Random thoughts of mine....

Inspiration comes from everywhere.

2012-08-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

This song is very inspiring for me right now....today....best line is the below:

"You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow."

----Katy Perry (lyrics from Firework).

Going through a rough time right now, but I know to pray, mediate, and things will be just fine in the end. Have to be thankful for what I do have and stop focusing on what I "should" have. Have to remember that I shall not want. I am alive, healthy (for the most part), and can get out of bed each day and be thankful for a new day with a clean slate and a chance for a different decision or opportunity. I have to remember that if I want to do something and change my life, I have to just do it and forget about what others think whether that be family or friends.
Just needed a place to vent....I had to put my thoughts down and get them off my chest and out of my head.
I am blessed and I have to remember that daily!!!

Motivation, yes!

2012-07-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

So today I realize it's been WAY too long since I have blogged. I also need to share this blog with my FB Fitness page. Today I made a video because I want to start putting those in here too.

I need to motivate myself (no one else is responsible for doing this). LOL

Creative Foods I made this weekend

2012-04-15T20:24:00.001-07:00

This past Friday I went to the Farmers Market to stock up on my fruit and veggies for the week. I definitely like to do this more in the Spring/Summer as the weather gets warmer. I also like to look for ways to incorporate the ingredients I buy into items that I have stocked in my pantry.

This morning I was feeling really creative with my oatmeal. I stumbled across a bag of whole ground flax seeds as well this past weekend at a wholesale store that I just couldn't pass up and I also added that to my oatmeal along with the fruts from the market.

So here it is!!

Now, what's in here you ask? Well for me, typically, I have associated Oatmeal with winter time and I was looking for a way to "Spring" it up so to speak. I added half a apple diced (Red Delicious brand), 1/4 cup fresh blueberries, 1/4 teaspoon of flax seeds and ground cinnamon ( I use a spice container for the cinnamon and I used about 6 shakes- you can add more/less to your taste).

I generally heat up the oatmeal by itself first with the water (or milk if you desire) for 1min. Then, I add the fruits/cinnamon, put it back in the microwave for another 50 sec, this way the apples, blueberries, and cinnamon blend together, then when it's all done, I mix in the flax seeds last.

This was my first time making this today. It was VERY YUM and I will be making it again!!!

I also made some blueberry muffins today to eat as a mid morning or mid afternoon snack (you can also have these for breakfast on the go) I made them from the Betty Crocker snack pack size and only 120 calories per muffin. I then added some Caramel/Cinnamon sprinkles from Tastefully Simple on top of the batter before baking them. Here they are, fresh out of the oven...can't wait to try them!

Next blog I will show you how simple it is to make a healthy on the go egg sandwich in 5 mins or less, if you can spare 5 mins in the morning, you will avoid the drive thru's/takeout and your waistline will thank you!

Fitness update: Marathon Running Training is going well. I signed up for my first 5k which will be on 5/26/12 at 9am. I am very excited.
My strength on bench presses has gone up 10 pds, I know bench 40 pds in weights plus the bar of 45 pds for a total of 85pds! Yikes! When I started really weight training with my boyfriend Marty, I could only bench the bar itself...I have come a long way.
My timed distance for running is getting better and I am using the app on my phone called Runkeeper to keep a log of it all. They have a website also (www.runkeeper.com). They track cycling, running, walking, etc. Great app to just keep a distance/time log of all those kind of activities. I really like it.
Weight wise, I was maintaining for a while however, with my thyroid I can't eat like I used to be able to and I gained almost 10pds back in 3 weeks. The weight loss site I use had maintaince up around the 2k calorie range and for me, that isn't possible with the thyroid. I ended up gaining some back. I now know that won't work for my body. No worries though, my jeans (size 12) still fit and I am back to my normal calories of @1300-1500 a day and working on getting those 10pds back off.

Motivational Tip of the day:

And did you know? :

Till next time, love yourself and be kind to your body!

Motivational Saying

2012-03-18T19:54:00.002-07:00

Belly Fat tips

2012-03-18T07:51:00.002-07:00

An interesting excerpt today from my Women's Health Magazine:

Easy Ways to Burn More Belly Fat

Changing your body doesn't always mean getting more mileage on your gym membership. Travis Stork, M.D., host of The Doctorson TV, wrote The Lean Belly Prescription as his 911 response: to blast belly fat—stat! His method? Non-exercise aerobic thermogenesis, or "N.E.A.T."

Here are the basics:

Get Outside
People who spent at least 20 minutes a day outdoors felt they had up to 20 percent more physical and mental energy than those who stayed inside thought they did, according to scientists at the University of Rochester.

Clock in Some Cardio
It can be as beneficial as a formal workout, according to a new study in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. Just 20 minutes of playing soccer or dodgeball raised adults' heartbeats to 88 percent of their maximum and burned 160 calories, researchers found.

Ball It Up
"Use a Swiss ball for 20 minutes every hour you sit at your desk," says sports-performance coach Charles Staley, C.S.C.S., author of The Unnatural Athlete. The ball will not only keep you in perpetual motion, but also strengthen your core muscles, alleviating another side effect of too much sitting: back pain.

Get On Your Feet
When you talk on the phone, stand up. You won't think of it as exercise, but it can help you burn as much as 54 calories for every 20-minute conversation. An alteration of as little as 100 calories a day can start you on the road to serious weight loss.

Breakfast Foods to switch up, workouts, and update

2012-03-15T19:04:00.001-07:00

To my friends, family, and any others reading this blog. I promised you I would give you some more tips on healthy eating and living, so here it goes!

Last summer I discovered Oatmeal. I honestly never used to eat the stuff, I am a texture girl when it comes to food so when I found out you could add your own level of water to make it mushy or chunky (which I prefer) I finally gave it a try! I had been reading how healthy it was to get your day going and I was working very hard to avoid the fast food drive thru's in the morning. So we started getting the lower sugar apple and cinnamon oatmeal (Quaker Oats brand). I don't know if you all know this but cinnamon is great for your body and also kick starts your metabolism. We got a bulk size of 40 packets (cost $7.79 a box which lasts us a month plus) still in the Lower Sugar variety from our local wholesale store and it comes with 20 of the Apples & Cinnamon packets and 20 of the Maple Syrup & Brown sugar packets. When I do have the Maple & Brown Sugar brand in the morning I put a half of fresh diced apple slices in with it and also add some Cinnamon from my spice bottle. I keep a spice bottle at my work desk to sprinkle additional Cinnamon on my oatmeal as well as we keep another spice jar of Cinnamon in our pantry at home. You can find the spice cheap at your local grocery store especially if you go with the store brand. Now some knowledge time on Cinnamon!!

