I’m Stronger Than I Thought

Last Friday was my off Friday from work. We had a lot of things we needed or wanted to get done, so I tried my planning ahead trick.

I packed protein bars, cuties, drink add ins, and water.

And with my goods packed, I was able to resist the tempting gas station pizza pocket when C stopped for Mtn Dew and a burrito. And I didn’t feel like I had missed out. And gas station pizza pockets are one of my all time faves!

I also worked out on a Friday night. Something that is normally unheard of.

The rest of the weekend was HARD eating wise to get through.

Saturday was my brother’s birthday party. We had fajitas! YUM! I ate one tortilla with grilled chicken and a couple sprinkles of cheese. And with that, I made a huge salad with fajita fixins’ minus any sour cream/guac/queso. I had snacked on about 10 tortilla chips earlier, so I didn’t have any with my meal. I did have four bites of birthday cake… small bites. C and I went out afterwards. When I got home… I worked out!

Sunday, we went to an 80th birthday party for C’s uncle’s dad. I DID AMAZINGLY well. I had one little smokie, one meatball, one chip with a smidge of queso, and strawberries, grapes, and pineapple. I stayed away from the sweets buffet and the chocolate fountain. I did have ONE bite of C’s birthday cake.

Also Sunday was a superbowl party. I loaded a pita pocket with ham and LOTS of veggies for dinner. Later in the game, I had a cup of yogurt, 4 Triscuits, and a piece of cheddar. I worked out for 10 minutes, which, like Beck says, is better than 0 minutes.

And as fabulous as I thought I did, I woke up Monday morning 6 lbs heavier than I had been Sunday morning.

This was especially frustrating to me. I couldn’t figure out what happened.

Where did I go wrong? Salt on the crackers? Was it the birthday cake? Bloat because it was that TOM? Wait…Could it be? NOT ENOUGH WATER!?!?

I quickly wracked my brain for water consumption over the past couple of days… and while I was drinking only water, I didn’t meet my water goal on Saturday or Sunday for whatever reason.

So, during the day on Monday I ate lots of veggies and chugged that water knowing where I was headed that night: C’s cousin’s birthday party, where there was typical kid food – pizza.

2 slices of pizza and salad for me, and I took a piece of cake, but just ate a couple of bites with a small bit of ice cream… like just a couple of Tablespoons.

Followed with a workout and more water drinking.

Which seemed to work. My pants fit again this morning, and I feel mondo better. And the scale was slightly happier this morning… 4 pounds happier. I must have been retaining water. My guess is due to the extra salt (which I don’t normally eat… at all!) and lack of water.

All in all, I am really pleased with my long weekend/birthday/super bowl eating experiences. I never thought I would be mentally strong enough to eat just a couple of bites and push away my food.

And I didn’t feel deprived or like I was missing out, like I have in the past.

I’m pretty proud of myself for making this a lifestyle change instead of a crash diet!

P.S. Une Vie Saine is hosting a terrific giveaway for Peanut Butter Lovers!!! Check it out!

Love’s Motivation

Yesterday, I read a post on KLOVE’s website. 

They are going through the Love Dare and are Day 29 – Love’s Motivation.

The Love Dare is the awesome book you can see Kirk Cameron’s character on the movie Fireproof using to save his marriage.

And while your marriage may seem fine… You love each other, you get along, you enjoy spending time together, and things are great.

And that’s awesome!!!

I have to admit, I feel I have a great marriage, however, I am human and I feel it could be better.

We are approaching our one year anniversary next month, and I was thinking of everything that has happened in the last year.

And honestly, I wonder if we hadn’t prayed for each other and our marriage daily, if we would have made it.

I got sick on our honeymoon. C got sick right after… for two weeks!  I was rushed to the ER with kidney stones and severe dehydration. C pulled his groin in bootcamp class. C’s family lost a family friend after a long battle with cancer. C lost his main customer. We each had a parent come up with some pretty major health issues. We ended up moving out of our apartment, partly to save money, partly due to some neighbors that were for a lack of a better word, jerks. We in the process of buying land and building a house. And in the near future, we would like to start a family.

And while typing it out doesn’t seem like much… living with it at times, can be a struggle.

And I admit, I didn’t always make the best decisions, or fight fair.

So when I was reading Day 29, it really made me think… I mean REALLY think.

Particularly this part:

“Even marriage. “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” (Colossians 3:18).  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).

The love that’s demanded from you in marriage is not dependent on your mate’s sweetness or suitability.  The love between a husband and wife should have one chief objective: honoring the Lord with devotion and sincerity.  The fact that it blesses our beloved in the process is simply a wonderful, additional benefit.

