Peanut Butter and Chocolate Protein Brownies: recipe bust

I found this post I started almost a year ago in my drafts!  I thought I would post it despite it being a while back!

I have been wanting to make my own protein bars for a while.  I searched the internet for some recipes.  I ended tweaking one of the recipes I found and this is what I came up with.

Before you run off to your kitchen and go to start preparing this deceiving little morsels, let me give you the low down. The name was deceiving.  The wonderful aroma that wafted in the kitchen was deceiving, I gotta be honest with you, they weren’t very good, at all.

So if I were to rate them on a five star scale it would go as follows:

Taste*

Texture*

Chocolaty goodness**

Energy Boost****

Although these bars were down right gross, I had to give them 4 stars for keeping my energy up and warding off hunger.  Often times I need a boost and I crave something sweet, but what I really need is a swift kick of energy to keep me going.  This nasty bar did it for me.  So rather than dump them all in the trash I have stashed them away in the fridge.  The recipe recommended cutting them up into 8 bars.  I could only stomach ½ a bar, and still was given the boost I needed.  The nutrition information is based upon 8 bars though.

One other problem I had with the recipe…. It recommended cooking the batter on waxed paper, which I did.  I could not remove the wax paper though.  I pulled what I could off, but there was no way this paper was coming off.  Maybe next time I will try parchment paper, or just spray the pan.

Please let me know if you try them out and have better luck!!  Or if you have a good protein bar recipe I would love to try it out. Thanks!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Protein Brownies

8 Servings

½ cup old fashion oats

½ cup whole wheat flour

1 ½ cup vanilla flavored protein powder or 6 scoops (I would have done chocolate, but I didn’t have enough)

½ cup dry unsweetened cocoa powder

2 egg whites

1 tbsp chocolate syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ cup natural peanut butter

½ cup-1cup water

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Blend oats until flour.  Add remaining dry ingredients.  Mix egg whites, chocolate syrup, vanilla and peanut butter in large bowl.  Add dry ingredients.  Slowly add water until "gooey". (this does not turn into a batter; it is very thick in consistency).  Pour into 9x9 pan lined with wax paper.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool on cooling rack.  Cut into 8 bars.  Refrigerate. 

211 calories per serving

18 grams of carbohydrates

10 grams of fat

26 grams of protein

3 grams of fiber

Keep in mind that nutritional content will change with brand of protein powder

I Am Back!!

Well, I am gearing to get this blog back up and rolling.  This is my lengthy explanation of where I have been and what I have been up to!

A couple months back I had to stop. Stop all of it.  Initially it was all of my internet time consuming task, but mostly this blog and my “health” goals.  What I was neglecting was my mental health.  I needed to walk away from my blog for a while to re-gain sanity. 

I had made hefty weight loss goals at the beginning of this year and I even joined two challenges that cost me big bucks to enter.  I stopped all of those things too, weighing myself, counting calories, obsessing over whether or not my body was weighing less.  I found I was getting angry with my body and I was feeling crazy with my load as a wife and a mother.  Not a healthy place to be if you ask me!!!

For my sanities sake, I had to stop it all.  I had to re-prioritize my life.  I have visited with my doctors and I am healthy in all physical aspects, other than I am overweight.  Since my mental health was going to pot, I just had to stop it all.  For one whole month I didn’t go to the gym and I didn’t fret over the food I ate.

I maintained my weight for the most part, up until the past week or so where I have seen a gain.  Sigh…

During my time “off” I mostly just took a step back and began breathing again.  I was struggling with anxiety and it was getting worst with my weight loss efforts.  I would stress over things I did not have control over like sickness, and the moods of my children.  I would cry and feel stressed if I couldn’t get to the gym.  It was at a point of I needed to make a change, and I really didn’t want to let go of my goals I had set, but something big had to budge or I was not going to “get better” mentally.

