Saturday, May 28, 2011

Why isn't my Body Changing?

Good Morning! I am currently in Arizona laying in bed at 4 am unable to sleep after my dog woke me up so I decided to do a little writing about something that is quite frustrating for me and after looking online I see that other people suffer from this same problem. Many people hate their scale's, sure in the beginning stages of weight loss people will fall in lust with their scales. These wonderful informative devices share such wonderful news with them every morning, the sacrifices they made the day before paid off with a reduction in that scary number that had been ever increasing for many years. But like many relationships based purely on lust this relationship begins to sour quickly and one of the partners becomes obsessive in the relationship within a very short period of time. You know what I mean the weighing after every meal, every exercise routine, every treat. It becomes such a horrible habit that a hatred begins to form and you start to wonder how you could ever love this lying contraption.

So what happened in this relationship for it to turn sour after such a short period of time? Neither of you really lied, cheated or spoke ill of one another, so how did this happen. Because their are several things that the scale does not tell you about the workouts you are doing and how they are reforming your body. Don't worry he never lies, but it just isn't able to share the whole truth about what is happening when you keep making all those right decisions in eating, exercising and sleeping.

The scale is unable to tell the difference between bone, fat, water, organs and muscle. All this is grouped into one number which means if you are doing a workout consisting of cardio and strength training you are gaining muscle which may weigh more than fat, but is more compact.

A more accurate way to determine if your workouts have been successful is through measurements. So when you start your workout routine you should measure your chest, waist, hips, thighs calves and arms. Fat does not just come of the body in one area at a time. This will help you see with a number where your body is tightening up, even if you hit a month where you feel like nothing you are doing is helping. You know any amount of inches lost is a wonderful accomplishment. I also recommend taking pictures of yourself when you start wearing a bikini or your underwear and bra. This is another great resource to look at when you are feeling down, take pictures every 30 days so you can  compare how your body has changed. Do you feel like your booty is bigger? If you look at a picture when you start to where you currently are you may find that it has lifted and become a more defined shape. For a visual person like myself this is one way I enjoy tracking my progress, because I know it is all me up there, just the cold hard facts and not a number which can be deceptive. When I first started doing this I was concerned with people seeing the pics, but you know even if you are embarrassed to show them you no longer have to. With the invention of affordable digital cameras  you no longer have to take them to be processed and wonder if that young thing behind the counter recognized you from the picture of you standing around in your skivvies. Plus if you do take pictures and are a  member of WOWY you can meet people and share the success you have had with people similar to yourself.

The scale is also unable to tell you the health benefits that you have made to your life. Had you previously been to the doctor and been prescribed medication for diabetes, high blood pressure, nocturnal apnoea, or any other disease directly related to your weight?  Well the scale can't tell you if your blood pressure is lower, or if you are producing the right levels of insulin to sustain your body. So you need to look at these factors as well. If you were able to reduce or completely quit any of your medications then you have been a success.

Remember why you started on this journey. Did you write goals for your weight loss, do you have a dream outfit that you purchased and have hanging on the door, do you just want to move easier so you can enjoy your friends, family or community more? Then don't let that number on the scale get you down, that number does not determine the level of effort that you have put into your goals, it can't tell you are doing.  So look into another way to track your progress because you are not that number on the scale you are a wonderfully made person who has more potential than you can ever imagine.

Remember above all else you are a beautiful woman and this can't be taken away or changed by weight loss. You are beautiful no matter at what size you are and you have made it this far on your journey and can conquer any obstacle in your way.

Penny Lane
I would love to help you with your goals, I am a coach here and would love to hear from you.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I'm too fat to work out!

I wanted to talk to you about some of the excuses that I posted in this post. The first one that really got me thinking is I'm too fat to work out, Let me say it again This is False! You may not be ready for P90x or Turbo Fire, but there are many things that you can do to get you started.
When I get down about my weight is when my excuses start to tumble out. This is one that no longer prevents me from working out, but that negative voice will be there when I am out walking, jogging or hiking. You know what the secret to this voice is? This isn't what people are thinking and if they are then there is something wrong with them and their internal thought process.
As proof that this excuse is false I taped myself working out. I am a visual learner and sometimes need to see that I am not as fat as I think. I know everyone has a different road to tow and when I was having troubles breathing I talked to my doctor about the exercise I was doing and with an inhaler she said it would be fine. So on with the show and see that at whatever size you are at you can workout.
This is part of my second workout back after spraining my ankle. I am sharing part of the 30 minute Shred It with Weights by Jillian Michaels.  Enjoy!


