Short post to end the week and check in. I somehow pulled off work, spending time with JT on his Spring break, hell week at play practice, losing two lbs., working out 5 times, cleaning, catching up with friends and more!!! It is amazing what we can accomplish when we just live!!
So.... see you next week, be successful!!!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
long, successful week.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
As it turns out
The journey to figure all of this crazy stuff out is still in full force. I was a veggie for 7 months, I've been an omnivore for about 2 weeks and now Im going to settle on quasitarian (meaning I still don't really care for meat, but if I want something I'll have it, otherwise Ill choose vegetarian options.) That is what I planned on a couple of weeks ago too - but the last two weeks have really hit that home. I had meat 3 times this week and I only enjoyed 1.5 of the experiences. :) One of the meals was actually ruined by meat. I am happy to eat cheese again (EFF being Vegan... I wish I could do it, but I am not strong enough yet. MELANIE HELP ME! haha)
I found an interesting article and I want to share it for a few of my friends in particular. My friend Carolyn and I are very similar in our food struggles. We met about 7 years ago on a website for counting calories (myfooddiary.com) and have been fast friends since. She and two other girls from the site (Vicky and Jenn) and I write an email chain daily during the workweek and we even met up to run a half marathon together! They are amazing women, but, like me they all struggle with how to eat properly... what is proper? Well, it depends on YOU and THIS article talks about that. knowing what YOUR body wants. It has taken us years but we are all making strides.
and for a little middle-blog break, enjoy this Michael Franti song! We saw it live at a John Mayer concert and it was AWESOME! :)
On a different note, I began lifting and running again this week. I hit it pretty hard and felt good. My plan was to run every day twice a day and get in about 5-6 miles daily. That is too lofty of a goal just starting back, so this week my goal is 3 miles a day and then next Saturday, JT and I are meeting up with my new friend Patsy for a St. Patty's day 5K. She wants to be my running buddy and that is SOOO perfect! It is SO nice to meet new friends.
Speaking of new friends - my play is going awesome and I have met some amazing people. :) Best decision ever to do theater! I missed it first of all - and even more, the people who are participating in our play are open-minded and cool. (I hear that is actually NOT the norm for the local theater, but I am thankful that I picked the one play that it is like that!)
Well, I have to clean the house. I will definitely write more later because I have a lot of cool stuff to share - but until next time I am going to go.... - (although I think it should say "sweat like a pig so you don't LOOK like one!" haha).
I found an interesting article and I want to share it for a few of my friends in particular. My friend Carolyn and I are very similar in our food struggles. We met about 7 years ago on a website for counting calories (myfooddiary.com) and have been fast friends since. She and two other girls from the site (Vicky and Jenn) and I write an email chain daily during the workweek and we even met up to run a half marathon together! They are amazing women, but, like me they all struggle with how to eat properly... what is proper? Well, it depends on YOU and THIS article talks about that. knowing what YOUR body wants. It has taken us years but we are all making strides.
and for a little middle-blog break, enjoy this Michael Franti song! We saw it live at a John Mayer concert and it was AWESOME! :)
On a different note, I began lifting and running again this week. I hit it pretty hard and felt good. My plan was to run every day twice a day and get in about 5-6 miles daily. That is too lofty of a goal just starting back, so this week my goal is 3 miles a day and then next Saturday, JT and I are meeting up with my new friend Patsy for a St. Patty's day 5K. She wants to be my running buddy and that is SOOO perfect! It is SO nice to meet new friends.
Speaking of new friends - my play is going awesome and I have met some amazing people. :) Best decision ever to do theater! I missed it first of all - and even more, the people who are participating in our play are open-minded and cool. (I hear that is actually NOT the norm for the local theater, but I am thankful that I picked the one play that it is like that!)
Well, I have to clean the house. I will definitely write more later because I have a lot of cool stuff to share - but until next time I am going to go.... - (although I think it should say "sweat like a pig so you don't LOOK like one!" haha).
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Will run for wine...
Or... will not run because I drank wine.. whatever.
