5 Things I'm Doing To Lose The Baby Weight

Now that Grayson is 2 months old, it's officially "go time" for me to lose the last of this baby weight. Recovering from childbirth isn't easy, but what's even harder is getting rid of the excess belly fat. You have to essentially start all over and wake up those abdominal muscles again! 

Here are 5 things I'm doing to try to get back to my prepregnancy bod:

1) NO SNACKING OR EATING AFTER 9PM. 

This is harder than it seems when you have two kiddos because sometimes dinner is late after they are already in bed. Typically once they're in bed and I'm relaxing, I'll have the urge to want to eat something sweet or snack on a bunch of crackers but sticking to this is important. I need to be snacking smarter, which means not eating empty-calorie foods like Camden's goldfish on the daily, especially at night.

2) INCREASE MY WATER INTAKE.

During pregnancy it's essential to increase your water intake, but it's much harder to keep it up after you have the baby. When you have young little ones at home to take care of, you tend to put yourself last. Some days I'll look at the clock and it'll be noon and I'll realize I've only had one glass of water so far (and sometimes I will forget to eat lunch completely -- no more of this!)

3) WORKOUT DURING KIDS NAP TIME OR BEDTIME.  

This is the perfect time to get in a workout, even if it's so tempting to get other things done at this time. I've been making it a priority to get on the treadmill if they're both asleep at the same time, or to go for a run outside once Billy is home from work and Camden is in bed. Even if it's only for 20 minutes - it counts and I feel so much better after I do it.

4) CUT DOWN ON THE STARBUCKS.

...and any other fancy drinks that are packed with sugar. I say cut down because I don't want to give up my Starbucks completely (hello -- this mama needs a caffeine boost here and there!), but I can't be drinking them as often as I've been getting them lately. I want to aim for just 2 times per week. 

5) FOCUS ON MY CORE. 

After having a baby, you have to completely build back your core. It's the area I need to work on the most, so focusing on and committing to core exercises (like side planks, dumbbell side bends, russian twists, leg raises, flutter kicks, etc.) is going to be the most beneficial and give me the best results.

Not on the list but I think is equally as important is taking time for myself and getting enough sleep!

What did you do to get back to your prepregnancy weight? Share with me what worked best for you! And of course, wish me luck! :) 

Previous Posts: $100 Visa Giveaway HERE // 6 Things I'm Excited About

Apple Watch Review

This post was a reader suggestion, and I'm all about it!

I’ve had the Apple Watch for a few weeks now and I’ve discovered so many things about it that I love. I think it's great for anyone, but especially great for women and those with young kids! Let me break it down for ya:

WHY I LOVE IT:
+The main thing it offers me is to not be so attached to my iPhone. It provides me with a new added level of convenience by saving time and being updated more efficiently. I love that I don't need to be on my phone as much (especially with soon to be having two kiddos), and that I'm a little more disconnected from it.
+It gives me the ability to still stay connected, though, and "in the loop" but I'm spending less time doing so.
+Making/receiving calls: When I'm in the car or at other times when I need to be hands free (like at the grocery store or playing outside with Cam) this has been a huge plus for me. It's so nice to not have to hold up my phone to my ear and to just make the calls on my watch. I don't have to hold the watch up to my mouth to talk into it. I can also silence a call if I can't answer by just placing my hand over the watch, which is so nice.
+Sending/receiving texts, mail, or calendar notifications: A little bell chimes when I have a new notification and I can read it straight from the watch, all without having to look at my phone. For texting, you can set up your own automatic replies (aside from the ones the watch comes with) so that with just one touch you can easily reply back.
+Fitness/Workout Tracker: Right now since I'm at the tail end of my pregnancy I'm not setting any particular goals, but I do plan to use this feature a lot once the baby is born and I'm back to exercising normally. You just swipe left or right to set a calorie, distance, or time goal. You can track all your activity, heart rate, and set exercise goals for yourself! Your watch will alert you when you reach your goal, and give you progress updates during your workout. There are a ton of apps available to track your nutrition and that provide fun workouts too (that are free!) 
+Directions: Another big advantage for those with kids (and those without obviously) because you don't need to pay attention to your phone at all for directions. Instead, do it all through the watch. It also shows you what is nearby you like gas, banks, groceries, etc.
+APPLE PAY: I capitalize that because I love this so much that it might be my favorite feature. When I'm at the store with Cam checking out (and he's getting very antsy in the cart wanting to leave), I can just hold my wrist up to the machine to pay. So easy! I LOVE it!
+Baby Apps: There are multiple baby apps that sync with the watch so that you can track feedings, diaper changes, and more. I've already downloaded a couple I plan to use with the baby!
+This is just something small, but I love that you can pick different "faces" on the watch so that I can have my favorite pictures on it, or whatever I'm feeling at the time. It's just pretty and so sleek!
+Being able to start music from my phone on my watch!

