Insta – Fit

Hey there –

Just wanted to let our followers know that I have started a fitness instagram once again! Find me @krosefit. I realized that the simple act of maintaining an instagram account helps me stay accountable to myself and motivated to keep up my fitness routine. I will be posting progress photos, recipes, fitness videos, health tips, etc. Please follow along!

In other news – Who plans to watch the Oscars tonight? First of all, I absolutely love watching the Red Carpet and texting with Sio and our other friends, commenting on the dresses and hairstyles we love/hate. And then the awards! I am never able to watch all of the best picture nominees prior to the Oscars – this year I have watched The Theory of Everything, Birdman, American Sniper, and Selma. Of the above movies, I definitely think Eddie Redmayne deserves to win Best Actor. He truly transformed into Stephen Hawking. And Birdman has my vote for Best Picture – so unique and captivating. I wish I had had time to watch The Imitation Game, Grand Budapest Hotel, Boyhood, and Whiplash, but I’ll get to them soon! And as for Best Actress, I’m really not sure who might win! Who do you think will win best actor/actress? What movie do you think should win best picture?

P.S. Winter came back with a vengeance during the last week – ugh. I cannot wait until spring arrives. I’m looking forward to lots of bike rides and hikes!

 

-KRG

Avoiding Fitness Boredom

I don’t know about everyone else, but I get bored with fitness routines after a few weeks. I do a mix of running, biking, incline walking, and weight lifting to keep my muscles guessing. But still, that tends to get boring, which is why I’ve recently been looking for different (and free) fitness routines.

On the weekends I skip the gym and instead prefer to do all “workouts” outside, whether it’s long walk with the dog, walking around the mall, running errands, whatever! Just not in the gym. Every once in a while I also venture over to POPSUGAR‘s Class Fitsugar and do one or two of their 10 minute videos. Siobhan and I love their 10 minute arm workouts!! Such a good burn!

Yesterday I decided to check out their other workout videos and realized they have a TON of videos uploaded, including zumba, crossfit, cardio/weights, etc. So, instead of doing the same old thing, the last two days I have been warming-up on the bike and then hitting the fitness room to do a 40-minute video. I then finish my workout with a run on the treadmill.

Yesterday I did the 40-Minute Metabolism Boosting Workout. And today I did the 40-Minute Fat Fry Workout. I can definitely feel these videos helping me target the muscles I don’t reach through weightlifting and running. Both videos contained elements of cardio, targeted trouble zones in the upper and lower body, and some stretching. The videos left me a sweaty mess, and it’s great because all you need is a set of dumbbells!

I like Class Fitsugar’s videos more than Jillian Michaels’ videos, as Jillian Michaels tends to make you repeat her routines for a week or 10 days (which for me, leads to boredom and not wanting to stick with it). If you’re looking for a new fitness routine and want to tone up, check out POPSUGAR’s Class Fitsugar workout videos!

And in honor of Throwback Thursday…

Frank and I on one of our first “dates” with friends (a little over 3 years ago in Miami), watching the Blackhawks/Panthers hockey game.

Have a great day!

-KRG

Back At It

I am all registered for today’s noon Pure Barre class. It’s so weird how something that was a part of my daily routine a mere two weeks ago, has now become such a daunting task.  I know I will feel 100% better after I do it but I am still super nervous for the impending pain and burn that I am going to feel. One reason Kara and I wanted to start this blog was simply to hold ourselves accountable to someone. Now that we have nearly 80 “someones”, I am super motivated by each and every one of you to live a healthy, happy lifestyle – if nothing else, to have something to post about 🙂

I am on the road, again, tomorrow so I felt like dressing down a little bit for work today.

As I have said a couple of times before, boyfriend jeans are amazing.  So comfortable and can be dressed both up and down.

Boyfriend jeans: Target // White button up: Gap // Scarf: I can’t remember but similar here // Belt: Gap

Thank you, again, to all of our loyal readers out there. And, like I said in yesterday’s post, if any of you are sharing in my feelings of being stressed right now, join me in setting aside an hour for yourself today. Happy Monday!

-XO, Sio

Moving Days of Summer

So sorry I have been MIA, but as you all know, I was moving this past week and simply didn’t have time to blog, let alone do much else other than pack and clean!

Overall, the move went smoothly. We had issues with U-Haul, and if there is any way to avoid using them in the future, I will. In my little dealings with them, I found they are a very disorganized and unprofessional company, but unfortunately, no other company exists that offers the services that they do! So they are free to act however they want, since there is no real competition.

