Clean Eating.....must include planning ahead!!!

If you don't plan ahead you probably won't have clean meals on hand when meal/snack time comes around....especially if you have a full time job and are super busy like most of us are.  One way I plan ahead is by grocery shopping and cooking ahead for the week on Sundays.  I plan all my meals ahead, which keeps calories in check, keeps meals clean and saves time when overtime hours are worked and time is of the essence.

(My fridge full of all the prepared and portioned meals and snacks)

First of all, make sure you have plenty of tupperware, which will allow you to store all your preplanned meals as needed.  My fav tupperware for lunchs and dinners are from Walmart.  They are less than $2 for 3 sets and they have 2 sections for your main entree and then your side dish. They are also a perfect size...not too big, but not too tiny either.  I also like to use garage sale like dot sticks to put the calorie count of each meal on the tupperware, so I can easily track my calories throughout the day.  I also place a little strip of clear tape on top, so the numbers don't fade away.

Once I have my groceries and tupperware, I decide what meals I want to make.  I had my heart set on making chilli and also wanted to re-make the turkey bake receipe i made up last week. 

(Above, Chicken and Black Bean Chilli)

(Turkey bake and carrots)

Then I grilled a pound of chicken on the George Foreman and turned that into a few random but supper yummy meals as well.  I also pulled out the batch of brown rice I had made yesterday to add some heartyness to the meals.

(Cheesy Chicken and Rice with Asparagus)

(Chicken and Potatoes w/ Greek Yogurt on top (tastes like sour cream) and Asparagus)

(Chicken Salad and Bread, to make a sandwhich....had this for dinner tonight)

(Chicken and Mushrooms Over Rice with Guac)

(Marinara Mushroom Chicken and Rice with Asparagus)

I also prepacked my snacks, like these grapes, and tried to keep each snack about 100 cals, these grase are 90cals for 1 and 1/2 cups.....and such a yummy snack!!

.

Hope you all enjoyed this little look into how I get ready for the week ahead with clean eating.  If you would like me to share some receipes let me know.  :)  ~Kendra~

What a transformation......

The pic on the left was me in February about to go to the movies with my boyfriend....I didn't realize how overweight and unhealthy I had become.  On the right is me a week or so ago and I have lost a few lbs since then....I'm less than 10lbs away from my goal weight and healthier than I have felt in a long time.  I'm eating clean, exercising regularly and continuing to make strides in my goal to not only lose weight, but to be come a well-rounded health concious person who takes care of their body.  It feels so good to look at the two pictures in comparison.  That person on the left doesn't even feel like me anymore...even though it was merely mths ago....it feels like lifetimes ago...I've changed so much for who I was when that picture was taken and I never want to go back to that place.  So here I am on the brink of my goal weight, discovering clean eating and continue to exercise....it's not always easy for sure, but it is always, ALWAYS worth it!!!!

~Kendra~

Todays a HUGE day for me........

I've hit the 50lbs lost mark......Can you believe it?  I know I can't!!!  I got up this morning, like any normal day, and trudged into the bathroom for my morning routine and weighed myself.  The scale said 144.4....seriously???!!!  I instantly texted my bf and called my mom....I was sooo excited!!!  I decided this was the day to finally clean out my closet off all my clothes that don't fit, which has been super fun, but I don't have many clothes left, so next Friday as soon as I get my next paycheck...it's shopping time for sure!! 

Other exciting news...I get my braces off and my teeth whitened on the 15th.  Yay!!!  I am mega excited about all the exciting things going on right now.  Oh and I have been loving my new job...and have been doing a lot of overtime (by choice) which I totally hated at my old job, but at my new job time flies by and I just love it!!!

Hope everyone else is doing great too!! :)  ~Kendra~

Clean Eating Day 1 Update

Day of clean eating has been awesome....here's a breakdown:

Breakfast:
1cup of All natural cinnamon cereal and 1cup of Silk

Snack 1:
2 cups of purple grapes

Snack 2:
1 cup of dry all natural cinnamon cereal

Lunch:
Baked Chicken Breast and Mized Veggies

Snack 3:
1 Lg Banana (Sliced)

Dinner:
Turkey meatloaf and sweet potatoe fries

Yummy food....even better than the "healthy" processed meals I'd become so accustomed to.  I am also really enjoying cooking and preparing meals...I think it's because this time I made the concious choice to do it....when I do something, because I "have to" I either hate it or don't do it...lol  Bad on my part I know, but the good thing, the empowering thing about this journey to weight loss and overall total health was my choice.  It was something I decided for myself, which gives me the fire and determination to keep going, because it's not something on my checklist I have to get done and wanna rush through, it's something I'm willing to work on and give my 100% effort too.  I am just loving this whole journey. :)  I feel like it was finnaly my time to choose the change needed to succeed.  ~Kendra~

Pre-eating clean

So in my efforts to get ready for my first week of eating clean, I did a bunch of grocery shopping and am in the process or reorganizing my kitchen cabinets and fridge/freezer.  I have loved this process and it wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be.  I was able to find a bunch of all natural spices at Dollar Tree, which definately saved some money, cus spices at the grocery store at about $3 each.  I also got a blender, food processeor and brita water filter, some new pans and tupperware.  I am on of those people who love to clean and organize, so the prep process has been fun. :)

I also ate my first totally clean meal today....After church, I  came home and made lunch for my bf and I.  I made chicken and mashed 'potatoes' pot pie style.  Basically it was chicken breast, chicken broth, various veggies, and mashed cauliflower in place of patatoes.  My bf and I both loved it....Yay, for a successful start.  Hope the week goes as well. 

I'm ready for work with my new jumbo sized cooler and lots of fruit for snacks throughout the day.  Wish me luck, tommorow's day one.  ~Kendra~

Clean Eating

Has anyone tried clean eating?  If so, I welcome any tips and ideas on how to make it work for me.  I already eat pretty healthy, I just still eat alot of processed foods so I want to eleminate that as much as I can.  If you have any tips, recipies, good websites or any info on the subject, please let me know....I'd love to learn more and think I may be giving "clean eating" a try next week. :)  Thanks!!!  ~Kendra~

The Goal Dress

A while back (Over 10 lbs ago) my mom got me this awesome red dress, which was waaaay too tight at the time, but she said I should keep it as my "goal dress" and when I loose a little more weight I can wear it. So, that's what I did. I decided to try it on this evening and.......

It fits PERFECTLY!!!!  Yay!  I am so excited to almost be at the 40lbs lost mark.  Lest than 1lb to go till I hit that milestone.  It's now also less than 20lbs till I reach my overall goal weight.  Alot of exciting things coming up.  Hope everyone else is doing good as well. :)  ~Kendra~

Friend Makin Monday

Do you use coupons? Nope, but I'd love to start.  If yall have any tips on getting started...let me know :)

Do you like football? Texas Tech Football is the best....other than that, not so much...hehe

Are you in a relationship?  Yup, we've been together almost 6yrs


Is your phone always within arm’s reach? Yeah, I'm addicted...especially since I got an android!

