Finish the Sentence

Whaaaaaat?!  Two posts in one day after nothing for a whole week?!

My last post was a tad blue, so I wanted to follow it up with something fun!  And what's more fun than a "Finish the Sentence" linkup with Jake and Holly?!?!  (I mean, I can think of quite a few things, but the linkup is still a lot of fun!!! :) )

1.  I always pick... the dark beer over light beer.

2.  Look at the size of those... guns.  Says the entire world when I flex.  

3.  I recently learned... Our dryer has a light in it, but I've left the door open after taking the clean clothes      out of it so often that the bulb burnt out.  Like a week after we moved into our house, and we have now been there almost 2 years.  Nick says it not worth replacing because I'll never learn to close it.   I am in total agreement.  Why does there need to be a light in there anyway?!

4.  Only when no one is looking... (excluding Nick) do I take my flipper out.  If you don't know what a flipper is, you're lucky, and have much much better teeth than I do!

5.  I lost my... shit the other day when I was thinking about my old sweet Molly dog, and how she will pass away one day.  I cried like a baby and held her tight...as she fought to get away from her crazy-ass momma.  Then, I told Nick he has to start taking Molly to her vet appointments because if they ever tell me something is wrong with her, I will lose my shit again in the office, and weep. Hard.

6.  I was certain I'd... be a brain surgeon by now, or at least a doctor.  I guess deciding to take the Broad Field Social Studies -sans- teaching certificate - path over Pre-Med tripped me up on that one... 

7.  There is not enough liquor in the world for me to... sing karaoke.

8.  I just finished... chewing an entire pack of gum in one day.  Well, more like 6 hours.  I have this weird thing where I feel like one piece of gum in my moth at a time is not enough, so I pop another one in.  And then another.  And then another.  And then a 5th piece.  Then, it's too much gum so I have to spit it out, and start over.

9.  Why does everyone have to be... hatin' on B'rock Obama all the time?  He's a single person, leading a fucking nation of almost 314 MILLION people.  Cut the guy some goddamn slack.  He can't make everyone happy all the fucking time.  If you can do a better job, you better get your ass in the next presidential race and prove it.

10.  It's very rare when I... do not have a book with me.  I'm an uber bookworm, and always carry a book in my purse, or take one in the car if the ride is going to be longer than 10 minutes.  It's a problem...for others if they plan on having a conversation with me. 

11.  If I were a dog... I would probably be obese because I would just sleep in the sunshine all day, everyday.

12.  I don't believe... in God. GASP!

A Rough Week

Hello everyone.  Sorry I've been quiet this week, but it's been kind of a shitty one.  

Two of Nick's grandparents are having a rough time.  

His paternal grandmother fell on the ice last weekend and broke her hip.  As you can imagine she's been in a lot of pain, but to make it even worse, she had a heart attack the following day after her fall.  She is doing a lot better now, but looks awful and hurts a lot.  We went to visit her, and even though she was out of it because of pain meds, it really brightened her day to see us.  

Nick's maternal grandfather is also going through some tough stuff.  Doctors found cancer in the tube that connects his kidney to his bladder.  Originally, they thought they would just be able to remove the affected kidney and tube, and that would hopefully be the end.

Unfortunately, this other kidney isn't functioning at 100% on its own so they cannot remove the one near the cancerous mass.

Yesterday, he had an appointment at the UW Hospital to discuss treatment options and the likelihood of starting chemo.  Nick has not yet talked him to hear how the appointment yet, but will be calling him this weekend to get an update.  Nick did go visit those grandparents last weekend when he first heard the news.  Though his grandparents are stressed and a little scared, his grandpa seems ready for whatever the future brings him.

On top of these sad family issues, I have started a new oral contraceptive because I was having issue with the one I was on.  The new one has a higher dose of hormones, which my doctor thinks will help with the past issues, so I have felt like a maniac the last two weeks as my body adjusts.

 I have binged more than a few times this week.  I have eaten more candy this week, than I have eaten in all of 2014 so far.  Yesterday, I had a York Peppermint Patty and then an hour later, I had a Dove bar.  Oh, and don't forget the ice cream I had before bed...that was topped with whipped cream...

Anywho...my goal this week is to just relax, and reset.

Next week is a new week, and it WILL be better. 

What I Ate & WIW

Two link ups today!

Numero uno

I just weighed in on Monday to see the result of the 7 Day Slim Down challenge, but I want to get back into the habit of stepping on the scale on my normal weigh-in day: Wednesday.

This morning, to my delight, I am down another 1.4lbs!

172.4

I have very high hopes to be in the 60's next week.

