Mission Accomplished

Yesterday was the last day of the 30 Day Cross Fit Challenge that I was participating in, hallelujah! I was a bit skeptical before I started the challenge because I've heard about how intense Cross Fit can be, but I decided to go for it anyways because I'm not going to get results if I don't challenge myself. I think the first week was the hardest, especially the mile run, but as the weeks progressed I could feel my body getting stronger and suddenly the planks and lunges weren't as unbearable as they were when I started. I also shaved 43 seconds off of my mile time in a matter of just 3 weeks!

I mentioned in a previous post that I had also started following the Couch to 10k program along with the Cross Fit Challenge and I have to say that my body was never looked better! I was so used to how my body looked before I decided to rein my lifestyle in, that it is almost astonishing when I see myself in the mirror now. I've come a long way since last summer and I do not intend on turning back. I'm so happy with the way I live my life now, but I know I still have a lot of goals for myself, like running the Seahawks 12k next year & eventually the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon, and improvements I would like to see, like more toned arms and killer quads!

Because I enjoyed the 30 Day Cross Fit Challenge so much, I decided to keep mixing up my fitness routine and try out Blogilates. I've heard fabulous things about it so I'm going to give the Blogilates 90 Day Challenge a try. I'm hoping to not only work on my flexibility and strength, but to notice more muscle definition and lean out. I'll keep you guys posted on how that goes.

Also, I threw a new coffee protein shake together yesterday after I finished up my workout and it was just too tasty not to share so here ya go:

4 oz room temp or refrigerated coffee
4 oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 scoop chocolate protein (I really like using Syntha-6 by BSN [good for lean muscle])
3 green ice cubes
1 banana
spoonful of chia seeds

Bringing Home the Dough

I tend to only eat bread a couple times a week now. Actually, it's mainly on the weekends when I have the time to sit down and enjoy some coffee and toast in the mornings. Then there are a few times, like last night, when a slice of bread is the perfect compliment to a main dinner dish. I don't eat white bread, and now that I look back, I hardly ever did. I've always preferred whole wheat over white bread. Since we only indulge on bread very few times a week I figured why pay $3.00 or more for a loaf, when I could just make it myself at home and save myself some money? Plus, I've recently discovered a love for baking. Not to mention that it's rewarding to make your own food because I know exactly what's in it and I know that I'm using simple ingredients that my body can appreciate.

Recently, my wonderful, sweet mother-in-law gave me and my husband a bread maker for an early anniversary present (whoop! whoop!) so I will be posting about my experimenting with recipes and the machine itself so follow along if you're interested in becoming an at-home bread maker yourself!

The first two loaves of bread I made last night were actually baked in the oven instead of with the bread maker only because I have been wanting to try this recipe out for so long, but I had been waiting to use up all of the store-bought bread we had first. So for those of you who don't have a bread maker and want to try making your own bread this way before splurging on a machine, this is the perfect opportunity for you to test out the waters!

Honey Wheat Bread with Flax
*Recipe from Eating Whole with Lauren Brimley

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon yeast + 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 1/2 cups warm water
• 3/4 tablespoon salt
• 6 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup raw honey
• 3 tablespoons ground flax meal

Directions:
Dissolve yeast into 1/4 cup warm water in a small bowl. Let sit until it has doubled in size, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a stand mixer using the hook attachment, mix warm water, salt and 3 1/2 cups of the wheat flour for about 5 seconds on lowest speed. It won't be mixed all the way, and that is okay! Once the yeast has doubled, add in yeast, oil, flax and honey. Mix on low speed for about 5 seconds. Slowly add in the rest of the flour (2 1/2 cups), and then let mix for 10 minutes on low speed. Divide the dough into two equal loaves, and place on two lightly floured towels. Fold the towels over so they are covering the loaves, and let rise for about 30 minutes. Bake loaves in a lightly greased loaf pan (with coconut oil) at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. It should have a nice crust that is golden on top.

