I'm BAAAACK.

Hey all!

Okay so it's 2014 and I was sitting here watching Biggest Loser and thinking to myself "yo I haven't blogged in ages", and so here I am!

Since Christmas, I've been back in the swing of things, still trying to eat healthy and stay focused. Upon coming back to London after Christmas, I went to the gym 3 days out of 6 before I left for...

THE CARIBBEAN!

I'm currently in St. George, Grenada, Caribbean and absolutely LOVING LIFE.

Groceries here are kind of expensive, so I've been eating mostly salad, ramen noodles, apples, bread, bananas, and eggs. I've also been out to eat a few times, but I am trying to be conscious of what I take in. I've also been drinking copious amounts of water on a daily basis, because like, I'll get dehydrated and die if I don't...

I've also been getting exercise! Lots of walking, and swimming!

Also I just did something really exciting... I bought the BODYMEDIA FIT LINK WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM! It comes with an armband to track pretty much everything I need to know. I used my Christmas money to buy it, and have no regrets! It is just another investment in my health, and I'm excited to see how it will help me: BodyMedia Fit Link

It pairs with the Iphone and multiple apps :)

I look forward to weighing in after I get back from my trip, and working towards 160 pounds this year!

So I hope you will continue to keep reading because I'm excited for what 2014 has in store!

Love you all! <3

Week 3: Day 2

Okay... Hello people! Well today has been a good day!!!

I woke up on time for my 8am class and made it on time... This never happens. Trust me.

Breakfast: 2 eggs, 1 smoothie (banana, strawberries, almonds, water, pineapple), and coffee (3 cups worth) at 7am (calorie estimate: 450)

I got my Passport situation figured out (shiny forehead pictures aren't allowed, darn you Walmart).

I have class 12-3pm. As of 1pm I have not eaten anything and so I am in line for timmies for a bagel and coffee... I know I shouldn't have, but I ordered an everything bagel toasted with LIGHT herb and garlic cream cheese, and a large coffee 2 sweetener 2 milk and a flavor shot of hazelnut (calorie estimate: 400)

BIBLE STUDY went great! Read some encouraging verses, had prayer and fellowship, and sang 3 worship songs by the Fanshawe College bookstore. It was one friend's birthday, so we had a cupcake (vanilla with white frosting) and prayed with her.

Okay Ryan. Where were you when I needed you!

Today seems to be an off day and a cheat day. I just had some froyo with a banana and some almonds. I am waiting for my tilapia to cook (2 pieces for 450 calories total), along with 2 pickles and 2 eggs. I just felt hungry, and studying made me want food. This is not a regular occurance, and I am not defeated!!! 

I will be working on my exam prep until 12:30am, at which point I will fall fast asleep and wake up at 7am for breakfast. I will begin studying again at 8am, until 10:15 am when I leave to go to school. I will then study 10:30-12pm, have a lunch break and then study again 12pm-1:40pm, until my test 2-4pm.

I didn't make it to the gym tonight, but tomorrow after babysitting estimted 5-10pm, I will be at the gym for 1.5 hours of cardio/weights (until midnight) and will then hit bed HARD like I've never slept before.

Looking forward to a good burn day tomorrow. Also feeling encouraged by my BODY WITH VI purchase. Shakes, shakes, shakes, it up baby!!!

Bananamazingness :)

I don't know about you but I LOVE BANANAS. B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

 THEY SO GOOD FOR YOUUU!!!

• They are healthy for you and have so many other added bonuses.

• They are high in energy and potassium for the body. One banana can provide enough energy for a strenuous 1 hour workout.

•  Bananas are one of our best sources of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Since the average banana contains a whopping 467 mg of potassium and only 1 mg of sodium, a banana a day may help to prevent high blood pressure and protect against atherosclerosis.

• Eating high fiber foods, such as bananas, helps prevent heart disease.  

• In addition to these cardiovascular benefits, the potassium found in bananas may also help to promote bone health. Potassium may counteract the increased urinary calcium loss caused by the high-salt diets typical of most Americans, thus helping to prevent bones from thinning out at a fast rate. 

• Bananas have long been recognized for their antacid effects that protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage. 
• Bananas are a smart move if you suffer from elimination problems. A bout of diarrhea can quickly deplete your body of important electrolytes. Bananas can replenish your stores of potassium, one of the most important electrolytes, which helps regulate heart function as well as fluid balance. 
• Bananas contain pectin, a soluble fiber (called a hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract and ease constipation.  

