Happy Wednesday everyone! So Sunday was my weigh in day, and I was VERY happy with my results. I lost another 4.6 lbs last week, which brings my total weight loss to 39.8 lbs. Now, I know that number needs some clarification, so here it goes.
I started tracking my calories and weight on MyFitnessPal about a year and a half ago. My highest loss there was 40 lbs. Over the course of the year and a half I was using MyFitnessPal, I yo-yo'ed and slacked off. For awhile I was able to maintain most of my loss, but when the holidays came around, I had a bit of a free for all and gained quite a bit between Thanksgiving and New Years. I'm just NOW back up to my 40 lbs lost, but I have lost around 14 lbs since the beginning of 2013. Either way, I'm on a roll and I'm feeling great about it. It's always easier when things seem to really click in your brain.
I've continued to walk, but I am still having issues with blisters on my feet. When I get paid tomorrow, I'm going to check into getting some kind of insert for my Reeboks that I'm hoping may help. If not, looks like I may have to get on the market for another pair of sneakers. We'll see though, I'll keep you posted. As always, if any of you have any suggestions or tips/tricks.. I'm ALL ears.
One thing I did want to cover is what made me jump back on the "get healthy wagon." It's a very sobering feeling listening to your friends and loved ones tell you things like "I want you to be around for a long time," or "I don't want to lose you in your thirties/forties." We as people like to feel like we're different than the statistics. When we read the health studies, we may be able to identify with some of the people in the studies, but part of us is always like "I'm not that bad," or "That's not me." We take what we read with a grain of salt and go on with our lives pretending like we're invincible. It's only as I've gotten older that things my loved ones have said to me have begun to stick. I know that if I keep neglecting my health, I won't be able to live a long and happy life.
One thing that really rings in my head is something my mom says to my dad pretty frequently. Some of you may know, and for those that don't, my dad was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in July 2012. He's been through the mill with radiation & chemo treatments, and often times I'm not really sure how he deals with all of this. It's definitely been an uphill battle, and it just puts so much into perspective for me. As the medical bills began rolling in, they are INSANE mind you, my dad started to stress about them. My family, like many others out there, is not exactly in the situation to be able to afford all of these medical bills. My dad stresses about them each time more come in the mail and my mom laid it out for him this way: What price do you put on your life? Life is a valueble thing, and my dad wasn't ready to lay down and take it, so he seeked treatment to buy himself some time. Yes, it's expensive, but in the longrun, it's worth every penny to have him around longer.
The same goes for your health... We all make excuses about what we CAN and CAN'T afford when it comes to our health. I won't even lie to you, I AM one of those people. I am on an VERY limited budget, as is most of America. It's hard sometimes to afford everything I need to get healthy, but I've started to take a look at what I'm spending. So maybe I don't need to eat out every weekend. Dinner out with friends has become almost a weekly thing for me. Granted, I'm not going out a fancy shmancy places, but that still adds up. Yeah it's little bits here and there but if it helps me get the healthy food I need in my home, or helps me pay for a gym membership, that's something. A little give here and there can really add up in the end.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is, if something is really important to you, you will do what you can to grasp what you want. I want to get healthy. I want to be the person I know I'm supposed to me. I'd like to fall in love someday. I'm not at all saying no one can love me in my current state, because they can. But dammit, I'm not happy like this. I'm not happy with myself. I can't expect someone to love me and be happy with me if I'm not. Ya know? Also, I would like the option to have a family someday. Not saying I will, but I would like to be able to make that choice on my own, rather than my weight making it for me. There is just so much I want to do in my life that I know if I don't fix things now, I won't be able to accomplish my goals. My goals are important. If that means logging my food, working out, and cutting some things out so I have the tools I need to succeed, then so be it. That and, each year I get older, it'll get harder and harder to get healthy. So there you have it, those are my reasons for jumping back on the "get healthy wagon."
