Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts

Fitness Should Be Fun


"As a kid, you could easily average seven hours a week playing tag or riding bikes- sans fitness trackers or weight loss apps. You didn't roll your eyes when teachers called for recess. And you certainly weren't motivated by flatter abs or a firmer butt when you played in the backyard until dark with your friends. What you were motivated by: the sheer fun of it all."

- Women's Health, March 2014

Growing up, everyday was an adventure. I grew up in a neighborhood that was perfect for kickball games, capture the flag and daily walks. The neighborhood gang were partners in crime.

I didn't have an athletic bone in my body. I was not on school teams and played recreational softball and to give you a hint to my skill level, the only award I received was "most spirited." But on the streets of Orion Path, I was active. I would walk to school which was about 3/4 of a mile. But on top of that, the neighborhood crew was inseparable and active until the sun went down! 

Rollerblading, riding bikes or just running from one house to the other did not feel like exercise or a chore. It was what I lived for. If I just lived one day in the life of the childhood me, I would be exhausted. So I have decided that fitness should be fun, it does not need to be a chore. There are so many different fitness classes or just activities to get my sweat on. Right now I am striving for a good calorie burn and fun! This is the only way to be able to maintain this as a lifestyle. I look forward to trying new things and achieving my goals.



On My Way

Lately I have been feeling a bit down on myself. I has been 4 years since I started my weight loss journey and I think I forget to realize that part of the struggle for me is being able to maintain. So I decided to give myself a little reality check today.


At my heaviest weight, I was 220 pounds. I was incredibly unhealthy and binge ate for every emotion; happy, sad, stressed, etc. I also spent a lot of time on the couch and had no idea what activity was other than getting out of breath walking up the 3 flights of stairs to my apartment. After my wedding, I decided to turn my life around. I discovered a love of fitness and began eating well. One of the biggest changes for me was realizing what portion control was. Unfortunately, I lost the wait pretty rapidly and was so strict that it was just not maintainable as a lifestyle. I was at 139 before I started to lose control. Once I allowed myself to have my first cheat in 8 months, I slowly fell back into my binge eating ways.

In about a year I got my weight to skyrocket to 195. I am not happy to be at that weight but have decided to stop putting myself down and still acknowledge where I came from (see photo below). Being a woman with PCOS, it is so hard to not only lose weight but maintain. In six months I had struggle to really recommit, but I have been able to keep my weight the same. I have been conscious of my food choices and I have a LOVE for exercise. April 24, 2014 I decided it is time to get serious and really do it this time! So I am on my way to getting where I want to be but I am proud to say, I am not where I started!



Choosing My Dreams


This quote is absolutely fitting to the journey I am on right now. I am working towards running a half-marathon and finally reaching my goal weight. I have to make the choice to go to the 5:45 am spin class. I have to make the choice to not eat the chocolate that sits in my office. I have to make the choice to follow my training plan even on days when I am tired or busy.

Most of all though, I need to make the choice to not give up. I have been back on track for just over a month now. The weight has not been coming off anywhere near the rate that it was coming off before. I have been eating well, tracking all calories and have been exercising 6 days a week.

Other than the number moving slowly, the past month has been a good one. I have stopped craving the 3:00pm sweets I used to splurge on. I am enjoying the healthy eating and starting to cook to try out new recipes! I have found a Spin instructor Leora, who I absolutely love. She is so empowering and when I am in her class, I feel like I have unlimited potential. I signed up for a half-marathon with my sister Sara. The half-marathon is October 20. I signed up with three months to train. Already just three weeks into it, I have run more than I even deemed possible. I know the longer the runs get, the more I will want to give up but I have to push through it.

Just this week I have also started carb cycling! I am obsessed with the show Extreme Weight Loss and have found Chris Powell and the success stories so inspiring. He has a book, Chose to Lose and it outlines carb cycling. With my PCOS and insulin resistance that goes along with it, this seems like a good plan to jump start my metabolism.

Here are the basics of carb cycling:

- Eat 5 small meals a day
- Eat within 30 minutes of waking
- Eat every three hours
- Alternate one low carb day, one high carb day

The more I learn the more I will share. My first weigh-in will be Saturday so lets see if this gets my weight loss rolling!

Suggestion Sunday: Vitasandwich


Sorry for the lack of blogs this week! I was traveling for work and it was certainly a struggle. Eating in hotels, fast food joints and such I had a tough time staying within my points BUT I did it!

A more detailed blog to come. Real quick I wanted to review a product that I was super impressed by. I am a big fan of the Vitatops and so when I was on the prowl for the VitaCakes (which I learned haven't been sold online yet) I stumbled across the VitaSandwich.


