Reason 31: To never forget

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

Having goals is super important on this journey but what's equally important - and sometimes forgotten - is the actual journey, itself.  How we got to where we are now, the hardships and roadblocks we've come across, and the events/people/things that make you who you are.

The journey itself is just as important as the destination we're headed to.

To help remember my journey, I'm recapping all the reasons why I'm doing this:

• Reason 1: To keep up with my fur babies
• Reason 2: To believe in myself
• Reason 3: Learn to achieve goals
• Reason 4: To avoid diabetes
• Reason 5: To prove to others that I can do it 
• Reason 6: To run a half-marathon 
• Reason 7: To have the body I deserve 
• Reason 8: So my weight doesn't control me 
• Reason 9: To be an inspiration to others 
• Reason 10: So people stop judging me 
• Reason 11: To feel achievement... 
• Reason 12: So what I do becomes a habit 
• Reason 13: To relieve stress 
• Reason 14: To have a nice set of "guns" 
• Reason 15: To save money 
• Reason 16: To be comfortable in my own skin 
• Reason 17: To run Koko Crater 
• Reason 18: To find a balance 
• Reason 19: To join the Army 
• Reason 20: To take care of me 
• Reason 21: To walk the walk, not just talk the talk...
• Reason 22: To bring my sexy back 
• Reason 23: To wear the clothes I want to wear 
• Reason 24: To see what I REALLY can do 
• Reason 25: Best gift ever 
• Reason 26: To improve my wellbeing 
• Reason 27: Increase my flexibility and mobility 
• Reason 28: To not get sick 
• Reason 29: To improve all areas of my fitness 
• Reason 30: To be here longer  
• Reason 31: To never forget

I'm on this healthy journey to never forget how far I've come or where I'm headed.

Reason 30: To be here longer

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

For the first time in our history, Americans are expected to have a shortened life span due to health related deaths.  Per Professor Google, no other time has humans ever reached a peak life-expectancy and then decreased it.  Isn't that crazy?!

I want to be here, alive and healthy, for as long as I can.  For myself, the people who love me, the people I love, and for my future family. 

Many health related problems are preventable, even curable in some cases, with proper nutrition and physical activity.  If I have the tools to increase the number of years I'm around in this world, why wouldn't I want to take advantage of that?

I'm on this healthy journey to live the longest I possibly can.

Reason 29: To improve all areas of my fitness

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

Every part of fitness you can think of, I want to improve.

• flexibility
• strength
• agility
• coordination
• speed and quickness
• functionality
• power
• cardiovascular
• body composition
• endurance
• balance
• reaction time

I'm on this healthy journey to improve my overall fitness as a whole.

Reason 28: To not get sick

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

Yup, I realize today is the 30th and I haven't done reasons 28, 29 or 30.  Why?  Because I've been sick.  I woke up on Wednesday with a sore through, congestion and sinus pain so I've been in bed for the past two days.  Last night I had cold sweats and think that's when my sickness "broke" because today I woke up feeling much better!

Still have a slight sore throat but I'm able to swallow food now - I've been on a liquid diet for the last couple of days and even liquids were hard to swallow.  Hoping tomorrow I feel WAY better not only because of New Year's Eve but I have an early Great Aloha Run training to go to.

I'm on this healthy journey so I decrease my chances of getting and staying sick.

Weigh-in Wednesday and turkey meatballs

Starting weight: 176.4
Last week weight: 135.2 
Current weigh: 137.4 

Current loss:  +2.2 

TOTAL LOSS: -39.0

Tough Christmas weekend with LOTS of food.  Back to it this week...

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Italian Turkey Meatballs (in the slow cooker)

This recipe came from a website which is quickly becoming one of my favorites: SkinnyTaste.com

Why do I love this recipe?  It's fast, easy, and you don't have to brown the meat on the stove before you put it in the slow cooker (I know it gives it added flavor and crusty-ness but I'm more of a one-pot kinda cook).  I did change some things in Gina's original recipe (like switching out parsley for baby spinach in the meatballs) but this was super yummy!!  Definitely made it into my regular recipe rotation.

Ingredients:
(this recipe makes 10 servings of 5 meatballs each)

• 20 oz. ground turkey breast
• 20 oz. lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup baby spinach leaves, finely chopped
• 2 eggs
• 2 cloves of garlic, diced
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp salt

For the sauce:

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 8 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
• 56 oz. cans crushed tomatoes
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp black pepper

1.) In a large bowl, combine first 9 ingredients.  Mix well with your hands and form 1/8 cup meatballs.  For this, I used a 1/4 measuring cup and just divided each scoop into two... and I employed the boyfriend to roll the meatballs for me.  =)

2.)  In a small sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium heat and brown garlic.

