Lifestyle Challenge | Week Ten Update

WHOA... we are into the double digits now... still in some disbelief that I am still going and not only that but still on plan!  I can honestly tell you that I haven't had a slip up yet.  I know that with the upcoming Halloween and Holiday seasons, that likely won't stay true for long BUT... as of 10 weeks in, I am still going strong.

Today was also an awesome day on the scales because I dropped another TWO pounds which put me over my 26.5lb goal for 10% of my body weight lost.  Yep, I am officially down 27lbs, effectively SMASHING the first goal outta the water.  WHOOP WHOOP!!!

In other news, my boys have been away since last Tuesday so I have been flying solo at home.  Now, in years past (this is an annual trip they take), that meant sitting on my duff and ordering all kinds of fast food, snacking of every kind of junk food and drinking all the pop.  This year, I wasn't even tempted to do those things.  It actually caught me a little off guard because I planned the menu for when they were gone and we grocery shopped as per normal and then the first night they were gone, I cooked and worked out.  Simple as that!  It wasn't until I was chilling out, watching the Jays game, that I suddenly realized what I had done... I had survived my first night alone without even thinking of cheating!  WHAT???!!  Who am I?

WINS for the week:

1. Cooking - No, not a standard win because I cook most weeks BUT... with my boys out of town, I am more than impressed with myself and the fact that I cooked three times, with plenty of leftovers, so I didn't eat out once!  A new record for me when flying solo!  I didn't even have Subway...
2. Walking - While I didn't get to the gym, no real excuse, I did a ton of extra walking.  I was in early to work each day so got a good 20-30 min walk in and then another at lunch.  After work, I took Joey, our Golden Retriever, for a 30 min walk so all in, I was getting over an hour of walking each day!

CHALLENGES for the week:

1. Gym - For some reason I have been slacking on the gym lately.  While I am still getting my steps in every day and doing lots of walking, I don't want to go to the gym.  I think because the weather is nice and I am able to do it throughout the day, I don't feel the need... maybe as the weather changes (if it ever does), I will want to move indoors.  We shall see... in my mind, as long as I am getting it in, it really doesn't matter where.

I'm shocked that there was only one main challenge this week, because the boys were away, but I am struggling to think of anything else.  Thankfully we will be a full family unit again tomorrow night so things can get back to normal... until school starts next week.  UGH!

Recipe | Apple Cinnamon Oats

With September upon us, I am already moving into full blown fall mode and craving all things cinnamon and spice.  Have you ever walking into a Michaels Craft Store?  That's the smell I love... ah, bliss!!

To satisfy that craving, I decided to make a recipe that I saw on my friend Jen's Instagram and WOW, not only did it taste delicious but the whole house smelled like fresh baked apple pie.  HEAVEN!

Ingredients:

3 apples, assorted variety
1.5 cups of Almond Milk
1 cup steel cut oats
2 Tbsp brown sugar (I used Splenda brown sugar)
1 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp Butter (I used margarine)
Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Completely coat crockpot with cooking spray
2. Chop apples into small pieces, I did about 1-2 cm squares
3. Add all ingredients into the crockpot
4. Mix ingredients together
5. Cook on low for 5-7 hours (I did 3 because I like the apples a little more crunchy)

Makes 4 larger servings for 310 calories each.

This is the perfect dish to have as either a breakfast or a dessert... just dress it up.  I took half a serving and mixed it in with vanilla greek yogurt (2%) and topped it with cinnamon for breakfast and it was delicious! (only 250 calories)

Enjoy!!

Lifestyle Challenge | Week Nine Update

Every time I title one of these update posts, I am amazed by the time that has passed since I started this challenge... it's been NINE weeks!  Insane!

For today's update, I am happy to announce that I am down another 2.5lbs for a new total of 25lbs... TWENTY FIVE.  That's only 1.5lbs away from my first goal of 10% body weight lost.

