Pictures Are So Motivating

As I was looking through some pictures today, I found some photos from a boat trip we went on last summer. We went to Kinkaid Lake in Illinois with our friends Micah and Maria. Can I just tell you how much these motivated me? I can't believe I'm actually about to post them, but here they are:

Ahhhhhhhhhh!

My beautiful friend Maria and I

Look at those thighs! 

Okay, so as I was saying...these pictures are very motivating. I've lost at least 15-20 pounds since these, but gosh they gross me out. I really can't believe I let myself get to that point. Reflecting upon these recent discoveries above, I will proceed with even more dedication than I started the week with. Hopefully you'll be seeing another post this summer. We'll stick with the first photo above, but it will be me at my goal weight - 140! :)

This week so far, I hit the gym Monday and Tuesday. I burned around 800 calories both times. Tomorrow is volleyball night, and I'm planning to go to Zumba as well. Then on Thursday I'll head to the gym for Zumba, take Friday off, and go to Zumba again either on Saturday or Sunday morning (depending on when my workout buddies can go). This is my plan, and I will stick to it. 

Things That Motivate Me:

1. pictures of me at my fattest (these are very scarce because I try to stay out of pictures)

2. reading and pinning fitness pins on Pinterest

3. seeing skinny chicks on Josh's Maxim magazines (I ordered it for him for Christmas specifically for that purpose)

4. when people I haven't seen in a while notice I've lost weight

5. thinking about swimsuit shopping for our Dominican Republic vacation

6. thinking about cute outfits I can wear this summer

What motivates you?

Peace & Love,

Jenny

Sunday Weigh In Week #4

169 lbs.

down 2.5 lbs. from last week

down 13 lbs. from start

29 lbs. to my goal

Well...it's been a while since I've seen the 160s. It's been about a year and half since our wedding, and I hit the 169 mark the day before we got married. Yep...I barely made it last time. 

I'm having some trouble finding really great tasting, healthy meals that Josh likes too. We're experimenting, trying new things each week, and sometimes they don't turn out the best. I don't mind because I am satisfied knowing that I am putting good food into my body and making healthy choices, but I think he's starting to get frustrated with it. This week, I think he really only liked one of the things we made. It was a pork roast with tons of veggies (including my new favorite - sweet potatoes)!  It's going to take some time to build up a good, healthy recipe book to choose from. I'm hoping for better luck this week!

Josh and I signed up last week for a 5K that they hold two times each year in Saint Louis. It's called The Color Run. At first I was pumped up to train together for this run, but the more I read/hear about it, the more I realize that it's more of a laid back, party kind of event. The website even says that the focus isn't on running the fastest...

We saw some friends this weekend that we haven't seen in a while, and it was so encouraging to hear that people noticed I've been losing weight. 

This post was kind of all over the place because I'm feeling a little scatter brained today. That is all. 

Peace & Love,
Jenny

Sunday Weigh In

171.5 lbs.

down 2 lbs. from last week

down 10.5 lbs. from start

31.5 lbs. to my goal

I was kinda shocked when I weighed in today. I was actually dreading it this morning. Like I said in my last post, I've had no motivation this week. I worked out all but two days, but with very little enthusiasm. 

I think one of the things that's helping me out a ton is the new "menu board" we're using at home. Dinners were always hard especially with Josh not committed to healthy eating or low calorie dinners. 

Each week on Sunday, I browse the internet Pinterest for healthy meals. I then write down all the ingredients, go shopping, and write in our dinners on the menu board. 

I want to redo the MENU letters, and I'm undecided about the black and purple magnetic cups. Ultimately, my goal is to compile a binder of healthy recipes, make laminated strips with the recipe names on them, and then place them in the black and purple cups with labels that say "used" and "unused." Josh hates when I make the same dinner twice within a few weeks, so this will stop me from doing that. Gotta cut this short because it's time to watch Shameless!

Peace & Love,
Jenny

Cleaning Kills Calories

Prepare to be amazed (at least I was)! I'm sure you've all heard that cleaning burns calories, but how much does it really burn? Well, I'm glad you asked because today I strapped on my HRM for 63 minutes of light cleaning and found my answer: a LOT! 

In my 63 minutes, I did the following:

• picked up throw blankets and folded them on the couch
• dusted furniture in the living room
• emptied trash cans in the bathroom and kitchen
• picked up some things left out in the bathroom (shaving cream, tweezers, nail polish, etc.)
• dishes (by hand - unfortunately we have no dishwasher in this old house of ours)
• picked up items left on kitchen table
• wiped down kitchen table and oven
• swept kitchen and bathroom
• vacuumed the living room, hallway, and three kitchen rugs (in a small house - we only have about 800 square feet on the first floor)

Not too much work for a grand total of 349 calories! 

