Feeling Hot Hot Hot!

In my last post, I was telling you that I had hit a dreaded plateau in my journey.  I am happy to report that I worked through it, pushed hard, didn't give up and busted through it!  I lost 3 pounds that week!  Woo!!

This weekend, my sweet husband and I headed up to Chicago to watch the Tottenham Hotspurs play the Chicago Fire Soccer Club.  My husband is a pretty big Spurs fan so this was something he was really excited about.  I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I was really excited to head out of town and spend some fun time with him and a couple of friends.  We had a really great time and I learned a lot about soccer! I can see me maybe getting into watching soccer with the man.

Since we knew that we were going to go have a good time and neither of us wanted to stress too much about weight-loss, we decided to go ahead and weigh in on Saturday morning instead of our usual Monday morning.  Well, I am happy to report that I am down over 70 pounds!  Woo!  And, my awesome, hot husband is .8 pounds away from his goal! I am super proud of him!!

This is back in January after just a couple of weeks in our journey.

This was at the game on Saturday! Doesn't he look fantastic!

Since I felt so good after I stepped on that scale, I thought I would give something a try.  I went into the garage and pulled out 2 items of clothing that I wasn't able to fit into last time I tried stuff on.  One was a jean skirt and one was a pair of skinny jeans.  The jean skirt I wore when I lost so much weight after M was born.  The skinny jeans I bought and literally wore one time.  I just didn't feel comfortable in them.  I didn't feel thin or skinny enough.  So, anyway, I got them out of the box and came in and tried them on.  Guess what?!?!  They fit!!  And even better, they looked GOOD!!!  I actually ended up taking the skirt to Chicago and wearing it for the game.  I can not wait to wear those skinny jeans either...I have the perfect pair of shoes to wear with them!!

I went to RPM Saturday morning after I weighed in and tried on the clothes.  As I was spinning I figured something out!  I know that I tell you all about how much I love to lift and how important I think lifting, and lifting heavy is.  Well, I have PROOF!

This is a picture of me that was put in the paper in 2010 after I had lost a lot of weight.  I lost weight then by following the Weight Watchers program (I wasn't a member, just followed it).  I worked out, but I didn't lift like I am now.  I mainly focused on cardio and that was it.  I looked pretty good, I know that I did, but obviously, it didn't stick.  I was weighing about 170-180 pounds when this pic was taken (I can't remember the exact weight).  Around this time was when I bought the jean skirt that I just found out fit.

Well, I still weigh about 30 pounds MORE than I did then and that skirt is fitting me fantastically!  That is all because of the weights, I know it is! Do you get that? I am in the same size I was 4 years ago and I was 30 pounds LIGHTER than I am now!  WOW!  Can we just say...bring on the weights!

You can kind of see the skirt in this pic.  We both feel SO much better!!

I hope that you have a great week!  Just keep going.  You can do it!

Faith. Courage. Strength. Change.

The Dreaded "P" Word

If you have ever tried to lose weight, get healthy, or just take better care of yourself, most likely you have encountered the dreaded "p" word...PLATEAU. Ugh.  Plateaus seriously suck for motivation.  At least they do for me. In case you aren't familiar with a plateau, let me inform you.  A plateau means that the scale isn't moving.  You are doing everything right, and there is very little to no weight loss.  Now, I know that I have said many times that the number isn't all that important to me and while that is true, it can get super frustrating when that number doesn't go down at all.  Or worse, when it goes up!  This is especially true when you KNOW that you have done everything you need to do to make that number go down.

I do lift weights, and I lift heavy which means that I am building some major muscle while I am losing fat.  And we have all heard the old saying, "muscle weighs more than fat."  But, psychologically, that is really difficult to remember when I stand on that scale and the number is the same or higher than it was the week before.  And when that happens for a couple of weeks in a row...well, let's just say that little voice in the back of my head wondering why I am doing all of this gets VERY LOUD!

I Googled "Weight Loss Plateau" and was supplied with an extremely long list of ways to break through a plateau.  There were suggestions ranging from cutting my calories down even more to adding in a bunch more calories (guess which one of those suggestions I was more in favor of!!!). The suggestion that I thought made the most sense was the one that said to change up your workout routine.

Do your resistance training before your cardio. You'll use up your glycogen stores doing the weight training and when you move on to cardio, your body will use your fat stores as a fuel source. http://www.wikihow.com/Break-a-Weight-Loss-Plateau

So, today I did a version of that.  I didn't do cardio before I hit the weights like I usually do.  My plan had been to hit the weights first and then get in my cardio.  What I didn't plan on was how much fun I would be having while lifting that I ran out of time to get the cardio in!!  Luckily, my oldest has basketball camp this afternoon and the other 2 want to ride their bikes in the parking lot.  So, I am going to do a cardio circuit workout while they are riding.  Then, I will go to Spin tonight.  No matter what order I'm doing it in, I will be burning MAJOR calories!!  This plateau that I am will be hitting the bricks this week.  I am going to push through.  I have watched enough "The Biggest Loser" to know that a plateau is just a week or two in a journey, not an end point.  I will come out on the other side stronger, wiser, healthier, and just more of a bad-ass.  I've got this!

What do YOU do when you hit a plateau?  Any tips?

Faith. Courage. Strength. Change.

Life Gets In The Way Sometimes

I had no idea that it has been almost a month since I last blogged.  I apologize to my massive amount of readers.  The past month has really just been insane for our family.  We got everyone finished with school, and then it started.  The week of June 6th, we had Vacation Bible School at our church, which all three kids are involved with and I help with.  Following each day, we had 2 hours of swim lessons for the girls.  We would finally either go to the gym or go home about 3 o'clock.  If we went to the gym, we didn't get home until about 4:30 and then would often turn right around and head back to the gym for Spin Class.

The next week, we had a form of VBS at the church where the kids go/have gone to Pre-school.  The girls participate in it and M is in child care there throughout the day because I help with that VBS too.  We had another 2 hours of swim lessons each day after this VBS as well.  Add the gym, work I had to do for VBS, trying to get everyone fed, and it made for a tired mama!

After that week, we headed down to my parents' house for the week and had a wonderful time, but my access to the internet was pretty limited.  My folks live in the middle of a corn field and do not have the greatest service.

So, since we have been home, I have been playing catch up and am just now getting a chance to sit down to blog!  Hopefully you all (or the one of you!) :) understand that as I know that we are all busy and trying to survive the summer!!

So, catching up a tad is probably in order.  While I was so busy, I didn't get a lot of weight-lifting in.  That is mainly because I just didn't have time and I was so busy, I knew I couldn't be sore from lifting.  But mainly, I just didn't have time!  What that leaves me with then is a LOT of cardio!  I did Spin classes 4 times each week during VBS just to get my calorie burn in.  While I was at my mom and dad's I wasn't able to get to the gym, but I walked every day but one and that was so great!  Like I said, my parents live in the middle of the country and it was so wonderful to walk with nature and just enjoy being outside.  I walked at least 3 miles each time.

