Recent Happenings - Plus Weigh-in!

My four week challenge of not weighing in was a complete success! Over the 4 weeks of just focusing on being healthy i managed to dance my way down 5.5lbs. The following week, i was down another 1.3lbs so i'm almost 7lbs down over 5 weeks time. It's a Valentine's day miracle! Well, not really, it's because i said no to chocolate on Valentine's day. Self-control people!

Which brings us to another weigh in tomorrow, we'll see how that one goes! My new goal is to be down 10lbs and a dress size by April 6th. Holiday weight be gone.

So speaking of Valentine's day. This year instead of doing the traditional binge on sweets and grease or pasta we had a healthy dinner of sushi. Way to stay on plan! I'm super proud of hubby and i for having a great 6 weeks in the eating department. We still have a ways to go to get us back where we were before my pregnancy with the twins but we are well on our way.

I started Weight Watchers back this week. SO happy about that. I adore Weight Watchers. It really seems to help simplify things for me and takes the guesswork out of which foods are good to eat. 5 points for those potato chips or 0 points for that bowl of pineapple? HELLO easy decisions.

I'm also starting a new workout routine of every other day now. My workouts are getting harder and my muscles are getting more sore every time so my body needs the time off to recover. It will be interesting. I'm so stuck on having to workout every single day that it feels like i'm cheating to take a day off.

Non fitness related news -

My kids are wild and crazy and i'm pretty sure i will never sleep again!

People always ask me how i do it and how i find the time and they assume my kids are nice and calm, play to themselves, sleep when they are supposed to.

No...

Not even a little bit.

I'm tired. I am ALWAYS tired. I am ALWAYS busy. My monsters (twins) do not take care of themselves, nor are they ever quiet. They are the biggest challenge i have ever faced. Losing 100lbs was easier. Giving up chocolate would be easier. Shaving my head and getting a tattoo on my face...

Would

Be

Easier.

The twins still do not sleep through the night, the are opinionated, loud, and rambunctious. This mama was not made to handle rough and tumble boys! They are starting to talk, but still not able to which upsets them that we don't always understand their wants and needs. They are teething canines (finally their last teeth!), they are running a mile a minute, and showing more personality every day. It's very obvious that D will be the ringleader of everyone and will take roll as the bossy older brother - even of L. J is adorable, and loving, but when he's unhappy, everyone within a mile radius knows. J is also quite the womanizer and has been stopped numerous times trying to run off with pretty women of his liking.

L is finally through the "terrible 2's &3's" and is amazingly smart. No argument can be won against her because she will logically explain how she is right and you are wrong. She is also an amazing big sister, and mommy's helper. I can only hope that the monsters grow up to be as great a kid as she is.

Together they are all a massive handful. I'm glad they are all so close together in age, they are all best friends already, but they are tough. Most days i am begging for bedtime by 5pm, somewhere around the time that i'm trying to cook dinner while D is hanging off my leg screaming, J is trying to stick his hand in the hot oven, and L is running around the room in circles acting like she's on fire, but i wouldn't have it any other way.

So how do i do it?

I'll get back to you on that in about five years!

For now, Eat, sleep, breathe, laugh, love, enjoy, repeat!

There Is No Magic Number

One of my friends posted a link to a fantastic article that kind of goes along with my "Food" entry from yesterday. I covered some basic rules for eating and weight loss, but i didn't include information about the dreaded weight loss plateau. You are just starting out or need a refresher course? Great, then that entry is perfect for you! Been at it a while and stuck? Maybe this one is better.

5 Reasons You Might Not Be Losing Weight is an article on Beachbody's Website (found via the Turbofire FB page and my awesome friend Sam) that covers some pretty awesome basics of plateaus. What really hit home to me though was the 5th reason which touches on eating more to lose more.

When you are losing weight, do you allow yourself cheat days? Cheat meals? How often?

Do you stick to the perfect 1200 calories every single day? Ok fine, but do you workout on top of that? Consistently eating only 1200 calories a day and working out on top of that without eating any calories back seems like a great idea in the beginning, but not so much when your body gets used to it and plateaus. Why? Because you are starving it. Your body needs a minimum of 1200 calories a day, if you are burning 500 calories a day, then you need to make sure you are eating some healthy foods to make up for that loss to keep you around the 1200 mark in the very least.

That's not to say that every day you can walk on the treadmill for an hour and go out and binge eat, but your body needs change and it needs you to keep it moving and guessing.

This article says to eat MORE calories to lose weight, and it's hard for any of us to wrap our heads around that, but it's true. I'm a firm believer in cheat days and calorie cycling. I still have plateaus but i can work my way out of them a lot easier with higher calorie days. A normal week for me includes 1 high calorie day, 1 medium/high calorie day, 3 medium/normal calorie days, and 2 low calorie days. My cheat day obviously being the higher calorie day and my lowest calorie day is near the end of my week when i take a day off from working out.

That's a lot of words to simply state -  DON'T STARVE YOURSELF! You will not lose weight that way long term, you will not keep that little bit of weight off, and you will not like the person you see in the mirror. No matter what you have come to believe "1200" is not the magic, problem-solving number that we all make it out to be.

Funny

Great movie

But...don't do this ;-)

My Rules To Live By - Food

This is the BIG one. Honestly probably the most simple topic of all, yet so in depth that i have been avoiding it. Most doctors and trainers will tell you that in weight loss, food is 80% of the battle, so here we are.

