Hello ladies!
This week was pretty good for me. I worked out and ate mostly healthy foods...and lost a pound! Woot! That brings me down to 246.
I'm getting into that "coasting" phase...where this new lifestyle is no longer an exciting new adventure. I have to be careful this week to keep consciously thinking about what's going into my body and how I'm burning calories. I wouldn't say I'm in a rut, but the "newness" of it all is definitely wearing off.
This week I'm going to try really hard to think about if I'm REALLY hungry before I eat. I'm a classic "eat when I'm bored" type of person. I really need to find other, more productive ways of occupying my time.
I'm also interested in finding recipes designed for fewer than 4 people. If you know of any, please e-mail me or post a link. I'd really appreciate it.
I also have some pork chops in the freezer that need to be eaten soon. Anyone have a healthy recipe for them?
I just got a new (to me) crock pot today...so dinners this week will probably center around that. I'm ridiculously excited.
One last random note: Seventh Generation is going to be sponsoring my very first blog giveaway! As soon as I have my products to review (should be by the end of the week) I'll make a post and give you all more details about the giveaway. Keep an eye out here or on twitter for updates!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Mamavation Monday 5/24
Hello ladies!
This week was a struggle for me. I ate fast food twice and only worked out twice. I was pretty upset about this, but just couldn't seem to get motivated. However, now that I'm sitting down writing this, I realize 3 weeks ago I was working out ZERO times a week and eating fast food nearly every day. If a "bad" week is working out twice, and eating healthy every meal except two for the entire week...I'm ok with that for now. I know I need to do better this week, but I'm not going to be upset about it because I'm still doing better than I was. I'm trying to have a positive attitude!
Subway is this week's Mamavation sponsor. I absolutely LOVE Subway. When I don't feel like cooking or eating leftovers, I'm glad I have at least one quick and easy option. I love their turkey on wheat! Check out their healthy menu...they usually have a sticker posted inside with healthier sandwich options and nutritional facts listed for them. What other "fast food" (I don't really consider Subway fast food, because everything is made to order) chain has nutritional facts listed in plain view? I can't think of any!
Hope you all have a great week!
This week was a struggle for me. I ate fast food twice and only worked out twice. I was pretty upset about this, but just couldn't seem to get motivated. However, now that I'm sitting down writing this, I realize 3 weeks ago I was working out ZERO times a week and eating fast food nearly every day. If a "bad" week is working out twice, and eating healthy every meal except two for the entire week...I'm ok with that for now. I know I need to do better this week, but I'm not going to be upset about it because I'm still doing better than I was. I'm trying to have a positive attitude!
Subway is this week's Mamavation sponsor. I absolutely LOVE Subway. When I don't feel like cooking or eating leftovers, I'm glad I have at least one quick and easy option. I love their turkey on wheat! Check out their healthy menu...they usually have a sticker posted inside with healthier sandwich options and nutritional facts listed for them. What other "fast food" (I don't really consider Subway fast food, because everything is made to order) chain has nutritional facts listed in plain view? I can't think of any!
Hope you all have a great week!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Mamavation Monday
This week has been super fantabulous for me. I actually worked a normal 40 hour work week (instead of 50 or 55), and have had so much more energy. My diet has been great...I've cut out almost everything processed/sugary and have significantly increased the amount of fresh fruits and veggies I eat. And you know what? I don't miss any of those processed foods. Maybe I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but the food I'm eating now TASTES better and keeps me satisfied longer.
Jillian Michaels has also been kicking my ass this week...but by workout 3, I already noticed my endurance level going up. Yes, I still sweat profusely, and yes I still get tired during the work out, but I no longer have to stop for fear of passing out. And I know longer wake up with muscles so sore I can barely walk. My DVD player went bananas so there were a few days that I didn't do the work out. Old me wouldn't have done anything, and probably wouldn't have started the DVD again once the player started working. New me did reps of the strength exercises I remembered from the video and found a video on youtube courtesy of SparkPeople for a cardio work out. New me also fixed the DVD player so I COULD do the work out again. I'm to the point now where I feel bad/guilty for not working out.
