So are you doing now… ?

Now that I am a couple months out from graduation and all the holidays have come and gone, I am getting the “what are you doing now?” question rather frequently. So here’s the quick update…

Jobs… I am currently working for my uncles company as a part-time receptionist. It has taught me a lot but it has defiantly confirmed that I have a love for people and being behind a desk isn’t a life long goal of mine. In addition to working as a receptionist I am working as a “rookie sports coach” at the local YMCA. My team is all 3&4yrs old and we are the Purple T-Rex! Rrrr!!!

Future Job Outlook… I recently passed my test to become a certified nurses aide one. I did this to allow me to get some clinical experience as I wait to hear about nursing school. In the meantime I am applying to CNA positions in both hospitals and nursing homes in the Raleigh area. I’ve got quite a few applications out there but haven’t had any bites. If anyone has connections (especially in the hospitals) I could defiantly use some help!

Personal training… Well I defiantly miss it!! I miss being around people and helping them to achieve their health goals through fitness. I want to get back into it soon!! As of now though, I don’t want to try and make a career out of it. I want something that is more stable and not based on commission as a life long career. I hope once I land my first CNA job I will be able to find time to get back into personal training.

Training… I am currently training for Ironman 70.3 Raleigh. I have a couple races leading up to it, but nothing quite as exciting or notable. Training is going pretty well and it defiantly keeps be busy. I am looking forward to the big day and although training has its good days and bad days I am still loving having this as a hobby.

Boys… I know “love” is in the title of my blog so I guess it’s only fair that I share. Last I wrote, in one of my “things I’m loving tuesday” posts I had a new boyfriend. Well unfortunately, things didn’t work out the way we had hoped and our relationship was rather short lived. So for now, I am single and loving it!!

Nursing school… The applications are in! I have gotten one rejection so far but fingers crossed for the other schools. I hope to hear back in the next month or so from the remaining schools.

Family…They are great and constantly on the go. Alex is in baseball season so we are all following him around most every weekend.

…I think that’s about it for now! Let me know if you have any other questions. Goodnight! 🙂

PACT

How would you like to get paid to eat your fruits and veggies? Or how about getting paid to workout? I know I enjoy getting paid to do what I am already doing every week. This is why I am loving the PACT app. It pays you (REAL MONEY $$) to workout and eat fruits and vegetables.

How the app works… At the beginning of each week you set a “pact” for how many fruits and veggies and/or how many times you are going to workout. I set mine to 14 fruits and veggies and 5 workouts per week. I found this to be a reasonable number for each without stressing myself. Then the following Tuesday a credit is placed in your account for how much you made for the the previous week’s pact. Most weeks I make roughy $4.25. It doesn’t seem like much but over a month that’s $17.00 for doing what I was going to do anyways.

There is a MAJOR, and I’m stressing major because it is a doozy, catch to this app. At the end of the week, if you’ve missed anything that you made a “pact” to complete you are charged at a minimum $5.00 for each missing item. I don’t know about you, but that’s motivation enough for me to complete my pact.

A couple others things to know about the app:

~You must take pictures of your foods in order for people to vote on them to count.

~ You will have to give a credit card. From using it the last 3 weeks I can attest to the fact that it doesn’t charge you “just because.”

~ You have to make a minimum of $10.00 before you can collect your rewards.

~ Tracking your workouts is a bit of a strain on your phone battery.

~ A workout must be at least 30min in length to count as a completed workout.

~ Home gyms do not count but there is a motion tracker if you choose to workout by walking, running, biking, etc.

~ You can make adjustments to your pact at anytime.

Let me know if you have any questions or decide to give it a try!

Happy Friday Y’all!

Road Safey

Now that spring is in the air and many runners and bikers are leaving the gym to hit the roads it is important to keep in mind safety. Here are somethings to keep in mind as not only a runner or biker but also a driver.

1. This first one is for runners and bikers… TAKE THE HEADPHONES OUT!!! You need to be able to hear what’s going on around you especially if you are in a semi dark or high traffic area. If you must wear them, only wear one and keep the volume low.

2. Bikers, wear your helmet and buckle it too. Sounds silly to have to say but I see all too frequently bikers without helmets. Remember, it could save your life.

3. Runners, although we all know the asphalt is softer and better on our joints, get on the sidewalk and stop playing chicken with the cars.

4. Runners, even on the sidewalk, run facing on coming traffic. You want to be able to see if someone is coming right towards you.

5. DRIVERS, share the road with bikers. A person on a bike has just as much right to use the road as you do in your car. Also, bikes aren’t allowed on the sidewalk so please don’t yell “get on the sidewalk” to us.

