Cha, Cha, Cha, CHIA!

I have gotten in the funk of the same breakfast routine....granola and almond milk or oatmeal and protein.  So being the smartie pants that I am, I decided to change it up for tomorrow morning with chia pudding. Trainer Sarah suggested this unique snack/breakfast/dessert over the summer and I figured I'd give it another chance.

I am going to tell you straight up that it is a weird texture, like crunchy tapioca pudding, but it definitely keeps you full and satisfied which is exactly what I need working in Kindergarten everyday.

So I prepped it tonight, super easy, just throw some chia seeds in a container fully covered with almond milk, stir it up and you're done!  Throw it in the fridge and it'll be all set for you in the morning.  I like it topped with some berries and agave for breakfast or berries and whipped cream for dessert (I've also made chocolate chia pudding and with some strawberries and whipped cream....YUM) :)

 

ready to throw in the fridge!

Chia has some great health benefits....gotta love those ancient grain

 

Hope you like this easy suggestion!

 

Until tomorrow :)

 

C

 

Snowy Run?

Last night we went and visited some friends at St. John's.  It was definitely a good night :)

Beth, Annie, and I

Beth, Annie, Me, and Maria before we caught the bus

Natalie ended up on a cabinet....only at St. Johns

One of Annie's pictures from the Keri Noble Concert                                                                                 

 

Let's just say that getting up to teach Sunday school this morning wasn't all that fun. It was snowing, freezing cold, and we didn't get home until about 2 this morning, so 8:00 was rough....but hey we survived!  Today was my second long run for 10K training, 3.5 miles, would've been a piece of cake minus the fact that it was snowing, windy, and drizzling....icky.  It may not have been a fast run, but not many others can say that they went for a run during the first snow of winter 2013!

 

Until tomorrow,

 

C :)



Friday Night Fun

 Last night, I went out to dinner with some friends.  We went to TGI Friday's and shared a couple of appetizers.  I could definitely tell they weren't the things I am used to eating...I had a bit of a stomach ache after the pot stickers, flat bread, and boneless wings.  All I can say is thank goodness we shared!

After dinner we went and got Frozen Yogurt at this great new place in St. Cloud.  It's called frozen yogurt creations. SO GOOD! Again, I maybe had one cup of dessert total and I could feel it.  Such a sugar rush after not eating dessert for months, but I am sure we'll go again.  I'd definitely recommend it.

 

 Annie and I decided to go see Keri Noble last night after our outing.  She was on campus doing a show for love your body week!  This last LOVE YOUR BODY WEEK brought a whole slew of emotions to the surface.  All I could think about every time I saw one of the signs hanging around campus was think of how far you've come and how much further you have to go and how you're going to get there.  These are such wonderful things to think about I am just so proud to have made the choice to be happy and healthy. 

 

With today being Saturday and having eaten out last night and we got dessert....today means petal to the metal in the healthy eating department.  I am currently wrapping up week two of 10K training and I can tell a difference in my endurance, but I really want to flip the switch and make it really happen.  5 pounds before the wedding....a mere 13 days.  I can do it! 

 

So today I used up some things I've had in the freezer for a while, I sauteed some steak and wild rice with canned beets and fresh squash from the farmers market.  This meal was so easy.  I just popped the squash in the oven for 45 minutes and then with about 20 minutes left I threw everything else together. Couldn't have been easier!  For everyone who thinks it's impossible to eat clean at college....I have proof that it's not. :) 

 

Until tomorrow,

 

C :) 

Size 8

So Annie has been on my case about how all my clothes are too baggy.... Well, we didn't have class today so naturally we did some top notch retail therapy instead of homework.

 

I was in need of some new skinnies, so I broke down and bought a couple of pairs....size 8 everyone! I can distinctly remember the last time I wore a size 8 pair of pants. It was the sixth grade, Mr. Jurek's class. How insane is that! I still can't believe it. In the last 5 months I've gone from a 16 to an 8 :) It really goes to show you that hard work pays off!

 

Oh, three other highlights from today.
1) ran 2 miles at 11:45 pace
2) got to go to Pilates!
Have I mentioned how much I love pilates. Mondays and Thursdays are my favorite just because I get to spend 45 minutes in pilates.  The instructors are wonderful and the class gets to decide which muscle areas we work on during class. Love that.
3) got a card (of Si from Duck Dynasty) and a gas card from my parents for hitting my goal!!

