Workouts you Like

So Ryan has been trying to talk me into starting the P90X series like he has been doing for the last few weeks.  I am totally proud of him for sticking with it and he actually really loves doing it.  I, on the other hand, do not love to sweat it out in my living room for more than a few minutes.  But I really want to give it a try.  The problem is, P90X is about an hour and 15 minutes long everyday!!  That is just too much time to devote when I have other workouts on my schedule during the week.  So, I decided that if I can start with shorter videos, maybe I can learn to like a longer workout video like P90X.

I am a HUGE lover of hulu.com... seriously, I watch more TV on there, than I do when the shows are actually on.  Well in the search box, I typed "exercise" and ExerciseTV came up.  Low and behold they have a whole channel of exercise videos that you can use.  Some are just demo videos and then you need to carry the moves out afterwards, but some are a bit longer and give you short 10 minute workouts to complete.  You should check them out, here.

Tonight - after 12 minutes on the elliptical, I completed about 18 minutes of videos:
-Sexy Legs

-Ab Trimmer
-Very Sexy Arms
-Rear View

So it wasn't the longest workout in the world, but surprisingly after the lunges & squats... I was feeling the burn in my legs!  Apparently I need to start strength training again!


I feel like I need to establish a typical workout routine.  I know that I go to Cycling on Monday's & I play volleyball on Tuesday's but the rest of the week is usually random.  For the last 6 months I have been running on Saturdays and typically one other day of the week.  I know with the Cellcom Green Bay 1/2 Marathon training starting soon - that I will need to pick up my running to 3-4 times per week.

EEK... I can't believe I registered to run 13.1 miles in ONE day... or rather... 2 hours and 30 minutes (goal time).  And you bet, as soon as I finish... I'm getting myself one if these!!!

What does your typical workout routine look like?

What motivates you to stick to a routine?

Sorry I've Been Away!

The last two weeks I have been without an easily accessible computer.  My laptop screen died, so in order to use my computer, it had to be hooked up to my living room TV.. and then I was staring at a 32 inch "monitor", which is incredibly hard on the eyes!  Unfortunately, that led to me just not really wanting to use the computer in general... so I used my phone for email & facebook. 

Anyway... my wonderful boyfriend got me back into shape this weekend with a spare laptop.  I will likely look for a new laptop for myself after Christmas... or let him attempt to order and fix the screen of my broken one.  We shall see!

My only issue right now is I have to find the cord to my camera in order to upload pictures onto this laptop.  My other one has a card reader slot right on the side so I never had to worry about needing the computer cord.  Well... I better get searching now!

Life has been busy with Thanksgiving & work has been quite busy lately... I'm not complaining, I like to be busy.  But that also leads for lack of Blog updates too!

I broke down and bought new running shoes after I was diagnosed with extensor tendonitis in my right foot.  Basically I flex my toes too much when I run, which causes the tendon extending from my big toe to become inflamed and I also was tying my shoes too tight which was causing pressure on the top of my foot.  The PT suggested better cushioned running shoes, so I visited Runaway Shoes and invested in the Asics Gel Kayano 17's... which I had heard nothing but amazing things about.  

Well... now that I have them, I love them!  They were amazing right from the start and with lacing them a bit differently... I finally ran without pain, in the Turkey Trot!

I did the Green Bay Festival Foods Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Morning.  I finished the 5 mile race with a time of 55:11, or 11:02 per mile. I was 11 seconds short of my goal time, but I'll take it.  I know I would have made it under 55 minutes, but from mile 4-5 the wind got me good and set me back an extra minute.  I was pacing a 10:45 mile for most of the race which I was pleased about :)  Ryan did amazing at 42 1/2 minutes.  My brother & his girlfriend ran the 2 mile race, and were both happy with their times.  I was very proud of them for coming out to do the race with us! Post race we got our pumpkin pies and headed off for our family Thanksgiving celebrations & Packers!!! 

I will continue to run 1-2 times per week so I keep my rhythm when January comes and I start 1/2 marathon training for the Cellcom Half Marathon in May.  I don't want to push myself until then because it was recommended that I give my tendonitis time to heal, so that's exactly what I am going to do.  Instead of more running for the next month, I will be continuing to do Cycling classes, volleyball & cross training.  I am also going to focus on getting in two strength training sessions a week to build my leg muscles.

Yummy food posts will be back as soon as I find my cord...  I have a few to catch up on from the past week!

Happy Monday :)

Carrot Soup

I tried my hand at a new creation tonight... Carrot Soup!  It turned out surprisingly well, but maybe could have used a bit more spice.

This soup was made with the only carrots that came out of my garden... 1.5 lbs! :)

Carrot Soup

1 1/2lbs. chopped carrots

1 chopped yellow onion

2 cans Swanson Chicken Broth

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Ground Black Pepper

1 tsp. Minced Onion

Bring all ingredients to a boil.  Reduced heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes or until carrots are soft.  Place soup into blender and puree.  Return to stove, serve hot.

Makes 8 cups.

Time Moves Too Quickly!

I am currently experiencing computer problems... where the only way that I can use my computer is hooking it up to my tv and using it as my screen (my laptop screen has gone kaput)!  So I haven't been able to blog at all this week.

This week I made Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Bread and Chocolate Chip Cookies :)  Yummmmmmm!!

On Friday night Ryan & I decide to make homemade pizzas for dinner... I used Wildtree Whole Wheat dough and threw together several toppings!  Look at our creations :)

Ryan (on top) called his a "Salad Pizza" - Mine is pretty simple!

Ryan's finished creation!

My finished creation!

 Saturday, Ryan and I raked leaves, mowed the lawn one last time and put away the patio furniture & grill.  Then we ran 5 miles, which was GORGEOUS... and actually got warm, running in capris and a tank top - and I was not cold.  After our run, we let Colby have his fun at the dog park...

The Week in Review

Just wanted to show you a newer picture of Colby... He's loving his new toy "the ram" and it has quickly become his best friend :)  He even likes to cuddle with it!

Workouts this week:
Monday - Walked Colby & 45 min Spin Class
Tuesday - 1.6 mile run, Volleyball Match (We won all 3 games!!!)
Wednesday - 30 min Elliptical
Thursday - DAY OF REST
Friday - Walked Colby
Saturday - 4.2 mile run in 44 min 32 seconds (10:30 pace), Walked Colby... loving the weather!!

 The walk was after my run... so being all sweaty and then walking... I was cold and had to bundle up!  Hopefully we get a few more nice days before it starts getting really cold & the snow starts falling.  I am not looking forward to that time of year again :(

And now it's a nice relaxing Saturday night with no plans... maybe we'll go bowling!

Playing a Little Catch Up!

Didn't realize it's been over a week since I last posted!

Last Saturday was a busy day!  We started the chilly morning running the YMCA Freaky 5k in Appleton.  Even though it was cold before the race started, it was perfect running weather once we got started!  We both had personal records achieved during this race.  It was my first race where I ran a pace of under 11 min/mile!  I was super excited... especially since I  had been since the entire week leading up to the race.  Ryan ran an 8:33 min/mile pace... he's a rockstar!

You can see me in black, behind the lady in teal :)  At the finish!

Ryan coming in the finish!

 Then we costume hunted... and ended up at our Halloween festivities like this:

 

 

Toad & Princess Peach

 That's my junior year (high school) prom dress.. I wore it in April 2001 and it still fit October 2011!! :)  Besides halloween, we were also celebrating my friend Kari's birthday so I made her a special treat...

I also tried my hand at making cake balls.. festive for halloween of course (White Cake Mix, Orange Frosting & White Chocolate with Halloween Sprinkles!