So! I am trying really hard not to think of this as a diet. Because, really, it's not, it's just a way to get my ass in gear and eating a balanced meal, instead of not eating or rushing and having something that isn't going to fuel my body...like a salad, with no protein, or too much cheese. I frigging love dairy... however, for 28 days I am not going to!
I also was supposed to give up coffee, I didn't have any yesterday, by about 6pm I wanted to hurt people... I wasn't sick, I didn't have a headache, I was just craving the sweet smell of fresh brewed coffee. I occupied myself and drank some David's Tea, caffeine free of course! Today...I made a morning coffee...I couldn't help it. But now, I have a headache... hmmm...catch 22? Maybe I'm just tired, lack of sleep last night and busy mornings make for a tired Jenny! So! epic fail on no coffee, but cutting down to one a day is a good start. I gave up coffee before, for 3 weeks, I didn't see much of a difference, so I will stick with that ;) Hayley says coffee is okay, as long as it is after breakfast!
Phase 1 is weird for me, high carbs and fruits. I don't usually eat that much starch in a day, or atleast I haven't in a while! scarry! But...I liked it! Even though, I find I am constantly hungry, but perhaps that is because I am in the "diet" mentality... ooohh, how the mind works!
My bf and I share desserts once in a while, like once a week, and it's always so yummy and because it's with him, I consider it guilt-free ;) It's usually just a cookie or a brownie, something sweet from the market, or his mom's homemade cookies, which by the way, are a little piece of Heaven on Earth!
Last night, he had cookies...not fair! I felt bad, and couldn't really turn it down, mainly because they are so damn delicious, and he's so darn cute, so they kind of go hand in hand! So, I had half...believe me, I wanted it all...BUT, I know deep down there will be another cookie in my life and really, it's not a big deal. and Yay for me to only have a couple bites!
So, today is day 2...so far so good! I am actually looking forward to lunch! Probably because I'm starving......... haha!!
JG OUT!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Back on track with The Fast Metabolism Diet
If you haven't read Haylie Pomroy's book, The Fast Metabolism Diet, you should! Even if you have no intentions on following it, or starting a new eating plan, it is still completely worth the read!
I need to get back on track, I've been feeling great, weather is starting to warm up, and the odd treat is becoming the weekly treat. So here is my 28 kickstart. My girlfriend is doing it with me. So, it will be fun to see how our results differ, she is much smaller than me, but we both live a pretty active lifestyle and are looking forward to this 28 day challenge!
Basically, Haylie says you can kickstart your metabolism, and keep it running, by following her plan.
Day 1 and 2 (phase 1) is basically a low-fat high carbohydrate meal plan
Day 3 and 4 (phase 2) is lean meats and veggies, no carbs, no fruits.
Day 4,5 and 6 (phase 3) is all of the above, plus adding in healthy fats!
Painless, yes. BUT, no coffee (unless you really need it). However, I decided to give it my all and give up the caffeine as well. Hey, go big or go home!
I'd like to drop 14lbs in the next 4 weeks. That is my goal. People are saying it works, so we'll see!
I plan on updating daily......or knowing me, every couple of days ;) and keeping you all posted on how this plan is working for me! Maybe, it'll give others the incentive to give it a try too!
JG OUT!
Basically, Haylie says you can kickstart your metabolism, and keep it running, by following her plan.
Day 1 and 2 (phase 1) is basically a low-fat high carbohydrate meal plan
Day 3 and 4 (phase 2) is lean meats and veggies, no carbs, no fruits.
Day 4,5 and 6 (phase 3) is all of the above, plus adding in healthy fats!
Painless, yes. BUT, no coffee (unless you really need it). However, I decided to give it my all and give up the caffeine as well. Hey, go big or go home!
I'd like to drop 14lbs in the next 4 weeks. That is my goal. People are saying it works, so we'll see!
I plan on updating daily......or knowing me, every couple of days ;) and keeping you all posted on how this plan is working for me! Maybe, it'll give others the incentive to give it a try too!
JG OUT!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
bye-bye belly - hello Jenny!
I am going to give this blogging world a try...yet, again!
