So if you’ve been reading the blog for awhile, you know that EVERY YEAR I gain 15-20 pounds. And EVERY YEAR I lose the 15-2o pounds. Is it stupid? Yes. Mind-boggling? Yes. INSANE, even? HECK YES. But it’s just what I do. I know (believe me I know) that I should just eat better and exercise regularly so I never gain that much weight each and every year. And every year, after I lose the weight, I vow that I’m not going to gain it back. But every year I do. Sigh. (Sidenote: When I was pregnant with Carter I only gained 17 pounds….and I typically do that in a regular year WHEN I’M NOT GROWING A TINY HUMAN!)
So, a couple of years ago I took y’all on the weight loss journey with me by writing each week about my exercise and food choices during that time (January-April). Each January I get requests from ya’ll to do it again! Well, every year I pretty much do the exact same thing (food wise and exercise wise), so I’m going to share my typical weight loss journey at the bottom of this post.
But before you get to see what I did then (and will be doing again this year! I started Saturday!), I thought we could take a minute to talk about active wear with Nordstrom. It was 3 years ago that they they first asked me to talk about active wear, and that was the first time IN MY WHOLE LIFE I had ever even thought about purchasing cute work out gear. Before that, I would always just wear college tees and running shorts. But I purchased some Zella gear for that first post, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Their LIVE IN LEGGINGS are life changing. And ladies, I know I tend to have a flair for the dramatic. But I’m not being dramatic. You are going to love these leggings. Readers even tell me that they now prefer their Zella gear to Lululemon.
So…..after purchasing my first pair of Zella pants several years ago, here is what I now know.
Are they good for working out? OF COURSE.
But here’s what I didn’t know at the time, they are also PERFECT for running around town.
AND lounging around your house.
It’s like the pant trifecta.
Nordstrom has several active wear and yoga lines that they carry, but my love for Zella runs deep, ESPECIALLY for their HIGH WAISTED leggings. When I first bought Zella leggings, I’m not sure if they didn’t have high waisted options at that point, or if I just didn’t know about them. WELL. Now I know I will never not buy the high waisted ever again.
These leggings are actually from last year, but they were so popular that they brought them back this year. They are the perfect length and the perfect overall fit for me at 5’4″. In fact, if you are 5’4″ or under, I would suggest the midi leggings if you don’t want to have to cuff them up (like I do with the regular size leggings).
The sweatshirt has a hood, pockets, and is a great sporty look for leggings….but it also looks great with jeans. It’s a bit oversized and has great side splits that add style, but doesn’t go up too high if you are wearing high waisted leggings.
For size reference, I’m wearing a small in the leggings and the sweatshirt, both true to size.
sweatshirt / high waist midi leggings / no show socks / sneakers
Get The Look For Yourself Here. Just click on the item(s) you are interested in.
And here I am headed out for the day one day last week. I’ve been OWNING Christmas break over here, and I have to say I’ve worn a pair of my Zella leggings 90% of the time over the last 2 weeks.
And y ‘all. THESE SNEAKERS!!!! First of all. How cute are they? And the comfort level is BEYOND. Look closely. You’ll see that there isn’t a tongue on the sneakers. It’s all one piece! Less pieces mean less seams…which means MORE comfort! I wear my Zella no show socks (they don’t show or slip!!!) with them, but I’m telling you, the shoes themselves hug your feet and it almost feels like you are wearing a really thick and stretchy sock. Does that make sense? Once you try them on, you’ll understand. Oh! And you truly won’t even believe how light they are!
Worth noting, because there’s no tongue, I found that I needed to use the tab on the heel of the shoe to help get them on…but the tab made it very easy! Also, the heel has a bit of a wedge! I’ve never had any sneaker with a little wedge, and I’ve gotta say, I LOVE IT. They make me stand a bit taller, and I really like the extra bit of height they give me. Hey, anything that make my legs look longer is great in my book. Click HERE for the sneakers.
And here I am in the same pants after a work out:
I’m wearing a medium in this tee from last year (so I sized up), which I pretty much always do when buying a work out top. I want them to fit generously, and I want them to cover my backside. I sometimes still have on my active wear during the day when running errands, so I prefer for the hiney to be covered. #yourewelcomeeverybody
As you can see, the high waisted leggings come come up above my belly button! They suck you in, they stay put, they still allow you to breathe, they are incredibly comfy, and they are flattering as all get out. They really are AWESOME for a work out, but I love just love lounging in them as well.
tee out of stock / sports bra / high waist midi leggings / shoes from last year and out of stock
And let me introduce you to my favorite sports bra.
The description on the site says the following: Designed with a hidden underwire and light foam cups, a convertible athletic bra helps minimize movement and comfortably supports your high-impact workout. I completely agree, and I absolutely love that it has a back closure like a regular bra, so you don’t have to pull it over your head. You can also choose if you would prefer to wear the straps straight or cross them in the back, depending on what you are wearing. I also like that it has underwire cups and doesn’t give me a uniboob! 🙂 And it of course gives EXCELLENT support. It has 158 5 Star reviews, so I’m not the only girl who loves this bra!
And get this, it starts at a 32A and goes up to a 40G!!!!
