Taking it One Day at a Time

I'm taking over in 2011 - be prepared!

2011-01-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

Before I tell you how I am going to conquer 2011 I want to mention something really important. I want to give major props to my wonderful husband who deals with so much from me. I am a constant mover and shaker he is the best sounding board ever. I try to tell him every day how much I appreciate him, but I also wanted to immortalize him by telling him via blog. Scott, you are so wonderful to me and I can't imagine my life without you. You make my life complete! I love you!

Okay, now that we are done with the mushy stuff... :) I told you in my last blog that I have decided to become vegetarian for a little while and I wanted to give you a quick update. I have not had any meat in 13 days. Because I am not normally a vegetarian I have really had to put myself out there and try new things. I gotta tell ya, I love it! My body feels really good. So many foods disagree with me resulting in major stomach aches, but I have been feeling really good for the past week and a half. When I first tell people that I am vegetarian right now their first response is "Oh man, that must be so hard! Aren't you going through meat withdrawals?" For those of you wondering if you could ever do it, you can! I have not had one meat craving since I started, and I feel pretty good about that. If you have stomach issues, I would highly recommend it.

Now my plan to dominate 2011. :) I have been feeling so inspired by a new year. There are so many possibilities open to me, and I want to make sure to take advantage of all of them. I want to share some of my goals/resolutions with you. Part of me hopes that you keep me accountable for the goals that I set, but mostly I hope it inspires you to set your goals high for this year and really put yourself out there.

1. Honesty
Don't take this as the things that I tell you aren't the truth, but much like others I know I hold back to spare other peoples' feelings. I hold onto so much stress and anxiety that it makes me really sad. So I have decided to talk to people (in a constructive way) about how I'm feeling. This includes letting people honestly know when I'm not interested in doing something. I have been the kind of person that you can ask to do anything for you and I will say "yes" because I don't want to hurt your feelings. I have already tested this out in a couple ways, and I feel so empowered by it.

2. Take more risks
I play too many things safe in my life and let other people tell me what I can and can't do. So for 2011 I am going to take more risks and put myself out there. I have already started by telling my boss at work that I would like a raise and more responsibility and following it up by letting her know that I would be back to remind her of my needs. I want to take more risks with my business. I love photography, but I have a lot of anxiety when I work. I always have in the back of my head "What if they don't like my work?". I am not going to doubt myself. I have come a long way from where I've been and I will not look back. I also have some business things brewing with my sisters, so I'm excited about that too.

3. Give back
I have always said "if I had more time I would love to volunteer", but I can just never find the time. So I am going to make the time this year to give back! There were times in my life where my family was very poor, and I'm so lucky that there are wonderful, generous people who gave to us. I want to put that back into the world. I am very lucky to have such wonderful family and friends that I want to make sure that I put that positivity back into the world.

4. Healthy habits
I have tried a lot of diets in my life, only to gain every pound back when I quit. I think that learning healthy habits are so much better then fad diets. Yes, you may lose weight from eating one carrot, and drinking cayenne pepper and water, but at the end of it you can go right back to where you were. There is a woman that I work with that had lost a lot of weight before I started there. She told me that she was going to lose it all again by basically only drinking water for 60 days. I'm sorry, but does this sound crazy to anyone but me?!?!? Doesn't she know that your body can't function without food, your brain can't function without food? Moral of the story is that she did not make it 60 days, and she looked terrible. Eat more vegetables, bike to work instead of drive a couple days a week, only allow yourself desserts twice a week... Whatever it is that you choose know that you are taking steps towards prolonging your life. That is a HUGE reward.

I hope that you found this blog inspiring to make your own goals this year. Be bold! As always, I am here to encourage you, because you encourage me. :)

Starting it Fresh for 2011

2011-01-01T18:48:00.000-08:00

For lots of us our New Year's resolution every year is to lose weight, then by February we are back to our old habits and completely forget our goals. This year let's set lots of small goals and make it happen!

Although I haven't updated my blog recently I have been keeping up with healthy eating for the most part. Working out has been taking a backseat to some minor medical issues I've been having, but I am working it out, and will be working out soon enough.

I will be embarking on a little journey of vegetarianism for the first part of this year. A very dear friend of mine recently had a doctor tell her that in order to start on a healthy track that she would need to go full vegetarian. I told her that I would support her in this task, and I've always wanted to try it. So I am writing this blog as my delicious smelling spinach and cheese manicotti is baking in the oven.

