This Week's Meal Plan

So, I've remembered something....I need to make plans for the weekend because when I don't it's like a 24/7 All-You-Can-Eat buffet! Seriously, I'm sure we undo all our hard work from the week with the way we eat on the weekend...but NO MORE! From now on-it's a 7 day schedule coming your way!

Monday-
Breakfast:Veggie omlet, turkey bacon
Snack: Banana, almonds
Lunch: Chef Salad
Snack: apple, fruit & nut bar
Dinner: Grilled Turkey Tenderloin Filets, baked potato, green beans, fresh pineapple

Tuesday-
Breakfast: Kashi Go Lean cereal, skim milk, banana
Snack:Apples & Grapes
Lunch: Chicken Ranch Wrap (made with leftover grilled turkey tenderloins)
Snack: Almonds and golden raisens (matt)/Celery with natural Peanut Butter (me)
Dinner: Chipotle Grilled Chicken with Avacado sandwhiches, Kale chips

Wednesday-
Breakfast: Spinach scramble, turkey sausage
Snack: Peanut Butter, almond and banana roll up
Lunch: P90X Chicken Salad w/ Kashi 7-grain crackers
Snack: Apple; almonds
Dinner: Turkey veggie spaghetti, salad, veggie(?), fresh pineapple

Thursday-
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Protien Oatmeal
Snack: banana & string cheese
Lunch: Deli sandwich, carrot sticks with 1 tbsp. ranch dressing
Snack: Apple, almonds
Dinner: Turkey chili, fruit salad

Friday-
Breakfast: Eggs over easy, WW biscuits, turkey sausage
Snack: String cheese, apple
Lunch: left over turkey chili
Snack: Protien bar, banana
Dinner: Baked flounder, wild brown rice, broccoli soup

Saturday-
Breakfast: Protien Pancakes, turkey sausage, strawberries
Snack: Apple, almonds
Lunch, snack, dinner: Eat Out
(Saturday's is usually when we go into town and do our running around and eat out. Hopefully we can be careful and choose wisely!)

Sunday-
Breakfast: cold cereal, skim milk, banana
Lunch: Beef roast with veggies, salad (this will be made on Saturday!-crossing my fingers)
Dinner: Homemade veggie pizza, salad, fruit salad

Recipes:

Chipotle Grilled Chicken with Avacado Sandwich (thanks Lori)
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. lime juice
1/2 tsp. chipotle chile powder
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 breast halves)
4 small slices of montery jack cheese
4 sets hamburger buns (or eat open faced and use half a bun!)
1 avacado, peeled, seeded and sliced
lettuce
light mayo

Directions:
1. In a shallow bowl, stir together olive oil, lime juice and chipotle chile powder.
2. Place the chicken breasts between 2 sheets of wax paper. Use a meat pounder to pound the breasts to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch (wow! sounds like MY breasts-haha!). Cut off excess fat (I WISH! ha ha) If you are starting two half-pound chicken breast halves, cut each one in half so that you have 4 peices (to better fit the buns). Place the chicken in the marinade, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate for at least 15 minute, preferably an hour.
3. Heat your grill to high. Grill the chicken peices a couple of minutes on each side, until cooked through. Once you have cooked them on one side, flip and ad a slice of cheese to the chicken. Cover the grill for half a minute to melt the cheese. Toast the buns on the grill as well.
4. Assemble the sandwiches-bun bottom, chicken with melted cheese, avocado, lettuce, mayo, bun on top (optional).
Serves 4.

Kale Chips (thanks Annie)
Ingredients:
-a big bunch of kale, torn into hand-size peices
-olive oil spray
-salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375*. Lay kale on cookie sheet and spray with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Bake kale for 15 minutes and flip. Spra other side with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for another 15 minutes, keeping a close eye for singed leaf edges.
3. Cool and enjoy!

Turkey Veggie Spaghetti
1 small onion, chopped
1 lb. extra lean ground turkey
1 jar Ragu Sugar Free Spaghetti Sauce
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 zucchini (diced)
1 squash (diced)
1/2 pkg. whole wheat thin spaghetti noodles

Directions:
Brown onion, pepper and meat and remove excess grease. Add in veggies and sauce and simmer. Make noodles according to package. I serve with lots of sauce and less noodles (than customary) to make a bit healthier.

New Sneaks! Woot-Woot

Only my fellow fitness enthusiasts would appreciate a post like this! After months of needing (literally--my other shoes are falling apart) new tennis shoes, I finally got some and I love them! (or at least I think I do!) I haven't actually worn them yet....but I have this same pair in turqoise and they are the bomb, so I'm sure these new (CUTE!) pink ones will be just as fabulous!

They are the Asics Gel-Kayano 15 in white/carbon/orchid. Original price $139.99 and after all my sales, discounts, coupons and gift cards, I paid $50! YAY! I can't wait to wear them tonight during P90X Shoulders & Arms!

P90X

So, I'm back "into" it. Feels GREAT! Finishing up our first week back on P90X and loving it.

After hating most of the pics from the Ball, I took a few of myself after doing Chest & Back the other day. It's a fact--I am much more of a "sporty" girl than a "glam" girl.

We aren't really counting "days" this time--more like...just starting this and hoping to keep it going for good. We may miss days here and there, but it's time to get back into the routine of daily workouts. Plus, Matt is using his new Men's Strength & Muscle Formula from Beachbody and in order for him to really bulk up by summer, he's gotta start lifting regularly and heavy! woo-hoo...I'm gonna have a Major Hottie by my side this summer!

Let's all say it together now: P...90....

Blizzard 2009

The family "enjoying" the snow!

I put a lot of new pictures on my other blog, but I thought I'd put a few of my favorites on here in case you guys don't look at both of them.

They're gonna be in a weird order because some are from my camera, and some are from my mom's camera and I just can't figure out how to work this out...:o)This first one is from a date-night Matt and I had. Brooklyn grabbed the camera and snapped a pic.

This one is from Brooklyn's birthday party while we were at the hotel's indoor pool.More pics from the ball. Matt was tired of taking pics and made a goofy smile for this last one. Wouldn't you know that ended up being my favorite one of me! Grrr!!And lastly, so you don't have that image of me in your mind with all that disgusting make up---one au-naturel! (so much better!)

Time to Talk

So, I haven't been blogging quite as much here lately. It wasn't intentional and I really haven't even been too conscious of my lack of chatter until I got on here and looked around. Guess I've just been quite preoccupied with life lately.

{phone rings}

Okay, I'm back....had to take that call. :o)

Oh shoot, I just looked at the clock. It's 3 minutes till time to get up from here and prepare for my classes at the gym.

Well, then, in light of the shortage of time that seems to plague me, I will give you an update in bulletpoints! (boring but effective).

*I am now babysitting from 9-4 M, T, Th & F for 2 children in my home-temporarily (3-6 months.)

