Where did the past four months of my life go?? Time is speeding by at record rates right now. I am nearly finished with my final blog post... I have mixed feelings, I'm sad that my Journey with UC's Rec Center has come to an end but I am so incredibly happy and grateful for the experience they provided me with. I am excited to share my last post with you all and will have it up within the next day or so. Right now I am on my way to a seamstress to have my High School senior year prom dress re-sized. I have a special event to go to at the end of the week and my prom dress will be perfect for it, the only problem right now is that it is so big on me that it just falls off. I can't believe it :) I hope everybody is having a great winter break so far! Check back soon for my last blog post!  

so happy !! :)

I have SO much to blog about!!! Took a quick, last minute trip to the beach this week and I have been all smiles the whole time. Yesterday I walked around on the beach in JUST a bikini. I swam in the ocean for the first time in longer than I can remember... I am loving life !! Tomorrow I am going to a water park - for the first time ever (OMG!!) I'll  be home Sunday to blog all about it !!!

I never, ever, everrrr thought I would find myself in a bad mood because I'm not able to go to the gym...

http://www.bodybuilding.com/guides/female-20to39-fat-loss/training

'Healthy' foods that can pack on the pounds...

I stumbled across the following article this morning, its written by Molly Kimball.. Thought it was quite interesting - goes to show how important portion sizes are ! 

You think you're doing most of the right things when it comes to exercise and diet, so why isn't the scale budging?

One reason could be stealth calories in foods we think are healthy. While they might be legitimately nutritious, some of these calorie-dense foods could be hindering even your best efforts at shedding those extra pounds:

1. Almonds. The quintessential health food, almonds are recommended by virtually every diet plan. And for good reason: They're all-natural, packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, antioxidants and a bit of fiber. Plus they're portable.

A serving of plain, raw almonds has about 163 calories,  and 14 grams of fat (roasted almonds are about the same). But that's for a single ounce. Grab a few handfuls and you can quickly reach a cup's worth, along with more than 800 calories and 70 grams of fat.

All types of nuts and seeds and most types of trail mix can be just as high in calories. The whole idea behind trail mix is that it packs a lot of calories into a very small space, making it an easy to carry calorie-dense food. In your backpack. While you're hiking the trails.

A better bet: Keep portions in check by dividing nuts into 1-ounce servings (about 23 almonds) after you buy them in bulk. Too time-consuming? Spend the extra money for the single-serving 1-ounce or 100-calorie packets of nuts so that you'll have a heart-smart snack that's also figure-friendly.

2. Quinoa. Touted as a wonder-grain because of its protein, fiber and iron content, quinoa is quickly becoming a mealtime staple even for those who typically have watched their intake of other starchy carbs. But with 220 calories and 40 grams of carbohydrate in every cup, quinoa is every bit as calorie dense as rice or pasta.

A better bet: If you're watching calories, opt for a non-starchy veggie as your side dish. Sauteed spinach, for example, has just 40 calories per cup and more than twice the iron content of the same amount of quinoa. And for a low-calorie meatless protein option, you're better off with Boca's Original Vegan Burger for just 100 calories and more than twice the protein of a cup of quinoa. 

3. Protein bars. They're a quick, portable protein-rich snack, but protein bars can also be calorie-dense. The Think Thin bar is my favorite because it has 20 grams of protein, zero sugar and nothing artificial. But with 240 calories per bar, it's almost as high-cal as a Snicker's. And other bars can be as high as 390 calories -- about what you'd get in six mini powdered donuts or eight Chips Ahoy cookies.

A better bet: A protein bar is fine in a pinch as a grab-and-go snack, but they're not a "freebie" -- we still need to factor those calories in just like we would for any other meal or snack.

4. Dried fruit. Depending on the variety, a cup of dried fruit is packed with 300 to 500 calories and 65 to 100 grams of sugar. Although dried fruit provides some fiber, along with a boost of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, that doesn't change the fact that every cup has the equivalent of 16 to 24 sugar packets. And with loads of sugary carbs and trace amounts of protein and fat, snacking on handfuls of dried fruit can leave you ravenous again in no time.

A better bet: Reach for fresh fruit instead. Its high water content means fewer calories and less sugar, ranging from about 45-100 calories and 9-23 grams of sugar per cup.

5. Hummus. It's nutritious -- after all, hummus is essentially chickpeas and olive oil -- but it's also calorie-dense, with about 280 calories and 24 grams of fat per half-cup serving (about what fits into a single cupcake wrapper). If you're using just a couple of tablespoons, it's about 70 calories or less " no problem. But how much are you really scooping onto those pita chips? (More on those later).

A better bet: If you have trouble controlling how much you're dipping, consider using hummus as a sandwich spread. You'll get the flavor you're craving, without all of the calories. If you're looking for a lower-cal dip, you're always safe with salsa, or use low-fat plain Greek yogurt in place of mayo or sour cream to make a creamy dip with less than 100 calories per half-cup serving (and the added benefit of 10 to 12 grams of protein).

6. Pita chips. Ah, the other half of the seemingly perfect snack combo. But here's the thing: Pita chips are marketed as a diet-friendly option, but most brands " even those marketed as "naked" or "multigrain" pita chips " aren't much more than white bread, with "enriched wheat flour" listed as the first ingredient. And just a couple of handfuls of pita chips can set you back about 260 calories and 10 grams of fat " with minimal amounts of belly-filling fiber.

A better bet: Athenos is the only brand of pita chips sold in regular grocery stores in the New Orleans area that offers a pita chip with more whole wheat flour than white. Careful, though: You'll still get 120 calories every 11-chip handful, so it's still essential to keep portions in check.

7. Fruit smoothies. Sound like the perfect answer to losing weight or to just being healthier: 

Skip lunch and have a fruit smoothie instead, or sip on one for an afternoon snack. Here's the problem, though " smoothies are often loaded with sugar, with little or no protein, fiber or fat to keep you feeling full for long.

Even smoothies shops that incorporate real, whole fruit often add juice blends (providing natural fruit sugars, but no fiber), as well as other high-sugar ingredients like lemonade, sherbet, honey and turbinado (translation: raw sugar).

Jamba Juice's large Razzmatazz smoothie, for example, has 520 calories and 100 grams of sugar, thanks in part to its berry juice blend and orange sherbet. And Smoothie King's Angel Food smoothie sounds innocent enough, but order a large and you'll get 708 calories and 150 grams of sugar (the smaller 20-ounce size has 75 grams of sugar). Some of the sugar is from whole fruit, though it also contains turbinado and honey.

A better bet: Jamba Juice offers Jamba Light smoothies, ranging from 140-160 calories and 24-30 grams of sugar for a 16-ounce drink. They have only 5-6 grams of protein, though, so add a boost of soy or whey protein for another 8-10 grams of protein (double or triple that if it's going to replace a meal).

At Smoothie King, you can ask to make a smoothie "skinny"' by leaving out the turbinado. But many still don't have nearly enough protein to keep you full for long, so my favorite option at Smoothie King is the High Protein Smoothie (in almond mocha or chocolate), sans the turbinado. Don't be alarmed by the fact that it's listed in the "Build Up" category -- a 20-ounce has just 266 calories, 14 grams of sugar and 30 grams of protein.

