Here, there, and a little bit of everywhere...

So far in December...

1. Our Shout service was featured in the local newspaper for celebrating our 10 year anniversary. They did a great job pulling together all the information that I and our friend, Jeff, sent them and used a picture that Brooklyn took of us on my iPhone.


2. I got a new hoodie from Heart in Sol. I LOVE it. It may or may not have been inspired by this post.

3. On December 1, this cutie turned 8 months old. Cute cute cute!! Can't stand the cuteness. Don't tell my kids but I think I show people her picture more than I do B & J's pictures. Oops. :-)

4. On Monday night, my mom and I volunteered with ChildFund, and we got to see Donny and Marie Osmond for free. It was actually a pretty great show (and I'm not just saying that because I have pretty much wanted to be Marie Osmond since I was 5 and saw her in a televised Disney Christmas parade).

5. Our new family pictures were delivered, and I was able to finally rid my dining room of some ghosts of chubbiness past. I figured out that we are about 100 pounds lighter in our new pictures 3 years later. It's been a long journey (one that you have all traveled with me), and i'm pretty darn happy where we have ended up.

Hope everyone's Decembers have been going fabulously! Lots more programs and events and parties coming up soon. 'Tis the season for craziness!

Because plain old walking was getting kinda boring...

Quick Timeline Re-Cap for You:
Saturday, September 21- I injured my back.
September 21 and 22- I laid around.
Monday, September 23- Saw the doctor and got placed on modified activity.
Tuesday, September 24- I started walking.
Friday, September 27- I started getting antsy.
Sunday, September 29- Antsy evolved to boredom; Sent Chad to Target.
Monday, September 30- Started my FitBit adventure.

What's a Fitbit, you may ask?
Well, a Fitbit is one of the things that saved me from Walking Boredom.

Yes, I had some great walks with friends and talks with God while on modified activity. But you have to remember. I was coming off of a high intensity training program where I was doing lengthy planks, running crazy distances, and Zumba-ing my little a-- off. Walking wasn't cutting it.

But Competitive Walking?
Now, we're talking.

Fitbit is great because it is not only a pedometer, but it's also a social media experience. Fitbit allows you to have "friends" linked together so that you can see, daily, how many steps your friends have taken and also how you rank up against your friends in a 7 day span.

There are many different kinds of Fitbits. I have the basic model- $59.99 at Target, Best Buy, etc. It wears easily on the pant pocket or actually even attached to the bra.
 

(not my pants nor my fitbit but it was easier lazier to Google an image than stand up and take a pic)

 

 

It really is fun, as far as walking goes. You are encouraged to park farther away from entrances, take an extra trip up the stairs, and even run an extra half mile when exercising. You figure out that you walk about 6-7 miles a day in a Disney theme park. And that when you have a day of traveling to Hickory and sitting in meetings for work, you can barely break a mile.

 

But wait, there's more! Remember, I mentioned something about "ranking?"

 

If the "warm fuzzy feeling of being in first place" isn't enough for you, then you can do what I did. Participate in a healthy (no pun intended) competition each month. Last month, my Heart in Sol friends, with Chad and I, initiated a "Winner Dinner." Meaning the bottom half of our group buys dinner for the top half of the group based on average steps per day.

 

Can you believe that I was only 250 steps/day from being in the top half in October?! That's NOTHING in terms of a 10-14,000 step day. You better believe I now take those extra trips up the stairs and to the mailroom at work when I can. I was sooooo close. November is mine, baby!

 

To provide a source of encouragement (with a side of entertainment), we formed a Facebook group where we can taunt, cheer, make excuses, and post updates like this.

Thank goodness for screen shots. Otherwise, I would have never been able to capture the 3.5 minutes that I was in first place.

It really has been a great investment. You are so much more aware of your activity level. You can set goals, and your Fitbit will even have a little party for you when you reach those goals.

As the holiday season approaches and you start to think about what you could possibly tell your family to get you as a gift, think about a Fitbit.

And then friend me. I'll totally cheer you and taunt you.

But I'm not buying you dinner. Because as I type this blog, I am currently walking in place.

Zumba Etiquette 101 (OR What the instructors want to tell you but are too nice to say outloud)

This post is brought to you as a friendly public service announcement. Names and places have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Oh, heck, who I am kidding? Y'all know where I Zumba and with whom I Zumba.]

I LOVE it when friends and family come to try out Zumba at Heart in Sol. I get that nervous "Oh, I hope they liked it" after they come to their first class. And then I get the relieved "Yay! They came back!" feeling when they come back for a second and third and tenth time. I know it takes courage to step into your first Zumba class. And most of you know it took me about 4 months after receiving my Living Social gift to take that plunge myself, and I've been doing it about 18 months now pretty religiously. There is almost always a new person whenever I attend a Zumba class and, whether I know them or not, I get those "yay for you! hope you have fun! don't be scared!" thoughts that I wish I could telepathically send across the room to them.

