Wednesday WOOT! Factor!!

I knew that Sarah and I would be fabulous friends when I first saw this picture. Anyone that loves cowboy hats like I do is a BFF of mine. 

Kids - meet Sarah Hoffman, aka @sarahkayhoffman on Twitter. Sarah works at Sears(R) and you can find her chatting it up with me and Andrea Metcalf and other fab fit-obsessed folks on the Sears(R) Fit Club on Facebook. Click Here to Join Us if you haven't already! Fun stuff coming up in 2011~~

Read on for some more fitness gab from Sarah. She rocks. Totally. ;-)

Wednesday WOOT! Factor Questions

1. When did you first start working out and why? I have been involved with things since I was 5! I was a gymnast most of my life and then I played ice hockey (goalie) throughout high school. I let it slide some in college – bad decision! I truly got into working out about 3.5 years ago when my husband and I moved to Northern California because: 1. It’s a lifestyle here and 2. I was getting ready for my wedding.
2. Are you at your “Happy Place” right now – meaning more of a maintenance mode, or are you still in a weight loss mode? I am mostly in a “happy place” right now. I don’t need to lose weight. I have never had to lose weight once I dropped the freshman “20” in college!
3. If you are in maintenance mode, do you feel that you work just as hard to maintain your level of fitness as you did to lose it? Yes, I work extremely hard! I am in the gym, outside or working out at home at least 5 days a week. I feel like I have to push myself harder and shake it up more to see any results.
4. What does your current workout “routine” look like now? Currently, I am training for the Rock ‘n Rolle ½ Marathon in Las Vegas on December 5. That being said, I am running, running, running! I run 5-6 days a week. My running workouts are a mix of intervals, hills, long distance, tempo and “whatever I’m feeling that day.” Today I have intervals – 8x400’s at 5K pace. Whew! Additionally, I strength train at home or at the gym, (depending on my mood) ride bike, do the elliptical, circuit train or stretch. I must mix it up or I become too complacent and bored!
5. What do you do for cardio? How often? Run mostly right now. Since my goal is this next ½ marathon I have to do a lot of cardio and circuit-type training for endurance. This is not always my goal, and when I want to gain more muscle, I’ll lay off all the cardio!
6. Do you workout at home or the gym? Both! Sometimes I just have to get out of the house and be around other people while working out. I like lifting at the gym, where the guys are, because I think it’s powerful to see girls lifting weights! But I also have weights, a yoga mat, and resistance bands at home currently. I will pick these up whenever I just feel like moving a little, (every bit helps) or when I don’t have time to get to the gym.
7. What do you say to those that haven’t gotten fit and complain that they don’t because they “can’t get motivated”? “Motivation” is a state of mind. Find the state of mind that will get you motivated and make it happen! Not everyone is motivated by losing weight or the “runner’s high.” But everyone is motivated by something. Find it!
8. What about any/all of the excuses like “No time”, “No money”, “no gym”, “no support”? It’s a choice. We all have choices. “No Time?” There are 24 hours in a day – everyone receives the same amount. You choose how you spend it. “No money?” The last time I checked, running and walking outside were free. Sit ups, pushups and jumping jacks at home are free. “Fitness” isn’t just made with an expensive gym membership. It’s made through movement. “No support?” If people in your “real-life” aren’t giving it to you, know that you can find support all over the Internet! There are groups just waiting to welcome you! Here are 2: 1. If you are on Twitter, join the #SFCFit Chat every Wednesday at 7:30pm CST (http://bit.ly/dou719) 2. If you are on Facebook, join the Sears Fit Club where there will always be someone waiting to talk, help you get and stay fix, provide premiere articles, videos and expert opinions! (http://www.facebook.com/searsfitclub)
9. What does your “diet” look like i.e. how you eat, what is your Philosophy? My diet is stricter than most people I know. I have a form of colitis and inflammation, which leaves me very cautious with food. I am just a little over 4 months at 100% gluten free. I rarely eat preservatives and food items with multiple ingredients. I am careful with carbohydrates and many vegetables. I mainly eat non-carbohydrate foods with the addition of bananas. That being said, I am still a girl who is a huge foodie and loves to eat! On rare occasions, I’ll have carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes and quinoa or gluten free frozen yogurt. Minus the gluten, my philosophy is to take the 80/20 approach. Life is too short. But I always remember also that life is too short to feel miserable!

