tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45905782478688601312024-03-13T21:00:11.098-07:00Mission: PossibleAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-55291302807533057042012-03-22T18:35:00.001-07:002012-03-22T18:36:56.698-07:00It's been a while....<div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">Wow! It's been MUCH longer than I had anticipated between blogs.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">Life has gotten in the way, I suppose. Actually, I more than "suppose"...I know it has. My lack of time at the gym, my big fat "Zero calories burned in the last 7 days" on the calorie tracker app I have, and my lack of weight loss all supports that life has interrupted my divine plan, at least until now. I have GOT to re-commit to this. Where there isn't time, I'm going to have to make it, even if that means making some sacrifices (mainly, my sleep, at this point). </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span><br /><br /></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">I haven't been making completely terrible eating choices (though I have had a few bad meals). For the most part I have been sticking to eating clean, and making healthy snack choices. Because of that, the numbers on the scale haven't gone up. But, because of lack of exercise and not being as committed, the numbers haven't gone down, either. We're going to focus on the fact that there hasn't been an increase, because there is power in positive thinking (or so I'm told).<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">Anyway, we're into Spring time now, and I'm not where I wanted to be, so it really is time to buckle down. I keep telling myself "Oh, I will, I will" but I haven't been, so I'm not getting anywhere. It'll be pool weather before too long, and no one wants to see a beached whale, even if she is in a modest swimsuit. (Don't fear, I am not one of those that hangs the spare tire out for the world to see in a twenty-three size too small bikini).<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">There are a few areas in which I am really doing well, and those are mainly what I want to blog about today.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">First, I am so excited to say that it has been <strong><u>26</u></strong> days since I have had a soda. That means no Dr. Pepper, no Coke Zero, no Sprite, no Root Beer, no Ginger Ale...no nothing. When we go out to eat, I have either water or lemonade, usually. I have only had sweet tea 4 times in the last 26 days, too. I just started reading more and more about soda-- how it effects the body (the equivalent of something like 30 packets of pure sugar basically shocks the crap out of your system), how there are carcinogens in the caramel coloring (so much so that unless levels were lowered, there were going to have to be warning labels placed on cans due to a new law)-- things like that, and I just started thinking "What the hell am I drinking? Why am I doing this to myself?" I've even cut down dramatically on my coffee-- I've only had 4 coffees since the end of February.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">Since I've cut out soda (and really, most processed sugar drinks), I have been able to tell a difference. I do feel better- I'm less jittery, I am sleeping SO much better (more on that in a bit), and I have had less issues with my acid reflux (more on that in a minute, too). I'm not filling my body up with chemicals and empty calories. The first few days, I did have some withdrawals. I got caffeine headaches and just felt icky and sluggish. I just upped my water intake and if I felt headachy, either drank some tea or took some excedrin migraine (which has caffeine in it). I always allowed migraines to be my "crutch" and my reason for allowing myself so much soda. I used to get terrible, awful, knock-me-down-into-my-bed-for-days migraines, and my doctor even would suggest to take my meds with a Coke for a big boost of caffeine. So if I felt a minor headache coming on...I'd have a Coke, ya know, to keep it from turning into a migraine (even though I know the difference between a tension headache, a fatigue headache, a hunger headache, and a migraine, and know when caffeine will help and when it won't).<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">After the "detox" period was over (which now, I think is just insane that I even had to detox off of something that some people even give little kids to drink), which was only a few days, I felt great! I can honestly say that I don't miss sodas. I never thought I'd really say that and it be true, but it really is!<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">Next, I have stuck to taking my vitamins, and have even added additional supplements. For some people, this might not be a big deal, but for me, it's huge. I have NEVER been able to remember to take my vitamins. Now, not only do I take the GNC Woman's multivitamin for metabolism & weight loss, but I also supplement with fish oil (omega 3's), cod liver oil (joint & muscle health as well as additional vitamins A & D), green tea extract (healing antioxidants, appetite suppression, & metabolism boosting), and biotin (healthy hair, nails, and skin). I take these all twice a day (except for the cod liver oil and biotin, which are just once a day) like clockwork. And believe it or not, I have noticed a difference!! For instance, a TERRIBLE stomach bug went through my work (and pretty much through the whole US, going by facebook). I was exposed to it a few times by close friends, and I didn't catch it. I had a few days where I felt peakid, like I was trying to get sick, but I never did. For those that really know me, you know how big of a deal this is-- I am the one that everyone says "Oh, poor thing. You're ALWAYS sick." I have been able to avoid several bad sicknesses this year, and I attribute this in part to vitamins helping to build my immune system and in part to being healthier (maybe not weight wise, yet but by making healthier choices).<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">One thing I mentioned earlier is that I have been a long sufferer of acid reflux. Terrible, blindingly painful acid reflux. It started several years ago, as my weight increased and my food choices deteriorated. It got worse during pregnancy, so bad that I went through 10 bottles of tums in the 36 weeks I was pregnant (10 bottles of tums is roughly 20,000 tums...yea...). When I was at the hospital after having L, one of the nurses cheerfully told me that she betted most of my reflux problems would be gone since I gave birth. I never asked for a single pain medication, nor any after-birth assistance, with the exception of requesting an antacid...so no, cheerful nurse lady, it didn't go away. Up until about 6 weeks ago, I was taking 150mg of zantac TWICE a day- that's a double dose each day- to keep the acid at bay. Taking all that medication didn't guarantee I wasn't going to get reflux, either, it just made it bearable. Well, I have noticed as I clean up my eating (even if the dish is spicy), I have been getting less reflux.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">So, one night, I ate bad, and got terrible, awful, reflux- probably one of the worst cases I have ever had. I was almost in tears, it hurt so bad. And then I remembered a friend of mine telling me about a home remedy she has tried in cases of desperation, and it worked. As unappealing as it sounds, she told me to drink a teaspoon to a tablespoon of straight vinegar. Let me tell you- I put this option off until the absolute LAST minute. Seriously, I had no other option that did not involve packing my child up at 2 am and hurrying to Walgreens, and when this particular event occurred, L was NOT sleeping well, so waking her was NOT on the table even if my chest was exploding. So out came the vinegar. I pinched my nose, held my breath, and swallowed a teaspoon. Cringed, from top to bottom, and felt it burn all the way down my esophagus. Much to my sputtering surprise, as soon as it hit my belly, the reflux stopped. Like, immediately.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">There is something to be said about home remedies, and not filling our bodies with chemicals sometimes. It was just so disgusting to me to drink vinegar (eew, I mean, have you smelled that stuff?) that I would rather have spent 20000 times the money (probably literally, because 60 zantac is over $20 and lasted me a month...and vinegar is less than $2 a bottle and will last me probably 6 months or more at a tsp a dose) than to have taken 30 seconds of dealing with the bitterness of vinegar. While I still cringe from top to bottom, and it still burns all the way down, I am not nearly as disgusted by the taste...just don't chase it with water if you try it on your own. I did that the second time and all it did was amplify the taste and made it last about 10 minutes instead of 30 seconds. Just deal with the taste. Like the smell (if you use it to clean), it will go away pretty quickly.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span style="font-size:85%;">I believe so strongly in the vinegar to treat reflux method now, that I will not buy tums or zantac anymore. I had to take it that night, then the next two nights after that. Then, I don't know what happened -- if the vinegar has neutralized acid production in my stomach or what-- but I have only had to take it a handful of times since. I have had reflux a few more times than a handful, but every single time, drinking a half a cup of whole milk has stopped it. I am floored, because before the vinegar trick, I could probably have drunk a gallon of milk and it would've just made it worse (seriously, folks, if my water was too cold, it gave me reflux...it was THAT bad). That is why I think maybe the vinegar has done something to curb the excess acid production. Now, giving credit where it is due-- I'm also eating better so that is also a contributing factor-- but I truly believe that the vinegar has helped tremendously. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span><br /><br /></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1332463204576433"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1332463204576430" class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1332463204576427" style="font-size:85%;">One thing I have learned that makes itself loud and clear, over and over again is that this journey is NOT just about losing weight. This journey is about changing my lifestyle to make healthier choices, in order to make being fit and healthy a lifetime commitment. It's not going to happen in a day, and it's going to take more than eating a salad instead of a slice of pizza. There are many parts to the pie of living a healthy life, and each one is as equally as important to the other (and directly effects the other). </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020049186843164218-22032012"></span><br /></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-85062988554813950782012-02-23T17:49:00.002-08:002012-02-23T17:51:28.398-08:00Diet is a dirty word (and Lent is helpful)<div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178522"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178521" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178520" style="font-size:85%;">I started to fall into a rut towards the middle of last week. I was frustrated that the numbers on the <span style="color:#ff0000;">scale</span><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178526" style="color:#000000;"> hadn't moved in a while. I deviated from my </span><span style="color:#ff0000;">diet</span><span style="color:#000000;"> several days in a row, and I was losing sight of all of the reasons I started this journey. I was more focused on </span><span style="color:#ff0000;">losing pounds</span><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178528" style="color:#000000;">, than getting fit, and beating myself up over not meeting some goals I had set for myself. I started thinking about what I could do to help get myself back on track. Along with revisiting some of my intial goals and adding some new (and sometimes silly ones), I also realized I need to change the way I'm approaching this whole thing.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178530"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178534"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178533" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178532" style="font-size:85%;">I realized, quite quickly, that the first thing that has to go out the door before I can get over this case of the doldrums is my focus on dieting. I'm not <em id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178536">dieting...</em>I'm changing my entire outlook towards food and teaching myself how to consistently eat well <u>all</u> the time. Now, I'm not talking about the word diet in the context of "The American Medical Association suggests the following for a healthy, well balanced diet..." I'm talking about the "ZOMG!! I just read in People magazine that Beyonce lost 25lbs doing the rice and chili pepper smoothie diet!"<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178538"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178406"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178405" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178404" style="font-size:85%;">The word "diet", in the context in which I (and many of us) have been using it, has a negative connotation that indicates, at some point, a goal weight will be attained, the diet will cease, and I can go back to doing whatever I felt like doing. That's so totally not the case here. I am changing my entire lifestyle. My ultimate goal is to live a longer, healthier, fitter life. Changing my eating habits so that I am eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, more lean meats, and less processed sugars and flours, less fat, and less (read: no) fast food is not a diet. <strong id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178541">Simply enough, it's just the right way to eat!</strong> "Diet" implies something like Jenny Craig, the <span class="yshortcuts cs4-visible" id="lw_1330048146_0">cabbage soup diet</span>, medically assisted weight loss, pills, and any of the other thousands of "quick" weight loss plans out there. These do <strong><em>nothing</em></strong> to help a person learn how to eat for nutrition and sustinance (rather than emotion, convenience, etc). <strong>Calling what I am doing a "diet" is doing nothing but sabotaging me.<br /><br /></strong> </span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178543"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178547"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178546" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178545" style="font-size:85%;">A "dieter" will beat themselves up mentally over deviating from "The Diet" and eating a cookie or having a small piece of birthday cake. A "dieter" will have "cheat days" where they can fall off the wagon completely and eat whatever they want in whatever quantity they want. A "dieter" will more than likely spend many, many days of their lives "dieting" and few days of their lives losing weight, keeping it off permanently, and feeling great about themselves. That's why most diets out there are called "Fad Diets" or "Crash Diets"...they're not meant to change a person's lifestyle for life, they're meant to give them a quick fix before bikini season or some other big event.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178551"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178550" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178549" style="font-size:85%;">A person who has committed to changing their lifestyle, who consistently makes healthy choices, knows that she can indulge in a small piece of cake or a cookie every now and then and <em>it's ok</em>. A lifestyle changer will not need "cheat days" because they either no longer want the bad foods out there or because they allow themselves the occassional indulgence (which takes away the taboo that they're doing something wrong by "cheating" on eating well). A lifestyle changer will spend some days of their life planning out delicious, nutritious meals for herself and her family. She'll spend days shedding weight and she will <u>know</u> that weight is gone <strong>FOREVER</strong>.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178553"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178556"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178555" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178554" style="font-size:85%;">Along with the big D word, the phrase <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>"cheat day"</strong></span> has got to go, too. I can't think of a single time that cheating is acceptable-- not in school, not in a marriage...and then there is that little phrase about winners never cheating and cheaters never prospering. So, using that mindset, the whole concept of a "cheat day" when it comes to eating does nothing but set a person up for failure, one bite at a time.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178557"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178560"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178559" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178558" style="font-size:85%;">What I am learning is that even the healthiest people <em>indulge</em> from time to time. But, when they do indulge, they limit themselves. They do not go overboard, and their sweet tooth or salty craving (or whatever) is satisfied. They also know healthy ways to indulge. I feel that if I allow myself to have a whole day or even just a meal, I am doing myself a disservice. If I instead, allow myself to indulge my cravings in a healthy way, when I get them, I will not even contemplate going off the deep end and eating like crazy. And, from what's happened in the past, one cheat day a week soon leads to two, then three, then finally you're not cheating anymore because you're no longer eating well to begin with.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178561"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178564"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178563" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178562" style="font-size:85%;">So how does one "indulge" in a healthy way? I have a sweet tooth...if you know me at all, you know this. Instead of eating a whole candy bar when I have an urge for something sweet (or, worse, waiting until I have a cheat day and eating a whole molten lava cake or something crazy), a healthy approach would be to allow myself <u>one</u> Hershey's Special Dark miniature. Dark chocolate in moderation actually has health benefits (hello, antioxidants) and one piece of rich dark chocolate is usually enough to kick a craving. We just <em>think</em> we need the whole bag. If I'm at a get together and there are a lot of unhealthy dips and foods, along with a veggie and fruit tray, I try to fill a majority of my plate with the fruits and veggies. The less room on my plate, the less likely I am to fill it full of stuff I don't need. I will, however, leave a small spot for 5 or 6 chips and a small spoonful of dip or 2 or 3 little meatballs or smokies. Then, I eat all the fruit/veggies first, and save the "bad" food for last- like a treat. I have actually been doing really well with this approach. I made a King sized Hershey's Special Dark bar last over two weeks (at WORK, mind you) by eating one little piece every so often. At one point, I had even forgotten I had it. I am so proud of myself for this because I believe I'm finally learning portion control, and eating when hungry/craving versus eating when bored.<br /><br /><br />Food isn't a reward, and it definitely isn't taboo, so there is no reason why anyone needs to cheat on themselves with it.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178565"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178568"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178567" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178566" style="font-size:85%;">That brings me to another word (well, phrase, really) that I am working to remove from my vocabulary-- <u><strong>"losing weight" or "losing inches"</strong></u><em> .</em> I lose my keys, socks and shoes, my cell phone, coupons, hair ties and clips, and various and sundry other things all the time. I'm what you would call "scatterbrained" (lovable, but scatterbrained). With each of these items that I lose, comes the hope that I will soon <em>find</em> them again. I don't know about any of you, but the weight and inches I am able to banish from my body by eating right and exercising will be gone for good. I don't want it back, ever. I certainly don't want to "find" it again at the bottom of an ice cream container or a box of cookies. What does one do with items they no longer want? They throw them away, or more apt to this situation, they <em>get rid of them</em>. So, from this point forward, I am no longer losing weight/inches. <strong>I am getting rid of it.<br /><br /></strong></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178570"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><strong></strong></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178573"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178572" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178571" style="font-size:85%;">Something else that has got to go (and has been previously attacked in blog form this week): my reliance on the scale, and my reluctance to believe I'm making progress when the numbers don't fall. I read something very poignant after I posted that blog that really, really struck me. A mother, when standing on the scale, is approached by her three year old daughter, who asks "Well, what does it say, Mommy?" The mother isn't happy with the number, but simply looks at the daughter, smiles, and says "It says Mommy is <em>just right</em>." The author went on to write that she explained to her daughters that she went to the gym because some of her clothes didn't fit well, after having their baby sister because her belly got so big, and she needed to make sure she was able to fix that. She makes it a point to NEVER dwell on the number on the scale, and to never talk about how unhappy she is with her body (even if she truly is) in front of her daughters. After reading that, I came across an article discussing how girls as young as THREE have been diagnosed with eating disorders and body image problems. How does a three year old develop body image disorders? They learn from those around them. Their little sponge brains suck up everything we say and do, including when we complain about being fat or not liking the way we look.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178574"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178578"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178577" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178576" style="font-size:85%;"><strong id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178575">I never want my daughter to allow the numbers on a scale define her. </strong>I never again want to allow the numbers on the scale to define me, either. We are more than those numbers, whatever they may or may not be. I want L to grow up watching her parents make healthy lifestyle choices. I want her to see us living active, healthy lives, and filling our plates with yummy, nutritional food. <em id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178579">I want her to see me as a person she can look up to for positive body image, in a world filled with unhealthy bodies.