Cody will be home tonight and it will be non-stop until the wedding! I can't wait to see him :) <3
Since I know we have a crazy busy upcoming week, I wanted to pre-bake some snackies. Oh recipes, how I adore you :) These muffins hit the spot and will be one of our go-to's while we run errands and work on last minute projects.
I shared the link for this muffin recipe previously, but feel that it needs to be spotlighted for Friday Recipe Find because it is such a winner!!!
Though I had a bit of a hiatus from my usual kitchen love, I've been easing back in to some baking and cooking and am having so much fun!
This recipe uses a food processor, and since I got an amazing beautiful food pro at my bridal shower (the same one that Leanne Vogel from Healthful Pursuit has!!!) it was a winner. Upon trying these muffins, even more of a winner.
Delicious, tasty, and treat-like, you would not guess that this is a paleo recipe.
Be sure to click the link below and check it out!
PALEOMG Chocolate Maple Crunch Banana Muffins
Friday, August 9, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Seeing Myself In A New Light
A change in perspective is sometimes usually well needed for someone who has almost beat the battle of the bulge.
This thought crossed my mind yesterday after asking my friend Danielle to send some pictures from our recent events my way.
I've been talking a lot about how I didn't meet my goals of looking a certain way for the wedding and how I'm trying to be ok with it but looking at those pics I realized that maybe a change in perspective is all that I need.
Scrolling though and seeing myself with my friends I felt really really proud of how I looked and not at all critical. For the first time in a very long time, I didn't look at myself and immediately see flaws because I couldn't get past the pure happiness radiating from those photos! I look just how I've been wanting to look for so long, and I didn't even know it!
For a too long now I've been shying away from group gatherings, I haven't been looking people in the eye for fear of them seeing my broken out face, and living in a fog where I really don't even see myself (as mentioned in this post). Gradually this has been stopping, and for some reason looking at these pictures really cemented in my mind that I don't want to go back there.
My change in perspective lies in understanding what I need, not what I think I need. Pushing workouts on myself when I'm not feeling it does not result in results, it results in feeling like a failure. Doing what I love in that moment, whether it be weights, hikes, bike rides, a simple walk... now that is what makes me feel like a success story and obviously shines through in my demeanor. It's not something I plan on forgetting :)
9 days to go until wedding day, and tomorrow Cody is home which will make everything even more fun!
XO - Michelle
This thought crossed my mind yesterday after asking my friend Danielle to send some pictures from our recent events my way.
I've been talking a lot about how I didn't meet my goals of looking a certain way for the wedding and how I'm trying to be ok with it but looking at those pics I realized that maybe a change in perspective is all that I need.
Scrolling though and seeing myself with my friends I felt really really proud of how I looked and not at all critical. For the first time in a very long time, I didn't look at myself and immediately see flaws because I couldn't get past the pure happiness radiating from those photos! I look just how I've been wanting to look for so long, and I didn't even know it!
For a too long now I've been shying away from group gatherings, I haven't been looking people in the eye for fear of them seeing my broken out face, and living in a fog where I really don't even see myself (as mentioned in this post). Gradually this has been stopping, and for some reason looking at these pictures really cemented in my mind that I don't want to go back there.
My change in perspective lies in understanding what I need, not what I think I need. Pushing workouts on myself when I'm not feeling it does not result in results, it results in feeling like a failure. Doing what I love in that moment, whether it be weights, hikes, bike rides, a simple walk... now that is what makes me feel like a success story and obviously shines through in my demeanor. It's not something I plan on forgetting :)
9 days to go until wedding day, and tomorrow Cody is home which will make everything even more fun!
XO - Michelle
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
A Lesson Learned
Monday, August 5th was the last day of the James Wilson Body Earned 12 Week Summer Sizzle Challenge.
On first seeing a post about this competition I was really excited; it coincided perfectly for our wedding and the winner got to choose a gift card to their choice of store (HELLO, LULU LEMON). I had seen that some of my favorite bloggers (Little B, Fit Foodies) had been using this program, plus it's affordability and amazing group support made it very appealing. I started off my first weeks pretty strong, and was making great gains and seeing some results. As per usual though, I lost focus, lost energy, lost the oomph to keep going, and quit around week 5. Most people in the group say that they start to see their best results between week 6 and 9... I was SO close to being there!
I get why I stopped. I just wasn't feeling great, and it was so hard to force myself to do a workout. At the time I honestly felt I couldn't do it. I would even feel teary eyed part way through, which is not something that happens to me during a workout usually! Looking back though, I'm really disappointed that I didn't follow through. I could be one of those people posting their before and afters, inspiring others, having those muscles that I really wanted. It was all up to me and I'm the one who dropped the ball.
I'm letting my disappointment go because I just don't think it's healthy to hold on to, and I'm considering this an excellent lesson learned. I now know that if a big event is coming up, that is not the time to start something intense, new, and challenging. When I have a lot of stress going on, I think my body responds better to extra sleep and benefits from cardio over weights.
I am really looking forward to the wedding. It's a day to celebrate finding love and marks us starting our lives together. Once we have put this huge and special event behind us I plan on making an extra effort to put health and fitness above most other things, as a thanks to my body for putting up with me for the past few months. Cody and I have this excellent chance to start as a team in our marriage and I am really excited to lay out some plans with him. My goal is that starting in September we have a mutual plan and know what we're aiming for in all aspects of our life but specifically finances, health, and careers.
