Ghost, Goblins, and...... Sugar

I've struggled to figure out what to write about this week. So much has been going on but not with my health and fitness.

Coming up on 4 weeks ago I started feeling really sick. I was having headaches and constantly tired. I didn't get out of bed for the entire week for more than 6 hours a day. I ended up in the emergency room feeling like crud and they told me nothing showed up and nothing was wrong. My headaches then continued for 2 more weeks to the point where I would trap myself in a dark room and cry trying to get the pain to go away. I went to see an ear nose and throat specialist because I was told allergies may be the problem.  Despite my requests he didn't give me an allergy test, just 3 shots and 5 medications. I was on these medications for 10 days. Upon finishing them on the 10th day (last thursday) I started feeling very ill and fatigued. That night I started feeling my headaches come back. I had visitors come from 9 and a half hours away so I couldn't let it get to me, I kept going strong. Saturday night it became unbearable. Ross gives me head massages when I have a headache, which is about the closest thing to relief that I get. On top of the headaches I started having a sore throat. This has been the longest 4 weeks of my life and I have never wanted to be not sick more in my life. I was referred to a Neurologist and will be making an appointment to see one soon.

With this 4 week sickness my motivation has been flushed down the toilet. I was on a medication called prednisone. If you've ever been on this, you know that it makes you feel like you are hungry 24/7. I was becoming depressed this last week because I didn't have the energy to workout. When I tried to workout I couldn't push myself too hard because I would nearly pass out.

I started to become depressed. I didn't want to do anything but sleep eat and cry. Not to mention the fact that my homework tends to pile up when I ignore it. Then on top of it I felt like I had gained every pound back that I had lost. At weigh in on Tuesday.. I had actually lost more weight..... I jumped on the scale and wanted to scream IS THIS A JOKE!?!?!?! But, I guess I can't complain! Maintaining your weight loss is part of this journey as well!

I have had many good things happen since I last blogged! My boyfriend bought a new 2015 Chevy Silverado. This was something that he has been looking forward to for a long time now and it was great to see such a huge smile on his face. He is proud of the hard work that he does to be able to do something like this. This was our first big purchase as a couple and it makes me excited for the rest of our life together!




 I have began to enjoy running. I started a training program to help me attempt to prepare for possibly running a half marathon this coming summer. It has always been an item on my bucket list it's just not going to be an easy one! I am looking for a partner as well if anyone is interested! If I don't do a half marathon I at least want to sign up for as many 5K races as I can this summer and try to do as many as possible. That would be equally as fun!




Most of all, I have learned that my mind is going to say no a thousand times before my body. I have school, work, and weight loss to worry about in life so my brain is going to think it needs to tap out and just sit around every once in a while. I have to keep pushing myself past my limits to get better and better. As I looked in the mirror this morning and talked to my boyfriend it hit me. NEVER in my adult life have I weighed 186 lbs and been able to maintain that. The last time I weighed 186 I was in 8th grade! I have to be happy about what I have achieved and know that I can continue to improve AFTER I focus on improving my health. I have to put myself first and stay focused on what I can do, not what I can't.

Halloween is right around the corner which means sugar temptations right and left. I was showed a picture the other day that will make you think every single time you have a bowl of candy in front of you and I'll bet that you don't touch a piece. I do encourage you to enjoy the holiday though! Take a break from everything else in life and dress up. Have a little fun with it!
But remember,

XOXO,
Audrey

P.S. I posted on my facebook that I have created a PDF file of some of my favorite workouts and also a list of tips and tricks on how I got started with my weight loss and also continued instead of giving up. I would LOVE to share this with anyone that is interested. If you are you can comment on this blog, PM me on facebook, or contact me in any way with an email and I will get it to you as soon as possible! I am NOT an expert but I have lost 14 pounds and would love to help you get started on your own journey as well!

Off Week

Have you ever seen those posts on Facebook that say, "Truth is!"... Well here it is, "Truth is, I have a ton of homework that I could be doing and tests I could be studying for but instead I'm writing this blog."

This last week was stress week for me. I had midterms this week with tests Monday morning, 2 tests and a project on Wednesday, and a test on Thursday. On top of that I had a doctors appointment Tuesday to hopefully figure out where these headaches that are taking over are coming from. Wednesday I attended a funeral, Thursday I worked all morning, and Friday I attended my brothers away football game after working all morning. Basically what it all comes down to, is that my week was completely insane. Besides my own wishes, I only made it to the gym once and down to the little home gym at my boyfriends twice. I set myself back a little bit but the important thing is that I didn't give up everything.

