I can't believe I only have two weeks of summer vacation left. This whole summer has been a whirlwind - from taking two graduate level classes as well as two gifted endorsement classes, watching my niece Ava, dealing with a bad case of fleas with my kitty as well as our apartment (Who ever knew they were this awful), and a quick, but busy trip to Buffalo with my husband. I am eager to start school because of my new position, but I need to make sure I make the most of what's left of my vacation!
This summer has been a challenge for me because I've really let myself go with the whole "healthy eating" thing. I admit, I am VERY strict with my eating habits because I don't ever want to go back to what I was. But, the stress of this summer has caused me to gain a bit too much weight. Sure, to you, you can't tell. But oh-my-goodness. I tried to put on my jeans a few days ago and they were uncomfortably snug. Yikes. My husband has been very supportive of me along my journey of healthy eating and when I was too skinny, he pleaded with me to gain weight. Well my friends, I've gained too much. I feel icky and I think it's because I'm home all day, not moving nearly as much (although, I am vacuuming twice a day again due to our pest issue, so I am getting one heck of an arm workout), and I just feel gross. I've even been skipping my gym workouts and that is so not like me! One would say I'm a hot mess!
While in Buffalo, my husband and I found ourselves stuffing our face with food at any chance we got. Towards the end of our trip, we both felt like we needed a veggie and fruit cleanse! Since our return from Buffalo, we've been eating healthier, but I still find that I am consistently "falling off the bandwagon". Perhaps I don't need to be stuffing Wegmans chocolate covered blueberries in my face every chance I get, nor do I need to be eating ice cream sandwiches at night. I don't know what's come over me, but I need to figure out how to balance eating healthy and letting myself enjoy tasty treats from here to there.
All I know is, I'm hoping that this week will be one of plentiful fruits and vegetables! :)
Be back later this week with some new recipes and ideas!
Lots of love,
Lauren
Monday, July 29, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Almost an epic fail!
Dinner last night was a close call - I'm talking mega epic fail! The Husband and I invited Matty and Ava over for BBQ Chicken Pizza and rather than buy the typical Pillsbury pizza dough, we decided to buy the "ball"of dough from our local grocery store. We followed the directions to the t - we took the dough out of the refrigerator for an hour before we were ready to bake it, I floured my hands, and we thought we had given it a good amount of effort in "working the dough" with the rolling pin. The dough kept snapping back into a ball and I was freaking out, so I had to quickly run back out to the store to get our usual dough! When I returned, The Husband had managed to flatten the dough to a pretty odd, but usable shape, so he decided to make some garlic bread!
So, back to the pizza. Earlier in the day, I whipped up a sauce for our BBQ chicken. I used a combination of these items:
Ever use tomato paste in a tube? I saw Giada using it last
week on her cooking show, so I decided to give it a go!
After I made the sauce, I coated the chicken cutlets and baked them for 25 minutes, at 350 degrees. They looked pretty delish when I took them out of the oven!
I then chopped up some red onions and sauteed them (you don't have to saute them,but my husband prefers when they are cooked). Then it was time to make up the BBQ sauce for the pizza and throw everything together! It was easy and soooo tasty!
So, back to the pizza. Earlier in the day, I whipped up a sauce for our BBQ chicken. I used a combination of these items:
week on her cooking show, so I decided to give it a go!
After I made the sauce, I coated the chicken cutlets and baked them for 25 minutes, at 350 degrees. They looked pretty delish when I took them out of the oven!
I then chopped up some red onions and sauteed them (you don't have to saute them,but my husband prefers when they are cooked). Then it was time to make up the BBQ sauce for the pizza and throw everything together! It was easy and soooo tasty!
Looks pretty yummy!
Plain pizza for Ava!
I paired the pizza with a salad and it was the perfect Sunday night family meal!
The husband's garlic bread turned out fantastic!
BBQ Sauce (for baking chicken):
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
dash of onion powder
dash of garlic powder
2 tablespoons of extra light olive oil
Brush over chicken (both sides) and place in a sprayed 9x13 baking dish for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Cut up chicken after it has cooled down! :)
BBQ Sauce (for pizza):
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1/2 cup tomato sauce
dash of onion powder
dash of garlic powder
lots of black pepper
Stir together and brush over pizza dough. Sooo yummy!
After I made the sauce and baked the chicken, I put the pizza together (reduced fat mozzarella, red onion, garlic powder, and the diced chicken). I also sprinkled the pizza with some cilantro to give it a nice color! Enjoy!
Lots of Love,
Lauren
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Changing It Up!
After The Husband and I got done vacuuming this afternoon, I went into the kitchen with a mission - changing it up! For MONTHS, I've been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on whole wheat bread. I'm talking like every day since probably last summer!
We had some leftover deli turkey from yesterday (it's a rarity that we buy deli meat because it's so high in preservatives, which makes it very high in sodium), so I decided to use it up and make wraps! I came across whole-wheat tortillas last week because we were planning on making chicken enchiladas (crazy week happened and we ended up going out like almost every night.... ugh - my ATM card is hating on me right now!).
I gathered the essentials - deli turkey (low-sodium roasted Boar's Head), whole wheat wraps, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded mozzarella cheese, yellow mustard (for mine), and light Buffalo Ranch dressing (for The Husband's). Now I'm terrible at "wrapping", so ignore how messed up it looks, but here was the finished product!
Sooooo tasty! And so good for a change! I served them with baby carrots, a handful of Baked Lays Sour Cream and Onion chips, and a side of fresh fruit! Totally scrumptious and the fruit was so refreshing. I also looked at Rachael Ray's magazine while eating and got some neat recipe ideas for upcoming meals!
