Be All The Way Strong

You can have it all. It just takes a lot of work. But hard work always pays off. Remember the days of pulling all nighters and studying your face off? And while getting that good grade, another one dropped? Spending the following weeks to raise that grade only to find another one suffered? Maybe that didn't happen to you but it happened to me year after year. Eventually I got the swing of things and evened the kilt. I learned how to balance the work load so that each class represented my hard work and each class scored a high grade at the same time. It's the jinx effect. When all things happen together.

I believe in being fit. I believe fit means strong. I don't think strong always shows. I think strong holds many levels to its definition. The girl or guy with bulging/cut muscles may have the strength but maybe not the endurance. The girl/guy with a layer hiding the hard muscles may not show a lot of strength but will blow your mind in his/hers endless endurance abilities. Standing trackside cheering on my sons track team brought this kind of scenario into full perspective. The girls lined up, ready for 30some seconds of bliss in the 100m dash. Each girl kneeled, hand on track, eyes on finish line, perched and ready. Each trim in size except for one. Upon a quick inspection, judging the book by it's cover, all bets would lead to a particular winner. But after the count and horn blast all those bets would be lost. The girl who created the largest of shadows also created quite the ruckus. She had the strength, the endurance, the all the way strong to win the race. She stood tall and ran. The power in her in eyes matched the power of her stride.

It's important to be strong in your mind and soul. We can lift and squat, run and spin all day, every day but at the end of the day if we're feeling defeated in our thoughts and aspirations for all else in life then what good is the smaller size, the tighter skirt, the flatter belly? It makes me think of the word superficial  No one wants to live a life coated in happiness and beauty. Happiness and beauty should shine outwards from within.

I'm dedicating the month of May to Be All The Way Strong.
It's best fitting for me. I work hard on my outward appearance and physical strength. My mind is rolling during the time I spend running, lifting, stepping, dancing, TRX'ing. My mind challenges my body in ways that I should challenge my soul in moments of chaos, in times of grief and stress. In decisions of quitting bad habits and properly allotting time to tasks. And so much more.

If I can control my thoughts and push out the "quit now" feeling during hard workouts, long races, and resistant training then why not work that same muscle (the mind) to push out temptations to leave the laundry piled, wash dishes after the next meal, blog another posts, read another blog, or raise my voice in a moment of stress and chaos? Believe me I am no saint. I have my faults and yet I am still an amazing mother, wife and friend. We live in peace and show much respect to each other but like in the fit-world there is always room for improvement.

If I can center my energy to better discipline all parts of my life not just gym time how much of a better person would I be? How much more confidence would shine through my every step? How much more love could I share and how much more peace could be felt in the stillest of moments as well as the most rambunctious?

So I challenge myself to Be All The Way Strong. And as always I totally invite you to join! There's a fancy button, a hashtag of # allthewaystrong and more posts to come. You may find there are thoughts that counteract your fitness time. I see so much passion and drive in peoples faces when I look around the gym yet I wonder if they'll carry the same strength on the beach when in much less clothing. I see high fives and hear cheers at races but maybe there is solemness in their homes. Working the mind, body and soul/spirit/core whatever you call it will hit a different sore spot for each one of us.

You'll see me challenging myself in lifting heavier, speed training for the fun of it, and picking up spin classes. 3 fit-world things I want to focus on this month. I may post less, I may post more during the month as I truly open my heart and look deeper for any ways I can be stronger in mind and soul. With an upcoming cross country move, a transition back to the regular army, terrible twos occurring in the most public of places and yes, a tween boy moving through puberty... I could use a little more mental strength and inner peace.


I want to the most beautiful person I can be. 






Linking with Just Because, Anything and Everything, Take Time Tuesdays,

Be your own Inspiration and April's CHALLENGE!

Some people just don't exercise. They just don't want to. Or, don't see the need in it.
But for many...they just fear it.

They fear the idea of changing what they're used too. They also fear the possibility of failure. The number one procrastinator, the number one reason why some people are not exercising is the horrible
"what if I can't" syndrome.

This is the time of the year we see bikini's hit storefronts, advertisements in higher frequency for quick fix weight loss aids and for some of us, we see shame. Media and society are quick to show us the ideal figure. The size 2, curvy yet slim, strong yet sleek. While it's nice to think we've moved away from that, this figure is still pushed. There are sites devoted to fitspiration, some thankfully boast 'strong is the new sexy' but most are picture after picture of itty, bitty bodies. If you logged a journal of your eating habits and exercises would you like one page for your notes and the other page to view a sexy chic? Do you think that you'd find encouragement day after day by looking at a new "sexy" girl as you logged your accomplishments? For some of this, this would work, perfectly. For others this would cause damage. I lean towards the idea that daily pictures of what the media uses to influence us would actually cause an incredible amount of self doubt. We have one person to impress and that is ourselves. We have one person to challenge, again that is our self. We have just one person to answer to, ourselves. Be your own inspiration.


There's also some smack talk against those that do exercise regularly. Some may say we're obsessed. Some may think we're bragging. And some are simply being rude. When a person commits to working out, taking on daily exercise, they create habits. Each of their days include a routine, part of that routine is spent to better themselves and focus on their health. Not only does accomplishing this make a person happy but exercise is known to release the happy hormone. Ever want to turn a deaf ear to someone who is always talking negative? Ever want to point and shout Debby Downer? We all have those friends and at times they're real turn offs. But how often do you find yourself turning away from a friend who is genuinely happy? It doesn't happen. People who exercise are happy, they are thrilled with their accomplishments and want to share it. We're not all of sudden cocky athletes or know it alls. I guess some really do become the latter but most of us are just happy and reaching out for accountability.


It's proven that fitness and healthy living are easier done when surrounded by like minds. This is a huge reason why group fitness classes are maxed out each day and races are paced in waves to handle such large numbers. There's power in numbers. There's strength in teams.

I'm one of those numbers. I'm part of that team. I believe in daily exercise and conscious eating, I believe in group fitness classes and solo mind freeing runs. I'm also one of those that talk about it. I try to inspire and motivate others to jump on the exercise party train. It's a fun place to be.