Though I am obviously not an instructor, I do spend quite a bit of time with a few licensed instructors, and we have gotten into some great conversations recently about the fact that there is an unspoken "Zumba Etiquette."

So, humor me for a few minutes as I walk you though some Zumba Class Rules to help you (and more importantly, those around you) have a most enjoyable experience...

Zumba Class Rule #1 (and my favorite):


Zumba Class Rule #2 (my own expansion of Rule #1): Don't worry about what you look like because no one is looking at you anyway.
[Seriously, the class is so fast moving and action-packed that no one has time to worry about what you look like because they are trying to keep themselves in check.]

Zumba Class Rule #3: If you want to claim a "good spot" then get to class early.
[It's first come, first served, people. You come in late, you get what's leftover. Period.]

Zumba Class Rule #4: Respect the "Markers."
[Building on Rule #3, for those people who were able to come early and "claim" a preferred spot with a water bottle/hairbrush/jacket/tennis shoe/rubber band/whatever, please be mindful of that claimed spot and find another one. Seriously.]

Zumba Class Rule #5: Respect the "Personal Space" of your fellow attendees.
[And building on rules #3 and #4, once you find your alternate space, please make sure you have left enough room that you are not invading the personal space of another Zumba attendee. There is a lot of booty shaking and shimmying going on, and you need some arm and leg room. Trust me.]

Zumba Class Rule #6: Respect the "Personal Space" of your instructor.
[Just as important as in class rule #5, the instructor also needs his/her space. Imagine a fishing dock coming out in front of the instructor about 3-4 feet. Avoid this area. If they move forward when you move forward...Do you see where this is going??? Give them room to get their own shimmying and body rolling on. This could also be referred to as the "splash zone" in some instructors' classes. For realz.]

Zumba Class Rule #7: When the instructor says to "wooo," you "wooo." And "wooo" hard.
[Speaking of instructors, I am just in complete awe of them, and they have my utmost respect. They spend so much time and energy into crafting the very best 45-60 minute class that they can. They give 110% to their attendees, so how sad is it when they only get 57% back? They want to see you having fun. They want to see smiles and hear you having fun. We need to give that back to them. So, just "wooo" people.]

[Side note about verbal participation in class: Wooo-ing and yow-ing is great. Talking to your neighbor about where your husband is taking you for dinner this weekend or gasp, even YAWNING during class, is not.]

Zumba Class Rule #8: "Front and Center" is not where you start off your Zumba experience.
[While the instructors love a good, enthusiastic participant (see rule #7), if it's your first time attending a class, front row center may not be the place for you to start. There are other people in that class who want to see what's going on, and they don't need to be trying to look around you to get their sights set on the instructor. It's harsh, I know. But I'm just being honest. Not to mention, having a first-timer all up in the instructor's personal space (see rule #6) can be very distracting to them.]

Zumba Class Rule #9: If you are trying to be perfect, you probably aren't having fun.
[This statement was said out loud in one of my first classes and I just KNEW it was directed at me. I took it to heart and never forgot it. Your Zumba class is not Dancing with the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance. Don't stress over getting all the moves right- especially your 1st, 2nd or even 10th time. Just have fun. Do your best, but don't stress. 'Cause remember rule #2.]

So, whether you have been taking classes for years, just started recently, or have been tossing that thought around your head for a while, trust me when I say that both the instructor and the folks around you will appreciate the effort you make in following the above rules.

And when all else fails, enjoy that unexpected solo and give a big 'ole loud "woo!" 'Cause you are burning some crazy calories while having the time of your life.

Seriously.

Goal Check!

How's everyone out there doing on their goals?

Hmmmm???

I've set some new ones the last few weeks so I wanted to share.

I told myself "no running" until November just to give my body more time to heal and get us back from Disney. Well, we got back from Disney on October 27....and I went running that afternoon. [insert sheepish grin here]

But in my defense, I did Couch to 5K Week 1 Day 1 so it was only like 90 seconds of running. Like maybe 4 different times.

But it felt goooooood. :-)

So, the last week, I have done three short run/walks, using the first few weeks of the Couch to 5K plan. So far, so good. Keeping my fingers crossed. And my bag of ice handy.

My first goal is to be back running 5K's by the end of 2013, so I think I am going to register for the Running of the Balls 5K run with Chad and my Heart in Sol family. It's scheduled for mid-December. This gives me about 6 weeks of training. I'm feeling pretty confident about this one.

