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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Cravings!!

So... the cravings won today. Yesterday, I battled and won a ferocious Sonic craving. What do I crave from Sonic you may ask? Sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast burritos and a chocolate java chiller shake. I could have that every day. I'm not kidding. It's a problem, especially considering I don't like chocolate. Honestly, ask any of my friends how many times they've seen me eat chocolate. It's very rare. However, the mixture of espresso and ice cream with just a little chocolate syrup is like heaven for this fat kid!

Anyway... today at work all I wanted was pepperoni. NOT KIDDING! It was intense. I resisted all day. Then, I came home and was so hungry. I have meals prepped. That's not the problem. I just didn't want it. All I wanted was pepperoni. So, after 2 days of craving a cheat meal, I indulged and ordered a pizza which my roommate will have to finish eating. I'm not going to lie... it was possibly the BEST few pieces (I get square cut) of pizza I've ever had. I think that's because I haven't given into cravings yet. However, with tomorrow being 1 week since my restart on my program, it seemed like a good time for a cheat meal. We SHOULD have cheat meals! They make us feel as if we aren't denying ourselves. Not sure about any of you, but anytime I feel denied something I get angry, frustrated, and end up quitting. This weight loss plan is not about denying myself things I like. I very much like pizza, but I shouldn't eat it every day or even every weekend.

Will I regret this decision? Probably... only for the sluggish, gross feeling that will follow eating something so greasy when I've been eating clean and healthy. I'm not going to lie, I've been feeling better with even just a week of lifestyle change. Can you imagine a month from now? Two? A year? I cannot, but I'm so excited to see what happens!

The point... sometimes you have to give into the cravings just for a meal every week or so.

Also, my latest order just came in and I am so excited to have my new flavor of tea (I got peach this time) and to add protein to my shakes! I honestly cannot wait to wake up in the morning to test them out! TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT!

Well... keep it sassy!

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

First Mini Goal: ACHIEVED!!!

The first of my mini weight loss goals is here! After months and months, I am finally there, and it feels amazing!

I know I have many more of these "mini" goals to reach along my journey but to have reached one is an achievement. I feel very proud of myself.

That's it for now! I just wanted to share that bit of news with you!

Keep it Sassy!

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Bedtime Ritual

I'm starting a new ritual, and by starting, I mean I've been doing this the past few nights. It's something that helps remind me why I'm doing this every single night. It also keeps me from grabbing some unhealthy late night snack.

Every night when I'm trying to wind down from the day I make a cup of "Sleepytime" tea. If you've never had it, it is AMAZING! I put just a touch of organic honey in it. It calms me down and gets me ready for sleep.

Then, I watch weight loss motivational videos. They are the main reminder that "I can do this." Other people have accomplished their fitness goals or are well on their way, and I am not alone. I enjoy hearing what other people have to say to encourage and motivate me. Granted I know it's not personally for me, but it's encouraging all the same.

Have a nice night! I'll probably have another post tomorrow.

Meal Prep Day #1

Here I am! I've already taken my tabs. I'm in the process of finishing my tea and my WONDERFUL cafe latte shake! I honestly cannot say enough about how wonderful these products make me feel. I promise there will be an entire post on them in the future.

Yesterday, I sat down and made a meal plan. It looks a little something like this:

Monday: Shrimp, Brown Rice, Mixed Vegetables
Tuesday: Chicken, Quinoa, Mixed Vegetables
Wednesday: Shrimp, Brown Rice, Carrots, Peas
Thursday: Chicken, Quinoa, Carrots, Peas
Friday: Shredded Chicken, Brown Rice, Bell Pepper, Onion, and Tomato

I have already prepped up some snacks. I have cantaloupe, strawberries, and celery cut up and portioned out into ziploc bags. I also have single serving packs of greek yogurt, almonds, and craisins. I don't know about you, but for a person who was only eating one rather large meal a day, this seems like an awful lot of food. Eating small, portion controlled meals means more food, more nutrition than gorging yourself on one singular meal.

So, today... I PREP! I'm super excited about it. I bought everything I needed and more for less than $60. I'm not sure I've ever spent such a small amount of money when grocery shopping. I was very happy. I guess eating healthy can be affordable. I've just been looking at it all wrong. My favorite part of this is that I'm finally learning portion control. I swear! It is the most important part of it all. Before, I would eat the things listed in my plan BUT I would eat FAR too much of it! That's the thing about portion control I'm learning. You can eat things you like. You just have to eat the proper amount.

