The Fit Skool | by Kelly

May 5, 2015
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Dogs Health & Random Things

I had planned on posting a lot earlier today on a random topic about my low blood pressure but I had a change of plans. So check back Thursday for more on that topic!

After training my clients this morning, I had to schedule a vet appointment for Cooper which took up the rest of my morning until lunch time. He was diagnosed with Tracheobronchitis or Kennel Cough. I barely slept last night because of it. Every time I heard him cough I thought he was going to throw up and it was very alarming. My stomach was in knots for him.

It sounds like a hacking cough or like he’s choking, he even spit up a few times early this morning. I felt so bad for the little guy. Luckily he has some medication that’s supposed to help him stay comfortable and to treat the virus.

SO somehow I am not tired even though I have been up since 5am, but I’m sure it will eventually catch up with me!

Who knew dogs could get sick like us!!?

On a different note, today is Cinco De Mayo and as much as I had wanted to make a mexican dish for dinner I don’t think I have time. I guess we will celebrate another night

Today also makes Ava 17 months. While that isn’t a huge milestone this girl is maturing and get smarter by the day. I can only imagine what she will surprise us with next.

I will be back tomorrow with a food journal post and a lot more to talk about!

Have you ever had a sick pet before?

Will you be celebrating cinco de mayo?

May 4, 2015
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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30th Birthday Celebration!

And just like that it’s Monday again. Some weekends feel longer then others but this one was too quick.

Friday night we headed to Marc’s softball game at Byram Shore. The weather was perfect for some softball and Ava got to run around and play in the dirt which was pretty fun except that she had a bath already!

Miss Ava has been waking us up super early these days and during the week I don’t mind but on the weekends its torture. Saturday morning Marc got us some coffees at Dunkin and we ate some breakfast before taking a trip to the YMCA for a quick workout. I lifted my back and did a little cardio. Clearly I over did it because my back is very sore today but I needed it!

The rest of the day was spent outside playing in the yard and at the dog park, plus running some errands. At around 6pm we left to head to my best friend’s surprise 30th birthday party in Stratford, CT at The Sitting Duck Tavern.

It was such a fun night with my friends, and I think the Birthday Girl enjoyed her celebration.

I have known Lauren for 30 years (our parents planned our births) and I can truly say I’m lucky to have a friend like Lauren.

The night was filled with laughs and great food.

I had Mahi Mahi with Mango Salsa over mashed sweet potatoes it was delicious.

Marc had a burger with pulled pork, onions & pickles!

I’m not a big strawberry shortcake fan, so I didn’t indulge in the cake but everyone said it was yummy.

These are my 4 best friends, Danielle, Shannon, Lauren and Megan!

I went to bed at about 12:15am and Miss Ava woke me up at 5:15am, so lets just say the morning was a struggle. I chugged some coffee, well not literally, but it gave me the boost I needed to entertain her for a bit.

I was fortunate the weather was amazing because we spent the day outside and I didn’t have to think about how tired I was I guess I’m not 21 anymore and staying up late really effects me hard these days.

Luckily I went to bed early last night so I am feeling energized and ready to go this morning! It felt great to have a sweat session this morning in Group Power!

Does lack of sleep catch up with you?

What is something fun you did this weekend?

May 1, 2015
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Sweat Intervals… I got my butt kicked

I can’t believe it’s May 1st today. I love the month of May and I have so many fun things to celebrate this month.

Next week is our 4 year wedding anniversary and then I get to celebrate Mother’s day. We also have tons of Birthday, Baby shower, and wedding shower celebrations so this month is going to be action packed.

This morning we got up bright and early, after I ate a quick breakfast I took my buddy Cooper for a long walk. The weather this morning was PERFECT for walking. It was a tad cool once we started but I warmed up rather quickly.

I’m a huge fan of morning workouts on Friday because once the day is over, I get into weekend mode and I want to wear real-people clothing. Get me outa workout capris and sports tanks.

I decided to do an at home workout today with an Insanity Max 30 DVD. It’s fun to have Shaun-T kick my butt, and once again he did.

The title of this workout was SWEAT INTERVALS.. now I get it because I was dripping sweat about 6-7 minutes in.

During the first 10 minutes I wanted to quit, I was tired, my legs were sore, I didn’t have it in me. But then my fire came out and I told myself that it was in my head. Sure my legs were screaming but its not like I couldn’t keep going.

Sometimes its a wake up call when I workout by myself. I’m used to pushing others that every once in a while I need someone to tell me to keep going and that I can do 5 more or another 15 seconds.