 
MY FAVORITE APPS: 
I'm still learning and discovering about new apps, but these are my favorite that I've found so far...
+Target (self explanatory-ha), Amazon, 7 Minute Workout "Seven" (provides 7 minute workouts-no equipment needed), Cruncher (calculator), Evernote (for quick reminders/notes/things I want to remember), FeedBaby and Baby Trackers (both for baby tracking), Instagram and Twitter (love that I can scroll through my feed and notifications quickly!)

Also, here's an article that shares little tips and tricks for the watch that I found really cool and helpful!

If you've been on the fence about getting an Apple Watch (ps-mine is the sport 38mm gold), I definitely give my stamp of approval and I can't wait to learn more about what I can do on it. If you have one, what are your favorite apps?! Share with me! 

Suns Out, Guns Out

Is it really already Thursday? I'm not complaining!

So I logged into PicMonkey (my favorite pic editing program) the other night and saw the little kid that's always on the homepage flexing his guns. For some strange reason, this reminded me that I've been wanting to share my workout playlist since we are well into prime running/workout season (hello, pool weather so soon!) now, and this is the one thing that keeps me consistently motivated at the gym.

I'm one of those people who thrives off of music and a good playlist. It's a must to getting my butt moving and staying moving while at the gym! (this is also one of the main reasons why I love spin so much...constant pump up music for an hour + legs moving quickly = endorphin happy Katie..)

If you need to update what you've been running to lately, or just want to add a few new kick butt songs for your gym workout, here you go!

PS-This would be a great circuit workout to do while you're listening to these tunes! 

Your turn...Share your favorites with me!

See Jillian Michaels On Tour {Ticket Giveaway!}

 

I would be lying if I said this wasn't one of the coolest opportunities I've had thus far since starting my blog. If only you all could see me typing this right now...well, you'd know how excited I am and that I'm pretty much freaking out while typing this!

I was recently presented with the opportunity to see Jillian Michaels on her Maximize Your Life tour (you know, fitness guru/worlds toughest trainer from the Biggest Loser) and meet her after her show here in Columbus, NEXT WEEK! Jillian.freaking.Michaels, you guys. What should I ask her? What do I WEAR?! Is she going to make me do pushups? Very important questions running through my head, obviously.

I've mentioned so many times here on my blog how important living a healthy and active lifestyle is to me, and also how much I love and respect Jillian for changing peoples lives on the daily and for being that person who I imagine standing behind me on the treadmill screaming, "keep going!!!" (it works-so go ahead and try picturing that next time you're at the gym.)

I work out to her DVD's (30 Day Shred, anyone?), been a promoter of her detox drink, and followed her since Day 1 of her being on the ranch as a trainer on the hit TV show the Biggest Loser (and let's not forget, a little scared of her as well...)

That being said, I can't possibly think of a BETTER giveaway to be offering my readers:

 

Columbus friends...you're in luck! Today, I'm giving away two tickets, valued at $58.00 per ticket, for Jillian Michaels March 20th show in Columbus (next Thursday!) to one of you! All you have to do is enter below!

In the show (see all tour dates on her website), Jillian will show you how to harness your potential, kick-start your goals and live an exceptional life – sharing her keys to health, success and happiness. I figure if you can go rock out to your favorite music artists in concert, why would you not want to learn how you can better your health and life by seeing Jillian on tour?! Right?

For those of you who aren't in Columbus, she is also traveling to many other cities across the U.S and tickets for the show start at just $25. You can read more about it here. VIP tickets that include a meet and greet with Jillian are also available.

And of course, I will be sharing all about my experience with her on my blog afterwards!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*The giveaway will be open until Tuesday and the winner (chosen at random by Rafflecopter) will get an email from me saying they won and will pick up their tickets on the night of the event at will call. I hope to see YOU there! Good luck!!

Top 6 Workout Moves

Happy last day of 2013 (can you believe it?), everyone!

This past year has honestly been one of the best years of my life. Sure, there were normal ups and downs just like most of us experience, but as a whole looking back I know that this is one of those years that I will look back, remember, and have a huge smile on my face. If you've been following along for a bit, you'd know I love my trips. They were definitely a highlight this year and I hope to continue much more of that in 2014, but what takes the cake and is the most important to me is that feeling of contentment and true happiness in my everyday life. 

