friday fun - what NOT to say to a preggo woman

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it's fridaaaaaaay!

 i subbed a 10am Total Conditioning class (it's now called Total Conditioning Extreme or TCX)  for a Lifetime Fitness instructor friend this morning and it was AWESOME teaching my fave class ever in the real day time, lol!  it's still dark when my tuesday and thursday classes are over at 6:30am. i had so much more energy too since i'm unable to drink coffee in the early mornings anymore :lol:

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a 6 month sweaty mess.

soooo since my little man and i were in the area, we hit up Ruggles Green for lunch and ordered what we always order:

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the Atlantic Salmon Salad for me, a fire-grilled cheese pizza for him (he couldn't wait for the pic but at least he prayed first) and some organic roasted butternut squash that i'm hoping Chiso will eat a spoonful of ONE day!! until then i'll gladly continue to kill it myself. i'm enjoying this solo time with Chi as much as possible before baby #2 arrives in less than 4 months. 4 months. whoa.

for kicks:

stuff not to say to or ask a preggo woman!

  1. wow, you sure were hungry! translation: you just ate enough to feed a small city. of Jabba the Hutts.
  2. omg are there twins in there?! translation: you're huge.  however far along you are.
  3. sleep all you can -- NOW. well thanks for the reminder!
  4. do twins run in your family? translation: did you use fertility drugs? does it matter?
  5. how much have you gained so far? i personally don't mind this one and will share that unknown number just before i deliver.
  6. if cavewomen gave birth without drugs so can youit's a personal choice.
  7. can i rub your belly? some people don't even askanother one that doesn't bother me one bit. #imatroll #rubmybelly #itsalllove
  8. i was ripped from end to endomg! i had an episiotomy too but i would never be that graphic and scare another mom-to-be, ROTFL
  9. are you still with the fatherreally, REALLY personal... like best friend personal. however if they're your BFF then they should already know that answer :shock:
  10. Moooooooo. 

comment below and add to the list!

le

#laterpost #flashbackfriday

i'm going through a period in my life where i'm letting go of something good to make room for something a billion times better.  why is that so dang hard though?  always easier said than done in my world. accepting change doesn't have to feel like pulling teeth, but i tend to take it to that level a lot every now and then.

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i stick to my 6 Pack USA workout plan for the majority of my workouts but sometimes i just go in and wing it.

today's sweaty randomness: back, light triceps, cardio

  • machine shoulder press 4 x 10
  • lat pull downs 4 x 10
  • machine tricep pushdowns 4 x 10
  • hammer strength pull downs 4 x 10
  • seated rows 4 x 10
  • deadlift / overhead press combo w/ 45 lb bar 3 x 10
  • steady-state, fat burning cardio on the elliptical 30 min

before that though, i met with the ladies of Style to Envy for breakfast at La Madeleine and did my best to resist all their crazy delicious savory and sweet pastries.  i met Val and Nikki at the Blog Elevated Conference this past Sept. and we discussed a few collaboration ideas for 2014! looking forward to that.

Chiso worked up an appetite playing hard and requested pizza for lunch. soooo, since were in the vicinity, we chowed down on some Ruggles Green gluten-free cuisine.

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i had the Atlantic salmon salad with all the trimmings.  i actually forgot to ask for the dressing on the side this time and was too hungry to wait for a re-do.

CYMERA_20131122_175005 what a Hammy Mc Hamster! Chiso got his pizza fix and i finished what he left which was only one dang slice! and i have no idea where he got 'eat everything but the crust' from. he certainly didn't learn that from Sonny or i cause we eat the whole thing. so yeah, i finished all his leftover crusts too. that dough is AMAZING.

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 here is a lighter, low sugar pumpkin cake recipe i made a few days ago i'd like to share before Turkey Day:

madewithOveryummy pumpkin cake

the stuff:

  • 1 cup Stevia for Baking
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 can pure pumpkin
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk

do this:

  1. mix wet with wet, dry with dry, then incorporate together. do not over mix!
  2. divide batter evenly between two 8 in round pans
  3. bake for 28-30 min on 350 or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
  4. let the cakes cool then pop them out of the pans
  5. top however you'd like! i used vanilla butter cream and the very last few pecans in the bag (i hope that explains the debris on the plate)  this time, but next time i'll keep it super light and use sugar-free/fat-free cool whip. there are actually a few vegan coconut cream frosting recipes i've been seeing around.  that's a great option too!

makes 12 slices (for 1, no topping): 137 cals, 6g fat, 18g carbs, 3g fiber, 2g sugar, 3 g protein

hope you had a fantastic weekend. it's COLD in Houston these days, brrrrrr.

t-4 days yall!!

le

lululemon Journey Crops + #sunfamfun

soooo, what did you and your fam get into today?

