seeya poundpinchers

After some encouragement and some thought I have decided to cease posting on poundpinching2010.

This blog has been such a big part of my life for the last 16 months, and I really was hoping I was touching people, inspiring them and showing them that it isn't always easy to do the healthy choice, but that it is worth it in the long run.

I haven't really connected with anyone through this. I haven't touched anyone's life that I know of. I haven't felt what I needed to feel to keep going.

My weight and my journey has been so public, but is still such a personal thing for me and I think the best thing to do is sign off and keep my health journey close to my heart and in another place for now.

Good luck to you as you continue your journeys. I wish you the best and health and happiness.

holy sick moly

omgosh. i woke up friday feeling nauseas, and the scale went up 2 lbs from the day before after a perfect day of eating to 134.4 and my stomach has been killin me ever since. every time i eat i look as if I am 5 months prego. I am starting to worry. I have never felt like this before, and I am definitly not pregnant. So, I am worried why my stomach is killing me and bloated out like a balloon. Oh ya, and my hubby has a big ceremony tomorow to be sworn in as an officer in our town. Great day to have bloating crazy stomach. I hope this goes away!!!!

Had to think about it

So, I have been thinking about this post since Monday night when I sorta had a bit of a panic attack. I have been so real and open on this blog, so I have wondered if I would be doing anyone justice by posting my freak out session. I don't want to be a downer. I want to build people up. I want to say that I am 100% on to being a healthy fitness junky but that isn't the truth. I decided to go ahead and let myself post because maybe it will help someone realize they aren't alone. That it isn't always easy and that it is ok. Being healthy and fit is about a collection of choices. Not one here or one there. It is a lifestyle, and the truth is that life is chaotic and stressful and no body can be on all the time. I had been doing so awesome following my clean eating guidelines. It had been over a week of consistent clean eating. I love this clean eating and the schedule that I follow with it because I am able to eat so many more calories than I used to limit myself to. I am trying to lean out, gain muscle so I am focusing on eating whole grain carbs in moderation and lots of protein and vegetables. Friday night came and I thought I could afford a small cheat. So I had some frozen yogurt. I had another almost perfect day Saturday, but decided to go out for Mexican food and have chips and salsa with blue corn tacos. The problem with that is I really like that, and I don't stick to portion sizes. Then Sunday I had another little cheat, and Monday again. I tried to go to sleep Monday but I could not shut my freaking brain off. I was like a crazy pin ball inside my own body going and going and going. I was freaking out about all the chocolate chips I had just eaten. Freaking out I couldn't just stick to my guidelines. Freaking out my after picture will look the same as my before. Freaking out that I am saying one thing and doing another. Freaking out that I can't cheat once, that I can't just stop once I start. That I just keep going. Freaking out that I just want to freaking eat crap food. Freaking out that I just don't ever want to enter the freaking gym or freaking run ever, again. That was a whole lot of freaking out. I re read my written goals, I scoured the internet for motivation. Have to find my motivation. My mind would not stop. I almost felt like throwing up I was such a mess. Then I was starting to freak out that I was freaking out so much, what is this.. the beginning of an ugly disorder I don't want to go down. I am a mom, a role model, I am not even super skinny so it can't be that, why can't I stop freaking out? Well what the hell is wrong with me then? I am freaking out typing this. I feel my heart starting to race again. I sent an email to my getinshapegirl.com friend. I asked her how she does it. She is training for a fitness competition and is teeny tiny. How does she do it all the time? And she is eating way less choices than I am right now. And how does she motivate everyone else all the time for a living? Why is this all of a sudden so hard for me? Why after all this time am I freaking out? Maybe because I feel like I am on the verge of really transforming? Maybe because I am scared I will fail and my body just isn't the type that can look like those fit girls? Maybe because I am scared I really am destined to be the chunky girl for the rest of my life? Maybe because I am just sick of worrying about how everyone feels all the time? I finally settled down enough to rest through the night. I got ready (I start that process at nap time for the kids about 2pm, class is at 6pm) to teach my class Tuesday night. I had the windows open all day, the blinds up and as much light in my house as would allow. I took the kids outside FOREVER to play. I needed the light. I felt dark and yucky inside and things weren't feeling good. I didn't even want to teach. That has never happened. I wanted to cancel the class because I was freaking out for 1, and #2 last week I only had 6 people in my class. Why teach if people aren't going to come. I needed motivation. Have to find MY motivation. I even went for a run outside before class to try and clear my freaking cluttered head. It worked a little but I just felt so bleh. So exhausted,even one of the girls came up and said "you look tired, do you need a break?" And then the people started filing in. I had 21 peeps show up and I found SOME motivation. They were there. More than 21 do not fit into that class room. We were working hard and I was finding my old peppy self coming out. I thanked them for being there, if they really only knew what they did for me be being there that night. I got an email back from the getinshapegirl.com she told me how she feels the same way. It's a roller coaster of emotions. Share my story, it might help inspire someone to keep pushing through. Give myself credit, I am eating cleaner than I ever have and I am cheating less than I ever have. I mean really, check this out. I haven't eaten chips in a month I am pretty sure. Minus the Cafe Ole ones. I used to eat corn tortilla chips everyday. I loved them. I don't miss them too much. I'd rather fill up on more nutritious food like a whole greek yogurt, that makes me full, than 10 tortilla chips. The worst thing someone could ever say about me is that I am a hypocrite. I would hate it, from any aspect of my life if someone said that about me. I know that if I went back to the old Teri, the one from this picture that eats all the candy, fast food, and chips she wants I would feel dark and yucky inside in a whole different way than I ever have. I didn't know the difference before. I didn't know what my body was capable of. I do know that that is a place I never want to go back to. I do know that I enjoy being a healthy, fit person... and it makes me happy for people to look at me and know those things about me. Not in a jealous or envious sort of way. But in a partnership kind of way. I am not perfect all the time in my healthy lifestyle. I want to be more perfect in it. I want to be better and choose better. I want to help other people find the person they were meant to be. I want to find a balance. Now, is here is to finding my balance.

