Calories Burned with Jillian Michaels Body Revolution 90-Day Program

I posted this a few months ago, and I totally didn't keep up with it.  I will be starting the entire program over on Monday, July 29th.  I know that I will see incredible changes in my body, if I would just keep at it!!  It's time to tell my family, "Sorry, I can't." more often, and keep to my schedule.  It's 90 DAYS!  There is NO reason I can't do this!  Morgan and I will be starting a little friendly 2-month challenge on August 1st.  The lesser loser of the two will be buying the other a $10 gift certificate to somewhere like Target or Barnes and Noble or something like that.  A little competition between friends is a great way to keep each other on track.  I really hope to keep at this.  If I start on the 29th, and keep at it, I can be enjoying my new body by October 27th!  I'm getting my diet back on track right now and start my workouts on Monday.



Ok, so I'm going to keep this post and update it with each workout. Now that I have my HRM, and it's working, I'll be able to see exactly how many calories I burn each 30 minutes spent with Ms. Michaels.

**The totals up for now are there just for my reference, so I can compare and make sure I'm really, really pushing myself!!**

Week 1 -
Monday - Workout 1
Tuesday - Workout 2
Wednesday - Cardio 1
Thursday - Workout 1 - 466 Calories Burned!
Friday - Workout 2 -
Saturday - Cardio 1 - 441 Calories Burned!
Sunday - Rest

Week 2 -
Monday - Workout 1 - 471 Calories Burned!
Tuesday - Workout 2 - 495 Calories Burned! - Would have been more if the HRM would have been working from the get go, but I had to re-wet the pads a few times. =/
Wednesday - Cardio 1 - GOAL - 500 Calories, that would be 59 more calories than Saturday! I can do it!
Thursday - Workout 1 -
Friday - Workout 2 -
Saturday - Cardio 1 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 3 -
Monday - Workout 3 -
Tuesday - Workout 4 -
Wednesday - Cardio 1 -
Thursday - Workout 3 -
Friday - Workout 4 -
Saturday - Cardio 1 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 4 -
Monday - Workout 3 -
Tuesday - Workout 4 -
Wednesday - Cardio 1 -
Thursday - Workout 3 -
Friday - Workout 4 -
Saturday - Cardio 1 -
Sunday - Rest - END OF PHASE 1

Week 5 -
Monday - Workout 5 -
Tuesday - Workout 6 -
Wednesday - Cardio 2 -
Thursday - Workout 5 -
Friday - Workout 6 -
Saturday - Cardio 2 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 6 -
Monday - Workout 5 -
Tuesday - Workout 6 -
Wednesday - Cardio 2 -
Thursday - Workout 5 -
Friday - Workout 6 -
Saturday - Cardio 2 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 7 -
Monday - Workout 7 -
Tuesday - Workout 8 -
Wednesday - Cardio 2 -
Thursday - Workout 7 -
Friday - Workout 8 -
Saturday - Cardio 2 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 8 -
Monday - Workout 7 -
Tuesday - Workout 8 -
Wednesday - Cardio 2 -
Thursday - Workout 7 -
Friday - Workout 8 -
Saturday - Cardio 2 -
Sunday - Rest - END OF PHASE 2

Week 9 -
Monday - Workout 9 -
Tuesday - Workout 10 -
Wednesday - Cardio 3 -
Thursday - Workout 9 -
Friday - Workout 10 -
Saturday - Cardio 3 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 10 -
Monday - Workout 9 -
Tuesday - Workout 10 -
Wednesday - Cardio 3 -
Thursday - Workout 9 -
Friday - Workout 10 -
Saturday - Cardio 3 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 11 -
Monday - Workout 11 -
Tuesday - Workout 12 -
Wednesday - Cardio 3 -
Thursday - Workout 11 -
Friday - Workout 12 -
Saturday - Cardio 3 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 12 -
Monday - Workout 11 -
Tuesday - Workout 12 -
Wednesday - Cardio 3 -
Thursday - Workout 11 -
Friday - Workout 12 -
Saturday - Cardio 3 -
Sunday - Rest - END OF PHASE 3 and 90-DAY PROGRAM!

Jillian Michaels Body Revolution Calories Burned Per Workout

Ok, so I'm going to keep this post and update it with each workout.  Now that I have my HRM, and it's working, I'll be able to see exactly how many calories I burn each 30 minutes spent with Ms. Michaels.



