Food, food & more food

Happy PADDYS Day.....

My Mam showed up with Irish Soda Bread and Barmbrack (fruit cake).  I pretty much excused myself from my cleaneating and overate both!  Small quilty pleasure......extra hours at the gym?

Eating out, eating clean!  Trying so hard to make better choices when I eat out.  The top two pictures are from In N Out (double protein burger, no cheese, no sauce) & Panda Express Shanghi Angus Beef with steamed veggies.  Bottom left is homemade, quick and skinny "Chicken Curry"  I only sprinkled the meat and veggies with curry powder and soy sauce, served with brown rice.  Bottom right is a salad and protein shake, which is quickly becoming my "go to" meal during the day. 

Progress......

So in the past my macros have not looked like this.  These are three days in the middle of last week.  Normally I have a huge slice of Carbs with minimal protein and heavy fats.  I've been working hard to increase protein intake and lessen carbs or I should say, eat better carbs.  Taking out sweets and sugary things is helping lower the daily "fats". 

Monday....how I Love thee

MONDAY is groundhog day for me.....DO OVER every....single....week!  I love it though because its a fresh start, I feel motivated, charged, ready to go and get it right this time.
My focus this week is FOOD.  Im going to make sure I track really good and watch what and how I eat, making sure to fuel before the gym and recover after my workouts, with some help from my protein shakes.  Today for the first time I made egg whites.  For some reason they just look so "snotty" without the yellow mixed in so I took a tip from my friend to mix 3 egg whites with 1 egg yolk.  They were good.  I added a little goat cheese and avocado with a side of yummy ripe calamari tomatoes and I'm full.

The NO EXCUSE MOMS challenge is going good.  It is not easy on top of my regular workouts but Ive been consistent with the challenge each day except for yesterday. I was sooooo tired, I couldn't bring myself to do it so today (9th & 10th) I've got 60 crunches, 245 jacks and 45 squats. My legs definitely feel tighter *and sore* I like how the jumping jacks make me feel, strong and tight.  Squats are the best exercise for the booty so I'll do what is required and hope to see a physical difference at the end of the month. 

March Madness

This is my fitness challenge for March!  I'm in three days already.  It's not easy on top of my regular workouts but I'm a tough IRISH woman and ready to do this thing....this is my month!

Monday Already?

Last week was so super busy it flew by.  I taught at Namaste with these fun women

I ate lots of good, healthy food....at least I tried.  Gluten free three cheese Ziti and a bomb salad of nuts, cranberries, tomatoes, feta cheese

Went out with the quad squad (my girls from the gym who have become some of my favorite friends) Saw the Rat Pack show on Fremont Street and danced in an Irish Pub.

And.....wait for it.....I took my first Locker room selfie!  AWKWARD moment of the week....lol

Finished the week out with a sweaty zumba class at TRUFUSION Yoga studio 

As well as a killer leg workout Saturday afternoon.  Then on to a "fiesta cumpleanos" with my chicas Latinas to celebrate Tomys birthday.  Six tacos later .....we took photos 

And all of a sudden it was Monday again!  

What a busy week.  All this on top of my regular workout schedule and taking care of my family.  I need a 48 hr day please.....

Eating is so tough on the weekend.  I feel like I loose control BUT I have a plan going into next weekend thanks to my NO EXCUSE MOMS group....I'm gonna plan my meals and snacks and try a preemptive attack on the weekend. So tired of doing well during the week and loosing my progress on the weekend.  So here's to a new week and the experiences that will come with it.

Busy Weekend

Weekends are always super busy and when it comes to eating, weekends are definitely the hardest for me.  This weekend I was asked to present at a womens conference about Physical Health & Wellness.  Most of the information I shared was from my experience and what Ive learned on my own journey.   It's a constant battle to stay focused and motivated.  I appreciate the support of friends who have similar goals and motivate me. 
I've been lifting weights in addition to my regular workout schedule and feel & like the results in just a week.  Last week I felt really successful.  Eating was good and workouts were productive.  Holding on to that momentum will be good going into this 2nd week of my NO JUNK CHALLENGE!

