Winners were drawn this morning from last week’s giveaway!
Here they are: {winners, please send your snail mail address to zkyoufit@hotmail.com}
Thanks to everyone who participated. Hope you LOVE the food like I do!
Some of my all time favorite resources for staying prepared and making sure I am on target toward my goals, are the portion controlled meal replacements my clients & I utilize when on program {and even sometimes in maintenance}.
It totally helps that they are delicious, easy to make, and perfectly formulated with 24 vitamins & minerals in each meal, as well as the right blend of carbs/proteins/fats.
Recently the company came out with 5 awesome new products to add to their already extensive lineup.
Because I firmly believe in the power of planning and preparation and LOVE these awesome meal replacements for their nutrition, ease, and convenience factors {not to mention they help people lose weight & stay healthy!}, I want to give away a box of each of the new products! That means 5 people will be chosen to receive one of the new products each!
Here they are:
Chili Nacho Cheese Puffs {pretty spicy & crunchy-delicious!}
Parmesan Cheese Puffs {aged cheddar makes them kind of smelly, but the garlic taste & the crunch is delicious}
Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Cereal Crunch
Mixed Berry Cereal Crunch {my favorite afternoon snack}
Mocha Ready-To-Drink shake {no coffee, 80 mg. caffeine, chocolatey taste-husband drinks one every morning as he heads out the door}
–All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me which product sounds yummiest to you.
–To have your name entered twice, go like my FB page & share the giveaway on your page, then leave a second comment telling me you did. If you already like my page, share this giveaway and then leave a comment telling me you did. Easy, right?
{The winners will be drawn one week from today. Wednesday 9.19}
Confession: one of my most favorite things about my relationship with my Mr. is that he always says it like it is.
He doesn’t beat around the bush or try to dress things up. He’s gentle, uses tact, and is sincere. He would never purposely do or say anything to hurt my feelings, so I know when he says something, he’s doing it because he really cares.
Even with tact & grace, though, there are some times in life when a simple, “do this,” or “don’t do that,” are just the pointed things I need to hear {and are hard to hear}.
Case in point. The other day I made a smart remark to him he wasn’t expecting and we both laughed. Before I knew it, he’d turned & started tickling me til I fell-helpless-on the bed & he lay beside me. After a couple minutes of random conversation, he said, “How’s your program going?”
Long pause {sidenote: long pauses always = dang, I wish he hadn’t asked that question!}.
I said I was doing okay, the scale was staying the same or going down a half pound every once in a while, etc., but hedging around the issue a bit.
He said, “well, there’s your answer. Just don’t cheat.”
Just.Don’t.Cheat.
I agreed with him and we kissed & moved on with our busy day of being full time parents, business owners, and spouses.
But those three words stuck with me all day. Just don’t cheat. I repeated it to myself often and kept thinking about why I do occasionally-and sometimes often-go off plan.
As I’ve mentioned before, the key components for me are:
1. Preparation
2. Accountability
3. Consistency
Lately, it’s been a lack of the number 1-preparation, that’s totally been throwing me off. I have not been physically or mentally prepared on more than one occasion, thus, I cheat myself out of making the progress I desire by choosing against it.
So with the start of Fall, school starting, and most people getting back into the routine of having a schedule, I am more committed to preparing. To writing out a plan & sticking to it. With my meal plan, my exercise routine, and my other personal goals. I encourage you to do the same. I know it makes a HUGE difference.
And if you’re looking for someone to be accountable to, I know this really amazing health coach….{she’s humble, too}. Message me for details! {zkyoufit@hotmail.com}
Confession: Sometimes I really hate figuring things out about myself because living in ignorance about said things is so much more blissful than having to do something to change it.
Case in point:
I read an article 2 months ago that stopped me in my tracks. It’s seriously been on my mind every day since finding it. Gretchen Rubin is the author of two great books & an inspiring blog entitled “The Happiness Project.” She posted this quiz/article several weeks ago: Abstainer or Moderator.
I highly suggest you read the entire article, decide where you fit in, and then adapt accordingly. Unless you want to continue living in ignorance, in that case, DO NOT read the article. If you’re like me, it will plague you til you make some hard changes.
I’m going to share some direct quotes & then my thoughts {bolded} & hope this helps one of you, too.
“They [moderators] do better when they try to make moderate changes, when they avoid absolutes and bright lines.
For a long time, I kept trying this strategy of moderation–and failing. Then I read a line from Samuel Johnson, who said, when someone offered him wine: ‘Abstinence is as easy to me as temperance would be difficult.’”