I want to encourage you all to make big goals for yourself this year. I am still working on my list, but for accountability purposes I will share it with you when I'm done.

Happy New Year y'all! Let's get healthy!

Day 34 - Dear Food

2010-10-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Food,

I never thought this day would come, but our relationship is over. I have recently been thinking about all the good times we've shared over the years, and now I see it was all a facade. Every time I would feel stressed, overwhelmed, angry, sad, happy (let's face it any excuse to be with you I took) and I would instantly run to have you embrace me. Your sugary sweetness, your delicious saltiness, all of you, all the time. You never really made me felt better, and after spending a prolonged period of time I saw that you only made me feel worse about myself.

I am over you. I know that we will be friends, and spend a healthy amount of time together, in healthy doses. It feels good to be free of you Food. I will use my new found independence to help other people get over you too.

Sincerely your former lover,
Carey

Day 22 - If there were a medal for making excuses...I would win the gold!

2010-10-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Although still very focused on my goal, there are always things and just life in general that seem to want to detour you from doing what you need to do. I am the QUEEN of making excuses, sometimes they are so elaborate and well thought-out that I give myself a break just for being so clever. :)

Do you ever find yourself doing this? You know that you had a rest day yesterday, and that you need to work out today, but instead you say..."Well, my body would want me to rest two days like a "weekend" and then workout extra hard tomorrow." Or "My cousin's uncle's sister's cousin's brother is having a get together, and I really need to be there and bring cupcakes, I can't just not bring cupcakes." Ha ha. Even now as I sit here writing this (hopefully) inspirational blog I am thinking to myself, "If I write a blog, then I shouldn't have to physically work out. I am giving my brain a work out."

Let me tell you that a world full of excuses is not going to make that number on the scale go down. I always feel better once I get to it, so I really try to focus on that. So next time you need to "take a nap with your cat, because it would be terrible if they napped alone" instead of working out, just think about how good you feel when you work out. Mind, body, and soul energized from a good work out. And if all else fails...offer yourself a reward for working out. When I finish my workout I am going to watch that trashy TV show I love....if I work out 5 days this week I will get myself a massage this weekend. Reward yourself! You deserve it!

Day 20 - Put down the cookie and walk away!

2010-10-18T17:50:00.000-07:00

First let me say, can you believe it's already been 3 weeks! It feels like just yesterday that I set my goals and started working it out. It takes three weeks to set a habit, and this feels really natural to me.

I am a stress eater, and that has been something really hard to kick. I had a very stressful day at work on Friday, and it sent me into place where I thought..."I'm having a bad day, and I've been SO good, I should be able to cheat." For the first time in a while I was able to stop myself, and think it through. "Is this going to make me feel better?" I might think so while I'm doing it, but most likely I'm going to feel disgusting after eating it, and then feel guilty for giving in. So I just put the "cookie" down and walked away. Even writing about it now, I feel really empowered. I am in control!

I lost 0.2lbs at my weigh-in today. While it doesn't look like a big number, everything small bit counts! I also try to think how easy it would be to gain 0.2lbs...I could probably do that before finishing writing this blog. :) It's so hard to lose that, and I never want to see that again!

I try not to think of myself as "dieting", but just taking control of creating a healthier lifestyle. The word "diet" has too much negative power behind it. To some, this is a terrible four-letter word. When my co-workers are deciding where to eat, they politely ask me if I want anything...and then quickly take it back..."Oh, sorry, I forgot you are dieting". It makes me laugh a little. I can eat anything I want in the right portions. Some things are worth it, and some things are not. Does that sound like dieting to you? :)

Day 15 - Kicking My Own Butt!

2010-10-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

As I lay on the ground, in pain, covered in sweat, I thought to myself...OH YEAH!!!! I recently purchased Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, and I wasn't entirely sure what to think of it. I have my doubts about things that say "Lose 20lbs in 30 days!", but if I did this for 30 days and ate really well, I am pretty sure it would live up to it's name. I practice rest days, because I think they are important both for your muscles, and also for your soul. Working out every day, every minute will make you crazy!!!

My last couple of days have been rest days due to a terrible week-long headache that I had. Luckily, I visited my doctor, and I am getting this problem under control. I was able to kick my own butt today, and it felt really good. Even though I hadn't worked out in two days...as I walked through my office this afternoon I felt lighter, and my pants felt looser. It felt good. I even decided that before I weighed myself today I wasn't going to be down if I didn't lose any weight, and that not going up was going to be my victory. I dropped another 1.5lbs, and although it's a small number every pound lost feels like a BIG victory!

