My Snow Day in Pictures! (aka GOODBYE EASTER BREAK!)

This post is kind of picture post, day in the life post, and WIAW post all wrapped up into one big gigantic pile of.... blog.

Here is how a snow day begins for a teacher:

5:13 am - You wake up with a call saying there is a 2 hour delay.

You reset your alarm for 7:30

7:12 am - You wake up with a call saying school is closed.

You deactivate your alarm, try to fall back asleep, but end up getting up anyway.

I don't know why this bunny makes me laugh so hard, but it does!

Anyway, ONWARD with the day!

That's me in all my morning glory.

You think this looks bad? It looked worse before I changed it to back and white!

It snowed A LOT, and it continued to snow for most of the day.

Here's my little neighborhood:

 



My new favorite breakfast... so freaking good!

Chrissy finally joined the land of the living. We have two huge bay windows in our house, and when Chrissy got up, he decided to watch the snowstorm...

(I tired to embed the video but it didn't work. Click on the link above if you want see it. I'm talkin' to you, Aunt Betty.)

(Fast forward to 1:09 to hear the loudest purring in the world. Christmas doesn't do anything delicately.)

Next it was time for ME to do my workout...

Of course I had a visitor...

After a workout, I spend my shower dreaming about what I will eat. I had the perfect idea!

Half an "everything" bagel with turkey breast, cheddar cheese, olive oil, and salt.

Also, an apple with peanut butter and a lime seltzer water.

I ate it all while we watched Jeopardy.

Then I sucked it up and shoveled our sidewalk and carport. Someone already beat me to most of the sidewalk, though! Thanks neighbor!

Freakin' A, look what came in the mail:

Paul and I had fun playing a ton of card games that afternoon. Then it was time for margaritas, Friends on Netflix, and finally dinner-  A HUGE SALAD in which I ate before I could get a picture. But please know, it was huge and glorious. (That's what she said.)

Dessert.... animal crackers. I would have preferred to dip these in ice cream but we didn't have any.

Oh, and I found out we had a 2 hour delay the next day! 

All in all, it was a great SNOW DAY!

Did you have a snow day yesterday?

What's your favorite thing to do when you are snowed in?

Would you survive without coffee?

Pimping out my business- Megan Michael Training!!!

"Everyone deserves health and happiness. My training philosophy is that every client's journey is different. I will not give you a cookie cutter workout. Your program will be designed specifically for you and your personal goals. I believe that with the proper exercise, nutrition, and rest, you can achieve your health and fitness goals. Your commitment is integral to this process, but if you're ready, I'm ready!" -Megan Michael

Meet the Trainer!

Hello, I'm Megan. I'm an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. I train clients in Central

PA and write programs for clients via online training.

Over the past 10 years, my approach to fitness has evolved. I have come to

learn that with the proper exercise, nutrition, and rest, my body could achieve

things I never imagined it could do. As I tackled each new fitness endeavor, I

learned along the way. Whether it was qualifying for the Boston Marathon,

running ultra marathons, or attempting the weight room for the first time,

I never quit.

I hold an MA in Educational Development and Strategies and have 10 years experience in public school classrooms. This experience means I am no stranger to the many different learning styles and the psychology surrounding behavior, self efficacy and behavior change.

I decided to become a personal trainer because I want to help others take control of their health and happiness. Whether you're just starting your fitness journey or you're picking up where you left off, I am here to guide, motivate, and educate you so you can meet your health and fitness goals.

Why personal training?

 

Motivation and accountability

Realistic goal setting

Custom, personalized fitness plans

Ongoing fitness assessments

Undivided attention and supervision during workouts

Encouragement

Challenging workouts

Learn new skills

Conquer fears

Nutrition counseling

Behavior change support

Consistency in training will promote exercise adherence

Make an investment in your health and happiness!

Services

Since personal training is indeed personal, we can work together to make one of these services the right choice for you! Please contact me for your free consultation in which we can discuss a plan that works for you and your budget. Prices vary depending on the length of your session as well as travel time.

Services include, but are not limited to:

1 on 1 personal training at your location

Small Group Fitness

Running Coach

Program Design

Nutrional Guidance

Behavioral Change Support

Book your free consultation!

Megan Michael Training

meganmichaeltraining@gmail.com

Tel: 717-991-7221

During your in person or phone consultation, we will discuss your fitness history and future goals. We will determine which of the many services I provide will work for you and I will begin designing a custom plan that will help you reach your goals.

What are you waiting for? Let's get started!

Do you want to be tiny or do you want to be strong?

Like the title says, I'm going to be honest in this post, and I'm probably going to say something that is going to annoy you.

This past weekend, I was at a party with a bunch of people I didn't know. At one point, someone called me "so tiny". As in, skinny.

I am not going to lie- I liked it.

BUT I DO NOT LIKE THAT I LIKED IT. In fact, I am pissed. It makes me seem incredibly shallow. I am telling you this so you know all the parts of me. Even the parts that are ugly.

Later on that night, another person said, "Dang, look at your leg muscles!"

Now, this too was a comment I really liked! Someone noticed my muscles!? That is awesome! I'm definitely not ashamed of enjoying the fact that someone noticed those. My muscles are hard earned.

Both comments are such contradictions to one another, yet I liked hearing both.

I no longer strive to be "tiny". I don't count calories or macros anymore. I don't weigh myself. I don't obsessively exercise. I focus more on what my body can accomplish rather than starving it and working to lose weight.

Yet I was still filled with glee when someone said I looked "so tiny".

I wish I wasn't like that. I wish I would get over it. Maybe I will I grow out of it someday?

Spinning during a March 1st Snow/Ice Storm...

On Sunday, it was March 1st.

On Sunday, Central PA had a snow/ice storm.

COME OOOOOOOOOOOOON!

