So…. that 31 days thing….

Wow. November 1st is finally here. I seriously thought you would never come. October was a long, hard month, and while I am glad its over with, I learned a whole lot about myself in the process. Its time to reflect.

Prior to the month of October, I wasn't the most consistent blogger. I sometimes went weeks without posting, which made me sad. When I first learned of 31 days, I saw it as an opportunity to get out of a rut by forcing myself to write every day. I think the hamartia in my plan was that I decided this on September 30th with zero time to think of a topic I could write about for 31 days, as well as plan out the posts so I wasn't flying by the seat of my pants every night. Writing ahead was also something that I didn't really give myself the opportunity to do either.  So lack of planning and preparation really influenced my opinion of the experience as a whole.

Now onto the good things. 31 days taught me a lot about myself, as a person and as a blogger. I showed me that I absolutely have the time to write 5-7 blog posts a week. This is where I would like to be for the time being. I am a small operation with still under 200 views a day. As much as I wish I were among the likes of The Nester, Young House Love, Design Sponge or the like, I am not. I am a one lady operation with a full time job and a 2 hour a day commute that actually likes to spend time with her husband and not be on the computer all night long. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I am not paid to do this, ergo I can not crank out long, thoughtful posts 10-15 times a week. 5-7 is definitely my max.

I also learned that I am kinda weak. I guess I didn't learn that, I knew that, but it became glaringly obvious at two points this last month. I have a quitter in me. Its not something I am proud of, but it is there. The quitter fights me every day. I get very defeated and down on myself if I feel like something is too hard, or I am not giving it my best, so I quit. I have quit a lot of things in my life. So I need to recognize she is in there, and fight her tooth and nail because life is hard.

I think the biggest lesson gained from this trying experience is the importance of an excellent support system. The day I decided to quit, I got my ass chewed by my cousin Kristen, and for that I am so thankful. If there is one thing I hate more than anything, it is disappointing people. Weird considering I have a quitter in me… But this really pointed out to me how much people around me care. Like she said to me, Life is hard. Dieting is hard, heck MARRIAGE is hard, but you can't give up. You have to buck up and do something even if it sucks because you said you were going to do it. If you always quit, you will never succeed. Hearing how much she cares about me and my success (even if it is a silly blog thing) meant more than the world to me. I know that when stuff gets tough, I have someone I can turn to. And I know if I ever think about quitting something again, I will have to answer to her, and for that I am thankful.

So while it was painful, it was definitely worth it. I think more than 31 days of blogging about fitness, I had 31 days to prove I could do something, and finish it. So now if you were to ask me if I would do it again, I might still say no lol, but its closer to a maybe than it was 8 days ago.

How did it go for you? Learn anything particularly insightful?

31 Days of Fit- Eat Some Candy

OMG its the last post! I thought this day would never come! Before we get to my summary of this whole blogging series, lets finish out the topic!

Holy cow its Halloween! If this isn't a holiday built around eating candy, I don't know what it is. If you have a sweet tooth, like I do, candy can be a challenge. My hardest challenge is both saying no, and stopping when it comes to candy. I can plow through a whole bag of mini Reeces cups like there nothing, leaving only an empty bag of foil balls and the last shreds of my will power behind. Ok I might be a little dramatic, but its kind of a problem.

So a big bag of your kids halloween candy might present itself as a huge challenge for you. My first tip is to walk away. Physically leave the candy in a different room for a minute and take a breath. Make the choice to only have 1 or 4 or however many you can allow yourself without the shame spiral that will follow. Then make a good candy choice. Yes, there really is such a thing. Not all candy is equal. Choose what will make you most satisfied, and eat it.

Here are the points for some popular Halloween candies

I am all about the more bang for your buck. My two favorites on this list are Skittles for 2 pts, and Tootsie Rolls for 4. You get so much more candy, and they are small pieces so they last longer, for your points! When I need a chocolate fix, you bet 13 mini tootsie rolls do the trick! Heck, 7 do the trick. 13 is a ton of toosies rolls!