Numero dos

I decided to join this link up for the first time to give you a glance of what I have been eating lately. As you read above, I mentioned a 7 Day Slim Down challenge. I realized that I haven't really said anything about what I have been eating, so some of you may think I did some fad diet, or some weird drastic challenge, or have only been eating grapefruit. That is actually as far from the truth as it can be!  
I have been eating A LOT, but it is a lot of really good-for-you stuff.  The link-up icon is perfect because of the Love Your Veggies Month tie-in.  That's what I have been eating the most of, veggies.  Lots and lots of veggies.  And, I have been eating 5 times a day.  For example, this is what I have eaten/will be eating today.
Breakfast - 6am Pre-breakfast 6oz lukewarm water with half squeezed lemon juice & pinch of sea salt
Oatmeal 1/4 C steel cut oats prepared with 1/2 C water 1t brown sugar 1/4 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Egg White Scrambler 6 diced grape tomatoes 2 large diced mushrooms 1 large handful of spinach 3 egg whites all sauteed in 1/2 T extra virgin olive oil
1 C coffee with 1/2 T homemade flavored creamer
Snack #1 - 10am 1 T Justin's Vanilla almond butter 2 celery stalks
Lunch - 12:30pm 1 serving of turkey stew leftover from dinner last night (Includes lean ground turkey, carrots, mushrooms, celery, stewed tomatoes, sweet potatoes, onion, parsley, garlic powder, and basil.)
Snack #2 - 3pm 1 apple 1 low-fat string cheese stick
Dinner - 6pm Stove Top Chicken 4oz chicken sauteed with carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, celery, onion, and garlic powder served over quinoa
There you have it.  Lots of veggies and protein to keep me full.  The times I have listed are not exact.  I don't drop what I am doing to go eat, I just try to space my eating to around those times.
Breakfast is usually nearly the same with a few change-ups.  Sometimes it is a veggie & quinoa pilaf with 1 whole over easy egg on top.  Or on the days I do not eat the oatmeal, I will add 2oz of lean turkey to the scrambler. 
Most days, I actually have an apple and a big salad for lunch with 3-4oz diced chicken breast, spinach, cucumber, mushrooms, and tomato, and homemade Dijon dressing. 
My other go-to snacks have been Greek yogurt, raw zucchini & hummus, carrots & 2 oz nitrate free deli meat. 
Other dinner options have included salmon or turkey and lots of veggies.
As for beverages, it has mostly just been water.  I also have my coffee every morning, but switched to making my own creamer instead of buying from the store.  Herbal teas have also been helpful in conquering sweets cravings.  Oh, and I've been treating myself to some wine this week, but only 6oz or less per serving :)
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at  loeffelholz34@gmail.com
Have a happy hump day!

30 Day Shred Update

Hello, folks!

Remember when I said I was starting Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, and I posted pre-shred pics of me in my underoos?  If not, you can see me in all of my glory here.

I should have finished "shredding" a week ago on February 11th.  Unfortunately, lack of discipline and laziness has led me to restart the 30 days four different times...  

Apparently fourth time is a charm for this girl because I'm finally sticking to it.  Today will be day 9 which means I will finally be progressing to level 2 on Thursday.  Now that I've been doing the same exact workout for about 25 of the last 37 days, I'm really getting sick of it.  I can't wait for Thursday to start a new level and to do some new moves!

Anywho...I just wanted to give a heads up on my shred progress.  I know many of you are just dying to see another picture of me in my knickers when I get to my post-shred photo :)

Challenge Results & Goals

Happy Monday, everyone!

Yesterday was the last day of my 7-Day Slim Down Challenge, and I took a lot away from the challenge.  Not only did I take away knowledge, but I took away 3lbs!  After abstaining from the scale for the entire week, which was probably the toughest part of the challenge, I finally got to weigh in this morning.  

Last Monday when the challenge started, I was 175.8 and today I weighed in at 172.8!  Woohoo!

I enjoyed this week-long challenge so much, that I am following it again this week.

A few times during the past week, I had slip ups with the meal plan, i.e. popcorn, beer, wine, going out to lunch with a friend and getting a wrap and french fries, having steak on Valentine's Day, and 4 thin mint cookies...  I am hoping that if I follow the meal plan even more closely this week, don't cheat as much, and amp up my workouts, I will have even better results than this past week.

Now, goal time.

Last week, these were my 3 goals:

Floss.  Every damn day - Nailed it! I even flossed twice one day!

Follow the meal plan as closely as possible - I did fairly well, but you can see my cheats above.  Since I still had a great loss, I'm considering this a win.

Run twice - Nope. Huge failure.  The "heatwave" that was supposed to hit my area never happened.  We barely made it into the 20's, and it snowed.  It's currently snowing, and we're supposed to get 4-6"...  

Goals for this week:

Develop a half marathon training plan - I signed up to run my 4th half marathon in May so I need to get my booty running again and start training.