Our team is growing daily. There's no official sign up. No waiver or try out. There are no guidelines to fit inside or judgement to curtail. There's just an open space to share, cheer, and do.


Surrounding yourself with motivated people will help you see ahead. There shouldn't be a feeling of competition but a feeling of support. Accountability should never be viewed as descending but uplifting. Together we are much stronger than any of our fears.

So here's my new challenge for the month of April. It's quite simple and of no new news...

Be more active than yesterday. We can do a little bit more of anything, it's not going to kill us. 

When your body burns and yells quitting time, tell it to wait just a few more seconds, a few more minutes.

The benefits of pushing yourself to be better than the day before are unmeasurable. Each day you will be improving your endurance and adding to your strength. By months end you'll look back and smile at the growth mentally, emotionally and physically by just dedicating "a little bit more" each day. 

The list of ways to be better than yesterday is endless and totally up to you!!!
A few ideas...

-sprint hills in your daily run//walk, incline the treadmill a notch higher. Go a bit further.

-another push-up, another crunch, another curl.

-add 5 pounds to the weight you normally lift (try it for just one set, see how you do)

-find a new exercise and commit to it for a week (wall balls, box jumps, jump rope, inchworms, wall squats)

-park further away, like the last parking space further away.

-fruit for sweets, say no to candy.

-pickles instead of chips

I'm sad to take down March's challenge, it brought together strong and beautiful ladies, one of whom kicked that challenge in the butt and today took it a step further. Tyah set out to accomplish her 30 miles in 30 days, we caught up with each other via Instagram and today she introduced AprilFoolish50. She's using the hashtag and blogged about it in this post here, a perfect example of being more active than yesterday.

Quick recap on the ALL the March Madness goals set for myself and inspired by the awesomely beautiful Janna! Her linky challenge helped many of us stay accountable and organized with our goals....

1// FAIL. I didn't take//make//find the time to try a Barre Class, keeping it on the list for April.
2// SUCCESS. Completed 30 miles in 30 days.
3// SUCCESS. I think I've finally found the perfect 6.1 mile trail and am recording my pace, still sitting at last years pace of just over an hour but that's ok!
4// SUCCESS. Was totally at the gym 2-3 times per week.
5// SUCCESS. hello, this girl found the hook up to my instructor cert. I'll have much more to report on this over the next month, but lets just say I'm beyond excited about June.
6// SUCCESS. My personal FB page has lit up with race events, we're sending out an SOS for babysitters and adding up the fees. There are so many races we'd love to be a part of this spring/summer!

Remember, BE YOUR OWN INSPIRATION :)

And if you want to join in the #BeMoreActive challenge grab the button, pin it, IG it, tweet it, drop a line...or keep it private. 

I don't care how you do it, just give it a try! 

Linking with Operation Summer Shape Up and.....
Monthly Measures, Yolo Mondays, Monday Morning Gossip, and JUST Because!

Weekend Shenanigans...

I'll admit...I do have the hardest time spelling Shenanigans. Sorry Sami, I'm one of those!

*note to self....chin down, chin down when taking pictures

Four days off in a row and I only went shopping once. Hard to believe but that's what happens when your husband is off those same 4 days too. womp, womp! Would you believe we are still "celebrating" St. Pats Day? We were lucky enough to have warm sunny skies as we sipped beer and barely escaped the delicious smells of funnel cake and (omg) fried chips drenched in cheese sauce without caving. Some things just aren't fair. Neither is pushing a jogging stroller weighed with a 30 pound toddler through the crowd as the front tire deflated. How and Why must this happen? Couldn't it at least been one of the back tires? And couldn't I have had just one of those fried chips?

1// yes, it was Thursday nights fun but technically that started our weekend.
2// killer workout! Got myself back into TRX mode and polished off a WOD w/ hubs.
3// pretty and simple, spring outfit for Saturdays festival.
4// Beer drinking in front of St. Patrick's church is only normal one weekend of the year.
5// And that's how Landon feels about his flat tire and empty ice cream cup.
6// But at least he can now hang with the big kids in the bounce house.
7// Busted bracket. Sorry Wucas, now you can go back to wearing Hokie gear....
8// Made Cranberry Orange and Almond Energy Balls, easiest recipe ever!
9// spring blooms on the trees. BUT as of Sunday - covered in snow :(

As for my March fitness goals linked with March Madness hosted by Shanna!
I have...
Met my 30in30 challenge by this evening!
Worked out 3+ times per week.
Much closer to gaining sponsorship for fitness instructor classes!
Still need to...
Set PR for 10K that's only 3 weeks away!
Sign up for a Barre Class and another race!

I've got a week left to this month to get the last of my goals accomplished and I'm proud to have checked the other three off my list. Spring is near which means summer is close. These TO DO's are getting DONE! A big thank you to Shanna for getting us all together to help each other stay accountable!


And, that's a wrap!
Schools out today, so home with the kids, yayyy for now a 5 day weekend!

It's March Sponsor Giveaway time! 
Lots of Ad Space and Starbucks $$ up for grabs :) 
Meet the FAB ladies that have been with me this month and 
enter to win!!!

And to not let the GIVEAWAY fun end there....I'm participating on a few more this week!
Hooah and Hiccups (Coach bag!)
In Her Boots (11 giftcards)
Living In Yellow (giftcard galore and boats of Ad Space)



Linking with YOLO Mondays, Weekend Shenanigans, Bloglovin Hop, Monday Morning Gossip

Chew on This

*note...this may not make much sense to you until you read my Food for Thought post. It was my most shared post, created countless conversations and spurred many to join in the cleanse with me! It's also where you will find the exact cleanse I followed. 