Here I am in the pants just on Saturday. The sweatshirt is from last year but THIS ONE is very similar. It was raining outside, so I didn’t want to wear my new kicks.
similar sweatshirt / leggings / click HERE for pink sneaker choices (mine were from the Anniversary Sale)
As I mentioned before, if 5’4″ or under, you will probably want to go with the midi leggings. Here are some of my favorites….and I’m DYING over the ones on the far left. #cometomama
Here’s another athleisure outfit that I wore all over town. I’m wearing the full length leggings here, which means they needed to be cuffed up several inches on my 5’4″ frame.
The sweatshirt is quilted and all sorts of snuggly and warm with the quilting, the funnel neck, and the kangaroo pocket! I’m wearing a medium here. I ordered a size up because I wanted to make sure it was long enough and roomy enough for leggings. It definitely is, but I wonder if a small would have been okay too. FYI, I’m keeping the medium after a reader left a comment on ig last night saying that she loved hers (and sized up too).
sweatshirt / zella high waist leggings / no show socks / sneakers
Get The Look For Yourself Here:
Here’s an up close look at the leggings…
I don’t know what it is about the blurry lines, but they are OH SO flattering. They come in a darker grey too and plus size in the darker grey as well. These are high waisted too (#duh), and I love the fit.
And one more look at the pants and shoes. Don’t they make you want to get up and work out?!? ????
I mentioned before that I have to cuff the regular length leggings up several inches on me (which is great news for you taller ladies). They are cuffed in this picture (as well as the two above), and you can’t even tell!
If this is your first venture into true work out gear/athleisure wear…then instead of going for the printed pants, I would recommend the plain black high waist leggings. They come in cropped , midi, and full length. You will wear them constantly. And then after you prove to yourself how often you will wear them, then you can spring for a patterned pair!
If you are already ready for a patterned pair, THESE are new and awesome! I just saw them for the first time last night! And I don’t know how long I’m going to be able to resist the siren song of this color blocked midi pair.
Just fyi, when working out I always wear a stud earring. I usually wear just a small pair of CZs, but really tiny earrings are super in right now and BP has a lot of different variety packs to choose from at really great prices! Check them out!
I know it might sound crazy, but when I know I get to put on some cute gear, it helps get me motivated to get dressed to work out…and just getting dressed is more than 1/2 the battle! Plus, when you start looking more fit and trim in the work out gear, there’s more motivation right there! Here are some more tops that are perfect for throwing on after a work out in case you need to run around town. Or let’s be honest, just wear all day, even if you aren’t working out.
A huge thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this portion of the post!
And finally…..as promised, the rest of this post is my weight loss journey. The text and pics that are included are simply cut and pasted from my posts a couple of years ago. Because of how it was written then, Week 1 is actually found at the bottom of the post. So, scroll down and then read up if you want to see the progression. I’ve got to say, I read it all this weekend, and I found it all incredibly inspiring! I CAN DO THIS! WE CAN DO THIS!
LAST YEAR’S GET HEALTHY JOURNEY
Disclaimer: I’m not recommending that anybody do what I’m doing. I’m just going to be reporting what I am doing and what is working for me. I’m not an expert, and I know this. If I was an expert, I’m sure I wouldn’t find myself in this predicament of having to drop 20ish pounds every single year in the spring now would I?!?! ???? I’m just doing what works for me, and I’m going to share what I do with y’all!
WEEK 11 UPDATE!
TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS for 11 WEEKS = 20.4 pounds!!!!! WooHooooo!
I CRACKED 20 POUNDS!!!!!!!! Somebody hand me a taco to celebrate! Just Kidding. Kind of. ????
As you can see from my weekly totals….slow and steady is what it was all about for me. Just think, if you start a GET HEALTHY journey today, you could be down at least 15 pounds or so by June…just in time for summer!
Week 11 Weight Loss: 1.8 pounds
Week 10 Weight Loss: 2.0 pounds
Week 9 Weight Loss: .4 pounds (Remember my goal was just to maintain this week!)
Week 8 Weight Loss: 1.8 pounds
Week 7 Weight Loss: 1.4 pounds
Week 6 Weight Loss: 1.4 pounds
Week 5 Weight Loss: 2.2 pounds
Week 4 Weight Loss: 2.8 pounds
Week 3 Weight Loss: 2.2 pounds
Week 2 Weight Loss: 2.4 pounds
Week 1 Weight Loss: 2.0 pounds
I continue to exercise 6/7 days a week with my neighbor Heather. And at least 4/6 days we do two 25 minute workout dvds back to back.
For food, I have a couple of new things to report for this week. I found another Bolthouse dressing that I LOVE! It’s perfect for taco salads!!!!
I also started cooking butternut squash in the microwave this week. I would cut the squash in half, scoop out the insides, and lay it down on a plate (flesh side down) in just a little bit of water. After popping it in the microwave for about 10 minutes, it’s easy to scoop out and quite delicious.
A couple of days for lunch I had a bowl of the butternut squash with a side salad with one of my Bolthouse dressings!
As for the future, I’m not really trying to lose any additional weight, but I wouldn’t be terribly upset if I lost another couple of pounds….you know…for a little wiggle room. ????
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WEEK 10 UPDATE!
TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS for 10 WEEKS = 18.6 pounds!!!!!!
WoooooooooooooooooooooHooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
And just to be clear…..MAMA IS HAVING A TACO TODAY!
WAIT. I’M HAVING 2 TACOS AND A DR. PEPPER FOR LUNCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then I’ll eat a super healthy dinner! ????
Week 10 Weight Loss: 2.0 pounds Nothing new to report food wise.
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WEEK 9 RESULTS:
Ooops. I accidentally erased Week 9 when updating Week 10. Sorry!
Here’s an example of one of my dinners this week: tilapia, roasted squash and zucchini, roasted sweet potato.
I literally cooked all 3 parts of this meal in different containers in the same oven. All at 400 degrees. For the fish, I sprayed olive oil Pam on a cookie sheet as well as on top of the fish. I then sprinkled a little bit of salt and a lot of lemon pepper all over the fish. I put the sweet potatoes on a metal pan, and I put the squash and zucchini in a pyrex. I sprayed both the containers and the veggies with the Pam. I sprinkled garlic powder and salt on the s and z and Kosher salt on the sweet potatoes. YUM. And look how fancy I am eating off of my Chinet. #i’msofancy
And I know I told you about the new (at least new to me) Bolthouse salad dressing that a reader told me about a couple of weeks ago. I talked about getting the Blue Cheese first and how much I love it!
Here’s what I got this week. And it’s DELISH.
Delicious AND good for you? Sign me up.
I’m also still drinking 1 pink lemonade SPARK a day and loving it!
Chris is drinking it too, but he found out the hard way that he should drink it at night! If he does, he has too much energy and has a difficult time falling asleep. I always drink it in the morning, and I never have issues….it just gives me a little extra nudge to be focused and productive! Click HERE for the SPARK.
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WEEK 8:
TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS = 16.2 pounds as of this morning!!!! YAY!
Week 8 Weight Loss: 1.8 pounds
More of the same with food and exercise this week, but I’m particularly proud of my weight loss this week because we went to the ranch and I still did a great job of eating healthier (and I still worked out Friday morning before we left and Sunday evening after we got home)!
The one new food item I have to share with you is this salad dressing. It’s made my Bolthouse Farms, and OH MY YUMMY. A reader told me about it (I forgot who….but THANK YOU!), and it is DELICIOUS! It’s a salad dressing made with Greek yogurt!
Here’s the information:
Serving Size: 2TBSP / Calories = 40 / Total Fat = 3 grams
Total Cargohydrate = 2 grams
WOW!!!!!!!!
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WEEK 7:
Okay, so before I share my results from Week 7, let me give you a little background. Heather and I were maniacs this week. We did two work-outs 6/7 days, and we did the Gamma
work-out several times.
As far as food goes, when eating healthy, I was eating VERY healthy. Low calorie, low carb, high protein. HOWEVER. I cheated twice this week.
I ate Big Shucks again (think fried catfish and french fries), and I ate Taco Bueno. So I HARD CORE cheated. This information needs to be taken into account when looking at my weight loss for the week!
TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS = 14.4 pounds as of this morning!!!! YAY!
Week 7 Weight Loss: 1.4 pounds
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WEEK 6:
TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS = 13 pounds as of this morning
Week 6 Weight Loss: 1.4 pounds
This week was a slow weight loss week, even though I was super dedicated to exercise and ate super healthy all week! BOO! I think that some weeks are just going to be slower than others. I’m going to try to not get discouraged and just keep on keepin’ on! I hope to see better results next week!
Not much new to report on food. Same old, same old. I’m mostly continuing to eat a big salad for lunch, but when I was in a time crunch this week, I did add two new frozen entrees to my lunch rotation (instead of the salad) and I really liked both of them!
I do feel the need to pat myself on the back for a minute. I have only “cheated” one time this entire 6 weeks.
It was actually week 5, and this is what I had:
Shrimp cocktail and fried catfish and french fries AND THE BEST TARTAR SAUCE THIS SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI. AND THE OTHER SIDE TOO. And…just fyi, I’m having it next week too. A girl has got to live.
But, I’ve said no to SERIOUS temptation three times now.
I’ve been to Mi Cocina twice with girlfriends, and both times I got an appetizer portion of ceviche (shrimp, avocado, mango, cilantro, purple onion, and lime juice). It’s delicious, but let’s be real, it’s not soaked in sour cream sauce or queso. It also needs to be about 7x bigger than it actually is to fill me up. ????
I also sat right beside my hubby and kid the other night while they ate pizza from Brother’s. I ate roasted chicken ,a salad, and 1/2 a sweet potato. GO. ME.
As far as the exercise goes, my neighbor Heather and I are ANIMALS. ANIMALS I TELL YA! #highfiveheather
We are soooo flipping dedicated and continue to do two T-25s most days. And we are making it a point to do the Gamma Cardio (the one where I think one or both of my lungs are going to collapse) 3 x per week.
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WEEK 5:
TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS = 11.6 as of this morning
*And I would again like to state, that I have NO DOUBT that I’m gaining muscle, so it actually feels to me like more than 11.6 pounds! ????
