tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60321977912885660672024-02-07T18:11:02.332-08:00Diary of a Simple LifeHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-91614477905059535642015-07-16T11:46:00.000-07:002015-07-16T11:46:26.448-07:00Fertility Awareness & Natural Fertility Resources<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Long time no blog… Its been a while! But I am back today with something I have become SUPER passionate about lately- fertility- and more importantly- natural fertility and dealing with it holistically.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I think its so important for us women to get to know our bodies. Its something that I avoided and honestly didn’t ever care about for most of my life. I was put on birth control at age 13 (!) and didn’t get off of it until age 28…. That’s a long time to suppress my body’s natural rhythms and cycles. Now that I am not taking the pill anymore I am completely blown away by the symptoms and side effects that I dealt with for so long that I didn’t even know were from it. When I think about it I honestly get pissed at my doctors and pissed at myself that I took it for so long. More so at myself because I allowed it. But also at doctors because they “prescribe” birth control to help with cramps and other symptoms. It is not a treatment drug…. All it does is mask the symptoms of whatever you’re dealing with. And whatever you’re dealing with is an underlying problem caused by something else. Sometimes it is easy to figure out that underlying cause and sometimes it takes a little digging. </div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This brings me to my first recommendation. If you are dealing with any hormone-related issues and/or problems I cannot recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Period-Repair-Manual-Treatment-Hormones/dp/1507728921/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435252902&sr=8-1&keywords=period+repair+manual" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Period Repair Manual</a> enough. It is FULL of information about how to fix a lot of hormonal imbalances and problems through food, supplements, herbs and lifestyle. I mean, what do you have to lose by trying these things out? You have to eat every day so why not make food medicine? </div>
<figure data-orig-height="301" data-orig-width="188" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;"><img data-orig-height="301" data-orig-width="188" height="301" src="http://40.media.tumblr.com/7cb2987a0cf0be5098e37ec4a57c2362/tumblr_inline_nqige25SHw1qgvw53_250.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px; max-width: 500px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="188" /></figure><div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The book was written by Dr. Lauren Briden, a Naturopathic Doctor with nearly 20 years of experience in women’s health. Some of the topics include How to come off of birth control, What your period should look like, What can go wrong, and How to talk to your doctor. For $10 this book is just such a good reference manual.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My second resource is the mother of all fertility books- Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. I will recommend this to anyone who will listen to me. I read this huge book in one weekend because I was so fascinated by all of this information about my own body that no one ever taught me and I never learned. This is what they should give young girls in sex ed. Its amazing! It teaches you all about how the female reproductive system works. It is also how I learned, along with so many others, how to chart my cycles for birth control. </div>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="500" data-orig-width="398" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;"><img data-orig-height="500" data-orig-width="398" height="500" src="http://40.media.tumblr.com/958e4327af3e8346f3368e46a5d55692/tumblr_inline_nqigm1NfDQ1qgvw53_400.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px; max-width: 500px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="398" /></figure><div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I’ve also been obsessed with listening to podcasts while I commute lately. One of my favorites is <a href="http://www.fertilityfriday.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Fertility Friday Podcast</a>. </div>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1000" data-orig-width="1000" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px;"><img data-orig-height="1000" data-orig-width="1000" height="500" src="http://41.media.tumblr.com/4fc5b9e177d0879e58650e42e28a7ea5/tumblr_inline_nqigq2ZkAw1qgvw53_500.jpg" style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px; max-width: 500px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="500" /></figure><div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Lisa, a Fertility Awareness advocate for over a decade, discusses a wide range of women and fertility-related topics each week. She has great guest speakers that I have learned so much valuable information form. </div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I know this is a controversial topic and highly personal but I think this is information that needs to be out there in the world. I consider myself not only a health-conscience person but intelligent also. I had no idea about any of this. I would go out of my way to buy foods with no additives and dairy with no hormones but I continued to pump my body synthetic hormones every day for over 15 years. I wish I knew all of this sooner. My goal is to inform people of the information we have been taught is taboo or that no one should talk about. It is our bodies. We only have one. It does so many amazing things for us. We should honoring it by being intuitive and listening to it. The reproductive system is such a tell-all for what is going on in our bodies. But we have been taught to either ignore it or mask it and make the signals go away. </div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If I can turn even a few people on to learning about this I would be overwhelmed with joy. The amount of freedom and empowerment I have felt from learning this information is too much for words. It has made me appreciate being a woman and appreciate all it does for me. If anyone needs help or advice and/or is interested in learning more please let me know!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-75929968518654509722015-07-16T04:31:00.001-07:002015-07-16T04:36:02.050-07:00This Morning's InsightI tried blogging on Tumblr to start to create a brand/website for health coaching. I really didn't like Tumblr. I don't know a lot about it and I just feel like blogger is so much simpler. So here I am... Trying this again. I felt very uninspired to blog over there because I didn't fully understand the format. <br />
I had a bit of a realization this morning at 5:30 AM while procrastinating on my workout and here I am... (I ended up not working out... Oops). I have spent the last 2 years trying to find a balance and "what works for me" in the fitness/health world. What worked for me in the beginning was choosing healthy foods every day and working out. I keep thinking... It was definitely Tone It Up and I need to get back to that. Yes, Tone It Up taught me about healthy eating and got me excited to workout. But it was making healthy choices, running, stretching, doing yoga, weights, interval training, etc... That brought me to a good place. I have spent so much time obsessing over what to do that I think I lost sight of the overall picture. And now that I realize it I feel kinda dumb.... Should I do paleo, beach body, TIU, bikini body guide, gluten free, clean eating, intuitive eating? Its exhausting. I can't find a balance because my focus is wrong. Who cares what its called?<br />
<br />
Its tough for me... I'm usually determined, headstrong, and stubborn. I tend to go all or nothing... All in or all out.... One extreme to the other.... That can be a good trait sometimes (when I'm focusing on a goal). But it also gets me in trouble. It causes stress in my life that is so unnecessary. <br />
Now, the tricky part will be remembering this tomorrow. :)<br />
<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-22403908439963913882015-04-11T16:57:00.003-07:002015-07-16T11:46:58.532-07:00Chasing my dreams<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sequinsandstripes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Chase-Your-Dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sequinsandstripes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Chase-Your-Dreams.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sequinsandstripes.com/2014/02/04/chase-your-dreams/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
New and exciting things are happening for me and this little blog! I can't wait to share more with you guys! I have been on an extreme life high since Friday. My mind is full of ideas and I am so excited about life! I know this is super vague but I don't want to share too much until I know a little more about what I am doing.<br />
The 5th Annual <a href="http://toneitup.com/">Tone It Up</a> Bikini Series is officially kicking off Monday! I can't wait! If you're not familiar with Tone It Up or the Bikini Series I encourage you to watch their <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coE2JxR_y50">video</a> about it. The excitement in the TIU community is just courageous right now! I love it! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
The TIU Girls- Karena & Katrina posted a video recently that got me really thinking... In the video they encouraged everyone to pursue your dreams. Take risks. I NEVER take risks... I am a play-it-safe-kinda-girl! But I'm super excited about a new life adventure for me that is coming soon! I can't wait to share it!<br />
Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-50569438925827542062015-04-08T14:15:00.000-07:002015-04-08T14:15:41.758-07:00What brought me to the Whole30<div>
Before diving into my experience with the Whole30 I figured I should first talk about what brought me to the Whole30 and why I did it. I honestly felt like I was lead to do this, like it was something I had to do. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I decided after 15 years to stop taking hormonal birth control. Not because I am ready to have a baby but simply because I might be one day. I have wanted to stop taking it for years now but I have been TERRIFIED of getting pregnant without being ready. So before I stopped taking it I did some research on other methods of birth control. I think I will do a separate post all about that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One of the books I read was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Charge-Fertility-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0060881909">Taking Charge of Your Fertility</a>. I was so interested and floored by all of this information about my OWN body that I never knew. I did not learn these things in Sex Ed, I did not learn them from my doctor, and my mom did not teach me these things. I cannot recommend this book enough. Regardless of wanting to have a baby now or ever this book is FULL of information about the female body that is so useful to every woman. I just can't say enough good things about it. Seriously, if you are a woman you must buy this book and read it ASAP!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516DWYWGBDL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516DWYWGBDL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazon.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />After reading the book I joined a couple of Facebook groups of people with similar interests. Someone mentioned a podcast, <a href="http://www.fertilityfriday.com/">Fertility Friday</a>. Its full of a ton of information. I have a long work commute so I figured a podcast would be great for me. She talks a lot about the <a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/">Weston A Price Foundation </a>and nutrient dense foods. <div>
One of the podcasts' guest was Laura Schoenfeld of the blog <a href="http://www.ancestralizeme.com/">Ancestralize Me</a>. This particular podcast was about Recovering from Post-Birth Control Syndrome. You can read all about that episode <a href="http://www.fertilityfriday.com/laura/">here</a>! I loved listening to her talk and this whole episode resonated with me big time. This was really my first time putting any thought at all into a Paleo/ Ancestral Diet. I immediately dove head first into Laura's blog and podcast. This opened up a whole new world for me. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After many hours of different podcasts and reading different blogs (all paleo-based) I decided I would give this paleo thing a try. The very next day I did the best I could with what I had to eat a paleo diet. </div>
<div>
That night I ended up on the website- Whole30.com and decided I would start this immediately. I didn't put a ton of thought into it. I just felt compelled to do it. I bought the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Starts-Food-Discover-Whole30-Unexpected-ebook/dp/B008C20TDG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1428527262&sr=1-1&keywords=it+starts+with+food">It Starts With Food</a> and read it in one day, and I was on my way. I started the Whole30 on a Friday because I did not want to wait another day.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EPJT9DhaL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EPJT9DhaL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazon.com<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
I decided it would not be about weightloss. It would be about nourishing my body with the best foods for me. Lots of health fats, local and grass-fed meats, TONS of veggies, and fruit. </div>
<div>
I am on this journey to get my hormones in balance after 15 years of suppressing them... 15 years of stopping a natural process from my body... So I decided I would start with my food... </div>
</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-73773320311106265062015-04-06T18:09:00.000-07:002015-04-06T18:09:57.898-07:00Weekend Wrap UpI hope everyone's Easter was filled with candy, relaxing, and family.<br />
This weekend was very low key! <br />
Friday night I went to the gym to do my Bikini Body Guide leg workout. It was KILLER! <br />
Saturday was so lazy. I woke up and had to go get my brows done. Then I came back home and pretty much did nothing for the rest of the day/night. <br />
I cooked Mexican burgers for dinner. Basically, a hamburger topped with homemade guacamole! Saturday was my last day of the Whole 30!<br />
Then we randomly played Monopoly and watched tv the rest of the night.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGMqyds093quX_5RHQu-k2ux9hs36CK6pnlacbsHeqAo2ndDzpI7fEb1xIEabYB-NzPtDmNULirVK70EHzaKDh9y_OzsZLN4TxsIVvNdfTn11WG9JpIleC6CORjtFIi6fXKnvLWMZeh8/s1600/IMG_4850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGMqyds093quX_5RHQu-k2ux9hs36CK6pnlacbsHeqAo2ndDzpI7fEb1xIEabYB-NzPtDmNULirVK70EHzaKDh9y_OzsZLN4TxsIVvNdfTn11WG9JpIleC6CORjtFIi6fXKnvLWMZeh8/s1600/IMG_4850.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Since Sunday was my first day off of the Whole30 I planned on introducing dairy back into my diet and keeping everything else as it was to see how it affected me over a couple of days. I cooked my eggs in butter, ate some cheese, and a little yogurt.<br />
