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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Looking in the Mirror!


Happy Wednesday everyone! I have gotten behind on blogging this week.  Life has been so busy with 2 boys involved in activities and the local fall festival.  Wednesday's I typically blog about some of my yummy eats for the week, but today I am doing something a little different.

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you all know I really struggle with self image and self love and extremely low self esteem.  Well today the negativity hit me HARD after my workout.  I had finished my workout and had just gotten out of the shower and I looked in the mirror! YIKES, I hated what I saw.  Lots of flabby, fat rolls and not an attractive body at all.  But then I remembered to STOP myself.  I really looked in the mirror and here what I saw:
Now, I may not beautiful by some of society's standards.  But:
  • I am a woman who has lost 108 pounds!
  • I worked out today even though I really did not want to.
  • I went to the fall festival last night and did not indulge in the delicious smelling foods!
  • I am a good mother and a good wife and a good friend.
I remembered this article that I read a few weeks ago.  I HIGHLY encourage you all to take the time to read it.  This female reporter hired different people in 25 different countries to Photoshop her photo to their societies standard of beauty.  She shows the photos and I think it is just AMAZING how different cultures view beauty.

Here is the link:

We (especially women, but also men) have to learn to love and accept ourselves for who we are RIGHT NOW! Now this does not mean that I cannot work to better myself, but who I am on the inside is not going to change with the pounds I lose.  


So I am going to challenge you to come up with some reasons to love yourself right now.  Don't let the image in the mirror tell you how AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, AND WONDERFUL you are!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,
Kari




Saturday, September 20, 2014

Friday Fitness


Here is a recap of my workouts for this week!

Saturday:


At home:
Elliptical - 20 minutes

3 sets of:
Rows x 50
Ball Crunches x 15
Leg Extensions x 12
Ball Passes x 12
Step-Ups x 10 each side
Squats x 12

Sunday: 

REST DAY!



Monday:

Morning (at gym with Sam):

Elliptical for 20 minutes

3 sets of:
ball assisted squats into dumbbell curl into dumbbell press x 12
modified burpee x 12
straight leg deadlift x 12
uneven carry
plank x 1 minute
battle ropes


Tuesday (at home)

Stationary Bike - 20 minutes

Les Mills Body Pump and Burn


Wednesday:

REST DAY!

Thursday:


Morning (at gym with Sam)

Elliptical -20 minutes

3 sets:
One foot balanced Standing rows x 12
One foot balanced shoulder press x 12 each side
Weighted squat x 12
Kettlebell swings x 12

Friday:

Morning (at gym with Sam)

Stationary Bike - 20 minutes

3 sets:

Modified pull ups x 10
No weight straight leg Deadlifts x 8
Cross body straight leg Deadlifts (10 lbs) x 6 each side
Frontal raise while balancing on one foot x 10
Plank x 1 minute
Modified push-ups x 10

It has been a great week! I am feeling strong and happy! Monday will be my 6 week assessment at the gym!!!!! Look for the results on Monday's post!

I hope you all have an AMAZING weekend!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,
Kari








Wednesday, September 17, 2014

What I Ate Wednesday

My lunchtime salad bar obsession continued this week!  YUM!

Thursday
Friday
Monday

Saturday evening, we went to Red Lobster for dinner.  I had a side salad with no croutons and red wine vinaigrette, 1 cheddar bay biscuit, blackened tilapia (which I could only eat half of) with pineapple salsa, broccoli, and green beans.  It was DELICIOUS!

Sunday, I made a batch of my favorite oatmeal muffins (click here for the recipe)!  They disappear so quickly around here.  I am playing with a recipe to make some pumpkin ones this next week, so if it turns out I will be sharing!
I also made a DELICIOUS pumpkin spice latte!  And unlike some, it actually has REAL pumpkin in it!  I added a little whipped cream to the top of mine with a sprinkling of cinnamon (make sure if you do this you account for the extra calories or points)



Pumpkin Spice Latte
Makes 2 Servings

8 oz cup of coffee
2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (you can sub here if desired)
1/4 cup pumpkin (make sure it is pure pumpkin and not pie filling)
2 tbsp stevia
1/8 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan until boiling.  Whisk together until smooth!  Top with whip cream if desired and ENJOY!

Per Serving: 22 calories, Fat: 1g, Carbs: 4g, Protein: 1g, Fiber: 1g
WW: 1 point+

Sunday night I was craving ice cream, so I made my own by blending together 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and a container of Chobani 100 calorie strawberry Greek yogurt.  It made 2 HUGE servings and tamed my craving for only 100 calories, or 2 PP.

Tuesday, I had no idea what to have for lunch and then I remembered I still had my other piece of tilapia from Red Lobster.  So I had brown rice, black beans, steamed broccoli, and my tilapia all mixed in a bowl.  It tasted SO good and was very filling!


That is all for today!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,
Kari



Monday, September 15, 2014

Transformation Tuesday - Special Edition

Happy Transformation Tuesday everyone! This is one of my favorite days on social media.  I LOVE seeing all of the transformations photos and stories from men and women who are working to become happier and healthier.

