Tag: healthy lifestyle

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Fitness

Incorporating Movement Every Day

Hello all and (I can’t believe I’m saying this…) Happy November!

This year has flown by, I feel like I was just making my New Year’s Resolutions and now I am starting to my list of people to buy for Christmas.  I hope you had a fun and festive Halloween yesterday and if you are like me, chances are, you may be recovering from a bit of a sugar high with all the sweet treats and candy. Even though I am an adult, it was still fun to celebrate!

A look at some of the candy from yesterday!

Here’s how I enjoyed the holiday leading up to the day and the actual day.

I carved a pumpkin!
Roasted pumpkin seeds
Watched The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
And enjoyed Halloween treats!

The colder weather has set in and it’s not going away anytime soon. Because our warm weather is so limited here, I try to spend as much time as I can outdoors in the warmer months. But even on the chillier days, I try to bundle up on chillier days to get in some fresh air and movement outdoors even in the wind, cold and snow. 

Trying to make the most even on the cold days!

I have made fitness a priority over the past several years. Although it has evolved and changed in different seasons of life, I always try to incorporate movement every day.

If you are an Apple watch user, like me, I always try to close my rings and my streak has been going on for over two years! Some days I go above and beyond by closing my rings and other days, I just hit my 30 minutes of exercise and just barely close them.

A typical day of stats for me!

Ever since college, I have made an effort to work out and get movement in daily and that’s done in a variety of ways. I definitely get more movement and exercise in warmer months since I can be outdoors more. There are some days in the summer that I will hit the gym, go for a run and even take an evening walk or hike. I love those days when I can get in lots of movement. There are also days in the fall and winter when I just get in a walk or just do yoga and stretching for 30 minutes and that’s okay too. The bottom line is that I’m still moving my body and getting some form of exercise in.

My fitness journey began in college, I would head to the gym five days a week. This typically looked like three weekdays and then the weekend. I would do some cardio and weights throughout the week to get my heart rate going and to stay in shape. You can read about my college fitness journey here.

Some of my early days in the gym

After graduation, I moved home and started working full time and I knew I still wanted to make fitness a priority.  I found a gym and continued to go to workout Monday through Friday every morning at 6:45 a.m. which is what I do to this day. My workouts typically last between 45 minutes and an hour. These workouts are a mix of stretching, cardio, free weights and strength and conditioning. I love how I feel when I leave the gym and have the whole day ahead of me.

A look at a daily workout

This past year I made it a New Year’s Resolution to take up running and run a 5K. You can read about my training here. Starting in the spring, I would run two days a week after a workout. I started small by running a mile and then worked my way to where I am today which is four and a half miles. I have been loving this new hobby and new form of exercise. 

A very good run!

Through the spring and summer on my days off, I typically get in two workouts (I head to the gym and then go for a run). I feel accomplished and productive and there’s no better release of endorphins than to get in two workouts before 9:00 a.m.

Some days my workouts look like this.

Not all days, whether they be days off or working days, look like this. On busier days when I know I won’t be able to get in a workout or run in, I try to at least get in a short walk outside or do some yoga and stretching at night when I am watching a show when I’m winding  down to get some movement in.

In the late fall and winter when I know an outdoor run isn’t always possible, I spend more time indoors doing yoga and stretching. 

Some days I just get in a walk.

For me personally, it’s not always about burning hundreds of calories or how much I sweat, it’s about getting in some form of movement and exercise daily and that’s what is important. 

As the weather gets colder and you spend more time indoors, I hope this encourages you to still get some movement every day for a healthy lifestyle, whether it’s a full workout, a short walk or even yoga. 

Tell me: what are some of your favorite ways to get your movement in every day? 

Let me know in the comments below!

Have a great start to November!

Categories
Fabulous living

Growing A Garden

Hello all!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week! It’s starting to feel more and more like fall. The leaves are starting to change, it’s getting cooler and it’s almost time to start pulling out legging and long sleeve t-shirts. 