As many of you who know me, I am an exercise fanatic, health freak, and lover of vegan desserts, Moksha yoga, and many other amazing things! However, 6 weeks ago, March 14 to the exact, I had an abdominal plasty. According to my Dr.; after losing 100lbs there was no way to lose my "pooch" because it was excess skin that exercise and healthy eating wouldn't be able to tighten up. A applied for such an operation, in hopes that this would completely change my life had my application been accepted and BAM! I was right.... clearly it was a much longer process(I'm just not getting into that right now) but wow, what a change. I had to give up exercising for a while, I had to learn to listen to my body, I had to REST? wtf? Jenny doesn't rest, nor does she know how! Well, I had no choice. I rested, and thank goodness I did, because now I feel stronger than ever ...not to mention, smaller! I spent my days watching Sex and the City (boy, those girls had A LOT of sex! You don't realize it until you watch every episode...in a row), meditating, and *gasp* relaxing! It felt nice for a change, not to be rushing my life away, running to and from gyms, stressing myself out, trying to eat healthy...on the run. Yeah, those 2 things just don't go together. However, here I am 6, almost 7 weeks later, not full healed, but every day gets easier and easier, and I am finally back to yoga! My goodness, How I missed my yoga!!
I finally closed the chapter of my life that included so many negative thoughts, and so much self-hate, I mean, I'm not perfect, and my body is still not as small as hopefully someday it will get, but I found a new love for myself. The fact that I have overcome and let go of all of the past years of hatred and negativity, the fact that I went "under the knife" for 3 hours and came back out smiling (probably because of high doses of Morphine) the fact that I was strong, and I am strong, and I am healing. I had so much support from my family, and my friends, and absolute strangers by times, it was insane. The gratitude I felt during the first couple weeks of my recovery, is completely unexplainable. I still feel such gratitude. In all honesty, I am saying Good Riddance to my past, and for the first time in my life, I am finally moving on. And let me tell you, it feels amazing! It's almost like I went to sleep and woke up with a whole new fresh start. Like a fresh page of loose-leaf, and I can begin my story, instead of continuing on!
So here's to my new beginning! Welcome to the world, the less-obsessed Jenny! She's going to rock this world upside down!
JG OUT!
As many of you who know me, I am an exercise fanatic, health freak, and lover of vegan desserts, Moksha yoga, and many other amazing things! However, 6 weeks ago, March 14 to the exact, I had an abdominal plasty. According to my Dr.; after losing 100lbs there was no way to lose my "pooch" because it was excess skin that exercise and healthy eating wouldn't be able to tighten up. A applied for such an operation, in hopes that this would completely change my life had my application been accepted and BAM! I was right.... clearly it was a much longer process(I'm just not getting into that right now) but wow, what a change. I had to give up exercising for a while, I had to learn to listen to my body, I had to REST? wtf? Jenny doesn't rest, nor does she know how! Well, I had no choice. I rested, and thank goodness I did, because now I feel stronger than ever ...not to mention, smaller! I spent my days watching Sex and the City (boy, those girls had A LOT of sex! You don't realize it until you watch every episode...in a row), meditating, and *gasp* relaxing! It felt nice for a change, not to be rushing my life away, running to and from gyms, stressing myself out, trying to eat healthy...on the run. Yeah, those 2 things just don't go together. However, here I am 6, almost 7 weeks later, not full healed, but every day gets easier and easier, and I am finally back to yoga! My goodness, How I missed my yoga!!
I finally closed the chapter of my life that included so many negative thoughts, and so much self-hate, I mean, I'm not perfect, and my body is still not as small as hopefully someday it will get, but I found a new love for myself. The fact that I have overcome and let go of all of the past years of hatred and negativity, the fact that I went "under the knife" for 3 hours and came back out smiling (probably because of high doses of Morphine) the fact that I was strong, and I am strong, and I am healing. I had so much support from my family, and my friends, and absolute strangers by times, it was insane. The gratitude I felt during the first couple weeks of my recovery, is completely unexplainable. I still feel such gratitude. In all honesty, I am saying Good Riddance to my past, and for the first time in my life, I am finally moving on. And let me tell you, it feels amazing! It's almost like I went to sleep and woke up with a whole new fresh start. Like a fresh page of loose-leaf, and I can begin my story, instead of continuing on!