It's easy to be happy when you are on vacation tanning in the sun with your favorite cocktail in hand (not that I'm wishing I were doing that right now or anything since it's 20 degrees out, snowing, and putting on a sequin skirt tonight sounds less than appealing...), but being happy to me is what I like to call, "showing up with a smile everyday". Cheesy, I know, but it's about finding joy in the little things and not just when the timing is right for you. I've really tried working on that this past year.

I'm getting to the point of this post eventually, I promise. :) Another huge contributor when looking back at this year with such positive thoughts has been my health and fitness. I have been at my fittest and healthiest this year, by far. I cut out gluten, dairy (with exceptions here and there obviously), and took up spin class once a week along with my normal workouts for the majority of the past year. I have never felt better, honestly. Spin class is my exercise saving grace. I mean, it must be good if I'm singing it's praises after averaging nearly 16 miles each class and walking out drenched in sweat. That's saying something, right? If you want to burn a lot of calories quickly and get your legs, abs, and butt into shape...start taking spin.

I also started focusing more on strength training than I have in the past. Each time I go to the gym, I head to one of the empty studio's where I can do exercises on my own and get down to it...

These are the moves (keeping it basic today) that you will find me doing and focusing most of my time on if you were to see me at the gym. I always start out by warming up with 50-100 jumping jacks and then I get into these 6 exercises. No breaks-just running through them straight through, one after the other.

For the squats and lunges (forward and backward), do them with weights (start out low if you want-even 5 lbs). I typically use a 15 lb bar behind my head for these. Earlier in the year, I started low and did maybe 30 squats and 30 lunges, but nowadays I typically try to do at least 60-70 squats and 40-50 lunges. Work those legs and booties, girls.

I try to do at least 20 push ups (real ones-none of this knee stuff) per workout. Some days I will do more and other days I will do less. If you start and can only complete 2 or 3 real ones, that's OK just work your way up. As for the sit ups, this is probably one of my stronger areas. Have I mentioned I can beat Billy any day of the week when it comes to sit ups? (and make sure not to brag at all to him about this..) On an average day I do around 45-50 sit ups. Planks-hold them for a minute. Do 3 sets. I will also do side crunches and regular crunches just to work my abs a little bit more.

If you make these moves a part of your exercise routine, you will notice a difference and you will feel stronger.

Speaking of working that booty, who saw the preview for Toned Up last night?

If you want to get some fitness motivation for the new year, watch the first episode this Thursday on Bravo! I hope this answers some questions about what my workout routine looks like. If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me. Be safe tonight everyone!

Gift Guide: Gym Essentials {Inspired by #VSFashionShow}

DETAILS: Shoes / Yoga Towels Gift Set / Water Bottle / Essential Hoodie (fav #1-so many colors!) / Nike Pro Top /  'Live In' Leggings (fav #2) / Baby-G Digital Watch (love this color) / Hair Ties / Duffel Bag (fav #3) / Nike Pro Pants / Vest (more colors) / Duffel Bag / Earbuds / Nike Shoes / Nike Pro Side Tie Top / Foot Cream / Dry Shampoo / Shorts (on sale!) / Running Gloves / Adidas Fleece Hoodie / Nike Shoes / Polar Watch / Leggings (#awesome)

Every year, one of my absolute favorite nights of television is when the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is on. Did you know it's actually only about 30 minutes long? So crazy! Not only is it so inspiring to see beautiful women go after their dreams, but it serves as an excellent reminder to a. work hard for what you want and b. get my butt back in the gym!{instant motivator? follow angel @iza_goulart on instagram} 

Sure, we all know these women were born with amazing genes and have a team that gives them the flawless makeup and hair, but what I think a lot of women forget about is that they also work their butts off day in and day out in the gym. They train like crazy. Wouldn't you if you knew you were going to be pretty much naked with millions of people watching? or if Adam Levine was your fiance...

More often than not I prefer buying workout clothes over anything else. Give me comfort yet cute and I'm good to go! I scoured the web to try and bring you my all time favorite gym pieces whether you are working out or want to look cute to and from the gym. I labeled my top 3 out of this set above in the details section {#1 looks to be similar quality to Lululemon but fraction of the price}.  The North Face vest is so versatile and is great for running errands before or after the gym. Aside from this list, my Lululemon Wunder Under's are probably my most worn pair of leggings/pants. They are the most comfortable things in the world and worth the price in my opinion, but these leggings are less expensive and really nice.