After some leg lifting at the gym, had a Saturday date night with the hubs!  I was really craving lettuce wraps from PFChangs but the wait was so long we hit up Chilis instead.  I haven't eaten there for years but knew I wanted healthy.  Even watching my food for the weekend I was close on calories.  I don't burn near as many calories on weekends as I do weekdays.
The MANGO CHILI TALAPIA looked amazing so I gave it a chance.  Loved the spiciness of the salsa and sauce on top and the fish was ok but still a bit "fishy" for me.  Broccoli and Rice Pilaf was delicious!  Total 550 calories = not too bad.  I added a house salad for another 150 calories.....yum!
It feels good to be in some control.  I'm highly motivated and hoping that stays with me while I adjust to healthier eating.  Today (Sunday) has been a little tougher.  Ive been hungry all day long, even though Im snacking.   AND Im craving a sweet ALL DAY LONG!  I even brought Ghirardelli chocolates to my choir members today and abstained.  The closest I came was yogurt with granola and cranberries, which was a good choice.  Looking forward to the coming week with a plan to succeed.

Keep calm and eat good

I'm becoming passionate about eating well.  Today I made an amazing salad. 
Spinach*Chicken*Feta Cheese (basil & tomatoe)*Purple Onion*Cranberries & Almonds*Strawberries*Light vinaigrette dressing.  It was filling and only about 400 calories for the entire thing.

The Ingredients

TA DA! 

The bottom of the salad is always the best part.  Where all the yumminess hangs out
 

So then as if my salad wasn't enough brilliance for one day, I got totally domesticated and made homemade green chili enchiladas for the fam bam tonight.  The two on the end are mine (wheat tortillas).  Good balance of protein & carbs.  Workout hard today so must. eat. good! 
I'm lovin where this week has taken me.  I'm feeling healthy, strong & lost 7lbs.  Going into the weekend ready to take the challenge.  Weekends are usually where I fall hard off the wagon so I'm holding tight to those reins and staying in control....at least that's the plan! 

Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas

Temptation everywhere

Doesn't matter where I go....chocolate is following me!  It's my stalker.....
I'm so tempted with these cookies that Baili makes and then she shows up with a KING size Milky Way bar??? I could taste it BUT I was strong.  You know what.....I try to compare how I feel after I give in to these temptations verses how I feel once I get past that craving and then its so much easier to say NO.  It's always a good idea to leave the area of the treat. If your temptation is not sweets then you can not relate but I feel like a drug addict in those moments.  I can taste it in my mouth.  I try to hurry out of the store or leave the kitchen even though the smell of melting yumminess seems to be everywhere in my house....BACK AWAY FROM THE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.....what would I do without that angel on my shoulder.

confessions of an OCD fitness instructor with a food addiction.....

Tonight I'm feeling two things.....like a major failure & highly motivated to be better. 
It's been about a week since I was on point with my challenge.  We had an amazing event here in Vegas and now hold the record for the largest Zumbathon in the USA.  It was a complete success and we had so much fun.  Unfortunately since then my "healthy eating"/ challenge has gone out the door.  I've mulled it over in my mind a million times, beating myself up for having white rice and Naan bread, which seems totally ridiculous BUT since then I've thrown all sense out the window when it comes to eating clean and healthy.
So enough about the problem, on to the solution......thankful for a new week tomorrow.  I have a plan to prep my food for the week and excited about working out.  I've been thinking about running and swimming but not sure where to squeeze those in with teaching pump & Zumba. 

Cinco de Abs

Day 5 and Im obsessed with getting some great looking abs.  After Zumba today I tried some new exercises for abs and I LOVE THEM.....If you don't already know, I tend to have an addictive personality and I can feel myself being sucked into the vortex of ab obsession!  haha....not really but I love the feeling when you've worked hard and feel tighter.  I must say thought that the picture above is definitely true.  You can do crunches and sit-ups all day long but if you eat junk food and over eat carbs, you will never see those abs you've worked so hard for. 
Which leads me to my next picture....stay away from these....my lovely daughter Baili likes to bake trays of cookies at random and just leave them sitting in the kitchen tempting me.  I'm still in the withdrawal stage so I begin to salivate even looking at this picture let alone smelling the chocolate chips melting. 

I'm feeling strong though.  I accidently gave in to a half eaten bag of sour cream and onion chips sitting on my couch.  I didn't eat the whole thing, I just put two chips in my mouth and then was like UMM 911 what the heck am I doing.....I totally spit it into the trash can and didn't swallow it.  That was a huge accomplishment for me. 
Here's what we had for dinner.  Salmon, which I never liked but have found a taste for it, spicy baked sweet potato fries (gluten free for our son that has Celiacs Disease) and beautiful asparagus. 
I'm finding my taste and tolerance is changing and Im enjoying eating good things. 
Working hard to get these abs made in my kitchen.

