Happy holidays!

Wishing everyone the merriest of holidays this season and a wonderful new year. After 7 Christmas get togethers in 10 days, I am feeling like a bloated piñata. Ugh! I made my husband pinky swear we are going to the gym tonight when we get back from our last family gathering because we are both feeling fat and crappy. My body would hate me if I wait until 2013 and a New Years resolution. Plus I have to get my week 4 fitness challenge done before Thursday! Yikes. Have a blessed day and I hope you are all surrounded by love, family and friends.

Week 3 Fitness Challenge

Week 3 challenge

3x’s 30 minutes of cardio

3 minutes of plank

100 lunges

100 jumping jacks

As always, you can split these up however you want over the course of 7 days.  Let us know when you are done.  Kick some butt! 

Lead us not into temptation

Dear gods of fat and calories, please be on my side in the next few weeks.  Today is food day at work.  It’s gonna be a doozy.  By 7 am there was already taco rollups, seasoned pretzels, almond bark pretzels, cookies, cucumber sandwiches, little smokies, taco cheese ball, bagels, pickle wrap dip and the list goes on.  Not even half the team is here yet.  Yikes.  Tomorrow they are catering in lunch.  This weekend we head to my parents for Christmas with my siblings, nieces and nephews.  There is never a shortage of food at my mothers.  Word on the street is she’s baking for 5 days straight.  God forbid we run out of cookies and goodies on her endless tray of love.  Next Wednesday is our team holiday party with lunch at Bravo Italiano.  Then home again for two more Christmas’s and then back to Indianola for Christmas Eve morning breakfast extravaganza at Mama Linda’s.  The thought of all the parties and food temptations that will be in front of me in the next few weeks just about makes the button bust off my jeans.

Some things I’m going to try to practice:

Moderation-there will be cookies consumed but this is where will power comes into play so that it’s not a dozen!

Keep moving-walking, dancing, football, chasing the kids.  Anything but stuffing my face and then sitting on the couch. 

Plate party-using a smaller plate so it looks full, helps control portions and making sure there is some healthy alternatives like the veggie and fruit trays on there.  

Week 2 Fitness Challenge

Who is ready for the Week 2 Challenge??? It's going to be really similar to Week 1 with a little addition.

If you want to do it with us, here is this week's challenge:

30 minutes of cardio 3x’s for the week

100 sit ups

100 squats

50 push-ups

Each week challenge will run Thursday to Thursday.

*The squats and sits up can be broken up however someone likes. 5 days of 20 each. 33 3x’s in a week. 100 in one shot. 14 a day for everyday and 16 on one day. Whatever works for you. Just try to get 100 of each by next Thursday, plus your cardio. The push-ups can be broken up the same way.

Just make sure to let us know when you're done!!!  

I finished my squats, push-ups and sit-ups Sunday morning, and boy do my butt and thighs feel it. . I have one more 30 minute cardio left which I will do tonight.  

First time ever

I went to the gym last night after work. It was an internal debate whether to take advantage of 60 degree weather in Iowa in December or really pound it out on the treadmill.  The treadmill won.  Yesterday was my friend Kelly Jo's first day at Biggest Loser Resort.  She is the last of the 10 of us Biggest Loser Year of You winners that get to spend a month at the resort.  It's amazing that 2012 is almost over. I can't believe it.  Seems like a lifetime ago I was in Malibu.  Anyway, I decided in her honor, and because I haven't been pushing to the brink lately, that I would do a mountain class on the treadmill, BLR style.  It was a butt kicker!  After that I did my 100 sit-ups for my Week 1 fitness challenge.  Then 50 squats.  I was going to finish my squats when I got home but we had some drama and a car accident that pretty much derailed the night at the Hugen Casa.  Luckily, my step-daughter is ok but my car is not.  But the strangest thing happened as I fought back tears and tried to figure out what we were going to do without my car, I didn't reach for food.  This may be the first time EVER.  In fact, I was so upset, I was hardly hungry even though it was 9:30 at night before we finally got around to eating dinner.  I'm usually ravenous around 6 pm.

So I still have 50 squats to finish before Thursday.  The cardio and sit-ups are done. I'm hoping to finish tonight since I'm leaving for Chicago on Wednesday for work and I'm pretty sure that sit-ups will be the last thing on my mind while we're filming.  I am, however, packing some workout clothes and hope to make it to the hotel gym for a little while while we're gone.  I googled the Hard Rock's amenities and this gym looks good to me!  It's a 24 hour fitness center and they call it the Body Rock.  Guess I will have no choice but to "rock" it out.  Ha!

12 Week Fitness Challenge

The holidays and New Year are fast approaching and we're still trying to work off some of that turkey so we're doing a 12 week fitness challenge and today starts WEEK 1!! 

If you want to do it with us, here is this week's challenge

30 minutes of cardio 3x’s for the week
100 sit ups
100 squats

Each week challenge will run Thursday to Thursday. 
*The squats and sits up can be broken up however someone likes. 5 days of 20 each. 33 3x’s in a week. 100 in one shot. 14 a day for everyday and 16 on one day. Whatever works for you. Just try to get 100 of each by next Thursday, plus your cardio. 

When you have completed it just post on our Send Lyndee & Molly to Biggest Loser Season 10 Facebook page, send me a text or an email an say "Week 1-Complete!!!" It's going to be fun! :)

2013 race challenge

Molly had a great idea to get us motivated and give us some goals for 2013.  We’re going to challenge ourselves to do one run a month for the entire year, finances permitting.  Yes, I realize I live in Iowa and the first three races could be in potential blizzards or snow storms but I figure that will just make the rest of the years races seem that much better.  Right? This gives us something great to train for and the big prize?  November’s race looks to be a half marathon in Puerto Rico.  Yes, you read that right.  We’re hoping to go to San Juan and participate in the Diva Marathon on November 10^th.  I figure if I’m going to train for a half, I might as well do it somewhere spectacular. And it’s a great trip away with the girls to celebrate our friend Sandy’s birthday.  So lace up those running shoes, people! There are many races to choose from.  We have a few friends that have already said they would love to join us on this goal each month and the more the merrier!  Get out and get moving!!! 

Turkey Coma

I hope everyone is recovering from their turkey comas! It was a bit blustery outside and so I tried to stay busy in the warmth of the house helping my mom get ready to host the Hageman family.  My food choices weren't great but I tried to practice portion control.  I even skipped the famous chocolate Oreo ice cream dessert Saturday night. That was probably a first for my lifetime.

After two weeks without Scott I am looking forward to getting back to training this week! Man, do I need it. My plan is to get in some serious cardio the next few days and then let him shred the crap out of my muscles on Thursday.

My goal this week is four days of cardio and to log my food EVERY DAY! It sounds simple but it doesn't always happen so I'm throwing it out there for all to see.  Feel free to join me if you would like.  I can always use the extra support.

