HAPPY MONDAY FRIENDS!

I am so excited to announce that I will be doing another Summer Shred!! We had such an amazing Summer Shred in MAY  that I couldn’t wait to get this SHRED on!! If you did the Summer Shred in MAY stay tuned to join a EVEN more amazing extreme Summer Shred in June as well (I will be posting this in the Facebook group).

I did a survey with my past group to find out what I could do to make the Summer Shred even more AWESOME and I added a few things that I think will be very helpful! I have added a running plan for those that want to run two days of the week as well as a weekly meal plan and shopping list!

The goal is 20 workouts in 30 days… and it will be challenging. The workouts are 20 minutes long (40 minutes for those who want to push themselves more) and who doesn’t have 20 minutes to work out each day?! The best part about this is you can do it from your home! Yes, you read it correctly 22 workouts in 31 days. The Summer Shred will start on Monday, June 1st and go until Sunday 30th.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

WORKOUTS:

Each week I will be posting a document of 5 workouts so you can plan your week accordingly. All you will need for these workouts are 5-8lb free weights (you can go heavier if you need to), a yoga mat, space to move about and a jump rope (optional). The workouts are intense, but there are always modifications. They are always different so you will never get bored!

The workouts will be 20-30 minutes long, but if you want to repeat them you could make it an additional 10-20 minutes! The goal is to push yourself as hard as you can for 20 minutes, no breaks!!! Just burn it out!!

I will also be including a running plan in the workout schedule to do twice a week for those of you who would like to add some running to the mix! —-> THIS IS NEW!

MEAL PLAN:

I am encouraging you to have one cheat day a week (your choice) that you can enjoy sweets or an adult beverage (all in moderation, of course). That means six days to eat as clean and as balanced as possible. Sticking to six small meals a day that incorporate a protein, complex carb and fat. I will also be sending you out a meal plan to stick to each week on Saturday mornings, as well as a shopping list!  This will include vegetarian options as well! Obviously everyone’s needs are different, so I will be encouraging everyone to get onto MY FITNESS PAL and log their daily eats to meet their daily recommended number of calories to help them with their goals.

FACEBOOK GROUP:

I have created a secret Facebook group for everyone in this Shred to be on so that we can all encourage each other and share some motivation. If you don’t have a Facebook, you will need to let me know so I can email you the workouts and meal plans. There will also be weekly prizes through Facebook for participants to enter if they choose!

MISCELLANEOUS:

The best part is, I will be at your service through the whole shred. If you need some advice about food, a workout move, or anything else… I am here for you! You can e-mail me whenever you want and I will get back with you within 24 hours!

COST:

The cost is only $35!! Basically only $1.50 a workout! I couldn’t think of a better way to get ready for summer. For those of you who want even more of a push, I will be adding in a chance to join Diet Bet! It will be $20 to throw into a pool and anyone can be a winner!!

IF YOU REGISTER WITH A DIFFERENT EMAIL THEN YOUR EMAIL I CAN CONTACT YOU AT PLEASE PUT THAT IN THE NOTES!!

As you soon as I receive payment,  I will send you a confirmation and get you started.

Registration will close on MAY 27^th at Midnight PST.

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to send me an email at nhershoes at gmail dot com.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a registered dietitian. I do have my Personal Fitness Trainer Certification from NESTA. Please talk with you doctor about any new diet or exercise program.

*If you are interested in more one on one attention, please ask me about virtual personal training, I would love to help you!

It’s time to be grateful….

To be grateful for the opportunity to get out and enjoy God’s beauty….

To be grateful to have the opportunity to get up early and see the sunrise….

To be grateful for family that are stepping out of their comfort zone and wanting to serve others more than themselves…

To be grateful to enjoy healthy food…

To be grateful to be able to see and read God’s truth…

To Be grateful for friends to send you sweet little notes and think about you…

Friends it’s time to be grateful, to remember things that are good in the world and put aside all that is bad.

Happy Monday friends! I hope you all had a wonderful MOTHERS day with your friends and family. I had one of the best weekends ever! Even though I had to work, I still got in some PLAY time too!

Friday morning Susie and I did a wonderful 5 mile run and just missed the rain! I think this will be the last time I wear my long sleeves for a while. I also got to test out my new KOSS FIT SERIES  headphones and they fit like a glove!! I love how light they are and they didn’t move at all. The sound is great too, even though I have the volume pretty low, so we can chat.

