Preview of the week

Here is how I'm hoping my workouts will shape up to be for the week:

Monday - walking
Tuesday - Arc trainer, lower weights
Wednesday - zumba & elliptical
Thursday - run, upper weights
Friday - circuit train/walk
Saturday - Rest - Mani/pedi with a friend
Sunday - zumba (if the local gym has their freebie) or run

Funny Friday

So it's finally FRIDAY!!  I was disappointed yesterday afternoon when I realized it was only Thursday.  This weekend looks like it will be a gym workout on Sunday morning and something at home tomorrow since tomorrow is another good yard sale day. Here is Funny Friday.  Enjoy your weekend.

Za Za Za Zumba

I probably mentioned it back when I purchased it, but a little while ago one of the local gyms offered a deal on groupon for 10 visits at a really great price.  Included in the visits were all the fitness classes that are offered.  I bought the deal because they have spinning and zumba.  Last night I was finally able to make it for my first visit and did a zumba class.  Oh.My.Goodness.  The instructor was CRAZY!  It was such a great workout and I cannot wait until I go back for the next class.  The best of all the zumba classes I have taken so far.  I got there a little early so I did 10 minutes on the ARC trainer to warm up.  After the class I headed back to the cardio area for a short run.  I ended up only doing 1 mile because I was dying of heat.  I realized as I started running that I wasn't wearing capris that breathe well and I get so hot while running that I need that kind of clothes otherwise I die.  I ended up walking the next 8 minutes to make a great 90 minute workout all together.  I almost started cracking up in the middle of zumba because this picture came to mind.

Saturday deals

One thing I love besides working out is finding great deals.  It's quite a joy when I'm able to combine the 2 of deal finding and work-out/health related.  That is what happened Saturday.

Its April, and in this area that means one of the prime months for yard sales.  Saturday the fam and myself headed out to see if we could find anything at a town-wide yard sale a few towns over from here.  We only had a short period of time because the oldest had a tball game in the morning.  For the most part we lucked out until the boys saw a dump truck sitting on a table.  You know because we don't already have a bunch.  As I was looking around at that house I saw Jillian Michael's 30 day shred.  $1!  I've been wanting to get it since it's no longer offered on the cables On Demand.  Sweet!  Later that day I found myself at TJ Maxx where I came across a hand held water bottle.  I've been wanting to get one since I'll be starting training for the half soon.  They also had a water belt, but I opted for the bottle since I think the belt will get on my nerves.  So for under $7 here is what I picked up Saturday:

I feel like I'm back

When I started the 17 day diet I had to drop my workouts down because of the low calorie and carb intake.  At that time, my husband also started his new job so we were trying to figure out our new gym routines.  I am admitting that I am a 17 day diet dropout.  It did help me get off the plateau and lose a few pounds, but I just don't think it's for me to live my life one.  Today I started tracking on Myfitnesspal again.  I woke up earlier than I have to get a good long cardio workout in.  So I feel like I'm back.  I feel like this is the best way for me to live my life in a healthy and happy way.  So thank you 17 day diet for the jump start that I needed and hello again Myfitnesspal. 

This week the boys and I started our garden from seeds. I won a GrowUms kit from a friends blog contest.  If you have kids and a garden, these are really cute.  We ended up with the Salad kit which includes seeds for Romaine lettuce, cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes.  We had already picked up seeds for a different lettuce variety, cucumbers, carrots, zucchini and green peppers.  Another friend's daughter was selling GrowUms for a school fundraiser so I ordered the herb kit.  That will include Oregano, Cilantro, Parsley and Basil.

We've had success with growing everything before (except carrots this is our first year for that) so I'm pretty excited to be able to go in the backyard for much of my produce.  I really enjoy getting the kids involved in gardening because they can see how fruits/veggies grow and they often enjoy eating the food more when they take part in growing it!

On to Cycle 3

Yesterday began cycle 3 of The 17 Day diet.  The final cycle before the maintenance cycle.  Honestly, I wasn't very vigilant during most of cycle 2.  It all started with eating a real sandwich at the beginning of the cycle.  Oh I love bread. And then there's Easter and the ice cream that my son wanted when it was really hot the other day.  And And And... geeze I'm sounding like some of the Biggest Loser contestants this season.  BUT the good news is - when I weighed myself yesterday I was 156.2.  So despite the bad eating and not really working out as much as I should, I was able to maintain my weight.  So then there's the question of man what would I have been at if I didn't cheat? haha.  So this cycle I'm determined to stay focused the entire time.  I will do it.  I'm excited for dinner tonight since I picked up some shrimp for dinner.  The husband is away so I'm treating myself with a food that he is allergic to. :)

Head on over to Running Diva Mom for your chance to win a Sistas Shirt.  I'm loving some of the sayings on these shirts.

