IN IT TO WIN IT!!!!

Totally my new motto to get through every day.  Getting back into shape has not been the easiest journey for me - but i am starting to see an impact - lost a total of TWO inches off my hips and TWO inches off my thighs - my total problem areas.  My waist is the next hurdle - but i will take this loss with knowing it came with a lot of hard work!!!

The clean diet is going so-so.  My biggest problem is limiting wine - i try and i try and i try - but at the end of the day, having a glass or two is just so nice.  Hoping to get 100% on a clean diet one of these days :P

Probably my biggest challenge that i just set for myself was registering to the "super spartan" obstacle race in october.  Why???  Because i am totally insane - or as my husband stated "it is all about getting muddy and drunk isn't it?"...yeah, pretty much, because yes, you get beer after you cross the finish line!!!  when i registered i truly thought i was signing up for the spartan sprint, the 3 mile run with obstacle course - imagine my surprise when i realize this is the next harder spartan race of 8+ miles of running and obstacles - well, as i said, i am in it to win and financially committed - so, now is the time to start training and make DAMN SURE I CROSS THAT FINISH LINE ON OCTOBER 28TH!!!!!!!!

Since february, i have been a faithful follower of my bootycamp class.  I have a love/hate relationship with it - and feel awesome every time i leave knowing i showed up and finished.  Even signed up for additional bootycamp sessions 2-3 times per week - INSANE!!!

We just entered into a two week break from sessions which is always my downfall of working out.  I have a hard time just doing the workout on my own and tend to blow all my good clean diet eating habits once we are off.  Let’s face it, if you do not like the exercise or it is hard - well, i usually just stop.  However, when i am in a class with 15-20 other women all feeling the same pain and struggles and they are doing it - you have absolutely no choice but to keep going - at least that is what works for me.  I need to feel pushed.  Also, after you get your ass kicked for an hour, the last thing you want to do is go home and eat a bag of cookies!!!

So, i am really trying to focus on this break and keep it going.  My fitness instructor gave us a circuit to follow three times a week until back in class.  We are to do the circuit 2-3 times.  Today, i did it 3 times and finished with a burpee thunderstruck!  Very proud of myself for the moment :D

What is a burpee thunderstruck - best 5 minute exercise that i also learned at bootycamp - no excuse that you do not have five minutes.  basically, turn on AC/DC's thunderstruck nice and loud - every time you hear "thunder" do a burpee without the jump - every time you hear "thunderstruck" do a full burpee with jump.  AND throughout the entire song you keep moving - whether you are jogging in place, squats, fast feet, etc....the key is to keep moving through the entire song which is just shy of five minutes in length.  If you complete it - when you finish you will have done a total of 32 burpees.  It is a killer, but i love it!  Even have my kids doing it with me - my son loves to dance to this song now and attempts at burpees with donkey kicks...too cute.

Here is the circuit i am doing this week - give it a try....

define clean.....

lately, it is all i hear.  a clean diet appears to be the new diet fad, or is it a fad?  clean diet this - clean diet that.  is your diet clean?  let's be all clean today?  how clean is your diet?  so, i ask...define clean.  i truly have no idea what a clean diet is....

of course i got google involved in helping me figure out how to "clean-up" my diet.  in a nutshell, here are the basic principals:

• Eliminates refined sugar
• Cooks healthy meals
• Packs healthy meals
• Makes healthy choices when dining out
• Drinks a lot of water
• Eats 5-6 small meals per day
• Eliminates alcoholic beverages (or significantly limits it) 
• Always eats breakfast

hmmmmm, let's break this down and see if it is doable in my lifestyle:

Eliminate refined sugar

 - ok do not see this as a huge drawback.  of course, i love sweets and who doesn't?  it totally makes sense to cut it out of your diet no matter what diet you follow - basic diet common sense.  refined sugar is not good for any of us.  i believe moderation is key and try to save the sweets for special occasions.  we do have young children here, so yes we do have cookies and various treats - but even they know they are not to consume at any time.

verdict:  DOABLE

Cook healthy meals:

-totally can do this and have been doing it for some time.  our house is packed with fresh produce, organics, and low fat/sugar free options.  i am constantly looking for recipes to convert into healthy versions to cut back on fat and carbs.  keeping it clean, i think, means using low fat options, no  mayos, dressings, margarines, etc...  NO processed foods.  YES to healthy oils like olive and grapeseed.  YES to healthy dressing like balsamic vinegar, etc...  basically eliminate crap!!  so, no ranch dressing, no kraft mac & cheese, no ball park hot dogs, etc...

