Update!

Since a few of you have asked for a quick update, here it is. Before the bakesale and funeral, I was at -77.5. Then I gained about 4-5 lbs. After being home a week and working out, I lost 2 lbs. (last Friday) taking me back to -75.
I weigh myself once a week (Friday) and I'm hoping to pull another 2 lbs., but if it's only 1, I'll still be happy!
Right now I'm hoping to lose 1-1.5 lbs per week for 4 months, taking me to my goal of -100 by Feb. or so.
I'm not going to try to drop it all too fast b/c then it's more likely to come back on just as fast, but who knows.... with weight loss, sometimes the math just doesn't add up and the body does strange things :)
I'll be sure to post Friday after I find out my new number!

In the mean time, here's a picture from last weekend of Kris (aka my role model and big sister) and me...

Set Backs...

Sometimes in life, you can't plan things. This week my Grandpa passed away, and we had to make a trip to Virginia Beach for his funeral. Being an emotional eater, I hit the desserts hard... So when I got on the scale this morning, I was up 7 lbs. I'm sure a little is water weight and will come off quick, but I would imagine I gained 4 lbs. So now I have a bit of a setback...
The old Ash would have quit. But, the new Ash is going to get back up, put on my big girl jogging pants, and go run.
Yeah, it sucks that now I have to take off another 4 lbs, but what can you do?
Life will always have little set backs.
I just hope the shred and 3 mile run today isn't too hard... wish me luck, it's been a week since I exercised :)

The Biggest Loser

Ever since this show started, I had wanted to be a contestant. I love competition, I love challenges, I love motivational groups, and I especially love Jillian and Bob.

If you're just beginning a lifestyle change, hoping to lose weight, I'd check this show out! It's so motivational. I used to always watch it while ellipticalling because I would honestly push harder and get a much better workout in. When I'm running on the trail, I hear Jillian in the back of my head with some of her catch phrases - 'push it out,' when I'm doing lunges 'sink it down'!

In the beginning of the season, they show the contestants meeting with doctors to find out what diseases they have, or are on track to get. This resonates with me because the fear of disease is one of the main reasons I started my weight loss. My grandpa has diabetes, my grandparents all have heart disease, high blood pressure, and many other diet/exercise related illnesses. I love my grandparents dearly, but I didn't want to follow in their footsteps in that reguard.

I still am sad I never was able to be a contestant, because I honestly believe I would do amazingly well, but at the same time I'm so proud of myself for doing this on my own, and not even qualifying to be a contestant anymore!

I highly recommend tuning in, and watching it while exercising! I know I will be.

10k Training

Every Thanksgiving, my family walks or runs the 10k race in Cincinnati. This year is the 99th running of the T-day 10k! Usually my dad and older sister run the entire race, my husband, brother in law, and younger sister walk/run, and my mom walks. I've run/walked it the past 2 years at a little bit slower pace than the sister/husband/brother in law group. The first year I did the 10k in 90 minutes (mostly walking), the last year I did it in 78 minutes, this year I'm hoping to run the entire race in 70 minutes, allowing for an 11 minute mile.


I love the course, it winds through downtown Cincinnati, then over the bridge to Kentucky, then back to Cincinnati around Paul Brown Stadium (where the Bengals play) and finishing in front of Great American Ball Park (where the Reds play). Cincinnati is quite hilly, and there is a pretty substantial uphill section at the very beginning, then around mile 2 you go up a bridge, and around mile 5, you go back over to Ohio, up another looooong bridge. Those are my 3 worry areas, but I think I'll be OK as I've been doing some hill training in my neighborhood and my parents when I'm home in Cincinnati.


I'll be loosely following Hal Higdon's 10k training program, where I'll be doing 2-3 runs per week around 3-4 miles, and my long run on Saturday or Sunday, building up by .5 miles each weekend. I'm going to do a 10k dry run probably 2 weeks before the race.
I've also found 2 5k races to run between now and then to get myself pumped up about the competition, as my family is VERY competitive :)

Fajita Pasta

Melissa asked me to post the caloric breakdown in a recent dinner of mine, Fajita Pasta! It was absolutely delicious and quite healthy! As you know, I'm a big eater, so I go for bulk (lots of veggies) and even 1.5 servings of pasta, because the calories allow it! I use the Smart Taste pasta in a purple box, it has added calcium, fiber, and protein, which are 3 things I have trouble getting into my diet. It's also 170 calories/serving, when most pastas ate 200!

Here it is, Melissa! Enjoy :)

Fajita Pasta
½ lb. Rotini or any short cut pasta (3 servings, 595 calories)

½ lb. 99% fat free ground turkey (2 servings, 280 calories)

2 cloves minced garlic (10 calories)

½ red onion, sliced (30 calories)

1 c. sliced button mushrooms (30 calories)

1 zucchini, sliced (30 calories)

1 red bell pepper, sliced (25 calories)

1 green pepper, sliced (25 calories)

1 jalapeno, sliced (10 calories)

Salt and Pepper

1 15 oz. can organic diced tomatoes (75 calories)

2 tbsp. taco seasoning mix (I had Penzeys on hand) (5 calories)

1/4 c. 2% shredded cheddar cheese (70 calories)

Chopped cilantro, Sour Cream or Guacamole for garnish (These vary, so you will have to check the pakage)

TOTAL CALORIES - 1,185, per seving - 592

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt heavily, cook pasta until al dente. Drain, and pour into a large casserole dish.In a large skillet, cook turkey over medium heat, season with salt and pepper. When cooked, pour into the casserole dish with pasta.

In the same skillet, add mushrooms, zucchini, peppers, onion, and garlic. Sautee veggies for 10-15 minutes, until they’re tender. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour into the casserole dish.Add tomatoes and taco seasoning to casserole; stir well to mix all ingredients.

Top with cheddar cheese and put in the oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until cheese is melted and pasta is bubbly.

Plate and serve with garnishes.

Large lunch calls for a small supper...

I usually stick to my small lunches and save up my calories for dinner, but every now and then I have to have a larger than normal lunch. On my first day of work, my co-workers took me to lunch and I had a soup/sandwich combo. Since I estimated it was around 750 calories, I had to keep dinner small, but filling. The best way? Loads of veggies! I made a salad with lots of filling iceberg lettuce, a lowfat dressing, and some black beans for protein. In all the salad was around 350 calories!

Lettuce (2 c.)- 30 calories

Tomatoes (1 medium) - 25 calories

Red Pepper (1/2) - 30 calories

Red Onion (1/4 c. diced) - 15 calories

Corn (1/4 c.) - 40 calories

Black Beans (1/2 c.) - 110 calories

Lime Juice (half of a lime) - 5 calories

Cilantro (2 tbsp. minced) - 5 calories

Dressing - 50 calories

(1 tbsp. sour cream, 1/4 tsp. ranch dressing seasoning, 1/4 tsp. taco seasoning, splash of skim milk)

Cheese (2%, 2 tbsp.) - 45 calories

Salt and Pepper

Total: 350 Calories!