Back in the Game

Well, Hello blog world! It’s been quite some time, hasn’t it? School is keeping me uber busy and the blog definitely went on the back burner for the past year. Shall I catch y’all up on my life? Yes? Okay!

At this point in time I am working at a gym as a facility attendant and also as a secretary/intern in their office. I changed my major to Psychology: Pre-Counseling and I couldn’t be happier with this decision. Over the past busy 12 or so months I’ve really let my healthy habits slip. Workouts have become less frequent and eating on the go rarely results in healthy decisions. But I’m hoping that by continuing my posts here at Baking and Swimming I’ll be held a little more accountable.

So let’s get to my day:

No workout happened due to oversleeping and an extremely busy day ahead. I’ve learned not to beat myself up about missing workouts because life happens.

Breakfast:

Today I actually made it to the caf before my first class since I desperately need to go grocery shopping.

Shape Diva Dash

I recently got in touch with Shape magazine about the Diva Dash coming up in a few weeks!

The Diva Dash is a 5k obstacle course fun run for women only. This year, they are coming to Dallas, Texas on March 22nd.

There will be plenty of fun obstacles to challenge yourself with!

 

You must be a female of at least 12 years old to participate, and if you are under 18, you must participate with guardian’s permission.

As of now it is $55 to register, but i will soon increase to $65. Also, there is a special deal for all of my readers, so if you register at divedash.com and use the code “AXBLOG” you will save $10. Don’t miss out on this fun opportunity to get a group of ladies together to challenge and empower yourselves! Hope to see ya’ll there!!!

 

Extreme Weight Loss Auditions are Coming toTexas

Hey people! I juts wanted to let ya’ll in on a little tidbit of information! I was recently contacted by the Casting producer of ABC’s show Extreme Weight Loss, She asked me if I would be willing to let my readers know that auditions for this show are coming to both Texas and Austin!

 

They will be in Dallas, Texas on Saturday February 15th from 10am-4pm. You can find them at the American Airlines Center.

 

 

And then they will be in Austin, Texas Saturday, February 22nd from 10am-4pm. They will be at the Dougherty Arts Center Theater.

If you meet the qualifications to be on this show, and live in or near one of these areas, I strongly suggest taking advantage of this opportunity!

 

To audition for the show you must be at least 18 years old, and have at least 50% of you body weight to lose.

WIAW: A Day Late

Hey! It’s WIAW, but just a day late. So….I guess you could call it What I Ate Thursday?

 

Breakfast (7:30):

Breakfast was a blueberry Chobani with Cascadian Farm granola and half a banana. Ana a piece of whole wheat toast with a little pb.

 

Mid-morning Snack (10:00 am) :

After I got out of my Spanish class, I had an hour before New Testament so I headed back over to my dorm and cut up a kiwi.

I had hoped this would at least hold me over until lunch, but by the time my last class got out  I was hungry!

Lunch (12:30 pm) :

We decided to dodge the super long lines in the caf today, and instead went to the convenience store on campus to use a meal exchange.

I decided on a Cobb Salad(which was better than I was expecting), an apple, and bottled water.

 

It was a healthy, filling lunch. I think I’ll start taking more advantage of the meal exchange.

Workout (1:30 pm) :

After I let my food settle for a little while I decided to get a run in for the day. I completed a little over 4 miles on the treadmill. It had been almost a week since I had actually run, and I felt it. It took more about 3 miles into the run to actually start enjoying it.

Afternoon Snack (2:30 pm) :

After I showered I refueled with a Clif Kit’s Organic fruit & nut bar.

 

The chocolate almond coconut flavor was great, and also super filling.

Dinner (5:30 pm) :

I don’t expect much when I walk into our caf for a meal. The food is either mediocre or not worth touching. However, tonight was actually really good. At the create-your-own station was brisket tacos. I had two tacos filled with rice, beans, brisket, mushrooms, bell peppers, cheese, and salsa. I really enjoyed this dinner.