Day 13 - Preparation is key!

2010-10-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

Being prepared is the key to losing weight. A couple months ago I would eat lunch out with my coworkers every day. Not only was I spending tons of money on lunches, but tons of calories. Even the sandwiches you order are HUGE, so you end up consuming so much more then you think you are. Several times I ate myself into a food coma after lunch time. Heavy, fried food with lots of fat that leaves you feeling disgusting after you eat them. Yuck!

I prepare my lunch for work every day now. Not only do I get to eat healthy foods, but I control the portions. I pack myself nutritious snacks too! I try to prepare my lunches the night before. Part of being prepared is making sure that you go to the grocery store and buy the foods to have them on hand. Make sure that when you go grocery shopping that you haven already eaten, because this is also where you get in trouble. When you are hungry you tend to buy foods that are convenient, and I usually toss in a couple too many sweets!

Buy lots of fresh fruits and veggies! Another part of my preparation is coming home from the store and preparing those fruits and veggies to be ready to eat. You spend a little extra time right when you get home from the grocery store preparing your food, you won't regret it!

Day 11 - Let's talk Vitamin D

2010-10-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

I thought I would write something a little different this week. It's not only important when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle to workout and eat well, but also to make sure that your body is getting the vitamins that it needs every day.

As I think I posted before...I recently had a physical just to check my overall health. One thing that my test results showed is that I am Vitamin D deficient. This came as no shock to me because of my prior experience with TC (Transformation Challenge). When I was in TC my Vitamin D test showed that I was VERY deficient at only 18% of what I needed! Uh oh!

I wanted to share this information because it's VERY common to be Vitamin D deficient. Here are the things a Vitamin D deficiency can cause:

Heart Problems
Chronic Pain
Fibromyalgia
Hypertension
Arthritis
Depression
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Obesity
PMS
Crohn's Disease
Cancer
MS
and other autoimmune diseases

I don't know about you, but this list seems pretty scary to me! So you can see why it's so important that 1. You check in with your doctor to see where your levels are at 2. Take a Vit D supplement every day. Unfortunately sitting in my basement office is not allowing me to soak up the sun (and vit D) like I would like to, so I am making sure that I take my daily dose.

How much Vitamin D do I need in a day?
You need 4000 units per day...this is the equivalent to:
40 glasses of milk/day
10 multivitamins/day

Where can I get my daily dose?

Make sure to get plenty of sunshine (but also wear sunscreen to avoid melanoma)
Take your multivitamin every day!
Take a Vit D supplement

Hope you find this information enlightening, or at the very least informative!

Day 7 - Sometimes one week feels like forever...

2010-10-05T17:56:00.000-07:00

I will reiterate that in the beginning it's always hard to get your momentum going. After a week I feel like I've been eating like a bird and working out forever already. This is both good and bad. Coming home and working out feels natural to me, part of my routine. This is good. The bad part is that when you feel like you've been doing it for a while and not seeing any results you tend to feel a little discouraged. I am not going to let those bad vibes kill my flow.

Over the weekend I celebrated my husband's birthday. Of course birthday's are full of yummy food and of course homemade treats. I bet you are prepared to read on that I gorged myself full of food, and fell off the wagon. Well predictable Carey, I tricked you! I stayed around my calorie goal every day (even including treats). This is SO huge for me! It's easy to fall off the wagon, and so much harder to get back on. I am on that wagon!!!

I want to share some positive insights with you blog-reader...I still eat what I want, I just eat less of those things. I think when some people think of diets they think of eating two celery sticks and a glass of water, but I enjoy all the foods that I always have, but I portion control myself.

Part of what encouraged me to start working out and watching what I eat is controlling my budget. A couple months ago (right around my birthday) I decided that it was high time I start being an adult and managing my money better. I was amazed with how into budgeting I was and still am. It's nice to see where all your money goes. I'm sure you're wondering why I am talking about budgeting on my fitness blog, but I promise you there is a correlation. Now when I think about purchasing things, I always think to myself first, "Do I want to spend $X of my $Y budget on this?" I find that when I ask myself this, I spend a lot less money on things I don't need. Now here's where the eating well comes in. I think to myself of my calorie goal as my budget. Z amount of calories. "Do I want to eat that icecream and spend Q amount of my calories of my Z total calories?" Again, the answer is usually no. This put it in a little bit better perspective for me, and I hope it makes sense to you.

