My Big Fat American Blog

Flu Season - Oh how I hate you

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Flu has been hitting my house, yet again this winter. I think my household has been getting sick every two weeks. Well, my daughter mainly. She was throwing up again this weekend, and I was trying my best to comfort her while praying that I don't get it as well. For one, we leave for Florida come this Wednesday. I've been busy shopping and trying to get our things put together, but it's hard when you have a little pukey one crying for their mom. I did manage to get some things yesterday, mainly for her. I bought her a new pair of Crocs. Her old ones no longer fit her, and I do love Crocs. They are very comfortable, and they work great to wear out in the sand and water. So, I must apologize now if my blog and updates are far and few between for the next couple of weeks, but I will most likely be lying out in the sun, catching some rays.

Anyway, still going at my weight loss goals. I've been getting a lot of compliments about how I look. The problem is that my scale has not changed. After I told my husband that he blatantly says, "I don't give a shit what the scale says. I can see a huge difference." Alrighty...I believe you. It's still hard when you work out 6 days a week to step on it and see no change though. It's very discouraging, and it's a huge reason I try not to even go on the scale. I keep telling myself I'm working out, watching what I'm eating...that's all that matters. I know from Chalene's videos that she even detests to the same thing. She is always talking about not going on the scale too much. She said her body weight should put her above average, but as she says it's a lot of muscle mass too. That's what I keep telling myself. I'm building muscle from all the working out that I've been doing.

I've also been using Shakeology once a day. I love this stuff! It feels me up for majority of the morning. I don't even feel the need to eat a huge snack, which is awesome. I've noticed that my hair is a lot healthier now. I had the problem of my hair falling out after my pregnancy. It was bad...like ten to fifteen strands a day, but it's nowhere near that anymore. I think my body was lacking some sort of nutrient that I'm getting from the shake now. Also, I've noticed after I drink my shake - like I did this morning - when I am sick that I don't feel as bad as I did prior. I'm thinking it's the vitamins that are packed into it. I immediately feel so much better. Right now my head has cleared up a lot as I've seemed to grabbed a head cold or something. Also, working out clears me up too, so never think you shouldn't workout because you're feeling sick. I promise that working out will help push that sickness right out of you!!

Also, Energy and Endurance Pre-Workout Formula. This is amazing stuff as I have a problem sometimes getting my energy up during workouts, and I find I might be a bit sluggish during, but not when I drink this stuff. It gives me a nice boost of energy during my workouts, and I PUSH that much harder during it! I get that from Team Beachbody shop section. You click on Nutrition and Supplements, and it is under the Best Sellers section. Amazing stuff this is! If you need that boost of energy. It's sooo worth trying it!

Raspberry Keytones

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:09:00 +0000

Has anyone heard anything about these Raspberry Keytones? Do they work for weight loss? My friend said they were on a show. I didn't see the show, but I stopped by the health food store. The woman behind the counter says they've sold out each shipment before they even hit the shelves, which had me going "Oh wow...are they working out that well for people?"

So, of course, I asked her to put my name on the waiting list and to call me when the next shipment is in. If that will help with my weight loss endeavors even more that would be great. I guess it can't hurt to try it. If it works I'll let everyone know, that's for certain.

If anyone has some advice or knowledge about raspberry keytones, let me know. Even if it's a review on them. I'd love to know a little more about these supposed miracle weight loss pills.

Girl's Night

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:14:00 +0000

I went to a Girl's Night last night to see my cousin Tina who was on for her birthday. It was nice seeing everyone. It makes you wonder where all the time goes. I enjoyed catching up, and everyone gave me a smile that I left with. I appreciate them inviting me over.

Before I went I made a healthy dish that I got from www.skinnytaste.com. It was baked mozzarella sticks with a marinara sauce. I thought it turned out very good. My daughter said it tasted like pizza to her.

If you are interested, here is the recipe I got from their site:

Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 12 • Serving Size: 2 pieces • Old Points: 1 pts • Points+: 2 pts*
Calories: 86.8* • Fat: 4.8 g • Protein: 7.4 g • Carb: 3.5 g • Fiber: 0.2 g • Sugar: 0.2
Sodium: 168.6

Ingredients:
• 12 sticks part-skim, reduced sodium mozzarella string cheese (Sargento)
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp flour
• 5 tbsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 5 tbsp panko crumbs
• 2 tsp parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• olive oil cooking spray (I used my misto)

Directions:

Cut cheese in half to give you 24 pieces. Place cheese in the freezer until cheese is frozen.