Sometimes I need a quick breakfast I can grab and bring to work. This was super easy, popped it in the microwave and it still tasted relatively fresh and delicious. The egg and cheese VitaSandwich absolutely kept me full until lunch time. Although the Vita products can be a bit pricey, I like to switch up my usual breakfast routine once in a while. I believe they have one with veggies in the egg as well.

PointsPlus- 3

Calories: 150, Fat: 2, Carbs: 23, Fiber 7, Proten: 14


Suggestion Sunday: Fleur de Sel Caramel Organic Popcorn


I love to snack and have an enormous sweet tooth. This product I am about to suggest definitely satisfies that sweet tooth.

I found this product at Fresh Market, a small organic grocery store but learned it is far more cost-effective to order online. You can buy this product at 479popcorn.com.

This caramel is deliciously salty and sweet. It is you average caramel corn, smooth and sweet but then with small sea salt flakes on it. Amazing and the serving size is a lot of bang for your buck! I devour this stuff. I bought several small bags for me and then I noticed my husband ate all but half a bag of it!

Nutrition Information:

3 Points Plus for 1 Cup (28 g)

Fat: 4, Fiber: 1, Carb: 18, Protein: 1

Total Transformation

Although I am working towards a physical transformation, I think the first step is complete. That is the mental transformation.

It may not be complete but it is well underway. My sister Rachel had a job fair to attend in Virginia this weekend. It was a 6 hour trip one way and she didn't want to do the drive on her own. I agreed to go with her. It was only one night and pretty much one day but I still had to really plan. Whenever I get out of my routine, I have a hard time getting back into it.

I packed all of my favorite snacks so I knew I had healthy options and I also packed my workout clothes. I very easily could have slept in today but I didn't. When Rachel got up, I joined her for the Continental Breakfast. When I hear those 2 words I think waffles, pastries, etc. I was surprised by the healthy options at this breakfast. It was earlier than I normally eat but I had a hard boiled egg and some orange slices.

When Rachel left for her job fair I hit up the fitness center and did a great hour of cardio. The old Kelly, would have slept in, ate delicious whipped cream smothered waffles and watched TV.

I was running on the treadmill which was strategically placed 2 feet in front of a wall to wall mirror. I saw this person in the mirror I hardly recognized. Not because my weight loss is so drastic but my attitude and approach. I was red faced and dripping with sweat and running with all the confidence in the world. In the past, when I was just slightly out of my comfort zone I convinced myself it was hard and would stop. I used to claim I "didn't sweat!" How foolish do I feel now. I absolutely sweat but in the past I barely pushed myself.

When I finished my workout I was proud to look at the mirror and see this sweat soaked shirt. I hope this mental transformation can continue as I work my way towards the total transformation.

What's to Come?

As my blog gets rolling, there will be several pieces you can expect each week from me.

Motivational Monday: I will share what keeps me motivated or success stories that inspire me. Everyone needs a motivational quote once in a while.

Weight Watchers Wednesday: Knowing that not everyone who follows my blog will be doing the Weight Watchers plan, I will only discuss particular WW specific reccomendations to this one day. Some of their products are only bought at the meeting spaces and these may come up.

Foodie Friday: Each Friday I will post a yummy recipe. I am still learning my way around the kitchen so there are certainly some mishaps. I will also keep recipes I love underneath the archived tab up top!

Suggestion Sunday: This is when I will suggest a food item or exercise that I cannot live without! I have certain staples that have made this process easy for me so far!

I cannot wait to start following other blogs and getting motivation and inspiration as well

Why read my blog?

Why should someone turn to my blog for motivation, recipies and support?

  1. I am not a personal trainer.
  2. I am not a nutritionist.
  3. I am your average 20-something woman.

Reasons 1 & 2 may not seem entirely convincing but those are the two reasons why you should care what I have to say. I've never been small (despite my short stature) and have had a lifelong battle with weight. I do not have 3 hours a day to dedicate to exercise. I do not know everything there is to know about food. I am going to reach my goals and if I can, so can you.

I am just like almost everyone else reading this blog. I cannot afford a personal trainer or nutritionist. I have to squeeze in workouts in the midst of my full-time job and part-time job. I am a newlywed attempting to cook healthy meals that my beer drinking, Dorito eating at midnight husband enjoys.

I subscribed to 4 healthy magazine (Health, Women's Health, Cooking Light and Fitness) to constantly reinforce the new lifestyle I am creating. This time, the weight loss is permanent. I need to not let one bad day turn into 5 bad days and weight gain.

I have lost 22 pounds since a little before Christmas. I am doing it the good old-fashioned way; eating well and exercise. I am doing Weight Watchers and I work out at least 3 days a week. I am trying new exercises, new recipies and I want to share what works with me, with all of you.

So stay tuned!!!