Week 5 Weight Loss: 2.2 pounds
WEEK 5 FOOD
Well, it seems that I’m horrible at remembering to take pictures of my food. I’m eating a lot of the same stuff over and over, but I’m always a creature of habit when I’m trying to lose weight, and I tend to stick to foods I’ve had success with in the past. Taco Salad is a GO TO for me that I eat probably twice a week. Sometimes I eat it with fajita chicken, sometimes I eat it with taco meat, and sometimes I don’t have any meat and only have black beans in it. I’ve also started adding several spoonfuls of fire roasted canned corn! Yum! The rest of my salad consists of mixed greens, tomatoes, 1/2 a small avocado, purple onion, cilantro and a small handful of tortilla strips.
For dressing I use a small amount of Low Fat Wish Bone Italian Dressing, several shakes of red wine vinegar, and several spoonfuls of my low fat sour cream and salsa mixture. I’m telling you, it’s heavenly.
I ate this for lunch one day. I needed some carbs and the chewy pot stickers and rice hit the spot! And BONUS, only 280 calories!
We went to grab burgers for Chris’s moms birthday (only a month late) at Fuddrucker’s. But I didn’t have a burger. Or fries. Or Cheese Sauce. OH THE WILL POWER. Somebody give me a freaking gold star or something! ????
Instead I had their Napa salad (hold the blue cheese), and I brought my own dressing. It had romaine, grilled chicken, dried cranberries, and grapes! It was actually really good! I mean, it wasn’t fries dipped in cheese, but it was still good. ????
Looks like I ate a lot of salads this week. This is my Caribbean chicken salad I make at home: lettuce, teriyaki chicken (recipe below on week 1), mandarin oranges, pineapple, avocado, dried cranberries, and low fat honey mustard dressing
Twice this week we ate grilled teriyaki chicken (again, recipe below on week 1), squash and zucchini (we cook it in a foil packet on the grill just tossed in a little bit of the low fat italian dressing, salt, and garlic powder), and 1/2 a baked sweet potato (cut up in chunks and cooked at 400 degrees for like 30 minutes).
I’ve also become a big fan of protein shakes. Big. Huge. My shakes include: 1 Greek Yogurt (100 calories) I use a different flavor each time, 1/2 a cup of almond milk, 1 scoop of protein powder, and like a cup of frozen (slightly defrosted fruit). My favorite frozen fruits for the shake are cherries and mangoes.
Other meals I ate this week (but forgot to photograph):
shrimp fajitas with corn tortillas and a side of black beans, turkey sandwich, pork tenderloin (with sweet potatoes and green beans).
WEEK 5 EXERCISE
Heather (my neighbor) is still working out everyday with me, and I’m so grateful for her support!
I’m really loving T-25 and the results it’s giving me. You can find the T-25 DVDs HERE. We are working out 5 days per week (sometimes 6), and most days we try to do to work-outs back to back. Usually a toning video of some sort, and then an aerobic video. On the days we only have time for 1 work-out, we do Gamma speed.
And every time we do it, I think one or both of my lungs might collapse. Still, I’m getting better!
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WEEK 4:
TOTAL Weight Loss = 9.4 as of this morning!!!!!!!!
Week 4 Weight Loss 2.8 pounds!!!! WooHoo!!!!!!
Okay, so my week 4 update is kind of lame. I did not take pictures of food this week because I didn’t have any new foods to share! I’ll do better this coming week! Heather and I continue to do T-25 consistently 6 days per week…and we do 2 in a row at least 3 days a week.
The weight is coming off slower than it used too (THANKS A LOT MOTHER NATURE!), but it’s still coming off, and I know if I keep at it I will eventually reach my goal! I officially started this journey on January 17th making better food choices, and I started working out January 20th. So, February 17th is actually the official 1 month mark, and I’m really hoping I’ll be at an even 10 pounds by then!
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WEEK 3:
Week 3 Weight Loss: 2.2 pounds
TOTAL Weight Loss = 6.6 THIS WAS A BIG WEEK FOR ME!
Even though I “only” lost 2.2 pounds this week, my clothes are definitely starting to feel different, and making the healthy choices at each meal is also starting to become easier for me! I’m used to losing more like 3 pounds a week (when I’ve done this in year’s past), but I feel confident that this time I’m building muscle (which I never did before). I feel like I’ve hit my groove and I’m really happy about where I am right now.
First and foremost, I don’t have to unbutton my pants the second I walk in the door. Oh, and I don’t feel like I’m going to sprain a wrist when I’m fastening my bra. So there’s that. #winning
WEEK 3 EXERCISE:
My next door neighbor Heather continues to help and motivate me during this journey! To keep things easy and not waste a lot of time, we’ve been using her T-25 DVDs and just working out at home. THANK YOU HEATHER!!!!!
Sunday we did 2 T-25s: Beta Upper Body and Gamma Speed 3.0
Monday we did 2 T-25s: Beta Rip’t and Beta Core Cardio
We skipped Tuesday for a myriad of reasons.
Wednesday we did 2 T-25s: Beta Upper Body and Beta Speed 2.0
Thursday we did 1 T-25: Gamma Speed 3.0 (And I’m pretty sure I almost died.)
And we are scheduled to do 2 today (Friday): Alpha Total Body and Beta Speed 2.0
Y’all. I’m getting soooooooooooo much better at doing these work-outs. My endurance has really increased, and for the first time in my life I’m not just losing weight, I’m actually TONING! WooooooHooooooo!
