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My math class is on the 4th floor.

Monday, August 24, 2009

I guess it's gonna take me awhile to get into the swing of things, as far as going to school and keeping up with my eating & exercise. I've only been to two classes so far today and I already have a stress headache! I don't want to complain or really even write about it, because I just don't want to think about it! Ha.

Tomorrow I have a class for which I must climb 4 flights of stairs. I'll let you know how that goes. :/!

I have a 3 hour accounting class here in about an hour.. then the boo is gonna come pick me up. We tried to fire up the Cadi (my green beast of a car) last night but the battery wont stay charged or something.. so we're having to work around each others schedules and just use my boyfriend's truck. I think we're supposed to go get a new battery this weekend and see if that fixes the problem.. !

Anywayyy just wanted to give a quick update! Sorry if my posts are sporadic this next week or two.. give me a bit to get in my groove and then we'll keep on chuggin!

xxoo, Carissa

12 Days of Powerfoods - Day 8

*Peanut Butter*
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Powers: Boosting testosterone, building muscle, burning fat
Weapons: Protein, monounsaturated fat, vitamin E, niacin, magnesium
Fights against: Obesity, muscle loss, wrinkles, cardiovascular disease
Sidekicks: Cashew and almond butters
Posers: Mass-produced sugary and trans fatty peanut butters

In one 18-month experiment,
people who integrated peanut
butter into their diet maintained
weight loss better than those
on low-fat plans.

The thing to remember about peanut butter is that it has a lot of calories, so you have to limit how much of it you eat per day (the article below suggests 3 tablespoons/day). Also, it's important to eat an all natural, sugar free peanut butter rather than the mass produced brands.

How I ate it today: I eat my fair share of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but I'll admit the PB I use is neither all natural or sugar free. I'll keep an eye out for some on our next grocery trip.



Source:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27054206/ns/today_health/?pg=9#TDY_MH_12PowerFoods

There are 10 weeks until Halloween...

Saturday, August 22, 2009

I feel like I need to set a new goal (apart from the reward ones) that is time limited. Just so I will have something to work for - like a deadline :).

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So, by Halloween I'd like to have lost 15 more pounds. That's less than 2 pounds a week, which is definitely something I'll have to work for; losing 0.5-2 lbs/wk is, from what I've read, a healthy pace.

That will be a total of 30 pounds lost, so hopefully by then I'll start looking like I'm losing! Thanks for all the congrats on Photo Friday.. it really helps to keep my motivated!

Had a crappy food weekend.. Since school is starting on Monday I'm thinking that will mean less parties, meaning less bad food choices. Tomorrow is my little sister's birthday (she's turning 13! :O) and we're having a bar-b-q. All things in moderation, moderation, moderation.


Always,
Carissa

PHOTO FRIDAY!

Friday, August 21, 2009

After week 4...
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pounds lost this week: 3
pounds lost to date: 15! :))
current weight: 234 lbs

Well, I did it!! I reached 15 pounds before the end of August! That was my very first baby goal.. and now I'm just staying focused on my reward goals!! :):) I'm so happy that I'm finally doing this. I'm really proud and I can't wait to lose more.. & especially can't wait till it starts showing in the pics :)!
Woooohoooooo!!!
Love!
-Carissa

12 Days of Powerfoods - Day 7

Thursday, August 20, 2009

*Turkey and Other Lean Meats*Powers: Building muscle, improving the immune system
Weapons: Protein, iron, zinc, creatine (beef), omega-3 fatty acids (fish), vitamins B6 (chicken and fish) and B12, phosphorus, potassium
Fight against: Obesity, mood disorders, memory loss, heart disease
Sidekicks: Shellfish, Canadian bacon, omega-3 rich flaxseed
Posers: Sausage, bacon, cured meats, ham, fatty cuts of steak like T-bone and rib eye

Researchers in Stockholm found
that men who ate no fish had three
times the risk of prostate cancer
of those who ate it regularly.


