100 Days of School

I can't believe I have made it to my very first 100th day of teaching! It's been such a crazy, fun year at school. The day started in pajamas, and my lovely mother Dottie came with me to spend the whole day with me at school!

It was so nice to finally introduce her to all of the kids and coworkers that she has heard about all year long. She learned very quickly how busy a school day is. By 9:00 am she was asking when we got to sit down! HA! We spent the whole day together and finished up decorating for the talent show that night. By the time we left it was time for dinner so we went to The Rookery downtown and completely pigged out...It's gotta happen sometimes right? We had pimento cheese dip for an appetizer, I got this amazing turkey burger with a tomato roumalade, The Walden Greenback.

Dottie had the Little Richard Pattymelt

and both of us had a glass of wine, it was a must. Oh you thought that was it? No I do believe I said we pigged out...right? We finished with this amazing dessert. Some sort of chocolate alamode with pralines and vanilla ice cream. Don't drool....

Sorry the photo is blurred. We finished the evening with the movie Lovely Bones and were both knocked out from a food coma by 9 pm...Such a wonderful ending to a busy, stressful week. Now to catch up on homework and do some painting! Have a great week!

My Top 5 Free Weight Loss Apps for Smart Phones :)

With technology quickly conquering the world, the smart phone is every changing. I remember the days when I just had a giant Nokia that played snake...best game ever. Since I recently left my Blackberry (still one of my favorites) for the iPhone 4, I have been engulfed into a limitless world of Apps. My most favorite thing about the Apps Store is the Health and Fitness section. Who knew there were so many different ways to track your weight, eating, and workouts! So I have compiled my top 5 free favorite apps that can help with weightloss:

5. Fast Food App
This little app has a plethora of fast food restaurants and their menu items. They include portion size with nutritional facts. Great for when you are in a rush and HAVE to eat out.

4. Nike+Ipod App
Now I have not had the pleasure of using this app because I haven't bought all the gear, but everyone that I know who uses it loves it! The iPhone/iPod syncs your workouts to let you know how many calories you have burned. It seems totally cool and the equipment is definitely on my Wish List for Santa!

3. The Eatery App
I LOVE THIS APP! It is so much fun! You take a picture of your food and describe it. Then other people rate it on how healthy they think it is, plus you get to rate other people's food as well. It is a whole new way at looking at what is healthy!

2. Fooducate App
Hello easy shopping! I use this thing like crazy in the grocery store. Take a picture of the bar code of whatever you want and it automatically rates it (A-F Scale) and gives you other options that may be better for you!

and drum roll please...
1. My Fitness Pal
This app is my lifeline. Normally I have all of my apps in special little folders..Not this one! It is on my main page, and honestly, so much better on the iPhone than the Blackberry. Recording is so much easier to do. You chose and make your meals, keep up with nutritional intake and work outs. It gets a gold star from me! I love it! Plus, on days that I have killed my battery on the phone, no worries, I just go to http://www.myfitnesspal.com and log it all in there!


There are so many other great apps on the iPhone and other smart phones for tracking weight-loss. Another great workout app is the Abs app! You get your own trainer that communicates through email with you. For recipes, go with All Recipes App, you can select if you wanna watch carbs, go vegan, or totally gorge out! If you have any other apps you wanna suggest, please feel free!