Simple rule of weight loss - Calories in, Calories out.

Simple rule of weight loss - You are what you eat.

Simple rule of weight loss - Abs are made in the kitchen.

Simple rule of weight loss - Weight loss isn't found in a bottle.

Simple rule of weight loss - Fads DIE, as they should.

In this entry, i'm not going to talk about WHAT to eat, as that is different for everyone. We all know we should eat more veggies, lean protein, stay away from fast food and sugar. Basic knowledge! So i'm not going to give you a shopping list and have you go get everything on it to last you a week then leave you lost. I'm going to teach you how to shop the right way for you and your family.

Calories in, Calories out -

SIMPLE. Burn what you eat. That slice of pizza you want so bad? You can have it, but do you know how many hours in the gym you are going to have to log to rid your body of it? Lots. It's not about depriving yourself of foods you love. It's about learning to eat healthier versions of them, and understanding that you have to be willing to put in the effort to burn those calories off later.

You are what you eat -

Think it's just a funny saying? A myth? One of those funny facebook ecards of a slice of pizza with legs running around a track?

No. It's truth. It's not meant in a mean way, or a way to belittle anyone, but let's be honest about something... how do you feel after throwing back that value meal from Burger King? I bet you don't feel like going out an running a marathon. I bet you don't even feel like getting up off your couch. Food is all about providing fuel for your body. You wouldn't pour sugar in your car's gas tank and expect it to run, so why put crap in your body then complain that you don't feel great?

I usually have my cheat days on the weekend (it varies between Saturday or Sunday), and let me tell you, if i overdo it then i KNOW and i don't just know right then, i usually know it for hours, and even going in to the next day. Getting up and lacing on my running shoes the morning after eating poorly is one of the hardest things ever.

Abs are made in the kitchen -

This is a new one for me. I never really heard this until i joined a bunch of fitness sites and pages on facebook. Many women ask how they can get rid of that little pooch they don't like, the mommy belly, the flabby skin, and the big answer is always "Abs are made in the kitchen". You can't expect to do 1000 crunches a day, eat fatty foods, and have a 6 pack. It doesn't work that way. You need to get that layer of fat off your abs so you can see them in all their washboard glory (saying this to myself here, those abs are in there SOMEWHERE!). Eat clean (Definition here), lay off the processed food, stick to doing your grocery shopping in the perimeters of the grocery store. Build those abs!

Weight loss isn't found in a bottle -

It's not. Simple. I don't care what those bottles claim. "It's safe, it's only to boost my metabolism!", "But it has natural products in it!", "All those people in the infomercials said it works!", "My friends doctor says it's ok!". Don't listen. If it's not a vitamin, not prescribed by your doctor, and it has stuff in it you can't pronounce, don't take it. Plus all the metabolism boosting in the world isn't going to make you loose weight if you don't use all the energy to burn calories!

Fads Die -

We have all heard of those popular fad diets that go around. I won't mention the names because that just seems mean and wrong, but are you really willing to throw your money at something that is going to make you starve yourself for weeks on end to lose weight? Know what that's called? Starving yourself to lose weight. The pills and fads have nothing to do with it. What "fads" do i like?

I don't like to call them fads, but if you do feel you need help then there are some great options out there for you that still focus on healthy eating and not fads.

Weight watchers -

I love weight watchers. I would still be going to meetings if i hadn't moved farther away from meeting locations. I love that they teach you how to wisely use your points (calories) to make it from day to day without feeling deprived. What else do i love? They teach you that it's ok to slip up. Picking up the kids late from soccer practice, having a girls night out? It's ok, just choose something within your points and move on. It doesn't always have to be a salad.

Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem -

I have no problem with these. They teach you healthy eating and potion control. Plain and simple.

Paleo -

Pretty much on track with clean eating. I honestly can't see anything wrong with this "fad".

That's it. No pills, no real fads, no quick promises. All three of those fads have the same thing in common, healthy eating.

Everyone wants a quick fix and thinks there is a secret. There is no secret, the "quick fix" is right under your nose.

Eat more veggies. There are tons, there has to be something out there you will like!
Eat fruit instead of cakes and cookies.
Eat more protein to fill you up longer.
Eat whole grains instead of starchy, bleached out, white grains.
Shop the perimeters of the store, stay far away from the aisles.
Don't drink your calories. Water, Water, Water.
Don't skip breakfast, it won't help you lose weight.
Don't deprive yourself of treats.
Find substitutes for your favorite foods that will taste just as good.
Count your calories (or points, or fat grams, whatever you choose), ALWAYS.
Measure your food.
Eat all the colors of the rainbow, the more colorful your meal is the more healthy it is! (and i'm not talking about ketchup, pickles, and mustard!)
Most of all, enjoy the food you are eating. Healthy eating does not have to be boring and bland, make it exciting and you are more likely to stick to it!

Just Dance 4 - Review

5 hours.

That's how long i have played this game since Monday, and that is not even including today! I love it, seriously. As much as i loved Just Dance 3, i love this one 100x more. My husband says he really can't see a huge difference in the two but i can. To me, it is worlds different, and super addicting!

