Accessorizing With Function

There are a few things I can't workout without....music, gum, and my keys if I'm away from home.  Everything else I could care less about, but those 3 are a must.  In fact, I probably own 8 pairs of headphones because I've had to stop at gas stations to purchase them on my way to Red Rocks or the Incline just so that I didn't have to go without music.

Now those 3 things I need for any workout I do...an outdoor run, a plyometric workout at the gym, a bike ride or a hike, but when it comes to something like a race you have to add on top of all of that your license, possible cash and a credit card.  The amount of "stuff" adds up quickly and usually your pocket space runs out especially with running shorts.  So unless you're going to start stuffing things in your sports bra and in your shoes you have to get creative!

Meet my new favorite running accessory...the Flip Belt (http://flipbelt.com/)!!!  And as a side note, I wish I could claim the below picture as my rocking hot body, but it's definitely not!  :)

The Flip Belt sells for under $30 and can be found in many different running stores across the country.  It's amazing.  It fits everything from my keys, to my license, to my iPhone.  You simply put everything in the little slots and then flip it over to secure everything into place.  I've used it for my daily runs, at the gym lifting weights and even for a race.  It fits snuggly over the waistband of your shorts or pants and comes in many fashionable colors.  

I bought the bright pink one in XS and love the way it adds a pop of color to every outfit I wear!  My only suggestion is to make sure you buy a size that will fit you snuggly so that it does not move around.  Just think...this is the slimmer, sexier version of the ever so popular fanny pack!!  

Hyatt Regency - Chicago

Too much travel lends one to become VERY picky about where they stay, where they eat and the amenities that come with the place that they call "home" when they are indeed away from home.  Back and forth across the country, I've stayed at my fair share of hotels, inns, motels, B&B's and luxury resorts.  This week's trip to Chicago for work had me calling the Hyatt Regency (http://mccormickplace.hyatt.com) home.

First off, this hotel was convenient as it was directly connected to the convention center where my work was focused the past few days.  In addition to the convenience, I had a room on the 27th floor with amazing views of the lake and even more amazing views of a CRAZY thunderstorm that Chicago experienced last night.

If the views and convenience weren't enough to come back, the fitness center had me ready to spend money just to stay another night so I could get another workout in!  The Hyatt Regency, hands down had the BEST fitness center I've ever seen in a hotel.  With a full weight room consisting of everything one would need in regards to machines or free weight, it was easy to get some strength training in.  In addition to the weight room, there was a cardio floor that had the most state of the art treadmills, elliptical machines, spinning bikes and rowing machines.  And if that wasn't enough, they had all the "extras" that put a smile on any fitness minded individual's face.  They had jump ropes, weighted bars, bands, stability balls, medicine balls...literally everything one would need to get creative in a workout.

So after getting a very enjoyable workout in this morning filled with multiple forms of cardio and weight training, I then headed for the stairs.  Talk about the perfect finish to a workout...running from the 4th floor back up the 27th!!!

So if you find yourself in downtown Chicago looking for a hotel, I HIGHLY recommend this one...you will not be disappointed if you are looking to fit a workout in while you are traveling!  And major kudos to the Hyatt for making their "Stay Fit" motto one that their guests truly will enjoy!

Temptation - Sweets & Snacks Show

I'm fortunate to be working in an industry I love.  I'm a VP of Sales & Marketing for a brokerage company that works primarily with Costco.  I get to be innovative, creative, and work with companies from all over the world each and every day to try and both design and sell their products into the club channel.  Honestly, I eat for a living!  Now with that kind of job comes a level of temptation that is not always easy to resist.  Case and point...today's trade show.

620+ exhibiting companies with more than 3 acres worth of products...15,000 qualified professionals and participation from over 90 countries.  This is what makes up the 2014 Sweets & Snacks Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL!  What I want to know is how the hell ANYONE has the will power to walk a show like this and not give into temptation?!!  I'm no different than anyone else and I definitely have my weaknesses...chocolate being one of them!

I'd be lying to myself and everyone else if I told you that there wasn't at least a 5lb bag of trade show samples sitting on the desk in my hotel room right now.  Everything from fudge, to chocolate covered almonds, from jerky to popcorn...it's all there in my room in little sample sized portions!  Not only was I faced with temptation all day long, but now it's staring back at me from across the room!