Today’s post is a bit of a different spin on the weather. One of my summer goals was to grow a garden. I have always wanted to get my hands dirty and see if I had a green thumb. I love vegetables and planned to challenge myself to see if I could grow my own. My first summer of being a gardener is in the books, so I wanted to share what I learned and a bit about my experience. I am by no means an expert gardener. This was my first year giving it a try and I’m happy with the results, even if it did have some ups and downs. I learned a lot and I will be taking what I learned this year and using it when I garden in the future.

I started the process back in May, with the help of my boyfriend, who has helped grow his fair share of vegetable. I did some research on what plants vegetables to try and grow. Since this was my first year, I decided to not go overboard and start small by planting seeds for tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, carrots and peppers. I got the seeds at our local nursery and went home to plant them.

I found a section of the garden, dug the holes, planted the seeds and covered them with fresh planting soil and gave them some water. 

The start of my garden

I like to be creative whenever I can, so I made signs for each plant so I could keep track of what I planted and where it was located. 

The signs

Then the tending began. I checked on my garden every day and watered them frequently. It was exciting to see the progress of my vegetables grow through the summer, what started out as seeds, turned into stems, blossoms, leaves and eventually fully grown vegetables. 

Just the beginning

The biggest thing I learned through the process of growing a garden this summer was the power of patience and accepting trial and error. It takes a while for things to grow sometimes things don’t always grow according to plan or grow at all.

My garden growing- peas, carrots, and cucumbers.

For example, I started out with a lot of peas, but they quickly died, after researching I think it was due to being overwatered. I also got blossoms on my pepper plants, and they grew a lot too.

Early pepper plants.

While it was frustrating and disappointing, I still had other plants to care for. 

My first set of veggies! Peas!

Other vegetables did fairly well. I got a handful of tomatoes, while small, they were tasty, and I was very proud of them.

The fruits of my labor
My tomatoes!

I used them to make a Peach Caprese Salad.

A fresh salad with veggies from the garden

I also got a handful of cucumbers, I really enjoyed seeing them grow from week to week and lastly, I got carrots! 

My cucumbers!

I started the summer with the hopes to grow five different vegetables and ended up with three, for my first time growing a garden, I’m pretty proud of successfully growing different vegetables and being able to enjoy the fruits of my labor. 

My baby tomatoes

I will definitely be growing a garden again and I want to try my hand at some new vegetables too. I really enjoyed the process of growing vegetables, and my favorite part was having something to show for a hard summer’s work. Next summer, I may change where I grow my plants and may change my watering habits. I have a much better appreciation for fruits and vegetables especially when I see how long it takes to grow the individual vegetables. 

Cucumbers growing.

There’s no better feeling than accomplishing your goals and it feels pretty good when they are a success and taste good too.

If you have grown a garden, I want to hear about your experience! What did you learn and what have you grown?

Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Planting!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #52

Hi everyone!

Happy Friday!

I hope you had a great last week of July! I don’t know about you, but I feel like the pressure is on to get everything in these last few weeks of summer before everyone goes back to school or college. This week has been a good mix of work and fun, which is always a win in my book.

We love a good beach day in the summer!

Today’s Friday Favorites is a mix of food, shows, books and some accessories too. As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea to share some of my favorite things from this past week.

Sweet Magnolias– I know it technically came out last week, but I didn’t start watching Sweet Magnolias until this week, hence why it’s included in this week’s favs! I have missed this show and was so happy to have it back. I’ve been enjoying the storylines, the southern charm, the drama and relationships, but most importantly the friendship. This was a fun show to watch at the end of the day or put it on in the background as I’m cleaning, doing laundry or computer work too.

Stir Fry– I have been loving a classic stir fry lately for lunches. Now, you can make it from scratch with fresh veggies, rice, and a protein and meal prep it for the week ahead, but what I have been doing is using what I have already made in my fridge. Take this stir fry for example, I had leftover rice from a dinner, added some chicken from when we grilled it the night before and then shaved leftover corn from corn on the cob for the corn and added in some fresh veggies and soy sauce to complete the dish. It took me less than ten minutes to throw it together and it gave me a few healthy and filling meals. Here’s a few other food options to add to your stir fry: If you enjoy scrambled eggs or have leftover eggs from breakfast add those in, if you like seafood, add in some shrimp for a seafood stir fry or any type of meat, from steak to beef or chicken, you can really add whatever you want for a healthy and resourceful lunch.

