tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38129756921485386252024-03-05T18:33:51.450-05:00Ready For ChangeAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-10448722997774739972015-05-05T22:06:00.001-04:002015-05-05T22:06:36.013-04:00Paleo UpdateI've been going strong so far this week, andddd I know it's only been 2 days, but I'm happy! <div><br></div><div>I like that I haven't restricted how much I eat, just eating the right stuff. That definitely helps me transition so I don't feel deprived.</div><div><br></div><div>Tried another Larabar today and OMG, I'm a convert! I love that the ingredients are clean and simple. I may even get handy soon and make my own versions.</div><div><br></div><div>Made this amazing looking dish last night and had leftovers tonight:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DrFae-LYRx-GHaPhZQ7PROpYpM_bD9gHwHyTxK4r2v3V2NAS7lAaVKyFGVTwvjwTjUWyQwJdE6SWVaHApNLFyc9YSdZTCcyS3fczOq5i6SID_aAhBgB8B8S35xdNmMCTBhYIR7jBlY8/s640/blogger-image--934936698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DrFae-LYRx-GHaPhZQ7PROpYpM_bD9gHwHyTxK4r2v3V2NAS7lAaVKyFGVTwvjwTjUWyQwJdE6SWVaHApNLFyc9YSdZTCcyS3fczOq5i6SID_aAhBgB8B8S35xdNmMCTBhYIR7jBlY8/s640/blogger-image--934936698.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Simply put beef short ribs with seasonings and beef stock in the slow cooker all day and they fell apart for short rib tacos. I obviously didn't have the taco shell part, but my dear hubby did. Sautéed up some peppers and onions to go along with homemade guacamole and pickled red onions. Seriously, I'm starting to out pickled red onions on everything! I was throwing together my salad for lunch today and look what happened to jump on:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKT8j03-rweRT1N4YvpjuVy2MdF49LihmKty1WcekX0f2o5nt-qIypcJ1Hi7FK4JybQLjUQpcBrdNOvDQpfAYCqB_B-sIsjdSk5pLU5fdx9axVuqM7YlEQfkAmL9gzlJhBNwKVAcK603s/s640/blogger-image-583721957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKT8j03-rweRT1N4YvpjuVy2MdF49LihmKty1WcekX0f2o5nt-qIypcJ1Hi7FK4JybQLjUQpcBrdNOvDQpfAYCqB_B-sIsjdSk5pLU5fdx9axVuqM7YlEQfkAmL9gzlJhBNwKVAcK603s/s640/blogger-image-583721957.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>You guessed it! Pickled red onions 😜</div><div><br></div><div>Well that's all for today. Tomorrow will be the real challenge as I am at a golf tournament all day long, so options are limited. Wish me luck!</div><div><br></div><div>Amanda</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-15554488621538828372015-05-05T21:55:00.001-04:002015-05-05T21:55:54.854-04:00Hitting Restart<div><br></div>May is a new month and what better time to hit restart. I could beat myself up for slacking off so far in 2015, but I've been happy, so I won't be too hard on myself! I celebrated my bachelorette with friends, got married (!), executed an amazing event at work, traveled to Nicaragua for our honeymoon and generally lived life well with my new hubby. <div><br></div><div>My weight has slowly been creeping back up this year and it really sunk in for me when my clothes started to tighten up. It can't be that they're all shrinking - right?! I'm lucky to have a new coworker who I just sync with and has a lot of the same health goals as I do. We take walks throughout the work day and are holding each other accountable as we clean up our eating this month. </div><div><br></div><div>I am doing paleo-ish. Let me clarify. I'm going to stick to a paleo-based diet most of the time. I honestly don't think having almond milk and quinoa is my problem. So if small things like that get thrown in the mix, I'm not going to worry. But I'm going to stay away from most carbs, breads and cheese.... and all those processed snacks I have been binging on lately!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicN64gu39YhbcdJnaxtkDHD9bqsxqb2HBMt96v2TklvykOr8kGGGdNvTZ0o-TpJKBSm-W1dITUPBrGzKjFfJw7jYiQLKoZ2hEMrI85w0gnX8DjrEjkKvNTH7bVyfd5-gmIV-kDS5GtDqU/s640/blogger-image-156821780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicN64gu39YhbcdJnaxtkDHD9bqsxqb2HBMt96v2TklvykOr8kGGGdNvTZ0o-TpJKBSm-W1dITUPBrGzKjFfJw7jYiQLKoZ2hEMrI85w0gnX8DjrEjkKvNTH7bVyfd5-gmIV-kDS5GtDqU/s640/blogger-image-156821780.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Just tried Larabars for the first time today and it wasn't bad! I think the cherry pie was a bit to tart for my taste, but I'm definitely going to give them a try.</div><div><br></div><div>My main goal this first week back to clean eating, is to not worry about quantities, just eating the right stuff. I can then get back on track calorie counting once I have the types of foods under control!</div><div><br></div><div>I'll keep you posted - wish me luck!</div><div>Amanda</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-75653797190665618982015-03-02T11:23:00.001-05:002015-03-02T11:24:27.580-05:0021 Day Fix [day 1]I'm beginning the 21 Day Fix fresh this week, as we leave for our honeymoon in Nicaragua in 3 weeks! I haven't gained much weight, if any, over the past few months, but I know I could certainly feel better in a bikini.<br />
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Just a quick update on my overall progress towards my goals. My goal when I started last year was to lose 35 pounds and that is still true. I feel that it will be a healthy weight for me and my body type, and I won't be pushing myself to the extreme. I would love to set new goals when I hit that weight goal, that will probably be more specific to fitness and muscle mass. But for now, I have lost just under 20 of the 35 pounds. And I have officially set a target date - my 29th birthday at the end of June. That's just about 4 months and I can aim to lose about 5 pounds per month. That's a bit ambitious, but I honestly need something to challenge me!<br />
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So that's where the 21 Day Fix comes in. I have done it off and on and never completed the full 21 days. I will be on a work trip for 6 days of those 21, which may be difficult, but I'm going for it! Really, the 21 Day Fix focuses on clean eating and moving everyday. Here's a quick overview of the eating plan. It also gives you a DVD with a different 30 minute work out each day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0ncnKeksDuL33_OYOc2erxI8zmdHxJgkE8xUkY-zSa2iSpHxgACU-cyFhTESiTHJg4z4XhwnYa2EwDgxu3mA77rwI7EzWC_12xMGdxY45ZwFw4Yuebja-O0JHObyGMqQdo89yFWwblk/s1600/21+Day+Fix+-+Easy+Overview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0ncnKeksDuL33_OYOc2erxI8zmdHxJgkE8xUkY-zSa2iSpHxgACU-cyFhTESiTHJg4z4XhwnYa2EwDgxu3mA77rwI7EzWC_12xMGdxY45ZwFw4Yuebja-O0JHObyGMqQdo89yFWwblk/s1600/21+Day+Fix+-+Easy+Overview.jpg" height="640" width="243" /></a></div>
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I will check in later this week and share some measurements, weight and before photos.<br />
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My meal plan for today looks something like this:<br />
- Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology made with half coffee, half water, banana and hazelnut butter.<br />
- AM Snack: Baby carrots<br />
- Lunch: Mixed greens salad with grape tomatoes, red onion, roasted sweet potato, baked chicken and tahini lemon dressing.<br />
- PM Snack: 2 hard boiled eggs<br />
- Dinner: Brown rice topped with ground turkey, sautéed onions and peppers, avocado and salsa. My version of a burrito bowl!<br />
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I also meal prepped like a champ last night. This makes the most difference for me when trying to stay on track. Here's what I accomplished in less than an hour:<br />
- Boiled eggs for week<br />
- Peeled, diced and roasted sweet potatoes with coconut oil and seasoning<br />
- Sautéed chicken tenders for my salads this week<br />
- Made lemon tahini vinaigrette<br />
- Made crockpot apple butter. I plan to use this in oatmeal this week and possibly even with pork chops.<br />
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This is seriously one of my favorite salad dressings and can't be easier to make. I use my ninja blender, as I feel it emulsifies the oil and other ingredients better. I have put all the ingredients in the dressing bottle before and just shook it, but it's never the same! I also typically make this with dijon mustard instead of tahini, but didn't have any on hand. I figured it would taste a little like hummus - so that works for me!<br />
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<b>Lemon Tahini Vinaigrette:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>1/2 cup water</li>
<li>juice and zest of 1 lemon</li>
<li>tbsp white wine vinegar</li>
<li>tbsp tahini paste</li>
<li>2 tsp honey</li>
<li>tsp sea salt</li>
<li>1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper</li>
<li>1/2 cup olive oil</li>
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This is adapted from a <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/recipepage.aspx?recipeid=221451" target="_blank">weight watchers recipe</a> I found years ago. I love how it substitutes water for some of the oil, which really lightens it up. If you use the blender and really emulsify the dressing, you can't even tell it's not all oil based.<br />
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Well that's all for today, I'll check in with you later this week!<br />
- Amanda<br />
<br />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-48791440808815803062014-11-03T10:41:00.002-05:002014-11-03T10:41:48.078-05:00Monday Motivation [Nov 3]Oh, Monday, it's you again...<br />
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This Monday could be a lot worse though, so I'm choosing to stay positive today! J and I had a great weekend and it really felt like fall here in Florida, finally. We'll see if it can last.<br />
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Here's a quick recap of our weekend:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Passed out candy to trick-or-treaters for the first time and we definitely had fun with it. You know you're old when seeing small children dressed up as princesses and ninja turtles is an exciting evening, but it's reality. The kids in our neighborhood all looked adorable and were all well-behaved, which was a bonus. Our dog, Cooper, even got in the spirit with some orange and black bandannas and greeted the kiddos.</li>
