Scale-a-holic

Hello, my name is Tara and I'm a scale-a-holic.

Yes, it's true. Every morning I have a ritual. I won't go into specific details, but it always ends with me on the scale. My reasoning was that I'd like to see how much harder I'd have to work. Yes, I know they say you shouldn't really focus on that as there are so many factors that can come into play with a fluctuating daily weight. So why was I doing it? Habit. Pure habit (with a dash of self-torture).

So this week I decided to break this habit. Since I was "re-wiring" my brain, I may as well re-wire my brain on this too. Let me tell you, like any habit, it's been a tough go. Ohh how I've had the urges. I feel like I'm doing really well and I just want to hop on the scale to see how well. D has been helping out though and he reminds me of how to look at it. "Would you rather see where you're at right now or how about how far you can go by Tuesday. Wouldn't you rather that greater triumph?" Thanks hun! He goes on day shift tomorrow - 48 hours where he can't remind me of my goal. So, he's going to hide the scale! Out of sight, out mind.

I'm already half way there. I'm ready to go the distance and not hop on that scale until Tuesday morning.

Breakfast of Champions

So, I've decided to start my day with oatmeal. It's a great start to the day. It fills you up and really leaves you feeling satisfied. Since I am nursing little miss and working out more, I was concerned with drying up too soon. I read that oatmeal helps with lactation. So, daily oatmeal it's been! Now, just plain oatmeal every single morning can get so boring, so the foodie in me started to play around with the flavours. So far this week I have made four different variations. I thought I would share with you since they have been so delicious!

Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal

1/3 cup quick oats

1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder

1 tsp splenda

3/4 water (I've also made with skim milk, just adjust the pts)

1 tbsp light peanut butter

Combine the first 3 ingredients and stir. Add the water and stir. Then stir in the peanut butter. Microwave for 2 minutes. Remove, stir, enjoy!

WW+pts: 7

Almond Joy Oatmeal

1/3 quick oats

1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder

1 tsp splenda

1/2 tbsp medium unsweetened desiccated coconut

1 tbsp slivered almonds

3/4 cup water

1/2 tsp coconut extract

Combine the first 3 ingredients and stir. Mix in the coconut and almonds. Add the water and stir. Then stir in the coconut extract. Microwave for 2 minutes. Remove, stir, enjoy!

WW+pts: 7

Cranberry Orange Oatmeal

1/3 cup quick oats

1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder

3/4 cup skim milk

2 tbsp orange juice

2 tbsp dried cranberries

pinch of cinnamon

Combine the first 2 ingredients and then stir in the milk and orange juice. Mix in the cranberries. Microwave for 2 minutes. Remove, stir, sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy!

WW+pts: 7

Tropical Oatmeal

1/3 cup quick oats

1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 tsp splenda

3/4 cup water

1/2 pineapple, diced

1/2 medium banana, diced

1 tbsp unsweetened, medium desiccated coconut

Combine the first 3 ingredients. Stir in the water then mix in the last 3 ingredients. Microwave for 2 minutes, stir, and enjoy!

WW+pts: 8

Are you an oatmeal eater? Do you like yours the good ol' fashioned way? Or do you like to spruce it up. If so, what's your favorite?

Green Monster Smoothie

So I came across this recipe on Pinterest last night and it's from a great blog, Skinnytaste. I've actually been seeing this "Green Monster" around in a few different places, so I thought I may as well give it a go. Am I ever glad I did! It is DELICIOUS! Seriously...aside from it's vibrant green colour, you would never know there's spinach in it! I had to adapt the recipe as I didn't have quite exactly the ingredients specified and I also added a bit of vanilla protein powder. Nontheless, DELISH! This one will definitely be added into my breakfast rotation...or any time of day rotation to be honest!

So here it is sitting in the blender awaiting a whirl.

And here it is all blended up into sweet, satisfying deliciousness ready to go in my belly!

Green Monster Smoothie (adapted from here)

1 medium banana, frozen

3/4 cup skim milk

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt (only had Oikos honey cups, so just scooped the plain yogurt off the top!)

1 tbsp light peanut butter

2 cups spinach

1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder

2 cups spinach

Place all in a blender. Blend! Pour into a glass and ENJOY!

