Health and Fitness Friday: Wake Me Up, When September Ends....Or at least let me sleep a little bit!

Yes, I know I only have an hour before it is no longer Friday anymore but I still wanted to link up with my girl Jen for Health and Fitness Friday!  

I am pretty much horrible at blogging lately.  I really need to start jotting down blog ideas as I am going throughout my day because I have a lot of ideas I just go totally blank when I get time to sit down and actually blog! So, Jen has started a new structure for our link up and I am thrilled!  It totally helps me because then I don't really have to think much, just follow her directions! LOL  If I can even manage that.... ;-)  So, here we go!

Eat

I haven't been wonderful with my eating lately, I haven't been awful, but not super good either...so I really need to get back on my game!  I have slacked off through the summer keeping up with MyFitnessPal (StephHightree) so I am really focusing more this month to actually log and keep track and stay within my calories.  Every time I fall off the wagon I seem to go crazy on Gardetto Garlic Rye Chips, Sour Punch Straws and Frappuccinos! I'm super excited for the fall weather because that means it is Crock Pot time!  I love using my crock pot because I never know if I will be home or not so this gives us an easy option to still have an awesome dinner at night.  

This recipe isn't Super healthy but I am excited to try it and plan on making it sometime next week.  I will have to update you on how it tastes once we test it out! 

Do

This month I have made a goal of completing 100 miles combined of walking, running and biking.  I want to get as much outside workouts done before the weather starts to get colder and I am SO enjoying my mornings with no kids while they are at school so I am taking advantage of it! So far this week I am at 25.07 miles with 2 days left in the first week of the month, I just pray that I don't lose steam!  

Think

I really need to work on NOT thinking as much this week! I have noticed that this week I have been over-thinking so much that it has been keeping me up at night. My mind is just racing with the constant To-Do list that I have going through my head so I really need to work on somethings to shut my mind down to relax because we all know that sleep is a BIG chunk of being healthy! I'm really going to work on some sleep routines to try and calm myself down and not think as much when I should be sleeping!  

Well, I've spent entirely too long writing this post and am now 8 minutes away from Saturday! So, I guess I will end this until next week!  

Happy Friday Friends! 

Until Next Time....

Health and Fitness Friday: I'm ON FIRE!

This weeks post is brought to you by my calves, who are officially SORE and ON FIRE!! 

(and hopefully soon will be smaller more toned calves)

Here is my workout log for the week:

Sunday: 

30 Day Shred workout 

1 mile walk/run on treadmill

Monday: 

Biked 4.5 miles while pulling bike cart with 2 boys

Short .80 mile walk outside

30 Day Shred workout

Tuesday: 

1.85 mile walk back and forth to the park

Biked 4.16 miles

Wednesday: 

3 mile walk on track

6 rounds of Bleachers at the track

30 Day Shred workout

Thursday:

2.5 mile run/walk outside

Biked 2 miles while pulling bike cart with 2 kids.    

The majority of my working out this week has been outside and I LOVE it!  I have been waiting for the weather to get nice and so I have been using every second I can to do some sort of working out!  The one thing I have noticed however, is that I suck at running outside.  I seem to have gotten so used to the treadmill that my outdoor running has suffered.  

I did have a big breakthrough tonight though! 

When I first started working out I would walk at our high school track conveniently right down the road.  I started by walking and then slowly started pushing myself to jog.  I set VERY small goals to get myself started and before I knew it I was jogging for 30 secs at a time, which was the equivalent of like a half of a tenth of a mile. (HUGE victory for someone who is 100lbs+ overweight and has never ran/jogged in their adult life!) Well, today I ran around the whole track one time non-stop before I had to stop to take a breath!  I did this twice!  Sure I still felt like I was going to die, but that puts me one step closer to my goal of running an entire mile without taking a break or walking!  

I wanna talk about a fun topic now.  Bathing Suit Shopping!!  I can say without a doubt that I am SO excited this year to shop for a new bathing suit!  My parents have a swimming pool that we basically move into all summer so bathing suits are one of my main outfits throughout the summer. In the past I have just settled for whatever they had available in my size and price range.  The past 2 years I wore my Maternity bathing suit even though I was not pregnant last year!  I tried on at least 10 suits last year and nothing fit me.  They were all either way too tight everywhere or too small in the bust area or just ugly and expensive!  So, I settled yet again for my go to Motherhood Maternity suit!  

