Therapy.

Yesterday was just one of those days... A day full of grumpy, well mainly an afternoon.

My usual Monday yoga class was really good. It was a really difficult class even though we didn't do as many poses as we normally do. It was a really different sequence of poses. He had us do a few transition poses in quick succession and then progress through some pretty difficult poses holding each for what felt like an eternity. The "power" part of the class which is about 45 minutes that usually feels like forever and a day, actually went by pretty quickly and the part that took a long time was the end "stretching" part. He had us work though 5 different hip opening poses. That is a LOT of focus on the hips. I've read that you hold a lot of tension and stress in your hips and when you really focus on releasing and opening them you can relieve some of it.

Whether this is true or simply thinking it is true, there have been a few times after a class like this when I have simply felt a weight lifted. Unfortunately for my day the yoga class happened before the grumpiness came along. Oh well, such is life.

What a great little afternoon I had going for me, a few books, a delicious yet terribly poured cup of blonde roast coffee and some birthday cards to be mailed out! I LOVE sending snail mail, I know how happy I am when I get a piece of real mail, that isn't a bill or junk mail, this is why I send cards :)

What better therapy than a good run? There really isn't any! Running on crappy days is cathartic. It's like taking all your negative feelings and pounding miles and miles ahead of them. Even though I would have much rather sat my bum down on the couch and drowned my feelings in ice cream, to the gym I went. And you know what? I felt worlds better and had a fresh piece of mind.

RUNNING=THERAPY

Today I wanted another run before my Pilates class but was absolutely so bored with the thought of just running for an hour. Some days there's nothing more that I want but I knew there was no way I was going to be able to do it. SOOOO I decided to do a mini "interval" run if you will. Every other song was either at pace or 30 seconds off. It sounds like a silly change that really won't make a big difference, but it was so nice! It made my run......FUN. What? When did running become "fun"? Even with my love for running it's not always fun. But today it was. I got to choose how long each interval was by choosing the song. A simple way to switch up your running. And you know what the best part was? My average mile was EXACTLY THE SAME as it was the day before. Right??? So great! While I do love long runs at a steady pace, I will definitely keep this little trick in my arsenal to change up my run!

 A shameless gym selfie... Sorry! Sweaty or not I was feeling great after my runs these past few days! That one little piece of hair just can't be tamed....

 This irony of this picture is just too funny! The two magazines I was reading today while running were Cooking Light and Runner's World and my Runner's World just happened to be a weight loss special, AND it was my pilates instructor, Kathy's birthday so she brought, Scotheroos or Special K bars whatever you call them. So this was what I was carrying out with me as I was leaving the way. Running for Desserts ;)

 A delicious little lunch of soup and a cheese quesadilla! Yum! Sometimes as a vegetarian I get asked if I eat cheese. Ummm HELLO??? I'm from Wisconsin and I LOVE cheese! And ice cream and frozen yogurt and newly eggs too! Yum Yum Yum!

This weekend I got to catch up with some of my best friends over a few drinks! I am not a big beer drinker but I'll take a hard cider any day! Not to mention some salty bar popcorn! Yes Please!

2 Sweaty SUCCESSFUL Runs

Lately I have been struggling with my running. I have been a lot slower and my runs have been a lot harder than they were in the past. Or I just haven't been running, period because I DONT WANNA! BUT these last two days have been awesome!!! I have had seriously great runs. Fast runs, that yes were challenging but they felt really good!

Tuesday's run was the BEST run I have had in a long time. I ran the full 8 miles without stopping at all. By the end I was wiped out. I am very proud of that run because I've been working hard to get my pace back to where it was. I have been trying to understand why I have slowed down so much? I think most days my mind gives up before my legs or lungs do. So theses past few days I have been trying to trick myself into just "finish this song" before you stop to stretch and then "well you can't stop until  a 5". Little mind tricks have been keeping me from stopping on my runs.

My Tuesday run didn't fly by like some of my runs have in the past but I felt good when I finished it.

I can't help how much I have started to love weight lifting. I feel stronger than I ever have before! Even if after a workout I feel really really tired. Weight lifting is such a motivator because you start to see the difference in a short amount of time. It keeps you coming back for more! A sweaty mess taking up the squat rack. I swear I only took one quick picture between sets! Come on a girl needs a second to breathe! And apparently a spotter... I think I will be ok with my squats, they're not that heavy....

