Hit the Pavement 30 day Challenge V15

Today's challenge is pretty simple. All I want you to do it hit the Pavement! Lace up the tennis shoes, Get outside, and get your sweat on.

 Here in Florida it is pretty much only safe to do this in the AM or after the sun goes down... WAY TO HOT ALREADY!!!! I prefer to run in the AM anyways... so it works for me.

I just finished a HIIT/Tabata workout at home and it got me thinking. I love taking those intervals outside so why not sure it with my amazing blog readers. So here goes nothing

HIIT RUN

All you need is a way to time yourself... phone, stopwatch, Garmin.... The set is 7min long. Feel free to repeat, it only means you burn more calories!

 Here is a look back at what we have done so far..if you are just joining us feel free to jump right in or go back an check out all of week ones challenges
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

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and get in your 7min run

Ciao from outside

Alexis

Food Prep and 30 Day Challenge V14

HAPPY SUNDAY!

So it has been a pretty busy day for me. Brian had Drill all weekend so early morning alarms set and breakfast made, he head to base I wallow in the fact that I will not be going back to sleep. So I made use of my time today. Brian left the house by 5:30am and I headed upstairs for some much need couponing. Ya thats right I coupon....

After I got done cleaning out the binder, cutting, and printing new coupons I started on task #2... Grading papers. I had an embarrassing abundance of ungraded HW and tests shoved in my super cute TraderJoes bag that i was tempted to just throw in my recycling bin. BUT I DIDNT.

Next venture... FOOD PREP. Now I am a huge fan of prepping as much food in advance for the week as I possible can. After couponing, and grading I headed down to the kitchen and made a batch of Oatmeal Cookie cakes (recipe below) and Mango Strawberry Chia Muffins. Chicken is thawing out and I am off to the store soon to finish picking up this weeks clean munchies.

Here are the food prep rules I live by...

1. Prep as many breakfasts as possible so I can still eat super clean, home cooked meals but the most I have to spend on "cooking" is 10 min at most. I like to pick things that stay well for a few days... chia muffins, protein pancake mix (just turn on the burner and spoon onto pans), overnight oats, egg muffins...

 Chia Muffins (recipe coming soon)

2. Snacks are my key to eating healthy all day and not just when I am home to cook. Packing enough snacks to power you through the day without having to deal with a crash later on. Trail mix, Oatmeal Cookie Cakes...

3. Dinner: Now I don't do to much prep for dinner because I love to come home and destress while I am cooking. My dinner Prep mostly includes planning what is on the menu for the week.  

Prepping and planning food/meals in advance means I am less likely to grab for something unhealthy during the day. I have no excuses if my fridge is stocked.

Question: What is your favorite thing to prep for the week? Mine is protein pancake mix...

Today's Challenge is 4 exercises in 4 minutes... check it out

4 MINUTE CIRCUIT

Do all 4 exercises as many times as you can until 4 minutes is up.
Feel free to Pin in you enjoy

Your Challenge: Is only 1 circuit... but by all means DO MORE if you want :o)

When You finish let me know using #fitpossible30day

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Ciao and Sunday Funday

Alexis 

Why I Train... 30 Day Challenge V13

Over the years I have heard the same question over and over... Why do you workout so much? This is usually followed by you are already small... UMMMM First, I am not small I am short, I am FIT lol and you don't stay "small" by sitting on your ass all day... Just Sayin...

So why do I train? They answer has changed so many times over the years.