2 1/2 weeks in and I’m a big believer in the program. My body is definitely changing. You can find the T-25 DVDs HERE. The genius behind these work outs is that they are only 25 minutes long. The program combines cardio with strength training (which is great!), and I’m liking the convenience of it all for sure. Heather and I have been doing 2 a day many days just because we wanted fast results, but I’m sure at one point we’ll start doing just 1 a day in the future.
Oh, I almost forgot….I’m also going up and down my stairs during the day. I do it in sets of 5, and I try to get 4 sets in each day. It may sound like not a lot, but by the time I get back to the bottom of the stairs the 5th time in a set, I’m definitely breathing heavy and my heart rate is elevated.
WEEK 3 FOOD:
I’m not going to share with you every single meal I ate, but I am going to share some of my favorites from the week.
Again, I have only been drinking water.
Chris was out of town over the weekend, and this was my dinner one night.
The Lean Cuisine taquitos I talked about in week 1 with my light sour cream and salsa mixture. I also had a salad with Ken’s Lite Creamy Caesar dressing (maybe my favorite light dressing ever). My salad had mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, purple onion, grilled corn leftover from the previous night’s dinner, and 1/2 of a small avocado.
One day I came home in the afternoon and thought I might eat a decorative throw pillow. Instead, I fixed myself a variety of healthy snacks on one of Carter’s old divided plates (portion control ya’ll!). Fresh Blueberries, some of my favorite Hummus (also talked about Week 1), some fresh veggies, and about 3/4 of a cup of Trader Joe’s white cheddar puffs. And that pink drink is my Pink Lemonade SPARK!
Here’s what the white cheddar puffs look like in case you want to buy them! They are DELISH!
Serving Size 2.5 cups / 130 calories / 5 grams of fat / 20g carbohydrates
I consider these a treat, but OH MY WORD I love them!
I’ve also been drinking shakes in the afternoon as a snack. They always have a serving of Greek Yogurt in them (100 calories), with about a 1/2 a cup of frozen mangos, some water to make it easier to mix, and some ice to make it super cold and frothy. My favorite combo is the black cherry yogurt with the frozen mangos.
I’ve also put some protein powder and chia seeds in it from my neighbor’s house a couple of times. Now I just need to order my own! Here I am one afternoon in a rare moment of solitude drinking my shake (yum!) and watching my absolute favorite tv show Fixer Upper!
My parents came over one night, and we ordered chinese food! I absolutely adore cashew chicken, but my local Chinese place has a “healthy combo” option. It has shrimp, chicken, broccoli, baby corn, cabbage, and water chestnuts. And the brown sauce comes on the side as well as the steamed rice. I ate what was delivered for dinner 1 night and lunch the next day, and I only ate a small portion of the rice each time. Yummy.
I eat side salads a lot with dinner, but when I’m eating a salad as a meal, I always have some sort of protein on it. This is my fajita chicken salad. It has a small diced up piece of fajita chicken that we grilled, tomatoes, left over corn, some canned black beans, purple onions, and 1/2 a small avocado. I’m using the Ken’s dressing mentioned above and the tortilla strips I mentioned on week 1.
WEEK 3 Advocare Update
I’m still drinking SPARK 1 x a day, and I’m a big believer in it too! After drinking a SPARK, I truly feel like I have more energy and better focus! I love this stuff! (I hear that lots of people call it Mommy Juice!) ???? Click HERE for the SPARK (you would be ordering it from my neighbor, Shara)!
- Available in Watermelon, Mango Strawberry, Pink Lemonade, Mandarin Orange, Fruit Punch, Grape, Citrus and Cherry
- Offered in pouches and canisters
- Sharpens mental focus*
- Fast acting and long-lasting energy*
- Contains 21 vitamins, minerals and nutrients designed to synergistically provide a healthy, balanced source of energy*
- Just 15 calories per serving
Again, I don’t know much about the science behind this, but I’m sure my neighbor Shara (who I get the SPARK through) can answer your questions! Her e-mail for questions or orders is sharadavis13@gmail.com I just know that I really do feel a boost of energy without a crash!
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WEEK 2:
TOTAL Weight Loss = 4.4 pounds
Week 2 Weight Loss: 2.4 pounds
Week 1 Weight Loss: 2.0 pounds
I’ll be honest. I’m a little disappointed. I had lost 4.8 pounds total earlier in the week, and I stepped on the scale this morning and had gained .4 back. BOO! I haven’t cheated at all AND I haven’t skipped a day or our work-out plan, so it’s frustrating. But I’m definitely just going to keep on keeping on!!! IT WILL HAPPEN!!!
WEEK 2 EXERCISE:
My next door neighbor Heather continues to helping and motivate me during this journey!
To keep things easy and not waste a lot of time, we’ve been using her T-25 DVDs and just working out at home. THANK YOU HEATHER!!!!!
Monday we did one T-25 work out and ran a quick loop around our neighborhood (1/3 of a mile).
Tuesday we did one T-25 work-out and ran a quick loop around our neighborhood (1/3 of a mile).
Wednesday we did one T-25 work-out and ran 2 quick loops (7/8 of a mile).
Thursday we did 1 1/2 T-25 work outs.
