Weigh-In Wednesday #15 and Free Workout Printable

Hello, everyone.  I am finally on the blog with my first post of the week.  It has been crazy busy around here and I haven't had any spare time to get my posts finalized.  But, I finally have a breather this morning for a bit. I hope to get caught up on all blog-related projects.  

Since last week, I have been trying to get into more of a definite exercise routine and maximize my fitness potential.  I talked to the sweet athletic director/trainer at my gym (thanks for helping me out, Joni) and came up with a good schedule that I can stick with for now. 

Here it is:

To download, right click on picture and save to computer. Then print.  Copyright 2014 Cultivate Create. Personal use only. 

Just to specify, for my cardio I have been walking on the treadmill some, but focusing on the elliptical machine.  Also, I do Zumba on Monday nights. On strength training days, I usually get on the elliptical for 30-40 minutes, then do all of the machines for either the upper of lower body, depending on what I'm focusing on.  I also go to Boot Camp class on Thursday nights, which is full body strength training. Cardio-only days need to be at least 60 minutes of elevated heart rate. 

This week, I lost another pound, bringing my total to 31 pounds lost. (Starting weight 304. Current weight 273.) I'm not gonna lie and say I'm jumping for joy about that, but I did hit the strength training harder in the last week than I had previously, so there may be some muscle build there.  I have worked out really hard and eaten really good since last weigh-in so that is all I can do. I have noticed my clothes fitting more loose over the past few days, so I am confident of losing inches.  I have even had about three different instances just this week where someone has commented on my looking like I have lost more.  Joni did mention that I could have hit a plateau.  Maybe that's it. I'm convinced my body wants to stay fat, is pouting, and holding onto every fat cell with everything its got.  

You know, it is hard sometimes to not get frustrated when I don't shed a few pounds per week.  I wish I could just unzip my current body and step out with my new one.  It is a battle to not compare myself with others.  I have to continually remind myself that each step in the right direction, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction. I have come a long way, especially internally.  Sometimes, I just get frustrated because I wish I could shed the pounds as fast as possible. 

But, I'm gonna stay positive and keep on keeping on.  Perseverance is the name of the game. 

See all Weigh-in Wednesday posts here. 

Weigh-In Wednesday #14

Today is a good day.  Not just a good day, a great day.  I have finally hit a milestone that I have been pushing toward for the last two weeks as the scale didn't budge. I'm relieved, encouraged, and thankful that I finally got there.  

You see, over the past few years when my weight has yo-yo'ed, losing five gaining ten, losing ten gaining fifteen over and over and over, my weight crept up, UP, UP.  I never lost more than twenty pounds at a time, and even then, that was short lived.  I was certainly never consistent enough for any significant change.  I hadn't changed from the inside out. 

But today is different.  I have been consistent for over fourteen weeks now. There has been a shift in the way I live.  A paradox to what my life was before.  Each day, I see a glimpse of the Amanda that I once was peeking through more and more.  The athlete growling inside of me is showing herself. The fiery-not-gonna-stop determination is being stoked each day.  

Day 1 at 304 pounds. 

A couple weeks ago at 28 pounds lost. 

Today is a good day.  A great day. Not just because of the pounds lost, but because of what I've gained so far on this journey; a freedom from being controlled by food, a positive outlook, and feeling better about myself. 

This week's weight loss is two pounds, bringing my total to 30 pounds lost!
I am so excited to hit that thirty pound mark.  I think the adjustments I made from last week paid off. 

 Also, I finally broke down and got a gym membership.  I was just going to Zumba and Boot Camp classes, running/walking and lifting free weights at home.  I have finally got it through my stubborn head that I can't run right now or I am going to completely blow out my knee.  I joined the gym so that I can use the Eliptical machine and the weight machines in addition to attending classes.  Maybe one day I can run again, but right now I think it is best to play it safe since my knee has been bothering me a lot again lately. 

Dancesocks 

I ordered these Dancesocks from Amazon to wear during Zumba since we are on carpet and it is hard to maneuver on it sometimes. I wore them for the first time Monday night and they were wonderful.  It made it a lot easier to move and I wasn't worried about hurting my knee.  My friend, Sara, taped my knee for me for Zumba and that helped out a lot as well. (Thank you so much, Sara!)

I got on the Eliptical yesterday for the first time in over a year. I stayed on for thirty minutes.  My quads were on fire, but I loved every minute of it. I also did ten minutes on the treadmill, jumped rope, and did all the leg machines. I absolutely enjoyed working out. I wanted to keep going, to keep pushing myself but time constraints had me reluctantly walking out of the gym. I think I might be getting addicted to the high that comes from a good workout.  

I can't wait to go back today!

To read about my weight loss journey from the beginning, click here. 

Guest Post: Honey Cilantro Shrimp from Five4Five Meals

I am thrilled to have Lydia from Five4Five Meals join us today with a scrumptious recipe that is both healthy and delicious.  

Take it away, Lydia!