 

 

Dessert (8:00 pm):

Before heading to Wednesday night church I polished off the rest of my Blue Bunny Sweet freedom Bunny Tracks ice cream.

 

And there you have it. My Wednesday eats!

Now I’m about to trek to class in the snow. Not really a fan of this weather. Where are you Spring?

 

Guest Post: Keeping up with your Fitness Plan

Keeping up with your Fitness Plan

 

 As we’re nearing the end of January, some people who promised themselves a New Year’s resolution of fitness and well-being have begun to lose their desire in attaining these goals. Fitness goals, in particular, are one of the most common goals that usually go down the drain and left unaccomplished due to lack of motivation and improper planning. It’s important to make sure that you’re physically and mentally prepared for whatever type of fitness program you take on. Here are several tips that are proven effective in keeping you motivated throughout your fitness journey:

 

Write down your goals

Writing down your fitness goals and posting them in an area where you can see them every day is a great way to maintain your motivation. Make sure that these goals are realistic, specific and attainable for continuous progress.  This tactic will also limit the possibilities of lapses. It is recommended to break down goals into smaller tasks, which can be achieved in a day or a week. This will allow you to adjust physically and mentally to any changes in your exercise program. Additionally, categorizing the goals as short-term and long-term can help you stay focused on one specific goal at a time.

 

Log your workouts online

Keeping a log of your workouts and accomplishments online is also a great way to motivate yourself in keeping up with your fitness plan. There are many fitness apps available online that can help track your progress, and allow you to share it with your friends online. Having those who can see your progress and who can keep you accountable will only yield you positive results. Posting before and after pictures online can also help to keep you stay driven in achieving your fitness goals.

 

Vary your workout

Monotonous exercise, like long sessions on the treadmill, can be brutally boring, especially if you’re doing it for a long time.  Having a variety of exercises can help you stay motivated, especially if you set different goals for each one. Mix up your routine with aerobics, running, boxing and dancing. Trying out different sports can also be counted towards your health and fitness regimen.

 

Consider working with a personal fitness coach

Having a personal trainer can encourage you to keep up with your fitness goals. They can provide you professional tips and plans for faster and better results. Inquire about available trainers with your local gym or fitness center, and ask them about personal training packages, which can be an added cost on top of your membership fee. Word-of-mouth is also a good way to find a trainer, since you’ll be able to hear feedback from those who have first hand experience with them. You can also check the yellow pages or online forums where trainers usually advertise their services.

 

Make friends with class regulars

Try to join group exercises where you can meet and make friends with other regulars. Having friends that have the same fitness goals as you do can help keep you inspired and motivated. The guilt factor your fitness friends can impose can be highly motivating as well, especially if you feel like bailing out.

 

Invite a friend or buddy

Having someone to remind you when you’re slacking off at the gym is another way to keep you on track with your fitness goals. It also keeps you from having second thoughts, knowing that someone is also dependent on your choices. Try to choose an exercise or any physical activity that you’ll both enjoy, where you can both provide mutual support and encouragement, especially if the one is about to give up. A friendly competition with a reward you both aspire for is also an excellent way to boost motivation. Having someone to share your frustrations and triumphs can be very rewarding.

 

Track what you eat

There are many apps today that are useful when it comes to tracking calories in food. Make use of these apps and start monitoring your daily food intake so you can plan ahead in case you need to lose extra calories. It will also allow you to tweak your diet so that you’ll be able to enjoy foods that you love without ruining your fitness goals. Always include fruits and vegetables in your daily diet because they are low in calories and filling as well. Consult a registered dietitian if necessary, since they can provide professional health advice and smart food choices.

 

 

 

 

 

David Novak’s byline has appeared in newspapers and magazines around the world.  He’s an avid health enthusiast, and frequently is featured in regional and national health publications. He is also a weekly writer for Healthline.  To visit his other stories on Healthline, visithttp://www.healthline.com/.  

