Challenge Yourself!

I am challenging myself, I found/created an ab/squat challenge for the month of February! These are all exercises I can do at home, so when I don't have that extra hour to hit the gym, I will still get in a good workout! For the most part, they are different variations/reps of squats, situps/crunches, push ups, and cardio. Now all I need to do is get started! Wish me luck, will post progess reports as they come! Comment for the challenge info!

--don't limit your challenges. challenge your limits.

i. am. so. tired.

I am going on my 3rd overnight in a row, 12 hours I might add, and I am exhausted to the max. I have zero energy left to squeeze in a workout. I'm feeling pretty crummy about that! I am able to maintain my healthy eating while doing the overnights, but the lack of exercise is killing me! Not to mention, the time away from my kiddo is even harder! I feel like I haven't really seen her since before the weekend! I miss her to pieces! But soon I hope to be off the stinky overnights, but for not, it pays the bills!

Quick little workout to fit into your busy work/sleep schedule:
Try doing them before you hop in the shower or right after a nap:
25 JJ
20 PU
25 SU
20 SQUATS
Repeat 2-3 times to get your heart going and it will help energize you too!

Hope everyone is having a lovely day, I am off to my last shift before I have a 6 day off stretch!

--you've got to take life and ride it til the wheels fall off

I hate being...

lazy!! I have been extremely lazy lately and it's annoying actually. I guess I just don't have the motivation I should to get up and go. I've also been so tired, no matter how long I sleep, I am exhausted! I guess working 12 hour over nights don't help, do they!?

Today, however, I woke up with the intention of not being lazy! Here is the lazy-girls workout that gave me a run for my money this morning...

60 crunches
30 bicycle crunches
30 push ups (on knees)
30 squats
30-60 second plank
25 jumping jacks

I did this 3 times, and I was just as sweaty as if I had went to the gym and used the weights. If you want to make it more difficult, add more reps or some hand weights.

To make it a little more challenging, I did the workout with Briahna, and she gave me some of her kindergarden gym workouts too! 5-5-5 (5 situps, 5 push ups, 5 jumping jacks), yoga moves, tushy kickers, flutter kicks, and of course her own made up moves such as the bumble bee and the tinker bell! :) Get your kids and family involved, it makes working out that much more fun!



^photo of me, molly, and bri before our midnight walk in Texas!

You can get an awesome workout just using your own body. I will post another workout tomorrow using just your body. It's convenient especially if you are like me and don't have time to get to the gym, have a chaotic schedule, or are just having a lazy day!

As for my healthy eating, I am still doing well. Of course I have cheat meals/snacks but it doesn't keep me off my game. I think to really see if I am making progress, I am going to get all my body measurements and keep track that way, as weight doesn't always do justice. 

I had a girls night out on Friday, went shopping and out to dinner. I found some awesome deals on some new fitness gear at Scheels, JCPenny, and Lady Footlocker. PS if you are military, Footlocker offers 20% military discount! You really can't beat that! I've gotten all of my shoes there along with some pretty nice clothes too! If I could wear sweats everyday, I would! Love them! Can't wait to rock my new Nike gear!

< I want to run this again with no sweat! Practice makes perfect, right?

--start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.

I should be at the gym...

I really should be at the gym. I have been stuck home since last friday with Briahna due to the flu kicking her booty. She finally went back to school today (after a meltdown, of course). I am struggling finding the motivation to hit the gym today. I feel like I have so much to do, but all I want to do is take a nap. Perhaps I am getting what she had? Or I am just being lazy? I don't know but I really should be at the gym!

I will get there eventually today, when? That is to be determined! I am going to get in my 3 mile run today along with a full body workout, burn some calories, and not feel guilty about not going! Bleh!

What do you do for motivation? Help!!

Side note: with all this time off I have had lately, I have gotten a lot of cleaning done, decluttered, and found projects unfinished! So with that, I just ordered 200 photos to finish my photobooks from 2012! I also created a holiday book using Snapfih, I am in love and can't wait for it to get here! :)

--life is fun. do something different.

