Motivation

How fun are these wings on my running shoes? A bit ridiculous? Yes, but I love them!  Sometimes when I'm having trouble with my motivation to workout finding something fun and exercise related can give me a little boost.  I also like to buy workout clothes a couple sizes smaller to motivate myself to keep losing weight so I can fit in them.  Do you have a secret weapon you use when you aren't feeling motivated?

Workout drought

Today is 4 days without a workout :( I have been tired lately and unmotivated.  I think my stress from work is also messing up my energy level.  Going to take today as a rest day since I worked 16 hours yesterday and tomorrow I'm going to do a Turbo fire workout and recommit to my previous workout schedule of 4-5x a week!  What do you do to stay motivated with your workouts?  What challenges do you face when it comes to finding time to workout?

Counting calories...

I have been using myfitnesspal.com and their phone app since January 2013.  It is a free resource and I would definitely recommend it to anyone trying to lose weight.  However I feel like I have been stuck at 190-188 for the past couple of weeks and need to try something different! So for the next 2 weeks I will not be counting calories! I will eat clean, drink my water and workout 4 times a week. I will keep you guys posted on here with my progress! Have you ever taken a break from tracking food? Dud you still lose weight?

 

Hey Oscar get your own salad!

Made a salad so delicious even my dog Oscar wanted some! Mixed greens, feta, tomato, cucumber, walnuts, and homemade honey mustard dressing. I really enjoy salads because you can have a huge salad and it's guilt free ( as long as you don't load it up with sugary dressing).

Quick simple pasta!

I don't eat a lot of pasta ( anymore) so when I have a really strong craving for it I take it as a sign that my body needs some carbs. Today I made my favorite pasta meal!

 Simple quick pasta recipe:

1/2 cup dry elbow macaroni cooked for 7-8 mins (I like my pasta on the softer side)

1/4 cup marinara heat in microwave 3o secs at a time until desired temp reached

1 link chicken sausage cut up and  cooked in microwave 1 minute

1/8 cup part skim shredded mozzarella!

BAM! Sorry I couldn't help myself :)

Run Kristen Run

Had a Forrest Gump moment today... I was feeling like crap, restless and down.  So instead of bingeing on junk food. I laced up my running shoes and headed out to do my 4 mile walk/jog.  I walked for 10 minutes and then started to jog, and I just kept jogging! 2 months ago I could barely walk and today I jogged for 50 minutes and approx 3.5 miles without stopping :) Push yourself you never know what you are capable of until you try! 

I'm the Bubba Gump of zucchini

Zucchini chips, baked zucchini fries, zucchini taco boats, zucchini minestrone, zucchini spaghetti, zucchini pizza...

Hi my name is Kristen, and I'm addicted to zucchini.  I have been on a roll recently with zucchini recipes!  I find most of my recipes on Pintrest or www.skinnytaste.com .  This beauty pictured above is a crust less zucchini pie (from skinny taste) that I cut into 1/8 slices, the calories are right around 96 for one slice! If you are looking for a low calorie filling meal I recommend you give zucchini a chance, and then when you become an addict you can join my zucchini support group and I won't feel so alone!

Ch- ch- changes!

It's happening....I'm changing.  The person I used to be is disappearing.  Let me tell you about the old me.  She was morbidly obese.  She ate her feelings.  She was depressed and felt hopeless a lot.  She didn't think she deserved to be healthy and fit.  She wanted to change but didn't know where to start. I get emotional just thinking about what a difference the past 6 months have made.  Did I have set backs? YES!  Did I fail? Hell yes!  Did I keep getting up and pushing harder? Yes.  Here I am today a new me, a better version of myself.  I am happy, I have more energy, and I'm proud of the person I am becoming.  I'm posting this to reach out to you.  If you can relate to this I'm telling you it doesn't have to be this way.  You can change, you can be happy, you can get healthy.  I want to help!  If you want to change your life but don't know where to start add me on Facebook. I will add you to our women's only accountability and support group.    www.facebook.com/kristencarparellirobertson

Progress not perfection!

If you are on a weight loss journey or fitness journey, do yourself a favor and take before pictures!  I can't tell you how many times I have weighed in and thought " really just a pound?" Or " I gained weight!?" That's when I bust out the before photo and take a couple new shots and compare them side by side.  I will notice small changes or some bigger changes, is that a waist I see?! :). If you are eating right and working out you will lose weight and gain muscle.  So it's not always about the number on the scale. Measurements are also great to have and compare where you started to where you are.  I still have about 40 lbs I would like to lose but I'm definitely on my way.  What are you waiting for? Start snapping those before or current pics!

