Whoooooa baby

...I'm rocking the post-exercise endorphines. It feels nicccccccccce!

Tonight I started Week 2m Day 1 of C25K and it felt so great! I then walked an extra 15 minutes with my friend and did some strength training.

Week 1 went really well, my knees hurt a little on Friday so it was nice to take Saturday and Sunday off and do different types of cardio/exercise.

So far, so good!

This past weekend was eventful! Friday night I just went to the gym, and came home and rested which is always needed!

Saturday I got up, made an omelet, went to the gym, got pedicures with my Mom for her birthday, went to a 1st birthday party, then went to an O's game and out in Baltimore.

*phew* Needless to say, I drank too much on Saturday and paid for it at weigh-in this morning. Lesson learned.

Sunday I recovered, came home and napped and then took my Momma to dinner for her birthday (I'm an awesome daughter...seriously).

I gained a pound. Lame. I'm determined to work that + 5 of its friends off this week. (Ok, maybe not that much, but it needs to happen).

Tonight after the gym I felt inspired to create. So I made dinner.

Mixed veggies, rice and Sesame shrimp. drooooool

(I know white rice is like a cardinal sin, but it took 5minutes and I only had 1/2 cup....I measured and everything!)

Anyway, the shrimp were delish!

Here's the recipe to the saucey-sauce!

1 cup soy sauce (best is low-sodium!)
2 tbs honey
Sesame seeds, groung ginger, cumin, and paprika to taste

Whisk ingredients in a bowl, pour over meat/veggies/whatever and enjoy! I added a little cornstarch & water to thicken it up a little.

So now, I earned all these extra points, I've gotten in all my good health guidelines (water, diary, veggies/fruits, oil, activity, multivitamin) and am just enjoying my low-calorie popsicle.

Plan for the Week:

1. Work out 4-5 days
2. LIMIT ALCOHOL
3. Track, Track, Track
4. Enjoy life

What are your health goals this week?

600 Calories

are gone. From working out. That's 3 nights so far this week.


And I've tracked everything I've eaten/drank/tried/nibbled/etc!


This is amazing progress!

Who doesn't feel like this sometimes!?!

Today I tracked everything, and with my extra points from working out, I am still under! And only went over my daily allowance by 2. 


Great improvement and it feels amazing!


Tonight I got to the gym 30 minutes before Zumba class, so I got changed and ready and hit the elliptical before class. Normally I'd want to sit on the couch. I felt inspired.


Tomorrow night is Week 1 Day 3 of Couch-2-5K and I can't wait! I've been looking up races lately and I'd love to do one before my wedding. I know I can, just got to stick to the program!


I'm on an exercise high right now and it feels so good to be treating my body nicely.

Where I'm heading...See you there!

The plan for the rest of the week and into the weekend is to:

• Keep Tracking Everything!
• Workout (Finish week 1 of C25k, and get in some exercise on Sat & Sun)
• Be conscious of snacks and drinking

End of Week 1 Recap/Start of Week 2

I always start out with the best of intentions. I seriously thought I'd blog almost everyday, but I didn't write even once.


Last week was hard. It was super grey, cloudy and rainy all week, which just affects me so negatively. I was in a serious funk. I didn't have the motivation to exercise (only 1 class all week!) or to eat anything healthy (I did try on this one!).


Then on Friday, I got some amazing news, my fiance's visa has been approved! AKA there will be a wedding and I need to look amazingggggg! He'll hopefully be here in Oct/Nov! :)


So week 1 passed, and I lose 0.0lbs. 


Week 2 started off great on Monday.


I planned, tracked and worked out. 


Tuesday morning started out great:


planned, tracked, looked up the resturant where I was going for dinner.


Thennnnn, I added drinks (tooo many) and snacks on a boat ride, and some delicious creamy food (courtesy of my bosses...thanks guys!). It was an overall great evening out with coworkers and bosses to celebrate a big month for us in August, but it reaked havoc on my diet.


I also didn't work out on Tuesday. I thought about getting up for 5:30am spinning, does that count?


This morning, I was craving grease. And my coworker came to the rescue with Mickey D's breakfast. Not so waist friendly either. And I remembered why I never get Mickey D's. 


