First day of training for my second half!

I started officially training today for my second half marathon.  Here I come August, 9th!!

Today was 4 miles :) and the first "long" run since I fainted.

Recipe of the day is for philly cheese steak "sandwiches"
1 ribeye steak (about 1 pound) sliced very thinly
6 slices sharp cheddar cheese
1 onion
1 red pepper
2 green peppers
3 cups of mushrooms chopped


Saute the onions and peppers with the steak until cooked through, add mushrooms, then let simmer for at least 40 minutes on low heat.

Add cheese to pot and stir until melted.

Put on a salad, low carb tortilla, or half of aw

Have a great weekend everyone :) 

The stack plank (check)

It was a monumental day for me today; I finally achieved the stack plank.  

I cannot begin to explain how excited I was that I did it!

Just had to share :) 

Until tomorrow, 

C

Goals

This week is all about challenging myself to only eat healthy foods and actually stick to it! 

No cookies or desserts

No soda 

No fast or fried food 

Boot camp three days 

Double workouts each day

Get enough water

EAT AT LEAST FOUR SERVINGS OF VEGGIES EVERYDAY! 

This is what I need to remember every time someone at one of my tables orders a hot fudge malt or the candy jar at work begins to call my name....

Ezekiel Bread French Toast

I figured I'd share one of my new favorite breakfast recipes.  Oftentimes breakfast is a time for a bunch of carbs and sugar...this although sweet and carb aligned it's a healthy version that I hope all of you try! 

Ingredients: 

2T unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1t cinnamon

1t vanilla

1 egg 

2 or 3 pieces of Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel Bread

Scramble ingredients and let each piece of bread soak for at least one minute each side.  Then cook in a pan with butter.  Top with sugar free syrup or peanut butter.

Hopefully all of you have tried Ezekiel Bread because it's absolutely delicious and a good source of fiber and omega-3's, but if not this is the perfect chance to give it a shot! 

Just for fun here's a picture of Croix from today...he's exhausted from our 4 mile walk this morning. :) 

Until tomorrow, 

C

Crazy Busy Start To Summer

It has been an absolutely crazy week hence the drop of in blog posts...I barely have time to think let alone write which totally stinks.
Although it has been crazy it has been great being back in the office. I am official now, I have my own business cards. That sure made a great start to my first day back having that box sitting on my desk :)

It is also good to have my Mexican big brothers back in my everyday life.  God, I do miss them when I am at school. I know that if I go out there and hang out or need something that, without fail, they will make me smile or make me realize that my day could be a heck of a lot worse.

I am so grateful for this long weekend, even though it is jam packed with stuff, it'll be nice to continue to get into a routine.

This coming week I have lots of fun recipes and workouts to share.  Stay tuned :)

C

Goals!

Here are my goals for the week!

Boot camp three days this week, two days with double workouts
At least two runs over 3 miles
Try some new healthy recipes
Get 7 hours of sleep every night
Keep a positive attitude with work and my crazy schedule


Until tomorrow,

C

Duathlon (CHECK!)

Yesterday, I got a text from Bailey asking me to take someone's place in a duathlon today, so of course I said yes.  A free race, why not?  One of the mom's that she babysits for and her friend both got sick and couldn't do it.  It was crazy fun, but SO HARD!  2.5 mile run, 12 mile bike, 2.5 mile run all before 10am.  I'll be real.

Setting my alarm for 4am on a weekend was NOT cool.  I even had to drink a cup of coffee on the way to the race; it was one of those days, but getting to chat with Bails in the car also made the 45 minute drive to Lakeville at 5:30am worth it.

In all reality we couldn't have asked for a better day, it was 70 degrees and sunny, but we did have lots of wind...we can't seem to catch a break of biking in the wind. Maybe next race we'll get lucky?  The location was great, Lifetime fitness sure knows how to put on a great event.  This was an Esprit de She race, so all ladies.  It was nice to do a girls-only race because it brought out a lot of people that may have been hesitant to do a race before.  Everyone was so inviting and motivating that although it was a challenge we had smiles on the entire time.  I am looking forward to doing another of their events this fall (hopefully)!

Happy classic pre-race pic! 

 WE CRUSHED IT! 

I'm so glad Bailey asked me to do this with her.  Now we've officially crossed two different races off the bucket list in less than a month. We are officially off our rockers. :) 

Until tomorrow, 

C

One year. 365 days.

I started my journey the day that I got home last year 2013. I had a blast my freshmen year of college and it showed.  The Benny 20 definitely worked for me….unfortunately.  Whenever I got homesick or was stressed food was my best friend, but here I am one full year later in a place that I never thought that I would be.  

