Mila Giveaway!!!!

Happy Marvelous Monday my friends! Let's get this week started off right!

First, I would like you all to know that my lovely people at PRIDE Nutrition have a 30% discount for my readers on all of their products. Yes you read that right--30%. The discount code is OBC. Get on that! (Thanks Joe!)

So you know that awesome post I wrote yesterday about Mila?

Well, I am not done yet.

For all my marvelous readers, I have a GIVEAWAY for you! Yes, the lovely Marney is letting me host a giveaway for this spectacular product. That's right, get excited. :) I am super excited too because this is my first every giveaway!!! Ahh!!!

To win one of these purple bags of awesomeness, here is what you will need to do. You can do either one of these things or all three, but leave a comment telling me you have done so. I will choose a winner with random.org. 

1. Leave a comment telling be either a) how you would use Mila or b) if you could be any animal in the world what you be and why (because I am kooky like that).

2. Follow me on Twitter here.

3. Follow Marney on Twitter here.
4. Tweet something like "@BrittATerry is having a GIVEAWAY for Mila on her blog! http://missfitbritt.blogspot.com/2012/07/mila-giveaway.html" :)

The giveaway will end on Friday, August 3rd at 9 p.m. CST.

That's it! And before I go... I just want to spotlight some awesome bloggers!

Katie and Alek are both teenage fitness bloggers. For awhile I thought I was the only one as a younger teen blogging about this stuff, but I was wrong! These two are really awesome people and I highly recommend that you check out their blogs.

Question: Are you excited for this giveaway like I am?!

Mila Review

For this week's PowerMeal, I don't have a recipe for you all, but I DO have something that you can add to all these yummy recipes. :)

I have been in contact with a wonderful woman named Marney, who sells a product called Mila.

I'm sure many of you have heard of this stuff. Cassey from Blogilates is known to use it, and I know this awesome lady has reviewed it as well. The purple packaging is unmissable.

Here is what Mila has to say about their product:

MILA is a proprietary blend selection of Salvia hispanica L. - a uniquely beneficial seed classified as a food by the FDA and backed by over 30 years of scientific and agricultural research. Mila contains the highest levels of nutritional componenets including omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. As an added benefit, Mila is gluten-free, trans-fat free, sugar-free and is high in fiber and protein. Mila can be deliciously combined with a variety of foods and its supreme biological properties are not diminished by heat in the cooking process. Mila is the World's Healthiest Whole Raw Food!

Here are the nutrition facts:

Okay, so here's my opinion...

I have to give Mila an 11/10.

Were you expecting me to say something bad? :) Mila definitely isn't like every chia seed on the market. I buy my chia seeds from Costco. They are whole chia seeds and I can't complain. But Mila's chia seeds are a finer powder and it comes with a SCOOP. How awesome! 

The taste is phenomenal and the health benefits cannot be beat. These chia seeds are from all over the place. Did you know there are many different types of chia seeds? Each chia seed has different fiber, protein, omega-3, etc. content than the other. Mila takes ALL of these different varieties of chia seeds and mixes them together, so that you get all of the nutritional benefits. I love that!

And let's be honest--chia seeds give awesome volume to food as they absorb water. I like volume to my food. I like to know that I am eating a lot. I don't like tiny, less than satisfying meals. With regular chia seeds, I find that they do a good job in achieving the volume I desire. But with Mila I just felt like it did a better job.

I added Mila to my yougurt, sprinkled on top of pancakes, in my smoothies, in my water bottle, sprinkled onto salads and as I am typing this right now, I am eating my oatmeal with Mila mixed in there. Delicious! 

Mila is simply fantastic. The people behind it are super sweet, and I couldn't recommend it enough. Try it. You won't be sorry!

To contact the wonderful Marney, Tweet her over at @MilaMarney.

Questions: Have you tried Mila? Are you interested in trying it?

PRIDE Nutrition Love

This is a love post.

Yes, I said that word: love. I am expressing my LOVE for something. 

And it's PRIDE Nutrition's awesomesauce products.

I was introduced to PRIDE Nutrition through my trainer. Her competition team is sponsored by the wonderful supplement company, so obviously she's on board with their products, but even moreso because they just simply ROCK. 

Just listen to them say how cool they are:

At PRIDE Nutrition, our mission is to provide you with high quality supplements that work. Your satisfaction and results are very important to us and we understand that you are putting your trust and faith into our products. That is why PRIDE Nutrition uses only the finest natural ingredients to ensure optimal levels of absorption, quality and safety. We pride ourselves in carefully designing effective formulas that will exceed your expectations and help you achieve your fitness goals. (from www.pridenutrition.com)

You can take PRIDE knowing you take these products. ;) Okay, so that was super cheesy but you get the picture.

Have you guys ever heard of Joey Gloor?

Source

He is a trainer on MTV's "I Used To Be Fat" as well as a huge fitness icon and bodybuilder. The guy is supah cool. He takes some of PRIDE's supplements, which I find to be insanely awesome.

My favorite product by far is their protein powder. They have "Iso-Respect" protein powder which is whey isolate, but the one I personally like is their "Respect" protein powder that is a mixture of whey isolate, casein, and egg albumen protein. It comes in vanilla and chocolate, but personally I LOVE the vanilla. Trust me, I have tried so many different protein powders out on the market and all the vanilla flavors taste and smell very processed and FAKE. Not this one. It's smells authentically vanilla-y and delicious. Oh, and it is delicious. Basically, after a tough workout where I shredded my muscle tissue, the "Respect" protein has the whey protein to immediately get protein to my muscles, but then it also has the egg albumen and casein to continuously provide more protein to my muscles throughout the hours after the workout has been completed. So cool right?!

