Categories
Daily Dose

How Many Licks?

Listen to this, ya’ll! I think I’m finally over the “ooh-I-can-totes-snarf-down-another-frappuccino” to make it through my day. Those cravings. Yeah – you have them too! Don’t lie.
Don’t get me wrong, usually I want a salad or veggies more than anything else. My coffee habit (albeit something FIERCE) is usually no more than a cup a day and less than 200 calories, if I mosey my derriere down to Starbucks. All that aside…I still CRAVE chocolate and coffee and doughnuts (seriously, I should own stock in Shipley’s) and Mountain Dew. All these things, I have occasionally – but sometimes I want to gobble everything up.

Then I give myself a pep-talk that usually goes something like this:
“So, beautiful – you’re comfy in your current jean size, right? In fact, you really want to get to a healthier weight and into some smaller jeans, eh? Well…those extra [insert nummie goodness here] are definitely not going to help your jiggle.”

I wanted to share a few of the recipes that I’ve come across recently. I’m one of those “pin it” then “make it” girls. Why pin it just to look at it?

LAME, right?

Not me! I make sure that my pantry is stocked and that my guys are hungry – they’re always willing test subjects for most of my creations. I love finding thinspiration recipes! These are a few of my faves!

Blondies! This gurl does them right! Mmm!
These are DE-lish and pretty healthy already!
 

I see something, and then (if it’s all sorts of Paula Deen wrong[or very, very right], with butter and lard and bacon) I change up the ingredients to make them fit my healthier life choices.

But, since my boys are more likely to hate something that tastes “healthy,” I’m forced to be creative. I add in Splenda, instead of sugar. Or use Chobani yogurt instead of butter. I’ve been picking up tips here and there…loving every recipe I’ve made so far! My office peeps are loving them too, so I promise I’m not just tooting my own horn. I’ve gotten some of these chunkies to start eating healthier, all because they’re gnoshing on 80 cal brownies and yet, they’re none the wiser.
There’s nothing worse than telling someone your treats are healthy, then they don’t want to eat them. Instead, I leave them out for anyone to snag. When I get asked for the recipe, they tend to be floored.
The look on their faces when I tell them the cookies are only 37 cals each or are sugar free?

Priceless!

You should definitely start spreading the fit-foodie love around! It’s wonderfully contagious. I swear, I would have so much fun being a Kashi GoLean Protein Egg [yootoob it], handing out healthy goodies. Too fun!

Turkey Bacon, FTW! :]

These make for a fun and quick breakfast.
Super yummy and protein packed!
I’m all about being more healthy without having to worry about exact calories.
Honestly…who’s got time for that?

Scrumptious!

These Italian Dunkers are epic! I actually made the meatballs and these were the result.

Amazing, right?

Come on, ya’ll! Get into your kitchen and fumble around with those ingredients. Tinker your way into something nummy and finger-lickin’ tasty! The healthier, the better!

If you come across anything legendary, be sure to let me know! I <3 some awesome recipes!

Categories
Daily Dose

Great Starts

This past week, I lost my voice. 
By Saturday afternoon, I had a fever + chills and absolutely NO love for running. Oh! Everything I tried to eat had no flavor, almost like licking air. Weird, huh? Darn sickly tastebuds.
Now it’s Monday and I’m not feeling too much better. Hoping to force myself back into top-notch mode, I’ve endeavored to stay busy. Well, as busy as one can be with practically zero energy and a pile of assignments. Cal 3 will just have to wait until my mind isn’t so murky.

With the semester in full swing, I’ve had to start planning my meals more strictly and making sure there are plenty of healthy snacks around. Our fridge is packed to the hinges with yogurt, eggs, meat, salads, veggies and plenty of other goodies.
The beau and I also decided to add some Cliff Builder’s Bars into our weekly routine. Who doesn’t love a good meal replacement bar? We add a piece of fruit (usually a banana or an apple) and a bottle of water. Voila! You’ve got your sexy self, a meal! A yummy one, too! 

Check these out! They’re awesome! We are HUGE fans!



