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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

I'm breaking up with Shaun T...

But we can still be friends. See, I have decided that I would like to spend my 2 hours of "me" time everyday (the kids' nap time) doing something other than sweating my ass off in my living room.

 
So instead, I am going for mother of the year, and using my 2 hours of allotted child care time at the Y and am going to hit it hard gym rat style. So the question is, do I bring my gallon jug of water with me so I look more hardcore??

So I was out of town this past weekend and did not exercise AT ALL on Sunday or Monday, nor did I eat well :/ but I did do really well all week with eating and met all my workout goals - so holla! I got that goin' for me. I woke up on Monday at the hotel after a glorious night of uninterrupted sleep, and getting to sleep in, I was feelin' good, and maybe that transferred to my brain or something, b/c for some reason I was feeling skinny and decided to take a pic - wish I could feel that way about myself all the time.


So, I sent it to my hubs with another little somethin' somethin', and let's just say, I made his day and he was very happy to see me when I got home. Ladies, don't forget the art of flirting with your man ;) makes you feel young again!

Anyhoo... my mom and I went with some of her girlfriends on a quick girls trip to a casino in Louisiana.
 
We all had a good time, and I came home with about $35 more than I had when we got there, so can't complain about that! Hey, that's like half a race entry! How sad is it that this is what my life has come too!? Old Candice would have said, "sweet! New shoes." Or. College Candice... "sweet! That's half a keg!" (of the good stuff)

In other news, I have made an appointment with a new doctor to discuss my thyroid issues (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis), and I go in next Tuesday, so I'm pretty pumped about that! This guy is actually a Chiropractic Neurologist, who specializes in treating patients with thyroid disorders. It's really quite interesting... he takes an approach that most mainstream physicians do not, which is to treat and focus on the autoimmune disorder and the why as opposed to just treating the hypothyroidism with synthetic hormones (which is actually just a symptom of the autoimmune disorder). I am fully on board with the idea and philosophy that much of what ales us can be remedied through proper nutrition/diet and exercise. That's not to say that there is no room for modern medicine in my life, because there is, I would just rather take a more natural approach to things. I know that my thyroid symptoms are what drag me down so often, making me feel tired, making me gain weight, lose sleep (insomnia), and literally makes my hair fall out. Ugh, it's so frustrating! So yeah, can't wait to hear what he has to say.

But in the mean time, here is this week's workout goals:

Workout Goals:

Monday
nada - on vacay

Tuesday
Interval Speed Training on Treadmill - Ran 5 min at a 6 to warm up, then 1/4 mile at a 9, walked 2 min and repeat until I get to 3 miles completed (I lost count, maybe 6 times??)
Back/Shoulders - 2 exercises per body part, 4 sets (12, 10, 8, 6) and then s superset of 12 reps for both exercise, switch to 2 different exercises and repeat.

Wednesday
Insanity (see I told you we could still be friends)
Run hills (3ish miles outside)

Thursday
Bicep/Tricep - same routine as above
JM 6 week 6 pack
*leaving to go out of town this afternoon

Friday
Insanity
Go swimming

Saturday
6 miles

Sunday
rest
*drive back home

I hope you all have a great week!

-Candice
 

 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Falling Off The Wagon & Weekly Goals

We've all been there right?! I posted last week about my issues with self sabotage, and I think I have managed to get it out of my system, at least for now. I put my big girl panties on and made Monday a better day/week! It's ok to fall down, the important thing is to make sure you get back up! I totally gained 2 pounds last week! Womp Womp! But that just means I have to work even harder this week to be ready for swimsuit season (which is already upon us btw).

After stuffing my face with everything from M&Ms, and cookies, and ice cream, and hamburgers, fries, etc. And eating Chic-fil-a (twice), Chipotle, AND a burger joint all in ONE week - I am ready to jump back on the wagon! I started the week off right and plan to continue making good healthy choices the rest of the week!


Weekly Workout Goals:

Monday
Insanity and Ab Workout - Check!


Tuesday
Arms (back, bis, tris, shoulders) workout at the gym & 3 miles of hills - Check!

Wednesday
Insanity & 4 miles (pace/tempo)

Thursday
 Leg day (squats, lunges, etc) at the gym & 3 miles of speed interval training

Friday
Insanity & Ab Workout

Saturday
Run 7 miles (endurance/long run)

Sunday
Rest

After reading Elle Noel's post the other day about Macros - it has really peaked my interest, so I think I am going to explore that a little further - anyone else have any experience with balancing their eating based on macros? Any tips?

