This week I didn’t do as good of a job at photographing all my meals (seriously I don’t know how some bloggers do it) but I did get a few shots. I haven’t discussed our budget or meal plan yet but that is coming up next week. We did things a little different this time around so I’ll be sharing the pros and cons of that and what we have learned this month. Until then here are some of my eats this week!
Other things I ate this week included Ethiopian from an awesome food cart for lunch, homemade pizza, mega veggie sandwich, tofu salad sandwich, gluten free mac and cheese, banana bread and Neil’s Thai leftovers from our foodcart lunch.
Happy Friday! With all the beautiful weather going on here in Portland this week seemed to go by fast! We have been enjoying the extra light at night and the sunny weather. That also means lots of really great walks with Edith and Neil.
Family walk & 20 weeks pregnant!
Weekly Workouts:
Saturday: Off. We did a short (1/2 mile) family walk but that was it because it was a pretty dreary day.
Sunday: Family walk.
Monday:Summer Sanders’ Prenatal Video. I seriously love this prenatal workout and I loved it when I was pregnant with Edith. I usually do the express workout which is almost a half hour because when I’m home with Edith that’s about as much time as she allows me.
Tuesday: Off. Tried to get Edith to go for a walk but she was protesting being outside (weird child).
Wednesday: Nice long walk to the park for a picnic and then a round about walk home.
Thursday: Walk with Edith in the Boba Carrier on my back one way and front the way home. Seriously this pregnant lady can’t do front carries anymore I was dying by the time I got home.
Friday: Today’s plan is Summer Sanders’ and then a family walk this evening.
You can check out my review of Summer Sanders’ prenatal video here.
Weekly Eats:
So this week I stayed on task (for the most part) for all of our meals. I actually just cooked up the very last of our produce for our lunches today since last night after a long day I decided to get Edith and myself takeout since Neil wasn’t going to be home until after bedtime. Otherwise I used up all of what we purchased for produced with the exception of a few onions.
Lunch: Leftover Cashew Tofu stir fried up and topped with avocado and Franks
Lunch: Chickpea Flatbread (recipe to come) with tahini sauce and sauteed mushrooms and onions and a huge red leaf lettuce salad with red wine vinaigrette
Not Pictured: Edith and I had tofu scramble one day for lunch but it was too ugly to share a photo of and most of our lunches were just a repeat of dinner. Also last night for dinner Edith and I shared a lemongrass tofu banh mi and fresh salad rolls. Breakfasts not featured included a bagel with toffutti and quinoa with veggies.
What do you eat this week? How did you get your body moving?
The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Polar. As always all opinions are my own!
When I first received the Polar Loop I was excited but a little skeptical about whether or not I would actually find it useful. Since I started wearing the Polar Loop a few weeks ago I have really become more aware of how much I move (or don’t move) during the day. As a stay-at-home-mom it is easy to get in the habit of sitting around and since it is winter in the Pacific Northwest it is pretty easy to find yourself not leaving the house some days simply because you don’t want to get decked out in rain gear.
After the first day of wearing the Polar Loop I was a little embarrassed at just how much I sat down that day. My only redeeming note is that I didn’t sit for long periods of time all at once (this is one of the cool features of the Polar Loop tracking). Nevertheless I still sat more than I know I should and since then have been making an effort to get off my butt and move more. While some days we still don’t leave the house, like during our recent snowstorm, I am still finding ways to move at home and at the gym.
So after three weeks of wearing the Polar Loop I find myself still not moving as much as I’d like. According to my stats I am active about 25% of the day and honestly that just isn’t good enough for me. I would like to bump this up to 40-60% of the day.
What an ideal day looks like – 53% activity
This is an average day- 27% activity
Ways I plan to increase my activity over the next month:
Take a post dinner walk with my family.
Walk up and down the stairs (our main living area is on the second floor) once per hour.
Commit to three gym days and two at home workouts per week.