So far, here's what i see that is different -

Just Sweat and Just Dance are two completely different categories now, there aren't just sweat points that you can earn, it's a whole new system. You get to choose whole new routines that keep you moving nonstop. My major complaint about the last game was that i would have to stop and choose my next song, so my heart rate was coming down while doing so but this one keeps you moving. Not only are there routines but each one has a theme, there's cheer camp (set to punk rock music), latin dance (world music), and even a kickboxing/martial arts routine. It also chooses your next song based on your intensity. AWESOME. It shows you if you are losing steam or heating up, i love this feature and it really helps me push myself to see how far i can go. Then you get to choose how long your workout will be, 10 - 45 minutes long, and at the very end you get a cool down portion of stretching. They are finally getting that people are using these games for weight loss and have incorporated all these features to help.

The new features don't stop there, that's just how the Just Sweat portion of the game differs from the last game. There are tons of new songs, obviously, and the routines are harder. You also have different goals on every song, not just getting gold moves, it wants you to perfect the dance. This is cool because it's more like a game, it's something to work toward so it keeps you coming back.

This game has also added something called "Mojo" points. You receive points for every song you finish, and points for completing goals. Once you level up with these points, you unlock new features, sometimes even whole new dance routines.

You can buy songs. I love this, love it. When you think you are getting bored with the game, but still want to play it, you can just download more songs for it. I have the wii version and wii points aren't all that expensive so i love it. No need for a whole new game when you are getting bored, just a new song to perfect.

So what's the best part about this game? It's addicting, it's FUN, and it will make you drip in sweat if you want it to. You will laugh at yourself through some routines, and feel like a rockstar while doing others. You will want to workout, without even realizing you are working out, and you will definitely 100% not be bored.

Recent Diva Happenings

I finally feel like i am 100% back on track. I'm still having battles with my fast good addiction but i'm caring about it and being mindful, i'm actively trying to avoid it and that's what matters. I'm starting to get my workout addiction back and i'm loving it. I think it has to do with all the new workouts and workout gear i received over the holidays, i'm no longer bored with the same old routine!

I finally got sick of weighing in on my wii, and since it was being a little wonky anyways i ordered my first "big girl" scale. It reads quite a bit different from my wii, and not in the good direction, but it's a new start and i'm ok with that. I love how consistent it is and can't wait to put it to good use on weekly weigh ins when i start those back again. Right now i'm in the middle of a 4 week jumpstart challenge to focus on health and not the number on the scale so i won't be weighing myself for another two weeks. After this challenge though, it's on to finish what i started and lose the last 30lbs.

I also started a vitamin regimen, something long over due, and have been feeling way better since then. Unfortunately, even though i did it all the healthy way, losing 100lbs in that first year, and then getting pregnant with twins right away really drained my body and vitamins are necessary for me now. Thanks to vitamins though, i now have energy to get off the couch and workout daily, and they are making these long Chicago winters a little more bearable.

My charting is in full swing. Thought i was joking?? No way ;-)
(PS - I can't draw a straight line, even with a ruler, my husband had to do this for me because i kept messing them up!) 

I have three right now, all spread out over my dining room table. It's hard to eat something bad when you have a bright pink chart staring at you and you know you will have to write it down if you eat it!

I also started my new workouts. I'm in love so far. I received 2 new Jillian Michaels dvd workouts for Christmas and the new Just Dance 4. I have full reviews coming up of them soon, but so far i'm loving them.

I have way more in depth stuff to talk about, but i will save it for another entry. Here's to 2013 being goal year!

Reach For The Sparkly Stars

Happy New Year!

We are back from our Holiday travels finally, and brought back with us the flu. Not the - Lose 10lbs overnight while praying to the porcelain gods - flu but the - I feel like a mac truck rolled over me and i'm coughing up a lung while hallucinating that there are pink bunnies in the room with me - flu. Ah, fun!

Due to this i'm sure i have gained an easy 10lbs. I'm unable to workout, and fast food has become a go to lately. Regardless, it's a new year, and time to reach my goals! So while sick i am figuring out my plan on how i'm going to lose the remainder of my weight (along with that brand new 10lbs, ugh). So out comes my trusty notebook and pen, my poster board, markers, and star stickers. Oh yes, i am a crazy planner. You don't get this far without being crazy prepared and organized! I make lists for everything, if i make a list for it, it gets done. If i don't make a list for it, i will talk about how i need to make a list for it or it won't get done. Drives my Husband absolutely crazy. When i pull out my pen and paper, he practically has to hold himself back from rolling his eyes.

Other than the list, there is...

THE CHART.

You know $#!t has gotten real when the chart comes out. If you visited my old apartment, you probably saw my chart hanging behind my back door, in all it's sparkly star glory. That chart showed countless hours of workouts and good eating, a star for every glass of water, and a star for every day i didn't drink a soda. It also showed a 13lb loss over a 5 week timespan.

#Winning!

Well assuming this nasty flu is letting up by Monday. There will be a new chart on the wall, and lists all over the kitchen. The food scale will be dusted off, and wrappers will be coming off of all the new workouts i got for Christmas.

Operation Goal: 2013 full steam ahead!

My Rules To Live By: Workouts

I think a lot of us want to start losing weight and think -

“I HAVE to go to the gym”
“I HAVE to workout 3 hours a day”
“I HAVE to lift heavy, or start running” 

It’s simply not true, at all.