Totally how I feel! When I tossed around the idea of giving up caffeine in June of 2011, I felt panicky and deprived. As soon as I made the decision to do it, though, it was EASY. I haven’t regretted that decision for one minute since and honestly haven’t been tempted at all. In that case, abstinence was much easier than temperance because I knew I’d decided it was just an “unacceptable option” for me.
“I find it far easier to give something up altogether than to indulge moderately. If I never do something, it requires no self-control for me; if I do something sometimes, it requires enormous self-control.”
For instance, because of my personality, it’s a dang good thing I’ve never tried alcohol. Because I decided a long time ago I never would, it requires literally no self control from me. However, I know if I tried it, my additive personality would take over and I’d be doomed.
“There’s no right way or wrong way–it’s just a matter of knowing which strategy works better for you. If moderators try to abstain, they feel trapped and rebellious. If abstainers try to be moderate, they spend a lot of time justifying why they should go ahead and indulge.”
This totally hits home for me. I start thinking and justifying why I should be able to have this or that all the time. I give myself an inch and then it becomes a total binge session. I end up thinking more about what I am going to do or not going to do {or eat} then just enjoying whatever experience I’m in or people I’m around.
“However, in my experience, both moderators and abstainers try hard to convert the other team.”
Yes!! I’ve found myself doing this until I read this article! I’d try to tell myself {an abstainer by nature, not by choice} that I could moderate and that abstaining from something forever really wasn’t healthy. I’d hear abstainers telling moderators that they would never be able to reach their goals if they took a free day once a week {totally a jealousy thing on my part}. Team Edward or Team Jacob. It doesn’t really matter as long as you are committed and healthy on the team you pick. {Bella=completely unhealthy, by the way}
“You’re a moderator if you…
– find that occasional indulgence heightens your pleasure–and strengthens your resolve
– get panicky at the thought of “never” getting or doing something
You’re an abstainer if you…
– have trouble stopping something once you’ve started
– aren’t tempted by things that you’ve decided are off-limits”
This sealed the deal for me. Usually {read: very few exceptions} occasional indulgence does not heighten my pleasure or strengthen my resolve. It makes me feel GUILTY, miserable, and less confident. It also usually turns into a binging episode that could last 12-48 hours {and up to a week}, which leads me to the abstainer portion. I definitely have trouble stopping once I’ve started in the food category. I think, “Well, I already screwed up, better finish & start again tomorrow.” And, like caffeine & alcohol, I’m not tempted by things I’ve decided are off-limits.
So after my discovery I was kind of bitter. I’m an abstainer. I desperately want to be a moderator…and I hope that someday I’ll have the strength & resolve for that, but if not, I’m trying to wrap my head around my abstainer personality and comfortably live with that reality. That’s been the struggle in my mind/body/heart the past two months. I’ve been pretending I can moderate when it’s just not true at this point in my life. I make a better abstainer. The solution for me now is to be at peace with that truth & to accept it and be the best abstainer I can be…while not begrudging the moderators I’m so envious of. I’m taking baby steps. Last week I declared-out loud-that I would never eat goldfish again. They are not a huge temptation for me, or something I find myself binging on, but I would sometimes give some to my kids & eat a handful, which would then turn to a cup or more. So, I said it, and I haven’t gone back. They aren’t even an issue or temptation now. Baby steps, I tell you.
So, where do you fall? Abstainer or moderator?
PS: I totally think you can be abstainer in some areas of your life and moderator in others. I just happen to be focusing on food issues in this post.
Confession: I think I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve worn a swimsuit in public in the past ten years.
Last year me & my BFF went shopping and I was feeling particularly good about myself. I bought a super cute suit that was quite tight-just hoping I’d fit into it in a month or so-and it sat in my closet. For the whole year.
A couple weeks ago my kids wanted to go swimming & my in laws have a little pool, so I got them all ready to go. 4 year old said, “Aren’t you going to get in with us? Where’s your swimsuit?” Then 2 year old said, “Yeah mom-you too?”
I had an excuse on the edge of my tongue about how I’d just watch them from the side or something, but instead I surprised myself by saying, “okay, just wait here.”
I got my suit on and we went swimming.
Because it was important to my kids.
I don’t look like a swimsuit model and I’m not at the place physically I dream of being, but wearing the suit was certainly great motivation, and guess what? My kids didn’t care. They were ecstatic that I was in the pool with them, playing, laughing, and enjoying myself without worrying about what I looked like or everyone else was thinking. We had a blast!
I’m going to continue working toward my goal of just completely rocking that suit & many others to come, but I’m also challenging myself to embrace the opportunities to enjoy myself with my kiddos and to not keep them from fun experiences with me because of my self consciousness.
Is there something in your life you’ve avoided doing because you’re uncomfortable or self conscious? If so, I’m challenging you today to just do it! I’d love to hear about it.