If you are ready to get moving, contact me and we can talk about the opportunities that BeachBody has. If you read about the workouts I have done you will see it is not all about P90X and Turbo Fire. This company has done a wonderful job creating workouts for whatever level you are at. Lets talk about it and get moving together.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

I am Absent today.



Siren Song

This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song
that is irresistible:

the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see beached skulls

the song nobody knows
because anyone who had heard it
is dead, and the others can’t remember.
Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?
I don’t enjoy it here
squatting on this island
looking picturesque and mythical
with these two feathery maniacs,
I don’t enjoy singing
this trio, fatal and valuable.

I will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song

is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique

at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time



>Margaret Atwood


I am absent today because I have been captured by the Siren's Song and am currently trying to untangle my bones from the jagged rocks. I will return on Friday without bruises or bumps and free of this Siren's song. 

Monday, May 16, 2011

Meatless Monday

I didn't do a meatless meal post this weekend on Sunday when I generally prepare my Meatless meal I was so hungry when I prepared my Socca Pizza that I didn't even think about taking pictures of the steps. I was so consumed with getting it done that I didn't care that I wasn't preparing for my first blog post of the week. Thankfully I have a recipe that I have been sitting on for a few weeks along with Pictures to share.

A few weeks ago I really wanted enchiladas, but Super Target was sold out of our go to sauce and I am pretty picky when it comes to my store bought sauces. I was then struck my genius or psychosis and decided to try my hand at Mole Enchiladas. After returning home I began scouring the internet for someone else who had tried this interesting combination. One of the things that I found was adding squash to the sauce which sounded interesting so I dug out my last can of Pumpkin puree with the intention of creating something delicious. So on with the show, My version of Mole Enchiladas

 
 I started with this store bought Cocoa Chile Mole sauce and mixed the Pumpkin Puree and heated over the stove. 
 When it was warm I tried it out and then added some more chocolate to attempt to cut the taste of store bought sauce. I didn't get it quite right, but it wasn't as tangy as it had been when I opened it. 
 Layer the tortillas on the bottom. I didn't picture this, but I ended up cutting the tortillas square so it covered the bottom of the pan completely. 

 To fill the enchilada casserole I used Broccoli, Carrots, Green Beans  and Pinto beans on the bottom layer for a little protein. 
 Topped with Sauce then some Daiya Meltable Cheese. It is wonderful if you can't eat cheese, but miss the texture of the wonderful food of the gods. (I love cheese, but gave it up to kiss the acne good bye)
This is the final product. My verdict is it was quite good and a good start, but I should have followed my instincts and waited for a better Mole sauce. I don't know what is in store bought sauces that leaves such a strange taste in my mouth, but if I make this again I will either be buying a better sauce or making my own. Adding the Pumpkin was good it added some much needed moisture to my dry rice tortillas. I think you should try this, it is a change from what I normally eat, but a welcome one. 

So on with the recipe!

Mole Enchilada Casserole 
1 Jar Mole Sauce
1 15 oz Pumpkin Puree
2 Cups Pinto Beans
1 bag Daiya Meltable Cheese
Choice of steamed vegetables
Onions and Peppers (Which I forgot)
Extra Chocolate to taste

Instructions
Mix and heat the Mole and Pumpkin Puree and steam the vegetables while heating the sauce. If you need to this is the time to add more chocolate or other seasonings to make the sauce the way you like it. Once the vegetables are ready you can begin layering the tortillas, then beans, then vegetable and top it with sauce. Continue doing this until you run out of ingredients or the pan is filled. You can also roll the stuffing in the tortillas as you would traditional enchiladas then cover the pan with the Mole Mixture. 
Back in oven at 350 for approx 20-30 minutes. 

If you do decide to try this let me know how it goes, let me know of any changes you make so I can try them myself.  Sorry to cut this short, but I have to head off to write a 5 Journal Pages for class and work on a rough draft for my essay.  Not to mention I want to play a little bit of Half-Life 2 which I have recently become obsessed with beating. Darn Video Games!

Happy Monday!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Sunday Sweetness

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the pain. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. 
John Donne, Devotions upon Emergent Occasions


Come visit me over at Chloe Gibbs site. I shared with her why I decided to become a BeachBody Coach. I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday and I will see you tomorrow with another Meatless Monday! 

Friday, May 13, 2011

But I Wanna!

