Lucky Number 7

Hey Jeni!

How have you been? It seems like its been forever since I wrote! 

I have been having a great time since I climbed out of my funk a few weeks ago. In fact, I've met one of my challenge goals and I also had a "7 day week" as I like to call it. 

My goal was to be halfway to my goal weight and I did it and held it steady over the week! I was so excited! I feel like the work is paying off and it motivates me to keep on going. 

My 7 day week was awesome! I did something active everyday and I feel great about it! I haven't had a 7 day week since last summer. What is even better is that I feel like I had some diversity in my workout, which is important. 

Here is the breakdown:

Monday- spin class

Tuesday- weights and bike

Wednesday- yoga

Thursday- Zumba

Friday- Jungshin and bike

Saturday- weights and bike

Sunday- skiing

I am so happy with my week. I can't wait to keep working towards my goals :-)

How have you been? An fitness milestones lately? 

Xoxo

Jenne 

Some Old and Some New!

Hey Jeni!

Glad to see all of your progress with running, it's great!

This week has been a little difficult for me as I was feeling under the weather, but I still did a 5x/wee workout plan.  Here's how it went:

Monday: Spin
Tuesday: Icky Day, but did a 10 minute workout in the AM
Wednesday: Weight training
Thursday: Weight training and bike
Friday: Jungshin class and bike
Saturday: Work, Errands, Cupcakes, Parents
Sunday: Ski

Not too bad for feeling under the weather, huh?

So there were a few new things for me this week as well as my trusty other things.  #1- I increased my weights on my strength training.  On some machines I am doing 40 pounds (to me this is a lot). #2- I tried a martial arts style class (Jungshin). Overall, it was really fun!

This week I am hoping to step up the intensity again and maybe do a 6x/week workout plan. I was slacking on water drinking this week as well as sleep.  It is easy to let this stuff fall off, so I am hoping to stay on track this week!

How was your weekend? And new or exciting progress?

xoxo
Jenne

Winter RUNderland!

  

Hey Jenne!

   This "weekend" has been incredible... because of the snow storm I didn't work on Thursday or Friday, today is a Holiday and I never work on Tuesdays... so I have been ENJOYING myself!  I never really let myself relax, I always have so many deadlines to meet and things to get done.  But I really let myself just be the last few days.  Yesterday was incredible.  My friend Melissa (that I have known my whole life, but never really gotten to know) and I have been trying to get together and run the last month.  Finally yesterday we both had time.  I considered all the factors before our run and didn't expect for us to get too far.  It was in the mid-20's with slush covered roads, Melissa hasn't run in a month and a half and I am dealing with "lady issues" and was feeling so queasy.  I guess good company makes for incredible things.   Some how we made it to 10 milies!  We considered pushing for a half-marathon (13.1) but strangely the minute we made it to 10 miles, both of our phones died.  Not due to short battery, but due to the cold.  Hudson is on a slant, one direction is down hill and to get home is a direct incline.  We weaved all through the town and I made sure to push on the hills, never letting our pace fall.  We settled around a 9:42/mile pace.  Not bad for what we were dealing with.
  It was one of those moments that makes me love running- truly love it.  Each mile was filled with honest and insightful conversation and we pushed each other beyond what we could have done alone.  Female friendship is something I truly could not live without, but athletic female friendship is something I truly hope every woman has the chance to experience- it is so superior to any other experience you will know.
  So I guess this last week has really helped me to get over my doubt of not reaching my goals.  At the end of week 3 of my training I knocked out 10 miles, with what felt like little effort.  That's pretty cool!

once we got inside and recharged our phones we took celebratory photos!  look at how cheesy my smile is!! 

  I love that you and your family are active together!  Especially in Winter.  I hope you high five yourself- most people prefer to stay on the couch when it's cold... you're out there kickin butt!  Down-hill skiing actually scares me, although, I'd really like to try it again (and stay on the bunny hill).  I love treating myself to chocolate milk after an intense workout and if hot chocolate made from milk (not water) is available I certainly get excited!  I think it's a good way to indulge and get some calories after pushing myself.
  You asked if I got my bike yet.  I haven't, we've been waiting for the snow to melt so we can test drive a few more... and as it turns out, it just keeps snowing more!  We are supposed to get more tomorrow!  Isn't that just crazy!!  Will it ever be Spring?

Today I will do yoga and strength train.  I am really looking forward to both of those!  I feel so confident after yesterday that I am looking forward to attacking the strength training tonight.  Melissa has so much nutrition knowledge.  She is going to come over this week and help educate me on some healthy and delicious meal options and in exchange I am going to push her on our runs.  I want to run my half in under 2 hours.  So I will need to run each mile in under 9 minutes and 8 seconds... so, that means we need to pick up our pace!  I'll make sure to share all my lessons with you!

Enjoy your President's day!
xo
Jeni

Lazy Weekend

Hey Jeni! 

