5 Ways to Stay on Track While Traveling July 10, 2014

Anytime I have travel plans, whether for work or for leisure, I not only have to plan basic things like daily attire, toiletries, outfits for special nights out (which never happen, but at least I plan for them) and maybe a travel snack or two.  But when you’re either competition training or living a healthy lifestyle, you must take a lot more things into consideration when traveling.

Here are the top 5 things I do when planning for travel while training:

1. Do Reconnaissance of your Accommodations

Call the hotel at which you are staying and ask the following important questions:

Is there a mini fridge in the room? If not, what is the additional cost to add one to the room?

(If having a fridge is not an option, you should count on bringing a cooler or purchasing one upon arrival and store you pre-packed food in the cooler. Feel free to return the cooler back to the store before you return home.)

Is there a fitness center on premises? If so, do you have [insert the specific equipment you need to use]? For the equipment they don’t have, plan to modify your workout to have exercises that can replace the ones you can’t do.

If there is no fitness center on premises, ask if there is a gym nearby. Most gyms give one week free trials.

Is there a microwave in the room? If not, is there one in or near the lobby? If a microwave is not an option, determine if the foods you are bringing can be eaten cold and/or raw. Whichever the case, be sure to cook all the foods you can prior to departing.

2. Cook, Pack, and Prep Your Food

 

Once you know the number of days you will be gone, cook and prep the meals you will need for each day. Don’t forget to include your travel days.   I have a step by step guide to meal prep here.

Once prepped, I pack my food and supplies inside of my 6 Pack Bag, which you can purchase here.

Be sure to bring extra plasticware- forks, covered food containers, and water bottles. Also, be sure to bring extra condiments- sodium free seasoning, sea salt, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or whatever seasonings you normally use.

If smoothies are on your plan, take/purchase a portable blender. I have this one from Oster , but the NutriBullet will work and others just like it.

3. Pack For Your Workouts

In addition to your regular day time outfits, you must also ensure you pack for your workouts.  The types  of workouts you do will help you determine what to pack.  Because my workouts usually take place indoors, I usually just pack shorts, tanks, socks, a pair of gym shoes, weight belt, and lifting gloves.  I also throw in my headphones and headband.

If you run outside, you may include a light running jacket and any other accessories you normally use.

4.  Make a Date With Your Workouts

You’re used to your at-home workout schedule, but what do you do when you’re on the road and your schedule is turned upside down?

Start by scheduling your daily workout(s) based on your daily itinerary.  As your schedule may change on a daily basis while on the road, be sure to go day by day to set your workout schedule.  If it’s on your calendar and already planned, you are more likely to stick to it.

So set it in your phone alarm!

5.  Know Your Area

So, you already did some research on your accommodations, now you must research your surroundings.  You need to know where to go if you need some extra bananas, bottled water, or even socks.

Check the hotel gift shop, local convenience stores, and/or discount stores like Target or WalMart to make sure that, if needed, you are able to get the supplies you need to stay on track.

Do you have any other tips to add to stay on track when traveling? I’d love for you to share!

Quick Tip Tuesday- 5 Tips for Staying on Track January 7, 2014

We are seven days into the new year. Are you still sticking to your fitness goals?

Well, if not, here are five ways to help you stay on track:

1. Schedule your workout like any other appointment.

You wouldn’t want to miss a meeting with your boss, so why would you miss one with the most important person in your life, YOU!?!

2. Plan your daily meals ahead of time

If you create your grocery list based upon what you will be eating for the week, you will always know what meal is next and will have no need to throw a monkey wrench into your daily/weekly menu.

3.  Pack your lunch

We are all faced with those moments throughout the day where we start craving some French fries or a big fat burrito. If you already have your meals prepped and/or with you at work, you have no excuse to go elsewhere for your meal.

4. Have an accountability partner

Usually when we have to answer to someone or know we are being watched, we tend to stay in line and do what we are supposed to do. Your accountability partner can also be your workout partner, social media community, or someone who cares about your well-being enough, so that when you are slipping or even doing well, they will call you on it.