Source

I don't only use the powder for shakes though. I use it for numerous other things! I add it to smoothies, make protein pancakes/waffles, bake with it, brush my teeth with it, etc.

It's awesome. Go try it. 'Nuff said.

I also take their Premium EFA, a fish oil capsule, and it works great! I love how it doesn't have that fishy aftertaste or burps after taking it. THOSE are gross. On top of that, I also take their Women's Multivitamin and it doesn't taste disgusting at all. Most multis have a very gross smell/taste to it but not this one! I promise you these supplements are fantastic.

My trainer also uses more of their products, such as C-Gone, which prevents the body from storing carbs and fat as fat, and Dialed In, which speeds up the metabolism and helps give you more energy to burn fat all day. She also just used their Agility Cream after she had injured her back. It's a cream that eases pain in a specific area.

They also have SO many more products, like a greens supplement and pre-workout supplements. So so so much more. Seriously, go check out their website.

I honestly have to give this company the highest score POSSIBLE on my satisfaction meter. ;)

You guys over ate PRIDE are amazing. I don't know what I would do without your protein powder. And you're fast! I could order in through my trainer and have the stuff the next day.

Questions: What supplements do you use? Are you satisfied with them? Do you like the spend the little extra money to get high quality products or are you 'cheap'?

My Thoughts For This Thursday...

I see this a lot, and I just thought it should be mentioned.

If you've started embracing the clean eating lifestyle, that's great. But have you ever convinced yourself that now that you're eating clean, you 'prefer' the healthier version of a food over the unhealthier version because it 'tastes better' or simply because you know it is healthier?

Allow me to explain further.

Here's a scenario... you're a cake lover. You could eat moist, authentic cake all day, every day if you could. You especially love chocolate cake, with a delicious chocolate frosting. It's so decadent and now that you're eating healthier, it is not a daily occurrence that you can eat this cake every day.

Enter the protein cake. You have gotten your chocolate-flavored protein powder, and have been informed about how to make protein cake with it. Add a little egg whites, some sort of milk, maybe some stevia, nuke it in a mug or bowl or even bake it in an oven and boom. Protein cake.

Don't we all wish this was protein cake... ;) (Source)

Now you love the unhealthier cake more than ever. But clean eating has really taken a hold on you and you get antsy and nervous when you are stuck in a situation where you can't eat 100% clean. 

That cake that you once loved? You have now dubbed it as almost sinful to eat. There is NO WAY you can allow that cake into your body. You now 'prefer' the taste of your protein cake. But do you really? Or is it just your mind TELLING you that you now prefer the protein cake over the regular cake now because it is 'clean'?

I hope you all understand what I am trying to get at. I am definitely NOT saying that protein cake isn't good, haha. I think some people may take the concept of eating clean a little bit too far. You don't have to eat 100% clean for the rest of your life. I may sound hypocritical here as I am always preaching about eating clean, but even I eat what I most desire every now and then (I just prefer not to shove ice cream in my face everyday for the sake of 'bulking'). And stop labeling it 'bad' food. Food is food. Hot dogs are food. Zucchini is food. The zucchini may get you to your health goals faster, but either way both options are food. You can have your cake and eat it too in moderation. Stop lying to yourself that you like the 'cleaner' version better and the regular version is sinful.

Some other good examples are sashimi over sushi (because of the rice), sugar-free syrup over regular syrup, egg whites over whole eggs in baking recipes (because I understand that some people truly do not like egg yolks), protein pancakes/waffles over regular pancakes/waffles, etc.

Now I do understand that sometimes someone really DOES like the healthier version over the regular version, and that some people quite honestly CAN'T eat all the foods they want to because of stomach issues. Take sashimi for example, some people simply don't like the texture of the rice and I get that. I can go both ways: I love BOTH sashimi and regular sushi and it honestly just depends on my mood. But if you're a sushi fanatic and all of a sudden you're eating clean, do NOT tell yourself that sushi is now out of the picture and you like sashimi better now. Be HONEST with yourself and say "Well, I love both sushi and sashimi and I probably would rather the taste of authentic sushi. However, sashimi is healthier so sometimes I eat the sashimi knowing in my mind that I am making a healthier choice, but that doesn't mean I can never eat regular sushi again."

Don't deprive yourself. Another thing that should be mentioned is that if you're an avid follower of Nicole Wilkins and Erin Stern (figure competitors) like I am, you would know that they don't 'cheat' often and if they do, it's more like sushi and frozen yogurt. So really, they prefer not to eat pizza and burgers. 

Source

I know some girls out there, especially one who LOVES funnel cakes, who are competing and they say "Well I want to be like Erin and Nicole and never eat anything too unhealthy for me," fully aware that they're committing basically to not eating their favorite foods. The funnel cake girl? She is wrenching herself away from her beloved funnel cake simply because two other figure competitors don't eat that, even after competition.

No. Find what works for YOU. Just because one person does one thing, doesn't mean you have to do the SAME THING. Nicole and Erin are perfectly capable of not necessarily eating too many bad things, but let's be honest here, I am NOT. I admire those two fabulous ladies so much, but I genuinely WANT to have Oreos and Hawaiian pizza (yum!) sometimes, and I know if I commit to 'giving it up' I will feel deprived and my mind will go on a tangent. By doing so, whenever I am in proximity to those foods, I will go on a crazy binge and feel horrible afterwards.

