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Eating, Fitness, Lifting, Uncategorized, Yoga

Gettin’ In the Check In…

August 29, 2014August 29, 2014 runswithhips

Hello Hip Huggers!! Just checking on in wit ya…

You’re here now. That’s all that matters.

If you check in with me on Instagram, that little ticker right down there in the right hand corner, you’re up to date on my yoga challenges.
So, I’ll talk a smidge about other things that have been progressing over the last couple of weeks.
Since my last post, I have been doing a lot of reeling in on realizations about my fitness, you know, staying on my toes…

First, I had a short tenure again with MyFitnessPal.
After a few days of fitting all my macros, I came to the conclusion that I don’t really need a food tracker any longer.
Aligning with my fitness goals, I just need to continue eating whole, real healthy foods as I have been.
Being certainly mindful of my protein intake, keeping a close watch on fats, and gettin’ in my fiber goals daily.
With delicious real meals such as this one from last night…

Next, BodyBeast has been pretty much everything I have expected.
Not for the weak-minded I must say, because you will certainly be humbled when you are lifting drop, super, and giant sets!
I can’t believe I am saying this, but I had to break out my 5 lb. weights…yes. However, It lives up to the name.
I am seeing gains again. Check out this PUMP!!

I DID have to take a week off though, and that totally had me in the dumps.
I overextended my quad in yoga during a Vinyasa flow.
To be precise, too many lunge variations to quick in the sequence kinda irritated my upper left quad.
In short, a lot of fast flowing lunges that ended like this…

I was afraid I had pulled a tendon at first, that’s how bad it hurt.
But after icing and resting a few days, the pain has completely subsided.
Thank GOD! Lesson learned: Slow down to keep up!
Being sidelined from everything because of one thing is not a good look…
And trust me, I’ve worn it. Never. Again.

So, I had to scale back and return to less intense yoga and workouts.
Running was out of the question, so I picked a few 10 minute full body workouts to do daily,
After that pump, I trek over to the ‘Incredimill’ for a quick 30 minutes of walking intervals with hills,
or get it some step aerobics to get that heart rate up as well as that fitness…
For a fat burn that looks like this…

Sometimes less is more. The name of the game in forever fitness, Hip Huggers

Check It!!

Question: What is your favorite form of Cardio?

Uncategorized

3 Scoops, 2 Scores, 1 Hell of a Drug

July 25, 2014July 28, 2014 runswithhips

Hello Hip Huggers!

I haven’t checked in since our Tempo Run ~~fail~~ Tuesday so

here’s the Triple ~~Decker~~ Scoop.. so you don’t ask for mine..

Single:

Wednesday: I had a 6 mile run.

That is a long-ish run for the distance

I am focused on right now, so to conquer that run with

under 11 minute miles was fantastic!

I also spent a little time inverted to flush out my adrenals,

get some blood flow to the brain and eyes

~~and just to be cool.~~

Also, this amazing thing happened:

My Instagram was reinstated!

*sigh* it really is.

I had a lot to catch my followers up on

Anniversaries, medals, yoga, etc.

So, I snacked on some corned beef and provolone while I

was filling my faithfuls in on the last 9 weeks of life! Lchf, my pals:)

***

Double:

Thursday was a very errand heavy day.

I didn’t know if it would turn out to be a rest day or a really-short-run day.

After paying some bills, I headed out to thrift!

I found a rice cooker

(brand spankin’ new) for $4.

My kids have a new job and

I am officially retired from cooking ~~rice~~ 🙂

Also found a fancy, schmancy Scentsy for 2 bucks..

I’m ~~smellin~~ fresh and frugal!

Way later, after food and the world cooled down a bit,

I managed to get in a pretty Quick 3.1 Miles, for the likes of myself!

I was very motivated, thanks to a friend’s advice!

***

Bonus: Triple:

I started today’s’ ‘check in’ blog early this morning.

