Needing some Input

All right girls, it's time to figure out what's going on with this blog (thanks for bringing it up Marisa!). It seems like most of us are done with our 30 days, so I'm wondering who wants to start again. This little blog has been pretty neglected lately...I know life is super busy...so I'm just wondering if anyone wants to keep up with it. I loved it in the beginning when we were all checking in and keeping tabs on each other, but if nobody wants to keep doing it, I may just delete the blog. Hopefully, blog or no blog, everybody keeps challenging themselves and staying active. I love having the extra accountability and the friendships on this blog so I hope we can keep it up.

Having said all that...I am taking the next month off. You see, I found out at the end of the 1st week of this challenge that I am pregnant. I am so excited, but it really put this challenge on the back burner for me since I don't do much more than eat and sleep these days. Hopefully in the next month I'll have some of my energy back (I'm 8 weeks) and I can get moving again...not with Jillian, of course, but I'm hoping to find a good prenatal workout or do the Leslie Sansone dvd's since it's looking like our rainy season has come already.

So, if we keep the blog up, I will keep checking in this next month, and then start up again after that. Please leave a comment letting me know what you'd like to do. Also, if you know anyone else who wants to join I am happy to add them.

I hope everyone had a successful 30 days...would love to hear how it went for everyone!

Marisa- shoes quit on me

Hey all,

About a week and half (or two?) ago, the fabric on the back inside of my shoes gave way after 5 years of service and there was something under the fabric that was sharp and pokey, so I haven't been running since. We are going to get me fitted for new shoes tomorrow and I'll be back at it!
Since most are done with their 30 day challenge, what is the plan with the blog? Are we done and go our separate ways?

CORRECTION TO RECIPE - needs 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs!

I'm sorry - somehow when I copied the recipe, the graham crackers lost part of the measurement. It takes 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs.

The Recipe! Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

This made A LOT of crust - next time I would make a little less crust, but it's so much better than oreo cookies crust! I put a few more chocolate chips in the batter also. I also baked it in a water bath (set it in a large deep cookie sheet of water). This is supposed to help cheesecakes cook the way they're supposed to (not cooking the outside too quickly). Also, have the cream cheese at room temperature before you start. Had never heard of using sweetened condensed milk in a cheesecake before, but this was very rich and just like the ones at the expensive restaurants! Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake:

1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup butter, melted
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter and cocoa. Press onto bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch springform pan. Set crust aside.
2. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add sweetened condensed milk; beat well. Add vanilla and eggs, and beat on medium speed until smooth. Toss 1/3 of the miniature chocolate chips with the 1 teaspoon flour to coat (this keeps them from sinking to the bottom of the cake). Mix into cheese mixture. Pour into prepared crust. Sprinkle top with remaining chocolate chips.
3. Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 1 hour. Turn off oven (do not open oven door) and leave the cake in the oven to cool in the oven for another hour. Remove from oven and cool completely. Refrigerate before removing sides of pan. Keep cake refrigerated until time to serve.

Milllbrae- another week since I've blogged! Really!?

So I can't believe that it's been a week already since I posted last. I didn't workout over the weekend. Monday didn't get a workout either... unless you count wrestling with both boys, by myself, at the pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay. They wanted to ride the train, the ponies, jump in the jumping houses, feed the goats, pet the goats, on and on! It was all fun, but just really exhausting for me. The morning started out cold down there, and I felt so bad for my boys, whom I dressed in shorts and short sleeve shirts, because it was suppose to get HOT! Well, in the end I was glad I dressed them like that, because it only took about a half hour,  maybe an hour tops before it was HOT!

Anyway, I got side-tracked. I didn't workout Monday, besides chasing the boys, and helping them out for a couple hours or so on Monday.

(T2, Goofy, T1- Halloween Time Oct. 2009)

Tuesday- I did Jillian, Level 3! I'm now using my 5lb weights for this level!!! And their's one strength part that I use one 5lb, and one 3lb weight, to put 8lbs on that arm. It feels GREAT! I just wish I could see some definition coming to my arms already.