It's a vicious cycle. I'm sure Nicole and Erin have learned through hard work and dedication what works for them to eat in moderation and how to control the hunger monster, and if it is simply frozen yogurt and/or sushi, then so be it. And once again, if you eat a mostly 100% clean diet because of medical issues, I get that. Some people can't have the garlic bread or ice cream they want because their bodies will attack them for it and they will get sick. But don't lie to yourself, saying you 'don't eat that' because you'll get sick when you know you'll be perfectly fine. 

So here's what I hope you got from this rant post: 1) Don't convince yourself that you like the healthier version of one of your favorite foods just because it is healthier and 2) You don't have to do everything the top competitors or models do for themselves, because they have different bodies and find what works for them. As a teen, I find it easy for my younger mind to be gullible and just 'do what everybody else does' but it works for them. But, still being young, I am using trial and error to discover how my body works and what makes me happy.

Okay guys, if you got through all of this, I appreciate it. Have a wonderful Wednesday. :)

Questions: Do you see this as well? Do you agree or disagree with me? (I allow all comments--positive or negative so share your throughts!) Have you ever convinced yourself you like the healthier version of a food just because it is 'clean' or followed a diet plan just because it worked for somebody else? Any other things you would like to comment on?

Abs, Abs, Abs

I rarely train my abs directly.

I find it unnecessary, and not to mention the fact that most ab exercises put a lot of stress on my lower back and are just painful and not fun in the least. But to each their own. I know a lot of people who like training their abs (well actually, I prefer the word 'core' as it's not JUST your abs but lower back as well).  I wish I had their motivation. Le sigh.

Let's just get it out there that I don't find ab training necessary. Lower back, yes, abs, not really. Why? I feel like all of the compound movements I do take care of my abs, as I always have to contract my core and utilize it to have good form while doing exercises such as squats, lunges, standing shoulder press, bench press, etc. If you perform an exercise correctly, most likely it will affect your core in some way. Except for bicep curls. Just saying.

Well, on Friday my dad and I hit up the gym. I had planned a core workout for the heck of it and some functional training as something different than my typical strength training workouts focusing on one of the major muscle groups like chest, back, legs, arms and shoulders.

I'll go through what I did if you want to try it. It wasn't brutal while performing all of the exercises, but the days afterwards, my core has been aching. I couldn't even twist my torso, it was that bad. And it STILL hurts. I tried stretching out my tummy today and it just wasn't having it. So if you like that feeling, this workout is for you! *cue sales pitch*

If you rarely train abs like I do, this will shock the system hence the major soreness. Onwards, friends...

I first warmed up (which is crucial) with split lunges and jump squats. I did a few sets of those, then I did three sets each of Pallof Press (both sides) and hanging leg raises as a superset. Here is a great video demonstrating the Pallof Press. It is great for targetting the core and one of my favorite exercises. For the hanging leg raise, you basically hang from the bars and bring your legs up, straight, and slowly back down. If you can do toes to bar, then you are so lucky do those for the extra challenge!

Next, I moved to the decline bench. For three sets, I did reverse crunches on the decline. Here is a good demonstration of this. I then hooked my legs in the decline bench and did Russian twists with a 25 lb. plate. (For a demo, go here.) This was also a superset.

Finally, I moved on to the open floor. This was my favorite part of the workout. It is the functional portion, and I loved it! I am a big fan of the battle ropes, so I hooked the rope through a 45 lb. plate and laid it at the end of the open floor. Go to the opposite end. For each side (you will stand facing your right pulling, then bring BACK the plate to the other side of the floor, walk back, and face your left, then repeat), I braced my core and pulled the rope until I got the 45 lb. plate to my feet. Here is a good example. Make sure to keep the core TIGHT and pull from the arms as fast as you can. This is a great functional movement and one of my favorite exercises. After I did each side, I took a 15 lb. medicine ball and did medicine ball slams. Keep your feet planted, your core TIGHT (so important) and slam down as hard as you can. It's a great exercise. I did this superset for three sets as well.

After that, I foam rolled and stretched, as you should do after every workout.

Here is a better list of my workout:

I hope you all enjoy this workout and stay classy, San Diego. (Brownie points if you know the movie.)

Questions: Do you train your abs frequently? Do you like ab exercises? 

I Need Some Sleep...

I have a confession. But it's not exactly marvelous for Marvelous Monday.

But hopefully a marvelous person could give me some pointers?

I have a very hard time falling asleep. 

I'm not going to sit here and write on my blog that I am happy and healthy all of the time. That is not true, and I plan on being open and honest with each and every reader that comes across this little old blog.

I have tried everything under the sun to get myself to go to sleep at night. I could name a list of things I have tried and still, not much works. It takes me about two, sometimes three, hours to fall asleep at night. No bueno.

Here's what I have tried:

• Not working out three hours before bed time -- I used to go to the gym three hours before I went to bed. I have heard that this can keep your heart rate elevated and keep you up at night. I changed my time, but still, nothing.

• Taking time off from exercising -- I was concerned with overtraining, as I am aware that there are numerous symptoms of overtraining including the inability to sleep. I have taken a few consecutive rest days and still, nothing.

• Turning off technology 30 minutes before bed -- Yep, I have tried this. For a teenager, it was hard! But I did it and I still felt like I could not go to sleep.

• Trying different bedtimes -- I've experimented with perhaps tiring myself out and going to sleep near 10 or 11 so I could fall asleep easier. Nope. I have tried falling asleep at 8 or 9 (my usual bedtime is about 9:30; I know I am "lame"). Still, nothing. 

• Taking a sleep aid -- Trust me, this was my last resort but I was (and still pretty much am) not falling asleep as easily as I should be. It's more of a placebo effect then the pill actually working.
  