According to the article (linked below), Mayo Clinic researchers studying the diets of two African tribes found that the tribe that ate fish frequently had leptin levels nearly five times lower than the tribe that primarily ate vegetables. Leptin is a hormone that influences your bodies metabolism; the higher your leptin levels, the quicker your body burns fat.

How I ate it today:
This is where I have my biggest problem. I don't eat meat much, except for the occasional burger and chicken. Most times I just don't eat it at all. I'm probably borderline vegetarian, but I love grilled chicken salads :). Anyway, the boo and I might hit up a salad bar tonight, but I usually can't make myself eat the chicken at salad bars. Maybe I'll see if we can go to Montana Mike's or something, cuz their chicken salads are the besssst!




Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27054206/ns/today-today_health/?pg=8#TDY_MH_12PowerFoods

12 Days of Powerfoods - Day 6

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

*Eggs*
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Powers: Building muscle, burning fat
Weapons: Protein, vitamins A and B12
Fight against: Obesity
Sidekicks: Egg Beaters, which have fewer calories than eggs and no fat, but just as much of the core nutrients
Posers: None


It turns out that eggs have more
protein in them than beef or milk!

Eggs also contain vitamin B12, which is necessary for fat breakdown.


How I ate it today: A week or so ago I had a bad encounter with eggs :(.. I just think about what I'm eating too much. But I will try to eat some scrambled eggs tomorrow morning with breakfast. They'll need lotss of salsa & ketchup...



Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27054206/ns/today-today_health/?pg=7#TDY_MH_12PowerFoods

Hollister's dressing rooms are miserable.

I went to the mall today with my mom and sister because my sister wanted some new jeans. I wore this new blue shirt my mom gave me (it was too big for her), and even though it's a little tight on my tummy, I still felt kinda pretty. It's a bright blue color, and I'm used to wearing more neutral colors, so.. yeah. Anyway my sister is skinny, so of course I couldn't fit into anything in any of the stores we went to. First we went to Aero, then American Eagle, then Hollister. Every one of these stores were filled with thin girls picking up anything they liked and having no problem trying it on and buying it. I was still okay. I'm on my way there.

Then, at Hollister, my mom pulls a size L shirt off the shelf and asks if I like it. I say yes, because I do, and she then asks if I want it. I'm like no, it wont fit. She brought it over to me and showed me that it was kinda stretchy, and really soft. I still said no, I really didn't think my stomach was going to fit in that amount of material. Then she was like, "Will you at least try it on?" So I reluctantly agreed and headed for the dressing room (my sister had to show me where it was, I've never done more than walk around that store, much less try something on).

Now, the dressing rooms in this store are exactly like the rest of the store. Loud, smell-good, and dark, with a single bright light shining down directly on me. It's a small square room, with one whole wall covered by a mirror. So, when I step in, I see everything. All the weight I still have to lose, how the clothes I wore to the mall are already tight, and how the 12 lbs I've lost so far seem to have made no difference at all. I turned around, facing away from the mirror, and took off my now-seemingly-too-small blue shirt and put on the maroon one my mom picked out. I proceeded to turn around and look in that dreadful, full length mirror.

And you know what? The shirt fits. It's tight, probably about as tight as the blue shirt - and I think it's actually meant to be worn loose - but it's on and not ripping. I still felt awful looking in that mirror. I could be mistaken for a woman 9 months into her pregnancy! Ugghh. It's just so embarrassing to be this way. I tried to tell myself that I was working on getting healthier and on my way to Skinny while we were driving away from the mall, but I still just feel kind of crummy. I guess because I thought I was starting to look a little better, and that Hollister mirror put me back in the mindset of Day 1. Oh well. I'll be okay.


Anywhooo.. I'm still missing some of my books for school, so I hope they come in soon! School starts Monday (:/)! My financial aid hasn't gone through either, so I'm doing my best to be patient with that as well. I've been doing pretttttty good with my eating and trying to stay active :). I guess thats it! Hope everyone's week is going well! Hasta!

-Carissa

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Dinner/Sparkpeople

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Ate a BIG salad.. with some fruit and pickled okra. OMGGG it was good :).