So now you know what candy to eat, what do you do with the rest? Get rid of it. Seriously. Hiding it wont work. Even throwing it away inside wont work if you have no will power. I may or may not have  pulled disposed candy (still in its wrapper) out of the top of the trash can…. Raise your hand if I'm not alone…

Anyhoo, get it out! Take it to the trash outside, give it to a neighbor, donate it to the food bank, take it to work (but give it to someone who doesn't sit ANYWHERE near you)! Just get rid of it. Do it for you. 

Wow this has already turned into a long post, so come back tomorrow to see how I felt about the whole experience (tho I am sure you can guess).

31 Days of Fit- Do Something Else

Aaahh mindless eating. I think we have all experienced this (at least all of us who are fat lol). You get home from a long day of work, eat dinner, then sit down and relax on the couch. Something about sitting on the couch makes us want to eat. It could be boredom, or a need to move our mouthes and hands, but it always ends with mindlessly putting food into our mouths. 

The key to stopping this behavior is to figure out what you are getting out of it. 

Are you really hungry? Sometimes after dinner I am still hungry. Thats when I turn to zero points + foods like fruits and veggies. A big bowl of broccoli (steamed or raw with yogurt ranch dip) help fill me up after dinner if I am not quite full. I also love cauliflower the same way. Another favorite (but not point free) is popcorn. I am one of those weird people that like plain white butter free popcorn. It is my favorite. It is only 2 pts for 3 cups (or 3 pts for 5 cups, if I am really feeling it). It is definitely a good option that wont kill my day. 

Are you bored? Lets be honest, watching tv can be kinda boring. You are sitting still, staring at the tv, and it feels a little mindless. Luckily there are ways to keep you entertained without putting food into your mouth. You could learn to crochet or knit, and do these things while watching tv. You can also get on the computer and blog (obviously my drug of choice). Another great thing is to stand up and exercise while watching. Grab some hand weights, sit on a ball, stretch on the floor. Do anything to distract yourself from the food in the kitchen.

Are you craving? I'm not sure about all of you, but I have a sweet tooth, especially at night. I just want something sweet to curb my craving before I feel satisfied. I think I have figured out the root of this craving. After eating dinner, you have all the dinner tastes left in your mouth (and it might not taste very good anymore) and you want something that does taste good to replace it. My tip- brush your teeth. Brush your teeth right after dinner so you don't get that taste, and the taste of toothpaste is actually sweet, so that might help. I also try to drink water because that cool crisp clean taste helps with the craving too. 

So there you have it. When you are sitting on the couch, thinking about grabbing a snack, sit and think "Am I hungry? Am I bored? Do I need to brush my teeth?" before grabbing that snack :)

Weigh in week 6!

And I'm back! I tried to make better choices this week, including a little more activity and it totally paid off! I lost 3 lbs this week, which makes up for the 1.6 I gained last week, plus 1.4 more :)

I am so happy to be back on track and I am so so soooo excited that I hit the little mental goal I had of 265! :)

31 Days of Fit- Sneak it In

Sometimes its hard to find the time to work out. We are busy, have other things to do, etc. There are a plethora of excuses we can use. So here are some easy ways to sneak in activity so you don't even realize you are doing it!

Do squats while brushing your teeth. It might take a few times to become coordinated enough to do this one, but what else are you doing with your lets while brushing? You can also do squats while pumping gas. I did this the other day, and while I felt a little silly, my thighs thanked me later. 

Do 10 leg lifts before getting out of bed in the morning. This will help you wake up, and it doesn't feel like exercise because your head is still on your pillow. 

While at work, if you spend a lot of time on the phone (and not typing) keep hand weights near by, and do bicep curls or shoulder presses while talking. 

As always, you can park farther away and walk, or take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. 

Play with your dog or kids. Chasing a dog or a toddler can be hard work. Next time they are running around, chase them :)

So there you have it. 5 easy ways to sneak in exercise every day. For more easy "around the house" work out ideas, check out this awesome blog, VioletSage to see what she does around her house! She has some awesome tips!

Come back around 12:30 today to see how my week 6 weigh in went! 

31 Days of Fit- "Thin-spiration"

There are lots of different ways to get inspiration. Inspiring quotes, looking at photos of celebrities, taking progress photos, etc. Something that really inspires me is clothes. That is probably really vain of me to say, but other than being healthy, I want lose weight to wear cute clothes.

