recipes

here are 2 of my favorite recipes, the nutritionist gave to me.

Mexican Lasagna

1 1/2 lbs of lean ground beef
9 corn tortilla
2 10 oz cans of mild enchilada sauce
1 15 oz can of black beans, rinsed
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 cup shredded low fat mexican cheese

preheat oven to 350.  Brown beef, drain.  Add 1 can of enchilada saue, beans, corn, and cumin.  Boil, reduce heat for 5 mins.  Spray 12x8 pan with cooking spray.  Layer 3 tortillas, then 1/4 cup enchilada sauce, then beef mixture.  Repeat 2 times.  cook for 30 minutes at 350.  Add cheese to top and bake for 5 more minutes.

Crock Pot Pizza Chicken

place 4 chicken breast in crock pot.  Add 1 sliced bell pepper, mushrooms or onions, or other pizza toppings of choice, 1 14oz jar of pizza sauce, 2 cups low fat shredded mozzarella.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours.  With this recipe, I tried a week ago and added vegan pepperoni and it came out really good, as it added enough spice

notice differences

Before starting this transformation, food was an addiction. Now, I try to eat junk food my stomach hurts and I get sick. It happened with a donut, and some cookies. I now realize what healthy food does for a body. I am not really hungry anymore, 5 mins after eating. I don't crave junk food really, if I do-I reach for something with protein in it. I don't like feeling like crap literally after eating junk food. What goes on in my head when I eat junk food: How much do I have to work off when I eat junk food, or I can healthy food and know that my body is using the nutrients to work. My workouts at the gym consist of going to spin class, zumba, weight lifting a few times a week, running, on the weekend hiking or running a race. I am going to add yoga somewhere in the mix. I know for competition if I want to do more than figure, and do the fitness, I need some gymnastics and flexibility in the mix somewhere too. This weekend consisted of a 2 mile run with running club, 4+ mile hike afterwards at a state park, plus some half handstand pushups-still not released from doctor on the weight being on my thumb. Today's workout will consist of hiking.

Where I am at today

In November 2013, I was a size 22/24. With the food plan that the 1 session with a nutrionist and my time in the gym, I am down pant sizes and almost 50 lbs. I have gotten a lot better with junk food, I eat to substain my body, not out of anger, boredom, or depression. I have gotten to where junk food makes me sick, my stomach can't handle it and it's embarrassing. I started teaching again, this time kid's fitness so I go into several preschools/daycares, and teach a new sports activity each week. I found out I have jumper's knee so am getting that taken care of, and being more cautious on stretching out and how I work out. I spend an average of 1-2 hours at the gym a day on top of teaching, and on weekends I love to go hiking. I started running- I HATE RUNNING still, and even joined a Runner's group. I signed up for a bunch of 5k's to race in this summer. I attend Zumba classes along with Spin, will be starting yoga soon as I figure out where on my schedule I can fit it. It amazes me at the transitions. Yes, there are days where I don't want to workout or just pigging out sounds like fun, but I push through it. Yes, there are days that my best friend would tell you as they got the blunt of my frustration because the scale didn't move or I can't see the changes. Last week- it finally hit me, when I was able to get into Jr. sizes at a local Walmart. I haven't seen a Jr. size since I lost weight the first time. I spent about 10 mins in the dressing room crying like a baby because finally I saw that my hard work is starting to pay off. Then yesterday 3/28/2014, It really hit me, when I was able to shop in the women's clothing at Hot Topic, even at my smallest I wasn't able to get into Hot Topics clothes, and no it was not the XXL either. My fitness goal is to lose about 54 more lbs for about a total of 106 lbs. I am hoping to have it lost by October. I gave myself of the goal to compete by May 15th to compete in my first fitness competition. When I first started, I was thinking I wanted to be my idol of Anna Nicole Smith's size of when she first started in modeling. I probably forgot to add, I do pinup modeling. She weight 150 when she first started and was a size 12-14. I have now realized I needed to change my goals, to being smaller because I want to be fit not skinny fat. And fitness body type is different than what Anna had. I really want to thank my best friend for giving me the idea, sticking with me when I am texting them complaining and giving me a kick in the booty when I want to give up.

What started the transformation

Ok, the pic that is posted was done in Nov. 2013. This was after I lost my job, a friend, 1 of my grandparents, and my apartment. I eventually lost my apartment too so I was depressed in which I ate and drank a lot. I love the pics, but do not like my body in those pics. My friend tried to cheer my up, and something they told me stuck in my head til this day, "I was happier when I was teaching fitness and working out." And you know what, they were right. The idea of me transforming my body from being fat into fitness competition came about. I have never seen a fitness competition, had no clue what the journey was going to be about. But like I normally do, I just jumped in. I started with working out at home a few times a week, then in Jan 2014, I got a gym membership to the YMCA. By now I had a few more people die in my life, but learned to handle it better because it was becoming routine. I used my sadness and aggression to motivate myself to go to the gym. I also lost the guy I was somewhat dating during this time. Sometimes he would remind me while together, how I am much bigger than what he is used to yadda, yadda. I have decided I don't want to be just that big chick anymore. I increased my time in the gym, to the point I hate not working out rather in the gym or outside or at home. In Feb. 2014, I got some extra money and paid for a nutrionist because working out is not an issue of mine, it's eating. I LIKE FOOD. I live with people who like food, again always junk food around. Food is universal at all social events. Pic from Nov.2013 when I first started thinking fitness compared to few weeks ago.



***should also note, I use the LoseIt app on the Iphone as a way of keeping track of my food intake and exercise as I am a visual learner so it helps me see where I am at daily on food and exercise.

the beginnings

Weight has always been an issue with my growing up. I was always that fat kid in gymnastics and in school. My family is overweight so it's like I wasn't taught the right ways of working out and nutrition. I am not blaming them as the ultimate responsibility is my own doing. By the time jr. high rolled around I was in misses clothes. High school I graduated at a size 18. I really don't remember a time junk food wasn't in my house, or the common ride bike to the pizza joint a few blocks away to get breadsticks and down a whole box. College rolled around along with the "freshman 50." So it wasn't until my late 20's that I thought about losing weight, I have tried weight watchers= couldn't afford the weekly fee. Physician's Weight Loss center=fail at that attempt to, I couldn't afford the foods and every time I left I felt worse about myself. Self-confidence is a huge issue of mine, right up there with being my own worst critic, and feeling unworthy of anything which ironically comes with being a big girl in a society that thinks big=lazy and unattractive. During the time of going to Physician's weight loss, I was teaching Zumba as my main job and each time I went in there, they basically stated that because I am working out, their diet plan isn't working for me, well no considering I was on an 800 calorie plan. When I first started teaching Zumba, I was also teaching preschool dance and tumbling. I lost 60 lbs within a year. I went from a size 24 down to a 14. I wanted a full-time job so I quit teaching Zumba and went working for Red Cross. One thing about Red Cross, they sure like to feed you. I watched my size go right back up to a 24 in the same amount of time it took me to lose the weight. What I looked like at a size 14, teaching Zumba: