Want to keep up with my Brain Tumors Suck Running? Hop on over to my new blog to see what I have been up to and where this new adventure has been taking me….
New Sock Obsession
June 26, 2012 By
Hi. My name is Tera and I am a runner. Wait, there’s more. As a runner, I am obsessed with shoes. I have shoes for short runs, shoes for long runs, shoes for trail runs, shoes for mud runs, shoes for post runs, shoes for “I want to look cute” runs and shoes for the days of non-runs. I even have a few boxes of shoes for future runs. In my head – shoes make the runs. That was until I discovered PRO Compression Socks. I have never been a huge believer in the whole compression sock thing. I thought they were just a silly looking sock that runners wore to look more “intense”. Really people? Don’t you know that a good run is all in the shoes? Durh!!! Well – durh to me. I am a woman and EVERYONE knows a woman is NEVER wrong, so I won’t say I was wrong about compressions socks. I was “misinformed”. The first time I wore my PRO Compression Marathon socks (which I received as a gift), I wore them because it was 20 degrees out and I didn’t want to freeze my toes off and all of my other socks were in the laundry (yes….not all women are the domestic kind and keep up on laundry. I’m a runner and running comes before any housework dammit). Off to a brisk 5K I went in my silly socks and, wouldn’t you know it, I PR’d. Fastest 5K ever. Huh, it couldn’t have been the socks. But just to make sure, I wore the same socks on my long run the following Monday. To my surprise my legs felt amazing and I was a little faster. Huh. Maybe there was something to these socks. A few days later I wore my regular cotton socks during a long run and my legs felt tired and like 2 bricks compared to the run in my compression socks. Again, I am a woman and I hate to be wrong so I had to try this experiment a few more times before I was a believer. AND now I am obsessed! My runs in either my marathon (long socks that go to the knees) or low PRO Compressions socks always feel better. No post race cramping, soggy feet or aches. I love my PRO Compression socks almost as I LOVE my shoes – and that’s saying a lot from Miss Shoes Fanatic. So why am I telling you this? Because I don’t want you to think that I am just another silly runner wearing these socks to look “intense”. There is a purpose for these socks and I don’t want you to miss out like I did. From now until July 10th, PRO Compression is offering a 40% discount if you use Coupon Code SMO610. AWESOME!!!!! But hurry, quantities are limited. I plan to get the new Marathon Orange socks today!!!!
Me and my besties!!!!
Brain Tumors Suck!
May 2, 2012 By
I am SO excited to finally share this with you! May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month and this year I will be celebrating 12 years of being tumor free. Because of this incredible blessing, starting in May, I will be wearing these shirts during my races all summer long to help raise the awareness of brain tumors. If you, or someone you know, has been effected by a brain tumor, please send me their name and I will carry them with me in spirit during my races. I will be writing their names on my legs, and arms if needed, for each race. These shirts will also be for sale and all of the proceeds will be going to Miles for Hope (donations will also be accepted). A huge thank you to Erin Carlen Rabideaux of Carlen Enterprises for making these beautiful shirts and helping me make this happen.
New Additions For Fitness To Go
May 1, 2012 By
Just a few quick updates!!!! This Spring Fitness To Go is adding the following classes:
Couch to 5K Running Group
Tuesday at 6:00 pm
Meeting at the Roberts Elementary School
Cost: $25 (covers 5K race registration)
Get Fit Bootcamp
Thursday at 6:30 pm at the Fitness To Go Studio
Cost: $10 drop in / $40 for 5 class punch card / $70 for 10 class punch card
*Discounts will be given to participants attending both Monday and Thursday night bootcamps
Oatmeal Bake Bars
April 11, 2012 By
I am a creature of habit and EVERY morning I have the same meal. Oatmeal, egg whites and flax meal mixed together in a bowl. Gross looking, yes. Gross tasting, no. But, this creature of habit can only take the same meal over and over again until I want to yack. Enter the Oatmeal Bake Bars. This is one of the greatest recipes that I have EVER tried. Kudos to the Sweaty Betties for this awesome little nugget of PURE goodness. I made the Banana and Walnut version, but I can’t wait to try the others.
