#MinimizeInMay - My Goals

May is here and Wisconsin is finally starting to reflect April with the temperatures. Hopefully May weather will show up soon and stay :) 

I have decided that May is going to be a month of reduction of many things in my life. And thus the launch of #MinimizeInMay. All month long, I will be blogging about things that I am doing to minimize different aspects of my life. I invite you to join my efforts this month and minimize something in your life that needs it. You will be surprised what a difference one month can make :)

1) Minimize Spending - I have plenty of clothes that I bought in the past years (and even months) so I don't need anything new for a spring wardrobe. Hopefully I can make it the whole month without a single splurge. I know I will be tempted, but if I just cut down a few pounds, I will so much more to wear in my current wardrobe. And thanks to Pinterest, I have learned to pair elements of my wardrobe that I wouldn't have before. 

2) Minimize My Waist - I really need to get some of this pesky weight off that seems to have decided to make permanent residence on me. With the change in the weather, I hope to get out on my bike, my feet and maybe even my rollerblades and get in a lot more fitness. I still have classes remaining on my punch card for EnergizeZone, and because I already paid for it, I can go for "free" in May. 

3) Minimize My Junk Food - With not spending much this month, I will only be able to eat what I have available and not impulse buy lunch/dinner at the grocery store or make trips over to Walgreens for snacks during the day. I have already started this plan this week with bringing peasant lunches or leftovers.

Homemade gnocchi marsala - recipe posted soon!

Peasant lunch - berries, carrots w/ hummus, cheese, crackers, tea

4) Minimize My Clutter - I have obtained quite a few things in the past few years and it's time to purge. I am planning to have a rummage sale mid-month to unload these things from my life. The rummage will consist of clothes, candle holders, books, CDs, knickknacks and whatever else my parents feel they want to part with between now and mid-May. I know that this will give me less to move when I do that as well as free up some space at my parents house for them :)

Another level of clutter is my personal email Inbox - There are soooo many old emails in there that I need to file or delete and I hope to get a solid handle on that. Who needs 5,000 emails just sitting in their inbox? This girl doesn't anymore. And with this, I will hopefully remove my name from some email lists and cancel accounts for companies that I don't need to be a part of anymore and not be tempted about "sales" and events. 

So True!

5) Minimize My TV Addiction - In the last month, I really got addicted to TV and I can't even say it was for new shows. Big Bang Theory being on for three straight hours every evening isn't a necessity in life. Sure I will still DVR my shows and catch up on them when I can, but I hope to have the TV off and my eyes in a book or be outside more. The weather has changed, I can blog, read, write and have fun instead of glue myself to a TV. 

LOVE THIS SHOW!!!

6) Minimize My Carbon Footprint - I drive to work and can't get around that, but I don't need to drive around on my lunch "just cuz." I should go for a walk on my lunch and after work, I should bike if feasible. Unfortunately, I do live too far from my friends to practically ride my bike to them for a night, but I will carpool when I can and try to use less gas. 

By doing all these things, I am hoping to maximize my savings and my overall happiness by living a cleaner lifestyle all around. I'm sure things will come up and I'm not going to become a hermit for May, but I just have to start working on readjusting my goals and it takes consistent effort to make anything happen. Wish me luck - Here's to #MinimizeInMay

Move-It Monday

April was an extremely busy month and I'm excited for it to be over actually. I had so many things come up out of the blue that I felt I had zero time for extra things. Unfortunately the blog fell into the extra things category. Hopefully May will free up more of my time. And maybe I need to read the book above??

Another thing that didn't seem to fit into my schedule was working out as much as I wanted to. But I got back to the gym yesterday for a kickboxing class and boy-oh-boy am I feeling it today. It's a different workout than the boot camps that I do, but I worked just as hard or harder and sweat just as much or more in this class. Boot camp usually makes me feel it in my core and quads, but kickboxing killed my upper calves and arms.

Tracie, the kickboxing instructor at Energize Zone comes up with some great combinations and she keeps a good speed to get us adjusted to the moves before picking up the pace. Because of all of the boxer stances and back-and-forths, I know that is why my calves are so tight.

My arms are sore from really going all out on the jabs, cross and hammers. I feel like I'm back in Poms and I'm hitting each move precisely - thus the sore arms today.

With my legs being so tight, I decided a walk would be the best for me. Big Bend is under construction so I took a gander down Clark Street to see the progress. It's pretty much down to one lane with large equipment and gravel everywhere. I hope they stay on schedule and get the road done quickly.

