The Good: Happy Birthday to my WONDERFUL mom!! I am so thankful for her and she is such a blessing to our family! I thank God every day for her life! We enjoyed celebrating her birthday by going to her favorite place, 5 Guys (yes, I ate 5 Guys) and went to see Hangover Part 2 which was hilarious! A fun night celebrating a wonderful woman!
The Bad: I did not get a chance to get a workout in today. I was hoping to but I honestly was so tired I couldn't even think straight so I went home and took a nap.
The Ugly: I did eat 5 Guys tonight. I cooked Taco Chicken Chili today so I wouldn't have to be tempted to eat 5 Guys but since I took a nap, I overslept and didn't have time to eat before hand. I ate a little hamburger and a handfull of fries. It was delicious but one meal that I won't have again for a very long time. :)
May 26 Food Log: Breakfast:
1/2 cup egg beaters (60 cals)
1/2 cup egg whites (60 cals)
3 pieces of bacon (70 cals)
Chobani yogurt (140 cals)
1 cup of 2% milk (122 cals)
Morning Snack:55 goldfish (140 cals)
Lunch:2 pieces of left over chicken parmesan (449 cals)
1 cup of fresh blueberries and raspberries (70 cals)
Afternoon Snack:55 goldfish (140 cals)
Dinner:5 Guys little hamburger (480 cals) Yikes!
1/2 regular fries (310 cals)
Goal: 1,700 Total for the day: 2,061
Weightloss Tracker
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Amazing Interviews with Biggest Loser Season 11 Winner, Olivia Ward
I just found two amazing interviews with Biggest Loser Season 11 Winner Olivia Ward. She speaks about having PCOS and is such an inspiration to me! Watch and enjoy her positive personality! :) I am so inspired by what she has done and what she has to say about having PCOS. It is such a "hidden" disease that many people don't know about and I am so thankful that more and more people are learning more about it.
Olivia Ward Today Show Interview
Hannah and Olivia Interview about PCOS
Olivia Ward Today Show Interview
Hannah and Olivia Interview about PCOS
May 25
The Good: I got a wonderful workout in tonight at the gym with my friends Adam and Erin. They got "newish" elipticals at Gold's and I LOVE them! I did a weightloss 30 minute cardio workout tonight and it was GREAT! I will definitely be doing it again soon! Usually I do cardio for an hour but only got in 30 minutes tonight which is fine. I also was able to get a short arm workout in which was great. I need to get back to lifting weights and toning again while losing. It will make such a big difference in the long run!
The Bad: I am getting those awful allergies back again! I can't stop sniffling and coughing! Yuck! :(
The Ugly: I could not find anything to wear this morning that made me felt decent. It was definitely one of those mornings. :( It has been great to get rid of all of my old clothes but at the same time I am very limited to what I have left to wear. I don't want to buy new clothes until I get down to my goal weight. I did make a pit-stop at TJ Maxx after school today and got 3 new shirts that were very inexpensive and a pair of capris. These hopefully will last for a month or two. :) It definitely is a catch 22 because I want to feel good and get clothes that fit me but at the same time I don't want to get anything because I will be out of it in a month. I need to start looking at consignment stores to see if I can find some things to get by with this summer. :)
Daily Food Log:
Breakfast:
1 cup of milk (122 cals)
1/2 cup egg beaters (60 cals)
1/2 cup egg whites (60 cals)
1 Chobani Yogurt (140 cals)
3 pieces of bacon (70 cals)
Morning Snack:
55 goldfish (140 cals)
Lunch:
2 pieces of chicken parmesan (leftovers, 449 cals)
5 red potatoes (70 cals)
1 cup green beans (44 cals)
Afternoon Snack:
12 Organic Graham Cracker Sticks (140 cals)
Dinner: (same as breakfast because I don't have anything in the house)
1/2 cup of egg beaters (60 cals)
1/2 cup of egg whites (60 cals)
1 Chobani Yogurt (140 cals)
3 pieces of bacon (70 cals)
1 cup milk (122 cals)
Evening Snack: (after workout)
1 banana (109 cals)
Goal: 1700 cals
Total: 1,864 (met my deficit goal today even though I was over calories because of my workout)
The Bad: I am getting those awful allergies back again! I can't stop sniffling and coughing! Yuck! :(
The Ugly: I could not find anything to wear this morning that made me felt decent. It was definitely one of those mornings. :( It has been great to get rid of all of my old clothes but at the same time I am very limited to what I have left to wear. I don't want to buy new clothes until I get down to my goal weight. I did make a pit-stop at TJ Maxx after school today and got 3 new shirts that were very inexpensive and a pair of capris. These hopefully will last for a month or two. :) It definitely is a catch 22 because I want to feel good and get clothes that fit me but at the same time I don't want to get anything because I will be out of it in a month. I need to start looking at consignment stores to see if I can find some things to get by with this summer. :)
Daily Food Log:
Breakfast:
1 cup of milk (122 cals)
1/2 cup egg beaters (60 cals)
1/2 cup egg whites (60 cals)
1 Chobani Yogurt (140 cals)
3 pieces of bacon (70 cals)
Morning Snack:
55 goldfish (140 cals)
Lunch:
2 pieces of chicken parmesan (leftovers, 449 cals)
5 red potatoes (70 cals)
1 cup green beans (44 cals)
Afternoon Snack:
12 Organic Graham Cracker Sticks (140 cals)
Dinner: (same as breakfast because I don't have anything in the house)
1/2 cup of egg beaters (60 cals)
1/2 cup of egg whites (60 cals)
1 Chobani Yogurt (140 cals)
3 pieces of bacon (70 cals)
1 cup milk (122 cals)
Evening Snack: (after workout)
1 banana (109 cals)
Goal: 1700 cals
Total: 1,864 (met my deficit goal today even though I was over calories because of my workout)
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
May 24
The Good: I am watching the Biggest Loser finale tonight and am amazed by how wonderful everyone looks. I was inspired after the last finale in December when Patrick House won. After the show, I made a decision to change my lifestyle and lose the weight that I had been carrying around for a long time. Since the last finale, I have lost 52 pounds. I never thought I would be able to do it but I have and I will continue. I am looking forward to losing another 50+ pounds before the next finale which would put me at 100 or over! :) WOW!
I am writing down my foods this week so I can get back on track and keep myself accountable. I have my food log below. :)
The Bad: One thing that I have learned in the last 5 months is that there will be people who cheer you on and there will be people who will try to bring you down. Almost everyone I am surrounded by have been very, very supportive but I have come across a few that have not been as supportive. When I come in contact with these people, I try to continue to look past them and think about all of the people I have behind me cheering me on. I don't let them bring me down and I don't let them jeopardize my journey. It's not worth it! They are not worth it but YOU are! I continue to tell myself that when I do have negative encounters.
The Ugly: I am ready for summer break for so many reasons. I think that I need a change of scenery and a change of pace for a little while. I want to get inspired again and I want to focus on myself this summer. I am looking forward to spending a lot of time at Gold's and looking forward to continuing to drop weight. My plan is to lose another 30 pounds over summer break which would put me around 80 pounds lost when I start back school in August. I am ready for a few stress-free weeks ahead of me!