I have been shopping around for the perfect thin-spirational outfit, at stores I love like Target and Old Navy. Here are some things that I want to be able to wear.

Pretty much this whole outfit. I love it all.

I also seriously love this look for work. I want to wear a pencil skirt. 

I also love this look for work.

And I want to be able to buy boots that fit around my calves without having to order them online. 

So basically my thinspiration includes lots of skinny jeans, boots, cardigans and simple tops. Throw in a few belts and I am in heaven. 

What clothes inspire you?

31 Days of Fit- Drink Like a Skinny Bitch

When most people diet, they don't take into account the number of calories in alcohol. Even tho it is clear like water, it is not calorie free like water ;)

While alcohol has calories, what really kills you is what you mix it with! So be careful about creamy drinks, or really sweet drinks, and try to ask for diet cola when you have a rum and coke. 

Here are some bad examples. 

Pina Colada (6 oz) - 378 Cal, 10 P+

Chocolate Martini (4 oz) - 438 Cal, 29 P+ (eek!!)

Long Island Ice Tea (8 oz) - 780 Cal, 15 P+

Margarita (8 oz) - 280 Cal, 14 P+

I think these are an excelent example of how different calories and points plus are. Sure a chocolate martini only has 438 calories, but the number of CARBS is what gives it a much higher points + value than a long island ice tea, which has WAY more calories. 

Here are some better choices. 

Gin and Tonic (7 oz) - 200 Cal, 5 P+

Tom Collins (8 oz) - 122 Cal, 4 P+ (a favorite of mine!!)

Bloody Mary (5 oz) - 188 Cal, 4 P+

Appletini (4 oz) - 210 Cal, 5 P+

So next time you go out, you don't have to worry about not having fun, as long as you are prepared. And even tho 5 P+ is better than 29 P+ for a drink, remember you are drinking your points and they will add up fast. I suggest using your 49 weeklies for going out, so you can still enjoy yourself. :)

31 Days of Fit- Survive Holiday Parties

Tis the season for lots of Holiday parties, which are kind of a recipe for disaster for the heath conscious.   They are undoubtably filled with calorie stuffed goodies that make you nostalgic, and are notorious for not having many healthy options.

Such is the reality of the holidays, but with a little planning (and SELF CONTROL) you can beat it!

The first step is to ask the hostess what food will be there. If you know what will be offered, you can plan around that. If it is potluck style, you have a great opportunity to bring something you know you can have! Its also fun to introduce fun and low calorie favorites to your friends and family.

Worst case scenario and there will be nothing (if not very little) that you can enjoy without wrecking your week, eat before you go. Eat something you like that will fill you up, within you allotted calories (or points) and don't go hungry. Munch on things that are 0 points (fruits and most veggies) so you don't feel left out, and if there is a family favorite you just.have.to.have, have some. But just have some, like a couple spoon fulls, not a TON. With things I don't really know the exact point count, I count a point a bite for things that seem reasonably healthy, and up to 3 points a bite for things I know are bad.

So there you have it. Bring a dish, much on veggies, eat before hand, and if you just have to, have a little.

Good luck out there!!

31 Days of Fit- Halloween Goodies

Wait a second.... Shouldn't I be done with this after yesterday's eloquent farewell post? Well apparently I suck at quitting. Actually I don't suck at quitting, I could have quit right there. But here is the awesome part. I have a pretty amazing support system, something I highly recommend if you plan on succeeding at anything in life. My awesome cousin Kristen (the one I mentioned in the blog yesterday) kicked my ass and told me that things will be hard because life, marriages and especially weight loss, are all hard, and that it is easy to give up, but awesome to succeed. Pretty much failure is not an option.

So here I am to tell you I will keep on keeping on. It will be hard, it might suck, but it's 8 days and I can do anything for 8 days.

So back on topic. Halloween Goodies! This post will count for 31 days as well as the Halloween Series I am doing right now!  Halloween is right around the corner, and I image a lot of you are probably having parties this weekend. There are so many yummy things to eat this year that you hardly notice how many calories you are eating :/ Here are a few light, fun treats that wont leave you feeling deprived!

