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[jcadotte]

Not Getting Anywhere

I have definitely been slacking in my commitment to try and post regularly. Life got a little busy over the last few weeks and I pretty much dropped the ball! Last week I was able to spend the entire time with my brother and his family. They are such an inspiration to me for courage, commitment and blind faith in what they believe in.

Earlier this year my brother and sister-in-law made the courageous decision to become a fulltime missionary family. The two of them and their 4 girls will be moving to Nicaragua in less than a month to begin their missions! I couldn't be prouder for them! They are such an inspiration to me in so many ways! Their ability to stay motivated and their commitment to their cause is simply remarkable. I love them to pieces and will miss them so much! Spending time with them and my four beautiful nieces all week long was truly a blessing. 

I have been getting a bit discouraged on my own personal commitments and goals lately. My commitment to live an active life full of encouragement and inspiration to others while trying to reach personal fitness goals is really easier said then done! It's so easy to not see the fruits of your labor and begin to feel like all this time has been wasted!  After my family left this week I had time to look back at things and evaluate. My conclusions have been disappointing. I have set a goal for myself to work on my toning and healthy eating. After a couple months of this, I don't feel like I am really seeing a difference. I have to question things and wondering where I might have gone wrong! Am I not working hard enough or often enough in the gym? Am I not eating the right foods? Am I doing things wrong and focusing on the wrong areas and exercises? I think the answer is right in front of me. 

It's time for me to take my own advice! Change doesn't happen over night. I have found that in my journey towards a healthier lifestyle, the hardest hurdle for me is moving past personal disappointment and continuing to have blind faith that I am on the right track. I know that eventually I will see the changes I am looking for. Patience is not always a trait that comes natural to me! My nieces have a song about patience that my brother makes them sing when they are getting a bit restless. "Be patient. Be patient. Don't be in such a hurry...". If my nieces can have patience, so can I!

I know we have all been here before! It's hard to stay motivated and keep those commitments when we aren't seeing the results we want to! Patience, blind faith and the support and encouragement from others will keep us on the right track! I challenge you to encourage someone today! We never know where others are in their journey through life and sometimes those few words make all the difference!

[jcadotte]

Who needs a gym?

I know I mentioned the other day that I was officially one of those crazy people who has two gym memberships now, but I wanted to point out that you don't have to be in a gym to get your fitness on! My trainer tells us that all the time (you can follow him on Instagram at @lebronaldpalmer if you want more motivation and tips)! You can do so many things just by taking it outside. I had a really great workout Sunday morning just by going to the park! I have the privilege of working for the University of Oklahoma and one of the many perks about this great place is the access to it's campus and the beautiful parks around it! I was able to get in a full workout with nothing but a hill!

That's really all you need. My work out consisted of sprints, walking lunges, squats, and hops all up and down a hill! You would never imagine how much more intense your workout can get by just applying the same exercises that you do at the gym to an incline!

Next time you can't go to the gym or don't have a membership somewhere, just hit up your local park! There are a number of things you can do that still hit the target muscles you would focus on at the gym. What's better though is that you will get all the same calorie burn and get to enjoy the fresh air at the same time instead of smelling sweaty people all around you! LOL Use the resources you have around you. Try doing dips off of a bench or planks off of a platform. Get creative and enjoy your surroundings at the same time! 

Yep! That's right, there are ducks in the background! I shared my space with the wild life! They waddled and quacked if I was interrupting their morning but for the most part we got along just fine! It was a beautiful morning and a great start to my day. Sometimes a change in scenery is exactly what you need!  

[jcadotte]

Healthy Sooners 5K Fun Run!

Well I did it! I finally ran my first 5K! The conditions were perfect and the energy was great! Close to 1000 people turned out to participate in the event. Last year when Kay (my workout buddy) and I participated in the event, we did the 1 mile walk instead of the 5K. We ran the 1 mile but that was all we were able to do. It took us 15 mins to run it as well. I am happy to report that with a lot of hard work, sweat and tears, we both have progressed significantly since then! Here are my results...