I just want to point out the awesomeness in the bottom far right corner real quick-leopard.leggings. Pretty sure I need these. You know I'm into the leopard and all with my new shoes! 

What are your gym essentials? In the winter, I'm almost always wearing zip up jackets. They are a necessity! 

Last gift guide: Holiday Gifts from Target 

PS: I have someone exciting to introduce you to tomorrow so be sure to come back then! ;) 

THE PERFECT PAIR OF NIKE'S / WORKOUT GEAR

I had a completely different post in mind for today.

BUT THEN (dun dun dun) the cutest, most awesome pair of Nike's came to me in the mail and after a quick snap to Instagram and nearly 350 likes later, it is clear that I need to share them with you all...

Nike Free 5.0 V4 {BUY THEM HERE}

You better 'add to cart' quickly because from what I've heard they are extremely hard to find in stores and will probably sell out quickly online {early Christmas present, anyone?}. I was debating between this pair and this pair {in the distance blue color}, but ultimately decided to go with the V4's in the leopard. I am in shoe heaven over here. This girl would prefer new tennis shoes over stiletto's 365 days a year. ;)

These run more narrow than past Nike Free versions (I recommend sizing up!), but I still love them just the same. It might have something to do with the leopard and overall awesomeness of them, but I can't be too sure. I also heard that white on tennis shoes are coming back in for next year, so there's another plus to these, if you even needed one.

when you are this cute, you are allowed on the kitchen table. ;)

These shoes, and with the help of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show later this month, will be just what I need to get my booty back in the gym on a more consistent basis. This time of year can be so hard to stick with a solid gym routine so if you feel like this is you, this is me reaching out saying don't quit! Just make sure you have some awesome new shoes or gear to get you through those hard winter workouts. :)

Speaking of workout gear, here's what else I'm loving right now:

VS Knockout Crop / Nike Dri-Fit Knit (similar)  / GapFit gFast Capris / Nike Pro Core Compression Shorts / Patagonia All Weather Top (50% off!) / VS Funnel Neck Pullover (love & need this) / VS Sport Duffle Bag / Nike Legend 2.0 Capri / C9 by Champion Cami Bra / Zella Trinity Jacket (40% off)

What are your favorite workout pieces?
I'm all about the zip up's and casual jackets this time of year!

Don't you want to workout now after seeing all this cute stuff? Maybeeee?

Happy {hump day} shopping!

The Cutest Workout Clothes {Albion Fit + Giveaway!}-CLOSED

Sweet Stripe Capri

I'm so excited about this giveaway. Since you guys listened to me ramble on and on yesterday about this and that, I figure I should follow that up with an awesome workout clothing giveaway for you from Albion Fit. I mean it's the only polite thing to do.

Having cute workout clothes or a new pair of running shoes makes the gym that much better. You just feel so much more motivated and ready to have a kick butt workout.

When I first saw Albion Fit online when searching one day for women's fitness and swimwear, my first thought was WHY haven't I heard of them sooner and then I pretty much fell in love with their cute selection of workout clothes and decided I need them all. The quality reminds me of Lululemon but a little bit more affordable with their prices. The Sweet Stripe Capri's that I'm wearing above and below would be $98 at Lululemon, but these are $58. They have the cutest tops, tanks, and other crops (like these-$38) for much cheaper, too.

 

These are my new favorite pants as they are super comfortable (so soft!) and great quality. Plus they are striped which makes them even better in my book.

I also have my eye on getting these beauties...tell me how cute they are?!

 STRIPES + RUFFLES ON WORKOUT CLOTHES? GIMME! And this workout tank looks so comfortable.

Today, Albion Fit is kindly offering one of my readers a chance to win a $50 Gift Card. Insert happy face here.

Required Entry:
+Visit albionfit.com and leave a comment below with your favorite item!

Bonus Entries:
+"Like" Albion Fit on Facebook 
+Pin your favorite item from Albion Fit onto one of your Pinterest boards and leave the link in a comment below
+Follow me on instagram (@katiewkrysh)

*This giveaway is open to US residents who have not won another Albion Fit giveaway in the past 6 months and will end in one week (Thursday 8/29). The winner will be announced via email and on my blog that day. Thank you for entering and good luck! 

But wait. That's not all...

Albion Fit has created an exclusive coupon code for my readers to save $20 off $50!! Pretty awesome, no? Use the code "keepcalm20" when you checkout until 8/27! Hurry up and get to shopping. Your workouts will thank you. :)

**The winner of this giveaway is April and she has been notified! Thank you for entering! 

SUMMER WORKOUTS: THE YAY AND THE NAY {MY ROUTINE}

Let's talk fitness today, shall we?

