Gone Green.

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Gone Green: the healthy way.

Today I have decided to link up with Gussy's Inspiration Workshop & taking my own twist on today's prompt: Green.

A few days ago I asked you to join with me in taking the challenge to drink HALF your weight in ounces of water the month of July, everyday. To join in on the challenge you must print off a July calendar & simply highlight everyday you accomplish the task. See the challenge post here. When the month is over send me your calendar via email or mail & this will enter you into an EXTRA GIVE-A-WAY for the month of August! 

Because today's prompt was green I decided to go with a green filtered water bottle. It's not only a green water bottle but also says "go green" by it having it's own filter to save on having to buy multiple plastic water bottles. It is a great way to help you meet your challenge! 

See yesterday's run here.

Today's Tip: Start your day by drinking a glass of water first thing when you wake up. This will help you not only reach your water intake for the day but also help with your appetite!

Go green today in more ways than one! 

Hope you are inspired to rise to the challenge!

Inspiration.

Today's post is a little different... Todays topic: Inspiration.

I have a deep desire to share with other women about true self-worth in which I am learning everyday. I have a desire to encourage women to live a healthy lifestyle that glorifies God. I have a deep desire to be authentic & yet inspiring. 

About 3 years ago God laid on my heart a passion that is developing more & more each day. Along with that passion he gave me the desire to want to put it in writing. Today, I long to put words into sentences that fit nicely onto pages of a book. I long for women to find that when they flip through the pages they are not only seeing the real me but they are inspired by the words neatly put in order for a purpose. 

I have no idea where I will start or what the next step will look like, however, I do know God is shaping me in order to make this burden on my heart real. I am overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, excitement, joy, & I am extremely humbled. God is revealing things that are somewhat yucky yet useful. Humbling yet exalting. 

I am inspired to inspire.

What are you inspired to do?

p.s. I will continue to update you on the steps I am taking in order to fulfill this desire.

Are you up for a challenge?

Staying hydrated.

The Arizona heat is miserable. During the day you just want to stay inside in the cool air conditioning. The evenings actually feel pretty good most of the time, however, it's still pretty warm. It is so easily to get dehydrated. I remember one specific time a few Spring Trainings ago when I had been getting out & running every morning after taking Jeremy to the field. You could have called me a diet coke junky at the time. I'd rather drink 3 of those than 1 glass of water, however, I did drink it while working out. After my run one morning Jeremy, Drew, & I had gone to the mall to pick up our dog, Ace. I was in such a hurry after my run that I didn't drink hardly anything. I simply hopped in the shower & off we went. While filling out paper work on Ace I started to get real sick... dehydration. I got so sick I almost fainted & luckily the boys got me a candy bar & a really large water to help the dizziness. Let's just say I learned my lesson the hard way & I hope that you will learn from my experience. I got a long lecture the whole way home from those two. When you get thirsty it is too late... dehydration is setting in. 

It is so important to stay hydrated whether you live in beautiful weather like San Diego or the desert of Arizona. Drinking half your weight in ounces of water will not only help you stay properly hydrated but studies have shown it will also help with aging, skin, weight loss, & even a healthier smile. 

I want to challenge you. I want you to print off a calendar of the month of July & for one month I want you to highlight each day you drink half your weight in ounces of water. If you complete the challenge I would like for you to send it to me: mail or you can scan it in your computer & email it to me. This will enter you into an extra surprise drawing for the month of August. 

I believe if you lack in other areas of your diet this is one you must not ignore! :) Let's just say I have conquered my Diet Coke syndrome & drink my water. 

(I still have one here & there as a treat)

Are you up for the challenge?! If so, comment & let me know so I can help hold you accountable! I am taking on the challenge too!

Drink up!

Consistency.

Consistency: 

*steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc.

Consistency is one of the most important things you can form in your daily life. I think so many times especially as women we tend to want to see results immediately after starting a workout plan & if we don't we find ourselves frustrated. Therefore, we stop the workout routine because we simply think "it's just not working". Well, allow me to let you in on a little advice: BE CONSISTENT. Don't give up after your first day, week, month, or even few months. In time your results will start to unfold & my friend you will be pleased you stuck with it! It takes time for your body to change.  

I remember how I felt right after having Jace. It was so hard to get back into the routine of workouts & build my strength back up. I could barely do one real push-up. I knew that if I would just stick with it I would look back with a smile on my face & I would have reached my goals. I remember thinking how easy it would be just to stop making those drives to Broken Arrow, Ok 3x/week just to get my rear kicked at Miranda's workouts but for some reason I never seemed to miss a class. Oh, I am so thankful I didn't. 

I remember deciding to really dig into the world of running. I set huge goals for myself after finishing my first 5k (post baby). Training for the half marathon took tremendous consistency in my running schedule. It was daily. Those early mornings when my alarm would go off at 4:30 a.m. Jeremy would hear me say "I am so tired... I could just stay here & sleep... pause... nope! I've got to stick with this! I will see you after I run"... then off I would go. Those mornings were the hardest (especially when it was freezing outside). Oh, I am so thankful I went.