That seems like so much. Especially when a person at my weight (173) and height (5'8") burns 54 sitting down reading, writing, or watching TV. I noticed as I was cleaning that the two things that really got my heart rate higher were wiping things down and scrubbing pots and pans while doing dishes. 

So there you have it. Cleaning and housework really does burn a lot of calories. And here I always thought my husband was just trying to put me to work ;) Only kidding, Josh!

Peace & Love,

Jenny

Motivation = Zero

This week, I am just not with it. I'm dreading working out, I'm tired, and I'm not "making dinner with love," as my husband would say. This means I'm not excited about what I'm cooking, I'm crabby while making it, and according to him it will turn out terrible tasting. I don't know what it is, but I need to get out of this funk. I'm drinking a lot of soda this week, snacking a lot, and hungry all the time.

Today I was determined to burn 500 calories during my after school workout (I settled for 350ish) so I could stay under my calorie goal and still eat dinner. I put it my Hip Hop Abs DVD and I just stared at the television. I shut it off and got out my laptop. I proceeded to search for 5 minute workout videos on YouTube, and I picked them out 5 minutes at a time until I burned enough calories to eat dinner. Terrible!!!!

Someone lend me some motivation! Usually I can flip through my husband's Maxim magazine, pin some pictures of fit chicks on Pinterest, or imagine my new swimsuit when we get to the Dominican, but none of these things are working. Let's hope I find some energy and get a great workout in tomorrow!!

Peace & Love,
Jenny

Goodbye Old Friend

Well it's been a completely exhausting last 24 hours. I can tell you that for sure. This is non-exercise related post, but dangit my mental health is not doing so well right now!

When I was thirteen, we got a baby yellow lab named Jake. My dad and brother went to pick him out, and they brought him home to surprise the family. He was a great family dog, and he's brought us so much joy over the past fourteen years. It really seems like we have had him forever, but unfortunately it was his time to go. With heavy hearts, we all said our goodbyes last night. This may sound silly to non-dog owners, but it was honestly one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. I thought it might be a little easier on me since I moved out a few years ago, but no. It wasn't. It was terrible. To be perfectly honest, I loved that dog more than most people and this is going to take some time to heal. 

R.I.P. Jake Dog, Snickers, Puddles, Poodle, Mr. Moose, 

Mr. Moose Bear, Nu-nu, Jakey, and most recently Old Bones

8/10/98 - 1/14/13

So when I hit the gym after school today, it was a nice hour to keep my mind from thinking too much.  All I did was listen to the music and run. Very relaxing for an exhausted mind. 

Peace & Love,
Jenny 

Sunday Weigh In [1/13/13]

173.5 lbs.

down 3 lbs. from last week

down 8.5 lbs. from start

33.5 lbs. to my goal

Another successful week, but it came with some important realizations. Just like last week, I knew it was going to be a good week. However, it came with some important realizations:

1) I am stronger than I think I am. 

Josh loves steak. He would eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if I let him (and if we were rich enough). Well as a part of my healthy cooking and meal planning, I've not made steak in a long time. I worked off a ton of calories yesterday and decided we should go to a steak place for dinner. So we headed to Texas Roadhouse. Mmmm mmm! Fortunately for me, I worked out enough yesterday to stay under my calorie goal and enjoy a filet. But anyway, for those of you who have been to Texas Roadhouse, you know they have these delicious rolls with cinnamon butter that they bring to your table before dinner. I told myself before we left the house that I wasn't going to eat them. After all, it's like 200 calories for one roll, and that's without the butter. Geeeessshh! I even made it a point to tell Josh not to let me snatch one up, and he laughed. But just like that holiday party last month, it wasn't that difficult. I'm finding it easier and easier to say no to the fatty filled foods I love am trying to stop eating.

2) I have truly done something terrible to my body.

Something kinda funny happened. I went to Zumba on Wednesday night, and I had to leave to go to my volleyball game directly from Zumba. Well this Zumba class was particularly vigorous and I was so sweaty that I had to change. I'm talking drenched near the neckline and just super gross. Well fortunately, there was a Family Dollar in the same plaza as Club Fitness, so I ran next door and bought a t-shirt to wear to volleyball. Only problem was, it was one of those form fitting workout shirts that I never wear. I'm just not comfortable in them. So anyway, I came home from volleyball and my husband was sort of shocked. He kept staring at me and telling me how great I looked. Very flattering at the time :) 

 Then on Saturday I went over to my parents house. My mom and grandma kept saying over and over again how I looked so skinny and how they could really tell in my face that I'm losing weight. Again, very flattering at the time.