Carmel Apple Slices:

Carmel Apples are pretty synonymous with fall. But even tho the base of them are apples, Carmel apples aren't very healthy. But  there is a way. If you take apple slices and dip them into a low fat or sugar free carmel, and sprinkle with nuts, or mini chocolate chips, you get the taste and not nearly the calories. 

Low Cal Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread:

I have made this Pumpkin bread and it is amazing. Like woah. 

Cheesy Witches Fingers:

I have seen lots of different versions of these creepy treats, but I like this one the best. I have seen cookies, hot dogs and even pretzles, but I think String Cheese is the best idea yet! Still creepy, but such a yummy treat that is much better for you than cookies :)

So there you have it! You can be fit and eat halloween food too! Look at that! 

31 days of Fit- All good things come to an end

Well even not so good things like this ridiculously difficult and unpleasant blogging series.

I have mostly loathed doing this from day 4, but I have stuck with it for a few reasons. 1. I don't like quitting. 2. I was feeling a little guilty because one of the only 4 (I wish I were exaggerating) people that have been reading these little blog posts is my cousin Kristen who doesn't think I blog enough.

However, I have hated every moment of this stupid little series for a few reasons. 1. Every freaking day is a lot. Like a lot a lot. And I haven't had any time to write about things I wanna write about. 2. I picked a really really hard topic. 31 different posts about being fit. SERIOUSLY WHAT WAS I THINKING! 3. Blogging became a chore. Something I had to do so i didn't get yelled at by the proverbial blogging police.

So I have, with a heavy heart, decided to quit with only 8 posts to go. This is because even dragging this on for 8 more days might have killed me. I have seriously contemplated taking the ENTIRE month of November off from blogging to recover. Lord knows there is enough content in October to keep anyone busy.

Will I do this again next year? Maybe? I would have to really sit and think about how miserable I feel. I would also have to write every single post in advance.

So I am sorry, but I am a quitter.

But I will still be blogging on my main blog, so be sure to check me out there :) All 4 of you....

31 Days of Fit- Just Do It!

I am sure there is something that everyone out there is putting off. Starting a diet, getting a gym membership, making the bed... ( :/ just me? You are just going to lay in it again in a few hours!!! Sorry... /tangent)

One of these things for me has been C25K. If you don't know, C25K is a running program for beginners. It's harder and harder every week until finally you are supposed to be able to run 3 miles two months later. I am clearly skeptical. I have tried C25K before (and failed before) because its hard. Like really hard when you have never not once in your whole life ran even one mile, let alone 3. I'm not saying that fear isn't a part of my problem, because clearly it is, but it is legitimately hard.

So I planned almost a month ago to start. I even put it on my blog calendar (a calendar I have to plan out blog posts/ remind me that I have a blog ad should write in it from time to time...) to remind myself to do it. Week 1 rolled by (I'll start next week, I thought) then week 2, week 3 and finally week 4 have all passed me by and I am still here, not even started. Until yesterday.

My phone notified me "hey fatass! You said 5 whole weeks ago that you were going to get on a treadmill and do C25K! Just wanted to remind you :) "(my phone is kinda rude...) and this time I said (outloud, mind you) "FINE! STOP YELLING!"

So Andy and I went to the gym at our apartment complex (you know the one I just haaaaad to have, and have used twice) and got on the treadmill. I started out slow, then jogged for 7 of the 20 min I was on it (not straight, of course). I didn't do week 1 of C25K, which involves alternating running and walking for 90 seconds each (I think, don't quote me), but I ran a little! It's a start. My goal is to complete week 1 by Monday next week.

The point is, something I have out off for over a month wasn't nearly as scary as just doing it. Ok yes it was but I did it anyway.

So since I did it, you have to lol. Go do whatever you have been putting off /) Just Do It!

Weigh in- week 5 / 31 Days of Fit-

For today and next Monday, these will count as 31 Days of Fit posts too :)

So this week I didn't do great. I gained 1.6. If I'm being honest, I stopped paying attention this week. We ate out more than normal, and I don't think I tracked a single thing. So this was a wake up call.

My tip of the day is to weigh yourself once a week. It is incredibly helpful if you are trying to lose weight to check every week. It's also important to weigh in on the same day at the same time, if you can.

So this week, I am planning to track what I eat, and take the time to exercise.

