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Work it Out!!

runswithhips

As if late, I have sorely missed having a social life job. I worked at a bank up until this past summer when I decided to be home indefinitely, family decision. Well, I was recently called up and asked to come back to work at the bank, just at a further different location! I’m in a pickle because sure I miss working, and would love to have something to do all day. However, I am not sure January is a good time to return. Or, if I want to return at all! I have also been heavily considering other work down below…

 

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In other news, my new running pants arrived! I was hoping to have some beginner’s luck since I have had no luck in clothes I haven’t been able to try on first…

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The jury is still out on them. But they held up well at the gym through jump rope and running, leg day and basketball and also were a hit with the afterschool moms 🙂

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My daily 3L water intake has been awesome! I’m so mad I ever stopped because I feel so much better after just one week! That bloat I have been secretly fighting is dissipating and my jeans are kind to me again. Hey, I like looking swell…not swollen. After a week, I’m looking mighty svelt if I say so myself! 🙂

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Ok, here’s the down below. I have been considering becoming a personal trainer for 2 years now. I have heard many, many times I’d be a great trainer, which is such a humbling thing to hear. Even with that encouragement, I still think things into the ground through, and I have concluded that in this big wide world full of fitness trainers, coaches, nutrition specialists, Instagram fitness chicks there is just enough room for me, too! I’ve already seen an influx of weight loss questions on my Facebook page... I have such proactive friends.

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What is your dream job?

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Countdown…

runswithhips

Happy Friday! Still ice cold weather here, Déjà Vu from yesterday, but I woke up in such a fantastic mood today! I was ready to work this body! I had planned to really get it in yesterday, but instead, I did diddly squats nothing.
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Listen, I struggled between bracing the cold garage and running a few miles to get the blood flowing, or doing a full body workout inside. I really, reeeeally 4 e’s needed to do some strength training. I had only focused on it one day this week… slap sigh.

So, to break even, I did Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred Level 3. I also worked my stems with this 7 minute glute workout. You need this glute workout in your life! Add ankle weights and the burn is intense! Hey, I’m trying to Upgrade You.
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In other news, I used to drink water like a fish! When I lost my weight, I was drinking at least 6-8 bottles of water a day! After that, I drank about a gallon a day, up until last summer. When I took on a new job last October, I cut back because of all the bathroom breaks, lol, and I didn’t want it to be all about Me, Myself, and I and my water addiction sadly dwindled down to a few bottles a day.
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But, I am starting back today! Jay-Z and Beyoncé are challenging themselves to be vegan for 22 days. Not interested in living vegan, living la vida loca maybe but I too have heard it takes 21 days to start a new habit and albeit it’s not new, it needs to be a part of my daily again and will…

I want to be a habitual water chugger until the End of Time. So, this is happening.
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                                              All measured and ready to H2O!

Countdown begins!
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What’s your daily water intake? Is there a healthy habit you’d like to adopt for 22 days?

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Texas State of Mind…

runswithhips
Aloha!!! Well, there isn’t anything tropical about the climate here right about now! Boy, are we bracing for some ridiculously cold weather here in the Big D!! Geez, feels like every time I get into a good running rhythm (read: training for a race) weather happens, hot or cold!

Please just let my power stay on! 5 kids, with no power for who knows how many days?? I’ll be a full time referee, or someone won’t make it out alive

Anyway. Here is a rewind of my week so far…
Monday was a 4 mile run, speedwork because I think I am training for a race…

I found this outside a neighbors house on my way back… I knocked asked, it works!

Tuesday was more of the same, I just have been in a cardio state of mind..
3 easy sunny miles.

Came home and baked some Flax Muffins. I have been trying to use the flax up before it’s no good. I keep it in the fridge, its cool.

Butter, flour, oil, and guilt free. Delish!

Wednesday ran 3 of these miles and….

Hit the gym, finally! It has been 1 week and I have maybe 1 no excuse for it. I have been missing running, yes, so that’s really it. Running is my anti anxiety drug… really is! Still, I am still working on balancing these 2.

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I have really been missing home lately. I’m from SoCal – born in San Diego, lived there til I was 8. Moved to San Francisco and that was home until I was 18, then moved back to SoCal. My mom, brother, and sister all still live there.. so a BIG piece of my heart resides there. I have been sulking lately thank you, holidays in all my favorite Cali songs…

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Boo. I was feeling pretty blue when one of the many Fitspos I follow on Instagram posted this…

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I must say, I laughed out loud! God has a very subtle way of reminding you of scriptures you need to carry you through tough times. I needed this 🙂
Well, I’m hunkering down for this cold weather coming. What are you doing to keep on track with all these weather changes?
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Big Chop, Big Shop

runswithhips
Hello, Hip Huggers!! I’ve missed you. Feels like forever since I’ve blogged!! Hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving with family, friends, laughs, and of course some good ol’ this…

Decided to chop off all that God awful bronze hair. That means I’ll be rocking the hats buzz for awhile…

But enough about life, this IS a random fitness blog right?
Cardio all day… breezy 5 miler. I missed you, mileage.

