Enjoy the Moment

I've been thinking a lot about time lately.

I take that back - I'm always thinking about time. I'm definitely one of those planners, punctual, always looking for what is next time of people. I'm sure it gets annoying.

But as I sit here in the library studying and thinking about all the things I need to get done today, I find myself thinking "wow...will spring break ever get here?" and "dang, if I can just get through today, things will be less stressful" or "if I could just be done with school and have a job, how great would that be?"

Then I am reminded of one of my dear mother's favorite phrases: ENJOY THE MOMENT
That can definitely be hard to do when you have 4 papers, a group project and 3 quizzes in the next four days. It can seem impossible when you are exercising and eating right and the weight you want to lose isn't budging. It can make you frustrated when you are faced with hard decisions and difficult situations and all you want to do is cry, hoping that will take it away. But what should we really do? Just enjoy it.

This life is meant to be enjoyed. And although it might not seem like it is all fun and games, which it isn't, it isn't supposed to be faced with a sad heart and a bad attitude.

I really need to work on this. Which is probably why my mom says this to me all the time! But I thought we could all use a little reminder to just enjoy our place in our lives, because it will change. It does change. Whether for the better or for the worse, we are always progressing in one direction. So love your life, and move forward! That's what I'm shooting for.

Definition, Please

I read this article when it came out a couple months ago in this magazine my family gets. I loved it - and I think it is important for women to read. So, what better place to share it then on this blog! Hope you enjoy it too :)

Beauty Redefined

Hope it's been a good weekend!

~Trisha

Knowing When

Hilary and I must be on the same brain wave, because my post is quite similar to hers!

This week, stress has been my middle name. I've been trying to take breaks from studying and really focus on what is important but it's been hard to feel like I am on top of things.

I workout every day because I love it. It makes me feel good, it keeps me going, it gives me my "me" time, and it is just part of my life. Yet when I get stressed, I start to think "maybe I should just study instead of working out today." So I'm not sure that has ever happened, because I always realize how much MORE productive I am when I get a workout it. But when do you say no?

I've been wondering where to draw the line. When do you say "my body needs a break" or "my mind needs a break" or "I just need a me day?" Personally, I feel like exercise is my break and my me time. But I still wonder if going going going is always the best. Ya know?

I guess that's the beauty of all of us having different bodies and learning what is best for US!

Hope it's been a fantastic week :)

Are You Plugged In?

That's what one of my professors asks when students walk into class with headphones on. It's kind of ridiculous/crazy how many people CAN'T walk from class to class without something playing in their ears. Personally, I like a little quiet. What about you?

I'm not much of a music listener while I'm working out either. In fact, I LOVE to run and spin and lift with nothing but my thoughts. Working out is my time. I get to think about anything I want: dreams, school, family, boys, jobs, my future. There are no limits! That is why I love it. I get some of my greatest insights and inspiration while running. When I'm frustrated, I run to work through it. When I have a problem, I run to figure it out. When I'm excited, I run to celebrate and feel my body being excited. Ya know?

There are still days where I take the ipod with me on a run or to the gym. Although it is rare, it does happen. And today I thought I'd share with you my favorite cool down song. I think we all have lots of workout songs to pick from. But I like my cool down songs to be meaningful and soothing. It's my treat for a job well done!

So my top pick is....

The Finish Line
by: Train

It was one of the theme songs of the past summer Olympics. Enjoy :)

Voices In My Head

Since 5:31 this morning, my bed has been calling my name.

P.S. this totally isn't my room. i love how college apartments on TV make it look like college students have the means to decorate like this. HA!

By the way...I wake up at 5:30.

Yesterday I ran the 15 minute walk from my anatomy lab to my truck in a full on WHITE OUT. I went to bed ready for some warmth and sleep, and my alarm came WAY too early. Then walking around campus this morning it was mighty windy. So pretty much after my last class ended, going to the gym seemed far less important than getting back in my warm bed. When I got to my truck though, I did a little self pep-talk and got to the gym. And guess what! I banged out a run that I am mighty proud of!

I think that just goes to show the power of our minds. Sometimes all it takes is telling yourself just how strong, beautiful, and capable you are. One of my coaches in high school would always talk to us about how important it is to visualize us performing our best. Before our tournaments and games, we would have visualizing time. So why don't I do that more now? I should.

Just thought we could all use a little pick-me-up! Remember just how awesome it is that you actually DID workout today, and you actually DID eat 3 servings of veggies. That is something to be proud of!

Love, T

I'm Alive!

Contrary  to the state that the cadaver is in that I recently dissected...cool, I know...I am alive. Sorry for the disappearance in the last week. Sometimes life gets to me!