This change of focus and perspective is crucial for a Christian.  Being able to wake up knowing that God is your source and supply – not just of your own needs but also those of your spouse – changes your whole reason for interacting with your mate.

No longer is it this imperfect person who decides how much love you’ll show, but rather it’s your omni-perfect God who can use even a flawed person like yourself to bestow loving favor on another.”

I can tell you, there are many times I don’t love my husband like that.

I have let things going on in our lives get to me, where I don’t show the most love and support to my husand.

And I can do better.

The dare that goes along with this story is: Before you see your spouse again today, pray for them by name and for their needs.  Whether it comes easy for you or not, say “I love you,” then express love to them in some tangible way.  Go to God in prayers again, thanking Him for giving you the privilege of loving this one special person – unconditionally, the way He loves both of you.

My goal is to try to do this every day, and not just on Day 29.

Turkey Chili Recipe from The Biggest Loser

I don’t know if you caught The Biggest Loser last night, but Bob made some fabulous Jennie-O turkey chili with the black and yellow teams.

It looked so good, I was totally wishing I was there so I could have a bowl!! I just knew this was a recipe I had to have.

Low and behold, The Examiner posted the mouth watering recipe right after the show aired.

I am hoping it’s as good as it looks!

Here’s the recipe straight from the article:

“Bob Harper showed the black and yellow teams how ground turkey can be an easy way to cut fat and calories from dishes like tacos and chili. On the Feb. 2 Biggest Loser, he whipped up this Jennie-O Black Bean Turkey Chili, which only has 220 calories per serving.

It’s also high in fiber and protein and really low in sodium. One great way to make chili is to prep everything and throw it in a slow cooker so that you have chili waiting for you at the end of the day.

Jennie-O Biggest Loser Black Bean Turkey Chili

1 (20-ounce) package Jennie-O Extra Lean Ground Turkey
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced (optional)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 (16-ounce) cans low-sodium whole tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
1 (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
8 ounce tomato sauce
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
4 tablespoons low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese

In a large stockpot, combine turkey, onion, red pepper, garlic, jalapeño peppers, chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, marjoram, red pepper flakes and cinnamon.

Cook mixture over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until turkey is no longer pink. Stir in tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Stir in beans and cilantro. Continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes. Serve topped with cheese.

Makes 6 servings.

Calories 220
Fat calories 20
Total Fat g 2.5
Sat Fat g 0.5
Chol mg 40
Sodium mg 190
Total Carb g 23
Fiber g 8
Sugars g 6
Protein g 29″

My Very First Blog Award!!

I was nominated for the Sugar Doll Award by Jen over at The Life Accounts!

I am super excited because this is my very first award!!!

Thank you Jen!!!

Now, on to my 10 interesting facts:

1. I can wiggle my ears! It’s such fun, because my neice and nephew are fascinated by this and watching them try to do it is hilarious!

2. I love to make things! Crochet, draw, take photos, make cards, scrapbook, cakes, try new recipes, etc!

3. I eat almost the same thing every day for breakfast. Yogurt in the spring/summer and oatmeal in the fall/winter. I’ve done this for years and never get tired of it! Recently, I started drinking Green Monster Smoothies at least 3 days a week.

4. I do not eat eggs. They make me super sick.

5. I accepted and worked at 5 jobs in a row right out of college before finding a place where I fit… and one that would pay me!

6. I would much rather text and email than talk on the phone. In fact, I can count on one hand the people I actually talk to on the phone… and usually 10 minutes is the max I talk.

7. My Love Language is gifts. And I love to give gifts… or cards!!

8. I was interviewed by Marie Claire magazine for being the last official finisher at Iron Girl Texas.

9. I had a drawing published in a magazine the month of my sixteenth birthday.

10. I tote a water bottle with me everywhere I go.

And now, my nominations….

There are MANY very fabulous blogs I read and love, but for this award, I opted to nominate some gals I can relate to most!

1. Hungry Little Runner – She’s lost a ton of weight doing weight watchers, she runs, and has some amazing stories to share!

2. A Nerd and A Free Spirit – Newlywed blog on their daily adventures. LOVE hearing the fun stuff they are up to!

3. iheartfootloose – Follow her on her journey throughout the year… photo style!

4. Sarah the Queen – Get some fabulous workout/running inspiration from this marathon maniac!!

5. Jen’s Runnings and Ramblings – She runs and she’s just all together awesome in every way!!

6. Confessions from the Bench – She’s going through the Insanity series right now… and she’s got great stories from being a coach’s wife!