3.) Add browned garlic and olive oil to your slow cooker.  Add remaining ingredients for the sauce into the slow cooker and mix.

4.)  Add uncooked meatballs into the sauce, cover and cook on low 4 - 6 hours.

 Before cooking...

... and after cooking.

5.) Serve over pasta or zucchini "pasta" and ENJOY!

Reason 27: Increase my flexibility and mobility

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

As we get older, flexibility, mobility and functional strength decrease.  By staying active and healthy, I'm hoping to maintain and increase all the movements I need to stay injury-free.  Example: lifting heavy items off the ground.

I'm on this healthy journey to stay mobile longer.

Reason 26: To improve my wellbeing

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

It goes without saying that your wellbeing is just as important as your physical health and in my case, they work hand in hand.

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When I exercise and notice a change in my body, the change improves my wellbeing, which in turn keeps me motivated to stay on track with losing weight.  It's a catch 22. 

I'm on this healthy journey to feel good about myself inside and out.

Reason 25: Best gift ever

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

Because being the healthiest I can be is the best gift I can give myself!

Merry Christmas!!

(source)

Reason 24: To see what I REALLY can do

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

Whether it's physically, mentally, or emotionally, I can't wait to see what I'm capable of doing.

Squat double my body weight?

Get to my fitness goals?

Compete and finish the Warrior Dash?!

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That's right!! The Warrior Dash is coming to Hawaii for the first time and I'm trying to get a team together.  It's a "hellish" 3.01 mile course filled with fire jumping, mud crawling, cargo net climbing, barbed wire army crawls, log jumps, and MUCH more!

From the website, all fitness levels can participate because you can skip obstacles if you need  to - you just won't qualify for prizes. 

I'm on this healthy journey to push myself physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Reason 23: To wear the clothes I want to wear

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

Like most girls, I love shopping... used to like shopping... hope to like shopping again.  Being on the bigger and shorter side of the scale, it's much harder to find clothes that fit well.  I can't really shop in the "regular" women's departments because the clothes are too long.  In the petites department, the clothes fit nicely length-wise, but not width wise.

If I was at a healthy weight/body fat percentage for my height, I could easily get away with shopping in the junior's department - which would save me some money, too.

Plus, a lot of clothes just look better on a fitter body.

Athletic clothes, work clothes, casual clothes... I would feel a lot more confident if I didn't have to worry about what to wear everyday... if I didn't have to worry about being uncomfortably too tight in some areas... if I didn't have to worry about my arms or legs looking like sausages. 

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I'm on this healthy journey so I can start wearing all the clothes I want to wear... and look good doing it!

Reason 22: To bring my sexy back

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

I wanna start by saying I have a GREAT boyfriend who loves me no matter what and I can't imagine life without him (I got his "okay" to write this as my Reason 22).

That being said, I would love to be at a healthy weight, fit as hell, and know I'm attractive to the opposite sex.  Not just in an attractive way, but in a "holy-hell-how-did-she-get-arms-like-those".

At my lowest weight and when I was the fittest, guys would come up to me a lot.  I made a lot of friends this way and met some great boyfriends (of course, the occasional douche bag was in there too).

Now, guys still come up to me (a lot less often) but they're usually the creepy/weird kind.  It's mean to say, but I'm not joking.  One guy approached me at the gym a couple of months ago and started to talk to me but he was so into himself.  He looked at himself in the mirror behind me about 98% of the time, casually flexing his muscles.  The other week, a guy came up to me when I was eating lunch with Anthony, stopped by our table, and just started waving at me and kept asking what my name was.  Luckily, mall security was walking by so they asked the guy to keep moving along... good thing so Anthony didn't have to say anything.

Anyway, I'm totally not looking for another boyfriend or anything like that, it would just be nice to be appreciated by guys again...

I'm on this healthy journey to bring my sexy back!

Reason 21: To walk the walk, not just talk the talk

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

For the last three years, I've read hundreds of different articles/books/magazines/blogs/research papers and I believe I have a pretty good sense about what kinds of things - exercise and nutrition - work for the body.  Of course I'm not an expert and I don't know all the scientific details about why some things work and some don't, but I can talk your ear off about health and fitness.

I know what and how much you should or shouldn't eat.  I know how to put together a decent workout schedule.  I know what works for me and I know it's different for everyone.

It's time I really start doing what I preach and get to my goals... no excuses.

