Fall Favorites Mix Giveaway

Oh my goodness. Today is the last day of September and I'm squeezing in a September mix giveaway right at the end of the wire. First of all...I can't believe that tomorrow is October 1st. Second of all...I can't believe I haven't shared some of these songs yet. I made it through a whole run on Friday! I was able to go in the middle of the day, and I only had minor pain issues...so I may be on the mend. I'm still keeping my runs short, full of hills and intervals, and high tempo...but I'm so happy to be able to run again! This was the playlist I ran to, and I LOVED it.

You'll notice I'm loving Imagine Dragons these days...

I Will Wait - Mumford & Sons
Bleeding Out - Imagine Dragons
She Wolf feat. Sia - David Guetta
Chained - The XX
Hall of Fame feat. will.i.am - The Script
Backfire - Lana Del Rey
On Top of the World - Imagine Dragons
Let Me Love You - Ne-Yo
Carry On - Fun.
Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
Tip Toe - Imagine Dragons
Heart Attack - Trey Songz
Sleep Alone - Two Door Cinema
Dancing On My Own - Robyn
Bass Down Low feat. Dev - The Cataracts
The Way I Are feat. Keri Hilson and D.O.E - Timbaland
Thinking of You - Katy Perry

To enter to win this mix, you know the drill...
1) Become a follower and leave a comment letting me know that you are one!
2) For an additional entry...leave a separate comment telling me what you are loving about fall!
3) For more additional entries...tweet about the giveaway, blog about it, pin it, etc. and leave a separate comment telling me you did so!

Good Luck! The contest will end Sunday October 8th at midnight! The winner will be announced on Monday the 9th.

Some Weight Loss Walls You May Need To Break Down

Frustration with weight loss is no stranger to those who want to change the way they look and feel. It happens to so many people, and if you aren't careful it can be the start of a cycle that will cause you to gain weight instead of lose it. Instead of getting frustrated with what isn't happening, do some evaluations of what IS happening. Your success may be close by, on the other side of a wall that needs to be demolished. I posted recently about overcoming plateaus, and these suggestions all go together. So, if you are feeling the frustration...it's time for some evaluation.

Wall #1: You are relying solely on your exercise to change your body. I've said it over and over again..you HAVE to improve your eating habits if you want to see a difference. The combination of exercising and eating right is what will bring results. You simply cannot out-exercise a bad diet. It is impossible.

Wall #2: You are fooling yourself with your food. I hate to break it to you, but most people think they are eating better than they are. Truth: If you are not seeing results...you probably aren't. Get serious about it. Write your food down in detail if you have to in order to allow yourself to see what you are really eating. Consider the fact that you may not be eating correctly as well. Getting the right foods makes ALL the difference.

Wall #3: You lack consistency. Read HERE for more info on how to be more consistent and why it is life changing.

Wall #4: You are being unrealistic. If your body fat is low, your weight is low, and you are in good shape...you may not need to lose any more weight. Unfortunately, the world has given women such ridiculous expectations as to what they should look like. Many of these expectations aren't even healthy, and cause women to do CRAZY things to achieve unrealistic, unhealthy results. Consult with a professional to determine what a realistic goal is for your body. There are definitely some mental walls that we put up that can be difficult to deal with as far as body image is concerned.

Wall #5: Your body has other issues that are causing you to stall at your weight loss. If you feel like you are putting forth an extremely honest and solid effort, and you still aren't seeing results, there is a chance that your body may have another underlying issue such as a hormone imbalance, a thyroid problem, or a medication that is stunting progress. These are issues that need to be addressed with a doctor.

Wall #6: You are living too gloriously with your cheat meals/days/weeks. This is a simple one. If you are overdoing it with items that are considered "cheats" all the time, you will be very unlikely to see any changes at all.

Do any of these walls seem familiar to you? If so, KNOCK THEM DOWN! Make the changes you need to make to allow for some progress. Success is just around the corner.

Another Scenic Sunday

I'm telling you, these Utah mountains are good for the soul.

Thank you Spanish Fork Canyon. Ahhhmazing. The end.

Saturday Snippets

Here are a few random thoughts for Saturday...
- Last night I got to hang out with some of my sweetest lady friends. Aren't they beautiful? Don't worry...I know we have full on demon eyes. We attempted about 8 pictures to avoid the demon eyes, and it just wasn't happening.

- However, the demon eyes are kinda fitting because SB and I can't seem to get enough of Vampire Diaries these days...

I resisted watching it forEVER because I just assumed it was going to be kinda lame...But, I'll admit it. I love it. 

- This was lunch for today...and has been for many of my lunches these days. I don't know why I can't get enough of these roasted veggies. On the recipe I posted I suggested roasting for 40 mins on 400 degrees. I have since found that you can roast your veggies for 20-25 mins on 450 degrees. 

I love this recipe because you can literally use ANY veggies you have. It is a great way to use up your remaining produce. My standard veggies usually consist of broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, yellow squash, and sweet potatoes. SO YUMMY! I will make a huge tray full and eat it for a few days. Veggies galore.

- I forgot my headphones for my workout this morning. I sincerely hate when that happens. Turns out I am a sucker for my music when I am getting my sweat on. Do you relate?

- What is the deal with this guy? It's like a train wreck. I can't not watch. Since when do 50 year old Koreans become pop stars?

