October's Sickeningly Sweet Mix Giveaway

You know the drill. A new month means new music. Instead of filling up on sugar this time of year why not fill up on some sickeningly sweet tunes to sweat your little heart out to?

Here it is...
October's Sickeningly Sweet Mix:

Strange Clouds - B.O.B. ft. Lil' Wayne
Pretty Girls - Iyaz ft. Travie McCoy
Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
Stay - Miley Cyrus
Love You Like a Love Song - Selena Gomez
Who's that Girl - Guy Sebastian ft. Cinta Laura
Super Bass - Nicki Minaj
Criminal - Britney Spears
Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5
Without You - David Guetta feat. Usher
Rain Over Me - Pitbull feat Marc Anthony
Good Feeling - Flo Rida
Sail - AWOLNATION
You and I - Lady Gaga
Sweat - Snoop Dogg Vs. David Guetta
Helena Beat - Foster the People
Cool down...How to Love - Justin Bieber (Covering Lil' Wayne) (this is amaaazing.)

To enter to win...
1) Become a follower and leave a comment saying you have or that you already are one
2) Tell me what you are dressing up for this Halloween (leave a separate comment)
3) Tweet about it, Facebook it, blog about it...(leave a comment for a separate entry for each.)

You have until Sunday night at midnight to enter. The winner will be announced Monday October 17th!! 
Good Luck! 

P.S. I was featured as a local spotlight on Janetha's Blog Meals & Moves. Her blog is awesome! Check it out!! :)

Sweet Treats and Strawberry Eats

I hope your long weekend was fabulous. Today I have one of my FAVORITE bloggers doing a guest post for me, and I know you'll love it. Kristy's blog is full of so many great recipes it makes me want to get cooking every time I look at it. She is absolutely darling too..FYI. I adore her! Thanks so much for your help today girl!! xoxoxo

Hi! I'm Kristy, from Sweet Treats and More.  I'm happy to be guest posting for Megan while she's off laying on a sunny beach (ok, actually I'm a little jealous!).  You can probably guess that I have a thing for sweet treats, and you might be expecting a super naughty dessert from me (probably something loaded with chocolate and peanut butter) but we know Megan wouldn't allow that;)  So today I'm here to share a healthy(er) cookie with you.  I think you'll love it!

You might find it surprising that I don't just eat brownies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.  Although, sometimes I want to:)   I actually try hard to eat healthy and to make healthy and wholesome meals for my family of three! We I just like to save room for a little dessert.  And, I love to bake.  

But I do really love cookies.  They are one of my favorite things to bake, and eat. A really good cookie is my weakness.  

So it's a good thing these Strawberry Almond Oatmeal Cookies are healthy!  Because they are so. dang. delicious.   I don't waste calories on mediocre cookies, so trust me when I say they're amazing. 

I have made these cookies with half whole wheat flour and half white flour and both ways work well and taste great.  I will say I prefer the half and half option, but if you want to make them even healthier, go the 100 % whole wheat flour route!

At 75 calories a pop, I don't feel so bad enjoying a cookie (or two) after dinner.

Strawberry Almond Oatmeal Cookies

by Sweet Treats and More

Makes 28 cookies 

 

1/3 c butter, room temp

2/3 c brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp almond extract

2/3 c pureed strawberries  (about 6-8 large strawberries, I like to leave it a little chunky)

1/2 c wheat flour

1/2 c white flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

2 c oats

Preheat oven to 375.

1.  In a medium bowl, mix wheat flour, white flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt together.  Set aside.

2.  In another bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar until smooth.  Add egg, almond extract, and strawberries and beat until combined. 

3.  Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and mix until evenly combined.  Lastly, stir in oats (can use a wooden spoon here if you'd like).  

 

***The dough should be a thicker dough.  If it appears too wet, add a few more tablespoons of wheat or white flour. 

Place rounded spoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 8 minutes.  Do not over cook. 