I think my next post will a list of motivations, and maybe some short term and long term goals. Maybe I'll get that up later this evening after I've gotten my walk in, and watched the Blackhawks game. ;) Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
WOBEAST mode :)
Hey everyone! Hope you are having an amazing Friday. :)
Soooooo, I've started my walking routine. I've walked the last three days at the mall. My first time around I did 4 laps which equates to 2.56 miles. I did the same Thursday. The only issue I'm having is shoes. Wednesday I wore a pair of sneakers that ended up giving me blisters, including a gnarly blood blister on one of my toes. So Thursday I wore another pair of sneakers that gave me more blisters and cut open the backs of my legs where the sneaker rubbed (I had socks on too...).
Believe it or not, I ended up walking today too. Honestly, that is how I know I see things differently this time around. Normally, I would have used the cuts and blisters on my feet as an excuse and would have stayed home. But I've made too much progress the last 2 weeks to give up like that. I strapped on my sneakers, drove to the mall, and managed to get 3 laps in which is 1.92 miles. Not my best, but I still walked. I also need to find a better pair of sneakers. Tonight I wore my Reeboks, but even those killed my feet. I know it's VERY likely its just all the weight I'm lugging around, but when I wear other things like my boots etc, it's never as bad. The sneakers just rub my feet wrong and I end up with killer blisters. I'm almost wondering if I should try some sort of gel insert for my shoes and maybe that will help. We will see. I'm also down for any suggestions, so bring em! :)
So the plan is to walk again tomorrow. I want to at least get in three laps again, though I would LOVE to get 4 laps in again. Next week I want to push for 5 laps, which would bring me to 3.20 miles. I'm taking it all one step at a time. I weigh in Sunday, so I'm anxious to see what my loss is this week. It's that time of the month for me, so I'm not expecting anything crazy.
As far as everything else goes, a great support system is in the process of being established. It's amazing how much support I get on FaceBook. I know some great people, and that really makes my life easier. Thursday I had a great lunch with my friend Katie. Her and her husband have been doing Crossfit, and she has a lot of information on how to eat, etc. She's actually food shopping with me when I get paid on Thursday so I can get what I need on a limited budget. She's a pro with that sort of thing. I've pretty much been maintaining a very Paleo-esque diet the last six months or so, and she is the same way. So I know she will be able to help me make the most with my budget, all while maintainng a paleo diet. I'm excited!
ALSO, I have some big news coming in the next few months. I can't say what it is now, as I want to get more established with it and into a routine... but I think it may shock some of you.. but in a good way. Don't worry, it's nothing crazy. I'm just a glutton for punishment and know I can do more with my work outs. This will offer me the kind of help, support, and discipline I so desperately need. I can't wait to tell you all! So stay tuned!
And with that, I hope you all have a great weekend! I may blog some more tomorrow. If not, for sure Sunday after my weigh in! Thanks for reading and for all the support! :)
Soooooo, I've started my walking routine. I've walked the last three days at the mall. My first time around I did 4 laps which equates to 2.56 miles. I did the same Thursday. The only issue I'm having is shoes. Wednesday I wore a pair of sneakers that ended up giving me blisters, including a gnarly blood blister on one of my toes. So Thursday I wore another pair of sneakers that gave me more blisters and cut open the backs of my legs where the sneaker rubbed (I had socks on too...).
Believe it or not, I ended up walking today too. Honestly, that is how I know I see things differently this time around. Normally, I would have used the cuts and blisters on my feet as an excuse and would have stayed home. But I've made too much progress the last 2 weeks to give up like that. I strapped on my sneakers, drove to the mall, and managed to get 3 laps in which is 1.92 miles. Not my best, but I still walked. I also need to find a better pair of sneakers. Tonight I wore my Reeboks, but even those killed my feet. I know it's VERY likely its just all the weight I'm lugging around, but when I wear other things like my boots etc, it's never as bad. The sneakers just rub my feet wrong and I end up with killer blisters. I'm almost wondering if I should try some sort of gel insert for my shoes and maybe that will help. We will see. I'm also down for any suggestions, so bring em! :)
So the plan is to walk again tomorrow. I want to at least get in three laps again, though I would LOVE to get 4 laps in again. Next week I want to push for 5 laps, which would bring me to 3.20 miles. I'm taking it all one step at a time. I weigh in Sunday, so I'm anxious to see what my loss is this week. It's that time of the month for me, so I'm not expecting anything crazy.