Week 1 -
Monday - Workout 1
Tuesday - Workout 2
Wednesday - Cardio 1
Thursday - Workout 1 - 466 Calories Burned!
Friday - Workout 2 -
Saturday - Cardio 1 - 441 Calories Burned!
Sunday - Rest

I didn't have the HRM until Saturday, and with opposite work schedules, I didn't get all my workouts in.  I did workout 1 on Monday without tracking and workout 2 on Wednesday without tracking, cardio 1 and workout 1 both on Saturday and that is what was recorded.  Week 2's schedule should allow me to work out as planned.  HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE, PEOPLE!!  =)

Week 2 -
Monday - Workout 1 - 471 Calories Burned!
Tuesday - Workout 2 - 495 Calories Burned! - Would have been more if the HRM would have been working from the get go, but I had to re-wet the pads a few times.  =/
Wednesday - Cardio 1 - GOAL - 500 Calories, that would be 59 more calories than Saturday!  I can do it!
Thursday - Workout 1 -
Friday - Workout 2 -
Saturday - Cardio 1 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 3 -
Monday - Workout 3 -
Tuesday - Workout 4 -
Wednesday - Cardio 1 -
Thursday - Workout 3 -
Friday - Workout 4 -
Saturday - Cardio 1 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 4 -
Monday - Workout 3 -
Tuesday - Workout 4 -
Wednesday - Cardio 1 -
Thursday - Workout 3 -
Friday - Workout 4 -
Saturday - Cardio 1 -
Sunday - Rest - END OF PHASE 1

Week 5 -
Monday - Workout 5 -
Tuesday - Workout 6 -
Wednesday - Cardio 2 -
Thursday - Workout 5 -
Friday - Workout 6 -
Saturday - Cardio 2 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 6 -
Monday - Workout 5 -
Tuesday - Workout 6 -
Wednesday - Cardio 2 -
Thursday - Workout 5 -
Friday - Workout 6 -
Saturday - Cardio 2 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 7 -
Monday - Workout 7 -
Tuesday - Workout 8 -
Wednesday - Cardio 2 -
Thursday - Workout 7 -
Friday - Workout 8 -
Saturday - Cardio 2 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 8 -
Monday - Workout 7 -
Tuesday - Workout 8 -
Wednesday - Cardio 2 -
Thursday - Workout 7 -
Friday - Workout 8 -
Saturday - Cardio 2 -
Sunday - Rest - END OF PHASE 2

Week 9 -
Monday - Workout 9 -
Tuesday - Workout 10 -
Wednesday - Cardio 3 -
Thursday - Workout 9 -
Friday - Workout 10 -
Saturday - Cardio 3 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 10 -
Monday - Workout 9 -
Tuesday - Workout 10 -
Wednesday - Cardio 3 -
Thursday - Workout 9 -
Friday - Workout 10 -
Saturday - Cardio 3 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 11 -
Monday - Workout 11 -
Tuesday - Workout 12 -
Wednesday - Cardio 3 -
Thursday - Workout 11 -
Friday - Workout 12 -
Saturday - Cardio 3 -
Sunday - Rest

Week 12 -
Monday - Workout 11 -
Tuesday - Workout 12 -
Wednesday - Cardio 3 -
Thursday - Workout 11 -
Friday - Workout 12 -
Saturday - Cardio 3 -
Sunday - Rest - END OF PHASE 3 and 90-DAY PROGRAM!

Weigh-In Wednesday 15 days to Goal 1

I am sitting at 159.  That is down .8 lb from yesterday, so I suppose that means I'm back in it, but that it is time to PUSH!  I do have a heart rate monitor now, that I will be using religiously to track calories burned.  I also need to get back to measuring, weighing and tracking all my food.  I think I can drop another 10 lbs which would put me only 4 lbs away from my goal.  I would consider that a win...especially since I took about a week off because I pulled my bicep, and it made it very difficult to keep up with Jillian's program.

