Hey! Well I have a whole bunch of random things to share.
First off, I was having issues with my blog this morning! It wouldn’t let me upload pictures or update any plugins. It was driving me crazy and making me very worried. Computer technical issues stress me out because I always feel so helpless….and dumb. 😉
BUT, I just have to give a HUGE shout out to my web host, Bluehost. Folks, I loooooove them! They’ve hosted my blog the past 3-4 years and have fixed so many issues for me. My old host was terrible and never helped me with anything. In fact, I couldn’t even call them on the phone! But, I just have to say that I LOVE every single person I’ve ever talked to/chatted with at Bluehost (and it’s been many!) They are all so helpful, knowledgeable and they fix all of my issues! I feel like I’m best friends with all of them.
If you are looking for a web host, I would HIGHLY recommend Bluehost. HIGHLY, HIGHLY! They are the best and I’m so grateful for them!!!!
Just thought I’d share the love!
Well, onto more random things…..we took our family on a very fun trip to Lake Tahoe and San Francisco last week and had a ball! You may have seen some of my photos and posts on Instagram or Facebook.
Our kids were out of school on Thursday and Friday for fall break, so we decided to take advantage of the time off and head to California! My kiddos are growing up waaaaay too fast and it’s very weird to me. My oldest son is a Senior and I can’t begin to tell y’all the flood of thoughts and emotions that go through my head when I realize how quickly my kids will start to leave me!!!
Time really flies guys! I seriously thought I’d always be a “young mother” and thankfully my baby helps to make me feel young, but it is so trippy to see myself becoming an “old” mom!!!??!? Whaaa??? How can I possibly be the mother of THREE teenagers when I still feel like a teenager myself???
Seriously, seriously.
Anyway, I digress. I am planning on writing a separate post all about our fun trip. For now, I just want to talk for a minute about my healthy goals and how I fared on our trip!
Mmmmkay, well the drive from our house to San Fran is about 11ish hours. We stayed a night in Reno, Nevada coming and going to break up the drive. I packed myself a cooler full of good healthy things to eat on the trip.
I mostly packed protein things since carbs and fats are much easier to find on the road! I packed a couple Premier Protein shakes, some protein pudding (it’s in that old Tzatziki container), which is just plain Greek yogurt mixed with cocoa powder, stevia, unsweetened cashew milk and chia seeds. I also packed string cheese, hard boiled eggs, grilled chicken, natural peanut butter (in the small container) and some cottage cheese (in the other container.)
I was very grateful to have these options!
I was also especially grateful that I brought all of the fixins to make my oatmeal in the morning. This is one of my all-time favorite healthy things to bring on vacation because it’s so easy to bring and doesn’t require refrigeration!
I just bring individual baggies full of pre-measured oatmeal (1/3 cup) and individual baggies full of my oatmeal mix-ins (usually 1/2 scoop protein powder, a spoonful of flaxseed or chia seed, cocoa powder and whatever else I feel like adding.) I also bring a small container of peanut butter to add too.
I always bring a small Tupperware container to cook it in and I either cook it in the microwave (if there’s one in the hotel room) or just use hot water from the coffee maker. Then I mix in my bag of mix-ins, top it with peanut butter and voila….breakfast is served!
So simple, easy, yummy…and cheap! I like to have some of my hard boiled eggs on the side too (I mostly eat the egg whites.) I used to have some travel sized S&P shakers that I’d bring with me too, but I COULDN’T FIND THEM! Sooo, I just brought my full size ones and just covered the holes with tape. Ha ha…but it worked!
I just have to tell y’all how much I’ve loved this little cooler. Kev and I bought it years ago when we first got into healthy eating. It was like $15 at Target and we have used the crap outta that thing!!!
It is not fancy at all, but it does the job! I put my oatmeal baggies in that zipper pouch, btw.
There are so many fancy schmancy coolers out there that are designed specifically for healthy eating, but they can be so expensive ($80-$100+)
For example, I think this one runs about $80!
Super nice, yes, but I really just don’t think you need to spend that much. My trusty $15 cooler has been fabulous!
Well, we were gone on our trip 4 1/2 days. I ate pretty well for the most part, but I did allow a few more splurges than normal because we were on vacation!
I did have one large splurge to tell you guys about that I don’t regret at all! We paid a visit to the Ghirardelli chocolate factory and it was awesome! I didn’t realize that they were a big ice cream shoppe as well. We of course had to order some ice cream and I enjoyed myself!
We ordered “The Earthquake” which is that huge banana split sundae you see on the table. It was like 40 bucks and it said it served 4. It really could have fed all of us! But, I ordered two other smaller sundaes to share just in case.
Our family dug in and I’d never see ice cream disappear so quickly! Ha ha. It was fun and I’m glad I indulged.
Just to recap, I’ve been doing a “healthy challenge” the past couple months and I really haven’t eaten much sugar or treats (other than very minor tastes here and there.) Sooooo, it was hard for me to break my streak, BUT I just knew it would be super lame to be at Ghirardelli in San Fran and NOT eat the freakin’ ice cream.
So I did. And I’m glad.
I must say that I had a few other small splurges on our ride home, but I’m happy to say I’ve been back on track since we got home and am still feeling very committed and motivated!
Woo hoo for me! That’s actually quite monumental because in the past when a vacation or splurge would get me off track, it would be hard for me to get back to healthy eating!
This little “healthy challenge” of mine has actually been life changing to me! That’s exactly why I love doing stuff like this! I love challenging myself and changin’ things up. I always learn so much and never, ever regret it.