Fitbit competition

As we all know, I’ve been lacking some motivation lately.  I had a rough weekend at home with emotional eating and not a lot of time to get any workouts in. This week has been good so far.  Granted, I know we’re only two days in and it’s Thanksgiving which can be a disaster but I’m banking on a little friendly competition to get me through.  Melody got a fitbit this weekend and now we can see each other’s stats on Fitbit.com and loseit.com.  We have joined a few discussion groups, some challenges and are holding each other accountable for moving.   It’s fun when we get to harass each other about how many steps, flights of stairs and miles we have in the day.  And it will be posted on our page who is in the lead.  It definitely gives me a little motivation to keep moving!  Last night I could’ve easily talked myself into sitting on the couch and watching TV but Melody had told me she’d been taking the stairs at work up to the 7^th floor so…I went for a two mile walk after dinner on the hilliest road in town. By the time midnight struck last night I had 13,414 steps, had climbed 30 flights of stairs and went over 6 miles for the day.  I even text her to talk a little smack and let her know how it was going.  Considering we walk together every day at lunch and she’s family so I will see her on Thursday and Saturday gatherings, we figure this can be a great tool for us to utilize over the holidays.  Everyone needs a little friendly competition now and then to get that spark going again.

I’m still planning to organize some kind of weekly challenge for my friends and family that said they were interested. I just have to sit down and get that planned out. 

Also, there is some exciting news in the works on a way I can help bring some of the great things I learned at Biggest Loser Resort here to Des Moines.  Stay tuned to hear more about ELEVATE Des Moines 2013!! 

A nice reminder

There is no more Warrior so last night I found myself wondering what I should do for a workout.  I decided to get back into my EA Sports personal trainer for Wii 30 day challenge.  The last time I logged into my profile I was 34 and weighed 278 pounds.  It was a nice reminder of how far I have come.  I'm looking forward to this 30 day challenge and it will be a nice switch from my norm.  Variety is key and this is something I can do inside the house on cold Iowa days that I'm not at the gym.  And it's something that I can take with me if I go home over the holidays or like this weekend when I go visit my sister. My sister and my parents both have Wii's so there is no reason to skip a workout while I'm there.  I will just pack up my game and gear and make sure I find 30 minutes to get it done.  Every little bit counts! Plus, I'm a sucker for trophy's and I want to make sure to get as many trophies on this game as I can. If I skip a few days because I'm out of town, that will totally mess it up.

Strong again

Yesterday was a good day.  In fact, one of the best I’ve had in months. I managed to get in three great workouts and did well on my food.  I went to the gym at work over lunch and did 2 miles of cardio, joined Molly for a Turbo Fire workout after work and then headed to Runnells for an hour long, and final, Warrior session.  Todd spared no punches to make our final workout one of the hardest yet.  For example, towel pushes.  Have you ever done these? This was my first time and may possibly be one of my least favorite moves ever.  You have to go in a bear crawl position and push a towel the long way across the wrestling mat, from wall to wall.  It stops and sticks and doesn’t move very well to put it mildly. I was cursing, dripping sweat and sometimes falling to my knees when my towel came to a sudden stop.  You had to go from wall to wall and then sprint back to your partner, then wall sit while they did the same.  My poor partner Kara had to wall squat the entire time I tried to push that stupid towel across the mat.  I’m sure her legs are burning today! There was eight band exercises that we did in sets of 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 reps, kettle bells and tons of cardio including running, mountain climbers, burpees, bear crawls, jumping rope…you name it.  I remember in high school watching the wrestlers run laps around the wrestling room and thinking how weird it was.  After running probably close to 100 laps around the wrestling room last night, I have a new found respect for what they were doing.  That crap is no joke.  According to my fitbit I had over 15,000 steps yesterday and went nearly 7 miles.  I had one of the best burns I have had in weeks and it felt good to fall into bed last night completely exhausted. 

Tonight after work I have my session with Scott and Molly at Aspen.  My arms are already sore so that should be interesting.  The point is, I felt great last night. I felt strong again and it was nice.  I feel good today knowing that I rocked it out yesterday.  I’m hoping I can get back into the habit of doing that daily.  It’s nice to feel proud.  

Motivate, dominate, destroy

Motivate, Dominate, Destroy

Tonight is the last night of Warrior. I’m quite sad about that.  I will miss the wrestling room torture and seeing my dear friends I have made out in Runnells.  I will be going back to some classes at the gym like zumba, kickboxing, doing my mountain and treading routines from Biggest Loser Resort and continuing on Thursdays with Scott and Molly so that will be fun.  I really need to get a focus back on my cardio and intensity. 

Molly and I have always used the phrase “motivate, dominate, destroy” to fire us up for our journey to healthier people.  I don’t feel like I have had any of these three things working for me in the last few months.  My husband knows I’ve been struggling and has tried to help me repeatedly.  He’s in a very tough spot as a man because although I want his undying love and support, I do not want him to be honest with me when I suck.  It’s a very tight rope he is forced to try and walk.  In reality, he can’t really win because I’m an emotional freak some days but he continues to try and motivate me in ways that won’t deflate my mind or make me mad.  Today he sent me an email with a picture of my Biggest Loser Resort homecoming, rocking my little black dress and asked me not to forget how strong I was and how great that felt.  

He also sent me a little equation to keep in mind with our theme.  It’s simple and true.    

Motivate=emotional - what if u can?

Dominate=mental - convince yourself that all obstacles can be overcome (I.e. food, distractions, inhibitors)

Destroy=physical - pushing the limit ceiling higher and higher. Owning what's rightfully yours.

Motivate, dominate, destroy=RESULTS

I’m going to try and get a small group competition or collaboration, if you will, put together with some close friends and family.  I know I could sure use some motivation and accountability for the next 10 weeks to get through the holidays. What do you do over the holidays to stay on track?  

900

900. That's a pretty big number.  Well, that's the number of reps we did at training with Scott last night and I am feeling it today.  Scott counted up 800 but he forgot the last set of situps were doubles (left knee, right knee).

100 sit ups
100 pull downs
100 squats
100 lunges
100 stupid hammer press chest things
100 shoulder presses
100 leg presses
200 sit ups

Today I'm going to try not to laugh, breathe to deeply or lift my arms to avoid the soreness.  That should be easy, right?

We spent a lot of time last night talking about motivation and what we need from him and why we keep sliding backwards. He asked a lot of questions and unfortunately I had very few answers.  They were questions I had been asking myself for awhile now on why I can't seem to get that fire back and really buckle down like I had done for so long with much success.  I hate not being able to answer him or myself.  I hate not knowing why some days, I just don't do what I should be doing. These days I'm just going through the motions and I don't know why.  It's very frustrating mentally and physically.  He reminded me that every day is a new day to do it better.  Don't worry about what I did yesterday or what I'll do tomorrow.  Just do today the right way.  I think that's pretty good advice.  I hope everyone has a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend.

An inch at a time

I walked into Warrior last night and was so excited to see battle ropes and agility ladders among the Bulgarian bags and weighted balls.  Only Todd can turn two of my favorite pieces of gym equipment into pure torture devices.  There was an entire circuit of exercises and my last station was the ladders. Two minute drills of bear crawls, then squat jumps in the box, squat, and then in-outs.  There were three ladders in a row.  Two minutes had never seemed so long.  And then we got to the "cool down" which was bear crawls, army crawls, guerrillas and I'm forgetting one I think.  My mind went blank at that point. I didn't know if I was going to puke or cry. Then I looked over and saw the lady next to me struggling.  I could tell she was about to quit, just like I wanted to do.  I tapped her on the arm and told her we were almost there and she could do this. I said, "let's do it together".   And we did.  Both of us finished, even though we were much slower than the rest of the class. That didn't matter at all. It was only important to me that we didn't quit.

