Convenience...

Have you ever hurt yourself when it was convenient for you?  I've come to realize that my injured thumb is really getting in my way.  I find it hard to do heavy cardio or even strength training because of it.  So how am I suppose to reach my goal before my wedding?....which happens to be in two months...If you have any suggestions please send them my way.  I am finding it very frustrating right now. 

I tried to run on the treadmill when I went to the gym on Tuesday and it made my thumb hurt even more, so I switched to the bicycle but that didn't make me feel like I was really working my body.  For some reason I can sit on the bicycles and peddle forever, even in the hardest setting.  Maybe I need to mix things up, do they have elliptical that don't use you arms?  I'm finding it hard to find something since even typing this blog hurts my thumb....ugh so no convenient...

Fattening Foods of Summer

I came across this list on webmd.com and thought it was great.  It helped remind me that I need to avoid or at least use precaution when eating or being around these foods.

Fattening Foods of Summer

1. High-Fat Meats on the Barbecue - The bad news: barbecue can sabotage your waistline. A 20 ounce T-bone steak can weigh in at 1,540 calories and 124 g fat. An average cheeseburger has 750 calories and 45 grams of fat. What about pork or beef ribs? They come from the fattiest part of the animal. The good news: You can go lean with cuts like pork tenderloin, skinless chicken breast, and lean ground beef.
2. Hot dogs and sausages are summer treats for many of us, but you might save them for baseball games. It’s not just about fat or calories -- after all, you can choose low-fat versions. Most hot dogs, bratwurst, and other sausages are very high in sodium. Typical nutrition scores include:
• Hot dog: 280 calories, 15 g fat, 1,250 mg of sodium
• Kielbasa (6-oz): 330 calories, 24 g fat, 1,590 mg sodium
3. Mayonnaise-Based Salads - A small half-cup portion of typical potato salad has 180 calories and 12 grams of fat; the same amount of coleslaw has about 150 calories and 8 grams of fat. To cut calories, try making your salads with light mayonnaise; or mix mayo with low-fat yogurt, light sour cream, or chicken stock. Or why not try a German-style potato salad, using more vinegar than oil? Then toss lots of veggies into any salad to increase the fiber and nutrients.
4. Frozen Concoctions - Sweet, fruity alcoholic drinks (the kind often served with an umbrella) may go down easy, but the calories add up in a hurry. A piña colada can range from 245-490 calories, a daiquiri from 300-800 calories, and a Long Island iced tea can set you back 520 calories or more -- with much of it from sugar. Instead of high calorie drinks, try wine, a wine spritzer, or a mixed drink with seltzer and a splash of 100% fruit juice.
5. Satisfying Thirst Quenchers - Staying hydrated is essential in summer, but those cold drinks can wreak havoc with your waistline. Be careful what you choose -- if you're drinking 12-ounce containers of sweet tea, sweetened soda, energy drinks, juice drinks, or beer, you're probably taking in about 150 calories a pop. Smoothies, milkshakes, and cold coffee concoctions can go much higher. Try water or light versions of your favorite thirst quenchers.
6. Refreshing Frozen Treats - A cup of soft-serve ice cream can have 380 calories and 22 grams of fat. Make it a chocolate cookie dough milkshake concoction, and the calories soar to 720, with 28 grams of fat! You don’t need to give up frozen treats, just pass on the giant portions or high fat toppings. Look for frozen desserts like sherbet, fudge bars, fruit bars, or other treats under 150 calories per serving or fruit desserts like strawberry shortcake.
7. Frighteningly Fattening Fair Food - Fairs and boardwalks serve up plenty of deep-fried diet disasters. From fried cheesecake (around 500 calories), fried macaroni and cheese (roughly 610 calories) to gigantic turkey legs (about 1,136 calories and 54 grams of fat), most eat-while-you-walk foods are a calorie overload. Skip the fried foods and instead choose cotton candy, caramel apples, or a simple grilled meat -- or share your treat with a friend.
8. Salad Toppers - Salads can be the perfect summer dinner: light, refreshing bowls of veggies and lean protein. But high-calorie toppers can push a salad from lean to fattening in a hurry. Fried chicken strips, bacon, cheese, creamy dressings, and croutons are among the worst offenders. Instead, top your greens with grilled chicken, strips of lean meat, or eggs, then pile on the veggies and sprinkle with a light dressing.
9. Mindless Munching on Snacks - A handful of any snack won't do much harm, but too much can sabotage your diet. One ounce of potato chips or cheese puffs is roughly 160 calories and 10 grams of fat. Cheese nachos can contain 692 calories and 38 grams fat. And a 10-cup box of movie theater popcorn can have 550 calories and 31 grams fat. Try snacking on fruits, veggies with light dip, or small portions of fat-free popcorn.
10. Finger-Licking Fried Chicken - A bucket of fried chicken is an easy way to feed a crowd, but it can wreak havoc on your waistline and arteries. So forgo fried chicken and toss boneless, skinless chicken breasts on the grill, instead. Marinades and spice rubs add flavor to these quick-cooking cuts of poultry. The nutritional differences are striking.
    • Skinless chicken breast (3.5 oz): 167 calories, 7 g fat
    • Breaded, fried chicken breast: 360 calories, 21 g fat