7. Cindy Beall - Just an all around awesome Christian lady with great stories and advice on marriage, being a mommy, and ministry!

8. Mommy2Alex – She’s a super crafter/scrapbooker/seamstress and amazing mommy!!!

9. Our Unschooling Journey – She’s an amazing mom homeschooling her kiddos! There is never a dull moment, and they have fun learning!

10. Be Happy for This Moment – She’s an amazing mommy of three fantastic girls. I love following their week in pictures!

Ladies, what you do is list 1o interesting facts about you, and then nominate 10 other bloggers for this award!! Have fun!!

Beck Update

Ok, it’s been almost a month since I started applying the principles learned in the book The Complete Beck Diet for Life. So, I thought I would update my progress.

I have for the most part been following the first stage to a “t”. There have been a few times where I had to talk to myself the entire time I eat because I just want to inhale my food because I have gotten that hungry.

But I am happy to say, I don’t feel like I have been deprived of any food, like in previous diets. I have gotten to eat pretty much anything I want in moderation.

I have seem to have magically learned I don’t need dessert. But have enjoyed it when I did have it.

I don’t feel super tired from over exercising. I feel like I have found a healthy balance in hard workouts and number of times worked out.

I no longer feel the need to caffinate myself with Diet Pepsi or Diet Mtn Dew on a daily basis. In fact, I don’t really like the taste anymore.

I have gone down two complete jean sizes.

I have lost a total of 18 pounds!

I have more energry than I have had in a long time.

Since slowing down my eating, I have found that I don’t really like the taste of several foods I once thought I loved. The biggest surprise, was steak!

I have also found I love a whole list of different foods:
Green Monster Smoothies with skim milk, spinach, banana, Amazing Grass, JM Whey, and sometimes peanut butter
Turkey Pita with spinach, salsa, and RF cream cheese
Clif Z Bars
“Cookie Dough” made with protein powder, peanut butter, water, and a tsp of chocolate chips
Steamed veggies without butter

And some other milestones met:

I feel full after just a few bites at most meals.

I am satisfied with just a couple of bites of ice cream or other sweats.

I no longer obsess about what my next meal is, because I plan the entire next day’s food the night before.

My complexion is much clearer.

All of my clothes are baggy and feel more comfortable.

I sleep less.

I can honestly say, I actually feel confident I will succeed at reaching my ultimate weight loss goal. Thanks to Beck, I am ready to take on the (food) world… and continue to stage 2.

Laundry to the Ceiling

Sunday morning, I woke up, and knew this was the day.

The day to tackle our hamper full of laundry.

And it wasn’t just a little full… My husband and I had managed to artfully continue stacking our clothes until it was almost like a tower.

And that’s just the hamper in our bedroom.

Not to mention the hamper of towels in the bathroom.

I got things rolling. I sorted, hauled the clothes to the laundry room, and went to work.

It was an all day event.

And how thankful I am for the use of such a large washer and dryer. I think back to our apartment washer and dryer, and I just know that it would have taken a week to do what we did yesterday.

9 LOADS OF LAUNDRY!

Which, is two weeks worth of clothes… With everything going on in the past couple of weeks, it just really hasn’t been a priority.

Did I mention doing laundry was my least favorite chore in the whole entire world?

But I did something I have never done before…I folded and hung up laundry right as it came out of the dryer.

And really, doing laundry wasn’t so bad.

The key to enjoying your laundry experience?

Having a place to do it.

I think back to all the places I have ever done laundry, and I think for the first time in my life, I actually have a place to sort, fold, and hang up laundry.

A fabulous and functional laundry room are number two on my house wish list. (Dream kitchen is number one!)

Planned Food

One of the many useful, and simple things I am learning is about planned food.

Planned food is what you intend on eating for each meal for the entire day.

You could probably plan your food for an entire week, but I’m not to that point yet.

Now, I do tend to eat one of four things for breakfast every single day: protein bar, Green Monster Smoothie, Oatmeal, yogurt and almonds.

So that part is easy.

Also, my lunch has become fairly predictable as well.

Sandwich (usually turkey), no dressing, loaded with veggies. Unless it’s a peanut butter sandwich.

Sometimes I have a late afternoon snack, but I’ve been trying to drink lots of water or take a walk instead. It really depends on my hunger level.

But if I snack, it’s a protein bar (or 1/2 of one depending on calorie content) or a mini bag of the healthy popcorn.

