Fitness Blogger Challenge; Day 3

It's Day 3 of Fitness Cheerleader's Fitness Blogger Challenge and a huge question is on board.....

 "Where would you like to be in 10 years?"

That's funny because last night I realized we are already zooming into August, it was only the 2nd! Hah.
And, then I realized the "big deal" for August. A husband who will be coming up on 11 YEARS of serving in the United States Navy, our very own Sailor. And, our oldest, Leanna, will be turning 6 YEARS OLD!! We just celebrated, Ailea's 3rd Birthday last month, unfortunately, he was out to sea. He will actually be here on Leanna's birthday, and she is SO excited for that!! 

• In 10 years, we will be a "normal" family, fresh out of the NAVY LIFE, settling back to our roots, near family, in TEXAS!! I'll be 38 YEARS old, and husband will be 40. It's going to be a HUGE transition but we will tackle it together!! WHOAAA!!
• We plan to buy a house on a huge lot, in the country, we want to remodel/fix it up...I can't wait to finally have a place to call MY OWN!!! 
• We will have a 16 year old, 13, year old and 11 year old AND, (they're will be a #4, maybe #5, not sure of the ages in 10years; hahha!) That's THREE GIRLS, 2 teenagers and a pre-teen; pretty outrageous! I'm glad husband will be out of the NAVY and be there everyday to watch his girls blossom into young women, crucial!! 
• We plan to be very involved in their sport activities, he plans to coach softball, and I hope to be active in where ever else with their schools. 
• As for myself, I hope to be a big impact in the fitness community, locally teaching classes, nutrition, rehab, anywhere I can squeeze myself into! (It's starting next year, where I will start the process for schooling/certifications when husband returns from deployment).
• I'm excited to know we started leading healthy lives, including my girls on runs and gym time. They know the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle at an early age. I look forward to running races together, and other fitness events. And, cheering them on in every little thing they do.

There's a lot more to look forward to in 10 years but those are the big ones!! Here's to 2022!!

"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"

Fitness Blogger Challenge; Day 2

Day 2: Do you workout in the morning or at night? Why?


It really depends on the day, lately, my routine has been out of whack. I'm changing that, taking back my routine!! 


When I run, it's been random lately, husband has been out to sea and is getting ready to go on deployment. Outdoors runs happen early morning (5 AMish, hasn't happened in a while), to afternoon (when husband is home), to mid-morning on the treadmill (which has been CHAOTIC with 3 girls in the playroom; baby girl is a CLIMBER). We haven't been to the gym in nearly 3 weeks, due to that craziness. Some days, I load the baby girls into double jogger and (Leanna and) head outdoors for running intervals. I recently joined a Meetup/FB Group, Moms Run This Town, and have my FIRST Evening Run tonight!! I'm excited to get outdoors and explore new running paths in a cute little town and to meet (an)other mother runner(s)!! 

 [July 9; Last Treadmill Run; Climber on the loose]

[Sometime we take it outdoors, like yesterday Aug 1st]

When I spin, it's usually at night after I put the girls down for bed. Especially, since I moved my bike upstairs to the bedroom. It's kind of like a SWEATFEST to unwind for the day. And, I LOVE it. 

[Spinning before bedtime]

Other routines like strength typically happen before the girls wake up for the morning or during naptime. I have to FOCUS on my workouts otherwise, I feel like I'm not giving it my 100%. There was a time when I thought I could keep the girls entertained with TV or busy body activities, NOPE!! They were all about what I was doing, cute to watch them TRY to do this and that but crazy distracting. 




Make. It. Happen.

"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"

Hello, August!!

Talk about getting busy!! The other day a FB Friend, liked a page which reminded me to search for the local group of  "Moms Run this Town". WHOOHOO!! A few weeks ago, I saw a post on their FB page mentioning it, and I remember coming across it on meetup.com. Easy as that; Like & Join!! An awesome support system and I look forward to becoming more active with. I joined the Running Group (If your LOCAL join in:https://www.facebook.com/groups/131672926965294/) & Weight Loss Support Group.
{Side Note: Once school starts, I'll resume the "Bootcamp", I'm READY to get back out there with other Mama's for Fitness & Playdate Fun!!}

Perfect Timing because I kind of hit a wall with my fitness journey, starting birth control a few months ago, not only made me miserable, it packed on about 10 lbs. I know I helped in that process with minimum workouts and eating crazily. I stopped as soon as husband went underway. No change, my foot pain, had me take it easy on my intense workouts, which lead to almost days of no routine. SO, I'm taking my back my RUNNING Routine (pacing myself, still working with the foot pain) and starting a few Fitness Challenges!! The Weight Loss Support Group: Moms Run This Town (found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mrtt.weightloss/) have a Lean and Mean Challenge for August. It's focusing on inches not pounds; whew, less stressful, right?! 

