Bowling away the Winter Blues

I’m pretty sure winter is never going to end here…

Its been two days straight of this white stuff. My summer self is really craving the sun.

Bonus: I get to shovel! I strangely have fun doing it, Kind of like a bonus workout but you get to make a igloo to lay down in at the end!

Main reason why I am really not loving this white stuff…

I keep getting stuck on the treadmill.. I know, I KNOW I should just woman up and dress for winter running and get out there but I kid you not, it was a WHITE OUT today. I don’t mind running in light snow… but 30mph winds and snow coming from every which direction… eh. No thanks.

I’m worried my early spring marathon is going to be a late winter marathon… I also don’t love being cold while racing… really

I also taught this jazz today.

The lunge track was by far my fav! LOVE that burn!

Since the snow still hasn’t stopped, I took the twinners bowling for the first time!

They loved it! A little crazy, in the taking turns aspect- but overall they did great and Bee even got a strike! Future bowling prodigy, I tell ya.

Iphones take best pictures…

The people in the lane next to us didn’t so much.. Tanner kept running over into their lane to watch his ball hit the pins. It was pretty darn cute!

Question of the Day:

Body Pumpers: What do you think of Body Pump 85?

Bowlers: What is your screen name when bowling? I always feel like I should be creative with it..

California dwellers: Can I come live with you?

New PR and BP launch!

Its only Tuesday… Does anyone else feel like it should be at least Thursday?


Although, its been a long week to me already, Today was a GREAT day!

I pulled a huge PR today in my dead lift at GPP. We haven’t done heavy DL’s in awhile and I was surprised that I upped my PR by 50lbs! My old PR was 205 and today I was able to pull #255!! I had a lot of support and friends cheering me on and I definitely don’t think I could of done it without them.

There were so many PR’s today it was outstanding! I love watching and hearing about peoples success in the gym. It makes me happy and I could not be more proud of their dedication and strength. There were several chicks who joined the #200 club today in the gym. Cool stuff!

It was also Body Pump Launch at Skills Fitness today. They launched BP #83 tonight and it was a great class! I love the excitement that launches bring into the gym, along with fun décor and the fact that the instructors all get to teach together! I love team teaching, and think it brings a little more energy to it. I didn’t teach tonight, but came to hang out and play, and of course take pictures.

I ended up doing a little back, bi and tri workout afterward that my nutritionist gave to me along with my diet plan.

I love working out my back- it is one of my favorite muscle groups to workout. Number one, would have to be shoulders.


Momma got back!

It can only get better from here right?

I also spent some time at the park today, the twins begged all morning to go and after they cleaned up their rooms, made dinner, folded 14 loads of laundry and scrubbed my kitchen floor. I took them.

Okay, just kidding.. I still have to clean all of that.. But it doesn’t take much to get me to procrastinate on house work. Besides, it was over 80 degrees today so we are going to take advantage of the sun while we can!

Taking a huge container of oatmeal to the park for a picnic is totally normal right?

I have discovered that park time before nap time = a 5 hour nap!!
This mom is not going to complain about that!
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Want to be part of something cool?

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Question of the day:
What is your favorite muscle group to train?

Muffin love

We all love muffins right? Not the muffin that spills over our jeans I’m speaking of the baked assortment.. Especially mini ones, cause anything little is cute, and now they are just as filling!

Because they are made with protein, more protein, a vegetable and carb?

Sure. I’ll take a hundred.

These muffins are perfect post workout! Or just for extra snackage to hold you off till your next meal. They are easy to pack in a little baggie and eat if your out and about.

Protein Muffins

Serving size: 2 muffins

Yields 24 muffins

Ingredients

• 1 container Vanilla Greek Chobani Yogurt
• 1/2 of a 15 oz. Can Pumpkin Puree
• 2 egg whites
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 C. Agave Nectar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tbs. Cinnamon
• 3/4 C. Old fashioned Oats (GF possible)

Directions

Pre-heat oven 350 degrees

In two separate bowls combine all wet ingredients in one and dry in the other.

slowly pour the dry ingredients into the wet while stirring until well combined

Grease the small muffin pan with coconut oil or olive oil spray

Use a spoon to fill muffin tins about 3/4 of the way.

Sprinkle extra oats on top! (optional)

Bake for 15 minutes

This week is launch week at one of the gyms I work at.

