Weekend and Intervals

Happy Saturday! Best day of the week if you ask me. I woke up this morning and had a small omelet with a little ham and a little cheese, and a side of whole wheat toast. Yum! After I digested a little, I planned out my workout and hit the gym. Today was my first attempt at intervals on the treadmill and let me tell you, I so wish I had started this method earlier. When I'm forced to run on a treadmill, I get so bored and 30 minutes feels like 74 hours because there is nothing interesting going on and the only thing to look at is the time. That being said, I took some advice and tried an interval workout on the treadmill and I'm telling you it was the best. I felt so accomplished, didn't worry about how much longer I had, and was shocked at how fast everything was going because I was only focused on little chunks of time for the 30 minutes.



After my run I did a little bit of strength training but not too much because I did it every day this week. I came back to my house, made a protein shake, and I feel back to my 100% already. Definitely a perfect way to start the day out.

This weekend is a little boring, nobody is really on campus and that leaves for nothing to do and nobody to do it with. Hannah and I went out to dinner last night, and being Friday, I got to splurge a little bit, which also motivates me for the rest of the week to eat cleanly. I had a sandwich sized serving of pulled pork (a southern girl cannot resist) without the bun, and a couple of sweet potato fries and I was full until this morning. And I can't forget my medium iced coffee for dessert! I breathe caffeine, healthy I know.

I'm going ice skating with a couple of friends in the area later for Agonies, and then out again for a fun night. Tomorrow is my study, clean, workout, relax day, and I must say I always look forward to it.

New Treats and Getting Back in the Game

Coming back from Spring Break has left me pretty busy, which has effected my eating habits and workouts a little bit, but if that's what life hands you. That being said, I always have to remind myself to prioritize what is more important, squeezing in a quick half-effort workout, or finishing that paper that's due in an hour? I'll be honest, writing the paper took lots of self convincing. That being said, I know things are going to slow down work wise now that the semester is coming to an end, and that means plenty of time to get back at it before this little season we like to call bikini body. My plan is to really just get back on track with keeping track of what I eat, not obsessively, but just to know, and also to keep planning out my workouts, which I really haven't slacked on.

Last week was so unbelievable weather wise that I got to run outside and I completely fell in love with it all over again, and now it's taken away from me? Not cool! So today I was yet again, inside, and did a good workout regardless.
Cardio: 40 minute elliptical (intervals, love this because it makes it bearable, and you burn so much!)
Arms: Free weights, several machines
Legs: -body bar lunges -body bar squats -body bar calf raises -backward lunges -BOSU bar lunges -AB/AD machine -Leg Press machine
Abs: -reverse crunch -body crunch -plank -side crunch -toe raise -water wheels -russian twists -v crunch -90 various crunches
-toe touch (I don't have my workout sheet but I think that's it for abs!)


Reporting on my new Hamilton Beach single-serve blender, I've used it three times already and I LOVE it. I highly suggest it to anyone, especially for only $16. I threw in a frozen banana, 4 frozen strawberries, 1/4 cup of milk, and half a scoop of whey protein powder vanilla. I sometimes throw in PB instead of the whey, and I haven't been too adventurous fruit wise but once the summer rolls around that will change. In summary, I love it. It's filling, and SO much healthier than a lot of other snacks I could be reaching for.

Work(out) With What You've Got

For the past week, it has been in the high 70's and low 80's here in Albany! How insane is that? I'm loving every second of it and taking it all in hoping it doesn't suddenly disappear.

That being said, one of my most important self rules is to do my workouts outside as much as I can when it's so beautiful outside. It frustrates me so much when I see people running on a treadmill when the weather outdoors is optimal running weather. Where is the logic in that!? I also find that it can be a little tricky to transition to outdoor workouts, just being so used to working out indoors with the same air and the same temperature.

Starting outside workouts, I know it's completely healthy and reasonable to start at a lower level, and work my way up, because your surrounding definitely impact how your body is able to exercise. This week so far, I've taken two outdoor runs, one elliptical session, and 2 long leisurely walks. My first day was a 15 minute run, which I easily surpass in the gym, and my second day was a 25 minute run, later followed by a more relaxing but brisk walk, just to be outside.