There have been many times in my journey to a healthier Lyndee that I've wanted to quit when it got too hard, but I don't.  I may be going slow but I'm still going an inch at a time.

Warning: Weekend ahead

Good news, we're going back to an evening workout time with Scott.  Very excited about this as getting up at 4 am on Thursday mornings was a bit painful.  And with winter rolling in I'd much rather give the snow plows time to do their duty before I hit the 20 miles of highway each day.

The weekend is upon us and this is always my setback.  I am trying to be prepared for this weekend so it's not my normal disaster.  We are hosting some friends for dinner tonight.  Rob is smoking ribs and I'm searching to find some fun and healthy sides I can pair with it.  Sunday morning we are having his mom over for breakfast rather than hitting the brunch buffet so we can have a bit of control over what we take in.  I'm going to do eggs, bacon, fruit and maybe some rolls.  Much better than the carb and fat, although oh so tasty, brunch buffet at Crauses or Granite City.  Plus it will be cheaper and we won't have to wait in line for a table.  I think it's so cool that our mom's have the same birthday. I wish mine could come for breakfast as well but that 3 1/2 hour drive kind of puts a damper on that idea.  *sigh* Guess I will just have to wait until next weekend to see my Mom and give her a big birthday hug.  Have you hugged your mom today?  If you can, do it, for all of those that can't.  Squeeze away! Have a wonderful weekend.  Remember to shine and be brilliant.

Warrior indoors

Because of the weather and ever earlier darkness, Warrior has moved inside the wrestling room on Monday and Wednesday now.  I have to say, it's awesome! It reminds me of Biggest Loser resort.  Quick circuits, constant moving, no rest and sweating your face off.  I got to punch and kick things and play with kettle bells.  These always make me happy.  And we got to rock out to some AC/DC.  Music always helps put me in the zone! The only thing I didn't like was the sweaty weighted vest that I had to slip on for the last circuit.  You put it on to do pushups and mountain climbers.  After 15 other people have worn it in a sauna type wrestling room, it is soaking wet and stinks! Blech! But other than that, the circuits are great.  There are even TRX bands! I'm still searching to refocus my food and really accelerate my workouts to the degree I was at previously but I'm feeling better each day.  Just have to make each day better than the last.  That's all one can really do.  And remind myself that the holidays are right around the corner. And we all know what that means!! Too much food at gatherings and parties and not enough exercise because of busy schedules and cold weather.  Don't wait until January to focus on your fitness and wake up at the beginning of 2013 going "oh crap".  That's what I'm trying to avoid.  Every bit helps.  Shine and be brilliant.  It's a beautiful Tuesday morning.

Running

Wow, am I sore today. It's very sad.  My abs hurt from laughing so hard Friday night with my friends.  Also, probably from the run yesterday.  We did the Principal 5K as part of the Des Moines Marathon.  I didn't train at all which was a pretty dumb move but I powered through the race and completed.  It certainly wasn't my best time but it wasn't my worst either.  I was lucky enough to get to race alongside Melody and her family "Team Beneke", which was awesome.  They are one fun family!  The bummer of the day was that they ran out of medals for finishers.  But luckily my husband and our friend Lynn were kind enough to let me borrow theirs for a picture so I could feel cool.

It was a great event that ran smoothly and was well organized.  It was so amazing to watch the marathon and half marathoners.  Congrats to all my wonderful friends that completed those races!!! You guys are all rockstars.

After lunch I went to Gray's to walk with Molly and Stephanie.  It was part of the marathon course and 6 hours after the start, there were still people out completing their race.  We told them great job, keep going and gave out some high fives.  Now that is perseverance and dedication! Holy moly! Made me feel like a slacker on my 5K.  This will be my last race of the year but I plan to do many, many more in 2013. And the hubby is hoping to do a Tough Mudder in Omaha.  I won't be participating in that but I will definitely be cheering him on.  It's crazy to think we're already planning ahead for 2013.  Where the heck did 2012 go?!?!?

Don't Quit

It’s sometimes easy to feel sorry for ourselves.  Self-pity and wanting are ugly beasts. We wonder, why is life so easy for others? Why can’t I catch a break?  Does it have to be this hard? Everyone feels like that from time to time. I know, I do.  And then things in life happen or you take part in something amazing and it sets your mind right. 

I’ve been feeling pretty frustrated lately. It’s a vicious circle of knowing what to do and doing the exact opposite and then being mad about the results.  Ir doesn’t make sense to anyone of logic but humans are not always logical creatures.  I got a call on Friday that was a little disappointing…oh who am I kidding? It was so disappointing I cried.  And on my drive back to Cresco I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.  I was wondering why things don’t tend to go in my favor.  I was a little mad at fate and God and the powers that be in multiple places and wondering why the stars just couldn’t align for me. I worked hard, I busted my butt, I lost blood, sweat and tears and I didn’t get the prize.  And I was pouting and feeling miserable.  I felt like my entire weekend was going to be a loss. I just wanted to get in bed and cry and feel bad for myself.  But I didn’t.

I tried to put things into perspective.  The news I had received was disappointing but it wasn’t dead.  There were still avenues to explore.  There was work to be done and dreams to keep chasing.  With the help of my husband, some great tunes in my ear phones, and the Iowa wind blowing across my face along a lonely highway, I kept driving. I tuned my mind into alternatives and devised new plans.  I spent time with my beloved family and was reminded of my blessings.  Even when you feel down, there are ALWAYS people out there in worse circumstances.  I reminded myself that I was going home for to celebrate the birth of the adorable baby Michael.  I was going home to help someone in much more need than myself at a charity benefit for a friend of our family, Stacy. There was a benefit being held for her Saturday night with dinner, silent auction, live auction, etc. to raise money for her family as she battles severe MS.  She is 36 years old. She is the mother of two adorable little children.  She always has a smile on her face even when we know that she is suffering.  She never gives up. She’s a fighter and a shining example for everyone who gets the chance to know her.  During the auction I had my eye on a framed poem that entitled “Don’t Quit”.  I was determined to get it but it went out of my price range quickly.  And then, the lady that bought it, walked it over and gave it to Stacy.  There were very few dry eyes watching.  It was the perfect moment.  And she was just the person that deserved that photo.  It was inspiring to me to watch her be so brave and gracious and surrounded by love.  It made me know that I couldn't quit either. 

So this weekend I made my own Don’t Quit picture with the poem and a picture of me on top of a mountain in Malibu.  I am going to hang it in my bedroom to remind me every single day that I am blessed enough to wake up, that no matter how things go and what twists and turns we face, we can never quit.  Shine, be brilliant and keep trudging on.   

