21 Day Fix - Round 2

Yes, I have already completed 1 round of 21 Day Fix and wow!!! I lost 8 pounds, 10 inches...3 from my WAIST!!!! I lost 3% bodyfat, and I gained a ton of non-scale victories in regards to my fitness. For example I can jog for a whole minute without dying, I can now hold a proper-on-my-toes plank for 35 seconds (in the beginning I struggled doing 10 seconds on my knees), I'm doing proper push-ups, mountain climbers and burpees too!!! I just can't believe that I have come so far in just 3 weeks!!!

So now on to round 2. Things I plan to differently this time around are meal-planning to make sure I use all those little containers and drinking more water (goal=12 cups/day), plus I plan to add walking everyday to my workouts as well. 

So I planned out all of my meals last night and I have come up with a recipe that I love and I can see being my new favorite!!!

21 Day Fix Tuna Rice Casserole

1 Yellow - Tru Roots Sprouted Rice & Quinoa blend
1 Green - steamed Broccoli & Carrots mixed
1 Red - Canned Tuna (but you could put in any meat you wanted, I plan to try it next round with diced Chicken

I cooked it all separately and then filled ach container and mixed it in a bowl, I used the leftovers to make batches to go in the freezer for a quick lunch in the future :)

I just love the rice blend too, I just find it very flavourful for rice and quinoa

But that's all for now, I will keep you posted with more results!! 

Officially a Team Beachbody Coach

I'm back :)

I know it's been awhile, and have I got some stories for you....but first things first, I ave actually gained even more weight. I've been through some depression, lost my job before I even got back from Mat Leave, and kind of just gave up for awhile. I've started one job, but quit already (last shift in an hour actually) and started a whole other job (better opportunity) plus I have done a month's worth of bus driver training and am now officially a class 2 driver :)

I've hit a new low though, I not only had to go up a clothes size, but 2 clothes sizes (mostly for comfort). I now have 110 pounds to lose. Which is not a good thing and does not make me happy. So while I was looking for some support I met a woman who asked if I would consider joining Team Beachbody as a coach (I was already considering their products). My first thought was that this lady is obviously crazy because who would want me as a coach when I obviously don't know how to lose weight and keep it off, but she explained to me that this is where a lot of coaches have started and have found better success because of the accountability. Plus I just took a job at Superstore....so any extra income would be great even if it's just enough to pay for the Shakeology and maybe some other programs.

Anyways, so here I sit impatiently awaiting my 21 Day Fix program and first round of Shakeology and trying to work out how to be a successful coach in the face of trying to lose 100+ pounds.

Until next time,
~Live~Love~Laugh~

Obviously that didn't work.

Clearly the daily food log did not work. I havent given up or even been eating all that bad, it was just too much on my already busy plate. I have lost 2.8 pounds, not as much as I'd like but it's going down and not up so at least I'm pointed in the right direction.

My new goal is focusing on yoga for the time being. The weather around these parts sucks and is in no way conducive to starting a walk/jog program, so that is going to have to wait for the time being and that way it's not something to feel guilty about.

Yoga has always made me feel good but sometimes I felt like I was missing the point or that I wasn't getting some kind of substance out of it. People talk about the deep inner peace and/or spiritual connection and I just don't get it. But the more I think of it the more I realize that it doesn't matter. I'm not saying that it doesn't matter at all, but it doesn't matter in the beginning. I'm too focused on making sure that I'm doing the pose right and that I'm able to even hold it that there is no way to feel some kind of inner peace...but the only way I am going to get to a point where that is not my focus is to keep on practicing so that I am able to get past that beginner fear.

I've heard great things about Yogalosophy- By Mandy Ingber and I am going to spend the next month focusing on her practices and mind-body makeover.

I start Day 1 in the morning....I'll check back in soon :)

Monday Weigh-in: 236.0
Previous: 238.6

Weekly goals:
Lose 1 pound
At least 5 days of healthy meals
Workout of some kind at least 3 times
Get more quinoa in my diet

Monthly goals:
Get a pedometer
Lose at least 4 pounds
Complete the Yogalosophy Mind-Body Makeover

Long-Term goals:
125 Pounds
Jog for an hour straight
Be a healthy role model for my daughter by creating a healthy life style opposed to fad/yoyo dieting.