<li>Our neighbors came over and passed out candy with us, because it's more fun to turn trick-or-treating into an excuse for adult fall-themed refreshments. I made <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/01/hot-and-spicy-buffalo-shrimp-dip.html" target="_blank">SkinnyTaste's Hot & Spicy Buffalo Shrimp Dip</a> and made crescent rolls filled with a pumpkin and cream cheese mixture. I probably should have added more sugar and chocolate to make them sweeter, but I was attempting to be a little bit healthy with my snacking.</li>
<li>Saturday we watched the Florida/Georgia game and unfortunately the bulldogs lost... </li>
<li>We warmed up the leftover shrimp dip and picked up some winter beer to enjoy while we watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2004420/" target="_blank">The Neighbors</a>, which was actually a lot funnier than we both expected! </li>
<li>Sunday we were pretty boring with cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking, giving the dog a bath... you get the picture. BUT I am excited that the 21 Day Fix starts today and I got all prepared for it yesterday!</li>
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Here's a little motivation to start the week off right:<br />
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Yes! When I look back at pictures and even current pictures, this motivates me to not want to stay the same.</div>
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Seriously, I have looked at other blogs where they post their fitness warm up and it just makes me want to cry, THAT is my workout right now!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6JOO_wBlR0PZkSpB2lbgMLGlHimlTgTEx3TWbUIuJsozeLhUMmNiS-XyhjFBfrWfcJgtyrtjy-_Kn2P854Yodq3gHzzNTCS8cBwCQgvLO1cVYnHdOWB9erdHU1Wz8aLJHnhMerGpKxQ/s1600/22.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6JOO_wBlR0PZkSpB2lbgMLGlHimlTgTEx3TWbUIuJsozeLhUMmNiS-XyhjFBfrWfcJgtyrtjy-_Kn2P854Yodq3gHzzNTCS8cBwCQgvLO1cVYnHdOWB9erdHU1Wz8aLJHnhMerGpKxQ/s1600/22.png" /></a></div>
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Such a good reminder. A lot of the 21 Day Fix is focusing on eating whole foods and no processed crap! I had some fast food last week and I felt so sick the next morning - this is your body's way of telling you that it's bad for you!</div>
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What did you do this weekend? Hope you have a great week!<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-26010379742490002082014-10-27T13:07:00.001-04:002014-10-27T13:07:22.438-04:00Life as of LatelyThese past few weeks have been difficult for me in terms of my health and fitness goals... boo.<br />
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I wrote about how <a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/2014/10/fitness-friday.html" target="_blank">I ran 3 nights in a row a few weeks ago</a>. It felt like fall and I was feeling fit- the best feelings! Then I hurt my knee and it has been bothering me ever since. I had an MRI done last week and need to catch up with my doctor about the results. It has been painful enough that I haven't wanted to work out AT ALL! Which is so lazy of me, but it feels like glass that's about to shatter, so I have been trying to take it easy so it can heal.<br />
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I also haven't been eating 100% on track, but somehow by a miracle I haven't gained any weight! I think maybe portion control has saved me. Since I've started eating better, my stomach has definitely shrunk and I get fuller faster. Reminds me of the phrase <i>everything in moderation</i>. While I haven't gained any weight, I definitely feel more bloated and less toned. Those 2 things make a BIG difference when you're trying on clothes. I just haven't felt wonderful...<br />
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I had semi hit a plateau anyways, so this is a good opportunity to hit re-start and see some good progress before Thanksgiving. So how am I going to do this you ask? Back to good old <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/" target="_blank">MyFitnessPal</a> and <a href="http://www.dietbetter.com/games/52772/" target="_blank">DietBet </a>to hold me accountable, plus one new thing! <a href="http://marionberryfitness.com/fitness-shop/" target="_blank">Beachbody's 21 Day Fix</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zDLL8owQtxhxaZWX8wKL2SdWyPV7vFYUAkv_sHXkWFHHmyA3gkWOpW15bVCmZYkYOn6eb_mqWcx2zRsotA-HbZrxRnAJ8Hpx95DtelrN-HH6BJXAmpGgUC89lZVQXj3je3pqqavl00A/s1600/Untitled+design+(4).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zDLL8owQtxhxaZWX8wKL2SdWyPV7vFYUAkv_sHXkWFHHmyA3gkWOpW15bVCmZYkYOn6eb_mqWcx2zRsotA-HbZrxRnAJ8Hpx95DtelrN-HH6BJXAmpGgUC89lZVQXj3je3pqqavl00A/s1600/Untitled+design+(4).png" height="132" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have seen a lot about the <a href="http://marionberryfitness.com/fitness-shop/" target="_blank">21 Day Fix</a> this year, since I regularly read <a href="http://marionberryfitness.com/" target="_blank">Marionberry's blogs</a>. She does these challenge groups and people see major losses, so I figured it was time!<br />
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Between the 21 Day Fix and SkinnyMeg's new DietBet starting, those bring me right up to Thanksgiving. If I hit my goal weight loss for the DietBet, it would bring me down to only 10 pounds from my goal weight!!! That will feel REALLY good!<br />
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I'm a little nervous about starting the 21 Day Fix, mostly because I cook big batches of recipes and I'm unsure of how that will fit into their container method. But I will keep you posted on that front. It also provides fitness DVDs with 6 different workouts and I'm really pumped for those! It will be nice to mix up my fitness routine and not just focus on running (especially with my knee).<br />
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Wish me luck!<br />
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How are you staying on track with your goals? Any pre-holiday plans to get in shape? General wisdom to share?<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-38394043602070365772014-10-14T05:00:00.000-04:002014-10-14T05:00:09.560-04:00Prepping For My Week [pork roast]Once a month there is a farmer's market at my work and I'm like a kid on Christmas every. single. time. I'm sure with a little more effort, I could find more markets like this on a regular basis, but I'm lazy!<br />
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This week, I decided to stick to buying produce. When I buy fresh pasta, bread, eggs, etc. that's when I end up spending $40 and that's just not going to work for my budget. I ended up buying:<br />
<ul>
<li>giant carrots</li>
<li>new potatoes</li>
<li>red and yellow onions</li>
<li>sweet mini peppers</li>
<li>radishes</li>
<li>yellow tomatoes</li>
<li>and I feel like I'm forgetting one thing...</li>
</ul>
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When produce is fresh, I am perfectly happy with vegetarian meals. Sliced tomatoes and cucumbers with salt and pepper - yes please! On Sunday we had some tomato mozzarella pasta salad I whipped together and ate cucumber slices and radishes on the side with a little hummus and laughing cow cheese. It was so fresh, it made me feel like it was springtime! Maybe the 85 degree weather had something to do with that too... thanks Florida.</div>
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I really wanted to make a roast with all of those veggies, so when we went to the newly opened Trader Joe's in Jacksonville Beach (which I am completely pumped about) we were on the hunt for either a whole chicken, turkey breast or pork loin. We ending up going with a black pepper - garlic pork loin and it turned out pretty good!</div>
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I have to say roasts are not the most photogenic of meals, but it was warm, flavorful and hearty! I did 2 big spoonfuls of veggies and 2 slices of pork per serving along with a side salad - and I was stuffed. I plan to start with a smaller serving tonight. I estimated my measurements for everything in MyFitnessPal and it looks like one big serving is about 450 calories. Not too shabby for a very filling and nutritious meal!<br />
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I think next time I will play with the sauce component of this and maybe try some sweet potatoes or butternut squash for a more fall flavor profile. Perhaps throw in some maple syrup to round it out! Knowing how much my fiance and I eat, this meat should last us for 5 servings, but the veggies will last a little longer. If we have too many veggies, I could always dice them up a little more, add some broth and chicken, and make some soup!<br />
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What are you cooking this week?<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-75768801637291210302014-10-13T11:09:00.000-04:002014-10-13T11:09:08.891-04:00Monday Motivation [Oct 13]Monday, here you are again... This weekend actually felt really long, so I can't complain too much! Here's a few tidbits to get you motivated for the week.<br />
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Oh, Yoda, you are so smart. I need to start up with daily squats again, because I definitely noticed a more rounded back side when I did!</div>
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I feel like I need this framed somewhere I would see it every day!<br />
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This always grosses me out when I see things like this, but it does put it in perspective.<br />
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Have a great week!<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-18788820327867270182014-10-10T16:24:00.000-04:002014-10-10T16:24:22.838-04:00Fitness FridayTGIF!!<br />
