Saturday, February 28, 2015

Get Your Head in the Game

One day I was chatting with a friend and she said, "weight loss is easy."  I was kind of surprised by that statement because I don't think it's easy at all.  She then said, "it's easy once you make your mind up that your going to do it."  I have to say I agree with her.  For me, weight loss is a mental game.  It's all about constant and consistent actions.
The last several weeks have been busy filled with traveling, job interviews, and company staying from out of town.  I have to admit that although I've been going through the motions to get the points, my head has not been in the game.  It has been easy to fall back into old habits of eating whatever, whenever. 
I'm definitely not where I wanted to be at Week 8 of this challenge.  But moving forward, I am publicly putting this out there that this next month: 


 I'm getting my mental game on!  I plan to lose 10 more pounds before this challenge is over!!!
Who's with me?!

Down hill ride!!!

With SEP's and family visiting it has been a hard couple of weeks for the points.  It has been a interesting ride personally for me so far can't believe we are this far along already!!!  Thanks Stephanie!

Friday, February 27, 2015

Jump higher!!

So I got my Turbo Fire (workout videos) back from my sisters!!! YEAH!!! These videos include HIIT training videos. Which = lots of jumping..... When my five year old is yelling Mom you can JUMP HIGHER than that... I guess that is my inspiration for the week.

JUMP HIGHER!!  RUN FASTER!!!  ENJOY LIFE!!!  a little lighter!
Getting close to my goal weight. I think I'll make it. Being accountable to someone has really made a difference for me. I have been doing strength training along the way but would like to improve that aspect of my workouts.  Molly will you help me?

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Brussels Sprouts

I am a new fan of brussels sprouts. I never had them growing up because my mom always hated them. So when we were invited to dinner at a new friend's house about a month ago and was told dinner was going to be pot roast and brussels sprouts, I was equal parts skeptical and excited to try something new. And oh my goodness, they are SO yummy!!! I asked my friend how she made them and gave it a try myself a couple nights ago. Suffice it to say that brussels sprouts will be a regular addition to dinner from now on.



Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Halve or quarter the brussels and then toss them with a few tablespoons of olive oil and 1/4 tsp of salt. Roast them in the oven for 15-20 minutes until they are browned. Then sprinkle with parmesan cheese and enjoy!

I had a giant plate with a large portion of salmon and about 2 cups of brussels sprouts. I ate until I was stuffed and could not finish. All for about 450 calories. Fish and veggies for the win!!

Cardio and Strength Building

Here is a brief little article about what strength training does to your muscle fibers versus what cardio workouts do.  Of course, your ultimate goal will determine the type of exercise and the eating plan you want to follow.

https://www.yahoo.com/health/is-your-cardio-workout-messing-with-your-muscle-111305684795.html

Week 6 Results and Prize Winner

Nice job on Week 6 everyone!  If you don't see your name here it is because I'm missing a score from you.  Please get it to me this week and I'll add it to the total.  

Week 6 Standings:

1.  Cindy            594
1.  Emma           594
1.  Steve            594
1.  Susan           594
2.  Jenni             593
2.  Ashley           593
3.  Nicole            592
4.  Megan           586
5.  Amy               585
6.  Karen L         584
7.  Patty              582
8.  Dakin             581
9.  Elise              571
10.  Stephanie      565
11.  Karen R.      561
12.  LauriAnn      559
13.  Carrie           552.5
14.  Sydney         551
15.  Lori               529
16.  Clark             477
17.  Molly             465


And the winner of the $10 Amazon gift card is brought to you by The Happiest Place on Earth:

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

So Many Challenges!