At the end of the workout I felt accomplished and SWEATY.

Now I have some more work to do before my weekend begins. Tomorrow night we are headed to a 30th Birthday celebration for my Best Friend Lauren. We have been friends for all 30 years and I can’t wait to celebrate with her

Do you have any fun plans this weekend?

Do you ever do a workout at home and want to quit 10 minutes in?

April 30, 2015
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Health & Social Media Talk

About a year and half ago I joined Instagram and about 3 months ago I gave in and joined Facebook. Why? I’m not really sure, I guess it was because I am a blog writer and I wanted to reach out to more people. I thought I had good intentions by joining these 2 HUGE social networks but the truth is I’m starting to notice my free time is diminishing. These sites are distracting me from my family at times and I question why I need them.

Last weekend the YMCA in Greenwich, CT hosted a Healthy Kids Day. There were tons of ways for kids to learn how to be healthy with games, healthy snacks, sports, activities, and more.

Dr Katy Noble was one of the guests they had at the event and she is a children’s pediatrician. She approached Marc and handed him an article that she had written about Social Media and kids.

Feel free to click on it and zoom in (sorry its a little crinkled up, but Ava got her hands on it and she started to crumple it!!)

The article gives a list of 10 WAYS TO MANAGE KIDS USE OF MEDIA

As soon as Marc and I read the article our first instinct was to turn the TV off and not let Ava watch it ever again. (easier said then done)

This article got my mind thinking in all directions!

Why am I on social media? Why Do I watch TV? Why do I need to be like everyone else and fall into the trap of the media?

But then I realized I live a pretty balanced life. I have never been a TV person. I would rather be doing other things but I’d say on average I watch 3o minutes of TV a day. I’m just not into the TV. My computer use however is a little higher and since I joined facebook/instagram I have increased my time on social media.

I have decided I want to cut back.

As for Ava…. I don’t let Ava watch TV all day, we go for walks, we play at the park, we read books, we play games, she has play dates, she goes to daycare, but there are times where the TV is on and when she’s tired and laying around I feel its appropriate to let her watch a little Mickey Mouse. Luckily she’s not old enough for computers/ipads/iphones yet but I know by the time she is old enough she won’t depend on them.

My approach these past few weeks is to limit my time on my phone (unless its work related there’s no time limit). I am aiming for no electronic use after 9pm and I turn the TV off when no one is watching anything important because it’s just a distraction!

So maybe my thoughts are all over the place in this post, but I know social media isn’t just going to disappear any time soon!!

I hope by setting some realistic goals for myself and Ava that we won’t get brainwashed by our technologically advanced world!!!!

What are your thoughts about social media?

Do you find yourself wasting time when you are on the internet, etc?

April 29, 2015
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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WIAW Getting back on track

After indulging a little on vacation I couldn’t wait to get back to my normal routine this past Monday.

I ate super healthy on vacation but I did enjoy some cocktails on the beach and a little ice cream. I figured I would share a healthy day of eating with you guys.

I am linking up with Jenn to share my food journal with you from Monday!

WHAT-I-ATE-WEDNESDAY-NEW-BUTTON-PEAS-AND-CRAYONS

Ava woke me up at 5:45am so I gave her some milk and poured myself some coffee (I’m so thankful for setting a coffee timer the night before!)

I woke up with an appetite and ate breakfast a bit earlier then I normally do. I had 2 eggs with sauteed spinach and 1 piece of toast plus a few slices of strawberries since Ava didn’t finish hers.

I headed to teach Group Power a little after 7am and man did it feel great to lift weights. Post workout I had a Vanilla Protein Shake, banana, and a tablespoon of peanut butter right out of the jar

My next class was my senior Fit For Life class and I was feeling energized. We had a big group which always makes it more fun. This group has great energy and they can move!!

Lunch came early because once again my tummy was rumbling so once I got home at 12pm I heated up some leftovers. Chicken Francese, Veggies & potatoes. I wish there was more! I also had some triscuits with Ava.

I wasn’t too hungry at snack time but had a Chocolate Shakeology.

My dinner was simple and amazing. Al Fresco Italian Chicken Sausage, with oven roasted broccoli and a baked Sweet potato. We love chicken sausage in our house.

I was craving something sweet & salty at night so I made a combo snack plate with strawberries, mixed nuts, & Shakeology protein bites.

This plate hit all my taste buds and satisfied all my cravings plus more!

What’s something yummy you ate yesterday?

Are you a big night time snacker?

