Happy Fit-iversary to Me

I can't believe it's already been a year and yet, I can't believe it's only been a year.

One year ago, I was 15 months post-partum. Feeling sluggish and out of shape. None of my clothing fit right and I didn't feel great about myself. I didn't even feel good about myself most days. I heard about this website called Dietbet that allows you to basically pledge $30 (or some other amount of money you set) that you will lose 4% of your body weight in 30 days. I thought that would be a really difficult challenge for me because I (thought) I only had about 6 pounds to lose to get to a more comfortable weight and needed to lose somewhere around 4.5 pounds to "win" the Dietbet. Nevertheless, I started a Dietbet challenge, invited my friends, and began the best year of my life.

The basics have been very basic. I track my food (for free on myfitnesspal.com). I exercise at least 3x a week (usually 5-6 days per week). I track my runs with Runkeeper (free app), And I've done it for a year. A whole entire year without a lapse. Even the week we were at Disneyworld I ran in the mornings with my sister-in-law. Even the coldest and hottest weeks of the year I worked out. Even the week I was resting my sore knee I still got in 3 workouts. Making it a full year is really significant for me--the person who could do it for a few months and then fall off of the wagon. I don't see myself ever stopping while I'm physically able to do it.

Here's what's changed in a year's time...

• My weight has gone down 12-14 pounds. I'm roughly 5-6 pounds below my original "target" weight, lower than I thought was possible as an adult.
• My clothing size has gone down from an 8 to a 4.
• My body has changed. I love my body. It is muscular and tone.
• My wardrobe has changed. I've spent a lot of time at Goodwill searching the "size small" racks. I've purchased my first new bikinis in 10 years. I'm wearing things I never imagined I would wear, like leggings and skinny jeans.
• My running endurance has increased massively. I previously thought running 1 mile was unreachable and running 10 minutes without stopping was amazing. This weekend I ran my first half-marathon, a trail marathon, and finished in 3 hours.
• My confidence in running has increased. I've gone from signing up for 5ks to signing up for half marathons.
• My relationship with food has changed. I did a Whole30 in March (and plan to do another in September), and it has made me focus more on putting good, real foods into my body. I still like sweets and treats, but I also know that I don't need them all of the time.
• I've discovered new healthy foods and added them into my regular diet rotation (coconut oil, sweet potatoes, zucchini, almond butter, hummus, cauliflower rice...). I've ditched a lot of foods I thought I couldn't live without, like bread, pasta, and rice.
• My self-esteem is through the roof. Not only because I think I look awesome, but because I feel strong and fit. I know I can finish a race, do a push-up, keep up with my kids all day, fuel my body well, have willpower.

One year ago, July 2013, pre-Dietbet. 140ish pounds.

Post Dietbet, 133 Pounds

 

February 2014, post ab-challenge, 128 pounds

Today, 1 year in, 125 lbs:

I continue to set new goals and challenges and can't wait to see what the future as a fit and healthy mom looks like. Happy Fit-iversary, here's to many more!

Still Whole30ing. Kinda

I have not been able to be as diligent this time around as I was the last time, but I'm still working at it and trying to follow as best as I can. I haven't been as good with the pictures these last few days either, so all you're getting is some highlights!

Breakfast has largely been eggs with sweet potatoes. I did switch it up one day and make a green smoothie (though smoothies aren't encouraged on Whole30 because they are typically high in fruit and they prefer you to eat your food not drink it, but I had some spinach that needed using up, so smoothie it was).

Lunches were often leftovers. I had a compliant chicken sausage from Trader Joe's one day with an apple and almond butter, but didn't snap a picture. One day I ate in the car and had a random assortment of leftover pulled pork, a boiled egg, some carrots, and some olives.

This weekend we ate at a little cafe and I had a bok choy salad (with a non-compliant soy sauce dressing, but dang it was good) and this blackened catfish (and that was "cumin sauce" so not sure what's in it, but also delicious). The waitress gave me the eye when I said "no rice, no beans" and questioned if I then wanted the sandwich instead that comes with chips and salsa? No thanks.