This week has been so great. I love having two challenges and ones that I get to pick. There is great power is choice. Keeping track of my personal challenge and the two groups ones has been a little tricky...every morning I have to remind my self what I am doing and what is and is not allowed.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Weigh and Win

A couple of weeks ago I found a program at the library called weigh and win. They have a scale there and take pictures everytime you weigh in. You can get e-mails, or text messages for daily motivation, and there are cash prices! It might worth checking out . . . Go to weighandwin.com for more information and kiosk locations.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Traveling

It's possible to make healthy choices while traveling...but you have to want it more than I have the last week. I've enjoyed this challenge and feel much more fit and trim. Good luck this next week to everyone.

two for the price of one

Two group challenges for the week....this is going to be tough for me. I chose one that I often do without too much effort and the other is one I really have to plan ahead to get it done. I see a theme in the posts today. A few people stuck just out of reach of the 'goal' weight. I am in the same boat! I thought for SURE by now I would have hit a certain scale number. Alas...I have not. I will not give up. I'm going to keep at it. If I get there at all it will be an accomplishment. Even if it takes a few more weeks than planned. Keep up the good work everyone!!! We are awesome!

Good Grief!!!!

Good grief, I was going to be to my ideal weight by next week.  I guess it is going to take me a few extra weeks.  I hope I make it by the end of this challenge.  Good luck everyone and have a great week.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Halfway to healthy?

It was a sobering reminder that our little group initiative is reaching its halfway point.  I'm challenge-oriented and sense a bit of unease when considering leaving this haven, this community of accountability and starting out alone.  I'm unsure of myself.  I have not created this obese beast by abiding by the laws of healthy living. Luckily we have a few more weeks to develop more will-power, more self-discipline, more long-term awareness.

Stuck

Ahhh, I am only a few pounds away from my goal weight but I have hit a wall and I am having a hard time breaking through.  It seems like I am stuck. I get all my exercise points for the week and eat super healthy but I think my body likes the weight it is at. I have not lost any weight for the past 4 weeks. I set my goal weight at the beginning of this challenge and want to get those extra points for every week of the challenge that I maintain that weight! And I am going out of town in a couple of weeks and I know that I could possibly gain weight that week, so I would really like get down to my goal weight before that.  On the positive side, I have felt stronger and more energized with all this exercise! I love the feeling.

Thunder thighs

The weight training must be paying off, when, on Saturday I was reaching down to pick something up and had my hand on my leg and thought (no joke) "what is on my leg that is so hard?" Muscle! It was an inner thigh muscle! Yay! All those squats are doing the job.

power study

As some of you know, I am a full time college student, and due to the fact that I had a big test to study for this week, it was hard to find time to do my daily exercise, especially the strength training. With the help of my beautiful wife, I came up with a solution; workout as I study! After every problem that I finished, or every concept that I mastered, I would do sit ups and push ups in order to attain the weekly goal of adding strength training to my exercise regime. It just proved to me yet again that where there is a will there is a way. Best of luck to everybody!!

Lori mills

I got the opportunity to officiate at th Utah 1A girls basketball state championship games this past week. What a blast! I was able to help all 4 days and I didn't get yelled at to bad. I did stairs while I was there and some other strength training to get my days in. I normally lift weights 3x week so I had to be creative to get my workouts in.

Sydney Mills

We went to Richfield UT. This week for 1A state basketball. It was super fun and I had fun down there watching the girls play. 

Don't Read...It's Just Whining.

This week I've kept on track. I've done what I needed to do with the challenge, but with a bad attitude. Here's the catch....I have kids. This week, when my workout class changed from 6am to 5am (boo!!) I still attended. However, that 4:20am came after kids woke me up at 1am and 3:45am one morning, and then I was woken up at 3am the following early morning before class. This is a rare occasion for my kids to get out of bed, as they usually appreciate their sleep like me. I know I shouldn't complain when I usually do get quality sleep, but seriously, anytime I have to be in bed early, or up early, something strikes. Oh well, enough whining. Have a great week everyone! My class has changed back to 6am so I'm going to have a better one.

Setting up for failure...

Pity Party over here! 
I decided to take my 3 kids on a trip to Missouri.  I planned healthy snacks for the trip...which helped. But then I got to the city...  Let me back up and tell you about where I live...It's in the middle of no-where!!!!  The closest Applebees...3 hours away.  Same with Chili's, Olive Garden and many other restaurants. I did have an easy time saying no to the sweets but gave in to all the endless ready made food at my fingertips!  In the end...I felt like I knew I was going to fail so I just embraced it.  And now I'm wearing it....sigh....
I am really excited for this next week's challenge of 2 goals...I need it!
I just hope I can stay sane...kids are throwing up...and we are making another trip to the city this weekend...Please think happy salad thoughts and send them my way!!!
Have a great week!

