tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-185245095538822962024-03-18T22:02:29.336-07:00#sickofbeingfatSo I have one year before I am thirty, and I refuse to enter it feeling fat and generally down on myself. I'm using this blog to motivate myself, have accountability, and keep track of my progress towards achieve my health goals for this year.Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-54809221359808388382015-07-13T13:00:00.004-07:002015-07-13T13:00:27.453-07:00Combat take twoOkay, so I totally let myself slide back to a worse place than I was before I started this blog. So with renewed vigor I am going to attempt to lose the weight all over again. Le sigh.<br />
<br />
Now that I am done with travelling, I can focus on building better habits. My main aids in this are going to be <a href="http://habitrpg.com/">HabitRPG</a> and my shiny new fitbit. HabitRPG is a great website that allows you to track your habits and assign yourself with to-dos and daily tasks that earn you XP. When you reach level ten you get to chose a class and gain skills that help you on your journey to be a better person. Their slogan is very appropo, "Gamify your life". You can also make a party with friends and slay monsters like the "endless dishes monster" and earn cool prizes. you also find pets and level them up to steeds. The mobile version of the app kinda blows but it is a great tool in building better habits.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://scene7.targetimg1.com/is/image/Target/16599145?wid=480&hei=480" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://scene7.targetimg1.com/is/image/Target/16599145?wid=480&hei=480" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">witness my shiny new biometric reader</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I got a fitbit charge HR which I LOVE! The fact that it measures your heartbeat and then uses that to calculate how many calories you burned the whole day instead of a really vague guesstimate of calories burned during activity (really 60 minutes of walking is only 200 calories? really?). Mike, my husband, has gotten one too, and so it really fosters competition between us. It lasts for about 5 days if you don't obsessively check your steps and calorie burn every two seconds (totally guilty of that on the first day). The app connects to myfitnesspal.com which I use to track food and it connects to the fitbit for a "calorie adjustment". Fitbit also has an in app food tracker, but I like myfitnesspal's database better. I might switch over to fitbit only, but it won't be for a while since I have all of Combat's recipes already loaded into myfitnesspal.<br />
<br />
I am keeping to my new year's resolution of just doing my best and not getting down on myself if I have a cheat day. I just know that combat works for me, and I can do it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi92dmQAzamSNH99wT2LOM6pRGCEN57vqzGqyhC_QNfbf9Qp2naHp9HXuz3Qp7Z0NMkZnYQ2HQtUp_RBoqIhJPBYGER0fCOH9T-pf9IvqKbGBCueHlm6A5_ct1Fm_3dFR-bxs2n__DJU/s1600/Never+give+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyi92dmQAzamSNH99wT2LOM6pRGCEN57vqzGqyhC_QNfbf9Qp2naHp9HXuz3Qp7Z0NMkZnYQ2HQtUp_RBoqIhJPBYGER0fCOH9T-pf9IvqKbGBCueHlm6A5_ct1Fm_3dFR-bxs2n__DJU/s320/Never+give+up.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-42735270384754684392015-01-30T09:36:00.000-08:002015-01-30T09:36:02.076-08:00Hey guys! I can almost touch my toes!A big part of achieving my goal to be cast as Velma (or Roxie) in Chicago is to take dance classes. It has been about 10 years since I have taken formal dance classes and those classes weren't that formal (sorry Grace). I've done sporatic dancing in many different styles, but I need pure jazz and I need to be awesome at it if I want to be able to do this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/HB4zlQVRaD0/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HB4zlQVRaD0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Catherine Zeta Jones was pregnant will shooting this movie!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
When I went to General auditions at Hillbarn, the audition attendant told me about Dance Art Center. He said that they are very good for technique and they have lots of ties to local theater companies, especially Hillbarn. So I sat on it, and sat, and I sat, but then, the announcement came and I took the plunge. They offer Adult Jazz four times a week and other dance classes. Perfect! Well, the four times a week is different levels, and I didn't listen to them and came on a Saturday and ended up taking the most advanced Jazz class. I survived, barely, but I didn't feel like I could ask questions because I was the noob in the expert class. Then I took the Wednesday class that was intermediate and it was better, but I still felt like a complete jackass that I wasn't picking up on the combination. It was partially the terminology that I heard before but never actually knew what it was and the fact that my feet refused to move quick enough. The Thursday class was beginning adult jazz and it was great because I finally got the terminology and the speed was acceptable and they gave me the warm up sequence. It was funny in the more advanced classes, cause the instructors seemed to think I was going to leave in a huff and never come back, but I know my level and I am also very motivated to work on my skill level. I have to say that I feel great after just three classes. I can almost touch my toes, which is quite a feat considering I could barely reach my mid calf.<br />
<br />
What I really love about dancing and martial arts is that you are working your body, but you are also getting in touch with how your muscles move and work. A stretch that seems easy because crazy difficult when you really consciously keep your shoulders down. This in-tuneness with your body is great when you are trying to lose weight, because although you might not look like the person you have in your head, you feel a little bit more like them. By working on my core, I feel tighter and less flabby and I am feeling stronger, so I admit it shocks me when I look in the mirror and I see my round belly and floppy arms. But I'm not going to let the mirror discourage me, I think I'm awesome, I feel awesome and that is what is important!Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-19851469628908520532015-01-29T11:38:00.001-08:002015-01-29T11:38:52.543-08:00So very much this:<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/eplOpAhhhug/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eplOpAhhhug?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Video from Buzzfeed</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This is why I've come to terms with the fact that I don't handle diets very well. I'm really good for about a week and then I crash, hard. Instead of completely denying myself certain foods, I instead am just trying to stay in a prescribed calorie limit. That means if I choose to eat a slice of cake, I have to swap out my Hamburger for a salad. So far it's been okay, there have been days when I have failed, but it is okay to slip up now and again. What is important is to keep the overall trend below the prescribed calorie limit. I'm also trying to make sure I have a proper nutritional content within these calories, so I'm eating what my body needs to do what it does.<br />