I wanted to run. I wanted to have sushi and play games at our friends' house.

But no. Winter is still here. FREAKING WINTER.

Instead of running and instead of braving the roads to go to the gym, I did a spin workout on the spin bike I kind of forgot that I owned. 

I get bored on the bike, but I think I broke up my workout into manageable segments...

I also positioned my bike so I could look out the window and feel like I was biking in a winter wonderland.

I listened to some music, which is really rare for me. I have a strange set up... I load up the songs/videos I want to spin to on Youtube and then position my lap top right in front of my spin bike so I can start/stop the songs.

Here are 4 of my favorite songs/videos to spin to...

Laid - James

(THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS EVER!)

Bad Romance - Lady Gaga

California Girls - Katie Perry

Rag Doll- Aerosmith

Hey, whatever motivates ya, right?

I watched Lady Gaga's Grammy performance during my cool down. You know, I am not a Sound of Music fan, but she made me REALLY like it! And I had tears in my eyes when Julie Andrews came out and they hugged. I am such a sucker...

I got a great 40 minute workout. I'm glad I did it, because all we did was lounge around for the rest of the day!

**UPDATE: MY KNEE/IT BAND WAS PULSATING LATER THAT DAY!
I GUESS SPINNING AGGRAVATES IT AGAIN!!!

Do you have any random songs you like to workout to?

Weekend Wrap Up!

I had a wonderful weekend! It was the perfect mix of Paul Time, Friend Time, and Alone Time! All three are super important! Here is what we were up to...

Friday morning started with one of the coldest runs I ever had! But I have mastered the art of layering and the only thing that was cold was my chin and my ears. That should be an easy fix! Good thing I figured it out just in time for spring...

Work was uneventful. I spent some of the day trying to make this medley into something my 3rd and 4th graders can sing...

That evening, we headed down to Baltimore... for something FUN! My friend Maren was having a party, and since we don't see each other too often, I was very much looking forward to this date on my calendar!

The lovely Maren & Max!

The lovely Megan & Maren!

The lovely Megan & Ruby Sue!

The lovely Paul & Megan!

The lovely Max & Doughnut!

Yeah, everyone brought their dogs to this party! It was hilarious. There were almost as many people as there were dogs. Let's see, there was Huxley, Ruby Sue, Doughnut, Sweet Pea, and Tinker. Tinker made a party foul and peed on the couch. But she got away with it because she was 18 and had a broken elbow.

FrostyGate on the way home from Baltimore and I just had to express my disdain on Facebook:

By the time I awoke the next day, I had the undying support of my Facebook friends! Here are just some of their comments. I am proud that my friends were as up in arms as I was about the whole situation!

"That's dumb. Burn it to the ground."

"You're kidding, right?! The easiest item to serve besides fountain drinks!"

"What!!!? That is crazy! That is terrible!"

"Dang! The stuff just sits there and spins in the machine!"

"You should have told them you were taking your business to McDonald's for a Shamrock Shake."

"What a jerk! And who knew there was a time frame on Frostys? Is that on the sign?"

Aren't my friends the best!? They give me validation when I REALLY need it.

On Saturday morning, I decided.... I AM DOING A DOUBLE DIGIT RUN TODAY! Double digit has not happened since maybe November!?

It was really sunny but really brisk!

A nice long easy run!

The run went awesome, and you can read more about it here!

That evening, Paul went to a Hershey Bears hockey game, so I had a lot of time to myself! I went stopped by Petco to get a toothbrush and toothpaste for Jelly. Last Monday, Christmas got his teeth cleaned and two pulled. The vet told us we should start brushing his teeth. Well today, it dawned on us that we should probably be brushing Jelly's teeth too! (We are seriously MORONS. Why did it take us a week to realize if we're brushing one cat's teeth, we should brush the other one's too!?)

They're worth it!

The freaking snow/ice storm derailed our sushi plans with friends. So instead, after a workout on my spin bike, Paul and I just lounged around and did all the stuff we have been getting used to doing when we're snowed in... watching Jeopardy, playing cards... pretty much anything we can do in our robes!

I finished the remnants from a bladder of boxed wine!

I laid on the couch with Jelly!

Let's just say Jelly wouldn't leave me alone!

 

Tell me something fun about your weekend!

Today, something GLORIOUS happened - (Double Digit Run!)

Friends,

Today, something glorious happened. I went on a Double Digit Run. That's right. Me, Megan Michael, the girl who hasn't run Double Digits since November 30th, 2014, ran 10 MILES TODAY!!!

The air was bitter cold, but the sun was shining, which made for running weather that was just fine. I loaded up my mp3 player with podcasts, and was looking forward to a nice, relaxing, Double Digit run with no expectations but to zone out and enjoy the fact that I was RUNNING.

It went well. The few small hills I ran were a challenge since I haven't been running hills at all. But for the most part, I was able to relax and maintain a pretty solid 8:30 pace for the duration of the run. My knee/IT band did not feel wonky at all. In fact, I wasn't even thinking about it.

I sure felt tight by the end and my joints mildly ached from pounding the pavement. But I did all my "maintenance" stuff. I warmed up and cooled down with a walk. I did my couch stretch. I used my Supernova to iron out some kinks. I did my mobility work and wore my compression socks. I am doing everything I can to get myself to running healthy again.

Today was so therapeutic! I really missed running long on the weekends. There is something magical about it. If you are a runner, you know what I mean. When I got home, I said to Paul, "I miss this feeling!" I meant the feeling after a long run when you feel tired, accomplished, and high, all at the same time. It's an indescribable feeling, but I know you know what I'm talking about!

I hope I continue to feel good and continue to get in some Double Digit Runs in the weekends ahead!

When was your last Double Digit Run?

Describe how you feel after a long run!