Summer is my favorite time to workout...oh wait, no it's not. Not one bit. It's extremely hard to get motivation in the summer to work out. BBQ's? Concerts? Drinks on a patio with friends after work? OR spending time in the gym? Yeah, it's hard to stick to a routine when it's so nice out and you could be doing so many other things.With that being said, spring/summer is normally when I work out the most. Insert bikini season. Just looking at my bathing suits gives me some serious motivation to hit the gym. Right, ladies? It's a real pain in the butt...

I've talked about my daily eats/mean plan before, but had some questions about what a normal workout week looks like for me, so I thought I'd outline it a bit. It's important to find what works for you-if you want to have your evenings free, work out in the morning. If you want your extra sleep, make sure you carve that time out after work to get it done. Schedule your workouts just like your other appointments!

Monday: Circuit workout (see below) / 1 hour spin class 

This is my favorite workout of the week. Why? Because I normally eat the worst of the weekends and my body needs a detox. I splurge a bit (or a lot). Having a kick butt work out on a Monday instantly makes me feel better about it. ha. Not only that, spin is my favorite class to take and by the time I leave the class I'm 50x happier than when I walked in. Those endorphins will do that to you, promise. :)

Before spin class starts, I will do a short circuit workout for 20 minutes or so mixed in with some ab exercises. I highly recommend getting your hardest workout of the week done with on Monday's!

Tuesday: Run 3 miles / 30 Push ups / Circuit workout (see below) or 30 Day Shred (Jillian Michaels DVD)

The run could be inside or outside depending on how hot it is outside.

Wednesday: Rest day 

Thursday: Run 3-5 miles  / Leg workout (see below) / Abs (8 minute abs video)

Last week I switched it up and instead of running my normal route, I found a basketball court and did suicides on it for my cardio then did mountain climbers, lunges, and squats. It helped to switch up my surroundings a bit!

Friday: Sometimes I will do rest day if I'm busy or just a short circuit workout

Saturday: Morning run (3 miles) or 30 Day Shred / 30 Push Ups

Sunday: Rest day

I try to work out at least 4-5 times a week. Some weeks are better than others and other weeks I may only work out 3 times. I try to just listen to my body and take a break when I need it.

What do I mean by circuit/interval workout? Here are my favorites (all via Pinterest):

 

I think a lot of girls focus more on cardio and less on strength training. Strength training is just as important! It's something I've tried incorporating more of, for sure. Push ups, lunges and squats are now a part of my daily workouts when they never used to be. I see more results when I do them vs when I do cardio! My body looks leaner and I feel stronger.

As far as workouts you can do at home, my three favorites are: 30 Day Shred, 8 minute ab video (posted below), and any of the Tone It Up videos!

This ab video is such old school (I meannnnnn...old.school-I laugh just watching it), but it works. Man knows what's up. Listen to him, ha.

*Last and final comment: do not DRINK your calories! Keep a water bottle on your work desk everyday and fill it up as much as you can throughout the day. If you get sick of regular water, add some lemon juice or Mio to it to make it taste better for you! This is the #1 thing I do everyday. So important.

Alright, there we have it. 

What is your favorite summer workout? How do you stick to a schedule when all you want to do is be outside having fun? 

PS-You still have time to enter my Malibu giveaway and the Crystal Light one! xo

 

WHAT NOT TO DO AT THE GYM

 

via

Happy Tuesday!

I see some weird things while at the gym and I'm sure you guys do too. Some of them are just downright hilarious, and some that make me question what in the world they are doing. Just for the record...I think it's great you're at the gym in the first place, but at least pay attention to what you're doing there!

1. Walk around aimlessly. Before you get to the gym, have a plan for how you're going to spend you're time there. Are you going to do the elliptical, run 3 miles, ride the bike, take a workout class, etc? The more specific you make it, the more likely you'll get it done.

2. This goes hand in hand with #1. There are certain advantages to working out with a friend (more motivation, someone to help you stick to your goals), but there's also disadvantages. You are less focused on your workout and can be distracted if both of you are chatterboxes. Don't just sit there and chat it up for 30 minutes mid workout or pause every other minute to talk. Experts say if you are truly focused on the exercise you are performing, your results will be better and I believe that 110%.

 

3. Punch the machine you're on. Once a guy next to me was literally punching the crap out of the treadmill he was on. I kept trying to figure out why one would do this-but couldn't come up with much. I know the treadmill can suck at times, but honestly, what will punching it do?