</em> I do not want her to define her self worth in numbers.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178580"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178583"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178582" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178581" style="font-size:85%;">So what does Lent have to do with this?<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178584"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178587"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178586" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178585" style="font-size:85%;">Lent is a 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday when followers (who are generally, but not always, Catholic) choose to give up something (or things) that they enjoy. It signifies when Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days. People give up smoking, drinking, cursing, carbonated beverages, caffeine, red meat, and all sorts of other things. Anything that is considered a sacrifice for them, they can give up for Lent. Lent is a good way for people to rid themselves of their vices, because, along with all the many other reasons (health, money, whatever), a holier reason is now attached.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178588"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178591"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178590" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178589" style="font-size:85%;">This year, I have chosen to give up soda and other beverages containing processed sugar (sweet tea, lemonade, etc). I've also chosen to give up fast food completely (unless it is some kind of extenuating circumstance--like we have no other option for food-- in which case I will get a plain salad without dressing or a grilled chicken sandwich with no bun/sauce), and to give up "cheat days" (which plays along with the idea of a lifestyle change rather than a diet). I will allow myself to indulge from time to time in a piece of dark chocolate or a small slice of birthday cake or the like here and there, but I will not over do it, and I will not allow myself a whole day to waste a week's worth of hard work in the gym.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178592"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178595"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178594" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178593" style="font-size:85%;">Soda is going to be a hard one for me. I have cut down on my soda and sweet tea consumption <em>dramatically</em> in the last 8-10 weeks but I still really enjoy a McDonald's sweet tea or an icy cold Dr. Pepper, all too often. I could see I was slowly slipping back into the multiple sodas/teas per day habit that I had last year, and I need to stop that quick. The cheat days aren't going to be as bad for me as I had originally thought. Even on my past, recent cheat days, I hadn't been bringing myself to make that terrible of choices. For one, I think about how hard I work when I'm in the gym (and how sporadically I've been able to go, even though I want to go as much as possible) and secondly, I just really haven't wanted to be "bad". I'm one of those weirdos that doesn't actually <em>mind</em> eating healthy. Fast food is going to be a little bit of a challenge just because it's easy to run out and grab something at lunch, and some fast food joints do offer healthy options. Usually I don't do to terribly when I grab something on the run, but I need to stop doing that if I am going to keep on trying to eliminate heavily processed foods.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178596"><span class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178599"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178598" class="yiv1141775695906153515-23022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1330048120178597" style="font-size:85%;">I have often read that it takes 30 days to form a habit. So, if I really stick to these "sacrifices" (which, as far as my health is concerned, aren't really sacrifices at all), then I should be able to be completely done with them, even after Lent. I will even have 10 extra days to really solidify the "habit". </span></span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-26351250118404843122012-02-21T18:29:00.000-08:002012-02-21T18:31:32.251-08:00Don't trust the scale (and other lessons I've learned so far)<div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1329877808701137"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1329877808701134" class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1329877808701131" style="font-size:85%;">We're about two months into my journey. I am happy with my results thus far, even though I feel like I'm not as far along as I should be. In just two months, I feel like I've already learned so much, and that I am making great strides into permanently changing my fitness and eating habits. Of course, along the way, there have come some life lessons. I'd like to take a few minutes to share these with you. Maybe in another few months, I'll revisit these and see if my opinions have changed.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"></span><br /><br /></div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>1. The scale is not the be-all, end-all indicator of progress</strong>. In fact, as far as progress indicators go, I'm learning that the scale should actually be the <em>last</em> place I go to "check up" on myself. There are so many other ways to see how far one has progressed in getting fit. For instance, I have had very little movement on the scale in the last 3 or 4 weeks. Granted, I have had some slip-ups as far as eating healthy, but I have also been going to the gym and doing more physical activity than I had in the past. I let this consistent number on the scale get to me, and I shouldn't have, because when I began to <u><em>measure</em></u> myself (a better progress indicator), I discovered I had lost another few inches in my waist. I have also been wearing some clothing I hadn't been able to in a long time, which means that my body is changing. I've noticed that I am able to do more at the gym, too. At first, I would get a mile or two out on the treadmill, and that was it- I was spent. Now, I am getting a mile or two out on the treadmill <em>while carrying on a conversation</em> (Hello, stamina! Nice to get re-acquainted with you!) and then hop off and go to 35-45 minutes of pretty high impact aerobics. Sometimes, I feel like I could still keep going, even after that, but by that time it's usually late and I have to go pick up L. So, when I do go get her, I still have energy to come home, play with her, clean, cook, etc. I'm also sleeping better (though, still not great, I am averaging a few more hours per night), waking up earlier (without that tired, dragging feeling) and I'm pushing through that afternoon slump without getting a coke or candy. All of this is improvement, and better indicators of the progress I'm making than the stupid scale.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>2. I don't like celery. </strong><em>But, I'm eating it anyway.</em> Why? Because it's very healthy, and makes a very filling snack. I am limited as to what I can snack on at my desk, and I like to change it up so I don't get bored eating the same fruits, veggies, or nuts every single day. I also don't like plain bananas, but I am working on sneaking them into my diet more. I can't peel and eat a banana- it's the texture, not the taste (for the most part) that gets me- but I can eat them, blended in a smoothie. So, because bananas are extremely healthy (and I can always use potassium to help with leg cramps and such), I do that. I don't always want a banana in my smoothie, but I always put one in. Sometimes, you have to just suck it up and do what is healthy. (Note: This does not mean you're going to see me munching on tomatoes anytime soon...but I am working on avocados.)<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>3. I actually don't mind working out.</strong> <em>Most of the time, I even look forward to it, and find myself disappointed when I miss a day I had planned on.</em> I used to wrack my brain everyday, trying to think of excuses not to work out (and I felt like I had a pretty decent arsenal, too-- I have too much to do at home, I didn't sleep well, I don't feel good, L is grouchy, I don't have time, etc, etc). If I <u>had</u> to miss a day...yea, I wasn't disappointed. I didn't want to go-- because, I realize now, I didn't actually care about my health/fitness. Now that I have changed my mindset, when I have to miss a day for whatever reason (there are actual reasons that one might have to miss going to the gym, like getting sick with bronchitis), it makes me so frustrated. I feel like I'm sabotaging myself, even if I can't go to the gym because of something totally out of my control.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>4. Working up a sweat <u>does</u> make you feel better!</strong> On the days where I have no reason not to go to the gym (no plans, no need to pick L up right after work, etc), but don't feel well, it's hard to get motivated to go. But, I've found that on those days, if I can get myself through the door at the gym and into my workout clothes, I end up leaving (after my workout) feeling much better. I usually convince myself to go by telling myself "Just 2 miles on the treadmill" or "Just a half hour on the stationary bike...you can do this." By the time I'm done with my 2 miles or half hour, I'm sweaty, my heart is pumping, and I actually feel better. Sometimes I stay and do some more, and then sometimes I just stick to my word and go home afterwards, but either way, I end up glad I went. If I'm in a bad mood, frustrated, or stressed about something, it's the same deal. I have to force myself to go but I feel so much better afterwards.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>5. Eating healthy isn't harder or more expensive than eating bad. </strong>Contrary to popular belief (or what McDonald's Dollar Menu would lead you to believe), it is not more expensive or less convenient to eat healthy. At first glance, it can seem misleading when you can spend $3.28 and get a McDouble, small fries, and a large Sweet Tea, that you can get anything healthy for anywhere close to the same price. But when you really think about it, buying groceries and fixing them yourself (and eating leftovers) is a cheaper and healthier way to go. I can spend about $10 and get a bunch of fresh veggies, salad greens, a protein (like a chicken breast) and dressing for a salad that will feed JP and I both for at least 2 meals each. It's more filling (both in terms of fullness and vitamins/nutritional value) and costs less than the calorie/fat/sodium laden fast food. And as far as convenience goes, popping a container of leftovers in a microwave at the office beats sitting in a car breathing in someone else's exhaust fumes at the drive thru. AND, if leftovers aren't your thing, there are plenty of frozen meals now that are healthy (Kashi makes a few really awesome ones) that are less than $5 a meal. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1891973668328200416-21022012"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>6. I may never run on the treadmill.</strong> <em>But I will, eventually, run. </em>To date, I am still afraid to run on the treadmill. I have decided to go at my own pace there, and as the weather gets warmer, do more attempted runs outside. If I eventually can run on the treadmill without paralyzing fear of flying off the back, great. If I never do more than a very, very brisk walk on the treadmill but start knocking out some miles outdoors, that's great too. Just as great.<br /><br /></span></span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-10376979703743693462012-02-11T19:23:00.000-08:002012-02-11T19:29:13.116-08:00I'm BACK!!<div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm back in the gym!</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">Monday was the day I was re-released to go to the gym. I was told not to over-do it, and stop if I had the same problems like I did two weeks ago.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">Thankfully, I did <u>not</u> have those problems, and was able to complete 2.7 miles on the treadmill on Monday. I did incline intervals for the first 15 minutes at 4.0, and then 15 more minutes of walking at an 8% incline at 5.0 (which is almost a run), and then about 3-4 minutes of cool down for a total of 34 minutes and <strong><u>396 calories</u></strong>. I am so happy with that, as my average mile was around 11:30. I'm really happy with that because that's a personal best for me right now. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">JP bought me my Valentine's Day gift a few weeks early, too, and I got to try it out Monday. I got a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor/calorie counter. I love it. It is <span style="color:#ff80c0;"><strong>pink</strong></span> (of course) and came with one of the chest straps (which provide the most accurate heart rate calculations). I was pleasantly surprised to see that I burned around 150 calories more than what the treadmill showed, about 70 more calories than MyFitnessPal showed for the workout I inputted, and about 200 calories more than what CardioTrainer showed. I also learned that my target heart rate for calorie burning is between 130-165, and during the incline intervals (and during my super fast power walking) my heart rate stayed around 180, which is 89-92% of my max heart rate (which is what gave me the extra calorie burn, most likely).</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm excited to finally try Shred, and the other Jillian Michaels DVDs, and see what kind of calories I burn doing those.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">I STILL haven't gotten to start Shred yet. Another little bump in the road was that my sweet, wonderful toddler L decided she didn't have to sleep at night anymore (and as a result, Mommy and Daddy didn't, either). Thankfully, after discovering FOUR new canine teeth and treating a case of the snotty noses, she seems to be sleeping again (mostly) which means Mommy gets to sleep again (mostly) which means 5 am won't be so harsh. When you don't get to sleep until 4:30, there is no 5 am meeting with Jillian. Since L has stated sleeping again, and is spending the night away from home tonight, I am going to attempt to try Shred in the morning.<br /><br />I did the Banish Fat Boost Metabolism DVD by Jillian this evening and HOLY CRAP. 777 calories and I had to stop a few times throughout because my heart rate went too high and I started getting dizzy. She is a killer, but I can totally see how she gets results out of people so quickly! I LOVED it, and can't wait to get to where I can make it through the whole DVD without stopping.<br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">You may have also noticed that there was not a Monday weigh in. This is because I was tired of reporting "no change" for the last several weeks, and there was, in fact, no change on Monday. What I have learned through being sick is that <strong>there is only so much that eating well can do</strong> as far as weight loss, especially when you're like me and didn't eat completely terribly to begin with. In order to continue to see results, I have to incorporate cardio and weight training. I have also learned that <strong>sometimes the scale is not the be all end all indicator of weight loss</strong>. Once I start the weight training program, especially, the numbers on the scale may not move as dramatically as I want because muscle does weigh more than fat. As I tone up and add a little muscle, the scale might be deceiving. BUT, the tape measure won't lie. Inches are going to add up! </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">I am going to post a new weigh in on next Monday, and start again with the regular Monday weigh-ins. And, on the 1st of every month, there will be new measurements. I can't wait to see all these numbers shrink!</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">People are also starting to notice something is going on with me, too. I have been getting a lot more <em>"You look different, but I can't put my finger on what it is"</em> comments, and <em>"Did you do something different to your hair? Is that a new outfit? Something looks different about you."</em> I have run into a few people who I haven't seen in a while, who know I'm doing this weight loss journey, and they've all said they've been able to tell I've lost weight. One said my face is thinner, and another noticed my jeans were too big! I am happy to report that my total weight loss since June 2011 is 22 pounds (and from what I read, it starts to become noticeable to people after the first twenty). Of course, when you think about it, that's nothing compared to what I'm going to lose this year (amazing what some dedication to getting fit can help one accomplish, huh?) but it is still a start in the right direction.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">I had planned to start the Couch To 5k program this week but I think until the weather gets warmer, I'm going to take a different approach. I am going to do the treadmill at the fastest walking pace I can, and work on increasing my miles per workout. Then, once I can start doing some running outside, I'm going to work on increasing my walking pace to a run, and then work on trimming my run time down.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Why? Why not just run on the treadmill?</em> (I know you're thinking this). Well, let me let you in on a <em>little</em> secret.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I am terrified of actually running on a treadmill.</span></em></strong></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">I know, this is completely ridiculous, but I am. I have, possibly, watched too many youtube videos of people flying off the back of treadmills. I am, more than likely, the least coordinated person I know. Plus, I feel like I look ridiculous when I run. I am sure, on all counts, I am overreacting, but I just can't get up the nerve yet to let go of the handles on the treadmill, up the speed <em>just a little </em>(I already walk at 5.0, running is anything over 5.5), and jog. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span style="font-size:85%;">The idea of running outside, on a track, doesn't phase me at all. In fact, I'm a little excited about it, and looking forward to springtime. Plus, there are no 5ks run on treadmills. They're all run outside, on pavement (unless you're doing the Warrior Dash, then it's through mud, hay, gravel, etc). I have also read that running on the treadmill is nothing like running on actual pavement, so I figure if I want to start doing 5ks and eventually half marathons, I need to get my butt outside. </span></span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1329016852933140"><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> <span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1329016852933137" class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1329016852933134" style="font-size:85%;"><br />A few afternoons this week, I had a workout buddy, which was awesome! I can go to the gym at the same time as JP, but we cannot work out together. The nice way of putting it is like this: We are not motivated by the same things, and we do not respond the same way to the "coach" mentality. The not so nice way of putting it: JP tends to try to motivate me by pushing me (like a football coach would) and it just makes me grumpy and mad. But today, my best friend since we were 10 came to the gym with me. It was fun having a friend there! We tried Step Aerobics, Cardio Dance, and Aerobic Dance. I realized I'm completely uncoordinated, but, managed to burn an average of 500 calories doing each workout (if I would've been able to actually DO some of the stuff, I probably could've burned 1000 calories each! But, I did the best I could for having two left feet).<br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(If any of YOU would like to try my gym out, send me a message on Facebook. Anytime Fitness is the BOMB!)</span></em></strong></span></div> <div><span class="yiv797454013328241015-08022012"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br /></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-44214294543738698652012-02-01T18:06:00.000-08:002012-02-01T18:15:23.533-08:00New month, new weight and measurements!!I'll keep this one short, and sweet.<br /><br />Every month, I plan on updating my weight and some measurements.<br /><br />My goal is to lose 10lbs each month until I meet my ultimate goal weight.<br /><br />Sooo, this month....<br /><br />Weight: 187 Loss of 7lbs (remember, I ended up weighing 194 instead of 197 to start)<br /><br />Chest: 45" Loss of 1"<br /><br />Waist: 37 1/4" Loss of 3/4 inches<br /><br />Hips: 42" Loss of 1 1/2"<br /><br />Total inches lost: 3 1/4"<br /><br />Also, my size 14 pants now fall off of me when I walk around. The 12 slims I have are still too small in the hips but I'm pretty confident I'll be in those by the end of this month.<br /><br />I didn't hit my 10lb goal, but I feel pretty accomplished with these numbers considering I was sick for the entire month almost with that bronchitis.<br /><br />February is a new month! Gym, Shred, Yoga or Pilates, and eating right. I'm hoping for a lot of lower numbers next month!!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-55745269940993810402012-01-30T18:18:00.001-08:002012-01-30T18:20:33.036-08:00The South Beach Diet<div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Today, I will be starting Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet. If you recall in one of my first posts, I mentioned I had done this in the fall of 2011 with really good success. The holidays came, and all thoughts of dieting went out the window, so I didn't stick with it (and gained weight, believe it or not)!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Since I went to the gym last Monday and my lungs were still not ready for any intense cardio, and since my doctor said to give myself at least another week if not two of no physical exertion other than very low impact activity (like yoga, pilates, basic cleaning, etc), I wanted to do something that would keep the numbers dropping lower and lower on the scale. They didn't move from my weigh in on Jan 16 to my weigh in on Jan 23. I still weigh 187 pounds. That is still a 22 lbs weight loss total from about October of 2011 until now, and 7 lbs of that was this month alone. That's nothing to shake a stick at. Progress is progress. Weight loss is 1 lb at a time, just like weight gain.