Let cool for a couple of minutes before moving to a cooling rack.  

Thanks for having me Megan!

It's a "Fit Friday" along with some Super Bowl Snacks

Oh the Super Bowl. Aka: The food fest that brings out the football player sized appetite in all of us. I'll be honest when I say I watch the super bowl for two things. The half time show and the commercials. I also enjoy prepping some game time eats for whoever happens to be in the viewing crew. I love to cook for parties, and I think the Super Bowl is definitely one of those times when food is required. If you are looking for some healthy dishes that you can add to your menu for the weekend some of my favorites may help...

Main Dishes
White Bean Chicken Chili 

Vegetarian Chili

 

Super Easy Whole Wheat Pita Pizza's  

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches. Great for a crowd. 

Side Dishes

Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Black Bean Quinoa Salad

Black Bean Salsa I could drink this stuff. I really could.

Desserts

Beautiful English Trifle

Whole Wheat Blondies

Low Fat Zucchini Cookies...just make these already...Trust me.

Hopefully those give you some ideas of healthier food options for the big party! 

Check out my Fit Friday's GUEST POST on Sweet Treat's and More! I give some healthy recipe substitution tips, and a hard core circuit work out! Kristy's blog is so awesome. She has some incredibly good recipes that will make you want to bake all day long!!

If you haven't entered the February Favorites Mix Giveaway you've still got time. 

Are you a Steelers Fan or a Packers fan? I honestly don't care who wins. I'm more concerned about making sure I don't miss The Black Eyed Peas Half Time Show. I LOVE them. Did you know I danced on stage with The Black Eyed Peas One time? Sweet huh?  Do you have any delicious recipes you are cooking up for the big game day? I'd LOVE to hear what you're making!

You Go Girl

Happy Sunday. Sundays are definitely my day of rejuvenation. I get to sleep in. I rest from exercising. I get to go to church. I plan out my week ahead. It's glorious. I so excited to share this post with you. Becca commented on my blog a while back, which led me to her blog where I found her amazing story. She is an incredible example of someone who has set goals for herself and achieved them. Read her story and you'll definitely be reminded that we have the power within us to accomplish great things, be they great or small.


Megan: Tell us about yourself:

Becca: Hello! I’m Becca, an almost 27 year old east coast Canadian living in Montreal with my beast of a cat Snicklefritz… Aka, the Fritz. I moved to the city 7 ½ years ago because I needed a change, I was stuck in a rut with school, life, health. I was in a vicious cycle and needed out… Yes, I felt like that at only 19. Once I was on my own and creating MY life I was able to shift my focus from weight loss to a healthy lifestyle. I’m now a second year figure competitor working on getting up there in the ranks until the fun runs out.... and then I will quit my job, move to the mountains and be a full time snowboard bum.

 

Megan: What is your weight gain story?

Becca: I don’t think there really IS a story. I just always was overweight/obese/whatever you want to call it. I don’t remember a time growing up when I wasn’t “the fat kid”. Harsh, but true. In high school I began rowing competitively and thus began a bad lose/gain cycle that lasted for years and included dabbling in excessive exercise, restricted eating and binge eating while I struggled to make my weight class and train.

 

Megan: When did you realize you wanted to make a change in your lifestyle?

Becca: When I initially lost weight I loved the attention I got. I think deep down I always grew up thinking “once you get skinny you get it all”, that once I was a size 2 I’d be happy, healthy, in love, perfect job, perfect life. Um. No, not so much. After losing a very large chunk of weight I then proceeding to binge my way right back up to where I started and got stuck in a lose/gain relationship with weight for years.
Finally I decided I wanted to compete… but did I have what it takes? I hired several coaches, each one leaving me going straight back to the restrict/binge cycle I knew all too well with my self esteem in the garbage. After one particular plan had me eating next to nothing, over exercising and just plain miserable, I said enough was enough, I needed to do this for my HEALTH, not for vanity or popularity. Being “skinny” did not equal fit and healthy and I don’t know how or why, but when that clicked it really *clicked* and I began my current path to being a figure competitor, but on my terms.

