the Pinterest workout

Pinterest is an amazing thing. You can find inspiration, crafts, memes, and all sorts of stuff to waste your time on. I love it!

So in the interest of keeping a short, fun post today, I’m showing you some of the fitness-related (and yes, I use that term loosely. very loosely) memes and photos that I’ve found on Pinterest.

Yes, this totally counts as doing something active and healthy for your body! Think of it as a 45 second workout!! 

Exercise: the new version of drinking games! 

Doing 20-30 reps per side will seriously strengthen your core and get defined muscles. Doing 5-8 absolutely perfect and slow reps per side will whittle your waist without adding muscle size. Pick your poison!

This says 30, but it’s effective no matter what number you choose. You can even sit down in your chair and get right back up 20 times! It’ll still work your quads and your gluteals, creating a calorie burn and a revved up metabolism before you eat.

For all of us CrossFitters out there: good to remember 😉

True story!

Harsh, but true.

One of the most wonderful things to remember!!! ❤

Hydration is important! If these rascals can do it, so can you! 

When you’re a personal trainer, you hear a lot of this cr@p…

Never let your fear guide you away from something, let it guide you to conquer something!

So today, this post is short and sweet because it’s my son’s birthday! My little munchkin turns 7 today, and is seriously the most amazing person I know!!!

Happy birthday, buddy!! Mommy loves you!!! 

So today’s workout is running. I have no length in mind, but I want to run at a 9:00 pace for as long as my foot will let me. (Stay tuned for a post about how I went rock climbing today with my mom! My left foot is killing me right now from the shoes and the turnout, but totally worth the challenge of the climb!)

What’s your workout today?! Running? Kickboxing? Yoga? Don’t just sit there and let life pass you by! Get up and MOVE YOUR BOOTAY!!!

(But, hey, no judgement! How would I know if you’re having a scheduled rest day, just got over the flu, stayed up all night with a sick baby, etc? I don’t! And let’s face it, sometimes we mentally need a day off.)

Don’t measure yourself b…

Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished by your ability.

John Wooden, 

10-time NCAA Championship Coach for UCLA

October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010

Get Off Your A$$!

This is my first posting for Krisrael.com, my cousin’s blog. Her blog is a great place to learn about fashion, geek chic, some cool history, and some great things going on in the Bay Area. (For those of you outside of California, the Bay Area is the area surrounding San Francisco.) Kris’ blog mainly caters to people in the Bay Area in terms of events, but the general feel and almost every single post is geared towards every-day people of all walks of life, all over the United States. Go and check out her blog! Tell her Heather sent you! (You won’t get any prizes or incentives, but I’ll end up looking cool, hehe)

So without further ado, I present: Get Off Your A$$, It’s the Weekend!!

Ever look at a friend’s vacation pictures on Facebook and think, “Cool! That looks awesome! I wish I was that adventurous and interesting. . . Why don’t I ever do that kind of stuff?” I’ve got $20 that says immediately after thinking that you kept browsing other people’s adventures online or checked out what was on HBO. 

Time to do something about it. No more sitting at home bored on a Saturday like a loser. (someone had to say it, and real friends call it like it is) It’s time to discover some awesome, cheap and sometimes free activities in our amazing Bay Area.

A great way to get off your patootie and get some great kicks is by going hiking. You’d be amazed at how many areas we have around here dedicated to walking and hiking.

In the area that we live in, you can just start driving in a random direction and end up in 8 places to have a great walk or hike. But if you’re like me and need to know exactly where you’re going and what to expect, here’s a great website dedicated to trails in the Bay Area.

Before the weather gets too hot, let’s spend some time in the great outdoors!

Things to remember to bring, regardless of where you end up going:

~Sunscreen

~Cash for parking and/or food

~Water

~Electrolyte replacement (I love Nuun, personally)

~Extra socks (you can leave ‘em in the car)

~Bug spray

~Your camera or iPhone

~A totally kicka$$ attitude!!

Sometimes walking just doesn’t cut it in Coolsville, so maybe trail running is more your thing. Check out this website for some great trail running events in the area. (They even sometimes have events up in Oregon if you’re feeling up to a vacation)

After sitting at your desk all week, sitting in your car or the BART, sitting on the couch watching the boob-toob (which I admit to doing at this very moment. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, anyone?) we have to get the cobwebs out of our brains and our legs and get ACTIVE!

