School's Out!

Hello!

I'm finally done with school! It is the best feeling, now I'm ready for a summer of relaxation and beach days!

Monday morning I started my morning of with Enza with an awesome workout! I was legit making it rain in there! I warmed up with a mile run and then the fun started. It was a high intensity cardio infused nonstop workout. Lots of weights, sprints, and of course, burpees! After workouts like these I can finally start to realize how much I've built up my endurance!

Monday night I went to the Celtics Playoff game against the 76ers. The outcome wasn't exciting, we lost 81-82, but it was a great game to watch and be at! The energy of the fans was amazing and made the game wicked fun to watch!

This was when the game was just starting, so people were still filing in, by the middle of the 1st quarter it was packed!

The game was also tight and back and forth all night which made it exciting! I hate going to games that are complete blowouts (aka the Sox game I went to a few weeks ago). I also got a free towel, free stuff is always fun!

I'm Irish, so I guess that really does make me a Celtic, right?

Tuesday wasn't very exciting around these parts. Doctors appointment which I ran to and from, the office is right up the block from me so it was just a nice little 1/2 mile run to squeeze in. I went to the movies with Stephen later that night and saw '21 Jump Street'. It was hilarious, I was seriously peeing my pants the whole time. I love Jonah Hill, and Channing Tatum isn't to shabby to look at either!

Now, onto today! I went to Enza this afternoon to make up for this Saturday. She'll be participating in the Civilian Military Course this weekend, good luck Enza! Today's workout consisted of a mile warm up, and than a full on abs and butt workout. Full of resistance bands, planks, and, crunches! I'm sure I'll be feeling it tomorrow morning. Apparently I didn't get enough cardio in at training today, after work I was craving a run so I took a quick mile run around the block, satisfied my needs very nicely!
I enjoyed a nice smoothie after my run to refuel. It was delicious!

 1 scoop Vanilla Whey Protein Powder 

1 Cup Almond Milk

2 Tablespoons Almond Butter

1/2 Frozen Banana 

What's your favorite snack to have after a workout?

-Elizabeth

Wild Weekend!

Hello!

Sorry for the short hiatus! I've been so busy with work, finals and just basically crazy the past few days! Here's a recap!

Friday:
Nothing special, work, school, babysat. Wasn't able to get a workout in, wah :(

Saturday:
Started off my morning with a nice 3.1 mile run! I finished in 36:40 which is great for me! Last week I ran a 5k in 45:00, so to bring it down that much made me very happy! I didn't have training today because Enza and a few people from my gym participated in the Tough Mudder this weekend ( I may be doing it in July !!!) After my run I showered up and headed off to Boston with Stephen, my sister Jillian and her husband Dan, for the Redsox game! It was a fun time had by all, but unfortunately the Sox didn't do so well. They lost to the Orioles 8-2.

Stephen & I

Jill & I. We're 6 years apart!

Hometown team!

I have to admit, it was strange being at a game and not knowing the whole line up... or even the pitcher! They have a few players out, but I kept having to ask Stephen "Who's that.... who's that...where's this guy" I really only knew Pedroia, Ortiz and Gonzales on the line up! Guess I need to get caught up on the "new" Redsox! The game was very exciting though! The picther, Aaron Cook (yes, I have to Google that) received a nice laceration to his knee, I thought he was going to be out of the game, but he stayed in, bloody pants & all, what a trooper! Also, Punto's bat flew out of his hands at one at bat and hit a little kid in the face! I didn't find this out until after the game, I knew the bat flew, and then there was a little commotion in the crowd, but they didn't say what happened, so I didn't know it was a child until I got home around 730 that night! The child went to the hospital, and is fine now thank god! Baseball can get violent ! After the game we hit up a local Italian place and chowed down! It was a nice day spent with great company!

Sunday:

I took a class at a Studio that a friend of mine just opened up! Studio Poise in Lynnfield, if you live in the area (North of Boston) definitely check it out! I took the "Poise" class which was a fusion of pilates, dance, light weight training, isometrics and conditioning. It was a great class and worked my whole body! A nice switch up from my usual weights and cardio with Enza. I'm definitely going to find time to fit this class into my schedule! Her studio also offers Zumba, Yoga, Fitness classes and dance classes for children. Most definitely an up and coming studio in this area!

