Day 77: So close I can almost TASTE it!

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Hello everyone!! I know, it's been a while since I've written. Believe me, I haven't been sitting around doing nothing for the past few weeks! In fact, it's been just the opposite. Quinn and I have rounded up plates, napkins, silverware, dresses, lists, people...and between all of that, there haven't been many moments I could think about working this booty of mine because in the next moment I needed to be here or go there for another event. Happy birthday all you June birthdays! Happy graduation all you high school and college grads! Happy anniversary all you June couples!

Now that I've covered the bases, let's talk about arm flab for a moment. My dress is absolutely stunning - I couldn't be happier with it, in fact I'm going to Barb's Alterations to pick it up tonight and maybe try it on with my brand new veil! Since my arms will be showing over half the evening, I wanted to work on my triceps and biceps like nobody's business...that was a lofty goal!! I think they are in better shape than they could be, but they are no where near where I wanted them to be.

Times like these I have to remember why I started this fitness journey - to put in my best effort and feel like I gave all that I could. Honestly, I do feel that way. I have gotten at least 7 hours of sleep per night for 77 days (give or take a few sleepless nights these passed 2 weeks.) I've avoided most fried, greasy, obviously unhealthy foods and replaced them with the good stuff. I've tried numerous healthy recipes and fell in love with avocados in a whole new way. There's a lot of success to be said about this challenge, even if I'm not perfect. I've never been one to stick to the rules 100%, that's why I look at recipes as guidelines instead.

With 11 days on the calendar to get all our little projects done, we're busier than busy. Things are coming together really well though, I only had one hyperventilating spat, but Quinn knew exactly what to do. He took me in his arms and reminded me that at the end of the day, we'll be married, we'll be together on a beautiful honeymoon, and then for the rest of our lives. I felt the stress melt away as he held me, and again as my lovely cousin and maid of honor helped me sort through more planning, and threw an adorable bachelorette party. Perfection.

Workouts from here on out will be few and far between, but when I can squat I squat! We had a dance party during the bachelorette party...all it takes is listening to the music that plays at Zumba and we have all the moves down. It was a blast! Planking, crunches, and push ups are about all I have time for these days, but that's better than nothing at all!

Here's a fun Bridal Workout I found for when the music is turned up!



And some bloat blasters:




And if I don't write before the big day, know that this blog has been a wonderful help to me and hopefully to you! May you all be beautiful brides on your wedding days and beautiful wives for the rest of your days!


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Day 59: Stay Active, Build Immunity!

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Hello again! How are you doing thus far? Tomorrow marks one month until the wedding day, so I can assure you that I am not very calm in the slightest! We have had many offers for help in the past few weeks, however, so that should help alleviate some of the stress. We have DIY projects coming out of our ears on this one. Once I have everything built to paint, I think I'll feel much more relaxed about the whole thing.

Let me tell you a little about my weekend, it was very full indeed! Friday evening we had a couple of friends over for dinner, whom we hadn't seen in a very long time. It was an evening well spent, it was very nice catching up with them again...and finding out that wedding bells will soon be ringing in their future as well makes my heart very happy!

Saturday morning I woke up with a bit of a scratchy throat, but thought nothing of it and continued on with the day's activities. I had my old teacher/mentor and now friend come over for coffee and muffins and we chatted about old times, then went shopping for shoes. It was absolutely lovely! My scratchy throat, however turned into a screaming headache and I could feel my temperature rising with every minute. I tried to ignore it and go along with the merriment of the day. That evening I had planned to have about 5 or 6 girlfriends over for an old-fashioned sleepover. I told myself, "the show must go on!" So I hopped back in my car and drove to the nearest store to pick up some daytime severe. There isn't a miracle medicine out there, but this seemed to do the trick and the evening went along as planned. Pride and Prejudice on the TV, pizza on the coffee table, fruit and chips all around. I think the weekend was a success.

Sunday morning came and that head cold beat me, right in the face. My friends left as the morning went along, but I stayed in bed until about 4:00 in the afternoon - all the while thinking about how much I wished I was well enough to go walking or to do anything outdoors. I found that listening to my body was what was best as I slept until Sunday evening. At some point Quinn had come to pick me up and bring me over to his parent's house so I could be with him longer. I slept on the couch, then in a bed, then back on the couch all of yesterday. Yesterday, I suppose was Monday? It's been rough. Today is a bit better since I've been resting non-stop. I look forward to going back to normal life tomorrow!

And so I suppose there is the real account of what happened in the past few days. My activity level has disappeared lately, as I haven't had the energy to do much anything, but my diet has been pretty good for weight loss, that is. Yesterday I ate saltine crackers, oatmeal (too rich for my tummy, I found out) and chicken broth with noodles. It was a weird mix of food, but I couldn't taste it anyway.

Today I hope to eat things with a bit more flavor and less richness. For some reason I really crave Life cereal with milk this morning. Oh! Maybe I should have mentioned this first, but I haven't drank any coffee whatsoever since Saturday morning. That in and of itself is quite a big deal. With all the sleep I've been getting, I've hardly noticed, but I thought it was sort of neat regardless. At this point, I wonder if I could give up coffee and switch over to chia tea? Worth a shot! My teacher mentioned that the moment I give up coffee completely, my skin will start to glow like never before. I think that would be wonderful. We'll see, I just love a good cup of coffee in the morning. Just thinking of it right now makes me want to go make a warm cup of joe!

I realize that today is Tuesday, so tonight is my beloved Zumba class. With my head and body feeling the way they are, it would be foolish to attend my favorite class. As far as my healthy readers are concerned, I strongly suggest you go to a class, or find a fun dance workout to do at home. I'll post one here for your enjoyment! I've done these Pop Sugar workout videos before, they will kick your bridal booty! Remember, you get out of it what you put into it.

Here's a great Pop Sugar Fitness Workout



Remember to be eating healthy folks! If you're looking to lose weight, there's no amount of working out that can burn off a bad diet. Put in the good stuff and your body will thank you.

Stay healthy you beautiful brides!! Only 32 days until my wedding day, I'm so excited!!



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Day 51: Lose lbs While You Cook!

Thursday, May 19, 2016

How's everyone doing on the challenge? Day 51 is a big deal, we've been at this for quite a while! I hope that you feel like a beautiful bride, giving fitness your best shot and pushing yourself to the limits!

The wedding day is fast approaching us now as we looked at the calendar the other day and realized that the big day was only 45 days away. We were filled with excitement, but also a little bit of panic because of all the DIY projects we have yet to complete. If we really put our minds to it, we could get in all finished in a couple of weekends, but that's much easier said than done. It's not impossible though, we will achieve our goals! At this point, that's really all the time we're going to have, so it's time to get cracking on those projects.

I know I haven't been very good at posting every single day, but honestly if I don't have the time to write every day, then who has the time to read them? I think we can all agree that life goes 100 mph and we can understand that the time to write may not come in a short weekday. That being said, my workouts have been few and far between this week.