Whether you go out for a walk with a group of friends, your closest cousin, or just your alter-ego, the point is to get outside and get some exercise. There was an article covered by CNN that talked about the fact that researchers are finding, the more sedentary you are, the shorter your lifespan. (click here if you’re feeling up to reading it)

Hiking is simple, requires no training or experience, and is, in most cases, blonde-proof. Just remember that mace is not a suitable substitute for bug repellent, and you’ll be a-okay!

I think now is the perfect time for a hiking meme, don’t you?

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get some friends together this weekend, find a trail, and make us all jealous on Monday morning by posting some amazing pictures on Facebook!

~In health,

Heather

Running Calendars that Run My Life

I’m not a list person. I’m not a calendar person. But you know what I LOVE to do?

Write lists and make appointments! I do it all the time!!!! I never stick to the list (not even the grocery list) and it does absolutely diddly to keep me accountable, but for some reason, I just can’t stop writing ’em! And calendars?! I love to take a calendar and write in my appointment or deadline, and then I tuck it away, never to be looked at again.

Whaaaaaa?

Yeah, I don’t get it, either.

I just love seeing proof what’s going on. I think deep down it makes me feel special and important. Like I actually have friends and responsibilities. Okay, so maybe it’s not that deep down…

Lately, I’ve been pretty stoked about my calendars. Oh, did I mention that I have multiple calendars? I have my paper calendar/date book (that Staples charged me waaay more than I should have been willing to pay for it) and all the calendars that Apple synchs for me. My iPhone, my iPad, and my Mac all yell at me at the same time when I have a reminder set. It get’s old fast, but since I don’t pay attention to the calendar once I’ve scheduled the event, it’s a necessary evil. Too bad my date book doesn’t have reminders like Apple does… my homework might actually be turned in on time if it did… Oh Apple, you take such good care of me. *sigh*

(Can you tell I’m an Apple lady? I grew up on Apple. My first computer was a Mac II. I totally have an excuse to be an Appleholic.)

But anyways, back to the calendars!

I’ve made it a goal to run an event (big or small, as long as it generally fits into my training program) every month until October when I have the Nike Women’s Marathon. It’s my first full marathon, and I’m so excited that I’m bordering on Psychoville!

I’m still looking for events in most months (May, June, Aug, Sep), so if you know of any races (5k to half marathon) that are in California, let me know!!

I’m probably going to run the San Francisco Marathon’s 1st Half Marathon course. Running a half marathon across the Golden Gate Bridge sounds pretty kick a$$. I’ve only ever driven across it, so I’m all for playing the camera-happy tourist! I’ve also sent in a form to request to volunteer for the Expo the day before the race, so we’ll see what comes of it. The only deterrent is that the race is at the end of July, exactly 14 days after I run the Jungle Run Half Marathon. Eh, I’m sure I’ll be fine. Who needs to walk during the first week of August anyways? 😉

Between my camping trips, day-trips, running events, and doctor’s appointments, my calendars are getting pretty full!!! (See how much I love filling up calendars? I’ve added doctor’s appointments to my list of things that make me go “yay!”)

Do you have any weird things you like to do? 

What running events have you super stoked to be a runner? 

My 10 Favorite Race Medal Displays

I’m new to the running event scene, but already it’s time to start thinking about where to stash my bling. I have the race bibs in my scrapbook, and I’m holding on to my finisher shirts to make a quilt; but what to do with the medals?

I’ve been looking at race medal hangers recently. I had no idea there were so many out there! So I’ve compiled a list of the ones that I like, in hopes that by the end of this post I’ll make my decision as to which one I want to get.

In no particular oder:

this one really doesn’t have any racing significance, but I LOVE swallows and nautical stars. I even have them tattooed on me.

I’d want hooks instead of a bar, but I like the humor.

Now this is my kind of humor! But, again, I’d want hooks.

I like the idea of putting the bibs with the medals.

This would work since this is the first year that I’m doing both. It’ll feed my inner organization freak, too.

Puns, anyone?

Not very race-y, but definitely cute.

Simple, but cute. Love the pink, too.

Mind over matter, mind over matter!

I wish there was a larger picture of this one. I really like it!

Alright, I know I said 10, but when I put all of them on here, I realized I had 11. But I don’t feel like deleting any of them, so here’s the encore, number 11:

This one is a bit too girly, but I’m loving it!

Final verdict:

I’m going to make my own. I’ll make a board like number 11, customize an UpperCase Living saying (I really like the .2 saying from the third one pictured, and my favorite running saying is, “26.2… it’s that damn .2 that’ll get ya!” so I may even use that), and get some nice quality hooks or drawer pulls. Done deal.

I also saw this on Pinterest, and while it’s an amazingly cute idea, I don’t think I’ll do it. But for those of you looking for a really interesting way to display your race medals, try magnets! Remove the ribbon and apply some epoxy resin on a heavy duty magnet, and, voilà! Race Medal Magnets! Cute, right?!?!

How do you store your race bling? Is it out in the open, or stored away? 

Drooling on a Wednesday Morning

Let’s all take a minute this morning and drool admire David Beckham running, shall we?

There, now how can you have a bad day when watching that?! You’re welcome! 😉

So today I am going through my bookmarked racing events, trying to pick out a race that I’ll volunteer for. Let’s face it: no race happens without volunteers. So it’s time to do my part.

I told them to screen their applicants... *sigh*

I thought this was going to be easy and fun… Oooh! There! That one! Yay! *sign the forms* Done!

I should really learn to shut my inner blonde up.

This is harder than I thought it would be. The logistics to consider: Do I really want to drive over an hour to San Francisco to BE AT the race at 4:30am? Not really. Who’s going to watch my son for me? Probably my mom… I should probably ask her… Do I want to volunteer as an individual, or gather up a team? Hadn’t really thought of it… Green Team? Water? Metals? T-Shirt Exchange? Expo? Crap. There’s more to this than I originally thought.

Side Note: I wanna be this lady when I’m her age:

seriously-- how adorable is she?!?!

After looking around (my love for the internet is reinforced daily), I have decided to volunteer at the San Francisco Marathon in July. I figure I can volunteer at registration on Saturday and then run it on Sunday. I know, I know, what can I say? I’m a genius.

Plus, although it’s not on the same “course,” it’ll help me figure out what running in San Francisco is like. I need to be prepared for the Nike Women’s Marathon in October.

Have any of you volunteered at a race before? What’s your most memorable (good and/or bad) moment having to do with a volunteer?

When dinner is spelt S-U-G-A-R

I don’t know about you, but I can’t go a week without hearing about eating 6 meals a day… eating every 2 hours… protein at every meal… don’t let yourself get hungry… blah blah blah blah blah

You wanna know what I have to say?

Here’s my dinner:

delicious and nutritious

You are looking at home-made ganache and white wine. It’s okay to be jealous right now. I understand.

What I don’t have a picture of is the rice pasta that was on the stove, the turkey meatballs that were in the oven, and the tomato-basil sauce simmering while I took this picture. It’s all a matter of perspective, right?

While I did eventually get around to an amazing dinner (sans veggies. bad, heather, bad girl!), it was late and I was already feeling the wine…

But I had a totally good excuse for not eating when I first got hungry:

My grandma just got 2 kittens, so I took my son over to her house to meet them. The one my son is holding is Basil (pronounced Bazz-uhl. We’re British, just go with it) and the other one (sadly, not pictured) is Neville. We are all completely in love with GG’s (great-grandma, GG, get it?) kittens.

So much so, that I’ve told my son the he can have kitten.

Yeah, feel free to tell me “I told you so” in a bit.

So here’s my two cents:

1. eat what your body is craving, but when it craves ganache every hour, send it to rehab.

2. kittens are awesome ❤

size DOES matter

I learned something about myself over the weekend… Apparently, I am THAT kind of parent…

 

It all started last May, when we got a Saint Bernard puppy. At 7 1/2 weeks old, he was already 20 pounds. Of course, with my geeky personality, he was immediately named Chewbacca. Chewie for short. 😉

*insert cooing noises here*

 

My son and Chewie became bestest buddies!

picking up my son from school

 

From a wittle puppy (hey, I was raised with horses. A Saint Bernard IS little) to a big fluff-ball, my son and Chewie are inseparable. Partly because Chewie won’t leave him alone, but that’s beside the point… 😉

give...

and take!