I worried that my anxiety was beyond my control.  I was to the point I had made an appointment with my doctor to talk about options and possible medications.  But due to my doctor being out of town and a job change with insurance not starting up right away,  my appointment was a month out.  I decided before I got into see my doctor I would do every thing I could to get mentally healthy before I went to see her. 

Normally I think most of us would benefit from exercise mentally.  But it was not working for me, it was bringing more stress, especially because all of my efforts felt in vain because I was not losing any weight.  I was feeling more stress about trying to get to the gym, than was good for my soul and my body!

Along with my break from the diet world, I saw a counselor to see if I could sort some things out. My hopes were that I could gain some tools to help me deal with my anxiety so I wouldn’t have to turn to a medication route.

The other change that took place was birth control, I ran out of my prescription for the pill and I wouldn’t be able to re-fill until I had my doctor appointment.  So I went off.  I suspected that the hormones in the pill were partial factor in my anxiety (which has been a struggle for me the whole year I was on the pill).  I started feeling better and better with each day without the pill.  The hormones were messing me up!

Here are some of the things I learned from my:

“break from weight loss”

-Yes, the birth control pill makes me more moody and anxious.  Not a good way to live!

-Going to therapy was helpful and I was able to gain a better perspective and helpful tools for coping.

-Not working out, was a blessing for this time being.  I needed it! Backwards I know!

-You have to put what is most important first, even if it means you have to give up something you want really bad (I had big dreams of being down 60 lbs by June! Not gunna happen!!)

-When I eat lots of sugar I am more moody and it also brings on the anxiety.  Dang, I wish sugar wasn’t a factor cause for some crazy reason I like the stuff!

-When I am not exercising and eating healthy I have a hard time getting to sleep, and a  harder time getting up in the morning.  I missed my deep sleep and the ability to fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow!

-But most importantly I have once again learned how important it is to Trust in the Lord!

So here I am, ready to start making healthy choices once again. I didn’t think my break was going to be as long as it was, but I am grateful to say that I am a healthier person today, even if I still am fat! :)  I can think clearly again, and I am not emotionally volatile, like I was becoming a few months back.  I have gained back a great sense of sanity and I don’t live in an anxious hole of worry.  I am very grateful.

I hope all of you are hanging in there!  Please do not forget to take care of your mental health as well as your physical health.  They go hand in hand and if one is lacking greatly, you can not win!

 Have a beautiful week!

Amber

On Leave....

I am taking leave.  Leave from my computer.  I have decided the best thing for me and my family is to walk away from my computer habits.  I spend too much time pinning on Pinterest, browsing Facebook and too many hours catching up on Google Reader.  I won’t even start with how much time I spend checking email and time on My Fitness Pal!!

I am not giving up on my weight loss.  I am hoping this helps me gain focus where it needs to be.  I don’t know how long my absence will be, but I just need to change some things up in my life.

I hope to return a healthier person, mentally and physically.

Take Care,

Amber

SCC Week Seven Update

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC) Week Seven Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

I feel like I am getting no where, but I am determined to keep moving along and attempting to move forward.  I did however have a NSV, My 14’s I wear most often are loose, and due to my body shape they fall off my rear when they are worn below my belly.  But due to the size of my belly right now they won’t stay on top of my tummy at all.  I really have needed to find a belt.  Last time I tried on my belts from my closet (which I have not been able to wear since having kids) I was disappointed that I couldn’t wear them.  Me and my stubbornness refused to go out and buy a larger size. 

Valentines I was going out on a date with the hubster and I decided to try on one of my belts.  I was able to wear it at the largest size.  It was a little tight, but it kept my pants in place while we were dancing.  I tried on a second belt and it fits even better!  So I am happy for this small step of progress!  It has helped lift my spirits a bit.

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

Eating this week was not so great.  I didn’t track as often as I should have and I ate way too many goodies.  Today I am back on track with logging my food. I did great on water.  I figure if it is one small thing I can do for myself, I can chug my water!

