Fitness

2/21 ~ Day TWO of JUMP START Challenge

Whitney Carlson’s 21 Day Jump Start Fitness Challenge…

If you didn’t see yesterday’s post, a few Living Fit members are participating in a 21 day jump start challenge by Whitney Carlson. We LOVE her site, HeandSheEatClean.com and have made many of the recipes!

DAY TWO…

The program starts with TLS Weight Loss Solutions‘ SEVEN DAY DETOX. For SEVEN DAYS you eat fruits (max of 3 per day) and vegetables (unlimited) ONLY, along with the TLS supplements, as your body cleanses itself of all its toxins. This is for health, but also fat-burning benefits!

You can see my trip to Trader Joe’s at the right. —->

We are also supposed to limit exercise (eliminate strenuous activity, just walk or do slow flow yoga, if needed) and concentrate on resting, stress-relief and getting plenty of sleep.

DAY TWO, my personal thoughts…

I have never done a cleanse before. I have ‘eaten clean’ for 7 days, 12 days, 21 days [the longest I have EVER gone without sugar], but I’ve never done a true toxin-cleaning detox.

Day 1 was challenging, but I have to admit… I did cheat and have coffee yesterday. Going cold turkey with no sugar, no caffeine, no carbs, no protein was SUPER challenging and I had a pretty bad headache off & on for most of the day. So I figured the coffee was better than a giant spoonful of peanut butter! The ‘rules’ allow you to have one cup of black coffee and/or 3-4 oz of clean protein, if needed, but it is not recommended during the detox (especially the first 3 days). Dang!

Day 2 is proving to be difficult as well. I think I could live on just fruits and veggies… IF I could have my coffee too! I don’t really miss or ‘crave’ much except for my tall hazelnut cream cup of joe to get my day started.

I am cold [like shivering cold] and my headache has returned. Could be the teenagers I work with ~ just kidding kids 🙂 ~ but I’ve done some research and its common to have these symptoms, so I guess I’ll just bare through it!

Oops ~ cheated again! I HAD to add 1 tb of protein to my shake at dinner. I was feeling weak and almost sick! I still had 3 hours to go until bedtime and a 13 month old to take care of, so hopefully this doesn’t throw me off course too much.

Going to sleep a bit earlier tonight to make sure I get my 7+ hours.

We can do this!!! Difficult, but not impossible!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Follow along as we [me, my husband and mom, 2 other LIVING FIT members] document our 21 day journey. Please contact Whitney if you’re interested in pursuing a fitness challenge of your own ~ she will have another one starting April 2014.

“My body, like my life, is a work in progress!” ~ Jessica Simpson, Weight Watchers spokes-momma

Here’s to LOSING weight while GAINING confidence and an even happier, healthier, FIT life!

Cheers!

1/21 ~ Day ONE of a 21 day JUMP START Fitness Challenge!

Whitney Carlson’s 21 Day Jump Start Fitness Challenge… & Teresa’s Weight Loss Journey

So even fitness lovers like myself need a little JUMP START every now and then!

A few Living Fit members are participating in a 21 day jump start challenge by the one and only Whitney Carlson. We found her online a few months ago when looking for clean recipes… her sister site, HeandSheEatClean.com has some amazing recipes and tells her story from ‘Regular Whitney’ to ‘Fitness-loving [modeling, blogging, personal-training] Whitney!’

The program starts with TLS Weight Loss Solutions‘ SEVEN DAY DETOX.

Today is day one! For SEVEN DAYS you eat fruits and vegetables ONLY (along with the TLS supplements) as your body cleanses itself of all its toxins. This is for health, but also fat-burning benefits!

This was dinner tonight…

Lots o’ veggies and veggie stuffed portabellas.

The program also includes a private FaceBook support group, workout plans, meal plans and most importantly, MOTIVATION & ACCOUNTABILITY!

Here is why I personally chose to pursue this 21 day jump start…

Teresa’s Personal Weight Loss Journey ~

Goal ~~to accomplish~~ accomplished!: lose those last stubborn [10] pounds post-baby

My story: It has taken me ONE FULL YEAR to lose my baby weight. I have a handsome, healthy one year old to show for it, and zero regrets for taking it slow. However, recently I decided it was finally time to lose those last few pounds and get back into running, fitness, clean eating and SLEEP!

