Good Week

Some ups and downs...fairly consistent for eating well...got outside & to the gym a few times... all around, a pretty good week. So why am I not seeing anything on the scale? Should I just ditch the scale? I'm addicted to the scale (weigh 1x/day) & it gets VERY frustrating when I don't see the numbers go down...especially when I know I'm eating well & working out.

I will give it some more time, I guess. The last time I was eating really well & working out & the numbers were going down I was almost considering seeing an MD to see if there was something wrong metabolically. So I guess I'll hold to that this time around... If I'm not seeing results in 4 weeks of consistency (eating & exercise) I will go to my doctor to get some things checked out.

Until then...here is something I found on Pinterest...

UGH... Confession Time

 She looks so happy, right?

Today was a good day... 2 "runs" ...total of 7.29 km...ate well. It's good that it was a good day. There haven't been too many of them lately.  Luckily I have amazing people that care about me... People that hae asked me where the heck I've been...on Instagram, on Facebook, on this blog... Confession time: I've been a total slacker and unfortunately it's amounted to an alarmingly staggering 20lb weight gain....UGH...there... I said it.

I've always had hills and valleys of dedication and motivation & this time around has just been the worst.  But I'll pick myself up again and keep going. Hopefully this time it will stick! It has to because I'm sure not getting any younger!

Sweet Heat Bean Salsa & Southwest Turkey Bites

I love how you can't tell on your little phone screen that a picture is blurry... Oh well!

So... Sweet Heat Bean Salsa!

 

You will need:

*1 can of black beans

*1 can of corn

* 1 tomato, diced

*1 red pepper, diced

*1/3 red onion, diced (or more, to taste)

*1 jalapeno (seeded & finely diced)

*1/2 can tidbits pineapple (or more, depending on tastes)

*Cilantro (I used 2 tsp of the tubed cilantro)

*2 tsp granulated garlic

*1/2-1 tsp cumin

*1 tsp sea salt

 

Mix & enjoy!

 

Southwest Turkey Bites

 

*1 lb extra lean ground turkey (or chicken)

*1/4-1/3 C almond flour

*1 egg

*1-2 tsp granulated garlic

*1 tsp cumin

*1 tsp sea salt

*2 tsp cilantro (dry)

 

Mix all ingredients together, adding more almond flour if desired

(breadcrumbs may be subbed in if you so desire)

Mixture will be sticky. Drop onto cookie sheet covered with greased foil.

Bake at 390 F 12-15 min (I didn't really time it...just took them out when they started to brown & they were still really moist!)

 

Hope you enjoy these clean recipes!

 

p.s. I thought this was really funny...not meant to offend!

 

My "Healthy Sludge" Drink

So this is my little creation that I (try to) take every day.

You will need:
*2oz MonaVie Max Acai juice
*extra water
*1 TBSP Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate Gelatin
*2 TBSP psyllium husk
*1 TBSP chia seeds

MonaVie Mx : Benefits ~
*Promotes overall health and well being
*Fights oxidative damage and the signs of aging
*Increases joint mobility and flexibility
*Helps safeguard your body against potentially harmful microorganisms
*Optimizes your immune system
*Boasts 19 antioxidant rich fruits and 11 vegetables

Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate Gelatin - I found out about this gelatin from my dear friend, Kristi, who has taught me a lot about health & wellness! Collagen "is a  hydrolyzed gelatin...recommended as a pure protein source and collagen supplement...As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, causing our skin and bones to lose their flexibility, and we experience stiff joints and wrinkles associated with aging.  Athletes whose bodies are required to regenerate collagen fibers for optimal body fitness find that hydrolyzed gelatin, a protein source that is both tryptophan-free and sugar-free, also enhances athletic performance and speeds recovery.  Great Lakes Hydrolysate Gelatin is also recommended as a weight loss suppressant because of its ability to suppress the appetite.  Supplementing our diets with Great Lakes Hydrolyzed Gelatin is a healthy way to add a protein in its most absorbable, rapidly available form for maximum joint care and anti-aging effect."