Working out has unfortunately been put on the back burner for the week so that I can focus on my school work. I have been eating as healthy as I can so that I don't gain weight just maintain for the week. However, I feel like I have wasted all of my run training that I have been doing. Just means I have to work hard after this week is over with no more excuses! Life goes on!

This week I want to give you all some workouts and easy recipes to enjoy for this amazingly gorgeous fall season.

Last week I mentioned Tara Roach and I want to let you all know that she is a BEAST. She has gone through her own battles in life and came out on top with an incredibly muscular body to show for it. (This picture was in no way taken by me nor do I own it.) Tara has been kind enough to start sending me some of her workouts that I would like to share with you. Any moves that you don't know what they are, just Google them or Youtube them and chances are you will find a demonstration.

Squat/Leg Day: (very very intense)
Warm up: Goblet Squats 4 X 15

4 X 12 Box Squats
4 X 12 Front Squats on Smith Machine

4 X 15 Leg Extensions
4 X 15 Jump Squats with Dumbbell

12, 12, 10, 10, 8, 8 Natural Glut and Hammy
4 X 20 Walking Weighted Lunges

4 X 12 Leg Curl HEAVY
4 X 20 Each Leg Bulgarian Squat

4 X 15 Pistol Squats
4 X 12 Wide Stance Squat HEAVY

4 X 12 Curtsey Lunges
4 X 12 Close Stance Squat HEAVY

4 X 30 (BURN OUT) Jumping Switch Lunges 

45 Minute Treadmill Workout (for beginners): MY ALL TIME FAVORITE
0:00-5:00                  1.0 incline            3.0mph
5:00-10:00                1.0                        3.5
10:00-12:00              1.0                        5.5
12:00-16:00              1.0                        3.5
16:00-18:00              1.0                        5.5
18:00-22:00              1.0                        3.5
22:00-24:00              1.0                        5.8
24:00-26:00              1.0                        3.5
26:00-28:00              1.0                        5.8
28:00-30:00              1.0                        3.5
30:00-32:00              1.0                        5.8
32:00-36:00              1.0                        3.5
36:00-38:00              1.0                        5.5
38:00-40:00              1.0                        3.5
40:00-45:00              1.0                        3.0

Recipes: 
If you know me at all you know that starving myself is NOT a part of my diet plan. I eat the calories that I need every day and I try to do it in the healthiest way possible. I am still learning as I'm sure many of you are but here are a few recipes to get you started! A sweet to help your fall sweet tooth, a veggie delight egg omelet for breakfast, and some health(ish) Chicken Parmesan. Enjoy these recipes and I hope you use them!

Weight Watchers Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients:
1 can of Pumpkin
1 spice cake mix
1 cup of water

Directions:
1. Mix the 3 ingredients in a bowl. Note: Do not follow instructions on the back of the spice cake just dump it in with the pumpkin and water.
2. Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 15 minutes
3. Makes 24-27 muffins, ENJOY!


Egg White Veggie Delight
Ingredients:
1/4 cup egg whites
1/4 cup cheese
diced green, red, yellow, orange peppers of your choice
diced onions
diced ham

Directions:
1. Pour egg whites into a buttered or sprayed skillet on medium heat.
2. After egg whites have cooked most of the way through and begin to bubble add the onions, peppers, and ham.
3. Leave the omelet on medium heat to allow veggies to cook a bit.
4. Add cheese to inside and fold over.
5. Serve on a dish and ENJOY!

Skinny Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts
Egg whites
Chopped Crutons
Spaghetti Sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Whole wheat pasta (if you eat pasta, I don't)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Dip each chicken breast in egg whites and then in the chopped crutons and place on a greased pan.
3. Put the chicken in the oven for 15 minutes each side.
4. After the first 15 minutes, flip the chicken and start to cook the pasta and warm the sauce. 
5. To cook the pasta: boil water, once boiling add noodles for approx 8 minutes.
6. To serve: Put pasta on the plate, add the breaded chicken breast, pour pasta over the chicken breast, and a small amount of fat free mozzarella cheese on top. ENJOY!