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Of course, optimistically, no change in the scale also means I didn't <em>gain</em> <em>weight</em> but it was still frustrating not to see a smaller number. I am trying not to beat myself up over this because I was on so much medicine that increased appetite, caused bloating, and could trigger an increase in weight gain that I am lucky that number didn't sky rocket. After all, I was eating everything in sight, and had a few slip ups with non-healthy food.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">To keep myself on track until I can get back in the gym and start the 30 day Shred in the mornings before work, I'm going to do Phase 1 of South Beach. It is just two weeks long, so I'm hoping by the time I'm done those two weeks, I'll have shed some stubborn weight and have even MORE motivation to kick butt in the gym (and not let a DVD version of Jillian Michaels make me cry)!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">For those of you not familiar with the South Beach diet, it was designed by Dr. Arthur Agatston, and according to his book/cookbook "The South Beach Diet Cookbook", his weight loss plan was "made for people who love to eat". I liked that as soon as I saw it. But, if you're like me, you've done your fair share of "crash diets." Smoothie diets, salad diets, etc-- I've done those with little to no success, not to mention, the success was short lived, because you can't exist on smoothies or salads or cabbage soup alone. So, before I started this diet, I did my homework. The South Beach diet is actually recommended as a safe, healthy way to lose weigh by the Mayo Clinic. It also has been known to help regulate blood sugar in diabetics, lower cholesterol, and regulate blood pressure. It is meant to slowly help a person change their lifestyle by taking away and reintroducing foods in three phases. By the time a person gets to the final phase, they are not only at their goal weight, but have changed their lifestyle. Cravings disappear, as well as the dependency on sugar for energy. I can definitely attest to this. Within the first three days of Phase 1, I found myself not wanting sugary treats, sodas, or even caffeine (though you're allowed coffee). </span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Dr. Agatston goes into great detail about good fats and good carbs, and how we as a society just lump all fats and all carbs together in one category and call them bad. He said this is why people try and fail to do low or no-fat diets or low or no-carb diets because your body actually does need fats (those found in Mediterranean oils like extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, nut oils and omega-3 fish oils) and carbs (those coupled with naturally occuring fiber such as whole grains and long grain brown rices) to survive properly.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Phase 1, what I'll be doing for two weeks, is the most restrictive. In this phase, there are no baked goods, cereals, flour, pasta, fruit, rice, and other grains allowed. Most people say "What?! Do you mean you can have no sweets? No breads? No fruit?!" It sounds a lot more terrible than it is. First, Phase 1 is only two weeks. It's not forever. And, the list of items allowed far outweight what isn't!<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">See for yourself:<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">I am allowed water (including Crystal Light packets and calorie free flavored waters), coffee (black), V-8, diet sodas, and tea (unsweetened). It is recommended that there be no more than 2 cups per day of tea or coffee. I don't really like the idea of Crystal Light or diet sodas because I don't love aspartame (or it's crazy side effects) so I will probably just stick to water like I did last time.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">As far as condiments, dressings, and seasonings, I am allowed basically anything as long as it doesn't contain sugar. I am still able to use all extracts (such as almond and vanilla), and really any spice or mix of spices I want. Mustards (except honey mustard) is ok, mayonnaise (regular, NOT fat-free), chimichurri steak sauce, hot sauce, tabasco sauce, horeseradish, salsa, low-sodium soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and a myriad of sugar free salad dressings (including a ton of yummy sounding recipes in the book) are all allowed.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">In fact, Dr. Agatston makes a great point when he writes, <em>"I encourage you to use anything that enhances the flavor of your food. If your healthy dishes taste great, you'll be less tempted to indulge in unhealthy ones!"<br /><br /></em></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><em></em></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Also in Phase 1, I am allowed up to two servings of dairy per day in the form of 1% or fat-free milk, cottage cheese, or fat-free plain yogurt (remember, no sugar). I can have any reduced fat or fat free cheese (though as a general rule it should contain no more than 6g fat per serving) including ricotta, feta, mozarella, cheddar, etc. Fat free sour cream is also alright.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Eggs are allowed unless you have terribly high cholesterol, and in fact, are a great source of fill-you-up protein. I made egg cups with meat and veggies last time that filled me up at breakfast time.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">All fish and shellfish is 100% acceptable, unless it is fried. Most meats are totally ok, too, and are a part of every meal because they are the main source of protein.. I can have sirloin, tenderloin, top loin, round tip, bottom round, eye round, and top round in beef, because they are the leanest cuts. Well-trimmed pork chops, pork tenderloin, and boiled ham are allowed. Canadian bacon is preferred over regular bacon because it is leaner. Veal cutlets and leg of lamb are allowed, too (though lamb is expensive)! Fat-free and low-fat lunch meat is allowed as long as it is not the "honey" cured variety. Low-fat bologna, salami, and pastrami are also totally ok, surprisingly enough. Turkey breast, turkey hot dogs, turkey salami, and turkey bacon are ok, too. In Phase 1, dark meat in poultry is not allowed, but I am allowed chicken breast, and cornish game hen. I'm also allowed turkey sausage during breakfast as long as it is not every day. And, for vegetarians, tofu, tempeh, and soy-based products are allowed in all phases. </span> </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;"><br />Canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, and walnut oil are acceptable for cooking as well as salad dressings, in all three phases.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">All types of nuts are acceptable, even macadamia nuts (though almonds are the best). Nut consumption should be limited to 1/4 cup per day.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">I am allowed pretty much all the vegetables I can eat, as well, on phase 1. Spinach, and all other leafy, dark green veggies are great. Artichokes, asparagus, avocados, beans (black, butter, chickpeas, green beans, Italian, kidney, lentils, lima, soy, split peas, and wax), bell peppers, broccoli, broccoli rabe, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, cucumbers, eggplant, fennel, leeks, lettuce (all varieties), mushrooms (all varieties), onions, radishes, scallions, shallots, snow peas, spaghetti squash, sprouts, turnips, water chestnuts, and zucchini are all allowed. Basically, the only ones to steer clear from are the ones that will metabolize into starch (which then turns to sugar): white flesh potatoes, beets, corn, and (in phase 1 only) sweet potatoes and squashes.<br /><br /></span> </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">I am even allowed sweets!! Yes, you read that right. Though I should stick to 75 calories or so per day, I am allowed to have hard, sugar-free candies, no-sugar-aded fudgsicles (which, in spite of containing artificial sweeteners, I love), no-sugar-added creamsicles, sugar-free jello, and sugar-free gum.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">The average weight loss during Phase 1 is between 8 and 17 lbs. When I did it in October, I lost 13 (but I didn't follow it as strictly as I should have). I am hoping for the same (if not better) this go around.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Phase 2 starts at the end of the first two weeks, and will continue until goal weight is reached. I haven't decided yet if I'll continue with the actual diet plan this way. I don't see why I wouldn't, because it is pretty much all guidelines we normally follow (and most clean-eating dishes fall into the South Beach diet acceptable foods) so I may continue. I will post a separate blog about the ins and outs of Phase 2 in two weeks, along with my total SBD weight loss/inches lost.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">After these two weeks, I am hoping and praying I'll be able to get back to the gym and to my planned 30 Day Shred. I feel like I'm missing out by not being able to do the second part of the "plan". I'm doing the best I can with the weight loss portion, but feeling like I am failing miserably at the "get fit" part! It's coming, though. I know this. </span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"></span> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_1_132797592731294"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_132797592731291" class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_132797592731288" style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Because I am tired of feeling like a blobby bump on a log not doing any physical activity, and because I'm having trouble sleeping, I've decided to start trying to do some pilates and yoga in these few weeks left of being out of the gym. My wonderful sister-in-law pointed me towards our streaming Netflix- they have a whole fitness section! Who knew?! I'm going to pick out a pilates work out and a yoga work out and try to do the pilates in the morning and the yoga before bed. That way, I am doing something, and it's low impact enough that it shouldn't aggravate my lungs. Plus, I could use a few minutes of relaxation and winding down before bed, and I can't think of a better way than yoga. Hopefully at the end of these two weeks, I am lighter and leaner! </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"> <span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"> <div><br /><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Then, maybe, DVD Jillian won't be so hard on me.<br /><br /></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span class="yiv758248006781214713-28012012"><span style="font-family:Poor Richard;">Yea, right. :)</span></span></div></span></span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-43106869584475602042012-01-24T19:04:00.001-08:002012-01-24T19:06:40.484-08:00Monday Weigh-In. A day late!<div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">It's Monday, so you know what that means: Weigh-In Day!<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">My current weight is (da dada daaaa): <strong><em>187 lbs<br /><br /></em></strong></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"><strong><em></em></strong></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">For those of you following, that is a 7 lb weight loss, but there has been no change from last Monday to this Monday. No additional loss, but (thankfully) no gain back, either.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">I am chalking this up to a few factors.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">First, I was on almost two week's worth of steroid medication, starting with a shot the day I went to the doctor, followed by steroid pills, and two inhalers that both contained steroids. Steroid medication can make a person retain water and it increases appetite.<br /><br /></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">Second, though I tried to eat as well as I could during these courses of medicine, I did have a few instances where I ate things I shouldn't (a whopper junior from Burger King one day, and a fried chicken tender salad with full fat honey lime dressing from Cheddar's another day).<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">And, lastly, I was on the "no physical exertion" restriction for two weeks. Over the weekend, I finally got the energy to do some serious cleaning at home and much to my happiness, I was able to breath clearly the whole time. So, I'm thinking I may be over The Great Lung Sickness of 2012.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">My goal for this month was to lose 10 lbs. I have 9 days left of this month, and 3 lbs to hit that mark. I feel like I can make it, if I really stick to it and push myself. But, I'm not going to beat myself up over it if I don't hit it, because all things considered this month, I've done well.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">I was supposed to start the 30 Day Shred this morning, but we had a night full of thunderstorms and tornado warnings, and I couldn't sleep. I had set the alarm for 5 am, so I could get up, Shred, make a smoothie, take a shower and get ready for work, but at 3:45 when JP came to bed, I was still wide awake. So those plans were nixed, at least for this morning.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">The new plan was to hit the gym after work for 30 minutes of cardio and about 30 minutes of weight training, then, after picking up L and getting her settled at home, pop in Shred for a last little vigorous work out before bed. It didn't work out like I'd planned, but at least I got SOME time in the gym.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">I was going to take specific before and after pics for the 30 days I am doing Shred (so, today and then again on Feb 22), but I decided to scrap that plan because I am also going to be doing other cardio/strength training at the gym. I didn't want anyone to think whatever results I get in the next 30 days were due to Shred alone, and be misrepresenting the product. I have seen before and after pics from Shred, and if I can have those results alone, I'll be ecstatic. I am just amping it up a little more by doing other stuff with it. So when you see a difference, keep in mind that is is <strong><em><u>not</u></em></strong> solely a result of Shred, but a combination of Shred, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1327460642_0">interval training</span> on the treadmill, and circuit weight training (as well as eating as lean as possible- low carb, high protein, lots of veggies and fruits). Plus, I'll be taking an updated pic on Feb 1, which will be 9 days into Shred, and then again on March 1, which will be just after I've completed Shred, so I'll have some result type pics anyway.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">Upcoming plans:</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">1. I am hoping to start the Couch to 5K training program on Feb 1. I am really excited about this because I have <u>never</u> been a runner. Seriously. Never. I have always said that the only time I would run is if something big, scary, or zombified was chasing me. I love to hike and do walking trails, I've just never been really into running. I have decided that I want to start doing races. JP has done one and wants to do more. We have this awesome running stroller that L is still small enough for and she LOVES to go fast, so I know she'd be stoked if we ran her around in a race. I'm not giving myself a time frame to get "race ready", though the program has a set time frame, but I'd like to run some kind of race in the spring. Plus, JP has promised me some cute running clothes (and I have been pinning some on Pinterest for ideas!) if I can succeed. Cute running clothes will look even more awesome on a fitter body, too so I'm going to wait to take him up on this offer until I'm closer to my goal weight/shape.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">2. Supposedly, one of the benefits of Shred is increased stamina. I plan on doing the level 1 30 day cycle, and (provided Jillian Michaels hasn't killed me by then) then move on to level 2 and so on. I am hoping to do all three levels in a 90 day time frame (though I've heard it's taken many months for users to get there). I am going to continue to do those in the mornings before work. I will have at least 3 days each week that I can't make it to the gym for different reasons, so on those days, I'll do Shred in the morning and then one of the other two DVDs I have later as my "actual" work out. I'm pumped about this. I know they're going to be HARD but I am just so ready to turn my body into the body I want. SO ready.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">3. When it gets warmer, I want to do some more outside. I'd like to go to the Don Fox park with L and walk (or without Lily and run). I think I'll do much better actually running outdoors (because I still get nervous on the treadmill for some reason).<br /><br /></span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">4. At some point, to switch things up, I'd like to start swimming at the Jimmy Floyd Center. I don't want to do it regularly but I would like to occassionally. Swimming burns tons of calories and is easier on your joints and muscles, so I think I may save this for "rest days". L also loves swimming so it would be a fun activity for JP and I to take her and play in the water in the indoor pool with her. Even leisurely swimming burns a lot of calories.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1327456862281128"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1327456862281125" style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1327456862281122" class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012">5. For Valentine's Day, I've asked for a really nice heart rate monitor. JP has one that syncs with the equipment at our gym. It accurately reports heart rate and calories burned. I would like to have one of these for myself so I can not only wear it at the gym during weight training to track my calories, but so I can wear it at home during Shred and the other DVD workouts, and during any outside activity I might log. I feel like MyFitnessPal is really good at figuring calories burned for a lot of what I do (cleaning, playing with Lily, regular treadmill walking, etc)-- but then other things, like interval training on the treadmill, Shred, Insanity, Zumba, etc--is not listed. I have to estimate what I have actually done and try to categorize it. Sometimes, to get the calorie count on the gym machine to match MFP, I have to "over log" my activity- a 30 minute interval train on the treadmill might be 400 calories but only 1.5 miles, but to make it right on MFP, I have to log it as a 3.5 mile run at 7.0 (which I am not actually doing). So I feel like I'm lying to the people who are following me!! </span></span><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"> Right now I'm putting Shred in as high impact aerobics, but it's not totally that. It's a combination of cardio, strength and core. It doesn't really fit into any of the MFP categories. So, I'm excited to get my heart rate monitor so I can figure out exactly what I'm burning in a day. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Palatino Linotype;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv1840584468421322314-23012012"></span></span><br /></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-85262191844619585732012-01-19T18:32:00.001-08:002012-01-19T18:32:59.758-08:00Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall...<span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">My facebook status from this morning is what spurred today's entry.<br /> <br /></span></span> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">I woke up this morning (20 minutes before my alarm), threw my new glasses on (and had temporary blindness by how clear everything is-- I'm still getting used to <em>actually</em> being able to see), and shuffled to the bathroom.<br /> <br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">I grumbled to myself, because, to my dismay, the only pair of black stockings I could find were <em><u>not</u></em> my usual control-top, smash-everything-down-and-rearrange-my-organs-in-order-to-appear-thinner-while-not-being-comfortable-or-able-to-breathe-all-day stockings. These were a cute pair of patterned stockings that are decidedly not in control of anything in the way of stomach flattening or thigh smoothing. Begrudgingly, I put them on, and then my skirt, tank top, and over shirt. I hadn't worn the shirt in a while; in fact, it is a size medium. But it was the first thing I grabbed in the closet, and as long as I didn't look like a can of busted biscuits, I was wearing it.<br /> <br /></span> </span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">When I looked at myself, now dressed, in the mirror, I did a double take.<br /> <br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">I didn't see a Weeble staring back at me.<br /> <br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tKYy9iHD0-oGZqR8TaKkHgI5HphR0hXgWAImS15D70AnCpbVyeE0tsylehePLE9-Ck2E0GWgkLUtd7cfW8irVDcEublDhYqXJEw9J9DFAAVR03BwLTZNJf3Oo6xCRi7IKNOuGxpnUgg/s1600/weeble.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 168px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tKYy9iHD0-oGZqR8TaKkHgI5HphR0hXgWAImS15D70AnCpbVyeE0tsylehePLE9-Ck2E0GWgkLUtd7cfW8irVDcEublDhYqXJEw9J9DFAAVR03BwLTZNJf3Oo6xCRi7IKNOuGxpnUgg/s320/weeble.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699533865026414194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> (This is a Weeble...more or less what I felt like I saw when I looked in the mirror).</span><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4nuw948GsRcNmCFEXxOjnOs64KlTts3Iwan_2UQkmUy9BOFUn1Js_0J3HuD-9ew43UX_m7DgzF0F7hdu_IepwDO2NvccKRRrO1kt8juwD0zyD1I292Uy60gOjwxB-nJGLumCFIP1qrM/s1600/ninjablender.jpg"><br /> </a><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">For months, probably years, actually, I have looked in the mirror and seen a little round blob looking back.<br /> <br />Maybe the description "Weeble" isn't totally true- I am more top heavy than bottom heavy. An upside-down Weeble, perhaps? Anyway, I have longed for the day that I look in the mirror and see a person I'm not completely disgusted by looking back.<br /> <br /></span></span> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">Today was that day.<br /> <br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">Now, I don't know what caused this change of heart. Maybe it's because I'm having a good hair day (I am, actually, truly having a good hair day. I've gotten compliments all day). Maybe it's because I haven't worn this shirt in a while and I forgot how much I liked it. Maybe it's because my eyes are still adjusting to the way higher prescription in my new glasses, and they've decided to play a mean trick on me and make me feel slimmer (or maybe, alternatively, <em>I am literally actually seeing what I really look like</em> since I can see so much better). <br /> <br />Or, maybe it's because the steroids are out of my system so I no longer have the steroid bloat and can actually see what 7lbs of weight loss looks like.