smiles1979's Journal

June 2009, ~week 2, food log...

Jun 10 2009 08:09

Again, it's not the beginning of the week..but still...

6.10.09...Wed.

I experimented some w/ the options for my online trainer's meal plan....

Instead of protein (egg whites) as a regular meal for

Meal 1, Breakfast, I made a smoothie.
Time: ~6:30am, Mood: Satisfied (proud of myself too!) :D, Where at: Apartment

There was a recipe for a protein smoothie on the side of the container of my egg whites...and I tried it w/ what I had in my apt. :D There are other options too though.

Tons of other recipes can be found here:

http://www.betterneggs.com/recipes/recipesearch.cfm?mcid=6

Pineapple-banana bliss smoothie!

(is what I call what I made..hehe...) :D It came out pretty good. :)

1/3 egg whites (I used the egg substitute)
7 oz. of pineapple juice (I used whatever juice came out of a can of unsweetened canned pineapple chunks)
1/2 banana
2-3 chunks of pineapple
2-3 ice cubes (I used 3-4 since my icecubes are kinda small)
Blend (I used my Magic Bullet blender ;))
Serve immediately :D

Then yesterday I found a recipe on Spark People actually (searching via Google first I believe)

Came upon a protein bar recipe that I thought I'd try (instead of having to have a protein shake at work for

Meal 2, A.M. Snack).
Time: ~8:00am, Mood: Satisfied (proud of myself too) :D, though tired. Where at: Desk at work
Drink, ~8:00am, ice water.

The bars came out a bit softer than I wanted and a bit oily like...perhaps I used more PB than I realized? I tried to 1/2 the recipe, since I didn't have enough ingredients of everything to make it whole. Then had to improvize with adding more ingredients like the protein powder and oats to try to thicken it when I think I added a teaspoon or more of water than I needed to. So...all in all...I still think they came out pretty good. :)

I found that even after 30 mins. or so, the bars were kinda soft. Though I brought a few pieces to work w/ me, cut them in the glass pan (8x8) anad left in the fridge....we'll see how they turn out tonight. :D)

The receipe is at this website: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=550005and

Also, here's the recipe info. in case you all want to see it right away:

________________________________

Peanut Butter Fudge Protein Bars

Snacks Snack Snacks Snack

Submitted by CTCLOUGH

A delicious, no-bake protein bar.
5 Minutes to Prepare and Cook

Ingredients

1 Cup Natural Peanut Butter
3 Tablespoons Honey, or to taste
1 1/2 cups WHEY Protein Powder (I used my Optimum Nutrition Nitro Core 24 in Vanilla flavor)
1 Cup Uncooked Oats
2-4 Tablespoons water
(optional) 1 Tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa ( I used the cocoa! :))

Directions

Mix the peanut butter and honey in a bowl,microwave for 30 seconds. Add the rest of ingredients and mix together. Mixture should be crumbly.
Press (hard) into a 9x9 tray and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Cut into 12 equal bars.
Mmmmm!

Number of Servings: 12

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user CTCLOUGH.
Number of Servings: 12

Nutritional Info

Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 220.9
Total Fat: 11.1 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 88.2 mg
Total Carbs: 12.8 g
Dietary Fiber: 2.0 g
Protein: 15.5 g

__________________________

Meal 3: Strawberry/Raspberry granola, 1/2+ cup, 4 oz. strawberry non-fat yogurt, Time: 10:30am, Mood: Hungry!, bit tired, but okay. Where at: Desk at work
Drink, more ice water
Meal 4: Healthy Choice frozen entree, Fire Roasted Tomato Chicken (that includes mix veggies and apple/cranberry crisp), Time: ~12:30pm, Mood: Hungry, but okay. Where at: Mom's house
Drink, with lunch, none
Drink, ~1:00pm, hot tea, fruit flavored w/o anything in it.
Meal 5: baby carrots. Time: 1:50pm, Mood: Hungry Where at: Desk at work
Meal 6: homemade protein bars, ~2"x2" size, 2 of them. Time: ~2:20pm, Mood: Hungry, so ate them...needed to feel more full! Where at: Desk at work
Drink, some sparkling water (strawberry)
Meal 7: whole wheat tortilla, ~1/2 can of tuna, tomato slices, 4-5 pieces of marinated artichoke hearts. 1 cup+ w/ lemon juice (steamed) spinach. Time: ~9pm, Mood: Hungry,tired/sore, Where at: Apartment

6-11-09...Thurs.

Meal 1: FF cottage cheese, 1+ cup w/ pepper, Time: 6:20am, Mood: Hungry, tired. Where at: Apartment
Drink, DnD Fr. Vanilla coffee w/ reg. crm/sugar, about 8:00am
Meal 2: whole wheat tortilla, 3 very thin slices of deli Cajun turkey breast, reg. mustard, 1 cup of pineapple chunks., Time: 11:00am, Mood: Hungry, a bit nauseous?, perhaps fm. pushing my weights yesterday!? pretty sore from that too. Err.... Where at: Desk at work
Drink, ice water! 11:00am
Meal 3: Smart Ones Fettucine w/ broccoli entree, 3 large wafer like crackers (thought it'd help ease the nausea feeling, Time: 12:30pm, Mood: Okay, Where at: Mom's House
Drink, none w/ lunch
Drink, ice water 1:00pm
Only some (amnt: 10) bing cherries, 1:00pm
Meal 4: 2, 2"x2" protein bars, Time: ~2:40pm, Mood: VERY sore/tired., Where at: Desk at work
Drink, ice water, 2:40pm
Meal 5: Some baby carrots, a whole wheat tortilla w. deli Maple Brown Sugar Turkey breast and reg. mustard, Time: ~4:00pm, Mood: Hungry, sore/tired, Where at: Desk at work
Drink, ice water
Meal 6: More baby carrots, Time: 5:00pm, Moody: Hungry!, Where at: my car!
Meal 7: ~12 oz. 1% milk, 1 scoop of Opt. Nutrn. Nitro Core 24 in Chocolate flavor, Time: ~6:45pm, Mood: Hungry, feelin' 'ugh'/nauseous, Where at: Apartment
Meal 8: 1 Perdue Perfect portion Garlic w/ White Wine marinated Ckn. Breast, 2-3?+ cups of Contessa Mediterranian Shrimp/pasta Time: 7:00pm something??, Mood: Hungry/bloated~errr...., Where at: Apartment
Drink, little bit, sparkling water (blackberry apple)

