Here We Go!

So, tomorrow is the first day of the 7-Day Pregame Challenge from Emily Schromm! Are you guys ready?!

If you haven’t signed up but still want to sign up you can still do so here!

I did her 21-Day challenge last January and loved it. I am super pumped to get this one started. I am ready for the kick start!

I have a favorite Paleo recipe book that is just unreal! I highly recommend getting it!
The Frugal Paleo by Ciarra Hannah, it has some of the most delicious recipes in there! The recipes in there are challenge approved and aren’t some of the more fancy Paleo recipes you typically find out there!

Here is the layout for me for a typical challenge through her:

~ 80 oz of water (Half your body weight in ounces of water.)
~ No eating after 9pm (I’ll be honest, I’m not great at this, eek!)
~ No sugar (also super terrible at this!)
~ No grains (thank goodness this is only 7 days this time!)
~ No alcohol (living in Colorado, this is not easy)
~ Fish Oil (I’m not sure if she will do this one during the 7-Day or not.
* If she does, this one is my favorite by far! Burp-less!
~ Move 10 minutes or more (with how busy I have been, this will be a challenge)

I think that is it. I could be missing something but making sure to get all of those squared away everyday on top of everything else that is going on in life is enough!

Let me know if you join tomorrow!

Should be fun!

See ya!

Lifestyle Changes

Something I am finding to be true in my everyday life is that you need to move more, drink more water (I am especially bad at this), reduce stress, and eat well. What I am realizing more and more is that the issue with our continual weight gain is our lifestyle. I know that is something we hear a lot, but it really is the only sustainable way to lose weight and keep it off. There are so many fad diets, work out challenges, and so called “lifestyle” challenges out there. It is so overwhelming to try and keep track of all of them. I have been known to try quite a few of them. But I always end up going right back to where I started or worse! I have a feeling I am not alone in this.

The problem I find with trying out diets or “challenges” is that they are unsustainable. You can’t keep it up 100% without becoming unhappy. You end up beating yourself up if you don’t follow the plan perfectly and then you start saying things like, “Well, I am already off the wagon now, might as well keep going.” Then the next day or sometimes even sooner than that, we really beat ourselves up and start having extremely negative thoughts. That doesn’t do anybody any good.

I find I am more likely to eat better and workout more or just be active more if I am happy with who I am and where I am in life. Being content with who you are and where you are in life is something completely separate from food. That is another topic for another time, but just something to get you thinking.

In order to live a more healthy lifestyle, we must make lifestyle changes. They do not need to be dramatic right off the bat! That then goes into the same lines as trying out a diet! We must just take it one meal, one moment at a time. When that moment comes to have dessert or a beer or some other luxury, fully enjoy it!

Here are some examples of little changes I try to make throughout the day that I feel are doable for most people:
~ Aim for half your body weight in ounces of water (160lbs = 80 oz of water). If you can’t drink that much yet, work up to it! You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel!
~ Eat only when you are actually hungry. If you eat at any other time, there is no signal to start eating so there won’t be a signal to stop. You will just continue to eat! More to come on how to do this later!
~ Aim to have at least 1 meal that has no processed grains or processed sugars everyday. I know I know, this sounds like a diet but I am not asking for the whole day!
~ Eat more veggies! I have grown to love veggies! If I am looking at appetizers when I am out, I am finding myself drawn more to the veggie appetizers. Brussel Sprouts in some kind of sauce gets me everytime!
~ Move for at least 10 minutes everyday. Take a walk, go for a swim, do a workout video, stretch, whatever you enjoy doing that makes you move! I found that I looked forward to those 10 minutes because it got me out of my own head!
~ Don’t eat right before bed. Allow time for your food to digest before going to sleep. Not only will you sleep better, but it will just allow your body to process properly!

Some of those can be hard on certain days. But I want to start a healthier lifestyle and so that means bumps along the road, potholes here and there but I just have to keep moving forward. Its a great journey that hopefully I can continue to share with you!

Here we go!

Update on Life

Hey guys!

So sorry for not posting a whole lot lately. It has been crazy. I have been super busy with work and then on the days that I actually have off, I am either trying to work on projects or out hiking just trying to find some refreshment from the craziness of working retail. I am realizing more and more that honestly, I am not meant for corporate retail. Things have just so tiring lately. 

Anyway, I can’t remember if I have posted on here about TJ and I starting to run. Did I? Well, if I haven’t, we started running about a month ago. Nothing super fast or anything. I have an app on my phone called Runkeeper and we started a training program that is beginner to 5k. We ran 2 straight miles the other day. I must say I was proud of myself for that. Haha. I have never been a runner but I am realizing more as I get older that it is a great way to stay healthy for a lifetime. A month ago, I could not run 2 straight miles even if you begged me. So, needless to say, TJ, Faelyn and I are having fun running together. Getting all of us in shape. 