Monday:

 Started off my morning with a great workout with Enza. I hadn't been with her since Thursday morning, so a nice butt kicking from her was long over due! Here's what we did today:

Ran 1 mile (10:54) So strange my mile use to be almost 16 minutes!

Combo of push ups, rows and over head presses

Lunges w/ weights

Side lunges w/ weights

Single lifts

Shoulder lifts

High Knees

Butt Kicks

Bear Crawls

Side shuffles 

It was a combination of everything and I loved sweating my way through it! 

After my workout I went straight to class, all nice and sweaty! Only 2 more classes left, I don't really care lol! Classes right now are sort of just going through the motion since everything is basically done. I enjoyed this little treat during my math class 

It was delicious! Along with my peanut butter and banana obsession, I'm also crazy in love with coconut as well! Cereal, ice cream, bars, cookies, plain coconut, you name it, i'll eat it! This little gem was just the right amount of everything! My mouth is watering just thinking about it :).

That's it for now! I promise I'll be back to updating regularly from now on!

-Elizabeth

Days Go By

Hello!

It's been another crazy few days over here, sorry for not posting! Here's a recap:

Friday


Ran my 2 miles! I finished in about 22 minutes, which is fine by me! It was my first time, in probably forever running two miles straight, so I was very happy with myself. I felt so good afterwards!

Happy Girl after my run!

After that I had a delicious bowl of Oatmeal with apples & walnuts. It is the best creation ever, as I've stated before. I think I could live off of it. SO good.

1 serving Oats

1 tbsp Chia Seeds

5 walnuts, crushed.

Half and apple, diced

Then I was a lazy girl who napped my day away until work later that evening. My nap was definitely needed, as I went on a nice 5 mile, hilly, windy, bike ride! I hadn't road a bike in a while, so it was fun to get on one and go for a nice ride, I'll have to try to fit it into my routine more often! After my bike ride I enjoyed a nice batch of plain organic yogurt, chia seeds, flax seeds, blueberries, and strawberries.

Tangy, Crunchy & Sweet!

Saturday (today):

Woke up early and went to training and.......

.....

...

..

.

I ran a 5k! YIPPEE! I'm so proud of myself, my time wasn't great and I'm definitely not happy with it (44:00). But I'm so happy that I could just accomplish a 5k, I ran the whole time and didn't stop. My time may have something to do with doing it on a treadmill, I always seem to run a bit faster outside. It was so motivational and definitely a mood booster to show that I can really do whatever I set my mind too! Also, I have plenty of time to cut my time down. I'm running in an actual run, The Color Run at the end of July, so I have about 3 months to improve. 

I got a nice little cut on my toe during my run too. Not a blister, just a toenail that attacked my toe :(.

My battle wound. Is it bad I'm kind of proud of it?!

Also, I'm down 2 more lbs! Go me! As much as I like seeing my weight go down, I'm much more happy about my body fat % going down, and just seeing and feeling the change in my body. The weight loss is just a plus, I'm just so happy to see my body transforming into a healthy, fit body.

I also bought some strawberry seeds today and planted them, I'll keep you updated with my adventure with planting!

Well, that's how my past few days have been! How have you been?

- Elizabeth

Kicking It Up a Notch!

Good morning!

Last night was a sad, sad, night in Boston. Guess it just wasn't their year this year. It was an intense game though, definitely how playoff games should be played! But, great season and better luck next year boys!

This morning I had my workout with Enza. It was a great, sweaty, booty kickin' workout for sure! I ran my normal mile, then did some major leg and ab workouts! She had me doing everything, stability ball, planks, push ups, resistance bands, the whole shebang! I still can't get over how good I feel after these workouts, I love it! I'm going to rest tonight and not do any circuit since I had my workout this morning, but I will probably still take Brody for a nice walk later this afternoon.