<br /> <br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">Maybe...<em>just maybe</em>...my body image and perception of myself is changing, and I'm ready to be proud of my accomplishments. Seven pounds is nothing to scoff at, especially considering how sick I've been for the last two weeks. Seven pounds is 11% of the weight I want to lose-- GONE.<br /> <br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">I looked in the mirror for a few minutes, trying to figure out how I looked so different. I definitely have less bloat- probably because I'm not on the steroids anymore and also because I have cut out sodas nearly entirely and am drinking around 124-132 oz of water a day. I feel like my stomach looks flatter, so I'm guessing most of the 7lbs was in belly fat/water retention (we'll see how true that is at the end of this month when I take my measurements again). My face looks a little thinner (probably also due to being off the steroids), too.</span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">I'm very anxious to get back in the gym next week. I'm breathing a lot better but I still have some instances where I have coughing fits. I still am getting winded a little quicker, too, so I'm not totally over the bronchitis (but I'm far better than where I was two weeks ago). I'm planning on taking it slow next week and seeing how my lungs react to it and working myself back up.<br /> <br /></span></span> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">Last night, I ordered the trifecta of top rated Jillian Michaels work-out DVDs. I scored a great deal on them with no tax and free shipping from Amazon. They'll be waiting on me probably Friday when I get home from work. I ordered 30 Day Shred, Banish Fat Boost Metabolism, and No More Trouble Zones. The plan with these is that I will start doing the 30 Day Shred in the mornings, before work, while L and JP are still asleep. I wanted to do something quick-ish (these are around 30 minutes) that was still challenging, and would help me start my day off by working up a sweat and getting my heart rate going. The other two DVDs are longer workouts (45-60 minutes) so I won't be doing them in the mornings (at least, not right away) but I will be popping them in on the weekends (when I typically don't go to the gym) and on days where I can't make it to the gym for whatever reason. The good thing about these, from what I read, is that they're really intense and high impact, but they don't require anything special at home (meaning, I don't have to go out and buy weights or straps or chin up bars, etc). Now that we have a tv in our bedroom and one in our living room, I can do the work-outs wherever it's convenient (the living room when L and JP are asleep, or the bedroom when they're awake so I don't cut into Kung-Fu Panda Legends of Awesomeness time). I'm excited to try these out, and plan on giving some reviews of my own after I've done each for a little while.<br /> <br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">Oh, and for those of you who were wondering how I fit this $20 into my budget...I had leftover Christmas money.</span></span><br /> </div> <br /> </div> <br /></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ARYYfvFUbmfYnPHggfdy-0liqqFyKSb7Y9lYPdQyNIf-SYof0CI0BtPEzlMJR7njpbt6diKyFVLo7Xsfh2GaQ7-EcWkkkf5fU9jHno9DrhmXeHrd5e3LYh5H_i39Uyf8n061ko60o7s/s1600/jillianmichaels.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ARYYfvFUbmfYnPHggfdy-0liqqFyKSb7Y9lYPdQyNIf-SYof0CI0BtPEzlMJR7njpbt6diKyFVLo7Xsfh2GaQ7-EcWkkkf5fU9jHno9DrhmXeHrd5e3LYh5H_i39Uyf8n061ko60o7s/s320/jillianmichaels.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699533865306978050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> Maybe I'll look similar to this after doing those DVDs...we can hope/wish, right??</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012"><br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">Speaking of using leftover Christmas money, we made two other purchases recently that will benefit our health.<br /> <br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">If you're my friend on Facebook, you by now know I tried (and failed on an epic level) to make hummus a few days ago. I have no idea where I went wrong. Perhaps it was just a bad day in the kitchen. I don't know. But either way, I ruined the hummus, couldn't get my food processor to work, and burned up the motor in my blender. We drink a lot of fruit & veggie smoothies, so it was completely unacceptable to be without a blender.</span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">So, my infomercial loving husband said "We need to get a Ninja." My non-infomercial loving self, did not concur until I A. read a ton of reviews praising the Ninja B. Looked up prices of blenders and juicers (and realized I would have to buy two separate pieces of counter-space hogging equipment to do the same thing that this one piece of equipment did) and C. Found it on sale for $20 cheaper at Wal-Mart. </span></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4nuw948GsRcNmCFEXxOjnOs64KlTts3Iwan_2UQkmUy9BOFUn1Js_0J3HuD-9ew43UX_m7DgzF0F7hdu_IepwDO2NvccKRRrO1kt8juwD0zyD1I292Uy60gOjwxB-nJGLumCFIP1qrM/s1600/ninjablender.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4nuw948GsRcNmCFEXxOjnOs64KlTts3Iwan_2UQkmUy9BOFUn1Js_0J3HuD-9ew43UX_m7DgzF0F7hdu_IepwDO2NvccKRRrO1kt8juwD0zyD1I292Uy60gOjwxB-nJGLumCFIP1qrM/s320/ninjablender.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699533871424459490" border="0" /></a><div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">And now we own a Ninja. And I admit, it is amazing.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">It blends the smoothies much better than a regular blender. I don't know how, or why, but it does. I even made a Slim-Fast smoothie last night. I poured a bottle of my shake in there with a bunch of ice and it blended it to a frothy, milkshake like goodness. I'm a fan of the Ninja. We haven't used the juicing function yet, but I think we'll try it this weekend.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">I'll be doing a recipe round-up blog in the next few days of some ah-may-zing smoothie recipes.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1327025722078119"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1327025722078116" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1327025722078113" class="yiv212794035046171815-19012012">The second (smaller) purchase was a subscription to Clean Eating Magazine. I picked up the current issue at Kroger over the weekend to see what the fuss was about (and to find out how in depth the recipes were, and how wild the ingredients were). To my surprise, 95% of the recipes are 5 steps or less, very little difficulty to prepare, and require no "exotic" or hard to find ingredients. I have picked out five recipes (Chicken soup, Beef & Broccoli Rabe, Slow Cooker Roast with Risotto, Cincinnati Chili, and Pork Medallions with apples and barley) and made my shopping list. I'm really excited about making these dishes because they're healthy, full of awesome veggies, and make enough that we can eat on them all week for lunches and dinners. I can't wait.<br /><br />I can't wait to report back to you all with those recipes (and pictures), too!! </span></span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-20522276952557595362012-01-18T18:32:00.000-08:002012-01-18T18:41:11.731-08:00Let's talk about snacks, baby! (And a bonus recipe!)<div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Let's talk about snacks.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I sit at a desk, in my own little cubicle, all day. There is a snack machine downstairs full of salty and sweet goodies. There is also a snack counter upstairs (which I can't totally fault- a friend is trying to raise money for her daughter to go on a Europe trip with school, so she's selling treats).<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">What do the former (sweet and salty treats) have to do with the latter (my own little desk area)?<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Well...couple a very sedentary job with cookies, cakes, chips, and candy within reach, and you have set the perfect stage for <u>Boredom Eating</u>.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I am a boredom eater. I sit at my desk, left to my own devices, and find that I just want to munch. This can be extremely detrimental to a dieter or healthy eater, if you aren't armed with healthy options.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I used to run over to the snack counter and pick up a pack of poptarts or a little Debbie snack cake. Did you know that a serving size of poptarts is ONE poptart? Not a pack of two, like they're packaged...but one of them. And one is over 300 calories! Yikes.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Lately, since I've been packing healthy lunches, I've been loading myself down with snacks to help combat the boredom munchies.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I usually bring a cup of cherries, a cup of grapes, a serving of almonds or pistachios (sometimes I'll bring one of each), a mozarella string cheese, and a Slim Fast shake. Now, I know what you're thinking-- that is a LOT of snacks! But, I don't always (in fact, very rarely) eat all of them. And, even if I did, one day, eat them all, I'd be consuming 705 calories for <em><u>all</u></em> of that instead of close to 600 for just one package of Poptarts. Plus, I'd be eating a healthy assortment of filling foods- full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and good fats-- that would keep me going without a sugar crash all day, instead of one sugary snack food that would last an hour or two and leave me hungry again.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Think of it as quality AND quantity- you get more of these and they're better for you! That's a win/win!!<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Here are some other snacks that I think are delicious, and all the right kind of filling:</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">hummus and celery (or cucumber, or green bell pepper, or carrot sticks)</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">1/2 an apple or pear (sliced thin) and 1 to 2 tbsp of peanut butter (or almond butter)</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">sliced green bell pepper and a string cheese </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">2 clementines or one naval orange</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">1 banana and about 15 almonds</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">vanilla greek yogurt with blueberries (or strawberries)</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">roasted chickpeas (recipe below)</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">string cheese and 5 or 6 cherry tomatoes (I'm not on board with this because I don't like tomatoes)<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">If you're looking for a chocolate kick, the Emerald Cocoa dusted almonds are delicious. They are regular roasted almonds dusted with dark chocolate cocoa powder. Great mix of sweet and salty, and an excellent way to hit the chocolate craving spot. Also, in the vein of chocolate, remember...dark chocolate, in moderation, is good for you. Moderation is the key word, here. One ounce of dark chocolate is enough to soothe a craving, but doesn't kill you with empty calories.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Something to remember with the hummus, nuts, and nut butters is to stick with the serving size. Though it is good fat that your body needs (and not the fat from a deep fryer), they still tend to be a source of higher amounts of calories so you need to be sure you don't over do it. A serving of almonds is 4 ounces, and it's 150 calories. A serving of peanut butter is about the same amount of calories, and a serving is usually 1 or 2 tablespoons. So if you're eating an apple and peanut butter, it's important to remember the 2 tablespoon limit, or else you're going to take a healthy snack and overdo it. It's easy to look back 20 minutes later, proud of yourself for eating a whole apple, and then suddenly realize you've had at least 1/4 of a CUP of peanut butter with it (which is waaay too many calories for a snack).<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">A tip that I have found so helpful is to pre-portion your hummus or nut butter into a small ramikin or glad-storage container and bring that, instead of bringing a whole container and trying to figure it out when I'm already hungry.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">In fact, I pre-portion all of my snacks. I pour the cherries and grapes in a measuring cup and then into separate sandwich baggies. I have a scale that I can measure out almonds and pistachios (if the serving size is by weight and not a set portion size, like a 1/4 of a cup). And, if I'm bringing something pre-packaged (like string cheese), I only bring ONE serving.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Usually, around the end of the work day, I will drink a Slim-Fast. I am especially sure to do this on days I am heading to the gym straight from work. It gives me a little calorie and carb burst, with some protein, before I hit the treadmill and weight and burn a lot of calories. I can tell a difference in how I feel on the days I don't do that-- I'm more likely to get lightheaded and hungrier faster. Also, when I get hungry at the gym, it's hard to focus on the work-out, and by the time I get done, I'm so ravenously hungry that I am more likely to swing by a drive through on my way home. I get shaky and light headed when I reach a certain point of hunger, so the longer I can stave that off, the better.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">One of my favorite snacks is roasted chickpeas. These little guys are pretty versatile because you can season them with whatever seasoning strikes your fancy. They're good for you-- high in protein, low in carbs. They're a recommended snack for Phase 1 of the South Beach diet. My favorite ways to make them are with greek seasoning and then with carribbean jerk or spicy seasoning but the possibilities are endless.<br /><br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Here's the recipe:</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1326940390277119"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1326940390277116" class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1326940390277113" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">1 can of chickpeas</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">seasoning (Italian, Greek, jerk seasoning, etc)</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Preheat oven to 350.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Drain the chickpeas and rinse them a few times. The clear shells will start to come off-- pull them out and throw them away as you see them, but don't fret if you miss a few. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spread the rinsed chickpeas out in a single layer. Sprinkle as little (or as much) of your seasoning of choice.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv1596982672234363718-17012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Bake 40-45 minutes until chickpeas are golden brown. Store in an airtight container. They will keep for a few days (but I eat them up before then)!</span></span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-63922594376640783912012-01-16T17:40:00.000-08:002012-01-16T18:06:48.010-08:00Recipe Round-Up: Pesto Chicken Pizza<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl4FcoobLniMklTw-CwjLUdmMGGMDP3IY5xIlFZioSXRvXWHNr37yYd5IgRWpeW01mZuWL5GpzwuPqx7-mD4XfmYQ8PysXcn_FlLzd5j1izkJMAHWLXCX1vjT3621frVdGgJuCuyUXTQ/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl4FcoobLniMklTw-CwjLUdmMGGMDP3IY5xIlFZioSXRvXWHNr37yYd5IgRWpeW01mZuWL5GpzwuPqx7-mD4XfmYQ8PysXcn_FlLzd5j1izkJMAHWLXCX1vjT3621frVdGgJuCuyUXTQ/s320/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698414831255411442" border="0" /></a><br />I love making homemade pizza, but I hate the calories, fat, and all the other bad stuff that comes along with pizza. So, I tweaked the traditional, and made this. And, (patting myself on the back) it's the best pizza I've ever made. JP and L both loved it. L had even already eaten her own dinner and still ate some. The best thing about this pizza is you can add other veggies as you want!<br /><br />So...here it is....<br /><br />Ingredients:<br />Pillsbury thin crust pizza dough<br />Orange bell pepper<br />Yellow bell pepper<br />baby spinach leaves<br />Basil pesto (I bought pre-made pesto from Publix but you could make your own if you were so inclined)<br />Part skim ricotta cheese (about 1/4 cup)<br />Fat free mozzarella cheese<br />10 oz can of chicken (I use Kroger brand 98% fat free)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTPRwwC4Sudk4RayN10xdPxLbo1qwIiDoKpaUJprkeMTzVhL6-QaSZhBER41n4jOBxMtrdf6xyB0gWqjZF4Q4Ia7pMCigLB5vBMrd16O-oixfv5btNy4VHGja3NZ32R7VZ-Ksd9OONTY/s1600/033.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnSCuHtn_dIOLKifSdZlb5J4DVIA88xd3LWBRU2skAxpDe6D9eyvgF9qqxVXLjG_WaE3eQvsY3VdKfME6iIycLjabpeP7XKm7t0DqTHnDaG21Fh7up8gLu4mBURWtzbL-AzgSz3PZZ14/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnSCuHtn_dIOLKifSdZlb5J4DVIA88xd3LWBRU2skAxpDe6D9eyvgF9qqxVXLjG_WaE3eQvsY3VdKfME6iIycLjabpeP7XKm7t0DqTHnDaG21Fh7up8gLu4mBURWtzbL-AzgSz3PZZ14/s320/022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698413030383453042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unroll the dough onto a cookie sheet sprayed with PAM.<br /><br />The instructions on the dough say to pre-bake it. DO NOT do this. Just preheat your oven to 400.<br /><br />Take a spoon and spread the pesto on the dough. I don't like a ton of pesto, so I spread it pretty thin. When you've got the pesto to your liking, spoon the ricotta on top of it. I spread it over the pesto so it mixes together. I don't use a ton of ricotta, either.<br /><br />Then, top with the shitake mushrooms, peppers, and spinach leaves. I usually add onions but didn't on this one (only because I forgot). Next, open the can of chicken and drain it. Then spoon the chicken on top of all the veggies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTPRwwC4Sudk4RayN10xdPxLbo1qwIiDoKpaUJprkeMTzVhL6-QaSZhBER41n4jOBxMtrdf6xyB0gWqjZF4Q4Ia7pMCigLB5vBMrd16O-oixfv5btNy4VHGja3NZ32R7VZ-Ksd9OONTY/s1600/033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTPRwwC4Sudk4RayN10xdPxLbo1qwIiDoKpaUJprkeMTzVhL6-QaSZhBER41n4jOBxMtrdf6xyB0gWqjZF4Q4Ia7pMCigLB5vBMrd16O-oixfv5btNy4VHGja3NZ32R7VZ-Ksd9OONTY/s320/033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698413035002692098" border="0" /></a><br />Sprinkle mozzarella on top.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8NM5NrwvbBLVuPFpeYhGJwvxF9Bagsyh31kFZGlHDEDAYEGzkDrqW-C5kKGTSe-wM2suzo0Tw30kqS_eAXEfX1IE9HfnqgkubEXb6FMSghd3hafZlbxAxV-hd-I028HiNkdNsqrIDNs/s1600/019.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8NM5NrwvbBLVuPFpeYhGJwvxF9Bagsyh31kFZGlHDEDAYEGzkDrqW-C5kKGTSe-wM2suzo0Tw30kqS_eAXEfX1IE9HfnqgkubEXb6FMSghd3hafZlbxAxV-hd-I028HiNkdNsqrIDNs/s320/019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698413043714530466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bake for 13 minutes, and when it's all a pretty golden brown....ENJOY!!<br /><br />Nutritional breakdown (entered the recipe on MyFitnessPal)<br />This will feed 2 pcs of pizza to 4 people (I ate 3 and JP ate 4).<br /><br />Calories per square: 191<br />Fat: 6.2g<br />Sodium: 511.7mg<br />Potassium: 26.5mg<br />Carbs: 21 g<br /> Dietary Fiber: 1.2g<br /> Sugars: 1.9g<br />Protein: 12.5g<br />Vitamin A: 8.6%<br />Vitamin C: 18.9%<br />Calcium: 10.5%<br />Iron: 7.0%Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-47097564262636388182012-01-13T17:43:00.000-08:002012-01-13T17:44:01.991-08:00Staying motivated, inspite of being sick!!<div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">Things have been a little quiet on the blog front in the last few days, and I apologize to those who actually read this. Having all this bronchitis-near-pneumonia mess has made it difficult to do anything (even pick up toys in the living room gets me winded) so I haven't had anything that I felt was really blog worthy.</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">I belong to an awesome group on Facebook called "The Downsizers". It is a group of women (about 15 of us) that all have similar weight loss/fitness goals. Most of us are police wives and know one another through Wives Behind The Badge. Anyway, I have been faithfully participating as best as I can over the last few days even though I don't really have any progress to report of my own.</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">Last night (either to their happiness or dismay, haha) I posted a few motivational quotes and photos I found on pinterest. I figured if I couldn't go and do it myself, then maybe I can help them out. It made me really start thinking of what I find motivational (other than those pictures I posted of my goal body parts). </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">The first quote that really stands out to me is this one, by a guy named Jerry Gillies (no clue who he is, by the way): </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong>"Make sure you visualize what you really want, not what someone else wants for you."</strong><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong></strong></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">I can't even begin to explain how important this one is to me, and probably to a lot of people (more women than men, I'd dare say, too). I spent so much time trying to be what everyone else wants of me that I lost sight of what I wanted for me. Does JP want me to be in shape? Absolutely! Do I want me to be in shape? Absolutely! Do I have a preconceived notion of what he considers in shape, and is it something unrealistic for me? Not anymore. I have said this before and I'll say it again: JP has never pressured me to lose weight or been mean about my weight gain. He has been nothing but supportive. It was <strong><em><u>me</u></em></strong> that placed unreasonable expectations on myself, thinking he wanted me to look like Jessica Biel or Olivia Munn, and wouldn't be happy with anything less. It took me a while to finally realize that I am not either of those women. I'll never look like Olivia Munn. I might be thin and in shape like her, but I will never resemble her (I'm not half Asian, for one). It wasn't until I realized that I may be able to obtain the body type like those ladies, but he doesn't love them- he loves ME (and he'll continually love me no matter what) that I was able to visualize what I really wanted from my body. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong><em>"</em>No matter how slow you are, you're still lapping everyone on the couch."