tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58879650237265993882024-03-13T15:07:19.074-07:00Confessions of a Diet BreakerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-13985035599958871202014-04-30T15:09:00.001-07:002014-04-30T15:30:30.618-07:00Avoiding Hidden Sugars: 12 "Real Food" Solutions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When my friend, Melissa, asked me to take this information <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(which she easily whipped out in 10 minutes)</i></span> and throw it into a document in one of my challenge groups, I was like... WAIT! <i>Hold on a sec! </i> LOL </div>
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This information is too great to throw in a document that might just get read once or twice. So I got her permission to add this as a guest blog :)</div>
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<i><b>The original article and pictures that Melissa refers to can be found at: </b><a href="http://www.takepart.com/photos/shocking-sugar-stats">http://www.takepart.com/photos/shocking-sugar-stats</a>. </i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Avoiding Hidden Sugars: 12 "Real Food" Solutions</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPivWtCbxrKqlvGzLKX0BPdjlvyMoDb1RD9HAFgJ5TL8psgXZRVwLwBqE0B6N9HQWOPaFmkdJXhcdWhircKNfUru6fJVSEjTwugwK3CmeSfJ_oaDGlWlmeG7mrWpeLtiFLhC9L_b41rVw/s1600/melissasm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPivWtCbxrKqlvGzLKX0BPdjlvyMoDb1RD9HAFgJ5TL8psgXZRVwLwBqE0B6N9HQWOPaFmkdJXhcdWhircKNfUru6fJVSEjTwugwK3CmeSfJ_oaDGlWlmeG7mrWpeLtiFLhC9L_b41rVw/s1600/melissasm2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Melissa is a mom of two and is passionate about clean eating and exercise. A few years ago, she decided to take the plunge and try <a href="http://100daysofrealfood.com/" target="_blank">100 days of real food</a>... and when she noticed behavior differences in her kiddos and more energy for herself, and her hubs lost some weight from that change alone, they decided to make clean eating part of their family lifestyle.</i></div>
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<b>1. Drink your WATER!</b><b> </b> Avoid excessive quantities of any fruit juice; 100% fruit juice or not.<br />
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<b>2. Choose to bake your own desserts with natural sugars (maple
syrup, dates, agave, raw sugar).</b><b> </b> Here is
a great recipe for chocolate beet cupcakes that is to die for:</div>
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<a href="http://minimalistbaker.com/fudgy-vegan-beet-cupcakes/">http://minimalistbaker.com/fudgy-vegan-beet-cupcakes/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>3. Consume plain, whole milk yogurt sweetened with one of the
natural sugars (above) and add your own fresh fruit!</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or make this super easy and yummy sauce to
stir in:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/03/recipe-berry-sauce/">http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/03/recipe-berry-sauce/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>4. Tomato soup is one of the easiest things to make from
scratch.</b><b> </b> All you need are some fresh,
ripe tomatoes, and I bet that you have all of the other ingredients in your
pantry at home already. See below for a
great recipe that I make almost weekly (my kids LOVE it!)</div>
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<a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/roasted-tomato-basil-soup/">http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/roasted-tomato-basil-soup/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><u>Note:</u> You can substitute another pound of roma
tomatoes for the canned tomatoes in the recipe above, and if you don’t have an
immersion blender, you can add the soup to your regular blender in batches, to
puree<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b>5. I would encourage everyone to make their OWN granola.</b><b> </b> You only need a few simple ingredients for a
pretty large batch, and you will know everything that you have put in it! I am always looking for new recipes, but here
are a few tried and true, that I love:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/04/04/recipe-granola-bars-cereal/">http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/04/04/recipe-granola-bars-cereal/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://mywholefoodlife.com/2013/02/27/vegan-nutella-granola/">http://mywholefoodlife.com/2013/02/27/vegan-nutella-granola/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://mywholefoodlife.com/2012/11/02/peanut-butter-cup-granola/">http://mywholefoodlife.com/2012/11/02/peanut-butter-cup-granola/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>6. EAT FRESH FRUIT.</b><b> </b>
Simple as that. Fresh fruit is
sweet already and does NOT need to be soaked in syrup to make it sweeter. </div>
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If you are in the mood for a fruit salad and
are craving the juiciness that comes along with macerating berries in sugar…
try fresh orange juice and zest instead.
Just squeeze the juice from one orange into a bowl of fresh berries,
along with the zest, and there you go!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFYgmBtcMyfeISc8GZSWi2cKeFUeN0I375iNTyxnq-gHDS9CxsZ2wSS6wfZiKkyZeWf9L1681-kfSA4IzqHb8W3eFCNNyWqbYtkWVfizzmVP7hwtFSzhJF0ZAXR4tXfD53aW_r0-wez4/s1600/melissa6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFYgmBtcMyfeISc8GZSWi2cKeFUeN0I375iNTyxnq-gHDS9CxsZ2wSS6wfZiKkyZeWf9L1681-kfSA4IzqHb8W3eFCNNyWqbYtkWVfizzmVP7hwtFSzhJF0ZAXR4tXfD53aW_r0-wez4/s1600/melissa6.png" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>7. DON’T DO IT.</b><b> </b> Check
out some reasons here: <a href="http://www.rd.com/health/healthy-eating/4-reasons-to-avoid-all-soda-even-diet/">http://www.rd.com/health/healthy-eating/4-reasons-to-avoid-all-soda-even-diet/</a> and here <a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-i-will-never-ever-again-drink-diet.html">http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-i-will-never-ever-again-drink-diet.html</a>,
but just pass on it and choose another drink instead. If you are missing the carbonation, try
sparkling water! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>8. So, sugary cereals… I feel like most of us, as kids, LOVED
these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no wonder why our Moms
wouldn’t let us have them though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are LOADED with sugar!</b><b> </b> Check out the
links, above, for granola and have your kids try that instead. My daughter LOVES the granola with milk in
the morning before school, and it keeps her full until lunchtime. <a href="http://www.mywholefoodlife.com/">www.mywholefoodlife.com</a>
also has lots of recipes for other breakfast staples like oatmeal, and EVEN
some healthy breakfast cookies!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>9. We all love Starbucks, ok?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, there are better choices to be made besides that Caramel
Frappuccino.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not sure if any of you
follow Food Babe, but she just posted this on her blog not too long ago, and I
am planning to try it out!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks
yummy, is organic, and should satisfy that Frappuccino craving… if you have one
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://foodbabe.com/2012/07/18/organic-homemade-starbucks-frappuccino/">http://foodbabe.com/2012/07/18/organic-homemade-starbucks-frappuccino/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>10. Like tomato soup, above, tomato sauce is also SUPER-easy to
do at home, on your own.</b><b> </b> I am including
a recipe below, but if you do like the convenience of the store-bought sauce,
just READ the labels! There are many out
there with no added sugars and that are organic. I beg you; choose those instead! And here is a recipe, if you would like to
try making your own:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://wellnessmama.com/8907/homemade-pasta-sauce/">http://wellnessmama.com/8907/homemade-pasta-sauce/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><u>Note:</u> I do not peel my tomatoes (or seed them) when I
make this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I puree the ENTIRE tomato in
a high powered blender and add it to the sauce that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Makes it MUCH easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>11. So, dressing… fat free dressing is gross, first of all. And,
have you ever read the ingredient list on some of those bottles, ick!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I would encourage you to try making your
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>It really is so simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can make everything from vinaigrette to
blue cheese at home, and I promise you, it will taste better!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some links to my favorites:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://wellnessmama.com/1531/seven-fast-and-healthy-salad-dressing-recipes/">http://wellnessmama.com/1531/seven-fast-and-healthy-salad-dressing-recipes/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeRrC7vLfF-Q8n6p36J3nxGbBzRBVweqb88cr5w0IsuTsoEG5ySd6BhL1fF44_oMfUA9yTd9EePUtafqpq9JekCUOPuvJaXD5dRXzXyvwQnhLBSO7jfIETdcaBA9yYa7XIaT_9iVSCW8/s1600/melissa11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeRrC7vLfF-Q8n6p36J3nxGbBzRBVweqb88cr5w0IsuTsoEG5ySd6BhL1fF44_oMfUA9yTd9EePUtafqpq9JekCUOPuvJaXD5dRXzXyvwQnhLBSO7jfIETdcaBA9yYa7XIaT_9iVSCW8/s1600/melissa11.png" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>12. I have to say, I grew up in the south and I LOVE sweet
tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no reason (in my opinion) that
you cannot still have sweet tea, but there is a better way to get it…</b> If you
make it on your own, you can control the amount of sugar that goes into it, and
I have found that sweetening tea with Organic Raw Agave is actually pretty
yummy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, brew your own, and leave the
sugar out… that way, everyone can add what they like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just my two cents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmMliN6u5qWycS1FRQ8KIpyFSap1_UQtgsW895xkW2s4cQZNr9s3F0PrzpOa-cMGtiTLWF7PqOmaBrU8ZAKcJ-AKumFhbL6eSOj9JizZkq8ZDi4OW7_pZkdAGmBCtPq0EmbZqaBVjwvw/s1600/melissa12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmMliN6u5qWycS1FRQ8KIpyFSap1_UQtgsW895xkW2s4cQZNr9s3F0PrzpOa-cMGtiTLWF7PqOmaBrU8ZAKcJ-AKumFhbL6eSOj9JizZkq8ZDi4OW7_pZkdAGmBCtPq0EmbZqaBVjwvw/s1600/melissa12.png" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Another great article to read, if you have time:</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.naturalblaze.com/2014/04/researchers-urge-return-to-butter-and.html">http://www.naturalblaze.com/2014/04/researchers-urge-return-to-butter-and.html</a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-43867231541780526782014-04-14T16:52:00.000-07:002014-04-14T17:32:21.246-07:0010 Ways to ROCK Your Next Party GUILT-FREE<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPry3wgD1RE_n0G3QkKU6VslnTASRNn_Yv6W0KDvwFhj6exLnnTQ0vm7_qiNx4tB5_-SqOQGTBMz4dGN0VfCma31mNfHVUB5v3RMg-jUSxyagNO3TjM6NpJpB5OOfr78numrshngFZlE/s1600/IMG_6841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPry3wgD1RE_n0G3QkKU6VslnTASRNn_Yv6W0KDvwFhj6exLnnTQ0vm7_qiNx4tB5_-SqOQGTBMz4dGN0VfCma31mNfHVUB5v3RMg-jUSxyagNO3TjM6NpJpB5OOfr78numrshngFZlE/s1600/IMG_6841.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Party-time! Time to follow the plan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Parties. They're SOOO much fun, and yet so <i>quick</i> to throw us <i>COMPLETELY</i> off track. Full of tasty appetizers, yummy drinks <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(not to mention those high-calorie alcoholic ones that are often available)</span></i>, and great conversation in which we tend to get lost while munching away.
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<div>
From the moment we walk into a party, our paths are lined with temptation and yes... even... DIET-SABATOGERS. You know... those people who actually <i>encourage</i> you to let it all go and to <i>just have</i> <i>fun.</i> OH MY!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
So what do you do? Just how DO you avoid these diet-sabotaging traps which cause you to <i>fall</i> <i>completely</i> <i>off the wagon</i> and yet still allow yourself to really have a little fun? <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Cuz, C'mon! What's life without having some fun! And yes... even allowing ourselves some treats?)</span></i></div>
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<div>
You avoid falling COMPLETELY off the wagon by making a party plan, of course!</div>
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<br /></div>
<b><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">Here are 10 ways to ROCK your next party... GUILT-FREE!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jG4zR7cS9rHZRh1Y2RgGAr24kWc4Hqc6hsuhH-v-rHu6aKgLjZpATTa2V92sJw4H7048fGZIfQ9T9bKC2ntv0JC_OcNKAu0Wzkb6CX5rBafMfeUljiS2d6A6-R9OZARvnYjaGNwYxc8/s1600/IMG_3994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jG4zR7cS9rHZRh1Y2RgGAr24kWc4Hqc6hsuhH-v-rHu6aKgLjZpATTa2V92sJw4H7048fGZIfQ9T9bKC2ntv0JC_OcNKAu0Wzkb6CX5rBafMfeUljiS2d6A6-R9OZARvnYjaGNwYxc8/s1600/IMG_3994.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
1. <b>Eat a good healthy meal or snack before the party</b> so you're not going into the party with a lot of temptation on an empty stomach</div>
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2. <b>Choose your 10's.</b> By that, I simply mean, rate the available appetizers from 1 to 10. With ONE being the least appetizing, and TEN being something you simply can NOT resist. Then only allow yourself to eat your 10's <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(In moderation... of course!)</span></i>.</div>
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3. <b>Set a number for how many plates of food or appetizers that you will allow yourself.</b> If the plates are small, you might decide to go back a second time... just stop and think about it before you do.</div>
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4. <b>Set a number for how many alcoholic drinks you will allow yourself. </b> <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Remember... those calories add up fast.)</span></i></div>
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5. <b>Ask your date, spouse or friend to help you to stay on track.</b> Let them know your plan and seek intervention if necessary. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Come up with a code word that means INTERVENTION! So if they hear you shout STRAWBERRY - if that's your word - they'll recognize the code and come running to remove the chips from your hands ASAP! LOL)</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_J1_bClc_86eliZFjLkW_22NmSyQx8bCFpK0fwoUe6jaePpRBLKpN1KdKGpJqTXuE2buHRh5mIx_0OrF03pA0Wp6kVK11Dz-K_J7qLbLZ-5zu4hGXeK4i2FV_ivbYjFHelVE7VjB1F4/s1600/IMG_6484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_J1_bClc_86eliZFjLkW_22NmSyQx8bCFpK0fwoUe6jaePpRBLKpN1KdKGpJqTXuE2buHRh5mIx_0OrF03pA0Wp6kVK11Dz-K_J7qLbLZ-5zu4hGXeK4i2FV_ivbYjFHelVE7VjB1F4/s1600/IMG_6484.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
6. If it's a party with a lot of alcohol, make sure to <b>drink a full glass of water between each alcoholic drink.</b> Better yet, offer to be the designated driver. This will not only help with the number of calories you consume, but it will also help you to maintain sobriety :)</div>
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7. <b>Bring a healthy appetizer or two so you know you have a healthy go-to snack.</b> A good suggestion here would be to bring one salty and one sweet, like veggies & hummus and fruit & yogurt dip.</div>
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8. <b>When someone offers you something that is NOT in your plan, graciously decline</b>, and if you feel like it, share your why. You never know... it might change their life. If you do this, though, make sure to being extra healthy food to share with all the lives that will be changing ;)</div>
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<div>
9. <b>Bring a healthy drink alternative</b> such as <a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/11/diet-keeping-recipe-fantastic.html" target="_blank">Vinyasa</a> (lime, seltzer & agave) so you have something other than water to fill those social cravings.</div>
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10. <b>Beware of diet-sabotagers</b> and make a point to hang with people who will support you on your healthy journey.</div>
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">If the above tips still won't help, you can always try these ;)</span></b><br />
<span style="color: red;">DISCLAIMER: <i>These are a JOKE. Don't really do this! </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_eoRL-Mu12fopGdxONmxOKoGW56Kqw4JQO56QURbebkxUOx2JTg-_QYJWcJVTrcAl3yKHGWxLqKSijwGXTI54Z1KgGlrTQX0WBqUITwZKoeA4tfSvlMWtf8aZBGC9zV8qDpnkDhXB3c/s1600/funny-picture-diet-unchaperoned-child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_eoRL-Mu12fopGdxONmxOKoGW56Kqw4JQO56QURbebkxUOx2JTg-_QYJWcJVTrcAl3yKHGWxLqKSijwGXTI54Z1KgGlrTQX0WBqUITwZKoeA4tfSvlMWtf8aZBGC9zV8qDpnkDhXB3c/s1600/funny-picture-diet-unchaperoned-child.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
1. <b>Wear really tight pants. </b> If you squeeze into tight pants, you won't have room for a ton of extra snacks and drinks.<br />
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2. <b>Self-induced major allergic reaction. </b>Suggestion... sniff some dust or a cat, so your nose is stuffy and you can't smell. <i>(Thank you Trent Hillaert!)</i><br />
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3. <b>Scald your tongue before you go. </b> A cup of REALLY hot coffee oughta do it!<br />
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4. <b> Sneeze on the diet-sabotaging treat</b>s and then <i>no one</i> can have any, so you won't feel alone.<br />
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5. <b> </b><b>Schedule a root canal the morning of the party</b>, so you can't chew or drink anyway.<br />
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6. <b> Bring an enforcer </b>who will smack your hand every time you try to touch a diet-sabotaging treat.<br />
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7. <b>Use super glue in place of lipgloss</b>. <i>(Thank you Mary Chenery for this addition!)</i><br />
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8. <b>Have mittens duct-tapped to your hands</b> before you go in to the party. <i>(Thanks Eric Triplett for this one!)</i><br />
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9. <b>Fall off a horse, break your jaw and have it wired shut before the party. </b> <i>(This actually happened to my friend's sister... thank you Christine Ortiz for this awesome piece of advice! LOL)</i><br />
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10. <b>Wear one of those dog cones around your neck.</b> <i>(Thanks, cousin Tom Weber. Is that what Julie does to you when you go to parties? LOL)</i><br />
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11. <b>Wear a straight jacket and tell everyone you thought it was a costume party. </b> <i>(Trent Hillaert... how do you know about straight jackets? LOL Thanks for the contribution! ;)</i><br />
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12. <b>Tell everyone that at the last party, you hurt yourself masticating</b>, so you are staying away from the food table from now on. <i>(Good one! Thanks Kimmie Scott!)</i><br />
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13. <b>If all else fails... you can always put duct tape over your MOUTH. </b>My personal go-to fav ;)<b> </b><i>(Thank you Mark Clay... you must have had experience with this one!)</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kQPBnhISzr6zo-mIRdlHixsHnnqwpXk-gPLF9FZoOY343Yv76FNF_3CnBFd6-taJhpJzlHDHxfy1Bu4LWQ04FzEGh9C6_Hemt1XS5H8IzVtWazcyfAhr1RUhPxXlapjwZ9Rbg2jQ8jA/s1600/thatsalldietbreaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kQPBnhISzr6zo-mIRdlHixsHnnqwpXk-gPLF9FZoOY343Yv76FNF_3CnBFd6-taJhpJzlHDHxfy1Bu4LWQ04FzEGh9C6_Hemt1XS5H8IzVtWazcyfAhr1RUhPxXlapjwZ9Rbg2jQ8jA/s1600/thatsalldietbreaker.jpg" height="305" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-49281342347786122262014-03-10T09:02:00.001-07:002014-03-10T09:17:05.438-07:00A Letter to the FDA Requesting Warning Labels on all Girl Scout Cookie Boxes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QoI3WOTa56il68biUS416sjO2cK08_G1tFpeHIY_J0hcW6a373bnKQaSEst9JF_mD3CRtaaHbjT4JbNfEml9z2IeHxzCINoR_OPv8I8lKb3HhTy3JD4qlGHqnQa70waS_f3l_zerv_E/s1600/GirlScoutCookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QoI3WOTa56il68biUS416sjO2cK08_G1tFpeHIY_J0hcW6a373bnKQaSEst9JF_mD3CRtaaHbjT4JbNfEml9z2IeHxzCINoR_OPv8I8lKb3HhTy3JD4qlGHqnQa70waS_f3l_zerv_E/s1600/GirlScoutCookies.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suggested Warning Label</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
ATTN: FDA (Food and Drug Administration)<br />
<br />
To Whom it May Concern,<br />
<br />
A serious problem has overtaken our nation, and I URGENTLY request that you help take control of this situation as soon as is humanly possible before complete and utter desperation overtakes our nation's population of diet-breakers.<br />
<br />
<b>I beg you to SERIOUSLY look into WHY Girl Scout cookies do NOT come with a warning label?</b> I mean... COME ON! They are <i>HIGHLY addictive</i> and should be labeled as such.<br />
<br />
Here is my suggested warning: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">S<b>URGEON GENERAL'S WARNING:</b></span> Girl Scout cookies are highly addictive. May cause immediate irrational spending, euphoric out of body experience, erratic behavior, sugar rushes, bloating, weight gain and serious regret. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Keep out of reach of chronic diet-breakers.</i></blockquote>
I ask you, Sir/Madam... are there really no regulations on these types of things? Think about it. <i>They're practically IMPOSSIBLE to pass up. </i><br />
<br />
Shouldn't there be a law in place to protect all of us innocent diet-breakers who are simply TRYING to eat <i>CLEAN?</i><br />
<br />
Talk about a seemingly HARMLESS organization taking EXREME advantage of a full-fledged minority... or... actually... in this case... a better word would probably be... <i>majority</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>It should simply be illegal for these tiny snipers in the 'guise' of cute little girls to ambush our good intentions. </b> Because even if we didn't break our diets by buying the cookies at the store, and even if we RESISTED driving across town to the nearest Girl Scout cookie stand, we are STILL subjected to being tempted and attacked on our own private territory.<br />
<br />
<i>Still don't understand my urgency? </i><br />
<br />
Well... imagine this...<br />
<br />
One afternoon, right around the time you're just DYING for a treat, you hear a knock. You open the front door, expecting the UPS man, but... instead of a burly guy in brown shorts and a button up, there... standing cute as can be... is a little girl dressed in brown. She looks up with her cute pixie face, holding an irresistible box of Thin Mints. <b><i>SABOTAGE!</i></b><br />
<br />
Now, you KNOW you don't have any immediate cash lying around, but in all honesty... <i>how could you POSSIBLY say no to this little angel?</i> And on top of it... how could you even THINK of making that poor lonely ole box of cookies feel alone and unwanted?<br />
<br />
NOT. EVEN. An option.<br />
