SH & LB are BACK!

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Hey all - we are back and more motivated than ever!!! Refreshed after a ladies weekend to Hollywood Beach, Florida, we are set to get back on track. We will be blogging about getting out of food ruts, how to get back on track, exercise boredom, excuses and how to mentally (and physically) get your ass into shape, and will start posting plenty of new recipes!

Our last guilt-free weekend: Ben & Jerry's!

- SH here - and I have a confession to make. I haven't ran since my wedding. And NYC takeout is awesome. I haven't gained much weight, but I can tell I am way less toned and in general feel moodier when I'm not eating healthier homemade food and exercising. I want to get set in a healthy routine now (when I don't have kids or anything else crazy like that in my way) so when more crazy things happen, I can still feel great and look great. My husband and I both work like crazy (I love my job and am very career focused) so it's easy to get lazy after work because we already feel so accomplished from working that day. But we've recently gotten into a better running and cooking routine and I can't wait to share with you!

SH

- Lacey, here! The last few months have been rough. I was on a medication for 4 months for my PTSD and anxiety. As a side effect, I gained 5 pounds each month, for 4 months (you do the math, because I'd rather not say).  It became the reason I stopped blogging. I got down on myself and felt, if I was gaining weight so easily, who was I to sit on this blog to others about how to be healthy.  While I was still mostly staying on track, those pills prevented me from being at the weight I wanted.  Well, as of a few weeks ago, I'm officially off the medication and have stopped gaining weight! So, now is the time for me to kick things into high gear to lose the weight I gained. I might write more about being on the medication/weight gain in another post, but part of me is thinking, "Lacey...just move on! What's done is done." I had an incredible time in Florida with Steph, and we discussed coming back better than ever. I'm getting used to a new work schedule and am excited to update our Recipe section with some new, fun meals.  Guys & Gals, it's really, really good to be back!!
LB

To fresh beginnings. 

Recovery & My Boring Goals

So, without going into too much detail, my gallbladder was ripped out by some guy called a surgeon. And I've been in bed for the last 5 days. And I feel crappy. I can't run (probably won't for a couple more weeks) and I've been living on crackers, water, and fresh fruit. I lost 8 pounds. (Yay?) I'm miserable. Can't you tell?

With all of that said...

I read your goals for this year while resting and I'm so inspired by you all! I wish you the best of luck and truly hope that you all find success in those goals.  From a healthy spiritual life, to a healthy physical life, and the desire to eat well, it sounds like everyone's minds are in the right place.  I'll be sending the Sunfood prizes to Juls, Hil'Lesha, Earth Momma Mer, and Racing with Babes. Just email me with your addresses and I'll get those out as soon as I (or husband) can drive to the Post Office.

With the insanity prior to surgery (mostly nerves), I didn't have much time to reflect on 2011 and refocus for 2012.  I just wanted to live through surgery (for real, I was that dramatic).  Nor did I even remotely speak to what my goals would be for this year on the last post, but bed rest gives you that time.  This what I've come up with:

1. Become a Certified Raw Chef: I don't eat 100% raw, nor do I plan on becoming 100%, but I'd like to expand my knowledge on how to prepare meals as close to the Earth as possible. I've run out of ideas, I'm making the same meals over and over again (which is fine for now, because I'm not sick of them yet, but I know there's more out there to be learned), and the class that I will be taking teaches me not only how to prepare those meals but also about different ingredients I've never heard of or used.  I'll also be certified to teach others to begin thinking about preparing these healthy raw meals and how to start. There are so many good foods that come from this good Earth and I haven't even skimmed the surface. Hopefully getting this certification will open me up to a whole realm of possibilities for preparing food.

2. Start our Garden: We're starting the plans for this now, but husband and I have a pretty decent sized yard (about 1/4 acre) and we're looking to use about a 25'x25' space to start gardening. The bigger the better (I love canning and anything extra can be donated to neighbors), so I'm in the process of doing research for that right now. This also ties in with Goal 1 as I'll be able to grow some fun vegetables that my grocery store/farmer's market may not sell and I'll have the knowledge on how to prepare them properly for meals!

