WEEK 6: Happy Birthday Bree!

I know what you are thinking. "Is that Christy?! WOW she looks AMAZING!  HOW DID SHE DO IT?"  To answer your question, NOPE! Today is my little sister's birthday.  She would be 23 years old.  I cannot believe it has been 2 & 1/2 years all ready. She was a stunning girl here on earth.  I can only imagine what she looks like in her eternal body! I miss her so much!  She is my best friend and one of my main motivators.   Bree was- is a SUPER athlete!!!  I tell everyone how she could do 95 push-ups and 14 pull-ups.  This chick is AMAZING!  She would always encourage me and help me with eating my habits and different exercises, so whenever I work out I imagine  that she is watching me, rooting me on to keep going, DON'T GIVE UP, CHRISTY!  This last week I lost an additional 4 lbs.  I worked so hard this week!!   I dedicate this 20 lb mark to Bree.  Without her I wouldn't have done it, at least not at such a rapid pace.  She is such an inspiration!  I cannot wait to see her in heaven to give her a huge hug and tell her what an impact she has made on me spiritually, mentally, and physically!  She loves Jesus.  Her life here on earth was a great example of how I strive to live.  She really followed in Jesus' footsteps.

Andrew has been gone for the past 4 days (feels like 20!).  To put it simply, he is training people to make money in Philadelphia and Ohio.  I miss him so much, but I have been staying focused.  I want to look that much better for him when he returns tomorrow!  I even got a pretty green dress and some cute cowgirl boots, so I can be all dolled up for him when he returns.  I cannot wait...  Only one more day until I am back in his arms!

So I have mainly been doing lots of running and weightlifting this last week.  I was tempted a few times with the Yellow Deli, and Bree's birthday celebration today, but I am not straying from this path.  At first I thought for a brief moment, we should have cake for Bree's Birthday! Then I thought about what Bree would really want.  She wants me to be happy and healthy.  She used to tell me when I was about to splurge to remind myself, (her words) "What do you want more, this brownie, or a killer bod?"  The whole family decided we should eat healthy and celebrate at the Naked Cafe!

Well I have to wrap this up. I need to go workout!  Eden is sleeping so time is of the essence! 

Week 5: Lady in Red

What a week!  Actually it has been pretty mellow except for Eden getting sick.  We had to take her to the doctors on Saturday because she was sporting a fever for 4 days in a row.  I will spare everyone the details and just say that Saturday was one tough day, but she is doing much much better today! So happy she is her happy self again! 

So guess what everyone! So far I have lost a total of 16 lbs =).  I also learned some really interesting things.  A while ago I heard a rumor that you burn the same amount of calories walking as you do running the same distance... WRONG.   I guess that wasn't much of a surprise, considering how I feel like I am going to die when I run 1 mile!  I also learned how important it is not to focus only on endurance, but really try to bump up the intensity of your workouts if you want to lose that fat!  You need lots of muscle if you ever want to get those shredded abs! 

I have had a hard time getting motivated this week.  I know it has something to do with Edie Peedie being sick all week. What do you call that again?  Oh yeah!  An excuse!  Excuses don't burn fat cells.

Anyways... this is a short one.  By the way, I got into my goal dress a couple months early =) This WAS going to be the dress that I WAS going to wear to Andrew's high school reunion in August.  I guess I will have to shop for a new one.  Oh darn, or should I say, Flippin' AWESOME!

Check it!  Who's that lady in red????!!!!!

WEEK 4: Bad Christy!

I am sorry that I am late on this weeks post.  I have not felt like posting the last couple of days.  I was feeling really out of it yesterday and only felt like sleeping, as did my daughter Eden.  So sleep is what we did! I am really feeling great about my body.  I know I have a ways to go, but I feel amazing! I look in the mirror and I see a completely different person than I did a month ago.  Praise Jesus,  brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.  My pants are too big on me, and I am starting to fit into things that I haven't worn since before my pregnancy.  I am so excited! Also, I am becoming addicted to working out.  I didn't workout yesterday, and I started to get seriously depressed.  However, I know I needed that time to recover and take care of Edie Peedie!

Confession time... I suck at drinking water.  I need to drink way more than what I have been drinking lately.  Also, Andrew and I had our very first cheat meal this last weekend.  PIZZA!  The first wheat that I have had in 4 weeks!  Man did it taste amazing, even though it made me sick.  We also had wine!  Wow, so delicious.  I am a boxed wine kinda girl!  This was all before learning that alcohol can slow your metabolism down 70% or more!!!!  OMG!!  I was like, "crud, so I basically owned myself when I had wine with my VERY FATTY PIZZA???!!" Its one thing to fill up on pizza on your cheat meal, its a whole other thing to slow down your metabolism 70% while trying to digest a zillion fatty calories!!  So, yeah, lesson learned... the hard way.  It's all good, I just had to run a little harder and add alcohol to my DO NOT TOUCH list for the duration of this diet.

Anyways... That's it for this week, oh wait!  I forgot to mention that I hate sprints.  They stink. Erika kicked my butt at the track, and I am sad to say that I do not look forward to our next sprint date, though I am very happy with the effects on my butt that sprints have!  Oh and to top it off, the girls college soccer team was there running circles around me.  I would kill to have those thighs!  Again I say, whatever.  I am on my way!