Wednesday- no workout. But did get the pleasure of having Sarah and her kids over for the day! We had some fun.

(T2, Mickey, T1- Oct. 2009

These are all in honor of us going to Disneyland's

Halloween Time next week!!!)

Thursday (today)- last night I had the entire house cleaned! Toys put away, dishes done, etc. So before I went to bed, I thought, I'll get everything ready for my workout! I got my weights out, my towels out, workout clothes out, everything but my water (cuz I wanted it cold in the morning) was out and ready.

I got woken up at 4:50 to my youngest crying because he'd kicked his covers off, and wanted me to cover him. Well, I just should've stayed up. Because I ended up sleeping through my alarms until it was ready to get up and get T1 ready for school. So I didn't end up getting a workout done today. Bummer.

But I made home-made mac-&-cheese today for lunch... broke away from the sandwiches again!!! I used whole wheat penne pasta, and it still turned out okay. The boys and I ate it anyway. (Home-made mac-&-cheese is the only kind of mac-&-cheese my oldest boy will eat. And even then he wont eat much, so we don't make it much... which is a good thing, all in all.)

Question:
When you cook rice or brown rice, have  you ever added chicken broth to it? I'm just curious as to what the chicken broth/water ratio is. 50/50? 60/40? 70/30? Any suggestions? Anyone ever tried it?

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake and a companion

Well, so much for eating healthy! I made chocolate chip cheesecake from scratch for Becky's birthday (my daughter-in-law). So yummy, but very rich. Ate too much of it and got heartburn!

But Caitlin (my darling daughter) had stayed the night last night, and this morning she did a Jillian shred workout with me! She's going to buy the DVD, so I hope she joins our blog!

Sarah Day 25

Yep, I'm still here.  :)   Day 25....today I went on a 2+ mile bike ride pulling the kids in the bike trailer. Our nice, warm weather has returned and it is SO nice to be able to get out again.

I've been trying to get in some kind of exercise every day. This weekend we went camping, so we went on several hikes and walks. It was beautiful (we went to the Redwood Forest in Northern California) and so refreshing to be outside, surrounded by nature.

My goal for this last week is to use the hand weights for 10 minutes each day and then hopefully get some other kind of exercise in.

Visited Jillian

So last week I did a lot of walking/jogging in the park behind our house instead of the workout DVD. Emily started a little dog-walking business. Someone is out of town for two weeks and asked her to walk their dog every day (100+ pounder). Since I don't want her in the park alone anyway, it's been a great excuse for me to get out and jog while she's out there with the dog, especially with the perfect fall weather.

But I've been starting to feel like I need a workout here and there too, so this morning I visited Jillian with Level 2 - amazing how my body notices one week of not doing a workout! Had to do a little of it with low impact, but made it through.

Here's to a great week of drinking lots of water, eating healthy, and continuing to enjoy our beautiful weather out in the park!

Millbrae- Proud, wish I'd taken a pic.

So thanks to whoever posted the link for the kid lunches that look so cute. Was that Connie? I can't remember.
It inspired me today, to get out of my regular PB&J rut.
So I cut a piece of bread with dino crust cutters, gave them each one (it cuts out two dino's), cut some deli turkey meat into strips, rolled them up; cubed some cheese; a couple of baby carrots, 5 raspberries each. I put it all on a plate for them to eat like finger foods, or lunchables kind of.
Then for 'deseret' yogurt with raspberries and banana's. T2 asked for more deseret.

I wish I'd taken a pic. Not that it was all that picture worthy, or that it would've been as 'presentable' as the lunch blog's. But just to show the change, and to actually have a pic to post with this post. Haha!
I was very proud of myself, and so happy that they ate it all up. They're not really picky eaters anyway, but it was great to see it all inhaled.
Just wanted to share the success, and thank you for putting up the link to that lunch blog, it got me out of my rut, for a day at least. Haha!

