extreme weight loss, feeling inspired

Does anyone else watch Extreme Weight Loss on ABC? I have to admit, I don't watch very much TV at all, I might watch a show every now and then, but I will watch this! I do, and I find it very enlightening and inspiring. Seeing the struggles that these people go through and what they deal with is incredible. Last weeks episode was about a girl named Jami and it was very emotional watching. If you haven't watched an episode or don't want to watch them you should watch this one. Chris Powell is awesome at pushing these people through their struggles and helping them in more ways than just by work outs. I've even seen him get emotional with these people, that's dedication!

What can I say?! I'm addicted to this show and Biggest Loser. I watch an episode of either of these and I want to go out and run like 10 miles!

So, I know if you watch it you'll find it inspiring as well!

Do you watch either of these shows, or anything else like them?

manic monday

Ahhhh, it's Monday again! The weekend is over and it's time to get back to the grind. Waking up at 430am (ish) is my way of starting my week right. I wake up, go spend some time at the gym while everyone is still asleep and then come home for breakfast and a nice post workout shake!

My plans for this week are:
Monday: Back and Biceps (am)
Tuesday: Legs (am)
Wednesday: Rest (although I might try and get a quick run in)
Thursday: Chest and Triceps (am)
Friday: Back and Biceps (am)
Saturday: Long Run (am)
Sunday: Recovery run (am)

Honestly, who knows what i'll be up to i the afternoons after the littles go to sleep. Maybe some P90x, or Les Mills Combat, I can't schedule anything because there are some nights when it's impossible for me to do anything and then I get frustrated because it didn't happen.  I know I will be doing something though! Got to stay active!

Just remember:

I might get myself one of these shirts, because there are one too many guys at my gym that walk around like this! Working on every body part is important, don't skip days just because it is tough!

dietbet part 2 the end!

So I won this last Dietbet! Yay! I reached my goal weight and then some. I surpassed my goal weight by 1 pound weighing in at 137! Out of 5724 people 2847 of them reached their goals, so that left us winning $44.69 a piece, awesomeness!

This Dietbet was tough because I think I am at the point where I am losing fat, but I am gaining muscle, so i'm not really losing weight, numbers wise. I can tell I am losing inches, but the numbers on the scale are barely moving, and it's kind of hard not to get discouraged by that. I keep trying to remind myself that it's the muscle I am gaining causing me not to lose weight! :)

I'm probably not going to do one of these again for little while since this one was kind of stressful for me at the end not being sure that I was actually going to make the weight, and with me being at the point I am with weight lifting. Who knows though!?

Have you ever done a dietbet before?

ENERGYbits review and Giveaway!

I was lucky enough to be able to try out a product that I have only recently heard of called ENERGYbits. I've read reviews from people who have loved them and raved about them, so naturally I wanted to try some too!

 Yay! This was my happy mail on Wednesday of last week!

My sample contained enough bits for 2 days, so I was able to try it for 2 different workouts, woo hoo!

Let me tell you a little about them first before I get into the review:

These bits (the ENERGYbits) only contain one ingredient, organically grown spirulina algae. This ingredient has been used by Olympic athletes for decades. Spirulina has also become more popular as a superfood, i've been hearing more and more about it lately, and how can you beat 1 calorie per bit! Here's what the website says about them:

"Want more energy, more mental vitality, or a healthy high protein snack you can grab on the go? How about a quick way to boost your athletic performance, supercharge your run or crank up your endurance while working or working out? If so, ENERGYbits® are for you. Made from 100% organically grown spirulina algae and loaded with 40 nutrients, ENERGYbits® algae tabs have the highest concentration of protein in the world (64%) all for just one calorie per tab. Endorsed by the United Nations as the most nutritious food on earth, spirulina algae has been a favorite of Olympic gold medalists for decades and is a super food in every sense of the word, delivering instant and enduring energy to your brain and body."