This week our dinners will be:
Monday: Steak Flatbread Pizzas
Tuesday: Sausage and Spinach Penne
Wednesday: Enchiladas Suizas
Thursday: Fire-Roasted Sausage & Noodles
Saturday: Movie Night! We’re having dinner out with friends & have promised that we will share one plate. We’ve realized just how much he over-eats and how many left-overs I tend to bring home for myself. Why not just share, right? Healthy-Fit Couple of the year! :]

This mom plans for EACH of her kids. Too much?


I’ll do my best to post pictures and may even include some of these recipes. I owe a few cooking tips to my good friend, Julie – so I need to get on the ball for her Med-School cooking help! 

Tonight I’m making my quick and easy pizzas. For a healthy breakfast tomorrow, I’ll be baking chocolate banana bread tonight. This will be a first for me – so I’m hoping it comes out like this:

My chocolate monster needs to be sated.

Our goal is to start running again on Wednesday. This cold really kicked my boo-tay all weekend and I need to get back to my body-sculpting business. 

My weight loss goal: 40 pounds to go. 
I’ve got until April 23rd to do this. I want to look super sexy in a wonderful dress and pumps for my big 24! :] Set a goal and GO for it!

Step one – Be accountable!
My friends and I have all gotten MyFinessPal on our iPhones, so we’re holding each other accountable for our daily food choices. Personally, I don’t worry too much about the actual calorie values. If I’m over or under by a couple hundred calories, so what? Your body will work your metabolism harder if you switch up your daily calorie values. Don’t stray too far now, loves – but make sure that you give your body a little of what it craves. 

Example? 
I will never give up coffee or chocolate. But you bet your fit bunz that I am going keep those cravings in check! If I’m at Starbucks, I choose non-fat milk and sugar free syrups. Usually, my grande bevy costs me about 220 calories. As for chocolate…my fave is dark! Maybe a teaspoon of mini chocolate chips with a cup of strawberries. Mmm…mmm…MMM!

Ooh-la-la! our friends @ Nestle are doing it right!

How’s your week going?
Remember – if you haven’t started your workout yet…it’s NOT too late! 
The first steps you take are usually the hardest, but they’re the most exhilarating! 
Get those buns moving! 


Categories
Daily Dose

Hit It Before You Quit It!

Pay attention kiddies. Life lessons here.

So, I went all dark and twisty on you guys a few weeks back when I got my rejection letter from graduate school. Missed that entry? Here ya go –> Serious Venting

What did I do? 

Well, after removing my head from my own fantastically shaped derriere and getting over the “woe is me” attitude – I put stock in what a few of my besties said “Snap the heck outta this, chick! You’ve got this!”


I decided to hit it again before quitting, because I’m nothing if not thorough – right?
Reaching out to the admissions board, I found out what I did wrong, how I fell short and I fixed it.

Guess what?

Now THIS girl is going to graduate school! :] 
I know it doesn’t always work out in our favor, but I really needed this WIN and am so glad to have the opportunity to show this school just how much of an asset I am.

I got my admission confirmation at work, today!
Hand to God, I hugged everybody in a 50ft radius.
Yes, I am that thrilled!

This experience made me realize that I shouldn’t give in so easily – and neither should you!

I can think of several people who told me I’d never get here.
How do you like them apples?

It’s January 8th. Which of you haven’t started working on that weight loss rezzie?
Better question…how many of you worked out like a HOSS for a couple of days, but then rewarded yourself with brownies and a few days of rest?

For. SHAME.

Don’t quit it yet. [If you haven’t started…what the hell are you waiting for?]

Aim for the most amazing version of yourself. Perfection is over-rated.


Have you tried SPARK?
– There are plenty of fantastic flavors to choose from and they come in either a canister or pouches for portability. Try the Strawberry Mango…it rocks my socks!

I’m about to start the 24 day Challenge. I lost 8 pounds on the program in 24 days, this past fall. More importantly, the cleanse helped me jump-start my workout plan.This year, Advocare has released a workout program! It’s 7 workouts that increase intensity and will put you on your better fitness path. I’m going to start those workouts with the 24 Day Challenge and add in some Catalyst. 

Can you say RIPPED! :] 
My rips are going to have rips…mmm sexy!


Keep on keeping on, ya’ll!



Be big enough to realize that you’re blessed/gifted/shinedupon/loved/awesome
Live it up!


