34 weeks Pregnancy Fitness

I'm trying to figure out a way to get my Tumblr blog to feed directly to here or at least for IG to feed here. Blogspot is a new platform for me.

This is almost three weeks behind (I'm 36 + 2 now) and I will try to catch up with my blogging. Anyhow, I had a great workout on this day. I killed my arms and upper back. I've been really trying to focus on maintaining my upper body strength while pregnant. I tell you what, as these final weeks approach exhaustion is kicking my ass. So try as I may to make an agenda to workout and/or lift multiple times a weeks, I must listen to my body if it tells me enough is enough.

Thus far, I have gained roughly 24lbs total. My goal was no more than 30, so I'm pretty sure that I'll be pretty close to that if this little guy makes it until the 20th of October.

Running While Pregnant at 34 weeks

(This is a late post)

WOD: I actually ran 3.5mi but my app crashed on me while I was running :( 50 lunges, 4x25 sumo squats & 40 push ups all while outside.

I'm pretty obsessed with incorporating some form of toning, strength training exercise into my running. It helps to break up the monotony of my run. I ran completely bare belly (my favorite) stretch marks and all. It's always funny the looks that people give a pregnant woman while she is running. Almost as if I'm doing something wrong. In fact, I am doing something that will prepare my body to endure this process. Did I mention that I'm trying to go au naturale? Pray for me now.

I have no clue what labor feels like, but I am mentally preparing for it as I have my half marathons in the past. Realizing that it's just as much mental as it is physical, staying active and having a support team that's aware of my goals.  

*Allow me to preface this by first stating that there is NOTHING impressive about my speed as a runner. I am a novice distance runner and my goal is to mentally prepare for the distance. Once I drop this little one, I plan to really push myself to break 10:30/mi. But for now, I just want to finish without stopping. *

I remember being so intimidated by the race, similar to how I feel about the birthing process today. I would read training blogs and try to not allow myself to compare their results to my own, but it was a complete waste. I have never been someone who gets worried or overly concerned with things. Knowledge has always empowered me. It's been my mental tool box when I hit a rut in the road and have no clue how to overcome it. I default to someone's personal story that resonated with me or I recall a step-by-step to finishing the goal. Through pregnancy, I have been trying to research natural birthing experiences. Given, we all have a different threshold for pain, but at least I can see what they pulled from their reserve tank in order to stay focused on their goal.

Pregnant Running & What I Ate Thursday

This baby has been so cooperative for the majority of my runs. I really believe that he's going to come out wearing Brooks. So long as I have a decent amount of calories in my system about 30 minutes prior to the run, I am G2G. If not, I'll likely be calling the hubby for backup.

This was one of my faster pregnancy runs. I was so close to breaking 11mins/mile. My damn RunStar app kept closing me out. I actually ran 2.5mi.  My goal speed is 10:15. That's not that fast, but it is fast for me. I think it's important to aim for personal bests and not compare myself to other runners. I'm still relatively new to this distance thing AND I have a bum knee that will give out if I push too hard.

One of my favorite go to breakfasts consists of boiled eggs, fruit (usually grapes or a banana), toast (plain or with peanut butter) and some OJ or apple juice. I almost always have chocolate milk for an immediate post-run snack, today I had Ensure.

Ensure caters to my inner old lady.

I love the Dark Chocolate, but I can NEVER find it. Drives me insane. But the milk chocolate is still pretty awesome.

I'm already fantasizing about replacing this with my avocado toast. Mmm...

Healthy Food Obsession: Avocado Toast

I have been wanting to try avocado toast since I saw Monica from Run Eat Repeat devour eat many moons ago. I just forget to use my avocado for this reason whenever I buy them. I usually use it for eggs or a salad, but I remembered today! (Thanks to the midnight pregnancy cravings for it.)

Really simple stuff. I used wheat toast and drizzled some olive oil on it. Smashed up half of an avocado and added some salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Mmm...

It was everything that I hoped it to be. Everything. I can't wait to wake up in the morning and eat it again before my run.

Try it!

Does changing your last name mean losing your identity once you're married?

on July 19th, after almost 2,350 days of dating - or seven years (most of which have been living together) - I have finally welcomed a new title, 'wife.'