I couldn't wait to try them so I took them before my workout on Thursday morning, and I felt amazing! I used to take a pre workout (booo I know!), but I hated it because it messed my stomach all up, I continued to take it because it gave me the extra energy that I needed. I took the ENERGYbits about 15 minutes before I went to the gym in place of the pre workout. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to have the same amount of energy that the pre workout gave me, but I was amazed, because I did! It wasn't like I was hit with energy at one time like with the pre workout, it gradually grew as I needed it. It also did not phase my stomach at all, which I was very excited about. I did chest and I even hit a PR on the bench press! I even continued to feel energetic after my workout was over, it was awesome! I then used them before my run on Sunday and felt the same way. I kept hitting the miles and my energy didn't waver at all, I completed 6 miles while keeping up an 11:30 min./ mile pace when I usually fall down to a 13 min./ mile towards the end of my run. I felt amazing and I am in love with these!

The two days that I took these bits I could tell that I felt more alert and my energy didn't die down later in the day like it normally does. I quit drinking caffeine about 8 months ago and I would drink a caffeinated drink around 5 in the afternoon for a pick me up and ever since I quit I really haven't been able to find a good substitute for it until now! I didn't even need a pick me up around 5, I still felt like I had enough energy to keep going without feeling fatigued even after I had been up since 4:30am. 

They suggest that you take 30 bits a day, which would equal 30 calories. These bits give adults all of the nutrition and protein they need for the day, boost their energy, and remove brain fog. The website also lists plenty of added health benefits to taking these daily like improved physical energy, improved endurance, reduced fatigue, helps reduce anemia and blood pressure and the lists goes on. Pretty much these tiny bits are awesome and super healthy for you!

I am just going to have to bite the bullet and pay the money for these because they are totally worth every penny, and they are still cheaper than the pre workout (even better!)! I am so excited about these, and so very glad that I was able to try them out!

So, now for the good part! ENERGYbits has offered to let one of my readers also try a free sample of them. Amazing right?! 

But, if you can't wait until the end of the giveaway you can head over to their website and enter "BLOG" into the discount code box and you'll receive 10% off!

Now for the giveaway, just enter below for a chance to win a free sample of ENERGYbits so that you can be #PoweredByBits too! 

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

pr's and that good stuff

So yesterday, at the gym, I set a new PR for myself! I benched 75 ibs. 5 times, 5 times, people! Yes! Knowing that I pushed myself harder helps get me pumped up, it helps push me to do even more. I also had my husband there with me to spot me, he is an excellent "coach", he makes me feel like I can push my self harder than whenever I go alone.

I'm a very shy person and I hate, absolutely hate asking for a spot at the gym. I don't think that I have earned the right to do that yet, at least that is how I feel, since I am a newbie to the whole lifting thing. Although, I think I have found my new love, lifting! I enjoy it almost as much as I enjoy running. I look forward to waking up at 4:30 in the morning just to go to the gym while everyone else is asleep, before work. It gets me pumped and ready for my day!

I just wanted to brag a little bit!

running

Lately I have put my running on the back burner thanks to my shin. I believe that my shoes are to blame. Darn shoes! I need to get fitted for some good ones, because there are so many different types out there. My shin feels better now, although, it has been like 2 weeks since I have ran. I plan on running on Saturday, so hopefully I will be able to run! I'm so anxious to get back to running..

I feel so lost whenever I can't run (I know I just began, but still). That is time that I get to myself, I think about the day, work, home, family, whatever. You name it, I just think about all kinds of things. It's so freeing to be out there running, with the wind in your hair, watching the sun rise, hearing the birds chirp. Most of the time I leave early enough in the morning to watch the sun rise, and there aren't very many people out, so it's quiet and I can actually think.

Even when I don't go out there by myself and run, there are occasions when I take my daughter, it still feels awesome! I like taking her with me because she just babbles about things, like the birds, the flowers and trees and such. It is interesting to see the world through a 3 year olds point of view! I'm hoping that by taking her with me when I do that it will show her how much she could enjoy running in the future.