Saturday I would have attended my favorite Zumba class, but I was having company over that night and the house hadn't been cleaned in a long while. I thought it would be a good day to get on my hand and knees and scrub the bathtub until sweat dripped from my brow, along with wipe down the floors (I really need a mop) in there while I was at it. Once the bathroom was sparkling, I moved to my deck to wipe that down and sweep off the dirt/dust from the trees. I got down on hands and knees again to scrub the deck from its toxic sludge collecting from old garbage bags piling up out there. Let me tell you, it's like night and day out there now. When I finished all of my cleaning here, there and everywhere, I stood back to admire my work. What better way to celebrate all of that than to shop for more colorful things to brighten my apartment up? Our the door I went!

Overall, I had the best day ever on Saturday: shopping, cleaning, napping...it was pure bliss! Mother's Day was beautiful as well, I hope that all of you had a wonderful time celebrating the mothers in your lives. My mom and I went to Fred Meyer and stocked up on some shade-loving plants this time to make my little deck a scene from Home and Gardens Magazine. I must say, I'm quite pleased with the results! My mom has a knack for all things beautiful indoors and outdoors, I hope that the green thumb is hereditary.

All in all, this week has been full of activities. I didn't attend Zumba again last Tuesday night, even though I really wanted to. Quinn and I decided that it would be best to work in the yard as much as we possibly can while the weather is beautiful for the next few weeks. On the bright side, this passed Tuesday night, I was able to attend and get my full workout in!

I have been adding in little arm workouts and squats here and there. While I'm cooking dinner, I like to grab my free weights and do some bicep curls and tricep extensions. I find it's a good way to pass the time while waiting for water to boil, or meat to brown. Throwing in a few squats or standing crunches is always a good idea too!

Too often I hear people complain about getting bored while cooking, so they'd rather buy something pre-made or go out to dinner, but this is a great way to lose weight and be healthier overall. We all need exercise, that's a no-brainer. I'm sure saving money sounds appealing too! Cook at home and add a few workout moves in the kitchen. Watch your wallet fatten and your waist whittle away before your eyes.

Here are a few moves to start with!



As of today, there are 37 days until Quinn and I are husband and wife. The countdown is starting to tick a little louder in my ears with each day! I can barely stand it, we are so close to being married FINALLY. I am loving every second of this beautiful wedding season!



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Day 36-38: Reasons Why Sleep Is So Important

Friday, May 6, 2016

Wake up 5:10am

Ever felt like all of your body's energy is being sucked out from the soles of your feet and the tips of your fingers? Ever felt like your eyelids carried two bricks and you were left to struggle to keep them open during the day?

If you relate, you'd understand how I feel on a day like today. Why haven't you been sleeping enough, Heather? Don't you know sleep is possibly the most important part of looking and feeling your best on your wedding day?! The answer is ridiculous, has 4 paws, and is covered in fluff. My lovely little neighbors moved in about 4 months ago and lived there quietly all this time until that fateful day they brought home two yapping Pomeranian dogs. I consider myself a dog person, so I understand that they are part of the family, are great running partners, protectors, etc. My personal opinion though is that if the dog can be punted like a football, it doesn't qualify as a fully-functioning dog. These little fluffy balls downstairs have decided to start their yapping around 7:30pm or so, and continue to yap until 12:30am. When I wake up at 4:45am or 5:10am every day, those few hours of rest just won't cut it for me.

Today I decided that, since I have already discussed the issue with my landlord, it would be best to take matters into my own hands and write a note for them. I've met these people before, they are lovely, but their little dogs are certainly not. My note reads, "Dear Neighbors, We all love dogs, and we are sure your little puppies are lovable bundles of fluff...but the barking every night until 10:30pm or later needs to stop. Please do something to solve this problem, your neighbors will greatly appreciate it. Management has been notified. Thank you! - Your tired neighbors" Harmless right? I didn't sign my name because I'm not looking to pick a fight with these little people, I just want some decent rest. I know I'm not the only one, my other neighbor directly next door to them was pounding on their door the other night, making sure to share her frustration...only to excite the dogs more and find out that the residents were probably not even home, hence the repetitive yapping.

Good thing it's Rest Day! I think I'll take this opportunity to discuss the importance of rest on the body. Check out this helpful diagram!





WORKOUT

For Wednesday's workout, I tried this fun abs/obliques circuit! I was sore yesterday from it, so you know it's good!




Recalling the diet for the past 3 days gets tricky for you and I both to keep up with. I didn't really stray far from the normal meals actually. I made Eggs in the Grass a couple mornings and I made a delicious Garlic Chicken Penne the other night that was out of this world. More details on that to come!!

Bedtime - shooting for anytime BEFORE 12:00am tomorrow morning. Hopefully the yappers will shut their trappers.


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Day 35: Flab Attack!

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Tuesdays are good days. I would almost say they are as good as Fridays to me now since I look forward to the evening all day long. If you've been reading my little ol' blog for a while, you'd know that Tuesday nights mean Zumba night! I have so much fun doing Zumba because you get out of it what you put into it. If it weren't for the crazy loud music blasting through those speakers, it would be 12 times harder to keep up the pace of all the moves - just one more reason to love it!

Yesterday I was looking at some pictures of myself from last weekend's showers. Some people are notorious for taking photos at the absolute worst angle imaginable - one that would make any normal-looking person look like a cow - so I am probably not as large as the photos made it seem. Regardless of that fact, I still felt like flab was attacking my arms and face. Thankfully our Zumba instructor has added in weights and killer arm workouts to the routine, so I worked hard on those parts last night. I have noticed a difference in my legs though! Quinn shared his appreciation of that lately too, so that makes me very happy!

Here's a great flab buster workout to try!


DIET

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs
I went very simple today
2 eggs
salt & pepper

1 daily coffee w/milk and honey

Lunch: Burrito
1 homemade turkey/bean burrito
1 orange cutie

Should have eaten more, but ran out of time at work!

Dinner: Tuna Melts...again
Since I went straight to Zumba, this was the quickest meal we could think to throw together. Good thing we both LOVE this meal!
4 slices Dave's Killer Bread: Good Seed
2 cans tuna
1/4 cup mayo
2 tbsp mustard
salt, pepper

Bedtime 9:30pm



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Day 34: Showered with Sweets

Monday, May 2, 2016

Wake up 4:45am

Hello and good afternoon to you! What a weekend, let me tell you! Saturday was a beautiful Bridal Shower, put on by my very talented aunt that blew the whole thing out of the water. Everything was "pinterest perfect" as we say! Later on that night, Quinn hosted a barbecue for all of the groomsmen, and most of the bridesmaids as well. Then the very next day we went to a Wedding Shower and had more cake, sweets, gifts, and lots of laughter. We had a blast!

This morning was back the reality though, and I realized that I had relaxed quite a bit over the weekend when it came to my diet and exercise. This week I feel the need to get some serious exercise in, as well as healthy eating. Aside from the dessert-y options at the showers and s'mores at the bonfire, the rest of my diet was actually pretty healthy. Lots of fresh fruit, turkey burgers (with only 1/2 the bun) and some pita chips with dips at the shower yesterday. I think the most sugar-filled options were the scones, cake, s'mores, s'mores bars (homemade, yes please!), and copious amounts of chocolate-covered coffee beans. They are all so yummy, but now it's back to business!

Now that I have openly admitted my sugar-craze this weekend, I am ready to do something about it from here on out. My stomach/body will certainly appreciate it, that is for sure.

