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June 3 2011 - June 2 2012 One year ago I promised myself that summer would be the last time I ever had to lose weight because I would do it the healthy way. A year later what started as a diet has become a complete lifestyle. I didn’t know who I was or what I wanted when I started, I just knew things had to change and those changes could only come from my attitude, the way I approached food and exercise and myself. Today I’ve done so much more than working exercise into my daily life and changing my eating habits, I’ve learned to stay positive, dedicated, to never give up and that with God’s help I truly can achieve the goals I’m willing to work for! YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!

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Garlic Lime Shrimp Kabobs! per kabob: 133 calories, 5 carbs, 1g fat, 24g protein! ~ One of my favorite parts of being home for the summer is finally being able to grill again and shrimp have to be my favorite grill food! I paired them with a serving of cilantro lime rice and a side salad topped with homemade pico de gallo salsa (I also had 2 slices of watermelon for dessert). ~ Recipe here: http://piecesinprogress.tumblr.com/pescetariantproteins

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30 Minute Wet Weather At Home Cardio Plan! The weather forecast says rain for the next 72 hours so I made this workout plan to keep up my cardio until I can get back outside! The middle 10 minutes were intense but once I made it through the second squat thrust rotation the rest wasn’t as rough. I used a timer on my laptop and watched tv while doing the routine so I didn’t get bored and I felt SO MUCH better than if I’d been sitting on the couch! :D ~ For more at home exercise plans go here!

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While both losing weight and maintaining, most of my exercise came from power walks (60 minutes, 4+ miles) but those can get boring fast so to keep it interesting these are the things I did. I’d bring a family member or friend, end at my favorite coffee shop, make my halfway point a pretty beach view, try all different routes and track how many .01’s of a mile I could get into my 60 minutes. Nearly a year after I started I STILL love walking because I’ve found ways to keep it interesting!

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This plan is designed to fit into your current workout routine. Like any fitness plan the more you put into it the more you’ll get out so try to really slow down and focus on doing the moves properly. It won’t seem like much day to day but it will seriously make a big difference in the long run! To truly get the best results make sure you pair it with fat burning cardio like walking, jogging, biking or whatever you enjoy! For more at home equipment free workout ideas go here!

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Spicy Mexican Brownies! 153 calories, 29 carbs, 5g fat, 3g protein ~ For my little sister’s Cinco de Mayo party she wanted me to make spiced mexican inspired brownies and they came out good but I wanted a healthier version for myself so I created this! It still uses a lot of sugar but I doubled the cocoa powder and added nonfat yogurt (the cocoa covers up the yogurt taste completely) and substituted light butter for regular. I always make my brownies in cupcake tins to help even out portion size! They came out soft, really moist, chocolately, spicy and almost identical to the originals but with less than half the calories and an even bigger portion size!    ~ Recipe here: piecesinprogress.tumblr.com/brilliantbaking

I’m gearing up for final exam studying today with my favorite no fuss easy meal! I don’t normally have energy bars because I like heartier meals better but when I have a lot to get done and no time to prep anything this is my go to!

I like these bars because they’re much more filling than expected, taste great, and have tons and tons of protein! There’s a few flavor options but I’ll take cookies and cream 100% of the time! They also make excellent study food because they’re easy to eat and I’m able to keep working while powering up. :)

~

ps- yup! Wheelock’s latin, fond memories for all you latin students out there- after a year of hard work I finally finished the whole thing!

3 notes | 1 month ago

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Black Bean Snack Bowl! 135 calories, 0g fat, 16 carbs, 8g PROTEIN!! ~ This delicious snack is filling and really simple to make. It has lots of great flavors and you can make it as spicy as you want. I had it as a side dish to my dinner but it makes a great anytime snack, on a salad, or in a wrap! Black beans are amazingly healthy with no fat, lots of protein, and only 100 calories per half cup! ~ All you need is: - 1/2 cup black beans (canned, boiled or plain, however you like them) - 2 Tablespoons fat free sour cream -2 Tablespoons fresh pico de gallo - 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro - sat, garlic powder, red chili flakes to taste