As far as everything else goes, a great support system is in the process of being established. It's amazing how much support I get on FaceBook. I know some great people, and that really makes my life easier. Thursday I had a great lunch with my friend Katie. Her and her husband have been doing Crossfit, and she has a lot of information on how to eat, etc. She's actually food shopping with me when I get paid on Thursday so I can get what I need on a limited budget. She's a pro with that sort of thing. I've pretty much been maintaining a very Paleo-esque diet the last six months or so, and she is the same way. So I know she will be able to help me make the most with my budget, all while maintainng a paleo diet. I'm excited!
ALSO, I have some big news coming in the next few months. I can't say what it is now, as I want to get more established with it and into a routine... but I think it may shock some of you.. but in a good way. Don't worry, it's nothing crazy. I'm just a glutton for punishment and know I can do more with my work outs. This will offer me the kind of help, support, and discipline I so desperately need. I can't wait to tell you all! So stay tuned!
And with that, I hope you all have a great weekend! I may blog some more tomorrow. If not, for sure Sunday after my weigh in! Thanks for reading and for all the support! :)
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Happy Wednesday!
Hey everyone! Happy hump day! Thankfully today is my "Friday" and I have big plans for my days off.
So last night I got off work and then headed out to do my food shopping. I picked up some pork chops, boneless/skinless chicken breast, & pork loin for my meats. Veggie wise, I picked up some spring mix for my salads, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, & some red onion. I had wanted to pick up some avocado, but they didn't look so appetizing. I also picked up some Greek yogurt, apples, bananas, almonds, eggs, and some cheese.
Last night I was a busy girl. After my shopping, I made dinner and also prepped my chicken for the rest of the week. For dinner I cooked up the pork chops I made, along with some zucchini, red onion, green pepper, tomato, and some mushrooms. The veggies were sauteed in sun dried tomato bruschetta with Italian basil and extra virgin olive oil. I also threw in a little garlic powder. It was so flavorful and yummy! I'm having the leftovers for lunch today and I can't wait to dig in!
As for the chicken, I cleaned the boneless/skinless chicken breasts, put foil down in a baking pan, put in a couple tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, placed the chicken in the pan coating both sides with the EVOO, seasoned them with some salt, pepper, and some roasted red pepper flakes and then covered the pan with foil before putting them in the oven. I baked them at 325f for about an hour. I'm sure they were probably done before that time, but the Blackhawks game was on and I lost track of time.. haha. Either way, they came out fabulously and I can't wait to eat them with some veggies or slice them to put on a salad. In the midst of this all, I also hardboiled some eggs for snacks.
Tonight for dinner I'm planning on making a quesadilla. I have multigrain tortillas at home and I think I'm going to shred up one of the chicken breasts I made. I'll throw in some chopped jalapeno & cheese and have myself a lovely dinner. I'll probably also chop up some tomato and cucumber and have myself a little salad on the side. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! :)
ALSO, my plan for the evening is to get a 45 min walk in and some weight training. I'm blessed to have two very awesome people in my life that help me out a lot with exercises. My dear friend Jenni is a natural body builder and has shown me before how to do some at home weight training. She knows a lot and shares a lot with me! There is also Russ at work who is our sales manager. He is a wealth of information regarding food and fitness. He's been really great at checking in with me and keeping me accountable. I have a weight bench at home and some dumbells, so it's time for me to put them to work. I found a beginners plan online to start incorporating weight work twice a week into my routine. I'm excited to start this. Right now, my main "cardio" is walking as I'm still on the heavier side and don't have access to a gym at the moment. My plan is to do a 45 min to an hour walk five days a week, and do weight work twice a week to start out with. I can't wait to see the changes even small steps will make in my body. I'm excited!
Another awesome thing that will be starting soon is The Central Station Biggest Loser Contest. Myself, Michelle, and Sandra (plus whatever other operators want to join) have decided to start a challenge. We haven't decided on all of the specifics yet, but what I do know is we will be contributing $10-$20 every two weeks to the challenge. We haven't decided if this should be a quarterly thing, or if we will make it a year long challenge. If we do quarterly, the person who loses the most weight at the end of the quarter gets the money contributed. If we do the whole year, the person with the biggest weight loss at the end of the year gets the money saved from our contributions. We have a lot of support on this from Russ (sales manager) in our front office. So this should be exciting!! I'll fill you all in more in depth when we have the whole plan worked out. Either way, I'm looking forward to diving right in and winning some money!! :)
I think that's all for now. I have a couple other posts I want to get out within the next week or so. One of which being my list of motivations to lose weight. So stay tuned and have an amazing day!
So last night I got off work and then headed out to do my food shopping. I picked up some pork chops, boneless/skinless chicken breast, & pork loin for my meats. Veggie wise, I picked up some spring mix for my salads, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, & some red onion. I had wanted to pick up some avocado, but they didn't look so appetizing. I also picked up some Greek yogurt, apples, bananas, almonds, eggs, and some cheese.
Last night I was a busy girl. After my shopping, I made dinner and also prepped my chicken for the rest of the week. For dinner I cooked up the pork chops I made, along with some zucchini, red onion, green pepper, tomato, and some mushrooms. The veggies were sauteed in sun dried tomato bruschetta with Italian basil and extra virgin olive oil. I also threw in a little garlic powder. It was so flavorful and yummy! I'm having the leftovers for lunch today and I can't wait to dig in!
As for the chicken, I cleaned the boneless/skinless chicken breasts, put foil down in a baking pan, put in a couple tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, placed the chicken in the pan coating both sides with the EVOO, seasoned them with some salt, pepper, and some roasted red pepper flakes and then covered the pan with foil before putting them in the oven. I baked them at 325f for about an hour. I'm sure they were probably done before that time, but the Blackhawks game was on and I lost track of time.. haha. Either way, they came out fabulously and I can't wait to eat them with some veggies or slice them to put on a salad. In the midst of this all, I also hardboiled some eggs for snacks.
Tonight for dinner I'm planning on making a quesadilla. I have multigrain tortillas at home and I think I'm going to shred up one of the chicken breasts I made. I'll throw in some chopped jalapeno & cheese and have myself a lovely dinner. I'll probably also chop up some tomato and cucumber and have myself a little salad on the side. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! :)
ALSO, my plan for the evening is to get a 45 min walk in and some weight training. I'm blessed to have two very awesome people in my life that help me out a lot with exercises. My dear friend Jenni is a natural body builder and has shown me before how to do some at home weight training. She knows a lot and shares a lot with me! There is also Russ at work who is our sales manager. He is a wealth of information regarding food and fitness. He's been really great at checking in with me and keeping me accountable. I have a weight bench at home and some dumbells, so it's time for me to put them to work. I found a beginners plan online to start incorporating weight work twice a week into my routine. I'm excited to start this. Right now, my main "cardio" is walking as I'm still on the heavier side and don't have access to a gym at the moment. My plan is to do a 45 min to an hour walk five days a week, and do weight work twice a week to start out with. I can't wait to see the changes even small steps will make in my body. I'm excited!
Another awesome thing that will be starting soon is The Central Station Biggest Loser Contest. Myself, Michelle, and Sandra (plus whatever other operators want to join) have decided to start a challenge. We haven't decided on all of the specifics yet, but what I do know is we will be contributing $10-$20 every two weeks to the challenge. We haven't decided if this should be a quarterly thing, or if we will make it a year long challenge. If we do quarterly, the person who loses the most weight at the end of the quarter gets the money contributed. If we do the whole year, the person with the biggest weight loss at the end of the year gets the money saved from our contributions. We have a lot of support on this from Russ (sales manager) in our front office. So this should be exciting!! I'll fill you all in more in depth when we have the whole plan worked out. Either way, I'm looking forward to diving right in and winning some money!! :)
I think that's all for now. I have a couple other posts I want to get out within the next week or so. One of which being my list of motivations to lose weight. So stay tuned and have an amazing day!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Questions about dairy
This question is for any of you who are successfully eating healthy and working out. Not to discriminate those who may just be starting, but this is more of a question to those who have been at it and successful for quite some time because they've formed a routine and usually know the ins and out of what they should/shouldn't be putting in their bodies..
Dairy... haha. I know that's not really a question, so here it is. Do you fit dairy into your daily routine, or do you tend to shy away from it?
The reason I ask is, I'm lactose intolerant. It's not super bad, but I have to be careful with some of the dairy I eat. For instance, I love cheese, but don't usually have any issues with it. Maybe because I don't eat enough of it to have issues. I also don't have any issues with yogurt, and regularly eat Greek yogurt. The issue comes in with milk. I have pretty much cut milk out of my diet. I mostly drink water, tea, and sometimes the occasional coffee if I'm tired and need a boost. I do use almond milk as well, but I don't regularly drink it. I don't go out of my way to have a glass of almond milk is what I'm saying.
I've been milk free for about a year now and lately I've been having INTENSE cravings for milk. I've tried to quench my craving by having some almond milk, but it just doesn't cut it. When I get the craving, it literally pops into my head and nags at me until I give in and have a glass of milk. And skim milk just won't do it either, I end up having to have a glass of 2% or even Vitamin D milk. Since I don't purchase milk, I tend to have a glass of whatever is in the house when I have my craving, which has been Vitamin D milk. So I guess my real question is, should I be cutting milk out of my diet like I have been? I've read arguments on both sides on why we should or shouldn't drink milk, but I guess I just want to come at if from a health standpoint. Is milk something I should continue to omit from my diet to lose the weight, or is it something I should put back into my diet in small amounts? I'm all ears! Let me hear what you think/have to say on the topic!
Dairy... haha. I know that's not really a question, so here it is. Do you fit dairy into your daily routine, or do you tend to shy away from it?
The reason I ask is, I'm lactose intolerant. It's not super bad, but I have to be careful with some of the dairy I eat. For instance, I love cheese, but don't usually have any issues with it. Maybe because I don't eat enough of it to have issues. I also don't have any issues with yogurt, and regularly eat Greek yogurt. The issue comes in with milk. I have pretty much cut milk out of my diet. I mostly drink water, tea, and sometimes the occasional coffee if I'm tired and need a boost. I do use almond milk as well, but I don't regularly drink it. I don't go out of my way to have a glass of almond milk is what I'm saying.
I've been milk free for about a year now and lately I've been having INTENSE cravings for milk. I've tried to quench my craving by having some almond milk, but it just doesn't cut it. When I get the craving, it literally pops into my head and nags at me until I give in and have a glass of milk. And skim milk just won't do it either, I end up having to have a glass of 2% or even Vitamin D milk. Since I don't purchase milk, I tend to have a glass of whatever is in the house when I have my craving, which has been Vitamin D milk. So I guess my real question is, should I be cutting milk out of my diet like I have been? I've read arguments on both sides on why we should or shouldn't drink milk, but I guess I just want to come at if from a health standpoint. Is milk something I should continue to omit from my diet to lose the weight, or is it something I should put back into my diet in small amounts? I'm all ears! Let me hear what you think/have to say on the topic!
Gooood morning!
