Did you miss me?

Ha!  Well, I have a good reason for this break...I am pregnant!  We are expecting our third little one in May of next year.  I came down with an infection and the doctor told me to stay horizontal for a few days.  So, yesterday, I got to exercising again.  But, you know, it is funny how I have absolutely no desire to exercise.  Although, I know I must.  It really helped me feel better the rest of the day yesterday.  Of course, I know I must take it easier than I was previously.  I have done my share of reading up on exercise during pregnancy!
Another reason that I'm starting to not desire exercise is a bit of morning/afternoon/evening sickness.  I just found this article on natural remedies for "morning" sickness...

Click here to read more!

I'm going to go make myself some tea!

AP Days 17-19: Took a break

I didn't get nearly enough sleep this weekend. Friday night, our baby girl was miserable and crying of and on throughout the night, so needless to say, I didn't hear my alarm to get up to exercise. I also took my regular rest day on Sunday, so I had a nice break. I woke up bright and early this morning. Okay, maybe not so bright. To tell you the truth, my eyes are stinging and I feel as though I'm going to hurl. But, I know, once I start working out, that will all go away. I need to press on. I need to pray for the strength to press on. Now down to business! On the plus side, I got down to 144.8! Woooohooo!

Accountability Post Day 16

I'm starting to get tired of the name of this post. BOR-ING! How about "AP Day 16: Title goes here." Yes. I like that better. I will use that format tomorrow. :) Well, as far as the workout goes, I am really enjoying the cardio. I'm doing interval training with short bursts of kick-my-backside levels of energy used. 45 second "level-7-can't-finish-sentences" intervals with 90 second "Phew!- I'm-still-alive-and-going!-Can't-wait-for-the-next-45-second-interval!" intervals. This workout is really invigorating. I have never sweat so much and you can use it will any form of cardio exercise. I am using it on the elliptical and I am no longer bored with my work-out!

Accountability Post Day 15

145.4! Sweet! Gotta run! Literally...

Accountability Post Day 14

Going Down. S-L-O-W-L-Y. 146.0...it was stuck in between 146.4 and 147.4 for a loooong time. That's all for now!

Accountability Post Day 13

Photo Credit

I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm going to mention it again...water is so important. Our bodies need a lot of it, especially if you work out and live in a dry climate. I need more than 100 ounces a day, and sometimes I just don't drink THAT much water. The last few days, though, I have been chugging it down. There is such a difference in the way I feel throughout the day, especially in the later afternoon. I don't feel the need to snack. I also don't feel the lack of energy---the afternoon slump----that I usually do. If you would like to calculate the amount of water you should be drinking, click here to go to the hydration calculator.

Accountability Post: Days 11 and 12

I took a day of "rest" as indicated by the workout in the Fitness Magazine, so I didn't get up really early and I didn't post!

This week I hope to loose at least one pound. I mean, come on...I'm doing everything I could to loose! I don't have much time to post because I need to get my workout in before the kids wake up!

Accountability Post: Day 10

The scale still isn't budging. You may be saying, "Well, its only been 10 days!" But, that isn't true. I've been doing almost everything you can to loose weight for well over a month now. I suppose my exercise is more consistent now and my calories are being counted more often. I've gone organic with a lot of fruits and veggies and most meat, and all dairy. I drink the water I should on most days. I don't eat processed foods. I choose healthy food and healthy portions. So, here's the deal: If I am doing everything I can to loose weight and the scale still won't budge, all I can do is keep on doing what I'm doing, with the hopes that this weight loss will kick in soon!

Accountability Post: Day 9

I went to bed earlier last night, so I'm hoping that makes a difference in the way I feel this evening. The last few days, I have felt I needed to go to bed around 8pm, but couldn't due to parental responsibilities. :) Troy put Jackson to bed last night, so I was able to get in bed around 9pm. Thanks, Troy! Now I am up and at 'em!