I wanted to let you guys know about a website that someone from 3FC recommended.. it's www.sparkpeople.com, and it is the most helpful resource to lose weight! On it you can track your calories and activities, talk to people in your area and all over that are trying to lose weight, and more. I just can't say enough good things about it!

The site also builds meal plans for your eating style, and gives you strength training workouts and cardio ideas to try. I LOVE it. Here's my page if you wanna take a look.

Anyway, I think that's all for now :). I'm full! And I'm gonna go comment on your blogs now!

xo, Carissa

12 Days of Powerfoods - Day 5

*Instant Oatmeal*
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Powers: Boosting energy and sex drive, reducing cholesterol, maintaining blood-sugar levels
Weapons: Complex carbohydrates and fiber
Fights against: Heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, obesity
Sidekicks: High-fiber cereals like All-Bran and Fiber One
Posers: Sugary cereal


Preliminary studies indicate that
oatmeal raises the levels of free
testosterone in your body, enhancing
your body’s ability to build muscle
and burn fat and boosting your sex drive.


Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, meaning that it attracts fluid and stays in your stomach longer (keeping you fuller longer) than insoluble fiber, like vegetables. Soluble fiber is thought to reduce blood cholesterol by binding with digestive acids made from cholesterol and sending them out of your body.

Tip to try: Buy plain instant oatmeal, add a dash of cinnamon , milk, & some fresh blueberries or strawberries. Yummmm :).

How I ate it today: I didn't. We do have some oatmeal (the brown sugar kind I think) and as soon as I get some milk to cook it in I'll devour a bowl!!




Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27054206/ns/today-today_health/?pg=6#TDY_MH_12PowerFoods

12 Days of Powerfoods - Day 4

Monday, August 17, 2009

*Dairy*
Powers: Building strong bones, firing up weight loss
Weapons: Calcium, vitamins A and B12, riboflavin, phosphorus, potassium
Fight against: Osteoporosis, obesity, high blood pressure, cancer
Sidekicks: None
Posers: Whole milk, frozen yogurt


A University of Tennessee study found that dieters who consumed between 1,200 and 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day lost nearly twice as much weight as those taking in less calcium.


Like I posted in a previous BYT, calcium can play a pretty big role in weight loss. Researchers think the mineral probably prevents weight gain by increasing the breakdown of body fat and hampering its formation.

Foods to try: Fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese.

How I ate it today: Had cheese on a sandwich & burritos



Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27054206/ns/today-today_health/?pg=5#TDY_MH_12PowerFoods

Before & After Pics v. Cartoon-style

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Before: 249 / After: 149

...Interestinggg!!

I did this on www.mvm.com ..you can dress them up & everything! Ha.. You can also upload a picture of yourself to make it more life-like, but my picture was too big or something. So the face and hair isn't me, but the body's pretty darn close! Hopefully the after will be me, too!

Keeping Produce Fresh

I loveeee fruit & have been trying to eat more vegetables, but I usually get to eat them with one or two meals and then they go bad. So, I googled ways to keep produce fresh, and found out a rather interesting fact & cool product!

I didn't know this, but fruits like apples release a gas called ethylene that triggers other produce to ripen, causing everything in your fridge to wither. The EGG is a small, well, egg that has packets of potassium permanganate to oxidize the ethylene, helping your fruits and veggies to stay fresh for longer.

I think I'm going to buy it.. I'll let you guys know how it works! ;)
Click here to read about/purchase the EGG!

xo, Carissaaaa

12 Days of Powerfoods - Day 3

Sunday, August 16, 2009

*Spinach and Other Green Veggies*
Powers: Neutralizing molecules that accelerate the aging process
Weapons: Vitamins including A, C, and K; folate; beta-carotene; minerals including calcium and magnesium; fiber
Fight against: Cancer, heart disease, stroke, obesity, osteoporosis
Sidekicks: Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and brussels sprouts; green, yellow, red, and orange vegetables such as asparagus, peppers, and yellow beans
Posers: None, as long as you don't fry them or smother them in fatty cheese sauces (Example: Spinach pizza, my fave! Haha).

