Winter Workout

Motivating myself to get back into shape is hard enough, but motivating myself when it's freezing cold outside is dang near impossible. Fortunately, I have a ton of free time this break, so I have some flexibility about where and when I workout. Over the summer, I loved taking my dog for walks at the lake near my house after work. It's about a 5 mile loop around the lake so it's not too long for either a walk or run. The only problem I'm facing now is that it's so cold out! I don't mind doing things outdoors or winter, but once I get chilled to the bone, I am absolutely done having fun and want nothing more than to find somewhere to defrost. One way that I put off the inevitable chill is by bundling up in some workout gear that is designed for the cold. I realize everyone has different preferences based on what type of exercise they're doing, but for walking/running with the dog, I like to wear basic cold weather running gear with one of my puffer vests to keep my core warm, especially at the lake where it can get a bit chillier by the water.

find it all here

xx

erin

#rocktober with Blogilates

Let's face it, Econ 101 was right, there is an opportunity cost for everything. Seriously though, when we choose one thing, we miss out on another. When I choose to watch Netflix, I miss out on study time or time to read my favorite book. One thing that I have really let slide this semester has been my fitness. This is a huge bummer for someone who spent the entire summer kicking her butt in early morning spin class and afternoon yoga. I just didn't prioritize it like I did then and I am definitely starting to notice it. Of course, Parents Formal is at the end of the month and I want to look good in my dress so I am using that dress as a goal for this. It's sort of like "sweat for the dress" except I'm not getting married. I actually don't even have a date in mind for the formal...

Getting back in shape again is not going to be pretty or fun, but it is going to be worth it...it always is. I am a bit worried about running with my feet, but I am going to start gradually getting back into it and in the meantime I am going to focus on other toning exercises. 

I've been following Blogilates for a while now and I am going to use this month to take advantage of the workout calendar she sends out each month when you sign up for emails. Her workouts are fun and effective. There are a few video workouts that I've tried, but the actual program she has set up has gotten great reviews. I am also going to do the 30 Day Pushup Challenge. I can already do a few, but I am going to use this as a baseline for where I should be at. Ugh, knowing that I could easily do 3x as many pushups over the summer stinks!

If anyone else wants a 30 day workout or is looking for a great site to get some information on, I would definitely recommend looking at Blogilates. If you want a buddy to keep you accountable for it, or just someone to talk to, I would be happy to become email buddies with any of y'all!

xx,
Erin

Celebrity Fitspiration

If I had really thought this through, I probably would have posted this yesterday as a "Woman Crush Wednesday" post, so let's just pretend I did. Actually, the thought did cross my mind, but then I had to go to bed in preparation for a 5:15am Spin Class...yeah, that happened. Anyways...

How awesome are Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert? I mean seriously, they are my girl crushes all the time (someone please teach me to sing like them!), but they also have really inspiring fitness stories. For the record, both Carrie and Miranda are awesome, no matter what their weight. They are gorgeous, talented, and genuine. Oh, and both got their start on reality singing shows (yes, Miranda too).  

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While they have always been inspiring, their weight loss and fitness stories also inspire me, especially Miranda's. I always loved that Miranda was an average girl and was not especially concerned with her weight, then one day, she decided that she was going to make some lifestyle changes. How many of us can relate to that story? 

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Both women credit healthier diet choices and exercise for getting the bodies they have now. While I may never have Carrie's legs (a girl can dream right?), I can aspire to get in shape the same way they did. These are two women who girls can look up to because they did not do some crazy fad diet or get surgery, they lost weight the old-fashioned way. It is so easy to get caught up in all the crazy hollywood fads, but to recognize what is at the core of all of those movements is to understand what is going to make you succeed. Sure, I could follow the crazy lemonade diet, or I could bust my butt at the gym before I go to work every day and get stronger while I am doing it.

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We don't all want Carrie's legs or Miranda's slimmed down figure because it looks like they need to be force-fed some chicken, we aspire for them because they are toned and could kick some butt if they were given the chance.