There is that part of me that has always wanted to be a runner.  I have tried and failed so many times.  It would get so frustrating.  It has taken me about 20 years to finally figure out that MAYBE God just didn't make me a runner, because he certainly did not give me the knees for it!  I have always joked that I can walk faster than I can run anyway!  The last 5K (3.1 miles) that I "ran" (that means run/walk, because I have never been able to run a whole 3.1 miles!) I did in 45 minutes and 2 seconds.  I have been working hard to get my time under that with just walking.  I didn't know if I would be able to do it or not.  But, while I was down at my folks, I timed myself and I did it!!  I did a 5K in 43 minutes and 25 seconds!!  I was so thrilled!  Can't wait to actually do a race.  I know I will be doing the Bumblerun in E's hometown in September and the Purdue 5K in October.  I may see if I can find some other ones along the way too. Bottom line, I can walk a 5K faster than I can run one! Woo!

I did get back in the weight room this week and it felt awesome!  I am SO sore though!  Ouch!  My booty is screaming from squats and lunges, but is that going to stop me?  Uh, NO!!!  I am going back to Spinning tonight for my second class in 2 days.

This video has been going around Facebook and I finally had a chance to watch it and I HIGHLY suggest that you do as well.  I have always disliked the term "Like A Girl" and I LOVE how this video turns it on it's head.  It is a must see!!

LIKE A GIRL

Since I haven't posted in a while, I figured I would let you know how I am doing and give you some pics on how I am looking.  I have lost 63.4 pounds in 25 weeks and I feel so strong and healthy.  I am fitting into clothes that I haven't worn in a long time and was able to buy a new pair of jeans in a size smaller than I thought I would.  I have muscles showing in places that I haven't seen them in a long time.  It is an awesome feeling and I love it and want more of it!!!

Here is a pic that my sweet daughter L took of me and my muscles.

I'm LOVING that cut in my shoulders that is starting to come through.  I'm going to keep at it though, because I want the rest of the cuts that go with them!!

It is a lot of hard work.  I am LOVING this hard work, but make no mistake.  It is HARD work.  I didn't decide to do this on a whim.  I thought a lot about it.  I prayed A LOT about it.  I talked with a lot of people about it.  I just want to be clear about what I am doing here.  I have said this many times, but this is not a quick fix for me.  This is my life.  There is no pill.  There is no magic drink.  There is no short cut.  It is all hard work, dedication, prayer, and the decision EVERY single day to change my life.  This is what it is.

Faith. Courage. Strength. Change.

G.R.I.T.

After a wonderful weekend watching a friend get married filled with greasy food, cake, and plenty of wine and whiskey, I was fully expecting a pretty high weight gain this week.  Thankfully hard work and good choices at other points made for a very small gain and one I could live with without getting down on myself.  It showed me a very important lesson.  OCCASIONALLY, it will be okay for me to indulge and eat some things that aren't good for me or have a couple of drinks.  I don't have to be scared of holiday celebrations or family functions.  That is a great turning point for me.  Life doesn't end just because you decide to make the needed changes to make that life the best it can be!

Remember all those Rubbermaid boxes of clothes that I told you about? Well, I decided to go through them.  I went through my entire closet, the 3 boxes, and 2 bags that a friend had given me.  I took out EVERYTHING that was too big, too short, out of style, or anything that I just knew I wasn't going to wear any more.  Note to self, never go that long between cleaning out the wardrobe...I had things from college in there!  Do you remember the Paul Harris store?  Yeah, lots of stuff from there...that may even be dating back to high school!!  Yeesh!  Anyway, I ended up pulling out and getting rid of 2 cabinet boxes and one plastic bag full of clothes.  The clothes that were in the Rubbermaid boxes were tried on and a lot of them fit!  Woo hoo!  I ended up having 1 box of clothes that are still a little tight, but I put them back in the box and will hold on to them.  I will be in them before I know it!

Cleaning out my closet like that left me with a lot of extra T-shirts that I am not wearing.  So, what is a girl that spends most of her time in the gym to do?  You guessed it! I'm back to cutting them up.  Here was my surgery attempt from last night.  I wish I would have taken a before pic, but it was just a white T-shirt with a blue ringer on the neckline and sleeves.  Looks a little different now!

Like my pig-tails? Yes, I am a 34 year old little kid!

In case you can not tell, the sleeves have been cut off as well as the neckline.  Neck was cut in a V as was the back.  The seams at the shoulder were cut and retied together.  I accidentally cut the back a little deep, so I cut strips in it to tie it up the back.  I tried to take a pic of it, but it is really difficult to take a picture of your back! :)  I wore it to RPM this morning and it worked out pretty well.  It is a little wide and slipped off of my shoulders some, but just looked like a cute off the shoulder shirt.  Had I not been covered in sweat, probably would have looked better!!  I can't wait to cut in to some of the others!

So, my title today is G.R.I.T.  During Spin Class this morning, our instructor told us this acronym.  I LOVE it.  I will be adding it to my list of mantras.  

GET REAL INTENSE TRAINING

Every time I walk into that gym, this will be in my head.  Real Intense Training, because going half-way just isn't an option.  I got this.

Faith. Courage. Strength. Changes.

20 Weeks!

In 20 weeks, my life has changed.  It is utterly amazing to me how every single aspect of my life has improved since January.  Don't get me wrong, I still have crappy days just like everyone else.  There are still days when I just want to dig into the chocolate and peanut butter (sometimes I even give in to that craving!).  But, when I look at my life and all of the amazing things God has blessed me with, I can't help but shake my head in wonder.  In January, I prayed.  I prayed that He would help me find a way to make myself healthier, happier, a better mom, a better wife, and a better friend.  I prayed that if He wanted me to move in this direction that He would provide the path.  And has He ever.

In 20 weeks, I have lost over 50 pounds, but I have GAINED oh so much more.  I have seen my body do things I had no idea it would ever do again.  I have lifted pounds that I haven't been able to do since I was a senior in High School.  I have found a love for spinning and rowing and even the elliptical machine.  Running around with my kids kicking a soccer ball no longer makes me feel like I am going to keel over dead.  Watching my body in the mirror has started to make me smile a little bit instead of feeling like I should be ashamed of what it looks like.  I have realized that there are some parts of my body that will never change even after I hit my goals, those stretch marks are here to stay.  And you know what?  That is okay, because each one of those marks is a reminder of the three beautiful children I was blessed to bring in to this world.

I have learned so much about food, it is almost ridiculous.  In the past, I have tried diets like the South Beach Diet and Weight Watchers.  Yes, I lost weight.  No, I was never able to keep it up.  Restricting my foods just does not work for me.  I LOVE to eat.  And I LOVE food.  Always have, always will.  I am a meat and potatoes kind of girl, not a salad chick.  What I have found is that telling myself I CAN'T have something only makes me want it more.  So, I quit telling myself that.  I quit dieting and instead found a way of life.  I still eat cookies.  I still eat steaks.  Heck, last night I had cheese ravioli with alfredo sauce from Puccini's.  What I have changed is HOW I eat.  I no longer need to smother my ravioli in the alfredo sauce.  I can have it on the side and just have a small amount.  If I DO have a salad, it does NOT need to be drenched in dressing.  I can even have REAL dressing if I want and just not drown my salad in it.  These are things anyone wanting to lose weight hears just about all the time.  But, until you really understand how it affects YOU, it is not going to click.  For me, it finally clicked.  The ONLY thing that I no longer consume is soda.  I really paid attention to how it was making me feel and figured out that it was something I really needed to get rid of in my life.  I am glad that I did.  Sometimes does it suck to choose yogurt over pie?  Yes, of course it does.  But, sometimes, that choice must be made.  Sometimes it is OK to have the pie, but it is NOT OK to choose pie every time.

