Try it Tuesday

This weeks Try it Tuesday is ZUMBA! 

As I posted yesterday, last night was my first time ever in public doing zumba.  Years ago, before zumba became popular, I had the DVDS.  Eventually I sold them on ebay because I would always trip over my own feet while trying to do this workout.  That scared me away from ever attempting to do it around others.  I'm really not the dancing type, unless I have some alcohol in me.  But one of my new years resolutions this year was to put myself in situations that are out of my comfort zone.  I thought zumba would be a good start.  So I gathered up a few of my besties in the area and headed to a local gym that holds zumba classes and you do not have to be a member to attend.  I found out that I absolutely LOVED it!  I could not believe how fast those 45 minutes went.  If only all workouts went that fast life would be golden.  I came home and immediately went to the computer (ok first got the kiddos to the room for bed then cleaned up the tornado in the living room that happened while I was gone) to find other locations in the area that hold classes.  I ended up finding a place that is cheaper than where we went last night so I think once or twice a month I might go.  So even if you feel you would not like zumba, or you would completely fall on your face, give it a try.  Now I understand the zumba craze going on.

Weekly Weigh-In (and other rambles)

And up we go - 163.1.  I know I did not gain 2lbs of fat this week.  Actually I had a pretty good week of eating and working out.  My problem is that I did not drink enough water this weekend and can totally feel the bloat. 

But onto the good.  My scale has a body fat analyzer so I randomly pushed that button the other day.  It's been months since I checked that portion of scale numbers and to my surprise it was down at least 3%!  Whoop Whoop!  So even though that pesky scale number isn't going down as much as I would like as fast as I would like, progress is being made.

Saturday I had a had time motivating myself to go out for a run.  My legs were a bit achey from some workouts that I did during the week.  I finally convinced myself to lace up my shoes and just go.  I got 5 miles in.  I did cheat and briefly walk up 2 steeper sections of hills.  I did notice that my form is much better when I'm passing by people.  I need to try and pay attention to that more when I'm running. 

This morning I did treadmill walking and lower body weights.  Tonight is Zumba with some friends!  It will be my first time doing it in public and I'm totally prepared to look like a fool. :)

Funny Friday

FINALLY made it to the gym this morning and it felt great.  I'm looking forward to this weekend as the weather is going to be in the 50's which means great running weather for me.  Can't wait for a nice long run tomorrow morning.  Have a good weekend!  And don't forget Fitness Friday blog hop on the side column!

Sign me up!

Yesterday I was looking on active.com to see what races were listed for the upcoming months and came across a 5 mile trail run through a local vineyard.  Festivities include a free wine tasting.  Um yeah ... I'll be signing up for that!  I've never done a trial run, so that in and of itself will be a new challenge.  I'll have to head to a nearby park for some training.

Fit to Fluff

I am so incredibly glad my friends and I are doing the Fit to Fluff competition.  It's so nice having that extra support from others who are also going through the same journey.  We've been sharing recipes, tips and on Monday we're going to a Zumba class together.  But most of all I completely love the competition.  I am so competitive I feel the need to push myself when I feel like being lazy.  This week even though I haven't been able to make it to the gym I have worked out every day!  I'm watching what I put in my mouth.  I feel like this is really the kick I need.  We had our first check in weigh-in on Monday and right now I'm in second place among those who were able to make it (2 were sick and not able to come).   

Try it Tuesday

Today's Try it Tuesday was my nemesis Saturday night.  My friend made these delicious Weight Watchers Chocolate Chip Blondies (3pts) that kept staring me in the face while we were sitting around talking.  I lost track on how many of these I ate.  Oh they were so delicious and something I know I can only make when I will be taking them to a get together otherwise I will demolish the entire pan.

Weight Watchers Chocolate Chip Blondies 3 Points

Servings: 24

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 1 1/2 cups unpacked brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons light butter
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup mini chocolate chip
• 1/3 cup water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
2. In a large bowl, beat brown sugar and butter until fluffy. Add egg whites and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternating with water. Stir in chips.
3. Spread into a foil-lined 9- x 13-inch baking pan. Bake until golden, about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Remove foil and cut into 24 two-inch squares.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/weight-watchers-chocolate-chip-blondies-3-points-167843#ixzz1kObxsvWX

 

Weekly Weigh-In

I'm pretty pleased with this weeks weigh-in, especially since the weekend included a get together with food!  161.0  Slowly creeping my way back down.  And today(once again) marks meeting 25 lbs gone since I first started this journey.

 This week should be interesting on the exercise front.  My husbands work schedule really doesn't allow for my early morning workouts so it's going to be some home workouts and I WILL head to the gym a few nights. 

Funny Friday and a wake up call

Apparently this morning I turned my alarm off and fell back to sleep.  I was woken up at 6am with the husband's alarm going off.  I was up and to the gym on the Arc trainer by 6:15.  Thankfully I get everything ready the night before and the gym is a few minutes down the street from me.  I ended up getting 30 minutes in on the Arc trainer as well as a few minutes on weights before it was time to head home. 