Yummiest Lunch in a long time!!!

You will not regret stepping out of your box of usual foods to try this recipe !! It was so good, it looks like goo in the mixing bowl but I assure you it tastes like a dream. I got it out of the Oxygen magazine so it is healthy rest assured. But so good!!!! Try it and tell me what you think Spicy Feta Turkey Burgers 8oz extra lean ground turkey ¼ c dried bread crumbs 1 egg 2-3 tbsp milk 1 tsp olive oil 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce ¼ c chopped onion 1 tsp oregano 1 crushed garlic clove 1 tsp chili flakes 1 tbsp chopped parsley ¼ c (light) feta cheese crumbled 2 whole grain sandwich thins 2 tbsp light tzatziki sauce 4 tomato slices Small handfull sprouts Mix first 11 ingredietns by hand in bowl, add feta. Form into 1 inch thick patties (this is for 2 servings so 2 patties) grill for 6 minutes on each side. Place patties in bun, top with tsatziki sauce, tomato and sprouts. I didn’t use the sauce just a dab of ketchup, added avocado for my healthy fat with lettuce, tomato and onion.

131.6

Holla!!! I was happy to see 131.6 on the scale today but even more estatic to see the way my stomach is flattening out. I know it seems kinda weird but I have strictly been following clean eating guidelines for the past 2 weeks and have been lifting heavy weights. I can't believe the changes that are coming. I wanted to make a post today about how funny it is the cycles of a healthy lifestyle. Ironic really. I remember when I first did my weight loss competition last January of 2010. I had a contestant nagging at me to do posts on eating whole foods, fruits, veggies, whole grains, and protein. I thought she had good intentions, but that type of lifestyle wasn't consistent with what I was ready to accomplish at the time. I needed a 100 calorie pack everyday for a snack, even if that meant I wasn't filled up or nourished, I just needed it. And ice cream. I needed it. I was willing to put in the 2 hours at the gym but I wasn't willing to clean up my eating. I wasn't ready for her wealth of knowledge I just needed to do it the weight watcher way, which made things consistent and comfortable to me. And then I ran into Take Shape for Life. I still had 10 or 15 lbs to lose. It wasn't coming off as quickly as I wanted and I researched the crap out of it. I thought if I could be succesful with the program, I could look into helping other people hop into the fast lane and get rid of unwanted weight fast. It worked, and I really believe in the program. I think it is a healthy way to drop lbs fast, but following it you have to be ready to keep making the right healthy food choices to maintain your loss. A diet does not work. I have said it a million times and I will say it again. You do not get rid of extra weight on a diet, you lose weight on a diet. And then you gain it back, if you are not willing to make the sacrifices it takes to maintain your new loss. Here I am almost 15 months later in my total health journey. Optimal health is my goal and I can truly say that I feel like I have arrived. I feel like I am capable of coaching you, you, or you... because I have been there. I know how hard it is to take this journey and I know that if I can be successful, then you can be too. If I can do it, trust me dear reader... anyone can do it. Anyway, my point is this. It is a journey. What you are ready to sacrifice today is small in comparison to what you will be able to in 6 months. Today it might be hard to get to the gym for 30 minutes 5 days a week-- but in 6 months you will have mastered that and you will more than likely be ready to stay at the gym for 45 minutes or an hour. Or to try a new class. And 6 months from then you might be ready to give up ice cream or 100 calorie packs. Our goals change over time. We can not give up because of a bad choice. We did not gain unwanted weight in one meal, one day, or one week. We gained it because of a lifestyle of bad choices that did not include healthy eating and exercise. We have to keep moving foward towards optimal health. I have had several people consulting with me in the past two weeks. I have received multiple emails asking for help on fitness routines or on nutrition plans. I am a health coach for Take Shape for Life and I love that avenue of my life. I love helping people drop weight fast using meal replacements. I am a fitness instructor and I love helping people reach fitness goals. I am those things as well as a partner to anyone and everyone in health. I would love to help you in any way that I can. And when I say that, I don't mean I want you to feel even one bit like you would ever need to pay me. I don't want your money. I want you to be your healthiest, best self ever and I want to have the satisfaction of being able to say... I helped him or her get there... to optimal health. If you ever have a question, comment or concern. I would love to hear from you. I'd love to help you get started or help you push over a helacious hill of a plateau. Let me know! And rememeber, anything worth having (like a healthy, hott body) is worth the work it takes to make it happen. You can do it!

