I Need Help, You Want A Prize!!

Ok, so it has been a while since my last post. I have had a lot going on and, honestly, I just didn’t feel like it. But here I am now, off my regimen for over a month now, only up 1 lb though somehow (not complaining too much about that though:)). I was on this super kick for about 3 months, went though a bunch of personal stuff, and now have lost my mojo and am having the hardest time getting back into the game.

Before, I would still have a hard time getting up really early to go to the gym in the morning, but now it is impossible. I just don’t have the motivation anymore.

I had a lot easier time picking up healthier foods before. now I think a pop and a candy bar make a great, quick snack.

I NEED IT BACK! I have lost my healthy mojo and need it get it back. I don’t like living this way, but need help. I need someone to help me by kicking me in the butt and get me moving again!

Now for the part I am sure you were waiting for, the prize part. I am looking for suggestions on how to get back on track mentally! Comment your suggestion below and subscribe to my blog and next Thursday, I will randomly pick a winner for the surprise prize (hint: I still have a bunch of Mary Kay to get rid of;)). But you must comment AND subscribe to win!

Try This Thursday- Taco Soup

Image by professor evil via Flickr

First the bad news, I gained 2 lbs this week. But I am willing to admit I was bad with my food this week. I had pizza and pop and a couple of cookies yesterday. Ate left over spaghetti when I got home at 9:30 last night and have not been watching what I have been eating except noticing have a tendency to graze when I am not paying attention. It is a bad habit I am having a hard time breaking. Especially the pop part too. 

Now for the fun stuff. Here is a recipe my mom had originally found in a book she was reading and we looked it up on some recipe site that had it as a Weight Watchers recipe. I don’t have the nutritional info anymore, but it isn’t bad. the only thing you might watch for is possibly the sodium.

Taco Soup:

4 cans of navy or northern beans

1 can of corn

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can of spiced tomatoes

1 packet of chilli powder

1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing powder (preferably fat-free)

Mix and heat. Viola, all done! Super simple to make and delicious.

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Tags: Common bean, Cooking, Ranch dressing, Recipe, Soups and Stews, Taco soup

Baked Lemon Chicken with Veggies and Mushroom Sauce over Noodles (via poiema.life.)

Here is one you might be interested in! It sounds delisious.

  Made this yummy recipe for dinner last night.  Found the original on allrecipes.com, and modified it with more veggies, less butter, and more spices.  Turned out delicious!! Ingredients: 2 Chicken Breasts teaspoon Olive Oil 1 lemon 2 Tablespoons Butter (I used vegetable oil spread) 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced 1 cup chicken broth (could use vegetable broth to modify for vegetarian) 1 Tablespoon Whole Wheat Flour Broccoli and Cauliflower ( … Read More

via poiema.life.

Try This Thursday-Chicken and Arugala Lasagne!

Ok, first I must start by stating, I did not make my 8 lbs in a week, but I am very proud to announce that I did lose 5 more lbs, 5 more inches and 9% body fat! So that would be a total of 17 lbs, 7 1/2 inches. So I am still improving. Plus, this means I am almost down to the 30s for my BMI, which is fantastic!

Other than my great Aunt Cathy helping me out with workouts, she also gave me this delicious recipe for chicken and arugula lasagna. It makes 8 servings, takes 20 minutes or less of prep time and a cook time of about 50 minutes.

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 lb ground white meat chicken

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

salt, to taste but not too much!

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 garlic clove chopped or you can use the kind in a jar already chopped

1 tablespoon dried basil

2 eggs

2 15-ounce containers part skim ricotta

1/2 cup shredded parmesan

nonstick cooking spray

3 1/2 cups (1 big jar and 1 jr jar) prepared mariana sauce

12 cooked lasagna noodles (but we use the no cook kind)

1 bag baby arugula, steamed and drained

1. Preheat oven to 375. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the ground chicken with the red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken and garlic to the skillet; cook 5 minutes or until chicken is browned. Remove from heat and set aside.

2. Combine basil, eggs, ricotta and parmesan in a large bowl. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

3. Mist a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce over the bottom of the dish. Arrange 4 cooked noodles over the sauce and top with half of the ricotta mixture, half of the chicken mixture and half of the arugala; top with 1 cup marinara. repeat layers, ending with noodles and remaining marinara.

4. Cover and bake 45 minutes. Let lasagna stand 10 minutes.

Nutrition facts per service:

408 calories

33 g protein

33 g carbs

15 g fat (7.5 g saturated)

3 g fiber

Let me just say that this is delicious. I give some credit to my success this week to this dish! It really is a filling dish and super delish with a touch of spice! Let me know what you think of it in my comments section!

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Down 4 More, Can I Do 8 This Week?

So I am down 4 more lbs for this week! YEA! that is a huge moment because I am not only down for a total of 12 (360 lbs now), but my BMI has dropped below 50! I am still at 49.9 and that is still a really high number, but it is still better than what I was at and is going down.