This weekend I plan on hitting the gym for a run tomorrow.  We're supposed to have a little winter storm tonight.  I'm not a fan of snow so indoors it is!  Tomorrow night some of my girlfriends and myself are getting together so I want to burn as much as I can in the morning so I can have a guilt free night.

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget the Fitness Friday Blog Hop!

And that is why I need my gym membership

I had every intention this week to get up early and workout at home when my husband's schedule didn't allow for gym time.  My alarm went off both days.  Both days I turned the alarm off thinking "why get up early when I could do a workout either during the day or at night?"  Yeah those workouts never happened.  I really am the person who needs to have a place to go to for my workouts.  Here at home I get distracted or just plain down tired  by the end.

BUT the good news is that I stayed within my calorie limit both of those days.  Myfitnesspal gives me 1200 calories for losing 1.5-2lbs/week.  I also looked to see what 1lb/week would be - 1395 calories.  So on my non-workout days I try to stay within that range. 

"I wish" "I will"

Try it Tuesday

Be prepared.

One thing I have been doing this year (all 17 days) is cleaning/cutting my veggies and putting them in storage containers in the fridge at the beginning of the week.  This is beneficial for me for 3 reasons.  1) when I'm hungry it's just as easy to grab and eat as it would be some kind of other snack. 2) Dinner time is easier.  My kids tend to start melting down at dinner time, especially if they don't nap.  Now it's one less step for me to have to do during the whinefest.  3) easy snacks for the boys.  All they have to do is reach in the fridge for a quick healthy snack. 

I've also been baking up some plain chicken for quick easy lunches (chicken wraps, chicken sandwiches).  So these 2 tricks have made my life a bit easier so far this year. 

Weekly Weigh-In & schedule

Well I made it through the weekend without overindulging.  My mom actually sent us home with some cake for the husband since he wasn't able to make it to the party.  I was not even tempted to eat some of it while waiting for him to get home last night.  Instead I was craving carrots and hummus. 

So the scale this morning read the same as Friday - 162.2.  Getting back down to where I was at one point over the summer.  That number on the scale is such a yo-yo for me.  Today I'm heading to the grocery store to restock to the fridge with healthy foods for the week.  I'm very excited grapes are on sale!

This week my husband's work schedule is off kilter so it means some days without the gym.  I need to keep myself motivated to do the at home workouts.  This is what the week should play out like.

Monday- elliptical, lower body
Tuesday - run, upper body
Wednesday - KenpoX
Thursday - either Jillian Michael's 30 day shred or gym
Friday - Arc trainer, lower body
Saturday - run (upper body if I run at the gym)
Sunday - rest

Here's to a good week!

Funny Friday

This has absolutely nothing to do with health or fitness but I saw this yesterday and chuckled so I have to share it.

Today the boys and I are heading back to my hometown for the weekend to celebrate my gram's 88th birthday.  88 years.  I can only hope to live a life that long. 

Don't forget to follow the link in the side bar for  Fitness Friday Blog Hop!

McDonald's and Weight Watchers

This article showed up in my newsfeed on Facebook today.  Apparently according to Weight Watchers, McD's chicken nuggets are branded as 'healthy'.  Yes, because food that doesn't really even look like real chicken and is high in fat and salt should be considered healthy.  I haven't even eaten at McDonald's in over 6 months, and that was because we were on the road and really the only option at the time.  I do love me a Chick Fil A kids meal for my indulgence. 

On a side note - I finally found my tape measure so I can get back to monthly measurements.  Here the husband took it for something at work.

Personal Record

This morning I had a great day at the gym.  The husband started a new position at work, which means I won't always have to be waking at a ridiculous hour to get my workout in.  This morning I didn't go to the gym until 6am.  I felt energized because I got a decent amount of sleep last night.  I opted to skip a run day and instead did the Arc trainer.  I feel a little stiff in some areas from doing KenpoX yesterday.  As I was on the Arc trainer I decided that once I was done with those 45 minutes I would head to the treadmill for a quick run.  I was feeling looser and felt like I could get a mile in.  I'm not going to lie, I was using other people as motivation.  I'm a people watcher so I notice what people are doing and thought "Hey if that person can run after being on the elliptical for so long then I surely can too."  AND I saw one of my friends who is in our Fluff to Fit competition so that gave me more motivation.  I'm competitive - what can I say?  So anywho I hopped on the treadmill with the goal of running the whole thing at 6.0.  I then upped it to 6.1.  Eventually I ended at 6.5 with a PR of a 9:46 mile.  Slow to some but fast to me.  And it all felt so great!  I love walking away from the gym all sweaty.

Try it Tuesday

We've been going through a granola phase in this house.  A few months ago I posted about these energy bites - my boys cannot get enough of them.  Over the weekend I gave another recipe a try.  As my oldest stated - these are deeeelicious.