We all know what healthy eating means. Sure, there are questions about chai seeds, sprinkle flax seed where and omega who??? But generally speaking we have an understanding for how to eat healthy. We're taught from weeee ages the main food groups by reference of a not.so.fancy triangle visual, emphasizing the importance of eating fruits and vegetables at an abundance. So, while knowledge is power in the realm of all things, healthy eating becomes successful more often by motivation and understanding our own bodies. Each of which is different for everyone. It is important to feel in control of our eating habits instead of feeling like our cravings control us. To conquer this, we must be motivated by something and we must have understanding and respect for how our bodies react to food.  I found motivation in the last bite of my second batch of cookies. I found motivation in the uneasy feeling in my favorite pair of jeans. Motivation comes from a desire to be better. A desire to reach a standard set by oneself. Be careful not to gain motivation solely after what others have, that my friends is pseudo. I thought I understood foods pretty well but I came out of this cleanse with a few ah-ha moments that helped me understand so much more.

The cleanse I chose worked wonders for me and my family. Considering how many have already asked, yes, we did loose weight. Lucas and I both lost 7 pounds. But again, we weren't in it for the weight loss. And I promise you, you will most likely gain back any weight lost as soon as you return starchy, white foods to your diet. At least I did. In just 4 days, I gained back half the weight lost. This cleanse eliminates all grains, bread, pasta, nuts, cheese, and shelf life snacks, pretty much anything starchy or loaded with carbs. When balancing your diet between all food groups, your body will find it's happy weight. I know my number is not less than 7 pounds. The next popular question involved applying this cleanse to a paleo diet. Yes, absolutely. Once you hit day 4, the paleo diet would require you to use soy based products. It's surprising how many appetizing products have been made for those to consume without taking from animals.

basically eat the rainbow and eat as much as you want. The night before wash and cut all purchased fruit.
Prep baggies and containers for the entire day so you can grab and go each of your snacks and meals. Think convenience. You will feel hungry as this is the first day of the cleanse and while fruit offers loads of nutrition and hydration, the calorie count is relatively low leaving you with constant reminders of an empty stomach. Get creative. Try spices and seasonings such as nutmeg and cinnamon to kick up the flavor in simple fruits like peaches. For dinner consider spaghetti squash. We found spaghetti squash to be rather satisfying. It's an easy meal, ready in an hour. Omit any and all sauces for this "spaghetti" instead use a dash of salt and pepper. If cooked just right (which is easy) spaghetti squash offers a sweet taste and nice change to the many little bites you've had all day. We used this recipe. Shoveling fork lifts fulls of spaghetti squash weighed us down enough to fall asleep without any nagging hunger pains. (banana's and tomatoes are not allowed this day, zucchini and squash are indeed fruits)

Pig out on celery, carrots, spicy cucumbers (we used this recipe), pickles, asparagus, bell peppers, and salads w/ the smallest amount of dressing. Again, prep for convenience. It's an understatement to simply say you'll be ready for dinner by 10am. Holy melon balls, I was hungry, almost felt delusional. We chose stir fry for dinner and the pan did not heat up fast enough. Munching on edamame while dinner simmered made life better. Once served, we practically grabbed fistfuls to fill up our seemingly empty stomachs. We do stir fry often but didn't miss the regular heaps of lo mein or rice. Overloading the stir fry with a huge head of sliced cabbage was an excellent substitution. The one allowed starch of the week was included in tonight's dinner. A potato. The best potato I've ever had. And it was served PLAIN. We noticed achy, crampy muscles from our workouts today. (obvious result of slashing food groups and calories)

You will enjoy the ease of this day. After two days of only having one type of food to pick from, this day feels much more "buffet like". You think I'm kidding? no way. We had salads for lunch, this time using a warmed avocado for the dressing.  Having the choice between fruits and veggies teaches you a valuable lesson. You will learn in this day what foods can replace your junk food cravings. For dinner we snacked on edamame (we love those things!) and repeated the spaghetti squash with a side of snap peas, green beans and mushrooms all sauteed with garlic//onion. Yum! It really is quite amusing that a dinner like this was so satisfying.  I would have never made this for the family but now we've enjoyed it twice in one week. Do I think we should go vegan or vegetarian?  Heck no, I went to sleep dreaming of day 5.

This was hell for me. I knew it would be. Hubs suffered hanger back on day 1 and today it hit me hard. Banana's hold 100 calories. Most greek yogurts boast servings of only 100 calories. Considering you have an entire day to share 8 of each, it feels as though you're running on fumes. After my crappy morning workout, I felt wiped out. My body simply did not have it's usual calories and fuel to keep me going. I literally performed at only half my typical level. An hour later, I kid you not, I still couldn't bend over without feeling dizzy//lightheaded. The frozen yogurt I had planned for dinner hour was immediately consumed. I wrestled with the idea of making a huge sandwich but instead threw two banana's in the freezer and stuck to the rules. Once the banana's were frozen I sliced them, dumping them into the blender with a cup of yogurt. I gulped that smoothie like a slurpee on a hot summer day. Then cursed the 8 banana rule, took a deep breath and reminded myself, it's only one day. We went to bed early on this day. Like really early. (you may swap the yogurt for skim milk)

Finally, some meat! And you know what we chose? Rotisserie. yes, rotisserie chicken. Considering we had been eating our hearts out on all things fruit and veggie, the chicken seemed like a gift from above but it actually made us both feel the way you feel after Thanksgiving dinner, full and bursting at the seams. Perhaps this cleanse gave us a bit of insight on better portion control. opps! Your body can easily tolerate fruit and veggies in abundance but meat is another story. Your body will also tell you when it's hungry, something we don't often get the notion of due to senseless snacking and munching. Eating 8 tomatoes in one day is a hard rule to follow. It's recommended that you drink a glass of water with each tomato to reduce reactions with their high acid content. The chicken may be exchanged for turkey. Obvi, lunch meat is not recommended. (P.S. I hate tomatoes, aside from seasonings, this is all in all a boring food day)

At this point, the newness has worn off, old habits//new habits are in place. Those who "juice" can easily start any veggie day with a tall glass. We don't, so we ate on chicken. I'm sorry, do you know a way to eat chicken or cook veggies for breakfast minus the hollandaise sauce? I sure don't, nothing appetizing about starting a day this way. By now you've had enough time to remind yourself that healthy eating is yummy, however the challenge is for 7 days. We had promised ourselves to stick it out til the end. I went on my morning run, dog and kid in tow, and came back full blown "rangry". I scurried to the kitchen, locking tot in highchair, and got to cooking. Veggie and chicken stir fry was ready in 15 minutes flat. Kale chips made for a nice afternoon snack. Later that evening, we found plenty of vegetables and chicken at our friends housewarming party. I'm still impressed with hubs commitment to the cleanse, it does not allow alcohol and that man loves a cold beer, especially on nights out. Speaking of, water only for these 7 days!