Even though I'm only down 2 lbs since my last weigh-in, I am down another 3.25 total inches which brings me to a total of 13.50 total inches in just 7 weeks!  That's pretty awesome!  I hope to be down some more by my next weigh in which will be May 8th.  That will be 60 days since I started my diet and 30 days since I started my Jillian Program.  I should also include that Jillian's program is going to be more like a 104-Day program.  I tried to do the 3rd workout, and it was next to impossible for me, so I decided to start the program from the 1st workout, again.  Workouts should be hard, but they shouldn't be a struggle.  Struggling through a workout can not only cause injury, but you really don't get as much out of it as you should be.  If you don't have proper form because you simply don't have the strength to perform properly, that's not going to do much for you.  SO, anyway, back to the beginning to build up my strength before moving on.

In case you were thinking, "Third workout?!  I thought she said she's been doing this for a few weeks?!"  Here is how Jillian's Program is set up:

Week 1 -
Monday - Workout 1
Tuesday - Workout 2
Wednesday - Cardio 1
Thursday - Workout 1
Friday - Workout 2
Saturday - Cardio 1
Sunday - Rest

Week 2 -
Monday - Workout 1
Tuesday - Workout 2
Wednesday - Cardio 1
Thursday - Workout 1
Friday - Workout 2
Saturday - Cardio 1
Sunday - Rest

Week 3 -
Monday - Workout 3
Tuesday - Workout 4
Wednesday - Cardio 1
Thursday - Workout 3
Friday - Workout 4
Saturday - Cardio 1
Sunday - Rest

Week 4 -
Monday - Workout 3
Tuesday - Workout 4
Wednesday - Cardio 1
Thursday - Workout 3
Friday - Workout 4
Saturday - Cardio 1
Sunday - Rest - END OF PHASE 1

Week 5 -
Monday - Workout 5
Tuesday - Workout 6
Wednesday - Cardio 2
Thursday - Workout 5
Friday - Workout 6
Saturday - Cardio 2
Sunday - Rest

Week 6 -
Monday - Workout 5
Tuesday - Workout 6
Wednesday - Cardio 2
Thursday - Workout 5
Friday - Workout 6
Saturday - Cardio 2
Sunday - Rest

Week 7 -
Monday - Workout 7
Tuesday - Workout 8
Wednesday - Cardio 2
Thursday - Workout 7
Friday - Workout 8
Saturday - Cardio 2
Sunday - Rest

Week 8 -
Monday - Workout 7
Tuesday - Workout 8
Wednesday - Cardio 2
Thursday - Workout 7
Friday - Workout 8
Saturday - Cardio 2
Sunday - Rest - END OF PHASE 2

Week 9 -
Monday - Workout 9
Tuesday - Workout 10
Wednesday - Cardio 3
Thursday - Workout 9
Friday - Workout 10
Saturday - Cardio 3
Sunday - Rest

Week 10 -
Monday - Workout 9
Tuesday - Workout 10
Wednesday - Cardio 3
Thursday - Workout 9
Friday - Workout 10
Saturday - Cardio 3
Sunday - Rest

Week 11 -
Monday - Workout 11
Tuesday - Workout 12
Wednesday - Cardio 3
Thursday - Workout 11
Friday - Workout 12
Saturday - Cardio 3
Sunday - Rest

Week 12 -
Monday - Workout 11
Tuesday - Workout 12
Wednesday - Cardio 3
Thursday - Workout 11
Friday - Workout 12
Saturday - Cardio 3
Sunday - Rest - END OF PHASE 3 and 90-DAY PROGRAM!

I know it seems like a lot, but each workout is only 30 minutes, so there's no reason you can't make time.  And when you're in it...they go by SO quickly!  I'll be tracking my calories burned starting today, so I'll update this with how many calories I burn in each session to give you guys a better idea of just HOW AWESOME her program is.

And, just because I've ALWAYS hated my arms (I mean always, I think there was one time in my life that I wore a tank top out without a cardigan...I'm 28), so I've been adding THIS 10-minute arm toning workout to my program 3 times a week.  Seriously...TEN MINUTES!!!  That's all it takes, and your arms will be burning!!!  Actually, they'll be burning about 3 minutes in, and don't stop until about 5 minutes after you've put down the weights.  If you have strong arms, stick with the 5s and 3s like they suggest.  If you're just starting out...stick with the 3s until you can make through the entire 10 minutes without having to rest or slow down.  I thought I could handle it, and since I don't have 5s...I did 8s and 3s.  Bad idea.  That is how I pulled my bicep, and it set me back almost an entire week, and kept me from hitting my goal.  =/  But seriously, THIS workout is NO JOKE!!!!  I absolutely love it!  When I mix it in with Jillian's shoulder work, well, let's just see, I'm seeing some results, and that makes me happier than anything!!!