The workout of the day didn't happen today, unfortunately. I don't have an excuse other than my own stubbornness. I kept my diet the best I could today though, so at least that piece was taken care of!

DIET

Breakfast: Egg Burrito
3 eggs scrambled
1 sprinkle cheese
salt & pepper to taste
1 tortilla

1 iced caramel americano for the road!

Lunch: Amy's Thai Coconut Soup
from the can, it sounded much better than it was!
Nutrition Info here

Dinner: Egg Salad Sandwich
For Quinn and I
1 slice each of Dave's Killer Bread: Good Seed
4 hard boiled eggs, cubed
1/4 cup mayo
2 tbsp mustard
1 dash salt, pepper, paprika

Simplicity is delicious.

Bedtime 9:00pm


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Day 31: #Stress

Friday, April 29, 2016

Hello there! You know life is getting jam-packed full of events and projects when I name a post with a hashtag. Yesterday morning I drank a triple-shot americano with milk and honey, if that's any indication that sleep hasn't been had very much, maybe the bags under my eyes and uncontrollable frizz of my hair will suffice. Why? Late nights, schedule shifts, new neighbors with a miniature excuse of a dog that yaps until about 12:30am every night...I honestly think that dog is the biggest reason I've been so sleep deprived this week.

I'll be perfectly honest, the only workouts that have happened this week were Monday night "Zumba" class (more like salsa that I didn't follow AT ALL) and Tuesday night Zumba class. Tuesday was the day before our instructor's birthday, so it was a packed house and SUPER fun!

Each morning, I tried to get up early, but this week got the best of me. Even as I write this, my eyelids feel as though there are bricks resting upon them.

On the *somewhat* bright side, I can tell that I've lost a few inches because my bras are not fitting like they used to! Not sure if that's the area I wanted to be losing inches, but if it means healthy living, I'll take it!

This weekend is packed full of events, bridal showers, wedding showers, and hopefully a little more sleep at some point. This has been something I've looked forward to for quite some time! It will be nice to see family and old friends I haven't seen in a long time. I'll warn you now, the blog probably won't be updated until some time next week, but I am proud to report that my diet hasn't gone off the rails nearly as much as it could have! There was one night that we went to Costco for dinner and I planned on getting a salad, but they were out of stock for the day, so I had a slice of pizza. I'm not even mad about it. It was right after Tuesday's Zumba actually, so my body was still burning plenty of calories.

Tonight begins the weekend of showers! May your weekends be lovely!





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Day 27: Weekend Recap Take 2!

Monday, April 25, 2016


Hello all! As the wedding season has shifted into full swing, I realize that writing the blog every single day is going to be more of a challenge than before. This weekend, in a nut shell, included a dinner date with my big brother, a lunch date with my aunt, dancing lessons with Quinn's aunt and uncle, and a birthday party for the future father-in-law. Setting aside a few minutes to write just didn't happen, but that's okay. I did get to plan out my lovely little bridesmaid/flower girl gifts and it's turning out great! I'm having so much fun with all these little details!

As far as workouts go, I actually took a Rest Day on Friday. That was nice! Saturday morning I was hoping to go to Zumba, but timing didn't work out like I originally thought so I went on a long walk on my old running route. I tried jogging, but my knee isn't ready for pavement just yet.

This morning, it was my lofty goal to wake up at 4:45am and workout before work, but I didn't sleep nearly enough to make that a logical choice. No matter, the day is still young and I made this commitment to getting as fit as possible! Tonight I will go to Zumba at my gym for the night class and I won't talk myself out of it this time. Zumba for all!!



DIET

Breakfast: Green Burrito
1 cup spinach
2 eggs
2 tbsp salsa
1 sprinkle cheese
1 tortilla

Directions:
Whisk the eggs and pour into a lightly greased pan (or non-stick). Throw in the spinach and salsa, let cook covered on low-medium heat for 4 minutes. Remove lid, fluff up egg mixture, then add cheese and cover with the tortilla. I do this to soften the tortilla for rolling. Remove the tortilla, fill with egg mixture and roll up to enjoy!

1 daily coffee

Lunch: Chicken Noodle Soup
Progresso Traditional Chicken Noodle Soup
Out of the can, I know. 
1/2 pink lady apple
2 orange cuties
1 Jillian Michaels detox drink (recipe here)

Dinner: Burrito Night!
ground turkey
taco seasoning
garlic
cheese
salsa
tortilla
YUM

Bedtime 10:00pm? The late Zumba class threw off my schedule, and it was a different instructor that was about as boring as a dry piece of toast!



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Day 23: (At Least) 10 Reasons Sunrise Workouts Are The Best!

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Wake up 4:45am

I did it. I woke up at 4:45am, threw off the blankets and got myself out of the door by 5:00am and into the gym at 5:15am. This feeling of accomplishment is so worth it! I figured coming even earlier than most people, the gym would be nearly empty and only filled with people who are there to actually work out. As it turns out, I was right!

I decided to try a new machine at the gym: the stationary bike. There are the kind with the chair and handles that most everyone relaxes on while watching a movie on the built-in screen, or scrolling through facebook on their phone. That just doesn't cut it for me. I went for the bike with the real seat and put the intensity level up to level 7 or 8 for 20 minutes. I was already sweating because the weather has been so lovely and the air conditioning system at the gym I go to isn't amazing, but I suppose I was burning even more calories that way so I can't complain.

After the 20 minutes on the bike, I jumped over to the stair-climber. I hadn't been on this machine before because there are usually people flocking to it the second someone steps off. It was a good workout, I climbed for about 15 minutes or so before I was really exhausted. My arms felt flabby as I passed by the mirrors along the wall, so I thought I'd hop off the stair-climber and try out the free weights. This early in the morning, I was sure to avoid those grunting gym-rat squatters that seem to congregate by the weights and mirrors. (You know exactly the type I mean, don't pretend like you don't know one personally. I could name probably 5 off the top of my head.) Although my hopes were high, there he was: the grunting gym-rat squatter lifting more than necessary and taking breaks long enough in between lifts that he wasn't even breaking a sweat. Good thing there's plenty of at-home arm workouts that will suffice just as well until I can bare the thought of taking my workout seriously while witnessing this:


After the gym I had plenty of time to go grab a coffee, only to find that the shop I like going to was closed until 7am, which is when I need to be at my morning job. However, I did walk down to the ferry terminal this morning before work and just breathe in the wonderful salty air while watching the sunrise. That was so lovely, I would strongly suggest that you all should make the time to go walking outside and enjoy the fresh air every single day!

When you explore, you get to enjoy the views like this:

Hashtag no filter? Yes. That's just the beauty of Washington State!

DIET:

Breakfast: Egg Burrito
1 tortilla
2 eggs scrambled
1 dash salt & pepper
2 tbsp salsa
1 sprinkle cheese (Mexican blend)

1 iced caramel Americano (that was a total treat on this hot day!)

Lunch: Tuna Salad
1/2 cup tuna salad (leftovers)
1 cup spinach
1 pink lady apple
2 orange cuties

1 Jillian Michaels Detox Drink (recipe here)

Dinner: Tuna Melts!
This is the Heather-didn't-plan-ahead-today dinner
Serves 2.5
2 cans tuna
1/2 cup mayo
3 tbsp pickle juice
4 slices Dave's Killer Good Seed bread
1 cup Mexican blend cheese

This was a wonderful day!

