Witness My Fitness

Supreme 90 Day Update

2011-12-06T12:08:00.001-08:00

Happiness is the feeling I got today when I fit into the dress that first caught Troy's eye before we dated...and that is after 3 kids! Since I started this program I have gone from a size 11/12 to a size 4/5! I'm on day 63, so here's to the next 27 days!

Supreme 90 Day

2011-10-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

With my scale being stuck at 141.4, I decided it was time to kick it up a notch! I was reading my Fitness Magazine and a program called Supreme 90 Day was mentioned. It was compared to the P90X program, which I wanted to try, but not for the hefty price of 150 bucks! Supreme 90 Day is only 20 dollars and you get 10 DVDs, a little chart to tell you what exercise to do, and a nutrition program booklet. That's a lot for only twenty deniros! Plus, the workouts are only 30-45 minutes. Basically, the program uses different workouts to create muscle confusion so you get more results in 90 days. I have never worked out so hard in my life! I'm now on day 22 of the workout and I see a difference. I've lost almost an inch and a half in my waist alone! I wasn't seeing the scale budge, which I've heard is normal, but I adjusted my caloric intake and that seemed to help. After two months of the scale not budging, I finally got to see 140 this morning! HEEELLLLOOOO 130's!!!! I am fitting into clothes I haven't fit into in a very long time! I'll be bringing you regular updates and some before/during/after photos as well! You can buy the program at Walmart, Walgreens, or on Amazon.com.

Here I am...

2011-07-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

...after having my third child. I am forty pounds lighter than I was after having my first. That feels good. Really good. I weighed in this morning at 147.6. That is pretty much the same weight I was when I got pregnant with my third little one. That feels good too. Now I have a new goal in mind and that is to get back to the weight I was when I was dating Troy. 125 is my new magic number. I understand that after having three kids that things are...ahem...well, let's just say that things are proportioned differently. :) I'm looking forward to getting into shape and staying that way, as this past pregnancy was my last. So here's to being fit for the rest of my life!

Did you miss me?

2010-10-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-17T06:31:00.001-07:00

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

2010-09-17T06:31:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-16T05:10:00.000-07:00

145.4! Sweet! Gotta run! Literally...

Accountability Post Day 14

2010-09-15T05:31:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-13T06:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-11T06:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-10T05:07:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-09T05:28:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-08T05:09:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

"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

2010-09-06T05:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-05T05:44:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-04T05:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-03T05:59:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2010-07-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

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...

2010-06-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-07T10:03:00.001-07:00

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!

2010-06-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-06-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-06-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-23T20:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

(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

2010-05-20T21:33:00.001-07:00

(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

2010-05-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-30T22:22:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-05T09:53:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

(source: http://the-herb-store.com/catalog)

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!!!!

2010-02-26T08:16:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-25T06:40:00.000-08:00

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)

2010-02-19T16:48:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-19T16:34:00.000-08:00

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.

2010-02-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-12T16:43:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-01-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

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!)

Party Pooper

2009-11-09T22:31:00.000-08:00

I learned a couple different lessons this weekend....

#1: Don't set diet goals the day before my son's birthday party....its a disaster waiting to happen!

#2: If there is any birthday cake left over, throw it out, freeze it, give it away...feed it to the birds...just as long as it isn't within my reach!

#3: Exercise only happens if I do it before I do anything!

This is IT!

2009-11-06T11:45:00.000-08:00

Man alive! I suppose I have neglected this blog! I am happy to say that I didn't neglect my fitness during this last pregnancy, though. I only gained 19 lbs during pregnancy. Minus the weight that I still am carrying from nursing (they say 2-5 lbs), I am pretty much back to my pre-pregnancy weight and have been for 6 weeks now. Isn't that awesome????

My goal now is to get back to my pre-pre-pregnancy weight, in other words, before Jackson! The scale has been stuck since I weighed in 6 weeks ago. It stays between 157 lbs and 159 lbs. I am eating fairly decent. But, I know my body and I know I need to get moving in order to loose this weight. So hear I go, starting a new program. this time, I am going to start the Winsor Pilates fat-burning program ("Win in 10"). I bought the program a few years ago and used the DVD, but not the entire program. So, here's to trying something new!

So, I weighed in this morning at 158 lbs. I will be taking "before," "during," and "after" pictures. Here are my not-so-flattering "before" pictures:

I will update every week with a weigh-in and a new set of "during" pictures.

