Accountability

K friends.  I have deemed Thursdays my "report what you've been eating so you stay accountable" day.  Ideally I would also be sharing a kid-friendly healthy recipe that I had tried during the week and had success with....However, I am not that cool yet.  Working up to that.  Also, me and the hubs are going to dinner at the resort with my in-laws tonight while Brandon's sister watches the younguns.  A date!  I can't remember the last time we went on a date....But I'm pretty excited for whatever meal I'm gonna have :-)  So I've been very good with my food today in order to accommodate what I'll ingest later.  I took my thin mint Shakeology to work this morning for breakfast, where I also shared half a clementine with Miss {C}.  Lunch consisted of half a grapefruit, a bowl of spinach and tomato salad with Olive Garden Italian Dressing and whole wheat toast with half an avocado.  Very filling.

I may have also cleaned up the left over clementine slices off the girls' plates.  Maybe.

I have definitely gone to town on our Costco bag of these this week.  SOOOOO good!  Our bag last week...meh.  Not so much.  But this week's bag has been DELICIOUS.

I've done well with breakfast and lunch this week, as well as snacks; but dinners have accommodated the children mostly in not-so-healthy ways.  Last night we had grilled cheese and tuna sandwiches with apples and baby carrots.  Kinda healthy?  Then we had an outing and stopped by Sonic on the way home.  I tried one of Brandon's "peppers and cheddar" fried jalapeno poppers.  Those were REALLY good.  MMMMMM.  And I also finished off the girls' blue raspberry slushy.  Not my finest ending.  Today will probably not be much better.  Oh well.  I'm "maintaining" right now anyways ;-)

Finally, exciting-ish news:  I got my prize for hitting Success Club in September.  (Success Club is basically me helping a certain number of people each month).  This shirt fits better than the Insanity and 21 Day Fix shirt.  Funny.  But I like it!

I'm excited to try P90 next year, after Christmas spending is over and I've earned/saved some more monies.  P90 is supposed to be amazing!

That is it for this entry!  I'll see ya Saturday, if I'm a good girl.

PERSPIRATION!!!!

Did you ever watch Matilda?  I love that movie.  And I can just hear Ms. Trunchbull explaining to Miss Honey how physics applies to throwing the shot-put; naturally ending the lecture by screaming "PERSPIRATION!!!!!"

I didn't perspire much during my workout today.  But I took Friday-Monday off from working out, trying to get over this STUPID cough and cold.  And I got WORSE.  DUMB.  So, I figured I might as well do something so I don't lose all the muscle I've been working to build.  Solution:

I did Total Body Circuit today extra modified.  Like everything was slow-mo. I thought about taking a video of it to prove the point, but that would have been super boring to watch.  So...you're welcome.  And here are my numbers for the 25 minutes of working out, plus the 3 minutes of cool down, which actually made me cough the most.

Done.  (That's me doing the cool finger slapping thing that Brandon can do, but I can't, in my head)

Blogging, Round 2.

So, I'm a rookie.  I was so excited to start this blog, and I had a plan, at least for 3 weeks.  Then that project was over and I was all...*crickets*...what do I write now?  So, I've come up with a plan, and maybe I can be better with my time management so that I can stick to it.  :-D  hopefully.

I've been doing T25 for the last 3 weeks, and I like the workouts.  Since I've started, my right wrist still hasn't healed, I rolled or tweaked my ankle in soccer, and I've had a disgusting cough.  Soooooo...I've been doing the modifiers.  Still get a little sweaty and raise my heart rate without ending up like a smoker dying from emphysema.  Winning! Kind of.

Just to show that I do still workout, here's a video from Tuesday; Miss {C} was more than willing to do the exercises with me, or without.  Just as long as I didn't get in her way :-)

 

I haven't been eating as well as I was during 21 Day Fix, but I've managed to maintain my weight alright.  I've visited the gym a couple of times, mostly for the weight machines and so the girlies could play with the kids a little more, as if they don't do that enough :-)

But yeah, food.  Costco has had the bagged avocados and clementines in stock for awhile, but we started buying them last week when they FINALLY looked to be the right ripeness for Brandon and me.  Which means that I've been eating lots of avocados and clementines  :-) Yummy.

Avocado, eggs and toast

Avocado with mesquite chicken and pepperjack on a pita "panini"

Thursday, if I'm remembering right, was the beginning of much cooler weather for us here in Utah, which means SOUP.  So, I got out a bag of white beans to soak/cook for my roommate's famous white chicken chile.  Mmmmmm.  Too bad I burned the first batch because I decided to workout while that was going on.  Whoops.  So, here's bag #2

and the finished product :-) 'licious

For the full recipe, check it out here

I have also been drinking my DELICIOUS chocolate Shakeology.  I'm pretty sure chocolate is just the flavor for me, because I can run to it when the chocolate cravings hit.  My favorite "recipes" have been chocolate with Girl Scout Thin Mint coffee creamer and chocolate with PB2 and a banana.  Yummers!