Or, you can save calories, added sugars and cash by blending your own fruit smoothie with real fruit (fresh or frozen), plus a source of protein (like protein powder or Greek yogurt), along with any add-ins such as vanilla extract, nut butter or ground flaxseed.

8. Fruit juices. Like smoothies, fruit juices are loaded with sugary calories. Yes, even 100 percent, freshly made juices, ounce-for-ounce, typically have more sugar than a regular soft drink. They're naturally occurring fruit sugars, which means we also get the benefit of the fruit's nutrients, but " natural or not " calories from sugary drinks don't fill us up like the calories that we eat.

And while you may already be steering clear of "regular" juices like orange juice or apple juice because of the high sugar content, other juices often escape such label scrutiny, particularly those juices that tout some form of superfruit on the label (think pomegranate, blueberry or cherry). The same goes for trendy bottled juices like Odwalla and Naked Juice.

At least all of Naked Juice's products " and most of Odwalla's " are 100 percent juice blends with no added sugar. But they still pack as much as 60-70 grams of sugar " and 300-plus calories " into a single bottle.

A better bet: Eat the whole fruit instead. You'll still get the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, plus you'll reap the benefits of fruits' belly-filling fiber.

9. Salads. I recently wrote about restaurant salad shockers, with seemingly diet-friendly salads that can top 1,400 calories. But it's worth mentioning again, since the same thing can happen at home if you're not careful with high-cal add-ins like cheese, bacon and salad dressing, and even the better-for-you fats like nuts, avocado and olive oil.

A better bet: Keep it simple. Start with a base of leafy greens and add loads of veggies. Top that with a lean protein, go with a single higher-calorie add-in, and use light vinaigrette or just a small amount of your favorite salad dressing. The result is a salad with (an appropriate) 200 to 500 calories.

10. Wraps. They were also a recent column topic, but I get questions about them from clients on practically a daily basis. So here's a summary of the deal with wraps: Most restaurant-style wraps are 240 to 300 calories " and that's just for the wrap, before adding a single filling. So it's a real challenge to order a wrap for less than 600 to 800 calories, no matter how specific you are when ordering.

A better bet: Skip the wrap altogether. Order a sliced bread sandwich instead, and you'll save at least 150 calories and half the carbs. If you're really craving a wrap, try eating half, and then eat just the lean protein and veggies from the other half.

We're not saying that any of these foods are bad " in fact, most of them can be quite nutritious. But for those watching their waistlines, just keep in mind that these foods are all calorie-dense, so it's more important than ever to keep portions in check.

THE Best List of Tips to Lose Extra Fat & Start Living Healthy

Okay sooooo I am still alive..! The summer is flying by! I can’t believe it’s already August. I have been working way too much!! But, ANYWAY, enough with the chitchat - here it is. Finally I am revealing my list of tips! I’ve learned a lot this year and the following tips have helped me tremendously in changing my lifestyle into a healthier one, losing weight and surviving workouts when I have zero motivation. 

1. At the very beginning of my journey my super awesome personal trainer Ashlee Hoffman, kept telling me over and over, that “this was a lifestyle change”. She would tell me “you’re not on a diet, you just eat healthy now”. To those around me that are trying to lose weight, I find myself repeating the same mottos. The truth is, in order to lose weight and keep it off, it is necessary to change your lifestyle and frame of mind; it is definitely a learning process. My whole life I thought that taking diet pills or starving myself for a month was the key to a skinny body and happiness. Finally I have realized that no amount of pill popping or any crazy European diet can make a person lose weight and keep it off. As a society of instant gratification we want something that is going to work overnight. Here is the reality: with weight loss, this does not exist, end of story. The pricey pills that we see all over TV commercials may help you lose a couple of pounds, yes, but these pounds are almost always just lost water weight, which you will inevitably gain back. My point is that you need to get it into your head that it is impossible to transform your body overnight, it will take time and dedication and a total change in lifestyle.
2. Find a partner to do this with. LOSING WEIGHT IS NOT EASY. If it were, then we wouldn’t have a global obesity epidemic would we? Even though it isn’t easy, it is not unattainable and it can be accomplished. Personal experience and statistics have proven that having a workout buddy increases weight loss. The July/August issue of Women’s Health magazine discussed a study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, the study reports that women who exercised with a partner lost a third more weight than their fellow solo gym goers. When you have a workout partner you have another person to hold you accountable, if you bail on a workout you won’t just be letting yourself down but someone else too. Find someone that’s at a similar fitness level with similar goals and start working out with them!
3.  DON’T MAKE EXCUSES. Simple as that.
4. Schedule your workouts!!! SCHEDULE THEM. Do I need to explain this further? Get out your planner and figure out what time each day you are going to work out. Schedule your workouts like you would appointments.
5. To lose weight it is necessary to start making healthier food choices and to pay attention to portion sizes. I hate to break it to you, but you can’t keep eating the same crap if you want to lose weight and be healthy. My dietitian told me not to cut anything totally out of my diet. Let’s be real here, it’s not possible to never eat chocolate/Starbucks/ice cream EVER AGAIN. Load up on fruits and vegetables, opt for whole wheat bread, and eat junk food in moderation. In moderation meaning, every now and then / on special occasions. Many studies report that junk food triggers similar pathways and reward systems in the brain as substances such as heroin and cocaine. It’s true! After cutting out junk food that’s loaded with sugar and preservatives for about a week I stop craving it and start desiring healthier food. Start cutting it out and you will see exactly what I mean.
6. Planning and preparation is key. I need to say that again, planning and preparation is key. Go out and get a nice fancy lunch box and start using it. Stop eating out & start packing. The night before, prepare your snacks and meals for the day ahead.
7. I’m sorry but in order to lose weight you have to exercise. Not only do you need to do cardio but you need to strength train too. Here is the good news… The more you work out, the more you are going to start enjoying it and the more of a habit it is going to become. You’re just going to have to take my word on this one. I’m not going to lie, it’s probably going to suck at first and the gym is probably going to be the last place in the world that you want to be, BUT YOU JUST NEED TO SUCK IT UP AND PUT ON YOUR GYM SHOES AND GO. It will continue to get easier and easier and easier each time you go I PROMISE!!   
8.  Don’t forget your headphones! Make a playlist full of upbeat tunes to accompany you during your cardio sesh. Better yet, tackle the elliptical / treadmill / Stairmaster, not just with your headphones but with a good magazine too! I just don’t understand how some people workout without either of these essentials. I promise that time passes soo much faster when you’re distracted. I love my Cosmo subscription and get excited when it arrives each month in the mail. I don't let myself so much as open the cover of it though unless I'm on a cardio machine.
9. If its financially possible (sit down & take a good look at your budget to see where you can cut spending – eating out !) get yourself a personal trainer… Even if it’s just for a few sessions. I never realized how important proper form is when it comes to exercising and targeting specific muscles. A trainer will teach you how to use weight machines as well as show you different exercises you can do right at home. Personal training may be more affordable than you think; the Rec Center has got some great deals! I promise the investment is worth every single penny.
10. Consider keeping track of your food intake by writing everything down or using myfitnesspal.com. Downloading the myfitnesspal.com app to your phone makes keeping track of your food fast and easy as it allows you to simply scan the barcode on a food label to add it to your daily list. Doing this will make you more conscious of your food choices and their nutritional content. Many of you will be totally shocked at the actual amount of calories you’re consuming each day.
11. Keep track of your progress. Progress made is one of the biggest motivators to keep going.
12. http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/index.html <- check out this website. It’s one of my favorites… The website has got all the information you could ever want to know about living healthy and working out. From REAL (unedited) success stories, to detailed “how to” videos of every exercise you can imagine… It seriously has everything. When I’m not in the mood to hit the gym I start browsing through the bodybuilding website, it’s an instant motivator. Create a bodyspace profile to keep track of your progress…
13. Replace sodas and other sugar & preservative laced drinks with WATER. You will cut out sooo many calories by doing just this. Plus, water is so good for us! It helps to detoxify the body, keeps us pooping regularly, will help to keep you feeling full and will reduce cravings.  
14. Read nutrition labels and educate yourself on what they mean.
15. This tip is a great one which I borrowed from Mike Roussell, Ph.D… Increase NEPA (Non-Exercise Physical Activity). When you are trying to drop body fat every extra calorie you can burn will take you one step closer to your goal. Increase you NEPA and burn more calories. Examples include parking farther away at work or when shopping, take the stairs instead of the elevator, don’t drive around the corner to the store, walk!
16. Keep your eyes on the prize.
17. If you skip the gym or eat something you shouldn’t have, don’t fret about it. Remember, this is a lifestyle change; you aren’t going to eat perfect and make it to the gym every single day of your life.    