6-12-09...Friday

Meal 1: DnD 14oz. Fr. Vanilla coffee w/ reg. crm/sugar, Multigrain bagel w/ ham,egg, cheese! Time: 8:00am, Mood: Hungry...guilty, but rushed too.... Where at: Desk at work
Drink, ice water...
Meal 2: 1 cup pineapple chunks, Time: ?10 or 11am?, Mood: Hungry Where at: Desk at work
Meal 3: Healthy Choice Lemon Pepper Fish frozen entree and some raw almonds, Time: 12:30pm, Mood: Hungry, okay, Where at: Mom's House
Drink, with lunch, none
Drink, ice water, at work, 1pm

Wow am I tired! :(

May 26 2009 16:16

Guess I didn't realize how tired I was until this afternoon. :( I feel like my eyes are going to bugg out of my head and they are feeling like 1/2 burning, 1/2 tired and just feel 'blah!' right now.

I am supposed to get measured for my circuit training class (about a week behind, but was so busy w/ the house thing last week didn't have time for it). So...after I get measured, I think I'll do maybe a few minutes on the bike, then head home. I don't have the energy today to do Kick at 6:30p.

I just will go home, FINALLY finish my mountain of laundry and then I want to just sit down and read some of my Harry Potter, book 4. Yep, I'm pretty behind in the series, but that's okay, I'm just happy to be actively reading my novels again. :) I seriously have a mini library that I need to get crackin' on! haha. Yeah, I've been saying that for years (just like I'm yo yoing w/ my I need to eat right, etc.) It's a slow process...sigh!

So, though I would love to finally catch an episode of The Mentalist tonight, I'm wondering if I'll be in bed by then (9pm). Getting older (and not even 30 yet) is depressing! haha.

Anyway....I'm glad it's 4:30pm now...this day has been soo dragged out it's ridiculous (at least it's not Monday! :D

Cutting the Sweet Tooth Cold Turkey Challenge?! :D

May 22 2009 08:13

So...I put a post on my other 'blog' on BB.com about how I fell off the wagon and have eaten pretty crappy this past week, etc.

Though even after that post...

I still ended up craving my DnD coffee and decided to splurge and get the glazed donuts too.

So…today marks the first day, of stopping my sweet tooth.

The glazed donuts and my favorite sweetened coffee are my last splurging treat for a while.

I’m not saying I won’t eat any foods that have sugars in them, like fruits or start having my coffee black, but I am going to see how far I can go to not purposely overindulge in sweets, like cakes, cookies, ice cream, candies/chocolates, etc.

Even if I have to go in spurts….1 month here…2 months there, etc.

It isn’t going to be easy..but we’ll see how it goes.

I need to adopt a mantra or saying that is along the lines of "Eating sweets isn’t a treat to my body or myself and I’m not depriving myself by not having them, I’m more depriving myself of a great healthy body b/c I’ve eaten so much sweets!"

Also, my teeth will appreciate it as well! Since I recently went to the dentist and found out I have another cavity and need my 1st crown b/c of a cracked tooth…it’s scaring me.

Damn dark choc. M&M's....

Apr 27 2009 15:44

*CRINGE*

So, I totally splurged on several servings...lots...:( of the dark chocolate M&M's at lunch time.

I had leftovers of an awesome red pepper, sausage, mushroom pasta dish my stepdad had made and was doing well until I caved into the candy. :(

I now feel BLECK!!!! :(

I have been tired all day and didn't get my coffee this morning and am just wiped out. I didn't workout officially since Thursday....yesterday walked around for a few hours at a car swap meet w/ my b/f Chris and his friend Woody. We got up at 5am yesterday to go to this thing and I did get a little sun....and did even nap yesterday afternoon...but didn't go to bed until 10pm. So, think my body is still run down from yesterday...

So, going to apt. tonight to do laundry. Ugh! But I have to do it and if I'm going to pick up w/ my workouts tomorrow night, I HAVE to work on it.

I may even say, screw it, and pick up an energy supplement to try out. I think that'd help me to use and stick better to my a.m. workouts as well. I haven't been doing them as much the last week b/c I've just been too tired to wake up that early. haha.

Anyway...so we'lll seee...

Stuff I eat. Also, what my bf and I have to eat in our apt.