Yesterday also turned out to be my cheat meal day. I allow myself one cheat meal a week. Notice that I said "MEAL" not "DAY." There's a big difference! Another lesson I'm learning. Once a week, I go out to eat with my friend, Derek. Now, I could choose to eat healthy when we do that. I could get a salad or something off the "light" part of the menu, but I choose to make it my cheat meal every week. I think of it this way... I eat out once a week. If I'm going to do a cheat meal, it might as well be then. So, yesterday for dinner instead of having the meal I had already prepped (don't worry... it will be tonight's dinner) I had an artisan grilled chicken ciabatta sandwich and some loaded mashed potatoes. Yes! I could've just had plain mash or steamed veggies instead, but I just went for it because I LOVE loaded mashed potatoes. I also had tea, but it was unsweetened tea.

Well, I think that's about it for now. I may post again after all my prepping is over. Not sure yet, but I might. Maybe even post a picture. Remember... Keep it sassy!

--Sass



Saturday, June 21, 2014

Meal Prep... Prep?

Hello everyone!

I'm back again for another update. This is one is going to be about MEAL PREP! *cue scary music*

For those who know me personally, you may know that I have a love/hate relationship with cooking. I honestly like to cook, but hate cleaning up. However, the main part of my hatred for cooking is trying to do it after I've done nothing but make food for other people for 8+ hours all day. So, to say I don't want to cook after that would be an understatement.

With my recent start up of getting healthy, I've decided to try meal prepping. I actually prepped 3 days worth the other day, (Today's dinner with be the last of that.) and it was easy. My roommate has decided he wants to start meal prepping as well. It's a lot easier to eat healthy when the person you live with isn't bringing home pizza, so YAY!

Today is dedicated to getting all the materials I need in order to prep meals for myself and my roommate. The number one thing being containers to store them in. I've also got to make sure there's room in the refrigerator for all of it. I'm not sure what I'll be making yet but it should be pretty simple. We already have some proteins in the freezer. I'm thinking chicken and shrimp... mixing it up a little. I've had baked chicken breasts the past 3 days, so the shrimp will be a nice change of pace. We've also got lots of those Birds Eye Steamfresh veggie bags. Those are definitely easy to make. Maybe add some brown rice or quinoa for starch purposes. I need to get some low-cal sauces. We already have some, but why not get a few different options. That's what we currently have. On top of that, I need to get some low-cal snacks. Some fruit, almonds, string cheese, etc. I'm not really sure yet, but that's what today is for.

Tomorrow, after it is all said and done, I'll post my menu for the week. Granted it won't look like much. I only eat one meal a day at the moment as well as snacks throughout the day. Before you start telling me how unhealthy only eating once a day is, take into consideration that I have 2 meal replacement shakes a day on Herbalife. I'll post more about that later. I promise. It's probably what everyone wants to know about!

Well, I think that's it for now. Time to go clean out the frig, do some dishes, make a shopping list, and hit the down.

Do you meal prep? What are your favorite meals? Let me know in the comments below! But, more than that... Keep it sassy!

--Sass

Friday, June 20, 2014

What a Day!

Today has been a "no good, very ill" (not bad) sort of day.

To say I haven't been feeling 100% this past week would be an understatement. I just thought it was because I was exhausted from things I cannot talk about.

Anyway... I haven't been feeling well the past few days, but today I got that clammy feeling you often get with fevers and complete body aches on top of the stomach issues I was already having. Yes... TMI, but I have a point.

After coming home and relaxing with some Tylenol in my system, I'm feeling a little better. Not much, but enough to blog about a revelation I had today.

I hate spending money. I mean, I will let the cabinets run empty. I will wait until my gas light comes on unless I'm on a road trip. I will avoid spending money at all costs, especially when I know I don't have much money to spare. However, today I placed another Herbalife order. I just ordered two things, but I ordered them. Basically, I'm running low on tea, and am in desperate need in some extra protein intake.

You have to make things a priority, sometimes. I'm making my health a priority even when I just want to curl into a ball with a Java Chiller Shake and a couple of breakfast burritos from Sonic. Really! That is ALL I want right now, but I'm resisting because I know it will not benefit me in the long run.

Well, I'm off to take care of some work related things. Just a few more things to take care of before I'm off for two days! Excitement for sleep abounds.

--Sass

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Setting Goals

I've decided to post this here to keep me accountable. I can write it in a journal all I want, but I just seem to keep writing it and not doing it. If I think people might read it, then I might do better. I'm not saying I will or I won't, but I do think this will help.

