People, People, People!!

Its been like 3 years!!! You better believe I've told myself "I'm gonna get back to my blog..." like 2,398 times since I've last posted. This is seriously sad...and a bit embarrassing that its been so long. I was supposed to be on this whole "starting things and sticking to them" kick.
FAIL. I seriously believe that if I would've stuck with this years ago, I'd be famous with a youtube channel and a few endorsement deals by now. So this is why Im back... I need a book deal..and a cooking show. lol.

So now that I'm back, I'm here to stay (doubt it). But I'm seriously gonna put forth a valiant effort.
The thing is.. LIFE happened!


A QUICK UPDATE FOR YOU:


I got married to my sweetie...

Did a few figure competitions...

Visited France with friends...

Got another puppy. His name is Milo..Here he humps my leg.

Bought a new house!

And now here we are...  Happy and Healthy in Little Rock!!

SO LETS GET TO IT! 

The deal with me is: I normally find a fitness activity and I become so immersed in it. It's all I care about. I eat, sleep and breathe whatever it is and I tell people they are CRAZY for not participating in it with me. So today my thing is Orange Theory. I am obsessed.

I've lost about 10 pounds so far and Ive made some really good friends at the studio.

Literally all you have to do is show up, strap on the heart rate monitor and watch the calories melt away. I'm hooked.

So after I'd be attending for about a month, James realized how happy I was with the studio and realized my belly was shrinking. He saw how well I was doing (I sometimes attend class twice a day) and started running his mouth. "Girl please I can run circles around you in that class"..."You think you've got it going on until you see ME in class".. and more trash talk. So i signed him up and texted him to let him know.

So the next day we had class at 845am. I wish you could've been there to see him. Jesus.

He was a fish on dry land. Sucking in that wind! I didn't get on him too hard afterwards and we kinda laughed it off.  He told me he wanted to return that afternoon for a later class with me and promised that he would redeem himself. NO MORE SUCKING WIND.

So we get to class and our trainer Lisa is on him! Never letting him rest. After a while I saw him with his right hand balled up trying to pry it open with his left hand. YALL! The mans hands quit working. I DIED. Hydrate much??

Lisa was telling him to COME ON! PUSH! and he couldn't even give her a high 5 if she asked! We walked outta there in silence. I won't say anything.. but his smack talking better cease. Lol! Hey James, HIGH 5!!

See you guys later,

XO, Court

Someone Say Paleo?

Happy Sunday everyone!!
I decided to take a little break from wedding planning to post a little something. I am really enjoying the planning process but I cant wait until I can get back to normal life (and normal money). I'm sure James and Mykee cant wait to hear about something other than the wedding on a daily basis. Does Mykee look tired of me or what? ONLY 40 DAYS LEFT!

Now on to the sweaty stuff!
I'm STILL loving bikram.. and I am SO EXCITED with the response that I've been receiving from my readers. Everyone seems to be jumping on the bikram train..whether for the first time- or after a long hiatus. The benefits are just so great. I started bikram Dec 18 and I am already down 8 pounds! I crave healthier foods and I actually monitor my sleeping habits and water intake. On my way to a better, healthier body. I am getting better at the poses as well... Friday I perfected my Head to Knee pose and got so excited I almost yelped. Luckily I was able to contain my excitement. I treated myself to a yummy Super C Boost juice across the parking lot at Cosmic Coconut with Ashley right after class..dont we look happy??

JUICY JUICE WITH ASH!!

 

 So I've started the recently popular PALEO diet in order to cleanse my body and become more wedding ready! I even challenged my dad to try the diet for 2 weeks (just to see if he could live without the bread, processed foods and dairy). He has actually done an awesome job! He reported that after a week, he doesnt sweat in his sleep anymore. He would have to wake up in the middle of the night and change shirts but now he is dry every morning! We both feel better, leaner and healthier. That bread and dairy really does something to you. I never really realized the effect it can have on your body.

So what is the PALEO diet? Basically the paleolithic diet shoots you back to the early cavemen era. Before agriculture, refined sugars and processed foods. No bread products, pastas, rices..no milk, no cheese... basically just fresh veggies, fresh fruits, seeds, nuts, healthful oils and lean meats. And not even all of those made the list.
You might wince at all the things that you CAN'T eat but think about this: cavemen didnt suffer acne, gout, heart disease, cancer, diebetes and obesity.
Now let me admit, I do have the one day a week where I eat what I want. I usually go for a latte or cereal..but during the week- I'm not craving those terrible foods. I encourage you to do a little research for yourself.
Okay I have to go and prepare for my busy week! Bridal shower coming this Saturday! Im soooooo excited!!!!!!!

hehe cant wait

Talk to you guys soon!
Courtney

You Are What You Eat!

HOLA HOLA!!

Haha this picture is SO ME!

I missed you guys this weekend! I was super busy so I wasn't able to post but IM HERE!! I hope everyone had an awesome weekend and I hope you didn't throw away your weeks worth of great workouts and healthy food choices. It is sooo easy to fall into a slump. You spend monday through friday hitting the gym and picking apples over bags of chips and then as soooooon as you get off work Friday, you're screaming

"PASS THE MARGARITAS AND BURRITOS!"

                                    

Man...if I could.......

                                               

BUT TAKE IT FROM ME.........people who look like this...

Don't take cheat WEEKENDS and eat this....

I know we would REALLY like it if we could...but we can't have our cake and eat it too. You cant eat crap and expect to look amazing- unless you have those crazy genes that allow you to remain small while eating whatever you want. But don't worry!! Your metabolism WILL SLOW DOWN ONE DAY!!!!

Haha Im just jealous, thats all =)

 

We have to stay motivated!! It's easy to fall into the "This one burger won't hurt" trap. YES IT WILL! I'm not saying its not okay to indulge every once in a while- but BEWARE OF THE TRAP!

 

   Yesterday morning I had a 10-miler to accomplish and MAN, was it painful. When working out alone it is so easy to give up when the going gets tough (and your damn legs start to hurt). I must admit, I wanted to stop SO BAD and make a beeline for my apartment but I stayed out there and finished it up. Its not always easy. Its not always beautiful and glamorous like the women's Nike commercials but we must fight through the bad workouts! Don't be easily discouraged! Remember, if it's hurtin, it's workin!

I know this post was quite short but I'm pretty tired. I will post a better one tomorrow, promise!

We will talk about workout pain and relief options! Stay tuned!


Before I go, I'd like to leave you with a little pic-cha...

In other words, drink more water! You can even jazz it up with mint, strawberries, lemons and limes! Water is great for you! It even tricks your brain into thinking your tummy is full so you won't stuff yourself when eating!

DRINK UP!

 

Nighty Night!

Court

Burning Up!

BONUS BONUS BONUS POST!!

I know I've already posted once today but I after the run I just experienced I must share with you some important "Rules of the Road".

Yes, this is me right now. The look on my face portrays exactly how fun this run was.

I started extra late- which is not good, especially when you are running downtown alone. I didnt get to finish because the sun went down and the hobos came out to play.

I'll make up for it tomorrow- don't yall worry.

 

OKAY!

 

So do you know when people say "I was just soo dern busy that I forgot to eat"..

I'm always like...

YEHHHH RIGHT!!

 

I'm such a greedy girl..there is no way I could forget to eat..right?

WRONG!!

I didn't remember to eat until after I was outside working on mile 1. Damn. IT IS SOOO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TO EAT- especially for us fitness people. We have to stay energized. And I dont care what anyone says- if you dont get proper nutrition, there is no sports bean in the world that can give you energy to complete a great workout. I wanted to fall down in the grass and stay there until someone noticed- and brought me a snack. But I kept going. I will NEVER do that again.  

 

ANOTHER THING!!

It is important that you NOT skip meals. When you skip meals and become SOOOO hungry, you will eat ANYTHING! Then you'll feel guilty afterwards. If you consume healthy snacks throughout the day, when its time for your meals, you won't be as hungry as you can make logical decisions. There have been many times when James was crusing along (while my stomach was eatingmy back) and he would calmly say "Where would you like to eat hunny?"..and I'd be like..

I DON"T CARE! I WANT EVERYTHING! FEED ME NOOWWW!!

 

lol

 It is also important that you eat until you are satisfied-- not until you are STUFFED. There is a big difference. Eat until you are not hungry anymore..don't keep eating to the point you're uncomfortable. The ONLY time it's okay to eat until you can't breathe is Thanksgiving.





Totally Kidding...kinda.

 

ONE MORE THING..

There is a difference.

I am guilty of this every once in a while. Are you really hungry?? Or do you need to find a hobby?

Think about it the next time you try to reach for some Oreos.