The funny thing in all this is that once you start getting healthier and feeling better about yourself, so many other things in life seem so much better.  My relationship with my husband is stronger than it has ever been.  We are in this life together and we are making it the best it can be.  My relationship with my children is awesome because I have the energy to spend the time with them that I need to and that THEY need me to.  Yes, I still get frustrated with them.  Yes, they still get yelled at.  I'm human.  But, I can tolerate the little things so much better now.  Most stress I feel gets beat out of me at the gym.  When you aren't getting upset at the short people in your house, you find that they really are a LOT of fun!

I hope that I have become a better friend too.  I try really hard not to make every single conversation anyone has with me about my journey.  Sometimes, it is inevitable, especially when someone else brings it up.  But, I feel like since I feel better about myself, I can listen better to others.  Does that make sense?  I hope this is true anyway, because I have the most amazing friends and I want to be as good to them as they are to me!

My biggest and most favorite growth though has been in my relationship with Christ.  He has pushed me and challenged me in ways I would have never imagined.  When He started me on this path, I was terrified.  I was scared I would fail and let myself down.  Or even worse I would let everyone else including Him down.  What I didn't realize is this: "If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it."  So very true.  By inviting Him fully into my meals, my workouts, my conversations, my life I have found so much more purpose and strength.  He is with me through every single step, push up, and bicep curl.  He pushes me, He encourages me, He celebrates me.  He is just awesome.

So, bottom line, what have I learned in 20 weeks?  Here is my top 10 list:

10. When you lose weight and commit to being healthy, people will ask you a lot of questions and assume you are an expert.  It is OK to give you opinion and share what you have learned.  But, remember you are NOT a trainer or a doctor.  It is okay to remind them of that.

9. Sometimes your body does need rest.  You are NOT weak if you take this rest.  Just don't let the rest last TOO long.

8. Occasionally you need a treat.  Swiss Cake Rolls are pretty good at fulfilling that.

7. Don't be afraid to brag about your successes, it is an awesome feeling when the world (and by world I mean friends and Facebook) celebrates with you.

6. When someone compliments you, say "thank you".  Anything else is unnecessary and either demeaning to you or them.  (Totally still working on this one!!)

5. Diet is a bad word, don't use it.  For that matter, so is skinny and fat.  Let them go.

4.  In the weight room, men are actually much more encouraging to women than you think they would be.  Don't be afraid of them.  Sure, you will have the occasional one who looks at you either with annoyance or to check you out, but most just think it is cool to see a girl not afraid to lift.  It is OK to be strong!

3.  Don't be afraid to try a new class or exercise.  Your butt, arms, legs, and every single muscle might hurt like crazy the next day and sitting down to go to the bathroom will be all but impossible.  But, I promise, the second time you do it, you will be AWESOME!

2. I am absolutely worth this.  So is my family and so are my friends.  We all deserve the best me that I can be.

1.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13, NIV

I do want to say thank you to everyone who has been following me on this journey so far.  Thanks for keeping me honest and encouraged.  Thanks for reading, thanks for praying.  Thanks for the good thoughts, and the occasional kick in the butt.  Thank you.  I still have a long way to go.  This is not a perfect journey, but it is my journey.  And I am beyond proud and excited to be making it.

To finish, here are some pics of my journey so far!

New Year's Eve, 2013 (It isn't a great pic, but it is the only one I could find with a full body shot.  Obviously, I was less than thrilled to have my picture taken and have sort of shielded my body with L's.)

4 Weeks In!

8 Weeks In!

12 Weeks!

16 Weeks!

20 Weeks!!

FAITH. COURAGE. STRENGTH. CHANGE.

New Stuff!! Good Stuff!!!

I know I haven't gotten anything posted this week, and I apologize for that.  I didn't feel much like writing the past couple of days, but that doesn't mean I didn't have ideas swarming around or that I didn't do anything to write about!  We have actually been really busy!

Last Thursday, we started the work on re-doing our kitchen.  I did a lot of cleaning and then started painting.  Oof.  Painting is a lot of work.  I did pretty well until I got to our kitchen cabinets.  For some reason, when we put new cabinets in 10 years ago, we did not put them all the way to the ceiling.  I have NO idea what we were thinking when we made that decision.  So, now, I had a foot of wall I had to paint up at the ceiling.  When you are 6 feet fall and up on a step ladder, your room to work is very minimal.  So, I spent the painting time squeezed into this 1 foot spot.  I got it done, but it wasn't pretty.  I did learn a lot about painting though, so that is a good thing.  I was able to get the kitchen painted and my husband started putting in some built-in type cabinets that we wanted.  Unfortunately, there was a mis-measure and the top cabinets we ordered were 1/2" too tall and 1/2" too wide.  So, we had to order some more, but they should be in in a couple of weeks so we can finish. But, I am LOVING how it is looking; very much worth the hard work we are putting in.

Over the weekend, we had soccer games and mass, and more cleaning to do.  Sunday was Mother's Day, and while I didn't have an exciting day, it was a nice day.  I went to mass and then had to go to the grocery store and run some other errands.  I came home and we cleaned and then my sweet husband grilled the steaks I picked up earlier in the day.  Oh, my man can grill.  The steak was fantastic, rare and warm, and perfect!  So, Mother's Day...yeah, good day.

I know you are probably wondering how the new lifestyle is going, so I will get to that.  Things are going really pretty well.  I have been working hard and have lost a little more weight which is good, but I am starting to feel really strong, which is AWESOME!  My muscles are really starting to come through.  It makes me more motivated to lose the fat so those muscles are just ripped and beautiful.

My workout has taken a bit of shake-up.  My gym had a change in ownership last week, and that means a change in some equipment.  Unfortunately, my lovely rowers are not there any more.  So, I am making do with other options.  Tuesday, I was put through a treadmill workout.  When it was first offered, I thought, "Oh, really how difficult could this be?"  You would think at this point, I should know better.This was a TOUGH workout.  I would normally have rowed this morning too, but thought I would try the treadmill workout again.  I couldn't remember exactly what my instructor had us do, so I made up my own workout based on what I did remember.  I will post it on my workout page if you are interested.  I had sweat just dripping off of me after only 30 minutes.

Have you tried anything new in the gym lately?  Let me know!  I am always looking for ways to shake things up!

Blessings!

A Deep Breath

This past weekend was an incredibly amazing one, but it was a VERY busy one.  Lots of stress, lots of chances for binge eating, and not a lot of chances to get to the gym.  But, we kept on, made it through, and came out stronger on this end.  Our weekend started on Friday night with a great game for my sweet L.  She made a GREAT save as goalie and was so proud of herself.  On Saturday, we started with J's game and she played very well.  We came home and started cleaning out the kids' closets and boy did we clean!  We weeded out 5 garbage bags full of clothes and some toys as well.  Then, onto L's second game.  The girls played so well and I was so proud of L.  Before the game, we had discussed that she could be aggressive and still be a good sport.  During the game, L was playing defense and she hip-checked a girl and knocked the other girl down.  I'm sure someone will think that I shouldn't be so proud of her for knocking down a girl, but for my sweet, sweet daughter to be even a little aggressive was a HUGE step in the right direction.  She did feel a little bad for knocking someone down, but you could see the pride in her eyes.  On Sunday, we started the day with a regular mass, then we prepared for L's First Communion.  She looked so beautiful and did such a great job.  She did a reading and was confident, not bad for a girl with some stage fright!