Thanks for all the positive encouragement and feedback. I don't know where I would be without it!

**If anyone needs help with budgeting, let me know. I am now a budgeting wiz!**

Day 2 - Going Strong

2010-09-29T21:25:00.000-07:00

Day 2 is a lot harder then day 1. It's easy to say that you are going to do something one time, but it's getting over that hump where it starts to feel natural that takes some time. I went to work today and found myself mid-morning with a giant migraine headache. I came home from work a little early, and slept feeling refreshed.

I pushed myself and did Day 2 of my workout. I am really proud of myself! I also have to say that I feel really blessed by the amount of support that I receive on my blog. I am not sure I could do it without you guys!

Let's keep it going!

Day 2:
Running
Lunges
Shoulder Press
Kick-Ups
Bicep Curls
High Knees

Yoga

Project Make it Happen!!!

2010-09-28T18:29:00.000-07:00

So I went to the doctor yesterday and during my complete physical he talked to me about my weight. As most women know, talking about your weight (when you feel overweight) is kind of like being punched in the face...repeatedly. It hurts, and you never quite see it coming to move out of the way.

On my way home I spiraled into this shame spiral about how I should be more on top of it, and how lazy I am...which of course put me in even more of a funk. This morning I woke up with a fresh attitude. I immediately searched for apps on my iphone for counting calories. I found www.myfitnesspal.com. I felt immediately inspired by this. My biggest problem is that when I want to lose weight I want to work out one time and then never step inside a gym again. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. All I have is my own motivation (and the support of my wonderful husband and friends) to keep me going. Please help motivate me by leaving me comments checking up on me. Accountability at it's best!

I ate really well today, and stayed inside my goal. I even worked out for the first time in months! It actually felt really good. I take that back...it felt GREAT! I am inspired and motivated and I hope you will be too. Join me in Project: Make it Happen!!! And if you decide to join www.myfitnesspal.com, please friend me. The more support the better!

Stress Eating 101

2010-01-25T20:57:00.000-08:00

My name is Carey, and I am a stress eater. That's right even after 3 months of booty kicking bootcamp; I still battle this problem. I know that I am not alone in this. I stress, and then I immediately want to shove my face full of food. If you are reading this and you've ever done this I'm sure you understand that there is no easy cure.

So how do you put that cookie down? First, I suggest that you recognize your problem. That is a huge part of the problem. I would always tell Scott that an ice cream sundae helps feed my stress, the reality is that I was still stressed after consuming way too many calories worth of goodies. Once you realize that this is what you do, you can stop yourself. Ask yourself, "why am I eating this, can I make a better food decision?"

If you need your oral fix, try chewing a piece of gum, and it always helps to make yourself full of water.

I also find that snacking during the day with small healthy snacks help keep cravings down because you are never really hungry. Don't ever starve yourself because that's when you start looking for convenience in food which usually leads you right into a drive through. Yikes! This also includes surrounding yourself with healthy options. I keep healthy snacks in my desk.

Another thing that I suggest (that doesn't work for everyone) is to feed your cravings sometimes. If you are really craving a brownie, have a small piece, don't make an entire pan. Portion is key, right? When you deprive yourself of your cravings you fix your thoughts on it, and when you finally get your hands on it, you can get a little out of control. Also know what your healthier options are. If you're an ice cream person, try sugar free, fat free pudding or frozen yogurt.

Any which way you spin it, this is a hard road to be on, but I know I can do it, and I know you can do it!

Remember small goals! :)

Back on the wagon, yeehaw!

2010-01-21T20:10:00.000-08:00

I apologize profusely bloggers; I have been horrible to you...again. I won't lie to you, this probably won't be the last time that I abandon you for a short time. Life just gets in the way sometimes.

Let me quickly catch you up...

Did this...

And this.... (Honeymooned that is.)
moved to here... (San Diego, CA)

got one of these... (a job!)
and forgot to do any of this...

or this...

