Tasty Tuesday

Lately I've been trying to incorporate more fish into my diet and in doing so I came up with a tasty dinner that includes shrimp, brown rice, broccoli, and salsa.  Oh, this is so wonderfully yummy I can hardly stand it!

First I take 1 cup cooked broccoli (the kind you steam in the bag), chop it, and saute it in a pan with 1 tbsp of EVOO.  Once that gets nice and toasted I'll add 4 oz of already cooked shrimp, cooking it just long enough to warm through.  Add the broccoli and shrimp to 1/2 cup of brown rice and top with 2 tbsp of salsa and you have yourself an easy, super tasty dinner! 

I wish I had a picture to share with all of you but I never let it sit long enough for me to grab my camera!  Next time I make it I promise I'll snap a photo of it!

Total Calorie Count for this Tasty Tuesday Meal: 345 Calories.

The Long Forgotten Jeans

Today before getting ready for work I thought I'd head to the deep, dark, forgotten area of my closet where I shove all my "must have shrunk over the summer/winter" clothes.. Because let's face it, every woman knows that there is an evil little monster that lives in our closets who's job it is to shrink all of our out of season clothes!  HA... right, if only!

Anyway, I rummaged through the dusty clothes and found 6, yes you heard right, SIX pairs of jeans that have been long forgotten because, well quite frankly, my fat ass didn't fit in them anymore!  So, hoping for the best but preparing myself for the worst, I slipped into the first pair.  Can you believe that those jeans slid right up my legs and up over my rear end with no protest, and even better yet, they buttoned without any problems!  I didn't even have to lay down on the bed and suck my belly button to my back, or do lunges and squats so my thunder thighs could fit into the legs, or nothin'! They went up and on... Just like that! 

Happy with the results of my first try I thought maybe I'd have the same luck with the second pair... Wouldn't you know it was the same thing!  Pair after pair I tried and pair after pair fit!  Some slightly tighter than others but still... They. Fit! 

It's funny how those jeans hung there forgotten because I was in the mind set that I'd never wear any of them ever again, but for whatever reason I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of them!  I guess I always hoped that maybe someday I'd magically slim down and could fit into them again!  The problem with that is that no one ever magically slims down!  This is the hardest I've ever worked for weight loss in my life!  Maybe that has to do with the fact that I'm in the, shhhh... over thirty club!  But whatever the reason, I'm glad that I didn't get rid of my "skinny" jeans because it's helping me see that although the scale might not always show me the numbers I want to see my body is indeed changing!  I can't wait for the day when I can put a pair of those jeans on and say, "These are way too big... Let's go shopping!"

Weigh In Wednesday

I know it's the end of the day so I'm just going to make this short and sweet!  After last week I was pretty scared to step on the scale but I've been feeling slimmer so I was hoping that the scale would actually show a slimmer number.
Weight loss total for this week... drum roll please... drum roll...

4 Pounds!

HOT DOG... It's about time!  I was starting to think I was incapable of losing weight.  In the past I would have just given up... if I was working as hard as I was working and nothing was happening, then what's the point?!?  This time I knew that if I just kept doing what I was doing that eventually something would happen and it sure did!  I hope next week is as good as this week... well maybe not as good but still, you know what I mean!

Tasty Tuesday

I don't know about you but the thing I hate the most about trying to lose weight is the "diet!"  I think the biggest misconception when it comes to weight loss is that you have to eat boring, flavorless food! Chicken, broccoli, and brown rice have been the regulars on the menu in the past, and while they're really good for you they lack the pizazz to keep me satisfied long enough to stay away from the McDonald's value menu!

This time-a-round I've been looking into new recipes that are not only good for you but are also heaven for your taste buds! And how rude of me would it be of me to not share these wonderfully tasty and healthy meals I find with all of you?!?

That's why I've started "Tasty Tuesday"... it's catchy, I know!  On today's tasty menu we have Kalyn's Stuffed Cabbage Casserole.  The recipe makes 10 servings and 1 serving is 251 calories!

