Grocery Shopping Without A List

You guys…

I went grocery shopping without a list!

I neeeever do that anymore. I always have a list even if it’s just a short one or one that I’m repeating over and over in my head. Basically I always have a plan.

But this time I went to Kroger (local grocery store) without a plan. It ended up costing me more than I should have spent and wasn’t very thorough. I did buy a few things that will last the whole two months I’m here so that’s something.

Here’s what I got (the roomie’s leopard cat checking it all out):

ground turkey breastsliced deli turkeysalmon (in the packs, not cans)tunawhole wheat breadapplesstrawberriesbaby carrotsorganic baby greensnatural peanut butterKashi Go Lean cerealalmond milkluna and cliff barsred hot blue corn chipsketchup, light mayo, mustard, salad dressing

I’m probably mostly going to make myself salads and sandwiches (or turkey burgers) while I’m here because it seems like too much work to cook just for myself. It’s just easier, though I might change my mind later if I get the urge to make awesome meals since there is actual space in the kitchen.

It wasn’t a bad haul for shopping without a list. No clue how long that will last me but it should be good for more than a week. I’m also probably going to eat out quite a bit while I’m here. I already have actually! Saturday I had chicken fajitas from which I skipped the tortillas and brought half home for lunch the next day. Then today I had a salad and a single chicken enchilada with refried beans. I love Mexican food so I tried to keep it reasonable while still indulging in my favorite things.

Eating out here seems so inexpensive to me now that it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. That could probably get me into trouble fast so I’ll try to keep it in check.

And I’ll make a list for my next trip to Kroger. Having a plan works way better for me!

Do you grocery shop with a list or without one?

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Off To The States I Go!

This trip makes me wonder if I’ll be flying back and forth between countries every 6 months. Or if eventually I’ll fully settle in one place with all aspects of my life in the same location. That would probably make everything easier, wouldn’t it? But I never aim for easy… just interesting.

I finally packed for my trip today!

I did this video while I was packing because I HATE packing and I figured it would make it more fun. I waited as long as I could to start packing  I have two different types of packing: one way is fast and one way allows you to bring as much stuff as possible. This time I chose the fast method since I’m not taking much. On the way back I’ll do the opposite!

Anyway, enjoy the video.

In just a few hours I’ll be headed to the airport, then Australia, then back to the US. I wish it was a faster trip but I’ll make it.

I would be nicer if I didn’t have to be at the airport before 5 am.

I haven’t been anywhere in six months but I’m no stranger to traveling. I’ve lost count of my long flights as this point! I do have a healthy plan for the trip as I always do. Here’s my favorite tips to stay healthy especially on long haul flights:

Drink lots of water! This is especially important on the long flights. It’s so easy to get dehydrated. Dehydration plus not moving increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis, aka blood clots in your veins. Drink plenty the night before, at the airport, and on the plane.Walk! Walk as much as you can. Walk at the airport and skip those travelators. Walk up and down the aisles every hour or so on the plane during a long flight. Walk while you can because you will be sitting on the plane plenty.Stretch! Stretch whenever you get up to get your blood flowing and stop cramps and prevent pain.Bring tools for comfort. On a long flight you need things like a neck pillow, headphones, eye mask, and ear plugs. Nothing is worse than spending 15 hours on a plane uncomfortable and unable to sleep or tune out the other people. Take some healthy snacks. Pack some trail mix or some granola bars in your carry on if you can.Pick healthy food choices at the airport. It’s tempting to pick junk at the airport but choosing healthier options will make you feel better and make the flight easier. Try to grab whole foods or something simple like a turkey sandwich and apple and skip the fast food. It might take more work to put together that kind of meal but it’s worth it.Wear comfortable clothes. You don’t have to look like a complete slacker but you need to be comfortable. It makes a huge difference!

Those are my tips for staying healthy on a long haul flight. At least, that’s my plan for the next day and this post was my personal reminder!

See you on the other side!

What are your tips for traveling healthy?

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Breaking Bad Eating Habits is the Key to a Healthy Weight

Do you eat your kid’s leftovers? Or lick the baking bowl clean?

When working to achieve a healthy weight and lifestyle it is important to consider the things that we do during the day – things that we may not even realize we are doing. Such as, licking the cake batter from your fingers or eating the children’s leftovers – these are all things which may contribute to a slowing down of our weight loss or even cause weight gain. It is a good idea to spend some time taking note of the things we do without thinking when eating – keeping a food journal is something many people already do. Once you have identified your bad habits you will be able to set the changes you need to make in place.

Not making plans about when or what you will eat leaves you vulnerable to making bad food choices. If you are going to be away from home for a long period of time it may be worthwhile taking some healthy snacks with you – a piece of fruit or ready prepared raw vegetables, a few nuts, seeds and dried fruit. These types of healthy snacks will help stave of hunger and remove the necessity of grabbing a quick, processed snack or even going to the drive through of your local fast food outlet.