So here's to my new beginning! Welcome to the world, the less-obsessed Jenny! She's going to rock this world upside down!
JG OUT!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Looks like we're gonna be snowed in...
And she returns!
It's been a while since I posted... but my life threw me a couple curveballs and sometimes it's just difficult to get out of your own way and find the time to sit down and write. I certainly wanted to, I just couldn't bring myself to doing it.
It's time again!
January 2013 was full of resolutions and ideas, ohhhh the ideas.... February 2013 is full of wondering what exactly those resolutions were and ideas that still have been given the proper attention.
I also gave up Largo, which means I went from working out 3 times a day, to mostly 1 hot yoga practice daily, or sometimes I would do a drop in turbo class or a drop in largo class, but I was no longer a member. I needed the break, my body needed the break, my head needed the break. But, I didn't feel like myself, I thought I would enjoy it - instead I felt very lazy and extremely useless when I wasn't intensely working out. I even tried a few mornings with Jillian Michaels, but it is just not the same! Needless to say, I am back to being a Largo member as of Saturday, and already I feel skinnier! Funny how the mind works.
My yoga practice has been stellar lately! loving it! Yesterday we did a partner yoga workshop with Christian and Steve, Ashley was my partner. We had so much fun! It was like 2.5 hours of playing in the hot room with your best friend! An absolute blast!
Sunday, Feb 17 - I started my morning with Yin and Airlie, then I went to Steve's noon-time Flow - and then the workshop at 3... My heart was so open and my head was so clear, I haven't felt that way in so long, I felt like me again, like everything was going to be okay, like I really don't have to spend so many hours of my day worrying.
I am going for a fairly big operation March 14, It's an abdomanaplasty (aka tummy tuck) funded by the government due to my extreme weight loss! extreme? I don't think so, but my belly states otherwise!
I'm not sure if this operation is huge because it's going to change my body and have me on a lengthy recovery, or because everything I hate about my body is going to be gone! The one thing that holds me back, that makes me feel insecure, that sometimes makes me break down in tears, that keeps me from mirrors, that makes me scream and go into fits of rage, that one thing - will be gone! Not going to lie, it scares the absolute shit out of me, I was never one for change, but I do know that deep down inside I love myself, and I love what my body helps me do - especially after all of the abuse and stress I put it through - it has never once given up on me - and I like to think this surgery is just going to better it and it might help my mind catch up to my body (which is probably the only thing I haven't been able to do yet)
I am just starting to tell people about this upcoming transformation, and I wish I had of done it sooner, because instead of feeling ashamed that I have to get this done, I feel proud that all of my hard work is paying off, and I can't believe the support I have been getting from my friends and the people around me and it is making me so much more positive towards this, instead of afraid.
I told myself I would lose 30lbs by this surgery, I had 3 months to do it... I have not lost 30 lbs, I have not even lost 3 lbs, what I have lost - is many things I enjoyed, instead I spent most mornings weighing myself and getting even angrier, and I lost $80.00 that I paid my dietitian to gain 6lbs... muscle or not - it's not what I need right now. I was so stressed out and angry that I forgot about all the positive things in life and I forgot all of my previous accomplishments, instead I was focusing on the fact that I can't! I had coffee with my friend Saturday morning, and again - everything made sense! I don't know why I wait so long to have a conversation with her because I know I need it, but I am glad we did. I have a month until my surgery, and I am going to focus on loving myself, embracing my yoga practice, working my ass off at Largo, and becoming stronger to recover from the operation, and of course - smiling! Because really? Who wants a non-smiling Jenny ...I'm pretty sure that must have been awful for those around me, although I do put on a pretty good front ;)
One question I got on Saturday... "why do you want to lose 30 lbs"? I didn't even have an answer, other than I don't really feel my number is worthy of this surgery, which is just silly, because yes it is! And why after all these years am I still so focused on a number? Those who love me, aren't calling me by a number, they don't refer to me as a number, why do I do it myself? If anyone can answer these questions, feel free to do so ;)
I'm so sick of guilt, and torturing myself, but I am the only one who can put an end to it. And, it started yesterday, and already I feel much better! It's going to be a long process, and it's not going to be easy, but I realized this weekend that I have a wicked support system and I have lots of people who see me much differently than I see myself - and eventually I hope to see what they see!
