Goodbye 2011!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year full of health, wealth and things that make you happy :)

Cheers to 2012!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Just because it's CHRISTmas eve doesn't mean you can skip out on the gym -- my boyfriend and I are about to go down to our gym and burn some calories!  Where are you going?

Highland Park Village carriage ride

Need an idea for a fun evening with the one you love or a group of your favorite friends?!  Take a ride through Highland Park via carriage ride while admiring all the Christmas lights.  There is a Starbucks conveniently in the HP Village so before you hop on your carriage, get a hot chocolate or apple cider.

Last weekend before the carriage ride, my girlfriends and I went to dinner at the new restaurant in HP Village, The Marquee.  It was everyone's first time at this restaurant, but we had all heard a lot about it.  They have a great cocktail menu; we tried the Trial Margarita, Scarf Dancer and the Taylor's Tea.  All of them tasted fabulous!  4 out of 5 of us ordered the soup of the day, which was a shrimp and lobster bisque - YUM!  Also ordered was the big eye tuna tartar - I didn't try this but it looked delicious.

After dinner we walked to Starbucks, checked in at the carriage ride and off we went on a fun ride with Sophie the horse!  All the Christmas lights in the neighborhood were so pretty!

Me and Linds

My sister Haley and me

Christmas in Shreveport

Attending our first Christmas party this year...in Shreveport!  We are leaving today and will be back tomorrow in time for some Legends basketball, GO COLLIN! Thanking our host ahead of time for an amazing dinner, fabulous wine and a very good time!  I'm hoping to double my Christmas budget at the craps table tonight!     

9 Days until Christmas!

I've been without internet (according to AT&T I went over on my data usage?) for almost a week!  You don't realize what you have until it's gone...  But, it's back now so I can finally get online and take care of my urge to blog!

FYI, 9 days until Christmas.  I know some of you are done, almost done or not even close to having all you need for family and friends.  I suggest you check out Pottery Barn - they have fabulous and unique gift ideas; Bath and Body Works has really good deals when you buy more; Francesca's Collections has super fun and affordable gift ideas for the girlies on your list;  I love Cotton Island for great fashion jewelry and accessories; Sample House is one of my favorites for gifts - they have yummy candles, beautiful home decor, accessories, and cute gift wrapping supplies.  Support the company I model for, TASC, and go to Sports Authority and purchase some workout gear for you and your family...because you can never have enough workout clothes!

TASC Gear

*Pictures taken by BE photography

Classic Pilates

Classic Pilates is one of my (several) obsessions.  Thankfully I live super close to this small pilates studio because I go there 2-3 times a week.  They offer private sessions, semi private-sessions, mat and barre classes.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE working on the mat, using the reformer and toning my booty at barre class.  I've incorporated pilates into my weekly exercise routine and have honestly seen and felt results. Pilates is a great supplement to resistance training and cardio training!  Click on the link to view their website and then go check out the studio -- the instructors are fabulous and you'll get a good workout too.

Pictures taken by BE photography 

Natural Food Remedies

This morning on the Today Show, Joy Bauer talked about natural health remedies.  Here's what she suggests: 

Natural Food Remedies

Vinegar helps in lowering blood sugar (good for helping control type 2 diabetes).  Here's an idea:  mix with olive oil and put on your dinner salad.

Honey can help your kid's cough and helps them sleep. Same effects for adults.

Chamomile tea for menstrual cramps.  Drink 1-3 cups a day during menstrual cycle. It's Caffeine free so no need to worry about it disrupting your sleep.

Peppermint oil will help with irritable bowel syndrome. 

Thanks Joy!


*If you have a health condition (diabetes, high bp...etc.) consult your doctor before adding these remedies to your diet.

UGH!  Have you seen the weather forecast for this Sunday, RACE DAY?  I'm dreading this 1/2 marathon even more now........

Here's to a good time

As my boyfriend and I were on our way to church Sunday morning, my cousin texted me regarding lunch -- we like to plan ahead, especially when it comes to good food.  Have you ever heard of The Mecca?  If you are a Dallasite then I'm sure you've heard of it or been to it.  It's some good "home cooking since 1938".  I was sceptic as we drove to it as I have never been in that part of town.  Yikes.  But as soon as we sat down I felt at ease while I scanned the walls covered in local sport banners, pictures and a giant whisk.  Our waitress was pleasant and seemed overly excited to serve us, lol.  My boyfriend had previously told my cousin about their famous cinnamon rolls so we ordered one for our appetizer.  It was huge; and Collin ate most of it without hesitation.  Unfortunately it wasn't gluten free so I was only able to enjoy a 1/2 of a bite, lol.  MMMMMM!

