Kentucky Hot Browns

Choices.

Daily we are faced with them.

My first choice of the day is. "Do I push snooze, or just get up?"
Is it really time to get up? I just went to bed. Push Snooze.
Second Choice of the day: "Do I push snooze, or just get up?"
Push Snooze.
Third Choice of the day: "Do I push snooze, or just get up?"
Push snooze. Oh Shit, just get up!! Wait, I have to check my FB and email and Instagram (hmm, maybe I can call in sick)
Fourth Choice: "Do I shower or go to work looking like a hot mess?"
Shower you greaser! You will never wake up if you don't - don't worry about blow drying your hair (it is finally long enough for a tiny pony tail and 500 bobby pins to hold it in) and you can put on makeup in the car on the way to work while drinking a smoothie that took 5 extra minutes to make.
Fifth Choice: "How do I handle the first person at work who gives me crap for being exactly on time and not early?"
Tell them to suck it. Duck in the back door and BS with the smokers for a few minutes act like you've been there for 15 minutes - no one will see you walk into your office.

These are all easy choices to make.
The hardest choices for me are when it comes to food. I have a tough time choosing the healthy option over the yummy bad for you option. I like just about everything that is put in front of me, but sometimes wish I was a little picky, especially when it comes to food that I know is bad for me....which brings us to....
Kentucky Hot Browns
They are so good.
And so bad for you!

I ain't never heard of no 'Hot Brown' sammich until I moved to Kentucky, and it is dreamy! Here is the wikipedia link if you are interested in learning more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Brown
Basically its an open-faced sandwich of turkey and bacon, covered in Mornay sauce and baked or broiled until the bread is crisp and the sauce begins to brown. OtotheMtotheGoodness

I am very lucky to work for a company that caters lunch in often. Yesterday a Hot Brown Casserole was the main dish.

[caption id="attachment_109" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hot Brown Heaven[/caption]

I helped myself to a small serving and avoided the mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. (loaded up on salad) How do people make the right choices when it comes to food every day??! How do I change my mindset? The crappy part of the deal is...I had to go home and run extra hard in the heat and humidity and sweat my ass off...and the calorie burn probably barely scratched the surface of what I did to my body! It doesn't seem fair. (kick and scream) And my size 8 is slipping away one hot brown at a time.

It's reality though.

Time to step it up. Tomorrow starts a cleanse. Time to get rid of the vacation toxins and the hot brown mess that is me.
Check out www.findingmyweigh.com all of the cleanse details are listed there, my good friend is blogging about her progress and gave me the idea to do this with her. I am a couple of days behind, but and really excited to see her progress. It sounds doable and it is all fruits, veggies and some meat. No pills or drinking some weird combo of cayenne pepper and lemon water. - Don't worry, I'll keep you posted. It is 7 days long and tomorrow starts with all fruits and lots of water! I'm excited for this and ready to get back to eating clean and gettin' my mind right.

[caption id="attachment_110" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I hope my stomach is ready for this mess.[/caption]

On a side note - I ordered this little gem while I was on vacation. It showed up in the mail today and it made.my.day!



I ordered it on etsy.com from HomeStateApparel. They so cute! Better get you one.

Make your day and make the most of it!

Tabatas and Meatless Monday

Cheers to working out!  I am on a journey....a very significant journey.  A journey across the far depths of the sea and through the highest of the highest mountain tops. 

I am on a journey to fit myself into a size 8! 

So it begins:

[caption id="attachment_24" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The very secret formula.[/caption]

I'm in a size 10 right now - a very tight size 10...but that is all the motivation I need!  I am on my way to single digits!  As far as the secret formula goes, I AM doing the Isagenix 9-day cleanse right now.  Isagenix is awesome and a great way to kickstart weight loss and good health, send me a message if you want to know more and I am happy to share.  I am just barely getting into essential oils and ordered the 'slim and sassy' from DoTerra.  You are supposed to drop 8 or so drops into your water every day and like magic, the weight just falls off!  (just kidding, it is supposed to help with appetite and metabolism)  I haven't acquired a taste yet and keep forgetting to put it in my water.  I do like the way it smells though.

OK, lets get down to business.  Meatless Monday.  Say.What.??? 

A while back on Pinterest, I read Bob Harper's rules to being skinny and for some reason that one stuck out at me.  Ever since, I have been trying to have 'meatless mondays' every week. UNLESS...someone invites me to a steak dinner - there is usually NO WAY I would turn that down.

[caption id="attachment_26" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Rules - I don't want to be 'skinny' - so I haven't gotten too carried away..[/caption]

Anyway, I think his rules are pretty straight forward and somewhat easy to follow.  The guy is on TV, so he has to know what he is talking about, right?  I've been trying to keep them in mind on my journey to a healthier lifestyle (and a size 8).  One slight problem...I tend to focus on #20 more often than the others.  Not good,

So back to 'meatless monday'.  I made a beet, argula, and feta cheese salad with fig balsamic vinegar.  It turned out to be pretty good.  I really like beets.  I know they taste a little like dirt, but I love how they fill you up.  (the greens are also really good if you haven't tried them).  I am also think it is awesome how if you eat too many - you pee red.  Freaks me out a little every time.  I also marinated some cucumbers and onions in apple cider vinegar with a little salt and pepper over the weekend....they were excellent!  I remember my Gramma making 'refigerator pickles' in the summer and they tasted very similar. (obvi - Gramma's were better)

[caption id="attachment_25" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Meatless Monday[/caption]

On to Tabatas - I made the mile jog over to the park and...

[caption id="attachment_27" align="aligncenter" width="200"] These are Butt Kickers[/caption]

A Tabata is doing an exercise at a high intensity for 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest - and then you repeat the insanity!  We had to improvise a little tonight, because we weren't sure what some of the exercises were  (hot and colds?)...AND we only made it through #4, we did each 4 times through, I was dripping with sweat and I am going to be complaining about how sore I am tomorrow - good times.  All in all, they are a great workout and you can do them just about anywhere. 

Finally: how to do a burpee & good night.  (Rule #18, I am going to bed hungry because I had meatless monday, well played Bob, well played.)

[caption id="attachment_28" align="aligncenter" width="300"] There is an athlete inside all of us.[/caption]