For now, I'm going to finish playing with Ava and Mia and then it's off to the gym for a Sunday afternoon sweat session! Matty and Ava are coming back later for dinner (BBQ chicken pizza), so if it turns out, come back tonight or tomorrow for the recipe!
Lots of love,
Lauren
We had some leftover deli turkey from yesterday (it's a rarity that we buy deli meat because it's so high in preservatives, which makes it very high in sodium), so I decided to use it up and make wraps! I came across whole-wheat tortillas last week because we were planning on making chicken enchiladas (crazy week happened and we ended up going out like almost every night.... ugh - my ATM card is hating on me right now!).
I gathered the essentials - deli turkey (low-sodium roasted Boar's Head), whole wheat wraps, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded mozzarella cheese, yellow mustard (for mine), and light Buffalo Ranch dressing (for The Husband's). Now I'm terrible at "wrapping", so ignore how messed up it looks, but here was the finished product!
Sooooo tasty! And so good for a change! I served them with baby carrots, a handful of Baked Lays Sour Cream and Onion chips, and a side of fresh fruit! Totally scrumptious and the fruit was so refreshing. I also looked at Rachael Ray's magazine while eating and got some neat recipe ideas for upcoming meals!
For now, I'm going to finish playing with Ava and Mia and then it's off to the gym for a Sunday afternoon sweat session! Matty and Ava are coming back later for dinner (BBQ chicken pizza), so if it turns out, come back tonight or tomorrow for the recipe!
Lots of love,
Lauren
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Going to the Extreme
Anybody out there last night watch Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss? If not, man you missed an inspirational episode. Yesterday's episode featured a young man, Ryan, who was in an accident and lost his left arm. He has always struggled with weight and at the beginning of the show, he topped the scale at 410 pounds. He was given a prosthetic arm, but due to his severe weight, he can no longer wear it. I believe his mother mentioned that it was like $130,000. Yikes! Ryan was determined to not only lose weight, but he also wanted to learn how to ride a bike. Throughout the show, Chris Powell got him on a bike (he fell multiple times), but he was so determined to learn how to successfully ride without falling off.
At one point during the episode, Ryan began to cut back too many calories and his body was suffering - he was even losing hair. When he began to lose hair, he called Chris Powell to ask if this was normal and Chris was like "Um, NO, that's not normal!". Ryan promised Chris that he would eat healthy and not skip meals, but later in the episode, his doctor did not approve him for anesthesia for his surgery because he was malnourished. Ryan explained that he didn't want to go back to where he was before and that he didn't want to mess up and be a failure. Chris Powell explained to him that he should be making a deficit of calories with exercise, not with cutting calories.
Talk about hitting close to home.
As I've shared before, I did take my weight loss to the extreme too, and had several "alarms" that I ignored at first - my nails kept breaking, my hair wasn't voluminous anymore, and I noticed my arms had become very "veiny". It took my husband having a serious conversation with me to get me to realize that I wasn't helping my body at all - in fact, I was severely hurting it. I was hooked on "My Fitness Pal" and tracked every crumb that I ate. I also was working out heavily, sometimes pulling "two-a-days". I was literally burning every calorie I ate, which, had I not been drinking coffee every morning, I would have probably fallen asleep while walking! After about a 3-month obsession with My Fitness Pal, I dropped that, but I would still calculate in my head the calories I was consuming.
I remember going for one of my wedding dress fittings and I was upset because of how protruding my collarbone had become and how I would notice my ribs sticking out when I changed clothes. I remember thinking to myself: "Isn't this what you wanted?" and I finally said "No, this is not what I wanted. What I want is to be healthy and look good!".
A little over a year later, I have eased up on being so strict. I still workout every day, but I'm not afraid to order a meal that comes with fries, or to have a bakery cookie every now and again.
Do I regret going to the extreme? Kinda. I mean, I did lose weight over several years and I did become healthier, but I could have made better choices. I now know I have the confidence that even if I have a muffin instead of a bowl of cereal, it's not the end of the world. Or if I have Subway for lunch instead of my usual PB&J, veggies, and fruit.
Life is too short to be so strict. You have to follow some basic guidelines, but do what makes you feel and look healthy. Make good choices!
Lots of love,
Lauren
At one point during the episode, Ryan began to cut back too many calories and his body was suffering - he was even losing hair. When he began to lose hair, he called Chris Powell to ask if this was normal and Chris was like "Um, NO, that's not normal!". Ryan promised Chris that he would eat healthy and not skip meals, but later in the episode, his doctor did not approve him for anesthesia for his surgery because he was malnourished. Ryan explained that he didn't want to go back to where he was before and that he didn't want to mess up and be a failure. Chris Powell explained to him that he should be making a deficit of calories with exercise, not with cutting calories.
Talk about hitting close to home.
As I've shared before, I did take my weight loss to the extreme too, and had several "alarms" that I ignored at first - my nails kept breaking, my hair wasn't voluminous anymore, and I noticed my arms had become very "veiny". It took my husband having a serious conversation with me to get me to realize that I wasn't helping my body at all - in fact, I was severely hurting it. I was hooked on "My Fitness Pal" and tracked every crumb that I ate. I also was working out heavily, sometimes pulling "two-a-days". I was literally burning every calorie I ate, which, had I not been drinking coffee every morning, I would have probably fallen asleep while walking! After about a 3-month obsession with My Fitness Pal, I dropped that, but I would still calculate in my head the calories I was consuming.
I remember going for one of my wedding dress fittings and I was upset because of how protruding my collarbone had become and how I would notice my ribs sticking out when I changed clothes. I remember thinking to myself: "Isn't this what you wanted?" and I finally said "No, this is not what I wanted. What I want is to be healthy and look good!".
A little over a year later, I have eased up on being so strict. I still workout every day, but I'm not afraid to order a meal that comes with fries, or to have a bakery cookie every now and again.