Ingredients
- 2 c. Old Fashioned Oats (not Quick Cooking)
- 4 scoops vanilla whey/20+ grams of protein per scoop (I used 8 scoops of PLAIN Tera’s Whey which equaled out to 80 g. of protein total)
- 1 t. baking powder
- 1/4 t. salt
- 2 t cinnamon
- 4 egg whites or 1/2 c. liquid egg whites
- 1 1/2 c. water (or almond milk)
- 3/4 c. Pumpkin or NO sugar applesauce
- 4-6 packets of Truvia or Splenda *OPTIONAL
OPTIONS FOR TYPES OF BARS
- Apples and Pecans ( 1 whole apple sliced, 1/4 c. pecans chopped)
- Bananas and Walnuts (1 whole banana sliced, 1/4 c. walnuts chopped)
- Coconut and Almond (1/2 c. shredded coconut, 1/4 c. almonds chopped)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix wet ingredients together – except fruit, nuts or coconut. Mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl. Spray 8 x 13 cake pan with EVOO. Mix wet & dry ingredients together. Add nuts, half of coconut or fruit. ***If doing banana, line the pan with banana slices. Pour mixture into pan and top with shredded coconut or extra apple slices. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until a knife/toothpick comes out clean..
Serving Size: 1/4 of pan Total Servings: 4
Per Bar: 0.5-2 g. fat, 29 g. carbs, 33 g protein, 3 g. sugar
Healthy White Chicken Chili
February 8, 2012 By
I got this amazing recipe from a client. I made it this weekend and it was a great way to warm up after a “chili” day!
1 tablespoon EVOO
1 1/2 cups chopped onion (I used 1 small onion cause I’m not a huge onion fan)
2 4-ounce cans chopped green chiles
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I used 1/4 t and it was a bit much)
2 15-ounce cans great northern beans, rinsed
1 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed
4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
4 cups shredded cooked skinless turkey, or chicken
Heat oil in a large pot oven over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in chiles, oregano, cumin & cayenne. Cook for 5 minutes. Stir in beans and broth; bring to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes. Add turkey (or chicken); cook for 5 minutes more. Serve.
Budget Friendly Workout Equipment
February 8, 2012 By
A personal trainer walks into a gym….stop me if you’ve heard this one before…and she sees all of the fancy, sparkling, state of the art equipment and her mind races. “Look at all of this amazing equipment that I can use to help my clients get into the best shape of their lives”. The next day the same trainer walks into a clients home that is free of equipment and she is asked by her client, “What equipment can I buy on a strict budget to help me get into the best shape of my life?” And again, the trainers mind races at the idea of all of the fun, inexpensive and effective ways to help her client get a great workout.
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on the latest gadgets to be fit and healthy. In this economy many of us have had to eliminate our gym memberships and workout in a cost effective way in our own homes. Here are a few items that I use with my clients that can be used in your home or when you travel and won’t put you in debt.
The Gymboss Interval Timer gives your workout the discipline and structure necessary to take your workout to the next level. The easy to use timer allows you to stay on track during your interval or tabata workouts by eliminating the pesky issue of checking the time during your intervals. Just set it, forget it and put all of your focus on your workout!
Resistance Bands are THE BEST way to workout in a cost and space effective way! Unlike free weights, resistance bands are lightweight and travel well. With dumbbells, each time you want to add or decrease weight, you have to go grab another set of weights. But with resistance bands, all you have to do is tighten or loosen your grip. It’s like having multiple sets of weights in one piece of equipment.
THE ULTIMATE must have for the in-home exerciser is the TRX. The TRX system is great for the traveling fitness freak, an outdoor enthusiast or the average Joe who doesn’t have much space to work out. The TRX is a little more spendy, but it is your perfect all-in-one piece of equipment. Hook the TRX up to a tree, pole or sturdy beam in your house and your set for a great workout using just your body weight. Cardio, resistance, stretching – the TRX can do it all.
Mean, Green Pumpkin Protein Machine!
December 13, 2011 By
This is not the prettiest shake in the world, but it is SO yummie.
2 scoops vanilla protein powder
1 heaping tablespoon of canned pumpkin
1 handful of spinach
1/2 of a banana
8 oz cold water
Sprinkle of Cinnamon
Sprinkle of Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/4 cup dry oats (optional)
Blend until smooth.
The Top 10 FITmas Gifts in 2011
November 29, 2011 By
Looking for that perfect gift for the fitness fanatic in your life? Look no further. Here are my recommendations for the best fitness gift of the 2011. I use these ALL of these products and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a great gift for a loved one or yourself.
TRX SUSPENSION TRAINER
$199.95 If you’re looking for the ULTIMATE gift to give someone, this would be it. The TRX system is great for the traveling fitness freak, an outdoor enthusiast or the average Joe who doesn’t have much space to work out. Hook the TRX up to a tree, pole or sturdy beam in your house and your set for a great workout using just your body weight. Great for all fitness levels. Use code TRXGIVE when checking out and get FREE SHIPPING and 20% off.
BOSU TRAINER
$49.95-$109 Do you BOSU? You should. The BOSU is an amazing functional tool to help improve your balance, strength, agility and speed. Can be used flat side up or flat side down. The BOSU takes exercises like lunges, pushups and planks to a whole other level.