5.  Add a weekly cheat meal

Sometimes being on a meal plan can make you feel like you’re going to go insane. It helps to have a cheat meal one or twice per week to give yourself a break from daily routine.  I schedule my cheat meal on the same day every week, usually it’s on a Saturday replaces meal three. Determine what works best for  you and remember not to overindulge.

I hope this helps you continue to be successful in your journey to fitness.
Keep going, you can do it!!

“Small daily improvements are the key to staggering long-term results.”- Unknown

What are some tips you’d like to share for staying on track?

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Quick Tip Tuesday- Sock It To Me December 31, 2013

Over the weekend I finally decided to flip my closet- pack away my summer clothes in the upstairs closet and bring down the winter clothes from the upstairs closet.  While doing this, it prompted me to reorganized a few other areas within my closet. The first being my sock trunk (not a typo, I have a sock trunk).

Anyone who knows me knows that I always wear my crazy socks to the gym, but lately I have been having a really hard time finding matches. We’ve all been there, we search high and low for that sock that seems to never turn up. We keep buying pack after pack of socks wondering where they all disappear to after about two months. Well, I got really tired of it, so I decided to do something about it.

First, I found two plastic shoe boxes (like the one below) and set them to the side.

Then, I gathered all of my paired socks and put them in a pile.

After that, I put all of the socks that did not have a match into another pile (Geez! This is way too high!).

I also put all of my hosiery in a separate pile (I really need to start wearing these more!).

Then, the fun began!

I went through the non-match pile and commenced to find the matches within the pile (below left) and re-organized my hosiery and put the unopened items in another plastic shoe box (below middle).

 

The remaining non-matches go into the plastic shoe box (above right). I will then match up the mismates after every load I wash that also comes up with a mismatch. The box stays in the trunk (as shown below) until all matches are made. If after two months, the same non-matches are still in the box, I will toss those socks or wear similar socks together around the house.

This can also work with a regular sock drawer. Just make sure the box that you use for mismates can fit in the drawer. If you put the mismates box anywhere other than the drawer, the less likely you are to try to find the mates because it will not be a convenient task the moment  you are putting your socks away after you wash.

Because I like to have my socks match my gym attire, this has absolutely shaved about ten minutes off of my prep time. This little bit of organization may seem trivial and unnecessary, but just wait until you need that matching sock for work, the gym, or going out on the weekend. You will already have your matches together and know which ones still have no mate. Time saver!

Stay tuned for my next post to find out how I prep for my gym week.

By the way, in case you’re wondering, yes I have a slight case of OCD as described in a previous post here. I have calmed down a bit and have focused all of my OCD tendencies to my closet, work and fitness prep.

“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”- Confucius

What are some timesavers you have for preparing for your workout?

Follow me on Twitter @maya_fitgirl
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The Top 5 Things I Learned From My Mother May 13, 2012

In my twelve years of experience as a mother, I have found myself doing a lot of the same things my mother did. Not on purpose, mind you, because I never wanted to be like my mom- or so I thought.  But even during my first years of mother/wife hood, I seemed to automatically begin doing those things that I remember quite fondly as a child.

Let’s make it a movie night

Every Friday night my mom and I would go to the Chinese food restaurant down the street from our home in Chicago and order take out-  shrimp egg foo yung, shrimp fried rice, and an order of egg rolls. Then we would go further down the block to 79^th Street Video to rent two or three movies for our own private viewing party.  After “Dallas” and “Falcon Crest” left us with our weekly cliff hanger, we would commence to watching our movies together.  That tradition has been carried on with my family.

The medium on which the movie is viewed has changed (no longer are we trekking up to the local video store to check out a limited number of video tapes), we are now able to watch a movie at home with just a simple click of a button on the remote. Bu no matter  how we do it, now or in the future, family movie night is a special event that I hope my children are able to share with their own families.