Then husband and I went on a long bike ride. Afterwards he went to the store and returned with my absolute favorite candy of all time! Cadbury Cream Eggs. I decided to have a couple.<br />
It kinda ruined my plan to slowly reintroduce the foods that I've been avoiding. I did get a headache almost immediately after. I don't know if it was a coincidence or the sugar did it. Oh well...<br />
The rest of the day was spent relaxing, washing clothes and meal prepping. Here are a few things I made for the week:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PVX3RP34gNLMogTgGBs5Db2oZ4SNgV98sCyE7kGc3IDPl4RwkfMGYhDVZO_zVOOSqmOloogRumXR87475yqvQFhG8FWRzyflULP_NrHhyO3J1TN_BE37G6XHzUzE9y3YqEywJOv369w/s1600/IMG_4851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PVX3RP34gNLMogTgGBs5Db2oZ4SNgV98sCyE7kGc3IDPl4RwkfMGYhDVZO_zVOOSqmOloogRumXR87475yqvQFhG8FWRzyflULP_NrHhyO3J1TN_BE37G6XHzUzE9y3YqEywJOv369w/s1600/IMG_4851.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD23YkE213teGgLTweP7RBkEU9UOUxiSjMgG83ysXSvmyYwws4bwomNaV24qnsfh_wD-cHmKIS6srf4Tj6jI-wLhrvjZBjGYMw23Jr634k1asqzUFiBkBWViTyirjrhEIK-i-mCrDVTk0/s1600/IMG_4852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD23YkE213teGgLTweP7RBkEU9UOUxiSjMgG83ysXSvmyYwws4bwomNaV24qnsfh_wD-cHmKIS6srf4Tj6jI-wLhrvjZBjGYMw23Jr634k1asqzUFiBkBWViTyirjrhEIK-i-mCrDVTk0/s1600/IMG_4852.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghee">Ghee/ Clarified butter</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3al59fgOtAWepBfpCNi6Q0BreuTZ-qekf4JnI1mP8OAg3vUo9tJn__ICpI9Ofii1zv1oEZX4oMDf-CeEJJcuK-F85CeDgGqGB8ygNBjRUNf6Hu6sAK96dMB52rlO8tMdKAwVmqISq-w/s1600/IMG_4855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3al59fgOtAWepBfpCNi6Q0BreuTZ-qekf4JnI1mP8OAg3vUo9tJn__ICpI9Ofii1zv1oEZX4oMDf-CeEJJcuK-F85CeDgGqGB8ygNBjRUNf6Hu6sAK96dMB52rlO8tMdKAwVmqISq-w/s1600/IMG_4855.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh Almond Milk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr8_n3eaYvZpZTg_MmeMKTke4xTI9_4rcSpswVKme361Ux2PRZOKk0E4iRJzmeQpAY7DJ29W8S1VbUI8g3eC5cqYRPFvkze_ozkdwixeX7iv8Hqi5zN-ErtqYInG8KI0wXSmLgNZ32So/s1600/IMG_4856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdr8_n3eaYvZpZTg_MmeMKTke4xTI9_4rcSpswVKme361Ux2PRZOKk0E4iRJzmeQpAY7DJ29W8S1VbUI8g3eC5cqYRPFvkze_ozkdwixeX7iv8Hqi5zN-ErtqYInG8KI0wXSmLgNZ32So/s1600/IMG_4856.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paleo tortillas/wraps from <a href="http://againstallgrain.com/">Against All Grain'</a>s cookbook- Meals Made Simple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not pictured: Flank Steak in the crockpot and meatballs<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sunday night we ended with fish tacos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82lS_7elUKQA_mxyHD_pAeqivU0Gksqi3I1ixt8UnFNpYjWcAoQTnZVhLrpsT0MtgYdLUmgUO_mknmXhXxae_DEp3c3Bvr9y5oeDp_lU-bl13wn28TkA5Io-zVfvTP09zZeoLfbpPj7Y/s1600/IMG_4857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82lS_7elUKQA_mxyHD_pAeqivU0Gksqi3I1ixt8UnFNpYjWcAoQTnZVhLrpsT0MtgYdLUmgUO_mknmXhXxae_DEp3c3Bvr9y5oeDp_lU-bl13wn28TkA5Io-zVfvTP09zZeoLfbpPj7Y/s1600/IMG_4857.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Grilled cod, paleo wraps, avocado, lettuce, cilantro, and pineapple salsa<br />
<br />
I am absolutely loving making all of this stuff at home recently! My grocery bill has went up but because we are eating every meal at home we have been saving money on not eating out and drinking on the weekends! My next project I will start soon is homemade Kombucha!!! <br />
Do you meal prep for the week? What's your usual Sunday routine?<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-45667140465925311202015-04-04T09:58:00.000-07:002015-04-04T09:58:12.618-07:0030 Days of YogaHappy Saturday and Happy Easter EVE :)<br />
I decided that I want to make an active effort every day to be more gentle and loving with my body and mind. You see... I'm VERY VERY type A personality/perfectionist. I must do things the right way or no way. I tend to be VERY hard on myself about things. I think this is why dieting, rigid plans, being restrictive has always backfired with me.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://awesomeashild.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/love.jpg?w=640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://awesomeashild.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/love.jpg?w=640" height="320" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://awesomeashild.com/2014/02/14/on-this-day-of-love-remember-to-love-yourself-first/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I think someone would automatically think that by doing the <a href="http://whole30.com/">Whole30</a> that would trigger those obsessive and perfectionist feelings. I won't lie- it has a couple of times when I accidentally ate something that had some unapproved ingredients in it. But I learned from it (that I should do my research and prepare) and moved on. But to be honest I feel like it has done the opposite. I've learned that I need to eat more food every day and I have learned to NOURISH my body. I don't feel like I am being restrictive because I'm putting really good quality and nourishing foods in my body at every chance I get. <br />
<br />
Also, with the Bikini Body Guide- that is a strict workout plan. The schedule has 3 strength training days, 3 cardio days, and 1 stretch day. I'll be honest- I don't think I have stuck to that schedule one time and I am on week 7. I learned that because I'm doing quality effective workouts I don't feel like I need to be so hard on myself if I skip a day. And I've skipped a few days. I think I only skipped 1 or 2 strength days on the program. But I've skipped several cardio days. And I don't feel bad about it. Not at all. And guess what- I've still seen results that I am so happy with. <br />
<br />
When I got sick this week I took several days off and slept in... No guilt. This is all new to me. This is something I am working on and working at constantly. <br />
<br />
So that brings me to my newest challenge for myself- 30 days of yoga... Yoga is something I have always wanted to get into more. I used to go about once a week and I always really enjoyed it. Then I stopped that for quite a while and I miss it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://yogawithadriene.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/30days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://yogawithadriene.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/30days.jpg" height="184" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I got this idea from Yoga with Adriene's <a href="http://yogawithadriene.com/30days/">30 days of yoga series</a>. I am going to use her videos in addition to the local studio that I won the gift card to. After 2 years I am finally going to cash in the month of unlimited! I think this will go hand in hand with my new attitude to be more gentle and loving to myself. <br />
<br />
I want to go to the studio as much as I can and days that I cannot I will do one of her videos. This may be a little hard to do in addition to the BBG workouts. But I am going to find a way to make it work even if it is a 10-15 minute practice real quick at night or before work. <br />
<br />
I am starting today with her day 2 video because it sounded better for me- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB2ISQZ5Mb0">Stretch your body and soothe your soul</a>. I am super sore from my leg workout yesterday and I think I need this. My schedule is a little messed up from being sick this week and I would like to get in a cardio session or a strength session later today or tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Today is my final day of the Whole30 program and I couldn't be more pleased with myself! I will do a full review/wrap-up of that soon!<br />
<br />
Happy Easter!<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-27049879730668916302015-04-01T17:23:00.000-07:002015-04-01T17:23:13.703-07:00April GoalsI feel so much better today, almost completely back to normal. I just have low energy. But I think thetas totally normal considering I didn't have any solid food yesterday. <br />
I wanted to share my April goals with you guys today.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dAV5moKqof50DR7OFWhe4md7LbG9Ki4-kjLBJH8nQxxivrO4H9bM_Qvm-mMikSRRX8nnnzxg5tz_tIRx-r-YLYSLGHjaZF_3iqcyxEm31tm4VIH-YCquaPVVMihdiJJIf5_uH8UOoMM/s1600/IMG_4831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dAV5moKqof50DR7OFWhe4md7LbG9Ki4-kjLBJH8nQxxivrO4H9bM_Qvm-mMikSRRX8nnnzxg5tz_tIRx-r-YLYSLGHjaZF_3iqcyxEm31tm4VIH-YCquaPVVMihdiJJIf5_uH8UOoMM/s1600/IMG_4831.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love to utilize the space in my <a href="http://www.inkwellpress.com/">Inkwell Press</a> planner to jot down ideas or very general goals for the month. Its called a personal mission board. I love that!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's a few goals of mine for the month!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*I want to start yoga again. I won a month of unlimited at a local hot yoga studio that I LOVE 2 years ago and I have never cashed in that free gift. I always find an excuse to not use it. I would love to do that this month. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Spa night/ face masks at least once a week</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Stick to budget</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Plan date nights</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Sign up for the 2015 Tone It Up retreat!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Blog during the week</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Keep going strong with the <a href="https://www.kaylaitsines.com.au/guides/">Bikini Body Guide</a>. I'm on week 7 and I absolutely love it! I will do a full review when I am done with the 12 weeks</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Workout 5 days a week</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Continue eating Paleo</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Continue eating at home. minimum @ restaurants</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
*Do a few home improvements/ updates that we have put off for 2 years!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What are your goals for the month? I love reading other peoples' goals!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-23429886423394791492015-03-31T17:42:00.001-07:002015-03-31T17:42:51.238-07:00The Cost of Being UnpreparedSo yesterday I shared with you my food diary. You can see that I had the most random dinner. I was starving when I got home. I didn't have anything thawed out. I threw a random dinner together of leftover fish and leftover sautéed cabbage. <br />
I didn't realize at the time that the fish had been in my fridge since Friday. It was not frozen when I got it. After writing the post within about 30 minutes of eating I stared feeling terrible. I could not pick my head up off the couch. I was sweating and my stomach had swollen up like a balloon. I had to curl up in a ball on my bed and I could barely move. Throughout the night I was so bloated and had severe stomach cramps and nausea. I did not sleep. I laid on the bathroom floor for hours. <br />
I had to get up and go to work because I had a meeting that involved several people, and I couldn't cancel it. My temperature was high this morning before I even got out of bed. The commute felt unbearable. I finally started to feel better around 2pm or so. I did some research and I'm thinking I had food poisoning. Specifically, scombroid food poisoning, caused from fish. It can even be from cooked fish. My symptoms matched up perfectly:<br />
<div style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
Symptoms are described below. They occur within 10–30 minutes of ingesting the fish and generally are self-limited. People with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthma" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Asthma">asthma</a> are more vulnerable to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronchoconstriction" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Bronchoconstriction">respiratory problems</a> such as <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheezing" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Wheezing">wheezing</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronchospasm" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Bronchospasm">bronchospasms</a>. However, symptoms may show over two hours after consumption of a spoiled dish. They usually last for about 10 to 14 hours, and rarely exceed one to two days.</div>
<h3 style="background-image: none; border-bottom-style: none; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="mw-headline" id="Initial">Initial</span><span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select: none; display: inline-block; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-left: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color: #555555; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">[</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scombroid_food_poisoning&action=edit&section=3" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Edit section: Initial">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color: #555555; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;">]</span></span></h3>
<div style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em;">
The first signs of poisoning suggest an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergy" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Allergy">allergic reaction</a> with the following symptoms:</div>