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As I approach a whole weekend with no obligations and just time with J, I can't help reflect on the week I have had. And that week has been filled with running and I can't be happier about it! I think I am officially a runner and I never thought I would speak (or type) those words.<br />
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I ran Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after work this week, which in hind sight wasn't the best decision. My right knee now hurts, but I'm hoping it will clear up before my next run on Sunday. We had beautiful weather here this week, so it was hard to NOT want to get outside and work up a sweat! All in all I did 9+ miles over 3 days, so I'm feeling #likeaboss right now. Here are some fun stats for you, since I loved comparing my days and seeing how I am getting stronger and faster!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKbF6837zd7wNdqrMlbId8OOdK-BXSCjHhAhVG4b9195u2SX1v3b1hPpkny45-eevEx4G10GRhXPAVJEGexKNCGGnbQG9THe9OOYWmzycTKN0tPW6GBsJt_6vV0NLkR6NcViGlrvvnX4/s1600/mileage+10.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKbF6837zd7wNdqrMlbId8OOdK-BXSCjHhAhVG4b9195u2SX1v3b1hPpkny45-eevEx4G10GRhXPAVJEGexKNCGGnbQG9THe9OOYWmzycTKN0tPW6GBsJt_6vV0NLkR6NcViGlrvvnX4/s1600/mileage+10.10.jpg" height="65" width="400" /></a></div>
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Monday started out a bit rough because of my dog. I really wanted to run in the nature preserve by our house, but he kept on getting those prickly spores stuck to his paws. So we had to deal with that, but ended up finishing strong. Tuesday I went solo to the nature preserve at it was extremely peaceful! I only saw one other person, but was constantly watching my back to make sure no one was going to abduct me. It's the kind of place that someone could pull that off.... but it's still beautiful!! I managed to take some pictures during my cool down, so enjoy:<br />
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See what I mean about someone being able to snatch me and no one would know? There were a few times I considered stopping for a quick walk break, but the extra motivation of not being attacked by a creeper or an alligator for that matter kept me going. :)</div>
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Wednesday night I ran with a group from work. My workplace is pretty much awesome and I'm so glad the wellness committee arranged these runs for the next month. I found another gal with a pace a little faster than mine and I kept up for the 3 miles! We are also fortunate to work in The World Golf Village and have another scenic backdrop for running. Here's an idea for ya - </div>
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All in all, I was proud of my week and stayed within my calorie range (but of course got to eat a little more since I was burning more calories). I may eventually want to run longer distances, but I'm really happy with 3 miles. I honestly don't have time in the mornings to do more than 2 miles and not be late for work. I think my biggest goal with running is to work on my speed. If I could comfortably run 3 miles at a 10 minute per mile pace, I would be happy! And I feel like every run that I do gets me closer to that goal.</div>
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Another option I have been toying with is more interval running. I think I am past the walk/run scenario unless I had to do more miles, but I want to start trying running at my normal pace and then interjecting sprints to get my heart rate up. I'll report back to you!</div>
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Have a great weekend everyone! Have any running tips to share?</div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-63128758793058761352014-10-09T11:23:00.000-04:002014-10-09T11:23:28.404-04:00Prepping For My Week [baked sausage stuffed apples]So I'm still easing back into 100% on track eating and a huge part of staying on track is prepping my meals for the week (or at least for a few days).<br />
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Last week I made crockpot pulled chicken - a stable in our house! There are many variations on this, but I knew we were having southwest themed meals, so I went ahead with that flavor-profile. I seasoned chicken breasts with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper flakes and placed them in the crockpot with chicken broth and a can of Spicy V8 juice. I made sure the liquids covered the chicken and cooked on low while I was gone at work all day. When you get home, you simply shred the chicken and you're ready to go!<br />
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We made traditional tacos, taco salads and towards the end of the week I made Chipotle Pumpkin Chicken soup from a <a href="http://www.budgetbytes.com/2013/08/chicken-pumpkin-soup/" target="_blank">Budget Bytes recipe</a> (thank you Pinterest). I love to follow recipes to get a list of ingredients, but I never follow measurements. If it calls for corn, I will just use a whole can... you get my drift, right? We were storing the chicken in the crockpot all week, avoiding doing dishes, so when it was time to make the soup, I just added the ingredients to the crockpot and heated it on low all day!<br />
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(<i>forgive my horrible photography skills</i>)</div>
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The soup was SUPER healthy and flavorful in my opinion , coming in at about 230 calories (depending on servings size). I garnished my soup with fresh chopped cilantro and a spoon of low-fat plain Greek yogurt. The Greek yogurt added a nice touch of creaminess, since I had a lot of chicken broth that thinned out the pumpkin. Since we had a big tailgating weekend, and ate out a lot, I still have a few servings of soup left for this week. #winning<br />
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My main meal for this week is Baked Sausage Stuffed Apples. They are a fall favorite of mine and I started making them a couple of years ago. I don't have one particular inspiration to link to, but here is my recipe:<br />
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You can serve this with a variety of sides or a salad. I happen to have a butternut squash from the farmer's market that I need to use up, so I am going to have roasted butternut squash on the side. I think the flavors will work really well together. Also, as I get lazier throughout the week, I may just chop up the apples and squash and spoon the sausage mixture over that. I may even add an over-easy egg. Nothing like a quick hash to comfort me after a long day!<br />
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We have a ton of leftovers and random food in our fridge from this weekend. My mission tonight is to sort through it and make sure we aren't wasting anything. I kind of get a thrill out of using up our food in creative ways... Is that just me?<br />
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What are you cooking this week?<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-81572264414102946942014-10-07T10:51:00.000-04:002014-10-07T10:51:31.918-04:00[MyFitnessPal]I decided at the beginning of June that I was ready to start my health journey and I knew I could not do it alone! I had done Weight Watchers in the past and knew that tracking what I ate was a great way to keep me on track and accountable. But I knew WW wasn't right for me at this time and my best friend kept on raving about <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/" target="_blank">MyFitnessPal</a>. I decided to give it a try and have been using it now for over 4 months and love it!<br />
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MFP also links with other fitness and tracking apps, so I have it linked to my <a href="http://fitbit.com/" target="_blank">FitBit</a>. It automatically uploads my steps in my daily diary and if I have more movement than MFP accounted for in my calorie goal, it adds more calories.<br />
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I took a bunch of screenshots of what I use and view on a daily basis and added my notes to each. I hope this is helpful!<br />
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Do you use MFP? What is your favorite feature? Do you use any other apps? Share your knowledge!</div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-82969628137262590572014-10-06T05:00:00.000-04:002014-10-06T05:00:07.102-04:00Monday Motivation [Oct 6]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This was a packed weekend, as I worked my second part-time job and my soon-to-be in-laws were in town for the Steelers game. I will be sure to recap for you all, but in the meantime...</div>
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I love this quote and keep reminding myself of this when I look at some people's before/after photos. We all have to start somewhere and change doesn't happen overnight!<br />
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Enough said!</div>
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This is SO true! I've have conversations with J about trying to eat more organic, locally-sourced food for this exact reason. He seems to get it, but doesn't want to spend the money for it. I get that, but it's all a trade-off! What you put in (and on for that matter) your body makes a difference and it's good to remind ourselves of this.<br />
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Preach!</div>
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Hope everyone has a great week!</div>
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<br />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-42524872221670167242014-10-03T15:33:00.000-04:002014-10-03T15:33:05.752-04:00UpdateI fell off the blog bandwagon for a few weeks, it happens!<br />
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These last few weeks have been a little bit of a struggle for me to be honest. I would say that I have made healthy decisions 90% of the time, so I definitely haven't moved backwards in any ways. I've just been on more of a plateau and I need to kick myself and move off of it!<br />
