WiW… I'm Trying

Sorry for the late weigh in. It's been a rough week. I am actually down a bit ( not quite a pound) I wasn't expecting much so this is good.  182.8

As I said this week was pretty hard Monday we had a funeral to go to, and it was very difficult.  My cousin lost his 19 year old son very unexpectedly.

 TaTa drew this portrait of  "little" Timmy to give to his dad.  I am in awe of her talent and have no idea where she gets it from.  

Since it has been a busy week and DQ started up school, added a day of gymnastics and my group training started we are trying to get into the new routine.  I have discovered I pretty much have no time so I had to use my lunch break to hit up the grocery store #noexuses  

and yesterday was my first day at group training.  So far I really like this group of ladies, a lot of them are new to training so we are starting out a little on the easier side but Soben is so awesome and modifies mine so it's a little harder or adds more weight for me.  I already feel it in my booty :)

my burn from last night.

WiW....Sweat Bomb

I'm back down, but only a few ounces. I really wish things would move a little faster, but I guess as long as it's moving (down) I shouldn't bitch. 

 It had been a pretty quiet week so far. The hubs has been out of town since Monday for work.  This is both good and bad, bad because I miss him when he's gone, but good because I don't feel so bad being at the gym.  He really doesn't give me crap about it, it's all me. I'm sure I've said this brfore but I commute a long ways to work every fricken day so that means I'm pretty much gone from 5am to 5pm then if I hit the gym right after I end up getting home after 6 most of the time and we go to bed pretty early (between 8-9) since we get up at 4am so that doesn't leave much time for a whole lot.

Any way I digress, since he's been gone I have turned into a sweat bomb (thanks DQ for helping with the pic though she took like 500 lol)

and that smile is coming straight from the heart.  I did my treadmill HIIT workout. Then I was feeling so good with the running parts I ran another 2 miles after.

Look at that burn, and my legs have that great achy feeling, not bad but just enough to let em' know who's boss. 

Another great thing when the hubs is gone is that if I don't feel like cooking I can just make a protein smoothie.  I found this while browsing online the other day. The brand is Cellucor and they have a bunch of different flavors I haven't really seen and the great thing is the sell them in a 4 serving "trial" pack. It's a little more than buying the big one, but I hate when I buy something then turns out I don't like it.  It's worth the extra to test it out.  So far I've tried the Red Velvet (yum!) Cor-fettie Cake Batter (yum and it even has cute little  sprinkles in it) Cinnamon Swirl (just ok as a drink but great to cook with)

And of course no post is complete without a chicken picture.  They are all getting so big and Noodle is finally not looking like a crack head anymore, and finally has some feathers.

from top to bottom DQ, Xena , Princess, and Noodle.

Linking up with Fitness Blondie, the WiW girls and Vodka and Soda.

WiW…Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

Yay another pound lost (and that sucker better be lost for good!)  Actually it was slightly over a pound 1.2 to be exact.  

Even though the weather gods have decided fall was NOT coming after all and turned up the thermostat (triple digest again this week) it was cool enough last weekend to get in a cooking pooloza.

I made lots of healthy stuff that I froze for dinner and lunches this week, like chicken, rice, and black bean bowls,healthy pumpkin muffins and one of my faves, spaghetti squash lasagna.

I actually remembered to take some pics so I could share the recipe with you all.

It's pretty easy first I stab a largish spaghetti squash all over then throw it in the microwave for 10-15 minutes (this one was huge so it took 18 minutes) while thats going on I browned up some ground turkey and then tossed in a jar of pasta sauce.  

while that was simmering I mixed a block of low fat cream cheese, a container or low fat cottage cheese, crushed/minced garlic, and some parmesan.

after all the components were done, I just layered it like so

a little sauce at the bottom so it didn't stick, spaghetti squash

then cheese mixture, then sauce

top with a little extra parm throw it in the oven for 20-30 minutes (until all warm and bubbly)

and your done! it is so yummy, full of protein, and totally guiltless! 

Even though it's getting warm again by the time I get home (thank you 2 hour commute said no one ever!) it's cooled down, so I did a few work outs in my backyard so I could let my chicken girls roam and keep an eye on them.

and of course Dobby (my little rat/dog) was not going to be left out!

Linking up with the Weigh in Wednesday girls, and Vodka and Soda.

Those Machines Lie

This makes the second week of hittin up the gym.  Now if I could only do more than walk that would be great...But I can't.... pfftt

 

So what I really wanted to talk to ya'll about was those fancy, dancy machines at the gym.  You know the ones I'm talking about.  Some of them have a screen so you can watch TV (really who doesn't love to sweat to a good episode of The Walking Dead no spoilers I'm still trying to catch  up.)  Most if not all have the heart rate monitor and it tells you how many calories you burn. 

 

Don't believe it!! They are big fat liars.

 

I used to get so excited when I would finish up on the elliptical and see I had burned over 500 calories. That is until I got a heart rate monitor, then I found out the truth I was burning any where from 50-100 calories less that what I thought. 