gym time !!

omgoodness I am slacking SO MUCH!! I haven't worked out once in like a whole week . what is wrong with me!

clean eating, no cheating - day #2 . let's see how long i can keep this up :)

I am going to eat clean all day today :)

I have SO SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOO much to blog about!!!! Please check back in the next day or two!

What you can look forward to:

• My list of tips!!! They're good ones.  
• My new goals - to "get ripped" and compete in the "warrior dash"  
• How my diet and workout routine has totally changed 
• How losing weight has made my boobs look bigger! (even though they are smaller).
• A problem I am having with my family that has caught me totally off-guard. I don't know what to do...
• Last but not least... The new, HUGE crush I have on a personal trainer... He is so perfect <3 <3 <3 haha 

I've been eating soooo bad the past couple of days :(

our bodies are so ridiculously smart!

soooooo I signed up to play on a coed softball team this summer with my two bff's (steph & my trainer ashlee) andddddd one of the interns from the rec center, Joe... Six months ago this would have been the absolute LAST thing I would have wanted to do with my summer vacation... I never really liked to play sports before. I dreaded gym class when we had to play games like softball & basketball. Tonight was our first 'practice' and i had a great time :) I also burned a bunch of extra calories today cause of it!! :) :) :)

I finished the book! All 198 pages of it. It was fab, very interesting - I highly suggest it ... "Skinny Bitch" by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

I ate a ton of food this weekend...likeeee a lottttt. I also skipped the gym. I feel fat and gross and just blahh in general. I just started reading a book called "Skinny Bitch" ... ill let you know how it is. I'm only a couple of pages in but I like what these no-nonsense girls are telling me ... In discussing aspartame and formaldehyde they just said "perhaps you have a lumpy ass because you are preserving your fat cells with diet soda". I think this is going to be a good book!

Good things come to those who wait VS instant gratification.... A blog post is in the making...

Check out this set-up. Multi-tasking at its finest. I'm sure this is totally safe. 

I haven't had one of these in a while but today is one of those days where the absolute LAST thing I want to do is workout. I'm tired, my tummy kind of hurts, I've got tonsssssss of homework to do... I could give you a hundred reasons. I JUST DON'T WANT TO WORKOUT TODAY. But I need to. Theres like a war going on inside of my head. Half of me is telling me to shut up and workout already, the other half is trying to justify taking today off. I CANT THOUGH!! I neeeeeed to workout. The debate in my head is ongoing as I type this. SO what do I do on days like today to summon up enough inner strength to get my butt to the rec center? I shall blog right along as I go through the steps.

1. I start texting away. The first person that gets one is the one and only Ashlee Hoffman (the best personal trainer in the whole world). I know that within minutes I will get some type of a response that will make me think twice about skipping a day. Then I send texts to all the other worker-outers in my life, one of them usually has something good to say.

"Hulk" is saved in my phone as "Hulk" for obvious reasons... As he advises, if you want a great body, you just have to workout anyway, even when you don't want to.

2. As the texts start rolling in I go and get changed into my workout clothes and put on my gym shoes. This seriously helps. I'm only on step two and my mood is already changing for the better. I think my body kind of goes into like autopilot gym mode after my gym shoes are laced up.

3. Next, I sit my butt down in front of my computer and get online (I guess I was already doing this...) I go to Google and start typing in phrases such as "working out when you have no motivation" and then I start clicking away on webpages. The first thing that popped up today was "Top 10 Shallow Reasons To Workout." That definitely caught my attention and lets be honest here, the shallow reasons tend to be the most motivating... Some of the shallow reasons that appealed to me are #10. swimsuit season #6. feeling good about yourself #5. feel good when you run into old friends (love this one) #1. the opposite sex (love this one too - the opposite sex ha) ... Pretty decent website, i'd suggest checking it out... 

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/topshal.htm

Okay.. I'm nearly in the mood. Next website.... hmmm . Okay so I got distracted, I didn't make it back to Google. Bodybuilding.com has become one of my favorite websites and again the past thirty minutes of browsing through it reminded me why. Check this out..... http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/index.html . There is soooo much info on here.. From specific exercise how to's, to nutrition and supplements - you will find just about anything you could possibly want to know about fitness on here. Theres also an entire huge section on motivation. One of my go to things to look at when I'm in need of motivation is other peoples transformations. Theres a whole page dedicated to this ... http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbmainmind.htm ... Unlike the transformations that you see on TV infomercials the people that you find here transformed their bodies from just diet and exercise alone - photo-shop had nothing to do with it. It shows in detail the different workouts and diet plans that each person followed... Seeing tons of other people that have made incredible body transformations reassures me that I can do it too.  

Okay. Somehow two hours have passed since I started writing this thing. I could continue blogging all night but if it gets any later I really won't go and workout and this new found motivation will go to waste. SO. with that said. I am going to go and workout now :) 

      

i'm standing here in front of my mirror in just a pair of undies, blow drying my hair, realizing that this is the first time in my whole life that ive ever stood and stared at my reflection and been happy with what I saw. never, before tonight, have i looked at my body and thought 'damn you look good'. I have to say that it is such a great feeling :) i can't thank the rec center enough for it

I can't sleep. I'm laying here on my couch rolling my eyes at this infomercial thats guaranteeing a "total body makeover" without stepping foot inside of a gym, in 6 weeks guaranteed. Apparently this chick lost 80 lbs and 86 inches and the weight is "literally melting off". YEAH RIGHT. I feel bad for all the people out there that buy into this crap. That's all it is, a bunch of crap.

I'm back to keeping track of everything I put in my mouth. Seriously, check out myfitnesspal.com . Keeping track of my food intake definitely makes a HUGE difference in how many calories I eat. When I don't do this, it is way too easy for me to pretend like I didn't just eat something bad for me. Adding something to my daily food log and being forced to look at the nutrition facts is when I often decide that my butt really doesn't need a second  serving of something.  

