Monday, August 20, 2012

Monday Monday a fresh slate!

I had a really great week last week. I had awesome workouts Monday-Friday including 2 zumba classes, 2 count down workouts, more cardio and some WEIGHTS! I am really trying to get in the habit of including weights in my weekly workouts, but I need to do better!!! I have printed out some exercises to do with the weighted bars, and will go from there. How do you make weights a part of your routine?

Now it is Monday and we have a fresh slate. I can be proud of the workouts I had last week, but I have to keep moving and have even better workouts this week.

In other new, the scale still hasn't changed. I have had 3 weeks of killer workouts that I am so proud of, and when I step on the scale and see no change, or a gain it is hard not to feel down. I have also been tracking my food very carefully...I so want to see a change!!! I just have to keep going!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Count Down Workout

I am always looking for ways to spice up my gym time and last night I had fun doing a "Count Down" workout. It looked like this...

12 minutes on upright bike
10 minutes on Incline Trainer  (this machine KILLS me...always has!)
8 minutes on upright bike
6 minutes on Incline Trainer
4 minutes upright bike
2 minutes on Incline Trainer

I didn't start the 12 minutes on the upright bike until I was at my target heart rate. I finished in about 45 mins which included the time to change machines (they were next to each other) and hit that initial THR.

I cooled down with about 5 minutes on the treadmill.

And according to my HR monitor I burned about 700 calories!

I will definitely be doing this again!

I also bit the bullet Monday and drove to the sister gym in the next town to get in a Zumba class. I MISS ZUMBA. I will do this atleast once a week, but I hate the longer drive home at night!

Monday, July 23, 2012

The Good and the Bad...a Binge Confession

Today has been a really good day. Food was very good! And an amazing sweaty workout this evening. Ooh and that stretching after the treadmill hurt soo good :) Wish they could all be this easy!

Friday was a different story!!! Friday I had a conference a day trip from home. The morning started out great. I packed my breakfast to eat in the car. I knew that my conference included a "lunch and learn" with lunch provided, but there was no mention of what the menu would be. I usually allow a cheat item per week and had decided that I would allow a cheat meal so that I could eat whatever was served and forget any guilt. Since January, I have tried to be very carb conscious. This lunch KILLED ME. A deli sandwich, pasta salad, and brownie. EEK! I ate my sandwich and pasta salad and took a bite of the brownie and wrapped it up. At this point, I should have tossed the brownie, but I put it in my purse. After the conference, I got a text from T that he was helping a buddy move and would grab dinner on his own. WHAT WOULD MY DINNER BE? I had no plan. I started tossing ideas around. My first thought was sushi. I LOVE sushi, but T hates it. But then I thought about the carbs and decided I should have passed. I so should have just got the sushi, because I could not find anything to subside that craving. Friday night I had more PB that I have had in months, pretzels, popcorn, and a spoonful of chocolate frosting. When the frosting went into my mouth, my senses came back to me. WHAT HAD I DONE? HOW MANY CARBS WAS THAT? I threw out the frosting! (I had bought it to make a cake for a friend.) BINGE!!! My first in months. I was so frustrated with myself. But I allowed Saturday to be a new day instead of extending the binge as I have done in the past. The rest of the weekend I was back in control. And for that I am thankful!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Three Things Thursday

1. This has been a great week at the gym! My friend and co-worker, Jaimee, has joined my twice this week! Isn't it nice to have a gym buddy? I feel like the time flies by with her there! And it is nice to have someone to help motivate you, too! She was at the gym when I completed the pinterest workout on Monday, and it was nice to know there was someone there to pick me up if I were to fly off the treadmill. LOL :)

2. The tunes on my ipod are worn out! I am so over them. It is time to mix it up! What is on your playlist currently?

3. I have a day conference tomorrow out of town. I am thinking about heading to Fleet Feet for some new shoes after the conference ends. It has been over two years since I have ran in "fitted" shoes and my current shoes are about to their mileage limit.  Hmmmm....the answer would be so easy if I had a few more dollars in my bank account :) haha

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Pasta Substitute

Do you guys like broccoli slaw? I had heard about it around the blogs, and bought some several months ago. I added it to my salad and HATED it! YUCK! It just wasn't my thing.I thought my days with broccoli slaw were over.