</strong></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">This one is going to be my go-to motivator for the days that I feel like I have <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1326505364_0">1092305840</span> things better to do than go to the gym. I used to rationalize skipping a day or two (or twenty in a row) by saying "Well, I'd only be able to stay 20 minutes, and that's only going to be like 300 calories...why even bother?" When you start changing your perspective, it's easy to see that 300 calories here and another 400 there will add up if you're consistent. And pretty soon, 20 minutes will become more and more productive, and the calories burned will go up. Even a short workout is a workout if I bust my butt while I'm there and make it count. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">This brings me to the next quote:</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong>"Somewhere, someone busier than you, is working out."</strong></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong></strong></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">Why is this important? Because it's <u><strong>TRUE</strong></u>! Someone with a newborn is working out harder than me. Someone with three kids under the age of 6 runs 30 miles a week, works 50 hours a week, and travels for her job all over the country (She really exists, folks, I know her). Someone who spends all day on their feet still makes it to the gym to run 3 miles and do some weight training. Why are they taking precious time to do this? <u>Because they are about their health.</u> They want to stay around, as healthy as possible, for their families and friends, and enjoy their life. When I really sit down and think about it, what would I really do that was as productive as getting healthy, in 45 minutes or an hour a day? The dishes can wait an extra hour in the sink. JP doesn't mind waiting a little longer for dinner to be served. I still get lots of quality time with my baby love L. I'm skipping out on an hour of time wasted on my butt on the couch, on facebook or watching tv. We have DVR. I can catch up on the tv. It'll still be there. If I don't get off my butt and do something about my health, weight, and fitness, one day, they <em>won't</em> be there.</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong>"Stop rewarding yourself with food. <u><em>You are NOT a dog</em></u>."</strong></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong></strong></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">This one just speaks volumes, especially in our society. It's your birthday. What do you do? Go out to dinner. You got a promotion at work. What do you do? Go out to dinner and have drinks. For me, if there was a dinner that was already planned (someone else's birthday dinner at Outback, for example), I'd eat super well all throughout the day. As soon as I'd sit at the table, I'd say "I did so well today that I am going to have some Bloomin' Onion. And a coke. And instead of getting the grilled chicken, I'm going to get that cheeseburger. And a dessert. Because I did SO good today." I'm not saying that a cheeseburger, piece of cake, drinks with your girlfriends, or a few pieces of Bloomin' Onion is bad and should be off limits forever. I'm all for indulging every once in a while. But not under the guise of "rewarding" yourself. If you got a promotion at work and want to go out for dinner and drinks- do it, but make healthier choices. Then you can reward yourself with something longer lasting than fattening, empty calories- like a new pair of heels or better yet, adding to a vacation savings to take your dream vacation (after all, you're making more money with your promotion now, too). </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">Once you are able to break the do good, reward yourself with food idea, the rest of the chains of emotional eating are easier to break, too. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong>"The only person standing between the body you have and the body you want is YOU."</strong></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong></strong></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">As I've said before, no one made me make bad food choices, and no one hog tied me to keep me out of the gym. I am the only one responsible for these actions. As a result, I'm the one who stood in my own way of succeeding for all these years.</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong>"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."</strong></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012"><strong></strong></span></span> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1326505375991120"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1326505375991117" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1326505375991114" class="yiv918301697718171814-12012012">This is especially important for me right now, since I can't make the gym a habit at this point because of being sick. What I can do is make sure I have enough motivation to keep me going until I can make it a habit. At this point, it would be really easy for me to scrap this whole thing all together, and give up because of this small setback. If I keep my motivation momentum going, I will be more likely to get well faster and get back in the gym harder and stronger than before.</span></span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-29677328580466825662012-01-09T15:08:00.000-08:002012-01-09T15:37:46.309-08:00Weekly Weigh-In, and a minor setbackI am typing this from my spot on the couch, that I haven't left in a while. I'm sick, and have been since Thursday. I have bronchitis that was thisclose to turning into pneumonia. Not only am I on antibiotics (to hopefully stop the development of pneumonia, and keep me safe from other germs while the bronchitis gets better), I have a round of steroid pills and TWO inhalers. I've also been expressly told to avoid the gym (or any other activity that can cause unnecessary physical exertion) for the next <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">two weeks</span></span>. This puts a serious damper on my momentum, though I understand why. If I do anything to aggravate my bronchial passages, I can cause this bronchitis to land me in the hospital, and we don't want that. If it turns into pneumonia because I don't rest enough, I land in the hospital. We'd like me to stay out of the hospital at all costs, even if this means giving up the gym for two weeks. At least it isn't forever. And it'll be nice to breathe clear and strong when I'm there, right?<br /><br />My plans, since I can't go to the gym, have had to be adjusted a little now. All I really can do is try to eat as well as I can and stay within my calorie range, and hope for the best. I may do a round of the South Beach diet Phase 1 just to make sure I'm doing all I can. And I'll be able to rest assured that I'm feeding my body the vitamins, minerals, and lean proteins it needs to get better.<br /><br />JP also bought me some new vitamins today from GNC. They are called "GNC Women's Ultra Mega for Energy and Metabolism". A quick run down of what's inside: 100% DV (Daily Value) Vitamin A, E, K, Iron, Iodine, Folic Acid, Biotin (healthy hair and nails, ladies), Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, and Molybdenum, 333% DV Vitamin C, 400% DV Vitamin D (which is important during winter when the sun isn't out as much), 2500% DV Vitamin B-6, 833% Vitamin B-12....tons of other vitamins and minerals, as well as a Metabolism & Energy Blend (which is black pepper extract, caffeine, capsicum seed), Green Tea extract, Lycopene, and more. They're the full deal when it comes to vitamins, and I'm excited to try them.<br /><br />In my down time, I'm also going to read a few books. I'm going to re-read Run Like A Mother by Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen-Shea as motivation to start running, and I'm currently reading "Working Out Sucks" by the founder of my gym, Anytime Fitness, Chuck Runyon. I'm only about 30 pages into this one and I love it. I'm planning on writing a review of each of these, too.<br /><br />So on to what you've been waiting for...my weekly weigh in. I couldn't do it at the gym today, obviously, but I was at the doctor's this morning, and they weighed me there. I asked if their scale was calibrated and they said yes, it was accurate within a half of a pound.<br /><br />The number on the scale, after a week that was shaky at best (due to sickness):<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">190<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;">That was with clothes on, so if I do the typical subtraction of 1lb for clothing, I'm at 189, and that is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">FIVE POUND</span> weight loss!!<br /><br />Five pounds!! I was hoping for just two, so I'll for sure take five. I'm fairly certain most of this was due to lack of appetite from being sick (though I've been trying to eat healthy foods like veggies, fruit, and low-sodium soup) but it was nice to see that this week hasn't been totally blown by this stupid sickness.<br /><br />My calorie burn total for the week was around 3000. This, of course, wasn't where I wanted it to be because I couldn't go to the gym (it's hard to walk on the treadmill when you don't have the lung capacity to make it from the bedroom to the kitchen without wheezing...stupid bronchitis) but I'm happy with what I did accomplish.<br /><br />On myfitnesspal, I managed to stay around 300 calories under my projected goal, thanks to the calories I burned working out (and lack of appetite). This number isn't so low that I get the message telling me I'm eating too few calories, and it isn't over the allotment per day. I need to tweak a couple of areas in my diet-mainly add a few more veggies. I did great this first week with portion control, healthy snacks, and fruit. I just didn't eat enough vegetables.<br /><br />All things considered, I'm pleased with this week, and glad it's in the books. I'm hoping to have as much success the next two weeks, even though I'm going to be mostly sedentary.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-11906265687489076832012-01-05T18:56:00.000-08:002012-01-05T18:58:21.846-08:00Why?<div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325818584238189"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325818584238186" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325818584238183" class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">One of the most important things I've learned in this journey (not the last week or so, but over the last few years that I've been struggling with my weight) is that you will always struggle with your body until you take responsibility for what has happened to it and own it. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">A funny thing happened when I posted those "before" pics. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">I psyched myself up for a week to get the nerve to post them. I cried, fretted, and had almost decided to scrap the whole idea of blogging about my journey. Ultimately, of course, I took them and posted them, linking the blog to my facebook page for everyone to see. </span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">By far, the coolest thing to come from that is the <u>phenomenal</u> response I got from people on my page, and the overwhelming support! I post about going to the gym, and I get 14 responses now from people cheering me on. I have people following my blog and telling me (fat, frumpy <u><em>ME</em></u>) that I inspired them. It's crazy for me to fathom that I am inspiring people to better themselves, when I'm over here <strong><u><em>far</em></u></strong> from where I want to be. That has just been so amazing to have all of that outpouring of support for silly me to lose weight and get fit. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">But that's not the "funny thing" I'm talking about.</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">The funny thing is, once I posted those pics, my weight, and my measurements, something changed in me. It was the most liberating thing in the world because <em>I accepted what I had done to myself and publicly declared I was going to change it</em>. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">I don't know how to explain it other than I finally owned it. I am not where I want to be. I am the only one that can change that, because I am the only one responsible for getting to this place I am now. No one forced me to make unhealthy choices. No one twisted my arm to keep me out of the gym. Sure, I could make excuses and say things like "Well, no one stopped me from eating a box of cookies" or "Nobody argued with me when I said I wasn't going to the gym". But what good will that do? They're excuses. It shouldn't be anyone's responsibility but my own to say "Hey- a serving size is 2 cookies. You just ate fourteen. It's time to stop!" No one should have to fight to get me in the gym. I'm a grown woman, fully capable of making my own decisions- it shouldn't be anyone's "job" but my own to get me to care about my health and fitness. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">I'm done hiding behind an ambiguous number that I wouldn't own up to or tell anyone, and I'm done being ashamed and embarrased. It is terrible that I wouldn't even tell my husband (who is my best friend, and supposed to be my confidant) my weight. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">Some people decide to change for the best when they get bad news from a doctor, or find out some kind of debilitating hereditary disease runs in their family and unless they change their lifestyle, they're headed down that road. Some people decide to change (though not necessarily for the best, and more often than not, not permanently) because they have a spouse or significant other that demands it or else they'll leave. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">And still others never decide to change because they don't have a strong, personal reason why they should. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">A great friend of mine (Karen Pickard, who is also a Team BeachBody coach and deals in P90X, P90X2, shakeology, ChaLean, Insanity, and the like) posed this question to me a few days ago, and I've been working on an answer since:</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"><strong><em><u>What is your "Why"?</u></em></strong></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">Your why, she told me, is what drives you to do this, do it the right way, and actually succeed. People try and fail to lose weight all the time, and often, it's because they don't know their "why" or it's not the real "why". It's easy for someone to say "I do it because I want to feel better". It's a lot harder to say "I do it because I want to walk up a flight of stairs without getting lightheaded and winded." or "I do it because if I don't, my diabetes is going to kill me." It's also so easy to be generic: "I am doing this because I want to wear a bikini." It's a much bigger step to go all out and admit: "I am doing this because I have never felt sexy in a bikini, even when I was thin, and I want to do what it takes to finally feel good about myself." To really dig deep inside and find your "why", it means that sometimes you have to address your "demons": negative body image, fear of the "unknown" (like getting some debilitating hereditary disease), or even laziness. </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"><strong><em></em></strong></span></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">So many people struggle with weight issues. Whether it's being too skinny, skinny fat, or just plain fat, there are tons of us with body image issues that will never see results until those issues are addressed. That is why there are so many <span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">fad </span>diets: The Smoothie Diet, The Cabbage Soup Diet, The Cleanse, The Fast...I can go on and on. Then there are all the pills, and worst of all the shots. All fast fixes. None are designed for long term because they're all terribly restrictive and dangerous. Even the South Beach Diet, which I did do, and did have success with, is done in Phases, with the final Phase being where you have finally changed your whole lifestyle. The first phase is only 2 weeks, after which you start having issues due to deficiences of essential vitamins and minerals<span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"> unless you move to Phase 2 (or quit, which people often do, once they've lost the inital 8-17lbs the diet claims will happen)</span>. And, like I said, it's not that all of these people are "fat". It's that they all have issues with their bodies and are willing to do whatever it takes, as long as it's "easy", to fix it. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">We live in a world of convenience, so the mindset for most is "What can I do to lose this weight fast? How can I get to where I want to be <span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">quickfastinahurryrightaway </span>NOW?" We live in a world full of instant gratification. We expect everything to happen in a hurry, and the expectations we have regarding weight loss is no different. So what can we do to lose weight fast? </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">The fact of the matter is...<em><u><strong>You can't.</strong></u></em> </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><strong><em></em></strong></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I didn't go to sleep one night at 120lbs and wake up at 194. This was a gradual thing caused by perpetual bad food choices and the wrong mindset towards fitness. My weight hasn't gone down since I was 20...only up. I can't honestly expect to see huge, dramatic changes over night, and neither can anyone else. I absolutely can lose 70lbs much faster than it took me to gain it, but only with a <strong><u><em>lot</em></u></strong> of hard work, a <u><em><strong>lot</strong></em></u> of dedication, and a <u><em><strong>lot</strong></em></u> of changes in my eating habits and how I perceive myself.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><em><strong><u><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">So, really. What is, deep down, my Why?</span></u></strong></em></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><em><strong><u><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></u></strong></em></span></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">1. <u><em>I'm ready to be proud of my body</em></u>. For as long as I can remember, I've never been truly happy with how I looked. I used to be thin, but I still had flab everywhere. In college, I tried to eat better, but ended up eating worse. I went to the gym, but more or less because it was the thing to do- not because I was doing something to improve myself. Looking back on it, the only thing I did then was just slow down the weight gain- I wasn't really combatting it. I actually can't remember ever leaving the gym sweaty in those days. I also remember many times, my workout friend and I would say "Wow! We worked out really, really hard! I'm so tired! And hungry! Let's go eat!" and we'd leave the gym and head towards Los Compadres, McDonald's or Sonic. It's painfully clear I didn't have my best interests in mind in those days, and definitely not my health or fitness. From then on it just spiralled to the point I am at now. I'm ready to have a body like the ones I see in my fitness magazines. I'm ready to be proud of my shape and my fitness, and I know the only way to do this is to bust my ass to get there. I can think of no better way to be proud of how I look than <span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">to work hard to have the type of body I've always wanted but never had. </span></span></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">2. <em><u>I want to be a role-model for my daughter</u></em>. I have an awesome, spirited 21 month old, who thinks nothing of looking at herself in the mirror and proclaiming "Beyoootiful girl!" or telling people "I'm Ahsome (awesome)!" It is my goal to make sure that she does not have the body image issues that I did growing up, and that I'm the best example of healthy living to her that I can possibly be. I never want her to think she is anything less beautiful or awesome, inside and out. I don't want her to pick up her eating habits from the old me. I want to help her learn to make healthy choices, and the only way to do this is to do it myself. I'm not a "Do as I say, not as I do" type person. For instance, I'm not going to tell her she can't have tattoos, because I have 8 of my own. It'd be equally wrong of me to tell her to eat more fruit and vegetables while I chow down on a Big Mac, large fries, a large coke, and wash it down with a half a container of oreos. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">3. <em><u>I want to be more active</u></em>. I consider myself a pretty well rounded person, but one area I'm lacking in is </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">physical activity. I don't do much outside, I don't play (and have never played) any sort of sports, I don't hike or bike ride, and it's all mainly due to being terribly out of shape. I am changing this because one of our goals with L is to do as much outdoors as we possibly can with her. Then there is another goal of mine: to complete a cycle of Insanity or P90X. We own both, and I've tried and failed both. I did a week's worth of Insanity and threw up after every work out. It's because I was just not fit enough! While I still think those people are robots and not completely real, I still want to go "Oh yea, Tony Horton? I can do that, too!" and actually do it without dying or puking.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">4. <em> <u>I owe my husband a hot wife</u></em>. No, seriously. I do. I know that sounds awfully superficial, but after all these years of "I'm going to go to the gym tomorrow"s and complaints, tears, and fits he's witnessed over clothes that don't fit, bathing suit shopping, and the like...I owe it to him to finally get up off my tail and do all the things I've been swearing I'll do. I want to be able to walk in this summer and show him a bikini I bought (instead of my usual burqua-esque bathing suit, cover-up, towel around the waist combination). <em>PLEASE note that I don't want anyone thinking that JP has said anything negative about the way I look. <strong>He hasn't, and wouldn't. He loves me no matter what.</strong> Don't get me wrong, he is really happy I'm finally doing this, but because he wants me to be healthy & happy (2 things I haven't been). I just want to show him that I can be hotter than I've ever been before. </em></span></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><em></em></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">5. <em><u>I want to be more confident in my skin</u></em>. My friend Courtney over at 2k12transformation.blogspot.com started working with a personal trainer last year (maybe earlier, but I just started noticing the "change" last year). Now she works out with her boyfriend, who is in shape and fit enough to be a personal trainer, but anyway...Courtney has always been thin, but, like me, she struggled with liking the way she looked. She didn't feel like she was at her best, even though she's smaller than most people I know. So, she started working on her diet and logging serious time at the gym doing serious weight training. In October, I was at a birthday party and her sister was there. We started talking about how hard she was working and how much success she's had. Her sister said something along the line of "She looks amazing. She's always looked great but now...I just don't know how to explain it. How she carries herself is so different. She's so much more confident and her stature is so much ...stronger or firm or something. It's amazing the change!" That confidence is what comes with knowing you are working for what you see in the mirror- it's results, it's the hard work, and it's knowing that you're not wishing for your dream body, you're actually IN your dream body. THAT is what I want.