How Often Do You Weigh Yourself!?

My little man wasn't feeling too great yesterday, so I didn't have time to post yesterday's Think Kit post.

So today is a double whammy - two blog posts!

Yesterday I asked my FB friends this question:

Today's blog post requires me to take a poll! With my recent weight loss top of mind, I am curious - do you weigh yourself daily, weekly, monthly, or never (measure success in other ways)?! Don't forget to share why!

I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. And seeing that number on the scale is usually more discouraging than encouraging. So I wanted to see what other people had to say!

The majority of people who responded said that they weigh themselves daily! The people who weigh daily seem to be a weight maintenance phase - not a weight loss phase. The daily check in helps ensure they are on the right path! But a few notes they see their weight shift within a 5 lb window - so I was glad to hear I am not the only one who sees a slightly big fluctuation day by day.  

Sarah said, "When I was ' losing' weight I weighed myself once a week. I loved ( sometimes not) looking at the scale once a week to know what I had accomplished!! It really helped me not get discouraged if i had a bad day/night and i was able to jump right back on my weight loss journey! Now that I am maintaining... I step on it every single day to know and keep myself mindful of what goes into my mouth daily ( I want the scale to read in a range of two lbs:) so if it goes even a couple of oz above I know to watch those portions! Xoxo"

My friend Brittany said, "Daily. Partially for curiosity/fascination because my weight swings 5 pounds on a day to day basis. But also for awareness. If I start to let things get away from me I can catch it sooner than if I only weighed once a week. My goal is maintenance, however, not weight loss."

Weekly was a close second. Weekly seems like a good idea for someone who is trying to lose weight, but doesn't want to commit to a daily weigh in! Seeing he results after a week can be inspiring and push you forward! And it also helps some people get upset over a few lbs here and there!

My friend Steph does weekly weigh ins, but I love that she takes her measurements monthly too! Measurements are a HUGE sign of success that many people overlook because they are so caught up on the scale!

Jenny said, "Same time, same place weekly. Especially when I was trying to shed a few lbs, I know what a healthy pace is for me in a weeks time. Daily can be very frustrating for me because it fluctuates day to day, but weekly seemed to be a good consistent amount of time to see the change."

Others said it depends on their current goals or approach. For example, my friend Lindsay shared, "Normally monthly but when I am trying to lose weight it is weekly." 

And others said monthly, yearly, and a few never weigh themselves!

I cracked up when my friend Tim said, "Surely you're not looking for males in this poll, but a couple times a year because there is a scale next to the toilet at Ashley's parents house haha!"

And my friend Chelsea shared, "When I was younger I would weigh myself multiple times daily. not ideal. a year ago or whenever that was that I was working out like a healthy person, I never weighed myself, my clothes fit well a could feel the muscle tone. (even my chiropractor made a comment on how strong I felt) after a year of living healthier and exercising I weighed myself to see where I was after a year...Of course it wasn't a negative number so I felt really down, like all that work for what? so then I started slacking....now I'm a bum again because after a year of working hard does not stick around. they mean it when they say you don't use it you lose it, I became less fit with the quickness. SO moral of the story...I don't weigh myself because I'm a big debbie downer and the number is never where I think it should be, which is an unrealistic number. lol" 

I loved hearing that other people measure their fitness and health in other ways beyond the scale!

My friend Sonia said, "my trainer makes me weigh in every week and we are doing a biggest loser challenge at work that requires a weekly weigh-in. i kind of think its a poor estimate of health, so i pay attention to other things: 1) how do my clothes fit? if they are getting looser, i know something is working. 2) how is my stamina in power walking to starbucks or taking the stairs? this to me is a huge indicator of where i am in terms of getting in better shape. 3) comments/compliments. are people saying things like "oh are you working out?" etc. because if other people notice, then yes things are definitely working for the better."

And my cousin Rebecca said, "Never!!! I used to obsess over the numbers on the scale and then I threw it away. I am a crossfitter and I measure success by my performance in the gym. There came a point when the weight loss stopped and I started packing on the pounds (muscle weighs more!!) and because the number was rising I began eating the "low fat" nutrient deprived way to get back on the downward slope. What I was really doing was hurting myself. I was sucking wind in my workouts and light headed and grumpy. Once I tossed the scale and ate to fuel my body instead of lose weight, I dropped another whole pant size. I do check my whole body bmi/bp/hydration levels/fat to lean mass weights on occasion and a scale is part of it... but if I show a "gain" in weight usually I can see where I lost 3 pounds of fat and gained 5 in muscle and it's worth it."

As for me? I find myself stepping on the scale daily because I am in weight loss mode! But after hearing these tips from everyone, I might switch to weekly or even monthly! Justin always threatens to lock up the scale anyway - he can always tell when I am upset over a silly number. He told me to focus on my workouts and focus on my inches lost. He encourages me to make new goals for the gym...do the elliptical for 30 minutes one week and try to hit 35 or 40 the next week! Once I listened to him (see honey, I do listen to you sometimes), I found myself having the best results! Setting fitness goals is way more fun and keeps me inspired to try do workouts!

I am now down 10 lbs within the last month (and down 37 lbs post baby)-  thanks to the combination of the Advocare products and hardwork at the gym! I've tried my best to eat clean and avoid dairy (it makes my stomach upset anyway), fried foods, processed foods, and sweet drinks / alcohol! 

So what about you!? What's your relationship like with the scale!?

PS Thanks to everyone who commented on yesterday's post! I wanted to share all of the responses, but I have a sick baby to snuggle with this evening!

Much love,
Ashley
 

Fatter vs. Cuter

I was walking out of the office yesterday and said goodbye to my friend Jami.

"Well, maybe on Monday I'll be fatter!" I said patting my stomach.

"It's not fatter, Ashley," Jami said.

"Cuter?" I suggested instead.

"Yes!" Jami said. "You'll be even more radiant than you already are today..."

She made me smile.

You guys know I'm terrified about gaining a ton of weight with this pregnancy.

EVERYONE has that number on the scale that just terrifies them.

Disclaimer: This is a stock photo . I am not this pregnant yet.

And beyond a number, I just want to remain healthy and fit during my pregnancy so that I can be the mom I've always wanted to be...active, fun, and ready to tackle 5ks together with my little nugget.

When I went in for my first consultation in November (not pregnant at the same), I weighed 239 lbs.

On January 7, I had my first doctor's appointment. I was five weeks at the time and weighed 236 lbs.

I went back for my 8 week check-up and I was still 236 lbs!