<br />
I dislike fad diets, or those list of FOODS YOU SHOULD NEVER EAT AGAIN!!!!! Until I see a well documented scientific paper with quantifiable data I shall continue to eat bananas because a) they are delicious and b) without their phosphate I get the WORST charlie horses.<br />
<br />
Being healthy is about making choices, not complete denial of everything except lemons and cayenne pepper. I think I'll keep doing as I do to prevent the destruction of any cake within a mile radius.Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-7210602052670850812015-01-22T16:50:00.000-08:002015-01-22T16:57:24.981-08:00The benefit of having a clear and very defined goalGoals, like New Year resolutions, are easy to make but hard to keep. Things just always come up or your body just isn't on the same wavelength as you. I also don't deal well with nebulous goals, or goals that don't really have a consequence. For example, I started this blog with the idea that if I lost a pound a week, I would be at my ideal weight of 150 lbs by my birthday a year later. Seemed like a reasonable goal easy to achieve. I didn't have a reason to shed the pounds besides just wanting to be healthier and not suffer the same shame I felt two years ago when that choreographer made me feel like a fat slob. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_UoczsMw-7mUUypIQmXDMi8zIZb6CWUBMx8aQmnKDE4I29o3T12SC3YJlVqnv2A_LkJGRsZRj4SqmUbaOJt1Vin3JGs1AEGBOAWysAn0N1DgrEUQXJED17Yz7eZqx-0iOPf8dmNzJps/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-11-05+at+8.20.00+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_UoczsMw-7mUUypIQmXDMi8zIZb6CWUBMx8aQmnKDE4I29o3T12SC3YJlVqnv2A_LkJGRsZRj4SqmUbaOJt1Vin3JGs1AEGBOAWysAn0N1DgrEUQXJED17Yz7eZqx-0iOPf8dmNzJps/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-11-05+at+8.20.00+AM.png" height="185" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
That same show, I got to do one of my dreams and perform the cell block tango as Velma. I took Velma because it was my idea and this was going to be the only time I would ever get to do it. I had a blast and I felt sexy and awesome, until I saw myself on film. I hated how I looked and even though everyone tells me I am beautiful and I'm all about that bass, I know that if I continue to look like this I will never even be considered (unless I had a kickass voice like my friend Jennifer Wiener). I know it is about having confidence in yourself and owning your body, but until you love yourself, you can't do it, and I was at a particularly low point in my self love at that point.<br />
<br />
After getting passed over for two sets of general musical auditions at <a href="https://www.broadwaybythebay.org/">Broadway by the Bay</a> and <a href="http://www.hillbarntheatre.org/">Hillbarn,</a> I decided to get vocal lessons, dance lessons and really try to lose some weight so I would look more the part and gain some confidence in myself. I told myself that this was really in preparation in case any theater within a reasonable distance was going to do <i>Chicago</i> in the future. So I got some vocie lessons, didn't take any dance lessons because of stupid scheduling things, and I managed to lose nine pounds and 2.5 inches off my waist. Then work started up again and I was in the best play ever (the <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/pacifica-entertainment/ci_26592200/pacifica-spindrift-brings-oscar-wildes-masterpiece-stage">Importance of being Earnest</a>) and referencing my previous post about my show eating habits, the weight and the inches all came back. <br />
<br />
I decided a few weeks ago that instead of feeling sorry for myself and eating my emotions I was going to make my health a priority and start eating better (more fresh foods) and exercising (cue the second round of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LesMillsCombat">Comba</a>t). Things were going pretty smoothly, but I honestly could feel myself losing motivation. It is tough to work from 7-5 and then work out, cook for you and the husband, and then clean, and just muddle through adult life. Then I got the biggest boost to my motivation EVER. <a href="http://www.woodsidetheatre.com/">Woodside Community Theater</a> is doing CHICAGO!!!!!!!! OMG! This is my moment, my chance, and I have until late May early June to get into fighting form. It is on! This is what I've been waiting for and wanting since we did that lip-sync in 2013.<br />
<br />
I have signed up with a vocal coach (first lesson is Friday!), I have signed up for dance lessons (my first one is on Saturday!), and I'm going to make Combat my bitch (-. I'm also going to be healthy about it, meaning that I still only want to lose 1 to 1.5 pounds per week. I want to shed it and keep it off, cause when I get it (fingers crossed) I want to be able to flaunt it!<br />
<br />
Wish me luck and if anyone wants to join in on the dance classes or get together for karoke you know where to find me!<br />
<br />
Side Bar: so I found the <a href="http://iwillloseweightiswear.blogspot.com/2013/11/its-hard-to-feel-sexy-when-you-are.html">post </a>I wrote about this two years ago:Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-33875049291531955792015-01-22T13:33:00.001-08:002015-01-22T16:11:23.316-08:00I feel like I hit a major turning pointMcDonald chicken nuggets are no longer delicious. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://qph.is.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-603ebe1d5ed4d90d153127653f372ad1?convert_to_webp=true" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://qph.is.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-603ebe1d5ed4d90d153127653f372ad1?convert_to_webp=true" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I didn't believe this day would ever come. I used to crave them, and the salty deliciousness of McDonald's fries. But now they taste disgusting and my body literally rejects them.<br />
<br />
