The change up!

Hey everyone!

I have come to realize if something is not working out for you, you need to change it up!
For the last few weeks, my weight has stayed the same. I was battling between getting the sleep I need or go to weight watchers.Go for a workout or go to weight watchers. I kept thinking everything would just work out, but really that has not been the case. Over on my Twitter, I had been following a man that kept tweeting about a free custom diet plan. Each night, I would see his tweets and keep scrolling. Then one night, I decided to just check it out. 

Over the next few days we emailed about my needs, goals, and allergies. We also spoke about my journey and what has gotten me to this point. We also spoke about what has and has not been working for me. Tracking, counting, planning, and going to meetings, just was not working! My schedule with work is just too insane to make sure I am tracking and counting and going to meetings. Also, planning was becoming difficult, too. Some may say these are excuses, and I hear ya! I really do! But, my life has had some big changes and I need to change other things in my life as well! I own that!

So I waited for my Custom Diet plan to be sent over as I decided to give this a shot! For two days, I seriously prepared myself for a very strict plan! I was so pleasantly surprised when I saw that was not the case! It is all about upping my protein and making sure I get enough nutrients each and everyday! There is also a shake in there, which for me works out great since I am always on the run! The shake is packed with nutrients and tastes great too! I use it as a snack! The plan does have some planning ahead, but for me, it just seems much more manageable! 

I will be checking in each week and letting you know how it all goes!

The man I am working with is Marc Lalonde of Fitness Takeout. Marc is a Certified Personal Health & Fitness Expert | Body Transformation Specialist. Marc has been great to work with so far! He is helpful, patient, and honest! He is also full of amazing knowledge that he is happy to share with you! His email is fitnesstakeout@gmail.com if you have any questions!

I will admit and say how nervous I was still am, about leaving Weight Watchers, but I know I need to give this a try!!!

Xxoo Christina 

Handling life changes!

Oh life, you have such a fabulous way of throwing a curve ball! Just when hubby and I were settling in to our "married" routine, we got thrown a curve ball! A, I now work an hour away on a night shift (completely opposite his), with complete unpredictability, curve ball! We have had to do (and still are) a lot of adjusting! We thought we worked opposite schedules before?! Oh man! We really took that for granted! Now, we are lucky to see each other a few minutes in the middle of the night and a few early in the morning along with maybe two VERY short conversations during the day/night. Again, maybe being the operative word here! So we spoke about how we would adjust and how we would handle it and this is just the changes we have made!

-Communication. In the beginning we were both attempting to stick to our "normal" schedules and that just was not working for me, but I did not want to say anything. That was until, I had a melt down. It is SO much easier to just say what the heck you need to say in the first place and not let it snowball!
-Date night. Man I thought it was important before. SUPER important now! We have our normal weekend nights together, but we decided we needed to do more. Each month, one of us is planning a date for the other, not revolving around errands and what not!
-Pick and choose. We do this more carefully now as our time together is next to none! Sometimes you need to put yourself and your relationship first!
-Pick up the slack.   I am unable to do as much as I was doing, so hubby has been trying to help pick up the slack when he can.
-The Notebook. Because we are unable to always communicate like we do, we have a little notebook. We use it to write about our days, how we are feeling, and just what is going on. It is fun to come home almost nightly with a new note and I know hubby loves coming home to see his notes, too!
-Time Management. So we have made changes here as well. Now, hubby will go to the gym early on a Saturday while I am still sleeping, and by the time he gets home, I am getting ready to start my day. The errands we used to do separate, we now do together (food shopping).  We also are trying to cook together more. This helps with us spending time together and it also helps me free up the time i would normally spend cooking to now do something for myself.
Hubby now skips cardio at the gym on weekends and we do it together, and I think it has been one of the best changes. 
The little things. We have both been trying to find different and cute ways to let the other know we miss them or are thinking about them. We also try to be so grateful and mindful of the time we get together. We also try to not bicker about the little things. 

I am by no means saying this is what you need to do, nor am I saying we are perfect at these things! But for now, we are working at these changes and making it work for our marriage!

How have you handled big changes in your relationships??  

Xxoo-Christina 

Weekly workout recap!

So as I mentioned I wanted to do a weekly workout recap! I feel it will help me stay on track and keep consistent! This week I had planned 4 days of exercise, and as you will see I was able to get in 3 days. That is because in the beginning of the week I was feeling rather sick, so I decided to just rest up for my shifts at work and continue once I was feeling better!

 

 Workout #1 was with my hubby using the L2R app! I am working on my pacing and this app helps tremendously!

 Workout #2 was my 10 minute time crunch from Weight Watchers! It is a video of five different ten minute workouts with three different levels! I was able to do 3 workouts!

Workout #3 was a bit unconventional! Dancing at a wedding! Hubby and I danced all night along and per my active link, I was at a high level of intensity! I earned 6AP from dancing at a wedding! Woot Woot! 

During my week I attempted to park at the last parking spot, and walk whenever I could. Hubby and I also went to our local farmer's market and made sure to walk there and back! It is all about making healthy changes! 

Excited for this upcoming week!

Xxoo-Christina

My favorite things!!!

 Hey all! Welcome to all my new readers! So happy to have you here! Here are my favorite things this week! Remember, when I get to 50 followers on the blog, (just enter your email on the right hand side of the page) I will be giving away a gift card! 

My first favorite this week is my "lock&lock"! There containers are simply amazing! They NEVER EVER spill or leak! There are many different places to purchase them and I order mine at QVC  

Next up! My Stella&Dot piece of the week! Juniper! A statement piece that is perfect ALL summer long! Stella&Dot is having a great June promotion! For every $50 spent in June you will earn $25 dot dollars to use in July! Stella&Dot

Sparkly Soul headband are my next favorite! The headbands DO NOT MOVE! Perfect for working out and training! Of course it does not hurt that they have some SERIOUS sparkle! 

SparklySoul 

 

My absolute kitchen must have! SILPAT! No more sprays, foils, or papers! Silpat is all you need and it is all I use! You can get them at BBB, Macy's, Amazon, etc

Lastly, Weight Watchers 10 minutes time crunch training! It is five different ten minute workouts with a resistance band! 

This week's revipie of the week is again from Gina at Skinnytaste! Seriously amazing, easy, healthy, filling and delicious! 

Pasta Fagioli (Pasta and Beans) Skinnytaste.com Servings: 5 • Serving Size: about 2 cups • Old Points: 5 pts • Points+: 6 pts Calories: 254.5 • Fat: 3.4 g • Protein: 10.3 g • Carb: 47.5 g • Fiber: 6.8 g
Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 onion
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 carrot, finely chopped
• 1 15 oz can cannellini beans
• 15 oz can tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1 tbsp basil
• 1 tbsp parsley
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 (14 oz each) cans fat free chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians)
• 2 cups water
• salt and pepper to taste
• 6 oz dry Ditalini pasta or other small pasta
• grated parmesan cheese for topping (optional)

Directions:

In a deep pot, saute onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat.

Blend the can of beans with one can water in electric blender until almost smooth.

Add blended beans to pan then add the can of tomato sauce, celery, carrots, chicken broth, basil, bay leaf, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper. Add 1 cup water and bring to slow boil. Let simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Add pasta and cook uncovered until pasta is al dente, according to pasta directions.

Ladle soup into bowls and top with grated cheese (extra)

See ya next week!

Xxoo-Christina