For Stephanie

From my most recent post, Stephanie commented that she would like to know what kind of workouts I have been doing and what type of diet I have been following. She specifically asked if I was doing things like Paleo or Whole30. So this one is for Stephanie and anyone else who is interested!

I am a teacher and found that trying to get in cardio of any kind after a school day was damn near impossible. Not just teaching, but any career will exhaust you by the end of a day. I was coming home and laying down (I don't have kiddos of my own yet), then the couch monster would get a hold of me and not let me up for the rest of the evening. So I basically sucked it up and started setting my alarm for 4:30 A.M. Monday-Thursday. I get up and run/jog/walk when needed until I've completed 45 minutes of cardio. I do this around my neighborhood because I cannot stand a treadmill or being indoors during cardio. After 45 minutes of whatever I can endure, I make my way back home and do squats and push-ups. I try to do 50 of each. Let me tell you, starting my day like that has put me in a better mood, given me more energy throughout the work day and has just overall worked out really well. 

Two days a week, I also workout with my friend Jana. She is a personal trainer and I have never spent my money on anything better. I realize this may not be in your budget, and that is totally ok. We do not do crazy, unheard of exercises. It has just helped that she holds me accountable and I pay her, so I sure as hell won't miss if I can't help it. Those two days a week we do things like squats, lunges, push-ups, kettle ball exercises, burpees (ew), jumping jacks, crunches, sit ups, etc., etc. Two weight training/high intensity workouts a week have done wonders for my body. She still insists that I do cardio 6 days a week for 45 minutes each time. I workout with Jana on Wednesdays after school and Friday mornings before, so I don't do cardio on Fridays. Saturday and Sunday I wake up at my own leisure (again, no kids of my own yet) and go for a walk/run. 

Now, do I follow this every.single.day? Nope! I do try my absolute best though. And if I get off track, I get right back on as soon as possible. I don't expect perfection from myself. Just not going to happen and that's okay with me.

Moving on to food. Basically, when I say I'm eating clean, whole foods, I try to follow this:

If it's not on here, I try not to eat it. I stay away from eggs and dairy based yogurts most of the time also. Dairy is just so full of fat and I have seen better results staying away. This really is quite a list, y'all. There are so many clean eating recipes out there. Pinterest is the best source for me! I get my weekly recipes from there. I will do a recipe post in the near future? Yes? Anyone? Just let me know. I love recipe ideas so much! Please share if you have any good, clean ones! Again, do I slip sometimes? Absolutely! Do I have ice cream now and again? DUH! And that is OKAY!!! You have to indulge sometimes. It's just part of life and that is how I choose to live. I also choose to not do that all of the time because I don't want to feel unhealthy again. Thanks for reading! Comment if you have any other blog ideas please!