Pysllium Husk:
Psyllium husk is a type of soluble fiber that's sometimes used for treating high blood sugar, constipation, diarrhea and high cholesterol. It absorbs water, which makes it bulkier and may help you feel fuller. Also...since I have a lot of protein in my diet, it helps to keep things moving :)

Chia Seeds: (info from here)
10 reasons to add chia seeds to your diet:
1) Combat Diabetes
Chia is being studied as a potential natural treatment for type-2 diabetes because of its ability to slow down digestion. The gelatinous coating chia seeds develops when exposed to liquids-can also prevent blood sugar spikes.
2) Get More Fibre
Just a 28-gram or one-ounce serving of chia has 11 grams of dietary fibre — about a third of the recommended daily intake for adults. Adding some chia to your diet is an easy way to make sure you're getting a good amount of fibre, which is important for digestive health.
3) Stock Up On Omega-3
Chia seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, with nearly five grams in a one-ounce serving. These fats are important for brain health. "There's better conversion of omega 3s into the plasma or into the food than with flax seed," said researcher Wayne Coates.
4) Stronger Teeth And Bones
A serving of chia seeds has 18 per cent of the recommended daily intake for calcium, which puts your well on your way to maintaining bone and oral health, and preventing osteoporosis.
5) Don't Forget Manganese
Manganese isn't a well-known nutrient, but it's important for our health: it's good for your bones and helps your body use other essential nutrients like biotin and thiamin. One serving of chia seeds, or 28 grams, has 30 per cent of your recommended intake of this mineral.
6) Plenty Of Phosphorus
With 27 per cent of your daily value for phosphorus, chia seeds also helps you maintain healthy bones and teeth. Phosphorus is also used by the body to synthesize protein for cell and tissue growth and repair.
7) Pack In The Protein
Chia seeds also make a great source of protein for vegetarians and don't have any cholesterol. One 28-gram serving of these super seeds has 4.4 grams of protein, nearly 10 per cent of the daily value.
8) Fight Belly Fat
Chia's stabilizing effect on blood sugar also fights insulin resistance which can be tied to an increase in belly fat, according to Live Strong. This type of resistance can also be harmful for your overall health.
9) Get Full. Faster
Tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, is also found in chia seeds. While tryptophan is responsible for that strong urge to nap after a big Thanksgiving dinner for example, it also helps regulate appetite, sleep and improve mood.
10) Improve Heart Health
According to the Cleveland Clinic, chia seeds have been shown to improve blood pressure in diabetics, and may also increase healthy cholesterol while lowering total, LDL, and triglyceride cholesterol. All good news for your ticker!

So there you have it...suck it up & drink it down!

21 DSD Green Apple Coconut 2-Bites...with a Twist

Found this recipe in my Facebook feed (thanks Diane Sanfilippo) & thought I'd give it a try. It's from the amazing PaleOMG.

Check out the original recipe if you are doing the 21 Day Sugar Detox...or give this one a try...I just made a couple of changes :)

 

You will need:

*1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored & diced

*1/2 C coconut butter (I used a bit more than 1/2 C & divided the amount I used evenly between these 3 products: Nutiva's Coconut Manna, Nikki's Coconut Butter in Vanilla Cake Batter, & Macadamia Nut Cookie)

*3 TBSP Coconut Oil

*2 tsp cinnamon

*pinch of salt

*1 tsp granulated stevia (I used Krisda's for baking)

*3 TBSP (about) Rockwell's Coconut Chips

*1-2 TBSP more coconut oil for sautéing the apples

 

Here's what you do:

*Saute the diced apples in coconut oil.

*Soften/melt the coconut butter & oil in a bowl in the microwave (I did 39 seconds to be precise)

*Add in the coconut chips, stevia, cinnamon & salt.

*By this time the apples should be ready (you want them soft, but not burned); add them to the coconut butter mixture.

*Spoon the mixture (about 1 TBSP at a time) into mini muffin cups of choice in a muffin tin (I used parchment paper mini muffin cups bc that's all I had...worked great!)

*Place muffin tin in the freezer (for the shortest hardening time...you could also put into the fridge)

*When solid, unwrap & enjoy!

 

The disaster I create when I bake!

The final result!

 

p.s. they are soooo good!!!

Quest Nutrition Chocolate Chunk Almond Cookies...Review

So I found a recipe I wanted to try on Instagram (as usual, these days) from Quest Nutrition ... Quest Choc Chunk Almond Cookies. . I LOVE Quest Bars! They are amazing! The flavors are so good & the macros in them are really good too! The only other time I've baked with Quest bars, I made little mini cheesecakes & they turned out pretty good.

