Cannot believe Wednesday is already upon us…Memorial Day is just a few days away…AND the heat wave we have gotten this week! Hot yoga on Tuesday morning not only kicked my butt physically, but I can definitely say that I am 100% detoxed after that sweaty hot mess! Welcome back sticky, summer, humid hot yoga! I thought about taking a picture of the aftermath, but it was not pretty, but it did feel FABULOUS! 

Before we get to my “What I Ate Wednesday” eats, I thought I would share a challenging, sweaty, QUICK summer workout! All you need is a jump rope and your own body weight. My boot camp crew did this on Monday evening, in between their other circuits, and they ROCKED it! Give it a try…let me know if you have any questions…and get after it! 

Now onto food…Since coming back from a weekend away, this week I have been focusing on drinking LOTS of water, eating fruits, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. It was a good day of eats and I felt pretty satisfied most of the day. I made sure that I was constantly hydrating, since hot yoga was so intense, and this warm weather can easily dehydrate you. Thanks again Jenn for always hosting and enjoy your Wednesday!

Breakfast: Frozen Chobani + Random Healthy Bites (I just grab and go and they never disappoint!)

Lunch: Strawberry Chia Jam Stuffed Buttermilk FlapJacked Protein Pancakes with NuttZo and Strawberry Chia Jam!

Snack: 2 hard boiled eggs with 1 T of guacamole and 1 T of salsa with some fresh pepper!

Dinner: Costco pizza and baked zucchini and broccoli (I throw this all together on one pan and throw it in the oven…ready in 30 minutes)

Love how a quick weekend away of relaxing, disconnecting, and reconnecting with old and new friends can make you feel FABULOUS! Upon arriving on Nantucket on Thursday evening, I immediately soaked in the salty air, the peacefulness of the island, and just let it all go. Nantucket has a way of doing this to the mind and body and hence why I travel up to this beautiful place as much as my schedule will permit. I am so grateful that I can come up here as much as I do. I think I could write a novel about this weekend and Nantucket in general, but to sum it up in one word…AMAZING! Okay, maybe I will add just a few more words….

• Beautiful warm weather;
• 12 mile run followed by 2 blissful rest days;
• Rebekah Lea’s trunk show;
• Meeting Holly, Missy, and Maria for the first time…so nice to finally put a name to a face;
• Delicious food, wine, gossip, and lots of laughing and snorting (yes I snort and so does Katie…HA!) with my good friend Katie!

It of course went by way too quickly, but usually the best weekends are the ones that do. Monday came too fast and after enjoying all that decadent food and wine, my body and belly were not very happy with me. With a busy day of clients, I woke up early and hit the pavement for a humid 4 mile run…trained my clients…did a 30 minute sweaty outdoor workout….closed the evening with more clients…drank a TON of water….and ate well. I am tired and still not feeling 100% yet, but it was worth it. Cheers to a great wine festival weekend and until we meet again Nantucket!

Who is recovering from a weekend away? 

I am so excited to go bACK to my favorite little island this weekend! I have not been bACK since last summer and it’s time to be reunited again. We are a match made in heaven. It is my place to LET IT ALL GO…breathe in the salty air…let my beach hair go wild…and just be. It also happens to be Wine Festival on Nantucket. Wine o’clock all weekend? Yes and Please.

I am more excited though, about having a “girls weekend” with a friend who I have not seen in way too long…we go back to the Denver days; FINALLY meeting Holly for the first time; and attending Rebekah Lea Designs trunk show at Dune Restaurant on Friday afternoon. I mentioned Rebekah in a post a few weeks ago.  Another one of my rock star friends who DREAMS BIG! Strong, beautiful, and following her bliss, Rebekah’s piece are gorgeous, unique, and I am secretly hoping that she lets me ROCK the skull earrings one night! Make sure to check out her site, where you can learn more about Rebekah Lea Designs!

And here are some of my delicious eats from another “What I Ate Wednesday!” My current obsession for breakfast is making strawberry chia jam and throwing it on top of oats, protein pancakes, and Greek yogurt. It’s SO GOOD and packed with lots of nutrients to keep me full and fueled for whatever workout I have planned, plus it is super easy to make. Thanks Jenn for always hosting and have a beautiful Wednesday! XOXO

Lunch: 2 whole egg scramble with corn, mushrooms, jalapeños, tomatoes, onion, and mozzarella!