• Yes, enjoying bananas frequently as part of your healthy way of eating can help improve your body's ability to absorb calcium via several mechanisms. 
• Bananas are an exceptionally rich source of fructooligosaccharide, a compound called a prebiotic because it nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon. These beneficial bacteria produce vitamins and digestive enzymes that improve our ability to absorb nutrients, plus compounds that protect us against unfriendly microorganisms.  

• Some banana cultivars are also rich in provitamin A carotenoids, which have been shown to protect against chronic disease, including certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. 
• Bananas and many root vegetables contain especially high amounts of antioxidant phenolic compounds.  

• If you need to hasten the ripening process, you can place bananas in a paper bag or wrap them in newspaper, adding an apple to accelerate the process. Ripe bananas that will not be consumed for a few days can be placed in the refrigerator. While their peel may darken, the flesh will not be affected. For maximum flavor when consuming refrigerated bananas, remove them from the refrigerator and allow them to come back to room temperature.

SO GRAB A BANANA AND LET'S GET HEALTHY!!!

yeaaaaaaah buddy.
 

HERE WE GO WEEK 3: Day 1

I can't believe that this is the start of week 3!!! I am feeling so good about my consistency and hard work up to this point.

This morning I woke up around 9:30 and feel so good today!!! I just had breakfast: smoothie (banana, strawberries, pineapple, almonds, and peanut butter), 2 eggs, and coffee (3 cups worth).

Today I have class 12-2 but I will be skipping, to work on an assignment and study for a test on Wednesday. I have class 5-8. After class I will be at the gym 8:30-9:30.

Today I have high hopes for the next 2 weeks of my first month. In all honesty, I know I can give more than I have been giving. It is just a matter of time management and organization. I am working hard to overcome that, as well as my decision making.

I figure if I can get to Body Pump at least 2-3 times per week, the rest of the 2-3 days I need to focus on hard cardio, and some arm training (biceps, triceps, shoulders) as well as abdominals and lower/upper back.

On Body Pump days, getting in 20 minutes of cardio (10 before, 10 after) will leave me with a burn of up to 600 calories that day.

On regular days, cardio could see me at over 800 calories alone, not including weights.

Yesterday my intake for calories was probably 1200 total, so I burned almost my complete day off in a 2 hour time span. I now feel confident that this is something I could realistically do on a regular basis.

  

SOMETIMES I JUST FEEL SO HAPPY I COULD CRY. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE IT THIS FAR, WITH KEEPING MY BLOG UPDATED AND NOT CHEATING OR FEELING INADEQUATE. I JUST FEEL GREAT. I CAN'T WAIT TO LOOK BACK ON ALL OF THIS, AND NOT BE LIKE 'IM DONE' BUT KNOW THAT I WILL KEEP GOING!!!

 

For lunch today: water (always), i got 2 pickles hey hey hey heyyyyy, and a wrap (lettuce, gpep, chicken breast, avocado, and hotsauce/dressing). Also had 2 cookies for a mid day snack.

Yumyumyum!!!

I just finished practising a set for Tuesday's Fanshawe College Bible Study:

-bless the lord/10,000 reasons (matt redman)

-overcome (jeremy camp

-how he loves us (david crowder)

-forever reign (hillsong)

Tonight I will be at the gym 8:30-9:30.

I had a lean cuisine at 4:45 before class.

I plan to bring an apple and some water, to class.

Got home and had 1 cookie.

Week 2, Day 7: Night

Okay... I'm all hyped up on adrenaline, while watching my Steelers play the Patriots. I'm yelling in my kitchen. I can't believe how many points they gave up when they had a chance to win!!!

                                      

So today, as you all know, I was doing my 'all or nothing' workout (aka LAST CHANCE WORKOUT) that I will be doing every 2 weeks.

I went to the gym 4:45-6:45 for 2 hours, and burned 1150 calories tonight doing cardio and some abs/arms/shoulders weights. I FEEL SO GOOD! I am so proud of myself for going.

Once again I was like "maybe I'll skip today it's Sunday... the day of 'rest' right?" but then I was like NO RACHEL YOU NEED TO GO YOU CAN DO THIS. I am so glad I did.

 

I had a banana before I left.

Now I am having supper. I am making a wrap (spinach, chicken breast slices, green pepper, avocado) and 3 pickles, along with a smoothie (banana, strawberry, and pineapple with some almonds).

Later on tonight, I had some froyo with peanut butter and almond slices (350 calories). I am also watching LEGALLY BLONDE for the first time.