Working out with friends

I have also been working out with my friend Steph and it's SO much better than working out by myself.  We leave the gym SCHWEATAY!!!  We have been plotting out our plan so we can keep moving and so we can switch out machines without having to wait.  We have been kicking our own booties in the gym and having more fun than if we were alone.  

Working out sucks less when some one is there suffering through it with you.  ;)  

It's nice when someone is just as sore as you in the same places because you did that to each other!  lol.

Tonight I'm going to a Kickboxing class with some friends from work.  I AM SO EXCITED and nervous at the same time.  We're a little out of shape, but at least we'll have people to laugh with!

If you have a workout buddy, or like to work out with friends too check out all the buddy exercises on pinterest.  I am finding that not only is it keeping me more accountable, but the time FLIES when I'm working out with my buddy.  

I'm a creeper, but....

THIS is the lug! See? He's been sitting there for the last 10 minutes! I had to be creeper like and snap this picture. SERIOUSLY dude! Stop. Taking. Up. Space!

What 2,000 calories looks like.

The New York Times posted an article "What 2,000 calories looks like."  Wow, such a small amount of food!  This is such great perspective! 

This?

When "dieting" **shudder** I try to trick my brain into not focusing on what I'm missing out on, but rather, I could eat this tiny little bit of high fat/calorie food or I could eat ALL OF THIS delicious, good for me, fulfilling food.  I find that when I eat "naughty" food, I never truly get full, but when I make smarter choices, I find that I can have so much more food for less calories/fat and I walk away stuffed.  

When I did Weight watchers I would find that at the end of the day I still had points left to use (they encourage you to use all of them so you don't lose weight too fast) but I was stuffed!  I was eating a lot of low points foods (fruits, veggies, lean meats) and wasn't hungry at the end of the day.  Now, I could've had one meal at a fast food restaurant and used all of my points for the day on one meal and be STARVING a couple hours later.

or ALL this?

If you think of your "diet" like a budget, "I only have $10 to spend, I better stretch it!" and try to stay within that allotment, then maybe you can trick your brain into eating for fuel, and you'll find you have less cravings for sweets during the day.  At least that's what works for me.  If all your meals could be laid out for you during the day, it'd be a much easier decision on what to eat.  You could SEE the better choice.  Your brain will see how much "good" food you can eat vs. how little (insert bad food here) you can eat and more often than not you'll choose quantity, heck, AND quality! 

Now, sometimes you just want a stinkin snickers, I understand!  but maybe, just maybe, those days will be fewer and fewer...

Diet Bet

Are you competitive?

Do you find you're more successful when you put a wager on your goals?

I do!  I've found two apps/challenges that allow you to wager on your diet success.

Pact:

I'm currently using "Pact".  Your pact can be whatever you want.  For example, I've made a pact that I'll work out 3 times a week and eat 5 servings of veggies/fruit a week.  It's easy.  I just check in at the gym or use the motion detector for a home work out of 30 minutes or more, and take pictures of the veggies/fruit on my plate.  At the end of the week I get an email saying how much I earned during the week.  I can't remember how much I wager, I think it's $5 for every work out missed or veggie not eaten, but I don't ever pay because I've always made it.  I have earned anywhere from $.90 a week to $1.87.  Not huge, but I sure as heck don't want to pay!!  The money that you earn depends on how many other people didn't fulfill their pact.  The app also syncs with other apps and activity trackers, so if you go for a walk that's longer than 30 minutes and at least a mile and a half, it counts!  

DietBet:

Diet bet allows you to make a bet with the online community and get a pay out if you reach your goal.  You can join all kinds of different "games" but there are two main types.  You can bet that you'll lose 4% of your body weight in 28 days or 10% in 6 months.  The challenge I might join is the 4% loss in 28 days game.  You can Sign up at dietbet.com, weigh in, snap a picture, done.  I might even do the 6 month one for 10% loss.  A facebook friend posted that she won $50 off of her most recent weight loss.  NICE!  I'm considering trying it.  I know I'm going to be successful, why not reap rewards while staying accountable?  My first thought was "what if people cheat?" but reading more into it, it looks like they do their due diligence to prevent that from happening, and they really screen "unusual" weightloss activity.  

