Easy & Healthy

When the hubbs deployed in November of 2014 I made a huge change in my fitness and nutrition routines. Really focusing on me and building a better life for myself, the hubbs and our future. Now more than ever I really need to stay focused on my goals and stay on track with my nutrition and workouts. Its not just about me any more but a growing babe as well. I won't even lie or sugar coat it, pregnancy absolutely terrifies me. The weight gain, the sickness, the delivery, my body changing. Did I mention the weight gain. AAAHHH!!!!! Its all so scary and over whelming, I know its one of the best times in our / my life but it still is so much to take in. I plan to stick to my workouts, running and biking as long as I can and I have the ok from my doctor. Thankfully being in a really good routine before hand helps me keep that momentum going.

I know everyones situation and experience is different and I want to make are I have as easy and smooth painless pregnancy and birth as possible. So I am going to try to do everything possible to make that happen. I know there will be those moments of absolute misery, but I can only hope they are far and few between.

Speaking of a easy pregnancy, I know that the most important part is the simple fact that babe is 100% ok and healthy. I want nothing more than to have a healthy babe. I know that as long as babe is healthy and well everything else will fall into place. However I may have my finger's crossed that babe is a girl. It's always been a dream of mine to have a little southern girl. I think we are pretty settled on just having one. (that's the plan as of now at least.) I do know that I would be just as happy and over joyed with a handsome little boy to. Girls are just so adorable and so much fun!! Right!!!!

Where has the time gone?!?!

I was doing so well with keeping up with this here blog of mine and then the last two weeks have just been cram packed filled with life. All good, mostly that I can recall. Just busy busy busy. Keeping up with work, thankfully with graduation behind us now we can enjoy our summer program. Not that it slows down the work load at all. We are still busy bee's in class keeping the kiddos on their toes. My Friday nights typically consist of me mowing our massive yard. I try to get it done at least once a week, other wise waiting two weeks it can be a big head ache. If I can't get it done on Friday after work then Saturday after I get home from school and running around it is.

Taking this summer course has definitely kept me on my toes and busy with school work. I have had so so so much homework. Its been a great learning experience and I'm def. glad I'm taking the class and its helped the month fly by but OMG, the work load. My Saturdays and Sundays have been flipped. I have class Tuesday and Thursday nights till 8:30pm and then pretty much all day Saturday, from 8:30-3:30. When I would normally get up and go get my long runs in and then stop by the downtown market, I'm heading to class to get my edu-ma-ca-tion on. Then I try to get any running around done that I need to do after class before heading home. This way once I get home, I'm home for the day. We live pretty far out from where a lot of the stores and shops are so going back out can be a pain sometimes. So Sunday's have been my running / relaxing days. I've been getting up between 6:30 and 7am (that's with out a alarm, my body just doesn't know what sleeping in is) having a light breakfast and heading out the door to the Greenway for a run. I have to get it done early before it gets to hot and going in the evenings is just NOT a option since that is when the hubbs gets on line and its our only chance to talk and catch up on life.

Going early I also beat the crowd and am able to get good parking not that its a hassle to park but by 9:30-10:00am when I'm done the trails are getting pretty busy and cars are lined up along the road. It's been kinda a bummer missing church the past couple Sunday's but its a choice I've made. I really enjoy running and its a great way for me to get out of the house and clear my head. Getting my long run in puts me in such a better mood and mindset for the week to come. I'm able to think, breath, talk to God and simply have that me time with out any distractions from the outside world or social media. The rest of the day is generally spend meal prepping and finishing up any homework assignment I have due the up-coming week. This way I'm not cramming Monday night to get it all done.

Things aren't slowing down either, in fact that are about to get even busier over the next 2-3 weeks. I'm thankful to be able to stay so busy and active to help the time go by with the hubbs being gone but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't ready for them to slow down just a bit. Not really sure what I was thinking planning two weekend road trips back to back with only a full two days back at home in-between them. Having to meal plan and prep for both, making sure I have Fixed approved food options to take with me on my drive. Having to make a Pot Luck dish for this coming Saturday's class. Why on earth did I volunteer to make the cake. Coming home Tuesday evening and then on Wednesday night making a Pot Luck dessert dish to take to work on Thursday, cookies for my sweet neighbor thanking them for watch the pups, as well as a batch to take with me on my road trip to see the In-Loves. Not to mention laundry, and re-packing in between those two days. I should really make sure I do the yard one of those two nights but that's going to be a last resort. Oh and I've got to start meal prepping for when the hubbs comes home. I am making up a good handful of Fixed approved meals ahead of time and freezing them this way I'm not spending the first couple weeks each night in the kitchen when I get home and we can sit down and enjoy dinner together. It's early but the earlier I do it the sooner its done and one less thing I have do to and I can mark it off my "To Do List".