But as I thought about this and how proud I've been of myself, I realized that I am still in the 170s. This is an unhealthy weight for me. As great as it felt to have everyone telling me how much skinnier I'm starting to look, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. What have I done to myself? It's pretty terrible when people are making a huge fuss over you when you are in the 170s!!! So I took the compliments as motivation to seriously work my ass off. It felt good to hear, but now I know that I truly need to keep going. 

Peace & Love,

Jenny

Darn Fast Food!

On Wednesday night, I went to Zumba at 7:00. I then went directly to volleyball, and was on my way home at 9:30. I haven't been to the grocery store for quick snacks (produce, Lean Cuisines, etc.), so I went to Taco Bell. Ughh. I know. I really feel that I didn't have time to make anything healthy, but deep down I know that's just an excuse. Anyway, I ate my Taco Bell and felt super gross when I went to bed. Full. Bloated. Just yuck. Lesson learned. Going to a fast food restaurant after changing to a healthy diet is not only unhealthy, but it makes you feel bad too.

Peace & Love,
Jenny

Vacation Motivation

Last night, Josh and I went out to dinner with one of our favorite couples, Phil and Melissa. While we were eating and enjoying our skinny margaritas, we were discussing past vacations. We then had this brilliant idea that we were going to go on vacation together this coming summer. 

So today, Melissa did a lot of research and found us a great deal. We're planning to go to The Dominican Republic for six nights in June!! How exciting! As far as out of the country travelling goes, I've been to Mexico and Jamaica. I've heard Dominican Republic has beautiful beaches, and I can't wait to find out first hand. Allow me to sidetrack for a minute and share some pictures from our honeymoon!

Josh & I on the plane to Jamaica for our honeymoon

July 2011

Josh and I on the beautiful beach in Negril, Jamaica

Me posing for the camera at the Sandals Resort

July 2011, 170 lbs. 

Anyway...I have to say, I'm always very hesitant to do things with people we know when a swimsuit is involved. Seriously. I dread it. Some examples include float trips, boat trips, laying out at the pool with my girl friends during summer break, and going on vacation with other people! 

Well, not this summer. This summer is going to be different. My weight isn't going to be a barrier to my happiness anymore. Let the vacation countdown begin...and when the time to board the plane rolls around, I'm confident that I'll be fit, swimsuit ready, and hopefully newly tattooed! 

Dominican Republic, here we come!!
162 days until vacation :)

Peace & Love,
Jenny

Sunday Weigh In [01/06/13]

This morning as I stepped on the scale, I already knew it was going to be a good week. I worked out a lot and ate surprisingly great thanks to this new meal planning thing we've been doing for dinner (more on that later). So I am now down to...

176.5 lbs. 

down 2.5 lbs. from last week

down 5.5 lbs. from start

36.5 lbs. to my goal

Peace & Love,

Jenny

Sweet Success

I posted yesterday about going to that holiday party. You know...the one with all that terrible, yet delicious foods my body still craves and thinks are delicious? I'm proud to say that I avoided all the cupcakes, cake pops, cake, pretzels with cheese, deep fried turkey, dips, and chips! 

They even had my absolute favorite unhealthy food. Have you ever had those potatoes made with sour cream, shredded cheese, and topped with corn flakes? My mom has made these for me every Christmas growing up (and sometimes throughout the year too). Delicious, but terrible for you. Regardless, it's one of those comfort foods and I need to put in the past. 

When I got a little hungry toward the end of the night, I had some fruit: two pieces of pineapple, two pieces of papaya, two strawberries, and two pickle slices. I'm not trying to brag, but I'm pretty amazed by myself today. Usually anytime alcohol is involved (I had three Bud Select 55s), it leads to bad food choices. But not this weekend! I hope I can always remember how rewarding it is not to give in and remember the way I feel right at this moment. Especially the next time liquor is involved and I want to go back to my old ways of eating garbage food. 

Peace & Love
Jenny

Struggles

Tonight I will be facing one of my biggest struggles. I'm going to a company holiday party for my husband's work and there will be food...everywhere. I'm not talking good, clean food. I'm talkin greasy, high in fat, junk that is so appealing to people after a few glasses of wine. *sigh*

The first part of the night will be fine, but after a few glasses of wine...that's when it gets tough. Alcohol in my system = hungry Jenny. I ate a grilled chicken salad for dinner and will be heading to the party feeling full. Hopefully I can report back that I didn't eat any junk! Wish me luck...

Peace & Love
Jenny

The Magnificent My Fitness Pal

So when I weighed in last Sunday after all of the holiday parties and my beautiful friend Kathleen's wedding, I was down to 179. I feel like I've done reasonably well this week, set aside New Year's Eve. I've worked out everyday and stayed under my calorie goal. Can I just say that My Fitness Pal (MFP) is such a great app because it is extremely motivating! First of all, I can see if and when my friends work out, how many calories they've burned, and if they've stayed under the calorie limit for the day. Secondly (and this is my favorite reason I love MFP), at the end of the day when you complete your log for the day, it says something like this:

"If every day were like today, you would weigh ___ lbs. in 5 weeks." 

