Friday, March 06, 2015

Thursday, March 05, 2015

One Sentence Per Picture

Sunrise on the way to work (taken on the bus)




Sunset in the evening




We're glad there is more than one flavour



Trying to hold the ceiling up due to rain


Happy Pearl



The boys like the sun just as much as Mom



Twin 1's post run fuel



Twin 2's post run fuel



Can you tell we're twins?  We both took the same pic of our post Sunday run fuel for the blog.  Twins amaze us.

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

Workout Wednesday

Wednesday, February 25 - Twin 1 did JM Video 6

Thursday, February 26 -Twin 2 did 30 min on bike,  Twin 1 took the dogs to Ashburn for an hour and a half and saved her video for rest day tomorrow so her rest day was today.

Friday, February 27 - Twin 1 did not do her makeup video from Thursday but did an hour walk at Ashburn with the doggies.

Saturday, February 28 - Twin 2 got her arm workout in by spending 45 minutes clearing the driveway of ice ... well, enough to get up and down it easily.  Twin 1 did an hour walk at Point Pleasant with the doggies. 

Sunday, March 1 - Sunday morning started off with a 5k OUTSIDE run at 8:00 a.m. for both twins.  Such a beautiful morning.  The roads are clear and dry by Twin 2's house so we ran around her new neighbourhood.  We're hoping we can get outside more this month.  We did 5k in 41 min which was great (we thought) as we haven't ran in forever.  Twin 1 also walked the dogs for an hour at Ashburn and did JM video 5 & 6 from Sat and today.

Monday, March 2 - Twin 1 did JM Cardio 2 video, Twin 2 did 40 min on the bike while doing arm weights.

Tuesday, March 3 - Twin 1 got up early AM and got JM video 5 done.  It is just a distant memory now at 8:30 a.m.  Not even sure how she made it through as while the video was getting set she was putting on her workout clothes and was ready to go but something felt different....oh yeah! my pants!  That's what getting dressed when your still asleep does...but she put her pants on and got the video done.  It seems the only time the heat is on in the house is when she is cooped up in the room working out. 

Twin 1 & 2 went for another 5k run outside on Tuesday evening.  The snow on Monday made the roads a mess again and Twin 2's road was 95% clear and it was 0.5 k from her driveway to the end of the street so we ran that 10 times.  It wasn't as boring as we thought and we did it in just over 41 min.  By the end of it our legs were so cold and stiff that our legs matched the red wall in Twin 2's bathroom. 

 Now maybe once we started running again we'll have more random blog posts for you all :)

Tuesday, March 03, 2015

Tip Tuesday

Image result for crosstraining


Cross-training prevents injury by correcting muscular imbalances.  And the variety prevents boredom and burnout.  Combine cross-training with running to maximize running fitness with lower actual mileage.  You can substitute 25 to 30 percent of your weekly 'mileage' with cross-training.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Its Never Too Late To Start

Looking at ads for running gear or perusing fitness magazines can sometimes have a demotivating effect. Everyone is so young and model-perfect. You may flip through the pages and think, "this isn't for people like me."

But, recent research indicates that it is never too late to start running and getting healthy, even if you've been largely sedentary in the past. Researchers at the French Institute of Health compared two groups: one containing people who ran on a daily basis and one who was just getting started. Participants were between the ages of 55 and 70. During the study, both groups started running on a regular basis. While the regular exercisers had lower resting heart rates and better oxygen flow, both groups showed better heart health after taking on regular exercise.

The moral is, it's never too late. Whether you are a former runner who got overwhelmed by job and family obligations, or if you've never gone for a jog in your life, you can start any time you want. No matter where you are starting from, every step you take is one toward better health.
Don't let what you didn't do yesterday keep you from doing what you aspire to do today. Get started, get running and enjoy the strongest and healthiest version of who you can be.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Workout Wednesday

Wednesday, February 18th - Twin 1 did JM Video 4

Thursday, February 19th - Twin 1 did JM Cardio 1

Friday, February 20th - REST DAY!

Saturday, February 21st - New round of JM videos for Twin 1, JM Video 5, 30min walk on treadmill and 60 in walk at Point Pleasant with the dogs.

Sunday, February 22nd - Twin 1 did JM Video 6

Monday, February 23rd - Twin 1 did JM Cardio 2 and a 60 min walk at Ashburn with the dogs.  Twin 2 did 5k on treadmill.

Tuesday, February 24th - Twin 2 did 66 min on bike, Twin 1 did JM video 5

Twin 2 shoveled a lot. It seems like every day or if not, every 2nd day.  AND another snowfall warning today so that means more shoveling!

