Eagles Cheerleading Try-outs & The 30 Day Shred

(edit: I added pics and a link to a great give-away!)

Well I survived the eagles cheerleading try-outs!

It was a very nerve-racking but fun experience!

My girlfriends and I got to Lincoln Financial Field at 8:30ish-before most of the others (400+ girls AHHH!)

(in the car...wasting some time...)

Once the doors opened, we filled out paperwork, got numbers ( I was 219!) and then were split into two groups. Each group learned a short dance and then waited anxiously to peform in front of two groups of judges in groups of 5.

My friends and I were so nervous! I kept practicing the dance over and over in the hopes I wouldn't freeze and look like an idiot in front of the judges- you only get one first impression!!!
Before I knew it, my group was up and we went into the judging room.

It was INTENSE. I have competed in dance & cheer competitions before...but this was more intimate-I could see the judges literally looking me up and down....AHH! I forgot some of the moves but managed to make it through the dance okay! My friends weren't so lucky: Two of them froze and forgot half the dance, and my other friend had another girl fall into her and mess her up. Booo!!

(right after round one)

We then waited for the judges to make the cuts. They were announcing the numbers that made it to the next round (150 out of 400 girls would move on).

(waitingggggg w/ my loves)

My number was called YAYY! I made it to round two!!!! My friends unfortunatly didn't make it but were happy for me.

I then got a new number (97!) and was immediately sent to go through that entire process again. I did muchhhhh better the second time-but there was sooo much competition!

The girls that make the 2nd cut move onto semi-finals (about 60 girls)...and sadly-my number wasn't called. WAHHHH! I felt really dissapointed....I still do actually. SIGH. But I'm glad my friends were there to cheer me up.

All in all, I loved the experience and now I know what to expect. I have more of a sense of what the organization is looking for-so I think I will def. try-out again next year.

Needless to say my friends and I drank our sorrows away saturday night and I had a litttttle too much fun ;). Well worth it though.

(at the bar of course haha)

Juice Fast

My Juice fast stopped saturday-I was dancing for 6 hours straight so I ate a Pro-Bar (LOVE THEM) at the try-outs and since then I have eaten normally. I really want to complete a substantial fast (more than just a couple days) but lately my work-outs have ruined that plan. I have the 5k sat. so I don't think a consecutive fast is going to happen this week. Oh well. NEXT WEEK! My dad is actually on day 6 of his current juice fast-he is a rockstar!

The 30 Day Shred

SPEAKING OF ROCKSTARS! Today I finalllllly got to try Jillian Michael's 30 day Shred DVD! But shhhhh I got it from YouTube, which apparently has all her dvds. HOORAY for free things :).

Being the dare-devil that I am I decided to start with Level 3!

The Verdict:
I really enjoyed the video but I think it is more for cardio and light toning as opposed to building muscles. I prefer heavier weight training but I would supplement this video on light work-out days.

Those damn rockstar jumps were tough! I loved all the planks she did and the traveling push ups were nice too. I also liked how quick it was! Go Jillian!

******Give-away alert: Head over to the blog Inner Workings of a College Graduate for a chance to win some yummy treats...Check it out Here!******

I have to rush off- you know how it is ;)

Bring on the Bikini!

I decided to participate in Angela from Oh She Glows Bikini Body Boot Camp Challenge! I hope to look as good as the disturbingly perfect Marissa Miller in a bikini by June 1st.

HAAAAA---Heyyyy a girl can dream right? ;) All joking aside, I want to do this challenge just for kicks; it's something new, and I'm all about variety with my exercises.

If you are also interested in participating in this fun challenge head over to Angela's inspiring blog now and shoot her an email.

Today I have no work or class making me one happy girl. I went to Zumba this morning w/ my sis for a super fun workout- always is! We also did 4 ab exercises after the class.

Juice Fast: Day 2 & 3
Yesterday I was running around all day which didn't leave much time for juicing. I was hungry making it a pretty tough day overall- I made it though!

I woke up this morning & felt good...was craving some juice! So after the gym I made a yummy vegetable concoction:

-1 beet
-1 apple
-5 kale leaves
-handful of cabbage
-1/4 green pepper
-4 romaine leaves
-4 med. sized carrots

This yielded a little less than 1 quart of juice. It was creamy and satisfying!

The rest of my day will consist of lots of errands, studying, homework, strength training class at 7pm, a run? and maybe shoulders & chest, and some relaxinggggg.

Happy Thursday :)

Juicy Juice

No not the nasty grade school kind. I'm talking about real, fresh, homemade juice!

Today marks day one of my latest juice fast-the first 3 days are always the toughest! So far so good though.

