Saturday Morning...

It's not even 11am and I have already had a great Saturday Morning. I got up early, got a few chores finished at home, had breakfast, visited the farmer's market with the Hubby, and got in four miles on the treadmill. Now I am enjoying an iced coffee. That's a great morning! We scored big time at the farmer's market. As we were walking up to a vendor...he was wanting to close up shop early and we were able to score HUGE bag of squash for $2.00! I also picked up tomatoes, green tomatoes, eggplant, cabbage, and a loaf of homemade wheat bread. All in all I spent $10. Much better than last week's visit, but still no cantaloupe. Maybe next week.
We have family from out of town visiting this weekend, but I am hoping to still get into the gym again tomorrow! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Wednesday Update and Pies

Zumba was a lot of fun last night with the teens at work. I am definitely going to schedule more "active" events for them to participate in during the year. After about 10 minutes these kids were huffing and puffing and trying to sit down. I told them I wasn't going to make smoothies if they didn't work up a sweat :) That got them going!

Today I am heading back to the gym...my plan is at least 2 miles on the treadmill, a couple miles on the bike ( I have been so busy on the tread that I have let the other machines get dusty :) ) and then some of the strength machines for my legs...

In other news, I would really like to make a fruit pie this weekend. I have never made a pie and have no clue how to do this.... Do any of you have a sure fire low cal pie recipe? Or at least an idea for a store bought crust that wouldn't be too high cal. Thanks!

Zumba

Yesterday I did some strength training via a virtual class at the gym. It was pretty fun but my arms are killing me today :) I also added 2.5 miles to my Labor Day Challenge Log.
Tonight I am doing an intro to ZUMBA class with my teens at the library. I have a local YMCA Zumba instructor coming to teach the class for us and then I will be serving smoothies to them. It should be fun and will serve as my workout for the day!

Summer Time Fun!

Labor Day Challenge Update: 19.5 Miles

I had an awesome weekend. Got up early Saturday and went to the Farmer's Market to pick up a few things...cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, and corn. I was a little disappointed that there was ZERO fruit :( I had been craving watermelon and cantaloupe...maybe next week. Went home and picked up Tommy and then hit the gym. After my own 5k on the treadmill, I showered and then we hit the road for a day trip ball game. We made it to Birmingham early and went to visit a friend at the local library. The night before's game had been rained out, so we were treated to two games that evening. When we first made it to Birmingham, it started to pour and we worried that our games would get rained out, but it turned out to be a perfect night. The rain had cooled the temps down by 20+ degrees and there was a light breeze. The second game went into extra innings, and it was after 2AM before we got home. It made for a long day...but it was fun!

Sunday was Tommy's birthday. He went to town with me again while I went to the gym. Then we picked up some groceries and a SLIP N SLIDE :) On the way home we stopped by a new frozen yogurt place that was awesome! When we got home we grilled up chicken for that night and for later in the week. We also roasted some corn on the grill and I used some of the other things I had picked up at the Farmer's Market to make a wonderful salad.
We had a great time hanging out outside all afternoon and playing on the slip n slide. I honestly believe the best way to ring in your 30th birthday is to spend it outside on the slip n slide like your six!
I'm going to head to the gym this afternoon for some running and hope to get in some strength training to report to Shannon :)

4 More Miles on the Books

Yesterday I made up for not going to the gym Tuesday by walking 4 miles on the treadmill when I got off work. When I got home, I worked on Shannon's Strength Training Plan...with encouragement from the Hubby. Well, he counted out my time while I was doing reps of the moves...(must buy stopwatch) and told me to "Keep it up Noodle Arms!" :) I only did one set of the exercises, so I will have to build up to three sets.
Tonight its 2 more miles and then strength...
So ready for the weekend :)

Skipping the Gym...

I didn't get the opportunity to leave this morning for a lunch break trip to the gym like I was hoping...I thought I would have another chance to leave this afternoon but it was just insanely busy until...now. I have a program for teens starting in half and hour so I can't leave and go at this point in the day. I won't leave work until after seven tonight. I am skipping the gym. In order to get home and eat and get in bed at a decent hour. UGH!