I was practically born in the kitchen. I come from a long line of southern cooks and if it isn’t deep fried, covered in cheese and slathered with butter it must not be good, right? Wrong.
I say this all the time and it is my truth I AM A WORK IN PROGRESS.
My health is a work in progress, my transition to a healthier kitchen is a work in progress and my ability to overcome the southern “unhealth” food is a work in progress.
But I still love my Alabama cuisine. Particularly the shrimp. I am a sucker for a good shrimp.
Have you ever roasted shrimp in your oven? If you haven’t be prepared to have your life changed.
Roasting shrimp makes them super sweet and plump. Like butter, without the butter.
This little recipe is Honey Cilantro Shrimp, which I whipped up with just a few things I had lying around. They are super simple, super yummy and they won’t leave you feeling like your pants will split up the back.

What you'll need:
1/2 pound shrimp peeled and deveined 

1/2 a cup fresh cilantro, chopped

2 -4 tbsp honey

2-4 tbsp olive oil (I used Extra Virgin Kalamata Oil)



Preheat your oven to 350 and spray a cookie sheet with Pam and set aside.

In a large bowl combine your honey, olive oil and cilantro. Whisk it all together so it fully incorporates.

Add in the shrimp and mix with your hands.

Pour the mixtures with the shrimp onto a cookie sheet and slide in the oven. You will want to roast them 20-25 minutes.

Lydia Senn is a former stressed-out newspaper reporter turned work from home mom. She likes slow cooking, slow talking and raising her little boys near the beach. You can visit her at Five4FiveMeals.com

Doesn't that look so yummy?  I can't wait to cook it for my husband!  Thanks, Lydia, for sharing with us today!  Be sure to go check out her blog where she shares delicious recipes, craft projects, and much, much more. 

Move-In Ready VS. Remodeling

I've been thinking about this question a lot lately.  Is it better to buy new (or move-in ready) or buy a home that needs some TLC?  Maybe I've been thinking about it because of the growing to-do list we have.  

We chose to buy and remodel.  Honestly, sometimes we kick ourselves.  Why didn't we just build? Even though we did have an inspection done before we bought the home, and were satisfied with his findings, we have had a lot of surprises in the year and a half we have lived here. 

I guess that is to be expected when you buy a fifty year old house. It is ironic that the very things that the inspector said were fine for a few more years are the very things that have given us some trouble. (Like our roof leaking, our air conditioner unit going out, and our laundry room flooding. And all that within a couple of months of each other.)  

While we have things patched and holding (for now), we have been trying to save for these rather large repairs.  We never expected we would have to do these things within the first year and a half of living here, much less all at one time. 

But, even with those things looming over our heads, I'm still of the opinion that putting some sweat equity into a tired home is the way to go. For us. For now.  I mean, that is why we bought our home in the first place....to be able to build equity while putting our own stamp on it. 

We looked at a lot of homes before we bought this one. A lot.  In our small town, there are slim pickings in the first place.  Couple that with budget and location, and you have a difficult situation.  The elusive perfect home doesn't exist. And for me, homes that were "move-in ready" in our price range still seemed really outdated to me.  Even in the nicer neighborhoods.  So, we were stuck with the choice of building new, buying in the upper end of our price range for a move-in ready home and be stuck with not being able to upgrade as we wanted, or find a fixer and go for it. 

 Let me lay out the reasons we finally decided to purchase this home. And maybe this will help a little if you are in the market yourself. 

1.  This home had a great price for the square footage. (Price of home divided by square footage gives your price per square foot.) 
2.  The location and the large lot size. (neither are something you can change.)
3.  We saw the potential this home possessed....even if that potential isn't reached for years. 
4.  The price would allow for us to make upgrades to the home to our taste. 
5. Building equity through DIY improvement is very appealing to us. (We did that with our first home.  We slowly upgraded cosmetic things in the seven years we were there, and came out better for it in the end.)

If you can walk into an outdated home, see the potential, and have the skills to get it to that potential (or have the money to hire someone who does), I say buy a fixer.  If none of those things are true about you, you may be better off buying a move-in ready home where you don't have to worry about those things.  

I don't think I could purchase a home without wanting to put my own stamp on it in a big way.  Buying a fixer was best for us at the time.  If we ever move again, I'm pretty sure my hubby wants to build. But I can get my hands dirty with that, too, so I'm game. 

Let me share with you a couple of things we have learned so far. 

1. Get an inspection.  Don't buy a fixer without one.  
2. Plan for the unexpected.  This is especially true if you are buying an older home.  Surprises happen, things will need to be repaired before you expect. 
3. Paint goes a long way.  It is probably the most inexpensive way to update a room.  It really does make a huge difference in making a room look fresh. 
4. Take it one step at a time.  Get a plan.  I'm talking to myself here.  I tend to get so overwhelmed with all that I need and want to do to our home, that I get immobilized and don't know where to start.  Put it on paper.  Make a list, then get the satisfaction of checking things off. That always helps me. 

What have been your experiences with building, buying move-in ready, or remodeling?  What have you learned along the way?  Leave a comment!  I'd love to hear from you!