 

NOW PUT CHA HANDS IN THE AIR IF YOUR FACE FEELS LIKE THIS WHEN YOU SWEAT....

This could be due to a number of things.. the only reason I thought of this random topic is because the little crack under my nose is on FIRE right now.

This can be caused by makeup or facial moisturizer residue that adversely reacts with the sweat. I use hydroquinone and a tretinoin as an acne/scarring treatment and I forgot to wash my face before I went out. These treatments actually make your face more sensitive to the salt in your sweat and cause it to burn. Wiping off your face too hard with your tshirt or towel probably doesnt make it any better.

Sweat bands help/ and make sure you wash your face before you exercise. Aquaphor (in the baby section) before and after your run helps.. AND WATER! Staying hydrating during your heavy sweat sessions can actually alleviate the burn since your sweat won't be as salty.

Ok guys, thats all for tonight!

I hope you sleep well!

TOMORROW IS THURSDAY!

Every Thursday I will post a fun and healthy recipe for you to try! So stay tuned..

 

May the force be with you,

Court

I'll Take an Order of Yoga, To-Go!

HAPPY HUMP DAY!!

The week is almost over! Only two days left!!

So I didn't get to post anything yesterday, I was in Dallas for work (blah). You wanna see a picture of me being super busy while in Texas? Okay!

MAN I WAS BORED TO TEARS

 BUUTTT I DID see something in the DFW airport that actually inspired my post today!!

A DAMN YOGA STUDIO IN THE AIRPORT! Who came up with this??
GENIUS GENIUS GENIUS!!
Though I would never use the mats because I dont trust them- what if someone tried to do the downward dog and accidentally peed on the mat a little? Then you come along and put your face on that very mat? Then you'll have pee residue on your face and nobody will want to sit near you on the plane. And there you'll be.

Hahaha!! I know that is TOTALLY worst case scenario- but I still aint using public yoga mats- unless they provide that antibacterial cleaning spray, then maybe. Yikes

No excuse now! Flight delayed? Well get your butt to the yoga studio and strecth it out. NAMASTE.

SO NOWADAYS, it's easy to use the excuse "Im so busy" or "I work so much" or "I'm too tired"..

 

Honestly, you make time for what you want to make time for. Get to sleep 30 minutes earlier than normal and wake up 30 minutes before you normally do. Use those 30 minutes to fit some exercise into your schedule. You can run a mile or two..or you can do some jumping jacks and pushups. You know those fitness videos you have in the corner collecting dust? Yeah. Pop one of those babies in and get it moving!! YOU MUST TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR PHYSICAL FITNESS.. People! You complain about not being able to lose weight or not being able to eat right- nobody can change that but YOU. You just have to really want it and work like Hell.

 

My ranting is over. Now I will give you a few exercises that can be done from the comfort of your work desk...

 

1. Start by parking further away from the door- unless its dark outside

2. Take the stairs

3. Walk the hallways as fast as you can without actually running

4. Shadow box (do a few jabs at the air)

5. Grab some water bottles and do a few curls

6. Underneath your desk, do some football runs. Move those legs super fast!

7. Imaginary jump rope. Get jumping and swing your imaginary rope. Like Rocky does

8. Chair dips. Place the palms of your hands on your chair and your feet on the floor. Move your  tush off the edge of your seat. Bend your elbows and lower your body. Straighten your arms to return to the starting position

 

Those are just a few. You can google more "At work exercises"... or you can take it to the next level and attend a fitness class nearby on your lunch break! Just pack a bag, and bring a hanger to hang your work clothes while you workout. Take some shower shoes, hurry and wash off and get back to work! Many gyms do lunch hour workouts that are actually shorter than normal classes for the employee on the go!

DAMN RIGHT!!

HAHA

Have a great day yall!

Court

 

 

"Watch Out for the Running Lady"

6 am came around waaayyy too fast. This is me at 6am..(hold on to your hats)..

Omg, I cant believe I just posted that. Haha, I seriously couldn't open one eye. But imagine waking up with this face in your face...

James was up bright and early to train his clients so I went ahead and jumped up to prepare for my 9-miler! It was kinda hard pumping myself up for the run but when I took Mykee out for his morning walk, I saw a few marathon trainers out there hitting the pavement and it pushed me to go ahead inside and prepare for my own run.
 Here are a few things I packed for the trip..

My jelly beans! You guys, THESE THINGS ARE AMAZEBALLS!!

