Twitter to get Fitter

bragging a little.

2011-08-08T08:48:00.000-05:00

but not about me!

my husband has been working out since may 7th. he's had amazing progress. he's working with a personal trainer, who happens to be a friend of ours. he's enjoying finding new snacks and ways to prepare old favorites. it's making a difference, and here's something we can all learn:

the scale lies.

seriously. he'd been really disappointed by his recent (at-home) weigh ins. but then this morning he did the official gym weigh in, and found that while he'd lost only 7 pounds, he'd lost 45 pounds of fat. i can't even comprehend that. we used to buy dog food in 45 pound bags, that's a lot. so even though his overall weight is not much different this time around, he's lost a ton of fat and replaced it with muscle. he's progressing better than expected, and my favorite thing is how fit he's becoming.

both of us have this goal of being healthy for our kids (when we have them), and having some awesome habits for them to pick up. things like, not having dessert after every dinner. when we do, having something like watermelon. how about not adding a ton of salt to your dinner, or going on family walks together? those are things we're implementing in our lives now so that we can pass them on, naturally, to our kids.

so, things are going well! how about you? what kind of lifestyle changes do you have that you're happy about? so often this blog ends up being about what we're NOT doing. tell me something that you ARE doing that is a good habit!

South Beach

2011-07-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

Oh! Hello, there! No, I haven't forgotten about you, I just have been eating very badly this summer. I don't know why. Not so much my lunches and dinners but the snacks. Oh, the snacks...someone save me from myself.

Hopefully that's about to change since my husband's orthopedic surgeon told him he needs to lose 20 lbs and suggested the South Beach Diet. He is going to have hip replacement surgery (I know, he's only 37. Crazy) within the next 6 months or so and can't do much working out other than swimming due to that bum hip. The doctor's wife is a nutritionist and has her own diet plan which is very similar to South Beach, so he suggested we look into that (his wife's plan is one of those where you have to purchase all the food and we just can't afford that). He actually lost 50 lbs himself so that's encouraging. I already have the book (psssst, the Kindle version is only $2.99 right now!) and have been looking at it periodically. And you know what? I don't think it's going to be as hard as I originally thought.

If you would have asked me to try this diet 5 years ago, I would have laughed in your face. But now that we've been adding more fresh vegetables and fish to our diet and now that I'm no longer scared of buying produce, the first phase (which is mainly vegetables and lean meats and eggs--no carbs or fruit) that lasts 14 days doesn't look that difficult to me. It's not going to be EASY because things get old after awhile and Hubby is used to lots of sweets, but I think I can handle 2 weeks worth of strict eating. And it's not like it's taking away everything tasty. We are allowed chicken breast, fish, salads, eggs, low-fat dairy, sugar substitutes, all the vegetables we can eat except for potatoes, and even coffee (although they suggest decaff, we are NOT going there). The next phase adds in fruit and healthy carbs (whole grains and such) and then by the third phase, you should be used to eating healthy that it's more of a lifestyle now than anything. They say you quit craving the sweets after the first few days on the diet and I believe that, because I've gone on successful sugar detoxes and after the first few rough days, it gets better. The problem is falling off the wagon by going on a binge and never getting back on. So, if we can keep from doing that, then we'll be good.

The great thing about this is that there is rapid weight loss in those first two weeks and it's mainly belly fat, which both of us struggle with. Now, I know that sounds hinky and too good to be true, but if you think about it, you're cutting out all the BAD foods and eating what's healthy and right, all the great things they eat in the Mediterranean and way back before we had so much processed foods. And it's not like Atkins where you just gorge on meat and meat and meat. I just don't even see how that is healthy. What I've been reading through this book is that this is a heart-healthy diet and can help prevent diabetes. That's always a great thing!

So, have any of you tried this diet before? Is anyone interested in doing it with me? I'm not sure when we'll begin, but the sooner, the better, in my book!

starting out, not too bad

2011-07-18T12:41:00.000-05:00

so, i don't know if i mentioned this before-- but i joined the gym at work. because my husband is working out something awesome, and i'll be damned if i let him be better than me! so it's a sort of friendly competition now. not one he knows about, but just sort of a way to keep myself accountable.

so, i'm doing it! (she said... again)

last week, i walked a lot on the treadmill-- i found a site that tells you how to be a runner. no joke, i googled it. so it gives you a gameplan. you can search for the one that fits you best, but mine was a weekly plan, where for the first week, you walk 30 minutes. then you jog 2/ walk 4, repeat til 30 minutes. and it keeps changing how you do it until you're running (jogging?) for 30 minutes straight. which is basically a 5K.

also, i tried yoga for the first time ever. it's gotta be great, right? you just lay there. there's soothing music, and you can't be held responsible if you fall asleep.
FALSE.
it's difficult. i was sweating-- sweating!-- halfway through the class. the second half was easier though, but we held the poses for about 5+ minutes each, which was weird and didn't feel like as much of a workout. husband is going to like me doing the yoga though, because it makes me feel loose and i might not ask for so many massages!
there are on-demand workout videos through u-verse tv, but i don't have a yoga mat to do them at home. and i've already discovered that doing them on a pair of towels doesn't cut it. maybe i can talk husband into getting me a yoga mat for our anniversary soon?

so, i did okay for my first week. i'll be going to the gym again today right at the end of work. it helps that i have an "accountability partner" here at work who goes to the gym and classes with me. sometimes it just takes someone asking if you're going to go. like my very own jiminey cricket.

first off, please excuse the language

2011-07-11T08:18:00.001-05:00

and second, please read this. it's what we all need to hear, and what we occasionally tell each other. well, it's time that WE hear this. it's time i hear this.

source unknown. if it's yours, let me know and i'll credit you.

Today is Thursday

2011-07-07T15:18:00.002-05:00

So what does that mean? Well, it's my day to blog and think and write down some goals and maybe feel guilty over all the weight I haven't been losing and all the weird/bad foods I have been eating.

Technically, I have all the time in the world to be working out, planning meals, cooking, and generally eating healthy. Is it happening though? No. I've been staying up MUCH too late, sleeping in super late, being lazy, and just writing a lot of nonsense that doesn't really mean anything to anyone in the "real world". Basically, it's been a blah summer in a town with too many workers and not enough jobs where I've been on a series of interviews and been unable to close the deal.

Truth be told, I need a routine.

I hate routine, but it is necessary to get me on track into a healthy lifestyle. With a busy school life comes structure and the need to block out 45 minutes of time for walking. If I don't block it out, it wouldn't happen and I need all the study breaks that I can get. Here and now, I'm just sitting around thinking "Oh, I could do that.... after I watch one more episode of X." And then it doesn't happen. So, it needs to happen. I need a routine. Hubby goes to the gym ever morning. I need to start going with him and walking on the treadmill. Who cares if it's boring? I need to do it, for me, for my heart, and for my sister's wedding next summer.

Yes, that's right. My baby sister turns 21 next year and is getting married to her high school sweetheart. She's such a pretty girl and a joy to the whole family. I don't want to be the dumpy matron of honor. No. I want to be the hot matron of honor who organizes an awesome shower and looks super awesome in her likely sleeveless dress for all those photos. I can do it! I will be pretty and look great in her pictures. I lost a bunch of weight for my wedding and looking back, I love how I looked. Sure, I could have lost a bit more, but overall, I think I looked pretty hot. (The mister thought I did, too --- said I was just as pretty that day as I was the day we met. Which means a lot being about 25 pounds heavier then than I was when we met.)

Additionally, I'm doing a fitness challenge with my parents. We are all going to log X-number of fitness minutes a week. When I'm working out, I'm motivated to eat healthier. I'm motivated to eat less frozen and more whole foods. I'm motivated to eat more greens and less rice. I'm motivated to eat less ice cream and more fruit. So yes, when my body feels work out, tired and just.... so good, I feel good. I eat better.

So yes, this is me consciously talking about getting back on the horse. The challenge starts Sunday. Wish me luck!

Where are you with your goals? What motivates you?

back to my "roots"

2011-06-13T09:41:00.000-05:00

right?
guess what i'm doing later today?

joining a gym.

that's right. i'm going back to the gym. i cannot work out on my own. i don't do it. i make time maybe once a week. and now that husband's working out so much and looking hot, i don't want people to wonder how i got that hot spouse. i want them to wonder how HE got that hot spouse! so, since i'm competitive, i won't dare let him outdo me in this fitness race.

it's nice to have support at home, not just on here. and since husband's working out, he's supporting me. instead of watching a movie in the evening, we'll go for a short hike. or play in the pool (it's still activity!). or take the dog for a walk.

love.

Summer Cookin'

2011-06-10T16:23:00.000-05:00

Summer cookin', had me a blast. Summer cookin' happened so fast... wait, what?

So, summer has ARRIVED and is in full force here in Arkansas. It's hot, sweltery (is that a word?), and makes you just want to stay inside. Unfortunately, being active outside this time of year is way more uncomfortable than during the spring and fall months. Bike riding is miserable and expect to have a soaked shirt if you want to go hiking, even at dusk. The only thing I want to do is sit in my son's blow-up pool with a cold drink in my hand.

I confess that when I lost my workout mo-jo due to my tendonitis, I REALLY lost it and haven't been active since. It was really difficult for me to commit to getting up that early and working my body and if I'm going to do that again, I have to psych myself up and need lots of encouragement. The toddler still isn't sleeping as well as he used to and has started getting up a little earlier in the mornings (mornings are already a rush for all three of us to get out the door) so I'm rethinking the working out first thing in the morning. It's also hard for me to go to the gym in the middle of work because our locker room isn't right next to our gym and I have to go in and change, go work out, go back to the locker room to change out of my sweaty clothes and then it ends up being an hour or more and I only get 30 minutes for lunch. So...excuses, excuses, I know. I'm going to try to start doing Zumba at home on the Wii because at this point, I think it's my best choice. Now, the best time to do that is still up in the air.

The good news in all of this is that I haven't gained back those 5+ pounds I lost. How I haven't is beyond me but I think it may have to do something with how active my little boy is and the stamina it takes to keep up with him. So, even though he wears me out, I guess it's good for me!

All that being said, I am currently trying to make a grocery list and since it's so DANG hot, I'm trying to figure out what I can fix just using my stove top or crock pot or broil (less time in the oven) so my whole house doesn't go up to 85 degrees during suppertime. Some things I've started making that have been good are roasted chicken in the crock pot (which stretches to two or three meals), balsamic broiled veggies with pasta, steak quesadillas with pre-made steak strips, salads with imitation crab and lots of cut up veggies, corned beef sammies (using canned corned beef and provolone on pumpernickel or rye). Most of these are low-fat and if you pair them with healthy options, then you have a well-rounded dinner.

What are your go-to summer meals? Are you doing anything active right now? What would help you get motivated to do better?

wishing gets you nowhere

2011-05-23T08:52:00.000-05:00

haven't we learned that enough? it's true.

so i'm going to try something new. see, i'm eating healthy, that's not my problem. but that only gets you so far. my husband has been extremely motivating, what with his going to the gym 5 days a week. and working with a trainer. and losing weight. and not having cheat days except on sundays. so basically, he's kicking my butt at this "healthy living" thing. so, i'm in. if he can do it-- this man who hated to run is running, hated to get up earlier is doing so-- then i can, too. not the get up early part. i can't really give that up. not yet. BUT i do get out of work about an hour before he does, and i can work out then. i don't have the gym membership that he does, but i DO have the nike training app (i may have mentioned it before?). and it's hard. seriously. my first goal is to actually make it through one whole workout. it won't happen right away, i know that, but i'll still try.

i stopped exercising when i got sick, because i had all sorts of sicks. i was out of commission for two months, but i can't use that as an excuse forever! so i'm ready to live the kind of active lifestyle i eventually want to pass on to my kids, and as my husband already is.

it's on!

Back on the Wagon

2011-05-13T13:50:00.000-05:00

Blogger, I'm holding out hope that you don't die again before I finish this post. And now, Twitter is all goofed up. Typical Friday the 13th, eh?

So...how's everyone doing? I did really good for about 5 weeks. I lost exercised and ate right and lost 5 pounds for my brother's wedding, which was the mental goal I had set. Then I was diagnosed with ~~nintendonitis~~ tendonitis in my achilles tendon. Ugh. That sure puts a damper on a workout schedule. I haven't been able to do much cardio in the past 2-3 weeks and I'm really upset about that. I had even psyched myself up to work out in the gym instead of doing Wii Active because it's a little more flexible and there are lots of different machines I can use. Plus, I hated the running so I could just do a stationary bike or elliptical. But my ankle really messed all that up.

Not only did I quit working out, but I reverted to my old eating habits. Ya know, frozen bagged food, fast food, chocolate...although I've kept my portions pretty small still. The 12-month-old has been cutting molars the PAST THREE WEEKS and I haven't gotten enough sleep or been able to take care of myself like I normally would. Sometimes, Hardees chicken strips and curlies just have to do the trick. At least my husband is supportive and encouraging and told me the other day that sometimes moms of 1-year-olds just don't have time to make a healthy dinner. No, but I'd still like to do better.

Image from here

So what can I do about this? Well, I'm getting back on the wagon. I will go grocery shopping this weekend and purchase some healthier options. Instead of letting my food run out down to the bare essentials (i.e., frozen fish sticks and tater tots), I will do better about keeping plenty of healthy snacks and meals in the house. I had quit using LoseIt for awhile because, what's the point if I'm eating way more than 1600 calories a day? I picked it back up again this morning. I also found some 3lb weights at home and I know I have an exercise ball that needs to be inflated. Even the boy will have fun playing with that! I can still play the Wii sports that burn calories (tennis, boxing, volleyball), even if I can't do much of the cardio. I still haven't tried my Zumba Fitness game and am not sure how rough it will be on my ankle but I guess it's worth a shot. Waking up at 5 AM hasn't worked well for me the past few weeks but maybe if that pesky molar ever pops through the gums, we can all get some decent rest again and I can pick back up my schedule. I can lift weights at the work gym (I even figured out my locker combination so I can keep an extra pair of tennis shoes and workout clothes there) and if I start feeling better, can get on the bike again.

Image from here

Also, it's LOVELY outside and the boy got a sandbox and a small swimming pool for his birthday so I expect lots of outdoors adventures. And the hedges need to be cut (that's a huge upper body workout). So, maybe I'll get into even MORE of my pre-pregnancy jeans by the end of summer.

I would also love to have an old school bike (the kind from the Regions commercial, not a mountain bike because I have horrible balance and am short and would rather brake with my feet). They even make little "trailers" you can hook on and tote around the kids behind you.

Have you fallen off the wagon? What do you plan to do about it? Any new, summer workout plans in the works?

A Super-Quick Slimdown for Busy [Ladies]

2011-04-29T12:50:00.000-05:00

The original article said "Busy Moms" but I could have used this before I ever had kids. Just because a person isn't a mom yet doesn't mean they aren't busy!

I digress...

So, I read this article and it makes complete sense. It's not located online so I'm going to scan in the pages for you as PDFs and outline the basic principles.

"To see results in just five weeks, do the 18-minute routine at right three times a week, plus some other form of cardio twice a week (like walking or jogging for 20-30 minutes). select the arm and ab moves from the following pages [scanned in], and incrase the length of your cardio bursts to two minutes over time. For even faster results, do the routine twice through each time, changing your strenth and cardio picks the second time through." Parents Magazine, May 2011, Page 98.

Here's the schedule:

1 arm move
1 belly move
1-minute cardio burst. Do one of the following moves:

jogging in place
jumping jacks
running up and down stairs
jumping rope
butt kicks
alternating knee lifts
leaping side to side
(any of these sound familiar???)

1 arm move
1 belly move
1-minute cardio burst. Choose a different move from the previous list.
1 arm move
1 belly move
1-minute cardio burst. Choose a different move from the previous list.
1 arm move
1 belly move
1-minute cardio burst. Choose a different move from the previous list.

I've attached the scan of the article below. I had planned on possibly doing this in May, but I have developed tendinitis and am not sure if I can manage any of the cardio bursts. I have been using the recumbent elliptical bike at work and it doesn't seem to aggravate my ankle/calf so that's probably how I'll get my cardio. And maybe Wii boxing.

The 30-day challenge is wrapping up! Don't forget to post your progress tomorrow.

Fitness

support starts at home

2011-04-25T08:26:00.000-05:00

alright. i had an easy week. because i spent the week lounging in bed, sipping on hot tea and watching cheesy movies on netflix.

no, i wasn't on vacation. i had strep throat. and a sinus infection. and an ear infection. so i was out of commission. and you know how you lose weight while you're sick? boy, did i ever.

i don't document my weight gains before this week. because that would be defeating the purpose. and instead of seeing a nice little step-down image on loseit!, i would see a zig-zag thingy going up and down and down and down and up and down... so when it looks like i've lost 1.2 lbs, i really lost over 3 lbs. i didn't document my lowest weight, because i figured that was just a fluke (it was. it's from being sick).

we ate pretty healthy this past week anyways, though. and i don't think THAT'S a fluke. my husband is finally really supportive of not having unhealthy snacks and stuff in the house, and he's loving the fresh grapes that are on the eye-level shelf in the fridge. do you know how much easier it is to eat healthy when your other half wants to eat healthy? yay! we've got this whole-life overhaul plan (it's not as drastic as it sounds, i promise), where we're getting healthy before we have a kiddo, so we can implant healthy ideas in his/her life, also.

so, the moral of this story? get sick. it's a jumpstart? no, wait. that's not it. life's easier with a supportive spouse. that means for everything, but especially for healthy eating.

Hoppy Easter!

2011-04-25T00:32:00.005-05:00

See all of that? See all that candy? If I don't eat it, then he does... at least that's what I keep telling myself. I can't just THROW it OUT. No way Jose.

So... no change in weight , but honestly, it would have been a freaking miracle if I had. As a matter of a fact, I'm surprised I didn't gain 7 lbs. I've been fairly useless this week as I've had family down the whole week, and have been indulging in too much ice cream. Luckily the weather has been great, and we've gone on a few great walks, and played lots.

I'm sorry this post is so short, but It's late and I must sleep while I can. I hope you are all enjoying your Easter, and that your 30 day challenge was productive enough to keep you thinking about positive, healthy changes in your lives. Rome wasn't built in a day... or even 30!

skewed perspective

2011-04-22T07:59:00.002-05:00

hello everyone. since leann's out of town, and i missed my post on monday, i'm stealing her day. i'm also stealing my post from our community site, because i wanted more people to read it. so, if this is old news for you, ignore it. but if it's not, comment, please.

since i missed my blog post this week (thanks, strep throat. and sinus infection. and ear infection.), i'm posting it here.

there was a news story on this past week, which made me think some horrible thoughts. a woman had a baby, and afterwards, got a horrible infection. i don't remember. staph or something. anyways, it put her in a coma. her husband had to make the terrifying decision to amputate her legs and arms. all of them. the woman is alive, and now trying to live without arms or legs. she's got hooks on the ends of her elbows, and stumps from her knees down. she's learning to walk as her daughter learns.

i think the point of the story was hope-- like, look at her, succeeding after this huge event. she could have died. she probably should have died. but she'll live, even if she has no appendages.

but you know what i got out of that story?

i wonder how much weight i would lose if i lost my arms and legs...

that's sick, people. sick.

so i had to remind myself of the name of this blog. it's not twitter to get skinnier, or twitter to lose weight, or twitter to get thinner. it's twitter to get fitter.

as much as we all focus on weight in this endeavor, shouldn't we look at the goodness of just being healthy? of making positive, healthy changes in lifestyle and eating habits? that, although i'm still 30 lbs from my goal (and probably 50 from my ideal weight per doctors and such), i have normal blood pressure? and am not pre-diabetic? and my rheumatoid arthritis is in remission? i'm making scones for breakfast (not TERRIBLE for you) and not eating a donut. i'm snacking on grapes (in season and cheap right now!) instead of candy or junk food.

and you know what? i bet you are, too.

here's my public announcement: this blog is about being healthy. about taking things one step at a time. i'm proud of all of you who have been losing weight, although i'm frustrated with my lack of weight loss. but you know how we're losing weight? not by downing hydroxycut, or getting on some fad diet. we're exercising. we're eating fruits. we're being fitter.

Where the heck I've been

2011-04-20T14:22:00.000-05:00

Alright, so it's Wednesday, which is my day of the week, and I've been absent for a couple weeks, so I figured I should pop in here and explain a little of what's been going on in my life.

Two weeks ago, my mom's health took a drastic turn for the worse, she was hospitalized, and when she was released, it was decided that she qualified to enter in-home hospice. She's at home now, and we have been blessed with the most amazing group of hospice workers on the planet, but I've been very busy. For those fortunate enough to not know what hospice entails, my mom has a full team of health care workers who come into the home, doctors, nurses, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers. I've wanted to be with her as much as possible while getting her set up in this new program, and as such, I haven't been around much here, or on our spruz site.

I've pretty much failed the 30 day challenge. I don't have time to work out daily, I haven't been to a Zumba class in 2 weeks (which I'm killing myself for, because I bought a monthly pass that I basically just threw away), and my eating habits have been atrocious. I'm stress eating like a mofo, and drinking like a fish, and truth be told, I can't be bothered to care about it. I feel like my priorities in my life just violently exploded and reorganized, I have a limited amount of energy to get through the day, and I just can't focus on more than a few important things.

I'm still around and making sure that I'm reading everyone's updates. I love hearing about all of your personal victories and watching you overcome your personal challenges. I just haven't had anything to contribute, so I haven't been posting along with you.

I know a few people have talked about what's coming up next for the next 30 day challenge, and I want you to know that I will SO be up for that once we get it organized.

Peace & <3

Week 3....