Here are some other health benefits of cinnamon:
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol
- cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections
- In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation ofleukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.
- It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
- In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month.
-When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.
- One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.
- Researchers at Kansas State University found that cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.
- It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.
- the combination of calcium and fibre in cinnamon can help to remove bile, which prevents damage to colon, which helps prevent colon cancer.
**(Credit to: Eat this website. There is also a small list of interactions/side effects if you are taking certain medications- so take the time to view this since I don't want anyone to hurt their bodies.
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/side-effects-of-cinnamon.html )

Now onto the other thing I traded/discovered for breakfast last summer. I tried out Turkey Bacon. It was difficult to change from regular bacon at first, but I am used to it now. We also get this at the local wholesale food store after I noticed it was a few dollars more to get 4 packages in one which lasts us alot longer. We freeze the other 3 till we need them and when ready/out, we put the next package in the fridge. The local grocery store wanted @$4.00 for one package when it wasn't on sale and at the wholesale club we get it for about $7 for 4 packs in one which is a better deal and it lasts longer for us. I put up a picture of the one we buy. It's simple to cook when you're in a hurry too. For me in the morning I put two slices on a paper towl and heat it in the microwave for about a minute and a half (they come out crispy- that's my preference). If you want them more mushy then do less time. Figure out what works for you. 2 slices of Turkey bacon are 70 calories with this brand. I also use it on salads and egg sandwiches. I will save my egg sandwiches in under 5 minutes for breakfast for my next blog :) So I munch on these in the morning before I get to work and then eat my oatmeal when I get to work.

Okay, that's all for the food section this time. I will discuss a new lunch item and my breakfast sandwiches in the next blog post

So I want to stop for a minute and put down my stats for myself as to where I am today. I am down 36.8 pds. My sub-goal is 5 pds away ( which is 41.8 pds) . After that I will figure out if I want another 10 pds but I think I will to get to my final goal weight.

I have gotten back to my running training. I had a great time at the park near my home this week. I am trying to work up to running 3 miles so I can do a 5k. It felt great to be outdoors and it is a lot different then running on the treadmill. So I am doing both treadmill and outdoor training now that the weather is getting warmer. I did 2.6 miles in 45 minutes running and walking this week.

Beginning marker and end marker at the park (which the trail is 2.6 miles in total) I was by myself this day, so I wasn't in the picture, but I will have an updated one soon with that when I end a 5k. That's my goal to run one of those and accomplish that challenge!!! I WILL DO IT!!!!

Tonight at the gym I did the 2nd week of the C25K app. If any of you reading this are interested in starting to run I highly recommend it. It is a 9 week program to get you from the couch to running a 5k. You can download it on your Android phone, Ipod, or Iphone.

Leaving you last with some workouts . You might have to google some of these to find out what they mean, but that's okay, I had to as well. These don't take a lot of time and its something you don't need the gym to do, you can do them anywhere! Enjoy and let me know how you liked them, I would love to see comments. Try at least to do 20 mins a day of exercise and if you can do more, do it!

Ending with Motivational Quote:

Inspired and food switches

2012-02-28T18:05:00.000-08:00

I have truly become inspired. It's amazing how you can go through your 20s and 30s not truly knowing what you want to do with your life. I always feel the need to help others. I am doing so much reading on health, nutrition, and workouts in general. Everytime we get to the gym, I try something different, push my body, and the results feel great. Now I am going to take the time to give back to my friends who have been reaching out to me and asking me in this past year what I have learned and done to get healthy.
I made a promise to some of my friends that are just starting their journey to a better way of life that I would provide some insight and encouragement. First thing I want to say is make changes in baby steps, don't shock the body all at once, and in return it will make the transition easier.
First thing I did back in March 2011, I started with the 100 calorie packs, almonds/nuts, and yogurt for my snacks. For lunches, I bought the healthy choice and lean cuisine meals. I started packing my lunch for work pretty much every day. I did allow one day a week to go out and get what I wanted to for lunch. Again, not shocking my body. This worked for me for about 2-4 months. Next I will tell you what I changed for my breakfast last summer that made a difference and fueled my body even more!
My first step last March 2011 in getting healthy workout wise was I started going to Zumba class twice a week. I know it wasn't alot, but for someone who was sedentary at a 8 hour desk job and then coming home and being sedentary it was good for me. It wasn't a complete shock on my body and it was fun at the same time. We had 4 girls from work that were going together so it made it something to look forward to. That would be my suggestion, if you go to a class, find some friends to come along with you! I stayed in the Zumba class mode till about the summer, then I will tell you more in the next blog what I added to my workout routines to kick it up a notch.
Did you know fact of the day? Laughter is the best medicine-- according to many doctors. In fact, a single laugh may boost your immune systems defenses for up to 3 days.

There are several exercises you can do to get started that don't take a lot of time or need a gym. I found a lot of them on Pinterest and wanted to share it with you today. This is for someone who is starting to workout again and just beginning. Try it in the morning if you have the time, it gets your metabolism going for one and two, you don't need a gym to do this so NO Excuses! If you do the workout I put below, let me know if liked it, comment, let me know if it was too hard, easy, or not challenging enough. It's a 20 day workout.

Another thing I wanted to add today is French fries, especially fast food french fries has been something I have avoided for quite a while since I changed my eating habits. I wanted to share with you what we have replaced ours with.

Not this: (greasy french fries)

Try this instead: (sweet potato fries). We love this brand and get it our local BJ's store.

Here is a photo of them not baked (left) and what they look like after they are baked (right). They are soooo good. Give them a try and let me know what you think.

Motivational Quote of the day:

Just a small personal update for me as of Feb 2012: I started running as a goal to up my distance and train. As of last night I am now up to 1.80 miles, that is my farthest distance to date. The scale has moved 2 more pds this week adding for my total loss since last March (2011) of 34.6pds. It has not been easy and it's a daily battle. I am also focusing on how hard I work out at the gym number wise, how much weight I can lift, reps I can, and how far I can push my body. The scale is just a bonus. I enjoy this life, all who are supportive and encourging, and I want to help others who want to learn/get ideas from someone who has been there.