In small bowl, whisk the egg. Place the flour on another small dish. In separate bowl, combine bread crumbs, panko, parmesan cheese and dried parsley.

Dip the frozen sticks in flour, shaking off excess, then into the egg, then coat with the crumbs.

Repeat this process with the remaining cheese placing them on a tray with wax paper. Place cheese back into the freezer until ready to bake (this is a must or they will melt before the crumbs get golden).

When ready to bake preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with oil.

Place frozen cheese sticks on baking sheet. Spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks with a little more oil and bake in the bottom third of your oven until crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn and bake an additional 4 - 5 minutes watching them closely so they don't melt.

Makes 24 pieces.

* There will be extra crumbs and flour after breading, I've deducted them from the nutritional info.

Quick Marinara Sauce

Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 1/2 cup • Old Points: 1 pt • Points+: 1 pt
Calories: 51.5 • Fat: 0.8 • Carbs: 9.0 g • Fiber: 1.1 • Protein: 0.1 g

Ingredients:
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (I like Tuttorosso)
• 1 small bay leaf
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• salt and fresh pepper to taste

Directions:

In a medium pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until golden, being careful not to burn.

Add crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano, and bay leaf. Stir and reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer about 15 - 20 minutes. Remove from heat and add fresh basil.

The only difference with mine to the original recipe is that I substituted a lot of items though to keep it all organic, which was the flour, bread crumbs, cheese. It was all easy to find at my local health food store, but you don't have to do organic. That is purely reference, and I didn't edit the original recipe, so none of that was changed.

I am off to do my morning workout now. Today is Turbo Jam - Cardio Party by Chalene Johnson. :)

Quote of the day: "Don't let other people tell you what you want." – Pat Riley

90 Day Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:19:00 +0000

I've got BIG, EXCITING NEWS! I'm starting a 90 day challenge!! It's like a "Biggest Loser" challenge. It will begin on February 20th! We'll workout, eat clean, and keep each other ON TRACK for 90 days!! Let's get our bodies BEACH-READY! I'm just going to accept 5-6 people in this group because I want it to be a SMALL focus group! Want more details?? Then message me!

Also, as some might see - I have changed the layout of my blog. I thought it was time for a change. I had been using the previous layout for a while now, and I do love changes. I think this is cute and fresh. It makes me feel happy when I see all the beautiful colors first thing in the morning.

Well, I finished my TurboFire regimen. Now I am onto Turbo Jam, which is another Chalene Johnson workout video. She's so bubbly! I can't help sticking with her programs. However, I did buy Rockin' Body, since it was on sale for dirt cheap. I'll do that after my four weeks of Turbo Jam and see how I like Shaun T. I'll make sure to let everyone know.

By the way, totally love my Fitbit!! It's really accurate! I've been using it to gauge my sleep pattern, and sure enough..it catches every single time I wake up.

I've got exactly two more weeks before I head off to Florida! I am super excited. I'm not bathing suit ready yet, but whatever...I've come pretty damn far since September. I figure by this time next year I'll be 10 sizes smaller and fit into a bikini. (I am totally dreaming here. I've never felt comfortable in a bikini. It would be nice to finally feel comfortable enough to wear one though!)

Tropical Strawberry Shakeology

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:35:00 +0000

They've got the new Shakeology flavor out!! I can't wait to order it and give it a try. I've been drinking the chocolate flavor every morning for a few weeks now. I've noticed such a difference in my energy! Also, I've lost almost 7 pounds in total since starting it! If you are serious about making the commitment to get healthy, this is the way to go! It's very high in nutrients and very filling. You'll feel great after just one week of trying it out!

What's Your WHY?

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:46:00 +0000

I got my Fitbit in yesterday. It took some time to really get it going. I had to download a driver from the site, which I didn't know at first. Anyway, it's all squared away now, and it has been tracking all my steps, stairs, calories burned, and my sleep pattern. It's pretty darn cool! I guess my sleep pattern is fairly good. I got a 99% effective sleep pattern when I woke up this morning, so that's good to know.

I used Instagram to post up a picture of my calories burned so far today from my Fitbit, along with my overall weight loss goal. I love Instagram. It's my newest addiction on my iPod. Chalene Johnson was the one that introduced it to me. I didn't even know it existed!

