What are Your Goals for September? -August Writing Challenge #31

Today is the final day of Fitness Cheerleader’s August Health/Fitness Blogger Challenge. Thanks Janice for hosting the challenge, I’ve absolutely loved it!

Today’s question: What are your goals for September?

I love the start of a new month, it’s a fresh start, a clean slate, another chance to get it right!

This month my goals are:

1. To eat clean.

2. To workout 6 days a week.

3. To follow my Half Marathon Training Schedule and run at least 3 times a week.

4. Go to bed earlier. Be in bed by 10, book away by 10:30.

I think that’s it….What are your goals for September?

Who is your Fitness Inspiration? – August Writing Challenge #30

Well, for starters, I can’t believe we are only 1 day away from the end of August….where did summer go?

Today’s Blogger Challenge question is Who is your fitness inspiration?

One of my fitness inspirations is my friend Kathy. She probably doesn’t know this, but she is my running inspiration. I see how committed to running she is and how much of a great runner she is and just thinking about her and her accomplishments makes me want to run more and push myself more when I am running. I hope to one day be a good enough runner to actually run a race with her…and finish with her too!

Seriously, doesn’t she just make it look SO EASY?

I am also really inspired by all of the awesome BodyAttack instructors at my gym. They are all in such great shape and are some of the fittest people I know. They inspire me to work hard and train hard and I hope to one day be as good of an instructor as they are! Thanks ladies, for all of your help and support 🙂

Who is your fitness inspiration?

Do You Workout at Home or at the Gym? – August Writing Challenge #29

Today’s Blogger Challenge question is: Do you workout at home or at the gym?

Aside from running, and the occasional TRX workout, I do most of my workouts at the gym.

On average, I go to four group ex classes a week – mainly BodyAttack – but I’ve also stared going to CXWorx and am now trying to add a couple of BodyPump classes into the mix to work on building some strength 🙂

When I return to work in January, I will most likely get most of my workouts done while there. I will teaching two 75 minute fitness classes and one additional phys.ed class each day, so chances are I will be able to get my workout done during that time…man, I love my job 🙂

Where do you workout – at home or at the gym?

Are You a Cardio Junkie or a Strength Junkie? – August Writing Challenge #28

Today’s Blogger Challenge question is: Are you a cardio junkie or a strength junkie?

I am a total cardio junkie! My favourite workouts are BodyAttack and running! I’d say on average, I probably do 5 cardio workouts a week…which doesn’t leave a lot of time for strength training 😦

I am however, trying to work more strength training into my workout routine. Actually, I did a BodyPump class today and it was awesome! I kinda feel like a bit of a loser though, I took a look around the room today, and I was lifting the least out of everyone in the room 😦 I’m going to stick with it though – my plan is to do Pump twice a week – and hopefully, by the time I return to work in January I won’t be the weakest one in the room anymore! Wish me luck!

Are you a cardio junkie or a strength junkie?

How Will You Stay Busy When You Retire – August Writing Challenge #27

Wow, today’s Blogger Challenge questions has me looking about 17 years into the future…how will I keep busy when I retire?

Well, since my kids will be in university, I will probably have to continue to work part time for at least a few years– I’m thinking a little supply teaching here and there wont be too bad!?!?

Also in the plans….

Buy and house and spend the winters in Mexico. Warmth, sun, sand….OMG, I wish I would win the lottery so we can do this right now!

Run…I’m thinking if my knees hold out, I might actually be a pretty good runner in 17 years! I’d love to travel around the world and do some races.

Scrapbook – I’m sure I will be years and years behind by that point, so I hope to enjoy some time relaxing and preserving our family’s memories 🙂

That’s about all I can come up with right now…I’m sure as retirements gets closer, my list of things to do will get longer.

How do you plan on keeping busy when you retire?

What do you Eat Before A Workout? – August Writing Challenge #26

So, I totally missed yesterday’s post, but don’t worry – here it is! Yesterday’s Blogger Challenge Question was what do you eat before a workout?

Well, for me, it depends on the workout.

Before a Sunday morning long run I have a Vanilla Cliff Shot and a glass of water…usually about 15 minutes before heading out the door!

Before a weekday morning BodyAttack class, I usually have an oatmeal pancake. They are super yummy, easy to make, easy on the tummy and provide enough energy to make it through the one hour, high impact, cardio conditioning class.

Evening workouts are a little different – I’m still trying to figure out what works for me. I am definitely someone who needs to eat before a workout, but I have yet to find the balance between eating too early and eating too late, feeling like I’m going to barf, and feeling like I’m going to pass out!

So, what you eat before your morning/afternoon/evening workout?

The Meaning Behind Your Blog Name – August Writing Challenge #25

Today’s Blogger Challenge questions is: What’s the meaning behind your blog name?.

This is an easy one….

I named my blog Happier, Healthier, More Fit Me because I wanted to blog about my journey towards a happier, healthier, more fit version of myself.

I’m glad I chose this name for a few reasons….

The name will never not be applicable…I will always strive for a life full of happiness, better health and improved fitness.