Do I regret going to the extreme? Kinda. I mean, I did lose weight over several years and I did become healthier, but I could have made better choices. I now know I have the confidence that even if I have a muffin instead of a bowl of cereal, it's not the end of the world. Or if I have Subway for lunch instead of my usual PB&J, veggies, and fruit.
Life is too short to be so strict. You have to follow some basic guidelines, but do what makes you feel and look healthy. Make good choices!
Lots of love,
Lauren
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Broken Promises!
Wow. I am really bad at faithfully posting! I need to get my act together, which should be easier now that I'm on summer vacation! My summer vacation actually started back on June 7th, but I've been taking quite a few workshops that will help me in my new position! Come August, I will be the Primary (1-3) Gifted Teacher at my school! I feel so lucky to have been given the opportunity to teach the accelerated learners at my school! It's going to be an interesting change of pace! I just wrapped up my sixth year of teaching and I am proud of myself for continuing to challenge myself in taking on new jobs and tasks! I think I handled all my jobs this past year with a great deal of passion as well as dedication to maintaining focus - the success of my students. All of my students made tremendous gains and I can't wait to see them again in August as I walk through the halls! I may even have some of them in my resource classroom! :) They will forever be in a special place in my heart because they were my last group of first graders!
Now that I have that off my chest, let's get into the good stuff. Dinner tonight was simply amazing! I love when I'm able to just think of a recipe off the top of my head and have it turn out successfully. Trust me, it doesn't always turn out! Ha! Tonight's dinner was Crock Pot Sweet Red Chili Beef and Broccoli, served over whole wheat egg noodles.
For some reason, I wasn't confident while I was making it, so I don't have any pictures of the work in progress. I do however have a picture of the final product....
My mom has a delicious recipe for beef tips that includes white wine, parsley, and worcestershire sauce, but The Husband and I are on a new recipe kick. I found a few recipes online, but nothing really struck my fancy. So, when we were grocery shopping today, I grabbed a bottle of Thai Kitchen's Sweet Red Chili Sauce and a jar of low-sodium soy sauce. Many of the recipes that I found called for beef broth, but I wanted something that had a thicker gravy, so I also bought some jars of Fat Free Beef Gravy.
I used Publix Greenwise Stew Meat and browned it with diced onions and red peppers and a clove of garlic. Of course, I added many shakes of crushed red pepper flakes as well as freshly ground black pepper. The meat was in pretty big chunks, but I knew after being in the crock pot for 8 hours, it would fall apart and I figured why waste the time cutting the beef! :)
While the meat was browning with the onions, peppers, and garlic, I threw the other ingredients into the crock pot and gave it a stir. I then drained the meat and poured it into the crock pot I did add a tablespoon or two of the juices in order to give it a little bit more flavor. I stirred it up and set the crock pot on low for 8 hours. Wow does it make your house smell amazing!
After the 8 hours was up, I boiled some water and cooked the egg noodles. I also steamed some broccoli to serve on top of it. Such a tasty combination! While plating it, I added a few shakes of sesame seeds to make it look pretty! :) In addition to our beef, broccoli, and egg noodles, I also made The Husband and I both salads. We eat a lot of veggies over here!
Here's the recipe!
Crock Pot Sweet Red Chili Beef and Broccoli
1 lb stew beef (I used Publix Greenwise meat because it doesn't have added hormones)
1 1/2 jars of Fat Free Beef Gravy
1 yellow onion, diced
1/4 sweet red pepper, diced
1 clove of garlic (next time I will add way more, probably 3-4 cloves)
2 TBSP Thai Kitchen's Sweet Red Chili Sauce
2 TBSP Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
lots of black pepper
dash of salt
a few shakes of crushed red pepper flakes
sesame seeds
egg noodles
broccoli
salad with veggies
1.Add oil to pan and let it get hot. Add stew meat, diced onions, peppers, and garlic. Brown the meat, stirring occasionally to ensure that it's browning evenly.
2. In your crock pot (spray with pam), add 1 1/2 jars of fat free beef gravy, sweet red chili sauce, low-sodium soy sauce, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. Stir it so the flavors get to know each other!
3. Drain the beef, onions, and peppers (leave about 2 tbps of the juices).
4. Add the beef, onions, and peppers to the crock pot, in addition to the juices. Stir it around - don't be shy! :)
5. Turn crock pot on low for 8 hours.
6. After 8 hours, boil up some egg noodles, steam broccoli, and make a salad!
7. Pour bee and gravy over egg noodles and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Then add your broccoli florets.
8. Enjoy! :)
Hopefully I'll be back on Tuesday with a new recipe for chicken tortilla wraps!
Enjoy your week everyone!
Lots of Love,
Lauren
Now that I have that off my chest, let's get into the good stuff. Dinner tonight was simply amazing! I love when I'm able to just think of a recipe off the top of my head and have it turn out successfully. Trust me, it doesn't always turn out! Ha! Tonight's dinner was Crock Pot Sweet Red Chili Beef and Broccoli, served over whole wheat egg noodles.
For some reason, I wasn't confident while I was making it, so I don't have any pictures of the work in progress. I do however have a picture of the final product....
My mom has a delicious recipe for beef tips that includes white wine, parsley, and worcestershire sauce, but The Husband and I are on a new recipe kick. I found a few recipes online, but nothing really struck my fancy. So, when we were grocery shopping today, I grabbed a bottle of Thai Kitchen's Sweet Red Chili Sauce and a jar of low-sodium soy sauce. Many of the recipes that I found called for beef broth, but I wanted something that had a thicker gravy, so I also bought some jars of Fat Free Beef Gravy.
