Happy Fall!

Well if you look back it has once again been a while.  Writing this in my calendar, the goal once a week!!! Writing on here.

The caveat for all, I'm no English major, I know my grammar is not great, and I seldom reread this kind of stuff.  You can guarantee I will reread my work emails multiple times.  

With that said, going to share with you what Podcasts I'm listening to.  There are a lot.  I have 40 on the list, I don't keep up with them all.  I love learning new things and keeping up with the news.  It really depends also what I'm interested in.  At times I'm listening to all about sewing, or memory keeping, or fitness.  Currently a little bit of a mix!

First up is, "It Was Said"  Produced by History it covers some of the most important public speeches ever given.  I have listened to Martin Luther Kings "I Have a Dream" speech, President Regans Farewell Speech, and just recent Senator McCains Eulogy.  It has quite a few already and worth a listen.  It analyses the time in history the speech is given, and the tone of the speech.  

Next up on my Go to list is BBC's Global News Podcast.  They have a release daily covering global news, this is about all the news I can take these days.  They touch on high points of news in the U.S. but also what is going on around the world, that is often missed.  If you are looking for a place to get a short news episode to check it out.

The final one I will share today is "The Rachel Hollis Podcast"  I have followed Rachel Hollis for two years now, and she has had on her show some remarkable people.  The podcast features interviews in business, media, and lifestyle.  Her Podcast has lent me to countless others in the personal/professional Development Realm.  Some include Trent Shelton's "Straight Up", Jay Shetty's "On Purpose", Dave Hollis on "Rise Together", and many others. 

Thank you all for checking in on my blog.  Share below what podcasts are on your playlist!!

Until next week!

Jane

Long lost Blog

Yes, it is the long lost blog.  The last post in this blog was from March of 2015.  March 2015 Sam and I lived in Colorado Springs at the time.  Since that point, we have now moved twice and enjoying our new how just outside our nation's capital.

The time we have spent in Southern Texas was, rewarding, fun, and also a challenging place for work.  We have had many adventures that will share over time, but to get back into blogging I'm going to start with the current events. The current events may have brought me back to this blog, I do believe I had a thought in early January to start writing again, but what better time now when so many hours in the day have little planned.  Tomorrow starts week 6 of Teleworking and my works stay at home/social distancing order.  It was the first weeks that it was such an unbelievable thought that this was going to be happening, that this stay at home would still continue.  Little did I know this would become the new normal.  How life has changed, how our world has changed? It has not been an easy road, navigating working from home, the new routine of things.

With the new routine comes new challenges, but the time we are given gives us more time with family and to work on the project set aside and hobbies that haven't been visited or new hobbies.  Sam and I have finished one 1000 piece puzzle, I think it was more Sam finishing.  The second one has started.  We have been cooking at home even then we already had been.  We have started our very own bread starter, "Turbo".  We will see what can come of this, hoping all the fresh bread and biscuits.  Our lawn is growing and we are slowly getting through the list of yard work.  More to come.  Also house projects.  Our walls are now covered, well most of them, with family photos and pieces we have created or picked out along our journeys. Next up is finishing the closet doors, and painting my office!  I think with all the time I have spent in my office the time is now to get it painted and everything the way I want.

With all that is going on in the world, I am thankful for what I have, what my family has and for our health.  I hope you will join me as I begin to write more here and share what we are up to!

A good article that I recommend. 
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200330-covid-19-how-to-learn-a-new-skill-in-coronavirus-quarantine

Fav Running Applications

There are soooooo many running phone applications out there.  I've only recently started running with my phone for many reasons, and these applications are some of the reasons why I do.

I will discuss two of the ones I currently are using here.

The first is Charity Miles.  This is a great app (since latest update, some issues) to use those walk, bike, and run miles to help out a charity.  There are a number of charities that your miles can donate to.  Some include Team RWB, Habitat for Humanity, Wounded Warrior Project, and Stand up to Cancer, along with others.  This application is available on the Apple App Store and Google play store.  The application when turned on using phone GPS, will log your miles and after finishing a run/bike/walk the miles will be added to your total and to the charity.  The application is a fun way to have teams add up miles and compet to earn miles.