I’m very encouraged by the results I’m seeing and feeling. I still haven’t lost much weight on the scale (maybe 3-4 pounds), but I’m seein’ all kinds of changes in my body. It’s very subtle and I doubt most people would even notice, but I can tell and it makes me happy. I feel thinner, leaner, stronger and just good. I can especially see changes in my face and upper body.
I’ll have to take some progress pics to see if I can see the difference! Ya know, it’s really hard for me to see the difference in the mirror because I look at myself every day. That’s why I love progress pictures! It’s fun to actually see the changes and it’s very rewarding.
Ya know, the way I’ve been eating and working out is not all that different from how I’ve been livin’ for a long time, however, the big difference is that I’m doing ALL of the things that I strive to do, ALL at the same time. I’m eating very well, eating lots of protein, drinking lots of water, staying away from sugar and most crappy foods, exercising very hard (F45 awesome heavy lifting and short HIIT cardio) and I just keep doing it day after day.
I love it! I’m certainly not perfect at it. I’ve missed a few workouts. I usually splurge a little bit (non sugar stuff) on the weekends, but I’ve been keeping it in check and I’m loving it. I actually don’t ever want to quit! I’ve learned for myself what a difference it makes when you just kick it up a notch and stick with it! It’s helped me to realize that the splurges and mega cheat meals really DO add up and they really DO keep me from reaching my goals.
All in all, it’s just made me more aware of the choices I’m making and the foods I’m putting (or not putting!) in my body. It’s made me a believer and has just given me more faith in the process! One thing I do want to say is that weight loss/gaining muscle/fat loss and seeing significant changes in the body is sooooo slow! That is why so many people in the world are overweight and that is why so many people are sick of dieting and sick of trying to lose weight. A lot of people mistakenly think they can’t lose weight or can’t change their bodies.
Well, I’m here to tell you that YOU CAN! Anyone can do it!!! BUT, it does take long-term commitment and permanent lifestyle changes. I like to think that those lifestyle changes and the increased commitment to health actually enhance my life…so I’m happy to do it!
Well, I have a few more random things to share….
This was dinner tonight…
I just made my Fall Apart Chicken (click on link for recipe) and it was super simple, easy and yummy! It’s essentially just chicken, lite cream cheese, my homemade cream of chicken soup and dry Italian dressing. I served it atop quinoa and the kids had it on top of leftover twisty pasta.
I also used this for the cream cheese and I think it’s pretty darn awesome…
I found it at Walmart. Pretty cool.
It was so nice to have dinner in the Crock Pot before noon and I just threw my quinoa in the rice cooker before I went to the gym tonight.
Oh my gosh and I just need to say once again that I LOVE my gym so much!! Love, love, love! Every single workout is freaking hard (in a good way) and it’s always different. I’m always working my muscles in new ways and challenging my body. Most of the workouts are only 45 minutes too! Woot.
So much love!
I’ve only been a member of my gym about 4 months, but I’ve seen so many other members lose weight, tone up and see some legit results! I’ve gone to various gyms for years and years and it always seems like everyone at the gym always looks the same. It’s been amazing to me to see how many people at my gym have changed and in such a short amount of time. It’s incredible.
I also just want to mention that Fabletics is having another sale going on right now. You can usually get your first outfit for only $25, but right now it’s only $15! Woot!
To get that “deal,” you do have to sign up to be a VIP member (that just means that they email new outfit selections every month and you can chose to order or not to order), but you can cancel anytime. It’s really a non-pushy company and I love that. I have also loved everything I’ve ever ordered from there! I wear my favorite Fabletics capris and my fav jacket ALL THE TIME!
Well, I think that’s all I’m going to say today! I sincerely hope you are all doing well and are happy! Enjoy life, live it to the fullest and get out there and reach your goals! <3 <3 <3
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Sounds like you had a great trip to California, loved seeing the pictures on IG. My 2 kids are in high school and it is kind of freaking me out to think they could BOTH be out of the house in 2 years. Where are my babies ?
I agree that it takes a long term commitment to make lasting changes. I have been working with Amanda Tress and her on line bootcamps since August and have seen HUGE results, in both weight and inches. I am definitely much much leaner. I really think you would like it. It seems kind of pricey (199 for 6 weeks) but it is so worth it. The on line support group helps so much. It has helped me lose those last 10 pounds that always seem to hang on.
I bring my food too and often buy things in a supermarket rather than going to a restaurant. Drives my husband crazy.
I follow Amanda Tress and have really been impressed with the stuff she puts out there. I’m loving where I’m at right now and am hopeful I’ll see the results I’m looking for, BUT I may check out her programs down the road. I love stuff like that!
That’s so funny that when you’re on vacation you buy things in the store instead of going out to eat. Ha ha. My husband would go crazy too, but HEY, it’s all in the name of health, right?? 😉
I am so so so proud of you for PACKING HEALTHY TRAVEL FOODS!!!!! Look at you! 😉 Sure those Franken-Nuggets might SMELLLLLLL good, but man do they do NOTHING for you and make you feel like CRUD later! All your go-to healthy travel snacks are the bomb, especially hard boiled eggs. They’re seriously THE PERFECT FOOD!
I’m always sooooo glad when I pack healthy travel foods with me!! I still splurge a little when I’m on vacay, but it’s so nice to have some healthy options. I’ve been thinking of you today on your WEDDING day!!! I hope your day is wonderful and beautiful! <3
Great job enjoying fun treats and little splurges on your vacation without letting it derail you. That is something I struggle with.
Thanks Abby!! It ended up derailing me from my “healthy no sugar challenge” that I set up for myself, but I’ve been so happy that I’ve still stayed in control and motivated. Woot!