Thug Kitchen/ Yoga

I'm a big fan of anything 'motivational', 'inspirational', and any type of bad photo with a great font attached. Something about it just really makes me love it.

I was sitting, aimlessly perusing Facebook (as I do quite often), when I came upon the GREATEST MOTIVATIONAL FITNESS POSTS EVER. I think they're really funny and I definitely spent WAY too much time scrolling through all the posts.

Thug Kitchen 'Eat Like You Give A Fuck'

Aren't they great? I scroll through them every once in a while for a good laugh.

I realized that I never mentioned on here that I got a GREAT deal a while ago at a local yoga/fitness studio. I bought an unlimited yoga/pilates/hot yoga/ballet barre class package from a local studio. I've had it since the beginning of July and I love it!

I've been trying to go just about every day, trying out different classes. So far, ballet barre is probably my favorite. I just love that the movements aren't fast, vigorous and tiring, but they still work you out enough so youre pretty damn tired after the class.

Hot yoga is another something that I've been doing, though I haven't done it in a while. I by no means am flexible at all, but I can slowly see my flexibility improve through practicing. I definitely am not able to do all the moves properly, but I definitely try. Sometimes, when I find that I can't do something, it makes me dread doing it/quit. I think that definitely happened a bit with hot yoga, but after not doing it for a week, I definitely miss it and am going to return to it. I feel so peaceful after it, and it's a GREAT workout!

I'm planning on going to class tomorrow morning, so I'm really excited about that :)

3 lbs. a week

As much as I love the holidays, I also seriously hate them! My family LOVES going out to eat (especially Italian food) so we went to NYC to a cute little italian place, but then Olive Garden today! Needless to say, this all stops tomorrow.

After being intrigued by my friend Ellen and her fast that she undertook, I decided to research how to lose 3 lbs a week.

After being de-railed for the latter half of June, I want to make some serious strides! Losing weight seems to be (at the basic level) a numbers game, and I wanted to see what it would look like for me to lose 3 lbs in a week.

I found this article that describes what you need to do, and after plugging in the values for my age, height and weight, it came down to this:

Step One: Calculate your resting metabolic rate (determined by your age, height, weight, and activity level. I usually put moderate activity, because while I try to workout everyday, I don't really think it's "high intensity" at all). Mine is 2,550 calories a day.

Step Two: Subtract 600 calories from this number, as the number of calories you're going to eat in a day. 2,550-600 = 1,950. While this number seemed a bit high to me, just wait until you see what's next. It all made sense after that.

Step Three: Burn NINE HUNDRED CALORIES A DAY.  This brings my daily caloric intake to 1,050 after subtracting exercise.

I know that this all won't make sense unless you read the article, so before you begin to think that I'm insane, just read the article on caloric deficits that I linked above.

Thought: I suppose you could reverse this and cut out 900 calories a day and burn 600. To me, this seems a bit more reasonable. At the end of the day, you're going to have a 1,500 calorie deficit each day.


I know it seems like a tall order, but I'm going to try this out because, well, what have I got to lose?!

I'll be reporting each day on my caloric intake and exercise to keep track.

Balance

As I write this post, I am heavily procrastinating studying for a test. So I find it oddly ironic that I'm preaching balance, when really, I hardly have any in my life. I feel like I go from one extreme to the next, causing tidal waves whichever I way I go.

I started work last week. It was hard for me to adjust to the schedule of working full time two days a week and part time for one, and on those days have to come home and workout. It's so much easier to just grab a to-go meal and lay in bed.


.....but we all know what the result of that was. I gained two pounds last week!

This week, I'd like to see the number 245 on the scale. I've been reaching for that number, standing on my tippy-toes but not quiteeeee making it.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, but I am determined to not let it get to me and to have everything under control.

Some things I've learned from working in an office 20 hours a week:

1. Constantly sitting is really boring, and surprisingly tiring.
2. It's important to have healthy snacks with you at all times or you WILL succumb to your neighboring vending machine. 
3. It's not weird to bring lemons and some knives to work to help spice up your water. 
4. It's so much easier to put on your workout clothes at work and just exercise at the staff gym. I have to drive home to get to the gym, and I always mange to convince myself that I'll just 'rest for a bit at home' and then come back. 
5. I'm going to bring in green tea bags to have something to sip on besides water.
6. OFFICES ARE VERY BORING PLACES.

Tomorrow I'm going to have to use my lunch break to workout because I have to dash somewhere after work. I plan on doing a quick-but-vigorous 45 minute workout (30 minutes treadmill, 15 elliptical). Hopefully I can put myself back together enough to last the rest of the day. I don't wanna look a mess my second week at work!

Losertown

A while ago on Tumblr, I found this site. It's called Losertown, and it's a great weight loss calculator that I use to keep myself motivated.

