A Project on the Horizon

This month has been such a great month!  I was looking forward to it for quite some time! My mid month birthday was sandwiched between a trip to Jamaica with some of our closest friends and a trip to Florida with the kiddos!  The month was so fun, unfortunately flew by and now I'm having a little bit of a reality check.  Time to get back into the swing of things, into the groove, get the house in order and get our suitcases officially unpacked!  To add to that...not only have I not worked out a lot this past month after working out almost every day for the 7 weeks leading up to Jamaica, but I also definitely did my fair share of eating and drinking lots of deliciousness - so it's back on track with goal setting, healthy eating and workin' it out (this will start right after Halloween on Saturday)! ;)

Thankfully, this back on track thing is happening in the Fall, which is my favorite time of the year for cooking.  I feel I can be a little more creative when I'm cooking indoors.  Summer tends to be 99% grill cooking which by now at the end of the season, grilling has become a little boring to me.  If you haven't followed by blog before, some of my favorite recipes I have shared I have created on a whim with food I have in the house and the meals always (ok, usually) come out great. That being said, I LOVE crock pot cooking and creating healthy recipes.  Even baking but modifying the goodies to be healthy but still delish. 

So...that brings me to my next project!  Last night I was browsing Pinterest for some freezer meal ideas and decided that I'm going to create my own crockpot freezer meals menu/tutorial/shopping list etc.  I've had a hard time finding menu's online for bulk freezer meals that I actually like and/or are healthy/made with fresh foods so I figured I'll do it myself.  There is nothing like pulling a meal out of the freezer at night to thaw, throwing it in the crockpot in the morning and doing nothing else but serving it 8 hours later and having it be healthy.  Preparing in bulk not only saves time but can also save money and I love saving both!   Heck, maybe I'll even create this all into an e-book!  I can always use a good Fall/Winter project so why not?! Stay tuned for the shopping list and recipes and savings!  I'll keep your family fed this winter (with your money, not mine) and give you more time with your family and less time preparing! Win win!

In the meantime, if you are looking for some tasty fall recipes, here are a few of my favorites!  Quick and Flavorful Pork Roast , my go to Santa Fe Chicken , and last but not least, one of my first creations that I shared Hearty Turkey Veggie Soup!

Ok, so now you will be fed healthy food...who wants to battle the holiday bulge with me?? (Starting Nov 1 of course - after Halloween).  All this requires is a fitness goal, a plan, motivation and action steps! Let's do it! Eat simply and healthy and have a fitness plan to battle the holiday bulge! Maybe I'm the only one who gets excited about these things, but if you are interested in following along let me know and we will do it together! :)

Stay tuned for some meals soon!  Now, I'm going to go enjoy a peanut butter cup as a mid afternoon snack since I won't be doing that effective a few days from now. ;)

~Erin Leigh

Make sure to follow Fit Fun Lifestyle on Facebook !

The Next Step

So, if you didn't already know how I got this blog started, I will fill you in. ;)  I started this blog because I wanted to motivate other Moms to live a healthy balanced lifestyle through fitness and nutrition after my journey from pregnancy to getting fit.  It was no easy task but I was very determined to do it for myself and when I really started feeling great, I wanted to help others Moms to feel the same way.  After all, carrying a baby for 10 months is no easy task and takes a serious toll on our bodies!  It then moved towards motivating others in general as I received lots of feedback from people that were not Moms trying to lose the baby weight, but those who were just looking to be healthier, more fit or shed some pounds. I now, most recently signed up to be a Beachbody coach, which a few people have been curious about my reasons so why not explain... ;)   

It seemed like signing up to be a Beachbody coach fit me on many levels.  Quite honestly, I have thought about it for years and am surprised that I hadn't signed up already.  First things first, I love their products and have been using them for years - I have done Insanity, Brazil Butt Lift, T25 and now 21 Day Fix. I did Brazil Butt Lift right after both pregnancies which worked out great.  Next, I wanted to start drinking Shakeology which goes hand in hand with their workouts and proven to give better results and you get a discount as a coach. Bonus! Put those two together plus my desire to help motivate others and it seemed like a no brainer.  In addition, as a coach there are tools that help you learn and a network of awesome people that all have the same goal - to be better every day and help others!  Signing up was very self-motivating as well. You should "be a product of the product."  In other words, you can't motivate others if you are not motivating yourself.  It's helping me stay on track for sure! There are free accountability groups that are great to be a part of and there are Coach's groups to teach the ins and outs of the programs and business.  I am definitely still learning but I feel like this is a great step of self motivation minimally, and I hope to help others in the process.

