Clean Eating

I'm trying something crazy. I've said it before but never **really** learned how to do it right. I'm attempting to eat clean.

I borrowed the book The Eat Clean Diet from the library, and it has enthralled me. It makes so much sense! Eat with purpose, know what you're putting into your body so that you can get the results you want. You know I'm working out with a trainer, so I'm working hard in that department, but I really wasn't seeing many results. So...I'm going to try to kick it up a notch with clean eating.

The book is amazing. I read it in 2 days. It gives so many great tips and tricks of how to do this in the real world. It's going to be very tough at times, but I really, REALLY want to succeed at this.

The basis is that you eat 6 times a day, and every meal has a lean protein and a complex carb in it. When you eat the two together, I guess amazing things happen. You also eat whole, real food you can recognize. What a concept! The nice thing is that you can eat whole wheat bread, you can have whole wheat pasta and rice noodles. But no white flour and minimal sugar. Doable!

I'm on day 2 of it right now. yesterday I ate wayyyyy too much! I measured, I followed her "typical day" eating, but I had to sub a few things as I didnt have everything. Didn't work out the greatest.

Today is going MUCH better! I cut back a bit on my portions, because I think it's going to take some juggling to figure it all out. I've eaten 2 meals already!

If everything goes according to plan, I'm going to get the body I've always wanted, finally!

Wish me luck!

Three Cups of Tea

...anyone?

I am so behind on updating my blog! Jeepers.

I have long since read "The Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson.

Go out. Buy it. Read it.

It was amazing. This man is amazing.

The jist of it is this American man went to Pakistan to climb K2, the world's second tallest mountain. It didn't work out, he had to turn back. He lost his guide, was seriously ill and he ended up in a tiny remote village called Korphe. The village chief took Mortenson in, and in return Mortenson promised to build the village their first school, which was desperately needed.

From there, the story is full of crazy hard work, total ignorance of how to get this school built, and more heart than I ever thought could be packed into 1 book.

The book totally and completely got me when they announced the towers crashing on 9/11...while Mortenson was in Afghanistan.

Read it. Do it now.

Shauna

xox

By the way, Mortenson's project to get 1 school to Korphe has turned into the Central Asia Institute, which has since constructed more than 50 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. I'm really lookingo forward to reading his second book, Stones into Schools.

For Today

A little quiz kinda thing I read on someone else's blog. Thought I would give one a try since I never have before.

For Today:

Outside my window ... There is some sunshine! The window beside my desk at work faces a parking lot, so it's not very exciting, but just seeing natural light makes me happier.

I am thankful for ... Having an amazing husband who puts up with me!

I am thinking ... About how I want my life to be. I'm not meant to sit at a desk every day...

From the kitchen ... Healthy, tasty food! For dinner last night I made a salad full of veggies, roasted potatoes, chicken and cheddar cheese. It was delish. Gareth made homemade veggie soup, which I had for lunch today. Again, amazing!

I am wearing ... A suit my mamma bought me, a dress shirt my Nanny bought me, and boots my aunt bought me. So....my family dressed me today!

I am creating... Project boards for work. More exciting than a lot of things I do!
I am going ... Crazy!! hehe, just kidding. I am going to get my eyebrows waxed tonight! It's essential, the eyebrows frame the whole face ;)

I am reading ... The Last American Man, by Melissa Gilbert right now. It's great! She wrote Eat Pray Love, which I adore, so I was very curious to read something else she wrote. I haven't been disappointed.

I am hoping ... to find my passion very soon. I haven't found the one thing that I LOVE to do yet. I'm still searching.

I am hearing ... Michael Buble on the radio. Love him.

Around the house ... I'm really trying to keep it tidy. It's clean, it's just messy, and cluttered. I'm also trying to make it beautiful with what we have, without buying anything more for it. I'm trying to not buy "stuff" just to buy it.

One of my favorite things ... Summer. With that sunshine is a major factor. And warmth. I LOVE being warm. And being outside. And the lake. So many things in the summer make me happy. I'm not-so-patiently awaiting summer!