 

Megan: What exactly did you change?

Becca: I stop viewing foods as “good” or “bad”. While I do count macros (protein/carbs/fat) for my competing, I don’t believe one food is better than the other. Even during prep if I want a cookie, I will work that cookie into my macros and enjoy every single bite. I don’t eliminate foods like dairy, fruit, or nut butters, I eat everything in moderation. Being able to enjoy foods normally off limits to me allowed me to avoid binging and feel satisfied with food for the first time in a very long time.

Megan: What was the hardest part about your weight loss journey?

Becca: To me the hardest part was the negative comments I got, that I’m “too skinny” now and because I do weigh/measure my food it’s restrictive and unhealthy. While I know that these comments are unfounded, it’s still hard to hear and a bit of a kick in the gut (or lack thereof… ). Letting go of the usual dieting rules is also a challenge, growing up being exposed to every diet under the sun means I know them all inside and out and there is always that nagging part of my brain that thinks that there is a “quick fix” and I need to find it… NOW.

Megan: What was the best part of your weight loss journey?

Becca: There is two answers to this question… the serious one, and the Becca one.Serious answer: I love feeling good physically and mentally. I love being able to run up the stairs and not get out of breath, to be able to get out of bed and run 5miles without thinking I’m going to keel over and die on the spot is crazy, I don’t constantly obsess over food anymore, I feel relaxed and at ease with myself and the lifestyle I’ve created for myself. Seeing myself as strong, fit and healthy and not a blob is a big perk, but I think the biggest thing is that I love ME now, and it has nothing to do with the number on the scale or the amount of plates on the side of a squat bar. Choosing to live a healthy lifestyle allowed me to choose to love me and be more than a body, I’m a personality (sometimes a bit TOO much of one) and not half bad!

The Becca Answer: I love going home and people not recognizing me and when they do they realize I’m not the girl “with the pretty face” anymore. I love fitting into skinny jeans and wearing a bikini (on the beach AND on stage). I love getting a pedicure and actually looking down and seeing my toes, not my stomach… Yeah… I know, I went there. I love running races and beating the people who used to call me fat even though I didn’t even “train” for it.

 

Megan: What is your eating/workout regimen like now?

Becca: Like I mentioned no foods are off limits to me, but I do tend to eat a lot of veggies, crock pot chicken, lean beef, greek yogurt and carbs like sweet potatoes and oats just because that’s what I love and actually crave now. I eat 6-7 times a day depending on my schedule with my two biggest meals being my pre and post workout meals to maximize my time in the gym. During the offseason I do have one cheat meal a week and enjoy it 100% guilt free.

I prefer a more traditional bodybuilding style workout plan, I lift weights 5-6 days a week, usually training my weaker body parts (shoulders and legs) twice. During the offseason my cardio is fairly easy, three 40 minute sessions per week and during prep it varies, but usually is 6 days a week with the max time I’ve ever done being 60 minutes per day.

 

Megan: What advice do you have for others who are wanting to get in shape?

Becca: Figure out what you love and do it. If you love to lift weights, do it, if you love to run, do that. Make it work for YOU. Before I settled on entering my first competition I decided to run a half marathon “because I should”, well I hated it and was miserable. I quit after three weeks of training, but when I decided to compete I was doing something I loved to do, I never miss a workout, I do the kind of cardio I enjoy and it doesn’t feel like a chore.

Also, try new foods! I was the worlds pickiest eater (I think I have a trophy in my closet somewhere) which made life hard, I thought I hated everything. It wasn’t until a friend basically forced me to start eating new foods did I realize I LOVE to eat, I love to try new foods and experiment in the kitchen. I do still hate olives, but hey, at least I tried them instead of just assuming I hated them. Adding variety and experimenting keeps things changing and exciting, which for me made a big difference in how I felt towards my food.