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I have managed to lose a couple more pounds since my time in Columbus, but I need to remind myself that to lose 20 MORE (which will bring me to my ultimate goal), I need to focus on it every day. So by writing here, I am holding myself accountable to this.<br />
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Here's a little peak into my life as of late:<br />
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<ul>
<li>My trip to Columbus ended up being successful work wise and a total blast! As you can see on the left, I ate and drank well while I was there but managed to fit in a some calisthenics and 2 jogs with someone I met at our training. The highlight was definitely seeing my best friend! We did some shopping, eating and drinking ... the night may or may not have ended up with us in the hotel room polishing off a bottle of wine, cheese and Triscuits. When I weighed in a few days later, I was down in weight! I think moving as much as I could, making the best choices from what was available to me and drinks TONS of water helped.</li>
<li>I've been slowly getting back into my regular fitness schedule since that trip and some new athletic clothes was a nice motivation. My runs have been strong this past 2 weeks and I love running with my dog, he makes it a game!</li>
<li>The produce lately down in FL has been on point! I have been able to bring healthy snacks with me to work for when hunger strikes. LOOK at those tomatoes! Just gorgeous and from a local farmers market, so even better.</li>
<li>J and I were lucky to get away with another couple this past weekend to Orlando where they have a family home (note to self: make more friends who have vacation homes or boats). We hit up SeaWorld and it was such a good time! I felt like a kid again and we got in a ton of walking, which made me feel less guilty about having a few adult beverages that night.</li>
<li>I'm trying out a sample pack of Beachbody's Shakeology this week. Since I have been on a plateau with my weight, I thought I would give this a try. Several bloggers I follow and a friend from college swear by it! I'm trying out a sample pack right now that has one of each flavor, so I can figure out which flavor to order a month's supply of. I will keep you posted on it's effects and it definitely warrants its own post.</li>
</ul>
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I will be back next week with my normal posts - I promise!</div>
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What have you all been up to lately? Any words of wisdom to get me out of this funk?</div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-42029497035916323352014-09-17T05:00:00.000-04:002014-09-17T05:00:08.120-04:00Staying Healthy While TravelingAs I mentioned in yesterday's post, I will be traveling this week for work to the great state of Ohio. Unfortunately not to Cleveland or Cincinnati where I have my people, but Columbus is a pretty good city too! My best friend is able to come down and spend Saturday afternoon and evening with me, so I'm pretty pumped about that :)<br />
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I will be there for a golf coach training, so at least it will be an active week in that sense, but I know better than to think it will be easy to stay on track.<br />
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Luckily, my hotel does have a small fitness room and indoor pool. I'm not hopeful that I can do laps in the pool, but I'm bringing my swimsuit just in case. I have been enjoying running outside and the weather in Ohio is going to feel so cool compared to Florida. It should be magical! I have used MapMyRun to look at the neighborhood my hotel is in and found a good 2.5 mile loop.<br />
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It should be easy enough to maintain the body weight/circuit training I have been doing. I wrote about it in full <a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/2014/08/fitness-friday.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but here is the visual for a quick reminder.<br />
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Hotel gyms usually have a small selection of hand weights and if not, I can still get in a decent work out without them.<br />
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I think I have a handle on the fitness, but the food part should be interesting... There is continental breakfast at the hotel and lunch is provided each day at the training. That's a lot of meals out of my control! My work is a bit strict on what they reimburse me for, but it might be worth buying my own breakfasts if they are going to help me start the day off right. I will do my best with what is provided for lunch and that will have to set the tone for what I can have for dinner.<br />
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I have made sure to pack my own supply of snacks, that can also serve as a breakfast if needed. I have my favorite KIND bars (<a href="http://www.kindsnacks.com/products/kind-store/buy-kind-bars/kind-plus/darkchocolate-cherry-cashew-antioxidants.html" target="_blank">dark chocolate cherry cashew</a>, seriously they are like a candy bar), trail mix from whole foods, dried chili mango from Trader Joes and a couple <a href="http://www.gopicnic.com/" target="_blank">GoPicnics</a>. I won't have any excuse to eat a generic bagel for breakfast or a bag of chips with lunch!<br />
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I have been doing a lot of research on restaurants in Columbus and while I want to make sure to explore and try new things, it's important to stay on track. I have been looking at a lot of farm-to-table restaurants and making sure I at least have a couple of healthy options. It is the absolute worst when you get to a restaurant and realize you basically HAVE to order ONE dish, because everything else is fried! This has totally happened to me before, so I know I need options.<br />
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Here are a few places I have scoped out:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.wolfsridgebrewing.com/" target="_blank">Wolf's Ridge Brewing</a> - They have a kale salad with grilled peaches and goat cheese that sounds like the perfect beginning to dinner. Then I plan to move on to their thai snapper with pineapple salsa and cilantro rice.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thenorthstarcafe.com/" target="_blank">North Star Cafe</a> - Their shredded chicken citrus salad sounds good with a peanut dressing. They have a handful of other yummy things if I can watch what I eat the rest of the day too.</li>
<li><a href="http://thesycamoregv.com/" target="_blank">The Sycamore</a> - While there entrees sound amazing, I might have to try a few smaller things here. Grilled prawns, salmon ceviche, gazpacho and arugula salad with beet vinaigrette just to name a few.</li>
</ul>
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As I mentioned, I'm excited to see my best friend on Saturday (she is one of my bridesmaids)! She is also doing the same DietBet as me and actually introduced me to it, so we will both have that incentive to stay on track. Our plan is to do a lot of walking/exploring/shopping and have a nice dinner.<br />
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Wish me luck on staying healthy this trip! Any suggestions?<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-81063524928038616582014-09-16T05:00:00.000-04:002014-09-16T10:21:58.452-04:00Weekend Filled with Fitness & FoodI had a pretty great weekend and feel like J and I did exactly what we wanted to do, with no hassles. This was nice, considering I am going to be traveling the rest of this week!<br />
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We did a lot of cooking this weekend, and I neglected to take photos of half of it! Must get better at this whole blog thing...<br />
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We have been trying to get our house organized, because we just have so much stuff. I don't even know where it all comes from! As we have been cleaning and organizing, J brought me home flowers to make the space pretty. I really think it helps to brighten a room and it brings me joy, so that's good enough for me :)<br />
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Friday night we cooked Indian food for the first time and it turned out pretty good. Granted, I bought a bottle of tikka masla sauce and naan bread, so I only really "cooked" chicken and brown rice. But the spices were spot on and it was a nice comfort meal at the end of a long week.<br />
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Saturday, we attempted to catch the Georgia v South Carolina game out, but with delays we left early. While we were at the sports bar, we had lunch and a beer. I managed to stay within my calorie range that day, which was a nice feeling. A bar close to our house actually has a good menu with a handful of good options if you don't want fried food. I definitely appreciate this! We also grilled out on Saturday night and it all turned out amazing! BBQ wings from Whole Foods, corn on the cob and wedge salads with homemade ranch dressing I made from greek yogurt. It was all very fresh, with some of the produce even from a farmer's market. I wish we had the time to cook like this every night.<br />
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Before we fired up the grill, we decided to go for a bike ride since the heat had cooled off dramatically (for Florida). This was more of a leisurely ride, but still good to be active before we ate a big meal!<br />
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While we had the grill out, I seasoned and grilled chicken breasts for salads this week, as well as put on extra corn. Our salads this week for lunch consist of:<br />
<ul>
<li>Grilled chicken</li>
<li>Grilled corn off the cob (farmer's market)</li>
<li>Grape tomatoes (farmer's market)</li>
<li>Cucumbers (farmer's market)</li>
<li>Romaine lettuce</li>
<li>Goat cheese</li>
<li>Homemade hummus dressing</li>
</ul>