My second goal is to run the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K in Charleston on April 5. This one we have already registered for, and I am super excited. (I mean, a trip with hubby to Charleston is included, so how awesome is this?) However, a bit more nervous and not as confident, yes. But, excited nonetheless. I'll do the Bridge to 10K training for that one starting January and should be good (and well-conditioned) for this race. Should be. Hope to be. Pray I'll be.

So, have you all set any goals recently? Let me know about them, so I can cheer you on! Setting goals is the key to success, so don't waste any time establishing both short term and long term goals for yourself.

And let me know if you want to go running with me in December or April. :-)

How to gain only 2.6 pounds in a week (and other helpful Disney vacation tips)...

We are back from a fabulous vacation to sunny, warm Orlando, Florida! I'll tell you what...hitting up Florida in late October, right when the weather in NC is getting cold and dreary, was the best thing to give me one last bit of "spring/summer" before fall and winter hits us hard.

We traveled for 6 days with 8 people. I'm sure it's no surprise to you all that I have some words of wisdom for you. Especially if you are planning a future trip similar to one we just took.

Keep in mind that there are a million and one ways to take a Disney vacation (and a million and one websites and blogs to read about this). This is just one way. But since it worked for us, I thought I would share. :-)

1. Fly: We've done the driving thing in a 12 passenger van that took 2 days, an overnight in Jacksonville, and multiple tanks of gas. It is so worth the teeny bit of extra cost to fly. We drove one hour to a nearby airport to get a direct flight.

Which leads me to Tip #2...
 2. Get a Direct Flight: It's only 1 hour and 40 minutes of flying (translates to just two episodes of a show on the portable DVD player or a few bracelets made on the Rainbow Loom). Make sure your flight is direct. No changing planes, no rushing to get to a gate that is at the opposite end of the airport. Less chance of lost luggage. No connection in Atlanta- need I say more?


3. Have Low Expectations for Pictures: The kids are excited, they don't wanna sit still, but you are all together in one place with someone else to take the pics. Just take plenty of them and one is bound to come out. And bribe with money, as needed.

4. The Smart Phone is Your Friend: When waiting in lines, waiting on others riding rides, waiting for meals....did I mention there is a bit of waiting in Disney?

Speaking of waiting....
5. Go "Off Season": There will be waiting no matter what time of year you visit, BUT there are definitely times that are less busy than others. Late October was awesome both weather-wise and crowd-wise.

6. Invest in a Stroller: In our normal life, my 8 year old and 4 year old do not use a stroller. However, in our normal life, my children do not start their day at 7am and end at 9pm with about 7-8 miles of walking, ginormous meals, a few live action shows, thrilling rides, and ice cream treats in between. I was all about "meltdown prevention" this week, so it was well-worth the $31 a day for a double stroller rental that the kids could use at their leisure (and a few times that I mandated). They were happy, and we were happy. And Brooklyn was not the oldest kid rolling around in a stroller, so I felt better as a parent. I wised up Day 3 and got the "multi-day pass" that saved me about $18 over the last 3 days. By having the stroller in the park it definitely allowed the kids to have enough energy to be able to walk back to the bus stop and then back to our room at the end of each of the long days.


7. Use Afternoon Ice Cream as a Bribe...In the Stroller: Want to sneak in a few adult rides? Visit a few counties in Epcot? Promise Disney ice cream for later in the day. Play that card too early and you are screwed for the rest of the 10 hour day.

8. Trust in the Disney Magic that is the NEW "Magic Band": It's your room key, your park pass, your FastPass ticket, your charge card, and your photo pass all in one. It pretty much does everything for you except tell time and knock that piece of cheesecake out of your hand. Disney has it going on, ya'll. I will always recommend booking your trip through a Disney resort. (We love the Pop Century resort, which also happens to be the cheapest. Fantastic room, great commissary, and extra exercise because your bus stops are the farthest from the park entrances.) We did the Disney package with the Quick Service Meal Plan, and because of the dates we traveled, the meal plan was actually included free this time around. Saved us around $500-600 for our family of 4- which was awesome, needless to say. The meal plan is good anyway, even if you pay for it, because food is paid for up front, and I didn't have to play the daily game of "how hungry are my children and will they share or will they waste food?"


