Oh what a year it has been.

Wow, I haven't blogged since March 15, 2013. That is just sad. I blame it on nursing school for taking over my life or maybe its just pure laziness. Anyways, I've been reflecting on this past year and I've got a lot to say so prepare yourself.

For starters I am going to try and start posting more of my original recipes and/or the links to where I find my recipes at.  While reading my recipes keep in mind ingredients can be modified or changed depending on what you have or what you prefer. I just make things to my liking and that's what works for me. :-) Feel free to comment/ask questions about any of the recipes. Most recipes are trial and error so don't give up the first time you make it, it may just need some tweaking. I eat mostly (about 75%) organic but to tell you the truth I am a poor college student and I can't afford to go completely organic otherwise I will be living in a cardboard box and what good would that do me. 

Now, I really want to reflect on this past year.  Change doesn't come quickly, most people give up because they don't see the results they want quick enough.  I've learned over the past 3 years that to truly make a change you have to commit to whatever it is that you are trying to achieve.  Lose the excuses and dedicate yourself. Change doesn't happen overnight and you shouldn't expect it to.  It doesn't even happen in a few months. I've started and stopped too many times, saw some results then got totally off track and started right back to square one. And finally, one day I just got sick of starting all over again.  Get rid of the fad diets, say goodbye to low carb garbage and low fat non sense.

When I start to think about these past few years I was thinking about how I rarely go to the doctor unless its for a routine check up..how much better I sleep now...how GOOD I feel.  I don't think these things are all just from a few workouts and eating healthier, but rather better overall health. I used to suffer from sleep problems, tried every medication in the book and it never worked. Now that I exercise regularly and try to get 7 hours of sleep a night I wake up feeling like I have more energy than ever and fall asleep much easier at night now. I used to get colds constantly and was at the doctor every other month with some kind of illness. I truly believe our bodies need sleep to be able to fight off illness.  The society we live in prides themselves with getting through a workday with only five hours of sleep. Don't do it. Get more sleep. You will be more alert and more productive, not to mention more pleasant to be around. :-) Speaking of society I used to tan all the time because I thought thats what made me pretty. I started limited it to only tanning for certain events..but quite frankly I can't tell you the last time I tanned and skin cancer scares the shit out of me.  So pardon my albino skin, but this is the way its going to be this year. Pale is pretty. 

I get a lot of questions about what to eat or what kind of workouts I do or just how to start in general. And quite honestly I am happy to help, but if YOU, yourself aren't ready to commit than my help and encouragement is pointless. YOU have to decide to get up and go workout. YOU have to say no to plates of sweets at your workplace. Believe me I am not perfect in any way, I give in and eat the occasional sweets at work or splurge at a restaurant, but I am the one who chooses to do this. No one is going to hold your hand and take you to the gym. Support is always great, but when its not around, all you've got is you.  I know I've said this a 100 times but I can not stress this enough. You have to ask yourself, how bad do I really want it? 

So with that being said I leave you with this picture.

Left: Dec. 2010, I am unhealthy & unhappy. Right: Dec. 2013. 20 poundsish lighter (I don't keep track any more), healthier, happier and pale. Ha. Even the hubby slimmed down a bit. 

Decide how bad you want it.

And as promised..my original recipe for my "Clean & Spicy Pad Thai Noodles." Feel free to change up things as you like or ask questions! 

Clean and Spicy Pad Thai Noodles

1 bag of Pasta Zero Noodles (Found at Hyvee)

Liquid Aminos (this is an organic, lower sodium version of soy sauce, so a low sodium soy sauce can be used in place)

Two heads of broccoli

Half a bag of carrot chips

2 Chicken breasts

Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb Seasoning

Crushed red pepper flakes

3 TBS of almond butter

Chop of broccoli. Add carrots and broccoli to a large skillet pan with a 1/2 cup of water. Cover and let cook on low for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile cook your chicken. I cook mine on my George Foremen then slice it up after its cooked but you could bake/grill it too. Next, give your noodles a good rinse. These noodles come precooked but require a good rinse before using them. Add the noodles and chopped chicken to the pan, along with the almond butter.  Then add some dashes of liquid aminos and crushed red pepper flakes. I do not measure this part so add this according to your taste. Finally, give everything a good mix and let the nut butter melt down. Keep covered and cook for an additional ten minutes. 