<br />
So... you ask her to wait for a minute as you rush back inside and begin ransacking the junk drawers, the night stands, the bathroom counters, the laundry room... HECK... you EVEN search through all the pockets of the dirty pants in all the hampers around the house.<br />
<br />
At one point, you've got yourself down to your elbows digging past the cushions, into the seemingly bottomless pit of the couch, searching amongst the cookie crumbs and lost pencils for that loose change that MUST have fallen in amongst the debris.<br />
<br />
In one final DESPERATE attempt, you rush out the back door to the park across the street and shamelessly snatch the remaining dollar out of the public fountain.<br />
<br />
PROUD of yourself for returning victoriously from your rabid hunt, you pay the child with your mixed pile of coins, grab the box of Thin Mints, give her a soft pat on the head and immediately retreat back into the house.<br />
<br />
Now that you're ALONE with the Thin Mints, your tummy is rumbling like never before, and your favorite show is all queued up on Netflix, ready for you to just push play.<br />
<br />
You snuggle into your couch, open the box, take a GOOD whiff of the irresistable chocolate mintyness, make a plan to eat only three or four of the cookies, push play and take your first glorious bite.<br />
<br />
One hour later, the show is over, and the box is empty. <i>WAIT! THE BOX IS EMPTY???</i><br />
<br />
<b>WOAH! How did THAT happen?</b> Who came in and ate ALL those cookies while you were lost in the show? You're in shock, and terrified all at once. KNOWING an intruder MUST be in your house, your trigger finger is set and ready to dial 9-1-1.<br />
<br />
But suddenly, you feel it. A full stomach. An INTENSE sugar rush. <i>And then you know what REALLY happened...</i> the mindless zombie-like you took over and ate the ENTIRE box while you were lost in the movie. ENTER the regret. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*sigh*</span></i><br />
<br />
So, on behalf of all diet-breakers everywhere. I <i>fervently </i>beg<i> </i>you to seriously consider requiring large warning labels on all boxes of Girl Scout Cookies.<br />
<br />
It's not fair. It's not just. <b><i>It's clearly a COMPLETE violation of our basic human rights!</i></b><br />
<br />
I fully intend to follow this email with a request to the Supreme Court asking the court to consider creating a law against little girls who sabotage our community and to charge <i>anyone</i> in violation with this misdemeanor... <i>"Aiding and abetting to the delinquency of a diet-breaker." </i><br />
<br />
It would behoove you to act swiftly, so you can be the first government entity to address this nation's epidemic problem.<br />
<br />
Thank you for your consideration. I anxiously await your reply.<br />
<br />
Respectfully yours,<br />
<br />
Michelle Hillaert<br />
The Diet-Breaker Queen<br />
<br />
P.S. While I was writing this letter, I, myself, was sabotaged and there is now an empty box of Thin Mints by my computer. <b><i>PLEASE put an immediate END to this INSANE MADNESS.</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>DISCLAIMER:</b> I do NOT have any real issues with Girl Scout cookies. I have a ton of Troop Leader Mom friends and they ROCK! And so do their little girls :) Just don't be temptin' me with those boxes of irresistable yumminess :)</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-78040317933131225102014-01-07T18:04:00.000-08:002014-01-08T10:29:43.800-08:0010 Things I Love and Hate About Myself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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New Year’s biggest goal? <b>LETTING GO OF FEAR!</b> <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(You’ve heard that before, right?) </span></i>That being said... I’ve been thinking <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(scary, huh?) </span></i>a lot lately about just WHO my audience is here. And then, with my actual business... I’m asking myself <i>WHO am I marketing to?</i><br />
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In marketing, they say that in order to really provide value, you need to create an ideal “avatar” of the “person” to whom you would like to reach... a target market, so to speak.<br />
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This process has been SO hard for me. Because first of all, I have such a vast list of interests and groups that I’m involved with, and choosing <i>one</i> main area of interest is REALLY hard... but also... in this business... you’re supposed to market to people you understand... <i>people with whom you can connect. </i><br />
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<i>THAT’S where it gets hard. </i> All my life I’ve <i>REALLY</i> wanted to be popular. You know... that hot looking chick who's always perfectly put together and seems to know just what to say, has tons of friends and can fling her hair to get out of just about anything? <i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><insert really big laugh here></span></i> </div>
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If you know me... have known me... or knew me... you know just how funny that concept really is. <br />
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<i>So... what FEAR am I letting go of today?</i> Well... <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(and this is big) </span><b>it’s the fear of letting people know who I REALLY am!!!</b> </i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(GASP!!!) </i></span><br />
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<i>And who is that??? </i> Well... wait for it... WAIT FOR IT...<b><i> I’M NOT COOOOOOOOL!</i></b> Or popular... or put together... or a really hot chick. :P<br />
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What hit me this morning is that I’ve been reaching out to people that I <i>WANT</i> to be like... instead of reaching out to those that I <i>AM</i> like. Mostly because of my fear of being disliked or considered... <br />
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Well... before I finish THAT sentence I’ll tell you a few things that have left me confused on this whole 'target market' thing.<br />
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<b>Here are the 10 things that I love and hate about myself.</b> Some I love. Some I hate. Either way... I’m learning to EMBRACE them. <i>After all... they are 100% ME. </i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. I am WEIRD.</span></b></div>
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<b>Until I was about 13, I grew up in the family section of a religious community </b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(or as some would put... Commune)</i></span>. By community, I mean a place called “Prayer Town” that was run by a group of nuns, with several families inhabiting a separate section of the property. <br />
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Because of this, I grew up not really knowing how to connect with kids my own age. I was pretty socially behind and<i> FELT really weird</i>... especially when we moved to a small neighboring town. We didn’t do mainstream things like watch football, basketball or listen to regular music, so I didn’t know any of the popular culture like who the main sports teams or bands like the Beatles were. <br />
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That being said... <i>BECAUSE of this</i>, I had the opportunity to grow up in the country. T<b><i>o know what it’s like to gallop wildly across the plains bareback on a horse.</i></b> To know how freezing cold it is on a winter morning when you have to break the ice for the animals and give them fresh water. To understand the value of hard work. To use my imagination, because I wasn’t constantly in front of a television. <br />
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When we DID watch television, it was usually an old musical, or one of my fav actors... Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Cary Grant, Doris Day, etc... Now, I <i>still</i> enjoy these old movies and musicals. I will watch them over and over again. I will sing with them and relate to them. <br />
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And yes... that was me on a cold winter morning, not too long ago, belting out a song from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers while shoveling the snowy driveway. “Ooo-ooo-ooo-oh, ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-oooh... can’t make no vows to a herd of cows.” </div>
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Um yeah... <i><b>WEEEEIRD!</b></i><b> </b> LOL <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. I am a FORMER HOMESCHOOLER</span></b><br />
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Yup! Homeschooled through the 7th grade... public school in 8th, because we moved and mom needed a break... then back to school in the 10th grade when mom thought we were ready to face the peer pressure and become young adults.<br />
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Going to public school after homeschool was TOUGH. There weren’t homeschool coalitions back then. There weren’t any extracurricular activities in which we could participate. We were on our own. No real friends or people we could connect with. </div>
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When I went to public school, I remember not knowing what basic terminology like <i>“gay”</i> and <i>“on the rag”</i> meant. I was REALLY embarrassed to find out their real meaning while in mixed groups of students that found it funny how sheltered I had been.<br />
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<i>When I went to high school, I felt like a dork</i>. Didn’t know how to dress... didn’t know how to connect with kids my own age. The popular kids in school weren’t necessarily mean... but we lived in a small town... so it was very obvious when I was excluded from events that I knew the other more “normal” kids were invited to. To be honest... looking back... I can't really blame them either. We were kids, and I was... well... weird :P<br />
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So... I threw myself into my studies. Maybe I couldn’t be popular or fully accepted. BUT, I did go to State twice in competitions. I got best actress senior year for the high school play, and... I graduated Valedictorian of my high school class.<br />
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In the end... the couple of teachers that understood me, my one really good friend... Jackie, and my small list of accomplishments helped me to get over all those other ’not so great' high school memories.<br />
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When I eventually went off to college, I swore I was leaving that girl behind... <i>FOREVER</i> <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(she says dramatically...)</span></i>. And trust me... <i>I worked hard at it for years. </i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. I am a GEEK.</span></b><br />
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Okay... I have to admit... <i>this part I really LOVE about myself.</i> Fresh out of college I got a job doing Linux technical support for a web hosting company that hosted web hosting companies.<br />
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Just THINKING about this job, gets me all excited and starts my blood boiling. <i>It was my all-time FAVORITE job. </i> My brain just naturally speaks computer. Working full time, I learned fast and was quickly moving up the levels of support.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoAMP-dJF4i7PzwJEHx8Az4y35uhxPakKqKWFmLz2pqSYgveT6KbWx1nttqGprhEtFGcN267sMsrSsO2PR2YJm9JHPfYxRAC_rmrdgClXV-DBbZsAtifYaEtjHDLRZYskArLxCBhC2Ts/s1600/penguinsfan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoAMP-dJF4i7PzwJEHx8Az4y35uhxPakKqKWFmLz2pqSYgveT6KbWx1nttqGprhEtFGcN267sMsrSsO2PR2YJm9JHPfYxRAC_rmrdgClXV-DBbZsAtifYaEtjHDLRZYskArLxCBhC2Ts/s1600/penguinsfan.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>I remember getting completely and utterly LOST in a Linux terminal. Hopping from server to server. Fixing problems. On a good day with some really challenging support requests, I would get so lost in this world that the time would fly. Supposed to be leaving at 5, I’d get a phone call at 6:30 from the hubs asking where I was... and I wouldn’t even realize how late it was.<br />
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It’s no accident that my favorite hockey team is the Pittsburgh Penguins <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Linux avatar is a Penguin)</span></i>. Beyond that, I’ve designed websites and done some basic script programming. To put it simply... I just LOVE geek-talk... <i>Yeah... total and complete GEEK. </i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Girl from the BIG FAMILY</span></b><br />
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I have NINE sisters. No brothers. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(GO ahead and say it... everybody does... “YOU’RE POOR FATHER!!!”) </i></span> I share the middle with my older sister, and grew up often feeling misunderstood, lost in the crowd and unimportant. I was constantly comparing myself to my older sisters. Did I measure up? Did I sing as well? Were my grades as good?<br />
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Yes, we fought, and life wasn’t always roses. BUT... On the flip side... we had some of the MOST fun coming up with games and imaginary worlds, and best of all... <i>SINGING</i>.<br />
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We all sing. We would sing while cleaning the kitchen. We would sing while driving in the car. Gosh darn it! We would even fight over who got to sing which harmony! LOL<br />
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<b><i>Living in a big family, had a LOT of perks. </i></b> I learned how to put others first. How to know when someone needs comfort or if they need tough love. How to know when it’s best to remain silent instead of giving unwarranted advice. </div>
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With that many people around, you learn how to be generous and how to share. You learn that <i>things</i> are really not that important... it’s the people and relationships that matter.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">5. Girl who SINGS TOO MUCH</span></b></div>
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And no... not the cool rock star type of singing <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(although... I HAVE been in a rock band...)</span></i><br />
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Nope! I’m the girl... that one you saw on campus freshman year... walking around singing “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain, without a care in the world as if I was living my own musical.<br />
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YES! I sing... a LOT. If it’s raining, you bet I’ll be out there in the rain, dancing around a light pole and bellowing<i> “I’m SI-I-I-I-I-NGING in the RAAAAAAIN!” </i><br />
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If we’re having a conversation and you say something like... “I can’t say no to....” Before you have a second to finish your sentence, I’ll be chasing squirrels singing... <i>“I’m just a girl who can’t say no...”</i> from the musical Oklahoma.<br />
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Heck... for my Beachbody challenges, I’ll be cleaning the house and all of the sudden be hit with new words to a popular or well-known song. I’ll stop what I”m doing... chase that squirrel... write down the words... record it... and upload it to my <a href="http://youtube.com/michellehillaertfit" target="_blank">YouTUBE</a> channel. </div>
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<i>Yeah... sings too much. :P </i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">6. Girl that WENT THROUGH HELL.</span></b><br />
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Yes... in my life there have been a few times where I have literally been through hell. Times that were so dark, that as I was driving down the road, I would imagine turning the wheel, driving off the road and hitting a tree. </div>
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Times where I hated myself and checked everything I knew at the door. Times where there was real suffering.<br />
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When I think about that person. I have had to work hard at not hating her. I’ve wanted to use an eraser and completely wipe her out of my life. <i>A real do-over would be nice... right? </i><br />
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Although there is a lot to “hate” about that part of my life...<i> there is a lot to love too.</i> </div>
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Because of those times, I have become a more compassionate person. I have learned to<i> leave judgement at the door. </i> That there is a story behind everyone... a viable reason why people act the way they do.<br />
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I’ve learned how hard life can be, and the importance of helping others. <b>We often get so caught up in our own lives that we just can’t see the suffering of those around us. </b> Through my suffering, I learned the need to step out of my own little world to reach out and to be there for others, and to GIVE where I can.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">7. The TERRIBLE HOUSEWIFE.</span></b><br />
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You heard me right! With five kiddos and a job, <i>I just can’t keep the house in order and everything organized to save my LIFE. </i> The laundry is always overflowing. Dinner is always last minute and late. I’m constantly playing catchup. I see these moms who do everything so PERFECTLY, and I desperately want to be them. </div>
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Essentially... I’d love to be like Mrs. Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver. Always a smile on my face. Never yelling at my kiddos. Clean house. Yummy dinner each night. <i>RIGHT?</i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Bahahahaha!</span> Right! </div>
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I used to be on top of things... once upon a time. But I’ve come to realize that with a big family and a ton on my plate, it is just <i>IMPOSSIBLE</i> to be that perfect housewife. There are more important things in life then a clean house and perfect order <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(At least that's what I keep telling myself)</i></span>. </div>
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Thankfully I have a hubby who helps and kiddos who do a pretty good job when it comes down to it, so all things considered... I figure we’re pretty blessed :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>8. The GOD LOVER.</b></span><br />
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Yes. I have to admit... <i>I’ve been afraid to talk about my love of God at times... specifically due to fear of offending others. </i> I’ll be the first to admit. I’m not perfect. I’m not the best Christian. I screw up like pretty much everyone else. BUT... I really do TRY to be someone who lives a Christian lifestyle.<br />
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I pray every day that God grants me the grace to be a better person. I LOVE my Catholic faith. I LOVE the traditions of our church, and the Mass. I feel at home and SAFE in front of the Eucharist in a Catholic church, and absolutely LOVE a good praise and worship session.<br />
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<i>Do I think being Catholic is the only way to heaven? <b> Absolutely NOT.</b></i> But I DO believe that it’s the way for me. <i>I LOVE it,</i> and I am constantly trying to improve on the many imperfections that I see in my own life.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">9. The FOOD ADDICT Fitness Coach</span></b><br />
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<i>Now THAT’S an oxymoron if you ever heard one. LOL</i><br />
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SO... I <i>REALLY</i> love good food. Heck! If I didn’t, what would I name this blog? I’d be lying if I said that I wanted to sit around and eat celery and carrots all day and only drink water. Oh BOY! How FUN would THAT be??? <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(She says sarcastically.) </span></i></div>
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I have to admit... there have been plenty of times that I have WISHED I could be that person... a vegan... or a perfectly clean eater... but the fact is... I’m NOT.<br />
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So here I am... now a full-blown Team Beachbody fitness coach... and I think I STILL have to try just as hard as my challengers to stay on track. For me... considering my background in eating... it will most likely never be something easy. I WILL say however... that when I put my mind to it, I CAN eat clean, and I AM really liking it more over time.<br />
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Now, retraining my brain that a good salad trumps cheesecake and wine, well... that’s taking a bit more time then I’d like. Ahhh... Baby steps :)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">10. The Ultimate Country Girl</span></b><br />
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I was raised in a trailer house in the country on the plains of Texas. Yeah... you heard that right. <i>A trailer house.</i> </div>
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I had a girl throw that at me once as an insult... calling me <i>"trailer-trash"</i>... but to be honest... there was really nothing to be insulted over. I’m PROUD of my humble upbringing. My parents worked hard to take care of us and to make a difference. Nothing to be ashamed of there.<br />
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I CAN hold my own in elegant and sophisticated company, but REALLY??? When it comes down to it... it's TOTALLY not me. YES, I can play that part... but... seriously... I will always have that little bit of Texas redneck in me. In fact... on a hot summer day after hard work and sweat, you BET I’ll be reaching for the beer! And who knows... I just might shock you now and then with words that escape my lips before my brain has a chance to catch up.<br />
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I’ve lived in Naples, Florida, and I honestly don’t think any sunset <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(not even on the beach)</span></i> can really compare to a painted sky over the wheat and corn fields in the Northwest Texas desert... add a stormy sky in the East, reflecting the sunset from the west... and you feel as if you been transported to heaven. The entire skyline (like the ocean) is splashed with an array of colored radiance!<br />
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And music? Yes... as I mentioned earlier... I’ve been in a rock band. But darn it if this girl isn’t country all the way. I enjoy listening to most kinds of music, but give me some good country, and I FEEL it. Not mainstream... <i>I get that</i>... but get into my car, and chances are, if it’s not the Christian hits playing on the radio... it will <i>definitely</i> be country music... and... YUP! The super-singer in me will be bellowing out a harmony right along with my fav country girl, Miranda Lambert.<br />
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<b><i>Now back to that sentence at the beginning of this article: </i></b><br />