Accountability Post: Day 8

I AM SO TIRED. 5am is early. I need more sleep. I'm trying to fight off these thoughts as I head off to exercise. They aren't just thoughts, though. I AM TIRED. I DO need more sleep. I usually get less than 7 hours a night and its starting to wear me down. During the week, I get up at five, so that means I need to head to be around 9pm. That rarely happens when putting Jackson to bed! I need to start doing that earlier. I know lack of sleep could relate to lack of weight loss.

Accountability Post: Day 7

Alright. The scale budged. It budged back to 146.4. Now, I know it doesn't always matter what the scale says, but in the case I know the number on the scale does effect the way I fit into my clothes and so on. I was prepared to be bummed out again in regards to seeing upwards of 147. So, I was pleasantly surprised. I can actually see my abs getting flatter now. I'm actually on my 3rd week of a specific ab workout from my Weight Watchers Magazine. Its good to see results, I suppose, even if those results aren't really showing much on the scale!

Accountability Post: Day 6

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Sigh. I may feel thinner sometimes, but the scale sure isn't showing it. In fact, it seems that it went up a bit and has been stuck there for a week. It has been stuck between 147.2-147.4 and I can't get it to budge. I am praying the Lord gives me patience and perseverance. I can't do this without His strength. I need it to keep getting up before the sun does so I can have time to work out. The verse in Hebrews reminds me of that. I thank the Lord that he cares even about these small desires of mine. That is amazing. The great God of the entire universe cares about that.

Accountability Post: Day 5

Today I am on my fourth day of the workout program I started last week. This program claims I will have flatter abs in four weeks. I don't know if its just me, but when I work out, I FEEL thinner---I FEEL my abs are flatter and my legs are thinner. I hold my stomach muscles in more automatically. I am more aware of my core muscles. A lot of being thin is feeling thin, I suppose. Although, I don't feel too thin when I'm trying to fit in a smaller size pair of jeans and still don't fit...

Accountability Post: Day 4

I started a new workout program this week from Fitness Magazine's September issue. It claims you can "reach any goal" with the workouts and the eating plan. I haven't done the eating plan yet, and probably won't since its made up of stuff my kids won't or can't eat. The gist of it is 1500 calories a day, 300 of those made up of two 150 calorie snacks, and meals are 300, 400, and 500 calories. So, I figure if I am eating healthy foods at healthy portion sizes, I will be good to go. Also, I need to remember and make time to snack. Planning ahead is key. My favorite snack right now is Trader Joe's Lowfat Plain Yogurt slightly sweetened with a teaspoon of Truvia and a 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla, and topped with Trader Joe's frozen organic wild blueberries. Mmmm. Oh, and also a hot cup of PG Tips tea with a wee bit of lowfat milk (yes, you guessed it...the organic kind!) and a teaspoon of Truvia. Speaking of Truvia, have you tried it? Its really great stuff. It claims to be natural. No calories. And, to Troy and I, it tastes more like sugar than the rest of the sweeteners out there.

Accountability Post: Day 3

Okay. No more Stromboli. I found out last night that Stromboli is the only food that I can't say no to, and I kept going back for seconds...ahem...and thirds. I don't do that with pizza, but for some reason, the way the cheese melts so neatly with the dough and toppings, I can't resist it! If it makes a difference, I also had three helpings of a salad. I think I thought that would even things out. Again, I need to write everything down that I eat. I seriously forgot about doing that after blogging about it yesterday. I suppose I should write it down... :)

"Wait! Do-Over!" Accountability Post: Day 2

Okay. This is really sad. I forgot all about the accountability posts for a week now. I know. Pathetic! I have exercised this week, though, and I am up early this morning to do just that. I don't want to waist too much time on blogging this morning because I have a 1 year old who will no doubt be up in an hour or less and a 2 year old who will follow shortly after. I still haven't lost any weight, which is frustrating. I am going to start writing down everything I eat will the hopes that doing that will give me a jumpstart in my "diet." Speaking of "diet," I'm heading to the farmer's market this morning to pick up some fresh, mostly organic produce. YUM. Trying to eat more of that! Okay...I'm off to read some scripture, then off to exercise!