Each week that I step on the scale, I am so thrilled to see a change but something else has become clear to me... I am so much happier.  When I started blogging, I was on a 'quest' to become a healthier, happier version of myself and I can actually say that I am there... while still working on the healthy aspect, I am doing things that make me happy... smiling more, spending quality time with my family and just enjoying life.  Old habits that felt like a weight on my shoulders, like YouTube, are now something I do for entertainment.  I only watch videos when I am walking or working out and even then, I sometimes forget to see what's new.  WOW... such an awesome change in such a short period of time!

WINS for the week:

1. Water Intake - I don't know if I touched on this before but I guzzle my water like it's my job BUT, I decided to focus on increasing it to 120oz a day and did that everyday last week.  Not only do I think that's helping me eat less (thirsty not hungry) but my skin is so much smoother. However, I don't think that the nightly pee-breaks are as fun... hahaha!
2. Walking - While the gym was lacking this week, I was able to spend some great quality time with Steven going on almost nightly walks to catch Pokemon... sure, it's a silly game but we have a great time catching them and hatching eggs.  Family time plus activity is a bonus in my books!!

CHALLENGES for the week:

1. Hunger - I had a couple of days this week where I couldn't stop the feeling of needing to EAT ALL THE THINGS!  I didn't cave and now that I think about it, it was likely period cravings but it was sure a challenge to push through.  
2. Gym - Not sure what was up but I wasn't into heading to the gym at all this week.  I did go twice so that's still a win but my plan of 2 days on, 1 day off sure didn't happen.  While my steps each day are totally fine, I feel like I should be doing a little more.  Here's hoping that I can get back on the gym bandwagon this week!

Last up... I have to share my new nails!  I did another declutter (post to come) and actually went and got acrylic nails on Saturday.  Yep... I have travelled over to the dark side and am in love!  HAHAHA... who knew?!?!

Eek... now to Pinterest to find my next nail design!!

Recipe | Taco Casserole

What happens when you have a meal planned and then realize that one of the key ingredients is no where to be found?  Well, you improvise!

Turns out that just writing Tacos on the menu isn't enough to indicate that we need to add taco seasoning to the grocery list so when I went to add the spices to the meat mixture, there was an 'Oh Crap' moment.  Being on a planned menu and 'diet' means that I am not really all that flexible on my meals so I took to the pantry and fridge and here is what happened... Taco Casserole!

Ingredients:

1-lb extra lean ground beef (or turkey/chicken)
2 cups of uncooked white minute rice which makes 6 servings (or brown/multigrain)
1 - 650ml jar of salsa (pick your heat)
1/4 of a large red onion
1 tbsp of minced garlic
1 cup of frozen corn
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Mrs. Dash original
Chili powder
Red pepper flakes
Black pepper
Basil (fresh or dried is fine)
Garlic powder

Directions:

1. Using a large wok style pan, add in the chopped onion and saute in olive oil until slightly tender.  Add in garlic and continue to saute for another minute
2. Add in ground beef and cook through
3. Use Mrs. Dash, chili powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, garlic powder and basil to spice the meat to taste.  I didn't use any official measurements, just added until it was tasty.
4. While beef is cooking, prepare and cook rice
5. When beef is cooked throroughly, add in the full jar of salsa and the corn and stir
6. Once the salsa starts to bubble, mix in the rice and remove from heat.
7. Serve it up!

Serves 5 and is 416 calories per serving (made with beef and white rice... may vary depending on any substituted ingredients).

I personally like to wait a couple of hours, leaving the pan covered on the stove, before eating this to let the rice soak up any of the juices but you can eat it right away if you prefer.

Bon Appetite!

Lifestyle Challenge | Week Eight Update

Today is a bit of an up and down emotions day for me.  On one hand I have my weekly weigh-in results and on the other, the baseball playoffs story... either way, let's get started!