This soup consists of....nothing. It's runny and smelly and I believe that's what it intends to make of you. Before agreeing to this cleanse I scoured the reviews and read that if you dislike the Miracle soup, repeating day 6 was recommended. After the first spoonful of soup, which even the dog turned a nose to, we chose to drain most the liquid from the soup and eat it as a side to chicken left over from day 6. I also allowed myself fruit. Now, if you're in this to drop some LB's then yes, you should do the soup. I'm pretty certain you would find yourself reading magazines and draining your cell phone battery in the smallest room of the house, all day long. If you are dedicated to this cleanse for the pure reasoning of gaining back a healthier lifestyle then I see no wrong in combining all the days into this one.

Best advice for this cleanse? 

plan ahead, shop ahead, make it convenient and plentiful.
Success is in preparing snacks//meals the night before and making sure you have plenty to pick from.
Be ready to chop and cook. Use seasonings, think outside of the box.
Do see food as a reward during this cleanse and journal your cravings, if you want.
Focus on your goals, your reasons for doing this.

Are you hungry during a cleanse? 

yes. is it bearable? absolutely.
could guzzling water take away hunger? yes.
Validating the idea that sometimes we confuse hunger with thirst.

Tips from me to you when cleansing....

-do not I repeat, do not go into a grocery sore. It is a brutal experience.
cans, loafs, and cartons will be talking evil smack to you.
-do not open your cabinets//pantry unless you know exactly what you are going in there for.
cans of tuna will look very appetizing. animal crackers will suddenly entice you.
-do not enter a Walmart or a Walmart parking lot.
rage will enter your bones like never before. you're guaranteed to cross paths with every living idiot.
-do not expect the same level of "can do" in your fitness routines.
it just isn't so. due to low amount of fuel you will need to adjust your routine to your bodies reaction.
-do not praise the heavens if your scale shows you a number you haven't seen in months//years.
weight loss can be temporary. only permanent decisions towards healthy living will deliver permanent weight loss. as some of you commented in this post, a cleanse is only a quick fix to unwanted pounds.


Want to try it? Within these 7 days, I promise you will appreciate food in a different way. You will appreciate the ability to eat as much as you'd like without any guilt or heavy gut. You will appreciate the benefits of eating foods that come box free, bag free. Choosing raw and fresh and cooking with, is a challenge to incorporate into your daily living but it's a rewarding one. Eliminating the idea that everything must be dipped, everything must be wrapped in bread or that bread must be drenched in condiments is a healthier way of being and not as hard as once thought. If you're in a rut, considering a healthier lifestyle,  then yes this cleanse//diet//fast//detox (whatever you call it) is a healthy option for breaking free.


Trying a cleanse for the first time, at a 7 day span was the change I needed. I focused on the good, I focused on my reasons for doing this and not all the "can't haves". I made it through the 7 days and was successful. Success is measured differently for each person. There isn't always some universal spectrum of "you did it and you failed". Each one of us sets our own standards which sets our own spectrum of success. You may not want to reset all of your eating habits. You may just want to loose weight the quick, healthy way.
This cleanse will help you achieve either goal in mind.

Woot! Woot! You made it to the end!!!
:) Thank you for all your support & interest!





Because it's Annie's birthday this month she and a few of us are giving away $80 Target shopping spree!  Get over there and get in on the chances of winning that sucker and wish her a happy birthday too :)
Linking with Just Because, Tell Me Tuesday, Tea on Tuesday, 

She was Stronger than She Knew...

Today I had the pleasure of briefly working with a woman whose walk in life I would never want.
Her presence evoked the question "what has happened to you, who has done you wrong?"
Her reactions to normal everyday occurrences confirmed, she had been severely done wrong.
This woman was traumatized and perhaps even a bit brainwashed into thinking the worse of herself.
Someone had held captive all her dreams and wants, someone had stomped her spirit.
Trapping her in a process of feeling undeserving and incapable.
That someone or someones had done worse than just emotional damage to her.
And, it showed when approached by even a gentle strangers touch.

The steps taken to admit she needed our help had already exhausted her. But together, we worked through some strict anxiety and accomplished the clinical pieces necessary to her appointment. And, surprisingly by appointments end she seemed to carry confidence in the resolute to fix herself.

This woman is battered. Her children are battered. They have survived recent years through the help of a shelter and countless strangers. Prior to this her outlook on life was dim, her faith and strength challenged and broken by ways not even mentionable. Some people would give up or become hardened souls but not her. In everything she is given she proclaims graciousness. She takes nothing for granted. She gives with all she can which is simply an expression.

Receiving her thankfulness was quite moving. Her perception on what is guaranteed or promised in life is vastly different than most. Like the perpetual apologizer she gave thanks repeatedly for what is simply my job. what comes naturally to me. and requires no real skill. Feeling her gratitude was eye opening.

While she may have been struggling with the idea of being "worthy" of someones help, she left me struggling with the notion that I don't give thanks enough.

I want to take the time to be more thankful. More thankful of even the smallest of things.
You never know ones walk in life. You never know when an outreached hand can light up a soul or a simple "thank you" can move a mountain.

I had to share this with you all. The thoughts on that woman and the difference she made in my life are just too good to keep to myself. As much as she felt I had done her good, she has no idea the impression she is leaving on the people she meets. It's a sad story to hear of a battered woman and home. It's heartbreaking the defeat they feel and the potential for that cycle to continue. As weak as she thinks she is people like us know better. We know that she broke free and because of her relentless ways in showing appreciation for even tiniest of matters, she is undoubtedly affecting lives in ways she'll never know.

