Measurement

Last week was so emotional for me. Every day there seemed to be a road block. I purposely did not blog because I didn't want some heavy self pity book laid open, so I skipped a few days to save you and myself the time. :-)  Though, many good things came from last week and I will share them, just not all at once, each road block proved to remind me what this process is all about and what it really requires.

I have been 100% clean for three weeks now and am really feeling so great. I lost an initial five pounds and would like to drop six or seven more which will get me to my lowest number since eating clean. Though, as I have mentioned before the number on the scale really means nothing...it is simply another measurement for me. I see my best results in the measuring tape. I have literally been 171lbs in size 8's and 175lbs in size 12/14. Now you and I both know that those four pounds did not take me from an 8 to a 14, but what did was my muscle/fat ratio!  Fat takes up A LOT more space than muscle, right!

this is pretty much what was happening to my thighs and tummy as I went from an 8 to a 14. 

So, fact is...5lbs is 5lbs BUT the feeling I have with each of those 5lbs is COMPLETELY different! Completely.  This why I love eating clean and exercising.  I really do feel so much more confident and in control of my life -- even more how I am fueling my body throughout the days, weeks, and for the rest of my (what I want to be long) life.  

It is SOO easy to let the scale rule your life, and I understand how motivating it is to see those number drop...just don't forget about all the other measurements you can use as motivation! When the scale isn't moving check your measurements, I bet you'll find inches lost! Don't forget your fat percentage too!  We have several solid measurements that we can use and when one doesn't reflect our hard work we can count on one of the other ones!! And if you find nothing is budging...switch up the workout (or food)!! 

Which is exactly what I need(ed) to do-switch.it.up! 

1. I am on a mission to keep my diet tight and CLEAN.  I have been tight for 3weeks and feel great and have seen a loss on the scale. I haven't measured myself because I'm a dork, but I feel a huge difference in my tummy.  (I will post my measurements soon!)

• consistency is key and I need to see what true consistency will do for me at this stage. 

2. Switch up the workout! Every night at the gym I run, do the stair-master, and train either lower or upper. That has been it for a while now, prior to the past 3 weeks I was doing the same just not with a tight diet. It's time to shake things up-- I need change!! My muscles need a change. 

• try new things!

I am SO proud of myself! Last Sunday I started a new "Cardio Kickboxing" class... I loved it. I was totally awkward. Arms and legs were flying, booty was jiggling  and I was a hot sweaty mess...it was great. I had muscles in my legs that I have not had hurt in MONTHS no YEARS!! So, that is my new Sunday a.m. workout.  At least for now ;-) 

THEN, today I started a boot camp class. omg. SO wonderful, within ten minutes I had sweat dripping from the tip of my nose! The class was high intensity and fast moving, something I wouldn't do just myself in the gym. To make it even better the fellow women in the class are health-minded and very motivating! I lucked out!! My legs are pretty heavy and I am fatigued and loven it! What a nice break from my same ol' routine. 

this is what i needed.... 

oh and do you remember what I am doing tomorrow.... It's my first day with a trainer!!! EEK!!! I've expressed how I feel about that... :-) Here goes nothing. What do I have to lose? Fat? A little pride? Okay. I can deal with that. 

put your cape on and try something new...you may really surprise yourself! 

xo

In My Cooler

Today in my cooler: 

M1: Egg whites, Steel Cut Oats with Cinnamon! 

M2:  Strawberries, 1/2 Grapefruit w/ Clean Protein Bar (click here for recipe) 

M3: Spicy Chicken w/ Brussel Sprouts 

M4: Cottage Cheese w/ Cinnamon and an Apple 

M5: Chicken, Sweet Potato Fries w/ Green Beans

Picture not available- yet! :-) 

I am so sad that next week is May and I am not 'there' yet! You know I had some really major plans for myself in JANUARY! I am dying to be able to wear a two piece this summer.... I just have to remember every day every bite every workout counts! I didn't gain this weight overnight and I won't loose it overnight. This is a lifestyle--not a quick fix. 