Here's the photos I've put up for Chalene's fitness photo challenge, by the way. I mentioned it to you in my last post. If anyone would like to join in on this 30 day challenge she says to do so at any time.

This is for Day 1 of the challenge. She wanted a photo of you, so at the end of 30 days you can show your before and after, but I decided to show the difference already since I began my TurboFire workout.

This is for Day 2 of the challenge. She wanted a photo of something you ate healthy for lunch. I happened to have a chef salad that day. It was delicious too!

This is for Day 3 of the challenge. She asked for something to show that days workout, so I got a picture of the workout I was doing for that day and took a few fun pictures with it.

This is Day 4 challenge, which she asked to show pounds to lose. As you can see I want to lose 150 pounds in total. I've already accomplished 33 pounds of that, so I have about 120 to go. I'm pretty focused on doing this. I'm hoping I'll lose five more pounds by the end of the month, since we are heading out to Florida for vacation then.

So, I wonder what everyone's reason is for wanting to lose weight. Is it for family? To become healthier? For yourself? So you can run around and play with your little one without getting out of breath? Or maybe it's a health reason? Did your doctor tell you that you are borderline diabetic or something of that nature? Everyone has a reason WHY. What is your reason WHY?

Let me share you my reason WHY. I have quite a few reasons, and these are things that I open up to share with you about. Some of them are something that I don't speak to people about because they are scary, and I find that I pushed them aside in hopes of them just..disappearing.

Here's my WHY list:

1. To be able to play with my daughter without huffing and puffing.
2. To take the weight off of my knees that have spurs in them due to a really bad car accident about ten years ago.
3. To look good in a bathing suit for the first time in a long time.
4. To fight the effects of cancer, diabetes, and many other health troubles that were hitting me. The first one wasn't cancer, but this is one I don't share with people too much. A couple summers back they found a mass on my left breast. It had to be removed, so now one is slightly smaller than the other. It was the scariest thing that happened to me, and it was after it came back as malignant that I broke down and cried over what I was doing to my body. I began investigating eating organic vegetables and cut out meat. I now have brought meat back into my diet, but I don't eat red meat too much.
5. To feel good about myself, and I already am feeling so proud of myself. The accomplishments I have made since September. My weight has dropped 33 pounds. I can get through my workouts almost without stopping at all. Also, I've noticed my knees are starting to hurt a lot less than they used to.
6. To finally get knee surgery. The doctors didn't want to do it until I dropped some of the weight.
7. To teach and show others that with weight loss and exercise that life can be so much better!

That's my WHY. I'm curious to know what your WHY is. Share it with me! Post in comments or send me an email, I don't mind. I like to hear from people and try to help them push towards their fitness goals.

Effectiveness of Energy and Endurance, Also Chalene's Fitness Photo Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:04:00 +0000

I received the Energy and Endurance pre-workout formula from Beachbody a few days ago. Yesterday was the first day I used it. I'm not too fond of the tart flavor, but Chalene Johnson's sister posted up on her Facebook that it tastes better with Crystal Light Lemonade flavor. I'm going to give that a try and see how it goes. I don't plan on giving it up though. It gave me a wonderful boost of energy before my workout, and I don't shake from it. I burned hardcore calories during my workouts yesterday and today. I was sweating buckets, no joke - that's how hard I went. So, yes, E&E is the perfect formula if you need a boost of energy or don't feel your workout needs more strength behind it.

On that note, I have to tell you - it's so, so, so important you don't workout when you are hungry. I thought I'd be fine to get my workout out of the way while dinner was cooking, but during my workout all I could smell was my pork roast slowly cooking in my George Foreman roaster. To say the least, my stomach growled through my whole workout then I felt sick when I finally finished. I think it messed up my energy level too. Well, you live and learn a little. This working out and eating right is a whole new playing field for me, but I haven't given up since September, and I don't plan on doing it anytime soon either.

Also, for those that might be interested, Chalene is having a Fitness Photo Challenge using Instagram. It's a cute and 30 day challenge to post up what she has for each day. For instance, Day 1 would be a picture of yourself that you would post on Facebook or Twitter, and Day 2 would be a picture of something healthy you ate for lunch. It's going to be tons of fun! I encourage all to join to get themselves motivated for 30 days.