Know what is a great feeling?

Going shopping and having to buy a size smaller in clothes.  I had so much fun shopping over the weekend.  Everything I bought was a size Medium.  And I also bought shorts with a single digit sizing.  What a great boost that was. 

This week is absolutely GORGEOUS here in New Jersey - with summer-like temperatures.  Of course though, work schedules don't allow for outdoor running, except for yesterday morning.  Tonight I will be getting my zumba on thanks to the Kinect.  I think I might start up the Push-up challenge that I started last year.  My arms are looking decent, but a more definition would be great for tank top season. 

Funny Friday

It's Friday!  All day I keep thinking it's Thursday.  This weekend I will be outlet shopping with a friend.  I desperately need some new clothes so I'm super excited about going.  Hopefully I can find some things that I like and actually fit good.  There's an Under Armour store where we are going so I'm hoping to get some new workout clothes too.  Whoop!

Today I will ...

Zumba Rush

I cannot wait for the kids to go to bed so I can get my workout on.  Today Mr. Mailman brought me my Zumba Rush for the Xbox Kinect.  This week is one of those weeks where my gym time is limited due to the husbands work schedule so I'm pretty excited to give this a try. 

Weekend recap

I can sum up my weekend in the world of eating and exercising in 2 words.  Not good.  I had every anticipation to do a long run, but yeah, that never happened.  I had a lot of errands to do on Saturday and we ended up sleeping in a little later than planned.  And well yesterday, yesterday was Easter.  I did pass on dessert.  But that was because I was so incredibly stuffed from eating a larger meal than normal.  As I always say when I have a bad day.  "I was throwing my body off".  So now I'm back on track with no plans of cheating for a long time.  I'm going to a wedding Mother's Day weekend and want to look awesome.

Funny Friday

Happy Easter to all of my readers!

The Rachael Ray show

That is where I was yesterday.  One of the great things about where I live is I can easily be in NYC & Washington DC is 2 hours, Philadelphia in a few minutes and the shore in less than an hour.  If we ever move that is what I will miss most.

Do you see me? lol.  Left size, back row, second from the left in the blue.  So this proves they don't just put the pretty girls in the front, they also go in the back ... and middle.  wherever.

So anyways.  Yesterday morning 3 of my friends and I headed up to NYC for the day to be in the Rachael Ray show audience.  Oh what fun it was!  It's a bad idea to go there hungry though.  For our taping they did 3 food segments and oh.  my.  gosh.  The food smelled AMAZING!  My stomach was GROWLING!  Part way through they handed out a snack, a full size bag of Herr's baked chips.  I didn't want to have crumbs on my face, you know just in case the camera does a close up.  lol So I opted not to eat any.  As soon as it was over, we headed down the street to Cosi for dinner where I broke the diet and had a delicious Chicken Pesto melt for dinner.  It was such a fantastic day and I would totally do it over again if given the opportunity.  There was a giveaway - certificate to Havaianas.  I ordered mine today and opted to pay a little out of pocket to get a pair of espadrilles rather than the flip flops that would have been totally free.  I've been eyeing up a pair at Target so with this gift certificate I was able to get these cheaper than at Target.  Aren't they the cutest?

 

So now it's back to life, back to reality after a fun day.  Back to being a stressed out mom.  Back to the 17 Day Diet.  At least I have a delicious meal cooking in the crockpot for dinner.  I've been in a cooking slump and yesterday brought me out of it.  

Try it Tuesday

A few months ago one of my friends mentioned PB2 to me.  I thought about trying it occasionally, but never got around to actually buying it.  For our dinner club, my one friend made this delicious dip.  Days later, I still had the wonderful taste in my mouth so I ordered myself some PB2 from Amazon.  This morning I sprinkled a tiny bit on my vanilla yogurt.  Yum!

Free Zumba?

Don't mind if I do.

Saturday I was out shopping for an outfit to wear when I go to the Rachael Ray show on Wednesday and I got a text from a friend saying that the gym where we did Zumba back in January or February was having a free class that night.  The oldest had a tball game so I had to decline going.  Later I found out the tball game was canceled.  I was for a second that he wouldn't be able to play that night, but then turned to delight because I wouldn't have to stand out in the damp and cold weather we were having.  And I would be able to make it to the class!  What a workout it was!  I was feeling it in my core and legs the next day.  Apparently the first Sunday of every month they offer a free class as a community event.  Super excited about that!  I love my freebies.

And yes, I found something to wear for my fun day in NYC.  I think I'm most excited about the super cute pair of shoes that I scored.  Seriously, how cute are these flats?