2011-04-17T11:33:00.003-05:00

O.o - I can't even imagine why I lost any weight this week. Celebrating my brother in laws birthday, was anything but weight-loss inducing. However, It looks like the weight hasn't caught up with me yet. We'll see how things look next week.

Still keeping the body moving by playing with the boy, walking, yard-work, and housework. The weather is starting to get better, and I'm starting to feel the winter blahs slipping away! Thank goodness. For added incentive, my mother, who struggles with COPD, purchased herself a treadmill to keep her body moving. If she can get on the treadmill, and huff and puff her way through a few minutes of exercise, I had better be able to do the same. I think it might be time to pull out that stupid elliptical that I tried to sell, with no luck. Maybe someone was trying to tell me something.

This week, my in-laws are visiting, and I know we will be eating extra well because of that. They generally eat a protein, a baked potato, and salad. That is a great balanced meal for me to balance out last weeks insanity.

In saying that... we all know what next weekend means right? It means Jesus rose! He came back after three days! Right????? Yes. That is true. But in our house, it also means that the Easter Bunny will be leaving egg shaped poos all around my house, and since we all know that I have very-little-to-no-willpower, I will be eating some chocolate poos. At least a couple.

I can't wait to hear about your Easter plans. Is it Church? Is it Family Dinners? Is it Chocolate poo finding indoors/outdoors? Is it community activities? Is it going to totally blow your 30 day challenge?

Week 3 Check-In

2011-04-16T08:00:00.002-05:00

THREE DOWN, ONE TO GO! Woot!

So, how's everyone been doing? Made any progress? Meet any goals this week?

Talk to us.

What are you plans afterward? Do you plan on continuing with your exercise regimen, or possibly changing it up a bit? Are you done after this?
Personally, I plan to keep my momentum going. I have Zumba Fitness and I might switch that up with some of the fun sports on Wii Active (I am loving the baseball that was introduced this week, and I don't even like baseball that much). I might hit the gym some at work, but I prefer to get my workouts over with in the early morning; that seems to be working well for me. My mom has an elliptical and I may try to do that for about 15 minutes on the days when I pick up my son from her house (three days per week).

And I plan on continuing to utilize our community site. I hope you will, too. I still have goals to meet well after our 30 days are up.

Post here or write up a forum post on Spruz about the results you're seeing, how you feel, or whatever you want. Just let us know the link here in the comments.

You're doing great and are almost done with 30 days! Gives yourselves a pat on the back!

Almost There!

2011-04-15T10:15:00.000-05:00

We're almost finished with Week 3 and will be done with the challenge before you know it!

Have you hit any snags? I felt sorry for myself this week because I haven't really seen any tangible progress even though I've completed every. single. workout. Although, when I was scratching my arm yesterday, I could feel muscle definition! And family members have told me I look like I'm losing (even if the scales say otherwise--well, my scale is currently on the fritz so I may just have to get a cheap analog to continue). My pants keep getting looser and I think I may even see a bit more definition in my waistline even if my stomach doesn't look like it's shrinking. Also, I hurt my left foot and ankle (and today, it feels like the inner muscle right below my knee is achy), so I've been glad the exercises have been fairly easy this week and not leg-intensive even though I'd like to burn more calories.

I posted yesterday on the community site that I'm getting kind of bored with my low-cal food options. However, I do go to the grocery store at some point this weekend so I'm going to see if I can vary it up a bit. Is anyone else having trouble finding healthy but tasty meals?

lack of progress

2011-04-14T19:08:00.000-05:00

Okay! So here's what's been going on... I've been failing at working out. I have NOT however been failing at eating less and listening to my body give me clues about when it is hungry or full. I have not really lost any weight though some of my clothes are fitting a little bit differently but not much. And last week, I feel off the band wagon for working out and then when I looked for it, it was so far away I couldn't find it! But I've worked out twice this week in four days. I still count this as progress. I plan to train to walk a 5K this summer starting the first week of May or as I like to call it "The first week of summer and please don't let there be a zombie apocalypse because I really need to relax"!

So yes, besides for 2 presentations and 2 papers due this week, along with the first part of my ePortfolio for teaching that will be submitted to the state in 2 years to get my license being due next week, I'm doing well. I just BOW down to you ladies working full-time and/or going to school and/or caring after (multiple) kid(s). So kudos to you. But I guess I'm still proud of what I'm doing. Changes aren't easy and they aren't fun, but I think I should get an "A" for effort and trying, because I am certainly doing that!

week 3? already?

2011-04-11T11:22:00.000-05:00

yes. i just reused a title from a discussion i posted in our community site.

i'm contemplating making a ginormous salad for dinner tonight. with grilled chicken on top. and cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms... all sorts of good veggies. yum.

i'm holding steady at 6 pounds lost. i consider that a win after my weekend neglect of the loseit app, beer(s), nachos, and a hot dog. no, i didn't go to a baseball game, even those are token baseball foods. i had the nachos at a bar, and the hot dog from sonic. so it wasn't a regular, plain hot dog. it was the one with sauerkraut and a little bacon. oh, and the one with peppers and pickles. so really, it was two hot dogs. so like i said, i win by staying within the weight i was on friday.

what else? like tamara, i fail at the wii challenge. but i'm staying active. and husband has been holding me accountable. he has asked me how things are going, and if i'm still doing the wii. i didn't hate telling him i wasn't, because i'm still doing the walking. not a walking plan or anything, but i'm making a point to walk the bridge at work (a mile and a half, round trip) at least once a day. i've taken to doing the stairs up two flights (really 3 because in between is a utilities floor), which does not make my thighs happy. but happy doesn't get me into a different size pants.

oh, and for dessert yesterday, husband and i had strawberry shortcake. yes, we had dessert. because you can make strawberry shortcake for under 200 calories. angel food cake has practically none, and use the light cool whip. then it's just fresh sliced strawberries and sugar!
trust me, it's the perfect summer dessert. especially now that berries are in season.

Wii get fitt-... crap.

2011-04-10T09:50:00.005-05:00

Who's idea was this Wii 30 day challenge? Don't say it was mine, cause if it was, I would have to feel terribly guilty about the fact that I totally quit. GAH!

It comes down to the most pathetic excuse.... my children. Not only are they underfoot constantly (not unlike Hannah's and she hasn't given up yet) but they have SO MANY TOYS! In order for me to get a work out in, I have to spend 20 minutes tidying the living room first. Now... that doesn't sound that hard, but we all know I'm all about the "no housework"...... ;)

Okay, excuses aside, I have still been trying my darndest to get out and exercise. With the super uber OH-MY-GOD-HE-WON'T-SIT-DOWN busy toddler, it's not really that hard. Also, am still watching my diet VERY closely. I have been eating a grilled chicken salad everyday for lunch, and am pleasantly surprised by the results. Though only down one pound this week, I am not only 5 pounds away from my pre-baby weight!

Things I have learned since I started this 30 day challenge....

Beer is mostly vegan.

Skinny means "low fat milk, and sugar-free syrup"

Dogs would help in my exercising.... a lot.

I am not the only one who loathes running.

Kids and Wii active don't mix. At all.

Gardening is excellent exercise! I got out with a shovel and my wheelbarrow, and started moving dirt from one garden to another, and I was sweating!!!!!!

How is everyone else doing? Have you learnt anything on this adventure so far?

week 2 check in

2011-04-09T08:18:00.001-05:00

hey everyone! how'd you do for the second week?

i ended up losing weight finally! and i have my scale at home now, so i can document my weight more accurately. i didn't keep up with the wii workouts as much as i should have (blame it on work, and my master's program...) but i still kept active. whether it was taking an evening walk to starbucks with husband for a skinny vanilla latte (only 90 calories!) or walking across campus instead of taking the shuttle, i did it. i'm blessed in that i have a job that i can wear tennies and capris to if i don't have important meetings, so i've taken advantage of that this week.

what about you? end of week 2 means we're almost halfway done!

Bored?

2011-04-08T12:54:00.000-05:00

Maybe it's just the Week 2 slump (Week 1 was fast and furious), but I'm getting kind of bored with Wii Active 30-Day Challenge workouts. Is anyone else feeling this? I haven't skipped even one session (although Wii didn't record Monday's workout because I had to skip a few activities due to my faulty nunchuck) and the past few days I just haven't been feeling like I'm making much progress even though I replaced the nunchuck and the last workout seemed to go smoothly. Maybe I need to bump up my intensity level (I'm still on easy), but I'm afraid if I do that, it'll want me to run for longer and I already hate the running the most.

I get up at 5 AM but getting dressed, a bottle of water, and the wii revved up takes a few minutes and sometimes I don't get started good until 5:15 or 5:20. Then, I'm still running when the hubs comes in the living room after his shower and I get self-conscious.

I saw good results last week. I even tried on dresses (and bought two!) and didn't feel like a fatty, as I usually do. I feel pretty today in the clothes I'm wearing, but I'm just wondering if I'm doing enough. I'm only burning around 100-140 calories with the workouts (usually the lower end). I know I'm probably toning more than anything and that's great because I need it. I just feel like I need something more.

Any suggestions? Should I just scrap the 30-Day Challenge function of the game and customize my own workouts? Should I do Wii Zumba instead (I haven't even put this in the Wii yet to see how long the sessions are)? Or should I add in something else during the day? I don't have a lot of time and 5 AM is the best time for me but I can't leave the house due to a sleeping babe. I can probably get some walking in during lunch but it's already starting to get warm here. I do have access to a gym with a treadmill, elliptical, weight machines, etc. Does anyone have any ideas? I need help!

Are you bored, too? I know I'm not the only one having problems this week. I want to see weight loss (and I haven't lost anything this week, despite doing my workouts and eating 1600 calories or less/day) but I mainly want to get fit.

I don't like to be a quitter. I'd like to finish the 30 days and I'll probably give it another week just to make sure, but I also don't want to be doing something that's not getting me where I need to be.

How are YOU doing?

Stretching debate

2011-04-05T21:45:00.001-05:00

When I booted up the Wii Active on sunday Ryan and Oliver were sitting on the couch playing ipad games. I was a little uncomfortable working out in front of an audience, no matter who they are. This is also why I hate doing workout classes, although it is easier in a room full of strangers than with just a single person you do know. Anyway, as I began the workout Ryan looked up and said "wait, don't you stretch before working out?"

No, I don't. It wasn't part of the Wii Active program, and while I have added a short yoga wokout after I finish the Active workout, it honestly hadn't occurred to me to stretch before hand. When I was done with Sunday's program Ryan pulled out a couple of his workout/weightlifting books and showed me a few passages which stated that stretching before a toning workout will increase calorie burn, while also increase the effectiveness of the toning and muscle building. Hey! Great fitbytwitter post, I thought.

As I attempted to collect a few interweb sources to flesh out the post, and direct you to for further reading, I found that Google doesn't tend to agree with the above statements and, in some cases, directly refutes them with the assertion that stretching a "cold" muscle could cause injury. From what I can see the debate of "stretching before a workout yea or nay" seems to be one of those in and out of trend type things. So what say you? Do you stretch before working out or after? Or at all? Will you start now? Personally, I feel like doing a short yoga workout following my wii active has helped to diminish some of the post-workout soreness, but I don't think I'll be adding much of a stretching routine ahead of time. Ryan persists in stretching before lifting weights.

On another note, normally I attempt to workout when M sleeps and O is doing "quiet time" in his room. A couple times however, things have not gone according to plan and I've had a little workout helper. I can tell you that jumping becomes a dicey proposition with this as my view. And he likes to try and help push the buttons during squats and when I crouch for Inline skating.

Then the Yoga routine begins and he adds some extra resistance training. This was my view during the downward facing dog. He anchored my leg to the floor nicely.

Heck, I can't touch my toes anyway, even when he's not trying to bounce on my knees.

start of week 2!

2011-04-04T11:30:00.000-05:00

or, if you're like me, "technically" the start of week 2. meaning that i didn't do the wii on friday (don't hate. i got plenty of other exercising done), took saturday as the actual break day, and then was too busy on sunday (but husband and i DID walk the big mall in town). so, while i didn't exactly follow the wii, i still got some form of workout in.

anyways, couple of things i want to cover in today's post.

first, i can't stand my trainer. here's a few of the conversations i had with my wii this past week:

wii: alternating lunges are a GREAT way to get strong legs.

me: i don't want strong legs!

(during the inline skating)

wii: pay attention to those obstacles. know they're coming so you can overcome them.

me: dude. i know they're coming. my thighs hurt.

second, you may remember that i posted on our community site a question about what time is the best to workout. because i've been really inconsistent in my workouts, and i have my own theories. i think morning will be best because it helps wake you up. i think afternoon is best because maybe metabolism is highest. i think evening is best because you're working off the food you ate that day. anyway, i have a great husband who brought me some junk food magazines, one of which was woman's world. there's a lot of great information in there, even if there's too many exclamation points.

anyway, there's an article that talks about the timing of your workout! how lucky. so, per this article, you should workout in the morning, before breakfast. it prompts your body to use the fat for fuel, instead of using food you've recently eaten as fuel.

sidenote (which was great news)-- "clacked off on workouts during winter? great news! previously toned muscle fibers bounce back quickly, even after months of inactivity, according to research."

don't forget that our catch up is on saturdays. i know it's the weekend, but make sure to check our blog out to give your update. tell us how your week went. remember, this site is here for your support!

Week 1 Progress!

2011-04-03T12:35:00.009-05:00

Hey! Look at that! Almost 2 lbs down! In true Tamara style, I must continue to publicly humiliate myself by posting my weight every week, in order to keep myself accountable. Not so bad really... a good push in the right direction. Anyhoo, as some of you may know, I have a relatively new child.
Sometimes I sleep, sometimes I don't... and sometimes I think I can do it all! Hurrah! Go Tamara! With no sleep. Mmmm... not so much. I got worn down, downright exhausted, and then I got sick.

SO! NEW PLAN! While I will continue to work out (cheer!) I will not diet. No sir. Gimme some cheeseburgers... (just kidding guys... that would be mean) but I will continue to keep taking in the proper amount of calories for my bod... I just really hope that the workouts, and my conscientious (balanced!) meals help me continue to lose weight like I did this week. I'm going to keep hoping.

In saying that, I did miss two work outs this week. I'm going to get back on it tomorrow... I'd hate for it to tell me to start over!

I'm really really interested in hearing about what you guys are eating (and not eating!) as we move through this challenge. Tuna and rice cakes aren't cutting it. Or special K cereal. Or boring chicken.

I'm starving. :D

check-in, week 1

2011-04-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

so, how'd your first week go? are you staying with the program, if you're doing the wii challenge? if not, have you been being active? it's been fun to watch the conversations going on over at our community site. if you haven't checked it out, go! and you're welcome to sign up and communicate with us there, too.

i've done really well. i have been documenting my calorie intake and exercises on loseit, and having a good time staying under budget. i haven't weighed yet today (my scale is at work-- gotta change that), but look forward to seeing that i've lost a pound or a pound and a half this week. i've done my wii workout every day that i'm supposed to, except for yesterday because i was so far under my calorie budget, i didn't want to get any lower. but i'm using today's rest day to make up for that.

so, how was your week? now's your chance to update everyone!

Feelin' Groovy

2011-04-01T10:47:00.000-05:00

I'm feelin' groovy this morning.

Slow down, you movin' too fast
You gotta make the morning last
Just kickin' down the cobblestones
Lookin' for fun and
Feelin' groovy

Hello, lampost
Whatcha knowin?
I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain'tcha got no rhymes for me?
Doo Bee Doo Doo,
Feelin' groovy

Got no deeds to do
No promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morningtime drop all its petals on me...
Life, I love you,
All is groovy

Lyrics found here.

It's been a Simon and Garfunkel kinda day. And I feel groovy and fabulous and wonderful. This, from the self-professed exercise hater.

I'm on Day 5 of the Challenge and am getting up a little after 5:00 each morning to do my Wii workout. Great start to each day and I get it out of the way, first thing. Yes, I've been sore...Day 2 was BRUTAL. But, the soreness now is a good sore, the kind of sore where you know you're working your muscles but not so sore that you're in misery. On the Wii Active Challenge workouts, you run each day and although I absolutely detest running, I know it's really working my legs and all those muscles. Especially the routine where you run for a bit, do high kicks for a bit and then try to kick your behind (I can't remember what those are called but I did them this morning). I have been sore in places I've never been before (inner thighs). So, basically, I'm really enjoying the workouts I'm getting even if they are only burning around 120-140 calories each time. I know I'm going to be more toned by the end of the 30 days.

This whole program has also inspired me to cut my calories. I would like to lose 30 pounds (initially) and LoseIt has helped me create a plan that projects I can lose 30 pounds by October. I know that sounds like a long time, but it's one pound a week and that's a really healthy rate to go. Maybe by doing this Challenge and adding in a few more workouts during the week (like walking during lunch or going over to the gym to do the elliptical), I can lose a little faster. In any event, I just want to do this the right way and be healthy. I'm eating 1600 calories a day (some days a little more, some days a little less, but have been pretty good to stick to it this first week) and think that's a do-able amount. Suppers are the hardest thing for me to keep under caloric intake, but I'm gonna try to find some lower fat recipes and incorporate those into our meal schedule. I have lots of lean meats at home, I just have to lay off the cream sauces and fattening sides.

Also, I got a really cool scale for 1/4 of the price it should have been on Amazon: Ozeri Elite Series II Digital Bathroom Scale With 5" Blue Backlit Xbright LCD and InstaOn Technology. It's still half-price and if you use the code SHAPEUPI (not sure if it still works, you might want to check before submitting the order), you get another 50% off! Since it is $25 before the coupon discount, you get free super saver shipping, but you have to make sure you select that option in the check-out. Basically, I got a $50 scale for $12.50, shipped! Just wanted to pass that along to you.

So, how's everyone doing? Weekly check-in is tomorrow and you can share what you feel like sharing. We just want to know how thing are going!

Our 30 Days!

2011-03-31T07:00:00.001-05:00

Habits are hard to break, but easy to form. So if I create a new good habit should be easy and it should stick, right? Well, so far... yes! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... yes! Since this is going up before I'm up for the day on Thursday I'm going to bet I'll still work out. I think the hardest part of the work out is my mental attitude about 2/3 of the way through. I start to hurt and get tired and then I'm just ready to stop. But once I'm done with the work out and back to relative normal (not sweating like crazy) everything is much better. I feel like I could have/should have gone longer. But I'm bumping up to 2 miles on Monday we'll see that goes. Overall this wasn't so bad. I'm ready to keep going.

Also, if you're interested I'm tracking my activity and calories on Spark People. Feel free to add me as a friend. I like it better than Lose It! because for me it's easier to use, but they are essentially the same thing. An added bonus to Spark People is the point system where you get points for signing in every day and virtual trophies. You also can set goals and track them on the site. There are recipes and blogs and other inspirational tools. I also have my measurements posted on our Spruz site. So check it out!

Welcome to the Challenge!

2011-03-30T16:17:00.000-05:00

So, we're three days into the challenge, and I hope everyone out there is doing great! I know I'm feeling fabulous. I, myself, (as I posted on the spruz site) am doing a bit of a modified challenge. I attend Zumba classes two or three days a week, so I made myself a little deal. If I go to a Zumba class, I don't have to do a Wii Active workout in addition. For me, the goal is really to workout every day for at least 20 minutes, (longer if time allows, but 20 is my absolute, barebones minimum). I either Zumba, Wii Zumba, or Wii Active every day.

In addition, I've set a few extra goals for myself, too.

I can do anything for 30 days. For the next 30 days, these are the things I will do EVERY day.

1. Wii Active 30 Day Challenge -OR- Zumba. Every Day. No exceptions.
2. Blog - at least one entry, no matter how long or how short. I have to post something.
3. Drink 2 Nalgenes of water.
4. Drink one vitamin packet or one nutritious smoothie. (I can't take vitamins in pill form, they mess with my stomach something awful and vitamins in gummy form have gelatin, which isn't vegan.)

Weekly, these are my goals:

1. Attend AT MINIMUM, two Zumba classes every week. More, if possible. (Sometimes my work schedule doesn't align with the studio's schedule).
2. Post my Wednesday blog to Twitter // Fitter (okay, I like the shorter name, honestly. Easier to type...because I'm lazy).
3. Post my Teatime Tuesday blog to my personal blog. I started it and failed right away...oops.

So far, it's going good! I'm maintaining my goals. I've gone to Zumba twice so far, and I'm going again tonight. I've been drinking so much water that I feel like I have to pee every 15 minutes. (TMI?) And, I've been writing again, forcing myself to sit down at my computer and put words on the page in the hopes that I'll beat the writer's block that has several of my current projects at a standstill.

So how are YOU doing with your goals?

Perspective and numbers

2011-03-29T23:41:00.001-05:00

Day 2 of the Wii Fit challenge, and I bumped up the intensity. Yesterday I started off on low, I wasn't sure what to expect and, while there were a few exercises that pushed me a little, it wasn't the workout I was hoping for. I only burned an estimated 76 calories. Today I moved it up to medium (hey, I'm still in really bad shape and haven't worked out in MONTHS) and burned 136 calories. It seemed like such a small number to me, so I did some quickie google research this afternoon.

136.

One pound of fat is the equivalent of 3500 calories. 3500.

My 136 is barely a drop in that bucket.

To lose 1 lb a week you need to have a 500 calorie a day deficit. So, either exercise off 500 calories, cut 500 calories worth of food out of your diet, or a combination of both. Of course you burn calories just during the course of the day, powering everything that you do, and you can find your baseline for that also known as your Basal Metabolic rate here. For me, with my Basal Metabolic rate, that's cutting the equivalent of 2 full days of food out of my diet. Yeah I like thinking of things in random and overwhelming terms like that.