As for the rest of our brunch, we all enjoyed what we ordered.  I had scrambled egg whites, bacon and hash browns.  (I ran 6 miles later that day, ha!)  Head over there next time you're in the area, tho I doubt you'll be over there, so just make plans to go check it out ;)

Also, they offer a cinnamon roll that feeds like 50 people -- I may get that for my cousin's birthday party instead of a cake.  LOL!

Cheers ;)

26 days until Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like

CHRISTMAS!

I put up my little Christmas tree last night.  I've had it since my first Christmas.  Every Christmas, my Mammaw gives me an angel ornament...because I'm such an angel ;) HA!  Each grandkid has their own Christmas tree ornament theme - my sister's tree is full of doll ornaments and my cousin Collin's is full of nutcrackers...etc.  It's a special tradition and I'm looking forward to my 26th angel ornament to add this year :)

Dinner, Healthy & Gluten-free Recipe

This evening I cooked dinner for my boyfriend.  He LOVES Chinese food so I chose a recipe from "100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes" -- Pan Roasted Chicken Breasts with Apricot-Teriyaki glaze. Success!  He absolutely loved it...and didn't even know it was gluten free ;)  


Email me if you want the recipe; Jo-Ann, I know you would enjoy this ;)


I'm kind of enjoying playing with food in the kitchen...


Till next time!

Half; GIVE THANKS

Ok, so I just realized my half marathon is next weekend!  Oops, guess I better go down to the gym and RUN!

I know it's Thanksgiving week and I know everyone is getting busy with family, friends and food, but...

Don't set yourself back - make sure you get 20-30 minutes of physical activity everyday this week. Wake up early Thanksgiving day and go for a walk or jog with a friend to jump start your metabolism!  Instead of taking a nap after your Thanksgiving feast, go for a walk.  Do enjoy the yummy treats after the meal, BUT in moderation - there's nothing wrong with having a couple bites of 2-3 of your favorite sweets.  If you aren't planning on getting your cardio in at the mall on Black Friday ;), head to the gym -- it'll be open!

See you next week!  

Enjoy your holiday and give thanks :)  

God Bless! 

11-11-11

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY SISTER AND HER NOW HUSBAND, SHANNON!  They were married on 11-11-11.  May God bless your marriage everyday :)

LOVE YA'LL

Texas Legends

Haley's Bachelorette Party

First stop of the night, Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck

Dinner at Dick's Last Resort

Out making a scene in Uptown

Cheers to Haley's last night as a single woman :)

Praying for my sweet Pappaw.

My new obsession:

PB 2

Click to order this peanut butter and save tons of calories!

There's also a nutrition store that sells it: Results Protein & Nutrition in Addison, TX

CLICK HERE FOR TASC PERFORMANCE FALL CATALOG

CLICK ON SHOP WOMEN'S AND YOU'LL SEE ME

Happy shopping ;)

Leaving for Beaver Creek this morning for my sweet friend's wedding! Congratulations Lindsay and David!

PS. While I'm gone, I hope everyone is planning on staying active for the remainder of the week...even though we're in record breaking heat! Stay cool and hydrated! Love you all!

JH Vacation, 2011

The most beautiful place I've ever seen and the perfect place to go during the summer.

Matt and me taking a break from shopping in Jackson Hole.

Absolutely breathtaking view at Yellow Stone.

Red Hills on the way to our picnic.

Destin Vacation, 2011

View from our patio in Destin, FL. Beautiful place to be in July!

Having fun at the shops at Seaside, FL. Also had the best taco salad at the Taco Bar :)

Matt and me enjoying the clear waters on the Destin beach.

Hope everyone plans on staying INSIDE today, tomorrow and maybe for the rest of the month ;) It's HOT! If you need to do your cardio please avoid doing it outside; use the treadmill, elliptical, bike or jump in the pool for a swim. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated -- drink water before, during and after exercise.

xoxo

VACATION TIME!

It's finally here! My vacation to Florida! We'll be leaving this weekend and won't be back until next weekend! Woohoo!

Then we will be taking a vacation from our first vacation, heading to Jackson Hole, Wyoming! I've never been to either destinations so I'm looking forward to every single minute of it!

Love you, mean it! ;)

Here's the most recent published article I wrote for the Cooper blog:

Ten Common Fitness Mistakes

Make sure you guys are buying organic fruits, especially fruits that you don't peel to eat (strawberries, apples, pears, berries...etc.). I recently heard that washing them off before you eat won't get all pesticides off. EW!

