How’s it going?

Well it looks like I’m a day late to the game.  Everyone else seems to have gotten their “oh my God it’s already February” posts up yesterday…but I had too much other good stuff to report!  I am here now though.

Yes, it’s February.  So I guess that means we talk about January.  How did we all make out with the first month of goals/resolutions/etc?  Everyone still on board?  Hope so!!

I didn’t tell you all, but I gave myself a little challenge…a sticker challenge!  Funny how exciting giving myself a sticker for each completed workout can be, but it is!  If it can work for Shirls it can work for the rest of us, right?  :)

So ya…look at that bad boy!!  Not only did I make it to EVERY SINGLE ONE of my planned workouts, but that last week I rocked a couple of EXTRAS.  *dances around*  Go me!!

I’m telling ya people, make a plan.  It’s really the answer!!

My plan (Wed, Fri & Sun are new additions):

Monday	Cardio + abs
Tuesday	Day 2 – Intro to Iron
Wednesday	Booty Camp Fitness DVD
Thursday	Day 3 – Intro to Iron
Friday	rest or DVD
Saturday	Day 1 – Intro to Iron + Cardio
Sunday	rest or warm yoga

Enough to burn a ton of calories, tone and get strong, build my cardio strength and rest when I need it…all without getting bored!

(It does help that I get up at least 3 days a week to drive FH to work…so I have that extra push to get to the gym.)

I’ve been at this for a few years now, and this is the first time I really feel like I have a good handle on the fitness part of my journey.  It’s incredibly motivating and invigorating!!! 

So let’s keep that ball rolling for February, shall we?!

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So obviously I was up and at ‘em this morning to do Day 2 – Week Three of Intro to Iron.  Quick 10 minute run to warm up.  Finished with a couple of added planks, and 10 minutes on the Stairmaster.  I hate that thing…so boring after more than 5 minutes!  But my butt likes it so I guess it’s a compromise I’m willing to make.  LOL.

Freaking chilly outside this morning (-24 with the windchill) so i was happy to come straight home to the coffee pot.

And oats!  I had planned something different but I really wanted oats, so oats I had!  :)

In fact, it’s OIAJ!!

In the pot:  unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze, water, whole oats, 1/2 banana, 2 tsp flax meal…with graham cracker crumbs and mini chocolate chips stirred in at the end.

In an empty PB jar, with the last spoonful of PB on top!  Nom!!

Busy day today.  I Christen this to be “multitask like a badass” day.

…and GO!!

2010: Year of the Fit (+ Amazing Giveaway!)

I can not remember a time when I have ever actually made New Years Resolutions.  It has never been something I was interested in as generally I figure resolutions can be made any time of year.  No need for a special date to decide to do something good for yourself, right?  But this year I do have something of a personal goal…

You all already know that I try to eat healthy each and every day, and I strive to earn my indulgences. I have on days and off days just like everyone else, but at the end of the week it’s rare that I feel guilty or bad about anything I’ve eaten.

Fitness on the other hand, I have trouble with.  Not that I don’t get to the gym pretty regularly and all that, but I never seem to progress.  I plateau quite easily and I chalk that up to just not pushing myself beyond my self-perceived limits.  Like I said to Angie not too long ago, I might be thin but I’m not terribly fit.

Soooo…with that said… My resolution for 2010 is to take my fitness more seriously and really work to be a stronger, fitter, healthier me!

In no particular order, plans to get it done:

• find a strength training workout appropriate to my body and my goals
• change it up every 6-8 weeks so as to not bore my body or my mind
• plan out a reasonable running plan, leading to running 5km without stopping
• find a yoga class that not only fits my schedule but helps to stretch, tone, and relax me
• keep it simple

In addition, I am always working towards finding balance in my diet.  I personally don’t believe in giving up anything unless it is truly unhealthy and detrimental to your own personal health or well-being.  However…I can always be doing a better job of achieving that balance. 

And I want to help you all too!  I’ve been working hard on finding some fun, healthy products to share as giveaways…and *drum roll please* today marks the first one!

The lovely folks over at Amazing Grass have offered up a prize pack for one lucky reader.  You will receive the same awesome sample pack I received a few months ago!!  One of you gets to try Amazing Meal, SuperFood, Wheat Grass, and the Energy Bars…and of course, you will receive the much-coveted shaker cup!

 

In order to enter to win this great prize you can:

• Leave a comment on THIS post telling me what your New Years Resolution or goal for 2010 is. 
• Tweet this: “I wanna win @balanceblog’s Amazing giveaway: http://bit.ly/4E9Yii”
• Post a link to this contest on your blog and email me at embracingbalance@gmail.com to let me know.  (Make sure you include a link to your post.)
• Do all three things for multiple chances to win!

Contest is open to Canadian and US residents.  I will use a random number generator to chose a winner on Friday, Jan 22nd at 12pm Atlantic Standard Time.

Good luck everyone!  Tell all your friends!  (I’m jealous as my AG supply is completely depleted…I’ll be refilling this week!)

Happy 2010!

Ramping Up!

Today is the day I start paying attention again!!  I had big plans to finally get back to the gym (it’s been two weeks since I worked out at Tiffaney’s condo gym!!) however Mother Nature seems to think that I’m more suited for shoveling than running today.  Oh well.  Exercise is exercise right?  The clearer the driveway, the sooner I can brave the storm and get my workout on!

(Um, our shovel just broke.  Uh-oh.)

After a totally awesome entire night’s sleep, I think we are finally back on East Coast time.  I know a lot of you were stunned by our 6am bed time on NYE, but remember I was still on a 4 hour time zone change so my body wasn’t too sure what to do.  It’s fixed now.

After tackling the driveway last night at midnight I slept like a log.

Of course, we arose only to find we had to tackle it again.  And today it’s the hard crunchy snow…not the beautiful fluff of last night.  (I forgot to take pics before, but you can see in the after shots how big the road side piles are…)

 

I made my first Amazing smoothie of 2010, using my fabulous new Kitchen Aid blender. 

*hugs*  You all told me it’s OK to hug my appliances if I love them.  :)

In the blender today: 

• ice
• frozen blueberries
• flax meal
• organic baby spinach
• Amazing Grass Kidz Chocolate Superfood
• unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze

 

Next up, a yummy croissant!  And plans for a healthy dinner!

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Rewind to yesterday.  Our New Years Day feasts!

Breakfast by FH:

Dinner of leftover NYE snacks:

I dominated the veggie plate and sipped on a virgin Caesar.

nom nom nom.

And now… Out with the old and in with the healthy!