Friday Five: Summer Edition {Link up!}

I’m so excited as this is the first link up with the wonderful ladies of the DC Trifecta– Cynthia, Mar, and Courtney!!

Screen Shot 2014-06-06 at 9.17.23 AM

If you haven’t checked out these ladies, you should! Each Friday these three host a link up with a different theme–all fun, all awesome. Why I’ve waited til now to join? No idea.

This Friday’s theme is:

5 Things I Will Do This Summer

Here goes!

(in no particular order)

1. Marine Corps Marathon Training Starts!!

Marine Corps Marathon here I come!!!

Marine Corps Marathon here I come!!!

Yes, I’m actually really excited about this. I’m a schedule girl and love having something on the radar to look forward to. I’ve also recently started reading this

10436682_712169895513981_9220745449183860913_n

and will decide if it’s something I’ll want to try for this marathon. Have you read it? What are you thoughts?

2. No Soda!!

As you might already know, I started a 100 Days of Summer Challenge with my challenge being no soda.

Screenshot_2014-05-28-05-48-48-1

Day 6 and I’m going strong. I’ve been tested a few times, like when I refilled my mom’s soda at Chipotle, but so far I’ve passed 🙂

Left: My water cup Right: Mom's soda

Left: My water cup Right: Mom’s soda

3. Lesson Plan.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I’ll be headed back to work. I start early August and I’m really looking forward to it. Like I’ve said numerous times, I’m a planner and last summer after having my son in July, I took a year leave of absence to stay at home with the option to return if I wanted to the following year.

I’m so glad I left myself the option.

I’ve loved being home with my kids and am grateful I was able to have that opportunity. But I also want to see what being a working mom is like. I plan on working this upcoming school year and then deciding what my maybe more permanent place in life is as far as work is concerned. Luckily with teaching, I can go back when I can/want to.

4. Party Time!

OMG, my son turns one in July! I can’t believe how time flies. I remember people telling me that once I have kids, to really cherish the moments because they grow up so fast. I used to secretly roll my eyes but it. is. truth.

We’re having a birthday party for him beach themed and I can’t wait!!

He's got his swim suit ready!

He’s got his swim suit ready!

5. Gym Visits

With our crazy Arizona heat, I’ll be making more gym visits to the treadmill. That means taking my kids to the gym daycare. We’ve done it a few times and they’ve been okay but only lasted about 30 minutes. Last week I took my daughter and she actually lasted more time! I’m hoping with more consistency they’ll get used to it and let mommy get in a good workout 🙂

Post gym smiles!

Post gym smiles!

–What are some of YOUR summer plans??

Today is the last day of the Bondi Band giveaway!! A winner will be announced tomorrow morning. Click here to enter!

The 12 Days of Fitmas-Day 6

On the 6th Day of Fitmas…

STAY DISCIPLINED

As cliche as it may be, Nike's right.

As cliche as it may be, Nike’s right.

I think one of the hardest things to do when you start a fitness plan is sticking to it. You start to get tired, lazy, unmotivated. You have one bad day and then that one day turns into two. Then you’re like, well hell, I’ve already messed up I’m just going to stop trying.

It’s happened to me.

But, even though you might have an off day or two or three, it’s important to still believe that you can do it. Sure it takes discipline and that might be something you haven’t mastered yet, but with practice and some strategizing, it’s possible to make staying healthy become a part of you.

Some things that have helped me:

Outlining a Plan—I knew once I started training for my marathon I’d have a day to day plan of what I would have to do. This reeeally helps me because I just look at the calendar and oh, it says I have 4 miles today? Sounds good! I just do what it tells me no questions asked. It disallows for negotiating. The calendar says 4 miles. That’s it. Do it.

This can work even if you’re not training for a race. Let’s say you want to work out at least 3 times a week. Choose three days of the week that work best for your schedule and just do it. It’s Wednesday, your calendar says it’s gym day cardio—go! I find it best to also have something specific in mind. Again, it prohibits you from having to think too much about it.

Tell Someone—A lot of moms in my online group tell me that the biggest reason they’ve been able to stick with it this time is because of the daily check-ins we do. There’s something about knowing you’ve said you were going to do something that makes you do it.

So, tell your husband, tell your best friend, tell your co-worker, tell anyone that you’re planning on working out later. The chances of you going increase because if you don’t go, even if they don’t even ask, you know that you didn’t keep to your word.

You can also tell that person to call or text you to see if you actually went. Or, ask them to go with you!

Have (realistic) Goals—Working towards something helps make sure you stay on track. For me, it’s fitting into my pre-pregnancy clothes. You’ve seen glimpses of my closet; I have a lot of clothes. There is no way I’m going to let my wardrobe gather any more dust nor did I want to invest in any clothes not my pre-pregnancy size. To the gym I went. I’m pleased to say I’m exactly 10lbs away from pre pre-pregnancy weight (remember, I’ve had two kids in less than two years!). It’s taken a lot of work but I have this goal engraved in my head. I wanted to do it the right way, the healthy way, and I’m almost there!

Have Fun—When it becomes boring, monotonous, an inconvenience, sticking to a fitness plan isn’t going to happen. So, make sure to spice it up. Buy yourself some workout gear. Find a race to sign up for. Challenge a buddy. Do different things in your workouts so that you look forward to them. It could be as simple as using a new machine at the gym, mapping a new route for a run, making a new playlist—there are so many ways you can liven things up so that you’re always having fun.

This is going to sound weird but just the other day, to spice up a treadmill run, I used a treadmill on the opposite side of where I usually go. That was it. I had a different view and that helped spice things up for me that day.
At the end of the day, the most essential part of staying disciplined for me is allowing room for error. I know I’m going to have some rough patches; I’m a stay at home mom! But, knowing that tomorrow’s another day keeps me going. I might miss a workout or two here and there—that’s not going to ruin what I’ve started. The important thing is to actually start.

–What helps keep you disciplined with your fitness?

–Is this something you struggle with?

My Go-To Workout Playlist

So I was at the gym this week running on the treadmill and while I was there a woman on the treadmill in front of me was walking and totally jamming out. I mean, she was waving her arms in the air and if it was possible, dancing as she walked! I thought, “Gosh, I really want to know what’s on HER playlist!”

Have you ever wondered what people are listening to? I always do. It’s probably my most popular random thought while I’m at the gym. I mean, the majority of the people there are plugged in and I can’t help but be curious as to what they are jamming out to.

I’ve been trying out a no-music running thing ever since I turned off my iPod during a run and did pretty well. However, I’m still listening to music when I cross-train.

Here is a list of my #1 playlist. The playlist I can count on to get me through a tough I-don’t-wanna workout : )

  1. Let’s Go-Calvin Harris
  2. Where Have You Been-Rihanna
  3. The Anthem-Pitbull
  4. Forever-Chris Brown
  5. The Pretender-Foo Fighters
  6. Best of You-Foo Fighters
  7. Believe Again-Delta Goodram
  8. Fire in your New Shoes-Kaskade
  9. Hot-Inna
  10. I’m a Slave 4 U-Britney Spears
  11. Parallel Universe-Red Hot Chili Peppers
  12. Getting Over You-David Guetta
  13. Cry For You-September
  14. Runnin-Doman & Gooding
  15. Indestructible-Robyn
  16. In The Air-Morgan Page

–Are any of these songs on your playlist?

–What’s your go-to jam to workout with?