It's fall now, and I haven't hiked at all ...

I haven't hiked at all this month. I'm still losing weight, which suprised even me. I've been using a bunch of detox teas, vitamins, drinking lots of water. Basically I'm suffering from a nasty cold that hasn't seem to have left totally yet, and has given me a nasty cough worse than my asthma cough. So basically taking it easy, doing crafts, eating healthy. Watching my body is all I can do. If it was just a head cold, I would be up there but it hit my lungs and I'm down for the count. I'm proned to pneumonia, and bronchitis, and now that the weather cooler, with a heavy cough, must becareful.

Naturally I'm bummed to miss hiking, but I've kept myself busy with crafts and making stuff for my kids birthday party.

Plus planning my Halloween cheat days for the month. Finding mixtures of healthy Halloween treats for regular days, and sugar filled treats for my cheat days.

And what I like to think about so I don't get bummed, listing my accomplishments big or small.

What do you do to cheer yourself up?

NoExcuses: I DO have enough time...

Oh man the most annoying excuse yet, and the most excuse I've ever heard. I believe I've said this myself. Yikes! Here it is....."I don't have enough time to exercise."

Oh you better believe we all have time to exercise. If we have enough time to watch TV, we have enough time to exercise. We can always take the time to exercise, especially if we take the time to sleep, brush our teeth. Exercising keeps our bodies healthy too, so we should make the time to exercise.

I challenge everyone to take at least 15mins to exercise a couple times a week.

Guess what! You can exercise during the commercials while you are watching your favorite tv show.

Also, Google exercise routines you can do to your favorite songs.

Come on we need to say this to ourselves everyday, "I DO have time to exercise!"

Challenge: eating deadline

I wanted to challenge you all to do what I'm working on right now. Is to stop eating 4 hours before your bedtime. Why? To reduce heart burn at night, and to help with weight loss.  If we eat food right before we go to bed, our bodies will most likely store it as fat. The cause is our metabolism slowing down while we sleep. Makes sense right? After all we use food as fuel to keep our energy up as we move through the day.

Well if this sounds tough to do, it isn't. As long as we go through a gradual change. Our stomachs will barely notice the change. Start with an hour  before bedtime, after a week go to 2 hours, and so on.

If I can do it, so can you. :) So get to it!

Happy labor day!!

BBQ's but still time to workout.  Remember to reminisce about all the hard labor you do all year.

For me its exercising, taking care of 2 kids, a husband, and chatting with you fine folks. :)

So happy labor day! From my family to yours!

Remember: to soak it all in, and take a deep breathe

Lately I've been waking up late to hike, so tired the urge to rollover back in bed and sleep some more is very tempting. I've struggled getting out of bed. Telling myself I will regret it if I don't go, I just have to try.

Finally I get up and start my normal routine of filling my waterpak and such. Putting on my shoes, telling my husband bye and running out the door.

When I get there, I'm drag myself up the mountain, as its starts sprinkling rain, I look up at the sky and think the clouds are sparse this won't last forever. I keep moving along, occasionally slipping on rocks. I finally make it to the top of the peak, and relieved I made it. I'm off  my game about 8minutes and I'm little disappointed in myself.

Ready to go home, I head down the mountain. Pondering about what I'm missing in my exercising. How I did recently feel like exercising is monotonous, after hiking for over a year?

I'm stopped and decided to look at view. I took a deep breathe in, and let it out slowly. Just in awe of what I was looking at, the sun peering through the clouds, all the different colors. Remembering the hike is not just about exercise, its about the beauty of the  nature I'm in, its about taking a deep breathe and remembering why I'm there, its for me.

I absolutely love the challenges of hiking, with my asthma, my weight, and nature.

So take a deep breathe and soak it all in. It's worth it. Now I'm waking up with a more positive attitude about hiking, back to doing what have been doing all year long. :)

Recipe: Guilt-free Strawberry Pie Parfait

Strawberry Pie Parfait

Ingredients:

1cup of sliced strawberries
2TBSP of Redi-whip
1sheet of Graham cracker crumbled

Directions:

Place strawberries in small bowl, add redi-whip, top with crumbs, and serve.