My sweet L standing in front of our church's garden.

My beautiful family, I'm so blessed!

There was so much that happened during the service yesterday, it would take me forever to tell you all about it.  Suffice it to say, it was an amazing day and I was so proud of her!!  After her First Communion, we geared back up for our 4th soccer game of the weekend.  L's team was on again and they played the best we have seen them all season.  The girls one 5-1 and although she didn't score any, L had 2 awesome shots on goal that missed by mere inches.  She played hard and did a great job!!  Needless to say, it was a long weekend, but was worth every moment!

I was pretty proud of myself though, there was cake at her First Communion Reception and I didn't have any.  I love cake, so that is a big deal.  I did have a small cookie, but only a small one. :)  I tried to stick to my plan for the weekend and did pretty well.  I wasn't able to get to the gym Saturday or Sunday, but I did do my challenge exercises, so I got some movement in.

I worked out my lower body this morning, and I have started adding in some stair running.  That is an experience.  I am quite clutzy, so I have to really pay attention to what I am doing.  Today, I did 15 lunges, quickly went down the stairs, walked 1/4 mile in the gym, ran back up the stairs and did 15 more lunges.  Then I repeated that circuit.  I ran out of time, but hopefully Wednesday I can get at least 2 more sets of that in.  It was difficult, but felt great when I was done.   I should probably add that I've done 270 squats today too! My butt is going to look so good!

I get asked a lot about what I eat, and I've tried giving you a pretty good idea of my general nutrition intake.  But, because I believe in full disclosure, I feel the need to tell you I just ate a bunch of chocolate and peanut butter.  No, it was not healthy.  No, it probably wasn't the best choice.  But, sometimes cravings get the best of you and for the sake of your sanity, you go with it.  I think I'm good for awhile now.  I have no guilt about eating it.  I was fully aware of what I was doing.  I made the choice and it was my choice alone.  Now, I move on, I recognize a slip and know that I no longer eat that way every day.  To quote Elsa, I "Let It Go."

I finish today's post by showing you this lovely picture taken yesterday of my sweet husband and me.  He looks so serious, but he really is very funny!  I love him greatly!

Faith. Courage. Strength. Change.

Oh, My Crazy Life!

I am so sorry that I haven't posted anything yet this week.  It has been a very very busy week.  I did weigh in on Monday morning and had a good week.  I know I haven't really posted a whole lot about my actual number of weight loss, but since I am now 4 months in, I thought you might want to know where I am.  I have lost 41.8 pounds total in this 16 weeks.  I look at that number though and know that it is so much more than 41.8 pounds.  I have put on a lot of muscle.  I can watch my body in the mirror and watch those muscles WORK.  They aren't just moving weight around, they are LIFTING that weight and becoming stronger.  Each week, I am able to lift more weight that I did the week before, each mile gets a little faster, and each 500 split gets a little less scary.  Now, let me be clear.  I did not say it ever got EASIER.  I just get stronger.  I get more confident.  I get better.

Last week I answered a question I have been getting.  I have two others that I have been asked a lot and I think they are worth addressing.

"What are you doing? What diet are you following?"

First let me say this.  THERE IS NO MAGIC here people.  I'm not trying to sound harsh.  I used to think that there had to be a quick easy way to lose weight.  I would see commercials on TV for Hydroxycut or some weight loss aide of that type and think, "Could it really be that easy?" "Surely there has to be SOME truth to this claim!".  Unfortunately, it ISN'T that easy and there is NO truth to that claim (or VERY little).  I really wish it was though, I truly do.  As it is, it is HARD work and there is NO easy fix.  I have had to make a CHOICE to do what I am doing.  I have had to make my own magic to do what I am doing.

So, what am I doing?  Well, it is a simple formula.  I watch my calories and I work out.  Let's address the working out first.  I am at the gym 5-6 days each week.  I take a spin class 2-3 times each week, a rowing class twice each week, I lift 3-4 days each week, I walk, I use the elliptical machine, and I do core work.  I fit in other things when I can.  If it will be helpful, I will post my workout schedule and what I do on one of my blog pages.  The simple answer though is this: I work my ass off.  Not pretty, but it is the truth.  Hard Work.

"What diet are you following?"  I really dis-like this question.  I am not following a diet.  I try really hard not to even use that word.  Yes, I am watching what I eat.  Yes, I count my calories.  No, I do not starve myself.  I use the "Lose It" app on my phone (www.loseit.com) to track my calories. I do this partly to be in control of what goes in my mouth.  I also use it to make sure I am eating enough.  Starving myself is NOT going to work.  Eating too much crap is NOT going to work.  This works for me.  I am making this a life-style.  This is not a "diet".  This is my life and if I want to eat pizza I will.  If I want to eat chocolate, I will.  But, I will eat it in control and I will make decisions that are going to benefit me, not derail me.

I hope that helps put those questions to rest.  Hard work and smart decisions.  Those are the answers!

Tomorrow I will include you in a challenge I am starting.  I will be posting what is being done daily so you can join in if you would like.  I will also add a page with my workouts so you can see what I do on a daily basis.

Blessings!

Easter Food Hangover

Yesterday was an amazingly wonderful Easter Sunday in which we celebrated our Risen Lord.  After a beautifully moving Holy Week, I had so anticipated this day. The Easter Mass was awesome and our family celebration afterwards was great!  It was wonderful to visit with everyone and watch my kids and their cousins play all afternoon.  It was a great and very blessed day! He is Alive!

I don't know what Easter dinner in your family is like, but in our family, it means ham, cheesy potatoes, corn pudding, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, rolls, ham/pickle rollups, and desserts. Oh the desserts!  I had given up sweets for Lent and had not had dessert in 40 days. I was wanting dessert people!  I'd love to say that not eating all the sugar during Lent got rid of all of the cravings, but unfortunately, that is not the case.  Since I started my life change, I had not really had a day in which I just ate what I wanted to eat and didn't stress too much about the calories (otherwise known as a splurge day!).  I decided that I needed to have one of those so I might as well make it a special day.  I tried not to go overboard, but I did enjoy the day.  I really enjoyed the desserts!

Yesterday morning I weighed myself just because I was curious where I was before my Splurge Day and then I weighed myself this morning to see the damage I did.  In the course of 24 hours, I "gained" 2.4 pounds!  Now, I know that I had ham and Ramen Noodle Coleslaw Salad, both of which are SUPER high in salt.  I also didn't get as much water yesterday as I would have liked.  I also know that there was no way I ate 8400 "Splurge" calories to cause a 2.4 pound gain (3500 calories per pound to help the math impaired.) so I know that although some of that gain may be legit most of it is probably water.  Today I have been flooding my body with water.  I have drank so much water, I feel like I'm floating a little.  I have to admit I have had a couple of non-healthy things today as well, but nothing like I did yesterday.  Let's be honest though, it is in the house staring me in the face, and I only have so much will power.  I will be glad when it is gone.  All of this explanation is to just say that sometimes a gain is a gain.  Sometimes a gain is bloat.  Sometimes you have to enjoy special days in your life.  Sometimes the chocolate is just really that good.  And sometimes, even with a 2.4 pound "gain", you still lose weight from the week before!  Not bad, and I will take it!

