Three Ways To Fit a Workout In During the Holidays

This post is sponsored by Febreze. All opinions are mine alone.

Does anyone else seriously struggle trying to make time to workout during the holidays? It can't be just me... right?? From the constant sweet treat temptations, to the busy schedules, and of course the lack of motivation with family in town, working out always gets put on the back burner. Once Cambria started to really sleep through the night and I felt more well-rested, I made a goal to workout between 5-6 times a week. I noticed working out made me feel so much better about myself. It encouraged me to make healthier eating choices, it helped me feel confident in my own skin, and overall I just felt SO much better. I have been doing really well with sticking with it up until last week. Thanksgiving, a holiday where the biggest tradition is literally to eat, really threw me off. I didn't have a set plan on how I would fit my workouts in and I quickly fell out of my routine. It's now soo much harder to get back into a routine. So, I am determined to stick to a plan for Christmas to ensure I keep healthy habits. Here's the plan...

1) Wake up a little earlier than the girls to fit my workout in. Guys, this is legitimately going to be realllyy hard for me... but I honestly think it's the best way to go about making sure I stick with it. If you have little ones, you know that working out with them around is straight up comical. It's pretty much impossible. When the girls are around I'm either cutting a workout short or only doing it halfway because they need my help every 10 seconds. So, I'm giving myself an extra hour to wake up, eat a banana, work out, and take a quick shower. Maybe you work in the morning... I challenge you to wake up earlier than normal and get your workout in! That way when the Christmas parties and family comes, you can get your workout done first thing each day and still be able to visit with friends and family after work. 

2) Keep Febreze Fabric Refresher nearby. Just like me, more and more Americans are getting serious about upping their fitness. Since we are busier than ever, we have to get creative to cram our workout (along with everything else) into our day. That being said, it's no surprise that 84% of gym goers* admit to running errands within two hours of working out. I mean, kill two birds with one stone right? You're already out! However, we forget that the smells go where we go. And if you're anything like me after a workout... there are definitely smells! For the millions who don’t have time to immediately change and wash their gear after each workout, it’s time to #FebrezeYourGear. The #FebrezeYourGear program, shows us that if it's fabric, Febreze it! All you have to do is spray Febreze Fabric Refresher on anything you wore at the gym until it is completely damp to safely and effectively clean away workout odors. Febreze Fabric Refresher with OdorClearTM Technology cleans away odors in two simple ways: 1) seeks out tough odors and 2) cleans them away by deactivating and replacing them with a light, fresh scent. Make sure to keep Febreze in your gym bag, in your car, in your personal gym, or anywhere else nearby to keep the odors where they belong... at the gym!

3) Make yourself an upbeat playlist! I have found that music motivates me more than anything when it comes to exercising. I run a lot faster, lift a lot harder, squat a lot deeper, and work a lot more efficiently if the music I am listening to leaves me feeling inspired to keep pushing. No matter what genre you love, there are some awesome songs out there to get you up and moving. I actually look forward to listening to my "special"workout songs. If you make yourself an upbeat playlist where you get to listen and decompress from holiday stress, you'll be more determined to fit it in!

I'd love to hear any of your tips and trick for staying active during the holidays! And don't forget to try out Febreze Fabric Refresher on your gym clothes and gear!

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

*Source: The Nielsen Company Fall 2015 On-Location Study.

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Wanderlust

Hello, 

I've been MIA on adventures lately and I have been loving it :)

It sure is a fun thing to explore.

Especially when its practically your backyard.

I love California and all of its beauty.

Well its about 80 degrees outside, catch me soakin up the sun by the pool ;)

"Discovery exists not in seeking new lands, but seeking with new eyes."

-Marcel Proust

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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Let's play catch up!

Not blogging in an entire week?

I'm quite proud of myself, that means I've been busy!

I like being busy, I like having a long list of things to do.

Did I mention I'm now a list maker?

What the heck! I've never been a "list maker"

I love it though, a lot.

I have a little notebook that I keep in my purse. On each page I write down the date and make a list of things that must get done. Or else, I WILL forget. 

I thoroughly enjoy crossing things off and seeing all I have accomplished in a day's time :)

2013 has been good to me so far. 

I'm feeling 120% more optimistic and happy this year than last year.

It could very well be due to the fact that sweet Hunter friend/lover left last year in January.

I've been so inspired and motivated lately.

Definitely praying this will last.

 As of lately:

-I have decided I am going to be done working at Jamba by May. I will make it happen.

-I got a new side job! I'm kind of like a "personal chef" if you will, for some family friends. They are very hard workers and by the time they get home at night fast food is the first option. Therefore, they called me :) I now plan their meals, go grocery shopping, make the food, and deliver with instructions. I love it already!

-As far as New Year's resolutions are going, they are holding true! I have stayed strong with them and I'm so very happy :) (as a side note: this working out 4 times a week is the best decision! I feel so good all the time and I'm already feeling better about myself! I bought new workout clothes to motivate me and it is really working!)