PS: I’m running an awesome special this month, so spread the word & come over to the Facebook page to get the daily updates of what’s going on.
Confession: I find myself using cliche phrases like the title above often since becoming a parent. {Ex: As long as you live in my house, you’ll listen to me. And, my dad’s favorite: it’ll feel better when it stops hurting.}
Did any of you hear the “no free lunch” phrase? I can’t say I was ever specifically told this, but recently it was the first thing that popped into my head. I have been doing awesome back on the 5&1 for a short stint working on losing a few more pounds before trying to get pregnant later this fall. {Yay for possible new babies in our future!}
I had been totally rocking it. Just staying on track, watching the pounds drop, not being too tempted, etc. After a particularly rewarding first accountability episode on the scale, I celebrated later that day…by eating. Whatever I wanted. Totally taking myself out of fat burning mode and enjoying the binge.
For a few minutes.
Until I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. Because I had a stomachache. A headache. I was grumpy, tired, disappointed in myself and my lack of willpower & desire to reward myself with a non food item. Had I learned NOTHING? I was sad thinking about having to get back into fat burning mode and possibly undoing some of the progress I’d worked so hard for the previous 9 days.
After that it was harder for me to get back on strict track for a few days + I was paying for that binge in every way. I was 75% on, 25% off. It wasn’t working. I went to weigh in for my second weigh in and found it much less rewarding. But very well deserved.
Since then I’ve been more careful. I’ve been less eager to reward with “free things” that aren’t really free. It might seem worthwhile for a second of pleasure, but it’s so not worth the intense discomfort & feeling of yuckiness afterward.
That “no free lunch” phrase has stuck with me. There really are no free lunches. There are consequences for every choice-however seemingly big or small-we make.
For now, I’ll be rewarding with new dresses, shoes, jewelry, etc. because the consequences that come from those choices are much less painful!
PS: after hopping back from that not-so-free-”lunch,” I felt awesome rocking some cute capris from my stylish mom & there were no awful side effects…just a euphoria that only comes for me when I’m doing and being the best I can and feeling pretty cute doing it. 
Confession: Last week I didn’t do a menu and I totally paid for it. I didn’t realize what a huge difference being prepared in that way meant for me. It was big.
It’s not that I went totally off plan, but I’d say about 50%. Not cool. And, my treadmill finally died Thursday which was totally sad because I just don’t get the same workout on the elliptical {but made myself do 45 minutes each day anyway}.
So, I felt a bit off. Anyway, this morning I knew that being prepared & planning ahead would be one of the keys to making this a winning week. Here it is-hopefully it will help someone else, too.
Monday: Leftover Ground turkey/French bread boats, green beans
Tuesday: Gone for a meeting; husband making breakfast-for-dinner with kiddos
Wednesday: Chicken Fajita Salads
Thursday: Cilantro Lime Shrimp, Mashed Cauliflower
{picture via Eat Yourself Skinny}
Friday: Asian Lettuce Cups + fresh fruit
Saturday: Date night
{picture is mine-please do not use without permission & if you pin, please direct back to this post & site}
Confession: I’m not naturally athletic.
I bet none of you could have guessed that. (;
My husband wrestled in school, but wasn’t huge into sports, either. {He always loved fitness/weights/running, though.}
Enter exhibit A. We have kids. Of the male gender.
Holy cow, what do we do with them?? How do we encourage something that didn’t come naturally to either of us & wasn’t something we really grew to love until we were adults??!
Enter exhibit B. T-ball. {4-6 year olds}
We signed Gray-4 years old-up to play T-ball. He is his mother’s child and wanted nothing to do with it. He said, “I hate t-ball.” I reminded him he’d never actually played. We went to his first practice & he did awesome. Totally listened to his coach, tried his hardest, and really enjoyed himself. So much that he was telling everyone, “I am awesome at this game!” He’s done great at all his games, too. He listens, tries to improve, semi pays attention, and usually hits the pitched balls without having to use the tee. He obviously doesn’t live for it like some kids on his team though, and will tell anyone listening that he “hates running,” and “only likes batting, playing catcher {which consists of standing straight as a statue wearing the cool gear while balls fly around him}, and playing at the park before/after games.” He also has a lot to learn about being a team player & the “there is no i in team” concept because he tells us he wins every game all by himself. (:
Watching him play brings back a slew of memories for me. My parents put me in t-ball around the age of 5 & here are the things I remember:
-Idolizing two older girls named Christy & Brandi. I thought they were athletic Godesses or something. They could throw AND catch, bat without using the tee, and were super nice & helpful to all the younger kids, not to mention super cool. I followed them around like a puppy & wanted to be just like them…I just didn’t want to work very hard to do it.
