Happy Tuesday everyone!!!  This blog was supposed to be more than the weekly check point but the additional work hours, writing deadlines, life commitments, and apparently sleep have currently taken up all the space.  I am hardly writing book reviews either, because that would require READING. 

So how did I do last week?

Now great… that TIME thing again… but not bad.

I did get in a few ties to the gym to use the elliptical – always my friend.  Jamming away to tunes and when I can feel it in my legs I am happy.  I also made it to two group power classes.  My goal is three a week and the forces of nature are working against me.  IE.  When there are classes… I have commitments elsewhere.  This is starting to really annoy me and will cause me to make some decisions in my life that may not please some people – but I am going to make this happen. 

I also used the tread mill once ( I know.. I know) and played floor hockey Sunday evening which is a calorie scorcher just so you know.  Playing a 45 minute game, one that I am on the court for about 20 minutes of that…. burned over 400 calories.  I LOVE floor hockey.

So that’s my week.  I am up against something every night this week and a women’s retreat this weekend that I wish I had not signed up for and I know that is a poor attitude but there it is.  My next evening free will not be until a week from today and I have ever been a fan of over full schedules. 

This week I would LOVE to post the upcoming events I plan to participate in this year…. PLUS other posts I have planned for this blog from day one and just have not had the time.

Please stop over to Mari’s Bookworm with a view who inspired this meme and add your work out accomplishments for the week

Thanks Mari for hosting this weekly check in of our workout successes, or in my case failures.  Its fun to have a support team of people who have goals for fitness. 

Wow!  Another week already!  Where does the time go?  I did not have a super fab awesome workout week like i had hoped.  Nope.  Birthday week and full-time hours kicked my butt…

I worked. I ate out a few times during the week with friends and a wine tasting event on my birthday.  Yup .  I did get in a good work out last Tuesday, and I have started counting my daily outdoor wood stove fillings (making a wood pile, picking up and tossing wood into this large mouth scary wood stove thing) a workout…. LOL  Minnesota style.

The weekend…. just got away from me and an awards event on Sunday took up my time but was fun.

UGH.  Seriously not the post I wanted to write today but there it is.

That all said… I do have plans (don’t laugh – I do!) to get back out there this week and literally get it in gear.  Spring will be here before I know it and I have some whopper fitness goals. 

Be sure to stop in and see Mari at Bookworm With A View…. she is a die-hard runner, has great tips and also holds where you can link up your own Check Point. 

Hey!  How we all doing?  It’s that time again already for Mari’s Check point!  SO how did this last week go… let’s recap:

Tuesday – Elliptical and Group Power.  I was ENERGIZED!  Throwing that weightlifting bar around…. I LOVE that class! 

Wednesday – I think I just need to forget about working out on Wednesdays unless I can get myself up UBER EARLY and go before work.  Wednesdays are usually crazy busy for me.

Thursday - Hit up a Zumba class and group power again…. thats about a 900 calorie workout…. and FUN!

Friday – Kind of fried out from the week so went and did warm ups, stretching and a but of elliptical… nothing exciting.

Saturday – Zumba in the morning with Christy… laughed a lot… good 450 calorie burn in 45 minutes.

Sunday – skipped out on the game… instead put on an audio book and cleaned out a spare bedroom, hauled out a bunch of storage, cleaned the kitchen, three loads of laundry, cleaned both bathrooms and our bedroom…. THAT was my Sunday workout. 

Monday – nada…. worked until 4, home by 4:30…. made a portabella mushroom filled with spinach and a little low fat ricotta and then had a group event I do every Monday evening from 6 – 8 pm. 

SO in recap…. good work out week, hope to maintain the momentum…. I still need to get better at my eating… trying to snack better… picked up a couple Honey Crisp apples tonight and a large Jicima (LOVE Jicima) for snacking.  This will be a tough food week as it is my birthday on Thursday and I have a lunch date on Thursday and then a wine tasting Thursday night.  Friday I have lunch with some girl friends.  I plan to work out extra hard

New goals for this week?  I would love to get in the habit of hitting the gym early – thus ensuring a workout and energizing myself early on in the day

Stop by and check out (and check in) with your checkpoint!

Hey!  Any football fans out there?  I suspect many of you are…. I am not. Never really got into it….. while Al may watch the game, I more than likely have a book in my hand.

However… there is one exception.

Hello Super Bowl Sunday! 

It’s a tradition to gather at our friends home the guys hovering over the tv area, the girls sitting at the kitchen table catching up yacking during game time and then, being really quiet during the commercials.  LOVE the Super Bowl Commercials.

Of course, what else do the words “Super Bowl” mean? 