The knee is feeling so much better now.  I was able to lift lower body today and do squats and lunges.  I was on the elliptical and did a good hard workout on the treadmill.  Tonight I am heading to spinning, which I am looking forward to since I haven't been on a bike in the week.  It will be a good night!

Leftovers for dinner tonight means some of that food from yesterday, but continuing to drink lots of water and managing my portion size will make a big difference.

I hope you had a wonderful Easter with your family.  I wish you all the blessings in the world today and every day!!

3rd Place Baby!

I finished my 500 Miles For Eli today!!  Woo Hoo!  I worked my arse off this morning and did 23 miles on the bike and 10 miles on the rower.  I came in 3rd place which is what I was working toward.  There was no way I was catching the people in 1st and 2nd, so I am THRILLED that I came in 3rd!!  Awesome Sauce!

I was a little worried about how the knee would hold up, but after riding 23 miles, my rear end couldn't take any more of the bike.  I was so close, there was NO way I was going to stop.  So, I got on the rower thinking if I couldn't do it, I could always finish the last 10 miles tomorrow.  But, YAY!  The knee felt really pretty great so I pushed through and finished out.  I was so excited that I could do it without a lot of pain.  Now, it is a little sore and tired now, but after all of that plus standing 90% of a 2 hour long mass tonight will probably do that to some roughed up knees.

I did have a pretty cool observation today.  I put on the pair of black knee-high stiletto boots that I bought right before Christmas.  I had to buy the wide-calf version because I couldn't get the regular size to zip over my calves.  Well, when I first purchased them, they fit PERFECTLY.  Today, I could stick my entire hand down the side of them.  I didn't realize that I was losing that much in my legs, but can we say awesome?!?!  I might have to buy some new boots before the fall, but it will SO be worth it.

Hope you have a blessed night!

Dinner Choices

Man, it has been a week.  And I know that it is only going to get crazier with Holy Week coming up, but it will all be worth it.  Holy week is such an awesome experience and I love that I get to be a part of it through singing in the choir.  Anyway, I have been continuing to work hard and then work harder.  I knocked out a lot of Miles for Eli this week and only have 55 to go to the finish line.  The guy in fourth place is right on my tail though, so I am going to have to step it up!  I'm hoping to be done by Easter.  I should be finished several days prior to that though!  

I did have a pretty awesome success this week...I am up to benching 105 pounds!  And I got all 12 reps at that weight AFTER doing 12 reps at 85 and 12 reps at 100!  That seriously felt incredible!!!  I love that I am feeling myself get stronger.  I was able to increase the weight on about half of my upper body lifting.

Right now, I want to talk about food.  I try not to talk about calories and such too much on here because I completely know how easy it is to become obsessed with counting calories and all of the zillion different things women are told about how many calories we should be eating and blah, blah, blah.  I have discussed this thoroughly with several different trainers and everyone is different.  Everyone has different caloric needs.  Now, remember, I am so NOT a trainer or a dietitian, anything I put on the blog here is information I have gathered from others (I will try to give credit where credit is due!) or just information that I have learned about myself through this journey.  I HIGHLY suggest talking with someone who knows what they are talking about before starting this kind of journey yourself!!  I use the Lose It App on my phone to help me keep track of what I am eating.  As of today according to the App, I should be eating 1739 calories per day.  That is a base number.  When I first started this journey, I was told I should eat close to 1900.  In the beginning, I had a really difficult time getting all of those calories.  I have spent so many years thinking I need to eat less to lose weight.  I know you all have heard the whole, "women should only eat 1200 calories each day".  Well, that may work for some people, but it wasn't going to work for me.  Discussions with one of the trainers at the gym taught me that I HAVE to eat AT LEAST 1600 calories each day MINIMUM and closer to 1800 would be even better!!  It has been really difficult to wrap my brain around that, but I am trying.  Exercise does give me more calories to eat if I need them, but I don't eat them too often.  Sometimes though (like yesterday), I get hungry, or I REALLY want an extra bowl of yummy soup, so I dig in to those extra calories.  But, the biggest lesson anyone starting a journey like this needs to know is that you can't starve yourself.  Your body will eventually go into starvation mode and you will NOT lose weight.  You won't build muscle.  You will NOT hit your goals.  Get what I'm saying?  Eat people!

That said, I was looking at some items on the Lose It App this afternoon and about DIED when I saw the calorie count for some things.  E said we could get Applebee's for dinner tonight.  So, I looked at how many calories I have eaten today and what I had left to eat to try and make my decision.  I LOVE to order from Applebee's because of their Under 550 calorie menu.  A lot of times the food on those types of menus are not very good.  But, I think the things on Applebee's tastes really good as well as being good for you.  Anyway, I was looking at the calorie count for some of the things I USED to eat.  Check this out!

Quesadilla Burger-I LOVE these but at 1400 calories, it is a no go, especially after I add the mayo I love on to it!

Riblet and Chicken Tender Platter (with fries and coleslaw)-1880.  Yeesh!

Appetizer Sampler-and YES, I would order and eat the entire thing myself, weighs in at 2340 calories.  Dude, that is more that I should eat all day and I would eat that in one sitting!  No wonder I gained weight!!

I'm not at all saying you should never splurge, because you absolutely should.  But, for me to have something like this again, it is going to take a LOT of understanding what I am eating up front and a lot of work in the gym BEFORE I even think about ordering one of these items.

My new favorites though have become:

Lemon Parmesean Shrimp

Signature Sirloin with Garlic Herb Shrimp and sides

Zesty Roma Chicken with Shrimp and sides

Each of these is under 500 calories and really they taste so good that I don't feel like I'm missing anything by ordering a healthier choice.  I think that is key in all of this.  You need to find foods that are a healthier choice, but do not make you feel like you are sacrificing taste.  I still LOVE Taco Bell (no comments please about that dangers of Fast Food...at least I am not eating McDonald's!).  Sometimes I splurge and get my favorite Grilled Chicken Burrito.  Sometimes I just get something from the Fresco menu (no cheese, but has pico de gallo instead).  You can find healthier choices just about anywhere, you just have to be willing to try them.  I promise, you just might surprise yourself!

So, for dinner tonight, I think I'm going with the Sirloin and Garlic Herb Shrimp.  What are you having?

Blessings!

PS...no, I get nothing from Applebee's or Taco Bell for any endorsements I gave today, however, if they would like to give me something, I'm good with that. :)

Monday Check-In!

I think (key word there is THINK) that I am starting to hit a turning point in my mind-set.  This morning I stepped on the scale just like I do every Monday morning.  I found I lost 0.6 pounds this week.  In the past, I would have been upset that I didn't even lose a whole pound.  I would have gotten sad and mad at myself that I didn't work hard enough and thought about all of the other things I should have done or what I shouldn't have eaten.  This morning though, I stepped off of the scale and my first thought was, "Man, I must have built a lot of muscle this week."  That is HUGE for me.  To not let a loss that I thought should have been bigger get me down and to see the good things that I have been doing makes me pretty proud of myself.  So much of what I am doing is mental and for me to make that change in my brain really makes me think that maybe my brain is starting to get the message!  I'm telling you, if the brain is not on board, the body is only going to do part of the work.  And let's be honest, doing part of the work is NOT going to get the job done!