Nutrition Info:

Calories 552.3

Fat 10.9g

Carbs 76.9

Fibre 5.1

Protein 42.4

WW+Pts: 13

Note: Next time I'm going to try and use some different ingredients to try and get those numbers down. Nonethess, this is a great choice to start off your day!

Re-wiring

I can't believe it's been so long since I've written. I've been putting it off and putting it off, so finally today I just decided to write. I find that I'm comparing myself to others quite often and was even doing that with my blog. I was thinking that I should have all of these topics, research them, have something really good to say about it and pose a question. I feel like mine should be like someone else's. Not my own. I guess what happens is that I feel like I should be like somebody else, something more...but I realized today there's no one out there like me - I'm me! So instead of contemplating what I should be writing about, how I should write it, how I should present it, I decided to just - WRITE!

This past week I've actually been doing a lot of thinking. I think probably since we went to visit my parents, I really got stuck in a rut. I was on a losing trend and gained a bit when we went to Vancouver. Tried to get it back when we got back, but then before I knew it, it was Christmas. The two weeks of Christmas holidays....I gained 9lbs! Nine freaking pounds! I had no inhibitions whatsoever. I stopped tracking my WW points, I ate everything I saw...Nanaimo bars being my worst enemy. Oh Nanaimo Bars why do you have to be SO delicious?! So then came the next couple weeks after Christmas. MAJOR struggle. I was trying to do everything and do it all at once. I was trying to figure out how to balance my weight loss efforts while nursing little miss. I was thinking that I always needed to see big numbers, otherwise it meant I wasn't succeeding. I was thinking about how I was so close to my pre-pregnancy weight (4lbs), then gained so much (I have a history of getting so close and then sabotaging myself). I was stressed out! What helped me overcome that struggle was a phone call with my mom. She was telling me of her struggles and what she had been experiencing. So I thought about what she was going through and how it related to my struggle!

The light bulb! Aha!

I don't have to do everything RIGHT NOW! With my weight loss...if I were to lose 1lb per week...in a year that's 52lbs! FIFTY TWO POUNDS! How much closer I would be to my goal doing that, then with the mentality I've had where it all has to come off now. Going gung ho at the beginning...petering out, losing momentum and not even close to my goal - most likely further away. The old tortoise and hare trick.
So! I'm not stressing out about it. I'm just making sure that I eat healthily, get in some exercise during the week - NOT going crazy about it.

This is going to take time. When I think about where I could be in a year's time, it makes me excited of where that is.

I will strive for greatness! Not for the greatness of someone else, but for the greatness in me.

Chips Ahoy Middles...I Curse You!

I didn't have the greatest of days today. First of all, D started back on night shift this weekend. I loathe night shift! I actually used to really enjoy it...getting to stretch out in bed - heavenly! Since little miss came along, not so much! Hate it! We do fine, I would just much rather have him here at night. Secondly, we leave Monday to my parents' for nine days. I started working on a packing list about two weeks ago. I, myself usually pack like I'm moving. Never mind packing for a 3 month old now too. So I've been stressing out about packing for her. Will I take everything we need? Will I forget something essential? I've been stressing out about the car seat and stroller situation...will we get to skycheck both items? We're taking the car seat and the stroller base. We'll be getting the car seat adapter for the stroller down there. I don't want to have to check the car seat and have them throw it around, like they do other luggage. What about the car seat base? In the suitcase? It's too big to lug around attached to the car seat. Then today panic is starting to set in like I'm not going to be able to get everything done in time. D really only has 2 hours that he's up before he has to leave for work again. I'm such a planner and have to have everything organized and in place ahead of time. All of this has just been weighing heavily on me. Then there's the fact of this being little miss' first airplane ride. How will she do on the plane? I stress out about all of this so much now, but in the end I always know that it's going to work out and be just fine. I have a baby now, I have to learn to be flexible... So how did I cope with all of this today? Chips Ahoy Middles.