Broccoli is high in fiber and more
densely packed with vitamins and
minerals than almost any other food.

Tip to try: If you hate most vegetables like me, this site suggests "hiding" them:
Puree them and add them to marinara sauce or chili. The more you chop, the less you taste, and the easier it is for your body to absorb nutrients. With broccoli, sauté it in garlic and olive oil, and douse it with hot sauce.

How I ate it today: I will ATTEMPT to eat some broccoli.. ha. I'm gonna trying chopping it up into some rice with onions and a bit of soy sauce.




Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27054206/ns/today-today_health/?pg=4#TDY_MH_12PowerFoods

Some Mantras

I will choose WHAT
exercise I will do each day,
not IF I will exercise.

*

All things in moderation is fine,
but some things need a LOT of moderation.

*

Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.

*

It's easier to stay on plan
than to get back on plan.

PHOTO SUNDAY!

After week 3..
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pounds lost this week: 3
pounds lost to date: 12
current weight: 237 lbs

I'm prepared for a possible gain at the end of this next week because of my relapse, but I'll be okay. I'm going to work hard this next week! Only 3 lbs until I reach my 15 lb by the end of August goal - geez! And THEN only 10 pounds until I get my TOMS!!! That's weird to think about!

Thanks for all your support!

-Carissa

Relapse.

Sorry to say.. I guess I've been MIA from my blog for the past couple of days.. To be completely honest, this weekend wasn't a good one for me. I mean, it was fun, but it was not healthy. I didn't work out for 3 days and I ate plenty of greasy, fatty food. Needless to say, I felt like crap - more physically than mentally - and spent last night with a terrible tummy ache :(.

I do however think that this weekend was kind of an eye opener for me. I'm not sure what this actually means for my journey yet, but I've realized how I really do use foods to prevent me from feeling things I don't want to feel. I realized that I actually like the way healthier foods taste and make my body feel. And I like being active, feeling like I'm actually doing something. I don't want to go back to the way things were.

Even after only 3 weeks, I noticed a difference. I didn't realize how much of a difference until I finished eating my drive-thru meal. I'm back and I'm ready to do this.

I'll post my pictures for this week in a minute.. !

xo - Carissa

PS. I think it's gonna take awhile before I start feeling better again after this weekend. My stomach is still hurtinggggggg :(:(

Better Yourself Tip

Thursday, August 13, 2009

BYT #7: Consuming three cups of low-fat or nonfat dairy foods when on a low calorie diet may help enhance weight loss and reduce abdominal fat in adults.



Source: www.mealsmatter.org

12 Days of Powerfoods - Day 2

*Beans and Other Legumes*

Powers: Building muscle, helping burn fat, regulating digestion
Weapons: Fiber, protein, iron, folate
Fight against: Obesity, colon cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure
Sidekicks: Lentils, peas, bean dips, hummus, edamame
Posers: Refried beans, which are high in saturated fats; baked beans, which are high in sugar.

In fact, if you can replace a meat-heavy
dish with a bean-heavy dish a couple of times
a week, you'll be losing a lot of saturated fat
out of your diet and replacing it
with higher amounts of fiber.


Beans, including soybeans, chickpeas, pinto beans, navy beans, kidney beans and lima beans, are packed with protein, fiber, and iron. All three are essentials to lose weight & gain muscle.

How I ate it today: I'll be having beans with dinner tonight :) Ranch style...

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27054206/ns/today-today_health/?pg=3#TDY_MH_12PowerFoods

12 Days of Powerfoods - Day 1

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

*Almonds & Other Nuts*

Power: Builds muscle, helps to fight food cravings
Weapons: Protein, monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, folate (in peanuts), fiber, magnesium, phosphorus
Fight against: Obesity, heart disease, muscle loss, cancer
Sidekicks: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, avocados
Posers: Salted or smoked nuts (high sodium spikes blood pressure).


Almonds are the best of the best,
but all nuts are high in protein
and can help you to feel full.