I had a pretty good week this past week.  I was able to bench 100 pounds!  That felt pretty awesome!  I will hit that 135 before I know it.  I was able to log some pretty good miles for Eli too.  I lost a week with Spring Break, but I'm still in 3rd place.  I found out this morning though that the guy in 4th place is right on my tail, and that isn't cool.  So, hard work is in order this week!  I already logged 11 this morning on the bike and will go to spinning tonight to hopefully get another 15.

The hubs and I did something interesting this weekend.  The first Friday of the month at my son's school is Parent's Night Out.  They take the kiddos for 2 and a half hours which is awesome.  Usually we go out to dinner or do something fun.  This Friday however, we decided to take advantage of the fact that we didn't have kids to put more insulation in our attic.  I'm telling you what, this is a JOB!  We ended up blowing 15 26.5 pound blocks of insulation up into the attic.  When I saw "we", I mean that E stayed in the attic and held the hose aiming the insulation.  I did the heavy lifting, putting the insulation in the blower machine which then paddles it apart putting air in it and blowing it into the hose up to the attic.  We did another 5 blocks the next day and I was so sore the next 2 days.  It will be so worth it though when our air conditioning and heating bill goes down!

I have a question for any of my readers on my dear blog here.  How do you deal with compliments?  This is something I have always struggled with.  I don't want to blow off compliments as that is disrespectful to the person giving the compliment.  I don't want to be all full of myself when people give me compliments.   I know that I am working hard, and I know that it is starting to show.  I have had a lot of compliments about what I am doing and they help keep me motivated.  But, I really do not know how to respond when people compliment me.  I have the same issue when people compliment my singing, knitting, or anything else.  I simply do not know how to respond.  So, how do you respond to compliments?  What is the best way to be gracious, but still humble?  Please feel free to comment below (or on Facebook works too!)!!

Blessings!!

12 Weeks!!

Wow! 12 weeks have passed since I started my new life.  I have learned so much about myself and about the amazing people around me in the past 12 weeks.  I have had ups and downs and smiles and tears.  I have learned that life is amazing and that I can always go on, even when I feel like I can't.  I thought to celebrate my 12 weeks progress, I would tell you the things I have been able to accomplish and some things I have learned along the way.

I have lost 36.2 pounds in 12 weeks!  I am trying really hard to not place much focus on my actual number of weight loss, but I have to admit that number makes me pretty freaking happy.  My goal was 35 pounds in 12 weeks, so I am even happier that I beat that goal!

I can bench press 90 pounds!  I have a pretty big goal of being able to easily do 135, but 90 is a great start.  And for the record, that is 12 reps of 90 pounds AFTER I have already done 2 sets of 12 reps at a slightly smaller weight.

I can leg press 150 pounds.  I really have no idea if that is a good weight, but I am excited to see that number go up and up.

I can row over 10 miles at a time!  It may take me a while, but I can do it.  I did do it!

I have started spinning.  It hurts my butt and sometimes makes me feel like I am uncoordinated buffoon. But, I keep going.  I may not be able to go as fast as everyone else, but I keep going.  I feel good when I am done and it makes me happy to accomplish it!

I can use the elliptical machine for 15 minutes straight.  That may not seem like much to someone, but it took me a while to be able to do that and I am proud of it.

My singing has improved with being in better shape.  My lung capacity has gotten better which means I can hold notes for longer and it has increased my range.  Very cool stuff.

My confidence level has increased so much.  If you know me, you might think I have a pretty high self-esteem level.  If you know me well, you know that I fake that high level pretty much every day.  My self-esteem is horrible.  Years of thinking terrible things about myself and believing things I had no business believing have left my confidence battered.  After just 12 weeks of making myself think positive thoughts, working out for a little boy who can't, and sending prayers to HIM with every workout, I am starting to believe that I am a person worthy of what I am doing.  I am worthy of thinking good thoughts about myself and believing that I am beautiful.

My friends and family are AWESOME.  I mean, seriously awesome.  Any time I feel like I can't go on and that I want to give up, I am blessed by people telling me that absolutely can continue.  My husband continually tells me how proud he is of me and that I am doing awesome.  My mom was so great on our trip home and she kept me going.  My friends at the gym are always smiling and telling me how well I am doing.  My kids even keep me going by telling me they have so much more fun with me now.  All of your comments on FB keep me encouraged that I am so excited to keep going.  My support system blows my mind!

I haven't been this physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually strong all at the same time ever in my life.  I don't think I have ever been this physically strong as an adult, in high school maybe, but never as an adult.  Mentally and emotionally I am in such a great place right now.  I am HAPPY.  I am so much more calm than I have been in a long time (not completely calm, I mean come on, I have 3 kids!!).  I feel wonderful about life.  But, the most incredible change is my awesome relationship with God.  HE has helped me in every step of this journey, and I know that HE will be with me through every single step of the rest of my life.  And now with this new life, what an amazing journey it will be!

So, 12 weeks.  12 Amazing weeks.  I can't wait to see what the next 12 weeks bring!

Blessings!

Couple of Things Today!

As I type this, I have to admit.  I am TIRED!  It was a very busy weekend and after my workout this morning, I could use a nap.  :)  But, alas, I am probably not going to get one.  I have a lot of things I need to get done.  It was a great weekend though.  I was blessed to sing at 2 wonderful masses, had a little alone time, knocked out 20 miles on the bike, and we celebrated J's 6th birthday with our family.  Very busy, but the weekend was fantastic.

This morning was pretty nice.  The kids are on Spring Break and the oldest is at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  So, the little ones let me sleep in and it was WONDERFUL!  Then, I went to the gym.  I went to the gym with a goal.  If you remember, last week I did 20 Eli miles on the Indo-rowers.  Well, after that, 2 of the men at the gym matched that work.  Today, I decided that I was going to up the ante.  My goal was 30 miles.  That is 16,500 meters!  Whoo.  So, I went.  I went and I rowed.  Then I rowed some more.  I was doing pretty well.  I hit 10 miles, then 20.  I knew I had it and would finish.  But, honestly, I had no idea how difficult those last 10 miles would be.  I just kept rowing.  About 25 miles, I started to hit a wall.  But at that point, there was no way I was stopping.  One of the gentlemen I row with in class was stretching near me.  He encouraged me and cheered me on.  It got me through and I pushed and pushed (well, pulled and pulled!).  16,500 meters.  Yeah, I'm pretty happy about that.  Now, I just have to decide if I want to attempt spinning class tonight. :)

Saturday, my sweet J had a friend's birthday party to go to.  While she was there, I ran out to the mall and walked around.  I have been learning a song for church for this coming Sunday and I was listening to it on repeat as I walked.  Of course I did a little shopping while I was there as well.  I found a couple of shirts that I liked.  The cool thing? I purchased XLs, not XXLs (well, I purchased one XXL, but it was the ONLY one in that design and it was a T-shirt, so I can refashion it later).  My boobs aren't small to begin with, so that means that I AM getting smaller in the rest of my body.  That makes me feel pretty good.

Saturday night on Facebook, I posted that I had made a Skinny Chicken Fried Rice for dinner. I was asked for the recipe, so I wanted to share it with you here.  It is seriously SO good!  It has become one of E and I's favorite meals.  Sometimes I make it without the chicken for a meatless meal.  The only other change for us is that I do not use sesame oil.  I use Extra-Virgin Olive oil because that is what I have at home.  I also only use 1-2 T. of the oil.  I don't need 3T. of it!  You can find the recipe HERE. I hope you enjoy it too.  Please let me know if you tried it and what you thought!