Anyways, we were scheduled to pick the 10′ truck up on Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. at a nearby Uhaul location. However, we received a call on Tuesday morning, informing us that we would actually be picking the truck up at a far away location that didn’t open until 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The time and location did NOT work for us, so we ended up picking the truck up that same day (Tuesday). Luckily, getting the truck early worked out better for us, as we were able to start loading the truck a day early, saving us time the next day.

On Wednesday, we woke up very early and took Sosa on one last jog around downtown Miami. We said our good-byes to the city of Miami and then headed back to the apartment to load our belongings in the vehicles and get on the road.

This ended up taking FIVE hours, so we didn’t get on the road until about 11:30, but finally we were off!

We made it to Savannah around 7 p.m., starving and exhausted. Our hotel was in the historic district, and we wandered around a while, looking for somewhere to eat. We walked around the downtown area, devoured our dinner, and then headed back to the hotel to sleep.

Thursday morning came way too quickly, but I woke up early and took Sosa on a jog around downtown. Since Sosa was riding with me over the span of the two days, I wanted to make sure he was as tired as possible on both days. And I am happy to report he was SO good! He slept almost the whole time on Wednesday and Thursday (he even had several snoring naps) and if he did wake up, he just looked out the window! Best dog ever.

We hit the DC area at rush hour, and on top of that, it was pouring rain, but we finally made it to the storage unit around 6:30 p.m. It took us about an hour to unload the truck, and then we headed to Annapolis. We are staying with my fiance’s parents this week, as we cannot move into our new apartment until Saturday. Come Saturday, we will head back to the storage unit, rent a new 10′ truck, load the truck up, and head to the apartment. Luckily my fiance’s parents and his brother will be helping!

In case you are interested, here are my gripes with U-Haul:

1. They gave us the wrong address of the truck pick-up location.

2. You have to buy your own lock for the truck.

3. You have to buy your own lock for the storage unit.

4. Although the first month of storage is free if you rent a one-way truck, you are required to pay extra money for “extended access” to the storage unit. (24-hour access is more expensive than “extended access”).

5. You are required to pay for insurance for the storage unit (Insurance is required).

**Although U-Haul advertises “one free month of storage,” it is now obvious that NOTHING is free with U-Haul.

6. Some storage units are on the second floor, and the only way to reach the second floor is via stairs; no elevator. This is not helpful when moving large items.

7. The “fuel efficient” truck is only fuel efficient if you drive slowly. This is not conducive for moving halfway across the country.

8. The customer service is so-so.

Regardless, the big part of the move is OVER, and we made it safe and sound, which is all we can ask for!

Since arriving in Annapolis on Thursday night, we have been exploring the city, eating delicious food, and relaxing! Last night we saw Godzilla and then went to a cute espresso and wine bar downtown for a drink.

“Lemongrass Herbal Tea”

After a stressful few days, it feels nice to just unwind and enjoy life. I’m also getting back into the exercise routine, jogging with the pup in the morning, and running or playing tennis in the afternoon.

I also started a Your Tea 14-Day Tiny Tea Teatox yesterday. You drink one cup of tea 3x daily, 30 minutes before or after each meal. It is designed to reduce bloating, clear your skin, and can even aid in weight loss. Who knows if it will do anything, but it can’t hurt to try!

Finally, I am happy to report my Zara heels and June & Hudson lace pants were waiting for me upon my arrival in Annapolis. I absolutely LOVE both items and cannot wait to wear them!

And remember-for more fashion and health posts, follow us on Instagram @healthylifehappywifeblog.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

-KRD

Summer Kick-Off

The holiday weekend has begun! But before I could start relaxing, I had to attend my 10th and final Orange Theory Fitness class this morning. I scheduled my last class for this morning so that I could squeeze in one last intense/hard workout before the move next week.

To get mentally and physically ready, I took the dog for a 30 minute walk (it’s already boiling outside) and drank a a cup of coffee, a mix of vanilla flavored egg white protein and ice water, and a bottle of water about 45 minutes before the class.

I also wore my new Nike Lunarlon sneaks (thank you Nike Factory) for a boost of motivation.

The class was incredibly hard, but I did it! The first half of the class consisted of a treadmill workout using inclines (I wanted to pass out, haha); the second half of the class consisted of arms and abs using dumbbells, TRX straps, the rowing machine, and bodyweight.

Now it’s time to relax before we head to a BBQ this afternoon. Cannot wait to attend lots of BBQs in D.C. this summer!

Have a great day!

-KRD

Saying Goodbye

This weekend was a good balance of work and play. My fiance and I accomplished a lot of cleaning and packing, and we even sold my dresser! Yay!

