New Year and I already have an embarrassing story

Today is my first/last day of school! I can't believe it's already been four years at CSB. Everyone has always said time flies in college but I had no idea it would go this fast. 

Anyway yesterday was my first full day on campus and of course I crazily organized the apartment, decorated my room, and got a kick ass workout in.  This leads me to my embarrassing/empowering story.  I thought I was being smart and cute by wearing new grey yoga pants to the gym. Got myself set up on a stair master and sent to town for a good old interval cardio sesh.  

I was dripping. Like sweat everywhere. EVERYWHERE. 

So I finish my 40 minutes and then I hit the weights.  My first solo WOD.  

5 rounds for time. 

10 push press (70#)

10 bench press (130/145#)

5 burpees

As I set up my bar for push press I turn to the mirror and realize that my new grey pants show every single drip of sweat that I had just created doing stairs.  I had butt sweat, crotch sweat, knee sweat and every single person in the gym could see it.  So what did I do? I fricken owned it.  At first I was embarrassed, but then I look around and think why should I be embarrassed.  I just lifted more than what most of the girls in the gym weigh.  I should have no shame.  

They can look at me all I want and admire my excess perspiration because you know what? I'm a boss. No SHAME! 

Catherine

Guest Post #2 from MNLakeMama

Guest Post by MNLakeMama #2

How is it already the end of Summer!? Also, has it really been over a month since my last guest post!? This past month has flown by and to be honest with myself and all of you I have not stayed on schedule like I would have liked. The challenge to working full time, having a 2 year old, and living on a lake is that I tend to find myself preoccupied and not sticking to a schedule like I would like to. I do great week by week and can usually make it 2-3 weeks on a role, but then I have a week where I have a few girls nights out, a wake surf competition, and a big presentation at work and my healthy eating and workouts fall to  the end of the list.

Luckily, the foundation that Catherine laid helped me feel more confident in my wake surfing, so much so that I actually entered my first competition! Although I didn’t do all that great, I had fun and I have my first competition under my belt. Talking about competitions, in just a few short weeks Catherine and I will be taking part in our second Esprit de She together! Last year I ran the 5K and Catherine did the 10K. This year I need to get my butt back on the road and prepping to run the full 10K with her! I am so excited and I’m glad I have a date in the near future that I’ll be prepping for. I hope that the impending doom challenge of a 10K will get me back on track.

As I struggle through my first few days/weeks getting back in to a groove at home I know Catherine will be doing the same back at school. Here’s to wishing us both luck at sticking with it!

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

It's officially get my shit together week. I leave for school in 6 days and I have one bag of clothes packed...yikes! 

I've been so wrapped up in work and social events these last couple weeks I've been pushing off the back to school preparations. Last week I went school shopping with my nanny kids and was able to check a few things off my list as well...thank goodness. 

Today Isaac and I made cheesy enchiladas for lunch and they were a complete hit. 

1 lb ground turkey 

1 pkt taco seasoning 

Brown turkey and follow directions on taco packet. Set aside.

1 package (8) carb balance tortillas--fajita size 

1 can refried beans 

1 bag shreadded cheese 

1c salsa 

1c taco sauce 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Lay out tortillas and spread with refried beans.

Add meat and cheese. Roll into logs.

Spray 9x13 inch baking pan dump 1c or more of salsa in the bottom of fish. Lay rolled tortillas in. Don't leave room in between make sure they are as close as possible. 

Sprinkle additional cheese on top and drizzle with taco sauce.

Bake for 30 minutes foiled and then broil until cheese is melted and golden brown. 

Sour cream and guac for serving. 

Xoxo, 

C

Friday's

Friday's are my day off which in Catherine lingo means jam as many errands and appointments into one day as humanly possible. 

This Friday was no exception. 

4:30am wake up to consume 2 toasted bagels before my 16 mile run

5:30am meet Bailey and her aunt Lynn for said 16 mile run (barf) thank god for Bailey and Lynn because I would've backed out or slacked if I would've been alone. It was 80 degrees at 6am with 90 percent humidity. I was dying....but I made it. 