• Drinking chamomile tea -- I have read numerous studies about how chamomile tea is supposed to calm your senses and help you ease into a relaxed state. So far, I would have to say this is the only thing that partially works. 

• Staying away from energy drinks or supplements -- I occasionally will have a zero-calorie Monster, but that is usually much earlier in the day and before a workout. Even if I don't drink one, I STILL have the same sleep issues, so I'm not sure I could blame it on that. Plus, before I even had my first Monster, I was still having these issues. I also do not take any pre-workout supplements so that is out of the picture.

• Changing what I eat and when I eat it -- Let me just get this out there: coffee does NOT work for me. Ridiculous, right?! Nor does green tea to give me an 'energy boost' from its caffeine content. Some people get jittery and energetic, but that is not the case for me. I could still be sluggish even after three cups of coffee. Also, I have tried changing up my foods to see if it is a certain food that does not put me to sleep. I have even gone as far as removing sweet potatoes and nut butter from my diet (my favorites!) for a day. Nope. I have a nighttime snack usually and have changed what I eat before bedtime as well as removing that snack, but that was disastrous because a) it didn't help my sleeping issue and b) I would wake up in the middle of the night starving as my stomach would be rumbling and eating itself screaming "GIVE ME FOOD. NOW."

• Trying different sleeping positions, blankets, pillows, places to sleep, etc. -- I have tried sleeping on my back, on my side, on my stomach, etc. I have switched the pillows I sleep with, the pillowcases, and the number pillows I use. I have slept with different blankets and a different amount of blankets. I have slept on the opposite side of my bed and even on my yoga mat on the floor (yes, yes I did). I have also tried switching the settings on my fan and using different fans, no fan, etc. NOTHING WORKS!!!

Okay, so clearly you can see I am frustrated. I NEED SLEEP. I love sleep, and I understand the necessity of it. I am not a happy camper with no sleep. I should also mention that my body wakes upt at 5:35 a.m. like clockwork. And my mom deals with the same issue (I know, like mother, like daughter)--once we are awake, you would be kidding yourself if you thought we could go back to sleep. I try. I try to sleep in. I will sleep in on a VERY rare occasion, like if I am out in the early hours and get home at a time like 3 a.m. Even on occasions such as that one, I can't sleep in past 8 a.m. Not because I want to be up and at it, but because I just simply can't go back to sleep.

UGHHHH.

I have considered insomnia, but I don't think it is that serious. I hope not, at least. I do plan on taking a good long break from my training soon to see if that is any help. I also hope to go see a doctor soon as I need my 'check-up' anyways. 

Let's get myself better.

Oh, and as a sneak peek for a future post all about ABS coming this week, check out my abs from Friday! Wowza, never thought I could get that that chunky. ;)

Question: Do you have any tips or tricks for me? Do you suffer the same issues or are your lights knocked out right when your head hits the pillow? 

Sweet Potato Protein Pancake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Well, it's Sunday here friends. Which means we have to make this day awesome before Monday comes along!

Before I jump into my PowerMeal-A-Week, I just have to extend my prayers to all of those who were affected in the Colorado theather shooting. No one deserves to be shot like that, out of the blue. I live in the Chicago area and every day when I turn on the news, there's a new story about another shooting in which one or more person has been killed. So, I guess what I am trying to say is not only do I hope for peace for those affected by the Colorado shootings, but for those who are shot for no reason every day.

It's a crazy world out there, folks. Stay safe.

Okay, sorry for the sadness and I will move on. 

This is my PowerMeal for the week:

Sweet Potato Protein Pancake with Peanut Butter Frosting

Ingredients:


Pancake -
- 1 small or medium sweet potato, cooked or steamed so it is very soft
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (can sub coconut flour, whole wheat flour, etc.)
- 1-4 - 1/3 cup egg whites OR 3 egg whites
- 2 tbsp. almond milk (can sub dairy milk, coconut milk, etc.)
- dash of cinnamon and nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda

Frosting -
- 2 tbsp. PB2 or peanut flour
- 2 tbsp. sugar-free or pure maple syrup
- 1 tbsp. almond milk (look at subs under pancake ingredients)
(*adapted from STUFT Mama's low calorie peanut butter frosting)


Directions:
Mix all of the pancake ingredients in a medium bowl. Spray a pan with nonstick cooking spray or oil it down with another oil and put on low-medium heat. Once heated, pour the batter onto the pan and let each side cook for 2-3 minutes. For the frosting, take a small bowl and mix all ingredients together. Spread across pancake. Note that for the frosting, you can simply use some natural peanut butter instead.

This... is delicious. I have had it every day for a week so far. It combines both of my loves for nuts butters and sweet potatoes in one delicious, nutritious meal! I hope you all enjoyed. Have a great Sunday.

Questions: Do you like protein pancakes? What's the most creative one you have thought of?

Psychology Matters

I find the mind to be a very complex thing that no one will completely be able to comprehend.

In fact, as I sit here typing this, I am thinking a million thoughts and wondering just exactly how I am able to do so, while simultaneously being able to type this.

Think about it. It's amazing, don't you think?

I've been through some mental hurdles. Quite a few, actually. But I pulled through. Are the memories gone? Absolutely not. They will forever be imprinted in my brain. But using my past as a motivator for my future and present, I am able to move on and use those mistakes to make better decisions.

For this reason, I want to be a psychologist. I want to understand the mind even more. The brain is amazing. It works wonders. It does so many things that you probably don't know it can do. I want to learn. I want to keep learning. I want to fill this brain of mine to the brim with information.