This weekend was the end of the Rookie Select season for the Clarington Colts.  Playoffs started on Friday night and continued through a rain soaked Saturday (including many tornado warnings) and on into Sunday.  Sadly, our guys didn't come in at the top of the league so our season has come to and end... bittersweet as I didn't want it to come to an end BUT I also didn't want to have another weekend away in London for the Provincials.  Either way, I feel a little blah today knowing that the team we cheered for all season will never be the same... BOO!  However, they did amazing and it was so much fun being on the sidelines with great parents and watching some fantastic kids do what they love!

2015/16 Rookie Select Clarington Colts (second place finishers)

As for the weekly weigh-in results, well, WE HAVE A VICTORY on the scale!!  I lost another 2.5 pounds this week for a new weight loss today of 22.5 pounds.  WHOOP!  We are now officially 4 pounds away from my first goal of 10% body weight lost (26.5 pounds).  So happy to see the weight continue to drop and the efforts that I am putting in be proven on the scale... yes, I know it's just a number but it's still nice to see it drop each week!

WINS for the week:

1. GYM - Still making the gym a priority in my schedule.  Now that baseball is over, scheduling will be a little easier, but I have gone 4 times per week for the last two weeks and I am really happy with that.  
2. Cravings - Odd win, I know, but last night was our 12th anniversary and we actually talked about how we would have been eating, pre-lifestyle change, on a weekend with baseball AND an anniversary.  Neither of us even has the cravings for fast food or junk like we used to.  It's so funny to picture eating a McDonald's meal now because I don't have any desire to get one.  Even things like Dairy Queen or a simple chocolate bar, the cravings are gone!  Will they come back, I have no idea but for now, I just don't want them!

CHALLENGES for the week:

1. Shin Splints - OMG... I am not even kidding when I say that shin splints are some of the worst pain that I have had.  SO MUCH OUCH!  I had been getting them here and there since starting this journey but this past week it was beyond my abilities to even walk.  I got them so badly on Thursday that I ended up skipping the gym to go and buy new running shoes.  Thankfully, they seem to be working and I have been able to walk at a slightly increased speed without any issues.  Fingers crossed that was the cause of the problem.
2. Baseball - Last weekend for this one (at least this year).  We had playoffs this weekend so I wasn't able to get to the gym and even though they were planned days off, the guilt factor still crept up.  I was able to get in all my steps (10,000 a day) and even had some nice longer walks with my parents but, missed my hourly goals and was a little less active than normal.

Asics Gel-Kayano 21's

All in all... a great week!  I took some new progress pictures yesterday to show the difference between one and two months but I am still a little 'shy' to show them here... maybe when I lose a few more inches I will be comfortable posting them!  

The Struggle Can Be Real

It's not a shock to me that there are ups and downs in this lifestyle journey but what is surprising to me is that I had my first 'down' day yesterday.

Something felt 'off' all day but it wasn't really anything I could put my finger on.  I continued to do my workouts as I normally do, including hit up the gym for my 4th of 6 straight days (need this so I can take Friday and possibly Saturday as a 'rest' day for baseball playoffs).  While at the gym, my stomach felt bloated and gassy and just unhappy so I called it a day after 30 mins on the treadmill and headed home.

Let's look back for a second... (two things)

1. I received my first workout 'outfit' from Fabletics in the mail and was super stoked to wear it to the gym.  The leggings are a XXL as is the tank and the sports bra an XL... all currently the size that I am wearing from Walmart... just prettier (read more expensive).  Got home all geared up for another great workout and not a single piece fit... in fact, the pants wouldn't even go past my upper thighs.  UGH!  Not how I was hoping that would go.  So, I pulled out my normal, more boring (read cheap) duds and put them on.  Feeling slightly demoralized that the XXL was too small, I went off to the gym
2. I spend a lot of my time on Instagram looking at accounts of those who have paved the road, so to speak.  The people who have been where I am (or further away) and made it to the finish line.  I like to go to the start of the account and go picture by picture through the journey and see how it all went... the ups, downs and the wins and the losses (literally).  Well, on top of the whole workout outfit and the gassy/bloated (read make you feel fat) feeling in my stomach, I started getting those 'why can't I be at the finish line?', 'why is it taking me so long?' feelings.  