Millbrae- Workout and Recipe

Hello, I know it's been a while since checking in with everyone. I can't remember if I worked out on Tuesday or not. I'm pretty sure that I worked out Wednesday. I know I worked out Thursday and today, Friday.

Yesterday I really wasn't going to workout at all, the day kept going, and I kept thinking, "I need to workout, I need to workout." And I just couldn't get the motivation! Finally I thought, "OKAY! You ate the Olive Garden's Never Ending Pasta, and gained two pounds! So get your butt working out." And I drug myself to the TV, decided to put on Turbo Jam's 20 minute workout. I remembered that I liked that workout, but I forgot how much I really enjoyed that workout! I even grabbed my 3lb weights for the first 5-7 minutes or so of the punches, and boy are my arms feeling it today!

Today I did Jillian, level 3. I'm back at my 5lb weights, and she totally kicked my butt! I HATE THE LUNG JUMPS AND THE ROCKSTAR JUMPS SO BAD!  But it feels so good to be able to do the lung jumps and almost land in lung position again. Not quite there, but definately progressing! If you guys think Level's 1 & 2 are intense, just wait til you get to Level 3! It's no joke! I almost forgot about all those days that I was so sore. Then last night and this morning I was feeling the soreness setting in. I think it's gonna be stickin around for another day or two too.

So I feel like a slacker for not posting the first recipe since it was my suggestion. And I love that you posted that recipe Rachel, because I have the same recipe, just with different sauces. I use chicken, tons of veggies, and rice (white or brown, depending on the mood). So I decided that since I was introduced with the Granola in the Who's Who post, and since we need to make some more, I'd post that. I got this recipe from my step-mom, Laurie. It's a great recipe in my opinion.

(Pic courtesy of Google images.)

Laurie's Granola

Combine in a large mixing bowl:

6 cups     oatmeal (either instant or regular)

1/2 cup   wheat germ

1 cup      chopped raw nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts)
1/2 cup   raw sunflower seeds
Optional- sesame seeds, wheat flake cereal, coconut

Combine in a small bowl:
1 cup      brown sugar
3/4 cup   water
1/2 cup  canola oil
2 tsp.     vanilla
1/2 tsp.  salt

Pour wet ingredients over the dry ones and mix all together.

Line a jelly roll pan with parchement paper and pour the granola mixture into the pan. Spread it out so that it is evenly spread over the pan.

Bake in a 300 degree oven for 30 minutes.

When cooled, add in raisins or Craisins or any other dried fruit.

Store in a covered plastice container (I use an ice cream bucket).

Enjoy by itself, with a low fat milk as cereal, stirred into yogurt... or even sprinkled on ice cream!

My notes:

Confession, my husband usually makes this, and I know he adds honey to it too, to help it stick together better. I'd guess it's about a 1/2 cup... maybe 3/4 cup of honey. He also likes to add corn flakes, and all kinds of other things to it too. He adds so much extra to it, that he usually has to cook it in about 3 batches, otherwise it's too thick on the cookie sheet to cook all the way through. I like to eat it as a cereal, or a snack, but you can switch it up with a lot of different things, which is really nice. We usually add the raisins/ craisins as we get some to eat, if we want it ... not all of us like to add the dried fruits to it. It's a great recipe! And even better, it's healthy! Enjoy it! And thanks  to Laurie for giving me to share her amazing recipe.

1 lb lost!

So I finally lost 1 pound (after losing the 2 lbs. I gained when I first started out). I know this doesn't sound like much, but for me, it's a big thing! Just need to keep things going in that direction now. :)

A break from Jillian

Hi all,
Haven't posted for awhile. It was a busy weekend, but I got out and did a very brisk walk Saturday. Yesterday and today I walked and ran too. It's been so nice out that I really wanted to be outside instead of inside with Jillian. Still haven't been able to tone down my eating, but at least I'm not gaining!