*I am still instructing 2 fitness classes a week at the gym, but expect that to be ending soon. The lady I was subbing for has healed from her surgery and is taking her classes back. I don't know if they're going to give me any classes of my own or not. Hopefully...!

*I am still doing medical transcription for the doctor until he's ready to switch over to the electronic medical records. Last I heard, could be in February. Best case scenario...he never switches! (that is such a good job!)

*Beachbody coaching has picked up like CRAZY and that is FABULOUS news!! I've been getting a check (sometimes 2) in the mail every week! Awesome!

*Started P90X with hubby again on Monday. Doing good so far. The eating (as usual) is the hardest part...but with the meal plans I've been making up on Sunday, at least knowing what to eat and preparing it is easy. It's just the making-myself-not-eat-junk-too part that is hard. Having Oreo's in the house while doing P90X is most CERTAINLY a SIN!

*Attended the infamous BALL on Saturday night and got all dressed up. It was fun to slip into a tight, sexy dress, get a fancy up-do, put on looong fake eyelashes and lots of bling and show off all my hard work! My hubby, in his first-ever suit, looked FABULOUS and was by far the most handsome, hunky guy there! (sorry David! :o)

*I'm (still) on my quest to lose this last 15 pounds. Just this time, I'm putting a time limit on it. BY MEMORIAL DAY. That is more than plenty of time. Ya wanna join me?

*I have officially succumbed to the evil voices in my head that keep telling me to tan. It started out innocently, just tanning for the ball...but I'm hooked. Not only do I look and feel SO MUCH better with a little bit of color, that 10 minutes of "down time" is priceless. I'm only going once or twice a week for 10 minutes, so don't worry about me. I know all the reasons not to do it. I'm choosing to be naughty. (at least for now).

Okay, I think that's it for now. I need to get off here, answer a few e-mails and then figure out what kind of torture I'm gonna put the people at the gym through today! :o)

I love you all and THANK YOU for your comments and encouragement and for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of your life, and help you on your journey to a healthier life!

NOW GET UP AND WORK OUT!!!! :o)

What to eat this week:

Okay peeps, here is the meal plan for this week:

Monday-
Breakfast: veggie omlet, 1 slice turkey bacon
Snack: string cheese, apple slices
Lunch: chef salad, yogurt
Snack: almonds, 1/2 banana
Dinner: Turkey meatloaf, sweet potato fries, green beans

Tuesday-
Breakfast: Kashi Go Lean Crunch! cereal, skim milk, 1/2 banana
Snack: celery with 1 tbsp. natural peanut butter
Lunch:Deli Wrap (whole wheat tortilla, deli meat, veggies, avacado, slivered almonds)
Snack: string cheese, banana
Dinner: Naked (or not) Turkey Burgers, P90X coleslaw, veggie beans

Wednesday-
Breakfast: Spinach scramble, turkey bacon
Snack: banana, protein bar
Lunch: turkey sandwhich, carrot sticks, yogurt
Snack: Apple & almonds
Dinner: Lemon Garlic Chicken, brown&wild rice, grilled asparagus

Thursday-
Breakfast: Kashi Go Lean Honey & Cinnamon oatmeal, 1/2 c. fresh fruit
Snack:PBB roll up (peanut butter & banana on whole wheat tortilla)
Lunch: P90X tuna sandwhich, apple slices
Snack: string cheese, almonds
Dinner: Turkey Taco Soup with salad greens

Friday-
Breakfast: Eggs over easy, turkey sausage links, whole wheat toast
Snack: banana, fruit & nut bar
Lunch: Turkey sandwhich, carrot sticks, yogurt
Snack: apple, 20 pistachios
Dinner: Baked flounder, cream of broccoli soup, fruit salad

Recipes:
Tasty Turkey Meatloaf
1 lb. extra-lean ground turkey
2 small eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
1/2 c. old-fashioned oats
1/2 can diced tomatoes
1/2 large jar marinar sauce
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350*. Mix all ingredients together except for 1/2 of the marinara sauce. Place in loaf pan and cook for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and spread the remaining marinara sauce on top and cook for an additional 15 minutes. (taken from Beachbody's Thin Kitchen)
Cal: 206 Protein: 23 g Carb: 17 g Fiber: 3 g Total Fat: 7 g

P90X Coleslaw (adapted to my likings)
1 pkg. coleslaw mix
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
2 apples, finely diced
1/2 c. light mayo
1/3 c. white vinegar
1 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. fructose
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. dijon mustard
1/4 tsp salt
pinch of pepper
Directions:
Combine the vegtables and apples in a large bowl and mix well. Combine the remaining ingrediests in a small bowl and mix well to make dressing. Pour the dressing over the slaw and toss until evenly coated. Cover tightly and chill before serving. (from P90X Nutrition Guide)
Cal: 38 Carb: 9 g Sodium: 171 mg

P90X Lemon Garlic Chicken
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp. molasses
2 tsp. worchestershire sauce
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 lbs. skinless boneless chicken
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Directions:
Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl andadd chicken. Cover and marinate in fridge for 1 hour, turning occasionally. Preheat oven to 425*. Remove chicken from dish, reserving marinade and arrange in a shallow roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Pour reserved marinade over the chicken and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes, basting occasionally with marinade. Bake without basting for 20 minutes more or until chicken is done.

Turkey Taco Soup
1 lb. extra-lean ground turkey
1/2 onion, chopped
corn
black beans
pinto beans
chicken broth
black olives, sliced
1 can diced tomoatos
1 can chopped green chilies
packet of taco seasoning
1 oz. Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning (dry powder)
Directions:
Brown turkey with onions and then remove excess grease. Add in all other ingredients and simmer. Serve with tortilla chips (if you're feeling naughty) or if you're being good....serve over salad greens with light sour cream, sliced avacado and a few sprigs of cilantro. YUM!

P90X Tuna Sandwhich
6 oz. tuna, canned
3/4 oz. light mayo
squeeze of lemon
1 tbsp. shredded carrots
1 tbsp. chopped celery
1 tbsp. chopped green onion
dill relish (not in the actual recipe, but I add this)

Drain canned tuna ad place in a small bowl. Add mayo and mix thoroughly. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend together. Serve on 2 slices of light whole wheat toast.
Cal: 318 Total Fat: 5 g Protien: 44 g Carb: 5g Cholesterol: 51 mg Sodium: 348 mg

Get off your butt---get your butt off!

Girls (guys too)...I don't know if you might have one of those booty's that everybody loves...the round, tight, smooth kind...but I don't. Until now, I figured that was just the "luck of the draw" for me. I mean...God blessed me with a strong healthy body and if it didn't come with "buns of steel" I really can't complain. Short of surgery...what can I do about it anyway, right?

WRONG!

Introducing the butt you've always wanted!