Serves 1 person

About 100calories

fitnessmomma original

Noexcuses: I have asthma and I still hike

Oh yep. I have asthma. One of my biggest pet peeves is people who use the excuse of asthma not to exercise. If I can exercise with asthma, you can too. In fact with regular exercise asthma symptoms will decrease.

Oh my, please don't lie to yourselves by saying doctors say you can't exercise with asthma. Ugh such lies. How do I know this, I've seen people with lung disease wearing oxygen tanks on their backs hiking up the mountain. With permission of their pulmonary specialist.
So they if they can do that, then I can grab my inhaler, put on my running shoes, and exercise.

So get to it! I believe in you!!

Healthy lazy: watermelon slicer

As a stay at home mom I'm pretty busy, and I'm always on the lookout for things that easy and healthy.

I think of this as giant apple slicer, but used for melons and pineapples.

Tips: slice melon in half, cut on the meat(open side) instead of the rine because it is much easier to cut through. Not impossible the other way, but much more difficult.

Can be used on medium to small melons, and pineapple.

Sice and eat up.

Can be purchased at Amazon.com .

Recipe for kids: cheesy hotdogs

cheesy hotdog meal
1/2 large tortilla
Slice of cheese
1hotdog slice lengthwise

Fruit
Veggies

Directions:

Put sliced hotdog on tortilla, insert cheese into hotdog, roll tortilla around hotdog. Microwave for 45seconds-1minute.

Add veggies and fruit to plate and serve.

A recipe to help change up the meaning of hotdog.

Exercising: Dealing with the summertime heat

I've been amazed to see how many people quit exercising during the summer, especially outside . I've had random people tell me to quit, but most say keep going.

There is just no reason to quit exercising outside during the summer.

But it does take extra planning to exercise outside.

1. Exercise in the morning or evening. Avoid middle of the day.

2. Drink plenty of water before exercising, if your doing morning exercising prehydrate the day before. Drink 1qt of water per every 50lbs of body weight. Plus drink a little extra while exercising.

3. Have at least 2liters of water while exercising.

4. Have sunblock, sunglasses, and hat if you like.

5. Be in a place where you can find shade if you need too.

6. Remember that it's okay not too push yourself as hard as you can any other time of year. Do the best you can, and listen to your body.

This goes, for hiking, biking, running, walking.

Now with swimming do anytime if you prefer. But still remember all the rules above.

This is more like a survivor guide. I don't want you to pass out, just as I don't want to pass out

When you get rained out, always try exercise DVDs, using a gym, or gym in your home to exercise.

*On high advisory heat days, stay inside and exercise if you can*

This information comes from the heart, and plenty of experience.

Happy exercising!

Being put on the bench: toe injury

Well I'm going to make this long story short.

After noticing a funny pain in my toe and weird looking bruise that hadn't gone away in over a week. I mustered up the courage to go to the doctor and find out what was going on.

Well after many diagnoses, I found out I had grade 1 to 2 turf toe. I also have a bone spur at the joint of my big toe. That is pressing against my tendon and nerves. After almost 4weeks I've been cleared for hiking as long as I wear a toe proctor and shoes while exercising. This injury isn't over but I'm not done exercising.:)

This is a hurdle that I making it over, and pushing through doing whatever exercises I can. Just trying to keep my routine going. I have to admit I miss the outside world. Walking restrictions have made my life frustrating and extremely limited.

Originally I was allowed to use a stationary bike, it my version of spinning. Nice hard workout for sure. Then when the docs suspected I tore my tendon I wasn't allowed to do anything with my feet involved so I shadow boxed for cardio.

This has been an interesting adventure. It may be not over yet, but I'm progressing well and thats what matters.

Moving forward: dealing with bumps in the road

I've been dealing with bumps in the road all year long. If you think losing weight has been easy for me, you would be wrong. Has it been worth the challenge? Yes it has been worth it.

I want to tell what I've gone through this year, so you know what I've endured, and also that you can do it too.