Daily Food Log: Goal: 1,700 Total for today: 1,841
Breakfast:
-1/2 cup egg beaters (60 cals)
-1/2 cup egg whites (60 cals)
-3 pieces of Oscar Meyer Center Cut Bacon (70 cals)
-Blueberry Chobani Yogurt (140 cals)
-1 cup of milk (122 cals)
Snack:
-Handful of goldfish (140 cals)
Lunch:
-Turkey Zucchini Burger (156 cals)
-Steamed Broccoli (25 cals)
-red potatoes (70 cals)
-spray butter (0 cals)
-1 cup of raspberries and blueberries (70 cals)
Snack: (pre-workout)
-1/2 Cliff Mojo Bar (105 cals)
Dinner:
-2 pieces of Chicken Parmesan (224 cals x2=448 cals, recipe on right)
-steamed green beans (34 cals)
-5 red potatoes (70 cals)
-spray butter (0 cals)
Snack:
-Weight Watchers Ice Cream Bar x2 (140 cals x2= 280 cals)
*I should have only eaten 1 but chose to eat one when I got home from school when it was so hot and one after dinner, Will make a difference choice next time)
I am writing down my foods this week so I can get back on track and keep myself accountable. I have my food log below. :)
The Bad: One thing that I have learned in the last 5 months is that there will be people who cheer you on and there will be people who will try to bring you down. Almost everyone I am surrounded by have been very, very supportive but I have come across a few that have not been as supportive. When I come in contact with these people, I try to continue to look past them and think about all of the people I have behind me cheering me on. I don't let them bring me down and I don't let them jeopardize my journey. It's not worth it! They are not worth it but YOU are! I continue to tell myself that when I do have negative encounters.
The Ugly: I am ready for summer break for so many reasons. I think that I need a change of scenery and a change of pace for a little while. I want to get inspired again and I want to focus on myself this summer. I am looking forward to spending a lot of time at Gold's and looking forward to continuing to drop weight. My plan is to lose another 30 pounds over summer break which would put me around 80 pounds lost when I start back school in August. I am ready for a few stress-free weeks ahead of me!
Daily Food Log: Goal: 1,700 Total for today: 1,841
Breakfast:
-1/2 cup egg beaters (60 cals)
-1/2 cup egg whites (60 cals)
-3 pieces of Oscar Meyer Center Cut Bacon (70 cals)
-Blueberry Chobani Yogurt (140 cals)
-1 cup of milk (122 cals)
Snack:
-Handful of goldfish (140 cals)
Lunch:
-Turkey Zucchini Burger (156 cals)
-Steamed Broccoli (25 cals)
-red potatoes (70 cals)
-spray butter (0 cals)
-1 cup of raspberries and blueberries (70 cals)
Snack: (pre-workout)
-1/2 Cliff Mojo Bar (105 cals)
Dinner:
-2 pieces of Chicken Parmesan (224 cals x2=448 cals, recipe on right)
-steamed green beans (34 cals)
-5 red potatoes (70 cals)
-spray butter (0 cals)
Snack:
-Weight Watchers Ice Cream Bar x2 (140 cals x2= 280 cals)
*I should have only eaten 1 but chose to eat one when I got home from school when it was so hot and one after dinner, Will make a difference choice next time)
Monday, May 23, 2011
I'm Not Perfect
I'm not perfect. No one is and I certainly am not. I gained this week, 2.8 pounds but it is ok. Before I even went to my WW meeting tonight, I knew I had gained because I had already weighed myself this morning on my scale at home like I always do. I will be honest with you and tell you that I definitely overate this weekend. Not only did I overeat, I overate food that was NOT good for me.
Raspberry Amaretto Cake from Main Street Cafe + birthday cake + handful of chips + 6 pigs in a blanket + ice cream + brownies + peanut butter pie + Shealy's BBQ + banana pudding= Weight gain this week
I was honest with myself and I knew that I would gain this weekend. I was not worried about counting calories this weekend and it showed. I have read several blogs of people who are losing weight and almost all of them have incorporated a "cheat" day or some type of system. I have gone 5 months without a "cheat" day so I guess it was much needed. The scary part though was how quickly I found myself going back to my previous habits. It was definitely a nice wake up call. I still have issues with sweets and overeating that I need to continue to address. This is very good information for me because it made me realize that I still have a very long way to go to make sure I drop the weight AND maintain it once I get to my goal weight.
I have decided to journal my food daily this week on my blog to keep myself accountable. Check out my food log below. I am trying to get back to detoxing myself from sugars since I went overboard this weekend.
Remember--don't let one week, one weigh-in mess up your weightloss journey. I am thankful to learn that I wasn't upset with myself tonight but I realized what I could do to myself if I fall off the wagon and I can take the 2.8 pounds off that I gained this week. :)
Breakfast:
1/2 cup egg beaters
1/2 cup egg whites
raspberry Chobani yogurt
3 pieces of Oscar Meyer center cut bacon
1 cup of 2% milk
Lunch:
Turkey Zucchini Burger
12 Sweet potato fries
1 cup mixed fruit (strawberries, watermelon, kiwi)
1 small package of Laughing Cow Candies (110 cals)
Snack:
1 cup of goldfish (all I had in my classroom)
1/2 Cliff Mojo Bar
Dinner:
2 Turkey Zucchini Burgers
8 small red potatoes
1 1/2 cup of broccoli (steamed)
Spray Butter
Raspberry Amaretto Cake from Main Street Cafe + birthday cake + handful of chips + 6 pigs in a blanket + ice cream + brownies + peanut butter pie + Shealy's BBQ + banana pudding= Weight gain this week
I was honest with myself and I knew that I would gain this weekend. I was not worried about counting calories this weekend and it showed. I have read several blogs of people who are losing weight and almost all of them have incorporated a "cheat" day or some type of system. I have gone 5 months without a "cheat" day so I guess it was much needed. The scary part though was how quickly I found myself going back to my previous habits. It was definitely a nice wake up call. I still have issues with sweets and overeating that I need to continue to address. This is very good information for me because it made me realize that I still have a very long way to go to make sure I drop the weight AND maintain it once I get to my goal weight.
I have decided to journal my food daily this week on my blog to keep myself accountable. Check out my food log below. I am trying to get back to detoxing myself from sugars since I went overboard this weekend.
Remember--don't let one week, one weigh-in mess up your weightloss journey. I am thankful to learn that I wasn't upset with myself tonight but I realized what I could do to myself if I fall off the wagon and I can take the 2.8 pounds off that I gained this week. :)
Breakfast:
1/2 cup egg beaters
1/2 cup egg whites
raspberry Chobani yogurt
3 pieces of Oscar Meyer center cut bacon
1 cup of 2% milk
Lunch:
Turkey Zucchini Burger
12 Sweet potato fries
1 cup mixed fruit (strawberries, watermelon, kiwi)
1 small package of Laughing Cow Candies (110 cals)
Snack:
1 cup of goldfish (all I had in my classroom)
1/2 Cliff Mojo Bar
Dinner:
2 Turkey Zucchini Burgers
8 small red potatoes
1 1/2 cup of broccoli (steamed)
Spray Butter
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Town of Lexington's Farmer's Market
I have been looking forward to today for several months! Back in December, I had suggested to my dad that we should have a local farmer's market in Lexington. He agreed and said that he had heard many people share the same opinion that we needed to have a farmer's market. Not only is a farmer's market great for the vendors who get an opportunity to sell their produce, but it also creates a local place for the residents to come, enjoy being outside, shopping locally, and eating healthier. There is no way anyone could go today and not want to dive into a basket of fresh veggies and fruits! I wanted to buy one of everything that I saw today but unfortunately could not. :) I will definitely buy different things each time I go so I can get a good taste of everything the vendors have to offer.