You can pick yours up with just a little determination, some hard work and by clicking HERE. It's called Brazil Butt Lift and I'm pretty sure it's just what you wished for this year! (or if not...what your spouse wished for FOR you! ha ha)

You're gonna have a BLAST working out with Leandro Carvalho and dancing your BUTT OFF!

Lucky for you..it's only $59.85! Get it while it's hot!

TICKED OFF

So, I've learned something about myself recently. When I'm in a "mood" there comes a point during my workout where the whole mind-battle thing really just starts to TICK me OFF!
Like today for instance: I left the house feeling pumped up and ready for my classes at the gym. Since it was cold outside, I wore gym pants and a sweatshirt to the gym and then changed after I got there. I made the mistake of grabbing a pair of gym shorts that I haven't in worn in a long time (8 pounds ago!). When I changed I realized that they were TOOOOO small! Not real obvious--but uncomfortable and they made me have this major innertube around my middle. No matter how skinny you get---if you put on something elastic-waisted a size or two too small...you're gonna get that bubble. Okay...maybe if you're SUPER DOOPER skinny, you wouldn't...but that's something I'll never know. ;o)
ANYWAY....I was really having a insecure, lousy time watching myself in the mirror. Feeling very self-concious, uncoordinated and just plain YUK. Then, all of a sudden the sadness faded and fury replaced it. I was MAD. Mad at cake. Mad at cookies. Mad at chips and queso. and most of all MAD that I was allowing myself to "cave" to these stupid thoughts that were threatening to overtake me. I actually shouted out (in the middle of doing burpees) I HATE DESSERT!!!!! ha ha ha ha I just needed to get that off my chest.
But by getting ANGRY...I actually felt WAY better.
Now I am at the end of this post and I can't remember my point. I guess all I was trying to say is that when you feel like your energy-meter is about to hit empty...get mad. Get mad that the food industry is trying to practically KILL us with all the JUNK they create. Get mad that you allowed yourself to get out of shape. Get mad that you ate that slice of pie last night. Whatever it is...get mad at it. It's great fuel for your fitness flame!!

Game Plan-Week 2

So, last week I posted about what I was planning to eat and what workouts I was going to do. I also mentioned that I would do this every Sunday evening for those of you who were interested in following along with me.
Well, I've realized 2 things already. #1: Doing this really helps me stay on track, workout more and harder and there is WAY less thinking involved when it comes to meal time! Yay!
#2: I'm already stressing about coming up with new recipes and ideas to share with you all. That was not the purpose of this. I was just going to simply post what I am planning for my family--and truth be told, we don't always eat a big variety. So...I'm sorry if this weeks meals look a lot like last weeks, but it's been a crazy last couple of days and I just didn't have a lot of time to get creative. Plus, Brooklyn's birthday is tomorrow and I'll be eating out for 2 meals! This week, I have something going on every single evening from now until next Sunday! Whew!
Anyway, here is what I'm gonna do/eat this week:

Monday:
Breakfast-1 c. Kashi cereal with skim milk
Snack-banana
Lunch-Taking Brooklyn out for lunch, probably Subway.
Snack-celery & 1 tbsp. natural peanut butter
Dinner-Going to Applebees for her birthday dinner. I will do my best to order light, but I'll probably have a piece of birthday cake.
Workout: Insanity or P90X--not sure.

Tuesday:
Breakfast-Veggie omelet, turkey bacon, 1 c. skim milk
Snack-Protein bar
Lunch-Chef Salad
Snack-celery & 1 tbsp. natural peanut butter
Dinner: Broccoli soup*
Optional snack: Small protein shake*
Workout-1 hr. weight-lifting at gym, 30 minutes boot camp

Wednesday:
Breakfast-spinach scramble, turkey link sausage, 1 c. OJ
Snack-2 prunes, 6 almonds
Lunch-chicken Ranch Wrap*, apple
Snack-string cheese
Dinner-Baked fish, grilled asparagus, brown rice*
Workout-P90X or Insanity or both!?!

Thursday:
Breakfast-Tortilla roll up*
Snack-protein bar
Lunch-Turkey burger w/ slice of light cheddar (no bun), salad greens, green beans
Snack-Banana
Dinner-Chicken Pot Pie*
Workout-45 minutes weight lifting, 45 minutes boot camp at gym

Friday:
Breakfast-Protein Packed Oatmeal*
Snack-celery & 1 tbsp. natural peanut butter
Lunch-left over chicken pot pie
Snack-baby carrots w/ 1 tbsp. light ranch
Dinner-Grilled Chicken Burritos*
Workout-P90X or Insanity

Saturday:
Will probably make pancakes or french toast w/ turkey sausage for breakfast. Hopefully will make it to the gym for kickboxing, zumba and abs before I get all dolled up for the gala ball that night!

Recipes/Explanations:

Chef Salad-look at last weeks description

Broccoli Soup-1 lb. frozen cut broccoli, 1/3 chopped onion, 2 c. chicken broth, 1/2 c. half and half (optional), 2 tbsp. flour, salt and pepper to taste. Boil broccoli and onion in chicken broth until broccoli is hot and tender. Transfer mixture to blender and puree. Mix flour with a bit of water (enough to make it though but pourable). Add that to blender and mix with broccoli for a few seconds. Put mixture back in pot and simmer for about 10 min. Add half and half and serve immediately. Try without the half and half first and see if you like it without! Thanks to my girl Kirsty for this recipe!!

Chicken Ranch Wrap-3 oz. grilled chicken, tomato, lettuce, 1 tbsp. lt. ranch, whole wheat tortilla. (I grill everything on the George Foreman grill-LOVE that thing!)

Baked Fish, Asparagus, Brown Rice: I buy crusted cod, tilapia and flounder from Sams and just bake. I grill the asparagus in just tiny bit of olive oil with some sea salt. Make brown rice according to pkg. Spray with 0 cal. spray butter and salt & pepper. I also like to saute some onions & carrots up and mix into the rice.

Tortilla Roll-Ups-Whole wheat tortilla, scrambled egg whites, pepper, tomato, onion, light cheese

Protein Bar-I buy Pure Protein Bars from Wal-Mart or Sams. They have 20 g. protein and 180 cal. I like the Chocolate Peanut Butter ones.

Turkey Burger-I buy the pre-made lean turkey burger patties that Jenni-o sells. They are soooo quick and easy for lunch!

Protein Packed Oatmeal-1/2 cup old fashioned oats, cooked as directed. Mix in a dash of cinnamon, 1/2 scoop protein powder, 1 tbsp. natural peanut butter.

Grilled Chicken Burrito -Grilled chicken, sauteed peppers and onions. Place into a whole wheat tortilla and top with diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, salsa, 1 tsp. light sour cream, sliced avocado.