There's a level of guilt that comes from sampling your way through at least one meal of the day, eating nothing but sugar and not having a chance to exercise because you have the earliest flight of the morning and a client dinner in the evening.  It's an awful feeling BUT I declared today my "rest" day in regards to my workouts.  Now, even with that being said, all the crazy walking between airports and the trade show floor accounted for approximately 4.25 miles according to my FitBit.  I guess it wasn't too bad overall.

I pride myself on living a healthy lifestyle...working out, eating right, practicing yoga/meditation, etc...but I am human and I definitely give into temptation every now and then.  But...even when I give into temptation, I still do it at a very moderate level compared to most.  For all of you who have ever attended a food based trade show, you know how crazy it is and how many hundreds of samples you are expected to try.  My trick?!  One bite (out of respect) and then toss it in the trash can.  Once it's in the garbage you obviously aren't going to have a second bite but you've given yourself the ability to taste the product and give the client your ample feedback.

Tomorrow is day #2 of a sugar high tradeshow and I'm sure it's going to be as equally tempting as it was today.  As with anything in life, I'm a huge believer in "everything in moderation."  I won't give up trying products again tomorrow but I will not overindulge and I will definitely make sure to be up bright and early and running the streets of Chicago first!!

Running Through Rhode Island

5 girls and 10 years since our college graduation...what better way to celebrate our accomplishments and friendships than to have a house on the beach in Rhode Island together for a few days?!  Absolutely nothing.  For some a reunion is about partying, staying out late, having nights you can't remember with friends you'll never forget...but for this group of 5 it was all about laughter, walks on the beach and plenty of much needed rest and relaxation.

Waking up early in the morning, I found myself going for runs on the beach.  I've been asked what music I listen to to motivate me on my runs and to increase my pace.  It's funny, because most of the time I'm a pop and hip hop workout music kind of girl, but this time, in the middle of such beauty I had country music playing on my pandora station.  There's something about the ocean and the sand on your feet that just makes you feel so thankful for everything you have and country music just further brings that out.

On our last day in Rhode Island, after a fantastic few days together, I woke up early and ran on the beach for a few miles.  After I finished the run, I sat down on the rocks, turned off my music and just meditated.  Everyone that knows me, knows I don't sit still well.  I don't take time to just relax and clear my mind.  Well on Sunday morning, I needed to and I did.  I feel so incredibly blessed to have the friendships that I do with these girls.  We have all individually and together been through a lot and these 10 minutes of solo meditation was the perfect finish to an incredible few days together.  It gave me the opportunity to reflect and to feel gratitude in the present...something I rarely do.

We all know how important cardiovascular exercise is for our health, how strength training helps our bones and joints, but we rarely focus on the health benefits both physically and mentally that come from meditation.  I challenge you to take at least 5 minutes a day to rid yourself of all of your external and internal "noise" and just feel the gratitude that is in your heart.  

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."  - Buddha

#TeamDiscoverYourself - Michell J.

One of the biggest things in life that people look for is a sense of belonging...something that makes them feel that they are not alone.  In speaking with some close friends, I thought it was important for you to not only hear my words but the words of others that read this blog and allow them to share their struggles and triumphs.

Michell and I have known each other since 2004 when I moved to Virginia.  We worked together and we enjoyed life together.  Her family welcomed me into their home for my first Thanksgiving away from my own family and in fact, I was the Maid of Honor in Michell's wedding.  Now married, with two children, Michell has an amazing life and one that she is now finding more able to balance.  Here's Michell's story (and thank you Michell for being willing to share this)...

Motivation: the general desire or willingness of someone to do something. 