Lake Travis

Here's a couple pictures of some party people on Lake Travis. All the boats are hooked together...it was a pretty interesting event. I saw a lot of things I did not want to see...HAHA ;)

The boys...sitting around the fire, playing the guitar and singing along. We made s'mores each night -- don't worry, I only had one and even had gluten free graham crackers :)

And the girls...hanging out on the boat after wake boarding and surfing. No, I didn't participate in the water games...I just cheered 'em on.

That's Lindsay and I enjoying a SKINNY margarita: Patron, lime juice and a little water :) We saved about 700 calories! Why would you ever drink a regular margarita when you can enjoy one that is much better for you ;)

Here's an article I wrote for The Cooper Aerobics Wellness Journal that you all should read:

Top fitness mistakes you're making:

-exercising too little or too much

Too little exercise can lead to serious diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity, etc. Too much exercise can cause aches and pains, fatigue, weakened immune system, decrease in performance, etc. Shoot for 4-5 days of physical activity each week.

-never changing your exercise routine

Your body will stay at the same level of fitness if exercises aren’t new or challenging. At this point, your body is said to be on a plateau. Change is good.

-only doing cardio

Your exercise program needs balance. A successful training regime should address both cardiovascular training and resistance training.

-not progressing in volume

When the body gets used to an amount of weight, fitness improvements are limited. Change the number of sets, repetitions and weight being lifting to avoid reaching a plateau.

-eating too little

If you aren't eating enough, your body goes into "protection mode" and actually stores fat to survive. Also, exercise performance will be hindered if the body is not properly nourished.

-exercising the same muscle group two days in a row

During exercise, you’re actually breaking down your muscles. In order for your muscles to recover and rebuild they need a day of recovery.

-skipping the warm up

Properly warming up reduces the risk of injury. At the beginning of the exercise routine, dedicate approximately 10 minutes to prepare the targeted muscle group.

-lifting too much weight

Lifting weight that is too heavy alters proper posture. This can lead to muscle and joint compensations that increase risk of injury. Lift a weight that is challenging enough that the muscle fatigues by the last few repetitions.

-not drinking enough water

Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise. Dehydration alters exercise performance and may cause dizziness, cramps, lethargy, etc.

-working through an injury

Acute pain could turn into chronic pain if not properly addressed. If you have an injury, consult an expert and/or remember RICE: rest, ice, compression and elevation.

BONUS: -not having a professional trainer J

Having a professional trainer keeps you on task, challenges your body and provides expert assistance. It is also easier to go to the gym before or after work when you know you have an “appointment”.

Need your suggestions!

So as you know my little sister is getting married! They've set the date: 11/11/11

I'm helping with the planning (and having way too much fun) and would love your suggestions on a GREAT but reasonably priced reception venue. We are thinking maybe a hotel or reserving space at a fun restaurant. PLEASE PLEASE let me know if you have a GREAT idea! Just send me an email, loren.maine@gmail.com, or tell me about it over our workout session.

Thanks bunches!

There ya go Ed, "push until failure!"

:)

Congratulations to my little sister! She and her boyfriend are now ENGAGED! He popped the question yesterday late afternoon...SHE SAID YES!

So happy for my sweet little sister and her fiance, Shannon. Let the wedding planning begin!

Ah, just finished my cardio session at the track with Kathryn. Felt good to chat, walk, jog and sprint! Don't miss out on a good day for a workout :)

Now I'm home drinking a glass of milk for ultimate muscle recovery! Spring is here, and you know what that means...tank tops, sundresses and swim suits...let's tone up!

This is a great article describing what exercise machines you should avoid and why. I agree with all of these, as I'm sure you can tell throughout our workout sessions. I am a believer in "functional training" and exercising on a machine doesn't allow functional movement training. If you must use a machine, make sure you do it correctly, and please don't use the machine often :)

Check it out: 6 exercise machines you should avoid

(SW, thanks for demonstrating what not to do.)

Hope everyone is out enjoying this beautiful day! I walked 4 miles with some girlfriends early this afternoon. What did you do?

SPRING BREAK IS HERE!

I know it's a much needed break from your normal routine, and a break from me, but don't take an all out vacation from your exercise. Since I won't be around next week, I challenge you to try some new things on your own. Here's some suggestions:

*If you're on the beach (Ed), do some walk/run or walk/jog intervals on the sand.

*If you're somewhere in the mountains, run up some hills.

*If you're at spa resort, see if they offer yoga classes. If not, buy a yoga video and do it in your hotel room.

*If you're in Dallas (SW), do something different: head to the track for some sprints; go run bleachers; swim some laps; or ride your bike around the lake.

*If you're bored, go play golf, shoot some hoops or play tennis. Just do something that will get you moving.

I'm giving you guys permission to take a break from weight lifting, as it's good to give your body a regeneration period/break.

Enjoy!