</span></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><em></em></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">There are others, too, but not as big <span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">(or as serious, mostly) as those:</span></span></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span></span></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I want to wear clothes in single number sizes, and even from the Junior's department, should I find something <span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">that doesn't look like it belongs on a baby or a hooker. </span></span></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I want to be able to dash up the steps at work without feeling like I'm going to pass out.<span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"> (Yea, that example up top might have been me, possibly.)</span></span></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I want to run, and I mean really actually RUN, a mile. Then two. Then 3.2 (a 5k). Then 13.1 (a half marathon). </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I want to get to a point where I can unsubscribe to Lane Bryant's mailing list, and re-subscribe to Victoria's Secret. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I want to wear pants and not have a muffin top. <span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">Short waisted people like me that have extra belly fat tend to have muffin top in any pants when they're overweight.</span></span></span></span></div> <span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"> <div><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I want to see myself in pictures and not cringe.</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I want to buy a bathing suit that doesn't cover 70% of my body, and that doesn't cost and arm and a leg because it's made of NASA grade SPANX. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I don't want to run around wearing clothes that merely give the <em>appearance</em> of being thinner. I want to actually <em>BE</em> thinner.</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I want to wear my UnderArmor jacket and sports bra tank top and not feel like athletic wannabe. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2020600986015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><u><em><strong>I want to be the best me I can be.</strong></em></u></span></span></div> </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="yiv2020600986406221015-04012012">I am the size I am, nothing but hard work will change that, and I'm not stopping until I am the size I want to be. </span></span></div>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-63611217034006702242012-01-03T17:26:00.000-08:002012-01-03T17:30:57.716-08:00Awesome things happen when you go to the gym!<div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325640394092122"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325640394092119" class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325640394092116" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">A very awesome thing happened yesterday when I went to the gym. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I decided (even though I expressly said I wasn't going to weigh myself more than once a week) to weigh myself on the gym scale. I did this because it's one of those old school doctor's office type scales where you move the weights to the different numbers. These are able to be calibrated and recalibrated often to reflect the most accurate weight possible. I had been weighing on my Mom's digital scale because, well, without going to the gym it was the only thing I had. I felt like it was pretty accurate but I found out yesterday it was <u><strong><em>wrong</em></strong></u>! </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Because of that, I incorrectly reported my starting weight. It is not 197, but actually <strong><u>194</u></strong>. This means I am 3 lbs closer to my goal weight without ever having to do anything. It feels like I lost the weight, though I really didn't. I am just really happy to already be looking at a smaller number, so I'm even more motivated to do whatever I can to make that number shrink!</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Thanks, Joe (the owner of Anytime Fitness), for making sure the scale is accurate! It made my day!</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I also had my first test last night (it was a test for JP, too): a family birthday dinner at Red Robin. We all know Red Robin is the epitome of greasy, fattening deliciousness with their towers of onion rings, sprinkle and whipped cream topped milk shakes (sprinkles, whipped cream, and ice cream are my favorites), and burgers as big as my face. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">What is a person trying to eat healthy supposed to do?</span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">First, since I knew ahead of time we were going, I tried to manage my calories leading up to dinner. I was going to go to the gym and do cardio, so I needed to have adequate calories and nutrients leading up to that (so I didn't get sick feeling) so I really thought before putting food in my mouth and made it as high protein and low carbs as I could. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">JP and I pulled up MyFitnessPal (a free Android app- I have it on my phone and Kindle Fire, so it's never too far out of reach), and entered in Red Robin. We looked for the items with the lowest calorie content. From where we had worked out yesterday, we had some extra calories to splurge with but we still needed to keep it as low as we could. JP got a turkey burger with no cheese and no mayo and a side of fries (around 930 calories) and I got the Arctic Cod Fish and Chips (883 calories). Though there was queso dip and chips AND a tower of onion rings delivered to our table, we abstained. L enjoyed the onion rings immensely, though. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">To save on some calories, I picked off about 85% of the breading on the fish, and I only ate half the fries. I still entered it as the full meal on MyFitnessPal (partly because I felt like I needed to, and partly because I don't know the exact subtracted calories from what I did). I know a full side order of fries, per Red Robin's own info, is 434 calories. I ate about half so I saved probably around 200 calories there. I figure maybe around another 50 or 60 calories by not eating the breading, but I am not sure. </span> </span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">If you don't have the MyFitnessPal app, I strongly suggest checking it out. It's free (and I'm sure there's an iphone counterpart) and has a food database of somewhere around 600,000 foods. It also has a strength and cardio tracker. You can literally find a calorie content for every piece of food that goes in your mouth and it's <u><em>extremely helpful</em></u> when you're out and trying to figure out the best thing to eat at the best place. </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I honestly would not have figured the fish and chips would be within my calorie range. I was also shocked (horrified, even) to discover that my favorite foods there, a Whiskey River BBQ Burger, fries, and 1/4 of a tower of onion rings is almost <strong><u>2000</u></strong> calories. That's not counting a milk shake, or even a full fat frappucino from Starbucks afterwards! </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">(<em>Note: My daily calorie intake is targeted to be around 1200 calories. So that one meal would've been my entire day plus more than half of the next day.)</em></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I did so well yesterday that I even got to treat myself to a Starbucks coffee, and still had some calories leftover. (A tall, skinny caramel macchiato is 100 calories, for those wondering, and a tall, skinny vanilla latte is 90 calories, for you coffee lovers out there wondering). </span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">I have also been pleasantly surprised to see how many calories I can burn doing regular activities. For instance, you all know one of my other goals is to get our house, car, garage, and everything else thoroughly clean and organized, so I've been doing some heavy cleaning. Cleaning, with light to moderate effort (which is your normal every day stuff- dusting, vacuuming a room, sweeping a room, doing dishes, etc) for 60 minutes burns over 200 calories. Cleaning with heavy effort (lots of laundry, scrubbing floors, vacuuming the whole house, scrubbing showers-- anything that makes you work up a real sweat) burns in the upwards of 400-500 calories if you do it for an hour! </span></span></div> <span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325640394092113" class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"> <div><br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">Kind of makes you want to clean more, doesn't it?</span></div> <div> </div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325640394092112"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325640394092111" class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325640394092110" style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">The biggest accomplishment of the day, above all else, was actually making it to the gym. I have already mentioned this, but JP and I are members at Anytime Fitness in Lebanon. We have been for a long time (since before it opened, actually). JP has gotten far more use out of our membership than I have, though that will change this year. I felt like the prodigal son from the Bible, walking in there yesterday. But it's kind of like anything else, you have to get back on the horse/bike/whatever and just do it. I did cardio yesterday, just to get back in the swing of things. It felt good to work up a sweat, and I left looking forward to today. And, I left today looking forward to tomorrow (because I'll be tossing some strength training into the mix)!<br /></span></span></div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"></span> </div> <div><span class="yiv2116633649015024714-03012012"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:85%;">On Sundays (since I'll weigh on Mondays), my plan is to do a week-round up blog where I'll log all my work outs, and what my calorie intake for the days were. I think that will help keep these shorter, as well as give me points I can look back on to see where I may need to tweak things for the best results.<br /><br />In three days, I've burned approximately <span style="font-weight: bold;">1505 calories</span>! Yea!!<br /></span></span></div></span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-83636412124213995732012-01-02T07:28:00.000-08:002012-01-02T07:46:46.283-08:00Another recipe share: Breakfast Sandwich made better!Breakfast is absolutely my biggest struggle. Too often, I have run out the door in a hurry and skipped the most important meal of the day. Then, I get to work and eat like crap, picking something sugary and not filling. Not only is it bad for me, but I spend money I don't need to.<br /><br />Again, I'm going to give praise to the Cook Yourself Thin cookbook. These are supposed to be quick meals, and they are. They know we all have more to do than spend an hour concocting breakfast.<br /><br />This morning, I had this amazing Breakfast Sandwich:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpGWVX1Oj7Lg0lKwRHDjbg7tPiTX0f9HHGVQiA9VGIswiwJTFmtdYcYdIMMv_7qyEKgSHOp2N3hRVex0JlgZ7NUv35yL30OekOM0hu_CkUGANVjyh5Y-IO3iyqbgxrEvOKaS_T8P4Rk8/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpGWVX1Oj7Lg0lKwRHDjbg7tPiTX0f9HHGVQiA9VGIswiwJTFmtdYcYdIMMv_7qyEKgSHOp2N3hRVex0JlgZ7NUv35yL30OekOM0hu_CkUGANVjyh5Y-IO3iyqbgxrEvOKaS_T8P4Rk8/s320/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693059298901679634" border="0" /></a><br />Serves 4<br />Calories per serving (minus fruit): 306<br /><br />2 tablespoons white vinegar<br />4 whole wheat English Muffins<br />4 slices low-fat cheese (if you can find fat free cheese, you can save yourself a few calories)<br />4 deli-thin slices of low fat, low sodium ham<br />4 large eggs<br />4 slices tomato (I don't eat tomatoes, so I cut up a few slices of red pepper and onion)<br />Spritz of olive oil<br />1/2 tablespoon of dried oregano<br />salt and pepper, to taste<br /><br />Preheat the oven to 350. Fill a large, deep skillet of water to a depth of about 4 inches. Add vinegar and bring to a steady simmer. This is going to poach the eggs, rather than fry them.<br /><br />Arrange the muffin halves on a baking sheet. Place a slice of cheese on each of the bottom halves (tear off any cheese hanging over the edges so it doesn't burn in your oven). Cut the slice of ham into shreds or ribbons and place on top of the cheese. Transfer to the oven and bake until cheese melts and top halves are toasted, which is about 4 minutes.<br /><br />Meanwhile, cut the slices of tomato (or in my case, red pepper and onion) and spritz each slice with olive oil (I don't have a spritzer, so I just put a quarter sized drop of olive oil in a skillet and heated it). Saute the tomato or vegetable slices for about one to two minutes each, then season with salt, pepper, and dried oregano.<br /><br />Break one egg in a small bowl. Hold the edge of the bowl close to the simmering water (the closer you get, the more round and pretty your egg will be), and pour your egg into the water. Repeat with the remaining three eggs. Cook until whites are solid and the yolk is still runny, about 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully remove the eggs one at a time with a slotted spoon and put on a plate with a paper towel to drain excess water.<br /><br />Remove the muffin halves from the oven and transfer to plates. Place a slice of tomato (or your veggies of choice) on top of the ham and top with a poached egg. Season with a little salt and pepper and top with the other half of the muffin. Serve and enjoy.<br /><br /><br />I went ahead and made JP one of these this morning, even though he won't get up until later. I'm going to try to see how well they reheat. If they reheat well enough, then I can make them ahead of time (like the night before) and just heat them up and run out the door. I'll let you know how that turns out!!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-89273329190180999872012-01-02T06:56:00.001-08:002012-01-02T07:28:33.125-08:00Early morning recipe share: Oven baked Crispy Chicken TendersBefore I post these, let me just say I LOVE the book: "Cook Yourself Thin: Skinny Meals You Can Make In Minutes" by Candace Kumai, Harry Eastwod, and Allison Fishman. EVERYTHING I have cooked from that book has been delicious, and they list the calorie content item by item (so if you have a main part of the meal and a side, you know how much each part is worth). I highly recommend this book, and it's 2nd, "Cook Yourself Thinner Faster". I know you can get the first one cheap on Amazon, and I've even seen it in the discount books at Kroger!<br /><br />Both of these recipes I'm posting this morning come from the Cook Yourself Thin book, but I also have recipes I'm planning to try from all over- other blogs, pinterest, other cookbooks. I'll try to give credit where credit is due each time I post a recipe. I've got a lot of recipes I'm going to try, but I'm only going to post the ones I really love. So if you see it here, you know I think it's great.<br /><br />So first off, dinner last night. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Oven Baked Crispy Tenders with Coleslaw</span>:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEFDxtBgoOCf-zPJcvajMZiF-ZllMveeg1hlPQi8BG1Xx1sPJ49F5wDO7Os7bzsDgtvj81c-Z1qDf8genL3GvbQWjiNpqpbXWrRsbpMHmX6JUv5AzgzYnHK_CRkdvd4l-KDJomY7f68A/s1600/chicken+tenders.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEFDxtBgoOCf-zPJcvajMZiF-ZllMveeg1hlPQi8BG1Xx1sPJ49F5wDO7Os7bzsDgtvj81c-Z1qDf8genL3GvbQWjiNpqpbXWrRsbpMHmX6JUv5AzgzYnHK_CRkdvd4l-KDJomY7f68A/s320/chicken+tenders.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693049748421759682" border="0" /></a><br />These were great because they're crunchy, but the marinade gives it a better than average chicken tender flavor. The crunchiness makes you think you're doing something bad when you aren't. And the coleslaw is great (and I'm not even a fan of it, usually), and much less fat than it's mayonnaise containing full-fat counterpart!<br /><br />This serves 4<br />Calories per serving, chicken (3 tenders) with coleslaw: 519<br />Calories per serving, chicken alone: 420<br />Calories per serving, tartar sauce, 27<br /><br />Ingredients needed:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For the chicken</span><br />2 cloves garlic, smashed<br />1/4 tsp dried thyme<br />1 bay leaf<br />2 tsp salt<br />1/4 tsp red pepper flakes<br />1/2 cup nonfat buttermilk<br />1 lb chicken tenders (about 12 tenders)<br />1 1/2 cups corn flakes, crushed to medium crumbs (I did this with my hands.)<br />Non stick cooking spray<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For the coleslaw</span><br />1 1/2 (10 oz bag) cabbage slaw mix<br />1 red bell pepper, sliced thin<br />2 tbsp thin-sliced red onion<br />2 tbsp shredded fresh basil<br />2 tbsp shredded fresh mint (JP doesn't like mint, so I omitted this.)<br />1 tbsp low-fat sour cream<br />1 tbsp nonfat buttermilk<br />1 tbsp rice wine vinegar (white wine vinegar works, too)<br />2-3 dashes of hot pepper sauce<br />1/8 tsp salt<br />1/8 tsp pepper<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For the tartar sauce<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span>1 1/2 tbsp low fat sour cream<br />1 tbsp nonfat buttermilk<br />1 tsp dried parsley or 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley<br />1 tbsp sweet gherkin pickle, chopped<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><br /></span>1 tbsp water<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br />In a medium bowl, combine garlic, spices, and buttermilk. Add chicken and turn in the marinade to coat. Refrigerate 1 hour.<br /><br />While the chicken is marinating, make your slaw and tartar sauce.<br /><br />For the slaw, mix cabbage slaw mix, bell pepper, onion, and shredded herbs in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, buttermilk, vinegar, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper. Pour dressing over the slaw mixture and toss to coat.<br /><br />For the tartar sauce, whisk together all of the needed ingredients in a small bowl. (That's it, you're done with it!)<br /><br />About 15 minutes before the hour is up, line a baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with non-stick spray, and preheat oven to 400.<br /><br />Place the cornflake crumbs on a plate. Drain the tenders. Pick up a tender with one hand, and turn it in the corn flake coating. Use the other hand to gently press additional coating on the sides.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> (Note...if you do not do this right, you will have sticky, corn flake covered hands. Less will stick to the tenders and more will stick to you. Learned this the hard way!!!!) </span></span>Lay the coated chicken on the baking pan, arranging them in a single layer. Bake at 400 until they're firm and no longer pink when you cut into one, about 15-20 minutes.<br /><br />To serve, divide the slaw among 4 plates. Put 3 tenders n each plate and top with a bit of tartar sauce.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-416207450973054212012-01-01T19:15:00.000-08:002012-01-01T19:35:52.175-08:00The big, embarrassing BIG reveal...my before pics, weight, and measurements<span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSX65h89OsOllY2za8V9LWWNLbUjCiueExozc4BvPBzPbkLCqHHqwaZesJuRn22LZx19Ua_pwj3fK061wygsG46vFvULmksPjVAu2juqwr9E-aLdmapmB2DE8kF1BXvhY3SgzVZFtZepc/s1600/281.JPG"><br /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>#1: Health & Fitness</u></b></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">In preparation for this particular blog post (and my weekly updates) I bought batteries for our scale (which has been dead for ages), and borrowed a tape measure from my Mom. The scale and tape measure are going to be integral in progress tracking. I know enough about losing weight and getting fit to understand that sometimes results aren’t seen in pounds, sometimes they’re seen in inches (and vice versa). I also know that weight fluctuates not just due to food intake. It changes daily because of hormone changes, water retention, and other things. Because of that, I am going to limit weighing and measuring myself to just once a week. This is going to be difficult because I will want to hop on the scale every day. But, I know if I see a low number one day and a high one the next, it’ll just be discouraging, so for now, once a week it is.<br /></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">I also feel like I need to let you in on a little back story. Some of you have known me for a while, and some haven’t. While some of the weight I want to lose is baby weight, it’s definitely not ALL baby weight. Remember how I said I’d gone to a trainer before I got pregnant? I actually lost about 10lbs during that time. Then I got pregnant and lost 18 more due to never-ending morning sickness. So, at my first visit to the OB/GYN, I weighed 162lbs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The day I delivered L, I weighed 181lbs.<br /></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">The day JP and I first met, I weighed less than 130 lbs. </span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">At our wedding, I weighed around 170. This is a 40lb weight gain in around 3 years.<br /></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Even at 170, I was 40lbs or so over where I wanted to be. I was still fat. Even at my first visit to the OB when I was pregnant, at 162 lbs, I was 32-36lbs more than where I was 4 years prior. Still fat, and I hadn't even had the baby yet!<br /></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">And, this is me now.</span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnf-B6pp7QFGCOA66TfzKZNvBhLv_9Cn7pMX8LHgyQyTw14JyoN-87Fr8JiCkYNPp9DvX4bZmecjyaASJRebzwo5sfmiKMrVw_bkKqYOh28edfin5unV_oi5IOlIYVfNKliMdrqDbOrgM/s1600/280.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnf-B6pp7QFGCOA66TfzKZNvBhLv_9Cn7pMX8LHgyQyTw14JyoN-87Fr8JiCkYNPp9DvX4bZmecjyaASJRebzwo5sfmiKMrVw_bkKqYOh28edfin5unV_oi5IOlIYVfNKliMdrqDbOrgM/s200/280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692870884252746546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSX65h89OsOllY2za8V9LWWNLbUjCiueExozc4BvPBzPbkLCqHHqwaZesJuRn22LZx19Ua_pwj3fK061wygsG46vFvULmksPjVAu2juqwr9E-aLdmapmB2DE8kF1BXvhY3SgzVZFtZepc/s1600/281.