4. Wear your hair down while running. AHHH! This one drives me up a wall. How can you possibly run well, and hard, with your long hair down swaying back and forth? If you're concerned about looking like a lady, then you're focus is ALL wrong. You're at the gym...look like it.

5. Talk on your cell phone. If it's an emergency and you step away from the machine you're using-then OK, that's understandable otherwise-just no. N-o.

 

6. Skip a shower for the last 4 or 5 days and then decide to hit up the gym. Please...oh please...be aware of your body odor. There are still people next to you that don't want to have to move from a machine to another machine mid workout because of your stench. (This has happened countless times to me...)

7. Talk to others about how tired you are, how you shouldn't be there, etc. Don't make excuses! This isn't motivating to you or the person you are talking to. Mentally work through whatever you're complaining about, and get your workout done! You'll be glad that you did.

Oh, I found this mini workout you can do from home that I thought I would share. 

 Give it a try today!

 

 via

Do you have any gym pet peeves? 

I hope I'm not the only one here!

PS: Like I said earlier, this isn't to bring anyone down per say, 

just to talk about how you can spend your time wisely at the gym. :) 

xo.

GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR IN THE NEW YEAR

Hi friends! Happy {almost} 2013!

What better day to dig deep and find some motivation in the new year? Yep, I'm talking about getting your butt to the gym. I've decided I want to start doing more fitness/health posts in 2013 because the other week I noticed I stopped writing about it for awhile. Not anymore. They are making a comeback folks. 

Alright, so..for me--I personally slack with my eating habits in November and December {you are to thank Thanksgiving and Christmas} and the gym just gets pushed aside from time to time. The other months of the year I eat healthy and am in the gym 4-5/week, so I like to think of it as my little break period. It happens and indulging during the holidays is ok, but you also have to know when it's time to get back on track. That time for me? Now. Not just because it's a new year, but because I want to feel healthier and get back on track. 

Some of you have asked me to share my tips + tricks to keep {and stay} motivated, so I compiled a list that I hope might inspire some of you. I also am sharing at the end what I'm personally doing right now in the gym/eating habits in case you want to join me. I'm not a pro {by any means}, but this is what works for me! {sugar, sweets, etc. do NOT work for me. Go figure...}

1. Create a kick ass playlist and keep updating it: This is huge! Music = motivation. Especially when on the treadmill. I like to load up my playlist with songs that are fast, uplifting (some could argue that my hardcore rap with 10,001 cuss words aren't uplifting, but hey, let's toss that to the side...), and that push me. If you keep the same ole' playlist for all of your workouts, you are bound to get bored. Bored = not wanting to be at the gym.

Here is my current favorite playlist:

"Set it off" is probably my favorite right now. Download it, listen to it when you workout, and thank me later. 

2. Buy new shoes or update staple pieces {cute pants, new top} in your workout attire: This works like a charm for me. Take control of your normal clothing budget and instead of buying new heels or a sweater, buy a cute workout outfit that you feel GOOD in. Buy those neon running shoes you've been wanting. I typically ask for new running shoes for Christmas for this very reason and every year it gives me a little extra drive to get to the gym. I love putting on my new shoes and wearing them to the gym, but then again I am a girl who owns double the amount of running shoes vs. heels. Totally besides the point....just get yourself some hottie workout clothes.

3. Make your goals visible: Put them on paper! Whether it's to lose 10 pounds, to do abs 2-3 per week, tone up, cut meat out of your diet once per week, eat fresh/clean foods, etc. PUT THEM WHERE YOU WILL SEE THEM MOST. The more you see them = the more you will be reminded to make them happen. I make a list and put them on our refrigerator because it motivates me to keep nothing bad in the fridge and to be "good" when I'm in the kitchen. :) Other helpful spots might be: your iPhone under "notes", your bathroom, or in your planner.

*with this: set a goal end date (unless this is something you want to do for the full year-even better!) Maybe an upcoming trip? Before bikini season hits? Schedule that end date in your mind so you know how long you have to make it happen. My husband always tells me "it takes 16 days to break a habit" {not sure if this is true or not-but so I've heard}, so chances are once you get "used" to your new lifestyle/getting to the gym-you will come to love it and it will be become a part of your daily routine willingly.

here's a copy of mine...

4. Schedule your workouts: Just like you would with your other important appointments. Set your workout for a time that you know you will be able to get it done. I might be different in my thinking here because some say, "do your workout first thing in the morning", but for me, I KNOW that in the winter chances are my butt is going to sleep in that extra hour and I won't get up to make it the gym before work. Therefore, I make it my priority to get to the gym after work and don't make any other plans until after that hour. In the spring/summer, it's much easier to get up with the early morning light, so I will try to do half of my workouts in the morning then. You just want to make sure you schedule your workout for a time you KNOW you can and will get it done.