Hubby has been wanting me to make spaghetti for two weeks, but pasta is one of my trigger foods. I lose all control when it comes to pasta. There is no moderation for me...I always want More, More, More!!!! I needed a pasta substitute! I have posted before about spaghetti squash, and it is okay, but I needed something a bit quicker ( I don't like the spaghetti squash in the microwave.)

I hit the store following my workout this afternoon to pick up a small pack of spaghetti. My plan was to make noodles for him and have my sauce over broccoli. I was in the produce area picking up some bell peppers when I got the idea to try sauteing the broccoli slaw and using it as a pasta substitute. IT WAS PERFECT!!! Have you guys tried this before?!?  I googled sauteed broccoli slaw after dinner and found several recipes similar  to the way I prepared it (cooked with a bit of olive oil and garlic). I also added a bit of shredded cheese on top stirred in with my marinara sauce and it was a perfect meal :)

Pin the Runner on the Treadmill

http://www.fitsugar.com/Cardio-Workout-Beginner-Treadmill-6856999

A few days ago, I noticed this workout on Pinterest, I pinned it with the intention of giving it a go one day. Well one day was yesterday! This was a great workout for me. I didn't complete it perfectly. On each of the 2 minute 5.8 intervals, I only made it one minute. BUT I HAD NEVER GONE 5.8 on the treadmill longer than a few seconds. So I was stoked! I will keep using this workout until I can complete it in its entirety.

Have you ever found a workout you enjoyed on pinterest?

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Easy Sunday Morning

This has been a really great week. It wasn't always easy, but it was a good week. My food plan has been on task, and I got in my exercise. Unfortunately the scale didn't move, but I'm starting to remember that good weeks aren't always measured on the scale. Monday begins my last week of Summer Reading at the library and my schedule will begin to normalize again. I love Summer Reading...it's one of the highlights of my job, but it always gets me off course. I slack at the gym and give in to too many sugar treats because I feel constantly exhausted. I want to get back into the habit of blogging. I have been keeping up with blog reading but slack on my own posts. Tommy and I are heading into town in a few to do a bit of shopping. I love a lazy Sunday.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Hot in Bama

To say that it is HOT is Alabama is an understatement. When I left for work this morning at 7:30 it was already 86 degrees and it is currently 105. It has been HOT all day.

As I increase my exercise again, I want to give myself some variety. I miss my zumba classes sooo much, but currently my gym has quit offering early evening zumba classes, and it is not financially feasible for me spend an extra 40+ a month to take classes at another gym. I have tossed the idea of changing gyms around in my head, but the truth is, for the most part, I really enjoy my gym and am uneasy about changing. So in order to keep some variety, I have scheduled two outdoor workouts a week. I may change this to one outdoor workout and one DVD workout.

So today on my schedule was an outdoor workout. I SHOULD have got myself out of bed early to get in the workout before it hit triple digits, but I couldn't get myself up. Honestly, I thought about skipping the workout all together, but after yesterday's "lacking" workout, I knew I couldn't skip. So I forced myself outside. Knowing that I would be outside in the heat I really worked hard to hydrate during the day and got in over 100 oz. I knew it was too hot to run and decided I would try my best to get in a 2 mile power-walk. I had hubby on stand-by incase I got to the one mile mark and couldn't make it back (massive hill). But I am proud to say I did it!!! I drank another 20 oz during the walk and then guzzled down 40 oz more when I got back to the house. I was dripping with sweat but felt really, really good. This was also a new route, but definitely one I want to do again.

Mileage goal for the week- 10 miles
Miles so far: 7.5

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Feeling Down

I am feeling down tonight. I can't explain why...it is just how I feel. Work was fine. I left early to go to a dentist appointment and was excited about the possibility of a longer workout this evening. When I got to the gym, I just felt zero motivation. Maybe if was the lack of an afternoon pick me up snack that I usually eat about an hour before hitting the gym or maybe it was because my mouth kind of hurt from the dentist appointment (no cavities, but a lot of picking around during the cleaning.) I made it through 1.5 miles on the elliptical  and then called it a night. I just felt like I couldn't go anymore. And now I feel disappointed in myself, because I could have gotten in an extra long workout and instead it was shorter than usual. But tomorrow is a new day, and hopefully it will be better!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A couple more miles

Today's gym workout consisted of a 2.5 mile walk of the treadmill using the hill setting. I had planned to do strength training "class" in the studio, but someone was already in there doing another class.

