Lucky Number 13

As a Health & Fitness Coordinator goal setting is something I truly believe in!  For me goals are usually health and fitness related, but the great thing about goals is that they can be set for any aspect of your life...financial, emotional, physical, etc. 

 

This year I decided to do my goals a little differently.  I have four large goals and then smaller monthly goals that will help me reach my bigger goals.  Here are the big four...

 

Rediscover the kitchen

Get organized

Log workouts



Run a sub 4:30 marathon


I will be coming up with a new goal at the end of each month for the upcoming month, so I can adjust things and tailor them to what I feel I need to work on.  Here's my January goal! 



Backdrop source

So far I have been successful with this, now just to keep it going until the end of the month...by then it should be an engrained habit, right?

 

 

Good luck striving towards your goals!

 

 



Spending Spree

I have apparently been on a spending spree...

Purchase #1

ViewSport Tank Top #1 

ViewSport Tank Top #2

Purchase #2

Bulu Box 

I found a promotion where you could try one month/box free from @BuluBox, so I thought I would try it out and see what it was like, here's what I got this month...

*@drinkclick (Mocha) not too shabby, I ordered the vanilla latte before knowing this same would be in the box

*Ps Protein shot

*Vplenish Vitamin Boost 

*Probiotic tablets
*Defend Energy
*Athletic body wipe

Purchase #3

I apologize for the terrible pictures, we went to this wedding...

And what do you know J broke camera #2 of the year (I broke it once too, yes that is three breaks in one year)! It technically still works,  but the display screen is shattered so you can't aim or review pictures, hence why most of my pictures have a lot of excess background in them.  We are hoping this is covered under warranty.  J is no longer allowed to touch the camera.  

In other news, my new job is going well!  I am finally starting to feel like I have a handle on things a little bit.  Give it another week and I think I'll feel very comfortable, plus my first event will be done with! 

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Fitness Plan

Monday: 3 miles + Cleans and Overhead Squats (yes random)

Tuesday: 3 miles + 50:00 walk

Wednesday: 3 miles + Lift

Thursday: 40:00 cardio + CrossFit

Friday: 3 miles + CrossFit

Saturday: 3 mile obstacle course (haven't decided if I want to do it yet) or 10 miles

Sunday: Rest or 10 miles 

Something To Celebrate

I celebrated this morning with some buckwheat banana pancakes!

Whoa wait back up!  What am I celebrating you ask?  My new job!  Not just a job, but a career job! Yesterday I was offered the position of Health and Fitness Coordinator at a local university!  I am beyond excited to begin my new journey, but am saddened to leave my clients/members/friends at the gym where I currently work.




I haven't made any mention of this new position for a number of reason...

1. It happened extremely quickly!  They found out they needed a new coordinator last Monday, I sent my resume last Tuesday, given an interview this Tuesday and got the offer yesterday.  Yes, that is fast!  Since it was such a short timeline and the school year is starting up here soon, I am considered an emergency hire and will have to reapply next year.  Pressures on!

2. It is my first career job, not just an hourly paid job, so I plan to keep it off of the blog, except for maybe sharing a few highlights.

3. I have been actively looking for a number of months now, and I didn't want to officially announce it until I knew I had something secured for sure.

I will be starting up right away this up coming Monday....talk about being thrown in the fire!  Wish me luck :)

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My #FoodiePenPals package arrived, a little late, but better late than never right?!  Anyway, I hated the thought of not sharing what I got, so I had to share!

The total package

Amy sent me a number of things I have never been sent in a #FoodiePenPals package, so I was super happy about that!  Some of the things I have tried before, but most of those things were favorites of mine.



Check out the super cute card she sent in the package!  I don't think Amy knew, but macaroni and cheese is my favorite (stemming back from my childhood) food!  I try not to eat it often, because it's not the greatest thing, but it is my favorite and making it buffalo can only make it better! The Kodiak Cakes are supposed to be really good, so I can't wait to try those.