The next couple of days will be a challenge for me.  I am heading down to my parents' house and I have a tendency to not eat very well or exercise very much when I am there.  My mom is wonderful and worked it out with the owner of her gym so I can come in and workout for free.  She also said that she will try and make healthy meals.  So, hopefully, I can do better.  I'm going to set a goal of working out every day that I am there in SOME way.  It may not be to the extent that I do here at home at my own gym, but I WILL keep moving.

I hope that all had a wonderful weekend and are looking at a good week.  It is supposed to be cold again this week which stinks.  I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to some REAL spring!
Blessings!

Welcome To The Jungle, Ladies

The gym I belong to is doing a pretty cool fund-raiser contest for a little boy named Eli who has a brain tumor.  From what I understand, his parents have little to no health insurance.  So, not only is it devastating to learn your child has a tumor (I literally tremble at the thought!), but his parents also have to be concerned with how they are going to pay for what I will assume will be insane medical bills.  Anyway, the gym put together a fund-raiser to help out this family.  For $5, you could buy a "car" (it is a paper car not a real one!) and you race around the track for 500 miles.  Mileage can be earned on the Spinning Bikes or on the IndoRow machines.  Since I now do both of these workouts, I figured this would be a great way to keep myself encouraged and help out a little boy.  They have been giving bonus miles for decorating your car, racking up 100 miles in the first 10 days, and even racking up 200 miles in the first 20 days!  I have decorated my car and have been working like crazy to hit the other milestones.  I am happy to report that as of this past Saturday, I finished up 101 miles (technically this was done in 6 days as I had to miss 2 days at the gym!), so I hit the first goal!  As of today I am at 123 miles!  I still have 9 days to get to 200!  Then it is an all out race to 500 miles!  There is a man that is INSANE and has over 350 miles in the first 10 days.  I'm guessing I won't be able to catch him, but this is one time where 2nd place will make me very happy!  I am going to put a thing over to the right to help keep track of my mileage so you can help cheer me on!

Since I have been working so hard on the bike and the rower, I decided to take this past week off from lifting weights.  My weight-loss had gotten a little stagnant over the past couple of weeks, so I thought this would be a good week to change things up, and shake my body into dropping some extra poundage.  It totally worked!  I dropped 4.8 pounds this week.  That is awesome and I'm very proud of the hard work I put in.  That said, I sure was happy to get back in the weight room this week!!  I'm serious when I say that NOTHING makes me feel stronger than lifting heavy weights and watching what my muscles can do.

I know there are a lot of women out there who are scared of the weight room and of lifting heavy weights.  I am here to tell you ladies...there is NOTHING to be scared of!!  The weight room can be a really fun place to work up a sweat.

Yes, there are usually lots of men down there.  Sometimes those men are lifting crazy huge amounts of weight.  Sometimes they are great to watch to learn more about correct form.  Sometimes some of those men just lift a silly amount of weight and are only going to hurt themselves in the long run, don't watch them.  If you aren't sure which is which, watch how slowly the weight is moving.  If they are swinging the weight, look elsewhere, they are just moving weight, not really "lifting" weight!  If the weight is moving slowly and in control, then they are probably a good person to watch for form.

OK, back from the tangent.  First thing I want you to realize is that no one's opinion of what you are doing (assuming you are using correct form!) matters.  If someone watches you while you lift, just imagine that they are enjoying the show.  If that isn't what they are doing, it is their own deal, not yours.  Yesterday, I had a man stare at me the entire time I was doing standing shoulder presses.  At first, I wanted to ask him what his problem was.  Then, I just decided that he was just being appreciative of what I was doing, so I kept quiet.  That may or may not have been his thought, but I don't care.  It helped me get through and helped me ignore him.  I continued my workout.  That said, if someone who works at the gym or is a trainer or someone that obviously knows what they are doing is watching you and gives you a piece of advice about your form, listen.  It will help you in the long run.  I even had a man today tell me that he loved seeing women down in the weight room and wished that more women would not be scared of it (I realize he may sound creepy, but that wasn't how he meant it!  He was a cool guy!).

Secondly, do not be a wuss!  Do NOT be scare of lifting heavy weights!  Assuming you are using correct form and are not lifting over your ability, you are not going to hurt yourself.  You are NOT going to "bulk up"!  You are not going to get big ladies.  Lifting heavy weights help those muscles get strong, strong muscles are more efficient at burning fat, burning fat means weight-loss!  Do you see what I'm getting at here?  Have you seen any women that do CROSSFIT? Seriously sexy women, not bulky, but HOT!  Strength training should not scare you.  Get yourself in front of a mirror, grab some weight and watch those muscles work!  

I found a great article here that talks about Strength Training Truths.  Check it out.  Let me know what you think!

Obviously, I am NOT knocking cardio workouts here or workouts like Pilates, Zumba, and all those types of activities.  I like them too!  I really think that mixing everything together works the best!  Just remember that every time you do one of these activities, no matter what it is, you are making yourself the best you possible.  Work is the key.  You have to put in the work.  Yes, people lose weight by just cutting their calories and sitting on the couch.  But do you know what often happens to those people?  They get flabby.  Ugh.  Flabby does not sound good.  Working out while eating healthy gets you toned and toned is SEXY! That is what I am working towards.  I don't want to just look in my clothes, but I want to look darn good NAKED.  That's right, I said it.

So, who is with me?  Who is going to venture into the weight room this week?  If you don't know what you are doing, ask someone who works at your gym.  If you are at home, check out proper form online.  I promise, your body can do it, just don't be scared!  Changes people!

Blessings!

You Have To Try This!!

Oh My Goodness!  So, I found this pin on Pinterest for a "healthy" Shamrock Shake.  Now, I don't know about you, but this time of year, I get SO excited for a Shamrock Shake from McDonalds.  Unfortunately, a Shamrock Shake from McDonalds is 530 calories for a 12 oz. shake!  Yeesh!  To make it worse, there is absolutely NOTHING healthy in it.  Well, maybe milk, but that is it.

Back to the link on Pinterest, the original blogger, Simply, Taralynn said she made a 77 calorie version of it. You can find her recipe here.  I was a little skeptical, but thought I would try it.  Unfortunately, I didn't have most of the ingredients in house.  So, I faked it.  This is what I did with my first try:

1 c. Vanilla Almond Milk, Reduced Sugar

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder (I use Body Fortress)

About 1/2 t. mint extract

About 1/2 t. Vanilla extract

Couple of drops of green food coloring

Ice

Throw all of that in your blender.  Mix until thick and smooth.  Enjoy!

That one was good.  It was.  But, after I kept looking at the other recipe, I thought I had to try it.  I went to the grocery store this morning and bought what I needed.  This was the result.

1 c. Vanilla Almond Milk, Reduced Sugar

1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder (I use Body Fortress)

1 c. fresh kale leaves

2 branches of FRESH mint leaves (I just used the leaves, not the stems)

2 small packets of Stevia

Ice

Throw all of that in your blender.  Mix until thick and smooth and all of the kale leaves are completely chopped and blended.  Enjoy and be healthy!

