Egg Roll in a Bowl

Sometimes I have a habit of pinning recipes and never trying them. But this is definitely one of those that I am glad that I actually got around to trying.

This is one of our favorite low carb, quick go-to dinners! I can seriously have it on the table in less than 15 minutes, start to finish. And ground pork (we use plain pork and add our own spices, since traditional sausage has a tendency to have tons of unnecessary sugars in it) is super cheap at our grocery store (I can usually get it for about $1/lb.), so this Sausage Egg Roll in a Bowl is also very budget friendly. We serve it over a little quinoa, but you could just as easily eat it by itself.

Do you have a favorite quick dinner?

Overwhelmed...

Where to start? I have been so overwhelmed with life lately that blogging has been the last thing on my mind.

Work - coming into the busy time of year (end of school year) and our deadline for scheduling next year's courses is 3 weeks earlier than normal. Not so much of a problem if I didn't need others to make decisions before I can do my part. Is it bad to want a job where you just work alone and don't have to rely on people to get stuff done?

Home - Elise is going through a bit of a testing phase. I think that she had more time outs last weekend than in the first 3 years of her life combined. Threenagers are tough! I wouldn't trade her for the world, but I wouldn't mind if this phase just passed us right on by!

Health - Coming off of a 4 day smoke smelling, massive headache spree. That combined with the fact that I can't seem to sleep and my body just hurts (some chronic pain, some from exercise) and I am just feeling blah.

Weight Loss - Stalled. Working as hard as I can at exercise, but having more struggles than usual with my eating.

My co-worker across the hall is always playing this song when she feels overwhelmed...words to live by and a much needed reminder of Who is in control of all of my circumstance (the good and the not so good).

I delight myself in You
Captivated by Your beauty
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

I know the power of Your Cross
Forgiven and free forever You’ll be my God

All that You’ve done is so overwhelming
I delight myself in You
In the Glory of Your Presence
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

Back At It...

Two weeks of days with Elise, travel, Christmas and New Year's excitement, more food than anyone should consume, Netflix binge watching (have you seen Making a Murderer? Thoughts? We finished that and have moved on to Parenthood) and staying up till all hours...came to a halt on Tuesday when break was over and it was time to get back at it. I figure it will take us through the middle of next week to really feel like we are back in our regularly scheduled groove.

Christmas stuff is all put away, we are back to our healthy eating and workout goals (as well as weekly weigh ins!), and I feel a January purge-all-the-things and end-all-the-clutter binge coming on! I don't really set resolutions, since I fail miserably at them, but some home organization is definitely in order.

What is on your New Year To Do list?

Rolled Waistbands and Rope Belts

The journey to get fit continues.... I'm not sure if I have mentioned it or not, but the Rev and I have been working together to lose the weight. We pretty much eat the same thing since we started working with a trainer and go to HIIT class together 3 times a week, in addition to our individual workouts. Our trainer has been great and has put us on what is essentially a super intense version of the Paleo way of eating...lots of meat, little to no starch or sugar.

I have to roll all of my waistbands over to keep my pants on and the Rev looks like he has a rope holding his pants up because his belt is so tight and there is so much extra fabric. He put his suit coat on a few weeks ago and looked like a kid playing dress up!

In the month of October, he has lost 23lbs. and I have lost 11lbs! We will keep on keeping on!

Whinesday

 

I'm feeling whiny today...you've been warned. Here is what I feel like whining about:

• I have no in-between season clothes...I have summer and winter, but no cold in the morning, hot in the afternoon clothes.
• Our nutritionist/trainer wants us to go caveman and eat meat and plants (Paleo), no sugar, even natural sugars...and I just bought grapes at the store...
• I need more hours in a day...and less to do in them!
• I didn't get my steps in yesterday due to some car repairs that required the Rev and I to car share.
• The planner that I want is out of stock online and apparently is considered a seasonal item...what happens to people who can't get a planner within the 1st month of the school year?
• I'm hungry...and I want a Diet Pepsi...

