ChallengeBox Subscription Box

I have heard of subscription boxes for a while but never really looked into it.  Apparently there is an entire industry of subscription box companies just waiting to take your money monthly.   Interested in golf?  No problem.  Clothes?  Gotcha covered.  Kids crafts? Easy.

I decided I wanted a fitness related box so I searched various ones.  I found one called ChallengeBox that goes along with your FitBit (but it doesn’t have to if you don’t have one).  I signed up and my first box arrived this week!!

They give you a challenge each month and if you hit it that month you will then get an extra item in your box.

I LOVED that they included a hand written note inside my box.  It gave it a personalized touch!

Here is what was inside for February 2016.  

They list things out for you to know what it is. I  think there is a typo on the #1 it is resistance bands instead of resistance balls but I figured it out. ;)

My workout t-shirt was 3 sizes too big.  Usually women’s workout shirts run small so I put down a size that was waaaaaay to big apparently.  That’s OK. I will know for next time and can just donate this shirt.

Saffron Road Lentil Chips, cucumber dill flavor.  I am excited to try these! I haven’t opened them yet but I will soon. 

Stress Relief ball with spikes.  I love rolling these things on my foot after I have worked out.  You can roll them all over your body but I would recommend having a layer of clothes in between because the spikes are hard!

RX Bar Protein Bar, Chocolate Sea Salt flavor.  I really am not a protein bar person so I will just send these in the car package for the troops that I am sending out this week.

Nuun, Grapefruit flavor-I love Nuun but hate grapefruit flavored ANYTHING.  I won’t be using this either.  To the troops it goes!

Oatmega Protein Bar-see above for my dislike of protein bars.  But I will send it on.

Resistance bands in light, medium and heavy resistance levels. These are pretty cool.  I have one resistance band at home but I never use it and I didn’t know they came in different resistance levels.

All in all the box was just OK.  It had some great stuff in it but the stuff just wasn’t for me. I am giving four out of 7 things away (one being my fault because of sizing) so I am not sure $25 is worth some chips, resistance bands and a stress ball.  I might give it one more try next month.

I also didn't like how they do not have a referral program (as far as I could find on the website) that gives you either free stuff or discounts on your next box. 

What about you?  Do you have any subscription box suggestions for me?

Houston Marathon Training-Week 1 and 2

For my Houston Marathon training I will be joining with the Gotta Run Katy program through January.  The program is based on the Brooks Hansen Method which maxes out your running program at 16 miles but is based on fatigue.  At the height of the program we will be running 6-8 miles on Friday, up to 16 miles on Saturday, and 11 or 12 on Sunday.  Our coach, Alain wants us to be prepared for the last 16 miles of the race, so he is going make us fatigued by running so many miles within a 3 day period.  On Tuesdays and Wednesdays we will be doing strength training and track workouts plus he will bring in different experts and vendors to speak with us.

At first I was hesitant to participate in a program that maxes out the running at 16 miles (what about the next 10!) but Coach Alain (plus I Googled the Brooks Hansen Method) relieved me of my fears.  I will try and update everyone on my weekly progress as I get closer to the big day!

Weekly Breakdown (Week 1):

Saturday: I started with the program on Saturday (I joined late, some members had been doing the program for about two weeks) and Coach Alain had us run 35 minutes one way, and 35 minutes back.  I didn’t have a watch so I tried keeping up with some other members in front of me.  I covered about 5 miles in the 70 minutes we had to run.  I know that isn’t much, but for me that is a lot seeing as I haven’t run hardly at all in the past 7 months since my half marathon.  Afterwards we stretched and we had a vendor from Luke’s Locker (also a Gotta Run member) who was the manager of the shoe department speak with us about the importance of good running shoes and also the different types of shoes out there.

Weekly breakdown (Week 2):

Sunday-Met up with Gotta Run Katy at 5:45 am (but I got there late-6 am) for an early morning workout.  We were supposed to run until we got to the dam, but my friend Aly walked with another member for a total of 4 miles.  I went home and fell right to sleep, I was exhausted from the mileage the day before and staying up later than usual.  I need to get to sleep earlier when I have to be there so early.

Monday-Lunchtime workout of Strong Body Ageless Body (45 min) using 3 lb weights (need to increase the weights!)

