Link Love #56

Sometimes when you have big plans for the weekend, it makes the week go slower. I’m really hoping that’s not the case for me! This Saturday, Nathan and I will be celebrating 11 years together; we’ve only been married for a year and a half but having been together for so long before being married, we just can’t give up the celebrations.

We started talking the other day about what we were going to do, which of course leads to where we’re going to have dinner. Because really, good food and drink? What else is important? Oh right.. the company. Well, low and behold, Nathan had a little trick up his sleeve! I got an email invite for dinner Saturday but with no location; I spent quite a bit of time guessing but after a few dropped hints, I figured it out. Gather is on the docket and I can’t wait! Everything looks and sounds incredible. I’m going to have a really hard time figured out what to order and I can’t wait to share the pictures!

Until then, you know the dealio.. enjoy!

Health

“Eat Less, Exercise More” Isn’t The Answer For Weight Loss – Time Health

“Eat Less, Exercise More” Isn’t The Answer For Weight Loss – Time
How to Stop at Just One Cookie – Greatist
‘Calorie counting is crazy-making’ – The Hamilton Spectator
Training Tip of the Week: Take it out on the workout – Katrina Elle
6 Reasons You’re Not Seeing Results Despite Doing “Everything Right” – Trainer Paige

Fitness

The Spartan 300 Workout Challenge – Lifting Revolution

The Spartan 300 Workout Challenge – Lifting Revolution
Functional Fitness Focus and Routines – Cotter Crunch
30 Minute Tabata Workout – The Almond Eater
5 Dynamic Stretches (and when to use them) – Mommy Run Fast
5 Reasons to Do Burpees Everyday – Mind Body Green

Food

Spanakopita Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Bowls – Half Baked Harvest

Spanakopita Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Bowls – Half Baked Harvest
Butternut Squash Pasta with Spicy Garlicky Broccoli Rabe and White Beans – Inspiralized
Vegan Hot Pretzel Challah Bread – Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Harvest Apple Sangria with Bourbon and Thyme – A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
Maple Sea Salt Sweet Potato Pancakes – The Nutritious Kitchen

Food for Thought

What’s one of your favorite posts from the past week?

Link Love #35

Yesterday was exhausting and exactly what I needed. I had a bunch of errands to run and needed to drop Nathan at work [hellooo one car!] so I get up extra early to get my workout in. I also had an appointment in the city so I met an old Baltimore coworker for lunch. She moved out here a month before us for a new job but we’ve only been able to meet up a couple of times. We went to Sushirrito for lunch and it was so good! I got the Bonsai Salad and the tuna was amazing but I’ll definitely have to go back and try one of their -rritos!

With all of the running around, I hardly sat down before dinner at 6:30! It’s a good kind of exhaustion, though. Today I start a new gig [details to come!] and I’m really looking forward to it. It should be fun and it’ll get me out of the house and running around more.. more good exhaustion! Anywho, I was a bit MIA last week on the social media scene, but I did happen to catch a ton of great posts to share with you. Enjoy!

Health

How to Face Your Fears to Get the Body You Want – Lifting Revolution

How To Face Your Fears To Get The Body You Want – Lifting Revolution
The Dangers of Complacency in Weight Loss – Fit to the Finish
Motivation Monday – Choosing Contentment – Cotter Crunch
When Hardcore Turns Into Harmful – JillFit
Happy Weight vs. Ideal Body Weight – Delicious Knowledge

Fitness

Vacation Workout – Full- Body Resistance and Cardio – Wheres the Beach Fitness

Vacation Workout – Full-Body Resistance Band and Cardio – Where’s the Beach
Build a Mean & Clean Workout – Bonnie Pfeister
Cardio Boot Camp Workout – Pumps & Iron
TRX Workout – Peanut Butter Fingers
Core & Burpees – The Workout Mama

Food

Tijuana Street Fries – Half Baked Harvest

Tijuana Street Fries – Half Baked Harvest
Sriracha Chicken Cauliflower “Fried Rice” – The Lemon Bowl
Oat, Nutty Seed Bars – Knead to Cook
Barbecue Salmon Tostadas – Peachy Palate
Mexican Grilled Polenta Pizza – Edible Perspective

Food for Thought

What was one of your favorite posts from the past week?

Link Love #22

Ooooh my gravy. Well I have to say, I’m definitely feeling better than I was over the weekend, but a workout plus 4 loads of laundry yesterday and I was knocked on my butt the rest of the day! One day at a time and lots of sleep, I should be back to myself soon 🙂 In the meantime, lots of love!