I used Publix Greenwise Stew Meat and browned it with diced onions and red peppers and a clove of garlic. Of course, I added many shakes of crushed red pepper flakes as well as freshly ground black pepper. The meat was in pretty big chunks, but I knew after being in the crock pot for 8 hours, it would fall apart and I figured why waste the time cutting the beef! :)
While the meat was browning with the onions, peppers, and garlic, I threw the other ingredients into the crock pot and gave it a stir. I then drained the meat and poured it into the crock pot I did add a tablespoon or two of the juices in order to give it a little bit more flavor. I stirred it up and set the crock pot on low for 8 hours. Wow does it make your house smell amazing!
After the 8 hours was up, I boiled some water and cooked the egg noodles. I also steamed some broccoli to serve on top of it. Such a tasty combination! While plating it, I added a few shakes of sesame seeds to make it look pretty! :) In addition to our beef, broccoli, and egg noodles, I also made The Husband and I both salads. We eat a lot of veggies over here!
Here's the recipe!
Crock Pot Sweet Red Chili Beef and Broccoli
1 lb stew beef (I used Publix Greenwise meat because it doesn't have added hormones)
1 1/2 jars of Fat Free Beef Gravy
1 yellow onion, diced
1/4 sweet red pepper, diced
1 clove of garlic (next time I will add way more, probably 3-4 cloves)
2 TBSP Thai Kitchen's Sweet Red Chili Sauce
2 TBSP Low-Sodium Soy Sauce
lots of black pepper
dash of salt
a few shakes of crushed red pepper flakes
sesame seeds
egg noodles
broccoli
salad with veggies
1.Add oil to pan and let it get hot. Add stew meat, diced onions, peppers, and garlic. Brown the meat, stirring occasionally to ensure that it's browning evenly.
2. In your crock pot (spray with pam), add 1 1/2 jars of fat free beef gravy, sweet red chili sauce, low-sodium soy sauce, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. Stir it so the flavors get to know each other!
3. Drain the beef, onions, and peppers (leave about 2 tbps of the juices).
4. Add the beef, onions, and peppers to the crock pot, in addition to the juices. Stir it around - don't be shy! :)
5. Turn crock pot on low for 8 hours.
6. After 8 hours, boil up some egg noodles, steam broccoli, and make a salad!
7. Pour bee and gravy over egg noodles and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Then add your broccoli florets.
8. Enjoy! :)
Hopefully I'll be back on Tuesday with a new recipe for chicken tortilla wraps!
Enjoy your week everyone!
Lots of Love,
Lauren
Saturday, June 1, 2013
When Experimentation Works!
Hello There!
Sorry for the delay in posting - last weekend was my birthday and I spent the entire weekend being spoiled by my amazing husband! I mean shopping spree, dinner, new pandora charm (and this was all the day BEFORE my birthday)! On Sunday, my actual birthday, he went out and bought a tasty coffee cake for breakfast and I also opened up my present, which was a new camera! I had an idea that's what it was, because when we were at the Pandora store on Saturday, he picked out the camera charm.... so I put two and two together! We also went to the Rays game where we killed the Yankees! Go Rays! It was pretty fabulous! XOXO! I'm such a lucky girl!
Anyways, back to why I'm writing this post - a new winning recipe! The husband and I are kinda getting sick of our rotation of typical foods - chicken meatloaf, grilled chicken sausages with peppers and onions, baked chicken over greens, turkey tacos, etc... So, when he mentioned that he wanted pork, I thought YES! A PORK TENDERLOIN!
While at Publix this afternoon, I snagged a extra lean, center cut pork tenderloin from the meat department (It's actually distributed by Hormel). I bought the original flavor because all the other ones have far too much sodium. (Yep, just call me the sodium police!) Before we sat down for lunch, I decided to whip up a marinade so it could soak up all the tasty flavors. I used honey, red wine vinegar, yellow mustard, black pepper, italian seasonings, and water! It marinaded for about 5 hours and oh-my-gawwwwwd it was sooo tasty! :)
I served it with a side salad, natural applesauce with cinnamon, and a sweet potato roll. The husband also had some baby red potatoes in a buttery sauce, but the flavor of the sauce is too strong for me, so I skipped out on it. What a tasty and easy dinner!
Come back tomorrow for the recipe for this tasty and easy dinner - perfect for the busy work week! :) Right now The Husband and I are in the middle of a Lifetime movie marathon!
Lots of love,
Lauren
Sorry for the delay in posting - last weekend was my birthday and I spent the entire weekend being spoiled by my amazing husband! I mean shopping spree, dinner, new pandora charm (and this was all the day BEFORE my birthday)! On Sunday, my actual birthday, he went out and bought a tasty coffee cake for breakfast and I also opened up my present, which was a new camera! I had an idea that's what it was, because when we were at the Pandora store on Saturday, he picked out the camera charm.... so I put two and two together! We also went to the Rays game where we killed the Yankees! Go Rays! It was pretty fabulous! XOXO! I'm such a lucky girl!
Anyways, back to why I'm writing this post - a new winning recipe! The husband and I are kinda getting sick of our rotation of typical foods - chicken meatloaf, grilled chicken sausages with peppers and onions, baked chicken over greens, turkey tacos, etc... So, when he mentioned that he wanted pork, I thought YES! A PORK TENDERLOIN!
While at Publix this afternoon, I snagged a extra lean, center cut pork tenderloin from the meat department (It's actually distributed by Hormel). I bought the original flavor because all the other ones have far too much sodium. (Yep, just call me the sodium police!) Before we sat down for lunch, I decided to whip up a marinade so it could soak up all the tasty flavors. I used honey, red wine vinegar, yellow mustard, black pepper, italian seasonings, and water! It marinaded for about 5 hours and oh-my-gawwwwwd it was sooo tasty! :)
I served it with a side salad, natural applesauce with cinnamon, and a sweet potato roll. The husband also had some baby red potatoes in a buttery sauce, but the flavor of the sauce is too strong for me, so I skipped out on it. What a tasty and easy dinner!