verdict:  DOABLE

Pack healthy meals:

-i do not need packed meals, but my daughter does.  she is a little health nut anyway, so her lunches are always good choices with NO sugar treats.

verdict:  DOABLE

Make healthy choices when eating out:

-oh man!  that could be hard...i mean you go out to eat so you do not have to cook - cut loose and have fun.  but, i guess if you are serious about getting fit - it is a change needed to be made.  i can do this...

verdict:  DOABLE

Drink lots of water:

ok - i will admit it.  i HATE the taste of water.  yeah, i know there is no taste.  but it is just too boring for me - however, i totally agree with this concept and believe in the benefits.  i will force myself to chug water and was super happy when mio was developed.  enhances your water without any sugar  or calories.  gives just enough flavor to make it desirable to drink.  using this means i drink tons of water.

verdict:  DOABLE

Eat 5-6 small meals per day:

that comes out to 3 meals with 1-2 snacks.  great idea and i need to work on that.  i tend to be a grazer and snacker - bad, bad habits for dieting.  this will be a work in progress, but i think i can do it. note the key word "small" meals - i think a normal healthy diet should be somewhere around 400-500 calories - so, the mission is to make them count for the good.

verdict:  DOABLE

Eliminates alcoholic beverages (or significantly limits it):

uhhhhhhhh - HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM!!!!  OMG - seriously????  i like wine.  i mean, i REALLY like wine.  it is always that perfect thing to have after a long crazy day.  hmmmmmmm, not sure if i even what to give it up - however, i do believe in creating limits.  a common rule that is  encouraged when drinking is to alternate a glass of water per each alcoholic beverage.  i just did this yesterday and it worked wonderfully.  was able to enjoy a couple glasses of wine and consumed tons more water for the day.  another good rule that i have created for myself is to limit wine to weekends, as a treat.  no wine monday-thursday.  it is hard sometimes, but it can be done.

verdict:  BEGRUDGINGLY DOABLE

Always eat breakfast:

yes, i make sure everyone in the house has a nice, healthy breakfast.  what is mine you ask?  a double can of diet rockstar....so bad, so very, very bad!!!!  today, i did make a green monster for breakfast.  very simple to make and packed with so many great vitamins, minerals, and fiber.  just need to get back into the habit of doing this for myself.

verdict:  DOABLE

WOW!  a clean diet does not sound so bad - extremely doable, well except for the no wine part....lol

i also like how there are no points or calories to count.  that right there is a stress reliever in its self.  according to my bootycamp instructor, changing to a clean diet will totally kick start your diet and those pounds and inches WILL start to come off...so, we will see.  just started this form of diet this past weekend.  YES - on the weekend.  no pizza delivery or chinese take-out.  I prepared all our meals. i bought a "groupon" 12 month membership at emeals.com.  they will create a year's worth of dinner recipes for you and provide a grocery list.  they have a "clean" diet option.  i have made three of the recipes - they were fast & easy to make and really GOOD!  every the husband had seconds!!! 

let see where this takes me....wish me luck!!!!!!

just want a sandwich...damn it!!

i like a good sandwich...really who doesn't???  LOVE  - wait, passionately LOVE jimmy johns - which can be a real bad habit!

i do not know what came over me this morning - but i was so ready to get my soon to be two year old son dressed and haul it over to JJ's at 9am for a #12 (beach club, all the way baby).  i didn't - in fact, i have only eaten at JJ's once in the last five months or so - and when i did, it was the veggie on whole grain, ez mayo and i removed most of the cheese...so, it was kinda, sorta healthy...lol

we did go out though - to the grocery store to get fresh produce for dinners this week - and mommy's morning super juice...diet rockstar.  well, i am you know....

and we did just that...but there is the bakery right next to the produce department - like who ever thought THAT was a good idea???  the smell of fresh rolls did me in...i am a sucker for a freshly baked onion roll...and that was the end of that.  next thing i know,  my son and i were getting a nice selection of fresh rolls (my husband will certainly appreciate this delicacy for his lunches this week)...then to the deli for real sliced roasted turkey breast, not the processed cold cuts...ok, this is in the right direction - deli meats are fresh and lower in sodium than processed...wohooooo.  yeah, i know, all the fitness minded folks just threw up their arms in utter disgust and shame for me.   like us all, they will get over it...momma wants a sandwich!!!!

