My 2015 Goals

It's time to talk change. Self-improvement. Growth. You know, all that stuff that we humans loathe to do. I, myself, am a highly self-motivated person. When I set a goal, I work hard to get there. As such, I thought before I laid out my 2015 goals that we would see how I did on last year's goals.

My first goal was to run a 10k. Accomplished! I ran my first 10k in August. It was extremely hilly and my time wasn't the best, but I did it.

Me and the hubby at the Cincinnati Beer Run in May 2014.

New Music: 5/23/13

Yep! It's time for some new music. Gotta keep on keepin' on.

I am obsessed with Robin Thicke's new song featuring T.I. and Pharrell "Blurred Lines". Obsessed. If you are going to download any song from this playlist, I highly recommend it. It's been on repeat on my iPod during my workouts. I thought I was cool when I found it about a month ago, however it's gone mainstream after being preformed on "The Voice" last week. Oh well, that's how the cookie crumbles. I love it.

I'm still forging ahead on bikini season. I'm a little disappointed that I haven't lost any weight since moving into the house, but I feel so much better. I've toned up a ton. I've completely changed the hubby and I's diet since we moved in. I've been trying to drink lots of water (my goal is 10 glasses a day), and eating very clean. Lots of vegetables. It's making a huge difference. My skin has completely cleared up since we started eating better, and my hair is softer. And like I said before, there has been lots of toning. Overall, I'm pretty happy. My vanity pounds will come off when they come off. I've come to accept this.

I'm off to groove on the elliptical to my new playlist :)

Happy Thursday everyone! One more day until the weekend!

Get Mad! Playlist

Gizmo gets mad!

All right, so it's mid to late January, and it's freezing and dreary outside. The high was 28 degrees today. I'm having a tough time remembering why I need to be working out. Because, of course, eventually it will be June and swimsuit season. Bikini bodies are earned in the winter. A little motivating quote gleaned from, where else? Pinterest :)

I was having an especially hard time motivating myself this morning. I was moving from playlist to playlist, just not inspired by anything I was listening to. The bouncy pop music wasn't cuttin' it. I wanted to quit.

I should have been more naturally motivated. The hubby and I enjoyed his Sunday night off from work with a bottle of wine. It was definitely a cheat day on calories. I woke up Monday morning, feeling sorry for myself that I let myself indulge. I shouldn't have, but I just had to step on the scale. I was prepared for the worst, but when I finally peeked down at the number, I was down 3 lbs! I was shocked. And happy! I was excited to keep it rolling. Until it actually came time to clamber on the ol' elliptical. Pinterest on the couch sounded so much better.

After numerous song skips and some under the breath cursing, I came to "This Means War" by Nickelback. I was pumped! I felt like I'd finally got my legs out of quicksand. 30 minutes flew by. Whilst taking a my water break, I pounded out a quick playlist of my fave angry, kick-some-ass type songs.

If you are in the midst of a late January slump, trying mixing up your playlist! Another trick I like to do is listening to a playlist I haven't listened to in a while (it's like new music!), or even playing all songs by a favorite artist. I've got 55 Nickelback songs on my iPod, so I regularly just play Nickelback songs for my workouts.

Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

Food Diary Of A Food Fanatic

http://caloriecount.about.com

I must admit, my eating and alcohol habits have not been the healthiest lately. The hubby and I are obviously under some stress, what with the house construction and living in someone else's house, but it's definitely caused us to overindulge. Both in food and cocktails. The straw that broke the camels back was I got on the scale on Tuesday, and realized I'd gained 6 lbs from Friday to Monday! I know some of the weight was probably water weight, but the more I thought about it (especially about the crap that ate and drank on Sunday), the more I realized that I have been eating too much.

After stepping on the scale that morning, I just felt... gross. I decided it was time for a change. I've kept food journals in the past, and they help me stay accountable for what I'm eating. I think about what I eat, because I know I'm going to have to add it to my journal. So, I signed up at caloriecount.about.com. I've been keeping track of my calories for 3 days now, and the plan is working.

Working out hasn't been my problem, I've been getting 4 workouts a week in. Good, long ones too. It's just the amount I eat and/or drink after my workouts that is the problem. I never think about how many calories are in those vodka cocktails I make (lots!). With watching my calories and working out, I stepped on the scale this morning, and discovered I lost my 6 weekend lbs. A good start, but I'm still 11 lbs over my normal weight. Time to keep going!

I do feel like I'm "restricting" my calories, even though I'm eating between 1500-1700 calories. It's always hard to train your body back to what's normal when you've been having a free-for-all. But a girl's gotta do, what a girl's gotta do. I've also swapped out my 2nd cup of coffee in the morning for a cup of green tea with lemon juice. 3 servings of green tea a day is supposed to aide weight loss, and can also boost your metabolism up to 80 calories. I know 80 calories doesn't sound like a lot, but to burn that just from drinking tea? Sign me up.