Get In Shape Girl

So I am trying to help a fellow sista in fitness out. I have hooked up with her in the past month and feel so lucky! I really feel like I was just on the verge of being able to accomplish better goals fitness wise for myself, but didn't have all the right information. Through Oxygen magazine (i heart that mag) I found thegetinshapegirl.com and she has been helping me with some new fabulous workouts and keeping me focused on healthy, clean eating. She is located in Massachusetts and is getting ready to launch a virtual training website. This is a new phenomenon to me, and if I wasn't basically using her as a virtual trainer this month and loving it... I would have thought it wasn't for me. But it IS for me, and it could be for YOU too. IF you take this 3 minute survey, she will send you a free breakfast plan (she has some goooood recipes on her site), she is trying to compile info from people of all different levels of fitness and health so please help her out!! Go to this site, and take the quick survey! She will send you the breakfast plan! And if you post on your status of facebook, tell her at thegetinshapegirl on facebook and she will send you a lunch and dinner plan too. You wont regret getting this info I promise! Take this survey http://bit.ly/dYFmKL Personal Training Survey

Victory

I ran around like a crazy chicken with my head cut off today. Happens every Wednesday. I do it like clock work. I had to feed the kids out today, no way around it. We invited some friends to Mickey D's after story time. I wondered to myself if this was going to be a challenge to eat clean. To stick with the commitment to eat clean and avoid high calorie crap food, especially in a place that used to melt my little diets in half! I felt like a million bucks as I got to that order line, ordered one kids meal to share for the kids. (I know I shouldn't be feeding them that either, but that's a story for another day) One salad for me, all the veggies, grilled chicken, light dressing. It tastted good. It fit in with my protein, veggie, and fat meal. And I wasn't even the tiniest bit tempted to steal a nugget or a fry (like I would have in my weight watcher days, there are only 1 pt in a nugget.. how bad can it be?!). Because I have changed the way I think, the way I say things in my head, and aloud... they have gotten so much easier. I didn't tell myself I couldn't have McDonalds, I told myself I just don't eat that kind of food. It's a choice. A matter of preferance. I choose to have my pants fall off my bum, I like my pants loose more than I like to eat chicken nuggets and french fries. And that made me feel really strong, like I had something to celebrate today. What do you have to celebrate today? Celebrate everything good, big or small!! Let's hear it!

So you might think...

I am getting a little vain here...
But I wanted to see the muscle definition that I have, and what my progress looks like on May 1. My husband is sorta thinking I have gone of the deep end, since I keep asking him to take more pics. :o) I have been really working on my back for the past two months and I am happy with the progress. I think if I can lower my body fat with this clean eating and more heavy workout the definition is gonna p-o-p!!