I've been trying to get out of the mindset that "I am eating for two!"

That's a very dangerous outlook....

I know that I only need about 300 extra calories a day. So I'm sitting around 1,600 calories a day.

I'm trying to pick healthy snack options like Special K cereal, popcorn, or fresh fruit. Let's be real - sometimes the cookies and cheese dip win. BUT not always, which is good.

Last week, my boss came down to my desk and said this out of no where, "Ashley, you're pregnant. I don't want you to see you stressing about gaining weight..."

I'm thankful that he took the time to remind me that I will gain weight. And that's normal...

On that note, I can't tell you how AMAZING it is to have a supportive work family. Makes a huge difference...

Anyway, I've decided I need to stop using the word "fat." 

I'm cutting the word out of my vocabulary.

And I'll replace it with the word "cute."

But I am still determined to remain as healthy and active as possible throughout this pregnancy, especially once I get my energy back!!

This is also NOT me.
Number one, I don't live by a beach.
Number two, I plan to run in pants / tights.
Number three, I will wear shirt that will avoid a boob or two flopping out.

So ladies and gents, bring on the baby weight...

In moderation, of course.

Much love,
Ashley

Christmas Weight

I don't think I should step on the scale for another month.

I think I weigh 300+ lbs.

Goodness, why do I eat my life away at every holiday!?

Meh.

I've got my alarm clock set for 6 am everyday. Vacation or not, my butt is working out every single day.

Much love,
Ashley

How The Paleo Diet Turned Into a Cookie Binder

"Ashley, what ever happened to your Paleo diet?!" - you

Great question...I'm glad you asked.

My failed attempt at eating like a cave man lasted four days (at best).

And as a result, I ended up eating cookies for breakfast the following week. I don't know how "healthy eating for 4 days" turned into a cookie binder, but some things are just unexplainable.

I didn't go into Paleo thinking I would be 100% committed to the diet, but I wanted something to keep me balanced. And I loved that I could find Paleo specific recipes and read Paleo blogs! Or follow Paleo people on Twitter! Basically, I'm a marketers dream ...despite being a marketer myself...

Turns out, Paleo isn't for me.

I felt too much pressure to eat and exercise "by the book."

I like frozen yogurt.

I like sweet potatoes.

I like nuts (I know, I laughed when I wrote this line too).

And I like whole grain & brown rice.

All of these foods are on the "do not eat" list with Paleo.

Now, my short time on Paleo did teach me that I should try to follow my diet 80% of the time. And learn to pick healthier options or eat more balanced meals whenever possible.

I've eaten more fruit in the last month than ever before!! And I'm very focused on portion control!

And you may recall, that I had a true face-off with a cheese ball the other day at my office.

I'm happy to report that I did NOT eat even a single bite of the cheese ball.

Are you proud?? Don't be...

Instead, I ended up eating some cheddar flavored popcorn and grabbing a cookie later in the day!

Butttt I ate healthy the rest of the day...

So, what's my final verdict?

Paleo wasn't a true failure.

Why?! You ate 45 cookies this month. - you (with added dramatic emphasis like me)

Well, I learned a few things about myself and my eating habits.

Most importantly, I learned that one bad snack doesn't mean you should eat bad for an entire day or week.

As long as you stay focused and dedicated the rest of your day (aka eat your veggies and fruits and lean protein + get off your booty & exercise) one small cookie a day will not be a deal breaker.

You got this.

We got this...

Much love,
Ashley

11 Down

And counting :)

 

Much love,
Ashley

Scale Wars

A reminder for today.

For every single day.

Much love,
Ashley

The Decision

I've been trying to write this blog post for nearly a week. I made my decision last week. And here is why:

Monday, September 10:

The scale said 224 lbs.

I closed my eyes and tears quickly filled them.

I was hoping if my eyes were closed, the tears would stay inside.

But that's the problem...I've been keeping too much worry and fear inside.

And the number on the scale proves it.

What happened?

Why did you let yourself go?

Why didn't you catch yourself earlier?

I walked downstairs after I fixed my smeared make-up.

"I've gained some weight," I said to Justin.

He looked up at me from my computer.

"I'm going to lock that scale in the gun safe," Justin said. "Or bury it in the backyard."

I smiled. I knew he was trying to cheer me up...to remind me that a number doesn't determine WHO I am. But, easier said than done.

"Please don't," I finally said. "But I've got to do something, especially after everything that happened with Uncle Jerry today."

My Uncle Jerry was admitted into the hospital last week for chest pain. Today (September 20th) he is having a quad bypass survey. He'll turn 47 years old tomorrow. The same age that my Uncle LJ was when he passed away from a heart attack in June.

"Listen, I don't care if you run 26 miles or 2 miles, Ashley," Justin said. "I care that you're healthy. I care that you don't have a heart attack or diabetes in your 40s. I care that I grow old you with you."

I sat there and didn't know how to respond, but Justin was right.

He was absolutely right.

"You're so afraid that you'll fail at this race that you've just let everything start to slow down," Justin said. "You aren't going to the gym as much and you aren't eating as healthy as you used to. And it's because you're afraid."

Right again.

"I am afraid," I said. "I am not prepared for this race because I've missed a few too many long runs. I could work harder to make the time, but I feel like I don't have the time. I feel like I am spread so thin..."

"Well that's because you're out trying to save the world every night," Justin said. "Which is what I love about you the most, but you do need to make time for you."

I need to make time for me.

I need to make time for marathon training.

But I haven't made time for either...

And I'm afraid now I don't have the time to play "catch up."

So, I've made the decision that I'm doing the half marathon on November 3, 2012.

Deciding to NOT do the full marathon was an extremely hard decision. I hate committing to something and then backing down.

But, I'm simply not prepared.

I'm not ready.

And I want my first full marathon to be an amazing experience. I want to be prepared. I want to be well-trained. I want to cross the finish line in one piece.

"I'll still do the half-marathon," I told Justin. "And I'm going to get my PR finally!"

2:45.

I've aimed for this number every single time.

And I'll hit this finishing time on November 3.

Or do better.

In the meantime, I'm making big efforts to clear my "plate."

We are retiring from DJing. Being a wedding DJ is so much extra stress, time, travel, and planning.

I'm also cutting back on my extra curricular activities. 

I am slowly, very slowly, learning how to say "NO."

And while saying "NO" to the full marathon this Fall was a huge and hard decision, I believe that it's the right decision.