9. Speaking of Food....: I wasn't kidding when I said in the title I gained 2.6 pounds this past week. Despite walking 7-8 miles a day (thanks, Fitbit!), I did pack on a few due to eating out for 6 1/2 days straight and enjoying desserts and snacks that I don't ever see in my normal life. But, it actually could have been a lot worse, and I am confident that things will "level out" this week and I should be down again by next week. So my first "food tip" would be to share snacks so you aren't indulging alone. Though I put a good hurting on this funnel cake below, I did make sure everyone in our party took a piece (or two). I also resisted the "free soft drinks" and focused on mostly drinking bottled water and my one morning coffee. We packed "breakfast type" snacks so we didn't have to have a full breakfast meal, and I really enjoy these "Breakfasts to Go" packets. The desserts/sweets were my weakness, especially since a dessert came with each of our two meals a day. But sometimes I would get one dessert and one fruit cup for Chad and I to share. Or, I would have Brooklyn choose the dessert, and we would share since the kids meals did not come with a dessert. No afternoon ice cream for me either. And I tried to limit fried foods to one meal a day, too. Nothing fool proof, and I really didn't stress too much about it (which was a success in itself), but little things do matter and every little bit helps.
...like even getting two cupcakes for 8 people to share for Jake's birthday.

And my final tip for you all....

10. Bring Grandparents: I know this may not be possible for everyone, but I have to say....Grandparents are the BEST. Having 6 adults to 2 kids was by far the best ratio ever. And it really was a fantastic trip with little to no stress. We didn't rush, we didn't scramble, we didn't worry. We were all able to just BE (you know, my new mantra for this fall).



I'd do it all over again....and we will. I can't wait to plan our next trip for 2016!

You've gotta set goals....Trust me.

Ok- so, we've talked about exercise, and we've gotten real about the diet. What else is there to consider when you want to make a better "you?"

Goals.

You have to have goals when you are doing anything in life. And losing weight/getting healthier is no different.

In my profession with the Girl Scouts, we teach the girls all about goal setting in many aspects...focusing a lot on our fantastic cookie program and how setting goals is not only a great life skill to learn but also a fool-proof way to increase your chances for success.

So, when I started this journey three years ago, I luckily practiced what I preached.

But, when I started setting goals, did I say "I would like to wear a bikini in three summers."?

Nope.

I started small and attainable and in a shorter time frame. Because setting long term goals is great, but you need benchmarks to get you there.

In August 2010, I joined my office's Biggest Loser Challenge. I weighed 188.0 pounds. (Now, don't focus so much on my weight here because you just can't compare apples to apples with people. We are all different body types and compositions, but for the sake of comparing and tracking my progress, I'll use my weights.)

For a 5'3" gal, 188 pounds is not good. In fact, I should have listened to my Wii fit when I would get on it and it actually groaned.

And then said "That's obese."

Jerk.

I think you need some visual aids for the sake of comparison, as well. And for the sake of entertainment value. So, I went on my Facebook profile and used only pictures under the album "Photos of You" because those, my friends, tell the real story. These are the pics where you are tagged whether you like it or not, and that all the internet can see. They show the good, the bad, and the chubby.


This was July 2010.

And just another one from that summer for good measure....and Heidi looks super cute here.

My 1st goal, by the end of the 15 weeks of the work Biggest Loser challenge, was to be to my pre-Jake weight- 173 pounds (after all, he was a year old by then). Within the first few weeks of the challenge, I started seeing great results, and by Week 7 at the halfway mark, I was 171 pounds (2 pounds under the pre-Jake goal).

So, instead of saying "yippee. done. did it. check that off," I quickly set a 2nd goal for the end of the challenge...pre-Brooklyn weight. This was 160 pounds and I just thought, oh my goodness, that would be a miracle, but I gotta try!

By the end of the 15 weeks, I weighed 158.5 pounds. Crushed that 2nd goal, lost a total of 29.5 pounds, and won the challenge.

Well, then I thought, hmmmm....

Wedding weight (from 2002) was not confirmed but if I had to guess, it was around 145.0.
13.5 pounds? Sure! So, Goal #3 was set.

I continued with My Fitness Pal, introduced running, and eventually started Zumba classes. My weight went down and it went up. It was a roller coaster and a pretty difficult 18 months or so of trying to figure out what the "magic formula" was. I had hit a wall and didn't know what to do.

I realize that my mistake was not setting a time frame for my goal. I didn't have an end- a "be 145.0 by this date."

And then I didn't have a plan for maintenance. So when I would creep towards the 145 goal sometimes I would land there briefly, but then slide back up again.

But I felt good, I was happier than I was at 188, and life went on.

But then the weight creeped up more...and I slide back up into the 150's.

And I knew I needed something more. I needed a professional. I needed that accountability.(Insert Heart in Sol Love Story here)

So, I started working with that oh, so wonderful professional and the first thing he had me do was write down my goals.

I'm not sure what he thought when I wrote on my paper "I want to have Heather Locklear's arms and shoulders."

But he humored me, and off we went on this crazy journey the last 7 months that's taken me to where I am today. I weighed in with him in March 2013 at 151/152 pounds. My goal was to get to my optimal BMI- somewhere in the 125-135 range.