As soon as I got off work on Friday night the Hubby asked if I wanted to go for a bike ride to the local Farmers Market! Only one of my life long dreams I have always wanted to ride around town, but I don’t feel comfortable riding alone all the time. Thank goodness that the light held out a bit for us to enjoy the sunset and after we left the Farmers Market we rode to a new local Chinese Restaurant. 

We rarely if EVER eat Chinese food, but we thought why not…let’s live a little! I ordered the tofu veggie stir fry steamed and I added some chili paste and soy sauce. It was actually really good and they give you a ton!!!

The best part of the evening was hubby’s fortune. How perfect?!

Our 5 mile ride on Friday led to a 22 mile ride on Saturday morning!! I love waking up early together and being active. I can not tell you how much joy this brings me. We did a pretty tough ride..I think the coach came out in me and I was pushing hubby up some CRAZY hills.. he loved me for it  

Have I mentioned that I have been loving all the GREEN MONSTER recipes from my Shred! This week it was a tropical green monster. 1/2 cup OJ, 1/2 cup Coconut Water, 1 cup almond milk, frozen pineapple, mango and a banana, 2 cups kale or spinach. Blend and enjoy!

Thank goodness this weekend at work we had a HEALTH retreat up and I was able to enjoy some really GOOD EATS!

Got my prep on, on Saturday…we are headed into week 3 of the SHRED!

I am excited to try some of these yummy smoothies this week from my Cooking Light Magazine this month. I am kind of on a smoothie kick!

When I got home from work on Saturday, Hubby had dinner waiting for me on the patio! He grabbed me an Annie’s, Veggie no cheese pizza! I made a huge sexy strawberry and spinach salad. All was enjoyed with a glass of Cupcake Cab!

As if the weekend wasn’t packed with enough activities already, Susie and I finished our last long run at 6:30am on Sunday for a HOT 13 miles!!! We kept a good 8:22 pace and finished STRONG! Only 13 days till the MARATHON!!! It’s taper time  

After a long morning run there is only one thing to do on Mother’s day and that’s whatever my MAMA wants to do. She requested we hang out at the pool all day and enjoy being LAZY!

Sun +Pool +Mom + Family = BEST MOTHERS DAY EVER!

Hey, I may not be a mom yet…but I sure know how to relax like one  

Apparently I was the only one that thought the water felt amazing! It’s because I brought a floaty and even though everyone made fun of me!

Finally hubby joined me  

Out of the pool and end to the park. We grilled out and I enjoyed mostly clean eats, but did have a all beef hot dog..mom made me!  Love that we were playing in the park like KIDS!

Almost all the brothers made it this year, just missing Chris (missed you bro). So good to just relax and hang out with each other for the day, definitely don’t do that enough. Love my MAMA and I am so blessed by all that she has done for us kids more then she will ever know! Hopefully God willing I will get to celebrate Mother’s day as a mom…and if not..then I will still have a blast!

Question: How was your Mother’s day weekend, what did you do?

If we were having coffee I would tell you that the weather here in California has been a bit on the odd side. Raining one day and sunny the next. I am so excited about this weekend it’s going to be hot and I love hot!

If we were having coffee right now I would tell you that we had our first home study visit with our social worker and all went well! We have two more and we are praying everything would go smoothly as it has.  Mothers day is normally really hard for me, but this year I feel so much more at peace at where God has us and I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with all the wonderful Mothers in my life, including my own.

If were having coffee right now I would tell you that my husband got a new (to him) bike and we have been riding together since! Last night we rode to the Farmers Market and then to a local place for dinner! I love that we have found another common form of excercise and he even loves as much as I do!! Today we rode 22 miles and he crushed it!

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you that I am getting pumped about BLEND retreat! This girl loves her BLENDS and I can’t wait to give them all a huge HUG!!

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you that my marathon is in 15 days! Crazy right? I am getting nervous and excited all at the same time!! We did our last 18 miler on Tuesday and at the end I was feeling it! I started to tighten up a bit and even got a little emotional! I know that I will be fine physical, but I will have to push myself MENTALLY!

If we were having coffee this morning that I am loving the SHRED group! Everyone is so motivated and is crushing the clean eating and workouts! I can’t wait to start round 2! People have already shedding some major pounds!

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you that God is doing a huge work on my heart about being GENTLE and really enjoying the JOURNEY! I feel like too many times I look to far into the future and forget to enjoy the right here right now moments. I also sometimes can be harsh with my words to my husband and friends. I have this TONE sometimes that I don’t even here and I don’t even mean anything by…I need to think before I speak!! Oh how that is a life long goal of mine!

HAPPY HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There have been a lot of things I have enjoyed about this week and the first one being my new HEALTHY energy drink by FRS!

