Quick thought before the BK Half

Had to give y'all a little deltoids action there.

      Yep, I'm still working out. It's been a heck of a while since I posted. Just checking in and letting y'all know I'm doing well.
     So, usually I'm never happy to run any type of long distance. However, the closer we get to the Brooklyn Half the more excited I get. It's the mark of a new career for me and also a new way of thinking. My goal for this race is sub 2 hours. I'm saying this because I believe it, I trained and because I do not doubt myself. Why doubt myself when God made me in His image? When I do that I'm actually doubting Him, which is wrong. I'm geared and prayed up for this race. Plus, Positive thoughts will run through my mind while I run away from my running buddy in his Nets gear this race. Welp, back to studying and hydrating, goodnight folks.
Until next time fitties.
XoXo,
YumYum

My adventure with Couscous

Hello fitties,
   how are y'all? Life has been rather busy as of late, but I still have made time to get my workout on. Anyhoot, so in my last post I confessed to stalking, I mean looking through instagram pages for healthy and delicious recipes to try. So one of my favorite instagram pages is @healthyfitnessmeals. The food they post looks absolutely delish. So much so that it gave me the itch to try something new in my kitchen,

    Below is the yumminess that I was inspired to make.













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  However, this recipe called for quinoa. Totally picked up couscous by mistake, but I wasn't going to  allow that to stop my culinary fun.

Couscous and Jerk Chicken
   1 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup couscous
1 can corn
1 avocado
1/2 diced bell pepper
a couple sprigs cilantro (chopped)
1 cup baby spinach
1 diced tomato
2 diced scallion
1 cup cooked chicken breast

   So, bring 1 cup of chicken broth to a boil. Remove from heat and add couscous. Put a cover over the pot and allow couscous to sit for five minutes or until it has absorbed all the water. Fluff couscous and place in a bowl. Add the corn, bell pepper, scallion, cilantro and tomato to the mix. Then squeeze a lime over all the ingredients. Mix, using a spoon. Leave in fridge for 15 minutes to cool down and settle.Plate with chicken, avocado and spinach and enjoy.

  This is a pic of the couscous and veggie mixture which tasted amazing by itself and was actually refreshing.I eat this cold or warm depending on my mood. And no picture of the finished product because homegirl dug right in before she could take a picture.


Well that's all fitties. I think I may make this more often.
XoXo
YumYum
  

Liebster Awards !!!!

  Hey Fitties,
   I'm totally psyched today because I got nominated for a liebster award!!!!

Amanda from eathardworkhard.com nominated me and I'm uber excited to answer all the questions provided so y'all can get to know me a bit. The task at hand is to answer 11 questions provided by Amanda, provide 11 random facts about myself and to also nominate five other bloggers to answer my 11 questions as well. So ....here goes the 11 questions

11.    What do you love best about blogging?

The best part of blogging to me is meeting new people that have interests similar to mine. Through blogging I have tried new workouts, recipes, workouts and also have learned how to do my hair.

22.    How did you choose your blog name?

My blog name actually came from a nickname that my running buddies gave me. We were taking the train to Brooklyn to participate in a practice run for the Brooklyn Half. Everyone was nervous and asking why the heck they signed up for this race for and I asked what we going to eat after our run? The name yumyum stuck with me however, I noticed that I wasn’t reaching my ascetic and athletic goals mainly because of my poor eating habits. I created this blog to chronicle my failures, successes, change ups and also to keep myself honest about my workouts and just my feelings about life in general. So I chose the name yumyum gets fit for my blog.

33.    What's your favorite food?

Macaroni and cheese. O the cheesy, yummy baked goodness just makes me feel so good all over.

4. What's the last good book you read?

 Love by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. It’s a devotional that helped me to change my negative thinking and to forgive.

5. What's one surprising thing you are awesome at?

  Step aerobics, I lack all coordination for Zumba. However, put me in a step class and it’s on and popping.

6. What's one thing you are surprisingly bad at?

  Stretching/yoga, it’s just so hard. Like seriously these classes are the worst for me. I start sweating profusely and breathing heavy while everybody else looks relaxed. I know I need to work on my flexibility and will dedicate more time to it soon.