I am not really going anywhere with this, just that I am happy you cam break it up, eating 300 fewer calories and working out/burning 200 seems much more do-able. I just thought I'd share since the numbers were a bit surprising to me.

Also, does anyone have a tasty (organic? All natural?) protein bar they want to recommend. I have been craving protein after working out these last few days.

foods that help you lose weight

2011-03-28T08:02:00.001-05:00

(unlike tamara, i'm not posting my measurements on here. if you want to find them, they're hidden over at our spruz community site. so, find them at your own risk.)

so, how'd your workout go? it started today, remember? don't forget to check out (and join!) our community, found here. check in often, reply to threads, post pictures... consider yourself an integral part of this challenge! because honest, without all of you out there, i wouldn't be participating. well, the "badges" that you earn through wii active help motivate, too :-)

i thought about doing my exercise right after work. i figured i don't have a kid or other obligations, so i'd just have a lazy morning, then do it tonight. nope. i did it early. REALLY early. usually my husband is the only one who wakes up at this time, and i roll out of bed an hour later. but i figured if i could work out while he is in the shower, then i miss that embarrassing time when he has to watch me flail around like an epileptic monkey. so, from about 5:45 until a little after 6, i did my day one challenge. and all i can say is, "woah". it's been a year since i worked out, and even the easy one kicked my butt. i can't WAIT until next week, because i know i'll be doing better by then.

now, as nice as it is that we're all (finally?) getting active, that doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want. below i've listed foods that help you lose weight, as taken from the nest:

grapefruit-- steadies blood sugar levels, acts as a diuretic.

green tea-- only helps weight loss if you drink 5-6 cups a day!

hot peppers-- decrease cravings for other foods, and increase metabolism.

water-- increases the efficiency of your metabolism.

broccoli-- lots of fiber, your body has to work harder to digest it.

greek yogurt-- helps digestion, lots of protein for the low fat and calories!

lean protein-- increases metabolism..

happy challenge!

So it STARTS

2011-03-27T11:34:00.002-05:00

I had waffles for breakfast.

Waffles make me THIS size:

Bust: 39.3 (I'd like to thank breastfeeding for this little boost.)

Chest: 35.4

Waist: 35

Hips: 46 ( baby got back.)

Midway: 43 (Oh love handles.... )

Thigh: 26

Knee: 16

Calf: 15.6

Upper Arm: 11

Forearm: 9.3

Height: 5'8

Weight: 179

Size: 14/16

Also, babies helped.

I'm really excited guys... I can't wait to get started, and start to feel better. It really is the perfect time... Summer is coming! There are balls to be kicked, babies to be walked and boys to swim with (in a bathing suit!) and I can't think of any better reason to just get on with it. What are your reasons for doing this?

Looking forward to tomorrow!!

Tamara

Are You Ready?

2011-03-25T22:49:00.000-05:00

Our Wii Get Fit in 30 Challenge starts Monday! Have you seen our community? If not, go check it out! Create a profile, post some fitness goals, and interact with the members. Together, we can work toward a healthier life.

If you haven't already taken your measurements, check out Hannah's post. I just took mine. *winces* It wasn't pretty, but I fully expect to lower those numbers by the end of April. If you are ~~nosy~~ curious, go dig around on our spruz site and see if you can find them (not gonna post them here). I feel better knowing my friends posted theirs and we can all support each other with encouragement and motivation.

If you still need Wii Active, they sell it at Wal-mart. Go by your local store or order it online. They usually have quick shipping. Or if you don't like Wal-mart, go to Target. Or your local used game store. And if you don't have a Wii at all, no worries! Just try to fit in about 15-20 minutes of activity each day. We'll do our best to guide you.

We'll also be posting every day of the week on how we're doing in the challenge. Saturdays will be check-in day. If you'd like to sound off in the comments and post your progress, we welcome that! If you have any questions, let us know and we'll do our best to help.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I must clean up my living room floor so that I can actually have space to do the workouts (at 5:00 AM no less, can I get some love?).

Weight gone, bring on the tone.

2011-03-22T21:07:00.001-05:00

In February last year I wrote this post, including photos, and measurements of the "before" version of me.

Since we are starting this 30-day wii active challenge I thought I would go ahead and and post an update. the weight is gone, I am down to 125, but still have a way to go along the lines of muscle tone and overall health.

This is a repost of how/where to measure, my original measurement (in inches) and then the new measurements as of last night.

1. Bust: measure all the way around your bust and back right at your nipple line, and make sure the tape measure is not lower.
41 - 38

2. Chest: Measure under your breasts but as high up as you can go, keeping the tape measure parallel. This is probably also your bra band size.
33 - 31

3. Waist: Measure wherever it is the smallest/the navel
34 - 30

4. Hips: Measure at the very biggest part -- even if that is so low that you are almost on the top of your thighs.
38 - 36.5

5. Midway: Measure midway between the very biggest part of your hips and your waist.
40.5 - 36

6. Thighs: Measure wherever they are the biggest.
24 - 21

7. Knees: Measure right above the knee.
16.5 - 14.5

8. Calves: Measure wherever they are the biggest.
14 - 13.5

9. Upper arm: Measure wherever they are biggest above your elbows.
11 - 10.5

10. Forearms: Measure wherever they are biggest below your elbows.
8.5 - 9

As you can see I've lost as many as 4 inches in some areas and gained 1/2 an inch in others. I can only assume that forearm gain is due to hefting the little one around all day long. the numbers I would most like to see shrink? The upper arm, thighs and the "midway." I hear that Wii active is really good for the toning so I am excited about that!

Edit: I tried to take a few pics but they aren't transferring from my camera. I'll try an update this when I get that done.

Ok, pics have been added.

we wii in a week!

2011-03-21T08:32:00.001-05:00

haha. i love my title.

so, everyone ready? like tamara introduced yesterday, we're starting the wii active 30-day challenge next week. i'll start on monday, because sunday is a full day for us here in the slay household.

don't have a wii? get one.

don't want to get one? that's fine! but do something active with us.

if you're not familiar with the wii active 30-day challenge, here's what happens:

you log on and select your difficulty level. i HIGHLY recommend the easy one. seriously.

every day, you do exercises. wait. i lie. it's not every day. it's like, two or three days on, then you get a rest day. but the days you're exercising, boy are you exercising. you're running. you're doing squats. you're punching.

but i haven't felt good since the last time i did a 30-day challenge, so i'm definitely looking forward to it.

now, all involved: post about it on your personal blog, would ya? most of us have personal blogs. tell the world about it. get your followers to follow us and do this activity with us. let's not be greedy with our healthy activities, yeah?

later this week, expect to see some changes on this blog. a new background, new header, and a button that you can share with your followers, too. let's get the word out. i want an exercise revival, of sorts.

i need it.

30 Day Challenge

2011-03-20T13:13:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone!, *waves*

Long time no see! Hey, hey! Look!

A baby! -------->

So - now that I've got the whole pregnant/newborn thing out of the way, and have passed my 6 week check up with flying colors, I figure it's time to get rid of these last ten pounds of baby fat!!! Okay, okay...also I should get rid of the 30 other pounds I'm packing around as well... but one step at a time, right?

I had great success with my Wii Active last time around, and lucky for me, most of my #fitbytwitter buddies now have one too! I think we've all decided that now is the perfect time for a Wii Active, #fitbytwitter, 30 day Challenge!

You don't have Wii Active you say, dear Twitter to get Fitter readers? Well... that's ok, here's a link to buy one!

http://www.walmart.ca/Video-Games/Nintendo-Wii/Sports/EA-Sports-Active-Bundle-Nintendo-Wii (Canada)
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=wii+active&ic=48_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0 (US)

But really, I don't need you to shell out the big bucks. Wii active really just pushes you to spend 15-20 minutes daily (some days for rest!) working out and building muscle. No big whoop right? You can do that by running up and down your stairs! And that is exactly what I want you to do... take 15 minutes a day, do some sort of activity, and let us know what you did in the comments section of our daily blog posts...

So that leads me back to my #fitbytwitter posters... clearly I have a hard time remembering to post, HOWEVER, I am willing to promise to get my weekly post in here while we are doing the challenge... I am the last person to be asking this, but will everyone else post too? Even just a tiny blurb with a place for our followers to tell us how wonderful they did that day? If we have to fill the empty days with a silly post (OMG that is the cutest picture of a kitty EVER) just to have a post, I say we should do it.

Also, it is to my understanding that some of the more "technologically equipped" of our #fitbytwitter crew will be creating a community for us to all chat on... post our goals, our accomplishments, and to give us a place to give each other a big "HECK YEAH" as we proceed! I love "HECK YEAH"s. Also, I hate quotations because I'm unsure where to put the "S" in that little endeavour. Anyhow, I digress.

If I'm missing anything, I'm hoping the others will fill in the blanks. I look forward to starting this little challenge next weekend...

I'm totally lying. I'm scared stiff... HOWEVER, I look forward to toned arms and my skinny jeans. So. Ya. Let's do this.

Time-Constrained Fitness

2011-03-18T14:02:00.000-05:00

You know how I was supposed to lose weight for my brother's upcoming wedding? Well, I have ONE month left. And I haven't even gotten started. Although my scales keep telling me I'm losing weight, I don't feel as if I am. Honestly, I think the thing is broken. It's giving me false hope. My clothes still fit the same. So, unless some things have shifted around, I'm just going to assume the scales are wrong (they're telling me I only have about 7 pounds to go to get to my pre-baby weight and that is an outright LIE because my hips, belly, and arms are all much bigger than pre-conception).

So, what is a girl who has no free time to do? I have a brand, spanking new Wii but no Wii Active or whatever the workout programs are. I have the standard Sports that came with it, so do you think that would help me tone up some? My arms need major help, even though I'm toting around a 20-lb kid every day. I'd like to get the Zumba game but don't know if I have time to do it. Any advice for toning up in a month's time. I don't want to loathe myself when I go dress shopping...

How's everyone else doing on their goals for the year? Failing like me?

one step at a time

2011-03-14T10:29:00.001-05:00

i lost 0.6 pounds this week. hey, it's something, right?
no thanks to the meatballs, sour cream dip, chocolate chip cookies, and homemade bread from last night.

i've been debating joining the gym here at work again. i quit it when we moved into a complex with a gym here, thinking i'd save money-- but i never go. it's like, if i pay for it, i actually go. really, i went almost daily when i paid for the work gym before. plus, my days are shorter than my husband's days, since i work through lunch, so i could leave and work out for an hour before we go home. AND, we're moving in a month and a half to a new complex that doesn't have a gym.

i think i'll start with walking more first. i have a hard time walking long distances because of my ankle (why i love the stationary bike), but i think i could do a mile just fine. plus, i really feel like i've been using my ankle as an excuse, so i haven't been as active. and it's no excuse. i need to still do something to be active.

so. in short, my goals this week:

wii three times. hard core. boxing, running. that kind of wii. not super mario brothers.
walk a mile (across the bridge and back) once. twice, if the first time feels okay.
lose another pound (or so).

that's it for my boring, scatter-brained, picture-less post.

one week-- right!

2011-03-07T08:04:00.000-06:00

i don't even know how many times i've said i'm back. but really. once you stop trying is when you really fail. isn't there a quote like that out there? anyways, leann said recently that it's about changing so much more, and that's true. i can't tell you how great things are in my overall life right now. money's going alright. we're maybe moving to a new place to be able to put some in savings. and, like leann, i'm doing the 30-day challenge on encouraging your husband. god is so good.

so, i guess the next place i need to keep working is at my fitness. and darlings, as much as i talk about wanting to be fit, right now my motivation is weight loss. i'm currently more than i've weighed in about a year or so. blame it on stress from school, or work, or whatever. but blaming doesn't help my jeans fit better. you know what does? watching what i eat. taking a walk during lunch. yeah. that.

so, i've faithfully used the loseit app on my phone for all of last week.

and i did good! as much as it looks like i'm under, i'm sure it's much closer to being on target. i try to document correctly, but when there's three options for "apple", how do i know i'm picking the right one? the good thing about at least writing it all down is that it keeps me accountable. i don't eat whatever i want, then write it down. if i did that, every day would be red. instead, i bring cupcakes for a work meeting, but don't eat any. i choose water over calorie-filled beverages. and i eat breakfast. that's a big one for me.

anyways, i know this post wasn't full of inspiration, or even a recipe, but i just wanted you all to know i'm back. and instead of not documenting my weight because i'm ashamed of it, i'm writing it down now. so if you follow me on twitter, i didn't actually gain 7 pounds in a week. i just hadn't written it down in so long. but it's time to be honest, and follow through!

i need to start walking.

Well, I'm Back.

2011-02-16T17:09:00.000-06:00

Sorry for my extended absence; I've had a few things going on personally. But, it doesn't look like I'm the only one, at least, who has missed a few posts, so I don't feel so badly.

Well, what can I say? I've been trying to work out more often, and I have to say, I've been failing pretty miserably. I will say this, though. We got Zumba for the Wii, and oh my heck! It's a blast, and it will kick my booty. I used to go to a local Zumba class regularly, but then my schedule got switched around at work, and I haven't been able to go for months. The game is a good substitute, but I really miss the girls and the energy of my class. In two weeks, my schedule changes at work again, and I've already made arrangements to start going 2 days a week with one of my friends. She's a good Zumba-Addict, and I know that she'll drag my ass to class with her, come hell or high water! Which is good, because sometimes, I need dragging! Has anyone else out there done Zumba?

In fun news, I got a heck of a shock when I stepped on the scale. I'm down 5 more pounds! And, it's starting to show. Even my dad commented that he could tell that I was losing weight. I'm trying not to step on the scale too often. I feel things fitting better, so I know I'm losing inches, and that's good enough for me. What's funny though is, as previously stated, I've been sort of failing on the working out side of things. I can't wait to see my progress when I start getting my act together and get back to Zumba class - I'm sure it'll be exactly the boost my body needs to kick the metabolism back into high gear!

So...how are YOU doing with your fitness goals?

remember when?

2011-01-31T11:45:00.000-06:00

remember when i worked out on a regular basis? and had way more energy than i do now? and weighed 15 pounds less than i do now?

remember when i used to be diligent in counting my calories using the loseit app, and a splurge meant one hershey's kiss instead of a bag (yes, a whole bag) of totino's pizza rolls?

remember when my breakfast was actually treated as the most important meal of the day? and i had energy for the whole morning?

it's time to go back to those changes. you'd have thought that these last four weeks would jump start that, but with husband being off track, it makes me be off track, too. so we bought more fruits and veggies for snacks this weekend, and i hope to cook dinner on a more regular basis. we've been eating out lately, which is bad for my wallet AND my waistline.
here's to new beginnings.

The Road to Healthy Eating

2011-01-28T11:09:00.000-06:00

I actually have a progress report this week. Last Saturday, I bought groceries. I got a LOT more produce than I normally get: two bags of baby carrots, some bell pepper to cut up for snacks, a bag of oranges, some apples, some bagged salad, fresh mushrooms for roasting, among other things. I also bought all whole-grains and all lean means: a large bag of tilapia, shrimp, lean pork chops. I bought substitutions for more healthy quick-meals for weeknights and lunches: whole wheat tortillas for steak quesadillas, whole grain buns for BBQ, whole wheat pasta for shrimp arrabiatta, lots of steamed veggies, low-fat canned soups, etc. I also bought a ton of healthy snack options: low-fat granola bars, fat free yogurt, hummus to go with the carrots and bell pepper. I also got brave and bought some almond milk--not a huge fan but it works in my cereal. The almond aftertaste is a little daunting.

I spent a lot of money but got enough to last us two weeks. And I spent about the same amount as I normally spend. But I went to Kroger and I usually can find some really good deals and utilize their sales combined with their coupons and come out really well. Here's a breakdown of what my day of eating usually looks like:

Breakfast: cereal with almond milk
Morning snack: fat free yogurt
Lunch: lean cuisine and carrots with hummus
Afternoon snack (if hungry): orange
Supper: Regular supper but smaller portions since I'm not starving from all the snacking during the day
Drinks: water and a little bit of coffee

I'm doing SO much better with my portion sizes. I have not gorged myself (really, this is a huge step forward) once this week. I even leave food on my plate. One night, I was craving ice cream, so I just bought the little bitty tub of Skinny Cow low-fat ice cream. It was a very small, single-serve tub and just enough to give me a chocolate fix. I haven't eaten much sugar at all this week. Mostly, just in my cereal (Honey Nut Cheerios or Cocoa Puffs--I usually don't eat Cocoa Puffs but some days I just want something chocolatey). Yoplait has so many great yogurt flavors that I feel like I get a treat every time I eat one. At first, the hummus was a little peculiar but it's growing on me.

I still need to eat more veggies at suppertime, but it's been one of those weeks when I'm lucky if I get supper on the table before the baby's bedtime. I'll try to do better next week. I think I may cook fish tonight and I'll pop in a bag of veggies if so and maybe some brown rice. Maybe not even any carbs at all.

Honestly, I'm not craving junk food like I did. I'm not have the ravenous chocolate withdrawals like I used to. I can't say that I've lost any weight or that I feel GREAT yet, but I know I'm on the right track. Now, if I could just get some exercise in. Tomorrow will be a lovely day in the high 60s, so I may take the baby out for a brisk stroll. I'm sure he'd love to get out of the house, as would I. I want to try to go to bed earlier and get up a little earlier and do my workout DVD. That's my next goal. That, and continuing to buy healthier foods. If I have to buy snacks for my hubby, then I'll get stuff I don't like. That way, I'm not even remotely tempted to eat it.

How have you all been doing?

Dragging...

2011-01-27T13:23:00.001-06:00

There are days when I am so tired by 1 pm (like today) that I don't know if I'll make it through the next 7 hours. (Yes, SEVEN hours still at school.) I'm lucky to get my lunch packed (which I try to do every day) and so what's in it is dependent on what we have around the house.

Today? It's turkey summer sausage and a variety of whatever block cheese was left from other recipes. It also includes crackers, pudding, and carrots. Overall, not bad. Not good, but better than what I would get at McDonald's or Taco John's. I'm in limbo right now: speech season is almost over and my night class lasts another 5 weeks.

After that, I have somehow convinced myself that I will be happier, healthier, and actually go to the gym. But, it's warming up a bit outside today. I think I might go for a walk around campus. I only need 30 minutes of being :purposefully" active every day and I've already walked for ten. So that's the plan after I've digested some lunch and begin to feel more sluggish than I do now.

This is the worst time of year for me. Tiny bit of sun, cold, holidays over (no seeing my family until Spring Break)... I'm ready for a break. A nice weekend. Luckily I have no class on Friday so I can catch up on homework, spend some "me" time alone, and get cleaning and grocery shopping done. I can only hope...

So you're probably wondering what this all has to do with my health? Well, when I'm depressed or stressed... I eat. And not healthy things. I eat a whole bag of popcorn by myself (and not the single serve ones), a HEAPING bowl of ice cream, almost an entire frozen pizza... you guys know what I'm talking about, right? So... for the next few weeks, I just need to curb these tendencies until the stress can disengage itself and I can settle into a more normal routine. Night classes suck, being gone 15 hours a day sucks... but I only have 3 semesters left after this one. Just THREE more. Then I an student teach and then start a fantastic new career in something I will love.

So for now, I'm taking care of my mental health so that once it's back where it should be... I can take care of my nutritional health. One thing at a time... Luckily, being active helps me feel more happy. So I can work on those two at the same time. Planning on buying Zumba for Wii as soon as I get my coaching money! I'll let you know how I like it! :-D

Check-In Time!

2011-01-26T18:20:00.000-06:00

Oh my heck, is it Wednesday again? The weeks are just flying by!

I had this weird 'aha' moment yesterday. The realization came to me that it's now been 26 days since I've had a cup of coffee. It's been 26 days since I've had a soda, or for that matter, any drink that isn't juice, soymilk, water, or tea. I also have had very little refined sugar since then as well, a fact that was actually driven home for me hardcore when I was cooking this week.

After a REALLY successful attempt to make vegan sour cream, I decided to attempt another recipe in the book, vegan whipped cream. I intended to make a berry dessert and thought it'd be a delicious topping. I eyed the recipe, which called for sugar, with some apprehension. But, hey, the first recipe had been successful, I wanted to give this one a chance before I started tweaking it.

I made the whipped cream, and did the standard chef move of tasting it along the way. Honestly, it wasn't good. I decided to add some agave nectar (love that stuff!) and tasted it again. Still awful. Not sweet at all and with this horrid soy aftertaste (the basis is tofu and vanilla soy milk). I added more vanilla soy and threw in some stevia, then tasted it again. Nope. Atrocious. Only, a slightly sweeter version of atrocious. I finally decided that it was a lost cause, nixed the dessert idea, and rinsed it down the sink.

About an hour later, oh my word, did I feel AWFUL. I had a headache, I felt jittery, and I could actually feel my heart racing faster. That night, I couldn't sleep a wink. I tossed and turned, too wired to drift off. And I felt SICK. You know how you reach that moment where your body finally protests all of your attempts to fight off a sickness, and you finally give in? Yeah. That's how badly I felt.

It took about 24 hours before I felt better. I blame all the sugar in the recipe (there was 1/2 c in there!). Even the few tasting spoons I had were chaos on my system. I guess this means that I'm finally retraining my body to process the nutritious stuff, which made me completely aware of how hard my body (and yours!) has to work to process the refined, non-nutritious white sugar that abounds in our food supply.