Going Without Breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:02:00 +0000

This has to be the worst thing to do...not eat breakfast. Today I have not been feeling so well, but after I dropped off Allison at school I realized that I was very hungry feeling, despite how icky my stomach was feeling. Well, the husband asked me to hit the grocery store after I dropped her off. We haven't gone in a while and stock was getting low. I bought so many snacks that were absolutely unnecessary. After I got home and rested for a bit I realized the errors of my way. I felt like the old me..buying anything and everything because it looked yummy.

Well, they weren't super bad snacks. I got chewy granola bars, so I'll just make sure to toss them into Ally's bag for lunch and snack at school. She likes them. I got donuts too. Gah! My husband will devour those. I'll tell him to take them to work with him.

So, lesson learned - if you are starving get something in your stomach before you browse those grocery aisles. You will more than likely pick up things because you are hungry, which isn't a good thing. If you have to run out the door without something then try grabbing an apple or a banana, something quick and easy to munch on before you step into the grocery store.

While I was standing in line I sparked up a conversation with the cashier because she mentioned that she was starving. I agreed with her and mentioned how I shouldn't be purchasing half of this. Her reply was "Imagine working here when you are hungry." Ouch...that must really suck. It got me thinking. I'm not sure a grocery store would be a good place for me to work, not someone that is trying to be healthy and lose weight.

I did get fruit and gluten free whole grain waffles from the health food section, so I didn't strike out hard, but some of it was still unnecessary purchases.

By the way, those waffles in the health food section are so yummy! If anyone needs a quick fix for the mornings. They have a touch of honey added to them, so you don't even need syrup on them. I like to toss blueberries or strawberries on top of them. They are delicioso! It's exactly what I had when I got home. It only came to a whopping 301 calories, which is great! That's exactly around where I short for in calories when I eat breakfast.

Quote of the day: "The most important things to do in the world are to get something to eat, something to drink, and somebody to love you." – Brendan Behan

I think it should be "The most important things to do in the world are to get something healthy to eat, something to drink, and somebody to love you." Like how I tossed in healthy? ;)

They Fit!!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:01:00 +0000

I was sooo excited this morning!! I slipped on a pair of really comfortable workout pants that I bought back in September. They've been too tight to wear - like so tight that I couldn't get them over my booty. They slipped on with no problem! I couldn't believe it. I was all smiles this morning. :)

I have to say that this is all because of Chalene. She's such a motivating person, and I am not sure I could have pulled through these intense cardio workouts without her. She is truly an inspirational person. Really, if you are interested check out my site and look through the fitness programs that are available. You will find TurboFire, which is my current program or they have programs accustomed for so many different fitness levels. I chose TurboFire because I've always loved kickboxing, and I like to dance, which is a combination of both.

By the way, I'm on my last week of the TurboFire schedule. I can't believe it's been twenty weeks already. I have Turbo Jam and Rockin' Body as well, so I'm going to hop right into one of them. I haven't decided which to do next, but I know both of them are going to be a blast.

Well, here I go - time for my workout. Wish me luck!

Quote of the day: "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." – Winston Churchill

Pistachios - Low in Cholesterol

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:25:00 +0000

I read an article today on this site that made me get really excited! It appears pistachios lower cholesterol and do I love pistachios!

The study revealed that eating a handful or two a day could lower cholesterol. It appears these aren't so bad for you, as long as you eat them in moderation. Do not exceed 1.5 to 3 ounces a day. Then you start to tack on excessive calories and fat.

As stated in the article "Turns out, these little powerhouses are a great source of phytosterols, the natural plant compounds that block absorption of dietary cholesterol. They’re also rich in monounsaturated fat, fiber, and antioxidants — all of which are good for heart health."

That is super news that I had to share. I have always loved pistachios! They are one of my favorite nuts.

Madonna Rocked Superbowl XLVI!!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:28:00 +0000

I have to tell you that Madonna is another inspiration to me! I have always loved her music, her style, and her energy! When that halftime show started my spine actually tingled! I was like "Wow, Madonna went and did it again!" I can't think of a time that she has disappointed me with her shows. Good job, Madonna! You're looking good too!

Great Accomplishments Come with Great Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:49:00 +0000

I had a great weekend! Because of all my hard work and efforts in working out for the last 20 weeks my husband brought me an iPod Touch. Woo! Love you, hubby! He knows I had been wanting one to become more organized and type down what I eat when I'm not at home, so I was super excited when I got it. However, he told my little one it was for both of us, so guess who has been playing with it more? Yup, she's been downloading all sorts of free games. I think before the years over she'll probably assume it is hers.