I headed down into the park to check out the river and although it was high, I got this amazing shot of the sunset. It really was so peaceful down there -- minus the bugs that kept flying in my face :)

I hope to get out for a lot more walks and runs and get to more kickboxing and boot camp classes in May. I must do it in order to hit my goal I set for myself. :)

I am also in search of my next run for 2013. I don't have anything on my plate until August, so if you have suggestions, I'm open to them -- 7k and under as I'm still working my way to a 10k and am not there yet.

Move-It Monday: March Runs and Fitness

Move it Monday on a Tuesday? Eh, it was bound to happen :)  At least I'm still posting right?

Last month, I participated in quite a few runs. Running has never been anything that has come easy to me, but I'm sticking with it and raising money for great causes all at one time.

I am getting better at running overall and my time is staying decent, considering the Wisconsin elements that I have dealt. I know that the boot camp classes that I am taking at EnergizeZone in Waukesha are definitely helping me get stronger legs. You can't just run all the time and expect to get better - cross-training is key.

Another essential is the protein shakes that I have recently become obsessed with. I have found a way to make them where I don't taste the protein and can really enjoy them everyday! This is another thing I must thank Ken at the Zone for - proper nutrition information. Let's just say Peanut Butter Cup, Mint Chocolate, Strawberry Lemonade smoothies are my fave...it's like a treat after a workout! :)

In addition to these runs, I participated in Energize Zone's Spring Into Fitness event on March 23 - this was a day dedicated to showing the offerings of the gym and letting us try new classes for one price. We started with boot camp that was brutal but awesome as ever. I'm sure my classmates appreciated that I changed clothes before class 2 - I'm sweat when I work out!!!! LOL

During the break between classes we ate some healthy snacks including strawberries stuffed with vanilla yogurt and sliced almonds, protein deviled eggs, cheese, sausage, crackers and my mom's black bean brownies with Click Protein powder.

NOTE: Here are our edits to the recipe. We used brown sugar for the sugar and for the protein powder and coffee, I used 2 oz Click & 1 oz 2 tsp vanilla protein powder (no instant coffee.) We did add 1 Tbsp of olive oil (extra virgin of course) because we wanted some form of fat in the recipe. And you will use a bit more water than the recipe calls for. These things bake thick but they are sooooo good!

Here is the recap of my runs.

Sporting purple  for Alzheimer's 

Reflectors just cuz :)

Not the worst roads I have encountered but pretty rough. 

Testing out the new ProCompression socks for recovery

My medal for participation

Lucky Leprechaun 7k - 4.49 in 56:54 - snowy, slick and COLD
This run raised money for the MACC fund

Didn't want to get out of the car - too chilly!

Shauna and I before the run in the warm-ish tent

Freezing at the start

So ready to get going!

Finally people were moving!

Guinness Beer even runs :)

Mom got me almost at the finish - yep I was still smiling

Didn't stay after for the beer and my banana was frozen so I couldn't eat that either. Getting my shoes and socks off in the car and have the heat blast on my legs was heavenly!

Happy 5k - 3.1 in 37:28 - cool but no frigid
All proceeds from the HAPPY 5K will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Only picture I took - It was snowing on me

Cool medal :)

Health for America #50states 5k - 3.1 in 40:17 - icy yucky

Brought my face mask for the icy stuff hitting me in the face

Dry roads but there was snowy/icy crap hitting me in the face

There is road somewhere under there!

I actually haven't signed up for a single run in April yet and I'm thinking that this month should be more focus on either distance training (if I'm ok running slower but farther) or speed training. I was hoping to get a 5k done in 30 minutes this year and I'm holding pretty steady in the 35+ right now. What do you think? Speed or distance?

March Recap

Although I had a Malware issue at the end of March, I still managed to get 12 posts out. They were rather well received and I see my readership increasing almost daily. I cannot thank you guys enough for that. If you think that someone else would enjoy reading my blog, please share it with them or ask them to like my Facebook page. Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to share things that you like.

So what were the most read posts? I wanted to do a top 5, but because two of them were a tie, I have a top 6.

5 (tie): Pork Burritos - these were soooooo good! I still remember the flavor and having a cold margarita with a salted rim was perfect.

5 (tie): Mock Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - this was the dessert for the pork burritos irronically and received rave reviews from Matt. I left him a container with nine of them in it and I think it was a day or two later that he told me he finished them off!!! I would have had a belly ache, but isn't that a guy for you? Bottomless pit that doesn't gain an ounce?

4. Book Review of Blackberry Winter - I'm currently writing my review of this month's selection The Fault In Our Stars that I also listened to on CD and will be sharing that soon as part of PB Finger's blog reviews.