This week may have been an off week for my workouts but it was a great week to spend with friends and family and I survived one more midterm week of college. I say it every week and I'll say it a million times again but Ross is my rock. My everything. My person. My favorite thing to do every day. He's the best person that's ever walked into my life. I receive compliments on how great I look and how good I'm doing, and I just smile at Ross because I know it's his help and encouragement that has gotten me this far. Most of all I know that the reason for the smile on my face is because of him. I'm a lucky girl, a blessed girl, and I couldn't be happier with what adventure my life path is leading me on. Thanks for all of the kind words this week and the love of my blog that I get with each post! I hope others are seeing progress in their journey and are inspired by my actions in some way! Have a BLESSED week and get your fit on!


xoxo, Audrey

Fat Burning Workout

It seems to be that late night blogs are going to be the best I can do for a while. I recently began 15 credit hours of online college courses and working 30 hour weeks. All on top of my gym time and friends and boyfriend in the schedule. Sleep is non-existent.

I have not been as disciplined as I was with my diet from the beginning. I seem to be one of the people who thinks they need to eat more each time they work out. I do understand that I need to fuel my body but most of the time my cravings are terrible things that should never be in my diet. My loving boyfriend came to visit me while I stayed with my mom last weekend and brought me a romantic surprise. Nope, not flowers. Fresh made doughnuts from the local bakery.......... Please excuse my language for a minute... DAMNIT! I gave in. I ate the doughnut and I ate four cheeseballs that night. I didn't beat myself up because I can't be perfect all the time. I can't cut everything out of my diet at once and expect the cravings to never come around. But I have learned from this experience. I ate those things and didn't feel bad in the moment but I remembered those things all weekend. I felt like I had to walk further, workout more, eat less, etc.. I was punishing myself for my mistakes in the moment. Newsflash to myself, the reason that I am having to lose all of this weight is because of every repeated mistake in the moment! When will I learn!?

I've been stalled with my weight loss and actually gained 2 pounds back since I've been working out every day. Bummer. If you happen to come across this problem you have to remind yourself that you're going to gain some muscle mass before you lose weight. You have to lose the fat and gain muscle before you will see the numbers move. That is why weight loss isn't something that happens in just a few days, it takes time. We can all do this together, even if we trip and fall for the sugar and carbs sometimes. Tell someone about it and make sure to hold yourself accountable for your diet. Don't use the excuse "it is just a few extra calories" or "I can work it off at the gym". You should be working off already packed on fat, not newly added fats. I am guilty of this like anyone else. We are a team and we will learn discipline together.

For some positive things now! Working out makes me feel like a new person! I hate myself every morning when I can't get out of bed but I love knowing that I'm sore because I'm changing! I'm sore because I did something! I often workout with someone but Iggy Azalea has been my workout buddy a few different times. I jam out to her songs on Spotify and go to town. By the way, I read a study the other day that said you lose more weight if you listen to music while working out. Who knows if that is true! My favorite circuit workout is basically a standard plyometrics workout with a mix of cardio, abs, and either arms or legs.

My Favorite Fat Burning Workout
Equipment Needed
Yoga mat
dumbells
medicine ball (or kettle ball)

Warmup (Repeat 2 Times)
Walk/Run 5 mins
10 sit ups
10 arm circles
10 supermans
10 leg swings

Workout (Repeat 3 Times)
50 Jump Rope
15 push ups
20 sit ups
20 walking lunges with dumbells
15 russian killers
10 burpees

Abs (Repeat 2 times)
10 hip raisers
20 reverse crunches
25 crunches
side plank (both arms)
15 side lying leg lifts
30 bicycle abs

I did this workout on Monday afternoon and I couldn't walk almost all of Tuesday. Ask anyone that saw me and asked if I was okay. :)

Paying for a gym membership may seem silly for some people, and I understand that. When I pay money, it makes me feel like I HAVE to go into the gym or I am throwing money down the drain. Monday I went alone and the gym was packed. I felt like everyone was watching my every move and I even hit 2 people while I was jump roping. I don't have confidence in myself when I workout and I feel like others can see that. It is hard to go and lift 10 pound weights when people right next to you are lifting 100 lbs. Be tough and know that some day, that WILL be you. Set your goals and realize that they have been doing this longer than you. I haven't even been going to the gym for a whole 7 days yet, I am not going to turn pro in a week. If people can't respect that I have purchased a gym membership and am working on my health, then heck with them. We get criticized daily for being bigger and needing to lose weight because we are dangerously overweight. But we step into a gym and get mocked and made fun of. People TAKE PICTURES of others in the gym that they think are mediocre. Well my message to those people is don't talk about people being fat if you're going to be that rude person making fun of them. Instead ask them if they need help understanding any of the machines. Ask them if they would like you to show them some of your workouts. Or better yet, mind your own business.

