Getting to my blog late tonight...it has been a crazy day at work. Today is my long day at work, so I'm here from 8am to 9pm. On days like today, I really have to plan. I have to take breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was very tempting to not order Chinese with the girls today since it ranks high on my favorite food list! :) But I didnt order it! YAY GO ME! Today is another hard day for a workout, but I plan on running a few miles when I get home. People always tell me im crazy to run so late, but it feels good! And its very relaxing! Looking forward to my workouts tomorrow. Gonna hit the Y in the mornin and going to Hotbox tomorrow (scared for that one, but Hether suggested it!) Here was the food plan today:
Breakfast - Egg white on an english muffin topped with salsa
Snack - Yogurt
Lunch - Tuna sandwhich on whole wheat bread and an apple
Snack - Pretzels and Hummus
Dinner - Boiled Shrimp w/ lite cocktail sauce and vegetable mix
Another pretty boring day as far as food goes. I'm gonna try and make some yummy things tomorrow for the weekend, so be lookin out for that! Have a great night :)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
2 for Tuesday!
What is up with all this rain??? I woke up this morning with a major headache, that I went to bed with last night. So needless to say I camped out on the couch watchin Dora and Diego with Ryleigh most of the day. I had hoped to go to the gym this morning, but my headache was not givin up! So I have plans to do a workout tonight that Hether, my trainer blogged this week. Its a circuit training that can be done in the comfort of your home! Here's the circuit and the plan for doing it. You can check more of her blogs out at www.hethercrawford.com
Do everything in this list in a row 25 times with only a 10 second break in between:
Jog in place (30 seconds to warm up)
Jumping Jacks
High knees (right, left=one)
Mountain Climbers (right, left=one)
Squat Jumps
Skaters
Burpees (with a jump at the end)
Jump Rope (slowing down)
Jog in place (slowly for 30 seconds to cool down)
Keep moving slowly (walk around) until your heart rate comes all the way back down to normal.
(You can repeat this circuit as many times as you want – I suggest three times through, but just getting through it once is enough! Do not include the cool down until you have completed it the number of times through you determine.)
This challenge does need to be completed all at once everyday, but should only take around 5-15 minutes. This is a great way to keep yourself moving all week. It’s a quick little blast of hard core calorie burning that will rev up your metabolism! We can all do this every day…Ready, Set, GO!
Here is what I ate today..not to exciting, as I wasn't feeling well most of the day.
Breakfast: Whole wheat English muffin with natural peanut butter
Snack 1: 3 pieces of deli ham
Lunch: left over enchilada
Snack 2: Apple
Dinner: Whole wheat spaghetti with all natural, no sugar added Ragu sauce and a small salad with Newmans Own All Natural Light Italian Dressing (THIS STUFF IS SOOOO GOOD!)
Do everything in this list in a row 25 times with only a 10 second break in between:
Jog in place (30 seconds to warm up)
Jumping Jacks
High knees (right, left=one)
Mountain Climbers (right, left=one)
Squat Jumps
Skaters
Burpees (with a jump at the end)
Jump Rope (slowing down)
Jog in place (slowly for 30 seconds to cool down)
Keep moving slowly (walk around) until your heart rate comes all the way back down to normal.
(You can repeat this circuit as many times as you want – I suggest three times through, but just getting through it once is enough! Do not include the cool down until you have completed it the number of times through you determine.)
This challenge does need to be completed all at once everyday, but should only take around 5-15 minutes. This is a great way to keep yourself moving all week. It’s a quick little blast of hard core calorie burning that will rev up your metabolism! We can all do this every day…Ready, Set, GO!
Here is what I ate today..not to exciting, as I wasn't feeling well most of the day.
Breakfast: Whole wheat English muffin with natural peanut butter
Snack 1: 3 pieces of deli ham
Lunch: left over enchilada
Snack 2: Apple
Dinner: Whole wheat spaghetti with all natural, no sugar added Ragu sauce and a small salad with Newmans Own All Natural Light Italian Dressing (THIS STUFF IS SOOOO GOOD!)
