Get Fit, Stay Fab : A weekly fitness link up

Welcome back Everyone.

I hope you've had a productive week.

I have been celebrating and researching all week.

First I'll share the celebration.

Last year in January 2013 me, my mom and sister took measurements of our hips, waist and bust.

We had started to follow Operation Transformation and we wanted to see if there was any change after all our work.

Fast forward 6 months and we totally forgot about the measurements.

It wasn't until this past weekend that we remembered them.

My daughter had her tiny measuring tape and was checking how big everyone was.

Then we remembered, found the old ones and compared them.

OMG!

I was shocked.

I knew I had toned up a bit but nothing like this.

I have lost 4 inches of my waist and 4.5 off my hips.

HAPPY DAYS!

That is such an amazing feeling.

It's like finding a €10 in the pocket of an old pair of jeans.

It has really motivated me to keep going.

I wasn't doing a whole pile to loose those inches but can you imagine the results if I really pushed myself.

So I started the research to find something that I can do at home or at the gym.

Something that I can do even when the kids are with me.

Something that was easy to follow and doable.

Enter SIMPLE SADIE JANE.

I came across Sadie on instagram.

This is the photo that caught my attention.

Yes that is the same woman.

Amazing, right?

So after a little blog stalking, I realized that she has been doing Crossfit for year and was after starting a 6 week at home Crossfit workout.

The workout is for all us busy moms that can't find time to workout.

Well I'm going to MAKE time to do this.

I'm late to the game, as usual, but I'm looking forward to doing this program.

There are a few posts of Sadies that I think you should all read before you do the program.

Sadie's Fitness Class : Part 1: Nutrition

Sadie's Fitness Class : Part 2 : Fitness

Sadie's Fitness Class : Part 3 : Putting it all together

Make sure you have a look around her blog. She talks about her AT HOME CROSSFIT GYM and her PALEO diet. She even has a HEALTH AND FITNESS QUESTIONS ANSWERED post.

Here is the first week of the program. Click here for the full post.

I'm still doing the ab challenge and i'm starting to feel the burn now.

I'm getting kind of bored of it though.

I'm going to stick with it and start Sadie's workout today too and see how I go.

If you want to see what the ab challenge is check out last weeks post.

I hope you'll come along with me on this journey with me.

We're all just trying to find time and support to get back to where we once were.

We CAN do it!!

Don't forget to use the #getfitstayfab4life on instagram if you're posting workout/progress photos.

Join in and link up below.

Have a good one!

Health and Fitness Friday

I'm back linking up with Jen from A Daily Dose of Davis today.

I've been finding it hard to get focused this last week. 

I feel like I'm chasing my tail.

I've not been blogging like I have been and it has to change.

Think

Last time I was here I was talking about becoming a morning person.

I was thinking about how I needed to change my pattern of staying up late and feeling crap.

I can finally say that I am now one of those crazy people that get up at 5am to do stuff.

I've not quite managed to do anything other than computer work but at least I'm up.

Because I'm up so early it means I'm in bed early.

Like 9pm early.

Early to bed, early to rise, makes Caroline healthy, wealthy and wise.

I'm not sure that I'm going to get wealthy or wise but I'm felling alot healthier.

Do

It's been a while since I did any kind of a workout.

Summer kicked my ass and not in a good way.

I found it very hard to do anything with the kids.

But we're back to school and a new routine and I'm finally getting used to it.

I'm starting back horse riding this month.

I've been doing it for nearly 20 years now but babies and life have gotten in the way the last few years.

I love it!

It's a great workout that doesn't reel like a workout to me.

It's my realise.

My way to escape.

I'm also looking for a good ab workout.

I need to strengthen my core to help me with my back ache.

So if you know any good workouts to help me out, let me know.

Eat

I'm buying a slow cooker.

It's been ordered and I hoping it'll be here any day.

It's really going to help me on the nights that we have stuff going on late or at the weekends when we're just too busy having fun.

I'll just stick it on and not have to worry about it for the rest of the day.

Only problem is what will I cook.

I need recipes to try out.

Do you have a fool proof recipe that I can tryout.

I'm a first timer and need help.

I'm also hoping it'll help with my diet and get me eating good food again.

And that's it.

Kind if a mix of everything today but next week hopefully I'll have more to add to the do section.

Thanks for stopping by.