Thank you for reading and if there is anything you want me to add in my next blog, let me know!

Workouts, food, and clothes!

2012-02-02T17:31:00.000-08:00

It has now been 2 weeks since I am back to my work out routine and this week has been great in the gym!! (January was a wash since I was sick for 3 weeks of it with some version of the flu virus along with bronchitis and sinus infections).
First off, I mentioned previously that we were going to switch to a new gym location,we did, and we are loving it there....newer machines, a more spacious layout, and just a nicer looking gym all around. We are still with the same gym company just a different location. It may take us 3 more minutes to get to the gym from where we used to go, but I will do it for the sanity! Now we don't have to wait for weights/cables or the cardio machines....I know I already said it, but SO nice to just walk in and start your workout and not have to stand around due to crowding!!

I have burned more this week then all of the last month combined I think and I love getting back to our hard core stuff. Courtney and I are up'ing our distance for the run we are training for and doing a great job....we are at about 1.25-1.30 miles right now and we will work on increasing our distance over time. We are making progress and running for longer lengths of time each time we get to the treadmill to run. I can't wait for the weather to get nice and days to get longer so we can start running outside. I have to say, It is very nice to have someone next to you on the treadmill, knowing they are after the same goal. It's just a great motivation...we really do cheer each other on.

Onto my other topic, I truly have been loving Pinterest. It has helped me to continue working on my new years resolution of finding 2 new meals a month to add to our routine that is healthy. We typically have the same things and this is adding spice and variety to our lives, plus we enjoy cooking together in the kitchen and trying out new things. In January I made the below dishes and they turned out YUM!

1. Turkey Chili: we used pinto & kidney beans with 2 lbs of Ground turkey, chili seasoning and diced tomatoes...once you brown the ground turkey we just added the other ingredients and let it cook on the stove for one hour...it tasted GREAT and we were able to have left overs for lunches as well!

2. Chicken Quesadillas (made with a twist from a recipe I found)

I used Spinach wraps I found at the grocery store in the bakery aisle. I used grilled chicken, black beans, tomatoes, and light Colby jack cheese and added some light sour cream on the side for dipping. I have a Quesadilla maker so this was very easy for me to do and dinner was not only fast but healthy! I liked that I made a twist on it and used the Spinach wraps which are thinner and not as heavy as typical flour tortillas.

I am still going through my Pinterest healthy recipes board but I really want to try and make this soon!! It is Creamy White Chicken and Artichoke Lasagna. If anyone wants the recipe, here is the link for the site where it is posted.

http://tandriantastytidbits.blogspot.com/2011/11/creamy-white-chicken-and-artichoke.html?showComment=1320724777727#c2360032814037639630

Weight loss update: held steady as of mid week, now just holding off till Saturday morning to see where I will be on my weigh in day. I am kinda nervous to see what my body has been doing and not being able to peek at the scale has been hard. I did however fit into a size 10/12 jeans at the store this past week, that shocked me!! I haven't been a size 12 since after high school which was 20 years ago!!! Now I really have to go out and start getting more clothes one by one. The pants and tops I have are just too loose and look a little silly since I still have the 16s in my closet and only have 2 pair of size 14 jeans. The 16s need to go and I need to get more clothes to replace them. This time last month I got rid of the 18s, amazing how now I need the 16s to go....I need to check out co-signment shops only because I don't want to spend a lot of money since I still haven't yet reached my final goal. So I might check those out soon and see what I can find.

Ending Motivational picture for today:

Motivation & Looking forward

2012-01-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

I found a great motivation on Pinterest last week when I was looking through the website. I shared this with a couple of friends and I have officially decided I need to do this for myself for the 15 pds I want to get to for my first weight loss goal. It's a daily visual and I just think the idea is awesome!

It's called Motivation Marbles and here is a picture of them:

Now, this is just an example from a web blog (credit to HotMessPrincess for her pic) and this is what she wrote on her blog:

There is a marble for every pound I have to lose from my top weight of 381 pounds. That’s 219 marbles, folks. Here’s the Hot Mess twist:

In addition to the regular marbles, there are 11 little pink jewels…one for every set of 10 pounds I lose, since I’m doing this “by the tens”.

And the final stroke of Hot Mess genius: look at the bottom center of the “Pounds to Go” jar. Do you see the large pink jewel? Goal weight. I get happy feet just looking at it.

Of course, I love pink…so hubby’s going to have to deal with these babies in our bathroom. He thought this was pretty cool, though, so I don’t see him objecting. I’m keeping them on the bathroom counter so I can see them every time I step on the scale. And every time I lose a pound…or two…I’ll be able to reach out and play with my marbles. :-)

Again, as I stated I think this idea is awesome and doesn't have to cost much at all. I have seen these marble/rocks in bags at the local Dollar Tree along with glass vases like this. Then all you have to do is by some decals for the words at the local craft store and this is an easy project under $10! I have shared this with a lot of people and I hope it inspires some and they get to do it!

As for other news, I gained a small amount back (@2pds) this week since I have been back on my feet. I think I am probably right now at the weight I should be at this moment in time and that is perfectly fine. I am still at my lowest weight in 6+ years and this is a life changing thing and I am not worried what so ever. I will still eat right, run, do my exercises, etc and my body will adapt and start losing again. It's only been 1 week since I have worked out fully and I have a whole lot of time to lose the weight :) I do want to share a great motivational picture my photographer friend put together for me.

The picture on the left is me prior to starting this journey and and the picture on the right was taken of me last week.

This is something I keep looking at to realize how far I have come and how great I am doing.

Changing the subject, I am proud to say I am training in running and looking forward to doing a 5k with my friend Courtney on May 26th 2012. It will be awesome and something that will be different and a challenge. I am VERY excited!! I have been at the gym working/training on my running this week again since I am back on my feet after being sick for 3 weeks and the highest distance I have so far is 1.83 miles. The marathon will be 3 miles, I am confident I will do well when the time is here.