Monday, June 27, 2011
A walk in my shoes...
I get a lot of emails from people asking me what I eat and what kind of exercise I do. I promised a fellow reader that I would blog what eat every day and what kind of workouts I do. My trainer is out of town this week, so my workouts will be adjusted accordingly. In these blogs, I will also include recipes to the foods that I make. Hope you enjoy this journey of a walk in my shoes!
Monday: Mondays are a low calorie day for me because I spend most of my day at the pool. Its usually a rest day as far as a workout goes because we wake up, get dressed and head straight to the pool. When we leave the pool, I head straight home to get ready for work. So, as you can see theres not much time for a workout, unless you count the chasing my 2 year old around the pool like I did today..LOL! :) As far as food goes, I still eat my 5 to 6 meals a day, I just keep them rather low calorie since I'm not working out. Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: 1 cup of cheerios with half a banana and milk
Snack 1: Nutrigrain bar
Lunch: Ham and cheese wrap, pretzels, and an apple
Snack 2: Pretzels and hummus
Dinner: Homemade clean eating enchiladas, beans, and cantaloupe. (I haven't had dinner yet but I packed it and brought it with me.)
Recipe number 1: Clean eating enchiladas
8 whole wheat tortillas
3 cups of shredded chicken ( I used about 8 pretty large chicken tenders)
1 16oz organic tomato sauce
1 4 oz can diced chilies
Chili Powder
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Sea Salt
Pepper
Hot Sauce ( I use Franks)
Low Fat Shredded Cheese
2 Garlic Cloves ( I used the already minced garlic in a jar)
Preheat over to 350. Boil your chicken until done. Once done, shred chicken and put in a skillet with chilis, 1 1/2 tsp of chili powder, 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of onion powder, 1 tsp of franks hot sauce, and a dash of salt and pepper. Mix all of this together and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
While that's cooking, in a separate pot, mix together tomato sauce, 1 tsp of chili powder, 2 garlic gloves (if using the already minced kind, I put about 2 tablespoons in), a dash of salt and pepper. Let this simmer for about 10 minutes.
Once the chicken and sauce is done, put just enough sauce in the bottom of your pan that the enchiladas are going to be cooked in to cover it. Fill your tortillas with the chicken mixture and roll them and place them in the pan rolled side down. Top with the remaining sauce and lightly top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. ENJOY!
There are about 350 calories in 1 enchilada pair it with some black beans and corn and you have a wonderful, filling dinner.
Monday: Mondays are a low calorie day for me because I spend most of my day at the pool. Its usually a rest day as far as a workout goes because we wake up, get dressed and head straight to the pool. When we leave the pool, I head straight home to get ready for work. So, as you can see theres not much time for a workout, unless you count the chasing my 2 year old around the pool like I did today..LOL! :) As far as food goes, I still eat my 5 to 6 meals a day, I just keep them rather low calorie since I'm not working out. Here is what I ate today:
Breakfast: 1 cup of cheerios with half a banana and milk
Snack 1: Nutrigrain bar
Lunch: Ham and cheese wrap, pretzels, and an apple
Snack 2: Pretzels and hummus
Dinner: Homemade clean eating enchiladas, beans, and cantaloupe. (I haven't had dinner yet but I packed it and brought it with me.)
Recipe number 1: Clean eating enchiladas
8 whole wheat tortillas
3 cups of shredded chicken ( I used about 8 pretty large chicken tenders)
1 16oz organic tomato sauce
1 4 oz can diced chilies
Chili Powder
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Sea Salt
Pepper
Hot Sauce ( I use Franks)
Low Fat Shredded Cheese
2 Garlic Cloves ( I used the already minced garlic in a jar)
Preheat over to 350. Boil your chicken until done. Once done, shred chicken and put in a skillet with chilis, 1 1/2 tsp of chili powder, 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of onion powder, 1 tsp of franks hot sauce, and a dash of salt and pepper. Mix all of this together and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
While that's cooking, in a separate pot, mix together tomato sauce, 1 tsp of chili powder, 2 garlic gloves (if using the already minced kind, I put about 2 tablespoons in), a dash of salt and pepper. Let this simmer for about 10 minutes.