It also makes me wonder if I'd always felt it, if every time I'd had too much sugar, if my body had protested, and I just hadn't noticed? I wondered if I'd just written it off as a bug that I was fighting? It's food for thought, definitely.

whoops... now to week 4 of the challenge

2011-01-24T13:19:00.000-06:00

well, whoops on a few things.
1) that i totally forgot to post last week. forgive me. it was my birthday.
2) i definitely flaked on the week 3 thing.

so anyways, weeks 3 and 4 are pretty much the same. most allergens have been reintroduced. you're mainly working on continuing healthy habits like increasing vegetable intake, keeping sugar and processed foods to a minimum, and making healthy substitutions when possible (applesauce instead of oil, anyone?).

working out... have i already mentioned that i didn't do any of the exercises? yeah. none of them. but hannah has been, and she's my little yoga hero.

i'm still hovering at around 4 lbs down since the beginning of the year. not bad for three weeks. thing is, i'm not exactly sticking to the plan. the good thing is that the recipes are basically anything listed on the whole living website, which means a TON of good foods. the bad thing is that husband and i decided this would be a good few weeks to clean out the freezer and pantry and see how long we can go without buying food. so, i'll still be trying to make healthy changes, and i'll be counting calories, and adding veggies (we have a lot of snack bags in the fridge with fresh carrots, etc, and also lots of frozen veggies), and, and, and...

i'm working on it. i'll wii this week some, too. so that's something. my hopes are to continue with this energy high that i seem to have (yay, more sleep! yay, healthy food!), and lose about another pound or two this week. i can do that, as long as i don't eat pizza. or popcorn. whoops. and as long as i do SOMETHING active, even just the wii boxing. have you done that? it's rough.

Following Through

2011-01-21T10:16:00.000-06:00

I think I've mentioned before that I have major problems with follow-through. I can plan and plan and plan to my heart's content but then never take action on it. It's not just with exercising or eating right. It's with organization, cleaning...you name it. Or I start something (like a book, for instance) and then just quit halfway through if I get tired of it.

I would love to shout "NO MORE. FROM THIS MOMENT ON, I WILL FOLLOW THROUGH!!!" but I can't make that promise. But I will TRY to do better. I have a few things I want to do to slowly change how I eat and exercise and hopefully, one of them will stick. No quick and fast changes here because in my experience, those usually flop.

Exercise. The bane of my existence. I loathe working out. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people who immediately feel better once they start walking on the treadmill. I hate it. I hate it with every fiber of my being. It's not that I'm lazy, I just don't like to get sweaty and huffy and puffy and I honestly just don't feel better afterward. Some people love working out; I don't. Plain and simple. But it's a necessity if I want to get back down to my pre-baby weight and then some. And I want to be healthier and have more energy. I know that exercise contributes to that. I have a very, very energetic little 8-month-old and I can already tell he's going to continue being rambunctious. I need to be able to keep up with him.

There are Zumba classes in my town three nights a week. I would love to attend but I have a dilemma--the classes begin at 7:00 p.m. That is a little late for me, as that's around the time we start the baby's bedtime routine. He usually gets a bath in between 7:15 and 7:30 and then goes to bed around 8:00. This would really mess up that schedule and my dear husband could just do the routine for me, but he's recently had hip surgery and is on a walker. Therefore, he can't kneel at the bathtub, pick the baby up and get him dressed for bed (and the boy is REALLY squirmy) until he is able to put weight on that leg. That may be a month or more. However, when he's able to do these things, I do want to go because for $5 a class, who wouldn't? My mom is even considering going so I would have an accountability partner. She's trying to get healthier as well. In the meantime, I bought a $6 Gold's Gym "Lose the Baby Weight Fast" DVD but I have a hard time doing workout DVDs in our house because I like to have privacy and the only TVs we have are in the living room (where my husband hangs out and is always watching TV) or the baby's room (don't worry, my baby doesn't watch cartoons all the time...it was already mounted to the wall in that room before we turned it into a nursery and it hardly gets turned on). So, I can't really work out after the baby's in bed because the extra TV is in his room...I guess I could get up earlier and do it while Hubby is showering. Ugh. I have an accessible gym at work and I just need to suck it up and use it.

Food. I need to make healthier substitutions and cut out most of my sugar. I've been doing fairly well on the no sodas goal I have except for the past few days. I need to buy a stainless steel water bottle so I can utilize the cold spring water we have here at work. We have disposable cups but they are so tiny that I have to go back and get refills every 5 minutes. Good for my legs, not so good for my productivity.

I've cut out sugar before with pretty good success. Just starting the detox process is the hardest. I will go grocery shopping this weekend and the sweets that I do purchase for Hubby will be stuff I don't like. And I'll be mindful of my bread and grains so that I get whole grain. I found a website called Eat Better America that gives you recipes but includes the healthy substitution. It's even got healthy appetizers and snacks. So, you can still make chicken enchiladas, but they are less fattening because you have subsituted it with healthier options. And "healthified gravy"? Sign me up! I'm going to try out some recipes and may report back here.

Substitutions will be the easiest thing for me to do. I don't do well with a diet if I stay hungry constantly. And I need something acceptable for Hubby because we can't afford to buy two different sets of food and he's kind of picky about diet stuff. He wants to lose some weight too and I've seen his portion sizes get smaller since his surgery (and before, probably due to the pain medication). He's already lost some weight without meaning to. I know that I need to cut down my portions but I want to stay satisfied. I have a really hard time with that. And I'm not a big snacker, but maybe I should snack more with healthy options so I'm not constantly hungry.

Anyway, this is my plan. Time will tell if I follow through or not...

Making Good Choices

2011-01-19T13:34:00.000-06:00

First things first; the check in. I'm still feeling fabulous and hovering right around 10 pounds lost. I still have ridiculous amounts of energy, and I'm so excited because this week I've gotten experimental and made an amazing vegan white pizza! This weekend, I'm making a vegan portobello ravioli with a sun dried tomato sauce. (Hey, I'm broke, I have to wait until payday to go shopping for the ingredients, so it'll happen this weekend.)

One of the questions I've been getting a lot these days is, what do you eat when you go out to a restaurant? I think that's a question that we all face when trying to make healthy choices. For me, personally, it tends to be a lot of veggies! Most restaurants that I've checked out don't use egg or milk in their breads or pastas, sot that opens up a lot of options for me right there. But what about other healthy eaters, not just vegan ones?

Most restaurant meals are overloaded with calories, grease, and unhealthy elements. Why? Because it's a lot cheaper to load up your plate with a 1/2 pound of french fries than a side of fresh fruit.

So, you're in the restaurant, you're looking over the menu, listening to the latest gossip from your friends half heartedly as your eyes skip the nutrition facts. Many restaurants are offering a 'healthy choices' option, usually noted by a little symbol by the 'healthier choices'. That, coupled with your common sense leads you to pick out the best choices....

But does it really? Could we actually be getting derailed by our own mislead thinking?

Subway, you look at the menu. Tuna, you think. Tuna's a fish, it's healthier, lighter. Certainly better than the majority of the menu! But hold up there, friend. The 6 inch tuna sub? Yeah. That's 510 calories. No, really. That roast beef sub over there? Piled high with meat and probably a lot more filling? Only 310.

Wendys, ah the home of the most glorious food combination ever, fries dipped in a Frosty shake. Trying to find something healthy to eat there? You might wander the way of the chicken sandwiches, the chicken club. Healthy right? Whoops, no. That's 620 calories! Get a burger instead, and load it up with all the toppings they have. It's still only going to be 470 calories.

So, what the heck do you eat when you go out to restaurants (or, fast food. Come on, let's be honest!) Here's a quick guide to the healthiest choices out there.

Arby's Melt
Add on a chopped side salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing and you've got a 570-calorie meal.
Burger King BK Broiler Chicken Sandwich
Add on a chunky chicken side salad and a vanilla frozen yogurt (dessert!) and you've got a 519-calorie meal
Chick-Fil-A Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich
With barbecue sauce and a large fruit cup, this meal is 425 calories.
Hardee's Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Order a side of mashed potatoes and gravy, your meal is 390 calories.
KFCs Original Recipe Chicken Strips (order of 3)
Have two sides of mashed potatoes and gravy and baked beans, your meal is 610 calories.
(special note here; stay CLEAR of the coleslaw! That little cup is NOT a vegetable, and is a whopping 210 calories!)

McDonalds Asian Salad
Get the low-fat balsamic vinaigrette and it's 340 calories.
Taco Bell Fresco Bean Burrito
Along with a side of Mexican Rice Fresco, it's 460 calories.
Wendy's Jr. Hamburger

It's 320 calories if you add on a side of mandarin oranges.

So what about vegan and vegetarian options? I'll save you another list but THIS PAGE has a pretty decent list of options at most restaurants, fast food and otherwise.

Sources:

KOMO News
CNN NEWS
Health Check

Week 2 - a little Progress

2011-01-18T14:21:00.002-06:00

These are just going to be my observations on how I am dealing with the challenge. Last week I complained. I still stand by a lot of that, I didn't feel better. Ryan and I made a deal that if we were not feeling improvements at the end of week 2 (once all the allergens had been reintroduced) we were going to scrap it.

The first day of week 2 we got to reintroduce eggs and that one thing made a BIG difference in how hungry I was all the time. Having just one egg in the morning really decreased how snack-y I was throughout the day. I guess I underestimated the importance of protein in a morning meal. Now we are having scrambled eggs and smoothies as part of our morning routine.

On Wednesday I went to playgroup and pretended the diet didn't exist. I had the potluck lunch provided, I drank a soda and even had a cookie for dessert. When I came home the diet was back on and I cooked a veggie heavy meal with lean protein. And, throughout the week, with the addition of all the different foods, wheat, and nuts etc I found it easier and easier to stick to the plan. This is meant to be a lifestyle change and I think, if nothing else, we will succeed in that.

I was still getting headaches not-quite-daily for the duration of week 2. So we debated quitting the diet. Ryan didn't want to and I was torn. BUT, week three is simply to make more healthy substitutes to your diet. Whole grains, lean protein, brown rice instead of white etc. Lots of homemade and, as with the previous weeks, cut out the pre-packaged and processed foods. Those are easy for me, meaning week 3 will be easier. That is how I try to cook anyway. Although I am still craving sugar and sodas I am ok with not having them daily. My current plan is I can have a soda when we are out, but never buy a case to bring home and have sitting in the fridge.

The yoga routines this week were pretty fun, hello tricep workouts! I was sore after just 10 minutes of yoga. I decided to add the workouts from week 1 and 2 together and I am really enjoying them.

Something I am NOT doing very well with, drinking water (possibly part of the reason for the headaches) I am certainly not drinking as much as the diet calls for. I am also not following many of the "mind" prompts for this "mind and body" challenge. That's just some room for improvement in week 3.

January Goal

2011-01-13T10:00:00.002-06:00

So I had this written up very nice and then somehow I selected it all and I typed over it and voila! It was gone.

So, here is the challenge I will be taking over in the next year. It's Cooking Light's 12 Healthy Habits! I've been working on January's for the past 13 days and have made a bit of progress. I'm working on downloading their goal sheets that I can magnet to the fridge to keep better track of the goals each month. Without further ado, here is January!

VEGGIE UP!

ADD 3 SERVINGS A DAY

The idea behind this is that less than 25% of Americans eat 5+ servings a day and most adults need about 9 everyday. Fruits and veggies provide all kinds of nutrients and fibers that help prevent disease and displace higher-calorie foods to help balance your diet and control hunger. Here are some of the tips they give for helping to add more veggies into your diet!

Incorporate more veggies into recipes. Add grated carrots to a fruit smoothie or pancakes; grated zucchini into pasta sauce or meatballs. (I also buy the Ragu with 2 servings of veggies in each 3/4 cup serving.) Puree winter squash or cauliflower into white lasgna, potpie, or baked ziti.
Keep dried fruit in your desk (or backpack). 1/4 cup is one serving.
Add raw veggies and dip to lunch. Try snowpeas, cauliflower, radishes, or cucumber for variety. Use tzatziki, hummus, or romesco for dip. (I really like carrots in salsa.)
Try one new veggie at home each week. Try kale, collard greens, winter squash, celery root, or sweet potatoes.
Have a small salad every night with dinner. Use no-prep bagged lettuce and add shredded carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. And low calorie dressing. (Or salsa. God, I love salsa!)
Keep fruit or veggies on the counter or at eye level in the fridge. That way you can't forget you have them!
Prep veggies dishes on the weekend and freeze. Also, don't forget about the frozen veggie aisle. (Much better than canned!)

Overall, I am making okay progress on this goal and am getting 3 servings a day or more most days. This is a lot better than before when I was getting 0-1 a day. Also, I'm finding I like more veggies than I did when I was a kid. I can eat corn as long as it's in something and I can't really taste it. I also like raw veggies, could eat cabbage until there was no more left in the entire world, and am even starting to like more raw-type tomatoes (think pico de gallo and bruchetta) instead of sauces. Between pico and bruschetta, I can make so many more foods. My next project is to make them each from scratch, which I'm worried about right now because I don't know how good the tomatoes are. But, we'll see!

Update from the Crazy Vegan :-)

2011-01-12T17:41:00.000-06:00

At the risk of being the unpopular girl in the room, I have loads of positive things to report! I've been 100% vegan in my dietary habits since January 1st, and I feel absolutely amazing.

Okay, okay, I'm sure you want the juicy details, so here they are. In 12 days, I've lost 6 pounds. I don't know how many inches, because well, I didn't measure, but I know I've lost those, too. I'm officially down a pants size as of this morning.

I tried, as a long shot, to put on a pair of my favorite brown cords that I haven't been able to fit into in ages. They'd been hanging out in the laundry room, but like an idiot, I put all of my clothes into the washer without remembering that I had an appointment to keep...BEFORE my clothes were dry. I figured, hey, I can squeeze my ass into them long enough for a quick drive, right? To my surprise, they PULLED ALL THE WAY UP! With wrinkles of fabric to spare!

Other physical changes, I'm using much less makeup now because my problem skin is clearing right up and looking more even than it has in years. I also have so much energy, and this may seem odd, but my body doesn't crackle like Rice Crispies every time I move. I don't know if that's a result of the healthier food, or the weight loss, or what, but it seems significant, so I thought I'd mention it.

I haven't had a cup of coffee in more than a week, just taking daily vitamins, and I have tons of energy. I'm able to fall asleep at a decent hour, sleep through the night (unless Vegas pushes me out of bed - silly dog!) and I wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go.

It's actually been a LOT simpler than I thought it was going to be. I plan my meals in advance, and I shop much less often, since I'm doing more planning. (No more random trips to the store because I'm hungry after work). I've even gone out to restaurants with friends, and not had to annoy the kitchen with special orders, since nearly every place has a searchable menu online, and I can see exactly what I can eat before we go. I've found things at ihop, Dennys, and Olive Garden that I can safely eat, and not look like a schmuk.

And I just FEEL good. I'm in a better mood, have more energy, and I'm never hungry between meals. No, really. I eat three meals a day, and maybe a snack to tide me over, but when I get hungry, it's time to eat a meal. I don't feel like I'm depriving myself at all.

As my good friend Erin says (not the Erin from this blog), this isn't a diet, it's a lifestyle change, and she is SO right. Going vegan has been the best decision I've made in a long time, and it's completely changed my life.

My thoughts on the challenge - Week 1

2011-01-11T11:11:00.007-06:00

When Erin posted about the Whole Living 28-day challenge I thought it sounded pretty interesting. I had looked into “Clean Eating” a bit before and this seemed similar, although more focused on the whole person not just the diet. So, Ryan and I decided to try it. Having him on board makes it a lot easier (and harder) to do. It's easier in that I have someone there to be accountable to, someone there to motivate me, someone to discuss the recipes with and to hold my hand on the bad days. But it's also harder to cheat. HA!

So far it's been rough and getting rougher every day. I really want to say that it's been fantastic, that I feel great, that my energy level is higher but I. just. can't. I am proud of the small victories. I passed up coffee and doughnuts at my bi-monthly bookclub meeting, I skipped a lunch at the bowling alley with the playgroup. I didn't steal a fry when I grabbed lunch for my oldest at a drive-thru the other day. Which is another problem, the kids. Their treats are still in the cabinet, I still prepare “regular” food for them, milk, cheese, eggs and bread. They eat some of the meals, but the big one won't touch green food with a 10 foot pole since he eats like the picky 3 year old he is. The baby, on the other hand, loves the smoothies, granola and brown rice, he even ate a decent portion of the vegan risotto I made. I have managed to maintain my willpower and have stuck to the diet and the recipes on the website. (Full disclosure I have had 2 cups of full caf tea, a week ago now, to stop the raging withdrawal migraine but none since then) The food has actually been really tasty, and there are definitely a few keeper recipes in there. But the cravings are not going away, and in fact are getting worse. I would sell my soul for a Dr. Pepper.

The program focus not just on the food but on the mind and body as well. Yoga is part of the daily routine and I only missed one day, hurray me! You are also supposed to de-clutter, reorganize and de-stress. But, I am HUNGRY. I don't feel satisfied after meals and snacks and my mind is constantly on the next meal, even though I am not calorie restricting myself at all. Since I now cook for both lunch and dinner plus the 3 daily snacks I find myself prepping, cooking, eating, cleaning up and starting the prep all over again. Toss in the kids needing attention and I just don't have time to do the other prompts. This is even accounting for the fact that I did a partial media fast. I checked in on twitter on my iphone but I stayed off my computer until after the kids were in bed and I haven't watched any of “my” tv in over a week now. I found a restaurant that offers vegan meals and will prepare anything gluten-free as well if you ask, it that was a marvelous day. I stuck to the diet and got a break from cooking! But when the big one spilled my leftovers I wanted to cry.

Honestly, I shouldn't even be writing this post. I am not supposed to complain anymore and that's all this is. What do you think? Should I give it more time? Am I expecting too much? I feel like I am doing this all wrong because I am not getting the results I am supposed to get. I am supposed to be feeling amazing and all I feel is... cranky.

challenge, week 2

2011-01-10T21:15:00.003-06:00

how'd week 1 go? not gonna lie- it wasn't easy for me. and yes, i cheated. but i knew i would. plus, it wasn't terrible cheats. let's see. monday was alright. felt tired, tired, tired, and had a headache. tuesday got better, so did wednesday. never really had cravings for sweets, so much as for FLAVOR. so i adjusted the menu, and changed some days, and i'm sure i had some things that were forbidden. but this isn't about following all the rules. it's about being healthy. and i felt better. AND, i lost 1.2 pounds.
huge plus to me! (but i didn't do yoga once. i did do wii tennis with husband, though.)

i also documented many recipes over at the domestic daredevils. go check it out!

now, this week. here's the recipes online. and, here's the action plan.

not gonna lie, the recipes look WAY better than week 1. also, you're "allowed" to reintroduce many of the forbidden foods, some on certain days, and others at your discretion. well, i'll probably just do all of them at my discretion. but, here's my "planned" menu for the week. we all know, this can change at any moment.

(i was going to post a picture like i did last week, but, well, i'm not.)

monday: the moroccan steamed salmon with quinoa.
tuesday: chickpea, tomato, and spelt soup (but i'll substitute something for spelt).
wednesday: out to dinner with friends. this is my cheat day of the week.
thursday: awesome salad with grilled chicken.
friday: steak with warm red-lentil dal and pita chips.

lunches will be salads with grilled chicken, or leftovers. like the soup.
snacks, similar to last week. nuts, fruits and veggies, and that lentil dal. it looks really really good.

enjoy! hope you have a great week!

New Year, New Way to Live

2011-01-05T11:31:00.002-06:00

I did something rather drastic for New Years. I took the plunge and did something that I’ve been circling around for about 4 months; I went vegan. If you want all the juicy details of how I started and how it’s going, you can check out my personal blog at http://shieldmaidenconfessions.blogspot.com.

I made the choice for a variety of reasons; my health, the animals, the planet. I just knew that this was the right choice for me to make, and five days in, I have no regrets. And, surprisingly, it hasn’t been all that challenging. Probably because, like I said, I’ve been circling this decision for about 4 months, trying to integrate different vegan substitutions into my diet and recipes.

This blog is all about getting healthier, not necessarily about losing weight. Well, I can tell you that, even though it’s been a little less than a week, I FEEL healthier. I can tell the difference in my body and in my mind. I feel more focused, and I have more energy. Which, is a little silly, because I’ve been cutting down on coffee and have completely eliminated all soda or sugary-drinks from my world. It’s juice, water, soy/almond milk, and tea for me. And yet, I’m not crashing in the middle of the day.

I’ve also noticed that I’m not getting hungry as often, and I’m definitely not ‘grazing’ at all. I don’t have the munchies. My thoughts on this are twofold – I think it’s because the meals that I eat are actually nutritious and fulfilling, and I also have to plan my snacking a bit more. I just can’t go to the cupboard and grab a bag of popcorn, I have to consciously decide what I’m eating and how much. I know myself and my sweet tooth, and I know that sometimes, a girl just needs something sweet. So, I found Newman-O cookies. They’re a vegan, wheat free version of an Oreo cookie, and I’ll tell you what, they’re TOTALLY delicious and could pass for the real thing. Anyway, they’re my sweet indulgence. Now, I’m ashamed to admit, before when I had Oreos, I could easily finish off half a row (or more) in one sitting. But last night, I made the conscious choice that I could have 5 Newman-Os. No more. So, I took the cookies, left the bag in the kitchen and went to write for awhile.

Funny thing, I had two, and my sugar craving was done. Finished. I had to take 3 cookies back to the kitchen, because I was satisfied.

I think my body’s making better use of what I put into it. There aren’t a lot of junk or filler ingredients, just the good, solid nutrition my body needs. And I don’t feel like I’m depriving myself of anything; I have a craving, I fill it, like the cookies.