I also enjoyed seeing friends today shopping and enjoying the beautiful weather. What a wonderful way to get people together in the local community! I also enjoyed meeting new people and talking to the vendors about their products. I used to just buy whatever without thinking about where it came from, what pesticides were used, what hormones were added, etc. Now, I am VERY aware of what is on and in my food and I am constantly asking questions about the food I am purchasing. The great thing about the farmer's market is that there are vendors for you to talk to about their product. At the grocery store, you don't have the opportunity to speak to the people who grew the food you are buying.
I was so excited to get a ton of produce plus a huge seedless watermelon (check out the first picture at the top) for only $15.00!!
I am really looking forward to spending my Saturday mornings on Main Street at the Lexington Farmer's Market! The next time I go, I will take notes of each vendor and let you know about the products I get from each one. Look for an update in June!
Friday, May 20, 2011
May 20
The Good: I had one of those WOW feelings today. Shawn and I went to Main Street Cafe this evening to celebrate him making a 94 on his Law Enforcement Academy test! Woo Hoo! I am a VERY proud wife. :) When we finished eating, we decided to head over to my parents house to see them. I have been wanting to get over there all week to finish getting the clothes I had left in my closet that I didn't take 2 months ago because they were too small for me to wear. I wanted to see how close I was to getting into them again. One of my favorite things to wear in high school and early college was Polo button up shirts. I loved the preppy and classic look of them and still do. I have been wanting to get back into them for YEARS. While I was pulling out a few dresses that I knew I could fit in now, I thought to myself, maybe I should try one on just to see how close I am to wearing them again. To my surprise...it fit! Not only did it fit but I put it on top of the other shirt I was wearing so I knew for sure it would fit! I ran downstairs to tell my mom and Shawn and had tears in my eyes. It certainly was one of those moments that made me realize how far I have come and how hard I have worked in the last 5 months to lose this weight. Needless to say, I now have my 6 favorite Polo shirts in my closet...be on the lookout, you might see me wearing them around town. :)
The Bad: I did not get a workout in today but I felt like I could pass today and not feel too bad because I went on a field trip to the zoo with my class today and did a decent amount of walking and two, Shawn was coming home from the police academy and I couldn't WAIT to see him. We have an extremely busy day tomorrow so I am not sure if I will be able to get a formal workout in but I might try a few things at home that I saw some of the trainers doing at Gold's yesterday. I try to watch them as they work with their clients to see what they do since they are the fitness professionals.
The Ugly: Shawn and I had a celebration piece of our favorite cake at Main Street Cafe. It was soooo good but I certainly didn't need the extra calories since I didn't get a workout in today. Oh well....will try to work it off tomorrow. :)
The Bad: I did not get a workout in today but I felt like I could pass today and not feel too bad because I went on a field trip to the zoo with my class today and did a decent amount of walking and two, Shawn was coming home from the police academy and I couldn't WAIT to see him. We have an extremely busy day tomorrow so I am not sure if I will be able to get a formal workout in but I might try a few things at home that I saw some of the trainers doing at Gold's yesterday. I try to watch them as they work with their clients to see what they do since they are the fitness professionals.
The Ugly: Shawn and I had a celebration piece of our favorite cake at Main Street Cafe. It was soooo good but I certainly didn't need the extra calories since I didn't get a workout in today. Oh well....will try to work it off tomorrow. :)
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Weightloss Journey Epiphany
I had a weightloss journey epiphany a few days ago and wanted to share my thoughts with you. The other day, I was browsing through several blogs of other blogs I follow and kept reading these inspiring blogs of amazing people who have lost 5 pounds to 240 pounds. As I was reading through the stories of each one, I constantly kept coming back to my own journey and comparing it to theirs. I continued to compare myself and ask myself, if that person lost ___ pounds in ___ months, why haven't I done as well as them? Do I need to change things? Am I not working out hard enough? Etc. I honestly got down after reading several success stories of people who have lost unbelievable amounts of weight in short periods of time. After a while of browsing through many, many, many, blogs I had an epiphany. It was honestly one of those where you say to yourself, "really?" It was honestly a simple epiphany but one that was necessary to the success of my journey...
I realized that I don't need to worry about comparing my journey to any one elses. This is MY journey and I am writing my own success story. If it was like someone elses, it wouldn't mean as much to me. For over 10 years (as long as I have struggled with my weight) I have been looking for someones success story to look like my life so I could "follow" exactly what they do. In 10 years...I have NEVER found one that matches my life. I am so thankful that I finally came to this realization so that I can continue to write my own success story.
One of the best things I think I have ever done is start this blog. I started this blog back in August and wrote one post. I wasn't successful then. I decided to pick back up on it when I began my journey in December. I started this blog with no followers. The only purpose I had for this blog is to chart my journey and have a place where I could put my thoughts. It has been such a blessing to me. I am amazed that I now have 60 followers and I truly hope that I can inspire you in some way for whatever you are wanting to accomplish in life. I have enjoyed looking back at where I started. I feel like I am writing my success story every day and being honest about my ups and downs, challenges and accomplishments. If you are wanting to start your own journey, no matter what it is, I would highly recommending starting a blog. It is free and a great place to write down your thoughts along the way.
If you want to find some inspiration, check out the blogs I have listed on the right. There are so many blogs out there you can read, these are just a few of my favorites. Remember---don't compare yourself to others, remember that you are writing your own original story. :)
I realized that I don't need to worry about comparing my journey to any one elses. This is MY journey and I am writing my own success story. If it was like someone elses, it wouldn't mean as much to me. For over 10 years (as long as I have struggled with my weight) I have been looking for someones success story to look like my life so I could "follow" exactly what they do. In 10 years...I have NEVER found one that matches my life. I am so thankful that I finally came to this realization so that I can continue to write my own success story.
One of the best things I think I have ever done is start this blog. I started this blog back in August and wrote one post. I wasn't successful then. I decided to pick back up on it when I began my journey in December. I started this blog with no followers. The only purpose I had for this blog is to chart my journey and have a place where I could put my thoughts. It has been such a blessing to me. I am amazed that I now have 60 followers and I truly hope that I can inspire you in some way for whatever you are wanting to accomplish in life. I have enjoyed looking back at where I started. I feel like I am writing my success story every day and being honest about my ups and downs, challenges and accomplishments. If you are wanting to start your own journey, no matter what it is, I would highly recommending starting a blog. It is free and a great place to write down your thoughts along the way.
