New Goals

So the Half-Marathon was really fun and exciting! I loved it. I didn't reach my goal weight beforehand, but that's OK. I have new goals now. First of all, I definitely want to run another Half soon and Nate wants to do it with me. There is one here in Spokane on October 9th, but the problem is that it's on a Sunday. I'm trying to decide if I should do that or not. I think I will try to find one that's on a Saturday.

I've set a new weight goal, so I updated my ticker at the top. I had a major "Ah ha" moment a couple days ago after finally realizing how tired I am of dieting. Seriously. I have always known that people need to make permanent lifestyle changes if they want to lose weight and keep it off, but it finally clicked with me. I don't want to gain and lose the same 10+ pounds throughout my life. I have to start making changes that I know I can stick with. I usually make drastic cuts in my calories, lose 5-7 pounds pretty fast, and then get really tired of restricting myself and then gain the weight back. Annoying.

So my new goal is to make smaller, more sensible changes and hopefully I won't feel like I'm constantly dieting anymore.

These people are amazing

My new favorite lunch

I've made the same thing for lunch everyday for like 5 days in a row and I still love it. It's a super fast, low-cal, low-fat "Chicken Salad Pita". Here's how I make it:


(1 serving) Mix together:

2 or 3 oz. of grilled chicken breast, cubed

1/2 stalk celery, chopped

1/4 of an apple, chopped

A few grapes, halved

A few walnuts, chopped

1-2 Tablespoons of Miracle Whip or Light Mayo

Put it in a whole wheat pita. It's only about 250 calories and it's really good and filling! I love it.

I use these grilled chicken strips from Costco.

These are the pita pockets I buy:

P.S. I've lost about 4 pounds so far. Yay! My goal is to lose 4 more before my half-marathon.

Less than 2 weeks!

Our Half-Marathon is in 12 days! I'm pretty excited for it. It's so fun to have friends to run it with! Last Saturday (the 16th) we ran 12 miles. It went really well. I never thought I would run 12 miles in my life. The last 2 miles were really hard for me, and I was just praying for the energy to keep going. I was so proud of myself when I reached the end.

Running increases self-confidence more than anything I've done in my life. When you've been running for 10 miles and your body is begging you to stop, but your mind keeps you going to the end, you feel like you can do anything. I've been surprised at how much of running is really about mental strength and endurance, not just physical. The thing I have loved the most about running is the opportunity it has given me to prove to myself that I can do hard things. In everyday life, I don't get a lot of opportunities like that. I guess that's because I avoid things that are hard. :)

I hope that I keep setting goals with running, so that I don't ever stop being active. I think I will sign up for a 10K after this Half-Marathon. And then maybe I'll do another Half-Marathon next year.

Hello!

I've decided to come back and update this blog. So here is what's up with me:

My half-marathon is in 3 weeks and 3 days. Training is going pretty well. We ran 10 miles on Saturday and it was way better than I expected. Don't get me wrong- it was HARD. But not super horrible. I was so proud of myself for being able to do it. This Saturday we are running 12 miles. Yikes. But then we taper back down up until the race, so that's a relief. I get so nervous to run long distances. I'm always so afraid that something will go wrong and I will have to stop and then I will be disappointed in myself.

So, you would think with all this running I would have lost a bunch of weight. Not so much. Everyone told me not to expect to lose weight, but I still hoped I would. I'm a firm believer that diet is crucial to weight loss, especially for me. I've been eating a little more since I've been running because #1. I feel entitled to, and #2. I feel like I need more energy/nutrition to keep me going.

But now that I'm about 3.5 weeks away from the race I really, really want to lose some weight. I want to look like an athlete when I run the race. Plus, it's summer-time and I want to wear a swimsuit comfortably-ish. So after months of not really focusing on my diet, I just started counting calories again and trying to Eat Clean. It works everytime I do it, but it's hard, so I'm not looking forward to it. But I am looking forward to my clothes fitting better. This time I need to maintain my weight loss. That's the hardest part for me.

My goal is to lose 7 - 8 pounds by August 5th. I have a new ticker at the top to track my progress.

This is me back in late January when I was at the weight that I hope to be by August 5th. I was also lifting weights regularly, so I need to get back to that. Ready, go!

Workout Buddy

I have always heard how much it helps to have someone to work out with, and now I see why. My friend, Jenny, is training for the Half-Marathon with me and I can't believe how much better it is to run with a friend. Not only is the run more enjoyable and fun, but you have so much more accountability. When my alarm goes off in the morning I don't have to ask myself, "should I run today?" My decision is already made and I know that Jenny will be on her way to my house within a few minutes. I am so excited to have a friend to accomplish this goal with.

