Infused Water - sounds interesting

Have your tried infused water. The one or two times I have I wasn't in love with it but now that I've given up bought ice tea and soda and am crushing the sugar appetite I might like it so I think I'll give it a try.



Click on this link for ideas  -   Infused Water

Grumpy

After work I went to workout and I was all grumpy. Yep, grumpy grumpy grumpy.  After working out and seeing the Grandbaby I can't remember why I was grumpy. Life is good. Gobble Squats and 14" steppers are good for whatever grumps your way.  Just sayin...

Ice Cream Maker

Bought a counter top ice cream maker. I am going to try to make some healthy frozen yogurt.  It's made with yogurt, peanut butter, milk and vanilla. I hope it's as yummy as it is simple.  We'll see - get back to you on this one.

First attempt Wednesday night 9/11.

How do you add to the tabs - - - I can't figure out how to add to the area called recipes or any of the other tabs. Bueller... Bueller, Anyone

Sometimes it's easy .... sometimes not so much!

The two hardest times of the year for a teacher are the start up and the shut down of the year. September and June. On top of the every day work you do you have to do a lot of other things (i.e. take a "10 minute" training on using epi pens, learn 125 new names, go over new IEPs, figure out where you need to be with your new schedule, etc.) So the last thing you want is one more thing to do  - - - exercise and eat right!  Can't I just grab a Nutri-grain bar and a diet coke, skip the exercise and deal with it all later.

I actually didn't exercise this week beyond the minimum, I was barely eating right and I certainly didn't want to go visit 2B and have her work my Brazilian butt off.  I could have canceled at the drop of hat, one hint she didn't want to see me and "I'm outta here." None of that happened so I grudgingly pulled myself away from the computer where I was preparing for tomorrows lesson and went to workout.

Wow, how much better I feel!!! Stinks huh, being a slug is easier and there is much more self-pity available if you are a slug (no results but a lot of self-pity).

On to the shower - - - a well earned shower.

:-)

I want to try this!

Chocolate Cherries Smoothie

* 12oz unsweetened almond milk
* 2 scoops chocolate protein powder
* 3 cupped handfuls of cherries (fresh or from frozen)
* 1/2 cup spinach (trust me )
* 3 tbsp walnuts
* 6 cubes ice if using fresh cherries

(This is a large man's serving. Half it for smaller women).

Trainer and Bike Ride

In the same day!!!

7:00 a.m. Training with 2B - nice workout and she got the kink out of my shoulder too!

7:00 p.m. Bike ride with hubby. 45 minutes  :-)  Thank goodness for the downhill parts.

First bike ride in 30 years!!!

Returned in 1 piece.

Too many Zucchinis make Italian Zucchini Pie

My Favorite Zucchini Recipe and the Modified Version

4 cups of chopped zucchini
1 cup chopped onion

Add
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp oregano

Cook 10 minutes in non-stick pan or until onions are translucent 

In a separate bowl add
2 beaten eggs
2 cups of shredded low fat mozzarella cheese

When zucchini mixtures is finished combine with egg/cheese mixture.

(If you don't care about calories, fat, etc. make a crust in a 10"pie pan out of 8 oz can of crescent rolls)
Bake 375 18 - 20 mins
Cover with foil for 10 minutes and then cook an additional 10 minutes for a total of 28 - 30 minutes

Let stand 10 minutes before service (cheese is a little gooey if you don't).

I make it without the rolls, no crust and it's yummy!

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie - this weeks new recipe 7/29/13

Ingredients
1/4 c Coconut Milk. Native Forest Organic Coconut Milk (BPA-Free Can)
3/4 c. Water
1/2 c. Organic Pumpkin Puree
1 scoop Prograde Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
pinch Celtic Sea Salt (can skip)
14 drops NuNaturals Pure Liquid Vanilla Stevia
6 Ice Cubes

Directions    : 

1. Mix all ingredients in a high-powered blender.
2. Enjoy!

Notes

Per Serving 250 calories, 10 g fat, 16 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 12 g NET CARBS, 26 g pro

BUT...

Down 16 pounds BUT... losing muscle.

Doesn't seem possible if you are working out 3 times a week that you could lose muscle. I mean really if are you losing weight, I could understand that you might lose some muscle BUT I'm also gaining fat? Really?!?

What a mystery - really this getting healthy thing isn't easy and it's not about following a diet or exercising, I AM DOING BOTH - it's about figuring out why things happen the way they do.

You can tell by the fact that I'm down 16 pounds I am "dieting".  I am exercising. I am seeing 2B two days a week and working out with her plus I am following a home exercise program, sooo I should be gaining muscle. BUT I am not.

