I have been MIA

Or on vacation, take your pick.  After the Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend, I just lost my motivation to run.  I can't tell you why, I just did.

I was doing Les Mills Pump for a while, but had to put that on the back burner, because I wasn't going to drive up to Michigan with my weights in my trunk.  We already had too much else to bring with us this year.  But I will be back to it when I get back.  And I may even try a class at my gym!

I decided before I drove up here that my exercises of choice this summer were going to be running and PiYo.  Neither need a lot, if any equipment, and are extremely portable.  

I got up here, and allergies set in.  I expected them to happen, as they always do when I get to a new place, but usually they even out within a day or two.  But not this year and not up here.  Oh boy, the cottonwood is horrible this year.  I cannot figure out the correct allergy medicine that help, and essential oils I bought for my allergies just isn't helping yet.  But I will be trying to diffuse them, once I get a diffuser.

Anyway, I hadn't started either programs yet... Until this morning!  I did it.  I made myself get out of bed and out the door for my first run of the summer... And really first run since the Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend.  

I only did 2 miles, and they were super slow, but we all have to start, or restart, somewhere, right?  It felt good, short, but good.  

I can remember when running a mile felt like it would take forever.  And a 5k was even longer!  There was a time when I couldn't imagine going for more than 2-3 miles.  But wow, has that changed.  And it feel good. 

Maybe I will become a distance runner after all.  My goal is to get my mile time to around 10 minutes.  I told a friend of mine that I would run a 10k with her in October.  And she runs about a 10 minute mile.

But of course, I am also wanting to thin out and lose weight, gain muscle, and be healthy.  I haven't changed much in my eating.  I am still eating in three's, for the most part, and eating several meals a day.  I feel great, in part to eating right, but also because of Thrive by Le-Vel.  I can't even tell you how much it has impacted my life. 

I have more energy, feel better, don't get the 2 o'clock slump, and have the energy to play with my kids, do the laundry, run, exercise and just live a happier, healthier life.  

What plan are you following?  Do you use supplements or vitamins to help you feel better?

Did you push play?

So in Team Beachbody, we talk about pushing play a lot.

Anyway, lately I've not been pushing play, because I've been running... and running a LOT!  But that goes without saying.

Anyway, I decided to get off my buns and do a hybrid of running and weights.  My chosen program, Les Mills Pump.  I had bought it on Black Friday, during the big sale and just never opened it.

Anyway, so Monday, I ran...  I only got in about 2.25 miles, but I got out there.  My pace wasn't great, but I will get better.  I hadn't run, really, since the GSC.  I did do one day, randomly the week after the races.  Tuesday ended up being a rest day, completely, because my day is just super busy.

Funny thing, today I was feeling muscles in my butt that I hadn't felt before.  And this was before I worked out.  So weird.  It's not like I totally changed it up yet.  But I did go out a little faster at the beginning than I wanted to on Monday.  And I am paying for it now.  I may have fired up muscles that I hadn't used in a long time... since my sprinting days in high school and college.

Anyway, my goal with my running is to get my mile split down to 10 min mile.  I have a LONG way to go.  currently my mile split is around 13 mins 30-ish seconds to 14 mins.  It isn't horrible, but I want to be faster.

I have also decided to truly transform my physique, I need to start strength training.  Plus, strength training will help with my speed.

So today, I pushed play.  Day one of Les Mills Pump, complete!  Holy cow!  I am feeling it.  I am ALREADY feeling it!

I did figure out that certain exercises, I will have to up my weight.  I started with just using the bar with no extra weight on in.  I wanted to make sure my form is good, before adding weights.

I have a feeling this program will be a good one for me to get comfortable with weight lifting.  Eventually I will move it into the gym.  And who knows, I may feel confident enough to try out the Les Mills Pump class at the gym.  But for now, I will continue to push play.

So much life has happened

I know I keep saying that I will be better with my blog.  I have no excuses.  I know for a while, I had no inspiration.  I didn't feel like I could talk about health or nutrition, because I felt stuck.  And then Thanksgiving came, my birthday arrived, Christmas arrived... The New Year.  And this finds me at the middle to end of January.

So what have I been doing that life hit me so hard?  Like I said, Thanksgiving, my birthday.  Then my hubby came for a visit (he is stationed in DC right now).  On Dec 23, my mother-in-law was supposed to arrive at our house for Christmas.  Well...  She never did arrive.  

Unfortunately, she unexpectedly passed.  We were obviously in shock, but we tried to keep it together for the kids to have a "normal" Christmas.