Here's the recipe (copied from here):
Ingredients

• 1 Double Chocolate Chunk Quest Bar, cut into small chunks
• 2 egg whites
• ¼ cup all natural almond butter
• 1/3 cup oat flour
• ¼ cup almond meal flour
• ½ scoop vanilla protein powder
• 2 Tbsp. granulated stevia
• ¼ tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 cup Chocolate Chips, optional

Method
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 4 small ramekins with cooking spray and set aside.
2. Place egg whites and almond butter in a mixing bowl and whisk together until smooth. Add in the remainder of the ingredients and stir until well combined. Place cookie dough in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour before baking.
3. Take about ¼ cup (or ¼ of the total amount) of the cookie batter and spoon into one of the ramekins. Repeat this process until all 4 ramekins are filled. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 14-16 minutes. Remove and let cool slightly.
Nicolette’s Tips
* You may substitute almond butter with any all natural nut butter.

 

They turned out pretty awesome! They were really goof when they were warm, right out of the oven...but a little dry when they cooled down. The trick was to heat them up in the microwave a little & they were good to go!  Good little snack...great recipe!

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Protein Pudding

So I like to whip things up sometimes...throw things in until I think it will be good. Today my creation was a success! So yummy!

You will need:

 

*3/4 C ff greek yogurt

*2/3 scoop protein powder (I used Cellucor's Cookies n' Cream)

*1/4 packet of sugar free/ff cheesecake pudding mix

*1-2 TBSP of PB2 (depending on how peanut buttery you want it)

*1-2 TBSP unsw vanilla almond milk (depending on the consistency you want)

*1 tsp vanilla extract

*Sweet Drops Vanilla Crème (liquid stevia) to taste

*1-2 TBSP sf syrup (depending on the sweetness you want)

 

Mix together & enjoy!

 

Calories: 286  C:27 F:2 P:40

 

 

Clean Strawberry Cheescake French Toast Sandwich

I've discovered as I've been trying to eat healthy, work out & subsequently lose weight, that I don't do well with restrictions.  I hate limiting things & feeling like I "can't" have something...that makes me want it even more & eventually I'll give in & have it.

So as I've been eating clean I've discovered a whole world of re-makes... (thanks Instagram!) Twists on traditionally delectable recipes making them cleaner...healthier for me. So I thought I'd try my hand at creating a cleaner version of the above mentioned meal. Here goes!



For the French Toast:

*2 slices bread of choice

(mine is "light" bread I got in the States (35 calories per slice~ How do they do it down there?!?!)

*egg whites

*cinnamon

*Sweet Leaf Sweet Drops in Vanilla Crème

 

Strawberry Filling:

*Sliced strawberries (frozen or fresh)

*Sweet Leaf Sweet Drops in Vanilla Crème to taste

Mixed together (microwaving if frozen)

 

Cream Cheese Filling:

*2 TBSP fat free cream cheese

*1-2 TBSP 0% fat plain greek yogurt

*1-2 TBSP fat free cool whip

*1 tsp vanilla

*1 tsp Lorann Cream Cheese Baking Emulsion (optional~adds cream cheese flavor)

*Sweet Leaf Sweet Drops in Vanilla Crème to taste

Mix all ingredients together.

 

Assemble sandwich & enjoy warmed or cold!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Batter Protein Pudding

Yes, I realize this is the longest name in the history of names...but I really needed to capture the essence of what I'd created & exactly what I was tasting.

Let me tell you about this snack I just made for myself...It's amazing! It tastes exactly like the name describes. So lets get down to the recipe (measurements are approx, because when I cook & bake, I kind of just throw things in until I'm happy...but I'll try to be as accurate as I can):

1/2 cup FF greek yogurt

2-3 TBSP 1% cottage cheese

1 scoop Cellucor Cookies n Cream protein powder

1-2 TBSP PB2

3 pitted dates

1 tsp Stevia

Unsweetened almond milk to desired consistency (I used 1-2 TBSP)

Topped with: 1 TBSP melted Kraft Chocolate Peanut Butter

Rockwell's Coconut Chips

I mixed all ingredients in my food processor (to chop up the dates & emulsify the cottage cheese), adding almond milk as needed for consistency. Then I topped with the melted peanut butter & coconut chips. 