Healthier indulgence :)

I'm not going to lie and tell you I don't crave the garbage I used to eat before committing to get healthy.  I have noticed a significant decrease in the number of cravings, but when I get one I make sure to bust out my secret weapon!  People of the interwebs I give you cookie dough superfood protein shake!  What you need: Vanilla Shakeology 1 scoop -you can substitute a different vanilla protein powder but I'm not sure it will taste as good or have the superfoods ShakeO has, 1/4 cup chai tea concentrate, 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 cup cold water,1 frozen banana, 2 tbsp whipped cream (I like Cabot because it doesn't have corn syrup in it and I'm a Vermonter).  Add all ingredients except whipped cream into a blender, blend until smooth, add whipped cream and a colorful straw, ENJOY!  Now this is not an everyday shake because there is more sugar than I normally like to have in a meal, but to squash a craving for sweets it's a much better choice than the pint of Cherry Garcia I used to inhale!

Walk it off

I have added long walks to my arsenal against fat!  Vivie one of my dogs pictured above is also a fan of this new addition.  I love to get outside in the fresh air of Vermont down by the waterfront and just go.  I can think about things going on in my life, things that I'm grateful for, stressful things, happy things... its all very therapeutic to me!  Today was a 4 mile walk with my best friend Jessica, we are both on our weight loss/ best shape ever journey.  It's nice to have people around you who are dedicated to their goals.  So find a friend dog or human :) and go for a walk.  It doesn't have to be 4 miles, just start with walking 15 minutes and then turn around and head home.  Add on from there as you build up your endurance. Go get some fresh air!

You don't need to starve to lose weight!

This is my dinner from the other night.  4 oz steak, 2 oz cilantro lime shrimp, oven roasted carrots, garlic, and turnips.  I had never in my 28 years of life had turnips!  Turns out I love them :). Have you tried a new vegetable recently that you liked?  If not... I challenge you to try a new vegetable or fruit this week.

Finding time to workout

Recently a lot of people have been noticing my weight loss.  When they ask what I'm doing I tell them eating right and exercising a ton!  The response I've been getting is " I don't have time to exercise."  Well let me tell you, I used to make the same excuse.  I work at least 10 hour days and take an excessive amount of call as an operating room nurse.  I work on my feet all day often wearing 30lbs of lead and pick up heavy trays of instrumentation.  I would come home and just crash on the couch, often watching 2-3 hours of TV before bed.  When I finally got serious about my health goals I realized you don't have to find the time to workout, you need to make the time.  Schedule it into your day.  Make it your "me" time.  So i cut back on couch potato time and workout at home to save time that would be spent traveling to a gym. Two weeks into my workouts and now I crave the endorphin rush it gives me, I feel so accomplished even after a short workout. 15 minutes is all it took to burn 174 calories and get my heart rate up!  So make the time to workout. Aren't you worth it?

Weight loss update :)

So in the past 2 weeks I have lost 8.6 lbs.  Eating right and working out consistently have brought me here and I haven't felt this good in a long time.  I have also recently quit drinking diet soda.  I drink water like its my job.  Have you quit soda or another unhealthy habit?  What helped you push through cravings?

Non scale victory (NSV)!!!!

I bought this sweatshirt yesterday and was very excited when I fit into a LARGE!!!!  When I started my weight loss journey in January 2013 I wore an XXL and it was a snug fit!  Sometimes when I haven't had a big loss it helps to have an NSV like this. 

Spicy chicken salad

1 deboned rotisserie chicken

1 bag coleslaw

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

Sriracha to taste

Combine all ingredients in large bowl and enjoy!  Makes approximately 8 servings.

I like to move it, move it!

I post this picture not to make fun ( although the title of this workout begs for a smart ass quip).  I post this as a reminder that no matter what your fitness level is, there is a form of exercise you can do.  Completely out of shape? Try walking.  Painful joints? Swimming did wonders for my joint pain and helped me shed the pounds.  You just have to start moving. Start moving and don't stop.  Everyday try to increase the distance you walk or amount of time you are working out.  Eventually you can work up to more intense workouts if you so choose!

Truth

I was unhappy for a long time about my weight and health.  It took me awhile to get to the point where I knew I had to change something.  I used to eat take out for almost every meal and sit on the couch on my days off.  I was close to 240lbs and absolutely miserable.  I have had many low points and struggles when it comes to dealing with my weight, but this year I finally got serious about the food I was using to fuel my body and my lack of physical activity.  The weight is coming off slowly but I have never felt better!  I have more energy, my chronic back pain is almost completely gone, and my stomach issues ( I'll explain more in a later post) are gone.  I was unhappy with my weight so I changed my eating and workout habits.  You are in charge of your own happiness, make a change if you need to, take that leap of faith, live the life you deserve.