Rachel - good days and a recipe!

I promise I don't always have downer days! lol

Got my mile walk in today--have decided that it may be all I can squeeze in while I am alone this month. But I am determined to stay as active as I can, regardless.

Weighed in today--have lost .8 pounds this week. Not stellar, but I'm satisfied for now.

Nikki was talking about a recipe swap--and I wanted to share my dinner tonight!

I adapted this from a family beef and broccoli recipe--but only had chicken on hand. SO we mixed things up a little and ended up with this.

IT WAS DELICIOUS! All the kids loved it, and I seriously can't wait for lunch tomorrow (leftovers!) mmmm....

• 3 TBSP cornstrarch
• 1 1/2 C Hot water
• 2 chicken bullion cubes
• 1 TBSP white sugar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 pound chicken breast (though you could use whatever chicken you want, really)
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1 bag frozen cut broccoli (or fresh)
• 1 C shredded carrots
• 1 can water chestnuts
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 small onion diced
• 1/2 tsp salt (more if desired)
• 
  

Directions

In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, hot water, bullion, sugar, and soy sauce. Stir until sugar and cornstarch are dissolved.

In a large skillet or wok over high heat, cook and stir chicken in a little bit of olive oil 2 to 4 minutes, or until browned. Add salt and onions and cook until translucent. Stir in broth mixture, ginger, garlic, and vegetables. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes, or until sauce thickens.

ENJOY! :)

OH, and this serves 7-8 one cup servings (depending on how many veggies you put in)

I served it with brown rice (1/2 cup) and a 1 cup serving of the veggie/meat mixture.

Sarah- Day 20...I think

So, I'm pretty sure I'm on day 20....2/3 of the way done. I have to say I am kind of excited for this challenge to end so I can get a nice, clean fresh start with a different goal.

Day 18 and 19 I took walks with the kids in the stroller...up a huge hill. Man, that killed me! Yesterday I had no energy and it was freezing and windy outside so we couldn't really go on a walk. Instead my "exercise" for the day was what I like to call kid exercise. I was lifting and carrying one of them most of the day (Emma insisted that her legs didn't work anymore....ha!) But it did give me a good arm workout.

Ten more days!

Foster City

I did not post at all last week either. I really slacked on the exercise video, however, I did go on plenty of walks with my boys. Pushing a huge stroller adds to the workout too. Not to mention when I have all three boys on it, I have to push even harder. I too have not lost any weight, but I do feel my muscles starting to get tone. My pants and shirts feel more loose. That is my main way I tell if I am "losing weight". Muscle does weigh more than fat. When I was little my mom had a workout book. The lady showed pictures of her self at the same weight. However, one was with no muscle and the other was with toned muscle. What a difference it made in how big/little she was and how her body looked. All being at the same weight.

I sometimes feel like my body is telling me it is not ready to lose the weight from having three boys in a matter of four years. Maybe that is what happens to C-section ladies. I don't know. When I had my first son it took 16 months to start to somewhat fitting into my pre-marriage pants (I have no idea how long it took with my second because I was pregnant again when he was only 5 months old). I do wonder sometimes too if my stomach will ever be flat like it once was, or if I will always show a little that I had babies. Maybe that is why celebs get lipo because they have done all they can and it just doesn't take it away.

On the plus side my husband did notice that I am starting to "thin" down and "tone" up. Compliments are great, but when it comes from your husband it is the BEST!!!

I have a lunch website on my personal blog. It is mainly for kids' lunches, but I am sure you can incoporate it somehow into your own lunch. Here is the link http://www.anotherlunch.com/ I do have one thought on this website though....I think it is great, but who the heck has time to decorate their children's lunches like that. I wouldn't do that right now, let alone when I am trying to get kids out the door to school. Melissa is one dedicated mommy!