This is not the first time I have fallen of track with my exercising and healthy eating, but I'm trying. If you didn't notice from the above, I got married, honeymooned, moved to San Diego, and got a job all since my last blog post. That's a lot of things to happen in just a few short months, so I cut myself some slack. Last week I joined a new gym with my sister and husband. I wasn't sure how it would be without the safety of my gym and my gym friends there encouraging me, and while I miss my EQ friends and trainers SO much, I was surprised that I am able to get on fine by myself. Not only have I been pushing myself to my limits, but I have been encouraging my sister and husband (who have not ever been members to a gym before) to push themselves too. Motivating them, is motivating me. Go figure!

I am starting off slow with just a couple days a week. Small goals! That should be my life motto right now. If you set small goals for yourself and achieve them, you feel great, and because you achieve them so often it makes you feel great all the time. How can you lose?

If you are one of many people that set a goal to work out, lose weight, eat healthier, or just want a better quality of life. You are not alone. I am here with you. So let's do this together, and make 2010 a productive and healthy year.

I took a 2 week "workout vacation"

2009-08-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

Which really just means that I was too (lazy, busy, stressed, sick, sleep deprived, anxious). Any of these will do. It's so hard to get back into the flow of things after taking a break. Wedding planning is STRESSFUL. So many decisions to be made, and cookies and ice cream seem to be the only thing that will make the pain go away.

After some encouraging/bullying words from some of my favorite trainers and fellow gym mates I forced myself back into the gym on Wednesday. As soon as I got into the parking lot, I was trying to think of as many excuses as possible why I had to leave. Then I decided to stop being a baby, and just go back in. I guess in my mind I always think that people are going to give me a really hard time about not being in the gym...which of course makes every day even harder to go in and get back into it. And of course, I am wrong about this. Everyone was so happy to see me, and they were so encouraging about me being back. D'oh. I should have guessed I was wrong.

Working out felt good and bad all at the same time. Good in the way where I knew I wanted to do it, and I would feel better when I was done. Today, working out felt like I was going to pass out a little (Brittany will do that to you). I guess basically I'm saying if you are trying to make excuses why you can't go to the gym, I understand. I understand, but I will also encourage you to just get back in there. Your body will be happy that you did.

As I was leaving the gym, Natalie, one of the trainers at EQ, told me that she was proud of me and that I deserved to be "member of the month". Member of the month?!?! Man, don't I feel like an ass for not going back to the gym sooner. What kind of example am I setting? :)

Jazz Up Your Water

2009-08-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Something that I used to have a really hard time doing is incorporating water into my daily routine. You think "man, I'm so thirsty, I could really go for a VERY LARGE soda". You're not alone. A lot of us quench our thirst or stress with soda. I know I used to.

Try flavoring your water. You can buy packets of Kellog's mix, or Crystal Light makes an absolutely delicious strawberry banana mix that makes your water taste like a smoothie with only 30 calories.

I was at the grocery store today, and decided to daringly purchase a Metromint Chocolate Mint water. OMG, it's so good! It's like having a mint n' chip ice cream. 0 cals, 0 sodium, 0 carbs. They have a bunch of different types of minty water. Try it to jazz up your water. I will warn you that it's a little expensive for the water department, but you won't have a problem drinking more water if it tastes like chocolate! :)

Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

2009-08-20T14:22:00.001-07:00

Don't immediately close this blog because you hate cauliflower. This dish is actually quite delish. Do you love that delicious broccoli cheese quiche, but can't bring yourself to look at the nutrition facts on the back? (Those are really bad for you BTW) Then this is a great dish for you.

Heather, I also thought this would be a good way for you to slip some more veggies into your life.

This recipe came from: Hungry Girl 200 Under 200

Cheese Cauliflower Casserole:
Per Serving (1 Generous Cup)

117 Calories
2g Fat
10g Carbs
2.5g Fiber
6g Sugar
14.5g Protein

Email me if you'd like the recipe!

The Big 2-6

2009-08-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I ran into an old friend of mine from HS, Nicole. She told me how she reads my blog and has been inspired to get in shape herself. I instantly felt guilty for not updating more often...now that I know that people actually read it. :)

I celebrated my 26th birthday a little over a week ago. It's so weird to be in the upper half of my mid-twenties. I was having one of those "what does it all mean?" birthdays, where you start to question all the things you've done and haven't done. While I started feeling a little low about not traveling to other countries, or being a doctor (not that I would want to be), Scott (my wonderful fiance) reminded me that I have had a huge year. I did what a lot of people try to do. I lost 20 lbs. and over 16 inches. I guess I have had a big year after all....

Last Year....

This Year...