So, now you understand what I mean by the 'down' day.  No, I didn't skip a workout making me feel guilty.  No, I didn't eat a 'cheat' meal or 'cheat on my diet' making me feel like a failure... I just had a moment of doubt.  A moment where I wondered if the effort of losing the weight and changing my lifestyle is really worth all of the hard work.  It was time to take a step back and regroup... so, I hit the shower, had some dinner and went to bed early.

Today, I can see clearly again.  The scale this morning showed that I am still moving in the right direction (no, I don't typically weigh in any day but Monday's but felt I needed it today), that the hard work I am putting in is, in fact, worth it!  Those Instagram accounts are amazing for inspiration, motivation and ideas for making it to the end of the journey.  However, I have to remember that while I may not be where they are, they have all been where I am.  They all have had moments of doubt and felt like quitting.  Taking one day to go through 2 years of pictures only makes it seem like they did it so fast and the weight just FELL off but no, they put in the hard work and had the same results I'm having day in day out.  It takes weeks, months... heck, even years to get to the finish line (is there even one) and once there, looking back at the time it took, will be awesome!  The dedication that it takes to stick to it will be worth every single struggle along the way!

Just remember, Mama always said there would be days like this.  Don't let it take over the whole picture... wallow in the moment and then pick yourself up and move on!

Diet Challenge | Week Seven Update

Happy Monday!  It is the start of another week and that means that it is time for the weekly diet challenge check-in... speaking of which, I think I want to change the name from 'diet' challenge to 'lifestyle' challenge because that's really what I am doing, changing my lifestyle.  A diet makes it feel like there is an 'end' date and once I get to my goal weight (swooooon) I don't plan on stopping.

With that out of the way, I am happy to say that the scale was very good to me again this week and I was down another 1.5 lbs for a new weight loss total of TWENTY POUNDS!  Let's dance!!  I am thrilled to hit this little mini-milestone and it is one that I have tried to hit again and again over the last couple of years.  Gotten close but never succeeded in reaching it.  Twenty pounds makes me feel like I am here... I am on the right track to changing my life for the better and I can't wait to see what else I can do!

We are now in the home stretch of baseball season so one more weekend to go... it will be a tough one though because it is playdowns (or playoffs to us regular people) which means Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday.  UGH!  Not that I don't love watching my little man play ball but it really does make it hard to schedule in time at the gym and planning meals a little more challenging.  Oh well, that's why this is a lifestyle change... life has moments that are hard to plan and it all part of the game!

WINS for the week:

1. GYM - I did it!  I joined the local community centre gym on Tuesday (first visit was Wednesday) and went 4 times.  My plan is to focus on going to the gym and get in a routine for the month of August... doing cardio and then come September, I will get a personal training session to learn about adding weights into the routine as well.  I am pumped, excited and totally motivated to see how life will change with adding this into the mix!
2. Loose Jeans - Technically I think this was a win for last week but it still applies!  I am able to pull my size 22 jean capris up and down without undoing the button.  WHOOOP!  When I started this journey, they were slightly tight (as in 'get these off me' status when the day was done) so this is a total NSV (non-scale victory).  I also went through my pants drawer and realized that I have sizes to get me all the way down to size 12!  So that should help the wallet out a bit!

CHALLENGES for the week:

1. Schedule - Not really anything new but with the addition of the gym into the routine, scheduling time has been a little more challenging.  However, with baseball ending and Murray's summer hockey coming to a close, those schedule conflicts should come to a close soon.

That's all I can think of this week... it wasn't a really up or down week (other than the awesome of 20 pounds and joining the gym)... these far outweighed the challenges!

So, for now... time to keep on keepin' on!  

Summer No Buy | Two-Month Update

Happy August... Not going to say it, you all know what I am thinking.  Yes, I am starting to crave the fall because I am more than over the super hot temperatures and the humidity.  Seriously OVER IT!  If we could have fall-like weather all the time, I would be the happiest camper on the planet.