Bedtime 9:00pm


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Day 22: A New Found Inspiration

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

This morning at 4:58am, my eyes popped open as I listened to the birds welcoming the day as if it were a surprise. Pink and orange clouds reflected the sun's playful light behind the mountains though my dining room window and I felt the overwhelming urge to go running at the crack of dawn. My knee reminded me of it's delicacy, but my heart yearned for the outdoors.

I would have gone for a brisk walk this morning, but my 2nd job starts at 7:00am now. I had a lovely 4 week vacation from that job, but now it's back to it! My nanny roots are still strong, I care for some energetic kiddos in the mornings before taking them to the bus stop and heading off to work. I wouldn't trade this for anything, they are like family to me now.

I found a way to fit in my workout AND keep my life schedule under control each day. I decided that Monday-Thursday I will wake up at 4:45am, throw on my workout attire and head to the gym for a solid 45 minute workout, then drive to my morning job at 7:00am. Dry shampoo was created for a reason - I'm not going to let a little sweat stop me from working my hardest before the wedding day.

66 days people. It's time for a miracle.

WORKOUT



Have I mentioned how much I love Pop Sugar Fitness? They have it all. I'm a huge fan!

DIET

Breakfast: Heather's Oatmeal
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup blueberries
2 tbsp raisins (for fun today)
1 sprinkle chocolate chips

Lunch: Chicken & Rice Bowl
1 cup cooked rice
1/2 cup shredded chicken
1 tbsp pesto
1 sprinkle Parmesan cheese

1 pink lady apple

Lots of water!

Dinner: Tuna Salad
Serves 2-4
2 cans chuck light tuna
1/4 cup light mayo (olive oil mayo is even better and has great flavor!)
1 dash pepper, onion powder
1/2 pink lady apple
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup crushed walnuts
1 plate of spinach each

All I have to say is YUM. I love a cold salad on these warm days!


Bedtime 8:30pm, for tomorrow we attempt the earliest workout I've done in a while!




Have some motivation to add? Please comment below! Just do it! I read and respond to the comments!

Day 21: Catching Up! Weekend Recap

Today is Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Hello there everyone! My goodness has it been one very busy weekend! I haven't had the chance to sit down and write out much of anything except for wedding invitations and such. The crafter in me went a little nuts when it came to hand lettering envelopes. I hope and pray that everyone attending the wedding will fully appreciate all the time that went into making their invitations. Even so, I had an absolute blast making each and every one of them!

Let's see, where to begin. Friday was the 15th, so I decided to let that be a rest day. I have found that my rest days are falling on Fridays, which works out perfectly well for my schedule. (Don't forget about that Arm Challenge! Technically today is the last day, which means tomorrow we start over!)

We spent this weekend working on odds and ends of the wedding preparations for the grounds. We tried to water the grass seed that was spread, only to find a busted pipe. Pretty soon that project was tackled with some shoveling gravel and whatnot, although there may still be work to do on that one. At this point, our schedule is getting crammed with little get-togethers here and there, dancing lessons, wedding coordinating, and all sorts of things. It's hard to recall the days now, but I'm pretty sure I didn't do enough actual working out as I did socializing, writing, and planning this weekend.

Saturday morning I did go to Zumba though, and that was a blast as always! Company while flapping like a chicken makes this all worth it!!

No diet record this time. Remember to eat healthy and watch portions, chances are you already know what to do or not do! Check out the chart below for reference



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Day 16: Only 72 Days Until Our Wedding Day

Thursday, April 14, 2016

One year ago I made the most important decision of my life. It was a Tuesday night, I called Quinn to come over for dinner after work. He said yes, he loved coming over for dinner. I made something yummy and Mexican (I honestly don't remember what it was that I cooked that evening) This was the day that we finally had the "talk" about whether or not we were dating. It was the most intense conversations we had ever had at that point, but at the end of the day, we were both the happiest people alive.

He kissed me for the very first time that night. Now, I'm not one to date around for fun, I think that would be exhausting to give away my heart time and time again and never find the one I'm perfect for and vise versa. Quinn was my best friend, he know all about my views on practically everything. He was serious about me, and I was about him. We decided that night that if we were going to start dating, it would have to lead to marriage, otherwise there would be no point taking that step into romance with one another. We stayed up until 3am talking about life, beliefs, values, plans...it was pure bliss. From that day forward, we have been happy ever since!

Since we sort of consider April 1st to be our date-night-out type anniversary, so today I decided to make some chimichangas for dinner to surprise him when he comes over. I usually don't bake things and crisp them up, so this will be a treat for us both!

WORKOUT



You will be sore tomorrow and it will be worth it!!


DIET

Breakfast: Oatmeal Squares
1/2 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup oatmeal squares

1 daily coffee

Lunch: Sandwich
2 slices 9-grain bread
2 slices ham
4 slices cheese
4 or 5 bread & butter pickles
1 tbsp mayo & mustard

Dinner: Homemade Chimichangas

I tried to follow this recipe, but substituted chicken for ground turkey, and pretty much just used what I had in the kitchen to make them. Sour cream and guacamole look nice on top, but I didn't have any of that either so I used salsa. Quinn is easy to please when it comes to Mexican food, so it was a hit!



Bedtime 10:00pm (not 3:00am like last year, haha)




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Day 15: Stretch Day

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Wake up 5:30am

I believe that a flexible body is a healthy body. I would love to be as flexible as all the yoga sequence ladies, but I haven't quite attained the ability to be that bendy. All things in time though, we have to start somewhere!

Growing up, I didn't have the luxury to be part of a sports team, or gymnastics, or much of anything extra-circular. I have a feeling that if I had been part of something, anything, I would be much more flexible than I am right now. We did swimming lessons for a little while, but not long enough to impact my life. I suppose my experiences in P.E. with dodge balls flying toward my head probably had me running to my mom telling her I never wanted to play a sport. Dodge ball is the dumbest game I have ever heard of, especially for the little, geeky-looking girl (me) up against a bunch of fifth grade bullies. What a beautiful memory. What were we talking about? Oh yes, it's my goal to make sure our kids are involved in as many activities their hearts desire, as long as it makes sense.

Stay tuned for future articles involving 50 Reasons Homeschooling Rocks

Now for the details:

WORKOUT

Stretch Day!


DIET

Breakfast: Eggs & Cheese
2 eggs
1 sprinkle cheddar cheese
1 dash salt & pepper

1 daily coffee

Lunch: Sandwich
2 slices nine-grain bread
1 tbsp mayo & mustard
2 slices chicken
4 thin slices of cheese (not pre-sliced, I used the cheese slicer)
4 or 5 bread & butter pickles (these are my favorite, I would eat the whole jar)

Dinner: Chicken Stir-Fry
Serves 5
2.5 lbs chicken half-frozen (approx. amount)
3 tbsp minced garlic
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/8 cup teriyaki sauce
2 red bell peppers
2 cups broccoli
2 cups carrots
1 dash red pepper flakes
1 dash pepper (probably didn't need as much pepper as I put in)

4 cups cooked rice

Directions:
Chop up the half-frozen chicken into cubes and put in a lightly greased frying pan. Turn up the heat to medium and add in the garlic on top. Cover and let sizzle while you gather veggies and slice them into strips. I cut the broccoli into more bite-sized portions. After about 15 minutes, add in 1/8 cup soy sauce to the sizzling chicken. There should be plenty of liquid in the bottom of your pan from the chicken, this will keep it moist throughout the process of cooking. Now add the veggies on top of cooked chicken, turn the heat down to low-medium, pour remaining soy sauce and teriyaki sauce over everything and cover. Let the veggies cook for about 10-20 min or until they are steamed through. Serve with freshly cooked rice and enjoy!

I love a stir-fry!

Bedtime 9:30pm



Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day 14: Week Two!

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Wake up 5:30am

Welcome to week two of the Fit Bride in 85 Challenge! I must say, I am thrilled that this day falls on a Tuesday because tonight is ZUMBA night! Tuesdays are quickly becoming my favorite day of the week. The mix of aerobic and body-weight strength training is perfect for having fun and getting fit.

Today sort of felt like a race to complete everything that needed to be done. Maybe you feel that way on Tuesdays? After the Monday slump has subsided, I get a serge of energy to complete the week's tasks on Tuesdays.

I find that having one really neat thing to look forward to each week actually makes life much more enjoyable. For example, Quinn and I used to watch a TV show on Hulu called Miranda every Thursday evening before we were dating. I'd get home from a long day of work and make dinner, then he'd stop by after he got off of work and we'd laugh until our sides hurt. I suppose we were dating then too, but I didn't know it. Those are the sweet memories I will cherish forever! (If you haven't seen that show, I highly suggest it if you like to laugh!)

WORKOUT

Zumba night!




DIET

Breakfast: Heather's Oatmeal
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup blueberries (although I ran out a week ago)
2 tbsp honey
1 sprinkle chocolate chips

1 daily coffee

Lunch: Pesto Pasta
1 cup whole wheat pasta
1.5 tbsp pesto
1 cherry almond Larabar

Lots of water!

Dinner: Pizza
I went to Quinn's folks' to check out the wedding grounds after Zumba. I didn't even feel guilty eating that pizza because we worked really hard! 2.5 slices was all.


Bedtime 9:30pm



Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day 13: Walk Off The Calories!

Monday, April 11, 2016

Wake up 5:30am

Time to start the day with a lovely brisk walk along the rolling hills of beautiful Snohomish. The birds singing, a little bit of fog looming in the valley, sun rays peaking through. This is pure bliss.

I can hardly wait to move here and have this be my back yard and morning experience every day. Right now I live in my own little apartment, which I love, but the fresh air and happy bird songs swirling in the air make me feel right at home.

WORKOUT

This weekend, I stayed with Quinn's folks until this morning. Quinn decided to wake up early and go walking with me. We went around the "block" which makes 4 miles all together. It was lovely and didn't take us too long. I discovered that since running the 9 mile Hot Chocolate Run in Seattle about a month and a half ago, my right knee hasn't been the same ever since. Downhill walks or jogs make it ten times worse. Thankfully the exercises like yoga, Zumba, or any of the fantastic body weight exercises that we have yet to discover help with the strengthening of those knee muscles to prevent injuries in the future.

Here is a fantastic explanation of injuries related to running and how to prevent them!



DIET

Breakfast: Egg Sandwich
2 scrambled eggs
1 tbsp salsa
1 sprinkle cheese
1 whole wheat English muffin

Lunch: Sandwich
2 slices 9-grain bread
2 slices chicken breast
1 tbsp mayo & 1 tsp mustard
4 or 5 bread & butter pickles (I love them!!)

Dinner: Qdoba
Naked Burrito Bowl
Lime rice
Chicken
Lettuce
Cheese
Sour Cream (I know, I only had about 1 tbsp after scooping off the generous amount they gave me)
Pinto & black beans
Pico & corn
Queso
Corn chips

YUM - this was cheating. Quinn and I went on a little date, but we tried to keep it as healthy as possible.

Bedtime 8:30pm


Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Days 11 & 12: Wedding Workout Weekend

Saturday-Sunday, April 9-10, 2016

Well hello! We have a lot of ground to cover over the passed weekend, and I mean that both literally and figuratively. My friend Erin stayed with me until Sunday because there was much to be done in the woods where Quinn and I will be getting married. Quinn picked up another job on weekends, so Erin and I got to work out in the yard with Quinn's folks until he came to join us later on.

Before the festivities of the day began, I took Erin to Zumba to jump start the day! We had a blast and got a really good workout as well. This time, our Zumba instructor packed the most intense workout into 45 minutes and didn't stop. Talk about sweat!

After Zumba, we went out to lunch in Snohomish at a little Thai restaurant and split the Swimming Rama & Pad Thai dish. It was divine, especially when we were so hungry after that workout. With the sun shimmering in the sky, it was a lovely afternoon to get things done in the yard.

Items on the list to do on the wedding grounds: move stump rounds of a dead, fallen tree out of the pathway, limb and clean up tree branches, hurl logs onto a burn pit, and dream about the beautiful wedding that will take place out there! Within a couple hours, we had made great progress! Quinn's mom was in charge of the tractor, which made the biggest difference I think. We towed up the earth and leveled out the grounds, then rearranged ideas of ceremony and reception placement.

My mom came to check it out towards the afternoon. It made me so happy to have all the people I love so much in one place! We worked on assembling the invitations and addressing envelopes as well. Everything is falling into place so well, it feels like a fairy tale - the grounds especially look like a fairy land.

This was a nice, long weekend for sure! I don't think I'll write down every meal exactly this time. Keep in mind to eat healthy, you know what is good and what's not. Think of the caveman diet - if a caveman could eat it, then so could you. Could a caveman get a hold of a candy bar? A bag of chips? A pudding cup? No. He could only eat healthy meats, veggies, and fruits that the land has to offer naturally. No excuses. Are you serious about getting fit? Processed foods are not what our bodies were designed to consume. I know they are yummy, but if you're serious about doing your body a huge favor, it's time to put away the cheese puffs and pick up something wholesome.



Don't forget to get lots of sleep and water too! I average about 8-9 hours per night. I know that not everyone can do that, but while my life allows for it, I will take advantage of it.

10 weekends left until it's wedding time! 10 weekends of planting grass, trimming trees, weeding gardens, and preparing to marry the man I love with every fiber of my being. The word 'excitement' doesn't quite cover how I feel!


Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day Ten: Rest Day

Friday, April 8, 2016

Wake up 5:30am

Today is Friday and my good friend Erin is coming to spend the weekend with me to help with some wedding preparations. I've been looking forward to this day for a couple weeks now for some much needed girl-time! She loves reading this blog and following along, so I couldn't be happier to take her along with me to all the weekend activities that I have planned. As far as today goes, it is a day of rest.

I try to relax as much as I can on rest day, but since I have company coming, there's a lot of normal housework that needs to be done. This morning, since I woke up early and chatted with Quinn on the phone for a bit, there was time to clean up my room and do some dishes. Not much of a workout, but that's okay.

REST DAY

Take care of that gorgeous bridal body of yours and rest on this day. You've worked hard, you deserve a little TLC.