Categories
Daily Dose

Goals

I managed to sleep most of my day away because of a migraine that decided to assault me this afternoon. Jerk!

My dreams during that blissful [4 hour] nap were…wonderful. It was like my whole year unfolded and things clicked into place. Maybe the migraine was strangling just the right neurons. Maybe. 

Regardless of the cause, I now know what I want to do:

1. Lose 50 pounds by April 23. 
– This is going to be one hell of a challenge, but I’ve got you all – right? I can work my ass off off and vent about the evil crunches, how much I need an ice bath and missing white chocolate chip cookies. 

You can always be better. Aspire to be the best version of yourself at all times.



2. Get Published!
– I’ve got so much research to do for my novel, but I’m really stoked about where it’s going. Hopefully another stroke of genius will hit me and my muse will visit again.

I can only hope to empower people through my words.



3. Get into graduate school. 

– Biomedical Engineering, here I come!

4. Take the LSAT and CRUNCH it!
– Applying to law school and getting accepted is the next step. Obvi!

5. Travel to 3 different cities [outside of our Noble Texas] with Angel. Those destinations I’ll keep secret, because it’d be great for surprise him!

My better half.


6. Bake More. Cook More. Compile the recipes. 
– Food is my therapy. Over the years I’ve learned to be more cognizant of what I’m eating and how it affects my body. I’d like to continue sharing the lessons I learn and hope that you keep reading about the crazy running excursions and the [sometimes] failed recipes. 

Lasagna Cups. Mmm…scrumptious!



7. Take a step toward financial freedom.
– I have loved being a part of Advocare and want to make it a more permanent fixture in my life. Though I don’t love every product they have to offer, the ones I do enjoy have made such a positive impact on my life. This healthy journey will continue and I’m so very happy to follow this path!

Advocare – Visit my site!


There are so many other things I want to accomplish, but these are the big seven. I haven’t planned anything out, but I’ve put the goals out there. Instead of a vision board or day planner or exacto-knife for life…I’m just focusing on the goals. How I get there will be my adventure. 


What have you all set out to do for 2013?

Categories
Daily Dose

Panties & Prologues

I dropped two more pounds this week. 

Work it, ya’ll!



Woo-freaking-HOO!

Only a few more pounds before these panties start sliding their way down my fabulous derrier. Which, I might add, never seems to lose its shape. Does anyone else have that problem? I guess it’s not really a problem, except when you’re in between sizes and the skinny cow pulling your jeans off the rack can’t seem to understand that just because you’ve got thunder thighs to fill the legs, does not mean your assets can pucker the back pockets. 
It’s just frustrating…and even more irritating that she’s only trying to help, so you really shouldn’t bite her head off about your less-than-cooperative bunz.

Moi? 
Complaining about losing weight? 
YES! 

If I hadn’t gotten so hefty to begin with, I wouldn’t be in this ass-of-mine predicament.

Let this be a lesson to you, fellow chubsters – STICK TO YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS!
Come on, toots! 

You want to lose weight? 
Make a plan. Stick to the nutrition.  Don’t deprive yourself, but don’t give yourself a cookie for every 1 mile you walk at your leisure. You gotta risk it to get the biscuit, ya’ll! 
[the risk here is a few bucketfuls of sweat, smaller jeans and the allure of {insert your biscuit} a certain little yellow polka-dot bikini]. 

Stop chasing that tail, too. Let someone chase yours!


Get fit, be happy and healthy. 
Remember how hard it was to run your chunky monkey, rocky-road loving bee-hind, up those hills and down that ravine…because you DO NOT WANT to be BACK here, ever AGAIN.

Capeesh?

::end rant:: & ::step off soapbox::


My treat for you today is more along the lines of mental stimulation. 
Holding true to my rezzie’s [honestly friends, we’re only 2 days in and shouldn’t be breaking the oh-so-serious promises we made to ourselves only two nights ago. For SHAME.] I started working on my fiction novel. 

I have never shared this with anyone outside my immediate friend group, so this is exciting!




We’ve talked panties, now here’s the prologue:

{Title, not set; Prologue}

“Dalyra! RUN. Damn. Run!” He’s screaming at me, this is beyond awful. I know I should listen, but my limbs are scrambling to get to him. Throwing punches and hurling broken men across the room. Marcello is fighting them with me, but this is anything but fair.

