The Ab Diet

My apple shaped friends will really like this blog. If you have extra belly fat, eating these foods will help blast that fat away. (The only way to get a 6pack abs is to work for them, but this will definitely help with a muffin top.)

Cereal- Not Cupcake Pebbles (one of my favorites), but a high fiber cereal that isn't jam packed with sugar. Some of the better choices are cheerios, special K, or Kashi. Cereal has fewer calories from fat than almost any other breakfast food. Cereal makes you poo. (If you aren't a cereal fan...you have other options. Keep reading.)

Eggs- They are high in protein...protein is the key here.

Instant Oatmeal- Everything I read is saying plain, but I'm not sure I could eat plain oatmeal. I'm a raisin, dates, and walnuts kinda girl.

Nuts such as peanuts and almonds. They slow the rise in blood sugar and curb hunger. I personally like the cocoa almonds, but from what I'm reading, you should eat them in as close to their natural state as possible. It even says to eat the skins around them (not the shell for anyone that is confused!).

Low-fat yogurt...again. Plain is the recommended way, but I can't do it. I can't eat greek yogurt either. I love Dannon's light and fit vanilla yogurt. (1 cup yogurt, 1/2 cup any juice, 1/2 cup ice and any fruit makes a great smoothie that can be one of your 6 "meals")

Berries-high fiber- Raspberries have the highest amount of fiber then blackberries, then blueberries. *Add these to that smoothie!*

Turkey- (With your eggs, you can have turkey bacon) Turkey has the fewest calories per ounce and it will help maintain muscle mass as you lose weight.

Here are some other staple items to add to your grocery list:

Beans and legumes, spinach and other green veggies (google how to make a "green smoothie" it uses spinach and you'll never know it!), low fat or fat free dairy...milk, cheese and yogurt, Olive oil, peanut butter *only 1-2 servings a day because of the saturated fat*, brown rice/whole grains *1-2 servings a day*, and whey powder-adds protein to your diet.

L-Carnitine- this assist in the breakdown of fat cells and to produce energy and is essential in making fatty acids available for energy in muscle tissue. $11 for 30 tablets at walmart in the vitamin section. I know about this stuff because when I worked at the vet clinic this is what is in the prescription dog food to help dogs lose weight. (Specifically the Science Diet-R/D dog food) This isn't something just for dogs. :D

Foods high in calcium inhibit calcitrol which is a hormone that stores fat. Dairy and turkey have leucine which helps fight fat. Fiber keeps your sugar levels low which keeps you from feeling hungry and it cleans you out. Protein- Your body burns about 25 calories digesting every 100 calories of protein you eat. That is the highest calorie burning food you can eat without having to do much work to work it off.

Eating foods as close to their natural state is best for you (I love a bright pink steak. Yum)

For people with big butts...the best thing I can tell you is breastfeed. (My favorite diet)

For people with big chests...I don't know. I don't have that problem. Enjoy it or surgery :D

I fell off the wagon...

Or is it I'm back on the wagon. I don't know whether I want to be on the wagon or off it, but what I'm trying to say is, I've failed miserably at getting fit. My goal weight was 135 lb. My Super Skinny Goal Weight (SSGW) is 130. (Honestly, I don't even know what I'd look like at 130, but if I set my goal weight lower than the 135, I'm hoping it'll be easier to get to the 135.

When I started blogging about this, I believe I was 143 and I needed to lose 8lbs. After a bit of work, I was down to 138lb. I was pretty satisfied because most of my size 4 jeans were fitting, so I didn't push to get rid of those last 3lbs (or 8 if I was going for SSGW). Well, Thanksgiving happened, then my birthday, then Christmas. Next thing I know, I'm up to 146.

People who are apple-shaped tend to gain weight in their belly. I'm kind of hour-glass shaped except I say that I'm hour and a half glass shaped. I've got an extra half hour on my butt. When I gain weight. I gain it in my rear. I wouldn't be sad about losing weight if I gained it in my boobs (I would actually be excited if that happened...maybe I wouldn't be able to feel my ribs anymore.) Once I realized that I had gained weight, I didn't think it was too bad...until my size 4 jeans were washed. Yep. Stupid washing machine and dryer.