A friendly wager bet with friends is also fun.  You have a support system AND friendly competition!  Have you ever been part of a weight loss competition?  What was the wager/bet involved?

14 things to do instead of eating your feelings...

If you're a Packer fan, you're grieving just as I am this morning.  Depressed.  Wanting to eat your feelings....
Don't fret my pet, I decided to come up with a list of things to do INSTEAD of eating your feelings to help you(me) get through this!

1.) Learn a foreign language.  That way you can learn new swear words to yell at the tv during the super bowl.  #%*&!$ Seahawks!!!!

2.) Take up knitting or crocheting to keep your hands busy.  That way you can knit yourself a Packer afghan to keep yourself warm next season!  If those two things aren't your cup of tea, try wood carving, sculpting, sketching, painting, sewing, leatherworking... Using your hands makes it harder to eat your feelings.

3.) Take a painting class at one of those wine/painting places.   Bonus if the painting of the day is glorious Lambeau field.  Extra bonus if you finish an entire bottle of wine by yourself.  (Feel better yet?)

4.) Write a letter to your Grandma.  It'll make her day and you'll feel warm and fuzzy.  Bonus if you can convince her to help you with your new hobby from #2.  

5.) Go work out.  Maybe instead of watching the superbowl and crying into a bowl of nachos organize your own football game where you can take your aggression out on your buddies or that little punk Bear's fan in your neighbor hood.  Look up Jane Fonda workout videos or prancercize videos.  If you don't follow along with them, at least you'll be amused!

6.)  Prep some healthy snacks for your week.  If you can do nothing but eat your feelings, maybe you can stay on track by nomming on celery instead of, oh, 3 pints of Ben and Jerry's.

7.) Re-organize your closet.  If it's anything like mine, the folded clothes start to topple over after some time.  If you're OCD, organize it by color.  Whatever floats your boat.  Without the Packer's win you probably feel like you have nothing... think of the people that actually have nothing and get rid of clothes you never wear and donate it to homeless shelters.  

8.) Re-arrange your living room.  Gives you a new perspective and a different angle from which to throw things at the tv in frustration.  A new challenge!

9.)  Take a nice bubble bath.  You'll come out like a beautiful wrinkly peach and smell like sunshine and daisies.  You probably need one after sweating through that last quarter of the game anyway.

10.)  Stock up on discounted Packer's gear for next year.  I'm sure Bostick Jersey's are gonna be hella cheap!  (Sorry, cheap shot.)

11.) Blow some bubbles.  Blow your worries into the bubbles and watch them float away.  Kind of like our championship hopes were blown away.  

12.)  Practice handwriting with your non-dominant hand.  Perhaps writing lines will be therapeutic and writing with your other hand will take a lot more concentration.  Try... "The Seattle Seahawks are stupid fatheads that deserve to stub their big toes on hard rocks." 

13.) Read a book of motivation quotes.  You can even keep it in a handy spot, like the bathroom so you can have it handy when you're on the toilet "thinking."  Everyone can enjoy a good uplifting "think." Read this:  

“I’ve learned that something constructive comes from every defeat.”

– Tom Landry

Feel Better?14.) Write in a Journal or blog.  (What?  Don't judge me... I've tried everything else!)
This pretty much sums up my feelings too:

Paper lady

If you're looking for me tonight, I'll be the lady going around the gym with a paper and a plan.  

Part of my workout goal this year is to go in to the gym with a plan so I don't wander around aimlessly wondering what to do next.  Well, I thought I'd give you an idea as to what one of my "plans" looks like.  This is what I'm going to do tonight...

After doing a 10 minute warm-up on the elliptical and stretching I will proceed to do the following:

In between each exercise in a set, I like to have an exercise that boosts my heart rate and keeps me sweating.  I try to make them so they're not working exactly the same muscles as the exercise preceding or following it that way I actually get to let the muscles I just worked "rest" while keeping my heart pumping and calories burning.  Push ups and planks are really hard for me, so while they don't seem as "intense" as jumping jacks or mountain climbers, right now they still make me work really hard.  I'm probably just as out of breath doing those as mountain climbers.  I may change this up as I get in better shape, or do harder variations of them.  