Getting in shape is a personal journey with personal milestones and that means that weight loss is gradual and that you are also striving to replace that fat with muscle. Yes, I realize that these women can afford trainers and dietitians that some of us can't, but that does not mean that we can't have success in our journey too, and to focus on that is to harp on an insignificant issue. The process would be so much easier if it could happen overnight, but with a little determination, it can be achieved over time and just look, the results are totally worth it! 

Who inspires you? I would love to know!

xoxo,

Sugar Snap Pearls

The Friday Five...On Thursday

Yes, it's Thursday, but I am so excited to do my Spring Training post tomorrow that I felt like bumping up my Five on Friday post to today! Also, can I please go back to Tampa, it is 26 degrees in Virginia right now, two-six. That is not the weather that I have been enjoying for the past week, at all. Oh well, here are some of my favorite links this week:

1) Marley Lilly Flash Sale

one of my derby hats

Now is the perfect chance to get that monogrammed derby hat for Carolina Cup or Foxfields. I personally have two hats from them (totally necessary...) and love both of them. Plus there are tons of other monogrammed goodies to stock up on in preparation for spring and beach week!

2) Gone Girl

I am sure some of you have read this already, but if you haven't, do yourself a favor and get it now! I started it last night on the plane and am already 300 pages in. Admittedly, I am a fast reader, but still, this book is great. Check out other favorite books up on my GoodReads account!

3) Which Hills Character Are You?

Okay, several days of vacation put me a bit behind on the Buzzfeed quiz game, but I love this quiz. It totally helps that I got Lo Bosworth, she and Lauren Conrad were always my favorites. Oh, also, you need to figure out Which 90's Babe Is Your Style Icon. There are no bad answers to this one, I've taken it twice and gotten Hilary from "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and Cher from "Clueless." If anyone took other great buzzfeed quizzes this week, let me know!

4) The Bachelor Fallout

I am assuming y'all have heard all about Juan Pablo by now, but seriously, he's such a jerk! Have whatever opinion you will about him and Nikki (girl, get out now), but regardless, there is no excuse for his abrasive attitude towards Chris Harrison. Quite frankly, based on how the other women of the season feel about him too, I am thinking Juan Pablo is probably that much of an arrogant jerk on a regular basis.

5) Getting In Shape

Okay, I am so over not being in shape. I have been absolutely terrible about working out this semester (aka I haven't done anything) and I am ready for a change. There will be more posts about getting in shape in the coming weeks, but being in a bathing suit in Florida really kickstarted this for me!

What are some of your favorite links from the week?

xoxo,

SSP

Kick It Into Gear

First of all, yesterday some sisters and I went to the Kappa Sigma headquarters to drop off a birthday cake in honor of Dr. Charles Richardson's birthday. He was a founder of Chi Omega and a brother of Kappa Sigma. Their headquarters was absolutely stunning and an afternoon of that followed by an evening of cheering on UVA basketball as they crushed Wake Forest was just what I needed. Of course, it is back to J-Term for me today...

CAKE!

with the Dr. Charles Richardson bust in their museum

A little self-criticism never hurt anyone, right? Actually, I don't know the answer. What I do know is that when I looked in the mirror last night as I tried on one of the dresses that I got in the Lilly sale, I did not like what I saw. Yes, I was wearing a size 4 dress...two sizes smaller than what I would have worn at times in high school, and yes it was pretty. What I didn't like was the way my legs looked. I didn't like that despite adding some lotion and a pair of pumps, they still weren't that impressive.

Now, I am never going to have Carrie Underwood legs and I am not complaining about my weight. That isn't what bothered me. The problem I saw when I looked in the mirror was that the reflection was showing me a reality I had been trying to avoid. I have been absolutely horrible about working out, and now, my body is showing it. It is not about just fitting into the dress, it is about how you look once your in it. 

I wasn't upset that I was lacking definition because I wanted to weigh less, I was mad because I let myself fall out of shape. The image in the mirror was upsetting because it confirmed a reality I had been carefully avoiding. One that could no longer be avoided. So, how about no more excuses. How about I just start running again and liking what I see? I am not trying to get the "perfect figure" that others determine, but I would like to be proud of myself when I look in the mirror or at my outfit shots.

Here's to making healthy lifestyle changes and becoming the happy person you deserve to be!
 

Cheers,
SSP