Usually food… and lots of it.  Not only food… but as per tradition it is unhealthy food…. chips dips, hot wings, pizza, brownies, cookies…. for someone with goals to get healthy – it can be a danger zone.    AND sometimes the only way to be eating something even remotely healthy, is if you brought it.  AND believe me…. this works for all gatherings with BADTS (Bring A Dish To Share). 

All that said, what I want to offer up today for Wednesday Healthy Eating is a couple of ideas that will still be a hit at the party, and no one will really be the wiser that you brought something a little better on the calorie and fat intake. 

Southwestern Bean Dip

Do you love lots of vegies, fresh chopped?  I do and this dip looks so good…. and it is!

Ingredients

• 1 16-ounce can nonfat refried beans, preferably “spicy”
• 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed
• 4 scallions, sliced
• 1 cup salsa
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 cup jalapeño slices, chopped
• 1 cup low fat cheese shredded Monterey Jack, or Cheddar
• 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 large tomato, chopped
• 1 medium avocado, chopped
• 1/2 cup sliced black olives, (optional)

1. Combine refried beans, black beans, scallions, salsa, cumin, chili powder and jalapeños in a medium bowl. Transfer to a shallow 2-quart microwave-safe dish; sprinkle with cheese.
2. Microwave on High until the cheese is melted and the beans are hot, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Spread sour cream evenly over the hot bean mixture, then scatter with lettuce, tomato, avocado and olives (if using).

Serve with bakes chips – about 120 calories per 1/2 cup dip (depending on your choices of cheese and sour cream)

Of course you can’t go wrong by bring the fresh-cut vegies and dip or fresh fruit like musk melon and cantaloupe (yum to both!)  You can also make a pretty hearty meatless chili that is delicious and filling and good for you! 

I would love to hear your ideas!  Add your healthy plans for the super bowl…. maybe it’s not so much the food, but a run or a work out prior to the game…. maybe its eat before you go, or have fun in moderation! 

*Sheila jogs up to the check point arms raised above her head to the theme of Rocky!  Woo Hoo!!!  Woo Hoo!*

Ok… scratch that.  Not true. 

Last week … ugh.  where do I began?

Tuesday evening I went and worked out with Amanda and Christie at the gym.  We did Zumba followed by Group Power.  I had a plan and it was a great one.  I knew Wednesday would be busy so I only had a 30 – 45 minute run planned, but the rest of the week I had classes and elliptical, and people lined up to do this with….

and then….

Wednesday was too busy to do anything but work, run errands and then back to work.  No gym.

And then Thursday I got sick which wiped me out from Friday, Saturday and Sunday activity. 

Then yesterday, after work I was physically at the gym!  Cue the Rocky music again!

and then had to go back to work to take care of a pressing situation and never even stepped foot into the work out room.  Basically I was there… I made a couple phone calls I was dealing with…. I apologized to Amanda, and left.  After I left work for the second time at 5:10, I had a commitment at 5:30 pm which took up the rest of my evening.

Frustrating?  You bet!  But Mari put a comment on my Monday post that got me smiling and thinking last night after I came home ans was able to read such things….. she said “I am taking my life back”, and I thought….. Yes.  That is exactly what I need to do.  Instead of letting everything eat away at my time, I need to make working out a priority.  For me, for my training, for my body, for my health. 

I have big plans this year and it does not include the couch or nacho’s….. (ok… occasionally nacho’s…. ; ) )

Hopefully you had a better week then me.  I would love to hear your successes and struggles and be sure to add your thoughts to Mari’s post too. 

Later this week I will update on the 52 small changes book and challenge…. I am currently on week 3 – STAY OFF THE COUCH! 

Hi everyone!!!  Checking in for Mari’s Check Point today.  I did ok this past week.  Time was tight, but managed a few classes – enough to get my heart going and enough to crave more. 

On Tuesday of last week I went to the evening Group Power class.  Wednesday was insane and I worked 11 hours and volunteered fr 2 more so no work out then… Thursday I recovered….. Friday Group Power, Saturday Zumba, and Sunday another Group Power Class.

I skipped out yesterday as I went to full-time at work this week and I helped with the homeless last night in our community, got home around 7:30…. TIRED. 

Tonight though it is back on… back to Group Power and I have a work out plan for the rest of the week… a little something .  With a little luck and determination I will do just that. 

The key for me now is friends.  I have several I work out with and I try to keep them up on all my work out plans so they can join me when they can.  There are 5 of us now and I can usually find someone to do a workout with.  That helps so much.

How did you do this past week?  Be sure to check in at Mari’s check point and add your thoughts to her weekly post. 

Hi Team Kickin It People!  How are you all doing?  It was late last night that I realized I have been neglecting to post here, totally forgot to do the Wednesday Healthy Eating (and I have some good recipes to share!). 