It is an excellent idea to create a weekly menu plan, this can often be a great way of saving some money too as it means you are able to do all your food shopping in one trip. If you go out to work or school plan and prepare your own lunches to take with you, there are many healthy recipes for lunch box meals available online and in magazines. If you also plan your main meal and snacks you will be able to minimize the temptations of binging on food that just is not healthy.

Using food as a reward is a big mistake and something that you should avoid doing with your children as you instil them with healthy eating habits. Children should realize that food is only for nourishing the body and must not learn to associate food with good or bad behavior. Promising yourself a ‘treat’ after a hectic day, or when you have worked hard at the gym, can ruin all your hard work in one fell swoop.

If you feel you, or your children, deserve a treat then choose non-food rewards – a pedicure or a massage for yourself; a comic or a trip for the children.

It is important not to go for long periods without eating – this will cause us to make the wrong food choices and overeat. When planning your meals take into account any times you are going to need to take food or snacks with you. Build your menu plan around eating small meals every three to four hours – this will prevent blood sugar swings by stabilising your levels and help prevent cravings.
In order to manage your blood sugar levels you should eat a variety of foods at each meal or with each snack. So, eat some healthy carbohydrate in the form of a piece of fruit or a few vegetables, along with some lean protein for example. A few nuts with half an avocado provides you with long lasting energy and heart healthy fats that makes them a great snack to enjoy at any time.

You have probably heard, many times, ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’ – well, it is true. Skipping breakfast is a mistake many of us make when trying to lose weight. We convince ourselves that not eating will breakfast will help us lose more weight or enable us to eat more food later. The truth is that missing breakfast is more likely to make you binge and graze all day and, so studies show, cause you to put weight on!

Latest research shows that the best way to start the day is with a high protein breakfast, protein helps to feel fuller for longer and that means lasting until lunchtime without reaching for the donuts!

As most of us lead increasingly busy lifestyles it is often tempting, at the end of a hard day, to go for a ready-made meal that needs no little or no preparation and, if it has the word ‘healthy’ across it may even be good for us. Sadly, this is generally not the case. Foods, which are labelled as ‘healthy’ low calorie low fat or ‘diet’ may, are often full of saturated fats, preservatives, sugar, sodium not to mention artificial colors and flavors.

A healthy, well balanced diet should consist, almost entirely, of fresh, natural foods prepared at home. Fresh food provides us with many essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber that are simply not available or present in processed food products. Eat natural foods whenever and wherever it is possible and if you do use processed or pre-packed products be sure to check the labels – avoid any food products containing ingredients you fail to recognize.

This article was written by Natalia Z. She is a one of the specialists on Webctor.com – a new health center that is responsible for bringing free and accurate medical information to the Internet. You can follow the portal on Twitter @webctor_com

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How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy

After pregnancy, most women wish to lose their weight and get back in shape as they were before pregnancy. However, it is very easier said than done. Women need to be very careful about the kind of diet which they choose after pregnancy for losing weight. After delivering a child, women can get back in good shape by following various ways. Here, we tell you how to lose weight after pregnancy.

Before women start any kind of weight loss diet after pregnancy; they should consult their doctor. Till the time, they get a green signal from their doctor, they should wait. Women who are breastfeeding their babies should not cut their diet as they need more calories to milk their babies.

Women who wish to lose weight after pregnancy should do aerobic and resistance exercises. However, they should tell their doctors about the exercises which they will be doing. Some exercises might not be safe for women after pregnancy because their joints may be lax and certain exercises may hurt them.

After pregnancy, women should realize that their bodies have gone through a lot of tough experience. They should not try to be too hard on themselves. Women should make small weight loss goals and be practical while making these goals. Don’t try to push yourself too hard as it may hurt you.

Women should eat more green fresh vegetables, fruits and salads in order to lose weight after pregnancy. They should stay away from fast food and foods which have more fat. To follow a healthy diet is the best way to reduce weight after pregnancy. More water should also be consumed by women as it will help them to avoid the habit of overeating.

When women bear a baby in their womb, all people advise them to work less and take less strain. They also get used to a lethargic lifestyle where they can binge on whatever food item they like. After delivering their babies, women should realize that now that time period when it was fine for them to stay lazy and do less work is over. Women should start doing household work and move their bodies. Also, they should have control on their food instincts. They should neither overeat nor eat those foods which are fatty.

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Shock on the Scale – Weekly Weigh In

Well…wonders never cease.  After this post on Sunday, I was all prepared for the worst!

I woke up on Monday morning, jumped on the scale like I always do and was shocked when I was down 3.6 pounds.  Wowzers!

Then, I went to Weight Watchers and weighed and was shocked again when I was down 2.6 pounds!  Wowzers again!

How did this happen?!?  I guess maybe my body is allergic to exercise?!?  When I DON’T exercise, I lose weight?  No, just kidding!

In all actuality, it could have been a number of things.

I had a very salty day the day before weigh-in last week.I drank a nice big drink after school, which I normally don’t do.I also had on “regular” clothes when the week before I had on workout clothes!