props

1. Mom and Dad- My mom has been a PE teacher for 30 years and my dad ran cross country and played football for the US Air Force while he served during Vietnam. Fitness is in my Blood. 
2. Kids sports- Now obviously you don't "train" super hard for Y ball. But this is where my love of sports and fitness began.
3. Track and Field- I started running competitively at the age of 12. I was a sprinter and  Triple Jumper. I made it to the Jr Olympics 2 years in a row. So my training was mostly for short burst of speed, endurance, and strength. This is also when I started lifting weights.
4. Soccer- MY LOVE! This was the tell all be all of my fitness. I played for 16 years. This was where my real love of fitness started. I wanted to be the fastest (track helped with that) the strongest (weights became a bigger deal) pretty much just the BEST! I would wake up before school and go running, go to school all day, practice for 2 hours, go to the gym and work out then head home for HW and dinner. This was also where my obsession of what I ate started (it was not always healthy... but thats a blog for a different day)
5. College- I turned down the opportunity to play soccer in NY, where my brother was studying and playing Football,  because I couldn't afford the school (no scholarships available for the year I would go) I had to keep up a certain level of fitness while away. I didnt want to be the typical Freshman who gained a lot of weight. So I quickly found the gym and ate a lot of salad (healthiest thing in the school cafeteria lol)
6. Career- I studied Criminology  and Psychology and was offered a job back in Oralando with the Orange County Sheriffs Office. My training was no longer just for speed, strength... it was to SAVE MY LIFE. I really needed to make up for my size (5'0) in confidence, strength, knowledge... and those workouts got hard, food got crazy and I got STRONG... Stronger then most of the guys I worked with because I had more to prove. I Aced every test we had and every physical obstacle the threw my way. I LOVED IT!

 You I was pretty bad ass haha. Due to certain circumstances, which include early onset glaucoma I had to hang up my gun belt and bullet proof vest lol. I will always love the time I spent in that field.
7. For ME- Being a very competitive athlete, trying to be a healthy college student, to work hard for work, it is now time to be healthy for me and me alone. I work out now for health reasons along with superficial reasons (yep I admit it) I have a lot of unhealthy traits in my family and I would prefer to stay far away. So working out and eating healthy is a way I can control that part of my life (for now at least). I want to live a long healthy life, grow old and watch my kids (if i have some haha) have families of their own.

 For right now I will settle for my nephews :o)

I also like to look good... I mean come on, there is not a person out there that goes to the gym everyday and says to themselves "I really hope my cellulite looks good in these shorts" I love getting random compliments... it just solidifies why I train and plan my meals.

So those are all the reasons in my life that I have trained... what makes you train? Why is fitness important to you?

Ok now that I have written a novel for you on with today's challenge.

TUCK JUMPS

Make sure to jump from low and land softly. If done incorrectly you can hurt your knees and I don't want any of that. Your Challenge: 50 Tuck Jumps

Don't forget to Tweet using #fitpossible30day  or FB message that you have done todays challenge
I hope everyone is having a great weekend so far... Off to clean the house

Ciao and Train Hard

Alexis

Who loves PLANK DAY? 30 Day Challenge V12

*Warning self brag about to happen*

Before I get started with today's challenge I would like to give myself some props. I started this challenge to help push myself (and others) to a new level and get ready for some special events I have starting in June. I know it's only one exercise to add in daily but it has started something even more for me.

Brian has had to be out of the house at 5am everyday. This means our normal 6am breakfast sit down has been moved to 4:45am. Which means 4:30am wake up calls and for me that means being up the rest of the day. ( I don't do naps) So I have decided why not fit in some more workouts if I am already up. So I have been getting up and moving early and I am starting to love it. Along with adding my challenges I have begun to add runs in the morning (which is a big deal for me... I am not a runner)  or pull ups and pushups... This makes me smile.

Ok I guess I can stop my little self brag for now
 Here is a look back at what we have done so far..if you are just joining us feel free to jump right in or go back an check out all of week ones challenges
Day 1  Day 2  Day 3  Day 4  Day 5  Day 6  Day 7   Day 8  Day 9  Day 10  Day 11   

So this brings me to the title. We will be working some core with some fun filled planks... with a little added fun of course.

OBLIQUE PLANK 

This will work your whole core with a slight focus on your obliques... no muffin top here ladies and gents!!!
Your Challenge: 25 each side

 Start in a regular high plank position. Without twisting your body bring your knee to elbow (same side of body) Make sure to keep your abs engaged at all times, this will maximize core work and leave your stomach feeling flatter all the way around.

 The next exercise will work multiple parts of your body including glutes, core, shoulders....
On DAY 7 (check out the details here) your challenge was a basic donkey kick. We are in week 2 now so there is nothing basic about it anymore. I bring you...