Chips Ahoy Middles. 16 to be exact. Yes. I ate 16 cookies. They're small so when you're eating them, it doesn't really seem like that many. Mindless, they go down really, very easy. Not good. Not good at all. I reverted to my old coping mechanism...eating. Now usually what happens here is that eating's bestie denial shows up. However, one thing was different today. Denial didn't show. I didn't pretend I never ate them. I knew I had to track those 16 cookies. I had to pay the consequences for my actions. So I did just that...I tracked those cookies all 34 points of them! Yes, 34 points for those small Chips Ahoy Middles. Was it worth it? Absolutely not. I can think of so many other WAY more delicious foods to total 34 points that I could have consumed. So I obviously had to dip into my WP (weekly points) which I would have much rather have used for an absolutely delicious dinner the night we get to my parents'. They reset that night anyway, but still - not the point.

So today I stressed out and ate 16 cookies (which I tracked). I did get a 30 minute UFC Trainer workout in though (am I redeemed?).

So now how will my eating fair while we're on vacation at my parents' who always seem to have the BEST food in the house?!

I am really very excited though. I love being with my parents and not to mention - Vancouver! The most exciting part is that my dad will finally get to meet his granddaughter :)

Braving the Elements

Yesterday, I hadn't quite decided what I was going to do for my workout. Right now I've been doing two workouts: UFC Trainer on Kinect and my bike trainer ( I have it set up in the spare room with a tv and dvd player. I plop my girl in her bouncy vibrating chair and turn on Baby Einstein. I get my workout on and she gets her learn on. It's a win win!). Then I saw a woman go power walking by with her dog and stroller. I thought, "Yes! That's what I'm going to do today!"

I made a mental note of everything I needed to get ready to head out. Before it used to be: put on clothes, runners, jacket, iPod - GO! Now, not quite so easy! It's almost like you're packing for a trip, just to go for a walk! So, I got myself ready then got my girl ready. Bundled her up in her snowsuit and toque. Brought the stroller up from the basement (that's a feat in itself!). As I was getting that ready I looked outside and it was starting to rain/snow... Do I still go? YEAH! Got my girl in her stroller, all bundled in nicely under a nice warm blanket, grabbed the rain shield, yada, yada, yada, a few more tasks later and we were off....30 minutes later! HA! - Quickly learning that things just aren't get up and go anymore!

So I started off and it was so wet, but I kept going. My girl looked warm and dry, so we were good! I wasn't quite sure how far we would go...I guess the weather would help us decide. The wind just started to blow like crazy! The rain/snow as now coming down sideways. I got to the edge where residential meets downtown and thought okay, I think we should turn around now. So I turned the stroller back around and started back for home. The wind was just coming at me head on and it was quite the workout pushing that stroller into the wind! The rain/snow was now hitting my face, my jacket was getting soaked and the bottoms of my pants were soggy. It was funny, as I was out there, it reminded me of doing my paper route when I was a kid. I got the exact same feeling, even the air had the same smell. It took me back many years!

We made it home and everyone was in one piece! My girl was still nice, dry and warm! Mommy on the other hand, not so much... I checked the clock and we were out for 25 minutes! Less time than it took to get ready. Oh well! "Such is the way of life" as one of my co-workers would say. My legs were burning and my feet were achy, so it was a pretty good walk! I felt good! The best part was feeling accomplished - that I actually got out there, despite the weather. Around here, it's expected!

Do you ever get out there and brave the elements to get a workout in even though it's so much nicer to just stay inside?

Back at it... Again!

How many times do we say this? For me I think I've lost count now. I was thinking about it last night and i thought you know, I don't think we'll ever stop saying it because what we're doing is not temporary. We're doing this for life. And, if we're doing this for life, it's going to pop out of our mouths many a times. If there was an end for "Back at it... Again" that would mean we've thrown in the towel - we just gave up. I don't know about you but, I'm not giving up on my life.

So yes, here I am back at it again. This time however is quite a bit different then any other time in my weight loss journey - I'm a Mommy! To be able to say that just brings an incredible amount of joy to me. Also, I know now that I'm not just on this journey for me, but for my little girl and our future.