Passing out: Almost a year ago I was hiking, felt weird, I was headed down the trail. Then I just passed out, I woke up as my face was sliding across the dirt. A kind hiker helped me up, and walked with me down the trail, stayed with me the entire way. Such good people hike that trail. When I got home my husband took me to the ER, after an iv and pain meds. Finding out I had infection, and a sprained thumb. 4days later I was back to hiking again.

Car got broken into: a week before I had surgery in November, I was hiking. I achieved a new goal of hitting the .75 mile marker. When I got back to my car, I noticed something strange, it looked like my window was rolled down. Then I look inside my car and there was the tinted window shattered in on the driver side. It was thrown from the passenger side, to the driver side. Heart broken, but relieved nothing was stolen. Because this smart momma doesn't leave anything valuable in her car. Naturally I was paranoid that it would happen again, so I park my car in a more visible parking lot at the mountain now. Nope not even that  would stop me from hiking.

Surgery: not going to go into the details there. The surgery recovery was suppose to be 2weeks, and I wasn't allowed to exercise, and come to find out I wasn't allowed to pick up my 9month old either. That made me sad. The recovery didn't go the way it was suppose too. I ended up not hiking for a total of 4weeks I was going nuts. As soon as I was cleared, I was hiking the next day. It was a relief when I weighed myself and realized I lost 7lbs without hiking and just eating healthy. I was happy to be hiking again and holding my baby girl.

Dealing with the holidays: I purposely chose my cheat days for certain parties and certain holidays. I planned around it. Guess what? Christmas eve. I was hiking, I planned my life around hiking, I said no to treats until my cheat day.

My daughter was hospitalized: oh my! Both my baby daughter and I were really sick. My daughter was sicker than me, I had to take her to the ER. She was put on Oxygen, she had pneumonia and rsv, a mother's worst nightmare. My baby was in the hospital for 4days. I didn't hike for almost 2 weeks. It was rough, but I was happy my daughter was okay.

The plateau: for a month I only lost less than 1/2lb . So frustrating, yet I continued hiking, and eating healthy. That's when I saw my nutritionist and she said to add strength training 2times a week. Then bam! Plateau broken!

I still have tiny bumps in the road, but I keep pushing through.

As you can see through all of this I haven't quit.

If I can do this , you can do it too.

No need to get burnt out

I've seen this happen too many times, and I've done that to myself. Well I decide to exercise, but I jump in all the way, exercising 6times a week. Then after a month I quit, because I got burnt out.

This is a life style change after all, to keep the weight off after we have lost it. We will have to continue exercising in some sort of way. So I recommend this:

1. Start out 2times a week cardio (30-60min+) 2-3 weeks, plus being concious about walking more in general (parking farther, swimming, playing with kids,etc)

2. Then 3times a week cardio (30-60min+)  for 2-3weeks, plus being conciously active the rest of the time in between.

3. 3times a week cardio, and 2times a week strength training (30minutes). Plus being conciously active.

Not only will this help fight burnt out blues, this will keep your body guessing while progressing.

Then what you will want to do, to keep progressing is increase intensity, and time working out as you go along.

I.e. 30min strength training add additional 15 minutes.

Progressing and setting goals for myself as I go along has kept me motivated, and interested as well.

So my friends, keep progressing and don't get burnt. That is my hope for us all.

Just keep going..

I have bad mornings just like everyone else. This morning is no different.

My youngest daughter woke up the sametime I did. I have to take care of her and get ready to go. Before I know it, it's time to run out the door to the mountain. A car takes dangerous left turn in front of me, luckily I slow down in time.  Sigh... "Just keep going"

Pull into the mountain reserve parking lot. Finally in weeks I find a fairly good parking spot. Then, while I'm getting my things together, a guy comes up and knocks on my window to see if my leaving. NEVER has someone done that to me before. Pretty gutsy person if you ask me. My hiking friends and I call these people the 'entitled', because they refuse to park faraway from the trail. I mean hello we are exercising here aren't we? I park faraway all the time, and I know there were plenty of parking spots left today. I told him no I'm not leaving. He left. Sigh ..."just keep going" I say to myself.