J was really excited to see the Hawaiian Punch Freezer Bars in the package.  Gnocchi is delish!  I know exactly how I'm going to use them to, I'll be sure to share when the time comes :)  I love Justin's line of nut butters and they'll be perfect for lunch packing with my new job.  Ahh, those fruit leathers you see... they're gone. That took all of one day!

Thank you so much for my package Amy!  Most of it has already been put to use and the rest of it I can't wait to get at!

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Fitness So Far

Monday: 5 miles in 47:23

Tuesday: Cross Fit workout

Wednesday: 6.3 miles in 1:04:24
4 x 800 (Yasso) w/equal rest time walking

Thursday: 3 miles in 26:19 + lift this afternoon

Friday: Lift + stretching/yoga

Saturday: Leinenkugel Pure Water Days Half Marathon + 2 miles = 15 mile long run
I won't be trying to PR, I'm just using it as part of my long run. This race was super cheap, only $30 and I just signed up last week!

Do The Olympics Inspire Anyone Else To Workout?

Despite the challenge to pull myself away from the TV, watching the Olympics inspires me to get my butt out there and train!  These athletes are truly amazing and so motivational!

Awkward angle that makes my upper body look enormous

My niece and nephew were so excited about opening ceremonies, that I got a call from my niece inviting me over for an Olympic party...of course I was in!  

Red, white and blue star necklace

Eventually turned into a pajama party

 They had no clue who they were rooting for, but they were totally enthralled in the opening ceremonies and won't stop talking about all the events they have seen since!  I have taught them well!

My favorite part of the night was when a Chobani commercial came on and I said "Yum, Chobani" and my three year old nephew, Oliver, repeats me, and I go, "Oliver, do you even know what Chobani is?"  With that he proceeded to hop around like a bunny, apparently he thought I was saying "yo bunny" or something!  Love that little kiddo!

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Random fact of the day.... I got a new cookbook (on sale at B.A.M.) and can't wait to try out some of the recipes in it!

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Fitness Plan

Monday: 35:00 lift + going for a short run now

Tuesday: Lift + 45:00 Cardio

Wednesday: 13-14 miles w/RB

Thursday: Lift + 30:00 Cardio

Friday: 6-8 miles 

Saturday: 4-7 miles

Sunday: Active Rest 

Gulf Coast Adventures

Things we saw...

Sun Studio where so much magic happened

Beale Street in Memphis

Cape Girardeau, MO

Southern Miss

Hancock High School
(where J taught for 2 years)

The Dock 

Institute for Marine Mammal Studies...swimming with Bo the dolphin!

Beau Rivage

<3

Biloxi Beach 

Jackson Square 

WWII Museum 

Graceland 

Food we ate...

Biscuits and gravy 

Oysters...ehhh

Eggplant, shrimp and crawfish...one of my top two fav meals!

SnoBall

Beignets

Tennessee you will forever be the BBQ King in  my heart...YUM!

Fitness Plan 

While on vacation, I hoped to get a little more exercise than I did, but due to a lack of hotel gyms and safe running areas I only got two 3 milers in.  I'm getting back at it this week though!

Monday: 12 hours on the road

Tuesday: Crossfit 

800m run

50 pushups

50 pullups

50 wall ball

50 KB swings

50 burpees

800 m run 

1 round for time

(26:04)

Wednesday: 10.5 miles (it felt rough after so much time off and time sitting in the car!)

Thursday: Lift + basketball game

Friday: 4-6 miles

Saturday: 4 miles w/running group

Sunday: 12-13 miles 

What do you have planned for your week? 

Did I miss anything in the blogging world while I was gone this past week? 

Baby You're a Firework

 Baby you're a firework. Come on show 'em what you're worth.  Yes, what better way than to open up with a little Katy Perry. 

Happy 4th of July and a big thanks to all of those who have served so that we have the freedom we do in America!  This year for the 4th my friend Carrie (yes that name probably sounds familiar because she is one of my best friends whom I have hung out with a number of times this year) is making the trip to Eau Claire to come celebrate with J and I!  You may remember last year, we were together as well (along with the other member of the Three Stooges)...

Carrie, JC, Me

"We're the three best friends that anyone could have..."