This feat has been a long time coming for my guy. He has proposed to me more than I can count. Although he is amazing, my greatest supporter and best friend, I have just always dismissed the idea due to a very specific set of personal reasons like completing my BA, starting a career and getting out of debt. In other word, I wanted to establish who I was and what made me happy BEFORE I committed to making him happy. I thought that I had to have everything about myself figured out before I was committed to him.

I've always been on the fence about changing my name also. If I googled myself, I get to see the virtual evolution of who I am. I can easily establish myself as a person. However, changing my name would mean erasing all of that. Leaving it all behind. That scared the shit out of me. So i have always said that the man that i decided to marry would have to accept that I would fall into that 13 percent of women who kept their maiden name.

Advise to my HS Self

I submitted an essay for a scholarship today and it was centered around the idea of advise to the younger you. I have written a previous blog post about advise to my future self, which I will happily share here one day. But I've never reflected on what I would tell my younger self.

Here's what I think, in less than 200 words:

If i could speak to my HS self, I would tell her three key words: take your time. You have the rest of your life to rush to fit into a cateogory. Focus on finding out the young person whom you are becoming and falling in love with her. Nothing in the world could ever make you happier than loving the person staring back at you in the mirror.

Be young. Make mistakes. Change paths. Pursue options. Dance, don't just sit and watch everyone else have fun. Just be in the moment. You will never get these moments again and life will happen to you one day. Happen to life today.

You will have the rest of your life to be accountable for the mistakes that you make. So make them wisely now. Regret is something that you so not won't to truly understand the definition of.

Fourth of July Pregnant Run

I was so excited with this run. It was the longest that I've run since I've been confirmed pregnant. I made a NY resolution to run a half marathon every month this year. I remember my first, Jan. 19, was so amazing. I went to lunch with an old military friend the next day and I remember saying 'girl, I'm pregnant."
Never have I ever had an reason in the past to assume that I was, let alone tell someone else. But that run felt so different. A few weeks later I ran my second race. The third was scheduled to follow a weekend after my three-day cruise to the Bahamas. Right before we departed, I decided to take a pregnancy test. Boom. In clear pink lines it read "PREGNANT."
I couldn't believe it, so I rushed to Walgreens (at 10pm, mind you) and bought four more.
There was no denying that my suspicions were true and I had a little bambino in my tummy.
But that was in March and I haven't quite been able to get back to completing five miles until about a week ago.
This run, I felt amazing.
Mr. Grey didn't give me any problems, my knee felt great and it was pretty cool outside. I did get caught in a heavy downpour for about a mile, but even that felt motivating.
My post meal snack was some chocolate milk. I've become obsessed with having a glass after a strong run.

Today, was a special day because we finally put a face to Mr. Grey. Here's my little man:

Mr. Grey smiling for the camera

Why I Became a Beachbody Coach!

I am so excited. It's the driving force behind this blog.

I became a Beachbody Coach because I really wanted to take control of my lifestyle. I have always been a pretty active person. I spent the bulk of my life as a sprinter. I have always had this competitive, fiercely courageous attitude about myself and life.

And then I just became really burnt out and bored.

So what did I do in my small city of Lima, OH shortly after leaving college early? I joined the military. Yep! I spent a nice portion of my early twenties in the United States Air Force (both active and Air National Guard). I was very fortunate as a Logistics Specialist-fancy word for desk job-to travel to Korea, Japan and a handful of different hubs in the USA.
I wasn't necessarily thrilled about my job, but I loved being able to travel often. I'm definitely a 'what's next?' kind of girl.
So, I separated from the USAF-AD on a whim. I was in Korea with an assignment to North Dakota and I was focused on challenging myself to do something new. I wanted to challenge myself to step outside of my comfort zone and evolve. So with no money, car or job lined up, I was honorably discharged from the USAF in SOUTH KOREA. All I had was $800 and a lot of faith that lead me to Charleston, SC where I currently reside.
Fast forward a few years, I graduated with my BA from the College of Charleston a few short years later. Armed with that degree, I abandoned the juvenile idea of pursuing a fitness career or becoming a business owner. It wasn't realistic. I allowed so many people to speak that into my life that even I began to believe. I thought that it was time to 'grow up', stabilize and find a good-paying job with benefits. You know, the adult life.