We were ambushed. Aural’s fiends, no doubt.

Ugh! There is no logical way out of this place. If we jump, we may never get back – not with Marc batter and weak.

I snap back into the fight. Break bones now, think later!

Move left!

 My instincts are pleading with me, this sucks! A hairy fist misses my chin by a fraction of an inch. Black dress shirts and dark jeans, everywhere. There’s something burning; the smoke, suffocating.

Something’s burning. Oh my God.

 There are too many of them, and I can’t access their minds. My elements are virtually useless against them as well.

We’re losing.

There’s more pain in the defeated voice, than I’m willing to express.

Bruises are starting to form on my knuckles, I’m sure one of them is broken. There was a definite sting that shocked my nocioreceptors into submission with that last blow.

I’m flailing around, attempting to do more damage with a tornado approach – hitting anything that comes near enough. We’re storming a path through the mêlée, endeavoring to get the hell out of here. The closer we are, the better chance we have.

            Almost there. I can practically touch him.

            “Fuck, Dali! Why haven’t you left?” Marcello is thundering his voice at me, while trying to duck away from a sucker-punch.

            Breathless, “How. Could. I. Leave. You?” Landing a jab with each word, then a cross-kick to my assailant’s chest. He goes down – hard. A lot of good that does, there’s another goon coming straight for me.

            “You need to get out! I can’t lose you, not again. Pl– !” Marcello’s plea is slammed shut with an uppercut, slamming his jaw shut. He staggered, but quickly regained equilibrium.  

            “You’re not getting rid of me that easily, sweetheart.” I scoff, but inwardly I’m praying that we can make it out of this.

Where is everyone?

            It’s like we’ve been fighting for hours and help is nowhere in sight. My strength is dwindling. I know I can’t keep this up.

There are only eight of them left. The others are either dead or incapacitated.

            I should have rested, when he asked me earlier. This is my fault.

            Mark is fighting three grizzly looking men and he lokos haggard.

Get. To. Marc.

The remaining five buttons are on me have concentrated around me. I’m shrouded by their tall, dark, immune-to-my-power bodies. I’m the target, that much I know. I’m pulling every defense move I know, skills I never thought I’d have to call on.

            Punch. Kick. Jump. Craaack! My jaw is out of commission. I can barely open it to scream.

Dislocated? Maybe. MEND, please –  heal!

Begging my super-human body to work with me, I continue throwing myself into the fray because I must save Marc. This is my fault. They want me, not him.

A warm, searing pain lashes me across the face and wraps around to the crown of my skull.  I’m flung across the room and through a window. Mark’s face is the last thing I see. His screams are drowned out by my failing senses.

I’m thinking, this can’t be happening.

Blackness. Night, maybe?

No, entrapment. 

Cold. Wet. Broken. I’m trapped in a darkness that has managed to engulf my entire being. I’m not alone, I can feel him near me. His breathing is shallow, thready and I can feel his pain.

How did I end up here?

Why didn’t I fight harder?

Can we be rescued, or do I have to claw our way out?

All these thoughts are flying through my mind, racing against time. Here I am, where? I do not know. My insides are twisting and I’m on the verge of panic. Marcello is dying, truly leaving my side in this world. My spirit, my soul, everything is slipping away. This mind-numbing situation is sucking me in.

I can’t think straight.

How can I survive without him? Will I even?

My head is on fire and the warm blood snaking its way down the left side of my face is all the physical evidence left on me from this disaster night. Marc’s not so lucky.

We’ve never truly died before. Reincarnation is sweet that way. We live, we die, repeat. But this…this isn’t something I can fix. The tears I’ve been holding back through the fight find their way to the surface and bubble up, rolling over the rim of my lower lids. I know I need to get out, but for now – I cry.

When it’s all gone, the helplessness and despair, I formulate a singular plan. Heart breaking, mind healing my wounds and I can’t wrap myself around the last few days. I’ve been kidnapped, beaten, broken and exploited – but, we’re together.  

I am going to murder the evil bastard who put us here.