Love these ladies!! 

While in town, we're panning on going to an Express baseball game and tailgate, watch fire works, hit the town and do a little boating...weather pending.  I'm not a fan of excessive heat and storms in the forecast. 

What are your 4th of July plans?!

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Fitness Plan 

Monday: Lift (had a total lack of motivation so just lifted) - check

Tuesday: 2.7 miles + Bootcamp (led by me) -check

Wednesday: 5.7 miles -check 

Thursday: 4-6 miles 

Friday: Lift + cross train

Saturday: Runner's Club 9-10 miles 

Sunday: Rest 

Adios!  Have a great day!

Picture-less Weekend

I am so sad that I had an awesome, eventful weekend and have nothing to show for it :(  I have decided to buy a new camera, but I just haven't decided which one to purchase so until then I will be picture-less, since my phone takes crap for pictures.  Here are some of the things I did this weekend...

- Celebrated the O'Connell marriage!  It was a total blast!  They didn't have a huge budget to work with when planning the wedding and they kept it simple, but it was beautiful and such a fantastic time! 

-Celebrated my cousin graduating from high school.  She will be heading beauty school in the cities, but before that she will be trying out for Miss Teen USA!  She is a gorgeous young woman and I wish her nothing but the best!

-Took my dad golfing for Father's Day!  My dad loves to golf.  I don't hate golfing, I just don't do it because I'm not very good at it.  Insert the fact that I haven't swung a golf club, let alone played 9 holes and a 67 (maybe) doesn't sound so bad.  My dad killed me!  It was a blast though, I enjoyed the father-daughter time and it was like when I was younger, him teaching me how to play.  

Picture from Mother's Day

-I ran a 10 miler yesterday!  I really worked on slowing my pace down, because long and slow is really hard for me to do annnnnnd because I will be leading a running group at work starting this next Saturday!  I hope we get an okay turn out! 

-On the not-so-fun events list is that my sister's father-in-law passed away this weekend, so I will be attending his funeral in the middle of the week this week.  Chuck was a very sweet, loving man, who would give the world to my little niece and nephew... he will be missed. 

Fitness Plan

The camp I have been working has really been wiping me out and consuming most of my day, so I have been really trying to force myself to keep my workouts up!  Here is what I plan to do this week....

Monday: 5 miles + CrossFit workout 

Tuesday: Lift + 45:00 cardio + 1 mile

Wednesday: 5-7 miles

Thursday: Lift + 30:00 cardio + 1 mile

Friday: 3 miles + CrossFit

Saturday: 10-12 miles (we,ll see how many the group wants to do)

Sunday: Rest :)

WYSP

Today marks the first day of official WYSP activities!  For those of you who don't know what WYSP is, it is a free, summer sports camp that is put on by UW-Eau Claire in an effort to teach children how to stay active through various sports and learn a little about health education.  The camp, funded through various sponsors and grants, provides a breakfast and a lunch for all 430 kids (this years number).  For some children this is their summer school...they take an instructional course most of the day and join us for meals and a little bit of the first period.  

This is my summer job!  I will still be training over at my gym, but WYSP will be my main focus for the next month.  As a former college basketball player I was asked two years ago to be their basketball professional staff, who taught the different age groups (ages 10-16) about the game of basketball and how to play it.  

Today is just counselor and instructor training from 8am-5pm.  But our first day with the kids starts tomorrow! Monday through Friday (minus the holiday weekend), 8am-3pm I will be instructing basketball at camp...outside!  Talk about loving my life!  There are definitely some frustrating moments as the instructor, but knowing how much it means to the kids and how much of an impact you have on their lives and summer make it so worth the while!  

Do you have a summer job?  Have you ever worked a camp? 

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Fitness Plan

My schedule is going to be super crazy this week, so this is definitely a tentative plan, but I hope to get everything in! 

Monday: 4 miles + lift

Tuesday: Lift

Wednesday: 5 miles

Thursday: Lift 

Friday: 7-10 miles

Saturday: Bridal & Bachelorette parties 

Sunday: Traveling home + Father's Day