Uncharted

Finally, I have compiled a list of 75 things that I want to do, or have the ability to do, in my lifetime. Some things may seem silly to others but, well, I am a silly person at heart. Some may be personal things that I have never addressed but need to do so before it’s too late. My list ranges from falling in love to rock climbing…traveling to just staying home. It’s only natural that my list will grow as I mark things off my list and find more things that I would like to do. I intend on doing a lot this summer and continuing on into the fall, maybe taking one item a month. Most things will be done with my friends, but others are things I will have to face alone. I won't do this in any certain order, and the list isn't in any order either...somethings I won't have the opportunity to complete until later in life, however, many I can do now.
So here it is…my 75 wants in life:
1. Learn to play tennis
2. Go to Seattle, Washington
3. Rock climb
4. Wear a bikini
5. Get-a-weekend alone
6. Feel accomplished
7. Buy size 6
8. Go skiing in Colorado
9. Figure out what I want to do in life
10. Be adventurous
11. Let go of fears
12. Sail
13. Scuba dive
14. Go to a UGA game
15. Sing karaoke
16. Talk to my dad again
17. Italy! ….and eat pizza
18. Visit a 3rd world country and work with children
19. Travel across the border (up or down)
20. Learn to cook a really expensive dish
21. Buy a pair of MinoloBlancs
22. Fall in LoVe
23. Finally feel completely comfortable with myself
24. Return to NYC
25. Take a train ride
26. Dance in the rain
27. Be completely spontaneous for one day
28. See Adele in concert
29. VEGAS
30. Learn to play the piano again
31. Run 3 5k’s in 6 months time
32. Learn to ride a horse
33. Ride in a hot air balloon
34. Get married
35. Go camping
36. Move from Macon, Ga
37. Learn to surf in the Pacific
38. Go to wine country
39. Greece
40. Go to the Grand Canyon
41. See a fashion show
42. Run a half marathon
43. Learn to sew
44. Get my masters
45. Get a degree in nutrition
46. Let the walls fall down
47. Change a tire
48. Disney World
49. Zip-line
50. Adopt a cocker-spaniel
51. White Water Rafting
52. Visit New Orleans
53. Sell a painting
54. Volunteer for a homeless shelter
55. Volunteer at a children’s home
56. Change someones life for the better
57. Do an obstacle course
58. Dance on a bar
59. Amsterdam
60. Backpack in Europe
61. Plastic Surgery
62. Have an amazing NYE
63. Random road trip
64. Learn my Nana’s recipes
65. Gamble
66. Jeep
67. Have a Hangover night
68. Parasailing
69. Buy a hotdog from a Hot Dog Stand in Central Park
70. Mexico: Tacos and Margaritas
71. Get a meaningful tattoo
72. Take painting classes
73. Trust
74. Go kayaking
75. Triathlon

Quote:"I know I'm going nowhere,
When I only sit and stare like I'm going down,
Follow if you want, I won't just hang around,
Like you'll show me where to go..."-Sara Bareilles (Uncharted)

*food for thought...its all i need*

Last week was beyond stressful. Everything in the world was due for school and I didn't get to eat my meals or hit the gym like I wanted to. Felt discouraged and disappointed heading into the weekend, only to be brought back to reality that life is not that bad from my friends. Friends and family brought me an amazing weekend that made me stress free for the first real time all semester. Glad to be back in my normal routine with the gym and eating properly.....and best of all I CAN WEAR WHITE! I know that Stacy and Clinton threw this rule out the door, but my Nana and Mimi raised me southern, and you can NOT wear white before Easter. I have been holding out all season and was so happy to finally put on that white dress and my favorite white shorts. :D

I am proud to say, today for the first time ever, I was NOT a procrastinator. I did everything that was due for the week in one day and can just chill out the rest of the week and into the weekend. I have a weigh in this week...not particularly excited about it considering my week last week, but all can do is try harder in the weeks to come :)

We celebrated my maternal grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. If I ever find someone to love me like my Grandaddy loves my Nana, I'll be set for life. He is the epidemy of the Brad Paisley song "Waitin' on a Woman".

5k and the future

Saturday I ran/walked my 5k with my friend Logan (pictured here). Even though I didn't do as well as I wanted (43:05) I was still so proud of myself for finishing. There are more 5k's coming soon that we are excited about participating in.
I'm finding it easier and easier to fight temptations with food. Even if I want something, I have a greater satisfaction after I eat my healthy meal, rather than the one I really wanted at the time, and this thought keeps me going throughout the day. I've recently met another new workout buddy, which is making my workout routines much more enjoyable.
Sundays are my outside days, and this Sunday we went to the Indian Mounds for a little bit. Afterwards, I decided to give my dane
a bath and go on a walk in the neighborhood. While we were on our walk, we came across another walker and her dog (not sure of the breed, but he was big) and the two hit it off. We exchanged numbers and are going to have puppy dates with our gigantic four legged friends. I am so glad he will have a friend his size to play with.
All in all I've had a pretty good couple of weeks, today is the two year anniversery of Michael Sparrow's death. He is someone I grew up with and have always looked up to. Sunday's don't seem the same without him, but I know he is in a better place and is probably singing and playing his guitar. He is an amazing person and still has an effect on the lives that he has touched over the years.