I achieved that goal, and as of today, I am happily sitting in the 120's. I've lost over 64 pounds and went from an Old Navy size 16 jean to an Old Navy size 4 jean.

It's not about the number. It's how you feel. BUT, I had spent so much time saying "My clothes still feel fine/I feel OK/It's not that bad" that I began to really just push out reality and ignore the truths.

I'm where I need to be. I'm done losing weight, but the maintenance journey has only just begun. My new goal in life is to continue to live healthy, teach my children to live and eat healthy, and make sure physical activity (both light and heavy) is a part of our daily/weekly lives. My weight loss goal has been accomplished, but I have been entrusted with two small lives that need to learn the right way how they should live. Before it's too late.

And maybe now that I have Heather Locklear arms, I can start working on my Fergie abs.

Next month.

"Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym."

Back in August, I gave y'all my Eat This, Not That words of advice. It really entertained me probably more than it educated you, but nonetheless, it showed you a little bit into my "world."

I've had a few people ask me over the last several months what I am doing about my diet. Honestly, I didn't have much to say to them. I knew all the "right" things to say, but I had really used exercise as such a crutch to eat whatever I wanted (within reason) and still maintain/even lose weight. I was talking the talk....just not 100% walking the walk.

But we all know where that got me now, don't we?

But, I was jerked back in line, and in the last three and a half weeks, I have had to be really careful about what I was eating....because smallest pants have been bought and rings have been resized. There is no option to go backwards. So, I went back to the basics.

I will say it again and again that My Fitness Pal and I are BFF's. It helps keep me accountable and educates me on everything that I am putting in my body.

Because, I don't know if you all know this, but...

It's true. You could work out all day everyday, but if you are continuing to eat c.r.a.p. then you are doing yourself NO GOOD.

We've revamped the way we eat in our house. I used to be able to grocery shop once a week (Fridays) and be good for the whole week. Why? Because we were eating a bunch of processed, boxed, canned, packaged, EASY foods. And because we probably snuck in a few dinners out here and there, too.

Now, I have discovered (the expensive way, might I add) that fruits and veggies go bad. Quick. Dinners have to be planned well and we have to stick to the plan. Jake and I usually make a Harris Teeter run mid-week for more produce. I try and use Pinterest for meal planning (and just try to ignore my yummy "Sweet Treats" board that has sit there untouched for a looooong time).

So....what do we eat?

Breakfast- I love the Muller yogurts with fruit and the Chobani flip cups. I also like a good Quaker oatmeal but those are high calorie so I try to eat those on the days when I know I am getting cardio later that day. I shoot for a sugar free flavored creamer and two Equals in my one cup of coffee, so that my breakfast lands around 200 calories.

Morning Snack- Fruit- banana, grapes, apple, etc; Or I even get something from my lunch box like baked chips and salsa. I try to keep this snack around 100 calories.

Lunch- Leftover dinner (if it was reasonable); We are eating a lot of salads. I have found at Sam's the Olive Garden dressing and croutons. If you use 2 cups of tossed salad, 6 croutons, 6 black olives, and one tablespoon of dressing, it is around 150 calories and tastes JUST like you were at the OG. Holla! Sometimes I will have a yogurt for lunch if I did oatmeal for breakfast. Lunch usually runs me anywhere from 400-600 calories. I shoot for the lower but sometimes end with the higher (depending on what leftover dinner I ate).

Afternoon Snack- More fruit; Maybe a granola bar because I am usually craving something sweet but they are so high calorie, so sometimes I just opt for two mini Kit-Kat's and end up around 90 calories. Winner! :-)

Dinner- See my Pinterest Boards titled "Coming to a Kitchen Near You" or "Stick a Fork in it." All excellent choices. I try to eat about 600-800 calories for dinner and eat as early as we can. If its a higher calorie meal, then I just eat less and walk away after the first portion and start cleaning the kitchen and pack lunch for the next day. We've tried to replace our boxed rices with sweet potatoes and the canned veggies with steamed or roasted vegetables. Lots more boneless, skinless chicken and pork and less ground beef. Cabbage has become pretty fun, too.

Water- Water intake is soooo important. My boyfriend, Chris Powell, says you should drink half your weight in ounces. So, a 150 pound person should drink 75 ounces of water. I wanted to make water drinking fun, so we all got different colored Camelbak water bottles at Target. Ok, it's not like "OMG, this is the funnest thing ever," but more like "I feel very accomplished when I drink my three required bottles."

