What the crap is up with me?

I have been in a massive funk the last two months.  Not just in getting fit, it seems like in everything.  I'm still working out and trying to eat well, but then I cave into cravings and blow my progress.  I've been super grouchy and feel like I'm trying to give my best to everyone around me except for my family and myself.  I'm sick of it!  So today's post is how to get out of a crappy funk!

#1. You have to recognize that you are in a funk...and figure out what's causing it.

#2. Let go of whatever is causing you stress.  I've realized that a) I've been trying to do things all on my own...again!  When I forget to ask Heavenly Father for help and guidance, I tend to wear myself out really quickly, and eventually fall flat on my face.  And b) I've reached a weight that I haven't been for a really long time, and although I still have a ways to go, I'm comfortable, but also a little scared to keep going.

#3.If I tell myself negative things my body with react and hold on to my stress.

#4. If I have a bad day with my eating I don't need to carry that disappointment on to the next day. And I have to move forward or else I fall back!

#5.   I need to stop stressing about how far I have to go and just keep going.  When I stop looking forward and backward, and just focus on what I'm doing now to make a difference, I progress much easier.

I really hope this helps someone out there because it really helps me to write down how I'm feeling when I struggle...it seems like I can get through the struggles a heck of a lot faster and move on with my goals.

Super simple eating tips

Since I have some yummy food to share today, tip #2 is going to be about eating.To lose weight, you need fewer calories. Period.  Create a deficit from your current calorie intake and you'll see pounds come off. You can either eat less, exercise more, or a combo of both.  If you don't know how many calories you eat right now, try tracking it by either writing it all down, or using a website to look up food and track it.  We really like myfitnesspal.   You can track your food and exercise and it tracks your weight and measurements for you.  Plus, then you can be friends with Shanna and I on there...who wouldn't want that???  A quick thing you can do to get started is cut a daily snack, or cut dinner by half the size as a start.  

 A huge thing I've found that works for me is that I HAVE TO EAT BREAKFAST. I feel so much better and lose better.  This is one of my biggest challenges and I still have to remind myself to do it sometimes.  I don't eat a huge meal, usually a handful of almonds or a protein shake. We work out at 9:30 every morning so if I eat too much I feel sick...but if I don't eat at all I seem to hold on to weight & I eat later at night....my other major challenge.  Pick a reasonable time that works for you to stop eating food at night.  Eating at night was probably the first thing I really cut down on doing, and noticed immediate results.  (If you eat breakfast & lunch you won't have the craving to eat at night nearly as strong.)  Night time munching is one of the fastest ways to pick up and hold onto weight.  

 Okay, on to this pizza.  So good!  I love pizza!  My kids love it too.  Some of you may just want to lose weight on your journey...my goal is to be healthier all around.  I want to feel good and look good.  Not by cutting out everything I enjoy eating, but tweaking things here and there and using moderation on foods that aren't great.  (I'm a health nut wanna be...basically!  I like being healthy but still eat junk sometimes too!)

This pizza has a greek pita crust.  I get them at Costco.  They are the Papa Pita brand.  Then I make my pizza sauce, but you could use marinara or store bought sauce.  The sauce is just a can of tomato paste and a can of tomato sauce mixed together with a little bit of water.  Add some dashes of italian seasoning, garlic powder & onion powder to taste.  A titch of sugar and salt and pepper.  Then add veggies you like.  I have green peppers and zucchini...so good on pizza and in eggs.  It gives a slight sweetness. Then top with a little bit of cheese. I have 1/6 of a cup of pizza blend cheese on there, but you could use just mozzarella.  Bake at @425 for 8-10 minutes.  The best part is my kids love making their own.  I don't have to make dough and they are really good. Plus the toppings are endless. (This version has 280 calories, 7 grams of fat, 14 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber.)

This smoothie is my secret weapon.  I do not like spinach.  Neither do my kids, but you can't even tell it's in this smoothie.  First off, throw about a cup of spinach in your blender. Add water to cover your spinach.  Add half to a whole drink mix packet (to taste).  I like to use the Hawiian Punch orange one. It gives it a great citrusy flavor.  Blend it up well so it's liquified.

 Then throw in 1-2 cups of frozen berries.  (Depending on how many you are serving you may want to add more water.) Blend and you're done. (A whole blender full has 95 calories, 0 fat, 3 grams protein and 5 g fiber.)

 I love this lunch, but more importantly my kids love it too.  Usually I can't even sit down to eat before they've all drunk their smoothies.
 I hope you'll give these a try.  Let me know what you think!

***Disclaimer*** I know there are ways to make this healthier, but my goal is to eat healthy, not cut out everything I enjoy out of my diet.  If you get too extreme it will be really hard to continue...I want this to be a lifetime lifestyle change, not just a diet!

A few keys that have worked for me

I've been asked several times what I'm doing to lose weight, and I usually just say, "Exercising and eating better."  That's true, but there are a few keys that when I'm doing them I consistently lose weight and feel really good.  I think for the next week I'm going to try to do a post a day on some of those things.  Now don't think you need to try to add all these things into your life in one day.  Just pick one thing and start doing that for an entire week, then add another thing for a whole week...and so on.  Otherwise, if you're anything like me, it's too much to change all at once and you won't do any of them.

The first thing on my list is drinking water.  I know this may sound stupid, but it makes such a difference.  When I'm focused on getting in my water I'm way more aware of what and how much I'm eating.  So, how much to drink???  I've always heard 8 eight ounce glasses of water a day, but that doesn't factor in weight or amount of activity.  This is a website where you can answer a few questions and it will let you know how much you really need to drink.  With my size and exercise I'm supposed to drink 102-127 ounces.  Now believe me, I don't get that in every day, but I usually get between 64 and 100 ounces.

I really like adding the juice of a whole fresh lemon to my water and a packet of Great Value Vitamin Enhanced Kiwi Strawberry. It's a natural flavor instead of like candy flavoring. I know some of you don't like artificial sweeteners, but don't freak out...I have 1 pack a day mixed in with 32 oz and it makes my water taste really good!

Check back tomorrow for this yummy recipe.