7. Your house is on fire and you can only save one thing--what would you save?

My bowflex select tech 552s, luv these things.

8. What's your favorite guilty pleasure?

Reality TV, I do my best not to watch it but they always seem to have a marathon on when I’m bored and just don’t want to get out my bed.

 

9. What's the scariest thing you've ever done?

   Free fall at Kings Island. I literally signed my life away for $5.

10. What's at the top of your bucket list?

Compete in the crossfit games. I have a long way to go but I’m sure I can get there.

11. Where's your favorite place in the world?

 Dollywood in Tennessee. The food was amazing and the coasters were out of this world.

11 Random Facts

1. I used to play the clarinet in high school

2. I learned how to shot put during my first year of college.

3. I volunteered as a counselor at a health program  catering to overweight-obese children.

4.  I have a lisp.

5. I have 8 other siblings who I find very interesting (they will probably tell you I'm wierd as well)

6. My favorite channel is the travel channel.

7, I love bacon, like seriously you can do no wrong with this food.

8.I stalk instagram accounts for food ideas

9. I love to BBQ

10. My goal in college was to be a medical doctor, thankfully that changed :).

11. I'm a teaching fellow :)

Well that's all I have at the moment. I will come up with my questions and nominees during my next post.

Until next time fitties.

XoXo,

YumYum

11 Random Facts:

11 Random Facts:

Ladders

   Hello Fitties,
  it's time for the #WOWlinkup!!!! So, lately I have been going to the gym at the crack o dawn and really enjoying it. According to my running schedule, Tuesday's are speed workouts. These workouts range from 2-5 miles depending on the activity for the day. Since, I'm not running outside by myself in the dark, I decided to complete my speeds on the treadmill.

     A very challenging routine that I have been taught and love and hate simultaneously is ladders. Hmmm, how can I explain this? So, with a regular ladder we climb up at first and go down afterwards, that's the gist of a ladder workout. This is how I did mine
750 meters (3 track laps) with  a 60 second rest period
500 meters (2 track laps) 60 sec rest
250 meters (1 track lap) 60 sec rest
250 meters 60 sec rest
500 meters 60 sec rest
750 meters

My rest consists of walking at 3.7-4.0 mph hour pace. So when I finished this workout I actually completed 3.5 miles. I did not keep the speed the same during any of these distances. I gradually increased the speed during each distance with a sprint during the last minute. Say for instance, I started the 750 meters at 6.5mph, I ended it at 8.5. I felt like I was about to burst my esophagus,  lol just joking. This workout was very challenging, next time I do this I will add incline to account for wind resistance and hills that I generally meet when I run outside.

    To cap off the workout, I did some tricep, deltoid and core work to finish up. These were all done with generally light weights.

tricep dips (3x10)
shoulder raises (3x12 @ 7.5 lbs each)
w raises (3 x12 @ 7.5 lbs each) these burn
standing flys (3x12 @ 7.5 lbs)
Standard Pushups (3x12)
Diamond Pushups (3x10)
Arnold press (3x10 @ 15 lbs each)
Tricep kickbacks in runners lunge (3x12 @ 7.5 lbs)
Overhead tricep pulls on cable machine (3x12 @ 25 lbs)
Tricep pulldowns on cable machine (3x12 @30 lbs)
Hanging Knee Raise (3x15)

Well, that's all fitties. How are y'all doing with your workouts? What events are y'all preparing for? Let me know. I totally would like to know how y'all are doing and exchange ideas with all of you.
XoXo,
YumYum

Power of a Woman Triathlon

Hello Fitties,
   how are Y'all on this glorious and warm day???? Today I competed in the first ever all women's triathlon, the Power of A Woman Triathlon. I completed this race as part of a relay team called Triple Threat. This race consisted of a 1/4 mile swim, a 6 mile bike ride and a 2 mile run. And guess what we proved our name. We won second overall in the relay division. I think that's pretty awesome for our first time ever competing. Can I get a woot woot, I say Jerome's in da house!!!!!
    Anyhoot, I think I may branch out and actually complete a triathlon, who knows I may even compete in the half Iron Man with my gurlz. Here's to trying out new things :)

This is a very true statement. I would have never thought to run in a triathlon or even a marathon. Heck, I wouldn't have run outside if it wasn't for the great friends I made through @blackgirlsrun. Like seriously, these ladies have seen so much in me that I never even noticed. We are going to keep moving forward and do even bigger and better things in the future. Luv u guys.

