No Rules

Ahhhh…. I’ve been operating by the “no rules” mindset since I got home from my 10 mile run two hours ago. I’ve plopped myself on the floor with my foam roller, laptop and water. I’m wearing my sweaty running clothes with a big sweatshirt and I only get up to eat… and eating I have been doing a lot of! In a few minutes I will jump in the shower and become a normal person in time for our cruise (!!!!), but until then, no rules!

Guess what! I ate a Larabar for a snack Wednesday. It might not seem epic to you, but for me it shows just how much my mindset has changed since going vegan. I looked at all the other bars and their mile-long ingredient lists. Trans fat, added protein, ingredients I didn’t understand. When I spotted the Larabar on the bottom shelf and read the three ingredients (dates, peanuts, salt), I grabbed it. Before I would have been too concerned about the calories  (210) in this one little bar, but now I thought of how the simple ingredients would fuel my activity. I love how at peace I am becoming with food. Yum.

I also tried a Synergy Kombucha this week! Why is that significant? Because only true health freaks will pay almost $4 for a drink that smells like vinegar! I wouldn’t say the drink was tasty by any means, but I did enjoy drinking it knowing the good I was doing for my body. I honestly felt super energized afterward, too! I’ll definitely buy this again! Thanks for the tip, Ryan ;)

Last but not least I wanted to review the Dr. Clyde Berry Bar from element bars that I sampled a while back. Here’s the sum of my review: Yesssssssssssssss!!!

element bars did everything right with this bar. Check out that awesome ingredient list…nothing bad there!

The taste was amazing, really. I tasted the almond butter first. It was smooth and creamy… I loved all the yummy chunks mixed in.

I think it’s safe to say this is the best bar I’ve ever eaten.

element bars are customizable and mailed to you. That makes them more expensive than regular bars, so keep that in mind. Still, the best bar ever. Have you ever tried element bars? What’s your favorite bar?

Well I’m off to clean up and finish packing. I have a great guest post that is scheduled to go up this weekend… let’s hope blogger works! Happy weekend!

Finding Caloric Balance

photo

Sometimes I will go for a long run or push through an intense spin class and burn tons of calories.

And for the next 24 hours my appetite is huge.

But how many extra calories did I really earn?

I would prefer to not eat back all the calories I just burned, yet sometimes I actually eat back more than what I burned with extra snacks/meal additions alone.

Since losing weight is about a calorie deficit and maintaining weight is about balance, these little overages just aren't going to work (on a daily basis... Christmas, weekends and birthdays are a different story!).

So let's look at the numbers:

One hour aerobics= -422

One Starbucks Grande Mocha Frapp= +380 cal.

One hour cycling= -563

One extra serving pasta= +500

Numbers are just approximates to get us thinking...

My best trick to keeping crazy-exercise-appetite in control is eating slightly larger but balanced meals. A complete breakfast leaves me less likely to overdo it with the candy because I am just so hungry!

Sometimes it feels like we've earned a refreshing Frapp or a second helping of pasta, but what we've really earned is an overall happier and healthier self.

How does exercise affect your appetite? How do you deal with it? Any tips?

Birthday... Moderation Style

Last Friday was my birthday. Since I worked 7am-7:30pm in another town on the actual day and my family is separated, my birthday was spread out into a 3-day celebration.

In that time period, I managed to have four chocolate birthday cakes (chocolate peanut-butter explosion, brownie cake with cream cheese icing, sinful chocolate cake and a chocolate ganache fudge cake I've been wanting since March) and a "cupcake". Most of my meals were eaten out at yummy restaurants or massive spreads of my favorite foods cooked at home. My grandmother even put a homemade banana bread in my gift bag!

Needless to say, my birthday centered mostly around food!

I wanted to spoil myself on my birthday and that meant doing whatever made me happy. When I realized stuffing myself with food didn't make me happy, I resolved to indulge in all my treats while still feeling good in my skin. It was a success! Not an ounce was gained and I didn't feel bloated all weekend.

Here are my tips for dealing with heavy situations and still feeling light and fresh:

1. Don't look at anything as "bad." If a food is "bad," don't eat it! Having a rich dessert was my choice- and I enjoyed it!

2. Stop counting. The calories in all my food might have overwhelmed me and made me lose focus. Some days, you've got to listen to your body.

3. Enjoy the moment and enjoy the food. When you've eaten too much, you stop enjoying the moment.

4. "Budget" yourself according to your day. I knew I was going to have a big pizza dinner and had a giant breakfast, so I kept my lunch light and fresh.

5. There is more to the moment than food. Appreciate the people around you and how good you feel. Think of how you'll feel after the meal.

David immediately surprised me with this tiny muffin stuffed with 20 melting candles! It was the cutest thing!

David and me at HUE in downtown Orlando.
Pizza, pizza! (Please excuse the red eye!!!)

My grandparents are the best.

Sabrina is always fashionable at parties (family barbeque).

Dear Self

Yes, the scale was up. Don't act so surprised.

Inspirational notes everywhere, a personal trainer, fresh produce, fancy workout gear and plans galore will not get you to your goal if you don't put the effort in with nutrition. You know the calorie range that makes you lose. You know that that is what makes progress.

So if you continue to sneak that extra snack in at work because you're just so hungry or if your post-workout snack turns into a sampling of the entire kitchen, you will gain weight. Follow the plan (even when it is a little tough) and move toward the right direction.

You can do this.

Woah Boy!

Has it really been this long? How have you all been!?

Monday after work I moved into my apartment, Tuesday-Thursday I was away for work, Friday I got my car towed, Saturday I moved the big things into my new place and Sunday my car got flooded. It has been one fun, expensive week!

The new apartment is just perfect. I now have this uplifting environment that allows/challenges me to be whoever I want to be. Before I was so influenced by commuting 2.5 hours each day, my family troubles, my sibling’s poor eating habits… they were all tumbling against me to keep me down. I was binging often the past few weeks, I had cake every day before breakfast and after dinner, and I was so stressed out and tired by the time I got home from work at 7:30 p.m. that I just couldn’t work out. I was feeling terrible.

The first week after my move I hadn’t counted a calorie or stepped on the scale- or even had much time to exercise! But from being in this environment and wanting to just be healthy, I stepped on the scale and my weight had dropped down 3 pounds. I just know this apartment is good for me.

(my first time in the apartment!)

(a sneak peak! pictures to come!)

(first broken plate!)

One thing my landlord failed to mention to me was that my street floods easily. (oops!) This building has street parking as well as lots in the back and on the sides. I always park in the street because it is closest to my apartment. Last night (after hail larger than ice cubes), David looked at the window and said, “Look- my car is under water.” Well, it turns out mine was too.
The street was a river. Water was on my seats. Notice the water bottle floating in the picture below. Water even came 6 steps up to the first floor of my building. Fun! Both of our cars were towed and we’re waiting for the diagnosis from the shop. I’ll keep you posted.

There has been a very limited internet connection at the apartment. I’m working on it, but I’m getting something now, so hold on! Check back soon, because we have a lot to talk about! (And lots of pictures!)

I have so many things I want to discuss with you all through this blog... I’m getting right on it!
Have a healthy, happy day!