And I feel better. I don’t feel like I’m on a diet; if I’m hungry, I eat. And still, I’m losing weight. How awesome is that?

Okay, okay. So going vegan is a major life choice, and definitely not practical for everyone. I made the choice, because it works for me and what my goals are.

I would, however, say that the number one thing I’ve learned is something that EVERYONE can benefit from: READ THE LABEL.

No, seriously. You have no idea what’s lurking in your food until you read through every ingredient in that long list. I’ve spent half of this week staring at the backs of labels at the supermarket, then quickly googling (yes, it’s a verb, learn it, live it, love it) what the heck these long names are. If something is 18 letters long, and isn’t a known mineral, do I really want to be putting it in my body? If the saying is true, and you are what you eat…what the heck does that make me? (And, from a vegan perspective, did you know that animal products creep into the oddest places?) Why does it take an ingredient list 14 ingredients long to make ice cream? When I was a kid (okay, okay, 2 summers ago…), we made that from scratch with some milk, sugar, vanilla, and strawberries, coupled with some ice and rock salt. All of these preservatives and fillers can’t exactly be doing wonders for our health.

I think it’s just really about consciousness. I think back to how many times I sat with a book, or in front of the TV, eating, and before I knew it, my plate was empty, and I’d barely tasted whatever I’d had. I never actually paid attention to how much I was eating, or what it really was. Whether vegan, vegetarian, carnivore…whatever…I think it really just comes down to paying more attention. Both the amounts (everyone’s heard the fist-sized portion-size rule), and what’s actually IN the food you’re eating.

28 day challenge: week 1

2011-01-03T08:07:00.002-06:00

alright. i'm ready. seriously. i've been psyching myself up for this all week. i've been tapering off on my caffeine intake-- down to a cup sunday morning, and i didn't even have a headache. so i switched to caffeine-free tea instead of coffee. sometimes you just need that hot drink in the morning. i also stocked up on tons of fruit and really healthy, but still hearty, snacks.

so here's the plan this week:

breakfast: fruit (blueberries, blackberries, apples) with sweet tahini sauce and plain sunflower seeds.
this morning, i forgot the tahini sauce.
which means i probably forgot fiber.
but the fruit was still delicious.

snacks: half a smoothie in the morning, healthy nuts in the afternoon.
and i do plan on trying one green smoothie this week.

lunch: brown rice, steamed veggies, in a viniagrette.

dinner: as shown below.

all recipes can be found here, along with many many more options for meals.

remember- adjust this to work for you. i'm not making millet. i'm using brown rice in its place. i couldn't find plums for my breakfast. no big deal. they had no shitake mushrooms at the grocery store i went to, so i'm using baby bella mushrooms. didn't have baby bok choy, so i'm using regular. it's okay. the point of this is not to beat yourself up if you don't do it perfectly. the point is to find ways that you can live healthier. is it cutting out soda? sweets? limiting television? sleeping more?

Happy New Year and Interval Training

2010-12-31T07:00:00.020-06:00

I just wanted to wish all of our readers a very happy transition into 2011. I hope all your dreams come true, all of your health goals are met, and you have a fabulous year!

Now, I want to ask you all something. What do you think of interval training? I got some info about it in my WebMD newsletter and being the busy mom that I am, I'm intrigued. This is the first paragraph of the article I read:

Looking for a challenge? How about a way to drop extra pounds and get in rockin’ shape -- in a minimum amount of time? It’s called interval training and it’s long been the secret of top athletes and their coaches. But, with a little know-how, you can do it, too.

Sounds great, right? Is it too good to be true? Has anyone else ever done something like this?

This has more in-depth descriptions of the exercises that need to be done. I'm really thinking of starting this plan. I have all the tools I need at work (treadmill, bikes, free weights, a separate exercise room, etc.) and can do it at the end of the day when few, if any, people are in the gym (otherwise, I'd feel like a dork doing those jump-squats).

So, let me know what you think. And feel free to list your 2011 health/fitness goals in the comments. We want to know what YOU'RE doing this year!

Resolutions = Goals

2010-12-30T09:00:00.001-06:00

Why hello there fellow Twitter to Get Fitter ladies! I am indeed still alive and still doing well! I am however, horrible at remembering to blog. I need to start making it a daily habit over on my personal blog. I think that will be my New Year's Resolution, er- goal... we'll see. I think goal has a much more positive connotation than resolution. Resolutions mean failure for millions of Americans. Goals have promise and hope all wrapped into them, so speaking of New Year's goals, I have a few health-wise that I'd like to implement!

Drink 8 glasses of water a day. I simply don't drink enough water. I drink \juice and a TON of diet soda. (Which I'm not ready to cut out of my diet quite yet.) I need more milk, but that goes into #2.
Balance the food groups. I seem to get plenty of carbs and protein, but not enough dairy or fruits and veggies. I'm adding more veggies to dinner and trying to keep fresh fruit in the house. It's helping. I wish grapes were on sale more often and strawberries were perpetually in season!
Get to the gym. I will get to the gym twice a week. Every week. If I feel like going more, I will. But I will go for at least 45 minutes, twice a week. I think I can find time for that. Even if it's only on the weekends. Besides, Will goes every day for 45 minutes. I really only need to join him once a week and find another time to go on my own. We each use his gym time as some "alone" time. Even happily married newly weds need time apart. That's for my mental health! :-)
Quit sweating the small stuff. So I just ate a cookie. Or maybe two. I don't do this ALL the time. And most of the time I choose a few crackers, a glass of water or juice, or handful of tortilla chips and salsa. (I consider this a wash. A serving of salsa, 1/4 cup, is one serving of vegetables. And I drown my chips.) Overall, I do a good job choosing decent snacks when I have access to them. I need to find more "on the go" snacks to take to campus. Any suggestions?

So there are my four health related resolutions. They are all reasonable and attainable. And I can measure all of them, for the most part. I think that's important for me. I need to be able to measure my goals and make progress towards them. Now, excuse me while I go pour a glass of water!

What are you doing to get healthy in the New Year?

New Years!

2010-12-29T21:12:00.002-06:00

New Years, New Years! A time for making resolutions…and, if you’re like me, breaking them just as fast.

It’s funny, I was walking in Fred Meyer, and they have their seasonal section, which typically goes from Halloween to Christmas. Well, Christmas is on its way out, only the crappiest candy (those fake chocolate candies in the foil that really have no flavor other than the foil) and the tackiest decorations are left. Valentine’s way is creeping in (is it really time to start thinking about red hearts and roses already?), but lo and behold, there’s one aisle standing between the two holidays: New Years.

But what qualifies as a seasonal New Year’s item, you ask? Champagne glasses? Confetti? Noisemakers? All good guesses, but alas, you’re off the mark.

No, the entire aisle is filled with workout equipment. Yoga balls, free weights, elliptical machines, jump ropes, kettle balls… and then you have the sketchier, as-seen-on-TV stuff. I think we’ve all seen the Shake Weight commercial, no? With it’s oddly…um…inappropriate movement? Or how about the electric waistbelt that supposedly shocks your way to a six-pack? What about the hazmat-looking sweatsuits that help you burn weight in twice the time (but the instant you drink a bottle of water it comes right back)?

New Years is all about the resolutions, and evidently we all have the same one: We all want to lose weight.

Which is funny, in and of itself, right? There’s an entire market out there designed to come up with the latest creepy gadget designed to “help” people lose weight, and this time of year is like tax season for accountants. Put it on the market and someone will try it, and then right around Valentine’s Day, it’ll be collecting dust in the back of the closet.

(I’m a little cynical, aren’t I?)

What’s the weirdest, most off-the-wall weight loss trend or gadget that you’ve seen? (Don’t worry, I won’t ask you if you’ve tried it) Here’s a little inspiration to get you started: The Most Ridiculous, Absurd, and Over-Hyped Diets of 2010

how bout that challenge?

2010-12-27T08:04:00.012-06:00

remember the challenge/contest that was mentioned, well, in october??

i've got something for ya now. the new year is coming. and you know what that means. fresh starts. new you. attempts that fail after a month, if you're lucky. two weeks if you're an average american.
i made those stats up. but i believe most of us fail our resolutions soon after we make them.

well, how about more of a participation thing, than an actual resolution? it's not an easy one. but nothing worth it ever is.

i got some free martha stewart magazines thanks to my darling mother-in-law. well, it seems included with this are some issues of whole living, a martha stewart production. it's neat. better than something limited like shape magazine, it seems to encourage general healthy living.

there's a challenge in the january issue-- if you can find this magazine, feel free to get it so you can participate!-- that doesn't look easy. but i'm going to try it, and i am inviting all of you to join it also. i'll start it every monday starting in january, and i'll tell you what the magazine says to do for that week, or you can look at it online here. it is sort of a cleanse, limiting when you eat things like processed foods and sugar and meat. here's the run down of what it will cover:

week 1: pare down and purify
eating lots of smoothies, beans, veggies, millet. fresh fruits, lots of water. avoiding things like added sugar, alcohol, caffeine, wheat, eggs, dairy...
using yoga to detox your body and clearing clutter to detox your mind.

week 2: lay a wholesome foundation
gradually add in some avoided foods like wheat, dairy, soy. i can't wait to try the avocado dressing on the creamy kale salad this week. also get to have oily fish. continue to avoid sugar, processed foods.
continue yoga, focusing on core strength. focus on positive emotions.

week 3: gain momentum
explore spices in your diet. this week's menu includes things like roasted tomatoes, roasted chickpeas, and creamy broccoli-white bean soup. also something that looks like a cookie, but i don't know what amaranth is.
exercise is more cardio and invigorating workouts

week 4: a new you-- for good
increase the plant-to-animal ratio in your diet. the chipotle-avocado sandwich looks delicious. so does the linguine with toasted almonds, lemon, and romano cheese. yum.
continue the workout from week 3.

so. it's not easy. it's also not a crash diet. more of a see-what-you-can-live-without-in-your-diet regime. like sugar, which is a HUGE problem for me. it shouldn't be a daily addition, but more of a fancy treat, you know? i'm not saying that i'm going to follow this all the way. i have some things that will be hard to live without. like a whole week with just smoothies? we'll see how i do. but i thought it would be fun, and i know that when i eat better, and DO remove those certain items from my diet, i feel so much better. so i'm going to really try to show myself i can do this.

use this week to prepare for week 1. log on to the site, and click on the "food and recipes" tab. i've already got the menu pretty much planned out for next week, and it definitely doesn't look like i'll be starving!

9 Exercises That Are a Waste of Time

2010-12-24T07:00:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone's having a wonderful Christmas Eve and not going overboard with the holiday cookies. I went ahead and pre-programmed this post in case anyone is reading this week. It's short and sweet. So, here goes...

I get an email newsletter from WebMD and I found one of the links quite interesting.

9 Exercises That Are a Waste of Time

This link showcases popular exercises that are done incorrectly and then gives a picture of the correct way to do those exercises. I guess I never really think about the fact that if you're doing the exercise wrong, it can be ineffective and all your hard work goes to waste. So, take a look and check out the other slideshows they have available on the site.

And MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What I'm Doing Right and Other Stuff

2010-12-17T15:53:00.000-06:00

So, I got to thinking the other day (this post has been in the works for going on 3 weeks now) that I always get down on myself about what I'm NOT doing right, that I rarely pat myself on the back for what I do get right. Therefore, I will give you a list of things that I do to make my life a little healthier. There are definitely things I could be doing differently and if you have any suggestions on things I could incorporate into my life that won't take too much time or money, I'm all ears.

Cooking lots of lean meats -- I try to broil pork and fish as much as possible; broiling takes less than 10 minutes in most cases, so it's really good for my time-strapped schedule. I never fry anything because not only is it unhealthy, it's really time-consuming. I'm a poor excuse for a Southern girl, but that's just the way it is. We don't own a Fry-Daddy (although my husband would love if we did) and if I get a hankering for fried chicken, I just do Shake and Bake. Okay, that's actually pretty fattening, but at least we're not getting all the grease and oil.

Not cooking with salt -- Much to my husband's dismay, I do not salt as I cook. My mom never really did and I never "learned" to eat food with lots of salt. I occasionally put different seasonings in veggies when I cook them but I let MK salt his own food. I can't stand something that's been oversalted and my definition of "oversalted" is usually different than everyone else's.

Buying whole grain bread -- Our favorite bread is actually Nature's Own Multi-Grain bread and our Walmart is out of it every other time I go grocery shopping. So, I have to get the 100% whole grain, which is more bitter than the multi-grain. The multi-grain has a nuttier flavor and isn't as bitter to the taste. I actually would rather experiment with different grains than eat white bread.

Eating fiber-rich cereals -- No Cocoa Puffs for me! Although the sugary cereals are tasty, they sure don't go very far. I'm hungry an hour later whenever I eat unhealthy cereal. But if I eat a healthier cereal or oatmeal, I stay satisfied longer. I also drink nothing but skim milk. I wish I had more time to cook a proper breakfast, because I'd love to eat eggs in the mornings for an added boost of protein.

Not buying the sweet stuff that I love -- If I don't have it in the house, I don't crave it much. If MK wants me to buy him some cookies or sweets, I try to get the stuff that I'm not that into. Like chocolate. I get something without chocolate because if chocolate is in the house, I will eat it.

Now, none of this includes activity. But, my office is a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG way from the parking lot. Like 10 minutes from the parking lot and it's all walking. I sit on my rear all day at work, but the bathrooms are quite a ways down the hall and once I get home, I don't get to sit down for very long until after the baby goes to bed. And even then, if I'm doing things like loading/unloading the dishwasher or laundry, then I might not sit down until 10:00 PM. It's too cold to take the baby on walks right now in the evenings and I wouldn't have much time to do that anyway since I have to prepare supper. Also, we have hardwoods so if I do any kind of activity inside the house, I'll accidentally wake the baby up. Once the holidays die down, I'm going to try to do more walking at work. I've said it before...we have a gym and I need to utilize it.

And, none of this is helping me lose weight but at least I'm not gaining. I went clothes shopping the other day and it was SO depressing. I am two sizes bigger than I was pre-pregnancy and holding steady at 15 pounds of baby weight. My brother gets married in April, so I would really like to drop this 15 pounds by then and need to figure out something that works with my new life.

Sticks and Stones

2010-12-15T22:21:00.002-06:00

Something happened to me this week that honestly, I’m finding hard to talk about. Nonetheless, it’s in the vein of this blog, and it’s something I’m dealing with as part of my healthiness journey, so I thought it was important to talk about here.

I was having a really good week. Not working out as much as I should be, but avoiding holiday bad-eating for the most part. I was even starting to feel a bit festive, having finally gotten the Christmas tree and the lights up outside. My roommate and I were both sick at home, and decided to spend a day curled up in our pjs, watching Christmas movies. Despite the pain in my head and sinuses, I was in a fairly decent mood.

That is, until I logged into my Facebook and saw the following commentary on one of my recent photos.

“you are really fat girls…have a good time, but how to loose these pounds? I got weight too lately and I’m panic because I can’t fit into my favourite trousers which I bought 3 years ago…I guess metabolism doesn’t work as good when people are in their 40 tys. But you are not in 40tys yet, what is going on, fatzos?”

I was shocked. I gasped so loudly that the roommate turned and looked at me. For about 45 seconds, I couldn’t even formulate a single word. Afterwhich, I simply passed her my laptop and let her read the hateful commentary. (She was the other person in the photo, and the reason for the plural.) We both started crying moments later.

The woman who wrote the comment was my aunt, which honestly, makes it hurt that much worse than if it had been a stranger or an acquaintance. This is family, someone who’s supposed to see through the weight on my hips and see who I am inside.

I feel like I’ve been kicked in the (admittedly chubby) stomach. As easy as it is to say that I’m not going to let someone’s ignorance and hate effect me or bring me down, it’s really, really hard not to feel the pain. As I’m writing this, I’m actually tearing up.

It’s frustrating, because…why do people say things like this? Don’t they think I know that I’m heavy? I’m WORKING on it. I’m losing weight. I’m sorry that it’s not fast enough for everyone else’s standards, but dammit, you can’t drop 40-50 pounds overnight, no matter HOW good you’re eating, or how much you’re working out. Weight comes off slowly, it’s just the way it is.

Why is weight the only thing that it’s appropriate to comment on these days? I mean, commenting on someone’s race, sexuality, religion..these are all taboo topics. Calling someone fat, however, and making painfully cruel comments is still acceptable. You only have to pick up any cheesy entertainment magazine to see the harsh criticism that’s socially acceptable. “Best and Worst Swimsuit Bodies”, “Starlet is putting on the holiday pounds!” “Daytime Talk Show Host is off her diet, again!” Honestly, I’d take any of those “worst” swimsuit bodies any day of the week.

Why is it that everything else goes to the side if someone is overweight? Suddenly, that’s all I’m worth to my aunt. Never mind the work I do, the volunteerism I do, the blogs I write for, the life I live, the smile on my face in that photograph…all I am is just overweight.

And then the other part of me just wants to rebel and shout at the world, screw you for not taking me seriously as a heavy girl! Why should I have to conform to skinny girl standards in order for my life to have some meaning and the words I say to be considered important!

This is where I am this week.

But as one of the wisest women I know said, fat is fixable. I can always diet and get skinny. Coldheartedly cruel, well, my aunt is stuck being THAT woman forever.

getting PAID to lose weight??

2010-12-13T16:29:00.000-06:00

it's true. and it's not a scam. or an infomercial.

i work at one of the biggest and best research institutes in the US. So I have had the opportunity to participate in some research studies. well, i also am a member (is that what it's called?) of research match, where i receive emails for studies that i could potentially participate in. i recently got an email about a study. i'll just paste it here:

Erin,

Shortness of Breath During Exertion in Obesity

Our research study investigates the effect of exercise training and weight loss on breathlessness during exercise in obese individuals. This study requires commitment and dedication, but is very rewarding. You will learn more about your body composition, lung function, exercise capacity and will have the opportunity to work with a trainer. You will also receive an individualized diet plan. This will be at no cost to you.

The visits, tests and payments are:

Visit 1:

Consent & HIPAA – review and sign
Review of Medical History
Pulmonary Function Tests
Underwater Weighing
Pays you $50
Time commitment: 3hrs.

Visit 2:

Constant Load Cycle Test – you are resting a stationary bicycle for the most part and will cycle for 6 minutes at an easy work rate.
Maximal exercise Test – You will start cycling at an easy work rate. Each minute we will increase the work load, until you are “maxed” – where you don’t feel like you can cycle any longer.
For your safety, we will monitor your oxygen, heart and blood pressure. We always have a doctor in the building (easily accessible).
Pays you $60
Time commitment: 2hrs.

Visit 3:

We look at your “oxygen cost of breathing”. This involves several different breathing maneuvers. We will coach you on your breathing.
Pays you $100
Time commitment: 3hrs. – 3.5hrs

Visit 4

MRI – images will be of the upper body (from the hips to below the neck)
Pays you $50
Time commitment: 1hr

Training Program:

You will be in the resistive training (weight loss) program. You will require to train 3 times per week depending on which group you fall into. This is a 12 week program. Once you complete your 12 week program, we will repeat all the above tests. Exact same payment and time commitment. This will be at no cost to you.

so yeah, it's definitely something i'm interested in. even if they didn't pay, i'd be excited to participate-- because, dude, you get meal planning help and a trainer. the money is just like an extra bonus! i had my phone interview to see if i qualify all the way, and there's one issue they're concerned with. i have to take steroids for an adrenal problem, and that might affect the study. i will find out tomorrow if i've been accepted-- keep your fingers crossed!

now, how does this help you? easy. go to research match. register. investigate at your local hospital or med school. there's stuff going on like this all the time! you're doing good for the general public in helping these investigators learn more about their studies. you could be doing good for yourself, as it appears this study will be!

ps, all other people participating in this study are losing 25 pounds in their 12 weeks. woah. that is JUST the jump start i need!!

Truth

2010-12-12T09:28:00.004-06:00

Well, what can I say? Another week, another 2lbs of weight gain... presumably healthy weight gain, but with the chocolate I eat... how can I be sure? 6 weeks left till baby... and I'm not going to lie... I'm getting nervous. Aaaand when I'm nervous... I eat. It's a truth that I don't even really like to admit to myself. Sad? Eat. Angry? Eat. Scared? Eat. BORED? Eat.

Last time I had a baby, I had a breakdown. It wasn't pretty... it was emotional, and scary... and life changing. It was full of sadness, confusion, self-doubt and, you guessed it, food. It was a vicious cycle... cry, eat, gain weight, hate the weight, cry and then eat. I am not entirely sure if being aware of this cycle (or the causes of the cycle in the first place, which I now understand) can stop me from going through them again... I'm hoping that I'm stronger... that I've accepted more of my faults, and excelled in more of my strengths. I hope that my baby feels the same love that Ky felt, and that he grows to be the same kind of child that I created last time... (in spite of myself).

I'm driven by self-awareness, and an understanding that I didn't have before... but in saying that, I'm also aware that there is very little "reason" involved in mental health issues, and hormonal imbalance. I need to be careful. I need to be positive. I need to ensure that I feel good about me... whatever weight I am.

SO - this week, I just want us all to remember that we are beautiful in spite of our weight. That we try hard, that we work hard, that we play hard, that we love hard.... and that we eat what we need to continue doing those things. Yes we can make better choices. Yes we can exercise and help ourselves, (and our families in the long run!) but we are beautiful.

YOU are beautiful.

Are you falling for these tricks?

2010-12-05T16:26:00.001-06:00

I'm not going to lie. I'm eating like a horse. And I'm not exercising. And I'm gaining weight madly. In the best interest of staying positive, and helping you all keep fit and have fun (!) I'm just going to enclose an article that I thought was really helpful, and wish you all a great FIT week!!!