10.  What changes have you made over the past several years in your diet and/or workout approach and why? My “food issues” began almost 6 years ago. It was then that I started to think about my diet differently. I switched from “everything low or no-fat” to “ingredients that heal.” My diet has made all the difference! With my workout, the biggest change I have made is that I have made it an integral part of my life. It is a constant, and never a “fad” anymore. Consistency is key!

11.  What is your food weakness? Ice cream. Cake. Carbs. None of which I really eat anymore!

12.  What is your favorite healthy breakfast? Greek Yogurt, Crunchfuls (a gluten-free cereal), banana and coffee OR tofu, turkey bacon and a pinch of olive oil.

13.  When did you start blogging and why? I started blogging in April, 2009 to “record” my journey with food intolerance (at that time it was 22 foods). I used blogging as a way to share what I was dealing with and to connect with other people who were dealing with the same.  I started on the Blogger Platform. Since then, I have moved to my own site (on WordPress) and have added another Blog, which is my Social Media/Professional Blog.

14.  How has blogging enhanced your fitness efforts? I always feel accountable, especially during my ½ Marathon training. If you go to the bottom of my site (www.sarahkayhoffman.com) you will see a Google Calendar. If you left click on any specific date, you will see exactly how I ran/worked out!

15.  What is your Twitter/FB/Email: Twitter (@sarahkayhoffman), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/sarahkayhoffmanmarketing), Sites (www.sarahkayhoffman.com and www.digitalmention.com)

16.  What haven’t you done (fitness wise) that you’d like to try? After I have a child or two, I’d love to do a figure competition! Doesn’t that sound odd? AFTER I have a child or two? But it’s true! The ultimate for me!

17.  What motivates you to keep at it? Feeling great! When my stomach is acting perfect, I am ultra-ultra-ultra motivated! It’s something I could never describe to anyone who doesn’t face it day-in and day-out. Also, once I hit below 8-minute/mile mark with running, I got somewhat addicted to that number. It’s killing me, thoughJ And finally, my husband really motivates me. I am fortunate in that we both extremely into health and fitness. We workout together, and love being active!

18.  Are you a morning workout person or evening or lunchtime? Morning – BY FAR! That being said, I rarely have time to workout first thing in the morning anymore, since I love cranking out a lot of work stuff in the morning. If I can’t get it in in the morning, then typically it’s at night with my husband!

19.  What is YOUR biggest excuse that you find yourself battling in not wanting to workout a certain day? It’s always either because I’m too bloated from something I ate, too sore from previous workouts or that I have too much going on with work. BUT….I typically combat them all! No excuses!

20.  Do you weigh yourself or measure yourself?  I used to be obsessed. I maybe weigh once or twice a week now. I go by my clothes, how they fit and the fact that I haven’t bought a new pair of jeans in a long time!

21.  Extra Thoughts:  Just remember, you’ll never finish a workout (even if it’s just 10 minutes) and say to yourself, “Wow – that was a waste of time. I totally regret that!” Never! You will look back and say, “I feel good!” And isn’t that what life is about? When you take care of yourself you feel good. And when you feel good, you are happier. When you are happier you are a more positive and passionate person. And when you are positive and passionate, people gravitate towards you and want to be around you! It’s all a chain and we need to remember that with the health, fitness and food decisions we make on a daily basis. And one more thing – very important – no where do these “rules” ever say you cannot end the day with a glass of red wine! Make your life count – enjoy it – and live it with true passion! As I say at the bottom of each Blog Post, “Count Your Fortunes!” Woot!