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<i>"What hit me this morning is that I’ve been reaching out to people that I WANT to be like... instead of reaching out to those I AM like. Mostly because of my fear of being disliked or considered... “ </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55XM_3lLbNOMFgPStMhBiHaDZcqaCUKFtmxMfY24B8zspGx_2_bkfecwBNOSMqanN3Beq2QFv05QWvlUfGK3TTwWUW3PLTX8sOWgxNdxmfUFtJZBCv27lqyVmKXyBuX05y_v3ESwjSw4/s1600/justbeyourself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55XM_3lLbNOMFgPStMhBiHaDZcqaCUKFtmxMfY24B8zspGx_2_bkfecwBNOSMqanN3Beq2QFv05QWvlUfGK3TTwWUW3PLTX8sOWgxNdxmfUFtJZBCv27lqyVmKXyBuX05y_v3ESwjSw4/s1600/justbeyourself.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a>To finish the sentence... <i>considered geeky... dorky</i>... <i>weird</i>. </div>
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But I get it now. And I LOVE that I’ve had to go through this process, because, besides the fact that you need to figure all this out for 'branding and marketing,' I think a good look at <i>WHO we are</i>... and <i>accepting that</i>... is imperative to our overall outlook on life, and essentially... to our overall happiness.<br />
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That being said... I've FINALLY come to the point where I really don't care if someone knows I was weird... homeschooled... not <i>perfect</i>... because I'm FINALLY at a place where I can accept it. <br />
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I embrace my past, and I embrace who I am now. It's formed me. It IS Me. So... take it or leave it... but I ain't changing' ;) <i> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(In my best Texas drawl.)</span></i></blockquote>
<b>So back to the the <i>REAL</i> question.. <i>Just WHO is my Avatar? </i></b></div>
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Hmmm... I’m thinking that it has to be something like... </div>
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<b><i>A terrible housewife who lives in a trailer house in the country with lots of kiddos, has an insane life, has gone through hell, loves to sing, and is a weird geek. LOL </i></b><br />
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So... if you know anybody like this out there, <i>please let me know,</i> because I’m really starting to wonder if my target market is so targeted that the arrow points in only one direction. :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-35725652223278343232013-12-02T11:46:00.001-08:002013-12-02T18:24:39.328-08:00Evicting Mr. Fear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsfyWmVvQ8fIB7O_91WYNQZIlyjgeB5hMRXfRrWgzoOp_MAhu-UglYK5RmrwwX0XaycBlISVZyrS48OeVm8yumORuh2_qytjAC2-b8ueIJzFnl2VSZWoVodVgMxIH4T8BQFY_ADSKni0/s1600/FearDB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsfyWmVvQ8fIB7O_91WYNQZIlyjgeB5hMRXfRrWgzoOp_MAhu-UglYK5RmrwwX0XaycBlISVZyrS48OeVm8yumORuh2_qytjAC2-b8ueIJzFnl2VSZWoVodVgMxIH4T8BQFY_ADSKni0/s320/FearDB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I've been surprised by how many people have told me how amazed they are by everything that I do and the different hats that I wear... as if I'm some sort of super woman with super powers... or something. In all reality... I DO do a lot... I'm a mom of five. I'm on a soccer board. I'm a soccer coach. I'm a singer in a band. I'm on the PTO board for the kiddos school. I'm a doula. I'm a Diamond Beachbody Coach and team leader, and the list goes on.<br />
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<b>Well... I'm about to give you some REALLY breaking news. </b>Wait for it... <i>wait for it</i>... I'M NOT A SUPER HERO!!!!!! LOL Okay... so, most of you probably already know that part. It actually just <i>looks</i> like a lot more than it really is. To be honest... I don't do those things because I'm something you're not. I just up and decide to do something, and then I actually do it.<br />
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Something very few people know about me is something I battle virtually <i>EVERY</i> day. I often live with this huge ball of anxious energy that fills my chest... and sometimes even overflows into what you could call an adult TANTRUM <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(yes... I did just say that I've been known to throw a tantrum... OH NO!!!)</i></span>. <i>And the name of this crazy ball of energy??? </i> You guessed it... FEAR! Fear of change... fear of sacrifice... fear of loss... and the biggest one??? Yeah... you know it. <b><i>My biggest deepest darkest most extreme fear? The fear of failure.</i></b><br />
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Sometimes it's an underlying fear of failure... and sometimes it's a more ominous fear of failure. It doesn't matter if I'm cleaning my kitchen, sewing a blanket for my kiddos or creating a new training system for my Beachbody coaches. <i>The underlying theme is that of perfectionism... which is fueled by fear... the fear of failure.</i><br />
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<b>If you follow my Facebook page or have heard any of my recent "rants," you'll know that my new life theme is this...</b> <i><b>"Let go of the fear! LIVE FEARLESSLY!!!"</b></i> This isn't a random theme that I just came up with out of the blue. No... no... <i>it goes MUCH deeper than that.</i><br />
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<i style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><b>Imagine this... </b>I'm outside for a run... someone completely dressed in black... looking more like a shadow then a man... is not far behind me... I turn to see who's there, and realize that I'm being chased. This... my friend... is Mr. Fear. I can feel his shadow already... and I'm getting tired... but knowing what Mr. Fear has to offer... and sensing it already... I push on. I could quit and just give in, but I can clearly see the finish line. It's pretty far out there... but it's there, and I KNOW what I want. I know WHY I WILL NOT give in. So I just run harder. REFUSING to let Mr. Fear stop me. It is sheer willpower that keeps me going.</i><br />
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So, what do I do??? I tell myself <i>every day</i>... <i>"Let go of the fear!" </i> And I tell my challengers... <i>"Let go of the fear!"</i> And I tell my children... <i>"Let go of the fear!"</i> <b>Why???? Because it's the FEAR that stops us from living our dreams. It's the fear that tells us we are not good enough. It's the fear that whispers in our ears... <i>"I can't do it."</i></b><br />
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Every day when I work out and I'm tired and I just want to stop, I hear that voice over and over saying... <i>"I can't do it."</i> <i><b>And I just shut that thought right up and push on.</b></i> Every time I go to try something new, again, I hear...<i> "I can't do it." </i> And yes... I want to quit. I REALLY want to quit, because if I don't start, I can't fail... right??? <b><i>But I don't give in. I just tell that voice to be QUIET!</i></b><br />
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<b>Fear is a driving factor in who we allow ourselves to become and what we allow ourselves to do. </b>Will we allow Mr. Fear to decide who we are going to be? What we will accomplish? Will we let him determine our endgame? I say NO. Absolutely NOT. <br />
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You might let me know you're there, Mr. Fear. You might even put a little terror in my heart from time to time. <b>BUT... I WILL continue to evict you. I will NOT let YOU decide who I am or who I will become. I am DONE giving in to the fear. I am DONE allowing the fear to live my life for me. </b><br />
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I am not far from being at the often dreaded "half-way point" in life. And I REFUSE to let Mr. Fear decide what I will accomplish or who I will become. <i>I will put him in his place and tell him that he has absolutely NO hold over me. </i><br />
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And the real beauty of it all? It's that we CAN decide. It's not easy. It's pretty darn scary at times. But letting go of fear does NOT mean that we never feel fear. It means we will NOT allow fear to enter and settle in and make a home in our heart... in our life. We will continue EVERY day to tell Mr. Fear to GET OUT.<br />
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<b>What are <i>YOUR</i> biggest fears? What's stopping <i>YOU</i> from living <i>YOUR</i> dream? </b> Instead of just watching your life happen before you like a pre-written script... Stop. Write down a list of your fears. Face them. And then make that decision to LET. THEM. GO. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m2KI714xZzWetAwITZASrotaiARODlPWaYocnutmt8yZxMt_speOwXxCvfZCOfmki96wMn_cJxA6HlMmagVamRPqao6xSZChoSJhAmPIdSKxk5vRjjEvxAGoFFavRx0RmRkiv-L3iiw/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m2KI714xZzWetAwITZASrotaiARODlPWaYocnutmt8yZxMt_speOwXxCvfZCOfmki96wMn_cJxA6HlMmagVamRPqao6xSZChoSJhAmPIdSKxk5vRjjEvxAGoFFavRx0RmRkiv-L3iiw/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a><b><i>You MUST DECIDE to evict Mr. Fear.</i></b> It might be a decision that you make ten times a day. But go ahead and make it. Don't let Mr. Fear decide for you. He is nothing but a shadow. <br />
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It's time for you to shine. So go write your list. Send Mr. Fear on his way. Be like Nike and JUST DO IT! ;)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-75188181523058696522013-11-27T16:35:00.000-08:002013-11-27T17:48:57.798-08:00Diet-Keeping RECIPE: FANTASTIC refreshing drink alternative to high-calorie Soda & Alcoholic drinks!!!<b>So you're headed to a party with AMAZING intentions of making the BEST food and drink choices. </b>You get there, everyone's having a fun time... drink in hand <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(usually some form of super-yum drink mix, or soda, or beer or wine...)</span></i> and suddenly, those best laid plans you had fall to the wayside as someone hands you one of your fav drinks, and without a second thought, you readily pull it to your lips.<br />
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Oh yeah. You <i>KNOW</i> I know it. I can't tell you how many times I've been in that exact same position. Because of this, I came up with a fun, yummy and refreshing alternative to soda, diet soda, alcohol and whatever other high-calorie drinks become your biggest temptation.</div>
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The next time you find yourself at a party where you're trying to make better caloric choices... bring a few ingredients with you and try this recipe! You might be surprised when some of your friends ask you to make for them too! <i><b>It has happened to me on more than one occasion! </b></i><br />
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I call it the <a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/04/and-i-dub-thee-vinyasa.html" target="_blank">Vinyasa</a>.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3MZmqecHe0c" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIypAausOg9fcr0cHoy7oJ2_Id25mWRhai6YrMMaJhVUtSq1d4ByYSfZ8pzfj6iBY6tiYaVc7j8Vu_wbtNJO6KOJmG47rRn4QrTdC-LTGN3L7DnP9PjmnWX0v8SvWsEImIsoZmDc83B28/s1600/vinyasagood-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIypAausOg9fcr0cHoy7oJ2_Id25mWRhai6YrMMaJhVUtSq1d4ByYSfZ8pzfj6iBY6tiYaVc7j8Vu_wbtNJO6KOJmG47rRn4QrTdC-LTGN3L7DnP9PjmnWX0v8SvWsEImIsoZmDc83B28/s200/vinyasagood-2.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>VINYASA</b></span><br />
<i>Refreshing, easy to make lime drink. </i><br />
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<b>1 8oz glass</b><br />
<b>1/2 - 1 lime </b> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(depending on how sour you like it to taste)</i></span><br />
<b>1 T organic agave nectar </b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(to taste... don't use too much or it adds too many calories)</i></span><br />
<b>Seltzer water</b><br />
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Squeeze the lime into the glass. Add agave nectar and stir. Pour cold seltzer water into the glass. For extra flavor, add some crushed mint leaves.<br />
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So grab those limes, the agave & seltzer... throw it all into a bag... take it to the party, and show 'em how it's done.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>ENJOY!!!</i></b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-49670705904316214492013-11-18T10:23:00.000-08:002013-11-18T10:41:50.986-08:00Confessions of a VERY naughty birthday!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N33ZVyanytBt680s1lEXss9OUhScxkNSzc_PnxEzmNvMpB7gKq3vh0loh3RLEvpNvoeugE5ENdqYSlHoMw4RYo_KamNQjd2Z_sdoz3KPILq62OvgljJ0326GL83ugysVpS0UMSKilt0/s1600/db7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N33ZVyanytBt680s1lEXss9OUhScxkNSzc_PnxEzmNvMpB7gKq3vh0loh3RLEvpNvoeugE5ENdqYSlHoMw4RYo_KamNQjd2Z_sdoz3KPILq62OvgljJ0326GL83ugysVpS0UMSKilt0/s320/db7.jpg" width="240" /></a><b>I CONFESS!!!! </b>Yes! I AVOIDED posting in my challenge groups this weekend. <i>And I'm so VERY VERY sorry. </i> I was way too busy being naughty so I refused to stop for a second and think about the consequences. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">***sigh***</span></i><br />
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I honestly can't remember the last time I was this naughty... <i>now... is that good or bad?</i> LOL I don't know. <i>you </i>tell <i>me!!!!</i><br />
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As this was an INSANE weekend with all sorts of debaucheries, <b><i>I'm FIRST going to tell you the 'punishment', THEN I'll tell you the crime.</i></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Punishment:</span></b><br />
<br />
<i>4 days</i> of Insanity workouts<br />
<i>3 days</i> of modified Shakeology Cleanse<br />
<i>2 days </i>of extra yard work<br />
<i>1 </i>Public apology for completely avoiding my challengers while committing this debauchery.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">True confessions time...</span></b><br />
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<i><b>It all began one cold and dreary Friday afternoon...</b> sounds like a great beginning... right??</i><br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1st Offense:</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Place: </b>Local Winery<br />
<b>Crime:</b> Glass of wine <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(in itself is NO big deal... really)</span></i><br />
<b>My Win: </b> Kept it to one glass<br />
<b>Scenario: </b> Taking advantage of wine club membership and having a free glass of wine with the Pres of the soccer association as we discuss fundraising. It WAS an official meeting... of course.
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<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*** insert big sigh here ***</span></i><br />
<br />
Oh how many "sins" start with... <i>it's just one? </i> Well... I <i>DID</i> stick to just one glass... at the winery that is. But it was the start of what catapulted me into an insane weekend of birthday celebration and festivities that included a lot... and let me tell ya... <i>I mean a LOT of diet-breaking catastrophes!</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2nd Offense:</span>,</b><br />
<br />
<b>Place:</b> Kristie's party (same day)<br />
<b>Crime: </b> 2 Beers<br />
<b>My Win: </b> Left it at 2 beers and left to go home<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Scenario: </b> Friend's birthday party (we have the same b-day so we wanted to hang at her party to celebrate).<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUKDVbfoZr6FdhiJqaqKYrmp5duTU-YULLWIVdR_ahsIgIB27LYhHVqrcPgiYJq6nbhfDEBE0XcIMAlFiIcUf8OW6IJsgyZLHAkyQ17vmjSJ5rjveFHM5QCN_4APz8NvViUZpFciSOaI/s1600/kristiebirthday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUKDVbfoZr6FdhiJqaqKYrmp5duTU-YULLWIVdR_ahsIgIB27LYhHVqrcPgiYJq6nbhfDEBE0XcIMAlFiIcUf8OW6IJsgyZLHAkyQ17vmjSJ5rjveFHM5QCN_4APz8NvViUZpFciSOaI/s200/kristiebirthday.JPG" width="200" /></a>If that was the end of it, it would have been totally fine. BUT... my problem is when that curl in the middle of my forehead gets the best of me... and moderation <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(which is usually my friend)</span></i>, just DARTS! <i>Some kind of friend she is!</i><br />
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<b>The next couple of diet-breaker crimes I'm COMPLETELY blaming on Mr. Enabler himself!</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3rd Offense:</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Place:</b> Zinga Frozen Yogurt (same day AGAIN!!!)<br />
<b>Crime: </b> 1 amazingly yummy container of ice cream!!!<br />
<b>My Win: </b> Um.... Having a hard time finding on here. LOL<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Scenario: </b> Yes... ugh... that's right. It took just one <i>small</i> suggestion from Trent that we go enjoy some ice cream alone... and <i>without a thought, I dove right in. </i>Literally. I'm still trying to get that yogurt out of my hair!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6tqu1i_MrfV60oQagQg-iNXDb3r8oxSasjGyO4uVJ5bhFLGMnaFBAvy8io-ljFtQy6qoh7CvEa3V-tVn2aSaRmoupmREXIDBzfdmKknweOaVO7hVOPIsvHdOhw48qu4aOydoPtSs6Lg/s1600/icecream.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6tqu1i_MrfV60oQagQg-iNXDb3r8oxSasjGyO4uVJ5bhFLGMnaFBAvy8io-ljFtQy6qoh7CvEa3V-tVn2aSaRmoupmREXIDBzfdmKknweOaVO7hVOPIsvHdOhw48qu4aOydoPtSs6Lg/s200/icecream.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
You know... I DID get the small bowl... <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(which is really more like a medium). </i></span>I dove into the strawberries and nuts <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I can count that as a win... right??? LOL). </span></i>Dove into the heath bar crumbled mix <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(definitely NOT a win). </span></i>Piled on the hot fudge <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(eega!!!)</i></span>, and topped it off with a good dose of whipped topping! <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> (OUCH!!!!!) </i></span><br />
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I could have actually taken a pic to post here... but I wolfed that thing down so fast, that there was no real evidence of THAT big cheat! You just get to see the empty bowl and know that the person who ate it was VERY satisfied indeed.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4th offense:</b></span><br />
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<b> Place: </b> Saturday morning, birthday breakfast in bed!!! Happy birthday ME! <i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Totally not my fault... right?)</span></i><br />
<b>Crime: </b> French bread, olive oil, tomato and eggs.<br />
<b>My Win: </b> Ate in moderation :)<br />
<br />
<b>Senario:</b> Woke up at 5:30am to a beautiful breakfast made by my sweetheart. It was one of my old favs... toasted french bread, freshly blended tomatoes, olive oil, and then soft boiled eggs. I actually DID have a win here!!! <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(So excited about this... right??? :) </i></span> Instead of scarfing down ALL the bread, I had three pieces of toasted french bread with the olive oil and tomato on top, and two soft-boiled eggs. <i><b>I think saying no to the rest can be considered a win. YAY!</b></i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">5th Offense: </span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Place: </b> Home Birthday CELEBRATION!!!<br />
<b>Crime: </b> Oh so many... you have to read to see WHAT!<br />
<b>My Win: </b> Ummm... dance party? LOL<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTH4F1f3N4TwlzkYADUDSOT0LZGvLfL4KWxVoCzrFg1GqtrMSEtcmJfxpXvyc1pdVIdoMZugO3N0svcn9Z8U7XKOgYh4S4Q3pr95xBedXo2Wlo13-W7Oalikzdmor7aryMZE9JiXCMX-Y/s1600/db9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTH4F1f3N4TwlzkYADUDSOT0LZGvLfL4KWxVoCzrFg1GqtrMSEtcmJfxpXvyc1pdVIdoMZugO3N0svcn9Z8U7XKOgYh4S4Q3pr95xBedXo2Wlo13-W7Oalikzdmor7aryMZE9JiXCMX-Y/s200/db9.jpg" width="150" /></a><b>Scenario: </b> I was good most of the day... drank my Shakeology and ran a Beachbody booth with a fellow coach at a bizzare. As SOON as I got home... well... it all fell apart, starting with a glass of wine and some caprese <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(fresh mozzarella cheese with basil and balsamic). </span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPkJa1yfQ4Tr8dhS9KQupfnTRzcgBHas_0HJ9p_2a1yEDYz9XTUX6gn60ayPY3QR8fLL4fCz85a55XX4MlYnWK7lzMb6unwgrUJrdjrkge23hoP722iBJPU9LbBblTCbJjNnxvj_YlqI/s1600/db5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPkJa1yfQ4Tr8dhS9KQupfnTRzcgBHas_0HJ9p_2a1yEDYz9XTUX6gn60ayPY3QR8fLL4fCz85a55XX4MlYnWK7lzMb6unwgrUJrdjrkge23hoP722iBJPU9LbBblTCbJjNnxvj_YlqI/s200/db5.jpg" width="200" /></a>Thank God for a <b>family dance party </b>that helped get my heart rate up there, because I don't even want to KNOW how many calories came after.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLyWHYO8mQs_En1K9lvXyrm-YmPIFMz7ReLU3wCLjMhMx8XvfSX9XskqEa9JPPtHLai8tFwHO9Dy6pZtfRrogNcIoXSgC5Tq7M4x07j0FH5KepiNUdl0Nq0yOlzXiA5RJ-OKv0T0lrI0/s1600/db3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLyWHYO8mQs_En1K9lvXyrm-YmPIFMz7ReLU3wCLjMhMx8XvfSX9XskqEa9JPPtHLai8tFwHO9Dy6pZtfRrogNcIoXSgC5Tq7M4x07j0FH5KepiNUdl0Nq0yOlzXiA5RJ-OKv0T0lrI0/s200/db3.PNG" width="200" /></a><b><i>Trent makes the most AWESOME steak and mashed potatoes! </i> </b>My personal birthday dinner request! Follow that with green beans & bacon and a beer.... and it took yum to a whole new level! <br />
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The final touch was this AMAZING lemon layer cake hubby made from scratch for my birthday. And not to be cliche... <b><i>but it WAS the icing on the cake of a very naughty, but yummy, day :)</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U65pHf7n_7-4ZeFZttgSQ8RaKjCGCmWstFirFoY5GJHqreXLa20z2FMaGOimUuAkzkL8w3y2aheCkTo4iGdn5zBYX6mrYQymtf26z1NBmTpSvCkg6mEZDhvgJNYI7o9vUM03_i8Hurg/s1600/db4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4U65pHf7n_7-4ZeFZttgSQ8RaKjCGCmWstFirFoY5GJHqreXLa20z2FMaGOimUuAkzkL8w3y2aheCkTo4iGdn5zBYX6mrYQymtf26z1NBmTpSvCkg6mEZDhvgJNYI7o9vUM03_i8Hurg/s200/db4.jpg" width="200" /></a>By the time dinner was over, we were all quite full and nothing sounded better than a good family snuggle on the couch!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">6th Offense:</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Place:</b> Home and Away!<br />
<b>Crime: </b>Again... too many to count... read away!<br />
<b>My Win: </b> When I got home, I decided to end it there.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x3DJExQkFFh66TFGbQboSA0jT2YIFLxqMU3K5c4k09toaZWbamCmnVuk5Dpqlo7R7CMyoWigewsSdWtpLP8IXYnb69mxY506LNmu0NSUezMl9efNohCyJFfzqUcHV4HwBUKZjyzy-6Q/s1600/db6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x3DJExQkFFh66TFGbQboSA0jT2YIFLxqMU3K5c4k09toaZWbamCmnVuk5Dpqlo7R7CMyoWigewsSdWtpLP8IXYnb69mxY506LNmu0NSUezMl9efNohCyJFfzqUcHV4HwBUKZjyzy-6Q/s200/db6.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<b>Scenario: </b> Up bright and early to my REAL breakfast in bed. Yummy omelet and hash browns!<br />
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Got back from church and the first thing I did was dive into the left-over cake. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast of champions... right? </i>Ahhh... I have such amazing resolve! Bahahaha! NOT!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFoYi4mRVxwdSTe98OxGj0plL0PfLy5RSaCikvkzKQEGG-YkFQbqYbG1VgbKDqvyPOQ0mETMy6ldGUyVVqUWed0yQLrlXHExZVmTDBUoNCcCy3Q88ipxTPVUkqCq8mQUKN-rCHMRTuAs/s1600/db8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFoYi4mRVxwdSTe98OxGj0plL0PfLy5RSaCikvkzKQEGG-YkFQbqYbG1VgbKDqvyPOQ0mETMy6ldGUyVVqUWed0yQLrlXHExZVmTDBUoNCcCy3Q88ipxTPVUkqCq8mQUKN-rCHMRTuAs/s200/db8.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>As far as the rest of this crazy weekend is concerned, I'm blaming the rest on that darn winery membership! </b>Yeah... it's a heck of a lot easier than taking responsibility... right??? Sunday afternoon, we went to a wine club soup dinner that was spectacular! Three courses of soup, served with three different wines. Dessert served with dessert wine. And a couple tastings after... yes... a high calorie day! <i>EEEGA!!!</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">7th Offense:</span></b><br />