So, I was making my Shakeology drink this morning and decided to play with the camera on it.

The images aren't the best, but I think it does a good job when you are in a pinch. Also, Ninja is the best thing I could have gotten for Christmas. That blender speeds right through everything. My old blender took like 5 minutes to blend the ice. The Ninja takes like...30 seconds. I love, love, love it! Seriously, if any husband's out there have a wife that uses her blender a lot, I highly recommend this product. Even men that make a lot of shakes and things out of their blenders, if your blender takes forever, check out Ninja. I couldn't be happier with it. I have used it every single day to mix or chop things up. Also, it's dishwasher safe, which is a major bonus in my eyes. I hate doing dishes. My old blender was hard to clean because it was so big, and I had to take so many pieces apart.

Here is the finished product. My thirty seconds of blending brought me about a smooth product and absolutely no ice chunks. I couldn't be happier. I gotta say thanks to my brother-in-law, Robert, for getting me that one. He's always buying us girls in the family awesome presents. He has some maaaajor brownie points.

But, that's not the only thing that's a great gift. It's the sense of self accomplishment! To know I've gone 20 weeks of doing workouts for 6 days a week...that's impressive for me! I have never committed myself to such a long goal, and I don't plan on giving up!

Also, I gotta tell ya...I should have gotten into a bet on the Superbowl game!! I would have definitely won some money! Gardner-White Furniture posted up a Facebook game to whoever got the correct score could win a $500 gift certificate, so I posted up Giants 21 and Patriots 17. Well, I won, but so did two other people. Of course, they drew our names. In the end -- I didn't win. I was so sad over it. I never win anything, and it would be my type of luck to lose in the final drawing. Bah humbug! Oh well, I don't like to complain about that stuff, not even if we always could use a little cash our way. It was still cool to know that I came really close to it, and a huge congrats to the lucky winner.

Turkey Chili Night

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:20:00 +0000

Earlier I put on a crock pot of turkey chili. I love chili, especially out of a crock pot! It's got to be one of my favorite foods. It has protein, fiber, and lots of nutrients in it. I toss in a lot of onion and green peppers into mine. It gives it such a good flavor, though some chili spice packages don't call for those.

Here's the ingredients I use for my chili:

1 lb ground turkey, cooked
1 package of McCormick's Chili Seasoning
1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
1 white onion, finely chopped
1 medium green popper, chopped
6-8 cherry tomatoes, chopped
2 15 oz cans of pinto beans

I toss all those ingredients into the crock pot on low, and I let it simmer for a good 5 or 6 hours. It makes the meat really tender. It's a big hit with my family too.

We all need a little push!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:56:00 +0000

Well, my daughter is sick..poor thing. I think I might be coming down with whatever she has as well, and I didn't feel like working out today. I had to push myself to push the play button. I know everyone knows how that feels! It was tough, but once I got through about ten minutes of my workout I started to feel a whole lot better about forcing myself to workout.

Also, on that note, I'd like to congratulate myself. Monday is my 20th week of TurboFire, which is awesome in my eyes! It's not easy making that commitment to be focused and challenge yourself to this point, but wow...am I proud of myself! I've stopped weighing myself. I did this per Chalene's recommendation. I'm doing this workout for me, to get healthy, and to feel good about myself! I am not going to let a scale control me anymore! I will admit. I was one of those that was obsessed, weighing myself every single day, which isn't good for your or your mental focus.

Also, guys...seriously, check out this deal for Rockin' Body! It's a limited time offer and a great steal! It's such a cheap price for everything that's being offered! I ordered one for myself, and my cousin purchased one as well. This package is typically valued at about $100, and it's a limited time offer! Get it while you can and start working out with me on Beachbody! It's such a great site with awesome tools!! We can beat the trend to obesity together! If you're interested in working with me to battle the bulge you can leave me a comment here or you can contact on my site linked in this post.

On that note, I have an awesome quote of the day to share with everyone!

"Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will." – George Bernard Shaw

Shake it!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:15:00 +0000

I made an awesome shake this morning using Shakeology. It's 1 scoop of Shakeology, 1/2 a banana, and 1/2 cup of strawberries with some ice then about a cup and a half of water. I love it! It packs a wallop of flavor! Also, the Shakeology is so tasty and very filling! I've noticed after drinking it that I have a considerable amount of energy. I'm not talking about the type of energy that makes you feel shaky. This is a natural energy that makes you feel more alive and awake. It's amazing the difference it can make for your mornings! Plus, my workouts have felt it from the little boost of energy. Once I get moving I start off with a bang! No joke!