Change your bedding every week

“Why do you have to change your sheets every week?” This was a question asked by a friend one day when she stayed the night one weekend. My response…”Doesn’t everybody?” Apparently not.  She wondered why there was a need to change our collective sheets every week, as opposed to every other week or at a frequency more “normal”.  This routine made all the sense in the world to me. Though it was a tedious task, it had to be done. Who wants to roll around in more than a week’s worth of nighttime sweat?  Who likes to lay their head in a dried pool of over seven days of slobber? Or roll around in cracker crumbs left over from a Wednesday snack session? Not me! And my momma taught me not to…

Just as my mom taught me, my household changes our bedding on a weekly basis. I think I’ve taken it to another level by adding a little once over with the vacuum. Hey! Don’t judge me, that’s just how I roll.

Speaking of sheets…

Always have at least 4 different comforters that match the color scheme of your bedroom

Once again, this was exceptionally normal to me.  As a child I had a beautiful blue comforter with dinosaurs on it, a two-tone red and white comforter, and a couple of others I don’t recall at the moment.  I like having variety without completely changing the look of my room…and believe me, my room had a look.  I had a dinosaur border around my room that matched the blue comforter (all primary colors), a bright yellow wall, plush red carpet that must have had double padding (from Empire Carpet), a tall, plastic yellow shelf, a red and yellow Little Tikes picnic table, red vertical blinds, and various primary colored wall hangings.  I loved my room! How else could you pull together such a décor without the matching bedding?

Today, I have about five totally different comforters that all match the color scheme and style of my room.  It’s amazing how small, frequent changes of décor can drastically change your mood, your attitude, and your comfort level in a room which should be your personal sanctuary.

Never buy at retail

From a small child through my teen years, my mom and I used to spend most of our weekends trolling our fave discount retailers or department stores for the best deals.  I was taught as a very young that you can most certainly get quality clothing and household goods at an affordable price.  As long as you weren’t quick to buy those big fashion trends “of the season” or were willing to wait for a sale, you could get exactly what you wanted for a significant fraction of the retail price. I anticipated and enjoyed our shopping trips together.

TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, and any department store clearance racks are and continue to be my go-to places for great deals.  I know that many of my friends truly abhor going shopping with because I can never get excited for them when purchasing an, albeit, awesome item, for a not so awesome price. I have set prices in my mind that I refuse to go over, no matter what the item.  For instance, I cannot bring myself to spend over $20 on a pair of jeans or over $15 on a button-down work shirt.  These standards are not preposterous, as they have been proven to exist.  I know that on any given day I can go to TJ Maxx and buy a quality pair of jeans from $15.99 to $19.99 or purchase a white button-down from The Limited for $13 on sale.  And these are not 1992 prices, I’m talking within the last two months.  And if you’re willing to wait a whole season to rock a new outfit, buy clearance items at the end of one season to wear in another. Getting a $3 bikini at beginning of Fall will look awesome for the following year at the pool. Buying a $20 peacoat at the start of Summer will look just as good as the same one someone else bought for $200 just three month prior.

I have ever known of this awesome way to shop if it were not for my mother.

Don’t be afraid to make changes to your home décor

At least every four to five months, my mom would complete a deep cleaning and massive furniture remix.  I learned that this was to ensure that we were not collecting things that we no longer had a need for. There was no such thing as hoarding in our house!  There were times I would come home from elementary school to find my old stuff animals were gone or clothes that could have lasted maybe one or two more days before getting too big were gone. My entire bedroom had been rearranged and the living room no longer looked the same.  This had been done all in one afternoon and with zero budget.  She simply took items from one room and swapped them for items from another.

I do the same thing in my house with my husband and he actually enjoys doing it. I call him the Master Arranger because he has a great eye for furniture placement.  We’ve redone all of our rooms at least six or seven times since we’ve moved in. We’re not afraid of color either. Our half bathroom has seen at least 4 color changes, the home office has undergone three colors alterations, and the game room is at its second color palette.  All courtesy of Home Depot’s “oops” paint section- $5 per gallon…thank you very much!

With all five of these great tidbits from my mom, I would not be the person that I am or the mother that I am. My kids look forward to our Friday night movie night, love getting/changing their sheets and blankets to discover what they will have next, and have fun rearranging their room from time to time.