And we are scheduled to do 2 this afternoon (Friday).
The way T-25 works, we are going to do 6 workouts per week. On a normal week we will do 1 workout on Monday-Thursday, do 2 work-outs on Friday, and then take the weekend off.
You can find the T-25 DVDs HERE.
WEEK 2 FOOD:
I’m not going to share with you every single meal I ate, but I am going to share some of my favorites from the week.
Again, I have only been drinking water.
Here’s an example of 1 of my dinners this week.
The Lean Cusine Fajita Style Chicken Springrolls (you can see the package in the Week 1 update), with a salad and Ken’s LITE Creamy Caesar! Yum! My salad was mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, purple onion, 1/2 and avocado, several spoon fulls of leftover grilled corn, and a couple of TBSP of the tortilla strip salad toppers I talked about last week.
The pink colored dip in the blue bowl is a definite favorite of mine and has been for years! It’s simply light sour cream mixed with Pace Picante Sauce. That’s it. And I LOVE it. I eat it with the taquitos, but I also eat it with Nut Thins. I just eat these instead of tortilla chips, and I’m good to go!
I forgot to take a picture, but I roasted sweet potatoes two different times this week. I sprayed Pam on a cooking sheet, cubed the potatoes, placed them on the sheet and sprayed them again with Pam. Then I placed a TINY bit of Olive Oil on the potatoes and mixed them up and sprinkled some Kosher salt on them. I roasted them on about 400 degrees for about 25 minutes. And we are going to be making THESE grilled shrimp tacos next week!
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WEEK 1:
Week 1 Weight Loss = 2.6 pounds
WooHoo! I’ll take it!
Week 1 actually started for me on Sunday (so this has been a 6 day “week”).
I started eating healthy and ONLY DRINKING WATER on Sunday. I didn’t start exercising until Tuesday.
WEEK 1 EXERCISE:
I’ve been super lucky to have my next door neighbor Heather helping me during this journey.
To keep things easy and not waste a lot of time, we’ve been using her T-25 DVDs and just working out at home. THANK YOU HEATHER!!!!!
Tuesday we did one T-25 work-out.
Wednesday we did one T-25 work-out.
Thursday we did two T-25 work-outs!
And we are scheduled to do 2 today (Friday).
The way T-25 works, we are going to do 6 workouts per week. On a normal week we will do 1 workout on Monday-Thursday, do 2 work-outs on Friday, and then take the weekend off.
You can find the T-25 DVDs HERE.
You go HARD (like sitting down on a toilet without screaming is extremely challenging for me right now) for 25 minutes, but then you’re done for the day!
Heather has been the one choosing what work-outs we do each day. She’s been saying things “alpha”, “beta”, and “core”, and I’ve just been nodding my head. :)I’m CRAZY sore, but I’m happy with what we’ve been doing. My heart rate has stayed up (it’s almost beaten right out of my chest every day), and I like how the dvds mix things up!
It combines cardio with strength training (which is great!), and I’m liking the convenience of it all for sure. Here’s to hoping this program will help transform my body!
WEEK 1 FOOD:
I’m not going to share with you every single meal I ate, but I am going to share some of my favorites from the week.
Again, I have only been drinking water.
Here are 3 of my favorite things that are easy to pick up at the grocery store.
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I use the Flatout pizza crust (only 120 calories and 1 gram of fat) to make single serve pizzas with a little bit of pizza sauce, low-fat mozzarella, turkey pepperoni, and purple onions.
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The Lean Cuisine Fajita Style Chicken Spring Rolls taste just like a taquito! They are really tasty! You can cook them in the microwave, but I’ve only cooked them in the oven. 1 box contains 2 servings (1 serving is 3 taquitos), and they really are great! Chris even loves them! 1 serving has only 200 calories and 3 grams of fat. The taquitos are filled with white meat chicken, corn, black beans, bell peppers, and onions.Seriously good. I eat them with a low fat sour cream and a small side salad.
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This hummus is my new favorite!
I used to eat the Sabra hummus, but I think this is quite a bit more tasty, and it has less fat and calories. 2 TBSP has 50 calories and 2.5 grams of fat.
I dip all sorts of veggies into (red peppers are probably my favorites).
Here’s an example of one of my lunches: Veggies and a couple of tablespoons of the hummus – a sandwich with turkey, cucumbers, and a Laughing Cow low flat swiss cheese instead of mayo.
For dinner we’ve been eating lean grilled meats with different veggies. Both Chris and I look forward to eating THIS chicken the most. It’s so simple. The ingredients are pictured below, and you can click HERE for the recipe.
We always grill extra, because I like eating the leftovers on salads for lunch during the week. My salad here has mixed greens, fresh strawberries, canned pineapple, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, and a very small amount of the tortilla strips for crunch. And I use fat free honey mustard dressing. YUM!
See? Wasn’t the weigh loss review inspiring?!? I’m feeling like I can totally do this again!!!! So that’s it for today. Let’s all GET HEALTHY together! And let’s look DARLING while doing it! ????
Narci says
You looked adorable in all of the athleisure wear!! So cute, friend!!!