Well... that's it for today. I have so much to reflect, share, and write write write! And that I shall!
Hope you'll join me for the ride! I promise it will provide some fabulous recipes and cute photos!!
JG OUT!
It's been a while since I posted... but my life threw me a couple curveballs and sometimes it's just difficult to get out of your own way and find the time to sit down and write. I certainly wanted to, I just couldn't bring myself to doing it.
It's time again!
January 2013 was full of resolutions and ideas, ohhhh the ideas.... February 2013 is full of wondering what exactly those resolutions were and ideas that still have been given the proper attention.
I also gave up Largo, which means I went from working out 3 times a day, to mostly 1 hot yoga practice daily, or sometimes I would do a drop in turbo class or a drop in largo class, but I was no longer a member. I needed the break, my body needed the break, my head needed the break. But, I didn't feel like myself, I thought I would enjoy it - instead I felt very lazy and extremely useless when I wasn't intensely working out. I even tried a few mornings with Jillian Michaels, but it is just not the same! Needless to say, I am back to being a Largo member as of Saturday, and already I feel skinnier! Funny how the mind works.
My yoga practice has been stellar lately! loving it! Yesterday we did a partner yoga workshop with Christian and Steve, Ashley was my partner. We had so much fun! It was like 2.5 hours of playing in the hot room with your best friend! An absolute blast!
I am going for a fairly big operation March 14, It's an abdomanaplasty (aka tummy tuck) funded by the government due to my extreme weight loss! extreme? I don't think so, but my belly states otherwise!
I'm not sure if this operation is huge because it's going to change my body and have me on a lengthy recovery, or because everything I hate about my body is going to be gone! The one thing that holds me back, that makes me feel insecure, that sometimes makes me break down in tears, that keeps me from mirrors, that makes me scream and go into fits of rage, that one thing - will be gone! Not going to lie, it scares the absolute shit out of me, I was never one for change, but I do know that deep down inside I love myself, and I love what my body helps me do - especially after all of the abuse and stress I put it through - it has never once given up on me - and I like to think this surgery is just going to better it and it might help my mind catch up to my body (which is probably the only thing I haven't been able to do yet)
I am just starting to tell people about this upcoming transformation, and I wish I had of done it sooner, because instead of feeling ashamed that I have to get this done, I feel proud that all of my hard work is paying off, and I can't believe the support I have been getting from my friends and the people around me and it is making me so much more positive towards this, instead of afraid.
I told myself I would lose 30lbs by this surgery, I had 3 months to do it... I have not lost 30 lbs, I have not even lost 3 lbs, what I have lost - is many things I enjoyed, instead I spent most mornings weighing myself and getting even angrier, and I lost $80.00 that I paid my dietitian to gain 6lbs... muscle or not - it's not what I need right now. I was so stressed out and angry that I forgot about all the positive things in life and I forgot all of my previous accomplishments, instead I was focusing on the fact that I can't! I had coffee with my friend Saturday morning, and again - everything made sense! I don't know why I wait so long to have a conversation with her because I know I need it, but I am glad we did. I have a month until my surgery, and I am going to focus on loving myself, embracing my yoga practice, working my ass off at Largo, and becoming stronger to recover from the operation, and of course - smiling! Because really? Who wants a non-smiling Jenny ...I'm pretty sure that must have been awful for those around me, although I do put on a pretty good front ;)
One question I got on Saturday... "why do you want to lose 30 lbs"? I didn't even have an answer, other than I don't really feel my number is worthy of this surgery, which is just silly, because yes it is! And why after all these years am I still so focused on a number? Those who love me, aren't calling me by a number, they don't refer to me as a number, why do I do it myself? If anyone can answer these questions, feel free to do so ;)
I'm so sick of guilt, and torturing myself, but I am the only one who can put an end to it. And, it started yesterday, and already I feel much better! It's going to be a long process, and it's not going to be easy, but I realized this weekend that I have a wicked support system and I have lots of people who see me much differently than I see myself - and eventually I hope to see what they see!