Baring it All

    Wow! It's been a while since I last posted.  Things have been a little crazy with school and work, but since Spring Break is nearing an end I thought it was the perfect time to blog.  Here's a little short update, thus far I have lost 24 pounds..I know, CRAZZZY right?! I can hardly even believe it. It's been hard work, but so incredibly worth it.  I am about a month out from my half-marathon and currently up to running 9 miles at about a 9 minute pace.  I can't even believe the progress I have made in the past few months and it gives me even more motivation to just keep pushing on.  If I can do it, ANYONE can!!
    I named this blog "Baring it all" because I wanted to share with you the ups and downs I've encountered over the last few months. I've had some bad days and some good days, but the good days outweigh the bad days and that's what makes it so worth it. I am starting to think that weight loss/getting into shape or whatever you want to call it is 100% mental.  Every day you wake up, YOU decide the outcome of what type of day you are going to have.  YOU decide if you are going to roll out of bed and get that work out done for the day. No time? Not enough money for a gym membership?A workout takes 30-60 minutes of your day and I guarantee you sit in front of the t.v. a few times a week for that amount of time. You don't need a gym or a bunch of fancy workout equipment, that's not an excuse.  There are tons and tons of body weight exercises you can do right in your own house and if you don't want to work out in your house...GO OUTSIDE!! I have loved this nice weather this week, its been so nice to be outside and get my runs in.  I've been jogging down the street with a big smile on my face!
I thought I'd share a few tips, recipes, and a progress photo (no negativity please!)

You all know how much I love to cook and last night I tried a new recipe. Protein Banana Bread Muffins and here's how they turned out.  I also took them into work today and even my coworkers loved them.  They are so moist and flavorful and who would even know that they are a mere 58 calories and packed with protein and only one little gram of sugar. Can you say YUM?

Here I am above 3 months ago, feeling pretty unhappy at that point.  Pardon the crappy picture, I had no idea at that time I'd be doing a progress photo.

 And here I am about a week ago, 24 pounds down, more confident than ever, and most importantly fit and healthy.

Exercise to be fit not skinny, Eat to nourish your body and always Ignore the haters, doubters, and unhealthy examples that were once feeding you. You are worth more than you realize.

Keep Going

It's almost halfway through the month of February and Valentine's Day is right around the corner.  We've all seen it before, starting in January the gyms are packed and people flock to them with promises of a fresh start, better health, and that bikini body for the summer.  But usually by March, the gyms die down, you hit the snooze button a few too many times instead of lacing up those tennis shoes. So what can you do to stay focused and stick with it this year?  There is no magic answer to this....You just really have to decide if being healthy is your top priority, make that time to get in your work outs, and stick to it. Some advice I can give to you is, get your butt out of bed and get your workout done in the morning.  If you workout in the morning it is done for the day and it will definitely get your day started off right.  It will give you lots of energy for the entire day and set your mood for the day.  Also, don't think that going to the gym is your only option for exercise, be creative and go outside.  Visit a park or go on a hike through some trails. Set short term goals and be realistic.  Build on your strengths and keep going with the successful momentum you are achieving.  If you feel like you may be slipping outside of your goals, find someone to lean on.  Reach out to a friend or find a work out buddy.  If you are eating healthier/cleaner I can tell you that you MUST give yourself a cheat meal once a week.  Cheat meals helps to avoid overeating in testy situations or from having major binges. Let yourself have whatever you want one day a week. You will thank me later! ;-)
I've got to share this amazzzzzing recipe I tried out a few weeks ago that I found in my Clean Eating Magazine.  It was absolutely delicious, filling, and there were enough to have left overs for two days at work.

Clean Buffalo Chicken Bites

Preheat oven to 425 and coat pan lightly with canola oil/coconut oil.

-3 chicken breasts ( trim off fat and cube into bite size pieces)

-3/4 cup of low-fat buttermilk

-2 TBSP of lemon juice

-3 TBSP of siraccha sauce (or hot sauce of your choice)

Mix ingredients and combine with chicken in a ziplock bag. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

-2 TBSP of whole wheat flour

-2 1/2 cups of whole grain corn flakes ( I used Kashi 7 Whole Grain Flakes)

-1 tsp of garlic powder

-1 tsp of chilli powder

Combine in a food processor or simply throw these ingredients in a ziplock bag and crunch it all up!

After this mixture is nice and crunched up begin throwing chicken pieces into the mixture.  I did two-three pieces at a time and after they were well coated just throw them on your coated cooking sheet.  Bake for about 15-22 minutes depending on your oven.

Looking for something to pair with them?? Well, in case you didn't know I am a sweet potato FREAK!! Cut up two sweet potatoes toss in coconut oil (or olive oil) and 2 TBSP's of brown sugar and bake at 425 for about 30 minutes or until crispy. 

The sauce that is paired with the chicken is something I completely made up.  It's nonfat plain greek yogurt mixed with siraccha sauce. YUM! But if that's not your thing, my fiance said they were great with BBQ!

Enjoy!