After one of the best night sleeps I have had in a lonnnng time, I woke up feeling refreshed. My sister and I headed to the gym for a strength training class which was tough but not out of control. Next up was a run....5k in 11 days!

Here are my stats:
Distance: 3.1 miles
Time: 25:20
Calories: Approx 316
Speed: 7.34 MPH
Avg. Pace: 8:10/mile

I wish I pushed myself harder during the first mile, but overall it was a great run.

My sister, dad, and I then went to the library to return/check out some new reads. Here is what I got: Hungry Girl Recipes, The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook, 50 50: Lessons I learned running 50 marathons in 50 days (FASCINATING!!), & The Juice Bible.

Yayyy! I can't wait to start reading. Although I should be reading all the assigned books I have for school haha oh well.

I came home and made some delish fruit juice and now am about to get ready for work.

Have a great day everyone-maybe update later on here :).

Waiting to Exhale...

Stress. Stress. Stress.

Ever have one of those days where anything/everything could will you to tears?! That was me today :(!!! With so much on my plate right now-school, work has been really busy, gym time, dieting, try-outs, races, trying to have a social life-blah blah blah. I admit I have let my daily stresses get to me lately. And I apologize if I have been a total debbie downer, I just need to vent!

Thankfully I have glorious yoga which reminds me to take a deeeep breath and transport me back to my happy place. My yoga class tonight snapped me back into reality and allowed me to totally decompress. I think my head would have popped off without it to be honest!

Rewind to this moring...I had classes all morning/afternoon (barf), then cleaned my entire room. I got rid of so much clothes yayyy! Bring on new spring things haha! I made some delish juice (fruit) and ended up eating some kashi cereal w/ dried fruit- was too hungry to start fast today---damn you Stressssssssss!

Next I hit up the gym for a serious workout:

Eliptical: Interval Program, 30 minutes
Treadmill: 15 minutes, 15 incline
Yoga: 75 minutes
Weights: Biceps ( 4 exercises), Triceps (4 exercise), Abs (3 exercise)

I was at the gym foreverrrrrrr. I just got home a little bit ago and am ready to just relax...but even after yoga- my mind is still racing with all the crap I need to get done. SIGHHHHH.

On a happy note, here are a few pics from some of my recent fun nights out:



(notice the hand placement hahahah -we aren't shy!)

(the next two pics are from my friends bday bash the other weekend)



Thank god for friends ♥.

Tomorrows plan includes gym in the morning, errands, trying to find a top for my try-outs, then work till late. Juice fast tomorrow? I hope so. Well see how I feel though....

I'm off to go chill....maybe watch the Big Love Finale I missed last night!?! Later Loves.

P.S- If you love barney butter check out this give-away at the hungry yogini- i want ittttt!

"Last Chance Workout!!!"

I keep picturing Jillian and Bob from the Biggest Loser yelling that at me when I am at the gym lately!

I have been pushing myself hard that past couple weeks at the gym in prepartion for the Philiadelphia Eagles Cheerleading Try-outs this saturday!!! I am super excited/nervous. We have to wear lycra shorts and a sports bra EEEK! and perform a dance in front of judges then there will be eliminations. I think I have worked really hard the past couple months with my eating and workouts and despite a few binges here and there I have stuck to my March goals. So wish me luck!

Also, my first race is also almost here- 13 days away! My 5k training the past week has been alright....no long runs...but I feel okay about that. I can't wait!

My spring break has been sooooo nice. I hung out with friends & family, worked a lot, and didn't think about homework once! I will post some fun pics soon-im rushing as usual right now.Unfortunately I start classes again tomorrow NOOOO! Blah-only about 1 more month of school till summer break :)

I am starting a juice fast tomorrow. I have been juice fasting at my leisure this month but starting tomorrow I am def going to go for at least a week straight. We just got sooo much yummy produce mmmmmm.

I'm going to see a movie tonight so i have to go get ready! sorry for the rushed post and lack of comments- i have just been super busy. Expect more of me soon!!!


Peace and Love

Spring...

Helllllloooo! I'm back! Craziness at school has subsided for now. YAHOO! Spring Break starts this friday after my two morning classes- then FREEDOM (well I still have work but who cares).

I won't recap the past 5 days because frankly you would die of boredom- just think sleep/class/ work/eat/gym/homework/sleep. I did manage to get a decent work out in every day, have some good "intuitive eating" days & a few bad ones : ( , & also had a really fun night out with my sister Erin & our friends saturday. Here are some pics from sat....

(w/ my best friends (since we were like 5yrs old!)