31 Days of Fit - Pick a Partner

It is really hard to make a life change alone. You need support, and a partner to keep you accountable and motivated. This can be a friend, or your spouse, or someone you meet at the gym or at a Weight Watchers meeting.

One of the best ways to aide success is by getting your spouse on board with you. It is extremely hard to stay focused and motivated if they are not on the same page, eating the same food, or have the same goals. Approaching a fit and and healthy lifestyle with half of your team not on board is not going to work. 

So find a partner and use them to lean on. Set goals, work out together, cook together and most importantly, trust them with your struggles so that they can help you through. 

31 Days of Fit- Don't Give Up

I think one of the biggest keys to success is not giving up. Things may get rough, and hard, but its important to remember why you are doing something and not to give up.

Talk to a friend or family member and remember why you started this journey in the first place.

This one is short and sweet. Just.keep.going :)

31 Days of Fit- Take Public Transportation

Public transportation is pretty awesome! It low cost, better for the environment, and encourages walking :)

I take the train to work every day to and from work and even tho it drops me off in front of my building, I still have to walk everywhere if I want to go to lunch or to my weight watchers meeting. Public transportation encourages walking :)

So next time you want to get somewhere, take a bus, or a train, and get in some foot time :)

31 Days of Fit- Get Inspiration

Losing weight is hard.Being healthy is hard. One of the things that helps is getting some inspiration. Luckily there are plenty of people out there who have succeeded at this before me. I look to them for inspiration and motivation when it wears thin.

Here are some of the sites that I turn to for inspiration!

Oh So Pretty- The Skinny

The House of Smiths

A Step in the Right Direction

Reasons to be Fit

Runs for Cookies


Enjoy!

31 Days of Fit- Wake Up Early

Now this is probably one of the tips I struggle with the most. I love to sleep, and no matter how hard I try, I just can't force myself to get out of bed early. I am working on that because waking up early comes with all sorts of health benefits.

If you wake up early, you have time to work out in the morning, which gets it out of the way, and also gives you energy for the day. You are also way more likely to eat a better breakfast.

I want to wake up early, for these reasons and more, but I can't make myself roll out of bed.

31 Days of Fit - Work It Out

I don't know about you, but I am sitting probably 90% of my day. I get up, sit on the train. Walk to work, sit at a desk. Leave work, sit on the train. Get home, sit on the couch. And then go to bed. I don't do a lot more than sit for extended periods of time every day.

The problem is, I really can't get around most of this sitting. I could stand on the train, but other than that, I am stuck. So how do I put my sitting to work?

I, like many more before me, have asked this question and come to the same answer. A ball. I can sit on a ball at work, which improves your core strength and I can sit on a ball at home for the same reasons. And while I am sitting at home, instead of being on the computer, I could have hand weights or a weighted medicine ball in my hands.

So if there is a not-so-healthy thing you have to do, switch it up :)

31 Days of Fit- Plan Your Meals

I can not stress this one enough. I think the first key to being healthy is to have a plan. This means a big plan, like what steps you are going to take to change your life, as well as a plan of what you are going to eat every day. When you take the time to plan your meals, you are more likely to eat right. You are also more likely to hit the basic food groups, like fruits and vegetables.

Here is what a good day with planning would look like for me.

Breakfast:

1 C Oatmeal - 4 pts
1     Banana - 0 pts
1 T Brown Sugar - 1 pt
1    Yoplait Greek Yogurt - 2 pts
2 C Coffee- 0 pts
2 T Sugar - 2 pts
2 T Non-dairy creamer - 2 pts

Snack:

16   LF pretzels - 3 pts
1     LF string cheese - 1 pt

Lunch:

2        Slices Sara Lee Bread - 2 pts
2 oz   LF Deli Ham - 2 pts
1/2 C Spinach - 0 pts
1 oz   Mustard - 0 pts
17      Sour cream and onion chips - 4 pts

Snack:

1/2 bag Skittles - 3 pts
2 C 94% FF Microwave Popcorn- 1 pt

Dinner:

3 oz Chicken Breast - 3 pts
1 med Baked Potato- 4 pts
1 T Butter - 3 pts (But I love real butter so it is sooooo worth it :) )
2 T FF Sour Cream- 1 pt
1 C Steamed Brocoli- 0 pts

Dessert:
1    Frozen Greek Yogurt Cup- 3 pts

Total pts- 41
My target- 40

Isn't that a TON of food!?! Lets compare with a day of not planning...

