10 ways to Max Out your March
Hi guys! Hope you’re having a lovely morning! Can we just talk about the Oscars for a second? Did you watch?! Giuliana Rancic’s dress was definitely my favorite and I’m still shaking my head at “Adele Dazeem.” I always love the Oscars for the fashion alone, but my favorite moment this year was the tribute to The Wizard of Oz. It’s my favorite movie of all time, and P!nk did a beautiful job.
Hope you’re having a happy March 🙂 Ours is definitely going to be an eventful one.
I turned my first draft of the book in this weekend:
(wahoo!!!!!)
and we’ll start the editing process. Next week i’m off to NYC, then we have some basketball games, and oh yeah, that whole moving thing. I’m looking forward to the day that we’ll be settled in our new place (which doesn’t exist yet) and can start exploring and enjoying. In the meantime, we’re starting to get everything ready.
I’ve always been a huge fan of March. St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays, I love the hint of spring in the air, and we usually plan a fun family vacation. Any March traditions or big events on the horizon for you?
Here are some ways to get more out of an already-amazing month:
1) Invest in a new piece of workout attire. Spring is usually a good reminder to get new shoes if you’re starting to notice any pain or signs of wear and tire. Here is an article with some tips on how to gauge if your sneaks need a replacement; new shoes make a huge difference! If you’re a runner, get your stride checked at a local running store.
Right now, my favorite Crosstraining shoes are the ZQuicks and Nanos:
and I’ve been running in the One Cushions with Superfeet inserts.
2) Evaluate your workout plan. Check out the March calendar if you’re looking for inspiration! Think of one goal you’d like to accomplish with your fitness plan. Maybe it’s consistency (“I’ll work out 4 days each week for the rest of the month”) or a specific training goal. An easy one: try to lift heavier than usual. If you feel like you’ve been using the same weight for a while and could easily complete more reps in a set, increase it a little. You could always do drop sets, too, starting with a more challenging weight and when you fatigue, switch to your usual weight.
3) Plant something! I love planting in March (even though let’s be real, said plants usually have a short life span). I’m still planting things even though we’re moving. I’ll be the crazy lady with boxes of plants in the moving truck 😉
4) Make a summer savings goal. See that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?
You’re making it this month! Set some $ aside for a savings goal you’d like to achieve, even if it’s $1 a day. Use it for whatever you like at the end of the month!
5) Check out some new sandals. (<— I didn’t write that to justify my sandal obsession to the Pilot.) Target always has cute ones 🙂
6) Sign up for a summer fitness event (a big scary one). That fitness goal that’s been in the back of your mind? Go for it. Maybe it’s a half or full marathon, a yoga challenge at your studio, CrossFit challenge, anything that you’ve considered trying but have put it off for any reason. Now’s the time to make it happen!
7) Make a festive green cocktail (or mocktail). My favorite March cocktail: The Lucky Irish Girl.
8) Create a killer fitness playlist. Here’s my current running playlist! I’m LOVING “Tightrope” by Walk the Moon.
9) Clean out your car (and keep it clean for the whole month). Yikes.
10) A salad a day. It could be a warm, comforting salad or a cold chopped one. It’s a delicious and customizable way to increase your nutrient intake. Here’s a post on building a perfect salad!
The Pilot’s goal: a fine March mustache. He already looks like a creeper haha 😉
What are you going to do this month? Any big goals you’ve set? I’d love to hear about them!!
xoxo
Gina
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During Lent I always try to eat something green for every meal. It is a really good way to get back in the habit of eating vegetables. Green cocktails count, so thanks for the recipe! 😉 I always love your lists, but this one might be my favorite. Thanks!
St. Patrick’s is my absolute favorite holiday and my goal is to plan an entire day of festive food for it! My monthly fitness goal is to sign up for a 5K!
I love all these ideas!
I definitely have some race plans for this year. I want to do a 5K in July and I’m scared to even think about doing a half marathon in Sept. It would definitely be more walk than run but I really want to complete one. Bucket list, you know.
Typically I don’t watch the Oscars but I love looking at all the dresses the next day. If I had Calista Flockhart’s body (and the $$ to buy her dress) I was thinking how pretty that would be for a wedding dress. 🙂
yes, her dress was GORGEOUS!
I love setting goals for the month, it’s a great way to stay organized and planning all month!
Congrats on turning in a book draft!!
thank you, lovely! xo
Hi Gina,
It looks like your March Calendar is password protected…. is there somewhere I can sign up in order to view that? Thanks so much!
yep! there’s a newsletter sign up on the right side of the blog 🙂
xoxo
I can’t wait until I can wear sandals again! It is too cold here and I am in dire need for some warm weather so my cute clothes can come back!