Health and Fitness Friday

I having a hard time getting back on track with this fitness thing.

I started the year out on a high.

Get fit! Get in shape!

And I was doing great.

But I've hit a wall.

I have no desire to go running.

I haven't run in 3 weeks.

I know. I know!

That is just pitiful.

I want to do something but I just can't find the time.

It's not that I don't have the time cos I do.

I just don't want to make the time.

I have been busy starting my own little business.

I trying to make something work and it takes up alot of my energy.

But I need to change this and get out and do something.

So My plan is to go cycling.

I need to change it up and this seems perfect.

I'll let you know how it goes.

The one thing I have been rocking is early mornings.

I am proud to say I have joined the Morning Person club.

I've set my alarm for 5am every morning for the past too week and got up.

I'm blogging, designing printables and reading all those amazing blogs that I missed out on before.

And it's getting easier to get up too.

I still need to work on going to bed a little earlier but I'll figure it out.

So, how was your week?

Did you run? Cycle? 

What do you do in the mornings?

Let me know.

Leave a comment and link to your blog.

I'd love to see what you get up to.

Linking up with Jen.

Thanks for stopping by.

Health and fitness Friday : Bye Bye Night Owl

It's time for Health and Fitness talk today.

Fitness

Last Saturday I had my 10k run.

It was 31* when we were running walking.

It was so hard.

Hot and hard!!

I'm still waiting for some photos to put the post together but I hoping to do it this week.

I did much better this week with Fitness.

I did ab work 3 days and did lots of stretching.

I needed to stretch after the 10k.

I was very stiff and sore.

No runs but I'm starting back tonight hopefully.

Jen and I were going to try to be early birds this week.

The plan was to see if getting up early made it easier for us to do all the things us women have to.

I got up early 2 mornings and I got quite alot done.

But the night owl in me is not giving up without a fight.

I forgot that to get up early you need to go to bed early. Doh!

I'm setting my phone to remind me to go to bed early.

Sounds crazy, Right?

I'm hoping to be in bed for 11pm and up at 6.30am.

In bed for 11pm!

Not get up off the couch and start turning off the lights, locking the doors and putting in the dog and end up going to bed closer to midnight.

I'm going to tweet Jen when I get up and hope we can keep each other motivated.

My favourite hashtag I'm using at the moment is #SlackerNoMore .

If you want to join in on our quest to not be slackers use to hashtag so I see what your all up to.

Health

I made dinner every night this week.

Healthy options. 

And I have made much better choices when it came to snacking.

I picked at fruit and fresh peas.

I love fresh peas.

The other thing I was meant to do this week was try yoga.

I have been meaning to try this all week. 

Jen posted a great video in her post last week.

I need to this for a de-stressing workout.

I suffer from tension headaches and this will help for sure.

So this coming week these are my goals.
Go to bed early.
Get up early.
Eat healthier.
Run.
Yoga.
Be happy.

That it for this week.
Thanks for stopping by.

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Health and Fitness Friday : Giving myself a kick in the Butt

It Friday! Woohoo!

Linking up with Jen over at A Daily Dose of Davis of Health and Fitness Friday.

I said last week that I was being a total slacker.

Not doing any running.

No workouts.

Nothing.

Guess what?

This week wasn't any different.

It's not good enough!!

I'm letting myself down.

I did so much good work up to last month and now I feel like I'm going to have to start over again.

I feel like I'm letting all you ladies here at the link-up down.

I read your posts for inspiration.

For new recipes, workouts and motivation to keep going.

I'm not pulling my weight at all here.

But tomorrow is a new day. 

Tomorrow is race day for me.

I was collecting my race pack today.

It's going to be tough.

The heat, lack of training and too make cupcakes are all things that won't help.

( I'm eating a cupcake while I write this. Oops!)

Starting Monday everything changes.

I'm going to be joining Jen on her quest to become a morning person.

I'm going to be doing some sort of workout EVERY day.

Start doing yoga.

No more snacking on crap.

Drink more water.

I what you girls to keep me in check.

I'm sharing this smoothie recipe that I pinned ages ago.

Have any of you tried it?

I'm hoping that it will give me the energy I need and help with the poundage issue. Ha!

 The recipe 

Two handfuls of baby spinach

1 apple

1 banana

1 cup of yogurt

5 strawberries

1/2 orange

Blend well and enjoy!

I hope you've had a better week than me fitness wise.