Along the topic of Shakeology, I've decided to more fully investigate the ingredients, so I can be more aware of how I'm responding to them and know more fully what it is that I love so much ;-)  

First ingredient I investigated? Ashwagandha.  It's fun to say.  Say it out loud, like an French person whispering sweet nothings in your ear: AshwagAHHHHNdha.

Moving on.  This is one of those ingredients that ups the awesomeness of whatever you pair it with, you know, within a reasonable range of whatever...you know what I mean.  Don't pair it with something to kill yourself.  Just like with anything else.

Ahem.  So--ashwagandha is supposed to help reduce stress and anxiety, boost your immune system, help you focus and other good stuff like that.  

The other good things I'm copying from here:

• Improves learning, memory, and reaction time
• Helps reduce brain-cell degeneration
• Stabilizes blood sugar

and

• Helps lower cholesterol

Who isn't interested in those benefits?  And that's just ONE of over 70 superfood ingredients.  (P.S. this information was also corroborated with webmd.com and general information on Wikipedia).  I know that in the 3 months I've been drinking Shakeology, I have definitely been more focused.  I've been able to make a game plan for different projects and not completely overwhelm myself.  I'm taking baby steps to do awesome things, and I'm making progress.  Also, I'm a little excited for my next check-up.  The last time I went to the doctor, my cholesterol was high.  I'm interested to see how it looks now that I'm eating healthier....Pretty awesome, huh?  Stay tuned next week for information on the next mystery ingredient ;-)

And just for fun: a story.  With pictures.

Tuesday, is that right?  Tuesday the new Halo for Xbox One came out and it has all the Halo games, some big whoop that my cute husband and my brothers-in-law were excited for.  That means that I went through all of our still packed boxes from moving, everything thrown into our little storage closet, and random suitcases posing as storage containers that are buried in the girls' walk in closet, looking for all of Brandon's Xbox 360 paraphernalia to sell back to GameStop so that he could have the new Halo game.  That was a successful endeavor, but here's the real treasure:

 

3rd grade me

and (I think) 5th grade me.

Laugh it up folks.  You're welcome.

Why the Gym Didn't Work For Me

I don't know how many of you readers on the other side of the interwebs know this, I think I've mentioned it before, but aside from being a Beachbody coach, I work part-time at a gym daycare.  I've been doing that almost 2 years now, and it's a really great job for someone like me who has small kids (I can bring them with me) and wants a little extra spending money.  The shifts are only 3-4 hours, for me anyway, and it's been a great way for my girlies to learn social skills :-D Also, I get a free gym membership.  Score!

And let's be real, that was the #2 reason I wanted that job in the first place.  Cuz who doesn't want a FREE gym membership?  That's the dream right?  (The #1 reason was I wanted money and not have to pay for daycare or work graveyard shifts.)

BUT there was a downside to having the gym be my solution for health AND fitness.  The gym provides the equipment, and the personal trainers, and the gym rats that I HOPED I'd look like some day.  But, I didn't have anyone keeping track of my efforts and I wasn't paying for a personal trainer to call me everyday, so I would go home and eat whatever I wanted, because I EARNED IT!

And I did earn it.  I'd run ~3 miles on the treadmill, do 20 minutes of weight lifting, I'd go to the classes, and I'd burn between 600-700 calories for the hour.  Not that shabby.  But because I thought I COULDN'T eat through those burned calories, I GAINED 15 lbs over the course of a couple of months. Ew gross.

That's why I'm so happy my cousin invited me to her challenge group!  It provided the things I was missing.  Sure the workouts were great, but I could handle that on my own.  What I was missing was clean eating, which I could also do a week at a time, and ACCOUNTABILITY.  I found those things in that group, and it was FANTASTIC to be working out and working to eat healthier WITH OTHER PEOPLE.  We were a team, and we supported each other and were held accountable.  No, we didn't get kicked out if we screwed up and ate a couple cookies for no reason.  Everyone empathized and then said, "yeah, I understand.  But REMEMBER WHY you want to change." We all had our reasons why we wanted to change, and that was another way we all bonded.  We didn't have to know each others' reasons, but we knew we had each examined ourselves and thought deeply about why we wanted to lose weight/eat healthier/get stronger.  Those "whys" propelled us when the going got tough.  Now, I love going to the gym, but it didn't give me these things.

And I'm not saying that you can't find these resources on your own to ensure your success.  I'm just saying it's nice and convenient, and all bundled into one simple package :-)  And THAT was what I NEEDED to be successful.  What do YOU NEED?

Have a Happy Weekend!

So, I've decided I want to put a little bit of good karma out in the universe with this post, and share with you some things that have made me happy recently.

First of all, I found these on facebook the last couple of days.  And isn't it wonderful how a little chuckle about something silly can brighten your day?