It didn't take long for me to realize how miserable I was doing the 45-hour desk job, while STILL barely living above broke (disclaimer: I still work full-time). There is nothing more depressing than working your butt off JUST to pay bills. No vacation, no new shoes and rarely eating out. It's miserable. It also led me to eating my stress away and finding every excuse to not workout.

Me in May 2010

I was the heavist that I had bene my entire life. I realize that to some this is still not heavy; however, I am 5'5." In this picture, I weighed 160lbs.
And then there was Insanity. Oh, Shaun T. That amazing man brought out something in me that I forgot all about: drive.
So I purchased Insanity and within four weeks I went from that to this:

Me in July 2010

 This was the first few weeks. I wasn't able to complete the full cycle that Summer; however, in 2012 I completed it (with some strength training). In the above picture I lost only four pounds, but you see a big difference. In the below picture, I lost about 12 but I gained muscle and felt so powerful. The transformation that you see below was after only two months of daily training. TWO MONTHS!
See here:

Don't you just love Instagram?!

Me in Summer 2013? Instead of flexing my abs, I'm flexing my uterus. :O I'm currently six months pregnant, but i have maintained a healthy weight, I still weight training, complete a reduced  intensity WOD with Insanity and run a few miles a day.
Having a bouncing baby boy in my belly brought me back to my dreams for myself and passion for fitness. Being pregnant has made me realize how fast life goes and how important it is to be true to yourself. With that said, I decided to start studying to become a NASM personal trainer and decided to become a Beachbody Coach while doing so.
I am so excited that I can't contain myself. For the first time in years, I feel like that fiercely courageous girl again. This girl is truly on fire again and I cannot wait to share my journey with you. Me why is easy: I became a Beachbody Coach because I need to prove my self worth to myself again. I need to be a fitness coach and help people (like you!) to achieve their strongest moments also.

Why We Chose Beachbody

• Beachbody is a highly reputable company with products featured on news media, in magazines, on talk shows, used by celeb’s, etc.
• Unlike many other products, Beachbody’s programs are always in demand. People are always going to want to lose weight and get healthy, and Beachbody is continually updating their product line.
• No pressure to make sales or pressure to increase to a rank. If you want to work it great, if not or not right now, that’s cool too–Enjoy the discounts!
• Free trainings, webinars, conference calls you can attend if you want to learn to be successful.
• I’d be your mentor, so any questions or struggles you have, I’m here to help!
• No stocking of product, or shipping products, or dealing with customer service issues.
• No need for home parties (unless you want to, but that’s not necessary for success…I’ve never even done one!)
• A HUGE support system from other coaches online!! You will feel like you have a whole new family!

If you are interested in becoming a coach, you can email me at runstretchshake@gmail.com or visit my website here

I'm really looking forward to being 100% honest with myself. Are you?!

Running While Pregnant and Barring It All

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I decided to embrace the bump and run completely bare belly yesterday. It was a nice out, but pretty hot. My pregnancy temperament was not in the mood to entertain a sweaty, tight tank top either. It took me about an hour to completely sell myself on the idea. I probably looked in the mirror, second guessing myself, about 20 times.
And then I thought, whatever. This could possibly be one of the last times that I get to enjoy this phase of my life. Why not embrace it? I am officially in my sixth month and just two weeks shy of my third trimester. We are headed for the home stretch. Now is not the time to worry what people will think about how I look. Now is the time for me to fully embrace and enjoy myself. So, yea, I had to give the belly a high five for confidence.  Even more awesome: I ran in a public park while the community Farmer's Market was going on. So many people gave me great compliments about how great I looked. Yae!

It has taken me about a month to finally be able to run five miles again due Braxton Hicks, Round ligament pain or just being flat out too dizzy. But I FINAALY did it. I've also realized that running with a belly means not watching the clock so often, which is really hard to do. It's not the time to push myself to a faster pace.