Get my waterpak on and my timer started, and headed to trail. There are bugs flying everywhere, and It's hot. All I can tell myself is
"just keep going".

After all that I reach the top of mountain, and say "I made it."

It is worth it to "just keep going" and never give up.

Myrecipes: Scrambled egg burrito

Link to www.fitnessmomma.blogspot.com when sharing this recipe

Ingredients

1smart and delicious small tortilla
1 egg
1 slice Tillamook cheddar cheese
2tbsp el sol fresh homemade salsa
220 calories. diet exchange: 1carb, 1protein, 1dairy
Heat frying pan to medium-high, while heating up, in a separate bowl scramble egg, crumble cheese slice into egg mixture. Spray Pam on to pan, then add egg cheese mixture to pan, and scramble.
Add cooked egg to tortilla, then top with drained salsa. Roll and serve with fruit.

Eatwithme: 5/9/2013

Breakfast:
7mini pancakes from eggo
1tbsp peanut butter
4 strawberries


Lunch:
Chicken salad sandwich
Baby Carrots



Dinner:
2roll sandwiches
Salad
Strawberries
(Making do with funeral food)

EatWithMe: 5/8/13 hiking day

Breakfast:

2cups of honey nut cheerios 220calories
1/2 cup 1%milk
Glass of water

Snack:
Fuji apple 60calories
Waterpak water

Lunch:
Healthy choice Salisbury steak and Mac&cheese 260calories

Snack:
Romaine salad with cucumbers and cherry tomatoes 50calories
1tbsp  of hidden valley ranch 70calories
1/2 large banana 60calories

Dinner:
1 1/2cups Fried Rice, lilsmokies,beans  mix 350calories
7 baby Carrot sticks 35calories
4 celery sticks 20calories
1/2tbsp ranch 35calories
1can of light lemonade minute maid 5calories

Snack:
16 ranch tortilla popchips 120calories
1string cheese 60calories

Spreading my meals smaller on hiking days, helps keep my energy levels high.

My favorite: weight scale

Weight scale , our enemy and our friend. It tells us the ugly truth, but it keeps us in check. I can tell you right now, that if I owned a weight scale when I first got married, I wouldn't have gained as much weight as I did. That's the truth.
Weighing in weekly is an important key to keep progressing.
But having the right scale is important. Trust me when I say I've tried plenty of scales. Has anyone else jumped on a scale to have it say what you want?
I have...ahh the infamous dial scale, you know the one you can lean backwards and forwards on to change the number. Better yet, my stomach is so big I can't see the scale. Ugh oh my... talk about frustration.  Wii fit scale is just as bad as a dial scale, unbelievably frustating.
All Digital scales aren't created equally either. Even though they are more accurate than dial, they can act like dial scales.

Here are my tips on finding a good scale:
1. Digital

2. The number on scale has to be exactly the same everytime you weigh yourself in 15minutes. This keeps me sane personally.

3. Doesn't even have to cost more than 40$, not a joke.
Con-air weight watchers approved Digital weight scale. I love it! I have been using it for the past 10months. There are 2 other weight scales in the house, and number changes on them a lot in 15minutes. Evil, I like accuracy, it keeps me sane.

Rules of proper weigh-in:

1. Never take a doctor's weight scale weigh-in to heart they are very accurate, plus by the time you see them your weight has fluctuated at least 3-5lbs already.

2. Only trust the scale you weigh yourself on regularly.

3. Weigh yourself in the morning 15-30minutes after you have woken up, use the restroom, and don't drink or eat anything. This makes a huge difference.

4. Weigh yourself once a week, the same day each week. (Me, I weigh myself the day after I hike).

 5. Use the weight scale on a leveled hard surface.  If the weight scale is on carpet, it will be inaccurate, and you don't want to be sad.

I've been doing this a longtime, and this advice comes from the heart.

Happy weighing!

Rude questions: are you pregnant?

This is the worst question for anyone is not pregnant..EVER.