Dinner’s are a bit more tricky. And I don’t really plan them. Because dinner is always up in the air because of the number of people in our house.

But no matter what, I stop eating well before I am full. And I don’t have dessert or an evening snack. Even though it’s very tempting because both my husband and father in law do. EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.

Most days sticking to my plan is easy. I know what I’m going to eat, and I know it will fuel me for my workouts.

Except on days like today.

These are the days where sticking to your planned food is the last thing you want to do. These are the days you don’t care how many calories you consume or if you don’t ever budge from the couch. These are the days you want to crawl under the covers and hide until everything passes.

But you can’t.

You have to face the world and what lies ahead.

And sticking to your planned food will help get through the chaos of life.

This morning, I swerved to miss a deer and wrecked my car. When C and I stopped at the gas station on the way to take my car home, I very much wanted some gas station food (pizza pocket, potato wedge, taquito, etc).

But fortunately, I paused to think, “Do I really want this? Or am I still shaken up from wrecking my car.”

Before I had a chance to question myself again, I whipped out my credit card and paid.

I had multi-grain cheerios and skim milk when I got home. Not my normal breakfast, but it was tasty.

When I arrived at work, the mound of paperwork had already begun. Deadlines are quickly approaching.

And I begin to think how great a Bacon Cheeseburger Toaster from Sonic… with onion rings would be.

Doh!

Things may have started out chaotic this morning, but that’s life and I can’t stop living because chaos happens.

And I know, had I given into and of my normal ‘go-to’ foods in a stressful situation, I would not only be stressed, but I would feel gross.

That’s what I have to keep telling myself.

And wouldn’t you know, not only did my turkey pita taste delish, but I felt way better about making that choice than any other.

Road ID Giveaway

If you have never owned a Road ID bracelet or anklet, you really should get one!

On the bracelet/anklet, you can list your name, emergency contact information, and even allergies or blood type… in case anything happens when you are out on the road running, biking, or even at the gym.

And what better way to get one, than to get it for free?!!?

Endurance Isn’t Only Physical is hosting a Road ID Giveaway. So click on over for your chance to win one of these fabulous products!

I love mine… and one day, it might save my life!

Finding Comfort

At one point or another, eventually, you are going to encounter times where you will seek comfort in your spouse.

But I never realized how often we would do that once we got married.

It seems that more often than not, we look to each other to fix what’s bothering us.

Bad days at work… frustrations with life… misunderstandings… hurt feelings… stress… life changes

And at the time, it seems like the natural thing to do… because we are right there. We can feel the love behind the embrace, and that helps.

But some hurt runs deeper than what any one person can fix.

Deeper than what one person can understand.

And that’s hard to cope with.

In the last few weeks, we have both been needing comfort for various reasons.

And a hug just doesn’t cut it.

I feel like I’ve been talking to God non stop trying to understand life… and I know I have to be patient, and wait on Him, but sometimes, I wonder if he hears me… or if I am listening well enough.

Or maybe my questions, don’t have answers… yet.

What are some Bible verses, quotes, or advice you’ve been given that helps you through tough times?

Last Chance Workout

If you have ever seen The Biggest Loser, you know that the day before each weigh in, they have a “Last Chance Workout”.

Recently, I purchased the workout DVD “Last Chance Workout” to encounter a little of what each contestant goes through that final day before weigh in.

The workout itself is intense, quick moving, and heart pounding.

But that’s not really the point of this post.

I got to thinking the other day… Here I am, in the state that I am in (really overweight and not so much happy with the fact I let myself get this way)… I really need to treat each workout as a “Last Chance Workout”.

This is my “last chance” to make a change. This could be my “last chance” that I am somewhat healthy and in no need of medications for something I can control with diet and exercise. And for several other things, like the contestants on the show, this could be my “last chance”.

I’m treating it as my “last chance” to prove (to myself) that I can do this… and stay that way FOREVER.

Today has been a hard day with eating… I brought my ‘planned food’, but I’m just not hungry for it. Or hungry for anything really. I couldn’t finish my Green Monster smoothie this morning. I did manage a blueberry bagel for lunch.

I  just can’t bring myself to eat my planned food. I can’t even finish my daily Diet Pepsi. 

And since I’m not hungry for my planned food, I’ve been battling to overcome past tendencies where I would mindlessly eat in front of my computer on a busy day in the office.

Even though I’m not hungry.

I went to my distractions list… I flossed. I got up and walked around. And now I’m blogging.

I figure this will be a battle for the rest of the work day… but I have faith I will overcome!