How to Beat Running Boredom

(source) Are you feeling bored with your current running routine? Try some of the below tips to help fight off the boredom: 1. Get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather. 2. Take an exercise class that you haven't take in a while...or one you've never tried (yoga, spinning, boxing, kickboxing, step, bootcamp, etc.) 3. Change your iTunes ... totally different music. 4. Buy yourself some new workout gear and shoes. 5. If you always run the same route through your neighborhood, hit the trails. 6. Sign up for a race in your area and try to hit a PR. You'll be amazed at what you can do. 7. Get outside on your bike, if you always run. Mix it up and switch between the two. 8. Run with friends/family if you normally run alone. 9. Mix up your running routine with strength training. Switch off each day. 10. If you are still bored...take a much need rest break. It's okay. You will not lose what you have gained if you take a couple of days off. Your body might be telling you that, that is what you need.

(source) What are some tips/tricks you use to beat running boredom?

Don't Think. Run

Love this Nike Quote ... Don't Think. Run ... what else is there to say today? Wed, WOD: Close Grip Lat Pull Downs 3x10 Rope Pull Downs 3x10 Rope Crunches 3x20 Cable Low Row 3x10 Overhead Rope Exrensions 3x10 Rope Crunches 3x20 Kneeling Leg Curl 4x10 (each leg) Side Brnds w/plate 3x20

How have your workout been this week? Mine have been good ... tried on the bikini last night for the hubs ... a little work to do, but not much..Vegas here we come!

Lunges, Lunges and More Lunges

(Source) Sunday, WOD: Smith Machine Squats 3x12 Reverse Hamstring Raises 3x10 Seated Hamstring Presses 3x10 Reverse Crunches 50

(source) Monday - Rest Day

(Source) Tuesday, WOD: Warm-Up: Stretch Smith Machine Lunges 3x10 Swiss Ball Crunches 3x20 Overhead Lunges 3x10 Walking Lunges 3xdown and back Walk on Treadmill Incline 30 min

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Mixed Up Cardio --- Mike and Ike Candy

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So last night at the gym I did 20 minutes on the stair climber and then did 35 minutes of a spinning class before I had to leave. I'm always so happy after taking a spinning class. Maybe because I don't do them that often...or maybe I like riding more than I think. Who knows the true answer...but I really enjoy this class. Of course, the music selections has a lot to do with it. Okay, maybe mostly to do with it. I had boring spinning music...I like the upbeat, fun music. Something to take your mind off of looking at yourself in the mirror for 45-60 minutes.

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I also did 50 ab crunches on the assisted ab machine at the gym. I like this, but hate the way it makes my abs burn. And boy do they always burn afterwards.

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Then I ordered dinner for us from Willie's Icehouse. They had a great grilled chicken salad which was just what I needed and finished it off with some water and my favorite Mike and Ike candy. I'm so addicted to this candy...

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It's so good it needs a second look...

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We all have our vices ... mine is something sweet ... Mike and Ike candy. I love both of these flavors. It's so sad that I hide it from my daughter, otherwise, she'll eat it all. Sad, I know ... but a girl has to do what a girl has to do. I'm in love with this candy...some nights it's hard to share!

Thursday, WOD:

Warm-Up: Stretching
Smith Machine Squats 3x15

(This was actually heavy...trying to hold it up with one arm...not so smart on my part.)
Plate Twists 5x20
Lying Leg Curls 3x10
Seated Leg Extensions 3x10
Seated Calf Raises 3x15
Walk on Treadmill (incline) 30 minutes

(I like walking on an include in the AM after a good weight workout. I can watch the news or read a good article.)
How is your Thursday? Do you like Mike and Ike candy? So delicious! If not, what is your one vice that you will not give up?

Wordless Wednesday

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Wednesday, WOD:
Incline Chest Press 3x12
Incline Bicep Curls 3x12
Lying V-Ups x 30
Single Arm DB Raises 3x10
Push-Ups 3x10
Standing Hammer Curls 3x10
Standing BB Curls 3x10
BB Chest Press 3x10
BB Shrugs 3x10
Run 3 miles through neighborhood.