Love this! 

Monday, May 13, 2013

Holy Guacamole this was good!

So yeah - I made this for dinner tonight...


Um, yeah... it was goooooooooodddd! The hubs says it makes the top 3 of his list of all time favorite dishes I have made. You must add this one to your list! Aaaaannnnd, I think I will be looking up more things to make that involve Sriracha sauce, mmmm!

Here's our #foodporn pic:


 
Not as pretty, but darn good y'all!
 
-Candice

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Listen All Y'all It's A Sabatage

Have you ever gotten to a point in your weight loss journey when things are chugging along nicely, you’ve passed a few important goals and should be coming down the stretch for your ideal weight in the not too distant future? And then suddenly you revert back to the behavior that got you into this mess in the first place. Frustrated at your seeming inability to close the deal – yet again! – you throw in the towel and shovel french fries, ice cream and m&ms into your pie hole? No? Just me? It's so frustrating when you want to accomplish your goal more than anything!
"...and please help me stop chasing my tail. Amen."
Photo: snuzzy

I know that getting fit is what I really, really want. And yet every time I get close to my goal, I fall apart. I have all the information and resources that I need but I just can’t seem to finish what I started. How can I really want (or need!) to do something so desperately and yet get in the way of my own progress just when things are going well? (1)
 
Apparently, this self-sabotage phenomenon is pretty common, especially when goals are within short reach. From what I read, it usually indicates that you have not yet fully realized the difference between wanting to be thin and actually being thin. I have also been getting comfortable with my weight and not feeling as much pressure on myself to lose more because I no longer cringe when I see myself in the mirror, even though my body is not quite where I want it to be yet. The other part I think is fear. Fear of succeeding and actually meeting my weight loss goal. But what's the one thing that seems to stand in my way every.single.time? SELF CONTROL. Seriously, sometimes I feel like I lack any at all! We got some M&Ms the other day as treats for potty training, and seriously, I probably consumed half the bag in the last 2 days. I can't seem to get enough chocolate lately - it's sickening. Literally, this has been me this week:


 
I found this post from Bob Greene when google-ing self sabotage, and I think he makes some good points:
                           
"It may be that you're hitting up against your body's set point weight. Your set point is the level (a range, actually) of body fat you are programmed to carry around. It's basically like your fat thermostat. Everyone has his or her own set point (largely determined by genetics), and it varies from person to person. Though there are some things you can do to change this level, your body will do everything it can to keep itself in the range, including increasing the production of hormones that cause you to eat more.

Does this mean you're destined to never reach your goal weight? No. In fact, you can actually lower your fat thermostat and reset your set point so you can continue losing. Many people get past their set point (much like a plateau) by stepping up their activity level. When you work out, your set point drops, so your body will carry less fat. Cutting calories can help, too, but you don't want to go too low: If you consume too little, your anti-starvation defense mechanisms will kick in and slow your metabolism, and thus, your weight loss." (2) 
 
So, I got my butt up and out of bed this morning at 7 and went for a run. I'm not normally a morning runner - or morning person for that matter - what can I say, I love me some sleep. But in an effort to shake things up a bit, I figured I'd give it a go. And guess what? I felt great! Seriously, my pace and time were good (3 miles at a 9:18 pace), and afterwards I was awake and feeling ready to conquer the day, and it's only 9am!
 
 
But then, I ate lunch, put the kids down for a nap, ran an errand (relax peeps, the hubs works from home), and then came home to do some insanity, and the high I felt earlier was completely gone - poof! I made it through half of the WARM UP and said to hell with it. And yes, I totally just ate a handful of m&ms #workoutfail
 
I can't be the only one that this happens to right?! Man this sucks! I sure hope I can get out of this funk soon! But for today at least - this is my theme song...
 
 
 
Have you ever fallen into the curse of self sabotage? How did you fix it?
 
Sources

Friday, May 3, 2013

It's Friday, Friday Gotta get down on Friday...


Yup, it's Friday - Looking so Fly-day, check out this flex Friday foto:



 
Hope you all have a FANTASIC weekend! I will post my advocare results tomorrow - things just got a little busy around here today!
 
-Candice

Thursday, May 2, 2013

War on Sugar???