All of these factors probably contributed to my gain last week so it would make sense that I was down this week even though my eating and exercising wasn’t stellar sucked!

This brings up a good point.  We should really listen to our bodies and not the scale.  Also, we shouldn’t let one “bad” week ruin our moods or our thoughts of our future.  This is our journey and we need to just enjoy the ride!

Speaking of ride.  My husband and I love those commercials of the Geico pig zip-lining.  Yes, we know they are some of the dumbest commercials ever but they make us laugh!

This is what I felt like when I weighed in this week:

Enjoy the Ride!

No..I didn’t feel like a pig!  I felt so happy I could just say “Whee…whee…wheee….wheee!”

I am Thankful for a new week and ready to rock it!  What are your goals for this week?  Have you ever been shocked when you weighed to find that you LOST weight when you thought you would GAIN?

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The Highlight From A Bad Day

This was the highlight of yesterday:

Obviously there weren’t many highlights.

It was a bad day. Emotionally I fell over an obstacle and scraped my knees. I felt like a 5 year old.

My anxiety kicked itself into overdrive. Sometimes I want to rip that part of my brain out.

But I’m moving on. Today is and will be a better day. Things heal and get better.

Taco salads help.

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Foods To Keep Your Cholesterol In Control

Guest Post by Kelly Jones….

Are you suffering from cholesterol and before eating anything you first thing of its effect on your cholesterol rate? How about eating a salmon fish for dinner tonight, or grabbing a handful of nuts or even better to lick that dark chocolate. Yes, a person having cholesterol can enjoy all this guilt-free! All these foods and many more help in keeping your cholesterol level in control. All you need to do is whatever you eat just eat healthy food.

So here is a list of 9 Foods which help you in fighting with cholesterol:

Fats are always not bad; our body needs some healthy fats for proper functioning. Fats like Mono-unsaturated fats, poly-saturated fats and saturated fats are good for your health. So Nuts provide you good amount of all these healthy fats to your body.

If you don’t like that doctors prescribed boiled food on your breakfast than try having Oats, which also helps a lot in keeping your cholesterol in control. Take two servings of oats in a day to lower LCL cholesterol by 5.3% in 6 weeks.

Yes raise a toast to your health with the best of the red wine. The red grapes used in the manufacturing of the red wine helps to lower the cholesterol level. Just two glasses of red wine in a week can do the magic.

Green vegetables are like a lifeline of healthy life. So just add beans to your diet add get those cholesterol levels down by 8%.

Chocolates have those cholesterol reducing antioxidants in them. Studies done have proved that dark chocolates prevent blood vessels in lever from rupturing.

Not only Popeye you can also build that muscle power with spinach. It is proven that spinach contains around 13 falconoid elements which keep you away from harmful diseases like cancer, heart diseases and many more.

If you are non vegetarian than, salmon is like a health wonder for you. It keeps your heart safe from conditions like heart attack, stroke, and keep cholesterol levels at bay. Fishes like salmon, sardines help in increasing good cholesterol levels.

One should prefer tea than coffee, as tea has antioxidants in it and less amount of caffeine content is present in it. Your bones become strong due to presence of phytochemicals in tea. It also helps in increasing your defense mechanism of the body against LDL cholesterol levels.

This is the most common which everyone knew that cholesterol patients should use olive oil instead of normal cooking oil in eating. It has many health benefits, also helps in lowering bad cholesterol level in body.

So add these foods in your daily diet and enjoy a healthy life and those cholesterol levels low.

Kelly Jones writes for Tustin Auto Center. She is a freelance blogger and likes to write about various topics like social media, latest technology trends.

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5 Apps for Tracking Fitness and Weight Loss

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Guest Post by Ashlee McCullen…..

Losing weight and maintaining fitness is a holistic endeavor, and tracking your progress is vital to realizing the greatest levels of success.

I’m recommending a group of apps, free and paid, that will help you plan and maintain a healthy lifestyle. These apps track everything from what you eat to strength training and cardio exercises. Put together, they make a powerful package not only for tracking progress, but also for providing ideas, inspiration, and motivation.

I’ve tested these apps on my Samsung Galaxy from T-Mobile, but most are also available on the iPhone and iPad. So here is the ultimate list of 5 Apps for Keeping Track of Your Fitness and Weight Loss:

(iOS and Android)

Of all the apps for planning and tracking workouts, FitnessBuilder for Android and iPhone is the most robust and useful. In this app, you’ll find suggested workouts, a workout builder, and tons of exercises organized by muscle group and equipment used. Each exercise includes a written description, photos, and a video, so you can incorporate new exercises.

That said, the app is a bit complicated and takes time to learn. Plus, to take full advantage of this app, you’ll need to sign up for a $10 a month membership to PumpOne. I would still call this a bargain when compared to the cost of a personal trainer. The app includes a free month trial.

For a lower cost alternative, I recommend iFitness.