Sunday was my Dad's birthday so naturally we had my FAVORITE cake! Homemade angel food cake with homemade fudge frosting. What would cake be without a little ice cream? YUM!

WEDNESDAY. Another "yummy" run as my yoga instructor would say. I don't know if I would call it yummy but I am definitely happy about this run again! TWO in a row!!! Whoo hooo! Maybe there's something in the water? Just kidding I don't like plain water. It's not that I don't like it but I just won't drink it. But in an effort to cut some artificial sweetners out of my diet I am trying to drink more water. Key word is TRYING. You know the scence in the movie Baby Mama when Amy Poehler's character spits out the drink and says "What is this it's horrible????" and Tina Fey's replys "It's water..." That pretty much sums up how I feel about water. It's a work in progress. I was reading an article about "self talk" Some studies had found that "self talk" during a workout can help you get more out of your workout or help you last a little longer. They suggested things like "I'm feeling great!" or "I really crushed that last set." If it were me I would say "Girl don't fall off this treadmill!" or "Please don't let my pants rip when I squat today" Kidding.... Sort of.

The world's MOST infuriating, loudest, sometimes most lovable cat, Toby. AKA Joby. Even though you meow incessantly and eat out of the garbage and my cheese cake that was cooling in the oven, who couldn't love you when you decide you want to be snuggly?

A quick salad for lunch but totally hit the spot! I can't wait for all of the fresh fruits and vegetables to come back in season and the Farmer's Market to come back! I just want warm weather again! Fun fact it's snowing right now.... wahh wahh!

I saw this online. Is this a real life thing? Because if it is I want it! I don't know and I'm not a huge "berry" ice cream love but I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan  AND it has 10% MORE CHOCOLATE FROGS!!!! SOLD! Just call me Mary Potter! If only I could have gone to Hogwarts. Life would be complete! 

My Mini is Home!

My MINI is back! Baby sister is home for her spring break! I am selfishly excited to have another friend home with me! We did an at home workout together last night before snuggling up to watch a movie. Circuits and weights followed up by some abs. She's such a trooper!

Over the past few weeks I have been weight lifting more and more. Here are some of my observations over the past couple of weeks:

Weight lifting makes you really hungry. Like eat a whole bag of marshmallows kind of hungry! Who knew there were so many flavors of marshmallows?

Protein helps decreasing soreness. So as a veg, peanut butter is my best friend. Even better than before. They make peanut butter with white chocolate in it. It's heavenly and sinful at the same time. YUM! You can never have too much peanut butter!

I have been eating bigger breakfasts now because I am waking up hungrier. I've been picking up lots of fruit and making eggs to go along with my morning coffee and toast. What a cute surprise to wake up to! My food was sending me some love this morning!

 Squats are a beast. Anytime after I squat I am seriously so hungry. Like two dinners a night kind of hungry. I actually have been having a lot of fun putting together different workouts and planning different lifts. My workouts go by a lot more quickly than running on the treadmill honestly. I am not spending my time watching the clock, unless I'm doing wall sits, then I am.

Some nights you just need to pamper yourself a little bit! Friday night after Claire got home and we had dinner, we used a mint face mask! Such a weird tingling feeling before it dries!

Arizona Ice Tea is perfect for days that feel like spring! I can't wait for the weather to be summer. Outdoor workouts are some of my favorite workouts! Thinking spring!

But when Wisconsin's brutal winter lashes out again, Colombian coffee from Caribou and a piece of sea salted dark chocolate can make any day feel a little warmer. They're also perfect to calm nerves before an interview! Fingers crossed that more good news is coming my way :)!!! 

Thanks Bro.

You know those day when you have zero motivation? Like nothing is going to get you off the couch? 

Maybe I had no motivation because yesterday I woke up barely able to move after my LEG DAY. So I went to my hot yoga class thinking the instructor would take it easier and the stretching would feel good on my legs..... Basically the opposite happened. At the end of the class when the instructor, Brent asked me how class was today, I could only politely reply that I hated him the ENTIRE hour of class. Every second, except for the final savasana pose, aka you lay on your back and rest. Sorry Brent, I liked you again after class was over!

