Product Review: Flapjacked Protein Pancakes

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for the following review and bought the product myself. Pictures and opinions are my own.

Happy Saturday, friends! This week seemed to go a little slow, and I'm just glad it's the weekend!

Over the course of about a month or two, I was hearing about this awesome protein pancake mix called Flapjacked. The mixes come in three flavors (Buttermilk, Banana Hazelnut, and Apple Cinnamon) and have about 15-17 grams of protein per half-cup serving. So, basically, they will keep you fuller longer than your average pancake.

It was about a week ago that I ordered my own bag and gave these pancakes a whirl myself. I was lame and went with the plain buttermilk, but I plan on trying the other two soon enough!

If you noticed on the package, they said "No Artificial ANYTHING!"

Say WHAT?!

That's right! All-natural ingredients!

 

 

I can pronounce everything on the label! Yay! 

 

Oh, and did I mention how easy they are to make?
All you have to do is add some water to the mix, let sit for a few minutes to thicken up, and cook on a low heat setting like you would any other pancake! That's right! If you don't believe me, here's proof that the company even said so! ;-)

So, on Monday night, after an intense cardio kickboxing class, I decided to make these!

One of the company's tips that I saw on their Instagram was to use a food scale to measure the mix since a half-cup is equal to 56 grams. Plus, people tend to pack their cups, so they end up with WAY more than a half-cup without realizing it. So, that's what I did. I put my mix right into the bowl though, so I saved myself a step...lol.

Anyway, once the mix was measured, I added my water, mixed it, and let it sit for about five minutes while the griddle heated up.

After about five minutes, my mix was ready to go, and I scooped it onto the griddle. Half a cup of mix will get you quite a few pancakes! I was surprised at this!

I love how the company even puts on the label to cook until there are no more bubbles in the pancake. Some pancakes can be hard to tell when they're done, so having this helpful hint was awesome. Not that I'm kitchen illiterate or anything, but still, it helps. ;-)

Less than 10 minutes later, I had pancakes! The company has all sorts of recipes for each mix, but I was simple for my first time out, and just topped mine with some syrup. One word: DELICIOUS!

Oh, and yes, I was full for the rest of the night. So, there. Protein does keep you fuller for longer!

Since they take less than 15 minutes to make from start to finish altogether, I might be making these for breakfast before work during the week! Maybe adding some yogurt or turkey bacon to make them a more complete meal!

Next time I make these, I plan on being more adventurous and using some of the recipes on their site, but they're just as delicious on their own!

The company occasionally runs sales on their items, so be on the lookout for them! Still, a full bag will run you about $12, plus S&H, which isn't too bad, considering how yummy and filling they are!

Have you tried Flapjacked pancakes?

Showing Myself Some Tough Love: Be Yourself!

This is a post I've been meaning to write for some time, but not exactly in this format.

However, in the post-Fitbloggin span of about two weeks, I've been seeing a lot of "tough love" posts. Basically, as bloggers (and friends), we can be a little too easy on each other, and not push as much as we know we should, which in turn, lets us keep living in a bubble of "It's okay." Truth is, it's not always okay, and we need to call ourselves out on crap.

Recently, I came down with a huge case of "Keeping Up with the Joneses" syndrome. In a nutshell, I spend a lot of time comparing myself to others and feel like my life is an epic fail because I'm 29 (almost), not married with kids, still living with my family, and not having a "real job." Oh, and not to mention the fact that I didn't go from couch potato to marathoner in a blink of an eye. Yes, I know things can always be worse, but I was in a mindset of "I'm already at the bottom. There's nowhere else to go." Not exactly what I want to be thinking.

My friend Dani of Weight off My Shoulders wrote an awesome post about this some time ago (which you can read here). The whole point of the post was that everyone has their own journey, and we just have to live our own. I reread it yesterday and realized that I needed to call myself out on this big time because I'm not doing that at all.

So, here's to showing myself some tough love!
 
Dear Tracy,

You've been spending a lot of time comparing yourself to everyone else around you, right? I thought so.

You think that because you don't have a real job or a marriage and kids, and still live with your parents, your life is an epic fail at almost 29, right?

Well, guess what? IT'S NOT!!

Epic failure would be not having any sort of job AT ALL! At least you have some way to make money to pay your bills and feed yourself! Yes, times are tough, but there are people who don't have any sort of job! Be thankful you have one, even if you're asking people if French baguette is okay with their meal!
 
So what if you still live with your parents? Do you have a roof over your head? A warm bed at night? Yes on both? Good! Then, you can't say that you have nothing. You have someone who cares enough about you to let you stay with them!

Oh, and this whole thing about not being married with kids at 29? So what? Those people were ready! You weren't! You still had to focus on yourself!

Speaking of which, you are a ROCKSTAR just for doing what you did by losing over 100 pounds and still keeping it off! Honey, there are people who would LOVE to do what you did and are still doing!

Are you getting it now? You are? Good.

The whole point is that no two people live the same life!

