Food

I am in love with the recipes that I made this week from Jillian Michael's book Making the Cut.  This week I made her Barbecued Chicken and Black beans (brown red onions and garlic, add chunks of chicken and cook, add a can of black beans and bbq sauce and heat through) and put it over lettuce. I made an Artichoke Hearts and tomato salad (halve cherry tomatoes and kalamata olives, add artichoke hearts.  Make a vinagrette using the artichoke marinade, vinegar, and dijon mustard) and added quinoa and some feta cheese.  I ate the leftovers the next day over a big bowl of lettuce.  I also made her Asparagus and Walnut salad (steam and chop up 1 pound of asparagus, make a dijon mustard vinagrette with minced red onion, put on greens, add chopped walnuts).  It was fun to try new recipes and get some new flavors in my mouth.  I ate way more meat this week and felt extremely satisfied.  Prepping my vegetables for the week is a good strategy for me.  I use them throughout the week for my lunches and quick dinners.  I use my grill pan to grill eggplant and zucchini.  I roast cauliflower with paprika.  I steam brussel sprouts and broccoli.  My spray olive oil and kosher salt are my favorite tools of flavor.  I also like to prep quinoa and brown rice.  Adding quinoa to my breakfast has been a delicious addition to my usual eggs.  Try these tips and I know that you will love them.  I don't count the calories of vegetables unless I add calories to them (like oil).  This helps me feel like I get a lot more food.  Here's to another successful week!

One Week Done!

I have made it through the first week.  I lost two pounds this week and I am now 154.2.  Go me!  My original goal for April was to get out of the 150's.  I have got a week to do it.  I think this week's success was due to my double days and really sticking to my calories of 1502.  I stayed on the Jillian Michael's diet for almost every meal.  I took 3 meals off and I drank a lot of coffee, but I budgeted all that into my calorie allowance.  In weeks past I have taken off a day and not counted any calories, but not this month.  Today is Sunday and that means an amazing meal with my family.  Today will be a test to see if I can stick to my word.  I will have a calorie goal and will not go over that.  I know that I can do it.  This week I am going to do the same as I did this week.  Double days!!!  Here I go...

Day 4

I have done Making the Cut for 4 days now.  It is hard, but I am loving it.  I feel strong and I can already feel some improvements in my workouts.  I did the 100 squats and it was not too hard.  Burpees are still REALLY hard though.  The diet is great and I have not gone over my calories once.  I am looking forward to a stronger body and mind. 

Day 3

I am loving my short morning run. I do 3 miles in the dark with my dog and it's great. I get back feeling energized and ready for the day. It's only 7 now, but I feel like I have been up forever. Must remember this feeling on those days when I don't want to get out of bed.

Watch my video

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FofAdzO3K2I

What did I get myself into?

Today was day one of my 30 day challenge, and oh my was it difficult! I have decided to do double days. I will be waking up early each morning and doing my cardio, which will be a thirty minute run with my dog. I did it today and I was having to drag my pup by the end. We will both be getting super fit. Then came the actual Jillian beat down and it was intense. My sister and I were DRIPPING sweat. It was very hard, but I did it! The eating was hard today as I was starving. I hit my calorie goal on the head today and am hoping my brain will get the message soon that I am full. Tomorrow is my first day back to work since spring break (boo!), but it does help keep my mind focused on other things besides food. I am looking forward to tomorrow's beat down.

A New Challenge

Tomorrow will be the start of a new challenge. I will be doing jillian Michael's 30 day making the cut plan. I will have a strict calorie intake (1502) but the real challenge will be the workouts. I will be doing things that I am afraid to do. I am looking fear in the eyes and going to get in the best shape of my life. Jillian promises me :) I will post as often as I can to fill you in on my status. I am excited. I need a a challenge and I think this will help me lose those last 20 pounds, or at least get me going. I want to be looking fine by June because we are going to Spain and I refuse to be the fat American girl anymore. I want my inlaws and extended family to be wowed by my weightloss. Wish me luck!