6. DRIVERS, you must have 3ft of clearance to pass a biker by law. Please don’t clip us with your mirror. Also, please don’t pass if going around a curve, you need to be able to see on-coming traffic to avoid swerving into the biker that you are passing.

7. Bikers and runners, if it is going to be dark at any point in your run, wear light colored clothing and reflectors.

8. Bikers, do not ride on the yellow line. Ride 6in to a foot inside the line. This will hopefully make you more visible to drivers and less likely for them to push you off the road.

9. Bikers and runners, use the buddy system (especially on a bike, 2 people are much more visible than a single rider)! Although this isn’t always possible to have someone out there with you, always let someone know your exact route. If possible, also bring your cell phone.

10. Always have ID on you. A RoadID wrist band is a great way to carry this. Incase of an emergency this can save you life.

11. DRIVERS, watch for runners in cross walks. They have the right of way.

12. Runners, cross at cross walks and make sure the drivers that are looking to turn right see you. Don’t cross until they acknowledge you.

13. RUNNERS, BIKERS, & DRIVERS… pay attention and look out for one another. This is the best way for us all to remain safe out there.

I hope you enjoy the start of this warm weather and happy SAFE running and biking!

Eating & Traveling

Over the next couple of weeks as baseball season gets in full swing, I find myself eating in the car, at the ball field, and just about anywhere that’s not my kitchen table more frequently than I would like to admit. This can make it very difficult to eat healthy but here are a few tips to help you maintain that healthy diet while you are on the go…

1. Plan ahead. This can be as simple as purchasing healthy snacks that are already prepackaged or portioning them out on your own when you have time. Some of my go to prepackaged snacks are: carrots, apple slices, 100calorie packs of almonds, individual hummus/pretzel, Lara Bars, and individual sized dried fruit packs. Also fruits, such as apples, pears, and bananas, are great on the go options.

2. Be smart when you must eat fast food. I’m as guilty as the next person about loving some French Fries. To balance this love, when I order, I make sure to only order a small fry and try to make the bulk of my meal a better choice such as a grilled chicken sandwich or grilled chicken salad. If I am having a grilled chicken sandwich, I am always conscious to ask for it without mayo as I know I will already be getting plenty of “bad” fats from the fries and butter on the bread. To cut back a few more calories, remove one piece of bread and use the piece of lettuce in place of the missing bun. The grilled chicken salad can be quite tricky though. It’s easy to think since it’s a salad it’s automatically “healthy” … Hate to break your heart but that’s not always true. Salads can be loaded with fats and excess calories. To help keep that salad healthy, avoid using a creamy dressing and take all or atleast the majority of the cheese, croutons, and candied nuts off before you dig in.

3. Drink plenty of water!! I try to keep a case of water in my car as well as one near the door that I leave my house from. I find that although this isn’t all that environmentally friendly, I tend to drink a lot more water this way.

4. When traveling, atleast for me, it’s easy to justify having a drink or two or three with all those you are traveling with in the evening as the never ending bowl of chips or plate of cookies is passed around. This is when a healthy diet can fall to shambles. The best advice I can give here is to set a limit and be aware of what you are consuming. I set my limit on alcohol to no more than two drinks (most of the time) and I am conscious of drinking them slow. This way they last longer and people are less likely to keep offering them to you (same trick works at parties 😉 ).

5. Follow the 80/20 rule. 80 percent healthy 20 percent maybe not the perfect choice. This makes staying on track a much more feasible task. For me, since the majority of my travel is on the weekends, I try to keep my weekdays as healthy as possible and save those “treats” for the weekend when they are most readily available and/or I am going out to eat frequently.

What are some tricks that you use when you are eating on the go?

I hope you have a Fantastic Thursday!

Macaroni and Cheese

Yesterday, as we were all iced in, all I could think about was wanting some warm comfort food to go along with my lazy day on the couch. However, I wanted to make it at least somewhat healthy since after all I was being super lazy (on my off day from training) and had no intentions of getting outside even to walk. That is when I came across a “healthy” mac ‘n cheese recipe. I will admit, it isn’t quite as good as the real thing but it definitely fit my craving.

Ingredients:

Whole wheat elbows (or whatever kind you like)

2 cup 2% or low fat shredded cheese (I recommend using sharp cheddar)

1/2 cup plain low fat greek yogurt

Salt and Pepper to taste

Onion Powder and Garlic Powder (I used a very minimal amount but it is up to you)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to box directions.