I'm so happy to be back on track.  And I'm glad that I blogged today.  I was feeling down because I knew that I had made attainable goals, and I wasn't going to reach them, but this blog helped me put it into perspective.  Ten pounds isn't a TON of weight to lose, and I know I can do that!  AND losing 10 lbs will put me within 4 lbs of my goal!!  That is totally acceptable, and keep my goal attainable.  I feel so good about that, and because I feel good, that means I'll get my workout in today, I'll give it 110%, and I won't cheat (like I was feeling like maybe I wanted to do today).  Lots of chicken and broccoli in my future, and I'm totally ok with that!  =)

Keep working hard, and don't give up!  You will get what you give.  You will see results.  You will knock down barriers.  You will achieve your goals.  You will do it all because you are stronger than you ever thought you were.

Now go eat a healthy meal and workout!  =D

Weigh-In Wednesday - 31 Days to Goal 1

So, I weighed in this morning at 161.6.  =/

I cheated a little bit yesterday with some crackers in the morning and a piece of bread last night.  Obviously, this just goes to show that my body REALLY can't metabolize carbs yet.  Even though I am working out more now, it's just not enough.  Time to really get down to it, and no more cheating!  Not even a little because it is going to show on the scale, and make it impossible to hit my first goal.  Now, I know that it's not supposed to be about the number on the scale but about how my clothes fit and how I feel.  Well, I definitely feel better, and my clothes are starting to sag a little bit, but I'm not really near the point of needing to buy new clothes yet, or even fitting into the clothes that I fit into a few years ago and haven't gotten rid of yet because I knew the day was going to come when I made the change and was going to need smaller sizes.  For me, it is most important right now to lose the fat.  Even if I was stronger and more fit, I don't intend for the number on the scale to EVER be above 140 ever again.

What makes me happiest right now is that I know the inches are coming off.  After measuring on Monday and seeing that I was down 10.25 total inches, well, that was awesome for me.  I can also see some definition lines coming in on my arms and my back and my legs.  Talk about motivation!! 

I'm only 10 days in, and today is cardio day, which I don't love with Jillian, and I couldn't be happier that it's only 30 minutes.  Knowing that I'm up a pound, well, that is going to force me to go 150% today, and totally crush it.

I know that I can do this.  I have the willpower and I have finally found the motivation, so now is the time.  I really don't want to be in jeans all Summer again.  I do intend to add daily (or every other day if the doggies pads can't handle every day) walks into the mix as soon as it warms up again, and that will definitely help.  Just that little extra bit of cardio does a body good.

No more cheats (no more how small) and adding a little extra to the workout.  Going to hit my goal!  16.6 to 21.6 pounds to go, 31 days to do it!  There is absolutely no reason this can't be achieved!!

If anyone is interested in purchasing Jillian's workout, I highly recommend it.  It's just like every other 90-Day program, except that it is low impact at first.  It allows you to ease into things instead of pushing you so hard from the beginning that it is hard to commit because you don't feel like you're good enough, strong enough or capable enough.  She talks you through it all, and motivates you.  She lets you know that it's OK if you can't do more just yet because she knows you'll get there.  She wants you to push it as hard as you can, add more weight, add plyo, make it more difficult and really challenge yourself, but she doesn't make you feel badly if you can't, and she reassures you that it is a 90-day program, and you'll get there.  I think that's what I'm most looking forward to.  Being able to complete a workout using all the highest difficulty modifications, and if I don't get there in 90-days, I can just start the entire 90 days over again, and increase the difficulty until I do get there.  The program is 120 bucks, and worth every single penny.  If you don't want to drop that much money right out the gate, you can do a payment plan.  You can have her program in your home for just 45 bucks, and get started.

If you want to try a few of her workouts before you buy, let me know, and I'd be happy to switch my workout time to a time that would work for you (as long as I'm not at work) and Skype the workout.  Meaning, we'd call each other up, and when it's time to work out, I'll point the computer and the tv, and we can work out together.  Great way to make sure this is a program that you think will work for you, and a great way to sort of have a workout buddy.

Here's the link to Jillian's Total Body Revolution.  Definitely check it out!

Cutting out Carbs!