After plugging in all the above information, the site tells you exactly how much you'll weigh if you follow everything correctly. I haven't really kept track of its accuracy, but I use it as more of a motivator than anything else.

I just get super excited to think about myself weighing less and less. It's crazy to think that if I keep this up for a year, I could be around 139 lbs. I haven't seen that number on the scale in a very, very, very long time!

Just for shits and giggles I'm going to post my predicted calendar on here, and as the weeks pass, I'm going to see if this actually works. But keep in mind that I go over or under my 1300 calorie goal a lot, so it's probably not going to be accurate, but I've always wanted to try it just because

The idea that I could be 188 by my birthday is all the motivation that I need. I am not celebrating my birthday in a fat suit again.

Healthy Fats vs. Bad Fats

Yesterday, my family made me go to the grocery store to get desert after dinner. I had about three different requests from 6 different people, and not one of them were healthy!

My mom requested a cheesecake, my sister a low calorie alternative, and my dad requested his trusty Pineapple Coconut Frozen Yogurt. Even with all these options, I still knew that nothing would fill me up and lessen my urge to want to eat the cheesecake (I really can't afford 27g of fat from one tiny piece).

I made the decision to buy some new peanut butter and chocolate chips and create a cookie dough oatmeal. It was FANTASTIC and I thoroughly enjoyed it -- probably enough to have it for breakfast this morning.

But while I was eating my peanut butter, my sister told me that PB had too many calories and fat and was not good for me at all. WRONG!!

There is a big, big difference between all types of fat.  

We need fatty acids and healthy fats in our diet to keep us going! I found this great article that really explains all the basic information that you need to know regarding fats, healthy fats, and what type of fats to avoid here 

Types of good fats:

1. Monounsaturated: found in nuts, nut oils, avocado, olives, etc. 
2. Polyunsaturated: found in fish (salmon is a good one), seeds and nuts, etc. 

Types of BAD fats:

1. Saturated: found in high fat cuts of meat such as chicken with the skin on, beef, pork etc. 
2. Trans: commercial and manufactured foods.  

  Therefore, on the REAL scale, my peanut butter is in the GOOD fat area of monounsaturated and cheesecake is probably in the trans fat scale. 

Oh, how I wish emoji's could be used everywhere!

H20

We've all heard about the tremendous health benefits that water has. It's been preached to us throughout our whole lives, starting from kindergarten.

The human body has a dire need for this substance. We can go up to 7 days without eating and still live, but can perish in mere hours if the climate is hot enough and we don't have water.

Knowing this, it's fascinating how many times a day we reach for other substances to quench our 'thirst', when all we really need is a glass of water. Soda, juice, lemonade, iced tea, etc. are all common place in my house. When someone gets thirsty, no one reaches for water, but instead will go for anything else they can find.

It's been about 3 months since I've given up soda and I've never looked back. It's actually been one of the most liberating things that I've done in a while. I've noticed several benefits, and I also am no longer putting any of those harsh chemicals into my body.

It wasn't hard at all actually, I just simply stopped. I didn't have to wean myself off the drink, or get any weird cravings, I simply reached for water.

When I told my family, they were all shocked. During our weekly grocery store trips, we used to buy six bottles of Coke Zero, two cases of Sprite cans, and three  orange juice gallons. I think that's roughly $20 a week on drinks!!

In a year we spend ONE THOUSAND FORTY DOLLARS ON VARIOUS LIQUIDS.

It's not only healthier to drink water, but it's just cheaper! I wish we'd have taken those $1,040 and went on a vacation to the beach for a week!

There's many different reasons to stop drinking other liquids with added sugars and chemicals, but until you find one that hits you in the gut, no matter what anyone says, you're not going to quit.

But, in the meantime, there are various ways to spice up your water to make it taste better!

Studies show that a glass of warm or hot (or any) lemon water in the morning before your first meal aids your digestive system and cleans your liver.

Lemon, mint leaves, cucumbers, and even orange slices are some of my favorite things to add to my water to keep it from getting boring!

And sparkling water is the perfect alternative for those people who enjoy the bubbly taste of soda. Add some fruit to that, and you've got a great refreshing drink!!

June is HERE!

June is upon us, and summer officially starts in 20 days!


Because I am a huge believer in goal lists, to-do lists (any type of list really), I've made a June Goal List that I'm going to share with everyone!

I wanted to make this list with both fitness and personal goals because I am trying to make my fitness a more consistent type of routine that fits into my daily schedule.

With May behind us, I am proud to say that I have lost EIGHT POUNDS. 

It is definitely an accomplishment, and I hope to continue to push myself and I want to try to lose 10 lbs by the end of June. If I stick to a stricter schedule, I definitely think that this will be possible. 