As I was typing, I could hear dog tags jingling – my dogs got out.

Which they’ve managed to do a lot of lately.

New behavior, and its driving me crazy!

They are both fixed, so I have no idea why they are

determined to dig holes and escape! Either way,

Break the rules, you get grounded!

So, that was a mini workout reeling them back in.

I was ready to ~~go back to bed~~ run after that…

Friday: 6.2 Miles Done + Sirsasana Love

Took some great advice from a runner friend and

really challenged myself.

My mantra was ‘stay under 11 min/miles’

When I got to about 4.5, it was ‘stay under 10.

I have running easy down to a science,

its time to kick things in higher gear..

Still must remain injury free! Much rather slow, than No!

***

Long run planned for Sunday at dawn… I’m keeping the mileage a secret!

We’ll see if its something to talk about…

So, there’s the triple scoop! Catch y’all later!

Question: What is your ‘mantra’ when pushing through a run?

Uncategorized

Cool-ish Run, Cold-ish Chakra

July 18, 2014July 19, 2014 runswithhips

Hola Hip Hip Huggers!
***
Can I just say, the weather here this week has been fantastic!
So nice, we spontaneously took the kiddos to Hurricane Harbor.
For a day outdoors in North Texas, in July, to be pleasant??
Unbelievable! I don’t think it even broke 90°!
Great weather for a day of walking, swimming, climbing endless stairs,
and indulging in ~~ridiculously overpriced~~ food.
But I spent a lot of time here, so I was content-ish 🙂

***
I did take off 2 days to rest, accordingly. My legs had been tired from running, and it rained all day Thursday.
Sure fit signs to slow down and let my body recover, unrushed.
Today, I got back out there because the weather was peeerfect for some miles!

I was probably still a little dehydrated. I didn’t drink nearly as much at the park as I should’ve
and I’ve been eating a TON of sweets!
So, I tossed in a fruit punch Nuun to my wawa and got my fizzle on!

Running goal: I planned 6 miles. Felt god, but 1st mile was long.
I’d decided I would concede at 4-ish, and just focus on my long run Sunday.
But got a 2nd wind and just kept going!

8 Miles! Long-ish run for the week is ~~accidently~~ officially done!
And just under an 11 min/mile pace.
I have to thank my hubby for bringing me water ~~and Spark~~ at about mile 6.5.
I wouldn’t have made it otherwise, totally saved my run!
Here’s my splits to keep me accountable.

I am truly learning to run easy. Yes, its slowed me down, but it’s changed my running!
I am running distances I just would not a few months ago because I am not burning out.
***
Yoga-ish Time!
I stretched about 10 minutes opening up my hips before coming inside for yoga…

Utthan Pristhasana, or Lizard Pose.
~~Random-ish~~ SN:
That moment your yoga instructor virtually adjusts your ~~ass~~ Asana….

I just love her! Such an amazing teacher and the one responsible for
me falling in love with yoga! Namaste, Caitlin

***
I’ve also started working to unblock my Muladhara, or my root chakra.
It has been very ungrounded since I stopped eating LCHF. Truth.
Anxiety, isolation, fatigue… I can feel it all.
It’s mainly why I’ve been practicing/sharing less inversions and arm balances; to focus more on
standing poses during my practice, such as warrior, low lunges, etc.
Which brings me to a picture a dear friend on IG added some “love” to…

Anjaneyasana.

The light and strength of yoga I hope to share, spread to everyone.
I love my Omies!

What are your workout weekend plans?

Uncategorized

Week Long Runs & Run Downs

June 28, 2014June 28, 2014 runswithhips

Happy Friday, Hip Huggers!

A few pretty cool things happened this week!

Let’s start with Monday

a 5 miler and some yoga pose challenges ~~right~~…

Well, as I was coming to blog ~~about this massive dead turtle seen on my run~~,

my hubby came home with a gift bearing a familiar sentiment…

I got an iPad! A blog reader’s dream! I didn’t even ~~beg~~ ask!