[end of transmission]


Thanks for reading! :]

 

Categories
Daily Dose

Andy, The Whale

My work family lost a friend and leader today.

I lost a mentor.

When the news was broken to us, I felt a little piece of me break. It was a distinct sound. One of loss, shock and this cavernous piece of my soul closing off. Not with a bang, but a whimper. 

I think it’s hard enough to say good-bye when you know the event is coming, but we were blindsided and the sucker-punch to the gut on New Year’s Eve…well, that was the cherry on this crud-pile of a sundae.

I will never walk through the doors of my office, hearing Andy yell “Woo! Sarah’s here!” 
That ball of sunshine in a squat, funny little man is was not what one expected, but he rarely failed to brighten my day.

He taught me so many things, but the one that stands out in my mind is how Andy showed me just how important it was to do what you love. 
Andy traveled, Vegas being his favorite destination. He loved his family, fast cars, good food and the lure of a great bet. There was so much more to him and all of his quirkiness came flooding to the front of my mind when I absorbed the news. Things you wouldn’t expect to realize that you noticed about a person – it was all so dorky and yet, so very Andy. 
Piles of Mountain Dew. 
Everything Bagel Boopalaches. 
Pho, Bun & Boba.
How much he’ll be missed by Bistro.   
Serenity Now! 

Going into work on Wednesday is going to be hard. Hell, leaving the office today was difficult. This news was hard to swallow and it still feels like a slap in my reality. Cold. Hard. Ruthless.


Fate gets us all.

 

With the new year coming around in a few hours, I couldn’t help but think about the frailty of us all. Here one minute, gone the next.

Yeah, Andy would say “umm…deep?”
[He wasn’t much for serious tones. Actually, more often he was laughing at the tiniest thing.]

I realized that I have so many resolutions for the upcoming year, but one I didn’t have until just today?

I resolve to live every day, loving every minute and regretting nothing. 
At 23 [almost 24], I want to learn how to live. 

This all ties into my healthy-fit-chick journey, I promise. 
Part of learning to live is knowing your own limitations and pushing against them. It also means that you have to learn to love yourself, for all your flaws and greatness. Andy had that balance. He was 5’4″ but larger than life. I want to know what that completeness feels like, and I’m determined to have that in my life. That strength and passion, love and joy…knowing every night that when I tumble into bed, my day was well spent. This is my goal and it goes hand in hand with being spiritually, mentally and physically fit. 

I’ll leave you with something that’s not quite so serious, like Andy – The Whale. Maybe you can understand what brand of awesome he was, and hopefully, you know someone just like him.

Disclaimer: He loved this commercial and when I told him it reminded me of him [several months back], he really LOL’d. Watching it again, it’s still just as funny. 

We miss you already, Andy. I hope that you have plenty of poker chips and a endless supply of Mountain Dew, because anywhere without it just wouldn’t be right. 



Categories
Daily Dose

Cheeky, Short and Brunette – Now What?

So, let me tell you what’s really going on.

 
Lately I’ve been a little more fierce and a little less friendly, which is most definitely NOT me. I’ve kept alot of these back-the-heck-up thoughts to myself lately because I’m stressed, freaked and have been waiting on rusty old nails to find out whether or not I’d been admitted to graduate school.

For all that worrying and feeling like I might not be good enough, and then all those people who said the school would be “absolutely stupid to deny [me] admission”….well, I was right and all my bolstering-we-adore-you-Sarah-fans, were wrong. 


Damn Straight. I said it.
Papal Bull – Sarah sucks.
That is all.


I fell short and it feels horrendous. Not quite like getting your boob squished at a mammogram, but much along the lines of realizing that your ex-boyfriend said he couldn’t handle a relationship [hence the breakup] but is now walking that kinda-skunky [yes, skunky] chick to class like a well-trained puppy . It’s a deep-down hurt, something that I can’t extinguish with bitch-stickers (a.k.a. – band-aids).

Only clue as to where I went wrong? My GPA needs improvement. 
Seriously though, it wasn’t/isn’t that bad. My letters of recommendation were stellar and my work experiences are full of epic situational learning. 

UGH!!!

This whole getting-rejected-thing lead me to start this long-winded thinking, what am I doing with my life mess. Honey, the monologue is too long and too self-loathing to let you in on it. 

