30 day challenges complete!

It was definitely a struggle, but I am pleased to say that I successfully completed both the squats and abs 30 day challenges. By the end I did 250 squats, 125 sit-ups, 200 crunches, 65 leg raises, 120 seconds plank (in one day). Sakief is the only reason I was able to finish. Every time I wanted to give up, he was there to get me back in it. He didn't just hold my feet while I did sit ups, but encouraged me the whole way. 

While you can't see a lot of changes, I can really feel it. Under my padding there are definite abs. Not a six pack mind you, but if I can keep up ab exercises, I know I'll have a nice flat stomach when I lose the rest of this weight. My thighs seem to have slimmed a bit, but more than anything I actually noticed a reduction in cellulite. The main thing that I noticed is the reduction in what I call "my lump". When I fell in February, I caught the back of my left thigh on the corner of the chair. I had a small cut, but seemed to do more soft tissue damage than anything else. It's still tender to this day. Anyway, a lump formed, and won't go away, but the squats have definitely helped.

My plan is to continue with 100 squats, 50 sit-ups, 50 crunches, 25 leg raises, and 30 seconds of plank 3-4 times a week. 

Losing weight is still a struggle, but it's coming off!

I managed to get the most ridiculous sunburn on my face yesterday, so I'm just taking it easy and applying aloe. I do plan to get my exercises in today though :)

Shrimp fried spaghetti squash

That's right, I went there.

Recently I found a recipe for sesame spaghetti squash with edamame (which I have yet to try), but it got me thinking about other Asian inspired foods that I miss, and fried rice came to mind immediately. So why not try? The worst thing that could happen is that Sakief and I hate it and we never eat it again.

Turns out that subbing out the rice for spaghetti squash is actually quite good. We will absolutely eat it again.

Ingredients:

1lb shrimp (I used uncooked, but you can use precooked)

1 medium spaghetti squash

2 cups mixed vegetables (frozen)

2 large eggs

4 Tbsp olive oil

4 Tbsp soy sauce

Garlic

Wok and baking sheet

Preheat oven to 375. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds. Place upside down on baking sheet and bake for 45 mins or until squash is easy to scoop out (typically you can poke the skin with a fork and it will pierce with little pressure).

If you're using uncooked shrimp, cook in wok with 2 Tbsp olive oil. Set aside (including any left over juice). In a hot wok, add 2 Tbsp olive oil and the soy sauce. Add veggies and cook until defrosted. Scoop out squash into wok. Stir. Add garlic and eggs. Stir constantly until eggs are cooked. Toss in shrimp. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. 

I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

Dinner tonight

I tried two new recipes for dinner tonight, both were absolutely delicious! It's all healthy, but turns out to be high in calories, so I probably won't eat them together again, although they do compliment one another.

Jalapeño popper chicken:

3 chicken breasts

4 oz cream cheese (half a brick)

1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used Mexican blend)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

1/4 cup mayonaise or Greek yogurt

2 jalapeños (chopped)

3 slices of bacon

1/2 cup diced onion

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake chicken for 45 minutes and drain juices. While chicken is cooking sauté jalapeños, onion and bacon until bacon is crispy. Place in small mixing bowl. Add shredded cheese, Parmesan, mayo/Greek yogurt and cream cheese. Mix together. Spread over cooked chicken. Sprinkle top with a little Parmesan and put back in oven for 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Parmesan cilantro corn:

3 cups corn

1 Tbsp garlic

1/2 cup Parmesan

Chopped cilantro

Sauté corn and garlic. Slowly sprinkle in cheese and allow to melt. Stir in cilantro and serve.

Finding New Strength

More like finding new muscles... I'm now just over a third of the way through my squats and abs challenges, which are beginning to really suck, and my entire body is telling me about it. I expected my thighs and abs to burn, but I've been surprised by the other soreness I'm experiencing... My back. It makes sense to me, but I just hadn't thought about it. And despite the additional soreness I'm feeling, I'm quite pleased to know that I am strengthening my back. I think it's an often overlooked area for people who are somewhat making things up as they go when it comes to working out (such as myself).

I had another good week of weight loss, and am now down a total of 6.5lbs! This weekend will be a good test of willpower as Sakief and I are headed to Dallas in the morning for a John Mayer concert. I'm pretty stoked for a little time away with him. It's been a rough week for both of us between work and school, and it will be nice for a brief reprieve from real life.

Playing Catch Up

It was a really good first week back.  I can't even describe how much better I feel.  And I'm down three pounds, so that helps!

I'm also only two pounds away from my first mini goal, so *fingers crossed* I'll hit that by next Friday.  I'm feeling pretty confident that I can.