Since this time of year the gym is super busy, I usually have to move around my sets and do them out of order, but that's why I like to have a plan ahead of time.  I have my gym space and set up in mind when creating my little road map and try to take up as little of they gym as possible.  For example, there's a little space next to the lat pull down machine in my gym for me to do some exercises that need floor space.  The lat pull down machine also has a neat little bench so I plan do do my Bulgarian Leg thingies(or maybe you call them single leg raised lunges or whatever) on there as well.  That whole set is planned around that gym space.  I try to be considerate unlike the stupid guy that sits on the bench or machine he's using in between sets and watches youtube videos or texts his friends.  He's so annoying.  

uh oh... begin rant....

He also chews gum like a mad man.  The wad of gum is so big it just might be an entire package of bubbilicious gum, no joke.  I like bubbilicious as much as the next person, but I'm not about to shove 5 pieces in my mouth and proceed to get myself out of breath.  That's a health hazard.  This guy will probably spend a good 2 hours in the gym and waste 1-1/2 hours of it.  He drives me up the wall.  He just takes up space!  He'll sit on the bench to do his little chest press exercise and then proceed to sit there for 5 minutes after bent over his phone taking up space.  Then he'll get up and go to the bathroom or bubbler and come back expecting his bench to be free when he gets back.  There are 2 benches in the gym, (3 if you count the lat pull down machine half bench that I've grown accustomed to because 1 is always being used by him and the other one is left for everyone else to use on a rotation) get off and text somewhere else!  If he's not staking claim on the bench he's claiming the cable machine, or the leg press, or whatever else you want to use.  I swear he sees me do 1 set of something on a machine before he decides to use that machine for the duration of the night.  So frustrating.   Plus, HE STINKS! He smells reeeeeeeeal bad!

OK, 

So now you know what I do in the gym!  

What does your typical work out look like?  Do you find yourself doing the same things because you're comfortable with certain equipment or are you all over the place?  Do you have a plan or do you do what feels right?

A little heart smile for the day....

If you haven't seen this yet, you have to watch this. 

Things like this make my heart happy.  :)

Enjoy.

How to Poop at Work

Holy Poop, Batman!
I've had multiple people bring up my poo blog post from earlier, and because of my blog they feel comfortable sharing their poop stories.  I'm honored.  You can tell me your poop stories anytime! Lots of people, just like me, love to talk about all things poop and THAT IS OK!
Every body poops!

I've learned a lot this week, and some of my friends are on the journey to becoming fit and healthy this year as well.  I've mentioned this before, but I'll say it again, when you eat healthier your poop routine changes!  I have been pooping a heck of a lot more often, and it sounds like I'm not the only one!  With the frequency of pooping, and the fact that I'm at work 8-5 Monday through Friday, odds are I will have to doo my doody at work.  Dammit.  I hate going anywhere but in the comfort of my own home.  I get shy.  I know, weird.

Anyway, my friend Beth shared this video with me the other day and it could very well help some of you!

For those shy go-ers like me, maybe try poo-pourri!  Seriously, If you haven't seen this video yet or checked out their website.... GO NOW!  Life changer.  Very comical yet, practical.

No go forth and poop.  Talk about it.  Spread the word that is it ok to be comfortable pooping!

xo,

plop splash,

Tami

Break a Leg!

Today is my "Break a leg" anniversary...  It's also my little sister's Birthday!  Happy Birthday Tiff-a-roo Stunkerton!

I started last year just like I'm starting this year: ready to shred weight and live a healthy life.  I was making such good progress in the gym and with my diet and I lost 20 lbs before I broke my leg walking home from the gym at 11:00 pm on January 13th, 2014.  This year has been full of struggles, but I've learned a great deal about myself and what I can accomplish.
This year has taught me patience, determination, humility, determination, adaptability, how to ask for help, inner-strength, determination, vulnerability, hard work, how to fight and that I COULD fight, and that my independence and freedom can be taken away at any time.  Above all, it taught me that I could smile in the face of pain and challenges and that I have an amazing group of family and friends.
Wow.  I have so many people to thank....