Ending Motivational picture for today:

Childhood and Last nights workout

2012-01-24T18:26:00.000-08:00

It's been day 2 since I have been feeling better and for that, I am thankful. Very thankful. I was taking for granted what it was like to be well and feeling good. I was starting to think that the past 3 weeks were going to be with me for quite a long time and that was starting to depress me. However, not the case, the sickness, cold, allergies, whatever it was is now gone and I can focus on my health and well-being again... YAY!

I had some random thoughts in my head as I was driving home from work last night. I was starting to think of snacks and what we feed our kids and what we teach them about food. I think it came from the last conversation at work that I had with a co-worker about what we give our kids and how we teach them what is good to eat. I remember when I was little my mom would give me a snack bag of cheetos or a snack pack size of M&M's when she picked me up, however, I ALSO remember how my mom always had fresh apple slices or orange slices for me for an after school snack. My mom did a really good job of keeping me on point with snacks and trying to eat right. She did good with me on moderation for things, I wasn't allowed to pig out and I was a very active child...I danced, played tennis, ran outside, and was always riding a bike up and down the street and around the neighborhood. Also I was skinny growing up, I wasn't an overweight child. I didn't have issues with that till my underactive thyroid which started in my 20s and all the weight I am trying to lose now came on. I was just thinking how processed my meals were though growing up, tacos, spaghetti, pizza, etc. Sometimes we had chicken, beef, etc...but I remember more the eating out or "quick" meals. Again, it didn't affect me so much I love my parents very much, just was thinking about the food we ate growing up and how times have changed and how my mindset has changed so much now. I can't even think about fast food now without thinking of the consequences, amazing how my mind has gone there since starting this journey. Now I enjoy fresh food, natural products, and an occasional treat of eating/dining out and again, it's all in moderation.
Marty and I have talked about if and when we have a kid how we would make sure they are educated properly on food, nutrition, and exercise. We want our child to grow up healthy and strong. In this regard, I have to give some great credit to my sister, she is doing a great job changing their eating habits, educating my niece, and her and my brother in law are cooking and starting to think healthy too.

Now onto last night.....first things first, on May 26th I will be running a 3k with Courtney. She told me about this run her camp that she works at every summer does and I thought that was great, it's something to work for, a goal and non scale achievement in my life. I was never really a runner growing up as a kid (blame the asthma and the military doctors for not listening to my mom that I always had it) even though somehow I got by with playing tennis all four years of high school with no problem and that required running, so I guess somehow I was a runner in a different way. Anyway, I hadn't been to the gym in 3 weeks or done any kind of workout since being sick....well, even before getting there I was nervous...wondering how would my body react, would I get winded, would I be okay?? Well low and behold, I was just fine! I was SHOCKED! I got on the treadmill with Marty on my left on a treadmill to run with me and Courtney on the other treadmill on my right....I started the warm up and walked for 5 mins, then started running, it felt great, I had no desire to slow down and walk till about 9 mins in....I took a min break, slowed down, got some water then ran again and I only took one more minute break and basically ran 98% of the time for 20 mins!! I was so proud of myself. I was going to try the C25K program day 1 week 1, however, I think I need to try week 3 of the program since I have been running before being sick. I ran a distance of 1.83 miles so 2/3rds of the way to the 3k I have to run in May.....very excited! Today, my calf muscles are killing me though, LOL.

Weight and Measurement update: I weighed in last week however, I am going to try very hard to just weighing in one day a week (Saturday mornings). I am down 29.4 pds as of last week. I haven't been at this weight I am at now (in the 160s) in over 6+ years...last time I weighed this was back in 2006...I am very proud of my accomplishment and these last 12 pds to my 1st goal will be a struggle, but I am willing to do what needs to be done. I also need to get back to measuring myself and will do that at the end of this month, going to try and do that on the 15th and 30th of the month going forward.

New Year new challenge!

2012-01-16T16:39:00.000-08:00

I have neglected my blog for a while now....wow, it's been since October of last year that I wrote anything! I need to get back on this.

First thing, I made a new years resolution and it's something I think I can stick to because, well it's fun and easy! First of all I plan each of our meals for the week....lunches and dinners....well in the dinner department its getting to be alot of the same things. So, my new years resolution is at least once a week or two times a month, find a new healthy recipe and make it! Tonight, we tried Turkey Chili for the first time making it ourselves and it was fun! We like to cook together in the kitchen and it turned out great! We are now going to be eating some leftover chili for a while, ha ha. I know what I am going to have for lunch tomorrow, tee hee.

The first picture was us prepping the meat (turkey) and onions cooking them till done...then all you do is all the beans, seasoning (we made from scratch), and the diced tomatoes...stir it all in and let it cook on the stovetop for 1 hour. I made some cornbread to go with this tonight.

My next adventure for next week is going to be Chicken and Artichoke Lasanga! Here is the picture. I can't wait to see how this turns out so STAY tuned :)

On another note, been sick with a cold/allergies/asthma issues so this new year hasn't yet allowed me to get to my exercise routines as much as I would like...actually not at all these past 3 weeks. I haven't worked out since before New Years Eve....it's bothersome, however, I am just currently trying to still eat right and keep my food journal going on Lose it and just trying to maintain and not gain anything...if I gain 1 or 2 here or there, that will be fine, I know in time it will come off...I have the whole rest of the year to get back on track...I have 13 more pds till my first goal of 150 pds...then I will try for my last 10 pds to get to 140 pds. That's my goal for 2012 and I should be able to hit that by summer....at least I hope!

Everything else is going well, also another goal for 2012...save money the best we can, get bargains where we can, plan ahead on things and we are doing good 3 weeks into the year...we are back to getting food at the wholesale store (BJs) where we can get the everyday things we need in bulk and spend less over time. It is really helping us out...plus they have a great organic fruit section for the winter time where other grocery stores seems to be dwindling out on their produce.

So, once I get this cold/allergy issue done, watch out world....2012 is my year! :)

Nutrition

2011-10-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I have blogged. Life has been busy staying active, Zumba, work, the gym, friends/family. I am loving my life.