Tuesday-off.  I switched Monday and Tuesday because I had to meet with a potential pet sitter for Jabba when I go to Honduras (and misc times throughout the year) in September.

Wednesday-Since I am still sort of training for my first triathlon I took out my bike yesterday for a short time (very short, I borrowed a fancy bike from my friend and took it out for a test run), then I ran 3 miles, then I went home and did the arms/legs portion of the Strong Body, Ageless Body DVD.  Tired!

Thursday-Rest day!!!

Friday-Restday L I was supposed to run 6 miles, but that didn’t happen since I had a last minute errand to run that took awhile. Next week I will be better about getting ALL of my workout/runs in.

Saturday-8 miles!  Coach Alain said to run 45 minutes, which should be about 8 miles.  At 45 minutes I was only estimated to complete 6 miles so instead of quitting and saying that it was ok only to do 6 miles and cop out, I completed the 8 that he said to do.  I was the last person to finish, and the group had already done the stretching portion so I stretched on my own.  Afterwards I went to Starbucks for breakfast (Iced latte and a bagel with cream cheese) and to change out of my sweaty clothes so I would be comfortable to drive to Madisonville.

Strong Body, Ageless Body DVD Review

Strong Body, Ageless Body by Erin O’Brien purchased from Amazon.com

Time:

45 minutes total or you can just do specific parts of the DVD

Equipment needed:

Set of hand weights (any weight-I started with 3 lbs, but should have moved up to at least 5.  Erin uses 9 lb weights)

Yoga mat or towel (if you are on carpet you don’t need one)

Water (not really equipment but she does allow a water break)

Overall:

I really like this workout DVD!  It is hard enough that you ‘feel the burn’ but not too difficult to where you feel like you are going to pass out and it is only 45 minutes long so you really feel like you have been working.  The DVD has lots of different moves where you work your entire body, not just one portion; however it does not have any cardio (other than doing the moves quickly).  The studio where she does the routine seems to be at a house so it’s not a ‘typical’ workout set (which I liked!) and the music didn’t seem as loud as some DVD’s out there. I also liked that the DVD showcased only her and not two or three other super muscular, “I hate any food but protein and despise cupcakes” kinds of people.  The DVD was just her in her home (I’m assuming it’s her home) and you, making it feel like a one-on-one personal training session.  The menu on the DVD has an option where you can go through the entire routine, or just do one section and stop.  This way you don't have to fast forward to get to what you want.

The instructor:

I hadn’t heard of Erin O’Brien before I purchased the DVD, but she was great.  She is great at explaining the moves and lets you know what is good or bad form so you can be sure not to hurt yourself.  Sometimes I had to laugh at her facial expressions when she says ‘you can do it’ with the utmost sincerity.  She is quick to move, has lots of energy, and is overall adorable!  She promises not to say awesome again at one point in the DVD, but then says it again later-I actually would have never noticed her saying it until she pointed it out.  I think it’s nice that she made a point not to be that annoying trainer in her workout DVD.  She has an Earthy but not hippie vibe to her, and she seems to really care about you and women everywhere, encouraging them to ‘be strong’.

Daily Review:

Day 1-(Wednesday) I didn’t realize until halfway through that the exercises on the top right of the screen were harder than the ones she was doing (side note-on Day 4 I noticed the box has ‘harder version’ written underneath it. Haha!).  Usually the trainer does the harder exercises the entire time on the main shot, and then the small shot (or person in the background) does the original or modified version. This video was opposite so I got confused a bit.  I am surprised that I actually sweated as much as I did today!  There really isn’t any cardio in this video, but I was sweaty.

Day 2-(Thursday) Today the exercises felt easier, except for the dreaded pull your knees in and sit up routine.  Still don’t like them! I felt a bit sore today in my upper arms and also my thighs, but overall I felt good.  I actually did all of the modifications in the top right of the screen the entire time today. I realized today that the office where I do my workouts was a bit stuffy, so that might be why I was so sweaty at the end. I need to bring a fan to put in there with me.  I watched another portion of the DVD with her bio in it and noticed that her husband is a famous actor from Desperate Housewives! 

Day 3-(Friday) Good workout today!  I felt like it should be longer, but the 45 minutes whizzed by.