Tamara

What You See is What You Eat

By Erik on Dec 03, 2010 10:00 AM in Dieting & You

As we’ve talked about in the past, enormousserving sizes and the deeply-ingrainedmentality we have to “clean” our larger-than-average plates are some of the subconscious factors responsible for our overeating habits. New research shows that there are additional visual cues which affect our sense of hunger and likelihood to gorge. These subtle visual “tricks” used by restaurants and food manufacturers are leading us to buy (and eat) more and more without even realizing it. Have you fallen into these traps?

The Photo Says it All

Snack foods often show a representative sample photo prominently on the front of the packaging. For example, a box of cookies might show a photo of five cookies and a bag of pretzels might show an image with fifteen pretzels. A recent study found that the number of items shown in these product photos affects how we judge an appropriate serving size, how we evaluate the number of items in the entire package, and ultimately, how much we eat.

The study, published in October’s Journal of Consumer Psychology, showed that people given a package of cookies with more cookies shown on the front would assume there are more total cookies in the entire package and more in the appropriate serving size than those given the exact same package with fewer cookies shown in the photo. Since they assumed the serving size to be larger, the people given the package with a greater number of cookies shown ended up eating more.

Small, Medium, Large?

Another recent study in the similarly-named Journal of Consumer Research found that consumer behavior is greatly influenced by how manufacturers name their serving sizes, such as “small,” “medium,” and “large.”

In this study, testers were offered the exact same packages with different size labels. People offered a large item with a “small” label ate more than those given larger size labels. Additionally, it made these people feel less guilty about overindulging, an effect which the researchers call “guiltless gluttony.”

Hungry Colors

Finally, something as simple as the colors in a logo, product packaging, or on the walls of a restaurant can change the way we eat. Have you ever noticed that almost every fast-food franchise is decked out in bright reds and yellows? It should be no surprise that these colors attract our attention, make us excited, increase our heart rate, and stimulate hunger.

Your thoughts…

Have you been fooled into overeating with these visual tricks?

Welcome to December!

2010-12-01T14:42:00.000-06:00

Okay okay, nasty gritty stuff out of the way. Weight: 210. Down from 215. Exactly 50 pounds from my goal of 160.

Side note - Does anyone else have a hard time looking at the YAY, FIVE POUNDS LOST! because all they can see is the OMG, FIFTY MORE POUNDS TO GO! ? (Feel free to substitute your own numbers) I swear, I don't know whether I'm more elated or frustrated.

In other news, Happy December! May whatever holiday you and yours celebrate be happy, merry, and bright. Not only is it the season for holiday cheer, it's also the season for Good Holiday Eats, is it not?

I always go into the holiday season with the best of intention, armed with all of the holiday tips and tricks that I've picked up along the way. We all know the tricks; drink a glass of water before a meal so you feel fuller, sample a little bit of everything, but only a couple bites, watch portions, don't mindlessly graze from the M&M bowl (but the holiday mint M&Ms are SO GOOD!!)... But, at least in my world, when I have a friend standing in front of me with her homemade sweet potato pie/grandma's secret stuffing recipe/fluffy sugar cookies her kid's made, it's really, really hard to say no.

I think it's because I'm from a culture where food is caring. You don't turn down food that someone is offering because it's rude. If someone takes the time to prep you a plate or bake you a treat, they're offering you something out of their own heart, and it's only respectful to be gracious about their gift. If you walk into my house, the first thing I'm going to do is offer you something to eat. It's just the way I was raised.

So, yeah, I know it's not likely that I'm going to be shirking away from the holiday dishes at my friend's festivities, and I think if I go into it with that mentality, I'm just going to disappoint myself. But what about fighting a little bit of fire with fire? Bringing a healthy recipe to the gathering and offering it in my own home?

I think we all know that there are some holiday goodies that are just too good to pass up, right? Even when you're dieting, even if your resolve is sound, there are still a few things that get through the cracks.

I propose something: Let's share a healthy recipe with eachother. Let's create a healthier choice for each of us; our very own little "I don't have to feel guilty for enjoying this" cookbook. There are healthier versions of traditional holiday recipes everywhere, I've found more than a few at Food Network's Holidays Made Healthy.

I'll start: How about that holiday favorite of cookies and milk?

Lighter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Courtesy of Food Network Kitchens

Notes

These crispy cookies will give your old, full fat recipe, a run for their money. By adding some ground oats to whole wheat pastry flour, cutting the butter and adding some agave nectar, we cut the fat and calories without sacrificing flavor.

Ingredients

1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking)
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour, spooned and leveled
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
3 tablespoons agave nectar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped, or 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a food processor and pulse until the oats are finely ground. Set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar and agave nectar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until smooth and glossy. Reduce mixer speed to the lowest setting and gradually add the flour mixture until just incorporated; stir in the chocolate.

3. Drop level tablespoons of the dough onto silicone mat lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart (12 cookies per sheet). Transfer the sheets to the refrigerator and chill the cookies until solid, about 30 minutes. Bake until lightly golden around edges, about 12 to 14 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let cool on the sheets for 1 minute; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cook's Note: These cookies like to spread. If you are bothered by them touching, bake on 3 pans.

Copyright 2010 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

Nutritional analysis per cookie (based on 2 dozen, serving size 2 cookies)
Calories 200; Total Fat 7g (Sat Fat 4g, Mono Fat 1g, Poly Fat 0g); Protein 3g; Carb 32g; Fiber 2g; Cholesterol 28mg; Sodium 56mg

how to not gain weight this holiday season

2010-11-29T12:39:00.000-06:00

my post is not nearly as detailed as kyrstin's.
it's also not as serious.

how to not gain weight this holiday season:
1) get sick. there's a virus going around the office that i'm pretty sure i caught. if so, the coming-out-both-ends will surely lose me a couple pounds, no?
2) don't cook. just scavenge for whatever you can find in the fridge. related, don't cook a feast for any holiday. eat out. less fatty leftovers this way.
3) avoid the scale. because, if you don't weigh yourself, you don't gain weight. isn't that how it works? plus, i have a 24-lb cast on my leg (it must weigh that much in order for the scale to be correct).

that's it! three simple steps to staying slim this season.

Happy Thanksgiving! (And an extra few pounds)

2010-11-25T13:59:00.000-06:00

Yup! You guessed right! I woke up this morning and weigh 3 more pounds than I did a week ago. And I know why! I've had fast food once this week and haven't gotten to the gym at all. And today is Thanksgiving! One of my favorite holidays! (Besides 4th of July and New Year's... I really like fireworks... haha!)

Anyway, how will I manage to eat all the delicious food and not gain weight? Well, luckily, we are hitting the in-laws today and while there will be two kinds of meat the side dishes will be more limited because there aren't as many people bringing food. I'm bring dessert (apple crisp) and my SIL is bringing potatoes. Chances are, they are just mashed and not anything cheesy or creamy, woot! And the vegetables will also most likely just be steamed or the like. So, this is good news. Maybe I can fill up on green beans and white meat turkey and stay away from the *gasp!* dressing( or stuffing as we call it here, or maybe that's just me?). Or at least only have a few forkfuls.

Also, this morning in my inbox, I found an e-mail from Real Simple. (Have you heard of this magazine? I LOVE it!) Anyway, they included 9 tips to healthy eating for the holidays! Enjoy and have a great holiday if you're in the U.S. or a wonderful Thursday to my Canadian friends!

At a family gathering:
1. Eat the best-for-you offerings first. For example, hot soup as a first course―especially when it's broth-based, not cream-based―can help you avoid eating too much during the main course.

Stand more than an arm's length away from munchies, like a bowl of nuts or chips, while you chat so you're not tempted to raise your hand to your mouth every few seconds.

Concentrate on your meal while you're eating it. Focus on chewing your food well and enjoying the smell, taste, and texture of each item. Research shows that mealtime multitasking (whether at home or at a party) can make you pop mindless calories into your mouth. Of course, dinner-party conversation is only natural, but try to set your food down until you're finished chatting so you are more aware of what you're taking in.

While shopping:
2. Plan your shopping route so you don’t pass the Cinnabon stand a dozen times. The obvious reason? Both sights and smells can coax you to eat, and with some vendors purposefully wafting their aromas your way, saying no can feel impossible.

Choose a proper restaurant over the grab-and-go food court whenever you can. And request a table away from loud sounds and distractions, which can cause you to eat more. The bright lights and noisy hard surfaces can speed up the rate at which you eat and lead to overeating.

Avoid fast-food places that emphasize red in their color schemes. Red has been shown to stimulate the appetite more than many other colors, and many restaurants add it to their decor, in everything from the flowers on the table to the squiggles on the plates.

Everyday:
3. Weigh yourself daily and use that number to guide your actions. (Food diaries are helpful, but only if you’re totally honest and diligent about recording every morsel you eat.) Research has shown that women who step on the scale every day and then act accordingly, either increasing their exercise or being stricter about their eating, are 82 percent less likely to regain lost weight than those who don’t weigh in as often.

Zip yourself into your favorite pair of slim-fitting pants once a week and note how they fit. Too tight? Adjust your eating and exercise habits. Just right? Keep up the good work.

Before a party:
4. Eat breakfast. This has been shown to prevent overeating later in the day.

Limit the number of high-calorie foods on your party plate. Research has shown that when faced with a variety of foods with different tastes, textures, smells, shapes, and colors, people eat more―regardless of their true hunger level. Cutting down on your personal smorgasbord can decrease what you end up eating by 20 to 40 percent.

Choose foods wisely, filling your plate with low-calorie items, such as leafy green salads, vegetable dishes, and lean proteins, and taking smaller portions of the richer ones. That way, you can eat a larger amount of food for fewer calories and not feel deprived.

Pop a sugar-free mint in your mouth. When you’ve had enough (and don’t want to eat more), the feeling of a fresh palate can curb additional noshing.

At work:

5. Try to keep communal office goodies out of view, either in an area that isn’t as highly trafficked as the kitchen or the break room, or in dark containers or covered dishes. In one study, people ate 26 percent more Hershey’s Kisses when the candies were in clear dishes versus white ones. And when the chocolates were placed six feet away, the average person ate only four a day, as opposed to nine a day when they were within arm’s reach.

Before you allow yourself a splurge, do something healthy, like eating a piece of fruit, walking around the office for five minutes, or climbing a few flights of stairs.

Plan on taking whatever tempts you home, and delay the daily indulgence until just before bedtime. At that point, you’re less likely to crave another treat immediately than you would during your afternoon coffee break, especially if the whole box is no longer around.

On portion sizes:

6. Use smaller plates and serving utensils. Try a salad or dessert plate for the main course and a teaspoon to serve yourself. What looks like a normal portion on a 12-inch plate or a troughlike bowl can, in fact, be sinfully huge. In one study conducted at the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University, even nutrition experts served themselves 31 percent more ice cream when using oversize bowls compared with smaller bowls. The size of the serving utensil mattered, too: Subjects served themselves 57 percent more when they used a three-ounce scoop versus a smaller scoop.

Pour drinks into tall, skinny glasses, not the fat, wide kind. Other studies at Cornell have shown that people are more likely to pour 30 percent more liquid into squatter vessels.

To help you along:

7. Eat with a small group when you can. One study found that dining with six or more people can cause you to eat 76 percent more, most likely because the meal can last so long. (After an hour of staring at the stuffing, you’re more likely to have seconds.) At a big sit-down supper, be the last one to start and the second one to stop eating.

Sit next to a fellow healthy eater(there’s strength in numbers). Or sidle up to that uncle who eats slowly, so his pace can slow yours.

Wait for all the food to be on the table before making your selections. People who make their choices all at once eat about 14 percent less than do those who keep refilling when each plate is passed.

Keep visual evidence around of what you’ve consumed so you don’t forget. Leave an empty bottle of wine or beer in view and you’ll be less tempted to drink more.

Keep up on exercise:

8. Break it up. If you don’t have time for your daily four-mile walk, do a few 10- or 15-minute spurts of exercise throughout the day (to accumulate the surgeon general’s recommendation of 30 minutes a day). They can be just as effective at maintaining overall fitness as one continuous workout.

Tell yourself that all the running around you’re doing (cleaning for houseguests, dashing through a million stores to find the perfect presents) can help keep your weight in check. In one Harvard study, people who were simply told that they did enough in their daily lives to meet the surgeon general’s recommendations lost weight and body fat without consciously changing a thing. A possible reason? Believing that what they were doing was having a positive effect may have led to subtle changes in their overall health behaviors.

Choose your indulgences:

9. Plan in advance to eat a little more and be a little more flexible at this time of year, when you face daily temptations. That way, you can savor the culinary joys of the holidays a little more often and you'll be less likely to binge. For instance, rather than inhaling four sugar cookies on your cheat day, allow yourself one as a dessert when the mood strikes. Then make one little switch during the day to account for those calories―maybe skipping that morning latte or cutting out an afternoon snack.

Choose your indulgences wisely. Instead of wasting calories on foods that you can have at any time of the year, pick items that are truly special and unique to the season, like your grandmother's candied yams or your daughter's first batch of Christmas cookies.

So, which tip did you like the most or will you be trying?

I'm going to be avoiding restaurants who have a lot of red (McDonald's!) and working out more, along with trying the mint or piece of gum.

hindrances

2010-11-22T08:11:00.000-06:00

as if i wasn't having a hard enough time getting active...
this weekend, i went and broke my leg. a tendon pulled off my tibia, bringing some bone off with it. i'm still waiting for more instructions, as the urgent care visit was only yesterday-- hoping i can actually walk in the next few days. because BOY do i hate feeling helpless.

so anyways, no update. besides my non-activities.

good news? i walked a LOT before it happened. yay!

I remembered it was Thursday!

2010-11-18T17:53:00.001-06:00

Usually, I have a problem with Thursdays. I am in class from 11:30-4 without breaks on Thursday. I leave my apartment around 10:30 and return at 5. I also have started coaching from 6:30-8 four days a week. So on Thursdays, when I get home from class I usually forget to blog. But this week, I remembered! (Woot!)

I don't have a lot of positive to report or any real changes except, I'm not eating fast food. I've had fast food maybe twice since I last posted 3 (THREE???) weeks ago. I've been to the gym at least once a week for those last few weeks and continue to park my car in a way that maximizes the amount of walking I do on campus.

Additionally, I've cut down on the amount of juice and regular pop I drink. I drink only diet now or water. I've been drinking more water than I was, but not as much as I "should" be. I haven't lost any weight, but I'm feeling better. I'm not as sluggish or tired and I have more energy. So that is a definite plus!

With the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and all the extra food that gets passed around, I am grateful my Thanksgiving with my family was almost two weeks before the Thanksgiving at my in-laws. This spreads out the large caloric intake instead of doing back-to-back giant meals.

I'm in charge of dessert at my in-laws this Thursday. I'll be taking apple crisp and pretending it's good for you because it has apples in it and try to choose the white meat turkey rather than the ham my SIL loves. But that turkey is a treat. It comes on dry ice from Virginia and we only get it twice a year. Christmas and Thanksgiving. I'm sure MIL would serve it for Easter as well, but we don't usually get together for Easter. Anyway, I'm going to try to freeze some of our ham to enjoy over time rather than pig out on it all in a few days. I only wish there was a way to hide it from the hubby... he'll probably eat it all before any left-overs make it to the freezer.

But aside from watching what I eat and walking, I have another tidbit I'd like to share: everything in moderation. Go ahead and have that piece of pie, but make it a smaller one. Eat stuffing, but make it a smaller serving. Snack on olives, but fewer than half the can. Enjoy the holiday, enjoy your family, and don't beat yourself up over it. Thanksgiving only comes once a year. (...Thankfully!)

Banishing the Can't

2010-11-16T17:09:00.000-06:00

Wow, I spent more than a week without internet access and missed two weeks of posts, sorry guys!

I've been in Alaska for a week, and some of you have heard all about my hike from hell. Now, I'm a curvy girl, but I've never really considered myself inactive. I go on hikes, and it's not a big deal to do 5 miles or so. I just prefer not to go for severe elevation climbs, and I'm careful of the terrain due to an old knee injury. But, I was visiting a friend whom I've known since we were in kindergarten, and he's not exactly a health nut either, so I didn't really think to question what I was getting myself into when he suggested that we hike into the backcountry.

Now, the first mile was heavenly. Beautiful, just like you'd expect Alaska to be. Hiking's a little different when you have the extra weight of a rifle on your shoulder (have to watch out for the bears, you know!), but it was still wonderful. Mile two was...well...challenging. We went from trail to boardwalk (and by boardwalk, I literally mean a board about 16" wide, laying across the soggy ground), ICY boardwalk, across a soggy, marshy, series of meadows. I was freaked out. I'm not even going to lie, I was terrified of slipping and falling into the water and freezing. But, I did it, and I was so proud of myself for overcoming my fear that I kept right on trekkiing another mile into horrible, uphill, narrow, rocky sludge that only marginally qualified as a trail.

And then I fell. Completely rolled my left ankle on a nasty, rocky hillside. I could feel it was swelling inside of my boot, but I just didn't want to stop. My friend knew that I was hurt, and asked at several points if I wanted to turn back, but I didn't want to. I was so proud that I'd made it this far, climbing uphill, on horrible terrain, and I didn't want to give up, knowing what I could have done. I had my friend relace my boot for me (super-tight to hold in the swelling) and I moved onward.

Now, here's the deal. I know how to hike. I know the rules. I know that you pack food, water, and the 10 Essentials with you whenever you go out. But, I was in another state without my gear, and I didn't know where we were heading, so when I saw my friend leaving out without a pack or anything, I figured we were going out on a little day trip, basic public trail, nothing to worry about. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The sun started to set at about mile 3.5...did I mention this was a 7 mile hike? And all those treacherous icy paths I'd come across now had to be recrossed...in the dark? With zero light? Or water? Or food? With a swollen ankle screaming at me with every twist and turn of the wretched trail?

The only light we had between us was my cellphone, which I always keep on me when I remember it. (Call me morbid, but I know that the GPS in my phone can act as a locator, even if I have no cell service, and if I'm in trouble, I want someone knowing where I'm at. ) I was sobbing, in pain, and angry as hell, and nearly passed out when we finally made our way off the hill and go to the truck. It was, overall, a horrific nightmare.

Okay, okay, I hear you now "this is Twitter to get Fitter, where the heck is the fitter part of your rambling"?I'm getting there, I promise.

The whole experience was the worst thing I'd been through in a long time. I was honestly worried that we weren't going to get out of there that night, that I would be hurt beyond what I could walk on and rescue wouldn't be able to make it in... If there had been an option to sit down and wait for someone to come help, I would have leaped at the chance. If there were an option to do anything other than continue hiking in the dark, wounded and sobbing, I would have done it. But there wasn't. I had no choice, so I kept on going.

And I learned something in the process. I am capable of so much more than I had thought.

How many times have I sat down in Zumba, because I was too tired and "needed a break"? How many times did I cut short a walk or hike with Vegas because I wasn't "feeling up to it"? How many times have I sold myself short when in actuality, I had it in me all along?

How many times do we tell ourselves we CAN'T do something when what we really mean is 'I don't want to'? I can't work out today, I'm too tired. I can't cook a meal at home, I don't have the time. I can't take the dog for a walk, I have to do laundry. I'm guilty of every one of these, and more. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

This week, I'm going to be focusing on all the times where I sell myself short and don't give myself a chance to do more. I'm going to focus on every time I say that I can't, when what I really mean is 'I don't want to'. And then I'm going to make myself get up and do it anyway. 'Can't' is a word that is far too overused in my world. I plan on changing that.

Thoughts?

frustration

2010-11-15T07:10:00.001-06:00

remember hannah's post last week? when she said she was below her goal, and how she's skinny and all? well, she is. it's sickening, really. two gorgeous boys and she looks like she did in college. i was lucky enough to spend part of this weekend with her when she visited dallas. so on sunday morning we all went out to breakfast together, and i got what i always order (the pancake combo, hashbrowns, sausage, no eggs with fruit instead-- *hangs head*) know what hannah ordered? the same thing. only she had eggs instead of fruit. well, with all her weight loss, i'm positive she's going to be that girl that picks at half of the items, nibbles on the bacon, and that's it.

nope.

she ate it all.
so did i.

but she looks so much better than me! so i have decided that genetics sucks, and also that she usually drinks water for breakfast and lunch, and only ate pancakes to make me feel like not so much of a pig.

right?

*sigh*

but anyways, i'm on the boat with leann. there are so many places in my life that i've lost control, so soon as i get them all under control, i'll feel like i have better control over my fitness and weight and dieting. wow, i just said control three times in one sentence. sorry about that.

Reasons to stay Fit!

2010-11-14T12:14:00.003-06:00

I had a great plan. I was gonna come in here, all serious like, with my serious cap on, and tell you all why you should stay fit. And then I was going to tell myself that I should do the same. It was a great plan.

I'm still going to tell you, but it's not going to be as well thought out as I had hoped. However, that doesn't mean it's not just as serious, and just as devastating.

Type 1 Diabetes is prevalent in my family. We are not obese, however this type of diabetes is as unfortunate as it's relative, and just as uncomfortable and deadly. My grandmother died of this last year. Genetically speaking, I'm very aware that there is a good chance I could also have this disease at some point... in thinking of this, and passing (luckily) my gestational glucose screening test last week, I started thinking about a type of diabetes that we CAN try to keep ourselves from getting... Type 2 Diabetes. Although this type is also genetic, there are ways that we can help ourselves, to avoid this unfortunate disease. And for those that try and cannot avoid it, I apologize for making this post seem like I have all the answers.