You are what you eat !

The past two weeks have been insane for me (if you couldn’t tell from my lack of blog posts). School definitely kicked my butt this quarter… I will be SO glad when summer break is finally here! Despite my crazy schedule I have managed to stay pretty consistent with my workouts. Speaking of consistency, I have to say that this is one of my biggest accomplishments so far; making trips to the gym a normal part of my day. I enjoy going to the gym, actually look forward to it now – this is something I never thought would be possible. In fact, I wish that all I had to do with my life is workout and sit in the sauna with my friends. My biggest struggle remains my diet; I have to say that it is the hardest aspect of weight loss and is definitely tougher than the workouts. It is so difficult to eat healthy as we are surrounded by junk food, and let’s face it, it’s much more convenient for someone else to make your food for you. Although I’m not very familiar with the science behind it, I’ve heard that junk food is like a drug. That junk food triggers a certain pathway in the brain causing us to want more of it. From my own experience I have to agree with this theory. It seems although when I eat really well for a week or so, eating mainly fruits, vegetables, and natural unprocessed foods, I stop craving sugar and other “bad for you” foods. I start to prefer the taste of fruit over gummy bears and chips. It’s when I give in and eat badly for a day or two that I seem to hit this slippery downward slide of more unhealthy eating. I think that finding some type of a balance between eating good and bad food is key, but even five, nearly six months in to this journey, I am still struggling to find this. I’ve come to realize that this is okay though and that healthy eating is not a change that can be made over night. I’ve been eating “bad for you foods” for the past twenty years of my life, obviously it is going to take a bit of time for my taste buds to adjust. I met with a new dietitian, Marta Graham, and she had a lot of interesting information to share with me. She spoke a lot with me about the “science” behind eating and how insulin, glucose, and cortisol levels affect fat storage and hunger. Marta emphasized the importance of regulating blood sugar levels by doing things such as eating breakfast EVERY day. Marta also suggested I increase my protein intake and lower my carbohydrate intake and not to worry AS much about calories and fat. I've yet to put this into practice though; my diet has been horrible over the past two weeks and has consisted of cake, cookies and very few vegetables. As a result, I continue to be stuck at 129 lbs and my % body fat isn't budging. It’s time to get my crap together - bathing suit season is right around the corner!!

PS. I’ve had some requests for tips… I’m working on putting together a list as well as some info about what my workouts are looking like these days without Ashlee facilitating them :( I miss her SO much!!!   

Omgoodness!! The past couple of weeks have been so crazy busy. As soon as I get home from work tonight blogging and answering questions will be my number one priority! I hope everyone has a great workout today!

im fighting a sugar craving . im not going to give in

Today at 1 o'clock I am meeting with Marta Graham to use my last dietitian session. I am really excited to see what she has to say! In the few emails we have exchanged I explained the difficulties ive been having with my junk food binges and getting my % body fat down. Marta says she is "confident" that she can help me :) Ill let you know how it goes!!

I had a great workout tonight. I did a group training session at the rec center. Ashlee trained two other girls and I... I must say that there is nothing like a workout with Ashlee. I realllly miss having regular training sessions with her...

im about to throw my scale out the window :(

My fat ass has gained five pounds in like a week.

I started off the month of May with the mindset that it was time to crack down and work really hard over the next couple of weeks to get these last few pounds off... The opposite has happened though. I've been eating so much junk food its ridiculous. I've seriously been eating cookies, chips and skittles like it was my job. In fact, I've ate FIVE whole pounds worth of food, and now I'm back up to 130 :( Every morning for the past like five days I've been avoiding my scale. I would quickly glance at it and then pretend like I didn't see it. I guess I've kind of been pretending that the vending machine raids have not been occurring. But they have been and the scale that I finally decided to face this morning was quick to tell me this. I'm bummed out. Disappointed in my lack of self control. Disappointed that I let this happen. Disappointed that weight is so easy to put on and so difficult to take back off.

I guess this is an instance in which I need to take my own advice. What has happened has happened and theres nothing I can do to change the past, I need to learn from this mistake and not let it happen again. So what should I do now? Well, I just took a two minute break from writing this, walked into my kitchen and threw all of the cookies my mom just baked & ice cream into the trash can. My little sister will NOT be happy when she discovers this (my mom probably wont be either) but I mean, I did this in everyones best interest and I can just deny I had any part of the disappearance......

Anyway, I guess I am going to get ready now and go workout .... :-/      

just had such a greaattttt workout :) :)

I gave away TWELVE pairs of jeans last night =]

As I'm running on the treadmill drenched in sweat I'm wondering to myself why the hell I was always so worried about looking sweaty at the gym. It's funny to me now to think that it used to be such a big deal, that I was actually embarrassed to workout in front of people because of it. I guess it's just another way in which my mind set has changed. Instead of embarrassment it's a feeling of pride. It's a sign of how hard I'm pushing my body.

Question: Kirsty, I am eating well and have found that keeping track of my food definitely helps, but I am disappointed because I gained 3 lbs when I thought I would have lost 3. What am I doing wrong?!

Answer: 

I understand your frustration because i've been there. Some weeks I will lose, others I will plateau. Here is my advice... 

First of all, limit the amount of times you step onto that scale.. Make it once a week, no more than that. This way you won't be discouraged by the numbers that appear and will work harder during that week for your next weigh in. 

Second, how much are you working out? Diet is very important but to lose weight and keep it off it is absolutely necessary that you are getting enough exercise. Start off small and add more to your workout each time. Shoot for several times a week of cardio AS WELL as strength training. If you can't make it to the gym every day of the week, don't worry, walk around your neighborhood, youtube exercises that you can do at home. There are so many different things you can do to exercise without equipment, just using your own body weight for resistance. 

Third, I have found using myfitnesspal to record food to be EXTREMELY beneficial. It is important to record your food as you eat / prepare it though. Make sure you are recording down EVERYTHING. If you make a sandwich make sure you are writing down everything in it and the amounts. Ex: 2 slices bread, 1 teaspoon butter, 2 oz chicken breast.... What about your drinks? If you make coffee in the morning make sure you are including whatever you add to it, sugar, creamer etc. 

Recording food isn't going to help you if you aren't eating the right foods. Tip... When you go to the grocery store focus on selecting foods that are on the outside perimeter of the store.... Most of everything in the middle, on the shelves and in the freezers are BAD for you. You want to make sure you are eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. A good rule of thumb is to eat two more vegetables than you do fruit each day. Shoot for 5 veggies, 3 fruits. Ideally you should even be eating more veggies than that but I have found it is quite difficult to accomplish this. 

Eat whole wheat and whole grain breads. You DO need carbs. Make sure its the right kind though. You want to read ingredient labels, make sure it DOESNT say "enriched" anywhere on it. This means that the nutrients have been stripped from the product. Avoid high fructose corn syrup! 

Instead of eating three times a day, eat smaller meals more often. Eat snacks throughout the day. Each night I try to pack a bag of food for the whole of my next day. I prepare baggies of celery, cucumber and carrot sticks as well as baggies of fruit. By eating more often your glucose levels do not drastically change and your metabolism stays more active. 

Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. 70 ounces at least! 

And finally, you asked for motivation ideas.... I suggest creating a blog, even if it is anonymous.. Knowing that there are people reading and following your weight loss is some great motivation. I know this for a fact. Its important that you want the weight loss for yourself. Think about how great you will feel once you have lost a few pant sizes / inches... I know that was one of the best feelings ever for me. The more you start to lose the more motivation you will get to keep going. Losing weight and keeping it off really is a whole lifestyle change. Its a change in mindset, you really have to dedicate yourself to it.  

Another suggestion, find a friend that will do this with you. Check in with each other on a regular basis and keep each other in check by looking over each others food diaries. Work out together. Working out with a friend makes my workouts so much easier as the majority of the time we are just blabbing away. 

Last but not least, stay positive. If you mess up one day or don't have as big of a loss as you are hoping for, don't get discouraged. Each day is a new day. You can do this! It gets easier and easier, I PROMISE!

**I am no professional, my advice is solely based on my own personal experience**

the stress my calculus homework is causing me at the moment is forcing me to eat a chocolate ice cream cone

whhhhhhhhhhy

is it that around this time every night i start to crave candy and ice cream .

"Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer the goal." – Elbert Hubbardp

If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got, and you'll always feel what you always felt.

yesterdays workout...

One thing I have learned over the past few months is that expectations have a huge impact on the quality of your workout. If you begin a workout thinking that you're going to have a bad one, you will. I'm still not quite sure how valid Mr. Starrs claims are, I would have to see some supporting scientific evidence fully believe them - however, I must say that despite feeling like crap going into my workout yesterday, I had an excellent one. Maybe it was my expectations of a great workout, maybe it was all of my extra antibodies at work, nevertheless, cardio was a breeze and it worked magic on my congestion (even better than Sudafed I might add)... I am about to hop on my treadmill now so we shall see if I have similar results today :)

A cold hit me with a vengeance Friday night. Nobody enjoys being sick but I absolutely HATE it. Makes me mad, it's annoying and gets in the way of my busy schedule. After writing my last blog post this morning I decided that I really needed to work out today... I used handy dandy Google to do a little research on working out while sick and various sources actually said that not only can exercising while sick shorten the duration of a cold but being sick also makes you have BETTER workouts. Top strength coach Bill Starr states that training while sick "…helps flush useful healing nutrients through the body and aids in expelling toxins." Starr also says that when sick, ones immune system releases loads and loads of antibodies "to combat the invading toxins and microorganisms. Those antibodies are strength enhancers. This is especially true in the early stages of any illness." Who woulda thought that?? SO with that said, I am about to go and put Mr. Starrs theories to the test...

Mid-Quarter Crisis.

About half way through each quarter at school I have what I call a mid-quarter crisis; a period of a few days in which I basically freak out about how much I have to do over the remainder of the term.  It never fails to happen. I am going through one right now. Not only am I having a panic attack about papers, exams, work and bills but this quarter I am also freaking out about my thighs. It just recently dawned on me that it is about to be the beginning of May and my body is still “not so bikini ready”. My tummy still jiggles and my thighs are still plagued by “orange peel syndrome”. Cellulite is my enemy and it is still winning the war I declared against it a few months ago. How do I get rid of the lumps and bumps of stored fat that 80-90% of women have? It seems impossible. Apparently cellulite is just stored fat, so in theory, if you had zero body fat, you would have zero cellulite. Having zero body fat is an unattainable goal though and even if it were possible would actually be bad for ones body. As I have learned, body fat is necessary for a number of things, for example, many vitamins are fat soluble, so without fat your body wouldn’t be able to receive such nutrients. Also, body fat acts as insulation for organs, amongst other things and prevents loss of necessary body heat. Anyway, where I am going with this is that I am struggling with getting my percent body fat down. Looking back at the goals I set myself in January, I was hoping to have 20-24% body fat by June 3^rd and a weight of 120lbs. Currently my body fat is around 27% and my weight is fluctuating between 126lbs and 129lbs. What this means is that I have to try to lose 3-7% body fat and 9 more pounds in like one month. How am I going to pull this off? Can you see why I am freaking out? Nevertheless, I am still determined to make this happen. The major thing standing in the way of me and my goal is my diet. I’ve said this numerous times now. I know it is my diet because when I eat really well for a week (meaning no junk food at all, proper portions, frequent snacking instead of a couple big meals) I see results. When I eat badly, I don’t see them and my weight goes back up. I know it is okay to eat junk food every now and then, but my every now and then just recently has been like every other day. OR as I did yesterday, I will eat REALLY well during the day, and then at ten o’clock at night say screw it and kill a pizza and a bag of skittles. I REALLY need to get this under control STAT. I think first thing Monday morning I need to schedule my last dietitian session and see if they can help me get back on track. When June 3^rd roles around I don’t want to be bummed out, regretting not working hard enough. Beating my goal would be so much more rewarding than the 15 minutes of gratification I get from downing a bag of candy.

don't make excuses . go workout !!

My goal for this week is ten hours of cardio. I slacked on working out soooo bad last week.

I didn't have time to get a workout in at the rec this morning so I did squats and standing leg raises in the shower . This is probably hazardous, especially to me, and I probably shouldn't do it again haha :)

Weight Loss Improves Memory, Research Reveals

As a psychology & pharmacy student I am constantly reading research articles. I found one the other day that I thought was quite interesting... A recent study found that weight loss may improve concentration and actually make you smarter! I have to say that I have noticed a significant difference in my ability to stay focused in class since I've lost weight. This goes to show that there are many more benefits to working out than just a sexy bod.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/weight-loss-improves-memory-research-reveals/story?id=13383600

im stuck again...

For the past ten days my weight has been bouncing around between 126 and 129. Now I know what some of you are thinking (at least whats going through Ashlee my trainers head)... What Ashlee would tell me is to quit weighing myself so often. Its not so much the bouncing up and down thats bugging me because I know now that it is normal for body weight to slightly fluctuate, the thing that is annoying me is that my weight is not coming off the way I want it to. The thing is, I know why. It is because of my diet. When I finally broke the 130 lb mark it was because I was being extremely careful with my diet. I was eating exactly what I needed to be eating, at the right times, in the right portions. I was eating lots of fruits and vegetables and making sure I was drinking lots and lots of water throughout the day. For the past 10 days I've been eating like crap and have been eating out WAY too much, for example, over the past week and a half I have had:

• Chipotle 
• Maggianos 
• Penn station
• Chick Fil A
• Jimmy Johns
• Sobe, Gatorade, lemonade and even Starbucks.

Now that I see this list I am almost disgusted. 

Another problem: I am starting to see a trend in my eating habits. Ill eat really well for two weeks and lose some weight and then I go on an eating spree. Maybe its time to meet with my dietitian again. I need to learn to eat bad food in moderation. Eating out is okay every now and then, but not five times in ten days...

Ashlee, 

As my personal trainer I need you to yell at me when you see me today. I need a kick in the a**. Do not be nice to me, ask me what the heck I am doing and tell me that I need to get back on track.