DIET

Breakfast: Eggs in the Grass
2 eggs
1 cup broccoli
1 sprinkle parmesan cheese
1 dash salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder

Lunch: Avocado Mac&Cheese!
I have got to say, this turned out wonderfully! I'll be making it again soon!
1/2 avocado (mashed)
1/2 cup cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
1 dash salt
1 cup whole wheat elbow noodles (cooked)

Directions:
Mix up everything except the noodles until homogenized. Mix into the noodles and warm up on the stove (or microwave) until heated through. Enjoy!

Dinner: PF Chang's
Cashew & Almond Chicken
We split this dish, it was more than enough for both of us to enjoy.

Bedtime ??




Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day Nine: Flattening the Tummy Pooch

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Wake up 5:10am

The best part about being a bride is zipping up a gorgeous white gown and twirling around in it like you did when you were 4 years old, wearing your mom's skirt and heels. I tried on my wedding dress not long ago, after the first sewing alteration was complete. (I trusted Barbara with Barbara's Bridal Boutique & Alterations with my gown. She has done an amazing job, I highly recommend her if you haven't found a seamstress yet.) 

I stood up on the pedestal and smiled as my mom and future mother-in-law complimented me and thanked Barbara for her beautiful work. Once I looked in the mirror, so many emotions fell over me: excitement, joy, nervousness. As I stood there looking at this gorgeous dress, my eyes traveled down my front and focused on the pooch on my lower abdomen. I started to panic. This, friends, this is why we are doing the Fit Bride in 85 Challenge. That feeling of panic, while wearing the most important gown of my life thus far, is unacceptable if I have anything to do about it. I wouldn't want to be at the end of the aisle knowing that I could have worked harder. I want to stand there knowing full-well that I worked as hard as I possibly could to reach my goal. If my 'before' picture doesn't look any different than my 'after', but I have worked my tail off, then that's okay.

Barbara looked me in the eyes and said, "Heather, Quinn loves you for who you are. You look stunning right now and you know that he will think so too." She's right. The moms were right too, they all agreed. Sometimes it's good to have that reminder, but the goal still remains. I've made a commitment to this Fit Bride in 85 Challenge and I intend to stick by it, just as a bride and groom stick with their vow to love one another forever.

Isn't the commitment the reason we're here? That being said, here is the workout I did this morning!

WORKOUT
Now Victoria Secret models may be photoshopped into perfection, but this workout will seriously kick your booty into gear if you decided to go from beginning to end. We will be doing this next week, but today I decided to focus on my core. I completed the Waist/Oblique section and added in some yoga for strength training. 


Don't forget about the 21 Day Arm Sculpting Challenge! We are on Day 8 today. I think I skipped a day somewhere along the line, so I fell on Day 7 and did the challenge. If you do this every day, it certainly can't hurt, but you may get really sore after a while.

DIET

Breakfast: Eggs in the Grass
2 eggs (sunny side up)
1 cup broccoli
1 dash salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder
1 sprinkle Parmesan cheese
(I call this Eggs in the Grass because you cook the eggs in the pan atop the broccoli "grass".)

1 daily coffee w/milk & honey

Lunch: Avocado & Tuna Sandwich
1/2 avocado (mashed)
1/2 can tuna
2 slices Dave's Killer Bread: Good Seed

1/2 pink lady apple
1 orange cutie

Dinner: Costco Caesar Salad
Nutrition info found here

I don't like to use the entire container of dressing on my salad, I think it defeats the purpose of choosing the healthiest thing on the menu at Costco. I use about 1/3 of the container depending on the day.


Bedtime 8:45pm



Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day Eight: Elliptical Workout Take 2

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Wake up 5:30am

Day eight and still loving it! I woke up this morning even before my alarm sounded. Amazing. It's happened, I'm officially synced with this new routine and I couldn't be more pleased! The best part about this is the determination I feel every morning to get up and try something new. I love to write, but writing about the same thing over and over again is tiring. The Fit Bride in 85 Challenge is all about new, exciting, and fun ways to get in shape and lose weight! Now then, on with the details!

WORKOUT

20 minutes run on the Elliptical (I chose level 7 at 5.0-5.5mph)

Check out the chart below for the amazing benefits of the elliptical machine!



After Zumba the day before, I was still pretty sore. I'm finding that every day, the soreness is still there, but it's bearable - inspiring actually, to go push those muscles to their limits.


DIET

Breakfast: Heather's Oatmeal
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup blueberries (roughly, I ran out this morning)
2 tbsp honey
1 sprinkle chocolate chips

1 daily coffee w/milk & honey

Lunch: Pizza (provided for my co-worker Kelly's birthday!)
MOD Pizza:
garlic chicken
pesto drizzle
feta cheese
mushrooms
spinach
YUM

Dinner: Skipped! I was still full from lunch!

Bedtime 9:30pm




Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day Seven: One Week Down!

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Wake up 6:45am

Hello there! Welcome to the end of Week One!! I hope you all feel proud and accomplished as you have made it through 7 days of workouts, I know I certainly do! At this point you might be thinking, "Isn't it time to treat myself with some cake?" No. That's a big "No, no" for the Fit Bride in 85 Challenge! If you must have something sweet, like we all do from time to time, please choose the healthy options. No sense throwing off all that hard work you've been putting in to reach your goal! Dates are fully of sweetness and will curb that craving no problem! Use discretion and check the nutrition facts for the amount of dates you should consume.

WORKOUT

To celebrate Week One, I decided to fill the day with as much activity as I could! I did one set of the Plank workout from yesterday, along with day 5 of the 21-Day Arm Sculpting Challenge in the morning. I should have worked harder and still wish that I had put in more effort to that. See? This regretful feeling isn't worth it - always put in your best effort when you know you can push yourself harder! I made up for it in the evening though at my new favorite Zumba class! If you haven't tried Zumba, you are seriously missing out. It's so hard, but so fun! Being in a room full of people dancing with you adds a level of comfort and motivation. Zumba is all about having fun and getting in shape, so even if you look like a chicken, chances are over half of the class does too and that's okay. You'll still be covered in sweat by the end of the workout anyway, so it's worth the fun of going and getting involved! I'm going to bring one of my friends the next time I go this Saturday morning, I can hardly wait!

Looking for a Zumba class in your area? Search for one here!



DIET

Breakfast: Heather's Oatmeal
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup blueberries
2 tbsp honey
1 sprinkle chocolate chips

1 daily coffee with milk and honey (I should mention that I have an espresso maker at home that I make espresso shots with, so it's not just boring drip coffee. This is why I use a bit more milk to cut the bitterness, but lately I've been using less milk.)

Lunch:
3 eggs hard boiled
1 pink lady apple
1 orange cutie

I packed 1 cup cooked broccoli, but never got around to eating it. I guess I wasn't that hungry.

Dinner: Thin Crust Pizza
Papa Murphy's Canadian Pineapple pizza and Chicken Bacon Ranch (Quinn thought he ordered garlic chicken, but accidentally got this one. He realized it when he opened it up, but that's okay)

Bedtime 9:30pm


Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day Six: True Rest Day

Monday, April 4, 2016

Wake up: 6:45am

Good afternoon! I suppose everyone joining me in this challenge will be happy to know what today is: Rest Day. This morning I woke up and did a few stretches to help start the day, I suggest you do the same. Every morning and night it's a great idea to stretch out your muscles to release any built up tension, and it builds flexibility. I enjoy stretching on days like today because I like to feel as though I have accomplished some sort of exercise every single day - even if it's Rest Day. I know it sounds silly, but there it is. Stretches make for better workouts, so check out these morning and night stretch sessions.