This happened a couple weeks ago at church. I'm sitting and smiling. A nice lady comes up to me, and says ,"I know this is a rude question." My first thought oh crap what is she about to say. Then she says "are you pregnant?" My smile left my face and I said "no, I've lost 48pounds." Then she says "oh that explains the glow".

Oh man. Talk about the wind being knocked out of my sail. Really? How about asking 'why are you glowing?' I would have proudly told her.

My next thought is ...are woman only truly happy when they are pregnant????? THAT IS SAD.

We deserve to be this happy all the time. DON'T Let anyone stop you from being this happy. It's your goal!! It's mine too! Time to put wind back in this sail.

Let's get to work!!

No Excuses: I can exercise with my kids running around me

Let us face it ladies...it easy to say that children prevent us from excercising. That is not true at all. If want it, you will make it happen.

See below...for proof! :D

 (Example above: I was using Biggest Loser Cardio Max DVD on a rainy day)

I make it happen twice a week...doing the Biggest Loser Powersculpt DVD. I can tell you right now, my children do not leave me alone, and it's okay. Hello, I'm being a good example. My oldest daughter trying to copy me, and my youngest is hugging me while I'm doing a plank or push up. Most recently my youngest was on my arm while I was doing chestflys. Having children running definitely makes it interesting and fun.

I can't even type with out being interrupted. Gotta love em'.

You can do this too!!

Here are some tips for making exercise happen:

Exercise By Yourself

• Get a babysitter  (Inlaws, Parents, nanny, babysitter, spouse)
• Exercise at Home while they take a nap
• Get up earlier than your children to exercise
• Use the child care at the gym

Exercise Together

• Walk with a stroller around the zoo or neighborhood
• Take them hiking or biking with you
• Have fake dumbells made up out of toilet paper rolls so they lift weights too
• Mommy and me exercising DVD's

As a Parent, How do you get your exercise done?

 

Contiually challenging...

I've been thinking about this a lot recently . About when the weight loss spark hit me, truly hit me.

When I started hiking I wasn't on the trail I am now. I started on a trail that is considered Moderate level, that was one day.

Keep in my mind my brother I was my motivator in the beginning of this all, and I was still in breastfeeding mode, so I had to squeeze exercising in between feedings. Oh yeah! I was determined to do something!

Well the next day I went we hit a different trail labeled easy/moderate, and then went on a trail that is Considered by ME moderate and a lot of other people Moderate. After two days of doing that...ugh, I wanted  a CHALLENGE!!! The highest peak was in the mountain reserve kept staring me in the face, taunting me.

Well I took this challenge in full force, and my brother was thrilled. The first day we hit that trail he was flying up the mountain. While me, the bigger and  slower one. Was breathing hard and turning red, LOL. It was July mornings twice a week when I was started doing this trail(the summit trail Difficult/Moderate). Guess what I stopped at 100 times about every 10 to 20 feet, it took 1 hour just for me to go .45miles, yikes slow! But I did it! It may not have been to the top of the mountain but at least I made it somewhere. My motto "I don't care if I stop hundred times, as long as I get to where I'm going. I'm happy."

Every time I'm on that trail I think of the ultimate goal, the peak, the top of of that mountain. I haven't made it there yet, but I'm close now and it's exciting!!  .25 miles from the peak so far! :)

I'm in control of what I put on my plate...not what is made for dinner

I'm control of what I put on my plate, but not really in control of what is made for dinner. This is because I live with my in-laws right now. My mother in law makes all the dinners, sometimes I get some input, but not that often. So things I have to do sometimes is when my mother-in-law has absolutely no vegtables for dinner, I have to pull out my stash of vegtables and add it.

Yes, I do have my own stash of fruits and vegtables in my mini fridge. Yep, I'm the only one eating healthy around here.

So here am I to say..if this you.. you are not alone.

When my mother in law makes dessert and its not my cheat day. I say no thanks, and then go eat a Sugar free popsicle. You learn to deal. Measuring out portions and stuff.

So ladies..time to get savvy! You too men!

This is my challenge.. fighting off the haters

 

This hasn't stopped since I started hiking on one of the most busiest trails around here.

