dreadmill – Movin' it with Michelle

Never a wordless Wednesday

February 5, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

Although I haven’t joined the 30 day Yoga challenge, I have decided to include Yoga in my weekly routine, at least 1-2 times per week. Those of you that know me, know I am NOT flexible…But I am working towards being a leaner, stronger, more flexible runner in 2015…so here we go…

Balanced and even?? Heck no...but I sure am trying. — Balanced and even?? Heck no…but I sure am trying.

And meet my amazing yoga partner, my mini Mover.

My 8 year old held strong for 30 minutes tonight; So proud! (notice my photobombing dog, yeah…lol)

After work, and Yoga, we decided to prepare a healthy meal. The chicken wings I had (again) in the Caf at work were NOT healthy. Argh. Someone please pass me a side of will power, please…lol. I am down 2 lbs so I won’t complain-too much…8 lbs to go…

We made a yummy salad with mixed greens of baby kale, arugula, and spinach along with some chopped romaine. I added radishes, tomatoes, green onions and a healthy yogurt dressing.

Top your salad with crab meat that has been seasoned with a little Old Bay and YUM!

Tonight we hunkered down on the couch and watched American Idol. Yup…still a junky 13 years later. There are very few shows we can catch on our ONE channel, but I’ve been trying to gather the family more at least a few nights per week for at least an hour. We all love music in our house, so this show is a win/win. And it’s an hour spent with my favorite people. What more could I ask for?

And now I sit here, with my thoughts and honestly I think I’ll go to bed soon. In my efforts to disengage from FB, I still find myself checking back far too often seeing people’s posts that just (sorry) piss me off. Why do I bother? As my sister says….FB sure can be a ‘Life suck’…I need to not let it suck the life out of me. This brings #SMDH (shaking my darn head) to a whole new level….

So tomorrow I have a good ole dready run on deck, and despite work, kids, housework, etc, I’ve decided to MAKE the time. Because guess what….I NEED it. This…is no longer a want.

OOPS, my laundry timer is going off…Back to reality gang!!!

What are your favorite cross training work outs if you are a runner? Have you ever tried Yoga?

❤ Keep Movin’ Forward, y’all….Michelle

moving forward

Movin’ forward, Two things this Tuesday

January 28, 2015January 28, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

I have had a bit of a rough week physically. I’m not sure if it is the weather, crazy storm fronts or lack of good sleep but I’ve just felt a bit off. My sinus cavities aren’t happy with all the weather changes, and my stomach has that “Are you two months pregnant?” look to it that means it MUST be that dreaded time of the month ~~or I have been eating too much crap aka salt.~~ Crap…it’s only Tuesday!

As I drove to work today on my 0.1 nano-seconds of sleep I decided to reflect on how my year has started. (In reference to the nano-second please, PLEASE tell me you know who Mork and Mindy are…). I use my commute to think, reflect, and devise my daily plan for forward movement. That is my mantra….right?

Firstly, I started off my year by NOT running due to my accidental ~~idiot mistake~~ to lop off part of my thumb. I almost let this incident get to me, but remembered last year’s winter and decided it best to keep movin’ forward. So last week I started running again and yeah…a month off can hurt a person’s mojo. I can’t get my breathing straight, I hate the dreadmill, and it truly is hard to get motivated enough to get movin’ after a long day of work. But I’ve kept at it despite not feeling 100%…and although my mileage/speed is crap, I am at least MOVIN’…right?

After work, while dinner was cooking-THIS happened...lol — After work, while dinner was cooking-THIS happened…lol

Secondly, sometimes winter gets to my emotional well being. Ok…~~I hate winter~~, more eloquently said, winter hurts…ROFL. That being said, I started to let the negative forces creep back in to my life…until I promptly kicked them to the curb. Be gone! People, stuff, events, you name it…I refuse to get sucked back in to it all. So sorry if I am a bit absent from the negativity…#noroomforthatcrap #sorrynotsorry

Yet tonight I had SEVERAL text messages from friends both near and far that wanted to check in on me/say hi/chat. Score. My heart was re-filled and I knew I was on the right path yet again.

And now, as my hubs heads off to his late night soccer game I bid you all good night, and sweet dreams.

Questions…how do you keep yourself movin’ forward during tough times, winter months etc?

❤ Michelle

food, Three things

Three Things Thursday

January 16, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

1. I was tagged to participate in a pretty fun post, but will have to work on that this weekend. HAHA, way to keep you hanging, right?

I did however get THIS cool notification after just over a year of having my blog on WP. 🙂 A HUGE thank you to those who have taken the time to like, comment, and engage with my quirky little place in the world. Mad love to you all!