Snack: Apple + 1/4 c of cashews

Dinner: Pork chop, steamed broccoli, and Mom’s mashed red potatoes!

What are your favorite accessories? 

Good Morning Monday…A beautiful weekend that was filled with LOTS of sunshine, running, walks with the dogs, and a delicious Mother’s Day brunch with all of the siblings and all of the golden retrievers. The weather was beautiful here in New Jersey and I spent most of it outside, which means I removed myself from my computer and enjoyed the fresh air, did some housework, finally got my car washed, and soaked up that Vitamin D. Gosh it feels good to disconnect once in a while! It is a peaceful feeling and one that I need to do more often.

Workouts:

• Friday: 7.5 mile run + 1 mile walk with the pups (pups = 3 golden retrievers)
• Saturday: 75 minute Hot Vinaysa + 2.5 mile walk with Kala
• Sunday: 5 mile run + 15 min upper body workout + 1 mile walk with the pups

I have put some decent mileage on these Under Armour Toxic Six shoes and I am going to hold off on reviewing them until next week. I need to tackle 10 miles this upcoming Friday and want to see how they handle a double digit run. I will say, that these are the lightest shoes I have ever worn. My feet feel good, but I am noticing the next day that my calves are tight and sore. I have not felt this before, so I am wondering if the shoes need to be broken in a bit or if they are not the right fit for me. Has anyone else tried these shoes? What are your thoughts?

Tomorrow morning I am planning on 4 miles before clients and then tackling this workout before my evening clients. Thanks #crazycotter! I am trying to add more strength training this time around with my half marathon in a few weeks. Working on creating balance with running, yoga, and strength training, so I do not get burnt out on the running.  

Source

The warmer temperatures the past week and weekend have changed my appetite! It is weird the way our bodies change with the change of seasons. I start to crave smoothies, big salads, lots of seafood, and more Greek yogurt! This weekend it was all about these cravings. 

I love Green Monster Smoothies and I always eat mine with a spoon and sometimes like to add cereal or granola for some extra crunch! And yes that is a Chobani spoon and I LOVE that darn spoon. The smoothie on the left was my favorite….

Green Monster Designer Whey Protein Smoothie

• 1 scoop Designer Whey White Chocolate Protein
• 1 c frozen cantaloupe
• Handful of spinach
• 1/2 c unsweetened Silk Almond Milk + 1/2 c water
• Cinnamon

I was surprised at how yummy the frozen cantaloupe tasted, but it worked! High-Fives! The other green smoothie I just used a frozen banana, but all of the same ingredients. Super easy and super delicious on a hot afternoon!

And I think this photo sums up our weekend! I love being exhausted from spending so much time outside! Hope y’all had a fabulous weekend and Mother’s Day! Let’s get this week started! XOXO

*Disclaimer: I was asked by Designer Whey to review this product along with others, that I will feature later. All opinions are my own. I am not a registered dietician. I am an NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Please remember that my nutritional tips and advice are from my own personal experiences, knowledge and views.

Yes I am happy that Friday is here…Happy for the runs I have planned for the weekend…Happy for dinner with family friends…Happy for chilled white wine…Happy for Mother’s Day…There is a lot to be happy for…like all of this good stuff that happened this week. So let’s start off the weekend on a happy note, because life is good. Have a beautiful weekend and Happy Mother’s Day to all the rock star Moms out there! XOXO

Best Breakfast of the Week:

FlapJacked Protein Pancakes topped with Strawberry Chia Jam + Chocolate NuttZo!

Best Dinner of the Week:

Grilled Salmon on a ciabatta roll with onions, tomato, and guacamole with a side of roasted zucchini!

New Running Shoes THANKS to Under Armour:

Yes I look like a highlighter, but at least people can see me better I’m running on the roads! Review to come after I run more miles!

Snail Mail:

Nothing beats a hand written thank you note from a friend and a some Quest Protein Bars to try out! Yes, I have never had these and might be the last person in the blogging world who hasn’t tried them. Thanks SARAH again! You ROCK!

Favorite Quote of the Week:

Favorite Workout:

Workout Tips:

• Perform 3 sets of each circuit. 
• Rest 1-Minute after completing each round of each circuit. You do not repeat the 5 minutes on the treadmill.
• To increase the “burn” use dumbbells.
• Total Time: 60 minutes!