If you want to find some inspiration, check out the blogs I have listed on the right. There are so many blogs out there you can read, these are just a few of my favorites. Remember---don't compare yourself to others, remember that you are writing your own original story. :)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Biggest Loser Season 11
Tonight, I am watching Biggest Loser and finding so much inspiration. I am completely inspired by the final four and am amazed at the progress they have made this season. I am challenged and motivated especially by Hannah and Olivia who are sisters. I especially relate to Olivia because she also has PCOS. She has lost a total of 112 pounds! Seeing her and how incredible she looks, I am truly inspired to keep going and pushing through until the end. I realized tonight that I AM going to finish this weightloss journey and I WILL get to my goal weight. I know they have done remarkable transformations in 5 months but it is also their "life." I feel accomplished by what I have done in 5 months and KNOW that as long as I continue on my healthy lifestyle, I WILL get to my goal. WOW! These two sisters are amazing! I hope I will be able to share my story with others and inspire people to accomplish anything that they set their mind to.
Hannah
Olivia
Hannah
Olivia
NWV: Non-Weightloss-Victories
On several blogs I follow, many of them all have a section of NWVs. First question I had when I saw this was: What in the world are NWVs? I soon discovered that NWV stands for Non-Weightloss-Victories. These are the victories are are not seen on the scale each week. When I first began my weightloss journey, I didn't feel the need for writing down my NWVs because I was seeing such awesome numbers on the scale. As the months have progressed and I am still losing but not as quickly, I have kept these NWVs in the front of my mind to help me continue to carry-on on this journey. These are things that you want to jot down because they brought a HUGE smile to your face or made you dance around your house with PURE EXCITEMENT! Ok, yes, I admit...when I started trying on my old clothes from freshman and sophomore year of college...I might have danced around my bedroom (just a little...ok maybe a lot) or when I tried on my first Lilly Pulitzer dress and it FIT...yes there was a LOT of dancing going on in the Belk dressing room! :)
So, go find a cute notepad or find the note section on your cell phone and start writing down you NWVs. You will be HAPPY that you did! :)
My NWVs:
-dropping 5 pants sizes in 5 months
-rings are loose on my fingers
-bought my first Lilly Pulitzer dress :)
-gave away over 25 LARGE trashbags full of my old clothes
-tried on the pants I wore in December and they FELL OFF
-had a few people who I haven't seen in a while take a double look when they see me
-do not get out of breath going up stairs anymore
-can easily workout for an hour and a half
-enjoy working out and moving my body the way it was intended
-made it through my first spin class at the gym
-reconnected with many friends that I have been out of touch with in years past
-I almost always need a to go box at a restaurant
-been soda-free for 5 months
-ordered a size L tshirt for our field trips this year :) (used to be an XL)
-most days I can't wipe a smile off my face because I feel so good :)
-can fit into my college Northface jackets again
-ran the mini-marathon at school with my students to set an example for them to stay healthy
-completed 2 5Ks this year
I would LOVE to hear of some of your NWVs! Post yours below! :)
So, go find a cute notepad or find the note section on your cell phone and start writing down you NWVs. You will be HAPPY that you did! :)
My NWVs:
-dropping 5 pants sizes in 5 months
-rings are loose on my fingers
-bought my first Lilly Pulitzer dress :)
-gave away over 25 LARGE trashbags full of my old clothes
-tried on the pants I wore in December and they FELL OFF
-had a few people who I haven't seen in a while take a double look when they see me
-do not get out of breath going up stairs anymore
-can easily workout for an hour and a half
-enjoy working out and moving my body the way it was intended
-made it through my first spin class at the gym
-reconnected with many friends that I have been out of touch with in years past
-I almost always need a to go box at a restaurant
-been soda-free for 5 months
-ordered a size L tshirt for our field trips this year :) (used to be an XL)
-most days I can't wipe a smile off my face because I feel so good :)
-can fit into my college Northface jackets again
-ran the mini-marathon at school with my students to set an example for them to stay healthy
-completed 2 5Ks this year
I would LOVE to hear of some of your NWVs! Post yours below! :)
May 17
The Good: I was glad to get back to school today and teach my kiddos. I have fought my hives and swelling for the last 3 days so I was glad to get back to the land of the living today! I still don't feel up to the gym yet but I am hoping I can get there tomorrow at least for a little while. I am hoping Biggest Loser tonight will get me motivated to get back tomorrow even if it is for a short time. Anything is better than nothing. :) I felt exhausted today just being on my feet all day teaching so I know I am going to have to start back slow and build up to where I was.
I am also SO excited for this time of year for many reasons but especially because fresh fruit is INCREDIBLY tasty right now! I honestly can't get enough of fresh strawberries and blueberries! I had a lunch filled of fresh fruit today which was awesome. I am trying to get back to eating fresh fruits and veggies consistently like I was doing at the beginning of my journey.
The Bad: I honestly have gotten slack on my eating the last few weeks. Fortunately, I have still been able to see loses but I feel like I am not eating the healthier foods like I was when I started. I am also trying to do better to track my calories, especially since I just lowered my daily intake about 300 calories! It doesn't seem like much but when you put it down on paper, it is almost a full main course to a meal! I am having to think of it as a challenge to figure out what I can cut out to make the calories work. Does anyone have any good snacks or meals that have low calories?
The Ugly: I'm ready to get back to the gym!! When did I EVER think I would say that?! I never thought I would crave exercise as much as I do now but I really do! I have learned to LOVE the feeling of exercising. Now, don't get me wrong, it takes a lot of mental talking-into to get me to go to the gym and I have to keep myself motivated until about the 15 minute mark and continue to tell myself to keep going BUT once I hit the 15 minute-20 minute mark....I could go on forever! It is like a wall I have to push through every time but every time, it is WORTH IT! Next time you are working out, try to figure out your "Wall Time," It became VERY valuable to me to figure out this time because it became my short-term goal because I knew if I could get past it, I could go as long as I needed to. :)
I am also SO excited for this time of year for many reasons but especially because fresh fruit is INCREDIBLY tasty right now! I honestly can't get enough of fresh strawberries and blueberries! I had a lunch filled of fresh fruit today which was awesome. I am trying to get back to eating fresh fruits and veggies consistently like I was doing at the beginning of my journey.
The Bad: I honestly have gotten slack on my eating the last few weeks. Fortunately, I have still been able to see loses but I feel like I am not eating the healthier foods like I was when I started. I am also trying to do better to track my calories, especially since I just lowered my daily intake about 300 calories! It doesn't seem like much but when you put it down on paper, it is almost a full main course to a meal! I am having to think of it as a challenge to figure out what I can cut out to make the calories work. Does anyone have any good snacks or meals that have low calories?