So you can find me on caloriecount.about.com, under the username JessicaJarr13. I know, a totally creative name. As for now, it's time to go hit up that elliptical :)

Move in May: Bikini Buster Workout

http://mommiecouture.com

Needless to say, I hated the Brazil Butt Lift. When I hate something, I don't do it. It got to the point where I didn't want to work out because I knew I should be doing the Butt Lift. It had to go. What's the point of an exercise regiment if you aren't going to do it?

http://carharttsandcoachbags.wordpress.com

In February, March, and April, I got out of shape. I had a lot of headaches, some low moods, and not a lot of energy. Working out fell by the wayside. May has come along with its 90 degree weather, and it's like I suddenly realized, "Hey! I'm going to have to be in a bikini soon!". Yikes. May has become Get Back Into Shape Month.

I started up again 3 weeks ago. To say it was hard would be an understatement. I can't believe how out of shape I got. I had to start small, doing 10-minute circuits on the elliptical. I'm proud to say I'm working back up there though, I got in 4 workouts this week. Hard workouts too! I'm tired and sore today, and taking a much needed day of rest.

Here's what I've worked myself up to and what I'm hoping gets me back in fighting shape:

20 minutes cardio- 1-minute warmup, followed by 2-minute intervals of sprinting, then resting. 3-minute cool down at Minute 17. I do my cardio on my elliptical machine.
Ab Toning- 25 crunches on stability ball, followed by 30-second plank. Repeat 3 times.
Butt Toning- 25 squats, followed by 20 arabesques on each leg. Repeat 3 times.
Arm Toning- (Using 5-lb weights) 15 push-ups, 15 lateral raises, 15 bicep curls, and 15 tricep extensions. Repeat 3 times.
20 minutes cardio- same as above.

Whew! That's a good workout. I also do 5-10 minutes of stretching pre and post-workout, as well as some dancing in between moves if a booty-shaker song comes on (there's just something about One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful"). It also goes without saying that if you are doing a workout like this, make sure to eat enough calories during the day. I don't have a problem getting enough calories :)

If you need some inspiration to get moving this month, here are the requisite cute animal pictures to get you going :)

http://www.jokeroo.com

http://newslite.tv

http://uberhumor.com

I love that polar bear :)

A Week of Salads: Chicken and Black Bean Salad

I can't believe it's Wednesday already! The week is rolling right along. I fit in time for a workout today and did some circuit training consisting of a cardio rep (elliptical), crunches on the stability ball, planks, squats, and some arm exercises. I repeated the circuit 3 times and I was exhausted! I'm obviously out of shape, I've got work to do.

It was Night 3 of A Week of Salads. On deck was the salad I was supposed to make last night, Chicken and Black Bean Salad.

It's salad with a decidedly Mexican flair. Grilled chicken, black beans, and chopped green peppers and tomatoes. And like last night, there's lettuce under there somewhere.

The vinaigrette is so different than other dressings and gives the salad tons of flavor. It actually uses chopped tomatoes in the dressing, something I don't see a lot in other recipes. It's also supposed to have fresh cilantro in the dressing, however the cilantro at the grocery store was less than inspiring. I added a pinch of coriander instead and didn't regret it!

I'm already feeling better from the healthier eating this week. A good start to Project Bikini Season :)

Ingredients:
1 large boneless skinless chicken breast
Drizzle of olive oil
Taco Seasoning
4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
1 large tomato, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 (15-oz) can of black beans, washed and drained
1/4 cup tomato, diced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp cider vinegar
Zest of 1 lime
1 tbsp lime juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1 garlic clove, chopped
Fresh grated cheddar cheese (garnish)
Crumbled tortilla chips (garnish)

Directions:
1. Drizzle olive oil over chicken, then rub chicken with Taco Seasoning.  Let rub sink into chicken for 1 hour. Heat grill over medium high heat and grill chicken for 12-15 minutes, or until done. Remove from grill and let rest for at least 5 minutes. Roughly chop chicken and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine romaine lettuce through black beans. Add chicken to mixing bowl.
3. In a food processor, combine diced tomato through garlic. Pulse until mixture is smooth. Drizzle dressing over salad, toss to combine.
4. Place salad on a plate and garnish with fresh grated cheddar cheese and crumbled tortilla chips.
5. Inhale :)

*Recipe adapted from Cooking Light*

Striking A Balance

Hello old friend!

It's been way too long since we last met!

Yesterday I decided it was time to get back on the horse. It had been a couple weeks (at least 2) since I worked out and I was starting to feel... flubber-y. It's hard to motivate yourself to workout when you have little energy to do anything.

I was a little nervous that yesterday would be painful. Instead, it felt wonderful! The minute I stepped on the elliptical and begun to shake out my under-used muscles, I went into the zone. I powered through my circuit training and felt like a million bucks.