That being said, if you have any questions about signing up with a free membership or as a Beachbody Coach I have learned a few things that may help your decision making. 

1. Some people sign up to be a coach just for the discount - If you like Shakeology, you receive a 25% discount off of the products. So, you can sign up as a coach just to save money on your monthly Shakeology purchases and any program purchases as well.  Many people choose this route because of the savings and they love the Shakeology (it really is amazing).

2. Other's do it to motivate - If you like the products and want to motivate others as well, you can sign up the same way, receive the discounts and have people sign up to have you as a coach. That is when it becomes self-motivating (at least for me).  You can guide people to the right programs for them and help encourage them to stay on track, get them into free accountability groups etc. You don't have to be a fitness pro.to be a coach. You just need to have the desire to help others and want to improve yourself more and more each day.

3.  Some do it as a career - Coaches make a commission off of purchases and as coaches sign up to your team, it becomes a tiered business.

4. If you aren't looking to motivate others, a cost savings or additional income, but are just looking for some direction and guidance towards finding a workout that is a fit for you can sign up with a coach for free (like me ;) ) to help motivate you and keep you on track. 

I am excited about this journey and would love others to join me. That's the point! To help each other live a healthier lifestyle.  If interested or have questions let me know. :)

 

~Erin Leigh

 

My Team Beachbody Page - where you can explore the options of a free membership or sign up as a coach.

 

My Beachbody Coach Page - where you can explore the different products including Shakeology.

 

FitFunLifestyle on Facebook :)

Results

The results are in!  We officially finished 21 Day Fix on Monday night.  Here are some facts about our 21 Day Fix journey.

1.  We stuck to the portions about 85% of the time.  It did not help that my birthday was the day prior to finishing and that we celebrated on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

2.  We finished the workouts in 23 days rather than 21 - two days we had to skip because of toddlers being up sick at night and us not being able to peel ourselves out of bed at 5 am those two mornings.

3.  We did double up on some videos during the last week including the 10 minute ab workout (which I actually happen to LOVE)!

4.  We are hooked on Shakeology and are continuing to drink it.  We both feel so great!  Placing another order today!

My results are that I lost 4 lbs and 3.5 inches. My clothes fit better, I feel healthier and I feel like it completely reset my food intake patterns.

Starting T25 next week.

For anyone that is looking for a jump start whether it's your eating or workout routine, I would be happy to help you find a program that is a fit for your lifestyle.  I can also have you join an accountability group that I am a part of which helps to keep one another motivated and help persevere through the different Beachbody workout series.  I find that it is so important for me to spend some time focusing on "me" so that I can be a better "me" for my family.  Take that next step for yourself!  Let me know how I can help.  :)

~Erin Leigh 

 

Check out the Beachbody videos and Shakeology flavors here.

21 Day Fit Review

 

 

So far, so good! I have completed 5 days of the 21 Day Fix, which is a 21 day workout/portion control challenge.  What's great is that I am already seeing a difference in my body in just these first 5 days.  I am loving this workout series!

Here are some of reasons why:

 

1.  I love that the workouts are 30 minutes - perfect for those with busy schedules!  Some of the videos are specific to different muscle groups which I also like such as Upper Fix, Lower Fix and Pilates (which targets core).  The other two I have done so far are Total Body Cardio Fix and Cardio Fix.  It is a great series of workouts and I feel like they are great for toning (which is my focus).  There are less jumping and explosive moves like in Insanity (which is great too, just different).

2. I love the portion control part of it.  Yes, it is somewhat difficult (and my poor husband feels like he is always starving), but I think it is great for discipline, focusing on HOW MUCH we are eating, and focus (a little more than usual) on WHAT is going into our bodies. It is especially great after my summer of eating/drinking too many calories and wanting to reset myself. 