Ok, so I just weighed myself this morning. I'm at 162. That puts me down like 13 pounds since I started the diet 29 days ago.  Not too bad, but, unfortunately, that's only a 3 pound loss for this 2nd Cycle. My body just doesn't metabolize carbs, dammit! So, I had added in some quinoa and stuff like that, but it's just not going to work for me. I will definitely add carbs back into my life when I'm maintaining, but for now...not going to work. I've still got 45 pounds I want to lose, and 3 pounds every 2 weeks just isn't going to cut it. I want to be in shorts and tank tops this Summer, I want to go hiking, and swimming, and rafting, learning how to rock climb, etc.  There are so many outdoor activities that I want to be a part of, but I'm SO self-conscious about my body and my fitness level, that right now, I'm just not comfortable trying them.  I have also decided that my new goal is to tackle The Incline on Labor Day Weekend.  I know Morgan and I had discussed a possible trip out here for her and Nick on that weekend...maybe we can do it together if that trip does work out??  I'm so glad that Morgan posted Facebook about her weight loss a few weeks ago because we've been talking and she has REALLY been holding me accountable.  I let her know when I should be done with my workout, and if I legit feel awful if she texts me and I haven't done it yet!!  Definitely found my motivation within her, and it feels good.  I'm excited about getting down to business and feeling good and like I can tackle ANYTHING!!!

Starting weight as of 4/8 (start of the diet): 174.8
Current weight: 162
Goal to Hit by 5/10: 140-145
Pounds to go: 17-22!

I can do this.  I WILL do this.  =D

The 17-Day Diet Works! Down 10 lbs!

So, I'm officially down 10 lbs since I started the 17-Day Diet last Thursday night.  I weighed in this morning at 164.8.  That is 10 lbs in 8 full days!  I'm so proud of myself for sticking to the diet!  The first phase is difficult, especially since I'm not a fish fan.  It basically leaves me with lean poultry and veggies, and occasional fat-free cheese.  It's not easy to cut out starches cold-turkey like that, I won't begin to tell you that it is, but if you can just commit to 17 days, not even a full 3 weeks, you will see the weight come off, and it will motivate you to keep going.  Plus, it's only 17 days, and then you get to add some foods back.  Then in another 17 days, you get to add even more.  And then you just maintain.  It's the easiest diet in the world.  My Aunt lost 36 lbs doing it, and my friend's mom (who was basically my 2nd mom growing up) lost 40lbs!  The only exercise they added as the foods were added back was walking.  I need to start Jillian!  It was my plan to start on Monday, but having this puppy is making things very difficult.  I've got to plan it just right, so as soon as he falls asleep, I get started and hope to God he doesn't wake up.

I finally feel like I'm getting on track here.  Time to keep it up, and keep going and add some real exercise besides an occasional walk with the dogs, which doesn't really constitute as a walk because Frankie doesn't quite know how to walk on a leash just yet.

10 lbs down!  Woo-hoo!

Stress and a bout of depression = Pretty major weight gain =/

Well, it's been a rough year so far...and it's only March!  During the Holidays, I found out that my boyfriend's brother no longer wanted his 10 year old pitbull, Tarus.  How anyone can decide they no longer want a dog after 10 freaking years is beyond me!  Needless to say, I no longer have a relationship with Stephen.  I can't deal with that kind of asshole.  Anyway, James and I took the Tarus in (even though we knew it was not a great idea because he and our cancer doggy Zeus did not get along), and started the hunt for a safe place for Tarus to go.  On the 3rd day, we noticed blood in the urine, so we had to get him to the vet.  There was a possible mass in his bladder, but we didn't have the money to do the tests, so I started a Chip-In.  I was absolutely amazed and humbled by the outpouring of love and donations for this sweet boy.  Before we could get him back in to the vet, I got the most wonderful email!  Heather, the director of Rifle Animal Shelter, said she had room!  So, my sister and I loaded up and drove pretty much the entire length of the state to drop off Tarus and his over $300 in donations.  Sadly, a little more than a week after we took Tarus to this wonderful place, it was found that the mass was cancer, and the recommendation was to let him go.  Very heartbreaking, for sure.  To add to it, just 2 days prior, my sister had to let her Ripley go after 11 years of loving that crazy, crazy animal.  AND then, just 2 1/2 weeks after that, our cancer doggy Zeus lost his battle.  One of his tumors ruptured, and despite our best efforts to keep him happy and comfortable, he gave up, and we had to let him go.  Very hard for me, who had loved this gentle giant for almost 3 years...nearly impossible for my boyfriend, who had loved him for over 11 years.  So...that was a rough couple of weeks, but then to top it all off, just 4 days after I let go of a best friend, I received news that another best (human) friend had taken his own life.  This one is still weighing very heavily on my heart.  Jordan was such an important person, and such a constant in my life from the time I was 16 years old.  How many people can say that someone they met when they were 16 was still important after 13 years?  I'm completely heartbroken about it, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to fully, fully recover from it.  He was very important, and we had a relationship unlike any I've ever had before.  Just two people that had mutual respect for one another, and despite hard times and immature moments, that respect never dwindled.  I will miss him forever.