Our journeys are all so different, and we need to follow our own in the best way for OURSELVES. Comparing yourself to everyone else won't do that.

Yes, I know it's so easy to get wrapped up in trying to keep up with everyone else, but really, at the end of the day, the only person who matters is YOU!

I mean, really, would you have lost over 100 pounds if you didn't love yourself? NO WAY! That alone says a lot!

So, instead of saying "I'm not as good as everyone else," try saying "Why would I want to be like someone else? I can be a kick-ass version of myself and love it!"

I needed to get this out for a long time and already I feel better about myself.

Physically, I'm the best I've been in a long time. I've completed two 5K's this year, and planning at least two more. Mentally, I'm in a much better place than I was. I love myself and realize that if I had the same life as everyone else, that would be boring.

So, I've decided to stop dwelling on everyone else, stop trying to keep up, and remember that I am the only person that matters at the end of the day!

I mean, isn't it all about taking life one step at a time? No matter how long it takes, it's still a step!

I know I'll get to where I'm meant to be, but for right now, it's about letting it fall into place, enjoying the ride, and being that kick-ass version of myself without worrying about other people!

After all, success is a JOURNEY, not a DESTINATION!

July Goals!

Happy July, everyone! Hope everyone had a fun 4th and is enjoying your weekend!

I finally managed to come up with some goals for the month. Theme for the month is challenging recovery (if that makes sense...haha). Here's what I came up with:

1) Put at least $50 into savings. I put $25 in when I got paid on Tuesday, so I'm already halfway there! Yay!

2) Blog at least once a week. I'm in a rut...AGAIN! I want to get myself out of it. Anything you guys want to see on here? I'm more than open to suggestions!

3) No running AT ALL. You read that right, folks. I mentally and physically need a break from the road and 'mill. Plus, I want to focus on my cross-training a little more, so I'm going off the road and back in the gym for a bit.

4) Plank-a-Day...again. I was doing good when I had this as a May goal...then fell off the wagon a few days into June. So, I'm going back at it!

5) One movie day or night a week. Whether I go to the movies, pop in a disc, or watch something on HBO, this will be my time to unplug and relax! I need a few hours a week to myself, and this is a good way to do it!

Reward for this month is another Alex and Ani bracelet. Shocker, I know. ;-) This one will be a Yankees one with a navy background. It's gorgeous, shows my fandom...and is also $38. I figure this would be a good reward for an awesome July as well as a birthday present (My birthday is a little over a month away, on August 7).

Here's to an awesome July!

June Goal Recap

Hey, everyone! Where did June go? I felt like it just started! I hate this whole time going too fast thing! I'm not having THAT much fun!

Anyway, remember that time when I set a bunch of goals for this month? Well, I figure that since the month ends tomorrow, I might as well recap today!

Here's the full list in case you forgot...

 

Well, how did I do? Here's the full breakdown:

 

1) Limit soup to three days a week. I nailed this three weeks out of the month. There was one week where I had it four times (Lemon Chicken Orzo is so damn addicting!), but it was MUCH better than me eating it every day.

 

 

2) No weigh-in AT ALL. I made it three weeks, then cracked last Saturday and today. So this was a bust.

 

 

3) Back to measuring everything. Nailed it! Once I started doing this, I realized my portions (especially milk and peanut butter) were getting a little out of hand! Looks like I'll be sticking with this!

 

4) Plan my solo weight training workout and write it down. Nailed this too! It did feel like homework, but knowing that I had a plan going into the gym, it made it that much easier to get my workout done! Plus, it helped being able to make notes throughout the workout!

 

5) Put at least $25 into savings. Not a total fail, but not a total success either. I got $20 in. Given that I had to help the family out a bit, plus one smaller than usual paycheck, I'm glad I got something in. I'll call this a win.

 

 

Overall, this month wasn't perfect, but not terrible either. I wanted to get back to basics, and I think I made steps in the right direction. I think a lot of this will stick with me for awhile. The damn scale thing is the biggest problem. I did get over the daily weighing thing though, so at least it's something.

 

I'm planning out my July goals and will have that post up in the next two days. Happy Sunday Funday!



Union Beach 5K (Union Beach, NJ)

It's been almost a week since this race, and I'm just now writing the recap! You would think that since it was an awesome race, I would have done it right away. Whatever. At least it's getting done.

It was in this particular race last year that I wound up with a personal worst, but learned that this whole running thing is about more than making good time. This particular race was about showing that a small town is stronger than a storm. Even though it was a PW for me, I knew that I would be back because it was an amazing event.

Sure enough, I found myself registering for this race a few days after I ran an awesome race in Middletown on May 17.

I picked up my race bib and shirt the night before so I could get Flat Tracy ready as much as possible. Plus, it saves time on race day! I got my bib and there was one thing that made me excited: TIMING CHIP!!

Lack of timing chips was my one complaint about last year's race, and this year, we would be chip timed! For those who are unfamiliar with race speak, chips mean that the runners get timed based on when they cross a mat, instead of just a clock. This wouldn't be perfect (more on that later), but at the time, I was relieved!

