Fitness and Nutrition Update

So I wanted to give everyone that still reads this an update on the fitness and nutrition changes I've made. We got a new gym a few months ago (Planet Fitness) in Orem about a mile or so from my house. As soon as I saw the 'coming soon' signage I knew I wanted to join. Well I did it. And I've been going almost every day. And I'm freaking in LOVE.

When I was taking prednisone for my ears everyday I gained close to 50 fucking pounds. Anyone that has been on that for an extended period of time knows it's inevitable. There's nothing you can do to stop it, don't even try. Anyway, the extra weight on my 5'3" frame is obviously not a good thing. I had this idea in my head that once I stopped taking it the weight would come off on it's own naturally. It didn't. So I faced it and made a choice about a month ago and I knew the only way I would start to look and feel normal again was to work the weight off through the gym and change my diet. So I bought a gym pass and am doing just that.

Originally, my goal was to just get my ass to the gym 4 times a week. But now, I go in with a purpose and push myself a little harder each day. I have tried all of the cardio machines available. I've never been a big fan of the bikes and the treadmill is hard on my joints. I landed my heart on the Arc Trainer. I LOVE it. The first time I got on it I did 5 minutes and thought I was going to DIE. 2 days later I got back on and went 20. And now I am doing no less than 35 minutes each time. It is super low impact on my joints but it burns calories twice as fast as the treadmill or elliptical. If you've not tried one I seriously recommend it. I am dripping in sweat when I get off that thing. It's magic. In addition, I am doing the 30 min full body circuit training they have set up 3x per week. That's good too and I feel my body (especially my back) getting stronger.

As far as my diet goes, that has completely changed. I used to eat 2 maybe 3 meals containing tons of processed crap a day. I've cut out everything processed. My diet consists of mostly fruits, vegetables, and whole wheats and grains. And I eat 5 small meals/snacks a day. I didn't (and don't plan to) cut out Coke and Dr. Pepper. That's not a realistic goal for me. I just seriously cut down. I have one can with lunch. I keep track of all my food intake and exercise on MyFitnessPal.com. Since I've made these changes (roughly around the 4th of January) I've lost 8 pounds. Go me go! I am sleeping a bit better at night and I don't eat based on emotion or what 'sounds good' anymore. I think of food as fuel now and it's changed everything. I'll do another update in a week.

In the last week....

I've fallen in love with these things!

  

Gym Magic

Blogger Tips Tutorial

So I seem to get quite a few inquiries each time I redesign my blog on how I do it and if I have any tips to give. First off THANK YOU! And it's got me thinking I want to put together a tutorial with tips and step by step instructions on how to create cool headers with cute fonts, how to add stat counters, pages, etc. This would be specific to the Blogger (Blogspot) platform because this is what I use. I am thinking of a video tutorial and/or instruction manual with screen shots. Would you guys be interested in something like this? Also, would you pay cash monies for it? What other things would you be interested in learning how to do with your blog? Let me know what you think in the comments or on my Facebook page.

Welcome 2012: Magic

Hello 2012! And welcome to my newly designed blog! I'm really excited for the new year! Instead of coming up with a list of resolutions on ways I will improve my life over the next year, I've decided to participate in the one word focus challenge I've seen going around the blogosphere. Basically, you pick a word and focus on it throughout the entire year. I debated on several words the last few weeks: warmth, strength, happy. But ultimately I decided to go with the word magic.

The last few years have been rough for me. I have focused more on all of the negative things around me more than ever before. Moving forward I want to focus on the more positive things in my life: things that make me smile, things that make me happy, things that are good for me, things that are magic. I'm going to do my best to post at least once a week on the magic in my life, but if it doesn't happen then so be it. I'm also going to be trying to do more book reviews.

So, to start things off, the weather right now is magic. Seriously. It's January and 43 degrees! It's been like this for weeks! No snow, no freezing my ass off when I get in the car, ahhh I love it!

Magic  is all of my shows starting up again after the holiday break like Biggest Loser, and Grey's Anatomy. Magic is falling in love with new shows like The Walking Dead and 2 Broke Girls.

It's been fun seeing everyone post about their resolutions and if you don't have anything in the works yet think about doing the word challenge. It's not as overwhelming as a big long list of things to do! Happy New Year everyone!

BBQ Chicken Pita Pizza

This is delicious!

BBQ Chicken Pita Pizza
Pita pockets - store bought
Chicken breast
BBQ sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Purple onions, thinly sliced
Grated Parmesan cheese
Pineapple
Cilantro, fresh
Crushed red pepper
Salt

Boil the chicken until cooked and then cut into chunks. Sprinkle pitas with Parmesan cheese and toast in oven until golden brown. Layer on your favorite BBQ sauce, shredded mozzarella, chicken, pineapple, purple onions, and chopped cilantro. Season with crushed red pepper and salt. Warm in the oven until the cheese is melted.

I like to make up a bunch of them then freeze them for later! They are awesome that way!

Fried Green Tuna-mato

So I've been trying to cook a bit more lately and this is my newest creation! I call it Fried Green Tuna-mato. Basically it's a fried green tomato with tuna on top.  I don't measure when I make cook, but here's my best recipe.

Fried Green Tuna-mato
3 cans of chunk white tuna, in water
3 green tomatoes
3 eggs
2 C bread crumbs
1 C grated parmesean cheese
Mayo
Garlic Powder
Salt
Pepper
Oil for frying

Open tuna and drain water. Mix with a few tablespoons of mayo. Add salt and pepper to taste, put in refrigerator. Mix bread crumbs with parmesan cheese, add garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Beat three eggs in separate bowl, set aside. Clean and slice tomatoes into thick slices. Maybe 3/4 of an inch.

Heat up your oil. I like to do this in a skillet type pan, so there is about a 1/2-3/4 inch of oil. Dredge your tomato slices in the eggs then in the bread crumbs and cheese, then fry them in the hot oil until they are golden brown. Remove from the oil and put on a paper towel to drain excess oil. Top with cold tuna and serve. Yum!!

Me circa October iPhone Pictures

Hii! I'm still here, just super busy! So here's what I've been up to circa iPhone pictures.

My Dad and I went to Aussie Pink Floyd. OMG it was AWESOME! I loved it! 

And he sucks at picture taking. Haha. 

I cut my hair! And I love it! My friend Nikki did such a good job! 

 Nutella. It has a gold seal so you know it's good.

 I broke in these boots. They are bad ass. 

These are the boots I will wear when I am an old lady, like in Sons of Anarchy. 

Don't laugh. I'm totally serious.

 Work: Been there a month and I love it! I'm busy all the time and my coworkers are the best! 

I listen to Adele and Mumford & Sons exclusively now. Seriously, exclusively. 

I love them so much I can't even handle it. 

If you don't have these two albums you are cuhrazy. 

Go buy them ASAP.

 I do artwork now. That's hanging above my bed and I wish it were bigger. That's what she said. BOOM.

 I still love this little shit.

I'm reading these books. I'm also cooking and redecorating my room/bathroom, 

but I'll do separate posts for those. Stay tuned!

Movies I want to see

Contraband


Man On A Ledge


Ides of March


Underworld 4: Awakening