April 28, 2015
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

I love Mexican food and all the fantastic flavors that come with it, but ever since I was pregnant with Ava my tastes buds for Mexican changed a bit.

Let me explain a little…. During my whole first trimester I was nauseous. This lasted about 16 weeks, and there were certain foods that made my stomach churn (Mexican being one of them). After I got passed all the morning sickness, chili, tacos, and Mexican flavors slowly made there way back on our menu, but it wasn’t the same.

I literally have to crave Mexican food in order for me to want to cook it and eat it now. I’m not gonna lie, I’m not happy about this, but there’s nothing I can really do to change it.

Anyways, Sunday night I had a Mexican craving, woohoo!! I wanted some sort of chicken fajita salad with lots of fix-ins and toppings.

I whipped up a quick marinade for the chicken, without following a recipe online and I couldn’t have been happier with the simple flavors.

I debated whether or not to add cumin or chili powder (which would probably be amazing) but I know Ava isn’t a huge fan of cumin.

CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN MARINADE

Ingredients:

1 lime, juiced (about 2 tbsp)

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 tsp garlic powder

2 tbsp cilantro chopped

3 large chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)

Directions: Combine all the ingredients in a large plastic ziplock bag and mix until chicken is coated evenly.

Thank goodness the weather is warming up, because we were able to grill this delicious chicken and it only took about 20 minutes on medium-high heat. While we had the grill on, we also roasted a red pepper and zucchini (drizzled with olive oil & sea salt).

I originally thought I was going to make a salad, but my plate turned into a big pile of Mexican madness. There was no organization to it but I couldn’t put my fork down. I had lettuce, brown rice, roasted peppers, zucchini, cilantro lime chicken, salsa, avocado, and a sprinkle of cilantro on the top. I don’t think Marc and I spoke while we ate because we were too into the delicious flavors.

We also enjoyed some Late July Tortilla Chips with our meal.

Ava even loved the chicken! It’s always a win when she approves of the meal.

Are there any foods you couldn’t eat while you were pregnant?

Are you a Mexican food fan, if so what’s your favorite dish?

April 27, 2015
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Sunshine & Smiles (Part 2)

I planned on posting this sooner, but I got so sidetracked with my weekend! In case you missed the First Part of our vacation, check it out.

The second part of our vacation was just as great as the first part. We spent more time by the pool, which meant more running around and chasing Ava. She enjoyed looking at the birds & ducks in the pond behind the condo.

So basically she didn’t sit still for more then 5 minutes.

She has actually been able to make some really good “quack-quack” duck noises on her own. I’m pretty sure ducks are currently her favorite animal besides dogs.

We had a couple nice meals outside at restaurants where we sat overlooking the beach.

There’s something so enjoyable about sitting outside at a restaurant.

And of course having a cocktail on the beach. I ordered a Mojito without added sugar!

I’m not gonna lie, eating out with Ava isn’t easy but she was such a trooper and impressed me with her great behavior at the table. I think we also timed everything perfectly and avoided times where she would have probably through a tantrum or have been fussy!

I wish we could’ve stayed in Florida longer!

One of my friends watched Cooper for us while we were away and we received tons of awesome pictures of Cooper having fun playing with his girlfriend Barley. I’m pretty sure he had a fun vacation too!

This is a picture of Marc and his family outside Sandbar Restaurant on Anna Maria Island which is only about 10 minutes from the Condo. While we waited for our table Ava playing with her cousin Natalie in the sand. This is probably the whitest softest sand ever and I wish I could have brought some back with me!

When Ava wore this hat, my heart almost melted.

I know she’s my daughter but the hat was just too cute on her!

If I could pick a second home away from home it would be Florida. I love the beach, and I love that it’s a hop skip and a jump away from Connecticut.

This vacation was the break I needed from work & life, and I honestly felt rejuvenated once I got back!

Whats your favorite thing to do on vacation?

Are you a beach or pool person?

April 24, 2015
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Sunshine & Smiles (Part 1)

I don’t know about you guys but my body craves the beach, the pool, and sunshine. After a terrible winter we enjoyed a well deserved vacation in Florida.

Vacations are much different now with a toddler that doesn’t want to sit in one place for more then 5 seconds so I can’t say we sat a lot this trip but I’m not complaining because our bodies weren’t meant to sit.

We had some fantastic trips to the beach & pool and we had some bad ones I’m not going to lie.

One of the days it was 86 degrees and the humidity was 100%. That caused for a sticky mess at the beach and a hot cranky baby.