- I have two wedding receptions to attend tonight. Not just one, two. Apparently it's wedding season.
- All I want to do is put up my Halloween decorations. Too soon? Probably. Maybe next week. I already know what my Halloween costume is...
- Less than two weeks until I go to Lake Powell, halleluja!
- I am loving spotify these days.

That's all. I told you my thoughts were random. Happy Saturday!

A Healthy New Snack: Boom Chicka Pop!

Everyone is always asking me for healthy snack ideas. So, when I find one I always feel obligated to share. I raved about a product that I love called Skinny Pop a while back. I am definitely still a huge fan, but unfortunately it can be hard to find sometimes. Our local Sprouts (which was previously Sunflower Market) now carries it, which is awesome. However, in the meantime I always had my eye out for a similar product. Well, guess what? I found one. AND, the best part...it is available at Target, which is much more accessible for those who don't have any sort of specialty health food stores around them. Presenting...Boom Chicka Pop.

 It is all natural, and the ingredients consist of popcorn, sunflower oil, and sea salt. Simple. Fabulous.

And the name is fun to say, right? We gave my little nephew the bag to grab some handfuls and we had to take it from him before he ate the whole thing. He LOVED it. It is so light and tasty, and has just enough flavor to keep you wanting more. I like it every bit as much as the Skinny Pop! It is a GREAT snack options! Try it out!

A Good Decision.

Tuesdays are reaaally long days for me. Between work and other commitments I have I usually end up being on my feet from When I get up at 5:00 AM until I get done with my last client around 6:00 or 7:00. I'm not complaining, I'm sure some of you have similar days. I'm just giving you the run down, so you know where my head was at yesterday. I got home around 7:00 last night and I hadn't had any spare moments to get a workout in. I am not one who likes to workout in the evening. I prefer to get it done in the morning when I have more energy. I knew that I needed to workout, but it didn't sound all that great at the moment.

My thought process was something like this...
- "You can miss one day..."
- "You have eaten well today, it won't really matter if you don't workout."
- "The gym will be crowded..."
- "You have been on your feet all day. That burns a lot of calories."
- "You're going to have to shower...again..."
BUT because I know myself SO well, I changed my way of thinking a bit
- "You know you will feel better if you do workout..."
- "Just go do SOMETHING. Anything is better than nothing."
- "Deep down inside you know you'll love it once you get going."

So...the positive thoughts won. I changed my clothes and drug my tired self out the door. I started with a ten minute warm up on the stairs to my favorite jams, and guess what...my energy level picked up! I ended up getting in an AWESOME workout, and I felt SO SO SO good after. Turns out I do know myself. I am happier when I get a good sweat in. My workout went a little something like this...

10 step ups on the right leg with a 35 lb plate overhead press
10 burpees with a pushup
10 step ups on the left leg with a 35 lb plate overhead press
10 burpees with a pushup
REPEAT 2X

15 rows in a deep lunge on the left w/20 lb DB(You are in a deep right lunge and rowing back with the left arm here)
15 rows in a deep lunge on the right w/20 lb DB(You are in a deep left lunge and rowing back with the left arm here)
30 Plyometric lunges on top of the bench (Up and over the top, alternating legs)
10 balancing single arm curls across the front of the body with 20 lb db on the right
10 balancing single arm curls across the front of the body with 20 lb db on the left
REPEAT 3X

15 squats with 35 lb DB's
20 Alternating lunge box jumps
20 Side reaches with the 35 lb plate on the right
20 Side reaches with the 35 lb plate on the left
REPEAT 3X

The moral of the story...I know there are times when we are tired, and the last thing we want to do is go workout, BUT I can almost always promise you that you WILL feel better if you just do SOMETHING. Chances are you may start that something, and get a second wind, allowing you to do more than you thought you could!

On a totally unrelated note...
I'M GOING TO NEW YORK!! I am so stoked about it! I want your recommendations...what do I need to do and see while I'm there? I already scored these...

37 calls to New York later...WORTH IT. I would really LOVE to hear what things you have loved while in the big apple! Fill me in peeps!

Product Review: Paleo People Grain Free Granola

As you know I am always on the lookout for new healthy and delicious products. New products that are Paleo approved make me even happier! So, you can surely imagine that I was thoroughly STOKED when Laura from Paleo People sent me some of their grain free granola to try. 

Doesn't that look amazing? The Paleo People site they give a great description of what they have to offer...
"We create "Paleo Style" Granolas, meaning recipes designed with our cave dweller ancestors in mind. Our paleo snack products are created using ingredients like nuts, seeds, berries, fruits, spices & natural sweeteners - the types of foods found and gathered by our ancestors!  

Our paleo snacks are all natural, wheat & gluten free so for celiacs & vegetarians who are searching, our snacks are quite a discovery." 

 This combination of nuts, seeds, fruit, and berries make up this super tasty grain-free granola. My favorite flavor is the banana nut crunch. 

 I, of course, just dug in without wasting anytime. This tasty granola is perfectly delicious on its own.

 But I am also excited to try mixing it in with some greek yogurt. and I'd also love to try sprinkling it over a salad. So So SO tasty! I love that it is Paleo approved, but I'm pretty sure anyone and everyone will find it absolutely delicious.

The good news is that you can try this deliciousness from Paleo People at a discount! With the promo code munchercruncher you can get a %10 discount on all flavors. Awesome, right? Click HERE to visit their website.

This healthy, delicious, grain free granola is absolutely delicious. My only warning is to be sure that you order enough because it will go quickly!