The Ugly: I'm ready to get back to the gym!! When did I EVER think I would say that?! I never thought I would crave exercise as much as I do now but I really do! I have learned to LOVE the feeling of exercising. Now, don't get me wrong, it takes a lot of mental talking-into to get me to go to the gym and I have to keep myself motivated until about the 15 minute mark and continue to tell myself to keep going BUT once I hit the 15 minute-20 minute mark....I could go on forever! It is like a wall I have to push through every time but every time, it is WORTH IT! Next time you are working out, try to figure out your "Wall Time," It became VERY valuable to me to figure out this time because it became my short-term goal because I knew if I could get past it, I could go as long as I needed to. :)
Monday, May 16, 2011
5 months
I am still amazed at how my body and mind has changed in 5 months. I feel so different, physically and mentally. I am so glad that I started this journey 5 months ago! I actually feel like I CAN beat this weight problem I have. Before when I started diets, I was not all the way in it like I should have been. I was doing it for the purpose of a physical change. When I began this journey, my main focus was to better my health. The scariest thing I was facing 5 months ago was the possibility of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and infertility due to PCOS. I know that I am not out of the woods yet but I feel like I am taking control of my health and getting as far away as possible from these awful diseases. I know that I will always suffer from PCOS since there is no cure for it but my hope is that I can lessen the side effects and fight infertility. Who knows what will come about from my weightloss journey but my hope is that there will be a LOT of positives. :)
I am very proud to say that I did hit my 50 pounds lost by my 25th birthday last Monday. I have been fighting nasty allergies the last few weeks and haven't been able to go to the gym in almost 3 weeks! I was planning to start going again this weekend and then I had a strange allergic reaction to something and was covered in hives. I am not sure what my allergic reaction was from but I did a lot of reading and I honestly think it might be coming from stress. Since I have been using exercise as my stress relief, I haven't had any relief in 3 weeks. I think that the hives may have come from pent up stress. Who knows but that is my theory. :)
I am looking forward to my 6 month mark next month! It honestly feels like yesterday that I started my weightloss journey but then again it feels like I have been doing it forever. Thank you for joining me on my journey!
Total lost since December 15: 52 lbs
Total lost between April 15-May 15: 9 lbs
Goals for this month:
-get back to working out at the gym
-attempt to run my first 5k (Jailbreak on May 28
-plan my summer workout schedule
-continue to try new recipes
-set a new calorie target goal
-continue to drink water every day
-lose another 10 pounds
-take my measurements this month
-continue to track my food on BodyBugg
-continue to use weights to tone arms, legs, and abs
Goals for next month: (April Goals)
-lose another 10 pounds
-try out 2 new classes at Gold's
-continue to use weights for toning arms, legs, abs
-continue to track my food intake with my BodyBugg
-try more new recipes
-drop another pant size
-take my measurements this month (I wish I had started this in December but honestly I didn't want to even know my measurements then)
-walk in the Providence Heart and Soul 3 mile
- try to get to 50lbs lost by my 25th birthday on May 9th
I am very proud to say that I did hit my 50 pounds lost by my 25th birthday last Monday. I have been fighting nasty allergies the last few weeks and haven't been able to go to the gym in almost 3 weeks! I was planning to start going again this weekend and then I had a strange allergic reaction to something and was covered in hives. I am not sure what my allergic reaction was from but I did a lot of reading and I honestly think it might be coming from stress. Since I have been using exercise as my stress relief, I haven't had any relief in 3 weeks. I think that the hives may have come from pent up stress. Who knows but that is my theory. :)
I am looking forward to my 6 month mark next month! It honestly feels like yesterday that I started my weightloss journey but then again it feels like I have been doing it forever. Thank you for joining me on my journey!
Total lost since December 15: 52 lbs
Total lost between April 15-May 15: 9 lbs
Goals for this month:
-get back to working out at the gym
-attempt to run my first 5k (Jailbreak on May 28
-plan my summer workout schedule
-continue to try new recipes
-set a new calorie target goal
-continue to drink water every day
-lose another 10 pounds
-take my measurements this month
-continue to track my food on BodyBugg
-continue to use weights to tone arms, legs, and abs
Goals for next month: (April Goals)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-take my measurements this month (I wish I had started this in December but honestly I didn't want to even know my measurements then)
-
-
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
May 10
The Good: I enjoyed a wonderful dinner tonight with my grad school cohort. I think I am so close to this group because I spent a whole year and a half of my life alongside of them. I feel like they are truly a second family. We had a wonderful time celebrating John and Sarah's new baby girl and their move. :( I am very sad they are moving because they are truly two of the greatest teachers in our school district and will certainly be missed! I am looking forward to a few road trips to see them and their new baby girl that arrives this summer! I am also so thankful of how much support they give me in everything I do. I left there tonight so uplifted by seeing them and hearing the compliments they gave me. I know they are cheering for me till the end!
The strawberries I picked yesterday are still SO GOOD! I enjoyed a big helping of them today for lunch and they were delicious! I am already ready to go back and get another bucket this weekend!
The Bad: I did eat a small piece of cake tonight. I can't believe how much "sweets" I have eaten the last 2 weeks! I definitely am going on a sugar "detox" starting tomorrow. I need to get rid of the sugar cravings I am having again since starting back eating processed sugars.
The Ugly: I am SO ready to feel 100% again! I am ready to stop coughing up a lung and wiping my nose! I hope these allergies go away in the next day or two. I am SO READY to get back to the gym! I think the people who work at the gym are probably wondering where in the world I am since I have lived there every day for the last month! I am looking foward to getting back to my routine tomorrow! Remember-you don't have to have a Monday to start back eating right or working out...it can happen ANYTIME you are ready! :)
The strawberries I picked yesterday are still SO GOOD! I enjoyed a big helping of them today for lunch and they were delicious! I am already ready to go back and get another bucket this weekend!
The Bad: I did eat a small piece of cake tonight. I can't believe how much "sweets" I have eaten the last 2 weeks! I definitely am going on a sugar "detox" starting tomorrow. I need to get rid of the sugar cravings I am having again since starting back eating processed sugars.
The Ugly: I am SO ready to feel 100% again! I am ready to stop coughing up a lung and wiping my nose! I hope these allergies go away in the next day or two. I am SO READY to get back to the gym! I think the people who work at the gym are probably wondering where in the world I am since I have lived there every day for the last month! I am looking foward to getting back to my routine tomorrow! Remember-you don't have to have a Monday to start back eating right or working out...it can happen ANYTIME you are ready! :)
Monday, May 9, 2011
My 25th Birthday
I cannot believe I am....25 years old! Where in the WORLD did time go!?! I know everyone keeps telling me that I am still young but holy cow...25! I definitely don't feel like I am "young" anymore. I feel like 25 is when you officially become an "adult." I am still young at heart and the more weight I get off my body, the younger I feel!
I am VERY proud to say that I have lost a total of 50 pounds EXACTLY on my 25th birthday. WOW! I know I set this goal way back in December and honestly had MANY doubts that I would ever reach it because of my many attempts of losing weight BUT I DID IT this time! I keep telling myself..."With God ALL things are POSSIBLE!"
I had a WONDERFUL birthday by getting outside with a good friend/neighbor of ours and walking our neighborhood this morning. After we finished, Shawn got home from his physical and we went to lunch at Libby's in Lexington. Before we went to Libby's we were planning to go to McAllister's Deli since I had a birthday coupon. I was looking forward to my favorite wrap, Chicken Caesar Wrap, but they were OUT OF FRUIT! For the second time in 3 weeks! Needless to say...I was NOT a happy camper especially since they don't have any other healthy side options. I am so honest now about my healthy eating that I looked at Shawn and Adam and told them that I was not eating at McAllister's since they cannot get it together and offer fruit. I now realize how IMPORTANT my health is and I will NOT jeopardize it if a restaurant cannot make sure they have healthy items on their menu or in stock. We did end up having a delicious lunch at Libby's which was wonderful! :)
After lunch, I asked Shawn if he would drive me out to pick strawberries...yes...a year before now...I would NOT be asking to go pick fresh strawberries. Since he is such a wonderful husband, he drove me out to Gilbert to pick my own strawberries. Let me tell you...they were the BEST tasting strawberries I have EVER had! If you don't believe me...go pick some yourself! So good!