Running has helped me push through my attitude of giving up. I used to start things and give up on them if I didn't get it right away, but with running it is different. It's like a whole new world out there to explore that I did not know even existed, so I can't even think of giving up now! There are so many races out there and places that I would like to run, so I see no giving up in the future!

So for now my view will continue to look like this:

And what a wonderful view this is!

What makes you run? What makes it important to you?

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the color run, part 2!

So, I signed up for another color run, like 2 weeks after my first one! This one was in Winston-Salem though, pretty much the same distance away as Charlotte. Still, I had a blast!

My GPS on my phone didn't work and I didn't take my watch, so I have no idea what my time was or anything like that. It didn't really matter though, because this run was more for fun than anything else! Next color run that I do, I think i'll wear a tutu or dress up or something like that! There definitely is going to be more in the future though!

This time they had colored water as well as the colored powder stuff, which was pretty neat! I liked the shirts much better this time too, but when I washed this one all the color came out. :( The one from the run in Charlotte didn't wash all the way out, but instead the color just faded, needless to say I was a little sad.

There were a ton of people at this one, even though it hadn't sold out by the time it started. There were kids, babies in strollers, whole families, pregnant women pushing strollers with babies, there was just a variety of people! There is going to be another one in Raleigh in September, I think, but I am debating on signing up for that one as I will be towards the end of my half marathon training, so we will see!

Then there was the color party at the end! Wow, so much COLOR!!!

And of course my Race Swag!

I love these fun runs, they make running so much more than just exercise! They make it enjoyable, instead of feeling like you're just exercising, you're having fun!



goals

Have you ever sat down and thought about where you would like to be 5 years from now? I haven't until this past weekend.

I'm a live in the moment, whatever happens, happens kind of person. So I have never really thought about 5 years down the road. Well over the weekend my husband made me write down where I would like to be in 5 years. I honestly had a hard time deciding. I didn't even know where to begin.

I knew I wanted to have fitness goals, physical goals, family goals. So, where do I begin?

I know fitness wise, I want to have:
1. Ran the Dopey Challenge at WDW
2. Become certified as a Personal Trainer
3. Still thinking.....

Physical, I want:
1. To be happy with myself! *most important goal ever!*

That's all I have come up with so far... This goal decision process is hard, because you really have to think about what it is that you really want in the future. I now I sure will be adding to these in the future as I think of them.

Make the impossible possible!

new week, new schedule

This is the last week of the DietBet that I am doing, so I need to work hard at resisting my cravings and not give in to chocolate so I can lose those last few pounds I need to win. That's the hardest part about me trying to eat healthy, is that stupid chocolate!

I've been trying to hit the gym a little harder lately since my running has been sporadic. My shin has been bothering me, so I have been trying to give it a break and not run so much. I'm not sure why it's bothering me like it is, but it is painful! I want to think that it is because of my shoes, I haven't been properly fit for a pair and I am currently wearing Nikes that my brother bought me for Christmas. So maybe one day soon i'll get properly fitted from someone at a running store.

Here's my schedule for the week:

AM
Monday: Chest, Shoulders and Triceps  Check!
Tuesday: Legs and Abs Check!
Wednesday: Cardio Check!
Thursday: Back and Biceps Check!
Friday: Rest Day check!
Saturday: Run 3 miles It was raining so this is getting put off until Sunday :(
Sunday: Chest, Shoulders and Triceps

Les Mills Combat:

PM
Monday: Combat 30 Check!
Tuesday: HIIT: Power Check!
Wednesday: Combat 45 Check!
Thursday: REST Check! (I didn't really rest though, I went to the gym instead)
Friday: HIIT: Shock Plyo Check!
Saturday: Combat 30
Sunday: REST

I will be wearing my Under Armour shoes instead of the Nikes this time for Les Mills, because the Nikes just do not have enough arch support for me. Hopefully that will also help my legs.