 Ladies (and Dudes if there are any reading), let me tell you this meal was To. Die. For!  I found it at SkinnyTaste.com and at first I was a little weary of trying it.  We're not big cabbage eaters but it looked so much like lasagna that I had to give it a try!

Photo

I have quite a few recipes that I want to try from her website and I found most of them through my other guilty, time wasting, pleasure... Pinterest!  This whole weight loss thing that I'm doing is more of a lifestyle change than anything.  I want to be able to eat foods that are going to fill me and keep me satisfied for longer than 5 minutes, not only that but, I want to be able to find foods that are going to allow me to maintain my weight loss!  This is definitely one of those meals! 

I'm looking forward to sharing my new culinary adventures with you though Tasty Tuesday's and also would love to hear what you're eating too!

"I Lift Things Up & Put Them Down"

Ok Ladies, lets take a minute to talk weights!  Before working out with Trainer Jeremy I stayed as far away from the free weight section of the gym as possible!  It intimidated me, first because I didn't really know what to do with the weights, but mostly because the majority of the people over there were like this guy...

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 Ok... maybe not exactly like him but still it was the section of the gym where the guys hung out!  Lifting weights that are way too heavy for them... Huffing and puffing and making all sorts of grunting sounds that, quite honestly, scare the living day lights out of me!  It was a man's world and this little lady was going to stay as far away from that place as possible!  Plus, I was scared that if I really started lifting I'd end up looking like this chick...

Photo

Let's face it... this is not good look for anyone!  Honestly though, the good of lifting weights far outweighs the bad!  You can spend all your time doing cardio but if you are devoting all your time to the treadmill you're cheating yourself! 

Fact: The more muscle you have the more calories your body burns!

I can promise you that unless you are pumping yourself with steroids, you will not end up looking like the hot mess above!  Weight training will give you a longer leaner look!   

I challenge you to step off the treadmill and into the man's world of free weights!  Here is a good article on the benefits of weight training for women, and Here is a list of strength training workouts for women.  I know it can be intimidating, but grab a girlfriend and push your way into the free weight section of the gym... Show those boys a thing or two about being a strong woman!

Happy Lifting Ladies!





Weigh In Wednesday

Once again it's Wednesday... Weigh In day.  I wish I had some good news for you, folks, but I don't!  I haven't lost anymore weight this week.  I'm pretty discouraged by that... I have been working my butt off in the gym and watching what I'm eating and still no movement!  I don't know if it's because I had a pretty good number last week (for me), or if it's like Biggest Loser where the dreaded week two takes it's toll on everyone, but I do know that I'm not giving up!

So, I did what everybody does when they have a weight loss week of zero... I signed up for the weight loss contest at my gym!  Yep... it's called the "Working Out Sucks Weight Loss Contest!"  I saw flyer's for the contest and didn't really want to do it.  I'm not big on weight loss contests... I did one at the gym once before and to be honest I didn't do well.  Maybe it was lack of motivation... maybe my head and heart weren't in the right place but I didn't make it to the end... I gave up.

I know that won't happen this time... 1: Because Trainer Jeremy won't let me (if anything this makes his competitive nature soar!)... and  2:  Because I won't let myself!  This is about me finishing what I started!

The Treadmill

I can be in the gym and work for 35 minutes or longer with the weights.  I can get on the elliptical and rock out speeds that make me look like a rock star.  I can jump rope... do sit-ups... push-ups... crunches... more sit-ups.... and more push-ups... leg machines... arm machines... jump rope... elliptical... and so on.  I can have a kick ass work out, be sweating, out of breath, and sore... and still give just a little bit more.

But when it comes to getting on the treadmill to run I feel like this guy... 

The treadmill is my nemesis... my enemy... I  H. A. T. E. the treadmill!  And do you know why I hate the treadmill?  Because of the games it plays with my head!  Running, whether indoors or outdoors, is a mind game more than anything!  It's getting past the voice in your head that says, "You can't do this anymore... Just quit!" I do a lot better when I'm able to run outdoors because I am actually running towards something... I'm really moving... and if I want to get my butt home or across a finish line I have to keep going!  I still struggle with the mind games but like I said, I have to keep going!