* I had to bake the loaves for almost an extra 10 minutes. 

Since I had planned on making this bread ahead of time I wanted to make something for dinner that would incorporate the fresh baked goodness. Soup, duh! I found this recipe on Pinterest a couple days earlier so I figured this would be the perfect time to try it out. I had to deviate from a couple of the ingredients because of what I had in my kitchen, but it still turned out excellent.
  
Lemon Chicken Soup with Tortellini 

Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 2 Garlic Cloves, crushed
• 1 Leek, white and light green parts only, cut into half-moons (I omitted this ingredient because I didn't have one.)
• 1 Carrot, chopped (I used a 1 lb. bag of frozen peas & carrots)
• 6 cups good quality Chicken Stock (I used 8 cups of Organic Chicken Broth)
• 2 1-inch cubes Parmesan Cheese (I used 2 Tbsp of shredded Parmesan Cheese)
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 package (9 ounces) Fresh Cheese Tortellini (I used a 19 oz. package)
• ½ cup Frozen Peas (I used a 1 lb. bag of frozen peas & carrots)
• 2 cups Baby Spinach
• 1 Lemon, juiced

Directions:
Heat oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the leeks and the carrots (I added the 1lb bag of frozen peas & carrots at this time); cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the broth (I used 2 additional cups of broth because I used a bigger package of tortellini) and cheese; bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Add the tortellini; boil for 7-9 minutes or until cooked through. Reduce heat and stir in the peas (if you're not using the mixed frozen veggies) and spinach; simmer until spinach is wilted. Stir in the lemon juice.

Guest Speaker

I am so excited for this week's Get Fit Friday post because one of my crazy gal pals, Jenelle, has decided to share the inside scoop on what it's really like to train for a marathon! While I don't see myself running a marathon anywhere in the near future, running a half marathon in the next few years doesn't seem like a completely unattainable goal. Especially, after reading through her experience and knowing that I am not alone when I endure all of the trials and tribulations that come with running.

Let me start off by clarifying: I AM NOT A RUNNER.

Running in every sense of the word evokes the following reactions in me: tears, pain, vomit – repeat. So when I started wanting to train for a marathon, I toyed with the idea for riiiiight around …. 3 years. I would train for two months, and then get bored and lazy. However, to give myself credibility (as I am writing a segment about marathon training) I lived in the snow capital of the country (Rochester, New York – about 45 minutes from Buffalo and 3 hours from the big apple) for that period of time. It was horrendous, and after most runs I’d end up sounding like a chain smoker of 50 years (my lungs couldn’t handle it!).

After moving to Seattle last March – I began to get slightly more motivated. However, I took about two months to learn the tricks of the trade – and to essentially put off the running portion as long as I could. Here’s what most runners won’t tell you unless you are annoyingly persistent (which, luckily for all of you, I am):

The Feet

     Say goodbye to your pinky nail, and many others, and get used to just painting skin. I lost mine about 3 months ago, and get many dirty looks from the lady doing my pedicure.

Nipple chafe is all the rage
     This little clip should prepare you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzwf8O4ZCKk

The Toilet Talk
     It suddenly becomes acceptable to talk about pooping, honey-buckets, and “the runners trots” (which is a term coined by many runners – or so I’m told). Essentially, it is my number one goal in all races not to crap my pants.

The pants
     When you find those jeans that accommodate your waist-to-butt-to-thigh ratio, it is a sign that God loves you and wants you to be happy (this rule does not necessarily apply to guys – yep. That’s how cruel this world is)

Shoes
     I always imagined spending ridiculous amounts of money on those red bottomed beauties (for guys that’s a really painful shoe called a Louboutin) However, now my allegiance to my $150 running shoe is stronger than Carrie Bradshaw’s to Manolos.

Now that I was officially scared, I cried into my wine glass, kissed my pinky toe nails goodbye and started training.