Other Drinks- There are none. Sorry to burst your bubble, but besides my cup of coffee, I really only drink water. I should be better about milk. But no juice, no soda, no diet drinks, no tea......I mean, in rare cases I will have one, but I can probably count on one hand over a 2-3 week time the "other drinks" that I may have. I gave up alcohol a long time ago because I would much rather chew empty calories than drink them (see Kit-Kat reference above).

All in all, I shoot for 1200-1400 calories each day. That should keep me on track weight-wise, regardless of my exercise for the day.

I hope this helps some of you.

I am by no means a nutritionist, a trainer, or a dietician.

But I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm a working mom that has seen success. I've learned some things and I have made some mistakes. I've seen great results, but a lot of it has to do with having a pretty awesome support system that keeps me in check. And a smart phone.

I've found things that work for us in the "real world."

But I am always learning.

And as I keep on learning, I'll keep on sharing.

I may not be Superwoman...

...but I am One Tough Cookie.

If we are friends on Facebook, then many of you may have heard about my unfortunate run-in with my mortality last weekend.

That's a bit dramatic, I know. But saying it like that is much better than the truth.

Which is that I am kind of an idiot and my body said, to quote my trainer, "Slow your roll."

And that it did when I injured my back in Zumba last Saturday morning.

It took me a few days to put the pieces together as to why exactly I hurt myself doing something I've done a million times before.

But that's just it. I've done it a million times before. And many days in a row. And without rest.

To recap: Friday, I ran 9 miles on the treadmill. (The weather was iffy. And I got excited thinking about watching TWO episodes of Melrose Place that afternoon so I didn't mind.) That night, I found myself in a random push up/plank contest with my parents and Chad. And then Saturday morning I went to Zumba. A lot of exercise with not a lot of rest in between. So, something happened when I twisted, I felt a strain, and thus found myself at the doctor Monday with a slight bulging disc and on 10-14 days of restriction.

So, I've had a lot of time to think. You know, being laid out on ice on my back and all.

I started my thinking and processing with looking back at my activity level the past 5 weeks. It was quite shocking actually. Since August 19, I had only one day that I did not work out. One. There have been many weeks this summer where I worked out 7 days a week. And at the very least, 5-6 days. But honestly, I didn't even realize it. I would weight train two days a week and Zumba two days a week. And then run 2-3 days a week. Different stuff all the time, but pretty high impact stuff. And stuff I truly enjoy doing, so it didn't seem like "work." Or exercise.

But, even with exercise, there is definite truth of "too much of a good thing."

A week ago, I would have swore up and down that I wasn't "obsessed" with fitness. I had goals to reach, I reached them, and now, by God, I have to maintain them. I was just working hard. No biggie. I mean, I was eating well. And even sometimes eating not so well, so you couldn't accuse me of having any sort of diet complex.

But, y'all, looking back, I had an exercise complex. I was obsessed. And if I am being honest with myself, I still am obsessed. Because right now I am having withdrawals. I was depressed all weekend being inside when I would have loved to have been running outside. Or even just playing outside with the kids. I've gone longer bouts than this without Zumba (vacations, holidays, etc) but just the fact that I am not ALLOWED to go to class while it goes on without me makes me sad. And angry. And then depressed again.

But I'm here to say that I am so grateful that I appear to be on the mend. I walked two times this week (with doctor's blessing) but otherwise, I am taking this very slow. I am right on track to be back in the saddle next week slowly easing back into activities. I know things could have gone very different. And based on all the (much appreciated) personal stories on Facebook shared with me, I know I am very lucky.

And I'm not stupid anymore. I know this was a wake up call. I needed to slow down. I needed to rest. And I needed to get myself back on track.....not fitness-wise, but priority-wise.

God sent me a message this week.

I need to shift my priorities. I need to take time for myself, yes. But I can't use exercise as an excuse to eat cake. Or Sweet Frogs fro-yo. Every day.

I need to have balance. A good diet, a moderate exercise routine, time with my family, and time with Him. I need to refocus in general. Not only do I always squeeze in exercise, but I am always moving, in general. I can't sit down at home...there's always dishes to wash, laundry to fold, closets to clean, light bulbs to replace. But this week, I laid on the couch. I had conversation with my husband. I helped Brooklyn with her homework. And I snuggled Jake.

I ate responsibly since I didn't have the "crutch" of exercise. I drank 64 ounces of water everyday. I tried to look positively at my situation. And I didn't try to be Superwoman.

As of last week, I had reached a lot of my fitness goals (which I'll talk more about in a future post), but obviously I still have a lot to learn.

But I am a willing student and listener.

Because this was the wake up call I needed.

I'm just glad I picked up the phone.

Eat this, Not that (The Jaclyn Edition)

I get lots of questions about my weight loss...mostly, "What do you do?" When I respond, "Diet and Exercise" a lot of times I get a good "Oh." I think sometimes people really do think that there is a miracle solution that is quick and easy.

