24 Days of Thanks: Day 4

I am thankful for companies that still make healthy wholesome foods! I really like eating fresh fruits & veggies whenever possible but sometimes you're just crunched for time. Pure bars are made with delicious foods that are good for you without all the extra gunk that's in most "boxed" foods these days. And to top it off, you can order in bulk from their website!

Grocery Store Epiphany

I used to loathe grocery shopping. But since I started eating healthier, I actually enjoy going to the store and picking out new healthy foods and buying fresh fruits and veggies. Maybe I'm a weirdo. I mean, I wouldn't like to go every day or anything crazy.. but it's less of a chore now.

This last time I went to the grocery store I noticed something I've never noticed before:



This is the set up of the grocery section at the Super Target I go to. The entrance is at the bottom of the page. I don't know about YOUR grocery store, but this seems to be the set up of every grocery store I've ever been in. I had a few things on my list that were in the center aisles, but probably 80-90% of what I purchased was from the outer area of the grocery section.



These are the things that I purchased from the center aisles (labeled "BAD!" in blue on the drawing):
-low fat honey mustard dressing
-ketchup
-nutmeg
-sesame seeds
-kashi go lean crunch granola
-peanut butter
-whole wheat pita bread
-whole wheat english muffins
-truvia
-special k snack bars (only for emergencies when i'm really in a hurry and need a snack)
-coffee
-half & half
-graham cracker cookies for Brayden

For the most part, the center aisles are filled with sugary foods that will leave you hungry in an hour. The foods on the ends of the aisle (pink on the drawing) are even worse! They are placed there simply to catch your eye and cause you to make an unneeded purchase.

The majority of your shopping trip should be spent on the outside aisles: dairy, meat, and produce.







The biggest part of my purchase included fresh fruits and vegetables, soy milk, almond milk, skim milk, low fat yogurt, white fish, shrimp, eggs, low fat feta cheese, etc. When I put my groceries away, I scatter them in the fridge so basically everywhere I look is something healthy! Makes it much easier to decide what to eat :)

So, if you're trying to eat healthier, stay out of the center aisles!!

Fitness Update

I figured it was about time for a weight-loss/fitness update.

High weight: 164 (October 2010)
Start weight: 153.6 (August 14, 2011)
Current weight: 144.6 (October 5, 2011)
Goal weight: 130



Since I started the couch-to-5k program on August 14, 7 1/2 weeks ago, I've lost a total of 8.5 inches (arms, legs, stomach) and 9 pounds. Today I did Week 9, Day 2 of the C2-5K program which means I only have one day left. I really didn't think I'd be able to work my way towards running 3 miles all at once in less than two months. But surprisingly, I can. My first 5K time was 39:30, not bad I say, not bad. So proud of myself for actually doing it, and seeing it through, start to finish! I actually have improved a TON on my mile time as well. Last summer when I first started running, my first mile time was over 16 minutes; last night, my new mile time was 9:40. Yay! Now I need to scour the internet (aka Pinterest) to find a new workout routine ;) Ideas??


Chicken, avocado, and tomato salad with Ranch & Franks Red Hot

Up until now I have pretty much just been watching calories and trying to eat more fruits and vegetables and less sugary stuff. On Monday I bought the 17-Day Diet book and started the diet yesterday. I'm not following it absolutely to a tee (I cannot STAND green tea), but using the menu plans provided for the most part. Can't say how well it's working since it hasn't even been 48 hours but I plan to do a review post at the end of the first 17 day cycle.


Everything thin bagel with turkey, cucumber, and roasted red pepper hummus


Cherry tomatoes + agua


Hard boiled eggs = love :)

Accountability Needed...

I was browsing the good ol' interweb the other night (a hobby I indulge in far too often) when I came across a quote that said "People's unhappiness is caused by sacrificing what we want most for what we want right now". How flippin' true is that?! I'd say it's pretty close to 100% accurate in my life. Our society has taught us to want what we want, and want it right now. Everything is about instant gratification. Much to our dismay, good things take time. Anything worth having is worth waiting for.





My problem is that I get "too busy". I put other things higher on my priority list. I don't work out unless I can dedicate a good chunk of time to it. If I break down and eat something unhealthy, my day is "wasted" anyway so I continue to eat unhealthy, or choose not to work out. I make promises to myself that I know I can't keep, but still feel disappointed when I have failed to keep my promise. Change is gradual. How can I (or you) expect to go from not working out, to working out every day? Or from not caring about what you eat, to eating a strict diet? This time around (I feel like a broken record), I am making a commitment to ACT HEALTHIER. To LIVE healthier. To THINK healthier. To make healthy CHOICES. I am not going to punish myself for slipping up now and again. I am not going to view myself as a failure if I go to bed without working out. I am simply going to work towards becoming healthier, a little bit at a time.

I have heard a lot on other blogs about The Couch-to-5k Running program. I finally decided to check it out and it really doesn't seem too difficult. It works to build endurance, slowly. I am thinking about giving it a go, but I am so incredibly OCD that I'm afraid if I miss a day, or don't follow the program to a tee, my mind will go crazy over it. I can commit to the program three times a week, but I'd like to try to be working out more than that, so I'm considering following the program, and if I choose to work out on a "rest" day, I will either do a P90X video, or the 30 day shred video.

I am going to try to post one or two times a week about my progress as far as when I have worked out and what I have been changing in my diet. My ultimate goal is to lose about 20 pounds, but mostly I want to be back to the weight I was at pre-pregnancy. Currently I'm +11. Anyone else making commitments to work out more? Eat healthier? Let's be accountability partners!



[Note: Images are not mine, both were found on Pinterest, and I just noticed the 2nd one has a typo but I like the quote so I'm leaving it!]