<ul style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; list-style-image: url(data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20version%3D%221.1%22%20width%3D%225%22%20height%3D%2213%22%3E%0A%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%222.5%22%20cy%3D%229.5%22%20r%3D%222.5%22%20fill%3D%22%2300528c%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">facial flushing/sweating</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">burning-peppery taste sensations in the mouth and throat</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">dizziness</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">nausea</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">headache</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachycardia" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Tachycardia">tachycardia</a></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">cold-like symptoms</li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I don't know what else could've caused it the way I felt last night. It was terrible. Even today I have only had a banana and a green smoothie with avocado. But I feel like I've been eating nonstop for weeks. My stomach is so swollen and in so much pain. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">So... not so fun night last night or today. I'm just relaxing this afternoon and I can't wait to feel better. I will definitely be more careful about how long I keep things in the fridge. I probably push the envelope way too much with it! </span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-89617774107329288822015-03-30T17:58:00.001-07:002015-03-30T17:58:46.899-07:00What I Eat In a DayI'm back! I can't believe its been almost a year since I've blogged! Where has the time gone?<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I decided to start with this post because its one of my favorites to read on others' blogs and watch on YouTube. It gives me some ideas and I just enjoy reading about it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I should preface this by stating that I have been doing the Whole30 for the past 23 days. If you're unfamiliar with the Whole30 I encourage you to read about it <a href="http://whole30.com/">here</a>. I'm sure most of you have hard of pale before. Basically, no grains, sugar, dairy, gluten, refined anything, soy, or anything processed or from a package except a few random things. Everything all natural! I've mostly been eating meat, fish, veggies, eggs, and fruit. If you're interested in completing one I recommend the book- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Starts-Food-Discover-Whole30-Unexpected-ebook/dp/B008C20TDG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427762302&sr=1-1&keywords=it+starts+with+food">It Starts With Food.</a> I've really enjoyed this way of eating. But it has really taken a lot of the enjoyment out of my meals. I've just been eating to nourish my body rather than eating for entertainment. I haven't eaten in a restaurant in several weeks other than the occasional Chipotle lunch in a pinch. I plan on doing a full post on the Whole30 and my experience once it is over this weekend.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So on to what my typical day looks like in food!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Breakfast: </div>
<div>
-2 fried eggs with fresh eggs from the farmers market cooked in ghee</div>
<div>
-A side of green beans- so random- but I try to eat veggies at each meal. Usually for breakfast I just have whatever veggies are left from the night before</div>
<div>
-an orange</div>
<div>
-a glass of ginger kombucha</div>
<div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRlnAvOT_ycL4ea0XqdzjuRDPmhk-nja_Zy67PslpK7sWkUZ1WDNYcm-bwS_7e5BqGaibhH_4LGZEBcOLhWB80Za8yVOU59OEmkiZbmwwkkRlgzOGHjKPOmZvQk9qR3MuysTUw9hV8sk/s1600/P1010374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRlnAvOT_ycL4ea0XqdzjuRDPmhk-nja_Zy67PslpK7sWkUZ1WDNYcm-bwS_7e5BqGaibhH_4LGZEBcOLhWB80Za8yVOU59OEmkiZbmwwkkRlgzOGHjKPOmZvQk9qR3MuysTUw9hV8sk/s1600/P1010374.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I drink a ton of water all day. When I get to work I have either hot tea or coffee with coconut milk or homemade almond milk (tutorial coming).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLQFQo_jr3WQOfAH_xW0ed2GnIoPnQL5cf81VF93IQfdqYhaeNCbMHYZffMvHbBj38bylQCRUw11NQypoxI7BCVRn3jmX2mpmKExzQwIyP63_1Gwq7aDkqcndoBv3DP_zSxx-yQQYDms/s1600/IMG_4811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLQFQo_jr3WQOfAH_xW0ed2GnIoPnQL5cf81VF93IQfdqYhaeNCbMHYZffMvHbBj38bylQCRUw11NQypoxI7BCVRn3jmX2mpmKExzQwIyP63_1Gwq7aDkqcndoBv3DP_zSxx-yQQYDms/s1600/IMG_4811.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
-Around 10am I have one of my herbal supplement drinks: <a href="https://www.sollenaturals.com/vital.php?sponsor=&name=">Solle Vital</a> I will do a post on all of my herbal supplements soon<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0MARR8f_kwRkqFZCzkEeGcxEo-Le94AWekBlQPOwIdaunkqOeVB2iDiarufBULQxrJgXvsb10J1vUg6XXfR4oUl7zcuvagIVCPUT2fWV75APOi2v6R44PpT3NeWgHS3lGsF5BLz5eAc/s1600/IMG_4812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0MARR8f_kwRkqFZCzkEeGcxEo-Le94AWekBlQPOwIdaunkqOeVB2iDiarufBULQxrJgXvsb10J1vUg6XXfR4oUl7zcuvagIVCPUT2fWV75APOi2v6R44PpT3NeWgHS3lGsF5BLz5eAc/s1600/IMG_4812.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Lunch: forgot to snap a pic until almost done!<br />
-salad with leftover chicken, avocado, strawberries, dill, and a boiled egg<br />
-baked sweet potato with ghee<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj075wHWIU_u5YOxrtevGXfOHe_aGbr_NWH7UzyCC2J-noQcAivEuxlFDfMxrWzSYD3IWp_0nmklhiKkr6OftvuR7YdqNuVvD0iM2gPgranAIGZAG68GFwSM6aNGFxinJdA5rvKbw3GLgk/s1600/IMG_4813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj075wHWIU_u5YOxrtevGXfOHe_aGbr_NWH7UzyCC2J-noQcAivEuxlFDfMxrWzSYD3IWp_0nmklhiKkr6OftvuR7YdqNuVvD0iM2gPgranAIGZAG68GFwSM6aNGFxinJdA5rvKbw3GLgk/s1600/IMG_4813.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had to run to Home Goods at lunch to return something and I found these snacks. I love stuff like this. I ended up eating this whole bag. Both have only fruit as the ingredients. No added sugar!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoVxXVXtd5t08kHf7fl61DCISvWTNXUjSeN-SAu2Ztt1Ca3YaTXREfJoDM00tj_08qRd12u-TzeUhIfik8RJMybURmRPi4KBG1jP0wMXhtSONXuS4q0ZYKpcDhbwk83wP1LzNH4C9Xl0/s1600/IMG_4816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHoVxXVXtd5t08kHf7fl61DCISvWTNXUjSeN-SAu2Ztt1Ca3YaTXREfJoDM00tj_08qRd12u-TzeUhIfik8RJMybURmRPi4KBG1jP0wMXhtSONXuS4q0ZYKpcDhbwk83wP1LzNH4C9Xl0/s1600/IMG_4816.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo9fhLmnfT6mqkGYlR-myFhaiAGuIoX9fWlJ1tGG2y8dRVbbZxl4H_RLBB9MbGLD-ZfrVriJHTXpoU3QZjgkBth3PWoZoAaWO5xxr3eKVoq_ptvhCdIEMQAPs_wR3gdreD6m7jfdmJLk/s1600/IMG_4817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo9fhLmnfT6mqkGYlR-myFhaiAGuIoX9fWlJ1tGG2y8dRVbbZxl4H_RLBB9MbGLD-ZfrVriJHTXpoU3QZjgkBth3PWoZoAaWO5xxr3eKVoq_ptvhCdIEMQAPs_wR3gdreD6m7jfdmJLk/s1600/IMG_4817.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
And 2 pieces of this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokj0nelPrNxRo-3kDJwKkGXCLeoobqe-P0i-kfa3kIMbEmzDrHcHQq8_EJZjZ3WTpL_pW6Xq8MIhrJ-FkhapSrx93tD8wpgJsN6a99CyHXwDBIbArq5TBTvQh5MHZDYzMvVScZfOIr9U/s1600/IMG_4818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokj0nelPrNxRo-3kDJwKkGXCLeoobqe-P0i-kfa3kIMbEmzDrHcHQq8_EJZjZ3WTpL_pW6Xq8MIhrJ-FkhapSrx93tD8wpgJsN6a99CyHXwDBIbArq5TBTvQh5MHZDYzMvVScZfOIr9U/s1600/IMG_4818.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLZekNew-ATNahh0FVTfQvu1kIewH50ktToNtw-PTJZP1ge6Te5qlz-d4l4I3QgxXi1CZyz_8qYcn9xWfnXZEz-TgwNX63qnIYO1eqgMJ-7PirOiOhXGWQt9dOGcMSFgiNFa48X1XQ0U/s1600/IMG_4819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLZekNew-ATNahh0FVTfQvu1kIewH50ktToNtw-PTJZP1ge6Te5qlz-d4l4I3QgxXi1CZyz_8qYcn9xWfnXZEz-TgwNX63qnIYO1eqgMJ-7PirOiOhXGWQt9dOGcMSFgiNFa48X1XQ0U/s1600/IMG_4819.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
Around 2:00 I got hungry and had this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWy6RNJgWqhBfT106P4qLjpe_3OTUMb7p3E87KYKYERQ58dmHAG3wHLXVBlJ_WPXKuFehXCVLylGb-OSOiuGzx7LMl_pgXGVvThfWjPV0hQzB8ShNvrLSF5Cxa-SA9NJzkI5lE08MpZ8/s1600/IMG_4820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWy6RNJgWqhBfT106P4qLjpe_3OTUMb7p3E87KYKYERQ58dmHAG3wHLXVBlJ_WPXKuFehXCVLylGb-OSOiuGzx7LMl_pgXGVvThfWjPV0hQzB8ShNvrLSF5Cxa-SA9NJzkI5lE08MpZ8/s1600/IMG_4820.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I got home around 5 I was starving! I randomly ate a boiled egg and drank some water to hold me over. Then dinner was not my favorite. I actually ended up throwing half of it way because it just wasn't good.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dinner:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-Tuna steak marinated in coconut aminos, ginger, cilantro, and green onion</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- sautéed cabbage and sweet potatoes</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcspzg7Xz32iqlAFlc9es163kEpxJWc8UNSVrj8vvGdIgUIrc4eaGQ1id4XkXMH8Ubf8TJCS-bNlJrqQwl0h74woqMrM75lHz7I0x7UgZ8I-RBYsobhjgqXJlo-iTsCQVB82R95jJyxg/s1600/P1010378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcspzg7Xz32iqlAFlc9es163kEpxJWc8UNSVrj8vvGdIgUIrc4eaGQ1id4XkXMH8Ubf8TJCS-bNlJrqQwl0h74woqMrM75lHz7I0x7UgZ8I-RBYsobhjgqXJlo-iTsCQVB82R95jJyxg/s1600/P1010378.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then after dinner I had a big spoonful of Sun Butter. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzZ49hDLKgToU_RecOWlHK8Jhl-YcGI8xOdS-aJzwOmYq2Co6MeeuV_oA7TZglmE4vWNiBcCNpvDhsZkMwQm0ApPUpO3MNrzxhfkATVAUPEze4if6-8Xp6A75GMOFW00Z_UlkRyC7Jnc/s1600/P1010383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzZ49hDLKgToU_RecOWlHK8Jhl-YcGI8xOdS-aJzwOmYq2Co6MeeuV_oA7TZglmE4vWNiBcCNpvDhsZkMwQm0ApPUpO3MNrzxhfkATVAUPEze4if6-8Xp6A75GMOFW00Z_UlkRyC7Jnc/s1600/P1010383.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Not the most glorious or exciting meals but this is what a typical day looks like these days! Each meal I try to include protein, fat, and carb. Nothing fancy. On the weekends I will cook more elaborate meals that my husband and I can enjoy together. But for now- this works. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hope you enjoyed a little sneak into my day:)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-55850439508220430642014-06-04T08:38:00.000-07:002014-06-04T08:38:19.531-07:00EmbraceI came across this website for a documentary while reading <a href="http://cleananddelicious.com/2014/05/30/embrace-the-documentary-that-will-create-global-change/">this post</a> on CleanandDelicious.com. I read her post and then immediately went over to the website to watch the video. It hit home.<br />
<br />
I struggle with confidence and self esteem. I guess digging REALLY deep I can say that I always have. In high school and unfortunately as young as junior high I turned to drugs for a sense of belonging in a group of people and to make me fun or fit in... Luckily I got out of that crowd of people by my senior year of high school and before it ever became a real problem. <br />
<br />
And then I think a lot of people get hit with the shock that who you were in high school doesn't matter in the real world anyway. That sense of belonging I had in my tiny town didn't matter when I graduated and moved away. <br />
<br />
Then after high school I put on weight. At the time I thought it was the worst thing! But now looking back- I think it was just me growing into my body. I finally started to get hips and a butt. Now those are things I try to embrace. Back then, I didn't love it. <br />
<br />
Then of course started the ridiculous dieting cycle that I think most women go through. The ups and downs and calorie restricting then putting the weight back on when I realized I can't maintain that forever. I am just now realizing and accepting these patterns. <br />
<br />
I have a huge problem with comparison. I always have. If only I could have her hair or her thighs. That's what usually ends up bringing me down. I think I mentioned before that I unfollowed a ton of people on Instagram recently because of this problem. <br />
<br />
All of this is huge for me. I have never admitted any of this out loud or even to myself until recently. So I am working on it. I am working on accepting me. I am working on not turning to other people for my acceptance. I am working on loving my body the way it is and working hard to become strong healthy and not just skinny. <br />
<br />
I love the concept of this documentary and I think its something that women need to watch. I hope they make it. Its something we all need to see!!! <br />
<br />
You can watch the video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsfs5POp0aQ">here</a>.<br />
You can contribute to the campaign <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/embrace/embrace-the-documentary-that-will-create-global-ch">here</a><br />
<br />
<br />
XO,<br />
Heather<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-46502223716577464572014-05-31T08:47:00.001-07:002014-05-31T08:47:53.962-07:00Intuitive Eating: My ThoughtsNow that you have a little <a href="http://mydiaryofasimplelife.blogspot.com/2014/05/intuitive-eating-backstory.html">backstory</a> about what brought me to this book I want to talk about the book.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://simpledelights.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/intuitive-eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://simpledelights.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/intuitive-eating.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are the basic principles of the book:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.livehalffullblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/intuitive_eating-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.livehalffullblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/intuitive_eating-23.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.livehalffullblog.com/2013/03/22/bagel-friday/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The most informative section for me was the "reject the diet mentality" section. It basically says the reason diets do not work is because we tell ourselves foods are good and bad. We eat the good foods and stay away from the bad. Then when the temptation gets too great we give into the "bad foods." This causes us to feel bad about ourselves, like we are failures, which then causes us to binge. The binge usually leads to more "bad" eating. Then on Monday we vow to do better.</div>
<div>
<br />
It also talks about the last supper mentality. I know I've been guilty of this. Sundays we stuff our face with everything because we are starting a new diet Monday. <br />
<br />
It basically says to put weightloss on the back burner. Your goal for eating this way should not be to lose weight. It may happen. But it may not. You should fall into your natural weight. Your natural weight is what you maintain without trying. </div>
<div>
<br />
Another one of my favorite principles is "Exercise- feel the difference." I like this because it says to find something you enjoy doing and do it. Don't use exercise as a form of punishment. Don't use exercise to burn X amount of calories because you were "bad" during the day. I am VERY guilty of this. I have 2 heart rate monitors and a fitbit. I had been wearing one or the other or both all the time. I wanted to see how many calories I burned to compare that to my eating in My Fitness Pal. This is not the right way to look at exercise. <br />
<br />
About two weeks ago when I started to try to change my thinking I decided to give those devices a rest. I decided not to use them for a while. I also decided instead of following a schedule for my workouts every day I would do what I wanted that day. If I want to rest I will. If I want to run instead of lift I will switch my days. If I want to do yoga I will. I am trying to change my thoughts about exercise. I used to enjoy running. I did it almost every day because it was fun for me. Exercise stopped being fun when it became about burning calories. I want it to be fun again. For the past 2 weeks I have listened to my body every day to see what I wanted to do for movement that day. This has felt so much better than telling myself well its back/bicep day so you better suck it up and do it whether you feel like it or not...<br />
<br />
There is also a section on raising an intuitive eating child/ teenager. I skipped that part. <br />
<br />
The books has way more to offer. These are just some of the chapters that stood out to me.<br />
<br />
I think this book is great tool to start to see food, nutrition, and health from a different perspective. Its the opposite of what we read every day in magazine, see on Instagram and social media, etc... I have been trying to follow these principles daily, and I can say- I feel so much more free. I haven't beat myself up about my eating habits since starting this. I have overeaten a couple of times. That is because at the time I let myself get too hungry before I ate again. I would highly recommend it to anyone because it is just refreshing to see it all from a different view. <br />