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<b>Place:</b> Spelunkers Drive-Thru<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <i>(on the way home)</i></span><br />
<b>Crime: </b>Bacon cavern burger, fries and <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(whispering here... a coke!)</i></span><br />
<b>My Win: </b> Um... none. I ate every last bite.<br />
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'NUFF SAID!<br />
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When I got home, I decided to end it there.<br />
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THANK the good Lord... that's where it all ended. Don't honestly think I could have crammed much more into that... I got home and loaded up on water and made some new week resolutions!<br />
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At this point, I'm so grateful for my fellow challengers. This may be a painful confession... BUT I'm getting right back on that wagon today, and I'm focusing on the wins I had this weekend... otherwise, I'd be too busy worrying about a complete diet-breaking disaster of a weekend that I'm recovering from!!!<br />
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When all is said and done... I had an AMAZING birthday and am SO ready to get my butt in gear!!! Insanity whooped my tail again this morning, but I shall not be disparaged. Bahahahaha!<br />
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<b>As Shaun T would say... have an AMAZEBALLS week, my friends!!!</b><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-75941218486795430712013-10-12T11:02:00.000-07:002013-10-14T06:55:31.533-07:00Fit for a year. Fit for LIFE! <div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzE-2CTmdu4zzmQEwl9uN-ZKr5PzG1D4c1fV95Ly9pkm6eqmpmHgCAswTQsyCp8iXLXyI1KrP6bMjFueQw-PXfM0WCuQyWZKC2hlc6hMRaMWSCU-OmVoJwCYT8oGzcLF1KGTWNp8gdhM/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzE-2CTmdu4zzmQEwl9uN-ZKr5PzG1D4c1fV95Ly9pkm6eqmpmHgCAswTQsyCp8iXLXyI1KrP6bMjFueQw-PXfM0WCuQyWZKC2hlc6hMRaMWSCU-OmVoJwCYT8oGzcLF1KGTWNp8gdhM/s320/photo.PNG" width="320" /></a><b>You may think that I just have skinny genes </b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(excuse the pun! LOL)</span></i><b>. </b> That I was born able to pop those five babies out and shrink right back down. Right? <b>WRONG! </b> Oh how I WISH it were that easy. If I was ONLY one of <i>those</i> women.<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> **sigh**</span></i></div>
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This past year has not been all fun and games. No… <b>it started with a <i>lot</i> of fear, a BIG "why," and a <i>strong</i> decision to change.</b><br />
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Something that most people don't know about me… something that is embarrassing and <i>VERY hard to admit…</i> and something that I have never been very open about before is the fact that off and on since about the eighth grade I have battled an eating disorder. A little over five years ago, my life swung out of control, and what was an occasional thing, became a horrid lifestyle. I couldn't control my life… but I <i>could</i> control that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzAa7Qw3o5O-lhnIBVNyblcyw-5wOcxjN3g-x-OXDHUvteutOje5M58Ei2NS8KB6cEBbouTFQ2U8mcotqr8IhfT1hewY9XiMeI7AUEk8RDbmxrtksNRLgWDTHIn8ChoR0GhpZuGEzE3s/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzAa7Qw3o5O-lhnIBVNyblcyw-5wOcxjN3g-x-OXDHUvteutOje5M58Ei2NS8KB6cEBbouTFQ2U8mcotqr8IhfT1hewY9XiMeI7AUEk8RDbmxrtksNRLgWDTHIn8ChoR0GhpZuGEzE3s/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
As my life became more stable, my eating disorder started to fade… but it was still there lurking in the background... and when the scale would go back up, it would rear it's ugly head yet again.<br />
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About a year ago, my weight was steadily going back up. I was beginning to feel out of control again, and things quickly started to go downhill. <b>THAT is when I decided to change. <i>I was DONE.</i> </b> Done hating on myself about a million times a day. Done seeing my weight constantly yo-yo and feeling like I was out of control and "fat" and never doing a real thing about it. Done living a lifestyle that was very damaging to my family. <b><i>This was NOT the legacy I wanted to leave to my children. </i></b>So I decided to do something about it.<br />
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A friend of mine had seen some great results after joining a <a href="http://beachbodycoach.com/mhillaert">Beachbody</a> challenge. Her life was changing, and I was desperate, so I purchased the <a href="https://extranet.securefreedom.com/MillionDollarBody/csShopping/ShoppingCart.asp?Cat=Fitness%20Program|INSANITY" target="_blank">Insanity</a> Challenge Pack with <a href="https://extranet.securefreedom.com/MillionDollarBody/csShopping/ShoppingCart.asp?Cat=Shakeology|ALL" target="_blank">Shakeology</a> and joined my first challenge group.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cIC74XnoDnOblLR6JfhknIRAnBlAnTOkxmlYsGOcJCLaq_jqt_VX16ww4mR6DtpS1pjUJa_HvD49hCJEGbPNJzKV176LODDhotdb1BWpgDmuLKL58ugtOINWqRBV1B6JgEJsfAkJxQ8/s1600/Untitled+2.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cIC74XnoDnOblLR6JfhknIRAnBlAnTOkxmlYsGOcJCLaq_jqt_VX16ww4mR6DtpS1pjUJa_HvD49hCJEGbPNJzKV176LODDhotdb1BWpgDmuLKL58ugtOINWqRBV1B6JgEJsfAkJxQ8/s200/Untitled+2.tiff" width="200" /></a><br />
I have to be honest...<b> I was absolutely and completely TERRIFIED of what was to come! </b><i>Terrified of working out every day. Terrified of changing my eating habits. Terrified of the things that I would have to sacrifice in order to see change. </i> I liked never having to really regulate myself on what I ate or drank... Giving that kind of stuff up would NOT be easy. <b><i> BUT... the alternative was even worse.</i></b><br />
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-verge-of-insanity.html" style="font-weight: bold;">On the VERGE of INSANITY</a> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Blog article: September 5, 2012</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">That's it! I've had it!</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Sticking to a diet all by myself is just too hard for me right now. </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">This summer, I have gained five pounds. FIVE POUNDS! Okay... might not seem like much, but five can turn into 10, can turn into... well... you know...</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">So, I've made a HUGE decision. I've decided to go the route of the insane. </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I have signed up for Beach Body Insanity.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> That's right. I'm going to be working out insanely hard every morning with Shaun T.</span><br />
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<i><b>I'll NEVER forget that first day of Insanity!!! </b> I didn't even make it half-way through the Fit Test before I felt I would die and thought my stomach would turn inside out! </i>Talk about INSANE! I was dying… but I REFUSED to quit!<br />
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<a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/09/insanity-is-whooping-my-um-tail.html" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank">
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<a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/09/insanity-is-whooping-my-um-tail.html" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Insanity is whooping my... um... tail</span></i></b></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- Blog article: September 11, 2012</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">So... I started </span><a href="http://beachbodycoach.com/mhillaert" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Insanity</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> yesterday. I'd LOVE to say that I made it all the way through the first day fit test, but I didn't. I'm a pretty tough gal... but about 2/3's of the way through, my stomach was on fire, and I felt like... well... suffice it to say that I became extremely nauseated and had to stop. I was SO frustrated with myself. I HATE stopping... and if there's one thing I'm not... I'm not a quitter. I mean... I didn't expect to do amazing or anything, but I did expect to do better than that. Oh well...</span></span><br />
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I would love to say that I <i>LOVED</i> the workout… but… not really. <b><i>EVERY DAY I had to make that decision over again.</i></b> That decision to change. Because it was SO VERY HARD! BUT… it wasn't long before I started to see results… and THAT became somewhat addicting :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/09/insanity-groan-and-bear-it.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Insanity... "Groan and Bear it"</i></b></a> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- Blog article written September 19, 2012</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Every morning I get up between 6 and 6:30 am to do my Insanity workout.</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> I'm grunting and groaning as I </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">drag</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">myself out of bed and </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">force </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">my tired body to </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">stumble down the stairs</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, make my way into the living room and key up the video of the day while I grab my water.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Thank God that Shaun T isn't one of those annoying exercise video people. </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> I'll never forget P.E. in high school, when my friend Jackie and I somehow talked our coach into letting us do the Tony Little workouts while everyone else played basketball...</span></span><br />
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<b>I could sat that it was easy… <i>but the truth is... real change does NOT happen overnight</i></b>…. and I SURE wasn't perfect. I took a lot of great steps forward… but I also back-tracked quite a few times. Overall though… by sticking with the program for the most part, I was able to see some amazing visible changes just a little over a month into the program.<br />
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<a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/10/three-steps-forward-two-steps-back.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Three steps forward, two steps back...</i></b></span></a> - <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Blog Article - October 15, 2012</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Well... I've made it through the first part of Insanity and the recovery week. I'd </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">LOVE </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">to say that I've been the poster child for Beach Body, but... alas... my Beach Body diet has been more like a four days on, three days off kind of thing... or even worse... </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">three days on, four days off. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I think the reason why I'm so bad about sticking to it is that when I </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">do </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">stick with it, I see results FAST! Then I think... geez... I have some wiggle room now... maybe I </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">will </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">join hubby and the kiddos in those chips and dip or pumpernickel rye bread slathered with butter, paired with a nice amber brew.</span></span><br />
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It all started with that decision to change, and <b>I had to remake that decision EVERY SINGLE DAY.</b> Because YES!!! I was tempted to quit more than once. <i>But I kept holding on to that "why" and moving forward.</i><br />
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<a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/10/making-decision-to-change.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Making the Decision to Change </i></b></span></a><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Blog article: October 17, 2012</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">When that alarm goes off at 6am, and I'm still sore from the previous day and my baby's been up all night crying and fussing, I'm whining like a little girl inside, groaning and </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">dragging</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> myself out of bed. I hate knowing what's ahead. And to top it off, when the warm-up exercises start, my muscles are so stiff, it's sheer will-power to make them move beyond a snail's pace. </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Being fit is a decision I have to remake over and over again, from the moment I wake up, and throughout every minute of the Insanity workout.</b></span><br />
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When I finished the Insanity (60 day program), my body had experienced some serious change.<br />
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<i><b><a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2012/11/insanity-over-well-for-few-days-at-least.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Insanity OVER... well... for a few days at least :)</span></a> </b><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Blog Article - November 13, 2012</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I DID IT!!! I finished the Beach Body Insanity program. </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> 60 days of pure insanity and pain. I'm excited about my muscle results... but a bit disappointed about my weight loss results. </span></span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #666666;">Why?</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Remind me of the name of this blog again?</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> Oh yeah, right... </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Confessions of a Diet Breaker.</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">If I was to write an article for every time I broke diet, well... that would be every day.</span></span><br />
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I'll be honest…<i>Why</i> <i>am</i> <i>I not necessarily the best person to follow if you're looking for perfection</i>? <b>I'm a snitcher! </b>When I fall off the wagon, I FALL OFF THE WAGON. And it didn't take much to get me to 'cheat.' Now THIS is where I started to notice something though… <i>You DON'T have to be PERFECT to see results. You DON'T have to be PERFECT to change your life. </i><b> I learned that even cheaters can be winners :)</b><br />
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<a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/01/cheaters-can-be-winners.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Cheaters CAN be winners</b></i></span></a><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Blog article: January 20, 2013</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The past five months have been <i>amazing!</i> </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> I went from 155+ pounds to 138 pounds, give or take a few depending on my cheating habits :) I've gone from minimal muscle mass to sporting the best biceps and shoulders I've ever had. My abs are ripped and my legs are so strong that I feel like I'm just bouncing when I go dancing... no soreness there :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">BUT... and you know there had to be a but coming...<i> if you think that I'm a perfect little eater... always sticking to my salads and avacados and water and such... you thank wrong!</i> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i> (and yes... I did just use the word 'thank' as a past tense of 'think'. LOL)</i></span></span></div>
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As I moved into new challenges, and started to help others also on their path to fitness, I discovered something. You know how every <i>"diet"</i> book talks about how your'e not <i>"on a diet"</i> but you're making a "<i>lifestyle change?"</i> Gosh… I've been<i> "on" </i>those <i>"lifestyle changes"</i> before, and let me tell you… <i>when I would fall off the wagon… it was REALLY hard to get back on… if I did get back on at all.</i><br />
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<b>But now… NOW… <i>I was seeing what a lifestyle change actually looked like. </i> </b>Here I was five months into my new life, and I started to see that through little baby steps that I didn't even realize I was taking, my life was REALLY changing. <i>My body was morphing into something I had only dreamed of before, and my eating habits had drastically changed.</i><br />
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But even more than that, <b><i>I was changing on the INSIDE!</i> </b> I was becoming more confident. Those horrible voices inside my head that were telling me that I was ugly… that I was fat… that were speaking constant words of hatred… they started to fade. And as they did, my life started to open up before me. <b><i>I began to live what I like to call Life 3.0.</i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><i>I </i><i>started to kick FEAR in the butt, gained newfound confidence, and for the first time used what has now become my motto… Live FEARLESSLY!</i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/02/living-fearless.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Living Fearless</i></b></span></a><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - Blog Article: February 15, 2013</span></i><br />
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<i>I realize that not everyone is born strong-willed and hard-headed. </i>But these rules have made a huge difference in my life. I know I have my Mother to thank for this... <b style="font-style: italic;">My attitude is not to ask why... it's to ask WHY NOT?</b></div>
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No... I don't have everything figured out. <i> I DO know this :) </i>I'm a pretty hot mess at times, and fairly disorganized... but <i><b>getting out of my 'comfort zone' is something I actively force myself to do.</b></i> When I'm 60 looking back, I want to know that I really tried. </div>
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By my six month Beachbody "fit-iversary," I started to notice something else. <i>My eating disorder, which had been a such a burden for a very long time… was no longer an issue.</i> I was making more and more good decisions. <i><b>I fell off the wagon less and less, and when I did, it was OKAY… because I KNEW that I'd be right back at it. </b></i>I KNEW that if I fell off the wagon during a holiday weekend or fell off the wagon while on vacation that I'd jump right back on the wagon when I got back into my daily routine.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/03/my-6-month-beachbody-anniversary.html"><b><i>My 6 Month Beachbody 'Anniversary'</i></b></a> </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Blog Article: March 15, 2013</span></i><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Sunday marks six months since the beginning of my journey with <a href="http://beachbodycoach.com/mhillaert" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><i>Beachbody</i></a> and <a href="http://myshakeology.com/mhillaert" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><i>Shakeology</i></a>.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> And I'll tell you what. Looking back? I am blown away by the changes that I have seen in my life. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Is everything perfect? </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> No... of course not... but if you read some of my posts from before starting the Beachbody exercise and nutrition programs, there were several things that were pretty obvious.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I still don't eat perfectly </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(And I occasionally still go on a food bender!)</span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, but through participating in challenge groups, and from the support of my new friends and challengers, I've made some pretty awesome changes.</span><br />
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In May, I made a major breakthrough… and <b>I realized that what I had been dealing with was a serious food addiction. </b> My mom had always warned me about drinking alcohol to ease an emotion, for fear of alcoholism. But… what I didn't realize is that that same problem existed with food. <i>I had been using food as a crutch to get me through ANY time I became emotional. Recognizing this was just another step in my healing process.</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/05/getting-past-food-addiction.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Getting past the food addiction</i></b></a> </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Blog article: May 11, 2013</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">You know... you hear it from the time you're in junior high... and even now, from the time you're probably in Kindergarten. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"Just say no." </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> No? Say no to what? Well, we all know it. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">We've heard it a million times.</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> DRUGS... of course. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(And now, in my 30-something mind, I have images of "This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs." haunting me. LOL)</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">But... what if you're addicted to something you really </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">can't</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> give up? </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">What if giving it up would actually do more harm than good?</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> Then what do you do?</span><br />
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As I was growing and changing, I still had one issue that really needed to be dealt with, and that was my addiction to the scale. <i><b> I would weigh myself EVERY morning, and sometimes several times a day. If the scale was down, I would be happy. If the scale was up, my day would be ruined. </b></i>One day, my hubby simply hid the scale… and let me tell you… that was one of the BEST things he could have done. My day was no longer being ruled by a number on the scale. Especially because I was gaining more muscle, and the scale was actually starting to go UP.<br />