A few plans for the rest of the week ... I'm freelance editing, and I need to get some of that done. Workout. STOP watching TV during the week (I was good last night!) Spend some time with my man.

This is wonderful, it reminds me of the things that make me happy.

Shauna xox

Quote of the Day

This is a quote I've had on a sticky note on my computer at work for a few weeks. I think it's great. It reminds me that I need to work hard to get what I want.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.

-----------> Aristotle

Makes sense, right?

Have a fantastic day,
Shauna xox

15s!

Hello lovelies!

Once again I'm tired today from my workout yesterday. It was a little different than most Tuesdays. My trainer had to work the desk at the gym so she wrote me up a workout, and I did it by myself.

It was great!

I pushed myself hard, and I'm feeling the effects today. I'm down 2 pounds, I'm eating better again, and I'm feeling great! It's amazing what a few healthy choices can do for you.

One thing I can say for sure, I am DESPERATE for summer! I can't wait. Seriously. I might self-combust if the snow doesn't melt and the temperature shoots up soon...and I get to play outside again.




Here is my workout from yesterday.

15s!

15 minutes on the stair machine @ 75 steps per minute

1)
15 walking lunges along track with 30lb bar behind head
15 squats with 30lb bar behind head
15 Clean and Presses with 30lb bar
15 Bicep Curls with 30lb bar
15 Tricep Extensions with 30lb bar

2)
15 walking lunges along track with 30lb bar behind head
15 squats with 30lb bar behind head
15 Clean and Presses with 30lb bar
15 Bicep Curls with 30lb bar
15 Tricep Extensions with 30lb bar

15 V-Sit with Medicine Ball toss
15 Santana Push ups (no weight)
15 minutes on Eliptical

It was great! I was exhausted by the time I got the eliptical. Maybe because I had to use the 35lb because the 30lb bar was being used.

I went back at lunch and did 30 minutes on the eliptical.

Today I did 1 hour on the eliptical this morning, and I'm just heading back at lunch to do weights-the program my trainer made me. Not sure how well that will go since my body is tired.

I know a lot of people think I'm crazy for going twice a day, but it's 2 shorter workouts instead of 1 long one. And this way, I can eat right after my cardio as I'm usually STARVING! And then I get to eat before I go do weights. This works well for me because I have the most energy possible. AND, I think the best thing is I get out of the office at lunch, and I don't spend money going out for lunch all the time. All around good things.

Have a great day!

Shauna xox

Quote of the Day!

If you know at all, you know that I LOVE quotes. So I thought I could start posting the ones that catch my eye. Here's one!

No one is in control of your choices but you.

Feel Fabulous

Hello hello!

I am sooo happy that it's Thursday! I have been super tired this week, and I can't seem to get enough sleep, so I'm really looking forward to the weekend (even though it's gearing up to be a busy one!).

I have a feeling that my lack of tiredness is from cutting back on caffeine. Yes, I've been drinking coffee...I love it! What can I say!

I'm sad to say that it doesn't seem to love me back. But I already knew that. So I'm TRYING to cut back AGAIN.

I've also been tired since my trainer session Tuesday morning. It was a tough one! I can't say I love Tuesday as my workout day, as I feel like I can't push too hard on Monday, or I'll be too sore for my workout. And Wednesday, I'm way too sore and tired. I really wish it was on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, so I could do weights those days and have rest days in between. I'm bad for not always going to the gym on the weekend so that would be best for me. My trainer is a student so I'm hoping once she graduates we can move to one of those days.

I barely got up this morning, I was really tired, but I did it! I was late getting to the gym, but I still managed to get in 55 minutes on the elliptical, so I'm happy about that.

Another thing that's been going on with me is I'm trying really, really hard to eat "clean". I'm trying to eat all whole foods, foods that come from the earth, or that I can recognize. So pretty much, fruit, veggies, nuts and meat (and a liiiittle bit of cheese). I'm trying to cut out sugar (I'm addicted to sugar, once I start I can't stop), and only eat whole grain bread. I decided this on Tuesday afternoon, and so far I've been doing pretty well. We even went out for dinner last night and I managed it! I had a sirlion steak salad from Brewsters, and it was delish. It had pommogranite seeds, orange, carrots, feta and almonds in it. Had it with no dressing, Gareth grabbed the bread from it as soon as it landed on the table (thanks babe!! I would have been really tempted otherwise) and I was good!