I seriously ran this 9 mile route nonstop and when I made it back to my apartment, I was ready to clean the entire house! What you do is eat one pack of beans (the ones with the caffeine) to get you going 30 minutes before your run. Then you pack a bag of beans for the trip..I only needed half a bag during my trip so I can use the remaining beans next run. I chewed a few during mile 5 and mile 7 and I was good to go! Now just because these beans work for me doesnt mean they will work for everyone but they are seriously worth a try. Like I said before, there is no way I can do GU. Just thinking about trying to swallow that slop makes my stomach turn. Beans, Beans..they're good for your--run.

So here is my special fanny pack- I turn it backwards so the bag is on my backside and I dont look as goofy. These bags are small but I managed to fit my phone, a bag of beans, my keys and my pepper spray (that I decided to pull out and run with around mile 2). Trust no one!

Remember that water bottle that I thought was gunna get on my nerves?? LOVED IT!! Its not annoying at all because it fits so snuggly around your hand so you don't actually have to worry about holding it. And the sloshing water didnt bother me at all. WIN!

 

So down to the running business...

I mapped out a 3 mile route that I was kinda nervous about- 1) because it's a 3 mile route- that will have to be repeated two more times. How boring. I don't know how I did it- but I did (i bet it was the beans, lol).

2) I knew my route would take me right past the Salvation Army in the crummy part of downtown- I know, I know.."why in the heck are you running in the crummy part of downtown Little Rock".. I don't know- there are a million runners in the area during this time- no excuse, I know but I was so prepared...

This picture was taken after my run, but i literally had my finger on the trigger the entire time. Anywho, I ran right past the Salvation Army- 3 times. And I am telling you, those homeless men were SOO encouraging!! All I heard when I ran past was "YOU CAN DO IT" and "KEEP GOING" and "I LOVE YOU" and of course, "CAN I HAVE A DOLLA?".. haha I am totally serious! They seriously made my running a bit easier. I mean the run wasnt bad at all, but my legs were about to fall off. It hurts more when you start to slow down- thats why I try to keep my pace steady. I didnt run as fast as I want to during the marathon but I didn't walk. Baby steps =)

Towards the end of my run, there was a little grumpy old lady and her friend in the middle of the sidewalk. I was heading straight for them and I heard the friend say to old grumps "watch out for the running lady".  Little miss thing replied "the running lady better watch out for ME".

HAHA!!

That isnt a picture of the old bag, but when I googled "grumpy old lady" thats what popped up.

 

OH YEAH,

One thing you must remember when going on long runs is SOCKS! They can make or break you. Here is a picture of my foot when I did the Germantown Half Marathon with normal socks..

BLISTER CITY!! I quickly learned that you MUST wear good running socks that will wick away all the moisture and prevent blisters. I got that blister around mile seven with my normal socks- well I wore my new Feetures socks and I was blister free!

 

 

Make sure you have a recovery formula to replenish with after your workouts. I love the Wheybolic protein from GNC. Strawberry is awesome! I dont have a picture of the bag for you but you can purchase that at GNC so your body won't be so fatigued for your next workout!

 

NoW FoR mY TrEaT....

 

James decided that we needed a trip to Wally World to get NECESSARY ITEMS ONLY..

Okay, I can dig it. I asked our favorite friend Aaron if he wanted to tag along. He agreed because he knew it would be a show. I am a shopper and James is a saver..

Welp we traveled with our little buggy down the wine aisle..and I spotted my "Great Job Running This Morning" treat...

 

MADDDD HOUSEWIFE WINE!!!

 

 

Yes Yes Yes!! I knew James would say "hell no, put it back" so I told Aaron to hide it at the bottom of the basket and sneak it on the little checkout scanner while James wasnt paying attention. I mean Aaron was moving like a sneaky cat!! James didnt even notice!!

Thats Aaron bagging the groceries while my sweet bottle of wine sits hidden on the scanner. Welp the goofy checkout guy holds up the bottle of wine to James and says "SIR I HAVE TO CHECK THIS OUT LAST"...James looks up and says "whats that?".. I say "geee how did that get in there?" and Aaron dies laughing. Damn! Caught!

Thanks Mr. Checkout Guy..

 

 

Well,

Thats all for today guys!! Tomorrow is a cross training day! I think I'll do some functional training but I'll take lots of pictures and tell you all about it!

 

Love and Light,

Court