After a few failed attempts Marc and I got the hang of what worked for Ava and what didn’t. We did a beach trip in the morning when she had the most energy and the sun wasn’t as strong

and then we took a break for lunch

and hit up the pool in the afternoon.

Ava was such a good girl and napped in her stroller which allowed Marc and I to swim and chill for a little.

I can’t say I worked out every day but I walked a ton. I went to the gym twice and walked Ava every day around her nap time to get her to sleep so I got my cardio in for sure.

Stay tuned for part 2 of our trip, I had too many pictures of the beach, Ava, and our trips out that I decided to break it up into 2 posts.

HAPPY FRIDAY

What is your favorite part of vacation? swimming is my favorite part, I love the water! I also love the relaxation part

Do you enjoy vacationing with your kids? this was our 2nd vacation to Florida with Ava, it is totally different but I love seeing her get excited at the beach and when we play with her in the pool. It would be nice to have a vacation with just Marc but for now this was GREAT!

April 23, 2015
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Florida Food Journal

Yesterday was a full day of traveling for us so I skipped out on my blog post! Although today isn’t Wednesday I wanted to share my food journal with you!

Here are my eats from Tuesday in sunny Florida!

We had breakfast each morning at the condo since we had a full kitchen and a stocked fridge. Each day we had delicious eggs but on Tuesday I had scrambled eggs with Spinach & mushrooms topped with some avocado & tomato. I also had some toast! It was amazingggg.

My morning snack was shared with Ms. Ava! We had a bowl of fruit salad with watermelon, strawberries, blueberries & clementines! We both ate so much fruit on this trip! I also had a protein Shakeology but I think you guys know what that looks like so I didn’t snap a pic.

After spending some time at the beach Ava was getting a little hot so we decided to grab some takeout food from the island bar & grill. I had a Mediterranean Salad with grilled chicken, roasted red pepper, artichoke, olives, feta, & tomatoes. This salad hit the spot and had so many great flavors.

Once we finished eating lunch and cooling off a bit we headed back to the beach for the afternoon. I realized after my golden delicious apple was practically gone that I should take a picture, but I hope the gorgeous beach makes the apple core look better!

We didn’t go out to dinner because ava and her cousin Natalie were wiped come dinner time so we did a lot of takeout which was fine with me. We had bonefish grill and I ordered grilled tilapia with herb pesto, sugar snap peas & broccoli! The herb pesto is out of this world and I wish I could’ve taken a jar of it home with me!! I also indulged in some delicious red wine.

I must say that though we were on vacation we ate very healthy and I don’t really think I ate anything that wasn’t fresh and nutritious!

I will be back tomorrow to share some more fun pics from our trip!

Have you ever eaten at bonefish grill?
When you go on vacation do you let loose a little bit with your eating?!

April 21, 2015
by Kelly @ The Fit Skool
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Behind the scenes of a Fitness Professional

Behind the Scenes of a Fitness Professional!

First let me start of with the fact that I love my job. As a Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and a fitness coach, I can tailor my schedule to meet my needs. Right now, I need a little more flexibility to take care of Ava because she’s my other full-time job.

Before I became a Mom, I would try to fit in as many clients and as many classes that I could handle or I should say that my body could handle. Now, as much as I want to take on more… it’s not possible, I am maxed out.

Besides teaching numerous classes per week and training clients, I have a lot of behind the scene work that goes unnoticed.

I watch dvd’s, read articles, learn new exercises, make workouts, make cd’s, study new choreography, email clients, chat with people in my challenge groups, and work on scheduling. I also text or email my clients to check on how they are doing with food & fitness throughout the week to make sure they aren’t slipping up. It may look like easy work but it is very time consuming. Add blogging into the mix and my free time is practically non existent!

I have learned to make priorities and keep lists of what needs to get done first. I try to learn 1 new thing per week, I try to make 1 new music playlist per month, I do my scheduling week to week because people’s schedules change and I try to be flexible, you get it. If I can work with my clients agenda then they can be flexible with mine. It’s a great balance!

I consider my job fun because I am constantly learning and improving at something I love. Plus I am helping others reach their health & fitness goals. Sure it gets stressful at times but I get over those tough days. It is my passion to make others fit & healthy and it is a goal of mine to continue for the rest of my life.

When I see physical and mental changes with my clients I feel so rewarded. It’s the pat on the back that I need to keep going forward!

I forgot to mention that I have a very supportive husband who not only lets me take on a million and one things at once but he motivates me on days that I want to quit and throw my hands up!! It’s all about having people around you to make you a better person!

Do you have an instructor or trainer that keeps you motivated?

Do you love your job?