Sick Blogger!!

Hey LADIES!

Sadly I have come down with a very sore throat. I haven’t been able to REALLY talk in like two days. The boy was supposed to come over tonight, but I decided that my body needed some TLC. I ate a hearty dinner and I am currently drinking peppermint tea

School starts on WEDNESDAY. Eeek, I have SO much to do. It will all get done though.

I have not been in the “blogging” mindset, and I cannot apologize for that. I have been LIVING life, going to soccer games, hanging with friends, sleepover, movies, boy time <3. How/Why should I say I am sorry for that?

When I compile some foodie photos, I will POST them ASAP.

LOVE YOU ALL.

<3 jess

xoxo

Jessica’s Top 10 Ab Moves!

Hello all!!

I do not have an abundance of food photos to show you, so I thought I’d share some of my favorite ab moves! I know Kristi did a similar post, so I’m channeling her

Have Faith’s Top Ten Abdominal Moves

1. Planks: These are my FAVORITE move. They work your abdominals like crazy. I love side planks, half planks, and full planks. You can do them on upside down bosu balls & even on medicine balls. 2. Medicine Ball Twists: These will have your abs screaming! I used to only be able to do 25, but now I’m up to two sets of 45. 3. Reverse Crunches: These are the best for working your hard-to-reach lower abs. 4. Slow Pilates Scissors: I know many pilates classes do these scissors really fast, almost like a flutter. But try them SLOWLY. Hold each for at least 3 seconds, and you WILL be sore the next day. 5. Captain’s Chair: This is a great “machine” to build up ab strength on. You can start off slow, and work your way to more reps. Try straight legs, it’s much more challenging. 6. Bicycles: I love this exercise because it does a great job at really targeting your obliques! 7. Leg Drops: Start with your arms under you butt, but as you get stronger, move your hands to your side. It will engage your core more. (I haven’t tried them with an exercise ball in between your legs, but I’m sure that’s great!!)8. Side Bridge with Hip Drops: I ADORE this exercise. As your core strengthens, put a dumbbell to your hip for added challenge. 9. Oblique V-Ups: These are TOUGH. Try to make contact between your elbow and leg. 10. Leg Climbers: I cannot find a photo for this one, so I will explain it to you! I found this exercise in the Ab Ripper X (P90X) DVD. I LOVE it.

Start in a crunch position. Extend one leg straight so it is about 45 degrees. Crunch up and try and “grab” your toe.

I really hope you have enjoyed this post! (All the image URL’s can be found when you click on the photo. I didn’t want to list them all at the end. It was much easier this way!)

<3 jess

xoxo

P.S I found Teddie PB! I got the unsalted kind. It’s SO GOOD!

All in a day’s work (full day of food!!)

Hey babes! Hope everyone has had a fabulous week. I ate, relaxed, worked out, and spent time with family/friends. It was the perfect summer week.

I wanted to do a post showcasing 100% of what I ate today! (okay, probs more like 90%!)

Breakfast today was DELICIOUS! I had a Greek Yogurt mess, the perfect summer breakfast!   In the MIX…

• Strawberry Chobani Greek Yogurt
• Quaker Oatmeal Squares
• Chocolate Cheerios
• Shredded Wheat Cereal
• ~1/2 peach
• ~4-5 strawberries
• ~1/2 banana
• raspberry preserves
• dark chocolate almond spread (Maranatha)
• Skippy Natural Peanut Butter

I worked out between breakfast and lunch!

It was a 100% strength routine! No cardio necessary! LOVED it. I was literally shaking by the end…

• Abs
• 1 minute side plank/side, 1 minute plank
• REPEAT w/ no breaks
• 60, 45, 30, 15 Russian twists (4 sets)
• 4 sets of 15 twisting reverse crunches
• 4 sets of 20 toe touches
• 4 sets of 30 bicycles
• 4 sets of 20 captain’s chair (straight legs)
• Abdominal Crunch Machine (free motion) 4 sets of 15 (30 lb, 30 lb, 35 lb, 35 lb)
• Torso Rotation: 1 set of 15 per side (30 lbs)
• 2 minute plank
• Legs
• Hamstring: 3 sets of 10 (85, 85, 90 lbs.)
• Leg Curl: 3 sets of 10 (50, 55, 60 lbs.)
• Hip Adduction: 5 sets of 10 (190, 180, 170, 160, 150 lbs)
• Hip Abduction: 5 sets of 10 (190, 180, 170, 160, 150 lbs)
• Seated Calves: 3 sets of 15 (215 lbs)
• Standing Calf: 2 sets of 10 (70 lbs.)
• Leg Press: 2 sets of 10 (per side) (70 lbs)
• 2 minute wall squat
• pilates moves
• Arms
• Row: 3 sets of 10 (45, 45, 55 lbs)
• Seated Row: 2 sets of 10 (50 lbs)
• Assisted Pulldown: 2 sets of 7,8 (50, 55 lbs)
• Assisted Chin-up: 2 sets of 7,8 (50, 55 lbs)
• Assisted Tricep Dip: 2 sets of 7, 8 (50, 55 lbs)
• Assisted Lateral Pulldown: 2 sets of 10 (55 lbs)
• Lat Machine (free motion): 2 sets of 10 (40, 50 lbs)
• Tricep Pushdown: 2 sets of 8 (30 lbs)
• Fly: 2 sets of 10 (30 lbs)
• Tricep Extension: 2 sets of 10 (35, 40 lbs)
• Bicep Curl: 2 sets of 10 (30, 35 lbs)
• Chest Pullback (not the name, I know!): 2 sets of 10 (40, 45 lbs)

Talk about a full body workout!