During yesterday's workout, for whatever reason, I was tired!  I felt as if I just wasn't giving it my all and when I got to the end of the workout, the time when we get on the treadmill, I was done!  The mind games got the best of me yesterday and I walked out of the gym feeling like a failure... and I hated that feeling!

As soon as I got home I texted Trainer Jeremy and told him that I felt as if I didn't give it my all and it was a feeling I didn't like.  We talked about it when he got home from work and this morning when I walked into the gym I was ready for round two... and this time I wouldn't let the games win!  I pushed on the elliptical, I pushed with the weights, and when it came time to get on the treadmill I was the one who came out on top!

It's not always going to be easy... there will be good days and bad days... BUT as long as I keep reminding myself that this is a journey that will take time, dedication, and hard work... I'm going to come out on top... even on the treadmill!

The Choice Is Yours...

Weigh In Wednesday

I know you all have been anxiously awaiting this post!  I can see you all now sitting in front of your computer refreshing the page over and over wondering where on earth I am and why I haven't posted yet!  Yeah, prolly not, but a gal can dream right?!?  Anyway, let's get to the good stuff!  It's Weigh In Wednesday... time to report on the poundage lost.  Are you ready...


3 Pounds Baby! *technically it was 2.8 but my wonderful weight loss widget over there rounds up... how awesome is that?!?*

Still with the 2.8 it puts me right on track, even ahead of schedule, for my 5 lb goal this month.  I needed at least 2.5 by Monday (the half way point) and it did it with a few 10th's to spare!

Let me tell you that I worked H A R D for my 2 point 8 pounds, gals... AND I'm doing it right!  My goal here is to lose the weight and keep it off!  Hours spent in the gym paired with eating right is the ticket for me... there's no magic pill... it's not just going to fall off in a day, a week, or even a month... you have to W O R K your behind off day in and day out! 

I'm not starving myself, yes sometimes I am hungry, but that's what I get for eating enough to feed a small army (in one sitting mind you) for the past few months!  I'm working on teaching my body proper portion size and to know when to stop because it's satisfied. It's not easy... but I want this!  I want this so bad! 

So my friends, here's to a successful week!  I can't wait to see what next week brings!

Let's Skip Rope...

Do you remember as kids when we used to jump rope?  We'd sing "Miss Mary Mack, all dressed in black," or "Bubble gum, bubble gum in a dish."  We'd just jump happily as if we didn't have a care in the world!  Well Former Couch Potato friends... Trainer Jeremy has been pulling out the jump rope at the gym lately, and let me tell you, I ain't singing about bubble gum or ladies dressed in black!

If you can't afford a gym membership or have trouble finding the time to work out get yourself a jump rope and start jumping!  Jumping rope (at a pretty good speed) for 3 minutes is like doing 20 minutes of cardio on a treadmill... seriously people... it's tough!  Not only are you getting a good cardio workout but you're also working muscles.  Here is a good article about jump roping.

If you're at home and only have a short amount of time to squeeze in a workout do something like this for 15 to 30 minutes depending how much time you have...

• Jump Rope for 30 seconds straight (or go longer if you can) but make sure it's a speed that gets your heart rate moving.
• Go right from jump roping into push-ups.  Do as many as you can... but MAKE THEM COUNT!  Don't half-ass them... you're only shorting yourself if you do!
• Jump Rope for 45 seconds (or longer) and keep the speed!
• Drop the rope and do some crunches... fast pace to keep your heart rate up... but concentrate on your movements!  You don't want to hurt yourself!
• Jump Rope for 1 minute... by now you should be tired... it's going to be hard... your rope is going to get caught in your feet... it's ok... Just keep going! 

Keep switching between the push-ups and sit-ups or add some other moves like squats in, and try to add more time to the jump roping and you'll get an awesome workout in the comfort of your own home.  Keep at it my friends... You CAN do this!

BTW... Tomorrow is Weigh In Wednesday... fingers crossed!