Millbrae- Hey, are you still there?

Yes, I am still here! I know, it's been about a week since I've posted. I just love reading and commenting on your posts, and then I don't have time to write my own.

So I've worked out every day except Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and today- Monday. So that really only leaves Wednesday and Thursday last week. Wow, I'm a slacker!

I've decided that I'm not going to workout on the weekends unless there really isn't anything else to do, which will probably never happen, but leaves it open to possibilites, right?

Mondays are going to be rough too, since that's the day I help out in T1's Kindergarten class. But if I can really commit to getting up before the butt crack of dawn, then this might be possible. However, I really don't have any reason most other days to slack, and I really need to get-r-done! I think I'm probably going to try and do some more of my Turbo Jam exercises too. I have a love/ hate relationship with Jillian. But I really do love Chalene aka Turbo Jam too. Her music really helps carry me through the workouts too, something I wish I had with Jillian.

Even if I can do the 20 minute Turbo Jam on Mondays or something, that'd be great.

I, too, haven't lost any weight since starting this challenge. I would love to loose another 10-15 lbs. I would be thrilled with that. However, I know that it's not a matter of working out more... at least not anymore. It's a matter of disciplining myself with the sweets. I love my fruits, I love my veggies, but I also love my carbs, and unsaturated fats too! They're so yummy! So, in order to help discipline myself with what I shove in my mouth, I have posted a couple of food pyramids in my kitchen. In hopes that it will remind me of how much I can eat that day, of whatever food group.

Sidenote: Have you guys seen these newer food pyramids? With the person running up the steps, and the food groups all meeting at the top? They're verticle! I absolutely don't like it even the slightest! YUCK! Seriously, what's the matter with the old fashion way sometimes?

I like the top one, not only because it's got it all grouped well, but also because it's got the water on the bottom, which is something I really need to work on.

I like the middle one also, and it's the one I printed off, and have posted in my kitchen.

The one at the bottom, is the best looking one, in my opinion, of the newest style, and it's only the kids on it that make it somewhat worth standing. But I really don't care for it at all! ... okay, I'm done venting about that. Haha!

Another question:

I need new, good, healthy recipes (that aren't seafood please). So would we all like to share our favorite recipe that's healthy? I'd love more ideas for lunch especially! But really any meal-time recipe would be great! I'm willing to share too, if this is something we're wanting to do. Please give your feedback.

P.S. I hope you guys don't mind the pic's every post. I like to post pic's.

Marisa- 1 mile start

So, it turns out the sun isn't up until almost 7 now. That makes me kind of sad. You can really tell in the past week that summer really is on its way out here in Colorado. Sniff. I don't want summer to leave. I think I'm the only one. That's okay; you don't have to agree.

Anyway, so the mile... welp, it went. 12 minutes. Man, it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. And it took me a whole 2 minutes longer than my 5K time. When I come in the door all slumped over with tiredness and disappointment, Brian said, "Yeah, but you'd be surprised how fast it comes back." And that's true; I've experienced that for myself. Even with my limited running experience. So hopefully next week will be a bit better.

Ben Does Life blog

I don't know that it's terribly interesting, but I like to see other people conquer something and keep at it, y'know?

Oh, and the Eat Like Me blog. She doesn't *usually* post anything about what/how she made what she ate, but I am a visual person, I guess. Pictures pretty much do it for me. Most of the time I can tell what it is I'm looking at. And you can post comments and ask how she made it, etc. Once in awhile she does actually talk about her food. And when she first started it, she ALWAYS mentioned her meals. Which I think would still be a nice thing for us readers.

Rachel--workout done

It's been an exhausting weekend.

Yesterday I ate good most of the day, until my emotions were shot--and then it all went crazy. I ate 2 brownies (when I normally would have passed on even ONE and opted for a 100 calorie pack of them instead) and before bed, I found myself sitting in front of baked tostitos with cheese on them. RIDICULOUS!!!