3.  We have actually saved money this week on food (who doesn't love saving a little money??), even including our Shakeology investment.  I think this is because I planned ahead for our meals and bought specific foods at the grocery store, we are eating less portions so there are more leftovers and we didn't go out to eat at all (which is a weekly occurance for us) for fear of losing control! Haha

The other part of the series is drinking Shakeology which is highly recommended for maximum results.  So far I am liking it.  We got the chocolate, vanilla and strawberry combo pack so we could try out a few different kinds.  My favorite so far was Wednesday - 8 oz of black coffee and the chocolate Shakeology - my hubby made it on my way out the door for work and it was delish! (He is the best). :)   I cannot give much feedback on the Shakeology in general since I have only been drinking it for 5 days but I can say that it tastes good, it is filling and I do feel like I have more energy which is a plus!

Goals on fridge + Shakeology = Following the plan to a T :)

I also am happy to be getting up at 5 am again and starting my day earlier. I know that may sound crazy but there is something so satisfying about working out, showering and having some time alone before the day begins! :)  Starts the day off right!

So there you have it. My summary of the beginning of the 21 Day Fix. Oh, I also love that I am almost 1/3 of the way through it!  I have this thing with working towards a goal that makes me feel like a better person in the process. :)

My Plans:

I am planning on doing another round of 21 Day Fix starting on Sunday October 19 and then move onto T25! Who's with me?? I would love a few people (or many people) to join me in one or both challenges! Let's motivate each other and help hold each other accountable! :)  What I love about these programs is that they are great for busy people (like me) because the time commitment isn't long each day.  Whether you are looking to lose weight, tone up, become more disciplined or just get into a workout routine, these workouts are a great answer.  Here are links to videos of both workouts and Shakeology with a little summary if you are interested in more details. :)

21 Day Fix - 30 minute videos daily for 21 days paired with portion control. 

T25 - 25 minute videos - a 60 day program.

Shakeology - A 1 day meal replacement shake, is $4 per day and helps to: lose weight, reduce cravings, feel energized, improve digestion and regularity. 


~Erin Leigh

 

 

 

A New Adventure

I'm baacckkk! ;) New season, new adventures right??   In my house, we are always talking about adventures.  We take adventures down the street to check out new construction, adventures down to the basement to explore, traveling adventures and seeing new places. You name it, it's an adventure!  Well, this fall I am off on my new adventure. 

As anyone who has followed my blog knows, I began it to document my post pregnancy steps to a better and healthier and more fit me.  I like to create healthy recipes for my family and share them, try new fitness adventures and help motivate others to do the same, and document some of my favorite family memories (and some over the top parenting moments).  Last winter I stopped blogging and I have learned over the past nine months that motivating others is self motivating for me.  It helps keep me in check and helps me work extra hard on being the best I can, in many areas.  I mean, you can't try to motivate and encourage others to do something you aren't doing right?!  I have not had as much self discipline these past 9 months and I can directly link it to the timing of holidays/trip to Mexico/taking a break from blogging. 

So, here I am...nine months later ending a summer that definitely consisted of a few too many ice cream cones, s'mores and cheese burgers, more drink calories than I can count and putting workouts on the back burner and instead choosing beach trips, park trips, zoo trips, play dates, froyo dates for dinner and all the other fun things that happen with toddlers in the summer.  (I will say, it was a VERY enjoyable summer if you can't tell)! ;) Yes, I ran a few times per week, but just to maintain my fitness level and not to push myself further. But, now I am ready to push ahead.  And what better time than now, with a trip to Aruba in less than 4 months to get ready for!

So, what is my new adventure you might ask?  I am starting with the 21 Day Fix which is a workout by Beachbody and ordered Shakeology for the first time to go along with it!  It just came yesterday so the plan is to start Sunday (I like starting things at the beginning of the week). I am getting my hubby on board too! :) The 21 Day Fix is 30 minute videos once per day paired with portion control to lose weight/reset/tone up.  Shakeology is a meal replacement shake you drink once per day that is supposed to curb cravings, increase energy levels and has several other health benefits! I am excited to see if it increases our energy level because we are always exhausted! I am looking at this as an end of summer jump start for myself! :) I plan to follow it up with another workout once I complete it.

Now is the time for me to get back on track! Is anyone else feeling the same way?  That being said, I would LOVE a few people to join me in doing it to be in a little group and keep each other accountable!  If you are interested in checking it out first you can check out the 21 Day Fix .  It is highly encouraged to purchase Shakeology with it. There are thousands of success stories with this one shake a day meal replacement, but I can't say from experience because I haven't tried it yet. I will let you know after my 30 days of it, but they do recommend better results pairing the workout with the shakes!