While shopping, I took some photos!!   Lunch was QUICK & deliciously light. I needed some protein, but was REALLY short on time.

Chicken (+BBQ sauce) & fresh cantaloupe. Plus un-pictured nibbles!!      With such a LIGHT lunch, I was STARVING by the time I got home from shopping.

Enter: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Larabar.

Oh. my. goshhhhhh. New favorite! SERIOUSLY tasted like a cookie.  

 

Plus an apple, MORE cantaloupe, and trail mix.

I have eaten TWO cantaloupes in around…4 days. Oh yes I haveee!

Dinner was INCREDIBLE!

Chicken burgers topped with mozzarella, ketchup, tomato, lettuce…on a whole wheat bun. Served with a side of grilled veggies (red potatoes, carrots, onions, & asparagus!) Heaven. on. a. plate.

Tonight I went swimming with the fam & the boy! It was a blast, but I worked up an appetite. (I also had some of the boy’s brownie & ice cream!)

***PLEASE know that some days I eat WAY more than this, and some I don’t. I try my best to listen to my hunger cues. Basically, I am constantly eating My mom says I’m almost like a teenage guy because I’m always snacking!***

I am all about eating after dinner, too. I am not one of those people who is all about “No Eating After 7 pm or whatever.” NO WAY. I snack a lot at night. a lot. Read: the spoon always finds its way into the PB jar

Hope you all enjoyed this! I’ll do this every once in a while! My daily eats are rarely the same! I did get creative in the kitchen yesterday and I’ll share that with you in my next post!

<3 jess

xoxo

Blogging Routine?!

Well, what a FANTASTIC blogging routine I have! Goodness, I’m sorry to have left y’all for so long. I worked as a camp counselor all last week, so that took up about 75% of my time! Add 25% of life, and my week was BUSAYYY!

What HAVE I been up to?

• seeing my boyyyy
• eating some delicious FOOD
• enjoying the time off with my family
• figuring out school year plans
• working out like a fiend (I’ve made HUGE improvements in strength! YAY)

I ALMOST forgot…I tried Bikram yoga (as y’all know!) and I absolutely LOVED IT. The first class was probably the HARDEST thing I have ever done, or at least one of the toughest! The second class was a lot EASIRE (not easy, by ANY means, just no more nausea/discomfort due to the heat). My body loved every sweaty, yoga-y moment.

The problemo?

It’s way too expensive for this girl. I do not have the money to spend $16 per class. Bummer, but when I have a job, I’ll definitely be hitting it up when I get older! For sure!

My eats as of late have included three things: Veggies, Yogurt (Mostly GREEK), and PROTEIN. Upping my protein so I can start to see some serious muscle definition! Right, April?

Some fitness accomplishments as of late!

• I can now do a 2 minute plank (at the END of the workout, too!!)
• Captain’s Chair: 4 sets of 20 with straight legs (used to only be able to do like 20, 15, 15, 10)
• 6 minutes of solid plank work with no breaks\
• Doubled lbs. in torso twist machine
• increases in weights!

Today’s workout!!

Leg Work (20 minutes):

• Hamstring: 3 sets of 10 (85, 85, 90 pounds)
• Hip Abduction: 5 sets of 10 (190, 180, 170, 160, 150 pounds)
• Hip Adduction: 5 sets of 10 (190, 180, 170, 160, 150 pounds)
• Leg Curl: 3 sets of 10 (50, 55, 60 pounds)
• Calves (seated): 3 sets of 15 (215 pounds)
• Calves (standing): 2 sets of 10 (70 pounds+body weight)
• Leg Press: 2 sets of 10 (each leg, 70 pounds)
• 2 minute wall squat
• Pilates moves

Ab Work (35-40 minutes):

• 1 minute side plank per side, 1 minute plank … REPEAT w/ no breaks in between
• 1 minute Russian Twists w/ medicine ball
• 1 minute plank on medicine ball
• 1 minute Russian Twists w/ medicine ball
• 1 minute plank on upside down bosu ball
• Weighted hip lifts (while in side plank, move hip down to the ground, then pulse up, using 6 pound dumbbell) 1 set of 20/side
• 2 sets of 15 reverse crunches
• 25 slowwww pilates scissors
• 15 leg drops
• 20 toe reachers/side
• 30 bicycles
• 3 sets of 20 Captain’s Chair: knee tucks (legs bent)
• torso twist: 1 set of 15/side (30 pounds)
• Abdominal Crunch (free motion machine) 4 sets of 15 (25, 25, 30, 35 pounds)
• 2 minute plank

Cardio (20 minutes):

• 20 minutes on the elliptical

+ STRETCHING! and foam rolling, of course!