This week's mileage goal: 10 miles
Mileage so far this week: 4.75

Tomorrow afternoon I have a dentist appointment. It is just a regular checkup/cleaning so I should be able to get to the gym after, and even make it home a bit early.

Food has been on point today. If I can stay out of the kitchen the rest of the night it will have been a great day. For dinner I had roasted carrots, sauteed summer squash, brown rice, and a small boneless pork chop.

Monday, June 25, 2012

I made it to the gym today and got in 2.25 miles on the treadmill. I did walk/run intervals of quarter-miles. It felt good to be moving again. Tomorrow I would like to get in at least one mile and then some strength training, possibly broken into two workouts.

This week's milage goal- 10 miles
Mileage for the Week (so far)  -2.5

Sunday, June 24, 2012

This Week's Goals

It has been a crazy week for us...but crazy in a good way. Wednesday was my hubby's birthday and yesterday was a good friend's wedding. Two celebrations meant too many splurges for me. I could dwell on all the things I ate that I shouldn't have, but instead I am moving forward and making goals for the new week.

This week my goal is to walk/jog 10 miles!

I would also like to lose .5 pounds this week.

I will keep you posted during the week!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Hi Guys!

Hi Guys! Have you missed me? Last week I started thinking about how much I missed my bloggy friends. Then I realized you guys didn't go away, I did! But now I am back. I have spent the last couple of days quietly catching up on all of your blogs. And Wow have you guys been busy!! First races, Joy running her first half, and pounds being dropped like crazy.
The past few months have been good for me, but I have gained about 4 lbs.  I am sure those will drop away with more focus on my food and activity. I have to confess that my exercise isn't nearly where it needs to be. I only did one 5k this spring because of an injury...and then my Zumba class got cancelled (Boo...I am still trying to figure out what to do about that...but I will fill you in on that in a separate post.)and I have just not been focusing on fitness like I know I need to...I lost my exercise  routine and haven't figured out a new one!
I can't wait to catch up with you guys. Thanks to those of you that sent me txts and emails checking on me. I just needed to step back from the blog and focus on other things for a bit. But I am so glad to be back here and finding my groove again.  Anybody got any good challenges I can still get it on?
 <3 jess

Monday, March 5, 2012

Good Morning Monday

I was down another half pound this week! YAY! It would have been more, but I am a nervous eater, and that took control Friday during the bad weather. It started with almonds and progressed to tortilla chips..UGH!  Last week, we were actually sent home from work twice because of the threat for severe weather (tornadoes.) We had some pretty bad winds and hail, but no tornadoes in our community. There were tornadoes about an hour from our house. So Scary!  Wednesday I felt more in control...but Friday I was very anxious, and even recognized the fact that I was eating my emotions, but didn't stop.  I just have to keep moving forward.

In my last two posts (sporadic as they may have been) I mentioned that things have been a bit crazy, and I was out of my normal blog posting/reading routine. This little guy is part of the reason why...
Meet Pugsley...formerly known at Pudge.
Pugsley is our sweet foster dog. He came to us on Feb 22 and WOW what a roller coaster. I first have to say that fostering this sweet pup has been one of my hardest and yet rewarding things I have ever done. Our first documentation has him on Death's Row in North Carolina. He he was rescued and moved to Russel Rescue in Columbia, Tn, and now he is being fostered in Alabama. He is a very well traveled dog, huh? This sweet pup was terrified on humans on his first day in our home. He mostly sat off to himself. He would run anytime I came into the room. He would come close to Tommy, but you could forget about anything around me. He would barely even take my treats. And when he did, he hurried off to eat it alone. These days, Pudge is now known as Pugsley in our house (I HATED calling this poor underfed dog Pudge.) He is slowly learning to play (for about 5-10 mins at a time) and his favorite toy is a stuffed shark with a squeaker inside. He enjoys going to the park, but is scared of other people unless they have a dog with them. He HATES cats and LOVES my Neene (grandmother). Tommy is his main person, but he is allowing me to let him out in the mornings...and he hasn't had an accident since last Tuesday! And Saturday morning, he even did a bit of snuggling with me (at my feet) before my Zumba class. Pugsley has a long way to go in earning confidence and trust, but he is making progress!