Good morning my lovelies! I hope your Tuesday is off to a great start! I'm here at work, trying to make myself enjoy this oatmeal concoction I made this morning as I hurried out the door.. no dice. You see, I didn't get a chance to do my grocery shopping yet (but I will tonight!), and I finished up my supply of food yesterday. So this morning, the only thing I had available was some Quaker Quick Oats, cinnamon, & some stevia... In theory it sounded tastey as I was heading out the door, but it really isn't. But it's the only thing I had to make this morning, so I need to find some way to actually eat this disaster. Yuck.
Sooooo, as I sit here giving my oatmeal creation the evil eye, it just reminds me how much I NEED to make time for this lifestyle change. You see, instead of sucking it up and going grocery shopping Saturday, I opted to sleep in. I then watched the Blackhawks game with my mom, and then instead of going after that, I got ready for a night out on the town with my girls. I did have a blast with them, but it basically left me foodless until I go to the store tonight... Not my best idea, but I definitely learned my lesson. It's all about PRIORITIES. Being that getting healthy and losing weight is my priority now, I need to make sure I keep up with what I'm supposed to be doing. So come 5pm, I will be on my way to the store to get my food!
Priorities can be any number of things when it comes to weight loss and getting healthy. It could mean scheduling your work outs and sticking with them, grocery shopping, or food preparation for the week. For me it's all of the above. My last go-around I had a lot of trouble doing my work outs. It wasn't because I was physically unable to do them, I just didn't make them a priority. Instead of blacking out that 45 minute to an hour timeframe from my schedule, if anyone came calling I would gladly skip the workout and excuse it with "I just don't have the time." Well, I see where that got me... and I won't be making that mistake again. So sorry friends, my work out times are set in stone (barring any work issues or emergencies), and I'll have to work around them, even if it means me working out by myself or missing something for awhile.
As for food shopping... I need to try and do this weekly. I get paid every two weeks and have a budget of $120 for two weeks ($240/month). This will thankfully be changing once I get my car paid off in February. I'll have more money to invest in my groceries. Often times I will buy all of my groceries in one trip, but since I like to purchase as much fresh produce as I can, this creates a problem because not all of my produce will stay good for two weeks. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've had things go bad.. which is just money down the drain. Since I'm on a budget, I can't afford to keep doing that. SO, I need to make it a point to at least make it to the store once a week to get the fresh produce I need for that week. I need to remind myself that my shopping is VITAL to my success. I currently rent a place with my mom & dad, so it's not like I'll ever go hungry, it's just that they shop VERY differently than I do. In a pinch, I am able to make okay choices with the food in the house if I ever have an issue and I can't get to the store, but it's still not the best options for me, so I NEED to make time to get to the store like I'm supposed to. Afterall, I'm the one who ends up losing in the end if I don't get the foods I need to succeed.
Food preparation is another big one for me. Right now I am on a second shift/first shift hybrid. I currently work Sunday and Monday 3pm to midnight, and then Tuesday & Wednesday 8am to 5pm. I've always had an issue with being on a normal schedule the days I work 2nd (3pm to midnight). When I get off work at midnight, I'm usually not ready for bed. I'm amped and wired up from the day, so that usually means I'm awake til an ungodly hour. That usually translates to me basically going to bed SUPER late, sleeping, then getting up and getting ready for work. I sadly don't leave much time to do much before work. Tuesdays are usually the hardest day though because I get off work at midnight the night before, and have to be back at work at 8am. So usually I'm rolling into work at 8am with on a few hours of sleep. Due to that, it's usually easier for me to prepare my meals for the week on a Saturday night, or Sunday night after I get off work.
I eat a lot of chicken because there is so much you can do with it, so I'll usually buy boneless/skinless chicken breast. I know a lot of people don't like chicken for whatever reason, but it's pretty versatile (at least to me, haha), and I happen to like it. A good portion of the time I end up wrapping each chicken breast in foil with some extra virgin olive oil, a little salt & pepper, seal the foil, and then bake them. They come out nice and tender. I like flavor, so I will use spices. Sometimes I'll use chili powder, or roasted red pepper flakes for some heat, or I'll throw in some oregano. And if you want a little more flavor, you can always use your favorite salad dressing instead of extra virgin olive oil. I've been known to use a little ranch dressing or even Italian dressing when making my chicken. Just remember, a little goes a long way with the olive oil and salad dressings. It's basically being used to make sure the chicken breast comes out tender/moist, and has some flavor. I like to do different things to each chicken breast so I have a little something different for each meal. Pair them up with steamed veggies, or even slice it up and put it on a salad, and you have a meal! After I've made my chicken for the week I put them into little baggies and place them in the fridge, taking them out as needed. It makes life SO much easier when I can just grab and go.
Anyways, I like how my post went off on some random tangents. I shouldn't really be surprised becasue well, that's pretty much who I am. One random tangent after another. I have so much more I want to dive into in this blog, one of the topics being about who I am, where I came from, and what is driving me to change my life. So I will get there and should have that post sometime this week. As always, if there is anything you would like to know, just ask in the comments. :)
Hope you all are well! Have a great day & thanks for reading!!
Sooooo, as I sit here giving my oatmeal creation the evil eye, it just reminds me how much I NEED to make time for this lifestyle change. You see, instead of sucking it up and going grocery shopping Saturday, I opted to sleep in. I then watched the Blackhawks game with my mom, and then instead of going after that, I got ready for a night out on the town with my girls. I did have a blast with them, but it basically left me foodless until I go to the store tonight... Not my best idea, but I definitely learned my lesson. It's all about PRIORITIES. Being that getting healthy and losing weight is my priority now, I need to make sure I keep up with what I'm supposed to be doing. So come 5pm, I will be on my way to the store to get my food!
Priorities can be any number of things when it comes to weight loss and getting healthy. It could mean scheduling your work outs and sticking with them, grocery shopping, or food preparation for the week. For me it's all of the above. My last go-around I had a lot of trouble doing my work outs. It wasn't because I was physically unable to do them, I just didn't make them a priority. Instead of blacking out that 45 minute to an hour timeframe from my schedule, if anyone came calling I would gladly skip the workout and excuse it with "I just don't have the time." Well, I see where that got me... and I won't be making that mistake again. So sorry friends, my work out times are set in stone (barring any work issues or emergencies), and I'll have to work around them, even if it means me working out by myself or missing something for awhile.
As for food shopping... I need to try and do this weekly. I get paid every two weeks and have a budget of $120 for two weeks ($240/month). This will thankfully be changing once I get my car paid off in February. I'll have more money to invest in my groceries. Often times I will buy all of my groceries in one trip, but since I like to purchase as much fresh produce as I can, this creates a problem because not all of my produce will stay good for two weeks. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've had things go bad.. which is just money down the drain. Since I'm on a budget, I can't afford to keep doing that. SO, I need to make it a point to at least make it to the store once a week to get the fresh produce I need for that week. I need to remind myself that my shopping is VITAL to my success. I currently rent a place with my mom & dad, so it's not like I'll ever go hungry, it's just that they shop VERY differently than I do. In a pinch, I am able to make okay choices with the food in the house if I ever have an issue and I can't get to the store, but it's still not the best options for me, so I NEED to make time to get to the store like I'm supposed to. Afterall, I'm the one who ends up losing in the end if I don't get the foods I need to succeed.
Food preparation is another big one for me. Right now I am on a second shift/first shift hybrid. I currently work Sunday and Monday 3pm to midnight, and then Tuesday & Wednesday 8am to 5pm. I've always had an issue with being on a normal schedule the days I work 2nd (3pm to midnight). When I get off work at midnight, I'm usually not ready for bed. I'm amped and wired up from the day, so that usually means I'm awake til an ungodly hour. That usually translates to me basically going to bed SUPER late, sleeping, then getting up and getting ready for work. I sadly don't leave much time to do much before work. Tuesdays are usually the hardest day though because I get off work at midnight the night before, and have to be back at work at 8am. So usually I'm rolling into work at 8am with on a few hours of sleep. Due to that, it's usually easier for me to prepare my meals for the week on a Saturday night, or Sunday night after I get off work.