After that, I got a nice little salad and hummus for lunch and then had a lean pocket for dinner, with a popsicle for dessert.


Not the best day overall, but a good start after last night.


Today I had a lot of stress/frustrations/anger/etc from my work day (lonnng story!), so it really pushed me in the gym tonight.


I recommitted to Couch 2 5K and I did week 1, day 2 tonight! Only 1 more day of week 1, which will be Friday after work.


I was doing really good at running/jogging/walking, but this week has been tough. I know it takes time, but I'd really like to get where I was before....sooner rather then later. 


So, thats the update for tonight. Tomorrow I want to go to the gym, and I'll probably take a class or do some strength training & abs. Maybe both. Definitely not nothing.

First Day

So far, so good.


Today I was on plan and filled! I didn't get in any exercise in, but I think dancing my bootay off last night counts (a little!). 


I started off the day with a yum-yumm breakfast of pancakes, fresh strawberry and some light V-Fusion juice! Very Stepford Wife fashion

My very stepford housewife breakfast

The rest of the day I did really good getting in fruits & veggies :) I made my delicious tuna and added in extra tomatoes and spinach!

I've felt pretty good today which is nice and I got to spend time with my niece which is always amazing! She's getting so big and it's so fun to run around after her (exercise? maybe....)!

I had dinner with her parents and grandparents and we had a little Labor Day style (indoor) barbecue--chicken, corn on the cob, pasta salad & whole wheat biscuits! It was yummmy!

Tomorrow my plan is to stick to eating health (& healthier then I did today) and get in some exercise!

I'm going to attempt to get up at 5am to go to spinning at 5:30 and then after work I definitely want to go to Zumba! I love that class with the right instructor and it feels like a little piece of Costa Rica in my daily life! 

So far, Day 1 is complete and I'm one day closer to sticking to my habits & making my weight-loss goals a reality! 

Blah...that's how I"m feeling

So lately I've been trying really hard to stick to working out by going to the gym 4-5 times a week for at least an hour, and really working on Weight Watchers and paying attention to how I ate.


And then I gained 2 lbs. And then with Hurricane Irene hitting and not having power and having to eat out a lot, I gained 4 more lbs. I'm beyond frustrated.


I've been trying to be really good at watching what I eat and working out and not using that exercise as an excuse to "eat a treat". 


However, even when I stuck to the plan perfectly and got in exercise, I wouldn't lose even 0.001 of a pound. And thats annoying.


I know it takes time. I know it takes energy and change and everything else.


But can't I see some type of result? Now? Even one pound. C'mon body. Work with me here. Please?


So whats the plan you ask?


For the next 30 days I'm going to:


1) Track every ounce, bite, morsel I put into my body.
2) Get in all my good stuff (water, vitamin, fruits & veggies)
3) Exercise 4-6 times a week (running, classes, strength)
4) Keep a log of how I'm feeling (lazy, tired, energetic, blah, etc)
5) Stop eating out so much (this helps my wallet as well as my waistline!)


And then I'm going to see if it works or not. If it doesn't, I'll need ideas. 


I'll post some daily menus (with pictures!) and what I've been doing for exercise, so you (my audience) can give me some helpful advice!


Everything will officially start on Monday, mostly because I need to get some yummy & healthy grub from the store and get to cooking easy to grab meals to take to work!


Hope everyone has a safe & happy Labor day! 

Uh oh

So first came the earthquake, and now a hurricane.


The earthquake didn't really affect me, just got out of work early. The hurricane, might do a little more damage as I live on the water. However, we haven't had problems before, even in Hurricane Isabelle where most of my friends and family were flooded (thanks to our housing being a little off the water!). 


But I've battened down the hatches and filling up jugs of water, so things should be fine.


This week I did really great going to the gym and eating healthy. Until yesterday. Stress got to me. But one day is one day and I'm back on track.


I got my strength training from moving the 39248230948 pieces of lawn furniture and tables and umbrellas at my Mom's house. 


The other night I took my first spinning classes and man did I sweat. And then my boo-tay hurt so bad the next day. Not like hurt from exercise but hurt from the dang seat. Why can't they be padded better? A nice fluffy pillowed-saddle sounds amazing. However, it kicked my butt and am definitely going to have to get into a routine of going to these classes (most are at 5:30 am, probably not going to those ones...).

How I felt, minus the cool lights! tiredddddd!

Well, time to go finish up everything that needs to be done here. Hope everyone can stay safe!

Oh Hello Again

I have a new blog name. And design. And motivation.


On Monday I signed up for the gym. Since then I have worked out for at least 45 minutes every night. I'm determined to make this continue.


I've also been paying a lot more attention to what I've been eating and when and why. 


I've got the motivation. I've got the tools. I've got to get skinny.


I always seem to find an excuse. It was so-and-so's birthday/bachelorette party/etc/etc/etc. I'm just going to work these "special" occasions into my healthy lifestyle better. Be it working out more or enjoying a much much much smaller portion of the special treat.


I have gained weight since I've been home from Costa Rica. And it has been super sad. 


I know part of it is because I'm not walking everywhere, and I just sit at a desk all day. 

However, my scale needs to not turn into this.

Now I know that's not going to happen overnight. But over a few months, yes. Few years, even more. So I want to stop it now.

I'm going to start sharing recipes (again) and what I'm finding has been working (or not) for me. Also, I'm using this to keep me accountable, so tell me if I start slacking (again).

What Happened?

To my motivation?


At first I was doing so great, and then something changed.


This week has been bad. Really bad. I ate pure crap, when I knew I was eating crap. I didn't work out. And I was stressed to the max from work.


I blame it on work.


The only salvation is that I have been tracking. All of it. Good & Bad. And looking up nutrition information online. Even if I still did order the worst choice. oops.


I'm going to run today. And do some kind of strength training (free weights). I just need to get back into it and stop being lazy or using excuses. I did great, I know I can do great, and I just need to stick with it!


To motivate me a litte more, I bought a groupon for bootcamp for a month! Classes are M-W-F & Sat! I'm really excited to have someone pushing me and working out with other people again. I am however SUPPPPPPER nervous about looking  like a fat, lazy person who can't even do a push-up. uh oh


My other motivation? MY WEDDING DRESS! It has officially been ordered! I wish I didn't have to wait until Oct, but it'll be great motivation to see how much I can lose from now until then, and then just have my Momma take it in! yay!


I've been trying to feel better about the skin I'm in at this moment, and work on my self-esteem. I've been looking for better fitting clothing and more flattering styles. I found this dress and I <3 it! It makes me feel great (almost as good as THE dress!)

So I'm off to go water my neighbors plants and then run (& hopefully not get sunburnt!). Time to take action!

Why thank you weekend...

....for being so tempting and making me want to drink (longest short work week ever) and eat like crap (TOM).


I have been good so far today!


I baked some FiberOne banana nut muffins this weekend for something quick to grab on the go and am going to make some healthy dinners this week. The lunch plan is salads and soup!


I'm going to committ to Couch 2 5k (again) starting today, around 6pm (hold me to this!)


I really want to take some before pictures so I can compare them as I go, as well as measurements. Sometimes I need a little more then just the scale (especially when it's not going down!).


Those will be posted when I find my camera cord :) i.e. today after I clean up everything!


How do you handle the weekends and not splurging all the time and working in exercise when you just wanna do nothing?




**UPDATE**: I did 20mins of pilates (thanks ondemand!) and then W1D1 of C25k! Feeling energized & accomplished, yet sleepy!

Post-run

Today I ended up with 5 extra points + 4 from working out. If you're not hungry, do you still try to eat atleast the daily? Or do you just try to rework your menus (full fat stuff instead of non/low)?

Day 1 Recap

So, today wasn't toooooooo bad.


I started off great, and then went to Target, got a new scale and some healthy foods for the weekend. Then I got Hostess Cupcakes.

Source

When I got home I made one of those bags for 2 and ate half with a diet Dr. Pepper. So, good dinner. I was filled.