"Decide to do it"

2009-08-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

With my 26th birthday quickly approaching (it's this Sunday, Aug 9th, in case you want to throw me a party :) ) I have been feeling the urge to really kick my own butt. The only problem is that with all the traveling Scott and I have been doing lately, it's hard to get motivated.

Yesterday, against the way I was feeling, I forced myself to go to Body Combat. It also was some encouragement from Heather. I always feel better when I am finished, but it's hard to get started. Just as I was feeling like I couldn't do anymore, and that I should try to slip out of the back to avoid passing out on the floor...Brittany said "decide to do it". It was exactly the motivation I needed.

Decide to do it. It sounds so easy, and yet we can make it so hard for ourselves. I am not going to lie, I complain about doing things all the time. "I am too tired, sore, busy, etc.." You just have to decide to do it. Decide to make the commitment to getting healthy, and getting in shape.

Thanks Brittany for encouraging me and always bringing the hurt!

On the Road

2009-07-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am sure that you have been dying for me to write about the boring adventures of Carey, so I will give into you, and write a blog.

We have been spending a lot of time on the road. We went down to Long Beach, then up to S. San Francisco, then down to San Diego, back to Long Beach and finally home in a little over a week. What can I say? We are busy kids, with places to go and people to see.

What does this have to do with fitness and health you ask? Well, when you're on the road a lot and sleeping on other peoples' couches your drive to workout diminishes. You are also eating pretty much any food available. So I haven't worked out in a week and a half, and have been eating far too many meals that include french fries on the side. Now that I am home, I feel motivated to get back to the gym and start choosing better foods. I am not beating myself up about it at all.

I guess my whole point behind this blog is that too many of us kick ourselves for missing workouts, or eating poorly for a couple days which puts us in a workout coma. We are so devastated that we can't eat right and we are too depressed to go to the gym. We all have our bad days.

In good news, I took my wedding dress into get altered this past week. I mistakenly bought it last November, and then lost weight from March - May. Needless to say I can wear my wedding dress over clothes at this point. Which could possibly be a selling point if I wanted to make a quick getaway. :) Just kidding. They took several inches in on both sides. Woot woot. Now, come on, that's something to be really proud of. The lady that was altering it even said "Wow, you lost a lot of weight since then, congratulations!"

For your viewing pleasure (because as a photographer I believe that blogs are better with pictures) here is a picture of me in a dress (this is not the one I chose) back in November and a picture from 4th of July!

Tennis for Dummies

2009-07-14T00:11:00.000-07:00

I should actually change that title to 'I look like a dummy when I play tennis'. It's been many years since I picked up a racket and even then I looked like I had seizures while playing. If anyone has seen how uncoordinated I am in workouts, it is just like that only much worse. All that aside I did have some fun smacking balls into another couples game. They deserved it for making us look like idiots on the tennis court. j/k

The combination of going to the gym with Cheryl (my TC hottie) for a weight circuit, Wii Active, and tennis have left me aching. Not the kind of pain where you feel like you did a good job...the kind where you feel like any moment one of your limbs might fall off. I wonder how attractive I would be without an arm?

PS. Check out that muscular calf!

Food, delicious, delicious food...

2009-07-12T22:10:00.000-07:00

I love food. Let's face it, that's how I got myself into this mess. I mean...that's why I am forging this road to success. Right?

As a lover of food, it is very difficult to shy away from really any type of food you shouldn't eat. Don't get me wrong...I have been trying with all my might. I eat way better then I did before the challenge, but don't eat as well as I did when I was doing the challenge. It's somewhere in between. Eat some things that I shouldn't, but eating them in moderation.

In loving food so much I decided that I should have a cookbook that helps me love good for me foods. I decided on Hungry Girl 200 Under 200 (200 recipes under 200 calories). Tonight is the second night I have cooked out of this book and I am already impressed. I was so impressed that I decided to photo document this food journey for you. If they can do it in Julia and Julie then I can absolutely do it here. Maybe they should make this blog into a movie, eh? A very, very short, boring movie. :)

I love potato skins. There, I said it. They are delicious and salty, and cheesy. How could you not love them? I was excited to find this recipe, Bacon n' Cheese Bell Pepper Skins. They are all the deliciousness of potato skins without all the carbs and grease. All deliciously topped with fat free sour cream. Delightful. If you are not a fan of bell peppers try it anyway. I don't like them and I like these!
Per serving (2 pieces): 119 calories, 5.5g fat, 6.5 carbs, 1.25g fiber, 3.5 sugars, 11g protein