(iOS and Android)
One of the best ways to improve your running and cardio activities is to keep close track of your progress. RunKeeper brings this idea to the next level and is the kind of app that was made for the smartphone era. Using GPS and other technologies, this app keeps track of where you run, how fast you do, and how long the run takes. I love this app’s graphical approach to run tracking, as I can easily see the spots where my pace lower and rise again.

Use RunKeeper to set up and maintain a routine; you’ll love watching as you make both major and incremental progress.

(iOS and Android)
While this free app does include workout trackers, its focus lies primarily with excellent content. Here, you’ll find a plethora of articles on workout tips, nutrition and diet trends, and articles for inspiration and education.  I find the supplement reviews handy when I’m out shopping, and the blogs are frequently updated, so I find myself returning to this app again and again.

(iOS and Android)
Calorie Counter makes tracking nutrition easier than ever. I simply love this app for watching what I eat. Enter foods manually, or find them in a huge library that has everything from pickles to lattes. In the past, I’ve quickly given up on attempts at counting calories; writing everything down on paper is just a nightmare. Fortunately, this app is so easy to use (and pleasing to the eyes), it’s fun to make tracking a habit.

And with bar charts and other visual motivators, Calorie Counter also makes it easier to maintain your limits and even to know when you have the freedom to splurge.

(iOS and Android)
The idea behind this sounds cheesy, but it works. Keep this app on during a workout and you’ll hear motivation straight from the mouths of professional athletes like Lance Armstrong and Jerry Rice. While Nike Boom doesn’t track workouts like other apps, its music and sound effects will motivate you through workouts. From warming up to cooling down and intervals in between, this app provides a soundtrack to suit what you’re doing at the moment.

Ashlee McCullen is a staff writer for ApronAddicts.com, a site about fashionable aprons and kitchen style.

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Berry-licious Cobbler – Recipe

So Yummy!

There is nothing my husband likes better than a cobbler.  He LOVES peach but also loves any kind of Red berry cobbler.  It is definitely a direct line to his heart.

While searching through Pinterest the other night, I came across this cobbler recipe.  It looked too easy not to try.

I was shopping at Wal-Mart the other day, (Yes, I know, I am not supposed to shop there) so I picked up the whopping 3 ingredients I needed to make this recipe.  Yep, you read right…only THREE ingredients.  I told you it was too easy!

It also takes a whopping THREE minutes to assemble.  It does take longer to bake but letting it sit in the oven and fill your house with good smells is the easy part!

At only 4 points plus for a nice size serving, it will cure your sweet tooth and won’t break the bank!  I topped ours with some fat free cool whip for an even better taste!

Feel free to use any kind of berry you like.  It doesn’t have to be mixed berry.  I bet peaches would even be delicious.  And…if you don’t want to eat Sugar Free cake mix, you can use regular, just adjust the Weight Watchers points plus.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as we did!

Weight Watchers Berry-licious Cobbler Recipe

Prep Time: 3 months, 3 minutes

Cook Time: 50 months, 50 minutes

Total Time: 53 months, 53 minutes

Yield: 12 servings

Serving Size: 1/12 at 4 Weight Watchers Points Plus per serving

Ingredients

1 box Sugar Free Yellow Cake Mix12 ounces Sprite Zero24 ounces Mixed Berries (Frozen)1 dollop Fat Free Cool WhipDirections

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Evenly distribute frozen berries in the bottom of the baking dish. Just spread them out so they cover the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle the entire box of cake mix evenly over the berries. Pour the can of sprite zero over the cake mix trying to get all of the cake mix moist. Bake for 50 minutes. Top with fat free cool whip and Enjoy! Top 10 Favorite Weight Watchers Recipe BlogsHealthy Banana Pudding – RecipeFrank’s Buffalo Crock Pot Chicken – RecipeHomemade Granola Bars – RecipeLow Fat Chocolate Cupcakes – Recipe

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Dinner Time! (Video)

I guess I’ve been a bit melodramatic lately. Stuff is going on I don’t want to talk about but then that is affecting the rest of my life… Eh.  I’m over it though. No worries.

Let’s move on, shall we?

I decided I want to make more videos while I’m in Memphis so I decided to make a practice one tonight. It’s actually pretty cute since JuJu is the star.

It’s short too, so watch how cute she is at dinner time. :)

Dinner was parmesan encrusted white fish and grated zucchini rice with peas. Both are favorites that are in current rotation in our weekly meal plan.

Have a lovely day!

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Lose Your Weight with Meditation Techniques

Guest Post by Kyla Smith….

Meditation is an art that allows a person to disengage his brain from the clutter of thoughts. The meditation exercises help you to break free from the everyday anxiety and tensions. In recent years the meditation has also been considered as a remedy to lose your weight. The common ideas to lose weight are going to the gym and maintaining a strict diet. These works require a great deal of hard work and perseverance. There are few meditation techniques which help you to maintain your weight. It is a good way to have deep focus and concentration.