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Sunday, we made a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs, turkey bacon and toast. Sometimes it is nice not to over-think breakfast! I also made pumpkin chai lattes at home with a new <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/multicolored-milk-frother-set-of-3.do?page=4&from=fn" target="_blank">frothing tool I got at World Market</a>. It was so easy to warm up the almond milk in a small pot and then get a nice foam on it with the little gadget. I need to work on making the chai strong enough next time. When you order chai at Starbucks, they use a chai concentrate, so I'm used to that stronger taste. But it was still delicious and guilt free at only 30 calories.<br />
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J and I were feeling really lazy, but knew we needed to get a high-intensity work out in. I had every intention of following <a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/2014/09/fitness-friday_12.html" target="_blank">this Killer Kardio routine</a> I mentioned last week, but it was a little TOO intense for us once we started, so I modified it to the below workout. It was still heart-pumping and made me realize that I have a long way to go with my fitness! My body has definitely gotten used to running, so I thought I could handle this cardio, but my body told me otherwise. 2 days later and my calf muscles are still SO sore - limping is a good look, right?<br />
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Sunday night we made baked tilapia with Caribbean jerk spices and paired that with goat cheese mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. Simple and satisfying... a good way to end the weekend.<br />
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How was your weekend? What have you been cooking lately?<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-31959875062117316942014-09-15T05:00:00.000-04:002014-10-03T14:42:43.685-04:00Monday Motivation [Sept 15]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh Monday... how you ruin my perfectly good weekend.</div>
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It actually won't be a bad week for me, because I am traveling for work Wednesday-Sunday, so I just have to stay focused for 2 days at my desk! I am actually a little worried about staying on track when I am gone, so please send me all of your healthy vibes, for real. I will post more tomorrow about my plan to stay on track, stay tuned.</div>
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For now, let's get Monday started with some motivation!</div>
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I remind myself of this every time I think about getting fast food. There is instant gratification that comes with say chicken nuggets and fries, but I always regret it! Lately, I feel sick when I go off track with something a little greasier too. NOT. WORTH. IT.<br />
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Amen! As much as I hate dragging myself out of bed at 6 am to run before work a few days a week, it's worth it. This week, people at work have been commenting that I look great and it's a good feeling :) It cracked me up when one coworker said, "I'm not sure if this is appropriate or what, but have you been doing something? You look great!" <i>Yesssss, I have been working my butt off and not eating crap, so glad it took 15 pounds for you to notice... </i>Good thing I don't say everything I think out loud!<br />
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I might sub Ryan out for John Legend or Will Smith, but in a pinch, he will do :)<br />
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I hope you have a great week!</div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-60939093163366993432014-09-12T09:32:00.004-04:002014-09-12T09:32:57.844-04:00Fitness FridayHappy Friday! This week has dragged by for me, so I'm looking forward to a nice weekend.<br />
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I plan to do a 3 mile run on Sunday to continue my success from last weekend. The same trail running group is meeting again, but it's farther away from my place. I just don't know if it's worth getting up at 6 am on a Sunday to drive 20-25 minutes to run, when I can just get up at 8 am and run in my neighborhood?! <internal debate><br />
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I am working my second part-time job tomorrow morning, but am done by 1 pm, so I have no excuse not to fit a work out in before we do something fun on Saturday night. Since my weight loss has slowed a bit, I want to try adding something new to my fitness routine. I found the following workout via pinterest and it's from the blog <a href="http://fantasmo.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/sweating-my-way-through.html" target="_blank">Fantasmo</a>. I think this would be great to combine my running with more body weight and heart-pumping exercises.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0UuH1OoAkGw9suMjuulpNzSNoi9BxRMjInXlha28xv7YQNx9l2PRsl3MFhZj-gyxzsbRh0LJDiwBx7nrRU-apMTRIf8HZEtShyphenhyphenLcacsjktLhaIGMrbLnxnCOyEkWREcVLSaEVhitsH8/s1600/Killer+Kardio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0UuH1OoAkGw9suMjuulpNzSNoi9BxRMjInXlha28xv7YQNx9l2PRsl3MFhZj-gyxzsbRh0LJDiwBx7nrRU-apMTRIf8HZEtShyphenhyphenLcacsjktLhaIGMrbLnxnCOyEkWREcVLSaEVhitsH8/s1600/Killer+Kardio.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'm debating whether we should do this at the gym in a controlled environment OR outside since none of this <i>really </i>requires equipment. We will just have to think ahead about the jump roping and tricep dips, but I think we can make it work outside! I think we can mimic the jump roping movement without actually having a rope and we can always modify push-ups to target the triceps.<br />
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According to MyFitnessPal, this workout would burn about 450 calories, so that's not too shabby!<br />
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What are your weekend workout plans? Let me know if you try this one!<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-41632400786943597972014-09-11T05:00:00.000-04:002014-09-11T05:00:02.661-04:00Prepping For My Week [crockpot picadillo]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The last few weeks have been a breeze, because I have been planning ahead and doing more prep work. When trying to eat healthy, having food at your fingertips makes it easier to stay on track. </div>
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I haven't ate fast food since May - that is an amazing statement! When my job used to stress me out and I didn't have anything cooked for lunch or dinner, fast food seemed like a convenient option both for time and stress relief. But this was such a bad cycle! I ate crap, so I felt like crap, so I ate crap... you get the picture!</div>
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On Sunday, J and I prepped the meals below for the week.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Crockpot Turkey Picadillo</li>
<li>Brown Rice</li>
<li>Salad with Tuna and Toppings</li>
<li>Yogurt with Fruit & Granola</li>
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I adapted <a href="http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2014/01/turkey-picadillo-lettuce-wraps_14.html" target="_blank">this recipe</a> from Kalyn's Kitchen for Turkey Picadillo. I loved the idea of making this with lean turkey instead of the traditional beef and loved the lettuce wrap part! I planned to have this with a side of brown rice and black beans, hence why I cooked the brown rice ahead of time. Well this changed a little on Monday after seeing the more stew-like consistency of my picadillo. I got lazy with food prep and instead of chopping the bell peppers and onions, I threw them in the food processor. That finely chopped them up and when combined with the crushed tomato, turned more saucy. It was still delicious though! I served it over brown rice and now I have to figured out what to do with all that iceberg lettuce... I'm thinking wedge salads will be in our future.<br />
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These tuna salads are my go-to lunch now and I can't even describe how much I crave these! I use a full can or packet of tuna, so there is plenty of protein to fill me up. I seriously have these salads at least once a week, if not more. I just haven't gotten sick of them yet, so I'm rolling with it! My go-to toppings for the tuna and mixed greens are below, but you can do so many variations. Use whatever cheese, dried fruit and nuts you like. I made a more Italian version of this a few weeks ago when I was trying to use up some tomatoes and parmesan. It was okay, but this original version is my favorite!<br />
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<li>Goat cheese (it was feta this week because that's what we already had) </li>
<li>Dried cranberries </li>
<li>Sliced almonds</li>
<li>Lemon vinaigrette </li>
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I also try to prep my breakfasts and did yogurt or overnight oats a few times this week. I usually grab my breakfast and eat it at my desk once I get to work. But lately I have been distracted and wouldn't eat until 10, which threw off the rest of my meals for the day. So this week, I have been taking a few extra minutes in my morning routine to eat breakfast at home. I know it's not always practical, but I want to try to make more of an effort to do this.<div>
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I think I got a bit ambitious last week when I <a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/2014/09/prepping-for-my-week-inspiration.html" target="_blank">posted these meals for inspiration this week</a>.</div>
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At least I cooked one of these meals! I did get ground beef for the Tex-Mex meatballs that I plan to cook next week. Since it's just J and me right now, we don't typically cook smaller meals, instead we make one large meal to last a few days. So this many recipes in a week is crazy! But I will certainly be referring to this as I plan the next few weeks. </div>