Thank you Mom and happy Mother’s Day!

My Favorite Shopping Spots- Part 1 October 5, 2011

Well, this will be my last post as a 32-year-old.  As I reflect these past 32 years, I think about the thing that I most enjoy, outside of my family. As a little girl, I remember going shopping at Carson Pirie Scott and TJ Maxx with my mom in and around Chicago or shopping on State Street with my super stylish grandmother. With each shopping trip, I would observe and learn how to shop on a budget for great items for myself, loved ones, and my home.  It was the best feeling in the world to purchase an item for significantly less than what the regular price had been, whether it was through the use of coupons, super sales, or regular run-of-the-mill clearance shopping, it was a thrill!

Now, the old days of footing it to every store is a thing of the past. The doors have blown wide open to the options we now have to find those awesome bargains that most of us women crave.  We can now shop in stores or virtually to find super great deals online.

For most of my adult life, it seems, I have been on a perpetual tight budget.  So, what is a girl to do? Stop shopping? I don’t think so! If you are like me, and like to find outstanding deals on all types of things, I will share a few of my favorite spots.

Clothes and Household Items

TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and Ross are the best places to find deals on all styles of clothing for men, women, and children.  They usually get shipments every day, so no matter how often you shop there, you will always find something new. TJ Maxx is the higher end of the three stores and has a better selection of clothes and home goods.  You will continuously find a great deal on cute purses, stylish shoes, and a veritable mish mash of décor for the house. The only thing they lack is their selection of men’s and children’s shoes. For that, Marshall’s and Ross have you covered.

Marshall’s is much like TJ Maxx, except it’s usually messier and has a large selection of shoes for the whole family. Be ready to dig if you’re looking for a deal. The clearance racks are super tight and usually not in size order.  My size is usually few and far between, so I usually bypass the ladies’ section and go straight to the kid’s department, shoes, or home décor.  I always find a really good deal.

Ross is very low on the totem pole, when it comes to cleanliness and selection. It’s not uncommon for the store to look empty, as if it’s going out of business or something.  But don’t let that fool you! I once found a BCBG summer dress for $8, regular price! And I don’t do regular price that often, even in stores like these.  I’ve found that the shoes they carry are usually the cheap ones, with one or two name brands sprinkled here and there. All in all, Ross is ok if you go in with zero expectations. They just might surprise you!

Consignment Store

When I am in the mood to find great brand named clothing at a price usually lower than TJ Maxx, I go to my favorite women’s consignment store in my area called Clothes Mentor. If you’re familiar with Plato’s Closet, it’s like that, but for grown-ups. I can always find a great deal here! I don’t think I have ever left this store empty-handed, which is why I can only shop here every 3 months or so.  I have found Tahari and Nine West suits for under $20 or $30.  They have jeans from Banana Republic, Gap, Max Studio, Chico’s, etc. all for under $20. I have more luck finding my size at Clothes Mentor then I do at any of the other discount retailers.  They carry gently used purses like Coach, Dooney & Bourke, and Michael Kors for well below the regular retail price. Today I saw a gorgeous Coach purse for $60, are you serious!! Recently, I bought a beautiful, cobalt blue, leather Cole Hahn purse for $25, which looked like it had never been used. The customer service is top-rate and they have a loyalty discount program. What more can you ask for? I love it there!

Random Food and House Stuff

When I am not in the mood to go to Wal-Mart, my grocery store of choice, I make a stop at either Big Lots or the 99c Only Store.  Big Lots is another one of those stores that won’t score a ‘10’ on the cleanliness scale, but they have some great finds.  I once bought a 6 pack of Snapple Green Iced Tea for $1.50 and no, it wasn’t expired. Just last week, I bought a 96 load container of Wisk for $4! I’m still excited about that one.

At the 99c Only Store, they usually carry overstock, about-to-be-expired refrigerated food, or products manufacturers like to test before they put it in the regular stores.  My go-to items at this store is Dannon Greek Yogurt at 33c each (with an expiration date at least one week out), giant Texas toast-sized bread I use for making my cheese egg toast sandwiches (yummy!), and snacks for the kids- all brand named.  When my littlest one was a baby, I would always stock up on diaper wipes, Gerber cereal, and Gerber finger snacks. If you know how much baby crap costs, then you know paying 99c is a steal!

