The Tuesday after THE Monday…

Yesterday I had off from work…so I had a 4 day weekend!!! I took advantage of the early day and got my run in after I dropped the kids off to school.   

 That’s how I felt…barely HOLDING on!!  Those weekend indulgences real showed me (AGAIN) that you have to fuel your body with the GOOD stuff in order to perform at all!! #yuck. I managed to suffer through a little more than 2 miles, at about 7:30 in the morning (ie the gates of HELL have opened!!!).  

I saw on IG on Memorial Day about Runners World’s challenge.  So, I decided I wanted to participate in the Run Streak.    What is that, you ask?? Commit to run a mile every day from Memorial Day until July 4th.  I can do that!!!

Source: Runners World Run Streak FB page

 So…Challenge ACCEPTED! Post pics on IG with the hashtag #rwrunstreak and join in!!  Check out their FB page and follow along!! WHO’S with me???!!!!

To get back on track with my food, I had a LOVELY salad with left over grilled skirt steak and my usual fixings of spinach and arugula mix, “Cowboy Cavaier (corn, black beans, pinto beans, peppers and onions from Costco), fried onions (of course!!) and Lite Balsalmic Vinagrette)…..

Yum!!!!! 

Wednesday (ie today) means some more basketball for Julian and then a date later with this guy… 

 

DREADmill City, sweetheart!!! Gotta get my mile in!!! 

  My sis knows me ALL to well!! #droppedtheMIKE
How was your day??

Ever have those runs/workouts that you SUFFERED through because of poor food choices??

Oh….almost forgot! For those of you in the Tampa Bay Area, if you are looking for a good run series to keep you running in the Summer, try the Watermelon 5k Series in Lakeland. 

I do it EVERY summer! Let me know if you do!!! ❤️

Memorial Day Weekend Fun

Man…that was a BUSY weekend!  But let me say, that NONE of us would be able to enjoy this past weekend, or ANY weekend if it wasn’t for the bravery and sacrifice of all of our Armed Forces!  THANK YOU!!!!!

The kiddos had a big surprise in store for them.  Hubs took the day off from work and picked them up from school on Friday (that NEVER happens because of his out of town work.).  They thought THAT was the surprise….until they pulled up here- 

Source: Google

Loews Portofino Bay Resort!  They didn’t know what to DO…what to SAY!! Hubs managed this surprise with a trip to  Universal Studios.   

  

  

 PS……When you stay on property, you get early admission to both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios!  This is an extra perk because of you are a Harry Potter fan (which our family knows NOTHING ABOUT!! Sorry….😁) you get to ride the ride that people LITERALLY wait 3+ hours for!! #notME. 
The pools were great.. 

The Beach Pool

The boys spent the remainder of Friday here while I was on my way there from work.  

We had a GREAT dinner at one of the restaurants on property  Mama Della’s.  I think to date, this is the best Italian food I have had (outside of Italy, of course! I’m going there…SOON! 😉).  

Pollo alla Carbonara! MY FAVORITE!!

Julian KILLED his Lasgna!!

Hubs meal: Gnocchi with Braised Beef

Aidan’s favorite…Fetticini Alfredo!!

  

Happy Family…and FULL!!!

  

   We went to the on site Gelateria for….you guessed it…GELATO! We walked, we didn’t ride!😉

Tiramisu!! My FAVORITE dessert in gelato form!! #HEAVEN

Gelato AND a sunset! Doesnt’t get any better, huh??

Saturday brought excellent weather and more pool time.  I got a run in that morning, so I didn’t feel so damn guilty  for any indulgences that came later.   

 The kiddos weren’t the only ones that had a surprise in store.  Hubs surprised ME with an 50 minute message and a pedicure at Mandara Spa.  This quiet mommy moment was well received!!! He purchased the Balinese Massage, which is a great introduction to getting a massage.  I’d never had one, so hubs picked a good one! 

 It is described (per the pamphlet) as a massage “utilized for centuries to strengthen and heal the body, traditional therapy combines stretching,long strokes, skin rolling and palm and thumb pressure techniques.  Flowing and graceful, the Balinese massage relieves tension,improves blood flow, eases stress and encourages harmony.” Uhhhhh….yeah!!!!  #heaven #hubsROCKS 

Runner’s feet need some SERIOUS attention!!!

One more little surprise for the boys to round out the day.  We checked out of the original room and into our new room…wait for it…wait for it…. 