**Cue awards thank you speech now**

My older sister Tara drove an hour and a half each way multiple times a week just to take me to physical therapy for a little over an hour and then she'd drive right home to take care of her family.  She cleaned my
house, cooked me dinners, shopped for me, brought me to dunkin' donuts for iced coffees, held my hand as I got an iv, helped me breathe through the tears, and brought me home with her after my second surgery so she could pamper me.
She even got me out of bed the day after surgery and brought me on the boat with her family so I could enjoy the sun!!

Tara snapped this picture of me knocked out on the couch at her place after my second surgery.  I slept through most of her visits but she was just a busy little bee taking care of me as I recovered.


I had friends drive hours just to come visit me and keep me company.  They played card games, watched movies, fetched me things that were out of reach, made me meals, and just provided me with laughs to pass the time.

My friend Jenny (right) dropped everything and also drove long distance to pamper me (she gives awesome pedicures), set timers for me to stay on top of taking my meds.  Helped me bathe, gave me awesome pre-op advice, and was an awesome care-taker when my family couldn't be there.


I had family send me care packages and gift certificates for restaurants knowing that I couldn't stand in the kitchen and cook for myself.

A boss of mine came to my apartment and hooked up an IP phone and a computer so I was just an extension dial away and could work from home.

I had co-workers pick me up and drop me off at work when I was able to go back and/or cover for me when I couldn't be there myself.

A physical therapist who knew exactly how hard to push me and when "something just wasn't right" and was there for me through a second and third surgery.  Holy man, she was a god-send!

A kind neighbor who babysat my dog, as well as picked me up from work and brought to and from me to PT.

My best friend Katie for driving all the way to Gurnee to bring me to surgery and stay with me as I recouped.  I can't remember most of the things she did for me because I was knocked out cold from the drugs, but holy man, she's an angel!

My parents for dropping everything and driving from Green Bay to spend a few days for me and spoil me.  I won't mention what my mom had to do for me.... to mortifying for even this over-sharer!  They brought me to the funeral of an amazing woman, Barbara White, the co-founder of my company even though it was a very difficult outing-physically and emotionally.  (Why do all bad things happen at once?)

My little sister for nurturing me from afar, and sending the most awesome comic book I've ever seen!  I still cherish it!

My boyfriend did so much for me that when I begin to list the ways, it makes me cry.  From the first night: riding with me in the ambulance, offering encouragement and support while I was screaming in pain, holding my hand in the ER, answering all their questions when I couldn't speak, yelling at the nurses after I had sat for 2 hours with no pain meds or attention, yelling again at the doctor when he was too rushed and rough with my injury and then took matters into his own hands when my temporary air cast needed to be removed GENTLY, remembering when I needed to take my pain medications and setting timers so we wouldn't forget, cleaning up my puke when the meds made me so nauseous I couldn't even move (seriously, he did this MULTIPLE TIMES... why on earth hasn't he run away yet?), driving me everywhere I needed to go, buying me tampons at the store when I couldn't go myself, cooking me dinner, buying me lady dulcolax because the pain meds stopped me up and I couldn't poop (he actually put thought into the kind of constipation medicine he  bought for me and bought the pink lady kind!), cleaning my house, taking care of the dog, grocery shopping for me, wrapping my leg nice and tight-but not too tight, getting me ice, getting me water, getting me pain meds, etc etc.
He was an expert on knowing that when I got quiet or cranky it was because I was too afraid to ask for help and I was formulating in my mind if there was a way I could do it myself.  "I know that look, you're avoiding asking for help because you don't want to be a "pain in the butt" but it's easier for us both if you just tell me what you need."  Holding my hand and calming me down while they stuck me several times with an IV, failing each time, and distracting me by talking about the Kardashians-which he cares nothing about.  Being the first face I saw after waking up from my surgeries, and not laughing or taking pictures of me crawling up 3 flights of stairs on my hands and knees after each one and again cleaning up my puke when the rigorous activity right after surgery made me toss my cookies.
Still telling me that I'm beautiful despite not having been able to
shower for days and having puke in my hair.
Encouraging me to push through the pain and work hard at PT and in the gym to recover as fast as possible and showing me tough love when I was full of excuses. Telling me to "turn it in!" when I wasn't paying attention to my proper walking form and my toes were pointed out instead of pointing straight... he was annoyingly good at that.  Taking a trip to the end of the block with me just so I could practice driving again after I was given the "green light" to start driving short distances again and then being thrilled for me at this new milestone AND taking pictures to document how ECSTATIC I was to have this freedom back!  Even though I had to take that stupid boot off every time I got behind the wheel and then strap it back on when I got back out of the car, it was absolutely thrilled. Look at that face!  I don't think I was this excited when I got my license at 16!