I was reminded as I zoned out, enjoying my playlist of my favorite Nickelback songs, how much balance working out provides me. It's my time to let my mind relax. But it also reminded me how important sleeping is to feeling healthy. 2 weeks ago, when I was smack dab in the middle of insomnia, I was struggling to make it through a 15-minute cardio circuit. Not the case yesterday, as I easily made it through 3 15-minute cardio circuits.

Then again, maybe it was the pasta salad I had for breakfast :)

After my workout, I sat down on the couch to rest for a minute and was joined by my little Mama's Boy-

This is the 2nd time I've caught that crazy tongue on camera! Such a cutie!

The Wintertime Blues

I've had just about zero motivation to work out this week. My body has felt sore and tired. Monday when I got on the elliptical I lasted 15 minutes. My mind wandered and I kept thinking about all the other stuff I had to do. Ok, to be honest, all the stuff I would rather be doing. Yesterday, I felt off all day. After I posted my roasted chicken entry, I accidentally deleted all my tabs. I was beyond frustrated.
It was actually a blessing in disguise. After about 20 minutes of seeing red and frantically hitting the back button on my laptop, I realized I needed another solution. I poured myself a hot cup of coffee, took a deep breath, and sat down to fix what I had done. And you know what? It looks better than it did before.
Still feeling off today, I did some internet research on lacking motivation to work out. One article I read was pretty blunt. It said "Just *&^%#@# do it!" The gist? No excuses, just get it done. The article wasn't being mean, just to the point. So that's what I decided to do. And I did. I got on my elliptical and put in my 30 minutes. I worked my stability ball. I did my planks. I did my arabesques. And I rocked my free weights. And you know what? I feel better for it.
So if you are feeling those wintertime blues like I am and don't feel like working out, just *&^%#@# do it! Much like the article I read, I am not saying this to be mean. I am just being blunt with you. Don't make excuses for yourself. Trust me, you will feel better for doing it.

Mondayisms

Happy Monday! Since I was so productive and cleaned the house from top to bottom last week, I don't have a super-busy day on my hands. Here's what's on my mind today:

1. Breakfast: I actually made myself eat breakfast today. My New Year's goal of eating breakfast has been hit and miss but I am trying to "hit" more than I "miss". I made oatmeal today, topped with blackberries, toasted almonds, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

(Used frozen blackberries as it is not exactly blackberry season here in Kentucky!)

2. A nice, long workout: The hubby and I spent a couple of hours in the bar at O'Charley's on Saturday enjoying fried appetizers and vodka cocktails. Fun? Yes! Healthy? No! I plan on spending some time today getting to know my elliptical machine to help me feel better about splurging this weekend. I will probably throw in some work on my stability ball and some free weight lifting for good measure too.

3. Baking: I wanted to try a new recipe I found for Banana Bread Muffins but these were the only bananas I could find at the grocery store-

I guess those muffins will have to wait till later in the week. Boo! I do have this recipe for Lemon Blueberry Muffins I have been wanting to try so I might give it whirl today. Of course it's from YourHomeBasedMom. That woman is good!

4. Cooking: I am trying my hand at roasting a chicken again. Last time I roasted a chicken, it was pretty good. Not perfect though. I am determined to get there! I think I only roasted the chicken maybe 10 minutes too long last time, so I think today I can get it perfect! And actually, now that I think about it, I might not want to tackle muffins and roasting a chicken on the same day. The muffins might have to wait till tomorrow.

And finally, I was completely floored that Whitney Houston passed away over the weekend. I loved her when I was a kid, I grew up listening to her! I loved "One Moment In Time". It may have been an insanely cheesy song, but man, it inspired my 13 year old self. When she made her comeback, I was in college and I loved the remix to "It's Not Right, But It's OK". I may be one of the only ones who thinks this, but Jennifer Hudson did not do her justice at the Grammy's. You will be missed Whitney.

I picked an older picture of Whitney, as I choose to remember her

Getting Back on the Horse

Yesterday, my physical therapist finally gave me the all clear to start exercising again. I was sent away from the office with instructions to go back to my normal routine but stop if I have any pain. If I am able to do my normal routine, I can then try some exercises to "push" my muscles. We would regroup in a week after I tried a couple days of working out.
This made my day! I eagerly laced up my running shoes this morning, turned to Fergie Radio on Pandora, and jumped on the elliptical. I don't know if it was the music or my newly healed muscles, but this workout felt amazing! I rocked out an hour of cardio and then moved on to crunches, planks, squats, and some light weight lifting (just using 5 lb weights). Now that I am sitting here thinking about it, since I haven't worked out much at all for the last 2 months, it was probably the endorphins that I have been missing.
Anyhoo, I am definitely going to get my workouts in until Saturday at which I will stuff my face at Jerame's aunt's Labor Day party and probably negate the whole week of working out. But hey, I work out so I can have fun :)