i remembered that i had a ripe avocado at home, along with a jar of fire roasted red peppers....my sandwich dream is all coming together...one more thing to pick up - honey mustard.  already have mayo with olive oil at home...so i think that will do it.

we arrived at home and i hastily made my son's lunch as my sandwich craving was starting to rear its ugly head.  ok - the boy is eating.  time to make my some-what healthy creation...here goes:

onion roll - of course!!
one side of roll with olive oil mayo and honey mustard spread
one side of roll with fresh mashed avocado
the filling:
fire roasted red peppers
half slice of colby-jack cheese (or as my kids call it - spotty cheese)
butterball roasted turkey breast (thin sliced - about 3 slices)

i think i inhaled it before my son was done with his lunch...lol  it was outstanding and let me tell you it could have been much, much worse....the sheer amount of bad things i could have added to my sandwich...oh, the possibilities....like bacon, yeah bacon, that totally would have put that sandwich over the top...and more cheese!!!

so, i did it - probably blew most of my calorie count today - but i do have my bootycamp class tonight...i have certainly earned the need for intense work-out.  nope, do not feel guilty - totally satisfied and totally happy with keeping it within a range of some-what healthy items.

glad i did not go to JJ's, as i really would have been feeling the guilt and very full as the sandwich is probably 800 calories...

oh well - all in the day of trying to lose weight.....

ditch the scale????

scale vs.  measuring tape.....

if you read my last post, i was quite frustrated by a recent weight gain.  so, i kept my focus that week and when it came time for my weekly weight in, the three pounds i gained the week before were gone.  so back to the same weight - been the same for quite some time.  so irritating - i mean you work so hard and the scale totally lets you down...or does it???

my weekly weigh in was also my monthly measurement tracking day.  tada.....i had lost another half inch off both my hips and thighs.  so, how could that be - weight going up and down yet stays in the same range - but i have lost inches...clothes fit better....hmmmmmm

so, had to ask myself, why do i weigh myself each week?  being a loyal WW follower - that is what you do, in fact your online page on your weigh day will remind you it is time to get on the scale.  so, it truly is habit.  because of high cost, i did not do WW this time, but sparkpeople...and sparkpeople does not have a reminder about weighing yourself - yes, you can track it - but it is not a large part of your plan.  i am starting to understand why...

read a great article this morning and it really helped put things in perspective.

http://exercise.about.com/od/weightloss/a/losinginches.htm

totally explains that you can lose inches and yet maintain the same weight as you burn fat and develop lean muscle.  i will take lost inches over weight loss any day....glad i looked into this.

yes, i still have some snacking issues - and i am really working hard on that.  but i am relieved and happy to understand whatever i am doing is the right direction and in time the weight will come off...fearing the scale is not a healthy emotion at any time.  will i totally ditch it?  nah....just keep a better perspective of the numbers.    i will change my weigh in to my monthly measurement day...that way i can just concentrate on eating right and exercise.

well, that is enough of a health lesson for today.....

what happened to me???

there was a time for me when eating healthy, keeping active and eating the bad stuff in moderation was my normal course of life.  if i did gain a few extra pounds, it was pretty easy to get rid of them.  my focus was spot on and i knew my body and how to take care of it....


that said, here i am soon to be 45 years old and a healthy lifestyle for myself is challenging and hard.  yet, it makes no sense why...i mean, my kids eat very healthy.  there are no juice boxes and crap snacks in our home.  one of my daughter's favorite snacks is raw carrots - and my son could live on unsweetened applesauce 24 hours a day.  they have never eaten white bread, white pasta, or drink soda, kool-aid, etc...they are active and encourage to participate in physical activity all the time....


back to all things in moderation...yes, there are "fun" snacks in the house like oreos, m&m's, etc....my kids totally understand they are treats and not something they expect to get on a daily basis or whenever they want.  candy is an extremely controlled commodity in the dillner house.


again - my kids get it - but how did i become the person i swore i would never???  i am a snacker and easily find my way into the "fun" snacks and consumer more than i should. i never was a fan of oreo's, still do not like them, but they sure can find the way into my mouth...just because i am hungry and they fill a quick need.  how stupid does that sound???  very stupid.

