HIIT-tastic

Let's flashback a bit, shall we? 

Childhood—I played soccer, softball, volleyball and basketball year-round, with a passion...and with as little running as possible. The name of my game was defense, aka, hang back and let the opponent come to me. 

Teenage years—I failed my ROTC physical training test because I couldn't run the course fast enough {or finish at all...}. I quit almost all sports that required a timed-run as part of the tryout. And I sure as heck was not running for "fun." {I also didn't understand this relation of "running" and "fun"—whose idea of "fun" was that?!}

Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman {your first taste of my Britney-obsession—don't even try to knock it}—"Fun Runs", aka, 5K's, were becoming all the rage. I joined my first ever gym and stepped onto my first treadmill. The longest I could run at a 5mph+ speed was maybe—M A Y B E—three minutes. Three minutes, ya'll! The thought of running nonstop for 10 minutes or *gasp* 3.2 miles was laughable. I laugh in the face of 5K's! {insert evil laugh}

Catch up to today and I am a {self-proclaimed} bonafide runner. I have completed a countless number of those daunting 5K's, crossed the finish-line of my first half-marathon two years ago, knock out at least nine miles on the weekly, and I'm currently training for a 10-miler (that's 15K!) in April. And I did it all while nonstop running. That's over 2 1/2 hours of straight running—if you're counting.

So, from a barely three minute jog, to a 13+ mile trot, I am proof that anyone, at any size, any age {yes, any age}, and with any level of determination can build their stamina and L O V E for running. It's actually—dare I say—FUN!!

Now that you know you CAN run, let's add in the r e a l fun part! Running on a straight & narrow road, or especially on the never-ending tread, can be total boresville—even with the jammiest of jams {like Brit-Brit}. My go-to running technique not only keeps me super distracted, but also constantly confuses my body & muscles to keep my cardio routines super-fresh! And my surefire way not to tire of the same ol' HIITs over and over again? I compete with myself! "How far did I run last time with 'HIIT-tastic'? Oh, is that so? Well, I see your three miles and I raise you .2 miles! What now!?" {You do all have pep-talks with yourself before a workout, right?!}

My love of HIITs {High Intensity Interval Training} has manifested over time, and while I have countless HIITs pinned, I have started to create my own to mix it up even more and evolve with my level of running! From beginner to speedy-Gonzalez, I'll sporadically be bringing you HIITs to add to your routine. Let's get HIIT-tastic, ya'll!

XO,

Nikki

10 Health Hacks: How I Changed My Body, My Life

A large part of starting this blog was to one day dive into my weight journey. Therapeutic? For sure. But inspirational? That's the ultimate goal. I am the epitome of the cliche, "If I can do it - you can do it." And I did it—it wasn't always puppies and unicorns {or fruit and rice cakes}—but I did it.

For those who only know me today, you may be thinking, "What is this journey you speak of?" {because you all talk in ancient history lingo, right?} And for those who knew me "then"—you've been expecting this tell-all to come at some point, right? 

When I decided to change my body, my health, myself, I was 16 and had no guidance, no education, and NO idea where to start. As a result, I went balls-to-the-wall for one full day, working hard to cleanse myself of 16 years worth of build-up off. Funny thing—it doesn't happen overnight. I woke up the next morning with a real arm injury {1,000 triceps reps too much for a newbie?!}, and felt completely defeated. "Forget it. I'll just stay like this forever."

By the time I got old enough to really educate myself and learn from healthy surroundings, I realized one v e r y valuable tidbit: it took my entire life to get this way. I would have to succumb to the fact that it may take just as long, or even twice as long, to reverse the effects. You have to start somewhere, and while nothing is scarier and more daunting then officially deciding to change your life, there's also nothing more exciting and exhilarating when you realize that YOU, and only you, have the power to do so. Don't get in your own way. Take control.

At my heaviest I was 186. {Just so you know, my stomach did a little knotted flip-flop when I typed that. I rarely say that number outloud. And I just put it on the internet. I have contemplated erasing it two times already since I've been typing out this little inside freak-out moment. But I'll leave it. In the name of therapy. ::insert prayer hands emoji::} When I finally took control at 18 years old, I didn't do a crash diet, I didn't immediately join a gym, I didn't jump fat-first into this healthy-change—I weened into it. It's been a long, constantly evolving, overwhelmingly educating experience. I did it—in my mind—the "right" way. The right way for ME. I didn't want to do a "diet" because a diet, to me, was a temporary fix. I wasn't looking for temporary. I was looking for a lifetime lifestyle change.

After 10+ years of changing my life, of daily battles, of yo-yo enthusiasm, and inevitable ups-and-downs, these are, at the core, my top ten health hacks for how I got from "then", to "now."

Now & Then 

1.) Don't Worry, Be Happy: I am not an Oprah fan, and I never have been. I didn't rush home to watch her after school. I wasn't the least bit phased when "you got a car! and you got a car! and...", and I wasn't sold on how she could make even the tightest-wads ball like babies on national television. But damn if that woman didn't creep into my life and change it anyway. On the rare odd occasion that she was on the television screen in the background as I did homework {gabbed with my friends on AIM} after school, I happened upon an episode when she proclaimed that losing weight wasn't about a diet or a workout regimen - it was about being happy. When you're happy, the weight melts off, she said. "HA! If only it was that easy," I thought. But then - it was. I started dating my now husband when I was 16 years old. By 18 I had {magically} lost 15 pounds, just by being...happy. So my first health hack is: find your happiness.

2.) Educate Yourself: Wait, so a Caesar salad ISN'T the healthiest option on the menu?! What do you MEAN it's one of the WORST?! I feel completely duped. Duped, I tell ya! Forget everything you t h i n k you know about food, and REALLY educate yourself. In today's technologically-equipped and health-conscious world, it's easier than ever to brush up on your nutritional knowledge. I learned from this little program that's been around the block a few times: Weight Watchers. I credit WW for teaching me everything I needed to know about what amount of calories, fat and fiber work for my body, at my age, and at my activity level. So you're telling me I should only eat 1/3 of the amount of calories I typically eat a day? And they should be filled with twice as much fiber as I was actually getting? Huh, who knew?! Welp, now I do. And once you know, you can ever "un"-know. Trust me—you will forever count calories, calculate points and glance at nutritional information...even 10 years after completing your 3-month love affair with WW.

3.) Stand Strong: Not just on your eating habits, but against the naysayers and nitpickers. The mockers. It's going to happen—even though everyone who loves you really, really does support you, there is going to be some mockery. "Oooh, little miss, 'I can only order salads and eat half of it' is splurging on a chip! Someone document it." Or, "Can you eat this? Should I eat this? I shouldn't eat this if you're not eating it, right? Oh well, I'm not on a life diet like you." And, of course, "She probably binges and purges. Or does drugs. No one is that disciplined." Stand. Strong. Call it jealousy, call it their own demons coming out to haunt them, call it whatever you want and need to in order to stand. strong. This isn't for them, not even in the SLIGHTEST. This is for you, so who the hell cares what anyone else says or thinks.

4.) Never Finish: You are almost always full before you think you are. You don't need that last bite—is it really going to be the difference between feeling absolutely fulfilled or still feeling hungry? Likely, it's not going to make a difference at all - so leave it be. Eventually you'll ween yourself off and find out how much you R E A L L Y need to eat to be satisfied, and you'll be surprised at how much {or little} it really it. So, always leave a bite, or two, or three.

5.) Take a Break: Whether you're at the dinner table, a restaurant, sitting on the couch, mingling at a cookout, or any other food-eating atmosphere - don't scarf down your meal in one sitting. Eat half, then take a break. Read a chapter of a book, gossip with your friends at the table, drink a full glass of water, or set your meal down and come back to it later {just make sure it's well hidden and secure!}. You may find that you're full enough and don't want to finish it. Or, you may find that you want to nibble a little more after a while - but that way you're not DOUBLEY eating, you're simply finishing your first {and only} meal.

6.) Surrender: When you start to feel full but it's just. SO. good. And you can't physically stop yourself - have a "surrender" signal. Mine is putting my napkin on top of my meal—gross, I'm clearly not going to eat it now. Or, turn your fork over. This is the symbol that you're "done" in Europe, and it should also be the symbol for your brain and stomach. Napkin on, fork over, done and done. There's nothing worse than feeling so full that all you can manage is to lay out on the couch—so don't even go there! Wave that white flag {or white napkin} and surrender!

7.) Snack. A LOT.: I always have snacks with me. ALWAYS. If I don't, I get hungry—and you won't like me when I'm hungry. Not kidding, it's in my blood, we turn into the hulk. Having snacks handy will ensure that you always have something on hand when you need a nibble, and that way you won't GORGE when you do finally get to something edible. My go-to snacks are nut mixes, 100 calorie packs, granola bars and whole fresh fruit (apple, banana). You will find them in my purse, my work bag, the center console of my car, my glove box, my coat pockets, my desk drawer—e v e r y w h e r e. They are everywhere short of my bed, because the hubby hates a crumby bed.

8.) Hydrate. And then rehydrate.: 9 times out of 10, you're not hungry, you're thirsty. I have trained myself to be a fish—I literally cannot go more than 30 minutes (sometimes less) without taking a gulp of something, unless I'm sleeping, and even then I have to have an emergency refresher by my bedside. It may be hard to adapt to being an aquatic animal at first, but like everything on this list, you will train yourself over time. Make it easy to suck down the liquids—I use special bottles {Voss #ftw}, add-ins (fresh lemons, Crystal Light To-go's, Mio, Dasani Drops, etc.), and sometimes I get fancy and sparkle.

9.) "Cheat." "Splurge." Allow: I don't like to call it a "cheat" meal, because what exactly am I cheating on? I'm not on a "diet" so I'm not "cheating" on that. I'm not "splurging" just because I'm allowing myself to have a treat. Cheating and splurging indicates that you are doing something wrong, and you're not. ALLOW yourself to have the goodness in life. I don't have a specific day, or meal, or amount—there's no definition to my "allowance". If I want it, I have it. And I try my damnedest not to beat myself up for it afterwards {sometimes I am not successful, but sometimes I do allow a wee too much. Whoopsie! Human over here.}. Truth be told - you find yourself "allowing" less and less when you see how AMAZING it feels to live a healthier life. Sure, I could have that cheeseburger and large fry, and I could definitely devour three slices of that loaded pizza, and you're kidding if you don't think I could KILL that massive tower of cheesecake - but you know what would feel even better? A bite of the cheeseburger, or four fries, or one thin slice of veggie pizza, or a forkfull of cheesecake bliss {not all together now, sheesh}...all accompanied by a healthier more filling option like a hearty salad and a bowl of strawberries {because who doesn't love strawberries & cheesecake?!}. Sure, in the moment you'll want MORE MORE MORE of that fatty goodness, but tomorrow you'll REGRET REGRET REGRET—save yourself the angst, while still enjoying a bit of the goodness. It's a win-win!

10.) Don't Let Me Fool You: Do I follow ALL of these, 24/7, 365?! Do I look like a robotic vampire to you? {But really, how cool would that be?} I too say, "screw Oprah", I don't even pretend to glance at the nutritional information, I scarf everything on my plate {and even some off my hubby's}, I replace hydration with swirly drinks, I lick that cheesecake plate CLEAN, and I too become a naysayer—I. am. human. Just like you. It's an everyday, back and forth, debate and debacle, struggle and win, challenge. It's the best and worst game I've ever played. But is it worth it? You bet your worked-hard-for-this, ass, it is. 

Pink Champagne Cupcakes for Your Valentine

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought I would share my super sweet {in taste & gesture} Pink Champagne Cupcake Recipe! And by "my", I mean, adapted by Sassy Mama in LA. {You may remember these pink-beauts when they made their appearance in my inaugural blog post}

The shamps not only adds a moist-meets-fluff factor from the bubbly, but using pink shamps brings just a tinge of extra of sweetness. This may sound odd...but I can almost TASTE the pink. And do you know what pink tastes like?! Sweet, sugary, angelic romance. Yep, all of that just by biting into these bitty-cakes. Now, I know what you're thinking—why would my manly-man enjoy a mouthful of pink? Trust me, it does something to make your heart pitter-patter and melt, all at once. BUT, if your man is just u t t e r l y repulsed by eating something pink {Hi, Daddio!}, feel free to dye it black—like his soul. {Just kidding...sort of.}

What's e v e n better about adding shamps to cupcakes? The recipe doesn't call for the whole bottle—so, by all means, if the shamps is popped, pour yourself a glass!

 

{Don't mind if I do... Cheers!}

Hubs, wifey, fiance, gf, bf, bestie, workplace, girls' night in—whoever or whatever the recipient—pop the shamps {pour yourself a glass}, follow this recipe {sip another glass}, and get your fizzy-cake on {accompanied by that last glass}.

Pink Champagne Cupcakes
{CTSL notes in pink!}

Makes: 18-24 Cupcakes

Total Time: Approximately 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Box of Class White Cake Mix
• 1 1/4 C + 3T of Pink Champagne
• 3 Egg Whites
• 1/3 C Oil
• Pink Food Coloring {drop to your likeness of pink!}
• 1 Container of Vanilla Frosting
• Optional: frilly sprinkle decor for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line 2 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners {Note: you may not end up using all cupcake slots}.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add the dry cake mix, 1 1/4 C pink champagne, egg whites and oil. This is where you have to make the decision between pink, or black {or any other color that suits your valentine's preference}—once that decision is made, add as many drops of food coloring as you'd like until the batter is coloriffic. 
4. Now, at this point it always comes to the "mix with a mixer for 3-minutes on medium" step—yea, yea, mixer, smixer. Unless it's made from scratch, I'm not busting out the mixer. I whip out my trusty whisk or cake spatula and get in my arm workout for the day. Mix until no lumps appear, approximately 2-3 minutes {I suggest switching arms before the starting mixing arm falls off into the batter}.
5. Fill the cupcake liners approximately 2/3 of the way up—do NOT fill to the top or your cupcake will overflow. And that is w a s t e d champagne, people. #partyfoul
6. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. While you cool your 'cakes on a wire rack, "whip" up the frosting {I use "whip" lightly, as you're really just opening a tub of ready-made icing} by transferring the contents of the container to a small mixing bowl and add in 3T of champagne. Yes, it will bubble, but it will settle as you stir - so gets to mixin'! Once combined, pop in the fridge so it thickens back up a bit while your cupcakes completely cool.
8. Once your cuppy-cakes are cooled, grab the icing, fancify it as you'd like {I used Wilton Tip #106}, and ice each pink fluffy mound. Optional: Top with extra decor {I used a mix of CakeMate Silver & Gold "Glitter", Wilton Pink Sparkling Sugar & Cake Mate Classic Pearls. Go big or go home!}

Now you are free to indulge in your pink champagne cupcakes {hey, if you made them for yourself, no one is judging—we're our own first & forever Valentine, right?} or package them up to pass on to your 2015 crush. Mine just so happens to be the same one as in 2014...and 2013...and all the way back to 2002 <3 Happy Valentine's Day, lovers!

XO,

Nikki

Countdown to Sunshine Season—10 Weeks to 10 Miles

Winter has a way of depressing by suppressing. Everything from daylight, to warmth on your bones, to your drive to workout, to your will to eat well—it is all squashed by Winter. The days are shorter, unbearably colder, encourage layers {of body fat and clothing} & undoubtedly provoke the pantry-eater in you. There are no visions of poolside romps, beach body bikinis, endless fresh veggie & fruit options, or any drive-worthy factors to 'put the oatmeal cream pie down, and walk away from the pantry...'

Now, before this completely demoralizes you and sends you into a Hostess Cakes-feast of Winter proportions {those powdered doughnuts though...}, let me turn this post around. There are only:

30 Days until Daylight Savings {helloooo sunshine!}

41 Days until Spring

107 Days until Memorial Day Weekend {unofficial kickoff to Summer}

137 Days until Summer!

Which means, the time is N I G H to get this beach body started. And what better way to jump feet first into bikini-bliss than signing up for a 10-miler?! Say it with me now... CRAZY! Exciting!

With a few 5K's sprinkled throughout, a 10-miler at the climax, and V E G A S as the ultimate reward, this ten week calendar will keep me in check and on track. Oh, and did I mention the Big 3-0 at the core of all of this? Well yea, there's that.

So, whether you're counting down to sunshiney-days, spring break debauchery, a milestone birthday, a bucket list run, or some other form of light at the end of this bitter-cold tunnel, I hope this post restarts your engine & starts your kickass countdown! I'll also be joining a Clean Eating Challenge next week that will be sure to rid my Winter-bod of all of those holiday indulgences and prepare it for the road {or treadmill} to come. 

In the meantime, create your own countdown, download this training calendar {inspired by the infamous Hal Higdon training programs}, tailor it to your 2015 fitness bucket list & join me in springing forward—NOW!

Military Chic

You'll soon realize that I don't particularly have a "style." And if I do, it's nearly impossible to pinpoint and define. I like trendy...with a hint of flair—but not just one type of trend - e v e r y trend. I {always} put my own twist on every coveted wardrobe piece so that it works for me, my short little frame, my proud little curve, and my {ahem} lack-luster womanhood. What works for me may not work for you—and likewise, there are undoubtedly styles that I drool over that I just can't pull off {gauchos, circa 2003—it wasn't pretty}.

My style evolves with my mood, and sure, there are times when I look back, grit my teeth {insert emoji}, and think, "bad mood, eh?" But at one time or another, it worked for me—or maybe it didn't, but {shrugs} ya win some, ya lose some. #fashionwars 

Call it Hunger Games-inspo, call it Top Gun-style—call it what you want—but I just call it today's mood: military chic with a hint of edge. I scoured the world for a jumpsuit that would fit this shorty, and when I did, and it was a whopping $19.95, you bet your bottom dollar that I stood in that ridiculously long post-holiday sale line at H&M. An hour of my life I won't get back—and a jumpsuit I'll cherish forever...no, really, I don't get rid of things easily. This may very well still be keeping my closet company in 30 years...

 

{Not brave enough for an actual shaved side panel? Welp, neither am I. #fakeittilyoumakeit}

 

Jumpsuit: H&M {no longer available} Similar in black & Similar in shorts! // Shoes: Target {oldies} Similar & Similar & T O N S of styles on sale at Nordstrom Rack {don't mind if I might...} // Necklace {gifted - American Eagle} Similar // Bracelet: World Market {no longer available #wompwomp, but it's where some of my F A V jewelry comes from, so let's see what else they have...} Similar in silver {mixing metals is so totally approved these days} & Similar // Ring: H&M {no longer available} Similar {and I also love/want/need!} // Earrings: American Eagle {oldies & some of my most worn studs} Similar {love their multi-metal packs!} & Similar

XO,

Nikki