Hello July!

Can you believe half the year is over already?  These first 6 months seem to have flown by!

July - December

I keep adding to what I have left to do this year.  July and October appear to be my busiest months.

• July
• Wellness Coach Certification Exam
• FitBloggin' (so many are backing out lately)
• Austin starting high school
• August
• Nothing YET
• September 
• 37th Birthday
• October
• The Great Pumpkin Run
• Launch of Fit Indy Parties at the Costa Rica Wellness Retreat
• November
• 8th Anniversary
• Thanksgiving
• Austin's 15th Birthday
• December
• Holidays in Ohio

What's in store for you the rest of 2016?

Week in Review

SATURDAY I melted in my garden for about 2 hours. Staked the rest of the tomatoes. Created a structure for the zucchini to climb.

MONDAY I worked my back, chest, and shoulders with Kelly Coffey-Meyer's Muscle UP 2B Fit.

TUESDAY I worked my legs and arms. In the afternoon I purchased a subscription to Precision Nutrition's ProCoach. I will be using this both as the nutrition portion of my coaching programs as well as a standalone option.

WEDNESDAY I walked almost 3 miles during lunch. At the farmer's market I picked up blueberries, zucchini, and a fruit roll up.

A photo posted by Cassandra Schmigotzki (@longandwindingroadtowellness) on Jun 29, 2016 at 1:05pm PDT

YESTERDAY I had a busy mental day. I started with yoga before work.

I created the sign up page for a 30 day free trial of the Nutritional Guidelines. Those in the Brand New Me Healthy Living Community will have first dibs on the trial.

My Wellness Coach Certification exam is now scheduled for the 14th. I'm trying to decide if I'll work beforehand or take the whole day like the last time.  It'll probably depend upon the weather LOL

Linking up with

Jill for Fitness Health & Happiness

MississippiPiddlin & HoHo Runs

#MotivateMe Monday with Fitness Cheerleader, Running Rachel, & Run Mommy Run

Sunday Fitness & Food Linkup with Marathons & Motivation & IlkasBlog

Weighing in with Some Muffins

I remember posting this picture when the muffin pan arrived at the beginning of February with a note wondering what I'd make for Valentine's Day.  I have scoured my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook posts but just can't find that post anywhere!  Has it been lost in cyberspace or have I lost my mind?  I received the Premium 12-Cup Silicone Muffin & Cupcake Baking Pan for free in exchange for my honest review.  The set comes with the pan, liners, spatula, and brush.

Because Austin hung out at his friend's house Valentine's weekend I didn't bake anything.  The following weekend I made German Chocolate cupcakes (no icing because Benny didn't want it) using applesauce instead of vegetable oil.  The cake mix box didn't have any instructions as to how long to bake the cupcakes for using silicon, only glass or metal.  So I had to guess.  Two batches were made since the box says 24 cupcakes, with Dove dark chocolate hearts in the second batch.

Funny Looking German Chocolate Cupcakes

The cupcakes were super moist but I still don't know if I baked them enough.  They passed the toothpick test so I assumed they were done.  They remained super moist, enough so the bottoms molded through the bottom of the liner paper onto the cupcakes.  We had to throw the rest away last weekend.  That was different since Austin's birthday cake lasts for weeks.

What I liked about using a silicone pan is that the cupcakes didn't burn!  In the metal pans when I'd use a liner whatever I'd make would be over baked, slightly burning all along the paper.  So I had to switch to using the flour baking spray whenever I made anything.  I'd love to continue with silicone so I can use those cute liners again and to see if everything comes out moist once I figure out the bake time difference.

Should you want to experience the joys of baking with the Premium 12-Cup Silicone Muffin & Cupcake Baking Pan you can pick one up on Amazon.

THURSDAY I did Kelly Coffey-Meyer's Split Sessions Lower Body Workout.  I started reading through the GEX practical skills booklet.

FRIDAY I completed the final P90X3 makeup session with Dynamix.  I read more of the practical skills.

SATURDAY I did Split Sessions Full Body Timesaver.

MONDAY I started a Killer week to March in like a lion with Jillian Michaels Killer Buns & Thighs Level 1.  I answered the test questions from the practical skills booklet.

YESTERDAY I did Killer Body Upper Body, sticking with the 8 lb dumbbells.  Benny asked to see the GEX materials but I don't think he looked at anything after I went to bed as they were still sitting where I left them on the table when I left this morning.

I weighed in last night up 7.2 lbs, back up to 156.6 lbs.  I don't think this is all muscle so I'm going to have to go back to tracking my food again to see what's going on.  Besides all the gassiness (which only seems to happen at home so I don't know what's up with that either) my pants are tighter at my hips and thighs.

TODAY I did Killer Body Core.  The core-focused workouts I've done before were 15 minutes max.  This was different working my core for 30 minutes.  Right now I'm not feeling it but my arms are aching a bit from yesterday.  What's your longest core-focused workout?

Linking up with

Jill for Fitness Health & Happiness

Jebbica for Food & Fitness Friday

MississippiPiddlin & HoHo Runs

#MotivateMe Monday with Fitness Cheerleader, Running Rachel, & Run Mommy Run

I'm Ready to Save the Undies, Are You?