Something that I would love to add. Beachbody is having a sale on Rockin' Body workout package by Shaun T for only $19.95! It's 75% off! You can't go wrong with that, and it is a very awesome workout program with 4 free gifts!! It's fun and gets the job done! If you are interested click this link or click the Rockin' Body picture. It will lead you to the shopping page. You will find Rockin' Body under the Fitness Programs! Act fast before the sale ends!! I'm not letting the opportunity slip by. I am picking one up for myself!

Quote of the day: "Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing." – William Butler Yeats

Spinach and Cheese Tart Plus Banana PB Shakeology

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

I have a couple of things to share today. One, I made this awesome tart for dinner. It's a spinach and cheese tart. It has awesome flavor. It's another recipe I acquired out of my vegetarian cookbook. However, it wasn't the simplest thing to make. It took probably an hour of prep work. Still, it had a good taste. If you like spinach and cheese, that is, which I do.

However, my husband and daughter didn't care for it. They are picky eaters though, always have been and probably always will. Still, it's always nice to try healthy alternatives. I'm not exactly sure what the calories are on this dish, but I can already assume it's high in calories because of the cheese then the crust had cheese in it as well. Also, a stick of butter. So..yeah..definitely not the healthiest.

If anyone is interested in the recipe you can drop a reply here or message me at andrena28@beachbodycoach.com, and I will be happy to send the recipe to you.

The second thing I have to speak about is I am happy to say that the Shakeology drinks are going fabulously. I love the taste of them. For breakfast I like to add a banana and a tablespoon of peanut butter to the shake. Sometimes I add strawberries to that. It's so good and so filling. Plus, you get all these vitamins and nutrients from it. It's totally worth dropping the daily coffee purchase for this.

Sunday's Are Always Busy

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:23:00 +0000

For breakfast this morning I decided on oatmeal. It was fast and easy. The reason I decided on this was because I was going to church, and I didn't want the meal to take forever to prepare. In it I added a sliced banana, which I covered with oatmeal. I like to put the hot oatmeal over it to warm the banana up. Then I add a teaspoon or two of honey. I used to add tons of sugar to my oatmeal, but I found honey is a healthy alternative to that. If you don't add too much, anyway. I don't like too much honey in it. It tastes like pure honey then. You just want enough to give it a little sweetness.

I haven't decided what I am going to make for lunch, but I promise to post a picture with it. I believe I might make something out of my vegetarian cookbook. It's a meal my daughter picked out. I let her go through my vegetarian cookbook one day and she picked out pictures of things she thought looked good, and she promised to try them all, which is good for me because she's a picky eater. I like it when we find things that she really enjoys.

Also, I will be doing Fire 45 EZ and Abs 10 class today from the TurboFire workout program. I'm going to try and squeeze it in before my daughter's cheerleading game, but if I don't then I plan on doing it after I get back home.

Quote of the day: "Far away in the sunshine are my highest inspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see the beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead." – Louisa May Alcott

What's For Dinner Tonight?

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:40:00 +0000

For dinner tonight I made a pork roast, vegetable medley, and a baked potato. It was all simple. The hardest part was cutting the garlic and peeling the layer of screen away. I find that making slits into the pork roast and putting garlic cloves down into the slits makes it really, really tasty. Then I put it into the oven at a temperature of 350 degrees. It typically only has to cook for a few hours, but I had a large roast, so it took more like 4 to 5 hours. The first hour I let it cook sitting on a rack inside a roast pan, so the drippings fell to the bottom. I didn't cover the meat, until about an hour of cooking. I then placed aluminum foil loosely over the meat. The vegetables were easy as well. I tossed them frozen into a bowl, covered them with a plate then put them into the microwave for about 4 minutes. Voila~ They were steamed to perfection.

It was a really easy meal. It's a favorite in my household. I actually got the idea of putting garlic cloves into my pork roast from my mother-in-law. She's an exceptionally good cook. I go to her whenever I need a good recipe.

I got my workouts in today. I did the HIIT 25 and Sculpt 30, which are TurboFire workouts. They were so intense. I absolutely love them. Not to mention how motivating that Chalene Johnson is. She makes you feel like you can accomplish anything if you just put the positive thought into your head. I believe it. I've done a lot of positive talking to myself lately. It seems to be paying off.