As usual, I laid out Flat Tracy the night before, mostly to show what I would be wearing, to make it easier for any of my friends who happened to be spectating (none this year). As you can tell, the Sparkle Athletic skirt stayed! After my then PR in May, I wasn't racing without that! I chose purple for the rest of the outfit, mostly because I loved the shirt that I picked out.

This race started at 9:00, but I still had to be up at 6:30, so I would have time to eat and such before leaving around 8, since the race site was about 15-20 minutes away. I won't bore you with all my ritual crap, since you've seen it all before. Before I knew it, I was on my way to race!

Once I was in the area, I had to park a few minutes from the start, since street parking in Union Beach is really limited. I managed to find a spot in a lot about three minutes down the road, and walked over. Different experience than in the past, but hey, first time for everything?

As usual, after I got to the site, it was all about staying loose until race start. I walked over to the start and noticed that there was no start mat, just one at the finish. Not perfect chip timing, but it would have to do. Again, this was more than they had last year, so it was something.

Unlike my May race, time before start seemed to FLY! It was at that point that I decided that I was going for the personal. Conditions were perfect, and I knew that as long as my body was cooperative, it was possible. I just had to stick to my strategy of running when I felt comfortable, since that's how I trained, and I wasn't sure if the humidity would end up kicking in later (BTW, it didn't).

Soon enough, we lined up, all the usual pre-race speeches were made, and at promptly 9:00, we were off! My seventh 5K was under way!

Despite another 600+ person race, I didn't find start crowding to be an issue this year. I was a little more in the front than I would have liked, but I would manage. I think this may have been an advantage later on, so I worked with it.

I found the adrenaline kicking in, and running a little more than I wanted in the beginning. After previous races where I went out too fast, I reeled it in a little, and hit my first mile in about 10:40 (Endomondo was a little off, so I didn't rely too heavily on it). Exactly what I was aiming for. At this pace, I would PR for sure!

Well...you all know I STILL haven't learned my lesson, and completed the second mile about a minute slower than the first. I always have trouble with the second miles of a race. Probably because the adrenaline kicks in at start, and picks back up with about a mile to go. Strange.

Anyway, this is an exclusive to my blog, as I was a little hesitant to post on Instagram. Here's my failed attempt at a mid-race selfie (clear sign that Dani is a friend of mine...haha). Damn headphone wire got in the way. Would have been perfect otherwise. =P

I knew I had to dig deep in the last mile if I wanted to PR. I wound up doing a minute of walking, minute of running cycle. This seemed to work perfectly. I finished the third mile a few seconds faster than the second. It wound up being a SPRINT to the finish, and next thing I knew it, I had crossed the finish line! #7 was in the books!

After I crossed the finish, I immediately stopped my Endomondo (which strangely decided I was playing baseball; explains why I was off a bit) and Polar. App had a time of 34:35, Polar had 34:39. I knew I either had the personal or was about five seconds slower. Either way, I wasn't disappointed. I had a solid race and felt awesome!

Once my timing devices were off, I grabbed a bottle of water and granola bar, and kept walking to keep loose and cool down. Calf and shin pain were not an issue, since I wore my Zensah sleeves again, and it paid off. Note to self: EVERY run requires them, training or race!

Since the race was chip timed, results came back fast. I scanned them, and saw my official time was 34:36.13 (11:09/mile). PR by 3 seconds! I was shocked, but in a good way! It was close, but it's still a personal!

I hung around for a little bit, watching the kiddie races and just soaking in the atmosphere. I also was able to get a post-race pic, since I couldn't get one before.

After I left the race, I immediately went for a chocolate chip bagel (my newest fav post-race meal) and my iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts. Chocolate milk would come later.

Overall, this has become one of my favorite races. Perfect atmosphere, flat course, and now chip timing! I have no complaints other than the lack of timing mat at the start. Still, for only the second running, it was awesome! As long as this race keeps going on, I'll be back!

Thinking Out Loud

I haven't done one of these in awhile, and haven't blogged in about a month (damn you, real life), so I decided it's time for a Thinking Out Loud post! Just a quick shoutout to Amanda at Running with Spoons for the idea!

What am I thinking this week?

1) My last 5K of the spring season is on Saturday in Union Beach! I'm hoping for better conditions this year than last, but will just remember the reason for this race.

2) I'm still in denial about hockey season being over. Is it October yet? I'm ready for more Rangers hockey (not to mention the hotness that is Carl Hagelin...haha).

3) My digital food scale busted on me just as I was going back to measuring everything. Thank goodness for an old-school dial scale. Still, I need a digital one, and ordered this American Weigh Scales Black Blade Digital Pocket Scale from Amazon (Thanks to Dani over at Weight Off My Shoulders for sharing this with me!)

4) I recently tried on a bikini for the first time ever! It wasn't perfect, but I still felt great! Yes, I know this isn't a perfect bikini body, but it's real, it's mine, and I'm damn proud of it!

5) I applied for FitFluential and Sparkly Soul ambassadorships. We'll see what happens!