-Last Friday I was walking through good 'ol Target. when I spotted a pillow I fell in love with. All of a sudden I had an itch to redo my room. So, I did! I love it so much! Oh, and that pillow was returned. Funny how that works out!

-I bought a "smile" journal. That's just what I like calling it :) On the front it says "How time flies" which I am realizing is so true more and more often. I'm writing down everything that made me smile in a day's time. I put my 2013 quote on the inside to remember to live each day to the fullest. I figured if I keep this journal I can look at it on rough days to cheer me up and remember all is good :)

-While reading my scriptures and pondering in the temple the other night I read a verse about arising early and I have been motivated to become a morning person! Slowly, but surely :)

-This list made me laugh quite loud to myself, This talk is perfect, and This song is too cool :)

That's about all the new info I have for now :)

I'm a picture person if you haven't figured out by now, without further adieu:

New running clothes make me smiley before runs, and the sunshine makes me even happier :)

I told you I redid my room, I just love it so much! Now if I could get the desire to paint the walls a very light grey...

I invented a delightful cookie the other day! Hot chocolate double chocolate cookie with toasted marshmallows and then I drizzled a chocolate sauce over the top :)

Mother got me Nike Frees! I am so in love with these! Running has never been more fun :)

White chocolate toffee nut steamer with mixed nut and berry oatmeal while grocery shopping for my side job. I could get used to this :)

My favorite time to dress for church is when it is chilly outside. sweaters, long skirts and scarves :) Oh, and I have fallen in love with my sweet new sunbeams!

ONE YEAR down on the countdown! oh and as of right now, I'm on the last row of the "T" eeekkkk! :):)

I celebrated Hunt's ONE YEAR with a delightful snowball roll :)

YAY! Don't mind the fact that I look well, like that ha.

Temple Thursdays with these lovelies! :)

As Madeline would say:

"That is all, there isn't anymore"

All my love,

Aleigh Joy

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And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

Today was a good day. You know, one of those days that you just can't help but smile at then end of. Today I realized remembered how blessed I really am, how much happiness surrounds me, and how beautiful this world really is. I find myself feeling stressed and overwhelmed a lot. I continue to believe that there just aren't enough hours in the day (hence why I am posting this past midnight). However, I love when I just stop to take a second and think. Today I did just that. And here is why I feel so much bliss. 

I have a job at Jamba Juice which I have mentioned previously. I work with some really amazing people and I have grown pretty close to a lot of my coworkers. Jamba was my first job, so I never really knew any different. I always heard people complain about an annoying coworker or the crazy work they have to do at their job. Well friends, I look forward to going to work. Every. Single. Time. I love my job! I think it's all about the people I have the privilege to work with. They have made making smoothies and dealing with annoying customers for hours on end seem surprisingly appealing. We have dance parties and blare many varieties of music, we sit in the back and talk through the tough situations life has thrown our way, we create new and crazy smoothies, and we take a million pictures. Anyways, today as I was working I remembered how blessed I really am to 1.) have a job but even more important 2.) absolutely love the job itself and the people I work with :)

When I got back from work I went for my daily run. I don't particularly love running, and I don't go all that far, but I go, and that is all that matters to me. I told myself it was going to be a shorter run because I wasn't feeling so good when I left (dang mother nature). When I took off I realized how much cooler the weather was, it felt so awesome not breaking a sweat the second I walked out the door. I powered up the first hill and when I got to the top I noticed a strange man parked on the side of the road in an old beaten up truck. My insides started to turn upside down and crazy thoughts flooded my mind. I'm not one for stereotypes and judging a book by its cover (or a man by his truck in this case), but I couldn't help but be a bit panicked at him staring directly at me as I came down the hill. I said a silent prayer right as I was running and pleaded that I would be safe. When I got to the bottom I all of a sudden had more energy than ever. I sprinted away from that truck and felt so powerful that I was delivered away from my fear with my Heavenly Father's help. I continued on and that miraculous burst of energy stuck with me, so I extended my run even after I thought it would be a "shorter" run when I started. I passed by my old elementary school and happiness filled my soul. I was overwhelmed with memories bursting in every hallway. My first food fight, winning student body president after I rapped my speech, falling on the bars because I was trying to show off, selling bigstick popsicles on Fridays, it all happened there during my childhood. Towards the end of my run I felt the need to start walking, I wasn't even really tired I just wanted to look at my surroundings and embrace a cooler night. I guess that may have been why I was given the energy to go on a longer run. I looked to my right and saw a pine tree, it smelled like Christmas and looked like I was in the mountains. I looked to my left and saw a palm tree and could have sworn I was at the beach. The horses behind me started singing a lovely horse tune. A little old man passed me on his bicycle and smiled as he said hello and I remembered there really are good people left in this world. I looked up and saw the beautiful picture God had painted in the sky as the sun was setting, and I thought to myself what a wonderful world :)

It's all the little things that make life so enjoyable. I'm so glad I get to experience embrace it day by day.

All my love,

-Aleigh Joy

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