Well... that's it for today. I have so much to reflect, share, and write write write! And that I shall!
Hope you'll join me for the ride! I promise it will provide some fabulous recipes and cute photos!!
JG OUT!
Monday, October 15, 2012
HALF WAY!
Can I get a woop-woop!!
A shout to my fellow mokshi`s from MYC who are finally mid-way through the challenge!! Congratulations! You are half way there!!! (....and NO Jeremy, you cannot steal my stars!!)
To mark the mid-way point, I took Kenny`s 930am class today, I was brutally exhausted, body and mind - but I pushed through, had a great class, and felt 100% coming out of the hot room!
Locust is my all-time fave pose! I`m pretty sure I nailed it today, but since your face is plastered to the floor - its hard to tell.
Ever see those pictures people post all the time, about "how I think I look vs. how I really look"?
HAHAHA here's a prime example!
How I think I look ---
No, but really, I think I was somewhere in the middle - I am pretty sure I effing nailed it today, I sort of moved my neck to catch a glimpse in the mirror and my legs were definitely up there! YAY!! I love mid-way accomplishments!
A shout to my fellow mokshi`s from MYC who are finally mid-way through the challenge!! Congratulations! You are half way there!!! (....and NO Jeremy, you cannot steal my stars!!)
To mark the mid-way point, I took Kenny`s 930am class today, I was brutally exhausted, body and mind - but I pushed through, had a great class, and felt 100% coming out of the hot room!
Locust is my all-time fave pose! I`m pretty sure I nailed it today, but since your face is plastered to the floor - its hard to tell.
Ever see those pictures people post all the time, about "how I think I look vs. how I really look"?
HAHAHA here's a prime example!
How I think I look ---
VS
What I probably actually look like ---
No, but really, I think I was somewhere in the middle - I am pretty sure I effing nailed it today, I sort of moved my neck to catch a glimpse in the mirror and my legs were definitely up there! YAY!! I love mid-way accomplishments!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Mid-Point Savassana
We are borderline mid-point on our 30 day challenge!
My body is exhausted and sore, yet energetic and ready for more. I doubled up a couple days, so today marks Day 13, and according to my stars, I'm on Day 17. I like to be ahead, merely for the fact that I don't like being behind. Therefore, I work all day and won't be able to hit up any classes. So, I'll do a Yin or something from home. oooooh Yin- my love!
Clearly, I gave up on the pumpkin for a couple of days! I decided to go with Apple for a change of pace.
First on my list, apple butter!
I recieved this gorgeous Thanksgiving gift from my Grammie, and added to the other 4-5 pounds of apples I had in the fridge, all of random assortment, I thought this was a perfect idea!
Ahhhh-dorable!
I sliced about 5 pounds of apples, ranging from honeycrisp (those are my fave, so I saved most of them for eating! haha) red, sweet tango, golden delicious, and a couple of others.
Threw them all in the slow cooker, added some cinnamon, and went to....YOGA! Came home and the apartment smelt absolutely delightful. Now, I had apple sauce, with the peel, and I used some in my yogurt - deeeelish!
Next up, blend the apples and make them smooth - DONE!
Then, throw back in the slow cooker and wait for it to thicken on high with the lid off... it's still kind of saucey, but I didn't add any fillers or sugar, so that would be why. Still tastes good, and is awesome on top of toast, oatmeal, yogurt, or whatever you prefer!
OH! and of course, I had to add some pumpkin for good measure, so in one little bottle, I used about 1/4C of pumpkin mixed with the apple sauce, added a little pumpkin spice AND voila! Pumpkin-Apple-Butter, in other words - super-freakin-yummy! Next time, I'm making my whole batch pumpkin-apple butter, the pumpkin thickens it up a bit for sure.
The experimenting in the kitchen still exists, just not as frequent, and not always with pumpkin.
I found this amazing find on a friends' FB wall today....
Jenny's next mission... is to find these beauties! Apparently, they haven't been found around the maritimes #disappointed
My body is exhausted and sore, yet energetic and ready for more. I doubled up a couple days, so today marks Day 13, and according to my stars, I'm on Day 17. I like to be ahead, merely for the fact that I don't like being behind. Therefore, I work all day and won't be able to hit up any classes. So, I'll do a Yin or something from home. oooooh Yin- my love!