I'm on this healthy journey to not only talk the talk, but to walk the walk too.

Weigh-in Wednesday: !!!!!

Starting weight: 176.4
Last week weight: 138.6

Current weigh: 135.2

Current loss: -3.4

TOTAL LOSS: -41.2

Don't freak out... it's not a true 3.4 lbs lost.  Remember I had a tough couple of days before weigh-in last week?  Well, today's weight puts me right on track (1-1.5 lbs. a week) from two weeks ago when I was at 137.6.  Hard work, right nutrition, and consistency pays off, people!!

Speaking of hard work, remember I started power lifting/training with a barbell several weeks ago? My PT sessions have been going awesome and every week we would work on my form and adding weight to four major moves: squat, chest press, shoulder press and deadlift.  Today I back squated 145 lbs. for 8 reps!! May not be a lot but for me that was a huge NSV! I still suck at chest and shoulder press (which is why one of my Dec. goals is to work my upper body) and deadlift is getting there.

Hmmm... now to join a power lifting team so I can train all week long (vs. once a week)?  That is the question!

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Reason 20: To take care of me

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

Since I was little, I've had many pets.  From fish to guinea pigs to chameleons to birds, my parents were always afraid of what I'd come home with next.  Sometimes I wouldn't even ask if I could have the animal, I would just bring it home, set up the cage, and let them "discover" my new friend.

Right now I don't have children, but my fur, feather and scaly babies get the royal treatment.  They get the best food my money can buy, exercise is top priority for them, their living areas are much bigger than what people consider normal (my guinea pig cage was 3' x 7'... in my room!) ... and I would cook for them!  Even my fish would get steamed leafy veggies and I would hunt for my chameleon's food.

They had the best of everything.

While all this was going on, I would feed myself junk food, exercise was never a priority and in no time I gained weight.  It's time I started taking care of me!

I'm on this healthy journey to put me first and take care of myself.

I'm free!!!

What a weekend!!  I helped my mom make Christmas treats, went to a play, visited a brand new grocery store opening, finished Christmas shopping, and woke up early for my first "official" Great Aloha Run training.  This was a L-O-N-G weekend and I probably couldn't have done it all but I don't have work for the next two weeks!!!  I work for the State and for the past couple of years we've had to take furloughs and the last two weeks in December are part of it.  I'm so excited... don't have anything planned but just to have the time off is GREAT!!!

I'm free!!

Friday night I went over to my parents' house to help my mom make Christmas goodies.  And when I say make I mean use store bought goodies and decorate them.  We chocolate-dipped oreo's, red vines, pretzel sticks, and cookies... it was so much fun I kept asking my mom for more stuff to dip!

One of the best parts of visiting my parents (besides seeing my family) is I get to see this old lady...

... my old dog Dustee.  She's 14 years old and my first dog ever.  When I moved out of my parents' house, I couldn't take her with me cause even though I moved into a pet-friendly condo, she's not dog friendly so it was going to be too hard to worry about running into other dogs in the hallways and elevators.  But my parents live super close by so I see her often.


Saturday Anthony and I walked down the street to visit the grand opening of a new Safeway.  It's the biggest in Hawaii but I wasn't that impressed. 

This one didn't have a lot of the things another Safeway several miles away has - like a salad bar, hot bar, bulk items like nuts and grains, and a nut-butter station.  It does have a TON of selection/variety so can't complain about that.

Saturday afternoon I attend a play put on by our local theater... Cinderalla!  (No pictures, I forgot my camera in a different bag).  It was good, but since it was based on the original Rodgers and Hammerstein (instead of Disney) I missed all the cute Disney-esque qualities.

Sunday I woke up early for my first GAR training (you can read about it here).  So how'd it go? Hint: it went awesome!

Here's to another great week - work-free!!!

Reason 19: To join the Army

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

First of all, I want to say that I am very thankful to all our service men and women who put their lives on the line for our country.  I have the highest respect for them and this post is not meant to offend, insult, or otherwise reflect negatively on any of our armed forces.

That being said, did you know the army has a weight restriction?  And at the current state I'm in, I can't join the army even if I wanted to.  From Army.com (click on the picture to enlarge):

For my height of 60 inches, I cannot weigh more than 131 lbs.  From what I was reading on the site, if you don't fall into the required weight category, the Army then looks at your body fat % and you probably guessed it... I don't qualify there either... just by 1%.  Very sad that my weight is keeping me from having a choice of serving our country.

I'm on this healthy journey so my weight doesn't hold me back from anything.