Just Love Him 🙂

So, I’m ~~distracted~~ scrolling through Instagram when I noticed I had a message in my inbox.

It was a fellow fit IG’er, Heartbeat4Many, asking if I’d help host

a yoga challenge ~~but not really a challenge~~ #ShadesofHealth on Instagram.

Then she made a collage of all the yogis participating. I was blown away..

…blown away because I cannot believe someone felt I belonged in this crowd of exceptional yoginis.

I’m so humbled and filled with gratitude. I don’t. deserve. this. attention.

***

Tuesday…

has rolled around. I wanted to get a quick yoga session in before my run.

Another IG’er I follow posted a video of her first successful handstand.

Our fears were very similar, so that gave me a sense of strength in that I could do it, too…

Very proud of that!

But with all the energy given to the excitement of it all,

I needed a jolt of energy to handle this short run…

The beautiful sky honestly was almost enough.

***

Wednesday…

was a pleasant surprise! My neighbor wanted to run along!

I had 3 miles already planned! Perfect distance ~~for our friendship~~ so it was just all meant to be…

***

Thursday…

was a much needed rest day from running.

I had been nonstop since the Week before! I needed to break before I broke myself.

But I did get in some yoga…

**Friday**

Today, my long run was planned. 8 miles was on the menu…

Guess I wanted dessert! Pink Toes!

Today is also my twin son’s birthday and we’re taking them to see Transformers tonight.

So, I’m stealing a few moments with Runner’s World and

a green smoothie bliss and chatting it up with y’all!

Lastly, I got a few questions last week, so I dabbled in vlogging it all!

Check it out!

Question? What are your questions??

Uncategorized

Out with the Old, In with the Clone

June 10, 2014June 10, 2014 runswithhips

Hello Hipsters!!! Hope you are having a fantastic Summer-To-Be!!

What I have for you is yet, an other awkward post after a nother disappearing act. Yours truly.

Was kinda hoping no one noticed?

But, there is new perspective here. So, 3 weeks ago, my Instagram was deleted.

2 years of sharing progress, runs, milestones, food, and MANY other gratuitous pictures… gone. I can’t even get my name back; I’ve tried.

It’s suspended ~~in uselessverse~~ somewhere. Indefinitely – because @runswithhips just tells me some lame excuse about she’s “not found”… I miss her.

So, that unfortunate “break” allowed me a lot of time to reconvene what my purpose and point of even sharing is, really.

I mean, was I more disappointed that all my pictures were gone, or that I lost ALL those followers? My ducklings!

Gah, I couldn’t even deal… I was just done with stupid Instagram altogether.

Then, I (accidentally) sought peace in the most unassuming of places… my blog 🙂

In short: I went back just yesterday and started reading from my very first post. I laughed… A LOT!! The BEST therapy. I was actually proud of the content and direction I was once going in my blog but furthermore, I was proud I had ever even started it! Who am I?!?!

I figured this: just like IG 2 years ago, no one cared about runs or hips or how. It was just another page on a social media site with a bajillion other people posting the same. exact. story.

So, how’d I ever end up with 1000 people even remotely interested in my journey? How’d my page become “feature worthy” or even worth the Shout Out? Or a landing for encouraging words and goal setting? I think folks were genuinely encouraged! And something about my page was… INTERESTING!!!!!!

So, I removed the clouds out of my brain, and started a new IG page: @runswithips – Pretty much the same, sans an “h”…
Until Instagram changes its ugly ways, I’ll forever be a clone…

A bit painful, because the former was my little baby and I poured into it… but no way could Instagram ever have the audience that a REAL LIVE BLOG ever can. This is real stuff!! My new launch pad.

So, do I stop doubting my blogosphere skills and start making my space here? For real, for real? For real.

Exceptionally.

Question: Has a Shutdown on social media actually rekindled a LOVE for something else?