WORKOUT


Saved from Spark People


Saved from The Running Bug

DIET

Breakfast: Heather's Oatmeal
1/2 cup steal cut oats
1/4 cup blueberries
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp chocolate chips (use dark for best flavor & health benefits)

1 cup daily coffee

Lunch: Tuna Salad
1/2 can albacore tuna (Kirkland brand)
1/2 avocado
1/2 head romaine

2 large carrots (sliced & dipped)
1 pink lady apple

Dinner: Spaghetti with Chicken
1 cup edamame noodles
1/2 cup organic tomato sauce
3.5 oz chicken

Bedtime: 10:45pm
(I spent the evening at Quinn's folks' house)



Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day Five: Plank Day!

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Wake up 7:00am

Hello to you all and happy Sunday! Today we decided to work out in the yard for some wedding prep. Quinn and I are getting married in the woods, and right now the grounds are very bushy and wild. I love it, but it isn't easy to walk around just yet, and definitely isn't ready for a wedding celebration. That being said, our workout involved throwing logs and branches on the fire and cleaning up the surrounding area.

This morning however, I thought I'd work on some planks since they are the best way to get razor sharp abs!

I can pretty much guarantee that each and every one of you wants a strong, flab-free core. The problem is that in order to achieve that, we have to put in a LOT of work, simply because of the way our bodies are designed. That's okay though, we're doing this together. It will be worth it!

WORKOUT
This is killer. Feel that burn!

 


DIET

Breakfast:
1/2 cup oatmeal squares
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 cup coffee w/milk and honey

Lunch: Lettuce Sandwiches
4 romaine leaves
4 small slices ham (Kirkland brand)
1 tbsp mayo (spread between each leaf)
1 tsp mustard (same)
6 pickles
1/2 avocado (yum)
2 slices cheddar cheese

Roll 'em up and eat 'em! 

Dinner: Chicken Nuggets
Homemade, but not healthy. Still at Quinn's folks house, and that was what we had.

Bedtime 10:45pm (much too late for a Heather!)

Day Four: "Rest" Day

Good afternoon! Welcome to day 4 of the Fit Bride in 85 Challenge!

This morning I woke up at 5:10am without an alarm, then immediately realized that it's Saturday and there's no reason for me to be getting up that early on a weekend. I crawled out of bed at about 7:00am, only to find out the reason we've been eating clean. My stomach lurched and grumbled until finally rejecting the chicken alfredo and cheesecake that I enjoyed the night before. Lesson learned: don't order the heaviest meal on the menu if you're stomach has a history of weakness.

I'm the type of person who loves structure - having a set plan for each day and always knowing what to expect. Weekends are not like this at all whatsoever, so I will do my best to explain the current day. I usually hang out at Quinn's folks' house on the weekends to spend time with the family, so this is where my meals sort of vary a little. We keep things as clean as possible during the week and sort of relax a little on the weekends. Lately I think our "relaxing" has been where this pooch on my belly has come from, so all the fun foods we eat for celebrations of this or that will have to be put on hold...possibly forever. It's worth it! That delicious wedding cake is only 84 days away and we will both thoroughly enjoy it!

WORKOUT
Since I spent the morning in the bathroom, I'm not entirely sure if this workout will happen for me today - BUT that is no excuse for you readers who are in perfect condition today and are looking for an easy way out. No excuses. I'm still going to do Day 3 of the 21-Day Arm Sculpting Challenge because these flabs aren't going to work themselves into shape. I encourage you all to continue on with this workout. I will do my best to join you as my stomach allows.

Leg Workout:
For first-timers, warm up with 100 Jumping Jacks, then go through this once. Looking for a challenge? Warm up with 100 Jumping Jacks and finish the leg circuit. then do Day 3 of the 21-Day Arm Sculpting Challenge - if you finished that, give yourself a pat on the back.




DIET

Breakfast:
Today's plan was my delicious broccoli and egg recipe from yesterday, but instead I managed to have some saltines and water. Delicious. However, here is another great breakfast recipe to try from my very own momma!

Mom's Breakfast Veggie Hash (serves 3-5)
2 tbsp minced garlic
2 bell peppers (diced)
4 cups spinach (diced)
1 cup broccoli florets
1 half onion (diced)
10 eggs (whisked for scramble)
2 potatoes *optional, not recommended if you're trying to cut calories.

Directions:
Start with the onions and potatoes (if using) by sautéing them in a hot frying pan. When those are about clear, add in peppers and garlic. Let these cook for about 5 minutes, then add in broccoli, spinach and whisked eggs. Mix everything together until the eggs are cooked through, then sprinkle some salt, pepper, and paprika over it all. Enjoy!

Lunch: Quinn made me a sandwich today!
2 slices multi-grain bread
1 tbsp mayo
1 tsp mustard
3 slices cheddar cheese
4 bread & butter pickle chips

Dinner: Burrito Night!
1 flour tortilla
1/2 cup beef (seasoned with taco seasoning)
1 tbsp sour cream
2 tbsp refried beans
1/4 cup lettuce
1 sprinkle cheddar cheese
(Like I said, when away for the weekend, you do as they do.)

Bed time: hopefully before 11:00pm


Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day Three: Sore

Hello and good day to you! Today marks day 3 of the challenge! For those of you who have joined me, I must say I am thrilled to have you aboard!! I'm so happy to be surrounded by encouraging folks that will take this challenge seriously and motivate one another. One of the most important parts of success is accountability and motivation. Thank you for all the support!

Today was a day for rest, in a way. I decided to head to the gym at about 5:45am this morning and get started on the workout. Since I've been doing quite a bit of strengthening exercises, I thought a nice morning run would do the trick. Being that I love running and have been doing it for some time now, a morning run was just what I needed to take on my Friday.

Day 2 of the 21-Day Arm Sculpting Challenge is to rest - perfect timing because after all those push-ups and arm moves, my body needed it. I feel like I'm starting from ground zero on my arms, but thankfully they seem to toughen up pretty quickly with enough exercise.

Today is also April Fools Day!! Hopefully you all have fun traditions to keep this day wacky and weird. Quinn and I have our own tradition. On this day one year ago, Quinn tried to get the point across to me that he was in love with me and wanted to pursue more than just friendship. Of course, I was oblivious to this little detail, thinking that we were "just friends" and I was somewhat satisfied with that at the time. He left an enormous bouquet of flowers on my door step (inside of a vase he had to special order from France) and a Trader Joe's 1 lb Dark Chocolate bar. After coming home to find all of this on my doorstep, he greeted me there and took me to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory in Bellevue, where I had never been before that night. He went the extra mile to make it clear that he wanted to date me with the intent to marry me, since we'd been friends for 7 years at that point. Long story short, we ended up having "that conversation" about 2 weeks later, sealed it with a kiss and have been two happy little people ever since!