 

Online Deals

There’s one place I go to first to find deals online- BradsDeals.com.  Brad’s Deals posts coupons and deals for thousands of online retailers and serves as one-stop shop for anything you may be looking for.  They are also a great resource for the Black Friday list of sales for all participating retailers.  Recently, I bought a two-year subscription to Business Weekly for $10. Last winter, I bought a winter coat for my youngest son for $5.99 with a promo they were running with Macy’s.  They always have great deals on jewelry and athletic shoes and apparel.  This is another place where I have to visit infrequently or else I’d go broke.  Earlier today, The Popcorn Factory had a deal on there for two Halloween treat baskets for $10.  I had to stop myself from getting them for my boys, they didn’t really need that, right? The way it works is, Brad’s deals gives you special promo codes to enter when you go to the retailers’ sites for extra percentages or dollar amounts off and, often times, free shipping. Love it!

Well, that’s all for tonight. I have to get my beauty rest in preparation for my big day tomorrow. I love birthdays!!

Money is Tight…Let’s Go Shopping September 21, 2011

No matter how tight my budget gets, I still feel compelled to go shopping. So, even when money is lacking, I still find a way to shop.  For the next few months, I will be going shopping in my own closet. 

Almost every woman has items in her closet that has never been worn, has been worn once or twice or hasn’t been worn in years.  It’s time to revamp those items and start pairing them up with other clothing items with which they have never been matched.  Start by pulling those items that haven’t been in regular rotation in a while and lay them out next to each other on the floor or the bed to be coupled  together with a coordinating top or bottom.

There was this pair of pants I used to bypass during my weekly selection of outfits that I thought fit weird.  But after I went shopping (in my closet) and matched it with a pink shirt that I had mistaken for a shirt I had given away to charity years ago, and tried it on and I loved it all over again. I have tons of casual dresses I have purchased over the years, but haven’t worn because I feel self-conscious wearing them.  I’ve recently gotten over that ridiculousness and have started to wear them and guess what- they were super cute! The next step is to accessorize.

When shopping in my closet, I like to match accessories that I don’t regularly wear with my “new” outfits.  I lay out everything on the floor, so that I can see the outfit as if it were on me.  The shirt is on top, then the pants or skirt goes below the shirt, the accessories go where they normally would on my body- the necklace in the collar area, the bracelet at the bottom of the shirt sleeve, and the earrings above the shoulders of the shirt.  And to top it all off, my fave, the shoes!

Sometimes I like to put shoes with outfits that don’t really match the colors in the outfit.  I’ll wear a white button-down shirt, black pants, and electric blue heels.  I may match a purse or earrings to go with the shoes to bring it all together.  Having  a splash of contrasting colorour look will take the boring out of your style, compared with how you’d look in the outfit with black shoes. But sometimes, it’s all about how you feel.  There are times when I am not in the mood to where electric blue shoes and black will do just fine.

 Just today I wore a jewel-tone blue maxi dress with an olive green shrug sweater.  While the green sweater and blue dress would have looked crazy and mix-matched by themselves, the accessories tied it all together. I added dark brown five-inch espadrille wedges, with dark brown and turquoise big, wood beaded necklaces.  The browns in the necklace and shoes toned down the brightness of the turquoise and green. This was a combination I have never worn before and it turned out super cute!

I can remember vividly, when I was a freshman in high school, my mom told me to stop wearing the same outfit combinations and change things up sometimes.  That has stuck with me since then and I, still, rarely wear the same mélange of clothes the same every time.  Even if you switch out accessories, it makes a world of difference.

Wearing accessories two days in a row rarely happens, even my purse. I go shopping (in my closet) for new mixes of accessories, along with the clothes.  Doing this really freshens up my everyday look and keeps me out of the drab abyss of living a mundane life of no style.

How do you change up your look?