Oh wow!  Seriously people, this was SO awesome!!  The healthier version had no fake coloring and will get it's green color from the mint and kale.  I only add the Stevia because kale can sometimes make smoothies a little bitter so the Stevia helps with that.  When I finished, I was mad at myself that I hadn't made more.

There are some differences between mine and Simply, Taralynn's.  First, I don't stress too much about Organic.  My kale leaves and mint are organic, but that is really just by chance.  Secondly, I used vanilla almond milk because I like it, she uses water which would totally work too.  She does adds the vanilla extract but I don't since I use the vanilla almond milk.  So, if you use water, you need to throw in the vanilla!  I use a different Protein Powder than she does as well.  Finally, I used fresh mint, she uses dried.  Honestly, I just couldn't find the dried, so I bought fresh.  It totally works. :)  Finally, mine comes out at about 250 calories.  Obviously, this is more than her 77 calorie version, but still WAY better than the 530 of McDonalds and my portion was HUGE, we are talking 2 glasses full.  So, if you don't want 250 calories, split in in half, give a glass to a friend, and down 125 calories instead!  Win, win!

Oh finally, you might be wondering why I eat kale instead of spinach (that is the other difference between mine and Simply, Taralynn's version).  I can not eat raw spinach.  It will give me a kidney stone within a matter of days.  So, I just avoid it and eat kale in my smoothies instead.  Same benefits, same taste, no agony!

I hope you have a wonderful day.  Let me know if you try a Healthy Shamrock Shake just in time for St. Patrick's Day!!
Blessings!

Epiphany!

Today is 8 weeks into my new life.  I woke up and weighed in because that is what I do on Monday mornings.  I took a deep breath and stepped on the scale and waited for about 10 seconds while the scale made its decision.  My heart fell as I saw that I have gained a pound this week.  Just for a moment, I had the thought that what I was doing was pointless.  All of the hard work I have put in the past 8 weeks have been for naught.  I started to spiral.

Then I stepped off of the scale and came to my senses. I know that NOTHING I did last week would result in a 1 pound fat gain.  NOTHING.  That pound is from something else. Am I really going to let ONE FREAKING POUND derail everything I have worked for and will continue to work for?  HELL NO!  I got dressed and went and had a healthy breakfast.  I went about my morning singing a funeral and then went to the gym.  I got on the elliptical machine just like I usually do on Mondays.  Because I planned on running on the treadmill, I didn't plan on being on the elliptical machine for too long.  I set the machine for 15 minutes and kept going.  I have been working toward keeping going on the elliptical, but so far I have been stopping every 5 minutes and taking a breather.  Today, I went the whole 15 minutes!  I know that may not sound like a big deal to some, but it was not an easy 15 minutes and I didn't go slow the whole time.  I bumped it up, increased my resistance level, and even did about half of that 15 minutes with no hands.  I worked hard.  Then I jumped on the treadmill and added 5 minutes of running into my walk.  I do not enjoy running, but I am going to stick with it.  Why?  Because I can, that's why.

So, one pound.  I reminded myself that muscle weighs more than fat.  I have been lifting 4 days each week.  Muscles get bigger.  Bigger muscles weigh more.  Geesh.  Do the math Theresa.  Get over yourself and be proud of how hard you are working.  So that is what I did.  Today, I am proud.  Today, I am strong.  Today, I am a machine.  Today, I'm taking my third spinning class.  Lord help me!

Lastly today, I decided that I am no longer going to be posting my weight-loss.  At least not until I hit my goal.  I'm trying to focus less on the number on that scale and more on the changes in my body.  So, I will keep showing you pics and talking about my progress, but the number does not matter as much.

Blessings!

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby Right Round

Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch!  I tried something new last night.  I went to my rowing class yesterday at noon, just like normal.  Came home, did a couple of things and decided to get another workout in before Choir practice.  So, I took the kids back to the gym really planning on taking a Zumba class.  I walked into the gym and my sweet friend Sherry very nicely persuaded me to try Spinning.  My friend Erica is the instructor so with her and Sherry's encouragement, I decided to go for it.  They got me all set up and explained how the controls work, what the commands were and just told me to be prepared for a sore rear.  OK.  I was ready to go.  Now, I have been riding the stationary bike 3 times a week, but can I just say I was NOT prepared for this.  Oh My Goodness.  Spinning is NOT easy!  It is not just riding on a bike.  Well, I guess technically it is, but it seemed like so much more than that!  When you are "simply" pedaling, you really have to concentrate on keeping control of your body, especially as your speed climbs.  When you pedal standing up, you really have to pay attention to how your body is moving and to make sure you are shifting your weight back and forth, holding in your core, and not keeping too hard of a grip on the handle bars.  Like my first time in rowing class, I just tried not to die.  I think I did pretty well.  I had to stop one time for just a couple of minutes and walk around to get feeling back in my toes.  But, other than that, I stayed with them.  Now, there were times I maybe couldn't go as fast as everyone else or have as much resistance, but I KEPT GOING. Even when that little voice in my head said, "Hey, you know what? You have done well and no one is going to fault you if you quit a couple of tracks early!".  I told the voice to SHUT UP and kept going.  My legs were screaming, I was trying to keep breathing, my rear and girl parts felt like I was sitting on razor blades.  But, I kept going.  For me, that is a win.  I did NOT let my brain win.  My body didn't want to give up and I didn't want it to.  I Kept Going.

Blessings, Theresa

PS...In case you are wondering, today I HURT.  My muscles are a little sore, but my rear and girl parts HURT.  I feel like I did the day after I pushed out each kid.  I know that may be a little TMI, but I'm real on here.  No apologies.

You Spend Me Right Round-Dead Or Alive

6 Weeks In!

I have been following my new life plan and goals for 6 weeks. now.  I am very happy to report that I am now down:

22.6 pounds!

A part of me feels really great about that number.  A part of me is really disappointed by that number.  The first part of me has been continually telling the second part of me to shut up!

The part that is disappointed by that number thinks it should be higher.  It knows how much work I am putting in and thinks the weight should just melt off, no matter that it really knows better.  It remembers all of the times I have said "NO" to sweets or treats and just wants to look in the mirror and see a skinny me.

The rational part of me knows that I am doing great!  It knows that although the number might not be huge, the slower it comes off the more likely it is to stay off.  That part knows that I have been making changes and that my body feels better than it has felt in a long time.  It knows that I am making lifetime changes, not just a quick fix.  It knows that 22.6 pounds in 6 weeks is over 3.5 pounds a week (really I'm losing usually about 2.5 per week, but had a really big first week, but I will go with it!)!  That is HUGE!  I made a roast last night that was about 3 pounds.  I have been losing a pot roast every week.  That is nuts!  That is awesome!  That is something I should be proud of!

It is difficult thought to shut that second part of my brain down and just be happy with where I am.  That is one of my goals for the year after all,

Loving myself where I am at, not where I THINK I SHOULD be at this moment.  

So, today I am just going to celebrate my accomplishments.  I am going to look at myself in the mirror and be happy.  I may not be thin, I may not be able to run 10 miles, I may not be a different size than I was 6 weeks ago.  But, I know that I am healthier.  I am getting stronger every single day.  I can do lunges without wanting to grimace in pain.  I can do things this morning that I couldn't do 6 weeks ago.   I am making a difference in my life.  THAT is what matters.  THAT is what I will concentrate on.

Psalms 139:14, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

Blessings!