Workout Wednesday + 4pt WW Dinner

I have talked a little bit here and there about my struggle with weight loss and my journey to being healthy for the first time in a long time. For nearly three months I have been a 2nd-time member of Weight Watchers, but I don't think I have been taking it serious enough. I haven't been very good about tracking lately...if I know I've been bad, I just won't track it.

That has to stop.

Last week I also was really bad about getting to the gym. The one day that I did go, this is the class my friend and I went to. It has quickly become one of our favorites.


It may look kinda cheesy - just playing around with some drum sticks - but it is actually a really good workout.  I'm usually sore for a day or two afterwards.  Unfortunately Wednesdays are the only day the time works with my schedule - I would love to catch it more often.

In the last few months, I have only lost a few pounds.  I guess the bright side is at least I haven't been gaining weight.  But I really want to work harder and stick to my healthy lifestyle goals and get somewhere with it.  I have already decided that once I hit my next goal I get to purchase a new workout outfit, so that will be my motivation for the next 7 pounds.

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I want to share an easy, healthy recipe that I found the other night. This easy Chicken & Broccoli bake comes out to only 4 Weight Watchers points per serving, assuming 4 servings.

Click the photo to go to original recipe - I changed it slightly

Easy Chicken and Broccoli Divan
  2 cups hot cooked broccoli florets
2 cups cooked & cubed chicken breast
1 cup sweet red pepper, cut in large chunks
1/3 cup milk (I use 1%)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1. Arrange broccoli, chicken and red pepper in a casserole dish.
2. Combine can of soup and milk in a small bowl, then pour over chicken and veggies.
3. Sprinkle with cheese, followed by bread crumbs.
4. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes.

I served this over mashed potatoes, but it can also be served over brown rice or just by itself alongside a salad for an even healthier option.  
   
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When You Think You Have No More to Give, Keep Pushing

To say that I have been struggling with my recent weight loss campaign would be an understatement.  I've been trying to eat better and make it to the gym consistently, but there are just so many yummy foods that I struggle to turn down, and I have mentioned before that sometimes I talk myself out of going to the gym.

In the last week or two, I have been better about getting to the gym . . . If I know that I have something going on after work I try to plan ahead and hit the gym before work {which can be a struggle in itself when it comes to getting out of bed early enough to get there in time}.  The new problem is that I get there - fill up my 45 minutes keeping busy - but don't necessarily push myself as hard as I should be.  You can walk all day until the cows come home, and it will help you, but if you don't get your heart rate up, you really won't see any results.

As annoying as it is to wake up and have to literally roll out of bed because you are so sore, I have always been told that if you are sore, it means your muscles were working.  So I always take that to the next step and think "well, if I'm not sore than I must not have been working hard enough."  Lately at the gym, I've been trying to do more high-intensity interval work.  After about 20 minutes of cardio, I will focus on either arms, legs, or abs and do a series of workouts working different muscles in that group without taking too much of a break in between sets.  I try to make sure that I break a sweat every day *even though I feel gross afterwards* and drink a lot of water while exercising. 



This is the class I am going to tonight. A friend and I did it once and I could feel it for days. I'm hoping today will go a little better since I know what to expect.

I'm hoping to break this plateau in my weight loss soon.  It's going to take a little more than just working hard at the gym.  I'm going to have to conquer my weakness for sweets and other keep my portion sizes on track.  Check back on Friday to see how I did this week!

#NOtivation: Inspiration

For the last few weeks, I have seen other gals linking up for #NOtivation Tuesdays. Well, in my new-found effort to get healthy again, I decided to join in this week and link up with Mallory and Hallie.

Let's be honest - I really struggle with being motivated when it comes to working out and eating healthy.  Countless times I have mentioned how good I am at talking myself out of going to the gym after work or picking up a bag of chips instead of an apple.  One of the things that I try to remind myself is that making good choices when it comes to my health is going to benefit me in the long run.  Another truth: I feel so much better throughout the day when I have a good breakfast, and later in the evening after a good workout.  So why can't I remember those things all the time?!

Two years ago, when I got married, I was in the best shape I had been in a long time.

As I mentioned the other day, since then I have gained some of the weight back that I had lost in anticipation of this day.  These pictures from our wedding are a huge inspiration for me to get back to that place, and even go further.  My face was slimmer, my hips were smaller - I just looked healthier overall.  I can't wait to feel that way again.

Another major inspiration for me is the idea of having kids in the future.  I want to not only be in good shape before getting pregnant, but have a healthy pregnancy and be able to chase our kids around someday.  I don't think it would be fair to them to have a mom who couldn't keep up.  It's also important to show your children how to make healthy choices, not only tell them.  You have to be an example of healthy living.

My husband is usually a good cheerleader.  He lets me know that he is proud of me when I reach little goals that I have for myself and I know that he will always think that I am beautiful.  But I want to be healthy for him as well.  Let's be honest - we want the men in our life to think we are sexy.  Yes, they have promised to love us unconditionally, but wouldn't this be an added bonus?  And I think that one of the sexiest things about a women is when she is confident and feels good about herself.

Finally - my gym partner.  There are definitely days where if she wasn't going to the gym, I wouldn't be there either.  Having accountability is huge for me.  We push each other to go a little bit longer, a little bit harder and a little bit more often :)

However *I'm doing a little happy dance here* yesterday she had to stay late at work and I went to Zumba alone.  I'm pretty proud of myself!  My inspiration to go it alone?  I got to add 4 activity points to my Weight Watchers tracker!

Here's my little word for the year again, popping up in other aspects of life:

INSPIRATION

What is your inspiration when it comes to being motivated to work hard for your health?  Write about it and link up!