And finally the WINNER of the new creamy NUTTZO:

 Renee from Fit For Motherhood

“Like you, I could seriously go on and on about how wonderful my mom is. She would do anything for all of her children. She helps me with anything I need. She is always helping with my girls and cleaning my house since right now I am not supposed to be doing much. My mom even decided to retire from teaching so she can help me once the twins arrive.  I couldn’t have asked for a better mom.”

Please e-mail me Renee with your contact information, so we can send you your delicious jar of creamy NuttZo!

Good Morning Wednesday! It is amazing how quickly you have sneaked up on us and I welcome you with open arms! Tuesday was a beautiful day that was packed with clients; a 5 mile run; and nice afternoon stroll with all the dogs, before I was out the door to finish my evening clients. I skipped my regular yoga class, because when the weather is this gorgeous, I have to be outside. Soaking up that Vitamin D!

Let’s talk food, because it is Wednesday and also make sure you enter my GIVEAWAY! Thanks Jenn for always hosting!

Don’t forget to enter the NuttZo GIVEAWAY…click here to enter…the winner will be announced on Friday morning, so there is still time to enter! One winner will win a jar of the new CREAMY NUTTZO! In honor of this giveaway, I started off my morning with this oatmeal beast before my 5 mile run…

Breakfast:

• 1/2 c Quaker Oats
• Large handful of red grapes
• 1 T of chia seeds
• Cinnamon
• Leftover jar of NuttZo

Lunch:

• Big old salad of AWESOMENESS!

Snack:

• Apple
• 1/4 cup unsalted raw cashews

Dinner:

• Hard roll – Dressed with guacamole and sliced tomatoes
• Salmon (dressed with garlic powder, chili powder, lemon, and onion)
• Baked zucchini sprinkled with lemon, garlic powder, and chili powder

That is all I have for today, but make sure to check back Friday to see if you won the giveaway and to check out a new workout! It’s been a while since I have posted one and this 60 minute workout was a great way to get back into focusing more on my strength training while preparing for my next half marathon at the beginning of June…YIKES!

Have a beautiful day!

It is going to sound corny, but I have to say it…

My Mom ROCKS!

I could brag about her for a very long time in this post, but I will keep it short! The words that characterize my mother best are: strong, beautiful, intelligent, giving, nurturing, and inspiring! Despite having suffered a tremendous loss, she never gave up on us or herself. She is one tough Italian, who has a heart of gold, and makes the best darn meatballs and spaghetti around. Just like all mothers and daughters, we have had our moments. Our rough patch was definitely when I dated one loser after another. I refused to listen to her, but in the end, guess who was right? MOM!

We have moved past that patch and I have to say that since moving back east two years ago, I have never felt such a strong and powerful connection with my Mom then right now. She always keeps me on my toes…always supporting my dreams…and of course always being the most honest with me, when it comes to life, men, and style of hair. She always has to comment on my hair. HA!

High-Fives…Hugs…Kisses…and lots of love to my Mom! You are the best and I love you to the moon and back! You ROCK! XOXO

Let us change gears a little bit and talk about another awesome Mom and entrepreneur who is also inspiring and dreams BIG. Meet Danielle…  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/15/mom-turns-her-nutty-idea-marlo-thomas-it-aint-over_n_2885862.html?utm_hp_ref=marlothomas&ir=Marlo%20Thomas 

I have eaten A LOT of nut butters in the past couple of years! I have tasted the good, the bad, the salty, and the sugary, but I have finally met my match and this relationship is a match made in heaven. I love working with companies who are inspiring, REAL, passionate, have a story, make a product that contains natural ingredients, and fuel this lifestyle! Did you know that NuttZo is a complete protein on its own and provides 50% of the ADA recommended daily value of healthy fats??? High-Fives!

In honor of Mother’s Day and the unveiling of their new flavor NuttZo CREAMY I am doing a GIVEAWAY! 

Directions: You MUST do at least 2  and leave me a comment letting me know that you did. One winner will win a jar of the new Creamy NuttZo! Only available to US residents!

1. Tweet about this GIVEAWAY: ENTER the “@SheRocksFitness @EatNuttZo #giveaway to win a jar of the NEW #nuttzocreamy http://wp.me/p2IaEk-1L8 #nutbutteraddict #sheROCKS“
2. Follow Nuttzo on Twitter or Facebook;
3. Leave a comment letting me know ONE thing that you LOVE most about your Mom!

Good Luck and the winner will be announced on Friday morning!