 

At least once a week I hear:  should you be doing this, are you okay, is this your first time hiking, you need to be doing something else, etc...

 

 

Ugh! Guess what I wanna hear. I'm proud of you, you go girl, you got this...which I do now get to hear.

 

I actually confronted someone with this after she told me I should go on a easier trail. Well I told her this "This is MY CHALLENGE, I don't care if I stop hundred times, as long as I get to where I'm going I'm happy." The lady patted me on the shoulder. smiled and walked away.

 

Do you know what? That same lady is my hiking bud I get to see. We have short conversations everytime I see her. She is now one of my biggest cheerleaders. Wow! Who would have thought that? She tells me when I look like I'm shrinking, she says wow you are going faster. I didn't expect it.

 

Now when people say stuf like that I love stunning them when I tell them 3times a week, I've beeen doing this for almost 8months now.

 

Guess what I learned, to set boundaries with people like that.  Have something in mind when people want to stomp on you too.

 

Don't let them haters get to you.

 

 

 

 

My Wedding Ring Fits Again!!

 

I'm so excited the other day I thought wow my temporary wedding band is very loose, maybe I should try my real one on. I did, and fits!! I was so excited I told all my friends on facebook, then I sang beyonce's song "If you like it, you better put a ring on it" to my husband. I jumping up and down telling everyone I live with.

 

I thought this would have not happened for a longtime. I tried this 2 months ago, and it barely fit past the knuckle, uncomfortably I might add. Then I thought oh this will take forever to get back on.

 

Now I have to admit, it fits comfortably on my finger, but I have to really pull to get it past knuckle to get it off.

 

Once, I can pull it of smoothly thats when I know I have it my mark. But until then, this puppy isn't coming off. I love having it on again!! :D

 

Small rewards can go very far!!!

 

 

Just one goal ...I mean one step at a time

 

If you are wondering how this momma can do so much right now?

 

Well, geuss what? That is not how I started at first.

 

Lets be honest with ourselves...really! We didn't come out of the womb walking and talking a specific language. We had to learn gradually..you know baby steps.

 

Learn from what I've done. You can apply this to any exercise program.

 

Here are my baby steps... I was told to start exercising 4- 5 times a week. Well I knew right then there I would burn out if I tried that, I have experience in this area. So I started hiking 2 times a week.

 

Something you have to realize the trail I go on; is one most difficult trails in the city I live in, and I love a challenge. I've finished the trail maybe 2times in my lifetime thus far. It's 1.5miles long

 

1st goal: about  .40mile mark (2nd Bench) it took 60minutes to get there and 40 minutes to go back down.

 

2nd goal: is after 2months I started going 3 times a week. I decided I was ready for it because I was too comfortable.

 

My tip: Is once I get comfortable it's time to start a new goal. If I get comfortable, then I plateau if I don't change it up.

 

3rd goal: .60 Mile marker and then back down totaling 114 minutes for 2 months

 

4th goal: .75 mile marker 120 minutes for 2 months

 

My newest goal is: about 1 mile  in 126 minutes up and back down again, my shortest time thus far. 3times a week. And strength training 2 times a week Biggest Loser Powersculpt DVD.

 

There are more baby steps that yet to be seen. After about 7months, I must say a lot of progress, even with all the bumps in the road.

 

 

 

 

Eat with Momma: Non hiking day...plus mistakes

 Breakfast

2 slices of Light Sara Lee bread 90 calories

1Tbsp Creamy Peanut Butter 95 calories

1/2 Cup of red seedless grapes 52 calories

1 cup of cantaloupe 54 calories

1 cup of Honey Dew 61 calories

Lunch

3 El Monterey Mini Chimichangas chicken and cheese 285 calories

1 Tbsp sour cream 30 calories

2 Tbsp Macayos Taco Sauce 10calories

1 1/2cups shredded lettuce 10 calories

1/2 cup Diced Tomatoes 32 calories

1/8 mexican style cheese 50 calories

 2cups roasted carrots with Mrs. Dash on top

Fanta Zero Orange Soda

Dinner

Brat Sausage 160 calories

1/2 Creamy Pasta side  135 calories

1cup Baked Cauliflower 25 calories

Snacks

Smartpop Popcorn 120 calories

1 TBSP Crunchy Peanut Butter

2 Graham Cracker Sheets 130 calories

1454 calories total

I ask you not to foul up like I did...I didn't eat enough vegetables for the entire day. I should have eaten veggies for a snack instead of peanut butter and crackers. That was my mistake and I ended up hungry for the rest of the night after I realized my mistake.