And Dinners have been varied. Last Friday we had spaghetti squash (for me, the family had pasta) with sausage and marinara. Salads on the side with Tessemae's raspberry vinaigrette.

Spaghetti is not pretty, but it was decent.

 Last night we had roast chicken, roast sweet potatoes, and this awesome Super Greens soup.

And tonight was a yummy compliant Wildtree freezer meal: Mexican shredded beef. It's meant for burritos, but we ate it over cauliflower rice with some guacamole, and had salads with it with Tessemae's Southwest Ranch. This meal had some kick.

I have had three non-compliant meals in the last few days (lunch and dinner last Thursday at a conference and social gathering with my university cohort, and then a burger after our 5K Saturday night). So I know I'm supposed to start over at day 1, but I'm just trying to do my best from this point on. I'm still loving the lack of sweets cravings (haven't indulged in any) and not feeling hungry all day. Plus, with how beautiful these meals are, why would I quit now?

Whole30 Day 6--the energy is coming!

I'm starting to feel steadier energy all day long, which is my absolute favorite part of the Whole30. None of the afternoon blahs or sugar crashes. Maybe it was just because I didn't have 2 minutes to sit down today, but it came about this time last 30 days too.

Today, same old breakfast: sweet potato hash with 2 eggs over easy. I had a banana at our staff appreciation breakfast this morning and swiped a muffin for the family :)

Lunch Day 6: Leftovers. Pork carnitas over cauliflower rice with romaine, jalapenos, and guacamole. Dipped some carrots in the leftover guacamole. I also took olives and a boiled egg, but didn't eat the egg and ate the olives when I got home:

Dinner Day 6: Kung Pao Salmon w/broccoli and sweet potatoes. We had this a few weeks ago and really liked it. Wasn't as good today for some reason, but filled the belly anyway. The kids had PB&J's (insert eye roll)

Another one in the book. 1/5 of the way there.

Whole30 Day 5

I feel like I'm on the upswing now. I know I had just unstoppable energy in week 2 last time, so I'm looking forward to it. Treats day at work today and I didn't even feel too deprived, though those pumpkin bars did look delicious.

Started the morning out with my usual: sweet potato hash and 2 fried eggs, and a small banana at work:

Lunch was leftover buffalo chicken egg cups (with a little extra buffalo chicken), some broccoli/grape salad, and an apple. I had a couple of my meatballs I had taken to work as well. Was so glad I took something that I (and my friend at work who is doing the Whole30 with me) could eat. Rest of the week we won't be so lucky!

Dinner tonight, man I was so excited. Pork carnitas with cilantro lime cauliflower rice bowls. Mine had "rice," pork, romaine, jalapenos, carrots, red pepper, salsa, and guacamole. Yum. It's almost like I planned it for Cinco de Mayo, but it was just a coincidence. 

Snacks today were more almonds and raisins (kind of my new thing, but I figure it could be worse) and I munched some carrots and broccoli w/guacamole while I cooked and Forrest and I shared a fruit bowl after dinner (pears, strawberries, kiwi). Feel really satisfied today.

Whole30 Day 4

Today was not the best day. I ate (mostly) compliant, but a lot of fruit and feeding my sweet dragon way more than I wanted to. Not sure why.

I started the day out with some almonds and raisins before my run. Debated for quite a while what I could eat that I wouldn't regret while I was out running. Came home and had my favorite sweet potato hash with 2 fried eggs. Yum. Oh yeah, I forgot to take a picture until I was almost done. Told ya I was hungry.

I was at my cousin Judy's confirmation party for lunch, and tried my best to eat compliant, but I'm sure the dressing on the salad was not, and I gave in to my Aunt's special striped Jell-o. I bypassed the cake despite bringing 4 pieces home for the family so I think that earns me back some points. And I photographed my lunch while at a family gathering. You're welcome.

Then I came home and threw together two compliant dishes for a work pot-luck tomorrow (Merguez meatballs with homemade BBQ sauce and this awesome Broccoli/Grape Salad). Couldn't stop snacking at that point. Had some celery with almond butter and raisins and a whole bunch of grapes while making the salad. I wasn't even hungry for dinner but made the Buffalo Chicken Egg cups that were on the menu any way. They were pretty good. I swiped a spoonful of the broccoli salad for tomorrow as my side. It was really good.

