As promised I am still here... blogging (albiet somewhat periodically) but I am still here.  Update on the past week - AWESOME week.  I had many great workouts, a couple that left hurtin for a few days but that's all good.  Sign of accomplishment, work well done.  One workout in particular (Wed evening) I did with a friend of mine who loves the same type of workouts I do.  I brought the "pain" all the well knowing what we were getting ourselves into... and yet not an ounce of sanity set in as I crafted the torturous 1hour together.  Here's how the workout went down;

25 minutes HIIT Cardio

Strength Circuit (three rounds of each pairing of exercises, no rest... quick quick quick);

-Jump Lunges (30)
-Bench Step Ups with DBs (30)

repeat three times... next set;

-Negative Pullups (8... insert devil face here)
-Pushups on Med ball (12)

repeat... you guessed it three times... next set;

-Pikes on ExerBall (25)
-Back Ext on ExerBall (25)

Generally I would have done another set of exercises, but really this was plenty for a fat ass gal who is reclaiming her physique.

All in all - had a great week.  Four solid workout days and some progress to show for it in the waistline.  LOVE that :)

Lastly, I want to share a new healthy dessert recipe I concocted/tried this evening.  High protein, low sugar cheesecake.

Here are the basics;

3/4 cup lowfat cottage cheese
1 TBSP sugar free jello pudding (I used white choc flavor)
3 (or so) TBSPs unsweetened almond milk
1/3 scoop vanilla protein
sprinkle of stevia

Place all in heavenly blender - aka - Vitamix and blend till smooth.  Makes two servings, place in two small bowls to chill in fridge for 30mins.  Top with fresh strawberries.  Divine.  Lovely.  Delish.  YUM.  

Greetings loved ones!  Well I have much to update you on.  First, I have started running again.  Hellz bellz!  I ran three times last week.  Only 2 miles or so each time... but that's a great start considering I haven't been running regularly in a. very. long. time.  The runs have felt great, I actually have energy when I come home from work and have run twice after work in the evening.  My body hasn't been hurting or achy like it usually is after work.  While i have been running at a much slower pace than I normally would (think snail pace... firing on two cylinders), I have still been out in the open air with my hair flowing in the wind (well, actually I have been wearing a beanie but you get the idea here).

Secondly, I recently tried a new class called R.I.P.P.E.D.  It's the next fitness craze.  While I liked it, I'm just not sure the gargantuan class is for me (yes, there were a lot of people there).  The format was good but I think I'd like to stick with my own little strength training routines - which I have actually been doing again!!!!  I have made good use of my TRX, kettlebells, dumbbells, elliptical, spin bike, exerball and yoga mat that I have in my basement workout area.  I haven't been going balls to the wall on the weights, only 1-2 sets of 8-10 different exercises, but I have been just sore enough to know that I am making improvements.  My mid-back has been sore.  Gotta be careful there with the vertebrae issues I have, working on getting those babies nice and strong!  Whoot whoot!

well... its official.  remember that workout i had planned?  well, it came and went.  meaning - i did it... and then kinda regretted it!  holy moly!  i was sooooo sore.  my legs hurt so bad i spent three solid days hobbling around.  picture a woman who is 9 months pregnant walking on stilts.  no really... you know the "pregnant lean back" thats how i managed to get down stairs.  no, im not pregnant thats just the visual im giving.  it sucked.  but was humbling.
on other fronts, my nutrition has been good.  i feel much more in control.  one great thing is that my new co-workers and i created some healthy snack baskets.  we added fresh fruit, nuts, dried berries, healthy granola bars, teas, etc. so that we are surrounded by yummy healthy things when we want a snack.  its seriously great.  we also have access to a great cafeteria if i forget my lunch.  basically there is really no excuse to turn into a cookie monster at 3pm.  my cravings and feelings of exhaustion have also gone away.  i am happy to announce that i have been off my anxiety meds for 5 solid days.  i went through a weaning off phase and feel great.  i cant believe how stressed and buried i was.  i finally feel "normal" again.  im really looking forward to my journey ahead.  more to come...

ps (i am typing this on my tablet, so pardon the puncutations and misspellings)

Holy moly.  It has been a very. long. time!  I've decided that I am ready to ressurect this blog.  I am currently going through what some might categorize as a major life change as I am changing jobs.  Last week was week number 1.  It was great.  This is a much needed transition for my sanity and life balance.  It has been refreshing.  Along with all of the changes has come mental clarity, full nights of sleep, no headaches, waking up feeling energized, no teeth grinding at night, etc.  Sound like I feel less stressed?  Well, that is because I am.  Hallelujah.