Also, if you want to exercise consistently, I think it is SO IMPORTANT to have a goal to work towards. Some people are motivated simply by their love of exercise, but for many of us, that is not enough. I've been surprised at how my view of running has changed. I don't think of it as just "going for a run." I think of it as getting one step closer to my goal. If you think of yourself as an athlete in training, I believe you are more likely to stick to your goals and stay motivated.

Half-marathon

I started training for a half-marathon on Tuesday. Yikes! I'm nervous, but I'm also really excited! I love having something to look forward to.

These are the ones that I am deciding between:

Sat, July 30
Anacortes Art Dash Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
Anacortes, WA

Sat, Aug. 6
Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon
Tacoma, WA


Sat, Aug. 6
Grand Ridge Trail Half Marathon, 50K & 5-Mile Run
Issaquah, WA

Sat, Aug. 13
Cougar Mountain Trail Running Series Half Marathon
Bellevue, WA

Quinoa

I made quinoa (keen-wah) for the first time today. It was pretty good! This is a super healthy recipe. Low-calorie and low-fat. It looks kinda like barf, but it tastes good. If that's not a great endorsement, I don't know what is. Quinoa and Black Beans 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper salt and pepper to taste 1 cup frozen corn kernels 1 or 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained (I THINK ONE CAN IS ENOUGH) 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro Directions: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and saute until lightly browned. Mix quinoa into the saucepan and cover with vegetable broth. Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, Stir frozen corn into the saucepan, and continue to simmer about 5 minutes until heated through. Mix in the black beans and cilantro. BEST SERVED COLD.

Just do it.

Have you ever thought about the Nike slogan? So simple, yet it's exactly what we all need to hear. Quit complaining and just do it. I'm talking to myself here. I am done with this whole "I'm super lazy and eat whatever I want" thing. I'm over it. It's tough because I feel so free when I allow myself to eat anything and everything, but it's just not worth it because my clothes are getting tighter by the second. Not cool.

Summer is coming soon (ish?) and I don't want to spend another summer avoiding my swimsuit like the plague. I want to enjoy life and feel confident. I know what I need to do. I just need to actually do it. And I will.




In other news, Jessica Biel is awesome.

Ugh.

That pretty much sums it up. The Sugar Fast was a big failure. I'm just so... blah lately. I don't even have words for it. So that's my update. Anyday now I'm gonna be motivated again. Wait for it...

The Great Sugar Fast!!

Have you heard of it? No, you haven't because I just made it up. Ok, so here's the problem: I eat way too much sugary stuff. I eat healthy meals all day long and then at night I crave sweets (ie. cookies and ice cream) like a crazy person.

So what if I just said, NO!? That's what I'm gonna do. For 2 whole weeks. That's like eternity in my mind, just so you know. I've never done anything like this. I just feel like I need a break from the over-consumption of crap.

The only sweet stuff I will be eating is fruit. Wish me luck. Oh, does anyone want to join me? I didn't think so.

Starting... NOW!!

Losin' weight... la la la

Update:

On January 2nd I got really serious about eating clean and exercising. I started working out 5 days a week (running/walking, weight lifting, and pilates). I lost 6 pounds in about 2 weeks. I felt awesome! But sadly, I've started wavering in my dedication this past week or so. It sucks. I have a really hard time sticking to my healthy goals. I just lose my focus really easily. Well anyway, here is how I looked 10 days ago:

I've gained a couple pounds back since then, but I won't let that get me down. I have big plans, folks. Big plans! Get excited about my next post. :) I'm totally psyching myself up for this.

Delicious CLEAN recipe

Wow, I am surprised how good these are!! Ground turkey is a healthier choice than beef. I just got some at Costco a couple days ago and I can't wait to try new recipes. These meatloaf muffins are only 80 calories each and so tasty! HERE is a video on how to make them. Super easy.

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

2 lbs ground turkey (or chicken)
3 egg whites
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dry yellow mustard
2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp chipotle pepper spice
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp garlic powder (2 cloves minced)
1 small onion (finely chopped)
2 celery stalks (finely chopped)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray muffin pan with canola or olive oil.
Mix all your ingredients together in one large bowl.
Roll the mixture into balls and place in muffin pan. Muffins should be about the size of a racquetball.

Bake for 40 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins. Serving Size: 2 muffins

This is how mine looked...

If you're real fancy you could put spinach and mashed potatoes on top. But if you're eating clean, sweet potatoes are a better option than regular potatoes.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Did anyone else watch Ren and Stimpy when they were little? No? Ok, then you don't get the title of this post. Anyway, here's what's new...


For the past 10 days or so, I've been really diligent about eating clean and working out almost everyday and I feel grrreat!

At the gym I either speed-walk at an incline or jog for 30 minutes, and then I do about 45 minutes of weights and toning exercises. I am seeing changes already and it's the best feeling.

