Friday Favorites

I am SO Not a morning person! However when I put Mandisa's new song "Good Morning" I can't help but go get a little pep into my step! It makes me look on my day with an excitement at the possibilities that this day might bring. If you have not heard this song, you need to!






I am also enjoying my low calorie chocolate cupcake/muffin! When you are dieting & PMS hits -girls, this is the cure!!! I know there are several variations of this recipe but the taste & the texture is so right on my kids ask me to make them. Wow!





I just mix all the ingredients together with a mixer -real well so there is no "crunchy" part in my muffin. Bake according to the directions on the cake mix box. I use Duncan Hines Devil food cake mix, & then sprinkle 4-6 chocolate chips on top of batter in cupcake liner papers prior to baking.







I am also enjoying listening Zig Ziglar podcast, they are free on iTunes & are positive & motivational. Filling my brain with positive stuff as I work around the house.






My last favorite thing I am enjoying this week, is the above new foundation. I heard several good reviews on the product, & when I ran out this week I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! It provides good coverage with a light shimmer to deflect light and give a more youthful dewy appearance, can you say "yes, please!".

Well those are my Friday favorites. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

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Apps can help

While on my weight loss journey I have been open to try to use technology to reach my goal. I have tried some great apps, and some that did nothing for me apps on my iPhone. So I thought I would share some. Lose it, is my favorite app (also available on line!!!) to track calories and exercise for FREE!!! It's a life saver!


I have discovered that "water apps" apps that track the amount of water you drink a day, are SO not created equal!!!!! I love the daily water app (it is available for .99 from iTunes) it is worth every penny! Simple & easy to use and will text you (you set the when & how many times the app should send you a "reminder" text to drink your water). So important!! Because I get up and think "today I am going to be good & drink 8 glasses of water". Then as the day goes along I get busy & forget!!! I don't think about it again until 9pm. (I think that's a little late to be trying to get in 5 glasses of water!) So now I get text during the busy times & I go "I need to drink some water!". I may not hit my goal every day, but I am so more likely to drink a lot more water then on my own.


Action method app, & Getting Dreams done were apps I tried after reading a good review on. I found that getting dreams done is not an app that is ideal for weight loss, it is a good app but not for what I was trying to use it for. Action method is good for small business etc.. But also not for personal weight loss application, in my opinion. When struggling for weight loss I love any help from anyplace that I can. Hope the above reviews help you on your journey. Remember just keep going down the road & we will get there!!! using BlogPress from my iPhone

I spin you right round, baby right round

Well I had a horrible, horrible eating weekend!! pms struck me hard & nobody dared to get in between me & chocolate this weekend!! (trust me! I would have hurt somebody if they had even tried!) But at last today is Monday and I am back on the wagon again, striving for clean eating and I added a spin class today so............ Drumroll please .........I will be taking spin 5 days a week now!!! (dunt, dunt, Dah!!!!) (don't you just love "implied" sound effects!) So we shall see if I am still able to walk on Friday. (this has been about a month and half process to work up to). Definitely whining all the way!!

I have added step class back into my routine, and will be blogging about the low down of step class tomorrow. Now that is some fun stuff!

I am going to try to eat clean and step up my work outs for the next few weeks, I have set a "target date" to see what I can accomplish by that date of October 14th. (I have an annual party to attend on the 15th so I am going to use that as a source of motivation to keep me, keeping on. Hey! I have been on a diet since January you really have to set either different weight loss goals and/or event motivators to kick you in the bootie to kick it up a notch!). So much of this weight loss journey that I am on all starts in the mind!!! And for a large part 50% of it is fought and success is determined in the mind! What is my decision today? Will I make good eating choices today? Will I move my body today?


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Diet updates (photos)

Here I am on New Year's Eve 2011. (weighing in at 249.5)




Here I am weighing in at 222.5. ( I was hoping this time i just might be able to loose this weight. Being overweight is exhausting!)



Here I am below weighing in at 202 pounds, I have now added in exercise to the weight loss equation. Not just focusing on my diet.



Here I am below (pictured with my momma, one of my cheerleaders!). Weighing in at 198.4. (yeah! I had broke into the 100's!!)