3, 2, 1 - Lori, Karen and Beth's Wellness Journeys and the Energize Zone. These ladies are just amazing and still motivate me to stick with it now that my challenge is done. Time to join challenge number 2 this Wednesday and continue my nutritional education. You can't beat eight weeks of Boot Camp classes and eight nutrition classes. Keep drinking your water!!!

So additional things that happened in March that haven't made the blog yet and some will are:

St. Patty's Day 7k

Rumchata Car Bomb Cupcakes

Meeting Phillip Phillips

Checking out the Harley-Davidson Museum

Easter Dinner

Happy April - I have a lot in store, so I hope you stay with me this month and in the future. Again thanks for reading!

My Wellness Profile

I'm finally back to blogging after a Malware issue took me down for a good portion of last week. I didn't want to take the risk of getting my blog blacklisted until I could figure out what were the bad links. Now that I know and have removed them, I hope it's smooth sailing from here forward. I have so much to share!!!

About a month ago, I sat down with Ken at the Energize Zone for my FREE wellness profile. (This is offered to anyone and not just members of the Zone.) I wasn't really sure what to expect and thought that I was in decent shape and just needed to shed a few extra pounds that found me over the last few years. Before signing up at the gym, I would run about once a week and that's it - never went to the gym regularly. I would watch what I ate, but indulged probably too much. I thought that was enough. 

My wellness profile clued me in to a bit of a lie that I was telling myself. Those "few" pounds were a lot more than should be on my body for my height and frame. It was hard to hear and I have always had a skewed image of my body, so this didn't help that cause. But it's the truth and I can live with that or strive for getting healthier (definitely going for the latter)!

Summer 2012 - I'm on the left!

I also have the body type that the fat likes to lie on my front side against my organs :( I was pretty shocked with myself and couldn't believe I let that happen.  I always thought of myself as a medium framed person that was pretty active. 

Mukwonago Poms circa 2000 - I'm second row middle!

Heck I danced all through high school, practicing sometimes up to five days a week. But then in college, I stopped the activity and the pounds came on. And with those pounds came other health factors I didn't consider - blood pressure, high body fat percentage, etc. 

Ken talked to me about these factors and how to get myself on a plan that would get me to where I needed to be to live a healthy life. After college, I had joined Weight Watchers a few times and knew that I needed to watch calories, fat and fiber, but I never realized how important protein was. 

Summer 2010 - one of our many grill outs w/ gluttonous foods!

I thought of protein almost as the enemy and only what "meatheads" ate to bulk up. But good protein from chicken, eggs, fish and soy are perfectly fine for you and you won't bulk up on them.

I am now following the plan that Ken and I worked out for specifically for me, starting each day with protein and doing my best to continue that plan each day. I know that after my first 8-week challenge, I am a much stronger person physically and mentally and am not afraid of workouts anymore. I also understand what my body needs for nutrition and I don't need to eat just because food tastes good! Working out can only do so much for you if you don't follow proper nutrition. I'm glad I was provided this guidance and am ready to continue my journey. Maybe in another month, I'll get my numbers checked to see what has changed. I can almost guarantee they will be much better all around.

So if you have an hour to spare in your busy week, contact Ken and get your FREE wellness profile completed. Trust me - it's totally worth it!

Compensation for this post was provided by EnergizeZone after I asked to feature the 'Zone. Opinions expressed here are my own. 

Waukesha Weekend Happenings

I stopped into Montecito today for a quick lunch to take back to the office and while I was waiting for my yummy chicken Alfredo to be done, I read a few flyers that were on the bar.

Seems that this is the weekend to come to Waukesha for some fun things to do!

March 23rd is the Bunny Hop in downtown Waukesha. Sounds like a fun time for children and adults alike. Maybe you can even win this 3 foot tall chocolate rabbit!

Saturday also marks the welcoming day of six new businesses to Waukesha. The City of Waukesha Chamber of Commerce put together a flier to inform the public about the new businesses
   Simply Irresistible Catering - take & bake meals and small event catering
   ReBorn Wellness - massages, spray tan, wellness packages
   Polarity Media Productions - unique gallery
   Senorita's For a Better Today - soy-based, non-toxic soaps, candles, lotions and more
   WatchCircle - watch & clock repair
   BerryMe - Froyo shop
*Each place is offering some sort of special, free samples, etc.

Another flyer on the bar states the following:
March 23 - 10 am until 10 pm
The General Store knows as The Funiture Closet will be hosting their Grand Opening. Goods will be sold, traded, bartered. Spirits and vittles will be served for a small donation. Come down to see the best thrift store this side of the Mississippi.