 It may sound morbid, but my boyfriend is taking me out tonight to celebrate my anniversary.  We're starting fresh and looking forward to good things to come and celebrating that we got through this year's struggles.

This year has been not just hard on me, but the people I love and I appreciate all the outpouring of support and care that I've received.  I can't believe the ride it's been!  I'll never be the same, but darnit, I will adapt to the best of my ability!

I have to leave you with this:  My dear friend and Co-Worker, Sarah brought this "break-iversary" gift to work for me this morning.  How sweet is that?  She definitely put a smile on my face during this emotional day.  My very own travel sized Salt Dispenser for whatever slippery walk ways may come to taunt me!

Healthy Choices

Growing up, whenever I was grumpy or in a bad mood, my dad would always tell me "choose your attitude!"  He would tell me that if I'm in a bad mood it's because I'm CHOOSING to be and that I can just as easily choose a good attitude.  Choose a bad mood= be miserable.  Choose a good mood= be happy.  This has rung in my mind pretty much my entire life.  I hear him say it every time I'm crabby.  It is NOT fun to be grumpy or wallow.  

People have told me that I seem to have a smile on my face all the time and I'm always happy.  Well folks, I'll let you in on a secret:  I CHOOSE to be that way.  :)  Crazy, right?  But it's true!  I know that no matter what life brings, I'll land on my feet because I choose to, not because I'm lucky.  I'm not entitled to a good life, I MAKE it that way through my choices.  No one can change my direction in life without my permission.  

All that being said, I can CHOOSE to live a healthy life going forward, or I can fail to prepare and as a result make poor choices about my diet, activity level, amount of sleep I get a night, etc.  I wanted to share a few healthy choices I've been making lately to help me live a healthier life.  These choices are not always easy, but the right choices are hardly ever the easiest choice.  

1.) Bringing a healthy snack to work every day.  Today and a couple days this week I've brought a baggie of veggies.  I happen to like veggies and this is a treat for me.  I don't need dip with them usually, but I've made dip at home before using greek yogurt and various seasonings depending on my mood.  Usually a tablespoon or two of seasoning/rub per a cup-ish of greek yogurt. My favorite dips are made from Pampered chef "rubs."  <-- Click here to browse their offerings.  My favorites for dips are the Garlic and Herb, Bell Pepper Herb, Citrus Basil Rub, Southwestern Seasoning Mix and all purpose Dill Mix.

My healthy snack and water jug on my desk at work.

2.)  Bringing water with me.  I HATE, DESPISE, LOATHE, the water at work.  If I can describe what it tastes like, it would be discarded pool water that you washed carrots in.  Chlorinated carrot water.  No thank you!  I've been bringing my own water jug from home to make sure I always have it handy.  I put chia seeds and lemon in my water to make it taste even awesome-er.  The chia seeds don't add taste, but instead are quite nutritious.  I don't really notice them in there.  Check out this article on the 11 proven health benefits of chia seeds!  I also have almonds in my desk drawer for good for me "fuel" that comes in handy around 3:00 when I'm in desperate need for a snack and an energy boost.  Although, I'm realizing that this was much more related to a sugar crash than anything, because now that I'm not eating as much sugar, I can last through the afternoon without energy crashes.

3.) Chia seeds (see above.)

Egg white "scramble" with veggies

Cajun seasoned salmon

4.) Healthy, non-fried, restaurant meals.  It's a challenge to eat out and eat healthy.  It takes a bit more work, but it's totally doable!  I go online to check out the menu first usually, so I don't have to feel rushed to make a decision and regret it later.  I took pictures of two of my most recent healthy meals.  I should have taken a picture across the table at Christopher's plates in comparison.  You'd be even prouder of me!  