30 Days of Accountability: Day 1

Coming back from vacationing and constantly being busy this summer, I gained 3 lbs. That doesn't sound like much, and, I know it all reality, it isn't. However, I didn't want to gain anything...I wanted to LOOSE more! I noticed back in May when I did the Mastering My Metabolism posts, it was a good thing for me to be held accountable to posting. It kept me in check. That is what this blog is really for. So, this starts 30 days of posts. Some may be just rambling about my struggles, and some may be informational, and some, I hope, may be sharing my accomplishments.
My current goal is to get to 130 pounds so I can get pregnant again at a healthier weight. It sounds weird, but I'd like to gain more in my pregnancy than last time. I only gained 19 lbs, and I read that the little weight gain could have contributed to the HEELP syndrome I came down with (NOT FUN!). So, here's to another goal! I'm at 146 right now, so, 30 days from now (September 24th) I hope to 136 lbs. I know that will be a lot of work , so I better get moving!

I DID IT!!!

A few weeks ago, I decided to try on my wedding dress. I was very surprised at how easily the button snapped! Of course I am not as tanned or toned as I was on my wedding day, BUT I DID IT! I'm very pleased to have met that goal. Now, to get to 125 by the end of the summer is my next goal. My husband, Troy, was very kind to help me in and out of the dress (it is heavy!!!) and take a few pictures of me...

My Weakness...

is the Lemon Cooler Cake from Costco. I just threw the leftovers in the trash after enjoying my last piece. Just to name a few others----namely dark chocolate, Jelly Bellies, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and blueberry muffins. Oh. And black licorice. I've had WAAAAY too much of this stuff lately and, as a result, haven't lost any more weight. What is your weakness? Do you have a soft side for the sweet and tart lemon cake too? I mean, how DO they make it taste so good?

Give Beef a Chance

We were at Sprouts the other day and found grass fed beef rib-eye steaks on sale for $4.99 a pound, down from 14.99 a pound, so we decided to give it another change. I marinated it in the fridge for hours and put a dry rub on one steak and let that sit for hours, then we BBQed them to Medium Rare and Medium. They were delicious and tender. So, that is the way we are going to eat the grass-fed from now on. I'm glad we gave beef a chance.

WOW---WATER!

I just discovered a "hydration calculator" where you can calculate how much water you should consume. I've heard all different numbers...8-10 cups a day being the most common. However, what if I exercise, I breastfeed, it's a hot day, etc? I used the calculator to figure out how many glasses I should be gulping and here is what I found:

A person who is 145 pounds
and is exercising for 30 minutes ,
is not pregnant,
is breastfeeding,
does not live at a high altitude,
lives in a dry climate,
drinks 0 alcoholic drink(s),
when the weather is very hot or very cold,
and is not sick with fever or diarrhea should have:

123.5 ounces of water today, or 3.7 liters.

If you eat a healthy diet, about 20 percent of your water may come from the foods you eat. If you eat a healthy diet you can drink 98.8 ounces of water today, or 3 liters.

GASP!!! I should be drinking nearly 100 ounces of water daily! Of course, this is calculated for the hot, dry summer weather we have. No wonder I always seem thirsty! I will definitely make an effort to gradually add a glass of water or two to my daily intake until I get to 98 ounces. Sadly, there are some days that I don't even drink 50 ounces.

To find out how much water you should be consuming, CLICK HERE!

Great Article!

My awesome husband just sent me a wonderful article that breaks down what produce you need to buy organic and what produce is "clean" enough to not worry about. Here is the link:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/01/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide/index.html?hpt=C2

40 lbs LOST!

