All of the challenges were fun to participate in! I liked being given new ideas and I loved trying new things. Yes, some of the challenges were hard, but that’s the point. ;)

The hardest one for me was when I tried a new class at the gym. I had to get over my fears of going alone, going to something new, AND since it was an aqua fit class - I had to get over my fears of being in a bathing suit in public! I’m so glad I went though because it was such a fun class and I went many times after that!

The easiest challenge for me was anything involving cooking. I have recently started making more food from fresh ingredients, so when I heard of a challenge I started looking for recipes to fit it.

I can’t wait for more OTB Challenges! :}

-notgivingup.tumblr.com

OTB Challenge Week #8: The Don’t Pour Some Sugar on Me Test by NotGivingUp

This challenge was more difficult than expected. Cutting added sugars from my diet means… no gatorade, no luna bars, no gum, no pudding…

Which is a good thing! I don’t mind Luna bars being in my diet but things like gum and pudding need to go. It’s just so hard because I have a bad sweet tooth and cravings ignored tend to lead to headaches. :{

But thank God for naturally sweet fruits! :}

[Note: This post is being submitted for my health blog “NotGivingUp”, not my regular blog KittyStardust.]

Outside the Box Challenge Week #7: The “Have a Little Herb” Test by NotGivingUp.

For this challenge, I used the herb thyme. I am not sure if I have ever cooked with this, certainly not within the last 3 months. I choose thyme because I have had a vegetable tian recipe bookmarked for a while and thought it was the perfect time to finally try it out!

In the vegetable tian recipe, the thyme is sprinkled over the veggies and potatoes before baking. This turned out great!

I have a ton of thyme leftover, so I will have to find more recipes that I can use it in! :}

[Note: This post is being submitted for my health blog “NotGivingUp”, not my regular blog KittyStardust.]

I’ve always been an emotional eater. Bored? Snack! Upset? Chocolate! TV time? Popcorn! Just need to walk around the desk a few times? Let’s go to the kitchen!

As a WW veteran, I know that tracking food helps me lose weight. But I also know that tracking makes me feel like I’m on a diet and I don’t this to be a diet — I want this to be my life. So far I’ve been doing okay with my weight loss journey by just raising my awareness of the quality and overall quantity of what I’m eating. However, after the holiday, I thought tracking would be a great strategy to get back to business.

And, surprise (well, not really), the sheer thought of having to write down what I was eating and why was enough to stop my mindless snacking and emotion-induced mini-binges.

-Queen of Lean

Here’s what Tuesday looked like:

• 9 am: 3/4 c. oatmeal & 1 tbsp Teddy PB + cinnamon :: WHY? Hungry!! Breakfast time nom, nom, nom.
• 9:30 am: WATER!! :: WHY? Duh.
• 9:45 am: Iced grande unsweetened black Starbucks coffee :: WHY? Morning caffeine & a mini-trip with the work BFF.
• 1:30 pm: Apple, 3 tbsp Teddy PB & some french bread :: WHY? Lunch - only moderately hungry
• 3:30 pm: WATER!
• 4:45 pm: 1 egg white :: WHY? Pre-gym protein snack, hungry
• 5 & 6:45 pm: 1 mini dark chocolate egg each time :: WHY? Sugar craving and post-gym snack
• 7:45 pm: 3/4 c. pasta, 1/2 c. sauce w/ corn, green beans & onion and a sprinkle of low-fat mozzarella cheese; 1 c edamame; water :: WHY? Hungry post-run & dinner
• 9:30 pm: Hot chocolate :: WHY? Sugary, chocolately & warm dessert/treat before bed - craving

Breakfast:

Feelings before: Disappointed in myself for not going to the gym. Craving Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Glad to have a healthy alternative.

Overall: stressed.

Feelings After: Headache.

Overall: neutral.

————————————-

Lunch:

Feelings Before: Felt really hungry even though I had eaten breakfast not too long ago.

Feelings After: Felt like I ate too much. Meatless Meatballs were decent, but maybe needed a bit more seasoning or something so it didn’t taste so much like the veggie crumbles.

————————————-

Snack:

Feelings Before: I was stressed/sad and was really, really craving a Milky Way bar. I came so close to stopping at a store to buy one.

Feelings After: I was happy that I made a better choice and had the Luna bar instead of a candy bar.

————————————-

Dinner:

Feelings Before: I was excited because I had just picked up a little pug that I am pugsitting for a few days. My mom made dinner, so I just ate it without thinking too much about it.

Feelings After: Disappointed that I didn’t cook food for myself since my mom used regular pasta and regular sausage. I tend to cook whole wheat pasta and turkey sausage.

[Note: This post is being submitted by NotGivingUp (not my main blog as pictured).]

I debated all week on what my fantasy workout would entail. Would it be hiking, kayaking, rafting, biking, or surfing? And the thing that I realized is that my fantasy workout is really quite simple: anything outside. Standing on top of a mountain that I just hiked? Heaven. Riding a killer wave and making all the boring bikini girls on land jealous? Tubular. Getting rolled by some Class V rapids but muscling through to calmer waters? SIGN ME UP.

This week was actually perfect for this Out of the Box Challenge. I took the bus to New Hampshire to my parents house on Friday. I took a quick run/walk with my aunt’s puppy through the corn field across the street from my house. My mom & I went for a 3 mile run/walk at one of the local parks along a river. And on Saturday we played baseball in my boyfriend’s backyard for a few hours.

Being outside reminds me that being healthy and “working out” isn’t just about dragging myself to the gym, but about being fit enough to do the things I want to do outside with people that I love.