Back in early 2008, I was motivated to look and feel healthy.  I ate healthy and I worked out almost daily.  For a good eight months, I worked so hard to do "boy" push ups, to go through my Abs/Core class without feeling like I was going to faint and to be sexy again.  It took a few months but I got to that point and it felt great...AWESOME in fact.  Then in August 2008, my husband and I wanted to start trying for kids.  After two miss carriages, we were pregnant again and we had a healthy baby boy the following Fall.  Once I became pregnant, I was more focused on being pregnant and not losing him than I stopped working out.  Once I had my son, my motivation was now...my son.  My thoughts and mind were consumed with being a mommy that I didn't start to think of losing that baby weight until two months before he turned one.  So, after almost two years away from the gym and eating healthy, I started again.  I started working out at the gym and lost some weight.  Then, about two months after my son turned one, I found out I was pregnant again.  What??!!!  I finally just started to get back into my routine!  I felt discouraged and not happy.  It didn't help that I had a medical condition that I was not allowed to work out or stand on my feet for a long period of time for the first trimester.  Of course I was concerned for my new baby inside me but that just made me feel more unhappy that I wasn't able to "get my body back".   My daughter was born healthy that following July.  Throughout the last six years my body went through a lot.  Between trying to get pregnant, two early miss carriages, two full term somewhat healthy pregnancies and nursing both for each thirteen months.  It felt as if my body wasn't really mine anymore.  I was always so tired and became out of breath easily that I didn't really play with my kids a lot.  Fast forward almost THREE years later after having my beautiful daughter, I finally...FINALLY got my motivation back!  My motivation at first came from my friends.  Three in particular.  One that has been by my side for the past nine years and who is a married mom of active crazy kids like me and I consider her one of my best friends.  The second is a woman that has a boyfriend but no children, that I just recently became friends with that runs marathons like every week (or at least it seems like it)!   Lastly, is a woman that is single with no children, that I have known for nine years and has moved here and there and seems like everywhere and has recently started a health & wellness blog!  These three women are so different but yet so alike.  Their main common goal is to be healthy.  All three love to run or be active.  At first, I would say to myself, "Eh, I'll get there".  I was just so busy with working full time, teaching dance part time, being a mommy to two rambunctious children and a wife.  For me, I didn't have time to do "that".  I would try at times but then end up making excuses.  My best friend that is married and has children, kept telling me to do things for myself.  She knew that I always felt my best when I looked my best.  Then, my friend that runs marathons, kept hanging up motivational pictures in my cube at work.  Geared towards running and being healthy.  I felt as if it was a leaky faucet (in a good way).  Kept dripping (or reminding me) that I can do this...I can be healthy and especially happy again.  Then, my other friend started this health and wellness blog.  That was the kicker.  Reading her words and thoughts was like a light bulb that just finally came back on and STAYED ON!   My second motivation came from reading one of her recent blogs about a Fitbit and how she just got one and loved it.  I started researching it and had some other friends that had one and I got their advice.  After a great informative and encouraging conversation with my step mom, I wanted one.  It was just my luck that my  birthday was right around the corner and that's what I asked for.  I was blessed to have gotten one and I haven't been the same since.  It has been a week now since I got it and I am completely obsessed with it.  I love seeing those dots light up and when I reach five dots (or 10,000 steps) I get so tickled and excited.  I did it!  I am also a competitive person in general.  So having friendly competition with friends and family is perfect for me.   Just like that, I am finally back on track to being healthy and happy again.  I can now jog more during my power walks, I now run up or downstairs and no longer out of breath, I have more energy with my kids and husband and honestly I feel happier.   My family and I go for nightly walks now and I take them on a longer route than we used to because I gotta light those dots up!  I want and need to be healthy for myself, my husband and most important my children.  I want to be able to run around with them and play until the lighting bugs come out.  I want to be around for when my children get married and have children of their own.  I want to be a grandparent that takes my grand kids on walks, plays with them and rolls around the floor with (like my father and step mom).  I want to be...happy and happy is what I now am. 

Happy: feeling or showing pleasure or contentment

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the moms out there.  Please remember that YOU are Amazing and YOU are beautiful and YOU can do this!  God Bless you!  XOXO

Girls On The Run

First off, Happy Mother's Day to all of those AMAZING moms out there!  There are so many reasons to thank you, to applaud you and to celebrate you.  You are not only the protector, the listening ear, the supporter, the encourager and the guiding light to your children, you are also the most important educator to them.