I've finally started tackling the "Truck, To Do List", before the hubbs left we knew there where a few things we wanted to get fixed on it while he was deployed. Like replacing a lost cap in the floor board, new tires, oil change and getting the e-brake fixed (it currently does not work). Well I've let time get the best of me and I haven't touch the darn thing. So much so that the battery is dead and we will probably end up having to buy a new one. A cost we did not factor in. But I mean what's a girl to do when you don't know how to drive a standard. Well I finally got the cap replaced this past week. Hubbs looked all over the internet looking for it and I just made one quick phone call and the next day had it. I went down to the tire shop and ordered new tires so those will be installed soon. Only thing left to do after that is the break job. Slowly but surly making progress on it. It would make my life so much easier if I could drive the stupid thing. I'm making it a priority when he gets home that he teaches me.

I think that pretty much sums up what's been going on lately here in the Music City Capital area of the World. Busy busy with work, school, running and continuing to live and healthy life and fine tuning my routine along the way. A couple pictures to go along with what's been happening. If you follow me on Instagram I'm sure you've seen some of these already. :)

Sausage Hash Brown Bites from Nerdy Birdy for breakfast last Saturday before class. Simply AMAZING!!!!! 

2013- 1st Half Marathon- 2:27hrs @ a 11'11min pace, last Sunday's Half Marathon (non-race) 2:04hrs @ a 9'28min pace. Major progress!!! 

Followed by lunch with a great friend we where stationed with at Ft. Jackson, you can't go wrong with Mexican food!!! 

A guy in our neighborhood owns a gun store and well this girl got the inside hook up on powder. You know just a evening stroll through around the circle with the dog to pick it up, no biggie. 

I made Fixed approved (minus the dash of powdered sugar) French Toast one day last week for breakfast and scramble up a single egg to go on the side. It tasted fabulous!!!! Quick, Easy and Healthy that's what I'm talking about. 

I helped with and attended a memorial service this past Thursday for one of my dear sweet friends at work who lost her boyfriend suddenly to a heart attack last Friday night. 

Had to run to the mall on Friday to pick up a few things on my lunch break, I walked by Auntie Annie's 3 different times and passed it up. That's victory there people. I decided on a fresh fruit smoothie instead. I know I made the right choice. 

Fulled and Ready to tackle another Saturday of school, H2O, Shakeology and loads or fruits and veggies to help get me through the day and stack on track. And it worked. I will NOT eat vending machine junk!!!! 

Because a piece of me will always be in Texas and Texas will always be in my heart. YALL, know its only the greatest state that was ever founded. Don't hate. 

Looking like a hot sweaty mess after this mornings 7 mile run at the Greenway but it felt great!!! 

I did a little window shopping at Miss Lucille's this afternoon and decided to treat myself to lunch and didn't feel the least bit guilty about it. I had Strawberry Basil Lemonade, Willies Brisket Sliders, Grilled Skewer Veggies and for dessert Homemade Banana Pudding. You bet I finished my plate. I'd eat here just about every day if I could. 

Picking up the Pace

I'm picking up the pace, adding to the miles, sweating off the calories and working on my fitness....all while tring to get in the best shape of my life.
I never would have though a year & a half ago, I would enjoy running as much as I do. Now though I can't ever picture myself not running. Its such a passion of mine and a great way to stay fit and in shape. Not to mention I'm able to take the pups, most days so it gives them a chance to get out of the house and really stretch their legs. Some times I seem to run better when they are with me, or really it could all just be in my head. Either way I enjoy it and how it makes me feel when I'm done. 

~DAY 346~

 The husband wasn't picking up is phone.....why you say.....because the company was at the live grenade range, practicing / teaching the PVT's how to throw grenades. I really needed his truck that evening (like right after work) so I just took it upon myself to go switch out cars. I'm sure he enjoyed walking out to his truck gone and finding my car there. That will teach him to not answer his phone next time. lol.  

~DAY 347~

 There's nothing better than coming home and running off all the stress and worries from your day. I always feel so much more refreshed afterwards and ready to take on the world. For dinner we tried something new, they were called Pizzadillas. It was pretty much all the pizza toppings tossed inside a tortilla shell and cooked on the burner long enough to melt the cheese. They were pretty tasty!!!

~DAY 348~

I wasn't able to make it to Zumba tonight because I was asked to babysit. I of course said yes, this was for a couple from our company. The wife (S) is helping us out with the pups while I'm away so it worked out great. They had a kid free date night with a free babysitter for the evening and she's going to help take care of the pups. Of course the hubbs will still be here but for half the time he will be in the field going through Vic. Forge with his PVT's and we all know he will have CQ once or twice while I'm away. Any how I was able to get in a quick run around the neighbor hood before they dropped little Z off at the house.

~DAY 349~

 Seriously I have some of the most fabulous parents ever that I baby sit for. I watched little Miss. L Friday evening. Earlier that day her mom texted me telling me that if I wanted to go on a run with L in her jogger stroller she didn't mind. She knew I was coming right from work and wouldn't be able to get my run in before hand. We had so much fun playing at the park lots of laughs and giggles. And I have to say for the first time running with a jogging stroller it really wasn't to bad at all. No worse than running with the pups. lol. 

~DAY 350-~