Tuesday, January 29, 2013

I am counting this day...A VICTORY!

Well gang, Today for me, was a day from the pits!  I will give you the cliff notes version...I had a 12 hour work day.  Highly stressed!  I can't even explain!  But none the less, I told myself we are sticking to detox mode.  Again, not a perfect day, I had a mid-afternoon slip up.  My co-worker and her kind and generous self offered to buy my coffee & a cookie!  So you know I could not resist!  That was the slip up for the day, and even after 12 hour day at work...I made to to spin class!  I got to spin class late, but I made it!  This was my first spin class since, I don't know when.  I am so out of practice!  Oh my!  

So a quick recap of today's eats just to keep me accountable:

Pre-Breakfast (eaten before leaving the house)
 Detox Beetroot Juice
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 apple
  • 3 celery stalks
  • 1 small beet
  • 3 leaves of Kale
  • 1/2 of a fennel bulb
Ran all through the juicer for a nice glass of yummy-ness and liver & kidney detoxing! 

There was no-mid morning snack

Lunch:  my prepacked veggie tray.  Cucumbers, celery, carrots, black beans, salsa & some hummus 

Mid Afternoon Snack:  White Chocolate Latte & a chocolate chip cookie from Coffee Bean

Dinner: the other 1/2 of my chia seed pudding

Workout:  55 minutes of Spinning
 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Trying to make a U-Turn

Here it is the end of January and I have finally decided it time for me to get back to the pre-holiday me!  Over the weekend I told myself its time to get back to my clean eating.  So like the eager beaver I tend to be, I bought lots of produce and was determined to get back on track starting today. 

By now you know I am gonna tell the truth...I got an A for effort and a D- for actual execution. Would you like to hear how this clean eating day went?  Of course you do, this why you are reading this blog!  LOL!

Breakfast:  White chocolate Latter & a Pepper Jack Cheese Croissant Grade: F

Mid Am Snack:  Ginger Tea with Lemon & a Green Apple  Grade:  A (being generous here)

Lunch:  My prepacked veggie plate consisting of celery sticks, tomatoes, and baby bell peppers, and 2 tablespoons of Hummus Grade A

Random Mid Afternoon snacks:  2 small fudge brownie bites; snack bag of Sour Cram & Onion Chips, 2 hard boiled eggs, and a whole avocado

Dinner:  Sauteed Mushrooms, 2 hard boiled eggs and Chia Seed pudding

Finished out the evening with a nice walk in the cold and man it was cold and very windy! 

So like I said, I am trying to make a U-Turn.  Todays attempt was not the greatest, but its a start.  Hopefully as the week progresses this will get better, and I can tighten up this eating thing. 
Friday, January 25, 2013

Choice: The Key to the Journey!

Today I woke up very proud of myself!  I made it to the gym last night, did some cardio & some weight training.  Then I got up this morning and was at the gym @ 5am.  Some more cardio and some more weight training. 

So after that great start to the day...Bad Choice...White Chocolate Latte and a Cheese danish for Breakfast!  After I ate, the little voice within said, you just undid everything you did this morning at the gym.  While that may very well be true, I did better for lunch.  I did not pack a lunch, so I went to Piknik, as restuarant in our office building and got what they call the Power Lunch.  Grilled Chicken Breast, Steamed Spinach, and Brown Rice.  Good Choice!  And may I add, it was very very tasty!

At about 2pm Kate says, I am going down to Mickey Fine do you want anything?  Bad Choice...Sour Cream & Cheddar Potato Chips & a bottle of pepsi!  And to finish off the Bad Choices:  Dinner..a Double Cheeseburger, fries, and a coke for dinner!

So tonight, I remind myself I can not out-train a bad diet!  I don't strive to be perfect and make good choices at all times.  But definately the good choices should definately outweigh the bad choices.  Unfortunately, right now the scale is tipped to the wrong side!  Must do better!  I have been a tad bit out of control since being on Vacation for Christmas.  So I know now its time for a nice good Detox, starting on Sunday! 

Time to ride my tongue, stomach, and mouth of all it's bad cravings!

Power Lunch from Piknik!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Measurement Log Updated...

As I mentioned last night, I finally sat down and took my measurements.  For some odd reason, I could not get unto Scribd to upload my spreadsheet, so I am going to try to copy & paste it here and hope for the best.  As soon as my computer decides to cooperate  with me, I will get it uploaded and it can be viewed on under the Weight & Measures Tab.


