Five Things Friday [07/11/14]

Hey guys! It’s weird how crazy I’ve been lately! Seriously, somehow as soon as summer hit I’ve been off the charts crazy! But since I’m sitting at my kitchen table, sipping some coffee, waiting to go run 13 miles, I figured it was a perfect time to catch you guys up with me. 🙂

1. I absolutely LOVE crossfit!
So I know I mentioned in an early post that I’ve finally started CF, and I’m sure that’s part of the reason why I’m always so busy, but I just love it. I honestly didn’t know that I could enjoy weightlifting so much! How I just want to look like those girls at the CF games! 😉

2. I haven’t been super committed to my long runs.
So here’s the thing, I got knocked off running for a week a few weeks back and it’s been hard to get back into the swing of things. For example, technically according to my training plan I’m supposed to run 26 miles tomorrow. Well I’m going a 5k tomorrow PLUS I don’t think I’m prepared to run 26 yet, so I’ve decided to run 13 today, then 10 tomorrow morning, and then the 5k.

3. Work/School is insanely busy.
This week alone, I’ve been at work until 6pm or later every day. (And I anticipate it being the same today too.) I’m preparing for my Oral Exam which is where I get to tell my committee everything that I’ve been doing, and then they ask my questions on it, and anything else they want to ask me about, and then decide if I get to be a PhD candidate or not. Talk. About. Stressful.

4. In other news, I’ve realized my addiction to coffee is real.. And NO, I’m not upset about it. But I did find this article which I realized is mostly true. The struggle is real people.

5. And last but not least: I’m currently a week in of doing the 21 Day Fix, paleo style. You see, a box near my parents was starting a 30 day paleo challenge and I thought, “gosh, I loved being paleo, I should jump on this challenge with them”… BUT the same day I was also starting a challenge group of the 21 Day Fix.. So anyways, next week I’m going to post some EASY recipes that are keeping me from starving (because I’m busy, not because either the Fix or Paleo would actually cause me to starve). So stay tuned for that!! 🙂

Have a great weekend everyone!

Some people just don’t get it..

So, recently I was talking to a friend about what we did after work. (He’s a graduate student too.) And I replied that I normally run, or go to the gym. “No, like what’s your hobbies, what do you like to do?” he asked. To which I replied, “I told you, I run or go to the gym.”

He was dumbfounded that my ‘hobby’ is working out. He told me, “I feel that every human has the need to make something with their hands.” Obviously, he’s referring to the fact that when he gets home from work he heads over to a ‘nerdy’ shop where you can basically build anything. Cool? Absolutely! My cup of tea? Nope.

I started to question myself… Is working out really a hobby? I mean, does putting yourself into some mental state where everything leaves you alone, and nothing can bother you, is that a hobby? I wasn’t sure, so I consulted Google.

Google let me know, that a hobby is defined as “An activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure”… (Also a pony, which I was unaware of!).. Anyways.. Right.. So I’m still thinking that my working out is considered a hobby. And you know what, I’d rather have working out as a hobby than a chore.

Honestly. How awesome is it to be someone who looks forward to getting their ass handed to them day in and day out during a workout!? I LOVE walking into the box (that’s what we call a crossfit gym) knowing that I’m going to leave drenched in sweat. I love starting a running that I think is going to suck, only to realize four miles in that it’s going 200% better than expected.

Some people don’t get it. I understand that. Some people don’t understand that the being pushed to my limits is one of the times that I’m enjoying life the most. They don’t understand that going to the box, then running on the same day isn’t insanity, it’s actually what’s keeping me sane. They don’t understand that waking up sore makes me smile, and seeing myself get stronger makes me happier than anything else could.

Some people don’t understand but I suppose I’m grateful for that. Because it means that I am a unique person, and for that I am happy.

 

WIAW {21 Day Fix}

It’s WEDNESDAYYYY. You know what that means?! Well, 1. I don’t teach. 2. Group run in the morning. 3. WHAT I ATE WEDNESDAY!

Let us take some time to thank Ms Jenn over at Peas and Crayons for hosting this lovely party every week! THANKS JENN!!

 

So anyways, I told you guys on Monday that I’m doing the 21 Day Fix! That means that my foods all have pretty colored hearts to go with them! (Minus the orange, have you noticed that there is no orange heart on the emoji keyboard for iPhone?! SAD!).. Anyways, here is what I had on MONDAY because you guys should know by now that I forget to take pictures of my food.

Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology (red), 1/2 banana (purple) and 1/2 cup almond milk (yellow)

Snack: (not pictured, raw pumpkin seeds (orange)).

Lunch: Spinach (green), quinoa (yellow), chicken (red) salad with hot sauce and some balsamic vinaigrette (1 tsp)

Snack: Raspberries/blueberries (purple) and hummus (blue) with carrots (green)

My “I wanted something sweet” pre-dinner snack: Strawberry shakeology (red) with 1/2 banana (purple)

Dinner: Sweet potato (yellow), chicken (red), and two servings of brussels cooked in coconut oil (2 green + 2 tsp)

 

Dinner was so big that I couldn’t finish all of the brussels! AND I LOVE BRUSSELS! So I’m working on eating differently during the day!