I am leaving work early today for a doctor's appointment...and then I think I will treat myself to a pedicure. It is a rare treat...but these feet are ready for spring!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Quick Update

I know I haven't been around much the past couple of weeks, but things have just been a bit crazy for us lately. I just wanted to do a quick check-in t let you guys know things are going well. I am still following the 17DD. I am now in the first cycle of my second round. I am still consistently losing, and I am very excited. Most of my losses are just 1lb a week, but I am thrilled with the progress. I am trying to exercise 4 days a week. Two run days, two zumba days, and some strength thrown in for good measure. Hopefully I will be returning to my regular schedule soon!

I also wanted to say hi to my new readers! So glad to have you here!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Three Things Thursday

1. I had a really nice birthday. We kept everything very low key and it was nice. My birthday was Monday, but we celebrated on Saturday.  Tommy and I went antiquing (kind of a dud) and then out to dinner. We very seldom eat out, so this was a huge treat! I had a petite steak and crab legs with steamed veggies as my side. It was a splurge, but I savored every bite. Tommy said I was even dancing a bit in my chair...haha! We also met with a lady that is part of a dog rescue group. She was very nice. And Tommy and I are tossing around the idea of dog fostering. But I am not sure we are completely ready for that yet.

2. I haven't gotten back into the swing of working out this week. I took last Friday and Monday off work and attended Zumba classes Fri, Sat, and Monday. But my motivation to get into the gym during the evenings this week has been ZERO. I need to be training for Spring 5ks.

3.  I have another doctor's appointment next Wednesday. Tachycardia and Thyroid check. I am always so anxious about it. keeping fingers crossed that everything checks out.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day guys. Hope you are receiving lots of love from the ones that love you most.

I just wanted to say thank you for all your kindness during the loss of our sweet Humphrey. We are still grieving, adjusting, and leaning on each other during this time of change. I have just been in awe of the kindness we have received. Emails, txts, phone calls, and cards. One of our friends even made a donation in our name to a local shelter. Kindness and love is just so amazing...and I hope I can pass that kindness forward to other people.

I am in the process of trying to catch up on your blogs...I have missed reading about your journeys and lives.


Sunday, February 5, 2012

Our Sweet Baby Boy...

Yesterday  afternoon our sweet baby boy Humphrey passed away. Tommy and I are still in shock over the events of the last 24 hrs. He was an amazing dog...our child...and our hearts are broken. The quiet of our home hurts so bad... without his presence. Please say a prayer for us. I probably won't be around much the next few days.
*hoping there is lots of "Saturday food" in doggy heaven*

Monday, January 30, 2012

My New Plan

In January 2011, I was diagnosed as hypothyroid. I did not seek out the diagnosis. In fact, I was really upset when the bloodwork came back, and I got the phone call that I needed a follow up. I then became hopeful, because in 2010, despite my new interest in running...training for and running several 5ks, and cross training when I wasn't hitting the pavement or treadmill, my weight didn't change much. I was also keeping my diet in check, but getting no results. I started my medication for hypothyroid in late January and continued on with my life. At first, the only thing that really changed was taking the morning medicine and then waiting an hour to eat....I had always been a first thing in the morning breakfast eater. A couple of months later after reading more about hypothyroid I tried to cut out soy from my diet (it can interfere with the uptake of my medication)...goodbye my yummy steamed edemame. But still...there was no real change in my diet...though I did notice a change in my fatigue level. I didn't feel the need to seek out anything different. I was working out at least 5 days a week and tracking my calories...I kept thinking eventually something would happen and the scale would move.

In the fall, I caught an episode of Dr. Oz that talked about carb cycling. It sounded interesting, but I was used to counting calories...at the same time I had increased my workout time (my Tuesday Zumba class didn't start until 7 and I got off work at 5...why not get in some more time on the treadmill.) During September and October with increased exercise I lost about 3 lbs. In October I started eating soup for lunch and my weight hopped 5lbs in about 6 weeks...even though I was still killing it with the workouts. I spoke with a friend and she suggested the sodium in the canned soup might be the culprit, so I dropped the soup at lunch and lost 2lbs. But I WAS FRUSTRATED!!! I had friends in blog world that had lost 50 -100lbs, and I was struggling with 5lbs. I started to question my workouts...were they intense enough? I started questioning my diet...should I lower my calories? I spoke with my new doctor (I had recently changed) he said he could look at my body and tell I was exercising.."just keep at it." But I was tired of just "keeping at it." I wanted results...even just a consistent 1lb per week would have thrilled me...but I was struggling to lose .5 pounds in two weeks. I WAS FRUSTRATED!  In fact, I was so frustrated I honestly believe if I had not developed such a love for exercise as a way to keep stress at bay...and just the fun and friendship from my zumba class I would have said "I Quit!!!"