Yesterday, we launched Body Pump #80- This release is innovative and different then any other release. There are several new movements that are introduced and It makes it makes a great challenge to get through it. The lunge track especially! Yeesh!

love these girls! 

It was a blast! Tomorrow night we launch Body Attack!

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Q. How long do you keep your spices for?

I posted this on fb today and it was really interesting to hear everybody’s thoughts! I go through cinnamon like crazy but others I think I have had for years!!

Hot then Cold

This morning when I woke up I was freezing! Maybe due to the fact its 8 degrees outside..
So I knew I wanted something warm for breakfast, aaaaand maybe a cookie.
These gingerbread cookies are so soft and tasty that they inspired this mornings breakfast.

Gingerbread Cookie Oatmeal

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Cup Gluten-free oats/old fashioned rolled oats
  
• 1.5 tsp. stevia
  
• 1.5 tsp. cinnamon
  
• 1/4 tsp. Ginger
  
• 2 egg whites (optional- I add it just for protein)
  
• water

Directions
Place desired amount of water in bowl with oats (I like mine thick) Along with 2 egg whites
Microwave for 2 minutes
Stir in spices and cook for additional minute
Optional: Top with gingerbread cookie

After my belly was nice and warm I was able to head out in the cold air to the gym. I made it to about half of body combat and taught Body Pump. Body Pump #80 is SOOO fun! It is one of my favorite releases. It includes a few new/different movements which make it innovative and fun. I love all the songs for each track as well. The tricep and lunge track hurt so good..
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After pump, I was planning on running but got about 2 miles in on the treadmill and the shoes I was wearing were really bugging my feet.—>I’m super picky when it comes to running shoes & socks. Comfort is key!!  If I start to feel the least bit of So I switched it to the stair climber for a little over 20 minutes at level 10.

When I got home I was a sweaty and more then ready for a recovery smoothie.

Chocolate protein + unsweetened cocoa + Strawberries + Spinach ,blended with Vanilla almond milk unsweetened and ice

Weird combo but it was pretty tasty but now I’m freezing again!
Time for a hot shower to warm back up then off to *hopefully get some Christmas shopping done! Lets hope the babies are in a shopping mood today..
Q. Body Pumpers, what do you think about release #80? Have you done it yet?

Diagnosed.

Today we woke up to snow. I pulled out the sweaters, jeans, scarfs and gloves. I don’t know if I can honestly say I’m excited.. Its snow. Cold. Cold. snow. All my runs will most likely become indoor on the treadmill.. tis the season.
Workout:
GPP workout involved one of my favorite Olympic movements!
The clean and Jerk! I PR'd today topping out at 115. I couldn’t do 5 in a row without taking a break but I got that sucker over my head 5 times so that’s good in my book
I taught Body Pump and ran a quick 3 miles.

I registered for my first race of the season.. of next year! Just when you think race season is all over… It begins again..(well dishing out the cash and finding random things to sell to pay for them..)

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I’m actually really excited about it! I have never done this marathon and have heard it’s a good one! It’s set for May 19,2012! If anything it gives me motivation to keep on movin. I enjoy working out a little more when I have something to work for!
My diagnosis…
Alright, about the title. For the past few months I have been asked if I was pregnant multiple times. The first time, I didn’t think anything of it. The second time, I figured I just have poor posture, that I need to work on. The third time, I decided I reeeeally need to start thinking about sucking in.. the fourth time- I clearly just wanted to punch that lady in the face.
It really starts to pick at you after awhile- I’m not really one to take things personally and can just let them roll off. But after hearing it so many times, I’m just annoyed.
I have been having some tummy issues lately and figured it was dairy or something else I was eating. Sometimes when I am laying down my belly moves.. like there really is a baby in there.. weird? yes… so after researching and meeting with the doc. I established that I have Diastasis recti.
Which commonly is known as abdominal separation. This is highly common with pregnancies, especially with multiples.
As with every pregnancy, every woman experiences abdominal separation post pregnancy.. its kind of a given.
Most of which heal on there own after a few weeks post pregnancy. Then there is that percentage that doesn’t! (raise my hand here) twins will do that to you I guess.. and the fact that I went back to teaching 4 weeks post pregnancy.. abs and all. (big mistake)…
You can visually see it when I flex.