Apr 21 2009 15:31

Some days I'm trying to do very well in eating right and I might have

eggs w/ cheese/veggies, toast (like a 9-grain, whole wheat, pumpernickel, etc. type bread) w/ Promise margarine *Light version if possible* or 5-10 sprays of "I can't believe it's not butter'....
a cold cereal like Cheerios (or mini plain shredded wheat) w/ 1 % milk and a banana.
If a hot cereal, I have in the past bought the instant oatmeal *yes, I know most of those have tons of sugar, but the plain one tastes like paste! Even if I mix 1 plain and 1 flavored - like maple brown sugar. Recently I bought the Simple Harvest instant oatmeal w/ Maple Brown Sugar w/ Pecans. :D Very good, but again...I know lots of sugar.
Or other days, which I haven't done in a while....but I might splurge at Dunkin Donuts...errrr....and perhaps get a donut (like glazed, chocolate kreme, or apple 'n' spice which are a few favs) or try to be a bit 'healthier' and get a multi grain bagel w/ strawberry cream cheese on the side (so I can monitor how much or little to put on it).
Sometimes, I don't have time for breakfast, which is horrible for my work day.
When I do get to have a coffee I get is medium French Vanilla w/ regular cream and sugar. I have been having a coffee the last few mornings from DnD. If I make it at home, it's usually a flavored coffee (like Pumpkin, Blueberry, or DnD Fr. Vanilla, perhaps) and I use Land o Lakes FF half/half and real sugar. I'm not a fan of Splenda or most other artificial sweetners....so I have to learn to cut down on how much real sugar I put in.
I haven't done this in a week or so, but I was heavily drinking 1-3 (or more!) a day! those Swiss Miss cocoa mixes using water (either ones w/ marshmellows - sometimes - or just the chocolate mix).
If not the cocoa, I'd usually drink a hot tea w/ honey (yep sugar there...:*(
or have sparkling waters

I think that was certainly 1 of my major downfalls for not losing as much weight. Though in the past 2 days since drinking more water (though going to the ladies room more often..haha..err...ahem!)...I haven't splurged on the hot cocoa.

In the fall though, having a hot cocoa w/ whole milk IS awesome!! Though I have to limit myself to those only now and then, b/c they are more fattening than just w/ water.

Lunch time is probably the most variance b/c I eat whatever my Mom has for me (since I go to her house every day to let the dogs out, so I eat lunch there). It can range from a Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones, to a deli meat sandwich, pasta dish like lasagna or some other yummy dish my stepdad made, a wrap w/ bell peppers/hummus/baby arugala (which is what I had today..yay me!)

I think I may have to start bringing my own stuff. :( It's great that I don't have to tote around my lunch each day, but maybe I should..

Dinner time varies too. It's more a challenge at dinner on what to eat b/c I don't like feeling I have to make 2 separate meals for me and my bf.
We usually have 'pizza night' - pre made pizza crust, 4 cheese, and sometimes I put veggies and stuff on my 1/2! - which is Fridays.
Or we have white pasta spaghetti (most of the time b/c my bf is used to that and is more hesitant to have whole wheat) w/ Prego meat sauce (he won't stand to eat anything else b/c that's what he grew up eating and isn't quick to try new things - though I've gotten him to be more open about some things as we've been together, just not enough I guess..haha. Now, this sauce I KNOW has tons of sugar..:*( though I still eat it...and plenty of it at times. We add meatballs to our sauce sometimes too and this is not the healthiest, though they do taste so good! haha.
Kraft Mac'n'cheese - yes, NOT healthy, but SO tasty...damn! haha.
Bush's Onion Baked Beans w/ hot dogs. The hot dog brand varies.
We do have salads too! (though we have croutons)

I try not to eat the hot dogs/beans when I can b/c it really is crap food...and does nothing for me (as w/ the mac n' cheese.) I am sure there are ways to have healthy versions, but I would prefer to try other avenues of healthy foods like ground turkey/chicken, marinate chicken breast, fish!, perhaps different salads (though I can get bored w/ those sometimes)....

Then as for liquids....we have Coca-Cola *Coke* as a staple in the apt! I have never seen more Coke drinkers in my life since I met my b/f and his family. Geez! I love them, but man! I sooo wish my b/f would stop w/ the soda. :*( and eating some of the foods he eats...but as the saying goes - you can lead a horse to the stream, but you can't make him drink.

I know that I can say that saying to myself as well b/c I could apply that to me needing to stop w/ my sweet tooth. :(

We sometimes have iced tea, but we also have the Aquafina waters too ~plenty of those. Sparkling waters too ~ which I drink.
Well, though my b/f is an avid Coke drinker, he has been drinking the Aquafina a lot too esp. during work hours and here and there (not sure of exactly how much) at the apt.

As for processed foods...we have plenty of that (I mentioned some of it above) though we have

crackers, (like Keebler Wheat/Cheese crackers), which we both have...usually bring to work.
Cookies (which my b/f buys, Vienna fingers)
Chips...mostly something my b/f gets...though I have bought the healtheir 'tortilla strip' chips for my taco salads.
My b/f has a bunch of 'Chef Boyardee' beefaroni type stuff...we bought it a long while ago...and I haven't seen him eat that in a good while...so that's good. :D
Pasta
canned tuna in water :D (which we usually made tuna fish sandwhiches w/ onion, celery, and light mayo.)

Frozen stuff...I buy some Lean Cuisine meals for those nights when it's perhpas really late and my b/f's already eaten.

We have those Perdue perfect portion chicken breasts, which are good.