A couple of weeks before Christmas, I was browsing one of the hypothyroid sights I read,when I found some information about carb cycling, and remembered the segment on Dr. Oz. My curiosity was peaked. About the same time, I noticed a couple of people on the blogs talking about the 17 Day Diet.  I wanted to know more! I wanted to try something different...I wanted a new outcome! Most of early December I spent any extra time online reading about carb cycling...and then the 17 Day Diet. I found the book online for 12 dollars, and decided even if the diet wasn't for me there were recipes in the book that I might like..and it would be worth the money to be able to read more. I also started emailing with bloggers that were using the 17 Day Diet to get their opinions. The week before Christmas, I told Tommy that I wanted to try this new plan...to me the 17 Day Diet was just a structured way to carb cycle and if other hypos had had success with it, I would give it a try. The day after the day after Christmas I started to remove white sugar from my diet and then on Jan 1 I started the 17 Day Diet.
30 Days later, I have lost 8.5 lbs....more than I did during the entire year of 2011!!!

What is the 17 Day Diet? Well first of all...it is longer than 17 days...it is actually 4-  17 day cycles. I will complete the second cycle on Sunday and move to the third cycle on Monday. During the first 17 days you eat mostly veggies and lean meat (I was already doing that.) + 2 fruits before 2:00, and 2 probiotics( I was used to only eating one yogurt a day...now I usually have one plain greek yogurt and one glass of acidophylus milk). Plus two serving of healthy fat.
During the second cycle you alternate cycle 1 days with  cycle 2 days...which allows beans and starchy veggies before 2 in the afternoon, and some extra meat choices (but we are mostly a chicken and ground turkey family...so my meats haven't changed).

What has changed in my daily life???

Diet- I am still eating the same kinds of foods. And the same amounts...or maybe a bit more. The biggest change is the fruit before 2...because I often had fruit before working out in the afternoon. And no brown rice, pasta, or beans with dinner. Do I miss it? At first a bit, but not really now. And I can have those things at lunch if I really want them. I have also added a protein shake (trying to avoid a heavy soy protein powder) on some days(if I need more calories)...if I have had a harder or  planned a harder workout for the day. I am trying to avoid canned veggies as much as possible...opting for fresh or flash frozen. I am also using my myfitnesspal to track my calories (I was a pencil/paper with the occasional spark if I was unsure of something or anytime health). I never allow myself less than 1500 and usually top out at around 1800 unless I have really netted some calories with a workout. (Before I had many 1200 days).

Workouts- This has been the biggest change for me. I still workout at least 5 days a week, but I try to limit most of my workouts to 30 minutes (in the book he suggests 17 minutes, but I think that is mostly for beginner exercisers). I do still attend 2 zumba classes a week that are 1 hr each...and on those days I make sure to add some extra calories. I am still strength training a couple of days a week...and last week I added running back to my weekly plan. In the next few weeks I plan to bring my exercise up from 30 minutes to 45. I use my HR watch to track my calories during my workout.

Do I think the 17 Day Diet is for everyone?...probably not! Most of you are already working a plan that works for you.And that is awesome...why change what works?  But if you know you are giving it your all...and not seeing any change, don't be afraid to change things up a bit. Don't be scared to try something new! I was very open minded when it came to exercise, but I was terrified to change my diet.  I went into this with the mindset of...as long as it works...I will keep working it. Honestly, I didn't expect to see the result that I have. 8.5 lbs in a month is HUGE for me! (even though for some of you guys this would be a small loss in one month). And as long as I see consistent change in the downward direction I will stay with this program!

I will be honest in saying that I was scared to post about using the 17 Day Diet, because I didn't want a lecture about fad diets. Is this a Fad Diet...YEP! Look at the name. But for me the nutritional principals behind it make sense. It is a way of eating that I can be proud of....I am eating healthy, clean, food! I am eating food that is my fuel and keeping my tank full. I am still working out and drinking lots of water. Do I freak out if I need to eat my piece of fruit at 3? No, but I do try to get it in before 2...because that has been working for me.  Did I believe I would lose 20 pounds in a month? NO WAY...I didn't even think I would lose 5!! Do I believe I could continue this way of eating for the next month...three months...year? YES And the fourth cycle is a maintenance cycle.