A tasty lunch!

Running Sneakers– If you have been following along this year or summer, you may remember that I have gotten into running this year. I have been running with the same pair of sneakers for the past few years and decided since I am more serious about running, I should invest in some running sneakers. I got a pair of New Balance sneakers and have been wearing them as I run. I really like how they provide support to my ankles and feet. I’m glad I got a sneaker upgrade before my race in a few weeks.

My new go-to sneakers

Hummus– Another food favorite! I have been loving hummus this summer. I really got into it when I was on vacation in June and have been enjoying it through the summer. I love enjoying hummus with carrots, celery, peppers, even apples. A few other ways I have enjoyed hummus is with pita, some grilled chicken, even steak, if you are looking for a protein to add. This has been a tasty summer snack.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley– This is not necessarily a beach and summer read, but I really enjoyed The Guest List by Lucy Foley. Without giving too much away, it’s all about a wedding that happens on an island in Ireland. It’s told through the perspective of the different guests at the wedding, leading up to the wedding and the wedding day itself. On the wedding night, an incident happens and the book follows the events that transpires leading up to it and following it. Throughout the book you learn all the different ways the guests are connected and the secretes that lie among them. I really enjoyed the storyline and hearing the perspectives of different characters and the plot. If you like a good “who done it”, you will like this book. The last ten pages were the best!

That’s a look into things I’m loving this week, a mix of books, shows, food, and clothes. Tell me! As we say goodbye to July and hello to August, what has been some of your favorite moments of this past month? Let me know in the comments below! Enjoy your last week of July!

Categories
Fitness

Just Get Moving

Hi everyone!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week so far!

I always try to keep things fun and relevant here and mix topics up so there’s something for everyone. 

Today, I’m talking about fitness and working out. Everyone’s fitness journey is different and I’m by no means an expert on fitness or working out or health and nutrition. This is just my views on working out and my fitness journey, so if these tips work for you, great, if they don’t, then maybe you have tips you can share with me.

A bit of background, I started working out consistently in college, I would go five days a week and it would be a mix of weekends and weekdays before classes. I typically did cardio and then free weights or some weight machines.

A look at my workouts in college.

After graduating college, I got into a new gym routine by going five days a week (weekdays) and then trying to move and do something active on the weekends. 

During the weekdays, I typically do strength training and a full body workout at the gym for 45 minutes to an hour.  I do a mix of free weights, core workout and some cardio too.

An example of my workouts now.

My apple watch is a huge help by holding me accountable for moving every day. I’ve talked about my Apple watch in this post here. There’s no better feeling than closing your rings, especially when you are on a streak. Every day, I aim to stand for 12 hours (I typically exceed that), workout for 30 minutes a day (again, I typically hit between 45-60 minutes) and then burn 590 calories a day (I typically hit 600 daily). 

A look at some of my Apple Watch stats. This is from a day I filled in on a morning shift (hence being up for 22 hours)

Another example of my Apple Watch stats. I got a lot of walks in this day.

Besides going to the gym five days a week, I try to get in a long walk or two during the week, these often happen on my weekend (Thursday and Friday) or during the weekend. It’s easy to get in a long walk in the summer and fall, but tricker in the winter. Even when it’s cold, I remind myself, I will feel better after getting some movement in.

Taking walks is always a great stress reliever.
No matter the season, walks are always a good idea

On weekends, I don’t always have time for a long workout or walk, so any movement is good movement for me. I will sometimes do stretching or yoga, or a quick walk, just to get my body moving. On busier days, my goals shift from getting a long or intense workout to just moving and being active or even just closing my rings on my apple watch, haha!