Make it count! 

xo 

*Sorry for the sideways pictures... I don't know what the heck I'm doing wrong but I'll get them right soon enough! :-) 

Life Long Learner-Eat Clean 101

I was eager for the Eat Clean Diet, I thought I could lose weight and maybe learn how to be fit and healthy for the rest of my life. I needed to change my eating habits. As I dug into the pages of my band new book, Eat Clean Diet - Recharge,  I quickly learned what eating clean was really about. Eating Clean is so much more than just loosing weight, I was learning how to nourish and strengthen my body with high-quality foods. Clean foods give us energy, strong nails and hair, teeth and eyes, supports our metabolism, skin and brain. Why wouldn't I want all of this and even more I have two daughters whose bad or good eating habits are based on what I teach them. All of  a sudden the concept of eating clean grew into something much greater for my family and I. I started with small changes in our kitchen and before I knew it the cabinets were cleaned out and restocked with foods that I had confidence in. Shopping became easy..I avoided any foods packaged or boxed,  ingredients that I could not pronounce, and any thing processed and loaded with sugar.  I am still learning options and different substitutes -- this doesn't happen over night -- it's a lifestyle!

I recently learned that one of our favorite packaged 'clean' foods is really not clean at all.  I know, I just said packaged food...I am suppose to stir clear of ALL packaged foods, right?! Well, I felt this one company was a great cleaner cereal option for my girls. I could pronounce all of the ingredients and they take pride in serving organic and clean options. Well, I guess not... 

Sigh... Carcinogens!?! This is one ingredient I can clearly read and one ingredient  I WILL NOT feed my family.  But, it didn't say 'carcinogens' on the label... what other 'cleaner version' packages am I purchasing!?! So, that brings me back to Eating Clean 101...stay away from all packaged or boxed items. 

In the meantime, we still love to eat protein bars, granola bars, etc... So, I thought I'd share this awesome recipe found in the Recharge book. Enjoy-These are excellent bars! Here is a picture of the batch I made tonight! :-) 

xo

Sunday=Meal Prep

Sundays are my days to meal-prep for the week. I can cook a large amount of food  in a short amount of time and have three days worth of M2, M3, and M4 -- and sometimes M5.  Let the crock pot be your friend  -- I try to use it as least once or twice a week. I thought I would share some pics that I quickly snapped to give you some ideas.

Brussel Sprouts cut in half -- drizzle olive oil and stir. 

Chicken breast cubed-Here is the recipe:   Yummy! 

Sweet potatoes cut into fries 

top with olive oil, sea salt and pepper--stir

kepp in large plastic bag or container

bake on 425 for 30 minutes

Mondays Cooler: 

M1: Egg Whites, 1/2c Oatmeal

M2: Strawberries w/ cocoa almonds

M3: Flank Steak w/ green beans

M4: Cucumber, bell peppers with hummus 

M5: Salmon with Asparagus

(sorry for the sideways pic-I can't turn it for some reason)  

Meal-prep can make or break me. I am really rushed in the mornings and don't have time to put together my cooler in the a.m. so, doing this on Sunday saves me stress and I don't have to worry about succumbing to 'dirty' foods during the day.  When my weekends are crazy and I only have a short amount of time to prep I do a quick grab of the basics. I focus, 'Okay, I just need a complex carb with a protein at every meal and I need 5-6 small meals each day.' I can do that--even if  I am only able to prep for one or two days! :-) Don't forget the water baby!! 

I hope you had a great weekend- Monday is a new day, the start of a new week. I have some goals that I am aiming to achieve this week, keeping my diet tight is one of them...that is a very important goal. I can workout all day long, but if my diet is 'dirty' I won't see the results I am looking for. 

Consistency is KEY...KEEP GOING! 

About Today & Menu

Today was a good day. There was no schedule today and those are sometimes the best days.  I worked out, ate clean, cleaned my home, mowed the lawn and even got to read April's Oxygen Mag! I didn't even realize it, but now as I calmly sit and relax, today was a day of balance and connection. I was able to do what I needed and wanted for me--and that feels good.