-Queen of Lean

Outside the Box Challenge Week #5: The SPRI Fantasty Fitness Test

I rolled over and turned off my alarm. 6:00 AM. I groggily opened my eyes, confused for a minute about where I was at. “Oh my gosh, I’m on the Biggest Loser ranch!” A huge smile spread across my face. I immediately jumped out of bed and headed to the bathroom, eager to start my first full day on the ranch.

I splashed some water on my face and looked in the mirror. It was still hard to look at myself sometimes. 100 pounds gained in 5 years. “How did I let this happen to myself?” I thought, as tears filled my eyes. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, and looked myself in the eyes. “It doesn’t matter what happened, all that matters is what I do next! I’M ON THE BIGGEST LOSER RANCH!” I shouted with glee.

“Shut up in there,” my roommate and pink team member groaned from bed. I covered my mouth to stifle my giggling, and I ran out of the room to the kitchen. A few of the others were sitting at tables eating breakfast. I said a quick good morning and proceed to the fridge. I opened the door and peered inside. I would need a hearty breakfast if I was going to survive my first workout here!

I scrambled some eggs and heated up some turkey bacon. I grabbed some fruit and sat down at a table. I slowly ate my food while I watched the hands on the clock. “Come on 7 o’clock!” I was ready to hit the gym.

Finally, we were all told to head to the gym. I grabbed my teammate and we bounded out the door. When the gym was in view, I became overwhelmed. “What if I can’t do what they tell me? What if I throw up? What if…” We arrived at the building and threw open the front doors. Bob and Jillian were standing inside. We all let out a scream of joy and proceed to hug the trainers. “Let’s get started!” Bob and Jillian yelled orders at us. I jumped on a treadmill and smiled.

[Note: This post is being submitted by NotGivingUp (not my main blog).]

Outside the Box Challenge Week #4: The Stonyfield Know Your Food Test by NotGivingUp.

I recently have started buying Naked Juice products regularly as they are filling and are especially nice when I am feeling sick. Naked Juice’s tagline is “Nothing to Hide”. When I found out that PepsiCo owns the company, I started to doubt that Naked Juices are as good as they seem.

On the company’s website there is a section called “Get To Know Us”.  This area has their story, philosophy, FAQ, and even a commitment to sustainability. 

The Naked Juice philosophy is very pleasing. They stick by their mantra of “Nothing To Hide” and appear to be very dedicated to their customers. I love that they are straight forward about what is in their products compared to buying a “grape juice” only to find out that it is mostly apple and pear juice.

I kept reading over and over again “we do our best to harness all natural nutrition for those who crave it” or “we don’t fiddle around with fake ingredients. I began to wonder are the fruits and veggies they use in their juices organic? Are hormones and pesticides used? As I dug deeper, I found the answers:

I am very happy to see that something I can buy at a grocery store or drug store is actually good for me! It seems rare to find a packaged good that can be bought so conveniently that is good for you and comes from a good company. I’m glad that they haven’t been corrupted by PepsiCo. ;}

[Note: This post is being submitted by NotGivingUp (not my main blog).]

Outside the Box Challenge Week #3: The Culinista Test.

For this challenge, I decided to make chicken enchiladas. I believe this should provide adequate sustenance for three meals!

Enchilada Sauce:

• 2 T vegetable oil           
• 2 T chili powder
• 2 T flour
• 1 t ground cumin
• 14 oz chicken broth
• 8 oz tomato sauce
• 1/2 t salt

In a large saucepan, heat oil, whisk in chili powder and flour, cooking 1 minute on low heat.
Add remaining 4 ingredients, bring to boil on high heat.
Immediately reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Enchilada Filling:

• 2 c shredded cooked chicken
• 1 1/2 c shredded cheese, divided
• 1/4 c sour cream
• 4 oz green chilies
• 2 T dried parsley 
• 6 - 9” corn tortillas

In large bowl combine chicken, 1 cup of the cheese, sour cream, green chilies, and parsley.
Stir in 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce.
Spray 12 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray.
Spread a thin layer of sauce on bottom of dish.
Heat 3-4 tortillas at a time in the microwave about 7-9 seconds to soften. 
Put 2 heaping T of chicken filling on tortilla, roll up; place in dish, seam side down, side by side.
Spoon remaining sauce over top; sprinkle remaining cheese over top. 
Bake 350 degrees 15-20 min.             

Enjoy! :}

[Note: This post is being submitted for my health blog “NotGivingUp”, not my regular blog KittyStardust.]

At the start of the week I thought I would do pilates, boot camp or a spin class at my gym for my “shock the body” Week 2 challenge. Well it turns out this week had other plans in mind for me.

First - I ran outside. For the first time in probably 9 months. And for a much longer distance that I ever did last year. I ran through Cambridge and along the Charles River. Staring out at Boston across the river, I wondered how I hadn’t bored myself to death running on the treadmill the last few months. It was almost 3 miles and even though I felt like I was moving at a turtle’s pace (no belt zipping by my feet), I did about an 11 min/mile pace (right on target for my usual treadmill time).

Second - I went to PT for my knee. It has been bothering me for a few years on and off, but has been exacerbated by my recent increase in exercise, especially running. My PT gave me homework - leg lifts, lower calf stretches, and a rotation stretch - that have definitely forced my body to use its very weakest muscles. I can’t wait for my knee to feel strong and pain free as I cruise across the finish line of my first 5k.

Now I just need to sign up… (posted by queenoflean)