This has also lead me to really listen to my body and what it needs when it comes to exercise versus rest. And I assure you, Friday’s run felt AMAZING and really helped clear some things out.

Friday 5/10/13

3 miles run

Saturday 5/11/13

REST

Sunday 5/12/13

Stability Ball Toner Workout <-this is a killer! My abs were still burning on Tuesday!

20 mins elliptical

Monday 5/13/13

4.6 mile run

Tuesday 5/14/13

Upper Body Strength

Tone It Up Sunkissed Abs

20 mins stationary bike

20 mins YogaDownload – Advanced Forrest Yoga

Wednesday 5/14/13

2 mile walk

Thursday 5/15/13

Tone It Up Thighs – 2x thru

3.1 mile run

What a great week and seriously, I can not wait for this weekend and all it has to offer – in terms of activity, rest, friends, and soon-to-be friends!

No link-up this week since I’m off traveling, but I’ll bring it back next Friday!

This is a workout you can do at the gym or at home as long as you have a set of weights and a stability ball, and it doesn’t take that much time! I started with a 5 minute walk to warm-up and ended with a 5 minute walk to cool-down, but you can also pair this workout with some additional cardio for a little more.

Don’t make this too complicated and since our reps are higher, keep your weights a bit lower.  I used 8lbs weights which were perfect – heavy enough for a burn, but not too heavy that I couldn’t complete my sets.

Complete each move 10-12 times, as specified, and complete the entire circuit for a total of 4 rounds.  This should take you about 20 minutes start to finish.  Remember to keep your core engaged – that’s the whole reason we’re using the stability ball!

Try the circuit and let me know what you think!

Image Sources:

Stability Ball Chest Press / Stability Ball Wall Squats / Stability Ball Shoulder Press / Stability Ball Crunch / Stability Ball Dumbbell Curls / Stability Ball Pass / Stability Ball

And as crazy and vulnerable as this may be, I’m going to share it with you.  Not all of it and not every day but from time to time, I’m going to share some.

Why?

Because I started this blog as a way to share my journey of life and while my healthy-living and fitness journey is part of that, so is my spiritual and mental journey, my career, my whole life journey.  So I’m going to be vulnerable and I’m going to share some of these thoughts with you.  Thank you for being open.  Thank you for listening.

Well The Weeks released a new album called ‘Dear Bo Jackson’ and after listening to it through and enjoying what I was listening to, I went back in time to see what other melodies they could fill my ears and I was far from disappointed. In fact, I went so far as to immediately start typing up this post.

I went so far as to immediately find the video for an older song of theirs called Buttons…

*Please note this song is from their 2012 release ‘Come Back Cadillac.’

And I went so far as to listen on repeat as I continued working on my computer the rest of the afternoon.

But don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourself.

What have you been listening to and loving lately?

But especially to my own (because I know she’s reading this!), Happy Mother’s Day!

We handed out flowers this week at work to all the mothers that come in and several asked Julie and I if we’re mothers.  She has a puppy so she’d say “to a puppy!” but I said no, and quite honestly I’m more than okay with that.  While I don’t want kids but I do want a puppy, I’m definitely in no place to have one right now.  So all you momma’s enjoy your Mother’s Day – you’ve more than earned it!

So for those of you looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift, you should think about registering you and your mom for the Pretty Muddy 5k Mud Run – how fun would that be?!

Thankfully I also have a special code for $15 off your registration using the code MUDDYMOMMA by end of day today – so hurry!

As a reminder, I will be a part of the Chicago Pretty Muddy race later this summer – won’t you please join me?!

Are you a momma? How are you celebrating?

Have you heard of Zach Sobiech?  If you haven’t, he’s a 17 year-old cancer victim fighting a rare, aggressive and deadly form of bone cancer.  Quite the heart wrenching story.  But this kid has impacted more people in his 17 years than most probably do in a lifetime.

 When trying to figure out “how to say goodbye” Zach wrote this song called “Clouds” which will bring tears to your eyes, especially when you really listen to the lyrics.  The world heard him and in fact, they responded.

Immediately after watching that video, I bought Zach’s song off iTunes.  How could I not?  I’m still speechless.

I may still have to work tomorrow but Friday means I survived my always long Thursdays and I’m a bit closer to my day off on Sunday.

So after some requests, I have decided to bring back the Fitness Friday linkup…at least for now! Hopefully those of you who have participated in the past will want to join back up and those of you new, will want to join in.  All I ask is that you grab a button and link back to me, and check out some of the others and help create this community of support in our fitness goals!

Friday 5/3

3.1 mile run

Saturday 5/4

Tone It Up SunSeeker workout

Sunday 5/5

5k race

Monday 5/6

25 mins YogaDownload – Hot Power Fusion 1

Tuesday 5/7

2.5 mile run

2.75 mile walk/run intervals

Tone It Up Holiday Arm workout + abs

Wednesday 5/8

Deck of cards workout (coming next week!)

25 mins walk

Thursday 5/9

10 min walk

Strength – legs + abs

20 mins YogaDownload – Forrest Yoga

Join the fun!

How were your workouts this week?

Are you ready to join the party?

-After the Boston Marathon bombings, I ran across this tank top on Etsy and with proceeds going to the One Fund, I had to get it!  I wore it on my run Tuesday morning and a few people driving by (that I didn’t know!) waved and seemed to show support.  It was a really cool feeling.

-THIS.WEATHER! Seriously, I can’t get enough time outside! For the girl who lived in Southern Cali for 3 years and got sick of the endless sunshine (or lack of other weather), you wouldn’t think this would get me so excited but it is and I’m loving it! I’ll still take the rain as it comes but when the sun comes out to play, you can find me on the deck soaking up the sunshine.

-A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to try a variety of Food Should Taste Good chips the company sent my way.  I wasn’t expecting so much, but as this picture shows – I WAS CHIPPED!

I love how these chips are all natural, gluten-free, low-sodium and created without trans fats, cholesterol or artificial ingredients.  And seriously, they DO taste good!  And while I’ve got the sweet vs. salty tooth, who doesn’t love a good chip from time to time? Whether to have with some homemade salsa, guac or alongside your salad at dinner, these were awesome.  No joke.

I can’t thank Food Should Taste Good enough for allowing me to try their chips and especially because they’re allowing one of you to as well!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hopefully you’ll add Food Should Taste Good to your list of things you’re loving lately too!

*I was sent this box of Food Should Taste Good chips free of charge; all opinions are my own.

**All other things mentioned are also just because I love them, no compensation was provided.

What are you loving lately?