Fitness Friday Link Up: The First of 2014

Welcome 2014!

Last week we missed out on Fitness Friday. We were recovering from our trip to the ER. With that over, this week I've really stepped up my game in fitness. Maybe frustration, pent up anxiety, or just the new year, I'm sure motivated.

I decided to train for a marathon. Call me crazy, I know. I haven't even signed up for one, but want to try and train for one prior to planning for the next Hurley.:)

I've also decided to cut out added sugar from my diet. I need to start over because I ordered a Caramel Flan Frap from Starbucks. That is chalk full of sugar, but it was free. It hasn't been too hard to let go of sugar. I have frozen Craisins in the freezer for when I need a little something sweet.

Notice I said "ADDED" sugar. Sometimes there is just no way around it. I definitely pass up added sugar to my coffee, chocolate, candy. It may be my new outlook on fitness, but I really have taught myself how dangerous and destructive sugar is.

I also began using my Beach Babe video from Tone It Up. I love it. Great workouts. These ladies kept me fit after having a baby. And they now have a show on BRAVO. I'm so proud of them! Sometimes it feels like I know them...then I remember I don't :). Their exercises are fun and definitely impactful. I have gained a lot of support and community from participating in their workouts. You've gotta check them out!

Here was my week in Fitness:

Saturday: 8 mile run

Sunday: Beach Babe Sunset Stretch video, and 15 minute yoga workout by Atoning Yoga

Monday: 4 mile run, Full Barre workout

Tuesday: 6 mile tempo run, fine toning on Beach Babe

Wednesday: 5 mile run, Love your Total Body 2 by Tone it Up

Thursday: HIIT the Beach, Sunkissed Abs

Friday: 4 mile run, Barre

I hope that you are having a wonderful week in fitness! What is your favorite cardio activity?

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Word of the year: THRIVE

I really love this idea, setting a goal to focus on and making it one word. Of course I will still post my "resolutions" for the year, but I like to seek out a word that may represent the next year.

Last year we chose the word intention. This was mostly for the purpose of my inability to leave my phone. Social media is my weakness. I am constantly on it. So this year I wanted to seek out intention and be purposeful with my actions. I'm happy to say not only did I forget my phone but many times I left it and would forget about it. I do miss networking but I know that there is a time and place for it and it is not 24/7. Maybe 24/6 :). 

We were, as a family, seeking to develop deeper relationships with our friends and seek out a church. I am so lucky to have found a church family and am grateful for those around me. This year was a bit tricky as I went back to work and my schedule became very busy. I'm was blessed with a part time teaching job that will be able to clear my credential. 

In April, we began to be intentional about our finances, taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class. We buckled down and with 'gazelle intensity' we were able to pay off my student loans!! This has been such a blessing. 

So this year, we decided on the word THRIVE because of where we were and where we will be. That sounds odd!! I mean that we were in such a pit the last few years, it's awful to have debt and how that manifests itself is different for everyone. For me, I found it to be depressing, suffocating, and had a dragging effect on me. Not having so much of it releases it. Changing our lifestyle was hard, but well worth it! We are doing more now than we did with credit cards. Sure it's different things, but the biggest was donut and knowing where the money was coming from and going. 

So this year, I hope we will thrive: in our faith, our family, our relationships, our love, and in our roles as parents and in our jobs. 

What word are you inspired to live by this year?

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