On to the Summer No-Buy update... month two.  It's a pretty boring one because I didn't purchase a single thing.  Not a nail polish, not a makeup item, not even any body care stuff.  I know, BORING, right?  Well, it may seem boring to everyone else but to me, it is a major victory and I am blown away by how easy it has been to retrain my focus onto bigger and better things.

Even more than NOT buying anything in July, I actually started another purge of my nail polishes and while there aren't very many that I was willing to part with this time (in comparison to the previous destash), I still got rid of close to 40 more bottles.  FORTY!  My new collection stands at 271.  There are definitely more that I can get rid of but I need to get past the mental block that is making me keep them.  It's been close to 3 or 4 weeks since I have even worn nail polish on anything other than my toes and that's only changed every 3ish weeks.  So really, 271 bottles seems like slight overkill!  However, Rome wasn't built in a day so I will continue to check back in with my collection and make changes as needed.

So, there is one month remaining until the end of the Summer No-Buy so let's see if I have a more exciting update for you come September!

Diet Challenge | Week Six Update

I can't believe that it's already August... it blows my mine that we are in the last unofficial month of the summer.  Maybe it's just me but when August starts, I move into fall mode... I want it to be cooler, I want to burn candles and I want pumpkin everything!  Not sure how I will handle the need for all things pumpkin this year but we will worry about that in September!  LOL

Today was weigh-in day and I am, once again, thrilled to have had another scale victory and lost 1-lb for a new weight loss total of 18.5 lbs in just 6 short weeks!  WAHOOOO!  I am getting close to losing 10% of my body weight now and my goal for that is by IMATS on October 1st.  I don't like hard set goal dates but I think this one should be achievable!

Before I get into the WINS and CHALLENGES of the week, let's talk about the Baseball Tournament that we had this past weekend in London!  Our Clarington Colts did amazingly well and won 2 of 3 games.  We didn't make it to the final round but we had fun and it was a great weekend away.  The boys (and girl) had so much fun both on and off the field and as a parent of a 'socially quiet' child, watching him flourish in the environment was so awesome!  The whole weekend made me want to go to more and more road tournaments!!

WINS for the week:

1. HIT THE GYM!!  Yes, that deserves all capitals!  The hotel that we were staying in this past weekend had a little gym (2 treadmills, 1 bike and some weights) but I made it my duty to hit it up on both Friday and Saturday to get as much of a workout in as I could before hitting the fields.  It felt AWESOME!!  So much so that I am going to be heading to the community centre this week and joining the local gym!  WAHOOOO!!!  TOTAL WIN!
2. Staying on plan - Yep, being away for the weekend was so challenging when it came to eating. We brought lots of snacks and breakfast foods but nothing that was perishable because we didn't want to overdo it.  Thankfully my parents came up on Saturday and brought a nice healthy lunch of chicken salad sandwiches with lots of fruit and veggies... couldn't be more happy with that!  We also did a lot of restaurant research and found dishes that I could eat that would fit into my calories allotment and would be filling... check out my Instagram for my choices!

CHALLENGES for the week:

1. Out of town - I already touched on this but the biggest challenge of the week was being out of town for three days.  Not knowing the area we were staying made it hard to pre-plan but we made it work and it was a successful weekend.
2. Water intake - Again, this stems back to the travel but I found that I was a lot slower on my water intake than I normally am.  The ice in the hotel ice machine made the ice taste funny so I ended up not drinking the water I prepped for the field.  I tried to make it up once we would get back to the hotel but knowing the bathroom situation at the fields was less than stellar, I didn't want to overdo it either... UGH!  Such a catch-22.  

Overall, week six was great!  While the loss on the scale isn't huge, it's a loss and I know that after a weekend away, any loss is a sign of success.  WOOHOO!  I am dancing right now.  Now we get to see what August brings.  I have no goals or expectations because I find that takes away the disappointment and pressure... just going to do more of what I have been and keep my fingers crossed that my efforts don't disappoint!