Typically, each Tuesday I share a story of someone who is working hard to become happier and healthier.  Today is going to be a little bit different.  Today I am actually sharing the story of 2 people who have worked hard at transforming me into the person I am today, my parents.  Today is their wedding anniversary.  They have been married for 42 years.  What an amazing accomplishment in the world we live in today!

Here they are 42 years ago today, pledging to love each other through everything good and bad for the rest of their lives. 

So today, my blog is going to tell you the top 5 (out of a million) ways my parents transformed my life and that of my two sisters by the way they lived and loved for the past 42 years together.

1.  SUPPORT: My two younger sisters and I were not always the angels that we are today :).  But no matter what we did or said or how we behaved my parents were ALWAYS there to support us.  Even when we made stupid mistakes and they warned us ahead of time, they were there to pick us back up and remind us that we were loved.  This has taught me to always support my own children and to show compassion to other people no matter what.

2.  COMMITMENT: My parents were young when they married.  My mom had just turned 16 and my dad was 20.  They got married pledging to love, honor, and obey one another through EVERYTHING for the rest of their lives.  Today those words don't always keep their meaning in a marriage.  However, my parents meant those words.  I know they have not only had easy times in their 42 years together, but they stuck with each other.  I also know that they can both drive each other nuts at times, and this is the best example they set for me.  In my first marriage and my current marriage, I have used their example of commitment during those harder times.  Let's face it, when two people begin living together, it is not all unicorns and rainbows.  No matter how "perfect" you are for each other, there are going to be things that DRIVE YOU NUTS! And my parents have taught me that it is okay, but a commitment is a commitment no matter what!

3.  DEDICATION:  Life was not always easy for my parents and my family.  I can remember many nights that my dad was out of town working.  His and my mom's sacrifice and dedication were all for the good of my family.  They both worked very hard at what they did to provide the best life for us three girls.  I am sure they gave up many of the things they wanted in order for us to have the things we needed, but I cannot remember one time they every complained or griped about it.  Their example has taught me that I must be dedicated and prepared to sacrifice my own comforts for the needs of others.  Today, my parents are both retired and can enjoy a few extra luxuries now that their money-draining daughters are all out on their own.  I look forward to planning ahead enough that I can enjoy my retirement as well!

4.  UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: As I mentioned in number 1, my sisters and I were not always the angels we are today.  Not only did our parents support us, but they showed us unconditional love each and everyday.  And not only to us girls, but to many, many people that maybe did not deserve their love.  My parents taught us that love is not only an act, not only what we do for others or how we feel or what we say.  It is a deep down, real thing that really cannot be explained.  They may not realize that they taught us this, but they live it everyday.  Even when I remarried after losing my first husband, they took my (step)son in from day 1 as their grandson, no questions asked.  Today you would never know that they first met him when he was 5.  There is not one difference in how they treat him versus the other 3 boys and I cannot express how much that means to me and my family.

5.   EXAMPLE:  This is really a summary of the above 4 points.  Life has not always been easy for my parents, but they have been a wonderful example of what marriage truly is: ups and downs, good and bad, laughs and tears, FOR LIFE! Their marriage and lives are an example to many people of what God truly intended marriage to be.

So mom and dad, I want to wish you a very happy 42nd anniversary and thank you for all the things you have done to transform me, Krissy, and Kathy into the women we are today!  I can never find enough words to express how much I love you and how much your love has meant to me!


Here is a quick little video highlighting some of their 42 years together.



Tune in tomorrow for a What I Ate Wednesday post!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,
Kari





Mixed Up Monday

Happy Monday friends!

I hope you all had a great weekend! I know I did even though we really didn't do much.

I have really been reflecting on my journey lately and trying to figure out what I really need to get me back on track every day. 

One thing I am considering is quitting the Weight Watchers program.  Now, I LOVE the program and it helped me lose the first 100 pounds.  It also taught me a lot about food and nutrition.  HOWEVER, I have really been trying to focus more on the types of foods I am eating lately.  I am also really focusing on percentages of carbs, fat, and proteins.  I have been using My Fitness Pal for the past month and I really like it.  I thought I would HATE calorie counting, that it would be too hard.  But MFP makes it very simple.  

I have not made up my mind yet, but I would only be staying with Weight Watchers for the weekly weigh-ins and meetings.  I feel like I could get that with my trainer at the gym.  

Any advice from others who have switched would be VERY welcome.

Well, that is it for today.  Just needed to get that off my mind.

Tune in tomorrow for a very special edition of Transformation Tuesday!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,
Kari

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Saturday Selfish Share

Today I am selfishly sharing a few of my favorite photos from the week! Enjoy!
Me and hubby ready for the football game!
My oldest son Robbie getting ready for his first marching band performance!
I may need to borrow this drum for extra weight while working out! They did an awesome job for their first show!
My baby kitties are growing up and starting to go outside!

What was your favorite moment from this week?

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,
Kari



Friday Fitness

Happy Friday!  Each Friday, I plan on sharing my workouts and activity for the week! 