Balance Donkey Kicks

To start get into a regular donkey kick position. Bring toes underneath and lift knees off of the ground (don't you love how Taz has been joining our exercises lately)

Lift right leg up, engage core; using your left foot and upper body to balance. This is where the shoulder and core work come in.

Lift right leg up (just like in a regular donkey kick) to engage the glute muscles. Your challenge: 25 balance donkey kicks each side

Question: What is your BRAG this week?

Ciao and early morning love

Alexis
                           

Shoulder Burner Push Ups: 30 Day challenge V11

Wow is that title a mouth full or what?

2 days ago I asked if there were any particular muscles you wanted worked and I got a message from my real "in real life" (tehe) friend and fellow blogger Carissa.

So here is what I came up with, still sticking to my challenge of being able to do it at home, in a small space, with no equipment. These are probably my favorite pushups EVER! I have to say my favorite part of my body is my back and whenever I can do something to make it look even better it makes me happy LOL

I initially wanted to make a video but I have been so busy getting ready for the end of the school year that once I got home everyday this week all I wanted to do was cook dinner and relax with Brian. So I did just that! So after after my run this morning (yep I am posting this before I go to work haha) I took some how to pictures.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to shoot me a message.

SHOULDER BURNER PUSHUPS

Start in a plank position and walk your feet in so you are in somewhat of a V shape (you should be a bit uncomfortable) Hands should be facing towards each other. (please excuse the sweaty back HAHA like I said I went for a run)

Bend elbows (they should go outward) bringing your upper body fwd. If you do not feel this in your shoulders/back check your position or move your feet even closer to your hands. Your Challenge: 50 Shoulder Burner Pushups (feel free to split them up throughout the day)

I hope this meets your challenge Mrs. Carissa B.  LOL 

Question: What is your favorite part of your body?

Ciao and shoulder burning

Alexis

Drag Bingo and 30 Day Challenge V10

What to wear what to wear... I mean, how do I know what is acceptable to put on when you are going to see Drag Queens and play Bingo? I am neither a man that dresses up as a woman or my 80 yr old grandma... so you see my dilemma. 

With outfit picked out, excitement growing I was on my way Down Town to Hamburger Marys. 

I met up with some friends from work and the fun was on, but I had to over come so health food hurdles first. After searching the menu over and over I decided on their veggie wrap with steamed veggies on the side. While my friend Jose ordered Nachos. He was bound and determined to get me to eat them. Oh and photog it for all to see haha. 

So here you have it, my night out....

 My friend Lani and I ready for the show

 My on nacho of the night and the fabulous Queens making people laugh, being inappropriate, and amazing all at the same time. 

 Oh yes I won a Boa for knowing the punch line to a Michael Jackson joke... yes I am inappropriate. And yes I also and actually enjoyed my veggies with veggies on the side.

It was great to get out and relax for a night... the only question... how do I trick Brian into going with me next time?

HMMMMMMM.... my mission for the next week haha

Ok Ok On with with challenge...

 Single Leg Squats

Make sure to use your core to help balance. With one leg held up, begin your squat. Be sure to stay conscious of your knee to toe relationship, form is still very important. Your challenge: 20 single leg squats each leg.

 

 I just realized I haven't been posting the tweets... man oh man I am a mess! So if you have been completing the challenges please make sure to some how let me know, be it tweet, FB, Email, or comment. I am putting together a half way point gift and want everyone to have a fair chance.

Ciao and one leg it

Alexis

Power Squats: 30 day Challenge V9

So before we get started can I just say I am super excited about my Tuesday evening... One of my friends at work has invited a few of us Down Town for Bingo at Hamburger Mary's. Ok so why is this so exciting?

IT IS DRAG BINGO! Now I am pretty inappropriate at all times in my life but apparently these "ladies" put me to shame and I am some what thrilled to see this. So while Brian sits at home all by his lonesome I will be enjoying some gorgeous "women" with fowl mouths and good times with my friends.

Have you ever been to a drag show? Was it fun?

OK on with today's challenge

POWER SQUATS

Make sure to keep good form while preforming these squats. You still want to be conscious of your knee/ankle relationship. Your Challenge: 50 Power Squats

 Are there any particular muscles you would like me to hit during this challenge?

Ciao power time

Alexis