Root Yoga + Food and Work out Round up

Namaste!

Zach and I went to a great yoga class tonight, but before I get to that, I want to share my snacks and lunch for the day.

We had a closed day, which means team lunch, so it’s a little more fun than my boring normal work eats.

We went to Noodles&Co, which I’ve heard about but never been too.

When I looked up their menu and nutrition facts online (I do this all the time, it’s another OCD of mine), I was pleasantly surprised by what I read.

They have their nutrition facts posted (which is great), that includes not only calories but also things like sodium, protein, etc.

They also have some pretty stellar practices.  From the website:

LOOKING FOR LOCAL. We make sure we have the freshest ingredients available year round. It makes a huge difference in flavor

I can get behind that.

I went with the Med Salad with chicken and was very happy with my choice!

I did forgo the cheese (didn’t think it fit with the rest of the ingredients), but had everything else per the menu and really liked it.  It did a great job of keeping me satisfied and full as well.

Yum!

Of course, I also had my favorite Chunky Peanut Butter Think Thin Bar.  Seriously guys…if you haven’t tried these, please do.  They’re my favorite bars and have no sugar added. Awesome.

(for as often as I eat these I should get a new pic).

Root Yoga

Tonight, Zach and I took our second class at root yoga.

Tonight was a Forrest Yoga Class.  From the website:

Ana Forrest, creator of Forrest Yoga, has a unique and powerful philosophy and approach toward yoga.  The purpose is to purify the body, release emotional pain, and get strong and centered so that healing can take place. By using deep breathing, long holds in each posture, and vigorous sequences, you will flush out toxins and rejuvenate every cell in your  body. All levels offered.

This was perfect for Zach and I’s sore bodies.

Both classes we’ve been too at Root have been great, but I really enjoyed tonight.  The class was small, so the instructor was really able to help with adjustments and was able to tweak the class for our skill level.

The studio is open and beautiful.  I love the lofty feel and exposed brick wall

We have a Groupon for 3 classes (our first was free, something they offer everyone), so we are looking forward to our next two classes.

Dinner

We had originally planned to do salads and veggie burgers tonight, but since I had a salad for lunch, and ate kind of late, I wasn’t feeling it.

We postponed that plan until tomorrow and stopped by the store on the way home to get the necessary ingredients for Mexican 🙂

Tonight it’s

• Fajita seasoned chicken
• Grilled veggies (peppers, onions)
• Fresh tomato
• Salasa
• greens
• Tortillas
• 

Everything was prepared in about 10 minutes and cooked on the grill. My kinda meal. Easy prep, easy clean up. And delicious

 

Washed down with a new to me drink.  R.W. Knudsen Sparkling Essence

 

I love bubbles.

 

And Finally for tonight: A quick round up for the  Challenge .

On top of this mornings yoga as well as this afternoon’s class, I squeezed in

• 25 oblique crunches L & R
• 25 REAL push ups (woot)
• 25 squats
• 100 knee highs
• 125 sec plank + 10 hip dips
• 25 calf raises
• 25 push ups
• 25 side lunges L & R
• 50 crunches

Not too shabby for day one!

What did you all squeeze in today?

Time to relax and enjoy the family!  Good night all.

10 Things I Like

I’ve seen this post going around a bit with all the 30 day challenges, and loved the idea.

What I’ve seen is primarily 10 things I like and 10 things I DONT like, but I want to focus on what I like :).

1. Zach – Are you guys tired of hearing about this boy yet? I hope you aren’t, because I just adore him. Warning Corney Cliches:  When I met Zach four years ago in Utah, I was 22 years old, just starting graduate school, and really unsure about myself and what I wanted out of life.

When we met in Salt Lake City, Utah 2009

Since then, I’ve graduated with my Master’s, moved to Chicago, moved to Chicago to be with him, we moved in together, got engaged, and are now living in Denver getting ready to embark on our next journey: Married life.  Honestly, I wouldn’t be who I am today without him.  He’s my best friend, my biggest supporter, biggest advocate, and at times, biggest pain in my as$, but we have fun every single day and I would not change a thing about him.

Awwwwwww

2. Family – I grew up an only child.  Most people are surprised about that when they meet me, but I actually loved growing up the way I did.

Mom, Dad and I in Vegas. Their second home.

Funny story: at about 10 years old my parents told me they wanted to adopt another child.  I told them absolutely not and so here I am today, sibling-less.  True story. Sad, but true.

My parents always treated me as an equal and being an only child, I always felt like the three of us were a team.  I’ve put my parents through quite a bit, but their love and support for me never wavered.  They hate that I’ve grown up and moved across the country, but remind me regularly that I am where I’m supposed to be in life and support me however they can.  They really are amazing.

Oh…I can’t talk about family without including my OWN family as well.

Don’t mind me . . . I’m just chillin

I’m just so happy!