And, while it is as big of a deal considering all of ^---------that!  James' truck died on the Friday after Zeus and before Jordan.  So, we've been sharing one vehicle for the past 2 1/2 weeks, and it is awful.

A little bit of good news (but also stressful) is that we got a new puppy!  We named him Frankenstein, and he is precious.  It wouldn't be so bad if James would stop spoiling him, and making him sleep in his crate instead of cuddled up on the couch.  We can cuddle after he's house trained and Fallynn (our sweet baby that rather preferred being the only dog in the house) trusts him.  We've only had him for 5 days, so obviously, it's going to take more time.

So, onto the issue at hand...Stress = Weight gain.  Duh, we all knew that, right?  Well, in the last month and a week, I have gained 10 pounds!  My current weight is at 173, and I have OFFICIALLY hit my heaviest.  Unacceptable.  I looked in the mirror the other day, and stopped.  I said to myself, "Ok.  I'm fat.  There is just no other way around it.  Not chubby.  Not chunky.  Not heavy.  Nope.  Fat.  I am fat."  The moment that I was this brutally honest with myself, I felt a sense of relief.  Yesterday, I went grocery shopping, and only bought things on the first phase food list for the 17-Day Diet.  I'm fully committing to this.  Last time, I committed myself, I lost 10 pounds in the first 17 days.  Excellent.  I would love nothing more than to be back down to where I was at the beginning of the year in a little over 2 weeks.  I have already explained to James that I need him to stay away from my food.  When I cook, I will cook for both of us, but the leftovers are mine.  He is free to bring into the house whatever he would like, but he is not free to eat the food on my diet since it is crucial that I have my foods available to me.  This first 17 days, there are no substitutes.  This is detox time.  I will be living on poultry (since I don't like fish, unfortunately), veggies, and a few servings of fruit and a few glasses of heart healthy milk...that's it!  I need to cleanse my system, so I can feel better.  I need to get over the hump this weekend, so other than walking the dogs a few times a  day, I won't be including much exercise time.  I know, I know.  If you've ever done this diet, the first couple of days suck the most.  Especially if you're addicted to diet coke like me.  Quitting that cold turkey brings on migraine like headaches.  I plan to get over that, and then start Jillian Michael's Body Revolution all over AGAIN, on Monday!  No excuses this time!  All I need to do is look in the mirror, and I have my motivation.  Right now, this is not about about how I want to look...it's about how I DON'T want to look.  I feel disgusting, flabby, like a blob of wasted space right now.  Time to make some changes, and knock out this bout of depression brought on by some really crappy events.

2013 has really started out to be a crap year.  I hope that I can turn that around and make 2013 the year that I can say, "I hit my goal weight!"  And hopefully, 2014 will be the year I get to say, "I hit and STAYED at my ideal weight!"

I have also decided that I will be posting my healthy, 1st Phase acceptable recipes.  It should be assumed that if I don't post a recipe...I had a salad (romaine/spinach mixture) with fat free cheddar cheese, some sliced deli turkey, a few hard chow mein noodles for some crunch, a sliced hardboiled egg white, and a dressing of red or white wine vinegar with a tbsp of Ranch.

Here is the healthy meatloaf that I made last night.  I made a few changes.  I used ALL lean turkey instead of half turkey, half beef...no red meat this first 17 days.  And I used a few extra bread crumbs (not much at all, just a heaping instead of perfectly leveled cup) since I forgot the buy parsley.  I thought it was really good, and I think I'll like it even more as leftovers because it was just a touch more moist than I prefer.  That may have not happened had I had a darker beer than Blue Moon, and if I had remembered to pick up parsley.