Have a great weekend.

Health and Fitness Friday : Not so much

I'm back linking up with Miss Jen for Health and fitness Friday this week.

We missed last week and it was a good thing.

I had nothing to report.

Well I had but it wasn't anything good.

Fitness

July has not been good for me. 

I've been so bad.

One run.

ONE! 

And it wasn't even a good one. My legs gave up and started cramping.

I'm blaming the heat. 

We are having a heat wave here in Ireland.

Temps are up in the 30's.

My little Irish body is NOT used it this heat.

The only exercise that I'm getting is running around having water fights and bouncing on the trampoline.

I should be a little more worried considering I have a 10k on the 20th.

I'm so not ready!!

But It ok.

I'm enjoying the Sun.

I'm enjoying time outside with my kiddos.

It won't last. It never does.

And when it's gone, I'll get back into training.

For now, Water fights and getting some well needed vitamin D is all I'm worried about.

I can even walk some of my 10k if I need to.

Health

I'm not even going to pretend that I've been eating healthy.

I have not.

Ice-cream, cakes and everything I'm not meant to be eating.

But like I said above. I'm blaming the heat.

When it's gone, so is the bad diet.

So when the sun is gone or even if it cools down just a little you'll find me workout out or running or just not being a lazy bones.

Here's to getting it right... Tomorrow! Ha!

If you don't want to miss anything on My Country Girl Ramblings head on over to Bloglovin, Facebook or Twitter and follow along in the fun.

Happy Friday Friends.
Thanks for stopping by.

Health and Fitness Friday : July goals and another 5k done!

It Friday!!

Which means one thing.

Fitness

It's nearly the end of June. WHAT!! Where did that month go. I thought I had more time to try complete my goals for this month. I didn't run 30 miles. Not even close. I did get about half ways though. I managed to work out most days and my sugar intake was way down than it has been in the past. I not only signed up for another race but I completed it. And it kind of acted like a practice 10k too.
 I'm keeping the same goals for next month and I should get closer to the 30 mile mark now that school is out. My plan is to run in the mornings while everyone is in bed. Lets hope I have to will power to pull myself out of the bed. I love my bed!!!

July Goals

1. Run at least 30 miles

2. Workout 5 days a week.

3. Keep my sugar intake down

4. Sign up for another race.

5. Run a practice 10k

The 5k that I ran last Sunday went great. It turned out to be a 6k race. My sister and brother did it with me. They both rocked it.  It was their first race ever. My brother ran it like it was a piece of cake. He did the 6k in about 42 minutes. My sister and I did it a little slower. She did amazing. She ran the most of it but we walked when we had to. We did it in 47.52. I was happy with myself too. It felt easy. It felt natural. I was going at a slower pace but it was one of my favourite races yet.

I'm so proud of them for finishing. My brother has even sighed up to run the 10k with me in July.

Crappy picture but this is me and my sister crossing the finish line.

Health

My meals have been pretty good again this week. I'm trying to cut down on anything with gluten and it's harder that I thought. It's in everything. I'm going to do a bit more research this coming week and see if I can come up with some nice recipes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Health and Fitness Friday : I'm Injured and Clean Eating

It's Friday peeps!! Wooo!

Fitness

Don't let the title fool you. I'm not injured in any bad way. I did something to my wrist last Friday. I'm not sure how I hurt it but I couldn't even lift a carton of milk. I tried to do my workout on Saturday but I couldn't do any push-ups or even lift the weights. So no 30 day shred all weekend for me. Boo! I heading to the doctor today to make sure I've not done ant major damage.

I did get a 5k walk in with my little girl on Sunday so I don't feel like a total fatty. We didn't break any records but it was a fun day out. I did my 30 day abs Sunday too.

I have a 5k run this Sunday. It's a charity one and it's on the railway track that I trained on for my first 5k. I'm doing this with my brother and sister. They have caught the running bug from me. That makes me so happy. Someone who I can go running with. This will be their first 5k run. I'm not doing this 5k for time. I'm doing it for them. With them. I have promised I'll stay with them and not leave them in my dust {like I ever could, I don't go fast enough to make dust} but It should be fun.

Workouts this week

Saturday : Rest

Sunday : 5k walk + abs

Monday : Rest

Tuesday : 30 day shred

Wednesday : Rest

Thursday : 30 day abs

Friday (today) : ???