Day 4-Skipped Monday (feeling blah) and today was great!  Each time I get better and better at the exercises.  I have been doing the DVD with 3lb weights (all I had!) but I just purchased some 5lb weights and will try and remember to bring them in tomorrow.

Day 5-(Monday)This is my last review day, but I know I will keep doing this DVD since I loved it so much!!  I didn’t bring heavier weights to work with me, but today I felt it!  I guess it was because I skipped so many times I had to start back at square one.  I did bring a fan in the office with me, but I still sweat!

Fueling for a marathon

Last year at this time when I was training for my half marathon I had attempted to eat healthy, but the temptation of cupcakes and frozen yogurt was a bit too much. :/

This time around for my marathon I am going to make more of an effort to have healthier foods around.  I have tried to cook foods in bulk over the last few weeks and then freeze them, buy more nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.  I am trying to go out to eat less (which is only halfway working) and eat less red meat (‘white’ meat=lean protein).  I am trying to eat less packaged foods with fewer preservatives and stick to fresh made foods in the deli section at my grocery store or foods I prepared myself.  Experts say that you should stick to the outside areas of the grocery store and only go into the aisles for spices.  Get foods with an expiration date that is coming up.  If it is 2012 and the food doesn’t expire until 2015, then that might be full of crap that you don’t need to eat it, if you can’t pronounce words on the label then you probably shouldn’t eat them!

As I start to run more and exercise/cross train more I am going to be hungrier, but right now this is what I have been getting from the grocery store to fill me up for the week.  I haven’t been able to find a good farmers market or farm close to where I live now (I loved Froeberg’s Farm in Alvin by my old house) so I have to make do with the supermarket foods.

This is my typical day of eating lately:

Breakfast

1/2 cup of oatmeal with a fruit (usually either blueberries or banana), chia seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, cinnamon, and honey.  I just purchased ground flax seed and I am going to start adding them to my oatmeal routine.

or

2 eggs and either a side of toast with jelly or a piece of fruit

Lunch

 Sandwich-either pimento and cheese (fresh from the deli-not the packaged kind-and I know that it isn't the best, but it is really tasty and better than a burger) or PB&J sandwich on whole grain bread.

Vegetable-either steamed (with my favorite microwaveable steamer) or raw with hummus Fruit for ‘dessert’-lately it’s been cherries, mango, banana, or apple

Cheese-sometimes a Gouda Babybel piece (love!)

or

Leftover frozen bulk item I cooked (Chicken Spaghetti, meatloaf, 15 Bean Soup, Lasagna, etc)

Dinner

It depends on what time I get home to decide if I am going to eat a big dinner or not.  Usually it’s leftover items I cooked or some fruit if I got home late and I am not hungry.

Snacks

I usually get hungry around 9:30-10 am so I eat some nuts that I keep in my desk, and then around 3 or 3:30 pm I get hungry again and have some more nuts, or sometimes I bring an extra piece of fruit with me.  FYI: A serving on nuts (get unsalted!) is a shotglass size.  Don't go and eat a huge handful of nuts, that's a lot of calories.

Drinks

When I do go out to eat I try and stick to water (plus it saves you like $2.50 each time you go out) or if I do get another kind of drink I get unsweetened tea.  In my tea I used to add 1 packet of Sweet n’ Low, then when that go too sweet I switched to ½ a packet.  Then I started hearing all sorts of things about Aspartame and tried to nix it from my tea all together.  Now I get tea with lemon, but honestly it tastes like water almost so I might as well save the money and get water…working on switching over 100%)

Hydrating drink-During and after a workout I have been drinking a sports drink called Nuun and I love it!  Nuun comes in dissolvable tablets (like Alka-Seltzer) that you add to your water bottle, let dissolve for 2 minutes and drink!  Super simple and it comes in a ton of flavors.  The best part is it’s not really sugary like Gatorade or PowerAde and is still really tasty and hydrating.

Margaritas-I have stopped drinking over the last few weeks in preparation of my triathlon and marathon.  Maybe in a few months I will go back to drinking something every once in a while, but overall I am trying to stop the additional calories and dehydration that alcohol brings. If I do happen to go out once in a while I won’t be that girl who orders water (unless I am driving) at the bar so I wouldn’t mind getting a drink then, but I am trying to reduce unneeded calories that will hinder my progress towards weight loss/marathon training.