I have to vent a second and get something off my chest. I have been self studying and reading alot of nutrition books. I am trying to live and eat healthier. Yes, we all have our moments of ice cream, cakes, chips, etc. I have my fair share too however, just not everyday. That's part of life and that's part of living.
However, how do I stop my need to inform others of what I have learned? These "fad" diets that people want to do and think it will be a miracle cure makes me want to yell STOP!!! and to tell them what they are depriving their bodies of and what might happen to their body if they do it....cancer, kidney misfunctions, and the list goes on. I know I don't have a right to say anything, it's not my place, I am not a dietician. Why do I always feel the need to help others!?! It's not my place and none of my business. I guess I just want people to think things through, do the research, eat healthy, grains, fruits, proteins, etc. Stuff that mother nature intended us to eat and not deprive our body of the nutrients it needs to survive.

I didn't know where else to vent this to and I thought, hey, why not my own blog. I am not perfect, this is not directed at anyone. I just have seen too many people go through fad diets, thinking it will work, then give up. Fad Diets don't work over time, exercise, staying active, being conscious of what you're putting in your body does work. This is not about anyone that has an extreme condition or my friends that have gone through extreme measures to lose weight. I love them and never want to hurt them by writing this down. This is about others who think they can cheat their bodies and get fast results. You didn't gain the weight in one year, what makes you think you will lose it in 6 months? I know for me I gained it in 5 years and it will take me a year and a half to get to where I want to be. I am at peace with that. I am trying to eat right, exercise, and stay on the right course. I just want the same for others. Maybe that's why I am reading so much and even thinking about a nutrition education.

My favorite quote is from a book I am reading called Master your Metabolism in my words:

When you put good food, such as apple into your body, the body says, HEY, I know what to do with this. And your body breaks it down and places the food particles where they need to go into your body, as energy, water, etc. When you put processed food into your body, it kinda looks at it and goes, now what the HECK am I supposed to do with this??? So you know what it does, it says, eh I will just store it for later and it stores it to your fat cells. Basically it has no nutritional value.

I have to say that sticks with me everyday, strives me to eat healthy from the ground and from a mother foods. Staying away from the processed as much as I can and the fast food. Yes, again, I am not perfect, I do enjoy dinners out with friends and the occassional treat, but again it's occasional. Okay, I am repeating myself, I just had to vent somewhere.

Please NO ONE take this personally, again, it's about NO ONE, it's just something I had to get off my chest and put down on paper.

*something that shocked me last week at the doctors office from the mouth of a mother---" okay, you were good, we will go to Mcdonalds like I promised" . Really? ??? we need healthier food choices for our kids!!! unless you get a happy meal with a cheeseburger, apple dippers and a milk, then I am good with that :) I read that is the healthiest item on the menu for all ages....interesting huh? Made me think. Just saying.

I know some people are going to take offense to what I am writing but please don't. This is the only place I can write down MY thoughts and MY opinions. Again, that's all it is. I have a right to do that and :)

Alot on my mind

2011-09-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

So I have alot on my mind today. First off, wow the weekend went quick, but the weekend went great. I had a Tastefully Simple party at my place on Saturday and the turnout was great. Twelve people came, that has been the most I have had at one of those shows. It was great to see everyone!

As far as my eating right and health, I am struggling to work out today. I could ride myself to the park and walk, but that's so boring. My bike is in the basement and I wish I could ride it but the tires are flat and I believe they need replaced. yeah......so there's that. I know if I went out running I would die because my allergies are bothering my asthma today. I woke up and my eyes are red and puffy, so took some meds, but just feeling blah. My mind wants to work out but my body has no energy today, so I am dealing with an internal battle.

So I have ran into more bullies (internet wise) and I am proud to say I stood up for myself and didn't take any crap. They never came to me personally, but if they did, I would've stood up for myself. I basically just put it out there that if anyone on the loseit site doesn't truly support my journey, feels I am a failure, wants to talk bad about me to others, then defriend me. I don't need them. I just went through a rough 4 weeks being sick with bronchitis and a chest cold and having to work extra time to cover a co-worker (which I was fine with that didn't bother me) it was the not feeling so well that got to me. I still ate right, still worked out and didn't push myself too hard. I have made some great friends on loseit but one more spout of drama like I just witnesses I think I will move on. I am on there to track my progress, my gains/losses, my food, not to please the world. That's all I have to say about that. I am girl who has learned from her childhood. I am relatively easy going, shy, calm, funny, and mellow, but if you put me in a corner and I feel threatened, I will speak my mind and clear the air. I am moving on from that.

I am also looking into going back to school in the spring, will announce later what my schooling will be for, but still doing some research and have to figure out what schools here will best fit my needs and work schedule. I am looking forward to that.

Not much else going on. I am definitely getting back to working out with Zumba classes. I am hoping that helps with the plateau and what not. Other then that, not much else new. Just sitting here, windows open, enjoying the cool air and the laundry that needs to be done is calling me....so long for now everyone!

Thyroid (underactive) list

2011-09-05T14:40:00.001-07:00

So in doing some research here are the foods I should incorporate in my diet to help maintain my thyroid levels, stay health, energized, and support my immune function to keep my body from fighting itself. Luckily, I have alot of these foods at home already. :) YAY! I was slightly on track. I did learn today that strawberries and peaches aren't something I should be truly eating, or just not everyday, so as of tomorrow, they will not be eaten everyday. I will do them once this week and next to deplete the supply in the house and then I won't be eating them going forward.

Hypothyroid Diet - Nutrition
A diet for hypothyroidism should include whole foods rich in iodine, niacin, riboflavin, zinc, as well as vitamins B6, C, and E. These nutrients naturally support proper thyroid functions as well as overall good health and vitality.

Iodine (Is a major component of thyroid hormone balance and is antimicrobial)

· Cow's milk

· Eggs

· Salmon

· Seaweed

· Tuna

· Yogurt

High Polyphenols (Acts as an anti-fungal)

· Apples

· Blackberries

· Blueberries

· Cooked broccoli (Broccoli in raw form is considered goitrogenic)

· Cooked cabbage (Cabbage in raw form is considered goitrogenic)

· Cantaloupe

· Celery

· Cherries

· Cranberries

· Eggplant

· Extra virgin olive oil

· Grapes

· Green tea

· Legumes

· Onions

· Parsley

· Pears

· Plums

· Raspberries

Niacin (Is required for normal manufacture of thyroid hormone)

· Brown rice

· Chicken

· Lamb

· Pomegranates

· Tuna

· Turkey

Riboflavin (Vitamin b2) (Is essential for normal manufacture of thyroid hormone)

· Avocados

· Clams

· Duck

· Fresh pork

· Lamb

· Milk

· Mushrooms

· Yogurt

Selenium (Helps to convert T-4 to T-3)

· Brazil nuts

· Cod

· Crimini mushrooms

· Eggs

· Garlic

· Halibut

· Salmon

· Shrimp

· Snapper

· Sunflower seeds

· Tuna

· Turkey

Vitamin B6 (Is required for normal manufacture of thyroid hormone)

· Avocados

· Bananas

· Barley

· Bok Choy

· Brown rice

· Chicken

· Chickpeas

· Fresh pork

· Mangoes

· Potatoes

· Salmon

· Sunflower seeds

· Sweet potatoes

· Tuna

· Turkey

Vitamin C (Boosts thyroid gland function)

· Cooked cabbage (Cabbage in raw form is considered goitrogenic)

· Kiwi fruit

· Oranges

· Peppers, bell, red

· Pineapples

· Potatoes

· Tangerines and other mandarins

Vitamin E (Works with zinc and vitamin A to produce thyroid hormone)

· Almonds

· Avocados

· Brazil nuts

· Cooked broccoli (Broccoli in raw form is considered goitrogenic)

· Mangoes

· Peanuts

· Sunflower seeds

Zinc (Boosts thyroid function)

· Beef

· Chicken

· Crab

· Lamb

· Oysters

· Pumpkin seeds

· Sea vegetables (nori, kombu, etc)

· Summer squash

· Turkey

Back on Schedule

2011-09-05T13:03:00.000-07:00

So this is it, summer is over and it's back to fall and staying on track with my exercise. Marty and I talked about it today and this is the work out schedule:

Sundays- Zumba
Monday- off
Tuesday- he will go to the Gym during the day, I will go to Zumba after work
Wed-Zumba
Thursday- Gym with Marty
Friday- open to my own workout, DVD, Park for Running, whatever.
Saturday- gym with Marty

I also will be alternating Sundays and Mondays every week because I would like to get back to Andrew's (one of the instructors at the studio) because he has classes Mon/Thursdays.

I have told Marty since he is studying to be a certified trainer to work with me in the gym on the days we go together.

I know getting back into a routine will be tough since my chest cold and allergies have been slowing me down the last few weeks, but I HAVE to get back to this, I can't slack or make excuses anymore. Not that I have, just telling myself that I have to do it.

Here's a great video and if you are one of my workout friends, I too hope you find this motivational <3

Next week

2011-09-03T17:58:00.000-07:00

So I typically don't write two posts in one night, but this past week has been hard on my body. Because of my chest congestion and allergies (along with having asthma) I haven't had a chance to work out as hard as I have wanted to. Some weight has come back on and that's fine, at least it's not the full 20pds that I lost and I am hoping within a couple of weeks of getting back to Zumba classes, working out, and eating right that the small amount of weight that I gained will come back off.

This is a new DVD I got last week and I think to shock my body and get out of the plateau I have been in since the latter part of the summer I am going to get to this next week.

Jillian is very motivating for me and she pushes me to keep going. I was doing her 30 day Shred and I was doing it for 2 months, however, like I said before I think my body is used to it so I got her Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism DVD. I watched this small clip on Youtube tonight and it got me excited to get back to working out. Sad, but TRUE.

I also miss Zumba, so I watched this video to get psyched up again for classes! This isn't my instructor, but I do her videos at home if I can't get to a class and she asked me via email if I had any song requests. I did ask her for the Jennifer Lopez song On The Floor. She told me to watch for it, she is working on the steps and will upload it as soon as she can. That is SO cool !!!! I can't wait to see it or get back to my instructors here in DE for Zumba. I actually miss it and so does my body. Now that the weather has cooled down I am hoping my asthma won't act up as much. With the humidity we had over the summer in the studio it was getting really bad. I knew I had to wait it out when I spent the last 10 mins of class in the bathroom trying to get my red face (color of a stoplight) cooled down. That made me sad.

Random Poem that just popped into my head

2011-09-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the path isn't always clear,
there are a few weeds that get in our way,
we must chop at them for a while
it slows us down
hinders our plans
wears out our energy.

The light goes dim,
we search for something to light up the path
we look to him, he guides the way,
moves the weeds, shows the paths in different directions.

The choice, dreams, hopes, and happiness returns,
we know what to clearly do,
we smile brighter,
laugh louder,
we finally see the way.

It is from here now our choice,
you no longer have to sit and be repeatable,
you can fulfill your dreams, your hopes, your desires.

It's time to live and dream for what you want
you know you can do it
the risk will be worth the end result
otherwise, what's the point of not pursuing your dream?

(so this was a short poem and the words just poured out. I used to write alot of poetry in my 20s and I feel my creative mind is coming back with this blog. Don't try and guess what the poem is about, just read, appreciate it, and leave it at that.)

Been a while

2011-08-31T18:11:00.000-07:00

So it has been a while since I have written anything. The days have gone by so fast with work and life that I haven't had time to sit down and put my thoughts out on digital paper. Things are going well, just living, working, staying fit, enjoying friends and what life has to offer!

I plan on doing some writing this weekend so stay tuned.....

First Goal and other thoughts....

2011-08-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

So alot has been on my mind lately. First thing is that I have hit the 20.6 pds lost mark on my getting healthy lifestyle. However, as happy as I should be, I have been stuck here for 3-4 weeks, like being on a weight loss roller coaster. I keep going up a few pounds then right back down to the 20 pd mark. I am really wondering if my body will ever let me get more then 20 pounds lost. I know in the overall scheme of things, one month out of a year is not really going to matter when I look back...it will just be a small plateau that I will laugh about when I am sitting here thinking about it next year, or so I hope.

I have to say our eating style has definitely changed, less processed foods and more nuts, fruits, veggies, beans, fish and poultry. Marty is working hard to suppport me. He makes sure I don't get too discouraged like I normally do when I get to this point, get frustrated, and give up. I have been here before 6 years ago. I weighed 165, well right now I am down from 191 to 170.2 and I can't get below 170. I am REALLY trying hard not to get discouraged and give up. I have to remember to keep pushing, keep active, and eat clean. I can have my days of eating bad and it's okay, it's going to happen, I can't let that get me down. I have been putting my lose it website exercise information links up to Facebook to get more support, but lately I feel like that's all my life is and I don't want to bombard my friends with it all....ha ha, they must BE so sick of seeing all that by now. BUT, in turn, hey one of my work friends said I must be rubbing off on her because she had packed fruit and healthy things for snacks LOL.....I just giggled, I would love to think I did rub off on her!!