Blue Ribbon Meatloaf

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons canola or light olive oil
• 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
• 12 ounces dark or amber beer
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• black ground pepper, to taste
• 1 1/4 pounds organic lean ground beef
• 1 1/4 pounds organic lean ground turkey
• 1 cup soft whole-wheat bread crumbs
• 1/4 cups fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 large egg, whites only, lightly beaten

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until translucent and starting to brown, about 5 minutes.

3. Pour in beer and increase heat to high. Bring to a vigorous boil; cook until the liquid is quite thick and the mixture reduces to about 3/4 cup, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

4. Stir in thyme, dry mustard, salt and pepper. Let cool for 10 minutes.

5. Add beef, turkey, breadcrumbs, parsley, egg and egg white to the onion mixture.

6. With clean hands, mix thoroughly and transfer to the prepared pan.

7. Bake the meatloaf until an instant-read thermometer registers 160°F when inserted into the center, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes; drain accumulated liquid from the pan and slice.

Makes 8 servings.

Nutrition Facts
Calories: 259                           Saturated Fat: 2 g                   Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Total Fat: 9 g                           Sodium: 339 mg                      Protein: 31 g
Cholesterol: 105 mg                Total Carbohydrate: 11 g

Bring it on 2013!

Well, I weighed in at 162.8.  How about that?!  Holiday meals and cookies and alcohol, and I lost weight?!  Great way to start the New Year!  So, my New Year's resolution is one we've all heard before: lose weight and quit smoking.  I know, right?  So cliche!  But it is so necessary.  I'm going to be 30 in less than a year and a half.  I envisioned my 30th birthday being spent in Vegas with my amazing boyfriend and all my besties.  I see myself wearing a flowy button up with sequined hot pants (it's going to be hot in Vegas in May).  If I were to wear this now...I'd be showing off more cellulite than even Kim Kardashian could be proud of.  I've got all the tools I need to make this happen.  I have Pinterest and it's endless supply of workouts, motivation, and healthful recipes, own Jillian's Body Revolution, a cable, free weights, etc, I have a supportive boyfriend, and I have this blog.

Best motivation over the holidays (besides losing 2 pounds), looking through my Christmas present from my Aunt.  She compiled pictures of every year of our lives and made these really great photo albums for us.  It was amazing to look back  and remember what an amazing (ly chubby) childhood I had.  It made me miss the days when I ran around in a bathing suit every single day (ages 2-5), the house I grew up in, the dogs of my past, my friends, high school, my grandparents, etc.  It was also a nice reminder that, DAMN, I wasn't just thinking I was a heavy kid...I really was.  It was pretty sad turning page after page, and seeing double chin after double chin.  It was a nice motivating factor.  Man, wouldn't it be nice to look back and think, I was a chubby kid, but look how far I have come?!  And you know, I may have been chubby, but I was always active between swimming, playing tennis and softball practically year-round, so it's not like I was all that unhealthy...I was just a big kid.  And it's time to turn it all around.  I refuse to be heavy from age 6 until I die.  Time to get serious about this.

Vegas, baby, Vegas! 5/19/2014

Seriously........motivation. Where are you???

Why-oh-Why can I not find my motivation?  I want to be thin.  I do.  I want to be healthy.  I want to be happy.  I want to be comfortable in my skin.  I do NOT want to rely on my boyfriend complimenting me in order to feel good about myself.  It's a ridiculous notion, and I'm completely aware it, yet...I do not thing to fix the problem.  Instead I continue to drop a few measly pounds just to put them right back on.  How do I do this?  How do I lose the weight?  Why can't I hold myself accountable?  I weighed myself this morning (quickly becasuse I was running late...as usual) wearing a pair of jeans, a tshirt, and a hoodie.  I came in at 166.6.  Ugh.  I'm sure that naked, it would be closer to 163, but that means that I put back on the 5 pounds that I just lost that put me down to 158.  My double chin is showing up in pictures again, and my arms look SO gross that I'm not sure I'll ever be in a tank top ever (and I mean ever, other than the 2 times I wore a tank top in my WHOLE life).  I feel disgusting...you would think that would be enough to push me to make the change!  I'm not really sure what the problem is, and I can't seem to gain any control here, and I can't seem to take responsiblity to fix it!  I mean, obviously, I'm not eating healthfully, and I'm not working out; so I guess I DO know WHAT the problem is.  Today is Monday, today I start Jillian again.  I'm going to knock it out, and then I'm going to write a blog about it, so that I'm held accountable!  If there isn't a blog post tonight, then you know I failed, and I suck at life.  Let's Do This!!!!!  This girl and this outfit are my current inspiration.  Let's see if the thought that I COULD actually pull off this look (if I'd just put in the f-ing work) motivates me to lose the weight!