• Running
• Spinning
• Les Mills Pump; Strength [weight] Training
• Kettlebell Routine; Strength [weight] Training
• The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans, Gold Medal Ass August Challenge (found here: http://shrinkingjeans.net/2012/08/gold-medal-ass/#). Print it and do it. I love that it has BURPEES & SQUATS, yes, I love the BURN it gives!!!
• Healthy Eating (Clean [like] Eating)
• No SODA, limit caffeines like coffee, energy drinks (It's a BAD habit, I know!)

So, there you have it!! I have 13 lbs to lose, not losing it all this month, I actually have a deployment ahead to have fun with. Starting Weight is 160 lbs (I was at my lightest Mid-Feb 147). 


DAY 1; already started with 20 Pump Challenge (20lbs on the bar) & Gold Medal Ass Challenge (10 Squats, 30s Burpees, 15s Wall Sit), Next up, heading outdoors with girls, walk/jog/run while enjoying this fabulous weather!! 




"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"

Fitness Blogger Challenge; Day 1

HELLO, August!!

AUGUST HEALTHY LIVING/FITNESS BLOGGER CHALLENGE

The idea of this challenge is a daily post with a question to answer via the fitness cheerleader. (http://fitnesscheerleader.com/challenges/august-healthy-livingfitness-blogger-writing-challenge/)

Ready, Set, Go!

Day 1; Your Five favorite workout songs and why?

Where's my iphone?? I need to look at my playlist.

It's on SHUFFLE most of the time, but I do have a few songs that I like to hit replay on, and lately   these are it:

1. Train - Drive by; when I first heard it, I had to *Shazam it because I couldn't figure out who was playing, I LOVE THEM, even MORE!!! So catchy and upbeat!

2. Big Sean - Dance (A$$) feat. Nicki Minaj; Makes me want to dance and shake my ass (but I don't; LOL), and I'm bopping my head the entire time, singing this crazyass song!!

3. Lil Jon - Get Low REMIX; Old school, Club Jam, gets me hype every. single. time.

4. Outkast - Hey Ya!; Another catchy/upbeat song, makes me want to MOVE fast and reminds me of 2003/2004, reminds me of my man.

5 The Raconteurs - Steady as she goes; This is my "easy" pace kind of song. 

Random, I know. And, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"

Sunday Runday!

Sorta Kinda.

I really wanted to get out this weekend to RUN, to test out the aching foot. I had taken it "easy" after the half-marathon, the Mud Run wasn't so stressful on it.

It didn't happen Saturday Morning, like I had originally planned, and then Serena started to puke, it continued throughout the day. She ever started to run a fever, needless to say, I was staying home to comfort my poor girl. I planned again for Sunday Morning, Nope, Baby Girl was still sickly. Soooo....Naptime it was. I had a friend join me and it tuned out to be almost 5 miles of Walking, Running and Chatting. I had to pace myself and pay close attention at my foot. It began to ache and I pushed through a few times, and then layed off with walking. We went from pavement to trails, to help "ease" the pain. Whewww, got. it done.
Time to get serious with Half-Marathon Training, which will be tough...I've got my eye for a Sept 23 HM, which also is my 8 Year Wedding Anniversary. Since, he won't be home, I think 13.1 Miles of Running is a FABULOUS way to celebrate for a GREAT cause too!!! 


"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"

Super {Muddy} Mama!

World Concern 5k Mud Run
Island Lake; Crista Campsite
Fabulous Sunshine Weather
Hills, Hills, Hills
Finished in 58:50

"Get caked in mud from head to toe and make the world a better place. You’ll not only have fun slogging through muddy obstacles with your friends, but you’ll also help provide clean water for people in some of the hardest places in the world. Through water wells and rain water catchment systems that can serve entire communities, every $15 raised provides sustainable clean water for one person." 
`World Concern

Event Site

Mud Run Swag

WooHoo!!! I completed my first 2012 MUD RUN Y'all and it was a little tough!! My [right] foot is still achy from Sunday's Half-Marathon, so I paced myself in the Running. There was a total of 10 obstacles, not as intense as the last mud run event I was in. However, there was PLENTY of [steep] HILLS, Ups and Downs, I wasn't the only one walking. I was out of breath after 10 minutes from jogging uphill, and so was another friend. It was AWESOME seeing familiar faces, especially ship wives. 

Before the Mud

Muddy Mama

After the Mud

Feet got a beaten

"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"

First Half-Marathon

See Jane Half Marathon Seattle
Garmin Stats;
13.14 mi
Time:2:35:46
Avg Pace:11:51 min/mi
Elevation Gain:196 ft
Calories:1,450 C

Official Chip Time; 2:48:53

Gloomy. Light Rainfall. Windy. Peek-a-Boo Sunshine. Typical Washington Day.