The second is RunSafe.  I use to notify a list of contacts on when I start and finish my runs.  This is used for safety while I run and so that it is easy to find where I may be.  There are two options with the app: either free or a 4.99/month option with additional features.  I'm using the free option and enjoy the features.  To include the notifications, it also features a Panic button if needed in Emergency's and also will track your weekly milage.  This application just like Charity Miles can be found on Apple App Store and Google play as well as the use of the phone GPS.

These applications are both free and are great tools to use for tracking miles and staying safe.

Let me know what you think of them!

Jane

Whole30

Hello All,

As March has begun, it marks many things! First off my Birthday!!  It was yesterday and it was great excited to continue celebrating this weekend.  In addition, the beginning of March, our completion of the Whole30.

The Whole30 is a program that was introduced to me by the iwill Fit Coaches!  It certainly seemed daunting and scary when I first read the Rules!  The Whole30 is a program that in short is a cleanse to your body.  You will cut out dairy, all grains, all added sugars, legumes, all processed foods,  and other items and restrictions.  Doesn't it sound Scary! Overwhelming!!  The program goes for 30 days, and is used to reset your body to eating healthy vegetables, fruits, and quality meats.  This is very similar to what many know as Paleo.  There are some additions to the program though.

Some of those additional restrictions included no Alcohol and no recreating treats with approved ingredients--such as banana pancakes!

In simplicity, meats and veggies! But......It was way more than that!  To start out the month, I found many resources on compliant dishes.  Recipes made with coconut milk, veggies galore, and a whole lot of flavor!  I had only one salad during the entire month of eating this way.

For all, don't doubt that you can't do this, it is 30 days, you get to eat and eat yummy flavorful foods.  Never did I feel hungry, but learned on how much I need to eat during the day to keep my energy levels up.

Results:

I did not lose weight, good thing, wasn't looking too.  What I did gain was clearer healthier skin, more energy, and more muscle tone!  In addition a bigger sense of understanding foods and what I need to have in my body and what I really don't need.  There are many foods out there that just don't give me any nutritional benefit.

Sam also had some good results, loosing 10+ lbs, and being adventurous with food choices and creations!  He wasn't as accepting to some of the items we cut out such as the pasta and rice, but I'm very happy to have had him on this journey to experiment with food.

During, we also continued our workout routine's.

Will I continue??

I do plan on continuing to eat Whole30 compliant for 90% of our meals.  Processed foods-Nope getting rid of the  Added Sugars-at our very best we will eliminate these entirely (check ingredients, sugar is in everything) Dairy- Mhh a Wisconsin girl cutting out dairy, is it possible?  This will be cut to a very minimum.  It will be very rare occasions that I will have cheese or even milk.

Very happy with the experience I had during this program, and for anyone looking for a jump start into eating healthy, changing lifestyle, consider The Whole30 Program.  Below I will link to some of the blogs where we found some amazing recipes!



The Clothes Make The Girl

Nom Nom Paleo

Just Jessie B

Pinterest  Of Course Pinterest, Just Search for Whole30!

Whole30 Recipes  On Instagram-Recipes are posted daily, with quest chefs!

iWill90

This week I was recognized as member of the week for iWill90 Challenge, and wanted to recognize the team of coach's and the program here on my blog.

iWill Fitness is a company committed to coaching people.  Incorporating fitness, nutrition, and your mind into lifestyle fitness coaching.  I have been a part of iWill90 from the beta round.  iWill90 is a 90 day lifestyle challenge, where teams work together meeting and breaking fitness/nutrition/mind challenges throughout the week.  The second round of iWill 90 started in mid January to kick off the new year.

I've learned a lot of things during the first round of iWill90.  To include, recognizing that i wasn't eating enough fruits and veggies each day.  Additionally, the abundance of artificial sweeteners and sugars that are added into many of the things we have daily.  Some things include flavored coffee, toothpaste, ketchup, all sorts of dressings, and many other things that were in our pantry.  This made me realize the importance of reading the ingredients on the foods we are eating.