 

Becca, Thanks SO much for sharing your inspiring story. What a great reminder that true happiness comes when we make lifestyle changes and really seek to find the active things we love to do, and stop crash dieting! I know she is headed back into competition season...so we wish you the best of luck competing this year!! 

A Little Monday Inspiration

And by a little, I mean a LOT. It is amazing the connections we make with people in the blogging world. It seems like everyone has a story to tell about how they got to where they are in life. Rochelle found my blog through friends, and left a comment, leading me to her blog. Through her comment I found her blog, and I read her amazing story about her weight loss success and her new found love for running. I asked her to share her story with all of you because I feel like she is like most of us. She's busy, she wanted to improve herself, and she had to make it fit her lifestyle. The best part is, she did it! Read on...you'll be motivated.

Megan: How did you get into running?

Rochelle: I choose running because it’s an activity you can do whenever and wherever. With two small kids,working full time, and working on my Masters degree, there is such little time. Trying to schedule in a class at the gym just seemed impossible and would end up taking my time away from my kids.

I’ve always been in awe of those people that could run miles upon miles. My cousin ran a half marathon last year and I thought if she did that, I could do it too. I wanted to be one of those people who’s Facebook status’ talked about how far they’d run that day. So, I started small with the couch2 5k program. I still remember when running 3 minutes was hard! I remember the incredible feeling I had when I accomplished my first 20 minute run, how amazing it was to run my first 30 minute run, and then to run my first 5k!

I am currently watching the The Biggest Loser and I’m crying as they’re running a marathon. It inspires me to want to run a marathon because I know how amazing that must feel!

Megan: What is your weight loss story?

Rochelle: When I got married I weighed 143 lbs and was in great shape. However, as a couple we didn’t do any exercise and ate a lot. I quickly gained 20 lbs in my first year of marriage and then had a baby and promptly gained 20 more lbs by the time he was a year old. I wish I could say my weight gain was strictly “baby weight”, but nope! I lost all the weight I gained being pregnant before I even left the hospital.

I remember stepping on a scale when my son was a year old and being horrified to see I weighed 183 lbs. I don’t know how it happened. I swear it just crept up on me! I didn’t have a scale at my house and I was not in tune to my own body. 

I decided starting October 1, 2008, I was going to do something. I started out with not eating any sweets, any cheese, and only diet soda. I quickly lost 7 lbs in the first two weeks. Then my tiny itty bitty cousin invited me to go to a kickboxing class with her. I know I looked like a whale next to her, but I loved it! No matter how awful I looked trying to do the moves, it was a great workout and I felt great. I definitely recommend Julie’s Turbo Kickboxing class at Gold’s Gym. I started doing those classes two times a week. I was also following Weight Watchers. I quickly lost a total of 20 lbs before Thanksgiving. I felt so good! I think my biggest problem was that I saw myself as the 140 lb girl that got married, which is the opposite of most people. I felt so good at 163 that I quit dieting. I stopped going to kickboxing shortly after that and completely fell off the bandwagon.

Thankfully, I didn’t gain any weight by the time I got pregnant in September 2009. I only gained 18 lbs with that pregnancy and on May 4, 2010 when I had my baby, I weighed 181 lbs. After a year in the 160’s and my doctor telling me I was 30 lbs overweight, it clicked. I finally realized that I shouldn’t settle for 163 lbs and I wasn’t content with my weight. So I gave myself a goal, something to work hard for. I was determined to fit into my wedding dress by my 5th wedding anniversary on December 21, 2010.

Three weeks after I had my baby, I started taking short and slow walks. I also started doing Weight Watchers again. You get an extra 10 points a day for nursing, so I made sure those 10 points were chocolate! The baby weight and more came off very quickly. By the time I went back to work 6 weeks later I was 155 lbs. I was so excited with how great I was doing, but I was not going to quit until I made 143 lbs.