More importantly, I believe in my heart that I'll have an amazing half marathon experience, which will give me the courage and strength to pursue a full marathon very soon.

Scale update: I'm back down to 214!! Maybe all that stress and worry really was weighing me down...

Much love,
Ashley

My Biggest Loser Moment

I've gained some weight.

Let's say...10 lbs.

I'm sitting around 207 right now (on a good morning).

Why?

A few reasons actually...

• Personal training! I love my personal training sessions with Dustin. I'm challenging my body in ways I NEVER knew were possible. I'm turning into that person who grunts and screams at the gym...not sure if I am proud or embarrassed of that fact, but I'll tell you what...it means I'm pushing myself HARD!

• Cheese. When I eat cheese (dairy), I bloat and gain weight. I have a lactose sensitivity, but cheese is truly my favorite food. I can't resist it...and it makes everything better. Oh cheese.
• Marathon training. Most people gain weight during marathon training. Why? Because the food addicts like me say, "Ohhhh I just ran 5 miles on a Tuesday night- clearly this calls for a jumbo margarita and Mexican food!" Wrong, wrong, and wrong...I'm working on trying to re-fuel my body with healthier foods after those long runs. One step at a time...

Yesterday afternoon, Dustin was training Kaila (his wife and my best friend) and me at the same time. It was a blast having a friend there with me ...to share in the pain!

Dustin handed me TWO 20 lb weights.

"What am I doing to do with both of these?!" I asked.

I can barely lift the bench press bar by it-self...

"We are going to do squats down to the end of the parking lot and back," Dustin said.

I died.

"NO WAY!" Kaila and I said at the same time.

"Just kidding, just walk with them to the end of the parking lot and back," Dustin said.

Seems simple enough. I can handle walking right?

But that 40 extra lbs was straining on my body!

My shoulders hurt.

My back hurt.

My thighs hurt.

And then it hit me...

"You guys, I just realized that carrying this weight...40 lbs...is the amount of weight that I've lost," I said. "It's crazy to think my body was carrying about this much extra weight."

Now sure, I've gained a few lbs since my 40 lb weight loss victory...but I'm convinced some of that is muscle!

"That was pretty deep, Ash!" Kaila said. "But amazing to think about..."

We finally made our way back to the building...I was exhausted...ready to drop the 40 lbs that was holding me down.

"Okay- great job! Do it again!"Dustin said.

"AHHHH!" We moaned, but we did it again.

In fact, I finished by running the last half.

And I almost cried...thinking about how far I've come...and when I dropped those 40 lbs on the weight bench...it was a reminder that I've truly dropped those lbs. And I'll do EVERYTHING in my power to make sure they do not come back.

That's why I love having Dustin as my personal trainer.

He pushes me harder than I have EVER physically and mentally pushed myself.

Now, if only I could only get my stress eating, emotional eating, food is my enemy-thing under control.

One step at a time...

Much love,
Ashley

For My Health

On Dec. 31, 2011 I returned home from Florida. It was vacation...so that meant lots of eating out and drinking beers on the beach.

After a few drinks, I walked into the bathroom and found a scale.

I was feeling bloated.

Fat.

Uncomfortable.

And the scale showed it.

239 lbs.

Surely that was wrong.

Surely the scale was broken.

I decided to pee and see if that would change anything (YES I DO THAT!) I'll remove hair ties sometimes to see if that makes me lighter.

238.

Well, a year of work down the drain.

At that moment, I was determined to make 2012 my year.

The lowest number I ever saw on the scale in 2011 was 218 lbs and that was in August.

August 11, 2011.
218 lbs.
I couldn't wipe the smile off my face all day.

It took me 7 months to lose 20 lbs.

Today - I proved I am kicking butt.

Today - I proved I am moving much quicker with my weight loss goals.

Today - I proved passing up buttery popcorn is worth it.

Today I proved hardwork pays off.

Within the past 3 months, I've lost 20 lbs.

This morning, the scale said 218.5 lbs.

I stepped on it like 24 times to confirm accuracy.

It would go up high- once at 231 lbs and then it quickly go down to 216 lbs!

I felt like I was on The Biggest Loser.

I mean, in the last week alone I've lost six lbs.

I told my best friend Toni last night that I'm not losing weight for anything or anyone else.

I'm not losing weight for a dress.

I'm not losing weight for my husband (or anyone else for that matter).

I'm not losing weight for a certain number on the scale.

I'm not losing weight for a vacation.

I am losing weight for myself.

To live longer.

To live happier.

To live healthier.

And when we have kids one day, I want to be a fun mom.

I want to be the mom who runs around with her kids in the sprinkler. 

I don't want to hide in the house, ashamed of my appearance.

I want to be a MILF (again - one day).

Diabetes runs in my family and so does heart disease. During my last check-up, I told my doctor about my problems losing weight. I explained that I fuel my emotions with food and admitted that I'm awful with portion control.

I was hoping she would give me magical pills. To control my huger and appetite.

Instead, she told me to get a workout buddy and try Weight Watchers.

Looks like the true secret to weight loss really is....working out and eating better. WHO KNEW!? ;)

My skinny workout clothes were busted out tonight! :)
I haven't seen these in MONTHS!

 So if you are searching for weight loss inspiration, I encourage you to look no further than the mirror.


Do it for you.

And only YOU.

Much love,
Ashley

Creeping into a Size 12

One month ago I bought these pants:

Size 14

One month ago these pants were tight.

Today, these pants are baggy.

The best part?

I've never worn them!!!!!

There is no reason for them to baggy....EXCEPT for losing some inches on my waist line!


I am creeping into size 12 pants.

And that, my lovely blog readers, is a huge accomplishment worth celebrating!!!!!

Off to watch The Hunger Games.

The real test will be resisting the buttery popcorn later...wish me luck!

Much love,
Ashley

Top 12 in 2012

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe that another year has flown by...When I think about 2011, the word that comes to mind is change. I made a lot of changes...to my mind, body and outlook on life.

I cried many times, but I laughed many more times.

Some days I ran so slow that it made me want to give up. Other days I ran so hard that I wanted to throw up.

There were moments, many moments, when I had to pull myself off the couch, brave the cold weather and drive my moody self to the gym.

But on other days, I was so motivated I was bursting at the seams of my soul.

At least 40.3 times, I pulled in a fast food drive thru -only to pull out a few moments later, realizing I didn't need nor want those extra calories. But in even more instances, I fell off the wagon and stuffed my face with burgers and fries. And dipped both of them in ranch.