Granola Bars (from The City Sisters)
1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats
1/3 cup oat flour (made by pulsing 1/3 cup oats in food processor until fine)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 to 3 cups dried fruit and nut mix
1/3 cup organic peanut butter or other organic nut butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup agave nectar (or honey or corn syrup)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, oat flour, salt, cinnamon, and dried fruit/nut mix.  Add the organic peanut butter, vanilla extract, water, and agave nectar.  Stir with a spatula until the entire mixture is well combined.  This takes some muscle.
Spray an 8×8 pan with cooking spray and line with parchment in one direction.  The parchment should extend over the sides of the pan to help you lift the bars out of the pan once they have cooled.
Pour the granola bar mix into the pan using the spatula to get every last crumb.  Now, this is an important step.  You need to really press the mixture into the pan so it will bind together while cooking.  Using the spatula, your hands or a piece of plastic wrap, press the granola into the pan.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the edges have browned.  Allow the bars to cool in the pan for a few minutes and then slowly remove the bars using the parchment overhang.  Let them cool on a rack for about 30 minutes and then place them in the refrigerator for at least an hour or two.  I have found (and have seen others on the net) that using this technique will help stabilize the bars and hopefully avoid crumbling.  Once the bars have cooled in the refrigerator, set them on a cutting board, and using a large serrated knife, cut them to the size you like.  I like big bars because I eat them for breakfast, so I tend to get nine out of one batch.  The bars will last for a while in an air tight container in the fridge (I keep mine in there for about two weeks) and can be frozen for a later snacking date.

Weekly Weigh-In

Well it's Monday and that means it's time to report about weight loss progress.  I'm happy to report that this week is actually a loss!  163.6  A majority of that is most likely water.  I did have a good weekend - staying within calorie range and working out.  And that is including attending a birthday party. 

Last week some of my friends and I decided to do a Biggest Loser challenge between us.  This morning is the first weigh-in and it will go to about Easter.  The winner will be getting all the money in the pot.  It will be nice to have positive peer pressure in this process. 

Is it really January?

I have been absolutely enjoying our winter so far.  This past week we did have some cold weather with a dusting of snow and highs in the 20's, but for the most part it has been mild.  Last year at this time we had over a foot of snow and was expecting more.  Today the temperature was almost 60!  I took advantage of the weather by waking up and lacing up the shoes for an outdoor run.  The temperature was probably in the upper 30's/low 40's so not unbearable.   I always said I wasn't a fan of running in the cold because I really dislike the cold.  If I could pick up and move to a warmer climate I would in a heartbeat.  But after this morning's run, I told my husband that as long as there isn't snow on the ground I plan on running outside on Saturdays.  The cold, brisk air really feels like it's cleansing the lungs.  I felt so fresh afterwards.  So that was my big accomplishment of the day. 

Funny Friday

Exactly what my problem is!  Thanks mom and dad for my short genes. :)

I did it!

I'm officially registered for the 2012 Philadelphia Rock & Roll Half Marathon.  Eek!  I'm excited.  This is something I never thought I would even give a second to think about doing just 1 year ago.  It's funny how life can change in less than a year.  The best part is I was able to get $15 off registration with a code valid until today (RESOLVE).  The course itself is going to be very scenic and through a section I've always wanted to run.  So here we go!  This is going to be a year of pushing myself to places I thought I would never go. 

It's Wednesday!

I just posted a Try it Tuesday thinking it was Tuesday and then just realized it's WEDNESDAY!  Boy this week is flying by. LOL.  Hopefully I remember tomorrow is Thursday since it's the first day back to school for the oldest.

Try it Tuesday

I made this Cooking Light recipe last night for dinner.  I thought it was pretty good and am looking forward to leftovers for dinner tonight.  I didn't have any green onions and didn't have time to go the store so I just left that out. I also didn't top with cheese.

Chicken Corn Chowder

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter $
• 6 green onions
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour $
• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast $
• 1/4 teaspoon salt $
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper $
• 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen corn kernels, thawed and divided
• 1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth $
• 2 cups fat-free milk $
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) preshredded cheddar cheese $

Preparation

1. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Remove green tops from green onions. Chop green onion tops; set aside. Thinly slice white portion of each onion. Add sliced onions to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a whisk. Stir in chicken, salt, pepper, 1 package of corn, and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.
2. While mixture simmers, combine the remaining corn and milk in a blender; process until smooth. Add milk mixture to pan; simmer 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Ladle 2 cups chowder into each of 4 soup bowls; sprinkle evenly with green onion tops. Top each serving with 2 tablespoons cheese.

Allison Fishman, Cooking Light
JULY 2006
  

Weekly Weigh-In

I finally got a new battery for my scale.

This is when I could make up a number that sounded good, or not even post the number, but I'm going to be real and honest here.  167.2.

And that is why I need to to regular weigh-ins - to keep myself in check.  I did have a decent amount of sodium the past few days so I'm hoping that might be part of the problem.  I did notice over the weekend that my jeans were feeling a little snugger.  But the good news is that that number isn't as high as last year at this time.

I woke up this morning and started the day out with the Biggest Loser Kinect game. Last night I baked up a package of chicken to use for dinner tonight (chicken soup) and some salads/wraps for lunches. Once I go grocery shopping tonight I should be good on having good healthy foods.  I love this time of the year because a lot of the healthier food options are on sale. 

New challege

My husband and I are on for a new weightloss challenge.  This time it's 8 weeks long - ending Feb 28th.  The prize this time is monetary.  I hope he's ready for me to win again.