So there you have it! I am back! :)

~Erin Leigh

Spring Fever

I will say that I used to hate the winter.  I mean...downright despise winter.  I hate(d) being cold, bundling up, my feet getting wet and my parents forcing us to play outside and enjoy the cold wet stuff...but I have definitely grown to love (ok, somewhat like) it more now that I have two little ones getting to enjoy and experience the snow!  My older wants to shovel and pull his little sister around...and of course, use his lawnmower...my younger isn't quite enjoying it yet but stands there unable to move and looks pretty cute. :)

 

So, yesterday we spent a little time outside.  Here are a few photos to prove it!

 

 

Pulling his little sister around.

Teaching her to "scoop and dump" the snow

She is debating if she wants to attempt to move.

Hanging out on the pile of snow after our driveway was plowed.

 

So...other that these fun little experiences that happen every now and then...I am pretty much over winter and ready for spring!  This past Sunday, shockingly, was sunny and almost 50 degrees so I took Jaxon and we went for a run...and boy did it feel good to run again! I cannot wait to get back to running and start tackling my 2014 Goals and start the Mom's Running Group.  Yes, I like videos and all but it is much more enjoyable (and time efficient) to run outside with the kids.  I am sure all you mama's know, it is NOT always easy to find time when your kids are ALL sleeping at the same time to fit in a workout...especially if anything else around the house needs to be done, you have any work to do or you have to go somewhere after because you never know if you will have the time to shower too before they wake up!  Little things are no longer as easy with toddlers (or any age children I imagine). So...I am day dreaming about spring and summer and running and playing outside with my two little ones in sunshine...and VERY happy it is right around the corner so I can switch up these workouts too! YAY!

 

What is YOUR plan for getting fit/staying fit before summer?  Have you made and kept your 2014 fitness goals?

 

~Erin Leigh

 

 

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The Beginning of T25!

I just took a little full time working out hiatus for vacation and am back at it as of this past Monday and it feels SO good to have exercise back in my life!  I started T25 and for those who don't know what that workout is, it is a new workout program from Beachbody which is the same company that created Insanity and P90x.  One of the main reasons I wanted to do T25 is because all of the workouts are 25 minutes so I can guarantee that I can fit the workout into my day. If there is not enough time in the morning, I can do it during the kid's naptime.  Anyone who has a hard time making time for exercise - this is the workout series for you!  The workouts are high intensity for a full 25 minutes 5 days a week with a lot of variations of moves.  It is actually fun! I love it!  It's easy to commit to 25 minutes per day vs. an hour + to go to the gym or an hour + for some of the insanity videos!  It is also nice knowing exactly how long the workout is for planning purposes!

 

Are you one of the people that jumped on the January 1, 2014 bandwagon and started back at the gym?  I see lots of posts on Facebook about how busy the gyms are, and I remember from back in the days when I attended a gym, how it would be packed after January 1!  That is one of the reasons I love working out in the comfort of my own home or doing outdoor cardio.  No spending time driving to the gym, looking for available equipment or having to wait if something is being used. For me it is all about convenience since a lot of my time is consumed with other things (aka other little humans). :) 

 

I didn't want to write about T25 until I was at least a few days in to make sure I liked it, but it has exceeded my expectations!  I encourage anyone who isn't working out right now because it's FREEZING (it does make it hard to get motivated sometimes), or you are in a funk, or you just need motivation, to look into T25 and/or get into a workout routine!  Don't forget, summer is in 6 months!  Don't wait to get fit! :)

  

~Erin Leigh

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If you are interested T25 you can check it out or order it here.

Insanity Fit Test Results

This week is week 3 of Insanity.  Have I mentioned my love/hate relationship with it?!  It's such a great workout but the title "Insanity" is definitely fitting.  Although every single time I finish a workout I feel great!  Unfortunately, I have had to skip yesterday and today because I'm not feeling well (my loving children shared their colds with me...how sweet).  ;)  I actually got dressed and went out to do the workout yesterday but then ended up coming right back in.  This morning, I didn't budge when the alarm went off.  I am so dead set on completing the challenge that I have a hard time that I'm missing a day (or two), but sometimes you need to listen to your body and take a break.  So, missing a few days out of 60 isn't going to make a huge difference. (That is me reminding myself....again...I have already told myself that 10 times this morning).  I think it's the mental part of how I take on challenges.  I take it seriously...clearly. 