And then, stuffed myself with the cupcakes. They shouldn't even have been in the basket. Ugh


To top it all off, I was like "ok Nicole, put on some exercise on demand and work it out!" then I found Secret Diary of a Call Girl aka my guilty pleasure.


So now I'm all caught up on season 4, still feeling blah from overeating (and btw, red lighting my points).


Before bed I will do something (right after the finale)!

Wedding Diet

Since being home I've been such a huge waste of a life...health wise anyway. I have a job after a week of being here (yay!), a car and have caught up with most of my back-home friends!

So life looks great. HOWEVER, I've gained like 10lbs. This has forced me to use that hard earned back in the workforce money.

I rejoined Weight Watchers today. I need to get serious about this.

I got a swift kick in the butt when I tried on wedding dresses the other night. While the dresses still looked great, I just wanna feel  as great as I look.

I've found the dress and I can't wait to walk down the isle and look amazing!

I haven't admitted this to many people, but I'm now at 173lbs. This needs to go down about, oh, let's just say 43lbs! When I came home I was at 162. HELLLLLLO Amazing food I haven't eaten in 2 years and no more walking everyday in the crazy sun!

Oh well. It happens. Atleast I'm taking control now :)

My plan of action is:

Stick to WW
Get in lots of exercise & tone it up!

While still enjoying being young and going out!

I wanna knock the socks off of Geiner's feet :)

Here's to a (healthier) me!

I'm back!

I'm officially in the U. S. of A for a little over a week now and things have been crazy!

Luckily I now have: a job, a part-time job and another job offer, as well as a new car, computer and camera! I'm on a rollllllllllll!

So now I just need to focus on unpacking and getting back on track.

Once I have a set schedule (with work and everything) I'll feel better about sticking to a plan!

Thanks for bearing with me these past few weeks...it's definitely been bittersweet, and I miss Costa Rica dearly, but thank goodness for skype and having an amazing & understanding fiance!!

Out of Town

I'm too stressed/busy/sick to worry about blogging right now.


I have 10 days left in Costa Rica, about 23093 projects to finish up, say my goodbyes, pack, get paperwork done AND try to get over a cold.


I will be back once I'm in the US. See you then!

Go Go Go

So I did so great on Monday and Tuesday...went for runs and stretched and got my sweat on.


Then the pereza (laziness) set in. I wanted to run, but I also wanted to sleep. I wanted to exercise, but I also didn't feel like having people look at me weird. 


Lame excuses, I know.


Today I was fully planning on going (really, I was!). And then the thunderstorms and rain set in, at about 12, and still haven't stopped. I normally like to go at about 4:30/5pm when it's a little cooler. 


Needless to say, I didn't go. Or do any other type of exercise. I did clean though! Thats a plus...a HUGE plus!


Tonight will be pretty interesting. There are fiestas in the school this weekend, and tonight they will be watching a movie, telling stories and then a lunada (no word, sorry!) hosted by yours truly.


At the lunada we will (hopefully) have a bonfire (but I doubt it) and play games, tell a ghost story and have games! We're also having the sexiest legs contest for men (my friends idea!). It should be pretty fun :)


So while browsing blogs, I found a really great one that is currently offering a challenge: 52 Days Til Summer Challenge! by Ashley at dancing through life. 


It's a challenge to remotivate yourself and remember why you wanted to lose weight in the beginning. I did kind of start this on May 1st by trying to recommit to exercise and healthy eating. 


So I'm going to do this challenge, and you all should check it out too!


To Start,


My reasons are:


1) Upcoming wedding
2) To be the healthiest me I've ever been
3) To feel comfortable in my own skin
4) To wear that beautiful bikini proudly
5) To be able to accept compliments (and know they're true!)


My commitments are:


1) Exercise, Exercise, Exercise. I want to make it atleast 4-5 workouts a week!
2) Pay attention to healthy eating. While this isn't the easiest here, it isn't the hardest thing either.
3) Starting working on getting rid of those negative thoughts! 


While I may be a little late starting on this, I did kinda start this week by updating my pages (check 'em out!).


I'm going to be seriously working on these 5 reasons (i.e. printing them out and putting them all around me) & also my commitments! It's time to get super serious and lose the gut!


Any healthy plans for your weekend? 