How was your weekend? Are you off today? I have a day off, it's nice to have a three day weekend! It's also been a lazy weekend! 

Friday I baked cupcakes and brownies and went to a party. Saturday I lazed around all day, but I also went to the gym, so that's good! Yesterday I went skiing with my family. It was fun, I went down the hardest slopes on the mountain and even braved an icy one (ok I didn't do that on purpose though).

This is a photo of my dad and I on the slopes.  I tend to go skiing on Sundays when the conditions are good. 

One of the nice treats I have been making lately is homemade hot cocoa. I use unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar and organic low fat milk. I'm drinking one as we speak! Sometimes I like my chocolate fix and I feel like this is a better way to do it with only three ingredients, it tastes richer too!

Today I'm going to try to get back into some more high intensity workouts because this resting the knee thing is not doing it for me! It's been fun, it's been relaxing but when I slack off at the gym, I tend to slack off with alot! 

I will keep you updated on my progress this week. Do you have any good workout plans slated for the week? Any tasty fresh treats to share with me that I need to try? 

Xoxo

Jenne

Testing some limits

Hey Jeni! 

I took a break yesterday. Still be gentle with that knee strain! This week. Had some good low impact workouts. I think my knee is going to heal up sooner rather than later and I will be back to doing some of my normal stuff! I just have to watch out, I get a little ambitious :-)

I had a lot of frustration with my weight this week and my weigh in. It did not go so well! However, there appear to be some larger factors out there, not just brownies. I have been enjoying treats and other things all throughout this whole 90 day experience because I am seeing that I do not need to deprive myself to get fit and lose weight. 

Which brings me to my next yesterday full of candy and treats. Oops! The worst part was that I ate a peanut butter cookie by accident. I saw it, it looked good and without even thinking, I ate it! I'm not supposed to eat nuts and it becomes very clear to me now that they bother me. I spelt the impact yesterday. 

What I also enjoyed were these lovely red velvet cupcakes! Three of them to be exact! 

Now, sure this could be a bad thing, but I baked them. I also used all organic products (part of my nutrition plan right now) and the best part, I shared them! The came out so good and everyone loved them. I love baking for people, it makes me so happy. So, while I do enjoy a baked good here or there, I think it's possible to work it in. Now, are three necessary? No! But every once in awhile? Why not? 

Today I did some additional strength training and tried a new dance class. It was fun. I had a late night so I was ver tired today so I didn't push my body too hard. I hope tomorrow is a different story though as I am hitting the slopes with my family! 

I hope you are having fun with all that snow, I can't wait until it melts and I'm out on the road on my bike! Hey, did you ever get a bike by the way? 

Xoxo

Jenne 

It's Challenge Time!

Hey Jeni! 

I'm so glad you got out and enjoyed the snow today! I haven't cross country skied in a really long time- I tried it once. I am looking forward to downhill skiing this winter with my family. At chance you want to try and meet up on the slopes? 

This is my transformation challenge team. Today was our kickoff and we had a group workout! I am certainly feeling my core right now. It's a good thing! 

After that, I went grocery shopping at a few different stores. I am evaluating my eating habits. Some new and old items that I got today: tilapia filets, frozen vegetables, chicken breasts, kombucha (I am sure you aren't surprised), and Greek yogurt. I picked up baby carrots, bananas, pomegranates, and an avocado. I even bought multigrain rolls. This week I want to get back into cooking some more classic meals (read- no queso), and try eating eggs for breakfast, hence the rolls. I'm not a fan of eating eggs outright, they gross me out a bit, but they can be good for you, so I am going to try it out and see what happens! 

I am glad that you bring up sugar. One of the things that I discussed with my transformation coach was nutrition. I am looking forward to the nutrition seminars that they are having during the challenge! I've also been modifying some of my recipes to reduce sugar. Sugar is in everything. Even "good foods" like yogurt have sugar in them. Add in the flavors of the yogurt and it adds more. It's like the other "S"- salt! I have been reviewing everything I purchase for sugar and salt content. I also have been sure to try and eat portions of fruit, not binge on fruit. I am replacing that with veggies! We definitely need to check in with each other on our sugar intake! Good for you on refusing the brownies, by the way, it can be so tempting to eat these things! 

Speaking of other goals and nutrition, one of your goal this year really resonated with me: increase water intake. I fully support that goal. I am also trying to reduce coffee intake. Last year at times I would drink over 24 oz. a day! Right now I am happy with green tea throughout the day as well. Diet sides is also in my list to give up- I did that before for a long time, but I like fizz in my drinks. I am looking to get pure ginger juice and put it in with my soda stream with a touch of lemon. I love how refreshing ginger is. 

Let me know how to yoga is, I can't wait for us to meet up in a few weeks for a hot yoga class. Tomorrow I'll be on my feet during the day while I moonlight at the mall, I will report on how I feel to tomorrow after today's workout. 

Xoxo 

Jenne