<br />
You can buy it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Intuitive-Eating-Revolutionary-Program-Works/dp/0312321236">here</a> on Amazon. Let me know if you read this book or have read it before and what you think!!<br />
<br />
XO<br />
Heather<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
I also wanted to include this AWESOME <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=2888683457&group=4385111&frame_type=b&blog=4385111&frame=1&click=0&user=0">blogpost</a> that I read yesterday about why this blogger stopped counting calories. I honestly felt like I could've written it myself. : </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-57308690773708508762014-05-29T10:11:00.000-07:002014-05-29T10:11:15.687-07:00Intuitive Eating: The Backstory<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://simpledelights.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/intuitive-eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://simpledelights.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/intuitive-eating.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://simpledelights.co/tag/intuitive-eating/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I figure I should start with the backstory of what brought me to this book. I picked up this book last week on my way home from work after stalking <a href="http://www.healthyhitsthespot.com/">Paige's blog</a>, facebook, and instagram for suggestions on learning how to eat... I have been in a bit of a funk lately. I feel like I have been on some type of diet for the past 2 years or so when I know I don't need to be. At the time I did have some weight to lose and wasn't happy with my body. I wasn't healthy. I ate a lot of junk food and randomly did some kind of "work out" every once in a while. That's when I found Tone It Up and running. I lost the weight and I enjoyed it all at the time. But it sort of started a vicious cycle for me that I haven't quite learned how to recover from. <br />
<br />
But I honestly don't know how to eat. This is a big thing for me to admit b/c I feel like amongst my friends and co-workers and family I am the go-to person for advice on healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. See, on the outside it may look like I have my shit together. I really don't. I mean, who does?!<br />
<br />
My weight has fluctuated so much (according to the scale) for the past couple of years. The crazy thing is that 1 year ago today I actually weighed 10 lbs more than right now but I wear the same size. Its because I started lifting weights in November. So I know its MOSTLY muscle gain and some fat. I let that scale # dictate my feelings about myself. I know better. I don't know why I let it bother me. Then it causes me to think I need to diet. When in all reality I don't need to diet. I need to learn how to eat.- how to eat to fuel my body and maintain my weight. I have no clue how to do that. <br />
<br />
A few weeks ago this would be a typical day/ week for me:<br />
Monday-Friday I would meal plan and bring my food to work every day. Never eating out with co-workers or deviating from the plan. I would eat at 7, 10, 12, 2, 5, and 7... Every day... Those exact times. Regardless of whether I was hungry or starving I would eat at those times. Because someone told me this is the way to eat. Then if something unusual happened- like someone brought donuts- I would have 1, then another, then another... (True Story- this happened a few weeks ago). I think its because I would tell myself "You can't have the donut. It is bad for you. It is processed. You are going to Mexico in a month." But then after about 2 hours of telling myself that I would give in. Then after having one I would get the f*ck it mentality b/c I already screwed up. So I would eat until I felt sick. <br />
The weekends were a different story. Because I was "good" all week I would splurge on the weekends. Except I would splurge at every single meal. We will eat out every meal Friday afternoon- Sunday night. Add in some drinking with friends and I screwed up everything I did during the week. So because I felt so bad about myself Sunday night I would vow to do better Monday and the cycle would start again. I am positive I am not alone in this.<br />
<br />
I had a realization a couple of weeks ago. I honestly don't even remember how it came about. Maybe I looked at a picture of myself or something. But at that moment I said to myself, "You look great. WTF is wrong with you? You don't need to diet. You need to learn how to eat." So that is what I am on a quest to do... Learn how to properly eat and accept/love my body.<br />
<br />
I went through and unfollowed a ton of people on Instagram. I had to stop looking at everyone's pics of their abs in the morning. I don't want to be a bikini competitor therefore I don't need to look to those people for inspiration or advice. Its not practical. <br />
<br />
Tone It Up was great in helping me initially lose the weight. But now I need to learn how I can eat for the rest of my life. Something that is easily sustainable. Something that will make life easier and bring me joy and not stress.<br />
<br />
So that is where I am right now. Learning to listen to my body. Stop dieting. Stop restricting. Learning to love to exercise again instead of doing it for calories burned. Learning to love myself. Learning to love my body. Its a struggle. Just yesterday I found myself looking at old pictures of myself thinking I needed to go on a diet before our trip to Mexico in 4 weeks b/c the scale says I'm 10lbs heavier than last year. <br />
<br />
Next I'm going to do a book review/ overview of some of my thoughts on the book! <br />
<br />
Have you ever tried Intuitive Eating? Do you diet all the time? Are you going through something similar?<br />
<br />
XO,<br />
Heather<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-81688081819456091952014-05-27T06:53:00.000-07:002014-05-27T06:53:25.753-07:00A JournalThis is probably at least the 3rd time I have stopped blogging for a long period of time and restarted. I think it is because I don't know where I want to go with it. I need to stop trying to have a focus or a destination and just let it be. I think that is something I struggle with in all aspects of my life.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So what inspired me to get started again this time? Last night I had a realization- I don't feel balanced. I am very successful at my job. I have a successful position in my company. I have amazing friends. I am healthy and physically fit. I am happy most of the time. I have a great family. Some things I feel like I don't have or can't find is creativity and fulfillment.... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Maybe I am looking at this all wrong. I guess the term creativity is sort of relative. I guess creativity can show up in many different forms. I love the idea of doing creative things and making things. I'm just not really good at it. And that is where I struggle. I'm not a good writer. I definitely can't sing, or draw, or really make stuff. I'm not very crafty. I feel like I am lacking creativity altogether... Not just an outlet but the creative gene or something.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As far as fulfillment goes- I want to help people. I want to find my purpose. I have felt like it usually had something to do with helping people lose weight or get fit. {But honestly- I think that has caused more harm than good in my life. More on that in another post.} I don't know how to find my purpose.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
Last night I googled "How to channel creative energy." It brought me to a few articles about balancing your chakras. This is something I never really looked into. But now I'm extremely intrigued. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.colourharmonie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/7-chakras-in-the-body-symbols-and-meaning-1024x810-meditationgongs.net_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.colourharmonie.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/7-chakras-in-the-body-symbols-and-meaning-1024x810-meditationgongs.net_.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.colourharmonie.com/how-is-colour-linked-to-your-chakras-and-more/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
</div>
<div>
I'm thinking I need to focus on balancing the 2nd Chakra. Hell I probably need to balance all of them. For now this is what I am focusing on. <a href="http://www.chakramid.com/second_chakra.html">I found this info</a>:</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2nd chakra:</div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C7" style="color: #9bb91d; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Balanced: Vibrant physical and emotional health, feeling of well being, laugh easily and often, healthy sexual and creative outlets</span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C7" style="color: #9bb91d; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #9bb91d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Unbalanced: Emotionally instable or numb, fear of change, sexual dysfunction, depression, anorexia, alcohol or drug abuse</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #9251b5; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em; text-align: left;">Stepping up to the 2nd Chakra, it’s time to move out of the survival mode of the 1st Chakra’s focus on your basic physical needs and start having fun feeling sensual and sexy, and engaging your creative self. The 2nd Chakra attends to your desire for interpersonal relationships and invites others into your life to share your passions, sexuality, and creativity.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;">The 2nd Chakra level primarily focuses on emotional and sexual energies. Balanced emotions promote a sense of self-worth that allows one to accept all the good, including abundance and prosperity, into his or her life. And balanced sexual energy generates romance and healthy sexual relationships. The craving to create something physical, outside of oneself, develops at this level, and drawing, painting, writing, and music are excellent outlets for this desire.</span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;">A balanced 2nd Chakra leads to feelings of wellness, plenty, pleasure, and joy. You can see this exemplified by those who are fully connected and attuned to their physical and emotional centers. They are comfortable with their bodies and their emotions. Sexual and non-sexual relationships are healthy, and they are based on trust and mutual respect. There is a passion for life that is expressed in everything they do.</span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;">Imbalances in the 2nd Chakra are characterized by “living in your head,” being out of touch with what your body is telling you, and denying yourself pleasure. Anorexia, bulimia, drug and alcohol abuse, and other addictions are attempts to nurture oneself in this kind of emotionally disconnected or detached state. Sexual dysfunctions are also directly related to imbalances in the 2nd Chakra.</span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;">An overactive 2nd Chakra can result in lustful, arrogant, or conceited behavior, and an aggressive desire to control others; whereas an underdeveloped 2nd Chakra can manifest as distrust, resentment, fear, apathy, pessimism, and anti-social conduct. It can also show up as continually worrying about what others think and always following the crowd.</span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div class="Wp-Normal-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; text-align: left;">
<span class="Normal-C-C6" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;"><br style="filter: inherit;" /></span></div>
<div class="Wp-Body-P" style="background-color: white; filter: inherit; margin-bottom: 12px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Body-C" style="color: #9251b5; filter: inherit; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.18em;">The 2nd Chakra is a very important building block in the Chakramid structure. As such, it is perfectly positioned and proportioned right above the root Chakra, which is the foundation or base of the Chakramid. Emotional awareness and connectedness will become more and more important as you ascend up the Chakramid, because emotions are the magnifying glass through which you will examine, study, evaluate (and ultimately communicate with) all of your Chakras.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So I am hoping this blog will help me let out some of that energy I feel like is built up. I have no focus for the blog. Maybe people will read it. Maybe not. I just need a place to be me. I need a bigger sense of fulfillment. Maybe this will give it to me. Maybe not. Maybe it will be a place that inspires me to do something else that will give me a sense of fulfillment in my life. The title is "Diary of a Simple Life." So that's what this will be- a diary... a journal of some sort... </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
XO</div>
<div>
Heather</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-48785142550488098952014-03-12T14:26:00.000-07:002014-03-12T14:26:08.177-07:0021 Day Fix Results and Final Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well I did it!! I finished the <a href="https://extranet.securefreedom.com/MillionDollarBody/csShopping/ShoppingCart_Detail.asp?PriceID=594512&Cat=Challenge%20Packs|ALL">21 Day Fix</a> & was very pleased with my results. Here were my final stats:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Starting 2/17:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Weight 134</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Body fat: 20.7%</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
waist 25"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hips 36"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Left thigh 21"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Right thigh 22"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3/10</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Weight: 125.2</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Body fat: 19.5%</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wait 24.5"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hips 35.5"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Left Thigh 21"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Right 21.3"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm really not good with measuring. I feel like I didn't measure in the same spots for my legs... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am extremely happy with my after pics. I didn't have a lot to lose and my biggest goal was to get my body fat under 20% and I did that. I accomplished my goal! I am blown away. Everyone in my test group had crazy results. Some lost as much as 15 pounds. Some lost no pounds but a ton of inches and gained so much energy. There are so many different ways to measure your success. I look at pictures and my body fat to measure my success. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Final thoughts on the program:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-I didn't love the workouts enough to continue them after the program. They were good- don't get me wrong. Simple classic workout moves that are effective. I just like going to the gym, running or doing T25 more. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- The best part of this program is the meal system. It opened my eyes to my eating habits and how my body responds to different foods. I honestly felt so disappointed for so long b/c I felt like I was doing all that I could with my eating to see results. I was lying to myself. I definitely wasn't. I was eating the right foods MOST of the time. But the wrong portions and too much of one thing and not enough of the other.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- I ended with the 3 Day Quick Fix. It is a SIMPLE BASIC 3 day program Autumn uses to get ready for a bikini competition. No fruit, no dairy, VERY few carbs, lots of protein and veggies. I learned my body responds really well to that. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
