12 Tricks to find the motivation to get MOVING!

Do you ever have those days where you just don't feel like working out?!?! Yep, contrary to what some of you may think...I experience those days quite a bit. Why, i'm not sure....but regardless of how I feel, I always find the motivation to get up and get moving....

I know quite a few of you think i'm obsessed with my workouts so here are a couple of tricks I use to get motivated to go burn some calories.

Tips:
1. Take 2 500mcg of B12 for an extra boost of energy about 30 mins before my workout
2. Eat a few apple slices or grapes
3. Listen to some hiphop/fast paced music to wake me up and get my mood going
4. Call a couple of friends that I haven't worked out with in awhile to go hit the trails with (Thanks Bonnie & Ashley :))
5. Put some cute somewhat sexy workout clothes on...Crazy, but this works! When you feel good about the way you look, you're more likely to strut your stuff and work harder...
6. Download some new music to run to
7. I'll tell myself early on in the day or the night before "Ok, you're doing a 8 mile run later"....This helps me get prepared mentally :)
8. I always, always, always put my workout on my "To-Do" list
9. I'll look at a picture of a HOT celeb...Beyonce for instance...I have big legs so I avoid models :)!
10. I will publicly commit to working out......let's face it, no one wants to look bad so if you say you're going to do something, you'll more than likely follow through...
11. I think about what it's going to feel like when I cross the finish line @ my Triathlon, Half marathon, Half Ironman, Full Ironman, etc....
12. Last but not least...this is obnoxious, but I post my workouts on FACEBOOK :)! A lot of people think it's boastful BUT it makes me feel a sense of accomplishment which helps keep me motivated...So the heck with what people think if it helps me with my training or burn calories :)!!!!

Top 5 Songs I run to:
1. Headsprung-LL Cool J
2. Put it on Ya - Piles
3. Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj
4. The Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga
5. Down on Me - Jeremih

With that, it's time for me to go hit the trails and break a sweat :)!

Love you all and thanks for reading,
Kristen

The Golden Rule

For some reason, i'm drawing a complete _____ tonight when it comes to updating my blog so I think i'll just ramble on until I have that "Aaaa Haaaa" moment :)!!

Aaaaaa Haaaaaa......You know this topic has kind of been weighing on my heart pretty heavily lately so I think i'll just put it out there.

Sometimes I wonder why there are incredibly judgmental bitter, mean, rude, hateful, arrogant, nasty, soulless people in this world..... We've all come across people that are downright hateful and/or negative-judgmental. I generally ask myself, why does he/she act that way or consider themselves to be superior to others? I'm sure you've all come across someone who is never happy and always walking around with a chip on their shoulder. I know I have (recently - unfortunately)...and it drives me CrAzY! Because truth of the matter is, their soul is just as valuable as mine and it's priceless....We are all equals here...every single one of us. My soul is worth just as much as the Dalai Lama, the homeless man downtown or the prostitutes in Vegas.....There is no reason to be mean, hateful, or judgmental to anyone you come across because we are ALL equals!

I honestly and wholeheartedly try to practice the Golden Rule "Treat others as you would like to be treated". Is that not the most basic fundamental of human rights?!?! Think about it.........It's impossible to live a pleasant life if you're a negative person or surround yourself with negative energy. So if you have any negative people or energy in your life, simply remove it!

I love you all and thanks for reading :)!

Sweet Dreams,
Xoxo
Kristen

Queen of Green...Haha not really but i like the sound of it :)!

Has it really been since September that I spilled my current thoughts on my blog?!?! Let's see if I can even remember how to navigate through my own blog.

I guess what I want to focus on tonight is how green I’ve become….Kind of a boring topic I know, but I’ve had so much fun with it lately that I thought I would share.

Did you know that the average person throws out about 1,200 pounds of trash per year?!?! That’s a ton of garbage!! Now think about where all that trash goes? Yep, into our landfills…directly into the ground…Well, 90% of it anyway….10% of trash is incinerated.  

Now ask yourself, how hard would it be to recycle? It may seem like a daunting/pointless task but here are a few fun facts………..

-Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees

- Recycling and composting diverted nearly 70 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2000, up from 34 million tons in 1990-doubling in just 10 years

- The energy we save when we recycle one glass bottle is enough to light a light bulb for 4 hours

- 2 years after calling recycling a $40 million drain on the city, New York City leaders realized that a redesigned, efficient recycling system could actually save the city $20 million and they have now signed a 20-year recycling contract

A few months ago I started recycling and I can’t express to you, just how much I love it. Eric and I have reduced the amount of trash we throw away significantly. On average, we probably throw away about a bag and a half of trash away a week.

To help reduce the amount of trash we throw out, I also created a compost bin for my garden so that contributed to reducing the amount of trash we throw out a week. I know it may sound a little silly, but every little bit helps.

So ask yourself, how hard would it be for you to recycle and be greener?

Thanks for reading and God Bless

Xoxo,

Kristen

You can't cross a bridge that's been burned!

Good Evening Everyone,

How many of you out there have ever had a friend or relationship that burned your bridge? I won't go into details, but I can definitely say that I have & on more than one occasion. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a sucker for letting people in too fast and who's fault is it but my own?!?!?!