3. Make 1 New Friend (in the area): Ha, easy, right? Hahahahaha. Since we moved to this area of Virginia 1 year and 5 months ago, we (husband and I) have made exactly ONE new friend. And that was by luck due to friends from PA coming to visit and already knowing this person. So I feel like I cheated the system. I didn't actually have to try to meet this person...he was a friend of a friend. How, in the world, do I live somewhere for 17 months and not make one friend?! It's really quite sad, and honestly, it makes me a bit depressed at times when all of the people I love most are scattered around the country.  I was always the person that made friends easily, and to this day am still quite outgoing.  But the initial interaction is what makes me nervous. No one tells you once you become grown just how difficult it is to actually instigate friendships. But this year, I'm going to make it happen. Not to mention, we don't have kids yet, so there's really no excuse.

4. Do Things: Vague, I know, but this ties in to #3. I think part of why Mike and I haven't made friends yet is because we don't get out enough. Starting August 2010, we feel like we've been doing nothing but going, going, going. Between moving. Starting new jobs. Getting married. House hunting. Now we've moved into our first home and are spending time trying to get it together.  We feel guilty at the very thought of wanting to "get out of the house" when we have a list "To Do's" to check off. Mike and I spoke yesterday about how time is going to keep flying and once kids come, it won't get any easier. So, I'm taking a stand now that we need to start doing the things we love. Using our canoe. Hiking. Gardening (and with that, hopefully I'll get hooked up with a local coop and meet people that way). Running more races. Mike just got involved with the local Jeep community.  We're off to a good start and I have high hopes that by staying involved with the things we love to do, we'll also be a happier couple. We won't have this longing desire to get out of the house and feel pinned down by "house stuff" (which is important, but will get done.) We don't need to spend every waking moment at home. I'm committed to doing something a week or every other week.

5. Get out of Debt: I'll keep this short, because finances are boring. We're not in that much debt. Seriously. Compared to most Americans, people would beg for the debt we've accrued. Most of it came about after moving.  Buying a house is expensive. But, for Christmas I asked for a Dave Ramsey packet. I've heard nothing but great things about the man, and for $49, it seemed worth it. A lot of people had success and I'm looking forward to picking the man's brain through his books. We've only been married a year, but it's a great way to set the building blocks for a marriage that has responsible finances.  I'm not looking to get rich. I'm looking to have my bills paid with some change on the side to the things we love (see #4) and to have ZERO credit cards (right now, we only have 2 and the one has no balance on it). That's all.

With that said...my goals are nothing new compared to most people. We all just want to be happy, healthy, financially secure, and surrounded by people who build us up and love us for who we are. I'm not asking for much, but I know I have some work to do.


(And if you read all of that, I'm sorry. This list really was written for me, mostly, as I haven't put our goals into written form yet. But, hopefully you've been inspired in some way, and if not...just give me a good old fashion "Good Luck". I'll need it.)

Twenty Minute Tuesday: Steps & Planks Galore

Working out can often be one of the hardest things to do in a day. You'll find all the reasons not to, citing phrases like "I don't have time", "When I do have time I'm exhausted from the day", or the good old "I eat well, I don't need to work out".  Trust me, my favorite was "I don't have time".

Teaching high school english in a high needs district gave me every reason not to. I was out the door by 6am, I didn't get home until 7 most nights, and then when I did get home, I had another 5+ hours of lesson planning, grading, IEPs, and grad school work to get done. Getting up earlier in the morning wasn't an option because it was too dark and I didn't live in the safest of neighborhoods to run alone. But you know what I could have done? Work-outs in the house. There are so many home workout programs out there that in hind-sight, I had no excuse. I just wanted an excuse. Had I taken 20 minutes before bed to do some Yoga, aerobics, calisthenics, and on the nights I did have more time, 60 minutes for a P90x workout I would have gotten my body moving, given myself the opportunity to sleep better after tiring myself out after a good sweat and  felt better after giving my body the workout it needed after a long day of standing in front of a classroom. Instead, I chose to gain 30 pounds, kept making excuses, and pretended like skipping meals would help.

I changed that last February. I choose to make time every day, even if I can't fit in a 5 miler. I started out with small 20 minute workouts, and that motivated me even further. Now, I'm out the door every morning for about an hour, running my butt off. And on those crappy weather days, I have plenty of indoor workouts & P90X to get me going, even if it's not out the front door. Routine is very, very good.