Well this year I am not going to settle and I can not justify wearing a maternity suit again this year!  I have lost 40lbs!  Even though I am nowhere near the weight that I want to be and plan to lose more throughout the summer I still think that 40lbs warrants a new swim suit that actually fits me this year! Yes, I will still be wearing the normal "Big Girl Swim Dress" BUT it will be smaller and cuter and New! 

Here are some of the ones I have liked so far: 

Since I have already been shopping in my head now I just need to get the last 10lbs off so I can go shopping being 50lbs lighter! ;-) 

I pray that you all have a safe and Happy Weekend!  

If you need a great link up head over to my girl Jen's place and link up to her Health and Fitness Friday linky!

Until Next Time.... 

Health and Fitness Friday (Saturday, kinda Sunday...) LOL

Yes, I realize that it is technically Sunday now...I started writing this blog post on Saturday (yes....I know that's still not Friday...) but I had to stop and am just now getting back to it!

I hit a couple milestones this week. I had a not-so good week the week before last so I was yo-yo'ing back and forth but I FINALLY lost that last pound I needed to hit -40 lbs!!

I am getting so close to my first "big" goal of 50 lbs lost that it is honestly bugging me! I just want to get my butt in gear and kick it up notch and get those 10 lbs off already!! :-)

One sad part (as if there can be a sad part about losing weight) is that MyFitnessPal finally prompted me to update my goals since I haven't updated them since I started....so of course, I lost some calories, which I need to get used to, but it really only calculates to 1 less snack during the day so I think I can handle that!

Another milestone I hit was riding my bike while pulling both of my children behind me (aprox. 75 lbs combined with the cart) for 2 miles and not getting tired!  I remember when I first bought my bike around 4 years ago and I couldn't even ride a block without feeling like I was going to die and stopping to take a break!  I have actually been considering using my bike more often for in town errands that I need to do during the day.

Speaking of doing work outs during the day I finally got myself a FitBit!

I have been debating between the FitBit and a heart rate monitor and finally decided that this would fit my needs right now.  I have only had it for a half day so I haven't gotten a full read yet but I think it is going to be very helpful and motivating to keep myself moving throughout the day!

One last thing I wanted to add is that I can finally say that I am kind of excited to go bathing suit shopping this year!  I have some bathing suit related material planned for next week's post let's just hope that I can actually remember to post it on FRIDAY! :-) 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday! 

Until Next Time....  

Ps: Thank You for giving me a shout out Jen even though I was a slacker this week and late with my post!  I love you girl!

Health and Fitness Friday: Shut up or Give up!

Today's Friday and I finally remembered before Saturday to join my girl 
Jen at A Daily Dose of Davis for: 

Today I'm not gonna lie, I'm kind of annoyed.  

I'm annoyed at all of the excuses I keep seeing or hearing.  

Makes me want to say, Shut up or Give up!! 

Yes, I had excuses, probably 15 years of excuses but I am living proof that today is the day to give them up!  Today is the day throw out "I'm too big to workout!" and say "I'm WORTH it!".  

No longer am I going to ignore these: 

1. I don’t have time.  MAKE TIME!!  If you have to workout at midnight, you workout at midnight! 
2. I can’t afford to eat healthy or go to the gym.  I cant afford a gym membership either, but I can afford to walk outside or OnDemand workouts for free or a $9.99 workout video! As far as food goes, you gotta do what you gotta do. If you have to give up your monthly Vera Bradley bag to get healthy then you need to do. 3. It is too hard.  Life is hard!  School is hard, work is hard, marriage is hard, going to the grocery store with kids is hard.....I can go on...4. It is uncomfortable.  Can you honestly say being overweight is comfortable? 5. I love to eat.  So do I. But you can make healthier choices and still love to eat. 6. I don’t know what to do or where to start.  Start by getting off the couch, simple as that!7. I don’t have the willpower.  Read this: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/weight-loss-does-willpower-matter  Just do it. 8. I don’t have support from friends or family.   Get over it and make a lifestyle change for yourself, not the people around you.  9. I have a medical condition (thyroid, disabled, food intolerance, and many more). Many health conditions can disappear once you lose weight. Why wouldn't you want to get yourself healthy?