I hate missing a scheduled gym day, but today I just can't make it work.

:( Maybe tomorrow will be better...I just hate to get behind on the labor day challenge.

No Shoes, No Socks, No Problem

Today I forgot my socks AND SHOES :( UGH! They are sitting on a chair at my front door. I have another pair of shoes that I am going to make work...and will pick up a cheap pair of socks on the way to the gym... just another manic Monday!
Saturday, Tommy and I took my cousin's daughter to the zoo for her 5th birthday. We had a blast but it was HOTT! Yesterday, I went to the gym and got in two miles on the treadmill. I need to do more strength training...encouragement please! I do great with getting in my cardio, but have always slacked with strength training.

Friday Favorites on Monday :) Breakfast of Champs!

The past few Fridays have been wild for me, and I haven't gotten around to doing a Friday Favorites Post, so today I am going to make up for that by posting a Friday Favorite on Monday :)

I can't imagine being one of those people that don't eat breakfast. I wake up each morning hungry and eating breakfast is one of the first things I do. My breakfasts vary depending on the time of year, how busy a morning I have, or if my husband will be joining me. My typical weekday breakfast during the spring/summer is a super fiber cereal mix.

3/4 cup bran cereal ( I usually buy the store brand) --120 cals depending on the brand

1/3 cup All Bran Bran Buds --70 cals ( I love these!!)

1/2 cup Silk Pure Almond Vanilla -- 45cals

strawberries or 1/2 banana --Cal Vary

This breakfast tastes great and keeps me full until lunch. What do you guys eat for breakfast?

4 Miles Down 96 to go :)

Yesterday, I got 2 more miles down on my Labor Day Challenge. I am really excited about this challenge and so far it has really helped with getting to the gym on days I would have rather not gone...or stayed :)
Today is my work physical and I am not completely dreading it. I know they will tell me I am overweight...but hopefully all the other check marks will be a pass!
Saturday we are taking my niece to the zoo. Tommy and I have memberships to the zoo and usually go several times a year. The closest one is about 2 hours away, but with the travel we do we definitely get our money's worth out of the membership. I think I am going to try to pack lunches and we will have a picnic. It should be fun.
Any fun weekend plans for you guys?

Labor Day Challenge and today's workout!

Today I joined Then I Got Fat's Labor Day Challenge. The goal I made for myself was 100 miles on the treadmill between now and labor day. If you want to join you can click here for more information!

Today was another mid-day workout! Honestly, I am so glad I had decided to join the LDC because if not I think I would have left the gym before I even went inside. When I started to get my gym clothes out of the trunk I realised that I forgot to pack socks this morning :( then I realised I didn't have my earbuds for the ipod. When I got in the gym...the air conditioning was either not working at all or really messed up! And all the little fans that are usually by the treadmills were missing! UGH!

I did my workout as usual, and running without sock and music didn't kill me.

Todays workout was 1.5 miles (20 mins at 4.7 mph). Then I finished up the half hour with a cool down walk for a little over 2 miles.

Two miles down, 98 more to go :)

Jennifer's Yummy Baked Tortilla Chips

Yesterday while catching up on some of my blog reading, I came across Jennifer's blog about her baked tortilla chips. I usually stay away from store bought tortilla chips because I have a hard time controlling my portions with anything salty/crunchy :) I LOVE salsa, but have replaced chips with carrots and bell pepper. When I read her recipe, I knew it could be the perfect way to control my eating but still get that chip satisfaction.
I made mine with just ground sea salt and black pepper. And of course made my green cilantro salsa for dipping :) Tommy said next time he wanted me to do a batch with cinnamon and then we could drizzle a little honey over it! YUM! I plan to do that later this week!
This is the link to the recipe. It is super easy...the calorie count was perfect for me, and making them myself would be much cheaper than if I were buying a bag of tortilla chips.
If you haven't read Jennifer's blog you should...she has several, but I love her health blog which has recently moved here. And get recipe ideas from her cooking blog here.
Jennifer's blog is one of the first I started reading! I am sure you will enjoy it!