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSX65h89OsOllY2za8V9LWWNLbUjCiueExozc4BvPBzPbkLCqHHqwaZesJuRn22LZx19Ua_pwj3fK061wygsG46vFvULmksPjVAu2juqwr9E-aLdmapmB2DE8kF1BXvhY3SgzVZFtZepc/s200/281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692870887455395586" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">My weight is currently 197lbs. I weigh more now than I did at 36 weeks pregnant, by 16lbs, and my daughter is 20 months old. I weigh 27 more pounds now than I did 4 weeks after having her, and there is really no reason for it other than pure laziness. I didn’t WANT to go to the gym. I never felt like I had the time, and when I did, I thought of ten million other things to do. Those days are over.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did Phase 1 of the South Beach diet with great success, (18lbs down), and I have only gained 6lbs of that back. For you non- mathematicians out there, that means at my heaviest, I weighed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>209lbs</u></b>. There is no logical reason for that. I still wore maternity pants until LAST AUGUST (L was 16 months old)! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m telling you all this because I NEVER want to go back to that ever again. I don’t ever want to see 197 (and especially not higher) on the scale (even if I am pregnant again in the future). I am terribly embarrassed by this, and I think right now that is my biggest motivator. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am not happy or comfortable in my skin at all. I hate seeing photos of me, which is awful because I love taking photos of my family and I’m never in any of them because I’m embarrassed to see my fat self. I wear the same few outfits over and over again because I’m not happy with how I look in even my fat clothes now. I just carry around so much guilt surrounding allowing myself to get this way, and in order to get rid of this guilt, I have to change it. </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">I have never even told my husband how much I weighed at my highest point. I want to apologize to him for letting this get out of control, especially because it’s not like he met me at my highest point and is journeying with me to my lowest. He met me when I was thin (though not in shape by any means), and has watched me swell up like a white whale. </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">I remember sitting at a class at Cumberland, before I ever got my first tattoo. I was telling a classmate about it, because it was scheduled for that evening or within a few days. One of the guys in the class piped in, who was really against me getting a tattoo at all, and said “But what if one day you have back fat? How is that tattoo going to look?” My response: “Oh, there is NO way I will ever have back fat!!” </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">I have back fat. And belly fat. And thigh fat, and bat wings, and so help me it will be GONE after this year. I have said 2011 was my last year to be fat. I didn’t wake up this morning skinny, so that wasn’t entirely true, so I have decided I need to rephrase that. <u>2011 was my last year to be fat and do nothing about it</u>. </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Like most people, I feel like I do better when I have a plan, and compartmentalized goals.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My overall goal is to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><u>lose 70lbs</u></b>, and be able to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">run</b> without looking like a penguin with two left feet and blind in both eyes (and to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">run a half marathon </b>towards the end of the year). I also want to have <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">muscle definition</b>, strength, and be able to look in the mirror and not just like what I see but <u>LOVE</u> what I see. </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">I’ve started out by breaking my goals down into monthly increments. I want to lose around 10lbs a month (which would put me at goal around July). This first month, I am going to concentrate on just getting back into the routine of eating well and going to the gym. My goal is to go to the gym five days a week for around 90 minutes, and to alternate cardio and weight training. I have several different weight programs that I have found so I am going to try each and see which one is the most challenging/works the best. When I find what I like and am able to do at this point, I’ll stick with that one until it is no longer challenging. I’ll post the workout plans I have in another separate entry. Towards the end of February, I plan to start the Couch to 5k running program. It is 90 days long, with the end result being the capability to run a 5k. After completing that 90 days, I plan to take a month or two to whittle down my time, and then I plan to do the 5k to half marathon running program (also 90 days, also by the same people at cool runnings). I have a cardio trainer app on my phone and my Kindle tablet to track my calories burned, and I’d like to burn between 4000-5000 a week in the beginning. Once I start really running, I am going to re-evaluate the calorie burning goal (and likely my food intake, too).</span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Eating wise, I have decided (at least for now) that I’m not going to go with any particular “diet”. No weight watchers, no south beach, no atkins. I’m going to watch my food intake and count my calories. I downloaded the My Fitness Pal app on my phone and Kindle, too, at the suggestion of several people so I can track my food. I have planned my meals out for every day this week (which also helps with budgeting for groceries, and because I spent the money on the groceries for these particular items, I have to eat them). I’ll post this week’s meal plan, with calorie counts, tomorrow, and at the end of the week I’ll do a recipe round up on dishes I really enjoyed. If I start to see myself slipping, I may do a quick 2 week round of the first Phase of the South Beach diet, purely as a motivator, but I don’t think I’ll have to. </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">An early motivator, and my first visual goal, is to wear something from my closet that I have never even taken the tag off of.<br /></span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Size 10 skinny jeans. I got them for Christmas when I was pregnant with L and have never fit into them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Another motivator is a set of Old Navy gift cards, hanging out in my wallet. I’m refusing to use them until I hit my goal weight (or all my current clothes get so big that they don’t fit at all, whichever comes first). </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">I plan on requesting gift cards to Old Navy, JC Penney, and other clothing stores for my birthday and for next Christmas, and using them on a new, skinny wardrobe. What a better motivator than new, smaller, stylish clothes?</span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">So to recap:</span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Weight: 197lbs<br /></span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Height: 5'6"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Chest: 46"<br /></span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Waist: 38"<br /></span></p> <span style="font-size:85%;"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Hips: 43 1/2"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Thigh: 23"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Calf: 16"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span 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mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> </span></p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-22630215796382961872012-01-01T18:58:00.000-08:002012-01-01T19:12:58.158-08:00Infused Water<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhciaxrJgWZ93K5IkCMG-E5fv0xvOpdF3hKgXaNXTsi1RSzaxavQLNQOv5D3Rkj2b9TsolXCd5UfpV4CrBjQ8bATDLQniWdfAJIqCj-ADersNNfbcn3wRfdu48H2o2LzftLfdAFwZvZM/s1600/279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhciaxrJgWZ93K5IkCMG-E5fv0xvOpdF3hKgXaNXTsi1RSzaxavQLNQOv5D3Rkj2b9TsolXCd5UfpV4CrBjQ8bATDLQniWdfAJIqCj-ADersNNfbcn3wRfdu48H2o2LzftLfdAFwZvZM/s200/279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692867349715309714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I saw this on pinterest, and thought, "What the heck. I might as well try something to change my water up a little!"<br /><br />The idea of this water is that it is supposed to aid in digestion (mint is supposed to help calm the stomach) and aid in boosting your metabolism and curbing cravings (the lemon & cucumber). Some recipes for this have also mentioned that it helps control bloat, but I haven't had enough to drink yet to notice any kind of difference there.<br /><br />You're supposed to drink 60 oz of this per day. I already drink 60 oz or more water a day anyway so I am just doing this to change my water flavoring. I'm sure this would do the same as far as metabolism & cravings curbing if you did something like mint, grapefruit slices, and cucumber or even mint, orange & lemon slices, and cucumber. The possibilities are not quite endless, but enough to vary up water from day to day.<br /><br />What you'll need<br />At least a 2 liter pitcher<br />one medium sized lemon, sliced thin<br />one small cucumber (or half of a medium one), sliced thin<br />10-12 fresh mint leaves<br /><br />Toss the lemon slices, cucumber slices, and mint leaves in the pitcher. Fill with water and throw in some ice cubes. Let it steep at least 30 minutes before drinking.<br /><br />I left the same cucumber, lemon, and mint in the pitcher all day, and just kept refilling with water. I'll fill up the pitcher with those same pieces tonight and let it steep all night in the fridge. Then when I'm done the first pitcher tomorrow, I'll toss the pieces and cut new ones.<br /><br />Even JP likes the way this tastes, so that means I must have done something right!Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-5938940010668687812011-12-31T16:37:00.000-08:002011-12-31T16:46:42.463-08:00Budgeting 101<p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">I’m going to be the first to admit, before doing the Financial Peace University offered by Dave Ramsey, JP and I really had no clue what a real budget consisted of. We tried to do one once, and as soon as it became apparent we were overspending, we got upset (I cried) and then got mad, and then quit. We knew we had to have money to pay the bills, and just kind of took the rest and did what we wanted to with it. After the first few weeks of FPU, we really had started thinking differently, and realized there was so much more we could do with our money than spend it on stupid stuff we really didn’t need. Like save up and take a great vacation, or even retire rich some day. So we started doing a monthly budget. And like I said before, we stuck to it for a long time, and then slowly started going off track. This time, we’re much more serious about it, so I foresee it working for us much better.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">One of the things Dave Ramsey says that we scoffed at, but then learned the importance of in budgeting is this: <b>Name all of your dollars.</b></span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"><br /></span></b></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Now, I don’t mean this five is named Steve and that twenty over there is named Caroline. What I mean is make sure every dollar has a designated spot on the budget. Every dollar you bring in needs to have a specific thing that is done with it, whether it’s in the budget to pay a bill, put in your piggy bank, or hidden in a coffee can buried in the backyard (not smart…even with interest rates being low, a few cents a month adds up to more than what your coffee can has in it)—it HAS to have a designated spot. If it just floats around out there with no purpose, that purpose is quickly going to become “<u>SPEND THAT SUCKER</u>!” Let me tell you, it REALLY helps us to visually see that every dollar we have is used for something. Even if it just goes into one of our savings accounts, we see that is where it’s supposed to go so we don’t want to deviate from “the plan”. It’s helped. A LOT.</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> </span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">I really can’t stress enough the importance of a budget. It is integral in helping to get out of debt and save. </span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> </span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Since most of us are high tech with debit cards, credit cards, online bill pay, and the like, the idea of our money moving here and there and everywhere is pretty abstract. There have been studies that have proven that there is less emotion associated with swiping a credit or debit card than reaching in your wallet and pulling out cash. It’s true! I’ve been known to carry $20 in my wallet for <i>weeks</i> without breaking it, all the while swiping my debit card without hesitation. You have more attachment to actual cash than to this abstract funds transfer that happens with the card. This is why we do the cash envelopes. We have cash envelopes for our personal spending money, for Lily (for diapers, prescriptions, etc), for our entertainment (date nights), and for groceries.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Now, Dave Ramsey suggests also doing a cash envelope for gas, but in today’s world, it’s just not the most practical idea (at least, not for us. If it works for you, GO for it). It’s a lot more convenient to slide your card at the pump (especially at night, and when you have a baby in a car seat in the car). So, to make sure we stick to the budget, we have a separate checking account just for the cars. Each month, we transfer a certain amount for our gas budget. We also pay car insurance out of it, and any car maintenance (oil changes, tires, car washes, whatever). It’s what works for us.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Here is our basic outline for our budget.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">First, I write down our incoming money. I <u>only</u> factor in JP’s paychecks and mine. I take the lowest amount the checks could be (usually I look for the lowest the check has been in a year and subtract $50), and add them together to get the total we’re working with for the month. This is to teach us to live on less. If we can survive on lower than we’re bringing in and still save, then we’re doing what we’re supposed to. This also gives us a little cushion in case something unexpected happens (like an ER co-pay or a vet visit) so we don’t always have to dip into our savings. “But wait,” you’re thinking, “didn’t you just write that you have to name ALL of your money? Now you’re telling me to round the paychecks down and don’t count any other income?” Yes, that’s what I’m telling you to do. I’ll tell you more about what you can do with any extra in a little bit.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Second, I listed all of our regular bills (not debts- like credit cards, medical bills, etc- but regular bills). Though a house payment or car payment would be considered “debt”, I list them here because they are important. I also list regular charitable donations here. You don’t want to <u>ever</u> skip a payment on something that could cost you a roof over your head, water, heat/electricity, or food for your family. So, we have:<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">House note</span></p><p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Truck payment</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Water</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Electricity</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Natural Gas</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Direct TV</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">AT&T</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Verizon Wireless</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Car insurance</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">JP’s life insurance</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Cell phone insurance</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">ADT Security</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Cook’s Pest Control</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Netflix</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Hulu</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Association Dues</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Donation to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> </span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">You will notice that some of these are blue. That is because they are “negotiable” parts of the budget. This means that if we were ever facing a hard time financially, we could drop these services completely or change them to lower the price. They are luxuries, not necessities. If you find when you do a budget that you are spending more than you are earning, or that you’re barely breaking even, it is most likely time to bite the bullet and re-evaluate your necessities vs luxuries. It sucks having to do that (we’ve been there) but the amount of stress relief you’ll get from having even a little extra money at the end of the month is totally worth it.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Next on the budget, I list the debt items we pay. We are fortunate enough not to have any credit card debt, which is huge because the average American couple has around $10000 in credit card debt at any given time. If you pay the minimum amount each month on $10000, it’ll take you on average between 18-24 <b><u>YEARS</u></b> to pay off the balance, and you’ve paid it back <b><u>FOUR</u></b> times. Kind of makes you think twice about charging dinner, when you realize you’ll be paying $200 by the time it’s all said and done on a $50 tab. We are also fortunate enough not to have student loans, which the average person is generally saddled with around $10000-$20000. I don’t have statistics on the average life span of a student loan, but I am sure most are at least 10-15 years. Though they’re lower interest rates than credit cards, you still end up paying back way more than you owed if you just pay the minimum. Even though we don’t have credit card debt, we do have some items that we have to get paid off. They are mostly medical bills. I’m not airing all of our laundry with our debt so here is a framework you’d use for the “debts”.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Gap Visa Card</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Mastercard</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Medical Bill</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Medical Bill</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Student loan<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Out beside every single one of these items, I have a column titled “Amount Due”, another column titled “Amount Paid”, and a last column titled “Over/Short”. Like this:<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">BILL Amount Budgeted Amount Paid Over/Short</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Electricity</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Water</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">House</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> I know some of you are thinking (because I did at first), “How do you budget for a bill ahead of time when you don’t know how much it will be until a few days before it’s due?” I make my budget for each month a week or two before that month begins. And you’re right, I don’t have the electric bill, water, or many other bills by then. So how do I do it? When we first got started budgeting, I looked back on our bank statements for a year prior, and wrote down the amounts of all 12 water bills, electric bills, phone bills, etc. I found the month that we had the highest bill, and rounded that number up to the highest $25 increment. (For instance, if the highest water bill I found was $54.90 –which was when we had a leaky toilet- and I rounded up to $75). That way, I was pretty confident we’d always have the worst case scenario budgeted. Some people take the 12 month time frame and average them together, but this could still leave you with a deficit one month if you have a higher than average bill. For instance, it’s colder than average one month, and you have had to turn your heat up higher than normal. You average an $80 electric bill, but suddenly you have a $200 electric bill. I’d rather budget every month for a $200 electric bill, which is why I have an over/short column.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Each month, I write the amount we budget for the bills. Then as I get them and pay them, I enter in the amount we actually paid, and how much of an overage (or shortage, which do happen occasionally still) we have. Now you’re asking “But what do you do with an overage?” Even though I work at a bank, I still utilize the online banking program offered because it allows me to title all transfers (see? I’m naming my money). Each month, I schedule transfers of the overages directly to our savings account. I do each separately, one day after the bill drafts or the check posts, and note what it is (“Electric overage” or “Water bill overage”). This money could also be used to pay extra payments on debts (which I’ll get to in a minute). In the event of a shortage, I will transfer the money to cover it back out of savings. I make sure to note what it is for, and if it happens again the next month, I will usually re-do that item on the budget. <b><u>NOTE</u></b>: Always be sure to really check your statement if you have been paying a certain amount regularly and then all of a sudden it changes. Something may be charged to you that isn’t supposed to be, or in the case of a higher water bill, you may have a leak. A personal example is when our Verizon bill started going up, we saw they had changed our insurance rate. We ended up getting cheaper (and better) insurance through Best Buy for our phones.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Next on the budget, I list all of our other expenses. We already have automatic transfers set up from our paychecks to go into various savings accounts (including L’s). I put those here, too. A lot of people don’t budget in savings, but we want to be sure we do. Again, the ones in blue can be done away with or the amounts reduced. There are many months that I don’t even budget for clothing because you honestly don’t NEED clothes every month.