Then the New Year came, and I decided I really needed to focus on running.  I had signed up to run the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge in February.  If you don't know what that is, we run a 10K on Sat & then turn around and run a half marathon on Sunday.  Back-to-back.

Yup... I'm nuts!  I haven't run further than a 5k before.  I had only wanted to sign up for the 10K, but got caught up in the excitement with my friend!

So, as of today, my furtherest run has been 6 miles.  I am due to run 8 this weekend!  Yikes! I'm a little nervous about it, but I know it is all mental.

It is funny to me, because I now say, "I'm only running 4-5 miles today."  Ha!  I never thought that would be the norm for me.

Since the New Year, I also had to put my beloved dog to sleep.  She had been wih me since the first Christmas after I got married... Back in Jan of 2002, we rescued her from the SPCA.  I've known she wasn't doing well, health wise, but it still doesn't make it any easier.  I just feel empty right now. I miss having her curled up at my feet or greeting me at the door, or sleeping on my floor at night.

The only time I feel better is when I run.  So running I will continue to do, at least until my 10K/half weekend.  

I haven't fully decided which program I am going to do, once I'm done with the races.  I have PiYo, 21 Day Fix, Les Mills Pump, and I think that's all I have.  I believe my hubby has the other programs (P90x series).  I think I want to focus on lifting because I keep reading these blogs of people who transformed their bodies with lifting.  

What are you focusing on in 2015?

A new recipe

So I do drink Shakeology, and sometimes it gets boring....  I make the same one, every.single.time.  I always forget about the Team Beachbody website.  If you aren't a member, click here for your FREE (yes, FREE) membership....  click here.  I will become your FREE, yes I said it FREE, coach.  I promise to help you, to motivate you, give you ideas, and check in on you.  Plus, you can join any of my accountability groups, get great ideas for menus, etc.

Anyway, I am always looking for a new way to make my Shakeology.  And I stumbled upon this one today... sounds yummy!  I do have a few 12 Jumpstart Packs still available (email me to purchase or learn more about what is in those packs).  I also have a few Vanilla Shakeology sampler packs (email me to request one).

Tell me what you think of this recipe.

Vanilla Latte Shakeology

Turn a cup of coffee into a frosty whipped smoothie with almond milk and Vanilla Shakeology.

Total Time: 5 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup brewed coffee, cooled
½ cup unsweetened almond milk
1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology
1 tsp. pure maple syrup (or raw honey)
1 cup ice

Preparation:
1. Place coffee, almond milk, Shakeology, maple syrup, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 172

Fat: 4 g

Saturated Fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 5 mg

Sodium: 302 mg

Carbohydrate: 21 g

Fiber: 4 g

Sugar: 12 g

Protein: 17 g

  

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)

½ protein

½ carb/legume

Body Beast Portions (per serving)

1 liquid protein

2 balanced liquid

Black Friday Specials

Team Beachbody has some AWESOME specials going on right now (while supplies last) at my website, www.teambeachbody.com/fitforlifeliz.

We got word that they were opening up our Black Friday specials yesterday early afternoon.

Some of the programs are already sold out.  But there are still many available.  These will be available, while supplies last, until Dec 1.

Click here to learn more about the programs for sale, https://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/holidayspecials?referringrepid=372462

I just purchased Les Mills Pump.  I can't wait to start it, after my half marathon training is complete, and after I am cleared to exercise again.  I am currently on a break because I am having my gallbladder removed out on Tuesday of next week.  Anyway, once I am cleared to exercise again, I will be back to running and doing PiYo.

I also have a 12 Day Shakeology Challenge starting on Dec 1.  Don't wait until after the New Year to start on your fitness goals.  Start now! 

Remember:

This year, well really 2014-2015, I will not be scrambling to get "bikini" ready in March!  I am starting now.  Want to join me?  I have several accountability groups starting soon.  Come get support, motivation, meal plans, recipe ideas and tons of help!  Email me at fitforlifeliz (at) gmail (dot) com

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Don't eat too much!  

I'm BAACCKK!

Okay, so I know I've been MIA lately.  My little cutie started 2nd grade last week.  That's no excuse, but I let it be.

So anyway, I am back... I drank my Shakeology this morning...  I am trying the Vegan Chocolate flavor.  Not bad... different, but not in a bad way.  I also am doing another round of the 3 Day Refresh.  I started this morning.  I forgot to take a pic of my morning meal, but it was vegan chocolate Shakeology with a half a banana.  I am doing things a bit differently this time.  Last time, I had a headache that was HORRIBLE, and started on the night of Day 2 and lasted until I woke up on Day 4.  So, although it isn't recommended, I did make my Shakeology with coffee this morning.  I am hoping to combat that headache this time.  I also, this time, as just doing the same meals for each day.  I know, I know... it sounds boring, but I honestly didn't feel like varying too much.