(me & my sister)



(I just can't resist a dirty martini ♥)




Speaking of intuitve eating, here are some of my Goals for March:

- Intuitive Eating (only eat when hungry, stop when full, correct portions)
- Add to weekly running mileage (more on that below)
- Keep Room clean (haaaa has not happened yet)
- Yoga/Pilates at least once a week
- No getting wasted= No hangovers= Energentic Happy Productive Dana! (haha)
- Log all daily food intake onto sparkpeople
- Finish Library Books (almost done!!!)

I love making lists of monthly goals, whether it has to do with exercise, diet, or life in general-it helps me stay focused.

Goals so far......

I have logged my daily food intakes almost everyday (gold star for me), unfotch my room is still a mess (bad girl arghhh), and so far this month I have not had any hangovers YAY ;) . I finished my library book, Jillian Michaels "Making the Cut"- SOO GOOD & INSPRIRING-& am almost done "The Eat- Clean Diet Workout" by Tosca Reno.

Intuitive eating has been going much better than I expected. Depsite about 3 days of "non-intuitive" eating- I am pretty proud of myself and I would say I am on the right track to finally understanding and listening to my body/hunger.

I must admit. I have totally fallen in love with Yoga. I literally can't wait till monday just because it is my favorite yoga class with the BEST instructor at my gym. I have only done pilates once-but I have done yoga at least once a week so far. Wooot Wooo!

NOWWWW my training schedule for the half marathon....wait...

what's that you say?

...the marathon is full and registration is closed?!?!?!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Yes, sad but true. I checked the website today & saw this horrible news. My friend and I are super bummed- but hey there are other races out there! I just started looking into adventure racing (running, mountain biking, kayacking, repelling SOOO EXCITING!)-And I must admit I feel slightly relieved that I will have more time to train now for longer races. I'm still going to try to up my weekly milage!

After my classes today I went for a run w/ my dad and sis on our normal scenic neighborhood route (3.4 miles). Then Erin and I went to Zumba & did Ab's, Back, and Chest. I just ate some unsatisfying dinner (yuck). Don't you hate that? Nothing looked appetizing & my mind was at a blank for what to make with our very minimal ingrediants ( food shopping soon).

I'm off to clean my room SAVE ME NOW, make a list of my wants and needs for spring- I'm talking about clothing shoes and accessories!!!!, & maybe something for my sweet tooth soon :-).

P.S.- I decided to take part in the Interview Post-type things that are floating around the blog world. My sister sent these to me...here we goooo:

Would you rather live in a city or countryside?

This is a toughie...I adore the fast paced, convience of cities. Everything and anything is at your fingertips! But I think I would prefer to "live" in the countryside. I love the outdoors and nature too much.

When you hear the words, "craziest night ever", what night comes to mind in your life?

This past summer was one continuous "crazy night". I turned 21 in July, and about 10 of my friends also celebrated 21st bdays this summer. INSANITY! Some highlights include: drunken bike falls, drunken parasailing (I highly recomend this!), "Sand-bar Sundays" on my friends boat, nights NO ONE can remember (only by pictures) in Atlantic City, and of course some of the funniest memories of my life!

Do you believe in fate or coincidence?

I like to think that I believe in fate. I hope things happen because they were meant to not just because. How utterly un-romantic is coincidence?!

Who's personality do you think you embody the most between your Mom and Dad? (hahaha)

Haha! Well I think I inherited most of my dads personality more so than my moms. My dad and I both are both strong willed, messy to the extreme, watch the same movies over and over, eat bites of things all day instead of meals (TRYING TO STOP THIS HABIT HAHA), and are stubborn. I do think I have my a little bit of my moms sensitve nature though!

if you would like to be interviewed, here's how to particiapte:

1. leave me a comment saying, “Interview me!”

2. i will respond by emailing you five questions. i get to pick the questions.

3. update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. when others comment asking to be interviewed, you get to ask them five questions

P.P.S-Check out these awesome give-ways:

-Off Her Cork's chocoholic's dream give-away-YUM!

-Who Wants a Treat is giving away some Quaker goodies

Homework Blues

I'm happy it's friday-yet not really looking forward to my weekend full of work, papers, and studying. Booooo!

Wednesday night I went to Yoga and Zumba & also did an INTENSE leg workout along w/ some abs and chest. It was a new yoga class for me and was really challenging-fast paced! I liked it though. After the gym, I went to my friends house to hang (also had a couple shots of 99 bananas EW & a glass of red).

Thursday, I woke up feeling SLIGHTLY crappy & very sleepy. I forced myself to go to Zumba ( I can't get enough!) at 9:30 even though all I wanted to do was curl into my bed and sleeeep. After Zumba, I did Biceps and Triceps-I wanted to run but decided to just go back to the gym after work when I knew I would be feeling better.