Everyone asks me what I do, what workouts I like. Honestly, I like them all, but for me it comes down to three things.

1) Did I burn calories?

Yes? Ok then I like it.

2) Did I sweat/Am I sore?

Yes? Ok then I LOVE it.

3) Am I able to do it in a short amount of time?

Yes? It’s the perfect workout.

That’s it. I’m really not super picky otherwise. I will try anything.

That being said, I do have my favorites but let’s talk about how I started out.

When I started working out, I was almost 300lbs and had never stepped foot in a gym before in my life. I had a 5 month old baby at home, so I needed to be able to workout at home during nap times but had no idea where to start. I had a workout buddy, and she agreed to send me some of her favorite workouts to try but while I was waiting I had to do something. My family had given my husband and I a Wii Fit for the previous Christmas. We had used it but I was pregnant most of the time we owned it so I hadn’t bothered with it in a real fitness way. That first night though, I was determined to do something, so I pulled out my wii fit and got to it. Just 20 minutes of Wii Fit and I was sweating, and it felt amazing. It was nothing too hardcore, just getting up off the couch and getting me to move around. 20 minutes of a game, that was it to get me started and everything grew from there.

Later that week I received dvd’s in the mail from my friend, and couldn’t wait to try them out. She had sent me so much! Stuff I had heard of, stuff I hadn’t, stuff that scared me, easy stuff, hard stuff, you name it! It was a weight loss goldmine. I put the first one in and tried it right away with no hesitation. It was Zumba and it was instant love. I found out through this that I have a love for dance workouts, they are the perfect cardio.

The next day I tried one of the workouts that scared me. Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred. I tried it, and I never looked back. It is still my #1 favorite workout, and I feel it still gives me better results than any other workout I have ever tried. I started doing it with no hand weights whatsoever and gradually moved up to holding mostly empty soda bottles, then 2lb hand weights. I remember buying that first set of hand weights, my best friend made fun of me, saying I definitely needed heavier weights, then she came over and tried the Shred herself and she no longer made fun. That workout is no joke, and only 20 minutes! To this day, 3 years later, I still alternate 3lb and 5lb hand weights on this workout.

After really getting into working out, I asked for EA Sports Active for the Wii and I loved it! It was a little frustrating with all the leg bands and movement tracking, but it was amazing how much of a workout that video game could give me. Plus it had a dance section for cardio, which turned into my favorite move. This is also the first time I attempted running. It was indoor running, and running in place, but it was still hard and I was winded.

Everybody has to start somewhere.

Many Dvd’s and games followed, I have posted about a lot of them on here. I also started feeling more fit and gaining more confidence. I finally decided to try out the gym.

That’s right, probably 6 months into my journey before I stepped foot in a gym.

It was a nice change of pace, and thanks to the Couch to 5k program I was soon running on the treadmill, getting stronger every day. I also started setting myself a walking goal weekly, and breaking it down into smaller daily goals. My normal goal was 12-15 miles a week, starting out small on Sunday and always ending with a 5 mile walk on Thursday night, before my weigh in. There were evenings that I walked into the night, walked in the pouring rain and cold, and those weeks were my best weight loss weeks. Even if I dropped everything else, and only walked, those were the best weeks. Never underestimate the power of simple walking.

Eventually we moved, and I lost access to my gym. It was a sad day because I had gotten so used to being able to visit the gym or pool as soon as my husband got home from work, but I kept moving on and found more videos and games to help me lose weight without getting bored.  2 Months after the move, our twin surprise pregnancy came along. Refusing to let pregnancy stop me, I worked out for half my pregnancy (until the doctors would no longer let me), and the end result was being only 15lbs over my normal weight when I got home from the delivery.

Moral of all of this? No matter how many ups and downs I’ve had, I have never let anything stop me. I never used excuses -

“I’m 300lbs, I can’t do that!” – Yes, you can.

“I’m pregnant, I don’t need to workout” – Yes, you do.

“I can’t afford the gym”  - Tons of workouts on youtube, google them.

“I don’t have any equipment” – Do you have water bottles, or an empty milk jug? Then fill them with water and you have all the equipment you need!
 

 I wanted this, and I made it happen. Just me, and my body, my dvd player, and my dinky little 2lb hand weights, my wii, my yoga mat, and running in place. Making just 30 minutes a day count, because you don’t have to spend hours in the gym to make miracles happen. Working out at 1am because that’s when the baby was asleep, altering workouts due to injury, pregnancy, walking in the rain and cold. Everything was me, because I wanted it. You just have to want it.



To this day these are my favorite at home workouts and programs -

Jillian Michaels – 30 Day Shred (Level 3 is my favorite), Banish Fat Boost Metabolism (I have not tried any of her newer workouts)
Bob Harper – Pure Burn, Super Strength, Yoga for the warrior, Kettlebell workout
Zumba
Turbofire
Insanity
EA Sports Active Wii
Wii Fit Plus (especially free run and advanced or free step)
Just Dance
Couch to 5k
100 Pushup Challenge
200 Squat Challenge
200 Sit up Challenge

My Rules To Live By: Motivation & Mindset

I love Pinterest. Period.

