For Me

I really wish I knew when, how, why, but I'm not complaining. A switch has been flipped inside me, maybe it was the hair cut. For the past couple of years, I have said "I'm trying to lose weight," but I just wasn't committed to it. Something wasn't clicking and I wasn't successful, at all. I found myself setting insane goals, joining a bunch of weight loss challenges and then giving up rather quickly because of one "bad" day or one "bad" meal.

This time, I'm doing this for me. Exercising because I love the way it makes me feel which is strong, healthy, powerful and a better Jen. Eating healthy because of the way it feels which is healthy, happy and a better Jen. Food isn't "bad" or "good." This time I'm losing the weight for me. I have goals, yes, but they aren't set in stone. I know I won't lose the weight overnight, but I know that every day I continue on this path I will continue to get stronger, healthier and happier. As of now, I set a goal weight at my pre-kids weight. I honestly don't know if I will ever reach that weight again, but for now, it's a good reference for me. But I do know this, if I never reach that number again, but I get to a place where I'm happy and healthy, than I will be perfectly content and happy with that. Health and happiness can't be set on a certain number on the scale.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been so supportive as I have tried to figure everything out.

Who Am I?!

It wasn't too long ago (about a month) that I was looking to find the quickest, easiest workout every morning so I could be done ASAP. Now, I'm looking to add in more and my body is craving more exercise. It's a terrific feeling and i hope it continues! I haven't said much about it, but it's been a week now, so I will. I have attempted Weight Watchers many times over the past few years, but for some reason, it just doesn't click with me. I admire those that have success with this program, but it just wasn't for me. I'm not saying it doesn't work and it's not a great program, it's just not for ME. When I stopped WW, I went back to another free site that I had used before, but again, it just wasn't clicking with me. I then decided I was fine and could do everything on my own and if I just exercised enough, the weight would start coming off...but it didn't. Last week a friend of mine and I were talking and she introduced me to a website www.myfitnesspal.com. It has been a week now and it is really working for me. The site is very user friendly, and so is everyone else! I love how easy and quick it is to add foods, exercise and it's very simple to use. I was trying to stick to a certain calorie count every day, but some days (especially after strength training  day) I was starving all day long and was constantly going over calories. The beauty of this site; the more calories I burn, the more I get to eat :) And it's a different calorie amount every day, so my calories consumed every day are always changing, so I'm keeping my body guessing and I'm having great success!!! If anyone else is on that site; feel free to add me: jenslosinit

Workout: Chalean Extreme Lean3
I know that most of these workout DVD systems come with a schedule, but I like to make my own :)

Breakfast:
Another breakfast consumed in the car. Same picture as the day before, because it was the exact same breakfast. An egg sandwich

and a Trader Joe's Cara Cara orange

Lunch: My new obsession; Salad Beast

Romaine Lettuce, Broccoli, Celery, 1oz cheddar cheese, pickle spear

I also had 2 slices of Trader Joe's Asiago Peppercorn Sourdough Bread (unpictured)

Dinner: Bowtie pasta with Trader Joe's Alfredo Pasta Sauce (man can you tell I hit up TJ's this week!!)

1 cup of broccoli and 1 cup of green beans

YAY for natural light at dinner!!!! :)

Bye Bye Hair!

The last time I had my hair cut was in 2009, and it's been getting to a desperate situation ever since! But, before I get to the big reveal, let's go back to this morning.

Workout: ChaLEAN Extreme Burn Intervals
The first time I did this workout was probably a little over a year ago and I really thought I was going to pass out. I couldn't do most of the cardio portions and half did the weights portion. Today, even though I had to do the modified versions, I DID IT! I did the whole thing!!! I felt like a total rockstar when it was over!

Breakfast:
Egg sandwich on a whole wheat english muffin, slice of american cheese and an egg

And a delicious Cara Cara orange on the side. This meal was consumed in the car on my way to Trader Joe's.

Lunch: Salad beast. Romaine lettuce topped with broccoli, celery, pickle and cheese

Dinner: Unpictured because I was trying to inhale it so I could get my hair cut. Steak, baby red potatoes and green beans.

**** and now for the hair reveal, I am SO beyond thrilled with how it turned out! So nice to have a brother in law who comes to your house to cut your hair :)
BEFORE

and AFTER

And with that, I'm off to bathe kids, put them to bed and crawl in bed with a movie! Have a good night!!

Burn

This morning I did a workout DVD called Burn It Off and Recharge. Should be called burn your muscles until you cry and stretch until you feel like gumby!

Breakfast was 1/2 a bagel with peanut butter

Blueberry Chobani

With a tablespoon of Chia seeds

Early Morning

I tried this weekend to work out during Aiden's nap, but it was way harder than I thought! The more I thought about things, the more it made sense to keep my exercise time first thing in the morning for now. For one thing, 2 kids are at school during the day now, but pretty soon they will be home for the summer and I'll need AM workouts anyway and 2. I'm not motivated enough to say I'll work out later and then actually follow through with it ;)

So, I made a plan that will take me through Memorial Day and then I'll figure out what I want to do next. Here is the schedule for March:

Being able to cross something off every day is a huge motivator for me! So, this morning I did Cardio Party #2 and I was able to do the entire DVD without stopping and without making a ton of modifications. YAY :)

I have a ton of cleaning that needs to get done this morning, have a great Monday :)

I don't know what to do

I have always been a morning exerciser. Truth be told, I actually like waking up early before anyone else is up, just having some alone time is worth so much to me! But, I just don't feel like exercising first thing in the A.M. anymore. I would rather take that time to just relax. Also, I just haven't been putting my all into the workouts, because I'm not fully awake yet. I don't want to exercise at night because by the time I do dinner, bathe 3 kids, read and they all go to bed; *I* want to go to bed myself, but that's also because I wake up at 4:15am.

I have 2 kids who are in school all day and the toddler naps for about 3 hours every afternoon. I have been using that as more quiet time, but that's a lot of idle time of me not doing anything if I have that in the morning and again in the afternoon. So, I'm thinking I can still wake up early (maybe not AS early though if I'm not going to be working out) and have the alone time then, but then use the afternoon nap time as my exercise time. 

Well now that I wrote it all down, I know what to do :) So, let's get down to business!

Breakfast: I woke up this morning with a less than pleasant wake up call of cramps and cravings for all things unhealthy. Thankfully we got a bit of ice last night and the schools are on a 2 hour delay so going out for breakfast wasn't even an option. Instead I had eggs in toast

Banana

With a steaming mug of peppermint herbal tea (you can see my new boyfriend Mr. Blackberry in the back, he's dreamy)

Now it's off to get the kiddies to school and come home to chill with a heating pad :) See you this afternoon!

Why Not?

I had the hardest time figuring out what I wanted for lunch today. Nothing "lunchy" sounded good, but I was craving oatmeal, so I went with that.

*1 cup So Delicious Vanilla Coconut Milk
*1/4 cup steel cut oats
1 Tbsp. Chia seeds

And on top
* Banana
* Polaner Strawberry All Fruit Spread
* White Chocolate Wonderful

This filled me up completely. It's been about 3 hours and I'm still full from this. Score!