Exercises and balanced meals are the two things which can help you to stay healthy and lose your weight. Most of the people lose their determination in the beginning stage. Meditation is the way to direct your mind not to do certain things. It allows you to have the knowledge of your actions.

If you really want to reach your goal in losing your weight then you must make promises to change your daily lifestyle. Commit to yourself that you won’t eat junk foods, you will exercise regularly and you will drink lots of water. These self commitments will direct you in your own path. The self motivation can be achieved with proper meditation techniques. If you become disciplined then you could achieve mental stability.

The meditation process makes you calm after the exercise. The calm composer will provide you the right mood to stop overeating. It will certainly bring a sea change in your attitude. You will start feeling relieved from mental pressure. The regular meditation exercises can have a strong impact on your physical balance. With these techniques your mind becomes healthier.

The meditation techniques help you to set your goals. It injects an energetic attitude and builds your image. With this process you build the habit of reaching your target. Visualization technique is very useful in achieving your goal. It will further direct you to change your eating habits. The change in your eating habits will eventually bring down your weight. This way you will get the energy to fight your depression. Sometimes, depression can be a major factor in increasing your weight. With proper implementation of the meditation methods, you will begin to get away from the depression.

One of the best thing about meditation is it turns your world upside down. The everyday basis meditation exercises can throw you from your comfort zone. It is always found out that the people lose motivation while continuing the exercise for a long time. This practice is strictly prohibited. If you keep doing it for regular basis then you won’t have the meditational effect on your body. You have to make meditation a daily habit. Though you may find it difficult in the beginning but after few weeks you will begin to enjoy it. Once you make it a habit, you will begin to find the difference.

The purpose of meditation is to free your mind from mental pressures. The mental pressure is the biggest obstacle in making exercise in a habit. If you overcome the mental stress then you will be free to concentrate on you meditation exercises.

Science has proved the importance of meditation in our modern life. The meditation provides the emotional and medical benefits to overcome our stress. The different meditation methods serve numerous purposes. Losing your weight through meditation process is the latest improvement of the meditation exercises. Now you can achieve your mental balance as well as physical balance by different meditation techniques.

The writer Kyla Smith, in this article has showed us the importance of meditation in reducing our weight. The meditation techniques are a great way to achieve the physical balance in our life.

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Another Year, Another Birthday

I turn 26 on Sunday.

I’m not where I thought I would be. Yet, in some ways I’m way passed where I thought I would be. I suppose it’s hard to predict your life because you can’t predict what opportunities and changes will come your way.

Anyway, to celebrate my birthday I’m going to cross off one of my fitness goals that is New Zealand related – climbing Rangitoto.

Yep, a nice hike up a volcanic island sounds like a fun thing to do on my birthday weekend.

This weekend I’m also going to go to my favorite things: go to a farmers market, eat Mexican food, read a book, go for a bike ride, walk JuJu, and spend time with friends. You know, all the things I love to do.

Last month I wrote a post about things I wanted to do before turning 26. Here’s the list and how I did.

Weigh in at under 200 lbs. – Last time I weighed in I was at 201. I haven’t weighed in since because I’m weighing in monthly and don’t want it crowding my mind. But I’m close!Buy something at LUSH. - Haven’t done this yet but just bought something from The Body Shop so I’m happy. Go ice skating. – We went skating with friends and had a great time and workout. Go snowboarding and teach Kepa. – We went snowboarding indoors and had an amazing time. Kepa picked it up quicklyGo on a roadtrip. – I just realized this didn’t happen. I originally planned a trip to Wellington but finances changed and this wasn’t possible. It’s still on my to do list though!

As always happens when I create a list of goals, I hit some and miss others. But no matter what I always end up improving myself and my life. That’s why I keep making them!

One of my favorite things about having a blog is my ability to keep track of my life. I can’t believe I’ve stuck with this blog for so long considering how quickly my interests and life changes. But I’m grateful to have this record to look back on, good and bad.

Since I’ve been blogging…

Woah. Crazy how time flies, isn’t it?

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Top 5 Health Drinks For Weight Loss

People who wish to get rid of fat present in their bodies should know what exactly they should drink or eat for achieving their weight loss targets. There are many people who have lost a lot of weight by drinking various kinds of weight loss drinks. It is best to compliment your diet with different kinds of exercises. People should understand that they can achieve fast weight loss only by combining an appropriate diet with exercises. Following are top 5 health drinks for weight loss.

People who like black coffee should drink it more often as it helps in reducing weight. It offers zero calories to the body. If you wish to lose your weight then you should drink black coffee for 4 times or less every day. Do not try to drink lot of it as more of anything can cause problems. This drink helps in boosting metabolism and control mood swings.

The weight loss benefits of green tea are not hidden from many people now. People who drink green tea are less likely to put a lot of weight. This drink has a large number of antioxidants which increase the rate of metabolism in the body. This drink can boost the fat burning process in your body.

People can reduce their weight by drinking fiber drinks. These drinks help people in avoiding the habit to overeat. They keep the digestive system of people sound. By having these drinks, people feel fuller and they do not overeat. You can buy such drinks easily from the market.