So delish! This weighs in at about 365 calories for the whole recipe... Let me tell you, I wasn't able to eat the whole thing...only about 3/4 of it.  So feel free to cut the recipe as needed, or just save some for later! Enjoy!

Apple Pie Pancake Zoats...the Results

So I had my first batch of Zoats today (well, I snuck some last night)...Let me tell you...amazing!!! I topped them off with some greek yogurt "frosting". I mixed some plain greek yogurt with some unsweetened applesauce, some vanilla & some stevia. Then I placed some coconut chips on top & away I went! So good. I definitely recommend make them soon!

Overnight Oats & ZOATS??

So I happened upon the wonderful world of overnight oats the other day... They are absolutely FABULOUS!!! I felt like I was eating a healthy blizzard...It was that amazing. Here's an instructional video:

So then, in my Instagram travels, I read about ZOATS... "What the heck are zoats?", you might ask (if you were like me, and didn't have a clue).  Zoats are oats (oatmeal) cooked in combination with shredded zucchini to give you a fuller meal without breaking the calorie/carb bank with all of those oats! You can also add egg whites (zeggs, get it?) Here's a link describing how to cook egg whites into your oats...from the fabulous, fitgirlfuel (whom I found thanks to the lovely & inspirational Ashley)

So I decided to try making a breakfast trifecta...overnight zoats/zeggs. I decided to try to make an apple pie pancake flavor... So here's what I came up with:

*Cook 1/3 rolled oats in 1 cup water. I turned the heat down to medium after adding the oats.

*A couple minutes in add 1/2 C shredded zucchini & grated 1 apple.

*Cook for a while until everything is soft & mushy. 

*Add 1 TBSP cinnamon & stevia to taste (I think I added about 2 tsp of baking stevia)

*Add 1/3 C egg whites (I got 1L at Superstore for $3.99!) & stir constantly (otherwise you'll end up with scrambled eggs in you zoats!) until everything is nice & fluffy. 

*I then added 1/2 scoop of vanilla ice cream protein powder, 2 TBSP walnut pieces, some sugar free maple syrup taste syrup & a little unsweetened almond milk. 

* I stirred well & put the mixture into a container to refrigerate overnight. 

It smelled amazing & I can't wait to try it tomorrow! I'll post pics & my opinion of the results tomorrow!

Product Reviews! Things I've Been Loving Lately

1. Green Pastures Butter Oil/Fermented Cod Liver Oil - There is awesome info about FCLO here  “Fermented cod liver oil is the one supplement I think nearly everyone can benefit from. I’ve seen it clear acne, lift depression, balance hormones, and reverse autoimmunity. I use it myself and recommend it to all of my patients.” – Chris Kresser, L.Ac.

2. PB2 - I found out about PB2 from Alex's cousin, Ashley, who has been a huge motivator for me. It's powdered peanut butter & has less fat than straight up peanut butter. You can add the powder directly to smoothies/baking, or reconstitute it with water!

3. Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate Gelatin - I found out about this gelatin from my dear friend, Kristi, who has taught me a lot about health & wellness! Collagen "is a  hydrolyzed gelatin...recommended as a pure protein source and collagen supplement...As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, causing our skin and bones to lose their flexibility, and we experience stiff joints and wrinkles associated with aging.  Athletes whose bodies are required to regenerate collagen fibers for optimal body fitness find that hydrolyzed gelatin, a protein source that is both tryptophan-free and sugar-free, also enhances athletic performance and speeds recovery.  Great Lakes Hydrolysate Gelatin is also recommended as a weight loss suppressant because of its ability to suppress the appetite.  Supplementing our diets with Great Lakes Hydrolyzed Gelatin is a healthy way to add a protein in its most absorbable, rapidly available form for maximum joint care and anti-aging effect."

4. Nikki's Coconut Butter - "Prepare yourself for a new addiction" the home page warns...& it's true. These flavored coconut butters are amazing. You can bake with them, add to smoothies, or eat right off the spoon. My faves are 'Honey Pecan Pie', 'Vanilla Cake Batter' & 'Macadamia Nut Cookie'.