 

Anyways, I figured I can show some progress.  Fit Test results!  For anyone who has not done this workout program before, the very first day you do a Fit Test which includes 8 exercises and you need to do as many as you can in 60 seconds.  You then repeat it every few weeks for the 60 days so you can track your improvements.

 

Here are my first two Fit Test comparisons:

 

 

 

I was definitely happy that I increased in each area. My husband's improvements were even better.  I'm so proud of him! :)  The Fit Test doesn't get easier, you just get better each time! 

 

This is a great quick workout even if you aren't doing the Insanity program so I thought I would share the moves with you and you can try it at home.

 

Make sure to warm up.  All you need is a stop watch.

I know sometimes it can be difficult to follow the diagram if you aren't already familiar with the moves so if you have any questions I'm happy to answer! It's definitely fresh in my mind! Haha :)  If you do it, feel free to share your results. Then do it again in a few weeks!  This is a great way to track progress in addition to taking photo comparisons.  If you haven't read my Proof of Progress post you can read it here. 

 

Well, I am off to go remedy this cold so I can be get back to being insane at 4:45 tomorrow morning! :)

 

~Erin Leigh

 

PS.  If you are interested in buying Insanity, you can currently get it with free shipping on Amazon!  Insanity DVD Workout

 

Healthy Eating just got Healthier!

So, I decided that I want to start the Paleo diet.  I have been thinking about it for a while now and researching it here and there but always had this thought process of: Give up carbs? Is that possible? Then what do you eat? How do you bake? What ingredients do you use? Lots of veggies?? What will my kids eat? More specifically, what will my carb loving daughter eat? (Seriously, her face lights up at the sight of bread, pasta, rice, crackers and the list goes on. True story).  Am I crazy? (Sometimes)...But then, a few days ago, a friend from high school blogged about her family's experience with the switch and they are 9 months in and loving it (with 4 children), so that really influenced me to take the plunge and try it out! 

So, I realized that my kids will have to make the switch and eat what I give them...they don't have much of a choice...but then I thought, this also affects my husband.  (You didn't think I was doing this alone did you?)  How was I going to "tell" him we are going to give up carbs? Spanish rice? Cookies?  Hmmm...I wasn't sure how he would feel about it.  So, yesterday was the conversation via text message.  It went like this:

Me: I think we should try the Paleo diet for a few weeks after I do some more research. Even if we aren't 100% strict I think it is much healthier.

Husband:  Ok

Ok?  His response was ok?  Wow, that was easy! (I will say I had mentioned it the other day and planted the seed, and I did say a trial period, starting after research a little more, not 100% strict) but still, what a supportive husband I have!  We make the best team! :)

Anyways...now is the time to continue to learn more and then hopefully start next week!  My reasoning for wanting to make this change is to be healthier in general.  This "caveman diet" as they call it has you eat the things that we were originally meant to eat, before people came in and started modifying everything! All the things I read here and there about chemicals in food, preservatives, added ingredients and all the ways natural food is modified is actually kind of scary, and I haven't even really dug into it too much.  I want myself and my family to be as healthy as possible and this seems like a healthy change to make!  I cannot guarantee I will be giving up my morning coffee, an occasional pizza or a glass of wine with dinner, but I can say that I want to learn more about this way of living and give it a shot!  I hear great things about how healthy you feel eating this way!

So for now, I will be doing research and I will let you know when I make the change and how it goes! (I read online that I first need to clean out my pantry... then I will need to go grocery shopping, but before going grocery shopping, I need to figure out what to buy...I don't think this will be happening overnight!) 

Do you have experience with Paleo?  If so, please share! I am a newbie over here!! :)  Stay tuned for the progress!

~Erin Leigh

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Here is a link to the blog post I referred to: 
http://dressedwithstrength.blogspot.com/2013/11/were-going-on-diet.html

Type A?