If you would have said run a mile, run a 5k, run a half marathon, complete a triathlon, do HIIT training with a trainer, eat clean, do 20 sets of the main street stairs, or become a member of a boot camp, I would have told you that you have got the wrong girl.  Last May, I wore a size 16 jeans. 

THEN: 

 I now wear a size 8. 

The reason I wanted to do start this crazy journey was to be in my cousins wedding, well, I surpassed my goals to no end.  I wanted to look good in my dress and surprise my entire family and it definitely worked.  The wedding was the perfect goal for me because Megan is my “sister”; she has been with me since I was a baby and has always been my inspiration.  As a child, I always thought it was the best when I got to hang out with the big kids and spend time with Megan, John, Jesse, Pat, Brian, the whole group.  They were in high school and I was in elementary school, so anything I got to do with them was a blast.  Now, as she is preparing to welcome her own baby into the world I want to be that cool “sister” for them.  I want to be able to take Baby Gaffney to do all the fun things that their mama and I used to do. 

So as another cousin wedding approaches (November 2014) I would like to stun the family again.

 

Over the last year I have:

Ran a half marathon

Done a sprint triathlon

Ran a 10k

Ran 2 5k’s

Been committed to a boot camp

Gotten a trainer at school and started HIIT training

Ran a mile in under 8:00 minutes

Lost over 40 pounds

These accomplishments would not have even crossed my mind as something I would ever do just last year. At times I wanted to give up, eat a bag of Doritos and move on with my life, well thank God that didn't happen.  There have definitely been days that my eating has not been good, but the gym has become my sanctuary.  All my friends, especially my roommate, know that when I am crabby or have had a rough day I can be sent to the gym and my day will have completely changed by the time I get back. 

Sweating it out makes me feel like $1,000,000. 

I am not going to lie I get mad that I haven’t lost more weight while at school these last few months, but I am surrounded by temptation.  There is not a single day that I don’t wish I could not want to eat pizza, pasta, or go get dessert, but I AM A HUMAN COLLEGE STUDENT! It’s going to happen.  I am most proud of the theory of moderation that I have adopted and that I am still even wearing a single digit size of jeans.

As I reflect on the last year I am looking forward to this summer and the next chapter of my story.  For the summer I am ditching the scale and am focusing on physical and attainable goals to reward myself.

Here are the major goals:

Clean eating everyday

Boot camp 3x a week with stairs on Saturday

Do a mud run (6/14/2014)

Train for another half marathon (August)

Run another half marathon (finish in under 2:30)

Get up wakeboarding (it is GOING to happen this year)

Wear a size 4 pair of jeans before Carla and Danny’s wedding (November 2014)

Now: 

  

I’ve said it before and I will say it every single day, I couldn’t have ever done half the stuff I have without the support of my family and friends.  They have been with me every step of the way and I am so grateful.  I am now to the point where others have called me their inspiration and I am so thankful that my lifestyle changes and aspirations have encouraged others to take the first step.

THANK YOU! 

Training Tuesday! (Final edition)

Today was the day...I had to face the dreaded scale.  I hate the scale and y'all know that, so the fact that I had to get on it at 5 pm sucked even more.  After a day of eating and drinking over a half gallon of water I was only up three pounds from where I started 8 weeks ago.  I call that an accomplishment.

We didn't have a session today with a normal workout, today was all about post assessments.
I did another VO2 max test and my score went up to 40 (AWESOME!) This test measures the amount of oxygen that my body needs during hard cardio.

Sit ups=64 in a fricken minute (HELL YES!) which is up from 46

Push ups=46 in a minute which is up from 38

These scores to me mean so much more than my weight. I am so proud of myself and Kyle was extremely happy to see the physical progress I have made.

It was so hard to say goodbye to him today, I would never have thought that what I have done this past 8 weeks was possible without him.  I am no longer scared to lift heavy weights!

Until tomorrow,

C

Goals

I officially leave for home tomorrow! Holy bologna, where did this year go?  Is it weird that I am already looking forward to seeing my friends in three months?  I seriously cannot wait.

My goals are going to be a bit different this week because it is my last couple of days here:
Start eating clean (like seriously clean) Wednesday morning. NO EXCUSES
Monday and Tuesday you are allowed to have one cheat meal and one cheat dessert.
Up water to 10 bottles a day.
Gym for at least an hour Monday-Wednesday. Thursday run. Friday stairs. Saturday bike. Sunday run.
Starting Thursday you are back on LGN schedule/workouts and eating pattern.
I am responsible for logging everything that goes into my mouth...no cheats.


Check back later for my last training Tuesday of the year!

C

Weekend Recap

Well, finals week is upon us folks, where did the time go?  It feels like yesterday I moved into my dorm and finally got settled, now I am packing everything up for one crazy busy summer...

