Goal Update & Modification

I just posted the other day that I wanted to lose at least 3lbs by Christmas putting me at 165. I'm not sure how it happened but I hit 165 yesterday blowing the 3 lbs out of the water. Therefore I am re-evaluating my goal and shooting for 160 by Christmas, which is the 5 lbs I wanted to lose.

Always nice when you can hit a goal way quicker than expected and it's such a burst of confidence. I pulled my tote of "skinny clothes" (size 10's) out of the basement the other day to find that every single pair fit me, and some even a bit loose! That puts me down 2 clothing sizes since June and that means I am wearing clothes I haven't worn since having my daughter 4 years ago! I don't think it's realistic to be a size 5 again, like I was before having kids, but at this point everything seems likely!

BRING IT ON!

(total weight loss since April 2010: 35lbs)

Sneaking in the Fitness

I'm always trying to get the little bits of uncounted exercise into my daily life. You know the few you never count but the ones that probably matter in the long run. Here's how I sneak in a few extra burn.

- Taking the stairs. I know this seems basic but every little bit counts. Even in my house I always try to make the most out of my stair trips. We have split level house so there is no way to avoid them. If I'm in the basement I have to go upstairs to use the bathroom, to get a drink, to grab a snack. It always makes you rethink whatever you're craving when you know you have to walk all the way upstairs. I carry items upstairs one at a time. Every trip counts! Plus I always run up, as fast as I can.

- Watching TV. I never sit still while watching TV, even when laying down I am constantly moving, even if its as simple as shaking my legs. Some days when I feel like I didn't get a good work out in I will walk in place while watching TV.

- Folding laundry. I think this is the perfect time to get some squats in! Every time I bend to pick up an article of clothing I squat or I lunge. I also do not simply stand. I do the basic aerobic move where you step left, step right and tap, step right, ect... Since normal walking doesn't utilize these muscles effectively it's a great way to work those other muscles that you don't normally use.

- Counter push-ups. Whenever I am heating something in the microwave I do counter push ups while my food heats (usually just 1 minute), if it' requires a longer heating time I usually alternate counter push-ups and standing crunches, in 1 minute or 30 second intervals.

These are just a few ways you can squeeze random exercise moves into your daily routine and it's great for every day, whether you've been to the gym or not!

Carrot Zucchini Bars with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

I saw a recipe for Carrot Zucchini Bars on The Domestic Wannabe and immediately decided that these wouldn't be too bad made vegan! She altered the original recipe from Real Mom Kitchen and I have since combined bits and pieces and made my own concoction. I've made them twice and I think I've found a concrete recipe I will keep making. Using a 9x13 pan these are roughly 152 calories (sweetened with honey - less with Splenda, obviously) with 16 servings. This has been my go to breakfast before heading to the gym and my snack as soon as I return home. The good news? I tried freezing these and they thaw out decently!

Carrot Zucchini Bars
1/2 cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce + 1 tsp. Baking Powder (egg substitute)

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 cup milled flax seed + 1/2 cup orange juice (oil substitute) (you may use water -- I did the first time but the taste of the orange juice is divine)

1/4 cup honey (or 1/4 cup Splenda) (I used honey the first time and was out the second time making these- I had Splenda + Fiber on hand and I like the extra sweetness it adds)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cup shredded carrots

1 cup shredded zucchini

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional but recommended as there is no protein in these with the egg removed)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. all spice

Frosting:

3 oz. cream cheese, softened

4 Tbsp. powdered sugar

1 tsp. orange zest (I usually just zest into the bowl until it takes on an orange taste)

1. Pre-heat oven to 350. In a large bowl whisk together apple sauce + baking powder, brown sugar, milled flax seed + orange juice, honey (or splenda), and vanilla. Next fold in carrots, zucchini and walnuts.

2. In another bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon and all spice. Whisk to combine.

3. Add flour mixture to the wet mixture until just combined. Spread batter into an ungreased 13x9" pan.

4. Bake about 25 minutes or until a toothpick entered in center comes out clean. Immediately spread cream cheese frosting. Allow to cool completely before cutting.

5. While the bars are baking prepare the frosting. In a small bowl combine the ingredients and fold together until fluffy.

6. When the bars come out of the oven immediately frost with the frosting (you want to frost while hot so the frosting melts and spreads evenly over the bars).

This recipe has been made vegan to avoid unnecessary calories. Subbing out the oil for milled flax seed makes for a sticky, gooey bread. It may not be everyone's style but I'd take it over the additional calories. The first time I made these they needed some more spice to them. If I had ground nutmeg I would have added 1/4 tsp. as well.

Goal & 30 Day Shred

I've decided that I'd like to lose another 5 pounds by Christmas. I see this as not very likely but it averages out to about 1.25 lbs a week. I'd really be happy with losing just 3 pounds by then which would put me at 165. However, I feel like I am going to aim for the 5 pounds, I think it will be a better push than the 3 I would easily lose.

So today I have a boy with "tummy sickies." Being that I just got over a week of being sedentary while my daughter had this a few weeks ago I decided that in trying to make this goal I should get up and do something. I broke out the 30 Day Shred for the first time in probably 10 months. I grabbed my 5 pound hand weights and went at it. Now, lets go back to April 2010 when I first started this long journey. I was dying by the end of the jumping jacks at the warm up, let alone the 18 minutes to follow. I remember sweat pouring off me and thinking my legs were just going to give out if I had to do one more lunge. I did this for 30 days and lost 16 pounds. Even at the end of the 30 days I struggled with this.

It was such a wake up call as I was doing this when I realized how out of shape and miserable I used to be. Now I could do this is in my sleep! How far I have come! It was so empowering. I even followed up with a 5k walk around my subdivision while pushing the kids in the stroller.

So answer me this: in one word how does exercise make you feel?

Me? Capable. I realize that I am much more capable than I thought I was. Capable of doing more and capable of reaching my goal.