Regret

Morning friends!!

How you doin'? I'm doin' fiiiiiiiine. Thanks for askin'.

Isn't this summer just flyin by?! I can't believe it's almost July?! wtf?!

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I lived most of Monday, Tuesday with REGRET.
REGRETting a few drinks I had.

REGRETting some of the food I had.

and we all know, NOTHING is worse than REGRETTING the poor choices we made! that ish can linger, and linger and linger... thankfully, today I am putting it behind. nothing like a weigh-in to start a new week, new feelings, new determination.

This weeks weight loss gain: 1 lb. for a total loss of 5 lbs. in 4 weeks! Not bad considering I'm still not counting calories...

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One of my major issues with food is, Me + friend + food = eat too much.

I view it as a celebration, as a lets go balls to the wall, and even though I didn't do that this weekend.

I still had a few glasses of red wine ( I don't like red wine!)
Ate too much baguette because the hostess underestimated the time for the lasagna (it happens!)
Had a botana although I had planned on eating a salad (the iceburg looked blah!)
Had a Mike's Hard Lemonade (because I was too lazy to walk down to the bar for a real margarita)

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Sometimes it's good to have events like these... they help you realize what you need to work on and help re-focus you on what's important!

Any recent diet revelations anyone's made?

Committed

Happy Monday ya'll!!!

Hope you guys are starting the week of great.. I'm feeling a tad hungover from the weekend.

Let's say I have several food and drink regrets and am feeling somewhat meh about them. Mainly because I have this heaviness in my stomach weighing me down. C'est la vie!

I had lunch last week with a gf. An action I'm making a conscious effort to do weekly as I love being surrounded by women who empower me, make me laugh and overall get me.

We started talking about how good life has been, how us and those close to are finally beginning to do things/achieve things they thought they couldn't do and she nailed it on the head when she said.

"I finally committed to it [her new career]. I didn't waffle, mention what I used to be or do, or what should have been. I owned up to my title."

And I realized that's what I've been doing too. I'm owning up to the fact that I want to work for GOTR (regardless of the fact that I make roughly 1/3 of what I used to make!), that I enjoy coaching adults to running a 5K (and hopefully more soon!) and that at 29, I am returning to school to become an RD.

Truth is, I beam when I start talking about Girls on the Run, and having coached my ladies to their first 5k. I can't remember the last time I've ever felt so alive. Invigorated.

How many people can show the same enthusiasm that I have when they talk about their job?

So..maybe that's all that it takes to have things fall beautifully together: Commitment.

How often do we waffle with what should be? Could have been? Is?

I ask you guys to start this week committing to something that is important to you, not your bf, gf, wife, husband, mother, father but YOU! and see all the amazingness that can be..

I promise... you'll be rewarded with it too!

Sangria

I had meant to post this recipe last weekend for Father's Day but between my great news and the yard sale... it escaped me.

Ingredients:

1 bottle red wine - preferably a Spanish rioja

2 oranges

2 lemons

1/4 c. Cointreau

1/4 c. brandy

1 - 2 c. seltzer

Combine all the ingredients except the seltzer, and let chill overnight.

Shortly before serving, add 1 c. seltzer

Have a favorite sangria recipe?

Have you tried white sangria? I haven't but would be open to it!

Plans for the weekend? Super busy here, between a dinner date tonight and then the Tigers game tomorrow. Oh, and lets hope this weather gets better.. it's been gloomy and rainy for days now!

Have a great weekend!

What a novel concept, she (Jordin Sparks) lost weight eating less and exercising. - meine Mutti

This week has been fierce lady and gents.

I feel like it's in direct correlation with all the other wonderful things going on in my life. I am the artiste and I'm sculpting everything around me!

I lost 3.5 lbs this week bringing my total lost to 5.5 lbs. Shocking actually. 