 

  

 

Until tomorrow :)

C 

Inspiration

There is no way that I would've been able to accomplish a single thing over the last six months without inspiration.  My original inspiration was to look amazing and almost unrecognizable at Megan's Wedding (pretty much accomplished), my inspiration now is friends. Without my friends I don't know where I would be.  I can't imagine not having them with me: on the long run days, at bootcamp, in the gym, or in the cafeteria.  It would not be possible for me to stay together without their support.  I know that when I have a rough day, feel beat after a workout, or want an ice cream cone, they'll be there for me no matter how far away they are.  Katie and Bailey are the only two people that truly understand how far I've come and how determined I am to reach the finish line (19 more pounds).

 

It has been a challenge to find people to workout and share my journey with while at school.  Most college students are worried about what parties they are going to hit on the weekend, not that they are cutting into their two hours of gym time by finishing a reading assignment for class.  That is how my mind works now.  I am so sad when I lose even five minutes of "me time" in the gym.  The gym is the only place that I feel happy when I am at school. I used to love going out, going to SJU, going into town, but now all of those places are full of temptations that are obviously difficult to move past.  I have really been trying to meld my life from home to school, but I am not going to lie, it is the hardest thing I have ever done.  I would gladly lose another 40 pounds at home than be here and try to do it. College is difficult for normal people, trying to live a healthier life is not easy when the cafeteria serves chicken nuggets, cheese curds, pizza, and pasta.

 

 

I have been contacted recently by a few people from back home who have been inspired by my story. THANK YOU for telling me! I love hearing from people :)  I want to be your motivator, inspiration, role model.  Anyone who has dieted or lost a significant amount of weight will tell you that you, yourself, do not see the weight you've lost.  I still feel like I look the exact same as I did six months ago.  I know I don't, but I know that person to be me and I am definitely not used to the new me yet.  Please, email me, facebook message me, comment below.  I want to hear your stories!

 

I thought this quote was fitting for today :)

 

I found this on pinterest. I love tea and it's health benefits are INSANE! Trade in your coffee people. Tea will make a huge difference in how you feel, believe me!

 

Make sure you check back tomorrow, it'll be a good post, I promise :)

Until Tomorrow,

 

C

Starbucks, the old me, and the new.

This morning I stopped at Starbucks because Ashley had a flat tire on her way to work so she was going to be late.  I tried something new and I am SO glad that I did.  I think I have found my new drink.  Zen Tazo tea!  It is so good, definitely a great pick me up for these cold mornings.

 

This morning I instagrammed this picture....can you believe the difference?  The picture on the top left is from April...on a trip that I lost weight and worked out for! I can't believe it.  I can't wait to go on that same Arkansas hiking trip (hopefully this spring break) and kick some real Ozark booty.

This is my face when I got outside (it was raining and we had some horrible winds) to go for my run!

THANK THE LORD I DID IT! It felt so good after I actually hit the pavement.  Today was my first shortish run (2.5 miles) on the training program.  I felt really strong and didn't run with my music, just wanted to hear myself breath to coach myself in understanding that heavy breathing does not mean time to walk.  It means that you are actually doing something worth doing!

 Take a moment to check out that split time.  My goal is to keep myself between 12-14 minutes for every mile of my 10K.  This is going to be a challenge, but I have a feeling that if I keep up this course of training, it'll be much easier.

 

 Yesterday I mentioned that I am really going to try and eat out of Gorecki for at least thre nights a week until the wedding.  So this is my "meal plan".  I will post it again on Sunday for next week.  I decided to try and use this as my grocery shopping guide.  This week I am going to try and use up all of the frozen meals that my mother has sent me over the last couple of months.

 

 

Please let me know of any healthy recipies that you've been trying! 

 I am in need of some "cooking for one" inspiration :)

 

Until tomorrow :)

 

C

Dinner is served!

With T-18 days until the wedding, I am now in super-clean eating mode.  I have decided to forgo the dining center for at least three dinners each week from now until the wedding.  So today after pilates, I got to heat up some of Mom's turkey cornflake meatballs, squash, mushroom sauce, and mashed potatoes.

From the picture it probably looks gross, but I cannot explain to you how delicious it was. 

The reason I've decided to for go the dining center for the next three weeks is to know exactly what I am putting in my body! I really would like to lose another 5 or so pounds before the wedding and I think that along with training this will be the best way to do that.

This has become my new motto.  Every single day when I workout I have the confidence of a super hero.  I feel untouchable. I know that every single minute of my 90 to 120 minutes in the gym are just for me, no one else.  I am the most important part of my life and I truly LOVE every minute of being the new me.  I cannot wait to see everyone's faces when I come out in my dress in 18 days :) There are some people who I will get to see at the wedding who I haven't seen in almost a year, how crazy is it going to be for them to see the new me?

 

 

Until tomorrow :)

 

C