I eat a lot of chicken because there is so much you can do with it, so I'll usually buy boneless/skinless chicken breast. I know a lot of people don't like chicken for whatever reason, but it's pretty versatile (at least to me, haha), and I happen to like it. A good portion of the time I end up wrapping each chicken breast in foil with some extra virgin olive oil, a little salt & pepper, seal the foil, and then bake them. They come out nice and tender. I like flavor, so I will use spices. Sometimes I'll use chili powder, or roasted red pepper flakes for some heat, or I'll throw in some oregano. And if you want a little more flavor, you can always use your favorite salad dressing instead of extra virgin olive oil. I've been known to use a little ranch dressing or even Italian dressing when making my chicken. Just remember, a little goes a long way with the olive oil and salad dressings. It's basically being used to make sure the chicken breast comes out tender/moist, and has some flavor. I like to do different things to each chicken breast so I have a little something different for each meal. Pair them up with steamed veggies, or even slice it up and put it on a salad, and you have a meal! After I've made my chicken for the week I put them into little baggies and place them in the fridge, taking them out as needed. It makes life SO much easier when I can just grab and go.
Anyways, I like how my post went off on some random tangents. I shouldn't really be surprised becasue well, that's pretty much who I am. One random tangent after another. I have so much more I want to dive into in this blog, one of the topics being about who I am, where I came from, and what is driving me to change my life. So I will get there and should have that post sometime this week. As always, if there is anything you would like to know, just ask in the comments. :)
Hope you all are well! Have a great day & thanks for reading!!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Resurrection!
I'm baaaaaaaaaacccccccckkkkkkkkk...
Some of you followed my blog previously, and will notice that I deleted my past entries. Part of the resurrection of this blog for me was starting from scratch. I wanted to start with a clean slate, so getting rid of everything from before is my clean slate.
With that said, the one thing I also want in this blog is complete honesty. I'm using this blog as a window into my life, and my lifestyle change. I'm hoping that the trials and tribulations I go through to get healthy may inspire someone else to do the same. I also want it to show that, if you are taking on the challenge of changing your life for the better, you are NOT alone. I also want to put extra emphasis on the fact that we are human. Mistakes will be made, and it is important to learn from those mistakes and continue on our journey. There will be things to celebrate, and there will also be some hiccups/things to learn from. Let's embrace them all and start the journey to a healthier life!
With all of that said, welcome to my journey! I promise to be up front and honest here, and I promise to post at least one blog a week. That was something I slacked off on the last time around. Keep me accountable people! And if you have any questions, feel free to comment and I'll answer them! :)
Some of you followed my blog previously, and will notice that I deleted my past entries. Part of the resurrection of this blog for me was starting from scratch. I wanted to start with a clean slate, so getting rid of everything from before is my clean slate.
With that said, the one thing I also want in this blog is complete honesty. I'm using this blog as a window into my life, and my lifestyle change. I'm hoping that the trials and tribulations I go through to get healthy may inspire someone else to do the same. I also want it to show that, if you are taking on the challenge of changing your life for the better, you are NOT alone. I also want to put extra emphasis on the fact that we are human. Mistakes will be made, and it is important to learn from those mistakes and continue on our journey. There will be things to celebrate, and there will also be some hiccups/things to learn from. Let's embrace them all and start the journey to a healthier life!
With all of that said, welcome to my journey! I promise to be up front and honest here, and I promise to post at least one blog a week. That was something I slacked off on the last time around. Keep me accountable people! And if you have any questions, feel free to comment and I'll answer them! :)
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