Tiffany Helen - Brickhouse in the making

Being Intentional

2015-08-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

My mornings usually start off with waking around 4 am to nurse my daughter Abbie, burp and place her back into crib, and then pump whatever side she didn't nurse from. I tend to listen to my favorite podcast and gush over how adorable she looks sleeping.

As of late I've been more intentional about stay up instead of returning to sleep as it allows me some alone time to do my morning devotion and come up with a game plan on how to tackle the day with the kiddos. Now I'm sure there will be the occasional mornings where I'll crash back into slumberland after Abbie's breakfast but for now this is how it's going and I have to say I am loving my set aside me time even if it's occasionally interrupt with a half-awake toddler climbing into my bed for morning cuddles. Makes you appreciate the struggle that much more. What do you do or feel you could do to be more intentional about your day?

Xoxo,

Tip

Pensacola Beach Triathlon: Race Recap

2015-05-24T21:14:00.001-07:00

While typically a race recap would include me divulging to you my ins and outs of my race experience; this isn't that friends. Although I have been active this entire pregnancy I reluctantly had to sit this race out and I believe not race until after my little lady is here (we are down to 5 weeks yall #eek). As I progess closer to my 40 week mark I'm feeling more of the pregnancy symptoms that have eluded me since week 12. However I am grateful for such a long stretch of uber preggo strength. And not to toot my own horn I'm a pretty darn good cheerleader.

So I convince my once relay partner Andrea that she should go ahead and do the triathlon sans moi. And being the super OG that she is she took the challenge and just as I suspected rocked it!! Exactly the same way I was encouraged by my homie/fitspiration friend Mary and the ladies of my local running club Phat Girlz last year.

This year Pensacola Beach Triathlon served for me as a chance to give back with love and encouragement to ladies who always make me feel included and like I can reach whatever fitness goal I conjure up in this noggin of mine.....hehehe. I encourage you to give a triathlon a try near you. Don't let fear of failure intimidate you. Go out there, think fun, and just finish what you start & I promise you'll swim,bike,run & love it.

Race recap: Biggest Loser Half-Marathon

2015-05-08T09:38:00.001-07:00

A little over 2 weeks ago I completed what now actually seems bananas and honestly such an accomplishment. I mean I honestly went into it with training and all thinking ok I'm pregnant but I'm fit and aside from the slower pace, need to take more frequent potty breaks, oh and let me not forget Abigail taking over my midsection; I honestly wasn't feeling all that pregnant.

My friend Andrea and I decided to stay the night before at the host hotel, so packet pick up was swift at the expo downstairs and then we checked in and got settled in before going out to dinner with some of the other ladies that were there for the race. Then before bed my pre-race must, the runners flat photo. Lol

So race day...cause that's what you're here for right? Lol

So we didn't know that Mobile has 2 -civic centers and ended up walking half way to the one we saw on our way to our hotel the day before. Of course seeing the groups of runners with the same bibs going in the opposite direction got us thinking. So we called some friends that were also running and they confirmed we were indeed going in the wrong direction. All that excess walking got Abigail into sleep mode which to pregnantathletes = potty break hehehe. So since we were passing back by the hotel I dropped in to use the restroom & then headed over to the correct civic center. Ended up getting there just about 10 minutes or so before the race was scheduled to start. I wasn't really worried about warm-up cause like I said earlier we walked a bit so I had warmed up my muscles enough for the race. So in true Tiffany fashion I found my friends & we took some pre-race selfies, got my garmin and nike+ running app set to go as we inched forward in the corral towards the start line.