When I'm in production for a play, my eating habits become worse than shit. Usually the only thing I can grab quickly is fast food of some variety. In high school, we had the mom's keep us straight by cooking delicious dinners for us and we had regular dinner and snack breaks. In college, the cafeteria was open at all hours, so it was grab a slice of pizza before rehearsal, burn it off, then grab 2 more slices after rehearsal, one for now and the other for after cramming in homework. I think i ODed on pizza during those years, because I didn't eat a single slice of pizza for like two whole years after graduating, but recently the cravings for pizza hit me strong. But at least pizza has an iota of nutritional value since it contains many of the food groups. Now that I'm an adult and doing a lot more theater than I used to I miss having either a mom to cook food for me or a cafeteria with a semblance of healthy food. My choices are sandwich from the local deli, but hurry cause it closes at 5:00, or the 24hr McDonald's.<br />
<br />
I know, I know. It is my choice to do theater in my free time, so I should plan better by cooking meals ahead of time and bringing them to rehearsal and blah blah blah. <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS563US564&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=ain%27t%20nobody%20got%20time%20for%20that">Ain't no one got time for that</a>! Also many of the theaters and rehearsal spaces I've working in don't have microwaves, and I can't stomach cold soup or pasta. So McDonald's and then a late night Denny's run has been my pattern.<br />
<br />
But no longer will I answer the siren call of the golden arches. I will try to plan better and bring food that isn't messy or require radiation to eat. If must buy nourishment and it must be quick, I will go for a sandwich before I ever eat that fried goop again. I'm going to try to resist the fourth meal temptations by bringing fruit and cheese as snacks to rehearsals and shows. But nothing is more delicious than chocolate chip pancakes after a performance :).<br />
<br />
Soda is still a major temptation, but let's just take it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__d2FMCtgi4">one at a time shall we</a>?.<br />
<br />Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-73393179454881688142015-01-12T17:15:00.000-08:002015-01-12T17:15:16.314-08:00Man, fuck the holidaysNot really no, but I thought I was being good. My clothes must have shrunk in the dryer. It turns out I was in denial. All of my hard work over the summer was gone. I gained it all back. :(<br />
<br />
I don't just blame the holidays, I also blame work and fun like being in plays getting in the way. It was really hard to find even thrity minutes to exercise, and I'm finding this week, it takes a lot of time to plan out your meals.<br />
<br />
No matter what the reason, I don't like how tight my clothes are and so it is a priority to get healthy. I'd like to loose 1 pound a week and keep it off. I'm going to do Combat again because I actually lost over ten pounds last time, so I know it works. It is all about balancing everything else.<br />
<br />
I am going to do my best and just move forward. I will try not to beat myself up if I don't make my weekly goal, instead I will strategize what I can do to make it work better for me.<br />
<br />
Wish me luck and I wish you all the best on your journeys toward being healthier!<br />
<br />Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-16062089992438253402014-07-28T10:18:00.000-07:002014-07-28T10:18:00.226-07:00End of week three resultsI can't believe I've already finished three weeks! I'm a third of the way through and I'm loving the results!<br />
<ul>
<li>Weight: -3.8 lbs</li>
<li>Inches:</li>
<ul>
<li>Waist: -1</li>
<li>Hips: +0.5</li>
<li>Right arm: -0</li>
<li>Left arm: -0</li>
<li>Right thigh: -1.5</li>
<li>Left Thigh: -0.5</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Seeing these results makes the really intense 60 min workout worth it. It also inspires me to keep going bcause I'm working so hard for these results it would be a shame to mess them up!Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-60570923756166525392014-07-27T10:41:00.000-07:002014-07-27T10:41:00.043-07:00Getting into shape isn't just about working out.It is a life style change. I never believed people when they said that to me. I was always under the impression that all I had to do was work out and eat okay and everything will be fine. And that is way I wasn't successful before. Trying to get into shape requires you to change one's lifestyle. Before I committed to this program, I probably cooked once, maybe twice a week. The rest of my meals consisted of take out or microwavable meals. To give myself some credit, I have also tried the cooking of a week's worth of food in a day. Lots of stews, spaghetti sauces, and grilled meat. This is all great, except when I would put in the calories for these recipes, I am shocked by how many calories I was eating. Also restaurants are depressingly caloric. Even salads seem like a ridiculous amount of calories (hint: it's mostly the dressing, so if you don't mind dry salads, it's doable). The microwavable meals in the supermarket seem to provide a decent solution. They are convient, and they are packaged in pre-set calorie amounts, but they are full of chemicals and the processing them go through greatly reduce their nutritional value.<br />
<br />
Working out is a huge part of trying to get fit, but the nutrition aspect is just as important. I'm not going to lie having to prepare five meals a day is a bit of a drag, but I'm starting to develop a rhythm between prepping food (mostly dividing things into portions so I don't have to do it each time), preparing, and cleaning. Shopping for food also eats up a lot of time. Because my diet has transitioned from lots of processed foods to a lot of grilled meat and fresh fruits and vegetables I feel like I have to go to the grocery store way more often. I also really don't want to overbuy the fresh food because it's a waste of money and good food, so planning is key. Mike said he is going to join me on this fitness journey starting tomorrow so now we will definitely eat through the fresh food supply. We have limited refrigerator and freezer space, so managing those spaces will be the next challenge!Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-59336789381834409082014-07-23T17:01:00.000-07:002014-07-23T17:01:00.052-07:00Adventures in new food - quicheThe hardest thing about the Les Mills diet is the lack of starches from the diet. I'm only allowed 4 portions of starches a day. Now if these were SERVINGS it wouldn't be so bad, but as I said in my spaghetti squash post, it is 80 calorie servings of starches which is so minimal. Also having to cook five meals a day from scratch was started to wear on me. So I decided I would try to cook some quiche. This way I could cook something once and have breakfast for four days! Perfect! Also quiche is essential eggs and cheese baked into a crust. Another benefit of quiche is that you can mix in meats to up the protein and add vegetables to get that quotient in. The down side of quiche is the crust (pie crust is very caloric) and the heavy cream. So after some research I learned that it is possible to make crustless quiche and the greek yogurt is a perfect substitute for heavy cream. Because I didn't have a pie tin, I decided to make quiche-cakes in cupcake tins. Also I was leery about the greek yougurt substitute, but I had enough in my fridge so I decided to go for it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjCoJbYzhTxsHLH9xpP3MZvbXfQyvtzKGfQgHpY7G1wd3RWu15v_UBnrXmNHWbS9lAoCkJZSuiNBlIerF-OhE1nZ5DN58D4wzPUfeOQX8SRw5rHdPLFRYqZVUgHhxDXbgsvFsUcc-7g0/s1600/crustless+quiche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjCoJbYzhTxsHLH9xpP3MZvbXfQyvtzKGfQgHpY7G1wd3RWu15v_UBnrXmNHWbS9lAoCkJZSuiNBlIerF-OhE1nZ5DN58D4wzPUfeOQX8SRw5rHdPLFRYqZVUgHhxDXbgsvFsUcc-7g0/s1600/crustless+quiche.