That’s when I took up running. I knew that losing the baby weight was going to be the easiest, so I needed to step it up for the rest of the weight. I continued to run and do Weight Watchers and the weight slowly but steadily came off. When I reached 143 lbs in October 2010, I knew I could still afford to lose more weight plus I still didn’t fit into my dress! I guess your body really does change after two kids. So, I set a new goal to reach 50 lbs in 6 months. I reached 132 lbs on my son’s 6 month mark and felt awesome! We also had a weight loss challenge at work that just ended after 10 weeks. I lost a total of 12.8 lbs while competing in the challenge.

As of today I am 128.6 lbs and feeling so good! My goal is 125 lbs, but I’m not too worried about losing weight anymore. I just want to firm up and get ready for my next goal, to run a half/full marathon.

Megan: What has been the hardest part of your journey?

Rochelle: The hardest part of course is the dieting! I am NOT a fan of dieting. I hate it! I love eating! I love eating whatever I want, which is why I got so heavy. So dieting was hard. When I first started I did so well! I went for three weeks straight without faltering at all, then my mother-in-law took me to the Pizza Factory and I got pasta and I lost it. I had to try and jump back on but once you’re off, it’s so hard to get going again. Thinking of life without all the treats just seemed like a life I didn’t want. But, like the saying goes, “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.” If I knew beforehand how much weight I was capable of losing and how great I would feel, I would have dieted harder and better instead of being such a slacker!

 

Megan: What were some of your “healthy” strategies?

Rochelle: The biggest key for me is portion control. That’s why I choose to sort of follow Weight Watchers. I just love food! So, I’ve had to learn that if I want to indulge in a Chocolate Zinger, then I have to cut back somewhere else in the same day, or work out a little more. I also buy lots of healthy snacks to have in the house and make sure to keep the unhealthy stuff out!

As a working mom, I ate on the run a lot! So, I started cooking healthy meals I could freeze ahead of time, that way if I ever felt too tired to cook, I could just heat up something instead of going out to Wendy’s. I also started eating a SmartOne every day for lunch at work. Boring? Yes! But, it helped me stop going out to eat everyday like I was.

Megan: Where did you find the motivation when you weren’t “feeling it?”

Rochelle: Nike says “Just do it.” I know it sounds corny, but it works. Even though working out was the LAST thing in the world I wanted to do some days, I would still do it! I just got on the treadmill or went for a run. Sometimes I would only go a mile and turn around and come home or only work out for 20 minutes, but I never regretted one time I did it. I had my husband on board helping me so whenever I didn’t want to do it, he would force me to go anyway!

 

Megan: What is different about your life now, and your life pre-weight loss?

Rochelle: I just feel so much more confident and I have more faith in myself. Knowing that I can run 5 miles now, something I never in my whole life thought I could do, is amazing! Knowing I can be under my pre-wedding weight after having two kids is such a confidence booster. I would shop at Kohl’s for all my clothes because I felt out of place, or like I didn’t belong in shops at the mall. Now I proudly take my double stroller through those tight stores knocking down clothes everywhere, but I get to buy those cute skinny jeans!

Megan: What is your best advice to stick to it?

Rochelle: Set goals and make sure you have something to always keep you motivated. I know I’ve used the excuses “Just one day won’t hurt”, or “I was sick so I’ll just take the whole week off”, and then I never started back up again. I set goals this time around to help me.

I registered for a 6k and I was not about to waste the $25 I spent! I also had people help me and motivate me. We also did that weight loss challenge at work. My two cousins and I, who all had babies this summer, did a weekly check-in with each other so we had someone who cared about our progress.

Having those things to keep me in check definitely helped. I didn’t want to be outdone by my coworkers or my cousins, so I had to make sure I had that weekly check-in on my mind when I wanted to take the day off or I wanted to pig out.

So set your goals, get your support system, and don’t give up!

