Friday Favorites

Heyyy!

Happy, happy Friday!

I have another round of Friday Favorites comin atcha!

But first…….

Click image to make larger!

I don’t really like working out my shoulders, but I do feel like I have made the most progress on them! Grow lil’ pumpkins grow!!

I finished off my workout with 25 minutes on the stairmaster. I sprinted for 30 seconds, rested for 30 and so on.

The last five minutes of my HIIT, I did 30 seconds of jumping jack, 30 seconds high knees, 10 decline pushups, 30 seconds burpees, 30 seconds jumping jacks, 30 seconds speed skaters, 10 decline pushups, 30 seconds jump squats, 30 seconds jumping jacks, 10 decline pushups, 30 seconds high knees, 10 decline pushups. No rest until I was finished.

I sat in the sauna for 10 minutes too. I love that thing!

Now, I bring you my favorite things from this week!

I just went and bought a new round of whey protein. Of course I bought more Beverly International Cookies n Cream flavor but this…..

Dymatize Nutrition ISO-100

….is my ish!!! I bought the birthday cake flavor and it has taken my protein pancakes to another level.

 

This lululemon sports bra.

Yeah, it may be pricey, but with the amount of time I spend at the gym, it’s worth it to me. Plus, it’s light and moves with you so there isn’t chaffing. I have it in bright pink.

 

I am on a meal plan right now that is pretty set in stone. So, when I have cravings, I turn to this amazingness:

Extra Dessert Delights. My favorite flavors are Mint Chocolate Chip and Raspberry Vanilla Cupcake.

 

This shoe.

It belongs to Alex and it is the very shoe that killed the giant ass spider that cornered me in my kitchen earlier this week. I may sound dramatic, but my arachnophobia is the real deal. Plus, I have never seen a creature like this one before, so I was freaked out. This shoe saved me.

 

Mustard. I put it on everything now a days because it doesn’t add any extra calories. I have gone through 3 of these in four weeks.

Also, thanks to one of my favorite IG accounts, @jazzythings, I have a new way of changing the flavor of mustard, although it’s perfect just the way it is, I need change every now and then.

I take a 1/2 cup of mustard, add 1 tsp stevia, paprika, onion powder, and a little bit of water. Holy yum!! Sounds weird but don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it. Also, I enjoy cheeseburgers with peanut butter (I plan on eating a giant one after my comp). Get over it.

 

Food Network.

I watch a lot of it because I can’t eat a whole lot right now, so why not watch people make delicious food.

Yes, that is a cheeseburger with peanut butter. You’re so drooling right now!

 

There you have it! Have a great day!!!

Ta Ta for now!!

 

Make It Happen

I hope you guys are having a great day so far!

Charlee got a fresh cut and I killed it at the gym today.

My leg workout left me exhausted and so, so sweaty.

Click links below for demonstrations of some of my exercises!

RDL: Romanian Dead Lift

It took me about 45 minutes to get through the workout and I left walking like jello. I have only done RDL’s a few other times and I am still working on my form but my hammies sure feel them!

Yesterday, I did my very first crossfit WOD. I am not familiar with Crossfit and their terms but I caught on fast. Alex joined me and we completed the benchmark WOD, Victoria, and she was tough! Our group was told that no one at this box has completed this workout in under 25 minutes and I took that as a challenge!

Victoria:

5 Rounds

10 thrusters, 14 box jumps, 12 sumo dead lift high pulls, 12 burpees, 27 kettlebell swings

I completed that ish in 23:37. It was challenging. I had to take many water breaks because it was 92 degrees yesterday and it got steamy in that gym. I get over heated fast so standing in front of large fan during my kettlebell swings was the only way to survive. I looked like a lobster at the end but it was fun.

I won’t partake in a whole lot of crossfit WOD’s right now because I am currently training for my competition that is in September but I will definitely be a regular after it’s over!

Off to eat some dinner with Alex!