I stopped at the health food store (no whole foods or trader joe's or anything like that within an hour of my town :( !!) to get some delicious things. Here is some of my goodies:
(unsweetened applesauce, original puffins, goat cheese, coconut water, unsweetened coconut, bars, dark chocolate, Amy's Soup, Kashi Autumn Wheat, fruit leather, Synergy drinks, organic dried fruit, feta cheese, tea)

While preparing my lunch, I gulped down my favorite Synergy drink- ginger. I had a spinnach salad w/ shrooms, peppers, feta cheese, cabbage, sprouts & a tbsp. of Annie's Roasted Red Pepper Dressing. I also decided to try a new soup, Amy's Split Pea- I had one cup and could have easily had 5 more-i loved the creamy texture....so good.

Work came next, but only for a couple hours wooo hoo! I went straight to the gym after work to get my run in. Here are my stats:

Distance: 4.0 miles

Time: 36:08

Calories: Approx. 417

Avg. MPH: 6.64

Pace: 9:01/mile

It was a really sweaty run. Afterwards I was soaked & hungry! I rushed home & made some dinner- a mini pizza! I used half an ezekiel tortilla w/ some tomato sauce, spinnach, goat cheese, mushrooms, tsp. of minced garlic, lots of oregano. & 2 oz of grilled chicken. Baked it in the oven for about 12 minutes and then gobbled it up. Desert was some dried fruit and 3 pieces of dark chocolate.

I had a midterm and classes this morning...YUCK. I got home from classes and made a lean cuisine (chicken primavera)-I just wanted something quick and easy. I am beat! I plan on heading to the gym soon to do some cardio, back & abs. Then it will probably be a low key night for me full of schoolwork & cleaning and maybe an update on here later.

Spring is almost here-most of the snow we got the other day has melted. BRING ON THE WARM WEATHER!!!

Playing Catch Up

Sorry for being M.I.A-I have been super busy studying for midterms, doing papers, & homework galore-blah. We also had a HUGGGGE snowstorm sunday-monday soo I HAD to play in the snow on a snow day!!! Let me attempt to recap my crazy past couple days:

Saturday: My friends birthday party was really fun...except for me getting way way too drunk. All I can say is thank god for my sister who helped calm my drunk booty down. I was a mess. Ugh I hate when I get like that...BOOOO.


Sunday: Since we slept up north, we had to drive home (8 am to be exact AHH!) and I was SOOOO HUNGOVER ALL DAY. It was one of those hangovers that get worse at the day goes on. I didn't go to the gym AGAIN-that made two days in a row-and basically laid around allll dayy and night.

Monday: Woke up to a foot of snow on the ground and thankfully my college was closed for the day. WOOO HOO! I shoveled snow around my house and played w/ my sister Erin for a little bit. Our cable was out because a tree fell and cut the satellite line-so my mom, sis, and I played trivial pursuit I LOVE trivia- I won of course lol haha! Then I drove to my friends house with my 4 wheel drive (about the only thing my jeep is good for) and we went towing through trails by my house. For those of you civilized people, towing means we tie a rope to a truck and attach the other end to something we can all fit in...this time it was a little boat. haha. My friend then rips around the turns in an effort to flip us....haha dangerous YES....but fun...HELL YEAH! Here are some pics of the fun!



My backyard - So pretty!





Me jumping into "my pile" I made while shoveling- HAHA




My friends getting the boat ready....



Our view from the boat (aka "the redneck sleigh-ride" haha) while being towed!



I took this pic while sitting in the back of the truck-my friends about to flip lol.


Tuesday: I woke up to a body that felt like it had been through a car accident. I am bruised and achey everywhere thanks to all my playing on Monday. It was worth it though! I ran a bunch of errands, and FINALLY went to the gym! Three days off of the gym was killer for me. Here is my work-out:


*30 minutes Eliptical on Interval Program
*Shoulders (4 exercises w/ free weights)
*Chest (Push-Ups and Bench Press)
*Abs (5 exercises)



RUN
Distance: 2.0 miles
Time: 16:14
Calories: Approx. 212
Avg MPH: 7.39
Pace: 8:06/mile



I plan to have one long run each week. This weeks will be a 6 miler- AHHH! I wanted to update more (my March goals/giving up for lent) but I have to get ready for class. I plan on going to Zumba and maybe Yoga tonight and maybe a run and leg workout. I have a lot of homework to do too! I updated my weight loss story....I'm still learning how to work this blog stuff so for now it is just in a post below.


See ya later!