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What are you cooking this week - I want to know! Do you prep for the whole week or cook each night?</div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-80143674910525150972014-09-10T10:58:00.000-04:002014-09-10T10:58:34.559-04:00Goals [Sept. 10]I had some hits and misses this last week in terms of goals, but I guess that is all part of the process! I'm feeling grateful for this journey and know I am making decisions every day that are impacting my health and future.<br />
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I have finally hit a total weight loss of 15.4 lbs since June 1! It felt really good to update my tracker in the left-hand bar (take a look) and I hope to do this more. The weight loss has certainly been slower this last month. In June and July, I was losing about a pound a week and now it seems to have slowed to half pounds each week. I will take it! But I won't lie that it isn't as exciting to see those small changes on the scale. I know I have been running and lifting more, so my muscles are continuing to build, which in the long-run is a good thing, because I will burn more calories.<br />
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I checked off a few other big goals that I had set in June as well. So even though I didn't see a huge loss on the scale, I can focus on the overall progress!<br />
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I'm a little behind my August 31st deadline for losing 15 pounds, but progress not perfection! As I mentioned in <a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/2014/09/fitness-friday.html" target="_blank">Friday's fitness post</a>, I ran with a new trail running club in my area on Sunday. The group was really nice and mostly older than me, but I guess when you're running that doesn't matter! I ran the longest distance I have ALL YEAR and hit the 5K mark! This was huge for me and I kept up my speed well. The trail is a little sandy in places, so it definitely was challenging, but it's a nature preserve, so the beauty made up for it.<br />
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Circling back to the "progress not perfection" statement, that about sums up my last week's goals, which are below. I didn't hit all of them... whomp whomp. I need to actually look at these every day to remind myself and not just hope I'm doing them!<br />
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<a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_25.html" target="_blank"><i>(remember that you can download these goal templates here)</i></a></div>
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So some of last week's goals are rolling over to this week. I am a few days behind in the Sexy Toned Arms Challenge, but I am determined to finish it! My arms are feeling much stronger, so I can't wait to share all those details with you next week. I also need to get back to doing squats regularly, because I notice a difference in my backside when I do, PLUS Jamaal also really likes squats, so it's nice to do them together.<br />
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As I mentioned above, I know I am building more muscle now and that may be why my weight loss has slowed down. I want to schedule a meeting at my gym to get my body fat percentage calculated so I can start to track this.<br />
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Do you have any goals this week? How to you motivate yourself to accomplish them?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDtVZqE9n2T69vXS-C-xSqq3tjcZcveVNcw_QBLcUxPqC8l5m83MkwP8JVbt9KvNPvcPtBLoJ5jZrx2wzIw57IkdngwPJfDnWdurp8CjnX2iUsUPKyPffcdV6OxBE7tsvaFzONgEGXo8/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDtVZqE9n2T69vXS-C-xSqq3tjcZcveVNcw_QBLcUxPqC8l5m83MkwP8JVbt9KvNPvcPtBLoJ5jZrx2wzIw57IkdngwPJfDnWdurp8CjnX2iUsUPKyPffcdV6OxBE7tsvaFzONgEGXo8/s1600/signature.png" /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-49575588515996612932014-09-09T05:00:00.000-04:002014-09-09T05:00:06.417-04:00SUP Yoga<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
SUP Yoga or Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga is my new obsession!</div>
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A friend and I took a class on Saturday morning and I was pretty nervous going into it, because I didn't know what to expect. I was also a little nervous, because there is a real chance you can fall into the water, so you shouldn't be wearing a lot of clothing. I'm not a fan of showing everyone my work-in-progress body! But it was such a good experience, I'm glad I pushed myself.</div>
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You can burn 500-700 calories per hour with SUP Yoga depending on the intensity and the movements. Our practice was 90 minutes (paddleboarding for the first 5-10 minutes to warm up), so I know I got a good workout in!</div>
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<i><b style="font-size: 13px;">downward dog eka pada</b> </i></div>
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I already like yoga and find it such a good time to reflect and focus inward. I was lucky that this class was taught by my favorite yoga instructor from the Y here. Kate has a great style of teaching and does focus on the true meaning of yoga and not just the fitness aspect of it. I don't always take time to listen to my body and give thanks to it, so yoga is a good opportunity for that. You are so focused on the movements and your breathe, that you can't stress about your job, etc.<br />
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The paddleboard part of this class just made you focus on your balance and core that much more. I was on an inflatable paddleboard, so it was softer on my knees, but responded to movement much more. I did fall in on a warrior pose, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! Kate explained that it is good to fall in, because you are truly focusing on the move and fully committing to it without fear of falling. So that made me feel better!<br />
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My favorite part of yoga is shavasana at the end. If you've never taken yoga, you are missing out! Most instructors will give you a few minutes of shavasana at the end of your practice. Shavasana is total relaxation, a moment to find inner peace, sometimes referred to as the death pose :/ You lay on your back with your hands out to the side relaxed and let go of all the tension in your body. I have found that deep exhales while focusing on letting go of tension in specific parts of my body really works. After a minute or so I am totally relaxed and can just focus on the awesomeness of my body and what I just accomplished in the yoga practice. An added bonus of SUP Yoga, you are gently floating while doing this! It was just truly amazing...</div>
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My friend and I are going to commit to doing this once a month and I'm already looking forward to the next class!</div>
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Have you tried SUP Yoga? Plan to try it? Do you feel the benefits from traditional yoga? I would love to hear!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDtVZqE9n2T69vXS-C-xSqq3tjcZcveVNcw_QBLcUxPqC8l5m83MkwP8JVbt9KvNPvcPtBLoJ5jZrx2wzIw57IkdngwPJfDnWdurp8CjnX2iUsUPKyPffcdV6OxBE7tsvaFzONgEGXo8/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDtVZqE9n2T69vXS-C-xSqq3tjcZcveVNcw_QBLcUxPqC8l5m83MkwP8JVbt9KvNPvcPtBLoJ5jZrx2wzIw57IkdngwPJfDnWdurp8CjnX2iUsUPKyPffcdV6OxBE7tsvaFzONgEGXo8/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-45872123479861734672014-09-08T05:00:00.000-04:002014-10-03T14:43:23.607-04:00Monday Motivation [Sept 8]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hope everyone had a great weekend! What better way to start your week, than with a little motivation!<br />
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I love this little reminder. Every time I think I am too busy to workout, I need to remind myself that it's only a small part of your day. Especially, when I'm only getting a 30 minute work out in!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVNVYDK_CMjKTHMMQMgTiuTPbgwzB1Xop4IEEscimGYGydxZK0LFhxo0DhTwtgQ0ugXdtW9b3JkAx1KSoIpGN-ahWfZgW6kKiKlMQOi3CwofUQhV71THMbWN1n5zJGhx0nbxOBLFedoQ/s1600/9.8+Motivation+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVNVYDK_CMjKTHMMQMgTiuTPbgwzB1Xop4IEEscimGYGydxZK0LFhxo0DhTwtgQ0ugXdtW9b3JkAx1KSoIpGN-ahWfZgW6kKiKlMQOi3CwofUQhV71THMbWN1n5zJGhx0nbxOBLFedoQ/s1600/9.8+Motivation+2.png" /></a></div>
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Just in case you can't read that tiny writing (don't worry, I can't either), it says "some motivation required". This also reminds me of the one I saw about getting in shape, because of the Hunger Games!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiruuv5opbiKSlTaVI8eDylFIcrVE93C4ugAbF3iztll5VGqFS5_utsZ5Xe1uu892rEKfV5ryzDzhkco0Gz_MY8Rj-Myn5wf4u5bfhKbId86qJxCntckOO_cKq7F1ZOc2hPb9UJ8LfZJM/s1600/9.8+Motivation+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiruuv5opbiKSlTaVI8eDylFIcrVE93C4ugAbF3iztll5VGqFS5_utsZ5Xe1uu892rEKfV5ryzDzhkco0Gz_MY8Rj-Myn5wf4u5bfhKbId86qJxCntckOO_cKq7F1ZOc2hPb9UJ8LfZJM/s1600/9.8+Motivation+3.png" /></a></div>
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LOVE this.... need I say more?</div>
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This is also a great reminder. I'm programmed to celebrate with food/drink, get together with friends for meals, reward myself with dessert. It's interesting to reprogram this mindset. What do you reward yourself with then? New clothes? Maybe a bike ride with a friend?</div>
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Happy Monday!</div>
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<br />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-16202847617305965942014-09-05T05:00:00.000-04:002014-09-05T05:00:05.900-04:00Fitness FridayIt was nice to get back to a normal schedule after the holiday weekend. I did well with my eating and did fit in a very hilly run, which left me sore for a few days. But there is nothing like being in your home and having your normal routine to make things easier.<br />