Why am I telling you my love story? So that I can justify my amazing cheat meal I am going to consume tonight with Quinn at the Cheesecake Factory. It will be every bit of delicious and I can hardly wait to get all pretty and go out with the man I love!

Friday, April 1, 2016

Wake up 5:10am
WORKOUT

30 Minute Run
21-Day Arm Sculpting Challenge - Day 2: REST

DIET

Breakfast:
This was so yummy I have to share my recipe with you. Please try this, it's unbelievable.
2 eggs (sunny side up)
1 cup broccoli florets
1 pinch salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika
1 sprinkle Parmesan cheese (for flavor, so yummy)

Directions:
Warm up a slightly greased (or non-stick) frying pan on low-medium heat. I put mine at the 2.5 notch of my coiled stove top. Cut the florets into bite-sized pieces and place in your frying pan, then crack each egg on top. Sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika over the whole thing. Top with a bit of Parmesan cheese now, if you want it melted, then cover and turn the heat down to low. I turned the heat to the 2 notch of my coiled stove top. Let cook for 25 minutes, eat your masterpiece immediately thereafter.

I made my daily coffee, then went and took a shower while this was cooking. Perfection.

Lunch:
Egg & Avocado Salad
2 eggs (hard boiled)
1 half avocado (cubed)
1 half head romaine lettuce

2 orange cuties
(I could eat more for lunch, but I'm saving my appetite for what is to come at dinner time)

Dinner:
Cheesecake Factory yummies!


Bedtime 8:30pm



Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day Two: Frustration

Here goes day 2 everyone! This morning my alarm startled me awake at 5:10 am, reminding me that I made this 85-day commitment. I would love to report that I jumped out of bed full of enthusiasm and excitement to get going on another workout...but that would be a bold-faced lie. I sluggishly slumped out of bed and found my workout clothes in the dark while desperately trying to wake up.

After a short conversation with Quinn (he calls on his way to work in the morning) for some much needed motivation, I found myself sifting through some body weight workouts to try. I decided to attempt an at-home workout instead of taking the 20 minutes to drive to and from the gym. I don't know about your gym, but mine doesn't really have an acceptable place to do body weight workouts without being stared at like a circus performer.

Hopefully my little neighbors downstairs didn't mind the jumping jacks at 5:30 am.

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Wake up 5:10 am
WORKOUT
I call this the 50 Workout. My goal is to do this every other day or so, along with another body weight or free weight workout to make the flab on my arms disappear.



I also added this bit! It's a bit confusing being on Day 2 of the challenge and Day 1 of this circuit, but that's okay. I'll have time to do this circuit 4 times by the time the end of the 85 day challenge is up!




DIET

I forgot to mention something extremely important yesterday. Water! If you're looking to lose a bit of weight, this is the key. Water, water, water. Forget all that sugary water business, it's time to get serious and do your body a favor. Here is the break down on how much water is needed for your body weight: 0.5 ounces X body weight in lbs = daily water requirement in ounces (8 oz = 1 cup)

For me, I need to be drinking about 9 cups per day. This used to be simple because I worked as a nanny for a series of years and picking up babies, cleaning up houses, watching out for curious toddlers trying to jump off of dangerously high surfaces...all of that was exhausting work. Getting my daily water intake was no problem back then, but now I work at a desk job and the challenge is on! Take heart, we're in this together.

Breakfast:
2 eggs (scrambled)
1 cup spinach
1/2 avacado (healthy fats!)
1 pinch salt & pepper for taste
1 cup of coffee w/quarter cup milk & 3 tbsp honey

Lunch:
4 turkey & cheese roll-ups (just turkey and cheese alone)
4 carrots large sticks (cut and dipped, about 1 tbsp ranch)
1 banana
2 orange cuties

Dinner:
Chicken Stir-fry
Here is my recipe for two, plus leftovers
2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts (cubed)
2 cups broccoli florets
2 cups carrot (sliced)
1 cup cauliflower florets

Sauce:
2 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp shredded ginger root
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp sriracha (optional)

I learned most of this from DamnDelicious.net which is full of wonderful recipes to add to your collection!

It's pretty simple: sauce ingredients in one pan, chicken and veggies in another. Once everything is cooked through I marry the two mixtures and top it with some sesame seeds.

Bedtime 8:30pm


Have some motivation to add? Comment below!

Day One: Motivation

Today, there are 87 days until I marry my best friend, Quinn. Along with all of the excitement and joys on the road ahead, there's plenty of pressure to look and feel my very best for this special day. You brides know what I'm talking about! Whether you're single, engaged, or married, I'm sure you know what it's like to look forward to a special event and want to impress the socks off of everyone, especially that handsome man you plan to say or have said your vows to.

And so! That being said, today marks day 1 of an 85 day journey to fitness! Why 85? Rest is important and leg cramps while walking down an isle doesn't sound like a good time.

I hope to encourage anyone who wants to be a better version of themselves - any bride who plans to look and feel like a princess on her special day - anyone and everyone who will accept the challenge and fight the doubt.

Be motivated! You're beautiful. You're one of a kind.

Day one is tough. I'm about to find out just how far I can push this body. There are a lot of little comments floating in my head saying, "Heather, you can't really keep this up for 85 days," and "There's too much to do, you know you probably won't stick with it," and even the slightly sweet, yet terribly non-motivational statement "Heather, he loves you no matter what your body looks like, you don't need to change a thing!"

I'm choosing to combat these comments with the truth. I can do this. I can succeed and stick with it for 85 days - and even the days there after! Furthermore, although my body looks fine right now, I know there is room for improvement - toning, strengthening, and overall health. See below for my daily intake and workout plan!

Today, March 30, 2016

Wake up 5:30am
WORKOUT
HIIT 30-Minute Elliptical

This may look simple, but I was dripping with sweat by the end. The best part is that since I started this workout so early in the morning, I had plenty of time to get ready for the day before work without racing around my apartment! I know not everyone likes getting up early, but for me it's important for meeting goals. If you're a night person, that would be the time for you to fit in a workout. All I know is that it works!

DIET

As we all know, this is the most important piece for overall health. If we're doing this, we're going all the way. No bread, no refined/artificial sugars, no unnecessary starches or oils, etc. Clean eating is yummy, and opens the kitchen to so many more options!

Thankfully, I'm not doing this alone, Quinn has decided to join me and be fit right along side me! Although we run at completely different paces, he'll still join me in eating healthy every day. We've been doing that for quite some time now and it definitely makes a big difference.

Breakfast:
3 Eggs (sunny side up)
1 cup Spinach
1 pinch Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Garlic Powder
1 cup of Coffee w/half cup milk and 3 tbsp honey

Lunch:
Spinach & Egg Salad (Egg salad on a bed of spinach)
2 Orange Cuties
4 Carrot Large Sticks (cut and dipped in ranch...I know, I know, but carrots make me gag otherwise)
1 Pink Lady Apple

Dinner:
Taco Salad
1 Romaine Head sliced
1/2 cup ground turkey
1/2 cup black beans
1/2 cup re fried beans
1 sprinkle of cheese blend on top

Bedtime 8:30pm

We all have to start somewhere, here is my Day One photo. I'm so excited to see the difference that 85 days of dedication and hard work can make!!

Have some motivation to add? Comment below!