Reason 18: To find a balance

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

Having balance is necessary for every aspect of your life.  Whether it's financial balance or family life, you need to have it to keep things sane.  Since this is a weight-loss/fitness blog, I'll keep my reason of balance to nutrition and exercise.

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Right now, I'm teetering between neurotic and normal.  And normal to me, means not thinking about food or exercise 24/7.  Not worrying about whether or not I measured or weighed my food correctly.   Not eating something at a party because I don't know the exact calorie count of a serving.  Not worrying about my workout: upper body or lower body today?

I wear a Bodybugg (LURV it!) and count my calories religiously.  I'm constantly checking my calories burned for the day to see if I can eat an extra two ounces of salmon or if I can fit in that extra apple.  My brain is constantly on my activity level and I find myself going for short walks throughout my work day just to boost my levels.  There's nothing wrong with that and it's worked for me, but is this something I can keep up for the rest of my life?  Counting calories everyday?  Worrying about getting a high enough calorie burn?  NO THANKS!!  I don't want my life to be run by the fact that I'm trying to get healthier and fitter.

I'm on this healthy journey to find balance between exercise, nutrition, and life in general.

(source)

 Like how I used a fitness related pict for my "balance"?

Runner's high... at only two miles?!

YUP!!!

I just got back from my first "official" Great Aloha Run training session and it was awesome (I say "official" because this morning was the first training session put on by Great Aloha staff... I started training on my own since I signed up for race a couple of weeks ago).  Woke up super early...

... put on my new shoes...

... and headed to Kapiolani Park for the 6:45 training.

Last night I was dreading waking up early and going by myself (Anthony works late on Saturday nights and works Sunday morning so he wasn't going to make it),  and thought of about 50 excuses why I shouldn't go but I said SCREW IT, JUST GOOOO!!!!!!  So that's what I did.  =)

Since it was the first training session, we did a quick 2-miler and I ran with the 10 minute/mile group.  Only two miles but I felt so good after!  Runner's high after only two miles... for me it was!  Can't wait for next weeks 3-miler!

Reason 17: To run Koko Crater

(The list of "31 Days of Reasons" is not in any particular order)

When I began this journey, hiking was a major part of my workout routine.  I figured if I was killing myself, I'd rather die out in nature than on a treadmill.  I quickly learned to love it and there was one hike I liked to do often because it was pretty brutal.  Now, one of my goals is to run this:

Koko Crater (Stairs) Hike.  The hike is pretty much straight up the side of a mountain and is made up of old railroad tracks that were used to transport artillery material to a bunker at the top of the mountain.  The hike is 1000+ steps up and my fastest time walking with breaks is about 22 minutes.

I want to get out to Koko Crater - haven't been there in over a year - to see where I stand now... and see how much I have to train to be able to run it.

I'm on this healthy journey to do one of the things that make me say "WTF?!" - in a good way - when I see someone else doing it.

It always goes to sh*t!

I know it happens to everyone and I know how to keep it from happening to me but I still do it.  Why does one bad food decision cause the rest of the day to go to sh*t?

The other day was the office holiday party and I went in SUPER confident.  I signed up to bring a tray of fresh veggies - because no one signed up to bring anything remotely healthy - so no matter what was served, I had something I could fill up on and still be on track.

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Started the day strong.  I woke up, had my normal breakfast and didn't pack my mid-morning snack (which I usually eat at 10:30ish since the party was at 11), got tons of work done in the morning, then it was party time.

Filled my plate with veggies, brown rice, steamed Chinese white fish (!!), and sauteed shrimp.  I was allowing myself to eat anything I wanted but only if I wanted it REALLY bad.  I didn't, so I stayed clear of all the fried foods: chicken, eggplant, gyoza, rice, and noodles.

Or at least I did on my first round of food.

After I was done eating my first plate, I walked around and did the polite talk-to-all-your-coworkers-and-pretend-you-like-them-cause-it's-the-holidays bit but I was still hungry.  Headed over to make my second plate and before I knew it, I was carrying back a plate full of fried rice, noodles, sushi, fried chicken and gyoza.

At this point it's already in my head that today is shot to sh*t so "What the hell?" I'll have some dessert too.

Kahlua rum cake, butter mochi, and two chocolate drop cookies.  @$%*!!!!!

When I went home I was already feeling so guilty about everything I ate.  I even planned ahead for dinner and had the crock-pot cooking my healthy eats but noooooooo! Day's already ruined so might as well eat out and stuff my face with sushi.

Why is it so hard to just leave it at one bad meal?  Why does it ALWAYS have to carry over and ruin the entire day?

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