It took me 28 mins and 52 seconds to complete

My fastest mile time was 8 mins and 26 seconds

I came in 348th out of 974 runners 

I was the 87th female out of 468 female runners

I was the 9th to finish out of 50 women in my age group (30-34)

I was super proud of both of us! Running has never been something that I was very good. Whenever it is a running day for me instead of a gym day, it has truly become a moment of "me time". I get so focused on my steps and pushing myself to go a little farther or a little harder then the last time that everything around me just kind of fades away! The competition is with myself and in a weird and twisted way I get to experience high energy and a sense of calmness all at the same time!

As a result of a hard morning run we both decided to treat ourselves with a little pampering! lol Work hard, reward big right?! Completely exhausted to totally relaxed...I'm with it!

Just remember, the important thing is to just start moving! It doesn't matter where or why, just do it now! I read this great little saying not long ago that stated "one of the greatest moments in life is realizing that two weeks ago, your body couldn't do what it just did". I say, imagine what you can do a year from now if you start today! Take that first step towards a healthier lifestyle!

[jcadotte]

Weekly Update

Ever have one of those weeks that you feel like will never end? Friday just can't get here soon enough! Well that was me this week! I should have known I was in for it the moment I tried grapefruit for breakfast Monday morning and found that it was terrible! LOL I'm not going to give up on it though. I'm contributing my distaste of the fruit to user error! Note to self...never eat grapefruit after you have already brushed your teeth and make sure it's pink as well! Brian told me my face was priceless trying to put that fruit down! I'll still be giving that healthy little treat another try eventually! I should have known that my sour face was going to turn into a long week though! Work was completely crazy! Not in a bad way but just crazy! By the end of the day I was ready for some relief. Some days I just didn't feel like I had the energy to do anything but go home, be lazy and watch TV. It has taken a huge amount of discipline, motivation and accountability from the people in my life to keep me on the straight and narrow with my fitness. To be honest, I always feel much better if I take out my woes of the day at the gym instead! So that's exactly what I did! There is definitely something to be said about the high you can get from a good work out! I thought I would share with you a little clip of my kickboxing class in action as well! It's a high cardio workout with some kicking and some punching! Great for taking out a little aggression! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iptfb2ZSEyQ

When I began my journey towards getting fit, I started with a lot of walking and running. I eventually moved on to calisthenics and more intense training. The idea was that once it started to feel easy it was time to increase the level of difficulty in the exercise. I am a person who likes to try new things as well and a few months ago I decided to buy a Groupon for Conan's Kickboxing Academy in Norman, OK. I was in a funk from the regular day to day at the gym and needed something new to add to the routine. Staying motivated to workout can be really hard some times and this was my way of keeping the momentum! As it turned out, I LOVED it! The gym is great and the people who are a part of it are even better! I loved it so much that I decided to join! I am now officially one of those crazy people who has more than one gym membership! Gotta keep it saucy though right?! Remember that no matter how bad the week, whether it be the food you eat or your job giving you fits, there's always time for a little movement. Don't be afraid to try something new with your workout routine! The idea is that anything is better then sitting on the couch and watching TV! 

Stay tuned for my update tomorrow! I'm running my first 5K in the morning as part of the Healthy Sooners Fun Run! I'm super excited and a little nervous! This is a goal of mine that I will finally get to check off my list! Can't wait to share it with you!

[jcadotte]

#getfit #chickslifttoo #lifestylechange #exercise #getmoving #fitwarriors #todaysmodernwoman @khuebsch @jasmineweger @agordonmills

[jcadotte]

Smoothie Time!

