45 Days

It's been 45 days since I embarked on my new healthy lifestyle.

45 days of eating clean and making exercise a priority.

45 days of successes and mistakes.

45 days of learning.

My overall view of the last month and half? Great. I'm feeling better-- both physically and mentally. I've lost 15 pounds. I'm no longer beating myself up inside for choices I'm making, because I'm making better choices.

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It's not easy. Sometimes I would kill to order a pizza and not cook dinner. But is it worth the regret and upset stomach? Not really. Would I have ever tried to make a cauliflower pizza crust if delivery was still an option? No.

(By the way, make this. It's great.)

Sometimes I want to just sit on the couch and watch Netflix. Especially since there's a whole new line of documentaries featured. But to the gym or spin class I go. And when I'm done, I'm happy with the choice I made.

I'm excited to see what the next 45 days bring!

evil lunges.

I did lunges at the gym last night.

After running and some weight lifting, I was looking for something quick to do. To fill up time while the husband finished up.

And I was getting funny looks standing my the water fountain for too long.

Lunges it was.

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Just two sets. Across the aerobic room and back twice. I totally look like this girl while doing them, I'm sure.

My thighs officially hates me now.

Weighing in

via

Meet my best friend and/or worst enemy. When numbers are low, I could kiss the damn thing. Spiked numbers mean feelings of failures and regrets and possible reasons why it could be broken. On my way to a healthy lifestyle I feel as though I should not base success on the number on the scale, but by my daily choices. Am I eating clean ? Did I get in enough exercise? Am I drinking enough water and getting in the proper nutrients? However, the scale is also a way to base my success on these choices.

The scale also has a way of popping up in the three places I'm at the most- home, work and the gym. Three places= five different scales. And I have no willpower to NOT step on everyone of them. I can tell you the difference in the scale at home to the one at work to the one at the gym and the difference between weighing in my workout clothes and work clothes and just before getting into the shower.

I'm going to have to really push to not focusing on that number. I don't want to be tied to the scale, but at this point, I kind of think it's my only choice :/

However, I really like this scale :)

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What are some ways that you measure your successes in healthy living?

Eating Well: Snacks

I spend a lot of time in my car.

One hour to work. I then drop off my husband and don't have to be to work for another hour. I either go into work early or wait in the car. One hour back home.

3x5= 15 hours spent in my car. Before making the change to a healthier lifestyle I spent quite a bit of this time eating in car. Grabbing snacks and small (and sometime large) meals to eat on the run. Obviously this is a big no-no now. I'm now in need of a game plan to curb my snacking, but still keep my body fueled for those days when I go to spin or Zumba as soon as I get home.

Part one of my plan is to pack the night before. I have a limited amount of time in the morning to get ready and sometimes grabbing everything just isn't possible before we have to be out the door. So my coffee mug, tea bag, Truvia, single serving of granola and water bottle go into the lunch bag the night before. My Greek yogurt has a special shelf in the fridge, which makes it easy to grab.

Breakfast= done.

Lunch is served at the school I work out. I eat a large serving of veggies, a salad and fruit (if it is available) and this usually filling until about 3 o'clock. I eat dinner anywhere from 6-9, and have at least 2 to 3 classes a week which I leave for as soon as I get home. What's needed? A healthy small snack that keeps me going until dinner.

I have a few ideas, such as peanut butter with apples/celery, dried fruits, small amount of meats with some whole wheat crackers, and popcorn. But I feel like I'm missing a whole world of all sorts of great, filling snacks.

I need ideas! What are some of your best snack ideas?

Sunday Afternoon Bike Ride

The husband and I drove 10 hours yesterday... from Minnesota all the way back to Oklahoma. After a great night of sleep on a real bed (no more air mattress!) we rode the local trail about 5 miles. It felt great to stretch out our legs and be outside. Beautiful day and a great start to a good fitness week :)

Matching bikes (for the time being)

Suspension bridge on the trail.

Taking a break to stay hydrated!

Thought For The Week

I spend an ungodly amount of time on Pinterest, but I love all the ideas, inspiration and motivation that I come by :)

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Goals

I am not one to sit down and write down my goals. I always have a general idea of what I'm working towards, but really focusing on them?

Not so much.

However, in the long run, it might be helpful to have a place to look back and see what I'm working for, and have some stepping stones to get there, as well.

Run a half-marathon

I have no plans EVER to run a marathon. You couldn't pay me to run that long, but I really would like to be able to run a half marathon. My plan is to be able to run one by the end of this year or the beginning 0f 2013. Granted that is if we survive the zombie apocalypse.

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In prep of a half, I need to work on my distance running, as well as my form. I'm currently training for an April 5k, and when that is over, I'm going to looking into Jeff Galloway's training programs.

Run a 30 minute 5k

Along with distance, I would like to be faster. My last 5k was 43.19 minutes... and that was a PR. I'm well aware of how slow this is and I'm currently working on adding endurance and speed to my running. For my April 5k I would love to be able to finish in under 40. While my current PR is lacking, I am still happy it was faster then my last two.

I'm getting there.

Be in a healthy BMI percentage

I'm still working up the courage to share my weight and BMI with the world-- but I am going to actively work towards reaching this goal with exercise and healthy eating habits.

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Create a healthy lifestyle

I've done the diets, and sure they worked for a time, but I need to focus on creating new habits that will last.

How do you help yourself reach your goals? Do you track them?