So, I will keep plugging along, I know this seems like a rant above, but it's really not, just a small bump in the road and with my thyroid being slow (I am hypothyroid) it's a constant battle for me and I know it will be harder to lose then someone who doesn't have this issue to deal with. I get my numbers checked with my doctor sometime this month. Will be interesting to see if the numbers change since we haven't checked them since I lost the 20 pds.

Course, this is interesting, here is what 20pds of fat looks like.....puts it all in perspective!!!

Kinda gross!! ewwwwww and wow, hard to believe that is what I was carrying around. Have to say, I feel alot lighter these days....LOL

On another note, alot of people knew I was trying to relocate to Florida with Citi (same company I work for) however, I didn't get the position. At first I was bummed and very sad that my dream/desire didn't come true. However, I am at peace with it now after this week. I realize that things are going great for Marty. He is now working Full time at his job, he was part time before and now he is also studying for his personal training certification. Things are finally looking up for him and to move again without knowing what he could do down in Florida is probably not the best for him at the moment. There is a reason for everything. Plus, there is so much more I want to do in this house over the next couple of years, repair wise, really it's just to fix up the basement to finish it off and also the sinks in the bathrooms and repair the countertops in the kitchen along with some cabinets. I know that will all take time and I know God has the plan. Again, I am very blessed to have a home and a job in today's economy and market. Things/my desire will happen when it is the right time. Besides, the more I think about it, I like that my family is close by. I just told Marty, hey, we will get there when we retire....no jobs no responsbility, just time to relax and enjoy the weather and the ocean :)

Well that's really all that is going on at the moment......tomorrow is going to be a get together with the family to celebrate my sister's birthday. I am looking forward to it and spending some time with everyone.

Have a fun, safe and happy weekend everyone!!

Feeling good!!!

2011-07-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

I weighed in and I am at 170.4!!! I am 0.4 away from my first goal of 20pds lost. I am sooooo excited. I never thought I would see this day when I started this lifestyle change back in March. Once I hit 170, then my goal is to get to 150.

/dance dance dance!!!!!!

Happy 4th!

2011-07-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July...

To all my friends/family, I hope you have a pleasant, safe, enjoyable holiday!

Marty and I won't be doing much today except relaxing and grilling out burgers later tonight for dinner....yay for summer!!

ah-ha moment

2011-06-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

So, I know everyone has had an "Ah-ha" moment in their lives....well I had one this past weekend. I was going through my old photos on photobucket and came across this picture:

Now this photo was taken about 3 years ago and was the last time I had seen my grandparents and Aunt in Missouri. I couldn't understand when I was out there last month on my vacation and it was just me and my Grandparents in the kitchen one day why my Grandpa kept calling me "skinny minnie".

SOOOOO, this is my "Ah-ha " moment!!!! When I saw this picture I now realize WHY!!!

Here is a current shot of me when I was out there visiting the family last month:

I have to say, I can now see why my Grandpa was saying that....I sure have come a long way and you know what?!? It isn't over yet...I still have a long way to go, but this sure did humble me. It also made me sit back and go ........WOW ....I am really doing this and no more will I look like that first picture...this is more about being thin, this is about changing your life, getting healthy and getting strong.

Monthly Measurements

2011-06-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

I decided to take the time to measure myself since it's been a month since my last measurements, so here they are:

Lower Chest as of 5/13/11 = 34.50, Lower chest today 6/17/11 = 34

Hips as of 5/13/11 =44, Hips as of today 6/17/11 =43

Lower Arm as of 5/13/11 = 8 3/75, Lower Arm as of today 6/17/11 = 7.60

Upper Thigh as of 5/13/11- 25, Upper Thigh as of today 6/17/11 = 22.75

Abs as of 5/13/11 = 34.50, Abs as of today 6/17/11 = 34

Upper Chest as of 5/13/11 = 35, Upper Chest as of today 6/17/11 = 34.50

Upper Arm as of 5/13/11 = 12.25, Upper Arm as of today 6/17/11 = 12

Lower Leg as of 5/13/11 = 14.375, Lower Leg as of today = 14.50 (building those calf muscles I bet with running- so I am okay with this)

YAY for losing more inches!!! As of today I have lost 9.1 inches!

So even though the scale has NOT been my friend this week and keeps going up and down I am happy to see my measurements and know that I am progressing in the right direction! I had Marty hide the scale for me tonight until next Friday night when I weigh in weekly on Saturday morning. I am not going to stress about the small up's and down's and he agreed and hid it. YAY!

Vacation coming to an end....../sad

2011-06-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

It has been a great two weeks of vacation. I got everything accomplished that I set out to do and I am very happy about that. Prior to going to visit family in Missouri I had wanted to get the carpets downstairs steam cleaned and that is all done.

From 5/29/11 to 6/4/11 I went out to visit my Grandparents in Missouri. I also got to see my Aunt Jamie and Cousin Lauren. My whole family was there, Mom, Dad, Sister, Bro in law, and niece River. Having Nancy and Larry there was nice because they love to play card games and it was fun learning new games and spending time with them. I got to do some shopping (Legends Outlets and some other small shops in Lee Summit, MO), go to Jurassic Gardens at Powell Gardens and also spend a day at the very nice Belton Community Center with Pif and work out. I didn't get a chance to see her a second time, that made me sad, but I am sure we will meet up again. The gym she goes to is clean, new, amazing, and yeah, let me just say if we had that gym here I would be there ALL the time. LOVED it. I did not get to a Zumba class these past two weeks and I am missing that. I did some Zumba at home this morning and I am so out of shape for it. I am hoping though that it takes no time at all to get back into the routine. I did gain 2.8 pds (weighing 175.8) while I was away on vacation, but as of this morning I am back to my pre- vacation weight of (weighing 173). My first goal that I set for myself is at 170pds...ALMOST there...next goal will be 150pds.