It's good for us to share stories like this and spread good!
Speaking of good, here's a little fun you can get in on!

The FAB Ms. Shanna rallied up her sponsors this month for another awesome giveaway!
Check out all the beauties participating and enter for a chance to win over $200 worth of goodies!
And don't forget to link up your goals for the month! We're all here for each other :)




Linking with Just Because, Tell Me Tuesday, Tea on Tuesdays, On Your Heart

Update & March Madness {Link UP}

I hope you've had a chance to link up and hop around the Monday Mingling Hop!!!

Just last week I shared two goals for the month of March. I feel really good about the 30in30 challenge, so far I've squeezed in 12 of the 30 miles! And remember the cleanse I told you about? We're done! WoooHooo! Honestly, I can't even express how happy I am with having finished all 7 days. There were some serious moments of temptation. It didn't take much for my mind to wander to foods other than the allowed ones of the day. Our usual food prep for the week has improved drastically and the fridge is overflowing with healthy snacks//deserts. The cleanse had a great effect on all of us. I'm excited to share the details with you later in the week! Meanwhile check out this MADNESS!!

<div align="center"> <a href="http://perceptioniseverything.blogspot.com/2013/03/march-madness.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Perception Is Everything" src="http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg592/PerceptionIsEverything/PIE3/MarchMadness_zps5a29feb3.jpg"/></a></div>

I'm starting to think Janna over at Perception is Everything can read minds. This is all her idea and I love it!
Do you ever feel like you're spinning your wheels? Getting everything done for the day but never really ready for the weeks to come? Janna's idea for March Madness is a fun link-up that will help us hold each other accountable. Simply create a to-do list and share it! It can be anything from fitness to fashion, school to work, home projects to budget challenges. "All that matters is that you tackle something from your list and we'll help you be accountable"! It's just what I need to get my booty in gear with ALL my to-do's!

Today's focus is fitness related.
I'm excited to be in this weeks madness and able to invite you all to join!

March Madness {Fitness} to-do's...
- try a local barre class
- complete my 30in30 challenge
- set a 6 mile PR in preparation for next months 10K
- be at the gym 2-3x's a week focusing on more cardio and weights
- look into fitness certification classes for the summer
- sign up for another spring race

It may seem like a long list but I love my fitness, it's part of my everyday life! During the summer months I add running to my off-nights from the gym but this year I've decided to start early. Running makes a huge difference in my endurance and appearance. I'll also keep working on extending my plank time. I'm back up to 4 minutes! I should probably add a reward to this list. You'll know I believe in rewarding yourself along the way, so I'm adding new running shoes. I need//want them badly. Any suggestions?

With summer lingering at just a few months away, now is the perfect time to create your "fit" to-do list!
If you've already posted one for the month, you can link that up too!

Be sure to visit Perception is Everything and say Hello!! 
Can't wait to see ALL that you have planned for this month :) We'll cheer each other on!

Code for linky tool:

Food for Thought...

I have a sweet tooth. I have a hankering for all salty foods. When I'm stressed or feeling like one of life's puzzle pieces are out of place those cravings come into full effect. So before I get completely lost in the next batch of cookies, box of twizzlers or plate of nachos I am diving head first into a 7 day cleanse.

No, people I am not saying I want to spend the next 7 days stuck in the smallest room of the house. I mean "cleanse" in more of a mental way. I need to cleanse my mind and my taste buds of all things I know better than to indulge in. Typically I eat with the 80/20 ratio in mind. Making majority of my food choices healthy and unprocessed. The other smidgen is open to sweet treats and salty findings.
It's a smart ratio, one that keeps things in balance.

Until I get stressed. I get into a cycle of all or none. I may hit the drive-thru instead of the salad cafe. And not just one day of the week but like 3 days of the week. I might, might just pull up to the speaker and decide to order a salad but then I add the chocolate milkshake and say yes to the 3 cookies for 99 cents. Another way my eating habits change when under stress...is in the other extreme direction. I will keep myself so busy that I completely forget to stop and eat. There are days upon days that I settle back into the home with my family and realize while cooking dinner that I hadn't eaten at all during the day. By the time I sit to eat dinner I am famished and irritable. After eating dinner I feel icky and exhausted. My body is screaming at me for treating it that way.

So what do you call this? Is it considered emotional eating? We hear a lot about emotional eating. It is a problem for many people. Cookie dough and a chic flick is the classic combo for the night after a major breakup. But so is chips and salsa with fishbowl margaritas and a circle of girlfriends. The scenarios of mindless eating when under stress are endless. Can you relate to any of this?

Then we have the days of a "busy bee" attitude when there is no time for food.  You fill your days with so many activities that you've completely forgotten to eat. By bedtime "hangry" has taken over, fatigue has set in and no matter what foods you choose to chew and swallow your body doesn't have the time to truly benefit from any nutritional value it may have held. Anyone recognize with this?

I am guilty of both! And, I guess that's OK. So long as the desire to get back on track is present.
We're human. Life isn't perfect. And nachos and chocolate cake are so damn good.
I believe we're gonna fault. we're going to struggle. we will make bad decisions based on the fact/confusion that we do deserve to enjoy all the yumminess in the kitchen, at the restaurant, the bakery...
So what happens when this isn't just a slip up? When we find bad patterns in our choices?

For me it means I start to lag. I start to feel frustrated. I even decrease my gym time. And if I choose to run my day with a "busy bee" attitude and not stop to eat 'til the kids are in bed....I hit the same wall of frustration and slacking off.

The body can only function properly when it's fed properly. Managing stress becomes even more difficult when turning to poor food choices. People who live strict lifestyles of only unprocessed foods literally become sick to their stomachs after making a bad food choice. A vegetarian wouldn't dare dig a fork into a piece of meat, not just because of their values but also because their body will react negatively as if meat were bad for it. These lifestyles, commitments, and values start somewhere. We each want something better for ourselves. We each have goals. Mine is to stay smart with my food choices and overhaul when I eff up too much.