I am 5’7 and typically fluctuate between 135-140 pounds. I never used to openly discuss my weight, but if others can gain inspiration from my weight-loss story, then I’m willing to share!

I was down to 125 pds on our wedding day in 2011, but looking back, I was too thin and looked HUNGRY 🙂 After the wedding I went back to my ‘normal’ routine of eating, running, cross-training (and enjoying the occasional ice cream cone or chocolate truffle… rare treats when I was in wedding mode!).

Before my pregnancy in 2012, I weighed just under 140 pounds. A healthy, FIT weight and lifestyle. This was a photo taken shortly after finding out we were pregnant…

We are pregnant!

I ran until the baby was 32 weeks and then slowly tapered off to not doing much the last 6 weeks; holidays, cold weather, treadmill in storage, bought a house… too many excuses to not continue exercising! I gained 40+ pounds total and topped out at 182 pds the week JP was born.

38 weeks! Last pregnant picture… gained 40 pounds!

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Joseph Parker stole our hearts on January 24, 2013. Best day of our lives!

After JP was born, the first 20 pounds came right off and I figured since I was nursing, the weight loss would continue. After 8 weeks (and doctor’s clearance), I began jogging, but was cautious to not exert too much energy as I was still nursing and didn’t want to impact my milk supply.

By that Easter, however, I had still not lost any more weight! JP was already three months old and I’d only lost half of my baby weight. I saw this photo of myself and realized I needed to take better care of my body…

Easter 2013, 20 pounds to go!

In late April of 2013, I had focused on my baby and milk supply solely for three months and began to start working a bit more on my own health and weight. I joined Weight Watchers, started eating cleaner and trying to work out more (at this point, I had only worked up to running one mile, then walking). Exercise was difficult, I’ll admit… working full time, caring for an infant and getting NO sleep!

Over the next 8-10 weeks, I lost another 10 pounds and by summer 2013, was feeling good about my accomplishments.

May 2013 ~ 15 pounds to go…

I decided not to worry about the last 10+ pounds and just enjoy my life with my family and my amazing 6 month old son.

August 2013 ~ 10 pounds to go…

January 2014 brought JPs first birthday. For one full year, I’d committed myself to him… not sleeping well, not exercising as much as I needed to…

One, my milk supply was affected if I exerted too much energy sweating – in hindsight, I could have probably just hydrated more, but I was already drinking close to 75 ounces per day of fluids!
Two, I wasn’t sleeping well so I was always too tired to exercise anyhow! JP nursed exclusively for 11.5 months and was up every 3-4 hours almost EVERY SINGLE NIGHT

Here is a [low quality, sorry] photo from JP’s first birthday party that made me realize it was time to start working on those last 10 pounds…

Jan 2014 ~ HAPPY, but about 10 pounds away from HEALTHY!

March 2014 – I have lost 7 (yes SEVEN!) pounds since JPs birthday by EATING CLEAN, beginning to train for the CAP CITY HALF and incorporating new workouts like interval training and yoga into my exercise routine.

I hope to lose a few more doing Whitney’s 21 day plan (detox, clean eating, new workouts designed by Whitney). Not everything in fitness should be about weight loss, but I’d personally like to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight once & for all. Once I see 140 (or lower!) I will be doing a HAPPY DANCE! And maybe, instead of celebrating with chocolate, I’ll celebrate with a new pair of skinny jeans 🙂

Check back soon to see how we do!

“My body, like my life, is a work in progress!” ~ Jessica Simpson, Weight Watchers spokes-momma

Here’s to LOSING weight while GAINING confidence and an even happier, healthier, FIT life! Cheers!

Update [April 2014]

After following Whitney Carlson’s 21 Day Jump Start Fitness Challenge, I FINALLY lost the last few pounds and got down to my pre-pregnancy weight. From JPs 1st birthday on Jan 24, 2014 (photo above) to our Spring Break vacation in Mexico on March 30, 2014 (below) Joey lost 15 pounds and I lost 12! Joey somehow gained weight during my pregnancy as well, although I hear this is common. 🙂

I’ll spare you from bikini selfies, but here is a family photo from our vacation…

A quick pic with the boys

I was also announced as the winner of Whitney’s 21 Day Fitness Jumpstart Challenge! I cropped my ‘after’ photo below so you didn’t have to be subjected to my ‘ab shot’ ~ but this is a good angle showing how challenging it can be to find time for fitness when you have a little one.