January Foodie Penpals

I’m finally back in the game for Foodie Penpals! It’s been months since I was able to participate in the penpal program, but I’m excited to reveal this month’s package!

 

First a little info about this fun Penpal program:

Here’s a detailed explanation of the program:

-On the 5th of the month, you will receive your penpal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your penpal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions.
-You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your penpal!
-The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination!
-You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!)
-Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you can choose to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month.
– Foodie Penpals is open to US, Canadian residents & European residents.  Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We’ve determined things might get too slow and backed up if we’re trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I’m going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada!

This month I was paired up with Megan from The Lyons Share Wellness! I was really excited when I opened her package!

She sent me lots of goodies including: 

–Chocolove: Cherries & Alomonds in Dark Chocolate

–Flavrz Drink Mixes

 

–Justin’s Nut Butter…….I had never tried these, and now I need to find a way to get my hands on more! So good!

–Perfect fit Protein Cookie

–Peeled Snacks dried apple slices

–Near East Whole Grain Couscous……Easy to make in the microwave after work!

–Oatmega Bar, Kind, Larabar, and a Garukabar

-Veggie Wash Spray…….Very convenient!

Thank you, Megan, for another great month of Foodie Penpals! I loved everything in this month’s package!

 

Bestowed Box {1/14}

Happy Monday! How did ya’ll start your week? I started mine with a good breakfast and a strength workout.

I had two whole grain Nutrigrain Waffles and some mixed frozen fruit.

And one of my favorite coffees!

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Coffee has been my new favorite way to begin the mornings. I think it is funny that we are in mid-January and I’m still loving anything pumpkin I can get my hands on! I guess I didn’t get enough of it during the fall months?

For my strength workout I completed this simple circuit:

I also warmed up with 10 minutes on the elliptical.

After my workout, I refueled with a Peach Chobani with a little granola.

 

While I ate my yogurt, I finished Insurgent, the second book in the Divergent series, and I plan on starting the last of the books tomorrow. I’m having a bit of a hard time with these books. I’m emotionally attached to the characters, so I start to feel as if I’m in the book, but that’s one of the things I love about reading!

Anyway, after I finished the book, I met up with my friends in the caf for lunch. I had a small bowl of clam chowder with a couple crackers crumbled on top.

It was alright. To be honest, I prefer the Progresso version over whatever this kind was.

After lunch, I checked my mail(and I had a package that I’ll share in a bit), and stopped by the campus Starbucks for an iced Passion tea.

And then I made a quick trip to Wal-mart to buy the components I’ll need for my uniform at my new job! Ahh! I’m so excited! When I returned from the store, I watched Ellen while I tried out one of my Trader Joes Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Cookies.

They were good. Much better choice than the other cookie options out there.

Then dinner was another salad, but no picture. It was basically the same as last nights, but with diced boiled egg for some protein. I had a some reading to do for homework, so I decided that I would have a little ice cream to fuel my studying.

And remember those reusable baking cups I was sent last month to review? Well, they are also great for portioning out ice cream. This was my new favorite by Blue Bunny: No Sugar Added Bunny Tracks! MmmmMmmMmm!!

And that package I mentioned earlier? I finally renewed my Bestowed box Subscription, and I received my  January box today!

 

I can’t wait to try all the goodies in this months box! Everything looks fantastic!

Now I’m sitting down to watch X-Men Origins while snacking on some toast. Catcha later gaters! 😉

 

 

New Job

Looks like a forgot about my blog this past week! Oops!

Anyway, today seemed to be a busy Sunday, with a few exciting things happening!

I started out with some Quaker  Low Sugar Maple & Brown Sugar oatmeal with MaraNatha almond butter and grapefruit for breakfast.

 

And coffee.

 

We went to the 9:30 service at church this morning, and we went to college group afterward. After church, we were all really excited for IHop.