The nice thing about working out outside is that I feel so much less guilty about going to the gym afterward to get in some weight training, because I know I still have taken full advantage of the weather and that my body will be better through different ways of exercise.

One of my favorite things that I do daily which I've mentioned before is to write down my workout to bring with me to workout to motivate myself and also to stay on track. Here's an example of today's workout:

March 21, Wednesday

*Alter weight and reps to fit your ability*

Cardio: 40 minutes elliptical (moderate/vigorous - HIGHLY recommend interval training! Keeps you energized the whole time burning calories as rapidly as a steady pace.)

Legs:
-body bar squat (40 reps, 18 pound bar)
-AB/AD leg machine (30 reps each leg, 60 pounds)
-forward lunge with body bar (20 reps, 18 lb.)
-backward lunge with body bar (10 reps, 18 lb)
-BOSU ball lunges (30)
-lying leg lift (30 on each leg).....lay sideways on a mat, your leg that is touching the matt should be flat and straight, with your upper leg curled, lift, lower, repeat, switch

Didn't do any arms today because of my carpal tunnel : (

Abs:
-Ball Crunch (I take a 2 lb. med ball, put it between my bent knees, get into a crunch position, and do a crunch, touching my heels and shoulders to the ground in between each rep) (30)
-water wheels (10 forward, 10 backward, all slowly)
-bicycles (pause and hold legs in upward position, and slowly crunch each side) (20)
-backward crunch (great for lower abs, 25)
-toe touch (30)
-toe lift (like a backward crunch but legs are straight upward, 25)
-V reach (20)
-crunches, mix up your style every 20 reps (60)

cardio II:
-brisk 45 minute outdoor walk

I also have noticed a huge change in my appetite with this weather, making it so much easier to subdue warm and heavy food cravings, which is just one big added bonus. I ordered a personal blender smoothie so I'm excited to try it and join the trend! I'll update you with how it goes soon.

Linnhe

Fitspiration

Throughout my weight loss journey and rise to a healthy lifestyle, I've realized that inspiration is one of the most essential parts of keeping on track with your goals and aspirations. Whether it's being surrounded by gym rats at the gym, reading other blogs (my starter!), or psyching yourself out however you can, you truly are responsible for getting your butt in shape.

In the last few months I've taken to my handy little notebook to inspire me. I keep my notebook to write out what I eat, sometimes the calories I've consumed, and also a pre-planned workout. Writing everything out really puts my day into context, and makes me face reality, when the number and amounts can become a little blurry at the end of the day if I don't record what I've done.

Writing out a minute-to-minute workout is also my method to pump myself up, because it gives me a goal to reach, and also gives me a great feeling to be able to check off each workout after completing them, instead of aimlessly running around the gym.

Some other little inspiring tips I use are to look at inspiring people! If I'm on a stationary bike or the elliptical, there's nothing like opening up a glossy fitness magazine with back to back pages of fit, happy people preaching their energy to you! Before the gym, guilty as charged, I love to go onto Pinterest (shout out to my new obsession!) and look up fitness tips and inspiring pins, because I find myself jumping up and running to the gym after a few minutes.

In the past year, so many people have reached out to me to help them get into shape, and not only is it a great compliment, but it's inspiring on it's own to keep yourself healthy and to encourage others to become healthy, too. That being said, time for me to start being publicly inspiring. My goal is to start recording my eats and some workouts for myself and for anyone who needs a little jump start.

Source: allwomenstalk.com via Linnhe on Pinterest

Inspiring, right!?

New Post, Fresh Start

Hi everyone! (0 followers but I can pretend!)

I haven't updated the blog in about a year, and I've noticed how much it has made a difference in my commitment to my health, so I have decided to bulk up the posts and jump back on the band wagon.

My goals for the blog are to keep my everyday eats updated with pictures and details, daily workouts, and also just a general gist of whatever I think will be remotely interesting to keep note of in my life, with some tips here and there.

My semester ends May 27 (graduating!) and I'm spending one last summer at home working, so I know that being healthy will need to be a big priority, because I know it gets hard once I leave my routine.

Anyway, super excited to come back!