Friday Favorites... From the Road!

Hi from the road to Pittsburgh....

So I have been seeing this trend in the blogger world... but I have yet to join in, until now!

As you read this I am on the 2nd leg of my drive to Pittsburgh. While I am off on the mountain-y roads I figured I would share with you a few things that I am absolutely loving this week.

The thought of being back in PA staring at all the veggies that are coming through.

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes... YUM

My new timer... Can you say Coffee Addict?

 Flax, Oat Bran , whole wheat flat bread and Pitas. I have only been able to find them in one place so I stock up!

My nephews and my new hat... Yep 2 for 1 in this pic! 

 Those are some of my loves of the week. Since we are celebrating favorites I am bringing back one of my favorite workouts this challenge for day 28!

Day 28 means only 2 days left! Feel free to enter at any time. Start at day 1 or jump in just for this week.

Today's challenge is HIIT the pavement... hopefully if you live in Florida there is enough time in between rain storms to get this in :o)

Ciao from the road,

Alexis

Summer is HERE!!

Well technically it starts at 3:45pm today! Then I drive home, pack the car, and head to PITTSBURGH!!!!

Circa 2010 hanging with 2 of my sisters downtown by the point

So today's post is short and sweet!

I decided since I will not get to go out with my co-workers to celebrate tonight,  I would celebrate Wednesday at home... I do deserve it after all haha. This doesn't happen very often but we broke out the Grey goose and sat down and enjoyed!

Grey Goose, coconut water, and OJ

Now on with today's Challenge!

Day 27 is All ABs all Day :o)

So while I am driving, jammin to tunes get in some AB work! Don't Worry I got mine in this morning!

If you still want to enter the challenge there is still time! Let me know on Twitter @fitpossibleblog using #fitpossible30day or on The Fitpossible facebook page. 

Ciao and Ab work

Alexis

Workout and What I ate Wednesday!

Hello fit and food family! I hope everyone is having a great week... I know I am because tomorrow I hop in my car and start the drive back to PA!!!

Fancy dinner downtown Pitt with my grandparents

See HERE and HERE lol Sorry I love my hometown!

Today I have a new workout which was inspired by my GREAT friend and fellow blogger, but real friend in real life haha (sorry inside joke) Carissa over at Fit2Flex. I also have some yummy eats from throughout the week... not because I am awesome at planning but because I failed to actually photog one complete day haha. Oh well yummy food is yummy food.

Today marks day 26 of the #fitpossible30day, only 4 more days to go... and although I have not gotten the amount of people to do it as I would like its ok.. I will still keep writing exercises for people to do :o) I like to share what I do with others no matter how many people that is.
 As I said I was inspired by my friend Carissa on a workout she posted called 5-4-3-2-1. So I used her concept and came up with a workout of my own. I have to admit I am not really stoked about min. 3 haha.

I hope you get a nice little sweet going with this one. If you want to kick it up a notch repeat! That would give you a 30min cardio/plyo workout that will leave you feeling great, and tired!

If you still want to enter the challenge there is still time! Let me know on Twitter @fitpossibleblog using #fitpossible30day or on The Fitpossible facebook page.

I don't know about you but working out makes me a hungry hungry girl! I try to eat a healthy balance of protein, carbs, fiber, and fat... However this week its been slim pickins. As I have mentioned perhaps one time or another I am driving to PA this week, so I didnt want to over shop and waste food... so lunches and dinners have gotten a bit creative. So I am just making you a montage, if you will, of food I have consume.d as of late..

Enjoy

 Above Picture

Stuffed sweet potato - fig, spinach, goat cheese, turkey bacon flat bread- fish and baked broccoli - Starbucks oatmeal

Top Right Picture
Protein Pancakes with chia jam and blueberries - Wasabi trail mix

Photo---->
Baked Oatmeal (still working on a perfect recipe to post) - cucumber salad

So that's what I have been eating a lot of!

I want to thank the wonderful Jenn for hosting my favorite blogger party ever! I honestly look fwd. to Wednesdays, not only because I am half way through my work week but because I get to food stalk a ton of people and it is not frowned upon :o)



Ciao and longing for Pittsburgh

Alexis

HIIT It HARD!!!

So just in case you are unaware by now, I am originally from Pittsburgh PA. Why am I telling you this? Well being that I am a teacher I officially only have 3 days (including today) with my munchkins left. Thursday is the last day of school!!! I can't lie, I am super stoked!

On Thursday after the bell rings I am turning in my keys, getting in my car and DRIVING to PITTSBURGH! Some of you may think I am crazy but I am super stoked right now... will I be supper stoked Friday at 1am...hmmm ask me then :o)

Bri and I :o)

Missing my oldest sister and Brother :o(

These pictures are from the last time almost all the siblings were back in Pittsburgh at the same time. I can not wait to see them all on Friday and go PARTY haha. we are headed home for a surprise 80th birthday party for my grandma... I am ready to be back in PA and to see all my cousins and their babies... I love my family and Pittsburgh lol :o)

This is one of the reasons I decided to have this challenge... all the exercises I have posted do not require any equipment and can be done in a hotel that lacks an acceptable gym :o)

Today is day 25! Only 5 more days left! So put in some work and push yourself a little more than you are used to. I promise you will love me eventually haha.