To all of the people like me, that just want to lose weight, walk in with confidence even if you try to use a leg machine for your arms. What matters is that you got up off the couch and you are trying. You are making an effort to change your ways. YOU are what matters, not them.

xoxo, Audrey

P.S. I will have LOTS of Gluten Free Recipes in my next blog hopefully coming soon for my friend Sarah. This is an allergy that is showing up with a lot of people and you can find some food that is incredibly delicious all while being healthy.

The People Around You

The excitement I felt when I jumped off of the scale yesterday was GLORIOUS! I have lost 3.6 lbs! Some people are giving me the 'Who-gives-a-crap" face but I was the happiest person on the planet! I ran straight into my room and jumped on the bed where my boyfriend was laying to tell him the good news. He was just as excited as I was and told me that I was working really hard for this. Heck yes I am!

Then 5 minutes later he told me that we were going to DQ for lunch.....

UGH! The people around you are who influence you, cheer you on, pick you up from the ground, pat you on the back, etc! I felt like he was tearing me down and making my diet harder! I made a smoothie and took it with me into DQ instead of eating the food that I would have once eaten too much of. I watched the guys scarf down on some deliciously crunchy looking chicken strips and a piece of buttery toast.. Hearing that sentence was torture.. right? I found myself not caring and not thinking that at all! My smoothie tasted good and I had just discovered my weight loss from all of my hard work! I'm not giving that up now!

I could roll my eyes at my boyfriend every time he wants to eat out, but is it really worth it? My goal recently has been to find the silver lining in all situations. Example, you get toilet paper stuck in your pants at the public restroom, mortifying, BUT you made someone else laugh for the day! And maybe they were having a horrible day and just needed God to give them a reason to laugh. You were God's reason, which is pretty incredible if you ask me! SILVER LINING PEOPLE! 

My silver lining to my boyfriend loving to eat out is that he is teaching me to have self control and discipline over my own diet. He feeds me temptation after temptation so that I learn to shut them down. Not only do I learn the self control but I learn what to do in those tricky situations. Examples:

1. If you feel like you HAVE to order something ask the waiter for a piece of grilled chicken. Name one place that doesn't have a good grilled chicken. Dip it in your sauce of choice, it wont kill you.

2. Make something small before you leave, such as a smoothie. The group/person you are with can wait 5 minutes for you to have a small meal before they leave.

3. Just order a water or an iced tea and sit and enjoy with your group/person. Just beware of what they have ordered. Avoid staring at their french fries or fried foods that are bad for you! Think of what your big goal is to help you out!

4. Order a house salad. The perfect sized salad that for some reason always tastes better when it is made for you in a restaurant.

I can actually say that I have been on a diet for 10 days now and my life has changed for the better. The amount of energy that I have gained from eating more fruits and veggies and watching my portions is unreal. I have yet to even start doing any physical activity and have still lost 3.6 lbs! I like picking out healthy foods and giving people tips. Diets can be fun if you want them to!

Thank you everyone who has been reading my blog and I hope it inspires you each and every day. I should make a note that if I ever say things about my boyfriend, family, or friends in here it is NEVER in a bad way. They are my people, and everyone needs people. I love my people!

Reminder: If you don't change your ways, you will never change. 

My gorgeous cousin Krysti and I met up and took a picture at the Miranda Lambert concert in KC!

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Recipe

1 4oz Chicken Breast

1 cup salsa (low sodium)

2 Tbsp Fat Free Sour Cream

Olive Oil

Marinate your chicken breast in all of the salsa but 2 Tbsp in the fridge for at least 3 hours. After finished marinating cook the marinated breast in olive oil in a skillet, until done. After chicken is cooked all the way through add 2 Tbsp of sour cream and 2 Tbsp of salsa to the top and enjoy! 

***This can be sweet or spicy depending on your choice of salsa.

Failed Fads

QUICK! Call now to order your limited time offer of "insert weight loss supplement here" before time runs out!! You could cut 20 pounds in just TWO WEEKS! 