Before (185-ish) and Right Now (145lbs)
~40 lbs lost~

I remember the first time I weighed myself after Jackson was born. I waited several weeks to weigh myself after giving birth out of the fear of the number on the scale. When I finally got the guts to weigh myself, I discovered I was 185 lbs. I was devastated. The last time I weighed in before giving birth to Jackson---the day before he was born---I weighed in at 206 lbs. I gained 63 lbs during the pregnancy. From that first number on the scale several weeks after the birth of my fist child, and after another pregnancy and the birth of my second child, I have now lost a total of 40 pounds! I suppose I'll keep on going... :)

Mastering My Metabolism: Day 14

Technically Sunday was day 14, the last day of the "trial" eating plan, so I will sum it up today. I weighed in at 145.6, so that is nearly 3 lbs lost in two weeks. I would say that is decent. As I said, I also am getting better sleep each night. Troy has lost 4 lbs as well. So, WHY NOT keep eating this way? I love all the cooking it involves because I love cooking with fresh ingredients. I can't stand the dishes, though. I'll have to work on that! So, at 145 lbs, this leaves me only 2 lbs from the weight I was before I got pregnant with Jackson, and only 10-12 lbs from where I was when I got married, hence when I fit into my wedding dress. I really hope to fit into it by this time next month, but I do realize there is a possibility that I will only loose a pound a week. The dress may be a bit tight. Never the less, I would say I've come a far way! I won't be too dissapointed if the dress is a bit snug or doesn't fit. I know I can still keep loosing weight after our 5th anniversary. Anyways, here's to almost 5 years of marriage! :)

Mastering My Metabolism: Day 13

I'm down to 146.4, which is only 3 lbs from my pre-pre pregnancy weight! :) Troy lost two more pounds, for a total of 4 lost since we started this eating plan last Monday. I'm happy for him. I just keep in mind I probably will loose weight at 1/2 the rate he does, so its somewhat motivating somehow!

Mastering My Metabolism: Day 8-12

Me on our honeymoon...not in the bathing suit/bikini because I figure its not good to post that sort of thing on the internet!

I've had a busy week, so exercise ha been more difficult to fit in. However, I have good news! I fit into the bathing suit that I wore on honeymoon! Of course, it doesn't look as good on me now as it did the, but I would say that this is definitely progress! Woohoo!

Mastering My Metabolism: Day 7

I did it. I went one week with a bunch of changes to my diet and environment. The only thing that I can see made a significant difference was not eating carbs after nine so my body could get into the deep sleep cycle. Before I started doing that, I could barely pull myself out of bed in the morning, and now, I have been able to get up every morning between 6 and 6:30 to workout without too much of a problem. I don't feel nearly as tired in the morning! We will see what results the next week will bring.

Mastering My Metabolism: Day 6

This morning Troy weighed himself. He lost two pounds. Don't get me wrong...I am VERY happy for him! However, this situation reminded me of the SlimQuick commercial when the wife does a bunch of stuff to loose weight, but the husband looses the weight instead. I did loose 1 lb this week, but in order to do that, I have worked out hard everyday this week, and miticuously watched what I ate. Troy, on the other hand, went jogging twice this week and wasn't as miticulous about what he ate. He basically ate what I made for him, and snacked more than I did. I even gave him bigger portions than myself. I guess that is the difference between men and women (or at least one of them!). I suppose I will turn his easy weight-loss into motivation for myself---somehow! :)

Mastering My Metabolism: Day 5

(photo source: http://www.ranchogordo.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/red-quinoa.jpg)

I must admit that I am enjoying the some of the recipes from Jillian's book, as well as some that I have found online. One new food that I tried this week (today, actually) is Quinoa (pronouced KEEN-WA) was pretty good. I think the texture takes a little getting used to, but I enjoyed the barley-like nutty flavor it had. I used the recipe below to make a really tasty lunch. Quinoa is packed with protien, fiber, potassium, and has so many healthy qualities to it. We will be adding this to our regular menu.

Quinoa with Peppers, Onions, and Sausage (Source: http://WAHM.com, but I changed it a bit.)

Quinoa with Peppers, Onions, and Sausage is a protein-packed, healthy, and delicious meal! Very easy to make and full of flavor.

Ingredients

1 medium onion diced

4 cups chicken stock or broth

3 cups quinoa (organic if possible)

2 tablespoons olive oil

6 garlic cloves peeled and minced

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3 bell peppers, red, green, and yellow, seeded and diced

4 lrg Chicken Sausage Links (or other low-fat sausage, preferably nitrate-free)

Preparation

Step 1- Preheat grill or broiler.