So, I've mentioned before about how I have "Met B" and follow the guidelines outlined in Diane Kress's book, The Metabolism Miracle. This is was really worked for me after finding out I had post partum hypothyroidism. It has almost been a year since I started it and I have kept all the weight off (about 28 pounds) and continue to lose fat and gain muscle and have had NO problem changing my eating habits (of course I cheat now and then, but on the reg, I watch my carb intake). It has been a life saver for me! I always seem to get tongue tied and confused with scientific words when trying to explain the science behind it, but this article that Diane posted today really helps explain why nothing has worked for you before (that is, if you have weight issues). Very interesting stuff, I just wish more people knew about it.

Here's a link to the article below.

SUGAR WARS??? Not Quite……


sugar wars

Sugar Wars….Yes, we need to fight the war on obesity, but we must target the right enemy to win the battle!
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/100112p28.shtml
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/your-brain-on-sugar?ecd=wnl_dia_050213&ctr=wnl-dia-050213_ld-stry&mb=
Two more half baked articles regarding the toxicity of “sugar”. Sugar is being singled out as a root cause of health woes. The first article does highlight the wishy -washy stance of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as well as the AMA and ADA regarding the obesity and diabetes epidemics. Over 100 million Americans have pre diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Most are overweight or obese. (The Web MD article singles out sugar…when reading it, substitute carbohydrate for the word sugar and it would be much more accurate! ) It’s not enough to point out that sugar leads to overweight and weight related medical conditions as sugar is only the tip of the iceberg. We need to tell the whole story and finally get this right…people’s lives are at stake.
Sugar is a carbohydrate. Fructose is a type of sugar and a carbohydrate. Bread, grains, legumes, potatoes, corn, beets, fruit, juice, milk, yogurt, pasta, crackers, cereal, cookies, sweets are also carbohydrates.
ALL CARBOHYDRATES CONVERT TO BLOOD SUGAR AND NECESSITATE THE RELEASE OF THE FAT GAIN HORMONE, INSULIN.
Sugar is just one of many carbohydrate foods. Just one. Stop focusing on a needle in the haystack of dietary intake!
Over 60% of the US population has the genetic predisposition to insulin imbalance. Excess insulin causes excess fat growth…both on the body and in the blood (cholesterol and triglycerides). Excess insulin and insulin resistance is the basis for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
The obesity and diabetes epidemics are NOT due to excess calories and fat grams! The obesity and diabetes epidemics ARE DUE TO excess carbohydrate intake.
The diet propaganda all began when the USDA developed the Food Pyramid that focused on increased intake of carbs: starch, fruit, low fat dairy…and recommended decreases in the intake of protein and fat.
The promotion of the Food Pyramid corresponded with the birth of the low calorie, low fat, low cholesterol diet both of which preceded the advent of the obesity and diabetes epidemic. High insulin from carbohydrates is the root of: obesity, pre diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, Alzheimer’s disease, PCOS, infertility issues, sleep apnea, GERD, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, hypoglycemia, insulin resistance.
Do you realize how many medications have been developed since the 1960′s to “treat” all these diseases and medical conditions caused by insulin imbalance???
It’s true…the low calorie, low fat diet is a high carb diet and systematically triggers insulin over-release and illness.
The newer My Plate campaign? Same old. Take a close look at the plate. It is over 50% carbohydrate foods! This is the pyramid in another format. And My Plate will not help one bit with the obesity, diabetes epidemics just as the pyramid did not.
68% of the population has issues with insulin. It’s progressive. Some are further down the tracks than others. But all need a “rest and rehab” for their overworking carb metabolism. What works? An 8 week rest from overt carbohydrate overdosing. Then, 8+ weeks of a gradual reintroduction of low glycemic index carbs (low impact) in a certain quantity, strategically spread over the course of the day. This brings the insulin producing pancreas and sugar releasing liver back to work in a gentle manner. Once desired weight is reached and lab work has improved, a lifetime of a balanced diet. BALANCE is everything. Equal parts healthy carb, lean protein, healthy fat, liberal vegetables.
Read more about it at http://www.themetabolismmiracle.com. Knowledge is power. Once you know what the whole problem is, it’s much easier to treat and win the war!
I am a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with over 30 years experience specializing in weight, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. I was named to Today’s Dietitian’s 2013 Top 10 RD’s Making a Difference for my work with the diet/lifestyle program that does work to end overweight and weight related illness. And I am not afraid to speak the truth:
Follow me : Twitter:@ DianeKress
LinkedIn Diane Kress
Facebook Diane Kress The Metabolism Miracle The Diabetes Miracle
Blogs on: http://www.dianekress/wordpress.come and http://www.thewhistleblog/blogspot.com.
websites: http://www.themetabolismmiracle.com. and http://www.thediabetesmiracle.com
Truth in Diet, Health, Wellness….