HIIT By A Bus...

The Rev and I are taking a new HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) class 3x a week at the Y and I have determined that it is called HIIT because it leaves you feeling like you have been hit by a bus! Wall sits, burpees, and planks are a painful combo!

Weight Lost: Total: 40lbs.

Inches Lost: Still losing inches and fighting to keep my pants up!

Exercise: The HIIT Class and walking 45 minutes a day. I need to get back in the swing and do some 21 Day Fix workouts on non-HIIT days.

Food: I am finally using the container system that came with 21 Day Fix and have really gotten the hang of it. I have definitely seen more results since I started eating the portions from each category recommended. I'd say my eating is about 85% clean (eating minimally processed or refined foods). I almost look forward to pineapple with lunch as much as I used to a piece of chocolate!

Water: Drinking just under a gallon a day!

I like to set small goals and work towards them. My next goal is another 10lbs. before Elise's birthday, one month from now.

A Little Detour

So, it turns out that vacation calories actually do count, who knew? I didn't go crazy but I did do enough indulging to gain 3lbs., so my total lost is now sitting at 32lbs. I'm back on track this week and hoping that hard work will continue to pay off and that the scale won't be moving up again any time soon. This is one of my hardest months at work with lunch meetings/potlucks and tons of stress, which tempts me to overeat, so I'm putting blinders on and going to stay the course.

I'm also looking to add iron rich foods (my iron is way low resulting in anemia) and increase my good cholesterol since recent blood work shows that it needs to come up about 20 points. And the Rev and I have decided to try the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving even if we just "wog" (walk/jog), so he's about to start trying to whip me into shape for that.

This week back at the gym has been brutal and feels like starting at square one after the week off, just proof that you really have to change your lifestyle and make working out and eating right a constant. You all know that I love a To Do list and getting things checked off, so I'm going to add working out to my daily calendar/To Do and hold myself to it. Wish me luck!

21 Day Fix: Round 5 Done!

A week ago, I finished my fifth round of 21 Day Fix and I thought that I would give you a little update on my progress.

Weight Lost: This round: 8lbs. Total: 30lbs.

Inches Lost: Still losing inches and fighting to keep my pants up!

Exercise: Not as committed to DVD's as I would have liked this round, due to some out of town time, medical tests, holidays, etc., so looking to hit that hard this round. Walking at least 45 minutes a day as well.

Food: I am still tracking calories (1,320 per day) using My Fitness Pal and trying not to let all of these summer get-togethers and special occasions trip me up.

Water: Drinking just under a gallon a day!

On to Round 6!

21 Day Fix: Round 4 Done!

This past Monday, I finished my fourth round of 21 Day Fix and I thought that I would give you a little update on my progress.

Weight Lost: This round: 7lbs. Total: 22lbs.

Inches Lost: I still need to take some measurements, but my pants fit differently for sure and I had to go down 2 sizes in panties (was that too much information?).

Exercise: Still doing my DVD's 5 days out of 7, taking BodyPump when I can and walking for 45 minutes to an hour each morning before work. My blisters have blisters, but I'm going to keep on!

Food: I am still tracking calories (1,380 per day) using My Fitness Pal and trying not to let all of these summer get-togethers and special occasions trip me up.

Water: Drinking just over a gallon a day!

On to Round 5!

21 Day Fix: Round 3 Done!

This past Monday, I finished my third round of 21 Day Fix and I thought that I would give you a little update on my progress.

Weight Lost: This round: 3lbs. Total: 15lbs. Not thrilled with that number, but my eating wasn't what it needs to be this round.

Inches Lost: I still need to take some measurements, but my pants fit differently for sure.

Exercise: I'm walking for 45 minutes before work everyday in addition to my nightly 21 Day Fix DVD's and a weekend BodyPump class. My Fitbit is my new favorite and great at keeping me motivated. Yes, I was doing laps on the driveway at 10:30 last night because I was 1/4 mile short of my daily mileage goal...