Once the chicken and sauce is done, put just enough sauce in the bottom of your pan that the enchiladas are going to be cooked in to cover it. Fill your tortillas with the chicken mixture and roll them and place them in the pan rolled side down. Top with the remaining sauce and lightly top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. ENJOY!
There are about 350 calories in 1 enchilada pair it with some black beans and corn and you have a wonderful, filling dinner.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Mirror mirror on the wall...whos the prettiest of them all???
Ive been thinking about the subject of this blog for a couple of weeks. Its something that I'm still tryin got get used too and never got before losing the weight. ATTENTION! With all the weight I have lost, I am getting a lot more attention from people.
When I weighed 250 pounds, I was very self conscious, had no confidence in myself, wore baggy clothing in attempt to hide my fat body, never got attention from men, or any compliments on how I looked. I never remember being called pretty, hot, gorgeous, or beautiful.
Now I am overwhelmed with compliments and attention. I know you're saying, "Ashley, how can you be overwhelmed with compliments and attention?" But I'm not used to being in the spotlight. Just the other Sunday, I was standing in the cafe at church and someone who has watched me grow up, said they had to do a double take because they didn't know it was me. They saw my daughter, but didn't realize it was me standing there with her. I love when this happens, but it still throws me off! People are always telling me how good I look and how far I've come. And yes, at times it is very overwhelming.
I was speaking with my Pastors wife, Sue Ann Cordell, who happens to have an amazing and inspirational blog (http://shineworthy.wordpress.com/), she said , "Ashley, you are such an inspiration to so many. There are people out there that are watching what you do and reading your blog and you dont even know it." WOW! No pressure or anything! HAHA! As I walked away from this conversation, I was very inspired and filled with a lot of joy.
For so long, I looked down on myself and was never confident. I was always the fat girl in my group of friends and hated to go out with them. But now, I'm a pretty girl and I have a confidence that I never thought I would. I can actually look in the mirror and say, "Ashley! You look HOT!" I take pride in the fact that I am helping others reach their goals. It is still new for me to go out with friends and have guys come up to me or look at me and wink. I still look around at my friends like is he winking at me..LOL! I have worked so hard to get where I am, and I am finally accepting that I am no longer the fat girl. I am a beautiful girl with a wonderful personality that loves helping others!
Hether (www.hethercrawford.com) , my trainer, recently wrote a blog that really hit home with me. It really helped me discover that the attention I get is something I deserve and I should be proud of myself. I'm going to post it here because I don't think I could explain it any better. ENJOY!
When I weighed 250 pounds, I was very self conscious, had no confidence in myself, wore baggy clothing in attempt to hide my fat body, never got attention from men, or any compliments on how I looked. I never remember being called pretty, hot, gorgeous, or beautiful.
Now I am overwhelmed with compliments and attention. I know you're saying, "Ashley, how can you be overwhelmed with compliments and attention?" But I'm not used to being in the spotlight. Just the other Sunday, I was standing in the cafe at church and someone who has watched me grow up, said they had to do a double take because they didn't know it was me. They saw my daughter, but didn't realize it was me standing there with her. I love when this happens, but it still throws me off! People are always telling me how good I look and how far I've come. And yes, at times it is very overwhelming.
I was speaking with my Pastors wife, Sue Ann Cordell, who happens to have an amazing and inspirational blog (http://shineworthy.wordpress.com/), she said , "Ashley, you are such an inspiration to so many. There are people out there that are watching what you do and reading your blog and you dont even know it." WOW! No pressure or anything! HAHA! As I walked away from this conversation, I was very inspired and filled with a lot of joy.