5. Go to a new location for your run, take a new class, love your gym: This might be the most important of them all. You have to love where you workout. I could pretty much be running commercials or campaigns for Lifetime Fitness. That's how much I love it. I've worked out at Lifetime Fitness ever since I got out of college, have tried other gyms, and they just do not work out for me. Stick with what you love, even if it means paying a bit more. It's worth it to me because if you don't like your gym, why would you want to go there? You wouldn't. It's also important to switch up what you're doing in the gym. If you're getting bored, take a new class you haven't tried. Me? I'm 110% obsessed with spinning. You burn a heck of a lot of calories, is motivating, helps with my running, and in return puts a huge smile on my face. Endorphins = happiness friends.

{besides the fact that Lifetime needs to clean their mirrors more often, I love my gym.}

Lastly, for those of you who've been asking-aside from my goals up top on that paper, my goals are to do spin class 2x/week, run 2-3x/week (if you're running on a treadmill-try and run/job on an incline always), lift weights on my run days, and eat as clean as I can {I know that I will have a cheat meal every week}. I really want to shed the few lbs I've gained this holiday season, but most importantly I want to tone up and get stronger. So, what does clean eating mean? {question I've got a lot} I've found that this website helps me the most when understanding what it truly means. 

*If you'd like a more detailed post about healthy eating, leave it in the comments and I'll see what I can put together. 

Hope this helps some of you! 

Get that booty lift. Those Carrie Underwood legs. The flat stomach you dream about for this summer. GET IT. ;) {that right here would be me motivating myself, too...)

xo

WAYS TO FEEL INSPIRED

"Heyyyy...sexxyyyy lady!" -channeling my inner PSY {also known as the gangnam style pop singer, not to be confused with a PSL.}

Happy Friday friends.

Who's excited for 5 o'clock to hit? I'm more excited about this weekend in particular because Billy and I have some exciting plans to cross a few things off of my fall to-do list, that you read about last week. Eeek. I can't wait to share afterwards. 

Anyways...let's get to the point sometime today. I get a lot of emails/questions in regards to our grocery shopping, or favorite health items to buy, so today I'm going to share some because I did major damage at Trader Joe's the other day and stocked up on our favorites. As of this week, I'm trying really hard to eat clean for 30 days. If you aren't sure what clean eating means-refer to The Gracious Pantry (here) for a really good explanation. In a nutshell, it's pretty much eating food in it's most natural state-nothing processed, no sugar, etc. I will still have cheat meals here and there but if I can eat clean 90% of the time for 30 days, I will be happy (and feel much better!). 

Sidenote: I've found that even just browsing places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's inspires me to eat healthier. You are surrounded by people who are fit, learn new healthy foods to try, and I always leave feeling better about the selections I bought. I can't really say the same about, let's say Walmart, where I see candy and cupcakes lining the outside of the aisles. I'm more tempted to eat worse when shopping at places like that. I know that these stores seem more expensive, but you really can find good deals on many items and it's worth it to eat organic, IMO.

Here's a look at what makes it into my cart (everything from Trader Joes):

1. Frozen Blueberries-always have on hand. Perfect to top on oatmeal or to use with granola and greek yogurt for breakfast.

2. Zucchini-In the fall, I use zucchini a lot for not just the boats I mentioned last week, but in soup. Cheaper to buy in bulk. 

3. Whole Wheat Bagels-I don't eat bagels often, but lately my absolute favorite breakfast has been HALF of a bagel, 1/2 cup liquid egg whites (not pictured), and hot sauce. YUM. 

4. Sugar Snap Peas-I can't rave about these little guys enough. Low in calories, crunchy, and delicious = the perfect snack or to put on salads.

5. Banana Chips-these would be considered a treat for myself because I love them and eat them by the handful. 

6. Raw Almonds-Eat 10 almonds as an afternoon snack. I also like to put them on top of my oats in the morning.

7. Reduced Guilt Pita Chips-I'm obsessed with pita chips, and these are lower in fat and calories than other brands. 

8. Pumpkin Spice Granola-AMAZE. Just go buy. Eat with greek yogurt (nonfat, plain)

9. Almond Butter-This is more of an acquired taste, but you will find that in many healthy fall treats they call for almond butter.

10. Organic Vegetable Broth-I typically buy low sodium. I use this for all of our homemade soup!

11. Steel Cut Oats-SO good for you. The regular oatmeal you buy in the boxes from the store are loaded with sugar...take the extra time and buy your own. Here is a good tutorial for making your own steel-cut oats in 10 minutes. 