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Part of my <a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/2014/09/goals-sept-1.html" target="_blank">weekly goals</a> this week is to run 3 times and I've already checked 2 runs off that list! I crave getting out for a run now and I never thought I would ever type that phrase! I just feel so centered and calm when my heart is pumping and I'm a little outside of my comfort zone.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6l7KdUjlG_v1Vr7FRebErH-CouXuHn9OwtxDoq3o6T-ncnZXZ7Ru2BZiDLBR1oIEy37Ejzslem5JVAVwbNi99fUO4A2eSzYD2BHrnFpRA65Pgggn71HzcaHfk1ibdsTgz0ckUqOh-kM/s1600/5KRunner.PNG" height="320" width="235" /><a href="https://www.fitbit.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcDIFaoM33QFsYJo8nwO4b8sMG-NGc_ARwOEuhIa203Ee9r2CZe6bLyAcFQ9BTkavdrDDL2aXPv6Hx8N9tmElwoz8z2UPKS-U4__yHBRD4j6NEzecJjblPiOSaP0eA1i5u2Qge48g4yE/s1600/FitBit.PNG" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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This past week, I finally increased my total time running and have started to increase my speed too. I believe I will finally hit the 5K distance with my run this weekend! That is one of my big health goals that I have posted on my bathroom mirror. I have never liked running and so the fact that I want to get out there and run now is amazing. I think I can officially call myself a "runner", right?!<br />
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I have always been a big sweater --- and I don't mean the kind you wear. I sweat profusely! Honestly, there is no better feeling than coming home sweaty from a run (well I can think of other more pleasant things, but this works too). Here is some photographic evidence of my sweat. You can also see how nice my hair looks after working out - enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxlGWnJn2JZ0ilyP5BZO31xdViCVLkUDybH2qYZJU-zIgjWzl3AdzA9rdDP7RivOKuwvFfqnFFrE98TnsfsX6eh2woiB-h93QEeUKC32t5_SccjSQ5Z9qfJyPrDQZJrLXffcEEEKJ9hI/s1600/Sweat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxlGWnJn2JZ0ilyP5BZO31xdViCVLkUDybH2qYZJU-zIgjWzl3AdzA9rdDP7RivOKuwvFfqnFFrE98TnsfsX6eh2woiB-h93QEeUKC32t5_SccjSQ5Z9qfJyPrDQZJrLXffcEEEKJ9hI/s1600/Sweat.png" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have also been completing a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/720394508032793/" target="_blank">14-Day Sexy Arm Challenge</a> through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MarionberryFitness?fref=nf" target="_blank">Marionberry Fitness</a>. It consists of push-ups, dips and planks. Each day increases the number of reps and man, it is a doozy! I have never been good at push-ups, but I'm forcing myself to do them (with my knees bent of course) and I can feel myself getting stronger! That's also one of those great feelings right there next to sweating!<br />
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Marion has now posted the following two plank variations. The first one is a variation you can do with a normal set up reps. You get the shoulder, arm and core work you normally would, but it takes it to a whole other level! I will try not to fall over when I do this... I'll report back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y_tcMn_LAKkm4fFGfpt_KkQe8SBtZejuYW3Hze24C5jkL36to1W4k9X0bgoJ7Nh-ioOmRa7ULkqn8z1ZO08nvupKBaiGkN2H98QMJcQ8MO5OW0hS7IRhrCkLDlra6_IG-ZI2BxMZnTg/s1600/plank+variation.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y_tcMn_LAKkm4fFGfpt_KkQe8SBtZejuYW3Hze24C5jkL36to1W4k9X0bgoJ7Nh-ioOmRa7ULkqn8z1ZO08nvupKBaiGkN2H98QMJcQ8MO5OW0hS7IRhrCkLDlra6_IG-ZI2BxMZnTg/s1600/plank+variation.PNG" height="317" width="320" /></a></div>
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This 5 Minute Plank Workout is a great option to continue to stay toned after I complete the 2 week challenge. I think my body will be completely shaking, but I can't wait to try it out next week!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnYVtirRmpCUV3GyGgIlEx410g8nMwM2f9gA_HXCmFbjxrGWgskNI6pYBWQoDn2l9Zl8OgjstCfa4ug_uer6p7dabbAmHCSAESsY9jIHCPa-CHdhZ-gdmVrT1r94Po70hw1o7CZGSS6E/s1600/5+Minute+Plank+Workout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnYVtirRmpCUV3GyGgIlEx410g8nMwM2f9gA_HXCmFbjxrGWgskNI6pYBWQoDn2l9Zl8OgjstCfa4ug_uer6p7dabbAmHCSAESsY9jIHCPa-CHdhZ-gdmVrT1r94Po70hw1o7CZGSS6E/s1600/5+Minute+Plank+Workout.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
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J is going to be traveling for work this weekend, so I know I have NO excuse not to workout. My goal is to complete the following:<br />
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<li>5K Trail Run with a local running group</li>
<li>Paddle Board Yoga with a friend (super excited about this one!)</li>
<li>Toned Arm Challenge moves</li>
<li>More strength training</li>
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What workouts have you been doing lately?</div>
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<br />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-19224919266024940072014-09-04T05:00:00.000-04:002014-09-04T09:28:50.466-04:00Prepping for My Week [inspiration]I will be home all weekend long without a lot of obligations, so I am looking forward to grocery shopping and prepping my meals for the week (and probably cooking a nice Sunday dinner in there too).<br />
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I don't pin much on Pinterest anymore (<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/babyruth1811/" target="_blank">follow my boards here</a>), because I went a little crazy a couple of years ago. I have over 60 boards and 4,500 pins... maybe you can see why I don't pin much anymore? But since I have such a large library of pins, I like to go back through my own boards for inspiration.<br />
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Here is what I'm considering making in the coming weeks:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtIUwQBcUl9GYcgyVuW0QrdMYvChOhIT07uG9gm9jCJ9t0PEJz1FhyphenhyphenCtsVTqNJhwCy8682Ak6V4XG57KkKbZb0-hYIhJJUv7JNzflpXR0fDEh59Nx3hjqM8v88YKia6JeefLjqJlfGfA/s1600/Recipe+Inspiration.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtIUwQBcUl9GYcgyVuW0QrdMYvChOhIT07uG9gm9jCJ9t0PEJz1FhyphenhyphenCtsVTqNJhwCy8682Ak6V4XG57KkKbZb0-hYIhJJUv7JNzflpXR0fDEh59Nx3hjqM8v88YKia6JeefLjqJlfGfA/s1600/Recipe+Inspiration.png" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
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I want all of this RIGHT now! As I mentioned earlier this week, we have been eating a lot of chicken lately, so I really want to try and incorporate other meats into the rotation on a regular basis. Luckily with the meatballs and picadillo, we can use any kind of ground meat (and look for what's on sale).<br />
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Here are links to the recipes, I will not pretend to take credit for them!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.runningtothekitchen.com/2014/06/sea-salt-and-vinegar-beet-chips/" target="_blank">Sea Salt & Vinegar Beet Chips</a> </b>: I absolutely love beets, but really don't eat them often enough. This recipe calls for pan frying, so I will be using their other option of baking them in the oven. I have weight goals after all!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2014/03/cheesy-baked-cauliflower-tots.html" target="_blank">Cheesy Baked Cauliflower Tots</a> </b>: These would be a great potato alternative for dinner one night. Although, I'm guessing you would have to bake them each night so they are crispy. I don't imagine these would make good leftovers.<br />
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<b><a href="http://urbanposer.blogspot.com/2013/01/spicy-baked-tex-mex-meatballs-paleo.html" target="_blank">Spicy Baked Tex-Mex Meatballs</a> </b>: I made these almost 2 years ago when I was on a paleo kick. They came out simply amazing and don't know why I haven't made them again! I served them with mashed sweet potatoes and it was the perfect combination.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.mylifeasamrs.com/2011/05/sweet-potato-crusted-fish-with-cilantro-lime-vinaigrette.html" target="_blank">Sweet Potato Encrusted Fish</a> </b>: I'm a little nervous about the shredded sweet potato actually sticking to the fish, but if I can execute this properly, it looks great.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2012/04/25/spicy-brown-sugar-cayenne-shrimp/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spicy-brown-sugar-cayenne-shrimp" target="_blank">Spicy Brown Sugar Shrimp</a> </b>: I have all the spices on hand and this looks too good to pass up. I'm not positive what sides I would want to make with this, so it could end up being one of those meals where we pick at a few different appetizers.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2014/01/turkey-picadillo-lettuce-wraps_14.html" target="_blank">Turkey Picadillo Lettuce Wraps</a> </b>: I had a wedge salad over the weekend and now I am craving the crisp crunch of iceberg lettuce. I will have to keep the olives on the side or try to trick J into eating this :)<br />
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Check in with me next week to see what I end up making!<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-88964942565237265192014-09-02T15:21:00.000-04:002014-09-02T15:21:51.625-04:00Prepping for My Week [leftovers]J and I renewed our BJ's Wholesale membership last week and I'm so glad we did! We had it in North Carolina too and I really feel it saves us money and helps us plan our meals.<br />
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Last week we stocked up on some essentials and bought the stuff for my <a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/2014/08/prepping-for-my-week-mediterranean-salad.html" target="_blank">Mediterranean salads</a>. Sometimes we end up spending more money at a place like BJ's, but everything lasts so much longer - - I still have veggies, chicken, eggs, sweet potatoes and more from last week. It's nice not to have to do a big shopping trip this week. I think that is one of the benefits of food preparation - - it makes your life easier!<br />
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My plan this week is to use up as much of what we have as possible, before stocking up again. Here's what I have a lot to work with:</div>