Get out once per day (weather permitting) with Edith and go for a walk to the park, to the market, to the community center, ect.
Have more dance parties with Edith.
The best part by increasing my activity level I will also be increasing our outdoor time! I will also be relieving stress, increasing my energy and preparing my body for labor and birth. So all I can say is wearing the Polar Loop has been eye opening and has helped me to make the changes that I have known I needed to make for months now.
Final Thoughts:
Pros:
It tracks five different levels of activity <– love this.
It’s waterproof and you can even wear it swimming.
Provides tips to help you reach your daily activity and it updates throughout the day. Basically it tells you how long you would need to run, walk or just be up on your feet moving around.
Syncs with phone and will even send inactivity alerts to your phone if you’ve been sitting too long.
Low battery alerts.
Compatible with Polar H6 and H7 heart rate sensor.
Customizable size.
Cons:
It’s a bit bulky for me but not too bulky for me not to wear it.
While the size is customizable you have to cut it and well that just made me a bit nervous that I was going to cut it too small so it took me a few tries before I got it (almost) perfect.
Do you track your activity? How has it changed your days/life/workout?
Disclaimer: The Koss products feature is sponsored by FitFluential LLC. I personally use these items and all opinions are my own.
Over the holidays I shared my Holiday Gift Guide for active women which featured Koss FitBuds and FitClips. Since joining the gym this January I have been wearing the FitClips all the time and well Neil has been really loving the FitBuds (what can I say he has womanly ears). The FitClips are wonderful because they don’t fall out while I am on the elliptical or treadmill or stairmaster.
While both Koss FitBuds and FitClips retail for $29.99 right now you can find them at Walgreens for only $19.99 (for a limited time only!) You can search online to see if you local Walgreens has them in stock here.
I’m almost 15 weeks! Full on into the second trimester and just like with my pregnancy with Edith I am starting to feel more energized and my morning sickness isn’t so bad (not gone yet though). It has been my goal to make it to the gym 3 days per week but so far I have been averaging 2 days per week. I spend around 45 minutes doing a combination of cardio machines while watching White Collar on Netflix.
I honestly switch machines at least once during a workout because I have to take a pee break. Seriously I can’t go a workout without needing one. Last Saturday I actually had to stop when I only had five minutes left but well when you’re pregnant and you have to go…well you just have to. So when I returned for my last 5 minutes I decided to do the stairmaster. Seriously in those last five minutes I felt more of a workout than the intervals I had been doing on the elliptical! I was a hot sweaty mess. At home I have been doing my Tracey Anderson Prenatal videos and a lot of up and down our stairs. Next week I plan on getting myself on a better at home workout schedule and I am also going to start taking a prenatal yoga class. I’ve been a little nervous to start one since I haven’t tried any of the studios that offer prenatal yoga before but I guess there is a first for everything! I am hoping that I’ll enjoy my first class and be set to go to it 2-3x per month.
So those are my workouts the past week! How were you active this past week?
The following post is sponsored by Girls Gone Sporty on behalf of Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation. All opinions are my own.
I’m so excited to share with you an awesome giveaway that two lucky readers will win!
As you may remember this past October I took on the challenge to participate in Michelle Bridges 12-week Body Transformation 4-week program. This program included one week of prep and four weeks of of meal plans, workouts plans, mindset videos and lots of support from Michelle, her team and other participants.
After just four weeks I could really see and feel a difference in my body and my mindset on fitness and eating. I lost a little weight, my clothes fit better, I had an increase in energy, I got back on track with my workouts and the program helped me to eat more mindfully. You can check out my posts here:
This is one program that I ACTUALLY STUCK TO. While I had a few off days I hoped right back into things and I followed through with the four week program and I saw results. I found the prep week to be essential to my success because it helped me prepare for the weeks ahead. I was able to get myself in the right mindset and ready to take on the challenge rather than just jumping in. The workouts were just what I needed to stay on track with my workouts and I loved how flexible they were as well allowing me to chose my setting (indoors, outdoors, gym). Lastly, it was great to have others to connect with via the forums so that I could ask questions and find support to help me push through the hard days. Now you can take my word for it or you can see for yourself what this program is all about and luckily two readers will have their own chance to experience the full program for themselves!