Spinning

Saturday I went for my second ever Spinning class... You all know what Spinning is, right?  I thought so... Anyway, Saturday I took the virtual Spinning class that Anytime Fitness offers and let me tell you, I have never sweat like I did Saturday!  It was pouring down my face, into my eyes... there were parts of my body that I didn't know could sweat that were sweating!  It was an intense workout that left me feeling spent when it was done... not to mention sore in the bottom... those seats are just not made to be comfortable!

Today I went back for another round with the bike, and while I still sweat as bad as I did the first time,  I felt as if I pushed myself a little harder.  It feels good getting off the bike knowing you've given your all! I can't tell you how much I love doing this... I love it because it's a challenge... because it's different... and because, while I might not think it is at the time, it's FUN!  On Wednesday I'm going back for some more Spinning action!  This is definitely going to be part of my regular fitness plan!  With my morning workouts with Trainer Jeremy Monday through Friday and some extra Spinning classes through out the week I'm hoping to shatter my 5 pound goal for the month!

Death By Medicine Ball...

For today's ass kicking work out Trainer Jeremy found a new exercise for us to do with the medicine ball.  We've been using it regularly since we started working out together and in all honesty I really liked it... until this morning when he tried to kill me with it... literally!

We were doing an exercise that looked similar to this...

...But instead of standing the one throwing the ball was kneeling while tossing the ball to the other who was standing.  Twice I got hit with the ball... first on the leg and again on one of the breasticals.  The first time was an accident, the second I started wondering if he really was trying to kill me!  I mean has anyone ever died from being hit by a medicine ball?  I should google that!

It's Friday and I survived my first full week with Trainer Jeremy!  Don't tell him this but I'm really glad he's there pushing me!  I've never felt this sore before and to be completely honest, I really like it!  Tomorrow morning Beth & I are headed to another Anytime Fitness location where they have Spinning Bikes.  I've done spinning once before and I loved it!  If you think it's just riding a bike you couldn't be more wrong! 

I hope you all have had a wonderfully sweatastic week!

"I Take It Personally"

Apparently Trainer Jeremy doesn't like that little widget I have on the side over there that tracks my weight loss!  I just added it yesterday and plan on updating it weekly but he told me that he "takes it personally" that there is a big fat Z.E.R.O. staring back at him every time he checks my blog. I, ever so sweetly, told him that maybe he shouldn't check my blog then... but he didn't like that response!  Whatever!

Trainer Jeremy thinks that if his name is going to be attached to my blog as 'trainer' that little widget needs to not have a big goose egg on it!  So to bring sweet redemption to his precious name he's decided to up the intensity in the gym... *insert foul language here*!

Here's a peek at what our hour in the gym looks like:

• Warm-Up: 15 Minutes on the elliptical.... Level 12 (15 for him) and the last minute bump to Level 15 (18 for him) and keep the same speed. *insert foul language here*
• Weight Training: 35 Minutes. This changes daily to work different muscle groups but every day there is some sort of ab & core strength exercises. *insert foul language here*
• Cardio: 10 Minutes jogging on the treadmill with 1 minute sprints between minutes 3 & 4 and 7 & 8. *insert foul language here*

There you have a sneak peek at my time in the gym.  Looking at it on here it doesn't seem like all that much but the 35 minutes of weight training is what really kicks my butt!  Trainer Jeremy makes sure to keep things fast pace to keep our heart rates up.  He's constantly saying, "Come on," or "Hurry up!" And it turn I'm constantly saying... well, I'm sure you can only imagine what I'm saying! 

However, when the hour is over and I'm driving home I feel good!  Sure I have the soreness that comes with working muscles I never knew existed, but it's a good sore... it's a sore that reminds me that slowly but surely Trainer Jeremy is whipping me into the shape I've always wanted to be in!

So, Trainer Jeremy, don't worry about that little widget... you just keep doing what you're doing and together well get that number moving!

Playlist Favorite:

My Trainer...

Some people are born with the ability to push themselves. When things get hard... they go harder.  When their muscles hurt... they go stronger!  Me, I'm not one of those people!  When things get hard for me I stop... or just scale back!  I'm not good at pushing myself!  That's why I enlisted the help of this guy, Ladies meet my Trainer...