My day started with:

M1: Egg Whites, Toast w/ Almond Butter

Black Coffee

Then I was off to the gym. Today I wanted to take my time at the gym and knew that I was going to be there for a while, so I knew to bring my snack (M2). I made myself a protein shake and added some 'good greens'.  When I was at the Arnold Sports Expo, we came across the 'good greens' table, sampled and learned about the benefits..thought I'd give it a try and I am so happy I purchased a bottle! I don't always get in my greens and all the vitamins I should, so this is perfect for me! 

After my cardio I drank my protein/good greens shake and ate 1/2 an apple. 

M3: Salad with my fave veggies and avocado. I am super picky with my dressing. I use to only eat Blue Cheese dressing by Maria's at 19grams of fat per tbs. Now I either make my own (I will post recipe in another blog) or use Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressing--SO good!

 I was really impressed and less than 4grams of sugar per serving! Good Stuff. 

M3: 1/2 Grapefruit with a handful of almonds. 

(there were more almonds on this plate prior to me taking the pic) :-) 

M5: Flank Steak, Green beans w/ 1/2c Brown Rice

Drank 160ounces of water

It was a good day! :-) 

xo <3 

What's in the Tummy

What I eat: 

M1: Egg Whites, Whole Wheat Toast, Almond Butter

Black Coffee 

M2: Apple with Almond Butter

M3: Grilled Chicken, 1/2c Brown Rice, Bell Peppers

M4: Strawberries w/ Almonds 

M5: Whole Wheat Wrap, 2.5oz of Tuna, Salsa and Romaine

4-5 of these a day! 120-160 ounces of water a day 

This is a Passion

Work bogs me down, consumes me and rules me just as it should. I care about my job and the work I put into means so much to me-- It is my job, I am fortunate to have it and I love my job.  There are points that have some serious deadlines and requires my full undivided attention. When it's all over I reflect and realize how much I enjoy the rush of the final days until the BIG deadline, though within that reflection I realize I completely throw all my personal fitness goals and beliefs out the window. My mission is to learn how to give my all to work and still stay strong with my passion for a fit-clean lifestyle.  My family is more than supportive and I have that balance down pat--of course there are hiccups along the way-- but we work them out and carry on.  When at work I can't just stop and say 'I need to workout' and leave...that wouldn't bode well to a room full of amazing volunteers! Nor would that make me feel like a strong team member.

My goals include owning a whole new physique, getting within the pages of Oxygen Magazine (I know I know sounds silly-but, hey that's me being real here), and inspiring others to capture the eat-clean lifestyle along the way! Those mentioned goals require A LOT more than just eating clean...they require hard bloodsweattearswork. Got that!?! I can't mess around. People mock or joke with me about my FB post, but this really does mean everything to me-- it consumes me!  All I think about is what to do in the gym, how to push harder, how to saturate myself in this industry and where this hard work can take me.

I have successfully kept 40lbs off for the past two years by maintaining an 'eat-clean' diet. I am tired of maintaining-I have proved that much to myself-I am ready for the next level. So, it's time get these goals in motion... Here is my plan: 

Keep my diet tight and clean- 100%

No alcohol

Leave it all in the gym

Log food and workouts

Stay in touch with my body & emotions

Balance

Enjoy myself

Sleep

Portion control

Try new things

On the note of trying new things.... I have never worked with a personal trainer, to be honest I am WAY afraid. Afraid? Why?...I don't know why. Well, maybe I do a little bit... I feel like working with a trainer leaves you very vulnerable and open to total scrutiny. I am so insecure and HATE being in the spotlight and vulnerable to judgment...you wouldn't think that with my Gemini 'tude, but it's true. SO, to stay true to my 'plan' I have reached out to a trainer, a friend who happens to be a trainer, WHICH IS EVEN WORSE!!! UH! Only my closest friends can judge me and this is me REALLY REALLY pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Sigh. This is part of the process -- getting uncomfortable so I can achieve my passion. GULP! 

I start May 1st with my trainer :-) I will, of course, keep you posted. To add to my discomfort I have joined a boot camp that is scheduled twice a week -- I have no idea what is in-store, but I am up for the challenge! :-) 

Do you have goals, goals that frighten you? Write them down and start achieving them! 

Have a great day.

xo