2. After working 6 days in a row I realllllllllllllllllly wanted to come home and put my jammies on and…NOT. MOVE. But after work I picked up my youngest and ran a couple errands. I knew once arriving home I would HAVE to change in to my running clothes and hop on the mill. I texted my friend Maria, as we had another virtual running date, and got ready. She was running a little late, so I started on my own. Just after hitting the one mile mark (2 miles on deck) I really wanted to give up. My legs were sore after my run Tuesday and I found myself questioning if I’d be ready for marathon training in just ONE month after nearly a month without a single run. My legs were SORE from a 2 mile run…really? But then I got this text…and I knew I could do this. No quitting. (Thanks, Maria…truly!)

3. I admittedly haven’t cooked ~~at all~~ since I’ve been on single Mom duty this week. The kids are happy with left over, sammiches, and breakfast for dinner so it’s been pretty easy. Tonight after my run I decided to make an easy homemade pizza with a little help from the store. My friend Kristina from @Life laugh love run asked for the recipe, so I thought I’d share with you all!

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees, and line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil-set aside while you get your ingredients ready!

1 package of corn tortilla/gluten free tortilla/wrappers

1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce. I am lucky to have an amazing Italian market just 1/2 mile away that makes their own homemade sauce that is totally organic/preservative free!

Your favorite toppings! Here are some of mine:

1 pepper, diced

Several mushrooms, sliced

Garlic-minced

1 package of lean/low fat/low sodium pepperoni. I get mine again, from my amazing grocery store so I know it’s “good” for my family.

Oregano/basil

Mozzarella cheese (I only use a little as dairy and I aren’t friends)

Line the cookie sheet with the tortillas, making sure NOT to overlap. Take 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce, and spread evenly over the tortilla. Add your veggies next, then the pepperoni. Sprinkle lightly with the cheese, and season with basil and oregano. Bake at 425 degrees for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

easy, quick, and healthy! Can't go wrong! — easy, quick, and healthy! Can’t go wrong!

Enjoy!

Have you struggled with winter running or injury? How do you get past the struggle? What is your favorite healthy go-to meal?

Keep Movin’ forward, y’all!

❤ Michelle

food, Tuesday Truth

Tuesday Truths!

January 14, 2015January 14, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

First off, I am so very pleased to have been asked by Christina @crazymamarunner to tell my story about why I chose to run a marathon. I was highlighted on her blog this week, and you can read the story HERE . I found my eyes welling with tears as I read what she wrote, and re-read what I submitted to her. Please take a moment to check it out!!

Secondly, as most of you know I have struggled with my running this ~~and last~~ winter. Initially due to the artic blast we received far too early this winter, and ultimately ending with a nasty cut on my thumb Christmas day…in case you missed it, the story is HERE . For the first couple weeks my thumb throbbed so terribly I could barely sleep, and hardly fathom running. Along with this lack of motivation came laziness and poor eating. Woops. I fell in to that trap. Darn it all to H E double hockey sticks. Yeah…I went there. LOL

But this weekend despite crazy work hours and schedule I decided since my hubby was leaving at O dark 30 to travel this morning, I would run on the dreadmill tonight after work. I told my family, and posted on my FB fan page to hold myself accountable. I NEEDED to run at least 2 miles.

In stepped my friend Maria from @Runningflaps FB fan page. We made a virtual date, and I was so giddy to have ‘someone’ to run with even if it was virtually. I picked up my youngest from after school care and headed home. And as I pulled on my shorts and tank that was just a bit too tight for my comfort I found myself cringing. I shook it off, and headed down stairs to the mill. I decided to take some of my followers advice and turned on Netflix, season one of Grey’s Anatomy. I started slow, and found myself wanting to give up. And this I received THIS text:

I made it two miles, and although they weren’t pretty miles, I didn’t give up. I feel like I am starting from square one, but I am at least starting. It’s truly amazing what a month+ can do for your endurance…or should I say how it KILLS your endurance.

Pretty much how I feel...LOL — Pretty much how I feel…LOL

So I ran 2 miles, and although it was tough I finished.

Day 13 of the AB challenge is done, and I am realizing quick I need to get myself in to gear for next month when my “real” training starts. Darn my passion and love for food at times like these. Give me ALL. The. Veggies and someone take away my quinoa chips…PLZ. #alwayshungry

So tonight’s Truth is this:

Don’t give up, no matter the obstacles, what the scale says, or how your clothes fit. Keep movin’ forward, and the pieces will fall in to place!

❤ Michelle

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