Amazing, right?!?! Thank you SO much for sharing Rochelle.You are incredibly inspiring!! I know there are others of you out there who have overcome similar things, and I'd love to hear about how you did so. It's amazing how hearing others success stories reminds us that we can do it too! What is your motivation? What keeps you going?  

The Hungry Runner Girl's Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas gifts are the best. Are you wondering what to ask for this year? Well, my darling friend Janae can help you out there. I asked her to make a list of all her fitness favorites, and now I want everything she loves...

First and foremost, let me just tell you a little about this amazing girl. Janae and I used to be neighbors back in the day. We went to the same jr high, and high school, (Go T-wolves!) We were always friends, but I was a year older than her in school, so we didn't really hang out together. Fast forward like five years...I'm at the gym, and I run into Janae. We both live in Provo at this point in life. We say our hello's, reminisce, talk about the good old days, and Janae tells me she's teaching a spin class and I should try it. So I did, and it was AMAZING. Janae is hands down the best spin teacher there is. She will make your legs scream, and in some weird way motivates you to crave that burning feeling. It's incredible. I am addicted to her class, and my Wednesdays/Saturdays are ruined when I have to miss it. For reals. We get to work out together outside of spin every now and again, and we even hang out sometimes. She is awesome. One of the nicest, most beautiful, genuine people you'll meet. Also...she is a speedy little devil. She has ran three marathons this past year and her times have been as follows:

4/10 Salt Lake City Marathon 3:20

6/10 Utah Valley Marathon 3:08

9/10 Logan Marathon 3:04

Amazing right? She's going to be running the Boston Marathon in April 2011, and I know she'll rock it! Her blog, The Hungry Runner Girl, is one of my favorites. I highly recommend it. Her photos will make your mouth water, and she keeps you remembering that you should probably get your tush off the couch and do something. Take it away Janae... (and thanks a bazillion for your awesome post!)

 

My Favorite Fitness Gizmos to Give and Receive.

First of all, I have to tell you all about how amazing Megan is.  She truly lives what she preaches.  She is my fitness role model and if my legs ever are as speedy as hers in spin or if I could lift as much as she does I could die happy. 

Meg wanted a list of some of my favorite fitness items.  In no particular order….. okay, the first one is definitely in order.

1. My Garmin.  This baby has helped me to set so many goals, track my progress and keeps me entertained during my long runs.  A little pricey but well worth the money.

  2.  My bike trainer.  Living in Utah we aren’t able to get out much.  This way I get a workout in, I don’t turn into a popsicle and I get to watch Scrubs as I go.

 

3.  Nike Tempo Shorts.  They are beautiful, colorful, look good on any body shape….plus, they come with awesome built in underwear.

 

4.  My gym bag.  You can design these on Nike’s website and they are the bomb.  I hope and pray that the shiny bag detracts people’s attention from my ridiculously sweaty body while I am at the gym.

 

5. A subscription to a fitness related magazine. You can find one-year subscriptions for like 13 dollars.  Score. Some of my favorites are Runners World, Women’s Health, Shape and Women’s Runner’s.

6.  Here is a picture of a few of my absolute favorite running/workout gear that I am sure any fitness maniac would love.  Skullcandy headphones (target), dri-fit socks, shot blocks, water bottles,  powerbar energy blasts.

7.  My ipod shuffle.  Perfect size, fits the perfect amount of songs and you can get something awesome inscribed on it.

 

8.  My foam roller.  Best for sore muscles and to prevent injuries.

Hope this helps with making your Christmas list or for shopping for your fitness-obsessed love one!! Thanks Megan!

Fitday.com Guestpost

My darling friend Jenna has been doing some posting on her weight loss journey and how she has overcome a lot of the hard obstacles that come with it. She is the one who introduced me to Fitday.com years and years ago, and we both are addicts. She asked me to do a guest post on her blog explaining how to use the website, and why I liked it so much.

Cick HERE to read my guest post!