Today's meals - Feb 12

Ok, so for some reason my phone was being stupid and the pictures are in the wrong order. This first picture is my healthy snack this evening after having a "bad" night and giving into having KFC for supper. Not diet friendly at all, but a slip won't end the world I guess. I'm trying not to beat myself up about it because in the past what I've done is be too much of a perfectionist and if I mess up then the whole week is ruined so I might as well just give up and "start over" next week. Then years later I am weighing 238 pounds and have "restarted" lord only knows how many diets. So this was a blip, and tomorrow I will try to do better. I am not going to expect perfection on the weekend either because we will be travelling and away most of the weekend but I know that I can make better choices than KFC LOL. 

I didn't get a chance to take a pic of the KFC so this next picture is of my lunch, it's a big old bowl of salad with thousand island dressing and another serving of the same quinoa dinner I had yesterday.

I had oatmeal again for breakfast, but I added some flax seed to it and I went with the brown sugar and just added a little less.



I haen't had a chance to do yoga today but I did do 4 hours of housework and I'm still sore from yesterday too so I'm calling that a win :)

Today's meals

My breakfast today was oatmeal with a teaspoon of coconut palm sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I added a bowl of mixed berries and some cantaloupe to it too. Don't forget 2 cups of coffe with the creamer.

For lunch I had a quinoa rice blend with broccoli, mixed peppers, and snow peas mixed into it. I also had some celery with a little thousand island dressing. The rice blend wound up being so filling that I had to wait an hour before I could finish the celery. 

I had 2 snacks today, the first was half of a dark chocolate Aero bar, and the 2nd was an English muffin with some peanut butter and an apple.

As you can see I almost forgot to take a picture that time lol. For dinner I cheated a little because we had a roll of crescent rolls that expires at the end of the month, but I used lite margarine instead of real butter. I also had a small portion of whole wheat rotini and chicken breasts with mushrooms in Campbell's cream of mushroom soup. For veggies I went with asparagus brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with garlic salt and pepper. A little too much pepper for my taste but the hubs liked it :)

All in all it wasn't a perfect day but given my history it's doing a lot better already.

I also drank 6 glasses of water and 2 glasses of milk. I plan to have a cup of tea before bed as well.

I complete the strength yoga video too... Most of it anyways. I had to skip out on the backbends because it wasn't comfortable. But I will get there eventually.

Good day :)

Changing My Way of Thinking about Food

Yesterday I had my appointment with the dietitian. Most of the information that she had for me I already knew from years and years of trying to lose weight but the shocker for me is how much I am waaaay overeating meats. Apparently 2.5oz is one serving now, I swear it used to be 4oz, and you are only supposed to have 2 servings a day. But yet you are supposed to have 6 servings of whole grains per day, which is totally backwards from the low carb/high protein existence that I have been trying to pull off. So I'm going to give it a shot and see if it goes. The worst that will happen is that it won't work and I won't lose weight, which has been the story of my life so far anyways. So I'm adding a daily goal of making myself food diary sheets to keep track of my servings of everything. I'm also going to add the goal of trying to get more quinoa in my diet, it's supposed to be some magical superfood that's a grain but also has great protein. It sure can't hurt :)

Monday Weigh-in: 238.2 (ugh, it's worse than I thought)

Daily goals:
Keep track of meals
Yoga strength workout
Clean house
Make food diary sheets

Weekly goals:
Lose 1 pound
At least 5 days of healthy meals
Workout of some kind at least 3 times
Get more quinoa in my diet

Monthly goals:
Get a pedometer
Lose at least 4 pounds
Start the couch-5k program

Long-Term goals:
125 Pounds
Jog for an hour straight
Be a healthy role model for my daughter by creating a healthy life style opposed to fad/yoyo dieting.

Yesterdays Meals

Breakfast:
1 egg with 1/4c egg white added scrambled with 2 Tbsp red/yellow & orange peppers, 1 slice of Maple Leaf naturals smoked Black forest Ham, a sprinkle of salt, pepper and dried parsley. Plus 1c of blueberry/blackberry mix on the side. Along with 2 Cups of coffee with Fat Free International Delight French Vanilla Creamer (coffee is going to be my downfall, It's an eventual goal to eliminate it).