I did go on an awesome walk with JT just now though and it was as an awesome, productive weekend. Unfortunately I did not get my MRI this weekend due to complications with the machine and not having the proper blood work (thanks a lot VA.... jeez) but, overall it was a nice couple of days off.
This is going to be a crazy week! 5 days of work and 5 days of play practice. (and Saturday I have a photo shoot for the play!!! so 6 days!) But, its going to be a good week. Going tot try hard to get up and work out. I think JT is going to start back at crossfit toO! He is feeling SO much better!
And, the best news of all? Marley is ALMOST out of heat, we finally got Remley to eat something tonight and he has calmed down so much that we might actually get some sleep tonight! WOOT! haha! <3
I did go on an awesome walk with JT just now though and it was as an awesome, productive weekend. Unfortunately I did not get my MRI this weekend due to complications with the machine and not having the proper blood work (thanks a lot VA.... jeez) but, overall it was a nice couple of days off.
This is going to be a crazy week! 5 days of work and 5 days of play practice. (and Saturday I have a photo shoot for the play!!! so 6 days!) But, its going to be a good week. Going tot try hard to get up and work out. I think JT is going to start back at crossfit toO! He is feeling SO much better!
And, the best news of all? Marley is ALMOST out of heat, we finally got Remley to eat something tonight and he has calmed down so much that we might actually get some sleep tonight! WOOT! haha! <3
headin' out for a run
It is absolutely gorgeous here in Texas <3 So - JT and I are heading out for a little jog. :) It is MUCH needed after last night's decadent dinner at JT's parents' house! It was light, but caloric!
We'll probably head to Rose Redmun for the run! If it isn't dark, Ill try to snap some shots. It is a beautiful run. :) Then, home for a delicious dinner made by Toad.
Here are several motivational posters to leave you with until I can write again later!!! If you don't have pintrest as a tool (for many things - but motivation and fitness is definitely one!) you should GET IT! Send me your email and Ill send you an invite!
I have vomited far too many times to count during and after a workout.... most recent? Super Spartan!
I would also add vanilla protein (spirutein or another vegan protein option)
This couldn't be more true... last burpee? Super Spartan... how many? 150.... it blew. Hence the vomiting!
I have failed so many times at losing weight and staying fit...which causes doubt and leads to sabotage! It is a constant struggle, but DOABLE!
GOSH I wish my body look liked this! Working on it!
So true. Love it, don't do it because you feel like you "have" too. It can be fun if you believe it is and do things you love!
You can't eat like crap though and expect these results!
Hope you enjoyed these - they definitely motivate me!! <3
We'll probably head to Rose Redmun for the run! If it isn't dark, Ill try to snap some shots. It is a beautiful run. :) Then, home for a delicious dinner made by Toad.
Here are several motivational posters to leave you with until I can write again later!!! If you don't have pintrest as a tool (for many things - but motivation and fitness is definitely one!) you should GET IT! Send me your email and Ill send you an invite!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Journey into the center of the earth
Well... it’s not quite the center of the earth - but our journey into veganism has been quite interesting.
Like any other thing in life - when starting veganism you have to "get your feet wet." The first few days were filled with finding things that tasted good, things we hated and just trying to keep up with cooking and making all of the things we had to in order to stay on our 28-day Engine 2 journey. We did find a few great recipes and things we really enjoyed as well as many things we just hated. Most of all we were so enthused and excited about a new challenge. And let me just explain that we were already eating about 80% vegan before we even started this diet. We still had milk or cheese occasionally, and I sometimes had sushi or shrimp... but, very rarely! Oh and we ate Greek yogurt too. So, this didn't seem like it would be that crazy of a transition.