And then....

I slept...all morning.


Getting up at 5:30am with nothing to do is annoying. I walked up to the little store to buy milk, which hurt my legs (mostly thighs) even more and came home and made breakfast.


Breakfast was pretty yummy.


I made a smoothie with:


1 banana
1 tbs peanut butter
250ml skim milk
1 scoop chocolate flavored protein powder stuff
Ice


Blend and enjoy!


It's pretty filling, enough that it made me all comfty and coozy on my bed reading news and I fell asleep for 2 hours. I wasn't even that tired when I started reading. oh well.


Today has been pretty good so far! Left over veggie soup with 1/2 cup rice for lunch, then I'm going to make the tuna goodness and salad for dinner.


Hopefully the rain stops and I can go for a walk or something. Otherwise, I'll be doing a video without the sound in my house (gotta love old laptops where something breaks every other week!).


I made a goal this morning to NOT EVEN THINK of touching (or eating) the Easter candy, and so far so good! 


I've also decided to make a rewards system for myself, which is the following:


-5lbs: Manicure & Pedicure
-10lbs: New heels
-15lbs: Going out top (to rock with the heels!)
-20lbs: New & cute gym clothes
-25lbs: Spa Day (hopefully with some gfs)
-30lbs: New Tattoo (to Geiner's great dislike)
-35lbs/Goal: Bikini & Shopping Trip


These goals mean that:
 1) I need a good job, 
2) I need to start saving ASAP. 


So while these are my goals, they may have to wait until I'm employed to actually happen. 


Do you make goals for yourself to keep you motivated? What do you use as "rewards"?


PS--I'd like you to notice that I'm getting much better about blogging again. I just fell off the wagon for a little bit, it happens. I'm back and on track now! 

Success...kinda

Yesterday, after teaching 7 (completely insane and rowdry) kids an art program "Arte por la Paz" (Art for Peace) in the school, I walked up to the top of my town, visited a friend for about 20 mins and then...

WENT RUNNING! 

Now, this may be nothing for you runners out there, but it's a lot for me. I've never really enjoyed it, my knees tend to start hurting right away, I get out of breath, and I"m one of those people that sweats, like alot, alot. 

As I mentioned yesterday, I started doing the Couch to 5k program and I downloaded some podcasts that have good music and tell me when to run and when to walk (i.e. taking the thinking out of it) and they really help me!


So far I liked it (my legs didn't) but I really need to find a better place to run here. The sports field is muddy from all the rain and the roads are hilly (I'd prefer flat, but I would get some awesome legs!) and full of rocks and holes, and that makes me nervous. However, for now, it'll do!


Other then swimming, this is the only exercise I've found where all I focus on is my breathing (which I'm horrible at) and everything else on my brain just slips away. woohoo!


I'm even in "talks" with a friend about signing up for a 5k at the end of summer to really motivate me and keep going!


Now comes the "kinda" part, I did have to stop a few times, my stomach started hurting and I got a side stitch. So it was a productive workout, but I need to work on these things. Alot of it is breathing and what I'll eat before I go running, which I researched and now have ideas of good, protein-filled, light meals to eat!


So, for anyone else you'd like to start running, here's the link to Couch to 5k!


That's all I have for now. Maybe more will happen throughout my day (it's only 7:30 here!)

Personal Challenges

Upon blog browsing, I found this great article on my friends tumblr page and I wanted to share it with you. 


I am also going to make this a personal challenge to myself to complete these within this year! There aren't alot, but I want them to become habits, rather then one time things I just do.


What do you all think?

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.                                                                           
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did in 2010.
7. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
8. Sleep for 7 hours.
9. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

1. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
3. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
6. Dream more while you are awake.
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
8. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more.
14. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

1. Call your family often.
2. Each day give something good to others.
3. Forgive everyone for everything.
4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
7. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

1. Do the right thing!
2. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
3. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
4. The best is yet to come.
5. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Here's the source!

Also, as promised (to myself) I am starting Couch 2 5k today after I teach in the school and before english class. It needs to cool down a little bit and it'll be better then hanging out and eating junk food! Results to come tomorrow on how I feel :)