 

 

 

Supplements

Hey Guys!

I was at the gym yesterday…shocker…and I noticed this guy carrying around this little tub of something. Then he opened it up and poured it in his water and I asked him what it was. He said it was Super HD which burns fat and gives you energy while working out. He said he stacks it with another pre-workout. I just looked at him like he was cray.

I have always been the type of person where I don’t even like to take Tylenol for headaches, so when I entered into this competition I was happy to hear my coach say that she doesn’t recommend a lot of supplements. Phew! The world of supplements is huge and a lot of products out there aren’t even FDA approved. I did my research and I only use products that have been approved and are as natural as possible.

I was scrolling through IG the other night and one of the accounts I followed popped up. She is in to competitions as well and has a pretty big following but sometimes she sounds like a fool when she promotes a companies products. Creatine, Super pump, explosive pre-workout powder, HD HD HD….what?! And then below her picture she starts rambling about energy production through ATP-PC, glycolysis, and how your body uses energy fast through weightlifting and this product is guaranteed to help create more energy through oxidative blah blah blah.

I am pretty sure half of her followers have never studied the NASM textbook so she lost them at the phrase energy production. Get real girl! I unfollowed her ASAP. Such a tool bag being used as an advertising board for this company.

Anyways, my point is, I use two different supplements mainly for my weightlifting. Whey protein and Amino Acids. Amino Acids are the building blocks for muscle growth. I use mine in powder form and sip on it during workouts. No, it doesn’t give me energy but I have noticed a change in my lean body mass. Whey protein is what I use for protein shakes, oatmeal, I put it in my yogurt and my protein pancakes etc. I have even used it in protein brownies, cookies, and muffins. It’s so fun to experiment. The whey protein I use is by NutriForce Sports and Beverly International UMP.

For my pre-workout energy, I just drink coffee and eat oatmeal.

I also take glucosamine-chondroitin for my joints,fish oil and my multivitamin.

I am done rambling but I just thought I would give you my take on supplements. Just do your research and make sure it isn’t something that may be pulled off the shelves in a few months!

Off to lift!!

 

Random Ramblins’

Happy Thursday!

As I promised yesterday, here is my back workout that left me feeling so good!

I have been going heavy and really pushing myself. I’m sure I have such a bitch face at the gym but I promise it’s just my “this is heavy and feels good face”.

Yeep!

I have always loved water and it is typically my beverage of choice but ever since I started my comp prep, I have been drinking over a gallon a day. I immediately noticed the benefits right away. I am more energetic, I don’t crash during the day, it keeps my hunger at bay, I sleep better <—sweet hallelujah!, my skin is clearer and I know my organs especially my brain, are happy! Cheers to water!

I have this huge itch to travel somewhere! I want to go to a city that I have never been to and just explore it to pieces. Traveling always brings out my adventurous side and it would be so much fun to go somewhere far with Alex and explore. I have my eye on you Seattle!

portland, maine

 

Watching Alex play softball during the week has been so fun! I enjoy watching him having fun playing sports and I love the fact that we are both athletic and competitive. Makes life so much more interesting. Also, I wish I knew him in college when he played football!

Spring! This spring weather has me swooning! Plus, it’s so lush and green here!  If it could stay like this all year round, I would just be absolutely in love with Ohio! I can actually walk outside and not sweat or try to catch my breath from humidity. When the peeps up here complain about humidity, I just look at them like they are cray. Go to Florida in the dead of summer, or winter, or fall, or spring and THEN you’ll be complaining about true humidity. Amen.

Leg day. I love getting in a good leg workout. I always feel so much stronger and so accomplished at the end of it.

Protein pancakes are another thing I am absolutely happy about right now. After every workout I come home and throw together a huge, glorious pancake and inhale in 30 seconds. It doesn’t look the prettiest, but it tastes so yummy!

The end.

Have a good one!

 

 

 

Let me just tell you……

Hey!!

I am back!