When I weighed in this morning, the scale read 247 pounds. I stepped off and back on. 247 again. Repeat. 247 for a third time. That means I lost 9.2 lbs this week! YAY!!!! That's a pretty high number I did not expect AT ALL.
I'm sure a lot of it is my body going into shock with all these fresh foods that it can actually digest. And between all the water I've been drinking and fiber I've been eating, my bathroom and I have developed a very close bond.
I feel on top of the world right now, so this next week will be focusing on keeping up the healthy diet with new recipes, and not losing this "high" I'm on and thinking it's ok to slack off.
This week's Mamavation Monday sponsor is Open Sky and I honestly had no idea what it was until I went to their website. I found some great websites through them within the first 5 minutes, like this one.
Hope everyone has a great week!
Jillian Michaels has also been kicking my ass this week...but by workout 3, I already noticed my endurance level going up. Yes, I still sweat profusely, and yes I still get tired during the work out, but I no longer have to stop for fear of passing out. And I know longer wake up with muscles so sore I can barely walk. My DVD player went bananas so there were a few days that I didn't do the work out. Old me wouldn't have done anything, and probably wouldn't have started the DVD again once the player started working. New me did reps of the strength exercises I remembered from the video and found a video on youtube courtesy of SparkPeople for a cardio work out. New me also fixed the DVD player so I COULD do the work out again. I'm to the point now where I feel bad/guilty for not working out.
When I weighed in this morning, the scale read 247 pounds. I stepped off and back on. 247 again. Repeat. 247 for a third time. That means I lost 9.2 lbs this week! YAY!!!! That's a pretty high number I did not expect AT ALL.
I'm sure a lot of it is my body going into shock with all these fresh foods that it can actually digest. And between all the water I've been drinking and fiber I've been eating, my bathroom and I have developed a very close bond.
I feel on top of the world right now, so this next week will be focusing on keeping up the healthy diet with new recipes, and not losing this "high" I'm on and thinking it's ok to slack off.
This week's Mamavation Monday sponsor is Open Sky and I honestly had no idea what it was until I went to their website. I found some great websites through them within the first 5 minutes, like this one.
Hope everyone has a great week!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Is that farm you love really organic?
I hate to make this post, but I really feel like I need to.
That farm you love with all those healthy, home grown fruits and veggies may not be organic...even if they say they are.
The summer after my senior year in high school, I worked at an orchard that was only about 1/2 a mile away from my parent's house. They grew (and still grow, I'm sure) every fruit and vegetable you could imagine except for two: blueberries and tomatoes. Now, this orchard did in fact grow all of their own produce organically. The problem came from them buying blueberries and tomatoes at the farmer's market to re-sell at their own orchard. These two items were certainly NOT organic. I remember one time the tomatoes came in and they had some sort of powdery white substance on them - I don't even want to think about what exactly it was.
So ok, again this wouldn't be a problem, because not everyone buys only organic and at least the tomatoes and blueberries were locally grown. Yes, no problem at all...except there was.
The owner of this said farm specifically instructed all employees to NOT tell customers the tomatoes and blueberries weren't organic. We could tell them they were bought the same day at the farmer's market (they were), but we were to never mention they weren't organic. We were taught to cleverly word our answers. For example, if a customer asked "Is your produce organic?" we were supposed to answer "Everything grown at ----- Orchard is organic." Not a lie, but definitely not the truth.
The reason I'm posting this is because a lot of us are trying to eat more healthy, "eco-friendly" foods. If you shop at a local farmer's market, orchard, or farm I would be sure to ask SPECIFICALLY if their produce is organic, and if all the produce they sell was grown on their organic farm. I'm sure if this happened at the orchard I worked at, it happens lots of other places as well. I'd even go so far as to ask specific questions about their organic practices.
It's a shame we can't trust people with a simple little thing like asking if their farm is organic or not. For more information on organic farming principles, click here
That farm you love with all those healthy, home grown fruits and veggies may not be organic...even if they say they are.
