Taco Stuffed Bell Peppers

I plan to be in Chicago with the Million Dollar Band for the Ronald McDonald Thanksgiving Day Parade next week and I knew I had one pair of jeans that fit.

Normally clothing shopping for me is NOT FUN. I have the opposite of bulimia or anorexia. Instead of looking in the mirror and feeling like I am fat when I'm not, I have the mentality that I am a lot skinnier than what I really am so when I actually catch a glimpse of myself in  mirror or storefront window I don't always recognize myself and then am shocked when I realize that fat girl looking back at me is ME.

So last week I started shopping. I had gotten rid of all of my jeans because they had begun to fit so poorly they were sliding down my hips at inopportune times. I was shocked and excited to find I was down 2 sizes in pants and one size in tops. Man was I STOKED! I don't think I look much different but the proof is in the dressing room at JC Penny's! WOOT!

Suddenly, shopping was a lot more fun. As I gazed longingly at the next sized clothes from where I am I felt super motivated to KEEP GOING and not get comfortable where I am.

I have been trying to have as much variety in my food choices as possible so I don't go slap off the rails at times and this one was a huge hit at a recent dinner party. Please keep in mind I do eat as low carb as possible, and keep LIMITED whole wheat products in my diet as well, per my doctor.  I modified this recipe a tad by using my sisters taco meat recipe, which I am also listing.


Original recipe:
Mexican Stuffed Peppers

My sister's taco meat recipe: [best I've ever had]
 Debby's Taco Meat Recipe


As far as whole wheat goes, I limit that to once or twice a week and most weeks not at all. That would be whole wheat bread/buns for sandwiches/hot dogs/hamburgers/etc or whole wheat pasta as Italian restaurants.

If you are interested in lower carb foods for quicker and more efficient weight loss without starving yourself, then check out Linda Sue's Low Carb Recipes and Menus. I have been using them since the 90's and her ratings have really helped me figure out what's good and what isn't.

That's it for now. Been a week since I hit the gym and going to head there later today if possible. Will post stats later, ;]

So that's how they elliptical in Syria? I LIKE it!

Met a new friend at the gym, today. I normally do not talk much to folks who are working out because most of us are doing all we can not to cuss, cry, pee, puke or fart as we work out. This takes a lot of concentration, and I try to do unto others and all. In other words, leave me alone lol. But I had seen her before. The elliptical and the stationary bike are side by side. I've  noticed this little petite lady sometimes who gets on that elliptical with headphones on and goes as hard as she can but instead of using the arm thingys, she dances with her upper body. And I mean like REALLY GETS DOWN! Much like this girl:

The video above is not her but the moves are pretty much the same. So today she jumps on a stationary bike next to me and introduces herself. Instantly I notice the accent and she tells me she is from Syria. I then told her how much I admired her freedom of expression on the elliptical and we both cracked up. Her name is Hadiya and we ended up talking everything from kids to mother in laws. I found out I could be working out and sweating like a Hebrew slave while carrying on a conversation that was more than grunts on my part, today. Thanks to Hadiya! She was super nice and I have seen her almost daily for the last couple of weeks so it was cool that she struck up a conversation with me.

On to my last couple of work outs.

When I first joined the gym I worked with a personal trainer for about 6 weeks and my highest leg press was 270lbs. I am pretty excited to be pressing 260lbs with no trainer this time. My goal is to get to 270 by next week sometime.


10/28/14

Leg extensions: 3 sets/50lbs/12 reps
Leg curl: 3sets/50lbs/12 reps

Adductor/inner thigh: 3 sets/60lbs/15 reps
Abductor/outer thigh: 3 sets/60lbs/15 reps
Leg press: 5 sets/180lbs/200lbs/220lbs/240lbs/260lbs/12reps
15 mins at level 4 on stationary bike
15 mins at level 4 on elliptical

10/29/14

 Chest press: 3 sets of 12 reps @ 50lbs
Vertical traction: 3 sets of 12 reps @ 70lbs
Pec deck: 3 sets of 12 reps @ 60lbs
Seated row: 3 sets of 12 reps @ level 8
Shoulder press: 3 sets of 12 reps @ level 6
Biceps curl:3 sets of 12 reps @ level  6
Triceps press:3 sets of 12 reps @ level  9
Ab crunch: 3 sets of 15 reps @ level 10
 15 mins at level 4 on stationary bike
15 mins at level 4 on elliptical 

Haven't been doing much cooking but when I do I will be posting recipes again. 

If you're reading this, be encouraged, if I can do this, you can too!

7lbs from my first goal!

Weight: am now at  23lbs lost of the 30lbs for my first goal  Down 2lbs since Tuesday, yay!

My daughter came downstairs today and said she thought I looked skinnier. I was so glad she had her glasses on when she said that!


Gym stats:

 Chest press 3 sets/12 reps/50lbs

Vertical traction: this machine stayed unavailable the entire time I was at the gym. Never has that happened in 2yrs of membership but a personal trainer was doing some sort of routine with someone and it was tied up before that by someone else so I will get it again next time.

Pec deck  3 sets/12 reps/ 60lbs

Seated row 3 sets/12 reps/ level 8

Shoulder press  3 sets/12 reps/ level 6
 
Biceps curl 3 sets/12 reps/ level 6
 
Triceps press 3 sets/12 reps/ level 9 

Ab crunch 3 sets/15 reps/ level 10

 Elliptical: 15 min. @ level 4

Stationary Bike: 15 min. @ level 4/ 2.57 miles [I was super sore and a bit tired today so not quite the same distance as the last time.