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Okay so they aren't the most beautiful things in the world, but I know that my second go will be better. I decided to use zuchhini slices on the bottom of the quiche to aid in scooping the quiche out. I put them in raw and the result was pretty watery. I think I might try grilling them slightly or salting them to get the water out.<br />
<br />
Another major benefit of quiche is the ability to adapt a basic recipe. Here was my basic recipe and it filled 20 cupcake tins<br />
<br />
3 eggs<br />
3 egg whites<br />
1 cup of greek yougurt<br />
1 cup of shreded cheese<br />
6 oz of meat (ground meat, or chopped deli meat work. If you are doing ground meat, cook it with the onions first!)<br />
1 tsp of oil<br />
1 cup of chopped onions<br />
3 cups of raw vegetables (mushrooms, bell peppers, squash, spinach, really whatever you want)<br />
<br />
1. cook the onions and vegetables in the oil. This releases the water in the vegetables and prevents soggy quiche. If you are using frozen spinach, thaw it and strain it. If you are doing ground meat, add it to this mix and cook it thoroughly.<br />
2. Mix and blend the eggs, egg whites and greek yogurt. Add the cheese and vegetable mixture.<br />
3. Spoon into cupcake tins and bake at 425 F for 20 minutes until quiche is set. Allow to cool and then spoon quiche out.Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-50679503669615316122014-07-22T13:16:00.000-07:002014-07-22T13:16:00.174-07:00Holy Sh*t, that was the most intense hour of my life<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fitmambo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/les-mills-combat-workout.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://fitmambo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/les-mills-combat-workout.png" height="320" width="303" /></a></div>
Okay, so the 30 minute workout is done in a flash, the 45 feels like I'm pushing my body, but it is totally doable. Today was the first day of the 60 minute Ultra Cardio Fighter workout. The sets seemed less intense than the 30 and 45 minute sets, but damn there are a lot of them.<br />
<br />
I really like how Les Mills Combat reves the intervals up. they start each set with the basics and then they build the combos, and then repeat, repeat, repeat. they also seems to really know the limits of the average person doing this workout. They repeat the sets and right when I feel like my leg is ready to give up we switch sides and work the other leg. Because it is such an excellent buildup in intensity, by the time you hit the thirty minute mark, you are revved up and the second half of the hour just flies by. I'm not going to lie and say that I feel like going for a run, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but it was intense. I think I'm really going to be feeling it tomorrow! Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-67699818371018571752014-07-21T10:42:00.000-07:002014-07-21T10:42:00.751-07:00End of week two resultsTwo weeks down! These changes are from the previous week. Check out the progress tab for the overall changes.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Weight: +1.8 lbs</li>
<li>Inches:</li>
<ul>
<li>Waist: - 0.5</li>
<li>Hips: -1.0</li>
<li>Right arm: - 0</li>
<li>Left arm: - 0.25</li>
<li>Right thigh: +1.25</li>
<li>Left Thigh: + 0.25</li>
</ul>
</ul>
So not the best results, but I've know lost an inch off my waist! That is awesome! Also even though I gained a little bit of weight this week, I'm still at an overall deficit :). I think that I might have been overlly excited about getting to eat the foods I want so I stayed within the 2100 calories budget (except for one day :( ) but I didn't eat the type of food the program wanted me to eat. I ate a lot more carbs than I should have. Also I am on my period, so that tends to translate into some weight gain. I'm not going to get discouraged and I'm going to keep going. The upcoming week comes with an exercise switch in the program and I plan on sticking to the nutrition program a lot more so we shall see what happens!</div>
Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-90335411836363075002014-07-20T13:03:00.000-07:002014-07-20T13:03:00.627-07:00I had a moment of weakness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://lygsbtd.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/calories-in-his-cheese-cracker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lygsbtd.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/calories-in-his-cheese-cracker.jpg" /></a></div>
Okay, so I feel ridiculously weak willed. Today we had our opening night pizza party for our show Fiddler on the roof and I specifically planned not to eat dinner so that way I would be able to eat at the party. Well, my body was not having any of that and I was STARVING at 5:00 (the time I normally eat dinner). Mike and I had decided to go out to eat and I wanted to go to a restaurant where I could actually eat something and have calories left over for the party. Our choices where <a href="http://www.fuddruckers.com/">Fuddruckers</a> (a burger joint for those of you guys who have never been to the best burger restaurant ever!) or <a href="http://www.pastapomodoro.com/">Pasta Pomodoro</a>. I decided on Pasta Pomodoro because they have an amazing soup that I love and Mike could still get a great meal. I should have just gotten a cup of the braised beef tortellini soup (281 cal.) but based on how hungry I was feeling I decided to get the bowl (562 cal). That meant I only had 380 cals left over for the party. Not a big deal, except it was an all you can eat pizza bar and I wasn't about to pay $8 for a slice of pizza. I didn't go as crazy as I could have. I only ate 2 slices of pizza and a piece of cast cake. Still that pushed me over by 200 calories :(.<br />
<br />
