In the Beginning

I was thinking of just how far I have come since starting out on my journey of living a lighter (healthy) life.  So I thought I would tell you about when I first started out. I remember it was November and I had a friend getting married that coming August and I was going to be a bridesmaid. I knew I needed to do something because I hated having my picture taken at that point, I just hated how I looked (because the truth was I looked fat). In hindsight I really wished I had of taken an actual before picture. I do look back on the above picture and just feel like I was drowning in my own body.  I didn't really know what to do or where to start. I liked watching transformation shows on TV and had been watching Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition and the Biggest Loser. I was crying my eyes out at how amazing people looked and I thought, man if these people who are so much heavier then me can do this surely I can manage to lose some weight. 

So I was ready to start out but afraid that like so many other things I would fail at this too. A friend of mine was selling a weight loss shake at the time so I decided to try it out.  If it helped me get going and start seeing results why not? When it came in it had a chart (BMI) to figure out where you are and where you should be by checking your current weight and height. I was stunned to see that I was considered Obese! Yes I was plus size but I didn't think I was that far gone. I guess it doesn't help that I'm also only 4'11" but good things come in small packages! To bring myself to what was considered a healthy weight I would have to lose a minimum of 50 pounds. That seemed to huge of an undertaking so I decided that since I was turning 30 that year that I would set out to lose 30 pounds by my 30th birthday which also was good for the wedding I was in as it was around the same time. 

Me at my Friends Wedding.
I didn't hit my goal but lost 25 lbs.

I knew I would have to workout but I was uncomfortable going to a gym, I didn't want people to see me jiggle all over the place! I had a Wii and I thought they should have a fitness program for it and sure enough I found one! It was EA Sports Active I started doing it and drinking my shakes and I did start seeing results! 5 pounds in the first week! I was thrilled and motivated. When I got tired of the one program I bought a few more Wii fitness programs. They even had one from The Biggest Loser! I really enjoyed that one there is nothing like having avatars of Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper guiding you through a fitness challenge. You literally are a Biggest Loser contestant which made its fun and competitive! I wanted to be the Biggest Loser! Which by the way I was!  I soon got addicted to doing these "games" thus working out longer, it was an average sat to spend most of my morning working out. I am actually happy that I did start out this way because it was me pushing myself to do. It gave me confidence and added motivation to workout.

During this time I started eating better and logging my food in the MyFitnessPal app on my phone. Boy was that an eye opener! I thought I was eating "healthy" but man was I way off lol. Being accountable for what I ate and seeing the calories in what I was eating was huge for me! For the first week I just recorded what I was eating. I could not believe how many calories I consumed in a day. You can eat a little but it can add up to A LOT! So I started making more healthy choices and giving myself a calorie budget for the day. The App had recommended 1200 and i tried that for a couple days and was starving! I realized that it was to much of a change to fast so I modified so one week I went with 1800, then the next i did 1500 and then i went with 1200.  It's funny now because since I used that App for so long and was a custom to eating only 1200 calories a day that it just kind of stuck with me.  Before I got a new phone I was unable to use the App anymore and was surprised when I was able to that I ate 1200 or less in a day. I do highly recommend the app and just keeping a food journal in general it will help you tremendously, I  I have learned sooo much since starting out and plan to keep learning too! I may even take a course or 2 on Nutrition. There is one thing that I did learn along the way and it it so true...

MIA

Well I definitely have been Missing In Action lately, I will do better.  So what's been new and exciting you ask? Not a whole lot new but exciting yes! I am heading to Vegas next month for the first! I am going to Beachbody's Coach Summit and it's going to be fantastic! They always announce new products, one of them is PiYo! It is a low impact fusion of Pilate's and Yoga which I am totally going to do! At Easter I had the flu then threw out my back for the first time (boy did I feel like I was getting old then) so not only have I been MIA from blogging but I have been MIA from my workouts :( But all that is changing as I realize with only 30 Days until I leave it's time for another round of the 21 Day Fix! I'm probably going to have to follow the modified version but I am still excited to see the results!

So what else is new... Well I've fallen in love. With a Super duper food lol. Of course I'm talking about Quinoa! Pronounced "keen-wah" it's super tiny and seriously good for you! Although referred to as a grain, quinoa is actually a seed from a vegetable related to swiss chard, spinach and beets. It is packed with protein in fact its protein is similar to milk and has more protein compared to rice, millet or wheat. Which if you don't know it by know by eating protein it helps you stay fuller longer! One of the best benefits to eating quinoa is that It's only has 172 calories per ¼ cup dry quinoa! Since it is not related to wheat or grain, it's gluten-free! Tons of people are discovering that by reducing eating gluten grains or at least wheat products how they feel better and lose weight. I honestly have been thinking of trying to go gluten free for a couple weeks to see if I notice a difference. Quinoa is also a complex carbohydrate with low glycemic index. This is again good for weight management. Really I fail to find a reason to break up with this Superstar!

Tex Mex Quinoa Bowl

It is so versatile you can make for for breakfast instead of oatmeal!  I think my fave way to use it is putting it in salad. I recently went out to lunch and they served up the most amazing kale and quinoa salad, I can't wait to try and make it myself! It was Kale, quinoa, yellow & orange peppers, slivered almonds, crasins, feta cheese and dressed with balsamic Mmm mm! I also used it as a base to make a Mexican Bowl.  I cooked up ground turkey with some onions season with Tex Mex spice threw is black beans and corn topped with shredded cheddar cheese, volia! I have even tried making quinoa patties!

Kinda Qunioa Patty 

They didn't really turn out but they were still tasty :-) Seriously there is nothing you can't make with Quinoa including cookies! Here's a recipe to try:

Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup natural peanut butter
2 tbsp applesauce
1/4 cup raw honey or agave
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup almond flour
1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa (about 1/2 cup of uncooked quinoa)
1/4 to 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions

In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, applesauce, honey, vanilla and salt. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until combined. Spoon rounded tablespoons of cookies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Place in the freezer to set, about 20 minutes. Enjoy!