However, I felt like I needed to give myself a little dose of reality, not to discourage myself, but for some addtional motivation.  I said last week that I wanted to lose 45lbs by Corrie's wedding.  Corrie's wedding is now 11 weeks (!!!!!!!) away (begin the countdown!).  If I am to actually lose the next 42 lbs before her big day that would equal about 3.8lbs per week.  Unlikely and improbable.  BUT, that just means I have to work my butt off to get as close as possible (without overdoing it of course). 

I've started a couple different month long programs to help me get back into the work out routine, a squats challenge and an ab challenge.  My coworker introduced me to them and said that the squats challenge really worked for her, slimming out her thighs and making her pants fit better.  I'm all for that! Both challenges are three days on, one day off for the month, so it's easy to do it all together and be done for the day.  I have also added an arm workout into it, so I'm getting a full body workout.  I still need to add cardio back into my routine, but it's all coming.

As per usual Sakief has been my biggest support.  He planned an incredibly delicious low carb menu for us this week, some of which I'll have to share when I have the time.  I think my favorite was the paleo-style lasagna.  We ended up using cheese (hence style), because it's just not lasagna without it, but yum!  We also had butter chicken with green beans (no rice), stuffed poblano peppers (vegetarian dish) and gumbo sans rice.  I'm pretty spoiled.  And it just goes to show that you can eat well, while eating well. Tonight is finally my turn to cook and I'm making spicy avocado enchiladas.  They are insanely good (we've had them once before) and I will definitely share the recipe.

He's also encouraging me in my workouts without pushing.  Despite the fact that my body feels better this week, I have been feeling sick off and on (maybe cold coming on, maybe allergies, who the heck knows!).  He's been running everyday, and always invites me to join.  Unfortunately I'm just not there yet, but I will be.  One day I really am going to finish the C25K program...

Today we are trying out a yoga studio.  They are donation only, which keeps cost for us low since we don't have to purchase a membership.  That's definitely something I miss from having my gym membership... the classes (mostly yoga). Here's to hoping we like it!

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!

I haven't blogged since April... What?!?

And I've suffered for it.

I won't do the whole "boo hoo, woe is me" bit because the fact of the matter is, it's my fault anyway. 

When you don't do the things that keep you accountable, you gain weight, simple as that. And the reality is that I've still lost a LOT of weight, so whatever.

However, this is still unacceptable, and I have three months to lose as much weight as I (safely) can before I walk down the aisle as maid of honor in Corrie's wedding. Hello motivation!

It's been interesting, because I could tell that I was gaining without stepping on the scale, and I know others noticed too, but no one said anything. Hopefully it's because you have the same faith in me that I have in myself, and that is, that I will still do this!

It isn't a ridiculous amount of weight, but enough that I don't really feel like sharing right now. 

I will say that I've set a rather lofty goal of losing 45 lbs before the wedding on September 21. Not very probable, but shoot for the moon, right?

I also want to be in a lower decade by two weeks from now.

I've made a lot of healthy living mistakes (or lack thereof) mistakes in the past few months, but I will fix it, and I will be better.

Stay tuned friends, and thanks for your continued support!

Salmon Cakes with Chipotle Mayo

As Sakief said tonight, "I like salmon, I like cake" so what's not to like?

I have to admit, I was skeptical before trying this recipe because I'm not typically a fan of canned meat. But seeing as how I've fallen in love with canned chicken (it's just so easy to use!), I figured it couldn't hurt to try the salmon. Then I opened the can and it looked (and sorta smelled) like cat food. I was not thrilled, but in the end I actually really loved this.

This is my take on another recipe I found on Pinterest. Honestly the only real substitution that I made was salmon for tuna. I love me some tuna (steaks, sushi), but canned tuna? No way, no how. Unless it's in my mom's tuna casserole. Noms. But I digress.

This tastes very much like a crab cake, and is essentially the same thing, but salmon instead of crab (or tuna for that matter). Each cake is quite large and has less than 200 calories (approximately, not including mayo).

For the cakes:

One can salmon (14.75 oz)
3 egg whites
1/4 cup bread crumbs (I used matzah meal again, it's what I have)
1/2 chopped onion
Old Bay
Salt
Pepper

Combine all ingredients. Shape into 4 equal patties. Cook in frying pan on medium heat with a tiny bit of olive oil. Brown each side.

For the mayo:

Mayo of choice (I love with olive oil)
Lime juice
Chili powder

Combine three ingredients to taste, whatever quantity.

Serve salmon cake with a dollop of mayo. Enjoy!

Sakief and I also tried a new salad dressing tonight, ranch from Bolthouse Farms. Bolthouse Farms dressings are yogurt based. I haven't tried others, but the ranch was incredible. Only 45 calories and 3g carbs per 2 Tbsp. Way better than any other "healthy" ranch I've tried before. My coworker introduced me to it, so I'm very grateful to her.