For so long, I looked down on myself and was never confident. I was always the fat girl in my group of friends and hated to go out with them. But now, I'm a pretty girl and I have a confidence that I never thought I would. I can actually look in the mirror and say, "Ashley! You look HOT!" I take pride in the fact that I am helping others reach their goals. It is still new for me to go out with friends and have guys come up to me or look at me and wink. I still look around at my friends like is he winking at me..LOL! I have worked so hard to get where I am, and I am finally accepting that I am no longer the fat girl. I am a beautiful girl with a wonderful personality that loves helping others!
Hether (www.hethercrawford.com) , my trainer, recently wrote a blog that really hit home with me. It really helped me discover that the attention I get is something I deserve and I should be proud of myself. I'm going to post it here because I don't think I could explain it any better. ENJOY!
The Attention Monster
4 May
Over the past year I have helped several obese clients reach their weight loss goals. I love watching people totally transform themselves inside and out. Seeing someone who has been dealing with the bondage of weight for so long finally be free to live is truly amazing! Lately, I have realized that even though these people have reached their goal weight, our work is not done. There are still fears to overcome, challenges to face, and mental breakthroughs to be made now they have a brand new body! The most common issue I see after a dramatic weight loss is attention. I call it the “attention monster”.
At first, the attention is really fun and exciting. People around you are seeing you transform before their eyes! Everywhere you go people are telling you how great you look, and asking you how you are doing it. The attention starts to fuel your efforts. You try harder knowing people are watching and noticing your hard work. But after a while, the attention may start to overwhelm you.
You may be getting attention from the opposite sex that you are not used to. And for some, this attention starts to build your confidence, lifting your self-confidence. You start holding your head up high, knowing that your hard wok is paying off. But for others, this attention causes you to retreat, and in some cases even sabotage your own efforts!
As you reach your goals, everyone is watching what you eat, and bombarding you with questions and compliments. You experience extreme guilt if you slip up on your nutrition. You over train trying to please those around you. Maybe your friends/family don’t know how to deal with all this new attention either. They may become angry or distant. They may even become jealous of the time you are spending on yourself. Will you lose your friends or significant other? You may be used to living in the background, and this new found attention scares you (and those closest to you). How do you deal with it?
First and foremost you MUST know that you are worth it! You deserve to live free from the bondage of the weight that was holding you down. You have worked hard to transform into this new person. Those people that truly love you will be there for you and support you. It may take them a while to get used to this new person you have become, but give them time, and they will realize that you are still the same person they have always loved. You have to have patience with your friends and family. Remember, they are dealing with the change too! Use this as an opportunity to pay it forward. Everyone will have questions. Help those you love transform themselves too!
What about attention from strangers and the opposite sex? Maybe you’ve never had attention like this before. Your afraid you’ll fall for that first person who finds you attractive. Or maybe your afraid you’ll never know if someone really likes you for the right reasons. Have confidence in yourself! You are worthy of attention. You are worth holding out for. You didn’t change your body overnight, and you’re not going to find that special someone over night. Again, KNOW that you are beautiful! Work on changing your self-talk. Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are beautiful. Practice taking compliments gracefully. Instead of lowering your head and mumbling, hold your head high and say thank you! True beauty, from the inside out, is going to attract people. Take time to get to know new people. This is a great opportunity to build new relationships!
If you are already in a relationship, you may be fearing how your significant other will deal with all the attention from the opposite sex. Have patience with them. Reassure them of your commitment to the relationship. Find new and exciting things to do together that you could have never done in your old body. Have fun together!
What happens when the attention slows down? You’ve been at your goal weight for a while, and all of sudden you notice that you aren’t getting the constant praise. There is no longer astonishment when you walk into a room. People are used to the new you. Pull out old pictures and journals. Remember how far you have come! The reward is looking at you in the mirror. You are healthy and confident!