Make time for yourself and know that a healthy, fit momma = more energy for chasing around that toddler!

So now…

Here’s to MAINTAINING weight, while gaining strength and speed for a new PR.

See you on the trails!

Saturday morning group run & Cap City Half updates

Our Living Fit Columbus running group will be meeting tomorrow morning for a 5 mile run.

It will be about 34 degrees, but we will warm you up!

Get in one last outdoor run before the big storm forces you to stay inside for a few more days…

Details:

When ~ Saturday, March 1 @ 9AM
Where ~ meet @ Starbucks in Historic Dublin and run the Dublin Rd trail
Mileage ~ 2.5 mile out & back run = 5 miles. Intermediate runners are encouraged to do 6 miles if training for the Cap City Half.
Paces include 9:30-10 min/mile – led by Teresa & 11:30-12 min/mile [a run/walk group, no pace leader]

Also Cap City rates increase tomorrow!

Our Living Fit Columbus running group is training for the Cap City Half Marathon this spring. Half details…

Register soon! The fee is already up to a whopping $90 and increases again tomorrow, March 1st.
Join our team #LivingFitColumbus when you register (sorry, no incentives, just social support!)
Stay tuned for Half Marathon training tips on the blog and at the group run each week

Off to bed!

Clean Eating & The Dirty Dozen

After our first child started eating ‘adult’ food, we became much more conscious about what we put into our bodies. The terms ‘organic’ and ‘clean’ are often used and recommended, but what exactly does that mean? After researching the topic for several weeks, one of my favorite articles comes from Live Life Active. She states ‘if it came from the ground or its momma, its probably clean.’

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Staples in our household include LOTS of water & daily vitamins including multivitamins, probiotics, fiber supplements and when pregnant/nursing, a good pre-natal.

Our all time favorite eat clean recipe blog is heandsheeatclean.com – check it out NOW!

Here are our household favorite eat clean grocery items…

Clean Protein:

Eggs
Skinless Chicken Breast or Cutlets
Lean Ground Turkey
Filet Mignon
Tilapia
Wild Salmon – Healthy fatty fish
Lean, grass-fed Ground Beef
Cottage Cheese
Pork Tenderloin

Clean Carbs:

Oatmeal
Steel Cut Oats
Fruit
Vegetables
Sweet Potatoes/Yams
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Bread / Ezekiel Bread

Good Sources Of Fats:

Olive, Flaxseed & Fish Oil
Natural Almond, Cashew or Peanut Butter
Almonds
Pecans
Walnuts
Cashews
Avocados

We also believe in organic, but man is it expensive! We try to follow the ‘Dirty Dozen‘ rule when buying organic. In addition to meat, eggs and milk, which we always buy organic, these 12 items are often the MOST contaminated;

The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen.

So go stock your fridge with fruits and vegetables!

Hope that gives you a little help when heading to the grocery. Know better, do better!

Ten Reasons to Run [or walk] Cap City

The Cap City Half Marathon is right around the corner and its not too late to start training! Although many schedules, especially for beginners, are 12 weeks, there are plenty of 10 week schedules out there as well. The price goes up again on March 1st, so sign up today! A quarter and a 5K are also available for those who wish to do another distance.

The half marathon is hands down my favorite distance. If you’re debating doing the half, here are some reasons you should consider it….

Ten Reasons to Run Cap City

1. Feeling of accomplishment. When you cross the finish line, whether you sprinted, walked, crawled, PRd or finished for the first time, you will feel amazing! Maybe not physically (you’ll be tired), but mentally and emotionally. You just accomplished a great feat!

2. Get stronger. After committing to a training schedule, you’ll likely be getting in at least four-five sweat sessions per week. Your legs, lungs, heart (and other body parts if you follow a full body training plan!) will get stronger with every workout.

