A little bit goes along way

I am down 54 pounds! I am just tickled to death! I cannot believe it! I am so glad that after a couple of setbacks the past few weeks I am here and losing! Sometimes I think how can I workout and eat healthy but not lose? Sometimes this happens but I just make sure to track and eat right! Look at these two pictures...one is before and the other is now....I'm sure you can figure that one out on your own! LOL!

I thought I would throw another post out this week. I've been doing super well so far! I've worked out and stocked the fridge with goodies (all healthy of course!).

I get a periodical emails from weight watchers and contain some wonderful articles. I feel like there is someone sitting at their corporate office and knows what I am feeling because the articles say what I'm feeling. I read one called "Maintaining Your Fitness Momentum"

Let's be real....working out can be a pain. We do not enjoy it at the time but do feel better about ourselves afterwards. I know there are days after work I just want to come home but I have my gym clothes packed in my car and stop at the gym before heading into my apartment.

The first thing that was pointed out was one of the first setbacks a person can come across is lack of confidence. We try to do too much too fast. I can contest to that. I think I should be able to run a marathon but for someone with a very small background of exercise I know that being at an advance level right away is about as likely as me becoming a victoria secret model. Not going to happen.

You have to slow your way into working out. If you want to be a runner then start with the couch to 5k program. I am a huge supporter of this! It really helps! I also suggest the Nike Training Club app! It's awesome for so many different work outs at different levels! The article said that you have to change up your workout routine sometimes to stay on the ball. Changing your workout can be fun and beneficial!

So we can all do this together! Set some goals and get going! Don't start with a hardcore 7-day workout but maybe a couple of days a week just to get the ball rolling! Once you get the ball running anything is possible!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Make sure to stay on track I know the weekend is hard!

Mother/Daughter Taco Cabbage Soup

Hello everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the nice fall weather coming in. I am now that my allergies are calming down and getting adjusted to the weather. The fall is my favorite time of the year. I really get in the mood for soups and let me tell you my mom has a stack full of delicious soup recipes. I mean the best are usually ones she throws together and I always forget sometimes to write down what she makes but there is one in particular I've always liked and it is probably the easiest to make.

My roommate and I were talking about making chili and I couldn't find a recipe online that I just had to make/looked good. So I remembered that my mom emailed me about two years ago her taco cabbage soup recipe and I have had it saved in my inbox. I thought what a perfect timing to bring it out!

I changed it up a bit but it turned out just as yummy as I remember. I could give my mom a run for her money. Hehe. (love you mom!)

So here it is I shall call this Mother/Daughter Taco Cabbage Soup! I feel like this is super appropriate and a great way to honor my mom. Look we share a recipe now!


Mother/Daughter Taco Cabbage Soup
Serving Size: 6
WW+ Points: 5 
Calories: 229, Fat: 4.9g, Carbs: 10.5g, Fiber: 3.3g, Protein: 36.5g

Ingredients:
1lb Lean Ground Beef
1 Head of Cabbage-Chopped
1 Onion- Chopped
2 Packets of Low-Sodium Taco Seasoning
3 Cans of Fat Free, Low Sodium Beef Broth
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 Can Rotel Tomatoes
1 Can Dark Kidney Beans 

Directions:
1. Cook ground beef and make sure to drain well to get all the grease out!
2. Cut up Cabbage and chop onion
3. Mix everything together in a large pot on the stove and cook on Medium-High for 35-45 minutes

Browning the meat! Takes maybe 5 minutes.

Literally just put everything in a pot! Super easy to make!

Turns out like this and is super yummy!!!!

I recommend putting a little shredded cheese on top to give it a little something extra! But I mean this is easy that anyone can make this! If you are a busy person just prepare it all and let it cook on the stove while you have other things to do! 

Let's Get Motivated!

Hello everyone! So after slumming around for a week...or two...I dropped 2.6 pounds! Yay! I was a little surprised but I guess after being sick I rested myself up to a healthy start!

So I said in my last post that there were no more excuses for my poor dieting. I think I was having a hard time transitioning from being at home when I wasn't working and could focus all my time on dieting to living in a new city and working full time. I think I have found a nice balance but every day is a learning experience.

I loaded my fridge with veggies and fruits! I am trying to be better about eating fruit. I love veggies and could eat them all the time but I have a harder time with fruit. I even got my first workout of the week under my belt! Yay! Hopefully I can stay on track and work out at least 4 times this week!

I had a conversation with my roommate over the week about the struggles of dieting and how can we keep ourselves motivated to keep on. Dieting is not easy. It is so much easier to give it all up at the drop of a fry. (ha get it? Not hat but fry) I thought about it during my lunch break today. How can I keep myself motivated and motivate others? I came up with a few ideas.....

Put post its in random places with little motivational sayings. I then thought I am going to post a picture of myself pre-diet and put it on my fridge....I can't think of anything more motivating than that. LOL! I thought about making a check list of things I need to accomplish each day like working out or tracking my food. The possibilities are truly endless!

I decided to go through pinterest (my number source for everything) and find some motivational sayings. I really liked the photo (see above) "I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday" wow that's some powerful stuff and so true. I see this so helpful right now because I may not be running a marathon today but you know what getting out there and trying your best to exercise gets you closer to a marathon than someone sitting on the couch. 

This is so true! I really glad I found this one. I really am proud of myself when I stay on track with my diet and lose weight. If anyone has a bad day here and there with your diet or whatever it may be remember you always have tomorrow to change that! I know I keep saying losing weight, losing weight but it is so much more than that. I started this journey because I did not like the person I saw in the mirror or in pictures. I would avoid them at all cost. I was not happy in my own skin and I knew what I needed to do. So every day I start feeling better about myself....is a day I am proud of myself!

This quote goes out to anyone who reads my blog (friends, family or strangers) you ARE all these things! Everyone has the ability to do great things in this world. I know so. If you are ever doubting yourself for one second then print this picture off for future reference and put "From Kelly" on the paper. If I could tell each and every one of you every day that you are amazing I would! When I discuss with friends about different struggles in our lives I am reminded of the great things we are destined for. I mean I read this and thought I am all those things. 

Never sell yourself short. Aim high and dream big always!

Until next time,

Kelly

My First 5K!

Hello readers! Hope you are doing well! I have been a little busy since I seem to be going out of town every weekend.

I have some wonderful news! I ran/walked my first 5k! I was not completely prepared but there was no way I could pass up this 5k! It was called "Teal for a Cure" and raised money for the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Foundation. Everyone knows that anything I can do to fight Ovarian Cancer I will. It is a subject that is near and dear to my heart. Luckily I am able to say my mom survived but I know others are not as lucky. I cannot imagine a day without her.

My friends put together a little team in honor of my mom and named ourselves "The Princess Debs" (my mom thinks she's a princess so that is the meaning behind her name). It was great to have such supportive friends! We had so much fun even if it was 8am on a Saturday morning! My friend Sam even came in second place in his division. So proud!

Doing the 5k was a lot harder than I thought. I know now what to expect. I am definitely going to train harder now and work my way up! I know I can do it! I just have to get my butt to the gym!

The releasing of doves at the end of the race in memory of those who fought ovarian cancer. A very touching moment.

The Princess Debs Team (l-r Me, Sam, Amber and Kyle)

Sam getting his prize for winning 2nd place!

Loved seeing my wonderful mommy at the finish line.

Well I hate the fact I am getting sick right now.I always get sick when the weather changes. It could not come at a worse time. I have hit yet another slump. I cannot do this anymore. I am tired of it. I get so frustrated at myself for many reasons. I know people read my blog and I want to be someone who succeeds for you all. I get discourage when I don't and I apologize to those who have followed my journey for a while now. I know it is not easy to stay on track and how can I tell you all to if I am not doing the same? It makes me feel like a fraud. But so many of y'all are much stronger than me. 

Right here, right now. I pledge to blog more, exercise more, eat better. This blog is my way of kicking myself into the right lane when I start falling behind. I hope not to lose any readers! I am trying my hardest. 

After I get over this illness (hopefully after the weekend I will be a-okay!) I am devoting my time that is not spent at work to this blog and my healthy life. No more out to eat if I don't have to, exercising instead of sitting watching TV.