Quote of the Month: "So wipe your tears and smile, don't feel the darkness, because we have sparked this, candles of flame...and I'm not afraid of death, because I know where God is, He's beside me, always everyday.."-Michael Sparrow (Sanctuary)

putting on my dancing shoes

My first week of working out with a trainer went great...however I am finding it hard to eat all of my 1200 calories in a day. It's so easy to over eat when you aren't paying attention, but when you are actually counting calories and charting it out it is SO difficult.
Saturday night I went to the "Big Dance" here in my hometown. I never....and I mean NEVER EVER wear high heels. Well I did this night and after all the fun of dancing and hanging with friends not only were my feet sore but holy cow my calf muscles ached! and they are still a little sore!
It was a blast though! Only five more days till the race on Saturday. I'm still working on my time but it should be great!

Losing LBS on Vacation AND Month 6 weigh in~

Yes...that's right, I lost weight on Vacation. Went to the beach for a week and left 5 lbs there...how did I do this? I exercised every day, except Wednesday, and took some of my own food with me. The first day I went for a four mile bike ride and was sooo sore the next day I didn't think I would be able to work out again, however, my aunt happened to bring her Biggest Loser DVD which was suprisingly enjoyable. She and I did the tape together for the rest of the week until the last day when we ended up doing a 6 maybe 7 mile bike ride again. I was so happy to go on vaca and come back 5 lbs lighter.

Now for my 6 month Weigh in results: -65 lbs! Not having set a goal amount for myself in the beginning, I now believe it is safe to say that I can lose 100. It's not a want, it's a will. It's been hard but I have come along way. Working out is easier than ever, which means it's time to change it up again. I feel good. My friends and family have been nothing but supportive. I even have random strangers in the gym letting me know they see a difference. So next weekend my 6 month challenge is up and I will go buy my own skinny jeans...hopefully on sale :D and set a new goal for myself! Thanks to all for reading and keeping up!

New Routines

It's been awhile, I know. I have been sooo busy with work and school....slacked a little at the gym this week but proud to say I have officially hit 60 lbs!!! I started using the elliptical instead of the treadmill this week, the treadmill has begun to start to hurt my knees and I don't feel like I'm making any progress on my 3k training. I plan to switch it out week to week. Also, I have started doing more free weights instead of only doing machine work. I have been doing it for a week and already can tell a difference in muscles on my arms, chest, and back.

I had a great day by the pool for July 4th, filled with a lot of R and R....and finger foods ;) what did everyone else do?

putting up the tissues, and getting on with it

After sulking all weekend about my results from the blood work at the Doctor's office and not working out, I hit the gym at 4:30 this morning and stayed until about 6:45. I thought I would be exhausted all day from it but actually feel pretty good and am going to do it again tomorrow.

Today I worked on a new work out routine and food menu. My new menu has more food on that is based on a lower cholesterol diet rather than only thinking about the calories. My doctor told me when I look at a Nutrition sticker that I need to look at the entire thing, not just a couple of key points because they all affect each other. Why I never thought of this I will never know.

So now I am done with my pity party and ready to get back in the game. I have more confidence that I can do this than I did before. One more weigh in and less than two months until I buy my skinny jeans...looking forward to getting them and setting a new goal.

Quote: "Buy the ticket, take the ride." - Hunter S. Thompson

Weigh In for Month 5 is with Praise! and a lil sadness

I weighed in at the Doctor this week and have lost an additional 13 lbs which makes me at 54! While I am very excited to have this number rise, I received a disturbing phone call back from the doctor (after some blood work)in which they stated that even though I have lost weight they are not impressed with my cholesterol numbers and triglycerides. They are concerned about the condition of my heart and want to start me on medication (normally used by diabetics). Not gonna lie, this freaked me out.

I started this whole thing, not to be 120 or fit into a size 6 but to be healthy. You can be whatever size in the world, but if your not healthy, then it does nothing. It was a huge blow to my inspiration to hear that what I thought I was doing is not enough. I have 3 months to try to better the numbers where they should be on my own, if not, then I start the medication to see where it takes me. Obviously, since I have lost weight my numbers are down, but not what they want. Needing Prayers and Inspiration!

A Different Kind of Burger

While my family got ready to grill their half turkey and beef burgers, I took mine out of the freezer that I had prepared a couple of weeks ago and frozen. Its half spinach and turkey, along with some basalmic for taste.

