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
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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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