The first couple weeks suck – I’ll be honest. You’re sore, you have blisters the size of a watermelon (and some with that are inception style – aka blisters inside of blisters inside of blisters), and you really only have tunnel vision of how far you have to go. I am here to say that IT DOES GET BETTER. The best part though is it’s a major stress reliever - I used to work as a concierge at a hotel, with ever stride I imagined stepping on the heads of those overly annoying guests). Another thing to help make the process better, is finding a training app that will best suit your needs and keep you motivated.

There is one little app that has been my friend throughout this whole process (well besides ad-free Pandora) and it is one made by ASICS (read more about it here: http://run.myasics.com/running-apps/index.html). It’s basically a personal trainer that doesn’t yell at you – or make you feel like a fat lazy piece of crap. The statistic is 78% of runners who follow their plan until the end will succeed – I fully believe this. That’s why this little app is amazing – it helps keep you on track. The app will help you plan routes, give you tips, and plan out each week of your training process.

Today, I am still training (it’s been about 3 months). However, I have signed up for my first half-marathon (the Seattle Women’s Marathon in November).  Yes, I know I talked up running a marathon this whole time, buuut BABY STEPS PEOPLE!!! I will keep you posted on the process – that is if I’m not fired by Jodie after this post.

Hopefully you have enjoyed Jenelle's words of wisdom and you can relate to her experience on some level. Her journey has given me the extra encouragement I need on those days when I just don't feel like lacing my shoes up or want to quit. So for this, I thank you Jenelle! 

Running the Disney Princess Half Marathon is on my Bucket List!

Reason for the Season

We've been in New Jersey for a little over a year now and I don't have many positive things to say about it. The weather is awful and unpredictable, paying tolls is just a pain in the rear, it seems like everything is way more expensive, and we have to drive at least 45 minutes to get to a decent restaurant, the mall, and the movie theater. Because we have to drive so far to get anywhere worth going, we hardly ever go out, but when we do, we make sure it's worth our while. Going to Seasons 52 is definitely fits the bill!

Seasons 52 is this incredible restaurant that prepares fresh foods with appropriate portion sizes. They're definitely health conscious, but they celebrate eating well. They use natural cooking techniques like wood-fire grilling, brick-oven cooking and caramelizing vegetables so that the natural flavors take center stage. And because they use fresh, good-for-you foods everything on their menu is 475 calories or less! SCORE!

Since my husband and I couldn't be with our families on Easter this year and neither of us is very religious, we still wanted to do something to make the day special. Perfection.So we got dressed up, got out of the house and ventured out to our favorite place for a special Easter Sunday brunch together.

We shared a Lobster and Mozzarella Flatbread Appetizer that was out of this world and my husband enjoyed a Ginger Beer  Cocktail that was made with Organic Vodka and fresh Lime juice while I sipped on some Jam Jar sweet white wine.

I had the most perfect Baby Spinach Salad with fresh Spring Strawberries, toasted Pine Nuts, crumbles of Gorgonzola Cheese,
and a splash of Vinaigrette. Perfection. 

Even though I don't find myself to be a very religious person, I still consider Easter a special holiday. For me, family and togetherness is what constitutes the special Sunday that is celebrated every year. And even though I was far from my mom, dad, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, it meant the world to me to share the treasured day with my husband because, simply, he is my family now.

With that, regardless what you did, or who you were with, I hope you all had a beautiful day. I know I sure did.

My Most Amazing Mani

Since we've moved to New Jersey, I hardly ever get my nails done anymore. It's been my experience that the places near us are either way too expensive or just not up to par so I'll only go once every couple months. I've been wanting to try a gel manicure for awhile now because I've heard that your manicure lasts much longer than a regular mani. However, after having a conversation with a co-worker last Thursday my feelings shifted. She happens to frequent the same nail salon that I use when I decide to treat myself and she was explaining that they have an even better and simpler process using a powder. It's called Signature Nail System (SNS) and it's life changing!