It's my new twist on burgers that I am sure will stick with me as long as I am making the burgers... It is really good and I can hardly taste the difference, besides it being better. I also don't feel so "heavy" as I normally do after chowing down on a burger...Chips of choice? Lay's Light...They are so much better for you than regular Lay's and they taste just like the originals. I will have some baked beans though, can't help but indulge a little! What did you and your family eat for Memorial Day? Everyone have a great one!

Lazy Saturday and a Wii

You need one every now and then right? Barely going to sleep last night because I was up late hanging with old friends from high school is keeping from the gym today. Also, we had Mexican for lunch, but I am pretty proud of myself for not eating many chips and salsa :D I could have, however, done without the Chimichanga...haha oh well it happens! I didn't eat the whole thing so it's all good! My nana is making homemade Brunswick Stew, Barbecue, and Coleslaw......so today is pretty much not my best day, but that's okay, taking everything with moderation. Thinking I may do some strength exercises later just so I can say I was completely immobile today ;D haha! The overcast, no sunshine sky certainly isn't helping me in this struggle to get up!

my new workout craze

Just Dance, for the Wii, is the funnest thing I have done on the Wii. This summer I am doing Camp Tattnall at the Daycare and I brought my Wii to play with the kids, one of the kids brought this Just Dance game and let me tell you, it was the funnest workout I may have ever done...I'm talking manly sweating work out! It was great! Also, with all of the activities and sports we have plane I am looking forward to a great, active summer with the kiddies!

Does anybody else have an Wii games that help with working out? Personally I think the Wii is the best thing to ever happen to the video game world...I love that it gets you up and moving rather than just sitting and watching! Thoughts?

Everyone have a great Saturday

Dinner for One!

Just Me, Myself, and I- but that's okay! I have been looking forward to tonight for a couple of days! Jumped in the kitchen and started cooking...I was creative with the cooking but not the name...Spaghetti with Salmon, if anyone has a better suggestion please let me know! It was a delish dish!

Here are the ingredients I used:
-Jar of Artichokes
-Can of tomatoes (any kind, and I drained the juice)
-half a jar of mushrooms
-half of a large onion (chopped)
-whole wheat spaghetti noodles (I also used thin)
-one frozen Salmon (thawed)
-Balsamic Vinaigrette (light)
-Parmesan Cheese

385 Cal!

Step One: Boil the Spaghetti

Step Two: Combing Mushrooms and Chopped Onions to heated pan and cook until onions brown a tad

Step Three: Add your Artichokes

Step Four: Broil Salmon in oven for about 3-5 mins to kick start cooking! (I sprinkled on a tad bit of seasoning salt)

Step Five: Add Tomatoes...and then...cut up Salmon and add it to the Veggies, Drain Noodles and add to pan as well!

Finally...I added my Balsamic and sprinkled on some Parmesan for taste...

Let me know what you all think! I loved it!

PiZzA NiGhT!!!

Can you guess which one is mine???
the right one of course- no pepperoni for me! Although I didn't really miss it, and my 275 calorie slice actually filled me up!


HOW DO YOU EAT YOUR PIZZA??

I love mine loaded with veggies...I can do without the meat :D

Exhausted from Kick Boxing...my 7:30 run won't be easy...

Month 4 Weigh In

Weighed today with the doctor...-41 lbs! 9 more to 50!!! It is pretty exciting...only 2 more weigh ins until I buy my first pair of skinny jeans, not gonna lie, I am kinda nervous. I feel as though it now time to hit the "crunch time" button and really kick things into gear...my schedule has me out of whack this week at the gym but that's ok, not gonna sweat it to much. Just gonna be careful with what I eat and stay as active as possible. Which by the way, I have found these awesome protein bars, specifically made for women, Luna Bars!

They are delish but kinda high on sugar so I only suggest you eat them if you intend on working out!
Happy Cinco de Mayo to everyone! Today will be my first time eating Mexican since January! I'm excited, but not going to crazy with it! Have a great Hump Day ALL!

Monthly Quote:"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." ~ Azura

Caramelized Chicken and Broiled Asparagus

I made this for dinner tonight, sooo good!