Today was one of those days until about 4pm. I was productive, from the couch. I mapped like 3 different runs. I really should have taken advantage of how nice it was today but I just didn't want to do it. The idea of running was there but I just couldn't make myself do it.

I just imagined this little Corgi puppy telling me to get up and enjoy the day! How can you say no to this face??

Or this? So true even a lazy workout is worlds better than no workout! It's never too late to start, STOP putting it off until tomorrow! There is no time like NOW!

 But I finally did peel myself from my spot and drag my bum to the gym. I plopped myself onto a treadmill and walked for an hour before I decided I wanted to lift a bit before I went home. Smart move, it was like prime time for EVERYONE and their sister to be at the gym. So when I walked over to the free weights part of the gym. There are only 3 free weight "benches" and they were all taken. By towels......

No, I lied, one had a notebook and a protein shake bottle on it. AND a towel....

Ok it's obviously a busy time at the gym and there were other people eyeing up these benches acting as locker space for their owners who were no where to be found. So I started with the few lifts that didn't involve a bench to warm up. 

Then the owner of the protein bottle came back to his bench, toweled off and started to walk away. With his stuff still sprawled over the bench. I popped my head phones out and asked if I could use the bench just for two sets if he wasn't going to use it right then.

He said "Oh suuuuure I guess you can use it." 

........THAAAAAAAAANKS......

I'm sorry does my wanting to actually use the bench bother your notebook? Thanks for being so generous and taking up two different pieces of equipment but using neither. I'm going to actually get some work done while you sit on your other bench... And we get it you drank your protein shake, you can go put your bottle away. You're not the first person to drink one before, but we're all really impressed. 

It sounds much more dramatic than it actually was and I'm sure he was just trying to be funny, but my point here is just be efficient during obviously busy times at the gym. And maybe don't leave your stuff on a machine if you're not actually using it. 

But thanks for the good laugh today Bro. Made my day.

Maybe I should have skipped the gym and enjoyed the nice weather again today before it gets cold again tomorrow. Wisconsin weather, you're such a tease.

 I made myself some more "banana ice cream" again tonight! Perfect for my sore achy muscles. Plus increasing my strength training has made me into a hungry monster! I am probably 10 times more hungry on days I weight lift than on days that I just do cardio! At least 10 times....

Now I need to make go make dinner, because this girl is HUNGRY! Cheers!

"Legs Day" AKA I can't move

MY. LEGS.

holy CHRISTMAS.

I feel exactly like this little pup right now.....

Let me just say that if writing this used them even the tiniest bit, it would not be happening right now. Maybe not even tomorrow either. I don't know. What I do know is that they are incredibly sore, already.

For probably the first time in my life I went to the gym simply to lift and only to lift legs. At the moment, the chance of me doing this again is about zero. But in reality it's one of those "hurt so good". The last time my legs, specifically my quads, felt like this was after my first marathon. No joke, my legs are more sore and tender right now than they were after my second marathon. If my legs could, I think they would rip themselves off to avoid future torture.

I want to take an ice bath and wrap them in with heating pads at the same time.

I have never been very sympathetic to people who complain about their "leg days" I always thought "boo hoo you did this to yourself and how badly could it actually hurt? I run miles and miles and miles and you don't see me complaining like a little baby." Joke's on me.

I GET IT NOW.

I'm not lying when I say I whimpered driving home from the gym. Moving my foot from the gas pedal to the brake was BRUTAL! and I SCREAMED when I pressed the parking break.... yeah.....ow

I don't normally post my workouts but if you're looking for some torture.... I mean a workout..... here's what I did today.

Dumb bell chest press
Triceps overhead extension

Back squat (3sets x 12reps)
Kettlebell swings(2x20)
Single leg dead lifts w.dumb bell (2x20 each leg)
Step-Ups w. kettlebell (2x20 each leg)
Curtsy lunges w. kettlebell (2x 10 squats, 10 sec hold, 10 squats, each leg)
Stiff leg dead lift (2x20)
Sumo squats w. kettlebell (2x15)
Star lunges (2x 5 each direction)
       1 rep = front, front diagonal, side, back diagonal, back
Wall sit (2x1 minute hold)
Fire hydrant (2x30 each leg)
Clamshells (1x70 each leg)
       (10 both feet on ground, 15 heels up, 30 heels up leg extension, 15 heels up, 10 both feet on ground)
Jump rope (4 minutes) AKA the length of "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore.