That is my food for this week!  Let me know what you guys are eating, or if you have found any healthy foods that you can’t live without.

Lunch time workout

Last week I came to the realization that I sort of waste my lunch hour at work. I either run errands (which isn’t that wasteful), read a book, or chit-chat in the lunch room upstairs. I decided that since I am training for my triathlon and my marathon that I need to step it up and not waste an entire hour out of my day.

What did I decide to do?  Workout during lunch!  I tried running a few weeks ago and just about DIED!  It was as so hot out….nix running in the heat of the day.  On the 15^th floor of our building there is a gym, but the equipment is older and I usually am not good with free weights at the gym and I despise treadmills…nix on the upstairs gym.

Then I thought about it and decided to bring my laptop here and do a workout dvd.  Brilliant!  Well, where can I do a workout dvd?  On my floor there is an empty office at the end of the hall (for now) so I asked my boss if I can use it during lunch with the door shut.  He said I could and yesterday I brought all my stuff to workout.

Here is my setup.  There isn’t that much room in the empty office but if I move out the other chairs I could have more room (no need to-I don’t do karate!).  I set up my laptop on the table and workout in front of it.  Do you like my FLAMINGO (!!) bag with my name on it?!  I am working on strength training so most of my DVD’s have some sort of weight involved.  These are three lb. weights but I am planning on bringing my 5lb. weights soon.

I am going to try and switch it up with different DVD’s that I have at my house and I am actually going to start reviewing the different DVD’s that I have bought.  Look for that soon!!  This DVD is called Strong Body, Ageless Body (bought from Amazon) and I loved it!  I will be doing a review soon (I want to complete the DVD several times before I review it completely).

After I get done I just put the DVD and weights in the cabinet (I need to bring my yoga mat from my car) and I am done.  Simple.

I don’t get overly sweaty, but I do put body splash on me after I change (just in case!).  So far this is working for me.  When we hire another person I will either have to stop, find another place, or hopefully it will be cooler so I can go running. 

What sort of things do you do for a daily workout?  Do you try and if it in before, during, or after lunch?

The 30 Day Shred

***Again, I have been super lazy and this should have been posted waaaaaaaay back in October.  This has actually been written for the most part since then, but I just kept forgetting to upload it (my old apartment didn't have internet).

I have attempted in the past to complete the 30 day Shred in it's entirety, but I have always come up short.  I go for a few days straight, but then I miss a day and my good intentions are out the window.  So I added Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred to my list of 30 before 30.  

I of course had seen Jillian on the Biggest Loser, but it was when I saw this post from one of my favorite bloggers that I wanted to purchase the DVD and see what it was all about.  I bought my DVD copy at Wal-mart (I think it's $9), but I have seen it at Target as well (follow the link above to get it from Amazon).

So here is my 30 day run down of what happened when I decided to tackle...the Shred.

Day 1-Not so bad.  I say not so bad because I kinda cheated a few times.  OK…so I cheated a lot.  Who does she think she is making me push myself?  She’s not my Mom.   Well, OK.  I bought the DVD because she is known as “TV’s Toughest Trainer” (which she repeats several times-I get it, your tough!) and I wanted her to push me.  But while your are grunting and doing crunches you are just like leave me alone Witch! 

I am already sore…time to take a shower and get on with my day.  BTW, who in there right mind gets up early on their day off to workout with the Shred at 8 am?!  Apparently me.

Day 2-During the cardio jump rope and sections I have to hold my boobs down so they won’t fly up and cause a black eye.  Note to self: Get better sports bra.

Day 3-I brought the DVD over to my sisters house and convinced her to do the workout with me.  My nephew started to make fun of us for doing a workout video, so instead of him laughing at us when we had sweat dripping down our faces I bet him $5 that he wouldn’t be able to finish the entire DVD with us.  He took the bet and started the workout.  Bet a kid $5 and you could get him to do anything, I wouldn’t take a $5 bet anymore.  Kids are cheap.  He made it through the entire DVD without stopping, although he almost did once and I had to remind him that he was doing this for money.  Day three complete!

Day 4-I had the bright idea to go for a 3 mile run before popping the DVD.  Smart.  Smart.   Smart.  Not. Not. Not.  So tired, must go to sleep now.