- The program is not gimmicky. It is basic workout moves and basic fundamental nutrition. I am actually following the program still to maintain my weight. It takes the guesswork out of everything for me. Its just easier. It can also work with any dietary needs. I am using this with my knowledge from the Tone It Up Plan together.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-The knowledge I gained from this program was worth so much more than what I spent on it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are some before and after pics. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd1wasrVq_RxsxVcOjYbeCisnxzzwGCYBY22aDK3qejYtSMI6GefNs3JLTD57J1D6boDZX7_XLuPSCn_O2EdsdvezeFcx2ZkLU_13EC3TH6xF5gT9VtEf8sg1yaeCQJ5wLllbz7s4hNU/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd1wasrVq_RxsxVcOjYbeCisnxzzwGCYBY22aDK3qejYtSMI6GefNs3JLTD57J1D6boDZX7_XLuPSCn_O2EdsdvezeFcx2ZkLU_13EC3TH6xF5gT9VtEf8sg1yaeCQJ5wLllbz7s4hNU/s1600/Image.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMIlw3bYguJHr9Jnqfs7UfjBtWYbqZ1PPjfZU-jWKjDX4ot_XAphmrkd3CcUr2xlXpWIlj5BhdsSuosoaTQLQEC6t0ly_nGwojwEkGdq7tAXV711pdxvJebI3mW0HC2WtlMjbTAAKEu0/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMIlw3bYguJHr9Jnqfs7UfjBtWYbqZ1PPjfZU-jWKjDX4ot_XAphmrkd3CcUr2xlXpWIlj5BhdsSuosoaTQLQEC6t0ly_nGwojwEkGdq7tAXV711pdxvJebI3mW0HC2WtlMjbTAAKEu0/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvy_VfD9iE0mDFo4XHdv1zFWrPMvm0FoY21O2nwR_NV0DNuxOmDX6u-QKistrEn_-w7q8xLp1EjEETot-JrQr5q7bzRUR3gTuHoL20vYQTYaBqtDVIXpnYfUySSamYZTxScVeGWMmWMo/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvy_VfD9iE0mDFo4XHdv1zFWrPMvm0FoY21O2nwR_NV0DNuxOmDX6u-QKistrEn_-w7q8xLp1EjEETot-JrQr5q7bzRUR3gTuHoL20vYQTYaBqtDVIXpnYfUySSamYZTxScVeGWMmWMo/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZb1zaBQLIqdW0VV8Y2MTPsUw_rLMMKH6hvk50yBZYIJBkQfKVmiX_IC9WZ3xDxu6nW-X6LsL3kYYhiNFAK_nDxSIrCJS3URAfSHyMN7s_a-HKbtq2m5n0o3UnYGmV6q4eMYc0DE4cZQ/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZb1zaBQLIqdW0VV8Y2MTPsUw_rLMMKH6hvk50yBZYIJBkQfKVmiX_IC9WZ3xDxu6nW-X6LsL3kYYhiNFAK_nDxSIrCJS3URAfSHyMN7s_a-HKbtq2m5n0o3UnYGmV6q4eMYc0DE4cZQ/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc-GsLl97R40GD2oNBw3RVCAju5Ed7QKqK3SZzCgjYiGE2vAzEExtJU_Gky9mg3VqdNGalZIzm7KA2FdnWvtTNXAhlNkl8zZBjVV_8tPoIPttXm-0nWNd_lpXaEsAAFwymZ-3sKBWCf4/s640/blogger-image--1808987148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc-GsLl97R40GD2oNBw3RVCAju5Ed7QKqK3SZzCgjYiGE2vAzEExtJU_Gky9mg3VqdNGalZIzm7KA2FdnWvtTNXAhlNkl8zZBjVV_8tPoIPttXm-0nWNd_lpXaEsAAFwymZ-3sKBWCf4/s640/blogger-image--1808987148.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The program has actually sold out twice now because it's just such a great program for the price. Beach body really never disappoints. But this program is extra special because it focuses so much on nutrition.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I would love to help you reach your goals and get bikini ready! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Xo, </div>
<div>
Heather</div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-62331619651945285702014-03-05T12:25:00.001-08:002014-03-05T12:25:37.725-08:0021 Day Fix Week 2 ReviewSorry for the lack of posts! Things have been crazy busy at work lately. Then when I get home I've been doing double workouts and I haven't had a ton of free time to blog!<br />
<br />
I wanted to give a review of my week 2 on the 21 Day Fix. <br />
<br />
Week 2 was definitely easier that week 1. I feel like my body is adjusting a little more to the smaller portions. I didn't have to go out to eat any. So that helped. Even though you totally can eat out (there is a restaurant guide). I just prefer not to. I really like to know what is in my food. Its hard to tell that when you go out. <br />
<br />
All week I pretty much ate the same things. Shakeology for breakfast, greek yogurt and fruit for snack, salad with some kind of protein and quinoa or a turkey sandwich on Ezekial pita, hummus with a pita (if not for lunch) and then a lean protein and veggie for dinner. <br />
<br />
This weekend posed a whole new threat for me- Mardi Gras... My husband actually loves it way more than I do. I tend to get stressed out with all the crowds around. But he invited his sister, brother in law, and 2 kids down to go to the Endymion parade on Saturday. So I knew I had to go. My biggest problem was going to be what the hell to bring to eat?! And of course... not drinking... lol...<br />
<br />
We actually went out to the parade route Friday night and set out our stuff to secure a good spot. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeV2JKofuo4Rs4a05tKP1wkkkyo_XpgXXmmINdYZojjvYs_Ckkt4apXOa9KSYSXxa-t1rR81psyxT8_Ctcm1bpVIkRz1FXHq1gJxA4bwY0O1pud0h_03iwzI7w6L0YbG3nRgynrK5RbI/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeV2JKofuo4Rs4a05tKP1wkkkyo_XpgXXmmINdYZojjvYs_Ckkt4apXOa9KSYSXxa-t1rR81psyxT8_Ctcm1bpVIkRz1FXHq1gJxA4bwY0O1pud0h_03iwzI7w6L0YbG3nRgynrK5RbI/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Then Saturday morning my husband went back to check on everything. I had breakfast of eggs, oatmeal, and fruit for breakfast first. <br />
While he did that I got in a Dirty 30 Workout from the 21 day fix. I was so proud of myself. I reasoned with myself for a good hour about why I didn't have to do it. I was going to be walking a lot, I had not missed a work out yet, I deserved it, etc... Finally I sucked it up and just did it! I was so happy I did.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Qb7Vm6UI3Dj8__7uNfA-4qoDkBvF3MCpXnqGMoyZvsBPU4s5jJ7w1HxgL0mKhUKtaJMIggZr-ofqz5AtLrKkT366We3awRsV7s03kLqEDHhmCnCOZAFfAHx32-G9vfVdUURh5RsWKLE/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Qb7Vm6UI3Dj8__7uNfA-4qoDkBvF3MCpXnqGMoyZvsBPU4s5jJ7w1HxgL0mKhUKtaJMIggZr-ofqz5AtLrKkT366We3awRsV7s03kLqEDHhmCnCOZAFfAHx32-G9vfVdUURh5RsWKLE/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I had a snack of apple & almond butter. Then started to get ready. Around 12:30 I ate my lunch. I had baked chicken, brown rice, and green peas. I was upset with myself because I didn't notice until afterwards that I measured the peas in the wrong container... OOPS! Oh well, could've been worse.<br />
<br />
I knew that I would need 2 meals while we were out. We were leaving around 1, but the parade didn't start until 4:00, and lasted about 3 hours. I decided to pack a ton of water, a packet of shakeology, and a meal of a pita; turkey; hummus; bell peppers. I figured all of those things were easy to eat. My husband brought beer, Reese's eggs, and beef jerky... ha! <br />
<br />
The day went fine. I was a little hungry. But around 3:00 I ate my turkey and bell peppers and dipped my pita in the hummus. It was easy to eat and delish! I ended up having 1 Reese's egg (I couldn't help myself) and a few pieces of beef jerky. I did open a beer then after a few sips realized it was stupid so I gave it away... I had to keep my focus on my goals!!!! I ended up not even having the shakeology until when got home around 8. The parade was over around 7:15 and we had to pack up and walk back to the car. Plus, I wasn't super hungry. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHyWQZSgREaAhHXjDEcXorUeNklHMq1WScxuFk8HuSQJSFRqD9ois0zeY1NqsEgqzhkQs463fMB4DVytEt8a7-bfW5cRfHbqPfsMXPwV-IR82VWyFzqlXBxJVqMPUswm9GWMa2Lbcktg/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHyWQZSgREaAhHXjDEcXorUeNklHMq1WScxuFk8HuSQJSFRqD9ois0zeY1NqsEgqzhkQs463fMB4DVytEt8a7-bfW5cRfHbqPfsMXPwV-IR82VWyFzqlXBxJVqMPUswm9GWMa2Lbcktg/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The parade was fun! I was proud of myself. Our niece and nephew had a great time at their first Mardi Gras, and I was so glad we went!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I weighed in Monday morning. I was only down 1 pound from the last week- which I think makes 4lbs total. I was down to 127.8. But the big exciting news is that my body fat % is at 19.8!!!!! I'm so excited. I reached my goal already! I also took some 2 week progress pictures, and I was very pleased with them!!! I'm down a few inches too in different places but I don't have the numbers in front of me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So far I am extremely impressed with this program. Its simple, easy to follow, and teaches the average person (that may know nothing about clean eating & fitness) what to eat. If you are interested in the 21 Day Fix let me know. I have accountability groups starting all month long. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-Heather</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-57057589309339696272014-02-25T11:19:00.000-08:002014-02-25T11:19:24.536-08:0021 Day Fix Week 1 RecapSo I know I sort of dropped off with my daily recaps. But I felt like it would be boring and a little silly to keep telling you I eat the same 2 days worth of meals for 7 days... I basically alternated 2 days worth of meal all work week. Its cheaper and simpler for me to do that. Plus, if I find 2 sets of things I like it doesn't bother me at all.<br />
<br />
I loved the workouts all week. My favorite part is that there is a different one for each day of the week. So if you don't like one- you only have to do it two more times! But I actually liked them all. Each workout is a 30 minute interval training type workout. 1 minute work, 30 seconds rest. next exercise, then repeat those 2. Then move on to another set- 4 times total.<br />
Here's the schedule:<br />
Monday- total body cardio- loved this one. really hard!<br />
Tuesday- upper fix- i need heavier weights for this<br />
Wednesday- lower fix- this was very challenging b/c my legs were sore from my leg day at the gym monday<br />
Thursday- Pilates- really enjoyed this. it was a nice active recovery type day<br />
Friday- cardio fix- skipped to run<br />
Saturday- Dirty 30- LOVED!!!! circuit style weight training<br />
Sunday- yoga- very well needed and deserved<br />
<br />
Along with that schedule I also worked out with my husband at the gym twice. I did Monday legs and Thursday back and biceps. I skipped my other workouts with him because I was really tired.<br />
<br />
My workout for the program was cardio for Friday afternoon. But I had a phenomenal day Friday, it was gorgeous outside, and I get off early. So I decided to go for my first run in MONTHS!!! OMG! It felt AMAZING! I had that euphoric runners' high afterwards where I felt like I could conquer the world .<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbZE0b_ZTfqdMpM-iyf9bcN9oefC54jeP0Jalckb42GHDZ2WuV7xF7CoKAyMSNnHaRy3zc6uiGBaSpnaspz8OAnpjXn3eIQ1_i5iVqu50gT4g5xqTNHUm8159ioAxg95R_ZwDaFtOuZw/s1600/photo%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbZE0b_ZTfqdMpM-iyf9bcN9oefC54jeP0Jalckb42GHDZ2WuV7xF7CoKAyMSNnHaRy3zc6uiGBaSpnaspz8OAnpjXn3eIQ1_i5iVqu50gT4g5xqTNHUm8159ioAxg95R_ZwDaFtOuZw/s1600/photo%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And Friday was a good mail day!!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3O0dPLxRdc8sc4aHJ2146l1wSv8yId4bW_FTyYw5ITkL_Y3wXCuS-Y_EfzrdVOye95Za9m1xDZhIKGQZavjgfjqVDtse-Vp29tsHzy4B_08vHcI27ZL5pmo34aqImVb8LlvDNKkBCjZ8/s1600/photo%5B3%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3O0dPLxRdc8sc4aHJ2146l1wSv8yId4bW_FTyYw5ITkL_Y3wXCuS-Y_EfzrdVOye95Za9m1xDZhIKGQZavjgfjqVDtse-Vp29tsHzy4B_08vHcI27ZL5pmo34aqImVb8LlvDNKkBCjZ8/s1600/photo%5B3%5D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Body Combat, Shakeology Sampler Packets; Kiki La Rue Tailored to Perfection Pants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Saturday morning I woke up feeling great! I wanted to weigh myself since it was day 6... I was just really excited. I did re-measure myself yet though. Here are my stats:<br />
Starting weight 2/17- 132.6lbs. 2/22- 129 lbs.<br />
Starting Body fat % 2/17- 20.7% 2/22- 20.4%<br />
<br />
I was ecstatic. My ultimate goal is to get my body fat % to 19.5! I'm almost there. This is the first time I have seen my numbers drop in SUCH a long time. So because of that I did my Dirty 30 workout, had my strawberry shakeology mixed with water (to DIE for), and went to the mall for a little treat :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKmQSb2gHnrqXWKh7D5vNKRiTFtTikJGpaEnwMANaw8a9Feu6vBrEDmsoenSiBU5rnjDQ4CP858kJCtsIIOngG4ea-y7M8qWEHX-7b5FjNkBRqeO4wc4XjBcCqlRGiJzByZrQZSN-RpU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKmQSb2gHnrqXWKh7D5vNKRiTFtTikJGpaEnwMANaw8a9Feu6vBrEDmsoenSiBU5rnjDQ4CP858kJCtsIIOngG4ea-y7M8qWEHX-7b5FjNkBRqeO4wc4XjBcCqlRGiJzByZrQZSN-RpU/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Shiseido moistuirzer (free with my points), <a href="http://www.sephora.com/formula-x?defaultSortBy=-1&node=1050033">Formula X nail polish</a>, <a href="http://www.sephora.com/youthmud-tinglexfoliate-treatment-P375741?icid2=GlamGlow_Bestsellers_Carousel_P375741_link">GlamGlow mask</a>; <a href="http://www.sephora.com/ambient-lighting-blush-P384963?icid2=Hourglass_TrendingNow_Carousel_P384963_link">Hourglass</a> ambient blush</div>
<br />
Saturday night we had a surprise Bday dinner planned for a friend of my husband. I knew this would be a struggle for me because I am very much a social eater and drinker. I like to participate in the festivities like everyone else. And we were going to a really good seafood place. I had stalked the menu ahead of time but still couldn't figure out what to eat. The dinner wasn't until 7. I had all my normal meals for the day except a yellow container of carbs. I was saving that for a glass of red wine- that is allowed on the program 3 times a week. I had 1 red container (protein) 2 greens (veggies) and 1 yellow (carbs) left. I had my apple & almond butter around 5:30. We ended up not eating until about 9. I was starving to death by then. Everyone ordered an appetizer. I just wanted to eat something. So I asked for a salad- no dressing- bring vinegar on the side. When my salad came so did fried pickles, charbroiled oysters (my favorite), and fried mushrooms for everyone else. I will be honest. I had about 3 pickles, 1 mushroom, and 1 oyster. I couldn't help it. I also had 2 glasses of wine... lol oops. I vowed not to eat a yellow the next day too. I order a 6oz filet with steamed broccoli. It was really good. I'm sure it was cooked in butter. But hey, whatcha gonna do? My husband order boiled crawfish and I ate 2 of his. I went home feeling a little disappointed, but still felt ok about my choices.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66S8-sKPuQBAx728MQBRr3wB7HmZJII1yiOpyw2wOzV-AE4Gt4zOfyXGyyUogQpt3zFtnhxtzSe5CWu2qd2L0SxjfNr_dTrrUrSovvc0LUjL4_j6T_uieu75ktCyziTtLB3FHk18qs7w/s1600/photo%255B2%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66S8-sKPuQBAx728MQBRr3wB7HmZJII1yiOpyw2wOzV-AE4Gt4zOfyXGyyUogQpt3zFtnhxtzSe5CWu2qd2L0SxjfNr_dTrrUrSovvc0LUjL4_j6T_uieu75ktCyziTtLB3FHk18qs7w/s1600/photo%255B2%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Sunday morning I woke up feeling really crappy... My stomach hurt, I was dehydrated, My fingers were swollen from the salt. Immediately I got up and started drinking water and had my shakeology for the day. My meals went like this:<br />