So the Pre-Season of Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation Round 1 is currently in session and open for sign ups! Since Round 1 of Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation kicks off February 3rd, 2014 and continues for 12 weeks the giveaway will be open until January 26th so that you have a full week to prepare! The awesome part is that everyone who signs up for Round 1 starts together and and finishes together so you will be taking on this journey with other participants who are ready to get their lives on a healthier track.
Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformationn program is delivered online by Michelle herself, where she will be your trainer, coach, and mentor at a cost much lower than a personal trainer. The cost is $19.99 per week of $199 one-time-payment
Pre-season: Like any great journey, preparation is the key! Michelle has designed 12 Pre-Season tasks to set members up for success and get the most out of their upcoming 12WBT Round 1. Every few days of Pre-Season, a new task will be unlocked for members to complete. Don’t worry these task are EASY to fit in and like I said above they were essential for me to stay on track so don’t overlook them!
Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation is not a one size fits all program. It’s customizable based on your fitness level and goals such as weight loss, running or strength training. It is even customizable for those who are breastfeeding or pregnant!
So here is the moment you’ve been waiting for and I am so excited to have the opportunity to offer 2 of my readers full Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation memberships.
Giveaway ends January 26 at midnight EST. Enter below.
The Koss products feature is sponsored by FitFluential LLC. No other items are sponsored. All items I personally use and all opinions are my own.
Most of us will have some sort of fitness related resolution coming up for the new year as well whether it is to run a half marathon, join a Crossfit gym or to try a new fitness class. For me the holidays are a perfect time to stock up on new fitness gear and accessories to get ready for the new year. While I have a number of items on my list I wanted to feature a few of my favorite items for this holiday season.
1. Koss FitBuds or FitClips ($29.99; however you can find them for $19.99 at Sears, Kmart & Best Buy this holiday season): I just recently tried both of these products out and they are great! I was in need of a new pair of headphones and I have to say the FitBuds were just the right fit for me however I know a lot of people, especially runners, that love the FitClips style. These headphones are designed by a woman for women so (hopefully) that means your husband or boyfriend won’t be stealing them. They are perfect for working out because they are both sweat resistant and they both come with three sizes of ear cushions so you get the perfect fit.
2. FitBit Flex ($99): Neil bought me one of these for my birthday and although I have misplaced my charger in the midst of our move it is an item that I love. I love that I can tracks steps, distance, calories burned and active minutes. I can also track my sleeping patterns. I also love that it comes in multiple colors and that it is slim and comfortable to wear all day.
3. Reebok Crossfit Nano ($110): So I see they have come out with a 3.0 which I bet is fantastic but I have the 2.0’s and I LOVE them for cross training. Now I don’t do crossfit but these shoes have proven to be fantastic for strength training and cross training. So if you are looking for a good strength training shoe or maybe you are looking to join a crossfit gym these are a great item to add to your Christmas list.
4. Blender Bottle Sport Mixer ($13): I feel in love with so Blender Bottle many years ago and while I started with the original style the Sport Mixer is my favorite. I use it as a water bottle and as a blender bottle to mix up my vegan protein powders. The little whisk ball makes my smoothies nice and creamy. Pair this with a single serving size protein powder for the perfect gift.
5. Rodney Yee A.M. Yoga for Your Week ($20): I know this isn’t the first time and probably isn’t the last time you will see me sing the praises of Rodney Yee at home yoga videos. I am seriously a huge fanatic of his yoga videos because of his calm presence, the style of videos and the variety of yoga options. I love this one because it has five 20-minute yoga videos that you can easily do before you head off to work.
So those are my top five gifts for active women- what is on your list?
Buffalo Chik’n Fires (recipe here)