Chicken Pot Pie-
Ingredients:
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. flour
salt & pepper to taste
2 tbsp. chopped onion
3 c. chicken broth
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 potatoes, cubed
3 c. sliced mushrooms
1/2 c. peas
2 tbsp. butter
3 c. cooked, diced chicken
Pastry to cover 3-Qt casserole or Frozen Puff Pastry

Directions:
Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Blend in flour, salt, pepper and onion. Gradually stir in chicken broth. Cook, stirring constantly until smooth and thickened. Add carrots, celery and potatoes. Cook until fork tender. In a small frying pan, cook the mushrooms in butter. Add mushrooms, peas and chicken to veggie mixture. Mix well and pour into large casserole dish. Cover with rolled pastry and slash (watch for steam!) to allow steam to escape. Bake in a preheated oven at 400* for about 45 minutes or until pastry is golden. If pastry becomes too brown, cover loosely with foil.

I also wanted to share this recipe with you guys because it is one of our favorites. I will probably make it next week. It comes from the Thin Kitchens Cookbook from Beachbody.

Crispy Oven-Baked Chicken
Ingredients:
8 6-8 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 c. plain bread crumbs (or I use Italian bread crumbs sometimes)
1-2 tbsp. oil
1-3 tbsp. hot pepper sauce (however hot you like it. I don't use NEARLY this much)
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. salt (optional)
Directions:
In a large bowl, whisk together hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and salt. dd the chicken and marinate in the refrigerator for 2-12 hours (the longer the better).
Preheat oven to 425*. Remove chicken from marinade, add bread crumbs to the marinade and mix well. Coat chicken thoroughly with mixture.
Spread oil over the bottom of a shallow 9"x13" baking dish. Arrange chicken in the dish and bake for 15-20 min. Turn chicken over; reduce heat to 325* and cook for an additional 15-20 min or until juices run clear when pierced with a fork. (8 servings)

I hope you are all still doing well and keeping motivated to reach your goals! If you are struggling and need some motivation...TELL ME! I will get on your case and kick your butt into gear! :o)

The good, the bad and the ugly

The good: I did Insanity Plyometric Circuit, P90X Chest & Back and Ab Ripper today.
The bad: I ate a large piece of homemade strawberry shortcake after dinner.
The ugly: I've gained a pound!

So, I have to start there with that last statement. When I started this whole "thing" on Monday, I weighed in at 135. No surprise...that's been my weight for a few weeks now (up a pound from my 134 that I've been at forEVER). Anyway, I know better than to weigh too often, especially just 3 days after starting a healthier eating plan...but...I felt SO light yesterday that I thought I'd just step on and see if I'd made any progress. So you can just imagine how "excited" I was when 136 popped up. Thankfully, though, I have resolved not to let those numbers get me down--AND--I know for a FACT that it takes more than 3 days of clean eating for it to start showing up on the scale. The true test will be in about 10 days from now, when my "good deposits" have had time to "clear the bank" and show up in my "account".
If you're reading this and thinking why is she putting every other word in parenthesis and talking in bank-talk?...well, then you'll have to go back and read the post I did a while back on debits and credits. Lucky for you...all you have to do is click HERE to read it.
I just want to encourage you #1)Don't weigh too often. It's too easy to get discouraged. Once a week is plenty. And #2) Give this at LEAST a month before you decide whether or not it's working.

Okay..now about the strawberry shortcake. One thing is true-if there are sweets in my house, I'm gonna eat'em. Period. I actually have a MUCH easier time resisting dessert when I'm in a public place (people are watching!) but at home, it's like a glaze comes over my eyes and my brain and go into this I-don't-care-I-just-WANT-that mode. The perfect solution is to just not have them around...but there is one snag in that...my whole family suffers too. Matt made the comment the other day at the dinner table, "well, if momma decides to go on a diet, I guess we all have to." It got me to thinking--#1: I guess it's not fair to make the whole family eat like a rabbit just because I am and #2: If its true that they eat healthy when I do because thats what I'm cooking/choosing---doesn't that also mean that all the times that we eat unhealthy--it's is because it's what I CHOSE!?! Eeeek! That means that for the most part--the health of my entire family is in MY HANDS! Whatever I cook is what they eat. When I cook healthy, the grumble and complain--but they eat it. When I cook junk, they're happy--but they eat it. So, doing the math here--I'm figuring out that if I can just deal with the whining, I could get my whole family to eat healthy almost all the time! Huh! What a thought! I have a little clip out of a magazine taped to my fridge. It's been there for about 9 years now because I cut it out when Brooklyn was just an infant. It says, "Everytime you feed them, you're teaching them how to eat." Man, I love that. Sooooooo True!!! Just look at all the mother/child teams on Biggest Loser and how awful those mom's feel now that their children (due to the way they were raised) are 400-526 pounds!! Sad. It's in your hands mom and dad! Love is not giving them what they want...love is giving them what they NEED!

The workouts: OH MY STINKING GOSH!! What in the WORLD was I thinking trying to do THAT much in ONE day? I did it because I posted on here that I was going to (and on FB)...but I seriously doubt I will try to do that much again. Not only did it take up a good 2 1/2 hours of my day...but...I feel like I've been run over by a semi. Everything hurts. I seriously wish I had worn my HRM and done a calorie count so I could've seen how many I burned. It had to be up near the 1,000 mark.
Thankfully, hopefully, the workouts will counterbalance the dessert and all will be well and back on track.
So, how are you doing? Still hangin' in there? You're not losing your momentum are you? I heard a thing on the radio the other day that said like 50% of people only stick with their New Years Resolutions 1-2 weeks, 40% stick with it for a month or two and only 10% actually achieve what they set out to accomplish!
Well guess what? YOU'RE ONE OF THE 10%!!! :o)
I love you guys! Thanks for reading my yacking--and for being on my team and for letting me coach you. It is such an honor and gives me such great joy!

Eating going well? (and Indian Taco's)

So, has your eating been going well? We're wrapping up day 2 and so far, so good for me!
I've been pretty much sticking to the schedule I posted other than tonights dinner. I didn't end up having time to cook before I had to leave for my Bible study at church, so I just reheated the turkey chili and had that over a bed of lettuce. Then for "dessert" I had celery with peanut butter. Yum! I will admit though, it is 10:06 pm right now and I am feeling mighty snacky. Oh well....going to bed with an empty stomach is only bad until you fall asleep! :o)

Several of you have asked what "Indian Taco's" are. Well, I'll tell you what, I'll give you the recipe...but I strongly urge you to use whole wheat tortillas instead of making your own fried bread. It won't taste NEARLY as good...but you'll be eliminating GOBS of calories and bad stuff for you!

Indian Taco's
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef (I use lean ground turkey though, of course!)
1 onion, chopped
1 can Ranch style beans
small can tomato sauce
chili powder seasoning
Directions: Brown meat & drain. Mix with all other ingredients. Heat well. Serve with chopped lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, sliced black olives, sour cream, etc.