Come back tomorrow for the recipe for this tasty and easy dinner - perfect for the busy work week! :) Right now The Husband and I are in the middle of a Lifetime movie marathon!
Lots of love,
Lauren
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
How I Lost the Weight Part 2: So What Exactly Do I Eat?
Believe it or not, I'm home sick today from work (with 13 days left to go until summer. I can honestly say I'd rather be at work!!!), so I figured why not blog! :) Hopefully being home all day will make this sinus funk go away! I'm so over these sinus infections! This is my second one this year!
Eating right is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Remember, no diets. Dieting is a quick fix and in my past experiences, I've lost weight only for it to pile back on what I lost and more! I am not a fan of the "fad" diets either. Believe it or not, you shouldn't completely eliminate any food group, including carbs! In moderation, carbs are fine! I do say that I am a "low-fat" and "fat-free" junkie. I tend to gravitate towards the "sugar-free" products, but I've been doing a lot of research and I'm trying to cut back my intake of artificial sweeteners. This past weekend, I bought regular Jell-O pudding packs (yes, I'm 5 years old and need pudding in my lunch). I also jumped back on the greek yogurt train instead of getting my usual "Yoplait Light". I still drink diet soda (caffeine free though) as well as adding Splenda to my morning coffee. I would like to eventually avoid all artificial sweetener, as I'm thinking it may have something to do with my recent headaches (not the sinus ones). Small steps my friends, small steps.
So, what do I eat? Believe it or not, I eat a lot! I usually nibble on food all day long!
I start off my morning with 1/2 a banana on my way to the gym. I work out at 5am, so I just need a little something before I hop on the machines. When I get home, I have 1/2 a grapefruit (no sugar needed to those little gems) and a bowl of cereal with unsweetened almond milk. My cereal choices vary week to week and I even change cereals every other day. Since I pretty much eat cereal 7 days a week, I cannot eat the same thing every day. My favorites are Special K Blueberry, regular Cheerios, Rice Chex, and Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch. And yes, I do get kids cereal sometimes - Cocoa Puffs, Peanut Butter Toast Crunch, and Golden Grahams are delicious, but soooo high in sugar! I only buy those when I'm really craving it!
Once I get to my classroom and I'm ready for my darlings to come in, I'm usually snacking on a VitaMuffin Tops (Banana Chocolate Chip are my favorite). However, I need to start cutting those out because they are expensive! I also have coffee. I've switched over to decaf coffee because I felt like I was getting too much caffeine!
For lunch, I'm a creature of habit. I usually have a sandwich (PB & J). I've been loving Smuckers Sugar-Free blackberry preserves, but I'm on my last jar of the sugar-free stuff. I also have a cheese stick (either mozz. or cheddar cheese - need to get calcium since I don't drink a lot of milk). Along with that, I have veggies (carrots, cucumber, and broccoli) along with a tablespoon of veggie dip. To finish, I usually have a pudding treat! :)
Later in the day, I usually snack on a whole banana and I usually pick at whatever I give my babies for snack (animal crackers, chex mix, etc...)
Dinner varies every night. Again, I don't go low on carbs by any stretch. I love bread and potatoes! If I do eat potatoes though, it's usually a sweet potato because they are just so good for you! I buy organic sweet potatoes so it's safe to eat the skin too! My usual dinners often consist of:
- baked chicken, sweet potato, and salad
- chicken sausage with peppers and onions
- chicken meatloaf, creamed corn, sweet potato, and salad
- baked chicken over salad
- stuffed shells with veggie marinara with garlic bread and a salad
- veggie pizza (either homemade or from a local pizza place. I order "light" on the cheese" and I always blot the gross grease)
- veggie burger on an english muffin (or sandwich thin), sweet potato wedges, and steamed broccoli
- veggie omelet with a toasted bagel and a side of fruit
Now that I'm approaching summer, I'll be able to do more intricate meals because I'll have more time! I've pinned a zillion recipes that I'm very eager to try!
After dinner, I always need dessert! LOL! I love the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches (the snickerdoodle ones are the best). We also sometimes have strawberry shortcake, or low-fat brownies. Dessert is always a requirement! I also usually snack on a few pieces of Dove Dark Chocolate (because dark chocolate is good for you)! :)
Around 9pm, I get a snack attack and lately, it's been for Pirates Booty popcorn puffs. I am obsessed, which isn't a good thing because it's expensive! I buy the "lunch" packs because if I sat on the couch with a regular bag, I'd probably eat the whole thing!
So, that my friends is usually what I eat during the day. Of course it varies from day to day and I do snack on other things here and there (yesterday afternoon I had a Chobani Peach Greek Yogurt and it hit the spot!). And yes, I drink a ridiculous amount of water - probably 8-9 glasses!
Remember, I'm not a nutritionist, so I cannot offer professional advice. This is just what has worked for me! :) Adjust as you see fit!
Lots of love,
Lauren
Eating right is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Remember, no diets. Dieting is a quick fix and in my past experiences, I've lost weight only for it to pile back on what I lost and more! I am not a fan of the "fad" diets either. Believe it or not, you shouldn't completely eliminate any food group, including carbs! In moderation, carbs are fine! I do say that I am a "low-fat" and "fat-free" junkie. I tend to gravitate towards the "sugar-free" products, but I've been doing a lot of research and I'm trying to cut back my intake of artificial sweeteners. This past weekend, I bought regular Jell-O pudding packs (yes, I'm 5 years old and need pudding in my lunch). I also jumped back on the greek yogurt train instead of getting my usual "Yoplait Light". I still drink diet soda (caffeine free though) as well as adding Splenda to my morning coffee. I would like to eventually avoid all artificial sweetener, as I'm thinking it may have something to do with my recent headaches (not the sinus ones). Small steps my friends, small steps.