I am in no way an expert about the 17 Day Diet. And if you are interested, you should read the book! But if you have questions I would be glad to give you my opinion.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Three Things Thursday

1. Last night was supposed to be spin class, but was changed to a cardio dance class. It was fun, but I was excited about getting back into a regular Wednesday Spin routine. Tonight is Zumba. I haven't been to a Zumba class with Derrick since before Christmas because of holidays, him being sick, icy roads, and last week I had to work late. I am excited about tonight's class, but I know he is going to work us HARD!

2. I am proud to say that I have incorporated 2 runs into my workouts this week (and planning one more tomorrow). I am trying to focus a bit on speed in hopes that my spring races will yield some new PRs.

3. In March, Tommy and I will celebrate our 5 year anniversary. I can't believe it will be five years! I asked him a couple of months ago where he would like to go for our anniversary. (I was secretly hoping for a beach somewhere...) He wants to go to Mammoth Cave Kentucky. He said they used to pass it when he was a kid traveling between Alabama and Chicago, and he always wanted to go. At first, I wasn't very excited...but it has definitely grown on me. We are going to stay outside of Cave City in Glascow. There are several antique stores in Glascow and I found a cute little B&B. Have any of you been to Mammoth Cave? And tours that are a must? At least I know it will be a very active weekend :)

Monday, January 23, 2012

New 2 You Cross Training - January Challenge

(Just) Trying is for Little Girls offered up a great challenge a couple of week ago. She challenged her readers to try 12 different types of cross training that were new to you (one each month in 2012). I thought this was a great idea because it is so easy to get in a rut with exercise, and sometimes trying something new once can bring on a new exercise love (remember when I tried Zumba for the first time in August...now I can't imagine a week without at least once class!).
For January, I decided to try out the Wii Game- Just Dance 3! I have enjoyed playing the Wii Sports and Plus games when I needed to get in a workout, but couldn't leave the house. And so many of my bloggy friends have talked about how much they enjoyed playing this game and that it was an amazing calorie burner. I didn't want to buy the game because I wasn't sure if I would like it, so I rented it for $2 from Redbox so that I could give it a try. Overall it was a fun game and I did work up a sweat. I wish I would have worn my heart rate monitor so that I would have an accurate account of the calorie burn, but I was dripping sweat at the end of my 45 minute session. I have never played any of the Just Dance games, so figuring out how to change songs was a bit confusing at first. I thought the playlist was pretty fun with songs that are top radio hits today...and some from the 80s.
Will I purchase this game? Probably not. It was fun, but I think I would get bored with it pretty quick. I think it would be great if you had friends over (I would rent it again.) Tommy is not much of a dancer, so he had no interest in playing with me. But with multiple people I can see this game being a blast!
I also think this would be a great thing for Moms to play with their kids! Shannon...has Carson ever played?
Looking forward to trying something new in February!



  
http://www.redbox.com/games/just-dance-3-wii 










Sunday, January 22, 2012

Sunday Week in Review

Last week was a great week! Overall, food was great.  I had a slip with some chicken vegetable soup on Thursday. I made a huge pot for work and brought home the leftovers for our dinner. I had too many servings. Calorie wise it was an okay dinner, but it was WAY to much sodium for one meal.

Tommy and I don't eat out often (maybe 3 times per month, unless we are traveling), but yesterday we spontaneously stopped at Chili's for lunch. I feel I made a great choice with the Cobb salad. I traded the avocado ranch for a low fat honey mustard and asked for it to be prepared without bacon. When I got home I was able to check the calories which totaled 560...definitely a successful lunch out!



On the exercise front things are going well. I am still scaling back on the workouts as I concentrate on diet. Exercise this week included: Strength class, Spin Class, and Zumba.

Exercise Goal for this week: I want to add some running back into my weekly routine, while keeping my workouts under 45 minutes except for my 1 hour zumba classes.

And I lost another pound this week!! WOOHOO! I plan on writing up what I am doing with my diet at the end of the month.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Three Things Thursday

1. I have to miss Zumba tonight because I am working late. BOO! My original plan was to get up early and get a workout in. Not only did I not get up early, Tommy and I both overslept this morning!!! Oh well, I will use today as a Rest Day and workout tomorrow instead. Depending on how work goes tomorrow, I may even skip out early so that I can hit the afternoon Zumba class. It is not my favorite...the instructor seems to make it us as she goes...I prefer a set routine that follows the music.