Good Evening! I hope everyone's week went well, I am happy for the end of another week and 3 more weeks of the regular school year and the end of probably the toughest month of the school year. Its almost as if all the teachers, administration ans support staff get senioritis and would call in sick to go hang out at the mall.
The only bonus to this senioritis is the last two weekends we have had temps in the 80's. This is rare for so late in the season, we generally are locked in the house with A/C blasting during May and start praying for the beginning of November to hurry up and get here. I think I will venture out on my first walk since spraining my ankle almost 2 weeks ago and this has been a hard thing for me not to do.

 With the recent sprained ankle I had a topic strike me that I wanted to share.  The feeling I am talking about is wanting to do something.Almost obsessively needing to do something that was completely impossible for me to do.  You know how when you know you can't do something  is when you want it the most? When you know you shouldn't eat something that is when you want it the most, you practically dream about it.
Since last Monday after I had been to the doctor and found out that it could take up to 2 weeks to completely heal all I have wanted to do was workout. I didn't realize that how much I would miss working out until I wasn't able to do it. Now for the past few months I have been working out on a regular basis (at least 5 days a week), but quite frequently I would be struck by the lazy bug or be too tired to complete my workout so I would skip a planned day of workout. This didn't bother me because I knew the next day I would be able to jump back in and lift weights with Chalean Extereme or do aerobics with Turbo Fire.

This doesn't happen just with working out, but in all aspects of life. But what do you do when you are hit by something that doesn't allow you to complete a task? You can't simply give up, this would take you even
further from your goals.
 So what  to do when you are faced with something you can't do? You need to figure out another way to reach the goals that you want to reach. If it is an injury or an illness that you are facing time off to let your body heal is the first most important thing. These two things are not in your control, but the other reason you may not be able to do something is because you have put an obstacle in your own path.
First you have to assess what is the reason you feel you can't meet your goal? Lets talk about the Lazy Bug, he visit's me quite frequently, at least once a week and falls on the day that follows my day of rest.
Even one day can be the jump start to making excuses why I can' work out.
      I don't have time, False, If you have time to watch TV you have time to do a workout.
      Start planning times you can work out, write it down in the day planner between work, school, essay writing, dinner where ever you find a few minutes. If you have 20 minutes several times a day work out then.
      I am too tired, False,  Exercise provides you with the extra energy to make it through the evening            and can help you sleep better in the night.  Discovery Health reports that if you exercise vigorously in the late afternoon early evening  will allow you to have a better nights sleep. You want to participate in a cardiovascular exercise that keeps your heart rate up for 20 minutes. Exercise outdoors in the morning in direct sunlight can also help you sleep better, because the natural light when you wake up will reinforce your sleep wake cycle. So if you plan to walk in before work, do it outside your dogs will love you for it.
 
Exercise can be SOOOO Boring, True!  Ok the only reason I believe this is true is because I get so bored doing workouts, but my solution to this is that I have a bajillion DVDs to chose from if I get bored. I also use Team BeachBody to record, track and Schedule my workouts. Since I started using this probably 4 years ago they have scheduled my workouts, for the programs that they sell they also have an online scheduler that will let you know everyday what workout you should do that day.  So change up your routine, go a different route while running or cycling, try a new class, increase your weights, try an new machine, find a friend to workout with, or find a personal trainer that  you get along with.

 When I have healed completely I will be trying out a local Crossfit gym, this is one of my workout goals and I can't wait to experience some hardcore, maybe scary training!


I am also trying to convince Grandma that we need a pergola so I can get a set of these,

I fell in love with these workouts 4 years ago, the crazy they are the more I like them. To combat boredom also look on YouTube for workouts others are doing and make a goal list of things you would like to succeed in while you are on your workout for better health journey.
I'm too fat,False,  I used this for a long time, I didn't want to go to the gym with those skinny ladies and attractive men. I was embarrassed of my body, but the thing that I realized is it doesn't matter. You are there for your health and there for yourself and most people who are at the gym are so concerned with whatever is going on in their life, meeting a goal or "fixing" something in their body that they don't even know you are on the machine next to them. Also you might be surprised that people would be applauding you for getting out and moving, I know when I am on my way to work/school/errands I want to honk and clap for the people no matter shape or size getting outside and moving. (I don't, I would feel terrible if I scared them or made them think I was a weird workout stalker.) Of course if you have legitimate concerns talk to your doctor and get connected with workout professionals that can help you on your journey.

These are some of the excuses that I used (ok sometimes still do), but I know that working out is a habit and the more I get my booty in gear and do it, the easier it will be. It takes 21 consecutive days to start a habit and you will not regret it if you take up this habit.