 

So now I always, ok almost always, wear my heart rate monitor when I'm working out even at the machines.  It's the best way (I think) to get an accurate number on how many calories you burn.

The difference between the elliptical and my HRM  for a 30 min. workout

Finally worked up a sweat... Probably for the first time in 6weeks!   #roadtorecovery 

 

*in case you want to know I just have the basic Polar FT4 HRM in (pink of course) that I got on Amazon.

What's your favorite way to burn those calories?

Too sweet!

I truly have the greatest friends ever!!

Remember last post I said I wasn't going to be able to do my group training anymore... Damn car payment I'm still bitter can't ya tell... Well Monday I got a call from the girls telling me that I had to make sure I came on Wednesday to group for the free demo session.  I told them of course I would.  Then they asked if I was free for the month of nov on training days and I said yes but I couldn't do it for a while but I would surely  stop by and say hi.  Then they hit me with a big surprise..... T (one of the group girls and who I meet up to run with on T&TH mornings)  paid for me to do Group for Nov.  WHAT??? 

I didn't even know how to respond, I am still in such shock!  She said I inspire her and I help her get her butt to the gym... Oh wow still don't know how to respond.  It is truly one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.  So I better get with it and work my ass off no slacking this month!!

Love my girls!! They are the ones that help keep me going!

Weigh -In Wednesday

Happy Wednesday all, hope you are having a good one.  I know I said I would be a better blogger and all but shit is still crazy around here.  Not so much planned things but there has been some life and living changes going on.  But first I will tell ya all how my weigh in went today... I'm back down to 170.4  down (-3.4)  as I had hoped last week it was water weight due to my lovely friend TOM.  So now that I am back on track I hope to be in the 160's real soon!  I've been hitting my Group X workouts hard then doing a half hour of cardio after and typically burn about 700-900 cals.   This picture was after a Sunday workout then I followed it up with a green protein smoothie after, recipe will be on here shortly :)

So now to life/living changes.  After teaching in my 2 year old class for 12 years I have moved classes.  The teacher in the 3 year old class retired and I threw my name into the hat of wanting the position.  I know most wouldn't think one year wouldn't  make a difference but you my friends would be wrong!  It's crazy how much a child grows and how much more independent they are (not to mention potty trained, I have been changing diapers and potty training kiddlets for the last 12 yrs holy crap that's alotta well...crap) So the last week and a half I have been getting to organize and make the room my own.  Sounds like fun and it is, but again there is a lotta crap, the teacher that left had been there 20 years and in that time I'm sure you can imagine how much stuff is accumulated.  So I have spent any extra time cleaning and organizing. Then as far as living TaTa has started moving her stuff up to my mom's house so we are kind of in limbo.  TaTa moving her stuff out and me slowly moving my stuff in (it's going to be my new craft room) YIPPEEE I'll be glad to not have to do my crafting/sewing/and what not at the kitchen table anymore.  I'm sad to see her go but I will have to admit it's been quiet around here with the girls NOT fighting or me yelling at the dog (TaTa is taking her dog Emily with her).
So that is why I'm still MIA I promise, really promise to kick it up!


one of my super cool gifts

Horsecicles

So right now I should be finishing up the horsecicles for DQ's B-Day Party.....

I know horsecicles gross not really look

See not quite as gross as they sound... I have to make 24 of those huge ass chocolate horse pops, for DQ's party on Thursday.  Luckily I bribed TaTa to help me as well as put together 24 goodies bags, glue cute circles with horses on them to the bottom of about a million Hershey Kisses.  Now to talk her into helping me make 4 dozen cupcakes and put together a shit ton of "pony treat" boxes filled with carrots and apples on Wednesday.  UGGG I thought having a her party at a "place" would be easier, but I soo am that mom that can't do stuff half way and go totally Martha Stewart for parties. 
Remember DQ's Mermaid Party that was not suppose to be a party.

Anyway This week is a busy one and I'm afraid I'm not going to make it to the gym at all. So my goal is to at least get in my 10,000 steps a day and be really good food wise.  Also since her party is going to be at a jumper place CareBear and I are going to make that our workout for Thursday and jump our asses off!

I'm actually bummed that we are not going to make it to the gym this Thursday.  We missed the last few due to her, then me being out of town.  So last week was finally a girls night.  CareBear suggested a ramped up workout of running to the gym (2 miles away) then take our Body Pump class then run back to work to pick up DQ.  I was a bit nervous that's a lotta working out, but I figured why not if we ran out of steam on the way back we could always call a coworker to come and rescue us.  So off we went.  It was actually not to bad just really freaking sweaty.  We were def slower on the way back but made it in time to pick up DQ before school closed which is always good.  I felt great after and we burned over 1000 calories according to my HRM.

Too bad we then proceeded to eat that many calories at Souplantation afterwards... Best laid plans right??  It's the damn bread I tell ya....