When it first came about and someone invited me, i had no desire to visit the site. It was confusing to me, and honestly i'm a pretty busy lady, i don't need yet another online addiction to spend way too much time on. Time went on, i had some insomniac nights, and i started getting in to it. Lately it has served as a good weight loss resource for me. I get in a slump, or get bored with my workout routine and new ideas are right there at my fingertips. Tired of the same old recipes? Easy, look on pinterest. New workout gear? Pinterest. Motivation? Pinterest. Easy as that.

Today i repinned something from a friend and it got me to thinking about how many people ask me for help and ideas. I constantly have people asking how i have lost the weight, and honestly i never know how to answer them. Hard work and dedication? Sweating my butt off at the gym? Drink water? All those things are true, but in reality it's way more than that and so hard to explain at the drop of a hat. I actually started this blog in the first place so that when someone asked me those questions i could direct them here, and have yet to really make a post on it. Unfortunately (for all of you) if i put it all in one place, it would be way too much reading, so i will break it up in parts to make it easier.

Here is part one - Motivation and Mindset                  *You can find part 2 here*


In order to lose weight, you have to want it. You can't lose weight and get lasting results just because your friend wants to lose weight and wants you to go to the gym with her. You won't lose weight because your Mom/Brother/Doctor/Friend tells you to. You have to do it for you, you have to really want it, and most importantly you have to believe that you can do it. I tried losing weight a thousand times before, but i gave up a week into it. Why? Because i didn't want to work for it, i didn't want to change my habits, and honestly i was pretty ok with myself. This time was different, it was like a light bulb went on over my head and i just knew it was going to happen. I remember the exact moment, where i was, and what i was doing when i finally realized that i COULD do this and started believing in myself.

In order to have success, you also have to figure out why you want to lose weight in the first place. Like me, have you been obese your entire life? Are you generally unhealthy and worried about medical issues? Do you just want to look hot in a bikini? All are valid, you just have to find your motivation, get your head in the right place, set your mind to something, and do it.

My reasons for starting - 

1) I wanted to teach Loralei (and now D & J) how to be healthy. I didn't want her to be the kid getting teased about her weight, or missing out on activities because her parents were too out of shape and unhealthy to play with her.

2) I wanted to be healthy for myself. I didn't want to have to worry about diabetes and heart problems at a young age, like so many of my family members have.

3) I wanted to be able to go shopping with my friends without having to ask them to stop in the plus size store for me. My friends could spend all day shopping from store to store, and i always came in at the end, having only one store to choose items from. I hated it. I just wanted to be average. At the time i couldn't even wear boots (my calves were too large), or normal size bracelets. Do you know how humiliating it is to have to shop for a plus size bracelet?

4) I hated my wedding photos. You have all heard this before. I don't hate the photos, i hate ME in the photos. The one day i was supposed to be at my most beautiful and i was at rock bottom. Looking at those photos is still pure motivation daily.

5) I wanted to look HOT. I did not want to look good for being a mom. I did not want to look normal. I did not want to be skinny. I want to be hot, toned, healthy, and fabulous. Period.

I had a huge mental battle to get to where i am. I had to figure out every single reason for why i wanted to lose weight and recite them to myself daily to keep me going. I'm always asked if i can bottle my motivation, well here it is. Those 5 things are my motivation. I might lose my way from time to time, but then i see those reasons for starting, and i get back on track. Motivation is the hardest part, if you have that, you can have everything.

                                                       Motivation

Mels <3

Recipe: Roasted Red Potatoes and Root Vegetables

In my previous recipe blog i mentioned Tilapia and Roasted Red Potatoes. While i'm still working on my Thanksgiving recipes to get up here, i wanted to share the potato recipe. It's very simple and adds a little something different to dinner, i can imagine this served up with some spicy sliced sausage tossed in for a whole "one-pot" meal.

Roasted Red Potatoes and Root Vegetables

Ingredients list:

2lbs Small Red Potatoes 
8 Small Baby Turnips
1 Cup Baby Carrots
1tsp Minced Garlic
2tbls Olive Oil
2-3tbls Dry Onion Soup Mix
Salt & Pepper to taste
Fresh Parsley as Garnish

Wash and cube potatoes and turnips, pat dry.
Toss potatoes, turnips, and carrots in the olive oil and garlic.
Sprinkle onion soup mix, salt, and pepper over the top.

Place all in shallow baking sheet and bake in 425 degree oven for 30-45 minutes until fork tender and slightly brown. Remove from oven and add parsley or other fresh herbs right before serving.



As a substitute you can also do one medium onion and 8oz baby bella mushrooms instead of the turnips and carrots. Just as yummy!

Enjoy!

Recipe: Tilapia in Lemon & White Wine Sauce

When i was pregnant with the twins, i was in the hospital.

A lot.

The downside for many people in the hospital is the food. I was very fortunate that my hospital had some pretty amazing food and i got to choose from a menu for every single meal. I can't even tell you the amount of times i had to eat there, but i know that after i got familiar with the menu i had one thing every single night for dinner.

Tilapia in a butter/dill sauce, with these little roasted red potatoes. YUM.

When i finally delivered the twins and got to go home, i was a little bit sad because i enjoyed the food so much. I decided to try to come up with my own version and was pretty successful. Here is my take on the hospital tilapia.