Follow my challenge meal plan to the T Monday-Friday, with the except of a little wine... - Nick and I are going out of town this weekend to visit friends so I am not going to be able to meticulously follow the meal plan of the weekend.  I will try to choose options close to it though while we're away. I just opened a bottle of wine on Saturday, and only had a glass.  I would kind of like to finish it instead of waste it...but only 6oz at a time!

Stretch for 20 minutes 3 times - my muscles are sore from all my workouts and I'm not as flexible as I used to be...pretty self explanatory. 

Link up with the stellar Carolyn and share YOUR goals!

Non-Scale Victory

"Ello, 'ello, my lovelies!

Today I am linking up with the fabulous KTJ (Seriously, she's awesome. Go check her out!), to share my non-scale victory.

My NSV is that I am rocking my 7-Day Slim Down Challenge, and I feel awesome! 

Eating clean, with the exception of the popcorn fiasco, and working out, has never felt so good. I am pumped full of energy and my body feels less bloated and heavy. 

I know we're talking about NON-scale victories today, but I am beyond excited to see the number that shows up on the scale once this challenge wraps up. No matter what that number ends up being, this challenge has helped boost my confidence in my health and fitness goals. 

Yesterday, my challenge leader gave us the tasks of writing down one thing that has changed since we joined the group. We then had to take a selfie with that message, and display it on the group wall. Following what I just said above, this was/is my selfie:

I am learning so much about living a healthy lifestyle, and about myself, through this challenge. I am grateful for the experience, and I am excited to continue using this knowledge to complete my goals!

    

Weigh-In Wednesday

If you read my post on Monday, you know I am participating in a 7-Day slim down challenge.  I weighed myself on Monday morning as part of the challenge, so this number is actually from a couple days ago.

175.8

I almost weighed myself again this morning, but decided not too.  At the end of this challenge, I am hoping for an awesome loss, and want to be surprised by it.

The challenge is going really well so far.  I did slip up last night and ate some popcorn.  And by some, I mean an entire bag.

  All day I was fighting cravings, and once I got home, I gave in.  I am disappointed in myself for not resisting fully, but it is done and over, and I just have to work harder to make up for it!!

Tomorrow, the temperature here is supposed to get into the 30s.  HEATWAVE!!!!! I have a goal this week of getting 2 runs in.  It looks like the first one will be happening tomorrow :)

Accountability

To get my flabby ass whipped into shape, I need help with my accountability.

When I only have myself to check in with, it's extremely easy to lose control.  Right when I needed it most, someone I went to high school with, formed an accountability group on Facebook.  I signed up right when I saw it!  

The creator of this little group, is an accountant by day, and a Team Beachbody coach by night/in her free time.  Her group is a 7-Day challenge, free to join, and she has created a meal plan for everyone to follow.  Besides following her meal plan, she is asking everyone to get in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.  She also gives us little challenges to complete such as 20s planks, and 60s strength moves. 

 Everyday, the participants need to check in on Facebook and let the rest of the group know you have finished your exercise and challenge for the day.  If it starts getting late, and you have not yet checked in, the creator sends you a little reminder.  This is exactly what I need at the moment.  I need the little reminders, and the set meal plan.  I need the structure and the support.

I am also linking up with the adorable Carolyn  to set some goals this week.

1.  Follow the 7-Day challenge meal plan as closely as possible.
I am trying to follow the meal plan as closely as I can, but I am allowing a few changes.  For example, I am not supposed to drink coffee for the next 7 days, but I am still having a cup each morning.  I do not need the coffee, but I've created a little morning ritual that I am not willing to give up.  I like to get my coffee when I wake up, return to bed, read for a while and slowly savor the warm goodness of the java.  It's a nice start to the day, and I know I could drink tea instead, but I gotta have the coffee :)

2.  Floss.  Everyday.
I floss a couple times a week, but I really need to get into the habit of doing it daily.  In a few weeks, I have a teeth cleaning appointment, and I want my dentist to be impressed with my super healthy gums, and mad flossing skills.

3.  Run twice this week.
It is supposed to be in the high 20's a couple days this week.  I think that is warm enough to brave the cold and get some runs in.  If I am going to run the Madison Half again, I need to start seriously training very soon!

What are your goals this week?  Link up with us, and share!

Stuck on Replay

Lately, I feel like my road to a healthy lifestyle has been stuck on replay.  I set goals, make a plan, and follow through...for a week or two.  Then, I binge, and stop working out, and watch way too much tv, and become lethargic.  I eventually get disgusted with myself, snap out of it, and start again. 

In case you couldn't tell by my absences, I fell off the wagon, again.  I didn't win my Diet Bet.  Instead, I gained most back of the 3.5lb I did lose.  I finished level 1 of JM 30 Day Shred, but then I didn't continue on to level 2.  Rather, I quit working out for over a week.  

I am tired of starting over.  I am tired of hitting replay.  

Yesterday, I hashed out the "millionth" work out plan.  My fingers are crossed this time.  

Here's to just pushing play, not replay.