See the gap in the center and or it protruding , down the center of my midline?
How to check if you have Diastasis recti

1. Lie on your back with you belly showing
2. Place one hand behind your head
3. Tuck your pelvis in, sucking your navel into your spine
4. Put your pointer finger about 1 inch above your belly button
5. Come up into a crunch position
6. If you can fit 3-4 even 5 fingers you most likely have it.

What to do about it

1. Exercises like this.---> Great post pregnancy abdominal workouts!
2. Surgery

Well, I want to have more kids so I don’t want to spend the mula right now to get it done to just have it stretched back out.. So I’m just going to live with it. I will start working on my “pelvic tilt” and such to see if it improves but its one thing I can be okay with.
The Dr. said it isn’t life threatening and very common. If its not painful and no hernia is present there is nothing to really worry about. I don’t think my case is very severe. There are plenty of other women that also suffer from this also and I don’t think its super noticeable all the time… so I’m going to do my best to work on my posture a little to.
If your pregnant.. or you just HAD a baby or 2 DO NOT go straight into sit-ups or crunches.. Let those muscles recover and come back together. I recommend getting one of these.. I used one but I think my mistake was that I went back to teaching so soon after the pregnancy and the fact that my belly was stretched to the max with the twinners.. but they were worth it
 oooooo..I miss this..
and I’m okay with it.. I’m just going to get a t-shirt made that says.. no, I’m not pregnant--- on the back: I have diastasis recti..
 Q. Have you signed up for your first race of the 2012 season yet? If so which ones are you planning on?
Ogden Marathon, Moab half, Bear lake brawl HIM, Ragnar, epic, red rock relays, Salt lake Half, top of Utah, Some rec center tris, and maybe one other marathon?.. (I better start collecting pennies now!)
Q. Have you ever heard of Diastasis recti before?


OH and its someones special birthday tomorrow! Can't wait to celebrate!

meet mom & dad #2

After tackling my mile long to-do list.. which is still about that long... sigh* Do any of you start something but kind of half finish it? Yep, thats me... I feel like a have a pile here, a pile there... etc. For example, here is few things that I got done or almost done on my list!

• Laundry- Washed.. took upstairs. I have yet to fold and put away..
• Clean Bathrooms- Mirrors check, counters, check. Toilets......
• Vacuum 
• Mop/sweep kitchen- did it. Then T&B spilled syrup that I had hiding in the pantry from our Christmas party.. Now my floor is sticky and so were they.. Put I got to cross off dishes.. 
• 
• 
  
• Teach Pump
• Dishes- see...
• Find Maxi dress- FAIL, 3 stores and nada... 
• Pack- ha. 
• Create posts for next week Pictures taken. Now to type. +1 more recipe to create! 
• Find Subs- 2 no's and about 10 no response. #expected. 
• Pick up Invites and address for twinners birthday- Never made it.. must get in mail before we leave! 

AND this is only the first half..  I have to work in the morning, so as soon as I leave I best be getting to it.
with a little help of course...

After Pump tonight! Which was a great class! (Hi Cindy!!) It flew by quickly.. it was a smaller class today full of a few regulars so we were able to chat about non-pump things in between tracks.. such as the casey anthony case (crazy sauce), the fact my hair was somewhat manageable looking,  oh and of course form and technique... ;)
After class I hurried home because Mom & Dad #2 were coming over to eat some grub & learn the twinners nightly routine!

Meet the most gracious, helpful, amazing couple EVER! Matt and Jaclyn have been friends of ours since High School! Jac and I danced together in High school!  At our birthday party last week she totally jumped at the chance to tend the babes (in fact she offered!) & I honestly feel 100% comfortable leaving T & B with them! They both love them and aren't hesitate at all! Which is amazing since B has become a bit more clingy to mommy lately. I prepared a feast, okay, not really just the usual dinner around these parts. 

Salad- Made by Jaclyn! 

Strawberry/Blueberry combo

Grilled Chicken and Salmon

Sweet Potato fries (HOW-TO Post Coming Soon!)

Veggies via steamable packet.

I originally planned on making some brownies to but didn't get to it. Maybe tomorrow? (just add it to the list!)

I'm off to write up a few blog post to share while I'm gone AND also I have some AMAZING guest post for you all to keep you entertained and hopefully I'll be able to pop in a few times while we are in Kaui! (rumor has it there may be free wi-fi!)

Q. Is anyone else a halfer to doer? (if that makes sense?) 

Q. New Maxi dress?, Hat?, New Sunglasses?, or swimmer? Which do you prefer before a fun trip?