So, what is FRS? FRS stands for Free Radical Scavenger- which is another word for antioxidant

FRS Healthy Energy provides natural sustained energy without the crash!!! As I have been pulling some late nights and early mornings, I have needed the extra boost!  I took the chews on my 30 mile bike ride and my stomach handled them just fine and it gave me the sustained energy my body needed to finish!!!

Since the FRS Health Energy is loaded with vitamins and minerals! It’s been a great replacement for my 2pm tiredness.   I really liked a lot of the the flavors and they are super low in sugar. MY FAVORITE WAS THE Low Calorie Citrus Pomegranate  a close seconds was the  Apricot Nectarine .

I had  one right before my 18 mile run on Tuesday night and it gave me a boost just as FRS promises! Yes, I said TUESDAY NIGHT! It was a crazy run!

Visit FRS.com to request a sample pack of FRS hard chews, soft chews and low-calorie powder valued over $25. Pay only $3.95 for shipping and handling. I think I will be visiting today!

The full line of FRS Healthy Energy products (including ready-to-drink beverages, chews, powdered drink mixes, shots and concentrates) can be purchased at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Kroger, Whole Foods, Rite Aid, Meijer, Walgreens, Harris Teeter and FRS.com.  I will be picking some up at Walgreens this week!

Also, stop by FRS.com to enter the FRS Ultimate Fitness Giveaway for your chance to win FRS gear. Enter each week to better your chances at a grand prize package with a personal trainer, sessions with a nutritionist and a one-year supply. Entries FRS Ultimate Fitness Giveaway must be submitted by May 31, 2013.

*Disclaimer: FRS sent me product and compensated me for my honest review of their product as part of a FitFluential Campaign. The opinions shared are my own.*

Once upon time it was nice enough to grill out and pretend like it was summer! I don’t know what is up with the weather, but today it is RANING and there is thunder!!! I guess we need the rain, so I will be thankful 

Last week the Hubby and I had a few friends over for a little pre-summer Smirnoff and Baseball party!!! I was sent these new Smirnoff Light Sorbet’s to try out and I thought what a great way to get us in the mood for SUMMER!

Smirnoff Sorbet Light, a line of infused vodka that is not only delicious but 25% lower in calories than the leading dessert-inspired flavored vodkas. There are 3 new flavors to try – each just as light and refreshingly tasty as the next!! The three flavors are Lemon, Mango Passion Fruit and Raspberry Pomegranate.

I added in a little strawberry lemonade and sparkling water to the mango passion fruit and it was delish! A lot of people really liked the lemon with a splash of Sprite! I this would be perfect on those hot summer nights…or any night  

We fired up the grill…

and pared these fresh tropical drinks with some Shrimp, Avocado and Mango Salsa tacos! We grilled the shrimp add added in shredded cabbage, cilantro, avocado, and Fresh and Easy Mango salsa! It was almost like we were back in the Bahamas!

I couldn’t think of a better way to bring Spring to an end and get ready for SUMMER!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Smirnoff Sorbet Light. All reviews/opinions expressed in this post are unbiased & based on my personal view.

Question: What’s your favorite tropical drink?

HAPPY HUMP DAY!!!!!!!!!

I can’t belive I have only 18 days until my marathon!! People always ask me how I fuel before a race and a run, so I thought I would do a little post on just that. I am a huge believer in having a little complex carb plus protein at least 30 minutes before you head out the door for a run and since some of my runs start at 4:45am, I get up pretty early to make this happen!

I usually have a piece of whole wheat toast with a tbsp of almond butter before my shorter runs (anything under 7 miles) and if it’s a longer run I do the same thing, but I eat my favorite Vega Sport Gu’s along the way. I think a lot of time it just depends on what’s right for your body. Some people can’t eat anything before they run and others can have an entire breakfast. I will say that whatever you do while you train, should be the same thing you do on RACE day! While I am running  I usually carry a water bottle filled with Fitmixer amino acids as well.

I think my favorite thing to do post run/race is enjoy a big bowl of oats with my friends! I love our Friday morning FUN RUNS!! I always make a big bowl of oats with fruit and my favorite  Love Grown granola toppings.

And when I am on the GO I refuel with Love Grown HOT OATS! Friends these babies are soooo good and are packed with energy and good fats! There is around 250 calories in each cup and they have 7-9 grams of protein!! You can buy them on amazon now too!

So there you have it friends. I fuel with LOVE and almond butter

HAPPY MONDAY FRIENDS! I am back!

The break was nice, but now it’s time to get back to blogging!