I've been keeping up with the things outlined last week  and changed 2 things this week

1. I've recently been drinking at least 4 liters of water daily. I dunno, I've been thirsty and felt like the 2 - 3 liters just weren't enough to keep me hydrated.
2. I had a cheat day from Saturday night - Sunday night. I didn't regret one single bite of it and genuinely enjoyed it! Food incl:
1. 2 glasses wine
2. nutella pizza
3. brunch
4. ice cream cake
5. frozen lemonade
6. baseball nut - you MUST go try this from Baskin Robbins!
7. half a burger from Fridays

I'm not sure I'll continue the cheat day concept but it worked this week as we had eating out plans for 24 consecutive hours. I had no regret eating any of that because I knew first thing Monday morning, I'd be back to my normal routine.

I'm also working out less than an hour a day. This past  week I had 4 solid workout days, and 1 active day where we walked at least 3-4 miles. Could it be, more is less?

I'm still not counting calories. I don't always expect it to be this way but for now...I'm loving it! Don't get me wrong, I'm still measuring everything out, I'm just not writing it down. We know what we are supposed to eat and if we stick to reasonable portions, the weight should come off.

So that is my 3rd week, and although I am not expecting another amazing weight loss like this next week, I'm ready to start this week off on the right foot!

Each man is the architect of his own fate. - Appius Claudius

Happy Monday blends!!! How are you?

How is it already Monday?! These weekends are just flying by in record speed!

I'm still flying high from awesome news from Thursday... I had meant to spill the beans Friday but I was consumed by the yard sale we had. Gosh... I swear, that is the last one I am participating in... they are so much work! and everyone wants everything for a dollar!

so.... my great news..... I got a job!!!!

I will be the Girls on the Run Coordinator for our local Y!!

Truth is, I've been a tad down for a while now regarding my work situation, and school. Granted I will already be applying for the program next Fall, I just feel like I've waited too long. That I should have done this sooner. I need to stop focusing on woulda, coulda shoulda, it is what it is.

Work wise, I've really been trying to not sell out. Take the easy course and go back into being an admin...really?! I hated it, but we all know money makes the world go round, but I held out. Trying to make something happen with my desire to help others and by a bit of luck and the right opportunity, I did something I'm still in awe about!

I pitched an adult running program to the Director of this particular council. It's not the one I coached this past Spring, they have unfortunately decided that it didn't meet the goals they had intended it for and won't be continuing it into the Fall HENCE why I pitched it to his new Council! I've known the Director since February, I coached a girls team so we weren't complete strangers to another but still, all this and the fact that they have doubled in size in a little over a year led to this very moment.

It never, ever hurts to ask. Remember that... the worst that can happen is they say no and your ego is a tad bruised but imagine the possibilities if they say yes!

As you can see... I'm still ecstatic with the great news.

What's your great news for this fine Monday morning?

Another week, another weight loss

I don't remember the weeks passing so fast the last time I lost weight.... maybe I wasn't trying to do a gazillion other things as well!

It's sort of nice not just stressing about the number. I keep on hoping that perhaps this way, the changes I am making are sticking.

This week was a true testament that I lived life with a side of diet.

I am determined to make it about the scale though this week. Disclaimer: I know I am losing at a healthy rate. It just seems so slow... I have to remind myself that I didn't gain this weight overnight. It took me nearly a year to amass 20 lbs!

With that said, I'm down 1.5 lbs that brings me to 169 with a total loss of 2.5lbs

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After last week's weigh-in, I was a tad down. Yes, I know a pound is great but for it being the first week, I had hoped for something closer to 2 lbs.

I tried to remember what made me so successful the last time and I came up with a few things, but the things I focused on in particular were:

1. Green monster almost daily - I used to drink these for breakfast on my commute into work. Now I try to drink one post workout.
2. Limiting my starchy carbs at dinner - I don't do much in the evening besides sit on my tush. I don't need potatoes or rice as I'm winding down. I do eat starchy carbs for breakfast and lunch!
3. Interval Weight Training - when I first started losing weight, I did no cardio. well, at least not what I would call cardio.. I wasn't allowed to run yet so I lost my weight doing J.M.'s Winning by Losing routine

I've implemented everything from above besides doing Jillian Michael's Winning by Losing, instead I've been doing Turbulence Training again. I love it! It's short and too point.