***Okay, so I know I listed A LOT of stuff....but I was trying to be thorough, and while it's not everything..haha..it's plenty to go by. :)

I don't want to have to see my b/f stick to his ways of eating and continue to eat his beans/hotdogs, pizza, Coke, and keep his big portions while I eat a separate healthier meal (even if I do end up splurging on the sweets). One good thing is my b/f doesn't have the same sweet tooth at all like I do, so he's better at stopping me from eating them....b/c as I said, I yo yo w/ things. :(

Also, one of the big problems w/ my eating is not only what we have at our apt., or that I have various lunches at my Mom's, but WAY TOO often on the weekends, we spend time at my b/f's parents house and end up eating meals w/ them (lunches and dinners). It used to be the weekends AND a few x a week (when we 1st moved to our apt. and I didn't like that as much. We had an apt. so I wanted to spend it there....and not feel like we were mooching off his parents (though they don't see it as that...still...).

So...point...my b/f's parents don't eat as healthy..and so we end up eating whatever they eat. A lot of times on the weekends it's from local pizza place (I may have mentioned this before) where a large cheese pizza is ordered (that my b/f gets to eat ~ though he doesn't eat the entire thing in 1 sitting....he ends up eating several pieces and usually has the leftovers for lunch the next day)..and another pizza is ordered that his parents eat (large pizza w/ mushrooms, onions, pepperoni and sausage!!!!) I have had it and it's good, but SO not good for you.

I try to then order something else, like a salad or a pita sandwhich or something.

Then, it's a battle w/ myself AND w/ my bf's mom (and sometimes at my Mom's house) about sweets or asking if I want seconds, etc. She has a sweet tooth just like me....and she's let's say...a heavy set woman. She knows she shouldn't eat the things she does and I talk to her all the time about eating better or discuss my workouts, etc., but I just don't think she's ready. Yes, she's in her late 50's and Rhumetoid Arthritis (in her back I think?) and such, so it's not super easy for her, but if she was that willing and ready to do something about her health, than she would. :)

She went w/ me last yr. (and I think we're still going this year) to the a free health expo that's held in Boston. It was fun last year..esp. b/c I got to meet Jay from BL 6 (he signed my BL cookbook) and Ali Vincent signed one of my BL books there too. Main reason I wanted to go last year. :D Anyway, I'm looking forward to it again and hoping she's more up for it this year. :) A lot of walking around (train ~ subway ~ walking to get to the convention center and of course ALL inside the expo...). Knowing such a differnce in age and health conditions is an issue at times...

Anyway...overall...

It's a daily battle for me (not only w/ myself), not easily able to just 'make' my b/f or his parents eat better...or get them to workout w/ me all the time, so it's just so tough! I feel like a freakin' salmon....fighting that damn current upstream!

Yes, I know that ultimately it's MY choice to eat something that's given to me or that I buy, etc., ~ though it just plain sucks when I don't live around people that are as willing to be healthy as I am. :( (even w/ my own personal battles of sweeth tooth or eating more portions than I should,etc.)

Reasons for my good mood -gr8 wrkout, finally mp3 plyr, etc!

Apr 08 2009 07:59

I'm actually in a very rare VERY good mood. haha. I mean, it's not often these days that I find myself so 'chipper' in the morning! :) Well, guess it stems some from what happened yesterday.

After work, I headed to 1 of my local WalMart's to get my mp3 player (though not an iPod...)! :D However, they didn't have the 1 I wanted (as I thought they would, b/c another local one had it....that figures!). I was so bummed, but didn't have enough time to make it 2 the other WalMart before my fitness class at the gym.

So, I just tried to tell myself that I'd go Wednesday (today) and get it. Well, I made it to the gym, and ran into Melanie (the girl I was supposed to get her ph. # last week and never did). She was late for Power class, so said we'd meet up later. So, I went on the treadmill (w/ the tv) and power walked for 40 mins. (I felt good about that). Then went to my Kick class and felt I really got a great workout! :) I don't usually sweat that much..haha..when I workout, but last night I felt it and it made me feel like I really did a good job. :)

Anyway, I ended up catching up w/ Melanie after my class and we exchanged ph. #'s and schedules. So, hopefully we'll make a point to meet up a couple times a week and workout. :) I'm so excited! She said maybe I can get her to go to a Kick class (she's nervous about taking 1 b/c she doesn't feel she's coordinated enough, but I am trying to tell her that okay..:D) and she loves Centergy (the mix of meditation exercises like Yoga,Pilates,Ti Chi, etc.) and maybe she can get me to go to that. :) I guess I feel similar about Centergy...haha..I'm not coordinated enough. :) Though, we'll see!

Though her and her husband will be moving to Boston (about an hr. from here) in July, we'll still have a few months to be 'workout buddies'. hehe. :)

All in all, I'm pumped for all these awesome workout/exercise opportunities I have going on lately! Yay!!

SO ANYWAY! haha. When I went home last night, I was pretty wiped out, but still was happy b/c I got to see my fav. show (Biggest Loser) and ended up taking a shower before bed because I so needed it this time. haha.

I did get a Charlie Horse in the middle of the night last night though...which I HATE! Everytime it happens (even after the pain goes away) my calf is tense for a long time. :( When it happened I popped right up outta bed and stood up, this eleviated the pain right away, but the muscle was still contracted/tense, but I was able to still deal w/ that and go right back to sleep. This morning, as I said, my calf is still a bit tight, but it's tolerable.

Err....ummm...back to my initial train of thought.

So....though I am achy this morning all over, I woke up feeling pretty good.

I decided to head to the WalMart (the right one this time...haha) and pick up my Mp3 player BEFORE work..:D I had plenty of time then to get the Mp3 player, even get DnD coffee, stop by the grocery store for some Smart Ones to eat at lunch this week, drop those off at my Mom's house (down the road from my work...since I go to her house every day at lunch to take care of the dogs) and still got to work 15 mins. early!!!!!