My long term goals (and we're talking LLLLLOOOOOONNNNNGGG):

1. Lose approximately 115 lbs.
2. Get with the 20-22% body fat range.
3. Feel less self-conscious at the gym.

Granted... I know those are super long term goals, and if I think about them and only them, I'll fail before I even begin. So, I have mid-term goals:

1. Weigh UNDER 200 lbs.
2. Run a marathon of some sort. (I'm not a runner. In fact, I hate running. However, I WANT to do this.)
3. Get down to a size 16 again. (Yes, I want to get lower than that, but to think that was 8th grade is scary.)

Now, goals for the next month. By July 19th, I am aiming for:

1. A lose of 8-10 lbs.
2. Going to the gym at least 2 times a week. (I know it's not a lot, but it's more than sitting at home.)
3. Belt out my frustration at least once a week. (Not technically fitness-related, but it's mental health related.)
4. Talk to my health coach when I feel less motivated than usual.

Are you trying to better yourself in some way? Looking to get fit or follow a dream? Leave a goal in the comments below. We'll mutually support each other!

Keep it sassy and covered in glitter!

--Sass

Restart

Today, I woke up early... as well I should considering I went to bed SUPER early. However, that's not the point. The point is I woke up early and decided it was time to get back into my weight loss routine. If you didn't know, I've been working on this for a while. I'll be really strong for a month or so, and then I'll slack off for a few months. NOT GOOD! NOT BENEFICIAL! The last time I was doing really well. I had lost almost 10 lbs. in 4 weeks, which is good for me.

So today has been a shake for breakfast and lunch day with a colorful meal for dinner, which I'm currently in the process of making. So, this will be short.

My biggest news today is that I did not have a single soda at work today! NOT A SINGLE SODA WAS HAD! I had one brief moment where I wanted a Sprite, but I resisted! I'm so excited!

So, that's it. This is the end!
















































































Monday, June 9, 2014

Tonys 2014

It is 2:40 AM, and though, I am physically exhausted... I am wide awake!

If you know me at all, then you know I claim the day of the Tony Awards as a national holiday. I do not take them lightly. No one is to bother me on this day unless you want to discuss predictions, outcomes, performances, etc. It holds a higher value than Christmas to me. I've even been known to call the theatre church. If theatre is church, then Tonys Day is Christmas and Easter mass combined! It's that big of a deal for me. I go to the extent of taking the day after off work because I KNOW this will happen.

I'm awake... wide awake. I want to take on the world. I want to challenge any and every thing that tries to hold me down.

So... I sit here. I'm home from a wonderful night of Tonys viewing at my friend Jon's home, and I'm thrumming. The energies around me are palpitating. I'm alive. I'm full of inspiration and creativity. I want to create. I need to create. I need to celebrate this wonderful thing we call live theatre with the world!

I'm naturally pessimistic. I see the world as half-empty most times. People annoy me. I hate everything. In fact, I am usually against all sorts of social affairs, but this one is different. This is full of people who are like me in a way. They see and recognize and accept the wonder in the ability to show "people" how "people" are or should be. We are speakers and writers and lovers of truth in it's purest form. Most people find that an odd statement. My parents were often those people. "It's pretend." "It's make believe." "Playing dress up." "You need to grow up." ETC. We've all heard those phrases. But, it's not pretend or make believe or dress up. We do not need to grow up. No one tells a scientist to stop exploring. (Well, except for creationists.) It's hard to imagine that I live in a part of the world that preaches, literally, to live your life based entirely on faith, but will ridicule you for acting or composing music that isn't faith-based or writing your life down in a way so that it can be shared and maybe reach someone who is going through a similar struggle.

I said to my friends tonight that I often feel as if "my mind is too full of creativity to be contained in this small town." I asked them if they feel the same way. They looked at me with "DUH" written across their faces. However, if I asked this of most people from my hometown, they wouldn't understand what I was talking about. They'd think I was crazy.

Theatre is educational. Theatre is life. Theatre is truth, even if you do not want to accept that truth. It has taken me a long time to accept some truths I have learned in the theatre community or through a show I have seen or worked on. Some truths I still have a hard time accepting those truths. Sometimes I do not believe I deserve to chase my dreams. Sometimes, I have a hard time accepting the fact that the only person sabotaging my life is myself. But, at the core of all that, I am set free by theatre. It may suck at times. I might take such lessons for granted, but theatre has granted me the ability to do the one thing I know I can do. Share a little bit of truth, whether it is mine or a certain composer's or a playwright's. As Street Singer said in Brooklyn: The Musical "Every fairy tale holds a little truth, and every truth... a little fairy tale."