Ingredients needed:

4-6 Small Tilapia Filets
2 TBLS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 TBLS Butter or Margarine (i use "I Can't believe it's not butter" spray instead, around 6-10 sprays or as much as you need)
1/4 TSP Minced Garlic
Zest of one Lemon
Juice of Two Lemons (or lime if you prefer)
1/3 Cup of your favorite white wine
Chopped dill and parsley to garnish
Salt and Pepper to taste

Place olive oil in a pan over medium high heat.
Season tilapia with salt and pepper, place in pan.
Spray butter spray over the tilapia (or melt butter in pan with the oil, your choice)
Add minced garlic to the pan.
Sear tilapia until lightly brown on both sides.
When fish is almost done, add the white wine and lemon zest/juice.
Let everything cook together for about 2 minutes to cook the alcohol off, then add your fresh herbs and serve.

Super simple. Maybe 5 -7 minutes of cook time and less than 5 minutes of prep time. Serve with roasted red potatoes and root vegetables (Recipe Here! ) for a complete meal.

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Musings

I'm currently in the middle of "No-Weigh November" and quite honestly it scares me a bit. I heavily rely on my scale to tell me where i am and how i am doing on the weight loss front. My scale is my best friend and worst enemy at times. Currently it's a little bit of both. I see my weight stall for weeks on end sometimes and it winds up frustrating me, only sending me running straight to the ice cream aisle at the grocery store. I'm at the point in my weight loss where i am having to be really strict with myself and teach my body how to be healthy, without that number on the scale to guide me or frustrate me.

That being said, my next weigh in will be the day before Thanksgiving so hopefully there will be a nice change by then. I know what i am hoping for but i will keep the number to myself right now.

Onto Thanksgiving prep. I'm trying to find ways to keep the holiday and healthy and still as delicious as possible. So far i don't have any specific recipes but i do have some ideas that i plan to try and follow.

Wild Rice Stuffing instead of typical stuffing
Whole Grain Stuffing

Parsnips along with Mashed Potatoes
Creamy herb cheeses in Mashed Potatoes instead of all the salt/butter/sour cream

Spraying the turkey with a low fat olive oil spray instead of all the butter

Quinoa as a side dish instead of typical pasta dishes

Making my own whole grain rolls and bread

This list will get bigger, those are just a few small ideas. I'm trying to gather things and try them out next week. As usual i will be following my rule of using leaner meats, whole grains and brown pastas, and lowfat dairy on that day. The small things have made all the difference in my lifestyle change over the years.

As for No-Weigh November. I'm working out every single day this month. I will make that scale move. This plateau will not get the best of me. I haven't stopped before, why would i stop now?

Another Page for the Scrapbook

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love having photos done. I feel the same way about our yearly family photos that most women feel about their wedding day.

That is, in the weight loss sense.

You know that sense of urgency women feel to look their best and be their thinnest on their wedding day? They just *have* to fit into that wedding gown perfectly. I never felt that. I happily walked down the aisle in my size 24/26 dress, as a matter of fact i GAINED weight before my wedding, and not just 5lbs. That is part of what motivated me to lose weight in the first place, seeing my 250lb self in that big, fluffy, white dress. Those photos are plastered all over my home, and i'm not proud of them. I pretty much hate myself in them, i hate that at the time, i saw nothing wrong with the way i looked, i thought i was perfectly healthy.

Now, every time our family photos come up, i feel like i'm getting kind of a redo on my wedding day. I see it as my biggest push of the year to do the best i can, give all i can give, and ultimately go into being happy with the knowledge that i have done my absolute best for my health lately.

This year was no different. I worked my butt off last month, cut out all my crap eating, worked out at least once a day, drank all the water i should be drinking and then some, took my vitamins, took fantastic care of my skin, and got the sleep i so desperately needed. I treated my body like a temple, like it deserves to be treated. It was a tough month no doubt but the end result was a loss of 7lbs in October and being able to go down a size in dresses and shirts. One step closer to goal!

Our photos were Sunday (With the amazing Brianne http://briannebradburyphotography.com/) and i can't wait to see the end result. We started getting our photos done with Brianne after i had lost my first 10lbs so her photos tell a story every year and i treasure them.

I can't wait until one day, i reach goal, have my wedding dress altered and step back out to have a "Trash the dress" shoot. To finally give me peace about the size 24 dress i walked down the aisle in. For now, i will be happy with my yearly photos, something to add to my weight loss timeline. 20 more pounds to go...

After our photos on Sunday

                                                     

The Great Cereal Debate

Years ago (ok like, 3) when I first started trying to lose weight I had a huge turning point one night. Otherwise known as a meltdown of epic proportions that would put my 2 toddlers and preschooler to shame. I think I was maybe 1 week in to my weight loss journey, it was about 10pm, dinner was long over, and I was still hungry. All I could think about was cereal, a big bowl full of corn flakes and milk.

Yum.

I remember wanting it so badly that I was grumpy and depressed, trying to justify to my Husband why I should eat it. I talked the subject to death for over an hour, then came the meltdown. I was literally in the floor, crying like my 3 year old, because I wanted something to eat and knew I shouldn't have it.

"It's just a bowl of cereal"

"Milk is good for me"

"I don't go to bed until 2am anyways"

"I will workout longer tonight"

Those are all valid points that I remember making to myself. What I wasn't saying though was more important.

"Am I really hungry?"

"Why do I want to eat?"

"Am I thirsty?"

"Why do I want cereal?"

"Am I just bored?"