The second round, I'm focusing my personal goals on getting rid of those artificial sweeteners, and knowing what I'm eating.  If I don't know an ingredient on a label and sounds like chemistry it is very likely not coming home with me.  The team of coach's of iWill brought up the Whole30 program (which I will have a post out in the coming weeks), without the encouragement, knowledge from the coach's and the community I don't think I would have gone through with the Whole30.  I have 4 days left to go to finish up the 30 days and am very happy with my results and the food dependence's I've gotten over!

The fitness/workouts I've been pretty good with myself, which includes running, cycling, and most recently more strength training.  The challenge has been a great way to stay accountable and keep up with my workouts.

The final area of coaching that is the mind.  This area I think is one of the most important areas in any goal setting/meeting.  The end of last year, I came out from running with an injury.  Doctors don't really know exactly what it was, but with a lot of rest and more strength training it has gone well in recovery and I'm back at running.  My mindset through the recovery and build up has changed, I'm listening to my body and enjoy the fact that I can keep moving.  It may not be my fastest or the best time, it may be snowing, but I am still moving and enjoying it.

With this, my running goals have changed for the year.  I have goal races, that are bucket list runs, I want to finish well and strong, the time yes will be important, but not the number one item.  Finishing and finishing healthy is what I am looking to achieve.  Of course having fun!

Thank you to all the coach's and the knowledge you have passed on to all of us!

For more questions about iWill or iWill90 let me know or check out the links below to get in contact with the iWill coach's!

iWill Facebook

iWill Fitness


Thanks for reading!!

Jane

SWEET Workout

Introducing SWEET Workout!

I've been recently chosen as an Ambassador for SWEET Workout!  Excited to be a apart of the program.  SWEET Workout was designed to encourage women and men to make positive lifestyle changes and find motivation to workout/run.  Through the use of social media the group has been growing.

What does SWEET Stand for??

SWEET is an acronym which stands for:

S • Stronger
W • Women through
E • Empowering
E • Education and
T • Training

As part of the program, I will be representing SWEET Workout and encouraging others through the many social media outlets.

To learn more checkout SWEET Workout Website!

SWEET Workout

-Other ways to follow SWEET Workout:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWEETWorkout

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sweet_workout/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sweetworkout

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SWEETWorkout/

Jane

Run Ranger Run

Hello All,

      Wanted to share with everyone an event that I'm participating in through the month of February!  The team I joined up with for this event is part of the Colorado Springs Team RWB.  This is an organization that has many chapters throughout the United States.  I haven't yet gotten to participate in any of there weekly events, but hope to once my work schedule changes.  Team RWB's mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.  This comes from there website Team RWB, where you can find out more about this organization!

Back to Run Ranger Run!

The History
       In 2012 veteran US Army Corporal Cory Smith, following combat deployment, and the difficulties of the journey home, he decided to highlight this difficult journey by running 565 miles in 28 days.  To read more of the history of Corporal Smith's journey, check out this link.

The Event
       The team pledges to walk, run and/or bike a combined of 565 miles in the month of February raising funds for GallantFew while also increasing the awareness of the veteran transition issues. This is where my part comes in.  So far for this month our team has raised $220 of our $565 goal, and 94 of the 565 miles.  I have a total of 12 miles in for the group.

Event Numbers from 2014

• 634 Participants
• Participants represented in several countries
• 98 Teams
• 1545 Donors
• $123,921 pledged
• 46,857.4 miles logged

I don't do many fundraiser, but want to encourage all those who are reading to view the information and be educated about the transition that veterans have to make coming home from combat deployments and the military.  It is a different life that can take time to adjust to upon return.

If interested in making any donations, they can be done through Crowdrise.

Some information on GallentFew Inc.
      GallentFew is a Non-Profit mission to reduce US Army Ranger veteran unemployment, homelessness and eliminate Ranger veteran suicide by one-on-one mentoring.  To read more information on GallentFew check out the following links: Gallentfew  and The History.

Thank you all for checking out the post,  we are enjoying some great weather here in Colorado and ready to start the weekend.

Jane