So, what do I eat? Believe it or not, I eat a lot! I usually nibble on food all day long!
I start off my morning with 1/2 a banana on my way to the gym. I work out at 5am, so I just need a little something before I hop on the machines. When I get home, I have 1/2 a grapefruit (no sugar needed to those little gems) and a bowl of cereal with unsweetened almond milk. My cereal choices vary week to week and I even change cereals every other day. Since I pretty much eat cereal 7 days a week, I cannot eat the same thing every day. My favorites are Special K Blueberry, regular Cheerios, Rice Chex, and Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch. And yes, I do get kids cereal sometimes - Cocoa Puffs, Peanut Butter Toast Crunch, and Golden Grahams are delicious, but soooo high in sugar! I only buy those when I'm really craving it!
Once I get to my classroom and I'm ready for my darlings to come in, I'm usually snacking on a VitaMuffin Tops (Banana Chocolate Chip are my favorite). However, I need to start cutting those out because they are expensive! I also have coffee. I've switched over to decaf coffee because I felt like I was getting too much caffeine!
For lunch, I'm a creature of habit. I usually have a sandwich (PB & J). I've been loving Smuckers Sugar-Free blackberry preserves, but I'm on my last jar of the sugar-free stuff. I also have a cheese stick (either mozz. or cheddar cheese - need to get calcium since I don't drink a lot of milk). Along with that, I have veggies (carrots, cucumber, and broccoli) along with a tablespoon of veggie dip. To finish, I usually have a pudding treat! :)
Later in the day, I usually snack on a whole banana and I usually pick at whatever I give my babies for snack (animal crackers, chex mix, etc...)
Dinner varies every night. Again, I don't go low on carbs by any stretch. I love bread and potatoes! If I do eat potatoes though, it's usually a sweet potato because they are just so good for you! I buy organic sweet potatoes so it's safe to eat the skin too! My usual dinners often consist of:
- baked chicken, sweet potato, and salad
- chicken sausage with peppers and onions
- chicken meatloaf, creamed corn, sweet potato, and salad
- baked chicken over salad
- stuffed shells with veggie marinara with garlic bread and a salad
- veggie pizza (either homemade or from a local pizza place. I order "light" on the cheese" and I always blot the gross grease)
- veggie burger on an english muffin (or sandwich thin), sweet potato wedges, and steamed broccoli
- veggie omelet with a toasted bagel and a side of fruit
Now that I'm approaching summer, I'll be able to do more intricate meals because I'll have more time! I've pinned a zillion recipes that I'm very eager to try!
After dinner, I always need dessert! LOL! I love the Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches (the snickerdoodle ones are the best). We also sometimes have strawberry shortcake, or low-fat brownies. Dessert is always a requirement! I also usually snack on a few pieces of Dove Dark Chocolate (because dark chocolate is good for you)! :)
Around 9pm, I get a snack attack and lately, it's been for Pirates Booty popcorn puffs. I am obsessed, which isn't a good thing because it's expensive! I buy the "lunch" packs because if I sat on the couch with a regular bag, I'd probably eat the whole thing!
So, that my friends is usually what I eat during the day. Of course it varies from day to day and I do snack on other things here and there (yesterday afternoon I had a Chobani Peach Greek Yogurt and it hit the spot!). And yes, I drink a ridiculous amount of water - probably 8-9 glasses!
Remember, I'm not a nutritionist, so I cannot offer professional advice. This is just what has worked for me! :) Adjust as you see fit!
Lots of love,
Lauren
Sunday, May 19, 2013
How I Lost the Weight Part 1: Self-Esteem Issues at the Gym
A lot of people have asked me, "So how did you lose all of the weight and keep it off?" My first answer is always the same - "I did it the hard way." I then continue to explain that the weight didn't just pile on over night. It was a result of years and years of unhealthy eating and little-to-no exercise. A shopping spree is hardly exercise! ;) So, if it took a long time to pile on, it would definitely take a long time to come off. How long? About 3 years.
So, realistically, I did struggle at first. I hated going to the gym. I don't think it had anything to do with the notion of "working out". It was all self-esteem issues. I mean, at the time, I was probably around 212 pounds and I looked huge. Looking back at pictures, I was way bigger than I ever remember feeling. I knew I was seriously overweight, but I kept telling myself that it "wasn't that bad". Yes it was. I was fat. I always wore a baggy t-shirt and workout pants and always felt that people were looking at me and criticizing - I wondered what they were thinking - "She needs to do more than just the treadmill" or "Wow, she is really fat". But, deep down, I knew what I was doing was the right thing, so I walked into that gym as confident as I could possibly be.
As the weight came off (at a slow, but healthy pace), I felt more confident walking into the gym. I didn't hide on the corner treadmill and I eventually meandered on over to the free weights and the other machines. Sure, I still felt like I had a spot light on me and everyone was criticizing, but there came a point where I had to let that go.
The real motivation came when I realized that working out was actually fun and a great way to deal with the stresses of everyday life. I find working out to be a stress reliever. It's way more satisfying than munching on a candy bar or depleting my bank account at the mall! :)
Now that I am one of the "fit" people at the gym (it is still so weird to say that I am "fit".... who would have ever thought this would be possible!?!?), I do find myself looking at other people. My first thoughts when I see someone who is overweight and struggling on the treadmill? "Wow, good for them. I hope they keep it up". I find myself internally cheering them on and applauding their effort to become physically active because as a bigger person, it does suck. Nothing works me up more than someone saying "I need to lose weight, but I hate working out." But you know what sucks more? Being an overweight young woman, on high blood pressure medicine, and unable to wear "cute" clothes because they didn't come in my size.
