Work out Wednesday

I thought I would link up today with Megan since I have a little time on my hands to get my workout documented.

My legs are still screaming at me every time I walk, sit, stand, or just about anything from yesterday's workout so this one is going to focus on upper body. 

Side note: I try not to let more than 30 seconds lapse between each move.  I feel more of a burn that way.  

Happy Hump Day!

Meal Planning 8/12-8/17

I only tried one new recipe last week because we didn't get to the Quinoa veggie stir fry, but the Lasagna roll ups were hubby approved.  They had a little bit of a "skinny" taste because all of the cheese was low fat, but still good.

Monday-  Chicken, potatoes, and green beans
Tuesday-  Tacos
Wednesday- Taco salad using left overs
Thursday- Quinoa veggie Stir Fry with shrimp or chicken
Friday- Steak, potatoes and veggies
Saturday- not sure because family will be in town visiting

I'm going back to work today, so I have to stick to my planning so that I can eat decently.  I plan on taking a big ole' salad for lunch every day and lots of healthy snacks like fruit, nuts, and homemade protein bars.

I hope you have a great week!

Normal Gym Routine Change

I try to get the most out of my gym sessions.
During the summer I have no problem spending 2 hours at the gym everyday because I have nothing better to do.
It becomes part of our routine.
My kids love going to the gym to play.
There is a HUGE play area with computers and coloring, toddler area, infant area, basketball court, slides, climbing toys, and many other toys.

Now that school is back in session I have to shorten my workouts.
I either have to go before work or right after.
I know my kids would go after work, but I feel so bad feeding them dinner past 6:30.
Is that weird?
Don't get me wrong...they are not starving.
Their school gives them snacks at 3:30 and around 5 if they haven't been picked up yet.

Typically I do 30-45 minutes of cardio, abs, weights(different muscle groups each day), then 15 minutes of cardio.
This has to change.
I think I'm going to cut out the last 15 minutes of cardio and make sure I get through my weights a little quicker i.e. stay on track with 20 second breaks in between sets.
I get a little distracted people watching and listening to music :)
That is a whole other post on its own...
The changes should put me around an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half.

I'm really looking forward to working out during the school year since last year it was impossible for me to go in the morning due to graduate work.
Hopefully my internship this semester will not take away all of my time, but I do have 240 hours to accrue in 1 semester  on top of teaching full time.
I have no idea how I will get that many....

Whatever doesn't kill us, makes us stronger!

Awesome new App and Internet Site

My mom called me on Sunday to tell me about this new site she found.
It worked out perfectly because I was in the middle of meal planning for the week.
I always hate finding my meals, copying and saving recipes, and then writing out my grocery list.
It takes me using at least 3 different sites and tools, which is why I don't get to blogging about meal planning because I'm too tired to write it all out again.

What is this cool place I am talking about?
It is Ziplist.
You can google it or just click here
There is an internet site and a free app to use.

A few things you can do:

• You can browse recipes on the internet and if you find one you like then you can use their "Ziplist recipe clipper" button to copy the entire recipe to you recipe box.
• Enter your own personal recipes.
• Share your recipe box with others.
• Filter your recipes
• Easily create your meal planner for the week.
• Click on the recipes you want to use for the week and it will generate your grocery list.
• Everything is very easy to use and straight forward.

I love how our family recipes can be added and available for everyone in the family to share because I constantly find myself calling my mom asking for the same recipes a bazillion times.
I am not getting anything to blog about this site.
Just something very useful that I'm sure many people would love to use.
Check it out.

2  more days til the weekend!

Decisions Decisions...

I have been in great debate with myself as to what I want to do once school starts.
I have 3 options when it comes to my workout plans.

1. Keep my current membership
2. Get membership at BFF's gym.
3. Get membership at parents gym.

It is a struggle because all three have their perks.
My current gym is "home" and close to my house with childcare included(for the weekends).
My BFF's gym is close to my new work location and I will get to workout with her. Amazing!
My parents gym has all the basics, is cheap, and I can get my dad to workout.

The first two options would be all about me if I choose one of them because their positives benefit me more than anyone else.
The last option is where I am struggling the most.

Back story...
My step-dad will probably kill me if he knew I was writing this about him, but he doesn't read this so I'm okay.
My dad is 50.
He has had 3 heart attacks with a quintuple bypass surgery and has an internal defibrillator.
In other words, his heart doesn't work well at all.
The doctors have told him for years that while it does run in his family it is greatly suggested he lose some weight, eat healthy, and work out.
So like most of us, he does well for a week or two and then does horribly for a month or two.
He loses a few pounds and then gains it back times 2.