10. I have an injury to my (select all that apply) neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, back, hips, knee, ankle, and/or baby toe.  There are plenty of workouts that you can do where you don't have to use the injured limb.  

I guess the reason why I am so annoyed is because I know it can be done!  I know if I can give up my excuses and lose 39lbs so far then anyone can do it!  I know that it is hard, the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but it is worth it!  The end results are there, the excuses are just clouding your vision to see the finish line. 

All that being said, I finally took a recent progress picture. 

There I am: 282 lbs with every excuse in the book who looked at this picture and said, "I need to get off the couch".  I need to change this. As simple as walking 20 minutes a day jump started my love for running and working out.  I know you can find 20 minutes, hell, if you can only find 10 minutes DO IT!  I guarantee you will start to feel better and that 10 will turn to 20 to 30 to 60. Trust me, I know it can happen.  As long as those excuses stay in the trash. 

Until Next Time.....

Health and Fitness Friday

I'm late to the party.....not surprising, I'm ALWAYS late to the party....all the time... :-)

I don't have a whole lot to add.  I've been kind of boring.  At this moment I am failing my DietBet....I will figure something out because I hate losing money... :-) 

My workout Schedule for the week was: 

Sunday: 5 Mile Stationary Bike Ride

Monday: Level 2 30 Day Shred

Tuesday: 7 Mile Stationary Bike Ride

Wednesday: Level 2 30 Day Shred

Thursday: 6.5 Mile Stationary Bike Ride

Friday: Rest Day

Tomorrow I will be doing at least one session of 30 Day Shred, 60 minutes on the Stationary Bike and if I can fit more I will be making up for taking today off.  

I have 5lbs left to lose for my DietBet....lol

This week has been pretty boring so I will just end it with my latest Progress picture.  

Happy Friday and Have a Great Weekend!!

Until Next Time..... 

Health and Fitness Friday: New Years Edition

Once again it is Health and Fitness Friday over at A Daily Dose of Davis!  I'm pretty sure its really only Tuesday and not Friday...because this week has FLOWN by!  I am just dumbfounded by the fact that we are already ending the first week of 2013!  

SO, this week I have been really focusing on my weight loss portion of my goals list.  I have been watching what I eat, making better choices and working my buns off!  

Here's what I've been working on:

~Sticking to 1580 calories a day and at least 8-8oz glasses of water. 

~Our Fitness group (Operation: LGN) has started another 31 day challenge that I am taking part in. 

~And I have also started a January Squat Challenge that a friend shared on Facebook. 

~I also just bought my first treadmill so I have Re-Started the C25K!  

One of my goals was to complete it this year and I have to train for my Chicago 5K anyways so lets kill two birds with one stone and get a great workout while I'm at it! 

 

I've been thinking about trying some smoothies for breakfast time.

I need something quick and easy and yummy that I can drink on the go.  Do I have an Smoothie drinkers out there!?!  Share your fav recipes.  Do you have any other suggestions for an easy on the go breakfast?  This Momma needs suggestions!!  :-) 

I wish you all a Happy Friday and a great weekend to come! 

Until Next Time..... 

Goals, Accountability, Encouragement

Why do we set goals?
Is it to stress ourselves out throughout the year?  To freak out when you haven't accomplished your goal within the time limit you gave yourself?  To set yourself up to fail?  That's what I used to think.  In the past I have never set goals because in my mind I knew I was going to fail.  I just knew it and you couldn't tell me otherwise.  Why?  Because I trained my brain to believe it.  I told my self that I sucked so I just assumed that I was going to suck.  Well, 2012 has shown me that I can actually accomplish somethings when I put my mind to it.  2012 has taught me that I am persistent and determined and that if I work my butt off I can actually accomplish some things.

So, with all of that, I am presenting to you some of the goals that I have written down that I want to accomplish in 2013.  I know, some of these are crazy, some of these should be things that come naturally and some of these things you will probably think are silly.  But they are not silly to me and there is a reason why they made my list.  I'm sure I will be adding and probably taking some of these away but I just wanted a record of my original goals so that I can always come back to them.