I used to be SO bad about breakfast! I totally got told on by my workout partner to our trainer in the beginning as well! Rude! I received the lecture about breakfast being the most important meal and about how I was doing more harm then good by not eating something in the morning. We have all heard it before but whether we admit it or not…it’s true. What it really amounts to is making sure that you give yourself enough time in the morning to put it together. I like quick and easy things! My partner does an egg beater breakfast omelette every morning. She cooks it in the microwave here at work and it gives her protein and a healthy start for the day. Some days I will do oatmeal or maybe a breakfast sandwich but my favorite is a smoothie in the morning! Keeping in the habit of trying new ingredients, I tried a new smoothie this morning too. Turned out pretty good too! I used granny smith apples (chopped up about a quarter of the apple and bagged the rest of the slices for a snack later). I also tried an Asian pear. I’ve never had one before but I thought I would give it a try. Turned out to be mildly sweet and pretty watery. Not bad though. The skin is a bit tough as well but the blender took care of that! I also had some frozen chopped banana and fresh spinach leaves.

Don’t turn your nose up to the spinach either! You can’t even taste it but you get all the benefits from it! I put all the ingredients in my cup and added my liquid! I use an 8 oz. bottle of vanilla ensure. It gives me the protein and vitamins I need in the morning but you can use low fat milk or almond milk too.

Set the blender on high and in 30 seconds breakfast is served! Take the extra sliced fruit that you didn’t use and bring it as a snack for later! Start your morning out right and keep it healthy! Happy Monday!

[jcadotte]

Healthy Eats!

Recipe time! I don't know about the rest of you but I have a tendency to get on Pinterest and pin every healthy recipe I see out there and then NEVER try them! Well not today my friends! Healthy eating is just as important as exercising. It is always good to find new ingredients that you wouldn't normally eat and give them a try as well. For me, changing the way I ate was the hardest part to living a healthier lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, I love a juicy burger or some chips and queso but in the beginning I really needed to cut those things down to a minimum! I started introducing healthier ingredients to my diet. (Ladies, the hubby wasn't all too excited about this but he eventually came around and it has benefited him as well!) Healthy food doesn't have to be straight carrots and broccoli either! Get creative, if you are going to eat it then you should like it as well! Find what works for you but is still maintaining that healthy lifestyle!  For dinner tonight I made Grilled Salmon topped with an Avocado Salsa and a Powerhouse Bulgar Salad with Balsamic Orange Vinaigrette! I found these recipes on Pinterest and they turned out delicious! They were simple and easy! The salad had a few more steps involved but it was something that I could actually make ahead of time and let it marinate in the refrigerator! Brian is a pretty picky eater as well and he gave both dishes a thumbs up! I hope you like it as much as we did! Give some of those pins a try and see what works for you! Remember...it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change! 

[jcadotte]

I got to thinking how important walking really was for me when I first started exercising! I was significantly over weight and walking really was challenging. Some things that I never thought about was what kind of shoes I was wearing. I just went with the same pair of tennis shoes I had always had. As a result I ended up with shin splints frequently and my feet constantly sore! I certainly don’t want the same thing to happen to you so here are some things to consider when looking at your existing shoes or buying new ones. You want to make sure that your shoes are flexible. It’s important that your feet roll with each step. If they are too stiff, then your feet will fight against them which can result in shin splints. The flexibility should come from the ball of the shoe and not the arch in the middle. If the arch is too flexible then you could become vulnerable to planter fasciitis or heel spurs! I have experienced a bit of all of these things and I assure you it’s not fun! You also want to make sure that your shoes aren’t too bulky and are beveled at the heel. Now I wasn’t entirely sure how you would test that but I read somewhere that if you put your shoe on a flat surface and press down into the cup of the heel and the toe lifts up then you are good to go! If you are looking at buying new shoes just remember a few things. Make sure the shoe is designed for walking. Just about every shoe store has that in the description and many times they are even displayed that way. Another tip in case they aren’t identified in the store is that walking shoes are usually less expensive then running shoes. If you are looking at a pair of shoes that are $100 plus, chances are they are not meant for walking! Try on several different brands too! Don’t worry about the brand name, be more concerned with how it feels on your foot. Shoes should feel comfortable in the store! One last tip, consider buying a pair that is a half size to a full size larger. Long walks can actually make your feet swell and having the extra room is good. A good rule to go by is that there should be a thumbnails width between your toe and the tip of the shoe. Well there it is! Get out there and start walking! If your shoes aren’t up to par then what better excuse do you need to go shopping?!