My game plan was to do run/walk intervals of 1:00 min run followed by a 1:30 min walk which for me placed me at about a 13:00 min/mile pace. I was beyond stoked about my pace, 30 weeks pregnant and I was only running :30 secs off of my pre - pregnancy pace. *breaks into happy dance * I was able to keep up that pace till the urge to take a potty break became too grave. I tried to run as long as I could before taking a potty break simply because there just weren't enough Port-a-potties on course . The 3-water stops I passed that had them only had one and they each had at least 3-4 people waiting to use them. I actually ended up just popping into a Chevron gas station around mile 5 that a fellow runner Larissa told me about. By then the urge was so severe I was reduced to only walking and it wasn't a swift pace at all. But after exiting the Chervon, Abby & I got in some H2O & consumed half of a pack of our black - cherry clif bloks and jumped back on the race course. Now I feel it is important to point out that at this point my Garmin went bonkers on me and on my search to find a restroom I forgot all about my Nike+ app that was running in my camel pak so it was never paused. Netherless I decided to just reset my Garmin (which meant not saving the data from 1st half of the race) just cause i need the notification of when to run/walk. * insert broken heart * So by mile 6 I was able to get the Garmin back on track and saw some friends on course and that gave a much needed boost to my endorphins tank. Mile 7 is where it got progessively tough for me. Pain slowly began to increase in my glutes and then my groin muscles. So much so by mile 8 I was just walking at a leisurely pace. People that I had passed early on were now passing me asking if I was ok and I assured them I was and thanked them. Between mile 8-9 I stopped to use the portable potty cause there was no wait, lol. And when I came out several of people I knew were walking by but by then I was down to a 30min/mile pace and just couldn't keep up. But God knew I needed some assistance if I were to make it to the finishline on my own two feet.

Insert my Andrea.

She comes around the corner uses the restroom and off we go. For about 2 miles we just walked speaking words of encouragement to each other and willing each other to just keep pushing forward. The crowd of runners at this point had thinned out as you could imagine and without Andrea being there I seriously believe I would have quit, I was just in that much pain. Later I learned that the pain I was experiencing was likely due to stretching ligaments and relaxing muscles. You know those pregnancy symptoms I was saying at the beginning I hadn't experienced, lol. Note to self: keep race distances to 5ks possibly 10ks in my 3rd trimester.

So now we are in the home stretch miles 11-13.1, By this time our friend Tabitha had joined us and we mustarded up the strength to run/walk again and with these intervals, time didn't matter it was just a way in our minds to get to the finishline quicker, I was determined to finish at this point, all the doubt I had in the previous miles were erased and etched in my mental was pain is temporary. By mile 12 I was back to exclusively walking and I knew that's pretty much all I could do at this point and that was totally fine by me cause I knew I was still moving forward.

Then I see my needle & thread aka Chrys, Melody, and there was one other person but I can't remember who and I feel pretty bad about that but they talked me through my last mile. Telling me stories to help keep my mind off the pain. That last 100 yds Chrys & I began to jog/walk again and ultimately jogging across the finishline. It truly hurt but then the sense of accomplishment becomes so intense you forget all your inhabitions and take off. Crossed the finishline with my buddy Chrys, she's just as awesome as Andrea. Then Larrisa, the lady I met back at mile 5 comes over to give me my finisher medal and up till then I was holding in my pregnancy horomone emotions aka no crying. Then she hands me a medal for Abigail and in conjunction that releases the water works followed by forever documentation of my ugly cry thanks to the Biggest Loser photographer. Lol

This 13.1 mile race for real is a highlight in my pregnancy journey and plan to stay fit during it. Can't wait to do it again next year with Abby, M3 & the hubster MJ at the finishline waiting!!

Race week: Biggest Loser half-marathon

2015-04-13T13:54:00.001-07:00

So it is finally race week, my 1st race of the year and of course I've gone big and decided on a half marathon; The Biggest Loser Half Marathon to be exact in Mobile, AL. I'm pretty over the moon about it for several reasons, the top two being last year this time I had completed my first ever half-marathon so I'm pretty stoked that I'm doing and then two I get to do it while pregnant.
Last year I felt like I was well on my way to being fit, definitely the fittest I had been in several years and so the plab was going to use the off-season to become lean and gain strength. Well not too long after my last race of the year we learned that we were expecting baby #2. So project lean is on hold till after our bundle arrives but staying fit is still part of the equation. I'm determined to make this pregnancy a fit one. Working out has become a norm, I still swim, bike, and run/walk. Of course like a majority of pregnant woman cravings sometimes get the best of me lol. But they haven't consumed me. Overall I'm just happy. Happy to be fit and pregnant and counting down race week!!! Stay tuned for pics of this weekends festivities. 😀😘 #pregnancyjourney #pregnantathletes #halfmarathonnextweek #fitpregnancy #fitfluental #sweatpink #raceweek