Yesterday I had the privilege of running the Girls On The Run 5k as a running buddy to a little 9 year old girl named Sadie.  The Girls On The Run program (http://girlsontherunrockies.org/) I overall think is a great one.  It teaches young girls the importance of self esteem, empowerment, and how to live a life full of self-respect and healthy habits.  This 5k was Sadie's first and she rocked it with an overall race time of 42:53 (a pace of 13:50).  Definitely not too shabby for 9 year old legs!

Now as much as I love this program and I love spending time with kids, as a woman with many little children in her life and an educated background of health/fitness and coaching, there are a few things I must admit I disagreed with.  One, in 2014 how is it possible that someone can spend 1.5 hours ultimately alone with a child with no background check?!  In the middle of City Park in Denver, with tons of spectators I was ultimately running side by side this little girl and then walking around the park alone with her afterwards.  Her coaches didn't know me...her parents didn't know me and yet I took their precious little girl with all of their trust in the world.  Seems to me like this could ultimately be a dangerous situation.  Again, don't get me wrong, I LOVE this program and what it stands for and I personally appreciate all of the coaches and running buddies and them volunteering their time to help encourage these little girls.  But I do feel that this day in age, we should be background checking our volunteers just a bit more to ensure the safety of all of those involved.

Lastly, this race was geared towards 8-13 year old girls.  When we crossed the finish line there were protein bars and water.  What preteen do you know eats protein bars?!  Not only is the taste not appealing to a child, but it teaches them meal substitution when ultimately a child is developing and should be eating well balanced meals.  The program is intended to teach young girls healthy habits...so why not have healthy food options available and fun and active handouts afterwards?  How exciting would it be to cross the finish line and be given a jump rope, a frisbee, fruit, healthy granola bars...food choices that are healthy and appetizing to a child and "toys" that encourage outdoor active movement?!

Again, the morning was amazing and I don't want to take away from that.  These kids and volunteers all got up and moving instead of watching Saturday morning cartoons and for that reason alone, it's a great way to encourage unity and fitness.  But to go back to Mother's Day...health, nutrition, fitness, self esteem, healthy lifestyle habits...this all starts with the parents and how they treat their own bodies both physically and emotionally.  Keep in mind that your children look at you as role models and the natural reaction of any child is to replicate what they say and hear their parents doing.

Teach your children the way we all grew up decades ago...that life wasn't about "dieting" and wasn't about exercise being something we "needed" to do but instead something we enjoyed doing.  Get outside and play with your kids.  Show them that exercise doesn't necessarily mean running a 5k, but can be playing soccer in your backyard for 30 minutes.  Show them that healthy habits don't mean dieting but are instead a lifestyle.  That sitting down for a well balanced meal is better than any meal replacement bar you could eat in the driver's seat of your car.  Make healthy choices a lifestyle habit for you and your family and relish in the joy that comes from that!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there!  I hope you enjoy an active and healthy day together!

Advice From Others

I've said it before...I'm a stubborn individual and that's not something that you can necessarily change overnight no matter how much you recognize that it can be a problem at times.  After pushing myself a little too much with an incline climb and an 8 mile hike back to back, I've been nursing some super tight hamstrings.  I've realized that I've been doing too much of the same type of workout and overtraining the same muscle group...never a good thing.

Well sometimes you have to humble yourself and ask others for their opinions and advice.  While I know what I SHOULD do to get better, sometimes hearing it from somebody else makes it a little more real and a little bit more plausible to change.  So after speaking with my cousin Sarah who is a Physical Therapist and my friend Cory who is a Personal Trainer and Coach, I came up with a plan based on their suggestions of actually taking "rest days" so that I'm not overtraining, mixing up my workouts a bit and getting a massage.

Yesterday morning I decided to follow through with the workout part of the suggestions and created my own version of a 30 minute plyometric cardio workout!  To say it kicked my butt is probably an understatement...I'm sure I looked like a crazy person doing burpees and mountain climbers in the gym by myself, but one thing is for sure, I maximized those 30 minutes!  And yes, as soon as I can figure out how to upload my workouts to this site, I will make sure I add it so you can try it as well.  :)  Later in the day, I attempted a very easy 1 mile trail run...not my finest form or time for that matter.