I will never get a normal manicure ever again. For me, it's like having natural acrylic nails, if that makes sense. My nails feel strong and the results should last 3-4 weeks. And the best part; you don't have to sit and wait around the nail salon while your nails dry and yet still worry about smudging them when you put your seat belt on or reach in your purse or whatever the heck usually does the trick. I HIGHLY recommend the next time you go see your nail professional that you ask about this amazing SNS process because it is fab, fab, fab!

Five k Schmive k

Today's Get Fit Friday post is a cause for celebration; I conquered my first official 5k today ladies and gentlemen! Even though this isn't the longest distance I've run (almost 7 miles back in October), this was my first actual race and I'm feeling pretty darn accomplished. In my Get Fit Friday post last week I mentioned how I started using the Couch to 10k app to help me get back in shape for distance running again because I spent a lot of winter doing HIIT. I kind of jumped the gun a little because this is only week 2 of the 14 week program, but the weather has been so nice (well, it was when I made the decision to sign up anyways) and it was a fun theme so I figured I would just go for it. My boss even asked me to wear a GoPro camera while I ran so that we could use it as a marketing tool for future 5k's that our squadron hosts. I'm hoping I can get the condensed version of the footage to share on here after my boss edits the footage! I was also lucky enough to have my husband join me, which made it even more special. He was even sweet enough to stay back with me and encourage me when I was falling behind. Aww!

I had 3 goals for myself going into the race this afternoon:

1. Don't walk
2. Don't be last.
3. Finish under 35 minutes

I achieved all three! In fact, I surpassed my goal time by almost 6 minutes! Happy girl, right here!

Also, I love my PolalFT4 watch. And not just because it's green either ;). It gives me a more precise feedback and activity from my workouts and I love the fact that I can visually see when I'm in my fat-burning zone so I can maintain that intensity.

**I'm super excited to announce that next Friday I will feature a little something written by one of my dear friends who is opening up about her marathon training experience so make sure you stay tuned!**

I Spoke too Soon

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The other day I posted an entry about how Spring was finally here. I screwed up. I should have just kept my my lips sealed and refrained from posting anything. I think I jinxed myself, and, well, lots of other people, because it's gone. Spring is gone. She left us. I guess she only decided to stay in town for the weekend because we're back to crumby weather. It even snowed on Tuesday and it's supposed to get back down to 30 degrees this evening. Like, seriously, this is insane. 

I miss Washington and all of it's glorious predictable weather.

I guess the silver lining, because they're is one for every situation (right?), is the fact that I am getting a lot of use out of my chunky sweaters. Even though I would prefer to be wearing my maxi's by this time of the year,

 I do love a good chunky sweater. 

And this sweater pictured above just happens to be my favorite. It reminds me of a sweater that my grandpa has but, trendier and obviously more feminine. Not to mention its crazy warm and ties around the smallest part of my body

so it in no way makes me look frumpy.

Red Pepper Alfredo

I loved this pasta because, surprisingly, it was super light. So even though the summer months are coming this is still a dish that can be enjoyed without making you feel awful afterwards. My husband also said that he enjoyed it cold for his lunch the next day, making this a versatile dish that would be great for entertaining a dinner party or for something casual like a picnic lunch. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces linguine (I used whole wheat spaghetti noodles)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (I substituted whole milk)
• 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese (I used Feta cheese)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish
• 1 (12-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped (I used 2 fresh red peppers instead)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a large pot of boiling salted water cook pasta according to package instructions then drain well. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, *Since I used fresh red peppers I added the peppers to the saucepan at this time as well so they would become tender before blending.Stirring frequently until onions have become translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in milk, Feta and Parmesan and continue to stir until cheeses have melted. If you're using a jar of peppers, add them now and puree with an immersion blender. *I don't have an immersion blender so I literally dumped everything into my blender and mixed until smooth. *If you're like me and don't have an immersion blender, be careful when blending the sauce in your conventional blender. Make sure to take the lid off every so often to let the steam out so your blender top does not shoot off and cause a huge icky mess! Using my conventional blender, I ended up with a little bit of pulp from the red pepper, but my husband and I didn't mind it. Combine sauce with pasta and gently toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste and serve immediately with Parmesan sprinkled over top.