Tip to try: Spray 2 handfuls of almonds (skin intact) with nonstick cooking spray & bake at 400 degrees F for 5-10 minutes. Then sprinkle them with a brown sugar & cinnamon mix - yum!

How I ate it today: I put almonds in my trail mix (you can find the recipe by clicking the "Recipe" link at the top of the page) and had that for a snack :).



Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27054206/ns/today-today_health/?pg=2#TDY_MH_12PowerFoods




Parmesan Sage Potato Wedges



Ingredients:
1 large (6 oz.) potato, well scrubbed, cut into 1/4" wedges
2 cups cold water
1 tsp. oil
1 T. Parmesan
1/8 tsp. each salt and sage
dash of pepper

Directions:
Bring water and potatoes to a boil, until crisp/tender (4-5 minutes). Rinse with cold water until cool. Pat dry. Heat oil in a nonstick pan. Saute potatoes until lightly browned. Sprinkle with cheese and seasonings.

Serves: 2
Nutrition Info. per serving:

Calories - 2
Total fat - 3
Saturated fat - 1
Protein - 2.5
Fiber - 1
Sodium - 184 mg
Carbs - 12
WW pts - 2



Source: http://www.3fatchicks.com/diet-recipes/parmesan-sage-potato-wedges/

Quotes & Sayings :)

I'll try to post a few new quotes every once in awhile, just to keep our spirits up & give us a little push when we need it! Here are some that I love and that you might find inspiring:

If you keep on doing what you’ve always done,
you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always got.
- W.L. Bateman

You’ll never achieve extraordinary results by taking average measures.

Remember when you see a man at the top of a mountain, he didn't fall there.

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

Better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.

Success is a journey, not a destination.



Always,
Carissa

Better Yourself Tip

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

BYT #6: If you've hit a plateau on the road to Skinny, try switching up your exercise routine. It will surprise your muscles and they'll have to work harder to get used to the new movements, thus burning more calories.

Better Yourself Tip

BYT #6: If you've hit a plateau on the road to Skinny, try switching up your exercise routine. It will surprise your muscles and they'll have to work harder to get used to the new movements, thus burning more calories.

There's Somebody I'd Like You to Meet :)

Monday, August 10, 2009

Reader, meet Wanda. Wanda, meet reader.

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Like us, Wanda has some weight to lose. She'll be helping us with workouts! For each new workout Wanda feels like sharing, she'll demonstrate how to do it as well as let you know how easy/difficult it is to do.

Today's Exercise: Standing Oblique Crunch
STEP 1 - Stand with your feet a little more than shoulder width apart, and your right arm raised above your head.
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STEP 2 - Lift your left knee up and meet it with your right hand.
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STEP 3 - Return to standing position. Repeat on both sides, touching opposite hand to opposite knee.
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Difficulty level:
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This exercise will help to get rid of those nasty love handles and will tone your sides. Remember, just doing exercises that target one area of your body doesn't mean you will lose fat off that area - you need cardio to burn calories & fat! :)

Please Keep Jen & Her Family In Your Prayers

Jen, aka Prior Fat Girl, recently lost her mother. She was going for her daily walk when she was hit by a car backing out of a driveway. The strength Jen and her family have and the forgiveness they've given the driver of the vehicle is something I cannot put into words. The memorial service (there are videos of it on her site, click the link above) was beautiful and incredibly symbolical. I sat here watching it and literally just cried. I can't imagine what Jen, her sisters, her father, and the rest of her family and friends are going through. Her mother was so obviously a wonderful, loving person. Please visit her site to offer her encouraging words, and keep Jen and her family in your prayers.

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Preventing Water Weight

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Water retention is pretty common - especially in women. I've been reading up on this a bit today and wanted to share with you some ways I discovered to prevent retaining water, as well as ways to get that excess water weight OFF!

