The #bikiniseries is coming to an end. I can not believe how fast it went by. I hit some big milestones during these last 8 weeks including my weight goal and I have loved seeing everyone else meet theirs as well. I love checking in on my TIU Instagram every day and seeing everyone’s recipes and fitness goals. It is so encouraging and inspiring which is why I know I’ve had so much success with this program. It’s because of the wonderful community of women (and men?). So here is a look back on my Tone It Up Bikini Series 2014:

My favorite running buddy!

Our second 5k!

The day I hit my #bikiniseries goal weight!

That time I got soaked in a storm because I was determined to get in a run.

I beat my PR!

I bought some new kicks!

Our first 5k

This chicken recipe is coming to the blog SOON! I promise it will become a staple in your home as well. Did you participate in the Bikini Series? How are your fitness goals coming along this year? Join the Blog Love Facebook group to help grow your social media platforms! Linking up with Katie!

Drink more water. I know you’ve all heard this a million times, but it’s true. Even if you replace one can of soda with water per day, you will consume up to 200 calories less a day than you are now. That makes a huge difference. Can you imagine replacing 2 sodas a day?

Go Green. Try to eat a green vegetable with every meal. They are loaded with vitamins and some greens like spinach are a good source of calcium and are much lower in fat than dairies.

Exercise. Even if it’s just for 20 minutes a day. Go for a walk, swim, bike, play with your kids in the back yard, go for a run or hike. Whatever! Just move.

Eat on a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. I heard this trick several years ago when struggling with portion sizes. When I first married Ryan, I fixed dinner and gave myself the same amount I gave him. Oops. Hello ten pounds! I realized what I was doing and now I give myself half of what he eats. Women don’t need as many calories as men. Watch those portions!


Substitute with Greek yogurt when you can.

Exercise in the mornings. You burn more fat first thing in the morning. Plus, you have less time to think up excuses not to get in that workout.

Get a good nights sleep. This one is tough for me. My baby boy still wakes up almost every night, and wakes up at daybreak every morning! It wears me out. Sleep is very important for your physical and mental health. It’s important to get plenty of rest so you have plenty of energy.

Weigh often. Don’t become obsessive over it, but it’s good to know where you are in order to help you set/keep goals. It will hold you accountable. Try not to weigh more than once a week or so. Remember that measurements are just as, and even more, important than the number on that scale.

Linking up with Katie!

Today is national running day! Who knew? I thought it would be the perfect day to show you my latest vox box from Influenster!

I think it’s safe to say that this is my favorite box by far! It is right up my alley. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I’ve been trying to exercise daily and live a healthier lifestyle. After having my baby in October, I had a lot of weight to lose. Thanks to a lot of running and disciplined eating, I have lost all of the weight + some. It feels great to be in even better shape than I was before.

On to the Box:

Next Step Shaker Cup:

The shaker cup from The Vitamin Store is perfect for all of my protein shakes. It works really well and is very durable.

Next Step Shakes:

I received three flavors: French Vanilla, Chocolate Swiss and Fresh Berries. My favorite by far was the Chocolate Swiss, of course, I am a chocoholic, so no surprise there.

Profoot Triad Orthodic:

This insert is proven to relieve knee, leg and back pain. I have already used it a couple of times and I must say, my knees are feeling pretty good.  I do have a lot of knee pain when I run due to my years of dance. This is a nice addition to my run.

Profoot Pedi Rock:

I love love love this product. It will save you a lot of money when it comes to pedicures. This pedi rock is really soft but works wonders on your feet. I am very impressed with it.

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance:

I have actually used these tampons before, and I really love them. They are perfect for women on the go. No woman needs to be worried about that when out on the run.

Blue Diamond Fruit Flavored Almonds:

Yum. I have found a new favorite snack in these almonds. First of all, almonds are extremely healthy for you. These taste wonderful and really curve your craving. These are a great post workout snack.

Muller Greek Corner and Corner Yogurts:

It’s no secret that I love Greek Yogurt. This is no exception. Muller products offer a wide variety of great flavors. I love their fruit mix-ins. They add so much flavor and texture.

Aqua Spa Relax Collection:

I love this lavender body creme. It is hydrating and feels great after that post-run bath.

What was in your latest box? Have you tried any of these products?

I’ve been wanting to run a 5k for a while now, and if you follow me on Instagram, you know that I ran my first 5k race on Saturday after having a pretty rough stomach virus. I struggled and came no where near my personal record, but considering I was still debating on whether or not to run the morning of the race I’m just happy I completed it.

Ryan was a sweetie and ran it with me the whole way while pushing Hampton. Normally I’m the one pushing him because I’m more used to it that Ryan is, but he pushed him the whole way for me. I was so thankful for him encouraging and pushing me along the way. I definitely couldn’t have done it without him under the circumstances. Sure my time was a little embarrassing, and I was beat by two 60+ and  70+ year old men. Who’s keeping tabs any way? I will do better next time. There will definitely be a next time and hopefully soon! I really enjoyed it and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it even more when I’m feeling better and not fighting dehydration. Thanks to all of my TIU girls for encouraging me and cheering me on. It was a great experience.

Of course I’m still a little ticked that my 6 month old beat me…HA! (little stroller humor for you).

Have you run any races this year?

One
I’m pretty excited, guys! I am running my first 5k race tomorrow! I talked Ryan into running it with me as well. I wasn’t originally planning on running one this weekend, but I was having lunch with a friend and she mentioned that her and her husband were running in this one and talked me into it. I’m kind of nervous, but mostly excited. Side note: I am still weak from having the stomach  virus so I’m hoping by tomorrow morning I’ll be back to 100%.

Two
I’m loving this warm weather. I have had the opportunity to lay by the pool a couple of afternoons this week, and it has been so nice and relaxing.

Three
Ryan and I are getting ready to go to Orlando in a couple of weeks for his second conference of the year. I’m excited, but not as excited about the one in Chicago next month! Yep, that’s right! We are heading to Chi town! We just got the email! I’m beyond excited!

One of my check-ins from this week

Four
We are two weeks into the Tone It Up #BikiniSeries. How is everyone doing? I’ve completed all the workouts so far, but I am struggling with my diet. Confession: I ate pizza one night this week and had an ice cream cone. I’m pretty sure that’s not TIU approved. Oops. I haven’t lost any weight yet, but I can tell a huge difference in my endurance.

Five
I’m heading to a wedding tomorrow night for a friend of mine that I used to dance with. She is marrying my mom’s best friend’s son. Small world. I’m so excited for them. This will be my second wedding in the last month. You can read about my cousin’s beautiful southern wedding here.

Wish me luck on my first race tomorrow and be sure to follow along on Instagram because you know I’ll be posting pictures!

How are your fitness goals coming along this year? Have you run any races? Are you attending a wedding this weekend?

Linking up with April today for Five on Friday.

So, I’m pretty excited. Only a few more days stand in the way of the beloved #BikiniSeries with our favorite girls – Karena and Katrina from Tone It Up!! Eeekkk!!! If you remember from previous posts, I participated in the Love Your Body Series during the winter months and it helped me lose the last bit of my baby weight…and then some! My fitness training has improved tremendously. I’ve been sticking to their weekly workout schedule and am officially 8 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight! Cray. Anyways… I’ve been counting down the days until the Bikini Series begins and it is finally here! If you haven’t checked out Toneitup.com, you need to. Their workouts are no joke. Add them to your daily cardio and healthy diet and you’ll achieve your goals in no time.

More so than the workouts, I’ve made so many connections and friends throughout the Tone it up community and I love it. Everyone is so encouraging and that helps push me and drive me on the days I don’t feel like putting in the work. You are welcome to follow my fitness journey on Instagram @TIULoCan where I’ll be checking in daily. Creating that account during the LYBS helped motivate me and held me accountable. I look forward to working out with all of you who choose to participate!

I’ve already planned one beach trip and am in the process of planning a second one. I want to be a fit woman this summer, not a jealous one. Are you with me?

Sign up for the #BikiniSeries today! Let me know if you do!

Did you do the Bikini Series last year?

Hi there! It’s been a while since I last wrote a Fitness Friday post so I figured it was time. If you didn’t see on Insta, I beat my 5k time on Sunday! I’m still a bit slower than I’d like to be, but I’m feeling confident enough to finally run a 5k race. I’m not going to win, let’s be honest, but I have to start somewhere, right? So I’m going to be doing that in the next few weeks.

I love to make these 3 ingredient oatmeal raisin cookies because they are quick, easy and super healthy. I prefer to eat them for breakfast. You can also substitute the raisins for dark chocolate chips for a sweet treat. Each cookie contains around 62 calories.

Smash the bananas up and mix all ingredients together. Roll in balls then slightly flatten. Bake in the oven at 350° for 15-20 minutes until they are golden brown. If they are still really mushy, bake for a little longer. Let them cool and enjoy!

In honor of Saint Patrick, I thought I’d share my favorite Green Smoothie Recipe. This smoothie is my favorite go-to as an on-the-go breakfast or post-workout recovery drink. It’s filling and super healthy. It’s around 160 calories. Not bad, huh? Try it and thank me later because this sucker is delish!