4/6/12 Nice To Be Back

I know it's been a while....man, I hadn't realized just how long....SO much to talk about!  Not sure that I want to put it all in one post, so let's make today's post about some yummy deliciousness!!!

Despite 2012 being a great year so far (as I knew it would be), I had a little bit of anxiety this week.  I'm not sure why, but God sure did put the right man in my life to help me out through times like that.  That big man up there sure does know what he's doing!

Anyway, last night I had planned to go to the gym for some Zumba, but just wanted to stay in.  Yes I could have worked out at home, but I was not feeling it....at all.  Instead I was feeling a bit creative culinary-wise.  I opened the fridge and pulled out all of the fresh veggies.

Brian grilled up some delicious chicken breast while I was chopping and sauteing away!  Here's what I was sauteing: (Sorry I have no idea what amounts I used....I eyeball everything, so these are just guesstimates)

Asian Inspired Chicken and Veggies

Shredded Green Cabbage (maybe a half of a med size head)
Chopped Kale (probably about 2 cups)
Chopped Scallion (Three stalks)
2 T Butter
1 T Coconut Oil
3-4 Cloves of Garlic

I Sauteed the above ingredients for a few minutes, but made sure they were still crunchy.

Then I diced 2 tomatoes and chopped up the 3 chicken breasts that BF had grilled.

I tossed all of the ingredients into a large bowl along with:
2-3 T Soy Sauce
2-3 T Sesame Oil
2-3 T Organic Rice Vinegar
salt, pepper, granulated garlic to taste

Voila!  This.WAS.So.Yummy!

I couldn't get enough!  Easy, Delicious and packed with vitamins!

I'll be back perhaps over the weekend to talk about more stuffs, til then, Enjoy!

Christa Lista

Yes, I am going to make a list...why not?  It is just about the end of 2011 and I've got a new year ahead of me.  I've got a pretty good feeling that 2012 is going to be a very decent year for me.

I've given up the 2nd job.  While all that extra dough is nice to have (and spend), it leaves absolutely no time for me to be able to enjoy this thing called life.  I now understand the proverb "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy".  While not entirely suited for my situation, I get it, I definitely get it.

I was sick.A.Lot.this past year.and I have no doubt that the whole no down-time thing played a very big role in me being sick.  That's not the life I want to live.  The down-time I did have was spent on the couch, stuffing my face with garbage because my body wanted nutrients and I thought I heard it say "Chocolate" and "Grilled Cheese sandwich".  I finally was able to translate what it really wanted when I stepped on the scale and realized I had gained back all of what I had lost.

One day this past November, I finally heard it loud and clear "Vitamins".  Ooooooh....okay.

Anyway, I've learned to appreciate my down-time.  I will no longer use it to do right by my pocket.  I will use it to do right by my body, my mind and my soul.  aka Balance

1. Make a bedtime and stick to it as best as you can (10:30pm)
2. Journal as often as possible (I've found that I enjoy getting inside my head and thinking out loud, even if it only makes sense to me)
3. Turn off the T.V. - it sucks me in every.single.time. and before I know it, I've wasted 4 hours on nonsense
4. Create - get the juices flowing and actually make things, finish projects I've started or intended to start but never got around to it.
5. Clean and keep clean.  Working 7 days a week doesn't offer much time to keep clean and organized, now with all of this new found time, I have no excuse really
6. Get on the lake - I've already started pricing out Inflatable water crafts and it looks like an inflatable Kayak may be just the right thing for me/us.  It will be great exercise too!
7. Get on the road - take day trips to places I haven't been such as Tallulah Falls, a gorgeous spot that I've been wanting to see since I found out I would be moving to GA back in 2004, it's time I get there.
8. Use the earth as my gym.  No one ever said you had to go to a fitness facility to get in a great workout.  I would love a bicycle
9. Give back - I would love to volunteer some of this new found time on a farm, getting sweaty and dirty.  Another great way to workout AND get some fresh veggies!
10. Meditate - woooooosaaaaaaaaahhhh  it feels good

I think I'll end it here for now.  I guess those are my top 10 things I'd like to get going on in the coming new year.  Looking forward to living a life of more purpose for my health instead of just work, I tried that, it's not all that great for me.