After all of that yesterday I decided last night to go and get a massage from Maxi at Hand & Stone in Cherry Creek (http://www.handandstone.com/spa/Colorado/Cherry-Creek).  Simply put...she's UNBELIEVABLE and I highly recommend this place!  That followed by an epsom salt bath (ok with a glass of wine) truly helped to loosen up my muscles and rejuvenate me a little bit.

I guess listening to other's advice was a good thing because today I did a two mile run on the trail and rocked my time with a 7:39 pace...back to where I wanted to be!  I'm hoping that I can maintain this by continuing to mix in plyometric workouts to my routine and by taking time to relax and rest my muscle groups as well.

So as stubborn as I might be, and others as well, sometimes it's important to reach out to the people in your life that have the expertise to give you good advice.  I encourage you to take advantage of the different resources you have available in your own life so that you too are able to maximize your training potential!

Gratitude

Six days since my last post and the only thing that comes to mind is gratitude.  Gratitude for my health, my family, my friends, and the sheer fact that I live in a place that brings a smile to my face every single day.

This past weekend I spent my 32nd birthday truly living life.  I did everything that makes me who I am and had a genuine smile on my face from Friday evening to Monday morning.  From flip flops, to sneakers, from barefoot to stilettos...I ran around this state with some of my most favorite people.  Others would choose to celebrate their birthday based around eating and drinking and wake up at the end of the celebration ready for a vacation to relax from all of that craziness, but I celebrated mine with a mix of good food and drinks and a ton of outdoor activity!

Now don't get me wrong, I started my birthday weekend with a terrific girls' night out consisting of delicious steaks and amazing wine.  And truthfully it ended with an amazing sushi dinner and an ice cream sundae that would render most people speechless!  But in between all of that calorie consuming, I sure as heck did my fair share of workouts!  From a 6 mile walk and a 75 minute outdoor yoga session on Saturday to another trip up the Incline and an 8 mile hike on Sunday...I ensured that my birthday was filled with as much sweat as it was calories.

Gratitude can be defined as, "a feeling or attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit that one has received or will receive."  I feel like this "benefit" I have already received and that's why these past 6 days, I can truly say that only one word clearly defines my thoughts...gratitude.  I'm thankful for the people that made my birthday an unforgettable one (both near and far), I'm thankful for the fact that I have an internal drive that pushes me to my physical limits, I'm thankful for this gorgeous state in which I live, and I'm thankful for the fact that God has allowed me to truly see all of the blessings in my life.

I challenge you to think about why you're thankful...what defines gratitude in your life?  Have you already received these benefits or are you seeking out to receive them in the future?  Many times gratitude is what pushes us forward...what motivates us.  But one thing is for sure...we all have at least one example of gratitude in our life and we should use that as a motivating drive to accomplish what we set out to conquer!

Perspective

I feel like this quote alone could be my motto for life, especially when living in Colorado.  It's amazing how quickly we all can fall into slumps and get down on ourselves for so many reasons.  Life is a test, there's no question about it and when it rains, it pours!  We all face struggles every single day whether it be in our personal life or our professional one.  It's inevitable...it's part of life.  And truthfully, if we didn't have the lows, we would never appreciate the highs.

At 3:30 this morning, I found myself completely unable to sleep.  To be very straightforward...there simply is too much going on in my life all at once.  So instead of laying in bed staring at the ceiling, I got dressed, got in my car and drove down to Manitou Springs to climb the Incline for sunrise.  I figured that maybe being outside in the fresh air and alone would give me a new perspective on everything in my life.  I was right...what an amazing way to start the day.

The initial quote of this post says it all...the fact that right now everything seems like it is an uphill battle is definitely accurate, but the view from the top of the incline put everything into perspective.  I climbed it.  I had the physical strength, the mental focus, and the internal drive to get to the top.  I have my health, my friends, my family...as rough as others things might be, when I took a step back, I realized just how grateful I was to have what and who I do in my life.

The famous saying says, "the world is your oyster."  And it's true...you truly have the power to hold your world in your own hands.  Sometimes it takes looking at everything from a different perspective, but once you do, you see that ultimately your happiness is up to you!