Here are some things that will be making an appearance in my diet this week: 

1. Better'n Peanut Butter

I have a major weakness for peanut butter, and if you can limit yourself to a normal portion, I'd say you're fine. But I, cannot. 

Working on that. 

This weekend {weekend recap coming tomorrow!}, my Aunt and Uncle introduced me to this amazing product, Better'n Peanut Butter. I love the taste, it's a creamy, honey/peanut butter flavor. And I'm usually a chunky peanut butter type of gal, so if I'm a fan, that's saying something. 

Best part? It's half the calories of normal peanut butter. Half! And you can find it at Trader Joe's. Score. 

2. Fruit Salad

Fresh fruit is the best, gives me that sweet kick when I'm craving it. Problem is, my fruit will often go bad before I eat it all. Especially if I try buying a lot at once. 

This week, I'm trying something new. I bought a bunch of fruit {strawberries, blueberries, bananas, apples and pineapples} and chopped them all up. I tossed them all together, and into a plastic container to put in the fridge. I figure the fridge will keep them fresh for longer, and since all the preparation is done, it'll be easy to bring some to work every day. 

And now for the recipe:

3. Teriyaki Tofu, Mushroom & Avocado Salad

I'm really excited about this recipe, because it's the first one I've posted that I came up with myself. Not that salad is all that difficult to toss together, but it's still exciting that I'm starting to feel comfortable enough in the kitchen to toss the recipe book aside. 

Well, sometimes. 

Ingredients (for 1 serving):

2 cups baby romaine lettuce

1.5 oz. baked tofu

3 oz. sliced mushrooms

2 tablespoons soyaki (or teriyaki sauce)

1/2 avocado

2 tablespoons cilantro salad dressing

Directions: 

1. Cut the baked tofu into cubes, and saute with sliced mushrooms and soyaki. Soyaki is a Trader Joe's brand of teriyaki sauce. 

2. Cut up the 1/2 avocado, and combine avocado, lettuce and sauteed mushrooms & tofu in a bowl. 

3. Toss with cilantro salad dressing {also Trader Joe's brand, seeing a trend here?}.

This salad is simple, and deeelicious. Perfect for a light meal out in the sun.

Hope you all had wonderful weekends, and if you have any favorite recipes of your own, send them my way! I'd love to try them :)

Photos and a 10K

Big news today, guys. First of all, I'm going to try to do the May Photo A Day Challenge:

Since I'm a little obsessed with Instagram as it is, shouldn't be too hard. Right?

The other big news is that I'm bringing back the Fit Club posts, because Kristi and I are training for a 10K!

I've run some 5Ks before (not since highschool) but never a 10K. I think I've decided that at some point in my life, I want to run a half marathon. So I figure this is a great place to start! We haven't signed up for a race yet, but we're targeting sometime in August. Maybe this one. 

More details to come, but as of now, we're planning to start training next week. Wish us luck!

Happy Hump Day!

Lower Body BLAST

I've taken a lot of gym classes in my day. There's something about having someone force me to work out hard for a solid 60 minutes that just works for me. 

What can I say, I let myself slack sometimes. But instructors? They sure as heck won't. And considering I worked at an Athletic Club for my first job, I've had some pretty amazing instructors. 

Turns out, none of the instructors I've had compare to Christine, who teaches Lower Body Blast. She will seriously kick your ass every.single.week. 

And guess what? Been taking this class for about 4 months now, and it doesn't get easier. 

Can you tell that I kind of love her? 

Anywho, enough raving about how amazing this class is. I'm here to share the three secrets to getting a killer leg work out. Best part? You can do then anytime. Anywhere. 

As long as you don't mind people seeing you in some kind of awkward/borderline sexual positions. Minor detail. 

So here you go:

And there you have it folks. It might seem easy, but I promise you, if you do these three exercises for a couple minutes each, you will feel the burn. 

And then you can thank Christine. 

I certainly do. Since taking her class, I definitely have noticed that my legs feel more toned and defined. It sure makes buying new high heels a lot more exciting. 

And that's what keeps me going every week when I feel like I am going to collapse during plies, squats and lunges. 

Recipe Week!

I have a bunch of recipes that I've been meaning to share with you guys, so this week, there might be a few extra posts. Get excited! 

Anyone who knows me will account to the fact that I have a new found obsession with cooking. I'm often found looking through one of my cookbooks, planning meals for the weeks ahead (am I right, roommates?).

For today's recipe, I've got a breakfast one for you. This is what we had for St. Patrick's day breakfast (the start of an amazing food day, but more info to come on that later).

Recipe #1: Bird's Nest Breakfast Cups

Ingredients:

12 turkey bacon strips

1.5 cups eggs substitute

6 tablespoons shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat for 2 minutes on each side or until partially set but not crisp.

2. Coat six muffin cups with cooking spray; wrap two bacon strips around the inside of each cup. Fill each with 1/4 cup egg substitute; top with cheese. 

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until set. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan. Sprinkle each cup with parsley. 

Per Serving (1 breakfast cup, recipe yields 6):

120 Calories

7g Fat

30mg Cholesterol

515mg Sodium

2g Carbohydrate

Trace Fiber

12g Protein

They were delicious, and easy. Next time you're cooking breakfast, these breakfast cups are sure to impress. 

And for the Fit Club update? Well I'll leave it at this:

Gym: 7/7 days. Success. 

Eating: Work Potluck on Monday, Coworker's birthday on Tuesday, Pie Day on Wednesday, Community Group Potluck on Thursday and St. Patrick's Day feast on Saturday. I'll let you take a wild guess. 

Better luck this week?