Step 2- Make the quinoa by combining it with chicken stock in a medium sauce pot. Bring to boil, then reduce to simmer until no longer crunchy and all liquid has evaporated, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 3- Heat olive oil in a large sauce pot over medium heat. Add onions and peppers and saute 5 to 7 minutes or until begin to peppers soften, stirring often. Add garlic and cook an additional minute or two, stirring, then add paprika and cumin and cook 1 minute. Add salt and pepper as needed.

Step 4- Meanwhile, grill the sausage links about 8 to 10 minutes over a moderately-hot fire or broiler, turning often until cooked through to the center. Slice sausage. Add pepper and onion mixture to quinoa and top with sausage.

Yield: 6 servings

Mastering My Metabolism: Day 4

(photo credit: http://digitallydelicious.files.wordpress.com)

Wow. I really do not like the taste of grass-fed beef. Neither does Troy and Jackson. We had some meatloaf from Henry's last night made from organic grass-fed beef. Yuck. I had to drown it in BBQ sauce for it to taste good. I guess that defeated the purpose of eating a healthy dinner. Hmmm. I guess we will have to re-think that. Also, organic chicken breasts are stinking expensive!!! Who has the $$$ to pay $6.99-8.99 a pound for chicken??? On the plus side, we are probably going to find ourselves eating more of a variety of meat, seeing as I can get organic pork tenderloin for slightly cheaper, and turkey bacon for a decent price as well. We are going to eat more vegetarians meals, too---mainly because it is cheaper. I made slit pea lentil soup, veggies and all, for under $2.50 and that made enough for us to eat two dinners and for Madelyn to have 16 baby-sized meals. Maybe that will make up for the price of the chicken. Maybe.

Mastering My Metabolism: Day 3

Here are some things I've done this week to give my metabolism a jump start (as suggested by Jillian Michaels):

• Eat every four hours.
• Don't eat carbs after 9 (it raises your insulin levels, so your body can't get into a deep sleep when it needs to, thus slowing your metabolism because you aren't getting good sleep).
• Eat more organic foods.
• Drink more water, adding to the 8 glasses a day, 1 glass per caffeinated beverage consumed.
• Get moving daily, starting with 5 hours of strengthening/stretching exercises.
• Eliminate High-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and BHA or BHT from diet.
  

Most of these things I already knew I should do. It's always good to get a reminder, though!

Mastering My Metabolism: Day 2

After only one day of this "lifestyle change," I went down to 147.2 on the scale after being stuck between 148.6 and 149.6 for a few months. Sweet. It may be just water weight, but its a start. I worked out yesterday and today. It feels good.

Mastering My Metabolism: Day 1

Okay. I've tried a lot of different ways to jump start my metabolism. Sadly, my metabolism still seems slightly faster than a snail. I'm still stuck at 148. Seriously, folks, I know I could get into my wedding dress 15 lbs from now. FIFTH-TEEN POUNDS!!! That isn't much! I don't really have much time until my 5th wedding anniversary, either...only 46 days (or slightly over 6 weeks). So, 15 lbs is a lot of loose in 6 weeks, but, who knows? I lost 10 in 4 without trying very hard at the beginning of this stretch of the weight-loss journey. Go figure.

Thankfully, my mother-in-law was so kind to purchase a book for me called Mastering Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels. In the book, she explains how eliminating all the artifical junk and chemicals we put into our bodies or on or bodies or around our bodies can interfere with our hormones, and thus, interfere with our weight-loss. Hmmm. Interesting. It sounds like it makes sense, although, some of the changes can be very drastic. I'm going to feel out the priorities in among the changes she recommends, mainly because going organic is SO EXSPENSIVE. (Example: Regular GALLON of Milk costs 2.49 on average. Oragnic HALF GALLON of milk cost 3.29) EEEEEKKKK! Jillian Michaels feels very strongly about getting dairy, meats, and berries organic and everything else, get organic as much as possible. So, that is I am doing. She has a two-week eating plan in the back of her book that Troy and I are going to feel-out. If the pounds start dropping off, it could be that I am ingesting too many chemicals and all that. It is kind of scary how much of that is in our food, make-up, body products, cleaning products, and environment. I just don't want to be paranoid. One thing Michaels also says is to be active every day. Every day. I'm just going to make exercise a habit instead viewing it as a chore. She recommends 5 hours of circuit/strength training a week, and then adding cardio to that. We shall see! Here's to loosing that last 15 (ish) pounds!

