Climbing, FitFluential, Fitness, Running

Fitness recap: Ten K’s, yoga and bouldering

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I thought yesterday was June 17, but it’s today. Which means it’s mine and The Guy’s 9 year dating anniversary!

Scott nancy 2005I’m so glad he kept bugging me to date him, look at us now — down here in California almost a decade later, still happy as ever.

My hip flexor (or muscle around that area) seems to hate it when I run “long distances”, so I’ve been taking it easy ever since I noticed pain when lifting my right leg up the stairs. I wasn’t sure whether or not yoga aggravated it, or doing more running than usual. I have never in my entire life ran a double digit run before last week, and hello two 10km runs? After my second 10k in two weeks, I’ve decided to stop running half way through last week to heal it, and do more yoga and bouldering. We’ll see how it goes—I better not lose my rhythm when I get back into running, I hate starting over.

yoga selfieI posted this yoga selfie on Thursday. Apparently it’s winner winner chicken dinner, not wiener wiener. ;)

Monday June 9: 75 minutes of “noon” yoga, and three hours of top roping (climbing) with Ellen

Tuesday June 10: 6.12 mile run in 1:05:36, I thought I was at the 10km mark but that’s 6.21. Gah!

Wednesday June 11:  2.5 mile run in 23:47

Thursday June 12: 75 minutes of power yoga, and 1 hour of bouldering

Friday June 13: Off

Saturday June 14: Off

Sunday June 15: 2 hour walk with The Guy & Alfie

Tone It Up, Flamingo DuffleI bought this gym bag on a whim after a late night YouTube watching session with the Tone It Up girls (I’m not a member). But I loved Katrina’s pink bag better than my reusable grocery bag. I spent way too much money on it, but I bought it anyway. Hope it arrives soon.

I’ve been eating clean for the last 3 weeks, mainly due to the fact that I was pigging out, and not working out frequently which made my clothes ill fitting. If you’ve been following me on instagram, you know that I’ve been making The Guy and I morning smoothies every single day. Skoop must have noticed my #smoothie pictures and contacted me asking me if I’d like to try out their product.

skoopSure why not. I’m brand new on taking superfoods, or even powdered drinks after a workout. I normally come home and grab a handful of nuts or fruit, after a workout and be set.

Skoop mixingGotta say, I didn’t have high expectations for this as I’ve never been one to put added powdered stuff to my drinks after a workout. Mainly because I’m lazy and the fact they all leave a funky after-taste. I was definitely skeptical of running my morning smoothie with Skoop. I tried out the Chocofresh and definitely was surprised. Typically I use Trader Joe’s pure unsweetened cocoa in the smoothie, which leaves a bitter after-taste. But this one left a fruity chocolate taste to the smoothie. I made one for the both of us, and have been adding a scoop of skoop (ha!) to the smoothies every morning. Unfortunately though, the bag costs $65! As much as it says the product is good for you, I definitely cannot afford that. Too bad, as it’s absolutely delicious.

Skoop smoothieI should start drinking this moreso after my yoga and bouldering sessions rather than first thing in the morning. But it’s honestly so good, I can’t wait til the afternoon to have one.

Here’s a bit more information that was shared with me in the initial e-mail:

Skoop is an organic non-GMO superfoods powdered formula, rich in antioxidants, adaptogens and probiotics. It’s non-allergen (no dairy, soy, gluten) and great for fighting inflammation, stress and bad gut bacteria. It’s a wonderful post workout drink because it’s so alkalizing in the body and helps promote a quick recovery.

There are no mysterious fillers or “potion” like concoctions hidden within. It’s clean, organic and all non-GMO. Plus 10% of every bag is donated to a national non-profit that provides fresh produce to children in schools. It’s basically buy one, give one. It’s a great mission and we’re looking to really do some good here!

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Climbing, FitFluential, Fitness, Running

Fitness Recap: What I think of Yoga

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I left you last week with my first fitness recap in … months. I’m here again to tell you what I did last week starting from Monday.

I forgot how much working out changes your mood. Not that I was ever in terrible moods, because how can you be in a bad mood in this beautiful California weather? But I feel more limber, healthier, and overall great when I get a workout in each day. I’m thinking of incorporating two workouts in a day, but not every day because I’m pretty sure it’d burn me out. I do yoga and bouldering in the same day, but I consider yoga to be more stretching of the muscles, and opening of the hips. Mind you, I did had a sweat-sesh at yoga on Saturday. It was nuts.