I also want to be a personal trainer on the side. (I am a multitasking, hardworking woman!) It's cool too because the psychologist at my school whom I have interviewed when I was on the newspaper is also a personal trainer and powerlifter. She inspired me. 

I can combine my love of psychology and fitness into one profession. I want to listen to others tell me their issues, whether it's low self esteem, laziness and lack of motivation, eating disorders, mood swings, etc. and I want to help them overcome their fears. I am a great listener, but I want to go that extra step further and do something to help them.

Lol, sorry had to. (Source)

Did you know that the people in your dreams are real life people you have seen before, whether if it was for a fleeting second when you were 3 years old? How about that most of your 'vivid memories' are inaccurate? Amazing, right?

In terms of fitness and health, a lot of things are mental as well as physical. Get yourself in the right mindset to achieve your goals. If you're feeling overwhelmed, make sure you take care of yourself mentally first and foremost. But for me, I can see that weightlifting is the 'therapy' you could say for my mentality. It keeps me sane. But I also remind myself that it's not the be-all and end-all of my problems. It's simply a factor that helps me get through the tough times. I believe it's essential to find other hobbies and not engulf yourself in one thing, such a working out. Branch out! You never know what other hobby could spark an interest if you give it a try.

I love listening to people, and I truly believe I was put on this earth to help others. If anyone needs just someone to talk to, please shoot me an e-mail, a Tweet, a Facebook message, whatever, and I will respond. That is 100% guaranteed. Most of you are 'strangers' in the sense that I don't know you in person, but I am open. I don't judge. Been there done that. I simply KNOW what it feels like to need to talk to someone. 

Questions: Any psychology nerds out there? What is your opinion on mental vs. physical matters?

Embracing My Weirdness

I'm not a lover of avocado.

Okay there, I said it.

But hey, we all have different taste buds, right?! It may make me 'weird' that avocados aren't my thing but it makes me, well, me. :)

It's MizFit's birthday. She embraces her freak flag and I do too. It's COOL to be weird. So to honor this amazing woman's birthday, here's what makes me weird A.K.A. one cool cat!

A few other things that aren't particularly normal about yours truly:

1. I have a strong addiction... to Harry Potter.

I cried when I finished all the books (in a total of about six days). I loved it. I've seen every movie numerous times. I am a member of Gryffindor in Pottermore. I'm Brittany, and I am addicted to Harry Potter.

Source

2. I hated bacon and onions up until about last year.

Who could hate bacon, I ask you?! WHO?! I was riding the crazy train back then. And as for onions? When I was little I thought they were the devil's food. They were GROSS man. But I happened to try them when my dad grilled them one day for the sake of it and I loved 'em.

3. Donuts. Fried Chicken. I'll pass.

HATE donuts, but y'all know that already. ;) Fried chicken isn't appealing either, sorry!

4. I wake up at the crack of dawn.

Never used to be an early riser. EVER. The thought of that a few years ago would've scared me. But now I wake up extremely early and I love it. I am such a morning person these days. It's "my time" in the morning. Plus, I hate sleeping past 8 a.m. (yes, EIGHT) because I feel like it's wasted time!

5. I think I was the only girl who didn't find Robert Pattinson attractive during that "Twilight" phase.

Yes, I was obsessed with Twilight at one time, INCLUDING Edward Cullen, but never thought Robert Pattinson was 'hot' or 'cute' like 99.9999% of the other girls in the world. I thought they could've done better. I mean, they got Taylor Lautner's hotness to play Jacob, didn't they?

6. I don't have any legitimate fear of anything, really.

Except maybe getting my limbs torn off. I'm cool with spiders, snakes are my besties, and I watch Shark Week whenever it's on because sharks are cool! Bees are more annoying than scary to be honest and bugs are gross but what can you do? There's trillions of them. It's better to get used to them then run away from them!

EPIC. (Source)

7. I love doing the dishes.

It's every parent's dream! Of course, they used to be a pain in the butt. But it's something I look forward to every day. 

8. I hate modern clothing. 

Hence why I am always in athletic clothes. I really like the old, vintage look. That goes for hair and make-up too. It was classy and sassy back then. These days, I don't even know how to describe "style."

9. I will find every possible way to do something without having to spend money.

That may not be weird, but some people just look at me and say "Why don't you just buy it?" For example, I will bike up 50 billion hills for 30 minutes to get to my library so I can read Oxygen Magazine. I would LOVE to have them to keep but they're not cheap!

10. I LIKE MATH!

Yeah. Enough said. Especially algebra. :)

Source

Yeah, so there's that. Happy birthday to the wonderful MizFit! We're flying our FREAK FLAGS together! She's an awesome blogger and she's even cooler because she loves Dr. Seuss, the most genius person EVER. 

Question: What makes YOU weird (or unique)?

The Art of Sprinting

Happy Marvelous In My Monday! Thanks Katie for hosting!

I want to talk about a marvelous love of mine: sprinting. Yes, sprinting (to me, at least) is an art.

I LOVE sprinting. (As if you couldn't tell when I underlined, bolded, italicized and capitalized the letters of the word 'love.') 

I've never been a long distance runner. It's not my cup of tea. Do not get me wrong, I think anyone who has the ability to complete 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, full marathons, ultramarathons, etc. have the willpower of an iron demon. I give each and every dedicated runner major props. But I haven't quite gotten myself able to do it yet. (*Note the word "yet.") I also hate how some sprinters say that long distance running is bad for your health and you "lose muscle mass" and whatnot. Let others decide what they like to do.