The summer after my senior year in high school, I worked at an orchard that was only about 1/2 a mile away from my parent's house. They grew (and still grow, I'm sure) every fruit and vegetable you could imagine except for two: blueberries and tomatoes. Now, this orchard did in fact grow all of their own produce organically. The problem came from them buying blueberries and tomatoes at the farmer's market to re-sell at their own orchard. These two items were certainly NOT organic. I remember one time the tomatoes came in and they had some sort of powdery white substance on them - I don't even want to think about what exactly it was.
So ok, again this wouldn't be a problem, because not everyone buys only organic and at least the tomatoes and blueberries were locally grown. Yes, no problem at all...except there was.
The owner of this said farm specifically instructed all employees to NOT tell customers the tomatoes and blueberries weren't organic. We could tell them they were bought the same day at the farmer's market (they were), but we were to never mention they weren't organic. We were taught to cleverly word our answers. For example, if a customer asked "Is your produce organic?" we were supposed to answer "Everything grown at ----- Orchard is organic." Not a lie, but definitely not the truth.
The reason I'm posting this is because a lot of us are trying to eat more healthy, "eco-friendly" foods. If you shop at a local farmer's market, orchard, or farm I would be sure to ask SPECIFICALLY if their produce is organic, and if all the produce they sell was grown on their organic farm. I'm sure if this happened at the orchard I worked at, it happens lots of other places as well. I'd even go so far as to ask specific questions about their organic practices.
It's a shame we can't trust people with a simple little thing like asking if their farm is organic or not. For more information on organic farming principles, click here
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Mamavation Monday
This week was (and still is) really difficult for me. Not because I was struggling with food, or exercise, or smoking less, but because I've just felt down in the dumps. Work has totally been kicking my ass and has left little time for anything else. This has really started to effect my mood, but hopefully it will get better soon.
On a lighter note, I *think* I lost 1/2 a pound this week. I'm not sure...because my scale has gone insane and will vary my weight by several pounds if I step off the scale and immediately back on. I think it's time to invest in a new one. Also, I've cut down how much I smoke by about half, so that's good too.
Not much else to report on this week. Like I said, I've really just been feeling very BLAH
Hope you all have a great week!
On a lighter note, I *think* I lost 1/2 a pound this week. I'm not sure...because my scale has gone insane and will vary my weight by several pounds if I step off the scale and immediately back on. I think it's time to invest in a new one. Also, I've cut down how much I smoke by about half, so that's good too.
Not much else to report on this week. Like I said, I've really just been feeling very BLAH
Hope you all have a great week!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Meal Plan 5/8
Here's this week's (and my first) Meal Plan:
Saturday:
Butternut Squash Ravioli with green beans
Sunday:
Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
Tuscan Lemon Chicken with Brown Rice and sauteed zuchinni
Monday:
Taco Bake
Tuesday:
Italian Cream Cheese Chicken Casserole
Wednesday:
Left overs
Thursday:
Parmesan Fish
Friday:
Pork Chops
Saturday:
Butternut Squash Ravioli with green beans
Sunday:
Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
Tuscan Lemon Chicken with Brown Rice and sauteed zuchinni
Monday:
Taco Bake
Tuesday:
Italian Cream Cheese Chicken Casserole
Wednesday:
Left overs
Thursday:
Parmesan Fish
Friday:
Pork Chops
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Mamavation Monday
This is my second ever Mamavation Monday post, but really marks the end of my first week of trying to change my overall lifestyle.
I feel like I've learned SO MUCH this week! On Wednesday, Leah (@bookieboo) officially welcomed me to the Mamavation Sistahood! YAY! The support I've received so far from everyone is amazing...it's really made this so much easier for me so far.
So since my overall goal is to lose weight (I don't have a specific target in mind, I just want to be happy with myself) and be healthier I've decided to post my official start weight: 256.8 lbs
Ugh, is it just more or does that number look way worse when typed out in a blog for all to see? Yikes!
This week my main focus has been quitting smoking and getting into the routine of working out. Although I have significantly cut back how many cigarettes I smoke a day, I haven't quit completely - this is definitely something I'll be working on for a while. I haven't been focusing on food as much because I don't want to deprive myself of food and stop smoking at the exact same time. I need a few weeks to adjust to not smoking, otherwise I feel like I'll be setting myself up for failure. However, I have been eating out MUCH less and cooking semi-healthy things at home instead (BBQ skinless chicken breast cooked on a George Foreman grill is one of my favorite quick and simple meals after work).