[jcadotte]

[jcadotte]

Keeping up with it...

Ever feel like you have so much going on that you can't keep up with it all? Between work, family, kids and other commitments it's hard to find the energy to fit in that "me time" and a little exercise along with it! By the time we get home and the day is finally over, the thought of doing anything else is really just laughable! Some days are really hard for me and I'm not even faced with some of the same challenges or responsibilities as others are! Today I want to challenge you to evaluate how you spend your time during the day. If you can't fit in the time before or after work, think about what you could be doing at work. Get out of the office if you can for a 15-20 mins! Take a walk and get some fresh air! Walk with a friend or go alone and get that "me time" in! Just make sure that you are pushing yourself a little bit more then a casual stroll. Your body needs to feel that heart rate rise a little. You don't have to get out there and sprint. (I'm sure your co-workers wouldn't be excited about you coming back after that!) You do want to remember the reason you are out there though. Start bringing your tennis shoes to work! Make sure your shoes are flexible and light weight. Push yourself! Walk a little bit everyday. When it gets easy, walk a little more or a little faster. I started out walking a year ago and it was the first step I took that led me in the direction of a healthier lifestyle!

[jcadotte]

Keep at it! Eventually it wont feel like a chore! Change your mind and you will change everything! Just a little inspiration to get the day going! Make good choices!! ;)

[jcadotte]

Pre-Workout Supplements

My goal for the next few months is to really tone up! I was watching American Ninja Warrior a few weeks ago and totally got inspired by Kacy Catanzaro, a 5 ft tall gymnast! She rocked that course like it was nothing! I was so pumped up and inspired by her that I made the mistake ;) of telling my trainer that I wanted to be fit like that! I’m not so sure my workout partner appreciated it either because our trainer has changed the direction of our workouts! More strength training! He even had us pushing a vehicle! I’m not sure what I was thinking but what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger right?

With my change in direction for exercise, I have decided to start trying a pre-workout supplement called Cardio Cuts. It’s creatine free and is supposed to help with maximum energy, greater endurance, quicker recovery and weight loss and toning. This is all very new to me so I figured I would give it a try and report back on the results. I know there are a lot of women who are just starting out in their journey toward a fitter lifestyle and supplements can be a little scary. If you are like me, you are unsure what to take or afraid it will do crazy things to you! Well, this girl is giving it a try! We will see how I feel after taking it for a week!

In the mean time, American Ninja Warriors in the making…lol

http://instagram.com/p/sFPbZ4oduL/

http://instagram.com/p/spW2YDIdmP/

[jcadotte]

Making a Change

Change is such a hard concept for many of us to grasp. We get so comfortable in what we know and in what is easy that the very idea of change becomes scary. The scary part isn’t always where the change will take us but the amount of work that we must put in to get us there…

My name is Jessica Cadotte. In the summer of 2013 I decided that I wasn’t happy with some areas in my life, my health being one of them. At 5’3 and 183lbs, I decided with a friend of mine that it was time to work the weight off and get healthy! Now granted, her weight was warranted in that she had just had a baby, but I on the other hand had no excuse for being in the condition that I was. I was 29 and had no children, had been married for nearly 8 years to my husband Brian and had just gotten comfortable with not caring. Up to that point changing my lifestyle just seemed like a lot of work! Over the course of a year, she and I worked our butts off! Literally! We started exercising daily, got a trainer, changed the way we ate and set a goal. A year later we had reached our goals and had made a complete lifestyle change. I am now 53 lbs lighter and healthier then I have ever been! In this blog, I will be encouraging you to take that leap of faith and make a change! Be willing to know that you will have good days and bad days but that the end result will be worth more to you then the work you put into it!