Anyways... I have the patience of a 3-year-old. Running for long periods of time just doesn't get me excited. I sincerely wish that some runners, like some of my favorite bloggers here and here, would send me some of their running motivation. But alas, I am all into the sprints.

I'm 'taller.' Sprinters tend to be tall. The longer the legs, the faster you can leap and dash across that track. That's not to say that shorter people cannot be good sprinters! I am not saying that at all. I personally feel like I am a good sprinter, and I am not trying to come off as conceited. I always come down on myself for not being good enough for this and that, like long distance running, but when I say that I am good at something, I feel like I really mean it and I am very proud of it.

I have toned my sprinting down a bit recently to pack on more muscle. I do believe that sprinting and plyometrics have an advantage in building muscle in the legs, but in moderation. If you do it four times a week, that advantage eventually evaporates.

I did sprints Thursday at my high school. When I do get to sprint, I feel super happy that I am reunited with my love. If I had to choose my fitness loves, they would hands down be lifting, sprints, and plyometrics. 

A combination of weights & moderate sprints and plyometrics got me this! :D

I focused; I mentally and physically prepared. I packed a larger than life water bottle (one liter!)  and switched beast mode ON. I zoned everything out of my mind and focused on the goal. Get to that end point and get there as fast as possible.

When I get to that end point, I feel amazing. I feel enthralled and on fire. I can't even sit here and write what I feel in a way that does it enough justice. Do you know that feeling I am talking about? Like a marthoner crossing the finish line, or a powerlifter setting a new PR. Words can't simply begin to explain how I feel. Are they just endorphins? Possibly. But I do think there's passion mixed in there somewhere.

I think sprinters like Usain Bolt are downright amazing. Who knew a human could be that fast? That comes with hard work. After I build a decent amount of muscle, which I understand might take quite a long time, I am going to get back on a regular sprinting schedule.

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Here are the tips I have learned from numerous amounts of research and personal experience:

1. Imagine you are holding a large pretzel in your hands when you are sprinting.
I learned this from Men's Health magazine. I never used to do this and I didn't think trying it would make much of a difference in my speed. However, it certainly did. The position of your hands are a major component of doing the fastest sprint. Try it!

2. Keep your arms bent at a 60-90 degree angle.
By doing this, you can go faster, which may not seem to make a lot of sense, but think about it: if your arms are extended, the air pushes against it, which slows you down. By keeping your arms in an "L" shape and pumping them, you will be sprinting like a cheetah.

3. Land on the tips of your feet, NOT your heels.
I used to sprint on my heels. Not only did it make me slower, but the next day my heels would feel like they had been beaten by a sledgehammer. By landing on the tips of your feet, you can sprint faster and not put so much pressure on your heels. Your heels should basically never touch the ground!

4. Lean your upper body forward.
For a long distance runner, it is important to run with your chest up. But in sprinting, you should lean forward as it provides more momentum so that you can sprint faster.

5. Get your breathing pattern set.
For me, breathing IN through the nose and OUT through the mouth works best. When I do otherwise, I get serious cramps that slow me down.

There are plenty of other tips that will help you with sprints. I liked these tips here. 

Practice, practice, practice. As I have stated countless of other times before, I am a big lover of HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). But remember, HIIT takes a lot out of you, so don't do it everyday. Take rest, eat CARBS and see your body transform!

Have you seen the body of a sprinter?! Incredible. Inspiring. Motivating.

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I LOVE TO SPRINT.

Questions: Do you prefer sprinting or long distance running? Any particular reasons? Do you have any other tips for a good sprint? And for my long distance runners, how do you stay motivated to run so long?! I need help with this!

PowerMeal Week #2

It's Sunday Funday!

I'm doing Powercakes' weekly challenge, so I not only have ONE awesome meal to share with you all, but TWO which were superbly delicious and nutritious if I do say so myself. :)

So... let's get on with it!

*I have mentioned before and will mention again just for clarification that this is not ALL that I eat in a day. I know some people tend to be skeptical but I DO eat, and don't like when people think that I am 'not eating enough.' It irks me because I DO and I work hard to put this darn muscle on!*

Okay. Sorry for the rant. First up...

I realize this looks like crap on a plate. But it was delicious! It is egg whites (I would use a whole egg but I just wanted to finish up the last bit of the egg whites container I had) with spinach and mushrooms. Mashed avocado is on top and it is sprinkled with Italian seasoning. On the side I have a sweet potato sprinkled with cinnamonand a little pat of butter. Yummy. :)

And the second one...

Yes. Once again, this photo does absolutely ZERO justice to how delicious this was. I don't have a nice camera and unfortunately I am forced to use my iPhone.

This is brown rice, sweet and spicy tuna, edamame, cherry tomatoes, Brussels sprouts and pumpkin seeds mixed together in Braggs Liquid Aminos. Sprinkled with Italian seasoning (<-- love this stuff!)   I had already devoured half of this bowl before snapping a pic... oops!

Okay, well there you have it. My tummy was extremely satisfied with these two tasty meals. Today I plan on eating a huge bowl of frozen yogurt, or cake batter ice cream. But, we'll see. ;)

Hope all of your Sundays are fun!

Question: What was your PowerMeal of the week?

If There's A Will, There's A Way!

Happy Thursday!

For some reason, I've always liked Thursdays. Perhaps it is because it is one more day until Friday. But otherwise, I don't really know why I like them! They're just cool, I suppose. ;)

I wanted to write a post about willpower and how I personally am able to stick to my goals when many around me don't understand why I do what I do. I've been going back and forth trying to write a post like this, but Liz mentioned the topic so I decided that it was about time I get on that!