Funny thing (possible TMI moment): I have always been that runner who needs an immediate bathroom break after the first mile. I mean immediate. I don't have more than a five-minute grace period before I land in the danger zone. But being pregnant, it's a necessity to not only stop after mile one, but almost every other mile to relieve the pressure on my bladder. I think Mr. Grey (our affectionate nickname for our anonymous little boy) loves the motion of running. I know he's going to come out with running shoes for feet. 

Prerun fuel is also really important. I have been diagnosed with anemia since the bump and my sugar levels can drop at a moments notice. So making sure I have the right fuel in my tank before I get on the open road will make or break me. My typical go to meal before a run: wheat bread with natural peanut butter and honey, a banana and some low-sugar apple juice.

I had such a good time. Cannot wait to do it again, bugger and longer.

Have you let the belly hang out in public yet?

Orange Chicken Kabob Recipe (courtesy of SarahFit)

This is one of my absolute favorite recipes for the weeks. The lovely SarahFit I think it's going on our Fourth of July menu this year. So tasty and volumes of food and amazing flavor.

Orange Chicken Kabob Recipe

APRIL 12, 2011 · 0 COMMENTS

Do you tend to over indulge on the weekend?  If so, you are in good company.  For this reason, I opt to do my “long” workouts on Monday or Tuesday if possible.  If you did not do a long cardio session yesterday, I highly recommend you do it today in order to burn up the extra calories consumed over the weekend before they get stored somewhere more permanently.  

Here is the workout I did yesterday but feel free to modify for your fitness level:  

• 20 minutes: Easy Warm Up Run (HR 75-80%)
• 1 minute: Run Very Fast (HR 90%)
• 1 minute: Walk (Recover)
• Repeat 10x for a total of 20 minutes
• 10 minute: Easy Cool Down Run (I still wasn’t home and walked the last 5-10 minutes)

When I got home, boy was I thirsty and hungry!  I modified a delicious recipe from the May issue of Real Simple.  

I made Orange Kabobs with grilled zucchini and sweet potatoes.  To make the chicken here is the recipe I used:

• 1 lb Chicken Tenderloins
• 1 Navel Orange (Cut into 10-16 pieces)
• 1/2 Onion (Real Simple says red onion but I didn’t have any so I used vidalia)
• 1/2 tsp of Cumin
• 1/4 tsp of Cayenne
• 1/4 tsp of Pepper
• 1/2 tsp of Salt
• 1 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Cut up chicken, orange and onion.  In a large bowl mix the spices and olive oil.  Toss together allingredients.  Thread pieces of chicken, orange and onion onto skeweralternating.  I used metal but if you use wooden sticks make sure you soak them in water for at least 20 minutes.  Spray grill with Olive Oil or other cooking spray to avoid chicken from sticking to the grill rack.  

Cook on medium for about 12-16 minutes.  Make sure the middle pieces of chicken get cooked.  Enjoy with favorite grilled veggie and sweet potato or corn for a perfect warm weather dinner!

Pregnancy: Being Out of Control of Your Body

Have you ever read those pregnancy books or blogs raving about how amazing it feels to be pregnant? The glowing skin, thicker hair and just constant joy. Boy, have those books lied to most of us.

Now, don't get me wrong. A lot of women are fortunate to have a lovely, issue-free pregnancy. 

Me, not so much. 

I've been lucky to not have to deal with morning sickness whatsoever, but I've struggled with losing control over my body.

Let me backtrack for  a second. I was a stick figure when I went through puberty at 13. I was blessed with working ovaries, a pear shape and complimentary stretch marks. These little devils have made me so self-conscious that I made a lot of decisions from the fear of someone seeing them (post on that later). With that said, I figured if I couldn't control my skin then I could control my shape. I was always an athlete, but I grew a greater connection to strength training and running. Running was my saving grace. It acted as my outlet or safe haven. I've been a runner since the age of five. It's in my DNA. In January, I decided to run a half marathon every month this year. 

I made it to two before I found out I was expecting. Not quite the goal I had in mind. 

Well, this little boy in my tummy had other plans. I am too dizzy most days to walk a mile, let alone run it. I know it sounds mundane, but running has been the source of my confidence for as long as I could remember. Seeing this alien-like shape to my body hasn't really affected me as much as not being in control of my body.It's affecting my energy, confidence and happiness. I will shamelessly admit this because I feel like there are more women out there with the similar feelings. 

