Happy New Year!

Hey everyone, sorry for just dropping off the planet, as far as my fitness goals, a bit of change in plans due to doctors orders. So right now I am just going to be taking it slow and doing little things, but mostly making sure I drink enough water and eat healthy foods. I will probably not write for a little while, but once I get back on track, I will be back! :)
Love you!

Step 1 of the December Challenge!

I am completely done with my biology class! woohoo! man that was a brain killer for sure! I stood up from the 2 hour test and felt like my legs and brain were completely dead. I was good afterwards though and didn't completely collapse, I actually came home and did the third day of Level 2 on Jillian Michaels! It is starting to get a lot easier already, this program is amazing! If anyone is interested, its on amazon at :

http://www.amazon.com/Jillian-Michaels-30-Day-Shred/dp/B00127RAJY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354929809&sr=8-1&keywords=jillian+michaels+30+day+shred

You can get it for like 8 bucks on DVD but I just did the online version so its only like $5. Plus I share it with my mom so both of us can use it even though we are in different cities :)

Anyways, I'll get off my advertising podium :) So for those who are looking at this for the December challenge, it started with the blog below, so check that out. So today is Day 1 of the challenge right? So the first part of the challenge is to write down your goals. Choose 2. One for nutrition and one for exercise. You can just hit comment on this post and type yours in but make sure you have a copy hanging up somewhere in your house so you have a good reminder.
Here are my goals:
Nutrition: I am terrible at staying hydrated so this month I will drink 8 cups of water a day. I also want to make sure I have fruit and vegetables each day. I am not going to worry about how much, I just want to start off with actually having some each day.
Exercise: I will do the Jillian Michaels video every day and finish up the program, I will also start running each day using a program so that I can run a mile straight by the end of the month. :) 

Alright your turn!

Well Im gonna clean up and do a little more studying for the rest of my finals before bed, so goodnight everyone! :D

December Healthy challenge :D

In case anyone has been reading my posts, I promise I didn't give up! I took a week and a half break because I picked up something over Thanksgiving break and simply have not been up to hardcore workouts surprise surprise. I have been eating oranges, drinking Euchinacia herbal tea, orange juice and cranberry juice, and taking my vitamins daily so I was able to recover fairly quickly :D Anyways I'm back up and ready to get going :D

This next week will be a little crazy cause its finals week and I just started working in a research lab,so wish me luck! but I am determined to do all my workouts each day. Yesterday I did Level 2 of Jillian Michaels, and since its has been so long, I think I am going to just say that was day one of Level 2. I did do it again today so I am done with Day 2. If I stick to it, I will be able to finish the program before the end of the month! Also next week I am going to start running back up, I haven't picked out a program yet but I want to get back into running and be able to run at least 3 miles straight by the end of December.

Now wait a minute... isn't December the 0 calorie, eat as much as I can, be lazy before January hits? I don't know how many times I have heard people talk about their New Years Resolutions about being healthy and active that sound great but then they destroy themselves during December with all the sweets and temptation to get cozy under a blanket and be lazy. Well I am determined. Instead of December being the last month to be unhealthy for the year, I'm going to make December an active, exciting, and healthy month. Here is my challenge: Give yourself a healthier you for Christmas!

Comment on this post if you want to do the challenge with me :) It can be anything really. Just start something new. I suggest looking up a workout program for beginners on anything you have been interested in whether that be biking, running, swimming ( for those who are daring/crazy enough ;)), playing a soccer, weight training, zumba, etc. :D If you do start, keep me posted, you can give me your updates when I give mine so we can all keep each other going! Post your goals, accomplishments, any healthy festive recipes, etc. anything to help others to keep going and not wait till January :D

Well better go study for my bio final for tommorrow! Hope to see lots of comments!
Until tommorow!

DAY 11 and 12: This is where it gets difficult

Strength in the mind

Yesterday and today will be full of studying, but I have realized that school work is not the only thing I need to be doing to strengthen my mind. I have started that goal of being more positive and so far its been going very well, I am happier, my relationship with my hubby is stronger, and I have a better outlook on life! :D But I also need to be working on studying Heavenly Father's words too. I need to get in a better habit of reading scriptures every day, both on my own and also with Matt. Right now we are working on the Book of Mormon and personally I think I will start the New Testament since Christmas is next month! soooo excited for that btw.