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<b><i><a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/07/when-numbers-just-dont-add-up.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">When the numbers just don't add up</span></a> </i></b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Blog article: July 12, 2013</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Okay... I admit it...</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i> I'm addicted to my scale.</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I know</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> I'm only supposed to weigh once a week/month... but I just simply can't help it! I've been soooo good lately, and when I'm being a good girl, and I see the numbers on the scale go down, it's like getting this huge pat on the back. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"Hey! You did it! GOOD GIRL!" </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>(And yes... I enjoy a good pat on the back when I've done something right! :)</i></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Over the years, the number on the scale has sadly become my "Happy Meter." </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> When the number goes down, I become elated... I know I'm going to have an amazing day and life is just good! BUT... on the flip side... when the number goes up... I tend to feel down... and negative thoughts of failure flood my mind and give me a rough start to the day.</span><br />
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In the Spring, I switched from doing Insanity to doing the <a href="https://extranet.securefreedom.com/MillionDollarBody/csShopping/ShoppingCart.asp?Cat=Fitness%20Program|LES%20MILLS%20COMBAT" target="_blank">Les Mills Combat</a> program, and let me tell you… WOW. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! <b>I was finally able to have <i>FUN</i> with my workouts. </b>My arm and leg muscles were really toning up, and I actually<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> (Dare I say it?)</i></span> ENJOYED my workouts!<br />
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<i style="background-color: #f4cccc;">I was at a point where I felt GREAT about my body. GREAT about my life. And could finally understand that it wasn't perfection that was necessary… Just commitment and consistency :)</i></blockquote>
So YES! I DO REALLY enjoy a bacon cheeseburger from my fav local food joint on occasion, and <i>NOW.. it is GUILT FREE! </i> <b>Because life is not about starving yourself from all pleasure. </b><i><b> It's about MODERATION…</b></i> and<i> talk about the FREEDOM that I found when this FINALLY sank in!</i><br />
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<a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-really-big-cheat-and-nope-not.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>My really big CHEAT. And NOPE... not feeling a bit guilty :)</i></b> </span></a><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Blog article: July 15, 2013</span></i><br />
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<b>Wait... is that ME in that picture there on the right? </b> <i>ME eating that juicy scrumptious hamburger made with freshly ground local beef?</i></div>
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<b>You bet your bottom dollar it is! </b> <i>And I EARNED every single bite of it!</i></div>
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<i>Why no guilt?</i> Because that was the reward I chose for the extra hard work I put into my workouts. I punched harder. I kicked higher. And I dreamed bigger. <i>Well... of a bigger Bacon Cavern Cheeseburger... of course!</i></div>
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Now, I'm doing the new <a href="https://extranet.securefreedom.com/MillionDollarBody/csShopping/ShoppingCart.asp?Cat=Fitness%20Program|Focus%20T25" target="_blank">Focus T25</a> program that Shaun T came out with. <b>I have to admit that I kind of have a love/hate relationship with it.</b> It's not fun like Les Mills Combat was fun… BUT… I'm a BUSY mom, and it's <i>ONLY 25 minutes a day</i>… and <b><i>who doesn't have time for that?</i></b><br />
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I've just ended T25 Beta and am about to start Gamma. Scared? YES! <i>Terrified? </i> ABSOLUTELY! <b>BUT...</b> <b>I have decided that life is too short to let fear stop me. </b>No sir, no ma'am! I start Gamma on Monday. I'm shakin' in my boots... but, like I tell my fellow challengers... I'll "get 'er DONE!"<br />
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<a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/10/shaun-t-is-revolutionizing-fitness-and.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Shaun T is REVOLUTIONIZING Fitness... and I'm telling him EXACTLY what I THINK!</i></b></span></a><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Blog Article: October 7, 2013</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>I have to admit, coming off my high from Les Mills Combat, I was not really looking forward to doing the T25 program</i></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, but as an active Beachbody Coach, I thought... "Yeah... I just have to do it... no excuses."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Because the workouts are only 25 minutes long, I didn't expect much out of them, but... let me tell ya... it's the REAL deal! For 25 minutes a day, I work my butt off... sweat dripping down my face, body screaming... </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(oh yeah... I'm a whiner...)</span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> eyes glued to the number on the side of the screen watching the countdown to the end of my workout. LOL Thank GOD for the modifier to help with all those times when I really do need a break!</span></span><br />
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So, here I am a little over a year since I made that decision to change, and <i>I am SO very grateful to my husband for supporting me, to Beachbody, and to Team Courage and The Rock.. for helping me get started... to my accountability partner, Eric, for doing all those 10 day no alcohol challenges with me... </i><b><i> And MOST ESPECIALLY… to my challengers on my team!</i></b><br />
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<i>And YES!!! </i>My team name is<b> TEAM FEARLESS!!!! </b>Big surprise... right? :) <<<<<<b><i>Without my team and my challengers, my life would NOT be the same!>>>>> </i></b><i> </i> I'd <i>still</i> be battling an eating disorder. I'd <i>still</i> be stuck in a rut. I'd <i>STILL</i> be hating on myself every day!<br />
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You guys have been there for me during the good and the bad, and I just have to say THANK YOU! Thank you for your love. Thank you for your support. <b>I forever owe you a debt of gratitude.</b><br />
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<b>And to you who are reading this... </b> If you want to get healthier, and you don't know what to do, or you need help to get there… find me on Facebook at <a href="http://fb.com/MichelleHillaert">http://fb.com/MichelleHillaert</a>. Send me a private message... <i>know there are people out there who WANT to help you.</i><br />
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If you have a Team Beachbody coach that you've already been talking to.. MESSAGE THEM. But let me tell you… DON'T WAIT. <b>Life is too short to not truly LIVE IT! </b> I am ON FIRE, and my new mission is to help others find this same peace that I have FINALLY found.<br />
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<b>THIS is the real deal, guys. Think F.A.N. <i>Fitness, Accountability and Nutrition. </i> THAT is the combination that will bring you TRUE LASTING change. </b><br />
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From the bottom of my heart. PLEASE LISTEN!!! <br />
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<b>DO NOT LET YOUR FEARS HOLD YOU BACK!!!! </b><br />
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Those voices that say "I can't do this." That's all they are… VOICES… <i>YOU can make that decision to change.</i> It doesn't matter if it's getting control of your health and fitness, or going for that job you've always wanted. I'm speaking from experience here. <b><i>Start to believe in yourself. </i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Just let go of the fear and LIVE FEARLESSLY!!!</span></i></b><br />
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-78042104467638064502013-10-07T05:05:00.000-07:002013-10-07T05:11:07.029-07:00Shaun T is REVOLUTIONIZING fitness... and I'm telling him EXACTLY what I THINK!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>I have to admit, coming off my high from Les Mills Combat, I was not really looking forward to doing the T25 program</i></b>, but as an active Beachbody Coach, I thought... "Yeah... I just have to do it... no excuses."<br />
<br />
Because the workouts are only 25 minutes long, I didn't expect much out of them, but... let me tell ya... it's the REAL deal! For 25 minutes a day, I work my butt off... sweat dripping down my face, body screaming... <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(oh yeah... I'm a whiner...)</span></i> eyes glued to the number on the side of the screen watching the countdown to the end of my workout. LOL Thank GOD for the modifier to help with all those times when I really do need a break!<br />
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Now I'm in my last weeks of Beta, and one night, <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(granted... I was all hyped up on caffeine and driving in the middle of the night to Vermont while the kiddos were sleeping away in the back of our Suburban)</i></span> the song, Hey There Delilah came on... and it just came to me...<i> the perfect lyrics to tell Shaun T just EXACTLY what I think of his workout program.</i>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AKHAESf64T0" width="420"></iframe></div>
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To help you out, I put together a quick list of things you need to know about Focus T25 before you start the program.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Five most important things you need to know about Focus T25:</span></b></div>
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<b>#5. There is a lot of high intensity cardio.</b><br />
Workouts are mostly high intensity cardio with some body weight resistance training.<br />
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<b>#4. Yes. There is weight lifting.</b><br />
No weights in Alpha. Some light weights in Beta. Weights are stepped up yet again in Gamma.<br />
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<b>#3. There IS a modifier!</b><br />
People who are not quite ready for the the intensity, can follow the modifier and then gradually increase the intensity as their bodies get stronger.<br />
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<b>#2. Focus T25 has a strong emphasis on Core Strength</b><br />
In addition to the challenging 25 minute core workouts, Shaun T is continually reminding you to focus on your core, and to use your core strength.<br />
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<b>#1. With only 25 minutes a day 5 days a week, T25 is REVOLUTIONIZING fitness!</b><br />
YES! <b><i>You CAN do a 25 minute workout and STILL SEE RESULTS!!!</i></b> The only exception is on Fridays when you're encouraged to do two 25 minute segments in a row, and there is also an optional stretch on Sundays.<br />
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<b>Sooooo... you can throw those old excuses out the window. </b>Most of us can squeeze 25 minutes into our day... and if it's too intense, follow the modifier! I know people who weigh well over 250lbs and they are <i>still</i> able to... as I like to say... "get 'er done!" <i>Just do your personal best every time, and every time, you'll get a bit stronger and do a bit more.</i><br />
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Oh gosh! Gotta run!!!! <i>It's time to get my FOCUS on! </i> :P<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-30723168779911531052013-10-02T11:21:00.000-07:002013-10-02T11:22:01.751-07:00Why I will NEVER EVER again drink diet soda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GKFqMXlKYq8yXqzHqzKAAIN2N2_4I4PXaXo2ibIcAS8fWd-Puwl2GH3JyOk8ZTpVYUdQBH0x4-PT4C0tMu_iiIP18TKx4xUn7G3CQS35fiXnBWbtjnlze8CuNgFlqiLCQcL7PC5DLNU/s1600/stocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GKFqMXlKYq8yXqzHqzKAAIN2N2_4I4PXaXo2ibIcAS8fWd-Puwl2GH3JyOk8ZTpVYUdQBH0x4-PT4C0tMu_iiIP18TKx4xUn7G3CQS35fiXnBWbtjnlze8CuNgFlqiLCQcL7PC5DLNU/s1600/stocks.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yes... you got <i>that</i> right. I will NEVER, ever, <i><b>EVER</b></i> again drink diet soda. At least... that's the plan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">You know... I've KNOWN for a long time that diet soda wasn't such a great thing to put into my body, but I've just ignored those little voices in my head <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(and NO... I'm not losing it... at least I don't think I am... LOL) </span></i>and enjoyed my Diet Dr. Pepper or Diet Coke from time to time.</span><br />
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Well, in one of my challenge groups, I've kind of partnered up with a new and budding friend to do challenges within the challenge... you know like 10 day NO alcohol challenge... or no sugar challenge, etc. An accountability partner... if you'd have it.</div>
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So, twice now, in this particular challenge... I've fallen to the gruesome depths of nutrition hell and partaken in my horrific vice of drinking diet soda. The problem here is that my accountability partner, Mr. I Know It All and I Will Put You Through Hell to Prove IT <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(soooo.... maybe that was a bit of a mean shot. :P)</span></i> a.k.a. Mr. Eric Triplett, absolutely DESPISES diet soda. </div>
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So as soon as Eric saw the words "Diet Dr. Pepper" in my evening food posting... he went on a rant. And when I say a rant, <i>I mean a RANT!</i> Let me tell ya... you just don't want to make this guy go on a rant, because <i>no one</i> can rant like Eric can. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Except for maybe his wife, Leslie... I think she could come close. LOL)</span></i></div>
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Now... WHY no more diet soda? Well, instead of putting it in my own words... I'm going to let Eric do all the work. All this info is directly from my accountability partner. Yeah... he TOTALLY blew up our private group with these posts.</div>
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On a good note... I have to say I've been convinced once and for all to give up poisoning my body with this stuff. It's not worth it for that few minutes of pleasure.
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">ERIC <BEGIN RANT></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtXHqsupvo4BHxkuKhMTfZ5tYt9Vdvz6J1ROleOHe99sAea13hIB5Xi-Alc8oJXC87CVG_STqxEy48JGwNYNceTmNiVG4tyXdsBosD_aMKkFIYVP39K0UBR99sxlhkCIh1CRFjjmZHoc/s1600/1289855_10200507938116773_458290915_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtXHqsupvo4BHxkuKhMTfZ5tYt9Vdvz6J1ROleOHe99sAea13hIB5Xi-Alc8oJXC87CVG_STqxEy48JGwNYNceTmNiVG4tyXdsBosD_aMKkFIYVP39K0UBR99sxlhkCIh1CRFjjmZHoc/s400/1289855_10200507938116773_458290915_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">JUST SAY NO TO DIET SODA!</span></b></div>
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Before you pop the top, know this: guzzling diet soda comes with its own set of side effects that may harm your health - from kickstarting kidney problems to adding inches to your waistline.</div>
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<b style="background-color: #ea9999;">Reason 1:
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NO TO DIET SODA!</div>
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<b><i>Reproductive Issues
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Sometimes, the vessel for your beverage is just as harmful. Diet or not, soft drink cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems.
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There is a lot of risk-taking for one can of pop.
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<b style="background-color: #ea9999;">Reason 2:</b></div>
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NO TO DIET SODA!</div>
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<b><i>Rotting Teeth</i></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Picture is worth a thousand words.</span></td></tr>
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With a pH of 3.2, diet soda is very acidic. (As a point of reference, the pH of battery acid is 1. Water is 7). The acid is what readily dissolves the enamel, and just because a soda is diet doesn't make it acid-light. Adults who drink three or more sodas a day have wore dental health, says a University of Michigan analysis of dental checkup data. Soda drinkers had a far greater decay, more missing teeth and more fillings.</div>
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<b style="background-color: #ea9999;">Reason 3:</b></div>
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NO TO DIET SODA!</div>
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<b><i>Cell Damage</i></b></div>
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Diet sodas contain something many regular sodas don't: mold inhibitors. They go by the names sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate, and they're in nearly all diet sodas. But many regular sodas, such as Coke and Pepsi, don't contain this preservative.</div>
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That's bad news for diet drinkers. "These chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it -- they knock it out altogether," Peter Piper, a professor of molecular biology and biotechnology at the University of Sheffield in the U.K., told a British newspaper in 1999. The preservative has also been linked to hives, asthma, and other allergic conditions according to the Center for Science in the Public interest.</div>
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Since then, some companies have phased out sodium benzoate. Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi have replaced it with another preservative, potassium benzoate. Both sodium and potassium benzoate were classified by the Food Commission in the UK as mild irritants to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes.</div>
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<b style="background-color: #ea9999;">Reason 4:</b></div>
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NO TO DIET SODA!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0XHqECzbodEQZ-qXaNMrwlTK7ZWmMIiHiMkOXeY-t5W97zSsIC9v-uxojYp9Bcmq_Eyli2porAA2NQzmfsMj7fDc2BK9H0tBJJVSJjBHwW1HlGwMhPJIzJnFywnD_bpGuo_Bqg1dwEQ/s1600/hangover_myhts_qfi6v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0XHqECzbodEQZ-qXaNMrwlTK7ZWmMIiHiMkOXeY-t5W97zSsIC9v-uxojYp9Bcmq_Eyli2porAA2NQzmfsMj7fDc2BK9H0tBJJVSJjBHwW1HlGwMhPJIzJnFywnD_bpGuo_Bqg1dwEQ/s200/hangover_myhts_qfi6v.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><i>A Terrible Hangover</i></b></div>
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Your first bad decision was ordering that Vodka-Diet-- and you may make the next one sooner than you thought. Cocktails made with diet soda get you drunker, faster, according to a study out of the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia. That's because sugar-free mixers allow liquor to enter your bloodstream much quicker than those with sugar, leaving you with a bigger buzz.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #ea9999;">Reason 5:</span></div>
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NO TO DIET SODA!</div>
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<b><i>Obesity</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS9rKw0xYfUJBSu6lgNBsRAWsGAk4XteXDJ5mi_uTDAwTHtZAdoM6O24aeiN0vvWsZSYSNg8nkB2z-WJLzI0SLA5liqLuonPRfaSDAINiq2Ev9DJ41YYE5eVM-FzqLxdjFwJcBx2ypYA/s1600/childhood-obesity-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoS9rKw0xYfUJBSu6lgNBsRAWsGAk4XteXDJ5mi_uTDAwTHtZAdoM6O24aeiN0vvWsZSYSNg8nkB2z-WJLzI0SLA5liqLuonPRfaSDAINiq2Ev9DJ41YYE5eVM-FzqLxdjFwJcBx2ypYA/s200/childhood-obesity-008.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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You read that right. Diet soda doesn't help you lose weight after all. <b><i>A University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming overweight</i></b>. <i> Downing just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500%.</i> </div>
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Why? Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body's natural ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods, suggested an animal study from Purdue University. That means people who consume diet foods might be more likely to overeat, because your body is being tricked into thinking it's eating sugar, and you crave more.</div>
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<b style="background-color: #ea9999;">Reason 6:
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NO TO DIET SODA!</div>
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<b><i>Messed-Up Metabolism
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According to a 2008 University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults, even just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that puts you at risk for heart disease. Whether that link is attributed to an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits is unclear.
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<i>But is that can really worth it?
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<b style="background-color: #ea9999;">Reason 7:</b></div>
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NO TO DIET SODA!</div>
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<b><i>Kidney Problems</i></b></div>
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Here's something you didn't know about your diet soda: It might be bad for your kidneys. In an 11-year-long Harvard Medical School study of more than 3,000 women, researchers found that diet cola is associated with a two-fold increased risk for kidney decline. Kidney function started declining when women drank more than two sodas a day. Even more interesting: Since kidney decline was not associated with sugar-sweetened sodas, researchers suspect that the diet sweeteners are responsible.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #ea9999;">Reason 8:</span></div>
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NO TO DIET SODA!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1Epvp3J2IeS_QSIfz_TB75kD3bQnwmD8xTWOV8RVj1NWTP9rjSomfmbzX-FGn2uYkZcf7yatwBC3TaSbIdkfmYu_DcpPZT5zLc7YzaMOg_TTjsDsZKI1ZdcZr1PbObVFjWD_1WkB37Y/s1600/Danger+contain+benzene_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1Epvp3J2IeS_QSIfz_TB75kD3bQnwmD8xTWOV8RVj1NWTP9rjSomfmbzX-FGn2uYkZcf7yatwBC3TaSbIdkfmYu_DcpPZT5zLc7YzaMOg_TTjsDsZKI1ZdcZr1PbObVFjWD_1WkB37Y/s200/Danger+contain+benzene_1.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><i>Diet Coca-Cola has BENZENE!</i></b></div>
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ben-zene
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a colorless volatile liquid hydrocarbon present in coal tar and petroleum, used in chemical synthesis. Its use as a solvent has been reduced because of its carcinogenic properties.</div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">ERIC </END RANT></b></div>
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Well, thank you very much, Eric, for your research. Thank you for opening my eyes. <i>I KNEW diet soda wasn't good for me. </i> I kind of knew why... <b><i>but I didn't realize HOW bad it is.