LY NUOC Pictures, Images and Photos


-Drink more water [check]

-Reduce amount of salt intake [not-so-check]

-Exercise.. to sweat! [check]

-Potassium can help your body to avoid storing excess water. Good source of potassium? Bananas. [Didn't know this, but I'll be buying some bananas! ;)]

-Carbs can also leave you feeling bloated and puffy.. so reducing your carbohydrate intake even for one day can have a noticeable effect. [Wasn't aware of this either.. I'll give it a try!]

-Lack of nutrients found in fruits and vegetables is a common cause of water retention, so get your fresh F's & V's! [fruits - check, veggies - uncheck]

-Low calorie diets, when followed for an extended period of time, can cause water retention. One reason is because low-cal diets are usually absent of protein and fiber. [Protein and fiber are both big problems for me (I don't really eat meat). I know that nuts are a good source of protein.. & I've recently discovered chia seeds to be a good way to get fiber. How else do you guys get your daily fiber and protein??]




Hope this helped!
xo, BeeBee




Sources: How to Prevent Water Retention, Causes of Water Retention

Top 10 Reasons I'm Losing Weight, in no particular order

OKAY - IDK WHAT IS WRONG W/THIS POST. I'VE TRIED EDITING IT A HUNDRED TIMES, BUT THE TEXT JUST KEEPS CHANGING SIZES TOWARDS THE BOTTOM. IS IT JUST ME BEING DUMB OR IS IT SOME BLOGGER BUG??? EITHER WAY, SORRY!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

(though there are truly about 10,000)

|1| Health.
I want to have a healthy, fit body, and a healthy lifestyle to go along with it. I'm only 19. I need to get this under control NOW.
|2| Self confidence.
Feeling good about myself is something I haven't done probably since I was in elementary school. It's sad really. I just to want to believe in myself, and to feel comfortable and confident where I am and whoever I am with. I'm ready to feel goooood in my own skin.
|3| Cute clothes.
Pretty self-explanatory. I want so badly to be able to shop at skinny stores and wear clothes I actually LIKE, rather than having to go with whatever fits.
|4| I want my boyfriend to see me and think, "WOW."
Though he says he already does :) I'm so blessed to have such an amazing man in my life; he's so supportive and I feel better about myself just being around him. But I'd really, REALLY like to be that "arm candy" that he can't help but stare at.
|5| To have a life.
My weight and the way I see myself has prevented me from having one. I don't really go out with friends all that often and I avoid places that are too public at all costs. It's lonely. I want to be able to socialize without analyzing every look and word. This is probably going to be the hardest goal to reach, because there is a lot of emotional healing that has to happen before I can be comfortable around people. With counseling and this weight loss I plan to do, though, I think I'll be able to be that girl someday.
|6| So I can go after my dreams.
Not only does my weight hold me back from going after what I want, but I'm sure it also makes other people look down on me and think I'm incapable. I don't want to be turned down for a job or not be able to do something just because I'm fat. It's terrible, but society has and will judge people by their outer appearance.
|7| For my future family.
My future children deserve to grow up with a mother who is active and an important part of their life. They need to learn good eating and exercising habits starting from day one. I'll be the one to teach them.
|8| So I'll be noticed.
Weight is like an invisibility cloak. The more you have, the more you go unnoticed. I've been places where no one talks to me for hours at a time. Now, this probably has a great deal to do with me and the fact that I am pretty shy, but still. No one wants to be friends with a fat girl. She must be no fun. It's one of the things that hurts me most. But I'll get there!

|9| To rub their faces in it.
To all of the people that made fun of me, ignored me, smirked at me, forgot me, I will prove you wrong. I will do bigger and better things than anyone ever expected. And don't come running to be my friend when I'm beautiful and successful! I'll get where I'm going without you, and I wont need you after that, either!
|10| For ME.
I deserve to be happy, I deserve to be happy, I deserve to be happy.

5 mile workout




On Friday I got Leslie Sansone's 5 mile walk in the mail! :) My wonderful boo did one mile with me on Friday & another on Saturday, and I just finished doing 5 miles. It was really hard! I didn't really have much energy to work with, but I pushed myself to do all 5 and got a good sweat in.