I’m so sad right now, that I can only laugh to keep from crying.

What truly sucks? 
I’m still sick at home with strep throat and a bunky set of lungs that are sporadically attacking me right now, so I can’t go running. I want nothing more than to get lost in the miles with just the sound of my breathing and the solid thump of my feet beating the pavement.
It would feel amazing to punch something right now. 
All this hard work…for what – rejection?

Despite this, I have all you wonderful people [you know who you are] telling me to eat a brownie or have a glass of wine, or eat some cake to make myself feel better – well, screw you!


The goal is to LOSE weight, not pack on the self-deprecating pounds through sugary goodness!
Trying to look good, naked – remember?!?



What I can tell you about my newest scar, is that I came across this:

“People take different roads
seeking fulfillment and happiness.
Just because they’re not on your road

doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” 
-His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

 
It made me look at this situation with fresh eyes. What if I’m that person now on a new path? 

I certainly feel like a rudder-less ship or a rabbit without its lucky foot [because really, what rabbit wants to be hopping around with three legs]…I feel lost. 
What should I throw myself into now?


I keep hearing that I should apply to law school:

Because, you know…changing career paths is not so difficult.



The advice is appreciated, don’t get me wrong. However, I’m severely type-A. The “always-has-a-plan [or three, or four]” kind of girl. 
So what am I supposed to do for the next 6 academic months…flounder? Basket-weaving? Travel the world? 

I’m seriously contemplating that last one. 
Any suggestions would be nice. 


So now I’ll leave you with this last thought:

Seeing this, meant I could stop feeling slighted.
The only person holding me back, is me.

I don’t know how I came across this, only that it showed up in my photos, but the message is clear. I have no clue where this path is taking me, and everything I’d set up for myself has now crumbled, so my planner is free. I’ll start running again soon. Other than my continued separation from fat-pants…I have no idea what goals I’m running toward. 


Here’s to fear of the unknown and the overwhelming need to kick that fear’s ass!

Categories
Daily Dose

Killing the Jiggle

Alright folks, I’m back in action!
These past few weeks have been heinous – exams, allergies, strep throat, no work-outs and dealing with Herbert (the Thanksgiving Turkey), mocking me for not eating more. Dastardly bird!

I was so freaking disciplined. No. Joke.

Every skinny twiglet in my beau’s family was like:




But all I could do was sit there and think…How do you stay soooooo thin?!?!?!?! I mean:



Twig-bitches.

I say that with love. Trust.


I actually lost 2 pounds over the holiday. Which, the beau said, meant that I was probably not eating. 

Since I was so caffeinated and running around trying to see as much family as possible, well…I wouldn’t push that thought too far out. Either way…I didn’t have a chance to work out, so I made sure not to over-eat. I seriously do NOT need to be busting out pregnancy pants.

Now that I’m back home, I’ve got three finals standing in my way to freedom and Christmas fun. I really need to get back on the bandwagon for running. 

So I found this little guy:

Isn’t Melville great?!?!

 When I want to give up, or stray from this fit-path – I find ways to motivate myself. Mirror messages. Little notes to bolster my confidence and bundles of little things like that. 



How are you keeping yourself on track?
Did you find any yummy recipes I should know about? 



I wanted to upload some pictures of my progress, but all of the pictures from the Thanksgiving break get-togethers came out pretty blurry. I took bundles of pictures of other peeps, which came out great:

The beau and his mom. 🙂


But when anyone else got a hold of my camera, this was the usual result (mostly much blurrier):

This is the best picture I have of us, Laura! We need another visit, ASAP!


Now, compare the above pic of me to the ones below:

It might just be wishful thinking, but I do think my face has thinned out some.

I share this with you, my PHAT picture.


Now, I’m definitely still working on losing all this college-phat; sometimes it feels like it will never go away. But hey…no one said it was going to be easy. I can’t say I regret letting myself get this big, I mean – I sure as hell enjoyed the foodles that I consumed to make this voluptuous body happen! I’m just working to get back to fit. I miss my  chiseled abs. They were totes sexy, but are currently hidden under a few dozen cupcakes and Hershey’s hugs (my Achilles heel, when it comes to chocolate goodies!).