 Saw this on FB today and it made me laugh out loud:

 I did go to the gym today but still had to post this! On that note, good night!

Better Sore Than Sorry

Saw a meme on Facebook today that has preached at me ever since I left the gym.

I am SORE. I mean, legs shaking, not-sure-if-I-can-ride-my-scooter-home sore. I worked my legs HARD yesterday and getting back on the bike and elliptical was a challenge today. I was really leaning towards, "Sorry, not today!" but I just did it anyway and took it a little slower. Same level of hard, just not as fast. My upper body workout went pretty good and I pushed myself past the normal comfort zone there too. Not feeling it like the legs, though. I may be singing a different tune tomorrow but I want to encourage you in saying this: If you think you don't have time, make some time. If you think you don't have the energy then do it anyway and do it slower, or at lower weights or whatever. My gym has a marquee that sometimes says, "You will only regret the workout you didn't do, not the one you did do." Or something like that. I didn't FEEL like it, I was sore, tired, and a bit sleep deprived. I did it anyways and I feel like crap but I moved forward rather than standing still. If this 46yr old, obese, bad-footed woman can do it, you can too. Be encouraged!

I'm listing my gym stats below like yesterday, and also what I'm eating today that I know of for sure.

Breakfast: 3 eggs scrambled with 1 slice of cheese/ 4 strips of bacon
Lunch: not sure
Dinner: Hot wings with celery, jalapeno poppers

Vitamins, yes, exercise, yes.

Weight: still at 21lbs lost of the 30lbs for my first goal 


Today's food:

My Hot Wings Recipe


My recipe for jalapeno poppers


Gym stats:

 Chest press 3 sets/12 reps/50lbs

Vertical traction 3 sets/12 reps/ 60/70/70

Pec deck  3 sets/12 reps/ 40/60/60

Seated row 3 sets/12 reps/ level 8

Shoulder press  3 sets/12 reps/ level 6
 
Biceps curl 3 sets/12 reps/ level 6
 
Triceps press 3 sets/12 reps/ level 9 

Ab crunch 3 sets/15 reps/ level 10

 Elliptical: 15 min. @ level 4

Stationary Bike: 15 min. @ level 4/ 2.96 miles
 



It's a good day! Hope you have a good day, too!

Broke 200 on the leg press

I wish I knew how time would go by so fast when I'm not posting and so slow the rest of the time?

I.

Don't.

Know.

What I do know is I really pushed myself on my workout this AM. I think if I start listing what I am doing daily then I will be better about blogging.

I work out at the Panama City Health Club and Spa. I really like it. The equipment stays unbroken and usable, the hours are great, the classes offered are varied and I am treated well by the staff.

My current goal has been to re-lose the 30lbs I lost in the summer of 2013. I got down 27 of those lbs a couple of weeks ago and got a little slack with my eating and am sitting at 21/30lbs lost. Dangit.


As some of you know I have been having some foot issues and the podiatrist said stop treadmill and running. I was pretty excited that I had actually started running so this was a bit of a blow. He recommended the stationary bike and the elliptical. Also anything very low impact but still aerobic. So bike and elliptical it is. I had always been intimidated by the elliptical but once it became one of very few options I got over it and actually like it. I do highly recommend it if you need to avoid high impact activity and have foot issues. I plug in my headphones, watch something entertaining on the TV screen and 30mins goes by fast.

My leg workout today:

5 sets of 12 reps on the leg press
set 1 @ 160lbs
set 2 @ 180lbs
set 3 @ 200lbs
set 4 @ 220lbs
set 5 @ 240lbs

3 sets of 12 reps on leg press at 60lbs each

 3 sets of 12 reps on leg curl at 40lbs each

3 sets of 15 reps on inner thigh machine at 60lbs each

 3 sets of 15 reps on outer thigh machine at 70lbs each

 15 minutes on stationary bike at level 4

15 minutes on elliptical at level 4


That's about it for today. If you are still watching this blog for recipes I will be posting some more of those soon too.

How's your day going?

It's been a busy morning already.

Spent almost 2 hrs at the gym. Did 3 miles on the treadmill, burning 234 calories, upper body weights and 10 min on the wave machine, burning 100 calories. Yes, 100 calories in ten minutes.

However.......

THE WAVE IS A KILLER!

I can barely do ten good minutes on it but I am getting better!



Breakfast was an atkins bar on the way to the gym. I try not to sub out real food for stuff like that but I was in a hurry and had no time for breakfast.

This is lunch:

Pistachio crusted red grouper and on the side was broccoli sauteed in olive oil and fresh garlic, finished with fresh grated Parmesan Reggiano.   I am working on getting that Pistachio Butter recipe from my husband. He is playing hard to get, lol.

Scale is acting up and not agreeing with my current lifestyle so I am staying away from it for the time being.

Out with the old, in with the....wait! Man, I need to go shopping!

I went through my closet today. Let's call it sweep one. My Mom is having a yard sale so I am donating as fast as I can.

I was pretty excited to say adios to quite a few clothing items. Until I realized I have 3 pair of jeans to my name now and maybe 3 pair of dress pants.

I need to go shopping pronto! I decided this go around to simply get rid of clothes as they became too big so if I gain anything back they are so uncomfortable I will be miserable and get back on track. That should work, right? Because keeping them has only made it easier to go up and down the scale. I gotta behave like I'm serious and the rest will follow.

Stayed on track food wise all day. Only got the lower body workout in and no cardio. But I will get it done tomorrow!

No running though. Read the meme. No running YET!