@brandscycle team. Everyone was amazeballs 

And you know I had to put up a couple pics of my triple threat homiez. Had to show some swag in these pics. Next race for us iron man Half. I know I look at Shari like she crazy when she says we can do it, but I'm actually warming up to the idea :).

Triplw Sweat Swagga!!!!

 

 

   Well, back to half marathon training and lifting tomorrow. Until next time fitties :)
XoXo,
YumYum

New Beginnings and WOD

Hello Fitties,

     today I started week one of the NYC shape up Fitness instructor program. I'm pretty psyched that I will be able to torture people legally (lol, just joking). I'm really excited about this class because it will teach me how to make exercise routines for a group of people with different athletic abilities plus it will teach me how to effectively instruct a class. My program is during my regular exercise time, so I now have to get my run and weight training done in the morning before work. Surprisingly, I find that I am able to do more when exercising at the crack of dawn. Is it that I'm excited to see an empty gym or that I have more energy in the morning? Who knows? All I know is that I like how I'm feeling so no complaints aqui.
    Below is my WOD:
3 mile tempo run (fasted cardio)
bicep curls (3x10 @ 40 lbs)
overhead press (3x10 @40lbs)
rows (3x10 @ 40lbs)
6x10 pushups
overhead tricep extensions (3x10 @ 30lbs)
lying fly (3x10 @15lbs)
close grip chest press (3x10 @ 30lbs)
straight arm extensions (3x10@8lbs)
NTC Hollywood Trainer abs

Totally left the gym feeling like this :).


 Well that's all for the day fitties.
Shout out to all the bloggers linking up on Workout Wednesday #WOWlinkup. Keep up the great work, your posts are inspiring and keep me motivated.
Until next time.
XoXo,
YumYum

O Thank you Lord for Rest Days!!!

Hey everyone,
   today is Monday and it's my rest day :) !!! Usually people don't get excited about Mondays but I do because I don't have to do any pushups, burpees or planks today. All I'm supposed to do is stretch, hydrate and enjoy the bounty of my meal prep.

Yup, this is exactly how I feel when my meal prep for the week comes together.

    Anyhoot. lets talk about ....food. So as posted on this blog, I like to prepare all my food for the week on Sunday. I have gotten into the practice of preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in advance. This has helped me so much with staying on track as well as keeping me from over eating.  Below are pictures and descriptions of all the delicious food I had on Monday.

Green smoothie

Egg Frittatas

Dinner :)

    This week for breakfast, I will have an egg frittata and a green smoothie. Each egg frittata consists of three egg whites, 1 egg yolk, 1 slice turkey bacon,cilantro, green onions and green peppers. The green smoothie was made using unsweetened coconut milk, a splash of vanilla, spinach, 1 apple, 1 banana, 3 carrots and a 1/2 cup of almonds. I made a big batch so this smoothie will last for approximately four days. 
    Now, my lunch was quite similar to my dinner and I didn't want to wierd anyone out at my table by taking pics of my food while we were all eating. However, I had 1/4 cup brown jasmine rice (cooked in chicken broth for flavor), broccoli sauteed with bacon, hummus and 1/2 a grilled chicken breast.
Dinner was banging. In the pic is shrimp, hummus (I sincerely love this stuff), grilled onions and peppers and broccoli sauteed with bacon. I feel satisfied and energetic after my meals, never full anymore or still hungry anymore. For my 3 snacks I had 1/4 cup cashews, 8 black bean and quinoa chips with greek yogurt and kale dip and an apple. Clean eating can be rather tasty people. Get in the kitchen and try it or run to Trader Joe's for their reduced guilt snacks, they're amazing.
Until next time fitties.
XoXo,
YumYum