6) Just glad tomorrow's Friday! It was a rough week at work, and I'm looking forward to the weekend!

What are you Thinking Out Loud today?

May Goal Recap and June Goals

Happy June, everyone! I can't believe how fast this year has gone already! Whew!

Since it's June 1, I figure I should probably recap how I did with my May goals, huh? ;-) Well, in case you forgot what they were, here you go:

How did I do? Only FREAKING AMAZING!! Got my 100 oz. of water in every day, avoided the scale except for once a week (Still maintaining!), limited the coffee trips (and enjoyed the few I had even more than usual), and planked every day! I did break Treat-End once, but it was on my nephew's birthday (and even that was only a tiny piece of cookie cake). Oh, and I PR'd my 5K on the 17th! Yes, I know that wasn't on my list, but after two years, I knew it was a matter of time before it happened.

Anyway, since my May was so stellar, I think I earned my Lucky Clover, no? Well, I hopefully will get it next weekend! I've been wanting it forever and it will finally be mine soon enough!

After some thought, I decided on some goals for June. Some health related, some just stuff I want to work on. Here you go:

1) Limit soup to three days a week. I work at Panera. Home of awesome broccoli cheddar soup. Also home of awesome lemon chicken orzo which I eat almost EVERY day. Yes, it's low calorie and low-fat. However, it's also HIGH in salt (along with almost every other soup). So I decided that I need to cut back a bit. Plus, it'll let me enjoy some other foods more.

2) No weigh-in AT ALL for the month. You heard that right, folks! I've been maintaining for eight months now, and need to feel less tied down to the scale. So, I weighed myself on Friday, know where I stand, and don't plan on weighing again until July 4 (I weigh in either Friday or Saturday, and the first Friday of July is on the 4th).  This will be a test for sure, but one that I think needs to happen.

3) Back to measuring everything. I've fallen off this wagon a little bit. Yes, I'm still maintaining, but I've become a little lax about portioning (especially with my milk and peanut butter). The measuring cups, spoons, and food scale are coming out to play again!

4) Plan my solo weight training workout and write it down. I've gotten MUCH better with solo weight training. I actually get in the gym before Tuesday night spin and do it! As for planning it...not so much. So, I need to plan out my moves in writing and take the list with me to the gym. This way, I can make notes and see what works best! Note: I don't plan on writing a set weight down before the workout. What weight I use will depend on how I'm feeling that given day.

5) Put at least $25 in savings. Originally, I was going to work on a budget, but since I don't have a fixed income, this wouldn't be the best option at the moment. So, I decided to put a little money into savings instead. I have two paychecks in June (I get paid every two weeks), and only $12.50 each check should be doable, no? I think so!

Oh, and I guess I should get a reward for all this, right? ;-) Well, I decided to buy myself Coldplay's "Ghost Stories" album as an MP3 download after I rock this month!

So, there you go! My goal for the month is pretty much to get back to basics, and I think I set the right plan in place for that!

Happy June, everyone!

2014 Spring Into Summer 5K (Middletown, NJ)

I feel like this race went in one of two directions:

1) Like they say in the theater, "Bad rehearsal, good performance."

2) What got Wendy, Michael, and John to NeverLand: Faith, trust, and pixie dust. Okay, maybe not pixie dust, but I did have a little sparkle. Lol. ;-)

Anyway, my training for this race did not exactly go as well as I hoped. I was only getting in two runs a week, mostly later in the day (stupid 5:30 in the morning job), and only broke 12:00 miles ONCE in over two months of training.

Needless to say, this did not help my confidence at all. I thought that since I was in the best shape I was in a long time, I would be, um, faster?

Anyway, as race day came closer, and even as I laid out Flat Tracy the night before, I still didn't feel ready. Flat Tracy was ready to shine, but Real Tracy was still a little unsure.

Top is from Old Navy, skirt is Sparkle Athletic, shorts are Tek Gear from Kohl's, leg sleeves are Zensah, headband is Sparkly Soul, and sneakers are Saucony Cohesion 5's.

 



Cristina (@WeightLossChica on Twitter), one of my semi-long time Twitter followers had sent me this tweet the night before the race (after I posted Flat Tracy):

Little did I know how much Cristina's words would come into play on race day. More on that in a bit.

 

I had my alarm set for 6:00 on Saturday, but was somehow awake at 5:30. It as actually peaceful watching the sunrise from my bed. I felt like it would set the tone for the rest of the day.

Rest of the morning was the usual pre-race stuff: eat, check my social networks, cuddle (or at least attempt to) my nephew, get dressed, and go. I was actually surprised how chilly it was that morning, unlike the rest of the week, where it was wet or muggy. I actually wore a sweatshirt on my ride over.

Once I was at the race site, the sun was out and felt warmer. At that point, it was just a lot of staying loose and not letting my nerves get to me. Thankfully, the second didn't happen.

Oh, and of course, I had to get a pic of Flat Tracy in 3-D (she looks much better in real life than on a carpet...lol).