I served the pasta with a spinach side salad, lean chicken breast, and a glass of Pinot Noir. Perfect.

Avocado Corn Soup

Prepare yourself for just about the easiest recipe you will ever make. Seriously. I found this recipe on the avocado bag we picked up from Costco (Costco is everything). I made this avocado soup in the middle of one of our many snow storms this year and it was perfect.  And even though this seems like more of a fall and winter soup recipe, it's still light enough to enjoy when the weather get warmer too, plus avocados, duh.

Avocado Corn Soup

Ingredients:
2 Ripe Avocados
1 Can Corn Kernels
14 oz Chicken Broth
1-2 Tbsp Lime Juice
1 Red Pepper, diced (optional)
Cilantro for Garnish (optional)

Directions:
Cut the avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop out the avocado with a spoon. Set aside. If you're going to use red pepper, dice into pieces a little bigger than the size of a corn kernel. Drain the corn and saute with the red pepper an skillet for a about 5 minutes. Place the avocados, broth, and lime juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a medium sized pot and add the corn and red pepper. Heat over medium heat until thoroughly steamed. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with tortilla chips and cilantro for garnish if you choose. That's it!

* The original recipe didn't call for red pepper so if you decide not to use red pepper don't worry about sauteing the corn. I just decided to saute the kernels with the pepper to give it a roasted crispy taste.

Spring has Finally Sprung!

After what seemed like a never-ending winter, Spring has finally arrived in New Jersey. We lucked out with a beautiful weekend full of warm temps, blue skies, blossoming blooms, and lots of sunshine! 

I had to work on Saturday, but I didn't mind because I got to soak up the gorgeous weather all day while I covered the Joint Base Great Easter Egg Hunt. The day was actually very entertaining. There were a lot of different activities for the kids and families to enjoy throughout the day, like face painting, bounce houses, pictures with the Easter Bunny, a DJ who was very interactive with the audience and hosted different contests and games for the kids, and there was a mini petting zoo (where I spent a pretty big chunk of time with the bunny rabbits). But, I have to say the most entertaining part of the day was witnessing all of the kids who didn't get any eggs from the actual egg hunt have complete meltdowns! And the poor parents trying to console their "traumatized" children while frantically looking around for eggs to give their kids. It was hysterical!

On a sour note, I underestimated how nice the weather was going to be because I ended with the weirdest sunburn patterns on my body; a triangle on my chest, a strip on the back of my neck, and from my mid for-arm down on both arms. Which, by the way, is still showing up on my skin.

Because the weather was so nice on Saturday, I was feeling super productive and decided to get my grocery shopping done after I got off work. Thankfully this was smart on my behalf because while I was indoors shopping, everyone else in existence was outside enjoying the long lost sunshine, so my shopping trip was quick and hassle free! After I unloaded and put away all of my goodies from the store I woke my husband up (because he works nights) and convinced him to go on a jog with me because it was just too nice of a day not too.

The spunky spring weather carried over to Sunday so I was glad to take my workout outside. Part of my workout called for running a mile for time followed by 100 jumping jacks and then I decided to throw 50 crunches in. It is SO much easier for me to run something like that outside on a track rather than inside on a treadmill, so I was thrilled to have another sunny day that allowed me to do so. I had a great run! I shaved 20 seconds off my time just from last week! I'm telling ya, that Couch to 5k program is awesome and after only one week is helping me improve my running.

Overall, it was a beautiful weekend.