Race Swag, even a Fabulous Re-usable Bag

Race Gear Ready

Quick Snapshot before the Race

Just call me, Super {Runner} Mama!!! I did it, I crossed the FINISH LINE; STRONG, I did it!! 

Let me tell y'all it wasn't easy; with little to no [training] running in the past 4 weeks, I was super nervous but beyond excited!! It was a pretty BUSY few days leading up to the BIG Event, there was a week full of SUNSHINE. It was a BIG DEAL in Washington. And, I was tanned and relaxed. I wasn't sleeping well, haven't been since husband had been out to sea. And, then we received the news of a [SUDDEN] change in DEPLOYMENT Plans, 4 months earlier than expected. Husband had just returned from a deployment in March, only home for roughly 3 months,....bummer but duty calls.

Soooo....I very much needed this [RACE] RUN, I needed some time to MYSELF, in a different environment and I would be crossing a HUGE Goal off my Fitness List for 2012. It took a lot of [easy] planning; a friend to watch my 3 girls, ferry ride schedule, mapping the drive from the ferry terminal, figuring out the bib packet pick-up. Thankfully, asking a friend was easy, I'm happy I've met some Fabulous Mama's and I'd return the favor just as easily. Ferry Ride was made less stressful, since I was able to go to the See Jane Run Expo the day before for the packet pick-up [a little Seattle outting], and the drive from the terminal would be roughly 20minutes. Whewwwww! Sunday Morning came; 4:20 Wake-up, 4:50 Wake-up for girls, 5:45 Girls Drop-off, 6:20 Ferry [50 minute] Ride; BUSY Morning before 13.1 Miles. Right!? Hah

See Jane Run; Parking was somewhat easy, the excitement and nerves were HIGH as I walked up to the event location. They had just started the "stretching" for Half-Marathoners, I got in on a little; Ouch!! It had been a few weeks since I lunged, or Squated. I asked another runner to snap a photo; before snapshot. Shortly after, we started lining up for the pace groups, I stayed in the 10-11:59 min/mile group. It was a little slow once they sounded the "GO", crossing the start line. And, then off, I went...

Mile 1-6; I RAN the entire first 6 miles straight, with the exception of a bathroom break at Mile 3 and water stations. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL; a little windy, a little rainfall, a little gloomy weather was PERFECT!! We made a loop at one point, so you would ran against others. And, then....I heard yelling from above the music....The FIRST runner was coming through against the crowd, everyone cheered her on and this continued with others not too far behind her. I could SEE their speed, the motions, their bodies were on FIRE. It was pretty amazing, and inspiring!! And, they were pretty damn FIT, you could see their muscled, toned legs; Wow!! 

Space Needle in the distance

Mile 7; It started out a little rough, my body was a bit worn in, I grabbed a GU GEL at one of the stations and it helped a little. It got a little warm, somehow zipped out of my pull-over and tied it to the waist. The fresh air felt gooooddd!!! Running alongside a lake, seeing sailboats, restaurants, roadways at the other side. Plenty to keep distracted with.

Mile 8-10; Kept going, pushed it with sprints, I could see the SPACE NEEDLE in the distance; AMAZING!! The sun peeked out several times, I took a few stretching/walking breaks. There was HILLS, STEEP hills going down. I thought I going to fall. Hah! We crossed over a bridge, at Mile 8, looping back toward the Park. I could see it, I could see it WAY in the distance. I smelled the excitement.

Mile 11; Holy Cow, it felt like forever!! There was a loop but it seemed like it was NEVER going to be close. My Right foot started to ache, I knew I was pushing myself more than usual and I kept telling myself, "you're almost there, you're almost there". I gave myself some walking time. And, went full speed when I was ready. There was a cheer crowd at Mile 12, so close, so close.

Mile 12; This is it!! I knew I was a MILE away, I was running against the other runners (who would realize the turn-around wasn't as close as they thought), I paced myself, going uphill was a bit rough, once, I was up, I hauled booty and FINISHED STRONG!!! I was over the moon with happiness. And, quickly asked someone to snap my picture. :D

13.1 Miles of Peace & Quiet Accomplished!!!

I quickly went to grab a banana, water, bagel; I was STARVING!! Caught my breath, stretched, sat, took in the RUNNER'S HIGH and then took my booty over for CHOCOLATE & CHAMPAGNE!!!

The Champagne glass is SO FABULOUS!!!

Photo Booth Fun

I can add Half-Marathon along to my list of RACES. It was an AWESOME Experience and after 8 hours away from my 3 girls, I was READY to be back with them. MUD RUN is coming up this next weekend!!!

"Don't wait to for inspiration to find you; BECOME IT!!"