Lifestyle Challenge | Week 21 & 22 Update & SUCCESS!!

You guys... YOU GUYS... I DID IT!  I actually lost 50lbs by Christmas.  I know, I have been absent from the blog but I promise it isn't from lack of activity or because I have fallen off the wagon.  I have been working my little(ish) tail off and staying on plan and this past weekend, I was rewarded with that elusive FIFTY POUNDs lost mark.  OH MY GOODNESS... I was so shocked to see it that I stepped on the scale 3 times to make sure and then sat on the bed for a few minutes to let it sink in... I DID IT!

One of the questions that I get asked the most is How Did I Lose the Weight? 

To be honest, there is no special secret behind it.  I was challenged by one of my friends, Tracy, back in June, to lose 50lbs by Christmas... two pounds a week and we could easily get it done.  For some reason, that lit the fire and I strapped on my Fitbit (was a Charge HR then, now a Blaze) and started walking and watching what I was eating.  I also upped my water intake and tracked my calories.  It's been that basic formula the entire time... calories in vs. calories out.  I try to have a calorie deficit of 1000 per day which SHOULD equal the 2lbs a week... sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't but that's what I try for each day.  Clearly it's working and I will be staying with this plan until my body decides it's at it's natural weight... until it doesn't want to lose anymore and I am officially balanced and healthy!

WINS and CHALLENGES for the week:

I am actually going to stop posting this section as it's been 6-months (almost to the day) of this lifestyle journey and I don't necessarily have WINS or CHALLENGES anymore... just everyday living and that comes with both but unless it's something special to note, like Halloween, Christmas or some vacation, I don't think it's necessary to put them down on paper anymore.

HAPPY NOTE for the week:

It's SNOWED today... anyone who knows me knows that I love winter and snow and Christmas and ALL THINGS that relate to that!  YAY!  

While we are at it... can I just say that Tim Horton's has stepped up their holiday game as well...

WOOHOO!  Let's bring it 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!  

Recipe | Chicken, Peppers & Rice

Being on a diet means a lot of the same old foods... you get used to the routine and it is hard to find new recipes that work, not only for the calorie count, but also for the entire family to enjoy.  This past week, I saw a post on Pinterest that showed a picture of chicken with peppers, served over rice and I thought, 'Hey, that has to be low in calories... let's give it a go'.  So here is how I made an amazing 450 calorie dinner.

Chicken, Peppers & Rice

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 each of red, yellow and orange peppers

1/2 lrg white onion

2 cups of brown Minute Rice

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 tsp Soy Sauce

Medium dash of Mrs. Dash (original)

Red Pepper Flakes to taste (depends on your desired heat)

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions

1. In a large pan, dice onion and saute in olive oil
2. Cut up chicken into small pieces and toss into pan
3. Add in minced garlic and cook until chicken is cooked through
4. Season mixture with Mrs. Dash, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire Sauce and Soy Sauce
5. Prepare rice as directed on box.  I use the max serving (6 people) 
6. Add peppers into the pan with chicken and onion and cook until the peppers are the desired tenderness (generally 10 - 15 mins)
7. Once cooked, add rice to pan and mix everything together
8. Let simmer for another 5 minutes and add any additional seasonings you feel it needs.  I sometimes add an extra dash of Worcestershire Sauce or some more red pepper flakes.
9. Serve it up

This makes 4 servings and each servings is approximately 450 calories (depending on how big your chicken chunks are and just how much seasoning you used!)

Super tasty and very easy to make... something the whole family will love!