For more info on Team BeachBody go here. I am an Independent BeachBody Coach and would love to help you meet whatever goals you have set for yourself! Life is a journey and you have not failed until you give up, so change your life today by making that first step and finding a 20 minute workout for tomorrow morning.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
Winston Churchill


Have a Fabulous weekend and get out and shake your booty I applaud you!

Monday, May 9, 2011

A half Day in Pictures!

Saturday I thought that we were going to visit the wonderful Fiesta Island which we have not been to since last fall. With the rise of recent gas prices we have tried to be wise about where we go, so after finally deciding to head out this weekend, our plans were cut short by the need to have the spare tire fixed so we wouldn't get stuck on the mountain between her and San Diego with a flat and no spare. So my day was started with the pups at the dog park and here are some of the things we did, for the few hours we were out and about. 
 The kid park next to the Dog Park. 
 Ok, Grandma I am going to the car place, hurry up!
 Yeah, Tired Puppies
 Another Tired Puppy. That is the only reason I go to the dog park, well besides them being darn cute when they play. 
 This is one of the art structures in the Valley I live in. 
 This is the distress Sophie feels while we got my car washed. Ok she wasn't really distressed we have been doing this since she was a puppy so it is more of a, "ok I guess I will allow this again, though I would rather be chasing a ball."
 View from the car. 
When I was uploading my pictures I was confused because the thumbnail of this looked like bacon or Pancetta. I couldn't figure out why I had pictures of raw meat on my camera. 
Well I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and was able to get some RR and time with family in. I will see you soon hopefully. 

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day! I hope everyone is having a wonderful day with their family and remember if you are on with your family, "...Here are my mother and brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:34-35)  My mother no longer lives close, but I do live with my grandmother so I was able to celebrate mothers day with her. Ok we didn't do much celebrating my ankle has been a bit soar today, I tweaked my ankle while in the shower and have been back on the icing it every two hours. On top of that when I asked if there was anything she wanted me to make I got crickets. Ok this is not what I was expecting, generally when I tell her I will make what she wants on a Holiday she will request my homemade Mac and Cheese. This gave me the perfect excuse to make something I have been thinking about for a few months now and just hadn't gotten around to it with my recent Pad Thai addiction (I probably will need to find a support group for it, I have eaten it every week for the past two months.) So let me introduce you to the most wonderful
  Vegetable Paella!
Thats right it is so good it gets the largest and colored font! This is a recipe that we have had only one other time while we were following the Weight Watchers Diet and my grandma purchase the Versatile Vegetarian cook book, I would recommend it, the recipes are simple, they don't take long, and many of them are replacements for some comfort foods that are generally meat packed. 
The ingreidants are Saffron, Thyme, Onion, Garlic, Broth, short grain rice, cut tomatoes Black olives, capers, beans, and red and green bell peppers (I was out of peppers so I subbed with green beans)

 Sautee onions and once they are soft add the garlic, and rice and cook for 1 min., similar to what you would do with risotto. 
 In went the tomatoes.
 Then the broth which I heated in the microwave then let sit with the saffron in it for 10 mins. 
 I added the broth, 
 Remaining ingrediants


 Then cooked in the oven for approx. 30 mins. I had to add a little more broth because it dried out before the rice was soft. 
 Dished up. Two cups was the serving size and the whole recipe serves 4 as a main dish. 
 This Saffron is probably the least expensive one we found, but it still adds quite the punch of flavor. It will last for a bit as well as in this particular recipe it calls for two pinches. 
Here is the recipe! I am tired and have a paper to edit so I chose to scan it in.
I hope everyone had a wonderful mothers day and I leave you with the cupcakes I made for myself and grandma. It is a modification from How Sweet It Is blog for her cupcakes for two. I added sprinkles. :) oh yeah and they are gluten free. 
For the recipe go here.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

What I Ate Wednesday

Good Evening! How is everyone doing out there?  I am well, currently learning how to cope with a sprained ankle. At almost 30 I have never had a sprained ankle so this is a brand new experience for me. I right now am sitting with my ankle on an ice pack because after my first day back to work it has been a little sore. After taking 9 Ibuprofen for two days I want to try and reduce this so I am going to work it through it until tonight when I go to bed. But I am not on here to talk about my ankle I have another post in mind for that. I wanted to talk about What I ate, I love to eat! I take joy in food and always try to find something that will delight my taste buds. So on with the Show!  (I am loving the line today, I guess with a sprained ankle I want everything in my life to be a show since my physical activity has been drastically reduced.)