Below is a picture of me today. (I had just won the spirit contest at spin class - you might not be able to make out the rub on tattoo on the side of my face but I am pretty sure that is why I won the contest. Go Cowboys!). Here I am weighing in at 189.2 (woo HOO!! 60 pounds down) I have crossed the half way point and am very excited to knock out the next 40 pounds until I can hit maintenance phase. It is hard to be on a diet for 9 months and counting, but I am so glad that I have gotten started and I am getting stronger, healthier everyday not just for myself but also for my family)




Here I am holding a goodie filled box for winning the spirit competition for my spin class. (it is filled with a shirt, backpack, & 3 coupon for smoothies there at Sky Gym-where I have meet so many people who offer me daily encouragement on my weight loss journey!! I am going to have to blog about them in the upcoming weeks!). You never can make a successful journey on your own you need a support system!!!

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Effort-ugh!!!!

This is my focus this week! I putting out the effort to work my body everyday, getting stronger and healthier. (can you tell that I stayed the same this week?).

I added a Tabata class this week, which is an interval class offered at Sky fitness gym in Tulsa. The trainers name is Linda, she is tough during class. Linda pushes you to do as much as you think you can, and then a little bit more. (ugh!! Yes, I am sore today!!). However she is friendly, very encouraging and nice-I love that in a trainer!!! It makes me feel like I have a team of people on my side on this weight loss journey.

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The low down about spin class

I really enjoy going to spin class!! However, I have learned a few things along the way that I really wish someone would have shared with me before I got started. So here is the low down about spin class if you are a newbie:








The first thing, is that the seat is not comfortable!! (you do start to get used to it, after awhile). Until then you have 3 options with dealing with the uncomfortable seat: 1) ignore it & soldier on (not my favorite option -I'm a wimp!) 2). Buy a pair of bike shorts. Bike shorts have extra padding built into them (however it may give the "appearance" that you may be wearing depends, if someone was not aware that you were indeed wearing bike shorts -yikes! No thank you) the 3rd option is my favorite. Invest in a padded seat cover for the bike seat. (see a picture of mine above) I carry mine back & forth from the gym. It is also a pretty inexpensive option $14.00 I believe I paid for it at Target. (worth every penny!!!)

Secondly, drink lots of water prior to class, during class & after class. (with that in mind make sure you use the restroom before class begins)

Lastly, for us females it is so, so very important that you keep your "nether" regions well groomed. During spin class you will be sliding off your seat & going into a standing position on the pedals often, then sliding back onto the seat. If you are not well groomed things could get umm.. Pulled or tugged which would make you very uncomfortable during class.
(which is what I am, as I can't believe I just blogged about this)

Last but not least, you can always modify- you are only competing with yourself. Pushing yourself to do your personal best! Not competing with your neighbor. My class is filled with people of all ages 20, 30, 40,50,60. All sizes itty bitty, to obese. As well as a triathlon competitor, regular 6 days a week bikers, to newbies. Spinning burns a lot of calories and is non impacting on your joints (knees). It is amazing how fast a class passes when you have a good trainer or instructor!

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Ouch! What to do if your muscles hurt!

Well I went back to the gym on Monday, following my lovely stay cation. I assumed it would be a little rough, but not to bad. I assumed wrong!! Ouch! I hurt- my legs hurt, my arms hurt! It is safe to say I hurt everywhere!

Well what is a girl to do? I tried drinking some water with baking soda in it. Let's just say this did not work, and tasted a lot like drinking alka seltzer - yuck!

I then tried Tues night to take a long hot bath, with Epsom Salt and Baking soda in the water. I was Leary because Epsom Salt had never really seemed to work, but I had read several websites that listed this concoction of Baking soda & Epsom salt.

Well will wonders never cease! I took a long hot soak, in the bath tub. I read part of a wonderful romance novel while soaking in the tub. I giggled in a few hours after the bath, my legs felt wonderful!! No longer hurting, cramping muscles - however my arms that were above the waterline holding the book up that I was reading were still hurting. So I took another bath this morning, and let my arms soak in the combination Epsom salt and Baking Soda water. Worked like a charm - I no longer need to set with the heating pad on various parts of my body- Yeah!!! If you are dealing with muscle soreness I encourage you to give this a try!