Although the week started out as a sort of emotional one (found myself feeling guilty and sad that I had "left" a team that I cared so much about) I quickly settled into my new position and realized how much better this will be for me in the long run.  Plus relationships can be maintained!
 
I'm not going to spend this whole post typing out what has happened since I was last on here... those updates will come in upcoming posts as I start to post again.  The one major thing is that the hubs and I have been trying to start a family - not going to go into details just yet but we have been unsuccessful.  With this job transition we have decided to wait a few months and plan a sunny get away first.  I NEED to get back into shape.  I feel like a little dumpling piglet hefer roly poly rhino waddling around.
I have started working out again this week, actually easing myself into it.  Can you believe that... me "easing myself" into anything?!?!  I have a trip planned to workout at the Y today and am feeling good about things.  However, I am planning a TABATA training... which might leave my body severely sore by morning.  I'm hoping I will still be able to waddle into work in the morn.  As a side note, I am also weaning myself off of anti-anxiety meds that I have been on for the past 4 months or so.  I think having to go on meds for anxiety was a major sign that I needed to make some sort of change and thus am on that journey now.
 
So.... there you have it ~ updates on training, food and other coming soon...

After a fairly long hiatus, I'm back. Nothing all that exciting to share about (although I do have something in the works I will eventually share about). This past week left me completely drained, exhausted, achy, lethargic, etc. I'm not sure what it was but it was one of those weeks... well, maybe I should say one of those couple/few weeks. After a good weekend of rest and getting food back on track I am glad to say I am feeling better. I was able to get back to running also, I did a short run yesterday (~30mins). I told a friend of mine it wasn't exactly a 'graceful' run but I was glad to say I got out and did it. Especially because the weather was crap yesterday. It's amazing how quickly your workouts can feel so hard after some time away. I seriously felt like a hippo escaping from captivity thudding down the street. My ankles felt like cheap toothpicks about to snap in half. It's best to face these realizations head on, I need to be more consistent. A little weight loss wouldn't hurt either.

I have been convinced that I am dealing with adrenal fatigue these days. Adrenal fatigue is actually quite common with Americans because of 1) our stressful lives 2) the crap we eat 3) we are constantly overstimulated and over medicated. It can present itself in a variety of ways. I think that perhaps I may have come back to work too soon from the accident and haven't had enough time to reduce the stress that has been in my life the last 7 or so months. I have decided to take an adrenal support supplement. Below is the supplement I chose. I have just started this supplement in the last 4 days, and already I seem to feel some difference. I will continue to take it and share my experience with it. I have posted the nutritional info below, for those of you who are all worked up reading this and want to know what is in it.

Supplement Facts

Serving Size: Three (3) Tablets

Amount Per Serving % Daily Value

Vitamin C (as Calcium Ascorbate) 500 mg 667% Folic Acid (as Folacin) 600 mcg 150% Vitamin B-12 (as Cobalamin) 500 mcg 8333% Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium Pantothenate) 1500 mg 15,000%

Proprietary Blend 650 mg* Ashwaganda Root (Withania somnifera), Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract (3% rosavins), Rhodiola Rosea Root, Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

* Daily value not established OTHER INGREDIENTS: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Dicalcium Phosphate, Modified Cellulose Gum, Silicon Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate & Hydroxypropylmethyl Cellulose. Made in a GMP facility that processes egg, fish, milk, peanut, shellfish, soy, tree nut & wheat products.

Well, I have to first start out my post by saying that I am in serious need of some motivation. Not only for workouts but for eating too. I have been good off and on but I just don't feel energized. I am trying Operation Eat Green Veggies but I'm not sure I can say I have been successful at this point. Before I get into some food sharing I thought I'd share this picture I took the other day from our living room window, it was such a beautiful morning - I couldn't resist snapping a shot. My camera crapped out so I didn't even get to take the other view shot which was even better.

Although the eating has been touch and go like a small cessna, I did have a bomba$$ dinner the other night (yes, I did just type bomba$$ like its 1998 again). I made some edamame, which I had been burnt out on for quite some time. I have really been avoiding soy for the past couple of years because I don't think most sources are all that good for you. I was sure to by non-GMO edamame, that made me feel better. I have a new way of cooking my edamame too! I steam it as you usually would and then I put it in a hot pan with a touch of toasted sesame oil and sautee it. After that I add sea salt and sesame seed - yum!

This was accompanied by one of my new favorite salad combos... it has roasted chickpeas, dried apricots/apricot preserves and gorgonzola cheese. I drizzle the salad in a homemade dressing, creamy cumin dressing. Soooooo goooooddddd!