Time to update!

Well it's been a while since I've blogged!

We spent the last week at my parents empty house, and it was a time of 'firsts' for me as far as working out goes. I worked out early in the morning (5:40) for the first time. And while it made me feel great for the day, I kind of hated it. I didn't have the energy and UMPH like I do in the afternoons/evenings. I also did a full hour on the elliptical for the first time! Then I did it 2 more times that week! And I did it again last night at home! I was burning about 630 calories doing that, and last night I burned 700! I was in interval training on the elliptical, which I don't normally do. Turns out, I should be doing it that way! So I think that's my new 'thing' right now. It feels great to know that I can actually do a full hour. I also drank about 100 oz. of water yesterday, ate really well, and this morning I weighed 186.2. Just yesterday I was a bloated 189.8! I'm thrilled!! Today isn't my official weigh in day, so I will update again Friday, but I wanted to record it as the last day of the month. And I officially lost 5 lbs in the month of March. To be honest, I thought I would do much better, but 5 lbs. is 5 lbs. no matter how you look at it.

So that's all just great, but I've discovered something really annoying! It's becoming SO HARD to get my heart rate up! And to keep it up! I feel like the second I take a small break, it drops way back down to almost normal levels. Which I know is good and means I'm getting in great shape, but sucks as far as calorie burn goes. I took my 36 minute walk today and could absolutely not get my heart rate about 66%. It usually hovers around 70-72, so this was annoying. Of course I understand that it's a good sign, but annoying nonetheless!!

Well here's to another great week of eating healthy and (literally) exercising my butt off. I can't believe I'm only 6.2 lbs away from seeing the 170's! It feels soooo good. I'm planning to do another full hour on the elliptical right after work, I'll keep you updated!

Change is Good

Well I got some very good news yesterday!! I got hired to be the special education teacher at a local school district very near our home. It was so great to go into the interview and feel so good about what I was doing. I did my best to not get my hopes in case I would have to deal with disappointment, but was soooo relieved when I got the news. I think I called everyone I know. Haha.

This is just a realization that my life is changing in all the ways that I have wanted for so long and it is another step in the right direction. Now I need to get going with my level of fitness. This week has started off on such a great start!

Starting a new week...

So today for the first time EVER, I got up early and did a full workout. I am about as far from a morning person as they come, but I have plans after work today and knew that if I didn't get it done in the am, then it just wouldn't get done at all. I woke up at 5:45, did Jillians frontside video (42 minutes long), showered, and headed to work. It felt sooo good!! It just feels great to know that my workout for the day (after my lunch time walk, of course!) is over, and that my metabolism is boosted for the day. I am planning to do it again tomorrow, and do 45 minutes on the elliptical, but my one concern is lack of energy during the workout. This morning a few minutes before my workout I ate a half of a banana with about .5 T of chunky peanut butter, and during my workout I was slacking in a major major way. I've been researching today on how to help that, but can't seem to find any good answers. Some say eating breakfast before you workout in the morning will make it so that your body is focused on digestion rather than burning calories from your workout, but other sources say NOT eating anything before a morning workout will result in burning muscle rather than fat. What's a girl to do?

Anyway, it feels good to be starting a new fresh week. I've actually been doing really well with exercising for the past 7 days, but my eating has not been as good as it should be. Considering TOM is going to come knocking on my door any day now, I guess I should be happy with that. But of course I know I can do better. It's just about finding the strength to put the cookies down... I always like starting Monday with a clean slate though. Here's to a happy and healthy week!

The Battle Rages On

I wish that dieting was as easy as I wanted it to be. I feel like it should be easier because I want it so much. It is naive to think that i could posssibly want it more than anyone else, we all want it. That it that we are talking about it is the part that is different for each of us....I want to feel good about myself, I want to wear small clothes, I want to be healthy, I want to be an amazing mom that has the house where all the kids on the block want to hang out. However; I have a laundry list of vain reasons as well...I want to walk into family Christmas and watch the jaws drop of all my family members, I want to run through my neighborhood in my cute muscle shirts and know that I looks good, I want people to look at my husband and think he's the luckiest guy around to have the love of a woman like me, and when we start our family I want to be cute pregnant not sumo pregnant.