9:30am home to tub, drink chocolate milk and binge watch Chasing Life. If you haven't started it yet get on it.

11:30 out to lunch with Mom and Annie and the Smilin' Moode in Hudson. This place is killer and I have no shame in telling you I had an actual buffalo chicken sandwich and I splurged big time on the Cajun Tator tots and 2 pieces of chocolate from Knokes. Needless to say the run was worth it...kind of.

12-3 running college errands 

Packing sucks end of story. 

4:00 get my butt to Barre Yoga. Thought I was going to die after running and eating a very unhealthy lunch

6:00 dinner 

8:00 meet friends for a night out! 

My college life motto! 

I can honestly say I haven't had that much fun all summer. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. We've definitely had our ups and downs but my life wouldn't be complete without these girls. 

I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye in 14 days :( 

Much love, 

C

Getting the Kids involved

This summer I have been working really hard to get the kids to become more conscious of what they eat and where It comes from. 

Last week they both took a cooking class about healthy eating and learned from a Minnesota Author, Lisa Wagner, how to chop, mix, and grate their way to good food. They had an absolute ball and wanted to go everyday. 

Isaac has been super excited to make this veggie pasta salad, so today we did! 

I prepped the vinaigrette first and let it hang out for a while when we chopped veggies. 

We used everything we had at the house:  cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, mini peppers, radishes, and zucchini. 

~I cannot get Isaac to eat anything green or crunchy on a normal day, but today he's already eaten two bowls with nothing picked out. It really goes to show you that if they're involved in the process they are much more willing to eat it. 

He was in charge of washing, peeling, and chopping the carrots! 

We not only got to hang out and try a new recipe I got to teach him the valuable lesson "great cooks make a mess"! 

Happy cooking! 

C 

1st half of summer

Today I ran my first half race of the summer.  It was a great race.  We had the perfect weather, cloudy and overcast! I PR'd and cut 5 minutes from my time at this race last year. 

I know I can do much better next time since I felt like I had a lot of energy even after crossing the finish line, but this race was much more a test of pace than overall speed.  I ran all but a half a mile of this race which is a major accomplishment for me. 

During training last year as soon as my mind told me I couldn't I was done and I walked.  This year I want to be able to run the entire 26.2 and I really think that is attainable after my performance today.

I also got to meet Megan of http://meganmichellejourney.blogspot.com/ for the first time in real life today.  She is a good friend of Bailey's, but we have connected through our blogs and instagrams since we share some similar weight loss struggles, but are both on the journey to overall health.  Megan recently became an Avocare distributor, so if you need product be sure to go her way! 

It was so great to have a running buddy for the first few miles of the race.  We stayed at about a 10:20 mile for the first 4, then we separated, but let me tell you having someone to run with makes running a million times more enjoyable. 

Thanks MEGAN! Can't wait to connect again soon :) 

Great job to everyone who competed today! 

XOXO, 

C

I'm a marathoner, so why don't I feel like a runner?

I came across this article I'm a marathoner, so why don't I feel like a runner on Facebook this morning and I can totally relate.  

When I tell people I ran a marathon and am training for number 2, they automatically give me the once over. 

No, I don't look twiggy and I never will. 

I usually hate the first two miles of any run.  Period. 

I can't explain what a runners high feels like, but I love having them. 

I will get up in the wee hours of the morning to run and watch the sunrise....it's the best form of therapy. 

I chafe like it is going out of style and my feet are always covered (COMPLETELY) in blisters no matter the shoes, socks, or weather. 

But no, I do not consider myself a "real" runner.  I thought I would feel different, that something would change when I finished the full, but it didn't.  

Running didn't get easier or more fun.  Honestly, I think that training for this marathon alone is 100 times harder than training last year. 

I could tell you all of the cons of running, but if you're a real runner your still going to do it no matter what. 

Now get out there and run, 

C