We’ve got a couple of holidays left to get through. At our house, Christmas day is a bustle of crazy events, one after another – then a bundle of food that forces you to unbutton the pants before you even take a seat! 
My grandmama’s turkey gravy is enough to put you into a calorie overload, and it’s way too hard to remember control. Hard, but not impossible. 
Alas, I will be spending my holiday alone this year. Working and toiling about at the office. Maybe a mini-Christmas roast beast will be a good idea? I haven’t decided yet. 

What I do know is that I will be strapping on my sneaks and heading out for a wonderful run. I’m so excited to see my total weight-loss before New Year’s Eve! WOOT!

Are you in the Christmas spirit yet?


My workout today will consist of putting up my Christmas tree! Pics later, I promise! 😀 We have a Who-ville theme this year and it’s our first official Christmas tree together. Elation? Definitely!


My favorite time of year. <3


Remember, you want to keep those fat pants away! 
Grab yourself some SPARK! Eat healthy and think portion control! That way, you can stick your finger in all sorts of pies and not feel guilty! [insert evil laugh here] Yes, I am dubious!


Much love, friends!

Categories
Daily Dose

Let’s Get Naked!

Now, I’m not a fan of scales…because, let’s be honest – most of the time their language is painful. They only give out numbers, no “way to go”… “hey, champ – looking slim”… just, “yo – you’re hefty! don’t believe me? Here’s yo numbah!”

UGH.

So, imagine my surprise when I stopped running for a week due to intense class assignments…and I LOST TWO POUNDS! In one week, that’s fantastic! :] I’m super freaking excited. EEEEP!

So, yes —– 

I’m feeling much better in my own skin and am damn proud of it!

Take your measurements and weigh yourself every couple of weeks or so. Make sure to focus more on those inches, friends! You might be slimming down, but gaining lean muscle – which means that you might add on a few pounds. Don’t worry though! You’ll look sexy-fit in those jeans of yours as you start re-shaping the thunder thighs and muffin top. I am working on this too!


Working out is not everything though. You’ve got to feed your tummy some seriously healthy nummies! Check out what I’ve been noshing on:

1/4 Avocado, smashed (not re-fried) beans on toasted corn tortillas with over-medium eggs and homemade salsa.
This entire meal is 480 calories and a great breakfast! I stay full for hours.

One of my lunches this week consisted of these beauties: Crab & Dill stuffed cucumber cups.
285 calories for an entire cucumber and 3oz of crab meat.

Sourdough bread with ricotta cheese and garlic spread, topped with smoked salmon, tomatoes and jalapenos.
2 slices = 360 cals. and a perfect lunch!

Crab and Mushroom stuffed Zucchini!
Enough said.

SUPER HEALTHY CHILI!
Less than 400 calories per 8oz.
It’s a family recipe, so you won’t be making my version.
Sorry, folks.

Egg-salad on sourdough bread.
210 calories per slice

Dinner tonight: JIM’S!
160 cals. per serving
They’re non-sloppy joe’s and wondermous!

So yeah…I’m a serious foodie [and I so know that you just enjoyed my food porn, don’t be ashamed]. But you all already knew that!
Thanks for not judging.

I’ve been working really hard to find/create/genius-my-way-into new recipe ideas that are also healthy. I’m totes biased, but I think I’ve done a damn good job so far!
I am not sure which recipes I want to add for you all, so you all pick. 


Right now I’ve got to head back to my studies, which is mostly where I’ve been for the past week or so. My apologies for not having posted recently, but life has been a dizzy flurry of activity. I promise to be better this week, with posts and my workouts. 


Here’s my newest flab-killer idea:



I want to do this sooooooo badly! the nerd in me shrieked with school-girl happiness when I stumbled across it. Hehehe!

So, I’ll keep running my 3 miles and throw this in a few times a week – that way, sometime soon I can be all:



And then the beau will want to take my pictures like so:


I mostly want to be fit so that I’m happy with myself, but part of me wants him to be happy too. He’ll never tell me that I’m too fluffy [bless this boy!] but I never want to be too comfortable to think that I don’t need to be sexy for him. That’s just all kinds of wrong. I always want to look good naked because that’s the difference between skinny and fit. Fit girls just feel and look better – that’s my ultimate goal. 