{a typical breakfast for me}

12. Seasonings: my two favorites right now are Pumpkin Pie Spice and 21 Seasoning Salute. 21 Seasoning literally has everything you could ever want and goes on fish, chicken, beef, etc. A must have!

For my second edition of "around the www" and sharing what inspires me, I've decided to share some of the recent ways I've felt inspired to work out. I've mentioned my love for Jillian and the Tone It Up girls many many times here on le blog, but I've got an update!

Have you heard of Cassey from Blogilates?

Cassey and her workout videos are AWESOME! She is ranked #2 for most influential online personality right behind the famous (and killer) trainer, Jillian Michaels. Cassey is a fitness instructor that provides so many workout videos (cardio, pilates, yoga, etc) on her website, but not only that, she has FULL meal plans that you can print out. Currently, I have her vegetarian meal plan hanging on the front of our refrigerator. It helps me so much when preparing meals!

Cassey's POP videos are intense, short, and you rarely need any weights or other workout materials so you can do them in the comfort of your own home. I did her 5 minute tricep challenge last night and am feeling the burn this morning! This is also where you can learn the Gangnam Style cardio dance video that I did for my girlfriends wedding last weekend. Come on, I KNOW you want to. Don't even deny it.

Last but not least-we all know my love for Instagram. But have you thought to use it to inspire how you eat and/or exercise? If you don't have Instagram-I'm sorry but this won't apply to you. You should probably get it already.

Recently, I've started following @blogilates, @fitkitten, and @getfit_feelsexy (who both have healthy living blogs) on Instagram who post all of their meals and healthy recipes right to it. I check Instagram (probably way more than I should) all the time and when I see their healthy eating habits, it keeps me in check! Seriously, try it. You can find other awesome fitness guru's by searching hashtags like: #fitness, #health, etc.

You can follow me (@katiewkrysh) for some pretty awesome things too. Sorry I'm not sorry for posting all kinds of Rock Dizzle pics...like these:

I just love him. See that little Pom shadow?

On that note, I'm off to enjoy my ONLY iced coffee I've had for the week. I'm back to trying to drink it only once a week and I feel like I should be singing the song "rehab" right about now.

PS-LAST CALL: Use the code "CALM" to receive 25% off any jewelry item from Outfit Additions, valid only until the end of tonight.

What are your favorite ways to get inspired to eat healthy/exercise?

Have a fantabulous friday/weekend!

What I Wore: Peplum + Marley Lilly Clutch

(Top: Tibi /Jeans: F21 (recent) /Clutch: c/o Marley Lilly /Necklace: ebay /Shoes: Jack Rogers /Watch: Michael Kors /Bracelets: c/o StyleLoveLiving)

It's safe to say most of us ladies have a lot of love for Marley Lilly inside us.

More like, inside our wallets.

(and if you haven't heard of Marley Lilly-you best get your booty to their website..like 5 minutes ago!)

But, have you seen the Monogrammed Luxe Cross Body Clutch?

It's so nice to not have to lug around a big ole bag in the summertime. 

You can carry this clutch easily on the hotter than hot days and also stuff it in your beach bag to go with all your stuff for the day. It can be used when you dress down, or when you    are feeling fancy and want to use the gold cross body strap with it. 

Plus, they have a ton of colors available and font styles you can pick from.

Get your shop on (not to be mistaken with roll on) here.

Sidenote: I did get my "roll on" last night at my first TRX class with Ashley.

Who has done a TRX workout?!

You know, the workout where you hang from the ropes 

and do a bunch of crazy stuff on it.

The real term? TRX is a workout that you use your own body weight as resistance.

I LOVED IT. TRX is legit!

I enjoyed it way way way more than Crossfit, and I think I've found my new fav workout.

It uses so many different muscles at once and gives you a great full body workout.

Plus, it's kinda fun using ropes (don't you dare reference this to any of that 50 Shades business) instead of dumbbells to switch things up.

If your gym offers these types of classes, go try 'em! 

I'm just regretting I haven't done it sooner.

(this is an actual pic of the studio where I took mine!)

Looks fun, right?

By the way, one month from today the 2012 Olympics starts.

I am OBSESSED with watching the Olympics and it's definitely something that is on my bucket list to go to!

My favorite events to watch are swimming and women's gymnastics.

Are you excited for the Olympics too?

oh hello, Ryan Lochte. 

You're my fav.

that's all I've got.

happy hump day friends!