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No... I won't be drinking it again. And I SURE won't risk having you go on another diet soda rant! I was very worried about your blood pressure!!!! LOL
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In the end, the question we have to ask ourselves is... <i>is it worth it?</i> Is the risk worth it, in order to enjoy a few minutes of satisfaction? <i>I honestly have to say no.</i> There are plenty of other poisons that get into our body just via the habits and interactions that we have on a daily basis. We do not need to purposely put our bodies at even more risk... especially with eyes wide open.</div>
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As far as to drink or not to drink diet soda... that is a choice you have to make for yourself. But after reading all this info, I knew I just <i>had</i> to share it.</div>
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So, thanks, Eric! When you're on a rant, <i>you're on a rant</i>... but at least this time, perhaps some good came from it. :P</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-65813495625034809882013-08-18T19:21:00.001-07:002013-08-18T19:21:20.771-07:00The Super Villian called... The Enabler<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAM9W5ULWf1OK-DjX_SZpGvcCScYMlf2jmiW268aVrbrW2adtoCa1I86iz7uZuFCqwvst0ZFwAT9_njYlr9giYCwZUZQOBa0CP2j52ofBBrLfLzqhB5I7tg189fscnJNdfu7SrGfNnlM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAM9W5ULWf1OK-DjX_SZpGvcCScYMlf2jmiW268aVrbrW2adtoCa1I86iz7uZuFCqwvst0ZFwAT9_njYlr9giYCwZUZQOBa0CP2j52ofBBrLfLzqhB5I7tg189fscnJNdfu7SrGfNnlM/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caught Red-Handed</td></tr>
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<b>I'm gonna tell you a story... it's about a little girl. A little girl with a curl in the middle of her forehead... </b>Oh right... yeah... I've told you that one before. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*sigh*</span></i> Well... tonight, the girl with the curl won... or should I say this <i>weekend </i>the girl with the curl won... <i>but it wasn't entirely her fault.</i> <b>There WAS a super villain involved!</b><div>
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I'm not going to go into the boring details of nights spent telling stories and hanging out in the hot tub with friends and sharing a drink or two, or how I ended up having to pay for calories by doing burpees on the stage of one of my fav local joints... or about the doughnuts that <i>magically</i> appeared in my house after Mass on Sunday... Nope! <i>Not going to talk about that AT ALL.</i></div>
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Right now, I'm going to talk about <i>The Enabler</i>. That's right. You heard me correctly. THE ENABLER! The enabler in our house is about 5'10". He talks in a deep voice, and looks like a very kind and caring gentleman. <i>BUT... let me tell you folks... he is in DISGUISE! </i>He reads between the lines and looks for an open area to take advantage of an excuse-maker... like myself...</div>
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<b>The Enabler sneaks up on you and then BAM! </b>He hits you with a cookie or a beer or a glass of wine or a big batch of gourmet garlic potatoes! He hears a whisper in the wind and that's all it takes. He's there.</div>
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Tonight, The Enabler heard a whisper in the wind <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(via the form of a text message)</i></span>... "I'm craving a sweet treat." <i>What the small whisper was REALLY saying was... "Please tell me to drink a glass of water." </i>But did The Enabler do that???? Nooooooooo. Of COURSE he didn't! Nope! The Enabler went right into the kitchen, pulled out our Kitchen Aide. Threw in some butter and sugar and vanilla and a bunch of other yummy ingredients <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(no recipe... mind you... after all, he IS a professional and a REAL pro at this...)</i></span> and do you know what he did??? <b> HE made a batch of COOKIES!!!!!!</b></div>
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Those cookies came out of the oven, and within seconds, a cup of decaf coffee and a cookie still freshly hot and on the spatula just happened to show up <i>RIGHT IN MY FACE! </i> I mean REALLY! The GALL he must have to do that to me??!!! Of course, the girl with the curl took over. The cookie was scarfed down in seconds and another cookie followed in its wake. I just don't know what I'm going to do with this evil villian that stalks my very home. LOL</div>
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In all honesty... the cookies were very yummy. Yes... I'm a bit disappointed about my weekend, but what I absolutely love about this health and fitness journey that I've been on since September is that it has really helped me to change so may aspects of my old lifestyle and form some great new habits. <i>Does this mean that I'm a COMPLETELY new person? No... of course not.</i><b><i> It simply means that I have found a way to constantly get back on track when I fall off the wagon... </i></b>because, I'm tellin' y'all... when you live with The Enabler...<i> it's bound to happen! </i>That... and well... it's just called being human. :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-72097561993672209882013-08-16T08:26:00.001-07:002013-08-16T08:26:35.585-07:00"I am the real me now!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iS515Z-wMwcGCQfq-qF3Fhl07l3sX4Mz9u1Ez3Bik0D3k6nQX8OqfuqmpMyXwBs5wxK6UkxQJXoJ-GxI2TMok8wRjcepbH9rC0YqOzuVFwOxgRjVjfCrwspFOuTc1ua_AvN9rLn-kMA/s1600/nickiewon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iS515Z-wMwcGCQfq-qF3Fhl07l3sX4Mz9u1Ez3Bik0D3k6nQX8OqfuqmpMyXwBs5wxK6UkxQJXoJ-GxI2TMok8wRjcepbH9rC0YqOzuVFwOxgRjVjfCrwspFOuTc1ua_AvN9rLn-kMA/s1600/nickiewon.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
We just finished another challenge on August 5, 2013, and I am so proud to announce Nickie Wheeler as our big winner! <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Or should I say loser? LOL) </span></i> This lady has been such an inspiration to have in our group, always eating healthy, encouraging everyone, and <b><i>not giving in to excuses.</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CBtkRzVtq_QCqpXe5K-gmvbH0liH2Os_YjmX9DCKC2i90IWMJK4Bhq3sXYUbD0nhD5dl1gRtRuaq0DQ79GsZEuZphpoQPeFYwC4kkrRR54yUNLJA_zAFcQGu0gk0pLwEsJJE2OCWYJo/s1600/nickiaccolades.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CBtkRzVtq_QCqpXe5K-gmvbH0liH2Os_YjmX9DCKC2i90IWMJK4Bhq3sXYUbD0nhD5dl1gRtRuaq0DQ79GsZEuZphpoQPeFYwC4kkrRR54yUNLJA_zAFcQGu0gk0pLwEsJJE2OCWYJo/s320/nickiaccolades.jpg" width="320" /></a>When Nickie won the challenge, several challengers told her that it was <i>her dedication </i> that kept them on track. <i>"If Nickie is doing her workout, I better get mine in!"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
I asked Nickie if I could write a blog article about her success, so she sent me her story... <i>but later that the day, she wrote me back and shared that she was a little nervous about sharing her story with everyone. </i><br />
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<b>Let me tell you something... </b>to go from being overweight and not confident, to finally gaining some control and confidence, it's such an amazing feeling! <b> <i>But taking a journey back to those pics and feelings from before making the decision to change... it can be such an eye-opening and humbling experience. </i></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"I feel like it is not me. I am the real me now, feeling confident.... It was a good thing I found out about winning the challenge on Monday. It was a great celebration of the date of my Dad's passing!"</i></blockquote>
Nickie, it is such an HONOR to have you in our challenges. <b>Thank YOU for being such a rock and strong inspiration to everyone... <i>and most especially to ME!</i> </b>:)<br />
<br />
<i>Please take a minute to read Nickie's story, and BE INSPIRED!</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Nickie's Story</i></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7NwASm0o-ec2sz3qG2QWe0dyBj-oFgiEw-_8In6iS4uEm-rTgeBNM-hwzvDb4DbFM9UERqFmGINlFiVEhQRCNUaF6lKCxyIQjnzcRlzG7MneLATdPO0-pdlzNR8mg4F5ftjlb-z4g84/s1600/nickiebefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7NwASm0o-ec2sz3qG2QWe0dyBj-oFgiEw-_8In6iS4uEm-rTgeBNM-hwzvDb4DbFM9UERqFmGINlFiVEhQRCNUaF6lKCxyIQjnzcRlzG7MneLATdPO0-pdlzNR8mg4F5ftjlb-z4g84/s320/nickiebefore.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
On Jan 1, 2013 I sat down with my journal and started writing my goals. <i>I had just got off the scale was shocked to see 250 staring at me! </i> I realized that despite my best intentions and trying to overcome my emotional eating, I was failing miserably. I realized that overcoming many health problems had lead to different issues with my weight. I have always been goal oriented, so I decided that this year I was going to make some serious changes in my life.<br />
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The loss of my Dad, in August of last year, hit me very hard, he was one of the kindest, most gentle, most amazing encouragers I have ever known. He would not have wanted me to be in this kind of shape. <b> So I wrote… and I wrote… I wrote about my financial goals, my relationship goals, and my health goals, and came up several concrete goals, including losing 50 pounds by the end of 2013. </b>A lofty goal for sure and I really had no thought as to how I was going to achieve it.<br />
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I got a DVD set and I worked out everyday except Sunday. In the first 3 months, I lost 30 pounds. Pretty good, I thought, but then after that, the scale just would not budge. Around that time, a friend of mine posted on her FB page that she was starting a challenge group. I had no idea what that was, but she told me about it, and I felt I was ready for the next step.<i> I really needed more support. I could not do this journey on my own. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqbxvlMD21U_ThJy5hiphqVJ4om4Orez4cbXJFKEoRPWE0a2yiB97nwKSyLu5y2axuXPHCfjLcgQEU5ou2xYMT-DXHEz5qJNHO1EwWndrB1VrEWyuCEWzcdrK2bUvGmS-QQb0HXM0QrQ/s1600/fitclub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqbxvlMD21U_ThJy5hiphqVJ4om4Orez4cbXJFKEoRPWE0a2yiB97nwKSyLu5y2axuXPHCfjLcgQEU5ou2xYMT-DXHEz5qJNHO1EwWndrB1VrEWyuCEWzcdrK2bUvGmS-QQb0HXM0QrQ/s200/fitclub.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>The accountability in the challenge group was awesome, the Shakeology gave me more energy. </b>I was nervous at first, being the oldest and the heaviest member, but the group members were supportive and encouraging and kept me on the right track. I started that on May 5, 2013 and on Aug 5, 2013, I was down another 26 pounds! <br />
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I knew I had to continue with this journey so I immediately signed up for another challenge group. My total weight lost with the challenges so far has been 30 pounds and going strong, and I am almost two weeks into the T25 challenge. <br />
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<b>The motivation and the relationships, as well as the humanness of my fellow challengers, is continuing to motivate me. </b>Over the weekend I ran in a RCO Race (Ridiculous Obstacle Course) <i>I never would have been able to do that if it had not been for Beachbody,</i> entering the race was my reward for finishing the first challenge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_h_W7Y4w1Tn2lbFdiORhYa_lgA5N4XXncaHJB_S-Q4LqIv8yJo6mLykymRscGU4_0kXDy09-3913KDitAlNFNl_tPLdvltbSzcDNT6mtNHOUp9QOShMpJebkrB5F-GAfEFS7jUBcMGI/s1600/cheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_h_W7Y4w1Tn2lbFdiORhYa_lgA5N4XXncaHJB_S-Q4LqIv8yJo6mLykymRscGU4_0kXDy09-3913KDitAlNFNl_tPLdvltbSzcDNT6mtNHOUp9QOShMpJebkrB5F-GAfEFS7jUBcMGI/s200/cheat.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Recently, I re-read my journal and my goals, I really had forgotten I had said 50 pounds, and <i>now I have accomplished it and more with this total loss so far of 60 pounds! </i><b> This realization has given me the confidence to meet many of my other goals as well, and has increased my positive outlook on life</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>( I am already a pretty positive person but it gave me more to smile about!).</i></span> I even updated my goal to another 20 pounds by the end of the year!<br />
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This has been a remarkable journey to say the least, and I know I will continue to meet my goals and gain my health back. <b>Success is all in the journey and the people who walk alongside you!</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-75481517403564373452013-07-22T08:24:00.000-07:002013-07-22T08:25:46.372-07:00Evolution of life & love in 13 years of marriage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYP-oZmgCVFPr04cutiqhrG21ttTrpcvTSbceQalYU6xShT1ggFNS7V7Y1zHO8wHo72gFzYfFnkUnH3qtCy_G0IRE8hOalmcSwK-9YN6TW81LrNPOQfnwcXVTW-jNwXfO6OJfhyphenhyphenGPMA4/s1600/IMG_6377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYP-oZmgCVFPr04cutiqhrG21ttTrpcvTSbceQalYU6xShT1ggFNS7V7Y1zHO8wHo72gFzYfFnkUnH3qtCy_G0IRE8hOalmcSwK-9YN6TW81LrNPOQfnwcXVTW-jNwXfO6OJfhyphenhyphenGPMA4/s320/IMG_6377.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
How does love & life evolve over 13 crazy years? <i>Here's a quick glimpse :)</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Bathroom manners</i></span></b><br />
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<i>Immediately after wedding upon move-in:</i><br />
1. Decide which way the toilet paper is supposed to face when put on the roll. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Out. That's the way hotels do it... there's a REASON for that.)</span></i><br />
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2. EVERYONE puts BOTH seats down. That way no one falls into the toilet in the middle of the night on a quick emergency pregnancy potty run. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (And no. Of course that NEVER happened to ME!)</span></i><br />
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<i>After 7 years & 3 kids:</i><br />
1. You're lucky if the toilet paper is ever put ON the roll. <br />
2. Falling in the toilet is a common occurrence at night, as is sitting on a wet seat.<br />
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<i>After 13 years & 5 kids:</i><br />
1. You're lucky if you're not out of toilet paper.<br />
2. You've finally learned to check and wipe down toilet seat before sitting down.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Daily Schtuff</i></b></span><br />
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<i>Immediately after wedding upon move-in:</i><br />
1. A practically gourmet and healthy meal is made and on the table every night.<br />
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2. House is cleaned up thoroughly almost every day. Laundry is mostly done.</div>
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<i>After 7 years & 3 kids:</i><br />
1. A nice healthy dinner is made and on the table most nights.</div>
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2. House is basically clean... thoroughly a few times a week. Laundry is not too out of control.</div>
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<i>After 13 years & 5 kids:</i><br />
1. Last minute scramble to throw something together and get everyone fed between soccer practice, Irish dance, etc.</div>
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2. House dirties itself... thoroughly cleaned once a week... if lucky. Laundry monster has devoured the basement.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Parenting</i></b></span></div>
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<i>Immediately after wedding upon move-in:</i></div>
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1. We knew everything.</div>
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2. Bed time would be strict.</div>
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3. LOVED bed time :)</div>
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<i>After 7 years & 3 kids:</i></div>
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1. We knew some things.</div>
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2. Bed time was strict.</div>
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3. Bed was sometimes shared with baby.</div>
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<i>After 13 years & 5 kids:</i></div>
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1. We know nothing.</div>
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2. Bed time?</div>
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3. We wake up in the morning and the kids are all in our bed or on our floor.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Love</b></i></span></div>
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<i>Immediately after wedding upon move-in:</i></div>
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1. Love is perfect. We are perfect. We are so meant to be. Happily ever after? OF COURSE!</div>
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2. He is perfect. Best man EVER. I'm so lucky.</div>
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<i>After 7 years & 3 kids:</i></div>
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1. Love is tried. Temptation to call it quits. Not the dream first imagined.</div>
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2. He is a man. He isn't perfect. <i>What did I get myself in to?</i></div>
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<i>After 13 years & 5 kids:</i><br />
1. Love tried in fire is refined like gold. Love IS forever. Happily ever after has begun.</div>
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2. He is my best friend. He is my lover. He isn't perfect? SO WHAT! He is MY man, and I'm the luckiest girl in the world.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED</b></i></span></div>
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In my idealistic youth, I had this dream that my knight in shining armor would come riding in, sweep me off my feet, and carry me away in marital bliss.</div>
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The day I got married, I <i>knew</i> that Trent was the man for me. What I didn't know was the trials and hardships that were ahead. I didn't know that there were certain imperfections in both of us that would mar that dream of "happily ever after," and make for a rocky road ahead.</div>
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There was a day when it would have been easier to walk away than stay together. But when that day came, we made a decision. <i>We decided to actively work on our marriage.</i> It wasn't easy. In fact, at first... it was rather hard. But God has blessed our faithfulness, and <i><b>I can truly say that I have married my soulmate... my best friend... and the love of my life.</b></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I know that marriage does not always work out for everyone. This is not a judgement on those who are unable to work out their differences. This is simply a bit of my own personal story. :)</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-9263018045607367992013-07-15T15:23:00.001-07:002013-07-15T15:23:55.691-07:00My really big CHEAT. And NOPE... not feeling a bit guilty :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5U4Pi5oYLImiXh7Vzcy_F-vSQJ_r1eO0nlgZJoEFwysKyNxeX86ZloRlzz365uduFZiqJXG3OjwkiwVSh9r4mntbF_OhyphenhyphenqFfloQctKJC80928fgSUe9yTCY23OEuLy6_n5BgLObA8VA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5U4Pi5oYLImiXh7Vzcy_F-vSQJ_r1eO0nlgZJoEFwysKyNxeX86ZloRlzz365uduFZiqJXG3OjwkiwVSh9r4mntbF_OhyphenhyphenqFfloQctKJC80928fgSUe9yTCY23OEuLy6_n5BgLObA8VA/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Wait... is that ME in that picture there on the right? </b> <i>ME eating that juicy scrumptious hamburger made with freshly ground local beef?</i></div>
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<b>You bet your bottom dollar it is! </b> <i>And I EARNED every single bite of it!</i></div>
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Yesterday was quite crazy... from the time I woke up and snuck downstairs <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(tiptoeing around the forms of my </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">sleeping </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">children on my bedroom floor)</span></i>, to the moment I crashed hard in bed.</div>
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It's a good thing that we took the fam to church Saturday night, because otherwise, we would still be working on our big project!</div>
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<i>Why so crazy??? </i> Recently, I was contacted by the Les Mills Combat team that works for <a href="http://beachbodycoach.com/mhillaert" target="_blank">Beachbody</a>. They asked if I would film an interview and some tracks of me working out to the program at home so they could consider using me for one of their success stories. Needless to say... I was extremely surprised and excited to receive the email! <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(My huge moment to be a star shining diva... right? LOL)</span></i></div>
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So, needing some help from hubby for this project, we woke up early in the morning, snuck downstairs and enjoyed a cup of coffee before the minions arose <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Ahhhh... just love drinking in all that peace and QUIET!)</span></i>. </div>
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In preparation for the interview, we threw up a quick prayer for inspiration and then started filming. Thank God that the interview didn't take that long... <i>But little did we know how much we had ahead of us!</i></div>
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The Les Mills Combat team asked me to record myself working out to specific tracks... video from the front and video from the side on each one. You know... <i>sometimes... I REALLY wish I wasn't a perfectionist!</i> By the end of the day yesterday, this sense of perfectionism had totally kicked me in the booty!</div>
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Between hair changes, children interrupting, head being cut out of video, battery dying, etc... it took what felt like a million takes, and the better part of the day to finish up.</div>
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By the time evening rolled around, I was totally exhausted from doing the same workout over and over... and the only thing getting me through them was the vision of a gorgeous Spelunkers hamburger just waiting for me at the end. I kept thinking about my first juicy bite!</div>
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When all was said and done,<i> I didn't feel a bit guilty about eating that hamburger. </i> I even polished it off with fries and a coke! I've been doing well, and I worked my tail off, so I can tell you... that it felt pretty darn awesome to enjoy every bite of that burger and not feel an ounce of guilt :)</div>
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<i>Why no guilt?</i> Because that was the reward I chose for the extra hard work I put into my workouts. I punched harder. I kicked higher. And I dreamed bigger. <i>Well... of a bigger Bacon Cavern Cheeseburger... of course!</i></div>
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<b>It's about setting goals and rewarding yourself appropriately. </b> Work hard. Get some good healthy eating habits into your life. And every once in awhile.. reward yourself for fulfilling a set challenge. And when you reach it? Go enjoy that juicy burger or ice cream cone... or whatever your big reward is... guilt free. </div>
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<i>I know I certainly did! :)</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-34889679612707137022013-07-12T07:12:00.000-07:002013-07-12T07:12:12.212-07:00When the numbers just don't add up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsS7FPaKSIJ4KroENNUIu-ve8LRFVLqpIJxDZbqWXZSq0BVe_9BS5h4HCNE-5OU8TzAM8ZJR31AYJdPbXVHH9k-hG-eNwxT_Fv94WTkZyyPpW0iBeL_kfEUKtTyZvyHo3UvBY451h09K4/s1600/michelle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsS7FPaKSIJ4KroENNUIu-ve8LRFVLqpIJxDZbqWXZSq0BVe_9BS5h4HCNE-5OU8TzAM8ZJR31AYJdPbXVHH9k-hG-eNwxT_Fv94WTkZyyPpW0iBeL_kfEUKtTyZvyHo3UvBY451h09K4/s320/michelle.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Okay... I admit it...<b><i> I'm addicted to my scale.</i></b> I <i>know</i> I'm only supposed to weigh once a week/month... but I just simply can't help it! I've been soooo good lately, and when I'm being a good girl, and I see the numbers on the scale go down, it's like getting this huge pat on the back. <i>"Hey! You did it! GOOD GIRL!" </i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(And yes... I enjoy a good pat on the back when I've done something right! :)</i></span><br />
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<b>Over the years, the number on the scale has sadly become my "Happy Meter." </b> When the number goes down, I become elated... I know I'm going to have an amazing day and life is just good! BUT... on the flip side... when the number goes up... I tend to feel down... and negative thoughts of failure flood my mind and give me a rough start to the day.<br />