He is the BEST person I've ever known.
He is caring, always happy, always wanting help, and plain and simple he is genuinely nice.
He has taught me so much and I can never repay him for the love he has brought into my family.

I want him to be healthy and to be around for many years to come.
I have tried to help him eat better, but I'm not around him 24/7.
My mom tries to get him to go walk with her and sometimes he does, but not always.
I talked with him and told him that I am debating joining their gym so that he can come work out with me in the mornings.
He was okay with this, but didn't sound too enthused.
I want to help him, but I can only do so much.
I want him to join me and would hope that if I was there then he would feel obligated to go and I would be able to hold him accountable.
With his track record it makes me worry that I will join and he won't come.
Luckily, there gym is month to month.

I owe him the benefit of the doubt that he does want to be healthy.
So, I think I'm going to join their gym for a month and see how it goes.
If it doesn't seem to be helping him, then I will cancel and join my BFF's gym so I can benefit.
As much as I would love to join her gym now, I feel I MUST try to help him first.

Sometimes we have to put others first.
I'm not sacrificing my health by doing this so hopefully it will be a win-win.

Meal Planning 8/5-8/10

I'm getting back into the swing of things to prepare for work starting this week.
I have decided to try and do some meal planning again with meal prep on Sunday.
I make the most mistakes in eating when I have "no plan" for dinner or lunch; therefore, I am making plans for every day this week.
I'm not going to include Saturday and Sunday because the hubs always changes things up on those nights depending on what all we have going on.

Monday-  Sausage, quinoa, and veggies
Tuesday-  Skinny Lasagna Rolls and salad
Wednesday- Left overs
Thursday- Quinoa veggie Stir Fry with shrimp or chicken
Friday- Steak, potatoes and veggies

I also prepped my lunches this week.  I will be eating chicken, sweet potatoes, and a green veggie(to be determined).

Breakfast will be a mix of the following: oatmeal, fruit, eggs, turkey sausage, ezekiel bread,  and almond butter.

Snacks will include: greek yogurt, cheese sticks, boiled eggs, protein bars, almonds, and fruit.

There's my plan and I'm sticking to it.

Have a great week!

It just got real

I decided that if I'm gonna get real and do something about my weight gain then I should see how much damage I've done.
I took off my yoga pants and tried on every pair of pants in my closet.

I skipped a few ultimate goal jeans because let's face it nobody needs to go through that much shame.
Let's just say...it was not pretty.
So, I've consistently tracked in mfp for a few days and can already see a difference in how I feel and the scale is slowly going back down.

I don't believe in diets because if you do diets then eventually you will give in and fail.
To me diets involve depriving yourself of certain foods because they are "unhealthy."
I've been on plenty of so called diets where I restricted myself of things I love.
I do really well for a while and then BAM I gain it all back.
So, I refuse to eliminate any particular food because I end up binging after a while and then I have to start all over. I'm a foodie so they do not work for me.
Does that mean I eat all crap if it is within my calorie range?
No.
I try to eat well balanced meals and if my calories allow a little chocolate or cake or ice cream, then I will indulge in some sweets as they are my weakness.
Do I think there is one way weight loss plan that works for everyone?
Not exactly, but I do think it boils down to calories in versus calories out.
You have to burn more than you take in to lose weight.
I've researched my BMI and BMR and through trial and error have come to the conclusion that 1500-2000 calories a day is what works best for me. (depends on the amount of exercise that day)
I typically put all of my food into MFP in the morning so I can see how it works out in calories before I eat it all.
Sometimes it is too much or not enough so I have the entire day to adjust things, but still use a firm grounding.
I debated doing the whole macros thing, but I don't have time for that.
So, I have a general breakdown and try to get close without spending so much time calculating and being exact.
It works for me.
Try different things out and get something you can stick with because it does take a lifestyle change to keep going.
This was just too funny not to post:

August Goals

I've been back at it this week with getting my eating under control and trying to leave the vacation mentality.
I've been on "vacation" for 2 months and that kind of eating can't be good for anyone.
My summer mantra:

Tomorrow is my last final for my summer classes. Hallelujah!
I would like to think I will have a week to be completely on vacation- away from work and school- but I won't because I have 3 inservice days next week.
And do you really ever get a beak when you have kids?
While I am NOT looking forward to going back to work, there are some definite positives to think about.
First, I love having structure so the beginning of a new school year feels so renewing and starts with so much potential.
I've gained 12lbs this summer!
So, here are my goals for August.

1. Get the kids back on a good early(7:30-8) bedtime.
2. Once work begins, start an AM workout schedule.
3. Track ALL food in mfp.
4. Lose 5-10lbs of "summer weight"
5. Continue my nightly Bible stories and prayer with the kids.