Fitness & Foodie Friday: Health or Treat? Nooky Quickie

While trick-or-treaters may be house-hopping and candy-popping this weekend, I’ll continue consuming my healthy supplements on the ☼daily!

Ginkgo Biloba: to promote mental focus

• This initially got me through my studying for and taking my comprehensive examinations to complete my Master’s degree
• I also took them as I prepared for my final semester exams, luminary comps (1st year) and candidacy (3rd year) to test for my Ph.D. coursework
• I’m continuing them as I progress through my dissertation process

Centrum VitaMints®: to aquire essential nutrients in a tasty way

• I’ve come a long way since my childhood Flinstones chewables ~ which I doubt are the best bet for my teeth with the acidity
• I’m still not a fan of swallowing tablets without having water and food in handy
• Therefore, I’m all about double-duty of fulfilling my ☼daily☼ needs while freshening my breath!

Of course, I don’t skimp on the actual food that I need to fuel my brain and body ~ which I’m actually including in an analogy between my marathon and my main statistical method (multiple regression) for my doc research!

Study Mode Trail Mix: Since almonds helped my bod during my 26.2-mi. course and my mind through my dissertation process, they were the main feature of this snack combo for the crunch + the Pumpkin Spice flavor along with the pumpkin cookies & candy, as well as more chocolate to cover these Brookside blueberries that also benefit the memory!

Study Mode Trail Mix: Since almonds helped my bod during my 26.2-mi. course and my mind through my dissertation process, they were the main feature of this snack combo for the crunch + the Pumpkin Spice flavor along with the pumpkin cookies & candy, as well as more chocolate to cover these Brookside blueberries that also benefit the memory!

Speaking of my race, although I haven’t run as many long distances in awhile, I’ve fit in mini drills to keep my energy levels high while I’ve been drained from my dissertation, a.k.a., my doc docs …

Cheers to Pumpkin ♥Love♥: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte VIA® PSL at home & Olive Garden Pumpkin Cheesecake to soothe my soul, body and brain as I update and practice my dissertation!

During my dedicated eating time (yes, I must make a meal break away from my computer, according to my Bestie Evie‘s birthday advice), I actually HIIT before I sit!

Olive Garden Leftovers from Ladies’ Night with the Holy Spiri† (counter-clockwise from bottom right): Chicken Cacciatorie & Cheese Manicotti (2 of my fave entrées rolled into 1) • Pasta e Fagioli w/ breadstick • Minestrone • Bestie Evie‘s Better-Than-Sex Brownie • Pumpkin Cheesecake (which took me 4 days to finish!) • Andes Mints ~ gotta ♥love♥ these after-dinner chocolate mints to cap off a classic OG meal!

While I wait for my chow to cook ~ simmering in the crock pot, boiling on the stove, or nooking in the oven/microwave/toaster ~ I do the following quick set(s), to induce more calorie-burning even after I’m done exercising:

Standing ♥Cardio♥

• Jumping Jacks ~ chant your mantra
• Run laps or lines (depending on space)

Floor/Mat/Carpet Core

• Plank or Push-Ups (or mountain climbers)
• Crunches or Sit-Ups (I prefer v-ups)
• Dips (in reverse plank) ~ if time permits

More ♥Cardio♥

• Dance ’til your ♥heart’s ♪content♫ ~ or your grub is ready

Stretch

Relieve those muscles after sitting at the computer desk and before sitting down to eat

Happy Early Halloween, All †Saints’ Day y el Día de los Muertos! ✌

Study Saturday: Every Moment Counts

With all of the abundant activities that have called for my attention lately, I’ve been mustering up every extra waking moment away to work on my dissertation ~ which is why I’ve actually appreciated these recent snow days.

• Some of my colleagues have considered their own hours per day of dedication on their doctoral research as shift work
• Others have only been able to devote even just a few minutes per day to their study

Lately, I’ve fallen under the latter category, rather than the former. Once upon a time, I was able to spend a whole work day’s worth, but with countless demands, I’m fortunate to invest up to an hour or so; for instance, with the additional studies that my department requires for us to review for our doctoral degrees, I’ve included at least one more per day. Regardless of how much time I’ve been able to write and research, the process is paying off as I keep making progress

Because not a day passes without my discipline and determination to stay focused and deter distractions.

Unless you count my catastrophic pleasant distractions, including my neighbor, who’s welcome to chillax ’til her ♥heart’s♥ content snow or ☼shine☼

#DOnotDisturb mode

After our early week Snow Day and before our Snow Weekend

And with †GOD’s† ☼grace☼