Workout Wednesday

I love working out almost as much as I love food. I know. I cant' believe I just said that either.

The thing is, these two pretty much go hand in hand for me. It's funny how that works. The better we eat around here, the more motivated I am to back it up with intense workouts and the harder I workout, the more my body craves the good stuff. We stick to a mostly clean diet and never make ourselves feel guilty about the occasional late night ice cream indulgence. Everything in moderation is what works best for us. It's all about having a good balance.

Ever since my freshman year of college, I have been a fitness fanatic. I started by using the elliptical and as I worked up my endurance and saw the pounds melt off, I was running 5 milers on a regular basis. I quickly realized how great my workouts made me feel and when I noticed they were also forcing me to make healthy decisions without even thinking. WIN! Since then, I have changed my workout routine dramatically, adding in resistance and strength training and more variety in my cardio for the day. Mark has been preaching to me about interval training but I will admit I kind of didn't listen. Fast forward to my Google session entitled "Carrie Underwood's leg workout" and "operation: MUST add interval training to my workout regimen" began. Sorry I didn't listen to you, Mark. The main thing about my workout routine is that I try to keep it fresh with variety and intensity. Great music helps, too. Oh, and cute workout clothes.

Though I quit doing the whole CrossFit thing, I did learn something very valuable from this little endeavor; I'm tougher than I give myself credit for. Not only did I learn how to push myself physically, but also mentally. And what a feeling that is!

Below are some of my favorite go-to websites for workouts that work:

Iron Mamas: (Check out the 5k-50s workout. I do this one at least once a week. I attended Kelly's classes while we were both living in Charlotte so when we both moved and I found out she was blogging workouts, I breathed a sigh of relief. Iron-Mamas workouts are by far my favorite and work me the hardest. I swear by them! Kelly just launched a new blog as well for clean eating. Be sure to check it out: www.ironmamas-cleaneating.com)

Blogilates: Cassey is hilarious and full of energy! I love her POP Pilates videos, interactive website community and good health tips. She also offers workout printables! I love a good printable. Try challenging yourself with the 20/20 workout or this killer fat blasting abs workout. If you are on Twitter, you can follow Cassey- @Blogilates.

Tone it Up!: www.toneitup.com (Karena and Katrina are adorable! Fun workouts, videos that are easy to follow and tons of great recipes. Follow them on Twitter- @ToneItUp)

This type of post may or may not become something I regularly blog about but when I am passionate about something and find resources to fuel my excitement, I love to share.

Make today a great day!