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, 

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, 

When the funds are low and the debts are high, 

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, 

When care is pressing you down a bit, 

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns, 

As every one of us sometimes learns, 

And many a failure turns about, 

When he might have won had he stuck it out; 

Don't give up though the pace seems slow-- 

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than, 

It seems to a faint and faltering man, 

Often the struggler has given up, 

When he might have captured the victor's cup, 

And he learned too late when the night slipped down, 

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out-- 

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, 

And you never can tell how close you are, 

It may be near when it seems so far, 

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-- 

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

If only I could move my arms

I wanted to do the Friday happy dance but I can't really move my arms today.  Doing Warrior Wednesday night and then training with Scott at 5:30 Thursday morning was possibly a bad idea.  In those 10 hours I did probably 200 push ups, 10 minutes of planks, countless sprints, shoulder presses, rows and lunges, among other devious exercises.  My shoulders, back and neck are shredded.  My thighs burn when I go down the stairs.  Yes, it's the muscles getting stronger which is great but it would be much cooler if I had a hot tub of icy hot right now. Mama mia! Happy Friday and have a great weekend! Shine and be brilliant.

Small victory's

Sometimes it's the smallest victory's that can make us feel great.  I had one of those last night at warrior.  I believe I have complained sufficiently about my dislike of bear crawls and wheelbarrow, especially in the sand. I struggle with these moves at Warrior and am often the last one to finish those exercises.  Last night we did alligator crawls which is kind of like a bear crawl but you can bend your knees?  I'm not sure how to explain it.  Anyway, I did them, with a resistance band around my waist and Kara pulling me back for resistance. I did them and didn't fall down or give up or alter it.  No one else would've noticed this and it's not finishing a marathon by any means but to me, it is a small victory that makes me feel stronger and more confident...and that's pretty cool.

Remember to watch Jennifer Livingston on Ellen today.  I saw a clip and it looks great! And she gets some fun surprises. Go Jennifer!!

Jennifer Livingston

Remember the post I had last week about the reporter in LaCrosse, Wisconsin that put together a wonderful rebuttal to a man that sent her an email saying she was not a positive role model because she was obese?  Well, the story/video went viral and Jennifer is going to be on ELLEN tomorrow!!! How frickin' awesome is that? I love Ellen more than words can say so I am super excited to watch it tomorrow.  DVR it if you must but be sure to check it out!  Rock on, Jennifer, rock on!  You are an inspiration.

Irony

I was driving to the gym at 4:30 this morning in a total daze and found myself singing along with Katy Perry's "Wide Awake".  How is that for irony?  And then I got to the gym and had to pump a lot of iron and my muscles were pretty mad at me.  Well, not me as much as they were mad at Scott.  I can't wait to see the fit they throw tomorrow when I try to use them. It's nice to have the burn back though.  And it's great to be with Scott and Molly, even if it is at an ungodly hour in the a.m.  Our goal for the week from Scott is to lose 2 pounds.  Guess I better get on that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0BWlvnBmIE

It's a cruel world

While I am not a public figure by any means, people around Des Moines and at Principal recognize my face from the stories on Channel 13, Des Moines Register and Q Magazine. Some people, like you awesome readers, still follow my blog.  I have had numerous instances where I have been judged because I wasn't losing weight fast enough or because I've gained back 10 pounds or maybe they just don't like my story.  And that's fine.  To each their own.  If you don't like my story, don't read it.  That's pretty simple.  But this story that Melody shared with me today REALLY hit home for me and I wanted to share it with all of you.  I don't live in a bubble, I realize the world is not roses and cotton candy.  I realize that many people look down on fat people.  I know that obesity is a preventable disease. I get all that. But the way in which some information or opinions are delivered are just beyond me some days.  I love the message that Jennifer has for everyone in this clip. Please, take a few minutes and watch/listen.  Think about what you are teaching your children.  Think about this in situations of bullying for so many ridiculous reasons, besides weight.  Think before you say something offensive in front of others.  Think about other people's feelings.  Just think, shine and be brilliant.  For today, that's all I ask of you.

http://video.news8000.com/watch.php?id=36335

Sleepy bear

My alarm screaming at me at 4:15 came pretty early this morning.  It was hard to get out of bed when it's just so cold in the house. But onward I trudged to Merle Hay to meet up with Molly and Scott for a 5:30 training session.  Boss spent the entire hour making fun my Packers controversial loss to the Seahawks Monday night.  He was smart though and made sure to work the crap out of our arms to the point of shaking so that I could not retaliate with physical violence.  I can tell already those bad boys are going to be sore tomorrow! So that should make painting a real blast.  Ha! Who needs functioning arms anyway?  They are so overrated.

The early bird gets the worm

They say the early bird gets the worm and I hope that is true.  As long as the worm is in the form of a steady weight loss.  Thursday Molly and I begin our 5:30 am sessions with Scott at Aspen.  It will be a change for us from our normal Tuesday night slot after 2 years but I'm looking forward to it.  I can't think of a better way to start my Thursday mornings.  Well, ok, maybe I could think of some more relaxing ways to start a morning but nonetheless, this will be good.

Had Warrior training last night. There were lots of new faces running around and following Todd's orders.  I'm looking forward to continuing that training on Monday nights and hopefully a few Wednesdays here and there, as my schedule allows.  I had planned to go to the gym tonight but it's so beautiful out I'm tempted to take my workout outside and enjoy what is probably a dwindling amount of sunny days here in Iowa.

I spent a lot of time on the phone last night and came away with two very important thoughts from two separate calls.  They may seem contradictory but in these situations, they are not.

One, take care of yourself and listen to your body! Know when enough is enough and be smart.  Dad, I love you and I'm glad that you are not being a stubborn ass or typical male and can admit when you need to slow down...finally.  Did I mention that I love you?  I can't wait to see you soon.

Secondly, go for it.  No matter what it is.  If you have a dream, be persistent.  Be smart.  Don't let anyone tell you that it can't be done. Dream, chase it and dream again.  That is what makes life worthwhile.  Others may not get what you are up to but if you believe in your heart that is what is meant to be, give it all you got and never regret that you gave it a shot.  Like I always say, shine and be brilliant.

It's good to be back!

First, here is the link to the piece Channel 13 ran about our Warrior workout last night.  Thanks, Sonya and Erin for joining us!
http://whotv.com/2012/09/18/weekly-workout-warrior-training/

Went back to Aspen with Scott last night.  It was obvious I hadn’t been there for training in weeks. I was totally out of my routine but I figure it will come back to me, just like riding a bike.  It was soooo nice to be with Boss again.  Even though our weigh in was less than stellar, I feel good about being back with him and training.  We put us through a tough workout to the point I was shaking when I walked to my car but it was awesome. It’s the good kind of shake.  And I can’t wait to go back next week and get things on track.  We will be switching from our normal Tuesday nights to Thursday mornings thanks to Molly’s mom and her willingness to trade us spots so I don’t have to kill 2 ½ hours in town after work on Tuesday nights before the workout and get home to Rob and the kids late.  Thanks, Char! 

We laid out some specific plans and talked about goals and I’m feeling good.  I will continue doing Warrior on Monday and Wednesdays as my schedule allows and throwing some Biggest Loser Resort workouts back in on the other days.  Sounds like a great mix of ingredients to me!  Now, if I can just get my food back under control, we will be golden.  

How is where you hang your sweat towel

Today’s the day.  It’s finally here! The band is reuniting.  Ok, there’s no band but Scott, Molly and I will be training together again after an almost three month hiatus.  I cannot wait to see Scott and get bossed around and sweat and curse him under my breath! Woo hoo! 