Health

Do you need to do cardio if you’re lifting heavy? | question from a reader – FitKnitChick

Do you need to do cardio if you’re lifting heavy? | question from a reader – FitKnitChick
4 Ways To Stop Eating A Million Calories Every Night – JillFit
The Makings of the Best Diet Ever – Truth 2 Being Fit
What a Dietitian Eats – HuffPost Lifestyle
Paleo Diet Pros and Cons – Kath Eats

Fitness

Get Bootylicious: Best Glute Exercises For Women (And Why) – Lifting Revolution

Get Bootylicious: Best Glute Exercises For Women (And Why) – Lifting Revolution
A core workout for runners – Crazy Running Girl
Burpees or Bust Challenge and Roundup #FFBurpee – Cotter Crunch
Winter Interval Treadmill Workout – Sarah Fit
Stability Ball Workout – Fitnessista

Food

Bourbon Caramel Almond Butter Cups – Minimalist Baker

Bourbon Caramel Almond Butter Cups – Minimalist Baker
Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Almond Butter Filling – Running on Real Food
Lentil Sloppy Portobello Joe – Peachy Palate
Honey Porter Glazed Chicken Skewers – The Beeroness
Healthier Magic Cookie Bars – Eating Bird Food

Food for Thought

What is one of your favorite posts from the last week?

Bootcamp: The Midway Point

When I hit week 2 I thought 8 weeks might feel like a long time. Now that I’m at week 5, I can’t believe we’re already half way through!

If you recall from week 1, I took the fitness challenge which is to be repeated at the half way point as well as the end.

Week 1

Week 4

Overall, I’m pleased with my challenge results. My wall sit time increased by over 30 seconds [holy shaky legs!], I did 10 more push ups, and I cut 14 seconds off of my fastest mile! As far as my plank goes, I can definitely go longer, so I’ll be revisiting that soon. And burpees? Well.. they’re burpees. And they suck. But I’m hoping for at least 1 more by the end of bootcamp!

Week 4 Thoughts

I can’t lie, week 4 was tough. I don’t know if the workouts are catching up to my and my body was just more tired, or if it was just an off week. I definitely pushed myself and kept up the intensity and it’s showing. Not only did I improve on almost all pieces of the fitness challenge, I also was able to go through more sets in my timed workouts and I’ve also lost a total of 4″! It’s nice to see all of the hard work that I’m putting actually paying off. It is absolutely encouraging me to keep pushing through the next 4 weeks!

Favorite Meal of the Week

Last Thursday was the 1 year anniversary of Nathan proposing to me so of course, we had to go out to dinner! This is just a sneak peak as I’ll be recapping the whole dinner on Wednesday, but I had the seared mahi mahi with capers & raisins, cauliflower puree, and almond bubbles for my entree. It was light, a little buttery, and the fish had the perfect crust. It was definitely a winner!

Previous Reviews

Best Butt-Kicking Bootcamp [Week 1]
Bootcamp – Take 2 [Week 2]
Beat Up Bootcamp [Week 3]

Food for Thought

How do you measure progress? Do you use methods similar to a fitness test?

FitBloggin’.. It’s What’s Trending

I’m completely exhausted. I can’t walk or sit down. And I cannot stop smiling.

I had been looking forward to FitBloggin’ for months and was so psyched when the weekend was finally arriving. I knew it was going to be super informative and a good time, but I don’t know that I realized exactly how much fun I was going to have.

Over the course of 2 1/2 days, I spent my time working out, collecting swag, munching on some rather amazing food, collecting swag, listening to presentations, and, oh yea.. did I mention collecting swag?! I think I smell a few giveaways… 😉

Friday morning started bright and early with 6am yoga. And while everyone kept telling me I was crazy to be waking up so early when I was taking a day off of work, I knew I didn’t want to miss any of the workouts, and I’m so glad I didn’t! We also got a little taste of crossfit with 2 sets of AMRAP squats, sit ups, and burpees, and finished off with an awesome workout with Cathe Friedrich. If I had to choose a favorite, I’d go with Cathe’s workout; definitely left there sweating!

That last picture on the bottom left cracks me up! That was some sort of squatting shoulder push up and yes, it felt just as silly as it looks!

Saturday’s workouts were extra sweaty which I was totally ready for. Bootcamp with Erin from Power Fitness was by far my favorite workout of the weekend. When she said “don’t stop moving,” she meant it, 6am or not! She’s a pistol and I absolutely loved her!

Trampoline BOUNCEcamp with JumpSport followed and Jami was the only one brave enough to make a fool of herself with me. It was a good workout that got a little crazy at the end and I would absolutely do it again! The last workout on Saturday was ZUMBA. Holy moly was that fun! It was my first ZUMBA class and I let myself go!

The food on all weekend was great and we were quite ravenous after our workouts. Buffet style = going back for seconds!

I’ve already started planning some new recipes inspired by these meals and can’t wait to share them! (Mmmmmmm muesli!) And I definitely had my fair share of popchips. No complaints here.. they were such a great sponsor!

As for the biggest part of FitBloggin’, the presentations, I walked away with an incredible about of information that I can’t wait to break out. One of my favorite presentations was Harnessing the Power of YouTube by Sarah. I took the most away from her talk and can’t wait to put some of her ideas to use! Look out for some video posts soon 😉

In the midst of all of the workouts and chats, I got the opportunity to meet some of my favorite bloggers; Brittany from Eating Bird Food and Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers. I’ve been following their blogs for quite some time now and it was so great to finally get to chat with them in person.

And with that, I leave you with some of my absolute favorite moments of the weekend. I can’t thank Roni Noone enough for putting this amazing conference together and for doing such an incredible job with everything. I had the time of my life and hope to see everyone next year in PORTLAND!!

*Thanks to Kate, Mary, and more for the pics!