5.) Sugar-Free flavoring vs. Creamer in my coffee.  When every calorie counts, I would rather eat more during the day than spend the calories and fat on creamer for my coffee.  I have sugar-free and fat-free creamer in my fridge as well for the days I need that fix, but for the most part, I've switched to this.  I got this genius idea from my sister, Tara.  She even carries little travel sized squirties in her purse for when she gets drive-thru coffee.  She can stay on track while still enjoying her cup-o-joe.

6.) Exercise. This one is tough.  My busy schedule keeps trying to get in the way and it's been frustrating.  It's also been SO COLD so driving to the gym this week hasn't happened once.  I've been working out in my living room though doing the catching fire 30 day challenge exercises and these have been awesome.  I'm sore, so I know they're working.  Last night before parenthood I did two days worth of them (about 25 minutes total) because I had missed the night before and didn't want to get behind.  During Parenthood(BEST SHOW EVER) I stayed upright and marched in place and did laps around the end table while I watched since I wanted to "warm down" after doing the two Catching Fire workouts.  I was already feeling the burn so I stretched and marched instead of sitting still.  

My goal next week is to do my workouts in the morning so I can still partake in all the fun at night without sacrificing my workout time.  What are some choices you made this week (and the benefits or consequences you faced?)  What are your goals?

wooooooo!!!!!! and poop.

Well, It's been a week and I'm down 4.4 lbs!  

Woo whoo!!

<Happy Dance>

Uh huh.... oh yeah.... shake my booty.... sprinkler.... shopping cart.... Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight. Get down tonight!

I don't feel much different except for one thing....

**Warning: Over share ahead**  

If you don't like poop stop reading here.

Seriously, I warned you.....

**Over share coming up now!**

....I poop much more regularly and easily!  It's quite pleasant!  I feel celebratory every day and want to sing songs about pooping!

I once wrote an entire multi-movement musical piece about bowel movements for my Final Composition project as a music major in college.  Man, I wish I had a recording to share with you... I have to dig it out somewhere.  It was genius.  3 movements: the rumbles, the runs, and the relief.  I had real live performers perform it even!  My composition teacher thought it was great and he chuckled but then offered some very helpful, constructive suggestions to make this a true work of art.  The instrumentation was awesome.  My friend Adam helped me experiment with cool percussion instruments (like a water gong!) to create the sounds of a gurgling stomach and it sounded awesome!  He's a big time college professor now, so he knows his stuff!  Anyway, a while later I used a small excerpt from this piece for a music lit assignment and my lit professor was NOT amused.  She made me re-do the assignment, proceeded to give me another bad grade, and I had to go to her office and apologize.  I mean this was 20th century music.  We were talking about some crazy, weird things people used to create musical pieces.  I thought it was a good fit!  Oh well.  Some people find poop very offensive, some people delight in it.  Lesson learned.  

This young girl is a straight up poop prodigy.  She's going to go far in life.  I've made up a few songs in my head about pooping to this very same tune, but nothing comes close to this girl's lyrical genius.  She's a real gas.  She's disgusting and brilliant.  This song is retched and glorious at the same time.  Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you "Let me Poop" by little Miss Emily.  Belt it, girl!  

If you're offended by my poop post, I'm sorry.  We can't be friends.  If you love poop, feel free to send me your poop stories, this is a safe zone.  I'm actually surprised it took me over a full week to do a post consisting mostly of poop.  

<Pat on the back, Tami>

Go forth and prosper,

I wish you all good pooping,

 XOXO toot toot,

Tami

But I am le tired....

 You may find this post random, but I love Coffee and funny things, and love even more when they're combined. So, this is that you get.

This is my blog, and I do what I want.  

I brewed an entire pot of coffee this morning… 

<Pause for affect>

AN ENTIRE POT OF COFFEE!!!

<Unpause>

…and because I was running late didn't even get to have my precious cup o joe.  There is liquid gold just sitting there in my apartment, un-drunk.  (err…sober?)  I'm trying to find the humor in missing my morning coffee... but I’m really tired and my brain is foggy.