12/15/2011 - Making Fat Cry

I abso-freakin-lutely LOVE when my body decides it's time to get up and my mind says "Okay, let's workout"  That's what happened. again. this morning.  Yes, I woke up at 5am and decided I should go workout. And I took a cycle class for the first time in my life.  And I made my fat cry.  I also made my crotch cry.  Ouchieee!  But the amount of sweat I produced was worth it!  And I may invest in a gel seat pad to help with the Ouchie factor....if I can get up that early again next Thursday morning and the Thursday morning after that.  If I can get through 3 5am classes, then I will make the $15-$20 investment for the gel pad.

I went to see Dr. Dell last night.  There were 2 less bones out of alignment then there were 2 weeks prior...AND he was able to tell that I had a portion of my jaw out of alignment.  I didn't even tell him that I had been experiencing a film over my right eye causing blurred vision (not too terrible)...but he found it.  That's pretty amazing if you ask me....it makes me feel like this is not all hocus pocus, because even though I continued to see him, I was a bit skeptical, but wanted to give it a chance.

I just weighed myself and can see that I am down a few more lbs.  a total of 4.4  Is this really working this fast, just 1 full day of Somersizing and my numbers are already going down?  Why am I surprised, I know that Somersizing works, and the fact that I'm getting in some exercise, this shouldn't be a surprise.  10.6 lbs. away from reaching my first 15 lb. goal!!

Workout 5:45 am- 42 minutes of 60 min Spin class

Breakfast  9:00AM (No Green Smoothie) :(

2 Fried eggs

Redbull

Coffee with half & half and 3 Xylitol
1 Total Leaky Gut

1 L-Theanine

1 Homocysteine Redux

1 Vitamin C

1 Vitamin E

1 Garlic

3 Adrenals

1 Biotin

1 B12

Snack 00:00 AM
none

Lunch 11:30 PM
Turkey, Ham, Green Beans and a minute amount of Scalloped potatoes
Unsweet Tea

1 Garlic
1 Vitamin C
1 Total Leaky Gut
2 Adrenals
1 L-Theanine
1 Homocysteine Redux


Snack 2:30 PM
Strawberries and a Grape


Snack 3:30 PM
Dr. Zevia

Snack 4:45 PM
SugarFree Jell-O Chocolate & Vanilla Pudding

*Snort*...both times this week I typed the word "pudding" with an 's' in place of the 'd'

Dinner 00:00 PM

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” - Maria Robinson

12/14/2011 - Back On Track?

I've been feeling like crap emotionally the past week or so, and I hadn't been making my morning smoothies.....nor have I really been keeping up with my supplements....which I can feel All.Over.My.Body.  Yes I've given in to temptations.  Yes I've fallen off plan.  Yes I have halted my workouts.  Yes I have gained weight. f-i-v-e nasty El Bees, though 1.4 of them have already found a new home.
....but I was feeling tired last night and so I went to bed at 9:30 pm.  I didn't try to fight it and wind up falling asleep on the couch.  I went to my bed and was asleep before I knew it.  And then it was 6:50 am....and I got up.  I was already wearing sweat pants and a comfy long sleeved shirt, so I just threw on a light jacket, Crest whitening strips and my sneaks...and I hit the pavement.  And I am proud of myself.  I LOVE walking in the morning.  I love the stillness of everything.  I love that I've already jumped in for an energizer and that I still have a whole day of me.  I walked up and down Morris Rd, which takes only about 10 minutes, but 10 minutes that really get me going!  If I'd said to myself that I should just stay in bed another 10 minutes, it would have turned into an hour and a half and I would feel even more sluggish.
I came home, enjoyed a little online time and then I made my smoothie.