On the toughest of days, I would break down and scream at Justin; yelling that I never wanted to eat a piece of grilled chicken again. Other weeks, I could eat grilled chicken for every single meal.

In one week, I could lose 5 lbs and then the next week I could gain 7. It was a constant battle. My weight will always be a constant battle.

But through it all, I learned a lot. About weight loss. About running. About fitness. About healthy eating. About myself.

I've had a few special requests for a blog post about my weight loss (and gain) journey in 2011. If you are looking for a blog post that will help you accomplish your new years resolutions, this isn't the right post. Rather, this is a blog post about tips for living a healthy lifestyle- not for a few months or until you hit a certain weight, but for a lifetime! I'm not a pro at this...people are healthier than me...smarter than me...and in better shape than me. But these 12 tips reflect what worked for me over the past year.

Without further adieu, here are my Top 12 Tips for Living a Healthy Lifestyle in 2012: 

Believe in yourself. This is the most important step of all. Attitude is everything. If you have no faith in yourself and your abilities, you will not not succeed. You must believe you worth it. You must love your body now, and believe it can only get better. Stronger. Healthier. Because if I can go from being a workaholic couch bum with "no time to workout" to someone who dedicates time to fitness and runs three half marathons and three 5ks within 13 months, then I KNOW you can too.

Find inspiration. I am a firm believer in inspiration. It does amazing things. Seek out people, blogs, stories, and events that inspire you. There will be days when you will feel hopeless and lost, and you will want to give up. But if you surround yourself with positive, inspiring people-  you will pick yourself up very quickly when you fall down. People who inspire me include Meggie Dials (@meggiehd) and her husband / my co-worker Josh Dials (@jtdials) - both of them have amazing stories about their running journey. Josh is always asking me how my running is going, what races I have coming up and sending me positive bursts of inspiration - even if he doesn't know it. And he is the healthiest eater I have EVER met in my entire life. Seriously, just walking by his desk and seeing his giant, healthy salad makes me stay on track. And Meggie- holy cow- just met her once and you will FALL in love with her! She is positive, feisty and a ball of inspiration. But stay away from her cake balls, they are as addicting as her fun personality. You can read about her running journey and life here: www.seemeggierun.com. Another blog that inspires me (and I find myself reading daily is): http://one-twenty-five.tumblr.com. She is an incredible writer and exposes the ups and downs of weight loss and running. She is beautiful. Follow her journey and get inspired for life.

When you first start running, focus on distance or speed. This is the best advice I ever received from my inspiration queen, Meggie, which is another point...don't be afraid to ask for advice!! I always ask for advice and for people to tell me their stories!! When I first started running, Meggie told me to pick between distance or speed. I picked distance. I would rather go 5 miles at  14 minute pace than run a 7 minute mile. Why? Because at the end of the day I'm working out for a lot longer...pushing my body to new limits. One day I'll hit that 7 minute mile (okay, maybe 8:30 mile) but still...in the meantime, I am getting stronger and faster....and going longer distances. BUT maybe you want to work on your speed, so focus on your time. But for me, 2011 was about not obsessing over a number. So, this was the best advice and best decision I made for becoming a better runner.

Buy new workout clothes and good running shoes. The better you look, the better you feel. The same is true with fitness and working out, the more comfortable you are, the better you perform. On Dec. 26, 2010, I spent all my money from Christmas at Dick's Sporting Goods. I got new running tights, pants and shirts. I looked at it like I was making an investment in my health and my goals.

Drink LOTS of water. I can't stress this enough...when you are working out and running, you are sweating. And if you sweat your ass off in a snow storm like I do, then you will sweat even more when you are working out. You need hydration (water) to stay healthy and last longer in your workouts. Also, you will be less sore and have fewer headaches if you pump your body with water. I drink at every meal, have a glass of water (or 5) by my night stand, and drink it all throughout the day. If only I could give up my diet coke addiction...hey, I am a work in progress. So how much water should you drink each day? The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.

Try to go vegetarian for a few meals each week. There are some really amazing vegetarian meals out there...and I'll be posting a blog soon with a few of my favorite vegetarian recipes. But your body doesn't need all the processed foods and meats. So, try to eat earthy at least once a day (that is only 5 meals a week). A few ways to do this are: fruit for breakfast, veggie stir fry,  veggie sandwiches, (Jimmy Johns Veggie is the BEST!!!), spinach and mushroom etouffee is unbelievable, black bean nachos or tacos, vegetable soup, and nothing beats a good salad! :) If you need some more veggie recipe ideas, ask my great friend Brittany Gerig -she knows a lot of healthy and delicious recipes!

Start slow - you are only racing against yourself! Another friend who inspires me is Melanie Allen (@mel_allen). She gave me the best advice during my first race. "Don't look at other people around you; you are only racing against yourself." People will pass you - just like you will pass other people. Don't compare yourself to other people - you will be miserable. Someone will always be faster, stronger, more talented- but as Maya Angelou once told me and hundreds of other people, "No more is more human than you. You can do anything."  The run never gets easier, you just get better, faster and stronger. Don't be upset if you have slow days, you are still moving your body. I had some days when I would go to the gym and just walk. I wasn't feeling it, but I wanted to put in my time and miles. So I would walk and then run for a few minutes. Just keep moving. Don't give up. No matter how fast you go, you are still miles ahead of everyone on the couch.

Drink black coffee and green tea. I once read that drinking one cup of coffee with sugar and cream everyday will pack on 15 lbs a year. Maybe 10. But either way, that's a lot of weight to gain just from drinking one cup of coffee. And who really drinks ONE cup of coffee? It takes some getting used to, but I drink my coffee black most of the time. Or I'll add sugar free syrup. Americanos from Starbucks are heavenly. I also try to drink green tea in the afternoon or morning (if I don't drink coffee). Green tea has been proven to boast your metabolism! Drink up my friends!

Stop using condiments. When I first learned that I had a lactose sensitivity, I thought my world ended. Cheese makes EVERYTHING better. Burgers, pasta, pizza - it all needs cheese. But look at those items I just listed...most of them are unhealthy. If you are opting for healthier items in your diet, giving up fatty condiments like cheese and mayo won't be that hard. You don't need to pile on cheese and mayo with a veggie stir fry..they simply don't go together. If you want to add some flavor to your grilled chicken, try adding mustard -regular! Honey mustard is often made with mayo...so take it easy on that...and ketchup is the evil step sister to mayo because it's PACKED with sugar. If you are a ranch addict like me, there is help. Check out yogurt ranch dressing from Bolthouse Farms! It's half of the calories of regular ranch and tastes pretty good! Yes, it's slightly more expensive..but isn't living longer and healthier worth a few extra dollars.