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It sounds silly? Right? To let your mood be determined by the number on a scale? From the outside, yes it does. It is terribly silly. And I whole-heartedly admit it! <i>But when you have a lifetime behind you filled with fears of 'getting fat.' And you've been putting a good chunk of your self worth into whether or not you have a few extra pounds on you... followed with that fear of becoming 'unloveable'... it's just not so easy to retrain the mind and the emotional reaction that follows.</i><br />
<br />
I have nine biological sisters, most of whom have struggled with being very overweight over the years... my mom too. And no. Not once have I looked at my sisters and thought... "Man... she'd be beautiful if she only lost some weight." <i>And if ANYONE dared to make such a comment to any of them... I swear... I'd whip out all this Combat I've been learning on 'em in less than a second!</i> I LOVE my sisters and think they are beautiful. <i><b>So why the double-standards when it comes to me?</b></i><br />
<br />
If you look at me and think... <i>"She's skinny... she's beautiful... she needs to stop talking about her weight."</i> Maybe you're right, but first listen. I know that it has frustrated my sisters quite a bit over the years to hear me talking about feeling "fat". <b> </b><i>But you HAVE to understand something.</i> <b><i>That just because a person isn't over-weight on the outside doesn't mean that we don't struggle just as much on the inside. </i> </b><br />
<br />
Yes. I'm <i>TERRIFIED</i> of gaining weight. I have had so many love affairs with food in the past. And although I've finally found a lifestyle that will help me to stay healthy and active,<i> I can't just say "STOP!" to those fears and expect them to immediately cease and desist from invading my life.</i><br />
<br />
As I mentioned above, lately, I've been doing pretty darn well. My inches are down and my body has been forming muscles where no muscle has dared to go before. But this morning, when I stepped on the scale, <i>I was UP three pounds.</i> And that's a number that has been going up for a few weeks. So given my history, you can imagine the immediate and automatic feeling of sadness that swept over me.<br />
<br />
But here's the thing...<i> I KNOW that those numbers should not matter.</i> <i> </i><i><b>It's SO hard for me to retrain my brain to remember that muscle weighs more than fat! </b></i> Yes! I feel <i>good</i> in my skin... in fact... I've been feeling pretty great! And compared to me back in September... I think I look pretty darn amazing. <i>But my physical reaction to that number is still the same. </i> Scale goes up... negative feelings take over.<br />
<br />
I've been debating getting rid of my scale... or at least having my hubby hide it for awhile. Because this isn't good for me... <i>and I know it! </i> Believe it or not, I'm really embarrassed to share this stuff ... but I can't help but think that I'm not the only one out there who feels this way.<br />
<br />
<b>So please remember... just because someone is active in fitness and trying to eat right, it doesn't mean that we don't share the same heartaches and fears, and that those feelings aren't valid.</b><br />
<br />
This is a journey. And I've said it before...<i> it's a very personal journey for me.</i> It doesn't matter how fit I become, or how healthy I eat.<b> I. Am. ME. </b> This won't change. I'll have to battle these fears. I'll have to struggle to stay on the wagon. But the fact is... I'm doing it. And with that, overall, I really do have a great sense of peace! I just have these little battles here and there that I still have to fight!<br />
<br />
That being said... I can only hope that by becoming a little more transparent with these struggles, that maybe I can help someone else to find peace with themselves... or at least to help you realize that you are not alone.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-28162498255665907402013-07-04T11:23:00.001-07:002013-07-04T11:25:24.930-07:00Diet-KEEPING: Independence Day Style!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucTaT0XIBqjzHlxzgGogNeWvoyFlm768W6Pc8GpWtqp0lPR72wO6qK34VJu4zOca5LAl8xuH_IzYTMZCpTV-B_oMR-zOk4kFR9zLuTUkNs1HzxRrYF7d0ExMRtW6vyqYVCMpcwbPLcBU/s960/599055_10151478193645275_1227640756_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucTaT0XIBqjzHlxzgGogNeWvoyFlm768W6Pc8GpWtqp0lPR72wO6qK34VJu4zOca5LAl8xuH_IzYTMZCpTV-B_oMR-zOk4kFR9zLuTUkNs1HzxRrYF7d0ExMRtW6vyqYVCMpcwbPLcBU/s320/599055_10151478193645275_1227640756_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Proud of my two nephews, currently serving in the Navy!</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>It's Independence Day!!! </b> A day of picnics, parades and parties! A day of family fun and celebrations! <br />
<br />
But most importantly, the 4th of July is a day when I often find myself getting choked up thinking about the men and women who have given their lives, and their hearts in order to make <i>my</i> life peaceful. To give <i>me </i>the opportunity to follow my dreams and to never have to see the horror they have lived. <b>How blessed are we to live in a country where men and women give of themselves <i>FREELY?</i></b><br />
<i><br /></i>
That being said...<b> today is a day of celebration</b>, and I have done a little research and came up with some desserts that are both healthy and full of the good ole red, white and blue!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.celebrationgeneration.com/blog/2012/06/13/how-to-carve-a-watermelon-stars-and-stripes/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWVyQywuYzvtPCvwvy7r3rdOLWe5I9QpOQ6oMKbc5rHR3ypsibnIQ5Og1yTU0DcuFFrhdsfGwWfBGa9S2smv00gCZoVe5zo40BoizeFUn-uvWDzP3RkwKNfJfaNRqXipRbxsvZB4MnL8/s320/YankeeWatermelon.jpg" width="259" /></a><span id="goog_342021681"></span><span id="goog_342021682"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.celebrationgeneration.com/blog/2012/06/13/how-to-carve-a-watermelon-stars-and-stripes/" target="_blank">Stars and Stripes </a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.celebrationgeneration.com/blog/2012/06/13/how-to-carve-a-watermelon-stars-and-stripes/" target="_blank">Watermelon Fruit Bowl</a></b></span><br />
<br />
When I saw this fruit basket, I thought, <i>YES! </i> Something fun I can do with my kiddos, and at the same time, enjoy a yummy healthy 4th of July snack!<br />
<br />
We've decided to hang out as a family today and party it up as a tight unit of seven :) After a quick run to the grocery store, we'll be carving watermelon and whipping up a variety of salads to enjoy in the afternoon and evening.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.shape.com/blogs/fit-foodies/red-white-and-blue-quinoa-salad" target="_blank">Red White and Blue Quinoa Salad</a></b></span><br />
<br />
How about some protein? This fruit salad with "staying power" will get you through the afternoon or evening as a balanced snack or dessert!<br />
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<a href="http://www.shape.com/blogs/fit-foodies/red-white-and-blue-quinoa-salad" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g0XJ8SFRr9nokkRIpEn1sCdb51iRRbkp3cRvBspt_V900GBoqeRvI4qUa_IQxa3tFay7H83yxxRa8bUYFipIsgEcwRzqE-6ZoyxQFbVxcJ31BtQWWJ6TlIQcoENH0LUzlBuosoTKt48/s320/quinoa-298_0.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<strong>Quinoa Almond Berry Salad</strong></div>
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<strong>Serves:</strong> 4</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<strong>Ingredients:</strong><br />
3/4 cup dry quinoa<br />
2 1/2 to 3 cups (1 pint) strawberries, sliced<br />
1 1/2 to 2 cups (16 ounces) fresh blueberries<br />
1 cup cherries, pitted and sliced<br />
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (or other liquid sweetener)<br />
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar<br />
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice<br />
1 pinch kosher <a class="kLink" href="http://www.shape.com/blogs/fit-foodies/red-white-and-blue-quinoa-salad#" id="KonaLink3" style="background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; border: 0px none transparent !important; bottom: 0px; color: #db1278; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: static; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><span style="color: #db1278; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">salt</span></span></a><br />
1/2 cup almonds, chopped</div>
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<strong>Directions:</strong><br />
1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Place fruit in a large bowl.<br />
2. Mix maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, lime juice, and salt in a small jar and adjust to taste if necessary.<br />
3. Fluff cooked quinoa with a fork and add to fruit. Stir to combine. Pour on dressing, add almonds, and mix well. Serve immediately or chill in refrigerator until <a class="kLink" href="http://www.shape.com/blogs/fit-foodies/red-white-and-blue-quinoa-salad#" id="KonaLink4" style="background-color: transparent !important; background-image: none !important; border: 0px none transparent !important; bottom: 0px; color: #db1278; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: static; right: 0px; top: 0px;"><span style="color: #db1278; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-style: none !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; width: auto !important;">serving</span></span></a> time.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<strong>Nutrition score per serving: </strong>322 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated), 58g carbs, 9g protein, 9g fiber, 80mg calcium, 65mg sodium, 27g sugars</div>
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<a href="http://wp.iovine.com/2012/07/4th-of-july-flag-fruit-kabobs/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9YrDiVRFPaHLYrZmGistHpL_TIMDW8Y_wvO5NP_9o0YggRmPoWj5T23wXWIMl-b0T3LHEKWbe86fXALCgiJ5MDG9VPgNBi34Oz2VjB3YeUIQ1KPgquyb80qGXLJ-moweHWkBB4O_CxE/s300/Fruit-Flag-300x225.jpg" /></a><span id="goog_342021750"></span><span id="goog_342021751"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://wp.iovine.com/2012/07/4th-of-july-flag-fruit-kabobs/" target="_blank">4th of July Fruit Kabobs</a></span></b></div>
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A kiddo favorite! <b><i> Fruit on a mini spear! :)</i></b></div>
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During soccer season, one of our players brought the mid-game snack, and it was fruit on skewers. Needless to say, before the game was over, the kiddos on the sidelines were coming up with all sorts of "dangerous" sword-play! LOL</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
That being said, kids just love virtually anything skewered on to a stick. Of course, we all know the marshallow favs... but this a great way have a fun and healthy snack in the spirit of the holiday.</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<a href="http://mom.me/food/7969-4th-july-yogurt-parfait/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">4th of July Yogurt Parfait</span></b></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mom.me/food/7969-4th-july-yogurt-parfait/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWOAgKYkGKwoaydWJ0_WkP8eMMneoJcW6ijraDjbQZnDnOLQqLtVQUbigki5B1MzKSsZHZe5ZYYHh9FDOBZyke2v8pVAAcWzsqCeBCKaYQk5Obn0Io4EydUbMsMxX89O7Q48L6aYPuXs/s320/135-46362-yogurt-parfait-1372101529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span id="goog_342021761"></span><span id="goog_342021762"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<i>One of my favs! </i> Anything with granola, yogurt and fresh berries... YUM! Love country look of the glass jars and the fruit layers in this dessert :)</div>
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<b>I'm signing off to spend the rest of the day with my hubby and kiddos! </b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
I hope you have an amazing Independence Day and <i><b>don't forget to stop for a minute and remember every man and woman and family who has given their lives, their family members, and their own sense of peace and well-being to give us our freedom.</b></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(If you know of any military families who are suffering as a result of the affects of deployment, please tell them about <a href="http://campbetteramerica.org/" target="_blank">Camp Better America</a>, a civilian run organization with a heart and a mission to give back! And if you really want to help these families, please consider making a one-time donation, or donating on a monthly basis in order to help these families to stay together. Donation information is on the front page of their website, <a href="http://campbetteramerica.org/">campbetteramerica.org</a>. THANK YOU!!! :)</b></span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-90888445703124071792013-05-30T10:49:00.000-07:002013-05-30T10:54:15.784-07:00Diet-Keeping Recipe: Mexican Summer Chili<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ggy54Ew4ZsBUADjbTC2WZp5KeisVXyA8zc0iLeefVFuygXH-GL43jam9sx0k3AGZL5yQ9ZWUKEmBjInr-nvUR9JF-9xpAfTOCCDU920cIXyeHyrlv_voRJ5gxe9QfCUZf_JBm0o_YpY/s1600/mexicansummerchili.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ggy54Ew4ZsBUADjbTC2WZp5KeisVXyA8zc0iLeefVFuygXH-GL43jam9sx0k3AGZL5yQ9ZWUKEmBjInr-nvUR9JF-9xpAfTOCCDU920cIXyeHyrlv_voRJ5gxe9QfCUZf_JBm0o_YpY/s320/mexicansummerchili.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><i>Today is REALLY hot! </i></b> I thought about eating a salad for lunch, but am pretty sure I'd have watched it melt before my eyes as I took my first bite. <br />
<br />
So... there's a bunch of tomatoes on my shelf, cilantro in my fridge, and a basket full of fresh limes on my counter. My hungry creative juices started to flow, and I came up with a really yummy low-cal lunch idea. <i>It was sooooo good, that I just had to share!</i> Mind you... I did not measure everything out specifically, but you can see for yourself, it's so healthy... you just don't have to.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mexican Summer Chili</span><br />
<br />
<i><b>Ingredients:</b></i><br />
<br />
<b>Tomatoes</b> <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Roma or On the Vine)</span></i><br />
<b>Onion</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(yellow or white)</i></span><br />
Fresh<b> Cilantro</b><br />
Fresh <b>Lime</b><br />
<b>Salt</b><br />
<b>Cumin</b><br />
Fresh or Granulated <b>Garlic</b><br />
1 15oz can of <b>Black Beans</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Preparation:</i></b><br />
<br />
1. Dice tomatoes and onion and put in a glass mixing bowl.<br />
2. Mince cilantro, add to the tomato mixture.<br />
3. Squeeze lime into mixture (add to taste)<br />
4. Add salt, cumin & garlic to taste.<br />
5. Open can of black beans. Drain the juice from the beans, and add to the tomato mixture.<br />
<br />
Mix it up gently and serve.<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy your cool, yummy Mexican Summer Chili!</span></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-18714025489936665812013-05-28T11:51:00.000-07:002013-05-28T11:51:04.897-07:00Putting on my "Kerri-tude"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOf4ynkP9amPIm532r_l72ln20QNJh2WOV4rdmIIB2r08pkWWMEa5CcWgz8B0lQ7QgmdWtv-YyYweCJX0c1dztZ7hN9eanTIeC6tgBAg0p-lUuyA_iA9PuohqyMaa1zQ6zTdvdyqdHN2k/s1600/KerrindI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOf4ynkP9amPIm532r_l72ln20QNJh2WOV4rdmIIB2r08pkWWMEa5CcWgz8B0lQ7QgmdWtv-YyYweCJX0c1dztZ7hN9eanTIeC6tgBAg0p-lUuyA_iA9PuohqyMaa1zQ6zTdvdyqdHN2k/s400/KerrindI.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://confessionsofadietbreaker.com/podcasts/Putting_on-my_Kerri-tude_.m4a" target="_blank">Putting on my "Kerri-tude" - Podcast</a><br />
<br />
"Kerri-tude?" Yes... you got it right. <i> I'm putting on my Kerri-tude.</i> So what's that? Well... I'll get to that in a minute.<br />
<br />
This weekend, I was surprised by a well-planned and well-kept secret between one of my best friends & my hubby. A surprise visit by my friend, Kerri.<br />
<br />
When Kerri and I met six years ago, her salon business was struggling to get started, and I couldn't afford to get my hair done, so we became the perfect business match. I would do her advertising design, and she would fix my hair.<br />
<br />
At the time, Kerri was living week to week and could barely keep her head above water. But... no matter how bad it got, she refused to give up... kept pushing forward, and in about 5 years, she grew her business from a $14,000 a year business to a $250,000 a year business... <i>and it's still growing!</i><br />
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<b><i>So... why talk about Kerri on my diet-breaker blog? </i></b>Well... besides the fact that I enjoyed some yummy sparkling wine and berries and a good handful of other diet-breaking treats this weekend, <i>there IS a point to this.</i><br />
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There is a reason why Kerri is so successful. <i>She CHOOSES to motivate herself.</i> <b>She chooses to make changes, and she is not afraid keep pushing forward.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEul_Hr9WOKE9mwTb_UZoaTVHQC4rPa446Sw18oRxfJ3YZCkpDpUCbSc8VHpYq1u_URYcE9PGtQT12dMV_MqP-hvqsffPTl-IXTEpD7wvdJVQZWNG_F-2CEqBLg__fwii0Zzwk96aSBY/s1600/BEMISERABLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEul_Hr9WOKE9mwTb_UZoaTVHQC4rPa446Sw18oRxfJ3YZCkpDpUCbSc8VHpYq1u_URYcE9PGtQT12dMV_MqP-hvqsffPTl-IXTEpD7wvdJVQZWNG_F-2CEqBLg__fwii0Zzwk96aSBY/s320/BEMISERABLE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Kerri is my 'tell it like it is,' friend. Throughout the years of our friendship, I've done my share of whining, crying and "poor me'ing" it to Kerri. And you know what? Her response has always been the same. Buck up or change it, but stop complaining. So... when I saw this quote this morning, I had to laugh... because this is pretty much a perfect "Kerri'ism." <br />
<br />
Kerri and I had a little 'come to Jesus' meeting this weekend. I have not been responsible in several areas of my life, and unlike most friends, who will just sit back, not say anything and mind their own business... Kerri just tells it like she sees it. No... it's not always easy to hear, but I can honestly say I'm a better person because someone cares enough to be straight-forward with me.<br />
<br />
So... today, I'm going to pour on some much needed tough love. <i>I've got my Kerri-tude on, so listen closely while I whisper...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>STOP MAKING EXCUSES!!!!! </b> </span><br />
<br />
YOU decide your own life. You decide every day if you want to be fit and healthy. And YOU decide if you just don't care enough to do something about it. <br />
<br />
I have five kids. I know how hard it is to work out and eat right when you're constantly rounding up and feeding kids. BUT, what do you want to teach your children? Do you want them to follow in your same pattern? Because whether you're following a good or bad pattern, chances are, you're kiddos will follow in your footsteps.<br />
<br />
When you teach your children that it's okay for mommy to have time to herself, they eventually learn, and respect that... and get this... IT'S REALLY OKAY to take that time!!!<br />
<br />
I don't know what your excuse is... only you can know that. <i>But I'm telling you right now!</i> <br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Figure out what it is. Find a solution. And make the commitment.</b> <br />
<br />
Your life is YOUR choice. Do you choose to be miserable or unhappy? Or do you choose to make a change and become a better you? <br />
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What it comes down to is this... <b>don't blame anyone else for where you are in life. </b> You have the power to change. <i>SO</i> <i>YOU DECIDE!!!</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-73410943163798291192013-05-20T05:49:00.003-07:002013-05-20T05:57:27.235-07:00Kicking some of that caffeine habit!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX291KOATKbcAeN26GVXt1O4VUaCrmqwMMPWhdqpumwN1wMTLvIkfQbz2OeIx3A7fqma0a9eWsjLPsk1A2TM3BEQGos57h9wkKoMWc-jxYx1Ov5gUT7Iw4NIB390hbR-6HmRl4hnfVBYg/s1600/coffee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX291KOATKbcAeN26GVXt1O4VUaCrmqwMMPWhdqpumwN1wMTLvIkfQbz2OeIx3A7fqma0a9eWsjLPsk1A2TM3BEQGos57h9wkKoMWc-jxYx1Ov5gUT7Iw4NIB390hbR-6HmRl4hnfVBYg/s320/coffee.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
This week, I've given my people a challenge within a challenge... <i>limiting caffeine intake to two 8oz servings a day.</i> To be honest, this is one challenge that I've got in the bag. About three and a half years ago, I gave up my daily intake of regular caffeinated coffee and <i>switched to decaf. </i><br />
<br />
And I get it... you're laughing right now <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(no... not the first time this has happened! LOL) </i></span>and you're thinking... <i>"Decaf??? What's the point?"</i> The point is this... ever since I gave up my daily doses of caffeine, I no longer have eye twitches. I'm not as jittery. I sleep a little better <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(And I only say a little, because waking up with three kids in our bed is enough to deprive anyone of sleep!!!)</span></i>. And who knows what else it's done! The best part is that if I DO need caffeine, it works double-time. <i>One cup at 4pm will keep me going all night!</i><br />
<br />
<i> I LOVE my morning coffee... </i>and even though it's decaf, I still have a hard time starting my day without it. <i>But... here's your key to switching... </i><b>If you're a coffee lover, and you're considering switching to the 'unleaded' stuff, <i>you really need to buy a good brand of decaf.</i></b> My favorite brand of decaf coffee is an organic brand <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(which means the filtration is NOT chemical)</span></i>...<b> </b><a href="http://www.larrysbeans.com/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Larry's Beans</a><b> </b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(and no... unfortunately I get no promotional kickbacks for mentioning the brand. It's just that good!) </span></i><br />
<br />
When I give my friends a cup of decaf, most of them can't even tell they've been hornswoggled!!! <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(And no... not quite sure on the meaning of that word, but Doris Day uses it in Calamity Jane, and it's so fun to say! LOL)</span></i><br />
<br />
Now, here's the key to what I'm saying. I'm not telling you to completely do away with caffeine, because there is no strong proof that a daily dose or two of caffeine is really harmful. <i>Just put some brakes onto the amount you ingest daily.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Why limit caffeine intake? </b> To make it easy to read and limit the length of this article, I summed it all up in this image I created for you last night <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(as I was snuggled into bed with my glass of ice water and the sound of silence piercing the cool night air :)</span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeq-7Oio01Qn_sbjNKbFL-H0qfwbBJ40AgjCO0Y8E6EVDwCg4yVSFdqsbFQsd_ngXb-tn1vYP2KnFAqUt9nJzvqef4hiQcrivaFMt_C4EHt-lIXGcEDdhuGZ5wp8QKezPovW4e9wZZT4/s1600/caffeineeffects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeq-7Oio01Qn_sbjNKbFL-H0qfwbBJ40AgjCO0Y8E6EVDwCg4yVSFdqsbFQsd_ngXb-tn1vYP2KnFAqUt9nJzvqef4hiQcrivaFMt_C4EHt-lIXGcEDdhuGZ5wp8QKezPovW4e9wZZT4/s640/caffeineeffects.jpg" width="552" /></a></div>
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So... here it is... <b><i>I challenge YOU to take this challenge. </i></b>If you are an avid coffee drinker, try to limit your coffee to 2 cups a day, and then switch to decaf. If you only drink a cup or two a day... hey... maybe you can take the plunge and cut it out all together for a week. <i>The caffeine headache WILL go away... and then it won't be back :)</i><br />
<br />
<b>ONE LAST THING... </b>I used to be a Linux geek... and then again... a social media strategist for an IT office... so I KNOW about the free sodas in the fridge. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Oh yeah... can't slip anything past me! :)</span></i> So... if it's not coffee that is your battle, but the trips to the fridge <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(either at home or the office)</span></i>... try to limit it to no more than one or two a day. And as for cutting out the soda... <i>well that's a whole 'nother story... </i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Which I will tell another day!)</i></span><br />
<br />