3. Training is ‘doable’ and can fit into your weekly routine. Marathon training can be hard to fit into an already busy schedule, but a half is the perfect distance to train for without feeling like its taking over your life! I’ve trained for most of my halfs only running 3 days per week (Tues, Thurs, Sat) with some cross training sprinkled in. Although you can obviously add in more runs and cross training, especially if you’re trying to PR, 3 runs/week can get you to the finish line.

4. Swag. A training t-shirt. A cool medal. Yummy post-race snacks & beverages. A half is also a good excuse to buy some new gear. There are several companies in Cbus including Columbus Running Co, lululemon, Fleet Feet, and RoadRunner that have great stuff! Update (2017) – also now in Cbus, Bend Active! Check our FR’s article on why to SHOP LOCAL!

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5. Bragging rights and option to decorate your bumper with this sticker or magnet…

6. Camaraderie (if you’re training with a group). There is something about training with a group and working towards a common goal together that is very inspirational. Training for long distances together means lots of conversations, stories and hopefully laughs! If you live in or around Columbus and want to join a group to train with, check out our Living Fit Run Crew page or other local running groups.

7. Race Day Magic {or Butterflies, whatever you want to call it}. Race mornings are a time when your nerves, your adrenaline, your emotions… all collide together and make you feel like a ROCK STAR! Cue Rocky theme song now… Da na naaaaa, Da na naaaaaaa….

8. Build (and check off) items on your Fitness Bucket List. Maybe you want to run one race in your life. Maybe one per month. Maybe a race in each state. My personal goal is to run a half marathon in half the states. Whatever your fitness goals are, why not work some road races in there?

9. Check out CBUS! Columbus is an amazing city and looks even cooler on foot. Check out the route HERE. Another bonus, it is FLAT, which makes for an easier, faster route.

10. Post-race photos. This is perhaps one of my personal favorites! Capture those moments where you look like an accomplished [Olympic] athlete. Pose with that medal. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, post to Instagram and tag it #LivingFitColumbus ~ we’d love to see them!

What are you waiting for?

Saturday morning group run

Our Living Fit Columbus running group will be meeting tomorrow morning for a 4-6 mile run. It will be 40 degrees (although a little wind) so a bit nicer than last Saturday.

Details:

When ~ Saturday, Feb 22 @ 9AM
Where ~ meet @ Starbucks in Historic Dublin and run the Dublin Rd trail
Mileage ~ 2 mile out & back run = 4 miles (although you can turn back early if desired!) Intermediate runners are encouraged to do 4-6 miles if training for the Cap City Half.

Hope to see you on the trail!

Planning to run your first 5K? 10K? Train for a Spring Half & want some support?

Our Living Fit Columbus running group is training for the Cap City Half Marathon this spring. We have a few veterans and first-timers with 2 pace groups…

9-10 min/mile – led by Teresa
11:30-12 min/mile – a run/walk group [no pace leader… yet! Interested?!]

If you want to join us for the training or just a Saturday run, check out our FB page and/or blog page for more info. We welcome ALL runners of ALL fitness levels, training at ALL distances! Best thing? Our group is FREE!

Cap City Half Marathon details…

Register soon! The fee is already up to a whopping $90 and increases again on March 1st.
Join our team #LivingFitColumbus when you register (sorry, no incentives, just social support!)
Stay tuned for Half Marathon training tips on the blog and at the group run each week

Cajun Peel & Eat Shrimp

A healthy, EASY recipe… a family tradition!

Peggy’s Peel & Eat Shrimp

One and a half pounds large uncooked shrimp (the size we like are 26/30 shrimp per pound; approx $23 for wild shrimp @ Whole Foods)
2 Tb Old Bay Seasoning (30% less sodium)
2 Tb Apple Cider Vinegar

Add seasoning and vinegar to pot of water.

Bring water to boil.

Add shrimp.

Cook 3 minutes or until pink. DO NOT OVERCOOK or they become chewy!

Feeds about 4. Delicious!

Peggy’s Cocktail Sauce

1/2 cup low sodium ketchup
4 Tb worcestershire sauce
1/8 cup horseradish – add more of this if you want it to be spicy
2 Tb lemon juice

Measurements are estimated, she’s been making it so long, she just throws it all in a bowl!

Each week we will feature a [healthy] recipe. Send ideas if you have any and check out previous recipes in our Weekly Recipes section.