I had a crazy two weeks but I think it should mellow out now and so here I am Saturday morning ready to talk shoes with you.

Above, those are my actual gym shoes.  I love them, they have taken me through many a work out… but I do for a new pair this coming season.  My friend Amanda just picked up a nice pair and I seem to be leaning towards the color black… but I am flexible…

What shoes do you wear for working out and do you have any advice to a tread mill user, zumba participant, Group Power junky, and Elliptical person? 

It’s Tuesday and it is time for Mari at Bookworm With A View’s Check Point! 

I am not about to report am impressive week.  I worked all week and Monday (small group), Tuesday (book club) , Wednesday (working with students), Thursday (Navy son home for family dinner), Friday(Charity Concert), and Saturday night(dinner out with College son, Navy Son and Hubby) I had plans.

This left little time for workouts…. in fact I am reporting  a Monday workout of tread mill and elliptical (640 calories) a Friday work out of Group Power and a little elliptical (500 calories) and then yesterday… Floor Hickey started… about 30 minutes on the floor, 400 calories.  1,540 recorded calories for the week.  Hopefully this week will be better.

I also started the 52 Small Changes challenge this week and my focus for week one is water.  I do drink a lot of water (especially when I work out) but I don’t always reach my recommended water goals and I am working on it.  I bought a nice bottle to take to work with me and keep near to hopefully help in my “water ways”. 

Today I plan to get in a work out, Wednesday is nuts, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday should all be work out days.  Sunday, again will be floor hockey. 

Be sure to check in with Mari’s Checkpoint to add your work out successes for the past week. 

If you were to poll people on the street and ask them to name 5 ways to exercise, what do you think the top answers would be?

I would guess among the most common answers would be:

• walking/running
• tread mill
• weight lifting
• aerobics class
• bicycling
• DVD work out

And all of these are good answers, great even!  However, if you are like me… I need variety.  The same routine (Group Power Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Tread Mill and Elliptical on Tuesday and Thursday) while shows great dedication…. can become boring.  Boring = more of a chance that I will skip a work out session AND not only that, but your body becomes used to you working the same muscles – the same way. 

This is where the SHAKING UP the routine comes in.  This time of year is a great time to try something new…. stretch yourself out of your comfort zone and….

1. Try a new class at your local gym
2. Sign up for Zumba
3. Wii sports games
4. kick boxing
5. palates
6. self-defense class
7. karate
8. snow shoeing
9. a dance class
10. Ice skating
11. skiing
12. ping-pong
13. swimming
14. trampoline
15. boot camp
16. step class
17. shoveling snow

and I am sure you can add more to this list. 

Yesterday started my 5th season of Floor Hockey.  Yes, a little out of the box – but it is fun, competitive, and I LOVE it.  We play hockey in a gym every Sunday evening now through mid March.  It is fun and a great work out.  The games are about 50 minutes long, and we switch out who is on the floor so you are not running constantly.  I probably play about 30 minutes of a game – but my Polar heart monitor tells me that in my 30 minutes of playing I burned over 400 calories…. and my heart rate was up around 186.  Yes…. definitely a work out… fun, shakes it up, and today… I am a little sore. 

What do you do to break the routine?  How do you SHAKE UP your workout and keep it fun?

What is it about the new year that makes us want to change our ways?  LOL… it could be just me but I have a habit of asking myself – is this who I want to be the rest of my life?  Meaning – is this the way I want to look and feel?  For me – I know when I have put on the extra pounds or replaced good healthy habits (ie.  taking my lunch to work) to bad…. (ie. ordering lunch in… subs, soups, fast food…)

When I was offered to review this book it did not take me long to respond with a “heck yeah!” as this looked to be right up my alley.  And… it is.  I reviewed this book today at Book Journey but had an addition to bring here to you…. a team challenge so to speak.  Thank you to Martha at Reviews By Martha’s Bookshelf who thought it would be fun if a group of us wanted to jump on board with this book and encourage one another….

and hey, I am all about encouraging one another. 

So what do you need to do?

Get a hold of this book if you do not already have it.  I see it is priced pretty decent ay Amazon, and on Kindle it is only $5.99. 

Then… start going through it week by week.  I know we are a couple of weeks in to the year already but I am starting tomorrow with week one which is all about drinking water.  I like that the book not only gives you the change to make, but great details on how to do it… how to substitute, etc…. its hard to explain but after reading chapter one… I was super excited to drink water   If you decide to join in – start when you have the book.

I have a message out to Martha to see if she is going to do a check in page for this as it is totally her awesome idea, or if she would like me to put one on here on the sidebar…. leave a comment below if you want in on this and I will be sure to keep you updated on how we will move forward.