There is way to many rest days on that list and It bugs me that I got no runs in. I need to get a system going. I need to find a way to work it around my kids. And I think the only way to get a run in is to get up early and hit the road when everyone else is in bed.

Health

Didn't do too good this week. Dinners were good. But my snacking. OH MY GOD!! Everything and anything I could get my hands on, I ate. Not good!! I'm putting it down to not have worked out much. When I work out every day. I don't seem to want to snack as much and when I do snack,  I snack healthier. It's all connected.

 The other thing I've been looking into is clean eating/ Paleo diet. It seem to be very cut back clean eating which would be good for me. But I'm not sure if I could go all in. I found a great site Paleo Cupboard and the recipes on her Pinterest boards all look amazing. I might try a few this week and see how they go.

Happy Friday !

Have a great weekend.

Health and Fitness Friday : Food Glorious Food

It's Friday! That can only mean one thing.

Fitness

I have to start today by explaining me a little bit. I get bored easily. If I do the same thing day in, day out, I get bored and it stops being a challenge. I am also one of those people that is always jumping from one thing to another. This is a problem when your trying to get in shape. I get half way through and get bored and quit.  I started the 30 day squat challenge and had to stop that after day 5 because I wasn't able to walk let alone run. I started the 30 day ab challenge and I still trucking along with that but it wasn't enough on its own.

 I found something last weekend that truly is challenging me every time I do it. Every part of me hurts in a good way when I do it. Jillian Micheals 30 day shred is  what I'm talking about. I'm on day 5 today and can I tell you, for a 20 minute workout, it's a tough 20 minutes. I'm working my whole body. Strength, cardio and abs in a 20 minute workout is what I'm all about.

I haven't gotten any runs in this week just because the weather is crap again here. Rain and a hell of a lot of flies. Not ideal. I have a 5k walk coming up this Sunday. It's a fundraiser for Jasmins school. She has been begging me to take her on one of my runs with me but trying to explain to a 5 year old that she couldn't run 5k is near impossible. So, Sunday is going to be for us. I also have a 5k "Nun run" on the 23rd. I have to dress up in a Nun's outfit. I'm going to try get my sister to do this. She reads my bog sometimes so I hope she see's this. Ha!

Workouts this week.

Saturday : 30 day abs

Sunday :  Rest

Monday : 30 day shred + abs

Tuesday : 30 day shred +abs

Wednesday : 30 day shred

Thursday : 30 day shred + abs

Friday (today) : 30 day shred

Health

I've been pretty good this week. I have a Healthy, low fat Shepherds pie recipe for you guys. I love this dish. It's filling, full of veggies and it tasted so good. I also have a new smoothie recipe. I haven't tried this one but it looks amazing. 

Spinach-Mango Green Smoothie Recipe!

- 1 Large Ripe Banana

- 1 Cup Mangoes

- 1/2 Cup Strawberries

- 5 oz Spinach

- 1 1/2 cups Water

Whizz!

I have never eaten spinach and I would like to include it in my diet. It's really high iron.

 Have any of you ladies got any good recipes for spinach??

Another tip that I have for making smoothies is to put your fruit in the freezer for about 20 minutes before you whizz them. It makes your smoothie thicker and colder and it just tastes better. Yum!

 I'm not one for salads but this is one I came up with and I love it.

4 Bacon Rashers

Lettuce

Tomatoes

Onion

Cheese

salt and black pepper

Cook the rasher in the grill and chop everything else. Mix it all together and add a pinch of salt and loads of black pepper. Serve with pitta breads and eat warm.

And that's it. 

Do you have any good recipes that I need to try? Leave a link comment the comment section and I try it and give you props on the blog if I use it.

Linking up with the every inspirational Jen from A Daily Dose of Davis.

Thanks for stopping by!

Health and Fitness Friday

Fitness

Oh what a week of highs and lows.
The sun arrived here last weekend and I have not come inside since. But I haven't worked out as much as I would have liked. I'm not too bummed about it though. We may not have the sun for too long and I intend on enjoying every single minute with my kids outside.

I did get 2 short runs in this week. I ran 2 miles both times. My first run was ok, " miles in 23ish minutes. The second one, not so good. I don't know if it was the heat or me but it was tough. It could have been the hills too. I need to find some nice flat runs and get some mileage up.

I did my abs and arms workouts 4 days this week so I'm ok on that side of things.