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I used to have no willpower whatsoever. Like none. I'd tell myself that I would do something, then I would give up because it wasn't satisfying. However, that has drastically changed. One thing that I now have going for me is willpower. I can firmly stick my foot down and say NO. I can keep going even though people question my motives and sometimes I stumble, but I get right back up again.

This is why I think I am destined to compete one day, as I have the willpower of pure steel!

I love my brother with all of my heart. But, let's think about this. He's a teenage boy with a metabolism as fast as the speed of light. I could look in my pantry and fridge right now and pick out French toast, pizza, cheesy garlic bread, tortilla chips, etc. Most people promoting eating a clean diet will tell you NOT to keep that food in the house, however, I have it all around me because I can't tell my brother to get rid of his food.

What's my alternative? That's right: willpower.

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Every time I open the fridge or look in the pantry I can instantly look past the junk food and reach for my clean foods. Instead of that French toast, I have my Ezekiel bread. Instead of that pizza, I have whole wheat pitas. Instead of tortilla chips, I reach for my whole grain brown rice cakes.

I am by no means saying I NEVER eat that 'junk' food. (I love me some Oreos and Pop Tarts) As I am trying to put on more weight, I don't take the easy way out and stuff myself with crap food. I do it by stuffing myself with clean foods so that I am getting an array of healthy vitamins and minerals that support my goals and make my body healthier. And believe me, so many people point their fingers at me with this, saying "Well WHY don't you just eat really bad foods? That will definitely put the weight on. That makes no sense that you're trying to put on weight with healthy foods..." Because you CAN put on weight with healthy foods, you just need to eat MORE of them. And I want to do it the right way, not the easy way. Does that make sense now? No? Oh well, don't worry about my motives.

At school, I would bring in a huge bag of clean foods. I couldn't even use a traditional brown paper bag because I couldn't fit everything in it. I used a real plastic bag from a grocery store. One example of my lunch would be a chicken breast, a sweet potato with almond butter, a huge Tupperware container of vegetables, and an apple. Here I am, eating all of this, while I could easily go get in line for some curly fries or pizza. One person even came up to me one day and had the nerve to say: "You eat ALL of this? You sure do eat a lot..." And yes, they said this as they were shoving their face with curly fries. Its makes you wonder.

When you're trying to eat healthy or stick to your workouts, you must keep your goals at the forefront of your mind. If someone tries to bully you into eating ice cream that you just don't want, practice saying NO firmly. If someone says you're "wasting your time" lifting weights and sticking to your exercise regimen, tell them you're doing it for you and if they don't understand why, then who cares? You don't understand why they're so judgmental and ignorant but you're moving on with your life too. 

It's willpower. It's the fight to keep fighting. What's that one phrase? Oh, right: if there's a WILL, there's a WAY! :) 

Questions: Do you have really strong willpower as well? Has anyone questioned your healthy lifestyle? If so, how did/do you handle it?

I'm Coming For You, CrossFit

I've shared my interest to do CrossFit in this post here. 

I've seen so many conflicting opinions on whether CrossFit is as really great as many claim it to be. What I get from it is that CrossFit is one of those things that you either just love it or hate it, like sushi. 

I'm interested in CrossFit for a myriad of reasons. My goal to do CrossFit is NOT to get leaner. My goal is to build STRENGTH (which is different than muscle, believe it or not). 

In fact, this is where I think all the controversy about CrossFit even begins...

Allow me to explain.

People who need to drop some pounds look at CrossFit like just another exercise regimen that will help them shed the weight, not researching what CrossFit is and how it is used, and then stepping into a CrossFit Box completely unaware about what they're just about to do.

I'm sure they thought it would involve some running, maybe some lunges, a jubilant atmosphere and some upbeat music to get the sweat flowing and the exercise endorphins going. What they did not expect was to be sweating up a rainstorm and feeling like King Kong just sat on them.

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It's also quite well known that is not hard at all to become a CrossFit instructor. You could go from being the newspaper delivery boy to a CrossFit instructor within a week. The key is to prepare, and to research. CrossFit lifts are not lifting 5 lb. pink coated dumbbells. They are HEAVY, require strength, and you CANNOT just jump into it. When I do CrossFit, you better believe I am going to find an experienced instructor. Not one that sends me off right away to deadlift 1.5x my body weight.

I'm a researcher. I do my research on any workout or food related things that I find necessary. I research certain exercises, watching plenty of videos to watch the correct form and the incorrect form(s) and reading articles upon articles about how to target the muscle correctly, the best time to use the exercise, and it's effectiveness. I research foods and what vitamins and minerals it contains. I want to know exactly what it helps my body do. I researched a TON about CrossFit so I KNOW that it is not unicorns and ponies. 

It will make you want to puke. It will feel like you are dying. It is NOT for the faint of heart.

Which is precisely why I am intrigued and want to do it. :)

Let me reiterate--CrossFit is NOT for people who are trying to lose weight. It is NOT for people who have had zero experience in lifting weights or any type of resistance training. It is NOT for people who do not have good endurance and can barely keep up. And it is NOT for people who do not understand proper nutrition to fuel yourselves for these grueling workouts.

Have you seen some of the hardcore CrossFit workouts? I dare you to look up "Murph" or "Fran." Do those look easy? Not at all.

I am both mentally and physically preparing myself for CrossFit. I am strength training now to prepare myself. I LOVE intensity. I crave it like a smoothie on a hot day. But I know I am not ready for such intensity quite yet. Within the next year, I hope to prepare myself enough to join a CrossFit Box and give it a whirl. How awesome would it be to compete in the CrossFit Games? Or do a day long endurance challenge?! It would be epic.