 Yep…you guessed it!  They had a Minion themed room adjoined to ours…. 

         You know…the Monions from “Despicable Me”!!  They LOVED it and literally walked in, took it all in, and shut us out!! The TV went on and all was well in Minion world! 

Dinner involved a new restaurant for us  Emeril’s Tchoup Chop, at the neighboring Loews property Royal Pacific Resort.  It’s Asian and Polynesian fare, ala Emeril style. It was fantastic!!  

    Sorry no food pics!! 

Sunday…..Universal and Island of Adventure bound! 

             Fairly self explanatory…huh? #familyFUN

Monday…check out day!😢 , but I managed to seek some morning solice with a cup of Joe…..

   It was beautiful! The whole weekend was AMAZING!! 

Thanks for reading!

How was your Memorial Day weekend? 

The Slump of Summer has BEGUN

Man…was it HOT today!! My friend, Leslie and I went for a run after work.  It was 92 degrees at 5pm!! 😝. We ran a little bit of a different route that included a bridge or a big ass HILL and  two small hills. #ugh. I felt like I never ran before in my LIFE.  My legs felt like bricks, I felt like I was running in sand, it was hot and I felt PATHETIC!!  #wahhhh.  #havesomeCHEESE #withthatWINE. But this happens literally every summer and I continue to run to get over my “summer slump”.  The ONLY bright moment in the pits of Hell (ie Florida) was Leslie…she kept going and was keeping a great pace that I was chasing today.  She KILLED this run today and I’m SO proud of her!! She’s gone from hating to run to killing the run!  

We are cooling down, THANK GOD!!!

 

We DID it!!!

I have been begging, PLEADING with her to do a race.  She’s done one, but it’s been a while! Well…game ON, my friend! I saw what you are made of and we are running this summer!! 😉 #shewillHATEme #butitsALLgood

There is a series of 5k every summer in Lakeland, FL – Watermelon Series.  It’s a series of 5ks, 4 in total, and I participate summer!  I think it’s a good one for Leslie to do with me!!  I’m going to work one her, since the first one is June 6th.  Wish me luck…..

Sadly, the triathlon I want to do this month isn’t going to happen.  I won’t be ready: my bike has to go in the shop, I have to get my ass ON the said bike once tuned up,and just got back in the water 2-3 weeks ago.  Plus, I feel like I suck at running right now. #pityparty. But it’s all good…because I will be ready for the race in June!  Keep you posted….

Questions:

Ever have one of those days when you feel like you suck?? 

How do you get past that feeling?

I will focus on the words from my favorite girl…  

Source:Google images

 I love her…….

She’s BAAAAA-CK!!!

Oh yeah….she’s back!!! I don’t me me and being on track….The DREADmill!!!   

 Hubs FINALLY got the thing out of box and put together!! I decided instead of a run before picking the kiddos, I was going to take this baby for a spin (or run, I guess).   

 This console is overwhelming to me because my old DREADmill didn’t have this many options.  It has:

• Incline adjustments 
• Speed adjustments
• 18 pre planned runs
• Calorie buster option
• Fan
• iPod compatible (plug it in…and turn UP those JAMS!!)

Let’s do this…. 

 I had NO idea which option to pick, so I pressed some buttons and off I went!  I found out quickly that my selection included some inclines. No problem!! Well, it IS a problem when you go up as high as 10% incline at 4.5 speed! #HELLO #help. It was an interval training run with speed and inclin (I’m gonna pay for THAT tomorrow!!!).  It was a 30 min session, which only got me 1.98 miles. DAMN…why couldn’t it have been 2?? It seems like you did more with at least 2 miles, right??😉

All in all, as much as I loathe the DREADmill, I am please to have her back!  It makes me accountable again….”oh,I didn’t get to run today”…DREADmill!! “Oh, I’ll just do it tomorrow”…DREADmill!!   “Oh, I don’t want to!”…DREADmill!!!!  

 Just like Nike says “Just Do It”…

Glad to see you, DREADmill.  I’ve honestly missed you, and even though we weren’t the best of friends……Welcome back to my world! 

  

🔔DING….! Tapped in…..!

