Day 115

Well today I turn 31.  I can honestly say I am probably in the best shape I have been since I was 15!  I will also admit I do not yet have a 6 pack. :-(  I think I would have made it by my goal date had I stepped things up the past 2 weeks instead of slacked off a little.  BUT, I am not giving up on my goal.  I still have a flat stomach with abs muscles that have never been there before!  I'm going to keep going with P90X and my diet.  I'm going to get some pics on here so I can compare what I looked like 115 days ago to today.  I know for a fact there's been a big change.  I have lost 14 lbs and gone down a size in jeans since the end of December.

Day 93

This was taken almost 2 weeks ago, but I didn't get a chance to put it up until now.  When I flex you can totally see some of my oblique muscles and upper abs now!  Only a few weeks to go!  I'm not sure if I'll have a full blown 6 pack by my actual birthday, but I know I'll be close!

Protein Smoothies

I've been drinking protein smoothies after weight lifting work outs to help with recovery and to add some needed protein intake.  As I've mentioned, I try to eat mostly vegan/vegetarian foods, so the protein I'm currently using is Pea Protein.  This is my first time using this kind of protein, and it's definitely not the same at whey protein.  To be honest, it tastes like ground up peas....   The plus side, it's 100% pure and natural and packed with natural protein!  I've been playing around with ingredients to see if I can add anything to make it taste better.  Here are some concoctions I've come up with so far:

My Green Machine (my fave so far)

1 scoop pea protein

1 handful (approx 1 cup) fresh spinach/spring mix

1/2 a banana

1 cup filtered water

ice

1 tsp agave nectar (optional)

Purple Protein

1 scoop pea protein

1 handful fresh spinach/spring mix

1/2 cup frozen berry mix

1/4 cup 100% pure pineapple juice(optional)

1 cup filtered water

ice

I use a Magic Bullet to mix the ingredients.  I find it does a great job shredding the ice and thoroughly mixing the protein and spinach.  Sometimes I don't have time to put a smoothie together so I simply mix a scoop of protein with 8 oz of water and chug!



Day 80

Weight: 130 lbs and stuck there for 2 weeks!!  Not that I'm mad, I'm very happy to be at 130!  Gotta kick up my game though to break through this plateau.
Work outs: 6 days a week.  I've added in some P90X videos that my husband does and they rock!  It's great to switch up my cardio with some kempo or plyometrics.  I like the weight lifting routines as well, they really push me.

Meals: Been sticking to my "diet" for the most part.  I did have a slip at at The Drunken Fish last weekend when I consumed almost an entire ball of green tea ice cream wrapped in pound cake then fried!  It was worth it though :-)  Did I mention the whip cream and chocolate syrup?

Staying on track while on vacation.

I recently went to Las Vegas with my mom to see my family.  I told myself I was going to be good while endulging a little....  Though I did well at times, I also gained 4 pounds in 3 days!!!  After reflecting on what I did, and didn't do, I came up with a list of Do's and Don'ts for going on vacation and staying true to your new lifestyle changes.

DO's
-remember your goals
-bring your own snacks and foods so you're not tempted with unhealthy ones
-treat yourself (responsibly)
-continue to work out (window shop, hike, swim in the hotel pool, use the hotel gym, etc)
-carry water with you everywhere
-Have Fun!

DON'Ts
-make multiple trips to the buffet
-skip working out all week/weekend
-eat every bit of the 8 course meal! (try every course though)
-let your family and friends tell you "you're on vacation" "calories don't count here" or "you're too thin already"

After my 4 mile hike in the desert!

Eat More Quinoa!

Here are 3 Quinoa recipes that I've been making lately that I love and wanted to share!  In case I haven't mentioned I eat mostly vegan and vegetarian food, so you won't find a lot of meat or cheeses in my recipes.  I do have seafood from time to time, so one of these has shrimp.

Shrimp and Black Bean Quinoa Salad

1/2 lbs shrimp (sauteed & cut up)

*I saute in lemon zest and garlic

1/2 cup cooked black beans (non canned preferred)

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 orange cut in to small pieces

1/2 cup frozen sweet corn

2 green onions chopped

1/2 red pepper chopped

1/2 small onion chopped

1 lemon

2 tbs EVOO

2 garlic cloves crushed

pinch of pepper

After ingredients are cooked, cut, and ready to go mix together in bowl.  Mix lemon juice, EVOO, garlic, and pepper together well.  Pour over mixture and stir.  Eat up!

Quinoa & Zucchini

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 zucchini chopped

1 yellow pepper chopped

2 kale leaves chopped

1 celery stalk chopped

1 can mandarin oranges

1/4 cup chopped sweet onion

2 green onions

2 garlic cloves

1 lime

2 tbsp EVOO

Saute zucchini, pepper, celery, and onion in EVOO and garlic.  After about 5 minutes add kale.  Once veggies have softened, but still have some crunch, remove and add to large bowl.  Mix in cooked quinoa, green onions, and oranges.  Squeeze lime juice over mixture and stir.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Southwest Quinoa & Chips

(maybe my favorite of them all!)

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 small tomato chopped

1/2 red onion chopped

2/3 cup frozen sweet corn

1/2 red pepper chopped

1/2 green pepper chopped

1 cup black beans cooked

1 garlic clove

1 tbs EVOO

1/2 lime

1 tbs taco sauce/hot sauce

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp pepper

cilantro to garnish

Corn chips

Heat garlic and EVOO.  Add onion, peppers, and corn until peppers begin to soften.  Once beans, quinoa, and veggies are all cooked mix together in bowl.  Add taco sauce, lime juice, cumin and pepper and stir.  Eat with chips!

*tip for cooking quinoa:  Soak or rinse in cold water prior to cooking.  Use only slightly more water than quinoa i.e. 1/2 cup quinoa=3/4 cup water.  Heat on med-low heat covered and do not stir.  Watch carefully when end time nears, quinoa burns easily. 



Day 43

Weight: just under 134 lbs!
Workouts: going well....5-6 days a week.  This week I added scissors to my ab set and wall sits to my leg routine.
Food: I've been sticking to my calories most days....some are easier than others!  Lot's of veggies and I've added a protein supplement on days I work out.  Pea Protein....vegetarian and all natural!  Plus, quinoa is my new best friend!  I'm going to share 3 of my favorite new quinoa recipes shortly. 

I finally took a new picture to compare with my "before" picture.  I'm about 6 weeks in, so I think I'm seeing some improvements!

Here's the before again...ugh!

this was me on January 30th