Now, ideally, I would have researched this all week, learning and sharing with you my findings. Unfortunately my life doesn't always allow for this luxury and this week, I couldn't quite get the ball rolling. (There was ALOT of tweeting to do people... do you know how much time that takes up?)

Instead, I will link you to the wikipedia page, so that you may have a read through, and remember why it is that it's important for us to eat healthy, and stay fit. Why it is important that we teach our children how to do the same, and why it is important that we nag the heck out of our husbands to lay off the crap.

And thank you. Without this blog, and my thoughts on an idea to help us stay fit, I would have never really thought as hard, or read up as much, on this disease. I really needed this reminder.

Type 2 Diabetes Information

Changing My Mindset

2010-11-12T14:02:00.000-06:00

I've had a huge problem getting into the grove lately in regards to fitness. I've been beating myself up for not going to the gym and for eating more mini-chocolate donuts than I should. It's starting to wear on me. But, it's not just my weight and eating that needs a tune-up. As Hannah mentioned the other day, this is Twitter to Get Fitter, not "Thinner" or "Skinnier." And my spiritual fitness needs to be in check, along with my finances. I just need a complete overhaul. For me, that starts with my spiritual life. If things are going well with my spirit and faith, then everything else falls in to place. So, here are the changes I plan on making (I know, I know. I tell you every week what I'm going to do differently and then I don't do it. But I'm REALLY gonna try).

Start reading my Bible every day. I've already started this with Erin. We're doing a daily plan of some of the books in the New Testament. If you want to join us, feel free (this is the plan). If that's not your thing, then at least spend some time in solitude, praying or meditating or even reading. We often neglect our spirit but that's a huge part of who we are; it needs to be refreshed every now and then.
Use Mom's elliptical on the days when my son is at her house (three days a week, usually). It's just too much to expect me to block out extra time at the gym every day right now. I'm just too busy with my commute, working, and trying to get back into town to pick my son up before it gets too dark. He's started going to bed earlier with the time change and getting dark early, so I feel like I don't need to spend any more time away from him than necessary because then I won't have supper fixed until after he goes to bed and that's just too late. I could possibly do some workouts at home after his bedtime but we have hardwoods and don't know how loud I'd end up being after he goes to bed. Using her elliptical will help me start slow with not as much pressure to use all the equipment at the gym.
Drink more water and replace my bad food habits with more reasonable ones. Instead of coffee with the sugary vanilla creamer, I will use just plain CoffeeMate. Or the fat free vanilla latte cream I bought yesterday. It's not as tasty as the full-fat versions, but it's better than black. I'm going to try to drink more hot tea as well. We have free green tea bags here at work, so I'm going to take advantage of that. We also have cold water, so I need to buy a stainless steel water bottle so it will stay cold and I don't have to constantly buy bottled water. I am going to try to avoid sweets as much as possible. I know that will be difficult with the holidays, but if I can just cut down, that will be a major improvement rather than feeling guilty when I have half a sleeve of Chips Ahoy.

So, those are my changes. I think baby steps are key and doing a complete assessment of my life, rather than just trying to change one aspect of it. Often, these things overlap and if you have problems in one area, it may stem from another.

Debate

2010-11-09T15:35:00.000-06:00

I did it... I am at (actually a few lbs BELOW) the goal I set for myself when this blog was started. In the beginning I had about 25 lbs to lose to get to my goal, and back into some pre-baby clothes. I am now there, consistently there after a month, not just having a good couple days on the scale. In addition I am back into the "normal" range for BMI.

This is where my internal debate comes in, do I still have anything to contribute to this blog? My answer so far is that this blog is called "Twitter to get Fitter" not Twitter to get thinner, or Twitter to lose weight. And, though I am now happy with my weight I am still not happy with my body and far from "Fit." I have areas that could use toning and I can't climb the stairs at the mall without being short of breath. My contributions will have to change, I need to start focusing more on maintaining, toning, working out - cardio and weights rather than fat burning. Finding more healthy recipes to incorporate into our everyday meals. Try to just live healthy in general. That will be a challenge for me as much as the actual weight loss was. I hate to exercise. I found every excuse in the book to stop doing the C25K thing. In the end I hated running and hated running in the dark even more.

So I am still here, I am just trying to collect my thoughts and change directions a bit.

ouch.

2010-11-08T11:01:00.000-06:00

remember leann's woe-is-me post? expect something similar from me.
my weight this morning? i don't want to talk about it. seriously.
because i'm pretty sure my breakfast didn't weigh 10 lbs.
so i can't blame it on that.
could it be the four meals i had yesterday?
or maybe the lack of activity i've been participating in.

but anyways, i'm all talk. i know what i should do, and i know that i should do it. but i don't.
i also don't sew anymore, but that's beside the issue.
sort of.
see, it all stems down to me not having time.
i don't have ANY time to myself. i have time to cook and to do homework and to grade tests. my life is, quite simply put, miserable--
with no time.
but honest? my life is great. i have a loving husband who helps with dishes (which i don't have time to wash), helps clean (which i don't have time to do), and lets the dog out early (which i don't like to do).
i have a beautiful home.
i have enough food to keep me healthy (obviously).
i just don't have time.

i hope to at least start my wii back up, but i make no promises. i get to bed late because i do homework, so i don't like waking up earlier than i have to.
i could walk, but i would be cutting into school time.
the easiest thing will be to eat better, so that i can promise to do. and i've been doing really well with having veggies in every meal, like i mentioned in a previous post.

the good news is that my clothes are still fitting well. once i get to where they're not fitting, i think i would cry. so i'll get to working so that i can go back into my skinny jeans (which are, yes, still hanging in my closet). don't get all excited. my "skinny" jeans are a size 16.

My butt has a butt

2010-11-07T06:00:00.002-06:00

See above: that, because I know you can't tell, is my elliptical. That beautiful piece of $500.00 equipment I bought right about the same time we started this blog? Yep.

I was never good at using it. I think I got on the thing about 6 times... Never quite made it past 8 minutes and just about died each time... with the success I was having using my Wii, I could never bring myself to want to bust my lungs that way... and boy does it bust my lungs.

With all that being said, I looked in the mirror today. I saw a pregnant woman... and I'm ok with that... what I'm NOT ok with, is the fact that my butt had a butt. I kid you not, right below my butt is another butt. Okay, okay... it's not quite a butt, but it's like... all hangy and stuff. When did this happen? Now is NOT the time for saggy butt issues. I'm 2 months away from 30 with enough image issues to fill 47 blog posts.

*Sigh* Tomorrow, I will pull the clothes off the eliptical (I'm not going to lie, I probably won't hang them up) and I'm going to slooooowly and carefully walk on it. That is the goal. For my butt's sake.

If I go into labour before next week, I promise it'll make for an awesome Sunday blog post... ;)

Accountability

2010-11-05T11:59:00.000-05:00

This is an accountability check. That's progress, right?

Well, I have basically nothing to report this week other than I am lazy and eat too many cookies. I want to lose weight without having to get off my tush to go to the gym or quit eating sweets; I didn't win the genetic lottery, to borrow a phrase from Kyrstin. Leftover Halloween candy haunts me (luckily, it's almost gone) and Husband must have cookies in the house at all times. I'm going to start buying ones that I don't like (Pecan Sandies, Double-stuffed Oreos, Nutter Butters, etc.) so I won't eat them. Pretty much nothing that has chocolate in them. Can't. Resist. Chocolate.

I could attend Zumba once a week (it's only $5 a sesson here in town) but I don't have the time. Class starts at 7 and I start getting the baby ready for bed around 7:30. UGH! Does it ever get better? Before I had a kid, I just thought I was busy. I had no idea.

All this is compounded by the fact that Thanksgiving is coming. I loooooooooove Thanksgiving food. And I'm sorry, but yes, I'm going to overdo it. Sweet potato casserole, corn bread dressing, buttery rolls. Nothing is healthy about any of that. Thanksgiving comes but once a year and I will partake.
In more positive news, I did sign up for the American Heart Association walking program but I haven't even started. I signed up Monday and it generated a program for me that will start out slow and gradually increase in intensity for weight loss. I haven't done a thing all week. Maybe it will get better. But I have motivation...my brother is getting married in April and I don't want to be the fat sister.

I believe Kyrstin signed up. Does anyone else want to join us?

LeLe, out.

we have a new start!

2010-11-01T12:14:00.000-05:00

check it out, ladies! we have a new starting point!

as i was on south campus, eating lunch with a friend (chinese. i don't wanna talk about it), i saw a poster and thought i'd look into it a little more.

so there's this national start eating healthy day, sponsored by the american heart association. you can get more information by going to the walking site, which i don't get, because i couldn't find much more information (well, my computer is loading the internet really really slow for some reason. that's probably it). but anyways, we all have until this wednesday to eat junk food. but seriously, think of the timing. right after halloween, so you can devour all that candy you didn't give out (or that you stole from your little ones).

but then...
(insert scary music here)
it's the holidays.

you know what that means.
sweets.
potlucks.
food.
food.
fooooooood.

so here's what i need to work on over the next, well, forever, but i'll start with it over the holidays. eating less. if i want to try some of everything, grab a BITE. that's right, just a bite. and when i'm making things, i'll continue to make them healthier. like, adding applesauce instead of oil when i'm baking. and using seasonings to make things flavorful instead of salt.

i'll make it through this, no problem. i got it. and, i'm going to follow the AHA and start eating healthy.
on wednesday.

#fatbytwitter

2010-10-31T19:36:00.002-05:00

So, obviously from my absence, you can tell that I was REEEAAAALLLLYYY trying to ignore the whole weight gain associated with pregnancy. My head definitely knows that weight gain is essential (and healthy!) when pregnant, but after fighting and fighting to lose 30 lbs right before I got pregnant, it has been a bit of a depressing jaunt to the scale in the morning... and yes... I look at the scale every morning.

In my last pregnancy, I gained 50 lbs... I also gained stretch makes, varicose veins, love handles, and a couple chins I didn't need. Luckily I gained one awesome child, or I wouldn't be looking back on it with much glee. Frankly, I did not want that to happen this time and so far, I'm succeeding. I've gained 13 pounds, and so far, 2lbs and 4oz are baby! Healthy baby :)

With that all being said, I'm not going to lie and say I am eating well... I'm not. I eat terribly for the most part... the only difference is that I force disgusting vegetables in my mouth in between each kitkat :) It's clear that the boy gets his preference for veggies from me.

Also... I don't want to have one of those "baked-goods-free" houses. I like to bake and I like Ky to eat it... I enjoy eating making fresh breads and chocolatey cookies. I guess the key, for me, is moderation... oh, ya, right, and... uh.... exercise.

I intend on getting back into some serious weight loss in a few months... until then I hope to learn the secret of fat-free baking. They have that, right?

Feeling Lumpy

2010-10-29T10:24:00.000-05:00

Warning: this will be a "poor-pitiful-me" post. A rant, if-you-will. If you're not into that sort of thing, just ignore me. I apologize. But I'm just not feeling good about myself lately.

Have I worked out at all this week? No. Have I eaten right? Nope. Did I devour the chocolate chip cookies my mom sent home with me on Monday? You betcha. I have had a gnarly sweet-tooth lately (maybe it's due to Halloween or something) and I consumed more Coke in the last few days than I did all last month. I've got to get a grip.

I am meeting my husband's co-workers for the first time this afternoon and I have nothing to wear that I feel "cute" in. My wardrobe consists of sloppy long-sleeved tee shirts and I have two pairs of jeans that fit. One of them isn't the slightest bit comfortable and the zipper is messed up on it. *sigh* All of my cute autumn transition clothes are too small because I can't fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes still. And I only have a few items of clothing I can actually wear because clothes cost money and this year has been...well, despite having a baby and loving being a mom, it's been a really, really hard year on all of us in more areas than one. Sometimes I don't get to eat until after 8:00 p.m., if the baby is having an extra fussy evening. Yesterday, I chowed down on a greasy chicken sandwich and fries from our cafeteria at work. Today, we are having a pizza party.

Must. Get. a. Grip.

I picked out the cutest thing I have, which is a short-sleeved cardigan with a black cami underneath and my "good" pair of jeans and a pair of black boots. Maybe that will do. It's a bit oversized, but at least it will hide my flab. It's in the car and I'll change at my mom's when I go to pick up the boy. I just don't want people thinking my husband is married to a slob. But, tomorrow, I'll probably wear a long-sleeved tee shirt and PJ pants. And Sunday, I'll wear one of the two church outfits I have that fits. Luckily, I don't have to dress up for work. But I feel sloppy and uncomfortable every single day.

Unlike Kyrstin, I don't feel comfortable with my body right now. I am soft and babies love soft. But, I think I'm too soft. My stomach has always been my problem area and now it's even worse. Throw in extra hip and butt fat. MK says that I still look good, but I don't believe him. I don't like who I see in the mirror.

I have to do this for me. I don't want to be one of those women who has "let herself go." True, I had a baby 6 months ago, but I know all kinds of women who look...not as bad as I do...after having a kid.

Not sure what the point of this post was, other than to just vent my feelings. I'm not really adding any nuggets of goodness to the blog today. And for that, I apologize. Maybe I'll feel better next week. And maybe I'll be desperate enough to haul my butt to the gym on Monday. We'll see...

A small success

2010-10-28T19:44:00.001-05:00

So here is an update on my goal. (Remember?)

TRUTH: I still weigh 220 pounds. I have had no fast food since last Thursday. (That's the small success. And it was really difficult. I almost caved today. I did have Qdoba yesterday, but I had rice, beans, veggies, lean protein, and salsa for the sauce-- a bare burrito. It was more healthy that what I would have made myself for lunch. :-\ So maybe I really am cheating. I have no idea. AHHHH.... anyway...) I have however had ice cream. I can't help it. I like it a lot. :-(

Positive I am telling myself: You've really been planning ahead with your lunch/dinner for class. You've even eaten more fruits/veggies. YAY YOU!

*sigh* Losing weight is not easy. (Duh.) Or we wouldn't be writing this blog. But I'm at the point where... yeah, I'm overweight, but I like the way I look. My husband thinks I'm pretty, attractive, and (yes!) sexy. I don't mind the size I am because I look around and see others and think (I know this is bad), "I look better than that."

But do I? Probably not. But I guess it's good I think I look good. Self-confidence is half the battle, I guess. So I want to lose weight so I can be more healthy. For my heart and my future babies. And because I need to lose weight before my future babies so I don't go crazy during every time I gain a pound. (Because I totally will.)

I know some of that seems to not all go together, but that's how I feel. I'm doing the best for what I want to do right now. Yes, I need to eat more healthy. And yes I need to work out. But am I going to feel guilty when I don't? Well, probably yes. But I'm done beating myself up about it. I've done that. In fact, I used to not even post every week because I was ashamed of it. And I still have that goal of getting to 180. It's a magic number in my mind. 180, size 12/14. God. I can't wait. I'm totally buying a bikini.

But what am I *really* going to do to get there?

.......

.....

....

...

I have no clue.

Hello, hello!

2010-10-27T12:36:00.000-05:00

hey everyone, it's erin. i'm so happy to announce that we have a new blogger! please tune in every wednesday when scarlett will be writing for us. i don't know about you, but i'm always up for a new point of view-- especially when it has to do with healthy living! scarlett can also be found on her personal blog, over at confessions of a shieldmaiden.

welcome, scarlett!

Hi, everyone! It’s me, the new kid on the block (“Whoa-oh-oh-OH-oh! Hanging tough!!”…) Whew. ::straightens up:: Sorry. Had a little flashback to my childhood there. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Introductions. ::waves:: Hi!

If you’ve hung around me long enough, you probably know my real name. But, my workplace has this finicky thing about social media and identifiable employees, so for the purposes of blogging and many internet activities, I go by Scarlett. I’m 30, live in Seattle (Yes, it rains here, yes, I’m addicted to coffee…), and I’m single with no kids. Well, I have a dog. He weighs more than most kids, (130lbs) so he kind of counts, right? I have half a Master’s degree (working on the other half!), a full-time job doing customer service and human resources for a large outdoor retailer, and a schedule filled with so many things that I barely have time to sleep some days.

I guess you could say that proper fitness has always been an issue for me. My weight’s gone up and down for most of my life. I can lose it when I have to (at various points in my life, I’ve been a competitive swimmer, dancer, and professional actress – all activities which require slim a tone body), but here’s the thing, it’s not in healthy ways. I’ll alternate between being super-obsessed about my weight, and just not caring and living my life. I’ve been in the ‘too busy to care’ phase for quite awhile…and I had a little bit of a wake up call when I went to the doctor for a broken rib and had to step on the scale…213 pounds.

Holy heck.

213!??!?!?!?!?!?!!

When did this happen, and where the heck was I that I didn’t notice? I mean, yeah sure, my clothes have been a bit tight these days, and my shirts have been a little more boob-y than usual but…did I really put on 23 pounds in the past year? I wanted to cry, and not just from the pain ripping through the side of my ribcage.

I know EXACTLY why I’ve gained the weight. I eat like crap, and I eat late at night. I’m just going to be honest, I’m lazy as heck when it comes to cooking at home. I can’t exactly afford the good stuff (too much fun with credit cards in my youth has left me with some serious bill payments), so I buy what I can afford on my grocery trips. I write a weekly food blog, so I buy the good stuff for my recipe, and then buy the average food for the house. I never eat breakfast, unless you count my cup of coffee, my lunches are scarfed down at the greasy-café at my work (we’re too far in the suburbs to make it anywhere else in my 30 minute lunch), and when I get home from work at 11 at night, I just don’t have the desire or energy to cook a meal. I’ll drive-thru it, or grab whatever freeze dried concoction has the least amount of freezer burn.

I exercise, but it’s obviously not enough to make up for my meal damage. I go to Zumba twice a week (well, I did before my rib incident. Starting again in November), and I’m a total Zumba addict. Like, I’m the Zumba-girl with the cool Zumba pants, toning sticks, and the gypsy-bell skirt. I love it, and I get a total workout. I’ve also started tracking my daily activity with DS Personal Trainer: Walking, which has a cool little monitor that you wear everday. I’ve also been working on the Shieldmaiden Challenge, just to monitor the amount of activity I do daily. No, I’m not going running everyday, but I’m not just sitting around.

But, I also know the math; if you’re not burning more calories than you’re taking in, you’re not losing weight. When I’m taking in 3,000 calories of junk daily, I’m sort of setting myself up for failure from the start, right?

Okay, so I’ve rambled on about my challenges and made my obligatory excuses. Here are my goals: I would really, really like to fit into an 8/10. I like my curves, I have no ambition nor desire to become a skinny bag of bones. (Okay, maybe I’ve fantasized about having Keira Knightley’s body once or twice. I’m currently a 14/16. Knowing my body, I think that means I have about 35 pounds to lose. But, I want to lose them the right way this time. I know all the sneaky little tricks the entertainment industry uses – I’ve been there and I know they work – but they don’t work forever, and all you wind up with is a messed up metabolism and a breaking-down body. I’m going to focus on food, and figure out ways to make better choices with my meals, even when they’re on the run (which is most of the time). I’m also thinking about going back on South Beach, which I love, actually. The food is pretty good and I have a couple of the cookbooks. (Hey, anyone interested in doing it with me? Teamwork, FTW?) I’m also going to start eating breakfast, which has always been sort of a four letter word for me. I’m just not hungry in the mornings, to be honest, but I’m told it helps kick-start your metabolism for the day so….we’ll see.

Sorry for the super-long-rambly post. If you’re still here and reading, THANK YOU! I’m so happy to get to be a part of Twitter to Get Fitter, and can’t wait to catch up with all of you lovely ladies on your fitness journeys!

just another manic monday

2010-10-25T09:16:00.000-05:00

seriously. my life has been crazy. i know i've mentioned before, but let me stress it again.
i work. full time. as in, 9 hour days because i always take a working lunch.
i have a second job. two nights a week, i teach and have lab at a local college. and i have all of the after hours prep for that, whether it's grading tests or preparing for lecture.
i am finishing my master's degree. this week, for that class, i have to make six discussion posts, do homework questions from the chapter, and write a paper that is anywhere from 5-10 pages.

so. i'm busy. we've established this. but i mentioned before that i was too busy to eat, so i've gotta get healthy! well, that's obviously false. when i weighed in at the hospital today, i was 207.2 lbs. i wanted to cry. that's a gain of 10 lbs since the wedding. i know, i know. you all warned me this would happen. but i was determined it would not happen to me.

it did.

so, this hard evidence (like my tight jeans weren't evidence enough) means it's time to change. when i say i'm too busy to eat, what i obviously mean is that i'm too busy to eat healthy. and it's quite embarrassing to admit this to you all, but i have been eating two dinners on class nights. worst part is that my husband will probably read this, and i just admitted to him that i'm doing what i whine at him about. i grab some junk from the drive through between work and class. then when i get home, i eat a second dinner of whatever husband made. i justify it by saying that they're both small meals, etc... but seriously- with how busy i am, i do not have much time for activity, so i need to rely on a healthy diet right now. and i'm not. that changes immediately.

so. what will i do?

veggies with every meal. except breakfast, really.
eat three solid meals a day. i can have a mid morning snack and a mid afternoon snack, but these are healthy. like laughing cow cheese with wheat thins, or a small bag of carrots, or apples and peanut butter.
walking more often during work. it's really not great that i work 9 hours straight. sure, many of those days i'm up all over four different campuses, but some days i spend 9 hours in my office. those days, i need to get up. take a walk during lunch.
get back to using my loseit app. i really only document the exercise because that's what i'm proud of. but i did my best at staying within my calorie limit when i used that thing daily.

and now, i leave you with this hilarious cartoon. thankfully, none of us are at this point, but you should laugh, too.

happy monday everyone.