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session

My moodiness is improving, and this morning I was able to go the gym while my husband stayed home with the kids.  It was nice to get in a solid work out with cardio and weights.

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.

Check..

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do. 

Check..

Week 7 Review

·                     How was the 7th week...?  Over all, week 7, was well… ho hum….  But I am slipping out of my slump, so that is good news.

·                     Did you remain sweets free...?  No!  I thought this weeks challenge was to eat with smaller plates and utincels??? I normally eat on small plates, I didn’t change this up, but could have ate on my kids plates.

·                     How were your workouts? The ones that I actually got in were great! Would have loved to work out more though!

·                     How was your water consumption?  Great

·                     What do you think of the mini challenges?   They are good to have. Thanks!

·                     What did you do for yourself that was fun? Dancing on Valentines Day with the hubs!!I

I finally got around to changing my profile picture!! Yeah for changing out my half- grin photo.  I hope you all have a great week.  I can already tell this week is going to be much better than the previous three!!!

... There is good news too!

Okay since I vented on my last post I only though it is fare to tell you about the good things happening in my life today as well.

-After trying to sell my car for several months I have a buyer!  Yes we had to drop the price a couple of thousand dollars, but we have a buyer and we can replenish some money in our bank account!!  I am still crossing my fingers that it all goes through.  I love my car and it is hard to let it go.  I bought it brand new in 2006, we “upgraded” to a mini-van last September so it is time to say goodbye to my lovely little wagon!

-Since my husband became a CPA, we have been searching for a new job.  He has applied many places.  The past two week have been FILLED with interviews (around 10ish!!).  He is even on round three (the job is between him and another individual!) at a job he would really like.  Tomorrow is the big day for this final interview.  We have been hoping and praying this is the job for us and that it will be a significant pay increase (especially since he has never had a raise in all four year of our marriage, even when he did get his CPA!).  Please pray for us!

-I had a nice Valentines with the hubs.  We went to dinner then went dancing.  It was a fun evening filled with Lindy hop, ChaCha and Salsa!  My mom was so gracious to babysit for us, it was wonderful to get out and just be alone for a little while.

So there are some really great things in the works at our house.  I hope your week is going well!

Mommy Blues

Okay, vent session coming on…. Just trying to gain a better perspective of how I can accomplish my weight loss goals.

Right now my number one priority is to be a mom to my kids.  Each Sunday night as I lie in bed I get out a pad of paper and write down my goals for the next week.  Some times my list is full of “To Do’s”  other times it has great aspirations about calorie counting and future work outs.  It feels good to map out my week and slip into restful slumber.

Sometimes the restful slumber is awakened in the middle of the night by my children crying out, for one reason or another.  The most recent weeks have brought my teething 15 month old son, sad in painful tears throughout all hours.  My 2 ½ year old daughter has even contributed to the all night mommy parties.  Late last week she woke up at 2:30am, we brought her to our bed in hopes she would go back to sleep and we could get some rest.  3:15am it was apparent that she was not going to go back to sleep, so we trudged out to the living room so dad could get some rest.  She wanted to talk my ear off.  It is like her brain was processing so much and she was trying to process all she had taken in the previous day.  Sleep didn’t come until 5:30am, after her chatter, moving around getting into trouble I had had enough, I insisted she lie down and go to sleep.  After some fussing, she finally did fall asleep, and so did I.

So here I am exhausted day after day, just from my duties of being a mom/dealing with my children.  I did really well for many months at getting to the gym 4-5 times a week, the losing weight has been slow even on my best weeks with exercise and eating well, which is incredibly frustrating!!

I guess I am calling out to all moms who have been where I am at.  My intentions and goals are all well meaning in my weight loss, but honestly after getting sick two weeks ago I have really been struggling.  My daughter (who is behaviorally challenging) and my son (who is incredibly curious) take every ounce of energy I seem to have most days.  I aim high when I set my weekly goals and recently I am not able to follow through.  I am trying hard to not let it get to my head and get me even more discouraged.  What has worked for you?  How do you do the balancing act with young children?