Learn from me on this.

 

74 calorie Hot Chocolate recipe

When I need I chocolate fix!! This where I head to!

Generally I avoid anything that says fat free because it usually involves more sugar! But the no sugar added has 7 grams of sugar, and the fat free has 1g of sugar. Fat Free wins!

Sugar turns to fat..that is why I am concerned about that stuff.

This what I drink on a non-cheat day :D

74 calorie hot chocolate recipe

1 packet Kroger Fat Free Hot Chocolate 25 calories

1 TBSP of Coffeemate Sugar Free French Vanilla (Powder) 15 calories

1/4 cup of Mini Marshmallows 34 calories (optional)

8ounces of Hot water

Add hot chocolate and french vanilla to the bottom of the mug, then add hot water and stir. Then top with marshmallow if you like.

Without marshmallows calorie would total 40 calories :D

Just Do it...Thats my motto when I'm being lazy

When I'm feeling tired, stressed, sinus problems...and the thought of skipping hiking enters my mind. Then I think I'll regret it later, and if I Just Do it I will feel better.

 Research has proven the hiking relieves cramps, headaches, and sinus congestion. Also has psychological advantages as well, raising the happy hormones in our bodies to get rid of depression. All things my OBGYN, Nutritionist, and Pyschiatrist backed me up on. because I already believed that to be true.

Even when I'm sick I go hiking...okay strike that. There is limitation to that, anything problems below the neck stay home and rest. Anything above the neck go exercise. For me, I'm asthmatic and I cough all the time. So it has to be gunky cough to get me to stay home. As for Cramps, you know what I'm talking about ladies I still go hiking, because getting my blood pumping helps relieve them.  This information I got from the Noom App . I totally suggest downloading it it has interesting articles on it.

Also, schedule life around exercising. Come on if you have time to watch TV/DVR/Tivo or movies, you have time to exercise. That's what I realized. If I have time to sit on my butt, I have time to exercise. I have made the effort to put in the schedule  to exercise just do it.

So basically my dears, when I'm feeling lazy, or tired and it's time to exercise. Just do it!!

 

My Diet February 2013

Get your own  MCN Balance Plate (English Version)

What Diet Am I On? This one, calorie control diet. 

Servings:

 2 Dairy

 2 Protein

 2 Fruit 

5 Carbs

 5-7 Vegetables

 I originally started out with 1800 calorie diet, and now I'm 1430calories. It was a gradual change, that happened with every pound I lost. MyFitnessPal would adapt me down, when I change the pound loss goal. My Nutritionist says this good area to be at.

 Now, Protein is not just chicken, red meat, and Fish. It's Beans! Yep they are not considered a vegetable. 

 Carbs is just not tortilla, bread, its Corn!!! Corn isn't a Vegetable its grain.

 Glad I could clear that up for you, my nutritionist did for me. So those are the servings I try to hit, and the calories I try to meet every day. 

Now every 6th day I have a cheat day where I can go up to 1730 calories. That's 20% extra calories! It's letting my body know I'm not being starved, and it tells my body let the fat go! I like that. Don't you?

What 1299 Calories Looks like

What I Did Monday for hiking day, with eating calories. 

Oh my! Your thinking so many calories. Hey I have tricks up my sleeve.