So excited about your book!!! Congrats! I love the concept 🙂
And I love your goals for March! Since it rained here this weekend, my car is now clean, so that’s check off the list, haha.
I plan on trying some new workouts though and definitely buying some fun sandals from Target for the Coachella festival in April! Target is seriously a life saver.
i’m super jealous that you’re going to coachella!
My goal this month is to cut processed sugar out if my diet and eat more real stuff. Clean up diet is my mission and it will be a challenge with the deadlines I have this month!
I am finally going to do something about the food allergy symptoms my husband has been having for years now and just putting up with. This week we’re trying a gluten free diet to see if it helps him at all (they say to do 2 weeks to really be able to tell so we’ll see if we make it that far). And after this little trial we’re finally taking him to an allergist to get him tested. Its exciting to see him wanting to try healthier options which helps me as well! Meal planning has been a challenge for the week but we’ll muddle through! March is the start of feeling better!
hope he can get some relief!! xoxo
I would love to see your March Calendar! How do we find out the password? Thanks!
sign up for the newsletter! the widget is on the right side of the blog 🙂
I am so excited for warmer weather! We are making our first farmer’s market trip of the season this weekend and repotting some plants! Yay!!
March is the month I turn 30. Except my birthday is the 1st so it already happened – ha! It was actually a pleasant reminder that I’m generally right where I’d always wanted to be at this age (minus the millions – oh well). It was nothing to pout about. This weekend I’m taking my first girls trip since my kids were born. Woop woop!
happy 30 to you!! have an amazing time on your girls’ trip, too.
xoxo
This month is going to be amazing as I’m getting married in 3 weeks and then going on a fab honeymoon!! My aim is to tone my arms slightly more over the next few weeks and then try and keep up some fitness when on honeymoon. WSU workout 4 will be really useful for this I think!
so excited for you and your wedding!
Love it!! Congrats on turning in your book draft, so excited for you and to get my copy! Had early morning workout that I almost slept through until seeing your email with March motivation. Just what I needed to get up and out this a.m. Now feeling great.
Have a great day
thank you so much for your support!!
have a great day <3 so awesome you started your morning with a workout.
xoxo
can’t wait to buy your book!
great motivational march tips — thank you!
I love the one about keep the car clean! I am so going to do this! This is our first year in this place so I am pumped to plant some things!
March is a little spring tease around here. It will be 70 and gorgeous one day, then back to winter the next.
This month has quickly turned into quite the stressful one as we just found out that we have move out of our current home in just a few weeks. We’re building a new house, but it’s nowhere near ready to move into. Not sure what’s going to happen in that department. Eeek!
On a happy note, my boy’s second birthday is tomorrow and I’m excited to celebrate!
happy birthday to him and you, too, mama! xoxo
OMG…when I used to have a car, it looked like my hotelroom on a trip. Clothes everywhere, toothbrush, make up, shoes, CD’s, plastic bottles (empty)….seriously, I had a problem, lol….
My goal is to REST more. I had awful backpain and dizziness last week and had to rest the whole week – and I never felt better. My body definitely needs more restdays.
PS: I SO feel you on the sandal obsession….. 🙂
haha that makes me feel better about the car situation. we always need backups of everything 😉
hope you get some wonderful rest this month!
Yay! Congrats on finishing the book! What an accomplishment!
thank you! <3
You have inspired me to clean out my car, lol. With the winter here and all the salt on the outside of the car, the inside is a train wreck 🙂 Congrats on the book!!!
same. the house is clean, but my car is always a MESS. thank you so much!
Love it! My 21st birthday is this month, so that’s a pretty big milestone! 🙂
yay, happy almost-birthday to you!
March is my favorite month! It helps that my bday is the first day of spring. 😀 I always give something up for Lent (usually sugar, despite said bday and cake). I started this month with the notion of trying to eat healthier and get more exercise in, so far, I’ve been doing okay. I’m working on the small steps. 🙂
Great tips! I’m thinking about changing up my workout routine pretty soon actually, time to get ready for warm weather. I’m so excited for your book btw 🙂
Congrats on completing the first draft of your book!! I always feel like writing the first draft is the hardest part….don’t you agree? It feels like you’re coming over the top of the huge mountain of thoughts!
We’re taking a family trip to see my parents in Vero Beach, FL in mid-March. Can’t wait! This winter has been brutal in Kansas city!!
I think I’m going to start planning out my summer so I have a bunch of really great things to do!