Today I was determined to get to the gym. Our day started about 6:45am.  The gym childcare opens at 8:45am, closes between the hours of 1-4pm, then opens back up from 4-8pm.  My goal is to get there usually around 9:15.  My son was having a really rough morning, which halted all plans of leaving the house.  My sister-in-law called and asked if I could watch her youngest two kids while she took the older two to the dentist.  So that delayed any gym plans.  My son was still crabby and had I gone to they gym they would have called me out anyhow.  My sister-in-law offered to take my daughter to her house to play when she came to get her kids.  I was happy I would be getting a little break and she was happy to get to play with cousins.

I decided when I went to pick her up this afternoon I would hit the gym on my way back home when the childcare opened back up.  Since my daughter is used to going in the morning, the mix of changing things up and her being tired was the perfect recipe for disaster.  She cried and started throwing a fit before we even got out of the car.  My hopes were she would warm up and be happier once we got inside.  I should have just stopped there at the car door.  The trek across the parking lot and just getting into the door of the gym were filled with crying and screaming.  I had the attention of all the people working out, I even had two people get off their work out machine trying to come to the aid of my daughter when she threw herself in front of the door as it was swinging shut and she fell to the ground.  She tantrumed on the ground yelling, “Candy! Candy!”  I am sure the people were thinking, “Yes, and now we know how your mommy got fat!”

One of the gym workers who knows my children came over and helped us back to the kid room, the crying continued, now my son decided to join in.  I kneeled on the floor trying to compromise with my daughter to get happy and play.  It wasn’t working, not one bit.  My daughter just wasn’t going to calm down.  I decided we would get out of there before my son started back up.

As we were leaving the gym a man who I have never seen before ( I am normally a morning gym rat) said, “Time for her candy?”  I replied, “Oh no, no candy for her.  We were not here long enough for that.”  My daughter actually walked out the door as I held her brother.  Once we got outside the tantrum heated back up.  She wasn’t going to move a muscle.  I swooped her up with my other arm, trying to balance her brother and my two bags, I must have looked atrocious. This is my work out, every day.  Carrying children.  Some days that is all I can get.

So here I sit utterly exhausted reflecting, “How can I make goals that are reachable for this stage my children are in.” I know this time is only a season, but sometimes I want to have and do it all.  Realistically speaking, I can not. I am educated and should know how to deal with some of my situations with my daughter, for goodness sake I have degrees in special education and early childhood development!  Why can’t I balance it all??

I have a wonderful husband who is very helpful, but he can only do so much and recently he has had to work overtime so he has even more on his plate.

So here is the good news… (and possibly the bad news)

Tomorrow is a new day and I get to start fresh again!!

So mommas out there in blog land, how do you balance the juggling act?

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC) Week Six Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

Things are fitting about the same.  This week I have been a little bloated due to TOM, but I am hoping for a great loss next week.  I gained a pound this week and I am ready to shed it!!

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

I had a few great days with eating, and some terrible days like today.  I was out of control!!!  Too much sugar, too many carbs, too out of control!!  But here is the good news, I actually tracked my whole terrible day (over 2000 calories!)  So I am back to the grindstone in the morning!  I did do great on my water though.  I think I may have even hit that goal 100%

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session

I was having some real terrible emotional issues this week.  I was battling with myself to make good choices and exercise was one of them.  I made it to the gym twice, one really awesome work out and one really short work out due to my kids acting up in the childcare and me getting called back to take them out.  I think we are on the upswing with my kids, myself and my husband being sick.  My son finally cut a tooth we have been waiting on.  We only have one more to go and he will have most of his basic baby teeth.  Thank goodness because teething turns my sweet boy into a nightmare who doesn’t nap!

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.

