before the sun rises..

Hello, Hello! I was happy to get out of bed at 530 this morning. It was not a happy 30 minutes getting to the gym, but I was a happy happy girl at the gym at 6 this morning with no distractions and a FULL tank of energy. I had a quick rice cake with honey (which by the way I just tried for the first time yesterday, and honey may be my new favorite thing-I see problems here already!) Just for accountability purposes, here is proof that I was getting out of the car at 6 this morning, though you don't know that I didn't just run out to the car in my pajamas to take this picture ;).

I had a great morning lift, did savage figure back and rear delts and finally broke through some personal records on a few lifts. Was planning on doing sprints on the treadmill, but my hamstrings were begging me not too, so I did lots of weighted incline and the elliptical instead for my 30 minutes. I kinda missed having no-one to talk too, but I remember why I enjoyed early am lifts, because I was totally in the zone. I got home around 8ish, and decided to give egg beaters a second try since last year I almost gagged trying to eat them. They were so good I was in heaven. Sometimes plain old egg whites gets boring to me, and this was such a treat! I had some salsa on the side and a slice of my favorite ezekiel bread! Carbs=happy casey!

Then I got to catch up on my DVR'd Biggest Loser last night. I couldn't survive without that show seriously. Was anyone else pissed that the commercial diver's wife had to come back, that challenge wasn't fair at all and her AND her husband are idiots. She is all about game play and I hate her. But I am proud of the man that lost 400 pounds on his own at home! FOUR HUNDRED POUNDS! I have to have support just to lose 4 lbs, nevermind 400lbs. I was so impressed, people that go fight for themselves like that prove to me that everyone can make a change whether it's about fitness or not. Just because you're in a lifestyle doesn't mean it's YOUR lifestyle. Make a change to better yourself as a person, rather than just being content. While I was working on some social work homework (which is so depressing and sad btw) I made some oreo fudge brownies for my special ed class tonight! They are not whole wheat nor do they have any nutritional value at all because i LOVE these people, and they are teachers and hell we DESERVE A LITTLE SUGAR! They are mini anyways and super cute. I ate one and they were so rich I was done! I got the recipe from Jessica at How Sweet Eats: http://www.howsweeteats.com/2010/03/24/cookies-and-cream-brownies/
Warning: do not go to her site if you are hungry and don't have self control!

None of these brownies will be sleeping over at my house tonight, whatsoever. They were too good and I don't need to be tempted to slather them in ice cream and peanut butter at 10pm tonight.

Now let's chat about my mother. Who you'll hear me talk about all the time, because she means the world to me and is my best friend in the whole entire universe.

Isn't she the most stunning thing you've ever seen? She is the funniest, most inspiring, beautiful woman on the planet to me (and she does a mean bruce springteen impression). I couldn't love her more if I tried and even if we argue like sisters, I wouldn't be half the person I am today without her. She's been through more than I can explain and is a better woman each day because of it. Shes makes me laugh, cry, dance, yell, sing, and overall be a happier person. I never take her advice when she gives it, but she's always right and she could certainly teach some people a few things on life. We don't eat the same way at all, and our training styles are polar opposites-I don't think she's done a plyo move in...well maybe ever? ;) But no matter what happens or what she has to go through she handles all situations with grace and courage and I hope one day I'll be that big of a person. But for now I just try my hardest to follow in her footsteps by listening to all things 80's rock, being a diehard sly stallone fan, living for $4 walmart tank tops, and eating lean ground beef by the pounds. And this picture below may or may not be what she's hiding under that cheap ass walmart tanktop!

"It doesn't get any tougher if you have confidence and believe in yourself"

Also, let me just share this awesome motivational video, I'm such a rocky dork (which is better than admitting to my twilight obsession!) I don't know quite yet how to embed videos so you'll just need to do the link for now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJNp2z9gQNY

good training, good day, good girl.

Good afternoon! I'm just getting used to all of this blogging stuff, so I keep forgetting to take pictures, which I know makes these blogs so much more interesting! Anyone who knows me knows that I complain about living in the south all the time, but how can you miss New England when it's 70 and sunny all week here?

Anyways, I couldn't sleep to save my life last night, so when my alarm went off for 530am cardio, I was quick to hit snooze. I finally rolled out of bed from a horrible dream around 645am. I had one of my favorite breakfasts:

3 egg whites (usually I use 4, but I used protein powder today)

1/4scoop protein powder

1/4tsp baking powder (apparently I'm supposed to use baking soda, but I don't know the difference)

2-3 strawberries (or 1/4c any berries)

cinnamon, lots of cinnamon

blend that all up in the blender, or just whisk it and pour on a hot skillet and make like pancakes! I usually get about 4-5 thin pancakes if I use the blender and 2 hearty pancakes if i just whisk. Then I topped them with

2TB sugar free maple syrup
1/2TB coconut oil (shhh. I'm not supposed to be eating that, but i'm addicted!)

Okay, so after this I scooted off to the gym for a late morning training session, of course after a cup of coffee. If you've never had the cinnamon hazelnut coffee from fresh market you're missing out! My mother kindly picked up a $10/lb bag for me last time she was there!

I got my Savage Figure Training in for the day, which was Hams/Calves/Core, I added in a few more super sets and did a little extra here and there, and needless to say I was dripping with sweat and red in the face 15 minutes into my lift. But my butt is going to say POW, so it's okay. I hit the stairmaster or stair mill whatever the hell that thing is called (i'm exhausted with trying to remember what it's called..i use the REVOLVING staircase) for 20 minutes of intervals at a level 10. Just a side note, that thing goes up to a level 20, and i'm determined to get there. So far the best I've done is level 15 and you're literally sprinting up the stairs, I don't know that I want to see level 20. Then I hopped on the elliptical for 10 minutes of incline intervals with a steady speed & had a little light conversation with my good friend Herm, who will be doing a guest post by the way. I am so blessed to have him in my life to give me training advice and keep me sane, the man is amazing.

Okay, I'm working later, so I've got to get started on a few school things before tomorrow. I have somehow come up with the fabulous idea to make bracelets about the times tables for some struggling students. They are freaking adorable if I do say so myself, but so much work! But I think i'll have some happy students tomorrow! I <3>

Here I Go Again..

Recently, I have been truly inspired/addicted to some healthy lifestyle bloggers. It's no secret that I have struggled with the healthy balance of show dieting/off season binging. I bounce between 116lbs to 132lbs which is obviously not a balance.

Through hearing other peoples stories and my own personal trial and error I feel like I'm on the right track to learning that secret of balance. I spend each day trying to learn how to teach, be a teacher, get my training in, be a girlfriend, be a sister, be a friend, eat clean, and try and let me hair down and have a little fun. Through this blog i'm going to share the good and the bad, the times when I eat a whole tray of brownies by myself and the times when I rock a week of awesome training. I want people (including myself) to learn that you need to set your expectations high for yourself, but don't be unrealistic and don't beat yourself up. Do what you love, BECAUSE you love it. Follow what your passionate about, but do it makes your life sweeter and more meaningful, don't ever do anything that makes you miserable about everything.

So now I..

eat,

lift,

& teach!

xoxox Casey