Make commitments. Sign for a race, a gym membership, or start writing about your journey.Your commitments will keep you on track, accountable and inspired. If you want to go a race and are afraid to do it alone, PLEASE email me!! I'll gladly do any race with me (given I'm available) - and it's not like I travel the world for my job. I'd LOVE to do a race with you!!

Start cooking at home and packing your lunch. My good friend Sarah Frey (@sarahfrey6) is great at this! She often cuts up her veggies and fruit for the week on Sunday evening. I'm so inspired by her commitment to eating healthy and cooking new dishes at home! Not only does packing your lunch and cooking at home save you calories, but it saves you money! The Internet is FULL of healthy and fun recipes to try out at home.

Watch your sodium! If you are retaining water, you are probably consuming too much sodium. According to the Mayo Clinic Website, The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting sodium to less than 2,300 mg a day — or 1,500 mg if you're age 51 or older, or if you are black, or if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Consider that just one teaspoon of table salt has 2,325 milligrams (mg) of sodium. The vast majority of sodium in the typical American diet comes from foods that are processed and prepared. These foods are typically high in salt, which is a combination of sodium and chloride, and in additives that contain sodium. Processed foods include bread, prepared dinners like pasta, meat and egg dishes, pizza, cold cuts and bacon, cheese, soups, and fast foods." So, what should you do? Try to eat fresh as often as possible! Freeze your own veggies and meals

Good luck in 2012!

And remember, whatever your goals are for this year...."Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it." - Bill Cosby

Much love,

My 146th Street Lover

My husband jokes that I have a secret lover on 146th street, which is the main road I take into work every morning. Before we bought our house, our apartment was only 3 minutes away from my work. Which was FABULOUS! I could roll out of bed at 7:15 a.m., sometimes even 7:30 a.m. and quickly get ready. Thankfully, I am not one of those girls who takes hours to pamper myself.


When we moved, my drive got become ten times longer…taking me at least 30-45 minutes to get to work – depending on the traffic, weather and construction. So my departure time of 7:50 a.m. – quickly turned into 7:15 a.m. Or earlier.

I would leave earlier, sometimes even as earlier as 7:05 a.m. to meet my lover. I actually have two of them. Ronald and Dunkin. I have a hard time resisting Ronald McDonald’s sausage burritos and the rush that Dunkin Donuts gives me is world-class. (Mr. Starbucks is not on an easy path to work).

Obviously, I am admitting that breakfast fast food and sugary coffee were slowing creeping back in my life. Not to mention, I 100% blame McDonald’s Monopoly for sucking me into the game and fast food addiction. You would think being in marketing I would know better. You would think being in marketing I would understand EVERYONE is only one piece away from a million dollars. But once I won a Redbook DVD rental, I was hooked. I thought this year would different. I think this year I would win it all.

But instead, the only thing I won was 10 extra pounds. No, I do not want fries with that….

So, within a month, my pants were tighter. My shirts were snuggier (yes, I think I made up that word). And my motivation was lower than it’s been in months.

I’ve joked about falling off the wagon before, but this time I fell off a jet plane. And it was long, hard fall to the ground.

So, I decided to take action this week. I’m proud to say I didn’t see my 146th lovers this week. I packed my lunch all week (except today I had a lettuce wrap from Jimmy Johns – only 191 calories!) But I did eat a bagel (and a half -- omg I know sooo bad) today from Panera. So I didn’t really save any carbs or calories with my lettuce wrap...Free bagels at work are the death of me. Anyway, I digress. The fact of the matter is I messed up. But that doesn’t make me a failure. It just means I need to try harder. Harder than ever before. Because now…I have 10 lbs to lose just to get back to my original weight loss for the year. And I’d like to say that in 2011 I lost 25 lbs.

So, today marks a new month. A new beginning. It will be SUPER hard with the holidays coming up. But I am determined to kick butt this month. And turn my lovers into long distance, faded friendships.

Much love,

Ashley

About Gaining Nine lbs in Four Days

I honestly looked like a drug addict, hiding in the corner from my husband. My drug of choice? Lays Potato Chips, the crinkle kind. I escaped for the pantry a few times, only to dunk some chips in ketchup. My mind was blank as I shoveled food into my mouth. Afterwards, all I could think about was how mad I was at myself for screwing up this poorly. Hello, my name is Ashley and I'm an emotional eater. (Welcome, Ashley).

Last Friday, I wrote about how my running and diet has sucked the past week or two. It started with a bagel. Then that turned into cheesy potatoes. Heavy carbs followed after that...

What was the damage? Nine lbs. in four days. I went from my milestone weight of 218 and within four days I was up to 227. I wanted to cry. How could I let myself go like that? I knew the answer; I was an emotional mess for a few days. The week before Mother Nature makes her visit is awful and a few other events added unwanted stress to my life. Then add on feelings of guilt… I feel so bad for my husband when my mind is racing and my mood is on constant edge. I really don’t even want to be in my own head or body during that week of hormonal rage.

Thank GOD I have a wonderful husband, who lets me be crazy and hormonal without judging me or giving up on me. I can only imagine how I will be when I am pregnant one day. I am pretty sure we should either document all of my episodes or have cameras follow us around for a reality show.

I always share my moments of joy and victory on my blog. But I think it’s equally important to share moments of downfall. It’s not always easy. It’s not always pretty. It’s not always fun. Anyone going through this kind of journey understands the battle of the scale. You have high days and low days. You days where you eat amazing foods and other days where you stuff yourself with potato chips in closet. But no matter the moment or the day, it’s all about how you rebound. How you make a comeback. How you make a decision that day (not tomorrow or next Monday) but at that moment... you make a decision to kick butt moving forward.
My comeback will involve getting back on track with a low-carb diet again and signing up for a gym membership. It was easier to workout when I had the apartment gym right now the road, but the hot weather and my knee / back injuries are making it really easy to make excuses to NOT run outside.

No more excuses.

After a long night of celebrating on Saturday night, I woke up bright and early on Sunday to get my run in. I even wore my husband’s dirty socks from the day before. Gross, I know. But I determined that is both love and dedication (to both my hubby , health and running!)

While putting my running clothes on, I looked at myself in the mirror.





So here I am. I should be proud of my hardwork this year. Yes, I have more work to do and more miles to run. But I still have a belly button. I might have gained 9 lbs in four days, but I am still on the right track to lose weight if I keep fighting to ditch my bad habits and closet binges.

