Insanity and sweet tea. Two great things that should never be mixed.

Yesterday I decided to splurge and have Chickfila for lunch. Bad idea! It is ok to splurge sometimes but don't do so right before a super intense workout! It didn't help that I had 2 cups of sweet tea! Thank goodness I didn't throw up but I was close! When I was doing burpees and I could feel as hear the tea sloshing around in my stomach. Yuck!! So please learn for
My misfortune and eat a hearty but healthy meal before your workout! Even if it is 2 hours before you workout which is when mine was. Here's what I had today! Doesn't look like much but it was very satisfying and full of nutrients! Hopefully today's workout will go better than yesterday's!

My first 5k!

I am a little behind on this considering this 5k was over a month ago but I kept getting distracted and wanted to write about other things.
My first 5k was the flying pig 5k! If you live in the Cincinnati area you know that the flying pig is without a doubt the largest running event in Cincinnati. All in one weekend they have a 5k, 10k, a few kids runs, half marathon and a marathon! I was so excited for this to be my first ever 5k!
I was very anxious as the time of closer, knowing that I've been working for 3 months towards this goal! As I walked up towards the finish line 20 minutes before the race started I could see people lining up to start a long with families waiting along the side stacking their spots to see their love ones cross the start line. My mom and I found a location for her to stand and wait for me to pass so she could get a picture. After stretching out and running a few blocks to warm up I headed towards the start line. My heart starts racing with excitement and I knew that this was my moment, this is the moment I've worked for, this is the moment I thought I would never make it to. My eyes started to tear up a little thinking about how hard I have worked and how far I have come. As the race Coordinators were talking I wasn't really listening because I was so excited! The only thing I really heard them say was 5..4..3..2..1.. Then the sound of the horn and everyone took off. Here we go! This is it! I started my way around the city keeping a moderate pace. I started getting tired around the second mile and I look to the right and could see the finish line across the way. I pushed myself until I couldn't go any further then I thought about the finish line and I pushed even further. As I turned the corner at the 3 mile point I knew I was close! One .10 miles left!! There was a sign that said your almost there! Hightail it to the finish line! So I did!! I ran faster than I ever have before! I could see the finish line! I started running even faster! There were tons of people cheering as I approached the finish line and finally I was there! I crossed the finish line! I did it! I finished my first 5k! I was on top of the world! I could accomplish anything! After the race they had tons of free food and an after party with pancakes from first watch! I got my time printed out and I was one second faster than my goal time of 12 minutes a mile landing me at 11:59 minutes per mile! I know that's great but for my first 5k I thought it was pretty good :)
Here are some of my pictures from the race!

Crazy? Maybe. Insane. Apparently so!

Lately I have gotten busy (mostly spending time with my boyfriend and working to earn money for my missions trip to Panama along with my full time job) and I have not had much time to work out.
Being as that I'm a nanny and the boys still take about a 2 hour nap I have some free time in the middle of the day to do as a please. I am usually to pooped from chasing the boys around all day that I'll just plop down on the couch and watch some tv (yay for DVR at work and no cable at home).
I have still been fitting in some workouts here and there and doing some garden work for my grandma but I was doing no where near what I want to be doing.
So there for I have taken the plunge.. I am officially insane! I have completed my first two days of insanity! I am also sore all over my body!!
Let me tell you.. If you are looking for a flowers and butterflies kind of workout that makes you think your getting a workout then don't waste your money. If you are looking for something that will challenge you in ways you have never been challenged and to work and sweat like a pig then look no further! I am dripping in sweat by the end of the warm up! That's how insane this is! But guess what! It works! I am all about pushing as hard as I can for a small amount of time and getting fast results versus doing a low intensity workout for a long amount of time getting slow results. The plan is 60 days long and they say you will get results that normally take a year!
I love the feeling I get when I finish one of the workouts (only 40 minutes long!) I feel like I'm on top of the works as could accomplish anything!
I am so excited to start this program and I am going to work to keep on it!

Sushi!

I have a very deep love for sushi. The best part is that if you get the right kind it is really healthy!! 

Here are just a few tips when ordering sushi.

Stay away from anything Tempura! That is code word for fried and unhealthy!

Stay away from anything with cream cheese in it.

If possible ask for it to be made with brown rice.

I got the sushi below from Kroger Marketplace, It's a California roll and has crab, avocado, and cucumber. 

New jeans!! Check out the size!!

I am so so so excited!! I started off as a size 10 and I'm now down to a 6!! I honestly can't remember the last time I wore this size! The best part is that American Eagle (the only place I buy jeans from) has 40% off everything!! I got a few pairs of jeans and shorts and a few tank tops too :)
I am taking all of my "fat clothes" to a resale shop and never want to see them again!!!

Tofu

I have to admit, had a seen the title of this blog just a few months ago I probably would have just said ew! And just move on to the next post, but just stay with me and you won't regret it! Promise!
I have seen several recipes for tofu and I always knew it was healthy but it didn't sound good to me.
My sister one day told me that she made tofu stir fry and she even made chocolate mousse with tofu in it!
The best part about tofu is that it has great health benefits and it will adapt to the flavor of whatever you cook it with!
Here is a great source for everything you need to know about tofu!
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=111
I will add some of my recipes for tofu later (when I can get to a computer and include pictures).

A family affair

(sorry I've been MIA for a few days.. I have been busy this week! Yesterday was my 22 birthday!) If you know me and are around me often you know that my life has made a huge change in the last few months, but for those that don't I will explain. Before I "became healthy" I had very low self esteem and hated the way my body looked, I dreaded working out (and rarely did), and eating healthy was expensive and tasteless (which I will talk more about later and show you that those statements are untrue).
When my sister asked me why now? Why after all this time do you just decide to get healthy? I sat in silence for a minute and told her that I got to the point where I looked in the mirror and got so disgusted with how I looked and was tired off complaining about it and never doing anything about it and I knew something needed to change. We both laughed but it was completely true.I started going to the gym and began to love it! It made me feel refreshed (and a little sweaty) and energized! I couldn't wait to go to the gym everyday! I was already starting to feel better about my self.
After about a month of my new lifestyle people started noticing (you can notice from day one but it is great when those around you start to notice!) My family (who has not always taught a healthy lifestyle, cake and pop was an acceptable breakfast in our household) started taking notice and my mom starting buying stuff like brown rice instead of white and whole wheat pasta instead of white pasta. My family would ask me things about certain foods and what was healthy etc. I was thrilled that they were taking interest in their own health!
All of this was great but the best part of all of this is that my mom who has never been to the gym got a gym membership! I had the honor of going with her on her first day at the gym. She only worked out for about 35 minutes the first time and increases her time each time she goes, I am so proud of her! She is a great example to anyone that says its to late to start focusing on your health. It is never to late! YOU can take control of your life, all you have to do is get started!
My sister is also planning to join the gym this month! I am so happy that my new lifestyle has rubbed off on my family and I hope that I can be an example to everyone that thought they could never do it!