Today's Green Smoothie: (wasn't very green at all, it was pink! and VERY delicious!)
Green Cabbage (fresh)
Cucumber (Fresh) -though on it's way to rotting because It's been sitting there...just waiting for me
Parsley (Fresh)
Ginger (Fresh)
Blueberries (Frozen)
Peaches (Frozen)
Pineapple lots and lots of pineapple...it too was about to go bad (Fresh)
Zico Coconut water

guess I forgot that I also had celery....oopsie

Back on plan today?  I hope so.  I went out to Harry's Market (aka Whole Foods) yesterday at lunch time specifically to buy Xylitol.  I tried the stuff when I was up in Charlotte last weekend.  Jessica had it, and I liked it.  I figured it was better for me than Splenda which is my sweetner of choice for my coffee.  I love the fact that this is even better tasting than Splenda and is a natural sweetener derived from the fibrous parts of plants.  instead of chemicals that they lead you to believe is better for you....

I got Xylo Sweet 100 packets.    They also sell the stuff loose, I just wanted the ability to carry some with me.  I am not 100% certain that it's on the Somersizing plan....but apparently it is safe for use in any sugar-controlled diet.  The only downside to the stuff is that you need to build up a tolerance.  It can cause gas and die of the rear....so far I have't had any issues with it that I've noticed.

I need to find that strength within to keep me on plan to achieve my goal.  There is a battle in my brain, and the fat girl is winning majority of the time....I've got to turn it around.  I've taken the steps this morning to get me back on track....I need to stay here!

Today's Goals:
Avoid sugar
Take all supplements
Drink Water
Eat all meals using the Somersize guidelines (You know this really does work, right?)
Move that body (DONE!) though I might get in a stretch and/or balance tonight.




I've got an appointment tonight at 7:15 with Dr. Dell.  Hopefully an adjustment will put me in check.  I love doing right by my body.  I really do...I wish I felt motivated ALL of the time.


Right now I've got 80lbs to lose.  I think I'll just focus on 15 to start out with.


Christa's 15lb. challenge...and GO!


I just ordered some of Suzanne's Chocolate protein powder...those will be good for nights that I don't feel like cooking and BF has a pizza or something else I shouldn't be eating.  This is "Being Prepared"  I need to stick to being prepared as much as possible...for when I am unprepared, I tend to fall back into my old ways.


Breakfast 8:45 AM
Green Smoothie
1 Total Leaky Gut
1 Vitamin C
1 Vitamin E
1 Garlic
3 Adrenals
1 Biotin
1 B12

Snack 11:20 AM
Kiwi Fruit

Lunch 12:30 PM
Spinach Mushroom onion tomato swiss cheese omelette
Bacon
2 cups of coffee with Cream and Xyltiol
1 L-Theanine
1 Total Leaky Gut
1 Garlic
1 Vitamin C
2 Adrenals

Snack 3:40 PM
Cream Cheese
SF Jell-O Choc/Vanilla pudding

Snack 4:50 PM
Dr. Zevia

Dinner 9:00 PM
Sage Breakfast Sausage, Green Peppers, Onion and Provolone
glass and a half White Wine

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. - Aristotle

12-7-11 Running Late

Just as I had predicted, I didn't have time for a workout last night.....it's all good, I got to spend time with Allison and the kiddos and I accomplished making Christmas cards.

I used my fingerprint in different colors as a string of lights, they're cute and unconventional.

Knowing that I probably wouldn't get in a workout, I purposely parked my car in the very last row at work, which is quite a long walk.

I've never measured it, but maybe a lil less than a quarter mile?  Maybe my perception of distance is a bit off too...believe me, it's a  walk.  The nice thing is though that they preserved a little bit of the land that was there before, so you can have a slight feel of nature.

I usually don't walk through there if it's been raining or if I'm wearing heels because it can get a little too natural if you know what I mean.

We had a bit of rain yesterday, so I chose the asphalt driveway path.  I do need to walk through there a bit more..just to take in that nature.  It's raining today, so it's not gonna happen today.

