Quote and thoughts for the day

"What does not kill me, makes me stronger."
-Friedrich Nietzsche

This quote can hold many meanings to different people. I have repeated this quote to myself many times throughout my life...and it holds true...through every difficult obstacle I have had to overcome, I have come out stronger.

Quote of the morning

“If you doubt you can accomplish something, then you can’t accomplish it. You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.” -Rosalyn Carter

Quote of the morning and random thoughts

“Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.” Stephen R. Covey

Ugh, being sick last weekend has really taken a toll on my exercise regimen. I feel so weak yet and tired all the time. I know this is just the after effects of being sick, but it irritates me! I want to push my hardest all the time and don't like not being able to do so. Hopefully things will get better!

As most of you know, my main programs for these past 7 months have been chaLEAN Extreme and Turbo Jam. I do these workouts for 2 reasons...the first being Chalene Johnson is a huge inspiration and always makes working out fun, and the second reason is because I am seeing such great results! I decided that since I am a beachbody coach, I should also try some new programs, just so I know the products that I'm offering. I am NOT EVER giving up my Turbo Jam, but after I am done with the ChaLEAN Extreme program I am going to try P90X. If all goes well and I am happy with my results so far...I will be starting P90X in April. No, this doesn't mean that I don't like Chalene Johnson, it is nothing like that. I just want to make sure that I can reach my full potential and I think by mixing up my workouts I will be able to do that. I have had a few people raise eyebrows at me for becoming a "traitor" (lol I am not even lying about that!), but I am always up for trying new things when it comes to exercise.

:]

Quote of the morning

I have been so icky sick this past weekend :( But I am feeling better! :) (yay!) Here is the motivational quote:

“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.” Mary Kay Ash

Valentine's Day Gifts

I know the typical Valentine's Day gift consists of red roses and gourmet milk chocolates, but there are other gifts available too choose from, and I'm going to give my advice on some great swaps that you can do to make V-Day more special and from the heart.

#1-a bouquet of roses. This is probably the most generic (and most sought after) gift for Valentine's day. Almost every guy in America get these for his significant other. It's become the trademark for this holiday. While most women love getting roses, why not try spicing it up a little? Instead of roses, get some beautiful orchids or lilies. Not only are these flowers gorgeous, they are also a great statement. Remember, although roses are thought of as THE ONLY romantic flower, has your significant other EVER complained when you brought home a bouquet of flowers that was something other than roses? Get original with your bouquet!

#2-Chocolates...heart boxes of chocolates. This year, do something different. Buy gourmet strawberries and dark chocolate and make chocolate covered strawberries. The possibilities are endless with fruit and chocolate. If your significant other is watching their calories...make it dark chocolate (it's not only tasty, but is full of antioxidants!)

Delicious Valentine Cupcakes with less saturated fat and calories

I was flipping through my new Prevention magazine and came across this delicious recipe! Yummy cupcakes that are made without any butter and saves on calories and sat. fat, compared with typical buttercream.

Now, these are NOT "healthy" for you and should only be enjoyed in moderation!

Ingredients:
1 1/4 C all-purpose flour
3/4 C granulated sugar
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 C water
1/2 C fat-free plain yogurt
1/4 C vegetable oil
1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
1 egg white
1/2 tsp. instant coffee, dissolved in 2 Tbsp. hot water
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 C + 2 Tbsp. heavy cream
2 oz. reduced-fat cream cheese
1/4 C confectioners' sugar
2-3 drops red food coloring (optional)

1. HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Line 8 cups of a standard muffin tin or spray with oil.
2. MIX flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in bowl with fork.
3. COMBINE water, yogurt, oil, applesauce, egg white, coffee, and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla extract in large bowl. Beat with electric mixer until combined and smooth. Slowly add the flour mixture and beat until smooth.
4. FILL muffin cups with batter. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center of each cake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely.
5. BEAT cream, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in bowl with electric mixer until thick and stiff. Stir in food coloring, if using. Spread about 2 tablespoons on top of each cupcake. If not serving immediately, store cupcakes in refrigerator.

NUTRITION (per serving):
356 Calories
5g protein
42g carbs
2g fiber
16.5g fat
6.5g sat. fat
251 mg. sodium

TYPICAL NUTRITION FACTS FOR CUPCAKES WITH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:
440 Calories
7g protein
40g carbs
4g dietary fiber
34g fat
16g sat. fat
170 mg. sodium

Motivational quote of the day

Motivational quote of the morning: "There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." - Beverly Sills

This is totally true when it comes with losing weight and fitness...there are no magic pills or shortcuts, just hard work, fun, and determination! :)

My OMG moment that changed everything

I've done almost every program out there; the hot dog diet, slim fast, weight watchers, atkins, the cavewoman diet (close to atkins), the rice cake diet, etc. etc. I always lost weight...but then I'd go off the diet and gain it all back and more. When I first started high school, I was 145 pounds and I looked great...only I didn't realize it at the time. Everyone else I knew was smaller than me and I thought I was huge. My weight problem only got worse. Through my teen years, I gained and gained and gained, and I was oblivious to this fact (as crazy as it sounds!). I thought, "oh, I don't look so bad...I'm okay". Little did I know how heavy I really did look. I was in major denial. Even in my 20s I kept saying to myself...oh there are people who are heavier than you are, you aren't that big...even as I was huffing and puffing from just climbing a small set of stairs. I would walk across a store and feel like I was going to die because I was so out of breath and tired. AND STILL I was in denial. Then came my turning point last year when I reached for my size 22W pants and they were snug. I took them off, held them up and realized how big those pants actually were...then I realized (in horror) how big that must've meant I was...even more so considering they were snug! Then came the photos...I took out the family photo album and flipped through...and I couldn't believe my eyes. I didn't even recognize myself in the photos...in the photos I looked so heavy, I didn't want to believe that's how I really looked...I never saw myself that way in the mirror. I kept flipping through the album and the photos never changed...still the same, very heavy me, smiling and staring back. I shut the book and just cried. I stood up and walked over to the closet and got my favorite wrap dress out and put that on for comparison...and then I walked over to the full mirror and was horrified. I looked so big in the dress...I looked like a balloon with circular patterns. I immedietaly took the dress off and ripped through my clothes looking for something that looked remotely OK. I finally found a pair of jeans that I could get up and button (though still snug) and a very baggy shirt. I stopped looking in the mirror...except when I did my make up (and that was a very small mirror). My stepdad lost his job last spring and that was extremely hard. My mom and I just sat at our laptops all day long, eating, and looking for jobs for my stepdad. I lied to my friends and told them I was walking everyday...I was so ashamed of myself for becoming a sluggish lump. Then my stepdad got a job and the weight of the world was off my mom's and my shoulders. My mom and I looked at each other and we both were thinking the same thing...we NEED to get into shape! We then began working out with Turbo Jam and at first it was a challenge...I was very out of shape, but I stuck with the modified versions and got through. Then the workouts began to get a little better and I was adding more movement and really getting into it. I began losing weight and I started to feel better about myself. In december of 2009 I also added ChaLEAN Extreme into the mix and lost even more weight. I now have muscle definition in my arms and legs and have lost 50 pounds. My mom has also lost 50 pounds. I feel so much better about myself. I still have some ways to go with my weight loss journey, but I'm loving how I feel already. I have tons of energy and no longer feel as if I'm dying when I run up the stairs. I look forward to working out (something I never thought would happen). I'm also participating in the Relay for Life and in the pound for pound challenge. 2009 was such a hard year for me (my grandma passed away from lung cancer, my friend's dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, my stepdad lost his job, etc) that I feel like I was cheated out of a year of my life. Although I can't change my past, I know that I can change my future. 2010 is going to be the year that I push way past my comfort zone and really live.

My workout programs:
-ChaLEAN Extreme
-Turbo Jam
-Hip Hop Hustle
-Jogging (have to train for my relay!)

Workout programs I want to try:
-P90X
-Insanity

Motivational quote of the morning and my goal list

"When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life."
-Greg Anderson

Since I have not really discussed this yet in my blog, I am going to list my goals:
[ ]Run/Jog most of my Relay for Life in June
[ ]Complete a triathlon in 3 years
[ ]Get to my goal weight (135-140) sometime in 2010
[ ]Feel better about myself
[ ]lose 30 pounds by my dad's wedding
[ ]Wear a bikini in spring/summer 2011
[ ]Do 12 bicep curls with 20 pounds
[ ]Do 12 squats with 50 pounds
[ ]Lose 50 pounds for the pound for pound challenge

Quote and thought of the day

"You don't realize how strong a person really is until you see them at their weakest moment." -Unknown Author

This is true when it comes to not only life, but health. Eating healthy and working out takes a certain type of strength. With runners doing a marathon, you see the look on their faces when they reach the point where they feel like they've got nothing left to give, but then in just a split moment they run like they've never run before. They dig deep inside themselves to find a certain inner strength to carry them through to the finish line.

I am an emotional eater and it takes everything inside of me to not reach for the chocolates when I'm feeling down. Once I realized I could walk away from something that had chained me down for so long, I felt like a different person. Some of you might giggle at this or be like what does this have to do with this quote? It was in my weakest moment that I realized my own inner strength.

Quote for the morning

Quote for the morning: "If you can imagine it you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it." -William Arthur Ward

Recipe of the Day

This recipe is something I love to make when I need a sweet treat without breaking my calorie bank. If you love chocolate milk shakes, you will love this!

Ingredients:

1 C of Chocolate Silk
1/2-1 banana (whichever is your preference)
1-2 Tbsp. Peanut Butter (Natural if you can!)
3-4 ice cubes (if you like to add more, feel free)

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend! Enjoy! This is so yummy! I makes this for the kids I babysit and they can't get enough.

Who I am

I am an independent beachbody coach and am making this blog to chronicle my daily thoughts, recipes, stories, etc!

Today's quote of the day:

"Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine" -Lord Byron

I love this quote because it so true. Whenever I am feeling down, I look at something funny and suddenly I feel a bit better. Another good quote that is along the same lines as Lord Byron's is this, "The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed". Remember to always smile and laugh everyday!

Here's a really cute picture I found that I think will bring a smile to anyone's face!