Next up on our dinner list is Crispy White Pizza. I would compare this to a margherita pizza. I thought this was really yummy. And although it doesn't look like much, it was really filling. My favorite part was the crispy tortilla crust. MMMMmmmmm.
Per serving (entire pizza): 176 calories, 3g fat, 29 carbs, 13g fiber, 19g protein

Last, but certainly not least, were the Banana Cupcakes with PB Frosting. These cupcakes are seriously delish. This is something that I would make for a party and then astonish everyone with the fact that they came from a diet cookbook. The PB Frosting was my favorite part. If you like bananas and you like peanutbutter, you will dig this. Seriously, you will dig right in. While, they did come out of a under 200 cal book, everything in moderation, right? :)
*Don't let my picture put you off from liking them. They're not pretty little things, but so yummy*
Per serving (1 frosted cupcake): 143 calories, 3.75g fat, 25g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 13g sugars, 2g protein

Stay tuned for more delicious recipes out of this book. If you are interested in any of the recipes, let me know, I am a sharing girl. :)

I have been horrible to you, blog-reader...

2009-07-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

After my 12 week program I thought all I wanted to do was write everyday and tell you what I've learned. The truth of the matter is that life always gets in your way. Good and bad.

So here is my formal apology that I will be better about writing this blog.

I was eating lunch the other day at one of my favorite SLO stops, Splash Cafe, and something funny was mentioned to me. My friend, Erin, asked me if ahi tuna is good for you. Without even thinking I said, "That's a great source of protein, it has 50g of protein." She quickly followed this comment with, "You're the Rain Man of caloric values". LOL It's true, I have put so much of this information in my brain that it comes out without thinking about it. I never thought that I would be "that girl". You know...the kind of girl that says "Do you know how many carbs that has in it?!?!?". Don't cancel your lunch/dinner dates with me just yet. I am learning to control my caloric turrets. ;)

I have been trying to workout when I can. It's exactly what I was afraid of, I am letting life take up all my time leaving me with no time or energy to workout. I am trying to combat this, and make it to the gym at least a couple times a week.

Scott and I have been smitten with Wii Fit for a little bit now. We like just being able to hop on the Wii Fit board in the middle of the living room, whenever we feel like it. If you have a Wii Fit and love it, stop reading now... If you are considering purchasing Wii Fit for your home let me give you the inside scoop:

1. You are not going to lose weight using this program. Yes, you can work up a sweat. Yes, you might even be sore the next day. The programs are far too slow to get your heart rate up. If you are looking for something to supplement your workout, this is a good choice. It's fun and you can workout as long or as little as you want.

2. Wii Fit can be a little mean. It was my turn on the Wii Fit after lunch, and almost as soon as I had stepped on, it said "Watch that afternoon snacking!". That's right folks, Wii Fit called me out. It's like it had been creepily watching me eat that peice of pizza I shouldn't have. If you are delicate about your weight, this is NOT the program for you. Also, when you weigh yourself and it tells you that you are "obese" and your little Wii Mii gets fatter that's a confidence killer also.

So there you go, a mixed review. I love and hate it.

Scott and I also bought the EA Sports Active for the Wii. This is a great exercise program. A note of warning: This program is pretty sensitive so you if you don't have the Wii-mote just the right direction you are not going to be able to complete your reps. So far I like it a lot, stay tuned until I want to throw it out the window. :)

Ack, the dreaded sickness...

2009-06-29T18:06:00.000-07:00

I could feel it in the air. I always can. With my wedding only 82 days a way my stress level is HIGH. I mean really high. On the outside I look mostly cool and collected and organized, but on the inside I am simultaneously crying, screaming, and laughing. Basically there is a crazy person living inside of me and I am trying not to let them out. With all this pent up anxiety, it was only natural that I was going to be sick yet again.

I did not finish my 10 hour workout week last week. After a Wednesday ass-kicking in sculpt I needed a day of rest...which turned into two, then three, then four, and now I'm sick. Hopefully relaxing a little today will help me get back to my normal self, and send me back to the gym. Everyday that you stay away is harder to go back. I know that some of you had questions, but yes, I am in fact human.