5. Rockwell's Coconut Chips - I mentioned these before, as the secret ingredient in my blueberry smoothie...sooo yummy! You can use these to sweetened just about anything, especially if you grind it up in a food processor. They're also awesome to add to trail mix or granola, or just on their own! I found these at Costco :)

6. Krisda Chocolate Chips - These chocolate chips are great! They're sugar free, gluten free, with no artificial sweeteners or additives & are high in fibre! I just love them! I've added them to greek yogurt & plan to use them in some overnight oats.

So there you have it... just some of the awesome products I've found (some with the help of others!) & am loving!

Depression Reared It's Ugly Head

Depression...I know I've mentioned it before, but I need to write about it again.  I've been really struggling with it & it's held me back from my fitness goals. It's like treading through very thick fog & you just don't seem to get anywhere.  I know it's different for everyone, but for me, it presented itself with symptoms of fatigue (extremely tired, all the time), complete lack of drive and motivation & just general feelings of sadness & blah.  I finally sought help to deal with it & have been seeing vast improvements in the last couple of weeks. It feels like a light has been switched on & the fog has gotten a lot thinner.

I don't know how many times I've heard ''Oh you know how to do it...you've done it before, you can do it again''...I knew that...I just didn't have the full capacity to go forward & do something about it.  But I do now :)  As a result, I'm eating a lot better & have the drive & energy to workout.  I've been tracking my meals & snacks on My Fitness Pal & my runs with Nike+ Running. Things are going well... I've got some more weight to lose to get back to where I was when I was tracking a few months ago. It's frustrating to have the setback...but I know no matter what, it's gotta get done & I know I can do it... and this time when I say that, I believe it!

The Husband Tries CrossFit

So Alex loves going to the gym...let me correct that...Alex loves going to HIS gym...He has his routine that he does (chest day, leg day, etc)...your standard gym rat type thing. (Don't worry, he never reads this blog so there's no way he'll get offended) I've been wanting him to try CrossFit for a long time now & yesterday, he finally conceded!

He was supposed to go to Edmonton in the afternoon, so I went to bootcamp in the morning.  Then he decided he would go Edmonton this morning instead & as a result went to his gym.  Part way through him being there I decided I would go to the 4:30 CrossFit...even though I knew THIS was the workout:

“Shilly Chipper”

50 Pullups

50 Pushups

50 Box Jumps with step down (24/20)

50 Shoulder to Overhead (95/65)

50 Med Ball Cleans (20/14)

50 Double Unders

50 Burpees 

I texted him, asking if he would come with me & he texted back "No way, I'm at the gym right now!"  So I replied that I had already worked out & was willing to go again, so why couldn't he?  Well... after some debate, he accepted the challenge!  Now, Alex has come with me to bootcamps before, but never CrossFit.  I told him what the workout was, but he didn't seem phased or nervous.  He even started doing push ups BEFORE the class (as I was stretching) to "warm up", he said.  One of the instructors afterwards commented on the push ups thing, saying "You knew there were push ups in the workout, right?" 

It was cute though...to see him do things his way. Regular style push ups vs. CrossFit style push ups, for example.  And pull ups... he's used to only doing strict pull ups & so it was neat to see him learn how to do beat swings & then kipping pullups. And let me tell you... he could do them & man, it was hot!

So in the workout, we worked away at each task & I could quickly tell that it was a style of working out that he wasn't used to.  He was working hard, but I was soon able to pass him in what we were doing. It gave me a little sense of pride to know that even though he's quite fit, I was able to keep up with him & even pass him, finishing before he did.  I think it was just things he wasn't used to doing. But he worked really hard & finished strong & I was so proud of him for coming with me.  I hope he'll decide to come with me again sometime & maybe even get into CrossFit instead of being a gym rat.

Love you Alex!

Faux Artisana Cacao Bliss

So a 6oz jar of Artisana's Cacao Bliss is $9.99 + TX + Shipping. Ugh.  So I decided to try to make my own.  I looked at the ingredients on the jar & winged it.  And let me tell you, it turned out pretty good!  So here's what I think I threw into my food processor... (It makes a lot, so feel free to adjust the amounts)

3/4 C. homemade coconut butter *see below
1/2 C. virgin coconut oil
4 TBSP unsweetened cacao powder I used a combo of this & this)
2/3 C. melted Cacao Butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 packages Grace brand pure creamed coconut (softened in warm water first)
1/3 C (maybe less?) Coconut Secret Coconut Nectar - (I used this because I didn't have Agave Nectar like it says on the Artisana Cacao Bliss packaging)

All blended together in my little food processor until smooth.  Poured into glass jars & then I put them in the fridge just to set (it was liquid when finished blending).  And you're done! YUM!