Today's Green Smoothie:
Green Cabbage (Fresh)

Celery (Fresh)

Bosc Pear (Fresh)

Lime Juice (Fresh)

Parsley (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh)

Peaches (Frozen)

Blueberries (Frozen)

Black Seedless Grapes (Fresh)

Zico Coconut Water

Today's Goals:
Avoid sugar - Though that may not be possible, being that it's Katie's b-day and she's made Paula Dean's Ultimate Coffee Cake - OMG!
Take all supplements
Eat all meals using the Somersize guidelines
Move that body

Breakfast

1 Garlic

1 Total Leaky Gut

3 Adrenals

1 Vitamin C

1 Vitamin E

1 L-Theanine

Green Smoothie

Seriously need to get in the shower now.....it's 10 after 9...time for work!  Picked out a cute outfit.  Denim dress with lime green long sleeve and my saddle colored boots.  Cute!  and comfy!

12-6-11 It's a New Day!

I didn't get to the gym last night BUT I did do a P90X workout with BF before dinner!  It wasn't too bad, I went at my own pace and didn't try to over do it.  I know that once my body is more active, I'll be able to handle more.  I did push myself a few times, I wasn't a total slacker.  At one point during the decline push ups, my arms completely gave up!  I found my entire upper body smashed on the floor!  It wasn't pretty, I am sure!  Not sure if it was the workout or what, but I woke up before 6am....and, you know I think I got a full 8 hrs of sleep last night!  That's something I've been striving for and I am always happy when I can get that.

Today's Green Smoothie:
Spinach (Fresh)
Cucumber (Fresh)
Cilantro (Fresh)
Ginger (Fresh)
Blueberries (Frozen)
Mango (Frozen)
Green Cabbage(Fresh)
Apple (fresh)
Zico Coconut Water

Today's Goals:
Avoid sugar
Take all supplements
Eat all meals using the Somersize guidelines (You know this really does work, right?)
Move that body


Tonight I'm headed over to Allison's to make some handmade Christmas Cards.  I've always loved this tradition, we didn't do it last year, so I am glad we're going to pick it up again this year.  I probably won't get in a workout, which kinda stinks, but perhaps I can find a way to work something in there somewhere....maybe at lunchtime or something, even if it's a walk around the parking lot.


Breakfast 8:00 AM
3 Adrenal
1 Garlic
1 Total Leaky Gut
1 L-Theanine
1 Vitamin C
Green Smoothie


Snack 10:00 AM
2 Hard Boiled Eggs
Coffee, 1/2 & 1/2, 2 pkts Splenda

Lunch 1:00 PM

2 Adrenal
1 Total Leaky Gut
1 Vitamin C
Grilled Chicken w/ Provolone
Coffee, 1/2 & 1/2, 4 pkts Splenda

Dinner


Workout

Monday 12-05-11 Starting Something New

So I'm going to try something new....well, maybe I've tried this in the past, I'm not sure cause even I can't keep up with myself sometimes.  :)

I've never been very good or consistent with keeping a journal.  My 5th grade teacher used to give me shit about it, now I give myself shit about it.  I mean look, the last time I updated this Blog was in July....I rest my case.

But I try.

This is my blog.  And it's called Becoming Christa for a reason, Oh I must have wanted to do this before or something.....I'm so smart, this is the perfect place for me to do this!

I'll journal about anything, so don't expect an outline or anything like that.  Really just want to keep track of my Green Smoothies, Workouts, Goals and my weight, which I'm really not very fond of having it out there for all to see, but whatever, it's reality and I always try to keep it real AND I am hoping that journal-ing will help me move that number down to a more pleasant range.  I might throw in a random bit of inspiration like as a quote of someone else, or something my own brain either came up with or has retained for the past and I just remembered it and think that I came up with it.

Overall, I just want to be healthy and look and feel good and I want to document the process.