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

May Day! Swimsuit Weather Approaching!

Happy May y'all! May marks the official start of summer here in sunny Tejas. That means it's time to show off all that hard work OOOORRRRRR... if you're like me, work your arse off like your life depended on it every day this month so that you don't look like a beached whale when steppin out poolside in a few weeks, days, err hours... crap. Yup, that's right, I'm takin' the plunge (literally) when the hubs gets off work here shortly. I have been confined to the house ALL DAY with two rambunctious potty training 2 year olds since Monday and mama is about to lose her mind! Sooo, we are going to take a little walk down the road to the community pool this afternoon.

With that being said, my booty is going to integrate a little May plank challenge into the daily routine! I saw this on the RunJunkEes page and thought, why not?! I don't think I would be able to survive the wall sit or squat challenge with my running and insanity, but this I can do!

 
You should totes join me!
 
In other news, I will be finishing up the Advocare 10 day cleanse tomorrow and will post my results on Friday! I don't know if it's because I got sick with some kind of stomach bug this past weekend or what?? But, I gotta tell ya, I have yet to feel a surge of energy, and I have been eating really well, very clean and very healthy (except for ladies night out, I totally ate a grilled chicken sandwich and sweet potato fries). So, I'm not sure what to think of it yet. I kinda wonder if everyone tends to report feeling great and having lots of energy because of the Spark drink. I try to avoid caffeine as much as possible, so opted to not use it, although I hear it's great. So, I feel like the results I have on Friday will be from plain 'ol hard work and eating right - sorry folks, just my opinion.
 
I am currently half way through week 3 of Insanity and I gotta tell ya - Sean T kicks my ass every.single.day! But I know I'm getting stronger! I'm really looking forward to next week when I get to switch it up and do some new routines. I love it, but it does get a little boring.
 
The hubs has been eyeballing the pork tenderloin in the freezer for a couple weeks now and asks daily when I plan to make some pulled pork, so since today is day 3 of potty training, I caved and agreed to make it, even if it's not the healthiest (like at all) meal on earth, it is damn good! Here's the recipe:
 
Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork
 
1 T EVOO
1 onion, chopped (I totes cheat and buy the pre-chopped onions from the produce section I HATE chopping onions!)
6 cloves minced garlic
1 t ground pepper
1 c tomato-based chili sauce, I use Heinz Chili Sauce
1 c Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce or Stubb's BBQ sauce (or your fav sauce)
1/4 c packed brown sugar (I use splenda brown sugar)
1/4 c cider vinegar
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 boneless pork shoulder or tenderloin, about 4 pounds
8 buns of choice, or tortillas, or baked potatoes
Condiments of choice
 
-In a skillet, heat the oil and cook onion and garlic until soft. Add pepper, chili sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and set aside.
 
-Trim the pork using a sharp knife to remove as much fat as possible. Place the pork in the slow cooker and pour the warm sauce over the top. Add the cup of additional BBQ sauce on top. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours or on low for 9 hours, until the pork is very tender and falls apart easily. Time this so you can finish the dish about 25 minutes before you plan to serve it.
 
-Place the pork on a large cutting board. Pour the sauce into a shallow bowl and place in the freezer. The fat will start to firm up and come to the top, making it easier to skim most of it from the sauce.
 
-After the pork cools, use two forks and pull the meat apart into shreds. Place in a large serving casserole or platter with sides.
 
-Heat the de-fatted sauce and add enough to the pork to moisten the meat. Cover and keep warm.
 
Enjoy!
 
I usually eat mine on Mission Low carb wheat tortillas sprinkled with a little low fat cheese and low fat sour cream. The hubs likes his any way he can get it! With some baked beans on the side. I'll have to post a pic once it's all finished tonight, as I'm not in a habit of photographing my food!
 
Anyhoo - hope y'all are having a great hump day!
 
-Candice