Isn't he H-O-T?!?  Yes, Jeremy joined the gym to give me daily ass-kicking's!  And for the record... I really think finds joy in doing it! 

In all honesty I love having him there!  He's the pusher... the one who goes all out and the goes some more because he hasn't fallen over dead yet!  He pushes me to do the same, and believe me, sometimes I feel as if I've died!  Not only does he help motivate me but he also has taught me different exercises.  While he's promised to help push me I had to promise not to tell him to go F-Off!

I'm truly blessed to be married to someone who is willing to get into the gym and work along side me!  We often talk about our retirement (even though it is a way off yet) and one of the things we want to do is to stay active!  It's something that is important to both of us!

I'm not the only one in the family looking to get into better shape... he is as well.  So here is our Before picture... I can't wait to see the after!



December 24, 2011

Now What...

I'm sitting here trying to think of the goals I set for myself in 2011 but have come up short.  Then I thought I'd look back on past posts to see if there was anything there that would remind me of what I set out to accomplish and couldn't find anything there either.  No wonder I've gained a good 10lbs!

This time of year brings talks of resolutions... but let's face it, who really keeps their New Years resolutions?  Not me!  I do, however, think it's important to set goals for yourself.  So here, in no particular order, are my 2012 goals:

1. Get Fit:  Not only do I want to drop the pounds but I want to get stronger and faster as well!  So often we (or maybe I should say 'I') get in the gym and focus on the cardio and pay little attention to the weights!  Truth be told the weight training is just as important as the cardio, but we'll talk more about that later!
2. Lose Weight: Well... Duh!  I've been talking with my trainer (yes, I have a trainer... more on that later) and he's given me a goal of 5 pounds a month, that should put me at a loss of 30 pounds by June... Beach anyone?!?  I like having the small monthly goal to focus on so it doesn't seem like such a BIG thing!  
3. Keep Track of Food:  It's easy for me to mindlessly stuff food into my face but to really do this whole weight loss thing correctly I need to be counting the calories!  That's why today, I pulled out my dusty... I mean trusty food scale!  Weighing, counting, and measuring... eating healthy... and feeling better! 
4. Race Better:  Even though I did races in 2011 in no way did I actually run my best!  I finished one half marathon and a number of 5K's but really I wasn't giving my all.  This year I want to actually train for the races I run and shatter my previous times!

For now those are the goals I've set for myself.  In March I'll see where I'm at and adjust what needs adjusting.  Also, I need all of your help!  I need to be held accountable and if I can do the same for you I'd love to!  It's so much easier to do this sort of thing when you know you're not alone!

Truth Is...

My Lady K likes to update her facebook status with the phrase "Truth is... Like" then her friends will "like" her status and she will write one "truth" about them on their wall.  It seems to be a popular thing to do with the kids her age (man is it me or did I just sound really old there?) and "truth is..." I can't stand it!  In my opinion (because let's be honest, it's the only one that matters, right?!?) I think it's a stupid game!  Mostly because I really don't feel these gals are being very truthful... I think they're being nice, which is good, but not honest!  So let's get honest... if I were to 'like' my own 'Truth Is' status here is what I would say to myself...

Truth Is... You've become lazy!  You may have a gym membership but when was the last time you actually had an awesome, kick-ass, workout?  You're slowly slipping back to the the fat chick in the picture to the right.

Truth Is... Your jeans didn't shrink over the summer... your rear end just got bigger!  Over the past few months you've eaten enough to feed a small army!  Your excuses are getting old... Yes, I know it hurts... Yes, I know it's uncomfortable... Yes, I know it's cold... Yes, I know you didn't sleep well last night.  Yes, I know you'll start tomorrow, after all you said that yesterday... Yes, I know you worked late and are tired and it's just easier to throw a frozen pizza in than cook a real meal!  I KNOW! 

Truth Is... It's time!  Time to start... I mean really start taking care of you!  You owe it to yourself, you owe it to your husband, you owe it to your kids!

Truth Is... It's now or never!

What is your Truth?