I can still see progress made.

My back fat and love handles are melting away.

My stomach is getting a little smaller and my curves are looking a little better.

My pants are fitting better and I feel more confident in a swim suit.

Best of all, I have the support from my husbands, friends and family to keep me motivated. I can’t even explain how much you ALL inspire me to keep going and running (literally) toward my goals.

Much love,

Ashley

Welcome Back

I was in a Charlotte Russe fitting room last month when I first realized my curves were starting to come back.

Pretending like I have a Kim Kardashian booty.

It was such a rewarding moment because just 7 short months ago, I remember curling up in a ball and crying in a Victoria Secret fitting room.

I was 238 lbs that day. Give or take, the pretzel with cream cheese & Diet Coke I had just before going into the store might have pushed me up to 240 at that moment. Nothing to be proud of though...

My jeans were so tight...they barely buttoned. They were a size 16.

My stomach looked like a cellulite mosh-pit.

I could hardly look at myself....

I sat on the bench and wrapped my legs up to my chest and cried. The silent cry. The one that makes you look really ugly and your mouth is slightly open because you are hoping no one will hear you weeping.  Kind of like this....

I Googled "Ugly Cry" and this picture came up 200ish times

"Everything OK in there?" the sales woman asked me.

"NOOOOO EVERYTHING IS NOT OKAY! I AM A WHALE AND NONE OF YOU BRAS FIT ME! LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GET THE FAT KID BRAS IN. But thank you for asking!" No, I didn't say that. But that's how I felt...and that's what I said in my head before responding.

I wipped my eyes and did what I do best...put on a happy face and pretended everything was fine.

"I'm good, thanks!" I said faintly.

And let's be real...when am I ever faint or quiet? I was a mess that day. But it was a life changing moment for me. It was one of those moments where your life stops and you focus in on where you are...and where you want to be...and how you can get there. To be honest, that moment is the defining moment for my weight loss journey. As I looked in the mirror, I told myself it was time to take action. I wasn't going to live in this body anymore.

I never wanted to see 238 on the scale ever again.

And I haven't....

As of this morning, I weigh 220 lbs and wear a size 12 dress and 14 pant size. My goal is 205 lbs and 12 paint size (10 dress!!!!) by my 25th birthday on 11-11-11. I can do it!!! :)

Rocking my running clothes proudly tonight.

And my curves are coming back.....no more crying in the fitting room.

Much love,
Ashley

I Won a Hot Body Contest!

Now that I have your attention......
 
I did not win a hot body contest!

Pool side with my best friends!

However, my husband thinks I'm hot, so that has to count somehow. Anyway, the true story is that when I posted this picture above to Facebook on Saturday, I received these awesome comments that completely made my weekend:

Jenna Smoker said: "I was looking at this pic and Wyatt was peaking over my shoulder. He said, " I like that." ugh he is such a boy :) P.s. U look great"

Mindy Moore said: "Looking fantastic Siebbbbb! I'm proud of u; and pool days w the girls are the best."

Amanda Loshe said: "Ms ashley...look how cute you are in your little bathing suit! Jealous!"

I was shocked to read those words. Fantastic? Great? What could she possibly be jealous of? I definitely feel like I looked great or fantastic...especially when I was hanging out with girls who basically have 6 packs and weigh 100 lbs less than me. Literally. Maybe they were talking about my sassy J-Lo earrings...

Either way, you can imagine how those comments made me feel so special. I've made such giant changes to my diet these past few months, despite falling off the wagon during the month of July. But I made a decision to kick butt during the month of August. And today is proof of that because....I passed up bagels at work. Let me re-phrase this...I said no to free bagels!!!!!!!

That has NEVER EVER happened in my life.


So as Lady GaGa would say, "I am on the right track baby, I was born this wayyyy!"


And what is the biggest lesson I've learned throughout the course of my weight loss journey? Being happy is what makes you beautiful. Not a pant size (even tho I love seeing that number go down...being happy along the way is what makes these milestones so much more enjoyable!)


Much love,
Ashley

Eating Right Part 2: Saying Goodbye To Excuses

I don’t have enough time.
It’s too expensive.
I don’t know where to start.

Do you know what the above three sentences represent? The most common excuses I hear for why people don’t eat healthy. Let’s address each one of these:

1-    I don’t have enough time. No one really has enough time. There is always something to do and somewhere to be. Just like your mama always told you – money doesn’t grow on trees – well neither does time. Just like you have to work hard to make money, you have to work hard to make time; which often means changing around your schedule. For me, I used to always wake up late (unable to pack my lunch and eat a healthy breakfast). Now, I try to wake up an hour earlier in order to make egg beaters and turkey sausage (no buttery toast as I am running out the door) and for lunch I make sure I plan for something healthy and low-carb (a salad, wrap, etc). Another suggestion is cleaning your plate – not literally the plate in front of you at the dinner table- rather, evaluate all the organizations, clubs, classes, etc. that you are involved in. Think of what you can eliminate from your busy schedule to give yourself valuable time to focus on your health and fitness.

2-    It’s too expensive. This one gets me every time. I understand – in general- healthier foods are more expensive. However, you can eat healthy and still remain in your budget. It starts with pre-planning your meals and thinking of what you can re-use in other dishes.  Think about how much money people spend on going out to eat. Sometimes Justin and I will spend $40 at dinner just between the two of us! I could buy a week of healthy meals with $40. Grilled chicken breast, vegetables, fish (this is where the cost really is noticeable), fruits, etc. Let’s apply a real-world example.  A (good) frozen pizza cost about $5 – using that same money, I could get a bag of carrot sticks for $1 at Meijer (steam those puppies up and save the rest for snacks), chicken drumsticks $2.50 (to grill up) and box of brown rice $2. I spent 50 cents more and I have a healthy meal and leftover carrots for snacks! But the cost savings isn’t what matters; it’s the calories, grams of fat and grams of carbs that you end up saving that TRULY matter.

Grilled scallops and fish (not sure which kind) and a grilled tomato stuffed with goat cheese and corn!

Grilled salmon, carrots and broccoli! YUM!

3-    I don’t know where to start. We’ve all been there. You feel stuck in old habits and don’t know how to change them. You aren’t sure what to cook and are always stumped at what healthy dishes to order when you dine out. Like all good things, it starts with research!  Instead of picking up a Cosmo at the grocery store, pick up a health and fitness magazine such as Women’s Health or Healthy Living. Google recipes for healthy meals and side dishes. You’d be surprised by the healthy desserts you can make too.