I ordered the Simple & Fit 2-egg Breakfast. It came with scrambled egg substitute, 2 slices of turkey bacon, dry wheat toast, and a side of seasonal fruit. I really like the Simple & Fit options at Ihop. I have tried several different items from this portion of the menu, and have not been disappointed.

 

After lunch we headed back to campus, and I got ready for a job interview! I have been looking for a job since we returned to school, and I recently was scheduled an interview to be a server at a local restaurant. I was really excited, but also extremely nervous at the same time. One of my best friends put together my interview attire today. I think she did a nice job, don’t you?

 

And……..I GOT THE JOB!! I start training in the coming week. I’m am truly looking forward to yet another new adventure in my life!

After I returned from the interview, I had some apple slices.

 

I then decided to round out a productive day with a short workout. I jumped on the elliptical for a short 30 minutes, and completed a mile within that time span.

I was still really hungry after my workout so I made the best version of a quesadilla when all you have is a microwave.

 

I used a whole wheat Mission Tortilla, and a Weight Watchers pepper jack cheese stick. It was decent. I also had another cheese stick on the side.

 

A while later, I met up with my friends in the caf. I made a simple salad at our salad bar. It contained romaine, grape tomatoes, carrots, olives, shredded cheese, red & green bell peppers, croutons, and Italian dressing.

 

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I also couldn’t resist grabbing a few fries to have with my salad. Everything in moderation!

 

Now we are sitting down to a game of Quelf(has anyone else played this? SO MUCH FUN!), and planning on watching She’s the Man. Talk to ya’ll later!

So I Think I Can Dance?

How has everyone’s weekend been? Mines been busier than I expected, but it’s also been a lot of fun.
I started out my Saturday morning with a good bowl of oatmeal.

It was one package of cinnamon swirl oatmeal, green tea leaves(from one if my Bestowed boxes), a banana, and a scoop of almond butter. It had been a while since I had oatmeal, and it really hit the spot.
After I let my breakfast settle, I ran 5 miles on the treadmill while I had laundry going in the dryer. BTW, I hate doing laundry, especially at school!
After my run, I showered and made some lunch.

Egg whites with salsa, and Taiwanese rice cakes.
After lunch, my roommate and I made a Wal-Mart run before watching a couple movies with our friends.
We headed to the caf for dinner. I had some kind of seasoned chicken, cooked carrots, and Mexican rice.

The caf food is really hit or miss, but last night it was pretty decent.

After dinner we had decided to try out a ballroom dance class. One of my friends teaches it, and I had been telling her I would come for a while. Confession: I can’t dance. At all. I was really nervous going Into the class, but I ended up really enjoying it! We learned basic steps of the Waltz, Tango, and Cha-Cha. I’m really looking forward to attending more classes. I’m glad I tried something new!
The rest of the weekend was filled with fun with friends before we head back into the school week. Hope everyone had a fun weekend.

Momentum Challenge

About a month ago an organization called HealthCorps reached out to me. They are a non-profit organization that is fighting childhood obesity. This movement was originally founded by Dr. Mehmet Oz and his wife, Lisa, in 2003.

When the organization first contacted me, they had asked me to test out their free iOS app, Momentum Challenge. I downloaded it a couple weeks ago, and I have really enjoyed playing around with it.

 

You can login using E-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. You can also connect to friends and followers through these forms of social media.

 

When you login it takes you to your newsfeed, and shows your recent accomplishments and that of your friends.

 

Based on the challenges you have completed, your profile with display a ranking and overall points. You receive points through daily challenges.

 

Each day has a specific challenge.

 

And then you can choose your Daily 5 from a long list of different nutritional, physical, and mental challenges. Point rewards can range anywhere from 5-20 points.

 

And the more points you earn and progress you make, you can earn badges. I don’t have very many as of now, but I’m working on it. 😉

I strongly suggest downloading this app. It gives simple, manageable challenges for each day to help you improve your health one step at a time. This is a great app to download for your kids also because it gives them a chance to earn points as added motivation to make healthy choices. It’s time to fight childhood obesity!