Energize Zone is also hosting its Spring Into Fitness Party - come try out two fitness classes and a health smoothie for just $15.

I'm not sure how much of this I will get to because I am going to the Spring Into Fitness Party and then have a birthday party at the Nice Ash that evening. 

Move-It Monday: Lori's Wellness Story

UPDATED!

Sorry for the lateness of this post. I definitely had a bout with Karma today and it came back for me. I had joked about someone else not fact checking yesterday before posting their story, and well, it came back to get me. If you read this post earlier today, it wasn't Lori's story. I apologize for the falsities of it and am here to right my wrong. 

While I continue my recovery efforts from my 7k this past weekend, that I will blog about soon (completed in under an hour and totally pumped for more running!!!), I wanted to share Lori's story of wellness from the Energize Zone.

 
I met Lori a few weeks into my challenge at Energize Zone and she is truly a rockstar. She started her weight loss journey in in the Fall of 2012 and she told me that it has completely changed her life.

Lori before

Lori was facing two amazing milestones before joining the Zone - turning 50 and having her 25th wedding anniversary. She wasn't feeling like herself, and much older for her years and after following a friend's Facebook posts, she decided to check out Energize Zone.

She didn't realize how much she missed working out, except the mile run that starts each boot camp class (even that she, and I, don't mind anymore). She was hooked fast and joined multiple classes a week to get to her goal.

My first impression of Lori was that she is very motivated and determined to reach her goal. She rocks it out and helps lead in stretches at the end of class so Coach Ken can get ready for the next class. I look to her as a leader as well and know that if I'm having a down day, she will get me pumped up to crush my workout!

"I went from believing that at my age losing weight was beyond my reach to believing any goal is attainable," says Lori. She now takes boot camp, cardio kickboxing and Zumba classes at the Zone. I'm hoping to up myself to three days a week, but living outside of the city makes this a little hard for me (excuses, excuses I know!).

Lori's after photo with other ladies of the Zone

Both her and I see how well informed Coach Ken is and the way he stresses the importance of not only exercise but proper nutrition motivates us. I agree 100% with Lori and Ken and see changes in myself after my Free Wellness Profile last weekend. I make a more conscious effort to watch what I eat and what it will do to my body.

Lori feels a part of a family at the Zone and loves the positive motivation from everyone while we all try to reach our goals. "I can't wait to see what new things will be coming at "THE ZONE" this year!" says Lori."

Lori and her hubby come to the Zone together for some classes and Lori has joined the 24 Challenge at the gym. This is the next level above the Body Transformation Weight Loss Challenge (that I am a part of now).

24 Challenge at the Zone

This coming Saturday, The Energize Zone is hosting a Spring Into Fitness Event. Sign up now to try two classes and some healthy snacks for only $15. Only 50 spots are available and this is an inexpensive way to come check out the gym for yourself. RSVP early this week to guarantee yourself a spot!

Next month, Energize Zone is hosting an Energize Your Life Expo that is open to vendors to sell their products and services (some exceptions apply). See the image below for the details and call Coach Ken to reserve your spot. 

Energize Your Life Expo - April 27

Compensation for this post was provided by EnergizeZone after I asked to feature the 'Zone. Opinions expressed here are my own.  

Catching Up

Sometimes I am on top of all things regarding my blog (and life), and sometimes I fall a bit behind. It's one of those behind times now. I don't have a good excuse as to why I haven't stayed up on the blog as I have cooked and eaten plenty lately :) But here is what will be coming up on blog in the next few weeks:

Another amazing beer dinner at Bernie's Tap Room - can't wait to pick Brooke's brain later this month for a chef feature!

 Sweet potato muffins - to die for!

Copycat Reese's peanut butter cup bars

My Lucky Leprechaun book and nail polish swap!

My trip to the Harley Museum

Virtual Run for Alzheimer's #Race2Remember

Lobster rolls from Key Westconsin

Energy Balls :)

Spending more time at Energize Zone and invite you to this event!

Easiest crockpot meal so far - chicken based! 

Prepping for the Lucky Leprechaun 7k with my ProCompression socks!

Training for the 7k continues in the snow - dedicated!!!!

Cooking with Click, black beans and spinach for brownies - say what??

 

Amazing chicken taquitos from Burp! Blog

Chicken Fontina pasta from Duo of Chefs

And some wine...

Wine...

Wine...

Wine...

and more wine! :) It's what pumps my veins lately