It's all about choices

I'm CRAVING & WITHDRAWING.........
Excited to be past day three because by now I've usually given in to junk food and feel like a loser.
Instead I feel motivated and strong, well strong in the exercise area not so strong in the food area.  I've been good!  Real good, but I am totally craving chocolate and bread.  Walking around Smiths today I ALMOST bought a pan of squishy fresh white bread but quickly dumped it and hurried to the checkout where I bought candy bars for my kids???? That made no sense?  In the past these would not have made it home to my house.  They would have been demolished in the parking lot BUT I'm proud to say I said NO and felt empowered by that. 
In the past, when Ive given in to binging in the parking lot, I then fall into a bad place in my head.
Having battled some eating issues at college and having the mindset that "I can work it off in the gym" its really hard for me to keep some thoughts under control.  I have learned, however, that when I control my eating, I am such a better me. 
So I hurried home and made this beautiful salad instead and it was delicious.

Now you are wondering why I have this picture.....well, this was desert at Ryan (my 10yr olds) Cub Scout banquet tonight.  I saw it from across the room, the minute we walked in.  It's like FAT FOOD hears me coming.  I recommitted that I would not listen to it calling my name.  I was not having any.  Proud to say I didn't, even though I was sure I could taste the yummy Pirouline cookies melting in my mouth, it was just a dream!  I had some trail mix instead.  Day 4...pretty successful.  I definitely am struggling with the cravings but Im going to stay strong because I feel so good and hoping to see some changes in my body over the next couple of weeks. 

The highlight of my workout today, was sweating it out with these three guys at 8strikes.  This class is insanely fun.  I mean "fun" in a sadistic, "Im going to cry if I have to do another tuck jump" sort of way.  Seriously a great workout.....cardio and all over strength class.  I was kinda nursing my pulled muscle still so that was frustrating that I couldn't go all out but I did a flippin ton of pushups and can feel myself getting stronger all the time with those.  700+ calories later and Day 4 is over and done with......

3 workouts for Day 3

I started today with Bodypump 88 and a pulled groin muscle from lifting legs on Saturday,  Sometimes I'm over zealous like that.....
I still broke a sweat but had to bag squats and lunges, which stank because one of my goals is to lift this tush off the ground and back where it belongs :)  Two Zumba classes later and my legs were killing me but I burned lots of calories and got some good sweat time in.  Feeling good about day 3.  Turned to my favorite healthy snack, slices apples and two tablespoons of peanut butter.  I feel like Im indulging slightly on the PB but its good protein and super yummy.  After 1200+ calories burned for the day, I think I'll be fine with the extra fat.  Unprepared with dinner so I had tangerines and wheat cereal.....not very exciting I know! 

Super Bowl Sunday

We're not a big football family but despite the game being a total blowout....Broncos were slaughtered, we did have some goodies to eat.  I was prepared with healthy goodies for me.  These eggs were amazing.  I haven't had deviled eggs in years.  I mixed the egg yellow with some avocado, little mayo, mustard and paprika....sprinkled bacon bits on top. 
Baili made jello so I had some of that along with frozen fruit with yogurt poured on top!  I was stuffed from overeating the eggs but I felt satisfied and like I didn't miss out on super bowl treats.
Day 2...touchdown!

Back in the Saddle

Im back to bloging.....*applause*! 
I started a new "NO JUNK" challenge and decided a good way to stay accountable and on track would be to post how its going, on this blog.  I completed 19 days of the 21 day challenge over Thanksgiving, of all times of the year to start a good eating challenge, but I did really well until I fell victim to a Whopper burger from Burger King, which nearly killed me.  I learned that your body definitely adjusts to eating well and when you put back in the bad stuff, there WILL be a reaction! 

 

So this is the challenge!  It's simple and straight to the point!   No junk....... easier said than done but I know its doable.  I started this for the second time today.  I'm excited but mostly motivated because Im so FED UP of going to bed each nigh feeling sick (literally physically sick) from the stuff I've eaten and waking up each morning trying to recommit.   I find when I abstain from sweets, I just turn to carbs.....um BREAD....and I binge on that.
They say when you reach a breaking point, its then you're ready for a change. 
So on we go......wish me luck!