After 3 days of being a vegan, JT started crossfit and although it was exhausting, he had plenty of energy to get through the workout. We also felt great health wise and our bathroom routines increased a lot (sorry if TMI) that applied to day 4 as well. On day 5, however, JT came home a little early from school not feeling well and when I got home I realized he was BURNING up! His temp ended up being 102. Friday I worked all day and when I came home his temp was still 102 and we headed to Urgent care - pneumonia. That made things a little rough. JT thought food tasted awful for several days and my days were filled with taking care of him, cleaning and sanitizing our home. Yuck. The only thing that JT could even consider eating was curry - so I got it, had some (cheated on my vegan diet!!! ahh!!!) and he ended up not even wanting to eat! haha. Oh well.
JT is on the mend, but through all of the craziness and misery, we've come to the realization that veganism is way too restrictive. We both understand the principle behind it. We both also understand that it gives your body the nutrition and fuel it needs to be as healthy as possible - but, we are also both practical and feel like being so restrictive is ridiculous. It was interesting, and I am going to finish out this week as a vegan (I already went shopping dammit!) but JT is done and as of next week I think we're going to stop being completely vegetarian (well... for me pescatarian... but for JT vegetarian) as well. We both still plan to eat a vegetarian/vegan diet 80% of the time, but we don't want to feel so restricted. I think one of the reasons we were able to sustain vegetarianism so long is because it was not quite so restrictive, we made decisions about what we wanted to eat and didn't feel boxed in. Things didn't taste like "replacements." And, we are NOT processed foods people so all of the vegan substitutes were pretty much out! So, we'll avoid processed foods completely still, and we'll eat lots and lots of vegetarian foods, but we're back to being omnivores. :)
I discussed with my friend Carolyn that I think the reason I tend to want to go so extreme with my eating is because I feel in control when I do that. I think that control is something I crave because I struggled so much with binging in my past. I have gained a MUCH healthier relationship with food in the last couple of years (thanks to lots of help and encouragement from JT!) but, it’s still a daily struggle. I used to literally count every single calorie I put in my body but all of those calories were empty, bullshit calories that I would eat so I didn't feel "Cheated." Some examples are: 100 calorie snack packs, goldfish, lean cuisine meals that were low calorie so I could eat more sweets later... etc... It’s always been such a struggle to strike a balance in food and I honestly think going vegetarian and vegan has really helped me find that happy medium of being satisfied, but still able to enjoy food. I mean, who knows? I might eat meat and HATE it and decide I am still actually going to be pescatarian... but anyways - the journey has been an interesting one!
On a different note - I am losing weight still and feel great. My workouts have been ok - but, I got a part in a local play and our rehearsal schedule is intense leading up to our opening, I am going to have to get my lazy ass out of bed to fit in workouts in the mornings!!! :) I can do it though.
Here is to striking a balance and living a very very healthy life. :)
Thanks for reading.
Like any other thing in life - when starting veganism you have to "get your feet wet." The first few days were filled with finding things that tasted good, things we hated and just trying to keep up with cooking and making all of the things we had to in order to stay on our 28-day Engine 2 journey. We did find a few great recipes and things we really enjoyed as well as many things we just hated. Most of all we were so enthused and excited about a new challenge. And let me just explain that we were already eating about 80% vegan before we even started this diet. We still had milk or cheese occasionally, and I sometimes had sushi or shrimp... but, very rarely! Oh and we ate Greek yogurt too. So, this didn't seem like it would be that crazy of a transition.
After 3 days of being a vegan, JT started crossfit and although it was exhausting, he had plenty of energy to get through the workout. We also felt great health wise and our bathroom routines increased a lot (sorry if TMI) that applied to day 4 as well. On day 5, however, JT came home a little early from school not feeling well and when I got home I realized he was BURNING up! His temp ended up being 102. Friday I worked all day and when I came home his temp was still 102 and we headed to Urgent care - pneumonia. That made things a little rough. JT thought food tasted awful for several days and my days were filled with taking care of him, cleaning and sanitizing our home. Yuck. The only thing that JT could even consider eating was curry - so I got it, had some (cheated on my vegan diet!!! ahh!!!) and he ended up not even wanting to eat! haha. Oh well.
