Thursday, January 31, 2008

I rock!

Today is one of those days that I just feel great about myself. I'm making great choices, I'm exercising regularly, the sun is shining, could it get any better?
Yesterday I hit up the gym after work for a KILLER Body Ball class. My best friend who just joined my gym came with me for the first time. I don't know if the girl has ever done any strength training in her life and I had to talk her into the class since she was a little apprehensive. The class usually isn't too bad and you can use small weights to make it less intense. I saw the instructor in the changing room and she mentioned that she had some new stuff and wanted my feedback after the class. Great right? Well not so great for my best friend who's never done weight training before. The class was brutal. The new stuff was pretty intense. Really good workout but basically we were working some muscles to the point where even my muscles were about to give out, and I've been taking the class for a few months. Needless to say, this morning I got a few nasty e-mails from said friend, cursing my name!

Today I hit the gym at lunch for 40 mins of cardio. 20 mins on the bike, 10 on elliptical and 10 on the treadmill. Nothing too intense but I feel great this afternoon!
Last night I made an attempt at cooking some Tilapia. I took 2 recipes and basically combined them (Thanks Kate!) I had a small bite last night and it was really good. Looking forward to having it for supper tonight with some rice and veggies.

A HUGE shout out to Angie too who had her first official run with the Running Room yesterday! I'm so proud of her. I'd second guess myself the whole way but she just dove right in and did amazing!

I'm so proud that I am following through with my New Year's Resolution to spend more time in the kitchen, I even learned that I LOVE cooking! It's so much fun! Especially on a Saturday moring or a Sunday afternoon. So far I have made:

ESBM Meatloaf (YUM!)
ESBM Tuna Casserole
WW Cheeseburger Casserole (Hubby's favorite)
WW 0 Point Italian Soup
WW 1 point Banana Bran Muffins
Cambpbell's Rice & chicken casserole
Breaded Parmesean Tilapia
Maple Glazed Ham

I've come a long way form just Tacos and Basil Pesto pasta. (Basically the only two things we ate at home pre New Year's resolution) This week I am making Amy's whole wheat pizza dough on Saturday and on Sunday I'm devoting a few hours to make up some lunch stuff for the week; ESBM meatloaf (at the request of my hubby) and the Basic 0 point WW Cabbage soup. I wasn't crazy about the Italian one but this one seems pretty decent.

Got any recipes you think I need to try? Let me know!

SFL for those of you who asked is a super strict meal plan. I thought it was more nationwide but apprently not. Basically the first 2 weeks are detox. It's very high protein. Breakfast for the first 2 weeks is a lot of cottage cheese and fruit or yogurt and fruit or Kashi Cereal. Lunch is 4 oz of meat (protein), tons of veggies and a pile of rice or pasta. To the point where you don't think you can't possibly eat another bite of food. But yuo have to eat it ALL. The first few days of this is brutal but after about a week, I swear you are hungry again in an hour. Your metabolism gets a HUGE boost. Supper is a protein and a ton of veggies. Snacks are fruit or almonds. I can't remember exactly but I may dig out my old sheets. It's crazy strict but if you follow it, you will lose weight, and a lot of it. After the first 2 weeks, it lets up a little more but still not something I could live on. Definitely not as flexible as WW. I did it for 3 weeks and lost like 13 lbs. 13 lbs!!! 7 in the first week. And after I went back to WW, I didn't gain it all back either. I just have to find the motivation to do it again is all. I love the freedom of WW! I've been flipping back and forth so that proves that I'm not ready yet. Maybe a few weeks before my wedding in April. Take off a few lbs before I have to walk down the isle. Hmmm... What do you ladies think?
I have to pick weeks though that I don't have any plans with the friends...or else wine seems to wiggle it's way in somehow.....

10 comments:

  1. You DO rock!!!!

    I hope your friend doesn't get discouraged because of the one class! That does suck that was the day it got tougher though!

    I am so happy that you are enjoying cooking!!! Once I realized I COULD cook, I absolutely LOVED it!!!!
    Another couple to try from ESBM is: lord of the wings, sticky chicky and no weigh jose mexican lasagna (that's the one I made a couple of weeks ago!)

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  2. Well that SFL doesn't sound that bad. I was expecting some kind of horrible eat nothing but soup diet thing. If you ever do get around to finding your stuff maybe you could email to me? It actually doesn't sound THAT different from how I try to eat right now. (as I'm drinking a hot chocolate...)

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  3. yummers. can i come over for eats?

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  4. Yummy...how about you make double for me during the week. I put up a Five Point Friday every week and it has a recipe that is five points or less. Come on over tomorrow to see what is cooking!

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  5. hmm that SFL plan seems pretty enticing. sounds like it did give you a nice jumpstart, and so I may look into that a bit more! :)

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  6. Hey Carolyn, Welcome to the first of February. Congrats on an awesome start to 2008. Hugs girl. Take care.

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  7. You do ROCK! Great job on exercising and eating good, and just being inspirational, so great!

    Also glad to hear your learning to cook, and enjoying it. I love to cook and bake, I find it so relaxing.

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  8. we never made it to atonement. lol. he definitely wasn't feeling it but i will be dragging him there at one point!

    i just made the bran/banana muffins but added a little extra splenda and a bit of hersheys cocoa powder to complement the chocolate chips (20 cals a serving) and they are even better than before :) yum!!

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  9. You HAVE been cooking! NICE work!

    What is this ESBM stuff? I haven't heard of it...

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  10. Hi Carolyn!
    I hope that you had a good weekend! I had a friend take me to a yoga class before I started working out, and it was way over my head. Who knew yoga could be so hard!? So I can totally sympathize with your friend. But hopefully you can inspire her to keep going with you, because we all know it is totally worth it!
    Let us know how the cooking turns out!

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