Again not bad, but I am a little disappointed in myself. However because the party was at 11:00 p.m. I just skipped breakfast the next day and I came in at 300 calories under for the day. It all balances out eventually, but I'm going to work hard on sticking to my guns on this diet. 2100 calories a day is a LOT and there is no reason I should be going over. I think the best thing I can do is to keep myself out of potentially bad situations, like TGIF's $10 all you can eat appetizers. The Asian in me wants to get my money's worth, and the American in me wants more fried food!<br />
<br />
I can do it! Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-10026039972527386832014-07-20T08:33:00.000-07:002014-07-20T08:33:00.081-07:00Warning dudes- this post is about lady issues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzgxXSwKckh1pYRoLZKK8EPY5DaV8fpi48iG1rOUVA8paP8S8L33N4D4zQuft0evTF4VbSdDQTgWCc2_BbjJOLPkQB-0lr5XE2JJ71BZ8_h9UMH02yU4E44VNVuR2HifS3EeOu0rGi4Q/s1600/advil-canada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzgxXSwKckh1pYRoLZKK8EPY5DaV8fpi48iG1rOUVA8paP8S8L33N4D4zQuft0evTF4VbSdDQTgWCc2_BbjJOLPkQB-0lr5XE2JJ71BZ8_h9UMH02yU4E44VNVuR2HifS3EeOu0rGi4Q/s1600/advil-canada.jpg" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Ladies, I don't know about you, but when I'm on my period exercising is the last thing in the world I want to do. I still pushed through, but I know for a fact that I did not push myself as hard today because I felt like my body was breaking apart. Once I got moving it was okay, but I'm exhausted, crampy, and generally uncomfortable. To compound the issue, the digestion system has decided that it hates raw fruit and vegetables. The cramps are RIDICULOUS when I eat my fresh salads, fruit, and juices. This is the majority of my diet! I know that my body would be very happy eating nothing but steak and chocolate cake right now, but I won't let it be an excuse. Time to bring on the advil and just get through the next few days. Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-51160907095914719232014-07-18T16:08:00.000-07:002014-07-18T16:08:00.573-07:00Pets are lovely, but they make working out at home hard.I love my cat Silk, but he is a mjor source of distraction throughout the day. He loves nothing more than to sit on my lap and get in the way of what ever I am doing. He usually leaves me alone while I'm doing the more active parts of Combat, but he is all over my sweaty face when i have to do push-ups. My favorite thing he did was to curl up in my lap during one of my cool down stretches. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq7-OFpG60ICkAkjF5GpxaEqdrbP8NtR95Zdfmwy7q6Vm6E_o0E9anbRqXKb3GfSjQ2CFmw0xrK-xr2WHR5Y0RbCU7cXVk6Tfp8CgYjXKFDEnD8o6Fe0vOGYureaQTl82pGJmi0Vzuvw/s1600/cat+on+cat+pose.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidq7-OFpG60ICkAkjF5GpxaEqdrbP8NtR95Zdfmwy7q6Vm6E_o0E9anbRqXKb3GfSjQ2CFmw0xrK-xr2WHR5Y0RbCU7cXVk6Tfp8CgYjXKFDEnD8o6Fe0vOGYureaQTl82pGJmi0Vzuvw/s1600/cat+on+cat+pose.tiff" height="181" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152312868961130&fref=nf">Animals interrupting yoga - Huffington Post</a></div>
Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-21992163385569443312014-07-17T10:32:00.000-07:002014-07-17T10:32:00.084-07:00Adventures in new food - chia seeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSo4rdv-ETrBcnqWFKwDc-wqObTZb5O6dPCnYv7j4AUotLryTq7OjtWz_Nm7hH8DrSHxI0NbZWSGkh9dcQbkuFwOLSBrilVrR5re97dVo1W4o3p6vjZ9-kAQyxyaelQqayIq2bH11U7U/s1600/Chia+Seeds+Salvia+Hispanica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBSo4rdv-ETrBcnqWFKwDc-wqObTZb5O6dPCnYv7j4AUotLryTq7OjtWz_Nm7hH8DrSHxI0NbZWSGkh9dcQbkuFwOLSBrilVrR5re97dVo1W4o3p6vjZ9-kAQyxyaelQqayIq2bH11U7U/s1600/Chia+Seeds+Salvia+Hispanica.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Part of the nutrition guideline to Les Mills combat is servings of fat. When I think of fat, I normally think of oils and butter, but fat comes from a lot of different sources: egg yolk, nuts and seeds. I have no trouble including fat servings in my main meals, but the snacks were giving me some issues. I don't really dig nut butters, and it depresses me to only have five almonds. Even though the snack includes so much more, counting out five almonds is just sad. I am not adventurous enough to add a raw egg to my shakes (shudders just thinking about it). Also I tend to get bored eating the same food all the time, especially with nuts. Then I noticed that chia seeds count as a fat, seeing as they are seeds.<br />
<br />
I had seen some of my coworkers rocking the chia seeds in water and I knew from them that they were high in fiber which is great. If you have ever changed your diet significantly, you gastric system can get backed up. Fiber is really useful in cleaning you out and stabilizing your digestive system. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxNjBrJ-3cyk4fNLel4IO5gPv-uSsRQiRpfLqLwINahx8KFl6HcU21xXacQX4p0eSJr5Md8TQrJUCku9DcnKqNApWPsiJ9XPmGF4s6EM3cNBRrkpC-gvbILdEazdPJVDDdTeNwV6FUIM/s1600/ChiaGelSpoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxNjBrJ-3cyk4fNLel4IO5gPv-uSsRQiRpfLqLwINahx8KFl6HcU21xXacQX4p0eSJr5Md8TQrJUCku9DcnKqNApWPsiJ9XPmGF4s6EM3cNBRrkpC-gvbILdEazdPJVDDdTeNwV6FUIM/s1600/ChiaGelSpoon.jpg" height="200" width="194" /></a></div>
Les Mills says that 2 Tbsp = 45 calories, but the package of Red Mills chia seeds say that 1 Tbsp = 60 calories. For my first attempt I mixed 2 Tbsps with 16 oz of water. I ended up with this bizarre pudding like goop that had to get mixed with I want to say another 32 oz of water. The seeds themselves are flavorless, and man do they absorb water! They get this sort of clear gel that surrounds them and it gives the water an interesting texture. My second go around, I followed the package and I loved the surprise that the seeds give the water. Water can get really boring, so adding something like mint leaves, cucumber or chia seeds can really give it some variety.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
OMG, buzzfeed actually has some good lists on it! I'm excited to try all of these recipes!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelysanders/healthy-and-delicious-chia-seed-recipes">Chia seed recipes</a>Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-81599953436393336742014-07-16T09:56:00.000-07:002014-07-16T09:56:00.155-07:00Adventures in new food - Spaghetti SquashIf you have ever tried to only eat one serving of pasta, you know that crushing disappointment of eating two bites of pasta and that is it. One serving of pasta is 2 oz dry which equals 200 calories. This is NOT the same a one starch for Les Mills Combat. One serving of starch is 80 calories = 0.8 oz! I've tried everything to get the most out of one serving. I only eat the small pasta like orzo or shells so it seems like I'm eating a lot. The gluten free alternative have MORE calories per serving. The whole wheat ones just have more fiber and tend to be denser so you actually get LESS piece per serving. I LOVE pasta and when I did this calculation, a little part of me died. I want to be good and follow the plan, but carbs are going to be my downfall. I had to find an alternative that would be filling and give the illusion of pasta for my really amazing spaghetti sauce that I had JUST made!