Strength in might

Like I said it has been day 11 and 12 which means day 1 and 2 of the second level and HOLY COW I am soooooo sore! It's just like the first day of the first level. But I was able to get stronger to the point where the first level was easy, second level isn't any different. :) 'This too shall pass..." :D

Strength in the body

So yesterday I did pretty good. I had a bagel for breakfast, I went to dollar lunch at the institute and had corn, salad, and pulled pork sandwich, and for dinner, I was really in the mood for Italian, and we couldn't afford Olive Garden, so I went to my box of food and put together my own Italian concoction. I boiled bow tie noodles, and then made this topping made of sauteed yellow grape tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, and ham, and then on the cooked noodles I put butter and parsley and some other spice, I don't remember what it was, and then I filled a bowl full of noodles, put my topping on it, and drizzled it with Italian dressing :) and then for a side I had a spinach salad with fresh Parmesan chunks of cheese, and tomato :) can I say yum! Matt looked at me funny cause he hates spinach and plain tomatoes... oh well his loss! He only got a carrot for his vegie lol. 

Day 10: Level One complete! :D

Strength in the mind:

Today I have been catching up on hw from yesterday. Yesterday was just one of those days that I just didnt have the motivation to go to class, do hw, or workout, so yeah I missed a day :/ Hopefully this working out can make those days fewer in number. My goal for strength in mind for the rest of the year is to be more positive. I want to notice little things that make my life so blessed and its a lot easier to do that when I am being positive.

Strength in might:

Like I said Level 1 is now complete!! I get to start Level 2 tommorow!! :D Sooo in a couple days, I am gonna be pretty sore lol. I am determined to get through this program, even if I missed a couple days, I'm pulling myself back up and sticking through. :)

Strength in the body:

Well its a little early but for breakfast I ate a bagel with cream cheese, a piece of ham and a tomato, a yogurt and  a nutrigrain bar :) Im probably gonna just make my amazing sandwich for lunch which consists of homemade bread, avacado, spinach, tomato, ham, cheese, and a thin layer of mayo on one slice of bread, with a side of leftover roasted vegies and cottage cheese with tomatoes. soooo good! :)

 and for dinner! missionaries are coming over so I think I am making chicken and dumplings, with a vegie side. :)

DAY 8: Finding strength within my mind, might, and body

I have made it past a week!! :D So as an update, Saturday morning I did my whole run to kenzies, walked with her and ran back, and then yesterday I just took the whole day off since it was Sunday, and now its a new week to get going again! I am just about to do the Jillian michaels video and then I have two more days after that and I will be done with Level 1! Last time I started this video I got through level 1 and part of 2, this time... Im making it to 3 baby :) Just one day at a time.

 I love the phrase "Find the strength in you mind, might, and body" For me, strength in the mind is clear sturdy thoughts, doing well in school, understanding, being able to comprehend, the enjoyment of learning, helping others and being happy in general. Strength in might would be the strength I can build by working out. Being physically strong basically. And strength in the body, I kinda change to 'within' the body. Everything I put in my body affects different parts of me. By eating healthy, my body can function better, and I have that strength I desire within me. This pinpoints my goal. I want to strengthen those three aspects of me : my mind, my might, and my body, so from now on that is how I will categorize my posts :D

I kinda already did might, but for mind....
Today I had a bio exam, a lab, and lecture. Soooo much information today it was a little overwhelming. I just need to take one step at a time and start memorizing. Right now in physiology class I'm learning about the nervous system. It is so amazing how particular our body can read our surroundings and prevent us from hurting ourselves too bad.

and body....
Did pretty darn well with eating healthy today :) I had a yogurt and a piece of toast with honey on it this morning, and then for lunch I had the rest of my subway sandwich, a grill cheese sandwich made from homemade bread, and a carrot :) for dinner I am roasting a bunch of vegies in the oven, and making some hoagies :)

Such an awesome quote. I am not very strong, but I can overcome my weakness if I am persistant and never give up :)

DAY 4

Good morning!! :D
I'm gonna go ahead and write really quick before I get started on homework and going to lab.. so this morning I woke up at 5:00 and did Jillian Michael's workout and it was so much easier to do the pushups! Woohoo! but that wasnt the end. I then ran 20 minutes to Kenzies house, took a half hour power walk with her in a loop back to her house and then ran/ walked home again. I got home about 7. I think Im good for the day lol. I still am going to ride my bike to class and back later on though and that will probably be about all I do as far as workout goes :)
For food.... I made 2 eggs sunnyside up on an english muffin with a couple slices of cheese, Ive had a granola bar... and not sure what I will do for lunch and such, soo... tbc.......:)