All these things that I want aren't unachievable, I think that they are so close to my grasp that I don't know how to picture them as mine. I have viewed people in my life as road blocks to my success but there is no bigger road block than me. There I said it, I don't know how to taste this success because I don't remember seeing myself as skinny...so I don't know what the goal that I am reaching for feels like....and I sure don't know what it looks like.

Mal and I talked yesterday about how disappointed we get sometimes, but that is because we know how to do everything right. We know how to cook, what to eat, how to cut cals, how to exercise, how much we need to have a loss, and the dedication. The thing that I am not doing is envisioning the new me when I get down, I am beating up the old me. This is a constant battle for me and one that I will keep fighting one pound at a time.

Back on Track

Finally yesterday my wrist started feeling a little bit better, and I did my Frontside workout. It was awesome that I finally felt better. I just hate the choices that I make sometime because I know how to do this right, and then I still go and mess up. I know that this is a process, but I still struggle constantly. I have been keeping track of my food in a notebook and I write down the dumb stuff I eat and I just get angry, but then I get kinda sad. I want things to be different. Well here goes a weekend away from home too, so hopefully it will go ok.

Losing momentum?

I am. This past week has been so horrible compared to the week before, and it's very disappointing!! I have been exercising, but I need to remind myself that if i'm eating a million calories a day, even if I exercise i'm not going to lose weight. I'm back on track today as far as both food and exercise go, and I really need to stay here. I don't know why sometimes I convince myself that eating horrible food is 'worth it' because it tastes so good. That's how I got obese in the first place, and I just have to completely get that out of my head and change my way of thinking.

This morning I had 1.5 cups of cheerios, with a cup of nonfat milk. Then an orange for snack, and for lunch im having edamame and leftover salsa chicken on a half cup of brown rice. So today is looking/sounding great so far! For dinner we are having steak, and rather than baked potatos i'm going to make a big coloful salad to go along with it.

I took my monthly progress pictures yesterday and they look pretty much the same as last month. Considering there is only ONE pound difference, that's exactly what I expected. *sigh* Next month I plan to see a much bigger change. I'm gonna make that happen.

My Favorite Roast Recipe

Ingredients:
2 packets brown gravy mix
1 packet italian dressing mix
1/2 packet ranch dressing mix
1 & 1/2 Cup Water

Combine all ingredients and pour over roast. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Servings: 12 (4oz each), Calories: 160.5, Total Fat: 4.3 g, Cholesterol: 71.3 mg, Sodium: 565.7 mg, Total Carbs: 2.9 g, Dietary Fiber: 0.0 g, Protein: 25.6 g

My Shopping List

One thing that I have absolutely become a fan of is buying in bulk because it is so much cheaper. Plus I am just so proud of my healthy choices that I make in the stores now:

• 2 bags of chicken breasts (12 pounds worth)
• 1 lb of fresh spinach
• 1 gallon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 dozen eggs
• dried red pepper flakes
• Shredded cheese
• Beef Sticks (for John)
• apple slices

The Weekend of Trials

This weekend has been less than spectacular but I did learn some very important lessons...pretty much straight from the mouth of Jillian Michaels. First, Friday night was great I came home early from school and got my work out in before I went to my little cousins basketball tournament. Saturday however, was something much different. We, my hubby and I, when we realized his parents were in the driveway-so the day just started off in a hurry, which drives me insane. Then we went to town with them, and we stop for lunch...I have made all my goals and desires clear with my entire family, but everyone decides on CULVERS...so I am actually fearful of a place like this because I have CHOSEN to eliminate these types of places from my life, but there was a time when I loved this kind of food. I get to the menu and well there wasn't really any good choices that I could see in a hurry, so I tried a less evil one and ordered a sourdough sandwich. After eating there I got home I felt disgusting and remembered all the reasons that that is just not going to be a part of me and john's life ever again.

The reason this comes back to Jillian is because she talks in one of her podcasts about when you spend time with the people that you love and they make poor eating choices that you need to try and spend time with them doing things other than eating. I love his mom and dad so much and I catch myself worrying about so many things that are completely out of my control. It is the power of free will, and I pray for them every night and I try to get them to want change but I can just love them with my whole heart and that is all that I can do right now.

Sunday has been a huge victory because I got up this morning and poached two eggs on whole wheat toast, then had a 6" sub for lunch,and am making this amazing pot roast recipe that I will post tomorrow!! Plus I did Jillian Michaels Frontside and burned 520 calories, then decided to do her kickboxing dvd and burned 274 more yahoo!!

