Edition #3: The Erin Change Project

Hello Crazy-Busy-I'm not sure if I'm ready for you... MAY!!!

Soooo... I'm now 10 weeks or 72 days or 1,728 hours or 103,680 minutes or 6,220,800 seconds into this crazy-wonderful process. Crazy, Right??!?!!

Staying with the theme of busyness, This post is going to be short, Exciting but to the point!
Let's get to the good stuff.


VICTORIES:

1. (as of 5/1/13) I've lost 20 pounds!!!!!!!! (whoop. whoop.)
also known as:

A Kitchen Aid Mixer

or This anonymous Grandma's cat

or 80 sticks of butter

2. I officially dropped a pant size. (YAY, New jeans, thanks Mom!)


STRUGGLES:

1. I may be slightly addicted to weighing myself. sad. 
(here is my lame attempt to explain my bad habit: Being that I still have soooo much (in my mind) to loose, it's hard to soak in that even the little changes are happening and are awesome. It's also hard to see 1 pound, 5 pounds, & believe it or not 20 pounds of weight loss. Sooooo, the scale is scientific proof of change. It tells me that I am not *that* weight anymore regardless if I do or don't fit in to that cute dress I've been eyeing. It tells me I have changed even if I feel disappointed that I didn't commit to working out that day. It proves that this *IS WORKING* .... so for now I will feed my dangerous and risky addiction. I have played with the idea of not weighing myself in June... maybe. we'll see. I want to do it. but....)

2. I have gone 1 whole week without working out. Yikes.
And it is getting easier to justify my excuses. Scary.
I want this gone. and gone NOW!!!


INSIGHTS / REVELATIONS / TIPS:

1. I have unintentionally put myself on "1 smoothie-a-day" plan.
I just LOVE them! They are super yummy, I can make tons of different combinations, they fill me up, & they are fun for summer too!!

summer strawberries made smoothies all the more tasty.

2. One of my favorite lunches is left overs, that's right... left overs (kind of)
I will grill marinaded chicken breasts for the dinner and make two extra for my lunches. 

Marinade:
1 cup White Balsamic Salad Dressing (your favorite italian dressing)
1 Tbls. Spicy Brown Mustard
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
salt
pepper
(marinade in refrigerator for 30 min.)
Grill!

Next day:

***Spinach & Chicken Salad***

1 cup of spinach

1/2 grilled chicken breast chopped (about 5 oz.)

4 baby carrots chopped

1/4 cup of craisins

2 Tbls. of Catalina dressing

Total: 325 calories (no diet food, either!)

so yummy. so healthy. so easy.

RECIPIES:

1. My two favorites smoothie concoctions of the month:

***Green Apple***

2 c. spinach (or kale)

1/2 frozen banana

1/2 apple

1/2 Tbsp. peanut butter

1 c. almond milk

1/2 c. oatmeal (old fashioned oats)

Total: 335 calories

--smoothie credit to my smoothie inspiration @3xsthefun (on Instagram)--

So refreshing. Loved it!

***Blackberry Oatmeal***

1 c. blackberries

1 frozen banana

2 c. spinach

1 c. almond milk

1/2 c. plain nonfat greek yogurt

1/2 c. oatmeal (old fashion oats)

Total: 350 calories

Super sweet & nutty from the oatmeal!!

(I've added a new section to my monthly update. I'll highlight three of my awesome supporters who deserve a shout out for putting up with all this craziness!)

SPECIAL THANKS:

1. My hubby & boys... 

Seriously, they deal with me when I'm:
excited. 
cranky. 
disappointed. 
hungry. 
sore. 
& tired. 
Thanks guys! Who knew 4 boys would be my biggest supporters & cheerleaders??!? Love you.

2. Traci Davis... 

This woman is a machine. She is such an inspiration & encouragement to me. I'm so grateful for her amazing friendship & accountability. She means so. so. so. much to me & I'm one lucky girl to have her by my side. Love you Trace.

3. My Parents... 

 

Thanks to my mom's incredible caring heart I'm constanly being spoiled and showered with love. She is so amazing at showing her care, concern & interest in my life and I feel very uplifted by her attention to this new journey in my life. My dad is very sweet & encouraging. He is always ready with a supportive and congratulating hug helping me see that every victory even though I may see it as little is a great one! Love you Mom & Dad!!!



So there it is folks.

deep inhale. slow exahle. sigh. smile...

BRING IT ON MAY!