This weekend was a time of goodbyes and a lot of events with friends.

Friday night we had a girls night of Wild hockey and pirates booty (the worlds greatest healthy snack).

Saturday was a work day for me then a dinner out with next years neighbors and roommates.  We then all headed over to SJU to say bye to the guys.

Sunday,  our last day teaching Sunday school, BOGO Caribou, shopping trip, and a Goodwill clothes drop off.

I still can't believe this year is winding down, but I just keep telling myself that next year will be bigger and better than I would've ever thought possible.
I really don't know how I am going to say goodbye to Natalie or Annie on Wednesday, but here's to giving it the good old college try :)

Until tomorrow :)

C

Strawberry Smushies

Here's an awesome new recipe that I just had to share.  I was looking for something fun to make for a class party tomorrow and here it is! These are so easy and since I am doing this 21 day challenge I know I couldn't go to class empty handed or I'd be tempted to eat a bunch of crap.

I can't wait to share them tomorrow :) 

Until then! 

C

Training Tuesday!

It's TUESDAY! My favorite day of the week.
Today during our workout Kyle choose arms...NO!! (was my initial thought)

Here was our workout from today:

Sprints (like usual)
5 minute warm up
:30 sprint
2 minute rest
(Repeat until you hit 15 minutes)

Circuit 1
15 push ups
15 lat pull downs (90 pounds)
15 bicep curls (10 pound dumbbells)
:30 on the rope climbing machine
(Repeat twice)

Sprints
2 minute warm up
:30 sprint
Repeat until you hit 10 minutes

Circuit 2 PLATE WORKOUT! (I used a 10 pound plate)
:30 overhead hold
15 lifts
15 tricep dips
15 round the heads (each side)
:30 bus driver

Circuit 3
15 tricep extensions (20 pound weight)
15 standing flies (5 pound weights)
(Repeat twice)

Good luck blow drying your hair tomorrow :)

C

Goals!

This is my last full week of classes! Woot Woot!

I decided to start doing two challenges this week, these next 21 days are going to be interesting.  The 21 day food challenge is by far going to be the most difficult and the plank challenge will be more of a fun workout challenge.

Here's the 21 day food challenge:

Plank challenge:

Here are just my general weekly goals:
Stay away from negative energy.
Eat healthy meals (all day) everyday.
Resist temptation from unhealthy snacks.
Remind myself where I want to be by the end of summer.

Until tomorrow :)

C

Weekend Recap

This weekend was insane.  It was awesome to have Bails here again this weekend and add Katie to the mix and the party has arrived.  We had an absolute blast.

We started our Saturday off right with the triathlon.  It was by far the hardest thing that I have ever done...ever.  I would much rather have run like 100 marathons than done the tri.

Pre-Tri pic

Me during the swim

Although it was beautiful outside the wind was the killer...the bike was 13 miles of hell and that's putting it nicely.  We were biking into the wind the whole way and my legs were not feeling so happy by the end, but then the run was through the arboretum which was a nice little change of pace.  I really enjoyed being able to wind through the woods then coming to find civilization and of course the finish line! 

WE FINISHED! 

I am so proud, we had three people in our group of six throw up, one get lost (10 miles out of the way on the bike...whoops), but all in all it was an amazing experience and I couldn't have imagined doing it with anyone else. 

After the race mom made us an amazing lunch of chicken tacos, fruit, veggies, chips and dip, and fresh rice krispie bars.  Food has never tasted so good.  We all deserved every last calorie we consumed.

 After lunch and a nap we showered and got ready for the 14 pines concert.  We went to St. John's or dinner with the guys then headed to see Aaron Carter.  It was a very fun night.  I am so glad that I got to share it with these crazy goons.

Here's to a weekend that was filled with amazing friends and even stronger friendships.

Until tomorrow :)

C

Cleavage Problem=Solved

I cannot say enough positive things about having a huge family.  Today, I started my day on the verge of a mental breakdown because I didn't know what to wear, but as I sit here writing this post I know that the outfit I have now is 100x better and more comfortable than the other one.
Instead of having to drive to Bloomington to spend an arm and a leg on a new suit I just happened to text my cousin and they happened to have just what I needed, so I jumped in the car and SCORED!

Not only did I find an awesome outfit, get to spend time with the fam, but I avoided the dining center :)

Here's the new outfit!

 After I got back I quick changed into my least fav type of outfit...semi formal...and went to a wonderful program to celebrate making it halfway through college!

Hopefully not the last pic of the year with B...don't know what I am going to do without her next year.

Here are the wonderful and not so healthy desserts I ate tonight.

THANK YOU JOHN AND JESSE for saving the day!! :)


Until tomorrow,

C