I don't look nervous! Really, I was still a wreck.

 

Unlike the last two years, the time seemed to DRAG until the 5K start! The mile went off first around 8:10, and there seemed to be more runners in that than in the last two years. Eventually, that ended, and it was FINALLY time for the 5K runners to line up. Of course, since I'm not a runner and only play one for my blog and fans (haha), I was further back. Within about three minutes, the gun went off, and the race was under way!

 

About 50 seconds later, my Polar and Endomondo trackers were on, I had hit the start mat, and my sixth 5K had officially begun!

 

I knew from past experience that the first quarter to half mile would be crowded, but as the sub 25:00 runners finished, it would thin out. This year was no exception, as there was quite a bit of weaving in and out of runners. I told myself that I would find my groove, and that I would need to run MY race.

 

And that I did. I hit the first mile at about 10:20, making it my fastest mile ever! At that point, I knew that I not only would finish, but could potentially have a PR in me!

 

I ran when I felt comfortable, like I usually do, and hit the second mile at about 21:40. I wouldn't run negative splits, since I started out too fast (Damn you, adrenaline!), but still could make a personal. I just kept going, and told myself "You got this girl! Just remember how far you've come!"

 

Again, thank you, Cristina for the kind words! Oh, and it helped that I was constantly hearing screams from people saying they loved my skirt! See, Sparkle Athletic is magic! ;-)

 

I had the song "Let It Go" from the movie Frozen on my playlist. It came on about halfway through the third mile, and it really pushed me through, especially the line "It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small, and the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all." I think that every Frozen fan who's a runner will forever have that song on their playlists. It's THAT amazing and inspirational.

 

As soon as I saw the football field, I knew the end was near. I gave it everything I had, and SPRINTED to that finish line! Clock time was 35:21, but I knew my chip time would be about 40-50 seconds ahead. I stopped my Polar, and that said 34:45. I stopped my Endomondo, and that said 34:38 for 3.15 miles (thanks to the zig-zagging...ugh.). I then knew I either had the PR or at least very close to it. Either way, I wasn't disappointed. I gave it my all, and felt amazing!

 

I grabbed a bottle of water, some orange juice, and a sample size smoothie (Caribbean Way from Smoothie King, which is very delicious by the way) while I waited for the official results. There was also a BBQ going on, but the thought of burgers and dogs at 9:00 in the morning, especially after running, kind of makes me queasy. So I just took the drinks and walked around a bit, trying to cool down while waiting for the official results.

 

After about 20 minutes or so, results were in. After all the crowding, I finally found my name and time. Clock time: 35:21.02. Chip time: 34:39 (Pace: 11:23/mile). PR by 17 seconds (beating my previous time of 34:56 back in 2012).

 

Holy cow.

 

For someone who didn't feel ready for this race, whose only goal was to finish the damn thing, I sure did awesome! Team Sparkle worked its magic, I didn't let my nerves get to me, and I just did my thing! Now that I look back, maybe having slightly slower training runs was a good thing. It let me save some of that energy for the real thing.

 

I know that I will never be one of those super fast runners who can complete a 5K in less than 20:00. Like I said, I just play runner for my blog and fans. ;-) However, this girl is doing something she never imagined she would do!

 

For that alone, I will forever be proud of myself. =)

 

Until Color Me Rad on June 7, my friends!

April Goals Recap and May Goals

Hi, everyone! Happy Sunday! Hope you all had a nice and relaxing weekend with a side of productivity! Or was that just me? ;-)

Anyway, I just wanted to recap my goals from April and share what I'm working on for May!

Here were my April goals:

How did I do? I ROCKED IT!! There were two days in the month where I didn't get a full gallon in and one week where I only did one day of core work due to not feeling 100%. I was awesome the rest of the month! I found out that I can cook and enjoy it! My blogging was mostly Friend Makin' Monday posts, but it got me going again. Oh, and that all it takes is 20 minutes before spin to get some extra weight lifting in!

My reward will be a mani-pedi, which I plan on getting after my 5K on the 17th. After a race, I will need it!

As for May, here's what I'm working on!

1) Plank-A-Day. I was a plank rockstar ages ago, then somehow gave up on it. I will be back on the wagon in May!

2) Drink 100 oz. of water daily. I found that 128 was too much some days. On days when I'm more active (mostly running or spinning days) it's easy, but on others when I'm either resting or only doing my Centergy, it's tough. So I knocked it down to 100. Totally doable.

3) No daily weighing. Confession: I've had weeks where I weigh myself daily. It then messes with my head which makes me miserable. No bueno. I moved the scale to the downstairs bathroom which I almost never use, so there's not as much temptation. It's working so far!

4) Treat-End back in place. Back in September, when I was working toward goal, this was one of the things I did that made me successful. I have since been slacking a bit with it (double chocolate cookie from work on a Tuesday, for example). I want to get back in control before I let my sweet tooth get the best of me! So, no sweet treats Monday-Thursday! I had Friday in this at one point, but decided against it this time. I sometimes split a cookie with my dad on Fridays. ;-)

5) Maximum of three trips to Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks a week combined. This is partially to save me money, partially to keep me from drinking more iced lattes than I should. Plus, I can get coffee at work for free and make my own at home for less. So, I should rock this one.