So remember:

I stopped working out last week to take care of “more important things” only to look at myself today and think: “Wow sister, you’re a sorry excuse for a fit-chick. Stop making excuses and go running. you know you want to.”

And it was true. 

I love running – more than cheesecake, cookies, shakes, popcorn…hell, almost more than coffee. The natural high I get is spectacular and my muscles crave the exercise. There’s just something inexplicably intoxicating about sweat and hard work. The payout is always worth it. 



Get out there and move! You know you want to.
I hope I’ve motivated you enough to get your rump going. 

Remember, we’re trying to go from flab to fit, people. how are you doing so far? I’m still a little jiggly, but tightening up nicely. ;]

Hopefully in 6 more weeks, I’ll be ringing in the New Year with my fantastic new outfit – showing off my buff arms and awesome booty. Woot! I can hardly wait to see my progress!

Categories
Daily Dose

Cheater, Cheater

Now, this title reflects a couple of things. 

1.  I have been cheating on my running with Halloween candy. Ugh. I’m somewhat ashamed of this weakness, but hey – I’m not perfect and won’t pretend to be. I have set-backs and walls and crazy high standards for myself. I’m much more in shape now than I was a few weeks ago, so I’m not too terribly disappointed, but I did need to come clean about my pumpkin candy and kit-kat issues. The guilt was racking me!

My weekend has been a lot of studying and lazy eating. Candy was near, so it was snarfed!



2. (and this is immensely more important than the first one) Tomorrow is mine and the beau’s 5th year anniversary. 
[That’s half a decade, ya’ll!]

We’ve pulled and pushed each other through just about everything over the past several years. He’s my best friend, my favorite hello, the one constant thought throughout my entire day and I just don’t feel at ease unless he’s near me. 

Yes, I do realize that I’ve got it bad. But hey, isn’t this what we all hope for? The kind of love that is comfortable but exciting at the same time? 
It’s what I always wished for, and it almost didn’t happen. 

You see, we met in highschool – but I broke his heart and friend-zoned him in order to date one of his close friends, some might say his best friend (but they’d be wrong). 

It was very much like Gary Allan’s “Man to Man.” Seriously. The ‘Ex’ cheated on me, broke my heart, and my best friend was left to pick up the pieces and put me back together. My best friend, the guy who I’d left for something that was…more exciting?…better?…well, I have no idea why, but I refused to give him the time of day. I was hell-bent on dating the other guy. I was an idiot.

Then one day, after he’s finished super-gluing my aorta back on, he says “Well, I’m kind of interested in [a girl who’s name I shall not mention, lest she know that she ever had a chance]. What do you think?”

Jesus, I was now in the friend zone and I completely agree with this: 
It’s amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy.

George Downes
My Best Friend’s Wedding
   
So I told him how I felt and the rest is history. You can’t expect the boy to keep trying, only to get denied over and over.
It was my turn to take that leap of faith, and thank GOD, he caught me.

 It’s funny how life works out. The guy I thought would be better off as my friend, was the man meant for me. Who would have guessed!?

Now this boy, whom I got extremely comfortable with (which is the problem that many couples encounter…I call it “The Fluffy Phase”), pushes me to be better, to run harder, do more, push further. He’s everything that I expected my other half to be. He even cares enough to pull me into all the things he enjoys, as well as sitting through all the episodes of Vampire Diaries with me. It’s a decent trade-off. :]


Except Monopoly. Two Taurus signs playing anything can get dangerously competitive.
Someone may get CUT!

We fight, laugh, cry, play (seriously…this boy games like nobody’s business) – we are two halves of a whole. I can only hope that each and every one of you finds the person that makes you want to be better than who you were yesterday. It’s a great gift to know that your happiness is someone’s priority. To feel loved and cherished is wonderful. I hope you all can experience love because it’s the most beautiful, powerful, crazy emotion that envelopes your soul and makes everything catch fire.

Working out together has been so great for us. We interact and are in a much better place with our healthy-fit selves. It’s easier to work through sugary cravings and lazy-spells when we’re both involved and motivating the other. 

How have you all been making out  (-.o) with your workouts?


<3 DeviantArt!