 

 

To those of you reading this...I mean, there must be at least one person, right??  Please feel free to comment with any ideas for motivation that worked for you (or are currently working for you).  I could really use it right now.

Where is my mind?!

I don't know what my deal/problem is, but I cannot seem to stay on my diet!  Tulo and Giambi were playing down with the Sky Sox this week, so that meant two nights at the ballpark...which meant 2 terrible dinners at the bar, and last night 2 beers.  Ugh.  I don't know why, but I have absolutely no willpower.  It should have been easy to grab a salad on the way to the game, eat it in the parking lot, and drink a bottle of water at the game, but nope, I opted for fried chicken tenders, french fries and a very large diet coke the first night, and the overloaded nachos and 2 beers the second.  I will be in Vegas and then off to a wedding in ONE WEEK!  I'm nowhere closer to my goal of 150.  I weighed myself this morning and was at 161.5.  Ugh!!!  I'm so annoyed with myself.  Today, I get back on the diet and stop screwing around.  No carbs, no sugar, and NO ALCOHOL!  Obviously, this is all going to go out the window when we're in Vegas (who doesn't drink free beer when they're gambling??), so I've GOT to get on the ball NOW!!  I'll weigh in on Wednesday, the day before we leave, and if you don't hear from me before then, that's a GOOD thing!  It means I stuck to it, and stayed on my diet!

Have a fabulous Labor Day Weekend!

Whoa...time to get down to business

Alright, so it has been more than 90 days since I posted that I was start Jillian.  Unfortunately, I fell off the wagon...twice...so I'm no where NEAR my goal!  =/  I was sticking with it because I wanted to look good for the family reunion, BUT then the family reunion came, and we were drinking and eating pizza, etc.  THEN 2 days after the reunion was over it was back to Illinois and Indiana for a wedding.  That just added the El Ranch, Pagliai's, Steak 'n' Shake (twice), and NO working out the entire time.  I hit my all time heaviest fluctuating between 167 and 170, and I kind of wanted to die.  SO as soon as I got back from Illinois, I got back on The 17 Day Diet and started eating right again. I lost 8 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks.  Then, a few friends came to visit from Illinois, and went back off the diet.  Happily (and luckily), I only put back on 1 pound, and I'm holding steady at 160 (162 during that "totm").  As soon as we go grocery shopping, I'll be able to get fully back on the diet (cutting out all the carbs and sugar, again), and hopefully losing some more weight. 

The big thing for me is all the crappy snack food taunting me at work.  I HATE working with a 40 yr old and a 60 yr old that don't give a shit about their health because it makes it SO hard for me to turn down the individual bags of chips and cookies that they're always snacking on.  I have asked Sam to buy me carrots and always make sure there is plenty of water, but it still gets really hard when a craving kicks in, and I know there are some cookies calling my name!

It is also time to quit smoking.  Working out might actually be fun if my lungs didn't feel like they were on fire with in the first 15 minutes.  I really don't smoke that much, but really any cigarette is too much, so that is my new goal cut back enough to enjoy working out, and eventually quit completely.  I'm not a cold turkey kind of girl, so baby steps is what will make it happen.

I really want to be at 150 when we go to California next month for the BF's best friend's wedding.  We fly out on September 6th, so it's time to kick this butt in gear and get going!  I've got 21 days, 3 weeks.  I know I can do this.  If I can lose 8 lbs in 2 1/2 weeks, there's not reason I can't hit 10 in 3.  It's time to step up my game, eat healthful food, and get exercising!  I've got Jillian to push me, and I've got dogs that want to go on walks.  I have to stop making excuses for myself.  I have to stop justifying bad decisions.  It's time to get down to business, and lose the weight.  I'll be sure to check in a few days before we leave and give a weight update.


Until then, have a good day and eat healthfully!