Almost 1 week down

So we are almost one week into the new year. I can proudly say that I have been to the gym every day since the 31st of December, however I didn't really start my diet until the 2nd. I will be weighing in every Monday morning and tracking my progress on my weight loss tracker on the front page.

I have had some really good workouts. I have had my friend Nikki workout with me a few times and I have tried to incorporate all the things that my trainer, Tammye has taught me. I am trying to pay it forward. We have been working out together and we have been doing some pretty good weight circuits and cardio drills.

Next week is crazy. I literally have CPR every single night of the week. The nice thing though, is that now I can workout during the day too. So I am just going to hit a class every morning. I am taking Friday off cause I have CPR class Friday morning and I don't want to wear myself out. I'll be going to Tammye's weekend warrior on the 14th and I know that will be brutal. I am excited to get that sore again though. Over the past year I have really gotten passionate about working out. I look forward to it and love to work out. The diet has been the part I have struggled with most but I feel like I can do better this time. I am just trying to plan more and really watch my portions and make better choices.

I am going to a spin class called RPM tomorrow morning. I am really looking forward to trying it again. Sadly I can't go next Tues night and I really liked the instructor that night. I want to get back in the saddle though or I'll have to go the excruciating butt pain again. I am trying to go once in the morning next week. Hudson took his first karate lesson on Thursday. He was so cute and very excited about it! I am happy to be instilling good habits for him to exercise at a young age.

I'll be posting a few workouts soon...so stay tuned.

Breakfast Casserole

I have been trying to incorporate eating protein at breakfast. It is hard for me because I don't like eating dinner left overs for breakfast and can't imagine just eating a chicken breast at 8am. Christmas morning we had brunch here and I made a yummy breakfast casserole. I have been making one, once a week and eating it in the mornings. If you are really trying to cut carbs you can take out the potatoes but they really make it tasty. This is very satisfying and keeps you full.

Breakfast Casserole

Spray 11x13 casserole dish with some olive oil spray or PAM

Layer 2-3 cups of frozen or baked chopped potatoes

Add browned Jimmy Dean mild sausage (you can use turkey sausage)

Add 1 can green chilles

Add 1/2 white or yellow finely chopped onions

Beat 6-8 eggs with 1C fat free sour cream and layer on the top (you can use milk if no sour cream)

Sprinkle with some shredded cheese (optional)

Serve with 1 TBSP salsa

Cook at 350 for 30-45 minutes (till eggs are firm, mine is faster because I use my convection oven)

I then cut this into 8-10 pieces

6-8 WW Points depending on variations

My go to breakfast

My new favorite, easy, balanced breakfast is a yogurt parfait. I've been eating it a couple of times per week. What I like about it is that it gives you a good balance of protein, carbs and fat. So easy...here it is. I found a very similar recipe on skinnytaste.com but she used honey. That would be good as well. You could also use stevia.

Yogurt Parfait

1 Oikos plain greek yogurt

1/2 C mixed berries (I use the frozen)

2 TBSP sliced pecans

1 TBSP agave nectar, honey or stevia

You could defrost your berries but I just add them to my yogurt frozen first thing in the morning and then do some of my morning chores, get my kids breakfast ready and then about 15 minutes later I stir it up and chop up the berries with my spoon a little. Give it a good mix and eat it up. I love it! The pecans really add to it.

Weary of the Weekends

2012 has started off right! We have literally been gym rats; going almost daily. Travis also has some goals. He is trying to gain 1 pound a week for 6 months (20-26 pounds). This means that I am restricting my calories and carbs while Travis is eating more than usual. This creates a little bit of a challenge.

During the week; I seem to do great. I get into a routine. I eat my breakfast, drink my water, prepare a healthy dinner that works for both Travis and I. Pretty much I just make a protein, vegetable and carb and I don't eat the carb portion. Travis and the kids eat it though. I feel like I make good choices at home, probably because I don't have a lot of bad ones to choose. When I am hungry I eat my greek yogurt, cheese stick or handful of almonds. I usually eat a sensible lunch too.

It is the weekends that I am weary of. It is during this time that we run errands, take the kids on adventures, attend social gatherings, etc and it seems like the weekends are my sabotage. How can I do better? We eat out way too much on the weekends and we probably need to limit that. However, it seems hard when you are out and about all day to pack a picnic every weekend. I guess there is always Subway and the possibilities of just making better choices.

That is my goal for this month, to really focus on the weekends. To make good choices and to not let the weekends ruin my progress from the week. One thing that is really nice is having Travis as my workout buddy. We don't really work out together but just going together holds us both accountable. I also have 5 girlfriends from church that are members and I have been working out with. Everyone is pumped since it is January; hopefully they all keep it up. I'll need all the motivation I can get.

Spin

Last night I took my first spin class this decade. I had only taken it two other times with my cousin-in-law in Boise (literally 10 years ago) and I hated it, my butt hurt for weeks after. Well, I am not sure what the difference was but last night I LOVED IT! I think I feel a new addiction coming on. I could literally feel the fat melting off my legs.

I was really proud of myself. I did the entire class and I tried to do everything the instructor asked of us. When she said to pedal with a faster cadence....I did, when she said to stand up and increase resistance....I did. It was a challenge, but a good one. I felt awesome when I was done.

This morning my sitting bones are sore but I feel great. I can't wait to do it again (maybe Saturday morning). Several of my friends were in the class with me and that made it fun. I was so proud of all of us. There were several "first timers" and we all finished!

If you are interested in taking spinning, here are some tips:

1) Bring lots of water (preferably with a straw or nozzle...it's hard to drink and cycle at the same time)

2) Bring a towel...you sweat A LOT.

3) When getting up out of the saddle make sure to increase your resistance; or your legs go flying

4) Have fun & make the class right for you.

5) Get in the zone and believe in yourself

6) If it is your first time, let the instructor know and have them help set-up your bike

I can't wait to take it again! I'll keep you posted.

A New Year for a New Me: 2012

All of the holidays were great. My kids loved Christmas and the magic of Santa and we had a fun New Years party with friends. But now...it is time for business. One of my Christmas gifts that I got was a membership to the gym. As I have stated in the past this was a hard decision for us. I have been training at a private gym for over a year and have truly loved my one on one attention with my trainer. However, Travis was unable to workout and there was no place for the kids. I have signed Hudson up for a program called "Kids in Motion" where he can take unlimited classes in running, aerobics, ball sports and pre-karate. He is going to love it. Luckily my trainer still has weekend warrior sessions that I plan to attend and I am hoping to still get to workout with her a couple nights a month. I would miss my workout girls and her too much, they have become some of my best friends.

So.....I have two goals for the year and they are big ones!

1) Lose 50 pounds & wear single digit clothing sizes

2) Complete a half marathon (April 28)

So, today is day 1. I am going to try and get back on the band wagon and start blogging again. I have been a total slacker and I know that it will help. I am going to be doing weekly weigh-ins with some friends and that should help too.

Today is assessment day. My friend Nikki is doing this with me. Here is the agenda:

1) Weigh

2) Take measurements (chest, abs, hips, arms, thighs, calves)

3) 1-minute assessment (push-ups, jump squats, sit-ups, burpees, & plank)

4) 25-100 rep workout (I'll do an entire blog post about this soon)

I am meeting her at the gym at 8:45. Better get going. Wish me luck!