Organizing Closet and Exercise Together? YES!

I have been trying to come up with creative ways to get more steps in my day. I decided that I would combine some new year organization with exercise.  How did I do that?  It was actually quite simple.  I was organizing my drawer of jeans and t-shirts and wanted to try things on as I have lost some weight.  We don't have a full length mirror upstairs at the moment but have one stored in the garage (we are in the middle of remodeling).  So, I brought the mirror in the house but kept it downstairs and every time I tried something on I jogged down the stairs to look in the mirror.  Next thing I knew I had 10,000 steps in!

Sustainable success is all about little changes here and there and moving more.  We can all do that, right?

In order to not grow bored on my plan I keep looking for new recipes and found one for buffalo chicken and pasta.  I don't eat gluten but found some great quinoa pasta (Ancient Harvest).  Here is the link to the recipe:

http://www.fromforkstofitness.com/recipes/21-day-fix-buffalo-chicken-pasta/

There are some great websites out there with recipes that fit within the Beachbody 21-Day Fix plan.  No need to eat boring food!

Now stop reading and get moving!

The Word Is WILL Not TRY!

Words are very powerful (I don't buy the "sticks and stones").  They can build people up or tear people down.  Words can also set you up for succes, especially in this fitness journey we are on.  The specific words I am talking about are "WILL" and "TRY".

Think about it.  Do you say to yourself that you'll TRY to get out of bed (I didn't say what time), TRY to get the kids off to school or TRY to go to work?  Of course you don't.  These are things that you certainly WILL do.  What about planning your food plan for the day or workout.  Is it more TRY than WILL?  If so, let's work at changing that mindset, TODAY!

I WILL stay on my food plan today!

I WILL fit in my workout today!

I WILL push myself to complete another push-up, run another lap, do another burpee!

Oh, and don't forget this one:

I WILL forgive myself if I have stumbled on my journey and WILL get back on track TODAY!

Give it a try (lol) and see how things go.  I think you'll agree with me that WILL really will set  you up for success!

Let's Do This!

21 Day Fix - Day One, No Need To Go Hungry!

For those that are following my fitness journey, I have completed the Beachbody 3 Day Refresh and moved to the 21 Day Fix portion of the program.  I will admit that it was nice to add more of a variety of foods to my day.  While my husband isn't officially on the program he is working to eat healthier.  Let's face it, I cook the majority of our meals (unless it is on the Traeger smoker or BBQ) so you get what I cook, lol!  That being said, I didn't want to start off with boring meals.

My coach Kelly suggested when planning meals for the day that I start with dinner first and work from there (brilliant suggestion).  There are several websites that list meals that fit within the plan.  I chose Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas and they were delicious!  The hubby asked for seconds!  

Here is the link to the recipe
http://www.fitmomangelad.com/21-day-fix-approved-cheesy-chicken-enchiladas/

By the way, this is 1/2 Green, 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1 Blue and 1 spoon for 2 enchiladas

I will admit it took a bit of time to make dinner and will have cooked chicken on hand going forward (it is generally less expensive to buy boneless/skinless chicken breasts in bulk anyway).  Trust me, if you use a blender to make the sauce smooth you will never know it contains cottage cheese (again, the hubby asked for seconds).  I did adjust the taco seasoning a bit to add a little kick.

I do work full-time so needed the remainder of the day to be easy.  I made Clean Eat Tuna Salad for lunch (not impressed with the name).  It would be easy to take along in the morning to work and can be seasoned up to taste.  You will find I really like flavor in my food.

http://www.beachreadynow.com/recipes/clean-eating-tuna-salad/

The recipe counts for 1 Green, 1 Red and 1 spoon

The remainder of the day was filled in with simple but healthy snacks and in the end I couldn't eat everything on my planner.

Speaking of planners, I found one I really like:

http://sublimereflection.com/free-downloadable-fitness-journal/

The site gives options for different calorie levels which is quite helpful.  You can just check off the greens, reds, etc. as you plan your menu for the day.

One final note for today.  The program includes 30 minute workouts each day.  We are all busy but everyone can fit 30 minutes into their day.  It just has to be a priority!

Team Beachbody - 3 Day Refresh

I decided to kick off my Team Beachbody program with the 3-Day Refresh.  It is a three day program where you drink four shake mixes a day and fill in with limited fruits and vegetables.  I would say it would be easiest to do over a weekend as you need to eat or drink something on a scheduled basis.  The shakes are tasty but will admit I will be happy to see the fiber shake go away after today.

My first concern was that I would be hungry.  Overall, that has not been the case.  I actually couldn't finish all the food the first day.  I will admit that I was a bit hungry last night but could have had a cup of herbal tea to curb the feeling.  I think the reason I was hungry yesterday is I got in 15,000 steps and an hour of Zumba.

I am now on day three and will be switching over to the 21-Day Fix portion of the program tomorrow.  At that point I will get more of a selection of food and just one shake a day (if I so choose).  While the program suggests eating all meals at home for the three days I have had two meals out (it is new years weekend).  The thing you have to do is go in with a plan and stick to it.  I knew I could have a very simple green salad (no cheese, bread, etc.) and vinegar with a 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil (there are other options).  I packed a small container in my purse just in case but both restaurants had oil and vinegar.  

So I'm guess you are wondering about the results.  Yes, I have lost weight the last couple of days.  I am well aware that some of it may be water weight but have to say I am feeling better already (probably from cutting out the bad food choices from my diet).

As I move forward I am trying to keep the following in mind: