Springtime Madness

Disclaimer: this is an opinion post, based entirely off of the heaps of research I've read, and my own life experiences.

It's that time of year. The sun has finally started burning through those dreary winter clouds that lingered around for way too long, the snow is long gone, and we are all starting to get antsy to shed those coats and pull out our flip flops.

It's an exciting transition, from winter into spring. Everyone seems to have a little more pep in their step, and the sun is finally staying up past 4 pm. We’re all dreaming and planning and starting to make epic summer plans.

The summer plans then lead to the reminder that warm weather = less clothing. It's pretty standard to sometimes pack on a few extra lbs during winter, I know that I do. And I also know it's not the end of the world; I typically start logging more miles come March/April due to weather changes, put the holiday/birthday binges behind me, and eventually return to normal.

Here's my soap box.
Because of this seasonal cycle, I've also noticed that March and April are the times when I see the most bullsh@t out there in regards to "quick fixes".  "Here's how to get flat abs fast"... "Drink this a week straight and you'll drop ____ lbs" .... "The best workouts for a beach booty.”

Just saw this on my Twitter feed....

If you're on ANY form of social media, you know what I'm talking about. The list goes on, and on, and on.

I called it bull because that's what it is; there is no quick fix, that term is garbage. I mean, TECHNICALLY it may be a quick fix, but if it is, it's not sustainable. If you want a healthy body, then you must be healthy. Clean up your diet, and get off your butt. Refuse to accept excuses: go for a run, ride your bike, do a cardio circuit in your living room, go to your gym.  “I don’t have time” just isn’t going to cut it.

Furthermore, there's really no such thing as "targeting problem areas"... It's another garbage phrase. You don't lose love handles from obsessively doing side-crunches, you lose them by doing fat burning, full-body workouts.  Odds are, you're going to have to sweat to see results.

Even more importantly, stop eating processed garbage. And if you do (I sure do) which we all pretty much do let's be honest; do so in moderation. The less ingredients on the label, the better. And remember, the phrase "you can't out-exercise a bad diet" is so, so true. Pizza for dinner five days a week, no matter how much you may be working out, will always catch up with you. Abs are 75% made in the kitchen, and that's the truth.

And last but not least, drink your water. Lots of it. It keeps your crazy awesome body really happy.

That's all. Believe me; this rant was just as much for me; I'm far from perfect. Just figured we could all use a little bit of Spring motivation. And remember, if it doesn't seem sustainable, or reasonable... Well, that probably means that it isn't.

Cheers -

Kait

2 months

Spring. Officially on calendar it's here, while weather may not be consistently reflecting it. Well I guess it is... spring is spring because of the weather changes, and while I would love 70's on a daily basis, it's the snow and rain showers mixed in that make spring both exciting and frustrating.

one of my favorite pictures that I took last April in Patterson Park!

It used to be a season I kind of just floated through, and didn't think much of. Yet as I've gotten older, I've gotten exponentially more aware of how much the seasons affect my mood, my general outlook, etc. February may be the shortest month of the year but I swear that every year it gets just a little bit longer, and a little more of a struggle to stay positive during. I'm pretty sure I speak for all of us when I say that I welcomed March with open arms, and that wasn't just because of better running weather.

Warmer temps + more sunshine = better moods.

It's science.

Shifting gears: it's also two months away from our wedding.

Where the time went, I have no idea. But it's coming in hot and I'm a combo of stoked and stressed.

I was driving to work yesterday morning, and the sun was rising just as I was leaving the city. My drives to work are actually one of my favorite times as I usually try to spend the first five or ten minutes thinking and praying and getting mentally prepared for the day... and then for the last 15 minutes I jam out so hard it's a definite guarantee I'll be in hearing aids by 60. But that's besides the point.

The point is,  I was driving and my mind wandered to the laundry list of wedding related items that we still have to get done the next two months. And in the midst of the stress starting to build up, my eyes glanced to the East and I saw the electric pink sunrise over the water and I thought man, this life is so good.