A Plug for Strength Training

Currently, I am following 22 clients on a weight loss plan that includes nutrition and exercise.  It's really interesting to watch the work behind the scenes.  I log in to their fitnesspal app and watch what they eat, give suggestions and encouragement.  We based their meals on the amount of exercise they would commit to.

So, in an effort to be helpful to others here are some secrets:
1. Those who log in every thing they eat are more conscious of what they eat.  Duh, right?
2. Keeping carbohydrates at 35% of your meal plan and protein at 40% gives the best results for losing body fat.  You can set these goals right in the app.
3. Those who do more resistance work and only equal amounts or less of cardio, build muscle more quickly and their bodies change!  Metabolism increases as muscle grows.
4. Not everyone loses weight but they all lose body fat which means smaller sizes in your clothing and looking better and stronger!

Every day is a new beginning.  If what you are doing isn't working the way you hope, consider adding 3-4 hours of resistance work each week and boosting your protein intake.  Once you lose the desired body fat you can reduce the protein amount.

Good luck this week.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Move That Body

I've noticed a correlation between not exercising and eating mindlessly.  This week I had a few days that I couldn't exercise because of traveling and other issues, and I definitely ate more junk food on those days.  Maybe when I exercise I have the mindset of not wanting to wipe out all the good of exercise by eating poorly.  Whatever it is, I definitely feel better when I move my body, even if it's only a walk around the subdivision.

Gratitude Attitude

Some weeks are harder than others. Even when you know what changes you body needs...they are hard to prioritize and harder to embrace. 
I found myself this week wishing I had access to a gym. But alas, that is not to be.  I decided to try a snow hike, which was more challenging than I anticipated. I love the silence of the snow...however when going uphill (in -2 degrees), the sweet winter silence is broken by my short gasps for breath...
I forgot how difficult it is to breathe when the air is this cold. I enjoyed the time and the challenge in the stillness of winter. 
I am grateful to be pushed beyond my bounds, and challenged to become better. It always feels good, even when I come up short of the mark. When I wake to another allotment of time to prove myself, I am reminded that I always have another chance to choose change. 
When we struggle, and stumble we often come across strength we didn't know we had.

GRATEFUL

Friday, February 20, 2015

Well...this week....

The worst hours of the day are from about 6-8pm. After doing one and done I felt like I had not eaten any treats in months so this week I went crazy. I do good all day because I am busy but then those few hours of down time every evening it seems like I loose it and eat a bunch of garbage.

Food Logging

I hear ya on the food logging. I am starting to feel the same way about not wanting it "that bad" if I have to log it. I also have a one and a half year old who loves to eat my food (because apparently it doesn't taste the same as his) which is frustrating because I already measured and logged it. Maybe this is how closet eating started!

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Say no to drugs. and orange chicken.

I was at work today and each month we have an employee potluck. In my small college town,  I work with people who are all married with homes, an income, and kitchens. This makes the potlucks include real food and not strictly Oreo's or jello haha

So today they brought Chinese food... and yes they did have my weakness, orange chicken. But as my mother taught me to say no to drugs, Stephanie has taught me to make healthy choices so I said no to the potluck and had my typical salad for lunch. This may seem like a weird thing to post about but it was one of those moments where you think to yourself, "Did I just really say no thank you to that glorious Asian cuisine from Heaven?"

Hope ya'll are feeling the strength training burn this week! Use the motivation to work off the Valentines desserts!

Desserts

So I haven't lost any weight for the past 4 weeks and I was starting to think I had hit a dreaded plateau. I still have 25+ pounds I want to lose so it's not like my body is done losing weight. I was starting to feel a little desperate because I felt I was doing everything right--eating healthy and exercising, trying new foods and workouts--so this week I decided to try something drastic. You know, desperate times and all. This week my personal goal was to not have any sugary treats at all. No ice cream, candy, chocolate, nutella, cupcakes, cookies, cake, even sugary cereals. For me this is a huge deal! I'll usually allow myself a small dessert after the kids go to bed if I've been good all day. But I got on the scale this morning and found that it had moved for the first time in over a month! It's not official, since weigh in day isn't for another 4 days, but I'm cautiously optimistic. Yesterday I was able to withstand the temptation of cupcakes for my daughter's friend's birthday in the morning, and at least 10 cakes at the cub scouts blue and gold banquet. I'm rather proud of myself for lasting this long, even if it's only been a few days.