I've had to ween myself off junk food. I was like a crack addict. Now, I think I'm eating like a normal human being again. I've actually lost 3 pounds! Yay! I still don't have a great desire to run, but I'm blaming that on the cold weather. With classes starting back up, I haven't had that much time to workout anyway. So, to help me get back to at least 138lb (5 away!), I've started using the kids plates for my food. Instead of eating a huge bowl of cereal, I've been eating Gracie's little bowls. It's probably the proper serving size...our bowls and plates are rather big to begin with. So, ya. that's where I'm at.

Happy Wednesday!

-Jamie

New Years Resolution???

So many people made a New Year's Resolution to either lose weight, diet, or eat better...right? I made that resolution a while back and I haven't stopped yet. This week, I am going to do a carb free week (I was going to start today, but I mind-lessly ate perogies for lunch....if you don't know what they are its mashed potatoes inside a pasta shell. Fail on all accounts.) So, starting tomorrow, no carbs. Hey. I might start with dinner tonight. Who says you have to start on a Monday morning...those are tough enough with carbs. Although, I did have scrambled egg whites and turkey bacon...you get my point. You know why I run...if you don't know, go to my entry about diagnosed back fat...it's a tear jerker. I hated running. When people say "I only run if someone is chasing me with a knife", I think...screw that...I don't want to be out of breath when I'm trying to get that knife out of your hand. BUT because I had a reason that I'm very passionate about...I started running. I wasn't even running when I started. I started at 3 mph for one mile. Then I went up to 3.5...one day I realized I could jog at 3.5 miles per hour for an entire mile. Shortly after that I was able to bump the speed up and it didn't affect me. Right now, I'm able to do run a little over 5 mph, but 6 kills me.
What do I hate more than running? Lifting weights. I'm the weakest person ever. Not only do my muscles quiver, but my joints hurt. And that is lifting 5lb weights. My elbows make me feel like my forearm will snap right off. The crazy thing. I can do yoga and hold plank for a while. My upper body is well over 5 lbs. I can even do chutarumba (who knows how to spell that for real?) which requires me to bend my elbows. So, I'm out to accomplish the task of getting muscles. Guns. Big guns. lol. My 5lb weights are getting tolerable and they hurt less and less every time I use them. I'm assuming the hurt is due to a lack of muscle to support my joints.

Inspiration
What inspires you to exercise? When I get in a rut, new workout clothes usually help, but I'm running out of room and money for exercise clothes :) Putting new songs on my IPOD also helps. I like to figure out which songs work best for what type of exercise. For instance, I'm a joker by Tom Petty is ok for walking or spinning, but terrible for running. The beat is way to slow. Here are a few songs that I like to rock out to while running:

I Only Wanna Be With You- Hootie and the Blowfish
Hey Girl- OAR
Little Things- Good Charlotte
You gotta have Faith- Limp Bizkit
How Far Do You Wanna Go- Gloriana (this song is so out of place with the other ones, but I love it)
How's It Gonna Be- Third Eye Blind (this is good for jogging slow...great for beginners)
Rock It Till You Drop It- Fefe Dobson
Gold Digger- Kanye West (I get down with this song. lol)
Shoop- Salt N Peppa
Crazy In Love- Beyonce

That'll get you about three miles :) What else inspires you? Looking at people who are in shape inspire me. Some people say watching the biggest loser inspires them. Not until they are running the marathon do I ever want to get up and workout. While they are big, I could sit there with a bucket of ice cream and watch them run til they throw up. I need to see someone with muscles. Maybe I should tape pictures in my junk food cabinet. :D

Oh BTW- Since I was so terrible at taking those poop pills, I've decided to take them again...because I gained 7 pounds since Thanksgiving. No bueno. Let's see if I can get all 4 pills down twice a day and not poop myself. lol. On that note: Yall have a great day :D