Pregnancy Poundage

2009-03-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

So, I am making a pretty big effort not to get pretty big this pregnancy. And for me, I have to make a BIG effort because those pounds pile on easily! I have had a good amount of morning sickness, so for the most part, it has been difficult to exercise. However, I have been trying to eat healthy. So, the result of this, as of last week, was that I had gained a total of 3.5 lbs by the 11th week, which is waaaay less than my last pregnancy by that time. Of course, during my last pregnancy, I took a trip to the UK and Paris that packed on some pounds.
Those 3.5 lbs wasted away this weekend, though, when I got a horrible stomach virus and my body completely rid itself of everything. I even had to get a shot to stop the nausea and vomiting. It worked, so I am back on liquids and a bland diet. I suppose if I ever want to loose weight quickly and miserably, a stomach virus is the way to go. I just wouldn't prefer to do it while I was pregnant! Okay...perhaps I would prefer to never experience that again!

Alrighty...

2009-01-20T14:41:00.000-08:00

So...I am pregnant! We are thrilled about that, but I am not so thrilled that I didn't get to my goal weight. The more I think about it though, I did loose 30 lbs from my post-pregnancy weight, so that is a good amount. My goal now is to NOT GAIN 60 POUNDS during this pregnancy. During the last pregnancy, I exercised, ate decent, and still gained 60 pounds. This time around, I am still going to exercise, but more regularly, and watch what I eat extremely close. I am not going to diet, but I am going to eat really healthy. I am not going to deprive myself of anything, but I am going to be smart and disciplined about what I eat. I want to make sure I am getting enough calories, but, I am NOT EATING FOR TWO, which is such a myth. An normal weight person (which I am not...I am overweight still) only needs an extra 300 calories per day. That is an extra snack a day. That's it! I am also making an effort to drink all my needed water every day. I think this will help with swelling in the long run. So, those are my goals. I will keep you update on my weight gain and pregnancy progress throughout the next 35 weeks....whoooa...that is a long time! :)

Crash and BURN!

2008-12-28T21:54:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay, so I didn't eat very well this week and I only exercised twice. I'm afraid the consequence of that is a couple of pounds. I am going to weigh myself on Wednesday and see what the damage is. I really am praying for diligence. It is soooo hard to be disciplined!

Its been a while!

2008-12-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

So, it has been a couple months (almost) since I posted my weight last. I have good news and bad news. I have lost weight. But, I have only lost 2.5 more pounds. I am down to 153.4. I hope to kick myself in the butt and exercise at least four times this week. I got up and exercised yesterday, so that is a start! I have soooo much to do before Christmas, so I am making today a day to catch up, and I hope to exercise tomorrow (Tuesday), Wednesday, and Friday. That is the plan, but we will see what happens!

Geen Tea Me!

2008-10-29T10:49:00.001-07:00

Photo taken by Lekyu.

Recently I decided to drink a cup of Green Tea. The teabags had been sitting in my kitchen for a year. I gave the tea a try because I kept reading about the benefits this tea has. It has been known to help fight the growth of cancer cells, helps reduce cholesterol, specifically raising your good cholesterol (HDL) and lowing levels of your bad cholesterol (LDL), and it helps with dieting (it helps burn more calories). With the whole dieting thing, I was a bit skeptical. However, I read that part of the "help" comes from the caffeine that the tea provides. It contains less caffeine than coffee, but enough to keep you going. I don't like coffee, but sometimes I just need a kick in the rear end to get me going. So, I tried the tea that had been left neglected for a year. I was pleasantly surprised by a couple things. I love the taste. I don't have to add any sugar or sweetener because it is naturally sweet. It also gives me a refreshed feeling in the morning, and a relaxed feeling at night (when drinking the decaf version). Aside from giving me a energy boost, it also fills me up when I drink it with a meal. That is because I am drinking more liquid with a meal. The bottom line? Those who haven't tried a cup of green tea, should...it is too sweet of a deal to pass up!

By the way, there are a lot more benefits than I listed. To read about them, click here.

20 lbs later...

2008-10-28T22:45:00.000-07:00

The photos below were some of the photos that prompted me to join weight watchers. I could belive how horrible I looked. The photo was taken in Joshua Tree during a camping trip we took at the end of April. The photos following it were taken this past weekend, 20 lbs later (20.6 lbs to be exact)! I am down to 156.0 lbs! It is coming off slowly, but surely!