My reward for May will be an Alex and Ani Lucky Clover bracelet. I've become an A&A fanatic, and the Clover is the one I've had my eye on for a long time. However, it's $10 more than the rest that I want, so I decided that I had to earn it!

How did April go for you? What are you working on in May?

Thinking Out Loud

Taking a rest day to blog is perfectly acceptable, right? ;-) Seriously, this was a planned rest, and after a crazy day at work, I need it!

Anyway, in addition to Friend Makin' Mondays, I found Thinking Out Loud on Thursdays! I discovered it on Brooke's page, but the idea originally came from Amanda at Running with Spoons. Basically, it's just a way to get all those random thoughts out on paper. Or in this case, a blog! ;-)

Here's the crazy randomness (and some not so random) going through my head:

1)SPRING HAS SPRUNG! It is still warm and light out at 7:00 in the evening. A girl can get used to this! Maybe some twilight running is in my future? Hmm...

2) I ate ice cream today for the first time in a year. Carvel was giving it away in honor of their 80th birthday, and who doesn't love something for free? I enjoyed it, but oddly don't miss it as much as I used to.

3) My current favorite album is "Night Visions" by Imagine Dragons. My favorite track is "It's Time." So cliché, I know, but at the same time, I feel like it speaks so much about where I'm at in my life right now. I've already done so much, but it's time to do something more, which leads to...

4) I'm taking the plunge and registering for my first half-marathon next April! One of my goals is to complete a half-marathon before my 30th birthday, and I think this is totally doable! I think I will probably be one and done with this distance (you know, the whole money thing), and that's fine with me. I'm not exactly the fastest runner, and can't put in the time that I would like to in order to properly train consistently. Still, I never thought I would even want to do this!

5) Oh, and the Rangers are in the second round of the playoffs!

I should be recapping my April goals and posting my ones for May in the next day or so. Always needing something to work on, right? ;-)

Happy May Day, everyone!

Friend Makin' Mondays: Life Skills

Happy Monday, friends and readers! Can you believe that it's almost May already? I can't! I also can't believe that I've maintained a loss of 102 pounds for seven months! Woo hoo! =D

Anyway, here's this week's Friend Makin' Monday post.

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section on Sarah's blog, so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Life Skills

1. Do you know how to drive a stick shift?
Oh, hell no. I don't really plan to either, unless I decide to audition for The Amazing Race. ;-)

2. Do you know how to jump start a car?
Uh, no ? I really don't, and guess I should learn and/or join AAA.

3. Do you know how to perform CPR?
No, and again, this is something that wouldn't be a bad idea to know... 

4. Do you know how to hang a picture?
Yes! At my old house, the pictures stayed on the wall the whole time we were there, so I guess I did something right!

5. Do you know how to ski?
No, and I really have no interest in it. My knees aren't the greatest (stupid injury) and I don't want to risk injury again over something that I don't like to do.

6. Can you draw a basic map of the world?
No. I can't even draw the state of New Jersey SOMEWHAT accurately!

7. Can you do a decent dive into a swimming pool?
No. I can do a mean cannonball though! ;-)

8. Can you open a champagne bottle?
I hate champagne, so why would I need to know that?

9. Do you know what to do if you spill red wine on the carpet?
No, and I really don't need to. I don't drink at home, and we're not wine drinkers here anyway.'

10. Do you know the proper way to fold a fitted sheet?
There's a proper way to fold a sheet? I guess I have to Google this one...

Have a great week! Bring on May!

Friend Makin' Mondays: Daily Routines

Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you are getting back to normal after the chocolate and Peep binges yesterday (if you partook, which I did not).

 

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 

Daily Routines

 

1.Do you eat breakfast each day? If so what?

I usually eat Van's whole grain mini waffles with a tablespoon of Crazy Richard's peanut butter. Once in awhile, I'll get oatmeal or a bagel out, but those days are rare anymore.

 

2. How do you commute to work/school and how long does it take?

My dad drives me to work since I share the car with my parents. It's usually a 15 minute ride.

 

3. What is the first website you go to each day?

Twitter

 

4. Do you check email/facebook/twitter before you get out of bed?

It depends on the day. Most mornings, I won't, and just check while I'm eating breakfast. Others, mostly weekends, I will.

 

5. Do you take lunch to works/school from home?

No. I work in a restaurant, and usually get something from work.

 

6. What time do you normally finish work/get home?

I usually get off around 2, home by 3.

 

7. Do you tend to plan your evening meals in advance or do you grab something on your way home?

Again, this depends on the day. Some days, I'll grab something. Others, I plan to make something. I need to get a little more consistent with the planning though.

 

8. What do you typically do in the evening to relax?

Listen to music or watch TV. I so need to do this most, if not every, night though. I would also like to start reading again.