Do you like thunderstorms? When it's night time and I'm cuddled up, but not when I have to go outside or drive in it.

Can you cook? Yeah

Are you – or have you – lost weight? Almost 40lbs so far....about 20 more to go :)

Do you know how to read a map? Nope, that's what GPS is for hehehe

Do you wear makeup? Everyday!!! I've become addicted to that too, thanks to the Youtube beauty community.

Do you read regularly? Sometimes.....so I guess not regularly haha

Are you publicly affectionate? Yes, I'm a touchy-feely person.

Do you like picnics? No, I hate eating outside....bugs, flys, wind, heat....ugh!!  Not romantic or fun.

Do you have a/c? Yeah, I live in Texas...You'd literally die without it!

Have you ever been out of the country?  Yes several times...to Mexico, England and Jamaica. Hoping to go to South Korea and France sometime too. :)

Do you know how to ride a bicycle? Yes...I'm acctually thinking of getting a bike to ride for exercise, but not sure if I'd use it enough....we'll see.

Still moving....

Everything's still moving along....the scale, my career, my life....it's all going and it seems to be headed in a  good direction. :)  My first 2 days (Thursday and Friday) at my new job went great.  I learned a ton by simply job shadowing and watching someone do what I will be doing.  This coming week  I will be going to offsite classroom training for the whole week...not sure what to expect for that, but I am excited.  I have already preplanned all my outfits for the week.  Now that  I've seen how others dress and what the other people are like that work there....I think I'm going to fit in to the culture just fine.  Everyone seems to be relatively young in my dept.....mid 20's to early 30's.  Also, everyone dresses super cute...a mix of JCrew and Cosmo style....gotta love that!!

As for the scale...it is still heading downward, which is awesome!!!  I'm almost at the 40lbs lost mark....yay!  Can't wait to reach that exciting milestone. :)  A little over 20lbs till I'm at my goal, which at the rate I'm going my doctor said should be in the next 2mths. Yesterday I did my first 5 miler...now I did walk the majority of it....but I'm pretty sure 5miles is the most I've ever done.  I'm on my way to that 13.1miler...wow, that's gonna be interesting.  I'm sore from just 5!! lol  Also, have been loving doing random workout routines and Zumba stuff I find on Youtube...so fun and easy, because you don't even have to leave the house, but still leaves me feeling worked and sweaty. hehe

On to life in general....it's going good as well!  My brother went to Prom, graduated HS, and is now moving on to a program for adults with disabilities...he had his first day last week and my parents said it went much better than expected.  Change is really hard for him, but he's adapting really well.  Also, said goodbye to all my old work friends...on my last day as a Career Advisor they all signed a card for me and got me a cake that said "Miss You" on it.  So sweet!! My dogs are doing good as well...they're do for a haircut, but will probably get that done in a week or so.  Also, need to get my apartment carpet cleaned and hope to be getting a leather couch for my living room soon.  Right now I have a fabric couch and I feel like leather (or faux leather) would be so much easier to keep clean...especially with puppies who shed!  Wow....that was a big update hehe  That's all I've got for now. :)  ~Kendra~

Transitions

Well, today is my last day at my current job....I've been here over a yr and a half.  It's my 1st "big girl" post college job.  It's been super challenging, fun, made friends and learned a lot about myself.  I'm definately going to miss my Work Bestie!!! 

I'm excited to do something new....I acctually start my new job tommorow.  :)  I know....I really should've put a day off work in between, but I wasn't able to give my old job as much notice as I wanted too, so ahh well.  At least the weekend isn't too far away.  So while I'm training for the next week and a half my work schedule will be 8-5pm, but after that it will be 11am-8pm, which I'm really excited about...that means I have more flexibility on my orthodonist and other doctor appointments, I can workout and have breakfast with my boyfriend whenever, and he works till 10pm, so it doesn't collide w/ his schedule and acctually gives us more time together. 

Wish me luck on my last day today and first day tommorow.   ~Kendra~

Today I hit the.....

Woohoo.....so exciting!!!!

It's just one of those really good days.  It started with the scale, then I found out the conference call that I was dreading at work today was cancelled.  Then a family member went to a follow up appointment for a lump in her breast and may have had to have a biopsy today.  When they did another scan today, they saw absolutely nothing there. So no bipsy and no worries.  :)  Gotta love those days where all you have to do is be present to see God's goodness all around you. So nice!   Hope all of you are having a good day as well.   ~Kendra~

So close!!!!!

So if your paying attention, then you know I am on the verge of the 150's and I'm so excited!!!  Another thing I'm excited about is a pic I took of myself tonight.  I decided to take a pic before heading out for a run and still can't believe how much my bodys changed these past few months.  On to the pic, wait.....Let me show a lil before and after.  These are fun when you (are about to) hit exciting weightloss milestone, so here we go.....

Oh, and if you can't tell I've been tanning a bit.  Hold on before you worry, no not in the sun or in a tanning bed.  Just spray tanning and I love it.  :)  It makes me feel good and it's super relaxing.  Ok, time to hit the shower after my 3.3miler tonight...oh and I ran like 50%....Yay!!   ~Kendra~

Spring Fever Challenge: Week 9

What have you done this past week to help achieve your goals?

• I definately didn't do enough working out this past week with driving back into town Monday, being exhausted and working till 8pm Tuesday, hangin out with the BF alot and much more.  It was a super busy week at work, because someone from corporate was in our office, so I was tired every evening. But anyways.....on to what I did to help achieve my goals:  I made good choices with food and stayed on track with calories.  I got a hydration pack for running this summer, so I don't dehyrdrate.  I also got really healthy groceries....lots of fruit and veggies :)

What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?

• Well, this morning I decided to try on 3 pairs of old jeans...and....guess what. (Drum roll)  I am wearing jeans I bought my freshman yr of college.  Woohooo!!!!!  On Sunday, I got (well my parents got for me)  a fancy new business professional black suit and I love it!!!  All my blazers are too big, so I was super excited to get some new work clothes. :) 

With two full weeks left in the challenge, what goals are you making your priority?

• I am making getting to the 150's a priority.  I weighed in this morning at 160.8....woohoo!!  If you check the weight loss ticker at the top of my page you can see my total weight loss.  It's been going really well.

Summer is just around the corner, which season do you find the easiest to accomplish goals?

• I think summers definately the easiest season for me to reach my goals.  The weathers good for running outside in early morning and late night hours, which are times that work for me.  Winters alot harder because of all the big holidays and the cold weather makes me wanna be lazy. lol

Fun Question: What do you miss most about being a kid?