I wasn't thinking about those things, I was just thinking about how I really wanted something else to eat, even though I had already eaten a more than adequate dinner. I was however, in tears, because I knew that if I could say no to that, I could say no to anything and maybe I would be able to succeed in weight loss this time. It was only a bowl of cereal, but it was a lot more to me, it was a symbol of all my hopes and dreams for my future body.

I chose an apple, and a bottle of water, and I worked out. Then i went to bed, happy, that I had said no and would survive to see another day of weight loss.

I still have those days. Unfortunately I let them win out sometimes lately, because I have gotten comfortable where I am. I'm trying to say no more often, because I am so close to winning this race. Today i'm trying to say no over some yummy leftovers from dinner last night. I had completely forgotten about them, until I opened up the fridge to make my munchkins some lunch, and there they were, just staring me in the face, begging me to eat them for lunch. I have lunch planned already, yet now those leftovers are haunting me, and i'm having another inner battle, just like that night with the cereal. I even went so far as to lay my leftovers out on the counter, getting ready for me to eat.

I was strong enough to say no that night, with the cereal. I'm strong enough to say no today.

What can you say no to today?

It's Fall Already?

We moved near the end of August. Moving is tough. It's been hard on the kids, adjusting to the new place, it's been tough on the husband, farther commute to work, and it's been tough on me, mostly on my waistline. My weight has been yo-yoing all summer within a 10lb range, nothing too drastic in the gain department but nothing fantastic in the loss department either. When we moved, i think i just kind of gave up for a while, i was beginning to wonder if i would ever get my motivation back.

It seems to have finally found me again. 2 full months later. Better late than never right? I've been working out with Turbo Fire videos this week and wow have they been kicking my butt. I've also kicked all sweet food and soda out of our house and started having much healthier lunches. My results are down over 3.5lbs this week. I'm pretty happy about that! My goal is to lose 7 more over the next 3 weeks. I definitely have my work cut out for me. Here's to hoping that next week, the yo-yoing cycle doesn't continue, and instead the scales moves in my favor again.

Wearing My Mommy War Wounds Proudly

Holy cow am i behind on here! Thankfully that is only in the blogging world because in the weight loss world i am still rocking and rolling. Only a little over 3 weeks to go until my big vacation, can you feel the excitement?!

Let's start with the boring stats. At my last weigh in i was down 3lbs, Yep 3!!! I was shooting for 2 so i was ecstatic with those results. That brought me down to 172lbs, only 2lbs away from 110lbs total lost, that's my next goal, and hopefully will see that one within the week!

I also hit an amazing milestone...

I went bikini shopping... *Insert dramatic music here*

For the first time in my entire life, i went in the fitting room with an arm full of two-piece suits. The next hour was filled with jumping up and down, wiggling, a lot of sucking it in, and a little bit of wishing and praying, and it all paid off because i walked out with 5 suits!

Now I'm nowhere near having washboard abs, but when you go from a size 24/26 to a 10, you can get away with a bikini any day and feel confident. As women we are way too harsh on ourselves, picking at every little flaw. We only live once!!! I for one, am proud of how far i have come and i am ready to feel sexy and girly for the first time in my life. No more hiding behind a fat suit for me. My poor sun virgin belly is going to be soooo burnt...

This is a before/after photo i posted for a weight loss challenge i just completed. There is no touching up or staging at all, just a cell phone camera and a mirror. 

Five weeks, that's it! Can you believe what is possible in five weeks? Crazy proof that you can do anything you set your mind to.  I can't wait to see what it's like when i leave for vacation, hopefully a good 5lbs lighter and a heck of a lot more toned.

Operation: beach body 2012 is in full swing! 

Workout of the Week: Abs & Arms

This is another one of the workouts i have been doing lately. It's pretty killer on the abs. Just once doing it and i was feeling the burn for days. This is definitely going to be on the top of my list as a workout to do to get beach ready. This workout doesn't include a lot of cardio so i suggest doing in along with some added cardio of your choice, i do it with aerobic step or Just Dance 3, and the whole workout can take me around 45-60 minutes or if i only do the Abs & Arms, 20 minutes. Youtube any moves you don't know and give it a try!

Weigh in - 3/19/12

What a week! I have been so busy that i have pretty much passed out by the time 10pm rolls around, and that is my prime internet time since all my kids are in bed. It's been nice to catch up on a little sleep but i have been severely neglecting my internet duties.

Let's start with this weeks weigh in...175! Yep, i am officially down to the lowest weight i have ever been. And when i say that, i don't mean that i was skinny as a teenager and then put on weight. Nope, i probably haven't been this weight since puberty or before. I am smaller now than i was at 13 years old and much much healthier. For that i can say that i am so proud of myself!

This also brings me to 20lbs lost with Weight Watchers, and 105lbs lost total. I am a whole new person and i love it.

I have 5 (ish) weeks left before my tropical vacation. I'm hoping to really push and lose 2lbs a week between now and then. To do so i have done a complete overhaul of my routine. I have been eating much cleaner. Cutting back on processed foods, trying to eat fruits and veggies as my snack and lunch, cutting out sugar, not bringing diet soda or juices into my home (although i will still have a soda out occasionally), avoiding cheese (this use to be an every day snack for me, now cutting back to a couple times a week), aaaand revamping my workouts! That's the exciting one!