Secondly, I stumbled across this blog post written by my childhood friend and next door neighbor.  It is beautiful and uplifting, and it made me feel a little bit special that I could remember some of the memories that she shared.  Thanks for writing this, Miranda :-)

Thirdly, Beachbody.  And I don't say this solely because of my "transformation" that I've kept you all apprised of.  I'm a little ashamed of it, but Beachbody has helped form me into a better person in several facets: intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I say that I'm ashamed because I should have been the person that I am now before I encountered Beachbody because of my religious beliefs.  But that is in the past, and I'm progressing now, despite the reasons and motivations.  

You want to know what is amazing about Beachbody?  Yes, they have great workouts, and yes, they have an incredible product with Shakeology.  But what makes them OUTSTANDING as a company to work with is that they emphasize personal development.  I have been a coach barely over 2 months, and because I've been improving my mind daily, I have been happier, driven to succeed, hopeful, more patient and understanding, and a host of other things that I probably haven't noticed or acknowledged yet.

And it's pretty great that I can get all my fruits and veggies in one meal and have it taste like a thin mint.  Just sayin :-)

And this man.  He just makes the world perfect and wonderful.

Don't tell him I wrote this, because he would just say, "Oh, shut up."  But he is the most generous person I know.  He is understanding and compassionate.  He stands up for what he believes in without regard to who may disagree.  He is a wonderful father to our beautiful girls, and he treats all three of us like princesses.  He is a gentleman and my best friend.  I'm so happy I get to keep him forever.  And that's all I'll say cuz I'm getting all teary-eyed thinking about how wonderful he is.

Now these girls, they make me laugh EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.  They also make me want to pull my hair out every day, but when it's your kids, the cute things outweigh the trying things in value like 10:1.  Like today, {E} came up to {C} after {C's} nap and said, "{C}, wanna go to the chocolate factory and be a flawless girl?"  I love that she combined her Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Phineas and Ferb references,  Or when we went on an outing tonight, and {C} talked non-stop about her pretty, colored, plastic bracelets.  She was so excited about getting to wear them out.  She must have felt so pretty.

These are the things that have made me happy, along with my daily scripture study, which has helped me keep an eternal perspective, and helped me find the patience I need to nurture my children when they need to be nurtured and set an example for them when they need to be reminded of how to behave.

I hope this weekend brings time for you to spend with your loved ones doing things that make you happy.  Take time to soak in the moment and enjoy it for what it is.  I love ya!  Have a happy weekend!

ANNNNND We're Back!

Did ya miss me?  After finishing 21 Day Fix, I took a leave from my clean-eating for the weekend, and celebrated what I had accomplished by indulging in a hamburger, pizza, eggnog, candy and other deliciousness :-)  'Twas magnificent.

Now, I have started T25 and am back on the clean-eating wagon!  And I have a gift for you :-)  But first, you have to hear about the new program.  Bwahahaha!  Ok, I'm finished.

These are from my workout this morning: Ab Intervals.  That is quite the workout!  I had to stop and rest a couple times.  So far Alpha Speed 1.0 has been my favorite workout, because it has the cardio, heart rate building exercises throughout the 25 minutes, but it's also broken up with a stretch here and there.  My kinda workout :-)

(Sorry if the pictures make you dizzy or cross-eyed.  I've been playing with my photo enhancing apps, just for funsies.)

AND NOW.......the gift.

It's cooling off here in Utah, and that means SOUP WEATHER.  I'll tell you a secret, shhhh! *I'm not a very good cook.  Like, at all.*  The only thing that I can make decently is soup.  And I found this recipe for quick chicken noodle soup that is healthy and delicious and everything that you want on a cool, crisp fall night to warm your soul.  Salivating yet?

Here's the batch I made.  I didn't have egg noodles, so I used regular rotini pasta.  Also, I like to add a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles to give it a little kick :-)

Here you go!  Courtesy of preventionrd.com 

Let me know how you like it!

21 Day Fix Results...And NOW; to start T25!

Yes, I made you wait even a little bit longer than I usually do :-)  Here are the pics and the numbers:

These are my "after" pics from Insanity, which also doubled as my "before" pics for 21 Day Fix

These are my "after" pics for 21 Day Fix which I took this morning.  Measuring in at 6.4 lbs and 6.25" lost!  Woot woot!

AND THIS is my TOTAL BODY TRANSFORMATION!!!!! (said like an announcer at a monster truck rally. And yes, I have been to one of those. I have resided in "hick" nation...so, yeah. ;-)

Yes, you read that right.  26.8 lbs and 24" off!  In LESS than 3 months! C'mon now, the proof is in the pudding.  Who wants in on this action?  I have another challenge group starting up Nov 10th.  If you seriously, desperately want to make a lifestyle change, let me know.  I would LOVE to be your coach and cheerleader!  

If you want more details about how to join my challenge group, you can comment below, friend me on Facebook (Brooke Palmer), or email me at healthforthebusymom@gmail.com. (I am on Instagram and Twitter, but the previous 3 mediums are the best way to reach me.)

So, "now what?" you ask?  T25 baby!  Here's to toning up more, and not losing control during the holidays!  Keep me an honest woman y'all ;-)

I'll see ya in a few days!  I'm taking a vacay!