WIW

Before I took my latest blogging hiatus (poet?), I embarked on No-Weighpril.  I decided I was going to break up with the scale, and my blog apparently, and not weigh myself for the entire month of April.  I was also going to workout a shit ton, eat the healthiest foods ever, and lose 8 pounds.

Well, guess what?

That didn't happen.

I stepped on the scale for the first time in 4 weeks, and I fricken gained weight.  

177.2

I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed.  In no way am I disappointed with gaining the weight because I deserved it for being lazy and eating like crap, but I am disappointed for not following through.  Disappointed for making goals, but not completing them. 

Time to get over it, and get on with it.  As the lovely Iva said to me on Monday, think happy thoughts!  Instead of getting down on myself, I'm going to be positive and turn things around! 

After work, I'm headed to the grocery store to stock up on deliciously healthy foods.  Once I get home, it's out the door for a 4 mile run.  I think I'll even get Nick to join me.

Happy Wednesday!

Eye Openers

Long time, no blogging.

Typical Ashley blog cycle.

I'm back, again.  Hopefully to stay for a loooong time.

I've had a couple eye openers (taking 57:20 to run a 5 mile race that took me less than 50:00 last year, and looking like a jet-puffed marshmallow in pictures) very recently that have made me realize I really need to get my ass going on this health journey.  I've been yo-yoing for years by saying I am committing myself to a healthy lifestyle, working out like a boss for a bit, losing a couple pounds, and then getting lazy and eating my weight in candy and gaining all those pounds back.

I am ready to break the cycle.

I started chatting with a Beachbody coach that I happened to go to high school with, and am friends with on Facebook.  We've been discussing various Beachbody programs, and I think we have decided that 21-Day Fix is a good starting point for me.  This program has a well structured nutrition program that will help me get my eating under control.  According the my new coach, the workouts will kick my booty, but are highly effective.

Beside starting the 21 Day Fix, I will continue with my running.  I still have a half marathon to run in four weeks...yikes...that I haven't been training for.  Based on how my 5 mile race went this past Saturday, the half marathon is going to be ugly, but I'm still going to tough it out, and do it.

I've contemplated finding someone to run in my place so my registration won't be wasted, but I don't want to be a quitter.  This will be my 3rd year running this half, and I plan to continue running it each year, so I don't want to miss a year.  I may have to walk a lot, but I can still complete the race even if it takes me longer than I want.  I still have four weeks.  I just need to get my head in the game and power through.

I'm a numbers girl.  I like seeing mile times, calorie counts, graphs that track weight loss, number of steps, etc.  Since numbers like this help motivate me, I have also been looking into getting a Fitbit.

Does anyone have a Fitbit?  Do you love it?  Anything you don't like about it?

Is anyone doing/has anyone done the 21 Day Fix?  Thoughts?

I would love to hear your input!!

What I Ate Wednesday

I am linking up with Peas & Crayons for What I Ate Wednesday, a day late, to share two meals that I find freakishly delicious.  Like, so good, I can't even handle it!

Exhibit A: Oatmeal

But not just any old oatmeal.  

I've been eating this self-made up concoction every morning for breakfast for about 3 weeks now.  I tend to get bored getting the same old thing, but this is so good that I cannot stop.  

Usually, oatmeal does NOT keep me full.  I read about all these people that loooove oatmeal because it keeps me full for hours.  Previously, when I had oatmeal, I would be hungry like 5 minutes later.  After some thought though, I decided to bulk up my oatmeal with some protein, and now it really does keep me full for hours!

Here is how I make my very filling! breakfast:

Mix 1/4 C oats & 1/2 C water: heat on high in microwave for 1:00-1:30 minutes.

Once out of microwave, add 1/2T almond butter, 2-3 dates (chopped), and 1/4C plain Greek yogurt.

Stir until almond butter & yogurt is mixed throughout.

Top with 1/4C almond milk.

ENJOY!

Sweet, filling, satisfying, easy, and delicious!

Here are the products/brands that I use. 

(Yumbutter creators are from Madison,WI! Represent!)

Exhibit B: Chicken Sausage & Veggie Stir Fry

I found this little gem on Pinterest via a blog post on Zahlmann Zoo Crew which has actually moved to Fab and Fit for LIFE.  (Just wanna give credit where credit is due!)  I didn't follow their exact recipe, but it was my inspiration.

This is what Nick and I had for dinner last night, and I have leftovers for lunch today.  It. Is. Delicious!!  

What we created last night contained bite sized pieces of:

1 medium sized head of broccoli 

1 zucchini

1 yellow onion

8 mushrooms

8 mini sweet tri color peppers

1C pineapple

1 Golden Delicious apple

1 package of smoked apple & gouda chicken sausage

Brand we used. 4 pack for $3.99.

AND

1T extra virgin olive oil

3 pressed cloves of garlic

Dash of Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime season

Dash of Lowry's seasoning salt

Here is how we created this mouthwatering beauty:

Heat large skillet, and I do mean large, over medium heat.

Once skillet is warm, add olive oil & allow to warm 1-2 minutes

Add pressed garlic and saute in oil until it becomes fragrant

Dump all veggies, fruit, and sausage into pan

Stir to coat with oil 

Let cook for 10ish minutes, stirring occasionly

Add Mrs. Dash & Lowry's to taste, and mix well

Put lid on pan & allow to cook/steam 5 more minutes

Serve and enjoy!

I highly recommend trying out both of these recipes.  If you do, stop back and let me know how you liked them!  I would love to hear from you!

No Weighpril

You see what I did with that title? Huh?  

No Weighpril.  

I decided to weigh myself yesterday, the first of April, and not weigh myself the rest of the month. The scale is a dick, or rather, I'm just lazy, and it discourages me.  I've decided to break up with the scale for a month.

My weigh-in yesterday was 174.6. 

During the month of April, I'm going to shoot for the aggressive goal of losing 8 pounds which would put me at 166.6.  666, ooooh, ominous.   If I don't reach that goal, I hope to at least be in the 160's by May 1. 

If I complete my training runs and clean up my eating, I think 166.6 is highly obtainable.  To motivate myself, I am not going to splurge on new running shoes until I hit this 8lb loss.

After work, I'm off to the grocery store, and I only have wholesome, nutritious foods on my list.  Once I get home, I'll have Nick put the groceries away and get started on dinner so I can head out for a run.

Easy, peasy, lemon-squeezy.