The DVD is broken up into 5 mile segments and you can choose how many or which of the miles you want to do. Each mile is 12 minutes long (awesome for a quick workout!), for a total of one hour if you do all 5. There's an inspirational story at the end, but for some reason mine cuts off before its over? Idk.. maybe I accidentally pushed some button?!

All in all, I'm happy with it!

What are your favorite workout DVDs??

Better Yourself TipS!!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

There are some reallyyy good ideas on this page! ;)

PHOTO FRIDAY!

Friday, August 7, 2009

After week 2..
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pounds lost this week: 5
pounds lost to date: 9
current weight: 240 lbs

I forgot to take the last picture.. the one with my arms out to the side. I'll take one next week though :)
Wish me strength this next week!

xo, BB

52 Card Workout

I got this workout from last season's Biggest Loser.. :) What you do is assign a workout for each suit and when you draw a card, the suit tells you what exercise to do and the number tells you how many reps to complete. For example:

- pushups
- squats
- crunches
- minutes running in place

Shuffle the cards and draw one; let's say you draw the 5 of hearts. You'll do 5 crunches, then draw again, and so forth. Of course, you can assign whatever type of exercise you'd like to each suit. Try getting through a whole deck!!

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Did you know?

Thursday, August 6, 2009

1 pound of fat = 3,500 calories



That's alottttt of working out!

She lost 100 lbs!

One of the members of the 3FC forum I belong to posted her before & after pictures in the goal photo album.. she looks SO good! Def. very inspiring; she's lost 100 pounds so far. Seeing as how that's the same amount I hope I'm going to lose, this gives me motivation! You can look at her pictures here.

What do you think??

Always,
B

Better Yourself Tip

BYT #6: Make a promise to yourself to have a life - even while you are losing weight - and to not put anything on hold that doesn't need to wait.

Still struggling with food..

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

I've had a love/hate relationship with food my entire life. I love it, it hates my body. The first week that I started this blog and made the decision to try to lose weight was rather easy - I ate what I craved, and tried to make healthier options. Mostly I just ate smaller portions. That worked, and I lost 4 lbs. I guess after that, I got paranoid and feel like I am slowly sinking back into not eating enough and worrying too much about it. :/

Like today. Just now. I was about to walk out the door having only had cauliflower & ranch for lunch, regardless of the fact that I was still hungry. I had a bowl of Special K for breakfast (I measured the exact amt for one serving) and a Slim Fast snack bar in between. WTF??? Is that enough?? Certainly not too much?? I wish I could just have the same mentality that I had that first week (this is only the SECOND! :/). I think I'm just afraid if I eat too much or don't exercise enough that I wont lose any more or that I'll gain the weight back. I guess the reality is that it took me 19 years to create this habit, and it's probably going to take a bit more than a week or even a month to fix. It's just scary.

I've also started getting a bit obsessive with weighing.. right now I weigh at my mom's, but I'm considering buying a scale for our apartment.. but then I worry I'll weigh everyday and get depressed when I'm up a pound or two. Ughhh, Idk.

Now I'm eating one of those Smart One's frozen pizzas. I'm really trying to change. I'm excited that I've lost weight and I look forward to reaching my goal, I just hate that I have to live my life looking this way until then.

As always, thank you for listening and for your support. xxoo


-BB


PS. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit of a worry wart. Ha.

Trail Mix Snack

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

I loveeee trail mix and having something to snack on in between meals is not only good for your metabolism, but it will keep you from binging at the next meal. Here's a simple mix that you can put into zip-locks & have ready for whenever:


  • 1/2 cup air popped popcorn
  • 1/3 cup whole-grain cereal (You could even use a cereal full of fiber if you'd prefer that)
  • 2 tbs. slivered almonds
  • 1 tsp. semisweet chocolate chips (I'd probably even do dark chocolate)

Enjoy!