Breakfast:

1 McDonalds Egg McMuffin - 8 pts
1 Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte with Soy - 7 pts

Lunch:

Chipotle Chicken Bowl with Brown rice, Corn Salsa, Sour Cream, and Cheese - 17 pts

Dinner:

Spaghetti- (1 C pasta, 1/4 C sauce) - 7 pts
French Bread (one biiiig slice :) ) - 4 its
1 T Butter - 3 pts

Total: 46
Target: 40

Not toooooo many points, but look at that difference. You don't get very much :( I would feel way more satisfied with the first one.

So my point is, make a plan.

31 Days of Fit - Be Prepared

I don't know about you, but the hardest part of eating healthy is that i don't stay full for very long. And when I am hungry and unprepared, I tend to turn to the vending machine. Baaaad idea. There is nothing good to eat in a vending machine. So the key is to be prepared.

One meal that leaves me hungry is a salad. As good for you as lettuce and vegetables are, they don't keep me very full. I try to be combat this by adding things that Weight Watchers calls "Power Foods". Power Foods are foods that are high in protein and fiber, that are naturally more inclined to keep you feeling full longer. If you are someone that feels hunger strongly , like me, these are your best weapon. If you are one of those people that never feel hungry, we can't be friends.

Just kidding, but I still kinda hate you. ;)

Some popular Power Foods are eggs, chicken, lean deli meats (like ham and turkey) most fruits and veggies (tho those don't always help me) most notably Bananas, popcorn and lots more. So it is always a good thing to include these in your meal plans to keep you full.

Other great things are low fat Pretzels, low fat cheese and whole wheat bread.

The most important thing to remember is to always be prepared for hunger!

Weigh in- week 4

I lost again this week! Only .4 but a loss is a loss! I had a rough week and I didn't track, but I still paid attention.

For the next week, my goal is to track everything and to earn 5 activity points.

31 Days of Fit- Take the Stairs

Here is another no brainer for you all. Take the stairs.

We live in a fast paced world where we want to get somewhere now! Things like elevators and escalators get us places faster with far less effort than the traditional method of vertical transportation, the stairs.

We look at stairs as a burden rather than an opportunity. Stairs are an easy opportunity to inject a few moments of activity into your life. They get your heart beating and your muscles working and can do great things for your health over the long run. Just substituting the elevator for the stairs can make improve your circulation, strengthen your heart and build lean muscle. All good things.

Now I totally understand how taking the stairs ALWAYS might not really be a feasible option for you. Coming from someone that works on the 23rd floor of a sky scraper, I know that it will be an insanely long time before I can take the stairs the whole way up. So I start slow. When I go places that have a few flights, I take them instead. I would never recommend jumping two feet into a 30 story building of stair climbing. That sounds like an bad idea.

So next time you are at the mall and the escalator is calling your name, flick back your hair and hike your shrinking ass up those stairs! Your ass will thank you :)

31 Days of Fit- Eat Real Food

This one is for Kristen. There, I said it.

Sometimes it doesn't seem bad to eat crap all. the. time. Cereal for dinner, while easy, is not nutritious. And because this is "31 days of fit", not "31 days to be skinny" (because *Spoiler Alert* unless you ARE skinny, you won't be in 31 days) It is about making better choices to be healthy, and improve your life.

So back to the point. Some really smart people came up with this cool website called choosemyplate.gov which takes into account your age, size and activity level and tells you what amount of each category (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy) you need every day to be healthy.  Weird that there isn't a box for cereal ;)

This can help structure your meals so that you are eating those basic things, like Protein, Grains and Fruits and Veggies. When we are busy people (especially people with kids) it is just easier to eat whatever is fast. But I implore you to eat more real food. :)

31 Days of Fit- Lose the Bread

I am so behind! Crap! Lets go triple time to get back to the right day!

This one seems fairly straight forward, but hey, some of these things are easy :) Lose the Bread. Bread has carbs. Bread is not great for you. There are a lot of people that dropping the bread can make a huge dent in your healthy efforts.