The name does not limit me in any way about what I can write about – I can write about what I eat, what I do, fun with my family and friends, ups, downs, successes, failures…whatever…:)

Things I don’t love about my blog name…

Really, there is only one….it’s pretty friggen long, but at least I’ve made it a .com (instead of .wordpress.com) to save you typing a few letters 🙂 Don’t like to type? Why not subscribe…I’ll send you posts via email! Yep it’s that easy!

So, that’s it! That’s the story behind Happier, Healthier, More Fit Me!

What’s the story behind the name of your blog?
Don’t have a blog? Well, let’s pretend you do…what’s it’s name and why?

What’s in Your Gym Bag? – August Writing Challenge #24

Today’s Blogger Challenge question is: What’s in your gym bag?

I’m actually pretty surprised at how clean my gym bag is….

What’s inside:

The latest BodyAttack release kit, mic belt (still wet from teaching last night…yuck), and batteries.

Water bottle.

 Deodorant and my IPod.

My Ziploc full of drugs – Advil, naproxen, and bone building vitamins.

 Diapers and wipes.

 Snacks for the kids.

  Also in there…a lock, some change and a lip balm. Not too bad!

What’s in your gym bag?

Three Things Thursday – Friday Edition

It’s been another crazy busy week and I totally missed yesterday’s Three Things Thursday post…so, here it is today 🙂

 

It’s been about a week and a half since I wrote this post about how meal planning and scheduling workouts is absolutely necessary if I’m going to reach my goals of eating clean and exercising regularly. So, here’s an update on how things have gone (although I did not post a plan for this week, I did make one – and have pretty much stuck to it :))

1. Menu wise, things have went pretty much as planned.  Here are a few pictures (and recipes) for the meals I prepared:

Grilled Chicken, Asparagus and Peppers

 

Eat Clean Spinach and Turkey Sausage Pizza

 

Pork Kabobs with Cucumber and Tomato Salad – oops, totally forgot to take a picture of this one! Its a Supperworks meal – super easy, clean and really good!

Greek Feta Burgers and Summer Pasta Salad – I had planned to have these burgers on Thursday night, but totally forgot how much of a rush thursdays are as we go to the gym for a 5:15 class.

Whole Wheat Pesto Pasta with Seasonal Veggies

Chicken Tacos with Guacamole and Tostitos – again, totally forgot to take a picture – but they were really, really, really good!

So that was last week, since then I’ve made:

Flank Steak and Summer Pasta Salad

Eat Clean Sausage and Pepper Penne

and Eat Clean Buffalo Chicken Wraps

2. Sticking to my workout plan was easy last week, but as I’ve started to teach more BodyAttack, running has once again taken a back seat 😦 Here’s what I’ve been up to over the past week and a half or so:

• Monday – rest day
• Tuesday – BodyAttack
• Wednesday – 5K run
• Thursday – CXWorx and BodyAttack
• Friday – Walking (around the zoo)
• Saturday – BodyAttack
• Sunday – Long Run – 12 km, walking (around Center Island)
• Monday – rest day 🙂
• Tuesday – 4 km run and BodyAttack
• Wednesday – BodyAttack
• Thursday – BodyAttack
• Today – Rest Day 🙂

I definitely need to figure out some kind of balance between Attack and running. I was suppose to start hill training this week and totally missed that workout to save up my energy so I could teach Attack. I need to make sure I get in a few key runs each week- a long run, a hill training run, and a steady run. So, my plan for success this week is: long run Saturday (tomorrow), rest Sunday, teach Attack on Monday, Rest Tuesday, teach Attack Wednesday, hills Thursday, steady run Friday, Attack Saturday, and long run next Sunday! Ok, now that I’ve laid it out, I’m pretty sure its doable! Although I’m tired just looking at it!

3. Since I also missed yesterday’s August Health/Fitness Blogger Challenge post, I’m going to throw it in right here. The topic/question….what’s the best thing that has happened to you this week? Unfortunately there really isn’t a whole lot to choose from 😦 I guess I’d have to say that the best thing about this week has been that Tanner has slept through until 6am before getting up, and Ryan – who usually wakes once in the night to find her soother – has also slept straight through. I’ve had a few solid nights of sleep and although I’m still tired, it could definitely be worse!

Oh, and the fact that Mike Boogie was evicted from Big Brother is pretty sweet too! Hehehe!

Happy Friday Everyone!

What’s the best thing that’s happened to you this week?

A Letter to my Former Self – August Writing Challenge #22

Today’s Blogger Challenge is to write a letter to your former self.

Wow! This one is a tough one…I have no idea where to start or what I would say to myself….but…here it goes….

Dear Erin,

I am writing this letter to you from the future. Since you already know I’m not much of a writer, I’m going to make this short and sweet.

If I can give you 10 pieces of advice to help you live a more fulfilling, more rewarding, better life, this is what I would say…

1. Be proud of who you are.

2. Be confident in what you do.

3. There is no success without failure.

4. Don’t dwell on mistakes you’ve made, learn from them and move on.

5. Be thankful for what you have.

6. Quality is more important than quality…especially when it comes to friendship.

7. Don’t let anyone or anything bring you down.

8. People deserve a second chance, but not a third.

9. Life is not going to be easy.

10. Enjoy the little things.

I hope you remember these 10 things as you grow to become a Happier, Healthier, More Fit Me.

What would your letter say? Link it back to this post so I can check it out!