'tis the season to smile- It's cold, but we'll be freezing in style

So, I had my first "random" comment on my blog today!!! (thanks @brooke) -- It made me so happy. I hope that I am as entertaining and amusing to the world wide web as I think that I am. I really would love to be a "blogger" -- although I think my recipe page is probably more of interest to the general public.

What types of blogs do you find the most interesting? Do you like the day to day? Do you like to see recipes/"how to's"? I am wondering if I should have one focus and throw myself into it, as opposed to having 2 separate pages where I have my ever-so-witty commentary about life, and then add in my favorite recipes.

((side note, I definitely update the recipe page more often than this one - make it a favorite: www.cookinginstilettosRecipes.blogspot.com)

Recipe of the day:

Chili (Cheater)
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Motivation.

So, I successfully made my diet and exercise schedule, minus weekends because I gave up). I tried to be somewhat creative with meals, but let's face it: if you are dieting, there isn't much creativity to be found. Below is a little smidgen of a sampling of the menu I came up with. (Rocket science, I know).

I also came up with a little workout rotation based off of the workouts I had been doing throughout the last few months...and had somewhat slacked off of. I have Workout A, Workout B, Workout C below:

Plus, I am adding +50 Jumping Jacks if/when alcohol is "allowed" to be consumed. I thought that would be an extra added bonus for a few reasons. 1. I am not in-shape enough that 50 Jumping Jacks don't seriously get my heart rate up. 2. I hate Jumping Jacks.

Again, none of this is rocket science. Nothing is particularly hard (other than sticking with it through this very diet-un-friendly time of year) but you just have to find what is motivating you at the end of the day. For most people, it's health reasons, and looking good reasons. For me, it's both as well. What really keeps me motivated, though, is looking at the reality. In 4 short months I was able to get this kind of before and after:

 

Four months, people! I can't even fathom the fact that I let myself get like that... and now, I canNOT let it happen again. I am facing the holiday season in a good place. I am up 2.5 from my lowest point, as my birthday celebrations really got the best of me... but I am going into the holidays -14.5 overall. I guess that's not too shabby. (Not to mention, I have been horrendously sick this week so I barely even enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner!! Life fail/Diet score!).

 

If I can do it, you can do it.

 

So tell me, what motivates you?!

 

 

Recipe of the day:

Thanksgiving Stuffed Mushrooms

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It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The holidays are upon us. Well, almost. I have to say, that I am finding myself in the Christmas spirit a bit earlier this year, thanks to <insert any store name here>. Now, I love the holidays as much as the next girl (and probably more), but starting with the Christmas music the day after Halloween is a bit excessive. Although, what a nice birthday treat for me!

 

Either way, I am starting to minorly freak out about the holidays. Why stress, you ask? It's not like I host any holiday other than Easter. It's not like I don't love the decorations, music, cozy-feel all around, and the act of gifting. No, no, none of that. The holidays this year are a major problem in my life for no reason other than...... the food.

 

We all know that food is a big issue for me (and, while the "30 before 30" didn't exactly fall into place the way I would have liked it to, I officially lost 17 lbs before my birthday- not too shabby- but I think I have already gained probably 5 of it back because I completely forgot what it is to make dinner and/or eat healthy...) but now I am also realizing that I am faced with a bigger challenge: the next month of life will be filled with big holiday dinners, little holiday parties, and TABs galore. There will be cookies, cakes, candies to anyone's delight. Not mine!!!

 

Let's face it - everyone eats like a crazy person during the holidays, and usually people gain weight. It's the winter-time, not like it's bikini season anymore. Everyone is cooped up in the house because it's so cold out, and so we just eat. It's human nature...Someone save me.

 

As I am sitting here with a horific stomach ache after the (extra-crispy) Thai wings and Bar Bites tt and I ate for dinner last night, I am reminded of just how crappy I feel when I eat crap. I am on "staycation" this week - I have decided that the first thing on my agenda is to develop a diet and exercise plan for the next 30 days. I am going to literally plan out every meal through the holiday season (inclusive of any parties that need to be attended, by looking at the menus ahead of time). I am going to limit my alcohol consumption (ha). I am going to not. eat. dessert.! I am also going to force tt to do this with me, as we are not the best influences on each other. (I don't feel like eating grilled chicken... let's get a pizza.)

 

Once I have finished this plan, I will be more than happy to share it with the world, so check back in the next few days and I hope to have it ready.

 

Let's just hope that with this plan in hand, the holiday feast gods spare us all this year!

 

Second on my agenda... figuring out my Christmas cards... Oy.

Recipe of the day:

Diet-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes ala HG
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