Simple Valentine Door Hanging

There are two things that I like for my husband to give me for Valentine's Day....flowers and chocolate.  And when I was trying to come up with something simple to hang on my front door for V-Day, I looked over and saw my sheet music wall hanging that I made about three years ago.  I immediately saw that if I added a fabric rosette to the middle, it would look like a pretty V-Day flower.  That's right up my ally.  

I don't usually decorate very much for Valentine's Day, so this was a great compromise for me.  It was something fresh, but I didn't have to make something completely new.  I used a fabric scrap to make the rosette, then hot-glued it to the center.  It now hangs on my front door in all its' floral glory.  (My front door is completely covered and even if it rains pretty hard, it doesn't get wet.  This sheet music is safe.)

Do you go all out for Valentine's Day, or keep it simple?  Do you make plans ahead of time for your loved ones, or do you wing it, rushing to the store at the last minute for gifts or candy?  I'm trying to plan ahead a bit this year, and I have some special plans for my little family for Valentine's night.  I look forward to sharing!

Weigh-In Wednesday #13

I am still trying to thaw out on this very cold Wednesday morning.  The hubs and kids are home, and we are trying to make the most of our "ice/snow" day. Although, for south Alabama, mostly just a thick layer of slippery ice.  And even though I'm a little late getting this post up, (taking it easy and hanging with the fam), I'm reporting in with this week's weigh in.

After maintaining last week, I started logging into MyFitnessPal to see if I was eating too many calories without realizing it (my username on MFP is amandore if anyone wants to add me). As a rule, I have not tied myself to counting calories, I just try to make healthy decisions.  But when I have a week when the scale doesn't budge, I like to check myself.  

An example meal for me:  Turkey sandwich on whole wheat sandwich round with veggies on it.  1/2 cup strawberries, and one kiwi. 

 So for the past week, I have been logging my calories with the exception of a couple days over the weekend.  

Rachel and I all bundled up and ready to run our mile for the fit test.  Thanks for the encouragement at the end of my run, Rachel!  You rock!

Last Thursday night at Boot Camp, we did a fit test to get a baseline fitness level for everyone in the class.  We had to do sit-ups, push-ups, and run a mile.  We had two minutes to complete as many sit-ups and push-ups as possible.  They had to be done with the proper form or they didn't count.  We will be tested again every four to six weeks to see what our progress is. I completed nine push-ups, 39 sit-ups, and ran my mile in 11:32.  Not the greatest by any means, but it only gets better from here.  I was acutally pleased with my mile time.  I ran most of it, only stopping to walk when I had to.  For me, dealing with my knee injury and having to stop running for a while, and just starting back, it was good. 

I found this on Pinterest and couldn't find a source.  

I am still dealing with my knee injury, though.  This week and last week at Zumba, my knee really gave me some trouble.  I will have to not run much for a while and modify my movements in Zumba. It is very frustrating.  I just want to be able to do my best and get the weight OFF!  But, in order not to further injure it, I have to take it easy.  

So, here's the deal.  I lost a pound over this past week, and today when I weighed again, I had gained it back.  So, I am still sitting at 28 pounds lost. 

Three things that I think were contributing to that:

1. I have started eating whole wheat bread and pasta again, about one or two times a day.  I am just one of those people who can't eat bread and pasta on a regular basis, whether it's whole grain or not.  Boo!  So, this week, I will be back to NO breads. (not completely carb-free, but eating low glycemic index carbs like beans, and lentils.)

2. On MyFitnessPal, after you enter in your exercise, it gives the calories you burned back to you to eat.  There has been a big debate on whether or not to eat them back after a workout, and in the past I haven't.  But this week, I did. I didn't want my body to go into starvation mode and slow my metabolism. The number of calories that you are allowed to begin with is supposed to allow for steady, slow weight loss. (I have mine set for a two pound weight loss weekly.) So, for me, I can't eat the calories back.  I might eat a handful of nuts or something small for a post-workout snack, but can't eat the majority of them back or, case in point, I don't lose the weight. 

3.  I am only getting in about four workouts in per week. Sometimes only three.  I need to be doing something at least five or six days a week, even if it is just walking.   

Frustrating? Yes.  But, sometimes you have to adjust things to make them work for you. I hope next week, after making these adjustments, I will have positive results to report: 


*No bread or pasta, even whole grain. 
*No eating the majority of calories back after workout. 
*Exercise five to six times per week.  

To view the post that started my weight loss journey, click here. 

DIY Word Cloud Art

While doing some weekend reading on Thistlewood Farm, I found out about this amazing free website, Tagxedo, that allows you to make word cloud art. I was immediately smitten. You see, I have this thing for personalized art prints.  I also have a thing for free stuff.  These two things together, and I am in Heaven! (You can check out a great tutorial on how to utilize the site here.)

I decided to make some art for my girls' new shared bedroom.  I used words like share, best friends, sisters in the art and I love how it turned out.  I kept it in simple black and white so it would coordinate well with the bedroom. 

I also created art about our dog, Molly.  Isn't it precious?  I used horizontal wording on this one. 

How about Valentine's Day art to print and frame for the holiday?  Love it!

There are tons of color combinations, shapes, and fonts to personalize your art. Go check it out and make your own!