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<li>Hard boiled eggs</li>
<li>Chicken (both shredded, diced and frozen breasts)</li>
<li>Feta</li>
<li>Mozzarella (ball, not shredded)</li>
<li>Broccoli</li>
<li>Sweet potatoes</li>
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I usually love hard boiled eggs sliced with salt and pepper, but for some reason this week it just doesn't sound appealing. Time to get creative! I have some turkey bacon, grape tomatoes and the leftover chicken, so I'm thinking about a Classic Cobb Salad with a few healthier modifications. I can use up my extra eggs, chicken and feta all in one fell swoop!<br />
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I think I will need to go old school and make an egg salad sandwich/wrap for lunch one day this week too. A local diner makes their egg salad sandwich with sliced tomato and bacon, so I may have to copy that.</div>
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I just saw this recipe for <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/08/grilled-veggie-towers-with-mozzarella.html" target="_blank">Grilled Veggie Towers with Mozzarella</a> over on <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/" target="_blank">SkinnyTaste</a> and if J will fire up the grill this week, I see this in our future. I can't think of anything more delicious right now then melted mozzarella (cheese is a close second to hummus for me)!</div>
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We have been really chicken heavy the last couple weeks, so I will need to break down and head to the grocery store for some steak or fish and have that with some steamed broccoli and sweet potato chips. J loves that kind of simple meal, and I will not complain about a steak or salmon night!<br />
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I have finally perfected baked sweet potato chips, so I need to share the wealth! I use a mandolin to slice my potatoes and actually use this for a lot of vegetables. I found mine for less than $10 at Marshall's or TJMaxx and it's worth the small investment. I like to slice my potatoes fairly thin, but not paper thin where you can see through them. I then spray them with olive oil cooking spray and season (on both sides). Typically I do salt, pepper and Old Bay, but sometimes I mix it up with cinnamon sugar and ground chili peppers. I have found that the best way to get them cooked through, crispy and not too burnt is to cook them low and slow. About 30 minutes at 350 and then on broil for a few minutes at the end (watching them very closely so they don't turn black). They are great on their own or dipped in whatever you have on hand.</div>
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Any favorite meals you like to make with leftovers? What did you prep this week?</div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-64468475897659449852014-09-02T12:01:00.002-04:002014-09-02T12:01:33.792-04:00Goals [Sept. 1]It's always hard to get back into a routine after a long weekend, but focusing on my goals will certainly help remind me why it's important to jump back in!<br />
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<b>I was pretty happy with my goals for last week :)</b><br />
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I lost some weight about mid-week and was excited to see that change. I felt I had hit a bit of a slump, which is why I decided to do <a href="http://www.dietbetter.com/games/46597" target="_blank">SkinnyMeg's DietBet</a> (more about that soon). I have yet to weigh in this week, so we shall see... I usually like to wait a day after the weekend to weigh-in. I don't think this is bad, I usually don't drink as much water on the weekends and we eat out more, so my sodium intake increases. I like to give my body a day to normalize.<br />
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I took progress photos (<a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/2014/08/12-week-progress.html" target="_blank">which I posted here</a>) and my measurements. I was happy to see the photos compared to June 1, but the measurements haven't changed recently. That was a bit of a bummer, but I know I need to keep moving forward.<br />
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I did post my <a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/2014/08/fitness-friday.html" target="_blank">normal fitness routine on Friday</a>. It is a nice reminder of what I have been working hard at. I think I will continue to do that for another month or so and then it will be time to mix it up!<br />
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Finally, I was proud of myself for staying on track this holiday weekend!<br />
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<li>I had one light beer on Saturday and a glass of bubbly on Sunday. To be honest, I wasn't trying to stay away from the alcohol on purpose, but it just happened. I focused on my hunger signals and stopped eating when I was full. A beer on a full stomach just did not feel like a good move! </li>
<li>It was hard to track my food, because I was not preparing the dishes, but I tried my hardest to have balanced meals and knew what to definitely stay away from (cookies and potato salad). J's Mom had the paper plates that were divided into sections and this helped with portion control. I knew I should put my proteins and fresh produce in the large section and keep the smaller sections for mac n cheese and baked beans.</li>
<li>I also focused on drinking a lot of water and it helped that J's Mom had lemon infused water!</li>
<li>Instead of making an indulgent dish for the BBQ, I decided to put together a fruit salad with grapes, strawberries, watermelon and pineapple. It was refreshing and just what I needed throughout the day. I was also glad to see that everyone else enjoyed it!</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimnI4kNBoH2iJB5KhhbY3ATEpF42hteWFrIA-fCRi-ozFTXK6ORjkLiv9iH2Mwj93j10dIqoxK6bo5L98ywFoUq-g7sdGe3I2RceMybhquiedF2tXEoDJAPy1d1W03rf5mHabfFNMS1U/s1600/Sept.+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimnI4kNBoH2iJB5KhhbY3ATEpF42hteWFrIA-fCRi-ozFTXK6ORjkLiv9iH2Mwj93j10dIqoxK6bo5L98ywFoUq-g7sdGe3I2RceMybhquiedF2tXEoDJAPy1d1W03rf5mHabfFNMS1U/s1600/Sept.+1.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wanted to keep on top of setting mini goals and this week's are all pretty straight-forward. I will do a post on <a href="http://www.dietbetter.com/games/46597" target="_blank">SkinnyMeg's DietBet</a> sometime this week and be sure to do a recap of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MarionberryFitness" target="_blank">Marionberry Fitness</a> when it wraps up on Sunday.<br />
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It will be nice to finish cleaning out and organizing my closet. It is a bit frustrating every morning to pick out an outfit when things all fit differently! I already have a small box of clothes that are too big for me and I'm hoping that when I reach my goal, I can easily have some clothes altered to fit. It's also nice to move out the clothes that are still to tight for me to the guest closet. My goal is to open up my master bedroom closet and have it full of clothes that actually fit and work for me right now. When those start to get baggy, I can switch them out for the clothes in my guest room!<br />
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Remember, visit my <a href="http://amandareadyforchange.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_25.html" target="_blank">Free Tools page</a> to download these goal templates to motivate you!</div>
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What are your goals for the week? Any advice for me?</div>
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<br />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3812975692148538625.post-43852063936299423702014-09-01T05:00:00.000-04:002014-10-03T14:42:30.648-04:00Monday Motivation [Sept 1]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend! I am spending the weekend with my soon-to-be family and will definitely have a weekend recap post coming shortly. I knew going into the weekend that I would have to watch how many adult beverages I had and how much picking I do. J's family tends to make a TON of food and people graze all day. While I love this, it is a huge trap for me!</div>
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For now, I will leave you with a bit of motivation for the week. Enjoy!</div>
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Please tell me you have seen this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsABTmT1_M0" target="_blank">episode </a>of Parks and Rec. We can't be friends until you have. Seriously. "Treat Yo Self" is a motto J and I abide by when we are debating about buying something for ourselves. One day in Marshall's, J really wanted to get this beautiful leather briefcase/laptop bag, but thought it was too much money to spend. I busted out with "treat yo self" a little too loudly and heard laughing from another row over! Luckily, this phrase has more to do with shopping for us, then eating!</div>
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This is the best feeling, especially when it comes to running for me. </div>
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I like to remind myself of this, especially when reading other people's blogs who are farther along in their journey then I am. It also reminds me of that phrase, "don't compare YOUR beginning to someone else's MIDDLE."<br />
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Happy Monday, y'all!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDtVZqE9n2T69vXS-C-xSqq3tjcZcveVNcw_QBLcUxPqC8l5m83MkwP8JVbt9KvNPvcPtBLoJ5jZrx2wzIw57IkdngwPJfDnWdurp8CjnX2iUsUPKyPffcdV6OxBE7tsvaFzONgEGXo8/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDtVZqE9n2T69vXS-C-xSqq3tjcZcveVNcw_QBLcUxPqC8l5m83MkwP8JVbt9KvNPvcPtBLoJ5jZrx2wzIw57IkdngwPJfDnWdurp8CjnX2iUsUPKyPffcdV6OxBE7tsvaFzONgEGXo8/s1600/signature.png" /></a><br />
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<br />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02910230848873970214noreply@blogger.com0