Getting fit is a family affair

My husband has started P90X just this past week.  He has already lost 7 lbs!!!  I'm so proud of him and it makes my fitness journey that much easier when I have such a great supporter at home.  I used to struggle to make healthy choices on my own, but with the two of us eating healthy and working out it has become part of everyday life. Do you have a person in your life you can look to for support with your goals?

So this just happened...

Day 2 of Turbofire/ LMPump hybrid!  I know I don't look like  a fitness model when I workout, but I'm working hard to get to that point!  It's ok if you can't do all the moves just right! The fact that you are moving and trying is better than sitting on the couch frustrated because you feel like you can't do it.  Keep at it and in time you will surprise yourself with how far you've come and how much better you are at the moves.

I be up in my home just working on my fitness!

I have struggled for years trying to make/ find time to get to the gym.  I enjoy classes more than using cardio machines or nautilus equipment.  With my schedule at the hospital I work long days and a lot of overtime on the weekends. Classes at my local gym never fit my schedule so when I did get to the gym I would have no idea what to do.  I would run/ jog on the treadmill and use the nautilus machines but I never really enjoyed it and my results were minimal.  I recently discovered some before and after transformations of people who did workout programs at home and they are incredible!  I bit the bullet and ordered this program through Beachbody and will be starting a hybrid program of Turbofire and LMPump.  Progress photos, my meal plan and measurements to come so stay tuned :)

Fit tip

I love, love ,love shaker bottles.  What I don't love...how nasty they get after sitting in my lunch box all day 😬. To  make cleaning them a breeze I add warm water and baking soda to the shaker cup and shake it!  Then rinse with warm water and wash as you normally would. Voila! Like new!

Snack ATTACK!

Coconut Greek yogurt with fresh sliced up strawberries, this was delicious and refreshing.  Mixing Greek yogurt with fruit, nuts, granola or using it as a sour cream substitute I can't get enough of it.  Chobani has recently been pushing out a bunch of new flavors and coconut and the key lime flip are my favorites so far.  What's your favorite way to eat Greek yogurt? Your favorite flavor?

I go nuts for almond butter!

Does anyone else get excited when they find a delicious healthy food item??? I love Justin's Maple Almond Butter and when I saw this sitting on the shelf at the health food store I had to contain my excitement so I wouldn't startle the shopper next to me with my shriek of delight....I'm not exaggerating....not even a little.  Almond and vanilla, two of my favorite flavors combined in one heavenly nut butter.  Its almost too good to be true!  I like to spread almond butter on a slice of Ezekiel bread.  It is delicious and filling.  What is one of your favorite healthy food finds???

Summer (tea) lovin'

                          

Who doesn't love a cold refreshing beverage on a hot summer day?  My current go to is iced tea <3. I recently bought this iced tea maker from Teavana.  You put the loose leaf tea in the top to steep for 8-10 min then turn the top and it filters the tea concentrate through a mesh filter into the ice water below! Super quick and no calories.  I'll sometimes add a couple packets of Truvia for a sweet treat. 

Meal prep

                        

Made zucchini spaghetti with buffalo chicken for lunch this week.  Meal prep is so important to staying on track for me.  If I have it ready in the refrigerator then I have no excuse that there is nothing to eat.  I prep meals and snacks for the entire work week and make a quick shake in the morning to save time.  What are some meals you like to prepare ahead of time? 

Quick, easy, healthy lunch

                         

Super quick and easy to make! Toast the bread for added crunch! Loaded with protein, some healthy fat and carbs. What is a quick and healthy lunch you like to make?

Inspiration

 

                       

                                                                          Truth.

Breakfast 🍳

  

                                     

  Ladies (and gents) do not, I repeat do not skip breakfast! I used to be guilty of this because I thought I didn't have time or I wanted to save calories.  What actually happens is you slow your metabolism and can end up bingeing on food later in the day!  My go to breakfast is a protein shake or preprepared steal cut oats.  Both of these meals can be made in less than 5 minutes, so NO excuses!👊

Welcome

Welcome to my site! I am just your average 28 year old who is looking to improve my life and meet my goal weight by the end of 2013!

I will be posting progress pics, recipes, my thoughts and updates on weight loss and workouts.

Lets connect on Instagram! 

I will also be posting videos on YouTube under the name Kristenslosingit