Thanks,

Kirsty

 

Wanna know what I just realized? I'm going to be able to fit into any Halloween costume I want this year =] =] =] lol

i would never work out past like 7 pm before, I used the excuse that it was too late . but no . it was exactly that, just an excuse . it's not too late . excuses won't get u results.

browsing profiles on bodyspace.com trying to get some motivation to go to the gym tonight . it's working . im determined to have a body like some of the girls on here . check out the website !

shopping for new clotheessss :)

oooohhhhh yyeeeaahhhhh, 126 lbs this morning =]

i was sooooo so soooo close to buying a white chocolate mocha from starbucks just now... but I didn't do itttttt.... only because i forgot all of my money at home today though haha it was a sign i was not meant to consume all those calories

"failing to plan is planning to fail"

"Preconceived notions about your routine can make it feel either less difficult or harder," says Shaun Goodsell, a sports performance coach . With that said, think positive thoughts like, "working out makes me feel healthier, accomplished and gives me energy for my day."

I just loveeeeeee waking up early to workout (not) . i . need . sleep .

i just prepared alllll of my food for tomorrow .. and for my dad too! spreading healthiness one packed lunch at a time . oh and I also put together little baggies full of celery sticks for the rest of the week . there's a first time for everything haha

I went to kroger tonight and was so proud of what I left with. I spent the entire time reading labels. I sooooo badly wanted to instruct people on what to buy haha

I know I had a good workout when it hurts to hold my hair dryer up for longer than like 20 seconds haha

watching all these hot boys workout = def a plus of gym seshes haa ;)

laying in bed reading a fitness magazine getting inspiration for today's workout . something about seeing peoples success stories and peoples super sexy bods makes me wanna go hit the gym hard

129, I am SO happy to see you !!!!

Sooo, I didn't totally fall off the face of the Earth but it was pretty close haha . Seriously for the past like two weeks my schedule has been as follows: wake up super early, go to the gym for a couple hours, head to work, babysit, go home and pass out .  repeat . repeat . repeat . I can't believe its already April 1st, time is just flyingggggg by, its crazy for me to think that I have been doing this thing for 3 months now!

Its also crazy for me to think about how far I have come over the past few months. Thus far, 2011 has proved to be a year of learning and has been filled with lots of great experiences. This morning I finally broke the 130lb mark and I can't tell you how great it feels to finally see 129 on the scale. I have officially gone from a size 12-14 to a size 6. I love this. I love that I can go into every store in the mall and find jeans that fit me. I went shopping the other day and caught myself purposely choosing size 12 jeans off the rack and trying them on just to get the satisfaction out of them being way too big for me now. I love that I am starting to see definition in my muscles. I love the shape my butt is finally starting to take...


I do have to say that I've been doing a much better job working out. I can't believe I'm about to say this but I am actually starting to enjoy it... I'm nowhere near head over heels in love with working out yet but my relationship is definitely blossoming haha.

My biggest struggle at the moment is definitely my diet. Surprisingly, my problem is not that I'm eating too much but the complete opposite. I'm actually having trouble eating enough. By no means am I starving myself, I am just having trouble eating enough of what I really need each day, such as vegetables. Let me tell you, it is really difficult to eat 5 servings of vegetables a day. Besides not consuming enough veggies I am still slacking in other areas. Ive come to learn that it is very important that your daily food intake is made up of a certain amount of each carbs, fat, and protein. I am having a bit of trouble balancing this each day. Some days I eat too many cabs and not enough protein, other days its too much fat... Although its unrealistic to measure exact nutritional intake every day for the rest of my life I think that it is going to be very important for me to do over the next two months to lose my last ten pounds... 

A big part of my diet struggle is due to my lack of preparing food in advance. Although I have been a lot better about packing lunches over the past two weeks it is still difficult for me to do. It shouldn't be. This is something that I definitely need to work on. Being on the go so much, I always would tend to grab snacks and meals from gas stations and convenience stores. This is bad because rarely do these places ever have unprocessed foods... I've also come to learn that its bad to wait until you're hungry to decide what you want to eat because often times, at least in my case, I will just eat the most convenient thing available which is usually something unhealthy. Eating healthy definitely takes a little extra effort but it is totally worth it.

Over the next two months I really have to crack down. I need to be more strict with my diet. No more Chinese take-outs. No more late night chocolate binges (they haven't been frequent occurrences but they have taken place and it has to stop) Like I said above, i'm not eating horribleeee, i'm eating pretty well to maintain a healthy diet. The problem is though that I need to be eating for weight loss, not maintenance. Over the next two months I need to be eating really, really, really, well. 

sooooo. I left my work clothes at home this morning ..... i live way far away so no time to go back to get them ... ashlee (the best personal trainer in the whole world) let me borrow some of her dress pants to wear and they actually fit!!!!! this is GREAT ! I have never been able to borrow peoples clothes before hahaha I know I have so much to update everyone on . I will get on this asap . have been so crazy busy .. have been working out a tonnnn <- good!

7 am workouts . mixed feelings . I wonder what time all the people LEAVING the gym right now had to wake up at ...

natural peanut butter is on sale at kroger ... 4 for $5 ... i just purchased a lifetime supply haha

I've been SLACKING. slacking, slacking, slacking. haven't worked out since Wednesday - consumed lots of green beverages and junk food. ommggggg.

IM STUCK

Even though I'm more focused on the way by body looks and my percent body fat versus the actual number on the scale, for the past few weeks my weight has been bouncing around the low 130's and its been driving me crazy. As you can see, my weight loss chart is just one big zigzag.

I just want to hurry up and break the 130 lb mark already. Come on 129. This morning the scale said 132; I don't care how long I have to spend on Precor's AMT, the treadmill or the elliptical, I am determined to get past the 130 mark by this time next week. I'm working out with Ashlee tonight so I'm going to make sure I work extra super hard to start the week off right.

i ate an ice cream this afternoon and its allllll i've been able to think about. sigghhhh. whyyy whhy whyyy did i eat it .......

I had a good day today! March has definitely been a good month so far; much better than last month for sure. I have a special little event taking place on the 30th and I have this little black dress that I am determined to look good in... Lets see what can be done in 19 days. 

*click the pic, it will get big*

This is straight from the myfitnesspal.com app that i've been using to keep track of my food. I'm sure its not 100 % accurate but its a good estimate. I also had some mixed vegetables with dinner which I forgot to add... Based on the above totals, I didn't eat enough carbohydrates today, goal is 300-400g. Fat was a little bit low too, goal of 50-60g. Too much protein today, goal is 46 - 50g. Cholesterol, sodium and fiber all good.

Exercise:

Also did some abs & butt and thigh exercisesss...

Post-Workout Snacks

okay so i'm no professional but from the internet browsing i've done i've learned that its pretty important to have a post-workout snack after a hard workout to replenish the body. It gives you energy and helps to repair / rebuild / rehydrate muscles ...

Some things that just about every website suggest ...

- snacks should have some carbs as well as protein

- snack should be consumed within 45 mins of working out

Snack Ideas:

- low fat yogurt with some fruit in (this is what I opted for today)
- almonds
- peanut butter and banana (my favorite)
- grilled chicken

There has to be some athletes reading this blog... suggestions ?