2. I missed Zumba last Thursday, too! We had snow and ice in Bama last Thursday night. They had been predicting snow flurries with little to no accumulation the night before but I didn't really think much of it. It literally snowed in flurries all day...and by Thursday night, the road were ROUGH! I had invited a coworker to go to Zumba with me, but she came over and said she had decided not to go because of the weather. I left work at 5...class doesn't start until 6:15. As I was driving to the gym I realized there was no way I could stay in town if I wanted to be able to get home. I live about 40 minutes from the library...and visibility was an issue during the first ten or so miles...by the time I got to the 5 mile stretch that I drive on my road I was terrified. The highway was a solid sheet of ice!! As I approached my house, I knew there was no trying to turn into my driveway safely. The car behind me was literally spinning...so I kept driving until I got to my MIL's house a little more than a quarter mile from my house. I figured if I couldn't turn into her driveway, there was a church across the road that I could get into and leave my car. I was able to make it to my MIL's house. I got out and told her what was going on. She said she had been watching the cars sliding around. She said I could stay at her house for a bit, but I decided to throw on my gym shoes and walk home. I was FREEZING!!! I was too scared to walk on the main highway because of all the sliding cars, so I took the back roads back home. My MIL had told me to call as soon as I got home...that she would give me 30 minutes, but then she was going to call Tommy. I made it home in about 20 minutes...and was exhausted LOL. I have a whole new respect for you guys that run in snow, ice, and super frigid temps!!!

3. There is a 15k relay coming up in my area in March. I think this would be so much fun! How many of you have taken part in a relay race?

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Spin Baby Spin

Guess what I will be doing in exactly 2 hours!!!! SPINNING! I am super excited about having a spin class again! It is always a tough workout, but I feel AWESOME when it is over!

Happy Hump Day!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Baked Green Bean Fries

I wish I could give credit where credit is due for this recipe, but I have no idea whose blog I got the idea from...but I think I saw it sometime last fall. If it is yours please claim it!! :)  I am terrible at following a recipe and usually see something online and then prepare it the way I remember it. LOL But this is how I make my baked green bean fries!!! And they are YUMMY!

About 2 or 3 handfuls of fresh green beans  ( it usually runs me less than $1.50)
1tbs of EVOO
a couple of shakes of coarse garlic salt...or sea salt whatever you have...
a bit of grinded black pepper.

Wash your green beans and cut off the ends (I just cut a tiny bit off, and you could probably get away with not cutting off the ends at all, but I like to chop veggies and pretend I am on a cooking show LOL)

Throw your green beans, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl with a lid and shake it up for about 30 seconds

Spread them across a foil lined cookie sheet...

Cook in oven on 425 for about 25 minutes...flipping midway...

I like mine a bit burned so sometimes a watch them for a couple more minutes until I notice the edges looking crispy.

YUMMY!!! What a delicious way to get in some veggies and a healthy fat!!!

Monday, January 16, 2012

A Great Monday

Today was a great day. It is always nice having a Monday off, especially when I have nothing pressing and can do what I want rather than completing a list of "to-dos." I slept in until 8, then got up did a few chores around the house and made a yummy smoothie! Then I headed to the gym to get in a strength class. I was really surprised by how busy the gym was this morning, but I guess several people were off work and getting in their workout early. Then I spent the rest of the day with my Neene. We did some sewing, made baked green bean fries (have you guys tried these? YUM!), and then met up with Tommy this afternoon for some antiquing. Now I am lounging on the couch catching up on blog. Perfect Day!

I was down another 1.5lbs this week! WOOHOO

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Three Things Thursday

1. I am back from my little business trip and EXHAUSTED. I did not want to go to work this morning. The only thing that got me out of bed was thinking of the sweet faces in my Thursday two-year-old class. The meeting went well. Traveling there and back was horrific because of storms, but we made it safe and sound. I was able to workout both days and I avoided all of the snacky food that was available. Overall, I think my food was pretty on point.