October 2008....20 lbs later!

Wow! 20 lbs sure does make a difference!

Whoo-hooo!

2008-09-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

I weighed in this morning at 159.2...for those of you who are counting that is over 17 lbs since May! It feels good to finally get out of the 160s!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

2008-09-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

While I was reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to Jackson last night, I realized I have the same exact eating pattern as the caterpillar in the book! I eat wonderful all week, and often times I am still hungry, as the catipillar is. By the time Saturday gets here, I eat a bunch of junk and don't feel too good about it by the end of the day. So, to make up for the bad eating on Saturday, I eat a bunch of leaves on Sunday. The only thing different from me and this caterpillar character is that I don't turn into a beautiful butterfly. Sigh. Perhaps someday!

My Fat Pants

2008-09-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

July 14 / July 31 / Sept 13

On Saturday, I organized my closet. In the process, I found the pants that I bought 6 or 7 weeks after I had Jackson. I was probably around 185 then. I'm not sure why I don't count my weight loss from there. I think I will! So, back to the pants...they are absolutely HUGE on me! I asked Troy to take a picture (above), and I felt like I was in one of those weight loss ads! That was very encouraging! By the way, I weighed myself on Friday, and I came in at 160.8 pounds. This means that since starting Weight Watchers in May, I have lost 16 lbs and about 25 lbs total! No wonder those pants are big on me!

Weigh-in!

2008-09-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

So, it seems this Weight Watchers Core diet is working for me. I weighed in this morning at 162.6 lbs. This means I have lost a total of 14lbs! It may not sound like much, but on my 5'2" frame, it is a good amount! My clothes are too big and some of my clothes that were too small now fit me, like one of my favorite jean jackets...just in time for the Fall! Well, I am excited! I walked for the first time after my surgery. I'm feeling pretty good, so I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. I am hoping to make my goal weight of 135 by mid-December. It is going slower than I thought...but it seems I have kicked it up a notch with this other diet. And, now that my hernia is repaired, I hope I can just move forward from here!

One Breadstick Too Many!

2008-08-31T23:09:00.000-07:00

Rats! I ate terrible this weekend! Just horrible! Oh, Self Control, why do you slip away so easily? Perhaps this week will be better! I better go buy some lettuce and carrots to gnaw on...

Weigh-in!

2008-08-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

I know its been a while since I weighted in. I had my surgery last Monday, and the week before that, I had an infection, so I haven't exercised in a while. I haven't really counted my WW points either. I don't really have time for that. Or, it could be that I don't have the patience for it. Or the diligence. However, I decided to eat a salad everyday for lunch last week and eat more healthy protein (egg whites). I also kept a close watch on what I ate. Needless to say, I lost 1.4 pounds since last week. I decided to switch to the Core Plan on Weight Watchers, and nix the Flex plan because I don't count my points. The Core Plan gives you a huge list of foods to choose from and basically focus on eating until you are satisfied and recognizing when you are hungry and full. I am going to try this plan out and see how it works. For now, though, I am down to 164 pounds! only 28 lbs to go! Its been a slow process, but at least I am still loosing! I can't wait till I can exercise again!

Weigh-in Wednesday!

2008-07-31T14:30:00.000-07:00

I know it is Thursday. I am a day late...but, I have good news!!!! I have lost a total of 11 pounds now! I am down to 165.6! I have lost 2lbs in the last week! Oh! The joy! I suppose since I have lost over 10 pounds, I will post up some "before and after" shots. I didn't take official before photos, so the best I have is the first picture shown. The second set of pictures are during (on the left) and after (on the right). These pictures were only taken 2 weeks apart. The "during" pictures were taken the first week I started really working out consistently. I can see a difference. I can FEEL the difference! Exercise really does work!

Fabulously Fit Foods

2008-07-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

I am no stranger to searching packages for nutritional information. Diet food comes in all varieties: the good, the bad, and the "I can't believe this is diet...how do they do that?!?" The key to a great diet food is that it doesn't taste like a "diet" food, or, in other words, it doesn't taste like cardboard. I'm not fond of the taste of cardboard, or sand for that matter (not that I have tasted either of those!). So, here you are, drum roll please...this is my list of Fabulously Fit Foods!

Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich (Vanilla Flavor) (2WW points)
These babies are amazing! I mean...who knew only 140 calories and 3 grams of fiber could taste so good?

Skinny Cow Fudge Bars (mini) (1 WW point)
With the minis, it is the same case as the sandwiches. They are so delicious! Two minis are technically a serving, but by the time you eat one of them, you are satisfied!

Lean Pockets Spinach Artichoke Chicken (5 WW points)
I must say that Lean Pockets have had some major improvements on taste. They have come out with some new flavors and this is one of my favorites. Spinach Artichoke Chicken tastes like you are eating a gourmet deli sandwich! This flavor was recalled last week due to some plastic found in some of the products, so you may want to check out the information on that (click here for more info).
After the whole recall thing clears up, I recommend trying this flavor!Lean Pockets Whole Grain Garlic Chicken White Pizza (5 WW points)
Again, this flavor has amazing gourmet taste! Lean Pockets has also improved their whole grain crust...it no longer tastes like the box it came in!
Lean Pockets Cheeseburger (5 WW points)
Two words: White Castle. This flavor tastes exactly like them. Its amazing!

Apples (1 WW point)
Yes. Apples. They have a good amount of fiber and paired with low fat cheese, they really make a great snack that will hold you over!The Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges (Any Flavor) (1 WW point)
These cheese make great spreads for wraps! I use the Garlic and Herb flavor for my turkey wraps. That way, I don't have to use mayonnaise. It makes the wrap a lot healthier and whole lot tastier!

Lipton To Go! Iced Tea Packets (White Raspberry, Peach) (O WW points)
These conveniently little packets of tea pour right into a water bottle! They are sugar free, which I usually don't like, but these are exceptional! Most flavors are only 5 calories!

Kashi Go Lean Crunch! Cereal (Honey Almond Flax) (3 WW points)
In the land of breakfast, this cereal rules over everything! It not only has 8 grams of fiber and 9 grams of protien, but it also tastes great! Those three qualities usually don't come together in one package! This cereal really keeps me full! Also, it has flax seed in it, which is great to, well, keep you regular! If you haven't had flax seed on a daily basis, you don't know what regular is! :)

Avocado (6 WW points- 1 cup)
Who can pass up the creamy goodness of an avocado? I sure can't! Don't be deceived by the high fat content because these treasures are full of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (also found in olives), in other words, 20% of the fat is healthy fat. They also have 10 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein! You can't beat that!

Weigh-In Wednesday!

2008-07-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

This week has been a good week so far regarding eating and working out. I haven't been keeping track of my points, but I am still eating healthy, and I worked out for at least 1 1/2 hours twice this week, thanks to finding a committed work-out buddy! The results are in: I am down to 168.8! I thought I would never see the end of 169!!! Yea!

Weigh-In Wednesday!

2008-07-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

Okay...Okay....so its been a while. I went on vacation, had a birthday, and completely got out of the habit of counting points. However, there is good news, along with this bad news. I haven't gained any weight. In fact, I lost a TINY bit. I am stuck at 169 lbs even. I need to start counting my points again and doing some more exercises (that won't put me at risk regarding my hernia). So, I'm looking at it as a fresh start. So here I go....

Weight-In Wednesday

2008-06-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

Okay. I didn't loose any weight this week. In fact, I gained 0.6 pounds. I didn't record points from Saturday to Wednesday, but I thought I was counting them in my head alright. Apparently not. So, from now on, I will record my points to the best of my ability on a daily basis. It has been a hard week. So, I'm not going to be hard on myself. I'm waiting for surgery and have been ordered by the doctors not to exercise or do anything that uses my abs (that is a bit hard), to read the details on why, you can read my regular blog.

"Take it in!" Thursday

2008-06-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

Here are my measurements for this week:
(Lost this week is in italic) (Total lost is in bold)

Chest: 37.5" (-.25") (-.5")
Waist: 35" (-.75") (-1")
Hips: 42.25" (-5") (-.75")
R. Thigh: 19.75" (-.75") (-1.5")
L. Thigh: 20" (-.5") (-1.5")
R. Calf: 13.5" (-.25") (-1")
L. Calf: 13.25" (-.5") (-1.25")
R. Arm: 12.25" (-.5") (-1")
L. Arm: 12.75" (-.25") (-.5")

This is awesome...I'm still loosing! Due to illness this week, I only exercise 3 times, and didn't do any toning or anything like that...just light exercise. So, when I actually challenge myself with exercise, I wonder what a difference it will make!