Anyway, I tried something new at the gym today! It's called an expresso bike. Every heard of it? It's a road bike simulator. So you hop on and there is a screen in front of you. You pick a ride depending on difficulty and distance, and then ride away! I often struggle just working out on a exercise bike because I think it's boring and I don't get as good of a workout as I do when I'm out riding my own road bike or in a spin class. But this was great! I was sweating a ton and stayed captivated as I was able to watch other riders around me, see my power and cadence change and monitor my heart rate. It was pretty sweet! 

I'm usually a little wary to try something new when it comes to working out. Ok - I rarely if ever do it! I did try Zumba earlier this month and wasn't a huge fan. It was a nice change, but just isn't my style. I like my workouts so I stick to them. But changing up workouts is soooo important. I need to do better with that, so that my muscles keep having to try to work in different ways, ya know?

So I guess this post is basically to encourage all of you to try a new form of exercise! Even if it is just once, or for a short time. The worst that can happen is that you don't like it so you don't do it again...right? So go for a jog, try a new class, lift some different weights or try some yoga!

Trying Real Hard

On my other blog, a dear friend and reader of mine commented on one of my posts. It went something along the lines of saying that she had kept her new years resolutions in forms of cutting out sugar and stuff, and she had lost 5 pounds! She rocks. But then she said she just wishes she enjoyed exercising and she asked me how to fix that.

As I logged in my miles on the track today I was contemplating that question. Here is what my running mind came up with:

First off, I think you need to determine what it is you don't like about it. Is it the time commitment? Having to drive to the gym? Getting sweaty every day? Is it painful? Do you not enjoy sitting on a stationary bike or doing the elliptical? Or do you just think it's boring? There are lots of reasons why people don't like to exercise. Once you determine what the reason is, then I think you allow yourself to make progress.

I'm going to keep brainstorming some solutions to these reasons for not liking to exercise, and post my thinking and reasoning later. What are some of the reasons you don't like to exercise? And how do you get past that?

Happy Tuesday!

Currently

Currently, you can find me sitting on the floor of my apartment bedroom near the space heater. I just came home from a night class (and my last class of the week...ya buddy!) and it is freezing outside. I've about had enough of walking around campus is huge coats and still being cold. Oh well...I guess I can't do anything about that!

This morning my workout consisted of running hill intervals followed by a heavy leg day of weights. Why I put those two together, I have no idea. But I did learn something! I'm currently doing a challenge involving logging 1,000 miles this year. To be honest, I think I'll pass the 1,000 mile mark a ways before the year ends. Part of it though is to log at least half (hopefully much more) of those miles in running.

So...today as I was running I had a bit of a wake-up call. Don't you love those? Now that I'm doing this challenge, I really try to pack in the miles when I exercise. Unfortunately, with my crazy schedule, time doesn't always allow me to rack up the miles as much as I'd like to. For example, this morning I had time for a 30 minute treadmill workout and 20 minutes of weights. Not a bad workout, but I only got 2.7 miles in on the treadmill since I was running hills and not at my normal pace. So when I hopped off I was frustrated. Why though? I had just completed a good 30 minute cardio sesh, I was sweating up a storm, and I proceeded to go burn my legs off! Isn't that something I should be proud of? Probably.

I hope I can learn from this. Sometimes I need to remember that it's just good I got exercise in. I got my heart pumping, I burned some calories, and gave my muscles a workout. That's what is important. Right? Right.

Well...happy weekend!

STICK to it

One of the many things I love about school (it's true, I do love school...even if I complain about it) is that I get to buy school supplies! Does anyone enjoy this? Maybe I won't once I'm a mom and my kids are running through the store grabbing whatever they can get their hands on. BUT, while I can take a quick trip down the school supply isle on my own, I enjoy it quite a bit. One of my favorite things to buy are sticky notes! (side note: when I got my first "desk job" a couple summers back, I had one of those sticky note boxes at my desk where you can pull it out and the next one follows...I was way too entertained)

Back to the sticky notes. There are so many things you can do with them! Now, I'd like to challenge you to use them! Write down your goals for the week or month on at least 3 different notes, and post them where you see them most. Places like on the fridge (keeps you from eating when you really shouldn't), in your wallet, on your mirror, by your computer, or as a bookmark in the book you are currently reading. Seeing the sticky will be a reminder enough - you probably won't ever have to read your goals. How nifty is that?

Actually, what's really nifty is the sticky note application on my laptop. Not only do I have my monthly and yearly goals written down, but at the beginning of the week I make one that just says everything I want to get done, in school, exercise and other aspects of life. I think it's a great reminder.

So people, let's STICK TO IT!!