1 lb!

That is what I have lost since I last posted. I'm trying not to get discouraged, but my anniversary is drawing near! I'm at 148.2. I would love to see those numbers start to drop!

Still STUCK

After almost two months of being stuck at the same weight, I figure I need to step it up a bit. It is SO hard to be consistent with things like exercise and cooking healthy meals if you have two kids who are so inconsistent! Sometimes they will sleep through the night. Sometimes. Most of the time, one of them, or both of them take turns waking up. Or, they will wake up early in the morning if I get up early...no matter how quiet I am. I was at church yesterday and a fellow new mom was asking how I get to exercise with a baby. Exercising at home is a ideal, if your kids let you. I have all the equipment I need to get the job done, except for the time. I told this new mom that each day, I get up and look at my day and try to schedule exercise for that day, depending on when my kids wake up, their dispositions. I try to have a happy baby (fed, napped, diaper changed), before I exercise. Jackson, my toddler, can usually watch TV while I exercise in the same room. I am always thinking on how I can make this work even though my life is so chaotic right now. It is a season. But, you can always make the best of the season. It hasn't been easy, but I'm going to try to be more consistent with exercise. Instead of 2-3 times a week, 4 to 5 times a week is my goal. It is getting warmer, so I plan to walk (armed with pepper spray, of course!). I just got a new workout DVD in the mail for toning exercises, so I plan to do that. We shall see it that breaks this plateau I have been stuck on for a while!

March Madness

For whatever reason, I gained 2 lbs this month. I know weight fluctuates, but after hitting the ten pound mark, that isn't something that I want to see. But, I will say, I lost those two pounds and I am back down to 149.4. It looks like I still owe myself a pedicure (anyone want to join me?), and I still need to post some pictures of my ten pounds lost. So, that is where I've been all month...mostly being mad at the scale for not showing me the numbers I worked so hard for! I took the "after" photos today, so I promise to get those photos up ASAP!

Favorite Fit Foods: Oranges

I absolutely love this time of year, especially in Riverside. You see, Riverside has the sweetest, juiciest navel oranges. They are the best when they have been picked right off the tree, which is why we have enjoyed being a short walk away from a grower/fruit stand. Not only can you get really sweet, juicy oranges this time of year, but you can also get a hint of the crisp, fragrant scent of the orange blossoms in the air.

I just read this week that citrus fruits, like oranges (or grapefruit, tangerines, ect.), contain more than 170 phytochemicals, more than 60 flavonoids---many of which have strong anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities to them. The great thing about this is you may get the benefits of this delicious fruit as soon as it touches your mouth. The chance of getting throat, mouth, and stomach cancers may be reduced by a whopping 50 percent! Even one extra orange a day, beyond the 5-servings of fruit/veggies you would normally eat, could have a good amount of benefits. Juice also counts, of course, although, the fresher and more pulp it has, the better. Now, do you really need any other excuses to eat this amazing fruit?

(Information from article by Jennifer Nelson, SHAPE, June 2004)

Favorite Fit Foods Friday: Flaxseed

photo credit: http://www.vanillajoy.com/more-about-flax-seed.html

One of my favorite fit foods is called Flaxseed. Have you heard of it? The first time I heard of it was back in 2004 when I was taking a nutrition class in college. My instructor had the most amazing muscles I had ever seen on a woman who wasn't taking steroids. I admit, I would sit in class and watch the movement of her biceps. I know. That sounds weird. But this certain individual (whose name escapes me) inspired me to eat fit and KNOW what is in the food I am eating! She also led me to believe that it is OKAY for women to have killer muscles (I'm talking long and lean---you could actually see them working---not big and bulky---NOT like the body builders), but that is another subject for another post.