Came home and grabbed one of my fave protein sources, greek yogurt!

More eats as of late!

That’s all for now, folks!

I am looking forward to getting back into the routine of blogging & school (AHH, still have a book to read, oops.) This year is going to be AMAZING & life-changing. I SO wish I could tell you the absolutely LIFE-CHANGING news. But, you’ll have to wait a few months! I am having SUCH a hard time keeping my mouth shut.

Cannot wait for my license! Just a few more months! YES.

LOVE YOU ALL!

<3 jess

xoxo

Zumba & Bikram Yoga!

Hello All! Well this is a special treat! Usually I post late into the evening, but this is a “breakfast post.” Hooray for summer!

I tried something completely new to me last night: ZUMBA! One of my teachers at school belongs to the gym I go to, and she asked me if I’d ever been. That sparked something inside me and I decided I would go! BOY, was it FUN! And SUCH a great workout. Wow-za.I hope I can go again SOON! And guess what?!

It was taught by MADISON, a fellow blogger (I don’t think she updates anymore; her blog is private). She’s SO sweet and a FANTASTIC teacher! It was a cardio-riffic (word?) workout.

Tonight I’m headed to a Bikram Yoga Class. I’ll be honest; I’m a bit nervous! My dad knows the instructor (through work connections), so that’s nice. I’m really looking forward to it! 90 mintues of sweaty yoga. Yeahhhh.

Any tips for a Bikram newbie?

Breakfast this morning was absolutely delicious! I had Overnight OIAJ!

• 1/2 cup raw oats+1 container Yoplait Strawberry Greek Yogurt (last night)
• Splash of milk (this morning)
• blueberries
• banana
• strawberries jam (homemade, mmm)

SO GOOD!

This really hit the spot! And it’s pretty filling, too. I love the WCW at the bottom. It’s the best part!

Y’all have to try jam in with your yogurt messes! It’s one of my FAVE additions!

More eats! You like the new, wooden bowl+spoon? UGANDA craft market

CSN stores has given me the opportunity to review an item by allowing me to purchase an item up to $60! I am so grateful and excited all at the same time! I could even get a coffee maker…or anything really! They have SO many items to choose from. Thanks, Jason!

Have a FANTASTIC day, everyone! I love you ALL!

<3 jess

xoxo

Yes Please!

Hello All! It’s the long awaited Uganda post!  I spent two weeks in this BEAUTIFUL country. I stayed in an orphanage with around 70 kids and two “House-Mother’s.” There are kids anywhere from 2 months to 17 years (and older!!). I lived with them, got water with them, dug for the retaining wall, handed out mosquito nets, fed them, etc. etc. This mission’s trip involved a lot of hard work, but more importantly, the goal was not to WORK, but instead to build relationships! I absolutely fell in love with these children. They have pretty much next to NOTHING, yet they act as if they have EVERYTHING. They have such a joy, such innocence. I cannot even began to describe how they worship the Lord. It’s like nothing I’ve ever, EVER seen. It puts American church to SHAME.

I can honestly say that I am truly changed. The perspective on life that I once had is SO altered.

I know everyone has seen the commercials about orphans in Africa, help feed them, etc…But to be UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL to such need, such utter poverty, it is SO tough. I just wanted to FIX it, but I know that I, myself, cannot save all 2 million of Uganda’s orphans. But that doesn’t mean I will ever stop trying. Even if I only change ONE kids life, isn’t that worth it? I think so.

I have felt very numb, almost depressed since I have gotten home. I am constantly thinking “7 hours ahead” (that’s the time difference). Like, right now (10:30 here, 5:30 A.M. there) they are worshipping and getting water. The babies are crying, and the children are singing.

I feel guilty knowing I am HERE and they are still THERE, with no mom, no dad, and very little HOPE. I know that through GUILT—>MOTIVATION to change something.

My mission for the next time I go back is to go back armed with supplies for the nurseries (babies & toddler’s rooms). They don’t have toys, enough diapers, enough cribs, adequate clothes…and a bunch of other things. I’d LOVE to paint the nurseries and make them a place where the babies and house mom’s can rest and enjoy!

Anyways…enough TALK. I could go ON & ON…if y’all have any specific questions let me know via email: jess.havefaith4ever@gmail.com

PICTURES!

This boy is MINE.

I love you ALL. Back with a food post in the near future!

<3 jess

xoxo

Oh Uganda!

Hello All!

I am home safe and sound from Uganda, Africa. Many of y’all probably have heard about the bombings that took place in Kampala, Uganda (the capital city). I had actually just left Uganda hours before! But, more on that in the HUGE “recap” post.

I had an amazing time, and I am forever changed. One photo before I go! I fell in love with this little boy. His name is Aaron!

I came home to a redecorated room. I am so immensely blessed. When it’s all redecorated I PROMISE to post pictures!

Love to you all and thanks for your thoughts/prayers!

<3 jess

xoxo