Here are a few meals and snacks I enjoy:
•    Non-fat plain Greek yogurt with one packet of splenda and add berries of your choice.  I buy a large bag of frozen berries, which taste great and last longer. This is a delicious and sweet snack that fills you up at the same time!
•    Hummus – my dear Hummus. I love it. Instead of eating it with pita bread or chips (high carbs) I opt for carrots or other veggies such as broccoli and cauliflower – even mushrooms are good dipped in hummus!
•    Low-carb wraps filled with turkey, ham or chicken loaded with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and low-fat mozzarella cheese – sometimes light mayo. Make it a high-fiber vegetarian wrap by using black beans, corn, salsa, lettuce, low-fat mozzarella cheese and non-fat plain Greek yogurt (for those of you who love sour cream like me).
•    Egg beaters or egg whites with turkey sausage crumbles are delicious. Add in chopped veggies such as peppers, mushrooms, and onions.  Sprinkle low fat mozzarella cheese and salsa / hot sauce for more flavor. The best way to start your morning!
•    Get rid of pop! NOW! Start drinking green tea and water. Coffee without sugar or cream is great too. It’ll grow hair on your chest, so get some Nair. Just kidding, but you really do get used to it. And if hopes for a better future in taste don’t make you change your mind, think about this: You will gain an average of 10 lbs a year simply from drinking coffee with sugar and cream every morning.
•    For dinners, Justin and I usually cook a meat (typically chicken or fish – sometimes ground turkey or chicken burgers without buns) with a salad or two vegetable sides (broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, yellow squash, green beans, corn and sometimes potatoes (baked only).
•    Vegetable stir fry- less rice, more veggies!
•    My favorite fruit snacks, which are easy to carry with me are: bananas, mangos, peaches and oranges. I generally hate apples, but make an exception for apples with peanut butter or Apple Crisp (not on the approval list, however).

I hope this helps you stop making excuses (like I did for countless years). It's not easy. And there have been times I cried at the thought of eating another piece of grilled chicken. Literally, I cried; tears- down my face. But I sucked it up and ate that grilled chicken. Because at the end of the day, I know I'd cry a lot more if I ate a cheesey pepperoni pizza and breadsticks dipped in nacho cheese dip.

 In the meantime, what excuse do you hear most often and what is your reaction?

Much love,
Ashley

Read Eating Right Part 1 here.

Eating Right Part 1: Embracing the Power of Your Mind

Last night, one of my good friends Savannah sent me an encouraging message after my blog post yesterday revealing my newly discovered belly button. Then she asked me a question that took me SO many years to figure out: "So, how do you control your eating habits?" I promised her a blog post, so Savannah - this one is dedicated to you. And to Chelsea Baughman- who has been waiting for this post...after a minor teaser :)

I'd like to start by asking this question: Do you realize how powerful your mind is? 

I believe mental strength can most always beat physical strength. So the theme of my advice isn't about eating non-fat plain Greek yogurt on your tacos in place of sour cream (which is actually really good and zero fat). It's not about drinking green tea instead of coffee in the morning.  I don't need to tell you to eat more vegetables and fruit and replace red meat with fish and chicken- I know you've heard those things...it's nothing new. While I think all of these things are important and great steps to helping you control your eating habits, the most important lessons starts with:

• learning how to control your mind
• changing your attitude
• becoming accountable for your actions.

First -start now! I don't care if you ate a bad breakfast or a large lunch. Or maybe you ate french fries at dinner and you knew you should have ordered the salad. Do NOT kid yourself and say that you are going to start your diet tomorrow. Make up your mind to start your new healthy lifestyle RIGHT NOW.
NOTE: I didn't say "diet" - this is another important piece of the puzzle. Approach your newly found goal as a life style change...not just a diet. I told myself for three long years that I was going to "start my diet tomorrow." And guess what? I ended up gaining nearly 60 lbs in 3 years aka 20 lbs each year. One day I woke up and thought, "Ashley- how many more years are you going to allow yourself to gain 20 lbs? What is your tipping point?" At that moment - I said these words out loud, "I am making the change NOW!" So say it out loud...and mean it.

Second - Tell people about your goals. If you are anything like me, you NEED to be held accountable for your actions. I blog, tweet, and blow up Facebook about my running and healthy eating goals. Because of these conversations, I have surrounded myself with such loving and supporting people who keep on me track. They keep me accountable.

A few weeks ago, my wonderful friend Sabrina Skramstad drove a group of us home from Steph and Jon's wedding. She stopped at Taco Bell and my mouth was drooling; I was dreaming about a cheesy gordita crunch.

"Do you want anything?" Sabrina asked me.

Without even pausing and thinking about the consequences, I shamefully said, "A cheesy gordita crunch!"

She gave me a serious look and said, "Are you sure?"

No, I wasn't sure. I was thinking with my stomach instead of my logic. I had done so well the past month..and that day I got a makeover so I was feeling great. But that is not a reason to return to old habits. And thankfully, I had a great friend to remind me - even without saying more than those 3 words - that I don't need to eat horrible and take steps backward.

"No, you are right," I said. "I don't want anything. Just a water."

And it wasn't that I didn't "want" anything...the true fact is I didn't NEED anything. Learn to control your wants from your needs, also important.

Goodbye Fourth Meal. Hello Will Power!

Third-  understand your weakness. I was talking an un-named person about eating healthy a few weeks ago. They are going to school for a nutrition and health related degree, so I was definitely excited to pick their brain for tips and ideas. Searching for inspiration, I asked this person what their weakness was in terms of eating habits. I was hoping they would say "Carbs" and then I would have not only good ideas, but a support buddy as well.

"I don't have a weakness," they replied with such arrogance.

I was shocked. I didn't know what to say back to that....you really don't have a weakness? Pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving? Mom's meatloaf? Pizza King pizza? Cheesy Gordita Crunches? Nothing?

Here is the deal, you probably have a weakness. Admit it. Don't be in denial. And don't be arrogant either. Identify this weakness and research recipes and tips to help keep you on track.

Because my weakness is carbs, I eat lettuce wraps (or low carb wraps) instead of sandwiches. A Beach Club #12 sandwich at Jimmy John's is about 790 calories and 38 grams of fat. Take off the mayo and replace the bread with a lettuce wrap....and you go down to 191 calories and 9 grams of fat! Best of all - the bread has 71 grams of carbs...and the lettuce wrap takes you down to only 7 grabs of carbs!!