 

9. Do you fit exercise into your daily routine, if so how?

I work out in some form five days a week. I'm getting better about planning my workouts, and make the most out of them!

 

10. If you had an extra hour in your day what would you do with it?

SLEEP! I don't get enough, and would so love an extra hour!

 

Now it's your turn to answer these questions on your own blog and link back to Sarah's and make some new friends! ;-)

 

Have a great week!

Friend Makin' Mondays: Favorite Things

 

Hi, everyone! These days are just flying by, aren't they? I can't believe that Sunday is Easter already! Wow!

 

Anyway, here is this week's Friend Makin' Monday Post. I got these questions from Sarah over at Losing Weight and Having Fun, but they originally came from Stephanie at Athlete at Heart. So, here are my favorite things!

 

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 

Favorite things.

 

1. Favorite color? (be specific… what shade of blue/green/red etc)

My favorite color is orange. The brighter the orange, the better!

 

2. Favorite piece of clothing you own?

My Carl Hagelin Rangers player T-shirt...hehe. Seriously, my fav NON-sports piece would have to be my Old Navy skinny jeans. They go with just about anything and I feel amazing in them!

 

3. Favorite smartphone app?

Pandora. I can listen to whatever type of music suits my mood at the time, no matter what I already have downloaded!

 

4. Favorite city?

Baltimore. It's a fun city, with a lot to do, but not as overwhelming as, say, New York. I went there for Fitbloggin' 2012 and had a blast!

 

5. Favorite strength training exercise?

Rows. There are so many variations on them that I could probably do a whole workout with just rows! My favs are the deadrows though. Holy back muscles!

6. Favorite vegetable?

Spinach, especially raw. I could eat a bowl of that and be happy.

 

7. Favorite hair product? (shampoo, styling, conditioner etc)

Tea Tree shampoo. I love how it smells, but sadly, I can't afford too much of it. Professional products are a tad bit too expensive for me. =/

8. Favorite animal?

Lions! My high school and college mascots were lions, plus I always love how pretty they look but how fierce they can be. Oh, and Alex is my favorite character in the Madagascar movies. ;-)

 

9. Favorite superhero?

Mr. Incredible from The Incredibles. Yes, I am a Disney/Pixar nut. No, I don't care.

 

10. Favorite recipe? (share the details with us)

The southern unfried chicken from The Runner's World Cookbook. Basically breaded and baked chicken with a KICK to it! Either buy the book or Google it to get the full recipe. I'm too lazy to post it here...lol. ;-)

 

That's all from me! Have a great week, everyone!

Friend Makin' Mondays: Random Questions

Happy Monday, everyone! More importantly, Happy NCAA Basketball Championship Night! My beloved UConn has made it to the big game, and I'm hoping for the win! I've been a UConn fan for 14 years, and seen two championships in that time. Another would be awesome!

Anyway, before the game, here's today's Friend Makin' Monday post! =)

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here as well as on Sarah's blog Losing Weight and Having Fun, so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

This week’s random questions come to you from Tyra who blogs over at Random Acts of Snark. Thanks Tyra for the awesome questions.

1. Have you ever had a reoccurring dream? What was it?
I can't say I have. I have had some strange dreams (Who hasn't?), but nothing seen again.

2. What was the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
I haven't really eaten anything that weird. You can call me boring. ;-)

3. Can you comfortably eat in a restaurant by yourself? Go to movie?
Yes. I wouldn't go to a sit-down restaurant by myself, unless just placing a to-go order, but places like Chipotle I often do. I also usually go to the movies by myself.

4. What would you leave in your will for the person you care about the most?
I don't have much to leave. Unless you want my yoga mat. Or my collection of sports T-shirts.

5. Would you rather…Go without television or fast food for the rest of your life?
Fast food for sure. I don't eat it much anymore. Plus, without TV, how am I supposed to watch my sports? ;-)

6. What was the best thing that happened to you this past week?
Successfully cooking dinner for myself and the family enjoyed it too. Plus both UConn basketball teams making the championship games!


7. List the food items you take at a salad bar.
Lettuce or spinach, mushrooms, carrots, cheese, bacon (sometimes), croutons, and whatever dressing is low-fat or fat-free.

8. If you were in the “Miss America” talent competition, what would your talent be? (Note: both guys & gals have to answer this question)
Uh, I don't have one? =(

9. What do you keep in the trunk of your car?
My gym bag and yoga mat. Along with jumper cables and brake fluid.

10. How many rings before you answer the phone?
Way too many. If it's a familiar number, I'll answer right away. Otherwise, voicemail!

Have an awesome week, everyone! Oh, and BLEED BLUE!!

Friend Makin' Mondays: Hobbies and Games

Hi, everyone! In my efforts to blog more, I decided to get back into Friend Makin' Mondays! I love doing these posts, since they get me to open up a little more, plus they're on the light side! Who doesn't love something light and happy? I know I do!