After “checking out” over the weekend, I tapped back in and got back to what I know…what I love…what keeps me sane…exercise.  Today was a pool day for my bud, Leslie and I.  Yeah…she still HATES me, but she keeps coming back for more! Outside of the triathlon training that I need, I like switching up from the running and giving my legs a wee break.  I haven’t been able to incorporate intervals into my running because of time.  I have managed to sneak in some intervals during my swim.  I am hoping that some endurance will show more during my runs now.  Not sure it’s the same, but I’m willing to try it out. 😃. 

Oh…you are going to ❤️LOVE❤️ this gem……I screwed up AGAIN!! My last post on my idiocy, well…I was right…the first time!! As I was typing my workout…it hit me!  Short course = meters; Long course = yards!  I’m not sure what made me think otherwise, and therefore prompted the correction post.  Scratch what I confused you with in that post; refer to the CORRECT distance as above! 😁You’d swear I wasn’t a swimmer…EVER!!  But I was, competitively for 5-6 YEARS!  (ie 30 years ago!!).  Excuse my confusion, folks! #imanIDIOT #parentswouldhide #inSHAME

Swim workout (Short Course) *meters, Angie*

• 200 m warm up – Freestyle
• 3 x 50m @ :60; 1 min rest; repeat (total of 3 sets)
• 100m warm up – freestyle/breaststroke mix 

Total = 750m 

I was happy to increase my distance AND keep my 50m consistantly below 40 seconds (specifically 38 seconds to be exact). #illtakeit

….but I still feel like an idiot!!! 😉

  #idroppedtheMIKE #truth 
How was your Monday?

Ever do/say something STOOPID on your blog? 

I checked OUT!

Yep…I sure did!!!  

 I didn’t do a LICK of exercise this weekend! As always, the intentions are good.  Saturday, I planned to get up and run.  But that SLEEP…oh the sleep was INCREDIBLE!! I haven’t had a Saturday “off” in months!! So I took it!!  I felt guilt as HELL, but apparently I needed it.  I am learning to overcome the exercise guilt.  It plays with my head, as if the weight is going to pound right back on if I don’t do something!!  This is a life long struggle, that won’t change over night, but I working on it. 

We had Chipotle for dinner last night.    

My “we are having Chipotle” smile!!!

I don’t know why I’m so happy (other than I like to eat Chipotle)….I don’t cook!!  Hubs does ALL the cooking in our house! But I order a mean take-out!! #lazy #dontcook #iORDER 

The boys and hubs had soft tacos…both corn and flour tortillas.  I had salad.  What I like about Chipotle is that you aren’t married to having the typical fare of tacos or burritos.  (I also like they are the first chain that is making an attempt to rid themselves of all GMOs).  You can have a bowl, which are the “stuffings” of the burrito or taco, without the tortilla.  Or you can have a salad, which is a bed of Romaine lettuce, and you decide what you’d like on top.  

 I put steak, with black beans and the corn salsa (corn with red onions).  It comes with a dressing but I opted for a “naked” salad and used a balsamic vinaigrette when I got home. #yum

All healthy right???  Until I got to these…

 I ate them ALL!  I had some in March but I really decided to give up chips in January.  It’s my favorite “go to” snack that it’s healthy for you at all!!  (Well….it USED to be my go to snack!!). After this gluttonous treat, I don’t want them any more!  I don’t like the way they make me feel!  It’s pretty amazing when you remove something from your diet, how much  you don’t really miss it and you don’t really know how it makes your feel!

So, you see?? I was checked out with exercise AND diet!  I hate that I didn’t, but I’m back on it tomorrow!!!

How was your weekend?

****Disclaimer: The opinions of Chipotle are my own and I have not been compensated for these opinions. 

Really??????

So, I’m an idiot….. This is FULL DISCLOSURE people! I’m over the moon excited to be swimming again and I’ve been documenting my swims here at 3M.   Well, today, I went to the pool.. 

LONG COURSE!!! Oh…this brings back some awful summer time swims because I HATED long course!  Any way…here’s  where the “idiocy of Angie” comes in…for TWO weeks I have been documenting in meters and not in yards!!!   

 Short course = 25 YARDS (ie WHAT I have been swimming for like 2 weeks and documenting WRONG!)

 As seen above…. Long course = 50 METERS (ie What I swam TODAY and realized that like a dummy I’ve been documenting wrong!)

That’s was a big DUHHHHHHHH!!!  I’m a SWIMMER, but apparently the “MOM-nesia” kicked in at the wrong time and rendered me dumb!  There…..I said it…I feel better…and I have vowed to not let the Mom-nesia take over ANY MORE!! #whew

Swim today was a 600 meters of pure freestyle! I was in a serious time crunch today, so no time for intervals today. There’s always next time…..

