We shoulda called it a 20K Step Challenge!

Yesterday I posted about the 10K Step Challenge I signed up for and it began today.  I set the pedometer on my dresser so I wouldn't forget to clip it on in the morning, like I did yesterday.

I woke up at 6:30, well I hit snooze and then got up at 6:40 a.m., and began my day.  I didn't think to clip on the pedometer first thing but probably should have.  I went up and down the stairs probably 5 times, walked back and forth from the bathroom to my "dressing room" (really just our guest room near the bathroom where I do my hair and make up) about 30 times and that was all before 8:00! 

So at 8:00 when I got dressed for work I clipped on the pedometer.  I was almost at 1000 steps before 9:00 when school officially starts.  I was shocked when I checked it for the first time. 

I had a lot of questions about the pedometer (by both staff and students), but the kids really liked the idea.  They are used to me ranting about healthy habits everyday so this wasn't weird to them at all.  Maybe I even inspired some of them?  It amazes me the influence I have over them and I try my best to promote good life choices.  I am especially proud of about 3/4 of my students who bring a water bottle to school everyday (and having 24 students 3/4 is a big success!) because they see me drinking out of my cup all of the time.  Most of the girls have even bought (or asked for as a gift) a cup just like mine!

I hit 10 000 steps around noon. 

At 9:00 when I finally called the day done and jumped in the shower and put my pjs on the pedometer read 20 726 steps or 9.79 miles walked today.  Now I will lay here on the couch until bed....I think my feet deserve it. 

10K Steps

While checking out Facebook tonight, I came across the link to a friend's blog (10kstepcrew) and read that she wants to get more active.  This is something we have discussed before, and being the fitness/health freak that I've lately turned into I got excited!  She decided to dust off her pedometer and count her steps each day.  This is something I have always wondered myself...I know I walk ALOT (I am a teacher after all) but have no idea how many steps I take. 

Of course I signed up.  Luckily my dad owns a pedometer that I can borrow.  The challenge starts Friday, April 20.  I'm starting tomorrow!  I can't wait to see how many steps I take.

I love a challenge!

Patterned Spring Dress

My friends, Noel and Miranda, came over this afternoon to do a "clothing swap".  Noel just got a new camera and I wanted her to take a picture of me in my new dress I bought over Spring Break.

I bought the dress at Cleo, and love the bright blue in the pattern! I can't wait until it gets warm enough to wear to work.

Lia Sophia Jewelry

I have been receiving packages like crazy lately, some of which is my Lia Sophia jewelry from the party I hosted a few weeks ago.  It was super exciting to go through all of the packages to look at what I ordered. 

"Violet Hour" necklace

"Wishing Well" ring

"Riviera" ring

"Katie" necklace

"Kylie" necklace

Here is my post about the party! Lia Sophia party

Rainy Day

The weather lately has been miserable.  Last weekend we had a snow storm and all of the snow that had recently melted from our yard was back again.  It warmed up later in the week, and we are close to the snow being gone again but it has been raining all day and once the temperature drops it will turn to ice.  I miss the sunshine! 

Being stuck inside last Saturday in the snow storm, there wasn't a chance I was staying home this Saturday too.  I called up my mom to see if she wanted to come grocery shopping/errand running with me, and she was game (of course!).  After groceries we even clothes shopped for a bit and she bought me a bunch of stuff to "pay me back" for the three pairs of Lulu Lemon pants I gave her once I had replaced them with a smaller size during my Spring Break shopping trip.  I really am a spoiled 27 year old "Princess".

Since it was a cold, miserable day I decided I needed something warm and delicious for supper tonight so I picked up a roasting chicken at the store. Chicken has become my new favorite food.  Before my clean eating life began I would eat chicken, but it wasn't my first choice.  Now I eat chicken at least 5 days a week, and actually crave it.  It is so versatile and is great leftover in my salads. We usually have roast chicken on Sundays but today seemed like a perfect day to get the oven heating up the house and the smell is amazing!

Here is my beautiful roast chicken!

To go with our roast chicken we had potatoes of course.  I don't eat any grains (pasta or rice, etc.) so potatoes are the norm as well.  We eat some form of potato every supper because they are as versatile as chicken.  My favorite is a baked potato, and then homemade fries come in second.  But tonight I was craving something crunchy and cheesy so I planned on making potato skins. 

As I was scooping the flesh of the potato out of the baked skin I had an even better idea.  I would stuff the potato skins!  My usual recipe changed just a bit, and the end result was wonderful.  My husband loved the stuffed potatoes because it was something different for us and the flavor and texture was exactly what I had been craving.

Here are my recipes:

Roast chicken
1 roasting chicken
5 or 6 garlic cloves (grate 2 or 3 of them)
1-2 tsp. dried (or fresh) thyme
1-2 tsp. dried (or fresh) rosemary
2 tsp. Epicure Lemon Dilly mix (optional)
1 lemon (zested and cut into wedges)
pepper
2-3 Tbsp. butter

1. In a small bowl, mix butter, grated garlic, lemon zest, thyme, rosemary, and pepper.  I eyeball everything so my measurements are approximate.
2. Rub the butter mixture UNDER the skin of the chicken and massage it in to the chicken.
3. Sprinkle the skin of the chicken with more of the spices.
4. Stuff the lemon wedges and garlic cloves into the cavity of the chicken.
5. Roast in oven until done (mine usually takes approx. 2 hours, but check for doneness).


Stuffed Potatoes
1 large potato per person (you will want to make extras!)
extra virgin olive oil
1 cup grated cheese (I like cheddar, but use what you prefer)
1 Tbsp. Epicure Three Onion dip mix (or use chopped green onions and other seasonings) *Epicure Cheese, Chive, and Bacon dip mix would be fantastic if you can eat soy.
2 Tbsp. plain Greek yogurt  (or plain yogurt, or sour cream)
salt and pepper

1. Bake potatoes for an hour in an oven to get crispy skins.
2. Remove potatoes from oven and cut in half lengthwise.
3. Scoop out the flesh of the potatoes into a medium sized bowl. Be careful not to tear the skins.
4. Mash the potato, greek yogurt, cheddar cheese, Three Onion dip mix, salt and pepper together until combined.
5. Brush the inside of the potato skins with a little EVOO and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Three Onion dip mix. (*This is how I make my potato skins.  If you aren't stuffing them, top the skins with cheese and bake now! Use the flesh of the potato for supper tomorrow.)
6. Stuff the mashed potato mixture back into the skins.
7. Top the potatoes with cheese.
8. Bake until warmed through and cheese is melted.

Roast chicken (skin removed), stuffed potatoes, and asparagus for supper!  I could only eat one potato so that means I have lunch tomorrow. 

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday!

Success?

Life has been busy as usual- back to work after Spring Break, spring cleaning, organizing our "stuff" so we can renovate some rooms in the house, and of course a lot of time spent at the gym. 

I was recently asked to share my success story on the Sal's Fitness website and it has been weighing on my mind.  Yes, I've had success but I'm not done.  I would like to lose approximately 10 more pounds and tone up all over because although I look MUCH better than I did a few months ago I am not at my best.  I haven't met my goal.

Also, I almost feel like a fraud.  I lost close to 60 pounds because I was "unwell".  I had to stop eating crap food to feel better.  And only then did the weight come off.  I am not sure I could have lost the weight had I not been "forced" (my body forced me) to stop eating certain foods. 

Then there are the "haters".  I have had several people tell me that I should stop losing weight.  "You're too skinny." I get so frustrated when I hear that.  Those people haven't, and will never, see me naked! Or even in a bathing suit.  Only my husband and I know what my body looks like under my clothes.  And yes, it is nicer.  Yes, it is getting tighter everyday.  No, it is not where I want it to be.  YET. 

I know I have been working extremely hard to get healthy.  I go to the gym an average of 6 days a week and I eat clean everyday without cheating.  I have earned this body.  I am very proud of the changes in my body, but am I a success story?  I am still thinking about that.

April 6, 2012

Spring Break Highlights

Well it wasn't Mexico and I didn't get a tan, but there were a few things that made my Spring Break pretty great.

1) I got a week off of work.  I love my job and I miss the kids, but I desperately needed a break.

2) Shopping!  Dave and I went shopping in Saskatoon and it was so exciting to try on and buy clothes, which I really needed.  My closets were pretty bare.

3) Shopping!  Oh right.  That was #2.  Actually this one goes with shopping because part of the thrill of buying those new clothes are that they are a size 2 and 4.  I went from my heaviest at a size 16 to size 4 jeans, size 2 dress, and size small and extra small tops.  This amazes me, but it was the best feeling.

4) Spending time with old friends- I went out with friends Friday and Saturday (yes the world almost stopped when I decided to go out a second night in a row) and ran into some friends from high school that I never see.

5) Celebrating my parent's 28th wedding anniversary on March 31. It makes me happy that my parents are still happily married and it inspires me to work hard to make my own marriage last a lifetime.