I am SO feelin' happy! :) So, tonight, I'm taking a workout day off...to make time for laundry/dishes (err..which SO have to be done), make some more handmade cards and then figure out the WMP to be able to put music on my new mp3 player. :)

WHOOHOO!! :D

Okay, so this is a super long post of my 'min. to min' happenings....but I feel they all are the reason for my good mood! :D

Hope you all have just as good a day! :D

(hugs!!!)

Keepin' track of '30 Day Shred' & other wrkouts! update

Apr 07 2009 15:05

Okay, so I found a forum on another website that was tracking the '30 Day Shred' workout for the 30 days...and I thought it'd be good to do that on here. (Are you w/ me on this Tracy? Anyone else?? :D)

The DVD should get it in the mail in a few days. When it gets here, I'll start tracking my workouts. I'll start by putting up a 'log' for now:

*UPDATE: Btw, I should get my Jillian dvds by Friday (4/10)! :D If I do start dvd on Sat., 4/11 and do it for 30 straight days, my 30th day will be on Mother's Day...and I don't want to have to committ to that day, so I'll make my day, Monday, 5/11.

I do have a few other dvds I want to incorporate w/ this, but I will do those every other or every few days. :) I may be taking off a bit more than I can chew by committing to these dvds AND to my fitness classes AND Pilates, however, I want my body to be in shape for this summer, once and for all! So, I am going to fight through any pain (good pain though of course) from the exercise, tackle my t.o.t.m. mood swings/cramps, and keep at it! :D I will have something FABULOUS to show off this summer! RAWR! hahahaha.*

*Update...again: Tracy, by the way, you were right. Sorry. Yes, each Level is 20 mins. (includes warm up/workoutexercise/cooldown). *Purple entries below are info. on additional workouts*

Day 1: Sat., 4/11, Level 1, 3 lb. weights, a.m. workout.

Some of the exercises I could've used heavier weights and some the 3 lb. weights were definitely a big challenge, but just kept w. the 3 lbs. throughout the workout. A good workout overall today. :D

Day 2: Sun., 4/12, Level 1, 3 lb. weights, a.m. workout.
Day 3: Mon., 4/13, Slept in, no a.m. dvd workout. Didn't get one in the evening either (but did 1 hr. Kick class!)
Day 4: Tues., 4/14, Level 1, 3 lb. weights, a.m. workout. (and 1 hr. Power class and 1 hr. Kick classes!)
Day 5: Wed., 4/15, Slept in, no a.m. dvd workout. Didn't get one in the evening either (but did 1 hr. Centergy class!)
Day 6: Thurs., 4/16, No a.m. dvd workout. (but I did 1 hr. Power and 1 hr. Pilates!)
Day 7: Fri., 4/17, No a.m. workout w/ SHRED, (but did warm up/ 3 circuits/cool down of 'Blast Fat - Boost Metabolism' dvd just after 5a.m., which was about 20+ min.)
Day 8: Sat., 4/18, Level 1, 3 & 5 lb. weights, a.m. workout (and 1 hr. Kick 1 and 1 hr. Centergy classes!)

Phew! I'm sore, but feel good!

Day 9: Sun., 4/19, No a.m. workout dvd (again), (though did walk around a car show this morning for several hours, so hopefully that was considered doing some exercise. :D)
Day 10: Mon., 4/20, No a.m. workout dvd (agggain! Very tired this a.m., didn't sleep well) but did ~ 30+ mins. mix of treadmill/hip adductor and abductor machines/recumbent bike, and 1 hr. Kick class!) :)
Day 11: Tues., 4/21, Level 1, 3 & 5 lb. weights (and ~20+ mins. on treadmill and 1 hr. Fitraxx circuit training (focus on strength training)
Day 12: Wed., 4/22, well, no Shred dvd, but did about 20+ mins. of Pink for Pilates dvd with resistance band (warm up/lower body/cool down)
Day 13: Thurs., 4/23, no a.m. dvd b/c I was too tired and sore from my workout on Tuesday still!! So, took it easy this a.m. (did 1 hr. Fitraxx and 1 hr. Pilates class)
Day 14: Fri., 4/24, Taking this day off to rest from workouts! ;D
Day 15: Sat., 4/25, no a.m. workout.
Day 16: Sun, 4/26, no a.m. workout., woke up super early 5am, to go to walk around for a few hours at a car part swap meet w/ my bf and his friend. Got a tad bit of sun! Geez I really am fairer skinned than I thought..haha..cuz it doesn't really look like I got that much sun, but I know I did. hehe.
Day 17: Mon., 4/27, no a.m. workout! Eeek! Just too tired! Not planning on an evening workout either (just lots of laundry). Just very tired today! :( I know, I'm slackin'..but if I'm not feelin' it at all today, don't want to force myself and make things worse.
Day 18: Tues., 4/28, No More Trouble Zones dvd, just after 5:30am, warm up/1 circuit of shoulders, legs/cool down (about 10-15 mins. total), w/ 3 lb. weights (20 mins. (5 min. warm up, 10 min. workout, 5 min. cooldown) on recumbant bike tried out levels 8, 10, 12, and 14! :D, 1 hr. Fitraxx!)
Day 19: Wed., 4/29, no a.m. dvd. (30+ mins., stairmaster and treadmill. 1 hr. Power, 1 hr. Centergy)
Day 20: Thurs., 4/30, no a.m. dvd (slept in b/c I needed it!!) (1 hr. Fitraxx, 1 hr. Pilates)
Day 21: Fri., May 1, errrr...again, no dvd.
Day 22: Sat., May 2, no exercise....
Day 23: Sun., May 3, no exercise.....again.....
Day 24: Mon., May 4, no exercise......................went on a movie date night w/ my b/f..saw 'XMen Origins' (GRR8 movie!). :D
Day 25: Tues., May 5, no a.m. workout, (but did 20+ mins. on treadmill, walking...then 1 hr. circuit training!)
Day 26: Wed., May 6, again no a.m. workout, slept in. no p.m. workout (went grocery shopping instead!)
Day 27: Thurs., May 7, no a.m. workout, AGAIN! Yeah, I know I'm slippin'. :( (but did do 1 hr. Fitraxx, 1 hr. Pilates classes)
Day 28: Friday, May 8, yep, you guessed it, no a.m. workout. I think I really am going to have to change things up soon though w/ that! :( (but I did do a mix of exercises after work! ~7 min. on bike, 2 rounds of circuit training, 5 stations. 23? count crunches, ~10-15m. on treadmill.)
Day 29: Sat., May 9, no exercises.
Day 30: Sun, May 10, no a.m. exercises. Went to breakfast for Mom's Day w/ Mom, Chris, and Beverly. :) Then helped Chris in the yard to mow the grass and pick up debris (rocks, dog toys from neighbors dog, etc. :/ ) So that was a bit of exercise... :D