I started walking/running around a park close to my house when it hasn't been raining (which unfortunately hasn't been often this week) and doing P90X and Pilates videos. Wow have I been sore! I've been trying to power through muscle aches and keep on exercising...if I do it enough that soreness will go away! Also, I ordered Jillian Micharls 30 Day Shred video from Amazon.com and I can't wait for it to come in. I've heard great things about it!
As part of my new lifestyle change, my mother suggested I make a "Wish/Rewards List" of things I'd like to have that will help me on the journey. Here's what I've got so far:
-A treadmill, so I can walk and run on even the rainiest/coldest/hottest/most humid of days! (The cost of this item makes it a reward for when I reach a BIG milestone. Or for my birthday, right Mom?)
-A heart rate monitor. I feel like I've always had a really fast rate and should probably keep an eye on that.
-Wii Fit Plus and EA Sports Active for my wii. Right now I'm doing boxing on wii sports as an extra fun workout.
-Yoga DVDs or set of classes. 10 years of ballet training when I was younger has made me really flexible, and yoga helps me stretch and relax, since "normal" stretches don't do much for me.
-An aluminum water bottle
-A pair of Earth Footwear shoes. I really like the sly blue Exer-Fits! Anyone who lives in the Central Kentucky area, we can find them at Zumfit in Hamburg Pavillion and The Walking Place on Nicholasville Road.
I know, I know...not too much to ask for right? This is just a list of things for me to keep in mind as I'm working towards my goals.
I hope everyone has a fabulous week full of successes!
I feel like I've learned SO MUCH this week! On Wednesday, Leah (@bookieboo) officially welcomed me to the Mamavation Sistahood! YAY! The support I've received so far from everyone is amazing...it's really made this so much easier for me so far.
So since my overall goal is to lose weight (I don't have a specific target in mind, I just want to be happy with myself) and be healthier I've decided to post my official start weight: 256.8 lbs
Ugh, is it just more or does that number look way worse when typed out in a blog for all to see? Yikes!
This week my main focus has been quitting smoking and getting into the routine of working out. Although I have significantly cut back how many cigarettes I smoke a day, I haven't quit completely - this is definitely something I'll be working on for a while. I haven't been focusing on food as much because I don't want to deprive myself of food and stop smoking at the exact same time. I need a few weeks to adjust to not smoking, otherwise I feel like I'll be setting myself up for failure. However, I have been eating out MUCH less and cooking semi-healthy things at home instead (BBQ skinless chicken breast cooked on a George Foreman grill is one of my favorite quick and simple meals after work).
I started walking/running around a park close to my house when it hasn't been raining (which unfortunately hasn't been often this week) and doing P90X and Pilates videos. Wow have I been sore! I've been trying to power through muscle aches and keep on exercising...if I do it enough that soreness will go away! Also, I ordered Jillian Micharls 30 Day Shred video from Amazon.com and I can't wait for it to come in. I've heard great things about it!
As part of my new lifestyle change, my mother suggested I make a "Wish/Rewards List" of things I'd like to have that will help me on the journey. Here's what I've got so far:
-A treadmill, so I can walk and run on even the rainiest/coldest/hottest/most humid of days! (The cost of this item makes it a reward for when I reach a BIG milestone. Or for my birthday, right Mom?)
-A heart rate monitor. I feel like I've always had a really fast rate and should probably keep an eye on that.
-Wii Fit Plus and EA Sports Active for my wii. Right now I'm doing boxing on wii sports as an extra fun workout.
-Yoga DVDs or set of classes. 10 years of ballet training when I was younger has made me really flexible, and yoga helps me stretch and relax, since "normal" stretches don't do much for me.
-An aluminum water bottle
-A pair of Earth Footwear shoes. I really like the sly blue Exer-Fits! Anyone who lives in the Central Kentucky area, we can find them at Zumfit in Hamburg Pavillion and The Walking Place on Nicholasville Road.
I know, I know...not too much to ask for right? This is just a list of things for me to keep in mind as I'm working towards my goals.
I hope everyone has a fabulous week full of successes!
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