The mind can only stay strong when it's given the chance to. If you're in a bad cycle of eating all the wrong foods, are stuck in a rut filled with cravings for all things fried, salty and sweet you may want to consider a whole food type of cleanse. If you're dodging meal times and stuffing face at a later hour then thou should, you may want to re-introduce yourself to the healthy food groups and remind yourself of the natural energy given by foods that will help you "do it all".

Notice I'm not promoting weight loss? Weight loss shouldn't be the sole reason for eating healthy. Correcting your eating habits and improving upon them shouldn't be driven by a need to loose weight but by a need to live better. Loosing weight is an important goal. I've had that goal. I respect, support, motivate, and encourage anyone's goal to loose weight. But, the goal of loosing weight may not be enough to sustain the important decision of healthy eating. We must want to eat healthy. We should want to understand what fuels the body and what breaks it down. Understanding the body's system, it's reactions to all things good and bad is a much more convicting notion for such a commitment.

Our bodies are little machines. They are all we have to support our dreams.
We deserve. our families and friends deserve. one that runs well.

1 (my pic)//2 (source)

I choose this cleanse strictly because it has no fluff. It's primary focus is indulgent in all healthy food groups, each to regulate the mind and body. I doubted my decision with this particular cleanse quite a few times. I'd put it on back burner and read up on other cleanses. But I always came back to this. I would rather avoid special concocted drinks and baggies of pills. I would prefer to purchase my cleanse at an actual grocery store. Now this is just me. Just my feelings. I believe in the benefits available through many of the cleanses being advertised right now. But for me and my situation a cleanse that actually focused on food was exactly what I needed to regroup and kill off the sweet, salty, and greasy cravings. The vast popularity of this cleanse  also created doubts, the "too good, to be true" kind of doubts. But again, I am not cleansing in an effort to loose weight. I simply want to dive head first into the apple cart and remind myself of how delicious healthy eating really is. There are 1,000's of reviews on this cleanse. A cleanse that offers you that level of information should be given some heavy thought.

All in all this 7 day plan is a no-brainer. I mean, really. You spend a day on each food group. You eat yourself silly into all fruits one day, veggies the next. And just when you can't pick up another piece of celery...you get to spend the next day choosing between fruits and veggies. The forth day seems a bit like hell. It's an odd day to me. I would have liked to of seen more dairy options, more protein. Days 5, 6, and 7 pretty much allow all healthy foods. It does however restrict you from red meats. The system is set to allow your tract to more easily digest the current days food so it can better work on all the junk you've shoveled in, just days//weeks before. This cleanse (as I found) forces you to think outside of the box. You can only eat so many cut up chunks of fruit or slices of veggies. You must dig a little deeper to  create more satisfying meals from what options you have that day. End result? Sure you may loose a few pounds but you will gain an incredible, strong backbone for warding off nasty cravings. You will give new foods a try out of pure desperation to cure the hunger pang. Most likely you'll realize that eating healthy isn't all hard or boring.

If you find any of this cool....follow my  random tweets or pics on IG. At the end of these 7 days I'll do a total recap. I hope to change just one persons outlook. I hope to encourage just one person away from the vending machine and to their lunchbox of clean eats. And of course, I hope to curb my cravings and learn what other items I could be stocking the fridge and cabinets with, in my home for me and my 3 L's.


Wish us luck!!!
And tell me your thoughts, pretty please!!!
Have you considered a cleanse? emotional eating?

*Thank you for reading this all the way through!
It may seem a bit long but it's important to me to express myself correctly and not offend anyone!
You know I devoted January to creative salad ideas to help promote healthy eating, hopefully the passion here doesn't surprise!



Linking with Just Because, Tell Me Tuesday, Tea on Tuesday, On Your Heart

2 Challenges for March & Weekend Giggles

Dear Monday, I'm ready for you!
Most Mondays are shadowed by the weekend and are a day we'd all like to postpone. But c'mon people....it's a new month, we're entering a new season, and on a personal note, I've got plans for this month that I'm really excited about! But first giggles from the weekend....

best hug EVER  //   funniest face EVER   //   cutest backpack kid EVER!
tots bday party at Fire It Up   //   nieces 12th bday   //   how much chocolate can you fit in your mouth?!
gym time and MomMeHour time   //   totally did some w/o clothes shopping   //   prepping for the cleanse!


family, fun kind of weekend. just the way we like it...well 3 out of 4 times. ha! we do love our nights out.
My sister and her family moved into a new house this weekend, hubs helped with the moving and unpacking. We want to help them as much as possible especially since we'll be living with them this summer until we PCS. so hubs was a little MIA this weekend. Ok, on to the challenges for this month! Want to join me? Anyone? Spring is less than 20 days away!!

30 in 30 Challenge

Run, walk, or bike 30 miles in 30 days.
It's easier than it sounds. Do some simple math and see what would be required from you to meet this challenge. Maybe 3 miles, 10 times. Or 2 miles, 15 times. Even 1 mile, 30 times gets you to your goal of 30. It's up to you but I encourage you to join me! Exercise is necessary. It's a habit worth creating. It requires just 30 minutes of your 1,440 minute day. If you've been thinking about starting a fitness routine this is a great way to ease into fitness and get your bones moving! The button will stay on the blog through this month and I'll be tweeting my distance with #30in30 (along with 100's of other twips) to help remind everyone to stay active and for accountability! my stats: 4of30
read more on 30in30 here

Eat Your Heart Out Cleanse

I'm in the mood for a cleanse. I believe in cleansing. The word itself is beautiful. Who doesn't like the idea of ridding junk from their lives? This past month has put me in a funk. I'm an all or nothing kind of girl, so when I feel myself carrying stress and leaning towards salty, fattening foods I know it's time to reset the mind and body.
Insert - Eat Your Heart Out Cleanse.
I did a fair amount of research to choose my cleanse. Some of you answered my question about your favorite cleanse and I appreciate the help and guidance more than you know. Julie suggested the Advocare 24-day cleanse (herbs, drinks, shakes and vitamins), Liz suggested the Whole30 plan (paleo diet),  Lynette and Kate both suggested the cleanse I ultimately settled on. Many of you expressed interest in doing a cleanse so I really hope you follow along with me this week :)  Plus, I will need all the motivation and cheer I can get!