For lunch and dinner (so I'm using the same picture) I ate leftover chili that I made that was full of veggies as well as made with half ground turkey to cut a but if fat. I also ate a few handfuls of pretzels as a snack and forgot to snap a picture. I said I was going to try...don't expect perfection lol.

I didn't get a chance to do my yoga last night, I was way to exhausted and cramps to bother. I realize now it probably would have helped but it's the past... Any ways, Moving on. 

It's been awhile to say the least...

Well, looking back I have not been on here since my first trimester. So the short version of the update is that the rest of my pregnancy went by with no complications and even a speedy labor (4 hours, I have a lot of haters now) and I gave birth to a beautiful little girl that we named Avery! This picture is from when she was 3 months old.

I cannot believe that she is 10 months old already and I have to start planning her first birthday!! She's going to be a very busy toddler, I can tell already. She simply refuses to crawl, she rolls everywhere that she wants to go, it's quite entertaining, but she gets into everything. And she's not even walking yet! As I type she is playing with the leg of my little desk and moving it around. But I can't complain, she's a very happy baby and that makes me happy :)

Onto the weight loss. Earlier last year I decided to try going Gluten-Free as a lot of my problems were also symptoms of a gluten issue. When I first went gluten-free in September I felt a bit better and I noticed that my skin cleared up but I was still getting lots of heartburn and digestive issues. So I completed the 3 months that I had committed to and started eating gluten again. I started with eggs and toast, if I actually had a gluten problem that toast should have thrown me for a loop but I had no issues with it. So obviously gluten is not my problem. I heard excellent things about people losing a ton of weight being gluten-free but in those 3 months I actually gained weight. I was going to the gym and doing 20 minutes of cardio, either the treadmill or elliptical machine, and then weight machines that covered my whole body. I was doing this 2 times a week plus 2 swim lessons a week with Avery. I understand the whole concept of muscle weighing more than fat and all that but after 3 months there should have been some kind of difference. So back to the doctor I went... For a little history, I have been complaining to the doctors for years about not being able to lose weight even when I'm trying super hard. They've done blood work and sent me to an endocrinologist and it's always the same. I have low thyroid and insulin resistance, but both are still technically within the normal range so there's nothing that they can do about it, I should just try to lose some weight. Both of these conditions make it harder to lose weight but we won't help you with it at all. It is very frustrating.

I want to be clear, I am not looking for a miracle pill or a way out. I am willing to do the work involved but I want to be able to see results. I realize that they may not be immediate results but several times throughout my 20's I tried to lose weight for a few months without seeing any results at all. I've tried regular low-fat low-sugar dieting, several different fad diets, supplements, and different styles of working out. So far nothing has worked.

This time I am going to make it different....I'm not totally sure how, but as the joke goes I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I had blood work again on Friday to see if anything is different after my pregnancy. I am seeing a dietitian today, and I plan to start  running as soon as it's warm enough to be outside without the insides of your nostril freezing over. I plan to do yoga and jogging alternately and throw in some hand weight workouts and we had to give up our gym memberships for financial reasons. When my Husband's new benefits kick in I can see if they cover acupuncture, because that is something that I would like to add to my arsenal as well. I already utilize my osteopath and chiropractor as I am still experiencing hip problems. I am hoping that they will go away with losing weight as well.

So my plan for now is to check in on here once per day with a photo journal of what I have been eating. This will be my way of keeping myself accountable. I also plan to make myself daily, weekly, and long term goals. And of course I will include weekly weigh-ins. I don't feel totally comfortable with that part, but I feel this way I am kind of forced to be held accountable.

Monday Weigh-in: 238.2 (ugh, it's worse than I thought)

Daily goals:
Start blog
Keep track of meals
Yoga strength workout

Weekly goals:
Lose 1 pound
At least 5 days of healthy meals
Workout of some kind at least 3 times

Monthly goals:
Get a pedometer
Lose at least 4 pounds
Start the couch-5k program

Long-Term goals:
125 Pounds
Jog for an hour straight
Be a healthy role model for my daughter by creating a healthy life style opposed to fad/yoyo dieting.

Phew...

We are now officially 14 weeks along, which means we are out of the troublesome 1st trimester YAY.