Keep Calm and Get Fit

We have finally reached the second rest day of the 30 Day CrossFit Challenge! How are you holding up? Last week it was my quads, hams, and glutes that were achin' and now its my dang calves and shins! I went for a run with a friend yesterday, who is also participating in this challenge, to fulfill our 30 minute requirement for yesterday's workout. I was super excited to test out my new Polar FT4 on a longer run other than the timed mile at the end of week 1. I tried to stay in fat burning zone for the duration of the run this time, but that meant I had to jog at a fairly slow pace, which I think is weird, but anyways, my lower legs are paying for it today so I'm glad it's a rest day and I don't have to work out again until tomorrow! :)

Along with this CrossFit Challenge, I also downloaded the Couch to 10k app on my iPhone because I had so much success with the Couch to 5k app last August. Before I started using that app last year, there is no way I could have ran almost 3.2 miles without walking or dying. The Couch to 5k is a 9 week program, but I was able to run even farther than the program allotted. By the time early November rolled around I was able to run almost 7 miles! Unfortunately, because the weather turned real brutal real quick I stopped running. By the time I would get off work it was already pitch black and freezing so of course I wasn't going to run outside. I tried running on my weekends, but it was just too darn cold. Like, runny nose, can't feel your legs, hands stinging kind of cold. So then I tried to get my runs in by using the treadmill from the warm comfort of the gym; horrible idea. Running distances on a treadmill is one of the most boring and agonizing things EVER! This was when I decided to make the switch to HIIT workouts that incorporated sprints, inclines, and resistance so I didn't have to work out as long; thank goodness! 

Now that the weather is finally more pleasant, I decided to saddle up and get back on the horse! If you find yourself to be like me, and you don't consider yourself a runner or you think that is impossible for you to finish running a 5k; it's not! Trust me, if I can do it, I have good faith that anybody can. The Couch to 5k is an awesome program to build your endurance and get you used to running. Plus, you only have to run every 3 days! So I highly recommend it for those of you who want to give it a go.

Whole Wheat Coffee Chocolate Chip Muffins

I'm not sure what it is exactly, but something about baking is incredibly relaxing and satisfying for me. I've had my eye on this muffin recipe for awhile so I made sure to pick up all the necessary materials that I didn't already have in my kitchen when I made my weekly Saturday morning grocery shopping trip. They surpassed my expectations for deliciousness and made the perfect snack to curb my sweet tooth!

Ingredients:

2 1/3 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon Salt

3/4 cup Buttermilk (I substituted Whole Milk and Lemon Juice)

3/4 cup Canola or Olive oil (I substituted Olive Oil)

1 cup Applesauce (I used unsweetened)

1/4 cup strong Coffee, at room temperature

1 Egg

2 teaspoons Vanilla

1/2 cup Maple Syrup (I substituted Light Organic Blue Agave Nectar)

1/4 cup Sugar (I substituted 1/8 cup Truvia Baking Blend)

1 cup Chocolate Morsels or Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 and either grease or line two muffin tins with muffin cups. I used a vegetable oil spray and my muffins came out of the tins easily. I also used a large muffin tin and mini muffin tin and I had the perfect amount of batter to fill both trays.

Combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt) in a large bowl. Whisk together, and make a well in the center. Combine the wet ingredients oil, milk, applesauce, coffee, vanilla, maple syrup, sugar, and egg. Whisk the wet ingredients together and pour over the dry ingredients. Stir the ingredients together until almost mixed then add the chocolate chips/morsels and finish mixing until just combined, but try not to over mix.

Scoop the batter into the prepared pans, filling each muffin cup about two-thirds full. Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until the muffin edges are golden brown. I baked both tins at the same time, but left the bigger muffin tin in the oven for a couple extra minutes. You can test the inside with a toothpick; insert and pull out. Muffins are done when little to no crumbs come out. Cool for a few minutes then enjoy!

TGIF!

Or should I say TGIGFF? 
Thank God It's Get Fit Friday!