JT is on the mend, but through all of the craziness and misery, we've come to the realization that veganism is way too restrictive. We both understand the principle behind it. We both also understand that it gives your body the nutrition and fuel it needs to be as healthy as possible - but, we are also both practical and feel like being so restrictive is ridiculous. It was interesting, and I am going to finish out this week as a vegan (I already went shopping dammit!) but JT is done and as of next week I think we're going to stop being completely vegetarian (well... for me pescatarian... but for JT vegetarian) as well. We both still plan to eat a vegetarian/vegan diet 80% of the time, but we don't want to feel so restricted. I think one of the reasons we were able to sustain vegetarianism so long is because it was not quite so restrictive, we made decisions about what we wanted to eat and didn't feel boxed in. Things didn't taste like "replacements." And, we are NOT processed foods people so all of the vegan substitutes were pretty much out! So, we'll avoid processed foods completely still, and we'll eat lots and lots of vegetarian foods, but we're back to being omnivores. :)
I discussed with my friend Carolyn that I think the reason I tend to want to go so extreme with my eating is because I feel in control when I do that. I think that control is something I crave because I struggled so much with binging in my past. I have gained a MUCH healthier relationship with food in the last couple of years (thanks to lots of help and encouragement from JT!) but, it’s still a daily struggle. I used to literally count every single calorie I put in my body but all of those calories were empty, bullshit calories that I would eat so I didn't feel "Cheated." Some examples are: 100 calorie snack packs, goldfish, lean cuisine meals that were low calorie so I could eat more sweets later... etc... It’s always been such a struggle to strike a balance in food and I honestly think going vegetarian and vegan has really helped me find that happy medium of being satisfied, but still able to enjoy food. I mean, who knows? I might eat meat and HATE it and decide I am still actually going to be pescatarian... but anyways - the journey has been an interesting one!
On a different note - I am losing weight still and feel great. My workouts have been ok - but, I got a part in a local play and our rehearsal schedule is intense leading up to our opening, I am going to have to get my lazy ass out of bed to fit in workouts in the mornings!!! :) I can do it though.
Here is to striking a balance and living a very very healthy life. :)
Thanks for reading.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Results
I am seeing them. :)
(I started this post last week and came back to post another... realizing I didn't ever post this one... so here goes!)
Turns out the scale at my house wasn't a fluke and I did, in fact drop 5 lbs. from my last weigh in. I weighed in at 166.4 - which is just over 3 lbs. from where I started. Its not HUGE progress... but it IS PROGRESS. I am very happy and JT confirms that although I have not dropped a ton of weight, getting back into exercising and lifting has made a difference and he can SEE IT! That is probably the best part!
Our scale is still broken, so, I am working to win this next weigh in so I can take the scale our department is giving away as a prize. Our final weigh in isn't until April, but, to keep people motivated along the way, we decided to give prizes to the top three people with the highest weight loss percentages for ever weigh in as well. Its usually different people too which is pretty cool!
Oh, I did the calculations, and so far, the 28 participants have dropped 201.4 lbs.!!!!!!!! I am SO proud to be part of that.
(NEW POST)
Last night (Saturday night) JT and I went shopping (it took four hours because we had to go to 4 different stores to get everything we needed) but, we did succeed. We bought everything we needed to start and be successful with the Engine 2 diet. (click the name for the website!)
I have been talking about our plan to go Vegan for quite some time, but, we finally found a system that walks us step-by-step along the way so we are organized and feel confident in our choices. (It is quite hard to be veggie and vegan... not getting the right nutrients and relying too heavily on just carbs is a worry at times... even if we don't really eat carbs lol.)
We modified a couple of things. We don't dig fake meat so we are going to have something else on those days (such as the Black bean Coco Quinoa recipe etc....) and... unfortunately we're going to have to stop having curry for a while because it has fish sauce in it - but, its all good, because the recipes with this diet and the food suggestions are awesome.