Protien anyone?

So I have recently started taking protien to help with my fitness goals. I bought chocolate and vanilla and to be honest, it tastes horrible mixed with just water! So I have tried a few other remedies and viola...they taste delightful! Here are a few of my most recent concoctions:

Ambed with Energy
-1 scoop chocolate protein powder
-1 cup almond milk
-1 cup fresh brewed coffee (I used Folgers)
-crushed ice
--mix together in a blender bottle
This shake gives you the engery and protein you need to get through the day!

Mango Tango
-1/2 cup almond milk
-1/2 cup mango smoothie V8 juice
-1/4 cup orange juice
-1 scoop vanilla protein powder
-handful of frozen cut mangos
-handful of frozen sliced peaches
-crushed ice
--mix together in a blender, may need to play around with the amount of liquid added

The Quick Recovery
-8 to 10 oz. almond milk
-1 scoop chocolate protein
--blend together using your blender bottle. Great for post-workout recovery for those exhausted muscles!

I will have to play around with some more recipes and find some tastey ways to enjoy getting that protein we all need for our fitness goals and weightloss journeys!


--know your limitations, then defy them

And the winner is...

Not me! Well, not yet anyways! I ran my PT test last weekend, I am impressed with myself for the most part. I am SO close to my goal of 90% it's not even funny!

Weekend PT Scores
30 pushups
72 situps
16:39 2 mile run

I was slacking on the pushups but the other 2 were so close! I need to do 9 more pushups, 1 more situp, and lose 3 seconds off my 2 mile to achieve my 90% goal!

I got back into the gym today with my trainer. Good workout for sure, we focused on upperbody/arm strengthening! Looking forward to more workouts to come, hopefully a brazillian booty workout here and there too!

I also invested in some more protien powder and women's vitamins. Hoping this well help me build muscle and of course be an overall plus to becoming healthier and fit!

Aside from my fitness dreams, everything else has been doing well. I was just offered a permanent position at the hospital in the ER! I am so excited to have set hours! Briahna is still busy with school and hockey. She will be in dance again which starts back up in February! She continues to amaze me every day! Who knew that this 5 1/2 year old could read, write, sing, dance, skate, run, jump, skip, play, talk, and all the above with so much grace and determination to do more! Love her to pieces!

I am currently considering going active Army and purchasing a home. However, it's a little disheartening when I don't have the support I thought I would have. But on that note, I have realized that people are going to hate what I do no matter what, so at this point in my life, I really need to do those things for myself and Briahna.

Current dream location: Colorado Springs, CO and Fort Carson, CO!
I have done some research and I am pretty much in love! Good housing, huge job market, beautiful view of the mountains, and just an overall good vibe.



--It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.
Agnes Repplier

PT test motivation!

Well hello there my friends! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and new year!

Speaking of the new year, its the time where we all make a resolution or two to try to change for the year! I decided to make just some short goals and reach them, and make some more after.

My biggest goal, which is been for quite a while is to get fit. I am not in too bad of shape right now, but I want to be toned and of course, have a brazillian booty! :) I took time off during the holiday break due to no babysitter, but now that school is back in session, I have every intention of getting back at the gym on a daily basis.

Aside from getting tone, I am working on scoring 90% in all my events for the Army PT test...

Current scores as of my last PT test:
-34 pushups
-43 situps
-17:00 2 mile run

To get 90% I need:
-39 pushups
-73 situps
-16:36 2 mile run

To get 100% I need:
-46 pushups
-80 situps
-15:36

Situps are my weakness. I have been practicing situps and doing other core workouts to improve and work those muscles. I have a PT test tomorrow and will update on my results. I am feeling a big nervous as I took so much time off over the holiday break. But this time, I am refreshed and my muscles aren't fatigued like they were before my last PT test. So this month, I need to pass with 60% or better on each event with a goal of pushing myself to get 90%.

Wish me luck and I will report back as soon as I have time!

Have a lovely weekend!