Breakfast!:

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shakeology
 My Morning cup of coffee! Can't life without that. 
Lunch!:
I don't have a picture of Lunch it was the new enchilada recipe that I created the other day, I will share it on Fabulous Food Friday!
Afternoon Snack!:
Grapefruit and 2 hard boiled eggs.
Dinner!:
And the Staple in my menu's lately. Vegan Pad Thai

This is what I ate today. As I look at this I realize I need to expand my menus because I have been eating the same things over and over again. 
To add what Cotter Crunch adds to her WIAW, What I worked Wednesday (WIWW).  I don't have a specific what I worked, but the video I did was Winsor Pilates the Advanced DVD. So after months of doing Chalean Extreme, Turbo Fire and Hiking, this workout seems like nothing at all. I barely broke a sweat and didn't feel like it had really worked my body the way I like. Now if I am sore in the morning I will be ecstatic. I am looking forward to my ankle being 100% again, I really didn't realize how much I missed being able to jump around and break a good sweat until it was ripped from my grasp.  
Well I am off to Peas and Crayons to share what I ate, that may be where you found me and thank you for visiting. 

Do you find your self in one of these "ruts"?  
What is the one staple in your menu that you tend to eat weekly or monthly?

Sweet dreams and Tasty Meals, 


Monday, May 2, 2011

My Favorite Frittata!

Good Day!  It is Monday and I am not at work :(, I am not at work because last night as I was at an off leash dog area that has not been manicured and decided to get some running in so I wouldn't have to do cardio when I came home. So I began running following the wash and as I began to hit a stride I was looking to far ahead and stepped on a rock that was nestled in the sand. As I went down I heard a crunch in my ankle and burning in my knee. I "walked it off" which probably wasn't the best idea because this morning when I tried to get outta bed I though I was going to topple. All my plans for the day were trashed and I prepared to spend the day at the doctor. The Doctor said it wasn't a break/fracture which was good, but I it was a sprain and I would be sore for the next two weeks. That means no running, Turbo Fire,  or walking for exercise. This will be interesting in how I am going to handle the kids at work, but I guess I will figure away around it.
Thankfully I did my Meatless Monday post on Saturday (I figure I meatless almost everyday so it only matters if I pick as tasty meal out of my week.) I found this recipe a few years ago when I was doing the Makers Diet, and fell in love with it and months we will eat it once a week, then will go months without thinking about it. Really it is the perfect meal, protein, veggies and fat. Plus anytime I can get all of those in without having to have multiple things on my plate I am happy. (I know weird about the plate thing, but hey we all have our idosyncracies'). Anyways back to the Fritata. It has tons of steamed Sauteed veggies. I strayed from the recipe and added my own  selection  of veggies

 Sauteed Mushrooms
 Steamed Broccoli and Asparagus (we steam everything in our rice cooker, it is fabulous when it gets hot and we don't want to turn the stove on in the Summer)
 Beat 6 eggs
 Have you tried Creme Friache? This is so much better than any sour cream I have ever eaten and when you use it to cook it melts into the food perfectly with out separating and curdling. 

 Saute the onions  
Then pour the egg mixture and veggies into the skillet that  you sauteed the veggies in. 
 This is the Piece De Resistance, Drunken Goat. Cheese that is immersed in wine and comes out with the most wonderful tangy flavor that when melted and mixed with veggies is so wonderful it is like a flavor party in your mouth. 
 I could almost eat it like this, but melted is 100% better. 
 Into the broiler it went for approx 10 mins,
And onto my  plate and into my belly. (Next time I need to remember not to use a white plate when I use the wonderful outdoors as my lighting.) 

Well I hope you enjoyed and try this for a Saturday or Sunday meal. 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup broccoli flowerets, steamed until tender and broken into small pieces(I added Asparagus)
  • 1 red pepper; seeded and cut into a julienne (I cut this out.)
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped]
  • Butter and extra-virgin olive oil
  • 6 eggs
  • 1/3 cup sour cream or creme fraiche
  • 1 tsp. finely grated lemon rind
  • pinch dried oregano
  • pinch dried rosemary
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 cup grated raw Monterey jack cheese (drunken goat the only way to go)

Directions

In a cast iron skillet, saute the pepper and onion in butter and olive oil until soft. Remove with a slotted spoon. Beat eggs with cream and seasonings. Stir in broccoli, peppers, and onion. Melt more butter and olive oil in the pan and pour in egg mixture. Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes until the underside is golden. Sprinkle cheese on top and place under broiler for a few minutes until the frittata puffs and browns. Cut into wedges and serve. (I used the recipe from here)
Have a wonderful week!


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