Women's Running Magazine - Motivation Monday

...Because I need some visual fitness motivation this week.

Goals........  ^_^ 

Mexico 2015 - The Royal Playa del carmen

Lord Please TAKE ME BACK to Mexico

It was a much needed and well deserved vacation.

Nelson Mandela Day 07-18-2015

2 years ago we lost an amazing leader of our beloved continent.

I am constantly discovering new quotes and life lessons from his journey that have been instrumental in my personal growth and development. He was wiser beyong his title as a freedom fighter.

In honour of today, Nelson Mandela Day ( Also his birthday), here are two quotes which are resonating with me in life right now.

“Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farmworkers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.” 
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

“I always knew that deep down in every human heart, there is mercy and generosity. No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.” 
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

My Summer Exercise Routine

In general my workout routine consists of using the studio room at the gym to perform plyometric body weight exercises. Sometimes I bring a Samsung tablet along to play youtube videos such as FITNESS BLENDER.

Additionally, I have been doing a lot running for 2 reasons

#1  Black Girls Run - Boston of which I am an ambassador,  has a 50miles for July Challenge

#2 My friends in Atlanta have a NIKE+ Summer challenge going on till August which concides with their wedding season

Because I have been traveling so much, I am losing on both ends. To get back into a winning position with the rest of the participants in the challenges, I've increased the number of miles am running per week.

This is great and impressive until you develope shin splints which is what am currently battling. I feel like my shin splints are not necessarily from increasing my mileage but developed from the following reasons

- Not stretching enough before and after runs☆Guilty☆
- Worn out shoes ☆Guilty☆
- Changing terrains ☆ Guilty☆Guilty☆Guilty☆

I need new nike running shoes but that's not in my budget for July. It doesnt help that with a recently crashed desktop, saving to move, my priorities have shifted. Also, I've been running on the road, on grass,  on soccer fields and track fields.

Or maybe am just in denial that am out of shape and my body does not appreaciate doing more than 10miles a week.

Aside from stretching exercises like toe curls and heel drops, I have replaced running with yoga for the past 2 days. Tomorrow I will be back on the road. For now am doing vinyasa power yoga using the ujjaiy breathing method.This has been very good for my sense of well being , strength and flexibility.
Also I am considering adding spinning as a cross training option for my shins.

                     
                   Keeping it really with my zero abs.
                    I dont regret my VACATIONS lol.
Add me on NIKE+ and let's encourage each other to keep running and burning those calories

Work Lunch and Snacks

I struggle with meal preps. It takes way too much organization and discipline to pre prep what you're going to eat for the entire week.

What if your mood changes and you develop cravings for something other than what you have prepped for a week?!

On the other hand, I completely understand the importance of making your own meals. Its healthy and cheap. Why pay $5 for a breakfast bagel and creme chess at a fast food place when you could buy a bag of 6 bagels for $5.

I recently recreated a dish that was featured during the nutrition month programs I had organized at work. It is called a Crock pot chicken taco chili. You can probably find different variations of this dish online. I loved making it because of its simplicity and nutritional values.

The only downside I can think of is using fresh ingredients instead of cans. However even with cans, there are companies that are doing a good job of using healthy preservatives in can foods.

I've also been eating a lot on my trips. With a chef on deck its easy to eat delicious but healthy meals