Motivational index cards, ETC...:D

Apr 07 2009 11:37

Motivational Index Cards:

Oh...and what Tracy mentioned about what is good for motivation....well, yes, I agree w/ Carrie and other ladies that staying focused on the results you are seeing (whether it's in clothes fitting better, weight lost on the scale, tone in muscle, etc.) is a great motivator, but also outside visuals! haha. What I mean by that is...just yesterday as a matter of fact, I decided that I was going to add some visual motivation to my apt! haha...to help me keep w/ my goals! 1st I did pull out my bikinis hung them up where I'd see them to remind me of 1 of my goals (to fit nicely into a bikini!) and then I cut out some pics. of models from my VS magazine in bikinis (but made them headless..HAHAHA...b/c I just wanted to focus on the idea of having a 'smokin' body, not the reminder that I'm NOT a supermodel like Alessandra Ambrosio (which will only depress me! haha). So, I found the small pics. in the swimsuit and other VS mags. that I could fit on an index card. I cut out some pics. of the models in their undies (showing their fit rears..haha) to remind me that I need to work on that part of me too....

and I also found some pics. where I thought the model had a nice photo of her shoulders and cut just the upper body torso part out. I put each 1 on an index card, as I said, and wrote sorta motivation things on it and put them up all around my apt. The shoulders one I put: Keep up with your workouts! Strong upper body: shoulders, upper back, triceps, biceps.. **This index card I put on the mirror in my bedroom**

Oh...I also did look through my fitness mags. like Women's Health and found one or two small pics. of fit women as motivators too to remind me that I want to build my muscles too and not just to be 'skinny'. :D There's this 1 pic. from the WH mag., where this girl is doing a reverse crunch and her abs are tight and she is sweaty and all that, but looks SO strong...and I made a note on that index card to say, 'Workout hard to be fit like her'! **Put this index card on my computer monitor**

Some of the other index cards.....a headless pic. (haha) of Alessandra VS model in a bikini, and put some of my goals on it that are coming up that I want to look great for and I wrote something like... Goals - California, Mtn. Biking, Attend a summer wedding, 30th Birthday, to look bikini, healthy, fit!

Another headless bikini pic. of her I put on a card and put: Drink more water (w/ lemon even) You want to fit into a bikini, right?

**Those 2 I put on my frig**

One other ones I have a body shot of a VS model, where she's in her undies w/ heels on and she's got her legs crossed in the air and I wrote: To be sexy is to be confident! You CAN meet your goals! Limit Sweets! **I put this one on the inside door of my snacks/dry goods pantry, where I have some foods that'd tempt me, like peanut butter, crackers, chips, etc.**

Oh, I think I have a coupls more of VS models where they are in their undies and one says, 'You CAN meet your goals!', Another says, 'Work your bottom off and you will see results' **These 2 I put in different cabinets in my kitchen**

Okay, so that was a lot of info. ERRRR..sorry. But it was fun to make! :D I'm hoping they will help me! :) My b/f came home yesterday and noticed them when he opened the kitchen cabinets and was like 'What the...' but I told him about it...and he might've thought I was a little silly, but I also think he's thinking, whatever works for you to get you to reach your goals'. :D

So, w/ all that said about the 'motivational index cards'...haha..

Tracy, I didn't get to buy the Jillian DVD just yet as I said I would *had some bank issues happen over the weekend...GRR!* Though, I want to buy that DVD still and her other two DVDS from Exercise TV.com! :D Though, in the mean time, I tried part of her '30 day Shred' workout from On Demand's Exercise TV. :) I did the warm up, part of her main workout, then had to fast fwd. through to the cool down and do that b/c I was short on time. I did about 10+ mins. this morning. I was proud that I tried it at least, even though I didn't have a lot of time b/c usually I am an all or nothing person (nudge nuge, Greta :D). It was definitely more than I expected, esp. since it was early in the a.m., but glad I at least did something. :)

Baby minded/Career minded info:

