Exercise

I didn't make it to the gym last Friday.  I was tired and needed a break.  Doing good so far this week.

Monday: Running (40 mins)
Tuesday: Exercise bike (5 mins to warm up) and Weight training (upper body)
Wednesday: Running - Hill Training (25 mins)

I am going to focus more on weight training just because I haven't done it enough and there are so many benefits.  I'd also like to become a personal trainer for the information, and perhaps a part-time job.  I want to get myself into shape before I tell other people how to do it!  I'm going to focus on weight lifting for runners.  I'm getting back into running and love it!

Eating

I'm eating healthier, and eating less.  I forgot my lunch on Monday and was pleased to learn I didn't die when I couldn't snack all morning!  It was an eye-opener that I needed.  I can live on less food than I thought I needed.

Relaxation

Lee told me I need to learn how to relax.  I took his advice and I have to agree.  When it came out I said "I don't know how to relax".  I'm always doing something whether its baking, cooking, cleaning, researching, etc.  I love doing things!!  But doing too much can reduce your ability to enjoy what you are doing.  I've been relaxing these past few nights watching TV, knitting, etc.  I've been cleaning what needs to be cleaned and making meals that are healthy but basic.  Its working, and I feel more relaxed.  Lee shaved Brandie a little too close and now she needs a sweater!  This is what I'm making:

Lee

Today is our 6 month anniversary.  We're going to Bacalao to celebrate.  :)

Oh and one more thing - I love my iPad 2.  I was just reminded that my Apple TV (which I also love) warranty is nearly up and I should purchase an extended one, and thought I'd send a shout-out to those great people at Apple.  The Ches Penney Family Y has an amazing gym/fitness centre but there are no TV monitors on the treadmills.  So I've been bringing my iPad and streaming live radio (Mega Hits is my current favourite).  I can also watch TV or read one of my iBooks.  Love it!

Week 2 was not good - a total disaster.  I was tired all week, dragged out.  Blame it on the winter blues but I just could not get enough sleep and was too tired to exercise.

However this week, week 3, has been amazing!  Here is a rundown of my exercise:

Monday: running (40 mins)
Tuesday: swimming (30 minutes)
Wednesday: warm-up on the elliptical and then weight training (30 mins)
Thursday: running (40 mins)
Friday: hasn't happened yet but I plan to swim for 20 mins

Eating habits haven't been bad but I've got a sweet tooth that won't let go!  I decided that if I was going to eat cookies I was better of making them myself (cheaper and potentially healthier - at least, I will know whats gone into them) than buying them somewhere else like Tim Horton's.  I made these beauties and they were a hit!  With me and everyone else!

Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

 To balance things out I also made these Weight Watchers Chocolate Banana Wontons.  They tasted too sweet while warm but once cooled they were a nice way of feeding my urge for chocolate without the calories!

 Weight Watchers Chocolate Banana Wontons

Yummy!  Not sure if this is helping my weight loss but I love sweets and I figure this is the best way of getting them.  :)

I also made chicken chili, by my own random recipe.  I cooked some ground chicken and then put it in the slow cooker with dried beans, pasata (spelling? Strained tomatoes - like tomatoe paste but with more liquid), a can of stewed tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, onions, carrots, chili powder and cumin.  Yummy and healthy!  A nice hearty meal for winter.

And last but not least, I put a moose roast in the slowcooker last night to make Lee some moose stew.  We'll see how this one comes out!  It was nicely falling apart this morning after slowly simmering all night with water, vegetable oil, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and one diced onion.  This morning I added more salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and water.  I also threw in diced potatoes, carrots, peas and another onion.  I will added some thickener today for the gravy.  Fingers crossed!

(Hoping mine will turn out as nicely as this!)

I've also been researching some recipes that are healthy makeovers.  I'm also a vegetarian/vegan wannabe and enjoy trying those types of recipes.

Here is a neat one for vegan macaroni and cheese.  It seems nutritional yeast (not to be confused with the baking kind) has some nice qualities.

Fake-Out Mac-n-Cheese 

I found some nice hearty and simple vegan pasta recipes through the same site: Vegan Pasta Recipes

Snacking

 

Last but not least, I want healthier ways to snack.  I found this healthy version of Roasted Chickpeas.