Confidence is Key

So I had an interesting experience last night, I was trying on swimming suits at Target and when I got in the dressing room my confidence went straight to the floor.  I didn't feel like I looked good in any of them. When I got home I was thinking to myself, "Why did I feel so awful while I was at Target...??" Then it hit me..when we are at the gym, having a great work out we look in the mirror and we feel FIERCE, on-top-of-the-world, and strong. The thing is we have to carry our confidence with us where ever we go. You can't get down on yourself just because something does look the way you want it to, you have to know that you are working hard and what you are doing is the right thing.  So the next time that little bit of doubt creeps up on you, immediately push it aside and move on.
So far the the half marathon training is going great, 5 miles in this week and 4 more to go on Saturday. Wednesday morning I was able to get outside and enjoy a 3 mile run.  At first I was slightly scared because I have only been running on the treadmill and let me tell you, running outside is a whole different ballpark.  BUT I got my warm clothes on, the sun was shining and the run felt absolutely amazing. Aside from my nose running a little bit, it turned out to be a great run.  I felt good throughout the entire run and it definitely gave me the confidence to keep pushing forward.

You are too smart to be the only thing standing in your way. 

With that being said I think it's time I share a smoothie recipe.  Now keep in mind that you can seriously add absolutely anything to a smoothie and you probably won't ruin in.  Measurements don't have to be exact, just throw the ingredients in and blend away.

So here it is, my very own "Pumpkin Pie Smoothie"

• 1/4 cup of vanilla almond milk
• Couple of scoops of greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree
• Scoop of Cinnamon Bun flavored Whey protein power
• Sprinkle of ground flax seed
• Sprinkle of chia seeds
• 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree
• 6-8 ice cubes
• top with a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

 Blend&enjoy!

You can find the whey protein at Hyvee for roughly around $12 and keep in mind you absolutely do not have to add the chia seeds or ground flax. I simply add those to my smoothie for some extra nutrients, but it's definitely not required.

Have questions? Feel free to e-mail them to me at Bandsbybethany@gmail.com or comment on this post!



 





Blessing or a Curse?

So here is a perfect example of why I named my blog "Fit girl problems."  I knew I was losing weight and inches but it really didn't occur to me how much I've lost until I was trying to find things to wear this weekend.  I am literally swimming in everything I own! I don't know how people that lose weight can afford it.  I guess I am stuck wearing leggings and sweat pants for a while until I get to where I want to be.  You'll have to pardon my saggy pants, I swear I am not a ganster. 
And while I am ranting about how my clothes don't fit, lets get real here.  WHY must our boobs shrink when us women lose weight?!? This is a true FIT GIRL PROBLEM right here.  No wonder why all of the fitness models out there have implants, it's pretty much impossible to have any sort of chest if you are working out unless of course you are that exception and you got blessed with a nice rack. For me however, this is not the case.  Shout out to the Itty Bitty Titty Committee right here.

So tonight I am trying to mentally prepare myself to begin training tomorrow for the Heights Half Marathon in April.  The training schedule consists of 3 days of running, 2 days of strength training, 1 day of 30-60 minutes of an activity of my choice, and 1 rest day up until the race.  It's going to be a lot of work but I am so up for the challenge. I want to destroy this race and show it who's boss.  The race course is filled with lots and lots of hills so in the next couple of weeks I will be doing a lot of hill training, as well as interval training.  I'll be sure to keep you updated on my runs and how the training is going!!
As far as the Super Bowl goes, I'm not much of a football fan but Beyonce sure killed it. The whole performance gave me chills and did you check out that body??? Not too bad for just having a baby!

Keep pushing on everyone. One day at a time.

Where it all began....

Alright so here goes nothing....I have no experience with blogging whatsoever so bear with me. Anyways I want to share the challenges and successes I have been facing along my journey to "get fit" and live a healthier lifestyle. Keep in mind that I am NOT an expert, what works for me may not work for you, and my opinion is as good as the next person's.  Let's get to know me for a bit.  First off I was always active in high school, I did cross country all four years and pretty much tried every sport out there at some point.  I came to the conclusion that I will NEVER be a dancer, I have no rhythm at all and I am the clumsiest person you will probably ever meet. I'm more of a runner/weight lifting chick I've discovered. My goal is to not get skinny, but to get F-I-T!! And by this I mean, get rid of fat and gain muscles!! No I do not want to be a body builder, I just want to look lean and be in the best shape of my life.
Anyways...like most young adults, I went to college, priorities changed and I gained weight. I was so so unhappy with myself so about two years ago I decided I was going to change that. I hired a personal trainer and worked out with him 2 times a week plus I did a lot of running and cycling.  The weight came off and I was 20lbs thinner, I felt ammmmazzzzzing.
So what happened???
Well, I got accepted into my nursing program and got pretty overwhelmed at first. I was making up excuses for not taking better care of myself.  "I didn't have time." "I was too tired." "I was working too much." While all of those things may have been true, the truth is there is no excuse for your health and your happiness. So I decided that before I started my second semester in my nursing program that some major changes were in order.  I was DONE making up excuses and I was ready to get back on track.
So here I am, sixteen pounds lighter, more muscular than ever, and training for a half marathon. Who would have thought?