WOD #1 Hill Sprints

Let me start off by saying how much I love hill sprints. They're short, they're fast, and they are HARD.  No matter what shape you are in, they will kick your ass every time. They are definitely one of my favorite forms of exercise. Not only do they make your legs stronger, but they will help your overall performance in pretty much every type of exercise.  Hill sprints are definitely the creme de la creme of workouts.

Here's what you'll need:
1. A steep hill, something that increases your heart rate by walking up, but not requiring you to use all fours to get up.
2. A HIIT timer. I use a Gymboss, which you can find here.  Or, you can download one for free on any smart phone.
3. The heaviest rock you can safely lift.

Before you start, set your timer for 8 rounds of work. 20 seconds work, 10 rest (also known as tabatas in the fitness world). This will equal 4 minutes. 

Here's your workout:

4 minutes of hill sprints (20 sec run like you're being chased, 10 sec walk)
10 swings with your rock (Here's a link on how to perform a correct swing using a kettle bell)
10 squat press with your rock
30 steps (with rock over head)

Repeat 3-5 times

Diet du Jour

Anybody who knows me knows that I am always "on a diet." Always.  Very rarely is there a time when I not counting calories, carbs or reassessing my macro nutrients. Food is always on my mind. I've been like this for pretty much my entire life. Fortunately, my relationship with food has changed tremendously over the past 20 years...

Staring in middle school, I discovered something that would haunt me for well over a decade. I was bulimic. You know the logistics of binging and purging, so I won't go in to the details, but it was something that stuck with me long in to adulthood. The thoughts that go through your mind are horrible...you become a victim in your own body. Your mind holds you hostage until you expel whatever food it was that you consumed. It is a horrible way of living. You become so trapped inside your body and so afraid of everything, that you just shut down. It was during this time that I really started excluding people in my life, sadly it was during this time when I needed them most. Fortunately for me, I got tired. I got tired of the purging, the pain in my throat, the decaying teeth, the constant fear of being caught. It was too much. Gradually, I learned to rethink how I viewed food and how to live an active lifestyle.


It wasn't until college that I started learning about all those "diets" out there. I became a runner, and a pretty good one, too. I will do another post how my running has changed throughout the years. My main focus, however, was always food. I spent most of those years living in a fat free world... fat free hot dogs were my go to meal at only 45 calories a pop. As time evolved, I tried everything... miracle pills (fen phen, Xenadrine, etc.), Weight Watchers, low carb, vegan/vegetarian, etc. If it was in my limited budget, I tried it.

As a habitual diet, I've learned a lot about my body and what works best (so far). I will break down each of the diets I've done throughout my life and explain some of the pros and cons of each. I have learned so much about me with each of these diets. So no matter how many cons one specific diet has over another, I learned a little bit more about me after each one. And to me, that is a success.

All about me

Who am I and why should anybody read this? Let me explain first who I am NOT. I am not an expert in anything. I am not a personal trainer, a nutritionist, certified this or licensed that. I am just me... a stay at home mom of two beautiful young girls, a wife, a pretty bad ass cook, and a lover of all things related to food and exercise. I love staying active and encouraging a healthy lifestyle for my friends and family. At the same time, I appreciate plopping down on the couch and enjoying some mindless t.v. My life is about balance and I am constantly searching for that healthy level of health, fitness, and relaxation. As I continue to explore my passions, I hope I can share some of my experiences with others and encourage them to find their own balance in life.