Weigh-in Wednesday!

2008-06-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, I weighed myself today. I have lost 7.4 pounds!!! I am now at 169.2 and am officially out of the 170's...that feels really good. I told Troy this morning that I never want to see the 170's again, even if I get pregnant. I hope to gain a whole lot less in my next pregnancy, if I can help it! I have 33 pounds to go, and at this rate, I can hopefully loose that before my next pregnancy!

"Take it in!" Thursday

2008-05-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

I had to come up with a cheesy name for my measurements on Thursdays!
Here they are:

Chest: 37.75" (-.25")
Waist: 35.75" (-.25")
Hips: 42.75" (-.25")
R. Thigh 20.5" (-.75")
L. Thigh 20.5" (-1")
R. Calf 13.75" (-.75")
L. Calf 13.75" (-.75")
R. Arm: 12.75" (-.5")
L. Arm: 13" (-.25")

Is it really possible to loose that much in one week? I may have taken measurements wrong (even though I paid close attention to where I was measuring) or I am loosing inches! I prefer it to be the later!

Weigh-in Wednesday!

2008-05-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

I have lost 2 ounces shy of 6 lbs...hooray for Weight Watchers! I can already fit into some pants that I haven't been able to fit into for a while now!

Measurements

2008-05-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

I took my measurements so I can tell how many inches I loose. I think that this is more efficient and, at times, more encouraging than looking at the scale every week. Due to the fact that I am exercising now and doing toning exercises, I may gain muscle mass, which may cause my weight to stay the same at times, but my inches to go down. So to all those people out there who read my blog or just come across it, here are my measurements:

Chest: 38"
Waist: 36"
Hips: 43"
R. Thigh: 21.25"
L. Thigh: 21.5"
R. Calf: 14.5"
L. Calf: 14.5"
R. Arm: 13.25"
L. Arm: 13.25"

In the process of measuring myself, I admit that I had to take a deep breathe, considering I have never been this...uh...well, for lack of better words...wide. But, I have a good outlook! After all, I'm loosing weight!

With that, I will set some realistic goals for myself. Here they are:

Chest: 35"
Waist: 30"
Hips: 38"
R. Thigh: 19"
L. Thigh: 19"
R. Calf: 12"
L. Calf: 12"
R. Arm: 11.25"
L. Arm: 11.25"

Let's see those inches come off me!

Weigh In!

2008-05-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday I "weighed in" for Weight Watchers. My loss wasn't as big this week, but it could be because I started to exercise very regularly and could be building muscle mass. That means I need to start taking body measurements to see what I am loosing there. I went down to 172.2 lbs yesterday. My scale measures in tenths of a pound, not ounces, so that means I have lost 4 1/2 lbs. I thought it was closer to 5lbs, but oh-well. Its close enough! :) Since I started exercising almost everyday, except on weekends, I feel more invigorated and energized, which is what every mother needs to feel like when taking care of little ones who wake during the night at times!

WW Works!

2008-05-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

I weighed myself this morning because I couldn't wait one more day to do it (my weigh-in day is Wednesday). I went from 176.6 to 173.8 in six days! Looks like my theory of eating more to boost my metabolism is working! Yea! That puts me at nearly 38lbs away from my goal weight of 135...I can do it! :)

Fresh & Easy

2008-05-08T16:21:00.001-07:00

No, I'm not talking about the store. I am talking about last night's dinner. I just put boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crock pot, covered them with 1/2 a bottle of Trader Joe's Soyaki Sauce, and 1 1/2 cups water (until the chicken was fully covered), and cooked it all day. When it came to dinner time, all I had to do was cook the veggies (in a wok/frying pan) with some soy sauce, cook the brown rice (Trader Joe's frozen bags- 3 minutes in the microwave), and bake the egg rolls in the oven. Before I knew it, I had a fresh, easy, and healthy dinner. I love my Crock Pot!

I did it...