On the Road Again...

Tommy and I are back on the road following our favorite Double A Baseball team again this weekend and have had a blast! Yesterday we made a midway stop for shopping at The Summit. Lots of great walking plus loads of steep stairs. They don't call it the summit for nothing :) Then we had a yummy lunch at Whole Foods. The game was in Montgomery, and the Biscuit's Riverwalk Stadium was really nice in a stadium of yesteryear kind of way. We dealt with rain delays though out the night and think we will again today, too! But I don't mind short rain delays :)

The hotel we are staying at this weekend doesn't have a fitness room :( but I got very lucky because the franchise gym I use at home, Anytime Fitness, has a gym here, right down the street from the hotel. I checked it out this morning and loved it. When we visit Montgomery again, I know I will stop in for my workouts. This morning my workout included 25 minutes on the Nautilus Treadclimer and 10 mins on the bike, plus stretching. Have any of you used a Treadclimer before? I LOVED IT! Maybe it was because it was something new, but I had a blast and worked up a major sweat! The machine calorie burn showed 350 calories! (I know you can't always trust the machine counts though.) I hope I have another opportunity to use this machine!

Well, its almost time to check out. We are going to do a bit more shopping before this afternoon's game. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Wednesday's Workout-

Things did not go exactly as planned yesterday, and I didn't get to the gym. I did do the 3mi Walk Away the Pounds DVD (45+mins) using 5lb weights. So it was a good workout in itself.
Today is another mid-day workout. I brought a snack to eat about an hour before I leave for the gym.
Plans for today-
15mins on treadmill
10 mins on elliptical
10 mins on bike
stretching

Food yesterday was the best it has been all week! :)

Prayers for Shannon

Please keep Shannon of Super Woman Spirit in your prayers. Although I have never met her in person, she has been a source of great encouragement for me. Her family is on an emotional roller coaster right now waiting for tests on her son.

Mid-Day Workout 1

Yesterday, I followed my plan to use my lunch break to go to the gym. It went pretty well. I drove over to the gym, quickly changed, did a bit of stretching, a few strength exercises on the stability ball. 3 miles on the recumbent bike with varying incline (10 minutes). And 1.25miles (20 mins) on the treadmill (incline 1.5, speed intervals varying from 3 t0 5mph) . Then I stretched and changed clothes. It was a fast and furious workout, but I enjoyed it. Today I get off early so I will hit the gym right after work around 3:30.
On days I plan to do the mid-day workout I will have to remember to pack a snack to eat around 10am. I usually eat breakfast early so I need a little something before I workout. I felt a bit woozy after the workout. Any snack suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Food yesterday was ok. Not great, but not bad either. I didn't get off until 7:30 last night and it take 30-45mins to get home, so instead of cooking when I got home, I picked up a roll at the sushi place near the library. But I hope to improve the food this week!

Back in Control

I am a creature of habit. I find joy in routine. And last week was WILD! I am a children's librarian, and last week began my busiest 9 weeks of the year! SUMMER READING! I live in a small town, however; my Summer Reading Program usually registers 1000+ children. My days are full of chaos! And while, I love my job, it usually take me half of those 9 weeks to get used to the huge changes in my day. I double my staff during those 9 weeks and add about 35 junior volunteers (ages 10 to 16). Last week was full of training and prepping and today begins our daily educational programs for children.
Last week, I never made it to the gym. I did a DVD at home a few nights, but it definitely was my normal workout. This week, I MUST make my workouts a priority. Last week, my eating was horrible. I would work through lunch time, and then gobble down too much food too fast when I got the chance later in the afternoon. I was so exhausted after work, that the dinners I made were mostly prepackaged junk! or takeout!

This week I am taking back control. I plan to journal my food and USE my lunch break for time at the gym. I am going to take an earlier lunch break to ensure I get out of be building and back before things get too crazy! I'll update on how this works!