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Tuesday, WOD:
Close Grip Lat Pull Downs 3x10
Lunge w/Plate Twist 3x20
Single Leg Curls 3x10, each leg
Straight Bar Pull Downs 3x10
Free Motion Tricep 3x10 each arm
Free Motion Calf Presses 3x20
Walk on Treadmill x 30 minutes on incline (burned 192.8 calories)

I like walking on the treadmill in the AM after my weight workout. It is relaxing and I try and keep a good pace while walking uphill. My running is for outside...even though I will run on the treadmill when I don't get outside.
Which do you prefer ... running outside or running on a treadmill? How did everyone do yesterday, who ran the Boston Marathon? I know the heat was a factor for some people. Congrats to all who ran the 2012 Boston Marathon. No matter what your time was, you did a fantastic job by just crossing the finish line!

Banana ...B A N A N A...

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Bananas consist mainly of sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and fiber, which
makes them ideal for an immediate and slightly prolonged source of energy. Below are some of the benefits of eating a banana a day:
Anemia - Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body’s hemoglobin functionConstipation and Diarrhea - Due to their content in fiber, they help restore a normal bowel function. Healthy Bones - Bananas are an exceptionally rich source of fructooligosaccharide, a compound
that nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon. These beneficial bacteria
produce enzymes that increase our digestive ability and protect us from unhealthy
bacteria infections. Thanks to fructooligosaccharides, probiotic bacteria can increase
both in number and functionality, increasing our body’s ability to absorb calcium.
Healthy Kidney - Research published in the International Journal of Cancer has shown that daily
consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, is highly protective to
kidney health.
Blood Pressure - Bananas are extremely high in potassium (about 4673mg), yet very low in sodium (1mg), thus having a perfect ratio for preventing high blood pressure.
Ulcers - This is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicle
cases. It also helps reduce acidity and reduces irritation.
Loaded with Potassium - Bananas are high in potassium, which helps normalize the hearthbeat and regulate the body’s water balance. During periods of high stress, our body’s potassium levels tend to
be rapidly depleted: eating bananas is a healthy way to rebalance them without using
drugs.
Stroke Risk - According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part
of a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%
To read the full article, go to www.bananasweb.com.
I have been eating a banana for breakfast for the past couple of weeks now. It helps me stay on track with the Paleo diet. I usually have a banana and some scramble egg whites...yummy and good for the next couple of hours.
Saturday, WOD:
Regular Squats 6 x 10 (increasing weight each set)
Rope Pressdowns 3 x 10 (heavy weight)
Rope Crunches 3 x 10
Sunday, WOD:
Run 3 miles through neighborhood...easy and was just an all around great run. Loved it!
Monday, WOD:
Warm-Up: Run 200m
100 Air Squats, Run 200m
20 Push-Ups, Run 200m
50 Crunches, Run 200m
20 Push-Ups, Run 200m
50 Crunches, Run 200m
Today's workout was a little light for me, but I worked out with a client. It's a good workout and your legs start burning, so overall it was good.
Good luck to everyone running the Boston Marathon. I hope you all do great!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THOSE WHO RAN!!!

Why Do You Run?

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Thursday, WOD:
Warm-Up: Stretch
Incline DB Chest Press 3x12
Kickbacks 3x10
Front Shoulder Raises 3x10
Push-Ups 3x10
Dips 3x10
Shoulder Preases 3x10
Lunger w/Shoulder Raises 4x10
Rope Press Downs 3x10
Cable Curls 3x20
Today's workout was a good workout and I upped the weight on all exercises and it felt really good.

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http://liverunloveyoga.com/tag/i-run-because-running-is-my-drug/ (source)
Why Do You Run?

Under Armour

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Wednesday, WOD:
Stretch
Standing Bicep Curls
V-Ups Off of bench - 200
DB Rows
Incline DB Curls
Seated Rows
Cable Curls
Assisted PullUps
Walk on TM 20 min

Yes this is me...bright eyed and pink super early in the AM. Doesn't everyone take pictures in the gym locker room? I know you do...stop lying...Any hoo...after looking at this picture, my body is shaping up nicely! I guess hitting these weights 4-5 days a week, plus gaining control of my food intake is starting to show! How awesome. Just what I wanted to see.

Yes, they did ask me to do some of the running scenes in Hunger Games, but I was busy. But I still workout like I was there!

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Love these photos from Under Armour.

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What do you think of Under Armour's cotton ad campaign? I'm really liking them.

100 Leg Workout--Nike

Today's workout consisted of doing a 100 reps per exercise, versus sets and reps. Below is a breakdown:
Warm-Up: Lots of stretching
BB Squats x 100
Decline Crunches x 100
Seated Leg Extensions x 100
Seated Calf Raises x 100
Double Crunch x 100

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So, I have been needing some new running shoes for a while now but I hate forking out large sums of money for my running shoes. So I did what any good budget friendly runner does, I headed over to Academy (I had a give certificate from my son (X-Mas Gift) that I hadn't used yet) to see what I could find.