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-pV3An9Nlpq95LgdNLwiAtOBGs2NlWJJpzORfHn3-W4FBjSHH5LIz_l6mDMNXKJnNBmQkdiP8jlK00pFOmq5PTWIc4WDU7hVv68ZRLEPF6l__bKMoT8qagIqKGMVjA-ep9bgO33MNEs/s1600/SpaghettiSquashTacos3_horRESIZED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-pV3An9Nlpq95LgdNLwiAtOBGs2NlWJJpzORfHn3-W4FBjSHH5LIz_l6mDMNXKJnNBmQkdiP8jlK00pFOmq5PTWIc4WDU7hVv68ZRLEPF6l__bKMoT8qagIqKGMVjA-ep9bgO33MNEs/s1600/SpaghettiSquashTacos3_horRESIZED.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Enter the spaghetti squash. I had heard about this squash and I must admit I was dubious. I like squash, but I haven't really worked with them a lot. I though squash was a vegetable, but they count as a starch :(, but one serving = 8 oz! ten times that of pasta. So I decided to go for it, and you know what, I like it BETTER than spaghetti! the squash was super easy to prepare and it added a lightness and deliciousness to the sauce. I got about four servings of "spaghetti" out of one squash. I am actually really excited to buy another spaghetti squash and try it in other pasta dishes!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/cooking/a/spagsquash.htm">Preparing your squash</a>:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>cut your squash in half and remove seeds.</li>
<li>roast halves in the oven for 30 minutes at 375 F.</li>
<li>use a fork to separate strands from stem to stem.</li>
</ol>
<i>Please feel free to comment about your love or hate of spaghetti squash and if you have any recipes working with this amazing squash!</i>Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-80907758906968753512014-07-15T09:32:00.000-07:002014-07-15T09:32:00.517-07:00Time to eat!Now that I'm done with the first week, it is time for my regular calorie budget. There are four different levels, 1200, 1500, 1800, and 2100. To find out which level to use, you take your weight and multiply it by 12. Then chose the bracket that is closest to your number.<br />
<br />
I get to have the largest calorie bracket. This is almost double of what I have been eating during the first week. I think it is going to be a shock! The five meal idea will be kept, but this time there are certain types of food to eat at each meal, the focus is mostly on protein and fresh produce.<br />
<br />
The food divisions are:<br />
Breakfast: one starch, one vegetable, 2 fruit, 5 protein, 1 fat (470 cal)<br />
<br />
Lunch: 2 starch, 1 legume, 2 vegetables, 1 fruit, 5 protein, 2 fat (685 cal)<br />
<br />
Dinner: 1 starch, 1 legume, 1 vegetable, 5 protein, 2 fat (520 cal)<br />
<br />
2 snacks: 1 fruit, 3 protein, 1 fat (225 cal each)<br />
<br />
I plan to bounce between the type breakdown and the calorie break down. I'm really looking forward to being able to cook food ahead of time that is ready to eat now, especially as I get closer to the school year. I need food that is going to be easy to pack and eat whenever. Salads shall be my friend. <br />
<br />
I'm also not going to force myself to eat the whole calorie set if I'm not hungry. I should continue the five meals a day, but really only eat when I am hungry. So now it is off to the grocery store to buy a lot of staples that I can mix and match so I don't get bored.Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-73273794789743521732014-07-14T10:48:00.000-07:002014-07-14T10:48:00.461-07:00End of week one resultsOne week down!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Weight: -6.8 lbs</li>
<li>Inches:</li>
<ul>
<li>Waist: -0.5</li>
<li>Hips: -0</li>
<li>Right arm: -0.5</li>
<li>Left arm: +0.5</li>
<li>Right thigh: -1</li>
<li>Left Thigh: -0.25</li>
</ul>
</ul>
I'm pretty sure the weight loss is mostly water weight, considering how much I sweated this week! I'm also pleased with the inches lost. As I continue on in the program I'm pretty sure that as fat gets replaced with muscle, I won't lose as much weight, but instead I will be shedding the inches. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now I get to go to a higher calorie diet for the rest of the program. I actually get to eat a luxurious 2100 calories. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself! My plan is to still eat five meals a day and try to stay in the portions and dietary guidelines listed in the nutrition guide, but I also feel like I can eat the food I want to eat. I'm motivated to make changes, but if I can't eat some of my favorite things, my motivation will evaporate. I also don't want to mess up any of the hard work that I'm doing or have done, so I got to put my head down and plan out my meals!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-44604865583154533422014-07-13T11:07:00.000-07:002014-07-13T11:07:00.748-07:00How eating less more often is moreSo this is how the nutrition side of this program works:<br />
<br />
For the first week you are on a 1200 calorie (1800 calorie diet for men) full of fresh food that will kickstart your metabolism. At first I freaked out when I saw the calorie limit because I had been trying to stick to an 1800 calorie diet and failing miserably. The trick with the Les Mills program follows the idea of <a href="http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1144">eating five small meals a day</a>. I will admit I was highly skeptical since I tend to like eating until I full and then rolling about the house until the next meal comes up. But I have to say it pretty much works.<br />
<br />
Breakfast is about 200 calories and usually consists of a shit ton of egg whites. 200 calories is EIGHT egg whites. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTvKKrRTdrv-h3nTgfCDDNA0aRo9VTiuyxXj-HtK0ysGK21H_IaNAqLoSfjnq8rKG_albjMQDUHEc8yZ4dF3ZRDe6QTYKCFssBr751mogQWAeAXTpuxFFqm7zCF2yHifdOGHnB4dsO2w/s1600/bachelor-gaston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTvKKrRTdrv-h3nTgfCDDNA0aRo9VTiuyxXj-HtK0ysGK21H_IaNAqLoSfjnq8rKG_albjMQDUHEc8yZ4dF3ZRDe6QTYKCFssBr751mogQWAeAXTpuxFFqm7zCF2yHifdOGHnB4dsO2w/s1600/bachelor-gaston.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></div>
