7 Days to Skinnies Day 5

Day 5 Wednesday Jan 11

I quit.
I hate feeling like I can only eat what is on the list. I don't think eating that is that regimented and restrictive is that healthy. I think variety, and moderation are healthy.
I have spent the last few days researching and working on a presentation about body image and I realized just how terrible it is to encourage everyone to fit into "their skinnies" instead of encouraging everyone to be healthy, happy, and enjoy their food.

Yes the food is tasty, and I love the breakfast smoothies... but I felt like I was constantly thinking about what I could eat. So while the recipes are good, I don't want to eat only these things for an entire week.

I love the idea of simple exercise ideas that everyone can do daily - those are great. And I will continue to do something active every day.

I just don't like the idea of being on a plan and feeling restricted - If I want to have a chocolate left over from christmas I don't want to feel guilty because it's not on the "plan".

So while I am going to finish the chicken salad and bruschetta chicken I made because they are yummy but I am not going to worry about the meal plan so much.

SO here is what I ate today....

So Once again I stared the day off with a Breakfast Smoothie - I added spinach this time. I love adding spinach to smoothies because its a good way to get some greens and you can't really taste it! They are quick to make in the morning.

Lunch was a Pepperoni pizza bun :)


Because I have soccer practice on Wednesday nights I didn't go to the gym after work

When I got home from work I had bruschetta chicken with feta melted on top, carrots and cherry tomatoes.  And A little piece of cheese cake.


Now I am off to do a little strength before my 1hour soccer practice.


Health and happiness xX

7 days to Skinnies Day 4

Day 4  Tuesday Jan 10

I started the day with another Breakfast smoothie -

For lunch I packed chicken salad on buns, and a salad with carrots, tomatoes, celery, butter lettuce, and olive oil and balsamic vinegar

For a snack I had grapes and a vanilla latte (is that cheating??)

Instead of going to the overcrowded gym I went home and did a circuit

100 Jumping Jacks, 20 Crunches, 20 Squats, 10 pushups, 25 dips, 60second wall sit, 60second plank - 2x

I didn't feel like cooking so I had more chicken salad on toast, and another piece of toast with home made rhubarb jam

Plus a glass of a milk

Total water: 4 cups... 

4 Days done! 

7 Days to Skinnies Day 3

Its Monday. And Day 3 of the plan

Today was the real test. I started my work term today and I had no idea what the day would bring.
The university website going down around noon was not a good start to the semester for anyone!!

I started the day with the Breakfast Smoothie - its really yummy and has oatmeal in it, I use greek yogurt which has tons of protein so its really filling.

For lunch I packed a pre-made Bruschetta Chicken  and a salad.
I baked a bunch of chicken on the weekend so I would be prepared for the week. I Put each breast in a separate tupperware, topped it with bruschetta and BOOM lunch in the fridge.

A couple hours later I had 1/4Cup of almonds for snack

Once my first day at work was done I headed to the gym - possible the busiest place on campus at 4:30 the first day back to school in January...
I managed to get an elliptical and did 30 minutes at a moderate pace.

I went home and had Chicken Salad on Toast.  With granny smith apple, and red grapes it was yummy and fresh.

7 Days to Skinnies Day 2

Yesterday was the first day of the plan
and I did about halfway good..


So today, Sunday Jan 8 - I would like to do better but I have a dinner date...
Anyway, here is what I did do/eat

9:00AM - Oatmeal with sliced banana, glass of milk,
12:00PM - gym: 5min step machine, 15min bike = 20min cardio, leg and ab strength
2:00PM - Pita and 1/2C grapes 2 cups of water

6:00PM - OOPS cheating already - I have a sushi date :)


All in all I think I did pretty good.  What did you do today?

6 week update

Three and a half weeks to go before my trip to mexico.

Im glad I've been able to use this trip to help motivate me to eat healthy and get in some activity every day.

Things were going really well... I was playing soccer, doing yoga at work, doing some workouts from Nike Training Center app...

I went to Bikram Hot Yoga on Monday.

And then I got sick.

Sore throat. body aches. head ache. sick to my stomach. the whole shebang. 

I've taken the last 2 days off work and have been sleeping so much.

So needless to say, eating and exercising haven't really been at the top of my list.

What do you do when your sick? What is your favorite comfort food??

And any home remedies to help a sore throat would be greatly appreciated!!

6 weeks challenge!!

I have booked a trip to Mexico for the beginning of September!!!!

I am trying to get ready for the beach by eating healthy and doing something active every day.
I will keep you updated on what Im doing, what Im eating and how its going!!

Saturday I did the 30 day Shred from Jillian Michaels.
Sunday I did one of the workouts from the Women's Health Hot body yoga app called "Torch calories fast" - it burns 450 calories in 1 hr... I only did 15 minutes though haha!!!
Monday I did strength exercises such as pushups/ incline push ups, crunches, and reverse crunches, and squats whenever I found a couple extra minutes.

Today I have a soccer game if it doesnt get rained out.

What workout apps, videos, or routines do you use?? I am open to any suggestions.

Tomorrow/Wednesday - I will post the recipes for some of the lunches I've been packing and going to Hot Yoga!!!

Fit for Life Challenge

I just signed up for the

Fit For Life Summer Challenge

from Women's Health and Men's Health mag.