Remember me telling you upon my return from Malibu how California law forces restaurants to list calories on their menus?  I love, love, love this!  It helps consumers make much better informed decisions and is very eye opening to what you are putting in your body.  I’ve been ranting since April that I wish Iowa would do this as well.  Guess what?  Some Iowa restaurants are beginning to follow the trend.  How awesome is that?  According to KCCI McDonald’s has started posting their calories on the menu already.  My favorite paragraph is the last one about Obama's health care overhaul.  I think this is wonderful news.  Now no one can claim they didn't know that the double quarter pounder with cheese and bacon and a super-sized fry is some people's daily calorie allowance in one meal.  

McDonald's said it has started posting calorie counts on menus in restaurants and on drive-through signs across the country, ahead of a new regulation that will require the information.

The new signs are already up at the drive-through at the Ames location on South Duff Avenue.  

The world's largest hamburger chain plans to officially announce the move Wednesday morning.  It's making the change as it tests healthier menu items.

For example, McDonald's Corp. said it's testing an Egg McMuffin that's made with egg whites and a whole grain muffin.

It's also testing versions of the McWrap, which are already sold in Europe and clocks in at less than 350 calories. And the chain said it will offer more seasonal fruits and vegetables through its limited-time offers.

President Obama's health care overhaul will require chains with 20 or more locations to post calorie counts as early as next year.

Read more:   http://www.kcci.com/news/health/McDonald-s-menu-changes-already-appearing-in-Iowa/-/9356934/16575170/-/15a1yk7z/-/index.html#ixzz26p6loN9F

Runs can be fun!!

Saturday night I went to a birthday party for a dear friend.  This was anything but typical and we had a blast! She went above and beyond in organizing an amazing night.  When RSVP’ing for the party you could opt for a 1 mile fun run or a short group walk.  Rob and I opted for the fun run.  When we arrived for “packet pick-up” we received a race bib, swag bag including pamphlets, a raygun t-shirt designed for the race, cowbell and healthy snacks.  We then took an adult Gatorade shot.  There was a beautiful rendition of national anthem sung before we started the race.  It wasn’t competitive but a great way to get everyone together and active before an evening of food, drinks and cake.  There was a also a band if you wanted to sweat away some more pounds dancing.  This was such a neat idea.  Teresa has been a key motivator, mentor and friend to Molly and I so I was honored to share in her special night. 

 Tomorrow night I start with Scott again. I am so excited!! I have missed the crap out of my Tuesday night workouts with Scott and Molly.  And I’m looking forward to having that accountability of weekly weighins again.  Weird, I know.  I may also be doing the fall warrior program on Monday and Wednesdays as my schedule allows. I have a couple big projects in the work that will require much of my free time but I would love to continue to train with Todd and his band of warriors too.  One can never have too much fitness or great friends around them.  We had a group outing on Friday to celebrate our wrapping up of the summer program and it was a lot of fun. 

Remember to tune into Channel 13 WHO-TV tomorrow night for the Warrior Workout of the Week with Erin and Sonya.  We taped this a few weeks ago and I can’t wait to see the piece and for everyone to watch what Warrior is all about.  

Workout of the week

For those of you that are wondering, WHO Channel 13 will air the Warrior workout of the week on Tuesday, September 18th.  This will be on the 5 pm newscast.  Tune in and see all the wackiness that was Warrior Training with Todd and the crew.  Sonya and Erin did a great job and it should be pretty entertaining stuff.

I Remember

I can’t tell you what I wore to work last Wednesday.  I can’t tell you what I had for dinner Thursday night.  But I can tell you that 11 years ago this morning I was in the shower listening to Danny and Jamie on the radio, a normally outlandish talk show.  It was around 6 am and a beautiful morning in Los Angeles.  As the music stopped I realized that Jamie was crying. They said that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center.  At first I thought it might be a hoax but something in their voices told me that it was real.  I jumped out and ran to the tv and watched the smoke billow from the tower.  I fell into a heap on the couch.  Oh my god.  I heard the tv talk about an accident, possibly a terrorist attack…I couldn’t believe the latter.  I went to my sisters room and woke her up.  I think I woke up my other roommates too.  I returned to the tv just in time to see the 2^nd plane hit.  I cried and cried.  The words hijacked and terrorism now rung across the air waves. This was not happening, I thought.  Who could do this?  I watched people jump to their deaths.  I saw people racing down the sidewalks for their lives.  I remember they were covered in ash.  My heart broke over and over again. 

The local news issued alerts for Los Angeles saying the planes were headed here.  Panic spread that our city was the next target.  I called my mom and told her we were okay.  My roommates didn’t go to work that day but I did.  I remember being on the normally chaotic 101 freeway.  There were no horns, no music blaring, no one road raging and screaming obscenities.  It was dead silent.  With my window down all I could hear were the voices on the radio talking about Flight 11, Flight 175, Flight 93, Flight 77…I could see and hear people crying.  Everyone was in shock. Everyone was watching the sky. 

They closed down the studios and businesses in high rises in LA.  They closed down the airport. My boss still thought we should work through the day.  I told him that if I was going to die today, it will be at home with my sister and my friends, not in a tiny recording studio in Hollywood.  I left and went home to cry and watch the news and ask questions that had no answers and scream at God in my head and then pray for those that were involved.  

I will never forget that day.  As long as I live.  The fear that beat through our hearts.  The way we jumped when we heard a plane fly overhead.  The deafening silence when all the planes stopped flying.  It was a day that changed everything.  Not only am I a long ways from my former life in LA, but I’m no longer the girl I was that day either.  I guess remembering the event today kind of puts things in a really harsh perspective.  I didn’t lose anyone I loved directly that day but I felt so empty for a long time.  So today I want to be grateful and thankful for the life and blessings around me.  The incredible love that I wake up to each morning, the chances I’ve been given to make a better life for myself and my family and the knowledge that each day I strive to be a little better than the last.  Time is short.  Nothing is promised.  Count your blessings.  Live each day to the fullest.  Honor the victims.  Help those less fortunate.  Shine and be brilliant.        

Rocking the warrior shirt

At the completion of warrior training, Todd gave us t-shirts.  They are pretty cool.  Here is the front and back.  I can’t tell you how many times I heard him say “for warriors, not wimps” so the back makes a lot of sense to me.  He loves to pound that mantra into our head.  And now, we can proudly display it on our backs.  It’s a great reminder.  Thanks, Todd!

Tailgating and Triathlons

Tailgating and triathlons...they go hand in hand, right?  Ha! Good luck to my triathlon partners in crime, Melody and Molly as they conquer some tri's this weekend.  Molly will be doing LeMars tomorrow and Melody doing the Cy-tri on Sunday.  I will be cheering them on from afar and testing new recipes for tailgating.  Good luck ladies. I know you are going to rock it out.  Next year, I will be with you again.