Hoping I can keep things in check today--and make a MUCH needed trip to the store to replenish my healthy snacks and fresh foods.

I am so tired and achy this morning--my baby is sick which meant I was up almost all night dealing with it myself because my husband gone for the month.

But I forced myself to at least put on my workout clothes and do the Leslie Sansone walk at home this morning. Just glad I got SOMETHING in today...

Hoping that helps to cross out my bad choices last night...and that I can get myself back on track today. I weigh in tomorrow, and don't want the emotional eating to have been my downfall.

(man I sound like a whiner! Sorry guys!!!)

Marisa- beginning

Tomorrow. 6:30 a.m. I'm back at it. I think my goal for now is to get faster. I'd LOVE to be able to run a 7:00 minute mile someday. But that won't happen until I've done some hard work! Tomorrow, I'll do a mile and see how long it took me. Then I'll go from there.

Brian did great in his marathon, by the way. Ran it in 3 hrs. 50 minutes. He's currently asleep on the couch, of course. ;-)

I also need to figure out a better eating plan. I just eat a lot of bread. And cereal. And more bread. In the past  I've used SELF's website and looked at the "Eat Like Me" blog for ideas. The author of the blog is a registered dietitian, and most of her meals look edible. So in case you're interested, click here: Eat Like Me

So we've all seen the guy named Ben that did the youtube video- where he lost 120 pounds and ran a marathon. Just curious if anyone else is following his blog now?

No weight loss

Well, yesterday I weighed myself and had loss the initial weight gain I had gotten after the 1st week of doing Jillian, but had not lost anymore. I was really bummed about it and decided I just wasn't working out that day!!

But today I got back on track and was up early in the morning doing Level 2. I tried 5 lb weights and used them until the very last weights exercise. My body had gotten too used to the 3 lb weights, so I will definitely keep using the 5 pounders till I can use them the whole time.

Thanks for the advice about not drinking too much water during the workout - I just took sips this morning and didn't get any cramps. Definitely easier for me to work out in the morning when I have a little more energy!

Am really hoping that I'm losing inches somewhere because it's really frustrating to not be losing any weight. Tomorrow I hope to do better in the areas of drinking at least 2 quarts of water for the day and leaving more of the carbs alone.

Sarah Day 17

What to say??? This has been a really lame week for me. I didn't work out at all the last 2 days. It was SO hot...I swear I sweat more just walking around the house than I usually do doing the 30 day shred! I just couldn't make myself work up another sweat...gross, I know...However, I did make myself put in the 30 day shred this morning and I did another half hearted, pause it every 5 minutes to take care of something for the kids, workout. But I got it done.

After not working out the last 2 days, I have also made a decision. I am giving up my goal of doing the 30 day shred every day. I feel completely lame doing this, and a little sad to not accomplish what I set out to do, but it's clear that I've already failed that particular goal. :)   I can't make myself do the same workout (or 2 or 3) workouts every day. I am SO bored with them. I have also realized the last 17 days how much I prefer to get outside and exercise. I know I am not a gym person. And apparently I am not much of a workout dvd person either. I have found, especially the last few days, that I plan on doing the dvd so I can accomplish my goal...and since I'm planning on doing the dvd I don't do much other exercise, but then I can't talk myself into doing the shred. So in the end I don't work out at all. I would much rather just do what I enjoy, even though it means abandoning my goal, because I will at least accomplish the bigger goal of making sure I'm active and moving every day. And that's what matters the most.

I DID IT~!

Sorry you all have to hear from me 2 times in a row...(anyone else still out there this week?)

This morning I met my goal of running a whole mile, without stopping. I DID IT!

I was SO excited!!!

Then I walked Jenna to school. Am going to take the rest of the day off from working out, because my husband leaves for month tomorrow, and we are having the rest of the day to spend as a family.

But I feel good about what I did.

And that's that. :)