M1: Chocolate Shakeology with Water<br />
M2: 2 poached eggs over spinach, sprouts, and cilantro on an ezekial pita with goat cheese<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHwUmruJlu5Cg2nYoQ4gUw3Vg4YFkR1y-hFDsF9v04pCjSilOv9J6IPJfk8aFTduRtVHzdTFd5fFEC3zZWw35eR7v0dHt_UBghQMQb3vVzwOf5ZATb2xw4DGSktk8wY9NItOiCHP1f4E/s1600/photo%5B4%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHwUmruJlu5Cg2nYoQ4gUw3Vg4YFkR1y-hFDsF9v04pCjSilOv9J6IPJfk8aFTduRtVHzdTFd5fFEC3zZWw35eR7v0dHt_UBghQMQb3vVzwOf5ZATb2xw4DGSktk8wY9NItOiCHP1f4E/s1600/photo%5B4%5D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TO DIE FOR!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
M3: ground turkey over veggies<br />
M4: apple & sunflower seeds<br />
M5: baked chicken and steamed brussel sprouts<br />
<br />
We were so lazy all day. I barely left the bed. I watched about 8 hours worth of The Following- oops... We finished the first season on netflix. I love that show!<br />
<br />
I also decided I would make one of the approved treats that you can swap a yellow container out for up to 3 times a week. It was a healthy cookie recipe. I made them expecting to just keep them on the counter until i wanted one this week. Bad idea. I had about 5 of them. Oops... Lol... Whatever it could've been worse. My husband ate McDonalds next to me and I didn't even have a fry. That is huge! Fries are my fave.<br />
<br />
I was so lazy I didn't even feel like doing my yoga video. Finally around 8:30 that night I got out of bed long enough to do that for 30 minutes. I'm so glad I did. It felt amazing.<br />
<br />
I worked really hard all week. I'm proud of myself for completing my first week. I had a couple slip-ups but hey that's ok! My body is adjusting to the smaller portions already. I really enjoyed the workouts all week too. I really think this program is a game changer b/c nutrition is the worst part for so many people. Hell, me included... I struggle with it a lot. My scale hasn't moved in months despite being in the gym some times 6 days a week. <br />
<br />
Week 1 done- 2 more to go!!<br />
<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-67896325835114738932014-02-19T14:06:00.000-08:002014-02-19T14:06:20.169-08:0021 Day Fix- Day 2 RecapWoohoo I'm currently on Day 3 of the 21 Day Fix (I'm doing my recaps the next day)!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Tuesday- Day 2 was more difficult for me than day 1. I will be honest- i was pretty hungry. But I worked out twice on Monday- pretty hard too... Working my legs and doing cardio. So I think my appetite was just revved up from that. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This program is great because it is helping me to see I am already eating the right things but WAY too much of it. Y'all... I have a big appetite. I'm hungry a lot. And I use that as an excuse to overeat- even on healthy foods. This is helping me to see how much to eat. I like that because I need it and struggle with it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I woke up at 5:30 and did my Upper Fix workout. I liked it. But because I am used to heavier lifting it wasn't challenging enough for me since I only have 5 lbs weights... I completely forgot until after that i had a resistance band! It would definitely be a good workout with challenging weights. Its normal every day exercises that I do in the gym already. So I liked that! My abs are actually pretty sore today from the planks- I'm assuming. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HEdqz3aHmA9Y0U4aGaDHqXYvG2fQEdRZAzw9QK47FdVxr061QdbPGtvfag0PlazU3obAmk_UXncj4Wrj3ZwcvVVlsd0MqgakYX8etPwMe8S__p8DOiRN_x-iaItF-CODluI3WJbjntc/s1600/IMG_2757.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HEdqz3aHmA9Y0U4aGaDHqXYvG2fQEdRZAzw9QK47FdVxr061QdbPGtvfag0PlazU3obAmk_UXncj4Wrj3ZwcvVVlsd0MqgakYX8etPwMe8S__p8DOiRN_x-iaItF-CODluI3WJbjntc/s1600/IMG_2757.png" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My meals:</div>
<div>
7:30 on my way to work I had my Chocolate Shakeology with water.</div>
<div>
9:30- cottage cheese with berries </div>
<div>
12:00- stir fry veggies with tofu</div>
<div>
2:30- apple w/ 1 tsp almond butter</div>
<div>
5:00- whole wheat tortilla with hummus and bell peppers</div>
<div>
8:00- grilled halibut with asparagus</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Around 3:30 I got hungry. I had some wasabi peas in my desk. I grabbed the bag and took a few out. Then once I started eating them I couldn't stop. Before long I had eaten almost half the bag. I finally just threw them away. Snacky foods like that are my weakness. I will eat them while I work and not even notice how many. But I was able to recognize my weakness and remove it. So that's good. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For the most part I am staying satisfied. I am eating every 2 hours. I don't give myself long enough to get super hungry. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I did skip my chest and tricep workout with my husband last night. I didn't feel guilty about it because I did the Upper Body WO yesterday morning. I am actually dreading the Lower Body fix after work today because I am REALLY sore today. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Happy Hump Day everyone! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-10004468547404536962014-02-18T10:18:00.000-08:002014-02-18T10:19:36.842-08:0021 Day Fix- Day 1 RecapOk so I'm going to be totally honest here... This weekend was BAD! I ate really really bad... I stuffed myself with junk every day this weekend. My weekend went like this:<br />
<br />
Friday (Valentine's day)- had spaghetti dinner planned for us (our tradition). It was gross... For whatever reason I didn't like it so I felt unsatisfied. I went to Walgreens and bought a small bag of Sweet and Spicy Doritos; 2 lb bag of Twizzlers; a giant Slim Jim... I know, gross, right? Well guess what... I ate all but a small amount of the Twizzlers. I went to bed feeling sick to my stomach. <br />
<br />
Saturday was a new day. We planned on a leg workout but kept putting it off all day. I went shopping a little that morning then the husband wanted brunch. So we went to this awesome brunch spot, <a href="http://russellsmarinagrill.net/">Russell's</a>, by the Lake. I got chicken and waffles... I ate every bite. We headed to our first parade of the year- <a href="http://www.kreweduvieux.org/">Krewe du Vieux</a>. Its sort of an adult parade... It pokes fun of a lot of popular themes. My favorite was probably The Big Bong Theory... We drank, of course.. And ate.. at this awesome local spot called <a href="http://www.mimiscafe.com/">Mimi's</a>. The have small plates. We shared 2 beef empanadas and a very small steak- just enough food. But this was early- around 5:00. So naturally after the parade and plenty of drinking we were hungry again at 9:00. So we ate sushi... Then went to bed.<br />
<br />
Sunday for lunch we had Mexican. I then had 1/2 of Cadbury Eggs and a few Reese's eggs. I ended my night with a cauliflower crust pizza that fell apart...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi945LhJGpKVcB0CHvhW0Y2o10AKeb5IuF4I8NqMg2Q7wACp5FtuPdZ4t7ttbPxpSZzQYC_syHhTw882-Tc4xzrkq7_ViSDP_ikhWZs-IKY-AFBzurL1K73J0-S5M-5b4REnI2cMQtjQ5I/s1600/photo+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi945LhJGpKVcB0CHvhW0Y2o10AKeb5IuF4I8NqMg2Q7wACp5FtuPdZ4t7ttbPxpSZzQYC_syHhTw882-Tc4xzrkq7_ViSDP_ikhWZs-IKY-AFBzurL1K73J0-S5M-5b4REnI2cMQtjQ5I/s1600/photo+3.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Guys... This was bad. I don't normally eat like this. I have literally felt like shit all weekend. Not because of guilt- because YOLO, right? (ha) But because my stomach is killing me.... Anyway... I guess you live and learn, right?<br />
<br />
Moving on...<br />
<br />
Yesterday was the first day of my 21 Day Fix.. Thank God!!! I definitely need a detox. My plan was to get up early and do the cardio workout from the program then do legs after work. I overslept...<br />
<br />
Here was an overview of my meals for the day:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0ZqxnLwGNFK9XSt-Z9P60Z0ePEHVpUkUUnKwrSXmoI5EHIuhbcA01db-9pGbnpPlyAT6sFmHgbBLiRsKLHkRjc9RsgyjHdHicH0k5XaZobH_Z2eiV-87vpawmUmKFxCotyCqbUmov4I/s1600/photo+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0ZqxnLwGNFK9XSt-Z9P60Z0ePEHVpUkUUnKwrSXmoI5EHIuhbcA01db-9pGbnpPlyAT6sFmHgbBLiRsKLHkRjc9RsgyjHdHicH0k5XaZobH_Z2eiV-87vpawmUmKFxCotyCqbUmov4I/s1600/photo+2.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
7:00 am: Shakeology mixed with water<br />
10:00- greek yogurt with strawberries and blueberries<br />
12:30- spinach, quinoa, grape tomatoes, and tuna salad<br />
2:30- apple with peanut butter<br />
5:00- whole wheat tortilla with hummus and bell peppers<br />
5:30- cardio workout<br />
6:30- Legs Workout at the gym<br />
8:00- flank steak with asparagus<br />
<br />
I felt pretty good all day... I had to squeeze in 2 workouts after work- which was not ideal. I typically don't like to do anything on the same day as legs... But its only 21 days!<br />
I wasn't really hungry most of the day- except when it was time to eat again. I'm concerned I may not be getting enough calories though if I am doing heavy-lifting... That's my only concern. But I am going to trust this system and this process! I made a commitment to myself to do so!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVP9bgr4dBm3QI8vK9t6arMscrXS2MF7Cx9fXQ5sSAI6P4tf10Uc6TruV7P0FQ1LUiqXg8kV9o6Bji16uSfcz-fsTWmBV_S35FJo28G7_1nGDCH5pX0RzS_d-V9YBf1tK8azzlI1SuOI/s1600/photo+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVP9bgr4dBm3QI8vK9t6arMscrXS2MF7Cx9fXQ5sSAI6P4tf10Uc6TruV7P0FQ1LUiqXg8kV9o6Bji16uSfcz-fsTWmBV_S35FJo28G7_1nGDCH5pX0RzS_d-V9YBf1tK8azzlI1SuOI/s1600/photo+1.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
This about sums up how surprised I was that the Cardio Fix was as hard as it was!!! It was tough. My legs felt really exhausted after- which meant I couldn't push as much at the gym. <br />
At the gym we did- 4 sets of squats (85lbs); 3 sets of deadlifts (75lbs); 3 supersets of curls and extensions.<br />
<br />
I was exhausted at the end of the day. I fell asleep around 9:30 last night after watching the Following on Netflix. Anyone watch it? We're obsessed right now!<br />
I feel better already today with just 1 day of eating normal again! Now... Only 20 to go... Its difficult with King Cake everywhere haunting me though. <br />
<br />
Have a great day!!<br />
<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-6472131157949290312014-02-15T12:23:00.000-08:002014-02-15T12:32:41.340-08:0021 Day Fix: What's IncludedSome of you may have seen all of the buzz going around about Beach Body's new program- the 21 Day Fix. It sold out in the first 2 days after its launch! Crazy! I think its because the plan is very affordable and the challenge pack is an awesome deal!<br />
What it is: a fitness and nutrition program that focuses on 30 minute effective workouts daily and perfectly portioned balanced meals! Sounds easy, right?!<br />
<br />
So here's the specifics of the plan:<br />
The base kit includes:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>7 portion-controlled color-coded containers for each food group</li>
<li>6 workouts</li>
<li>a bonus Plyo workout when ordered through your Coach</li>
<li>start here guide</li>
<li>3 day fix (a fast track 3 day plan)</li>
<li>21 day fix eating guide</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Challenge Pack- This is a PHENOMENAL deal<br />
Includes:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>all of the above plus a shakeology cup and a 30 day supply of shakeology </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Mine arrived early last week. I immediately opened it up to read through the guide and take a look at the containers. The guide is very easy to follow and simply laid out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGJiuR4PMUG5Lnf9FDfVJKRfLIQk-0BmBkeMgiYbA4anlqwdiYbHef3-m2v71PUHJdBsYES8nkpzMv_3R7-mKndxtQmHVhMAIJvYOsy6TgZRydATUIbInsogfjZAKscCxCpUpvkf2wXA/s1600/IMG_2648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGJiuR4PMUG5Lnf9FDfVJKRfLIQk-0BmBkeMgiYbA4anlqwdiYbHef3-m2v71PUHJdBsYES8nkpzMv_3R7-mKndxtQmHVhMAIJvYOsy6TgZRydATUIbInsogfjZAKscCxCpUpvkf2wXA/s1600/IMG_2648.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Here are the containers:<br />
red- protein<br />
purple- fruit<br />
green- veggies<br />
yellow- grains and starches<br />
blue- cheese, hummus, avocado, nuts<br />
orange- seeds<br />
<br />
I'm super excited to get going with this program Monday! I have a group of people all starting at the same time and doing it together. I think that is what I am most excited about! <br />
<br />
Anyone else doing this program?Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-59633629649374022882014-02-07T10:03:00.000-08:002014-02-07T10:03:29.134-08:00My Favorite Shakeology RecipeHappy Friday!!! Today I wanted to share my favorite shakeology recipe. I have been having this for breakfast each morning this week. It keeps me full for a good 3 hours or more. I try to eat every 2-3 hours anyway. But I'm definitely not that hungry by the 3 hour mark. So I am able to have something small- instead of feeling like I need to eat lunch already at 10:30!! <div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelrzmYwkkazWUtLz5fvnFmi5aIJogjoBx9RokiQblHxeqliE8jKi8GHr5sYoOvN-MKOctB4yPh3_Y3lM54EOO7n9en2APIQuakgUBl6mVz-uzsxjmcpedRx0UmO6VEtGheXHHwe_PS9M/s1600/2014-02-07+07.35.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelrzmYwkkazWUtLz5fvnFmi5aIJogjoBx9RokiQblHxeqliE8jKi8GHr5sYoOvN-MKOctB4yPh3_Y3lM54EOO7n9en2APIQuakgUBl6mVz-uzsxjmcpedRx0UmO6VEtGheXHHwe_PS9M/s1600/2014-02-07+07.35.33.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ingredients:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 Scoop Chocolate Shakeology</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 Cup of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1 Small Container of cottage cheese</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
4 ice cubes</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnG25E9VjkQNGH-3rR5ztr-TelIAPrUrgdZ07cZ9ey8adCDr4tDmlhCTQyJlXP1SD4gnL9SZDXTO5kOspz1qUq92FWEFyVK6kYIa6Z3FYVIy0khhBngiCA6BQcLG4DwBfbLYRXMHyEPQ/s1600/2014-02-07+07.35.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnG25E9VjkQNGH-3rR5ztr-TelIAPrUrgdZ07cZ9ey8adCDr4tDmlhCTQyJlXP1SD4gnL9SZDXTO5kOspz1qUq92FWEFyVK6kYIa6Z3FYVIy0khhBngiCA6BQcLG4DwBfbLYRXMHyEPQ/s1600/2014-02-07+07.35.59.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQS5hObKhaqPcGv5fVNDXGsh5NwV0D9iRk14lBrxTFzd13kImKIAOxS-YupfPHD2qwEI4s2S36-msm26IXozupLLJOZiPbQYnhUYfJFfvFIGJxZVHzk-SbUjOGh9MLyhpOdWxTm4JRtE/s1600/2014-02-07+07.37.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQS5hObKhaqPcGv5fVNDXGsh5NwV0D9iRk14lBrxTFzd13kImKIAOxS-YupfPHD2qwEI4s2S36-msm26IXozupLLJOZiPbQYnhUYfJFfvFIGJxZVHzk-SbUjOGh9MLyhpOdWxTm4JRtE/s1600/2014-02-07+07.37.11.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is the nutritional info:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeufBWH4CP1zxgT-X9vRSjZMsVhq8KFhkncjY0d_SS4ipM_BHLW5skz-zLbdNrBrcEZ51cwmkQHvo3RhMvrC3m8EVG67_Y14dgu85dXn8tZAYcJBX0yBykVf3l_PLCbYoNWntVUBO62I/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeufBWH4CP1zxgT-X9vRSjZMsVhq8KFhkncjY0d_SS4ipM_BHLW5skz-zLbdNrBrcEZ51cwmkQHvo3RhMvrC3m8EVG67_Y14dgu85dXn8tZAYcJBX0yBykVf3l_PLCbYoNWntVUBO62I/s1600/photo.PNG" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<div>