The past two weeks I have been really focusing on my meal plan and studying for my NASM exam.

The meal plan has been easy for me since I have so much drive but the studying was so tiring!

I put 110% effort into the studying and it paid off! I passed my exam yesterday and I literally cried!

It was so challenging and hard.

I had to drive to this tiny town an hour and a half away and sit in this tiny room with 3 other people taking exams and after 50 minutes, I completed the 120 question scorcher.

Then, I had to go to the front of the room and wait for this sweet, old lady to tell me if I passed or not. She took her time….no big deal. I felt my heart beat in my throat and thought I might pass out from the nerves. JUST TELL MEEEEE!!!

“You passed!” She exclaimed as she threw her little hands in the air. I took in a big gulp of air that my body had been waiting for and jumped up and down. I was probably a distraction to the others but I gave no effs.

She handed me my piece of paper that I had been waiting for and I walked outside and cried! I sat in my car and cried and ate my hard boiled eggs and strawberries.

I sat there for 20 minutes. So relieved and overjoyed. I am so proud of myself.

Let me just tell you, that rainy drive home back to Columbus wasn’t so bad after all!

Now to the gym to get a back and HIIT workout in. I will post this later!

Where have you been!?

Morning!!

Someone did NOT want to wake up this morning. She has so much dignity!

I haven’t posted much because I have been using my time wisely and will start posting regularly again next week. I was also in Florida for almost a week, as well and wanted to soak in as much friend and family time as possible. I will come back in full swing with more workouts and just random ramblings again soon!

Here are some pictures from this weekend in Florida! Why do vacations always fly by!??! Also, I am really bad about taking photos, so there aren’t many to share.

Beautiful bride, Kim!!

View from the balcony where the ceremony was held. I have said it before and I will say it again, nothing beats a Florida sunset!

Have a good one, ya’ll!

 

 

 

More Hours Please!

Happy Monday!

She looks like an ewok!

 

I woke up and started my first day of my training with a leg workout at the gym followed by uphill interval sprints for 20 minutes.

This workout left me sweaty although I couldn’t help but be annoyed at how packed it was at the gym this morning.

All I wanted to do was use the smith machine for squats but instead some guy sat there for 30 minutes using it for an arm workout. FYI: There were two benches open for this use for him. So, I grabbed one of the bars off the bench and took it to the group fitness room to do my squats. You gotta do what you gotta do.

I am also getting acquainted to my meal plan and all my macros I need to consume a day. Here’s to time management and learning about nutrition and fueling my body to get the results my coach and I want to see!

I also have to be to work at 6 and I still have 4 meals I need to eat (it’s 3:15). This is hilarious.

I may not be posting quit as much in the next week or so because I will be in FLORIDA this weekend for a wedding. WOO Hoo! Wedding season has definitely sprung.

Give me a fall wedding any any though.

 

Have a good one!

Is it Monday yet?!

Happy Monday!!

Woo Hoo!!

MOndaaaayyy!!!!

 

 

Workout:

Subpar back workout because my energy level lately has been crap! What. The. Eff. body!?!??! I drank coffee about an hour ago so……..

I am about to hit the pavement for a run though because it’s gorgeous outside!!

 

As I was driving to the gym this morning, I had some random thoughts during my short trip, I am awkward and weird so don’t judge.

Damn, I need gas. I am pretty sure I have needed gas for the past 3 days and I hope I make it the two miles to the gym without having to stop (I did it!)

I want a chik-fil-a ice cream cone but it’s too far away so I’ll settle for Smoothie King I guess.

This sports bra is too big. Which means my boobs have shrunk (SMH).

Hell nah, this person did not just pull out in front of me going 15mph!! (Does anyone not slow down when this happens and just rides the ass of the person in front of you until they possibly decide to speed up?)

I wonder if there is a Menchies (fro-yo) near work I can stop at before work tonight.

I should probably make a trip to Lulu for a new sports bra so I can workout to my full potential.