But unfortunately, until I find that quick and easy miracle, it's Diet and Exercise for me. All day. Every day.

I've done a good deal of journaling about my exercise.

Now, it's time to talk food.

It's a never-ending battle journey with food for me. And I am prepared to deal with this for the rest of my life.

And because I know this, I try fun and exciting ways to still have "treats" in my life.

I feel guilty when people see me out in public and I'm eating ColdStone ice cream or a juicy burger.

But many don't know the "back story" when they see me out eating those things. There was most likely lots of juggling of calories (light lunch, basically eating like a rabbit with fruits and veggies), lots of sweating at training or Zumba, and yes, I will probably be going over calories for the day.

But that's ok. Because I'm human. And it's OK.

It's O.    K.

So, here are some "tricks" to help you cut some calories, but still maintain some sort of normalcy. I am in no way a dietician, a trainer, or an expert on any of this.

But I am a full time working mother of two who has to do what she can the best she can. I don't have time to make pasta out of a spaghetti squash, and I really think my kids will tell the difference between potatoes and cauliflower. So, I have to work with what I've got for right now. And maybe in the future we will try new things. [And my trainer is out of town this week. Otherwise, I bet he would kill me for what I am gonna tell y'all.]

So, let's get started.

What Southerner doesn't love this?

Love me some chicken and biscuits. And dirty rice. And seasoned fries.

But a two piece meal at Bojangles with seasoned fries and a biscuit is about 1006 calories.

But, here's an alternative for you.

Remember my crock pot? Though it does hibernate in the summer, I do pull it out every now and then and cook up some chicken legs in the summer time.

Pinterest has some great recipes and here is an easy one.

http://pinterest.com/pin/99360735500167749/

By making our own chicken legs at home, two-three chicken legs in the slow cooker is about 225 calories. Then, we swing by Bojangles on the way home from church and pick up individual sides of dirty rice (165 calories) and green beans (35 calories). [Sorry, no biscuit, but I usually get one for the kids and take a small bite before handing it over.]

Now, that new meal is around 400 calories (425 with your biscuit bite). Saving you over 600 calories.

See? It's fun, right?

Next up.

Coming home from the beach, there is a Hardees on every corner and if you end up like us, you miss the last busy restaurant stop and end up ONLY seeing Hardees to stop for lunch and a potty break.

The best advice I can offer you here?

Order the turkey burger (460 calories) and a side salad (120 calories no dressing). This meal is only 580 calories as opposed to a Bourbon burger, fries, and a coke which is 1600 calories. And just don't taste your husband's real burger and the turkey burger isn't all that bad.


Ok....moving right along to the question of "How can I eat what I REALLY want to eat?"

I love Moe's. And I really don't want a naked burrito. I want the real deal. A real burrito.

So, I get one.
But, did you know that by simply ordering the Joey Jr. with chicken, lettuce, and rice and no sour cream or guacamole (460 calories) instead of the full-sized Joey (about 700 calories for the same ingredients), you save about 240 calories? [Don't add the cheese either (you can't really taste it anyway) and you can save another 70 calories.]

And try to portion out your chips. But I know that's hard.

I LOVE chips.

But, I'm not eating these chips...

My absolute favorite snack are these chips...
And this salsa...
16 chips and 2 tablespoons of salsa is 180 calories. And it's delish.


Ok...on to my nemesis. My kryptonite.

Cookout Milkshakes.

We just have to stay away. Far far away.

But this week, we pulled out my Magic Bullet and made fruit smoothies.

Definitely a MUCH better choice.

Especially when you look up an Oreo milkshake and see that a 20 ounce milkshake is about 1200 calories. Because each Oreo they put in it is 53 calories. EACH Oreo.

So, fruit it is!



Finally, it's all about the drinks for me.

For me, my general rule is "I want to chew my calories when it comes to meals, so when it comes to beverages, no calories."

So, when I started this weight loss journey....seriously started....I gave up all calorie-filled drinks.

No soda.
No juice.
No alcohol.

Pretty much ever.

I don't do well with drinking milk, but I do make sure I eat a yogurt every day to get my calcium.

And it's a lot...A LOT...of water.

Hopefully this helps you out in helping you make smarter choices when it comes to meals.

Truly the best thing you can do is pack your lunches for work and cook dinner at home. Avoid the "inner aisles" at the grocery store, stick to the outer aisles, and really work that produce section well. [A smart man once told me that the sooner something goes bad, the better it is for you.]

Keep track of your calories if you can. With my current weight and my goals, I have to stay around 1200 calories for the day. I love My Fitness Pal and it's a great tool to keep with me at all times and keep me in check throughout the day.