Just had a great workout ! Got an hour of cardio in :) Post workout snacks ?? Ideas anyone?

i guess skim milk isn't thaattt bad

training with ashlee! at 10pm at nite! oh yeah

Breakfast:

• 1 cup honey nut cheerios (haven't had them in agessss, had to do it this morning)
• 147 calories, high in carbs and sugar 
• 1/2 cup 2% milk
• 61 calories, should be drinking low / non fat (I went to Kroger the other night and got a half gallon of non fat milk out of the fridge... Somewhere between the fridges at Kroger and my house I lost the milk?? Its a mystery.)
• 16 ounces of water  
• cheerios = bad idea. did not fill me up at all. about an hour later I had a piece of whole wheat toast with natural* peanut butter.
• 1 slice Arnold whole wheat bread - 100 calories
• 1 tablespoon Krema natural peanut butter - 95 calories

*healthiest kind of peanut butter is the kind that's only made out of peanuts (who woulda thought that?). under the ingredients all it should say is peanuts. no added sugar, no hydrogenated oil (bad for you!)... it has a different consistency and isn't as sweet as like Jif peanut butter... I typically cut up a banana and put this on top, this naturally sweetens the whole thing and gets a serving of fruit in for the day...    

Lunch:

• 1 Thomas whole wheat english muffin
• 120 calories
• 1 Morning Star  veggie sausage patty (first time trying them... yummy!)
• 80 calories, high in niacin, thiamin, B6 & B12 (good). pretty high in sodium (not so good). 
• 3 tablespoons of Naturally Preferred organic egg whites - scrambled
• 25 calories - as i've seen Deena on Jersey Shore do - separate out the yolks - yolks = bad, bad, bad... very high in cholesterol!  
• 1/2 tablespoon Heinz Ketchup 
• 10 calories 
• 1/2 tablespoon real butter 
• bad. this was shaping up to be a healthy sandwich haha. i couldn't resist though. hate the taste of margarine, 50 calories 
• 1 clementine 
• 35 calories 
• 16 ounces water 

Dinner:


Snacks:

• 32 ounces of water
• 3 oz bag Kroger brand baby carrots
• 35 calories   

Exerciseee:

Success is not a race, be patient.
Success leads to success.
Success is always a work in progress.
Success doesn't come to you--you go to it.
Success is a journey, not a destination. 
Focus on the process.
Some people dream about success... 
while others wake up and work hard at it.
Success is achieved and maintained by those who try
-and keep trying.
Everyday is a good day to SUCCEED!
If at first you don't succeed-try, try again.

half naked bikini cellulite pics

butt = getting better

 

ew

mmm cellulite

thighs = gross

my good side haha

Okaaay so this is what my body looks like 2 months in. The 14 pounds I've lost have made a pretty big difference in my overall appearance. This is the first time in the year I've owned this bikini that the bottoms actually fit. Although I've still got a long way to go,  its definitely getting easier to look at myself in the mirror... Except at my thighs (particularly my left one which is worse than my right) they still gross me out...

So much to post and talk about! Heading to the gym for a quick work out now, work 11-4, then getting on here to blog my little heart out! Check back tonight / tomorrow !!

The greatest thing you have is the 24 hours in front of you. The past is gone; the future is distant. Today you CAN succeed. Set a goal you can achieve in the next 24 hours.

My goals for today:

1. have a GREAT workout
2. eat well & drink at least 70 ounces of water
3. update blog!!
4. post some new pics (aghh)

my favorite jeans don't fitttttt. i have no jeans to wearrrrrrr today agghhh. work pants to school? I don't think it's warm enough for shorts yet?

Mushroom & Spinach Stuffed Pork Chops

Those of you that have been following my blog are well aware that I've been slacking with my diet... It is time to start eating healthier again. Tonight, for the first time in over two months, I am cooking dinner for my family. I have decided on pork chops stuffed with mushrooms & spinach and roasted potatoes with tomatoes, basil and garlic. This meal is pretty well rounded, it has meat, carbs and vegetables... Traci what do you think? Suggestions?  

The website I found the pork chop recipe on is.....  It also talks a bit about why its healthy.... 

http://motherrimmy.com/stuff-it-mushroom-and-spinach-stuffed-pork-chops

Okay. I'm heading into the kitchen. Wish me luck. I will definitely let everyone know how it is! 

I've had a good day so far!

Breakfast:

• 1/2 cup 2% milk
• 1/2 cup 1% milk
• 1/3 packet quaker instant cinnamon and spice oatmeal
• 1 banana
• lots of water

Lunch:

• 1 slice white bread (should be wheat! need to go and buy some)
• 1/2 cup chicken salad
• salad
• half lettuce half spinach
• grape tomatoes 
• cucumbers 
• baby carrots 
• cauliflower
• 1 & 1/2 tablespoons ranch dressing 
• 1 orange
• 1 xxx vitamin water 

Dinner:

• see above :)

Snacks:

• strawberry nutrigrain bar
• veggie stix 
• Kellogg's peanut butter chocolate fiber bar 

Exercise:

• 1 hour of cardio 
• lots and lots of abs (i will be mad if im not sore tomorrow)
• squats
• lunges 
• couple other thingsss

its going to be a good month

Ashlee (my trainer) called me out on my diet during our session today... Although she put it nicely, basically what she told me was that my diet was horrible and that if I wanted the bikini bod I've been dreaming about then I need to make changes pronto. She is totally right and she told me exactly what I needed to hear (thank you Ashlee, you are the best). Overall today was a good start to a new month, I ate decent (still lots of room for improvement) and had a good workout... I want to do better this month than I did in January which means I need to step up my cardio to at least 5 times a week and I need to start cracking down on what I stuff my face with. I'm feeling optimistic about March, its going to be a month of good progress.

Breakfast:

• white bread with peanut butter 
• hot green tea 

Probably should have had a piece of fruit too...

Lunch:

• sourdough bread with chicken salad 
• strawberry yogurt 

Again should have had some fruit and / or veggiesss...

Dinner:

• zucchini stuffed with ground beef, carrots, corn & tomato

Snacks:

• strawberry nutrigrain bar 
• 1/2 cup of pasta salad 

My nutritionist would definitely point out my lack of fruit... and vegetables too I suppose... should have skipped the pasta salad and nutrigrain bar and gone for some vegetables (carrots / celery sticks) and/or fruit. Bread = not good. Should have been wheat!

Exercise:

• 50 mins of cardio 
• 45 minute training session with Ashlee (I only have two sessions left aaggghhhh) 

I've been avoiding updating my blog because of how bad I ate this past weekend.... I went on a road trip with my best friend............ I had a great cardio work out (I climbed a mountain!!) but I ate soooo much food. Like soooooooo much.

February was just not a good month for me. Not just health/fitness wise but with school and work too. Winter and I do not get along very well and so I am going to blame my blah mood and performance on the season. I am good at justifying haha 

March is going to be a better month though. I realize we aren’t even 24 hours in yet but so far so good. I ate really well today and am meeting up with Ashlee for a workout this evening…

ps. the scale said 131 today :)

Friday 25th

Breakfast:

• whole grain toast with peanut butter (if you can't tell, i really like this)
• clementine
• water

Lunch:

• home made pasta salad 
• veggie stix
• water

Dinner:

• 5 fish sticks 
• green beans 
• strawberries
• strawberry go-gurt 
• water

Snacks:

• 2 chocolate chip cookies (bad)
• nutrigrain bar 

Exercise:

• 25 minutes cardio 

I am going to have to have a really good workout tomorrow to make up for today... 