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Tip Tuesday

Image result for runs at lunch

Run at lunch.  Daniel Sheil, a marathon coach in Portland, Oregon, recommends lunchtime runs for two reasons:
(1) you get your workout in before the day gets away from you
(2) you get a midday break from work stress.

Image result for runs at lunch

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Sample of Menu

Further to our post on what we are eating the below is an example of a weekly meal plan for us:

Day 1 -

Breakfast - Whole wheat bagel, banana, peanut butter
Snack - 6 Egg whites, 1 oz cheese, 2 slices of turkey bacon
Lunch - Veggie Burger, 1 cup lettuce, 1/2 cup tomatoes
Snack - half a protein bar, 8 oz low fat plain yogurt
Supper - 1 cup veggies, 3 oz pork chop, 4 oz non fat frozen yogurt

Day 2 -

Breakfast - 1 cup of oatmeal, 1 cup of blueberries
Snack - 6 Egg whites, 4 slices of turkey bacon
Lunch - 2 cups of lettuce, 1 oz cheese, 3 oz tuna
Snack - half protein bar, 8 oz low fat plain yogurt
Supper - 1 cup veggies, 3 oz steak, frozen fruit bar

Day 3 -

Breakfast - 6 egg whites, 4 slices of turkey bacon, 1 oz cheese
Snack - 8 oz low fat plain yogurt, banana
Lunch - 1 Whole wheat pita wrap, 3 oz tuna
Snack - half protein bar
Supper - 2 cups of veggies, 3 oz chicken, 4 oz non fat frozen yogurt

Day 4 -

Breakfast - 1 cup of oatmeal, 1 cup of blackberries
Snack - 6 egg whites, 4 slices of turkey bacon
Lunch - 2 cups of lettuce, 3 oz tuna, 1 oz cheese
Snack - half protein bar, 8 oz low fat plain yogurt
Supper - 1 cup veggies, 3 oz pork chops, frozen fruit bar

Day 5 -

Breakfast - 6 egg whites, 4 slices of turkey bacon, 1 oz cheese
Snack - 8 oz yogurt, banana
Lunch - 1 whole wheat wrap, 1 cup tomatoes
Snack - half protein bar
Supper - 1 cup of asparagus, veggie burger, 4 oz of frozen yogurt

Day 6 -

Breakfast - Whole wheat bagel, banana, peanut butter
Snack - 6 egg whites, 1 oz cheese, 2 slices of turkey bacon,
Lunch - Veggie burger, 1 cup lettuce, 1 cup tomato
Snack - half protein bar, yogurt
Supper - 1 cup veggies, 3 oz steak, frozen fruit bar





 Day 7 -

Breakfast - whole wheat bagel, peanut butter, banana
Snack - 6 egg whites, 2 slices of turkey bacon, 1 oz cheese
Lunch - 2 cups of lettuce, 3 oz tuna, 1 oz cheese
Snack - half protein bar
Supper - 1 cup of veggies, 3 oz chicken, 4 oz frozen yogurt

















Thursday, February 19, 2015

What We're Eating

Around the end of January when we started exercising again we decided to follow the P90X meal plan and edit it to fit the exercises we are doing burning calories wise.

We figured out how many calories we require and we fell into the Level 1 Meal plan.  P90X has 3 Levels depending on your weight and how many calories you need etc. There is a whole math equation to it.  There are also 3 phases and the first one we are in is the Fat Shredder phase. 

In Level 1 there are 2 types of plans you can do.  You can follow the full meal plan to a tee as they give you what to eat and all the recipes etc.  We’ve tried this with the JM meal plan and it takes up SO MUCH TIME making everything.  If we didn’t have jobs then we could do it but working all day and then cooking all night was not working for us.  We even tried preparing in advance on the weekends but we spent at least one whole day just cooking and didn’t get to fully enjoy the weekend.

So instead of that option we went with our own where they give you a list of foods to choose from each category and the amounts per day.   For the Phase 1 (Fat shredder) we can have the following servings per day: Protein = 5, Fat = 1, Carbs = 1, Dairy = 2, Fruit = 1, Vegetables = 2, Condiments = 1, Snacks = 1.  Below are some examples we get to choose from.

Protein - a serving includes – 3 oz skinless turkey or chicken breast, 6 egg whites, 3 oz fish, 3 oz fat free ham slices, 3 oz pork tenderloin, 3 oz red meat, 1 soy burger, 1 veggie burger, 2 slices of turkey bacon, 1 veggie dog, and a few tofu things we don’t eat.