 

Come on, with those faces, how could they NOT make the list of things I like. Honestly, these two make us laugh and smile everyday.  And with Gus’s health issues of the past couple of months, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to have them and their darn unconditional love.

3. Friends – The fact that anyone other than Zach puts up with me on a regular basis is pretty amazing ;).  I could go on and on about these people, but especially with the wedding coming up I have been reminded how I lucky I am to have friends who are coming all this way to Colorado to celebrate Zah and I.

 

 

My favorite friend story of late:  I decide to sign up for a half after literally only running 3 miles.  I figure I can do it.  So what does my best friend do?  She signs up for it, out of town, with me so I don’t have to go at it alone.   Pretty stellar friend there. . . I must say.

4. Running:  Running keeps me sane.  Pure and simple.  I’m not very quick, and probably never will be, but that’s OK.

Just a morning run. . .

In reality I’m more . . .

GOD SAVE ME! I’ve only gone 1.2 miles?!

 

but that’s OK because I run for ME.  Every single run I go out for is different.  And every single run is an accomplishment.  That’s pretty cool.

5. Yoga –

Namaste 🙂

 

I’ve been doing yoga for about 5 years now, and even though my practiced has changed a lot, I never regret a yoga class.  At this point in my life yoga is my cross training.  It keeps my muscles loose, ready for runs, and safe from injury.

6. Writing

Honestly, I’ve always loved writing.  I was a journal-er growing up, and have always found it therapeutic to put words and thoughts to paper.  At points in middle school and high school, I imagined that I was going to be a journalist or writer of some kind, but I guess I missed that boat.  For now, this blog has really reminded me of my passion for writing.   I haven’t done much studying on the subject and I will likely never win any awards for my writing, but it is something that makes me happy everyday, and that’s enough for now.

7. Wedding Planning – Wedding planning has been the craziest, busiest, and most fun adventure I’ve been on in a long time.  Even now when we are absolutely crazy with appointments, meetings, and checklists a mile long of things that still need to get done, I love it.

again. . . Awwwwwwww.

 

I am living in the moment.  It’s amazing how genuinely happy and excited people are for Zach and I right now.  Even strangers.   I’m just trying to soak up all of the love and generosity we have surrounding us right now.  I’ll forget about the craziness…

8. Chocolate – Do I really need to say anything here?

 

 

I’d be naked…

 

9. Good Food – I LOVE food and the whole experience of eating.

I love going out to a good meal.

I love making a good meal and enjoying it with loved ones.

I love the complexity of different tastes and textures.  Really I love everything about food.

10. Reading – I’ve always been a reader.  My parents read to me as a new born, and as soon as my little brain let me, I had my nose in a book.

 

Reading and I went through a tough spell during college and graduate school when I was slammed with texts the size of my torso every night… but that was relatively short lived and once I made it through that my love for reading returned just as quickly.

 

There is something so great about getting lost in a book.  I create little worlds in my mind when I’m reading a book, and am often sad when I finish with one because I feel like I’m losing friends or some magical place in my imagination.  Creepy and weird I know, but what can I say 🙂

 

So there you have it.  10 things that I really like :).  So now, share with me!

What is something/things that you really like?

A New Challenge

I’m so glad people liked the 100′s.

The post got me thinking yesterday though…

100’s are perfect when you have 20 minutes, but what about if you only have 2 minutes?

Why not squeeze in little bursts of exercise in wherever you can through out the day.

Commercial break –  Hold a plank.

5 minutes between clients at work – do 25 push ups

On the phone – hold a wall sit.

The options are endless.  I took this as a challenge to myself for the second half of the day yesterday and manage to squeeze in.

• 100 second plank + 10 hip dips
• 25 calf raises
• 25 squats
• 50 second side plank L and R
• 50 crunches
• 50 bridges

Just when I was bored.

This seems like a fun challenge to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be doing lots of 100’s, but I thought this might be fun.  What do you all think?  For a week, I’m going to try and throw in some random exercises when I’m bored, and I’ll keep track of them daily on here.  Obviously, feel free to do the same!

 

I slept better than I have in awhile last night, so I woke up pretty refreshed.  Zach and I are planning to go to a yoga class tonight, so I wanted to give my body a nice stretch this morning in preparation.

Workout For the Morning (day will be complete later):  45 minute Yoga video

And in the spirit of this new challenge, I started my morning with

• 25 oblique crunches (L and R)
• 25 push ups (REAL STYLE!)
• 25 squats

And now it’s off to work.  Today is a closed day, so no clients.  What does that mean?

!

Sweats and leggings to work

And…I’m undercover prepared for yoga tonight

Alright! 🙂

Have a great day everyone!

Question of the Day:  Anybody else interested in squeezing in a little strength training through out the day with me?  Anybody do this already and how?