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Groceries</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Gas</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Entertainment</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Clothing</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">JP Spend</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Amy Spend</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">L’s care</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pets</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Extra (this would be birthdays, holiday parties, cookouts you’ve been invited to, anything that would cost you extra money)</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Savings deposit</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Savings deposit</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">Savings deposit</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0070C0;">L’s Savings deposit</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"><br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">After I write down all of the amounts I have budgeted for the bills, I add those up and subtotal them at the bottom of that section. I subtract that from the money we have coming in and see what is left over. Then I move on to the other expenses section. I take the leftover amount and divide between the items I listed. Because it is just three of us (and one of us is a toddler, who doesn’t eat much), I can usually get by with a grocery budget of between $80-$90 a week, and have left over money (because I coupon). There are some who do cash envelopes who break the groceries into compartmentalized sections (health & beauty, cleaning supplies, food) but that doesn’t make sense to me. It is a much bigger waste of time than benefit- you have to separate your groceries into three separate transactions, pull money from three separate envelopes, etc. It’s just not worth the hassle. If we have an overage at the end of the month, I deposit the cash into a savings account. Starting out, it’s often hard to pull a month’s worth of money for all of these cash envelope items out at a time. What I do is pull it out week by week (on pay days) until we get to a point where I can pull it out every two, then three, then every month. I have my envelopes marked “Groceries week 1” , “Groceries Week 2” etc. Doing it week by week at first is also a good teacher- when the money is gone, it’s gone, so you have to really watch what you’re buying. If you had a month’s worth all at once, you might be tempted at first to pull from week 2, or 3. At first, a lot of people end up eating soup and grilled cheese by the end of the month because they had rib eyes and shrimp the first week, simply because they’re not used to budgeting and stretching their money.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">For gas, we average about the same $80-$90 a week. This is usually a tank of gas for each of us. When we’re really not spending money, we’re not driving around as much, so sometimes we can stretch it to a tank every 2 weeks. If there is an overage at the end of the month, we leave it in this account, because we also use it for car maintenance. It helps us have a little bit in reserve for oil changes, tires, and god forbid, car repairs/emergencies.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">For pets, I budget mostly for dog food, but in months where they have to go for annual shots, or if we take them to get groomed every few months, that goes in that budget. If there is an overage here, I generally leave it in the envelope. I do this because then we can take them for an extra grooming or something, or we have money if there is a vet emergency.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">For L’s care, it is mostly diapers now, but when she was younger it was baby food, formula, teething stuff, things like that. In a month that she has a well baby appointment, I go ahead and budget in co-pay. Overages at the end of this month get deposited into her savings account.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Spending money is handled a little different. One thing you <u>HAVE</u> to remember with the spending money is that it is <u>YOURS</u> (or your spouse’s) to spend. I hand JP his and don’t say another word about it. If he wants to spend it a dollar at a time and make it last all month or spend it all at once on a video game, that’s his choice. If I don’t touch mine and save it for months at a time and then go buy a pair of $200 boots, or if I drink mine all up in Dunkin Donuts iced lattes (which I won’t be doing, by the way because they’re not in my diet plan), it’s mine to do it. If we decide to pool it together and have an extra date night, we can. But one thing to remember is, when it’s gone for the month, it’s gone. <u>There’s no more</u>. On tight months, this is the first thing to go off the budget (followed by entertainment).<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">In the extras, this is where you budget for birthday gifts, holiday events, or anything that counts as a special event. When you’re doing your monthly budget, it helps to have a calendar nearby so you can look at the birthdays and holidays. We have a set amount that we spend on family members and kids for birthdays, so we just need to figure out how many birthdays are in a certain month. There usually isn’t any extra left at the end of the month here.</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> As far as the savings accounts go, you’ve read by now that we have a lot of additional money going into the savings accounts in addition to what automatically goes. We have decided that it is as important to us to build up good savings as it is to get out of debt. So we carve some money out of each of our paychecks to go directly into our savings’ accounts. These usually stay pretty constant, but in the event of a month full of birthdays (for us, that’s April- L, JP, brother in law, cousins, nephew) or something out of the ordinary, we can lower the amounts.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">I then take the total from that category and add it to the bill subtotal. There is my total spent every month. I subtract it from the total coming in and if there is anything left (which there usually is a small amount, usually $50 or less), I make a transfer for that amount to savings, or we’ll agree to an extra date night or put it towards a big expense we’re saving for (like a vacation)- something like that.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">With all that swirling around in your head, I know you’re still wondering: <b>But what if you get EXTRA MONEY?? </b>What do you name that, smarty pants?!?!<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Say JP works some killer overtime, I have a Thirty-One party, we sell everything but the kitchen sink in a yard sale, I clear out our storage closet at a consignment sale, or someone gives us a gift. What do we do with it?<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">Prior to budgeting, we spent it without hesitation.</span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> Now, we think about it. What we are planning to do this year with extra money is this: half will go directly in savings, and half will be paid on a debt.<br /></span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;">So, JP works some overtime and gets an extra $300 (after taxes). We immediately transfer $150 to a savings account and take the other $150 and apply it to a debt we have. If you have credit cards or multiple loans, you’ll want to sit down and look at the interest rates and the amount you owe on them. As a general rule it’s smartest to pay extra payments on the debt with the highest interest rate or balance. If you have a credit card with an 18% interest rate, and one with a 5% interest rate, you’re going to pay way more in the long run on the balance that is at 18% if you’re just paying the minimum payments. Since we don’t have credit cards, we go by the debt with the highest balance. As I mentioned, ours are mostly medical bills so they’re not accruing interest. Paying the highest balance one down just gets the creditors off your back faster. For our medical bills, I budget $50 a month on each payment. The minimum they request from us is $25, but since we can fit a higher payment into our budget, I do it. If we ever had a hard month, I would drop those down to $25. With credit cards, if there is any way possible you can squeeze even $10 more than the minimum payment in your budget, you’d be doing yourself a huge favor. We have a truck payment that has a minimum payment and accrues interest. We know every little bit extra we can throw at it will make the interest we pay less, so when we have extra money to put towards a debt, that’s the one we pick right now.<br /></span></p> <p id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325378284999117" class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1325378284999114" style="font-size:10.0pt;">One of the reasons I am so big on transferring any extras to savings is so we can be prepared for life. Unexpected things happen. The car breaks down. The fridge quits working. The sink leaks. If you don’t have money set aside for emergencies, these sorts of things can be catastrophic. It doesn’t suck any less having to take your hard earned money out of savings to go buy a new tire, fridge, lawnmower, or whatever else might have broken, but it’s a huge weight off of your shoulders to know you HAD the money to do it, and didn’t have to beg or borrow it from someone else (or open a line of credit you didn’t need or want). It’s nice looking at your bank balance and seeing it grow (even if it’s just a little) each month. </span></p> <p class="yiv1060562989MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;"> So there you have it. A crash course in budgeting. </span></p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4590578247868860131.post-24928625189017331112011-12-30T19:35:00.000-08:002011-12-30T19:47:31.434-08:00Fitness motivation<span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"> Remember the photo blog I mentioned? It’s time. I figured after that massive first entry that maybe you needed to rest your eyeballs. There will be much less in the way of words in this one, and a lot more photos.<br /></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Before I got pregnant with L, I had met with a personal trainer. He asked me what kind of goals I wanted, and I specifically remember telling him I wanted to be thin, but not skinny fat. I wanted to be toned, but I didn’t want to be “hard”. I really do feel like women should still be “soft” to an extent. I want to have a flat stomach and definition, but I can do without a six pack. I want muscular arms, shoulders, and back, but not like Cameron Diaz, who looks almost mannish in my opinion. I thought the best way to show this to him was in photos, and I still think it’s the best way to show it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here are some body motivation photos. I’m anxious to see how close I can come to realizing these by Dec. 31, 2012.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44R5ef8M-hJwlBtSpYdEzXVcp63_13eruNicQdlznrdWzksA1QANw_8Fxj98wcsgzf1AMegwRCvSKOXFZqUD2p0FTYF0FKWbqVgpF-N_lNL2wqKh0872xiBwXVax7g2QI3MTMJ2g1NS0/s1600/fit4.jpg"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 166px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44R5ef8M-hJwlBtSpYdEzXVcp63_13eruNicQdlznrdWzksA1QANw_8Fxj98wcsgzf1AMegwRCvSKOXFZqUD2p0FTYF0FKWbqVgpF-N_lNL2wqKh0872xiBwXVax7g2QI3MTMJ2g1NS0/s200/fit4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692133159808055026" border="0" /></a> Legs/calves<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwCy_zsM5gvZyjAmSs8GLP2_BYrF-OTC7C45CbXTzdZbGHkpQXvqZBB2uegj916Mfa6iLOEqWYFklf7-9FCccgBkfcpafZuxVBdgXiy_C0P_p8Br6VkxIYLV-3qZG-tgHWAMldB-rA-A/s1600/fit3.jpg"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwCy_zsM5gvZyjAmSs8GLP2_BYrF-OTC7C45CbXTzdZbGHkpQXvqZBB2uegj916Mfa6iLOEqWYFklf7-9FCccgBkfcpafZuxVBdgXiy_C0P_p8Br6VkxIYLV-3qZG-tgHWAMldB-rA-A/s200/fit3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692133157860720370" border="0" /></a> Butt<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD_GPGgVUOnomSM8C12G9BrS4Y7eGO_DwQSt-g5z874YLi3q-RyVctUG4feH0yu2kDWprJbWxo-YM6L3iBq8tUPZ7X514jKOAbMhZl-vZABtF8Ty_IDOgXVKPPtmaQedGtIuT9oLBdG4/s1600/fit2.jpg"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD_GPGgVUOnomSM8C12G9BrS4Y7eGO_DwQSt-g5z874YLi3q-RyVctUG4feH0yu2kDWprJbWxo-YM6L3iBq8tUPZ7X514jKOAbMhZl-vZABtF8Ty_IDOgXVKPPtmaQedGtIuT9oLBdG4/s200/fit2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692133152507152978" border="0" /></a> Stomach<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq22V_bQ3PbpG0G7FJCNYltmh6glrNqql3p0uXXaF1u3IaNBIF3sYls0-P6ez0NCnYQbcAq_XDOuGchoYsUDfIIGwLMZioh6aV1BjLxHFTeuSnaHt44NKju8Ma-fR5kmxJOsGYYk95xU/s1600/fit1.jpg"> <img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq22V_bQ3PbpG0G7FJCNYltmh6glrNqql3p0uXXaF1u3IaNBIF3sYls0-P6ez0NCnYQbcAq_XDOuGchoYsUDfIIGwLMZioh6aV1BjLxHFTeuSnaHt44NKju8Ma-fR5kmxJOsGYYk95xU/s200/fit1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692133151444044322" border="0" /></a> Curvy & feminine, but fit<br /><a onblur="try 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mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Every year, come January 1<sup>st</sup>, people make these fun little things called “resolutions”.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">An article I read today said the top 10 resolutions year after year stay pretty constant. People want to drink less alcohol, eat healthy food, get a better education or job, get fit, lose weight, manage debt and stress, quit smoking, be more green, save money, take a trip, and do more to help others, respectively. This same article states that roughly 45% of us make one or more resolutions each year. 25% fail to keep them past the first week. The number increases to 30% after the second week. 46% fail after the first month, and after the first six months, 64% have completely given up on their New Year’s resolutions. This means only 36% of resolution makers actually see their goals through.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Researchers think that the vast majority of resolution breakers don’t stick to their resolutions because they just make generalized resolutions. They have found that those who make explicit resolutions (such as “I’m going to lose 14lbs” or “I am going to save $5000 in six months”) are TEN TIMES more likely to achieve their goals than those who generalize (“I’ll try to lose weight” or “I’ll work on managing my money”). This is because the more explicit the resolution, the more likely it is to be treated as a goal, and when given a goal, it is instinct to try to attain it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> So, that is why I am not calling my plans for 2012 “resolutions”. They are goals, and I <u>will</u> achieve them. Partly because I am just that determined now, partly because my spouse and close friends are all on board to do it with me and motivate me, and partly because, well, I have no other choice. If JP and I want to continue with our big picture plans, things have to change. There’s no better time than at the start of a new year.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">I plan to use this blog as a tool to stay focused. Whether anyone reads it or not, I am going to use it to talk about progress, setbacks, tips and tricks I pick up along the way, recipes, frustrations, and everything in between. If you read this, feel free to put in your $0.02 along the way- praise, chastisement, motivation, your own tips, tricks, and successes—it is ALL welcome. I’ll still be keeping my other blog, but it’ll be more about L and family events so those out of state and friends can still keep up with us. This blog is my big three life-changing goals for the year, and that only. Once this year is over, I’ll maintain this blog with the next set of goals.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">My first goal, which I am sure is almost everyone’s, is to lose weight and get fit. Some people list these as two separate items, but to me, they go hand in hand. I don’t want to lose a bunch of weight the wrong way. Even when I was younger, and much, much thinner, I was unhappy with how I looked because everything was still flabby. I was what I affectionately call “skinny fat”. I could wear a size five, but my thighs and belly jiggled. That being said, I don’t want to be some kind of crazed body builder woman that is so hard and so militant that she can’t enjoy life. I think my next “pre-New Year” entry is going to be a bunch of motivational photos, so we can all be on the same page. I know in my old blog, I talked about weight loss but I wasn’t real with myself or anyone who read it. I was (and still am) so embarrassed about my weight and how I look that I wouldn’t tell anyone anything—I wasn’t real about the amount of weight I needed to lose, and I never told anyone (not even JP) my weight.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">This blog is going to be different.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> January 1, I am putting it all out there. I’m listing my weight (gulp), my measurements (double gulp), what size clothes I wear (cringe), and I will be posting a photo (sweet baby Jesus). I feel like in order to accomplish this huge thing, I have to be 100% out with it. No hiding behind the “I lost 2lbs this week” mystery. Two pounds brings you down to what weight, fat girl? Spill it! I also think it is more rewarding, and more motivating, to see it in actual numbers—there is a big difference between “Lost 2 lbs” and seeing the numbers drop from 190 to 188. Maybe I’ll even get really good at this blog thing and make charts and such. (Yea, right).<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">As far as this part of my journey goes, I am going to write about the ups and downs. I’ll be posting my weight, measurements, exercise summary, and food summary each week, probably on Mondays. In between I’ll post recipes of food I have tried, exercises I like (or don’t like but work), things that motivate me, and complaints (because there will be muscle aches and days where I drag my butt to the gym when I don’t want to go). In my first blog of the new year, I will be posting more specific goals, too. And, maybe not each week but definitely each month, I will post progress photos. I am well aware that I didn’t put this weight on over night, so it will not disappear overnight.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">The second goal for this year is sort of related to (or at least will benefit from) the first. JP and I will, beyond a shadow of a doubt, get out of debt (or as close to it as humanly possible in a year) and save money. For this goal, I’m not going to put it <u>all</u> out in the open. I don’t think that the entire internet needs to be privy to every nuance of our financial status. Just know that we’re living comfortably now, (we’re not facing foreclosure or unable to pay our bills) but we’d like to make our cushions softer. We have some outstanding debts that we plan to get paid off this year, and we plan to watch our savings accounts grow. Since I won’t give absolute specifics, for this part, I will write mostly about how to carve extra money to pay on debts out of your budget, how we budget, tips we try to save money (what works and doesn’t), and things like that. Couponing, consigning, and yardsale-ing, bargain hunting, determining needs/wants—these will be the things I talk about. I will talk about some very specific savings plans we have, and some goals, in the first blog of the new year. (In case you haven’t noticed, that’s going to be my big “unveiling” day). In my opinion, eating better and saving money really goes hand in hand, at least, for us. We eat out <u>all</u> the time. We have long since blamed it on our schedules but we have had long periods where I’ve cooked and fixed lunches and it didn’t kill us. It’s just so much more convenient to eat out, and of course, who gets the healthy options? Not us!<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Thirdly (lastly), I plan to get organized. This means a more streamlined, organized home, cleaning projects, and other things to make life easier. JP and I are organizing our health, and our finances, so it seems logical to continue the trend and organize our home (after all, we’ll be spending a lot of time at home not spending money). My house is in what I affectionately call a state of organized chaos. This means, if you called tonight and said “Hey! I’m on my way over to hang out”, I would spend the next 15 minutes throwing toys into toy boxes, tossing clothes into baskets, vacuuming up main rooms, and shutting a few doors. You’d walk in and think my house was presentable, and though you’d think that the doors were just shut because they were bedrooms and “private” it is really because they’re housing an explosion of crap I didn’t have any places to put. One of the things that most people would consider a benefit (but that I now look at as a pitfall) of not totally drowning in debt while not living on any kind of budget whatsoever is that we spent money on stuff with no regard. What this means is that we have accumulated a LOT of unnecessary stuff. We wanted it, so we bought it. This now seems ridiculous to the both of us, and we’re shocked at times at how much we have. Another downside is that our house is so cluttered sometimes that we think we don’t have something we need so we go out and buy it, only to find out that we did have it and just couldn’t find it. (boo!!) That’s going to stop completely, I hope, and so will the “Have you seen my {insert any item ranging from speed loader to t-shirt to keys to cooking utensil} here?”<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">A lot of the organization/cleaning ideas I have are pinterest inspired, and should even save us money (see how each of these goals relates to the other?).<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I have always been told that if you’re happy with your home and how it looks, you won’t mind being there. If you constantly come home and look at clutter and junk everywhere, you won’t want to be home. I think that rings true for us, for sure. When our house is super cluttered and disorganized, I have noticed that we DO spend more time away from it. This is negative in several ways- first, we have a wonderful home and should want to be there, and second, if we’re not ever home, how will it ever get clean and organized? When we’re on our strict budget, we’ll be out running around so much less, and I want us to be happy and content in our home. It’s going to take a while to get it in organized order, but it can be done. I also want to finally get into a cleaning routine that doesn’t involve me working on every single room, doing every single chore, from 8 am to 9pm on a Saturday. I’ll be taking before and after photos, and letting you know how some of these pinterest projects work out (making my own swiffer pads and cleaning solutions, things like that).<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt">It is my hope that this blog is what keeps me on track. I also hope that maybe, at some point, someone will stumble on it that needs help with some of the same things. Maybe I can inspire someone else. I guess only time will tell. </span></p>Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14107952213138588019noreply@blogger.com2