Shay Shull says
Oh my word! This post had so much info! Three things stick out the most though: those corn puffs are so freakin’ good, you look darling in every single athletic outfit, and it sucked being pregnant at the exact same time as you because you looked fantastic and I looked like I was birthing a whale. Sigh.
Erika Slaughter says
I’ll never forget that line about you being so hungry you almost ate a throw pillow!!!!!!!!! Hahahaha!! I feel like I need every single thing you highlighted today!
marilyn says
I might have missed it, but what are your go-to’s for breakfast?
Sheaffer says
Oops! I either have a cup of High Fiber v8, a scrambled egg with some pico, or a SPARK with a handful of my favorite healthy (wheat free) crackers. xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Jessica says
This post is just what I needed today. I’m once again setting out to lose the same 15-20 pounds I gain and lose every dang year.
I too am a Zella leggings believer. They are just too good not to own.
Now, I’m off to try that sports bra you recommended.
Jessica Barshinger says
I LOVE the Zella leggings! They are fantastic! I became a fan along with you three years ago!!! I too am on that 20 LB weight loss journey (sigh)…thanks for the tips!
Meghan says
I love that you share this with us every year because so many of us struggle with letting everyone else come first for so much of the year we need a reset to get back on track in January. It also helps that it gets us in shape for spring fashions.
One question – do you drink coffee in the morning? If so, do you cut it during this period? I have a cup with skim milk and sugar every morning. I know I should cut the sugar, but can’t seem to enjoy my morning cup without it. I need some other alternatives.
Sheaffer says
Hi, Meghan! Great question. I don’t drink coffee. Never have. I have actually never had even 1 cup of coffee my entire life. I love the smell, but I don’t like the taste. xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Laci says
I have been on a diet since October and I have had great success but let me tell you-your salads look amazing. I know this will sound so STUPID but what type of lettuce do you buy? Mine never looks that tasty!! Also-I am addicted to my spark. It’s one thing I look forward to every day!! So far I have lost 27 pounds eating low carb but don’t think I don’t want a piece of chocolate like a fat kid!
Sheaffer says
Hi, Laci! I actually buy the boxed mixed green or the boxed or bagged butter lettuce. The butter lettuce is my favorite! And good for you for losing 27 pounds!!!! THAT’S AMAZING!!!!!! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Darcy says
Thanks for posting this again! I need to work on losing some weight (well, a lot of weight ha ha) and I appreciate the “real life” (vs. shakes, etc.) ideas. I love salads too – I need to start prepping ingredients and getting some of that dressing!
Also – something I found that fights my carb cravings is roasting (or microwaving) a spaghetti squash and then mixing it with black pepper & a little parmesan (the real (more expensive) stuff) – just a tablespoon of parm added makes it taste SO GOOD!
Sheaffer says
I totally do that with the Butternut squash, Darcy! Did I not mention that in the post. It totally kicks it up like 100 notches! And I do mine in the microwave too. Thanks for reading and for the encouragement! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Kristi Harless says
You should try Harvest Snaps. They’re a salty snack made from peas or lentils. They have several flavors, but my favorites are tomato basil and black pepper. The texture of them reminds me of Tom’s Hot Fries. I find them in the produce section at Walmart. Sooo yummy and low calorie.
Melissa says
Hey! May I ask what DVDs and workouts you’re doing? Thanks!!
Sheaffer says
Hi, Melissa! They are listed and linked in the post! T-25 from the Beach Body series! Xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Debbie Ricks says
Thank you for this post! Very encouraging!! Your salads are so pretty, they look delish!!
Stacey says
Loved how you shared your weight loss journey again. Love all the active wear. It is seriously one of my favorites to buy and wear.
xoxo
Stacey
http://staceylyynn.wixsite.com/stylingsofstacey
Brandi Tooker says
Yep! I end up about the same weight every January. And every spring I lose weight. Ugh! Why does it always come back? I need some zella. Maybe that will help! 🙂 And I ordered a Peloton bike. I can’t wait to get it! You look adorable in your gear! Happy healthy-ing!!
Christi Cook says
You absolutely do not look like you gain 20 pounds any which way you cut it!!!
Sheaffer says
You’re sweet, Christi! But I guarantee you I do. I start to be absolutely miserable in my clothes, which is what inspires me to start losing the weight. 🙂
Laura Thomas says
I have to say, I’ve been reading your blog for a while and I actually said to myself, I’m impressed Sheaffer kept the weight off!!
Therefore, you do not look like you gained any weight!! You must carry it well, and I’m jealous! Did you have to size up when you bought new clothes?
I’m going to try those Zella leggings!!
Sheaffer says
Hey, Laura! Okay, so here’s the deal. As far as pants go, I probably should have been buying up a size….but I didn’t. I don’t ever let myself do that, because I’m afraid if I buy up a size, then I get comfortable with that size. So, I was squeezing myself into my regular size. It was seriously uncomfortable, but that helped spur me on to start this journey as well. 🙂 xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Sandy says
Hi Sheaffer! I am a new follower of yours as I just discovered your blog a couple of weeks ago. I love all your recommendations! Thank you!! I have ordered several pieces that you’ve recommended. My favorites so far are the Free People Cowl Neck, the Frye Melissa bag and, of course, the blardigan 🙂 Thank you for helping this fashion challenged mom spruce up her wardrobe!! Many thanks, Sandy
P.S. I have a Carter too! Mine is 10 🙂 Such a great name
Sheaffer says
Hi, Sandy! So happy to have you as a new reader!!!! I’m thrilled to hear that you are loving your purchases, and I thank you for taking the time to send me a little message! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Rebecca says
You’ve given me a kick in the butt to lose some weight so wish me luck! I do have a question in regards to your salads. What amounts of each of the ingredients do you use?