Clearly, I gave up on the pumpkin for a couple of days! I decided to go with Apple for a change of pace.
First on my list, apple butter!
I recieved this gorgeous Thanksgiving gift from my Grammie, and added to the other 4-5 pounds of apples I had in the fridge, all of random assortment, I thought this was a perfect idea!
I sliced about 5 pounds of apples, ranging from honeycrisp (those are my fave, so I saved most of them for eating! haha) red, sweet tango, golden delicious, and a couple of others.
Threw them all in the slow cooker, added some cinnamon, and went to....YOGA! Came home and the apartment smelt absolutely delightful. Now, I had apple sauce, with the peel, and I used some in my yogurt - deeeelish!
Next up, blend the apples and make them smooth - DONE!
Then, throw back in the slow cooker and wait for it to thicken on high with the lid off... it's still kind of saucey, but I didn't add any fillers or sugar, so that would be why. Still tastes good, and is awesome on top of toast, oatmeal, yogurt, or whatever you prefer!
OH! and of course, I had to add some pumpkin for good measure, so in one little bottle, I used about 1/4C of pumpkin mixed with the apple sauce, added a little pumpkin spice AND voila! Pumpkin-Apple-Butter, in other words - super-freakin-yummy! Next time, I'm making my whole batch pumpkin-apple butter, the pumpkin thickens it up a bit for sure.
The experimenting in the kitchen still exists, just not as frequent, and not always with pumpkin.
I found this amazing find on a friends' FB wall today....
Jenny's next mission... is to find these beauties! Apparently, they haven't been found around the maritimes #disappointed
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pumpkin challenge...COMPLETE!
Sunday, October 7, marks the final day of my 15 days of Everything Pumpkin!
YAY!!!!!
Yesterday I whipped up the pumpkin latte, and today we are celebrating Thanksgiving, I have decided to make a dessert...I know, Shocker!! And a pumpkin dessert, of course!
1st of all, because it is Thanksgiving, pumpkin goes hand-in-hand and 2nd of all because this was the whole point of my challenge.
Today was the final day of our yoga retreat/workshop with the amazing Colleen and Kate W Mak! It was 2 hours of bliss - Finding Balance in your practice. We started the class talking about shakras and learnt some interesting things - I Can't wait to read up on it!
We began the class with a yin practice, so soothing, I was so exhausted, and I kept thinking - how are we ever supposed to move from Yin to Yang - ughk! But the transition was awesome and the yang part of class was too much fun! No expectations, we laughed, and laughed some more, balanced on our arms, hopped, did froggy claps, fell, slipped, and laughed some more - all on the privacy of our mats! Too much fun! What a great way to end such a wonderful workshop series, if only I could have made it for all of them, but in the 2 classes/4 hours I did attend with these beautiful women, I learnt alot about myself, about my practice, and about the people around me. Absolute bliss.
I was supposed to make a pumpkin cheesecake, I had one not so happy camper when I showed up with a pumpkin-spice cake instead, haha - but as mom says - thems the breaks (whatever that means, and who throws an 'S' on the end of them....mom, that's who!) Anyways - luckily someone else showed up with lovely mini pumpkin cheesecakes! phewf!
For thanksgiving we have a potluck style meal with the fam-jam! I made a sugar free cranberry sauce, I used stevia instead of sugar, it was actually not too bad!
Next up, a pumpkin spice cake! First of all, it's basically those little muffin thingy's I make, in cake form. It came out super moist and pumpkin-y. mmmmm! But it was missing something, what? FROSTING! I didn't have much to work with, so I got thinking - and I mixed together fat free cream cheese with fat free cool whip and BAM! I had a light, fluffy cream cheese frosting - exactly what this cake needed! It was so super good! And now I have so many more ideas of what I can do with pumpkin - but I think I need a bit of a hiatus from this little root vegetable - perhaps later on in the month...
Pumpkin-Spice Cake with fat-free cream cheese frosting!
(note: cranberry sauce in the background)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
JG OUT!
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