I have a challenge coming up in this. My friend's birthday party is tomorrow night, and there is promise of cake. And snacks. So fingers crossed there is a veggie platter and maybe some fruit. I'm going to say NO to the cake right now, and hope and try to make that happen.

I am allowing myself minimal alcohol, because I love wine and I think that can be my desert.

I'm doing this so feel the best I can, and I feel the best when I'm eating well. When I stuff myself I feel gross and who wants to feel gross? I want to feel fabulous, as Carrie Bradshaw would say ;)

Have a fabulous day,

Shauna xox

Another Workout

Hey friends!

Hope you didn't miss me too much last week. I didn't go see my trainer. A very lovely lady in my family passed away and I took the week to deal with that. Things went well, and I'm feeling better about everything. I gave myself a week to grieve, and sort thigns out. I didn't stress about the gym, I ate some comfort food, and I slept a lot. My week is up! So of course, I was back to my trainer this morning!

The more time I spend with her, the more I love her! She's fun to be around, and she keeps me occupied while I feel like I'm dying during the crazy workouts she has me to, with stories.

Today was 1 minute of hell...again and again and again! Every exercise I did below for 1 minute, rested for as little time as possible, then went onto the next workout. I'll put descriptions of the exercises below. I used 10 pound weights for all of the exercises that required weights.

Leah had me warm up with 10 minutes on the elliptical to start out.

1 minute Goblet Squats
1 minute Mountain Climber
1 minute Single Arm Swing (left)
1 minute Single Arm Swing (Right)
1 minute santana push up
1 minute Split Jump
1 minute Bent overrow
1 minute Pushup Row
1 minute Lunge & Twist
1 minute Shoulder Press

After all these, we did some core work, with the 6 pound medicine ball. Leah threw me the medicine ball, I leaned back but didn't quite touch the ground, and came back up...while holding my legs up. Did that twice.

Went over to the TRX, did the ab move where I was in pushup position, then brought my knees to my right side then my left. 10 on each side, repeat twice.
One we were done that she grabbed me a 25 pound weight. I held onto that out in front of me, and ran 3 laps on the stairs. Hard!!

So that was my workout! I'm def hoping I'm sore tomorrow! My next step...stop eating crap! I'm working on it.

Alright, the descriptions for those workouts are below. Have a great day!

Shauna
xox

1 minute Goblet Squats: Held onto the 10 lb weight the same way I hold onto it to do a tricep extension, except out in front of me (so my elbows are sticking out to each side). Squat.
1 minute Mountain Climber: Bring knee up to chest area. Back and forth. Not a "running" one, more of a "walk".
1 minute Single Arm Swing (left): Stand in squat position. Hold the 10 lb weight out straight in front of you. Squat down, bring the weight down in between your legs. When you come out of your squat, bring the weight back up in front of you. You will have to use some momentum from your squat to get the weight back up.
1 minute Single Arm Swing (Right): Same as above, switch arms.
1 minute Santana Pushup: Push up, then raise on hand to the ceiling, twisting your body to the side as you do so. No weight.
1 minute Split Jump: Lunge, then jump to put the other leg forward. Lunge, jump again.
1 minute Bent Overrow: Bend knees slightly, bend over, keeping back straight. Have a 10 lb weight in each hand. Lift straight up, then lower. Alternate arms.
1 minute Pushup Row. With 10 lb weights in each hand, go into pushup position. Do a pushup, then raise 1 arm straight up to shoulder. Alternate arms.
1 minute Lunge & Twist: Hold 10 lb weights in each hand. hold out in front of you. Lunge, twist to the right. Lunge, twist to the left. Repeat.
1 minute Shoulder Press: Shoulder press for 1 minute! Yikes!

Work it!