Week Day Routine

Hey guys,

So for the long weekend, the girlfriend and I decided to head out to her hometown. I managed to get 3 consecutive days off without requesting it, so we figured why not take advantage! So off we ventured.

It was so nice to take a few days to kick back, relax, and enjoy some family hospitality. Her mother was the most gracious and very persistent with ensuring we did not go hungry. Cooked breakfasts including eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, the whole works! Definitely the hardest times for me to keep a good diet going.

Now I'm back to reality and once again really needing inspiration and motivation to keep the diet going and get on track to cleaner eating and better choices! They say the trick to becoming healthier and shedding pounds are about 80% diet and 20% working out.

I find for myself, as I'm sure most people, find it easier to do better with my diet when i'm in my routine. For example, today for breakfast I had yogurt, blueberries and a banana mixed together topped with chia seeds. Felt fresh and refreshing and off I went to work. For a snack I had a few cherry tomatoes. Lunch was left over 4oz of steak and mushrooms and onions. For my break I had packed celery sticks with a tablespoon or so of peanut butter. I loved it! I came home from work feeling like I had finally been on the track to making good choices and motivated to do good.

When I got home I felt tired and hungry.. so what do I go for but quick and easy. Chicken burgers. Followed by coffee cake, cream, blueberries and coffee.. it was delicious!! haha But definitely not necessarily the best decision. It truly is all about quick decisions. Whenever I plan ahead I can make the right portion and nutrition decisions.

I'm going to try and incorporate more prep into my routine. Having those celery sticks washed and cut made that snack a no-brainer. These types of guilt free snacks instead of a sugary granola bar or chips and what not, will be the little things to make the difference.

My girlfriend and I in the past have planned out the week ahead and what meals we want to have on each day. Then we proceed to purchase groceries for those meals and buy a bunch of fresh produce and theres always something in the fridge to take.

One of our favourite recipes is this black bean chili from Best Recipes Ever

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Black Bean Chili with Corn

Ingredients

1 tbsp (15 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped celery
1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cumin
1/4 tsp (1 mL) each salt and pepper
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 tbsp (15 mL) tomato paste
1 28 oz can (796 mL can) diced tomatoes
1 19 oz can (540 mL can) black beans, drained and rinsed
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) fresh or frozen corn kernels
2 tbsp (25 mL) minced fresh coriander

Preparation

In saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; fry onion, garlic, celery, cumin, salt, pepper and cayenne, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Add tomatoes and black beans; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until thick enough to mound on spoon, about 30 minutes.

Stir in corn; cook until heated through, about 4 minutes. Make-ahead: Let cool for 30 minutes; refrigerate, uncovered, in airtight container until cold. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Stir in coriander.

Servings: 4

Its great for when I work nights. It's hearty enough for supper and has lots of fiber and protein from the various beans, making it guilt free! Definitely something we try to keep in the freezer or fridge at all times.

So here we go! Need to get back on track and make the right decisions throughout the day!

I'm going to try and cut out heavy night time snacking. Vowing to have fruit or vegetables or something extremely light after supper. Lately I try and sip on cold water and have a green tea before bed.

What are your guys thoughts on coffee? I currently drink about 2-3 tim horton's coffee a day. I only take milk in my coffee, so wondering how much water I would need to drink to keep my body hydrated or if this is anything I need to worry about when it comes to trying to lose weight. 

Thanks, any feedback would be great!

Chantel

Back to Basics - Weight Loss

Hey guys!

So I have once again been really big into following fashion and other types of blogs lately. Time to get the ball rolling on keeping my blog updated. These last few months I have been putting off the gym like the plague!! However something jump started inside when I stepped on the scale to see just near 170 lbs!! A new high for myself. I decided then and there I would get back to my old ways of getting my butt to the gym!!

Does anyone else sometimes feel they can't measure up to many other fashion bloggers out there? Or can't try on certain clothing types because they are made for "skinny girls". Well I want to show you, that all sizes can enjoy fashion and always work towards the body that you feel comfortable in! I am pretty good at pushing myself at the gym and have been really enjoying my time there as of late!

Measurements as of today:
Bust - 38 inches
Waist - 34 inches
Hips - 41 inches

Weighing in at about 168 lbs!
I am about 5'5 so this puts me in the overweight category. I feel healthy but am not too happy about the spare tire I have in my mid section! Time to blast it off. Pictures to follow.

Like most I'd like to achieve some results in order to show a before and after shot! I'm hoping that posting about my health journey will keep me committed. I know for sure that I need to incorporate more vegetables into my diet and lean healthy fats.

As of late I've been finding packing food for work a bit of a challenge. I will make myself a hearty salad for my first break, but by the time my second break comes around I feel as if I hadn't eaten a thing! I guess I need to add more protein or some nice nuts. Care to share with me what you pack for a full day away from home? I leave for work in the morning most days, and by the time I fit in the gym I may not be home until 7:30 in the evening.

I'd love to hear some suggestions on what to pack! I work out at Goodlife fitness, and lately I have been switching up my cardio work out between elliptical and treadmill ensuring to vary my intensity and burn roughly 500 calories. Then I follow up with the 20 minute circuit, trying to do this at least 3 times a week. 

Wish me luck!

I'm still not sure exactly what type of template I want to have but bare with me as I try to figure out what tickles my fancy!

I added a contact me tab so feel free to fill out the form there :)

Let me know if you are struggling with weight gain and if you're ready for a change! Perhaps we can be each others support system.

Shake it out

Creating this blog has been something I've thought about, imagined, fantasized about.. yet the inspiration was lacking.. somehow I couldn't find the energy or the creative spirit I always believed I had, felt locked away in a closet. This evening I am listening to good music, feeling relaxed, not wanting to watch tv episode after tv episode...

Life is fascinating sometimes... finding oneself is always an everyday challenge, someday's feel secure, someday's feel insecure, however one things for certain, everyday is different. That is something I can appreciate.

I want to use this as a place to write out some of the things going on in my everyday life, my everyday struggles and a way to just clear my mind. I am hoping to use this as a way to create inspiration for myself, motivation for health, happiness, and clarity.

Being certain of who I am has always been something I have felt very sure of, what I always dreamed of accomplishing, what I wanted in love, what I thought would make me happy. Now that I have graduated university, live in a city without my family surrounding me, and working two jobs, I am finding these things to be quite fuzzy. I want to use my spare time to connect with myself and learn to get back to loving the things that make me who I am.

I am also an avid fashion blog follower and hope to use this as fashion inspiration, fitness inspiration and all things I believe will help my creatively, spiritually, anything!

I am far from organized as a whole, but I know when something interests me, I have the ability to be passionate about it. Nothing makes me feel more fulfilled or happy than being passionate about something. Whether it be a job, a task, a project, a friendship or a love. I think its what makes my world go round. I am quite the heart on her sleeve kind of girl. Sometimes this is a struggle, however, I do know that it is me. Plain and simple.