January Menu & Fitness Plan

Doing something a little different, friends. Each month of 2012, I'm going to post my menu and fitness plan. To keep myself accountable, for easy reference, because I'm crazy. All apply! 

You can see I'm easing back into things this week -- and I changed item #75 on my list to "run for my birthday" since I'm running tomorrow instead of yesterday, but it still counts 'cause it's my list! -- but starting Monday, I'm officially getting hardcore. I'm starting this coming Monday instead of this past Monday because when you have a January 3rd birthday, you need that extra week to enjoy it properly. I'm pretty sure that's law. (Awesome birthday recap to come post-party this weekend!)

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1/4: Spicy Bean Burritos; 1/9: Vegetarian Chili; 1/11: Corn Cakes with Tomato Avocado Relish; 1/12: Black Bean Sliders; 1/16: Thai Red Curry; 1/17: Grilled Cheese and Brussels Sprouts; 1/18: Lasagna Soup; 1/20: Veggie Fajitas; 1/23: Meatless Muffalettas; 1/24: Baked Sweet Potatoes and Salad; 1/25: Broccoli Cheddar Soup; 1/31: Veggie Tamale Pies

One reason I'm getting so hardcore is because I got very un-hardcore the last half of 2011 even though I was training for a half-marathon. I ate horribly, I focused on my long runs toward the end of training and not much else, I ate horribly. Did I mention I ate horribly? 

Another reason is that I have an April date looming on the horizon and it's a motivating date because it's a date that includes A BEACH, WHERE SWIMSUITS ARE REQUIRED. Well, maybe not required, I tend to get dramatic, but definitely preferred to pj pants and the ill-fitting t-shirts I'm used to wearing. This beach happens to be in Puerto Rico, where Mike and I just booked our five-year anniversary trip to, and we'll be there a week and I don't know if there's anything more motivating than a ROMANTIC GETAWAY on a BEACH to push me away from all that horrible food and into the arms of a few fitness instructors/Jillian Michaels/my running shoes.

(Oh! Hey! If you have any tips or suggestions or must-dos in Puerto Rico, we're all ears. We plan to split our time between the main island and Vieques, but that's about all the decision making we've done. I've mainly spent my vacation research on Pinterest looking at pretty pictures. So pretty!)

There you have it. What I'm doing this month to return to hardcore. And also return to exhausted because, man, I'm tired just thinking of it all. It's times like these I wish watching Biggest Loser and searching yoga classes from my couch was all I really needed to do to get fit and trim. 

Science, get on that!

Comments

[HereWeGoAJen]

I think part of my goal of refining the menu planning this year is going to be to plan for more than a week at a time. So I am hoping that your menu plan inspires me!

Also, I am trying to get rid of my stomach bulge before I go to a beach wedding in June.

[A'Dell]

Spicy bean burritos FTW!

So jealous of Puerto Rico. We are planning a June/July getaway and I'm PARALYZED with the options before us. I'm sure we'll just end up back in Hawaii.

[Lady Susan]

I love menu plans. I look forward to seeing yours every month so that I can get ideas. ;)

[Christina]

Are you doing 2 workouts a day twice a week? ! OMG, i've got to up my game.

[Mama Bub]

I just pinned three new husband-approved recipes. LOVE your new plan for 2012!

[elz]

YAY! Puerto Rico. 1) Bio Bay, 2) eat at La Estacion and Pasion por el Fogon- best food on the island. No doubt. There is also a cool sea glass beach near Fajardo; I can't recall the name right now. We had a GREAt time in Puerto Rico last Spring. You will have a blast!

*My mom stayed at the W in Vieques and had a fabulous stay there.

[Jenny]

Can't wait to try some of those recipes! Question about your workout...are you doing the Biggest Loser Bootcamp and 30 day shred? Which ones do you do? The 20 minute workout from both back to back? I just started the 20 minute boot camp one (+5 minutes each warm up and down)...can't imagine doing the shred right after!

[Jennie]

Hi Jenny, no, the boot camp is actually an in-person local one and then I'll do 30DS later that night.

[Jane]

awesome! I plan weekly menus, but I've never thought to do a workout plan, except when I was training for races... I am so going to try this! thanks for the inspiration!

[april]

Jennie - curious, when is your anniversary? My 5-year is also in April (15th). Was a great month/year to get married! :)

[hillary]

Dude, I am so jealous you're going to Puerto Rico that I can't even be bummed you're not coming to Vancouver. Sunshine! Beach! Drinks with Umbrellas! It's going to be fabulous.

[fitness exercise programs]

Nice fitness plan..I think it will be interesting to see how that kind of thing fits in with all of the advances in technology.