That's a wrap

Last night was the final night of Warrior training.  The best way to describe it was hell in the sand pit.  There was no easy workout for our final farewell.  This was balls to the wall, down and dirty and brutal.  Wheelbarrows, bear crawls, burpees, sprints, crab walks and resistance band around the stomach pulling your partner through the sand tough.  By the time we finished I was caked in sand and sweat.  If you threw me in an oven I would’ve possibly turned into a brittle little piñata.  I will really miss everyone there and all the wonderful support they showed me, especially Kara and Audra.  Those ladies ROCK! I can’t wait to see everyone again next Friday for our Warrior celebration.  And good luck to our Wisconsin Tough Mudders this weekend.  Todd, Desi, Joel and Beth…kick some butt!!  We will all be rooting for you and know that you will do awesome.  Todd, thank you for pushing us all beyond our comfort zone, even when I wanted to strangle you.  You are a great coach and we are blessed to be a part of your program and have you as a mentor for Mitchell and Michael’s wrestling.  I will let everyone know as soon as I find out when our workout of the week will be airing on WHO Channel 13. 

Kara, Lyndee & Audra

Also...

For those that have been looking for my pinterest princess experiment blog we have changed the name!!  Sorry for any confusion.  You can find us at http://testingtrendy123.blogspot.com/ and on facebook as testingtrendy123.  Thanks!

I am the warrior

Tonight is the last night of Warrior training.  It is bittersweet, of course.  This program has definitely been a change up from my normal and my comfortable.  Sometimes that’s just what we need to do, right?  I loved this program and felt that it pushed me to try a lot of new things.  I also met some really amazing friends in my co-warriors.  Let me tell you, these people rock!  As does Todd, who runs the program.  The support I’ve received from my warriors has been a bit mind boggling.  We are all at very different levels of fitness and looking for many different results from the program but we are indeed a team.  I would recommend this program to anyone that is looking to add some variety and spice to their training, as long as you don’t mind getting a little dirty and being out in the elements.  If you want to be pushed to the next level, this will definitely do it. 

Next week is a free for all which will be weird.  Molly and I don’t return to Scott until the 18^th so I have a week of no one telling me what to do.  I have been missing the gym, familiar faces, the treadmill and some of the classes I learned at Biggest Loser Resort.  I’m looking forward to doing some of the old goodies next week.  Maybe they will remind me how this all got started in the first place.  There are days this summer that I’ve just felt like I’ve been on auto pilot, especially with my cardio workouts.  I haven’t pushed like I know I could.  I just get on the machine and go through the motions like a robot.  It’s showing on my scale, my mindset and my overall attitude.  I have become a bit complacent.  This is no good and needs to stop.  It’s been 2 ½ years on a journey to a healthier Lyndee and well, some days I just get tired of it.  There’s the truth that I never want to admit.  It’s not easy.  I’m not whining, I swear.  No one ever said it would be easy and I know that nothing worth having comes easy.  But some days I just wish it wasn’t so damn hard to stay on track!!  I also know that short of having my jaw wired shut that this all lies on me.  I chose this.  I wanted this.  These are my choices, good and bad.  I have to live with them.  I guess that’s why I haven’t been writing as often lately.  I’m not proud of some of the choices I’ve been making with my food and portions.  I’m not proud of the fact that I’ve gained back some of the weight I lost while I was in Malibu.  I’m not proud that I have been caught up in life and all the demands that come with it and have pushed myself as a priority to the side.  I haven’t kicked it to the curb or anything but I haven’t been zoned in like I was at my most successful times.  I’ve been distracted and it’s easy to push healthy eating and workouts to the back burner when life gets hectic.  I just have to remind myself how important it is to keep improving, getting stronger, finding that mental fire again and start conquering the scale like I know I can if I take the right steps.  It’s funny, all the times that I had heard people from Biggest Loser or those that have lost incredible amounts of weight, when they would start gaining it back I just couldn’t comprehend it.  I didn’t understand how someone could go through all that hard work and then just “throw it all away” and return to their old habits.  I guess I shouldn’t have been such a judgmental witch.  That karma, she’s always knocking on our door, isn’t she?  I don’t want to be another statistic and I know that I need to get it back under control as soon as possible.  Motivate, dominate, destroy.     

Happy Friday

Happy Friday!  Hope everyone had a fabulous week.  Mine has been super duper busy but in a good way. I have a lot of new projects going on and some exciting stuff in the works.  I'm looking forward to going home this weekend to hang with the family. I love long weekends.  Next week is the last week of Warrior which is crazy.  The time really flew by.  I'm excited to be back at Aspen with Scott and Molly though.  I have missed them very much! I've had to try and be careful with my Pinterest Princess Experiment's as there are so many tempting and not healthy foods for me to try on there.  The recipes we've made so far I have tried to healthify in some manner or practice portion control.  I am loving the breakfast casserole and have been enjoying that every morning this week.  Breakfast has always been tough for me when it's so easy to go get a big, yummy and totally unhealthy bagel. And the fact that my tongue would often get bored with egg beaters and spinach.  So the casserole has been a great way to mix it up a little bit and still feel really satisfied throughout the morning.

What are you up to this weekend?  Any fun Labor Day plans?  Who is checking out the Hy-Vee triathlon?  Anyone competing?  Have a super weekend and safe travels!

LeMars Triathlon

I tried to make the tri work but due to circumstances beyond my control, I will not be able to participate in the LeMars triathlon this year.  No, I wasn’t ready physically and hadn’t been training like I should but I’m still sad because I will miss this opportunity to share this with Molly again this year.  Also because I wanted to meet Mom On The Rocks! I’m hoping next year I can compete again and really rock it out.  Sometimes life just pops up and gets in the way and we have to make choices.  The choice not to participate is what’s best for me and my family this year. 

I will still be doing the Principal 5K at the Des Moines marathon in October and hoping I can still get into the Color Run in early October.  Who knows what other cheaper, local races will pop up that I can be a part of.  I’m hoping there are plenty more.   

Too many choices?

Maybe I lived a sheltered childhood but when I was little I remember your potato chip options being very limited.  You had basics like Cheetos, Doritos, Fritos, tortilla, plain Ruffles or Lays, Pringles, sour cream & onion, barbeque and maybe a cheddar sour cream on a special occasion.  Now they have every flavor imaginable available on a potato chip.  BLT, dill pickle, loaded baked potato, sweet potato, cool ranch, salt & pepper, lime margarita, garden salsa, French onion, vinegar, pizza, cheeseburger, you name it and it’s on a chip.  And there’s no such thing as a standard type of chip anymore either.  Now you can have it fried, baked, pita, organic, pop chips, special K, sweet potato, vegan…and the list goes on and on.  Does this seem like chip overload to anyone else?  The chip aisle at my local grocery store is larger than the health section.  And we wonder why we’re obese?  Don’t even get me started on the cookie/snack aisle and at any given time you have six to eight varieties of Oreos on a shelf.  Even a classic candy bar like Snickers has had to add variations like almond, peanut butter, marathon protein bar and more to keep up with the consumers demand for more, more, more! And have you ever tried to make an informed decision in the ice cream aisle?  Regular, low fat, sugar free, fat free, yogurt, all natural, popsicles, drumsticks, sandwiches, cookies, bite size, pint size, quart size, gallon and every flavor imaginable. I don’t know about you but this causes serious shopper overload for me.  Sure, variety is the spice of life and companies today aim to please every person’s changing palate but sometimes I think, it’s just too much.  I don’t think that processed, twisted, flavored and altered should be standard fair in everything we eat.  Sometimes, I prefer not having a million choices.  Sometimes my mind is happy when I just have to figure out if I want vanilla or chocolate, white or wheat, plain or barbeque.  I have enough on my mind on a daily basis than to have grocery shopping be an adventure or treasure hunt.  Maybe I’m the minority here and that’s fine with me but I can’t help but think that sometimes too much is not a good thing.  I mean, really, do you need BLT chips?  Just go make a yummy BLT with fresh tomato and lettuce.  I bet it will be much more satisfying.   