Lets see if this cleanse can really make a difference. I'm anxious for the challenge. I won't lie, it will suck.
Tonight's dinner felt much like I imagine the "last dinner' did. (obvi exaggeration) and just before bed I wanted to stuff my face with any and all crumbs of chocolate left in the house (not an exaggeration).
But overall, I really am excited. My husband and my oldest have caught onto my excitement for this challenge too. So much so that they have decided to join me! We start Monday and con't for 7 days straight! Follow along this week - I'll be sharing tips on surviving this particular cleanse, tips on how kids can get involved, and much more!


What are your goals for this month?
Hope you feel refreshed from your weekend and ready to tackle another week!


  **the winner of the $250 VISA giveaway is showing :) check here if you'd like to see!
***I'm part of a FAB giveaway hosted by my sweet friend Desirae. Go enter to win....
over $60 worth of products, $200 TARGET gift card and tons, I mean tons of Ad Space!!! Go now!



Linking with YOLO Mondays, Weekend Shenanigans, Miscellany Monday, Monday Meetup

Be Bigger Than The Day You're Living In

First off....
Favorite part of the Grammy Awards ----> Carrie Underwood!!
Do you think she gets chill bumps when she sings? Is it possible to give yourself chill bumps?! The woman is amazingly beautiful and the power packed in her vocals is unbelievable! Amazing. Loved it.
Did you like the way they lit up her dress? What was your favorite part of the Grammy's?

Ok, now back to the scheduled post.....



I've shared this quote with many, I feel it's words are powerful and motivating, I adore it and live by it...
We must always have something in mind that's bigger than the day we're living in....

Setting goals for yourself can be exciting but for some it may cause anxiety.
When setting your goals always be realistic. When being realistic always realize there will be times your goals must be re-evaluated. Life never fails at handing us curve balls. There will be times you doubt your abilities, or you doubt your successes. Remember, everyone starts and ends at a different level, cater your goals accordingly. And be sure to give yourself rewards along the way. Also, give yourself the satisfaction of achieving mini goals within your big goal. Mini goals will guarantee your success.

Spinning off of this....into maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle! oh yes, it's happening, time now!
I feel, you must look at these three things....

Before setting your fitness goals take the time to evaluate where you are within the realm of fitness. Are you coming off a year hiatus? Have you had a recent setback keeping you from your routine? Do you have previous injuries to be considered? Once you are comfortable and honest with your current position - look ahead, way ahead - to where you want to be with your personal fitness level and make that your overall goal. Now that the big picture is drawn up lets map the route to include mini goals...these will be like markers, giving you satisfaction and encouragement to keep going. Your first mini goal could be just overcoming a fear of the gym. Another mini goal could be managing a distance equal to a 5K and then moving on to a 10K, eventually hitting a half marathon.  Short term//mini goals can be as simple as pumping out 25 consecutive sit-ups or holding a 30 second plank with an overall goal of 50 sit-ups and 1 minute planks. One of the best ways to challenge yourself and reach your big goal is to simply 'be more than you were yesterday'. It's that easy. It's worked for me, every time. Bringing out the inner competitor we all own is a driving force to keep us on track to our main goals.

I've said it before, the word diet bothers me. I fear it's use because often times it means "slashing certain foods". I don't mean "diet" in this sense. I say diet, because that's what it is...an overall consumption of foods you choose. Your diet is going to dictate how you feel and what you can do. The rule of thumb is simple...Eat Good, Look Good. Your diet must complement your fitness goals. Think about the time you spend finding the perfect earrings, scarf and purse for a certain outfit...now apply that same principal to your diet, it will complement your fitness goals. Again, mini goals will help you get to the big goal. If you wish to loose 25 pounds by bikini season, set mini goals of 4 pounds per month. Sound attainable? It is. Your diet is the finishing touch on your fitness level, or vice versa, however you see it best. Set mini goals such as shopping from only the perimeter of the grocery store, eating out only once a week, making sure your snacks are healthy choices, always having breakfast, adding more fiber through beans, greens, and wheat, having a daily salad, and setting aside time to make healthy meals. These suggested mini goals will help you find rewards along the route to your personalized diet goal and set you up for healthy habits.

Take a look in the mirror. Now what do you hear? Yes, not see but hear. Are there cries of doubt? The mirror should shout beautiful, encouraging words but many hear just the opposite and this dooms us for failure. Set a goal to applaud yourself when you stand before the mirror. Instead of letting your eyes roll to the subject of annoyance let your eyes meet and say, "Yes, I do approve". Hearing yourself in the mirror will help you find the "self" in self-image and your potential. And, focusing on the good will reinforce the beauty in your image. The more aware you are of the beauty you hold, the more value you carry. And the more valuable you are to yourself, the more capable you are of mighty things and achieving your goals (big and small). Being self aware and self confident brings out a force that is hard to defeat. By inserting this goal of healthy self-image you will get the best out of a healthy, fit lifestyle....looks and performance.

Are you overwhelmed by goals you've set for yourself?
Or maybe you need to set a few more, change things up?

I have goals set within my path to being  fit. I have goals for healthy eating/living. Goals within parenting and in my workplace too. Shooooot, I've even made goals for this blog. I search for my weakest link and sometimes the path I'm on receives dead ends or gets an unforeseen detour. It happens, it's part of life. Life changes and we have to change with it. The worst you can do is not set any goals.


And, don't forget to tell me what you thought of the Grammy's!

*Look familiar? I first posted this as a guest on Pursuit of Pink. I've tweaked it a bit since then but had to share with you all too!!

Linked with YOLO Mondays and Miscellany Mondays

Reward Yourself & Chocolate Banana Smoothie

By now we've all gotten used to writing the year 2013.
Goals and resolutions for the year have been set.
And, we're working hard to meet those goals, right?