Home for a little leftover recovery…

Did a billion things today. Let’s just say I murdered Old Navy. We also crashed Walmart. Went in looking for a marked down juicer, wasn’t marked down enough so, I’ll just wait…. online. You’re just too mental for me, Walmart.

Whattt? Can’t believe I found this in there, and for $8! Saves me a trip Uptown.. Yessss!

Walmart also had all their spring/summer workout gear on clearance. Had to get a size big in shirts but hey, $14 for the whole lot! Can’t beat it with a stick!

Just in time because I’ve been very picture heavy on Instagram…

Did you start your Christmas shopping this weekend?

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Coffee, Cookies, and the Crazies

runswithhips
I woke up moody with a neck ache from those shoulder shrugs yesterday… and also because my house is a mess! Its driving me crazy! I need coffee to get stuff in order. Just want to curl up in a ball and be rolled under the couch with all the other socks and junk I now see under there. Stuff. Just. Everywhere.

Got moving and ready to run away workout. The usual roundup for breakfast. Oats for me are essential for heavy lifting days. I will be shaking halfway through my workout if I don’t have this carb in my belly to sustain me.

I like my oatmeal thick, not just kinda fine..

Coffee in hand, we headed to the gym. Worked legs heavy! Weighted squats, deadlifts, and walking lunges. For machines: calf raises, lying leg curls, leg extensions, sitting leg curls, hip adduction, hip abduction, and leg press with a calf raise superset. Takes just over an hour to do it all. 4 sets of everything. I get busy in the gym. I need one of those massive headphones so people know I’m not kidding, I’m here to put in work!!!

Finished up with a 1 mile hike walk on a 15% incline.. Sweat session complete!

Fiber is a regular in the house. I make sure my kids get a good amount everyday. For tonight’s bakery delight, I made Farmland Flax Cookies. They are delish! Kids love them! Recipe detail below:
Farmland Flax Cookies
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour (I use soy)
3/4 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup ground flaxseed meal
1 tsp baking soda
•Preheat oven to 350
•Blend together first 3 ingredients until light. Add egg and vanilla.
•In separate bowl, mix flour, flax, oats, and baking soda: stir into butter mixture until dough forms.
•Drop by teaspoonfuls balls (about 16) onto ungreased baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Gently flatten.
•Bake for 15 minutes on middle rack. Cool 10 minutes.

Pair with milk, coffee or Bailey’s and Swerve Serve 🙂

Surprisingly, they’re only about 69 calories each. Now, that’s not a license to go crazy!
We’ve got fit goals, remember?

What’s your favorite go to healthy treat?

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Mental Monday

runswithhips
My sons just had a 45 minute conversation of the importance of purchasing an Xbox One for the entire family.. I didn’t hear any of it. I was too busy having a 45 minute conversation with my blogging app about the importance of me lifting weights today.

But anyway…
Had breakfast before we headed out to the gym: eggs, oats, turkey bacon, and Joe.

Got to the gym and worked Arms and Back. I upped all my sets to 4 because I am straight intense like that. I also added a few supersets into my workout, which was a real challenge, but I am trying to get my body somewhere, and I have to push myself harder now.

Ended my workout with a 1 mile intense walk. Started at 3.5 mph on a 10% incline and moved up to 4 mph for 1 mile… With my hoodie on! Intense sweat session…

Played a little basketball w/ the hubby too before leaving my 2nd favorite place on Earth.
Needed to grab some more almond milk for my Musclemilk, so I braved Walmart..

Why is Walmart so mental after the  weekends? I can’t even…
Also grabbed my favorite chips to accompany my wraps 🙂

Now home to recover, stretch, and watch the kids hold the TV hostage with Madden. The screaming and ridiculous clapping, and trash talking have already begun… And that’s just from my husband.
Ray Lewis has a little piece at the beginning and his words always ring in my mind:
What will you be remerebered for?

Got me thinking about some things I want to be remembered for… get busy!
#lightsleeperheavydreamer
Motivational Monday! What does yours look like?

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Rest Day and the Rundown…

runswithhips
Yesterday was an unplanned rest day. I just couldn’t get my Friday going. Yes, I planned on working legs heavy at the gym but a) my hamstrings were tight.. b) It was cold, and that made my hamstrings feel tighter, and c) I didn’t feel like walking around with tight hamstrings.. I just didn’t.

So, I got up early this morning and did 45 minutes of Step Aerobics.. before the rooster crowed coffee! Fasted cardio. Sweat equity for real!!