Original article can be found at http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-most-fattening-foods-summer?ecd=wnl-wmh-071612&ctr=wnl-wmh-071612_hdln_1

Summer Time Habits

Summer is the time of year for BBQ's, picnics, get together, and it makes it very difficult to eat healthy.  You go over to someones house and they are cooking cheese burgers and hot dogs with a side of potato salad...how are you going to say no? It's easy always offer to bring a salad, so at least you have that to eat and then have a plain burger (meat only) or one hot dog (meat only).  You need to be aware that pigging out for one day probably won't set you back but if you continue to do it, your hard work will be lost.  Remember you need to be consistent, if you continue to eat healthy and avoid high fat foods you are creating a good habit for yourself.  Habits can be hard to change so ensure you are changing your habits for the good and not going back to your bad habits.

I'm Going To Win!

As you recall on Sunday I hurt my thumb, well that didn't stop me from going to the gym on Monday after work.  I did the treadmill and the bicycle and took my time, a lot of movement hurts my thumb so I took it easy.  I've come to realize that if I keep pushing myself to go to the gym, it starts to become easier for me to go.  But as soon as start slacking I have a hard time motivating myself to go.  Yesterday I didn't go and today I'm unable to due to a wedding planning meeting I have after work with our venue.  But that's not going to stop me from working out...I plan on getting on my treadmill and at least do two miles until I have to leave.  I am running out of excuses for working out and it's time to get serious!

I'm going to beat my own laziness and win by reaching my weigh loss goal!!!

Ouch...

Well this weekend was full of exercise, sunshine, and it felt great...well except for my two new injuries....yup two...So on Saturday we decided to go for a bicycle ride since the sun was out and we had a few hours to kill.  It felt great until we reached the 10 mile mark, my seat became very uncomfortable.  It became so bad that it felt like my butt was bruised.  At that point we decided to turn around; the 10 miles home were excruciating.  I forgot how much the seat hurts the first time I ride my bike, but at least I know it will feel better the next time we ride....I hope!

Then on Sunday we had a double header on our co-ed softball team.  We were pumped and got there early so we could practice batting.  I was smashing the balls and then I decided to try to catch the ball with my hand as it was going for my bad knee...well instead of catching it like I should, I somehow caught it with the top of my thumb and the top of my thumb nail.  This caused my thumb to start bleeding underneath my nail and for me not to be able to bend my thumb because it is now jammed...So due to my injury I attempted to bat for the team but had a hard time hitting the ball thanks to my messed up thumb.  But on the positive side I was there for the team, even though I sucked thanks to my thumb, and it was beautiful out.  It was well over 80 degrees when we were playing and although it was hot standing in the sun, I couldn't complain because the sun was out.

Hello Sun...Are you there?

As most of you know the Seattle area isn't known for their sunshine and it seemed like we were never going to get sunshine....but guess what it's finally out!  I just hope it sticks around long enough for me to enjoy it.  Because the sun is suppose to be out all weekend I am going to try and enjoy the outdoors.  When it comes to exercise I prefer to do it outside then being stuck in a building...the gym is great but outside is so much better.  Besides yard work I have been slacking on working out so now I have no excuses because the sun is out and it's perfect weather for a bicycle ride.  I am going to dust off my bike and take it on the trail, I am excited and hope that I can make it the entire 30 miles....yup our trail is 30 miles long and I've never finished it. So now is the time to finish that long trail!  I encourage you to get outside and do something, take your dog for a walk, or if you don't have a dog take your significant other for a walk or even walk by yourself.  Just get outside and do something!