Water is very important for body and it is also beneficial for weight loss. People should understand that if they wish to lose weight they need to drink more water. People should drink at least 2 glasses of ice water daily for reducing their weight. Ice water helps in increasing the rate of metabolism in the body.

In order to lose your weight, you should start drinking fruit juice. Make sure that the fruit juice you drink has no added sugar. Fruit juice offers various minerals and vitamins to the body. Fruit juice which has a lot of pulp is better for weight loss. Pulpier fruit juice offers a lot of fiber to the body which is good for weight loss. Your body will also get many nutrients by having fruit juice.

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My Next Fitness Goal & Plans

This is how JuJu normally sits:

Always on Kepa, myself, or anyone that comes over really. She knows no boundaries in her quest for love and attention.

This is how JuJu sits post surgery:

The saddest sad that ever was sad. Yesterday when she got home she was so out of it and so calm and wanted nothing to do with us. She just laid on her bean bag looking around without any desire to move or interact.

Luckily today she is doing better and seems more like herself. Yay!

Now for some random thoughts about the next two months of my life:

Next fitness goal: Take a bootcamp class! I’ve decided to tackle that since when I logged on to look at my list of things to do/try it was what interested me the most. Plus I am going to be in Memphis for 9 weeks and the River Workout bootcamp class I want to do is an 8 week long bootcamp class.

It meets twice a week at a park by the river near my work so it sounds perfect for my temporary living situation. I’m excited about the idea of a bootcamp class. It’s completely different from how I’ve been training so I think that will be a nice change of pace, plus the girl who runs it seems really nice and good at what she does. I can’t wait!

Other Thoughts About Memphis… I’m both super excited about going back and hesitant. I don’t want to leave my little family here though I want to see my family at home. I don’t want to miss out of friend’s birthdays and events here but I can’t wait to see my best friends in Memphis. It’s a bunch of conflicting thoughts from living and loving in two places, but I know I’m lucky to get the chance to go back sooner than I expected.

So I’m going to make the most of it and see as many people as I can, do as much fun stuff as possible, work harder than ever, and enjoy the two months. I’m sure it will fly by in no time at all. I think it’s going to be fun. I’m most excited about trying to bike commute to work during the week… that is going to be an adventure.

Some Things To Read:

That’s it for me. Have a lovely day my friends!

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Rangitoto Island Hike

The day before my birthday we headed to Rangitoto Island to conquer a fitness goal off my list. You know, because climbing up a nice little dormant volcano is a great fitness goal!

Rangitoto emerged from the sea 700 years ago and today is recreation reserve. The island is well protected and there is no construction or anything fancy there. There are 10 short and long walks on the island. You could do all of them but we planned to do just a few.

We took the ferry across from Auckland on what was a lovely day.

It was sunny and just warm enough when we started. Kepa and I both had packs with some food and clothes to change into later. There are no shops on the island so you have to bring enough food and water to last your trip. My awesome “hiking” clothes for the day:

When we got to the island there were way more people there than I thought. It was the last Saturday of school holidays here so lots of people were out enjoying the nice day.

The summit hike started at the wharf where the ferries drop people off and goes all the way to the top of the mountain you can see in the background. The majority of the trail is rocks/gravel surrounded by lots of lava rock and tons of trees, shrubs, and wildlife.

Apparently the summit trail and most of the roads on the island were built in the 1920s and 1930s by prison laborers! They’ve made improvements and updates since obviously since Kepa informed me of new areas since his last visit 13 years ago.

I had a slight obsession with the lava rocks and kept taking photos because I thought it was so cool. Believe me, I’m showing you only a few of the photos I took! I found it so interesting to see where the rocks were and imagining the last eruption involving lava flowing. Volcanoes and lava are terrifying but luckily these days we get advance warning of eruptions!

The walk wasn’t too hard going up for about 3/4 of the way. There was a lot to look at including some areas with information about the island built as a resting spot with seating in several places along the way.

I found these leaves with such an interesting shape… there were tons of them growing from the ground!

About 3/4 of the way up we took a little detour to loop around a trail to see the lava caves. This trail was more woodsy and had rocks in the middle of the trail instead of being a flatter surface created with gravel/rocks. It was also less steep than the summit trail so that was a nice break as well as a change of scenery.

The caves themselves were a bit spooky but fun to explore.

We didn’t know we needed a flashlight for the caves (so we weren’t 100% prepared!) but still decided to go through at least one. Luckily between some natural light, phones, and the camera we made it in and out without breaking any ankles or getting stuck.

After the lava caves detour we climbed the rest of the summit trail. And climbed is accurate. There were stairs, a steep incline for several minutes, and then more stairs. We stopped to take a photo at the crater, which is where the volcano erupted/would erupt.

Then after a two minute walk up the stairs we reached the summit!

Gorgeous views, right?

You could see SO FAR from the top. It’s definitely the best view I’ve had so far in Auckland, even better than the skytower.