Source: Women's World magazine

The Workout Blues

So I've been working out everyday in August. (Well except for the 1st. But anyway.) I've only been working out for 30 minutes a day. I feel good to have at least worked out, but I'm worried doing only 30 minutes will prevent me from losing weight. :/ And I've been stressing alot more about what I'm eating, which could be both good and bad. Idk. Trying to stay positive..

The boyfriend and I are going grocery shopping tonight :). I'm excited to get some healthier stuff! Also, school starts on the 24th. My financial aid still hasn't gone through, so I don't have my books or tuition completely paid for. Hopefully they HURRY UP!. I'm excited about starting though! :)

I put a new ticker up at the top of my blog.. 8 more lbs to go until I reach my goal of 15 by the end of Aug.! I know the first 10 lbs will probably be water weight and come off rather quickly, but it still feels goooood. I can't wait until I pass the 20 and 30 pound marks.. so I can hopefully start seeing a difference.

I notice I have some new followers.. THANK YOU! Hopefully we can help each other and just have a good time :)!

Always,
BB


*UPDATE*

Despite of my Negative Nancy mood, today has turned out to be a wonderful day! I got one of my scholarship checks in the mail and ended up finding all but one of my workbooks for school on Amazon.com & ended up saving $300!! So now we'll REALLY get to go grocery shopping AND I'll be able to get my parking permit tomorrow AND I will finally have all my books (from one source or another)! AND I picked up a sandwich from Subway & it tastes delicious! God is good!

Better Yourself Tip

Monday, August 3, 2009

BYT #5: Putting leftovers away as soon as you're done eating will help keep you from snacking on them the rest of the night.

3 Fat Chicks

Sunday, August 2, 2009

About a week or so ago I joined this forum called "3 Fat Chicks on a Diet". I can't tell you how much these girls/guys have helped me just in the past 7 days. There is a topic for pretty much EVERY situation, and there are so many wonderful people there that are trying to lose weight, too. They're all so nice and very helpful when it comes to questions about dieting or exercise. There's also women and men there who have reached their goal weight, and seeing those pictures and reading their stories is just more motivation and hope that I, too, will one day reach Skinny. Just thought I'd let you guys know, and welcome you to check it out! Click hereeee :) if you wanna lurk around/ join the forum.

Walk Away the Pounds!

Today I did one of Leslie Sansone's "walk" workouts. I ♥LOVEEE♥ them because they're incredibly easy to do, and it really is a good, sweaty workout. I found a 45 minute segment on YouTube of her's and did it. Ha.

Aaaand I just found her 5 mile walk on Walmart's website for $6.00!! She actually has a lot of workouts and equipment.. more than I thought. Here's her website if you wanna take a look:

Egg Roll Recipe

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Weight Watcher's Vegetable Egg Rolls
(1 point per egg roll)
-1 head Chinese cabbage, outer leaves removed, shredded

-2 medium carrots, peeled and shredded

-2 medium garlic cloves, minced

-2 medium scallions, white and green parts, chopped

-1 Tbsp ginger, fresh, minced or 1/2 tsp dried

-1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

-2 tsp cornstarch

-1 tsp sesame oil

-8 average egg roll wrappers, about 1/2 oz each

-4 serving olive oil cooking spray, or enough to coat egg rolls


Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Place cabbage in a microwavable dish and cover. Microwave on high until wilted, about 4 minutes; drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add carrots, garlic, scallions, ginger, soy sauce, cornstarch and oil; mix well.

Arrange egg roll wrappers on a clean, dry surface. Spoon cabbage mixture diagonally onto each wrapper. Fold over one corner to cover filling. Fold up both corners. Moisten edges of remaining flap with water and roll up wrapper jellyroll style until sealed. Transfer egg rolls to prepared baking sheet and coat with cooking spray.

Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Serve hot.


***

I haven't tried these yet, but I'm looking forward to it! Let me know how you guys like 'em!

xo, BB

Source: http://www.thatsmyhome.com/healthy/weight-watchers/vegetable-eggrolls.htm

Better Yourself Tip

BYT #4: Brush your teeth after eating. Not only will it help keep your mouth healthy, but you'll be less inclined to snack on leftovers.