Race Report Santa Rosa Island Triathlon: The best is yet to come

2014-10-06T08:46:00.001-07:00

Although summer doesn't start in May I like to think that it did and with it the beginning of my first triathlon season. Rewind back to about 9 days before I fell in love with triathlons off of a dare/challenge to complete the Pensacola Beach Super Sprint TRI (which I highly recommend if you are looking to give the sport a go). To think a super sprint (300yd swim, 11 mile bike, and 5k run) just at the beginning of the summer took me almost 2 hrs to complete and here we are at the end of the season in some uber bananas weather conditions for biking & I completed a Sprint (600yd swim, 18mile bike, & 5k run) in 2hrs and 20mins. #mindblown. I forsure know that this couldn't have been done without my local TRI club TriGulfCoast and there awesome summer training sessions called Mere Mortals. I've never meet so many people in one place rooting for the success of their fellow athlete. Not once this summer did I ever feel like I was alone or left out being a newbie. I really looked forward to practice every Sunday. I've said it all summer but it's truly the best $40 I've ever spent! Sorry about the ramble I just can't say enough good things about these folks.
So for the breakdown....I registered for the race in the Athena division (women 165lbs and above). There were a total of 9 women that were 39& under in this category and I placed 6.

My splits:

Swim: 600yds finish 20:02 = 3:20/100yd
T1: 2:44
Bike: 18 miles finish 1:16:43 = 14.1 mph
T2: 3:08
Run: 3.1 miles 38:10 = 12:19/mile
Total time 2hrs 20mins

At the start I felt I had a bit of a struggle just trying to get around the other ladies which stalled my forward progression. I didn't let that shake me, I found a direction that I could maneuver better and went ahead as planned. I'm typically a pretty good swimmer but once rounding the first buoy I realized that the waves were a lot rougher than they seemed at shore so after taking in what seemed like a gallon of salt water I had a self talk moment and said to myself "girl you better get your uni lateral breathing on" if that is even a word #bahaha. And so I did. About half way through the swim course after every 3rd stroke and somtimes 2nd I only breathe from my left. Being able to do this brought a sense of calm over me and #boom just like that #beastmode was in full effect. Although I don't feel like my swim time reflected that I have to say I felt like a mermaid ripping through that water. Coming in to my bike felt like a lifetime, I think I was just so use to only having to run to the pavilion all summer. But eventually I was in my shoes with bike in hand headed for the "hot corner". Once there I was greeted with that unforgiving crosswind that would plague myself and everyone for the entire 18mile course. I can honestly say all summer I've biked and never have I come remontly close to anything that felt like that. I was certain that if I stayed too far right I would have an unwelcome rendezvous with the pavement or sand. Luckily I was spared. Coming back I thought of my son and his trains and how this was my last race of 2014 which made me tear up and at the same time think I better crank up my pedaling and I can without a doubt say that I pedaled with a greater intensity the second half of the bike course. Came into the tunnel to hop off Pinky and my legs were as heavy as lead so I had to pause as to keep from falling over while dismounting. With my family and friends standing there cheering I felt the need to move hastily. So I hopped of Pinky and went to get on my running gear. I struggled with my shoes which I know explained my T2 time looking like I was standing around taking selfies :-) promise I wasn't. I kept telling myself we are on the home stretch girl let's move it. I saw lots of familiar and unfamiliar faces on the run course and as usual they were being thier awesome shelves being encouraging and I returned the love and pressed ahead. If you don't know I changed to the Galloway run/walk method about two weeks ago and used the 2:1 ratio on my run this day and it proved to be a PR for me. Fastest 5k evers with a 12:19/mile pace. Woohoo. That alone made it my favorite leg of the race. :-) I sprinted in for the last say 150 yds & wrote it down in the books as the bittersweet end to a Phatbulous summer and TRI season. So glad I have this new love baby a new love yeah yeah yeah. *insert jiggy dance moves*

What's something new you've found this year????

Faith without work is dead

2014-10-04T18:52:00.001-07:00

Can we chat? Let's chat. I'm a woman of Faith. While the encouragement of the fabulous people I have the privilege of calling friends and family is well appreciated I know that without the Lord none of what I do is possible. He has given me the mentality and strength to completely prepare for this day. As I stood at the edge of those emerald green waters I prayed that he would for me as well as all my fellow athletes protect us and he did and for that I am grateful. I didn't place but I'm not sad or upset cause what I did today defied the laws of physics that I can't stroke that quickly, or pedal that swiftly or pound out that run. But I did and you know what friends for me it is only up from here. Cause I know my God will get me there as long as I keep putting in WORK!!!