More PIcs

August 2010 August 2010 April 1 2011April 1 2011 So ever since I found my new friend and inspiration in Boston(thegetinshapegirl.com) I have been changing things up in my personal healthy lifestyle. For one I started eating clean almost all the time. I am eating a lot of protein, few starches (but only healthy ones), a little fruit and a lot of veggies. For two, I have started lifting heavy weights and have stopped doing 500 of every lift at the gym. I lift heavy for shorter reps and am seeing some changes coming quickly. I have rededicated myself to my healthy lifestyle and have gotten excited about seeing muscle definition come through. I want more muscle! I guess I have said that a few times now. Anyway, these are my April 1st pics, and I can't waite to take my May 1st ones. Seriously I really think this is going to be a big month for Teri!! Yay!

More food ideas

So I have been keeping the most detailed health journal lately and I have to say I am in love with it. I have made a consistant effort to banish those BLT's from my diet (bites licks and tastes) and have been doing amazingly well eating clean. I can't believe how much more food I get to put in my mouth and chew when I choose whole foods!!! It is so fun planning my meals (6 in a day) because I have so many options. I stopped worrying about the grocery bill so much, I spend a little more these days at the store, but I spend less overall because we aren't eating out at all. I don't even want to eat out. I had the opportunity today and turned it down to come home for a homemade chicken wrap, and it was sooo good for the record.

Each day my journal looks like this
Date Weight workout for the day

protein vveggie starch fruit healthy fat


p v s fru fat



p v s fru fat



p v fat




p v fat

I record the time that I eat (because rememebr to eat every 2-3 hours)
at the bottom I record crazy things that may have happened like if I start my t.o.m (he he is that tmi? or extra little walk with the kids, or slept well last night. etc.
I highly reccomend a food journal or utilizing one of the websites out there to track your caloric intake. I have seen sparkpeople.com and it seems pretty neat. It is hard to remember everything we eat, and we are more accountable when we WRITE it down.

Now I will give you ideas for these catergorys

Protein: turkey, chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, pork tenderloin, flank steak, grrek yogurt( so good, if you don't like it today, try it a few more times it grows on you and it is delish now) cottage cheese

startch: whole grains (mueseli, quinoa, old fashioned oats, steel cut oats( sweet potato, squash, wheat

Fat oils, nuts, nut butters

here are some snack ideas, I will add some meal ideas later in the week

kettle korn (weight watchers kind)
cottage cheese with cinnamon
banana with almond butter on whole wheat tortilla
slice of whole grain bread, little shred cheese, avocado. warm the cheese soo good!!
MEDIFAST BAR... I can help you with those. Smore is my fave!! 100 cals and 14 grams of protein. I can't find a better bar out there!!
mango
special k crackers with laughing cow cheese
grapes, 12 raw almonds, greek yogurt
mixed dried fruit with walnuts and raw almonds
greek yogurt with kashi honey sunshine cereal
celery with cheese or penut butter
apple with penut butter or almond butter
3 egg whites 1/4 scoop choc protein powder blended in blender with 1 c spinach. pour into pan and cook both sides add almond butter and 1/2 banana to top. Looks disgusting but tastes great... got it today off facebook!!

Anyway there are a few ideas of what I have been eating lately and what I was eating before changing to my higher protein to try and build build up some muscle!!!

A little inspiration

One of my client's has come to mind more than once over the past week or so as I am eating clean and avoiding sugary processed foods....

like the chocolate cake tonight,

and the Starburst jelly beans that were right next to my till all day yesterday.

"It's only food, we know what it tastes like."

And that has carried me through folks!! I know what that cake tastes like, and what any and every candy tastes like... and I don't need to eat it right now while I am in this mode, in this phase of my life. I would rather store up all my progress at the gym and snub a few treats to see definition in my arms and a piece of cellulite vanish.

I hope those words might be able to help you resist a temptation like they have for me!! Do you have a motto? Something that pushes you through when the going gets rough? I also like "I am strong, I am capable, work it!" That pushes me over a hill or through the last repition in a set of bicep curls.

133.6

my eating is cleaner than ever,
my workouts are going well,
I am gaining speed on my runs.

I will take 133.6 and silently pray the number goes down, but externally be happy with the progress my body is making.

Starting Amy's three weeks bust today, (weighing in every Friday for the next 3 weeks.)

Starting April fitness challenge with my new friend in Massachusetts Kyra.

Registered for the Race for the Cure last night, if you want to join... it isn't too late. And you can search for team D & B Supply, and join their team to save $5 on your entry fee, (20 instead of $25) I really believe in this cause, the efforts to cure Breast Cancer. Come join the fun and see what a 5k looks like. Set goals for yourself!! They are so empowering!

It is an exciting month to be me!!