i have been on a quest to lose the remaining baby weight from my son- he will be two on may 22nd.  i also have some left over pounds from a time when i was on a high dosage of prednisone (what i call medicine weight) and then the weight gain from pre & post spinal fusion.  i have lost about half of all of this weight gain combined and at this point, i need to lose 15 pounds to be happy and able to start wearing the closet full of clothes i own.  20 pounds would be even more awesome, but all in time.


the recovery from my back surgery is coming along nicely and it just gets stronger every day.  i recently joined a "bootycamp" class once a week to get moving, as well as do a run/walk program on my treadmill three times a week while my son naps.


the good news is that since i started my initiative in february i have lost another 8 pounds which includes 1 inch off my upper arms, one inch off my hips and one inch off my thighs.  sounds awesome, right???  i was pretty happy, until i stepped on the scale this morning and gained 3 pounds back!!!!!!  next week is my monthly-measurement check and i am dreading seeing the results....


frustrating - yes!!!  but, who do i blame...myself!!!  i do a lot of hard work in terms of exercise...completed a 100 day challenge of no fast food and even gave up sweets for lent...yet - i snack.  even if it was not sweets (since i gave it up for lent) - it would be crackers, cheese, chips, pretzels, etc....  some how, keeping that balance of a diet to eat to lose and eat to keep healthy falls short when my cravings are at a high.  not to mention, i love to have a glass or two of wine before bed.  just to wind down from long, crazy days that come with being a SAHM of two young children.


i am human and have become weak.  not the person i once was.  


yes, the weight gain is a set-back, but a reality check of how my actions and bad eating habits are still at large.  i will try again and hopefully get back to being the healthy person i once was....all in time...one step at a time....i can do this....

have you had a green monster today???

stumbled upon a green monster while visiting one of my fave sites, skinnytaste.com

it has quickly replaced my breakfast and is now my "go-to" every morning. yes, it is a green smoothie with the primary ingredient being spinach and well, looks and sounds pretty gross! however, green is my fave color and i LOVE spinach, so i thought i would give it a try - as i had all the ingredients on hand.

it was AWESOME - all i tasted was banana and peanut butter - nothing wrong with that. not to mention all the fiber, vitamins and minerals you are getting!! what are you waiting for - give it a try...it is filling and so good for you - provides lots of energy too!!!

green monster (add to blender in the following order - a must to mix evenly)

6-8oz skim milk (i use 8)

1TB ground flax seed

2TB PB2 (love, love, love this stuff)

2 heaping handfuls of baby spinach

4-6oz plain non-fat greek yogurt (depends how much i have left in the container...lol )

1 sliced banana

MIX and enjoy!!!!

would love to hear what you think about it - whether you already had your green monster for the day or just tried it for the first time. there are so many other healthy add-ons to the green monster...cannot wait to try them all, but for now - sticking with the original.

FINALLY, I am back!!!

been meaning to get back to this blog - but time just flies when you are having so much fun!!!

anyhoo - for those that know, i am just shy of 8 months post op from having a spinal fusion to my L5S1 disc. at 6 months post op, my surgeon gave me the "green" light to resume my normal exercise routine, with caution, of course. the last thing we want to do is upset everything i have work so hard on during recovery.

so, here i am, with a lovely 20-25 pounds to lose both from baby jack weight and pre/post surgery. also on a serious budget, so have to find ways to lose weight without spending a lot. since WW online increased their monthly fee (~$20 per month), they are OUT and now sparkspeople online is IN...since they are FREE. i must admit, i did not think i would like it since i am so used to WW, but i really like it a lot and may i say, even better than WW!!! you can track your food, fitness, goals, etc...

next - cannot afford a gym - so my gym is my basement and living room. i have a treadmill, so i spent a mere $2.99 for the couch to 5K app on my phone and do that three times a week. i made the large investment of $75 for a six-week bootycamp class. best $75 i have spent...seriously kicks my azzzzzz and i am jump starting my weight loss while building some serious lean muscle...in the long run, still saving bunches with only spending on this class.

to help with my evil habits - i gave up all sweets for lent. in january, i committed to 100 days of no fast food!

i have learned to never use the scale as a guide, just a tool...how do you feel and how do your clothes fit??? i have more energy these days and my clothes are fitting better!!! my goal is to be back in gear by the end of may...or close to it for my son's second birthday.

i have an entire closet of fabulous clothes that i want to get back into and end my days of being a shlumpadinka!!!

stay tuned - another goal is to keep this blog up once a week - with lots of tips and tricks i am learning.