So far I am feeling good but this past week I have had some particularly brutal headaches. I mean migraine strength, feels like your eyeballs are throbbing headaches. I had to go home early yesterday because it was so bad and I don't even remember driving home (which probably wasn't really safe). So I found a wonderful chiropractor that specializes in prenatal care yesterday and i even got in to see her last night. She was amazing, turns out my neck was out of place and cramped up 6 ways from Sunday. She also did some active muscle release on my hip, which has been bothering me for awhile now too. Of course today I feel like I was beaten with a 2x4 but I can feel a difference too. My headache is far less severe and my hip and leg have not gone numb yet. I just have to wait for the swelling from the "fixing" goes down then hopefully I'll feel back up to snuff :)

Pregnancy is boring ;)

It's not really, but after the initial fun and secrecy, and learning everything there is to learn about the early stages of pregnancy, it kind of feels like you just sit there twiddling your thumbs wondering what to do next.

We have seen the heart beat. We have made it past eight weeks, which is when your miscarriage risk is supposed to lower. We have book our scans and tests for the end of the first trimester. I've shopped for maternity clothes. We've gone through the baby section in several stores to map out the things that we need and the things that we want. We've even announced on Facebook with a cute picture!

It just feels like there's nothing really much else to do for now. So I guess I'll go back to focusing on work (as much as I can with pregnancy brain....it's a real thing!!). Wish me luck all :D

A Good Week

I went to see my osteopath on Tuesday. I got to tell him that he has magic hands (that's what my Mom says anyways) because he did some work on me the day that I got a positive ovulation test. We were talking about some stuff and he believes that if a woman has all of her energies in order and a nicely balanced system before she gets pregnant then there's no reason for her to have morning sickness. I mentioned that I have not been sick yet but that I have had some pretty good nausea. All he said was hmm, and then he started working on my head. After falling asleep on the table and waking myself up by snoring (how embarrassing!) my head felt great. That night I had an amazing sleep and I haven't had any nausea since!! My stomach still gets a little flip-floppy when I need to eat but nothing like before. Maybe he really does have magic hands :)

Once again.

I must apologize again for not returning for such a long time, but I have a good reason this time. There has been so much that I've wanted to blog about but I couldn't/shouldn't. But I feel safer now in saying that I am now officially 8 weeks and 1 day pregnant!!!

With the busy month I had in July I can assure you that this came as quite a shock. I was feeling off and kind of sick for a few days so my darling husband suggested I take a test. I thought it was a bit early but we had 2 left over from the month before so I took it. I was completely floored when it came back positive.

In my past when I do finally get the positive pregnancy test it's not usually until after I have had a weird period and then start to get the weird symptoms, usually around week 6. So I was totally stoked when I got this one before my period was even due!

Then came the awful waiting period of blood work to make sure my HCG levels were rising appropriately. I was freaking out a little when they didn't call me back right away but then I realized that's a good thing. Last time I had a pregnancy gone wrong they were phoning me and updating me and rushing me into the doctor's office the very days the blood work was being done. They finally got a hold of me 2 days later to let me know that my levels were rising properly but that they started out a little low (enter panic mode now) so they wanted me to do even more bloodwork.

After the 3rd round of blood work, which was on a Tuesday, I didn't hear back from them until the next week when I had my first ultrasound. I decided to take it as a good thing that they were not getting in touch with me. My ultrasound went amazing. The technician confirmed that it was in the right spot and consistent development wise to where I was in my pregnancy at the time (5 weeks 6 days). When I had my follow-up with the fertility doctor they said that because there was no heartbeat yet they wanted to repeat the ultrasound the next week. This made me panic a little more again but when I looked it up it was actually very rare to see a heartbeat that early.

The next Monday I went for my 2nd ultrasound and THERE WAS A HEARTBEAT!!! 124 BPM!!! Never been so happy in my life! The technician even showed us, my husband could see it, I was too teary eyed. But it was amazing all the same.

So now we are officially in baby mode, which means I alternate between being amazingly happy and terrified every 2 minutes, but I'll take it :)

I have been released from the fertility program and wen I went to see my regular doctor to set up a prenatal file she said she hasn't seen me this relaxed and tranquil since she's known me.

I did find out I have a small perigestational bleed but that just means I have to take it easy and no heavy lifting. I can handle that.