Thursday 24th

Breakfast:

• whole grain toast with peanut butter
• 1 banana (cut this up and put on the toast too) 
• 1/2 strawberry orange Fruit 2 Day... They're these smoothie drink things that I found at Kroger... they've got 2 servings of fruit in them and are pretty low in calories...
• water

Lunch:

• 5 chicken nuggets
• veggie stix chip things
• 1/2 cup 2% milk
• water

Dinner:

• 1 fish stick 
• 1 strawberry nutrigrain bar
• water

Exercise:

• 40 minutes cardio 
• squats 
• leg raises 
• push ups 
• arms 
• abs 
• a bunch of other thingssss

Wednesday 23rd

Breakfast:

• 1 slice whole grain toast with peanut butter
• 1/2 cup 2% milk (i should be drinking non fat) 
• water

Lunch:

• sandwich (whole grain bread) with ham and cucumber 
• apple
• orange juice 
• water

Dinner:

• 5 piece chicken nuggets from Wendy's
• sugar free red bull 
• cashews 
• water

Traci my dietitian would say I should be eating more vegetables and probably another fruit.  

Exercise:

• 65 minutes cardio
• lots of abs 
• lunges 
• push ups 
• more abs

Overall this was a pretty good day... 

this lady once asked me when my baby was due...... my baby bump is getting smaller!!

Pump It Up

 
OKAY so I totally forgot to upload this picture over the weekend.... When I am not at school or the pharmacy or working out I am "nannying." I look after two little boys and over the weekend we had birthday parties to go to. Saturday we went to Run Jump and Play and Sunday we went to Pump It Up. (Parents, Pump It Up is far superior and I highly recommend for birthday parties or even just a day out of the house with the kids) Anyway, you are probably wondering how the heck this relates to my blog.. I got SUCH a great cardio workout... Adults are totally allowed to run and jump around on these blow up things too... Twenty minutes of chasing after little kids and my legs were absolutely killing me. You have to work extra hard to run because the thing is so bouncy and its a great core workout too because you are constantly trying to keep your balance.... I think i'm gonna have my next bday party here.

on the elliptical browsing vicky secrets '11 bathing suit collection * motivation * 20 mins down, 40 to go . luckily for me theres lots of super cute bathing suits to look at . i predict a bikini buying problem in my near future .

i can't watch it

SOS

I’m calling out to my followers for some help. I need some more of the great advice you have been providing me with over the past month and a half. My problem isn’t that I’ve totally fallen off track but I have lost the intensity I began this journey with. It seems like the day I hit my one month mark I started to slack. I have been working out but for instance, instead of doing cardio for 30-60 minutes, 5-6 days of the week, I have only been doing 20-30 minute cardio workouts, only a couple of times a week… Also, as far as my eating goes, I’ve been a lot less strict about what / how much I eat and have even been eating things like cookies, which I didn’t have any desire for during my first month. I haven’t been keeping track of my daily nutrient/calorie intake which I said I was going to start doing again. It’s not like this is an extremely difficult thing for me to do as I have that app on my phone that I keep talking about. I need to start keeping track of my food again because it made me much more aware of exactly what I was eating and forced me to make better meal choices. When I don’t use my handy dandy app it is VERY easy for me to forget what I ate throughout the day and even easier for me to kind of pretend that I didn’t just eat something really bad. I haven’t been stuffing my face with junk food but I am definitely not on the same level of “good” eating that I was on last month.

I am really happy with the progress and changes I have made since the beginning of the year but I am nowhere near where I want to be yet. Slacking now is definitely not going to get me there! I’m hoping that writing this all down and addressing the problem at hand now will help me move forward with more intensity. I mean there really is nothing holding me back but myself. I think I need to take some time to look over my list of motivators, attempt to watch my bikini video, and really try to get focused on my goals again.

So here is my plan of action:

I just decided that I am going to post to my blog each day, everything I eat over the next 7 days.

I think it would be a good idea to do this for my workouts too. So for the next 7 days I will also post detailed info about my workouts.

I am going to watch my ENTIRE bikini video TONIGHT, when I get home from school.

I am going to start posting pictures of my bod at least once a week from now on so that I can be motivated by my embarrassment again. I guess six months from now it will be cool to look back and see the gradual changes in my body over time.

ANYWAYYY. I would really appreciate any suggestions  or comments or anythinggg; I really couldn’t be doing this without all of you!

Oh, and on a totally different note, I only have THREE more training sessions with Ashlee left and I am freaking out!! I don’t think I am ready to do this on my own yet!!   

its workout timeeeee

I'm craving pizzzaaaaa. Pizza. Pizza. Pizzzzaaaaa

oh and guess what ! the scale said 132 this morning!!! the bad food binge i went on over the weekend didn't do too much damage :) hope everyone has a great day!

im walking out of kroger with bananas and light multi-grain english muffins . this is a first .

I know I shouldn't be super worried about the number on the scale but I'm afraid to see what it is going to say tomorrow morning. I haven't weighed myself in nearly a week.......

Goooood morning!!

I had a GREAT workout with Ashlee this morning! I can safely say that I have NEVER, EVER, got up to work out so early in the morning before. I set my alarm for 4:45 and was actually out of bed by 5. It’s a miracle. I did cardio from 6:30-7:30 and then trained with Ashlee from 7:30-8:30. This morning was definitely some good motivation; I think I am back on track now. Thanks Ashlee!

Now that I am working out on a regular basis, I have started to really tell a difference in the way I feel on days that I do workout and days that I don’t. On days that I don’t work out (such as over this past weekend) I feel kind of blaaah, whereas when I do workout I definitely have a lot more energy, am more focused, and am much more productive.

Anyway… Just a quick update… Now I need to actually focus this energy on being productive and writing a 5 page paper.

I hope everyone has a good day/workout today!

PS. If I put some money towards it, can we get different/brighter lights in the girls locker room above the mirror with the hair dryers. The lighting is really not practical for applying makeup. No matter how careful I try to be, I always seem to walk out of the rec looking like an oompa loompa.  

Sunday Confessions.

So… I’m not an extremely religious person, nor do I typically confess on Sundays however, today I am making an exception… I have a confession to make to everyone. Actually I have several. I haven’t worked out since my training session with Ashlee Thursday morning…  Not only have I been flipping lazy, but I ate horrrribly this weekend. Yesterday I spent the whole day with my best friend and we ate sooo much food. I started the day off well, I had toast with peanut butter on, but the rest of the day just went downhill. I had a 5-piece chicken nugget from Wendy’s, with a baked potato (yep, with butter & sour cream) and a mandarin orange cup. Later on during the day I killed a plate of ribs, onion straws and garlic bread then downed it all with numerous, really bad for you, high calorie, beverages. To top last night off, I raided my little sisters chocolate stash while she was asleep and stole a 10oz bag of Cadbury mini eggs which I proceeded to do some serious work on too. Actually I’m munching on some right now as I type this blog…. Today I ate like three cookies worth of toll house cookie dough andddddddd for dinner I had fried rice, sesame chicken anddd moo goo gai pan from my neighborhood Chinese takeout. I’m disappointed in myself. smh