Today's Food:
Rips Big Bowl
1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup grape-nuts
1/4 cup shredded wheat
1/4 cup Uncle Sam Cereal
1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
2 tablespoons raisins
1/2 handful walnuts
1 banana sliced
1 kiwi sliced
1 grapefruit
3/4 cup almond or soymilk
(This is A LOT of food, but, the point is to start your day off with a huge hearty energy-packed meal and then bring down what you're eating as the day goes on)
Lunch Stuffed Pita with Hummus
Lots of veggies
quinoa
hummus
all stuffed in a pita. There actually isn't a recipe for this one, so, we're going to make it like that :)
dinner Spinach Starter Salad & Gnocchi with Red Sauce
Exactly how it sounds :)
Dessert Frozen Cherries and Soy Yogurt
We have never been big soy fans, but, due to needing to add protein to our lives, we've decided to try it for this and give it a chance. :) So, we will be trying the tofu recipes as well as using soymilk and soy yogurt when he calls for it.
We are excited. We both recently had our cholesterol checked so we'll get it checked again after this 28 day diet (life-style change) and give our results. :)
On a different note, Johnny put an awesome quote on his wall today from one of my all-time favorite songs!
(I started this post last week and came back to post another... realizing I didn't ever post this one... so here goes!)
Turns out the scale at my house wasn't a fluke and I did, in fact drop 5 lbs. from my last weigh in. I weighed in at 166.4 - which is just over 3 lbs. from where I started. Its not HUGE progress... but it IS PROGRESS. I am very happy and JT confirms that although I have not dropped a ton of weight, getting back into exercising and lifting has made a difference and he can SEE IT! That is probably the best part!
Our scale is still broken, so, I am working to win this next weigh in so I can take the scale our department is giving away as a prize. Our final weigh in isn't until April, but, to keep people motivated along the way, we decided to give prizes to the top three people with the highest weight loss percentages for ever weigh in as well. Its usually different people too which is pretty cool!
Oh, I did the calculations, and so far, the 28 participants have dropped 201.4 lbs.!!!!!!!! I am SO proud to be part of that.
(NEW POST)
Last night (Saturday night) JT and I went shopping (it took four hours because we had to go to 4 different stores to get everything we needed) but, we did succeed. We bought everything we needed to start and be successful with the Engine 2 diet. (click the name for the website!)
I have been talking about our plan to go Vegan for quite some time, but, we finally found a system that walks us step-by-step along the way so we are organized and feel confident in our choices. (It is quite hard to be veggie and vegan... not getting the right nutrients and relying too heavily on just carbs is a worry at times... even if we don't really eat carbs lol.)
We modified a couple of things. We don't dig fake meat so we are going to have something else on those days (such as the Black bean Coco Quinoa recipe etc....) and... unfortunately we're going to have to stop having curry for a while because it has fish sauce in it - but, its all good, because the recipes with this diet and the food suggestions are awesome.
Today's Food:
Rips Big Bowl
1/4 cup old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup grape-nuts
1/4 cup shredded wheat
1/4 cup Uncle Sam Cereal
1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
2 tablespoons raisins
1/2 handful walnuts
1 banana sliced
1 kiwi sliced
1 grapefruit
3/4 cup almond or soymilk
(This is A LOT of food, but, the point is to start your day off with a huge hearty energy-packed meal and then bring down what you're eating as the day goes on)
Lunch Stuffed Pita with Hummus
Lots of veggies
quinoa
hummus
all stuffed in a pita. There actually isn't a recipe for this one, so, we're going to make it like that :)
dinner Spinach Starter Salad & Gnocchi with Red Sauce
Exactly how it sounds :)
Dessert Frozen Cherries and Soy Yogurt
We have never been big soy fans, but, due to needing to add protein to our lives, we've decided to try it for this and give it a chance. :) So, we will be trying the tofu recipes as well as using soymilk and soy yogurt when he calls for it.
We are excited. We both recently had our cholesterol checked so we'll get it checked again after this 28 day diet (life-style change) and give our results. :)
On a different note, Johnny put an awesome quote on his wall today from one of my all-time favorite songs!
"Some will fall in love with life and drink it from a fountain
that is pouring like an avalanche coming down a mountain."
- Gibby Haynes (Lead singer of the Butthole Surfers)
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