• Living in the same place as my family (the same house lol).  My family is now 6hrs away and I miss them alot!!!  I go see them every chance I get, but I sure wish we could have weekly family dinners, go to church together and just meet randomly for lunch. :)  Maybe someday I can convince them to move here. hehe

Hope everyone has had a great weekend!!!  ~Kendra~

All About My ABC's

Here;s my Friend Makin Monday a little bit late......Today it's gonna be all about the ABC's that describe me :)\

A- Amarillo is a town an hour from my hometown and where we had to drive to go to the mall and movies when I was a kid.....Yes, we seriously had to drive an hour. lol
B- Beau is my boyfriend and we've been together 5 and a 1/2 years. <3
C-Cats make my eyes water and my nose all runny....I'm super allergic!
D-Dogs, I have two of them.  Jackson, a JackRussell mix and Zoey, a shitzu.  They are both 3 and totally adorable!!
E-Eleventhgorgeous is a really good beauty and makeup channel and Youtube.
F-Fashion is something I have always loved.  I actually started out as a Fashion Design major in college.
G-Goodwill is awesome, actually....all thrift stores are awesome!!  I love thrifting and digging for great deals. :)
H-Health and Happiness are my over-all goal for this whole journey of weightloss.
I-Iceland is where I want to go on my honeymoon someday.
J-Justin is my little brother's name.  He's 22, has Down Syndrome and is the best brother EVER!!!
K-Kendra is my name.  I'm named after my dad, Ken.
L-Losing weight is going great for me thus far and I sure hope it continues!
M-Mom, mine is my best friend!!!  I love talking to her and I do every single day. :)
N- New York...I really wanna go and possible live there at some point.
O-Outlook....I have new ones since starting this journey.  Working out is fun.  I can be a runner.  (and)  My health is important to me.
P-Payday is my fav day....lol!
Q-Queen, I used to do a ton of pageants....I wanna do another one soon.  I have a ton of tiaras and banners in my closet.
R-Running is my new thing and I'm starting to really love it.
S-Serious is what people often say I am....it's because I'm an over thinker and I do take life seriously, but I know how to have fun too.
T-Team In Training-I'm participating in the Nike Women's Marathon to raise money for the Luekimia and Lymphoma Society. Check my link on the sidebar to learn more or donate. :)
U-Utilize, I never utilized my apartment gym until this march and I've lived here since Dec 2009. OMG!
V-Vacations, I've been out of the US 3 times: Mexico, England and Jamaica.
W-Working out is all about variety for me.  I like running, walking, Zumba, Running Club, Team in Training practices and more. 
X-X-Rays are no fun.  I broke my left arm in 2 places in 6th grade and had a purple cast all the way up my arm.
Y-Youtube....I love it!!  I like watching weightloss, fashion and beauty videos.  I even have a channel on there: lowcosthighstyle
Z-Zoey means life in Greek, which is the name my boyfriend came up with for my shitzu and I think it's super cute!

Hope you all enjoyed learning more about me. :)  ~Kendra~

Whirlwind Week......Literally!

Well, this week has been a little crazy!!  So, Monday I went to running club for my 2nd time and did 2.16miles.  I ran about 80% of it and it was killer.  Can imagine running 13miles at this point, but I'll get there.  Then Tuesday morning had a business meeting that was very exciting and if anything comes of it I will let yall know.  Tuesday's my late day at work, so it was getting close to 8pm and I was gathering my stuff to head home when all of a student teachers come around the corner and say get ur stuff and head to the stairwell immediately, because there are several tornadoes in the area.  Now, I was born and raised in the heart of "tornadoe alley" so usually storms don't bother me, but all the students we're panicked and it made me nervous too.  So after over an hour of waiting out the storm....after 9pm, when I should've already been home, I go outside to see my car and I have 2 huge spiderwebb cracks in my windsheild and dents all over may car.  Tons of peoples car windows were busted out.  It was insane.  We even saw softball sized hail....OMG!  So once I got gas I headed home.  Finally got home a little after 10pm.  What a long day!!  So definately didn't get a workout in that day.  Yesterday our computer systems were down basically all day.  There down in our office again today, but we've moved to another office, so we can get some work done.  It's been sooooo busy!

So anyways, as you can read, it's been an interesting week.  I am glad to say I'm heading home tommorow for a 4-day weekend with my fam to celebrate my lil bro's graduation and I can't wait!! :)  Should get some good workouts in there.  Thanks for all your support and celebration when I hit my 30lb mark the other day....so exciting!!!! :)  ~Kendra~

On the Downhill Slope

Today I hit the 30lb's lost mark....wooohooo!!!!  I am so excited and it means that I am now on the downhill slope toward my goal.  I have made it this far and I'm confident I will make it across the 135lb finish line.  Wait...135 isn't really a finish line, because this whole learning process and change of lifestyle isn't just temporary until I reach my goal.  I plan to keep it up permenantly. 

Anyways, enough about that I just wanna celebrate the big 3-0!  :) HAHAHA  ~Kendra~

Spring Fever Challenge: Week 8

What have you done this past week to help achieve your goals?

• I went to a running club at a park near my house.  It's every Monday and I plan to go as much as I can!!  Also, I went to the gym with my boyfriend who taught me how to do a really cool series workout with cardio and weights.  Last, but not least, I went to myt first marathon training for Team in Training and got some awesome new running shoes.

What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?

• I bought some new running shorts and shoes....I am excited/nervous to wear the shorts, but it's way too hot to run outside in workout pants.  Oh and I also started taking outfit pics and updating my fashion blog again, which makes me really happy...it's something I enjoy, but as I gained weight....I didn't even realize it...but I stopped taking outfit pics, so I am excited to be doing it again!  :)

How do you measure success of your goals?

• There are several ways I measure success for my goals....of course in inches and pounds, but the measuring doesn't stop there.  I measure my success by the new amount of things I learn about health, fitness and nutrition, the number of new people I've made friends with through this journey and just the confidence I am feeling now.

What is failure to you when it comes to goals?

• Giving up would be failure, but I definately don't plan to do that!!!

Fun Question: If you could hop on a plane right now, where would you go?

• I would definately go to New York!!!  I've always wanted to go and have never been yet.  I love fashion, shopping and the city, so I would love to see it all up close! :)

~Kendra~

This week in review

So if you look at the weight loss tracker at the top of my page you'll notice I have officially surpased the half way mark in my weight loss journey and am only .2lbs away from a total loss of 30lbs. :)  Wooohooo!!!  This has been an awesome week! 