ANYWAY, back to Flax. Flax is fabulous. Seriously. "Why?" Well...I thought you would never ask! Here are some FLAX FACTS that you may find interesting:

• Flax seed is full of good fat. That's right...GOOD FAT! Pictured below is a breakdown...Notice that more than 1/2 of the fat in Flaxseed oil is Polyunsaturated fatty acids AKA Omega-3's.

(source: www.flaxhealth.com)

• Flaxseed can help you be....ahem...regular. This, I have to admit is my favorite thing about it because it REALLY works! The "oily" nature of the Flaxseed (all those good fats) and the fact that it has 4g of fiber per 2 Tbsp of Flaxseed (Meal) is how that all works!
• Flaxseed is high in protein as well. It offers a whopping 3g of protein per 2 Tbsp. This may not seem like much, but when you are adding it to other foods, its a great benefit.
• You can add Flaxseed to just about anything, in the form of meal. Some ideas are adding a tablespoon or two to yogurt, shakes, granola/cereal/oatmeal. It has almost no taste, so the it mixes well! You can also use Flaxseed meal in baking. To substitute an egg for Flaxseed meal, just mix 1 Tbsp of the Flaxseed meal with 3 Tbsp of water and let it sit for two minutes. Then, simply add it to the recipe like you would an egg.
• You can get Flaxseed meal at any grocery store. You can usually find it near the health food or the organic food. The brand I can always find is "Bob's Red Mill."
• For those of you who have sensitivity with gluten, you will be glad to know that Flaxseed is gluten-free!
• You can get Flax in many forms, including supplement pills.

So, after reading all these great things about Flax, I am sure you are ready to swallow a spoonful, right? :) I wouldn't blame you! (But, it probably would be best IN something!)

Hello, 140's!!!!

After 3 years and two pregnancies, I am seeing the 140-somethings on the scale again. I can not tell you how happy this makes me feel! I weighed-in this morning at 149.8. Seriously amazing. I can actually see my ab muscles forming under what was formally the texture of cookie dough---any woman who has had a baby or two knows exactly what I am talking about! I'm going to attribute this to eating healthy, of course, but also a new work-out program I started. It is basically cardio + toning through interval training. I started it just three weeks ago, but I am very pleased with the results already! I also am so thankful that God has given me strength and perseverance to do what I need to do to loose weight. What a way to start a weekend! :)

Yesterday and the Day Before

Yesterday, I weighed in at 152.4 lbs. That is slightly over 7 pounds lost in about 5 weeks. And, as my husband said last night, I am doing it the old-fashioned way. No dieting. That's right. I'm not dieting. I'm just eating at healthy as I possibly can manage on a regular basis. I'm making the healthy decisions like not eating out and never cooking unhealthy. Just a side note, I LOVE home-cooked healthy food way, way, way better than any fat-filled, sodium-stuffed food from any restaurant! Oh yes, and one more secret to this newly-found success...I still eat chocolate everyday. I only allow myself I peice of dark chocolate and that satisfies me. To balance the eating out, I also am exercising. So, I am loosing weight by eating healthy and exercising. And its working. The last time I lost weight this way, I lost 60 lbs and I kept it off (give and taken a few pounds) for 3 years, until I got pregnant with my first baby.

The day before yesterday, I walked into Chipotle*, and a fellow twenty-somethingish girl asked me, "How old is your baby?" I replied, "5 months. Almost 6." To my surprise, she replied back, "Your TINY!" Oh! That is exactly what I need to hear! Ten months after having my first baby, someone asked me if I was pregnant, so I would say that this is progress! So, whoever you are, fellow twenty-somethingish girl: THANK YOU! You can run into me anytime and tell me that!

*(which I haven't had in over a month, and I only ate 1/2 of!)

Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon (WW Version)

Upon receiving a Weight Watchers magazine in the mail this week, I was thrilled to find a Weight Watchers version of Boeuf Bourguignon. It is Julia Child's recipe, with a healthier twist. The original is 17 points, and the WW version is 8. For those of you who aren't familiar with WW speak, 17 points is quite a bit! I have wanted to make this since Troy and I saw the movie Julie & Julia because it looked mouth-watering in the movie!

So, this week, I attempted to make it and succeeded! It wasn't a difficult recipe and I got the roast I used in it for $1.99 a lb! Score! For a little more Europen flair, I served the meal with Orangina, a French baguette, and a spinach salad.

Here is the recipe....enjoy!

Boeuf Bourguignon
(Taken from WW Magazine January/February 2010)

2 lbs bottom round roast, trimmed of fat and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1/4 c all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 (14 1/2 oz) cans low-sodium beef broth
1 c red wine
1 (16-oz) package frozen pearl onions (I used 3 fresh brown onions and it was delish!)
1 (10-oz) package of cremini mushrooms (I couldn't find these, I used brown bella instead)
2 Tbsp tomato paste 4 garlic cloves, chopped 1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme 1 bay leaf 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1 lb carrots, thickly sliced 2 Tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
*I also added 1 bag of Trader Joe's Fingerling Potatoes

Directions
1. Toss beef and flour in medium bowl until evenly coated. Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat (I don't have one...a large pot with a lid works just fine!). Add beef, in batches if necessary, and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, about 6 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl with slotted spoon.
2. Add broth, wine, onions, mushrooms, tomato paste, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, salt, pepper; bring to a boil, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pot. Sir in beef and reduce heat. Cover and simmer 1 hour. Stir in carrots (and potatoes, if you are adding them). Cover and simmer until beef and vegetables are fork-tender, about 30 minutes. Serve, sprinkled with parsley.

Weight Loss Rewards

I've been meaning to write down some rewards I want to give myself when I reach certain weight loss goals. When rewarding yourself for fitness goals met, you need to make sure it is special enough to encourage you to work (or work-out) for it. Also, make sure it isn't food. It needs to be a HEALTHY reward. Here are the rewards I have chosen for myself:

• 10 lbs lost (149lbs): A Pedicure
  
• Pre-Pre Pregnancy weight (143lbs): New workout capris (because they are getting too big! :)
• 20 lbs lost (139lbs): Another Pedicure...I really enjoy them!
• 30 lbs lost (129lbs): Pictures with my hubby and I at the beach, possibly in wedding dress (Ever heard of "trash the dress" photos? My dress is already ripped and can't be fixed, so, why not?)
  

Awesomeness.

I weighed in this morning at 153.2. I've lost over 6 lbs in a month! I just picked up exercising 3 times a week a couple weeks ago, have been eating out only once a week and cooking healthy meals the rest of the time, and drinking plenty of water....and its working! I only have 10 more lbs to my pre-pre-pregnancy weight (before my first pregnancy!) Oh joy!

Good News!

As of last Friday, I lost nearly 3 lbs! I am down to 156.6! I didn't even exercise! I just started drinking more water and being very aware of what I am eating. Now...for the exercise!

Pound for Pound Challenge

I came across this "challenge" through Facebook and decided to look into how it works. Its pretty simple. You just pledge to loose a certain amount of weight and $.14 per pound pledged to be lost is donated to your local food bank. Its actually pretty awesome, since I am trying to loose weight anyways. So, I pledged to loose 30 lbs. The challenge goes through the end of June. I believe this is totally doable for me, and since I missed out on the Mud Run sign ups (which I am still VERY sad over), this will give me some motivation to shed those pounds. Please click on the photo/link on the side of my blog to get further details on the challenge. I weighed in at 159.4 lbs this morning. I gained 2 lbs over the holidays. Here's to loosing that and much more!

Yikes!

Oh! How I have neglected my fitness during this past holiday season! I'm past the holidays, parties, busyness, dreadfully decadent desserts, and a couple of family birthdays so....I'm going to step on the dreaded scale to day to verify that I have indeed gain a few pounds. I'll let you know... (no, really...I will!)