AND IN EXCITING NEWS, I had enough Amazon reward points to buy the new Garmin Vivofit with Heart Rate Monitor.  I am so excited to give this a try.  So far, I really like it.  I love the display and I love that I can pair a heart rate monitor to it and only have to wear one band.  The screen shots of my step counts for each day come from the Garmin Connect app that I sync the Vivofit to each day.
So here is my week:

Monday -


Not feeling well (migraine) but did 20 minutes on treadmill with some assistance from Rodrigo



Tuesday -

Morning (at gym with Sam)- Elliptical for 20 minutes 
3 sets of:
Lateral raises x 12 each side
Bent over rows x 10 each side
TRX pull ups x 10
Front raise on one foot x 10
3 sets of:
Kettlebell swings x 12
Battle ropes x 30 seconds

Evening (at home) - stationary bike for 20 minutes

Wednesday - I took today as a rest day as I was not feeling very well.

Thursday-
Morning (at gym with Sam) - Elliptical for 10 minutes
3 sets of:
Kettlebell swings x 12
modified burpees x 10
step-ups and balance x 10 each leg
squats x 12

2 sets of:
agility ladder - footwork
TRX pull-ups x 12

Stationary bike for 25 minutes

Friday-
Morning (at gym with Sam) - 20 minutes on elliptical

3 sets of:
cable pull downs x 12 each arm while balancing on opposite foot
chest press on stability ball x 10
squats x 12
band pull aparts x 10
band dislocators x 5
hamstring stretches with bar x 10


AND THE BEST PART OF MY ENTIRE WEEK:

My youngest (who never wants anyone to know I am his mom because he is almost 13) wrote this message to me on my whiteboard in my fitness room.  It made me so happy to see how much my kids support what I am doing to become happier and healthier!

Comment with one way you honored your body with movement this week!

I hope you all have an AMAZING weekend!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,
Kari



Wednesday, September 10, 2014

What I Ate Wednesday - 2 "New to Me" Recipes

My new favorite lunch obsession has been the grocery store next door to my gym.  They have a fresh salad bar that is AMAZING!  They even have fresh fruit!  Every day that I go to the gym, I have been walking over and fixing a salad for my lunch! YUM!


I tried two new recipes for dinners this week and I loved them both.  So I thought I would share them with you all this week!

On Monday night, I made this layered pasta bake from Emily Bites.  I forgot to take my own picture, so I am sharing the original from her site.  The only change I made was not layering the ingredients.  I am apparently not that talented and just stirred them all together.  This was SUPER yummy and I will definitely make it again!


Layered Pasta Bake
yield: 8 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS:

1 (13.25 oz) box of wheat or fiber enriched penne
1 lb 95% lean ground beef
1 (15 oz) can of tomato sauce
1 (6 oz) can of tomato paste
1 t sugar
½ t dried basil
½ t oregano
Salt, to taste
1/3 c water
1 c fat free sour cream
4 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
1 large egg
½ c scallions, chopped
1 c shredded 2% Mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Pre-heat the oven to 375. Lightly coat a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
Cook pasta according to directions on box, then drain and set aside.
While water heats for the pasta, in a large sauté pan, cook the ground beef over medium heat, breaking up beef until it is completely browned. Drain grease from pan if necessary. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, salt and water. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream, cream cheese and egg and mix together until smooth and thoroughly combined. Add in the chopped scallions and stir.
Spread a thin layer of the sauce mixture across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top this with a layer of the cooked penne. Spread half the sour cream mixture over the top of the pasta. Top with a layer of the meat sauce. Repeat the layers again starting with the pasta. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes.

WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS PLUS:
9 per serving (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)

NUTRITION INFORMATION:
384 calories, 47 g carbs, 10 g fat, 26 g protein, 7 g fiber (from myfitnesspal.com)


Tuesday night, I made an Enchilada Quinoa Bake that I saw on Pinterest. (click here for original recipe) I was a bit skeptical as there was no meat in this recipe (which is a no-no with my family). BUT OMGLMNOP, this was SO delicious and I will definitely be making this again! One change I made to the original recipe was adding my tomato and avocado to the entire mixture and baking it all together. And the serving size is huge, 1/6 of the entire 9x13 pan! I put a small dollop of sour cream on the top of mine!



    Quinoa Enchilada Bake
    6 servings
    INGREDIENTS
    1 cup quinoa
    1 can (10-ounce) mild enchilada sauce
    1 can (4.5-ounce) chopped green chiles, drained
    1/2 cup canned corn kernels, drained
    1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
    2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
    1/2 teaspoon cumin
    1/2 teaspoon chili powder
    Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
    3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
    1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and diced
    1 Roma tomato, diced


    INSTRUCTIONS
    In a large saucepan of 2 cups water, cook quinoa according to package instructions; set aside.
    Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil an 9x13 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
    In a large bowl, combine quinoa, enchilada sauce, green chiles, corn, black beans, cilantro, cumin and chili powder; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
    Spread quinoa mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining cheeses. Place into oven and bake until bubbly and cheeses have melted, about 15 minutes.
    Serve immediately, garnished with avocado and tomato, if desired.
I LOVE trying new recipes and I LOVE sharing with all of you!

Tune in tomorrow for some news regarding some changes I am making to my journey!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,
Kari