So as part of a challenge i am doing with friends, i have posted a new workout every week for all of us to do. I posted one here and that was the "Sexy Legs" workout, and i have others that i will be posting. This is the last week of our current challenge and we are all working really hard to put up the best number possible for the week and end of the challenge. This weeks workout is called "The Savage" and it's pretty awesome, it's an exhaustion workout instead of reps, which means you can make it as difficult as you want. So this week my workouts have been "The Savage" in the mornings, Walking in the afternoons, and another workout in the evenings, either with my Wii or one of my dvd's. I'm hoping that this will really help boost my weight loss and build some of the muscle back that i lost when i was pregnant with my twins.

Another part of my new routine is something i already touched on, i'm getting more sleep! Which is incredibly important to weight loss. My friends and i have discovered that you can "gain" 2-3lbs just by getting a crappy night of sleep. That's motivation to get a really good nights sleep, especially right before weigh in day!

Hopefully this changing up of the routine helps. I'm happy with 1lb a week but i want to make sure i am doing everything possible to look and feel fantastic for my vacation. No Regrets!

Workout of the Week: Legs

Recently, along with everyone else, I have discovered Pinterest. I really really REALLY didn't want to fall into it, and for the most part I have stayed away. Because let's be honest, the last thing we need is yet another thing on the internet to get addicted to, and time is precious as it is! However a friend of mine posted a workout she found on Pinterest and it was a pretty slammin' workout so I decided to go check it out a little better and to my surprise I started finding some awesome inspiration for workouts. The only problem was that I was getting sick and tired of "stealing" everyone elses workouts or modifying them for myself. The simple solution? Come up with my own of course!


So I've been working on them slowly and every week I plan a new one and a group of my best friends do them right along with me. To date, my favorite has to be my lower body workout. I was unable to walk for a good two days after doing it, and I did it 5x in that first week! It killed! But it also blasted through some of that lower body flab that all of us hate and I've been losing some pretty good inches off of that part of my body finally.

Here's my lower body workout. Let me know if you try it and what you think!

PS. Youtube the moves that you don't know.

Supermom VS. Skinny Diva

It's no secret that i'm a mom. A big part of where i got my motivation was after Loralei was born, i wanted to be healthy for her, to show her a good example, and things just took off from there. Well right about now i am pulling my hair out, trying to find a healthy middle ground between Supermom and Skinny Diva.

It's hard.

Like this week. It's pretty much a complete wash on the Skinny Diva front. My kids - all 3 of them - have decided that this seems like a good week to give up sleeping. Because really, who needs it anyways?

Apparently not mommy!

I just spent 4.5 long hours attempting to get Jasper to sleep, 2.5 of those with him screaming and Loralei crying that she is scared of everything from ghosts to her fuzzy pink blanket. It's now 1am, and my kids JUST fell asleep. Unfortunately that leaves no time for my normal evening workout, and a lot of stress that makes me want to eat my feelings away. This is not a rare occurrence, unfortunately this is almost the nightly "norm" around here. I've come to accept it... my kids don't sleep.

But despite it all, all the stress, all the lack of sleep, all the lack of workouts. I refuse to give up. Sure a supersized Mcdonald's value meal sounds REALLY good right about now, because who doesn't feel better after throwing back 1350 artery clogging calories??? But, i said no. I refuse to stress eat my weight back. Because one day, my babies will sleep through the night (eventually...right?!) and i would prefer to already be skinny, so that i don't have to work 2x as hard when that time comes.

Through it all, i do have an amazing piece of news for myself this week. I'm officially back at my lowest reached weight ever, 176lbs, and ecstatic about it! Now i can move on and see some new numbers that  i've never seen on the scale before. Just have to keep soldiering on.

Nobody said it was easy...

It's not always about the number on the scale

When  you are trying to lose weight, the most important day of the week is Weigh in day. You plan your whole week around it, you countdown to it, you get excited/scared/nervous the night before. It's a really big deal. Those numbers you are going to wake up to can make you extremely happy or bum you out to the point that you are ready to give up.

So many of my dear friends - and myself included - are always super hard on themselves when they are putting so much effort into losing weight, only to be disappointed on weigh in day. We often forget that the scale isn't a tell-all for how we look and feel, it doesn't know everything. It's just a scale.

Do you take measurements? You should. Period.

(Thank you Jackie!)

If you've been in this game a while, you know all about the fact that a single pound of fat takes up more space on your body than a pound of muscle, but the scale doesn't know that. Your measuring tape does! And more importantly your clothing knows! Do not get down on yourself over a number, do not give up. Be proud that you can say you lived the absolute healthiest you could that week, and trust me, your body already knows it!

My weight loss has slowed down and i expected it would so i'm ok with it. I'm still trying to be in the best shape i possibly can be for my honeymoon. Last night i decided to try on some of my summer dresses to see what i could take with me since my honeymoon is only about 7 weeks away. Nothing fit. Nothing. Not a single darn thing! At first, i was really disappointed...My favorite dress - unwearable...but after a couple of minutes it dawned on me that i was able to wear these dresses at my lowest weight before, yet now, they hang on me. I never knew a stretchy fabric could hang on you, because well, when you are as big a girl as i was, you buy the stretchy fabric and just hope it can stretch far enough. So look at that, my point came full circle...my weight is the same as two years ago, but my waistline and dress size isn't.

Scales can be evil...do not let them steal a moment of victory from you.