I'm still not counting calories and although part of me feels like I should, I'm contemplating holding off a tad longer until the scale starts to sputter.

Overall, I think I did great this week! I think it goes to show that I made good choices while eating out which we know is pivotal when it comes to losing weight.

Living healthy requires a stable life, routine, enough sleep, preparation and always shopping in advance. - meine Mutti

Happy Monday Tuesday blends!!

How are you?

I'm...better. I had every intention of blogging yesterday but honestly, I was feeling some residual disappointment from the past weekend.

Don't get me wrong, I had a good weekend and all (ya know, if you discount the 10 grand we just had to sink into our basement!), but on the food front, things were ok.

We ate out every meal from Friday night to Sunday night except for Saturday mornings breakfast.

Part of it was poor planning, part of it was sheer exhaustion from having had to clean out the basement, being on the road, not planning basically but what does it matter?! It's in the past and sometime around midday (right when I had that meeting/interview, me thinks) I made a conscious effort to focus on now, today, this minute and not what was!

I did however eat reduced portions, salads, lighter fare options. I made a conscious effort, but eating out wreaks havoc on diets. PERIOD.

Truth is, since posting my Priorities post, I am determined to shed at least 15 lbs. I need to shed those to feel like I can do both the running coach and Personal Training succesfully!
Question: Would you hire someone who doesn't look up to par?

My desire to be successful at this career currently outweighs my desire to eat certain things.
But, I also realize:

1. My family loves to eat out
2. I will get out voted
3. Eating out will be here stay and I need to figure out how to deal with it

If it were simple, we'd all be thin right?

On that note, onward and downward!

Cube Dog App Review

Thank you to Cube Dog for sponsoring this review. For more information about Cube Dog please visit the Facebook page or download it on iTunes. 

So.. I have to admit I was quite excited when I saw this app.

I mean it totally allowed me to re-live the 90’s yamaguchi pet craze. One I myself was not allowed to partake in…not that I am bitter or anything . ;)

As a heads up: this app is only compatible with iPhone 3GS/4, as well as iTouch 3^rd and 4^th generation

So what does the Cube Dog app allow you to do?

1. It allows you to create your own dog by customizing his nose, eyes, ears, feet body, and head.
      -  Per the App description: there are over 1.3 million customization options, but the majority of those you do have to pay for them.

Murphy - my dog

2.     3-D Graphics and animation

        -  Tap the dog, and he giggles and does trick.

Giggling

A fierce ninja

               - You can take photo's of your pet integrated into your daily life

Murphy sitting on my dining room chair!

I truly think this feature is the neatest of them all!

It totally reminded me of the commercial of the child who puts his favorite monkey into his father's suitcase as he prepares to leave for a trip. The Father finds it once he's at the hotel and starts taking pictures of the monkey doing various things and then sends those pictures to his child back home!

Overall, this is a decent app. 

It's no yamaguchi pet as you don't have to take care of your dog, and given the limited amount of free options, I could see you tiring of it fast, but I could see children having fun with it. Especially of the fact that you can take a picture of your pet anywhere they are.


Here is a short lil' promo video if you want to see more!

With that said, head to the iTune's store to get this free app!
Then head over to their Facebook page as they are doing a fun lil' contest!

Priorities, people!

These past 4 weeks have been crazy.

I've been talking about Freelancing since January but only recently started going after it seriously. Truth is when I pitched this job, I never thought I'd get it. I completely priced myself out of it, only to realize I completely underbid it for the amount of work it actually was!

It was the best and worst experience simultaneously! I mean, it was great because I realized I could do this, ya know, if I wanted too. Heck, the idea of freelancing is a neat idea but I dunno... I'm not 100% behind the idea yet.

Given the fact that it took me 3 extra weeks to complete the job, I really began to beat myself up.

I mean, I'm needed to work on the front landscaping, I wanted to plants flowers, start my veggie garden, focus on my PT certification, losing weight... and I felt like I put my life on hold for 4 weeks!

Ok, ok, I know 4 weeks isn't horribly long but while I was in the midst of translating, I just knew this wasn't it. I was taking  time away from pursuing my passions.

Why? Because I'm too busy proving to other people what I should be doing.

So here is my declaration:
I refuse to do anything just because I think someone else will be happy by it.

I have 3 big goals for this summer:
1) Become Running Coach certified - August
2) Become Personal Trainer certified - August
3) Find a job that involves the first 2 goals - in progress

That's it... I'm tired of living up to others people's expectations etc.

I need to remind myself that, if anything I do, doesn't work towards my 3 goals. I'm obviously doing it because of outside influences.

What have you done today, yesterday, last week because of what others might think of you?

1 Week In

how has it already been a week since I've vowed to change my ways?!

crazy...

if one things different from my last successful bout with weight-loss is that I've got a lot more going on. it seems silly since I'm not working  but I'm just working on a gazillion other things. Life isn't just work and working out

anyways, I'm dealing with some back issues so on the workout front things are meh...
food wise things are ok. I still eat out too much to be truly successful so I'm working on this, this week.

this week...170.5.

Down 1 lb! whooot whooot...

but lets be realistic...it's still early in the game so I need to keep on forging forward!

low calorie iced coffee

hello blends... Happy Friday!!

didn't this week just fly by?!

low-key weekend planned here. besides a trip up to Flint for Nate's cousin graduation, no set plans on the agenda!

I'm gonna run a 5K today to see if I'll be able to race on Sunday.

anyways.... enjoy one of these bad boys this weekend considering it boasts a mere 150 cals per serving, I say go for it!

Ingredients:

Coffee

1/4 c. hazelnut milk

1 tbsp. half-n-half

1 tbsp sugar free hazelnut syrup

1/2 c. Breyers low fat vanilla ice cream

I used a 1-cup Pyrex measuring cup, filled it to the 1/4 c. line with hazelnut milk added the tbsp. of half-n-half and syrup and then capped it off with the coffee (past the 8 oz line). 

The actual coffee was darker than I typically drink but once the ice cream melts, it's perfect! oh, and the amount of coffee can serve 2 -3 actual coffee's.

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In regards to the coffee, I used left over coffee that I chilled. To me, it tasted fine.

Somehow, I stumbled onto some articles about cold brewing coffee for iced coffee, so I gave that method a try. I used a french press, poured 1/2 cup of coffee grounds into the carafe, and added 2 cups of water. Let stand for 12+ hours. I hate admitting this because this may get me flamed, but I didn't notice a difference in taste! If anything it was just convenient that I had a carafe of cold coffee!

Have a favorite ice cream coffee recipe?

Do you cold brew? 

Notice a difference?

Back at it...for real!

It's funny how things change.

I dreaded coming here talking about my weight gain but I've come to realize why should I be ashamed of it?

I'm not thrilled about it and as easy it would be to blame it on this past year's craziness (it has been a doozy), there just comes a point where you have to take responsibility for your actions.

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I've seen numbers I haven't seen in well over a year and you'd think that would be enough to spur me back into shape. It hasn't been.

Clothes that are quite tight and just waiting to illicit comments like...when's the baby due!? Haven't gotten me to change much either.

What has spurred me to change is my.... back. Oh my back... if you've been around long enough you know I have some issues with a weak core, being over-weight, trying to run...yada yada yaaaaa... You can read more about my back issues here...

For a week now I've been walking like a) a duck or as my dad recently pointed out b) I crapped my pants. Hot right? Not so much.

So as of Tuesday, I started caring, again. I need to. I can't run.

I think that's what pains me the most..but my back nor my joints can handle it.

I'm just too heavy!

So, I'm posting my weight and asking you guys to keep me accountable with weekly weigh-ins!

Seriously, hound me! I'll even give out my cell phone number to those who want to pester me if I disappear.

Starting Weight: 171.5