Fried Bread:
2 c. flour
pinch of salt
1 tbsp. shortening
water
Directions: Mix all ingredients until thick, like pie crust. Cut into squares and place into hot oil. Fry until lightly browned. Use as your taco shell.

If you have any left over dough...take immediately from hot oil and cover with cinnamon and sugar. Serve warm with honey! (ie. sopapillas!)
dash of garlic

I have no idea why this is called "Indian Taco's". I got the recipe from my high school boyfriends mother. I remember she cooked it for me one time and I was so infatuated with it, that I wrote down the recipe and took it home to my mom. (I was like 17). Then when I moved out and got married, I took it with me and I've had it ever since! ha ha

good news post

I posted about my "good news" on my other blog. Didn't want to repeat post...but feel free to hop on over and check it out! :o)

Game Plan

Have you got yours figured out yet? Tomorrow is the beginning of the first full week of 2010! I hope you've written out your "mission statement" or "resolutions" or whatever you want to call it. Personally, I like the idea of a mission statement or just listing out some goals.
For this fitness/health aspect of my life, this will be my mission statement for 2010.

I will set a good example to my children and others of healthy eating. I will choose to be active and strong and encourage others to do so as well. I will find ways to make exercise fun for the whole family. I will actively work towards my goal weight of 120. Most importantly, I will keep this aspect of my life in perspective. I will not let the scale dictate my mood.

One of the most important keys to success in weightloss is PLANNING. Therefore, I have looked through my P90X and Insanity Nutrition Guides and have come up with a menu for the next 4 days, as well as a workout schedule. I know it's boring reading, but I have had several people ask to see what I'm eating/doing so I will post it here:

Monday-
Breakfast: Cheese scramble*, 1 turkey bacon, 8 oz. skim milk, 1/2 banana
Snack: Low-fat string cheese
Lunch: Chef salad*
Snack: Celery with 1 tbsp. natural peanut butter
Dinner: Turkey Chili*
Optional Snack: Small Protein shake
Work out: 45 minutes weight lifting @ gym, 45 minutes cardio @ gym

Tuesday-
Breakfast: Spinach scramble*, 1 turkey bacon, 8 oz. skim milk, 1/2 c. fruit
Snack: 2 Sunsweet Ones prunes, 6 whole natural almonds
Lunch: Chicken Salad*, salad greens, 1 c. left over turkey chili
Snack: Low-Fat string cheese
Dinner: Baked Flounder, grilled asparagus, 1/2 c. brown rice, salad greens
Optional Snack: Small Protein shake or Protien bar
Work out: 1 hr. weight lifting @ gym, 30 minutes cardio @ gym

Wednesday-
Breakfast: Egg white breakfast wrap*
Snack: Celery & 1 tbsp. natural peanut butter
Lunch: Turkey burger, 2 whole wheat light bread, green beans
Snack: Low-Fat string cheese
Dinner: Grilled Chicken Salad*
Optional Snack: Small protein shake
Work out: Insanity Plyometric Cardio Circuit, P90X Chest & Back, Ab Ripper

Thursday-
Breakfast: Veggie Omlet*, 1 turkey bacon, 8 oz. skim milk
Snack: 2 Sunsweet Ones prunes, 6 almonds
Lunch: PB&J (2 slices light WW bread, natural peanut butter, 100% fruit jam), small apple
Snack:15 pisachios, low-fat string cheese
Dinner: Block Party Stew* (veggie soup)
Optional Snack: Small protein shake
Work out: 45 minutes cardio @ gym, 45 minutes weight lifting @ gym

So there you have it. My "game plan" for the next 4 days. This is my last week to teach at the gym on Mondays. I will keep my Thursday classes for a few more weeks (until they tell me I'm done). I plan to add in lots more P90X and Insanity workouts just as soon as my schedule permits.

*Following are the recipes for all the foods I listed above:
Cheese scramble: 4 egg whites, 1 tbsp. fat-free mozerrella cheese
Chef Salad: 4 oz. turkey, 4 oz. ham, shredded mozerrella, tomato, avacado, lettuce
Turkey chili: 1 lb. lean ground turkey, 1 can pinto beans, 1 can black beans, 1 can chili beans, 1 can sugar free 100% vegetable juice, 1 packet chili seasoning, chopped onion & jalepeno
Spinach Scramble: 4 egg whites, 1 tbsp. fat-free mozerrella cheese, torn spinach leaves
Chicken Salad: 1 can cooked chicken (like tuna--but chicken), 1 tbsp. light mayo, dijon mustard, chopped green onions, diced apple, black pepper, dill, chopped celery
Egg White Breakfast Wrap: 4 egg whites, mozerrella, diced tomato, whole grain tortilla
Grilled Chicken Salad: Grilled chicken breast (george forman!), lettuce, 1/2 apple chopped, chopped pecans, diced cucumber
Veggie Omlet: 4 egg whites, fresh sliced mushrooms, diced onion and bell pepper, mozerrella
Block Party Stew: 1 lb. lean ground turkey, can of diced tomatoes, can of sliced carrots, can of green beans, can of pinto beans, can of corn, peas, can of tomato paste, diced potato, water.

Startin 'em young!

This is Grant, my 5 year old, P90X'er. He is a chin-up pro! He LOVES to do them and can do about 5 at a time now. Then he'll take a break for a few minutes and do 5 more and so on! He's gonna be one strong little dude!

And just a little "MERRY CHRISTMAS" picture to you from me and my little girlie-pup Kinley!

My "drug" of choice...

pumpin' and jumpin'.

There is nothing like pumping some iron and doing some good old jumping to give you an all-natural high!
I've been in a complete FUNK for the past several days. Just moody and whiney and overall---just way more negative than my normal self. Today is the day I teach classes at the gym and it dawned on me while I was preparing for class, that DUH!!! I'm probably feeling this way because it's been an entire WEEK since I've worked out!
Sure enough...not long into my first class (weight-lifting) and I could feel the difference. My blood was pumping, my heartbeat was dancing and my mood was lifting by the moment! By the time I was done with the 2nd class (bootcamp), I felt like a whole new woman!
Call it crazy, call it impossible...whatever...but I felt like the whole world was against me before I walked into that gym and when I walked out...I felt like I could CONQUER the world!
Now why in tarnation wouldn't EVERYONE want that?
Not only is exercise a total mood lifter and energy booster, but plus it keeps you healthy on the inside and SUPER-PLUS---makes you look fabulous on the outside!
If you aren't in some sort of regular exercise routine, I really hope you'll give it a try and just see if I'm right about this. Test me. Tell me you don't feel better after putting in a good work out. I dare you!

Tick, Tick, Tick...

The clock is ticking...time is running out. Yes, we're all focused and excited about Christmas right now, whihc is only 2 days away---but---what I'm talking about is the NEW YEAR! We are only 9 days away from 2010! Can you believe it?
I was just sitting here paying bills and several of them had due dates in 2010. It just seemed strange to write/type that new year in-as it does every time the year changes.
Anyway, a new year brings so many new opportunities for a fresh start-a new beginning. We're done with all the holiday eating and cookies and most of us, feel a renewed sense of determination and willpower towards our fitness goals and healthier eating.
I wanted to take a moment to put a bug in your ear to think about pursuing a new fitness program for this new year. Maybe you're a fellow P90X'er but are really ready to take things up a notch, or just switch to something different? Then it's time to try P90X+ or Insanity.
Maybe you're a P0wer 90 user or Slim in 6 and think you might be ready to try P90X now...???
Or, maybe you've done P90X, done Insanity and are wondering what's left? It's time for you get RevAbs or Brazil Butt lift!
I am not saying all of this because I want to SELL it to you (although of course that is nice!) but more importantly, I know that feeling of the "same old, same old" when it comes to work outs. Believe me, until I found P90X, I had been doing the same exact workout routine for nearly 3 solid years- day in and day out. BLECK! Thank GOD I saw the P90X infomercial because it really pulled me out of the gutter I was in and gave me a new excitement (and the results I'd been trying to get for years!) Then after almost 3 rounds of P90X, I knew things were getting "stale" again, so I ordered Insanity. I only got about half of it done before I had to put it aside for a bit, but beginning in January, I am Totally STOKED to start it back up and really do it right--the whole 60 days!
What's special about TODAY is...that if you order now, you can have your new program in your hands by January 1st and be ready to start!
I know, money is probably tight for all of us, so let me give you a quick run down of what some of these programs cost. It's surprising that some of the "next level" programs really aren't that bank-breaking at all!
Power 90 In-Home Boot Camp is $59.60
Power 90 Master Series is $59.85
Slim in 6 is $59.85
10-Minute Trainer is $79.90
Turbo Jam is $59.85
Hip Hop Abs is $59.85
P90X is $119.85
P90X+ is $59.90
Insanity is $119.85
RevAbs is $79.90
Brazil Butt Lift is $59.85
Tony Horton One on One is $19.95
Shakeology: The Workouts $29.95

In addition to these awesome programs that not only help you get fit but also tell you what foods to eat, you get an awesome coach to guide you through every step. Me! :o)

2010 has the potential to be one of the best years of your life! It's all up to you how good it's gonna be!

Short on time?

How many of us (me included) complain that we are too short on time to get in a workout?
(I'm throwing both hands up into the air right now!) Even on the days that I get in a good, long workout, that means I've just taken time away from other things I could have been doing. It's a matter of priority for me most of the time, but there are just some days when priority bites the dust and there is just no way on EARTH I can fit an hour-long workout and then a shower afterwards into my day.
Well, there are no excuses now. I'm letting you in on a secret: You can get in a major-good workout in just 10 minutes. At your house. Whenever you want.
Tony Horton's 10 minute trainer package is awesome...but now there is an even better option. It's the 10-Minute Trainer Upgrade Pack! Now instead of just 5 workouts, you get 9. It comes with everything you need to do them including the 2 professional-grade resistance bands. They even give you an "Advanced Workout Calendar" to show you how to rotate these 10-minute workouts for maximum resistance. Here is a description of the workouts that are included in this set:

Total Body 2. Tony layers this total-body workout with fat-burning cardio and moves to sculpt your entire body in no time! (10 minutes)
Core Cardio. Think you don't have enough time to burn some fat? Think again. Tony's got the key to tightening your midsection and shedding fat to reveal your six-pack abs. (10 minutes)
Upper Body. Tony's innovative moves will tone and shape your entire upper body, giving you the shapely arms and shoulders you want. (10 minutes)
One on One Lower. Follow Tony as he powers through a different move each minute to firm and strengthen your quads and glutes. (10 minutes)
Plyo Intervals. This plyometric workout will dramatically enhance your athletic performance in only minutes! (10 minutes)
One on One Upper. You'll beg for mercy in this fast-paced upper-body blowout that further defines your shoulders, arms, and back! (10 minutes)
Cardio Intervals. Go all out with Tony in fat-blasting, high-intensity drills that will kick your metabolism into high gear while you burn calories at the rate of an athlete. (10 minutes)
Chest & Back. Unique moves engineered to max out these two major muscle groups and get you strong FAST! (10 minutes)
Friday Night Arms. Tony's favorite Friday night workout since his teenage years—and still just as effective.

The cost is $79.90. If you pay $30 a month for your gym membership like I do, that is about 2 1/2 months worth. This is something you will own forever and be able to implement into your busy life for years and years to come.
And, if you decide you just don't like it, they offer a 30-day money back guarantee!
Place your order now and you'll be ready to go by January 1st! Just click here to order or read more!

Know your WHY

Over lunch with a friend today, I made this statement: "You have to know your "why" when trying to lose weight." If you don't know WHY you're doing it, chances are you won't succeed. Not only do you need to know your "why", it also needs to be something important to you.

If I were to ask myself "why am I trying to lose weight right now?" My honest answer would be "so I can look good up in front of my class--set a good example that they want to learn from". The truth is, I'm already doing the best that I can right now. Not perfect, but for me, I'm giving my best. Knowing that, deep down in my heart, that I really don't NEED to lose weight---is probably the reason I'm NOT losing weight. My really good reason "why" just isn't there right now.

However, when I first started losing weight, my "why" was VERY CLEAR and VERY IMPORTANT. (therefore, I was very succesful!)

What I'm getting at is---you've gotta really have a good reason already established if you're gonna accomplish your goals. Because when the going gets tough and the holiday cookies and eggnog are begging for your attention, that "WHY" has to be speaking louder in your ear than the cookies.

Today I am asking myself "why" did I become a Beachbody coach? That is really where this whole "why" concept originated. When you sign up to be a coach, one of the first things they tell you is "Know your why."
My "why" is: Because I want to help others get healthy and in-shape and open up opportunities to tell people about Jesus!
And it is about time that I start making it happen. Not only am I in between a rock and a hard place where income is concerned, I am also ready to either give it my all or give it up. Coaching, that is. I haven't had a chance to give it my full attention because I've been busy with my other job as well as instructing these fitness classes, but that is all coming to an end in just a couple weeks and so this is a great opportunity to get this ball rolling. People everywhere are becoming succesful and finacially secure through Beachbody coaching and I might as well be one of them! Anyone wanna join me? A team is so much stronger than an individual!

CUH-RACKED me UP!

Watch this and get your giggle on!

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

I LOVE this guy!!!

On Monday Matt did something I NEVER thought he would EVER do. He came to my classes at the gym! I knew he didn't want to, but I've been begging him to come ever since I started instructing and for some odd reason, he decided to do it! He told me as we were walking into class, "This is your Christmas present!!!" and I said back to him, "No, this is YOUR Christmas present!" ha ha

Long story short, he did AWESOME and I was on Cloud 9 having him there with me. I love working out...but I LOVE my hubby...so if you put the two together...it's like a LOVE explosion! ha ha (don't roll your eyes!)

Anyway, later that night I asked him what he thought about it. He replied, "The only thing I regret is that I ever missed a class. I should have been going from the very beginning!"

Wow! What a compliment! I am SO STOKED that he's going to start joining me! This literally is a 'dream come true' to me. I know you might think I'm a bit nutsy--and I probably am--but I really hate being away from him...and now we have another opportunity to be together, doing something we love AND...what's sexier than seeing your husband all hot and sweaty, muscles popping, veins bulging....yummm!!!! :o)

Christmas Countdown Tip of the Day

persist–verb
to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like, especially in spite of opposition.

What one of us doesn't face opposition when it comes to eating right and working out? So why is it that some of us succeed and some fail? It comes down to this: Some of us choose to PERSIST and some of us choose to QUIT.

That reminds me of something God said in Deuteronomy 30:19. He said, "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life!"

It's like: Here you go--here are your two choices. Now, I'm going to tell you which one to pick so you'll be sure to get it right.

So this is what I'm saying to you today: Choose to PERSIST!

I've never met a person who regretted being persistant towards having and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You never hear people say, "I just wish I had given up and quit working out." But how many times do you hear people say, "I just wish I would have stuck with it and kept exercising." ????????
Can I get a resounding "DUH!!!" This isn't multiple choice y'all. There's only one answer and it's not a pill or a diet--it's Eat Clean/Work Out. Period.

Okay, I'm done being harsh....hope you all have a wonderful, happy, blessed, joyful, Jesus-filled day!

Christmas Countdown Tip of the Day

So, with today being Day 1 in our Christmas Countdown, I wanted to pass along a very important tip to you all. It is:
ALWAYS PACK A SNACK!!!
or even your lunch...but never leave home empty-handed.

I try to keep a baggie of almonds or a trail mix/protein bar in my purse or car at ALL times. I also make a point to bring a bottle of water (reusable of course) with me everytime I leave.

I can't tell you how many times I've ended up being out and about longer than I had expected and having this snack/water has saved me from the dreadful drive-thru! Not only that, it keeps your money in your pocket rather than wasting it on some nasty, greasy, not-gonna-benefit-you-in-any-way stuff from a fast-food restaurant.

I would confidently say that this is a MAJOR KEY to improving your eating habits, especially if you do a lot of running. Not running like marathons...running like library, school, church, shopping, etc. :o)

Sometimes I even pack my whole lunch. On days that I go to the gym and I know it's gonna be 11 a.m. before I get home, I bring along a PB&J and apple. Sure, I could wait until I got home to eat....BUT....by that time I'm in "starvation mode" and I won't think rationally. I might end up eating something because of impulse instead of intentionally.

EAT INTENTIONALLY--NOT IMPULSIVELY!

Specifically choose the foods you are going to put into your body to fuel it with. Ask yourself, how is this food going to nourish my body? Is it going to provide me with important nutrients and give me energy? Is it going to repair and rebuild my muscles?
You can eat a 100 calorie pack of Doritos or a small baggie of Almonds with 100 calories. Either way---you consume 100 calories. But the Doritos are not going to do a THING for you nutritionally. They are going to sit in your body and turn to sugar=fat. On the other hand, the almonds offer the same crunch and are PACKED with things your body needs.
Make the smart choice. Please, people, PLEASE....America needs to make these changes desperately! It starts with you and me!

84%--Time for the 25's Days till Christmas Countdown!

I'm giving myself an 84% for my effort at our 10-day Challenge. I started out strong...had a few weak days over the weekend and on Tuesday...but overall, I'm satisfied. I ate way better, I worked out on 7 of the 10 days, which is more than usual AND I got my hubby back into the swing of things, so it was certainly worth the effort!
How'd you do?
Even if you didn't do everything you wanted, did you at least still do better than you would have if we hadn't done this little challenge? I know I did.
So, are you ready for the next one? ;o)

You see...Tomorrow is December 1st...so....we MUST do a 25 days till Christmas Countdown!!!

Here's our 3 goals:
*Work out 5 of 7 days each week.
*Eat consciously and health-fully at least 80% of the time. That means you can have about 2-3 "cheat" meals/foods (ie. desserts) per week.
*Weigh yourself at the beginning (Dec. 1st) and at the end (Dec. 24th). Goal is to not gain ANY. You don't have to lose...but don't let that scale creep up!

I will post this on Facebook too, so we can hopefully get a big group doing this! I would LOVE to have people post their progress on my blog so we can all see how each other is doing. If we all work together and hold each other accountable, we can all get through this Holiday season without having to loosen up our belts! Then come January 1st, we can work on bringing up the intensity (and tightening up our belts!). Right now, let's just focus on being diligent, consistent and dedicated! Leave me a comment if you'll at least give it a try! There is no way to "lose" except for those who won't even TRY!

Happy Holidays!

I know....it's not often you wrap up the holiday season with a 6-pack and bulging biceps...but it is POSSIBLE! I want to help you start 2010 off looking and feeling your best! Just give me a holla if I can help! XOXO!

Challenge? What challenge? Eeeeek!!

So, do you want me to tell you the truth? I have COMPLETELY forgotten the challenge the past 2 days. And when I say forgotten, I don't mean "put out of my mind" I mean seriously forgotten!
I've been eating good still, but it never even occurred to me all day yesterday to work out. I got up and played with the kids, made blueberry muffins with them and then we worked on making homemade Christmas cards. Then we got cleaned up and went Christmas shopping all afternoon. We came home, ate dinner and watch Christmas movies all evening and went to bed. This morning we got up super early, went to church, came home ate lunch, took naps, did some paperwork and then went to my parents for dinner and we just now got home and I sat down to check my e-mail and I was like OHHHH MYYYY GOSH!!!! I forgot to work out the past 2 days!

Oh well. Give me a B-, I guess. I sure didn't mean to not work out, it just completley slipped my mind--which is actually practically a miracle seeing as how I think about exercise just about constsantly. Anyway, tomorrow will be "back to work" with my classes at the gym! Hope you are all doing well and hanging in there!