Date   6/13/2011   7/6/2011   8/12/2011   1/22/2013   Net Change
Wieght    371.9 289.8 (82.10)
Neck   16.25 15.5 15.25 16.6 0.35
Chest   57 52 51 48.3 (8.70)
Bicep   22.5 20.5 20.25 18.1 (4.40)
Forearm   13.75 12.5 12 --
Waist   59 52 50 44.6 (14.40)
Hips   66 59.75 59 61 (5.00)
Thigh   40.5 37 36.5 30.5 (10.00)
Calf   21 19 19 21.3 0.30
BMI    53 50.2 47.6 41.6 (11.40)

Overall I am happy with the numbers.  It sounds stupid to say since I weigh myself on a regular basis, but to acutally see that there is 82 pounds less of me in almost 2 years!  WOW!   I am a little disturbed by the hip number...Overall it is a loss, but its still 2 inches bigger than it was 2 years ago! OH NO!  I am going to tell myself its 2 inches of muscle! LOL!


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

New Toy: Digital Tape Measure

Well I am sure we have all heard the usual antics, weight loss can't only be measured by the number on the scale!  I had a desire for months to get back start taking my measurements.  It's hard this time around cause I have no one to take my measurements!  My little eager mind went to google and after literally seconds of searching, I found a digital tape measure!  I can now measure myself!  No need for a companion. 

Here it is on the Walmart Website, I did however buy mine on Amazon, it was a little cheaper, but now the price on Amazon has skyrocketed!  http://www.walmart.com/ip/Health-o-Meter-Digital-Tape-Measure/20512802

So I tried it out, and wow, it is so easy to use!  I am impressed!  Well My measurements have been taken and I decided to go back to my last measurements, which sadly was in August of 2011!  I will update my measurement spreadsheet in the morning, I don't feel up to it now.  But there was some losses and some increases in my measurements!  LOL!  Of course this would only happen to me.

So over all after my first try with the tape measure it does the trick!  If you are looking for a way to measure yourself, I recommend it!
Sunday, January 20, 2013

Week in Review...

 What a week...It had many ups and many downs!  But a few things started back up this week!  I started juicing again, and I really did mean to blog every day about the juicing and as you can see that did not happen.  I tried a few new recipes...and they were all yummy!  Started back up my neighborhood walks, not really by choice, but I started them back up!  And today it was almost 80 degrees in Southern California so guess what I did...BIKE RIDE!  My first ride since October 2012..got a tad bit over 10 miles in. 

New Thing #1...Crock Pot Soups Returned!  
I bought a small personal crock pop maybe 2 years ago, that I keep at work.  The beginning of the work week it was extremely cold so I decided to pull out the crock pot and make some soup for lunch.



 Juicing Restarted
Well as I mentioned, I re-started juicing. I only took 1 picture of my juice, and I have forgotten its name.  But here are the ingredients:
  • Romaine Lettuce 4 leaves
  • One apple
  • One Small Beet
  • 1/2 Fennel Bulb
  • 1/2 Cucumber
 





And the New Recipes
I can't remember if I have ever mentioned my love for Chia Seeds on this blog.  But please know that I love Chia Seeds!  I got an email about a 3-detox and one of the detox foods was a Chia Seed Pudding!  I finally Tried it!  The Ingredients:
  • 4 Tablespoons of Chia Seeds
  • 1 1/2 Cup of Nut Milk (I used vanilla Almond Milk)
  • 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon Agave Nectar (but the recipe said honey)
Shake all the ingredients together and let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes.  Believe it or not, it really does jell Up just like pudding and I promise you its tasty.  It has become a snack throughout the week and another way for me to get my Chia Seeds in!  Its a little sweet, so you really can have it as a dessert if you have a sweet tooth.  I know it looks nasty, but its good.  I promise!



For months I had been saving this recipe off of the Fitness Recipes page on Facebook, and agian, decided to try it.   It may sound odd, but the recipe calls for you to blend, spinach, and parmesan cheese in with your eggs and scramble it.  I took that Idea and did something a tad different:
  • 1/2 green pepper
  • 1/2 red pepper
  • handful of spinach
  • 4 eggs
I didn't add any cheese to mine, but I threw it all in and scrambled it.  It was very good, and I think I will do this more often.  It is a great way to get more veggies into my diet! 