I'm in!

It’s a great day here at The Principal.  As I’ve told you before, the company threw down the “I’m in!” race challenge encouraging all employees to participate in a road race this year.  You don’t have to run a marathon to be part of the challenge, just walk a 5K and you’re doing your part.  Everyone that signed up got one of these awesome t-shirts to wear.  Today is a company wide jeans day and you’re encouraged to wear your shirt.  I love jeans days about as much as I love chocolate chip cookies, possibly more, so I am proudly rocking my shirt.  I may have been a little ambitious when I ordered my shirt.  It’s a tad “snug” in all the wrong places but it’s bright blue, dri fit and I love the slogan:  Life isn't lived on the couch.  This is so very true.  You can sit on the couch watching TV and other people living their life or you can get up and get moving and experience your own.  Seems like a pretty easy choice to me!!

I have Warrior tonight for the 3^rd time this week.  It’s a make-up session from a night that we got rained out.  Hopefully I can still move all my appendages tomorrow.  My shoulders are a little tight today but I’m sure I can push through it.  We gotta keep moving because the weekend is just around the corner.  I can’t believe there are only a few sessions of Warrior left.  The 10 weeks flew by and it’s been an amazing experience.

What are your plans for the weekend? Anything fitness fun?  My "I'm in" challenge to you is to squeeze in some fitness fun and enjoy the beautiful weather.  Remember, life isn't lived on the couch so why are you wasting your time there?  Hmmmm?  That's what I thought.  Get moving!   

Are you ready for some fun?

Good morning!!  I’m in a great mood today.  I have a new project under way that I think will mix well with this blog every so often.  I’m a huge fan of Pinterest.  It’s a great tool for finding some really amazing things.  The problem is that I pin like a maniac but I never actually do the projects that I pin.  What sense does that make?  So I’ve decided to do a Pinterest experiment.  I’m actually going to follow through on some of these great ideas and then, lucky you readers, I’m going to create a cheat sheet if you will to let you know what I thought of the project to help you figure out if it is one you would like to try or not.  The blog will contain pictures, instructions, cost, time spent, practicality, alternatives and anything else I decide is relevant to the pin.  I will give it a recommendation whether I think it’s worth trying or not.  And once in a while, there may even be some fun how-to videos.  I’ve enlisted the help of two wonderful and creative ladies so that we can bring many great pins your way.  We’re super excited to start sharing these experiments with you!

The other day I shared a kale chips recipe on here that I wanted to try.  Well, I finally made it last night and it is the first entry on my http://pinterestprincessexperiment.blogspot.com/  Go check it out if you want to see if they turned out or not.  I also posted and rated a breakfast casserole that I tried this week!  There will be recipes, crafts, do it yourself projects and many random experiments posting out there so stay tuned and be sure to enter your email on the page so you can receive updates.  If there is a pin that you’ve been dying to try but haven’t gotten around to or maybe you’re nervous, send the link to the pinterestexperiment@gmail.com and we would be happy to try it out for you! 

This blog will stay dedicated to my fattofitinthe515 journey but if there is a great healthified recipe we find on Pinterest, I will definitely share the information.  

Fair 1, Lyndee 0

I made it out to the Iowa State Fair on the last day.  It was perfect weather and a good time with great friends.  We spent about 7 hours there walking around and enjoying a Boyz II Men concert.  Yes, Wanye Morris still makes me heart go pitter-patter.  I did partake in some bad fair food.  A tenderloin, my favorite fried cheese curds, a gyro and a rice krispy bar on a stick.  The good news is that I had over 19,400 steps and walked 8.3 miles.  I climbed approximately 15 flights of stairs or the equivalent of the statue of liberty.  When you put it like that, it sounds like I was way more productive than I thought.  It was probably not enough activity to work off all the bad food but definitely better than not moving around at all.  Next year I will skip the tenderloin and go with the gyro and cheese curds.  I will also skip the free sample of 5 hour energy and the endless diet mountain dews that kept me awake most of last night.  Props to our friend Sarah who was courageous enough to try the fried butter on a stick.  She said it was amazing and tasted kind of like a cinnamon roll.  I kept staring at it thinking fat and calorie content.  Sometimes my brain is no fun. 

I knew that we were going to get home from the fair late and that I would be tired so before we left I made sure to prepare healthy lunches, breakfast and snacks for the week.  I'm trying out a new breakfast bake this week and will let you know how that turns out. I knew taking the time to do that would ensure I could not be lazy and continue my crappy eating into this week.  It’s a new week and I feel like I need to recommit in a big way.  So hello Monday, let’s see if we can make this a stellar week food and activity wise.  I have been using my fitbit the last few days and so far, I’m loving it.  I think it’s helped me to feel a bit renewed on this journey and I’m enjoying earning badges and fun motivators online.  Sometimes it’s the little things that make my day.  It’s like having a victory journal that I don’t have to write in.  The program points out when I accomplish good things.  Thank you fitbit and loseit for the little pats on the back to keep me going.

I’m looking forward to getting my butt kicked at Warrior tonight.  I can’t believe there are only a few weeks of the program left.  I’m still waiting to hear when our segment will air on the Channel 13 news but promise to let everyone know when I find out.  Today, my challenge to you, is to get a little crazy and make one small change towards healthy living.  Just one.  I’m not asking that much. Log your food, plan your meals for the week, cut out a processed dinner, walk a few extra stairs or get away from your desk over lunch and get your blood pumping.  Anything that makes you happy.  We’re all in this together, right?  Motivate, dominate, destroy my friends.  What have we got to lose? 

Yesterday's fitbit stats

Sarah enjoying butter on a stick

Warriors Rule

Warriors rule

We all survived Warrior Wednesday night.  There was a few times when I was afraid that Sonya and Erin weren’t going to be my friend anymore, judging by the looks on their faces during some of the exercises.  Not only did they survive but I they totally kicked butt in our hour long craziness.  Todd pulled out some real doozies for the night. My least favorite by far was the Turkish getups with a heavy bag.  What is wrong with the Turks?  Just stand up, fools.  No need for all that nonsense and definitely not with a 40 pound bag of sand on your shoulder.  Come to think of it, I wasn’t a fan of the 2 minutes of moving planks using the heavy bag either.  Apparently, it was not my night for heavy bags.  There was kettlebells, Bulgarian bags, sand pit sprints, suicides, high knees, etc., tractor tires and resistance bands for the cherry on top.  It was a butt kicker and I think WHO got some really great footage of everyone.  Hopefully nothing too embarrassing though.  We shall see when it airs, along with the interviews with Todd and I.  It was a lot of fun having them out there so thank you again Sonya and Erin!  Great job to everyone that participated!!! 