Your fitness journey doesn’t have to be spending two hours in a gym every day or running five miles. I am not a runner; I wish I was but I’m not. But if you want to go on a three-mile walk, I’m game! 

Nothing better than getting in some movement.

Working out doesn’t have to be a competition or a race, what matters is doing what works best for you and feeling good about moving. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or stressed, taking walk to clear my mind or lifting at the gym to start the day, always makes me feel better and it helps me reset. 

Another great day with a long walk and good workout.

It can be hard to get motivated to workout especially when the weather is changing, but even if you carve out a few minutes to do something to move and for you, you may be surprised how good you feel.

Like I said at the beginning, I’m not a health or fitness expert, so I’m just sharing what works for me. I hope this post encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and move a bit today too!

Have a great week!

Categories
Fabulous living

Keeping Your Energy Up

Hello everyone! I have a different post in mind for today. I don’t know about you but these past few weeks have flown by, mostly due to the fact I have been working a lot, between me filing in for people off, the Election coming up, and my normal work schedule, it has been very busy. I am still loving it but right now this season of life is work and although its busy, I’m learning a lot and my hard work is paying off. Last week, I had the opportunity to anchor and produce my first hour long show, and then two days later, I got to do it again. In those times I realized my hard work was paying off but I still have a lot to learn. That’s something that I love about what I do, every day I am constantly learning and improving. 

With that being said, these past few weeks have been hectic, I have gone from working nights (3 pm – 12 am) to mornings (2 am -10:30 am), this week I am back to nights and weekends, which is my normal shift. 

One question I get asked a lot with my job is keeping up with long days and changing schedules and keeping my energy up. For starters, I don’t drink coffee, and I don’t sleep a lot, haha, that’s something I’m working on. I don’t have a secret, mostly, once I’m up for the day at 6:30, I’m up. I head straight to the gym and then get things done around the house, whether it’s chores, or running errands, or picking up, I eat lunch and then it’s work time for the day/night, I eat dinner at work, so in total I eat two meals a day. After work, I come home and crash around 12:30. 

So, definitely have long days but I’m on the go a lot and doing things so I’m keeping busy but if I sit down or chill then I get tired, so as long as I don’t sit down the energy keeps going, On weekends, it’s a different story since I work 9:30-6:30, so it’s more of a normal schedule. It’s when I work nights is when it gets tricky. 

A few little tips/tricks I do to keep my energy up is by drinking lots of water, I try to drink 60 fluid ounces a day. Whether it’s at the gym, through the morning or at work. I stay very hydrated. 

I also love to start the day at the gym, it gets me up and moving and energized and ready to take on the day and it wakes me up.

I also try to get outside as much as I can whether it’s a walk after the gym or to get the mail, I aim for 30 mins but sometimes it doesn’t happy. 

I also remind myself about giving myself grace. I know easier said than done but reminding myself, “Grace Not Perfection”.

This is just a snapshot of life right now and answering some questions that I have been getting recently. Also, if you have nay tips on keeping your energy up…drop them below!!!

Categories
Fitness

Healthy Habits for the School Year

This summer, I tried my best to change my eating habits and make healthier choices. I accomplished this by not snacking and only eating three meals a day, drinking lots of water, and being active. You can see my whole post about healthy summer habits here.  Although, I am back to school I am still incorporating these habits in my daily life. I continue to only eat three meals a day and not snack-although, I will indulge on a dessert every once in a while. It’s all about moderation, right?! By having a balanced diet and workout routine, I am feeling more energized and active as well as upbeat. 

 I start my day heading to the gym.  I go on average 5 days a week. I have altered my routine this year. I am doing cardio such as the treadmill or the elliptical for 20 minutes to get my heart rate up and to start up a sweat. Then I do free weights or the machines for 20 minutes. I will do a mixture of arms, abs, and legs. I wanted to focus more on toning and muscle this year and therefore decided to spend more time on weights this year as opposed to just cardio. I do a lot of walking through the day, so I am getting my steps in that way. I aim for 10,000 steps a day and more times than not, I am exceeding that. 