Hitting my stride

Those first couple weeks are rough getting into a work out routine, but I've finally hit the point where I enjoy it. I love how I feel after and the improvement in my mental health. I think I'm lots easier to be around after a good work out;)
Love the strength training. I had been wanting to do some good arm exercises, but getting to the store to get some weights was not a priority. I really like how these challenges give me that extra shove to get something started and done. Hooray for this challenge and helping me become a better me!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Logging food

I'm starting to get burned out with logging food. I'm starting to choose to not eat at times, just so I don't have to log it. I promise that's not a diagnosable eating disorder.

What "new" healthy choices are you making this week?

Love the challenge

This is one of my favorite challenges.  I do it every week but last time when Steph made this challenge I decided to do this Jillian Micheals DVD No more trouble zone, three times in one week.  It was on Amazon and it disappeared on the third day of the challenge.  I found it again, thanks to youtube, So Game on for me No More Trouble Zone times Three.  Hope I can walk next week.

Almost Half!

We are almost half way through this challenge! I have to admit, I thought I would have lost more weight by now...but I'm not giving up! I too, am glad Valentine's Day is over! My husband is coming home in 10 days and the first few days he is back we will be celebrating his Birthday - so that week will be a tough one for me. I will have to make some serious meal plans and stick to them!! I felt like the One and Done challenge was perfect for me - perfect because it hit me where it hurt! This is definitely a weakness of mine! I decided to make it my personal challenge for this week - but on day one I bombed it!! AH!! Good thing it's only 5 out of 7 days! Today is a new day!!
Thank you Stephanie for all your hard work for this challenge! Good luck on your trip!

Monday, February 16, 2015

Week 5 Results and Prize Winner!

You are all winners in my book this week for surviving the now infamous ONE and DONE!  I know there are still several of you out there I didn't hear from yet this week...so send in your scores when you can and I can add them to the totals when I post the Week 6 standings.  

Week 5 Standings:

1.  Cindy            495
1.  Emma           495
1.  Steve            495
1.  Susan           495
2.  Jenni             494
2.  Ashley          494
3.  Nicole            493
4.  Megan           492
5.  Patty              488
6.  Amy               486
7.  Stephanie      482
8.  Karen R.        478
9.  Joe                 467
10.  LauriAnn      460
11.  Carrie           457.5
12.  Clark              452
13.  Danielle         372
14.  Molly             366
15.  Bryan           296

This week's prize winner won a $10 Target gift card!  Who will it be?

New week, new chance, feeling strong?

I join the chorus of gladness that the one and done, is dun dun dun! Excited for a new week and a new challenge.  It will definitely be different to attempt strength training, with out access to a gym. Goin' it old school I guess. So thankful for this past week and a visit from a few of my most favorite people in the world, my grandchildren and my daughter Megan! She is amazing, as most of you probably know! As poor Megan is dealing (at the other grammas') with a possible child who has contracted flu, I am really feeling some major sympathy for her, and Darren!  I'm hoping it clears up fast and doesn't spread to any others. I can't imagine a 10 hour car ride home with the flu in tow! Uggh. So grateful for health this morning.
Emma has given me an extra kick this morning with an added challenge! I love that! Motivation is definitely a fine line for me...so today, when I really needed it, an extra push from Emma was inspired! So thank you to her!
I enjoy the stories of success and struggle. It helps to know we are not alone in the battle.
I do much better in segmenting my day, and taking each section in stride. I don't always win the whole day, but there are always battles conquered and I am left feeling stronger.
My health has been a battle for 2 weeks or so. Too many aches and fevers. It makes the days I do feel good, so much sweeter!
So health and strength to everyone this week! Lets win some more battles in this race!
Good luck this week to all!