The Victory is in the Smile...

The eyes say....I feel like crap today. The smile says....I still win. :P But that stretch workout left me on the floor for the last move....and whatever I'm fighting is trying to catch up. I think I'm stuck, lol...

The myriad of emotions I may have gone through during the progression of this Monday....

 1.) Not amused at life's complications
2.) Even LESS amused.... 😉
3.) After a one day only sneak peek workout of Beachbody's newest program about to be released....Core de Force, a martial arts/kick boxing/self defense inspired program.....that is flippin' AWESOME!!! This is one I could get TOTALLY addicted to!!! 😍😍😍. High intensity. Will work that core like nobody's business and had sweat flying with every kick & punch!! 😉 👊 And after doing it, has me reevaluating that my Monday's not so bad after all, and has me sayin'.....gurrllll, you such a fighter. Life's complications ain't got nuthin' on you!! Sweat is MAGICAL, dontcha know???? 😉 #coredeforce #sweepstakes #beachbodyondemand #nevermissamonday

High Protein Oatmeal

I'm wearing my chef's hat this week!!! 😉 You can't taste the eggs, but they boost the protein to double what it would be without!! This variation gives you 12 grams according to my recipe calculator...💪👍

 High Protein Oatmeal (2 servings)::

 3/4 cup rolled oats
2 eggs
1/2 cup coconut almond milk (I highly recommend Califia Farms brand👍)
1 Tbsp. Ground flaxseed
1 tsp. Cinnamon
 1 ripe banana, mashed
1/2 tsp. Pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup berries, fresh or frozen (thawed)

 Mix all ingredients except berries together in a pot on the stove; turn to med-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until mixture reaches normal consistency and the eggs are no longer runny (about 5 min). Stir in extra milk, if desired. Top with berries and make it pretty, then mix them in & eat it up!! 😉

 Beachbody Container Equivalents:: 1 ❤, 1.5 💛, 1.5 💜, 1/2 🎃 (there's no orange heart 😉) #EatLikeAnAthlete #BreakfastOfChampions 😉

 

Roasted Red Pepper Lentil Soup

Took a new recipe for a spin tonight with a couple of my own detours!! Roasted Red Pepper Lentil Soup with Cilantro & Green Onion garnish......and I think the picture is food magazine worthy so I had to post it!! 😉😉

 

Some Princesses Wear Running Shoes....

So. I try to plan my runs in the middle-ish parts of my days most days. I'm kinda like a kid whose mind is more alert and sharp in the morning, so that's when I like to get my think-hard work done....but then I hit a point where I need a recess or PE break to shake some of it off, and then refocus for the rest of my day after. It works for me. Don't criticize. wink emoticon

Sometimes, depending on the time I'm able to schedule my PE time & the route I choose, I'm often at the end of my run at just when a nearby elementary school gets out. Today was one of those days. Just as I got to the school and pick-up car line, I switched my runkeeper to walk for the rest of the route home. As I was walking away from the school, I got behind a mom pushing a stroller and a couple of kids walking beside her. She was going pretty s-l-o-w pushing that stroller, so I increased my walk to run past her. As I did, her little girl appeared on the other side. Crazy, wild brown curls going all kinds of which-ways on her cute little head. Disney princess dress with play clothes underneath. Sneakers, or "running shoes". Normally, kids just move away or back up, closer to their moms when I pass them while running. This cutie, however, was in her own little world, bouncing along....and when she saw me, instead of getting that shy little look I'm used to seeing and backing closer to her mama....she grinned and those twinkly eyes lit up. She turned that bounce into a run and started running with me!! As we "ran" together, her smile got bigger and she kept looking at me. We were "racing"!!! We got to the crossroad and of course, she got there first. wink emoticon She was so excited that she won..."I won!!" she said and then looked at me...."We were racing!! Did I win???" I told her "of course you did" and gushed over what a good...and fast... runner she was. As she ran back to her mom, I heard her say, "I won!! I knew I would win!! Because I'm a princess"!!

I love kids and the way they see things. <3heart emoticon

May she always have sparkly eyes with a zest for living each moment to its fullest potential. And let her brown curls get crazy messy, because fun things happen when you let your hair get messy. And may she never doubt herself....not for a second, that she can do things....and and do them well....and even win.

Because princesses like pretty things. Like sparkles & flowers ....& princess dresses....they like to look and be pretty. That's how they're created. And they should be sweet & kind....& loving & gentle. But they should also be strong & smart & capable. And courageous & adventurous. If life doesn't make them forget or convince them otherwise....and if it does that to her....may she find her running shoes again. To help her remember.

I've Got Sunshine on a February Day

Florida, you are beautiful & awesome & amazing & wonderful & I am madly in love with you....even though you've had bipolar tendencies lately. I don't even care that the crazy wind & a blister slowed me down. Because today, you let the sunshine in & I got to run outside. And Soak. It. Up.

Smart Runners Strength Train ;)

....when your Instagram feed is full of ppl posting for Flex Friday & you've been working on those arms, you decide to join in....grow li'l muscle grow!!!💪😉!! 
Not wanting a body builder look, but toned, tight & femininely strong is good..

Hey.  Are you on instagram???  You should look for me there. ;)

SweetDivaMJ

In Training...

When you're chomping at the bit for a change, for forward momentum....do you stay in your safe comfort zone that feels like a chore....or, do you take a leap of faith on a new adventure that you know will challenge you, stretch you, grow you.....excites & inspires you??  I choose the
adventure of new beginnings.  Personal trainer....in training.  ;)

I'm Gonna Sweat

Not gonna lie. Once in a while, I need a little motivation to get to the gym.
Gonna work this headache off in my new workout tank!!!

Runner wardrobe LOVE.  It makes a difference.  Really, it does.

I Ran A Mile....

Watching my 14 year old at baseball tryouts & thinking about our after school convo from yesterday....

Him:: "Mom, I ran a mile at school today"
This, from the kid who hates running...and, in the past, was not shy about letting me know it when he was forced to.
Me:: "You did?!?! Was it awful & horrible for you???". wink emoticon
Him:: "No.... All those other kids were complaining so much and I thought, 'you shouldn't complain.. This is nothing! My mom ran 28!!!'. I even said it out loud to one kid. Because I'm really proud of you, Mom". ❤❤❤

Maybe their thing isn't running. Maybe YOUR thing isn't running. But taking care of yourself, pushing to achieve goals...it's not selfish. It's being an example....you're teaching those you care for that they can achieve hard things too. They're always watching & always learning from you, whether you think they are or not.

Kickboxing....My Kind of a Girl's Night Out

3 friends....since we were about 12 years old.  Reuniting for a kickboxing adventure/girls' night out...
Old friends, refusing to grow old.

So fun.  So awesome.  Even if I'm such an uncoordinated dork. And, apparently, I hit like a girl.  ;)
But...hey.  It was only the first class of 5 that we signed up for.  You can't learn new things
if you're not willing to look likea dork sometimes.  And I am totally willing,  haha ;)

And.....my kids. One day....they will look back and be thankful for the woman that took care of them.....& kickboxed across the living room & into their bedrooms as she warmed up, did less than supersonic Wonder Woman spins, and basically acted like a fool sometimes. They will laugh and say, "I'm glad my mom was a li'l bit crazy". Right now, however, I think they're thankful that very few see the things that they do.... 
wink emoticon
Their eyes roll. Their mouths say, "MOM. You're weird". But....those lips. They turn upward, even though they fight it....and they smile. 

Haha. ;)smile emoticon

Some Days, I Need a Little Bit of the Diva...

...because. Some days, ya need a li'l sass to get 'er done...