Theory is if you under eat, your body will go to and use muscle for energy rather then fat (because the body is defending itself - so it uses the item using the most calories - muscle).

The theory fits well with the fact that I was normally eating 800 calories a day and wasn't losing weight BUT ugh... REALLY whoever heard of telling a heavy, person trying to lose weight, to eat more to lose weight?

If I wasn't going to 2B I would have thought I was doing fantastically. Exercising, losing weight moving along. BUT she points out the obviously flaw. If I'm losing muscle this isn't a good thing.

This journey won't be quick and it won't be easy BUT the good news is,  it's nice to have someone trying to help figure it out because I'm fresh out of ideas.

Cooking

Yep Food,

There is lots of it ... what is real food and what is "food product". Staying with real food gives you a lot more to eat and for less calories and it's better for you. We all know that - but the other STUFF, the "food products", taste good. I'm not missing eating food products at all and I thought I would. It's not that I can't have them, which is probably why I'm not missing them, it just that I'm trying to eat a whole lot less of them and eat more of what's good for me.

When it comes to real food, to be perfectly honest, I don't like the real food prep time. It takes longer to cook real food. For instance, yesterday, I had a protein shake with peanut butter for breakfast, no real prepare time ... sorta kinda, however,  I used to grab and egg or a Vita Muffin which took NO time at all to prepare. When you make a protein shake you have to get out the blender, gather the products, mix it, and clean up. I know, I know what's 3 minutes but even the easy foods like a protein shake take some time. 

Then there was lunch. I went out (lucky me). While I mulled over the menu looking at salads I really had to scan for a no-carb one. My friend, Barb,  had a strawberry, glazed pecan, spinach salad - an excellent choice except for those darn glazed pecans. I settled on a Mexican salad with no corn chips, and ordered it salsa and guacamole for the salad dressing.

Dinner, after my workout with 2b, consisted of another protein shake, I cut and cooked some vegetables and had chicken. 15 minutes of gathering and cutting plus cook time. Yeah, yeah, I know 2b - not enough calories.

Later that night I gathered and mixed the ingredients for blueberry baked oatmeal so that when I got up the next morning all I would need to do was toss the ingredients in a baking dish and wait.  But another 1/2 hour in the kitchen. I'm writing this as I wait and darn does it smell yummy.

I'll survive and the food is good, but really, when I get rich, I'm hiring a cook. Anyone know if Oprah's cook is looking for employment?

Almond Chicken Salad

From 2B

( Low glycemic days serve on mixed greens)
( high glycemic serve in whole wheat pita)
1 1/2 c Diced cook chicken breast
1 c halved red grapes
1/4 c celery
1/4 c low fat mayo
1Tbsp slivered almonds
1/2 tsp pepper

Muscles

Yep, living with ongoing muscle fatigue from working out. Walking, exercising some times
my muscles just say  "Really, again?". 

I know I am getting stronger but wow the process sometimes hurts. I'm not in pain just muscle fatigue.

After the Workout

by Jackie

Had my workout with 2B today. Feels so good to have worked out - stretch, bend, move. Why do we delay exercising when it feels good?

I got some resistance bands today. I like these new toys something about them is appealing to me. I know I am going to like traveling with them! Beyond traveling I like the light weight of them, the feel in my hands and the resistance they give.

I really enjoyed working out with 2B when we were at the beach. Partner work was lots of fun and interesting. I'm thinking about looking for a partner and having 2B work out a few routines for us.

Fitting in Exercise

by Jackie
Why does it seem so hard to fit exercise into your daily routines. I have been able to do so most days but it is a struggle to find the time or the weather isn't right or ... pick your excuse.

I always think it's one of those things that you just have to say pull up your big girl pants and do it. Today I did my morning routines and after work I did a video tape.

Tomorrow I meet with 2B. Wish I was feeling stronger already. In the mean time - I'll keep plugging away.

The Hard Part

by Jackie

The hard part isn't just getting started - it's being honest. You have to be willing to be honest not just with the trainer but with yourself. What do you really weigh, what are you capable or incapable of doing? How much work are you willing to put in?  I've had to tell her things I don't tell anyone! Taking a leap of faith.

Hiring a Personal Trainer

Getting Healthy
Getting Active
Getting Fit

by Jackie

I took a big step of hiring a personal trainer. Now as a person who is out of shape and has a lot of weight to lose, hiring a personal trainer isn't a small step. First you have to believe that you and your trainer philosophically agree on the fundamentals of healthy living, next you need to believe that your trainer can understand your particular issues, third you have to believe that they can both guide and challenge you. Finally you have to believe that the financial commitment is worth it!

So after perhaps a few years of deliberation I have made the commitment. Let the journey begin