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I love squats because I can change up how I do them each time. You can use just about anything for hand-weights, I’ve been known to use everything from sneakers to soda bottles, and you can go as deep into the move as you want. As long as you have a few minutes and a clock you can get an excellent lower body workout anywhere! The routine here is pretty basic, just different types of squats alternated with basic ones! For more at home equipment free exercise plans go here: piecesinprogress.tumblr.com/athome

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On the Go Burrito Bowl! 245 calories, 47 carbs, 0g fat, 9g protein! ~ I got this from my university’s cafeteria but you can easily make it at home for a delicious good on the go meal! It requires almost no effort and you can change up the spice level or anything else you’d like to add! All you have to do is layer everything and go! It’s my new absolute favorite cafeteria/ quick dinner (have a glass of skim milk, a snack sized yogurt or cottage cheese, all about 80 calories, on the side with it to amp up the protein and have a healthy amount of calories)! :) Here’s what you need! - 1/2 cup spanish rice - 1/4 cup black beans (canned, drained) - 1/4 cup pico de gallo (store bought or homemade) - 2 lime wedges, squeezed - 2 Tablespoons fat free sour cream - handful of fresh cilantro - 1/2 a chopped green onion (scallion)

There’s plenty of ways to get active, today I went on a photo walk and burned over 300 calories in the process!

Personally I’m not a gym rat, what I really enjoy is getting outside in the fresh air so my absolute favorite exercise is going for walks. Today I didn’t feel like doing a work-up-a-sweat workout so I went on an hour long 3.5 mile walk around my University. It was a truly beautiful day so I relaxed, took pictures and enjoyed myself all while burning calories and getting moving!

Here’s some of my favorite pics from the walk!

I found this beautiful spot along the river next to school. There was a grassy area next to it and even two wooden benches to sit on! It was more secluded so I might go back and do yoga around here!

The campus has been in bloom the last week, our main quad is lined with cherry blossoms so I got a sunset picture before all the petals are blown away. 

Another cherry blossom pic, from standing underneath one!

Last one, walking back into my dorm, this is our library!

That was my walk! Now off to have some dinner (I’m having cottage cheese (90 cal) and got a fantastic 260 cal spanish rice, black bean bowl, I’ll post the recipe tomorrow), go to work and get ready for my last full week of junior year!

I hope you’re all having a fantastic Friday! :)

Tell me about it here!

6 notes | 1 month ago

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We all know drinking lots of water is one of the most important parts of losing weight but it can be tough to get enough so here’s a few ways to spice it up! The amount each person needs changes but in general if you’re losing weight you’ll probably need at least 10 cups so start drinking! ~ For more weight loss tips go here: piecesinprogress.tumblr.com/tips

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It was my goal body not my goal weight because there are so many factors beyond the scale that contribute to results! Weight is important, and the 45 pounds I lost isn’t a small thing, but I’m so happy to say I’meven more proud of other changes I made. I’m proud of my measurements and toning (going from hips: 43->34 and from waist: 36->26), I’m proud that I understand how to eat to fuel my body best (high protein, healthy carbs, home cooking, spaced out meals), I’m proud that I live an active lifestyle, that I get up and moving constantly and I’m proud that I’m someone others can come to for help or advice. I’ve changed my lifestyle completely and that’s why I’ve been successful! As you go through this process remember you are so much more than any number and find many ways to mark your progress because no one way can tell the whole story!

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Easy Microwave Egg Whites! These are absolutely perfect for sandwiches (and only about 30 calories with 8g protein and no fat) because they come out the right size and shape! All you have to do is pour two fresh egg whites (1/4 cup liquid egg whites) into a microwave safe bowl. Cook it for a minute on one side, use a spoon to flip it, cook another 30 seconds on the other side and enjoy! My favorite ways to use this! 1.- Put on a sandwich, top with 1/4 cup low fat cheese and microwave for 15 seconds to melt the cheese! (I like to use 2 slices of hearty multi-grain or rye bread) 2.- Chop and add to healthy stir fries for extra lean protein! 3.- Add veggies and cheese for a quick almost-omelette! 4.- Double the portion size and enjoy as is for a quick snack! Hot sauce makes it even better. :)