2008-05-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

Nope...I didn't loose any more weight yet. However, I did join Weight Watchers after my sister-in-law informed me that they have a program specifically for nursing moms. I am excited! I get 36 daily points, which is 12 above the norm. I hope this keeps me eating everything I need to in order to get my daily caloric values (I haven't been). Perhaps if I start eating enough, my metabolism will speed up. Now there's a concept! Maybe I will even get a better milk supply for Jackson...that would be great!

A Fresh Start

2008-04-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

I got exercise this morning. I put Jackson down for a nap and he slept long enough for me to exercise! Yea! I pray this can happen on a regular basis...for both of our sakes!

A moment in reality...

2008-04-21T21:25:00.000-07:00

I need to be real here. I feel fat. Very fat. I feel trapped in this body that is no longer me...no longer my own. Honestly, I feel a bit of discouragement. I want to be able to exercise 5 days a week. WHY CAN'T I??? Is having a baby a good excuse? Should I even have an excuse? I don't think I should. Am I being too hard on myself? Maybe. That may be what it takes for me to kick myself in the behind and get in shape. Sorry. I just had to vent.

Mommy & Me Yoga

2008-03-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

I got a Mom & Baby Fitness DVD and used it for the first time last week. Jackson loved it, and I loved it too because I got to exercise while entertaining him. He also got to do some yoga, and even got a massage out of it! The DVD is made by Parenting Magazine. I definately recommend it for those moms who have wee ones!

1 lb later....

2008-03-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

So, I've only lost 1 lb in this effort to loose 40 lbs, but I have a positive outlook. My pants are too big, and thats always a good sign that things are going in the right direction! I'm sick this week, so I'm hoping to get better really fast in order to get back to exercising! I found another "skinny picture" of me. These photos always motivate me to get back to the shape I was!

This week's fitness goals...

2008-02-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

1. Walk on Tuesday and Thursday.
2. Exercise with Fit Moms DVD twice this week.
3. Cut out on some sugary food items.
4. Eat at least 4 servings of produce a day.

Victoria Ave

2008-02-12T23:37:00.000-08:00

Today my friend and I walked Victoria Ave with the kiddos and I must say I was reminded why I love Riverside. It was such a beautiful walk! My muscles also hurt from it, so it feels great to know that I got a good workout! Yea!

My Scale is Stuck

2008-02-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

I weighed myself yesterday (Fridays are my weigh-in days) and I am still at 175. I know its not those Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches because I haven't had any in a while! :) I was told, however, by a friend of mine who has used my scale that the scale lies. She said the scale at the gym weighs her at less. At this point, I would love to think that my scale is lying.

On a positive note, I got out and walked a couple of times with a friend this week. It was good exercise and fellowship. We are going to get together twice this coming week too. I also walked once alone. Counting from last Saturday, I walked a total of 4 times this week! Yea! Today I'm going to buy a DVD called Fabulously Fit Moms and its basically a DVD for exercising with the baby. So we will see how that works out!

Three things...

2008-02-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

First, Troy and I walked up Mt. Rubidoux on Saturday with Jackson in the Stroller (which is quite challenging on the way down). I would like to do that more often.

Second, I haven't lost any weight this past week. Booooo. Oh-well...I must persevere!

Third, Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches are the most AMAZING things!!! They are only 1.5 grams of fat, 140 calories and they have 3 grams of fiber! I don't know how they make 'em taste so good! I'm afraid its too good to be true...you know, like the non-fat frozen yogurt in that episode of Seinfeld? Hmmm...maybe that's why I didn't loose weight! :)

Update

2008-01-26T21:03:00.000-08:00

It looks like I will be getting to exercise with someone (walking outside w/ the stroller) a couple times during the week, and a few girls on Saturdays, so I am very excited! The rest of the days, I will try my best to do some Tae Bo. I tried to do Tae Bo yesterday, but 13 minutes and 10 seconds into it, Jackson decided he had enough of watching his mommy punch and kick the air! I weighed myself yesterday and there is good news and bad news. I gained two pounds in Florida, but lost one pound within this week. So, I'm on my way to that goal weight of 135lbs! I just have to keep pressing on!

Exercise Accountability

2008-01-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

I must say that it is sooo hard to find time to exercise with the baby! That is no excuse, though! I recently signed up with a great website called Babyfit.com that allows me to record everything I eat and it calculates all the nutrients for you. It also allows me to record my exercise. I've also sent out an email asking for girls to join me in the effort to exercise. Its good to have someone to do it with! I need accountability!