Remember – YOU ARE WORTH IT! Open yourself up to the possibilities around you! Remember how far you’ve come. Be confident in your abilities. Accept praise for your success. And pay it forward!
At first, the attention is really fun and exciting. People around you are seeing you transform before their eyes! Everywhere you go people are telling you how great you look, and asking you how you are doing it. The attention starts to fuel your efforts. You try harder knowing people are watching and noticing your hard work. But after a while, the attention may start to overwhelm you.
You may be getting attention from the opposite sex that you are not used to. And for some, this attention starts to build your confidence, lifting your self-confidence. You start holding your head up high, knowing that your hard wok is paying off. But for others, this attention causes you to retreat, and in some cases even sabotage your own efforts!
As you reach your goals, everyone is watching what you eat, and bombarding you with questions and compliments. You experience extreme guilt if you slip up on your nutrition. You over train trying to please those around you. Maybe your friends/family don’t know how to deal with all this new attention either. They may become angry or distant. They may even become jealous of the time you are spending on yourself. Will you lose your friends or significant other? You may be used to living in the background, and this new found attention scares you (and those closest to you). How do you deal with it?
First and foremost you MUST know that you are worth it! You deserve to live free from the bondage of the weight that was holding you down. You have worked hard to transform into this new person. Those people that truly love you will be there for you and support you. It may take them a while to get used to this new person you have become, but give them time, and they will realize that you are still the same person they have always loved. You have to have patience with your friends and family. Remember, they are dealing with the change too! Use this as an opportunity to pay it forward. Everyone will have questions. Help those you love transform themselves too!
What about attention from strangers and the opposite sex? Maybe you’ve never had attention like this before. Your afraid you’ll fall for that first person who finds you attractive. Or maybe your afraid you’ll never know if someone really likes you for the right reasons. Have confidence in yourself! You are worthy of attention. You are worth holding out for. You didn’t change your body overnight, and you’re not going to find that special someone over night. Again, KNOW that you are beautiful! Work on changing your self-talk. Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are beautiful. Practice taking compliments gracefully. Instead of lowering your head and mumbling, hold your head high and say thank you! True beauty, from the inside out, is going to attract people. Take time to get to know new people. This is a great opportunity to build new relationships!
If you are already in a relationship, you may be fearing how your significant other will deal with all the attention from the opposite sex. Have patience with them. Reassure them of your commitment to the relationship. Find new and exciting things to do together that you could have never done in your old body. Have fun together!
What happens when the attention slows down? You’ve been at your goal weight for a while, and all of sudden you notice that you aren’t getting the constant praise. There is no longer astonishment when you walk into a room. People are used to the new you. Pull out old pictures and journals. Remember how far you have come! The reward is looking at you in the mirror. You are healthy and confident!
Remember – YOU ARE WORTH IT! Open yourself up to the possibilities around you! Remember how far you’ve come. Be confident in your abilities. Accept praise for your success. And pay it forward!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Do you care about your children?
I LOVE MY DAUGHTER!!! She is my motivation for everything I do! When I had her, I made the decision that I was not going to be a mom that couldn't run with her child. I wanted to be able to practice sports with her and keep her active. She was my motivation for losing weight.
I grew up in a family where being overweight was the norm. Good eating habits were not enforced and eating out was common. My mother worked part time at a bakery on Saturdays. A normal Saturday for me would be going to the bakery in the mornin with my dad and getting a cupcake and chocolate milk for breakfast. I also looked forward to when my mom came home because I knew she would bring left over goodies home! When I had my daughter, I vowed that I would make healthy choices for not only myself, but for her as well. Childhood obesity is on the rise. It has tripled in the past 30 years. The state of TN actually has the 4th highest percentage for obese children. This breaks my heart to know that we as parents are at fault for this. Our children are like sponges, they do what we do. If we're eating Big Macs and drinking cokes everyday, our children are gonna do the same thing!
My dad bought my daughter and I a Nashville Shores pass this year. I cant tell you how many families I see there that really need help. Number 1, they're allowing their daughters to wear bathing suits that are inappropriate for their size. But again, our children are sponges, they're only doing what their parents are doing. Number 2, they're letting their small children guzzle down COKES and MT DEW! I mean, Nashville Shores doesn't have the healthiest drink selection, but giving your children coke and mt dew is a huge mistake. Its nothing but sugar that is turning into fat!
I'm not saying I'm a perfect mom and my child eats the healthiest foods every day, but for the most part she does. Ryleigh loves broccoli, carrots and hummus, salad, apples, bananas, strawberries, fish, and chicken. When we go somewhere to eat, she actually asks for broccoli and squeals when the salad comes out! The servers are shocked, I couldn't be more proud though! She does get occasional treats of chicken nuggets and french fries when shes with her MiMi or Papa, but its on occasion. I am proud to say that my daughter sees the healthy food choices I make and follows them. The other day she actually went in the refrigerator and pulled out some carrots and hummus that she wanted for a snack! I was SOOO PROUD!
Not only does she watch what I eat, she also watches me work out and even works out with me! I care about my daughter and her well being. I want her to be healthy. I don't want her to have a childhood of growing up overweight with a lack of self confidence like I did. If you love and care about your children, make healthy choices for them! Show them that eating clean and healthy is fun and good! Get active with them. Go outside and run, find a mommy and me class to do together. Some of the YMCA's actually offer family Zumba! Being healthy and active is fun, especially with the whole family! I've attached some pictures from me boxing with my daughter and a video of boot camp with her!
GO MOMMY GO!
ATTA GIRL!
I WON! I WON!!
Time to stretch!
I grew up in a family where being overweight was the norm. Good eating habits were not enforced and eating out was common. My mother worked part time at a bakery on Saturdays. A normal Saturday for me would be going to the bakery in the mornin with my dad and getting a cupcake and chocolate milk for breakfast. I also looked forward to when my mom came home because I knew she would bring left over goodies home! When I had my daughter, I vowed that I would make healthy choices for not only myself, but for her as well. Childhood obesity is on the rise. It has tripled in the past 30 years. The state of TN actually has the 4th highest percentage for obese children. This breaks my heart to know that we as parents are at fault for this. Our children are like sponges, they do what we do. If we're eating Big Macs and drinking cokes everyday, our children are gonna do the same thing!
My dad bought my daughter and I a Nashville Shores pass this year. I cant tell you how many families I see there that really need help. Number 1, they're allowing their daughters to wear bathing suits that are inappropriate for their size. But again, our children are sponges, they're only doing what their parents are doing. Number 2, they're letting their small children guzzle down COKES and MT DEW! I mean, Nashville Shores doesn't have the healthiest drink selection, but giving your children coke and mt dew is a huge mistake. Its nothing but sugar that is turning into fat!
I'm not saying I'm a perfect mom and my child eats the healthiest foods every day, but for the most part she does. Ryleigh loves broccoli, carrots and hummus, salad, apples, bananas, strawberries, fish, and chicken. When we go somewhere to eat, she actually asks for broccoli and squeals when the salad comes out! The servers are shocked, I couldn't be more proud though! She does get occasional treats of chicken nuggets and french fries when shes with her MiMi or Papa, but its on occasion. I am proud to say that my daughter sees the healthy food choices I make and follows them. The other day she actually went in the refrigerator and pulled out some carrots and hummus that she wanted for a snack! I was SOOO PROUD!
Not only does she watch what I eat, she also watches me work out and even works out with me! I care about my daughter and her well being. I want her to be healthy. I don't want her to have a childhood of growing up overweight with a lack of self confidence like I did. If you love and care about your children, make healthy choices for them! Show them that eating clean and healthy is fun and good! Get active with them. Go outside and run, find a mommy and me class to do together. Some of the YMCA's actually offer family Zumba! Being healthy and active is fun, especially with the whole family! I've attached some pictures from me boxing with my daughter and a video of boot camp with her!