Now why do I need to go down 8 more lbs this week you ask? When I started, my one goal I really wanted to achieve was 10 lbs a month. Well, it is the second month and I am only at 12, so I am wondering if it is possible to safely hit 8 lbs in 1 week? I think it is. I will have to work a little harder this week than normal and actually go to the gym over the weekend, but I have a feeling it is possible. I am also going to have to watch my food too! But it will be a little easier this week. My FANTASTIC Aunt Cathy (who is also my AWESOME trainer) has invited me over to her house on Friday to cook some meals for me and to get some snack baggies ready. So I should have food to get me through and maybe I can hit my goal of 8 lbs. Of course, since I won’t weigh in again until Thursday, and that is technically March, but I will so count it, especially if there is even a slight possibility I make it 10! Go away lbs!

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Tags: Cooking, Diet, Eating, Physical exercise, Pound (mass), Strength training, Weight, Weight loss, Weight training

Need Help From My Fitness Blogging Buddies!

Image by alancleaver_2000 via Flickr

Ok, this post is mostly for my fitness blogger buddies, but if anyone has any healthy suggestions, I am open. I am getting frustrated. I have only lost 8 ponds in almost 8 weeks. I know that in theory, 1 or 2 pounds a week is healthy, but I would like to go for at least 10 lbs a month. I am looking for something to kick-start my metabolism or this whole weight loss deal.

I am lifting weights along with my cardio, so I know I am gaining muscle, but if I could get a few good weeks of some decent pound loss, I would be happy. I mean for crying out loud, I am 364 lbs, I should be shedding the pounds with the way I am working out and eating. I am sticking to my 1700 calorie/day diet and working out 5-6 days a week (30-40 minutes of cardio 6 days and 35-45 minutes of weights 5 days).

I DO NOT want to do the whole pregnancy hormone fad as that is exactly what it sounds like is a fad. Plus, there really can’t be anything healthy about giving yourself a particular hormone and only taking in 500 calories a day. I couldn’t work out, so I would lose muscle mass just doing that, and I worked too hard the last 8 weeks to build the muscle I have to ruin by something ridiculous like that. I am not crazy about the idea of some kind of gluten free, sugar-free whatever diet where I have to spend a bunch of money on “special” foods. I know I am being pretty particular for someone who is begging for help, but I have to set limits to a point.

Tags: Calorie, Health, Muscle, Physical exercise, Pound (mass), Support group, Weight loss

Cardio Boredom

Does anyone else get terribly bored when they are doing their cardio? Right now I am doing treadmill, bike and the occasional rowing machine, and I get incredibly bored! I don’t feel ready to join any classes at this point, especially if I feel like I am going to lose it after only 15 minutes of what I am doing now! I am trying to work my way to an hour of cardio a day, but I am having the hardest time getting there.

I have tried switching it up and doing 15 minutes on one, 10 minutes on another, 20 more minutes elsewhere, but I just can’t do it. We have a Cardio Cinema at my gym and they show a different movie everyday, but even that doesn’t keep it because all I can do is think “I could enjoy this movie a whole lot more if I didn’t have to keep walking!” or “this movie is so bad, why did I come down here?” I do tend to do better upstairs watching the news as I am walking, but again, I get bored and don’t get much longer than 30 minutes and I am thinking “am I done yet?”

I need some help! Anyone have any thoughts or advice? please post them here.

Tags: Heart rate, Physical exercise

The Loss That Equals Gain

I know it has been a while, but I have been slacking in the blogging department. Well this morning I am super excited about my first measurements since I started working out. I have lost 2 pounds since Monday, putting me at 364 (8 lbs total) and down 2 1/2 inches since December 31st! 

With this loss comes a new state of mind. For the last week, all I have been able to think about is how good a 20 ounce Coke would be. Now it still sounds great, but I am determined NOT to have one (at least not yet). I am going to wait until I hit 15 pounds lost and use it as a reward.  I am so excited to be doing this now more than ever! I will be down 3 sizes come Memorial Day weekend, I am determined!

Tags: Health, Weight loss

Been A While

I know it has been a while since my last post, so I will try and post something good tomorrow:)

Not Just Any Gym, But MY Gym!

Image via Wikipedia

I will admit, this morning I was really struggling to get out of bed to go to the gym. I am usually pretty good to go once I get up, but I have an issue with just getting up. Why is it I always find the comfy spot in my bed right as the alarm clock is going off? What timing! Anyways, I was struggling through 30 minutes of cardio this morning (only 30 because I was late), and once I got upstairs to the main weight room, I was feeling much better because I am not only feeling better about working out, but I think I must go to the friendliest gym in the world!

I think the people who  not only work there but also work out there are some of the nicest, friendliest folks around (at least the ones who are there super early to kick the suns butt out of bed). I go to Gold’s Gym in Davenport, Iowa (this is not a paid endorsement as I am getting nothing out of this except getting to brag on my gym) and usually from 6-8 3 or 4 days a week and I see people with smiles, people holding doors for each other, everyone says good morning to everyone and there is always sharing, taking turns and gym courtesies with the weights and machines. I don’t have much to compare it to as I haven’t been to another gym in quite sometime, but I love my gym! 

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