Back. Again.

I swear: I was fully intending to blog regularly this time around.  But, I guess when you head to Vegas, quit CrossFit, spend Thanksgiving in Omaha, eat too much junk food, and get super busy at work, blogging kind of takes a back burner.

And, I've felt pretty crappy in regards to self-esteem lately.  (I'd like to give a shout-out to Cheetos and no exercise and five pounds of weight gain.)  A lack of self-esteem does not leave for positive entries on a healthy-living blog.

However, I have decided to take matters into my own hands and get back to blogging - and healthy living.

And I'd like to tell you how I plan on making that happen.

First, I have planned a hugely busy (in regards to races) spring.  In a matter of five weeks, I will be tackling three big races: the Drake Relays Half Marathon, the Lincoln Half Marathon, and Dam to Dam (20k).  Leading up to that, I have three smaller races planned: the Red Flannel Run (5k), Loop the Lake (10k), and the Glow Run (un-timed 5k).  I will also likely do Gladiator Assault again (5-mile trail run with over 30 crazy obstacles).

Interestingly, I have not run at all since the marathon.  Two months ago.

So, I put together a fairly structured exercise schedule that starts tomorrow and that I will be sharing with you weekly:

• Monday: run two miles
• Tuesday: run two miles
• Wednesday: Y-pump
• Thursday: run two miles
• Friday: Y-pump
• Saturday: run three miles
• Sunday: yoga

In addition, every day I will be doing 25 sit-ups, 25 push-ups, two 30-second planks, and 25 squats.

I am going to try really, really hard to stick with this, and rest assured, I will post here how it's going.

Second to exercise, I am planning to eat much healthier.  This means that when The Boy is enjoying Cheetos and Oreos while we're watching TV together, I will not.  Rather, I will eat healthier options: pretzels, light popcorn, apple slices, etc.  

Again, in order to stick to healthy-eating, I am working on weekly meal plans.  Those have worked tremendously in the past, and although they take a lot of time up-front, they make meals during the week so much easier.  Like before, I am hoping to follow the Abs Diet as closely as possible.  It just makes sense.

So, here's this week's plans:

• Monday: 
• Almond Joy smoothie
• Apple + hard-boiled egg
• Healthy Choice rice bowl (only because I will not have leftovers for lunch)
• Fiber One bar
• Chipotle rice bowl
• Tuesday:
• French toast breakfast scramble
• Apple + string cheese
• Chipotle rice bowl
• Fiber One bar
• Chili Mac with Jack
• Wednesday:
• Virgin Cabo Daiquiri
• Apple + hard-boiled egg
• Chili Mac with Jack
• Minimal consumption of junk food
• Holiday social at work
• Potluck for bowling league
• Thursday:
• Two-ingredient pancake
• Apple + string cheese
• Amy's rice bowl (again, only because I will not have leftovers for lunch)
• Fiber One bar
• Sausage, grape, and pasta skillet
• Friday:
• Almond Joy smoothie
• Apple + hard-boiled egg
• Sausage, grape, and pasta skillet
• Fiber One bar
• DATE NIGHT!

Like before when I was so successful with healthy eating, I am planning on logging each and every morsel with My Fitness Pal.  Again, it. just. makes. sense.

I am not doing this "crazy" diet and exercise plan in order to lose weight.  I am simply doing it to feel better.  It's a wonder what that can do.

See you tomorrow!  :)