2. Drain pasta but save about 1cup of the drained water.

3. Place pasta and about a 1/4-1/2cup of the water back in the pot.

4. Stir in cheese till melted.

5. Add greek yogurt and seasonings.

5. If too thick add a little more water, if not, serve and enjoy!

I added a turkey sausage and a little fruit on the side to make mine a more complete meal.

Happy Cooking!

Crockpot Fajitas

This past weekend I used the crockpot for the first time ever. I made crockpot fajitas (well the meat went in the crockpot) for my family when they were in town and it turned out great! And even better yet… They were super healthy!

Time: 15min prep. 8hrs cook time.

Ingredients: (enough to feed 6 people)

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 cup fresh salsa

2 cup salsa verde

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons garlic powder

2 tablespoons onion powder

2 tablespoons paprika

Lettuce

Green pepper

Yellow pepper

Red pepper

Onion

Avocado

Directions:

1. Mix the salsas and spices together.

2. Put chicken and salsa mix into crock pot and turn it on low.

3. Chop peppers and onion and place in ziplock.

4. Return 7 hours and 45min later to sauté the peppers and onions until they are carmalized. You can add some of the spices to give the peppers a little extra flavor.

8. Shred chicken with fork (it will practically fall apart). Wash lettuce and chop avocado.

9. Make your fajita using the lettuce as your tortilla.

10. Enjoy!

Making the Jump, 13.1 to 26.2

I have quite a few friends who are thinking they are about ready to make the jump from 13.1 to 26.2 and I have received numerous questions from them so I wanted to answer those questions in one place for all of you…

1. Can I do it [complete 26.2miles]?
Yes you can! If you put your mind to it and the miles of training in, you most certainly can get across that finish line.

2. Should I run all 26.2miles before race day?
No, it isn’t necessary. Most people will train to about 20-22miles. I personally like to go to 22.

3. Do you have any training plans you like to use?
I do not have a specific one I like to use but the general format I like to follow is:

Monday — Cross Train (swim or bike) & Strength Training (generally all bodyweight exercises)
Tuesday — Mid Distance Run (4-8mile range)
Wednesday — Long Mid Distance Run (6-10mile range)
Thursday — Speed Work or Hills (3-5mile range)
Friday — Short Run (2-4mile range)
Saturday — Long Run (13-22mile range)
Sunday — Short (1-2miles) or Off Day

I tend to increase my milage weekly with every 4th week being a down week (my milage drops for a week allowing for recovery).

4. Any “special” gear that you really like?

I have 4 pieces that I really like. The first one is a good fitting sports bra. Trust me ladies, you get what you pay for in this category. I have found that Nike (medium and high impact) and Under Armor are the best ones for me. A GPS watch. I have a Garmin and I feel like my training dramatically changed once I was aware of my milage. Compression Socks. My feet swell terribly so I have found when I wear these the swelling ins’t nearly as bad. Body Glide. There is nothing worse than chaffing. I put this stuff everywhere and it has defiantly been a life saver.

5. People talk about “hitting a wall” what is that?

This is an imaginary wall that many runners will hit between miles 18 and 22. This is the point where you feel like you can’t go any further and everything hurts. Yes, the pain is real but you knew that was part of it when you committed to running this event. Stay mentally tough, maybe take some fuel, and you can get though it. I tend to play games at this point with myself. I will pick spots ahead of me and run to them, then pick another to walk to, going back and forth until I find my stride again.

6. Do you eat while running?

Yes I do and this is something you must experiment with. I take 3Gu (one at hour 1, 1 at hour 2, and one at hour 3) and will take whatever the sports drink is (assuming it has no milk product in it) about every other water station starting at mile 6 or 8. Try to take the Gu (or whatever your fuel choice is) as you are approaching the water station… they don’t always go down super easy.

7. Any Tips for Race Day?

Have a plan. Know what you are going to do for your warm-up. Know when you are going to take fuel. Have three goals (best case, content with, and worst case).
Have fun. You are joining part of the 2% of the population just by starting the race. Have fun with it and allow your plan to be flexible.
Don’t start out too hard. They will normally line you up in a corral, be realistic based on your goals and start with the group you want to finish with. Things can change throughout the race but its a good idea to start with those who are going to go your goal pace. (I pick, the I’m content goal for my starting place).
Break up the race. I like to think of it as I am running 2miles 13times. There are generally water stations every 2miles so that is a good mental break before you start your next 2mile rep.
Walk through the water stations. This is about 10-15seconds of pure bliss. I have found by doing this my hamstrings and hips last a lot longer before they start to get tight during the race.
Talk to those around you. People will have great stories and hey, you never know, you may just get hit on (During my 2nd marathon I had a guy that I was going back and forth with passing each other just after we had both “hit the wall”, and at one point he comes up to me and says “you’re beautiful”…trust me I got a little pep in my step at that point. Maybe it’ll happen to you or you can be that inspiration to someone else).