If you missed any of the challenges check them out here. Day 1  Day 2  Day 3  Day 4  Day 5  Day 6  Day 7   Day 8  Day 9  Day 10  Day 11   Day 12  Day 13  Day 14  Day 15  Day 16  Day 17  Day 18  Day 19  Day 20  Day 21  Day 22  Day 23  Day 24

Now that you have caught yourself up :o) Here is today's HIIT workout for you...
 

 

 Your challenge: get through both sets. Only take 10-20 sec break in between set one and set two.

Ciao and road trip countdown

Alexis 













Plank Jack

HIIT: Fit Challenge V24

This picture is simple enough to describe today's challenge. But before we move on how did you do on your 48hr challenge from Saturday? I would like to say that on our way home from Tampa we stopped at Starbucks and instead of ordering a coffee I opted for the passion tea! Yay for me lol.

Today I bring you 2 sets of HIIT. Much like the Tabata exercises we have done these are intervals done with little rest and high intense cardio/plyo moves. You want to try and do as many of the exercises in the allotted time. Just remember, after the first set,  its going to burn but you only have 30 sec SO PUSH THROUGH!
Your Challenge: get through both sets. Only take 10-20 sec break in between set one and set two.
(If you need any reminders here are some links to my POWER SQUATS, BURPEES, and SHOULDER BURNERS posts... )

I hope you have a fun, sweaty, tiring time!

Ciao and HIIT Love,

Alexis

What 48 hours can do for you!

HAPPY SATURDAY!!!

Brian and I have started watching the HBO series Weight of the Nation and after only on episodes I have become intrigued. The show doesn't only highlight how our country is suffering from obesity and health related problems, but it gives ways to make the nation, as a whole, healthier!

I plan on continuing to watch but I jsut wanted to highlight what I found interesting in the first episode.

1)  The show was interviewing a couple, who had been diagnosed with diabetes. They were not crazy overweight but had gained weight as they had gotten older. To look at pictured of them you may use the word "chubby" to describe them but I would have never looked at them and said man they really need to lose weight. HOWEVER, the husband had to have his leg amputated (up to the knee) because of his diabetes.
   Here is what the Dr's on the show had to say
   It only takes a small increase in body fat to contribute to the onset of diabetes. They said even a 5% increase in body fat can push you into the category of pre-diabetic. So if I use myself for example, 120lbs at 5% increase would be an extra 6lbs. So if I were an at-risk adult it would only take 6lbs to possibly become pre-diabetic on the road to full fledge diabetes.

This next FUN FACT is my favorite. Brian and I rewound the show to make sure we heard it correctly.

2) In your liver of a healthy person your cells are extremely close together with not much room for error :o) they went on  to show the liver of an Obese adult. *see below* 

In what appear to be spaces, are actually large fat cells complete pushing the healthy cells out.
   Here is what the Dr's on the show had to say 
   Within 48 hours of caloric decreas your liver begins to appear 25% HEALTHIER!!!

I was in shock... Like I said I rewound it to make sure we heard it correctly. It's amazing what can be accomplished in 48 hours. Just think, If you have begun a healthy lifestyle and after a week you look in the mirror and say "I don't see any difference, what’s the point?" The most important changes you will encounter CAN NOT be seen. They are occurring inside every single day you decide to wake up and reach for a banana instead of a candy bar, or make dinner instead of drive up to a window and eat out of a bag. 

So when you look in the mirror and decide you don't see anything and you are wasting your time, just remember, YOUR LIVER LOVES YOU, so please take care of it!!

I highly recommend watching this show. If you have a playstation it is free on Vudu right now!

This brings me to todays challenge...



Pick one thing you eat/drink regularly that may not be very good for you and give it up for 48hours. If you have a more than steller diet add something healthy you have been afraid to try and add it to your diet for 48hrs.

My biggest Vice is coffee so for the next 48hrs I will be giving up my morning cup of coffee! What are you willing to do to make 48hours count for you?

Dont'forget let me know on Twitter @fitpossibleblog to use the hashtag #fitpossible30day or comment on Fit-Possible Facebook page to tell me you comepleted and let me know if you will take the challenge

Ciao 48hr challenge,

Alexis

Share your love...

of Fitness with someone new.

That is the only challenge I have today. No new exercises. No Tabata workout. No amazing photographs of sweaty me. Just a simple request.... 

Challenge day 22 is a simple yet extremely difficult challenge. It's easy because you know why you love fitness. Difficult because it is not always easy to talk to people about that, or to know how to even start off.

Invite a friend who doesn't usually workout to tag along, or invite a friend who only lifts weights to a zumba class or vice versa

Make your favorite healthy treat and share it with your co-workers. If they like it share the recipe. Maybe after they realize "healthy food" doesnt have to be bland they may ask for more ideas.

Just one simple task, that can be done in a million different ways. I would love to hear all your ideas and see how the people in your life responded to you sharing your love of fitness with them

Ciao and fitness love

Alexis