Roasted Garbanzo Beans/Chickpeas Recipe 

If I had my dream job I would cook and bake all day.  For now, I need a break from cooking!  Although, I may make hummus tonight.... :o  :)

So... we are coming to the end of Week 1, and a very successful week it was!  I ate healthy every day, and also gently splurged when a special occasion presented itself.

This is what I've been eating most days:


Breakfast

• Green Smoothie (kale, apple, cucumber, water and ginger)
• Ancient Grains Cereal with Soy Milk
• 1 cup green tea

Snack

• Apple and/or clean eating granola bar
• 1 cup green tea

Lunch 

• Salad (romaine lettuce, tomatoe, avocado, cucumber, red onion and beans or chicken)
• Orange

Snack

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt + 1 cup dry roasted pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup green tea

Supper

• No real pattern here yet - I've been focusing on eating healthy in the day, mostly.   But it is usually a vegetarian option or a meal with chicken.

I have also exercised every day this week!

Monday: running (25 minutes) 
Tuesday: swimming (20 mins) 
Wednesday: elliptical (8 mins) and upper arm and back weight lifting 
Thursday: swimming (15 mins) 
Friday: running (30 minutes) - going after lunch!


:)

YMCA Strong Kids Campaign - Fundraiser Page

I am an Employment Counsellor at the YMCA-YWCA of Northeast Avalon (based in St. John's).  We are taking part in the annual Strong Kids Campaign.  Please click the link below to learn more about this important cause!

YMCA Strong Kids Campaign - Fundraiser Page

I made it to the gym this morning!  30 minutes on the treadmill had me feeling great.  I also had a great smoothie of soy milk, chocolate protein whey powder and a banana, which I drank before and after my workout.  I've been doing great with my eating habits, choosing healthier options with more vegetables and fewer carbs.  I also had a client today who told me about Mindful Meditation.  She says it has been clinically proven to be better than some medications in treating illness and depression - I have to make time for this!

I also did a little research on alternatives to brown rice.  There is a great link here with some information on products I've heard about but know little of: http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/5-trendy-and-seriously-healthy-alternatives-to-traditional-grains.html

And yesterday after work I picked up a bread maker that I got on FreeCycle.  For anyone who is looking for something for free, or has something to give away for free, this site is amazing!  I have been given a dehumidifier, food processor and now a bread maker.  I also gave away the boxes I used for moving to someone else who was moving.  You need a Yahoo! email address but thats not hard to get.  Check it out: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stjohnsfreecycle/

Its my first day back at work and I planned to go to the gym.  Unfortunately, I didn't make it because there is a snowstorm happening and I almost hit a pole.  :oP  So I turned around and came home, waiting for the snow to clear up.

Meanwhile, I did start out with a healthy breakfast - a soy milk smoothie with cranberries, celery and ginger.  After I came home I was hungry and added a Sweet and Salty Nut Bar to my breakfast.  :o(  lol

I arrived home from Toronto at 4am this morning and have been thinking of my weight loss plan ever since. Lee and I picked up some groceries earlier and I tried to stick to healthy detoxifying vegetables suggested in the book "The 17 Day Diet" by Dr. Mike Moreno. The book was recommended to me by a friend who lost 40 pounds following Dr. Moreno's four 17-day cycles: accelerate, activate, achieve and arrive. The first cycle eliminates all grain carbs, focusing on vegetables, protein, probiotics and healthy fats. This diet may give me the push I need to kickstart my third attempt at weight loss.

By the end of August 2011 I had lost 15 pounds through four months of running and healthy eating, with a focus on vegetarian options. Then I gained a boyfriend and gained it all back! I was also house shopping at the time which meant I was busy and did not have as much time to prepare healthy meals. Now I feel ready to resume my healthy habits. I'm not sure if I will follow The 17 Day Diet but I think there are some great ideas that I can use.

I took my measurements tonight and here they are for the world to see. Bust: 40.5 in Thighs: 24.5 in Waist: 34.5 in Buttocks: 42.5 in.  When I weighed myself I was 170.4 pounds.  I took some pictures but I'm not sure if I will post them! I started eating healthy again today and will exercise tomorrow. Wish me luck!!!