I also want to maintain a more positive body image, because I think that it is important for me to stop crtiscizing myself and to understand that I have come a long way from where I was. My clothing is fitting better, I am feeling better, and with more consistency and hard work I know that it'll all be possible! 


Cutting out added sugars is something that will be hard, but beneficial for me in the long run. I want to stop using any sweeteners (besides Truvia and organic agave syrup). I want to limit my intake of those too, however.  Just because they're organic, it doesn't mean they're super healthy for you.


Here's to a happy, healthy, and enjoyable summer!

 

We have 20 days to look our best!

Bad Days

The other day, I had a bad eating day. Not because I went over my calories, but because I couldn't control myself. After having an OK day all day, cravings struck me around 9pm.

All I could think about was food. I mean, lick-your-fingers and the bowl type of food. I wanted chocolate cake with ice cream on it, and then a slice of warm apple pie right after. Hell, I probably could have gone for some french fries too.

I hate the fact that food controls my thoughts, emotions and feelings. I hate being emotionally dependent on food. 

I get crazy cravings that make me rummage through the fridge, looking for stuff we don't have, and in the process, eating lots of crazy things and binging, sad, frustrated and very unsatisfied.

I know that in my last post I talked about having a healthy relationship with food, but I don't think I understood how hard that comes.

It means that when I'm laying in bed after dinner watching TV, I can't indulge in that bowl of ice cream. It also means that when my family is ordering take out for dinner, I can't have a couple bites here and there (because, for me, that always turns into half a plate of food I didn't need).

It's so hard to detach myself from something that I have to do everyday. I have to eat, but I have to eat right. I have to learn that chomping on obscure foods isn't going to crack that craving, but that instead I really do just have to have a glass of water and do something else. 

Trust me, I know ALL the tips. I just have to follow them. 

 I thought that by allowing myself to have a small, healthy desert everyday, I could banish these cravings. But, let's be honest, 100 calorie greek yogurt ice cream really isn't as good as apple pie a la mode.

I guess I just have to really remind myself how excited I was when I made my way out of the 250s, and how much hitting the next  milestone is going to mean to me.

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels, right?

While I don't know if I will ever consider that statement to be true, I do know that I can't afford to cheat in the beginning stages of my regime. Right now, I'm in a vulnerable place where I'm trying really hard to stick to a routine, but my old cravings are creeping back into my life. I have to power through it and understand that going down into the kitchen after dinner can only end badly.

My roommate in freshman year told me that nothing good ever happens after 2 am. 
 I have to concur with her on this, because nothing good ever happens in the kitchen after 9pm.

There is nothing worse than when you eat something bad, and immediately regret it after you swallow. I used to get so depressed and would, in turn keep stuffing the cream cheese frosting down my throat, thinking there's no point in stopping now.

I did the same with a sleeve (or maybe a couple boxes) of Girl Scout Cookies. I was eating them mindlessly, when I realized that I was almost finished with the entire TWO boxes.  I had maybe 5 cookies left, and I wrapped it up and put them away, hoping to find distraction in TV. Unfortunately, my one track food brain couldn't stop thinking about those cookies and I ended up eating the rest thinking that I might as well finish them now, because they'd be gone sooner or later.

This type of behavior is what makes me feel saddened by my relationship with food.  


Food controls me, when I should be controlling it. 


After that night's binge, I have been eating much better, and will forever fight the urge to eat the whole box of dark chocolate in my freezer.

Chocolate Banana Walnut Oatmeal

Chocolate Banana Walnut Oatmeal

Last night when I went grocery shopping, I picked up cacao powder! I love chocolate and I am trying to be healthy, so I figured this would be a great opportunity to combine both!

For breakfast today, I had a great bowl of power oatmeal! The reason that it's called that is because the oats are a great source of healthy fiber, nuts are great for long term energy and protein, and banana's are great pre-workout.

When I made this recipe, I didn't add any truvia (big mistake), so next time I would probably add some in the pot while boiling the milk.


I adapted this recipe from here. This one seems great, but it was a large batch and seemed a little complicated to make first thing in the morning.

Chocolate Banana Walnut Oatmeal Recipe:

3/4 cup almond milk (I use vanilla)
1/4 cup water
1 tsp cacao powder (I used dark chocolate)
1 banana
Pinch of cinnamon
handful of walnuts (or any other nuts)
1 pack truvia or sweetner to taste

The recipe is so simple!

Just boil the almond milk, water and cacao powder and then add the oats.

Let cook for about 8 minutes, and then stir in the cinnamon.

Pour into a bowl, add walnuts and bananas on top and voila!


It's so easy and SO delicious. The whole recipe is about 400 calories and is super filling.


Alright, it's 11:37 AM and I need to stop procrastinating my morning workout!