Here are some pictures from vacation:

Walking up the T-Rex Restaurant at the Legends Outlet

My Sister Nancy, niece River, and Brother in Law Larry outside the T-Rex.

River and I outside T-Rex

T-Rex! My niece absolutely LOVED this place. She is really into Dinosaurs.

Standing in front of the Water Fountain at the Legends

My Cousin Lauren (left) and me (on the right) at Powell Gardens

Dinosaur fun at Powell Gardens...me

Nancy (my sister) having some Dino fun at Powell Gardens

My niece River saying...Raaaawwwwrr!

My Cousin Lauren (left) and Aunt Jamie (right) at Powell Gardens

Nancy, River, Larry at Powell Gardens

Me at Powell Gardens

Me, Dad, Mom, and Lauren at Powell Gardens.

Beautiful Waterfall

Shopping at the Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar place. I got four bottles of stuff from here. Tuscan Herb Olive Oil, Cranberry Pear Olive Oil, Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar, and Basil Balsamic Vinegar. Last night I used the Tuscan Herb with Grilled chicken and all I can say is YUM!

Had to stop here, have seen them on Food Network and yeah, no other place matched their cupcakes...there were SO moist and the best I have EVER had.

So many flavors to choose from! Yummmmy

Statues at Powell Gardens

River starting the Jurassic Journey!

Some pretty Flowers at Powell Gardens

Pretty flower (Powell Gardens)

The sales lady that helped me at the store with sampling.

Store shot

Bottles they fill once you decide what you want after sampling

EVOO and Vinegar store. This store was awesome and unique. I would have to say I enjoyed it and I am glad it's not near by to my house, however, they do ship! Just saying I would be in trouble $ wise if it was close by, ha ha ha.

A picture of my Grandmother and me on the day I left. I got teary eyed and cried before leaving her that morning. I love her and hope she starts feeling better soon.

That was pretty much my first week of vacation. The second week here at home was VERY productive. I didn't do much on Sunday or Monday when I came home, but on Tuesday and Wednesday we got both rooms upstairs that needed work done. The front bedroom is now painted and almost complete. We go on Sunday to pick up the futon for the front computer/study room. This picture is similar to the one we are getting however just the base legs in this picture are different then the one we will have but the top style and color is the same and it's material not leather. Just wanted to share the style with you. Getting it for a great price from someone who is moving.

Also, one of my best friends Kim shared this with me at Pier One and Marty and I like it and will check it out this weekend to add as the piece above the futon.

Now to share with you all the work we have done upstairs:

This is the new paint color in our computer room/guest room. The futon will be going along this wall and a new smaller endtable. The green chair will be going.

View as you come into the room

Bookshelf wall

Upstairs Bathroom complete: new wall color, new shower curtain, and new decor

View as you come in from our Master Bedroom

View looking out into Hallway

New Bathroom clock

New Bathmats

Again, it's been a great two weeks, I am now looking forward to just relaxing and enjoying the summer with all of the major projects done that I wanted to accomplish. We still have some little projects, such as we are going to change out the mirrors in the bathrooms and have already found what we wanted at Walmart from Better Homes and Gardens collection just need to go get them. Also we are going to save money to replace the vanity tops and faucets in each sink upstairs along with adding tile backsplash between the mirrors and the vanity's and then the bathrooms will be complete.

That's all for now....till another time!

Vacation and other things on my mind

2011-05-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

Today was a down day. It was a little rough this morning watching Marty drive away to go visit his family/friends in NC. I have to say, I am better tonight after calls from him most of the day checking in, telling me how much he loves me, and just to see what I have been up to today.

This is our first time being apart since we moved in together in 2009. (The picture to the left was us this past Christmas 2010). It was rough, but we both will be home in a week. He is the one for me, always and forever. I can't wait till I can see him again! He will be picking me up from the airport on Saturday night and I have to say I will be sooo anxious to get off that plane and to see him!!

Tomorrow my Mom, Dad and I fly out to Kansas City, MO. My aunt will be getting us and then we will reconnect with my Grandparents, my sister, bro in law, and my niece. I believe I get to see my cousins as well that week. It's been about 3 years I think since I have seen anyone from out there. It's going to be a mini family reunion for the week. Apparently I have been told it's jam packed with stuff to do. I am also hoping I can keep up with my exercise and get to the gym at least 2-3x that week. We will see what happens, but then again it is vacation and I will be walking around alot and trying to make sure I choose healthy options, but if I can't I won't be hard on myself, I am just going to give it my all when I come back home and back into a routine.

All I can say is that as of Friday morning I am officially down 16 pds...wow...good way to start vacation I guess...lol

I am hoping that everyone has a safe, fun, happy Memorial Day weekend! Whether you are just home relaxing, down at the shore, or grilling out with friends/family. I was watching a news program the other night and I have to say I was surprised when they said that most of the younger generation are not appreciate of Memorial Day and why we celebrate it. I am lucky that I grew up with a father who served in the Air Force and Marty who served in the Army. I never take a moment of either of them for granted and I am very honored and moved by their dedication and commitment while they were both enlisted. Marty had several tours in Iraq from what he told me about and what he had to go through. I thank God every day that he is safe, alive, and well. I also got to hear stories of him going overseas from his Mom when I met her back in Dec and from her point of view how she was constantly worried for and about him. So if you don't think your kids realize what someone who serves for this country does, make sure they are educated on what the military does for us each and EVERY day so that we can live our lives in freedom. A small video below to share:

I can't wait to come back and Marty and I are going to go to the beach for a day to relax....SOOO looking forward to that!

That's all for now...leaving you with our song (Marty and I's)....I smile when I hear this song.

Till next time...

Random thoughts of mine....

Inspiration comes from everywhere.

Motivation, yes!

Creative Foods I made this weekend

So here it is!!

Motivational Saying

Belly Fat tips

Breakfast Foods to switch up, workouts, and update

Inspired and food switches

Workouts, food, and clothes!

Motivation & Looking forward

Childhood and Last nights workout

New Year new challenge!

Nutrition

Alot on my mind

Thyroid (underactive) list

Back on Schedule

Next week

Random Poem that just popped into my head

Been a while

First Goal and other thoughts....

Feeling good!!!

Happy 4th!

*ah-ha moment*

Monthly Measurements

Vacation coming to an end....../sad

Vacation and other things on my mind

ah-ha moment