2. I hate when I have written a comment and it doesn't take!!! Drives me nuts and I do it all the time. Maybe I forget about the verification word...and sometimes I just simply click out when I finish typing the comment instead of publishing the comment. Drives me NUTS! Sometimes I go back and repost a shorter comment...but most of the time I just move on to the next blog. (This just happened to me...and I am aggravated! lol)

3. I am so ready for Zumba tonight. I am holding some tension in my back (I think it's from being tense while driving in the storms.) I am ready to let loose with some dancing. One of my coworkers is going with me tonight. She is a retired school librarian that works part time at the library in a different department. I was so surprised and excited when she took my up on my offer to go! I hope she likes it as much as I do!


Tuesday, January 10, 2012

On the Road...

I am heading out of town today for a business trip. My plan is to get in today and tomorrow's workouts either in the hotel fitness room or at my gym's sister location. (One of the things I LOVE about Anytime Fitness is that you can go in 24 hrs a day at ANY location across the country. Perfect for travel!)
Because I cook most of my meals at home, I always get a bit nervous about eating on the road...but I know how to make smart choices.
AND Tommy is going with me. He will hang out at the hotel while I am at my meeting :) And hopefully we can get in a bit of shopping.

See you guys for Three Things Thursday! 

Monday, January 9, 2012

Workout Schedule

I am trying something new with my diet/workouts for the next two months. Just switching it up a bit...I will tell you guys more later. But as a result, I am limiting my time in the gym. Most of my daily workouts will only be 30 minutes, except Zumba days which are an hour. Here is this week's schedule.

Monday- 10 minutes Treadmill/25 minutes Strength Class       Total 35 minutes
Tuesday- Traveling will workout in hotel                                          30 minutes
Wednesday- Traveling                                                                    30 minutes
Thurday- Zumba                                                                            60 minutes
Friday- Treadmill (walking)                                                             30 minutes
Saturday- Zumba                                                                            60 minutes
Sunday- REST

On Sunday, I will update with my actual workouts.

I worked this plan last week and it was SO nice being home earlier. AND I LOST WEIGHT! Of course, I was coming off the holidays, so I am really interested in this week's WI on Sunday.

Have a great Monday!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Three Things Thursday

1. Annalee is home from Vandy! I am so happy my sweet little niece is well enough to come home. I know Mom and Dad were very happy to bring their little girl home earlier this week. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and emails of support. This blog community is very special when "strangers" are so caring and thoughtful...strangers are definitely counted as friends!!!

2. Whew....this has been a LONG WEEK!  I was already wishing for Friday on Monday...and now it is supposed to rain all weekend BOO! It has been so pretty all week, and the forcast shows for rain both days this weekend.

3. I am super excited about (Just) Trying is for Little Girls' Cross Training Challenge. If you are looking for a fun reason to try out new forms of cross training, head over to her blog and check this challenge out!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

How do you like your Brussels Sprouts?



Last week I bought a huge bag of Brussels Sprouts. They were a good deal, and I knew it would give me an opportunity to play in the kitchen. Last night I experiments with Ina Garten's recipe for roasted Brussels Sprouts. I only used half of the olive oil that was recommended...(but they still seemed a bit too oily for me). They turned out decent, but not as yummy as I had hoped. In the past, I have only steamed my sprouts and thought they were tasty, but I want more options. How do you prepare your Brussels Sprouts? Or do you like them at all?

Monday, January 2, 2012

Creamy Cauliflower

I am a broccoli girl. It is my go to veggie side and I eat it several times a week. I almost always buy it frozen and zap it in the microwave. But this month, I really want to experiment with other veggies and get out of my dinner rut (we basically eat the same 5 meals every week).
Last night was my experiment with Cauliflower. I like steamed cauliflower (usually frozen and zapped in the micro) but I very rarely buy it. Occasionally I will get one of the Cauliflower with cheese single serving sides and have it in place of my broccoli. I have read several different recipies for creamy cauliflower (sometimes called mashed cauliflower or faux potatoes), but had never tried it myself. Last night I dug out some frozen cauliflower from the bottom of my deep freeze and gave the recipe a try. It was delicious and I couldn't believe how much it tasted like creamed potatoes. The recipe is super easy. Just boil your cauliflower until very tender. Throw it in the blender or mini chopper (LOVING my new Ninja!) with about 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt (you could also use sour cream) and add salt and pepper to taste. SO YUMMY! Super Quick! And definitely something that I will be adding to my side dish arsenal! :)

Hope everyone's New Year is off to a great start! Annalee is still at Vandy, but she is feeling better. Hope that sweet little girl gets to come home soon! Thank you so much for your sweet comments and concern!