Eating clean is not easy. Actually it's pretty difficult. "Clean" foods are so different from the things most of us are used to eating, (ie. processed foods, lots of sugar and fat, large portions, etc.). Eating clean means eating natural, unprocessed foods like fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, nuts, you know... the healthy stuff that God made for us.

I'm not trying to force everyone to eat clean, but I just want you to know that it's the only way to find real happiness in life. Ha ha ha. But really, it's a great way to eat and it makes me happy. I know I've talked about it many times before, but here are the clean eating basics, if you're interested:

EATING CLEAN:

Eat small meals, five to six times a day. This will help satisfy hunger, plus leave room for another small meal in two to three hours. Your metabolism will be on high all day! As a tip, try to keep each meal between 300 and 400 calories and read nutrition labels to give you a hand.

Combine right. Eat lean protein (e.g., fish, chicken, turkey, egg whites, etc.) and complex carbohydrates (e.g., whole grains, fruits, vegetables) together at every meal. This super-charged combination keeps metabolism balanced and insulin levels in check.

Portion control. The golden rule: Getting clean food is just part of the full clean eating picture – you have to apply the basic principles of serving sizes, too. A protein serving should be the size of your palm; complex carbs from whole grains and starches is the amount you can hold in a cupped hand; and complex carbohydrates from fruits and veggies is the amount you can hold in two hands cupped together.

Drink lots of water. It keeps everything running smoothly and you just feel good when you're well hydrated.

If you like Success Stories...

This one is really inspiring!

Allison Earnst

“If you had told me a year ago that I would be on Miami Beach in a bikini with a photographer, I would have thought you were out of your mind!"

Height: 5'7 Heaviest Weight: 186 lb Current Weight: 133 lb

My Journey:

For some, it’s alcohol and cigarettes. For me, it was fast food and TV. I remember making more trips to fast food restaurants than to the gym and I was literally on a first name basis with the girl that worked the lunch shift at the burger place on the corner.

I remember slowly going up a pants size … then another ... and another. I snacked on leftovers, breezed thru drive-thrus and did not set aside any time to exercise. I put myself last on the list of “things to do” but never seemed to get that far down the list.

That was until one day it “clicked.” I was sick of being tired and overweight and unhealthy. I had just given birth to my third child six months earlier when it hit me like a ton of bricks. I not only needed and wanted to be healthy for my three young children but also for myself. I wanted to be an example of a strong and healthy mom and, most of all, I realized that I was worth spending the time it took to plan meals to eat healthy and get my daily workouts. I was ready.

At this point I was approaching 200 pounds. I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror and I was feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. I started slowly. I cut down my fast-food consumption from several times a week to once a week. I made slow changes to my diet and educated myself on the importance of clean eating. I subscribed to Oxygen Magazine and got lots of new workout and recipe ideas. It opened up a whole new world for me. It did take more time to plan and prepare healthy things but I knew that the payoff would be priceless. So I started working out consistently and eating clean and the pounds started coming off.

I realized that it’s like building a house. You can’t build your dream home without the knowledge and the tools to do so. I was not going to be able to build my dream body alone. I used all of the resources around me to learn how to work out and how to eat right. There were so many ideas of ways to mix up recipes and workouts that before long, I had a huge knowledge base and was prepared and confident. The more fit I got, the more fit I wanted to be. It was such an amazing thing to see what could happen when I believed in myself and fully committed to something. After dropping the first 20 pounds or so, I got a trainer that would help me keep on track and focused. Over the course of five months or so, I was down over 40 pounds. I decided to take the ultimate challenge and I started training for a marathon. I trained with a group for about four months and completed my first marathon. I was so proud. The marathon represented, to me, my weight-loss journey. It was tough and there were times I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish and wanted to give up. But, most of all, it was a concrete example of how I had wanted something, believed in myself, prepared myself and did it!

I am still working hard and have so many upcoming goals and dreams and I know I will accomplish them. This journey has taught me that you really can do whatever you put your mind to. You just believe in yourself and visualize what you want and you will make it happen. The possibilities truly are endless. I just had my first fitness photo shoot and that was so exciting. If you had told me a year ago that I would be on Miami Beach in a bikini with a photographer, I would have thought you were out of your mind. But I did it. And I will do it again and again hopefully. And I got some great shots. I still look at the pictures and think, “Wow! That’s me!”

You just have to want it. It’s something that no one else can do for you and there is no magic pill. You have to eat clean and you have to move your body. You have to explore and learn discipline from beginning to end. Through this experience, I learned to push myself beyond what was expected and what was comfortable and to really challenge myself. I am important and I am worth putting myself first and living my life so that I can be the absolute best that I can be.