Day 5--HALF WAY

So, it's Friday and we're halfway done with our challenge. I've succeeded at working out every day for the past 5 days, which is an improvement because Wednesday is typically my "rest day". I decided to do P90X Cardio X that day and wow! I was stunned at how (dare I say....) EASY it has become! Don't get me wrong...you can certainly intensify it by jumping higher, squatting lower, etc. but I remember a time when I would be drenched with sweat and huffing and puffing at the end of that video, and this time, it just felt like a warm up. It has taken me a year and a half of doing P90X to get this point, so if you're still on your first round and think Cardio X is a tough work out, don't let this discourage you. It should ENCOURAGE you...that as you keep going and working at it, eventually it will be come much easier! I honestly think that doing Insanity has completely transformed my idea of "cardio." When you first start doing Insanity, you'll probably think it should be called "Impossible" instead because it pretty much is impossible at first, until your body becomes conditioned to that kind of outrageous intensity for lengthy periods of time. It takes unbelievable endurance to complete an Insanity workout without breaks (which I've never done).
Anyway, got side-tracked there. woops!
What I was trying to say is that the challenge is going well. I don't feel like I've done as good as I wanted to with the food aspect, although I have eaten WAYYYY better in the past 5 days than I would have if we weren't doing the challenge. I made a banana cake the other day and I've had a few small peices of it over the past couple of days. It is soooooo good. Not real sweet and it seems like I'm the only one in our house who is really crazy about it. It practically KILLS me to see it sitting there getting "old". :o)
My workout yesterday was FANTASTIC. I taught classes at the gym. First was 45 min. of boot camp and then 45 min of weights. We did circuits again and we did stuff like burpees and floor switch kicks and frog jumps, etc. After that, I gave them the warning that we were going to be doing some serious weight-training today. I have pretty much decided that my "style" is to multi-task during work outs. I like to work arms and legs at the same time, if possible. So, instead of just standing to do bicep curls, we did wall squats while curling! It certainly took your mind off of the burn in your biceps! I've been trying to encourage people to go up on their weights some, so I've been bringing my own weights from home (10#'s and 15#'s) and I did my bicep curls yesterday with the 15 pounders. Yowch! :o)
The people in my classes are starting to open up a little more and talk to me, which totally boosts my confidence, which inturn boosts my performance (or instructing). I need interaction. When it's silent in the class and I am the only one counting down or talking or making any kind of noices, it feels sort of lonely and I begin to wonder if they all really really dislike me. Thankfully there is one guy, John, who has been friendly and supportive from the first day and he really helps to make me feel comfortable. If you're reading this: THANK YOU JOHN! I hope that by the end of my time there, I will have them all moaning and groaning and counting and grunting! ha ha
Today is Friday and is typically a busy day for me as I always attempt to fit in a MILLION things I want to "get done before the weekend" but some of it will just have to wait today because I AM working out. I wish I had someone to work out WITH because I really don't love doing it all alone in my living room....but unless any of you want to drive to my house today, it'll probably be just me and the dvd player. I think I'll do some Insanity today.
I hope you are all doing good and keeping focused. We only have 5 more days left! YOU CAN DO THIS! Prove it to yourself!

3 days in-7 to go

So, we are on Day 3 of the 10 day challenge...how're you doing?
Monday was great for me. Tuesday was ROUGH. I was hungry ALL day and even though I went to 2 classes at the gym, I seriously drug-butt the entire time and probably only gave it about 75%. All I wanted to do all day was sleep and eat. Ick. I did skip my coffee yesterday, so maybe that is what the problem was?!?! I didn't think I was that reliant on my morning coffee..but maybe I am and didn't know it.
Anyway, today is day 3 and I feel back to my normal self. I have a lot to do today, but I am going to fit in a work out this afternoon while the kids are at school. I'm thinking about possibly doing P90X Yoga even though I really don't like it...I need some stretching. Or maybe I'll do Cardio X...that'll give me a little yoga but still gets some calories burned off.
No matter what, I'll be doing something and YOU BETTER TOO! Keep your eating clean. I ate a LOT yesterday, but for the most part, it was fresh veggies and fruits.
For those of you who asked about my physical I got done the other day....I got the report back. My weight has gone down by 2 pounds (since last year) but most of my other numbers went up--which I thought was weird. My cholesterol, tryglycerdes, glucose--all that went up a few #'s. All I can figure is that last year when I did my physical I had just finished P90X and was eating a VERY VERY clean diet. For the past several months I've been pretty lazy with my choices of foods and maybe that is why the #'s went up? Still, I am within the Excellent range of all of them so I'm not worried...but I am glad that I am getting back on track with my food choices again. It's amazing how relaxed you can get so quickly. It's like one cookie here, one burger there and the next thing you know you're having fries with every meal! Eeeek! (and drinking pop again!) Double Eeeek!
I'm excited to see how AMAZING I feel (and all of you) at the end of this 10 days. Our bodies will SOOOO be thanking us! (and maybe we'll even be able to push away from the Thanksgiving table a little sooner than usual!)

Trendy or Trashy?

I wore this shirt to the other day and I really had a battle within about it.

I saw someone wear a shirt like this to work out in a few months ago and I thought it was so cute. I found one really cheap at Ross and bought it. When I put it on though, it felt really nakedy. I wasn't sure if it was because I have NEVER worn anything see-thru before (and have never worn just a sports bra and shorts) or if it truely was inappropriate.

What does it say to you? Does it say "Look at me! I'm wearing a see-thru shirt!!!" or does it just say "trendy and keeping cool while working out?"

The shirt is extremely thin and soft and comfy...but that isn't why I bought it....I bought it because I thought it was cute. I do NOT, however, want to look like I'm trying to draw attention to myself (or my body) by wearing it. I know I'm probably making way too big of a deal about this...but I just wanted to see what ya'lls opinions are.

Oh great! Now I just thought about the fact that I am posting it for you all to see--so if you decide its "trashy" I've just shown it to everyone! wonderful...:o)

10 day challenge---can you handle it?

So maybe you're not up for a 90 day program right now (or maybe you're smackdab in the middle of one and are starting to slack off some)...whatever your current situation, I have a challenge for you:
There are 10 days until Thanksgiving. I propose that for the next 10 days we will:

1.)Eat clean with EVERY bite. No cheating. NO JUNK. Just high protien, good carbs and lots of fruits and veggies. My main hurdle with this will be not having dessert. I've gotten back into that awful habit of eating something sweet after every meal. Ugh!

2)Work out every day. I know that is a lot to ask...but we're only talking TEN days here. SURELY you can swing that for just 10 days right? (or at least that is what I'm asking myself!)

Matt and I are doing it as well as my mom. I want to see how many more people are on board???
Challenge yourself. See what you're made of. Prove it once and for all that YOU are in control..not your appetite, not your mood, not your surroundings! One thing that fires me up more than anything is thinking that I have "lost control". Maybe I'm a bit of a control freak..I don't know..but I will not be ruled by anything (other than God) and I will CERTAINLY NOT be ruled by my feelings or by my mood.
Reward yourself for accomplishments and happy times during these next 10 days by doing something GOOD for you body...like a invigorating work out rather than weighing it down with a big serving of sugar (cupcake/cake/cookie).
Who can argue this: You'll feel a heck of a lot better after that work out than you will after downing that bowl of icecream!!??!!

If you are a follower of my blog and you read this post and you don't leave me a comment and tell me that you are joining me, that's fine....just know that I will know that you are a WUSS! ;o)