I am determined to get into the best shape that I have ever been in! In saying that, though, I am totally not trying to overdo it and injure myself. That would leave for a very unhappy Mandy!

dietbet part 2

I joined another dietbet! I've won the last two that I have started so I figured why not a third one! I joined this one along with 5,994 more people though, which is a lot people paying $25 a piece. The pot is up to $149,850, so i'm hoping to get a good amount of winnings!

I only have 10 more days left, but i'm right on track with the weight loss and I only have a couple pounds left to lose!

So wish me luck!

myrtle beach pnc 5k

I ran the PNC 5k in Myrtle Beach in February. It was a night race, and I don't run at night, and I haven't ever ran a night race before so I wasn't sure what to expect. It wasn't bad at all! I did the best that I have ever done that night.

I was nervous throughout the day, so I wasn't able to eat too much, which I thought was going to turn around and bite me in the butt later. Thankfully it didn't, and I did extremely well, for me! I will definitely be doing this run again next year, but i'll be aiming for the half marathon by then! *hopefully!*

My time was 35:43, and I came in 574th out of 923 people and 36th out of 53 in my age group, but I thought I was going to die there at the end! I physically pushed myself to my limits that night during the run, which I haven't done before during my training runs. I was determined to do well!

There was a couple children there running the race with their parents and I can't wait until little bit is old enough to actually run with me instead of in her stroller! I remember seeing an 8 year old running with her father and I told her how awesome I thought that it was that she was running with her father! He told me that in 2012 he ran the 5k and got a medal and after she saw the medal she had to do it this year! (See i'm not the only one doing it for the bling!) :)

My daughter was there though, cheering me on! My dad came with her so that she could sit on the sidelines and cheer me on!

I looked a little rough here, but this was while I was crossing the finish line!! As I said earlier I thought I was going to die at the end! But, hey, No Pain, No Gain! Am I right!?

The swag bag that they gave us was really nice, it even came with a blanket! I gave the blanket to my daughter though to cover up with. The medal was really nice, it was my first official medal!

Overall I had a fun time, and the run was really nice. I didn't get to run by and see the beach though like the marthoners did, but hey, it was still great! Maybe next time!

and i'm back!

I know I took a few months off from writing, but i'm back! I am still running, and i've added in crosstraining to my regime. I have also started Les Mills Combat from Beachbody, and it is awesome! It pushes me to my limits and makes me sweat! I have ran a few 5k's, keeping on track with my 13 in 2013 goal, and I have my first half marathon planned in October.

My favorite 5k so far has been the Warrior Dash in North Carolina on the 1st. It was a 3 mile mud run with obstacles, some that I didn't know that I could do until I actually did them! I will be posting race recaps with photos and details. I am so proud of myself for doing all these runs, especially when I didn't think that I could really do them to begin with!

I am on my way to a better and healthier lifestyle, I want to be a good role model for my daughters. I want them to know that it pays off to live a healthy and active lifestyle and that it is all worth it!

diet bet

So my diet bet began on monday. I currently have 26 days to lose 5.9 pounds. I know I can do it, I just have to prove it to everyone else now! Oh and the pot is now over $13,000. Whoa!

Over the weekend I mentioned that I ran for an entire 3 miles instead of running some, then walking some. Well that has motivated me so much this week! Monday was my day off, but I still ran 2 miles Sunday, yesterday and today! Super proud of myself! I think maybe next month I am going to sign up for the Virginia Beach Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon, hopefully to push myself to actually get done what I want to get done!

personal best

I have been thinking lately about making this year the best year yet for me. I want to be the best that I can be, and stop being lazy and do everything (well mostly everything) that I put my mind to. I want to end the year with a half marathon, hoping that I can get there, virtual or real one. I have a long way to go.