And a list of ticky tacky bullsh*t wedding tasks should not be ruining my morning, I'll tell you that much.

It's been a challenge, keeping it all in check the past 10 plus months of planning, and these last two months will be an even greater one. But in the midst of the stress and the endless decisions and checklists and color debates, my mind keeps going back to this quote, always:

In the end, no one is going to remember how the napkins were folded, or what color my toes were. In the end, it's a celebration of the fact that I get to marry my best friend, with all of our very best friends & family right there next to us. 

So this is my public promise, as these next two months continue to move from busy to crazy insane busy, I cannot and will not sweat the small stuff. I'm going to fight to squeeze ever last bit of joy out of this spring, get some sun on my face, and keep my priorities in check.

So cheers to that -

Kait

2015

Gosh, it's been awhile hasn't it? Like, three months. I do miss free writing, I will admit that. Especially when I have a slow quiet morning, with a coffee beside me, like today.

And delicious pancakes, those help too

Not that I haven't been writing - I have been a lot, on my crossfit blog. Here is the post on my 2015 goals if you're interested.... I feel good about them. I feel good about a lot of things I have going on in life right now actually - my job, volleyball, crossfit, running.... wedding planning.

Wedding planning... man oh man. I honestly kind of wish someone would have sat me down post-engagement and been like, "Hey, I know you're really excited and all, but I would highly consider running away and eloping."

I'm kidding... kind of. I'm PUMPED to get married in May and it's going to be awesome, do not get me wrong. But if you ever feel like giving yourself a couple ulcers, plan a large wedding in a state that's halfway across the country from you.

Kidding again, I don't have ulcers. If anything , the experience so far has helped Andrew and me to stop frequently and refocus on what's actually important - the marriage part. SO MUCH PLANNING goes into the two-day affair of getting married that we keep losing sight of the fact that we are actually committing our lives to each other, I'm stealing his last name, we are going to share a bed forever and ever and ever and everrrrrrrrr, etc.

You know what I'm saying. It's been a good experience. An eye-opening one. Just felt the need to share.

ANOTHER thing that I've been meaning to share are these guys:

The holidays and seeing family and delicious food/drinks are wonderful and all, but following both Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years, I've gotten back into Baltimore feeling like a sluggish balloon.

What was cool was, when I got back to my house post-Thanksgiving, I was greeted by a box full of these:

Awhile ago, Allison over at Garden of Flavor juices reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to try out their juices. And I was like 'Duh I love juices.'  I opted for a box full of their green juices (Mean Greens and Green Harmony) - and she sent enough for me to drink two per day for over a week. Plus some extras - like the one pictured up there, Goji Pineapple.

Ingredients in Goji Pineapple:

-Organic Pineapple

-Organic Apple

-Organic Goji Berry Juice

-Organic Ginger Root

-Organic Lemon

-Organic Mint

Now, I wasn't paid to write this, I'm just writing it because they were so kind to let me try the awesomeness that they've got going on, and because I'm a believer in cold-pressed juices. They also have some information on their website if you're into juice cleanses and what not.

Read more about Garden of Flavor here

For about eight days I included two green juices per day into my daily meal regimen - I would drink one for breakfast with an egg or two, and then normally have another late afternoon prior to heading to the gym. Honestly, by mid-December, I felt great. I'm always hesitant with juices these days because 1. a lot of them are loaded with sugar 2. a lot of them are LOADED with sugar - but these aren't. You get what the bottle says you get - plus they've got probiotics in them which make your stomach happy!

Their website lists where you can buy them, or you can also order online if you're interested. You better believe I've got it down in my wedding planner to order some more of those green juices in early May, just so that I can make sure my stomach and body is extra happy come the big day.

Anyways, that's my pitch on juices if you're interested. I'm hoping to be back later this month - I've got a volleyball tournament in Richmond next weekend, so maybe we can chat again afterwards. I hope all of your 2015's are off to a magical start. Go do something awesome today.

Cheers - 

Kait