Nothing is better than fresh pineapple. NOTHING! I may be crying over my dead legs but I will always be happy when I have fresh pineapple! <3

 Last night for dinner I made mini pizzas and homemade sweet potato fries. A delish dinn!

 THEN, I made a banana sundae with a mess of toppings. The BEST part I would rather have toppings than ice cream any day. Out of all my toppings I am seriously shocked that the strawberries were my absolute favorite.... Not the graham pieces or the peanut butter or the chocolate.... The strawberries... I must be sick or something!

Did I mention I ran 15 miles yesterday? 
 could that by why I am so incredibly sore today? Unlikely.

Lazy Running?

I've been meaning to write a post all week. Well it's Friday, so I should probably get on it... I've been busy busy busy! Doing lots of cooking and eating and having family visiting. Not to mention lots of hard work too with some yoga, Pilates, kick boxing classes and running, wait for it OUTSIDE!!!

With both of my sisters home this weekend we all went and had our nails done. For as much as I hate feet, I am grateful for all the miles that have been with me through, so I guess they need a little attention, too.

Sunday we went to my Grandpa's 80th birthday party! It was so fun to see everyone and get together for his special day! He sent out the cutest "Thank You" cards! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA! 

 I love you!

Being the sweet tooth that I am, I brought "crack" or so we call it!  It's my old roommate Keshia's recipe! Basically you load a bunch of goodies from your pantry into a bowl, melt a lot of white chocolate in a sperate bowl, pour the melted chocolate over the goodies and VOLIA! It's addicting, hence the name ;)

It's about time! It's been warm enough the past few days to log a few runs outside! Which has been absolutely wonderful! It's even been sunny! My ponytail is blonder than it was at the beginning of this week from all the sun! It's like summer all over again, except it's March. It's funny that 30 degrees in March feels heavenly while 30 degrees in November is awful. It's all relative. I have to admit that I have been a little frustrated with my running lately though. Recently I have been significantly slower than I was in the past. I am trying to figure out why? Is it mental, aka, my mind is giving up sooner than it used to? Or is it physical? Am I just getting...... sloooooower? Wah! Like any runner I am hoping for the earlier! Please oh please let it be that I am just getting lazy with my running. I am work through that!

Sometimes you just need a little more motivation right? Like something new to get you back moving! I'll take motivation like that any day!

Or chocolate, that always works, too.

In an attempt to figure out what is going on, I challenged myself to a treadmill run to ramp up the speed to where I used to be so comfortable cranking out 8 miles no problem. The results were mixed. I made it through my run but it was hard. Sooooo what does this mean??? I literally have no idea! I can't help but laugh! Nothing conclusive. This just means more training which is exactly what I have been doing. Running almost every day this week!

My second run outside, I was hot.... What I don't even remember what that feels like?!?! I had to take off my gloves people! Usually I can't feel my hands! Blissful!

During the day everything starts to melt and then freezes again at night making for some crazy looking plants!

Except today. I went spinning with my Mom this morning. She stayed for one class and then told me she wanted to get her car washed with the weather being so nice today. Seeing as she had to drive past the gym on her way home, I had her pick me up, like a child. Again, I can't help but laugh at myself. I only wanted to stay for maybe half of the next class. Apparently EVERYONE else had the same idea and all wanted their cars washed at the same time. That along with the second spinning class being only the instructor, one man and myself, it would have been quite awkward to leave half way through. So I gutted out another class. I have been pooped all day since. Plus sitting on my bum is decently painful.

Some days require two cups of coffee. Some days require three or four.... pots.

 My seriously delicious spinach egg white omelet! A perfect breakfast after my tough spinning workout this morning. Just don't forget to spray your frying pan. Life is much easier that way!

 For those of you who don't know I absolutely LOVE squirrels! The chubbier the better. This baby squirrel is pretty cute though, even if he's tiny! I wish this were actually me and not a screen shot!