So what do you do?

Accept the current you

Accepting the challenges of the person you are today doesn't mean that you're not willing to work toward the person you need to be tomorrow. It just means that you are allowing yourself to embrace your vulnerabilities.

Don't get discouraged

I have been in pain almost everyday that I've attempted to make my weekly runs. I've stopped and walked more often that I've run. I've had to adjust my workout goal according to how I felt that day. It sucked. I cried. But I didn't quit.

Redefine control

Instead of freaking out about the many sacrifices that come along with your new body, redefine what your in control of. I control my eating habits. I'm trying to get my stress levels under wrap. I control the way style which compliments the new alien body.

Don't lose sight of yourself

My greatest fear about having a baby or being married was never the commitment. It's always been that I would allow myself to slip away. Although I cannot completely enjoy my love of running and strength training, I still follow my fitness blogs and interact with my fitness group.

Pregnancy is not an excuse to abandon your goals. Consider it fuel to the fire. 

My Life List (inspired by Carrots 'n Cake)

There's something magical about FINALLY deciding to take control of your life. It makes you want to scream it through the rooftop,'I finally got my act together!' But what's more important after this realization? Accountability. It's so easy to get wrapped up with the rush that comes along with change that you forget to main the momentum. I tell my friends often that when you find the height of that rush, bottle it up and keep in your back pocket on reserve. You will need it!

I was so inspired by Carrots 'n Cake Life List  and wanted to do one myself. I hope and pray that I can look back a year from today and realize that more than half of this list has been accomplished. I definitely want to expand upon this list in due time. Here we go:

1. Visit Vegas
2. Get married
3. Fly first class
4. Complete a marathon
5. Complete a 14-day cleanse
6. Cut off my hair -again
7. Compete in a figure competition
8. See Beyonce in concert
9. Write a letter to the President
10. Pay off my credit card debt
11. Go to Disneyland
12. Visit three new states
13. Go camping
14. Zipline
15. Spend an entire day with a stranger
16. Earn $120/week as a beachbody Coach
17. Earn $250/week as a beachbody Coach
18. Earn $500/week as a beachbody Coach
19. Pass the NASM CPT Exam
20. Gain 10k views on blog
21. Lose baby weight
22. Get to goal weight of 125lbs
25. Attend a yoga retreat
26. Send Corrie to a major Miami Dolphin's Game
27. Quit my job
28. Get a new tattoo
29. 30 half/full marathons by 30
30. Welcome a healthy baby

This is into a static list and will continue to be edited as I see fit. I'm so excited to get on this journey. I cannot wait to look back 365 days from now and smile because I KNOW that I was working toward my joy.

What's on your list?

13 Daily Diet Habits to Help You Lose Weight

(This is a post from the Healthy Tips to Help You Succeed from the Healthy Living page make sure you don’t miss any of the posts by subscribing to the right!)

Healthy diet habits are created each day, and once you establish them they will become second nature! Here are my top daily habits that can add up to 7 years to your life!

Top Daily Diet Habits

Always Eat Breakfast! (Oats + Flaxseed & Berries)

1. Use the 90/10 Rule (plan for a free day, 1-2 free meals, and/or a day of rest)
2. Drink at least half your body weight (in ounces) of water
3. Eat 5 times a day (3 meals, 2 protein based snacks) 3-4 hours apart.(check out my meal plans)
4. Aim for a larger breakfast, a protein-based dinner, and limit simple carbs (fruit/dairy) in the morning
5. No eating after 9 pm or 3 hours before bed
6. Get your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes (find a workout for you)
7.  Don’t skip meals.
8. Eat lean proteins with every meal.
9. Watch Portions (size of your palm)
10. Sleep between 10pm – 6am or 7-8 hours each night on a schedule
11. Limit whole grains and natural starches; load up on fibrous carbs.
12. Manage Macronutrients: People who are apple shaped and can put on muscle (endomorphs) need 40-50% carbs, 30% protein, 20-30% fat. (1350-1400 calories)
13.  Avoid Stress…take time for you, say no to the good and yes to the great, and rid yourself of negative people!