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Saturday, September 8, 2012

Yummy Smoothies!

Quick workout update:  this past week we squeezed in three days of workouts.  Due to work restrictions that was all we could accomplish.  But, three days is better than none, right?!  I didn't eat as clean this past week either as I should be.  I'm not quite off the wagon but....  next week will be better.

I wanted to share this site I found that has recipes for great smoothies.  The Yummy Life "Make-Ahead Oatmeal Smoothies" are awesome!  I try to get my oatmeal in everyday - usually in the mornings for breakfast - but find I can't always get through a bowl of it.  This site was recommended by Nancy on her FB page so I checked it out!  Then, I went out a got a new smoothie blender (from Bella) and whipped up a strawberry banana.  It's awesome!!!!


I varied the recipe just a bit and eliminated the vanilla extract and honey and added in my whey protein.  Now, I've got my oatmeal AND my protein in one.  And what I love about these smoothies is they are not made with ice so they can be made ahead of time and frozen for future use.  That's important for me because we lead such busy lives!

Check it out!  I hope you enjoy!

Here's to your health!
Sunday, September 2, 2012

Labor Day and Everyday Struggles



First, I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Labor Day!!!  I hope everyone finds a chance to relax and spend time with family and friends.  We're doing that very thing this weekend and taking a break from our workouts.  My brother-in-law and nephew are in town for the weekend and we're celebrating BIL's birthday coming up.  He'll be a whopping 39!!  Can't wait to roast him next year.  (Along with my own brother who is also 39 this year!)

On another note, it's been on my heart today to encourage those of you who have been struggling with your weight over the years.  I've been inspired by a couple of people... namely Nancy Reinhardt, who, despite battling a bad back, made the decision to change her life and that of her family by eating clean and getting back in the gym.  Her story can be found here....(just click on her pic below).  She looks hot, huh?!

Nancy Reinhardt

Nancy's story resonated with me.  I think I was finally at a point in my life where I was tired of being overweight and everything that went with it.  Being tired all the time, having no energy, hating to look at myself in the mirror, hiding from the camera.  I hated myself.  I hated the way I looked.  But I was scared to change.

Two years ago I underwent open heart surgery.  Before the surgery, my heart issues got slowly but steadily worse over time and my cardiologist finally told me it was time to repair it.  After the surgery, my surgeon told me I could exercise with no restrictions.  Since then, my heart is so much better but I've been paralyzed with fear.  What will happen if I over exert myself?  I still don't know the answer to that question, but I've decided that little by little I will work up to it.

My other challenge is that I have a steel rod attached to my spine.  Okay, that sounds scarier than it really is. I had scoliosis when I was 13 and had a stainless steel rod attached to my spine.  I don't notice it and it hasn't hindered me in any way except for the fact that I can do sit ups or crunches.  Unlike most people, I don't bend at the waist.  I bend at the hips.  It's difficult for most people to grasp that - especially nowadays because the surgery for repairing scoliosis has improved dramatically over the years and patients now have more freedom of movement.  That's bad when I desperately need some ab work!!  LOL!

I can only walk right now on the treadmill for about 20 minutes at a pace of about 2.5.  I started out about three months ago at 2.0 for 10 minutes.  That's progress!  I'm also lifting weights and I LOVE it!  Weight lifting really gets my heart pumping!  At first I was afraid of how it made me feel.  Now that I'm getting used to the sensation, I'm pushing myself a little harder.  I've moved up in the amount I'm lifting and I'm seeing my body change.  I'm finding other ways, too, to get my abs in shape.  And the appreciation I see in my husband's eyes is priceless.  :)

I decided to take Jamie Eason's 12 week LiveFit Trainer.  While I can't do every exercise in this plan, I'm doing what I can and challenging myself beyond my fears.  There are days when I leave the gym feeling like spaghetti!!  There are days when I don't have the heart for it (no pun intended).  But, that's when I take a page from Nancy's book and I don't get stressed over missing a day.  I just continue on the next day.

I encourage you - if you are struggling with even getting started just take it in small steps!  Remember, it's a journey - a journey to a better you!!!  Join a gym or your local YMCA (which is what we did).  And GO!  We go at least four times a week.  Even if you only go for 20 minutes.... GO!!!!

Just remember...God loves you regardless!  But you can love yourself, too! It's time to start.

Here's to a fresh start!!!



Here's to YOU!!
Thursday, August 30, 2012

My Goal...



....and progress update....

I took the weekend off as usual to let my body rest and recuperate.  I'm still seeing results!!!  This morning I tried on a pair of pants I haven't fit into for about 5 years.  Guess what?  They fit!!!  I don't always see the results in the mirror but having my old clothes fit is reward enough.

I try not to be a slave to the scale.  It depresses me so I stay away from it.  Besides, it seems if you use a different scale to weigh yourself, the result is always different.  Isn't this how you're supposed to do it anyway?