My second annual Summer Shred has officially started and it is awesome to an amazing start. Now I know there quite a few of you that missed the deadline, but do not worry…I will be doing a second Shred Starting in JUNE! So keep an eye out.

This past week my Erin Condren Planner came in at the perfect timing!! (they are 40% off right now friends).

I finally feel like I am all caught up…well for now! MUCH MORE FUN to come!!

Loving that I am able to participate in the Shred as well and try out some of my favorite meal ideas! I always love to mix it up, but it’s great to be reminded of the things you love!

Love that the participants are keeping so motivated and getting new tastebuds!!!

I got so excited last week for summer, that I went birthday money shopping and got all kinds of fun new dresses. Apparently I really like STRIPES  

It’s safe to say that stripes are in  

So what have I been eating lately?! Some super delicious and clean FOOD for sure! 

Sweet potato with Fresh and Easy Veggie Chili and an avocado.

Fresh and Easy Kale Caesar Salad with Salmon and Avocado.

My Clean Chicken and Shrimp Enchiladas (will be posting full recipe on Friday).

GREEN MONSTERS ARE BACK! Hello SUMMER!

Shrimp and Avocado Ceviche Salads!

I also enjoyed my “cheat meal”. A beet burger and sweet potato fries from our favorite Redlands Burger joint, Eureka Burger. I also enjoyed some yummy Hanger Beer.

It was our date night and we finally saw 42!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY, an amazing story, you must go see it!

We also enjoyed a wonderful lunch after church with friends and ….

a little COCONUT Pink Berry! Ok, can you tell I am in love with coconut right now??

As far as workouts go…

I got my first ever BAMR Band and I was so impressed! It didn’t move at all! I will be ordering some more. They are super reasonable, cute, and are functional. I always am wearing a hat because I hate my fly always jumping out all the time!

This weekend we took Hubby’s new to him bike out for a 22 mile ride and he CRUSHED it!! He clipped in and all. He didn’t fall and was pushing me. So excited to find another common love!

I also got a chance to try out my new Ellie running shorts, they are short but boy are they comfortable. I love LOVE love that they have a wide waist and didn’t ride up once! If you are a shorts runner I highly recommend them!

We didn’t get our long run in this weekend cause Susie was out of town, we will be doing it tomorrow night (I know crazy). But this week we did get in a speed workout and our Friday Fun run 6 miles!

I also did two of my Shred workouts and I kicked my own butt!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am working on getting shirts made friends, so stay tuned!

and even baby onesies!

OK LAST THING!! 

I am so excited to announce that I will be hosting a class for the Influencers Network next THIS Thursday May 9th at 9pm EST! it is called Nutrition + Fitness for Busy ladies! The best part is it’s all online, so you can get in your jammies, sip a cup of tea, and enjoy a interactive fun class with me!! I can not wait to share tips on how to stay healthy while juggling a million and half things! Go sign up here today!!http://theinfluenceshop.com/collections/frontpage/products/nutrition-fitness-for-busy-ladies

I leave you with this awesome quote a friend shared with me, because I know this post was all over the place..but I just had so much to share!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Evening friends! Taking a little blogging break while I kick off the Summer Shred this week:) I will be back soon!!! Miss you all!

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you that I am in LOVE the warm weather. I honestly become a more joyful person in the summer. I could never live in Seattle.

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you that I am so looking forward to going to BLEND this year!! I can’t believe it’s less than a month away. I am so looking forward to seeing all my BLEND friends!!!

If were having coffee this morning I would tell you that we passed our HOME INSPECTION for our adoption!! We now have only three more home visits before we get in the waiting process, YAY!!

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you that my marathon is in 4 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!! We just completed a 15 mile run this morning, which we rocked our sports bra in (hello heat). We have our last 20 miler next week, then a 13 miler and the week before I will somehow get in a 10 miler.

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you how pumped I am about the SUMMER SHRED!! Today is the last day to sign up!!! We have over 150 folks signed up this year and it’s going to be so awesome!! Love everyone’s excitement and I think all the motivation to get ready for summer is going to rub off on everyone and we are going to see some amazing results!

If were having coffee this morning I would tell you about some fun new business adventures I am taking on…oh the excitement! This is the year to DREAM BIG friends! I have said it before that I wanted to do something’s, but fear has held me back…well not anymore!! I can’t wait to share all of them with you!!!

If we were having coffee this morning I would tell you how excited I am to spend our evenings on the porch this summer. The Hubby has worked really hard at making our backyard quite the hang out. Love me some grilling and baseball on a summer evening.