Now don't get me wrong - at first, I HATED going to the gym. I honestly felt like it was punishment. What made it even worse were the "slumps" I went through where WEEKS went by and there was no difference on the scale. But, I held my head high and kept on working out because I knew although the weight wasn't coming off yet, I felt better overall and I knew my body was responding well to the workouts. Eventually I was out of my size 18 pants and there was nothing more exciting than not having to shop in the "plus size" stores.
At the start of my healthy lifestyle change, I was probably working out 4-5 times a week, for around 30 minutes. I typically did 30 minutes on the treadmill and when I was working with a personal trainer, I tacked on about 30 minutes of circuit training. I gradually worked up my endurance, and I was able to work out longer and harder (increasing the speed as well as the incline on the treadmill). Occasionally, I jumped on the elliptical, but for the most part, the treadmill is where it's at for me.
During the "peak" of my weight loss, I was probably working out 7 days a week. No rest! Should I have taken a day off to rest? Definitely, but at the time, I was so determined to continue to lose weight that I got mad at myself if I drove home after work instead of stopping by the gym. Over the past 2 years, I would estimate that maybe, with the exception of being in Buffalo for vacations, I may have skipped 30 days at the gym. Obsessed? I don't think so. Highly motivated? Absolutely.
So, now that I'm actually trying to gain a few pounds (these last 5 pounds are HARD!), I'm still working out everyday. But, I'm always changing up my routines and the intensity. It's a rarity for me to miss a workout. Why do I refuse to skip them? Well, I'd rather workout everyday and occasionally splurge on a treat than only workout 5 days a week and have to be strict with what I eat.
With all of this being said - I urge you to get off your couch or your chair and get moving. Whether it's at the gym, walking the neighborhood, or power-walking at the mall. Heck, you burn calories cleaning your house! Instead of using a Swiffer to clean your floors, do it the old-fashioned way with a bucket of water, a rag, and scrub, scrub, scrubbing the floor!!! ANY movement = calories burned. Like I've said before, at first, it is awful. But think of how happy your body will become. Think of the self-esteem that will increase. And think of how it'll make you feel, knowing you're working towards a healthier lifestyle.
Lots of love,
Lauren
PS- Remember, I am not a personal trainer or a nutritionist, so I cannot offer professional advice. I can only share my story with you and let you know that anything is possible, if you're willing to work for it.
So, realistically, I did struggle at first. I hated going to the gym. I don't think it had anything to do with the notion of "working out". It was all self-esteem issues. I mean, at the time, I was probably around 212 pounds and I looked huge. Looking back at pictures, I was way bigger than I ever remember feeling. I knew I was seriously overweight, but I kept telling myself that it "wasn't that bad". Yes it was. I was fat. I always wore a baggy t-shirt and workout pants and always felt that people were looking at me and criticizing - I wondered what they were thinking - "She needs to do more than just the treadmill" or "Wow, she is really fat". But, deep down, I knew what I was doing was the right thing, so I walked into that gym as confident as I could possibly be.
As the weight came off (at a slow, but healthy pace), I felt more confident walking into the gym. I didn't hide on the corner treadmill and I eventually meandered on over to the free weights and the other machines. Sure, I still felt like I had a spot light on me and everyone was criticizing, but there came a point where I had to let that go.
The real motivation came when I realized that working out was actually fun and a great way to deal with the stresses of everyday life. I find working out to be a stress reliever. It's way more satisfying than munching on a candy bar or depleting my bank account at the mall! :)
Now that I am one of the "fit" people at the gym (it is still so weird to say that I am "fit".... who would have ever thought this would be possible!?!?), I do find myself looking at other people. My first thoughts when I see someone who is overweight and struggling on the treadmill? "Wow, good for them. I hope they keep it up". I find myself internally cheering them on and applauding their effort to become physically active because as a bigger person, it does suck. Nothing works me up more than someone saying "I need to lose weight, but I hate working out." But you know what sucks more? Being an overweight young woman, on high blood pressure medicine, and unable to wear "cute" clothes because they didn't come in my size.
Now don't get me wrong - at first, I HATED going to the gym. I honestly felt like it was punishment. What made it even worse were the "slumps" I went through where WEEKS went by and there was no difference on the scale. But, I held my head high and kept on working out because I knew although the weight wasn't coming off yet, I felt better overall and I knew my body was responding well to the workouts. Eventually I was out of my size 18 pants and there was nothing more exciting than not having to shop in the "plus size" stores.
At the start of my healthy lifestyle change, I was probably working out 4-5 times a week, for around 30 minutes. I typically did 30 minutes on the treadmill and when I was working with a personal trainer, I tacked on about 30 minutes of circuit training. I gradually worked up my endurance, and I was able to work out longer and harder (increasing the speed as well as the incline on the treadmill). Occasionally, I jumped on the elliptical, but for the most part, the treadmill is where it's at for me.
During the "peak" of my weight loss, I was probably working out 7 days a week. No rest! Should I have taken a day off to rest? Definitely, but at the time, I was so determined to continue to lose weight that I got mad at myself if I drove home after work instead of stopping by the gym. Over the past 2 years, I would estimate that maybe, with the exception of being in Buffalo for vacations, I may have skipped 30 days at the gym. Obsessed? I don't think so. Highly motivated? Absolutely.
So, now that I'm actually trying to gain a few pounds (these last 5 pounds are HARD!), I'm still working out everyday. But, I'm always changing up my routines and the intensity. It's a rarity for me to miss a workout. Why do I refuse to skip them? Well, I'd rather workout everyday and occasionally splurge on a treat than only workout 5 days a week and have to be strict with what I eat.