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 we got fro-yo this evening to conclude my first 'relaxed' sunday in a really long time.  i was honestly emotional today thinking about the sunday class i no longer teach (we were in Miami this time last week so it was the furthest thing from my mind lol).  but now i'm back in town and i found myself letting those guilty feelings and thoughts creep back in concerning my decision to drop the class.  just taking it one sunday at a time.

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first off, let me just say how BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE i am from this past weekend's Blog Elevated Conference.  just wow.  my brain is literally overflowing with info and i am JUST now sitting down to review it all. or at least try to.  pages and pages of notes.  a gigantic stack of business cards from the other awesome bloggers i met.  i'll get to it all.  after this post!

i had the pleasure of testing out these fan-freakin-tastic Journey Cropped pants from Lululemon recently.

can you say 'second skin'?

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they kept right up with all my shenanigans.  stretching, running, HIIT, treadmill, yoga, weight training, lounging, grocery shopping-  all of it.

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why i love and recommend the Journey Crops - 78.00:

  • compressive but comfortable
  • they fit like a glove / accentuates my shape and holds everything in place
  • high waist band to prevent muffin top
  • secret pocket
  • long & lean length
  • breathable, cool, sheer, lightweight mesh fabric on the back of the leg (hamstring and calve) area
  • mesh area is stylish not see-through
  • crazy comfortable

my 5:30am members got a kick outta my one-woman fashion show while up on the stage before class.

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they are made with Luon, Interlock Power Luxtreme, and mesh materials.  click to see how to take care of these fabrics and increase their lifespan.

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the Journey Crops are certainly Fit Foodie Le APPROVED!  in every color ;)

monday motivation:

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everyone who lost a fairy large amount of weight did so by adding in some form of physical activity.

even if it was a little bit, the fact that they were more active definitely contributed to their weight loss efforts.

what helps you stay consistent is finding something you enjoy!

trial and error. run. do yoga. dance. twerk. walk. bike. skip. jump. sprint. swim. ski. kickbox. jog. try it all.

just get up.

get active.

get moving.

le

sunday family fun day

i have been teaching my 11am 24 Hour Fitness Total Conditioning class since the beginning of 2013.  i've had a crazy good time meeting so many new members and sweating our faces off together sunday after sunday for these past 9 months!   nevertheless, after having a sit-down with Sonny and fighting weeks (ok months) of conviction, i have finally decided to give it up.  even if a class inconvenienced me, leaving is always difficult.  i despise disappointing and letting people down, especially when they get a routine going and expect me to hold up my end of the bargain and be there.  i guess i despise it cause i know how it feels.    this isn't the first class i've had to leave in my 6 years of teaching, but yesterday gave me that overwhelmingly bittersweet feeling.  again.

i could barely let my supervisor know my decision let alone share my 'important announcement' with my class today.  yeah.... this is always my answer to that dreaded 'what's one thing you would change about yourself' question.

if we made it to church for early service, i felt good.  starting my sunday with Word and worship with my fam is well, the best way to start the day IMO.  however,  if we were out too late at a saturday night event (which happened all too often e.g. birthday parties, dinners,  gatherings, weddings, etc.) early service was out of the question, which meant church didn't happen at all.  i have missed church more times this year than i have in my entire life...and that is so unfair to my family.   individual worship is important to grow your relationship with God, definitely....  but church is a vital part of that growth for me and my spiritual life has suffered because of its absence.  when this happens, i have to evaluate whatever is going in my life at the time,  pinpoint those distraction(s),  and either move or remove them.  it took me 9 months to accept this, but i finally let it go.  why? because it's the best move for our family and the head of my household and heart agree.  masking those feelings of disappointment completely will come with time, but putting it that way makes me feel a whole lot better.

and i really miss going out to eat after church. lol. not just as an immediate fam, but meeting up with my parents, friends, and extended family, etc.  we have either turned down those invites or showed up super-duper late.  rushing off to the gym after service was the only thing on my mind...  if i hadn't gotten my routine together the night before, i found myself writing down moves during service instead of giving God my undivided attention.  ok i could go ON.

---------->let nothing hinder or get in the way of your worship & relationship with God or block the spiritual & emotional growth of your family.  nothing.<----------

now does this mean i won't workout on sundays anymore?  not at all! i appreciate having the option to go at a more convenient time though vs. mandatory for sure. no pressure.  those family gym dates will keep right on rolling.

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 i'm so grateful for these two knuckleheads cause they are totally worth the sacrifice.  so each sunday when we do our family thing, i'll capture the moment, upload it to Instagram, and hashtag it #sundayfamilyfunday.    seeing other families spending quality time together really makes you appreciate and cherish what you have.  so if you're following me on IG, well, join in and share!  just don't forget to hashtag it #sundayfamilyfunday. eating, chilling, hanging out, exercising....WHATEVER it is you and your family do together, share it.   i have a feeling most pics will revolve around food - i know most of ours will :shock:

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if there's a HEB by you, fresh salmon is on sale for 6.97 a lb this week until tuesday!