Anyone else laughing at that? because I definitely am. I am writing this a night early because I am in the process of moving and I found all of my failed fad diet supplements. I am not saying that these do not work for some people, but I am saying they did not work for me. At the end, I'll even show you how much money I have wasted in my lifetime on these diets instead of buying a bag of lettuce or some healthy food. 

I am welcoming you to join me in a little bit of laughter! Everyone needs a laugh in their life, especially when you are going through a diet. Anyone who is losing weight, even if its just two pounds, we are a team. If you have ever been on a team, you know that laughter only brings you closer together. So get ready to laugh, and even ask yourself the question, "Where in sam-heck did she find that thing?!"

1. Acai Berry Cleanse.. I call this one spending WAY too much time on the internet and following the rules of 'if it's on the internet it's true'. I reasearched so much about acai berry and how THIS was the fruit that would easily melt away belly fat. IN 14 DAYS! High school girls best dream! At the age of 17 I managed to read right past the word 'cleanse' and go straight for the weight loss part at the bottom. Cleanse come to find out, means you and the bathroom are best friends for 14 days. Take back the every high school girls dream part. 

2. Zantrex.... 3! It's the third one, so that means 1 and 2 were REALLY good... right? The real story behind this was my loving sister knows how much I have been trying to lose weight for years now and told me, and I quote, "You can have it, dont buy your own. It started making me puke. I guess I'm just already skinny enough."......yep, I was pumped. I had 3 bottles of this and this is the only one left. What person in their right mind wouldn't just throw this in the trash to begin with!? 

3. Ultimate Body Applicator.. One of those parties you go to and see a ton of fantastic pictures of how this really worked for people and it can be you too! You feel like you can't leave without buying something or you'll feel bad. You seriously wrap yourself in seran wrap for 8 hours with patches of what feels like icy hot under it and drink a ton of water. A way of detoxing from the outside, in. I think I failed this one on my own because I didn't do it every 72 hours like the instructions say. Still, add it to the failed fad list.

4. Advocare Watermelon Spark.. Now this product I am not complaining about. I love it a ton. I feel like it really gives me energy just not any dietary help. If you purchase this and add it to your morning smoothies, YUM!!!!!!! However, still didn't make me lose weight, failed fad list.

5. Omnitrition.. Someday I may return to this diet but I was not ready for the discipline that I had to have to be on the omni drops program. I went from 0% diet to 210% diet in 2 days. I saw results on it, lost 7 pounds! But when I quit, gained 12! OUCH! I learned from this product that you bounce back quicker than you lose if you dont start out NATURAL!

6. Garcinia Cambogia Extract.. I cant even pronounce the first word so we all know how this one is going to go. What is it anyways!? It is supposed to make you eat less when you drink it with a full glass of water 8 hours before each meal, and curb cravings. I really could have just drank the glass of water and eaten less, but oh well. Pretty much another giant waste of money for me, because I had no motivation to actually do it before every single meal. Failed fad list.

While this is all of my failed fad diets that I can find pictures of, I can promise you this isn't all of it. Going back to my first post, being the bigger friend, its hard. Peer pressure finds you every time! My only suggestion to people is do it for you. Find the motivation within yourself, not within others. In the end you will feel good being looked up to by others, for doing it for yourself. 

Math time!

I went to the store a week ago and bought fruit. Fruit can add up quickly. My grocery list consisted of:

Frozen Raspberries

Frozen Pineapples

Blueberries

Strawberries

Peaches

Mangos

Apples

My total was $20.37.. this fruit lasted me 7 days. That is $2.91 a day! CHEAP! Even for a broke college kid.

I bought my first diet supplement at 17. That means I have been buying for a little over 3 years. The total for the 3 years is:

Acai Berry Cleanse- $10.79

Zantrax 3- $25.95 X 2(2 bottles)

Ultimate Body Applicator- $74.99

Advocare Spark- $49.50

Omnitrition Drops & Pill- $127.70

Garcinia Cambogia (3 bottles) - $79.99

GRAND TOTAL- $394.87

That is $131.63 per year approximately for products that I didn't even finish! Wasted!

I could have taken 19 and a half trips to the grocery store for healthy foods and instead I chose to take the quick way out.. Well guys, this time, I choose the slow way. I choose to be healthy and happy and lose my weight little at a time so that I can keep it off FOREVER! Who is with me!?