Great list! Funny, I was thinking about something similar this morning, for the month of March at least. My goal is to have a green smoothie for breakfast every weekday – spinach, almond milk, banana, ice, almond butter, repeat.
This years Oscars just might have been my favorite! Congrats on the draft of your book, I will definitely be picking that one up in stores once it’s out 🙂
I could not believe how badly John Travolta butchered her name. He’s in show business and has done musicals. How can he not know her?
My goal is to continue to balance work, school, and fitness with trying to accomplish more projects at home and getting together with friends more often! I’ve enjoyed mixing up my fitness routine lately and will continue to do so in March.
Also, creeper is one of my favorite words. Not many other people I know use it, but it’s so perfect! 😉
I am sooo excited about your book! Congratulations!
You’ve been a busy little bee. So… have you just been “eating the frog” first thing in the morning?
I’d love to hear what the process has been like (disciplining yourself with a toddler and family). etc.
Thanks!
Georgia
I love SPD, too! In fact, my boyfriend and I both took the day off to hang out downtown Cleveland – there’s a parade and such (plus we’ll be celebrating our one year! 😉 ) I remember a few years ago it was 75 and sunny. Sadly, this year, I’m thinking we’ll be happy if it reaches 40 – bummer!
Congratulations on the first draft! You must be relieved. 🙂 Enjoy NYC.
Wow, the progress on the book is great news! Looking forward to the official release!
Thanks for reminding me to get a new pair of shoes — in fact, I need two pairs (one for running, one for everyday walking) but I always postpone buying new ones until my old shoes are practically useless. I think there’s something charming about seeing your old worn out sneakers, but it’s no good at all for your entire body to keep wearing them!
Your shorts on the picture are super adorable!
Hi Gina!
I’ve been following your blog for about a year now, and I love it! Always fun to read, and I’ve used several of your workouts!
I wanted to know how you first dove into the fitness training world. Did you start with NASM certification? Or did you start with your group fitness certifications? I’m planning to make the career transition into fitness training over the next 1.5-2 years (I’m in a PhD program right now, and I’ll be finishing within that time frame). I just am in an information-gathering stage now and I’d love to hear how the transition went for you!
Thanks so much!!
I like this list! Some of these are very original. Thanks for the suggestions and the March calendar!
“he already looks like a creeper” hahaha oh, honey, you make me LAUGH <3
And YES!!!!! Can we please talk Oscars!? I hope you loved Ellen! Cause she had me belly laughing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And P!NK really was awesome, too. But ELLEN! <3 <3 <3 <3 too funny.
oh and a huge congrats on submitting your first draft 🙂 you are so inspiring, Gina
Congrats on your book! What an amazing accomplishment!
I love love love your goal list you post monthly. I began last month and looking forward to this months! Unfortunately I don’t know if I can do a new pair of sandals and workout gear (I need new shoes) BUT I’m definitely saving for a summer event…hot air ballooning for my birthday!
Introduced my friend Natasha to WSU and working with her this month is my March fitness goal!
Thank you thank you Gina!
I am SSSOOO excited for your book. Such an amazing journey to be starting.
I will be attempting to stick to the March calendar and also no dessert for me for all of March. Day 2 and I’m already craving it.
Congratulations on the book draft! That must be a relief to get the first part done.
I’ve had my trainers for an embarrassingly long time so definitely time for a spring clear out. Just wondering what kind of shoes you wear for zumba though? Do you have any recommendations?
Congrats on the book! My goal is overall more cardio during the week and specifically running outside as it gets more spring like… any day now!
Just a heads up with taking your potted plants into California. When i moved to San Diego in 2009, they made us dump all the potted plants before entering Cali. Something about wanting to make sure thre soil and any insects are not brought into the state. If you plan on moving them, make sure they are tucked in the back of the truck and not right when you open the door. Don’t want you to lose your precious plants. I only lived in San Diego for 3 years and it was amazing. Enjoy your time there by the beach.
wow, good tip! thank you for letting me know!
I’m training for my first triathlon so my weekly goal is to complete all the workouts each week. Just started week 4 and so far I only missed one workout, a strength workout. It was the start of week 2 and completely spaced out that I had that workout that day even though I ran my 2.5 miles. I bought a new white winter jacket this weekend at Nordstrom Rack since my other one’s down was all in clumps as my reward.
I need to look into a new pair of running shoes. Closest running stores are an hour but I’m going to check a few out. I’ve been alternating between a 4mm and 8mm drop and I seem to have less aches and pains when just running on one shoe.