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 i got us a couple pounds this past weekend and i have been roasting it with hidden valley ranch dry ranch dressing mix.

Walden Farms dressings have been BOGO (buy one get one free) at Sprouts Farmers Market this week so i got the Asian and Balsamic flavors on my last trip there.

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 you can use them as actual salad dressings, or as marinades for your proteins (fish, chicken, beef, shellfish).

that chicken up there turned out great (roasted it for 50 minutes on 350 degrees) and i threw it on a salad for lunch last week.

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see! it's a berry almond Asian chicken salad.  romain lettuce mix, raw sugar snap peas, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, sliced almonds, roasted chicken breast (marinated and sprinkled with Mc Cormick Perfect Pinch Asian seasoning), all drizzled with a little more Asian dressing.  crunchy, crispy, fresh and healthy.

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back to the salmon - i've been making these 'teriyaki' bowls by throwing everything into a container (carbs, veggies, protein, fat) and drizzling it all with one of the WF dressings.  flavorful, fresh, and addicting.  switch out any and everything for your favorites!  countless combos i tell you, COUNTLESS!!!!!!

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  these fantastic sales are over this week (tuesday and wednesday), so take advantage.

happylife

we always have enough to be happy if we are enjoying what we do have and not worrying about what we don't have.

you'll always be waiting for or on SOMETHING.  take a look over your life and praise Him for all you have right, right now.  you are so BLESSED!

Q: what day of the week do you consider your family day?

le

FanuMe Life Fair + Mai's Restaurant

i reeeeally missed my saturday morning workout.  but i had a good excuse reason as i certainly could have gotten up super early and went for a run.  we were up and outta the door by 7am  getting ready for the FanuMe Life Fair!

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our fellow UH COOG, Faith, invited us to participate in her event and we were completely honored to do so.  we had a 6 Pack USA booth and represented our company and also pushed my new ebook, Fit Foodie Lean.

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i even did a radio interview with Reyna from KSBJ (or tried to :shock: ) lol! i was so nervous.

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this running your own business thing can be pretty darn tough.  tougher than i ever thought.  but when God gives you a vision you have to trust Him and WALK.  i have a tendency to over complicate things though, let Sonny tell it.   regardless, working beside my husband has been a great, great blessing in my life.  we are both super competitive, but we do our best to remember that we are a team and to always work together, not against each other.

 we've started a tradition (not that we don't go out to eat to celebrate everything else already) to go out for a meal together immediately after a business event to relax, reflect, and discuss how it all went and address our areas of improvement.

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we found a gold mine this time.

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Sonny actually had another restaurant picked out, but after discussing the idea of a Vietnamese option out loud in Academy Sports and Outdoors, this ear hustling guy came outta no where and suggested Mai's in downtown Houston.  j/k, Sonny just talks extremely loud.  so we trusted him and went for it.

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i started out with a house green salad and then things just got crazy.

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we tried some pho (first timers!) with a combo of rare beef, tripe, and meatballs.  that broth.......

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this is called 'catfish in a clay pot'.  doesn't matter what kinda pot it came in. so dang yummy.  the sweet and sour flavors made this dish pretty awesome.

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i ordered the garlic chicken and vegetables and added asparagus as our waitress recommended and she was spot on!  she said the meat was already marinated in the sauce, so i could not get it on the side this time.

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sat. tis. fied.

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:)

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the 80/20 rule (80% clean, 20 indulge, enjoy, and LIVE) was in full effect this weekend.

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see?

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 we stopped after that.

Phonto

i was back at it today, but full of sodium, fluffiness, and zero motivation from yesterday's meals no doubt.  been drinking a ton of water to help with the bloating.  no regrets though, ever.  it will wear off;  it always does. i taught my class and even had enough energy to hop on the stairmaster and get this puppy done:

minutes

level/speed activity
0-2 50 single step warmup
2-3 60 every other step w/ alternating back leg lift
3-4 90-100 side step right
4-5 60

every other step w/ alternating back leg lift

5-6 90-100 side step left
6-7 60 every other step w/ alternating back leg lift
7-7:30 90-100 side step left
7:30-8 90-100 side step right
8-9 90-100 every other step w/ alternating back leg lift
9-10 90-100

single step

 repeat!  and absolutely NO HANDS ;)  why is the stairmaster so cool?  after reading these benefits, you'll agree.

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our cousin Anthony got Chiso a personalized Rocket's shirt and some new kicks!  he sported his fit today at our family gym date.

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he wasn't too interested in shooting hoops with me though- too busy watching his papa.

IMG_20130727_071556friends, always count your blessings, not your problems.  we live in an imperfect word filled with imperfect people.  once you accept this fact and live in the NOW, life gets a whole lot easier and your perspective changes for the better.

 have a great night.  it's a new week- here we gooooo

le