Seriously though, I rely less on what the numbers on the scale say than I do on how I feel.

So, yesterday was a SUPER good workout.  We worked legs yesterday and by the end of the hour my legs literally felt like spaghetti.  I could barely move.  Tonight wasn't as great but still good.  We worked triceps tonight, which for me are difficult.  I'm weak in that area, for sure.  I'm looking forward to going up in weight in a couple of weeks on those exercises.

So...the title of my post is "My Goal".  Once I reach the size I want to be my reward is going to be this:


And I don't mean the scooter.  My goal is to have vintage pinup photos done.  How cool is that?  My husband loves the idea!  Go figure.

It's a long road but you can't eat the elephant all at once.  Hmmm, maybe that's a bad analogy!  

Here's to your health!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Eyes on the Goal!


Jamie Eason's Livefit Trainer
I mentioned in my last post that I was following Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer plan for my workouts.  It's been almost 3 weeks, minus a couple of days and I'm definitely seeing results.  Today, however, is a forced rest day.  My body is telling me to hold off for a day or too.  I am SORE, people!

Yesterday's workout was difficult.  I wasn't very motivated - had some not-so-good news about a family member and I wasn't feeling the motivation or drive.  I struggled through most of it though.  Plus, the workout included triceps and I'll admit, mine are WEAK!

At the beginning of the year, instead of making a New Year's resolution, I determined that I would simply be intentional in everything I do.  For the most part, I think I've done that.  I get motivational articles from Intentional Living.com.  Here's a great one that spoke to me this morning!  God speaks....

Eyes on the Goal

by Dr. Randy Carlson
Disruptions are the opponents of change—they can hold us back. Like defensive tackles in a football game, they keep the quarterback from scoring a touchdown.

I’ve picked up some valuable knowledge from football. Every time the ball is hiked, the quarterback has the option to either throw a long pass, hand-off or run. He’s always focused on trying to get the ball to the end zone.

Sometimes, the quarterback is sacked behind the line of scrimmage by the defensive tackles and has to make up even more yardage. Occasionally he even turns the ball over with an interception. Yet no matter how many disruptions he may face, he always regroups and starts over.

Change is like that—no matter what happens, you pick yourself up off the ground emotionally and regroup. How?
 
 
Ok...I'm re-motivated and my eyes are back on the goal!  (After a couple of rest days, of course.)
 
Here's to whole health!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Life Change

So, my life over the past year has been, well, busy.  I love to blog but I just don't always find the time to do it and when I do have the time, I'm exhausted and don't want to.  I went back to work last November for the first time in 12 years.  Can you say, "Culture Shock"?  I was promoted rapidly with my new job and am now Office Manager.  Scary sometimes, hectic, challenging for sure, but I love it.  And I have a great boss and a fantastic team.

The other big news in my life is that I have finally come to a place where I am tired of being overweight.  In May this year I signed up with the Howard Diet Center where I live.  It was something I could afford and I needed the boost to get me started.  I stayed with it for two months and lost 13 pounds.  Needless to say, I saw results which motivated me to do more.

I convinced my husband to join the local YMCA.  We've made the committment to go every day and we're following Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer on BodyBuilding.com.  The results continue to come.  I'm now a size smaller and feeling so much better.  I also follow Nancy Reinhardt and try to eat clean.  Don't get me wrong, I cheat now and then.  I believe you have to allow yourself a treat now and then. 

I'm going to use this venue to record my journey.  I'll post pics, articles I find helpful, my goals and triumphs, and my not so good days.  I hope you'll follow along with me and perhaps we can do it together.  I'd love to hear about your weight loss/get healthy journey!  Feel free to leave me comments or suggestions. 

Here's to whole health!
Monday, January 2, 2012

Be Intentional


So this year, for 2012, I decided not to do resolutions.  Why set myself up for failure?  I recently saw a cartoon on Facebook that seemed to say it all:


This year, instead of making a list of resolutions, I've decided to go about it a little differently.  Life is a journey and we are constantly on a path and reaching for something.  The path I've set for myself this year is simply to be intentional in everything I do.  Whether it's loving people, being a friend, or bettering myself I intend to be intentional about it.

I've gotten off to a pretty good start on this 2nd day of 2012.  Last night, I joined Weight Watchers because, like so many others, I intend to lose some weight.  Today, I'm going to buy a treadmill.  Next week, I'm having lunch with a great group of women who I hope to become better friends with.  And I'm starting again on my journey to higher education.

I have great intentions!  Let's see if I can be intentional.  If you would like to join me, then hop on board.  If I get some decent feedback, I may create a Linky-thingy so that you can post each week on your intentional journeys, too, because I would love to read them!

Here's to being INTENTIONAL!

Blessings,
Dana