I went ahead and weighed in again last night since I knew last week was a fluke.  BOOM! I nearly wiped out that freakish gain so I'm back where I need to be.  Ahh, peace for the rest of April!

Week of Workouts

Thursday I did Kelly Coffey-Meyer's Muscle Definition Workout 1 followed by the Rock Your Core Challenge.

Friday I got some boxing in with Train Like a Contender Kelly's Mix.

Saturday I worked my Shoulders, Biceps, & Triceps with the premix.

Sunday was another yoga session with The Yoga Collective.  This time it was a Soul Sweat Sesh so I wasn't in pain afterwards LOL.  By the way, I will be doing a giveaway for a free year membership at the end of the month.

I decided that I needed a break from Kelly so I've been on the hunt for something different.  Originally I thought I'd just swap out for another lifting program but ended up changing my mind.  This week I'm doing workouts from Fitness Blender.

Yesterday I picked out a 5 minute warm up as well as a 5 minute cool down session to go along with the workout.  I did the Bust Booster Chest Workout - Breast Lifting Exercises.  Boy, did I feel weak!  I couldn't get my shoulders up for anything.  Afterwards it felt like I was wearing shoulder pads LOL

This morning I did the Red Light Green Light - Glutes, Abs, & Cardio Workout.

What I don't like about the Fitness Blender videos is there is no background music.  It just makes everything too quiet!  And that's saying something because I'm always turning off/down the music on the DVD workouts.

I've signed up with Kotex® to Save the Undies.  Every month during TOM I switch to my large panties because of both the many days of spotting and the feeling of being bloated.  I'm looking to transform myself into an UnderWarrior this spring with the help of U by Kotex® Clean Wear Ultra Thin Regular pads.

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Linking up with

Up Up and Away

Something was in the air this month. I was up 3 lbs and so were most of the other Lifetime members. I wasn't expecting it but I was sore and had Chinese food Monday night.

Week of Workouts

Thursday was Kelly Coffey-Meyer's Muscle Definition Workout 2 with a little about work from the Rock Your Core Challenge..

Friday I did Circuit Burn Cardio & Boxing Pre-Mix.

Saturday was Muscle Definition Shoulders, Biceps, & Triceps Pre-Mix. My arms were achy and I struggled but pushed through the workout. My abs were achy too.

Sunday I wanted to try some yoga from The Yoga Collective. I selected the 40 minute Hip Opening Flow. I was cool throughout the day but at bed time my hips were also hurting. I ached all over!

Yesterday I muddled through the Muscle Definition Back & Chest Pre-Mix subbing the abs portion with the Rock Your Core Challenge.

Today I tried out a workout from the Tone It Up ladies - One Day Fat Blast. The workouts were OK but they didn't give enough time to transition or get your weights.

Omega-3 Supreme 1400 mg Fish Oil Concentrate 90ct

I was given a bottle of the Life & Food Fish Oil for free in exchange for my review.  These gel capsules are smaller than the others I've seen. That makes them easier for me to swallow and also fit better in Benny's medicine case.  This may be my favorite fish oil so far because it makes it easier to me to dispense his meds! LOL

Linking up with

My First Race Wrap Up

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!

 

One more week to go until my next official weigh in!  I'm doing pretty good with this.  Yeah, some days I'm eating more than I probably should but it's all balancing out.  Now if only we could keep out the chaos it would be grand! LOL

My First Race

I had no idea how many people were there at the little community 5K.  It seemed crowded in the gym where we checked in but a much smaller crowd at the starting line.  Until I saw the results published I had no idea where I stood, not that it mattered anyway.

It was SOOO cold being only around 20F out but the sun was shining.  Someone said that last year it was sleeting during the race.  The sun was bright and I couldn't see where I was going so I just followed the orange cones to know which way to go LOL

It took me about 30 minutes to get halfway through and 20 more minutes to finished.  I was actually a little surprised that it took me under an hour to walk it.  After all I hadn't really walked since Halloween!

One thing I do want to say is if you bring your kids on a race YOU MUST HAVE SOMEONE WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES!  This poor little girl was cold and started crying as all her people had abandoned her.  I told the people at the checkpoint and they got ahold of someone to be with her.

Week of Workouts

So besides the race, what did I do this week?

Thursday I was off work to take Benny to see the ENT because it looks like he has another stone in his salivary gland.  UGH!  So I did a longer workout - 77 minutes of Kelly Coffey-Meyer's Muscle Definition Full Body Compilation.  NEVER again will I do weightlifting for that long!  I was worn out and had to use my other arm to help lift sometimes in the end.

Friday I rested to prep for the race.

Before the race I did a little yoga.

Austin pushed the button on my camera (still with the timer) so he photo bombed one picture LOL

Sunday I did the Muscle Definition Back & Chest Pre-Mix as Austin selected for me.

Monday I was tired so I rested again.

Yesterday I did Lift in Full Throttle Olympic Lifting (and am feeling it in my legs today LOL).

It was time for cardio today with Circuit Burn Cardio & Sculpting Pre-Mix.

Ginger Root

I started the 52 Week Be Better Challenge last week.  This week's challenge is to make something with ginger root.  I picked up a piece at Walmart yesterday so now I have to figure out what I will make.  What is your favorite thing to make with ginger root?

Linking up with