I have divided them up in categories, apparently I am becoming organized by the minute!

My Fitness Goals for 2013
-Make it to 199lbs
-Workout twice a day
-Eat Better, stick to 1500-1200 calories a day and keep logging into MyFitnessPal.
-Start running again and complete the C25K
-Run at least 1 5K (The Hot Chocolate Run in Chicago with Jen for sure)
-Feel better about myself

My Personal/Family Goals for 2013
-Get Organized
-Be a better wife and mom
-Make a Budget AND stick to it
-Work on getting out of debt
-Build a Savings
-Start a Christmas club in January so that I am not freaking out in December
-Feel better about myself
-Make at least one day a week Date Night
-Have a girls only day with Cady at least once ever other week
-Be in bed by 11:30pm on weekdays, even when school is out
-Craft more and build up my online business
-Read my Bible once a day
-Try not to over-commit myself

So, there they are.  I'm sure I will think of more as things start to unravel with the new year approaching, but I believe these are some of the most important items I NEED to accomplish this year.

I ask you to help keep me accountable.
If you see me buying up the whole Clearance shelf just because it is cheap and I MIGHT need it in the future slap me back to reality and tell me NO!  :-)
If you see me eating an entire package of oreos in one sitting slap me back to reality and tell me NO! :-)
If you see me online at 3am Facebooking, Blogging or Pinning slap me back to reality and tell me NO! :-)

Since part of this post applies to the Health and Fitness side of my life and it's Friday and I actually remembered to link up this week, I also wanted to link up with Jen at A Daily Dose of Davis for Health and Fitness Friday!

Have you thought about setting some goals yet?  If your interested in sharing your list I'd love to see it....since I'm kind of a goals newbie my lists can always use some help!

I trust you all had a Very Merry Christmas and I pray for a Safe and Happy New Year!

Until Next Time.....

Health and Fitness Friday (On Saturday...)

Today's Health and Fitness Friday Saturday is brought to you buy a girl who has a little less "chin" than she had last year!  

I never realized anything had really changed in my face until I saw these two pictures tonight! One of my goals is to only have one chin....the ONE we are supposed to have! LOL  And it looks like I am well on my way to smashing that goal!  These pictures were both part of our annual Fall Family Pictures, but one year apart.  I realize that I am wearing blue in both pics, my hair is the same, and we are standing in the same exact spot both times....but that's neither here nor there....in the second picture I am clearly sporting a smaller chin!  

And yes, that makes me SUPER HAPPY!! 

(that will make more since if you watch Ni-Hoa Kailan at all)

So, I do have a couple more updates to share: I have been drinking A LOT more water on a daily basis.  And by a lot, I mean more than 1 glass a day! ( I used to HATE water!)  I have been averaging between 6-10 glasses a day. If you are having trouble with your water intake I thought I would share my trick to drinking more.  I have been drinking ICE cold water in these:

There is just something about the straw and the ice and always having cold water that helps me to drink more, my cup holds 16oz so I only need to drink 4 of them to get the minimum 8 cups! It's super easy and cheaper than buying water bottles and you eat less because you are not confusing your body with the question of Am I hungry or just thirsty.  Win, Win if you ask me!

I have also recruited another one of my sisters to workout with us!  So now we have a trio, myself, Sister Sam and Sister Christen!!  It makes it so much easier to workout when you have someone there to help push you, keep you accountable and sweat and die alongside you!  My knee seems to be better daily.  I am able to do more during our workouts and work harder!


I've also been debating on joining a gym.

Are you a member of a gym?  Do you actually go?  Is it worth the money?  Would you rather just workout at home when its convenient for you? Right now I am just working out at home using different Aerobic, Abs, Cardio workouts on my tv and DVDs, but I think I need more.  What do you think?

This was shared in my fitness group on Facebook and I think it describes what my December goals are perfectly!  Do you have any December goals?  My Actual goal is to be in the 240's by the New Year which means I have at least 10 lbs to loose before then....I guess I better get my butt in gear!

Until Next Time.....

Health and Fitness Friday: Being MIA and some more progress!

Happy Friday!!

Today I'm linking up once again to Jen's Health and Fitness Fridays! 