This week has been pretty stressful in general and I’m trying to find my happy place that is non-food related.  Some days are better than others.  Lack of sleep and stress have been wreaking havoc on my scale and I’m not too happy about it.  Maybe I need some meditation…or medication.  Just kidding.  I’m hoping to catch up on sleep this weekend and release some worries.  Looking forward to a fun luau with friends and catching the last day of the Iowa State Fair.  No, I'm not attending for the food, Boyz II Men is on the free stage and I heart them. They were the first concert I ever went to. *sigh*  It looks to be a great weekend.  Have fun, shine and be brilliant, everyone.  

  

Life is a beach

Oh my goodness my calves are tight.  They hurt a little bit yesterday but today they are burning with every step I take.  No wonder the Olympic beach volleyball players have the best legs I have ever seen.  My Monday workout was only an hour of running and exercise in the sand pit and they practice and play in that stuff all day long.  I love the sand.  *Insert visions of my Biggest Loser Resort hikes along the beach in Malibu here* But that was a nice two hour hike, not suicides, sprints, jump squats, lunges and more.  I did a double workout last night trying to loosen them up a bit but apparently, I made it worse.  Total bummer. Might need to go scarf down a banana or something before Warrior tonight and hope that helps.  I certainly don’t want to be limping around when WHO-TV is filming us.  I gotta be tough! I have not felt very tough lately, mentally or physically so it’s time to get my game face on.  Where is that fire that raged so bright within me a few months ago?  I’m just looking to get a little spark back.  That’s all it would take to light the inferno again.  It’s amazing how long it takes to revamp your life to healthy living and how quickly one can backslide back into the abyss.  I feel it should definitely be the other way around, but alas, no one asked me for my opinion.  I’m breaking out some of my Biggest Loser Recipes tonight and hoping that will help get me back on track.  It may be time for a clean eating cleanse as well. 

If you haven’t seen any of the pieces WHO has done with Molly and I in the past, here are two links. I can’t find the original story they did on us (another total bummer) but here is a follow up and the story they did about my winning the Year of You contest.  As soon as I know when the new one will air, I will be sure to spread the word.  It will be a Tuesday night during the 5 pm news but sometimes it takes a few weeks to get it on the tube.  Have a wonderful hump day and remember to fan your fire!

/http://whotv.com/2011/04/12/weekly-workout-erin-sonya-check-in-with-lyndee-and-molly-about-their-successful-weight-loss-journeys/

http://whotv.com/2012/03/30/winners-and-losers-iowan-heads-to-the-biggest-loser-resort/

Triathlon terrors

I didn’t get a chance to try my kale chips or the chick peas snack this weekend, but I plan to soon.  It’s another busy week at the Hugen house.  One would think we would be used to this by now.  Had a great Warrior workout last night.  I was covered in sand from head to toe.  Even after two showers I’m still finding bits of sand all over the place.  I’m taking that as a sign of kicking some serious butt.  Tomorrow night WHO TV will be joining us for a workout of the week at Warrior.  I can’t wait to see Sonya and Erin again.  They are two terrific ladies and it’s been awhile since we’ve gotten to workout together.  I’m hoping they enjoy the sandpit torture just as much as I do.  I always feel great after Warrior.  Exhausted and depleted, but great, nonetheless. I’m excited that Todd is extending the program for an additional 8 weeks in September.  I probably won’t be able to do it since I go back to training with Scott and Molly in a month but I know that other people can transform their bodies through the program and get great results. 

I did some swimming this weekend.  This triathlon is going to be tough.  I am unprepared and off of my game.  Last year I trained for LeMars for six months.  I’m less than a month away and have yet to be on my bike for an outside ride.  Ugh.  Where did the summer go?  It felt like I had all the time in the world to get ready for this.  Now it’s knocking on my door and I’m terrified. 

I’ve decided to sell my bodybugg and switch to a fitbit.  I love bodybugg and it helped me lose 100 pounds but I’m tired of paying for the subscription. The database is ancient and hard to use.  I’ve been using the LoseIt! application and website on my iphone and loving it. It’s so easy!  There’s even a bar scan code reader so I don’t have to input a food if it’s not in the database. I just scan it in and it appears in my log.  How awesome is that?  Plus, the fitbit gives a lot more readouts like miles, flights climbed and tracks your sleep.  The best part?  The program is free to use online and on your phone.  It also sends you daily or weekly reports of your nutrition, activity, sleep, miles, flights, weight, etc.  And you can set reminders for logging your food, as well.  If you have a profile on LoseIt add me as a friend and we can do challenges and receive badges together.  Yes, I’m a big fan of badges.  Everyone needs little rewards and motivators and they make me feel like I am accomplishing something.  It’s been rough not having my bodybugg on for the last two weeks and not knowing my burn but I’m hoping I can get a fitbit this weekend.  

Salty crunchy cravings

I’ve been craving salt lately.  That’s weird for me.  Molly and Sissy are the chip lovers.  I’m more of a “drown in a vat of brownie batter” kind of over indulger.  If it’s sweet, I’m in.  But the last week or so I’ve been wanting salt and crunch.  Possibly because when I was home I had a lot more salty foods than I’m used to.  Maybe my body is going through Cresco withdrawal in the form of sodium or something.  I’ve been doing some research and I found two recipes for healthy, salty and crunchy snacks to try this weekend on snack-girl.com.  (She's got some really great stuff so check out her page!) Resist the ruffles, people, these two fun finds look to be awesome.  What are they?  Kale and chickpeas, aka garbanzo beans.  Don’t go gagging out just yet.  Let me explain.  Kale is a super food.  It has over 300% of your daily value of vitamin A.  It is loaded with other nutrients as well.  Two cups of kale only has 39 calories.  That’s a LOT of snacking and happy tongue time.  I’m going to try making kale chips.  It sounds simple enough.  And cheap!  Did I mention healthy? 

Kale Chips Recipe

(2 servings)

1 bunch fresh kale (or 1/2 pound)

2 teaspoons olive oil or non-stick cooking spray

salt to taste

Heat oven to 500 F. Line rimmed cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Tear the leaves off the thick stems into chip sized pieces. An easy way to do this is to fold the leaf in half and just rip toward the stem. Put in bowl and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle salt to taste.

Bake 5 minutes or until edges are brown and kale is crispy when moved in pan.

For one serving = 90 calories (if use olive oil), 5.2 g fat, 10.1 g carbohydrates, 3.3 g protein, 2.0 g fiber, 121 mg sodium, 1 PointsPlus

Spicy Roasted Chickpeas Recipe

(4 servings)

1-15.5 ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans)

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Heat oven to 450 F and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Drain chickpeas, rinse, and put them in a bowl. Mix oil, salt, and pepper with chickpeas and spread them on baking sheet.

Put them in the oven. After 15 minutes shake the pan to ensure that the chickpeas brown evenly. Roast another 15 minutes until brown and crunchy. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

For one serving = 161 calories (again, cut down calories and fat by using spray instead of oil), 4.7 g fat, 25.0 g carbohydrates, 0 g sugar, 5.5 g protein, 4.9 g fiber, 329 mg sodium, 4 PointsPlus

If you don’t like spicy, leave off the cayenne pepper and use some garlic powder.  Or if you want sweet and crunchy, try a little sugar and cinnamon.  Does it get any easier than that to add some variety?  And again, cheap, easy and a much better alternative than chips. If you have any other ideas for salty substitutes or ways to spruce up kale or chickpeas, please share! I will definitely let you know how these turn out!