***Homemade Coconut Butter
300g package unsweetened medium coconut
4 TBSP virgin coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 dash of pink Himalayan sea salt

Ground in food processor until it forms coconut butter!

Cortisone Shots = YUCK!

So last week, (as per recommendation from my attractive orthopedic surgeon) I got a cortisone shot in my left knee.  I was thinking there would be freezing first, but nope...he whips out a HUGE needle & tells me to take a deep breath. PAIN...I can feel the liquid make its way into my knee, PRESSURE...Ugh, it was so gross. I asked..."What was that, a 16 gauge?"... "Nope, an 18 gauge" he says.  Well...after a day or so of stiffness & pain, I have to say my knee feels much better than it has in a long time. So, that's a plus :)

Then, on Thursday (2 days ago), I got a cortisone shot in my lower back. That was even less fun. Luckily there was freezing first, so all I could feel was weird digging around & pressure. The thing that made it a little bit better was Alex. He was waiting in the waiting area (just a few feet away from me...I was behind a curtain getting a sterile procedure done, so he couldn't be there).  He'd gotten a cut on his thumb & when we first got there we had asked for a band aid.  So he's just sitting there while I'm getting poked & prodded in my lower back & then a nurse (that didn't know anything about the band aid giving situation) asked him what he was doing sitting there.

Well without missing a beat, Alex replied that he'd gotten a cut & one of the nurses had asked him to stay for observation; that they wanted to "monitor him"... "But it's just a cut", he says, "I don't understand why I can't just go..."  Well the nurse started to freak out a bit & it was hilarious. "What do you mean they want to monitor you?" It went on for a little bit until Alex admitted he was just there waiting for me to be done.  It was so funny...I love my husband...he makes me laugh every day.

So once I was all done I got the bad news about having to miss CrossFit not only for that day, but for Friday too :(  I wouldn't have been comfortable anyway as I was pretty sore & am even sore today (Saturday).  But I went to CrossFit today & it was a killer WOD:

300 skips (100 Double unders - ya right)
50 Handstand push ups (scaled to DB push press)
50 Toe to bars (scaled to knee ups)
50 Shoulder to overhead
100 Walking lunges

but I did it & I'm glad I went.

And I'll keep going...I was so worried when I met with my attractive orthopedic surgeon that he was going to tell me I had to stop CrossFit & needed to do Aquacize or something...but lucky for me he was very supportive of CrossFit, providing I keep doing what I'm doing now, which is monitoring how my body feels & scaling things back (no jumping or running or box jumps, for example).  And then once I've lost the weight that I need to I should be fine to do all of those things.  The cortisone shots are a means to help me manage my pain while I work towards the weight loss & then I should be fine once I've reached my goal weight. (So excited!!)

Another piece of exciting news (which will most likely help me in my weight loss) ... I've been asked to be a mentor in the upcoming Grande Prairie's Biggest Loser competition (the one that I won in 2011).  This year there will be 2 teams & no eliminations each week, just a winning team and a losing team...& then the overall winner will be the one with the highest % of weight lost.  And it's extended to 12 weeks (instead of 8 weeks) so they'll have a longer time to see results.  The winner from 2013, Barb,  is the other mentor. We will get to work out with them at least 3 times a week & go to the weekly challenges & weigh ins. I'm so excited!!!

Alright... I think that's enough for now... until next time!

Most Recent Weigh In & CrossFit Rules!

Weigh in today...success!! 3 lbs...I'm happy... "Slow & steady keeps the weight off for good" (that's how the saying goes, right?)  I've been making more good choices than bad with food & it's paying off.  And I've been working hard with CrossFit too... trying new things that I didn't think I could...

For example...

This is me doing my first ever handstand! (well, in the last 25 years anyway)  I didn't think I'd be able to do it, but I made the decision to try...and I did it! It felt so good I did it like 6 more times :)

And today I had a personal record of 165 lbs with back squats! 

So all in all it's been pretty awesome with CrossFit lately... I'm feeling really good...a lot stronger... and slimming down too!

'Til next time...

Motivation

Needed a little motivation for my computer desktop, so I made this...