Enjoying my morning run.

Each Tuesday, I'm going to give you a 20 minute workout routine to incorporate into the next week. By no means does that mean if you have a full hour, that you can't repeat the workout 2 or 3 more times. Use the time you have, but if you don't have much time, there's no reason not to wake up the 20 minutes earlier for a quick run, do one of our indoor routine after the kids go to bed, or fit one in during nap time.

It's not if you have the time, 

it's whether or not you make the time.

If you have time to watch a 30 minute TV show, you have the time to fit in a healthy exercise.

(And if I have blog friends who have 3 kids and can still run 2 marathons in a month and train for ironmans, I sure as hell have no reason to not workout at least 4 days a week for an hour.)


This week's workout:

Steps & Planks Galore- we're starting out simple. It's a new, fresh beginning and you can always work your way up into more difficult exercises.

1. (Inspired by G's spontaneous Facebook Plank offs:) 1 minute plank: Get in the pushup position. Put your forearms on the floor and legs shoulder width apart (or closer). Literally, put your body in a plank position, hovering just inches above the ground. Hold your stance for at least a minute and avoid the urge to lift or drop that butt. This will warm up your core muscles.

Photo from Newtrition Blog to show the correct plank position.

2. Do 10 reps on your steps. 1 rep= up & down steps.  Between each rep at the bottom of the steps, do 10 jumping jacks.

3. 1 minute plank

4. 4 reps of steps; 10 jumping jacks between reps

5. 10 pushups

6. 2 reps of steps; 10 jumping jacks between reps

7. 10 pushups

8. 1 minute plank

Depending on your skill level, steepness and height of steps, speed going up and down, and how long you break between exercises (shouldn't be more than 30 seconds to 1 minute), this should take you around 20 minutes. If it didn't, repeat. If you have a full hour, repeat. If 1 minute of planks is too easy, challenge yourself to 2 minutes. If 10 pushups is a breeze, do 30. Challenge yourself and make the most of the 20 minutes. This is meant to be an outline, but make sure you're always challenging yourself and pushing yourself further. 

Just because it's 20 minutes doesn't mean it's easy.

Try doing this workout every other day until next Tuesday. We're proud of you. Keep pushing yourself. 

Love yourself, your body, and your health. 

Here's to another year of healthy living.

-Lacey

2012, Resolutions, and a Little Help (GIVEAWAY)

**Giveaway ended Jan 9**

With each ringing of the New Year bell, people find this time to reflect on the previous year, smile at the successes, shake your head at the failures, and make use of the opportunity to "start over".  In September, I encouraged all of you to set pre-New Year goals, using the now as an opportunity for a fresh start, and not waiting the 4 months for that midnight kiss.

Photo by Dream Designs

But now it is 4 months later, and some of us have succeeded at our goals, some of us have struggled, but either way, changes can be made.  Since so many people (especially Americans) focus their New Year's resolution on weight loss & health, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to finish off the other half of that Sunfood giveaway. Here are some healthy foods/snacks for you to incorporate into your either new habits starting the 1st, or great, healthy, old habits that you'd like to maintain through this year.

The prize: Each winner will receive 1 (28g) bag of each:

Maca Powder, Goji Berries, Organic Whole Cashews, Organic Incan Berries (that's four different yummy foods for you! We want to give you a little help in incorporating healthy foods for the New Year).  There are going to be 4 winners total!

What you need to do:
1. Like Strawberries & Tea Facebook page.
2. Like Sunfood's Facebook page. (They didn't even ask me to do this. I love the articles they post on that page. They'll tell you more about nutritionally packed foods than you ever knew possible. Trust me, you'll want to read their stuff. Plus, they were the totally awesome ones to provide the prizes.)
3. Leave a comment with one of your goals, how you plan to achieve it, and how this goal will make your life healthier & happier.

Bonus Entries:
Post on Facebook, blog, or twitter about this!! We want lots of others to get the opportunity to try some new, healthy foods!

Make sure you leave a comment for each entry!

Hopefully this helps some of you maintain the great habits you started last year or motivate some of you to start some new ones! (*Winner will be chosen next Monday, January 9)

-Lacey & Steph