I work best in a scheduled and structured day, and I’m thinking of documenting my weekly eats into these fitness recaps too. Would you be interested in seeing? I think that will keep me from eating pizza, cokes, and candy, if I have to write it down, snap photos and upload it. What do you think? I did it while on the 30 day paleo challenge…

Each time I go to yoga, I finish the class all warmed up then jump on the bouldering wall, I felt so ready to conquer the boulder problems. Yoga definitely limbers the body up, and I felt as if I could climb for many more hours than I did. I had to leave because I was hungry. Selfies before driving off, as you do. I got caught taking this one and the dude smiled at me while I laughed at my embarrassment.

I have to say, the yoga class I did last Monday was a little weird. I was the 3rd person to enter the studio. What I failed to realize was that the other two ladies were also newbies. I asked one of them a question on what we needed and I got a snide remark about how she didn’t know. Am I being overly friendly? Am I being weird? Are you not used to strangers asking you a question? What? Why is it, that I get a few snide remarks from strangers on a weekly basis? I simply don’t understand, but I try to not let it phase me. Perhaps I’m being too Canadian-friendly. Let’s see if I smile at you again though! ;) Three people left the 60 minute yin yoga (Yin yoga really focuses on opening the hips and lower back) session while it was going on. I’m thinking it was either the loud breather, the really old guy in his nude spandex (which made him look naked), or the sub-in instructor. I’m not going to let that deter me from going again though, and I didn’t. I loved it because it was full of deep stretching.

Monday May 26: Off

Tuesday May 27: 1 hour yin yoga, 2 hours bouldering

Wednesday May 28: 2 mile run in 19:29

Thursday May 29: 1 hour power yoga, 1 hour bouldering. Then The Guy asked me to join him at the gym and I wasn’t feeling it, so I did 3% incline walk for 1 mile (15 minutes) ha!!

Friday May 30: Off

Saturday May 31: 90 minute(!!!) Vinyasa Flow yoga, followed by 1 hour bouldering

Sunday June 1: 3 mile run without stopping (finally!) at 5.9 pace on treadmill. Time: 30:23

I’ve declared this orange boulder problem rated at a V2, my project as of last Tuesday when I put in two hours at the gym. I can’t seem to get the second last hold. They’re all decent sized, but I feel like it requires more power and a dynamic movement which I’m not used to doing. Ellen told me, “You’re the most graceful climber I’ve seen. It’s like watching a ballet” a huge compliment as I try to make the most out of my movements and not waste energy and scramble or power myself up the wall. I’m more of a technical climber than a strong boulderer, so this V2 is hard!

I did manage to pull down a few V3’s on Saturday afternoon, after that long 90 minute session in yoga. These yoga classes are hilarious. There’s always something going on – this time a dude fell asleep during the savasana at the end.

Okay, let me know what you’ve accomplished this week, or what your goals are for the upcoming week.

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Climbing, Daily, FitFluential, Fitness, Photos

What’s inside my gym bag?

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I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central for Dove. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Look inside my gym bagToday is another outside of the home, gym day. I’m heading to yoga soon, and shortly after that I’m going to put in a few hours on the bouldering wall. So I thought I’d show you what I keep in my gym bag. I don’t need anything fancy, I keep everything in a reusable bag.

Here it is:Whats in my gym bag

Two pairs of LaSportiva climbing shoes (men’s miura’s and women’s katanas)  /// yellow chalk bag (my very first chalk bag that was made specifically for me, back in 1995. I’ll never get a new one) /// pink yoga mat /// hair ties and bobbi pins /// loose chalk /// a pair of shoes to wear around the gym /// arc’teryx harness /// and I like to keeping my underarms soft and smellin’ pretty, with Dove deodorant that I talked about a while ago. Dove Advanced Care moisturizes underarm skin to provide softer, smoother underarms in just three days.

What type of deodorant do you use? Have you tried Dove?
Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant/Deodorant offers 48-hour odor and wetness protection and is available in a wide variety of signature Dove fragrances.

What do you keep in your gym bag?

Are you a heavy packer, or light packer?

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