Another self portrait at the top. By that point I was getting quite pink from the sun despite my sunblock and hat.

The walk to the top only takes an hour or so at an easy pace. I think we did the first part much faster than that and then the final part on that pace when it was steeper. It’s pretty accessible for almost any fitness level even beginners and kids. If you are in Auckland at some point (or live here and haven’t gone) you should definitely consider it!

After a few minutes up top enjoying the view we hiked around the crater rim and then down a new path. We stopped for lunch which was just a sandwich and chips and an apple – it reminded me of my lunches from school.

We enjoyed a nice shady view while eating.

Then we packed up and carried on!

Our next stretch of the hike involved a “road” that was gravel and lots of rocks leading down the back part of the mountain.

It said this walk would take 45 minutes and it probably did but it felt like it took forever! I guess because the scenery didn’t change much from the above photo and we were constantly looking down anyway to avoid rocks it felt a bit long and drawn out.

At the end of the road there was a cute surprise: a lighthouse!

I love lighthouses and didn’t even know there were any around here. It was nice to see this one at the end of the road at McKenzie Bay.

By the time we reached this beach at McKenzie Bay we were tired. We were a bit sunburnt and had hiked around 5 miles at that point. We actually spent a few minutes at the beach happily resting then realized if we left and booked it back to the wharf we could catch an earlier ferry.

That sounded like a great idea since we were already tired. There is nothing on the island beyond trails and a few historical bach houses (private summer home type of deal) so we didn’t want to get stuck on the island for more than an hour with nothing to do.

The last part of our walk was along the coastal road. It started off with these amazing trees.

And ended with a bunch of old houses and abandoned boat houses built in the 1920s and 1930s. Apparently people used to live on Rangitoto at the beginning of the last century but since 1937 no one has been allowed to build on the island.

The trail ended in the bach community. By the time we saw them and knew we were close we were slightly delirious from the hike. It was our longest and steepest so far, totaling 8 miles over almost 3 hours of walking. At the end we were tired and my feet were done. I definitely need better shoes than the old running shoes that are worn thin in the soles… they didn’t hold up well for that distance!

Needless to say, the appearance of the ferry at the end of our walk made us ecstatic.

Despite being incredibly tired by the end we were so happy we went to Rangitoto and explored it. It was a super fun day of hiking and hanging out in a gorgeous nature setting – the perfect way to celebrate my 26th birthday. And now I can cross this off my fitness goals and move on to the next one!

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Post Birthday Revelations

Birthday weekend is over!

I feel a bit hungover. Probably as one should, post birthday celebrations, but this feeling is mostly from food.

I ate out waaay too much over the last few days. So much that I’m feeling heavy and sluggish and just gross. I realized at dinner last night with Kepa’s family that I was really missing my food. The food I make myself, especially over the last few months, is so much better than the majority of what I had this weekend.

That was a revelation.  That is one revelation I’ve never had before because previously I’ve always thought my food was somehow subpar to what I could get at any place where they cook for me. Since I didn’t really start cooking for myself until I was 23 or 24 I didn’t have much confidence in my ability to produce amazing food. That changed when every meal I ate out this weekend gave me ideas for how I could make something better myself at home.

This birthday I gained confidence in my ability as a cook, without even cooking.

Needless to say, I’m happy to get back into the kitchen after a weekend of eating out. I know I can make more delicious, cheaper, healthier food and I can’t wait!

Be back later for a recap post on Rangitoto which was AWESOME and the best choice for a birthday activity. We ended up hiking 8 miles and went to the top and I loved the experience. More on that later. ;)

Side note: We dropped JuJu off at the vet this morning. She is getting fixed today! Poor puppy. Send her good wishes. xoxo

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How to Run: From Start to Race

The other day I had a friend message me on Facebook and asked me this question:

“…I want to learn how to run. I’ve never been a runner but I see a lot of your posts in regards to running. Any pointers for me?”

This got me thinking that maybe there are others out there who have the same question.  How do I start to run?

Three and a half years ago, this girl was not a runner:

I was not running anywhere!

She was not only NOT a runner, she wasn’t even a walker.  She was a non-exerciser.  Period.

If you would have told her that in three and a half years, she would run a half marathon, she would have told you that you were crazy.  If you then proceeded to tell her that not only would she run it, she would run it in two and a half hours and would average an 11:35 mile, she would have said, “Nope…not happenin’!”

Jen's First Half Marathon!

Well…guess what honey?!?  You did it and you rocked it and you have proved that if you just put one foot in front of the other, amazing things will happen.  They won’t happen overnight but they WILL happen.

I have come up with the 5 “S’s” for a beginning runner/walker.