A Day at a Time

I'm having one of those weeks. I think this always happens the first week of a semester. There's a huge amount of stress, changes, trying to figure out when to study, when to exercise, when to sleep, when to be social. It's overwhelming. And the first week is the worst. Can you tell I hate it?

Anyway...I've been studying anatomy non-stop since Monday. How many days til the semester is over? Just kidding. I'm actually very excited for the class, and find all of my classes pretty interesting. It's just that constant nagging of what I should be doing (studying) when I'm taking a break (like blogging).

But I have also been reminded of something that can save us during any struggle, whether it's with eating right, making it to the gym, studying for classes or improving a relationship. What we need to focus on is today. If I can study for a couple more hours today, that is good enough. Tomorrow is a different day, a different time, we only need to worry about today.

It's refreshing to say, isn't it? I'm such a planner and scheduler that it's hard for me to just focus on a day at a time. But it makes things so much more bearable. If I can just not eat a certain food today, that is good enough for me. And if you do that every day...you'll be meeting your goals in no time!

Well...it's back to the books. Anyone have tips on memorizing every part of the body? Ha.

Kick em to the Curb!

Sugar cravings...I think we all get them some times. But did you know there is a way to kick em to the curb? Yes, yes it is true.

My cute brother licking the brownie bowl...at least he has an apron on, right?

Other than sheer grit and will-power, fruit can save your life! Nutritionist Zonya Foco has a TV series as well as a weight loss plan that really focuses on balance and changing your life into a healthy one...not a diet plan. I really like her ideas on how to improve little things each day. Anyway, she promises that if you are trying to kick a sugar habit, this trick will be the answer to your problems:

Eat a piece of fruit and a large glass of water every 4 hours while you are awake.

Yes, it is that easy! To be honest, I don't have much of a sweet tooth because I don't eat it much at all. But I think the reason I can stay away from it is because I eat fruit with every meal. It gives me that sweetness that you think your body wants, and it gives you extra nutrients. Hello, double bonus!

I think a huge point to make is that it is important that you are eating frequently, whether it is fruit or not. That doesn't mean eat a meal, but if you are constantly letting your blood sugar and metabolism drop from not eating small snacks enough, the cravings will come back stronger each time. Here are some other healthy snack ideas if you'd like.

Well...it's back to school today for me. Here's to a happy, healthy semester!

Yum!

Okay - I just found this killer website. I hope this is new to some of you too, so I don't feel like the only one that's super excited right now. Check it out here. Dinner in 15 minutes flat! Simply pick your main ingredient, pick how you'd like to cook it, and then it gives you some options. Hello, fabulous! I haven't tried any recipes yet, because I just found the page. But when I do, you will all be the first to know. Come back and tell me if you try a yummy one!

Speaking of yummy recipes, check out my post on my other blog for some healthy Pumpkin Waffles. They were approved by my whole family, even my brother and brother-in-law. That's huge!

Well, I'm going to go veg out and watch the Biggest Loser premier I missed last night. School starts Monday, so I'm taking every chance I get to do absoultely nothing. Any avid BL watchers out there? My sisters, mom and I are all pretty hard core fans. What do you think of the new season?

~T

New Kid on the Block

Hi all you readers out there! It's Trisha, the new kid on the block, and I'm excited to be here! I won't take away any more time from your blog reading by introducing myself...but if you have any questions, feel free to ask away!

One of my family's traditions is to sit together the first Monday of the year and write our goals for the year. My dad is an business consultant/coach that works with companies around the world in enhancing their business and their productivity. Therefore, he's pretty good at the whole goal setting thing. So he always goes through a short lesson on goal setting before we are let loose to dream big for the year! Last night we had our goal setting night and I thought I would share a few things we talked about.
1. Goals need to be SMART - specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely
2. There must be at least a little bit of an intrinsic drive to attain this goal - if you do it for other people, it won't work out
3. Too many goals just gets overwhelming and you end up quitting all, so keep it simple to just a couple
4. Always remember what you have accomplished in the past, and use that drive to accomplish new things
5. Sometimes an ultimate goal might be to fit into a certain pair of jeans or run a marathon. But an easier way to reach that is to break it down into smaller goals, such as cutting down on sugar, eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing mileage of your runs each week, etc. Catch my drift?

Well, I thought these were pretty helpful tips. So if you haven't made goals yet, or if your goals need some revisiting, then don't hesitate! It definitely isn't too late. One of my goals for January (I'm doing some by month. You can read about that on my other blog here) is to do yoga once a month. I feel way too impatient for yoga, which clearly means I need more of it in my life!

So blogging friends, good luck! I'm excited to be blogging with all you great people!