I haven’t done any additional blogging this week.  I am hoping that will change too.  I just have been struggling and I haven’t really wanted to do much of anything.  I think I am doing better and I am keeping a very detailed “behavior log” This is where I am writing down every detail of my day.  In the first column I am writing my action: eating, sleeping, how my body is feeling, etc.  The second column is a comment on how I feel, or my reaction to what I ate, or just more details. 

I am looking for patterns in my eating behavior.  I have been really moody and emotional lately and I would like to see if I can find any patterns.  I guess I already know that sugar and lack of sleep contribute to my moodiness, I just would like to log it all on paper for a little while.  I am aiming for a week of detailed logging, then I will go from there.  Right now I am on day three.

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do. 

I have read many of your blogs, and have commented on some.  I have cut back on commenting as well, but again I hope to get back in to that as well.

Week 7 Goals

• Are you keeping them the same...?  Yes, for today I will be keeping my goals the same.
• Are you switching it up? I will be soon, but I am working on getting things in order at home.
• What has become like a habit?  Water!!! Yeah for being hydrated.

MINI CHALLENGE.... Eat with smaller platers and/or utensils....

SCC Week Five Update

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC) Week Five Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

o        For the month of January I am giving up sugary sweets!

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do. 

Week 5’s Goals in addition to my goals above:

No Caffeine!!

Take my vitamins every day this week!!!

WARNING…. I am crabby!

This week was a bust! Monday I got in a really great workout, which was nice but that is about the only good that occurred.

I was sick with the flu, my son is still recovering from his ear infection and still is waiting on two more teeth to poke through.  My daughter was super crabby.  My husband is sick as well.  This morning he even woke up with pink eye. Arrghh.

I have been frustrated.  I didn’t really address any of my goals.  I was barely functioning a good part of the week. 

I lost weight, but not because I ate well and exercised.  I am sure it is because of dehydration from the loveliness of the flu.  I am sure my weight is already climbing due to my period due any day now and I am super crabby.  I am trying to put frustrations and illnesses behind me and working on stepping forward.  I am still pretty low energy, so I am not sure when I will get in my next good workout, but I am hoping to be feeling well enough by this afternoon to be moving again.

So capping last week……

• Best moment...? When my husband called in sick.  I know sounds crazy, but I could hardly lift my own arms, let alone my kids.  He was sick too, but he was able to rest and care for the kids, as I laid dead to the world.
• Not so great moment....? See above.
• Any funny stories...? none.
• Are you where you hoped you would be in this journey? No, I want to be well!  And truly break my pre-holiday weight!
• Tell why or why not?
• Would you like a buddy for the last 6 weeks of the challenge...? Sure, that could be fun.
• Anybody wanna chat online sometime...? ?? maybe?

So onto week 6!

Mini-Challenge: All water all week. Modify as necessary. I think I can do this!

SCC Week Four

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC) Week Four Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

I did some measurements over the weekend to see how I have done over the month of January.  I lost an inch on my waist, belly and hips.  I was happy there was a decrease, I had a rough week and was a bit discouraged.  I have to look at the positive side of things and keep trekking along.  Over the month I lost a total of 5 lbs.  I am now finally to my pre-holiday weight.  So it took the month of January to work off the months of November and December!

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

o        For the month of January I am giving up sugary sweets!

They say that it takes 21 days to form a habit.  I made it 22 days with out candy, cookies and sweet baked goodies.  And I can honestly say I have not formed a new habit.  It is going to take more than 21 days for me.  Last week I was weak!!  Really weak, I folded and gave into cookie dough and candy.  I had a little bit nearly every day.

Giving up goodies cold turkey isn’t the best solution for me.  I think I do better if I allow myself to have goodies here and there and just make sure I track it to stay with in my allotted calories.

I was a bit disappointed that I haven’t lost more with my efforts.

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session

This week I got in 4 workouts.  They probably averaged 45 minutes, some were longer, some were shorter.  I had great aspirations to make it to the gym.  It didn’t happen.  Both my kids are sick.  Started with coughs, then came the fevers, ear infections and now they are slowly on the mend.  Still sick though, I was really hoping to make it to the gym today!!! I guess I will be doing an at home work out once again!