Sheaffer says
Hi, Rebecca! No set amount. I don’t measure ingredients, I just try to only use healthy salad options (no cheese, not a lot of croutons, etc.). xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Rebecca says
Just eyeballing with a little of this and a little of that works for me; keeps it simple 🙂 Thanks so much!
Oh, probably not the best time to mention it but based on your glowing comments about that burger place in McKinney my husband and I decided to try it awhile back and so glad we did. DELICIOUS!
Lesli says
Hi! Do you eat any snacks between breakfast, lunch, and dinner? If so, any ideas? Thanks!
Sheaffer says
Great question, Lesli! I totally do! I try to only munch on mostly fresh stuff for snacks…..like fresh fruit….or fresh veggies with hummus. I also sometimes make a protein shake as a snack on days when I’m really hungry. xoxo, Sheaffer 😉
Lori Savage says
Have you tried any of the other advocare products? I turn 40 on monday and I always use my bday as the day I start my “resolutions”. Here’s to getting healthy (In really cute workout gear! Huge Zella fan!!!)
Sheaffer says
I haven’t, Lori! So sorry I’m not more help! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Angela says
Your workout clothes look fantastic. And that Avocado-Cilantro salad dressing looks delicious.
Maggie Jensen says
What protein powder do you use? I swear I looked but I didn’t see a link.????
Sheaffer says
Hi, Maggie! I don’t have one that I use all the time. I typically just look for a plant based protein! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Beth says
Did you find the sports bra to be true to size?
Sheaffer says
I did, Beth! xoxo
Jessica says
Are your Nike shoes black or grey? They look grey in the picture, but I only see black available.
Sheaffer says
Hi, Jessica! They were grey! Looks like they are all sold out now. 🙁 So sorry!
Taylor T says
I use Under Armor’s My Fitness Pal app for keeping on track daily. Check it out, you log your calories, water consumption, exercise and calories burned, etc. It’s awesome and I recommend it to all my friends looking to get healthy. And Spark for LIFE!!!!! I have been drinking Spark instead of my morning coffee ever since I discovered it 3 years ago… my pantry has a shelf dedicated to my Spark collection! LOVE SPARK!
Becky says
Thank you for sharing all of this-so inspiring and I made a grocery list with many of your healthy food choices! I have 3 sons so I’m cooking all the time-did your son eat the same dinners? And can you share some of the things your son eats for breakfast? Thx!
Sheaffer says
Hi, Becky! Carter is a creature of habit. Right now he is rotating between just a handful of breakfasts: honey nut cheerios, two slices of wheat toast with butter and a slice of bacon, whole wheat pancakes. Sorry I don’t have more exciting options for you! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Tracy says
Where do you purchase your hummus? I’m in the DFW area too so I’m hopeful it’s at a store near me!
Sheaffer says
Hi, Tracy! I get it at Market Street!
Christy says
Hi! So do you count calories or how do you do it? Loved this post!
Sheaffer says
Hi, Christy! In the past, I have counted calories. I’m being more relaxed about it now. I’m just trying to eat less calories, less fat, less carbs. If I do eat carbs (that aren’t fruits and veggies), I do it early in the day vs. late in the day. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies. And LOTS of water. And smaller portions of what I am eating. Hope this helps! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Kelly P says
I just found your blog recently and have been really enjoying it, but this is my first comment. I had to comment though because I thought I was the only one who did this EVERY SINGLE YEAR! It’s so damn annoying. For me it’s the period between Oct-Dec (obvs) and every year I put on 10-15 pounds without fail. No matter how much I tell myself to cool it on the holiday treats, somehow I always wind up in the exact same place come January. All this is to say I’m in the same boat as you and you gave me a few new food ideas. Thank you!
Sheaffer says
Sadly, I’m the president of this club. Welcome, Kelly! 🙂
Lea says
Scheaffer- I’m sorry I’m so late to this post! I just caught up on all your posts! I’m so glad you’re doing bachelor recaps again- they’re the best! Quick question about your workout posts- I was wondering when you do it? Is it a set time or does it vary? Thanks
Sheaffer says
Hi, Lea! I typically work out in the mornings…about 15 minutes after Carter goes to school! xoxo, Sheaffer 🙂
Alisha Wilson says
Hi Sheaffer,
I too gain 15-20 lbs. and start in January to get it off for the Summer! I love all of your recommendations, and I’ve tried a lot of them. Can you tell me what type of bread/wrap that is in the picture with the veggies and hummus? I bought the Flat-Outs and I don’t think it’s the same as the picture. The bread is thicker and smaller. Anyway, thank you for posting all these great ideas!
Sheaffer says
Hi,Alisha! It definitely a Flat-Out. I’m out of them right now, so I’m not totally sure what they are called, but I do remember it was a purple package. Hope this helps! xoxo, Sheaffer:)