FMM was started by Kenlie of All the Weigh, but was recently taken over by Sarah at Losing Weight and Having Fun. If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section on Sarah's blog, so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links there too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Hobbies and Games

 

1. Do you have a favorite board game?
I love Monopoly and even own a Miami Dolphins version of the game! 

2. Do you have a favorite card game?
Solitaire and Pinochle.

3. Do you play games on your phone?
I don't play games on my phone, since I have a Windows Phone (limited selection), but have Brave Temple Run and Angry Birds on my iPod touch.

4. Do you prefer the x-box, playstation or Wii?
I have a PS2 and a Wii. I still love playing Guitar Hero! I also love some Mario Kart from time to time.

5. Do you have a favorite outdoor hobby?
I like to run. I also love the beach in the summers. I am from Jersey, after all! ;-)

6. Have you ever been geocaching?
No, but now that I just read a little about it, I would love to give it a try!

7. What’s your favorite hobby?
I used to be a hard core vidder. Basically, viding is where you take clips from a TV show or movie, and set them to music. Real life got in the way, and I took a bit of hiatus from it. I plan to pick it back up in time though!

8. Is there a hobby you would love to try but are too scared too?
I would love to get back into swimming, but I think this one is more self-consciousness and lack of access to a pool over fear.

9. Do you enjoy doing puzzles?
No. I have the patience of a pea (probably less), and wouldn't last too long putting together a puzzle.

10. Have you taken any classes in anything?
No, although I would love to take a cooking class or two!

Have a great week, everyone! =)

April Goals

I haven't blogged in almost two months. Epic. Fail.

In a nutshell, life has gotten in the way. I work about 43 hours a week and have a super early shift. Plus, I can spend as long as two hours a night in the gym.

Which leaves little time for blogging. Or TV viewing. Or much else. BORING!

In the midst of this, I kind of lost focus on a few things besides blogging, like cooking and weight training (MAJOR FAIL!). So, to help myself rebound, I came up with a few goals!

Goals for April:

1) Drink a gallon of water a day-AND track it. I was kicking ass with this one back in December...then fell off the wagon. Drinking a gallon of water a day will help me from drinking more iced tea and coffee than I should. Tracking will simply help me get there!

2) Try one new recipe a week. I can cook...just in a limited capacity. Pretty much just chicken and turkey burgers on my George Foreman plus boiling water for pasta. Can we say BORING? I checked out a Hungry Girl cookbook out of the library, plus have The Runner's World Cookbook, so I have tons of options to choose from!

3) Weight train at least two days a week. This is the part of my workouts where I am seriously slacking. I do a Power class on Fridays...then don't lift again until the following class. I love Power, so I plan to keep it in my schedule, but will also add at least one 20-30 minute session on my own. Whatever it takes, I will make it happen.

4) Minimum of 15 minutes of core work three days a week. Similar to the weight training, my core work is slowly decreasing. I know most classes integrate core work into the class, but I still would like to get at least 15 minutes in three days a week. Again, at least one or two classes, but still some work on my own.

5) Blog at least once a week. When I set this as a December goal, I rocked it! Since then...not so much. I plan to write about my upcoming 5K training as well as some possible reviews. I can and will make the time to keep this tiny blog of mine going!

Well, since I have my heights set high this month, I guess I should treat myself to something awesome, right? Well, it took some thought, and I decided on a mani-pedi at the end of April for all my hard work! I haven't had one since June, and decided it would be a nice goal/seven month maintenance reward!

Here's to an AWESOME APRIL!!

Since you are all so awesome to read my little blog here, I decided to ask you guys: What would you like me to blog about? What would YOU like to see?

Friend Makin' Monday: Random Questions

Note: I am very lazily posting this in bed on my phone. I will edit and make it look pretty when I get on my computer later this week. ;-)

Just realized that I never blogged in January. Epic. Fail.

Real life got in the way. I moved at the beginning of January and got busy with work. Oh, and still rocking at that thing called maintenance! Blogging took a back seat, but I plan on making it up to you all soon!

So, I decided to make my return to the blogging world on this cold, snowy night with a lighter post: my first Friend Makin' Monday in forever!

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Random Questions

1. Did you watch the Super Bowl?  If so, what was your favorite part?  I watched, but nothing stood out to me.

2. What is the weather like where you live?  Today? It's cold and snowy. Again. *sigh*

3. When is your birthday?  August 7

4. Do you prefer sparkling water or flat water? Flat water.

5. How many hours did you sleep last night? 6 and change

6. What is your favorite day of the week? Monday. Yes, it's the start of the work week, but with that also comes two of my favorite workout classes (Group Core and Group Kick)!

7. If you had to choose between riding a bike and swimming, which would you choose? Indoor bike riding. I'm a spin fanatic!

8. How often do you eat red meat?  At least once a week, but no more than twice.

9. What time did you wake up this morning? 4:15(ish). I had work at 5:30 this morning (just like every other weekday =P).

10. Do you have any goals for the week?  Drink at least 24 oz. of water before drinking any coffee. I feel better when I do, plus I want to prove that it is possible no matter how early it is!

Now it’s your turn to answer this week’s questions.  Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments.  Happy Monday!