So today I woke up feeling like I needed to get that personal best thing started! I woke up at 730  before anyone else was up and went for a run. I was aiming for 3 miles, but since i'm just starting out running (meaning, I have NEVER ran anything or anytime in my life) I have been taking it slow. I having been really running/ walking these miles. Well today I told myself that I was going to run for a mile, take a 2 minute break, finish running the second mile, take a 2 minute break and then finish the third mile running. Once I reached the one mile mark I felt awesome. I have never felt quite like this on a run before, it was a really great feeling. So I continued running until I reached the second mile and I thought since I had already ran that far I might as well run the rest of the way, and I did!!!! I reached my personal best mile at 13:28 on the third mile! I was so excited. Yayyyyy!

I also went to the rock climbing gym here and climbed for about an hour and a half. So, overall I had a very active Saturday. It felt great and I am ready to start this year off better than any other ever before!

diet bet

So, i've kind of been slack on my running this week... Being a full time working mom kind of puts a damper on your exercise. This week has been a little busier than normal though for me, because I had to travel for some training for work, but next week is going to start all new!

To help jump start my new new goals, I signed up for diet bet. It's this cool website that I just found out about that helps push you to lose the weight you want to. You pay money into a pot, then you have 4 weeks to lose 4% of your body weight. Who ever loses the 4% shares the pot. Well this one by fitfluential is now at $4650! Woo! Would you like to join as well? There's still time! Just click here to read all about it!

Could you imagine if I won the whole pot at $4650? Who knows?! I know that I will be working my butt off to reach that goal so I can earn some money!

running

I have lost my motivation. Where did it go?! Does this ever happen to anyone else, or always me? I tend to start things and never finish them. I hope that doesn't happen with this. I love the feeling of finishing that finish line. The feeling of knowing that I finished something like a race is amazing to me. Knowing that there is always improvement to running makes it a super challenge for me. Although, I don't feel like I am getting any better :( I understand that it takes time, but ahhhh.. The anticipation is killing me!
On other terms, I ran Saturday morning, and thought I did well. I ran 2 miles in 30 minutes! I'm hoping to one day be able to say I ran 3 miles in 30 minutes, but we'll see. *One day*
I've been trying to eat healthier this year. Working out and running aren't going to help me get the body I want unless I eat right as well! So the other night I fixed a Crustless Spinach Quiche. Yum!

I'll post the recipe for it later, but it is so yummy! I was skeptical at first, but once I started smelling it from the oven, I lost all that. Both little K and the hubby loved it too! Score!

I Sweat Pink!

Look who is now officially a sweat pink ambassador! I am so excited to begin this step in my fitness journey! I applied a while ago with no intentions of actually being accepted since I was just starting my journey, but low and behold they accepted me! And now I can share my enthusiasm with fitness and being healthy with that many more people! I usually try not to use this many exclamation points, but I am just so excited (if you can't tell!) This will also help to keep me going on my journey with fitness, in case I get discouraged or fall off track! Knowing that I can help change someone's mind on eating healthy and exercising will be enough to give me that push to keep going! Weeeeee, now i'm off to Sweat Pink!

r.i.t.n.y 5k

How did you ring in your new years?! I rang mine in with a 5k, starting at midnight! There were quite a few people there, more than I thought would be there. I was very nervous when it first started. I was running in my very first official 5k. But I ended up having a ton of fun, and I had my little munchkins at the finish line waiting for me when it was all over with! It made me feel so awesome to cross that finish line, I just wish I had done it faster, but, hey i'm getting better! 

I know it's already January 2nd, but it's better now than never to announce my goals for 2013. Do you set goals for yourself each year? I don't normally, and if I do I don't ever reach them :/ I'm going to do better this year and actually stick to my goals.

- Run 13 in 2013 (it doesn't have to be 13 5ks, or 13 half marathon or marathons, just runs)

- Run a half marathon ( I got my sights set on the Rock-n-Roll Half marathon in Virginia) 

- Complete a warrior dash 

- Start meal planning

- Eat healthier

- Stop procrastinating so much!

Now go run!