GO MOMMY GO!
ATTA GIRL!
I WON! I WON!!
Time to stretch!Boot Camp Together:)
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
You want me to do what?!?!
Today was my one on one session with Hether (www.hethercrawford.com), my personal trainer. I knew I was in for a treat when she said, "I woke up this mornin, and said Ashley's gonna work hard today!" I feared for my body! LOL! At the beginning of every month we talk about what goals I have. This month I had target areas that needed work, to include my arms and thighs. So we've been doing a lot of weight lifting and strength training. The morning started out pretty hard with a lot of cardio, calisthenics and weight lifting. Next thing I knew Hether had drug the boxing bag out to the floor and said, "I want you to flip this all the way down and back." YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT??? This bag is 70 pounds, and I was supposed to flip it down a soccer field and back! YOU HAVE LOST YOUR MIND! It was really hard! As I was flipping it, some thoughts came over me..this bag weighs 70 pounds, that's 5 pounds shy of what I have lost! I proved a couple of things to myself with doing this task.
*How in the world did I drag 70 + extra pounds around on me?
*Ashley, look how strong you are!
*Ashley, look how far you've come!
*Ashley, you're doing this and you're not quitting!
When I weighed 250 pounds, there was no way I would have been able to flip a 70 pound bag down a soccer field and back. In fact had she told me to do it, I would have said "I CANT!" It feels so good that I can now! It also felt good to know that I am 75 pounds down and haven't given up yet! I'm still going. Flipping that bag up and down a field showed me that I have come a long way and have really increased my strength. My trainer knows how to push me and knows what I need at the right times. I had become quite comfortable in my workouts, and today I was pushed out of my comfort zone into doing something that challenged me and showed me how strong I am. I am attaching a video of me flipping this bag. In the background you can hear my biggest cheerleaders (my daughter and Hether) cheerin me on! Without those 2 always pushing me and giving me that extra bit of encouragement, I wouldn't be able to keep going! Today I said this and am going to stand by it, "GOODBYE 75 POUNDS AND DON'T COME BACK!!!"
*How in the world did I drag 70 + extra pounds around on me?
*Ashley, look how strong you are!
*Ashley, look how far you've come!
*Ashley, you're doing this and you're not quitting!
When I weighed 250 pounds, there was no way I would have been able to flip a 70 pound bag down a soccer field and back. In fact had she told me to do it, I would have said "I CANT!" It feels so good that I can now! It also felt good to know that I am 75 pounds down and haven't given up yet! I'm still going. Flipping that bag up and down a field showed me that I have come a long way and have really increased my strength. My trainer knows how to push me and knows what I need at the right times. I had become quite comfortable in my workouts, and today I was pushed out of my comfort zone into doing something that challenged me and showed me how strong I am. I am attaching a video of me flipping this bag. In the background you can hear my biggest cheerleaders (my daughter and Hether) cheerin me on! Without those 2 always pushing me and giving me that extra bit of encouragement, I wouldn't be able to keep going! Today I said this and am going to stand by it, "GOODBYE 75 POUNDS AND DON'T COME BACK!!!"
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
A "TASTE" of Summer
Summer is really here! This hot weather makes for hard workouts outside, but I LOVE sweating..I know yall think I'm crazy, but it lets me know I'm working hard! Summertime is a really hard time for me to loose weight. Between cookouts, birthday parties, and ice cream, my self control is really tried. This summer I have set a goal to reach my goal weight by my birthday (August 26th). I'm really having to step my game up in order to reach that goal. With that being said, I'm having to make modifications to what I eat at cookouts and not keeping ice cream in my freezer.
I love "tropical, fruity" desserts in the summer. I thought I would share a recipe with you that helps me curb my sweets and ice cream craving. My mother started making this after she had her gastric bypass surgery because sugary desserts upset her stomach, so this was a yummy and perfect substitute. I have to warn you this isn't completely clean, but its low in calories and a nice treat!