With all of this being said - I urge you to get off your couch or your chair and get moving. Whether it's at the gym, walking the neighborhood, or power-walking at the mall. Heck, you burn calories cleaning your house! Instead of using a Swiffer to clean your floors, do it the old-fashioned way with a bucket of water, a rag, and scrub, scrub, scrubbing the floor!!! ANY movement = calories burned. Like I've said before, at first, it is awful. But think of how happy your body will become. Think of the self-esteem that will increase. And think of how it'll make you feel, knowing you're working towards a healthier lifestyle.
Lots of love,
Lauren
PS- Remember, I am not a personal trainer or a nutritionist, so I cannot offer professional advice. I can only share my story with you and let you know that anything is possible, if you're willing to work for it.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Guess Who's Back?
October 2012 was my last post? How is that even possible? Oh wait, for a second I forgot that life has been craaaaaaaaazy lately! I made it through my first two semesters of my educational leadership grad program! 4.0 so far!!! Go me!
I fondly remember graduating in May 2010 with my Masters in Reading Education, thinking "Wow. I'm officially done with school."
Yeah right!
I love school - which explains a lot since I'm a teacher! So far, I am L-O-V-I-N-G the program at USF. I am learning so much about what it takes to be an educational leader. But what I'm learning more about is myself, not only an educator, but as a teacher leader. I can't say what made me decide to go into the educational leadership program. Perhaps it was the recommendation and support of my current administration or my thirst for learning. All I can say it was honestly one of the best decisions I ever made. Surely, I've had to sacrifice a lot. More so than I'll ever want to admit. But, this year has been SUCH a learning experience. I can honestly say, I don't think I'll ever look at education from a "teaching" aspect again. This could be a bad thing, but I'm going to remain optimistic and think of it as a way to grow.
Besides grad school, life has been hectic at home too! My husband got an amazing job in his field - computer technology. He absolutely loves the job and I'm so proud of him for getting a job in his dream field. The only downside is that he travels. A lot. He is typically gone for 1 week a month, but lately, it's been more than that. I'm not going to lie - it's hard at times. Life has been a bit of a roller-coaster lately, so when I come home and just need a shoulder to rest my head on, I often have to whip out my cell phone and call him. But, he's so happy with his job and financially, it's pretty amazing. When he's home, I find myself on the computer less and more so spending any waking moment with him. We're so blessed that he was given the opportunity to have such a good job!
Now that I've gone through those parts of my life, it's time to get focused on what this blog was intentionally made for - healthy living!
Over the past few months, I've had to do some reflecting and I can now admit that I did go slightly overboard with the whole weight loss thing. I think it will continue to be a battle, because I do know so much about calorie content and what I should and should not be eating. But, after a long discussion with my husband and my mother, I had to finally cope with the idea that I needed to stop and to actually gain some weight back. It was awful at first. I felt so guilty for skipping a gym workout or for having a second or third slice of bread (and gasp, with butter) at dinner. But, I was becoming too skinny. Since Christmas, I've gained about 10 pounds and I have about 5 more to go. I will still continue to eat healthy, but I now know and can accept that it's FINE to eat a cookie. Or to skip the gym. Or to have a burger and fries. Everything in moderation!
So, for now my friends that is all I have to say. School is out in a couple of weeks, so I will be posting much more frequently! Until then, it may just be a post or two. Who knows!
Lots of love,
Lauren
I fondly remember graduating in May 2010 with my Masters in Reading Education, thinking "Wow. I'm officially done with school."
Yeah right!
I love school - which explains a lot since I'm a teacher! So far, I am L-O-V-I-N-G the program at USF. I am learning so much about what it takes to be an educational leader. But what I'm learning more about is myself, not only an educator, but as a teacher leader. I can't say what made me decide to go into the educational leadership program. Perhaps it was the recommendation and support of my current administration or my thirst for learning. All I can say it was honestly one of the best decisions I ever made. Surely, I've had to sacrifice a lot. More so than I'll ever want to admit. But, this year has been SUCH a learning experience. I can honestly say, I don't think I'll ever look at education from a "teaching" aspect again. This could be a bad thing, but I'm going to remain optimistic and think of it as a way to grow.
Besides grad school, life has been hectic at home too! My husband got an amazing job in his field - computer technology. He absolutely loves the job and I'm so proud of him for getting a job in his dream field. The only downside is that he travels. A lot. He is typically gone for 1 week a month, but lately, it's been more than that. I'm not going to lie - it's hard at times. Life has been a bit of a roller-coaster lately, so when I come home and just need a shoulder to rest my head on, I often have to whip out my cell phone and call him. But, he's so happy with his job and financially, it's pretty amazing. When he's home, I find myself on the computer less and more so spending any waking moment with him. We're so blessed that he was given the opportunity to have such a good job!
Now that I've gone through those parts of my life, it's time to get focused on what this blog was intentionally made for - healthy living!
Over the past few months, I've had to do some reflecting and I can now admit that I did go slightly overboard with the whole weight loss thing. I think it will continue to be a battle, because I do know so much about calorie content and what I should and should not be eating. But, after a long discussion with my husband and my mother, I had to finally cope with the idea that I needed to stop and to actually gain some weight back. It was awful at first. I felt so guilty for skipping a gym workout or for having a second or third slice of bread (and gasp, with butter) at dinner. But, I was becoming too skinny. Since Christmas, I've gained about 10 pounds and I have about 5 more to go. I will still continue to eat healthy, but I now know and can accept that it's FINE to eat a cookie. Or to skip the gym. Or to have a burger and fries. Everything in moderation!
So, for now my friends that is all I have to say. School is out in a couple of weeks, so I will be posting much more frequently! Until then, it may just be a post or two. Who knows!
Lots of love,
Lauren
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