Day 5-My friend Kali invited me to the Pearland Crossfit tonight to do bootcamp with her.  I have heard things about Crossfit and wasn’t sure I wanted to go, but she convinced me that I am very active now so this should be a piece of cake for me.  Yeah right, Crossfit is hard! We had to do as many sets as possible in 12 minutes of 5 pushups, 10 sit ups, and 15 squats.  I couldn’t wait to be done, so you can imagine when I got home to do my dvd I was not feeling it.  I did it though.  Crossfit Bootcamp + Plus 30 Day Shred.  Who’s tough?  This girl!

Day 6-I am so sore today from yesterday’s bootcamp.  Even squatting to pee hurts so doing lunges and jumping jacks did not make for a fun time today. I am getting stronger every day though.

Day 7-Today I noticed that my arms do not jiggle as much as they used to…they still jiggle though so let’s keep pushing on!  Or as a song goes from my favorite musical (The Great American Trailer Park Musical) goes "I am going to make like a nail, and press on.”

Day 8-I ran 8.69 miles today so needless to say that my knees were not happy when popped in the DVD for tonight’s workout.  

Day 9-"I can do this, I got this. I can do this, I got this."  That's my new mantra.  What do you think?

Day 10-Last day on Level One!  I keep trying to convince myself that I should enjoy this workout, as it is my last one on this level…but I can’t seem to care. I am so over this level.

Day 11-First day of Level Two!  I think I am ready, bring it on.  **30 minutes later-What was I thinking, can I please go back to level one?  Please!  Who ever heard of a plank jack?  

Day 12-I.   Absolutely.   Do.   Not.   Like.  Level.    Two.   Of.   The.  Shred.  Level Two is not my friend.

Day 13-I sweat a lot during this level.  Sweat dripping down into my eyes makes it hard to see when doing high kicks.  Jabba better watch out, it’s hard to hear a meow over all of the grunting and screaming that I do in this level.

Day 14-Almost halfway through.  Keep pushing!

Day 15-Ran my fastest time ever in a 5K…and shaved off 58 seconds.  I know it is because of the Shred.  Today’s workout was extra special once I realized it.  Push it!

Day 16-Level 2 is still not my friend.  Planks jacks are not my friend either.  On that note, neither are butt kicks.

Day 17-I did this tonight at 11:30 pm.  I fell asleep on the couch and woke up with a start thinking it was past midnight.  Luckily it wasn't and I was able to finish. That would have sucked to have to start all over.

Day 18-Sweat in my eyes!  Sweat in my eyes!

Day 19-Exhaustion and hunger to the max!  Why am I so hungry?  All this working out and running makes me hungry.  Running at 5 am, then the Shred at night?  I am oh so tired.

Day 20-Level 2 is done! Peace out!

Day 21- OK wait.  Level 3 includes punches, butt kicks, and jumping jacks with WEIGHTS?  No one warned me about that fact!  You should be ashamed! 

Day 22- Level 3, Day 2.  I am tired.  Can’t hold up my arms to type from all the plank moves.  Check back tomorrow, maybe I will have a witty response.

Day 23-Level 3 has knee circles in the warmup, I really missed knee circles.  Great job Jillian for bringing them back!

Day 24-I think Jabba thinks that I am a bridge that he can lay under when I do a plank move.  He doesn’t understand that I am about to collapse from the muscle strain!

Day 25-Ran 4 miles right after work, came home and did this DVD.  I rock!

Day 26- I kind of like doing the sumo squats and jump squats.  My thighs are burning though!

Day 27-The sit ups on this level will be the death of me!  I have yet to complete a ‘real’ one without using my feet and arms to gain momentum.

Day 28-Did you hear that I did a keg stand?  Well, did you know that I did my first keg stand about 20 minutes before doing day 28 of the 30 Day Shred?  Committed!

Day 29-One more day.  One more day. One more day.

Day 30-I finished!  There is no feeling like when you know you have just completed an entire month of working out and can see a visible difference.  There is also no feeling like the one when you know you don't have to do something anymore.  Yay!

Final thoughts:  I loved the Shred.  I didn't take measurements or weigh myself before/after but I know I lost weight and absolutely some inches.  Try it!