Many of us resolved to have healthier, happy, and fit lifestyles this year.
We've dropped beads of heart shaped sweat. We've cut foods from our diet that once delayed our progress and maybe even added a salad or two to our weekly meal plans ;) We've made a plan and followed through, making huge progress on what was just a dream 30 days ago.

So with one month down...you can look back and see what has and hasn't worked for you. Was anything missing from the plan? In the scheme of creating the perfect plan, often times, we forget to outline a list of rewards. There's no good reason to not reward ourselves.

Adding rewards to your plan will keep it fun! The more fun you're having, the more likely you'll keep it up!

*If you've lost weight you're probably noticing your pants and tops fitting poorly.
Head out shopping! Try the style you've pinned so many times and rock it :)

*If you've ran miles this month you're feet are sore puppies. Schedule an appointment for a well deserved mani/pedi. Soak up the lotions and the time of pampering :) 

*If you've lifted heavy you've most likely experienced sore muscles. Let someone roll out the knots and unkink the spasms. Close your eyes and drift far way as the muscles relax and loosen :) 

*When you're looking in the mirror do you see a new face? All that weight loss and improved self esteem may have you ready for a day in the salon :)

*Noticed all the bright, eye catching sports gear and attire? It might be time to reward yourself with new workout clothes or free weights and other gear for the home. You've undoubtedly learned new moves and routines, why not try a few at home?!

*For the lucky ones, this reward may get as big as planning a vacation! If that includes you, go for it! Grab your favorite suit and get your vacay on :)

Sometimes without thinking, we automatically apply the word "reward" to food. Oh, this cookie is my reward, or this 500 calorie latte is my reward and duh, this second slice of cake is my reward. I am sooooo not talking about these kind of rewards. In fact, these kind of rewards can leave us with guilt and uneasy feelings. These rewards can even send us down the wrong path. But if we must go there....food as a reward...let me share with you one of my favorite smoothie recipes!

Chocolate Banana Smoothie - loaded with protein!

Blend in blender....
1 c. Almond Milk
1 scoop chocolate protein
1 banana, cinnamon and some ice!

All that you've accomplished in the last 30 days is amazingly beneficial your system, inside and out. Reward yourself. There is no reason to wait. We humans live for appreciation, why not give a little to ourselves? You'll find that the goals of February will be that much more attainable :)

Do you reward yourself? 
How do you "treat" yourself after a hard work out?

P.S. If you're wanting yet another way to reward yourself enter one of these giveaways, I'm participating in here and here!

Fitness links .... Fitness Fridays

 

I've linked with YOLO Mondays, Monday Meetup, Miscellany Mondays, Love my Online Friends, Tell Me Tuesday, and the wonderful Desire to Inspire

You know you're a RUNNER when...

How do you know you're a runner? 

Is it the fancy decal proudly rubbed onto your back windshield? Or the magnet clinging to your bumper that declares you a runner? Perhaps it's the tread on your well traveled running shoes....
Wonder what makes a runner and how to be one?

Here's how...
Find the nearest exit...open the door and walk out. When it slams shut, take a deep breath and start your run. Run as far as you can. Run at your pace. Stop when you want. Then, look back to where you came from and smile. Pat yourself on the back and own that new title. You are now a runner.

Tips for running...

Create playlist. Music will keep you moving. Music will motivate you. It will renew you, better your pace and help set time limits on your run.

Practice intervals. Running doesn't always mean a consistent pace of jogging. If you're training for distance don't just assume long runs will get you there. There's power in intervals. Sprint straightaways and jog curves. Sprint every other light post, mail box, street sign, mile. Make running fun for you.

Learn to breathe. Find your rhythm. Inhale through nose, exhale through mouth. Continue this method through the entire run. Slowing down your pace when needed. This will prevent and calm cramps.

Dress right. Choose layers for colder temps and wrap them at waist when you warm up. Invest in arm bands for iPods, keys, Chapstick. Find a water bottle (similar to mine). Choose breathable, dry-fit styled clothing. Pull hair back. And, of course, pamper your feetsies with proper soles.

Stretch. Every runner knows that function means speed. Every runner also knows that some runs will lead to more soreness and stiffness than others. It is of utmost importance to warm-up/cool-down and include stretches. Stretching at the end of your run will ensure that you maintain correct posture and form, enabling speed and light-footed grace. View this video for one of my favorite stretches and more tips.

Find accountability. If running alone, track your progress privately or through social media apps, tell others your story or find a training team and/or run with buddies. Talking about what you're doing will give you the upper hand and reinforce all that you've accomplished.

Pride yourself. Whether you ran one mile or five, one street or an endless country road....you ran. No one can argue "a body in motion". Praise yourself and commit to doing it again.
Find a decal and rock it. Sign up for a race, I do! All runners will agree that the feeling during a race and at its finish line is so very liberating. Being a part of a running crowd does wonders for your soul and future runs.

Do it again. Your first run may seem like a fail. It's not. Re-read this if you still think it is. Give yourself time. It takes time to feel your own rhythm. Stick it out. There's nothing bad about your first run. Well...only if you make it your last run.

Remember when you're on that open road...it's your road, your run. Create your course and wear blinders. Give no worries to passer-by's - they have no clue how far you've gone or how fast/slow you're going. The same applies to treadmill runners. If you're in the gym, surrounded by other runners...keep on, getting on. Incline, decline, speed up, slow down. You are in control of your run. And, if you fear the gym, read this.

So there. That's how you know you're a runner. If you haven't yet, give it a try. Each of us respond differently to exercise. You may love every minute of your second and third mile but hate the first. You may love the first mile but feel like death on the second. Try new things as you experiment with what kind of runner you are. The one and only thing we all have in common is the want to start and really, never finish.


My healthy living goals are simple  !be better than the day before! I really believe in the simplicity is this goal.


Tag! You're it! Any of these tips helpful? What other tips can you add to this list?

also linking with Brittany and Misty for Getting Fit Friday
AND Fitness Friday hosted by Kelly at Honor, Courage and Commitment
YOLO Mondays, GFC Monday Hop, Monday Meetup, Tell Me About It Tuesday!