Wanna know why I didn’t have time to drink my coffee (or do my hair and make up today might I add)?  Because my dogs wouldn’t poop.  Because it’s too cold.  I even bought them both boots because the snow and ice kept hurting their paws.  Dog boots are probably handy not only for protecting those cute little feet, but also providing the humans some serious entertainment!  he he.... it's so funny.  Canon doesn't even care about the little booties.  Look at how adorable he is playing in the snow!

We love the snow!

A video posted by Tami Tam (@tamiadele) on Jan 1, 2015 at 10:56am PST

Tempo kept kicking them off so we had to get him hard core boots that he couldn't get off, check out the video below.  I laugh every time he walks in them.  

Trying the score boots!

A video posted by Tami Tam (@tamiadele) on Jan 1, 2015 at 11:16am PST

and for good measure, this.  I mean... that sweater... SO CUTE!

ok...  ENOUGH with the fur children.  I get carried away.  

I want to share one last thing with you because it's awesome and makes me happy and has to do with coffee.... ready?  
I don't have a picture of the actual frame because it's at home and I'm at work, but check this out.  My sister took this sketch and turned it into a print and framed it for my sister and I for Christmas!  

Isn't it awesome!??!  She does custom stuff and even did our entire family portrait!  Check her out.  Her name's Tiffany and she rocks.  

OK, that's enough word vomit for the day.  
I'll check in later!

Cauli-freakin-flower

Pioneer woman strikes again.

I can't wait to try this Spicy Cauliflower Stir-fry.

I have a love for all things cauliflower.  I cannot even keep Cauliflower in my house.  It's always on my grocery list.  It's one vegetable my boyfriend not only tolerates, but REQUESTS.

I make it all the time, but I usually roast it.  I toss it in a little bit of olive oil and add whatever seasonings float my boat at the time.  There's this AWESOME Garlic and Herb Rub from Pampered Chef that I could buy by the case.  I use it on pretty much everything.  I usually throw some G & H rub, salt and pepper, probably more garlic in the form of Garlic Powder or pressed fresh garlic, and crushed red pepper and/or cayenne because we like a little spice.  Sometimes if I like a little chili flavor I add in some or all of the above plus Cumin and Chili powder.  Sometimes I like a little more spice without the chili flavor and toss in some Southwestern seasoning mix (also from Pampered Chef).  The seasonings change, but the method remains the same-roasted.

Anyway, I saw the Pioneer woman's post about this Spicy Cauliflower Stir-Fry and I just know it'll be a hit because the thing that my boyfriend loves more than anything is Sriracha.  He's gotten me hooked too!  Do you love it too?  Here are some ways to use Sriracha on anything and 50 things to do with Sriracha.

Without further adieu,

Catching Fire Day 4

I missed my day 4 because I took a spur of the moment trip to visit my friend Allison up in Ripon, BUT day 5 is rest, so I'm just gonna swap the 2 days cuz I'm a cheater.  



I'm heading to the gym tonight and I'll do the exercises there.  I'll be able to use a weight bench and the ab machine thingy for my knee lift crunch thingy's.  Wow, I really need to brush up on my gym lingo.

  

For the record, the lunges are a killer.  I had to do a million of them in PT, and once I stopped PT in September, I don't know if I've done lunges or squats more than a few times since.    I was getting really good at them, and my awesome Therapist would keep bumping up the difficulty on me when I got good at a specific type or variation of a lunge/squat.  

I was even beginning to see butt cheeks form!  I had buns, not just flat un-toned, uhhhh... what's flat and bread like?  Flatbread?  Pita bread?  Bad analogy.  



I'm gonna try and get my butt in gear, in more ways than one.  It'll not only help my bootay, but I also REALLY need to keep up with my ankle PT exercises or I'll suffer for it.



Also, I don't know if I can do the leap jump things in the video because of my ankle injury, so does anyone have any suggestions of an alternate exercise?  

Puzzle

I saw this and had to share.  This rings so true.  I thought it was quite appropriate at this time!

Can you figure it out?  

Dear Fat, Prepare to die. xo, Me

"Owww....ha ha ha oooowww!!"

This expression comes every time I've laughed in the last, oh, 12ish hours?  The pain.... OOOOOOHHHHH the Pain!!