Don't be turned off by the cottage cheese. You can't taste it. It gives it a creamy taste. It adds 10 grams more of protein. So its definitely worth it!!! Let me know if anyone tries it! Its good stuff!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-22206044245824229592014-02-03T18:36:00.001-08:002014-02-03T18:36:53.220-08:0030 Day Push Project<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CfGFwopwL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CfGFwopwL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazon.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I read about <a href="http://www.chalenejohnson.com/">Chalene Johnson</a>'s 30 Day Push <a href="http://www.amazon.com/PUSH-Turbocharged-Habits-Bangin-Deserve/dp/1609613333">Book</a> and <a href="http://www.chalenejohnson.com/30daychallenge/members/Find-Your-Push-Goal.html">Challenge</a> through my <a href="http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/hbaham">Beach Bod</a>y Team. I've really been interested in personal development lately. I feel like its something everyone can benefit from. With all the negative self-image and negative self-talk I've been dealing with for the past month or so I think its a great time to start this. <br />
<br />
The 30 Day Challenge is free. You can sign up <a href="http://www.chalenejohnson.com/">here</a> and follow along with me! She teaches how to manage your time, become more successful, create to-do lists, set and achieve goals, etc... Each morning for 30 days you get an email with a short video to watch and an assignment for the day. It takes roughly 10 minutes. So that's easy right?! Everyone has 10 minutes. <br />
<br />
I started the program yesterday- on the 3rd. I'm excited for this! I've read great things about this program! I would love an accountability partner in this!!<br />
<br />
**I started my day today with my first day of T25... OMG! I'm in pretty good shape. It killed me! 25 minutes of high intensity constant movement was tough. I burned a little over 210 calories. I think that's awesome for 25 minutes. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-41371543462629179732014-01-29T13:07:00.000-08:002014-01-30T04:19:31.597-08:00Here I Am Again...Well here I am again... Trying my hand at this whole blogging thing! <br>
I feel like I really need a place to document my journey, my frustrations, my accomplishments, etc... Just to write...<br>
I would say this will be a lifestyle blog with a focus on health living because that is such a huge part of my life and something so important to me.<br>
I think this is a good place to introduce myself and give a little background as to where I am now, and why I feel the need to vent a little these days.<br>
<br>
I have always been a skinny person. When I was a child I was scrawny... But I was a very picky eater. I ate Campbell's soup and cereal. That is pretty much it. I don't think I broke 100lbs until high school, maybe... But even in high school I ate whatever I wanted. I was a cheerleader. I was active. I never paid attention to what I ate. But at the same time- I was picky and I didn't really eat a lot. So it didn't really matter. I probably weight 110 or so at the most during high school. But I did have curves by that time. I started getting more shapely legs, hips, and a butt- in a good way!<br>
My (now) husband and I met my junior year in high school. After graduation we moved in together away from our family. This was the first time I ever had to think about what to eat. I was a waitress at Hooter's. (Don't judge- great money- and very innocent). I ate there constantly. We ate a lot of boxed food. I didn't know what I was doing. I think I did know how to cook tilapia on the George Foreman. But I'm pretty sure I never made it. Eventually I gained about 30 lbs and because I didn't feel comfortable in that skimpy outfit anymore- I quit my job. <br>
<br>
Realizing we didn't really know what we were doing living alone- at 18 and 21 years old- we moved back home. I had to look for another part time job. Oddly enough, at the first time in my life when I was uncomfortable with my body, I found one at a locally owned medical weight loss clinic. The job description matched me perfectly- bubbly, happy, customer- oriented... They focused on calorie counting coupled with a prescribed weight loss drug (think Phentermine). I gave orientations to new patients where I taught them about portion control and counting calories, fat, and carbs... We counceled them and encouraged them to come in for their weekly weigh-ins. We never taught them how awful all of those 100 calorie packs are. As a matter of fact- we told people to eat them! "Its a great snack!" Most people were there for the drugs. I eventually started taking them. They worked! I didn't want to eat. I could eat a tiny side salad from Wendy's and be full for the whole day. Knowing what I know now- that makes me sick. I lost most of the weight I put on strictly by eating 1000 calories a day and taking Phentermine. At this point I would still have considered myself a picky eater though.<br>
<br>
Throughout college my palette started to change. I started trying new foods. I wanted to eat out a lot. That quickly became something we did for fun. Oh geez then add in the partying and drinking we did too! I would gain weight, get on Phentermine, lose weight, gain weight, do it again... I did that for 4 years. I never worked out though... I never even thought about it. I always just counted my calories.<br>
<br>
We got engaged in December 2008. In 2009- I graduated college in May, started my first FT job in June, closed on my first home in July, and got married in October. I can't remember at what point I started gaining weight again. But I did. I'm pretty sure I tried the Phentermine a few more times. But never stuck with it. On a side note- what that does to your body is crazy. It makes you not want to eat. And it literally made me a crazy woman! I was an emotional roller coaster! I bought my wedding dress some time in January of 2009. I got it altered to fit me probably a month or so before the wedding. On my wedding day- I couldn't zip it. I had gained weight in that short period of time. Luckily, the dress had a V in the back and you couldn't see that it wasn't fully zipped. I think at this point I was back up to 138 lbs or so...<br>
<br>
I think at some point my husband and I started working out together at a local Snap fitness. But I don't remember when this was. I still heavily relied on reducing my calorie intake significantly to even see any weight loss results. In March of 2012 my friend Heidi asked me to run a 5K with her. I couldn't run. I couldn't run for a half a mile. I did it though. After that race I decided I was going to be a runner. With the sudden interest in blogs and social media- I became very interested in health and fitness. <br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1PesqW_Uv6-qLwmXtTIGkAbm3Ft6_hswfkB4qvZ8uxqZlxfhgnL2ZoTZGfWq-7e9YrA-1S9xkfVY7qk52406QtyJugfMf1FxR1Y37bVClgeM4Pb9OG-luXkVfrmDhDxoxMY-X7tB1jY/s1600/292209_10100126910213214_263386732_n+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1PesqW_Uv6-qLwmXtTIGkAbm3Ft6_hswfkB4qvZ8uxqZlxfhgnL2ZoTZGfWq-7e9YrA-1S9xkfVY7qk52406QtyJugfMf1FxR1Y37bVClgeM4Pb9OG-luXkVfrmDhDxoxMY-X7tB1jY/s1600/292209_10100126910213214_263386732_n+(2).jpg" height="320" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am on the far right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
I started running several times a week. I even talked my friends into running 5k's with me. Some time in August someone told me about the term "clean eating." I cut out all sugar, white pasta, white anything, junk food, etc... I lost about 3 lbs doing that. Then I found the <a href="http://www.toneitup.com/">Tone It Up</a> girls, bought their nutrition plan, and followed their plan and workout advice while training for my first half marathon to complete in February 2013. During this time I lost about 18 lbs total. I went from 138 to 120 (at the lowest point). I felt damn good about myself. For the first time in a really long time- I felt super confident. I ran 13.6 miles, everyone wanted to know what I was doing, how did I lose the weight, people came to me for advice, etc...<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAHaCIlVR87nuS_G0ILtxGMkdrU48uNVlYf5JnbGq410CtNGrPptvqhAM5479nJmr3OlZ8d9Rop8ulv1yX-SIowZ00AYOjFCyq9qFuezWNgxdWIbXQNryvebNyjxOKNdRyjfbnueD9OE/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAHaCIlVR87nuS_G0ILtxGMkdrU48uNVlYf5JnbGq410CtNGrPptvqhAM5479nJmr3OlZ8d9Rop8ulv1yX-SIowZ00AYOjFCyq9qFuezWNgxdWIbXQNryvebNyjxOKNdRyjfbnueD9OE/s1600/unnamed.png" height="320" width="180"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">around 120lbs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
And then we moved... to New Orleans.... Home of the best freaking food on earth... I kept running. But the weight has been slowly creeping back up on me since we moved in April 2013. We love to eat out. I threw a lot of my clean eating principles out of the window. We joined a gym.. I got extremely burnt out on running. I got bored with it. I starting lifting weights in October 2013. But because my nutrition was not on point- I've just been putting fat on top of muscle. I got burnt out on cardio. <br>
<br>
Now, I am aware that at no point was I ever fat or overweight... But I am talking about being at a point where I feel good in my clothes and hell, good naked in front of my husband. I am not there today. I have been very down on myself about it lately too. The fact that I let my hard work go to waste really pisses me off. It wasn't easy for me to lose 18lbs because I am not overweight. I worked really hard. I woke up at 5am 6 days a week to run or do a TIU workout... Something... I am just looking for that spark again. Some days I miss running. But then again- I can't quite find the excitement in that anymore. <br>
<br>
So here I am today. 130 lbs currently... I am focusing on my body fat %. If my scale at home is correct I am at 21% BF. My goal is to get under 20%. I've been tagging along with my husband at the gym for the past week. He is helping me to lift heavier weights. But he is a tax accountant and soon enough he will be working late nights so I will be on my own. <div><br></div><div>Eating is really my weakness. And since my weight lifting started I am even hungrier. I really love good food. And here in New Orleans there is so much of it. I really struggle with finding a balance between enjoying myself, not going overboard, & not feeling guilty. </div><div><br>
I am starting Beach Body's newest program, <a href="http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/21-day-fix-simple-fitness-eating.do">the 21 Day Fix</a>, on February 17th. If anyone is interested in joining me in my journey- just let me know! This focuses on portion control- which I desperately need. I am hoping it will teach me to notice when I have had enough. I have been known to eat until I literally feel sick. <br>
<br>
I am hoping this will help me to shed some body fat so that when my husband gets out of tax season I will be in better shape to see some progress from weight lifting. I have also ordered <a href="http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/hbaham">T25</a> and <a href="http://www.shakeology.com/hbaham">Shakeology</a> to help me reach my goals. Until the 21 day fix starts I plan on doing T25 a few times in the morning during the week and lifting weights with him at the gym in the afternoons 4 days a week. <br>
<br>
I plan on documenting my progress here and on <a href="http://instagram.com/hbaham">Instagram </a> So feel free to follow along. I am excited about this!! <br>
<br>
*Sorry for the long post. I just feel like I needed a starting point to all of this! <br>
<br><div>*disclaimer- I feel like I need to say this again- at no point have I considered myself overweight. These are just my goals, my journey, and the things I struggle with. </div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-6893713209540118372013-04-29T12:18:00.000-07:002013-04-29T12:18:53.591-07:00Natural BeautyHappy Monday! Over the past week or so I have been on a crazy hunt to find the natural cosmetics and skin care items that still work. Something hit me the other day... I work so hard to take care of my body and pay extreme attention to what I put in it. But I've never really thought about the stuff I put on it. <br />
<br />
I am a beauty product junkie. So this could actually be a good thing for me. It should cut out on the amount of stuff that I buy if I start to be more particular about the ingredients. <br />
<br />
This all started when I was browsing QVC's website one day. I don't think I realized that Tarte products were all natural. So this peaked my interest. <br />
<br />
I've absolutely LOVED their <a href="http://www.sephora.com/lights-camera-lashes-P111902?skuId=862417">Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara</a> for a long time. I've repurchased this mascara several times. I also own the <a href="http://www.sephora.com/amazonian-clay-12-hour-blush-P278610?skuId=1306844">Amazonian Clay 12 hour blush</a> in Dollface. I love this too. I think I just happened to buy that b/c a lot of blush oxidizes on my skin and turns colors throughout the day. I'm not one to touch up my makeup. I don't want to have to. So I like long-wearing products. I've never tried anything else from them though.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1306802-main-hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1306802-main-hero.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$26 sephora.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s862417-main-hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s862417-main-hero.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$19 sephora.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm also a YouTube junkie. Any time I want to know anything about a beauty product or hair product I look up reviews on YouTube. I'd much rather listen and watch someone give a review than read it. So I started looking up videos on Tarte. I found a lot of great reviews on their Maracuja oil products. So I went back to QVC to look at what they had to offer. The thing I like about QVC is that they have a lot of the value kits at really good prices. <br />
<br />
I found the Tarte The Miracle of Maracuja 7-pc Skin Smart kit for $65. The kit includes:<br />
<ul>
<li>0.01-oz Cashmere Waterproof Gliding Liner in Black Bark</li>
<li>0.12-fl oz Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Gloss in Pouty, a brightening pink shade</li>
<li>0.2-oz
Through the Grapevine Eye Shadow Quad with Valley, a shimmering white
shade; Rose, a rose pink shade; Berry Blend, a raspberry shade; and
Grape, a plum shade</li>
<li>0.28-oz Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Fair, Light, Medium, Tan, or Deep</li>
<li>0.24-oz Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara in Black</li>