Fourth- cheat! Yes- I said it. No, don't cheat on your exam at school. Definitely don't cheat on your significant other, but for crying out loud - have a cheat day! You are still human. You still have cravings. You still have bad days. The main reason I was never ever able to control my eating habits before was because I put myself up on this hardcore diet, and if I messed up...it got ugly. Instead of eating a small bite of a cookie or having a bite of Justin's pizza, I would eat 3 cookies and then 4 pieces of pizza. Seriously. I had no control. Once I had the first bite, it was all over. I kept PLOWING my way through the food (or somethings booze)...because I missed that food / drink so much. So have a bite here and there. And give yourself a cheat meal once a weak. It will keep you from going overboard and giving up.

I still have a lot of tips about learning how to eat right and controlling your eating habits. I will also dedicate some posts to recipes and tips too! I've learned a lot these past few months. Here a few more ideas to hold you over until the next post:

• Don't have bad food in the house. If it's not there, how can you eat it? (Good advice Sarah Frey!)
• Write down your meals. This comes back to the accountability thing. Writing something down is a way of taking ownership. Do you really want to write down that you ate 3 bread sticks, a large bowl of Alfredo pasta and 2 glasses of wine? That meal alone can be nearly 2,000 calories. I would burn that paper if I had to write down I wrote that many calories / grams of fat / carbs in one meal...
• Research the nutrition content of restaurants prior to going there...some salads (in fact most salads) are worse for you in terms of fat and calories than some burgers. I've also seen turkey burgers having more calories / fat than regular burgers. Don't be fooled into "eating healthy."

What advice do you have for eating healthy and controlling your eating habits? Leave your comments below or email me to write a guest post!

Much love,
Ashley

Victory

I am out of the 220's.

I am proud.

I am happy.

I'm not sad about saying goodbye to those carbs now. It's paying off.  I am smiling so big...

My next major milestone will be seeing 199 or less on that scale.

And I know I can do it.

Much love,
Ashley

Day 4: Diets Never Work

I was walking out of my office for lunch when a co-worker asked if I would like to join them at lunch. They were going to the Indian buffet next door.

I would have ruined my diet for an entire week if I went there. They serve this amazing bread with oil olive and herbs. Next up comes the rice and heavy sauces...not to mention these deep fried balls of goodness I love from there..no clue what they really are...but I had no problem dumping them on my plate.

"No - that's okay!" I said. "Thanks for the invite, but I am on a diet."

"Diet?" another co-worker said. "That's lame! What diet are on?"

"Basically - lets just say I've been eating a lot of grilled chicken..." I joked trying not to explain all of the details.

"Diets never work," another co-worker said back to me.

I was walking out and I turned around and said, "I know, right? Especially if you go back to your old ways when you are done."

I should have thanked him for being my blog topic inspiration at that moment. I walked down the stairs - writing my blog in my head. I drove home - still writing my blog in my head. That's the disease of a writer - you are constantly creating stories in your own head.

So I'd like to say I agree to some extent. There are some diets out there that completely suck, especially the diets that say you shouldn't eat vegetables or fruits. Get real...and please don't get me started on slim fast. It's just quick solution for weight loss and the moment you stop drinking the shakes, you gain all your weight back.

I also can't stand the diets that say you can eat bacon, mayo, ranch, cheese, etc- but no carbs. So clog your arteries ... you will die from a heart attack instead of from diabetes.

There has to be a healthy medium. A well-balanced diet. A diet that allows you to make a life style change, which is exactly what I am doing. The biggest benefit from this diet is that I am training myself to make healthier decisions.

Each day - I am learning to say no to the Indian buffet.

I am learning to enjoy grilled chicken instead of a juicy cheeseburger with bacon and mayo (omg, that still sounds amazing though...but nothing tastes as good as skinny feels -- thanks for that quote Corey)

I am learning to enjoy the way my body feels - after eating a healthy meal.

I am learning to say no to sugary margaritas that always upset my stomach in the past.

I am learning that food is nothing more than fuel for my body and I shouldn't ever use cheap fuel! (Thanks Sonia for the awesome analogy!!)

At the end of the day- establishing those habits is critical for someone like me. Because best of all: I am learning to control my food intake ...instead of letting my food intake control me.

Day 4 Eating:

• scrambled egg beaters with mushrooms, peppers and onions
• 1 orange
• 1 cup of coffee
• 1 cup of green tea
• 1 cup plain, non-fat yogurt with berries and 6 pecans
• 8 carrots with hummus
• Grilled chicken, tofu, zucchini, squash and mushrooms in a soy & oyster sauce
• 12 mixed nuts
• tomatoes stuffed with corn, bacon and goat cheese
• grilled fish and 2 scallops

Exercise:

• 3 mile run / walk
• 100 abs
• 50 squats

So maybe diets don't work. But lifestyle changes sure do work. I'm going to keep my head up and I really can't wait to see myself in 13 more days. And more 20 more days after that! =)

Much love,
Ashley

Day 3: Do You Eat to Live or Live to Eat?

I remember when I was in high school, the gym I went to had a sign. I studied it often and kept my eyes on it through my entire workout.

You see - it's never been about working out- I love working out. I love sweating. I love my heart beating. I love my muscles stretching to new limits. Rather, my eating has always been my biggest battle.

The sign asked a simple question. And I have yet to discover the answer...

"Do you eat to live or do you live to eat?"

Throughtout my journey, I hope to uncover this answer.

Today, my eating went well. But I am starting to get really sick of grilled chicken.

I would do anything to eat a Jimmy Johns sandwich...and I saw a weiner dog walking with its owner and I instantly wanted a hotdog loaded with toppings.

But I didn't fall into a craving cave.

I stayed strong.

Day 3 Eating:

• scrambled egg beaters with peppers, onions and mushrooms
• 2 pieces of bacon
• 1 small orange
• 12 mixed nuts
• 12 carrots with hummus
• grilled chicken salad with tomatoes, goat cheese, peppers, onions, mushrooms and a splash of soy ranch
• 1/2 cup plain, non-fat greek yogurt with fresh berries
• 1 large chicken breaast
• grilled aspargus
• grilled tomoatoes with goat cheese
• 1 cup plain, non-fat greek yogurt with fresh berries and 10 chopped pecan

I didn't exercise today. I felt weak and tired and sore - so I took a day off. But that's okay - I'm doing just fine.

Much love,
Ashley