Check-in

2010-10-21T09:39:00.000-05:00

TRUTH: I weigh 220 pounds. Still.

Positive I tell myself: Well, at least you haven't gained any weight.

What that little "mean girl" inside of all of us says: Yeah, well with the ice cream you eat and all the fast food you consume while you're on campus... you should have gained like 20 pounds!

So, what am I going to do? First, I am trying an experiment. I am not going to change my activity level, but simply what I eat. And not even so much what I eat, but where I eat. No fast food for two weeks. If Will and I do go out to eat, it will be a "sit down" place and I will order something on the healthy side. At home, I won't be eating ice cream. For two weeks. (*gasp*) Or frozen yogurt for that matter.

I'm doing this experiment because I want to see if, for me, weight loss is tied more to activity level or food. Maybe I'll find cutting out these foods won't cause me to lose any weight. (That would be incredibly sad!) Maybe I'll find I magically drop 5 (or more?) pounds just by cutting out this krap. I'm not cutting out all "bad" foods, just those ones I seem to eat ALL THE TIME. (I eat fast food a minimum of two days a week lately. It's hard to be on campus and hungry and find healthy foods.)

I start on Monday. Anyone else have a two week challenge they want to take with me?

No Excuses

2010-10-15T09:42:00.001-05:00

Arguments I have with myself...

"I don't have enough time to exercise."

You have a lunch break in which you usually just waste time surfing the internet. You can also take 15 minutes mid-morning and 15 minutes mid-afternoon if you need to (the smokers get breaks, so why can't you go to the gym?). You have a free gym on-location. You have a free locker with a combination to store your shoes and gym clothes. Use those resources.

"I'm too tired."

You think you're tired now? Just wait until the baby is crawling and then walking and you have to chase him around. He's not getting any lighter. Go lift some weights, woman.

"I can't afford to eat right."

That didn't stop you from spending $4.15 on a (fried) chicken biscuit, hash rounds, and a Dr. Pepper this morning in the BK drive-thru. You could have used that money for in-season fruit. Apples, for instance. Quit wasting money on junk.

"I don't have any motivation."

Yes, you do. Feeling good. Being healthy. Getting back into pre-pregnancy clothes, or at least, clothes that make you feel like you aren't wearing a tent. Looking good for your husband. Being fit enough to keep up with your son. Plenty of motivation.

I know it's not reasonable to think that I can look like this again... (about 65 pounds ago)

But not impossible that I can get back down to this... (about 40 pounds ago and the time I felt most comfortable with my body)

Heck...I'd settle for 20 pounds at this point and think 30 is do-able, even though I know it may take me 6 months to a year to do it. So, my goal is to go to the gym THREE days a week for thirty minutes a pop, starting out. I can divide it up if I need to, going 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there, so long as I get 90 minutes of activity per week. I plan on walking the treadmill for 15 minutes at a time, on an incline and at least 3 miles per hour (more, if I can handle it). I will also do the weight machines: arms, legs, core.Eventually, I'll move up and intensify.

So, the first thing I need to do to get started on Monday is to pack a gym bag. Then set my Outlook Calendar to pop up around mid-morning as a reminder. If I have to wait a bit, I will snooze and not turn off the reminder. I will have water on-hand. Yes, I will do this.

Please keep me accountable.

In a few days, I may come back and post about a "diet" (not really a diet, but more of a new way of eating and exercise where you consume most of your calories in the morning and work them off before afternoon) I read about in All You Magazine. I think it may be something to try out.

slight update (that turned into a lot of talking)

2010-10-11T10:21:00.000-05:00

i don't even want to think about posting my weight today.

i am fitting into my clothes just fine, i just feel sort of bloated or something. i know, it's not something you were looking forward to reading on monday morning. my apologies.

but seriously. the food i've been eating...
olive garden for dinner, leftovers for a late night snack, road trip food (junk food), and a few meals out. some fast food.
it's been a bad week for eating (she said while snacking on candy corn-- stupid food holidays).

but speaking of food holidays, i have some goals through this holiday season:

make tons of baked goods. then don't eat much. seriously not a problem for me, because to me, the best part is actually *making* them, not eating them. my office will love me.
get into a workout routine. even if it means one day i'll walk a lot while shopping.
stay busy. couch potato-ness is one of the best ways to gain weight over the holidays. if i stay busy, i'm always up and doing things instead of just sitting, which is also a way to lose weight.

also, speaking of working out, i'd thought of some reasons why i'm not working out, and besides having two jobs and finishing my master's, i can't think of a reason. and even with as "busy" as i am, i'm usually in bed before 10. sometimes closer to 9 (like last night). so, if i sleep at 9:30, 8 hours of sleep would mean i can get up, fully rested, at 5:30. so why do i wake up at 6:30? by the end of the day, i'm way too tired to go out to the grocery store, let alone go to the gym. so, why not wake up earlier? i'm not a fan of going to the gym early, although i've done that before, but we DO have a wii. so i could get back on my wii fit routine and do that in the mornings. it's a good start to the day, and i feel good when i do that.

there's some thoughts for you.

Slacker

2010-10-07T11:48:00.000-05:00

So here's whats up with me. I am currently in the middle of midterms (in week 6) and trying to eat healthy. It's really hard to plan ahead and also money is really tight for us right now since I still haven't found a job. I plan on applying for some online tonight. (Cross your fingers that Bath & Body Works hires me because it would mean an awesome discount on Christmas gifts, too!) I went on an interview to be a speech coach for a local high school and I'm really excited about that opportunity, so cross your fingers on that, too!

Anyway, on the days I have class I try to arrive soon enough that I can park in a lot that is a fair distance from all my buildings and requires a little more walking in my day. On the days I don't have class, I mostly do homework, clean, and play with Waffles (my dog). So, not a lot of steps are taken. But I have started parking further away from the door at the mall and grocery store when I have to pick something up.

So, basically, I haven't lost any more weight and I haven't gained any. But at least I'm making an effort.

healthy is hard.

2010-10-05T08:38:00.000-05:00

(i forgot to post this yesterday. my apologies. please accept it a day late.)

especially when you're as busy as i am.

i know i don't have kids, but i am working 40+ hours at my main job, teaching two nights at a college (and putting in all the after-hours time for it, too), and finishing my master's. i promise, that's a lot. i don't even have weekends. seriously.

so, how do i stay healthy?
i don't.

well, i try. i am currently doing the "small steps" program. i made that name up. there's no such program. i eat very little, because i don't have time to eat. but i do eat healthy. honest. i add vegetables to every meal when possible, and i walk a lot. just with my job at work, but i don't necessarily need additional walking when i walk miles every day

speaking of, i can't wait for the competition leann brought up. i just hope it's something like counting steps, because i will stomp all of you. (insert evil laugh here)

that's all. i wish i had more today, but as i explained earlier, i just don't have time.

A Contest!

2010-10-01T09:43:00.000-05:00

So, it seems we've all lost our steam since we begun this blog. I actually never really had any to begin with so I got to thinking the other day, "What would motivate me to and others to do better?" I started to think about The Biggest Loser and thought that a CONTEST would be the perfect solution. Mind you, I don't think we need to do it in Biggest Loser fashion because what we're about isn't just weight loss (and to be honest, I think they go overboard and Jillian scares me). I think we need to be a little more creative in our thinking. I think we should do something along the lines of whoever changes their lifestyle the most wins the prize. Now, I know that will be hard to judge. But if we put our heads together, maybe we can come up with something. I need your help. Give me your ideas. The winner could get something like a gift card to Old Navy for new clothes or iTunes or a restaurant. I'm willing to donate some money to the prize pool.

Thoughts?

30-day fitness challenge

2010-09-20T14:52:00.002-05:00

i need motivation. i need someone calling me daily and asking how i did. i need someone to go to the gym with. i need... help.

so i joined the 30-day fitness challenge. here's what the site says:

Each day you'll receive a newsletter detailing your challenges for the day.
These challenges will include:
- An Active Challenge - these challenges will require you to be more active throughout the day with a variety of ideas.
- An Exercise Challenge - these challenges offer more structured cardio and strength routines. You'll have many choices for your workout, but always feel free to do your own routine if you like.
- A Flexibility Challenge - these challenges will help you increase your flexibility with stretching, yoga and/or Pilates-type exercises.
- A Nutrition Challenge - these challenges vary and will help you become more aware of your own eating habits (this isn't a diet!)
- A Mind/Body Challenge - here you'll find a number of challenges that help you relax, regroup and enjoy some quiet moments throughout the day.

As long as i really use this and stick with it, sounds like it could be good. and all the equipment i might need will be in the gym at my work.
update coming next week. if i last that long.

Race around the world.

2010-09-14T08:55:00.000-05:00

This morning I set my alarm for 6 am. I left a house full of boys still sleeping and went for a run. The sun wasn't up yet, but half an hour before sunrise it was light enough to see and still dark enough to be that kind of muffled quiet through the neighborhood. I was concerned on two fronts, one the ground was wet and the sky was threatening rain again. Also, our neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks so I would have to run on the street or on the grass to the shoulder.

Although "run" might be a bit misleading. What I did was day one of the c25k program. It uses intervals, running/walking and builds up every day. After 9 weeks it's a solid 45 minute run of approximately 5k. I had a conversation with a friend who used the program last year (and who now races half marathons) and she spoke highly of it. Just a few days later I found that they had an iPhone app. I was excited because, you know me, if I can use technology to do something it becomes far more attractive to me. The app lets you import a playlist of songs for your run and gives you voice and sound cues when it is time to switch your interval. You basically put on your headphones, pick the day you are working on and hit "go." No watching the clock, timing your intervals, counting laps. You put on your headphones, listen to music and the program tells you what to do (even lets you know the halfway point so you can turn around.)

I only made it through about 20 minutes of the 30 minute program. I was feeling pretty good until about 13 minutes, which was into the 4th running interval. Then my ankles started hurting, and of course the burning chest and throat that goes with running and I was reminded of WHY I HATE RUNNING. Also, the thunder and lightning that caused me a moment of pause before I left the house started up right overhead so I turned around to go home shortly before the halfway point. I did manage to get home before the rain started.

Also, it was quiet, cool and peaceful, if a bit painful.

So, my plan for the next 9 weeks is to run tuesday, thursday and Sunday. Wish me luck!

getting this right

2010-09-13T14:31:00.002-05:00

so. i went shopping this weekend, and purchased a few items of clothing. i've forever worn size 18 or XL. it's just what i wear. but i'm not happy with how my clothes fit. they're too loose under my bum, and tight in other places...

we hit sales. and i bought smaller sizes!

so, i bought some pants in an 18 (but they're gap), skirt in a 16, and a few tops that were either large (not XL!) or size 16 (not 18!). they're all super cute, and fit great, and make me look awesome.

i'm not losing more weight. i was wearing the wrong size! so, while i'd love to be down another size or two, i'm happy where i am for now. i feel good, i'm eating well, and while i'm not currently losing weight, i'm looking alright where i am.

don't get me wrong, i'm not done yet. like i said, i'd like to be down a little more. i want to lose some weight before i have baby (babies?), and feel better in general. but i'm not unhappy, which is a really good thing.

Why do they make microwavable bacon?

2010-09-09T16:50:00.003-05:00

Seriously. Why do they make bacon that can be made in under a minute? In sixty second I can have five strips of crispy bacon. Any bacon lovers dream right?

Unless that bacon lover is also a girl trying to lose 20 pounds by the beginning of second semester.

Why does ranch dressing taste so good? Greasy pizza? Delicious chocolate chip cookies? Oh... I could go on and on and on...

But I won't. The point here is that modern conveniences make having your favorite unhealthy treats simple and convenient. I used to hardly ever eat bacon, but then I found that microwavable bacon has (nearly) the same taste and curbs my craving for fatty food.... by giving me that dose of fat that my hips do not need.

I was going to write about tasty, low-calorie salad options, but what's the point if follow up that salad with something grossly unhealthy for me? Basically, I'm feeling guilty. I know what I should be eating, but I choose the bad option every time. Is there something wrong with me? What makes me choose these bad options for food, then feel guilty about them afterward? I want to be skinny. Or at least skinny for me. I want to be under 200 pounds. But since the beginning of summer, I've gained 10 pounds. In the 3 months since my wedding, instead of losing weight I've gained it. I need help. An intervention.

They say the best things you want don't come easily, right? Well, they should come easier than this...

Despite what the number says, I still think I look ok. I don't look great, but I'm at least accepting of what I look like. I don't mind the way I look... but I look at pictures and I hate the way I look in those. Why do cameras add ten pounds? I'm just going to have to keep working. And find a motivation for walking. Which I think I might have found here.

I'm exploring the "Shieldmaiden Challenge" this week. Wish me luck! (And to stay away from the bacon!)

i feel so... ugh... today

2010-08-30T11:21:00.003-05:00

yuck.
we're all girls here, right?
i started my period today. that makes me feel ugly. i don't like it. anyways, i'm going to blame this weight on this weekend's meals combined with bloating of my period. thanks, nature.

but i'm not just going to sit here and feel ugly and icky. i'm going to do something about it.

i can say all i want that i'll start going to the gym "soon". everyone can say that.
i'm starting to go to the gym this wednesday morning.

i remember how happy i was when i was going to the gym on a regular basis. so starting wednesday, i'm back in the gym! i'm shooting for three days a week.
keep me accountable.

Sugar Fast Check-In

2010-08-27T09:38:00.000-05:00

As I sit here, drinking a Diet Dr. Pepper and eating a Twix (no, those don't cancel each other out, unfortunately), I feel like a failure. But it's Friday. And I did good all week. Well, up until last night when I had four Chips Ahoy. I successfully avoided sugary substances other than a little vanilla creamer in my coffee or low-sugar jelly on my PBJ sammich (well, and a little Sunny-D and if we're being honest, I forgot I had Toaster Strudels for b-fast yesterday. I suck.) until last night before supper. And honestly? I didn't even really crave it. It also helped that I didn't have any change for the vending machine at work, so I wasn't tempted by all the chocolately goodness.

Yesterday, I had a moment of weakness with the cookies. But, Nabisco or whoever makes Chips Ahoy, is slacking on their cookie making because those things are a lot smaller than they used to be. Charging the same price while giving the consumer less. I guess in a way that's really GOOD for me, but I was sort of irked. Oh, well. I didn't need them anyway.

So, what have I been eating to replace my "desserts"? Yoplait yogurt. There are tons of fun flavors like Key Lime Pie, Orange Creamsicle, and Strawberry Shortcake. Whenever I have a sweet craving, I eat one of those and it staves off the sugar shakes.

I have a feeling this will get easier. I know it will. I've done it before, but it just takes some time. I know I'll pull through and will soon not have the OH-MY-LORD-I-NEED-CHOCOLATE-NOW tantrums. And that's good for everyone. :)

i see it now!

2010-08-23T08:27:00.000-05:00

it's easy to hear people say you look good. or they can tell you've lost weight. maybe your clothes fit better than they have before, or, like me, you've dropped a size. but i have this image of myself. i still see myself as my heaviest, from over a year ago. i have no idea why chris is attracted to me. i see my sagging skin (albeit, it's that way from weight loss, but still), and i feel so ugly sometimes.

then, i go get my name changed (which, for some reason, makes me feel prettier anyway), and get a new license in the process.

they took a new picture.

(before on the right, after on the left. sorry for the quality, but it's on my phone. and i zoomed in so you couldn't see my address, etc. you understand.)

now, even i can tell. and it makes me so happy. so happy, that i have a new little burst of motivation for continued weight loss.

yay for little moments.

Sugar Mama

2010-08-20T13:49:00.000-05:00

Hello, my name is Leann and I'm a sugar addict. I haven't always been this way, but marrying a sweet-tooth will do that to you. Growing up, my family hardly ever had dessert. Sure, my mom baked cakes or cookies on weekends but we never had "nightly" dessert like my husband's family. Well, they don't always have it nightly, but there's always something sweet like Oreos or pie or pound cake or ice cream. So, we always have sugary snacks at my house, else Husband's head explode. This got worse when I was pregnant and wanted ice cream or Reese's cups after every meal.

It's time to detox.

I think I've mentioned before, but the only time I've ever lost weight is when I've drastically cut my sugar intake. The initial process is difficult. There's nothing like a bad Butterfinger craving mid-afternoon and all you have are carrot sticks. But, sticking it out does end up paying off and then the foaming-at-the-mouth cravings die down. Then, you start having fun getting creative with replacement foods. Like having a sweet potato with a meal or eating very, very, very dark chocolate or making "tortilla" chips out of whole wheat tortillas (you brush them with olive oil and bake them in the oven). You can even have a bit of red wine since it's so dry.

So, this is my official notice that I am cutting back. I won't say I'm going cold turkey right now because I have a tendency to be all gung-ho and then fail miserably. I will gently ease into this thing. Yes. We're already eating more whole grain due to Husband's need for more fiber.

I shall also add some gym workouts, since I'm still hanging on to this 15 pounds of baby weight and it's too stinking hot to take the baby for walks.

Love me through it?

A revelation...

2010-08-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if anyone has talked about this yet, if so, sorry for repeating. But I realized something this week.

I look awesome naked.

Yes, you heard right. I love the way I look without clothes on when I get out of the shower. That doesn't mean that I want to walk around naked all the time or that I'm narcissistic or that I don't need to lose weight.

I would die of embarrassment naked in public, am highly self-conscious, and *do* need to lose weight to be healthy. But, the clothes we wear probably do a lot for our self-esteem.

You know what I'm talking about, right? We all have that favorite pair of jeans. Why is it our favorite? Most likely it's because it fits us well, makes our butt look awesome, hides that muffin top, etc., right?

Why don't we all own a whole closet of clothes that look good and make us feel good?

I don't know. But I examined this. Why do I own 2+ pairs of jeans that I feel make me look fat? Well, I remember on 2 of those pairs. It's because they were cheap. I bought those 2 pairs at Old Navy on clearance for under $15. Not each, but total. Do I ever wear them? Nope. (That's not true, they fit better right after the wedding than they do in the months following... I got excited about food again after the wedding. I think I was *really* watching what I was eating, even if it was subconscious.)

And buying clothes because "maybe" you'll fit into them in a month or after you lose 10 pounds? Also, something I'm guilty of. If I hadn't bought that shirt that I liked, but didn't fit well, I would have had money for that shirt that I LOVED when I found it 2 weeks later.

So, my goal for this week? Take everything out of my closet that doesn't look "good" on me. I realize I may be down to 2 pairs of jeans and 5 shirts (kidding!), but there will be less clutter, more simple, and another box in storage. In about 3-4 months, I'll pull that box out and see if I feel any differently about any of those clothes I "like" but never wear because they don't look good. If I feel the same about them, I'll send them on to Goodwill.

Second goal? Quit buying stuff that doesn't look good and/or make me feel good!

Also, update: I've worked out 3 times in the last 2 weeks. I know, I know! Not good. But two of those times were in the last 48 hours. That's not bad, is it? ;-)

posole- it's healthy!

2010-08-16T09:55:00.000-05:00

i got a recipe for posole from gerri after she shared hers with me last week. if i would have died after tasting the delicious yumminess that was this bowl of posole, i would have died happy.
(slight exaggeration. i'm a newlywed. i don't want to die after eating posole.)

posole can be made green. or red. with chicken. or pork. the details are up to you.
i edited gerri's recipe a little, so will share with you my version. i really only changed amounts of the ingredients.

POSOLE
1 large onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
salt
pepper
8 cups (two containers) chicken stock. or broth. whichever.
2 cans green chili, chopped or diced
2 cups tomatillo sauce
italian seasoning
bay leaf
1 large and 1 small can white hominy
3 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, sliced in half longways.
garnish

in stock pot, sautee onion and garlic with a little olive oil until soft, about 15 minutes, with a little salt and pepper. add the chicken broth, chili, tomatillo sauce, and seasonings, then simmer for about an hour. or an hour and a half. whatever. take the chicken that has been sliced in half, and season it with cumin, salt, and pepper about 15 minutes before adding to the stock. then add the hominy (drained) and the chicken. poach the chicken in the stock for about 25 minutes. or 35 if you forget about it. take the chicken out and shred it with your fingers or with two forks, then add it back to the pot. warm it all up, and serve.
garnish with chopped cabbage. other garnishes are: chopped turnips, avocado, sour cream, or whatever you want. serve with a flour tortilla.

it is sooo good.

Kraft Recipes

2010-08-06T07:00:00.001-05:00

I've been a member of Kraft Foods' website for awhile now and recently realized that they have healthy recipes. Not only do they have healthy recipes, but they have a section of budget-friendly recipes that are also healthy! Can't beat that. You can search to find the recipes you like and add them to your "recipe box." It will also add the ingredients to a shopping list for you. I think I'm going to start utilizing this tool more often, now that I'm back at work and having to deal with a 3-month-old who goes to physical therapy twice a week. This will help me to save time while also providing much-needed healthy, inexpensive ingredients.

Here are just a few recipes I found that sound tasty:

Better-Than-Ever Beef Enchiladas - Enchiladas? Sign me up. 340 calories / 11 grams of fat per serving.

Chicken, Cheese, and Spinach Manicotti - I go nuts for any kind of pasta. 370 calories / 9 grams of fat per serving.

Layered Summer Salad - I love making things like this in the summer. Anything to not have to use my oven in this Arkansas heat. 180 calories / 14 grams of fat per serving.

Quick Chicken-Parmesan Pasta - Again, I love pasta. And this is nice because it uses pre-cooked grilled chicken. 330 calories / 12 grams of fat per serving.