As far as the fun symproms go I have had some nausea and a lot of heartburn, but nothing worse than that yet and now that I'm past the 8 week mark hopefully it stays that way.

Fingers crossed :)

Sorry bout that.

It has been a crazy crazy two and some weeks. I feel like I haven't had time to breath! We went to Stampede for a few days. We had the company barbeque. Then there was a movie night. We also went out with my Mom for my birthday, and then I went out with some friends then next night for my birthday. We had planned to stay home that weekend but that didn't happen either, hahaha. This past week included a sick day, a night out with a girlfriend, an impromptu fishing trip that turned into a day trip up to Canmore, a football game, and a Zoo day.

I haven't even had time to notice that I hadn't blogged in so long, or that I'm "suffering" the TWW! Ah well, no plans this week at all. So I can catch up on Big Brother and watch some Olympics. So proud of our Canadian Girls for winning a medal already!!! I love Diving, it's one of my favorite sports.

So I'm off to relax (as much as one can at work anyways) and I'll be back sooner this time :)

Caffeine Drip goes here!

The lack of coffee is killing me, but I know I will survive. I've had headaches and I've been trying to up my water intake to help combat that. I did go to yoga Monday and it felt great. I wasn't even too sore after. I missed yoga last night though. My hair appointment was longer than I thought it should be. Oh, well at least it's a real reason and not just an excuse. I did not get home until 8:20 and the class unfortunately started at 7:55.

We're heading back to the Calgary Stampede tonight so that will mean lots of walking around, but I'm excited anyways. Then tomorrow is party time. We are going to a BBQ then to the Stampede Chuckwagon Races, and then back to the place having the BBQ for the after party. Should be a good time!!

And moving on...

Well I did not spontaneously combust yesterday, although I think that may only have been because the vast amounts of sweat were putting out the flames. But the rodeo was great. I had a great day with just me and my hubby (and the millions of others at the Stampede). We also bought our *winning* tickets for the dream home, the truck & trailer, and the truck & boat.

So my goal for this week is to do 3 yoga classes, Tonight is going to be hips & shoulders (ouch), and hopefully I get out of my hair appointment early enough on Wednesday to make it to the Yin Yoga class (please, it looks so relaxing), and then I'm aiming to hit up the Yoga Flow class on Saturday.

It's going to be a crazy busy week though!! Tuesday I am meeting up with a new friend to see Magic Mike, Wednesday is my luxurious hair appointment, Thursday we are hitting the Stampede grounds again to see all there is to see, and Friday we are back at Stampede for the Chuckwagons. Good times Y'all!!

My other goal for this week is to give up coffee. This may be a stupid week to do it but I'm tired of making excuses for myself. I can tell you that today sucks already but I intend to preserver. I am allowing myself green tea for now to avoid total caffeine withdrawl, plus I have about a week's worth left.

Oh Dear

So, here's the situation. On Wednesday I started taking the fertility drugs again. The one side effect I've really noticed is the hot flashes. Today is the hottest day of the year and we're heading out to sit in the sun at the Calgary Stampede Rodeo!!! I'll keep you posted on whether or not I spontaneously combust.

On another note I may have found a doctor that I really like. She believes in holistic medicine, she's testing everything including vitamin deficiencies, and she's going to personally do my acupuncture. She believes that through the acupuncture she can help balance my thyroid and insulin resistance to help me lose weight, and to help with my fertility issues. She also said it will help with my stress and depression. I'm just so happy to have a doctor that's not saying that I'm not out of whack enough for them to help me :)

Back to Normal

Sorry to everyone about the negative post yesterday. It was some stuff I just had to vent, but moving on...

So I had promised I would go to yoga but life got in the way. First I had not washed my yoga towel from the session before so it wasn't pretty, plus we were very unprepared for our long weekend camping trip so a lot of our time was soaked up with that. So here's a review of what's kept us so busy for the last two weeks.

First Book Club book, and I found out later hardly anyone had read it.

I went to my first book club with a meet-up group last Friday night. It was a good time but sometimes a little awkward as most of the women there had teen-aged or grown children. There were a lot of conversations that I couldn't really relate to. I won't let that stop me, they were wonderful women who are all in the same position as me in that they want to meet some new people but have a hard time with it. I will definitely be going back when they resume in the fall.

My darling husband and I went to our first meet-up group together to go see Rock of Ages. It was a hilarious movie and we met some people that we really enjoyed and look forward to hanging out with in the future. So all in all it was a successful night.

For the long weekend we went camping at Pigeon Lake. It was mostly good except for the rain on Sunday. We got soaked!! I might add that rain, cold, lack of sleep, and PMS are a horrible combination. It wasn't the happiest time that morning but we got through it. Otherwise we had a ton of fun. Jason's friend came out with a boat and we all got to go boating and fishing on the lake, of course we didn't catch anything, but it was fun regardless. My sister-in-law had a nibble but it got away :(

It was also our golden retriever Gibson's first boat ride. He was a little whiny but otherwise I think he did great. That is until later when he was acting like a petulant two year old. He kept going into the bushes and just throwing himself around and he would absolutely pout if we told him to get out of there. The poor dog was so tired. He went to bed completely willingly (which is not normal for him). But he loved it out there.

Jason and Gibson, believe it or not they are not posing.

Gibson believes he is hiding.

And last but not least we went to Bull Bustin last night for our anniversary. It was at Ranchman's and it was really good. Of course I will never understand how people can drink so much at 8.50 a drink but that's just my opinion. The bull riding was good and they definitely made a lot of money for charity with the calcutta.

A Bitter Day

3 years ago today I spent our 5th wedding anniversary in the hospital having my first ectopic pregnancy removed. It had been the first pregnancy so we had been so excited. The entire day was filled with dread and depression and was the starting point for our fertility issues. So I have officially been dealing with fertility issues for 3 years now, I am not going to lie, I am having a hard time focusing on the fact that it should be a positive anniversary (wedding) opposed to a negative one. The fact that it is cycle day 1 makes the situation that much worse.

This is a sucky post but this is what is on my mind today and I needed to get it out there so that I can enjoy my husband and our love for our plans this evening.

What workout makes you happy? How the F**k should I know!?!

So I read an article recently on how the best way to stick to your workout is to do the exercise that makes you happy....REALLY!?!?!?!

If exercise made me happy I wouldn't be in the position I am now!!! Seriously, I don't understand some people.

I do like yoga though. I have purchased a membership to The Yoga Studio that is a 3 minute walk from our house. I have gone once in the past month (oops). That one time made me so sore I could not move properly for 2 days, please refer to the anecdote at the end of my introduction. But the thing is that I really enjoyed the class and I know that if I do it for a few more weeks I'll be able to continue functioning in my life outside of yoga. However, it seems like a mighty big hump to get over.

I also like to ride bikes, but I have a fear of falling so I'm not very adventurous on that front. I was debating on bring my bike to work and going on a leisurely bike ride at lunch times because it's far more active than sitting at my desk reading a book. The problem I have with this is that my bike is broken and I don't know how to fix it. Time to enlist my darling husband I think.

I have tried running and I hate it. I'm far too jiggly to be comfortable. It hurts my knees and ankles. My chest is far to big for it to be enjoyable at all no matter how high impact the bra says it supports. I do, however, love the idea of being a runner. I love the idea of the freedom of running and the ability to just go. But I think it's time to be realistic about my never becoming a runner.

I also love swimming but not as exercise, more as a way to splash around being an idiot. And I have never been good at formal sports even when I was fit. I just lack the coordination to keep it together. Not to mention that way to many people are far to serious about the games that are meant to be just for fun.

I will keep my eyes open though for the stuff that is fun. I promise myself to at least try to get over the hump of my yoga practice. In fact I promise that i will go to my second hips & shoulders class tonight.

Then I will let you know on Saturday what piece of furniture I got stuck in this time :)

Drunk Instructors!!!

We went to a beer and wine making class tonight to learn some new techniques. We made some wine for everyone for Christmas last year and it was a huge success.

Sadly I don't feel like I learned much. At the beginning they explained that there would be samples, but not to worry as you'll drink approximately one glass throughout the entire evening. FALSE!!! I think we drank closer to a bottle than a glass.

All free of course plus we got to try some new stuff to make next. The one instructor seemed to have some kind of one for them, one for me policy because there is no way that man was not drunk!!!!!

Ah well, we spent the night out of the house, got a few new wrinkles in our brain, and most of all FREE WINE!!!

A good night was had by all :)