Spinach Chicken Bake...yum

Ingredients

2 cups diced boneless skinless chicken breast-2-3 breasts 1 10 oz package of frozen spinach 1/2 cup of Fat Free Sour Cream 1/2 cup Light Mayo 1/4 Mozzarella low moisture part skim cheese 1 cup Parmesean Cheese 2 tsp garlic powder

Directions

1)Season chicken breast the way you would like and cook as you normally would. 2)When chicken is done, you can start the cheese mixture. Mix sour cream, parmesean cheese, light mayo, mozzarella, and garlic powder in medium bowl. 3)Once chicken is cool enough to handle, cut into small pieces (2 cups worth) then pour into medium bowl. Drain 10 oz package of frozen spinach, then add to chicken and mix together. 4)Once spinach and chicken is mixed well add HALF the cheese mixture. Mix well. Then pour the chicken, spinach mixture into round pan or dish and pack down. 5)Take remaining mixture and spread over the top. 6)Place in oven for 45 minutes at 350 degree's. Makes about 6 one cup servings Number of Servings: 6 Recipe submitted by SparkPeople Nutritional Information Calories: 263.7/ Total Fat: 13.9 g Cholesterol: 74.0 mg Sodium: 691.8 mg Total Carbs: 6.5 g Dietary Fiber: 1.1 g Protein: 27.8 g

A Turn of the Tide

This week has definitely been exactly the jump start that I needed compared to the last couple. I have been making making healthy choices about all my meals, especially supper, which is when I am usually the most hungry. Last night I had a baked tilapia fillet, a baked potato, and a portion of spinach. The spinach was definitely the most difficult for me to swallow because its not really what I would normally like but all the nutrients in it were amazing. I think I am going to try it from fresh next time instead of frozen.

The last two days have also been a huge victory because I have increased my weights that I use when I am doing Jillian's Frontside and Backside DVD's...and boy can I feel it.

This is the time for me to make all these changes.

Mexicana Chicken Soup Recipe

Ingredients
32 oz. low sodium chicken broth
3 tbsp olive oil
1-15oz can cannellini white beans-drained
1-15oz can whole kernel corn-drained
1 Cup Salsa
1 Jalapeno-seeded, cleaned, and chopped
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
2 chicken breasts-cut into bite size pieces
salt & pepper

Directions
Combine and add water if not all submerged, Cook on high in crock pot for 4-6 hours, yes it is that simple

Last weeks weigh in.

I completely forgot to post on Friday! My weigh in days are Fridays, and last week I weighed in at 187.4. I lost 3.8 lbs last week!! After having such a feeling of accomplishment, I wish I could pull a number like that every single week! It just feels amazing to see some actual progress in only 7 days. Over the weekend my parents and hubby made comments about how great I'm starting to look. I just love it!!

Anyway, today I am really struggling. It's snowing hard, which means no lunch time walk. I brought soup for lunch that just doesn't sound good at all, and I'm really craving a grilled cheese and fries from the cafe next door. However, I've got my goals in mind, and right now I'm chomping down an apple with some water, and think I may run to subway for lunch. I have to be honest and say I was 100% ready to give in to the grilled cheese and fries temptation, but after thinking about it now, I just know it wouldn't be worth it. We are getting family pictures taken on the 21st (all of John's family) and I want to look my best! Hoping to drop a few more lbs before then, so I've got to keep that in mind.

Tonight we have a date to go to our friends house and have ribs. I'm excited to go see them, but not excited for the calorie-filled dinner. Plus they live 45 minutes away, which means I wont be having time to work out tonight. I know this is just part of life, and that I cant prepare my own meals every single day, and ALWAYS have time to exercise. It's just hard to deal with sometimes because I know how well I can do when I'm able to stick to my somewhat strict structure.

I'm hoping the weather clears up for the rest of the week so I can get my 2 mile walks in every day. I did my walk every day last week and I know that has something to do with my 3.8 loss.

Shopping List

It's been a good 2 weeks since i've been grocery shopping, so the last 2 days i've been putting my shopping list together. Just thought I would share it!!

Low Sodium boullion cubes

• Yellow Onion


• Whole wheat bread


• Eggs and egg beaters (liquid egg)


• Cheddar Cheese, and mozerella part skim string cheese


• Potatos


• Bananas


• Salsa (for the amazing chicken salsa we love so much!)


