30 Day Fitness Challenge

DAY ONE

I was in the best shape of my life back in May; personal trainer, working out 5 to 6 times a week and eating right! However, it all came to a screeching halt when I over trained and ended up with a stress fracture. It put me out for 4 months, however I did discover swimming and fell in love so that is a win from a negative!  Now I am on a mission to get back on track. I do better when I have a goal and my triatholon is still out a ways, so I figured...30 day challenge!

I am also dying with anticipation as this grueling wait continues to go pick up our son and I need something to keep me busy, keep my mind per-occupied.  Here is how the 30-day challenge for me works.

The exercise has to be fast and convenient, as if Cy was home and I was short for time. I need to get the most bang for my buck. These exercises will be effective and efficient, incorporating cardio and functional training along with healthy meals. There are a few things you should know about me...I EAT CARBS and I always will!!!  I do believe diets are different for each person and each body type.

Day One:

I did Functional Training at home tonight. I purchased some floor mats (thanks to my girl Adrienne for taking me shopping at Sam's Club). Set up a whole area in the basement to do all my exercises.

1. 1 minute Plank
2. 50 Squats
3. 25 Pilates Leg Lifts on each side for a total of 50
4. 30 Crunches
5. 15 Sumo Squats
6. 50 Calve raises
7. 100 Arm Circles - 50 forward/50 backward
8. 15 Push-Ups
9. 50 Jumping Jacks

I then moved onto this quick routine I found on Pinterest!




Peace and Love

Could Flying be the new Labor?

Adoption is such a crazy process to go through and unless you have been through it you have no idea the roller coaster that you go through. However, there is this part of you as a woman that feels left out of the woman circle not having the labor experience. Well, I have discovered my labor experience, it will be the flight home from Korea with Cy.  I have had heard from people often that the flight is the longest 12 to 14 hours that you will ever have in your life. I am prepared for the worst and expecting the best.

I am so excited to meet his foster mother and hope that we are able to get her name so Cy can go back someday and meet her in person. As our time comes closer, hopefully less then 3 months away, I am getting nervous and excited about being a mother. I have to say I am so fortunate to have such an amazing support group of friends and family that are so excited to meet Cy and be part of his life! I truly feel blessed.

Right now I am just so busy thinking about packing my bag and making sure we are house ready.

Here is what I have Jeremy and I scheduled to bring when we get the call and leave on a jet plane:

• Prepare a diaper bag with a change of clothing, fresh diapers, several bottles (I heard they will give you a few bottles) and fresh bibs.
• For Clothing (since we are going in the winter) A winter coat, gloves, hat, 2 pairs of footsie pj's and a super cute outfit. I figure I want him as comfortable and warm.
• Schedule a visit with your pediatrician within a few days of the baby's arrival
• My mother got me an Ergo Carrier which is what we will use instead of a stroller. 
• Calling our health insurance provider to get Cy child on the plan pronto -- ideally he/she should have coverage the scheduled day of travel. 
• Make sure to bring your camera and/or camcorder!

Wheat Berries!!!

Oh I have seriously found a new love...wheat berries! They are fantastic!  There is so much that you can make with them or add them too.  Especially for someone like me who is always looking for ways to add more fiber to my diet.

There is so many benefits to our health from eating wheat berries. Of course, wheat often gets a bit of a bad rap in the U.S. This is, no doubt, partly due to the fact that Americans need to lose weight more than they need to gain weight. But there are other factors at play as well. “The fact that people have greatly overeaten refined and rancid wheat products that have been genetically altered for smut resistance continuously since 1926, partly explains the many common allergies to this vital food.” (Zachary Shahan). 

Here are the top three reasons to eat wheat berries!

1. They are an excellent source of dietary fiber.
2. Lots of protein
3. Essential vitamins, such as; potassium, calcium, iron and vitamin E to name a few.

Here is a site that can provide you more health benefit information about wheat berries.

I found this fantastic recipe (click here) and enjoy! 

Roasted Revolution

Roasted Revolution

It has been awhile since my last post and I must apologize. I am usually really good but with traveling I had no access to internet this time and it was a blessing! It felt great to cut off from civilization! However, coming back after the Thanksgiving holiday I have so much to write about so there will be no shortages of interesting blogging.  I must talk about one of my favorite cooking techniques in the fall and winter which is roasted veggies. I LOVE it!

I have discovered a lot of different veggies that are excellent roasted and a lot of different and unique veggies!  Some of my favorite roasted vegetables are carrots, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, turnips, rutabaga, beets, winter squash, parsnips, bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and more.  The process of roasting brings out the natural sweetness in vegetables and intensifies their natural flavors. Roasted garlic is another perfect example. While raw garlic is pungent, roasted garlic has a sweeter, milder flavor. You might be hard pressed to choke down a clove of raw garlic, but you can spread six cloves of roasted garlic over a slice of bread as you would butter.

Cooking:
I usually roast my vegetables in the oven from between 400 to 450 degrees.  I like to line my pan with tin foil (sometimes) just to not totally destroy my pans. I will roast anywhere from 20 minutes up to an hour.  Beets are the only vegetable that I cook differently. I typically wash the whole beet and then skin on will wrap in tinfoil then place in oven and let roast for about an hour. When they are done the skin peels off so nicely.

 Peace and Love...Happy Roasting!