On to the next.....TRI that is

2014-09-22T14:01:00.001-07:00

Now that Iron Girl Clermont 2014 has been conquered, it's full steam ahead to my biggest TRI of the season Santa Rosa Island Triathlon. All summer I've trained and set the goal of placing in the Athena category. Well after some calculations I've discovered the only place I can REALLY at this point shave time off is my run. So in attempt to finish in under 2 hrs I will be trying out the Galloway method. Think you're not a runner or want to ease into running give the Galloway method a try. I've heard nothing but positive outcomes. Even #RunDisney endorses training programs using this method. And we all know Disney is a fan of keeping things fun and easy. :-) You can thank me in the comments below. LOL

Question of the moment:

Are you going to give the Galloway method a try? #soundoffbelow

Race Day Iron Girl Clermont 2014

2014-09-20T19:09:00.001-07:00

When you have a warrior mentality, an attitude of faith, knowing that you've been equipped and empowered, all the forces of darkness cannot stop you.

-Joel Osteen

Humbled

2014-09-18T18:42:00.001-07:00

Hitting the road tomorrow headed to complete my 3rd, 2nd sprint triathlon of the season, Iron Girl Clermont. I'm truely amazed and humbled cause this time last year I honestly didnt know what a triathlon was. But If you were to ask me today I could tell you who won Kona and even a few of the woman who are pro triathletes in the USA. I find this sport to be an adrenaline rush and über rewarding with the sense of accomplishment each training and race leaves me filled with. This weekend is going to be nothing short of that as I get to do it with my girls Mary J McCaa and Tami Leasure . Although this will be Mary and my first time, Tami's already calmed her title of Iron Girl. I'm pumped and ready, is it time to hit the road yet?????

Dusting off

2014-08-17T03:05:00.001-07:00

So I haven't been as consistent with working out as I woukd have liked for the past let's say 4 weeks. I mean I didnt totally go hermit crab but I just havent been my "go-getter" self either. So as of today I am declaring to start an 8 wek challenge to eat clean and stick to my exercise plan cause Santa Rosa Tri is only 7 weeks out #Eek. And you jnow the plan #Athenapodiumbound so that mwans I need to be in #Athenapodiummentality for the next 7 weeks. So for the checklist.....

Workout calendar filled out -check
Meal plan filled out - check
Mind frame set - double check

So folks my heads in the game and I have no one to blame but myself so here is to 4 am workouts, hopefully but possibly some blood, I know lots of sweaty tears (man sweat stings when it gets in your eyes), & an attempt to blog daily or at least 3 times a week. Soooo talk to y'all laters gotta get ready for my Sunday morning grind #swimbikerun with my favorite group of triathletes Tri Gulf Coast #meremortals.

Today is a New Chapter

2014-04-21T05:34:00.001-07:00

My mornings are never quite the same, but this morning my little and I got up and dropped daddy of to work. I took a morning drive over to Starbucks to get a cup of dark roast coffee and a morning snack. Pulled into my drive way and just sat in the car listening to the classical music flowing through the sound system & took a moment to reflect and appreciate what God has done in my life. He's bringing me out of obesity, blessed me with a loving hubby and awesomely joyous little boy. Friends and family who I love and adore. God has placed me in my right mind when I woke this morning and done the same for my loved ones. Now I know this isn't my typical post and possibly not what you come to my blog to read but He's just been so good to me I feel I'd be selfish not to share with you. So my question for you, let me and the blogosphere world know how God has been to you? Sound off below in the comments!!!

Xoxo, Tip

My Vice

2014-04-02T20:56:00.001-07:00

Yes it's true, I'm struggling. So the "SWEETS" and I have a serious love/hate relationship (I love how they taste but hate what they do to my curves), I promise they are calling me, almost stalking me, lol. But on a serious note I really want to stay committed to my goal I have of being 200 lbs by the end of 2014 and we all know the sweets won't get me there. So I've turned back to writing about what I'm going through as an outlet and way to stay focused..... you know expressing is like releasing the issue, getting it out in the open. :) Unfortunately, for me at this stage venting just isn't enough. So you're girl suited up Plan B and found a mantra & placed it right where my $$$$$ are. Yes folks in my wallet I have a quote that I read on twitter, I think from @idillionaire (she has awesome inspirational quotes that speak to any circumstance) & it stops me dead in my tracks. Reminds me that I have what it takes to make it to my long term goal. I shared it with a friend of mine that is trying to quit smoking and she felt inspired as well...so I thought to myself let me share it with you my lovies....

Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.

So my question for you is what inspires you to keep it moving!!! Sound off in the comments below. #letsmotivateeachother

Happy Re-modeling lovies xoxo,

Tip

The Struggle is Real

2014-01-24T20:33:00.001-08:00

Like most journey's, January, the beginning has proven to be a bit of a struggle for me. However through this struggle I've managed to come out with some positive results.

I've finally mastered the art of meal prepping, we'll sort of. I'm the type of person that likes a fresh so to speak meal; I don't really care for leftovers. Don't ask me why cause my rationale is not rational at all. However I've come to terms with cooking for the day but making enough for the next day. So see I'm sort of doing it & that Lil change kept me from eating/making bad choices. For instance when I get hungry or the hubby is like let's go out for dinner , all I have to do is reach into the fridge and grab my pre - prepped meal.

Another win I'm having this month is planning out what I want to eat and make for the week. I decided to keep it easy and just eat the same meals Saturday through Friday. I break my meals down into 6 small meals. Here's a breakdown of what my meals look like this week.

Breakfast
Organic Oatmeal
1 cup of egg whites

Mid morning snack
1 scoop of whey protein isolate
A piece of fruit (Love my Granny Smith apples)

Lunch
5oz can of tuna
Light mayo
Dill relish
Salt and pepper to taste
3 slices of Wasa 7 grain crackers (crisp & light version)
Slice of tomato (I cut into 3 and make an open face sandwich)

Afternoon snack
1 scoop of whey protein isolate
A piece of fruit

Dinner
5oz chicken breast
1/2 cup of brown rice
1 cup of veggies

Evening snack
This just depends on how I'm feeling but here are a few of my faves

Lean Apple pie
Honey Nut Granola
Healthy Crunchy Granola Parfait
Healthy Smoothie
Baked Stuffed Apple with Greek Yogurt

Keep in mind that you can always modified these recipes to your likings.

What are some of your fave healthy eats, struggles, and wins so far. Sound off below and till next time here's to clean eats, new beginnings, & embracing but conquering the struggle.

Xoxo
Tip

Inspiration and Motivation

2014-01-13T20:03:00.001-08:00

Inspiration and motivation = "My Why" Why do I feel the need to get up 5 to 6 days a week and step into the grind of conquering my obesity? For me that reason is my commitment to God, myself, my hubby, my son and future children. I strive to be the best me I can be physically because I don't want something I have control over to control me. I want to have the energy to run and play with my child, do for my hubby, and Lord willing the body to carry many more children. These things for me propel me to keep going, day after day, through the soreness and bad days cause I know that rhe victory I will have will be much sweeter if I just keep PUSHING AHEAD!! Find your Why and remind yourself of it daily. Cause everyone benefits from positive reinforcement. So dream BIG, find your WHY, and DON'T BE AFRAID TO FAIL, just DON'T QUIT!!!!

Here's some links to some of my favorite youtube clips that I listen to on my way to workouts or just for pick me ups!!!!

Welcome to the grind
Dream without Fear, Live without Limits
The fire within
Becoming better than yesterday

2014 will be the year of my happy ending

2014-01-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

I've been contemplating for almost a week about how to start out my first of post for 2014, you know I so wanted it to be captivating, inspiring, and just all around move someone to get up and move. I mean I was really recking my brain with it but then I decided on this...just being real.

6 years ago I was 190 - 200 lbs easy. I was very active running 2 1/2 miles. 5-6 times per week. Just me, a sunny day, and my nano. If I was bored it was nothing for me to put on my running shoes and hit the pavement with no destination in mind. Then fast forward to present day and I'm married to my best friend and raising our first child, a son, M3 and housing in my 5'9 frame almost 300 lbs... eek. And while my Morgan's are my world and bring my never ending joy, I'm not content with who I've become physically. And don't get me wrong I'm definitely a lover of me lol but I know a healthier me will be so beneficial to me and my family (More on why later). (So this year 2014 is the year of losing the "off" switch to my beastmode which you will come to learn is code for "I'm focused and taking it to the next level" and you are so welcome to take this journey with me. Matter of a fact let's make a choice here today to make changes that will be beneficial to us loving ourselves. Welcome to a new you #letsgetit #changedoesnthappenunlesshabitschange

Xoxo Tip