After the gym, I head back to my room and drink a glass of Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with water. I then drink water with lemon throughout the whole day.  

My breakfast consists of some fruit with some healthy carbs. Today, for an example, I had a bowl of cheerios with milk and a banana.  It was balanced and filled me up until I had lunch. 

Breakfast

For lunch, I opted for something substantial and something that will fill me up until dinner. Today, I had a grilled chicken wrap with lettuce, tomato and cucumbers and then carrots and ranch on the side. I try to eat a protein for lunch whether its chicken or turkey or ham and then a side of fruits or vegetables for a side.

Lunch

By the time dinner rolls around, I try to change it up. It is sometimes hard to eat healthy in college, but I try my best to make it work. I opted for an apple pecan salad, since I had a heavier lunch, I wanted something lighter for dinner. I enjoyed these salads for lunch during the summer while I was working and now I enjoy them for dinner at school. They are the perfect serving size and keep you filled up. I will admit, I did indulge on a chocolate truffle that a friend bought for me, but I ate it before I could snap a picture. Haha!

Dinner

Throughout the day I drank water between meals and went through about three large tumblers. Drinking lots of water keeps me replenished and filled and it helps me avoid getting hungry in the mid afternoon. 

I go through about three tumblers of water a day

Now, are there times when I do get hungry and need a midnight snack while I am working late at night? Absolutely. There are also times I choose pasta over a salad or choose a bagel over fruit for breakfast. The bottom line is, it’s all about balancing and making the healthy choices for you. As long as you are happy, content, and healthy. That’s all the matters. 

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Fitness

Healthy Summer Habits

Hi friends! Happy Tuesday. 

I hope you all had a wonderful and joyous Fourth of July! I know I had such a fun weekend with family. We grilled, swam, spent time outside and enjoyed the summer season. I truly soaked up the time I had at home and was present in the moment, something I am working on for the summer.

However, after the holiday weekend, it’s time to get back on track with healthy and cleaning eating.

One of my goals this summer was having healthier habits. I wanted to feel my best during the summer months and focus more on my healthy since during the school year it can take a back seat sometimes. I have started to implement ways to live a healthier lifestyle this summer, with summer well under way I figured I would take the time to share with you, healthier habits that have been working well for me. 

  • No snacking!

This has been the hardest thing to do, but the biggest game changer. Through my time in college, I have tried different health kicks, from eating small meals through the day, no carbs for lent and working out almost every day. I have seen the best results by not snacking. I typically eat three medium meals a day, and between meals I just drink water. I have lost weight by sticking to this regime as well as feel better and not full all the time. Here’s a look at what I’ll eat in a day.

Breakfast (7:30 am) -Apple, peanut butter, and banana muffin

Lunch (12:30pm)-Caprese Salad with some animal crackers on the side

Dinner (7:00pm) -Spaghetti and a Side Salad with a piece of chocolate for something sweet.

The key is to eating all the food at one time and not between meals. In the mornings, it’s not too hard, I’m busy with work and doing things that I don’t get hungry. However, the afternoons are more challenging, especially when I get home from work and am craving something sweet. Drinking lots of water through the day helps combat the need to eat something.

  • Drink all the water.

Speaking of water, drinking water through the day is such a healthy step in the right direction. My goal is to drink 64 fl oz of water a day, to put that in perspective, that would be like drink 3 large tumblers of water through the day which is easy, especially when you are sitting at your desk through the day or you are battling hunger in the afternoon. 

Always have my water wherever I go
  • Get outside and take a walk. 

On the more physical side of things, walking is such an easy thing to do. Not only are your getting exercise but you are also able to clear your and getting in touch with nature. I like to take walks and visit with a friend, listen to a podcast or take a walk with my dogs. Plus, I’m getting my steps in which is a bonus. I aim to get 10,000 steps a day and most of the time I am hitting that goal with working, running errands and getting a walk in. 

These are just three ways that have been keeping me on track for a healthy lifestyle in the summer. What ways are you staying healthy in the summer months?