One Year update

I just read some past posts and realized its been a year since I started this blog. What's changed? I am no longer looking at pounds and looking at inches instead. I no longer put on weight when I travel. I have been drinking garden of life protein powder 5 days a week for at least 6 months. I still have work to do on my diet. I am committed to working out daily. I have stopped going to the gym. I feel great and healthy. To my followers thank you for all your support.

What are my goals for this upcoming year?

1. Complete T25 gamma
2. reduce my sugar intake
3. reduce processed foods in my diet
4. Lose more inches
5. go down a dress size
6. Get more tonned
7. ultimate goal be able to see my abs

October 26, 2013

I made some really tasty healthy no bake desserts a few weeks ago but have forgotten the recipes now. Just made the no bake pumpkin loaf thought I better post while its still cooling. I will try to recreate the other ones at some point the date fudge was amazing.

No Bake Pumpkin Loaf

I love pumpkin spice type things oh Starbucks but I haven't had any real pumpkin since elementary school. I remember loving pumpkin seeds back then I am not really sure why I haven't used pumpkin since. I have seen so many recipes using canned pumpkin lately I just had to buy a can. Definitely will be buying again. I still have half a can left so will have to make something else.

I used a half teaspoon of butter to toast the oats feel free to omit or use coconut oil instead

toast half a cup oats in a pan
in a blender mix 10 dates, 10 walnuts, 2 tbsp of peanut butter, 1 tbsp of water, cinnamon, 1 tsp vanilla, 1tsp of maple syrup or honey (i used vanilla infused maple syrup)
and mixture to pan with half a cup of canned 100% pumpkin and
2 tbsp of cocoa
cook while stirring 2-3 minutes
Let cool

I just formed it into a log shape and poked a face in it. Its really forgiving you can form any shape or creature you want.

a little halloween fun

October 7, 2013

Week 1 of round 2 done. I switched up the workouts a little between phase 1 and phase 2. I actually find part 1 harder than part 2 but I am still getting a good workout in. I did decent on the diet except for one eating out day where I didn't have a choice in what was ordered.

To satisfy my sweet tooth I have been making easy no -bake healthy treats

The tasty oatmeal raisin bites got me through the week

One cup of quick cooking oats
half a cup of nuts (I used almonds because that's what I had)
half a cup of raisins
2 tbsp of peanut or other nut butter (all natural of course)
1 tbsp of honey
2 tbsp water

I discovered the magic binder is actually water works really well.
Toast oats in a pan
grind nuts in a blender
add remaining ingredients to pan
shape into balls and press into cookie shape
let set in the fridge for a few hours

September 29, 2013

I finished my first round of T25 (alpha and beta) I am going to do another round before I consider getting Gamma. I lost 1 pound, 4.5 inches from my chest, 0.5 inches from my waist, 1 inches from my arms, and 4 inches form my thighs.  A total of 10 inches. I am starting my next round tomorrow and this time I will focus more on the diet this time. Pics below.

after 10 weeks

Before

September 24

Its my last week of T25. So for my last week I am trying to stick to a healthy eating plan this week. So far I am happy with my results and will be doing the program again. If you haven't read my previous posts it is a 10 week program 25 minute workouts. It's my tenth week and I have only missed 2 workouts and one stretch in the past ten weeks.

 I haven't lost any weight but I have lost inches I want to see if the diet actually makes a difference. So far I am 3 days in and have been pretty good. My goal is not to eat any processed foods this week with the exception of two planned eating out with friends and I will try to make good choices. My friend who does insanity and has been off track lately I told that she needed to keep me on track this week and said she would. So first thing she does is bring me homemade cookies apparently it wasn't a test of my willpower but I couldn't resist. Other than that the only sweet thing I have eaten other than fruit is my own oat,peanut butter, honey bars. I am still working on the recipe so will be in the future. Menu planning is a really important tool to stay on track.

Here are some healthy recipes for the week

Margherita Spaghetti Squash

My dad gave me spaghetti squash, basil, and tomatoes from the garden. This is a fantastic use of all 3 ingredients.

Cut spaghetti squash in half scoop out seeds brush with olive olive oil and italian spices bake at 375 for about 25 minutes longer if your squash isn't fresh from the garden. 

Sauce

I pureed the tomatoes and basil and a bit of salt in the magic bullet.  Originally I thought it was too runny but after being in the fridge for about half an hour it really thickened up. Since my tomatoes were from the garden I used a variety had yellow cherry tomatoes, Campari, and some I am not sure what variety they were. After the spaghetti squash is baked spread the tomato sauce over it and add boccocini 

 cheese. I used the mini cheese balls and added 5 per side. Bake for another 10 minutes then broil for 1.

If you prefer a vegan dish once the spaghetti squash is baked use a fork to make it like spaghetti and add the sauce. This also tastes great. 

Baked Tofu

one block firm tofu (I like to wash mine)

veggies of your choice

seasoning of your choice

baked at 350 for about 40 minutes

in mine I used mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, lime. Next time I would add onions and some heat I find it a little bland but a little hot sauce solves that problem.

September 3, 2013

oops sorry didn't realize a month has passed already. I am still sticking with T25 I am on week 2 of beta which means I am in my 7th week. I am doing the workouts in the morning its a lot harder to find excuses to skip the workouts if they are done first thing plus I enjoy them.

I finished Alpha which was 5 weeks then I went to Vegas for a week. Then I started Beta this workout is no joke. I just finished my first week and did mostly the modified moves for the whole week but I still have results. I feel like I just got rid of the Vegas weight. Unfortunately what you eat in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas.

T25 Beta workouts

I'll just talk about them in general as they are still a blur. My calendar was barely made it all week. I do like that two of the workouts have resistance bands or weights. Everyone in the workouts is dying by the end of them so its not just me. Alpha was the foundation for this. I really want to go back to alpha but I am going to push myself to get through beta and then do another full round. Did I get results? Yes. I do feel I need to improve on my diet getting back into after the vacation was tough on my body. Can I get through it? Yes. Will I improve?  Yes. So that's why I am moving forward and doing it. I am still doing a lot of the modified moves but that's what they are there for.

Can you find the differences? Which is before and After?

 

Red nail polish - first week of Alpha

Blue nail polish - End of Alpha (5 weeks of 25 minute workouts). I never followed the diet.


Recipe of the Week

Yam chips

These are so good. They only seem to get crispy if I use parchment paper to line the tray.

1 yam

use a potato peeler to slice really thin

add 1 tsp olive oil

seasonings of your choice

bake in oven or in my case toaster oven at 400 for 35 minutes stir every 10 minutes

August 5, 2013

Last weekend I took a mini vacation during the weekend. I did manage to get the weekend workouts in but I found I was exhausted during the week. I slept in a few times and missed my morning workouts I made them up in the evening except for one. I was very disappointed in myself for missing a workout but I did make it up later in the week.

I have lost another inch of pretty much everywhere except the waist where I have put on. I have lost no pounds. This is what happens when you workout and don't follow the diet. I am hoping to get back on track this week because I am really off with the diet part.

Here is one of my attempts to eat healthy. I tried cooking Freekeh for the first time. Its green wheat. High in protein low in calories. If your not gluten sensitive this is a great replacement for rice or quinoa.  I know its something that is used in different home east indian cooking recipes.

My dad gave me a few things from the garden so I made a sauce to go with it.

I am having trouble loading my picture today so I will post the pictures later.