1.  “Start“- No matter how much you weigh, no matter how out of shape you are.  GET YOUR BUTT OFF THE COUCH!  You can walk.  You can walk to the mailbox.  You can walk around the block.  You can walk across the parking lot instead of parking so close.  Start walking.  Take 10 minutes a day to walk somewhere.  It doesn’t even have to be fast.  Just start.  You will get faster.  You will be able to go longer.  You will be amazed with yourself if you just START.  After you have started, go…

2.  “Slow” – After you start, go slowly.  Don’t try to set any world records with time.  I promise you that you will get faster and you will be able to go farther if you just start slowly.  If you try to go too fast, you will either burn out, get frustrated, or injure yourself.  PLEASE go slowly.  It is more important you go LONGER than faster!  Slow and…

3.  “Steady” – Start, go slow, and do it at least four times a week.  If you seriously want to start running, you must be consistent with your walking.  Eventually walking will lead into jogging which will lead into running. However, if you are not consistent and train your body that this is the new “norm”, it will take much longer for your body to adjust.  When I was training for my half-marathon, I walked/jogged four times a week EVERY single week.  This was the only way my body grew stamina.  I went every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.  You must be steady and consistent and you must…

4.  “Schedule It” – Put your daily walks/jogs on a calendar somewhere.  Plan ahead.  If you know you have a super busy day and you won’t have time after 8:00 a.m., get up earlier.  If you know you will have an hour window before dinner, schedule your walk then.  If you don’t plan ahead and write it down, something is always going to come up and you won’t have time, or you will be too tired, or you just won’t do it!  Once you have scheduled your walks and you are into a good rhythm with walking/jogging…

5.  “Sign Up” – Nothing motivates me more than a race.  If I know I have a race coming up, I will train for it and I will be more likely to stick to my plan.  Start small by signing up for a one mile fun run.  If you think you can walk for an hour without stopping, sign up for a 5k.  A 5k is 3.1 miles and you can walk that without a problem.  There are so many people out there who walk 5k’s.  When I was my heaviest, I walked a 5k with my sister in her town.  Yes, we were close to the back of the pack but you know what?  We did it!  We finished just like everyone else!  We went the same 3.1 miles that everyone else did.  It just took us longer!  To find a race in your area, look on Active.com.  If you sign up for one and do it, you will LOVE it and want to do more.  They are very addictive.

If you are thinking of becoming a runner, I just want to tell you one more thing.  YOU CAN DO IT!  Do not doubt yourself!  You are stronger than you think.  You will be able to go farther than you think.  You can be a runner if you decide to just start.

Now, start, go slow, stay steady, schedule it, and sign up for a race.  You’ve got this!

Just start moving!

Photo Credits

Publix Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon 2012 – Race Recap2011 Gobble Jog – Race Recap

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Lose Weight, Stay Fit & Look Beautiful with a Smart Diet

Guest Post by Lisa Ball….

Do you think that dieting can only help you lose weight and make you look slimmer and energetic? Well, it’s equally important to remain fit and strong by adopting health building strategies. Nowadays, men too diet for not only retaining good looks but attaining good health. However, it has been found that women with the intention to shed too much weight land up with severe health complications.

According to health experts, a good percentage of women run on strict diets for months and years without knowing what may or may not favor one’s health. Consuming artificial pills and health drinks often result in side effects that gradually diminish one’s health standards with time. In fact, several underlying health conditions often bring complications in stimulating the hair growth in women. Therefore, they are always advised to consult health experts the moment they decide to take up weight loss programs.

There are several weight-loss programs for women designed to improve health standards and other physical complications. However, it’s true that one needs to choose a good and effective program by taking suggestions from health experts. In fact, a compact and healthy weight loss program will work wonders in improving one’s health as well as hair conditions.

Lack of vitamins – Those who are experiencing severe hair loss must live on such food containing considerable amount of vitamin. B-Complex vitamins are highly essential for retaining healthy hair. Doctors also advice to take foods rich in 8 B vitamins.

Eat green vegetables – Green vegetables are considered best for letting people regain not only quality hair but good health as well. Those who are vegetarians must consider B12 supplementation. Moreover, Vitamins A and C are also important for hair loss victims.

Eat lots of fruits – Fruits are always rich in vitamins and minerals which work wonders for the human body. In fact, those who remain worried with their hair prefer to have lots of citrus fruits to regain shiny hair.

Drink lots of water – Needless to say, water is extremely essential for every human, be it men or women. Whether you are planning to stimulate your hair growth or improve your health conditions, a minimum of 2 liters of water must be consumed on a daily basis.

 Stress and anxiety are the biggest factors that make women lose hair to a huge extent. Consequently, these affect their health standards thereby resulting in weight loss. Losing a good deal of weight in quick time can also make women physically weak. Exercises are a must which lets the blood to circulate in the body with perfection. This too stimulates the blood supply in the hair scalp allowing hair to grow. As mentioned earlier, dieting is always good for your health provided you maintain a proper diet. For instance, if you don’t consume vitamins and minerals regularly, you might be subjected to impaired health and even lose hair. So, a sensible diet will always keep you healthy and beautiful.

Lisa Ball is a Hair Treatment Expert. For Hair Loss Treatment, she suggests you to visit hairtreatmentexperts.com.

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