Set your goals for 2013

Running a marathon never crossed my mind, but thanks to @NikeWomen for putting me up to the challenge, I completed my very first half-marathon this past October in San Francisco. Lots of hard work, dedication, and discipline went into accomplishing this challenge and it was an unbelievable feeling to finally cross those mats at mile 13.1. HUGE THANK YOU to the amazing women of Nike and awesome ladies I've met along the way on Twitter.

I want to encourage everybody to try and set a fitness goal of doing something that pushes your limits a little bit this upcoming year.  No, you don't have to sign up to run a marathon, but if you've never ran a 5k, set a goal and work to it.  Running not your thing?  That's ok - try biking, power walking, yoga, boot camps or weight lifting. It's very important to stay somewhat active and get proper exercise.  So let's get started...set that goal!

Set a Goal - it all starts with a setting a goal and committing to it.  And make this goal realistic.  If you're new to working out, set a goal to run a 5k.  Just find something that you feel will challenge you in your own fitness levels and work to achieve this goal in 2013. 

Stay Focused -  There are going to be times when you just don't want to get out of bed and go workout.  Push through those times and get up & get rolling! 


Mix up your routine - As a rule of thumb, never use the same routine for more than 4 weeks.  Muscle confusion is the key and there are great programs out there that can help you with this.  (P90X, Crossfit, and my personal favourite Nike Training Club )

Don't get Discouraged -  It's not always easy, but keep your head up and push through! Don’t worry about what others are doing, focus on what you can do.

Celebrate accomplishments - Reward yourself for accomplishments ie) first 5K run or logging in 100 miles. A small reward like a favorite treat can help keep you motivated :)

I crossed the finish line & this was my treat to myself ;)

My favourite iPhone apps

Aside from the must-have apps like Twitter, Facebook, WeatherEye (way better then the weather app that comes with iPhone), IMDB, & Tumblr, there are a few others I couldn't live without.

Fitness

Nike Training Club a free, ad-free, no excuses solution for newbies and fitness addicts alike. See my post on how it works here

Nike+Running App From the trail to the treadmill, your iPhone's GPS and accelerometer accurately record your distance, pace, and time. In-run audio feedback lets you know these metrics at every mile, so you can stay focused on your run.

Say Cheese :D

Instagram an excellent way to turn mundane images into cool-looking photos you can share with friends.

InstaCollage enhances users’ photos by providing a plethora of creative options. Options like selecting from over 100 different layouts, multiple effects and a huge selection of borders (with customizable colors and widths) for framing.

Halftone A fun and funky photo effects app that turns your own pictures into vintage comics or postcards.

Food & Drink

Epicurious indulge your inner foodie with a treat from Gourmet or Bon Appetit. You can search by ingredients and get complete shopping lists.

Allrecipes A fun and easy way to find awesome recipes! Search by ingredient or give your phone a shake to find inspiration.

Mixology Awesome app for those who want to explore different alcoholic recipes. :)

LCBO (for my Ontario peeps) works well if you are looking for wine, stores, hours, inventory, etc. you waste less time driving from store to store looking for your favorites.

Travel

TripCase provides up-to-the-minute flight information, including flight numbers, confirmation numbers, flight times, boarding/deplaning gates, and baggage carousel information.  When a flight change occurs, TripCase immediately sends a notification to my iPhone, which chimes in response and flashes it on the screen. 

Time Killers/Zombie Fix

No Zombies Allowed   Zombie hordes are looking to take over and munch on survivors. It’s up to YOU to save your town. I am so hooked on this game and protective of my survivors :P

Zombie Swipeout plays like Fruit Ninja for the iPhone only this time you're slicing and dicing zombies!

Bejeweled Blitz connect w/Facebook friends in this version and see who can score the highest.

Current Events/News

For staying in the know on current events, I'll check out CP24, Globe & Mail, NY Times, Mashable, Huffington Post, and Pop Sugar. 


These are just a few I use almost everyday and would love to know any of your must-haves :)

Do you have what it takes for the NikeFuel mission?

Tomorrow marks the first time ever NikeFuel Missions, the game will be powered by your everyday movement.

Get Moving
The objective of each mission is to earn enough NikeFuel in a given time period. Choose your physical activity and get moving. The more you move, the more NikeFuel you earn.

Log in

Begin your NikeFuel Missions journey by logging in using your Nike+ Account. If you do not already have a Nike+ account, you can create one by visiting nikeplus.com.

Choose Nike+ Device
Your Nike+ device measures your movement and turns it into NikeFuel. You must earn NikeFuel to advance throughout the game.

To play NikeFuel Missions, you must have at least one Nike+ device:

• Nike+ Running App
  Nike+ Fuelband
  Nike+ Basketball App
  Nike+ Training App
  Nike+ Sportswatch GPS
  Nike+ Sportband
  iPod nano with Nike+
  Nike+ Kinect Training
• To begin a mission, you must select a single device for gameplay. You may change your selected device on the Settings screen, provided a mission is not in progress.

Start Mission
At the start of each mission, you may choose your difficulty level: easy, medium, or hard. This will determine the amount of NikeFuel required to pass the mission. Each mission duration varies throughout the game.

Timer Starts
Once you have your Nike+ device in hand and are ready to begin, click or tap Play Now. This will begin the mission and start the clock.

Timer Ends
The Mission clock will count down until it has expired.

Sync your Device
You must sync your Nike+ device after the Mission clock has expired to view gameplay results. You may sync your device at any time; however, gameplay results will not be available until you do so.  

If you have not met the NikeFuel goal to advance to the next Mission, you may restart at any time to try again.

Advance to Next Mission
If you have met or exceeded the NikeFuel goal, you may advance to the next Mission by selecting Play Next Mission

Got it? Now get moving!! 

#GameOnWorld

Brave the elements with Nike swag

Back in October Nike Running challenged us to #RunTheElements. They have since released their amazing and colourful new collection to help you brave whatever may come your way - wind, cold, rain, snow and heat. NO excuses to stay indoors and hide!  Visit NIKE.com to view product details.
*Canadians to view the online shop on Nike.com change the region at bottom of screen to United States.

Party Appetizers! Avocado, Tomato, and Brie on Crackers

I love LOVE avocados! Here is an easy recipe to enjoy and get more fiber in  your diet. 

If you're in the mood for a little crunch, top whole grain crackers with a slice of brie, avocado, fresh tomato, cilantro, and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. If you're not a fan of brie, substitute provolone, goat cheese, or another type of cheese.