Brushed my teeth right after supper so I wouldn't have the urge to snack. Almost glad that tomorrow is Monday and back to work.

Whole30 Day 3--weekends are hard

Weekends are a lot harder for me on the Whole30 because we tend to be out and about more. Today was no exception. Forrest was up at the crack of dawn, as usual, so I had a banana before my workout, then my workout, and then finally made up my eggs. I wasn't feeling the fried egg this morning, so I scrambled up three eggs with some salsa and then folded spinach inside. It was pretty good.

The kids and I were heading out to go to some antique/resale shops with MIL, and I knew a) I was going to be hungry and b) there wasn't going to be anything there I could eat. So, I smartly packed a little snack bag of almonds and raisins for myself (man, it totally hit the spot). I made the kids bags with pretzels and Cheerios which kept them quiet on the drive too. It didn't make the donuts look any less delicious when we got to our first stop (a local bakery had set up in the yard, OMG, my kids shared a donut and it was all my willpower not to finish it off when neither one of them wanted to eat their whole piece).

For lunch we went to a local restaurant. There wasn't much there that appealed to me, especially for lunch time when I find it hard to order a "dinner" meal. I ended up going with the Chef's salad, no cheese. I'm sure the Italian dressing I picked was not compliant, but it was the best of my options, so it had to do. Gave my kids all the croutons--they were thrilled.

Dinner was my absolute favorite Whole30 recipe: Cocoa Chili from The Clothes Make the Girl. I made it twice on my Whole30. It's really easy to make and both my kids even ate it (and Heidi had seconds, which is unheard of). I snacked on some raw veggies and guacamole while I waited for the sweet potatoes to bake, then topped my chili with some guacamole and a handful of roasted sweet potatoes.

Overall, it was a pretty good day. Would've been better if I could convince Forrest to go potty in public bathrooms. Maybe next time.

Whole30 Day 2

Day 2 and I had no sweet potatoes ready for breakfast, disappointing. I did have a couple red peppers that I overbought last weekend though, so I sauteed one of those up with my spinach and fried eggs (fried hard since I had nothing to soak up the good stuff). And had a banana on the drive to work because I knew that wasn't going to make it to lunch with just the eggs. 

Lunch was last night's leftovers: ribs, sweet potato, broccoli. I also had some raw veggies with spicy guacamole and an apple (not pictured).

Dinner tonight was a Wildtree Southwest Chicken burger (hello, freezer party meal!) topped with some homemade mayo and guacamole with a big ol' salad on the side (romaine, carrots, red pepper, broccoli, black olives and Tessemae's Southwest Ranch dressing). I also had a couple ants on a log with almond butter after dinner because my mouth was on fire from the guacamole.

Snacks today were some almonds and I had a boiled egg before dinner and some raisins. Tomorrow is the weekend, that's the struggle!

Whole30 Day 1

I started my second Whole 30 on May 1st and decided this time through to document in pictures all of my meals (since a lot of folks have asked me what I eat when I do it...and since I like to overshare with pictures of food).

Day 1 Breakfast: 2 fried eggs served over roasted sweet potatoes with sauteed fresh spinach. I'm trying to make myself like spinach. Love fried eggs and love the sweet potatoes to soak up the yolk.

Day 1 Lunch: Leftover salmon with lemon, salt & pepper, sweet potato hash, a boiled egg with homemade mayo, some raw veggies, and an apple. I ate all this and was still starving by 4pm. I did eat lunch at 10:30-11 though, while driving to a meeting where I was then urged to eat lunch there or "at least a pastry!"

Day 1 Dinner: Beef short ribs in the crockpot (ate with some Tessemae's ketchup, which has an interesting flavor), steamed broccoli, half a sweet potato that I microwaved. Sweet potatoes were discovered in my first Whole30 after previously thinking I didn't like them, and yes, I did have one at each meal today. Ate this one without anything on it, even.

I did have some almonds, green olives, and a banana at various times today too. Takes me a while to get into the no-snacking rhythm. Day 1 in the books.