Remind you of anyone? There are other options besides eggs, but I love egg whites and I've forgotten how good eggs are in the morning. Then about three hours later you have a snack of 150 calories. The snacks are all about the protien, so the shakes are featured heavily here. after a few hours, then you have lunch which is about 400 calories. My favorite so far is the brown rice bowl. Then in a few more hours is another snack of 150-160 calories, then finally in a few hours is dinner, which rounds out at about 300 calories. By spreading the calories out and eating a little something when I'm actually hungry, I noticed that I'm not that hungry. I'm not going to lie and say that I wasn't hungry, or had some moments of weakness, but overall I dig the five meals a day plan!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-57253706119990100512014-07-12T10:33:00.000-07:002014-07-12T10:33:00.046-07:00Surviving the holiday - July 4th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-if1uFb5X3V7szYXZlX0Jsw8kz-TyHeII9odvq8qWMrMmfbL0_kHzTkO5hzBT4pxGqwmWViaNFrK9fN5nGsLrWpHlK0yvD8d1zSH0LGuYcqcQARfr-7DlwIPjiLbURdp2uVF6wBuNz4/s1600/6968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-if1uFb5X3V7szYXZlX0Jsw8kz-TyHeII9odvq8qWMrMmfbL0_kHzTkO5hzBT4pxGqwmWViaNFrK9fN5nGsLrWpHlK0yvD8d1zSH0LGuYcqcQARfr-7DlwIPjiLbURdp2uVF6wBuNz4/s1600/6968.jpg" height="150" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
When I think of July Fourth, I think of fireworks and barbecue and classic comfort foods like pasta salad and chips. Holidays = eating copious amounts of food with friends and family. In the past, I've considered holidays as free days, but not this time. I want to be successful with this program, and so no cheating!<br />
<br />
What has always been the hardest for me is the longing to eat what everyone else is eating. The resentment I feel as I eat my salad and everyone else is gorging themselves on burgers and fries. Luckily, the people who designed the nutrition guide for Les Mills Combat knows what type of food people like to eat. There is a burger recipe! At first I bemoaned the 4 oz lean sirloin patty, but after measuring it out and shaping it to fit on an English muffin, it was a sizable patty! So while I grilled Costco patties for everyone else, I got to have my gourmet burger and filling side salad instead of chips. I had made some appetizers for everyone and this is the one place I cheated. Instead of having one of the predetermined snacks, I ate the calorie equivalent of the appetizers. It wasn't a lot but it was enough to satisfy the longing.<br />
<br />
So the key for surviving the holidays if you are on a restricted diet and are hosting (that's pretty important), plan to feed everyone else foods that are similar to what you need to eat. I wouldn't have subjected everyone to the smaller portions, but the fact that I was eating a burger cut down a lot of the questions and guilt people felt at eating potato chips in front of me. If you aren't hosting, it will be much harder, but try to use a smaller plate to cut down on your portions.Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-57438120853675767022014-07-12T09:59:00.000-07:002014-07-13T10:18:43.357-07:00And on the fourth day I restedI really like this program! The workouts are exciting and I am drenched in sweat each time. I am literally dripping after each workout. I'm actually sad that I don't have to work out today, but I need to rest my body. Les Mills Combat works these recovery days in because they know that your body needs a chance to recover from the beating it is receiving from the program.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Speaking of recovery, in P90X program, they kept talking about their recovery shake and how great it was. I never partook in it, but I remembered how tired and beat I was after every workout. This time around I still am not being swayed by their specially formulated organic protein powder, but I am making sure to drink a protien smoothie after every workout. The ice and liquid cool my body down and the protein powder replenishes my tired muscles so I don't feel like all I can do is sit on the couch! I am using<a href="http://eas.com/products/powder/protein-powder-chocolate-fudge"> EAS Lean 15 protien powder</a>. It seemed like the best bang for the calories of the choices at Target. I was waffling between chocolate and vanilla, as I wasn't sure how chocolate would combine with the other mix ins when I remembered that chocolate tastes good with EVERYTHING!!!. I've tried both recipes in the fitness guide (green tea and greek yogurt / raspberry and grapefruit juice) and I like the fruit one WAY better. What can I say, I have a sweet tooth!<br />
<br />
No matter what, I'm loving the shakes and they are a fantastic reward at the end of the workout!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-74264653424060009412014-07-09T09:21:00.000-07:002014-07-09T09:21:00.199-07:00I don't like oatmealor cottage cheese.<br />
<br />
The grapefruit is growing on me, but I prefer grapefruit juice to the actual fruit.<br />
<br />
Luckily all their other recipes have been delicious. Lots of salads, but that makes sense since lettuce is the most volume for the fewest calories!<br />
<br />
But yeah, oatmeal is so not worth the calories or the texture! Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-75374782569054288252014-07-08T09:08:00.001-07:002014-07-08T09:08:04.015-07:00Les Mills Combat-day oneSo I've been lapsing hardcore on my goals. Instead of losing half a pound each each I've actually gained quite a bit more. So I decided that it was time to get some help.<br />
<br />
About five years ago Mike and I attempted <a href="http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/p90x.do">Beachbody's P90X </a>program and while I did not complete the program we were getting great results. The downside to P90X is that the workouts are really long and require a lot of equipment (pull up bar, weights, etc.). I wanted a program that would push me like P90X but contained shorter workouts and less equipment<br />
<br />
My co-worker had been talking about <a href="http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/les-mills-combat-workout.do">Les Mills Combat</a> and had successfully completely the program and looked GREAT after doing it so I decided to give it a go. The program consists of 30, 45, or 60 minute high intensity intervals of mixed martial arts. Not only do I love martial arts but I know that I can really push myself for thirty minutes! I also love that there are two rest days in the week! In short this feels like a totally do-able program.<br />
<br />
In addition to the workout program there is a diet guide that "takes the fight inside". the first week is a very specific 1200 calorie diet to kick-start your metabolism. It includes a lot of favorites like raspberries, eggs, and familiar meats. It also includes some stuff that I'm not quite sure about like grapefruit, oatmeal, cottage cheese, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempeh">tempeh</a>. Again I'm willing to try anything once!Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-71186370326611913162014-05-13T11:48:00.000-07:002014-05-13T11:48:53.175-07:00It's been awhile...So yesterday was my 29th birthday and if caused me to enter into a deep reflection. Was I where 12 year-old me thought I was going to be by the time I was thirty. Upon deep thought, I figured out I had made most of my long term goals:
1) I am a high school math and science teacher.