-HATING the outfield. It was so boring! I mean really, how often do you actually get the ball when you’re way out there & playing with a tee anyway?? I remember sitting-multiple times-criss cross appleasuace, and picking dandelions off the field. My parents would desperately be yelling for me to stand up & watch the ball, but I just thought, “it’s so hot!” and “what’s the point?”
-I don’t have a memory of this, per say, but I bet my dislike of running started in t-ball. I’m sure I was pretty slow then and realized that running=hard work, so I didn’t want to participate in anything close to that.
-The ONLY saving grace-besides my friends & great coaches-all season was the treat at the end of the game. I think when everyone else was thinking, “I hope I get to catch or throw a ball tonight,” or “I hope I hit a homerun,” I was thinking, “I cannot wait for the snack. I totally hope it’s cookies & chocolate milk….or a popsicle!…or chips…” I just wanted to eat & be done with the physical activity aspect. That really hasn’t changed much. (;
So when I look at Gray in the outfield covering his face with his mitt, or loping slowly from base to base, I yell at him to watch the ball & to run faster, just like my parents did. But I also laugh quietly to myself because I know that t-ball isn’t a dealbreaker. If he doesn’t naturally excel or adore this sport it doesn’t mean he won’t love any sports or be completely unathletic.
And I hope that someday he’ll thank us for encouraging {read: forcing} him to do hard things that he didn’t necessarily always love. Because I’m sure grateful to my parents for pushing me outside my comfort zone….in t-ball and beyond.
Last week I posted our weekly Menu and I hope it was useful. It was helpful for me to have them written in one place where I could easily click the link & have the recipe up in full view while preparing & cooking. So, here’s this week’s edition. Maybe you’ll get some inspiration!
Monday: Skinny Chicken Divan {+ taking THIS to 2 families in our community who are sick}
Tuesday: Chunky Beef Stew {sans white potatoes} + Rolls
Wednesday: Grilled Kabobs {with shrimp instead of chicken} + baked sweet potatoes
Thursday: Crockpot Santa Fe Chicken {last time I made double, so this is already done in the freezer} + Salad
Friday: Cauliflower Pizzas
Saturday: Date night Out
Some of my favorites:
Eating for Life {cookbook}
Dashing Dish {blog}
SkinnyTaste {blog}
Eat Yourself Skinny {blog}
Sandy’s Kitchen Adventures {Blog + Great for clients on TSFL}
Our Best Bites {cookbook + blog= mostly for free days/meals}
The Pioneer Woman {Blog: for free days/meals-her maple cinnamon rolls are my very favorite}
What are your favorite sites/cookbooks?
Oh yeah, did I mention….
Last Saturday I wrote this post about falling majorly off the healthy bandwagon & making the decision to get back on track. I said I’d keep you posted, so here it is. A rundown of my week starting Sunday June 3rd:
-I woke up early each day
-I exercised Monday-Saturday, for at least 35-55 minutes each day, logged 17.5 miles, and 2 great weight lifting sessions. I also focused on stretching quite a bit which is always my big downfall.
-I got an average of 196 ounces water each day
-I majorly stepped out of my comfort zone & will be sharing more on that in the coming weeks.
-I ate six small meals daily & wrote down every single thing that went in my mouth. Even Tuesday when I was stressed and gave in to my craving for a bowl of granola with milk, followed by a bowl of frosted shredded mini wheat with milk. I even measured those things out & wrote them down. This is HUGE for me, because usually when I “cheat” or go off my plan at all, I just stop recording & pretend like it didn’t happen. Then I’m mad when the scale doesn’t do what I want. Think I’m in denial much? (; Anyway, other than that little slip, my meals have been clean & delicious, with 3 Medifast meals as my snacks.
{image via Pinterest}
+ I made homemade cookie dough for the boys to eat & it’s still in my fridge and I haven’t touched it. This is an even bigger deal because there are few things I like more than raw cookie dough {it’s eggless if that concerns anyone}. And, we took the boys to a movie {Madagascar 3} & I took my Medifast puffs & a bottle of sparkling water with me while they enjoyed popcorn & Reese’s. Movie popcorn is a big time temptation, so I felt good about that.
-I also got a little more sleep this week which helped a lot.
-The scale showed a 2.8 pound loss, too, which is always a nice reward for doing really great stuff for your body.
Feeling much better about life today. It’s amazing what just a week back in the game will do for you. And, I don’t plan on letting it slip away anytime soon, either. I’ll continue posting our weekly menu at the beginning of each week because that helped me more than anyone!
This health journey is all at once the most exciting, exhausting, frustrating, amazing, and rewarding thing ever. I’m in it for the long term, though, so here’s to another great week!
