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Weight Loss Progress?

March 8, 2013 By Lisa Leave a Comment

I started a new workout regimen to get back into the swing of things since the holidays, and it’s KICKING MY ARSE.

I tried to put the giant bottle of peanut butter on the table earlier, after serving a spoonful to my son, and I almost couldn’t do it. I couldn’t lift and extend my arm out. HAHA! That’s how sore I am right now. Holy smokes, James’ program is no joke.

When I spoke about sore arms the other day, it wasn’t so much because of Baby V as much as it is this new workout. It’s focusing A LOT A LOT on arms, and here I am, being a complete DORK using heavy, 10lb weights to do raises and presses because I want to be a bada$$ and get fit faster. Except, the only thing it’s seemingly doing faster is killing me. Ha! Today I almost couldn’t get out of bed. I feel like an old woman, and hurty. Yikes.

I’m not sure I would call my progress a “weight loss” success, since I only just began this new workout, and the scale at the moment reads a gain and not a loss. Nonetheless, I’ll accept it because I’m hoping it’s just temporary. I figure it’s probably just water weight from my sore muscles (but I don’t know).

I haven’t done measurements since October 1st, particularly because I was doing alright (or so it seemed). I was already a great many pounds down since birth, and in November it seemed I was slimming out nicely. I was running and walking, doing yoga and the elliptical, but I knew with the holidays that would potentially change. (Couple that with being introduced to and becoming so consumed by Biscoff spread, let’s just say, my middle section started to feel jiggly and wider again. Ahem.)

Here I am, once more. I’m eating clean, this new workout, but despite feeling stronger, my eyes are deceiving me. I just don’t feel that confident about what I’m doing is going to get me to the weight I want. I feel as though I’ve lost my way a little, even though I’m committed, pushing past the “rest” days and all, so I don’t lose momentum. I’m completely and totally doubting myself, but I won’t give up. I will stay the course, I guess I could use a little support.

Here’s the pictures:

Four weeks after baby:

four weeks postpartum

Eight weeks postpartum, 12 lbs from pre-pregnancy weight:

Thirteen weeks postpartum – down 5.7 lbs!

down 5.7 lbs

October 1st update – 11lbs lost!!

11lbs lost

November 1st, back in the 140′s

Today.

weight update march 2013

It’s hard to believe I still have about 20 or so pounds to go until I’m back down to this:

30 day shred results

But I can do it. I know that I can, I’ve done it before. I just need a little help convincing myself that it isn’t unattainable, or so far off. Gah!

You can check out my progress on my Weight Loss Accountability page.

Happiness is ______ {Week Nine} #happinessis

March 6, 2013 By Lisa Leave a Comment

2013 is going to be a fantastic year – a year where we collectively focus on the happy and the joy in our lives. What makes you happy? What is it that you do that you can’t get enough of? What makes your soul shine, your eyes beam, and your insides sparkle?

Happiness is so very many things for me, and on Wednesdays I plan on sharing the answer to that. Every week, here, on Twitter, on Instagram and Facebook. You can follow along by using the hashtag #happinessis on Twitter and Instagram.

Happiness is… decorating for Baby V’s birthday. There’s just something so magical about crepe paper and balloons, am I right?
baby v birthday decorations

Happiness is… taking my children to the high school’s Fine Arts Festival to see our son’s band performance and check out the local children’s art projects on display. Reminds me of being a young artist.

Happiness is… Baby V enjoying her first lollipop with her siblings while shopping at Costco. Loved watching her facial expressions and giggling at her brother’s slurps.
lollipop love

Happiness is… eating well and fueling my body. I am doing my best for my health and wellness by eating clean and working out (more on this in another post).
fit breakfast healthy dinner

Happiness is… Hat Day in the kitchen.
kitchen hat

Happiness is… a birthday gift from Mema (my children’s name for my mother). Talk about the PERFECT GIFT for my future writer, am I right?
leapfrog leaptop

Happiness is… putting V in a pretty dress and watching her marvel at the gems.
one-year-old pretty dress

Happiness is… new athletic shoes.
Reebok DMX Sky

Happiness is… watching her grow so independent.
standing baby

Pumpkin “Carrot Cake” Oatmeal Pancakes with Protein

October 26, 2012 By Lisa Leave a Comment

Yes, I did just say Pumpkin “Carrot Cake” Oatmeal Pancakes. Is your mouth watering yet?

One of my most favoritest websites is Dashing Dish. Have you ever visited there before? Her site is gorgeous, the food is meticulous, her photography is superb, and I want to eat one of everything she creates because she finds healthy ways to make the evilest of things. LOVE THAT! I am REAL big on finding healthier alternatives to everything we eat (especially desserts).

I have successfully prepared and eaten her fantastic Carrot Cake Protein Pancakes before as a healthy delicacy for me when I’m craving something sweet (plus it’s a kickass breakfast to boot). I have tweaked it, though, by added raw honey and vanilla extract, adding a bit more spice into mine because I looooove cinnamon so much. I eat it in some way everyday.

As I prepared to make more of these for myself, I reached into my pantry and found a full can of pumpkin staring at me, begging to be used. So I asked myself, “What if I infused pumpkin into this recipe somehow?”

OH YES I DID.

Pumpkin “Carrot Cake” Oatmeal Pancakes with Protein

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

25 mins

This fantastic pancake recipe uses no flour, protein powder and protein-packed Greek Yogurt and tastes delicious with both carrot and pumpkin paired together.

Author: Lisa Douglas

Recipe type: Breakfast

Serves: 4

Ingredients

¼ cup (2 ounces) vanilla protein powder (I use Spirutein)
½ cup (4 ounces) low fat vanilla Greek yogurt (or plain vanilla yogurt)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon Pumpkin Pie spice
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon baking powder
2 egg whites or one whole egg
1¼ cup old fashioned oats
½ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup of water
1 tablespoon raw honey
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2-4 packets of Truvia, (or sweetener of choice to taste)
½ cup finely minced carrots (best if done in a food processor)
¼ cup grated carrots (to be stirred into the batter

Cream Cheese Frosting Syrup:

½ cup (4 ounces) low fat cream cheese
¼ cup maple syrup
Sprinkle of cinnamon and Truvia to taste

Instructions

Combine all ingredients into a blender, save for a little bit of finely minced carrots (for garnish) and saving the grated carrots for later.
Blend until well mixed together.
If your mixture is too thick, you can add additional water to reach desired consistency.
Blend in grated carrots, stir until well mixed.
Pour onto heated skillet, approximately ¼ cup of mixture at a time.
Cook until sides are browned and spatula can slide under easily, then flip.
Cook for a minute or two, and remove from heat to plate.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting Syrup

Blend the ingredients with a whisk well, until clumps are gone.
(You can choose to heat up your cream cheese slightly in the microwave, 20-or-so seconds, to make it easier to blend.)
Place approximately one teaspoon on per pancake, layering gently with the back of the spoon.
My preferences is to the drizzle a little more syrup on top and sprinkle a little minced carrot over top for garnish.

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I promise you, you will NOT regret making these for yourself. These have such a fantastic, cake-like quality to them, particularly with that delicious ‘frosting’ on top.