And to clear up some confusion. I do not love to workout now. Sometimes I sit in my car and try to think up excuses why I can't go to the gym. "Oh look, I have no gas." "This hour in the day disrupts my lunchtime." "I should really be ". It's not easy, even for me. And although I have mostly kicked my stress eating habit, it's always trying to sneak it's way back into my life. I just have to remember to be stronger then that.

I know that this blog wasn't particularly motivating, but I want you to know that I am a real person that has to jump over hoops to get to what she wants. And so are you. :)

Kicking Ass and Taking Names

2009-06-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

I always get out of body combat with the urge to go around punching people in the face. If you have been my friend for a while you know that this has often been one of my threats. "I am going to punch you in the eye." However, my follow-through has been a little low up until recently. Now I really DO want to punch people in the eye. Don't be afraid to hang out with me, I don't do it. But I am pretty sure that because my fists are so small they could do some serious damage, so WATCH OUT!

I have successfully completed 3.25 hours so far in my week, and I'm feeling pumped. Some of my friends plan out their workout week, and I have been "flying by the seat of my pants". I almost think it makes it more exciting. I can't dread working out, because no one knows when I'm going...not even me. It's nice to have that freedom in my life right now.

I can tell you that after I kicked my own butt yesterday I am SORE. When I first started working out I would be incredibly sore all the time. I would often finish my workouts, shower and curl up into a little ball of pain. Now when I'm sore I know that I did it right.

Man, I could really go for some uppercuts or hair pulling right now. Better stay away from me today!

Challenge Yourself

2009-06-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

So this week I set a goal for myself. Work out 10 hours. While 10 hours sounds like a lot (or a little depending on what kind of fitness fanatic you are), but really it can be 2 hours 5 days a week. OMG, 2 hours 5 days a week!!!! Okay, stop trying to close this blog. Instead think about the amount of time that you sit in front of the TV. If you are anything like me you have your "show(s)" that you watch every week. This commits you to at least an hour of TV, and then you get lazy, too lazy to get off the couch so you watch whatever comes on after. Yeah, I've got your number! So while you could be spending that time catching up on whatever ridiculous new reality show is on, workout instead.

I just completed my first two hours of the week, and I feel really pumped about it. I didn't feel pumped the whole time I was at the gym. Yes...part of it I was watching the second hand on the clock tick backwards while I was on the treadmill, but being finished now I feel good.

So don't throw your head back and make angry noises about it. Just do it. Do it for yourself! Or do it for me, whichever one gets you off your booty. :)

We all have our issues, don't you?

2009-06-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

In the past I would walk down the street quietly cursing (under my breath) every woman that had a body type that I wished I had. "Man, I would kill for those thighs, abs, etc". I am always looking at myself in pictures or when I dress myself thinking "Bleh, I hate my _____". I know I'm not the only one that thinks this. In fact, I know that pretty much every woman has their issue area. Even if it's something as simple as "I hate my curly hair" or "I hate this little dimple when I smile". We ALL have our issues. Even if you wish that you were this girl or that, she secretly wishes that she had your eye color, hair type, toe placement, whatever.

So after carefully switching back and forth from my "before" to my "after" picture, all I saw was all the flaws. I could see the change a little, but more I saw what I needed to work on. It's funny because if this were any of my friends I would be telling them how amazing they look (and they do), but because it's me all I want to do is be negative about it. I will admit, that I am only human.

I know this blog wasn't particularly motivating, but I wanted you to see that although I am really proud of myself for all that I have accomplished, I know that I have a ways to go. I am realistic, and I know I can do it!

It's About Time!

2009-05-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

I am transferring from one blog to another. I have been for the last 11 weeks participating in Equilibrium Fitness (San Luis Obispo, CA) Transformation Challenge. Whew, that was wordy. Knowing that this 12 week program is quickly coming to an end I decided that I would continue blogging my journey. If you want to hear about the other 10 weeks, please check out http://studiofitnessforwomen.blogspot.com/.

I know that without this outlet I will lose some motivation for my ever continuing goal to get healthy. Now, in this blog I will also be sharing my life experiences with everything. I think that mental health is a HUGE part of feeling good. Feel good on the inside and the outside. So I have already been starting my journey to make myself feel good on the outside. The inside might be somewhat of a larger challenge. Baby steps.

And as a sports psychologist who spoke to us at the gym said, "Take it one day at a time". I know this also the theme of AA. But I think it's great for just about anything, don't you? I am only going to get one day better each day. I am only going to succeed if I keep working toward my goals.

Thank you for reading or continuing to read on about my journey!