About the chef: Peggy has degrees in both Nutrition & Chemistry and sees cooking as both an Art and a Science! She lives a FIT lifestyle and will be featured in the ‘Fit over Fifty’ section of the FIT Spotlight in the future.

Weekly Workout ~ Half marathon training week 2

Its week #2 of our 12 week half marathon training. Our LivingFit running group met Saturday for a 4 mile run (had to walk some parts because the trails were covered in snow and ice) and completed our first group run of the 2014 running season!

The weather is supposed to warm up this week, so hopefully we can get outside for a couple runs ~ we love the convenience of a treadmill, but are ready to hit the trails! We are even thinking about putting together a very informal 5K for next Saturday as a few members have discussed trying to get in one race per month in 2014…

Beginner & Intermediate runners training for the Cap City Half on May 3 can follow our week 2 workout below;

Half Marathon Training Week #2

We will be posting some HALF MARATHON TRAINING TIPS later this week, so stay tuned!

Happy running!

Season kickoff run

Charge up those Garmins, the time is upon us!

Details:

When ~ this Saturday, February 15 @ 9AM
Where ~ we’ll meet @ Starbucks in Historic Dublin and run the Dublin Rd trail
Mileage ~ 2 mile out & back run = 4 miles (although you can turn back early if desired!)
Post-Run Pow Wow ~ we will meet inside Starbucks around 10AM to debrief, discuss training plans, upcoming races and of course, grab a warm cup o’ Joe! If you can’t make the run, but are interested in training for a 5K, 10K or Half Marathon this spring, feel free to join us for just the post Pow Wow.

Planning to run your first 5K? 10K? Train for a Spring Half & want some support?

Our Living Fit Columbus running group is going to be training for the Cap City Half Marathon this spring. We have a few veterans and first-timers. If you want to join us for the training or just a Saturday run, check out our FB page and/or blog page for more info. We welcome ALL runners of ALL fitness levels, training at ALL distances! Best thing? Our group is FREE!

Cap City Half Marathon details…

Register soon! The fee is already up to a whopping $90 and increases again on March 1st. 78 days to train!
Join our team #LivingFitColumbus when you register (sorry, no incentives, just social support!)
Stay tuned for Half Marathon training tips on the blog and at the group run each week

As posted earlier this week in Half Marathon Training Kickoff Week…

Here is our week #1 schedule.

*Note, this schedule has been designed by LivingFit and is based on our previous running experience and a combination of various training plans over the years (LifeTime Fitness Run Club, Coach Turnbull, Hal Higdon, Runner’s World… the list goes on, I’ve tried so many!) It is a beginner-intermediate, adjust based on your needs and fitness level*

Hope to see you Saturday!

It’s Half Marathon Training Kickoff week!

It’s TRAINING TIME! Our 12 week half marathon training program begins TODAY!

Our Living Fit Columbus running group is going to be training for the Cap City Half Marathon this spring. We have a few veterans and a couple first-timers. If you want to join us for the training or just a Saturday run, check out our FB page and/or blog page for more info.

Here is our week #1 schedule.

I’ll be posting some tips on Half Marathon training soon.

Rules for now. DO NOT OBSESS OVER THE SCHEDULE! It is here to help guide you, but ultimately listen to your body, do what you can to follow this (or any) schedule, and don’t freak out if you miss one occasionally. Remember, these are based on OUR experiences, not Golden Rules of Running You Must Follow.

Also drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest and sleep.

That’s all for now, have a great week & hope to see you Saturday!

Living Fit [Columbus]

Running, yoga & all things FIT in Columbus, Ohio

Fitness

2/21 ~ Day TWO of JUMP START Challenge

1/21 ~ Day ONE of a 21 day JUMP START Fitness Challenge!

Teresa’s Personal Weight Loss Journey ~

Saturday morning group run & Cap City Half updates

Clean Eating & The Dirty Dozen

Ten Reasons to Run [or walk] Cap City

Saturday morning group run

Cajun Peel & Eat Shrimp

Weekly Workout ~ Half marathon training week 2

Season kickoff run

It’s Half Marathon Training Kickoff week!

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Teresa’s Personal Weight Loss Journey ~

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