Right now being almost 30, I am still on the fence of if I should have kids or not. I guess deep down the issue is whether I think I'm ready and if I'll be able to be a good mother. I feel that if I am not stable in my life, in knowing what I want and who I am as a person, than how can I even honestly think about bringing another human being into this crazy world? :D (I question, am I going to get married to my current b/f? Have a place to call home? If we did get married, will be both decide we want children finally? If we do, when will that be? I've thought a lot more about the whole 'having kids' concept since I turned 29, in Nov, and it's bothered me. I think my 'biological clock' has been ticking, but I also think it's in my head! haha. I think society is making me feel that it's ticking 10 x more than it possibly is! There are sooo many women out there having families and babies at ALL different ages these days and alll stages in their lives, I really shouldn't feel as pressured as I have been (or feel that any woman should). Yes, it's a fact that the older a woman is that there are more risks involved when she's pregnant, (thinking of what Dani said) but it doesn't mean that it's not possible and can turn out beautifully. Yes, I don't want to age too much before I have a child to be able to have the energy and such, but at this moment, I don't want to feel pressured to have kids before I'm 30 (since that's this year! haha) or even w/in the next year or two. I am trying to just calm my own internal self by accepting that I'm 29, but not at a place in my own life and in my own mind that I can care for a child, when I'm not quite ready. I want to be sure that I can provide a good place for that child to grow up in. These days, every day in the news, it's seems some crazy thing is happeneing and it scares me. Though, despite all that, I see a newborn on tv or a young family enjoying life and I feel that I want that...but just want to make sure I'm ready for it.

In support of those thoughts, I actually had a conversation w/ my cousin yesterday (she's 27 and lives in NYC/Brooklyn and she told me that in NYC she sees women are more career minded than baby minded right now and it reminded me of Sarah. :) My cousin too is trying to figure out her career path and become stable financially, etc. before she even thinks of having a family of her own) Her opinion of me and having kids was that one day I should....her observation of my personality, figuring on the type of person I am, etc.), though agrees w/ me that I'm not ready for that right now. I'm still living in an apt., trying to make my bills, etc. and not married to my b/f. Well, in saying that, I know that women have children w/o all these factors in place, and that's how it goes sometimes. But I want to make sure that I'm able to handle all that having a child entails, I don't take it lightly. I get scared to think that I won't be able to provide all the things that I should to make sure that a baby I bring into this world is going to turn out okay. :) I guess that's a natural desire for any woman thinking about having kids, but still. It makes me that much more hesitant.

Though, also, if I didn't mention it before, I feel I need to make sure I know exactly who I am and what I want in this life of mine, to be able to still be 'free' to do what I want to do (visit family/friends), etc. I want to still be able to focus on me and get myself as fit as I can, at least do what I can before I'm 30. It just happens to be a goal of mine. If I was to have a baby right now, those plans would have to be put on hold b/c I'd have to focus my body differently in perparation for how my body was to change (like Ingrid) and then be able to get back into a healthier body later, as Greta is working on now that she's had her son). Though, b/c I'm not pregnant or already have a child, I don't find that it's wrong for me to want to be as fit as I can now. :) I want to also be able to be in a fit body for 1 day when and if I do have kids so that I will make sure that the baby would be healthy entering this world, in part b/c I'd be healthy. :)

Well, I'll hush for now on this topic b/c it's still very sensitive/serious subject and I'm not even sure I am making sense. haha.

So, bottom line, I'm figuring out who I am, what I can do in this world, before I focus on a family of my own. Not only focusing on myself, but the other thing is working on figuring out the future w/ my current boyfriend. :) I do want to be married and have a more stable home before kids, etc.

Workout DVDs, etc.

Apr 07 2009 08:23

I tried part of the 'No More Trouble Zones' workout by Jillian Michaels this morning. Yep, got up just after 5:15am, put on my workout clothes/shoes and turned on the On Demand. :) Though, my b/f didn't seem to like the idea, b/c I was doing it in the main living room and it messed up his 'routine', I only did like the warm up, a few mins. of the 1st circuit and then went to cool down. Guess I'll have to get the DVDs and clean up our computer room so that I can make that a more active 'workout area'.

Our place doesn't really have any room to do much. I either workout in the living room (having to move the big coffee table) where we have our main tv and the Comcast On Demand box or go in the adjacent 'computer room' where we do have a tv set up (but have to hook up the DVD player) and only after I clean up ALL my stuff hanging around (boxes of stuff, etc.) can I perhaps workout in there. :( So, we'll have to work around my plan for doing some a.m. DVDs... I could perhaps do the DVD or On Demand after my b/f leaves, but that's at 6:30am and I should get ready for work by then, b/c I have to leave the apt. by about 7:15am. So...that's why I figure, even if it'd change our routine, to do the DVD, etc. (when I do decide to) in the a.m..

ANYWAY! Grr..sorry. I'm just trying to figure out how I can add as much exercise into my week as possible. I need to truly get serious and every time I turn around I'm talking the talk, but walking the walk is becoming more difficult. :( I only did the 10+ mins. of the '30 Day Shred' On Demand workout yesterday morning (when I did try it at 6:30am), and didn't go to the gym last night. It was pouring rain and I had just returned something at Kohl's (which is closer in location to my apt.) than going to the gym. Well, perhaps the gym is technically closer, but I'd have to wait like 40 mins. til the class started for 6:30pm and I didn't want to wait. So, I foregoed (is that a word! haha) the gym and went to the apt.

I am getting a bit discouraged, or rather frustrated with myself. I talk all day about everyone else keeping up w/ their routines, don't beat yourself up, etc. Though I find I am doing that very thing to myself. :(

One part is b/c I am back and forth w/ how I eat too. I know that eating habits are the other 1/2 to health, besides exercise. :( I started out okay yesterday, then had mac'n'cheese and tomato soup for dinner last night. Now, I didn't have as much Mac'n'cheese as my b/f, but I still had plenty.