With my kids being sick, I have had a terrible time keeping up with my personal wants and goals.  I am also struggling to feel well and am fighting off the germies!  I look forward to not giving up and continuing to move forward!!! 

This week for my new exercise I created a playlist on youtube of a beginning zumba work out.  I hope you guys all checked it out!

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.

Check!

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do. 

Check!

Week 5’s Goals in addition to my goals above:

No Caffeine!!

This won't be a problem for me.  I don’t drink coffee, tea or soda.  I guess I need to come up with a mini goal for me this week that will actually be a challenge. 

How about take my vitamins every day this week!!!

I hope you are all doing well!!  Keep your heads held high and February will be a great month.  I am looking forward to winter winding down and spring right around the corner.

Have a great week!!

30 Minute Beginning Zumba Workout

For those of you in the spring chick challenge who are looking for a new exercise to do this week and don't know what to do here is a play list I created on youtube for beginning zumba.  Most of the songs are instructed by tiffanyloveszumba.  Again, I am having trouble embedding things into blogger, so here is the link!

It is pretty low impact, runs for 30 minutes and I think is a nice intro to Zumba.  Let me know what you think.

What are  you trying out for your new exercise this week???

 http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFB92E48586C0E4CA

Hypoglycemia and Your Blood Sugar

I found this video on youtube, that gives a great explanation of your body’s chemistry and how our bodies work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuA3uYS2ws8

Sorry, I tried to embed the link, but it wasn't working.

SCC Week Three Update:

Spring Chick Challenge (SCC) Week Three Challenge Update:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.   My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

Yesterday I dug through my bins of clothing that I stashed away post pregnancy, due to not fitting any longer.  I am happy to say I found another pair of pants that fit me from my closet, they are size 13 and very loose.  12’s still are not even close to buttoning.  My determination will get me there!  And I am down another two pounds this week.

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal

(add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

o        For the month of January I am giving up sugary sweets!

I did well with tracking and water this week.  I really tried to stay near my calorie goal as well.  I did pretty good and it is nice to be able to feel good eating less.  I am trying to get in a lot of veggies and a little bit of fruit.  Fruit isn’t good for my blood sugar, so I try to keep it at a minimum.   I am still rocking my January goal of no sugary sweets, but today I feel weak, and I am battling wanting CANDY.  Arrrrgh!  Only another week and a couple days, until I will allow myself a couple treats.

This week I also tried to steer clear of white flour.  I did pretty good, except for two meals where I was out of the house and I completely forgot.  I am so focused when I am at home in my own kitchen, but it just skipped my brain, when I was out and about.  Even though I ate out twice I still was good on my daily calorie in take.

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session

I got in 5 great work outs (for the third week in a row!)  I am trying to push myself, and work smarter.  I am waiting for that day where I have lots of energy for all this healthy exercise and eating!  There are days like today where I am just exhausted and would love to stay in bed, but just isn’t going to happen with my two little ones, who need care.

I had my first session with my old/new trainer.  It was nice to have someone push me and get me moving again.  The morning of my session, I felt like I was coming down with the flu, my body was achy all over.  Not a workout sore, but a sick sore.  I debated all day if I should call and cancel.  I decided that I felt a little better by the afternoon and I should give it my best and go to the session.  I am glad I went, but I wonder if I am having a hard time with my energy due to fighting a bug, that just doesn’t want to leave. It is that or my body is going through a process of detox and getting rid of gunk!

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.

Check!

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do. 

Check! Yesterday there was something wrong going on with Google Reader.  I could read your blog posts, but when I tried to click into your post to comment, I wasn’t able to even get the page to open up.  I was having trouble today as well, so hopefully it will resolve itself soon.

Week 4’s Goals in addition to my goals above:

*Find a new exercise!