I'll share some of my tips and tricks with MFP soon. But if you have a smart phone and can download the app today, do it now. Don't wait. I'll be back soon.

Losing weight on a budget? Yep, me too.

I had such a great response yesterday to this post about my personal training experience, that I wanted to write a follow up.

I feel like I needed to offer a Part 2.

An alternative.

A "just in case personal training is not an option for you right now financially or you don't live close to Heart in Sol." :-)

So, like most of my other posts about weight loss and healthy living, I'll start with a "before pic".

You know, so you can see how far we've come from here...

Beach Trip 2010


...to here.
Beach Trip 2013


Here's another one for you. I like to call this, on the left, my "TMZ Picture." You know, where you get caught in the worst.pose.ever. and have no idea the camera is on you.

Yeah.



 

 

 



 

But I digress...

So, again, not everyone has access to this guy...

 

So, sometimes, you have to be creative. And it sometimes requires some trial and error.

 

Like maybe you need to just start with either diet or exercise. Pick one. Just one.

 

For me, when I started my weight loss journey in 2010, I didn't think my life having two small kids would be conducive to a regular exercise routine. (Stay with me now....I know now this was completely a wrong way of thinking, but it's how I felt at the time and I am sure many of you are feeling the same way right now.)

 

So, I picked diet. And started tracking calories on My Fitness Pal. It's super easy with a smart phone and the app. But you can also use the online option. Its a great way to introduce portion control, making smart choices, and most importantly, AWARENESS into your daily diet.

 

Then, I introduced exercise.

 

Ya'll remember how excited I was to get this? This was back in 2008 and I did use Ellie for a while. Not regularly by any means, and looking back I feel like if I could read a novel while on her, I probably wasn't working as hard as I could have been working. We had a good run- ha- but I did send her off to a new home last week as she has not been used in a while.

 

Cost? About $350. Worth spending at the time, and definitely got my money's worth over 5 years, but I'm not sure that many of you are wanting to throw down that kind of cash right now. If you have $350 laying around, put it towards training with a professional and run for free outside.

 

But back to cost effective methods...

 

Something came over me in spring 2012 when I decided I wanted to do P-90X. It was a great experience, but I was so tired of hearing the same recorded jokes over and over again. And I had no one telling me that I was doing things right or wrong. But it was a great intro to "hard core" exercise and I am glad I did it.

 

Cost? Free...because we borrowed the DVD's. Don't buy them. Find a friend and borrow like I did. Then it's worth it.

 

[Here's in my time line where Zumba was introduced to me and I started dabbling in it. No obsession at this point, but definitely a love was blossoming.

 

Cost? $20 Living Social Deal. Thanks, Mom and Dad.]

 

So, when P-90X was over, I was hearing great things about Jillian and her 30 Day Shred. And I really loved that, too. It had a beginning and end, and I developed a girl crush on Jillian. I think if you are really starting to introduce exercise in your life, something like this- a 30 day program- is a great way to get in that habit. Make it a part of your day. It gives you something to "check off."

 

Cost? $7.69 plus tax, on Amazon.

 

And then, that's where my story changed. I needed more accountability. I needed a community. I needed a jump start. So, I jumped into Zumba and personal training and that's where I am now.

 

But July proved to be a challenging month for me. I was on vacation for two full weeks without my "community." It was very "Biggest Loser contestant goes home from the ranch." But luckily, I had a few things in my back pocket.

 

FREE things.

 

I have this great Facebook group where we do Monthly Challenges. May was a squat challenge. June was abs. July was an assortment. And August will be a squat/ab challenge. It's a great way to do SOMETHING each day of the month and then you can encourage (and be encouraged) along the way.

 

If you want to join this group, message me on FB...I'll add you happily!

 

 

 

Cost? FREE.

 

It's also great having a running buddy. I love running alone, but I also love a good 45 minutes of uninterrupted, sweaty time with this guy...

Cost? FREE.

While on vacation these two weeks, I was able to run 5 days and did anywhere from 15 to 25 minutes of circuit training exercises (just using my own body weight- sit ups, crunches, push ups, lunges, squats, leg raises, etc.) a few days as well. I made time in the day and made it a priority. It needed to be done.

I had only brought two piece bathing suits. Ha!

Diet is something I still struggle with and really try to keep in check. So many times you want to say "well, I worked out so I can eat whatever I want tonight." Nope.

I mean, I indulged.
But, I didn't go crazy.

And I still used My Fitness Pal to keep myself aware of what I was putting in my mouth. And how much.

It's a battle. I'm not gonna lie.

And it's always something that I will have to actively work on and deal with and be aware of.

And I'll be sure to keep you posted as I do. :-)