  #WORD
How was your day? 

You better WORK….

After the GLUTTONOUS Mother’s Day/First Communion weekend eating, it was refreshing to get back to normalcy; Meaning…working out!!! Particularly since the lady at JCPenney called me (in so many or few words) LARGE. It messes with that psychotic part of my brain….old thoughts and food issues start to rear their ugly heads! 👿👹👺#dontLISTEN

I decided the pool was an excellent  start to the Monday workout routine.   The water was perfect and I couldn’t wait to jump in.  My friend, Leslie, is still out of town, sadly, but my other buddy, Sam joined me.  I love swimming, but I’m sad I can only get so much in because of time.  Sam and I are thinking of doing a triathlon together again. I was courting the race in May (30th to be exact), but time got in the way (basketball!) and I wasn’t able to get my bike to the shop for its preseason tune up (and aero bars!!!😄).  June it is, then!!  It’s more realistic AND school is OUT!!  

I added one more 50m to the workout, aiming for the goal of 10 x 50m @ :60.

• 200m warm up freestyle
• 7 x 50m (freestyle) @ :60
• 100m cool down

Total : 650m
Again, it doesn’t look like much, but I’m happy to be out there.  I’m happy that at (almost) 43, I can do a 50m freestyle in 40 seconds. (SN: at my peak.. 27 seconds was my best time).  #illtakeit

I’m hoping the rest of the week will be:  

Tuesday: swim

Wednesday: run

Thursday: rest

Friday: run

Saturday: run or CrossFit

  I’m TRYING…….!

How was your Monday?

What does your workout week look like?

Weekend Wrap Up

I hope all of you had a WONDERFUL Mother’s Day!! We had a FULL weekend in my house. Aidan celebrated his First Communion on May 9th at Nativity Catholic Church (Brandon, FL).

It was a beautiful day to share with family AND friends! He was a little nervous because he said everyone would be looking at him!  I was nervous because I thought he was going to make that face again when he tastes the host (ie the bread)…. 

CLASSIC!!!

 THIS is the face I was worried about!  All went well AND the wine got a “thumbs UP” after the tasting! 😉. I was such a great day… 

….and Julian was able to serve the Mass, as well! #proudMOM

 

Hubs, Julian, Fr. Nelson, Me, and my beautiful Mom

Oh…that dress I’m wearing….there’s a story! I went to JCPenney’s (mind you, the Friday before the communion) to look for a dress.  I found his LOVELY Liz Claiborne Palm Tree dress (I’m obsessed!) on the mannequin but I don’t see it on the shelves/racks.  I’ve already looked at the mannequin to make sure it’s the right brand, and I STILL can’t find it!  So, I ask the attendant in a neighboring section for help finding the dress. I walk with her to find it…she’s asks me “What size do you need?”…takes a look at me…and says “Large?”. #ouch. If my insecurities about my weight needed a NEW reason to resurface…💣BOOM!!! I see that working out has really been WORKING OUT well for me!! #crushed😢. 

Mother’s Day was peaceful.  I’d planned on getting a run in, but that sleep was just TOO good!!!  Went to the mall BY MYSELF…bought something FOR MYSELF….I’d say it was a good day.  Hubs made dinner and I went to bed early….I’d say it was a great day!!!  I’ll post some pics later of my Mother’s Day finds!!😉. 

I hope all the mothers out there had the day that was needed and most importantly, DESERVED!!!  

WORD!!!! #spoketheTRUTH #droppedtheMIKE 

Get my LAPS on!!!

Yesterday was a beautiful day for a swim!!! My friend Leslie joined me AGAIN….and she still HATES me!! 😉 

Another GORGEOUS Florida day!!

 It was unfortunately another “time crunched” workout because I have to get to the aftercare before 6!  #busyMOM

Let’s DO this!!!

 My swim was very similar to what I did earlier in the week (may be the same one, for all I remember!)-

• 200m warm up Freestyle
• 6 x 50m on :60
• 100m cool down

I wanted to do more, but I just didn’t have the time!  If I did, I would have gone for a little run! #abrick

Today was a rest day.  We are preparing for Aidan’s First Communion on Saturday and have some family coming in tomorrow.  I am hoping to get a run in before I get the boys!  Or maybe after….

 How was your day?