This is going to be me this week... I am drinking WATER!!!!

We Need to Break Up

Yesterday I had the most liberating moment.  I went to Soup Plantation with Andrew and his mom and grandpa.  Every time I go to Soup Plantation I get salad and noodles with creamy garlic dressing.  Then, I hit the hot fatty soups, bread and pasta, and don't forget the ice cream for dessert!  However, this time was different.  A week ago I watched this documentary (Hungry for Change), and one of the ladies said something that has been really helpful.  Instead of telling myself that I want something but can't have it, I have started to remind myself that I CAN have it but I don't WANT it.  That has helped me so much.  Words are so powerful, so I actually say it out loud whenever I am tempted.

Anyways, the moment...  I was so good at Soup Plantation! I didn't budge on anything.  I just kept repeating the phrase.  I must have looked like a crazy woman.  On the way home I had this thought.  I always thought that sourdough bread and pasta were something I could never give up.  It was almost like they helped define me.  Does that sound crazy?  I realized how much I depended on them to make me happy.  Like food had the power to give me true happiness.  Then I realized something,  I do not need pasta and bread. I was never happy after eating too much pasta and bread, no matter how delicious every bite was!  They only made me dislike myself more.  We had a very unhealthy relationship, I, pasta, and bread.  So, I decided that it was time for me to start seeing different people, emmm, I mean food. God is helping me redefine myself, not into some who's identity is in food, but into someone who's identity is made up by her Lord Jesus, her family, her friends, her hobbies, goals and achievements.  Food aint got nothin' on me!!!!!!


Thought I would add a yummy desert in here as well.  As you can see, Andrew loved it...
Sprinkle some cut up apples with a little bit of cinimin and splenda, then bake them for about an hour at 390 degrees to make a tasty snack!

Baked Squash with Tasty Spinach/Meat Sauce. Husband Approved!

I have been cooking up a storm ever since I made the decision to get my sexy  body back!  This has been my personal favorites!  If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment and I will respond back =).

Baked Squash with Spinach Meat Sauce

What You Need:

Jar of Organic Spaghetti Sauce

Half of an Onion

Can of diced tomatoes

Lean Ground Beef

Coconut Oil

Spinach

Green Squash or Zuccini 

Garlic Powder

Pinch of Shredded Romano Cheese

What to Do:

• Chop up the onion and cook it with the ground beef with a tid bit of coconut oil.
• In a separate pan start to cook the spaghetti sauce. Add the canned tomatoes (drain out the juice first), a hand full of spinach, and a pinch of basil, to the sauce.
• Chop up the green squash and spread it out on a cookie sheet that has been rubbed with a thin layer of coconut oil to prevent any sticking. 
• Sprinkle the squash with garlic powder and place in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees. 
• Once the meat and onions are cooked, add them to the sauce and let simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Let squash cool a little before serving.
• Pour some of that yummy sauce on the squash, and top it with a little bit of Romano cheese! 
• ENJOY!

WEEK 3: Less QQ & More Pew Pew!

Let me explain the title for those of you that are not married to a hot computer nerd...  "Less QQ" basically means less complaining (the QQ looks like tears coming out of eyes), and "more Pew Pew" means more action (imagine the sound of a 5 year old shooting a toy gun). 

I have been doing a lot of QQing this week! Working out and sticking to a healthy diet has been tough.  I still have not touched wheat.  Oh how I miss my sour dough bread! But my hunger has forced me to get creative with food.  I found some really fun snacks and meals that are low-fat, low carb, healthy and super yummy! 

 Shin splints and issues with my knees arose after pushing it too hard with running, jumping-jacks, high knees and sprints.  However, continuing with full force is CRUCIAL if I want to win.  I took a break from those activities and should be all ready to jump back into the torture- I mean FUN!  I don't have any more excuses! I did lots of walking, arms and hiking this week. There was also one day (Sunday) that I "planned" on working out... never happened!  Funny how easy it is to stick to your schedule when you have a lunch date with a friend, yet it is so easy to bail on yourself when it comes to working out.  I am realizing what works for me is to get it done first thing in the morning.  Stop hitting snooze and go hit the gym! 

I only lost 3 lbs.  Boy do I need to step it up!  I feel much better though, and I fit into a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans... if I suck it in!  I wish I could suck my butt in.  Anyways... on that note!   Time to go burn some of this booty off!

This is Eden helping me with my measurements.  What would I do without her?

Tasty Low Cal Snack!! You Know What I am Having Today!!

French Onion Dip With Jicama

WHAT IS IT?

Jicama (Pronounced: hic-co-mah) is a great substitute for chips.  It is actually a root! You can dip it in salsa and  in this case, french onion dip when you are craving those carbs!

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 Pack of French Onion Dip Powder

2 Cups of Non-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt

Jicama Root

WHAT TO DO:

Mix the Yogurt with the Dip Mix, & chop up the Jicama root into 1/8 in. thin slices.

 You can peal it first if you want or you can cut it off after you slice it.

 ENJOY!