With that, I am happy to say that I am within 2 lbs of my ending weight of my first round of the 3 Day Refresh, last month!  Why is this amazing news?  Because I really haven't been watching what I eat or drink.  Not that I'm going to fast food restaurants every day, but I have indulged in some wine, some chocolate, and some white pasta.  I know, I know!  The horror!  What what I thinking?  Anyway, the other awesome reason that I am so close to my ending weight on that last 3 Day Refresh is because... warning, TMI here...  Aunt Flo is visiting me right now.  We all know what that means!



Okay, so I will post my results again... maybe this time, I will be brave enough to share my pictures, maybe not.  I am trying to not be mad at myself for letting me get the way I did... and I am in no way really out there, but for me I am big.  I am fixing that... one small step at a time.  Which, in case you didn't know, is the way I am making better choices and a healthier lifestyle for myself.

I did join my local YMCA, which was two fold... one, for the gym with childcare, and two, because they have a lot of classes, not only for me, but for the kiddos.  In fact, Cutie is SO excited to be starting gymnastics next week.  And when Little Man turns 3, I am thinking about getting him into t-ball, or soccer, or even basketball.  The gym facilities at my Y are very nice and I can't wait to try out some of their classes.  I will still be doing my PiYo, and running.  I still have the Glass Slipper Challenge in February.



I will start my running program next week... Tuesday, because Monday is a holiday and Cutie is home from school.  I do not have a double jogging stroller, and wouldn't want to push her PLUS Little Man!  That would be like pushing another small adult!

So, how are you staying active?  How has your August been?

3 Day Refresh Results

QOkay...  I've been trying to write up my review all day.  First, my results...

I lost 5 lbs & 5" overall.  I lost 2.5" from my waist alone.  I have pictures, but I'll be honest, I'm not confident enough, yet, to share them.  Sorry, folks!  But one day, I will be happy to rejoice in the journey & progress I am taking.

Okay, so the program isn't for the faint of heart.  Seriously, it is SUPER low in calories, as in around 900 per day.  It starts out with drinking 8-10 ounces of water first thing in the morning & eating your breakfast, which includes Shakeology, within an hour of waking up.  I will continue with that trend.  I did like it.

The first day, I found myself hungry.  Not gnaw off my arm hungry, but hungry.  I wasn't quite at the point of salivating over the food my family was eating.

My dinner was SUPER yummy, and I will continue to use it, as a side salad, or add chicken to it.  It was a cucumber & tomato salad.  SO yummy.

This was my dinner day 1 & 2 - I am a creature of habit & I wanted to make sure I used up the cucumber I bought.  

With lunch & dinner you drank the Vanilla Refresh, which is a protein drink.  I am a chocoholic true & true.  So I didn't like the flavor, although it was a very light vanilla flavor.  I will probably never buy vanilla Shakeology, no matter how versatile it is.  

Anyway, for most of Day 2 & 3, I had a raging headache.  I already suffer from allergies & get bad sinus headaches from my allergies, so this was something I didn't like.  

I can honestly say I didn't love that part of it & by Day 3, I was salivating like Pavlov's dog when I saw everyone else's food.  But I put my mind to it, drank more water & made it through.  I did take Tylenol for my headache last night, but it didn't even touch it.  So I went to sleep.

I was so excited because I had heard about how these others ere's having awesome results, they were sleeping better, had better mental clarity & were more energetic.  I on the other hand didn't experience the sleeping better, mental clarity or the energy.  I, in fact, was so tired on day 2, I fell asleep while sitting up, in the middle of the afternoon.  

But today, day 4, or the day after, I had more energy.  I actually felt like working out.  And my mental clarity seemed at an all time high.  I felt great.  I still feel great.

I jumped back into eating with the 21 Day fix plan & started PiYo today.  I will start running again tomorrow, because I have the Disney Princess Glass Slipper challenge coming up in February 2015.  (It's a 10k & a half marathon, back-to-back, on Saturday & Sunday.)  And it's not going to run itself!  (Totally joking here). 

(I totally need to find a graphic for the Glass Slipper Challenge)

Anyway, if you want more info on the 3 Day refresh, PiYo, or even the 21 Day Fix, feel free to email me at fitforlifeliz@gmail.com.

Or visit my website, http://www.teambeachbody.com/firforlifeliz