• Kashi snack bars


• Nonfat milk


• A couple smartones or lean cuisines


• Edamame


• Celery


• Cucumbers


• Oranges


• Dry black beans


• snack sized packs of baby carrots


• boneless skinless chicken breasts


• Diet Mtn. Dew (if it's on sale)
  
• turkey dogs

And there we have it!! There is nothing better than having a fridge/kitchen full of healthy food!

Jillian Michaels... I love you!!

Seriously... I LOVE that woman!! I did the frontside workout last night for the first time. A total of 42 minutes and 439 calories burned. And WOW! I can't even believe all the muscles that she has you work. Afterwords I felt soooo good! So tired, but so good! I'm looking forward to trying the backside tonight. I feel like these videos are just what I've been needing, to kick my butt back into gear. I noticed last night how incredibly strong my left quad has gotten. A couple months ago I wouldn't have been able to squat with all my weight on that leg (due to muscle atrophy from a surgery I had nearly 10 years ago) but last night I was doing those squats with no problem. It felt great!! Even just a month ago it was too weak to do 30 seconds of strong jumping jacks, but last night I was busting them out with no problem. So yes, Jillian, I love you!!

Good-bye February!

So I noticed while looking over my workout tracking calender yesterday... that I lost 0 lbs in the month of February. I weighed in on Feb 6 as 191.2, and weighed in on Feb 28 as 191.2 How disappointing! I know I can do so much better than that, and in the month of March I am going to prove it. It's time to stop making excuses for being lazy and eating out of my calorie range. I know I can do it and I owe it to myself to really buckle down and get things going. My goal for March is to get at least 1,200 fitness minutes in, and track my food on Spark People every day of the week (Saturday and Sunday will be my optional tracking days). I should be getting my Jillian Michaels frontside/backside dvd's in the mail either today or tomorrow, so that will be something fresh to add to my routine. Here's to a new month of weight loss, and making it happen!

Fantastic Potato Soup Recipe

Ingredients

3 slices bacon (i used turkey bacon) 1 cup chopped carrots 4 oz. chopped green chilies 1 cup chopped onions 1 tsp. garlic salt 1/2 tsp ground cumin 5 cups diced peeled potatoes 2 -14.5 oz. cans chicken 98% fat free broth 1/2 tsp. salt 1/3 cup flour 2.5 cups 2% milk 8 oz. 2% milk cheddar cheese green onion tops

Directions

1)in large pot cook bacon until crisp. transfer to paper towel and set aside. Discard all but 1 Tblsp. of fat.
2)Add carrots, green chili, onion, garlic and cumin, saute until golden brown.
3)Add potatoes, chichen broth and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, coverl pot and cook for 25 minutes or until tender.
4)IN bowl, gradually whisk milk into flour mixture is smooth. slowly whisk milk mixture into soup. Cook over med heat, stirring occasionally, until soup thickens, about 12 minutes. Add cheese and crumble reserved bacon and chopped green onions

Number of Servings: 10

Nutritional Info per serving
Calories: 156.2
Total Fat: 3.2 g
Cholesterol: 8.3 mg
Sodium: 842.9 mg
Total Carbs: 23.6 g
Dietary Fiber: 2.5 g
Protein: 8.5 g

Don't be overwhelmed by all the ingredients, if i can make it anyone can!

source: sparkrecipes.com

The Weekend...

The weekends can often be my tragic time but this weekend wasn't too bad. On Saturday I actually got to spend quality time with my husband, and i often wonder if i remember how to do that. Then I made low sodium tacos on whole wheat tortillas for lunch, and then spaghetti with barilla plus pasta. I kinda felt like I had pasta overkill this weekend, but I maintained my weight for the most part. Sunday is the day that I always do the same thing. I had two poached eggs on whole wheat toast, and then for supper I made a new recipe for potato soup that was absolutely phenomenal. I will post it later.

I got so much sleep this week because well I like to think it is my proactive approach to life, but in all honesty its because my husband and I are losers and stay home all the time hahah. I did Jillian Michaels backside video yesterday and she kicked my butt. The key to success on her videos is to not punk out on the cardio. When she does marching in place, I do high knee kicks. In 48 minutes of the workout yesterday I burned 547 calories yahoooooo. Here goes another week!