Those mornings were tough along with the workouts with Miranda but I am so thankful I stuck with them. The training for this marathon is going to be tricky with our schedules but I am focused on staying consistent. There are days like today when I almost talked myself out of it but I remembered how I would feel knowing I didn't get out there to run. No excuses. My today affects my tomorrow. Everyday. 4 miles will become 8 which becomes 13 then 20 then before you know it's time for the marathon. Daily workouts become lifelong healthy changes. Oh, I will be so thankful I went for it!

Don't get wrapped up in the results today just get out there today. Keep your eye on the prize. Press on toward your goals, everyday.

Today's tip:  It takes 30 days to create a habit & only 3 to break one.

Read this often to remind you to stay consistent & to create good habits:

The Habit Poem

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to

failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half of the things you do you might as well turn

over to me and I will do them - quickly and

correctly.

I am easily managed - you must be firm with me.

Show me exactly how you want something done

and after a few lessons, I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of great people,

and alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine though

I work with the precision of a machine

plus the intelligence of a person.

You may run me for profit or run me for ruin -

it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and

I will place the world at your feet.

Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I? I am Habit.

See today's evening run here.

Stay focused. Stay determined. Stay disciplined. Stay consistent. 

This my friend will bring you great results.

 Oh, how you will be so thankful you stuck with it!

Small Shifts.

Making the day to day changes can turn into reaching life long goals.

I have had to make a lot of changes just in the past few years of my life.... some were easy & some were not so easy. I believe change can be good as long as we look at it as for the good. Not only have I had to make changes in my life in general, but in my health as well. This becomes a daily choice. 

Today as I was running in 100 degree weather at 7 a.m. this morning I began to realize that my body was not handling the heat very well & almost to the point of getting sick. Thankfully I did not get sick, however, I knew this was a sign I needed to change my routine. I am going to have to change my alarm to an earlier time to get some cool running weather. This might not seem like a big change to most but if you know my schedule you know this could get tricky. You see, we don't get home until 10:30 every night & usually get to bed if we are lucky by midnight. This means 5:30 a.m. comes really fast at our house. If I want to reach the goals I have set for myself I am going to have to make the little sacrifices each day in order to get there. 

I am going to stay home from the baseball games (unless Jeremy is pitching) the night before my long runs & get the proper rest my body needs in order to get up at 5:30 a.m. Getting proper rest is key in any training program. This is just a small shift towards a big goal.

What small shifts are you making to reach your goals? Making changes can be good. Create a new habit this week & see how it affects your life! 

Make small shifts today.

See today's 5 mile run here.

Today's Tip: It is important to get your rest. Did you know that if you are struggling with weight loss & energy levels that lack of sleep can be the hold up on your progress? Did you know you burn calories while sleeping?!? Make sure to have a plan to set a bed time for your whole family. Allow yourself to get a solid 7-8 hours of sleep minimum each night. You will be shocked at how different you feel in your workouts & throughout your day. Get your REST & BURN CALORIES!

Pilates.

Pilates.

See today's workout here.

Today is a day for cross training. I am in the process of starting the Asylum workouts for my cross training days but until then I will mix it up on my own. Today is pilates.

Jace is down for a nap, music is on, & to the living room floor I go for a good workout! It is always nice to mix things up a bit. Trust me, it isn't as much fun doing it by myself. I would much rather have a full class to lead it with instead of being alone. Looking forward to starting up all my classes again in the fall! I have really missed all my ladies back in Oklahoma! 

If you are training for a race what is your favorite cross training routine? I would love to hear!

Today's tip: Here is a great Post-Workout Shake! Enjoy!

Pineapple Strawberry Shake

Amanda Carlson-Phillips May 3, 2010

See full recipe here.


Do something different today!

My Motivation-My Why.

My Motivation-My Why: My family.

What gets me up willingly in the morning to run? -my boys.

What motivates me to eat broccoli & carrots? -my boys.

What makes me choose water over diet coke 95% of the time? -my boys.

What makes me want to run just a little bit harder or to conquer that crazy hill? -my boys.

What gets me excited about walks to the grocery store instead of driving? -my boys.

You ask what keeps me focused, energized, & determined? -my boys.

My little family & their cheerful, accountable, smiling faces are what keeps me going every single day. They are what makes me want to be a more Godly, healthy, selfless woman. I couldn't do it without them!

My question is for you... what motivates you? What is your why? What keeps you going when you want to back out? 

Would love to hear! Comment on todays post & tell me your WHY.

Click here to see today's run. 

Today's tip: Go to this map to plan your next run! It's a great resource! Remember! If you fail to plan, you plan to fail! Plan your run/workout the night before so you have NO excuses to get it done!

*Come back the first Monday of July to get the chance to win an awesome give-a-way!

Get out there today & go for it! What's stopping you?