Exercise: A Priority and a Privilege

2008-01-16T22:09:00.000-08:00

I got to exercise for a full thirty minutes today! I know that doesn't sound like much, but for a new mom, its a great start! Its a wonderful privilege just to do that much! Jackson went down for a nap this morning, so I hopped on the elliptical for 16 minutes and then he woke up crying. I had my heart rate up, so I wasn't going to stop there. I held him while marching around the house for 14 more minutes! You gotta do what you gotta do! Troy and I plan to take a walk up Mt. Rubidoux on Saturday. I want to do that on a regular basis!

Healthy Choices...even while traveling!

2008-01-12T20:56:00.000-08:00

Once again, I was reminded that even when on vacation, the healthy choices can be easy to make. After a big, somewhat unhealthy lunch at Cracker Barrel, I decided I needed to eat a healthy dinner. We are in Miami right now, so we stopped by a Pollo Tropical, which is like a El Pollo Loco, but with a tropical flare. I ordered the boneless, skinless chicken breast meal with white rice and black beans. It was delicious and I felt good eating it! I thought back to my previous experience of weight loss and I remember how no matter where I ate, there was a healthy option most of the time. It can be easy to make those choices! I just have to do it! I must admit, though, we did stop to get Key Lime Pie when we drove down to the Florida Keys today...but who would pass up a Key Lime Pie when in the Keys???

The Weigh-In

2008-01-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

I weighed myself this morning and I am at 173.6 lbs. That's a little less than I thought! I'm leaving for Miami tomorrow, so I will do my measurements in inches when I come back next week. I am just trying to make healthier choices right now. For example, I couldn't figure out why I was craving beef all the time. I thought of the reason last night...after giving birth, I became anemic due to some blood loss (all women do), however, I stopped taking iron a few weeks ago. A simple step to improve iron levels in my blood is to simply take my iron! I also need to drink more milk! I know I'm not getting enough calcium. After I get back from Miami, I will start to get active any way I can. (It's not always possible to schedule a work out when Jackson isn't on a schedule yet!) Well, here's to a healthier life!

What's in a Goal?

2008-01-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

I've started this blog with the goal of being candid about my current fitness level and what I hope to improve concerning my nutrition and fitness. Back in high school, I was overweight. I wasn't required to take a Physical Education class the last two years of school, so I wasn't exercising. I also got a job at Del Taco and started eating more fast food and drink more soda than I ever had before. By high school graduation, I reached over 170 lbs. I had so many insecurities about my weight, but it took a while to get out of those unhealthy ruts I was in. Mainly, I had to get moving! I started with a walking class at RCC and then I changed my diet. I recorded everything I ate and all my daily exercises. Emotionally, it was a struggle because the weight wasn't coming off as fast as I hoped it would. Those ads on TV and in the magazines were constantly reminding me of how fast I could be loosing the weight with their products. However, I was determined to do it without their help. I did rely on my Creator's help, though. I meditated on the fact that He created me to glorify Him in ALL I do. As it says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." I knew that eating unhealthy and being sedentary were not glorifying to God. These thoughts kept me walking. I would even walk from RCC to my house after my classes (that is almost 3.5 miles.) To sum up the story, within a year a half, I lost 60 lbs and ended up at 117 lbs. I ended up working at a gym, so I worked out there 5 days a week for free. I felt so great and energetic! I desire to feel that way again. I don't like feeling like a slug! So, I hope I can use the means of this blog to journal my way through this journey of getting back in shape!

June 2006- at 126 lbs December 2007- at 175lbs

I gained extra weight during my first pregnancy. I'm sure most of you know that I gave birth to Jackson back in November of last year. I wasn't my thinnest to start out with when I found out I was pregnant. My weight was back up to 145-150. At my first pregnancy appointment, I weighed in at 149 lbs. After going up to 206 the day I went into labor, I am now down to 175 lbs. (I will do my official weigh-in tomorrow). My goal, with the Lord's help, is to get down to 135 lbs. That is a total of 4o lbs. To do that, I have to look at what I must change. There are certain things wrong with what I consume. I know I eat too much sugar. I don't get enough calcium, and I don't eat enough produce. I've been drinking too many different kinds of sugary drinks, whether it be soda or juice. Next, I need to make a habit of exercise. So, with those goals set, I'm asking you all to pray for me! I will be a bit more difficult this time around!