 

Now, from these pictures, you’d think I coulda predicted what would happen next… but, alas, I am a true blonde…

The other night while we were in the car, I heard a muffled scream coming from the back seat. Here’s where my parental priorities may be a bit skewed… While dying with laughter, I had to get photographic proof…

 

Yes, I have become THAT parent. At least I can admit it, and that’s the first step to recovery, riiiiight?  😉

 

And now, back to reality…

I did the Max Interval Training DVD from the Insanity workout program last night. It’s all plyometric, and it’s not really “interval.” Someone at BeachBody needs to get their workout dictionary out… It’s more of plyometic circuit training. A series of exercises (about 4 of ’em) done in 45 second chunks, with a 30 second break after the set. Repeat.  A lot. (See? NOT interval. That’s circuit training, people.) But oh well, it was a hard workout, and I’m glad I did it!

Today, I’ll be running. Maybe. I’ve been avoiding running lately, so we’ll see if I actually follow through today. I do want to get down to the cliffs to see what the surf is doing today, so that’s a bit of a motivator. It’s a gloomy day today, and we all know Heather’s a “weather weenie”… I’ll keep you updated on what happens. Who knows, this may end up being a 2-post kind of day! 😉

 

What are your workout plans for the day? Or is today your rest day? 

Sunday Adventures

So I totally lied. Not on purpose, but still, I lied. I said I was gonna go running this morning…

And then I woke up this morning thinking that TKB sounded like a better idea.

I ended up going to the gym to do cardio kickboxing instead of running. I’m using the excuse that I need to replace my running shoes to justify my actions 😉 We’re totally going to ignore the fact that my cross-trainers are way overdue to be replaced, too…

the shoes that I'll be getting

…  waiting until payday so I can get the new Brooks PureCadence shoes… but I can’t decide if I want the blinding teal, or the more subdued black… such a difficult decision…

So after feeling kinda guilty about not running, I took my son out to scout out some new running locations. I’m a weird runner: I HATE running a route more than 2 times. Just can’t do it. I get bored and I get cranky. So we (myself and my alter ego, Steve) need some new running locations, STAT!

But apparently, I took my son out at the wrong time of day… after the RoboGames yesterday, my son was still pretty tired…

helping momma is hard work

On the agenda today:

~Finish laundry (I swear, it breeds when I’m not looking! My laundry is worse than rabbits! LOL)

~Throw dinner in the oven (slow cooked chicken and sweet potatoes, anyone?)

~Get in another workout.

My workout will be one of the Insanity DVDs and a leg toning routine. I’m doing the Insanity just for something new, and I’m doing the leg routine to help figure out some new moves for my Muscle Blast class on Wednesday.

insert shameless promo video here…

And here’s the thigh and glute routine that I’ll be doing…

Try this lower body routine, and then comment to tell me what you think!!! I’d love feedback to help me put together the most amazing toning class ever! 😉

Geek, Squared

What to do, what to do… A beautiful day in NorCal, the sun shining, not a cloud in the sky, light ocean breeze… Let’s go to RoboGames!!!!

A convention filled with geeks and robots! And don’t forget the robot wars!!! I don’t know who was excited more: my son or myself. Eh, let’s be honest, it was probably me 😉

getting in the car to get our Robot on!

my son (grey shirt) and his friend (red shirt)

strike a pose!

look ma! no hands!

RoboHockey, anyone? Sure, why not!!

I seriously thought about stealing this one...

too bad it didn't come pre-stocked!!! Paaaaartaaay!

Universities from all over the world put together robots and fought them in little battles…

Warning: only the truly geeky should watch the following video. Be prepared to get angry at the rude people walking in front of the amazingness!

All in all, it was a great adventure! Only an hour drive, and filled with neat stuff! Totally geek’d out!! And yeah, the kiddos were bored before I was 😉 I could stayed there all week 😉

My workout today? Taking care of two 6 year-olds and walking all day at the convention center. My workout tomorrow? Running 🙂

Any awesome weekend activities?!