And now for some Spring Fashion!

Spring is my favorite time of year, because everything feels so new. So in the spirit of Spring, my wardrobe has gotten a couple of cool new Spring pieces as well. However, I know I will be getting a couple more before March so here are some SPRING trends to look out for:

Color-Blocking

This has been around since last Spring and it is going strong! Definitely my favorite, so don't be afraid to "mix and match" hot colors!

The Pink Suit

 A great alternative to this pink suit would be a collared pink shirt or wearing the blazer and shorts seperately.

Oversized Clutch

The oversized clutch is a carry over from Fall, if you have one in a neutral color you're in luck! Looks great paired with some color.

Artistic/Futuristic prints

Yes! Everything goes this Spring! (See why I love it so much?) I won't be wearing too much floral print, but I definitely love the artistic and aztec prints!!!

Floral Prints

Of course, floral prints, it IS Spring!

Pantone, is THE authority on colors and this is what they released at the Spring 2012 colors:

Now get to shopping ladies!!!

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No workout out today.

7:30am Breakfast: Oatmeal

10am Snack: Fiber Bar

1:30pm Snack: (in class) Low Carb Vanilla Shake

3pm Lunch: 1/2c cottage cheese and 1/2c bell peppers, (not pictured) 2oz Almonds <---yeah, I'm addicted!

5pm Dinner: Grilled Ahi Tuna w/ Bok Choy and side salad

My plate

7pm Dessert: 100 cal microwaveable brownie

Recommended kitchen utensil: Cast Iron Grill

Great for low calorie grilling!!!

Enjoy!

~wL

The proof is in the...PICTURES!

So today I took my "after" pictures, but really they are my "before" (weightlifting) pictures.  I started my diet on August 25, 2011. I feel like the time went by so fast!

So now I am trying to cut down to 18%bf and focus on lifting weights to get those nice lines. =) 

Today's workout: 

12 minute running warm-up on treadmill; speed 6.4mph incline 1.5

5 minutes of step ups on box

10 minutes cycling and running (intervals)

walking lunges, squat jumping jacks, squats, leg press and deadlifts

*I tried something new today, didn't count reps just did each exercise to exhaustion then moved to the next.

Then I worked core:

Supermans, reverse leg lifts from push up position, curled knee pushes, and several yoga poses

8:30am Breakfast: Granola Bar

9:50am Post Workout: Protein shake

1/2 gone...sorry :(

12pm Lunch: Lean beef, green salad, 1tbsp olive oil and small sweet potato

Salad is mixed greens w/added spinach and sliced mushrooms

2pm Snack: almonds and low carb protein shake

5pm Dinner: Chicken and asparagus (from Eating For Life Cookbook)

8pm Snack: Sugar Free fruit pop

1 gallon of water!!!

ROSEMARY CHICKEN

3tbsp balsamic vinegar

1tbsp olive oil

3tbsp rosemary, chopped (I used dry)

1/4tsp ground black pepper

3 cloves garlic, minced 

1 lb of skinless chicken (I used boneless, skinless breast)

In a pie plate, mix balsamic vinegar, olive oil, rosemary, black pepper and garlic. Add chicken and turn to coat. Lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Place chicken in skillet and cook for 8-10 minutes. Turn and cook until no longer pink in the center. 

Enjoy!

~wL

Cheat Day! The calm before the storm...

So yesterday I wrote this big long post and it somehow deleted so here we go again:
Today (Sunday) was my official cheat day. I hadn't had one in 6 months, since losing the 30lbs, and was in dire need of one. I think I deserved it. :) Well anyhow, what was the weapon of choice you ask? ITALIAN FOOD, of course. Anyone that knows me, knows that I must have been Italian in a past lifetime. HeeHee! However, since being on diet I guess my stomach capacity has decreased because I could barely get that second plate down. So I only sampled a little of everything.
Here's how the day went:
9am Breakfast: Nature's Path Organic Flax Plus Cereal w/milk, fish oil and multivitamins w/3c water

1pm Lunch: 2c water and (see pictures) I kinda just picked at second dish, which was so OILY I was glad I didn't eat it all.

