1 Minute 20 seconds!

I really challenged myself today. I ran the 1st two high intervals, at 4.3 mph and 4.4 mph respectively, and the last two high intervals, at 4.4 mph and 4.5 mph respectively! That's a grand total of 1 minute and 20 seconds! Then I did the leg abduction and leg adduction machines.

This waking up at 5:00 in the morning is starting to catch up with me. When I got home, I sat down and went to sleep.

For lunch I made me a chicken sandwich from my leftovers. I got the recipe from a clean eating magazine. I realized I have already posted it once. Click here or on the picture to see it! It's been a while.

 

                                                                                                                                              

 





I had two bowls of ice cream today!! I'm glad I ate really well other than that! I think I am going to have to keep it out of the house. :(

 

Okay, so I promised a shocking discovery regarding high fructose corn syrup. I've said to check your pantry, now check your vitamins! Here is the front and back of a popular brand...

 

 

It's important to know how ingredients are listed. They are listed by how much of the product is made up of the ingredient. So the 1st ingredient is the highest percentage of the makeup of the product. The first ingredient of this vitamin is corn syrup and the second is sucrose. THE FIRST 2 INGREDIENTS ARE SUGAR!!!! Sugar is also mentioned later. This is a vitamin! I did some investigating at Kroger and found that the gummy vitamins are just like this and Flintstones vitamins lists sugar as it's first ingredient. I think these companies are taking Mary Poppins a little too seriously! I understand that if you're going make a chewable vitamin, especially one that kids will take, it has to taste decent, but why not use cane juice or something? There are better options! And adults, just swallow your vitamins! I'll post more on vitamins later, there is a BIG difference in brands.

 

Today's question: Do you take vitamins? If so ,what?



 

                                   

What a Difference!

I didn't blog yesterday. I spent every waking moment last night making yard sale signs and cooking a nutritious dinner. I had salmon and roasted asparagus parmesan quinoa. For the latter, I made my asparagus like I normally do, click the link for the recipe, and then cut it up and put it in my cooked quinoa with some parmesan cheese. It was delish! My salmon was a little dryer than I like it. I rarely get it just right. I always cook it too long, but it scares me to not cook it long enough! I had to be up at 4:30, so I went to bed before 9:00. But, yesterday morning I did go to the gym, WITH my headphones, and I ended up jogging the last 5 seconds of my 2nd to last high interval and all of my last interval. That's 25 seconds! I felt like I could do more but I am sticking with my interval training till the end of June. My heart rate still gets above 90% of my max when I run, but it only got to 92%. My legs feel like they can go longer though.

This coming Tuesday will be 5 weeks working out consistently. Today, I helped host a club yard sale and had to load and unload 20 8' tables.....twice. If I had done that 5 weeks ago, I think I might have died! Today, my arms are a little sore, but other than that, I felt great doing it! I didn't need any breaks and my heart wasn't beating out of my chest. To me, this is as big of an accomplishment as losing weight!

One week and one day till my weigh in. Come July 1st I am going to do it once a week. I hate this waiting 15 days to see any progress. I just won't allow myself to do it everyday.

I hope all of my readers are considering accompanying me in my July challenge of not buying anything from the grocery store (for you, your husband, kids, etc.) that contains high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup in it. I say from the grocery store because we don't always have access to labels when we eat out. I will have a post this week that may surprise you and have you checking somewhere besides your food pantry for this ingredient!

I found this today and I need to think about it when I feel like giving up because something else is more enticing.

 

Today's question: What are some of your measurements of success in getting healthier besides the scale?

 



Snacks.... but I like them!

I have been tracking my food today on Spark People. I tend to do better when I record everything. I ended up just a little bit over my calorie allowance for the day...thanks to snacks. I had very sensible meals and I didn't have bad snacks really, just too many. I like recording everything in Spark People because I can easily see what I could have done without or traded out. I do get frustrated with food journaling though. There is no way for it to always be exact and that bugs me. This is especially true for me when I eat out. I rarely eat things the way they come, like I won't get mayonnaise or special sauces on burgers or sandwiches. That one ingredient can make a HUGE difference in the calorie and fat content of a food!

I hit the gym this morning. I felt much better today while exercising. My energy was back. I am walking faster and climbing stairs even easier at school. OH! And I saw my resting heart rate in the 70s for the first time in a very, very long time! It was 78 BPM but I'll take it! It is more consistently in the 80s and 90s though.

I am going to attempt to make my own whole wheat tortillas with coconut oil tomorrow night. If they turn out that will be my recipe post for tomorrow. I am excited about dinner tomorrow night, fajitas, my favorite! The only problem is, I know I won't lay off the cheese. Moderation....yeah right!

I am going to be on my anti-high fructose corn syrup kick at least till I start my challenge on July 1st. Here is an interesting report that likens HFCS to cocaine. It's only 2 and a half minutes so take a couple of minutes to watch it.

Today's question: Do you or have you ever kept a food journal? Does it help or do you get frustrated with it?

Trying to Stay Positive

15 days and just 2 measly pounds! I am trying to stay positive and tell myself it's better than a gain. I am a little frustrated though...okay, a lot frustrated! Then I also think, it's not just about the weight loss. I feel a lot better. I can climb stairs without having to recover at the top, my heart rate is lowering, BUT 2 POUNDS????!!!



Normally, I would call it quits now. Instead, I took an inventory of the freezers and planned out every dinner this week, including the ones I'll eat out. I planned my breakfasts and my lunches. I must have a plan this week! I'll continue my no soda and workout commitment too.



I have failed at the blogathon, too. I missed 2 days in a row (and NO ONE held my feet to the fire and asked me why I hadn't blogged.) Friday, I just didn't. Yesterday, I drove to a wedding in Virginia and drove for over 12 hours round trip. I was busy from 5:00am to 3:00am.  (It was lovely by the way.) I feel very off track, but I'm back, scratching to get back on track.

Thought this was fitting to take a look at...

I have had several people say that they are interested in joining me in July to not buy anything with high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup in it at the grocery store. At the very least it will be an exercise in reading the ingredients of the food we buy. I want to start with HFCS because I think a month without buying anything with sugar in it is a little drastic for me right now. Let's start slow and fairly easy. I say fairly easy because you will be surprised what all it's in! And be careful, they are getting more clever at trying to hide it. If you are big on protein bars, go check the ingredient list, oh, and go check your sandwich bread, yogurt and cereal too. And before you say that you won't make your kids be burdened with your decision to eat different, there are major studies out there that link HFCS, CS, and fructose that link to learning and memory problems. (And they make a distinction between the fructose they put in foods and what you get from eating natural fruit. There is a difference.) Just some things to think about and asking that you give it a try.







So, I am going to need your help this week staying on track! I want at least a healthy 5 pound loss by the 30th!



Today's question: Go through your pantry and fridge. Did you find anything with HFCS, CS, or fructose that surprised you? (And let me know if you're on board for the July Challenge, that's what I'm going to call it.)