2) I am married to a wonderful man
3) I have a pet! My parents only let me have a turtle and it wasn't cuddly :(
There were a few however that I haven't made:
1) I don't own a house or really a car (Mike owns CC)
2) I don't have any kids even though I've been married for five years. It seems like my married friends are popping out babies left and right (Congrats Jasmine!)
3) I'm overweight and I have self-image issues.
Don't get me wrong, I love my life and I'm very happy, but I just want to enter my thirties feeling like I'm in a good place physically. I kinda see this year as one of my last chances to get it together before the ol' body starts breaking down. To be perfectly honest my body was breaking down in my twenties with my back and bad joints, so my main goal for this year is to be in a better place health and physically speaking.
Here are my goals for the last year of my twenties:
1) lose at least 24 pounds (it's not as much as I need to lose, but I want it to be attainable :))
2) Be under calorie count for 30 days straight (I will restart the counter each time I'm over)
3) complete at least 1.5 hrs of exercise a week
The other two goals (house and baby) I will be working on with my husband :), but the third one is all about me and only i can do it. I know that if I lose weight and start taking better care of myself I will feel better about myself. It's kinda daunting and scary, but totally doable. I want to enter my thirties feeling good.
Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18524509553882296.post-57020642204490201052014-02-10T11:05:00.001-08:002014-02-10T11:05:58.309-08:00Learning to let go, and taking ownership of what I can control.These last few weeks have been really hard for me. I went from the idyllic lazy world of Disney vacation to the hectic, crazy life of a high school teacher. Not to mention, I'm in charge of planning the only all school formal dance which is on February 7th AND I've run into countless problems with new maintenance, organizing volunteers, and just having to make so many god damn decisions, I came real close to a full mental breakdown. I had a mini one in front of my administration, but hearing their support of me really helped prevent it from being a full blown crazy one. Oh and to top everything off, I was in a play and I'm stage managing another play. Their came a point where I was like something had to give. I cut out what I could, and that was basically the play I was (Vagina Monolgues at Pacifica Spindrift Players) but I couldn't quit on my other responsibilities. I had to do deal with the dance because it was my job and I had to continue to stage manage because people depended on me. <br />
<br />
Needless to say, I felt like my life was spinning out of control. I wasn't eating regularly and when I was eating, I was pigging out on comfort foods. When I say comfort food, I really mean junk food like soda and chocolate cake. They did wonders to soothe the rage, but then I started feeling guilty for eating them, feeling like I had let my stress get the better of me and make the decision for me. I ate them to feel happy and I was just spiralling deeper into sadness because of it. I was becoming irritable, easy to snap, and just not a happy person. Because I was stressed out, I noticed that my formal committee girls were getting stressed and my students were stressed and it just amplified.<br />
<br />
Then I re-watched <a href="http://movies.disney.com/frozen">Frozen</a> and during the song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk&feature=kp">Let it Go</a>, I realized that I was allowing the small stuff to affect me WAY too much and I just needed to let it go. Yes, the new maintance requirements put a damper on our decorations, but instead of getting upset and frustrated, I needed to come up with solutions to make it work. Yes, commuting up to Pacifica Monday-Thursday is a huge time suck, but I actually get a lot of work done during the rehearsals that I wouldn't normally get at home. Yes, I made some bad food choices, but they made me happy and I CHOSE to eat them. I have total control over my food consumption and my exercise level. There is nothing holding me at gun point or holding me back. I have complete control over that and I need to take ownership over it. The best thing I can do when I make the decision to drink soda or eat chocolate cake is to not feel guilty about it. I can recognize that I shouldn't eat it all the time, but there are going to be some moments in your life where you just want to be happy and sometimes cake is the only thing that will do it. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp2BS8_T8YOhIyta3ZI63iOsqUA8N5ufPRizB22KoFhsBd4nL_J-n718x7q69eE4JvM57_fvEufXRmz2TXCgznDO_1Yq8FkeuHfYc-IWJv64YAQIR51VG1W39kxVgsr-SWGhoA1w0zQE/s1600/silk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp2BS8_T8YOhIyta3ZI63iOsqUA8N5ufPRizB22KoFhsBd4nL_J-n718x7q69eE4JvM57_fvEufXRmz2TXCgznDO_1Yq8FkeuHfYc-IWJv64YAQIR51VG1W39kxVgsr-SWGhoA1w0zQE/s1600/silk.jpg" height="213" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is why I can't do any work at home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Post-Script: So the dance was a total success and I was able to make it so the girls on my board also had a great time. By not freaking out and stressing about the small stuff we were set-up WAY ahead of time and we cleaned-up in record time. When all else fails, Let it Go! <br />
Mike and Mae Linhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13130008657694550909noreply@blogger.com0