We then went to Mom and Dad's with my family and ate a delicious home cooked meal by mom. At the end of the day...I was very proud of the changes I have made in my life before my 25th birthday. I am looking forward to an awesome year with even more changes in the future! My cousin Shannon left me the sweetest birthday message on Facebook today which said, "Happy birthday Hope!! You look so great at 25, I can't wait to see what you look like at 26! Love you!" I can't wait to see what I look like at 26 too!
Thank you ALL for making my birthday extra special this year! I am one lucky girl to have the most AMAZING family and friends in my life!!
Birthday/Graduation/Mother's Day Weekend
The Good: I had a wonderful weekend full of family time and good food! I haven't felt wonderful this weekend because of my allergies but that didn't keep me away from enjoying some wonderful family time celebrating the many blessings in our lives! I didn't eat wonderfully but I did try my best to watch what I ate. I did change up a few things from my "typical" celebrating which was awesome! We celebrated Mother's Day with Shawn's mom and we asked everyone to bring fruits and veggies. We cooked the goat-cheese topped tarragon chicken which was SO good and sweet potato fries. I wish I had taken a picture of the AMAZING spread we had of fruits and veggies! My plate looked like it had just been freshly picked from a garden! Love it! It was a great way to start a new "tradition" of eating healthy on special occasions!
Today, for my birthday, my mom asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner as usual and I said NO! I chose to have my favorite home-cooked dinner of Chicken Parmesan over at my parent's house. My mom is an incredible cook so eating at home is ALWAYS better than eating out! She asked me what kind of dessert I wanted and I told her my favorite right now is Weight Watchers ice cream snicker bars...holy cow...those things are GOOD! So, I had a pile of those with a candle on top as my dessert even though I only ate one. :) It was a great way of starting a new birthday dinner tradition also! It wasn't the healthiest dinner but it was far healthier than getting something at a restaurant!
The Bad: I had the most delicious cheesecake for dessert Saturday night for Brittany's graduation! Her favorite dessert is caramel cashew cheesecake from Miyo's. My mom decided to make one herself instead of paying $80!!! for one that Miyo's had premade. The cheesecake was to-die-for...literally...to-die-for. I did fight myself and had a smaller piece than I would normally have but man did I want to go back for seconds! It is nice to have a delicious treat every now and then. :)
The Ugly: I only worked out TWICE last week! OUCH! Since I have not felt well this week, I could not bring myself to have the energy to go to the gym this week. :( I can tell a HUGE difference in how I feel. I have felt more agitated this week and I think it honestly is from not releasing endorphins like I usually do on a daily basis at the gym. I also have felt sluggish all week and I will also say that I believe I feel like that because I haven't been able to convert the food in my body to energy like my body is supposed to do. I am REALLY looking forward to getting back on track with my gym time this week!
Today, for my birthday, my mom asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner as usual and I said NO! I chose to have my favorite home-cooked dinner of Chicken Parmesan over at my parent's house. My mom is an incredible cook so eating at home is ALWAYS better than eating out! She asked me what kind of dessert I wanted and I told her my favorite right now is Weight Watchers ice cream snicker bars...holy cow...those things are GOOD! So, I had a pile of those with a candle on top as my dessert even though I only ate one. :) It was a great way of starting a new birthday dinner tradition also! It wasn't the healthiest dinner but it was far healthier than getting something at a restaurant!
The Bad: I had the most delicious cheesecake for dessert Saturday night for Brittany's graduation! Her favorite dessert is caramel cashew cheesecake from Miyo's. My mom decided to make one herself instead of paying $80!!! for one that Miyo's had premade. The cheesecake was to-die-for...literally...to-die-for. I did fight myself and had a smaller piece than I would normally have but man did I want to go back for seconds! It is nice to have a delicious treat every now and then. :)
The Ugly: I only worked out TWICE last week! OUCH! Since I have not felt well this week, I could not bring myself to have the energy to go to the gym this week. :( I can tell a HUGE difference in how I feel. I have felt more agitated this week and I think it honestly is from not releasing endorphins like I usually do on a daily basis at the gym. I also have felt sluggish all week and I will also say that I believe I feel like that because I haven't been able to convert the food in my body to energy like my body is supposed to do. I am REALLY looking forward to getting back on track with my gym time this week!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Congratulations Brittany!
Congratulations on your college graduation today! I am such a PROUD big sister and I can't wait to see where life is going to take you! :)
Brittany, Me, and Michelle---The Three Halfacre Sisters
Brittany, Me, and Michelle---The Three Halfacre Sisters
Thursday, May 5, 2011
May 5
The Good: I finished Working It Out by Abby Rike. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G book is all I can say. I posted an excerpt from the last chapter in the book in my post below. This book had me from the very first paragraph. "I am standing on the side of the road. It's as though my feet are planted in the ground, planted in cement. And I'm just waiting. No one will tell me anything. The dreaded scene that lies around the curve ahead remains a mystery for now as I'm frozen in place, standing like a statue at the defining moment of my life--eerily controlled while the life and love I'd cherished slips from my grasp. The intense combination of the red, white, and blue lights from the multitude of emergency vehicles penetrates my vision so severely I am overwhelmed by the visual assault. These are the lights that embody emergency, rescue, and often tragedy. Only this tragedy-my tragedy-has left us with no one to rescue." (pg 1, Working It Out) WOW! What a book and what a perspective she gives on life and how to live after such an incredible life altering event.
I also stepped on the scale this morning to check to see if I had lost any weight...it's looking good so far... :) I think turning 25 is going to be a lot sweeter (with no calories) than I thought it was going to be! I can't wait to post on Monday!!
The Bad: I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible sore throat. This explains exactly why I have been feeling blah this week and not having my usual energy. My body is weak and I feel like all I want to do is lay in bed. I started pumping my body with vitamins to hopefully knock this thing out. I am pretty sure it is just allergies and not strep. Thank goodness! I hope I will get over this very soon so I can get back to my daily workout that I have been missing this week. You know that I don't feel good when I skipped my favorite Zumba class tonight!
The Ugly: I ended up getting a Chargrilled Chicken Sandwhich (300 cals) from Chick-fila tonight for dinner because I didn't feel up to cooking anything. This morning, when I had more energy, I thought I was going to make a rockin' Cinco de Mayo recipe, Steak Fajitas, but that didn't pan out because I felt so bad when I got home. I plan to make this recipe this weekend though! I did end up making some quick sweet potato fries to go with my sandwhich which helped but I do hate eating fast food now!
I also stepped on the scale this morning to check to see if I had lost any weight...it's looking good so far... :) I think turning 25 is going to be a lot sweeter (with no calories) than I thought it was going to be! I can't wait to post on Monday!!
The Bad: I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible sore throat. This explains exactly why I have been feeling blah this week and not having my usual energy. My body is weak and I feel like all I want to do is lay in bed. I started pumping my body with vitamins to hopefully knock this thing out. I am pretty sure it is just allergies and not strep. Thank goodness! I hope I will get over this very soon so I can get back to my daily workout that I have been missing this week. You know that I don't feel good when I skipped my favorite Zumba class tonight!
The Ugly: I ended up getting a Chargrilled Chicken Sandwhich (300 cals) from Chick-fila tonight for dinner because I didn't feel up to cooking anything. This morning, when I had more energy, I thought I was going to make a rockin' Cinco de Mayo recipe, Steak Fajitas, but that didn't pan out because I felt so bad when I got home. I plan to make this recipe this weekend though! I did end up making some quick sweet potato fries to go with my sandwhich which helped but I do hate eating fast food now!
Working It Out
I just finished this amazing book and had to share with you an excerpt of it from the last chapter. Abby is an amazing writer and I can imagine she is quite the gifted motivational speaker. I read this part of the book and knew I had to share it because of the powerful statements she makes about changing your life. I do hope that you will go out and buy/rent this book for yourself. It made me have a different perspective on life and taking care of the people I love most including myself! :)
Working It Out by Abby Rike (pgs. 243-244)
"A weight-loss JOURNEY is about so much more than losing physical weight. In order to become truly healthy, in all areas of your life, you are changed. It's not that you change your personality; you do however become the BEST version of yourself. You get to know yourself on a deeper level by shedding former self-truths and ultimately creating new ones. On some level, everyone wanting to get healthy or making a life change wants more from life, but in order to get a different result, we have to do something different. The dreaded "change" word. Change is scary, but ask yourself this, "If I had to live the rest of my life just as I am now, would I have lived a full life?" If your answer is "no," then not changing is far scarier.
Have you put off taking classes at the gym because you think you can't keep up or people might stare at you? Take a deep breath, get there a little early so you can find a comfortable spot, and do your best. Who cares if you can't complete the routine? You are doing more than you would be doing had you stayed home fretting about whether or not you were going to go to the class. Don't let fear hold you back! Are you afraid of failing? You've tried to get healthy before, lost the weight, then gained it back? So what! Today is a new day. Some days are harder than others, and you may slide back down the mountain you're trying to climb, but you are not a victim. Do not resign yourself that this is your lot. You're not stuck until you quit. It's not hopeless until you stop trying.
True happiness is, in fact, in the trying. Real joy is in the JOURNEY. This JOURNEY is not about becoming thin and magically feeling happy...This journey is about admitting those deep-seated fears, facing them, and learning to love yourself where you are now and where you are going."
(This is just an example of how WONDERFUL her book is!)
Working It Out by Abby Rike (pgs. 243-244)
"A weight-loss JOURNEY is about so much more than losing physical weight. In order to become truly healthy, in all areas of your life, you are changed. It's not that you change your personality; you do however become the BEST version of yourself. You get to know yourself on a deeper level by shedding former self-truths and ultimately creating new ones. On some level, everyone wanting to get healthy or making a life change wants more from life, but in order to get a different result, we have to do something different. The dreaded "change" word. Change is scary, but ask yourself this, "If I had to live the rest of my life just as I am now, would I have lived a full life?" If your answer is "no," then not changing is far scarier.
Have you put off taking classes at the gym because you think you can't keep up or people might stare at you? Take a deep breath, get there a little early so you can find a comfortable spot, and do your best. Who cares if you can't complete the routine? You are doing more than you would be doing had you stayed home fretting about whether or not you were going to go to the class. Don't let fear hold you back! Are you afraid of failing? You've tried to get healthy before, lost the weight, then gained it back? So what! Today is a new day. Some days are harder than others, and you may slide back down the mountain you're trying to climb, but you are not a victim. Do not resign yourself that this is your lot. You're not stuck until you quit. It's not hopeless until you stop trying.
True happiness is, in fact, in the trying. Real joy is in the JOURNEY. This JOURNEY is not about becoming thin and magically feeling happy...This journey is about admitting those deep-seated fears, facing them, and learning to love yourself where you are now and where you are going."
(This is just an example of how WONDERFUL her book is!)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
May 4
The Good: I am reading, Working it Out, by Abby Rike (Biggest Loser season 8) and I cannot put it down! I cannot explain or put into words the unshakable faith this woman has! She was the contestant that opened up about losing her husband, 5 year old, and 17 day old son in a car accident a few seasons ago. I can only imagine the pain she went through but as I read her story and it unfolds, I have noticed that she is an incredibly strong person and relied on her childlike faith to carry her through the tough times. This book makes me want to show the ones I love how much I love them every day. She had an amazing relationship with her husband and I can only hope that I can be the kind of wife to Shawn that Abby was to her husband, Rick. Her life and her weightloss journey are true testaments of walking in faith and trusting God through ALL things. I hope that you will pick this book up at the library or at a local bookstore. I promise you that it is a book that will be worth every minute you read it and it will change the way you live your life!
Here is the link on Amazon.com if you are interested. :)
The Bad: I have had the biggest challenge this week on motivating myself to go to the gym. I am not sure why because I LOVE the feeling I feel after working out and I actually ENJOY working out! I think that stress has caught up with me and the pressure of everything at the end of the school year has clouded my head. I did go today and was able to get in a 5K which I was happy about. I wanted to jump on the stair climber again today but all the machines were packed. I did feel amazing afterwards, as I always do. I hope to get out of this exercise "funk" soon! :)
The Ugly: I started writing down my food log and realized that I was not eating within my calorie goal like I used to. It definitely showed me that I HAVE to make time to write my foods down daily so I can keep myself accountable and make changes where needed. It is amazing how quickly a few extra calories can add up so quickly!
Here is the link on Amazon.com if you are interested. :)
The Bad: I have had the biggest challenge this week on motivating myself to go to the gym. I am not sure why because I LOVE the feeling I feel after working out and I actually ENJOY working out! I think that stress has caught up with me and the pressure of everything at the end of the school year has clouded my head. I did go today and was able to get in a 5K which I was happy about. I wanted to jump on the stair climber again today but all the machines were packed. I did feel amazing afterwards, as I always do. I hope to get out of this exercise "funk" soon! :)
The Ugly: I started writing down my food log and realized that I was not eating within my calorie goal like I used to. It definitely showed me that I HAVE to make time to write my foods down daily so I can keep myself accountable and make changes where needed. It is amazing how quickly a few extra calories can add up so quickly!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Chewy Low Fat Banana Oatmeal Cookies
These little bites of heaven are delicious! They are very easy to whip up and are perfect to make for this summer or anytime you have left-over ripe bananas. :) I adopted this recipe from skinnytaste.com.
Chewy Low Fat Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Serving Size: 2 cookies
Points Plus: 5 pts
Calories: 175
Fat: 6.7g
Protein: 3.5g
Carb: 28.3g
Fiber: 1.6g
Sugar: 14g
Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temp.
1/4 cup of Truvia (sugar substitute)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 mashed ripe banana
1 small ziploc bag
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups of quick oats
PAM spray
3/4 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 baking sheets with PAM baking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
In a large bowl with a mixer, cream together butter and sugars on medium speed.
