That's My Jam!

I'm always curious what type of music really gets people going when they are working out. Are they listening to hip hop, heavy metal, country, rock? 

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All I know is a good playlist is essential for motivating me and keeping me going. Music increases my endurance and makes the exercise experience much more positive. When I started out running I'd never make that first mile if I didn't have the right beats carrying me across the pavement. 

I'll even use my music to play mind games with myself, saying things like "just keep going until this song is over!" Or if I'm doing strength training I won't start my reps until it coordinates with the music. But that might just be the dancer/cheerleader in me. Ha!

Anywho, I love seeing other people's playlists because it gives me ideas of songs I may never have considered adding to my repertoire. I thought I'd share some of my workout hits for fun. I typically gravitate to hip hop and pop songs. They get me moving the most!

1. She Came to Give It to You - Usher featuring Nicki Minaj
2. Love Runs Out - One Republic
3. Bang Bang - Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj
4. Sing - Ed Sheeran
5. How You Like Me Now - The Heavy
6. Come Get It Bae - Pharrell Williams
7. Work B**ch - Britney Spears (This song always comes on when I need it most!)
8. E.T. (Noisia Remix) - Katy Perry
9. Dirt Off Your Shoulder - Jay Z
10. Ain't It Fun - Paramore
11. Good Kisser (Disclosure Remix) - Usher
12. Talk Dirty (featuring 2 Chains) - Jason DeRulo
13. Imma Be - The Black Eyed Peas
14. That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings
15. Up Up & Away - Kid Cudi

What songs make up your workout playlist? Do you play mind games during exercise too? 

Weekend Wrap-up

We had such a fun weekend! A very dear friend of mine and her family host an annual Pig Roast where you camp out while the pig cooks, then the next day everyone feasts like a king! It is such an awesome event and while the pig should be the star of the show, in my opinion, it's the time spent with really great people where the laughter is thick and you just don't want it to end!

Hubs is such a stud!

This was a "no kids party" for the Hubs and I. We made arrangements for them to go to my parents Friday night while we set out on our annual pilgrimage to the fields of Longmont, CO. We pitched our tent and got right into the good times. Fun fact: The temps Friday night drifted down to freezing! Thank goodness we have the proper gear.

So, Friday night the Patriarch of this lovely family and our host for the weekend, spoiled us with homemade green chili, homemade refried beans and homemade Spanish rice. It was AMAZING! Then we all made our way around the campfire for a fun game called "Psychiatrist." Have you ever played that? It is a hoot!

Dancing Queen!

Of course there was signing along to classic songs (Sweeeet, Car-OH-line. BAH, BAH, BAH) and even a bit of campfire dancing! Seriously a great time. I made my way to bed in the wee hours of the morning and lets just say, I was draggin' my wagon the next day for sure!

Saturday everyone played corn-hole, and another great game called "Beerski." Since we had to leave that afternoon, we didn't partake in any libations on day 2. Being responsible is no fun. But after the game playing it was time to FEAST! The pork was so tender and flavorful and all the fixins to go along with it were perfect.

Goofing off with my man

People can stay another night if they are so inclined but we headed back into town to get our kids. They were exhausted from a super fun time with the grands and we were exhausted from partying like it was 1999 and forgetting how recovery time lasts much longer than when we were younger. Facts are facts.

Sunday the kids slept until about 7:20am. Can I get a hallelujah?!? After breakfast I wanted to get some exercise in and I took the kids out in the double stroller for a 3 mile walk and a pit-stop at the park for some playground action.

While we were playing at the park, one of the tires on the jogging stroller went flat and I had to make the kids walk about a half a mile, up a hill to get ourselves home. I practically had to lift up the back of the stroller to get it to move and by the time I made it home my back was definitely sore.

I took it easy the rest of the day and while the kids napped we took in a great Broncos game... Peyton Mannings 500th touchdown! And then I even whipped up a batch of these bad boys and they turned out great! I highly recommend the recipe.

It truly was a great weekend and I'm still not fully recovered from all of the fun!

How was your weekend? Did you do anything noteworthy? 

Pain in my arse

Here's the thing... time just needs to slow the heck down! I'm serious. First of all, summer went by way too fast and as much as I love fall, I just wasn't ready to part with it. Secondly, my kids are growing by the millisecond and every day I'm thrown a new reminder of how my babies are now a toddler and a preschooler!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've shared anything in this space. I will say I stop here at least daily, stare at my blank screen then swiftly close out because I feel lost on what to write about. I have so many stories, ideas, tips, challenges, etc. to share but I just can't seem to get the words out. I haven't been able to pinpoint why I'm struggling so I thought the best way to get over it would be to get something out. Rip the band-aid so to speak.

The latest, and not so greatest, news with me is that I'm currently dealing with a back injury from my attempts at getting healthy and losing weight. I started running while I was unemployed and was steadily improving since that time. My workout program consists of alternating days between walking, cardio on the eliptical or stationary bike, strength training and running. I've been feeling good for the most part but I started to experience some lower back and sciatic pain from time to time.

Then one day I really pushed myself because I had been dying to break a 10 minute mile. I finally hit my goal and was beyond proud of myself!

It truly was a sense of accomplishment because running has been hard for me, but I kept at it knowing it would help progress my weight loss goals. The day after I boasted about my achievement on Instagram, I could barely move without serious pain attacking my back and sciatic.

I went slightly over two weeks waiting for the pain to subside with no luck. I threw my arms up and hobbled my way into the doctor's office. The first thing she told me was to stop running. And the second, go see a physical therapist.

This is going to be a very slow recovery process which has me very frustrated. Here I am doing something good for myself, trying really hard to finally be in the shape I want and this is what I get. I can't hold my baby girl for more than a nanosecond, I can't do normal everyday tasks around the house and I definitely can't run.

Oh, and part of my treatment involves trigger point dry needling (TDN). Every heard of that? Basically the physical therapist shoves an acupuncture-type needle deep into the muscle that is troubling you in order to make it contract and then fully release. Since my pain is coming from my backside, on Tuesday I had a needle shoved directly into my buttocks and let me just tell you, it was the oddest sensation I've ever felt!

I'm encouraged to continue my workouts limited only to walking, eliptical, stationary bike and mild strength training. I'm also stretching like crazy and not pushing myself too hard when I do exercise. It is going to take me some time to heal the aggravated muscles and then to strengthen them back up to provide me the support I need to be active. I've had back issues since I was a cheerleader in high school with symptoms flaring up at random times over the years. Throw in a painful second pregnancy as well as this most recent flare-up and I am so done dealing with it and ready to move on. I just wish I had addressed the issue before it got to this point. Oh, well! Live and learn.

I look forward to feeling better soon and in the mean time I'm trying hard to stay active at a level I can tolerate and still determined to hit my goals. It just may take me longer than I had originally thought. No big deal, right?

Have you had to overcome an injury in order to stay on track with your health goals? Have you ever done dry needling?