What you need:
~3 Frozen Chicken Breast (thawed)
~Italian Dressing
~1 small onion
~2 tablespoons of minced garlic
~Olive Oil
~Parmesan Topping
~Bundle of Asparagus

1.Thaw the chicken over night and then marinate in the Italian Dressing in the fridge during the day 2.Set the oven on broil and wash asparagus 3.Coat the Asparagus in Olive Oil and minced garlic, sprinkle Parmesan cheese on asparagus (salt to taste) and put in the oven. 3.While this is cooking, heat up a large skillet while you chop up the onion into strips, when heated add onion and garlic 4. When onion has started to brown add chicken and drippings 5.Cook about 5 mins on Med/High before flipping 5. Flip and cover for 5 more mins 6. By this time Asparagus should be finished, Brown Rice goes great with this!

Reading Between The Lines...

Looking for a really good book to read about weight loss and the challenges and 20 something college student goes through...Problem? I can't find anything! As a browse through Barnes and Noble all I can seem to come across are books about older women, usually single or divorced, trying to get their lives on track or the 30 somethings looking for marriage...neither of which apply to me. Also, I just bought a great cookbook that I am really ready to crack open and get into...it's called the 3 Hour Diet, it's whole aspect is about eating every 3 hours, which is actually what I am trying to do. It has guides and even some great menus for those of us who have problems "putting it all together". I got it on sale at Barnes and Nobles.


So anyways if you guys have any advice on some good reads let me know!

Month 3 Weigh In

WEIGH IN...I haven't blogged in about a week, but I have awesome news...During March I lost a total 14 lbs.!!! That's a total 32 lbs. since January!!! Made me feel awesome!!! A lot of people have been complementing me on my weight loss, I notice it sometimes, but most of the time I can't really tell much...I'm sure it's just because I see myself every day :/

WEIGHTS...
Starting weights a couple of weeks ago has been tough, I had to ask the owner of the gym to help me out. The biggest problem I have is with abs...he showed me some really great work outs on the equipment that I am excited to use...I want to do more than crunches. Yoga is getting easier each week, I find myself not struggling as much :D



DINNER?!

Tonight I experimented in the kitchen :O and it was delicious to say the least...below is a pic and the recipe:



4 3oz. pieces salmon
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 orange bell pepper
1 medium onion
2 cups of brown rice
Low fat balsamic vinaigrette dressing

1. I chopped all my vegetables up and first put the onion in the skillet and let them begin to cook on medium (about 3 mins) 2. I added the rest of the vegetables and let them cook while I started my rice 3. Next I added the salmon to the skillet with the vegetables and cook on high for about 4-6 mins (turning over half away), or until the salmon is almost fully cooked 4. Add as much dressing as you want to the skillet (I did about 2 tbs.) and let everything cook for about 2-3 more mins covered on medium/high heat 5. Finally I put a spoon full and a half of rice on the plate, placing the salmon and vegetables on top, IT WAS SOO GOOD!



Quote of the Month:
"You can do anything you want to do if you put your heart, soul and mind into it.” ~ Joe Frazier

Seriously the BEST lasagna I have ever had...seriously

I tweeked it a little, just to cut some calories off of the already 350! below is the original, under it is my substitutes!

Ingredients

*3 cups pasta sauce (like Classico Spicy Tomato and Pesto)
*16 ounces 2% cottage cheese
*1/2 cup grated parmesan
*9 whole wheat lasagna noodles
*8 ounces mozzarella cheese
*Approximately 4 cups mixed vegetables (I used spinach, carrots, sundried tomatoes, and zucchini)

Preheat oven to 400*. Spray 11 X 8 glass casserole dish.

Combine cottage and parmesan cheeses.
Place 3 uncooked noodles in pan.
Cover with 1 cup pasta sauce, 1/3 cheese mixture, 1/3 vegetables, and 1/3 mozzarella.
Repeat 2 more times.
Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake one hour.
Makes about 8 servings, ~350 kcal per serving.

I found this really good Parmesan substitute and you cant even taste the difference! My raw veggies were squash, zucchini, mushroom, and spinach. The pasta sauce I used was Ragu: heart healthy, it also had tomato chunks in it that was delish! I made it the night before and through it in the oven the next night!


Recipe found on: http://www.katheats.com

home from vacation...

So you know when your on your diet and you finally cant take it anymore and need to eat!!! Well thankfully that hasn't happened, on my vacation I found that I missed my daily routine and my regular foods...and my GYM! In fact, I walked every day and used a treadmill while on my little haitis... When I did finally come home at 5 AM, we got to Macon at 10 am and I literally jumped in my car and went to the gym for two hours. FELT SO GOOD TO BE BACK!!!