GYMBOSS
$19.99 The Gymboss interval timer will give your workout the discipline and structure necessary to take your workout to the next level. This easy to use timer will allow you to stay on track during your workouts by eliminating the pesky issue of checking the time during your intervals. Just set it, forget it put all of your focus on the workout to get the best results possible!
2 LB. WEIGHTED GLOVES WITH REMOVABLE WEIGHTS
$17.99 These adjustable gloves can be used for strength training, boxercise, walking. Removable 1 lb weight packets allow the gloves to go from 0-2 lbs. I love these gloves because there have been so many times when I am in between weights and these allow me to make small weight increases.
10 LB MAX-VEST
$44.99 I’m a sucker for the Cathe products and this vest is awesome. It adds just enough weight to fry my legs during my plyo workouts. I love doing walking lunges when wearing this vest.
THE PERFECT PUSHUP
$39.95 Don’t knock it until you try it! When a client of mine suggested I add it into my chest routine, I laughed at him. I am not one to try “infomercial” products because they are usually cheesy and junk. But I tried it and it took my pushup to a whole new level – it added depth and rotation into a normal pushup while keeping me in perfect form with less strain on my wrists.
THE ULTIMATE WORKOUT LOG
$12.95 This 24 week workout journal allows you to log your cardio and strength workouts. Every page has a motivational saying and gives you fitness information and facts that can help you reach your personal goals.
FITBOOK JOURNAL
$22.95 A personalized, flexible, and functional fitness/nutrition journal that offers a unique 12-week system to plan for success, track your progress, and reach your goals. At just 5.5″, the fitbook is portable – but durable enough to endure being toted around. The fitbook is small in size, but packs a punch in utility with durable plastic coil, an elastic strap to mark your place, a handy slot in the back to stash your gym card, and includes a pint-size pen.
FITNESS TO GO GEAR
$20-$40 Look cute and fit while sporting the Fitness To Go Apparel. Jackets, short sleeve sweat wicking tees and tank tops in lots of fun colors. Also, stay hydrated while drinking out of your Fitness To Go water bottle.
FITNESS TO GO GIFT CERTIFICATES
$10-UNLIMITED Give the gift of health this year. Purchase Gift Certificates that can be used for any Fitness To Go Service. Classes, Training, Equipment Orientation, Custom/Private Bootcamps, Program Design – you name it, Fitness To Go can help you get in the best shape of your life in 2012!
Make GRATITUDE your ATTITUDE
July 26, 2011 By
Fitness. It’s the first thing we think about every January 1st or when we have an upcoming event where we want to look amazing but it’s the last thing we check off on our giant “to do” list. We look at fitness as “a thing” we have to do to look better or to lose weight . For many of us it has a negative connotation – something we have to suffer through in order to reach a certain goal. “No pain, no gain”. Negative, negative, negative. But what if we looked at fitness with a whole different attitude – gratitude. Something to be thankful and grateful for.
When we think of being grateful, we think of the BIG things in life – a roof over our heads, a job that pays the bills and a family that loves us. But what about the smaller things like being able to walk up a flight of stairs, play in the yard with your kids and the ability to move? Our fitness is often over looked and taken for granted. It’s something we’ll focus on when we have more. More time, more money, more incentive. But what if your fitness abilities were taken away from you?
Fitness isn’t all about fitting into a pair of size 00 skinny jeans or getting back to your “high school weight”. It’s about how great moving makes you feel and the awesome things you can accomplish with the incredible body you have. When our ability to use our bodies is taken from us, we regret the things we didn’t do when we could have. You hurt your knees and you wish you would have taken up running. You break your arm and you wish you could toss the ball with your kids. So why not try living without regret and doing things just because you can. I’m not usually one to toot my own horn, but in the last year and a half alone, I ran the distance of the United States. My body and fitness allowed me put one foot in front of the other for 3500 miles. I didn’t do it to lose weight, win a contest or because someone was chasing me. I did it because I could. And I am extremely grateful that my body and fitness level allowed me to experience every mile of it.
This month I challenge you to look at fitness in a whole new light – with gratitude. Walk into the gym with a positive attitude. Be thankful that you can ask your body to do something and it will do it. Be grateful for the pride you feel after a great workout. And most of all, appreciate the amazing moments you will experience when you are grateful for what you have.
Fun Tip: Did you know that your level of fitness is what got you here? Before you were born, you “ran” the most important race of your life. In essence, you competed in a race to the distance of the moon against the entire population of the US and Japan and you won. In the survival of the fittest, you won the ultimate prize – life. What are you going to do with your prize?
Want to find your “gratitude”? Visit an amazing website that I am very grateful for Grateful Now