So during my pregnancy my ob told me that I could only gain 15lbs because I was on the higher risk side - being obese and having a high end of the normal spectrum blood pressure. Well I really felt that pressure of knowing I "shouldn't" gain more than the 15. It was tough. I was tired a lot. I used to work out after work and by the time I got home from work, I had nothing left in me. I was usually in bed by 9. So the workouts pretty much became non-existent. Every once in a while I would get out for a walk, but that was all. By the end of my pregnancy, I had gained 37lbs. A far cry from 15. My ob's main concern was my blood pressure, but it remained fine. So we were all good. Really, all in all, I had a fairly easy pregnancy. Then came labour...ohhh then came labour! 50 hours of back labour! Some say that it's not like how it is in the movies, where the woman is just screaming....well, I was not quiet, let me tell you! I'm sure the whole hospital heard my amazonian cries! I delivered naturally, though it wasn't a natural labour as I needed drugs and ended up having an epidural (which was my last resort). But after that long, strenuous, is this actually happening "adventure", my absolutely beautiful, healthy 9lbs 11oz 23" long little girl was born.

So now here I am trying to figure out how I continue on my "journey to health" (as I like to call it) while being a first time Mommy. My daughter is now 11.5 weeks old and I'm nursing. How do I do this?

I was really starting to get antsy about working out. I just wanted to get back at it. I was a little unsure when I should do this. Even though I delivered naturally, I still wanted to wait until my six week check-up with my ob before doing anything. I had my six week check up on October 17th - I was good to go!

Prior to getting pregnant I had fallen in love with two things - spinning (cycling) and boxing. I was really dying to get back to both. Well to help me with both of those things, my husband bought me two things: a bike trainer and UFC Trainer for Kinect (I had really been wanting this since it was released!). So I started up with both. I didn't really set out a program for myself, but would just work out whenever I found a bit of extra time (whenever my girl would let me!). It was going alright, but I was really struggling with one thing...my food!

I just could not find the balance with my food! I knew I had to eat more as I'm breastfeeding, but how much more and how much more of what? I just couldn't figure it out. I found that I wouldn't eat enough during the day and by the time dinner time rolled around, I just wanted to eat everything and anything - and I would. Something needed to change. I was struggling. I then remembered before I had my baby my mom was telling me about how Weight Watchers really seemed to have a great program for nursing mothers. I've done Weight Watchers in the past and liked it, so I thought I may as well check it out.

So on November 8th, I registered with Weight Watchers online. It took me about a day and a half before I really got the hang of the online program and let me tell you - I'm in love! The program is working wonders for me so far! I've found the balance that I was craving. I no longer find myself scrambling around trying to find something to eat, or what I should eat. I love how you track your points AND the 'healthy checks' (types of food). I'm eating consciously again and that was seriously lacking. Also, the online community is absolutely fantastic. The support there is just unbelievable! I'm going to be posting this blog on my WW blog as well.

I am really excited to be back on the road again on my journey to health.

This mommy is back at it... Again!

Terra Fit Vlog #2

Weekly Vlog - Numero Uno

Terra Fit Challenge 2010- Week 2

Week 1 is done! It's happened...I have snapped back in! It feels so great to be back!

I hit all my targets for the week: Workouts! Clean Eating! Water! I really had a fantastic week. Even with the long weekend and having to be out at the park all day with work on Saturday, I still managed to stick to my plan!

So numbers wise...how did I do?

Current weight: 240.6 lbs.
Weekly loss: 10.0 lbs.
Total weight loss to date: 10.0 lbs.
Total % weight loss: 3.99%%

10 lbs?! Are you kidding me?! Am I on The Biggest Loser?! Wait...is that Jillian I hear yelling in the other room?! Nope...that's all me!!!

So what do we have in store for Week 2? Well I'm going to continue my same workout schedule that I had last week. As well keep the clean eating going and my water intake. One thing I've noticed (I notice this quite often), is how tight I am and my flexibility. So one more thing I want to add this week is stretching. I do stretch after my workouts, but my muscles are just always so tight! So this is something I'd like to focus more on this week.

Week 2 Goals:

• Workout at the gym 5 days - 4 days, 30 min cardio and strength training, 1 day 45 min cardio
• Drink 5 -24oz water bottles/day
• Eat Clean and keep a journal of what I eat each day
• Stretch for 10-15 minutes when I wake up and 20-25 minutes before bed focusing on legs and core

Feel free to comment on how you're doing or what you'd like to see. I love hearing from you!Here's to another fabulous week!