Motivate Me Monday - 9/22/2014

Happy Monday!

I am always looking for some extra motivation and I always seem to come across the right type when I need it. 

Getting back on track (more like staying on track!) with exercise and diet has been my focus for awhile. I had a minor set back from our short vacation - up a few pounds that seemed to not want to go away without some major fighting!

But I won and am currently on week 3 of a Trim Healthy Mama fuel cycle and loving it.  So, here's my motivation and I hope it inspires you too:

You can't go back. You can only go forward. 

Made a mistake? No worries - just continue forward! 

~Carly

Labor Day and Update

Good morning and happy Labor Day!

I started an exercise challenge on a Facebook group and I've been going strong for the last few weeks. I went to spin class 4 times in the past week and have been incorporating weight training, circuit training and H.I.I.T. Training as well. I'm feeling pretty good and accomplished and have definetly made exercise a priority again and hopefully a permanent habit. 

I am up a few pounds still on the scaled from my vacation splurges but am still following the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle and plan to do another Fuel Cycle starting next Monday. 

I went to spin class yesterday morning and today I did a HIIT workoit I found on Pinterest:

I did it twice and really worked up a sweat and felt those jump squats and lunges. Whew!

That's all for now.

~Carly

Recipe: Roasted Eggplant and Red Pepper Spread/Dip

Wow - two months off and then two blog posts in one day?!?! Who am I?

Well, this recipe has been on my mind since my lovely friend Tracy made it and brought it to share one day at the pool club.  It is so yum. Then yesterday she dropped off a lovely eggplant for me and some red ripe tomatoes from her family's garden and I knew I needed to make this dip.

And, you already know I love eggplant so this was a no-brainier for me to make.

I found this recipe from Ina Gartner and I omitted the tomato paste.  However, next time I'd probably add it as it would give a little more substance to the dip itself.

A food blogger I am NOT but here are some pics regardless. Humor me  :)

All chopped and ready for olive oil, salt and pepper

My mom bought me these awesome grinders from Traders Joes

Ready to roast

Amazing how much it shrinks when it cooks

Into the food processor

All blended

Taste testing with a Wasa for all my fellow THM-ers!

I'd say this recipe is a win. I plan to make it quite a bit.  This is also THM friendly - I'd say it may even be used in an S or E setting depending on how much olive oil you use and how many servings you eat.  I bet it would be heavenly with Lavash Crackers or even as a spread on some of Gwen's Bread.

Oh boy...now I need to whip up some of that this weekend.  Happy Friday!

~Carly

Still going

Well hello! Apparently I've taken a two month hiatus from the blog world but I'm still going strong! Well, not without a few bumps in the road - or lbs should I say 😮 I've gone off my lifestyle plan a bit during social gatherings and a vacation with the family but I'm only a few pounds up from my lowest weight ever. However, if I had been eating my pre-THM fare I'd have to say I don't think the scale would be as low at all. 

As far as exercise, I had been going regularly to spin class and running but hadn't been incorporating weights really at all - though I had wanted to. So as a "get back on track" thing I'm day 4 or so into a new program incorporating cardio and weights. I'm using my three Jillian DVDs - 30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and No More Trouble Zones and will use the Lindsay Brin Pretty Fierce Weight Loss DVD set I have also. I will be doing cardio too and plan to exercise 6 days a week. 

Yep.

It's a lofty goal but I got this because I want it.

So I'm off for today's weights workout and I leave you with this...

~Carly

Weight Loss Update - 6 months

Hello!

It's a rainy miserable day here but I'm feeling all sunshine and rainbows!  Why?

Well, today marks an official 6 months on Trim Healthy Mama and I've got another update for you!

As of today, I'm 156 pounds - just 6 pounds away from my true pre-pregnancy and goal weight of 150! Woohooo! I haven't measured again for inches certainly but plan to shortly.

If you remember, I posted an update in March and while the scale has been slow and steady I'm just thrilled. I continue to feel great, I'm eating delicious food - including dessert - and I've been exercising consistently. Nothing too crazy - I've been incorporating Winsor Pilates into my week as well as one or two spin classes and some walking/running.  I'm on the right track and I plan to stay here.

So what has helped? I did a one week fuel cycle a few months ago which helped me move the scale a bit and decided since I was feeling a bit "stuck" again and my weight was being stubborn I needed a metabolic kick start again. I was bouncing around between 159-160 again and I just couldn't get the scale to move down again.

Today is my second to last day of a a two week fuel cycle and this is how I've come much closer to my goal weight.  You can find the details of the diet here and the fuel cycle chapter is 28 in the book.

That's really why I love this way of eating - it gives you sooooo many options and even tools and tricks to get your metabolism going again.

So just a little visual re-cap....

Here I am from the previous update - December 2013 and March 2014

Here's the same image from March 2014 and the right is this past Tuesday, June 10th - granted the top I'm wearing on the right is a bit loose and flowy so it doesn't look like too much difference to me. 

And here's an oldie on the left I dug up from July 2012 and on the right is just this past week in my exercise clothes.  You can see how wider I look in my midsection and legs from almost two years ago. 

So there you have it!  I'm thrilled that THM has been so successful for me I'm so happy to be on this journey still closer to my health and wellness goals every day!  

And now that I have one preschooler and an almost first grader - it's truly not called toddler weight :)

~Carly

My Fitness Pal

Hey everyone!

I have been tracking my food and exercise for quite some time now with My Fitness Pal. 

Before today, I tracked for 235 days. Yep. Every single day for the last 235 days. I forgot to log yesterday and I'm a little upset about it.

Now my new "streak" is 1 day. 

On the positive side, I have lost over 20 pounds and 13+ inches.

So here's to day one...

~Carly

Motivate Me Monday - 5/5/2014

Happy Cinco de Mayo! 

I hope this post finds you well! 

Every day we are faced with choices. I've been focused on my daily choices and how they affect my personal health and wellness goals. So when I saw this image today on Pinterest, I knew it was meant to be to share it here. Because, also (ironically) I've also started up again doing Jillian Michael's DVDs again. 

Saturday I did a few circuits of No More Trouble Zones and on Sunday I did Level 1 of her 30 Day Shred. I also went for a 4+ mile walk with my friends. 

Feeling great and continuing to choose the right choices for my goals. I'm about 7-8 pounds from my goal weight now and for the first time in a few years I'm ready to welcome spring and summer without feeling overwhelmed by skirts, shorts, tanks, tees and even (gasp!)  bathing suits!

~Carly