<li>0.19-oz Airblush Maracuja Blush in Shimmering Pink</li>
<li>1.7-fl oz Pure Maracuja Oil</li>
<li>Brush</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
The Maracuja oil alone is $48 and the mascara is $19. That covers the cost of the kit. So its like getting the rest for free! So I ordered the kit. It hasn't been delivered yet. I should get it tomorrow. I will keep everyone updated on how I like it. I did the 3 payments flex pay of $25 each b/c I really just wanted to try it. I can return it if I decide I don't like it.<br />
<br />
I don't have problem skin at all but I do have dry/ combo skin. I don't ever break out, but my skin is really dry and then I get oily cheeks/forehead by the end of the day. <br />
<br />
So then I was intrigued to try more Tarte products. I went to Sephora Friday night to ask for a sample of their <a href="http://www.sephora.com/amazonian-clay-12-hour-full-coverage-foundation-spf-15-P302918?skuId=1393370">Amazonian clay 12 hour foundation</a>. I really wanted to try out the colors and see if it would last on me all day. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1393370-main-hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sephora.com/productimages/sku/s1393370-main-hero.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$38 sephora.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
QVC has the<a href="http://www.qvc.com/tarte-Amazonian-Clay-Full-Coverage-Foundation-Auto-Delivery-Beauty.product.A229434.html?sc=A229434-Targeted&cm_sp=VIEWPOSITION-_-21-_-A229434&catentryImage=http://images-p.qvc.com/is/image/a/34/a229434.001?$uslarge$"> foundation and a foundation brush for only $38.</a> The sample Sephora gave me was actually a good bit of product! You only need a tiny bit for really good coverage. So I think it will last me a while. I've worn it twice and I love it! I don't need to use powder or anything.<br />
<br />
So this has me going through my makeup drawer and skincare routine to see what I can clean up. I figured I would do the best that I can- where I can... Just like I do with food... I picked up another item at Sephora Friday night too that I will review soon. <br />
<br />
Anyone have any natural beauty products/ brands to recommend? I'm now obsessed with finding new stuff. But I can't break the bank in the meantime!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: large;">XO-Heather </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-971508511598279272013-03-21T14:56:00.000-07:002013-03-21T14:56:27.294-07:00Journey to NOLA Pt 2You can read my part 1 <a href="http://mydiaryofasimplelife.blogspot.com/2013/03/were-officially-new-orleanians.html">here</a>. This is basically going to be a gripe-fest about the idiot we bought our house from. It may not be quite as dramatic as I make it seem. But this guy made buying his house extremely difficult. <br />
<br />
So as soon as we decided we were ready to move we started scheduling house showings with an agent we found online in a certain neighborhood we wanted to live in. Its considered New Orleans, but its much more suburban. We would schedule up to 10 in a Saturday sometimes so that we could make the most of our time. <br />
<br />
It was really tough to find houses in our price range. New Orleans is a pretty expensive place to be a homeowner. There are very high property taxes and the flood & homeowners insurance premiums are absolutely insane (Thanks Katrina!). But the neighborhood we are in is expensive too because its definitely the safest area to be in. <br />
<br />
We were pre-approved by a bank even with keeping our current home but it was a pretty tight budget so we had to make sure to stick with the number the bank gave us. Little did we know that even with that amount the mortgage payments would be crazy b/c of the taxes and insurance. So we ended up having to reduce the amount we were looking at by almost $20,000! That really narrowed the list of available houses. The housing market is booming over there too. We would find something online we liked, call the agent, then learn that it was already under contract. And sometimes people were paying over asking price! Its crazy b/c we had the opposite going on around our house. <br />
<br />
It was really discouraging because we wanted to be in a particular area to be close to the bridge for me to get to work. And it just seemed like we couldn't find anything we both agreed on. We even looked into buying a double and being an owner occupant. My husband is obsessed with investing in real estate and LOVED that idea. We looked at a lot of duplexes. We were going to live in one side and rent the other side out to pay most of the mortgage while we saved more money. Then when we were ready we would rent out the other side and build our own house. We were very quickly brought back to reality when we realized you could not find a decent double for our price range. Some of them were 600 sq ft shotguns on each side. No way!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.frenchquartercondotrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/New-Orleans-Uptown-Shotgun-Double-New-Oreans-Homes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://www.frenchquartercondotrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/New-Orleans-Uptown-Shotgun-Double-New-Oreans-Homes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1024&bih=605&q=new+orleans+double&oq=new+orleans+double&gs_l=img.3..0i24l7.4100.6154.0.6306.18.10.0.7.7.0.99.658.10.10.0...0.0...1ac.1.7.img.7HqDLzn87Lk#imgrc=5JbW5Z_xHI2wDM%3A%3BcXyW6Y_RXNM1lM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.frenchquartercondotrends.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2009%252F11%252FNew-Orleans-Uptown-Shotgun-Double-New-Oreans-Homes.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.frenchquartercondotrends.com%252F%253Fp%253D264%3B545%3B440">typical NOLA shotgun double</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So we went back to the drawing board again. We finally decided on a townhouse. The price is exactly where we needed to be. Its 1900 sq ft. The inside was recently renovated. And it was in a GREAT area- exactly where we want to be. We looked at it once and decided to get some quotes on insurance policies before we got our hopes up. After getting back a "decent" price we decided to make an offer.<br />
<br />
We need the seller to pay our entire closing costs b/c we were spending our cash on a down payment. So we went in offering 10k under the asking price and $9000 of closing costs. We waited. They had 2 days to respond. We didn't hear back until 30 minutes before their deadline. They had countered with us paying <span style="color: red;"><b>$5,000 over asking price</b></span> and them paying closing costs! WTF?! Basically it mean they would get only $4000 under what they were asking. We knew this was probably just the beginning. At that point I did get a bad taste in my mouth. I mean who prices their house EXACTLY what they need for it. Especially in that area where they could've easily asked $10,000 more and probably got it!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tampamoves.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Negotiate2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://tampamoves.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Negotiate2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1024&bih=605&q=real+estate+counter+offer&oq=real+estate+counter&gs_l=img.3.0.0i24l10.844.3299.0.4211.21.14.1.5.5.0.169.1130.11j3.14.0...0.0...1ac.1.7.img.jJdFL16ch-0#imgrc=QEhhaZl6ceLIuM%3A%3BZfDJWwQ6LfGEYM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ftampamoves.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2010%252F09%252FNegotiate2.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ftampamoves.com%252Fbuy%252Fnegotiation%252Fart-negotiating%252Fcounter-offers%252F%3B300%3B173">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So we countered again immediately at $2000 under asking price with full closing costs paid. We thought for sure they were going to say yes. We gave them 2 days to respond. Of course, we didn't hear from them until the deadline. They countered again at asking price and paying closing costs. We talked about it, thought about it, talked to the bank, fought about it, etc over the next couple of days. We finally decided we just didn't want to keep going back and forth. I mean, in all reality $2000 over 30 years is like $10. So we accepted their offer. My hesitation to accepting it was- what if they are difficult to work with us in the inspection process?! Then we would lose money at that point. But our agent assured us they probably just knew they priced the house well and weren't willing to budge. They would probably fix what needed to be fixed if we asked.<br />
<br />
Right after we signed paperwork I schedule the inspections. We were getting a video plumbing inspection and a full house inspection. During the inspection they found several minor things. Nothing was major. But we did ask for them all to be fixed. One of them was a leaking toilet, one was an area where the window leaked and caused mold, some electrical stuff, and an A/C issue. Well guess what?! Of course they rejected everything (after keeping us waiting for their response for days) except the toilet and A/C. I got pissed off b/c I felt like they were taking the easy way out. This was just a glimpse into how big of a jack-ass this seller was! After we talked it over for a day and got some professional advice from contractors we decided to accept their counter. We would fix the other stuff ourselves. They were given up to 5 days before the closing to fix everything, and they had to provide receipts from a licensed contractor showing they resolved the issue. We fought about this a lot though because we couldn't agree on what we wanted to do. And he wouldn't accept our offers. It caused a good bit of stress between the two of us for a couple of weeks. <br />
<br />
I'll be back with the rest of the buying story tomorrow. I didn't realize this would be so long! Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6032197791288566067.post-65089598572474136062013-03-19T13:19:00.000-07:002013-03-21T07:50:51.110-07:00We're officially New Orleanians!<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/2718333/?claim=aqstmx59kpp">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a> <br />
Well we did it! We closed on our New Orleans townhouse on Thursday of last week! We had a bit of an emotional roller coaster during the period of trying to sell our current home and buy a new one. We definitely had fights, frustration, and tears (on my part)... Here's a bit of a back story to how we arrived at this point.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZLYyDt0s7YhmKlSMQDZ0Gm9sEuleOs-UCPbes-UMhTEYmDRBGeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZLYyDt0s7YhmKlSMQDZ0Gm9sEuleOs-UCPbes-UMhTEYmDRBGeg" /></a></div>
<br />
We bought our first house in a very small town outside of Baton Rouge in 2009. We picked that location because husband was working in BR and I was working in a town about 30 minutes away. It made perfect sense b/c it was right smack in the middle of our 2 jobs. We got the house for a great price. The house is perfect. It has really nice upgraded features and a nice size yard for the dogs. We also got the $8000 first time home buyer tax credit. This meant we had to live there at least 3 years or we would have to pay it back. We spent most of the money on our wedding that October and getting things for our house. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ltbhaYdbkyLep9KgWQkPi5qZyy01HDWn1tqw-HhU5XSBng3oRtcW96qamHlK7VG6fI4eMoQr57tYmu5t39QKZrmZwu91cPpthLCICOhFL-J0CcnBkg0k175Ow5H8v6c6XZLJMg9xNxw/s1600/5449_574049333874_6552327_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ltbhaYdbkyLep9KgWQkPi5qZyy01HDWn1tqw-HhU5XSBng3oRtcW96qamHlK7VG6fI4eMoQr57tYmu5t39QKZrmZwu91cPpthLCICOhFL-J0CcnBkg0k175Ow5H8v6c6XZLJMg9xNxw/s320/5449_574049333874_6552327_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In June 2010 my company moved their office to a town 50 miles away from my house! I've been making this commute for nearly 3 years now. Its pretty tough. The amount of money we spend on gas and the time I spend in the car sucks! We traded Matt's truck in about a year ago to save money on gas. He got my Volvo S40 and I got a Hyundai hybrid. It definitely helps us save some money on gas. But the amount of mileage I have racked up on the cars in the past 3 years is just crazy to me!<br />
<br />
So we made the decision that we would put the house up for sale to move closer to our hometown and my work as soon as our 3 years were up (July 2012). But we never thought about the fact that Matt's job was in BR. So moving us closer to my work and home doesn't make a whole lot of sense. We started toying with the idea of moving to New Orleans (33 miles from my office) because his company has a branch there. He spoke to someone at work about transferring, and they said But we just never acted on it. Every time we would visit we would pine over gorgeous houses and living in that wonderful carefree city with so much character! We're from a very small town (no red lights at all), and the town we live in now is very rural too. So the thought of living in a city is pretty new to us and most of our friends/family too! We talked about moving a lot, but we didn't officially decide to start the process until December.<br />
<br />
We called a local real estate agent to list our house. We were quickly brought back to reality when we realized our house was the most expensive one in the neighborhood (and it was cheap)! The amount of money we owe on the mortgage vs what things are selling for there is about a 10k difference. This doesn't even include paying an agent to sell it. We got a lot of showings on the house. People loved it. Everyone said it was priced too high. We even did a realtor tour, and the agents loved it. They said it was priced too high. But we couldn't budge on the price b/c we priced it exactly what we owed on the mortgage. We were going to pay the agent out of our pockets. This meant spending every dime that we have worked so damn hard to save over the past 3 years for a new house.<br />
<br />
After much much discussion amongst ourselves and with the agent we decided to take the house off the market after only being for sale for 2 months. We realized we had 2 options- stay in the house and pay the mortgage down or rent it. We already made up our minds that we would move closer to my work. Plus, we were just tired of living there. There's nothing to do there, and we have no family or friends there. It really just didn't make sense anymore. Our agent even suggested renting it out. So we put it on Craigslist, she screened the applicants (credit checks, background checks, reference checks), and we found a renter within 1 week. He signed a 1 year lease, but is interested in a lease to purchase down the road. He's moving in April 1st. I don't think "investment properties" make sense for everyone. But for us, it did. We can afford to make the mortgage and another one if we had to, and hopefully the housing market will pick back up over there in the next 5 years. Until then it looks like we're landlords.<br />
<br />
I'll be back tomorrow to talk about the search for new home and buying process!<br />
<br />
<br />Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759126114403941577noreply@blogger.com1