Why would anyone get a license plate with ‘TOASTD’ spelled on it?

I wore the wrong underwear to the gym…awesome. This is going to be uncomfortable.

I hope Charlee doesn’t poop in the house while I am gone…little shit!

She needs a haircut.

OMG! Front row parking spot(at the gym). HA!

I can’t see, mom!

First world problems/thoughts I guess.

Have a good one, ya’ll!!

 

 

 

Thoughts for Thursday

Guys!

Sorry I have sucked posting this week. I have been a busy bee but I’m back!

This weeks workouts have left me feeling sore and I couldn’t be happier about that. I have really been pushing myself as far as lifting heavier. Here are my workouts so far from this week:

Monday: Get yo A$$ outta bed and shred those legs! OMG this workout was so hard. My energy level was crap!!!

Tuesday: Sore!!!

Wednesday:

So, I also worked out my shoulders on Wednesday later in the evening but I will get to that reason in just a second!! =)

Thursday: Yeeeeaaahhh, still waiting to make my way to the gym. It’s supposed to be leg day but with the hoover stairs on Tuesday, sprints yesterday along with a second workout, my legs are toast. Looks like core work and cardio today!

I thought it would be fun to do a Thoughts for Thursday post. Just some random things, thoughts, rants I would like to share with ya’ll! Here goes!

 

I am a paranoid doggy mom. Anytime Charlee acts weird, doesn’t eat, has diarrhea etc, my alarms go off and she is automatically dying. I can’t imagine what I will be like when we have children one day. A few weeks ago, she was acting weird, not eating, and snorting a lot. Oh, and she would wheez whenever we went on walks. I know she is a shih tzu and has a flat, Marvin the Martian face, but it freaked me out. I would get down on the ground with her and pat her back like she was choking on something. Anyways, I made a vet appointment and $150 later she is in perfect health. Just a normal little shit being spiteful. #youbetterlockthatshitupchuck

She’s a hot mess.

 

OK….RANT…..are you ready for this??!

When I am working out at the gym, I am normally by myself with my headphones on in my zone. When I am in the middle of a set, DON’T come and interrupt me to tell me that the rope for the cable machine upstairs is better than the one I am currently using. I don’t care that it’s longer and you get better motion out of your triceps. I have seen that rope and yes, it’s longer, but my arm span isn’t 65″ like yours so I don’t wanna use it!!! Thank you for sharing that info I don’t care about and thank you for making me lose count!

Here’s another one:

I am in the middle of doing my tricep extensions on the bench while lying down, guy comes up to me and friggin taps me on the shoulder, so I sit up, put my weights down, take the headphones off and stare at him. He asks: “Wanna workout with me?”  Me: “No thanks, I’m almost done.”  Him: “Are you sure?”  Me: “uuhh, yeah, I’m good, thanks though.”  Here is the best part:  Him: “wanna model for me?”  Me: ” no, I only do that for husband so please let me finish my workout!!”  What a creeper!!

I should probably start wearing my ring to the gym. UGH!! What possesses peeps to creep on other peeps at the gym!??! I feel and look less sexy during my sweat session. RANT OVER.

 

I have recently fallen in love with the show, Sex and the City. What took me so long!??! E! plays multiple episodes during the day and I can’t not leave it on. It makes me laugh.

 

I love ice cream and frozen yogurt. More like an obsession.

I also love smoothies. I have one everyday.

My favorite combo is: mango, strawberry, vanilla protein, greek yogurt, almond milk, and chia seeds.

Peanut butter. Nuff said.

 

Soooooo, I have been thinking about doing this certain thing for a while now. I figured I have pushed my body to the fitness level it’s at now, why not try something totally new and super hard and super rewarding no matter the outcome at the end of the day.