Orange Fluff
1 8 oz Tub of Sugar Free Cool-Whip
1 Box of Sugar Free Cheesecake Jello Pudding Mix
1 Can of Mandarin Oranges in Mandarin Orange Juice
1 Can or Crushed Pineapple in Pineapple Juice
Mix the pudding mix and cool-whip together. Drain the juice off the oranges and pineapple (I leave a little in there) Refrigerate it and enjoy. This make about 8 1/2 cup servings. This dessert has 104 calories per 1/2 cup serving! This is by far my favorite summer time dessert. ENJOY!
I love "tropical, fruity" desserts in the summer. I thought I would share a recipe with you that helps me curb my sweets and ice cream craving. My mother started making this after she had her gastric bypass surgery because sugary desserts upset her stomach, so this was a yummy and perfect substitute. I have to warn you this isn't completely clean, but its low in calories and a nice treat!
Orange Fluff
1 8 oz Tub of Sugar Free Cool-Whip
1 Box of Sugar Free Cheesecake Jello Pudding Mix
1 Can of Mandarin Oranges in Mandarin Orange Juice
1 Can or Crushed Pineapple in Pineapple Juice
Mix the pudding mix and cool-whip together. Drain the juice off the oranges and pineapple (I leave a little in there) Refrigerate it and enjoy. This make about 8 1/2 cup servings. This dessert has 104 calories per 1/2 cup serving! This is by far my favorite summer time dessert. ENJOY!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Vending Machine Entertainment
I recently took on a new job where I am confined to a desk. I am the receptionist at Nelson Mazda, so its very rare for me to be able to get up and leave my desk. Its a very laid back job. I answer the phone, do some filing, greet customers, make temp tags, and do some cashier work. I'm able to be on the Internet, read, and do things of that such at my desk, but at times it can be boring. In my former fatty days, I would keep myself busy by eating. (refer back to my very first blog and when I mentioned working in the call center for Suntrust)
Things have changed since then! I was actually just on facebook talking to a friend and said, "Man, I'm hungry! Think I'll go blog!" I couldn't actually be hungry, I just ate dinner. I knew I was bored, so I decided to blog! Funny how your ways change as your lifestyle changes. Had it been a year ago, I would have went to the vending machine and found something to "entertain myself". There are times where I give in to my boredom, but not at the vending machines expense. Here's some of my tricks:
*I don't keep change on me. Most of the time my daughter takes it out of my wallet for her piggy bank:)
*I always keep gum with me. Gum is a distraction and you actually burn calories while chewing it!
*I come prepared with healthy snacks. (carrots/celery and hummus, apples, grapes, bananas, almonds, fiber one bars, oats and honey bars, hard boiled eggs, peanut/almond butter, my version of trail mix)
These 3 things are what help me get through my days at the desk! I don't have to entertain myself with food, and I certainly don't have to do it at the expense of the vending machine!
Things have changed since then! I was actually just on facebook talking to a friend and said, "Man, I'm hungry! Think I'll go blog!" I couldn't actually be hungry, I just ate dinner. I knew I was bored, so I decided to blog! Funny how your ways change as your lifestyle changes. Had it been a year ago, I would have went to the vending machine and found something to "entertain myself". There are times where I give in to my boredom, but not at the vending machines expense. Here's some of my tricks:
*I don't keep change on me. Most of the time my daughter takes it out of my wallet for her piggy bank:)
*I always keep gum with me. Gum is a distraction and you actually burn calories while chewing it!
*I come prepared with healthy snacks. (carrots/celery and hummus, apples, grapes, bananas, almonds, fiber one bars, oats and honey bars, hard boiled eggs, peanut/almond butter, my version of trail mix)
These 3 things are what help me get through my days at the desk! I don't have to entertain myself with food, and I certainly don't have to do it at the expense of the vending machine!
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