So, the next time you find yourself saying you can't do something take a little breather and change your mindset to a positive thought. Then keep repeating it until it's stuck in your brain. I promise, it works!

The Lunch Menu

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:00 +0000

Today for lunch I went with something simple and didn't require too much time slaving over the oven. I made a fish sandwich. I piled on the lettuce and added only about a teaspoon of tarter sauce, so it wasn't too dry. The bun I used was the whole wheat thin buns by Sara Lee.

Then to have a little more vegetables to the mix I baked sweet potato fries. My daughter doesn't care for them, but I found an interesting combination the last time we went to Red Robin. They had a spicy ketchup that is amazing with sweet potato fries. Of course, I don't know the ingredients to it, so it isn't identical to theirs, but I just tossed some pepper into the ketchup to give it a little spicy kick. It works and adds a little splash of flavor to the fries.

It turned out to be really flavorful. My daughter even loved it, which is saying something. She is a really picky eater.

I'll put up another post a little later of what we had for dinner tonight.

Counting Calories Correctly Makes A Huge Difference

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:01:00 +0000

I'm about to get my groove on and do HIIT 25 and Sculpt 30, which is a TurboFire workout. It's a really intense cardio workout with high intensity, but I don't do the jumps because I have bad knees. Still, I've lost 35 pounds, which is fairly impressive..considering.

I found after reading PUSH by Chalene Johnson, which is the creator of the TurboFire workout, that I was not counting my calories correctly. I was not eating enough, and my body was storing fat to use as energy from the daily workouts I was doing. After I made the correction and adding calories to my meal plan, I am happy to say I lost 4 pounds in 3 days, which to me was amazing! It shows how important it is to figure out your caloric intake with the amount of calories you are burning each day.

Also, avoid alcohol! I had one beer last night, and I felt so tired and woke with a headache. I was, also, very dehydrated, which made me feel icky this morning. Now I don't feel like doing my workout. Although, I am still going to do it. I've forced myself to do it in worse conditions. Like when I got the flu over Christmas. After the the fourth day of feeling weak I decided to push myself and just do it. I felt good after the workout, but wow...it was hard doing it. I didn't feel like I could keep up. My energy had been completely depleted.

So, in conclusion, if you are working out, but not losing anything you should use this formula to check your caloric intake. You might be surprised at what you find.

For a woman:

BMR = 655 + (4.35 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)

For a man:

BMR = 66 + (6.23 x weight in pounds) + (12.7 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in year)

These equations will give your total in caloric intake. REMEMBER, as you lose weight you need to reconfigure the total by redoing these equations. Also, the BMR (basal metabolic rate) is based on a common number. If you feel your BMR is different here then you can get that tested or they have things like the Bodybugg or Fitbit, which is a device you can wear to tell you exactly how many calories you have burned in a workout.

I'd like to add I got all of this wonderful information from Chalene Johnson's book called PUSH. You should really look into it. It's a very good read and very informational!

Quote of the day: "Choices are the hinges of destiny." – Pythagoras

Busy Day

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:25:00 +0000

Today was a good day. I counted every calorie. I worked out for a good hour to TurboFire, along with ten minutes of abs after, and loved every moment of it. I had such a hard sweat going on that it looked like I had hopped into the shower with all my clothing on. It was a great feeling, to get that intense of a workout in.

I had to make it quick though as I had to be at the school in time to pick up the little one and two friends from school. They had a blast today, which is always good. I like it when she has fun. She's so tired right now that she's on the floor with a blanket over her and watching t.v.

I did alright on the diet today. I could have done better. There were a few things I nibbled on that shouldn't have even entered my mouth, but I live and learn. Tomorrow will be a better day.

I’ve recently signed up to be an independent coach for Team Beachbody. They carry workouts like TurboFire, P90X and P90X2, Turbo Jam, and many other workout programs. They have a product called Shakeology. It can be used to replace meals and gives you energy, along with many other positive attributes. You can also create an account to track your workouts or invite buddies to workout with you, there is a section to track progress, as well as setting up goals, and they have a meal planner also. If anyone is interested in hearing about these products or become a member with the site you can message me or check it out here. If you are primarly interested in Shakeology then you can look here.

That's all for me today. It's been a busy one, and I am whipped.