Fats - a serving includes – 3 oz avocado, 1 tbsp canola oil, 1 tbsp, flaxseed oil, 1 tbsp olive oil, 4 oz olives

Carbohydrates – a serving includes – 1 medium whole wheat bagel, 1 bran muffin, 2 slices whole wheat bread, 1 cup whole grain cereal, 12 crackers, 2 english muffin halves, whole wheat, 1 cup oatmeal, 3 pancakes, 1 cup pasta or noodls, 1 large whole wheat pita, 1 medium potato or sweet potato, 1 cup brown or wild rice, 1 large whole wheat tortilla, 3 whole wheat waffles, and some other items we don’t eat

Dairy  – a serving includes – 1 oz low fat cheese, 1 cup cottage cheese, 1 oz feta cheese, 1 oz parmesan cheese, 8 oz skim milk, 8 oz plain nonfat yogurt

Fruit – a serving includes – 1 medium apple, 1 medium banana, 1 medium grapefruit, 1 cup kiwi, 1 cup grapes, 1 large orange, 1 medium peach or pear, 1 cup raspberries/blueberries/blackberries, 2 cups sliced strawberries, 1 cup watermelon

Vegetables  – a serving includes – 1 cup each of asparagus/broccoli/Brussel sprouts/carrots/cauliflower/celery/cucumber/peas/peppers/tomatoes/vegetable soup, 2 cups of lettuce/kale/spinach

Condiments  – a serving includes – 2 tbsp bbq and other low fat sauces and marinades, fat free dressings, mustard, honey, pure fruit jams

Snacks  – a serving includes – 1 oz low fat cheese, 8 oz cottage cheese, 12 mini rice cakes, 1 tbsp of peanut butter with celery sticks, frozen fruit bar, 4 oz fat free frozen yogurt

And we are also allowed half of a protein bar.  We are using the Cliff builder bars which are about equal to the P90X protein bars.  You can get them in the organic section of some Superstores, at MEC and also on amazon.ca

Each week we take turns doing up a meal plan for the coming week.  In another post we will give you an example of a meal plan. So far this plan is working if we keep up the exercising and stick to the servings etc.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Workout Wednesday

Wednesday, February 11 - Twin 1 did JM Video 3 and a supposed to be 30 min C25K on treadmill but after it took 17 min to get her treadmill going without it stopping she basically only ran total of 4min but walked/hill climbed the rest.  She says "hill climb" as she was on tip toe trying to get the treadmill belt moving for most of it.
Twin 2 did treadmill for 30 minutes (walk 1 min / run 3) and instead of doing a video just did her own arm/core exercises.

Thursday, February 12 - Twin 2 did bike for 1 hour, Twin 1 did JM Video 4

Friday, February 13 - Twin 1 did JM Cardio 1

Saturday, February 14 - HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Sunday, February 15 - Twin 1 did JM Video 3 & 4 to make up for Saturday and then today's.

Monday, February 16 - HAPPY 1ST FEBRUARY HOLIDAY! - Twin 1 did JM Cardio , Twin 2 did 1 hr on bike

Tuesday, February 17 - Twin 1 did JM Video

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Tip Tuesday


Visualize your run.  Skiers, bobsledders, and luge athletes have this one down.  They do the course in their minds before heading downhill.  It helps them relax and allows them to rehearse where they're going.  Visualization also works in running - both in races and workouts.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Friday Funny

Happy Friday the 13th and more snow!!

We are linking up to Runhaven for this Friday Funny (hope it works):

http://runhaven.com/2015/02/06/6-reasons-never-start-running/


If the link doesn't work here is your other Friday Funny

Have a great Weekend!!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Work out Wednesday

Wednesday, Feb 4 -  Twin 1 did JM Video 2.

Thursday, Feb 5 - Twin 1 did JM Cardio 1.

Friday, Feb 6 -Nil

Saturday, Feb 7 - Twin 2 did 1 hr on bike,  Twin 1 did JM Video 3 and took the dogs to Ashburn for 45 min

Sunday, Feb 8 - Twin 1 took the dogs to Point Pleasant for an hour, Twin 2 did 1 hr on bike

Monday, Feb 9 -  Twin 1 did JM Video 4 and C25K Week 3/Day 3 (25 min 1.4m).  The treadmill is temperamental if left for a few days unused and is hard to get it going again...may have to use it more frequently.  Twin 2 did treadmill for 35 min (must find iPod as it was a long 35 min) and JM Cardio 1.

Tuesday, Feb 10 - HAIRCUT DAY!!!  Twin 1 did JM Cardio 1

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Tip Tuesday


 
 
After a layoff, avoid comparing your results with those from before.  Instead, say to yourself: "That's the fastest I've run since I made my comeback!"