I went for a run this morning, and after a particularly bad weekend at work, it was nice to pound out my frustration in some intervals. It really is a great stress reliever as well as exercise. You may not be a runner, but just get out there and move. Running is seriously doing wonders for my energy levels, emotional levels, stress levels, as well as overall fitness. 

Other than that, I did try a new recipe recently. Post to come on that later! 

I have been still reading. I actually put down a book so that I could touch base with you guys! Will make sure my reviews are up to date and my list as well! I can tell you right now, finishing the list on time just isn’t happening lol. I am still pushing for it but honestly, I don’t think I can read that many books. I am so terrible at this whole 52 books thing. I get so distracted and it just does not work out well. 

Anyway, I will most definitely start posting more. Promise!

See ya!

W- Whole Foods

I have a new addiction! Whole Foods is quite possibly the best store ever! There is one right down the street from our new house and TJ and I went in and have decided it is almost as awesome Sprouts. It can be a little pricey but sometimes they have exactly what I am looking for!

I got TJ and smoker/grill the other day and last night we got off kind of early and decided to do cheeseburgers on the grill. We thought we would stop by Whole Foods to get some ground beef and came across the awesome pre-made patties made of three different cuts of beef. It was a must little splurge. They were extremely delicious! They have also had amazing bread and strawberries and eggs.

So far there has not been anything from there that is not extremely delicious! We even tried Quinoa for the first time that we bought from there. Needless to say, I am definitely a fan!

If you have not tried whole foods, you must got and give it a shot!

See ya!

V- Very delicious and Very healthy!

I love dessert. I feel like we have had this conversation. I love sweets too. Yum yum! So when I stumbled upon this quinoa apple bite recipe, I was sold. It is really pretty healthy for you and it is super tasty! Yum!

You can find the original recipe here.

It is dairy free!

Ingredients:

1 Cup cooked quinoa
1 Cup quick oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon maple syrup
1 cup chopped apples
2 eggs, lightly beaten

You mix all the ingredients together until just combined. Make sure you add them in order so that the mix well!

The you place about a tablespoon of the mixture or so in a greased mini muffin tin and you bake them for about 15-20 minutes.

Easy and delicious!

Give it a shot and let me know what you think!

See ya!

P.S. sorry about the quality of pictures as of late. I have been taking pictures with my phone because my camera charger cannot be found and when I am out and about I forget to get a new one.

I – Infused Water

I have found a new favorite trick to drinking more water! Coming from soda that has so much flavor, it is hard to just go to plain water, right?! Well, hold on to your seats because I have come to find the solution! Infused (or flavored) water! I got the idea originally from Pinterest. There is a picture here. No recipe, just a picture that brought about some inspiration!

It is strawberry mint unfused water! Two of my favorite flavors!

I decided to do it for work, to help me drink more during the day.

So I took my Nalgene….

I cut up a couple strawberries and some mint, and poured very cold water in it. I think one day I did ice and the other day I didn’t. Both days very flavorful!

It definitely helped me to drink more throughout the day. Seriously, so delicious!

Give it a go! How do you try to drink more water?

See ya!

C- Carbonated Beverages

With summer coming I am realizing that swimsuit season is coming up and I’m not a fan of what I am seeing in the mirror. One of my weaknesses is soda. (Carbonated beverages happened to fit better lol) I love the tastes and the carbonation of soda. They are so delicious! But… they also pack in a ton of weight when it really comes down to it. I don’t know the stats on it but I have heard so many people say that when they cut out soda they lost a good amount of weight. So, I am at least attempting to cut back on them. I am a person who can’t just go cold turkey but cutting back and finding other drinks to suit my taste buds and be better for me is definitely something I am aiming for.

I am going to do my best to cut back from having soda fairly frequently to only a time or two a week and start there. My body could definitely use the hiatus from soda lol.

All month you are going to see me post about better options for food and for drinks. I show you how I switched it up for a couple of days by infusing my water with some fruit. I want to live a healthier lifestyle and that includes what I eat, drink, and do with my time. I know I am taking a deeper look at what I am doing and not doing that could affect my body and mood, I hope with spring here, a time of refreshing, you will take a look too!

See ya!

Recipe: Crock Pot Ham & Potato Soup

So, I made several new recipes this week, what?! Crazy!

We have really been trying to cut down on our eating out and saving money, so I have been attempting to make a concerted effort to make delicious food and keep it in the house. So, I made a big batch of this Ham & Potato soup. It is super simple and delicious!

Here is the link for the recipe.

It really is as easy as it seems. It has a ton of flavor! Simple yet awesome!

I took the potatoes, onion, ham, and carrot, chopped them all up and threw them in the pot. Put the chicken broth in and we were off! I let it sit for 3 Hours on high. That was it! So simple!

After the three hours were done, I added the milk and sour cream like the recipe called for. You had two options of making it thicker by putting some of it in the food processor and then putting it back in. I decided to forgo that option because of time and I was not in the mood to wash those dishes. It turned out awesome!

 

A little on the thinner side, but honestly it is delicious! Perfect for that cold winter evening after work or a day on the slopes.

Enjoy!

The Dreaded “B” Word

Sorry I have not posted in a while! Life has been busy. Working at REI during the holiday season is quite the bear. Working in any retail location during the holiday season is a beast! Shopping or even just going out for groceries is a little more difficult during this time of the year. But work is good and having customers is good so that I can keep my job so I won’t complain. It just means that posting is a little more difficult. I am hardly home and when I am, I usually have laundry or dishes or something else to catch up on. The To-Do list is never ending! 

But I was thinking tonight. TJ and I want to buy a house and we really just feel the weight of our student loans looming over our heads constantly! I mean I know that we have less than others out there but it still is not an amount that one can pay off in a month. It takes time, especially when one or both spouses work retail. So, I am really trying to zone in on where we can cut back and what we can do to maybe bump up our income a little. I will probably be pretty honest here and also looking to you for suggestions, tips, encouragement. 

One of our “weaknesses” I guess you could call it that, is eating out. In PA, there weren’t too many restaurants we were desperate to eat out at. Sheetz was our issue out there. Once we moved to the Metro Denver area, dude, there are so many restaurants and places that we really really want to eat at! It is ridiculous! We are always able to wiggle some justification into the situation. Lol! So, one are I am definitely focusing on eating at home more and cutting back on our eating out expenses. I started creating a menu! Really trying to keep on track and keep our expenses down! If I want to pay off our loans, I would rather skimp on eating out that dealing with this big cloud over my head all the time. 

I read this book called The Art of Eating In, where this lady cooked at home or had house parties with her friends for a whole year instead of her usual eating out. She saved a ton of money and honestly built more meaningful memories with her friends as well. It’ll be a challenge but I want to aim in that direction. Try a bunch of different recipes. Only have a date day once a week with TJ where we make it a special occasion to eat out. 

I will keep you up to date on the budgeting. Share with you the challenges and the victories. 

See ya!

Here’s to Getting Back in Shape

There is nothing like a dressing room mirror to bring you back to reality about how out of shape you actually are. It is a cruel mistress who just tells it like it is. She doesn’t hide anything or sugar coat anything, she just flat out tells you that your body is not the way it should be. Well, needless to say she and I had a meeting the other day and it was not a pretty one. Really put things into perspective for me. I am not in the position I used to be back in high school or even college. I have gotten lazy and just figured I had a great metabolism and would never gain weight. Well, that was complete ignorance. I am definitely being brutally honest here. There are areas where I have noticed more weight gain than others but now I’m really realizing how out of shape I am. Last night before I fell asleep I spent some time on pinterest (I’m telling you it is really bad having it on my phone now) and found this great exercise program for new or previous runners who have not run in a while. I have to get my cardio up and get back in shape so this seemed appealing.

Here is the link before I go any farther.
I saw it and it was on my mind last night and this morning. I was going to wait until TJ went to work but then realized he might enjoy doing some cardio with me. Wow, this exercise really proved how out of shape I am. The first day doesn’t sound that hard but I am telling, I was working for it and could feel my heart rate escalate for sure. I have a feeling we are going to stick with doing it. We may switch out their strengthening and ab workouts for ones that we already really enjoy but we both want to get back in shape and get running again and this is a great way to ease back into it I think. So, I will keep you up to date on how the week goes as we go through this routine. It is nice to have something to do with my hubby that isn’t P90X.

Update on 99 Things to be Thankful for about your Hubby:
I definitely have not realized how much I do not thank my hubby for stuffs. This is going just about as well as the 10 days of praying for you hubby. I feel like a horrible wife. I really do not build him up as much as I thought I did. Definitely a mindset to change.

We did go through a really funny list of questions together last night. Here is the link. It was fun just asking each other some silly and some serious questions that we honestly did not know the answer to. So, that one I found on pinterest as well. I am on a spree of doing stuff I actually found on pinterest. Crazy!

Well, I’m off.

See ya!