3pm Snack: EAS low carb protein bar
5pm Snack: EAS low carb vanilla shake, almonds, 1-2% cheesestick
8pm Snack: almonds, marzipan candy, caramel popcorn

As you can see, I pretty much had the foods I missed the most. I would say it was a very fulfilling 'cheat' day, and now back to reality.

Here's a picture I took of Rome at the restaurant. Wasn't as excited as I was about eating pasta! LOL!

~wL

Protein day...

Since I did a chest workout yesterday (intense) I knew I needed to up the protein today to repair my sore muscles.
Yesterday's workout:
2 sets of 20 reps increasing weights
straight bench chest presses
super set with flys ( 2 rounds)
Pyramid of decline presses (these were killers)
Starting with 10lbs/20 reps
12.5lbs 15 reps
15lbs 10 reps
17.5lbs 5 reps

Today's breakfast was clean and simple. Carbs and protein of course.
Breakfast: 2 egg whites 1 whole egg (new research on egg yolk benefits here )
 and blueberry oatmeal. I made my own with Quaker oats and fresh blueberries.

Snack: EAS low carb protein bar

Lunch: green salad and croutons (carbo load) and a nap!
Snack: EAS low carb protein shake
Dinner: Baked orange chicken thighs (recipe here) and "fried" (more like sauteed) cabbage. I sprinkled a little bit of crushed red pepper flakes for a little spice. Hubby LOVED the chicken and it was so easy to make!!!

I will be having a 1/2c cottage cheese drizzed with 1tbsp honey for dessert about 30 minutes before bed and 2 cups of water too!
NOTE: I do NOT drink anything aside from water all day, so if you don't see a reference to drinks, it means I just drank water. :)

What's in your bread?

Just because it's not white bread doesn't mean it's good bread. If the first ingredient says "enriched" anything, don't buy it! Enriched just means white flour, which is a bad carb so please avoid!

I always recommend Ezekiel bread, but I think they only sell it at health food stores. I get mine at Sprouts, but have seen it at both Henry's and Trader Joe's.  

 So what other breads are good? I found 2 yesterday at my trip to the grocery store, by Orowheat:

Here's the nutrition label, notice the first ingredient?

So please read the labels, they can make the difference! Happy eating!
~wL

The long day...

So today is my long day at school so no workout post, which means I cant have any almonds or cheese as a snack, since they are higher in fat. *sigh*

Breakfast: Protein powder shake (easy for on the go)

Midmeal: Granola bar
Lunch: Salmon and broccoli w/ steak soup and strawberry lemonade (Lunch @ Black Angus w/friend)

Snack: Goldfish and Grapes

Dinner: Mixed greens salad with 1/4c bell pepper and 1 capful of dressing

*together with a big glass of water, this is very filling and light, since I am going to bed early today!
Dessert: EAS low carb vanilla shake

So I'm going to bed earlier than normal because I just wanna get this LONG day over with. I normally go to bed at 12 or 1am.
Did you know that you use more calories when you sleep than when you just lay on the couch and watch tv?
Nightey night!!!

What I ate...

Just realized today was Wednesday, I mean I knew it was, but wow, week has gone by fast. Today was an easy day for me, started early with school of course.

WORKOUT:
Had fitness class today. Ran 6.2mph at .5 incline on treadmill for 18mins, then did a leg and cycling circuit for about 30mins and 20mins of abs. Nonstop!!!

Breakfast: Blueberry oatmeal, made with steel cut oats and fresh blueberries (sorry no pic)
Midmeal: EAS low carb shake

Lunch: spinach, zucchini, tomato and mushroom salad (ate at school)
Snack: walnuts and granola bar

Dinner: Bodega bay cioppino (see below recipe)

Today's dinner recipe was inspired by Fresh & Easy's Seafood mix. I also found the recipe here. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/bodega-bay-cioppino/detail.aspx Let me know if you guys decide to give it a try.

I'll be having another protein shake (probably chocolate) for dessert! :) TTYS! ~wL

So today I finally chose the template for Rome's calendars. I'm still wondering what to do with them, whether I should send them along with the thank you cards, or if I should give them out the day of his party. Rome came in to give me his approval and of course beat on the computer keyboard and attempt to bite me a couple of times. I'm assuming he's hungry so I'm off to make him dinner. From us to you Happy New Year!!!