I guess I just have to plug along and keep saying what I say to others, "1 Day at A Time". I think that's in my head b/c it's something my b/f tells me too, to take things 1 day at a time. Though I'm soo impatient! haha.

I hate being so hipocritical and it's such a vicious cyle! I have all these fantasies in my head about what I want to look like and I want this summer to be the best I've ever looked and felt physically,etc. (esp. w/ ALL that I have going on) and I also want to be a good person in being able to inspire or at least motivate others, like you ladies on our forum! :D

Well, today's a new day. :) I did those 10 mins. this morning, which I'm happy I did. Then tonight, I am for sure! going to the gym and making it to the Kick class and this time should be able to handle the 40 min.,etc. wait before class b/c the gym this class is at is the one w. the tv treadmills. :)

I hope to get that Sandisk Sansa 8 gb Clip perhaps this weekend!???? :D I do want an iPod, but this particular device has more storage for less $ and right now, that's what I can handle! I've been working on saving for ages for an iPod, only the know that the storage is smaller AND have to download iTunes (learn how to operate it) and hope that when I put all my music on my computer that my computer will still run! haha. I can navigate okay through certain things w/ a comptuer just fine like the internet, Word, etc., but when it comes to the high tech stuff I'm at a loss.

ANYWAY, plus I've read that Sansa allows you to just 'drag and drop' music files onto it (w/o the need for software) so now all I have to do is learn how to put CDs I have onto my computer in MP3 format! :D Also, when I go visit my Dad he said I could download his songs too if I'd like. :) He has a ton of Top 40 stuff that I am sure I'll want. :)

So, I hope to get the hang of this whole MP3 player world, even if I don't start w/ the favored iPod! :)

Looking forward to figuring out, if I use Jillian's DVDs (when I get them), and use them a few times a week (in the mornings during the week and/or on the weekend), keep up w/ my gym schedule *cardio and strength training* after work and/or on the weekends, add in at least 1 x a week for Pilates and add in my 2 x a week of circuit training (which starts in about another week) and I stick to that sort of variety, but also routine, I hope to really be (as Jillian puts it) shredded in 30 days! :D

I SO know that my lower body is my toughest challenge and if I don't keep up w/ my motivation and my routine than I'm going to stay the same and feel like crap when all these 'bikini times' and 'lookin' smokin' (haha) times come around this summer!!!!! :D

Yeah, I know, I'm all over the place in my post. Anyhow....just hope that today is a good day for everyone.

(hugs)! Thanks...for reading...again....:D

(UPDATE: Okay, so I just ordered Jillian Michael's 3 workout DVDs from BarnesandNoble.com. I have the 'membership card' and it expires in June, so might as well use it if I can, but I got free shipping! :D

Ordered '30 Day Shred', 'Banish Fat - Boost Metabolism', 'No More Trouble Zones'.

:) I tried a bit of '30 day..' and 'No more trouble'...as I said the past 2 mornings and some of her exercises I noticed are already similar, but that's okay. If I'm serious about finally getting results...:D than I need someone like her...tough and strong! :) Yeah, I noticed she doesn't pause for breaks, but that's okay too, I just paused the tv and took my water break as I needed to. :) All in all, even w/ the same trainer, it's still 3 different DVDs for variety.

Okay...so here we go....err...or I go? :)

Trying out 'healthier' non perishable foods?

Apr 03 2009 10:32

Okay, so went to the grocery store yesterday, to pick up some non perishable things, before the gym. Since I wasn't going to get out of the gym tonight til almost 9pm, didn't want to do it after and just dealt w/ not getting anything that would spoil last night.

So, got Aquafina waters on sale..whoohoo! Then decided to try the Nature Valley, Sweet n' Salty Nuy, Almond, granola bars! I also bought (which I have had before), the Nature Valley, Chewy Trail Mix, Drk Choc. and Nut, Granola bars. Both very YUM, btw! Yes, so they have more sugars and stuff in them, but they taste good and I feel better about eating them b/c they do have nuts in them and the drk. choc. one will be better for me to have when my sweet tooth hits in the afternoon at work or when I need a snack and don't have anything else on hand (like today), than if I was to get a candy bar or something from the vending machine! :D

I also picked up some Sparkling waters to bring to work. :) Yes, they are carbonated, but right now, I'm going with that. :) Plain water is just too boring for me right now. Yes, I can put lemon in it, but it's more of a pain to add that while I'm a work...so anyway..

Also mentioned in the forum today that I picked up a couple Lara bars from the protein bar section. They are not too bad...certainly different, but in better way than 1/2 the other protein bars I've tried.

As for bread, tried to pick up some healthier type eng. muffins and try out some pumpernickel bread as a change to wheat that I buy (when I do buy bread).

Oh...well my main reason for this post...errr...haha..was to mention about the peanut butter I got! :) Last time I bought some, I picked up the Smart Balance creamy kind. It is alright, though thought I'd try something even 'healthier?' by choosing the Teddies' Old Fashioned Creamy type...but unsalted.

Well, I was trying to tell myself....hey if I have the option to cut out sodium from something I buy, why not try it. :) Well, I had it on my toast this morning and welll....it's pretty bland. Err...haha...guess the salt really does help. haha. It's not awful, just not 'delish'...so I think I'll just add a small bit of honey to my toast the next time I use that peanut butter to make it more palatable. Yeah, I guess it defeats my original purpose to cut out bad stuff...but sweet isn't salt..right? haha.

Okay, anyway! That's my rant on the 'healthy' type non perishables I bought. :)