My two favorite products that fuel my active lifestyle combined in one meal is pure AWESOMENESS! I am grateful to be working with these two companies that have great stories, dreams, and most importantly…real ingredients that work for my exercise needs and daily life. Like I have said many times, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I need the energy to power through my early clients and my workout, so my breakfast needs to be packed with the necessary nutrients to keep me going strong. I like to add the chia seeds sometimes to my pancakes for the extra calories and nutrients that help me stay fuller for a lot longer. This recipe did not disappoint and is so so so good…Give it a shot and let me know if you have any questions!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 c Cinnamon Apple FlapJacked Protein Pancake mix
• 1 T chia seeds (if you do not have chia seeds, you can use 2 T of apple sauce, 1 T of flax seed, or nothing at all)
• Water (1/2 c or more depending on how thick you like your pancakes)
• 1 apple
• Cinnamon (the more the merrier)
• 1 “heaping” T of Nuttzo Chocolate

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix the pancake mix + chia seeds + water and let it sit for a few minutes to get a little thicker;
2. Dice up 1/2 of the apple and heat up in the microwave for a minute and place to the side;
3. Heat up the frying pan to medium to high heat and add the batter + the heated apple slices;
4. Flip (each side can take 2-3 minutes depending on how you like your pancakes);
5. Top with remaining apple and the delicious Nuttzo Chocolate!

Breakfast is SERVED and Breakfast is DELICIOUS!

This is a simple, healthy, protein packed recipe that is a great way to start your busy morning, and that can be prepared in 15 minutes or less, so there should be NO EXCUSES as to why you skipped breakfast! It is mind boggling to me that a few years ago, while I lived in CO I never ate breakfast…SHAME ON ME! But that is another story for another day…You live, you learn, and you move on to bigger and better things! Have a wonderful day and I hope that the sun is shining where you live!

Disclaimer: I am not a registered dietician. I am an NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Please remember that my nutritional tips and advice are from my own personal experiences, knowledge and views.

Despite the fact that Katie and I ran 13.1 miles in a cold MONSOON, the Nashville Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon was an absolute BLAST!

High-Fives to the city, the people who were out there supporting the runners, and the Rock n’ Roll Marathon series for putting on a safe and well run event. I am not exaggerating when I say it was a monsoon. But it is one of those situations, when you just have to suck it up and go for it. So many people of all ages, dogs, and the bands never stopped cheering for us and it definitely was instant motivation and smiles! We finished soaking wet, holding hands, smiling, and never gave up. This race was definitely one for the record books and I honestly enjoyed every moment of the weekend. We ROCKED Nashville!

Let’s do a quick recap…

FUEL before the race at Burger Up…This place was awesome and exactly what I needed! Since we were planning on getting up at 4:15 AM, a early dinner was just fine with me. Fried pickles with buttermilk ranch and a delicious burger with salty fries is my kind of pre-race fuel. A unique local place with a funky atmosphere and darn good food. It was a quiet night at the hotel. We rented a total chick flick and I think we may have been in bed at 10:00 PM.

Wake up call at 4:15 AM! Coffee…Oats…Water…Garbage Bags…Check! Yes the hotel was giving runners big old garbage bags and I was definitely going to be wearing it, for as long as possible. It was not raining yet, when we walked to the shuttle buses, but it was cold. These bags covered us completely and kept us nice and toasty. 

We were smiling, nervous, and excited on the way over on the shuttle bus and then when we got off the bus, and it started pouring. There was no turning back! I am so glad that I had that garbage bag. HA! I did not wear my Garmin and I gave up on my headphones, because my ears were filled with water. I wanted to run this race to motivate Katie to run her best. We came down here for a “Girls Weekend” and I was not going to leave her side and who wants to run in the rain by themselves anyway? 

We finished and the best part was that Katie had run her fastest half marathon to date! She finished slightly under 2 hours! I was so happy for her and so glad that I could motivate her to not give up; push up those hills; and just keep moving! I felt amazing and despite all the ups and downs I had with my training, it truly paid off. I know that I could have gone faster and maybe even further, but this was about putting my ego aside and being a motivator and supporter of a great friend. The only complaint I do have of Katie was that this was the ONLY time she didn’t talk! LOL!

We dressed up and rocked the Nashville scene! Cold beers, amazing country music, and meeting old friends and new friends made for a fabulous night out on the town! We may have not felt so stellar the next day, but it was worth it. Nashville has great energy and I would definitely come back to visit and run this race again. 

Have you ever run a Rock n’ Roll Marathon or Half Marathon?