Please let me know if you have any other questions as I am always happy to help! Happy Running!

Whole30 Challenge…

Failed. This Sunday morning I came to the conclusion that the Whole30 Challenge was not the healthiest option for me. As you read in last weeks update I was struggling with low energy and headaches as well as some digestive issues, while at the completion of week 2, the same issues were still present. I was constantly low on energy, was still waking up with throbbing headaches and my digestive system was completely twisted and causing some extreme discomfort. I think a lot of the digestive issues came from the large quantities of protein I was consuming as well as the large amounts of fiber from all the fruits and vegetables. The headaches and low energy I believe are on account of the great amount of training that I am doing as I prepare for my next half ironman. Most of my headaches felt like they were a result of low blood sugar. Even though I “failed”, I want to share what I have learned during my experience, as this still may be a great route for you to try:

1. The cravings for “bad” foods did decrease. Be patient through the first couple days, no doubt it is tough. Keep in mind, you aren’t a dog. You can say no to food.

2. I thought it was a great kick start towards getting back on track to eating healthy. Because what you can eat is laid out so clearly it made it easy to choose what to eat and stay on track.

3. You must like eggs and sweet potatoes to complete the challenge. These will be your staples.

4. Guacamole tastes great on just about anything.

5. If you are trying to lose weight, I can see how this would be very a beneficial way to start. Fruits and vegetables do not have nearly as many calories as other forms of carbohydrates making it so you can still eat quite a bit.

6. If you are doing a good bit of exercise, especially high volumes of cardio, it may be beneficial to make slight adjustments to the plan and add some form of a grain carbohydrate to help keep your glycogen stores up.

7. Be prepared to do a lot of cooking. Fruits and vegetables will not keep you full as long as you are accustomed to with your more traditional snack options.

8. It is a great opportunity to learn to read the ingredients list on packaged foods. It will defiantly be an eye opener to the large quantities of sugar and crazy number of chemicals present in the foods we are eating on a regular basis.

9. It got me to eat a lot more protein. Although this wasn’t ideal for my digestive system, it was beneficial to my muscle recovery.

10. I tried and enjoyed quite a few new foods. When you venture from your typical way of eating you get the opportunity to try quite a bit more and this was a fun way to experiment in the kitchen.

For those of you who have done it, what did you learn? And for those of you who are considering it, what questions do you have?

Take care and have a great Monday!

Posture

Since I have been working in an office setting… At a desk, staring at a computer screen daily for the last couple weeks, I have noticed my posture has already started to lack. After noticing my own was lacking, I took a look around and guess what I saw?! All of us in the office looked exactly the same way, hunched over. This is a terrible way to sit, it creates a tight chest, creating more rounded shoulder, a tight neck that is pushing our heads down and forward, and weakens our back muscles. None of this sounds good, so this got me thinking about how I could potentially change my posture while in the office. Here are the ideas that I came up with…

1. When on the phone, be intentional about sitting with shoulder blades touching the back of the chair.

2. When typing, focus on sucking in your tummy. Bet you can’t do that well in a hunched over position.

3. If filing papers, only take a handful at a time to the filing cabinet. Yes it may take a couple minutes longer but it will also allow you to stand and move around which will hopefully allow for better posture.

4. When on the computer, bring the mouse and keyboard close so you aren’t reaching to get to it.

5. Be intentional. Just by having it on your mind it could have just the impact you need to help keep you in that upright position.

Please let me know if you have any other ideas! Have a great Thursday!

Things I’m Loving Tuesday

Back again for another edition of Things I’m loving Tuesday…

Guacamole. I have decided that it is good on just about anything. And it’s whole30 approved 🙂

Water with lemon. Since being on this whole30 plan, beverages have been super plain. Adding lemon has been a great way to spruce up the flavor. Have any of you tired any other fruits?

Almond Butter. Best thing ever on a banana!! Sort of like peanut butter but better! Be sure to check the ingredients to make sure it’s just almonds and no additional sugar.

And finally, one non-food thing… Actually a person. His name is Daniel and I am happy to be able to introduce him to you all as my boyfriend. Early this morning, he woke me up to a great breakfast he had cooked (sorry I ate it before taking a picture) and on my napkin he asked me to be his girlfriend. So I guess it’s pretty appropriate that he falls into this weeks post 😉

That’s it for this weeks edition. I hope you have had a great Tuesday!