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And I found a pair of Nike Downshifter 4 on sale for only $39.99. That's a great price and they had my size!

They are so comfy and bright (I know that's because their new) and probably needed months ago!

I always buy my running shoes 1 size bigger because it helps with the purple toe thing when you run the longer distances. They had them in 2 additional colors and they were both on sale, so I may go back and get at least one more color, just so I can switch them out. How much are you willing to spend on your shoes? How do you pick out your shoes...what is the deciding factor?

Pool Season is Upon Us - Paleo Retry

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Summer is slowly approaching and that means swimming time (well at least for those of us with a 4 year old). She always wants to go to the pool and I don’t want to be ashamed of the way I look in my bikini. Yes, I wear a bikini…what else would I wear…a t-shirt and shorts? Therefore, it’s time to get my butt in gear and get swimsuit ready. Now, I’m really not that far off…but I’m not there year. So my end date is May 25, 2012 as the pool will open that weekend.

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I have decided to give the Paleo Lifestyle another go of it. Trust me it’s not as easy and you might think. At first I thought it was going to be super easy…just not so. So, here we go with round 2 of the Paleo Lifestyle. Workouts… no problem…I’m very diligent with my workouts … so that’s not an issue…get that eating 100% is where it’s at!

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I’m going to join Jamie in her new cycle of strict Paleo diet and see how we each do. Below is an exert from her blog wherein she describes what she’ll be doing:
“It's hard work gearing up for another cycle of strict paleo. I have been noticing my pants fitting a bit tighter and WODs starting to take me a bit longer so I know that it's time for another cycle. I have some people lined up do this cycle with me. Is there anyone out there in blog land who wants to accept the challenge as well? For the most part I will do the challenge the same as last time but I am changing a few things up...
What will stay the same:
• I am increasing my work outs to at least 5 times a week (I currently do 3)
• I am keeping a food journal
• I am adding protein supplements to my routine
• Length of time, 7 weeks (ending the Friday of Memorial day weekend)
Some things that will be different this go around:
• I'm doing this for me, not a team
• I have a greater knowledge about what I can and can't eat
• I am going to allow myself 1 cheat meal a week
• I am doing a lot of traveling
• I will have more help from my husband since it's not his busy season
As I mentioned above, I'm going to add a protein supplement to my routine. Having a protein shake post work out buys me an extra hour to get home and make dinner. Without the protein, I'm famished within 10 minutes of walking in the door. “ Check out Jamie’s blog at www.jamie-fit.com
Check out her blog and if you are interested in joining her leave her a comment so that she knows she is not doing this alone. Good luck everyone!

Happy Easter --- Weekend Update

I hope you had a great weekend and were able to spend some time with your family. I had a great weekend. It was busy and we did something every day, but I loved every minute of it.
WEEKEND UPDATE:
Friday: WOD:
Ran 3 miles through neighborhood
Went to gym for gym workout:
Warm-Up on Treadmill - 15 minute walk
Smith Machine Squats 3 x 15
Cable Curls 3 x 10
Cable Press Downs 3 x 10
V-ups Off of Bench 3 x 20
Machine Shoulder Raises 3 x 10
Machine Chest Press 3 x 10
Cable Rows 3 x 10
Friday's workout was a full body workout...not a circuit workout...just a full body workout. I was able to spend a little extra time at the gym since my husband and son were playing golf. I then went and had my nails and toes done and went shopping for my daughter an Easter dress. She is going to church with her sister and my mother-in-law.
Saturday, WOD:
Run 3.5 miles through neighborhood
After workout, we dropped off my daughter with her sister and then took my son to his speed training with his trainer. I can say that I was impressed with the work his trainer had him doing. He was definitely spent afterwards. We then went home took a shower and then went and ate at Hooters before going to see 21 Jump Street.

Happy Easter!

My daughter colored eggs for Easter with her sister and her sister and I made a homemade Easter basket. Do you find that it is cheaper to put together an Easter basket versus buying one? I do, plus you get exactly what you want in the basket. We had lunch at my mother-in-laws and enjoyed some great conversation with additional relatives as they came by. Great day!
Sunday, WOD:
Warm-Up: Stretching
Leg Press 3 x 15 (increasing weight each time)
Hack Squats 3 x 15
Abductor 3 x 20
Adductor 3 x 20
Walk on Treadmill 10 minutes ... cool down

How was your Easter weekend? Did you do anything fun?