Monday:  I went to my first runner's club meetup.  I found a running club on http://www.meetup.com/ that meets and runs together every Monday at a park just about 5 minutes from my house.  I went and met several very nice girls, did a great 2mile run and then did some ab exercises.  All in all, I am so glad I decided to try a meetup group and can't wait to go again tommorow! When I got home, I did a 15min ab workout, which of course included my daily 100 crunches.

Tuesday: I work till 8pm on Tuesdays, so I don't run outside that late.  I did one hour of Zumba.  If you love Zumba, but are too busy to commit to a workout class thats only offered at certain times....try looking up Zumba videos on Youtube...that's what I do.  I've saved some in my favorites and those are my go to Zumba workouts!!  After Zumba, I did my 100 crunches and then 100 arm lifts w/ 2lb weights. 

Wednesday: Was really tired that evening, so did a light workout.  Just 100 crunches and 100 arm lifts w/ 2lb weights. 

Thursday: Looked up ab workouts on Youtube and did a 15min workout.  Then did my 100 crunches for the day.

Friday: I did 200 crunches, 100 arm lifts w/2lb weights, 10mins on the eliptical, and then 3 sets of 15 on an arm workout machine. 

Saturday:  Did my 1st marathon training with Team in Training and just did a mile this week.  Came home and did a 20min Zumba workout.  Also, got in my 100 crunches for the day. 

Sunday:  Today I am planning to go to the gym with my boyfriend and do a new workout routine he came up with where you alternate running and weights for several sets....sould be interesting!  He graduated with a major in Sports Science/Kinesiology, so when we workout together he always teaches me something. :)

So, this week I worked out every single day....Yay!!!!!  Some days were lighter than others, but I still managed to keep it going each day, which is great.  This week I had a total loss of.....drum roll....3lbs. :)  Yay!!!  I was so excited when I realized I lost a total of 3lbs this week, because late in the week (Thurs to Fri)  I simply maintained, but today I had a loss so it all worked out. 

Hope everyone had a great week!!!  Also, if you like Youtube workout videos let me know what your favs are so I can try them out.  ~Kendra~

Before to Current

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share some before and current pics with yah, so here we go......

The pic on the left (with the pink top) is my before pic and the pic on the right was taken this weekend.  Can you see a difference?  I am excited I found the first pic, so I could compare....wow, it's so exciting and motivating to see that.  :) 

~Kendra~

Everybody's noticing....

So a few posts ago I talked about how people had begun to comment on my weight loss.  Well, today has been a flood of comments, which has made for a really good, uplifting day. :)  Several co-workers that work in other departments within the company saw me in the hall and stopped to comment on how "skinny" I am getting.  Also, a graduate whom I hadn't seen in 2mths or so came into the office and said "Wow, you look so different!  I can see it really in your face and your body is shaped so differently."  She then proceeded to ask what I'm doing and then went on to say "I need to start doing that!"  Made me feel so good. :)  Don't mean to go on and on about, but it's been exciting to hear such positive comments from others.  I am a person who thrives on positive affrimations, so comments and words of encouragement really help to keep me motivated and excited about this journey and lifestyle change. 

Another exciting thing about today....I weighed in at 166.8, which means I am 2/4lbs away from a total loss of 30lbs....wow!!!  Who would've thought!  It is just crazyness....I can't wait to go see my doctor in the next few weeks and see how she reacts to my progress.  I am going to a doctor monthly to make sure I stay healthy and on track during my weightloss journey even though I didn't have any kind of surgery or anything....just having an appointment to weigh in every month really keeps me accountable! :)  And plus my doctor's super nice and encouraging!!  :)  Hope everyone else is doing great as well.  ~Kendra~

SFC Week 7

What have you done this past week to help achieve your goals?

• Well, this past week I bought 2lb weights, so that I can do light weight training to tone my arms more.  I also bought tons of veggies at the grocery store and have even precooked all my lunched for work this week. :)  I cooked them all this afternoon and I am excited to say there all full of veggies and a bit of protein.  I felt like the last week or so I haven't been getting enough veggies, which may be why my weight loss seemed so slow last week.  Hopefully this will help! :) This journey is all about trying it out and adjusting as you go along to find the right food for your body.

What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?

• I went shopping with my mom and got a few shirts in smaller sizes.  I also went back to my hometown for my brothers prom and felt confident and proud of myself....instead of nervous about possibly running into old acquaintances. :)

When you go away on vacation or business do your goals get put on hold/pause or do you continue to work on them while away?

• I went on a weekend vaca this weekend, so this is definately fresh on my mind.  So far in my journey, which with my little brother having so many senior things going on lately means I'm traveling home alot, I have had to continue whil away.  I am really glad I have, because like I've said before, this isn't a diet for me....it's a lifestyle change...and I plan to stick to it for the long haul!

Do you have friends/family members that you work on a goal(s) with? Do you find working towards a goal with someone easier or more challenging?

• I definately have people I work on goals with....my boyfriend is starting to eat healthy with me, so it's nice to talk about what foods good and what may not be so good come weigh-in time. hehe Also, my mom tells me about her workouts....she rides the stationary bike at least 30mins a day and does lots of arm exercies as well....I talk to her about everything from my weigh in to calories. :)  I think it's much easier when you have others to encourage and motivate you!!

Fun Question: What is your favourite magazine to read?

• I have several favs:  Shape, US Weekly, Style Watch and Cosmo :)  I love magazines....expecially celeb gossip!!!

PS:  Wanted to leave you with this updated pic of me (And my little brother, Justin, who went to Prom this wknd)  When I was home this weekend, I got tons of positive comments about my weight loss :)  Yay!!!

Thanks!  ~Kendra~

Are you getting married??

So apparently people at work have started to take obvious notice of my weight loss.  A few days ago a coworker walked up to me, nugged me and said "Are you getting married?"  To which, I replied "No, why?"  She then went on to say how most women loose weight when they're about to get married, so she figured that's why I was.  Wow! lol

Another person saw me in the hall and was like "Oh wow (With a look of shock...lol) Have you been loosing weight?"  I said "Yes" Then he went on to say "How are you doing it?"   I follow that with "well, eating healthy and exercising alot." 

I'm not gonna lie, I am enjoying the attention and the fact people are noticing my hard work.....but I would like to make something clear to those people and myself.  It's not just about losing weight, I'm getting healthy.  I am NOT doing it for a man, a relationship or any one event....I'm doing it for myself, my health, my future and my life. :)  What I typed that sounded a little harsh, but it was not at all meant that way. It was just a light hearted reflection and a realization of how much of a mental journey and growth this process really is. Basically, I am just using this little forum to remind myself why I'm doing all this hard work....it may be selfish, but it's for me.  ~Kendra~

Spring Fever Challenge: Wk 6

What have you done this past week to help achieve your goals?

• I upped my crunches to 200 per day, added Zumba, worked out 5 days this week and stayed positive.

What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?

• I went to Charolette Rousse and got a cute one shouler top and jeans to wear to my little brother's pre-prom dinner and stuff next Saturday. :)  Also, splurged on some smell good wallflowers and scents for my apartment.  

What goal are you having the most difficult time with? Do you have a plan to make it better?

• The goal I am having the most difficult time with is saving money, for sure!  I haven't been shopping as much, and way way way less eating out, but I have had things come up like needing my oil changed, high gas prices (I commute about 30mins to work one way each day- 60mins total), Norton Antivirus expired so had to update that, Jackson had to go to the vet....etc.  I need to plan for the unexpected.....I think that would help me save more.

What goal are you rocking? Do you plan on keeping up the momentum?

• I am rocking the workout and overall weight loss goals this week.....I worked out  5 days, added more to my workouts and also incorporated more variety.  Zumba has been a fun challenge.  Also, I hit the 160's this week....I am now at 168.6....Awesome!!!! :)

Fun Question: What's your favourite board game?

• Clue....my boyfriend and I love to play it when were at his family's lake cabin.  Oh and it doesn't hurt that I always seem to win.....well most of the time hehe.  I'm the Clue master!! :)

~Kendra~

I can't believe I'm here......

Where I am?  I'm in the 160's......woooohoooo!!!!  I made it my mission to workout 5 times this week.  I also incorporated alot of Zumba into my daily workouts and that has definately been challenging my muscles....and I hope as I continue with it I will get more toned arms and thighs. I also started doing 200 crunches a day, which is double my usual 100.  I do 100 in the morning and 100 after my evening workout.

Back to my weigh-in:  This morning I weighed myself and I am 168.6lbs.  So exciting!!!  I can't remember the last time I was in the 160's!  It feels great.  Another really exciting thing that happened yesterday was I got a really cute 1 should top from Charolette Rousse....It's black and white, adorable, a size Medium and I feel great in it!!!  Can't wait to go to my hometown next weekend and wear it to my brother's pre-prom festivities. :)  Exciting!

Everything has gone really well this week.  I rediscovered my love of Zumba and dance, got into the 160"s, got some cute new clothes and just had an overall good week.   How was your week?   ~Kendra~

Turn it all around....

Last week was tough, because I was insanely busy......

Monday night I walked 2.5miles with a friend. 
Tuesday I got off work at 8pm and didn't feel well, so I skipped working out and went straight to bed when I got home.
Wednesday I did an at home workout from April's issue of Shape magazine.
Thursday I went to dinner and shopping with a friend, then rented a movie with my boyfriend, so I missed working out.
Friday I got off work at 5pm and drove 6hrs to my hometown, so I could participate in the MS Walk saturday.
Saturday I did the 2 mile (full of hills) MS Walk, which went great.  I finished in 2nd place. :)
Sunday I drove 6hrs back, lunch with my boyfriend (Pizza buffet: I had 2 slices, 2 cheese sticks and a cinnamion stick....omg! That was my cheat for the week)  After lunch I got groceries and then rested the rest of the day. 

As you can see....I only ended up working out 3 days last week.  Not good!!  I ussually workout at least 5 days a week.  Plus I splurged on pizza, which I never do...I pretty much stick to 100% healthy food.  So last week my weight didn't change much at all...I went down a little, but not as much as I hoped.

So this week I'm determined to turn it all around and keep up the pace I've had since I started....despite last weeks little crazyness.  I plan to workout at least 5 days this week!  I didn't get my workout in Monday, because I had to take Jackson, my jackrussell, to the vet, which made me late for work, so I had to work till 8pm and got home super late.   Last night, Tuesday, I worked till 8pm again, but I managed to get in 100 crunches before work.  Then I did a run that night, which went really well...It was probably half a mile, butI ran about 90% of it....so I was pretty proud of myself.  Hoping to fit in another run tonight!  Also did 100 crunches this morning. :)

I have also lost 1.6lbs this week....Yay!!!  Hoping to keep up the good work...especially since I'm about 7lbs away from reading the 1/2 way point to my weight loss goal.  So exciting!!  

Hope all of you are doing well too.  ~Kendra~

Spring Fever Challenge: Week 5

What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals?
I signed up to be a member of Team In Training as a competitor in the Nike Women's Marathon Event in San Fancisco, California where I will be doing a 1/2 marathon. I'm so excited to start training with my team later this month. Yay!! :)

What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?
I bought 3 new pairs of pants for work. All of mine were getting way too big! It was fun to get some new clothes. I got 1 pair of black slacks, 1 pair of brown slacks and 1 pair of black dressy capris. :)

It's May! What were your victories in April? Challenges?
I lost 10% of my starting body weight and soon after hit the 20lb loss mark, so that was AWESOME!!!

I also continued to stay on my health eatting/1,200 cal food plan.

Tried tons of new exercise routines and even made some new friends and exercise buddies along the way.

Do you have any plans for the challenge in May?
In May, I want to continue to focus on my weight loss goal and I hope to see 160lbs. :)
I also hope to add even more running into my routine.

Lastly, I plan to focus alot on revving up my training and fundraising efforts for team in training.....My goal is to raise at least $2,400 for The Luekimia and Lymphoma Society by Oct. 6th and the race is Oct. 9th. Very exciting and scary! I'm hoping I can raise about $500 of that in the month of May. :)
(You can donate by clicking the Donation link in the sidebar...every dollar truly helps in the fight against cancer!!!)

Fun Question: What is your favourite type of ethnic cuisine?
My favorite type of ethnic cusisine is definately Asiain.....my dad and I used to go to the Chinese buffet when I was a kid all the time. I also love going to those Japanese steakhouses where they cook in front of you....so fun!!

Thanks and leave a link to your page below if you participated in this challenge. ~Kendra~

Team In Training

So.....I have talked about running, races, exercising and fitness alot on my blog.  I even told you all about the 5K I did a few weeks back.  Well, guess what....  I have something even bigger up my sleeve.  I have offically signed up as a member of Team In Training, which is a team of people who run, walk, bike or swim in races to raise money for the Luekemia and Lyphoma Society.  I am going to participate in the Nike Women's Marathon (I'm doing the 1/2 marathon) in San Francisco, California on Oct. 16, 2011.  My goal is to raise anywhere from $2,400 to $3,200.  I have a ton of ideas and I even plan to do a big giveaway on this blog related to the event, so watch out for that.  I will beginning training with my team mid-May.  We will team train every Saturday morning and we will also have our own training schedules during the week.  I am super pumped to raise money for this awesome cause and so excited to stay motivated to reach my fitness and weightloss goals as well.

My grandpa passed away from cancer when I was a freshman in college, so I will be running in honor of him.  He was an amazing man and I miss him soooo much!!  Please support me and The Leukimia and Lymphoma Society by making a donation.  It's as easy as clicking the donation box in the side bar.  Every dollar makes a difference!  Thanks!!!  ~Kendra~

Spring Fever Challenge: Week 4

My positive picture for the week is of me....why's this pic positive?  Well, #1 My teeth look super straight.  I have an ortho apt tommorow and should be getting my braces off in a little over a month, so hopefully people will stop asking me if I'm in highschool.  (Acctuallu happened twice just this wknd.)  #2 My face looks alot less bloated....I think before I changed my eating habits my sodium intake was out of control and my face always looked bloated.


What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals?
I did wind sprints with my little brother, tried a new at-home workout routine I found in Shape Magazine and continued to eat healthy and stay on track with calories.

What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?
I spent time with my family....whom I hadn't seen since I started my weightloss journey...and it was fun to have my mom and dad gush about how good I'm looking. :) 

Fill in the blanks:
__Creativity___ comes naturally to me. (Crafting, scrapbooking, DIY projects....love em all!!)
____Running____does not come naturally to me. (But I'm workin on it!)
I wish ___a restful mind____ came naturally to me. (Sounds weird, but I am such an overthinker....sometimes I just wish I could shut it off! lol)

Fun Question: What is your favourite Easter candy? Are you allowing yourself some this year?
My favorite Easter candies are those yummy Reeses Eggs...soo good!!  I didn't have any this year though. :)

~Kendra~

Friend Makin Monday :)

FMM: Today I....

Today I felt...Awesome after my weigh-in this morning. :)  Over 20lbs lost, woohoo!!!

Today I saw....a ton of work to be done this week, but hopefully the work week will go by quickly. :)

Today I ate...Special K Chocolatey Delight w/Skim Milk for Breakfast

Today I kissed...my boyfriend before he went to go workout. :)

Today I bought...nothing yet.

Today I heard...my puppies barking at a dog walking by our patio while I was getting ready for work.

Today I lost...umm, nothing.

Today I decided...to wear my new army green blazer and I'm lovin it!

Today I need...to go grocery shopping, which I plan to do right after work.

Today I wish...I could just stay home, relax and have a girls day with my besties :)

~Kendra~

Over 20lbs Lost.....woohoo!!!!

Sorry I haven't been posting much this past week....I left town on Friday morning around 6am and just got back around 9:30pm last night.  I went home, which is 6hrs away, to spend the weekend with my family for Easter.  I had such a good time!!!!  Went shopping with my mom, went to a b-day party for my brother's best friend and went to chrurch with my fam for Easter.  Eating healthy was a challenge, but it definately made me realize that when traveling planning meals/snacks is important.  Luckily, my parents had chicken, tuna, some vegies and fruit at their house. I did eat a few things I normally wouldn't....I had a piece of Bday cake on Saturday, but I didn't eat the icing.  Also, my grandma make chocolate pie for Easter, so I had a small piece of that on Sunday.   I didn't get to weigh myself all weekend, since I was 6hrs away from my scale.  I was really curious to see what my weigh-in would be like.....I weighed myself this morning and I am now at 173.6.  :)  Awesome!!!! 
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Last week I maintained my weight around 176 all week, it was that time of the month, so I was happy to maintain instead of gain.  So from Friday to this morning I lost 2.8lbs for a total loss of 20.6lbs WOW!  I am sooooo excited that I am now over the 20lb mark....can't wait to see where it goes from here :)  ~Kendra~

Spring Fever Challenge: Week 3

1. What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals?

• I walked and ran in my first 5K, also went to a new Power Yoga workout class, met a new workout friend and also found out about a P90x-like workout class near my job on Thursday evenings.

2. What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?

• The thing I did for myself this week was making Saturday a me day.  
• Started by participating in the 5K. 
• Then went shopping....I went to the mall, took my time and got some really cute wedges. *Bonus-They were on sale for $6. :) 
• Ended the day by going on a double date with my bf and my college bestie and her hubby.  It was greatness we spent hours in the restaurant talking, laughing and catching up. Loved it!!  So glad she moved back to Texas!!!

3. Are your SFC goals your ultimate goals or steps to your ultimate goals? Do you find it easier to set big goals or do you like making mini-goals?

• They are steps toward my ultimate goal....staying on the right track with food and exercise will help me reach my ultimate goal weight and just become healthier overall.  My ultimate goal is to live a healthy lifestyle and to be proud of my body and what I put in it. :)

4. What are some of your ultimate goals, things on your bucket list?

I want to.....

• Further my education....I'm kind of divided between pursuing an MBA in HR Management or a Masters in a Nutrition/Health related program.
• Get a house, so my dogs can have a big backyard to play in.  (Love my apartment for now though!)
• Get married and have children.
• Go to New York and attend some fashion related events.
• Visit all 50 states.
• And much more....... :)

Fun Question: If you could achieve only one more thing in your life, what would it be?

• Having a family of my own....I have always dreamed of having children.  My parents were always amazing and I would just love to share a love like they have and build a life with someone. :) 

Weekly Weigh-In

I think I am going to start doing weekly Weigh-ins. If you'd like to see my weight updates before the weekly weigh-ins, you can just look at my Lilyslim weightloss tracker at the top of my page. :) But, I thought it would be fun to do weekly weigh-ins showing my weight loss chart and how I have been progressing, so here goes....

I just love seeing all those dots...so exciting!!!  I only updated the chart when I have a weightloss, because if I put it when I maintain or gain the chart would get crowded, because there's not much room for each number.  I do keep track of my weight every day in my weightloss journal as well. :)  So as you can see on the chart, I am aty 176.6lbs.  :)  I have lost a total of 17.8lbs.  I have 41.6lbs left to loose to reach my goal of 135lbs.  I am really excited about how everything is going so far!!! Also, thanks to everyone who comments, it really is sooo motivating! ~Kendra~

My First 5K

Today I did the "Totally Psyched 5K" at UNT.....and let's just say it was AWESOME!!!  I can't wait till my next one!  :)  I walked in this race, but I did just walk slow...I walked as fast as I could....it was hard, but I pushed through and I'm pretty sure I was the first walker to cross the finish line.  I even broke into a run a few times and ran the last .25miles to the finish line.  Afterwards, I had this feeling I was gonna past out from exhaustion combined with this surge of pride and emotion.  This may sound silly, but I was so proud of my self I almost cried!  I just can't believe how far I have already come and I can't wait to see where the future takes me. 
~Kendra~

Friend Makin Monday...a little late :)

FMM: Everyday Things
1) What is your favorite part of an average day?
My favorite part of regular days are talking on my phone to my parents as I drive home from work everyday.  I am super close with my parents, but they live 6hrs away...so I talk to my mom every morning on my way to work and then I talk to my mom and dad on the way home.  (My dads at work in the mornings)  I tell them about my day and they always celebrate my victories on the scale and off and when I had a rough day they talk me through it.  :)  They're the best!!

2) Is there one food that you eat every single day? If so, what is it? I eat appled with a tiny bit of carmel....they come presliced with carmel packets at walmart.  I love them, they're only 80calories and when I want something sweet they're the perfect treat!

3) Are you an early bird, or do you prefer to sleep in late?
I'm an early bird...I even get up early on my days off.  I have a really hard time sleeping past 7:30am.  Dunno why, but I like to get up lol
4) Share one thing that you're looking forward to doing this week. Hopefully seeing my bestie, Esther, who just moved back to Texas with her Husband this week.  She lives in PA, so we didn't get to see each other much at all.  She was my college roomie and we've been best friend friends ever since I met her in my college speech class. :)


5) What's for dinner this evening?
I dunno yet....we'll see. :)

~Kendra~

Spring Fever Challenge- Week 2

This Week's Questions:


1. What have you done this past week to help you achieve your goals?

• This week I started working on the C25K, which was good, because it allowed me to see I really can run.  After doing that I decided I wanted to run more on my own...instead of using that program, so I also started running with my dog, Jackson, who really pushed me to keep going even when I wanted to stop.  All in all, can't wait till I run in a race...I know I can do it!!! :)  Yay, Im a runner (Kinda...hehe)

2. What did you do this past week to make you feel good about yourself?

• I bought a summer dress that is spaghetti strap and it was great to feel confident showing my arms :)  Yay!!  Also, got a yoga mat and a new workout tee :)

3. Is your mindset future-oriented or living in the now? How does this impact you when you are working towards a goal?

• I think I am a mixture of both....I am really trying to get healthy and to a weight I'm comfortable for my present life, because I want to be confident in professional clothes and I want to present myself the best I can...since Im still in the new stages of my career.  I'm also looking to the future, by learning what healthy really is and making changes I will be able to stick to and making exercising and nutrition part of my life, not just something I have to fit in.  I love it...I enjoy eating healthy and working out. 

4. Is there someone in your {real} life that inspires you to strive for the best?

• This would most definately be my mom. She's such an inspiration to me!!!  Not only does she get super excited every morning when I (ussually wake her up) and tell her how much I've lost that day.  She is also such a strong person....She has Multiple Sclerosis, a child with Downsyndrome (my little brother) and through it all is an AMAZING Christian woman who loves with all her heart.  I can't imagine my jounrey without her cheering me on! :) 

5. Fun Question of the Week: Do you read blogs on the individual websites or via Google Reader?

• I read them from by Blogspot dashboard, so is that google reader?  I dunno lol.  But that's how I do it.  Then I find new people, by reading comments on the blog I following and visiting their pages. :)

Last, but not least....here are my adorable pups.  Zoey, the shitzu and Jackson, the Jack Russell mix.  They are both a little over 3yrs old and I love love love them! My boyfriend bought Zoey for my birthday one year....then after a couple months we thought she was lonely, so we got Jackson.

Jackson's so tired after the haircut and visit to the dog park yesterday lol

Hope you all have a great week next week!!  Also, checkout my Youtube channel www.youtube.com/lowcosthighstyle  I will be posting a giveaway video later today, because I have over 100 subscribers on my channel...Yay!!!  ~Kendra~

Exciting Saturday

Weigh In- 180.2lbs OMG!!!! 
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This week has been interesting...I was stuck in the 183's, then spent a few days in the 182's and I've had loses that last 3 days in a row..WOOHOO!!  :)  I am so excited, because if you looked at my weight loss chart/poster that I made to keep track...being at 180lbs means I am down to the next row off weights.   I'm hoping to do something fun to celebrate this weekend!  But not celebrate with food...or unhealthy food anyways. I'm on the right track and I'm stickin to it.
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Another exciting thing ....my puppies (Jackson, the Jack Russell mix and Zoey, the Shitzu) are getting their haircuts today.  Yay!!  They look so adorable right after a fresh haircut.  Let me know if you wanna see pics!  
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Well, I gotta get going...I will check back in soon.  :)  Hope your all having a fun and healthy weekend!! ~Kendra~

Spring Fever Challenge

So, I've decided to join "The Spring Fever Challenge" and hope some of you will join in with me!!!!
This Week's Questions:

1. What are your goals for the Spring Fever Challenge?
2. Why did you choose them?
3. What is your plan of action to make them happen?

GOAL ONE:  Really take pride in every loss instead of letting negative thoughts flood through.  Yes, it may only be .5lbs or 1lb.  As long as I stay on track on follow my healthy eating and exercise plan, I will reach my goals.

GOAL TWO: Workout at least 4 times per week.  I just started the C25K Program, so that's 3 days per week already covered.  I also plan to either walk or do the elipitical the other two days.  Then I am leaving 2 days (Saturday and Sunday) open for rest if needed.

GOAL THREE: Continue to follow the advice of my weightloss doctor and go to monthly appointments at his office to check on my progress.  If he has ideas, I will be open to listen and give them a try.

GOAL FOUR: Save money, so I can start grad school soon.  I am determined to get my MBC in HR Management.  My parents were so wonderful to help me with my undergrad, but I plan to pay for my MBA on my own. :)  (Yay, adulthood...lol)  So, I really need to get my saving up, so I won't have to take out any loans in the process.
GOAL FIVE: Do my first 5K. I am signed up to walk in a 5K, but I wanna run in one.  I was never a runner, but since eating healthy something inside me has been begging me to try running....so here I go!! :)  I think it's gonna be fun and I can't wait for this one

4. What does this challenge mean to you?

This challenge is going to motivated and on track with my overall health, weightloss and goals even when I want to give up, because it will allow me to make friends and get to know others who are going through the same trials and victories as I am! :)
5. Fun Question of the Week: Let's get to know each other! What is something most people (er... fellow bloggers) don't know about you?
My brother and I have the same birthday....but we're not twins. :)  My little brother (Well, he's 22) is 3 years younger than me and he was the greatest birthday present I've ever recieved!!!!!

To join this challenge with me go to http://www.lifesjourneywithasmile.com/  She's an awesome weightloss blogger and I am so glad I recently discovered her page! :)    ~Kendra~

Couch to 5K

So I start the Couch to 5K this week and I am really excited to get moving!!  It's been somewhat of a stressful day on the work front....so I'm hoping running will allow me to blow off some steam. Anyways, is anyone else doing or have done the program?  What did you think and what were some of your challeneges?  I'd love to hear your feed back!!  Wish me luck....I'm definately a little nervous about my first bout with running! hehe :)  ~Kendra~

WOOHOO!!! Down to 182 :)

So I finally got out of the 183lb rut I was in the past few days, which seemed like an eternity!!!  I took a break from exercise on Friday to let my body rest and then last night all I did was 100 crunches, a 50second butt lift exercise and 100 arm lifts...and even though it wasn't that much....my arms and abs felt the burn! lol  I woke up this morning and weighed myself and was soooo sooo excited not to see a 3 on the end.  I think I am finnally moving past my little 3-4day slump.  I think I was excercising too much and not eating enough calories for that amount of exercise, so my body was going into starvation mode and it was causing my weightloss to be stagnant.  I took a day off from working out, took it slow yesterday and added 100 or so more cals to my diet....and lo and behold....a .8 weightloss Saturday and 1lb today.  :)  So excited!!!  Also, I am loving the fact that this whole journey is not just about the numbers on the scale, which don't get me wrong are VERY exciting to see move, but also about learning how my body works and how to be overall a healthy person. 
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I was talking to my boyfriend yesterday about running.  I have never been a runner.  As a kid, I had asthma and was all wheezy, so running just wasn't an option.  As an adolescent/teen, I was overweight, so I was too embarassed to run  and look funny doing it.  As an adult on this weightloss journey, I see other people running, read about other people running while loosing weight and look online at all the different races going on and for some reason I have this weird desire to run....but I have to admit I'm a little terrified.  What if I'm just not a runner....what if I can't do it...I'm scared to try....but if I never try, I will never know.  I never thought I'd be on this journey, but I am, so maybe I can be a runner too.  I dunno why, but the thought of running is more intimidating than the though of losing weight!!  But....I'm not going to let fear get in my way....I am going to run, well, I am going to try anyways lol.  I think I'm going to start with the Couch to 5K.  Have any of yall done that?  I think it's a good way to start slow. :)  So that's the plan....wish me luck!!  ~Kendra~

Sparkpeople

So my boyfriend found a website and I really like it: http://www.sparkpeople.com/ It's all about weightloss and living a healthy lifestyle. They also have inspirtional stories, quotes, meal plans, workout videos and much more....and it's all FREE :) Gotta love that!! Here are a few of my fav quotes:

• "Be not affraid of going slowly, be affraid only of standing still."


• "Arriving at one goal is a starting point for another."


• "You've got to think about big things while your doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction."

I hope you all enjoy checking out the site...let me know what some of your fav weight loss/health related websites are. I would love to check them out!! :) ~Kendra~

Working out...

So, I have been working out a ton this week, but I think I'm going to tak the weekend off. My dr told me at the beginning of this weightloss journey I need to talk working out slow....just start by walking. So I walked for a week before trying out the eliptical....I love doing the eliptical and feel like a burn a ton of calories and feel so good after the workout. The only downside is....I can't get past 183....I've been around 183 all week. I'm ready to see more movement. Last week, I was losing every day. I don't think it's what I am eating, because I am staying right on target with my 1,200 calorie plan. So, what is it? I'm trying not to.....but I'm starting to get a little frustrated. So, I am planning to take the weekend off from working out...besides doing some crunches each day just to keep me moving. Anyone have any ideas what I get do to get out of this little rut?? ~Kendra~

How do you track your weightloss?

I write my daily weight, food/calories I consume and exercise all down in a cute journal I have, but I wanted a move visual and fun way to simply see my weightloss journey progress. I though of what I could do and decided to make a Weight Loss Chart....so here it is:

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I simply took a large poster board, letter & flower designs and created this chart. The graph part was made by cuting apart a classroom attendance chart I got for $1 at Dollar Tree. Then I placed my date/weight on the chart using colorful dots, which were also purchased at Dollar Tree for $1. I got the letters, shapes and poster markers at Dollar General. The total cost of supplies was around $10. I just love how it turned out and am excited to add more dots to the chart!! :) ~Kendra~

Water...I'm Lovin It!!!

Lately, I have been drinking water like it's going out of style....lol I haven't had any soda/cokes since Thanksgiving and I have had anything but water for over a week now. (I was starting to get addicted to sweet tea) I am just loving water...plain old water. :) Before this journey really got going, to drink water I would have to mix it with stuff like those little packets of lemonade, but now I just like it plain!! Do you like water or are you still grasping to get those 8 glasses a day?

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Oh another topic...It is currently "my time of the month" but I have been able to maintain my weight. I'd really like to see more losing, but I am very happy I'm not gaining!! Also, I think the nightly walks have really helped with symptoms like cramps and just puts me in an overall better mood.

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Hope you are all doing well on your journey and your week is full of progress and moves closer to your goal!! :) ~Kendra~

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PS: I'm also thinking of charting my weight and giving myself an "award" each time I reach a goal....have you ever done this? Do you think it's a good idea? What could the awards be?

Wow....1 More!! :)

You can probably tell from the title....I weighed my self this morning and lost 1lb....Woohoo!!!! I called my mom and we both celebrated on the phone. I believe you have to celebrate all the little victories along the way...it's more fun that way. :) hehe
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Last night after dinner, I took my nightly walk and walked a little over a mile, but this time I added more arm movement and man was I tired by the end!! As soon as I got back to my apartment I took a cold bath...and let me tell you..it was GREATNESS!! Don't you love the feeling of a cold bath/shower after a super hard/sweaty workout. I <3 it.
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I really enjoy walking! (Much more than I thought I would) I have actually decided I want to set a goal for my walking to keep me motivated to do more and it will give me something to look forward to. I am planning to walk in the "Totally Psyched 5K Run/Walk" at the University of North Texas on April 16th. :) Yay!!! A 5K= a little over 3miles, so I definitely have some work to do to get there, but I believe I can do it!! :) And believing is 1/2 the challenge!
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Hope everyone is have a great and healthy weekend. ~Kendra~

Yummy Meal

So, since I'm so new to to the whole counting calories game, I am trying to find foods I enjoy that are low calorie. Tonight for dinner I definately found a winner. (Wow, that totally rhymed) Anyways, this meal only totals 220cals and it is super yummy and only likes minutes to make. :) I'm not someone who wants to cook, I want to be able to throw it together quickly and easily and this is that kind of meal. On to the food.....
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So first I simply heated up a potatoe (110 cals) for about 7mins in the microwave.
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Then I warmed up 1 Italian Style Chicken Breast Fillet (110 cals per fillet) for 6 minutes. I think I will warm it up a little less next time, because it wasn't quiet as soft as I'd like, but it was definately still good!

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Then I added a little (2tbs) of the Great Value Mild Salsa (o cals) to add some yummyness to the baked potatoe and BOOM...there's dinner :)

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What's your fav quick and simple low cal meal? ~Kendra~