Speaking of my trainer, Enza wants me to run 2 miles tomorrow! I know, it's not much, and I can totally do it, I'm just totally freaking myself out! I think I'm going to go the route around the pond in my neighborhood. It's nice, scenic, somewhat private and I think is about 2.02 miles from my house and back. I just need to stay calm and pace myself. Wish me luck!

I've been on a salad kick lately, I had this beast of a salad for lunch yesterday.

It was delicious! It had; romaine lettuce, carrots, broccoli, a few almonds, and lemon basil chicken. It was so good, juts the right bit of everything! I ate this dry again, its strange, I use to have to ALWAYS have dressing, and now the  flavor of the vegetables and chicken just taste great to me plain! 

- Elizabeth

Smoothies, Circuits & Bruins

Sorry for the late post!

I've been non stop all day; class, work, dinner, working out, homework! I finally have time to breathe!

Update on my circuit training last night:

It went really well, and I felt great afterwards too! I ended up running only a mile around my block since it was getting dark out. Afterwards I did the circuits and I worked up a nice little sweat! The weights were easy, sort of felt like I wasn't holding anything since I have 5 lb weights and I'm use to 15/20 lb weights now. After my workout last night I enjoyed a nice little treat.

Big, delicious strawberries with a few Cracklin' Oat cereal pieces on the side

A Peanut Butter & Banana Smoothie! Heaven!

In my smoothie I had

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 tbsp peanut butter

1/2 a banana

1/3 cup yogurt

1/2 cup almond milk

It came out nice and thick, just the way I like my smoothies! I can't stand thin, watery smoothies... it's just not right!

As for today, I did another round of circuit workouts. This time I focused more on arms & abs.

Walked Brody for 1 mile ( my ankle was feeling kind of funny, and I didn't want to mess it up and not be able to go 100% with Enza tomorrow)

20 bicep curls x3

20 tricep dips x3

20 side lifts x3

30 second plank x3

30 second bicycle sit ups x3

20 hip thrusters x3

30 seconds mountain climbers

10 reverse sit ups x3

This circuit worked out nicely! I definitely feel it in my abs and arms! I think circuits have worked their way into my at home workouts for good.

I have to go be a good Boston sports fan now and go cheer on the Bruins in game 7! Keeping my fingers crossed that they get it done! Lets go B's!

-Elizabeth

Solo Circuit

Hello!

I'm definitely feeling better today! Yesterday I was sort of in a funk, but now I'm good to go (I think all my talk on motivation last night actually kicked in).

I took the pups for a short walk around the block today during my lunch. Brody is the golden retriever, my dog. Nomar is the pug, my parents dog. They are two extremely different dogs, but they love each other and are best friends. They snuggle and fight and just chill out all today together. The size difference makes me laugh. Nomar is 2, and Brody will be 1 on April 30th!

Speaking of lunch, I had a delicious sandwich today. Ground turkey, honey mustard and lettuce on whole wheat bread. With a few pear slices on the side.

Sounds a little funky, I was skeptical at first as well, but it is seriously delicious! You should totally give it a try, I usually have some tomato slices on it as well, but I ran out of tomato.

I have a nice little circuit workout planned for when I get home from work tonight. Yes circuit is spelled wrong, it was early and I was watching a one year old while writing the list, let me off the hook this one time ;). With my trainer, she has me warm up with a mile run and then the rest of my time is spent doing circuit workouts. Figured I would give it a try on my own!

It also says 20 alternating lunges x2, as well as 30 seconds of mountain climbers x3. Usually, on my days off from my trainer I just run, but I feel as though working this short circuit workouts will help out as well. Right now I just have 5lb weights at home so I'll have to deal with those for know, I've worked up to 15 & 20 lbs with Enza (aka I have to shop for some new weights soon!). My block is about a mile (a little less), so it should be a nice warm up to the circuit workout. I'm excited to try it out and do it on my own! I'll let you know how it all works out

Enjoy the rest of your day!

-Elizabeth

A Little Lift Me Up!

Woohoo, go me! Coming from a girl who use to never run, this makes me so happy! Motivation, Motivation, Motivation.