Yesterday, I met up with my friend Erin and we had a lovely walk and catch up fest. At the end of the walk, we both realized we should’ve been meeting up for walks LONG before now. Sigh. After we parted ways, the fiance and I went for a long bike ride around South Beach, stopping to take some photos along the way. Miami is truly beautiful, and I will definitely miss the beach, the palm trees, and the weather!

We have a lot more packing and cleaning to do (and hopefully selling more furniture) over the next week, as well as stuffing invite envelopes, but I also plan to squeeze in some workouts, bike rides, and get togethers with friends. It can’t be all work and no play, right?

-KRD

Staying Fit and Healthy In Times of Stress

Because my life is currently pulling me in a million different directions, I’ve had to learn how to not let myself get too overwhelmed.

I am the type of person who likes to plan wayyyy ahead of time and complete everything as soon as possible. Sometimes, this just isn’t do-able, so I am forced to wait…and wait… In the meantime, my stress levels rise because I cannot complete my to-do lists “ahead of schedule” and I am then forced to cope with the resulting stress.

One great way I combat stress is through exercise. And while I exercise regularly and generally keep my stressed feelings at bay, I also have to stay mindful not to turn to junk food and “eat my feelings.” As you may or may not know, stress can bring on increased levels of cortisol, which can create cravings for salty and sweet foods. (BINGO)! Unfortunately I can’t always ignore my cravings!

Another way I fight stress is by making to-do lists and writing lots of notes to myself. For example:

1. I use my Google calendar to schedule extracurricular activities and set reminders.

2. I write notes to myself in the “Drafts” section of my Gmail.

3. I write notes to myself in my “Notes” section of my Iphone.

4. I email myself reminders.

5. I write my monthly to-do list in my Gmail’s Tasks.

6. I write my to-do list on my calendar at work.

7. I consult my Knot wedding checklist about two times weekly to determine what wedding tasks need to be done and what tasks are coming up in the near future.

8. I sometimes e-mail my fiance and consult with him regarding what we have going on that week.

Phew! Think I write enough notes? 🙂

Life is crazy and stressful right now, but I have so much to look forward to that I think I am more excited than anything!

Happy Tuesday!

-KRD

Fitstagram

Looking for fitness, health, and diet tips? Well, look no further! Head on over to Instagram and check out my Instagram account: krosefitness.

No, I’m not a personal trainer or a nuritionist, and I cannot offer professional advice. But I can provide you with exercise routines to try at home, workout videos, healthy recipes, and all around motivation! The krosefitness account provides a little window into my life, showing you how I incorporate fitness into my daily routine, while also inspiring and motivating others to achieve their own health and fitness goals.

Check out my krosefitness Instagram account and see if you like it!

-KRD

Just Do It

Sometimes you just have to remind yourself to just do it!

Because my arm and leg muscles were sore from my Orange Theory class yesterday, I didn’t feel up to doing an intense workout today. Instead, all I really wanted to do was eat something carbalicious, like a bagel with melted cheese (one of my all time favorite comfort foods).

However, I quickly reminded myself that my rest day is coming up very soon (SATURDAY YAYYYYYYY), and I would regret it if I didn’t exercise, so I decided to go outside and do some easy cardio. As it turns out, without even realizing it, I jogged/walked about 5.5 miles! I kept my heart rate at a fat burning level the whole time, so although I didn’t burn a ton of calories, I did burn fat!

And because I made myself go out and exercise, I was able to wear my new Forever 21 yoga shorts! (I’m happy to report the shorts don’t ride up my thighs like some yoga shorts tend to do). Ha.

Anyways…

My microdermabrasion appointment is tonight. Think smooooooth and beautiful thoughts for me. 🙂

-KRD

Forever 21 Finds

I’ve been desiring some new fitness gear for the last month, and today I finally decided to head over to Forever 21 and check out their fitness section. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money, but figured I could find a few affordable items.

I picked out a tank top that can be used for working out OR wearing out and a pair of yoga shorts. I also happened to stumble upon a pair of Forever 21 girls shorts, and lo and behold, they fit! (size large). They were too cute not to purchase. 🙂 And the best part is, the tank top and two pairs of yoga shorts only cost me $16!

Forever 21 tank top (Find a similar one here)/Forever 21 foldover yoga shorts (Similar shorts here)/Forever 21 kids foldover yoga shorts

I am very pleased that I not only got some new duds for cheap, but biking to Forever 21 and back home burned a few calories too!

And the absolute best part of my afternoon was returning home and finding a brand new Victoria’s Secret sports bra waiting for me, courtesy of my fiancé! Eek! My very first VS sports bra! I am a lucky girl. 🙂

 “The Player by Victoria’s Secret Racerback Sport Bra” (Find here)

New gear is a great way to stay motivated and committed to exercise!

-KRD