When you sign up you have access to tons of nutritional information

Workout information

And a support community.

You can upload your before and after pictures, and track your weight.

You could even be featured in the magazine!

I am looking forward to trying  some of the workouts and getting all kinds of inspiration for my summer workouts!

If you want to sign up too

Click Here

Update

This is going to be a busy week!!

Yesterday I ran for 30 minutes and I did 2.5miles or 4km

It felt way better than a week ago so Im super happy about that!!

Monday Im doing a 90 minute hot yoga class in the morning

Then I have soccer practice for an  hour at night

Tuesday in class is our last day of mountain biking in class

Wednesday I am going to strength... Im looking for some new exercises if you know any!!

I am also thinking of doing some stairs

Thursday will be a rest day... and Friday likely will be too....

Friday is Bermuda Shorts Day at the Uni... its a last class bash put on by the Student Union.

Im not sure if I'll be attending as I have an exam Saturday morning.

So I will have to try to run Saturday or Sunday.

What are your plans for the week?  Are you trying out a new class or exercise? Or finally running outside?



This Week

This week has been slightly more successful!!

I ran monday and I managed to do 4km in 30 minutes.

So I am improving slightly!!

Yesterday for one of my classes we went "mountain biking"

we aren't actually aloud to leave campus so we road all around

on the grass, up and down hills... through the snow.

And we were biking for I would guess about 1.5 hours.

So that was good!!

I am hoping to get another run in on Sunday!!

Hows your running/walking/exercising going?

Confession..

I didnt run once last week...

It was only the second week of training!!

Not a good trend.

I did go to hot yoga and have a soccer game though!!

I ran yesterday - pretty much the same pace - 3.6km in 30 minutes.

It went pretty good,

Since I missed the week I made up my own little interval plan

I was running 1min walking 1min, and a couple times I ran 1min 15sec and occassionally when I got tired I walked 1min 30 sec.

So it was pretty uncoordinated.

But I ran! Which is a good start to the week.

Did you know... what you do on monday really does set you up for the rest of the week!

Exercise on monday, you will be more likely to exercise other days

Eat vegetarian on monday, you are likely to consume less meat during the rest of the week!

How is everyone elses running going?

Did anyone do better than me last week?

5km Training Plan: Week 3

Week 3

 

Goal: Run for three minutes, walk for one minute, for 30-33 minutes. As an extra challenge, consider picking up your pace during one of the running intervals.

Potential Pitfall: Hydration

You should be drinking 500mL before you start your run

During the run you should be drinking 1cup (250mL) for every half hours

And after your run you should drink 1 cup for every pound you lost during your work out

Running Playlist

I recently compiled a running playlist on my ipod.

I tried to go for a lot of variety and all up beat of course!!

Here is what I am running too!

Gimme More - Britney Spears

 Telephone ft. Beyonce - Lady Ga Ga

Kerosene - Miranda Lambert

Love Lost - Temper Trap

Breakin Dishes - Rihanna

Sinnerman (felix da housecat mix) - Nina Simone

In Her Eyes - Basshunter

Running Down a Dream - Tom Petty

Peacock - Katy Perry

Til the World Ends - Britney Spears

Ragged Mile - John Butler Trio

I Go Hard, I Go Home - The Presets

German Techno - Super Troopers

Stronger - Kanye West

California Dreaming - Benny Benassi

White Diamons - Friendly Fires

Blow - Ke$ha

What do you listen to when you run?

Running update

So its the Second week of my running program.

Last week I ran twice which I think is a pretty good start

(I also had soccer two nights)

The second run, I tried to go a little faster... and it didn't go well!!

I ended up burning out about 20 minutes into my run and had to slow way down.

But I still managed 3.6km in about 33 minutes.

I think this week I am just going to go for consistency!!

How is your running going?

Is anyone training along with me?

5km Training Plan: Week 2

Week 2

Goal: Increase running time to two minutes, decrease walking time to one minute.

“What you are trying to do is build up your cardio and recover in that one minute of walking time,”

To help you stick with your second week of training try to remember this:

Great Motivator: “Tell yourself, ‘I’m setting a good example for those around me. I will probably inspire someone else to make a lifestyle change, whether I know it or not.’ That will help you stay inspired yourself



5km running plan

 May 8th is the Mothers Day Run in Calgary...

I would like to be able to run the  5km if not the 10km (with mom!)

So I've been  looking for a training program.

Im going to start with a 5km running plan for beginners...

because while I have run before - even 12km!! - its been way to long!

I found this 8 week 5km training plan on besthealthmag.com

Click HERE to see it

It focuses on interval training - alternating between running and walking.

Week 1

Goal: Walk 90 seconds, jog or run 60 seconds in intervals, and then recover. Interval training alternates higher intensity with lower intensity exercise and is an efficient way of working out. Repeat intervals until you’ve reached 30 minutes.

I will post the week's training program here every Sunday- so if you want you can train too!

The goal is to train 4-5 days a week.

I am going to aim  for 3 running/interval days, and one strength training a week.

Its important to set a goal, make it specfic and measurable and then post it up somewhere where you see it every day!

So I am making a sign about the mothers day run and putting it on my fridge!

I hope you will join me in training for a 5km run.