Ran a few errands, which included taking my girls to the library to get books for Thanksgiving Break next week – so their brains don’t completely turn to mush playing Minecraft all week.

Later, went to gym. Way later. Also found out the center is closed Thur-Sat (sucks, right?) and that slams our plans because my husband is off all week and we’d planned to work out every day in some capacity. But, maybe its a good thing! I have been missing my running, and this is the perfect way to get a few runs in without being too fatigued to do a strength workout. The weather outlook is really nice next week! Win? No, because I am gonna miss lifting this week.. we’ll just call it a draw.

Well, my husband brought home almost an entire birthday cake from work. So, of course that meant I had to dive right in make me a sweet, yet healthy treat and fast before I caved. So, I made a quick, yet exquisite Mango Nice Cream 🙂

Mango Nice Cream:
• 2 cups frozen mango
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Blend, serve and enjoy your Saturday night 🙂

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Soap Box 1.0

runswithhips

Good morning! I’m more of a post workout blogger, but I wanted to stop the world and thank ALL of you incredible people that have read my posts, liked my posts, commented on a post, and followed my blog! This is for you and me! I feel the more I share my journey to help you, the better I become at becoming better. It’s all very becoming exciting!!
I have only one expectation for this blog, to help somebody! Even if that someone is me! There are a flood of blogs that talk about weight loss, health, exercise, crude memes and crazy crossstrikes and living a healthy life in general. Even some where the blogger has the body of a demi-god fitness model and even i’m like, we can just stop making blogs, she takes the cake what am I doing here again?
But see, I didn’t lose weight because I saw a fabulous model and wanted to be her. Or some out of this world weight loss story and wanted those results. I lost weight because I simply needed to, for me. I didn’t follow blogs, or journeys.. I laced up, and got out. However, when I was ready for my body to change, I followed a blog. When I was ready to become a runner, I followed a blog. Those blogs became my workout partners… I was doing what they did because I wanted that change.
And it works! It really does. That’s why I am here! Somebody is ready to change in a big way, and if you have chosen, even silently, to allow my blog to help in that journey– you have made a wise decision given this blog life and purpose, and I thank you for that!

So, that’s my spiel. I’m off to go throw around heavy things! Friday’s post will be up soon! Thank You, Hip Huggers!!!!!!

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Rain, Run.. and Romance

runswithhips

This weather. Cold front coming through so wanted to get my last outdoor run in for the week. I was warming up for my run (it was a little misty) then BAM! Straight up pouring rain!! So the run was over before it began which totally threw off my whole morning. I came home and was just lost. My husband mentioned he was leaving the office early (I heard him say 2), so I didn’t want to wait around that long before getting a workout in. So, I headed to the gym.

I got there and the gym was totally empty. Refreshing since it’s been so many people there lately..

I warmed up with a quick 2 mile run in the Cardio Zone! Had a chat with a guy on the eliptical about the Ranger’s trade. I like Kinsler, but Fielder is a slugger! Go Rangers!

Worked arms lighter – about 15 lbs less weight for machines, 5 less on free weights, and increased reps to 12.. What a pump!

Home to recover and stretch!! I am always gonna impose encourage this because it is so important!!

My husband got off super early (like 10 am!) which I wish I had known because I really would have loved a gym buddy today was excited about! Mainly because I was hungry and wanted to be treated to lunch. I missed him a little too, lol 🙂
Look, he came bearing gifts! I totally married up.

Went to Saltgrass steakhouse for lunch. Food absolutely hit the spot after that workout! I hope I didn’t totally undo it all.. Eek!!

Vaquero tacos.. Just 2. I can live with that!

What did you treat yourself to this week?

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Sore Success!

runswithhips
Whoa, I woke up sore. Good thing it was all upper body from Monday’s workout, because it was light Leg Day!

Went about 10:30am. Gym completely empty, so I hurried to the squat rack. I threw up 3 sets of 10 @ 135# easy.. confirming my husband’s theory that I can lift more… even on light days:-)

I am really proud today! I have always sat on the sidelines and watched other women squat with such intensity and wondered, “what is wrong with me!” Squats have always been intimidating to me — that is until last week. My husband pushed me and showed me it is all mental. I want my body to change and now I know I have the physical power to do it! I just had to get my mental there. Finally — I ❤️ squats!

Leg Day Done! Came home, grabbed my new Prevention magazine, brewed some ginger tea, and started stretching. I really began stretching after my runs over the summer and it has helped substantially with my recovery. I have been doing the same with weight training, and I have been much less sore than anticipated for such heavy lifting. My legs thank me!

Maybe this article explains why I am not curled up in a ball after 2 days of intense weight training.. I love my java!!

What exercise do you need to work on to gain confidence in? Do you stretch post workout? Are you a coffee lover?

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