Happy Monday!  A brand new week ahead of us! Have you made your workout schedule yet for the week? Now that I am doing Insanity, I am finding it even easier because the workout schedule is already spelled out for me. If you aren't familiar with the workout, it dictates which workouts you do and on what days and tells you which days to rest (which are very few). This is so helpful because it isn't up to me to come up with a plan (since I am a Type A planner)! I just need to make the time in my schedule. I actually pop in the DVD the day before to look to see how long the next video is so I can plan accordingly. Then it is ready to go the next day. (Hence, Type A planner....)

Do you think you would find something like this helpful? Having a workout plan given to you a month at a time with the designated time needed for each workout? It is all part of the challenge...to complete each workout on the designated day and track your progress.  I am curious to see if my before and after pictures will look anything like the ones you see on the ads for Insanity.  We will see! But regardless...I am loving this schedule I am on! Although the 4:45 alarm came quick this morning, it felt good when I completed a workout before 6.  Now I have the whole day ahead of me! :) So let me know, do you think having a month long workout plan would help you make a commitment to fitness or improve your current fitness level?

Enjoy your day! :)

~Erin Leigh

Insanity

So this week was the beginning of Insanity. My hubby and I started on Sunday, so today is day 5.  It is 60 days long and we will be in Mexico in 60 days so what better time to start?!  I have to say, I had forgotten the love/hate relationship I have with Shaun T!  I literally wake up every morning and my calves are so tight I feel like I cannot flex, I've been reminded of muscles that I forgot even existed and that is just the beginning.  It is starting to subside, so I think my muscles have adjusted to the ridiculousness of the workout.  But, as crazy is it sounds...I have to say I love it!  I love switching up my workouts and challenging myself. 

This Saturday is our Shaun T. designated "rest" day but we will be running a 5K....so no rest for us this week!  The 5K is called Warrior Run in Longmeadow, MA and supports the Wounded Warrior Project. This is to support wounded soldiers.  What better weekend to support such a great cause than Veteran's Day Weekend?!  It is our first 5K that we are participating in so I am looking forward to it...even the kids are coming!

So...I challenge you to try a new workout. If you are in a funk, try something new.  If you haven't started a routine, get one going!  Summer will be here before we know it!

I will share some results after week 4! 

~Erin Leigh

Ab Challenge!

Let's do an ab challenge this week! So for starters, a lot of the challenges you find online have a starting point that may not be a good starting point for everyone.  It may be too easy for some and too difficult for others so this ab challenge can be customized per person.

Plank Challenge
Goal: Complete 5 out of 7 days - two days of rest not consecutively

Directions:

Day 1.  Find your personal starting point.  Do the plank for as long as you can (max out).  Keep proper form and use a stop watch to time (most phones have the stop watch option).  This time is your starting point for the challenge.  Rest for a few minutes and then repeat meeting the same time. 

Each day increase your time by 10 seconds.

For example: If your first round is 30 seconds, you will repeat and do another 30 second plank.  The next day your two rounds will be 40 seconds each etc.

 

You can see in the diagram above all the muscles the plank works in addition to the abs.  It is a great toning exercise!

 

Today is Day 1!  Let me know how it goes! Good luck!

 

~Erin Leigh

 



Simplicity

 

It's Simple...

 

1. Make a Goal.

 

2. Make an Action Plan.

 

3. Get started.

 

 

Then tell yourself...

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow you will wish you started today...so start! ;)

 

 

 

~Erin Leigh

Thinking Ahead!

I have been thinking about the fact that time is FLYING by!  It is already mid-October, soon to be the holiday season, the New Year and then before we know it, it's Spring again! Ok, so that is a little extreme...it really won't be here that fast since the cold winter months tend to draggggg onnnnn...but, it is time to think ahead!

 

 

 

 

Don't wait until the Spring to figure out how to get fit before summer...you don't have enough time to make significant body changes in a few short months if you wait until then! Now is the time to figure out a plan and stick with it! Memorial Day starts the summer and is just 8 months away! You CAN see significant body changes in 8 months and you will be so happy then that you started now!



 

Need ideas on how you, specifically, can find the time or the right activities this winter? Let me know, I would be glad to help!  In the meantime while you make your plan, fit in some more outdoor workouts while you can.  The weather has been beautiful! :)

 

~Erin Leigh

 

 

I wish this said 8 months, but you get the idea! ;)