I'll start today by saying that I have been MIA due to my severe clumsiness!  3 weeks ago while carrying Nate downstairs after his nap I slipped on some clothes that I threw down the stairs earlier and fell down the last 5 stairs.  If you have seen my stairs you know that they are pretty much a 90 degree angle up so this isn't the first time I have fallen....because like I said I suffer from a severe case of being too clumsy.  Well, back to my story: so as I was falling I leaned to the side so that Nate wouldn't get hurt and somehow I managed to get my left leg caught between me and the wall going the opposite direction....yes, It hurt like Hell!  I was pretty sure that I broke it, as I was getting pissed at myself just thinking about the bill I would get if I called an ambulance to come and get me I realized that I could get up and somewhat walk.  So, I just sucked it up and because I am a mom and my job is never done I continued to do my everyday activities and dealt with it.  I'm pretty sure I sprained both my knee and ankle and since I put off going to the doctors by the time I went they really couldn't do anything...opps....  So, long story short I had to take 3 weeks off from working out and I'd be lying if I said I enjoyed it!  It was crazy how much I missed working out! SO, I'm finally back!  I started back up with some light workouts on Tuesday and seem to be doing well with minimal pain!  AND I was able to keep my weight in check through no workouts and Thanksgiving!

In light of that really long paragraph that really could have been explained in like two sentences I do have some good news to share!  

*****Drum Roll Please*****

I hit my first weight loss goal yesterday!!  My first goal was to get back in the 250's which is where I was before I started having kids.  Obviously that's not where I want to be but it works for me right now!  

Since August I have lost 23lbs and have finally hit 259!  

I am making progress, I'm hopeful that I will be totally back on track within the next couple of weeks and have given myself a pretty big goal for December!  I want to be in the 240's before the New Year.  I know I can do it if I push myself and get back on track with my eating so what I'm asking you all to do is make sure that I am staying on track!  Keep me accountable! 

To End here is a video for your viewing pleasure! 

If you have never heard of Mike Chang look him up.  I have started doing some of his Ab workouts and they are awesome! 

Until Next Time....

Fitness Friday: 30 Day Shred

An AWESOME Bloggy Friend (Jen) of mine has started a Friday Blog post called Fitness Friday and I have been meaning to link up to her since she started and it seems like I either forget or can't think of anything to blog about!  SO, I'm so happy that I finally remembered before Saturday!  

If you have been tagging along with me along the last few months than you know that I have been on a weight loss/get fit and healthy journey so I'm going to use this post to update everyone on my progress.  I started working out consistently towards the end of July but I took my official "Before" picture in August and I'm using that to help document my body transformation because the scale hasn't been so nice to me lately!  

Here is the latest picture:

Can you see the difference??  The biggest change I can see is my "lower roll" has significantly shrunk.  If you don't know what part of the body that is I'll explain it a bit, lol.  If you look at my stomach, I have an "upper roll", a "tire" in the middle and a "lower roll"...sure the names aren't correct...but I have to have some sort of comic relief right!?

So.....I kind of fell off the C25K wagon (SUPER BUMMED) this month because I developed shin splints so I have been trying to nurse them because I REALLY miss running!  It's so weird to hear myself say that.  I mean, I'm still over 100lbs overweight but in the short time I have been working out I have accomplished things I never imagined that I could do!  And running was top on my list of things I couldn't do.  But I seem to be proving that list wrong everyday!

Because I couldn't run well at the moment, my sister and I started Jillian Micheal's 30 Day Shred.  

I would be lying if I told you it was easy!!  She kicks my B-U-T-T!!  We finished Day 10 (Level 1) on Wednesday and started Day 11 (Level 2) yesterday....All I can say is Holy workout! My results haven't been the greatest yet but I just keep telling myself that we aren't even half way done yet so hopefully I see some soon!  It would be nice if I could be one of them that loses up to 20lbs like she says on her DVD but at this point, I'm just happy with losing some inches!  So far I have lost 2lbs (I was at a 6lb loss but a few of those came back so I'm officially at a 2lb loss and a 1/2 inch on my hips.  

I'm excited to link to the other posts and see all the great things we are doing this week!  Come back soon, I will be updating along the way and I hope to soon introduce you to a smaller, healthier Steph! :-)

Until Next Time....