Food: I am still tracking calories (1,420 per day) using My Fitness Pal, but it is time to go clean and use the 21 Day Fix containers...wish me luck!

Water: I'm up to my goal of 135oz. of water a day!

On to Round 4!

21 Day Fix: Round 2 Done!

Last Monday, I finished my second round of 21 Day Fix and I thought that I would give you a little update on my progress.

Weight Lost: This round: 4lbs. Total: 12lbs. (Though if I go by the scales at the Dr. office instead of the ones at the Y, it is actually 22lbs. lost - not sure how they can be so different, so I'm sticking with the Y since that is where I weigh most often.)

Inches Lost: I still need to take some measurements, but my pants fit differently for sure.

Exercise: I exercised almost every day of the round. I still really enjoy the DVD's, though if I live to be 100, I doubt that I will ever be flexible enough for Pilates or Yoga! I'm trying to walk at least 2 miles 2 mornings of the week before work and the Rev is turning me into a Body Pump junkie at the Y. I enjoy taking that with him on Saturday mornings. I am getting a FitBit for my birthday (it's today!), so I will be kicking the walking and working out into overdrive, since I will be able to set goals and track them - ya'll know if I put it on a list, it has to get checked off!

Food: I am still tracking calories (1,500 per day) using My Fitness Pal, but it is time to go clean and use the 21 Day Fix containers...wish me luck!

Water: I'm up to 5 water bottles (15 - 8oz servings) a day!

On to Round 3!

21 Day Fix: Round 1 Done!

On Monday, I finished my first round of 21 Day Fix and I thought that I would give you a little update on my progress.

Weight Lost: 8lbs.

Inches Lost: It's a long story, but the Rev and I apparently stink at body measurements since my numbers were up from when we measured at the beginning of the round. I'll get corrected measurements and update inches lost at the end of Round 2.

Exercise: I exercised every day of the round, minus a few that we were out of town for Spring Break. I really like the format of the DVD's, 60 seconds of exercise, 15 second break for 30 minutes. I was using a resistance band that I had, but the Rev bought me weights for Round 2, so I'm excited to push myself a little harder. I'm also going to add some walking into this next round as well.

Food: I didn't use the containers in this round, I find them a little intimidating to be honest, but I have been tracking calories (1,500 per day) using My Fitness Pal. I'm learning all that I can about clean eating and planning to incorporate a little at a time this round, using the containers. I have been using Shakeology as my breakfast choice and I really like it.

Water: I'm up to 4 water bottles (12 - 8oz servings) a day!

On to Round 2!

You Have To Start Somewhere...

When all of this drama forced me to give up my diet soda, I bought a fancy new water bottle. I found that once I had the right water bottle - for me that means one with a straw - and a splash of lime was added, I don't mind the water so much. I'm up to 3 bottles a day, which is huge for me.

Once I conquered the water, I knew it was time to get focused on adding in some exercise. I used to go to the gym before Elise was born, but going now would mean sacrificing the already short amount of time that I have with her in the evenings, so I need something that I can do at home. Jill began talking about the 21 Day Fix (a combination of a portion control system and exercise DVD's) and it seemed like something that I wanted to try. As luck would have it, I found a friend getting rid of her system for next to nothing, so I am going to sit down with it this weekend and study it all and get a meal plan worked out and start my first workout.

The final piece of the puzzle? It is time to retire my 7 year old Easy Spirit sneakers that the Rev's Mom gave me and come into this century. The Rev took me shoe shopping on our date night last week and even though I kicked and screamed because they have no just plain white shoes (ya'll know how plain I am!), these fit great, and will be here tomorrow (the store didn't have my size in stock so we ordered online).

Obviously, I have a lot of weight to lose and will need many rounds of the 21 Day Fix, but you have to start somewhere...