And the CrossFit physiques don't lie...

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But it takes time. And I am impatient, but I'll wait. I've seen far too many videos of girls my age or any CrossFit newbie trying to clean a weight far too heavy with them with HORRENDOUS form, looking like they are going to throw out their backs and be paralyzed. That's not me. I want to do it the right way.

I love my traditional weightlifting and I won't give it up for the sake of CrossFit. I like variety. When I compete one day, I'm not JUST going to do traditional weight training. I am going to include everything into my routine, like weightlifting, CrossFit, yoga, pilates, running, etc. 

CrossFit just happens to be something that appeals to me. Hello intensity. ;)

As with anything, you must find what works for you. If CrossFit doesn't fit your interests, then don't worry about it. If it's not for you, don't force it.

Questions: What are your thoughts of CrossFit--yay or nay? Any pros or cons you'd like to add? 

Marvelous Music

Happy Marvelous in my Monday!

It's so humid where I am right now. I HATE humidity. Gross. Anyways...

On Saturday, I went to Warped Tour with a few friends and it was awesome! If you don't know what Warped Tour is, it is hosted by the shoe company Vans and spotlights a lot of rock bands that play throughout the selected venue.

Some of the bands that some of you rock fans *may* have heard of is All Time Low, We The Kings, Breathe Carolina, etc.

It was really fun! I got a few shirts and a hat and now I am set until next year. 

Here's a picture of my love, Alex Gaskarth, the lead singer of All Time Low, rocking out. I love him. No shame. :)

Speaking of music, for this marvelous Monday I am going to share with you some of my favorite songs that are currently on my playlist. I have a very broad taste--no specific genre calls my name. I like anything from rock, to rap, to dubstep, to country, etc. 

Here's a few on my workout playlist that gets my energy up. When I'm working out, I don't listen to the gooey slow songs that just tug at your heartstrings. That's more stretching kind of music. ;) It's all about the beats!

1. Midnight City - M83
Ugh this song is beautiful. I love the whimsical feel to it and the sounds are amazing. I could throw a dance party with this song. Whenevr this comes on my iPod at the gym I look like a freak jamming out.

2. Ruffneck Bass - Skrillex
Are you ready for the ruffneck bass? I am. I like dubstep and all the "wub wub" lyrics. This song is awesome when you're trying to list heavy weights, trust me I've tried it. ;)

3. Brokenhearted - Karmin
This isn't like an 'intense' beat but this song seriously makes me want to sing karaoke somewhere. It's so cute and uplifting! I love the singer too; she has a style that is all her own and she is beautiful!

4. It's Complicated - A Day To Remember
GAH. I love them. And they were not at Warped Tour. :( But nonetheless, I LOVE this song and I love their music. I don't always like their hardcore stuff but I love their rock stuff.

5. Hero - Nickelback
I am a big Nickelback lover here. Chad Kroeger's voice just calls to me... Ha! "And they say that a hero can save us. I'm not gonna stand here and waiiiiitttt." Oh gosh just love this song.

6. Where Have You Been - Rihanna
I'm not really a fan of Rihanna, but this is a good song. It's different and it's interesting. I like a lot of songs from artists I don't particularly like, and this is one of them.

7. Starships - Nicki Minaj
I bought this song right when it came out a few months ago, and I am still hooked. It's so funny and it just gets my energy turned up. You can't feel anything but happy when you listen to this! I'm not a fan of her either, but again, like this song.

8. Time After Time - Quietdrive
This is a cover of the famous Cyndi Lauper hit, but I like this one better. >:) I sing on the top of my lungs to this song. Weird looks are welcomed.

9. Two Princes - Spin Doctors
Yes, you are looking at a 90's rock and alternative LOVER right here. I love this song, even though it is older that I am. Whenever a classic 90's song comes on such as this one, you know things are about to go DOWNNNN.

10. Marilyn ft. Dominique LeJeune - G Eazy 
I heard this guy at Warped and I love this song. It's 'slower' but it still makes me want to dance!

There's ten songs on my current playlist. I hope you like them! If you haven't heard any of these, I highly recommend them! If you have, then that's awesome! :)

Happy Monday!

Questions: Have you ever been to Warped Tour? Are you a fan of All Time Low as well? What songs are you currently loving?

Oat Bran PowerCake

I usually do not post on Sundays, but... PowerCakes has a challenge for all of us to post a power recipe each Sunday so I thought I'd participate!

I had this as a part of my breakfast a few days ago. It was really yummy and I will definitely be making it again!

Getting better at the food photography thing. ;)

Oat Bran PowerCake

Ingredients:

- 1/3 cup oat bran

- 1/4 cup egg whites (or about 2-3 egg whites)

- 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder

- 1/4-1/2 tsp. baking powder

- dash of cinnamon

- dash of nutmeg

Directions:

It's simple--spray a pan with non-stick cooking spray and put it on low-medium heat. Pour the batter on the pan and cook on each side for 2-3 minutes or until cooked through. Take off and place on a plate. (You can try to bake this in the oven or microwave instead but this is easier for me.)

I topped mine with maple syrup, organic butter (yes, I eat butter), a little peanut butter, bananas and blueberries (all placed all delicately along the edges, because I guess I was feeling sassy!)

I hope you all enjoy! Today in the Chicagoland area we are receiving a break from the heat YES! No 100 degree weather today! I am going to soak it up and get in a back and biceps workout later.

Have a relaxing Sunday!