How are you guys doing with the 30 Day Beginners CrossFit Challenge?  I don't know about y'all, but my quads, hamstrings, and glutes hurt so good so I'm definitely glad it's rest day! I've been adding 30-40 minute cardio sessions either before or after the workouts because I would freak out if I didn't, plus that's when I take the time to clear my head and come up with blogging topics.

In honor of rest day, I'm just going to post some mindful fitness tips that I have found to be helpful:

1.) Never go three days without exercising.
I feel awful going two days without a good workout so I couldn't even fathom going without it for three!

2.) Look at exercise as a pleasure and privilege, not a burden or chore. 
Changing my mindset towards fitness has made it easy to incorporate into my daily routine and schedule. Now exercising is second nature for me and has a huge impact on my mood and feelings. I view exercise and it's benefits as a reward because not only does it make a difference physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

3.) Don't compare yourself to other people.
This one has taken me a long time. No two people are ever going to look the same and they're not meant to be. We are all different for a reason. So focus on you and trying to achieve the best version of yourself and not the chick next you at the gym.

4.) Consistency  is key!
There's no need to say much here. Make sure to finish whatever you start and don't ever give up on yourself.

5.) Avoid the scale.
This was another hard one for me to steer away from. I always thought that my weight was what mattered most; WRONG! Nowadays I only focus on how I fit in my clothes and taking measurements to asses my progress. Even when my weight plateaued I was still losing measurements around my body and dropping pant sizes. I say screw the scale!

6.) Find a workout buddy
I've started working out more with my husband these last few weeks and he's even doing the 30 Day CrossFit Challenge with me. Not only is he a support system for me, but it's nice to have someone keep me accountable and check my form because I want to make sure I'm getting the most out of all of my workouts. This also refers back to my #2 tip. It's fun when we workout together. We don't get to spend much time together because our schedules are completely opposite so we view our workouts as not only an opportunity to spend together, but also a time to motivate one another.

7.) Don't be afraid to lift weights
I started to incorporate more strength training into my workouts when I started exercising with my husband and that's when I started to see real changes in my body. Running and using the elliptical are great workouts, but they can only do so much for you. If you want to tone and notice definition, weightlifting is the way to go! But I still love my cardio sessions :)

The Secret to my Shakes

GREEN ICE CUBES!

If you're an avid smoothie/shake drinker and you're not doing this already; you need to. This is probably the easiest way to ensure you get your daily dose of greens. These things are beyond easy to make and really simplify the process of making shakes and smoothies at home. And since my husband and I have almost a shake/smoothie a day, whether it's as a meal replacement or for post-workout recover, making these green ice cubes saves us money as well. I throw at 2-3 green cubes in the blender along with almond milk or coconut water, protein powder, and frozen fruit; no need for ice! 

I usually use kale and spinach to make my green cubes when I shop at the commissary, but unfortunately when we made our most recent trip to Costco they only had spinach. But that's okay, because the ginormous 2.5lb bag was under $5!

This is all you need to make your own green ice cubes:

Place a couple of hefty handfuls of spinach in your blender and just add water. Easy as that! You may need to add more water if you find your concoction isn't mixing. I also find it necessary sometimes to use a utensil to push some of the spinach down towards the blade. When the blender is turned off, of course.

When the mixture looks fairly smooth go ahead and pour the green stuff evenly into your ice cub trays like so:

As you can see, my trays over flow into one another, which is fine because it's all going to freeze and will still break apart when it's time. Just make sure that when you place the trays in the freezer they are on a relatively flat surface and with nothing on top of them, to avoid and spills or mess. I usually wait 12-24 before breaking them apart to ensure they're completely frozen. After all of the cubes are out of the trays I throw them into a gallon size Ziploc bag and throw them back in the freezer. Easy, right?

I normally repeat the entire process one more time, maybe two more times, if I'm not going to use the remaining spinach for cooking.