Quote of the day: "Once the 'what' is decided, the 'how' always follows. We must not make the 'how' an excuse for not facing and accepting the 'what.'" – Pearl S. Buck

Breakfast of Champions

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:11:00 +0000

I mentioned a few days ago that I was going to make a dish that I have a lot for breakfast in the mornings. Well, this is it. I got this from the TurboFire workout program. In one of the books that come with the program it has recipes, quite a few recipes that I absolutely love. It's a very light dish, low on calories and has a great taste to it.

The recipe calls for:

1 whole egg plus 2 eggs whites
3 slices (2 oz.) ham (or turkey bacon or turkey sausage), cut in thin strips
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
1 oz. pepper jack cheese (or cheddar, mozzarella, or swiss), shredded
2 scallions chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Nonstick cooking spray

Scramble the eggs in a bowl. Add ham, bell pepper, scallions, and cheese. Add dash each of salt and pepper (if desired). Spritz microwaveable bowl with nonstick cooking spray and pour in egg mixture. Microwave on medium for about 3 minutes. This time can vary though. I had to cook mine for a little over 4.

You can serve 1 slice of whole wheat toast and 1/2 cup of cranberry juice with it as well.

Enjoy!

Nutritional information:

Calories: 395
Protein: 35 g
Carbs: 37 g
Total Fat: 12 g
Fiber: 3.5 g

Quote of the day: "He who cannot change the very fabric of his thought will never be able to change reality." – Anwar al-Sadat

If I can do it, so can you

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:15:00 +0000

Let me tell you that I have always been a very lazy person. I hate to do house chores. I hate to exercise. The only thing during my middle and high school days that kept me active was sports. It was the only thing that was remotely interesting to me. I was very competitive - still am, and I loved the feeling of the crowd cheering for me. As I get older those things aren't there anymore. I don't have a crowd cheering for me to clean the house or cheering for me to finish my workout, but I have started to cheer for myself. I tell myself I can do this and get myself motivated before I step into a workout.

Today I had to do just that thing. I was up at 5 am to do my workout because I knew if I did my workout after I finished work it would either not happen or it would not have much intensity behind it, so I have to do my workout first thing in the morning. It's different for everyone, but this is how I feel and accomplish my daily goals.

It really is all about pumping yourself up and getting the motivation. Let me tell you that I cannot express how important it is to get your head set into the right state of mind before beginning a workout. It's all psychological. If you set yourself up for failure, you will fail. If you set yourself up to win then you will win. I set myself up for failure many, many times. It is why that I had gained so much weight, but now I've lost 30 pounds, and I promise that you can do it too if you set out with a positive attitude.

Beachbody Coach

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:38:00 +0000

I've taken on a new job or what I'm hoping will be a new job. I almost didn't take it because I was worried since I'm still overweight that I will be judged, but then I realized...I'm in it for the long haul just as much as everyone else that is signing up. I've got goals and ambitions that I plan on crushing! So...why not be a coach and hope that others will get inspired enough to join me?

That's why I signed up for the Beachbody Challenge. It's a 90 day challenge that I am going to focus my hardest on and do my best! I've got Shakeology now too, so the wheels have been put into motion. I want to be positive and supportive of others while I'm on this 90 day stretch as well.

If some of you don't know what Shakeology is you can check it out in the link I've provided. It's a shake you drink daily and gives you all the vitamins and nutrients needed. This is great for some of us that hate to eat vegetables!

Focused!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrena Ritter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:53:00 +0000

I am very focused today!

Also, I was really disappointed in something. I was reading through some of Chalene Johnson's books that came with Turbo Fire. After some calculating I was very low in caloric intake, and she says if it's too low that your body stores fat, especially with as much calories being burned during the Turbo Fire workout. So, I know this now. It could also explain why I wasn't losing that much over the course of the last 17 weeks.

Oh well, we live and learn, right? Life would be boring as hell if we were perfect at everything we did! If you are interested in this formula check out Chalene's products by clicking the link above and searching for Turbo Fire, Turbo Jam, and many of her other products there.

Today was my first day working with a new preschool class. I've worked the lunches for them before, so it isn't like I don't know the kids, but it's a new experience working so closely with the teacher and the other aide. I had fun! We had a little trouble with one of the kids, but nothing we all couldn't handle. The parents aren't too happy with the decision from the principal in regards to that student, but it's a private school for a reason - they definitely don't like to deal with bullying, which was happening.

I'm must run - typing this quickly. I am off to work, yet again!

Quote of the day: "I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character." – Theodore Roosevelt