I have decided to sign up for a coach and compete in the NPC…National Physique Committee. No, I’m not talking about muscles bulging everywhere and acquiring a man voice. I will still maintain a feminine physique but I will build a little more muscle and become more cut. This will be one of the hardest things I do and dedication to the process is key! This will involve totally new eating habits, counting macros, working out like crazy(nothing new to me) and staving off some serious cravings. It will eliminate a lot of things from my diet for this 20 week prep. No alcohol, sweets, or fulfilling cravings whenever I want. I am sure I can have a cheat meal here and there but I we shall see.

Going out to dinner with friends won’t be as fun when they are eating pizza or burgers and I’ll be munching on asparagus and chicken breasts. It’s cool, I am ok with that because I am doing something a lot of people would never do. At the end of September, I’ll be strutting around on a stage in front of A LOT of people flaunting my hard ass work. I have never been comfortable in a bathing suit and I can’t wait for this day! So, you can either support me or not, but I am doing this for me! The pizza, burgers, fries, alcohol will be waiting for me at the end of this 20 week prep!

PS: My  coach is absolutely adorable and so sweet.

I met her last night at her bootcamp where she put us through an awesome cardio sesh and then a killer shoulder workout. Hence, what I said up top earlier. I am so sore today!! There was also a girl at the bootcamp who I totally recognized but thought, I don’t know anyone in this city so I don’t know her. She then came up to me and was like, “do I know you?” and I said I thought the same thing about her. A few minutes later she came up to me all excited and said, “you got married at Worthington Inn! I was one of your servers!” YESSS!!!! So we reminisced about that night for a minute. I digress.

Erin Davis, my coach =)

source: erindavisfitness.com

the end.

 

 

 

 

 

Friday Favorites!

Happy Friday!!

I wish I could call it my weekend BUT I work all weekend. It’s cool though…I did just come back from Florida and all.

My workout this morning focused on shoulders, abs and cardio. I did 40 minutes on the stairmaster at different speeds and step variations.

I also woke up this morning to a tick on my arm. OMG!! I have never had a tick crawl on me before or at least that I know of, so it was super creepy. I have this huge vein on my arm and he was totally scoping out a place to park on it. GAAAHHH!!!!!

I bet I know who carried that in to the bed *cough ALEX cough*

I kid.

On to my favorite things from this week:

 

Traders Joe’s Specialty Teas Green Tea and Chuck =)

I have been drinking this in the AM as a pre-workout and to get my metabolism rollin’. I drink it on ice with some stevia and it is so good!!

 

HD Microfinish Powder by Makeup Foroever

After I apply my makeup I brush this over it and it keeps my face so smooth.  I have oily skin and it soaks it right up!

 

Korres Body Butter

My mom ordered this from HSN and when I was in Florida, I got fried on my last day there. BAD! So I have been applying this every day and it has helped with the burn and itching. It comes from Greece, too, which is awesome!

 

Essie Nail Polish

The new springs colors by Essie are so pretty!

 

The Divergent Series

Alex bought this set for me for Christmas and I am on the third book now. Addicted! It’s great for breaking up my studying.

 

AMRAP workouts (as many reps as possible)

I have been incorporating this into my workouts as a cool down after heavy lifting. It beats getting on a cardio machine and keeps the heart rate up!

 

BOSU balls

I use these to work on stabilization and for core work. Try it!

 

The beach!

We spent the day at St Pete Beach on Sunday and I savored every moment and apparently every sun ray…my chest was fried! But I miss the beach!!!

Publix Subs

A trip to the beach isn’t complete without a Publix sub. I crave them. I ate multiple Publix subs during my trip to Florida. No shame. Anyone from Florida knows what I mean by this statement.  Fun Fact: my sister and I used to call Publix; PUBES! We’re sick.

 

EOS lip balm

It’s the bomb. I love its awkward shape, too! So fun.

Here are some links to my favorite bloggers and their Friday Favorites!

Housewife Glamour <—-former Florida girl living in the Midwest now!

Peanut Butter Fingers

Carrots n Cake