My First Bike Ride of 2013
A lovely SO CAL DAY!  Headed to the beach and got 10 miles in!  WooHoo!
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/152986615?user=1940300

Okay now that I have updated you with all things for the week, I guess I will wrap this up.  Have a wonderful day!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Crock Pot Soup...It's Back!

It has been unseasonably cold here in Los Angeles.   I think this is the coldest it has been since I moved here.  I am still trying to battle this cold, and I for a while I think I was losing.  I stayed home Monday and let me tell you that made a world of difference being able to rest.

So this cold weather and cold that I have made me make soup! I could not think of a better way to stay warm and to help me get rid of this cold.  So if you don't know, I want to inform you that I keep a crockpot in the office!  I almost have a fully functioning kitchen at work.  I have a blender, crock pot, and a skillet!  So it was time to pull out the crockpot and made my soup for lunch fresh in the office!

Sunday night I took the time to prep, washed all my produce, cut them up, packaged them into ziploc/hefty bags..and I was ready to roll!  So today's soup was a few handfuls of Trader Joe's southern Greens Blend, a hand full of red cabbage, some chopped red & green peppers, cilantro, chicken broth, lemon juice, chicken and brown rice!  In about 2 hours my soup was ready to be eaten and it was good.  Everyone in the office said it smelled really good!





Despite the cold, I decided to finish of the day with walking home from the bus stop instead of taking the bus all the way home.  It was a bit uncomfortable walking in my work clothes, coat, and my purse, but I got some movement in, and that is all that matters!   When it was all said and done, it was almost 2 miles done.  1.92 miles done to be exact!  Over all a good day!  



Saturday, January 12, 2013

Compliments and Butt Kicking!

Here it is 11am on a Saturday and I am laying in bed! Believe me when I say I am tired!  And that is an understatement!  I started the morning off with a weight training class, called the ABC workout.  It is only my second time trying it, and oh my goodness, it was harder than the first time I took the class!  I very good workout, but I am worn out!

While in the class a lady came over to me and said, "I just want you to know that you are doing very well", some of us have been taking this class a long time and its still hard for us!  Even though I appreciate the kind words of the complete stranger, I feel so incompetent sometimes in those classes.  I can't jump rope for 2 minutes, I can't do burpees and some of the other exercises.  I get an "A" for effort, but maybe a "C" in execution.

Also Thursday night when I showed up at the gym I ran into stranger gym guy! LOL.  I don't know his name, but he seem to be on the same gym schedule we end up on the elevator or the parking garage at the same time.  But he said to me on Thursday, that I was doing really well, and that soon when I turn side ways he wouldn't be able to see me!  HIlarious!  I have a long way to go until I get to that point.  But I guess people are noticing changes.  Unfortunately, I still am not seeing them, but oh well! 
Thursday, January 10, 2013

First of the Year...FLU!!!

Nothing exciting to report, but I am so bored!

Not much blogging going on, but I have been under the weather.  That is no excuse, but that is my reason for laying low.  Here I am 10 days into the New Year and I am still fighting off this pesky cold/flu!

I have been thinking about what my goals would be for this year.  I think my list is ready, but I will sleep on it for one more day.  The list will be short this year and I think my list is more personal growth items that weight loss items.  I only have one weight loss goal, and it's a big goal, but I can do it.  I have 365 days to get it done.

I feel that this is going to be a great year.  The year has started off with new friendships, which I am excited to see them grow.  My heart continues to desire more for myself, better for myself, and more importantly to draw closer to the true and living God.  It's time for freedom and it's time for release.  That word RELEASE..it's big one! It hold within it so much!  So this goal list is definitely short and more focused this year.

On a more on the spot note, I had the most wonderful salad for lunch today from Piknik, the Salmon Nicoise Salad!  It was and is truly the most amazing salad I have tasted in my life!  It was the lunch special for today, but I hope its a regular menu item.  I have to get that more often, or at least attempt to make it on my own!  I feel a day of cooking in my future!




Wednesday, January 2, 2013

What to do? What to Do?

Okay this is not much of a post...but it is now 2013!  WOW.
It is time for setting new goals!  I just don't know what they should be!  I am going to take this week to gather myself and come up with some goals.  Stay Tuned!

I hope you all had a great New Year!  Looking forward to completely LOSING it in 2013!!!!

Kyra