Heeelllllloooooo, motivation! Well today, my trusty app confided in me that I would be down to 164 lbs in 5 weeks! I love seeing that number. The last time I was in the 160s was at my wedding in July 2009. 164? Yes, please. If you don't have My Fitness Pal, I would highly recommend downloading it. It has been my saving grace on this journey so far. 

Peace & Love,

Jenny

Confessions of an Ex-Pizza Addict

Healthy dinners can be tricky at my house. I like a lot of different foods, but Josh can be a little picky. Fish, salads, onions, mushrooms, and anything vegetarian are off limits on Zeiss Avenue. So on a typical Wednesday night, I play indoor volleyball with the girls and Josh bowls in a league with his buddies. I don't plan meals for this night and usually end up eating my go to meal for Wednesdays: a Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken from Jack 'N the Box or McDonalds. 

Rewind back to month ago before I made my healthy lifestyle change. Pizza was my weakness! I'm not lying when I tell you that I could easily out-eat my husband when it came to pizza. I could absolutely eat an entire medium..ummm...no lying Jenny, this is the point of your blog: to be honest with the world about your food issues large pizza by myself along with a salad and perhaps a few chicken wings to boot. Gross, I know. After a month of eating healthy, I don't know how I managed to cram all of that greasy, processed, calorie and fat filled food into my body. 

So when I had a pizza craving the other day, I knew it wouldn't do to deprive myself of pizza. No sir. So tonight I cooked up this lovely, low-calorie pizza creation below. At 208 calories per pizza, I ate two of them, satisfied my pizza craving, and was feeling both full and darn proud that I didn't take my butt to get a $5 Hot N' Ready Pizza at Cecil Whittakers. The great thing about these is that you can literally add and subtract ingredients to make it exactly how you like it. 

Canadian Bacon & Pineapple Portabella Pizzas

208 calories each

Ingredients:

• portabella mushroom (remove the gills with a spoon)
• 1/4 C Ragu Pasta Sauce (Light Tomato & Basil, No Sugar Added)
• 1/4 Colby & Monterey Jack 2% Milk Cheese
• half package of Hormel canadian bacon pizza style
• 1/8 C red onion, sliced
• 1/4 C pineapple tidibits

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Remove gills from inside the portabella mushroom using a spoon to scrape them out.
3) Cook mushroom in preheated oven for 5 minutes.
4) Remove mushroom from the oven and spoon sauce into the mushroom cap. Add onions, pineapple tidbits, candian bacon, and cheese (or whichever toppings your prefer).
5) Cook in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown. 

Side note (mostly because I want to share a picture of my beautiful boxer baby, Juno): This little lady is ready to get out of the house for a walk! However, with all this snow and cold weather, I think she's content snuggled up on the couch. 

If you're a pizza lover like me, I hope you like the portabella pizzas. Hope to write more soon, and I'll definitely be reporting back after my weigh in on Sunday! 

Peace & Love,
Jenny

Banana Oatmeal Goodness

After looking online at a bunch of banana oatmeal recipes, I took ingredients I liked from each. I've made it twice, changing a few things along the way, and this morning...Mmmm mmmm! It was delicious! I started off the new year with some Turbo Jam and a weight lifting routine for arms and shoulders. Although this is higher in calories than my usual breakfast, it was late enough to count as brunch :) And after all that working out this morning, I needed something to make me feel full and give me lots of energy. Now if only I could learn to be a better photographer. This picture just doesn't do it justice, people. Enjoy! 

Banana Oatmeal 

Calories: 604 

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp butter 
• 1 medium, ripe banana 
• 1 C skim milk 
• 1/2 TBSP peanut butter (can substitute PB2 for lower calorie) 
• 1/2 C Quaker Oat plain oats 
• 1 tsp cinnamon 
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg 
• dash of salt 
• 1 tsp chia seed 
• 1/8 C chopped pecans 
• 1 TBSP maple syrup 
• a few shakes of cinnamon 

Directions:

1) Place medium skillet on medium heat to melt butter. 
2) Peel and place banana in the skillet, chopping it as it cooks. 
3) Cook 4-5 minutes, chopping and stirring constantly. 
4) Add skim milk, peanut butter or PB2, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, chia seed, and a dash of salt. 
5) Bring to a boil and lower heat to simmer for 9 minutes, stirring often. 
6) Top with chopped pecans (my favorite!), syrup, and cinnamon.