Enough of looking back and regretting that workout I missed or that chocolate I've been nibbling away at (it's now hidden in our basement). I am ready to let go of that and of the stress that comes with wedding planning. I'm going to enjoy these next 10 days to their fullest, rock our wedding day, and look forward to starting clean slate in September with shiny new goals to attain and achieve.
XO - Michelle
On first seeing a post about this competition I was really excited; it coincided perfectly for our wedding and the winner got to choose a gift card to their choice of store (HELLO, LULU LEMON). I had seen that some of my favorite bloggers (Little B, Fit Foodies) had been using this program, plus it's affordability and amazing group support made it very appealing. I started off my first weeks pretty strong, and was making great gains and seeing some results. As per usual though, I lost focus, lost energy, lost the oomph to keep going, and quit around week 5. Most people in the group say that they start to see their best results between week 6 and 9... I was SO close to being there!
I get why I stopped. I just wasn't feeling great, and it was so hard to force myself to do a workout. At the time I honestly felt I couldn't do it. I would even feel teary eyed part way through, which is not something that happens to me during a workout usually! Looking back though, I'm really disappointed that I didn't follow through. I could be one of those people posting their before and afters, inspiring others, having those muscles that I really wanted. It was all up to me and I'm the one who dropped the ball.
I'm letting my disappointment go because I just don't think it's healthy to hold on to, and I'm considering this an excellent lesson learned. I now know that if a big event is coming up, that is not the time to start something intense, new, and challenging. When I have a lot of stress going on, I think my body responds better to extra sleep and benefits from cardio over weights.
I am really looking forward to the wedding. It's a day to celebrate finding love and marks us starting our lives together. Once we have put this huge and special event behind us I plan on making an extra effort to put health and fitness above most other things, as a thanks to my body for putting up with me for the past few months. Cody and I have this excellent chance to start as a team in our marriage and I am really excited to lay out some plans with him. My goal is that starting in September we have a mutual plan and know what we're aiming for in all aspects of our life but specifically finances, health, and careers.
Enough of looking back and regretting that workout I missed or that chocolate I've been nibbling away at (it's now hidden in our basement). I am ready to let go of that and of the stress that comes with wedding planning. I'm going to enjoy these next 10 days to their fullest, rock our wedding day, and look forward to starting clean slate in September with shiny new goals to attain and achieve.
XO - Michelle
Monday, August 5, 2013
It's been a little while since my last post, and I really want to get back into the routine of writing more regularly!
Stress of the wedding has started to get to me. I've been putting off some of the more intimidating wedding projects and by doing so it's made me procrastinate on basically everything in my life.
Luckily for me I have amazing friends who came over and helped make 140 s'more kits for wedding favors. They look amazing and I am so excited for our guests to receive such a personalized gifty :). We had a fun night full of laughter and conversation, and I cannot express how much I love my friends!!!
The next day we hiked the ski hill and checked out the ceremony location that Cody and I chose. It is truly magical up there on the mountain and I am hoping with all I've got for beautiful summer weather to celebrate our marriage day.
The mixture of wonderful friends and a great hike made me stop and think. I've been really critical of myself over the past little while, kind of giving up hope on myself. I'm frustrated by my lack of energy, resulting in no workouts and no food prep. Though I'm still mostly making healthy choices, I've been giving in to some temptation and while temporarily satisfying, it's mostly really disappointing to eat something I know isn't good for me. I reflected on what I've been eating lately and realized one of the reasons I'm having such negative progress is my lack of food intake! Because of the no food prep I've been eating less and it has definitely impacted my prior gains.
So... For my 4 day week I am going to focus on the following:
In other news, my no tomato plan has been going well! I have been able to avoid my two faves, ketchup and salsa, but every day I long for ketchup on my sweet potatoes.
XO - Michelle
Stress of the wedding has started to get to me. I've been putting off some of the more intimidating wedding projects and by doing so it's made me procrastinate on basically everything in my life.
Luckily for me I have amazing friends who came over and helped make 140 s'more kits for wedding favors. They look amazing and I am so excited for our guests to receive such a personalized gifty :). We had a fun night full of laughter and conversation, and I cannot express how much I love my friends!!!
The next day we hiked the ski hill and checked out the ceremony location that Cody and I chose. It is truly magical up there on the mountain and I am hoping with all I've got for beautiful summer weather to celebrate our marriage day.
The mixture of wonderful friends and a great hike made me stop and think. I've been really critical of myself over the past little while, kind of giving up hope on myself. I'm frustrated by my lack of energy, resulting in no workouts and no food prep. Though I'm still mostly making healthy choices, I've been giving in to some temptation and while temporarily satisfying, it's mostly really disappointing to eat something I know isn't good for me. I reflected on what I've been eating lately and realized one of the reasons I'm having such negative progress is my lack of food intake! Because of the no food prep I've been eating less and it has definitely impacted my prior gains.
So... For my 4 day week I am going to focus on the following:
- Food prep!!! Have snacks and meals available.
- Daily exercise, whatever is appealing.
- Get more sleep!
In other news, my no tomato plan has been going well! I have been able to avoid my two faves, ketchup and salsa, but every day I long for ketchup on my sweet potatoes.
XO - Michelle
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