Add the egg, followed by the mashed banana and vanilla extract. To make the mashed banana easy-put a ripe banana in a ziploc bag, mash it up, squeeze it down to the bottom of the bag, into a corner, and then cut of the corner of the bag (like a pastry bag) to squeeze into the mix. Mess free!
Working by hand, stir in the flour mixture and the oats until combined. Stir in chopped walnuts.
Drop tablespoonfuls of the dough onto baking sheets. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until cookies become light brown at the edges.
Let cool for 3-4 minutes. Enjoy! Makes about 30 cookies.
Chewy Low Fat Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Serving Size: 2 cookies
Points Plus: 5 pts
Calories: 175
Fat: 6.7g
Protein: 3.5g
Carb: 28.3g
Fiber: 1.6g
Sugar: 14g
Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temp.
1/4 cup of Truvia (sugar substitute)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 mashed ripe banana
1 small ziploc bag
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups of quick oats
PAM spray
3/4 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 baking sheets with PAM baking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
In a large bowl with a mixer, cream together butter and sugars on medium speed.
Add the egg, followed by the mashed banana and vanilla extract. To make the mashed banana easy-put a ripe banana in a ziploc bag, mash it up, squeeze it down to the bottom of the bag, into a corner, and then cut of the corner of the bag (like a pastry bag) to squeeze into the mix. Mess free!
Working by hand, stir in the flour mixture and the oats until combined. Stir in chopped walnuts.
Drop tablespoonfuls of the dough onto baking sheets. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until cookies become light brown at the edges.
Let cool for 3-4 minutes. Enjoy! Makes about 30 cookies.
May 3
The Good: I tried a new dessert recipe tonight for Shawn to take to work tomorrow and they turned out delicious! I will share the recipe in my next post. :) I LOVE trying new recipes now and have enjoyed adding recipes to my "favorites" selection which is now FULL of healthy or healthier recipes.
The Bad: I had a stressful day at work today but fortunately stayed away from over eating or reaching for the nearest snack. It took some will power but I did it!
The Ugly: I did not get a workout in today. :( I am wanting to lose enough weight this week to hit 50 lbs by Monday so I am praying that I can get a good one in tomorrow. I will have to double it up since I didn't do it today.
The Bad: I had a stressful day at work today but fortunately stayed away from over eating or reaching for the nearest snack. It took some will power but I did it!
The Ugly: I did not get a workout in today. :( I am wanting to lose enough weight this week to hit 50 lbs by Monday so I am praying that I can get a good one in tomorrow. I will have to double it up since I didn't do it today.
Monday, May 2, 2011
May Giveaway!
I am excited about my May blog giveaway! I am giving away one of my favorite cookbooks by Devin Alexander called Fast Food Fixes. This is a fantastic book full of recipes that help you stay away from your typical fast food. All of her meals take 30 minutes or less and are great substitutes that your whole family will LOVE!
All you need to do is leave me a comment on your favorite fast food meal and how you think you could change it to make it better for you. Could you ask for a wheat bun? No cheese? No fries? Extra veggies? Or write your favorite "healthy" fix for fast food.
You have until Sunday, May 8th to leave your comment. Please leave your name after your comment so I know who wrote it. :)
All you need to do is leave me a comment on your favorite fast food meal and how you think you could change it to make it better for you. Could you ask for a wheat bun? No cheese? No fries? Extra veggies? Or write your favorite "healthy" fix for fast food.
You have until Sunday, May 8th to leave your comment. Please leave your name after your comment so I know who wrote it. :)
May 2
The Good: I had a great day today. I started the day with a 2.5 loss on the scale. :) It just doesn't get any better than that.
I also got a very exciting treat in my box today at school. Beth Maddox, one of our amazing art teachers, made a beautiful sign for me with my favorite verse from the bible about transformation. She is also making a larger one for me to put in my exercise room at home. The small block she did for me is INCREDIBLE! She is a fantastic artist and creates wonderful, original art work. I took a picture of it and put it below. The picture doesn't do it justice! These would make WONDERFUL Mother's Day presents for this weekend! If you are interested, please contact Beth at bmaddox@lexington1.net or she has a Facebook page where you can see her work, Peace, Love, and Paper Prayers. Check it out! Also, be sure you watch my blog closely in June...I might be giving one of her beautiful pieces away!! :)
The Bad: I am so close to 50 lbs lost and I am working really hard this week to get there before my 25th birthday which is next Monday. I have decided that one of my weakest areas is writing my food/calorie intake down. I was doing so well with it and then the BodyBugg website was having some troubles so I got out of the habit. I decided to try to write it down on paper throughout the day to keep myself accountable and that way if the BodyBugg website still gives me problems, I still have it written down. This helps me be accountable to myself and helps me think twice before I eat something that I shouldn't or want to snack.
The Ugly: My smallest size pants I own are falling off! Not really an ugly thing but it is because now I have to go hunt for a new pair of pants to wear to school.
I also got a very exciting treat in my box today at school. Beth Maddox, one of our amazing art teachers, made a beautiful sign for me with my favorite verse from the bible about transformation. She is also making a larger one for me to put in my exercise room at home. The small block she did for me is INCREDIBLE! She is a fantastic artist and creates wonderful, original art work. I took a picture of it and put it below. The picture doesn't do it justice! These would make WONDERFUL Mother's Day presents for this weekend! If you are interested, please contact Beth at bmaddox@lexington1.net or she has a Facebook page where you can see her work, Peace, Love, and Paper Prayers. Check it out! Also, be sure you watch my blog closely in June...I might be giving one of her beautiful pieces away!! :)
The Bad: I am so close to 50 lbs lost and I am working really hard this week to get there before my 25th birthday which is next Monday. I have decided that one of my weakest areas is writing my food/calorie intake down. I was doing so well with it and then the BodyBugg website was having some troubles so I got out of the habit. I decided to try to write it down on paper throughout the day to keep myself accountable and that way if the BodyBugg website still gives me problems, I still have it written down. This helps me be accountable to myself and helps me think twice before I eat something that I shouldn't or want to snack.
The Ugly: My smallest size pants I own are falling off! Not really an ugly thing but it is because now I have to go hunt for a new pair of pants to wear to school.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Proud Moment!
Shawn and I were cleaning out our closet today and came across some of our old clothes and we were shocked at how much weight we both have really lost. We laughed at how in "comfortable denial" we were both in. We both always make the best of what life has to offer but realized back in December how much of life we truly were missing out on. I am so proud of what we have accomplished in 4 1/2 months and I look forward to an exciting future ahead of us!
I asked Shawn to take a "classic" weightloss picture of my pants that I wore when I started back in December. The pants are the ONLY article of clothing that I am keeping from my "old" wardrobe because they are a representative of where I started and how far I have come. I still have a LONG way to go and I can't wait to try these pants on again in December! (Please excuse our messy, half-painted bedroom behind me.) :)
I asked Shawn to take a "classic" weightloss picture of my pants that I wore when I started back in December. The pants are the ONLY article of clothing that I am keeping from my "old" wardrobe because they are a representative of where I started and how far I have come. I still have a LONG way to go and I can't wait to try these pants on again in December! (Please excuse our messy, half-painted bedroom behind me.) :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)