Luckily this one is super easy to do. Order a hamburger, don't eat the bread. Have spaghetti, don't have bread. Everything you want to eat with bread, stop, and don't.

Cutting out white breads can greatly reduce your carb intake and help regulate your blood sugar and give you more energy. Think of bread like beer. Empty carbs.

It may be the hardest decision ever. I can hardly resist the smell of a loaf of french bread at the grocery store. You know, the fresh baked kind? It is kind of my kryptonite. Overcome. You are stronger than the bread :)

31 Days of Fit - Tell a friend

At weight watchers this week, we talked about WW and our social lives. I shared that I blog about my journey, so it's something I am very open about and some people were shocked by this.

They would never tell their family or friends that they were making a change for fear of being judged! I completely understand this rationale, really, but I don't subscribe to it.

I think it is very important to have support and accountability. That is why I suggest you tell a friend. You don't have to post your weight on Facebook, but by telling a friend, you will have someone to talk to when things are tough, and someone to look at you and say (lovingly of course) "do you really need that doughnut?".

They want the best for you so they will hold you accountable.

So there ya go. It might be scary, but tell a friend!

31 Days of Fit- Make a Goal

When trying to change your life, the end goal is often (for me at least) soooo far away from your starting point that it feels arbitrary and unreachable! It's important to make that "end goal" so you know what you are working toward, but it's even more important to make small, manageable goals so you feel successful along the way.

These goals can be to eat better, drink better, move more, whatever really. It's just important to have them so you can work toward them at all times.

But the flip side of achieving a goal is getting a reward! And for as long as I can remember reward=food. I can't be the only one! Then I saw this awesome inspirational message on Pinterest that really pointed out to me the wrong thinking in this concept. It said "don't reward yourself with food, you aren't a dog! " How true is that! But, to be honest, finding suitable rewards that aren't cake has proven difficult. Some people suggest mani-pedis or other beautifying things. I'm not sure that would be the best for me, but it's a start.

So the point of the day is to make a goal, and find a reasonable (non food) reward for when you reach it!

I'll be back later today with another one of these to get caught up :)

31 Days of Fit- Eat Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is awesome. It is creamy and thick and delicious, and SO much better for you than regular yogurt! Here is the breakdown!

Protein- Greek yogurt has almost double the protein of regular yogurt! This means it will keep you fuller longer :)

Carbs- Greek yogurt is lower in carbs than regular yogurt. Good for people watching their carbs, and Diabetics!

Versatility- You can use plain Greek yogurt as a substitute for Sour Cream and save a bunch of calories!

Freeze it- Frozen Greek Yogurt is amazing and creamy like ice cream!

There you have it. Try it :)

Weigh in- week 3

I lost again! Yay! I lost 1.6 this week which is great! I like that I am on the right track! I also hit my first milestone, 5 lbs gone :)

31 Days of Fit- Make a Plan

I just realized I am still behind a day, so there will be another post later today to get caught up. Thank you for your patience!

Today's tip is to make a plan. It is easy enough to just lose track of what you're doing and to stay motivated to keep doing it if you don't have a plan.

It is simple enough to make a plan. Come up with some parameters to base your food consumption against, then come up with a schedule of exercise and an activity you really enjoy. It is really that simple.

Of course, you can go to the other extreme and follow a set diet plan, whether dr. prescribed or a well known plan. And you can join a gym to have the height of exercise equipment at your disposal. It is really up to you!

So, I guess I should share my plan. I am doing Weight Watchers, and I have no specific exercise plan at the moment, but I am working on that.

What's your plan?

31 Days of Fit- Go Outside

I am insanely sorry I missed yesterday! I promise I can explain! I was up in the mountains filming a music video with the nerd parody group Not Literally. It was amazing and actually inspired this tip of the day :)

Fall is setting in, and the weather is getting colder, but one of the best things you can do it go outside! It doesn't matter where you live, there is something to do outside! Hiking around in the mountains was gorgeous and awesome and just getting some fresh air was so amazing. It is crazy what you can see and experience when you go outside :)

Short and sweet. Get out there! Hike a trail, toss around a football, swim in a lake, it doesn't matter. Just do it!

Here is a photo from filming :)