I have seen helpful posts about DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) before and went in search this morning.  I found this little gem.  I started reading, got up to get a cup of coffee (#1) and sat back down to see if reading this list would instantly make me feel better.  

Well, now I've finished reading this list, I can say I do feel better!  It's magic!  Although I think the half a cup of coffee I just downed and this cute little puppy and his big brother snuggled on my lap may have had more to do with it....  I wonder how I can get anything done....

I might be biased, but isn't he the cutest thing EVER!?!?  

His big brother doesn't want anything to do with the camera, but here's the top of his head.  He's cute too, but much more modest.

Anyway, I'm gearing up to get my workout in while trying to convince myself that I'm not sore. Although when I see things like this, and laugh (and hurt), I'm kindly reminded that I do actually have muscles in there somewhere!  Oh Will, you so funny!

I'm definitely getting in a good stretch before starting Day 2 of the Catching Fire 30 Day Challenge.  I'm going to power through!  I have my water bottle filled, I had a half of a whole wheat bagel with some peanut butter for some breakfast as some pre-workout fuel, and I'm ready to kick butt.  

Here's what's coming up for me in the next few minutes... When you watch her do it, it looks so effortless.  She's full of lies, and she's a crazy she-beast with awesome muscles.  You go girl!

Here's goes nothing!

Preppin'

My biggest challenge with consistently eating healthy is planning ahead for lunches.  I love having food in the fridge that is easy to throw together for a quick meal.  I am fortunate enough to live super close to work and I can go home for lunch.  This time is usually rushed, but if I can have something planned and prepped ahead of time, I actually have time to relax with the pups before I run out the door.  Plus, if I know there's something yummy at home, it's easier to turn down the fast food lunch trips with the co-workers.  I love the socializing, but my waistline and wallet are suffering.

I try to have chopped, rinsed lettuce and veggies for easy to throw together salads.  I love the rotisserie chickens they have at Walmart because I use the chicken for so many meals, and it's so yummy!  Plus, I use them to make my own chicken stock.  I made this amazing tex-mex chopped salad the other day.  My boyfriend scarfed it down too!  I hardly had to use much of the dressing that it called for because in my opinion, it coats everything well so a little bit goes a long way.  There were  so many goodies in it that I didn't need to add  anything extra to make it enjoyable.  The ingredients and instructions to make the "dressing" is included in the recipe,  and it's flavorful yet not loaded with crap.


I can't have lettuce salads everyday, so I was looking online for some healthy recipes for shredded chicken since I always have some type of chicken in the fridge.  It'd be an even better bonus if I can have left overs or create several grab and go type meals from one recipe.
  
Well, Taaaaa Daaaaa... Lo and Behold, I found a recipe for Pineapple Chicken Salad!  


Oh my gosh, doesn't this sound/look SO GOOD!?!?  You could eat it on whole grain flatbreads suggested in the recipe, or those fun spinach or sundried tomato wraps, or I would love them in a lettuce or cabbage leaf too as a wrap or on top of a lettuce salad.  OMG.  Yum!

If you have other easy healthy recipes that you love and are willing to share, I'd love to hear about them!

The first day of 2015

Well, so far today I'm off to a good start!  I did my beginning measurements and took pictures.  After that revelation I hooked my computer up to my TV and did the first workout of the Catching Fire 30 day challenge.  HOLY CRAP.  It's hard.  It's 12 minutes of, well, I'll just let you try it.  

She has you do these things called "superman kick throughs" and they're pure torture.  I mean, I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, you should try them!  The name sounds pleasant enough, but there are a few choice words that I used when naming this exercise in my head.  My mom might read this, so I better refrain from sharing.  Also, I would like to state for the record that my boyfriend started this workout with me around the lunges part and he claimed that he "didn't feel like it" so stopped.  mmmm hmmmmm.... sure.  

This is what I looked like after doing the workout.  I was so tired and schweatay.  

You also get to see yesterday's makeup.  It looked better yesterday.  

For the record, I whole heartedly expect that if I do this workout every day for 30 days, I'll look just like the lady in the video.  She is RIPPED! For now, here are my "before" pictures.  

January 1st, 2015.