Health

Health has been good. I've been eating good and I've been having smoothies and fruit between meals instead of cookies and bad snacks. I'm going to try some new smoothies this week and I'll post my favorites here next week.
My favourite this week is :
Strawberry
Blueberry
Banana

That's is this week.
I'm linking up with Jen as usual.

Health and Fitness Friday : Goals for June

It's that time of the week again. Health and Fitness Friday with Jen.

Tomorrow is June 1st. We're nearly half way through this year and I'm no where near where I wanted to be in terms of fitness. I blame life, kids, the weather and lets be honest, MYSELF. I need to get out and run more. I need to just GO! But to do that I need an end goal to try beat. I'm gonna follow in Jen's footsteps and set my self some June goals.

June Goals

1. Run at least 30 miles

2. Workout 5 days a week.

3. Keep my sugar intake down

4. Sign up for another race.

5. Run a practice 10k

Fitness

I did pk this week fitness wish. I ran more again. I ran 3 days this week. The weather was amazing and that helped so much. I got tested to see what kind of running shoe best suited me. I didn't think it was going to make much of a difference when I was running... But OMG, it made such a difference. It was lie I was running on air. My sister said I looked like I was bouncing off the ground. For the first time in a long time running just happened. No effort. No trying. I just ran. It felt amazing. Seriously, go get the test done. It does make a huge difference.

I'm trying to do more workouts at home. I was going to try the 300 challenge but I really don't have the time to do that. So I giving this a go. It looks doable and I know what all the moves are.

I'm also looking for a good arm workout.  This arm workout is just 10 minutes and all you need is a dumbbell. 10 minute workouts are what i'm all about. And I can team it with my ad workout and be done for the day.

I have so many fitness workouts and fitness things pinned on my Health and Fitness board. I would love to follow your if you have one. Leave a link in the comments and I'll follow you. Get fitness inspiration together.

And after reading Jen's post this morning I'm adding this great new stretch routine for after runs. I can't find the actual source, but I have pinned it to my Health and Fitness board. I needed this so bad and I'm glad she found it.

Health

I'm not sure if I told you guy about this but I suffer with pain in my joints and bones alot. It was never really a problem. Just a little pain in the background and I was able to work through it. But recently it's been getting worse. My wrists hurt when I cycle. My knees hurt when I run. Just pain in my joints. I've even had to take pain killers just so I could sleep. I went to the doctor to see if I could get blood tests done to see if there was anything going on. There is arthritis in my family and I didn't want to let it go too long if I had it. But thankfully all my bloods came back clear. I'm just one of those people who get aches and pains.

I have a birthday party today and it's a bank holiday weekend too so I'm not sure how good my diet is going to be. Oops!!

hat's it for me this week.

Happy Friday Peeps!!

Health and Fitness Friday

It's my favourite post of the week again.

Linking up with Jen for Health and Fitness Friday.

Fitness

It's been a bit of a strange one. I never made it to any of my Beach Body Bootcamp classes this week. Just couldn't find the time. I did however manage to clock more miles this week then I have in the past month. My sister has finished collage and she wants to start running with me. So we headed off together. The weather was great too. We ran 1.5 miles Tuesday, 2 miles Wednesday and I cycled 7.5 miles yesterday. My quads felt a bit tight during the cycle but I stretched and push on. I'm so happy to be back out running. It felt great. Only downer this week is I think I have a shin splint. Pain isn't too bad. I can work through it. I'm hoping to get back to beach body bootcamp today or go for another run.

I also need to start some kind of ab workout. Something I can do at home. I'm finding it hard to get out the door to my classes and now that school is finishing up I'll have two kiddos to try and get a babysitter for. I might start a 30 day ab and arm challenge and see how I get on. Any suggestions?

Also I'm a little more than excited about this...

I can't wait!! It's going to be amazeballs!!

Plan for the week

Friday : Beach Body Bootcamp ??

Saturday : Run

Sunday : Run

Monday : Beach Body Bootcamp ??

Tuesday : Run

Wednesday : Run

Thursday : Cycle

Health

I'm still cutting back on my sugar. I have been pretty good with our dinners too. Pretty healthy and upping my veggie intake. Still need to drink more water. What do you guys think about energy tablets for water? I'm thinking of using them. What ones do you use? Which are the best?

That's it for me this week.

Happy Friday peeps!!