As I reflect on some of the friends and relationships that I've had in the past, I can't help but think "Why did I let them in"? Some of the people I've allowed to get close to me, I may have felt sorry for because they were experiencing hard times and other's I sincerely thought they were a good person.  

I'm obviously still a baby @ 24, but the older I get the more acquaintances I have and fewer "close" friends I have. It's starting to become more apparent who I can and can't trust early on. Many of you who know me have heard me say "You can't cross a bridge that's been burned". So what about the people who have burned my bridge once or twice in the past? There are some people that I still hold a grudge towards and for what reason, I'm not sure. I think it's my personal defense mechanism so that I never let my guard down and let them in. 

I however, like most people believe in Karma! What goes around, comes around. If you're reading this and you've burned my bridge in the past, that's ok....the truth WILL come out and you'll get what you deserve. Here is my promise from this point forward. I'm letting go of what's bitter and never looking back.

Xoxo,
Kristen

"Hit the Ground Running"

Good Evening Everyone,


As I'm sure most of you are aware, I recently relocated to the white sandy beaches of Destin, Florida :)!


I can't help but relate the feelings that I'm experiencing now to how I felt my Freshman year at St. Gregory's in Shawnee, Oklahoma or when I interned for Congress in D.C. Although Oklahoma is just a short drive away from my family and my internship only lasted a few months, I was invigorated by all of the freedom I had! The thought of meeting new people, experiencing new things, getting involved in different activities and picking up new hobbies. I just couldn't wait to (as my dad would say) "Hit the ground running"!


As I find myself unpacking boxes, throwing out old things and purchasing new things for my condo. I can't help but feel overwhelmed with the same emotions that I had when I made the move to Oklahoma and D.C. I'm anxious to meet new people, hit the beach every weekend, buy my first surf board, train for my first full iron man, go whale watching near the bay.... I'm so anxious to try new things. However, I also find myself missing my family and hoping that they'll be able to visit soon. In the few days that I've been here, I've realized that it's not going to be easy to make the 12 hour drive home to see my family. Yes they're only a phone call away and I can hop on a plane to see them any time I want, but the point is "Family is Family". I'm more conscious of the distance between us and that makes me miss them more!


On the other hand, I must say that life is a journey and I NEVER want to look back on the short time that I'll be granted on this earth and wish that I would of done things differently. You live and learn, I can absolutely guarantee that I'll make some mistakes along the way! But that is what's so great about this journey call "LIFE", you determine your own fate and you have to remember that you're in the drivers seat! Everyone makes mistakes but that the best part...isn't it?!?! You get to learn from your mistakes and make the most out of life.


In the grand scheme of things, being in Florida is just part of the journey that God has laid out for me. I can't wait to see how things turn out and I love the feeling of stepping out of my comfort zone to experience new things.


Remember, YOU are the driver and YOU determine your own destiny. Just make sure that you have God in the passenger seat and everything will work out!


Lots of Love


Kristen

What would you do with a hundred Million dollars?!?!

My thoughts for the evening......

As many of you know, I just recently started my own blog. As I was in the shower, I couldn't stop thinking about what I was going to write about first....

Before I start though, I would like to say that my posts and topics are going to be very random :)! And for my friends that know me best, I AM an open book. I trust anyone at the drop of a hat (which is sometimes a problem), I have no shame in telling you exactly what's going on in my personal life, and I have no problem telling you where you're failing in your personal life...even if mine isn't perfect! Hell, every one's entitled to their own opinion, right?!?! Oh, and if there is anything that someone wants my two cents on in particular...send me a message on facebook and i'll write about it, it can be anything...Rangers, Triathlons, Men, Dating, Advice on Women, ANYTHING...you name it!!!

Here are my thoughts for tonight....If you had a hundred million dollars in the bank, what is the first thing you would do? Some would buy a new car, a new house, their own island, pay off your debt, take a lavish vacation...the sky is the limit right!

Here is what I would do, I would obviously pay off my debt (starting with my student loans), help my family, and third...I would give it all away! Yep, you heard correctly, I would give it ALL away! I've thought about this many times: what would I do if I were famous, what would I do if I had a million bucks, what would I do if I were rich, etc... I would achieve the most satisfaction out of helping other people. In fact, that is exactly what I would do if I had a hundred million dollars. I would start with helping families who are less fortunate, I would help people who made bad decisions in life and have now cleaned up their act (I believe that everyone deserves a second chance), I would help people who have cancer and can't afford their medical bills, I would lobby to get out of the war in Iraq, I would help children who have parent's that are abusive or addicted to drugs, and I help women who are forced into prostitution or trafficking. There are a million and one things that I would do to help other people. My thought is "Less is More". Who honestly needs anything but the bare necessities?

Take the time to care and do something for others. We may not have the ability to help out much, but do your part. Listen when someone has a problem, put a little more forward to the tithe at church, help a homeless person out, take your old neighbor to the store, volunteer for the salvation army, join Team in Training and raise money for cancer...The sky is the limit!!!

That's all I have for tonight :)!!

Love ya Lots,
Kristen

My Attempt @ Blogging

HI,

Wow, am I really attempting to start my own blog? This should be interesting, be prepared to hear a bunch of fascinating stories and tid bits of information that you never knew about me :)!!!

I'll start blogging soon!!

Love ya LOTS,
Kristen