So here goes:

224.8 - Yep....that's where it's at today.  I've seen that number higher and I've definitely seen it lower....let's concentrate on getting that number somewhere near the 150 lb mark...that's where I look and feel my best.

How am I going to do that?  Well it's certainly not going to be by sitting on my butt.  I've tried it, it doesn't work...ever.  Being prepared is how I plan to get that number down.  Being prepared with Food, supplements, inspiration, positive self talk, oh and workout clothes, or at the very least my sneakers....just keeping them available in case I spontaneously decide to bust a move, I'll be prepared and can't make any excuses.

That number up there that we've already discussed, yeah, not gonna let it get me down.  I'm still sexy, still have a great ass, definitely great teeth and smile (thanks mom)....and my personality, I've always got that!
 This fat doesn't define who I am, BUT it sure does get in the way of being able to wear certain things....and I've always been some form of a fashionista, I owe it to myself to be able to wear the things I am attracted to. My younger sister Jessica gave me a few garments this weekend that just weren't right for her.  I happened to love them but they don't fit at the moment.  While I can get them on, I can't wear them out of the house if you know what I mean....perhaps I should post a photo of myself in these garments at the size that I am at now.  And then, when I've seen some success, we can do a comparison so I can prove to myself and you that I am doing the right thing.

So today...yeah today....cause there's no time like the present to make positive changes.  I started my morning with my supplements.  Those include the ones Dr. Dell prescribed (he's my Chiropractor/Kinesiologist), and the ones I've prescribed for myself.  He's got me on quite a few that I hope are helping, either that or I am spending WAAAAY too much money on this stuff....whatever, it's better than spending it at the bar right?  well, maybe not as much fun ;)

Supplements:
Garlic
Adrenals
L-Theanine
Total Leaky Gut.

I've also prescribed some other things for myself which include:
B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin E

...and I think that's about it.  I'm also starting the day with a Green Smoothie of whatever fruits and veggies I've got in the kitchen.

Today's Green Smoothie:
Spinach (Fresh)
Cucumber (Fresh)
Cilantro (Fresh)
Ginger (Fresh)
Blueberries (Frozen)
Mango (Frozen)
Apple (Fresh)
Grapes (fresh)
Zico Coconut Water

I've made these green smoothies just about every day for a month or so since I purchased the Kitchen Ninja 1200 because I've become addicted to the feeling that I get when I've had one.  My body can tell when I haven't....I'm more sluggish and I crave things that I shouldn't be putting into my body such a Sugar Free Red Bull.

I just want to be healthy. I want to look healthy and I want to feel healthy.  I don't want to crave things that I shouldn't put into my body.  I want to crave things that I should DO for my body, the right foods and supplements and to move...I like to move it move it.  I love when I am working out on a consistent basis and my body craves that burn!  I need to get myself back there.

I packed my gym clothes.  There is a Body Works plus abs class at 7 tonight.  I have a membership and I have my clothes and sneakers.....even have my socks!   I have no excuses.

Today's Goals:


Avoid sugar
Take all supplements
Eat all meals using the Somersize guidelines (You know this really does work, right?)
Move that body


hmmmm...I didn't really mean to make an acronym.....  But AT EM makes total sense!  Up and AT EM!

Here's where I am at body-wise at the moment.  These pictures were taken on 11/7/11 but there's been no change since then.

Breakfast 9:00 AM
3 Adrenal
1 Garlic
1 Total Leaky Gut
1 L-Theanine
1 Vitamin C
1 Vitamin E
1 B12
Green Smoothie
Coffee, 1/2 & 1/2, 2 pkts Splenda

Snack
Roasted Seaweed
1 Globe Grape

Lunch - 1:00pm
1 Total Leaky Gut
1 Vitamin C
1 Garlic
1 L-Thenaine
2 Adrenal
Chicken Salad Scoop about a cup

Dinner 8:30pm
1 Total Leaky Gut
1 Vitamin C
Fajita Chicken with mozzarella
Green Cabbage Salad

Workout
P90X Chest & Back