So... here it is... take the challenge, and<i> see what kind of difference a week will make!</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-2981791430313751352013-05-15T22:14:00.001-07:002013-05-16T12:15:04.674-07:00"At the end of my 90 days, I felt like a hero!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJgDGtPJNkgqpTZdtRJtK7P55MIpEQVdF7JSYNVeNukuvGgIChHHK9IqJcV-aW2pwVV5jl_SPWG18dqfGCioXZ8tpqbOnVDkDLfARjJbGTD5Vg6FCSFtr1A9lYJdMdk1QqzCmGbWA1kQ/s1600/428396_239726442836336_1718604382_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJgDGtPJNkgqpTZdtRJtK7P55MIpEQVdF7JSYNVeNukuvGgIChHHK9IqJcV-aW2pwVV5jl_SPWG18dqfGCioXZ8tpqbOnVDkDLfARjJbGTD5Vg6FCSFtr1A9lYJdMdk1QqzCmGbWA1kQ/s320/428396_239726442836336_1718604382_n.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><b>I am so excited about the winner of my last Beachbody challenge!</b> Ana was not happy with where she was regarding her fitness level. She made the decision to change, and <i>boy did she bring it! </i>Ana and my other challengers are the ones who I've mentioned that have helped encourage me along the way in reaching my own fitness goals. She is not only a fellow doula, but I am so blessed to call her friend.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;">Ana chose to follow the Beachbody Insanity program, and in one of the hardest times in her life, she managed to work it into her daily routine. SO PROUD OF THIS GIRL!!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><b>Ana's Story:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;">"I am 28 years old. Mom to 3 beautiful boys. Wife to an amazing hubby for 10 years now. Doula, up until a month ago. Owned and single-handedly ran a kids consignment and boutique. Aspiring midwife... Hmm, I think that's all. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;">Since I stopped nursing my last son, I put on about 15 pounds and just haven't been able to shake it. I've tried diet pills, crash diets, gym memberships... on and on. <i>I just felt defeated and over all dissapointed in myself. </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;">When I saw the amazing change Michelle was making using the challenges, workouts and Shakeology, I was more then ready to join! When I first started, I was unsure if I could stick with it... there was so much going on in my life. But somehow, I'd look at myself in the mirror and fi</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;">nd time to push play that day. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;">I didnt get to workout everyday. I drank a beer when i just needed one... but I stuck with it. I kept getting back on the wagon. <i><b>And at the end of my 90 days, I felt like a hero!</b></i> <b><i>I had lost 9 pounds and several inches off waist , thighs and hips which is what i was really hoping for.</i></b></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;">This challenge and mode of exercising is radical. The reason it actually worked for me is because I could do it on MY time... when it worked for me. Whether that was 6 am or 11:30 pm, there was no one I had to face who was looking me up and down at the gym with that ugly... "I'm in better shape then you!" look on their face. No one to be embarrassed in front of as I did what I could and then collapsed on my carpet in grunts and groans. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><b>Exercise and clean eating has become PART of my life instead of a binge.</b> <i>And having the daily support and honesty of the challenge group makes it so much more fun!</i> My life has calmed down a bit. With the sale of my business, I'm able to focus on my boys, my dad, my husband and myself. <b><i>But I took the challenge in the craziest time possible and was successful!</i></b></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px; line-height: 18.88888931274414px; text-align: left;"><b>No matter how insane your daily life is... it's possible to make that effort to change yourself. </b> So overall, if you are feeing bad about your body, join up!!! In 90 days, you'll find yourself writing one of these! <i><b>I'm so excited to keep going on this journey!!</b>"</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-22365972476111484832013-05-14T19:09:00.000-07:002013-05-14T19:09:24.652-07:00Diet-KEEPING: Low-cal Chicken, Bleu Cheese & Almond Salad!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVNq6mHsj-0Pq9lRFFEdssgga3vpwcVNFZs7vg8V0hSwSTwYnCmfbVK5gnPk377kbbvA-Gn6F0grbBuKjhi4uDsxItZYD_lwiEpC508C5QsnIVVLRlSZJraYOJmCUBXTa5aDmAg5DO7k/s1600/ChickenSaladRecipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVNq6mHsj-0Pq9lRFFEdssgga3vpwcVNFZs7vg8V0hSwSTwYnCmfbVK5gnPk377kbbvA-Gn6F0grbBuKjhi4uDsxItZYD_lwiEpC508C5QsnIVVLRlSZJraYOJmCUBXTa5aDmAg5DO7k/s320/ChickenSaladRecipe.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
I've found that one of the easiest ways to make a quick healthy, and may I add... <i>quite yummy</i>, lunch is to take a frozen chicken breast, thaw it out, cook it up and throw it on a salad with some chopped veggies.<br />
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Today, I threw one together for my lunch, as I spent the entire morning spring-cleaning half of the kitchen, was terribly exhausted, and needed some extra <i>Popeye-powered strength</i> to make it through the second half of my cleaning frenzy.<br />
<br />
When I make my salads, I often choose what to put on it based on two things... what I'm feeling like, and what I may actually have in my refrigerator :)<br />
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So, based on immediate desire and availability, here is the yummy concoction that I came up with today.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Low-cal Chicken, Bleu Cheese & Almond Salad</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">(about 415 calories)</i></span></h3>
<b><i>Ingredients:</i></b><br />
2-3c <b>Organic Lettuce Mix </b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(15-20 calories)</span></i><br />
1/2 medium sized <b>cucumber </b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(10 calories)</i></span><br />
1/3 <b>orange or red bell pepper</b> <i style="font-size: small;">(10 calories)</i><br />
1oz <b>bleu cheese</b> crumbles <i style="font-size: small;">(100 calories)</i><br />
1/8c <b>toasted almonds </b>- see preparation below <i style="font-size: small;">(85 calories)</i><br />
3T <b>Balsamic dressing </b>- see recipe below <i style="font-size: small;">(120 calories)</i><br />
1 3oz chicken breast thawed <i style="font-size: small;">(75 calories)</i><br />
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<br />
<b><i>Balsamic Dressing:</i></b><br />
To make a simple lower-cal balsamic dressing, mix the following ingredients in the proper proportions <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(I usually salt and pepper to taste)</i></span>:<br />
<br />
1/4 <b>Olive Oil</b><br />
1/4 <b>Water</b><br />
1/2 <b>Balsamic Vinegar</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Salad Preparation:</i></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Chop lettuce and put in a mixing bowl.</li>
<li>Slice and then chop cucumber and bell pepper, then add to bowl.</li>
<li>Add the bleu cheese crumbles.</li>
<li>Chop almonds and toast in a frying pan with a little olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and garlic granules. When toasted, throw into the salad bowl.</li>
<li>Toss salad and place on a dinner plate.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i>Prep Chicken:</i></b></div>
<ul>
<li>Slice chicken breast against the grain. Place slices in searing hot pan <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(with a little olive oil coating)</span></i></li>
<li>Sprinkle the top of the chicken with salt, pepper and garlic granules.</li>
<li>Once chicken slices are seared on one side, flip them over and re-season. </li>
</ul>
It only takes a few minutes to cook the chicken this way, so be careful not to overcook it. By cooking the chicken on a searing hot pan, it locks in the juices and keeps the chicken from becoming too dry.<br />
<br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Final Prep:</i></b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Add cooked chicken to the top of your salad.</li>
<li>Finish with about 3 tablespoons of balsamic dressing.</li>
<li>Salt and pepper to taste!</li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I must admit, I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch, especially when it was paired with a nice cool glass of seltzer water and fresh lime :) Gave me just the energy I needed to make it through the second half of my kitchen cleaning frenzy!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>ENJOY!</i></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-31665672736098048882013-05-11T10:52:00.001-07:002013-05-11T10:56:47.215-07:00Getting past the FOOD ADDICTION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You know... you hear it from the time you're in junior high... and even now, from the time you're probably in Kindergarten. <i>"Just say no." </i> No? Say no to what? Well, we all know it. <i>We've heard it a million times.</i> DRUGS... of course. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(And now, in my 30-something mind, I have images of "This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs." haunting me. LOL)</span></i><br />
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But... what if you're addicted to something you really <i>can't</i> give up? <i>What if giving it up would actually do more harm than good?</i> Then what do you do?<br />
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<b>Hi, my name is Michelle, and I am a foodaholic. </b><br />
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Yes, you heard me right. <i>I'm addicted to food. </i> WHAT? You say... How can that be? Addicted to food? <i>Is that even possible?</i><br />
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Well... let me take a step back before I move forward with this line of thought... My mom <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(coming from a family where alcoholism was a problem)</span></i> once gave me some great advice. She told me... <b><i>"Don't ever drink when you're sad or depressed or stressed or to soothe any particular emotion." </i></b>You know what? I listened to my mom. Throughout my adult life, I have consciously made an effort to not drink just because I'm mad or angry or want to feed an emotional need.<br />
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<b><i>Now here's where my problem lies.</i></b> I didn't take this advice with regard to food. For years, I've been an emotional eater. On days when the baby <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(who is normally a cute little grump bucket when she's teething)</span></i> has had an unusually fussy morning, and afternoon hits, one of the first things I want to do is raid the cabinet for anything chocolate. <i>Heck, I've been known to take chocolate chips and melt them with raisins on a whim, just to provide myself with an emergency supply of Raisinettes! </i> On a REALLY bad day, I'll make a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough, just so I can sit and eat it and feel sorry for myself while watching a sappy romance movie on Netflix.<br />
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<i>So really... does it work? </i> Heck yeah... it sure DOES! <i>For about an hour or two... that is.</i> Then I'm hit with the sudden realization that all those fat cells, are one by one, gluing themselves onto my thighs. This is quickly followed with feelings of frustration and guilt for yet again 'falling off the wagon' <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(as I call it).</span></i><br />
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To be honest, when I'm not battling depression or a lot of stress, it's fairly easy to stay on the wagon and make healthy choices. The problem. <i> The addiction. </i> That comes when the emotions start flooding over me. That's when the real work begins. It's where the addiction shows it's nasty little head. <i>Eating BECAUSE I'm stressed. Eating BECAUSE I feel hurt or sad.</i><br />
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How do I get past it? <i>Well, some weeks I don't. </i> This Spring has been pretty hard. With a fussy teething baby and other issues I've had to deal with, I'll admit that I battled some depression. There were a few weeks where getting out of bed was merely a decision. There were days where I <i>did</i> make that batch of cookie dough and just had at it.<br />
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<b>BUT... I pulled myself out of it. </b> With the help of the friends I've made through my <a href="http://beachbodycoach.com/mhillaert" target="_blank">Beachbody</a> challenge groups, I made it through a tough Spring <i>without completely giving up. </i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>I got back up. I kept pushing play (on my workout DVDs), and I focused on finding other ways to deal with the stress.</i></blockquote>
I realize that constantly failing might make me look like a pretty stinky leader... to fall off the wagon and be public about it when I'm trying to promote a healthy lifestyle. But here's the deal... <b style="font-style: italic;">This is a very personal journey for me. </b>It is <i>not easy</i> for me to always eat right. It is <i>not easy</i> to say no to my emotional cravings. This is something I have to actively work at, and I'm sure I'm not the only stay-at-home mom who has these struggles. Heck, when I worked full-time, the break-room and company lunches were enough to kill any resolve. <br />
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In the end, I think that more important than being perfect, is being able to get back up and keep going when I just want to quit... and yeah... I've been there quite a few times.<br />
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<b>So what do I do to keep it real? To deal with those life stressors? </b>
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<ol>
<li>I workout 4-6 days a week in my home.</li>
<li>I rely on my<i> "Foodaholics Annonymous"</i> group... <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(a.k.a... my challenge group :)</span></i> to help keep me on track.</li>
<li>I try to give myself perspective and be reminded that the 'cross' that I bear is not nearly as hard as many I have seen, and I am truly blessed to be living this life.</li>
</ol>
What it comes down to is this. <b><i>When I focus on living a healthy lifestyle by regulating my diet and working out, I'm a happier mom, a happier wife... and overall just a happier person. </i></b>And this whole food addiction thing? Yes... I imagine it will always be there, lurking in the background... but as long as I remember the word "moderation" and make myself get back up, I figure I'm winning a very important and very personal battle. <br />
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And if, in the process, I can inspire someone who has a similar struggle? Than I can be a little proud of myself for making a difference... because it's not just a personal victory, but one I get to share with someone else. <i>And it doesn't get much better than that :)</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-48485183961153931272013-04-19T10:09:00.000-07:002013-04-19T10:09:04.724-07:00And I dub thee... VINYASA!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9sNyW4WDWbgD64K2q0J8og3nqR2xNvPBeRIk0YngKVZv4kXk1sB2bhMXUUFlc_OKohlU8p-Wnf1hGK6mzyRGY-ubPwP_F_0xsdQYidHjV2DDHzcHSauvnH9pRfTLN5ynZFDjaxSkVgM/s1600/vinyasagood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9sNyW4WDWbgD64K2q0J8og3nqR2xNvPBeRIk0YngKVZv4kXk1sB2bhMXUUFlc_OKohlU8p-Wnf1hGK6mzyRGY-ubPwP_F_0xsdQYidHjV2DDHzcHSauvnH9pRfTLN5ynZFDjaxSkVgM/s320/vinyasagood.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Yes! You got it. <b>Vinyasa!</b> Oh wait... <i>isn't that a yoga move?</i> Um.... yeah... it is. <i>BUT</i>... the other day, when my gal Elizabeth and I were doing some P90X yoga <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Remember the Crane in the last <a href="http://dietbreakerconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/04/know-when-to-ask-for-help.html" target="_blank">blog article</a>? Yeah... that's when I'm talkin' about...),</span></i> we were doing what seemed like a million vinyasas when I looked at Elizabeth and said... "You know what? The word vinyasa sounds a <i>lot</i> like a fancy drink!" <i>"Hello bartender... may I have a Vinyasa?" "Excuse me ma'am... I'd like to order a Vinyasa, please."</i><br />
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Is one out there already? I don't know, and I refuse to look, because I like to think this is our<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i>idea completely!<br />
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So, as we were doing our vinyasas and struggling to hold our balancing poses, we started coming up with ingredients to what we thought seemed to fit the name. <br />
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Lime...<i> clean and light... </i>mint... <i>extremely refreshing... </i>agave... yummy and fairly low cal... and you know what? We did it! Our new drink, the Vinyasa is now one of my favorite drinks! <i> I have a vinyasa at least once a day, it seems.</i><br />
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<b><i>Alright... so how do you make a Vinyasa?</i></b> Here is the recipe for this <i>amazingly refreshing </i>summer drink. Depending on how you make it, it can have more or less calories <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(and I'm putting those renditions toward the end of this article)</span>.</i><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Vinyasa Summer Drink Recipe</span> <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(120 calories)</span></i></h3>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunBIYRlH0GCih1D_WYjKJSpDNJCJinAVvPi1DrhSeoIh3mn08CQhMQcOPSMh55LX7qUysTxbt4OMSfsxWMjzubgUrYY4ZJxByP4K9pNjsGBqBsVGyV2qVAlAARu-8giDbghKbRY2KZoQ/s1600/countervinyasa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunBIYRlH0GCih1D_WYjKJSpDNJCJinAVvPi1DrhSeoIh3mn08CQhMQcOPSMh55LX7qUysTxbt4OMSfsxWMjzubgUrYY4ZJxByP4K9pNjsGBqBsVGyV2qVAlAARu-8giDbghKbRY2KZoQ/s200/countervinyasa.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<i><b>Ingredients:</b></i><br />
1 fresh lime<br />
1 can (or 12 oz) seltzer water<br />
2 T Organic Agave Nectar<br />
Fresh mint leaves<br />
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Cut and squeeze the lime into your glass. Add the Agave nectar and stir. Tear up the fresh mint leaves and put them into the glass (tearing releases the mint flavor). Add the can of seltzer water, and stir. <i><b>Finally, find a relaxing place to rest and enjoy your Vinyasa!</b></i><br />
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<b><i>Variations: </i></b> Now, all of the calories in this drink come from the Agave Nectar, so you can remove the calories by using Stevia, or you can cut them in half by using only one tablespoon of the Agave Nectar. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(If you do this, you may want to try just 8oz of the seltzer water then.)</span></i><br />
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<b><i>The Vinyasa can be enjoyed clean or dirty. </i></b> The recipe above is for a clean Vinyasa. If you want to dirty it up, <i>just add a shot of vodka to it :) <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Beware... this adds another approximate 62 calories to the drink.)</span></i><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-75690629029352731812013-04-12T15:37:00.001-07:002013-04-12T15:38:47.736-07:00Know when to ask for help.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhs94Udw2vkdgg1Kp7E9RsY5z3ODGSd-AORng6Jn5q5NN2eNe-jZY3d8Tt48CoKzprnva6AfW9SzsfuCr4Qnjub-AOOW7DjB5cVq0dVMiq4VhGoYIEcrHMpB_me0l5TDGwSeJa3iZfJk/s1600/elizachelle+crane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhs94Udw2vkdgg1Kp7E9RsY5z3ODGSd-AORng6Jn5q5NN2eNe-jZY3d8Tt48CoKzprnva6AfW9SzsfuCr4Qnjub-AOOW7DjB5cVq0dVMiq4VhGoYIEcrHMpB_me0l5TDGwSeJa3iZfJk/s320/elizachelle+crane.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A real friend does the crane with ya ;)</td></tr>
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Running these Beachbody challenges can be fun, and are usually quite motivating. But... when you fall off the wagon (in an extreme manner), and you're supposed to be the 'example,' it's pretty hard to publicly admit that you really failed. In all honesty...<i> it's humiliating</i>... <i><b>and for someone who hates to accept failure, it downright stinks!</b></i><br />
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BUT... I'll tell you what. When I admitted to my challengers that I was really struggling, and making a downward spiral, they stepped up to the plate and encouraged and messaged and texted me to help make sure I got right back on the wagon. <i>And you know what? I did!</i> I got my workouts in and started eating right again. And as a result, I feel soooooo much better!<br />
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<i><b>A lifestyle change doesn't mean that you'll never fall. It just means that when you do, you get right back up and go at it again. You don't lose that resolve.</b></i></blockquote>
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Knowing that my sweet challengers <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(and I dare say that I can call them my friends) </span></i>had my back... knowing that I was accountable to them... <i>THIS is what made the difference. </i> THIS is why I was able to put on my big girl pants and get right back at it.<br />
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<b>It is so important to surround yourself with people who have your back. </b> With people who understand that even though you really want that second piece of cake, it's NOT going to make you happy for more than five minutes... And they'll reach out through your phone via text message and literally grab it out of your hands!!! <br />
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If you have a goal that you really want to reach, find someone that has a similar goal, and cheer each other on. <i>You'll be surprised how much easier it is to keep on the right track. </i><br />
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Know when you're starting to wander down the wrong path, and then <i>know when to ask for help.</i><b> Having that support line? It makes all the difference in the world. </b> <i>Just ask the girl with the curl... she knows ;)</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5887965023726599388.post-38257887609680615532013-04-02T13:29:00.000-07:002013-04-02T13:29:37.869-07:00Back in the saddle again. Or should I say... Easter confessions?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZa7wZKLfM97mcXuruZ_Gvyn2C0NJdvzTBtSx47CH66Mq0z7aD_zpZ5StL8vgPxINBWMiXe4jztMpgldUsbpQb1g2EYdTf87kuS5dyKS9cZqaOd9JC3_bPPnH1bg9ENxooud-Cglcn1k/s1600/easterbasket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZa7wZKLfM97mcXuruZ_Gvyn2C0NJdvzTBtSx47CH66Mq0z7aD_zpZ5StL8vgPxINBWMiXe4jztMpgldUsbpQb1g2EYdTf87kuS5dyKS9cZqaOd9JC3_bPPnH1bg9ENxooud-Cglcn1k/s320/easterbasket.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
You know... I'm a country girl, and actually love that old song... <i>"I'm back in the saddle again. Out where a friend is a friend..."</i> And although I grew up in the country, and used to ride our horse wildly across the plains of Texas <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(pretending Billy the Kid was after me...), </span></i>today I'm not talking about horses. Nope. Today, I'm talking about getting bucked off that healthy-eating and exercise horse so hard that I nearly landed in the next county!<br />
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You'd think that having been sick for my last... um... many years of Easter Sunday's <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(because of eating too much candy... of course...)</span></i>, that I would have learned some sort of adult mature lesson and not try to inhale all the candy at once. Right? But, no... not me... ugh. Me? On Easter, I always give my kiddos a run for their money!<br />
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We walked in from Easter midnight mass, and the first thing I did <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(after getting rid of all witnesses, by shooing all five of my children off to bed...)</span></i> was to open a bag of Reece's and Kit Kats and have at it. In minutes, there was a messy little pile of empty orange wrappers, and I was moving on to the jelly beans and then the robin's eggs. Before the clock struck midnight <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(only about 45 minutes later)</span></i>, I was beginning to have some serious symptoms of sugar overdose.<br />
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A major sugar crash <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(or should I say... sugar coma?)</span></i> knocked me out until about 7am when the kids started jumping on our bed, announcing that the Easter bunny had come. Everyone rushed down to the living room, found their baskets and started collecting eggs. Me? I just sat there, basket in hand, fairly catatonic <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(still from the previous night's sugar coma)</span></i>, working my way through the variety of treats that the Easter bunny had left in my basket.<br />
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If memory serves me correctly, I think I spent the majority of Easter Sunday on a constant sugar rush. Follow that with Monday evening, which was my daughter's birthday... where I probably ate about half of the icing that went on the cake. At that point, I wouldn't be surprised if my <i>blood</i> was starting to taste like sugar!<br />
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Yes, I'm rather embarrassed about the amount of candy and sugar that entered my body this past weekend, but, I must say...<i> the good thing about it all is that I'm so over it! </i> This morning, I got up and did my P90X workout and haven't touched a bad thing all day.<br />
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In all honesty, I do believe that it's important to <i>try</i> to be perfect. <i>And I am a perfectionist of sorts. </i>But, in reality, it simply doesn't work that way. For now, I'll just have to settle for getting up off the ground, wiping the dirt off my jeans and hopping back into the saddle every time I get kicked off.<br />
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As for next year. Since I can't seem to stop myself... I think my new goal will be to borrow my friend's horse, chase that Easter Bunny down, lasso him, and keep him from coming over. Ya think that will work??? ;)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863413455677202137noreply@blogger.com2