Breakfast:

Light Sara Lee Whole Bread 2slices 90 calories

Smart Balance Light 1/2TBSP 25 calories

Strawberry Jam Homemade 1 1/2 TBSP 68 Calories

Scrambled Egg 1large 70 calories

Total: 253 calories

Lunch While hiking for 3 1/2 hours:

Seedless red grapes 1/2cup 52calories

Popchips Nacho Cheese Tortilla chips 16 chips 120 calories

1Large Banana 105 calories

FYI: 1/2 a banana is 1fruit serving

Frigo String Cheese 80 calories

Total: 357 Calories

Dinner:

(Burrito)

Smart and Delicious La Tortilla Factory 1 Tortilla 100calories

Mexican Style Cheese 1/8 cup 25 calories

Macayos Taco Sauce 2TBSP 10 Calories

Shredded Iceberg lettuce 1 cup 10calories

Sour Cream Original 1 TBSP 30calories

Refried Beans 1/8cup 30 calories

Beef 85/15 1.5oz 106 calories

Black Beans 1/8cup 28 calories

Black Olives 7olives 31calories

Total:

370 calories

Snack:

Celery Sticks 1 cup 14calories

12 cherry grapes 35 calories

 PopChips Sweet Potato 23 chips 120 calories

Dessert: 

Fiberone90 Brownie 90 calories

Sugar Free Chocolate Fudge Pudding 60 calories

Totaling: 1299calories

Where have I been, why so long?

Wondering where I have been, and why so long? Weight loss program I failed horribly only losing 15 pounds within a year. Oh so very horrible! Then I got pregnant with my second little girl. Bed rest a lot, appendectomy at 26 weeks. In short I've had 3 surgeries in the past year, my husband lost his job, we ended up moving from a 1000sq foot apartment to 250sq foot room in my in-laws home. Here I am yet again, chugging away, sharing my world of healthy living with you.
 In June 2012 about 5months after my daughter was born, my friend encouraged to me to go hiking to deal with my depression, and to see a psychiatrist. I have no idea what happened. A light bulb turned on in my head, and I hit the ground running. I started out hiking with my brother, barely handling a .25 mile with out feeling like passing out. But I wanted this badly enough, we went on harder trails. Until I was finally on one of the most difficult trails in my state. For real!!!!That's when I had it in my head, I DON'T CARE IF I STOP TO CATCH MY BREATH 100TIMES AS LONG AS I GET TO WHERE I'M GOING!
 Then I got my Doctor to refer me to a nutritionist, at the time I was still breastfeeding. I started out counting portions. Measuring my food, but not counting calories. It started out like this 3proteins, 5-7vegtables, 2fruits,5carbs, 2 dairy. SIMPLE! I Like simple! Then I was introduced to MYFITNESSPAL APP about month after that I started counting calories along with my portions. I will get in to more detail about my diet later. Here I am in February 37pounds down, and hiking 2miles 3times a week. I'm progressing!!

Hotsauce to help me hydrate

I have hit a stall in my weight for a month only loosing ounces. Ugh! I bet you share in my frustration about this. I've been trying to figure out what to do to get back to burning fat. Because its not like I'm not hiking farther or faster. I am. But my eating has gotten out of control. I knew I was screwing up immediately and I need to write down what I eat everyday no matter what, whether its a cheat day or not. I must be honest with myself.
Here again, I must be honest with myself yet again! I'm not drinking enough water, which would help me fill up my tummy faster. Here is my trick in this cold weather, because even if I drink diet sodas, or flavor my water with Mio.That is no helping anymore. Eating healthy is so much easier in the summer because its so hot, I drink so much water. But when its not hot, I don't think of it much at all. Yikes not good, because when I'm dehydrated instead of think of food, which is bad!! I go outside of my calorie range, not good.

 Now, it has come to my attention. I need to use hot sauce!! Yep, to get me to drink more water. What I'm doing now is adding hot sauce to as many food items as possible through out the day. Because I'm so sensitive to it. I'll drink a whole bunch of water to cool my mouth somewhat. (FYI I don't drink milk) So far its working. This will bring me back to better to a calorie range I know it and stop the cravings. Sometimes I have to play mind tricks with myself, just to get me back on track. If people think that are no hurdles in weight loss. They are fooling themselves. Because life can get in the way and through us of the track, but I'm in control and I will get myself back on track. What mind tricks do you use to loose weight and get back on track?