Quick & Easy Sweet Treat

 Sometimes, especially when I am really careful about counting my calories, I get a craving for something sweet.   I was happy when I came across this easy and delicious recipe.  It's so simple, you won't believe it.  It's called the 3-2-1 recipe.
All you need is one box of angel food cake mix and another box of a regular cake mix in a flavour you like (I chose lemon for my mix).

Next step is to mix the two boxes together in a zip bag or a tupperware - something to keep it in.  

To make a single serving, take a mug that is microwavable, and put 3 tablespoons of the cake mixture in, then add 2 tablespoons of water to the mix in the cup.

Mix the water (2 tablespoons) and the cake mix (3 tablespoons)together, then stick it in the microwave for 1 minute  (hence the 3-2-1)

Here is the "cake" hot out of the microwave.  Smells delicous! 

It is light and fluffy and just the right amount to satisfy my sweet tooth.  This is a lemon mix with the angel food mix.  If you try a different type of cake mix, let me know what flavour and how you liked it.  I'd love to hear!  
Be sure to remember that one of the cake mixes must be angel food.

I Fell Off the Wagon - Hard!

We've all been there - that momentary slip up on the diet part, or missing a few days of exercise.  I know I have, but I get up shake myself off and get right back at it - and try not to beat myself up about it.  

 Well, I haven't just fallen off the wagon, I fell off HARD.  I have no motivation and I just can't make myself get back on.  Stress has been a huge factor in my "fall" and I still have a lot of stress.   I know that exercise helps relieve stress and I NEED to get back at it - I know this.  Now I just need a swift kick to get me back on track!  

Having recently started a second business (yeah, I'm crazy), I am super-busy but I CAN make time to workout.  They key is to organize myself .

So, I am now officially back on track and I have all of you to remind me that I CAN do it!!

Thank you!

Week #2 Check-In

So after my second week with my new training plan & diet, I have only lost 1 pound.  I am a tad discouraged, but I know that weight loss has its ups and downs and I just have to stick with it.  My problem is that I am impatient, and get discouraged.  I just have to keep on doing what I am doing and not waiver.

Easier said than done for me, but I can't let myself slide.  I am sure glad that I have my Friday night cheat meals to look forward to - if I didn't have that, I would be off bingeing right now (lol).

Lola my running partner

 Hopefully spring is just around the corner, and it will be nicer for going outside for runs!  I love running outside and look forward to my runs, but if I have to run on the treadmill, I can easily talk myself out of a workout.   Here's to spring coming soon!!

Who else is looking forward to spring?

I'm glad I have Energybits to help give me energy for my workouts! 

Week #1 Check-in

So my first week of my new training plan and diet plan is over and I am proud to say that I lost 8lbs!!  Woo hoo!  I know a lot of it is probably water weight, but it is still nice to see the scale move in the proper direction. 

Now the secret, and many many times where I fail, is to stick with it.  I often get discouraged after a week or two and "fall off the wagon".  NOT this time!!  Like the motivational pictures that I made below, I have to tell myself daily that "I can do this!"  That stupid inner voice that tells us we can't - we have to tell it to SHUT UP!! 

So every morning, I will tell myself that I can do this, and I will do this!!  

For more information about my online trainer and the different plans she offers, please go to: www.KarenPT.com

New Diet & Training Plan - Getting Ready for Spring!

Ok, so with my new diet and training plan, I am getting ready for spring, but is Mother Nature getting ready for spring?  It sure doesn't feel like it here!!  It is so cold (and snowy) that I feel like it will never arrive.  But, I am sure it eventually will, so to try and keep my spirits up, I've got a new training plan and a really great eating plan so I am ready for the races this spring!!

It would be nice if it would warm up a bit so Lola and I can run outside again.
We both miss it!

My new trainer is just starting to get her website up and running at www.karenpt.com, or you can find her at her Facebook pages here:  Affordable PT by Karen or her other page Karen Nolan-Evans
Right now her introductory price for a personalized diet plan is only £ 20 (about $33 USD). 

 The plan is great because she works with you likes and dislikes. Seriously, I get a daily piece of chocolate and some peanut butter all as a part of my plan.

I'll keep everyone updated on my progress :) :)  
If anyone is interested in a diet plan of their own, feel free to contact Karen, and let her know I sent you!  :)

My daily chocolate <3

Peanut butter snack!!

I'm Back - I Hope!!

Sorry, I have been MIA for quite a while.  I have missed blogging, but my life has been so busy, and this winter has been horrible - I don't think this winter will ever end!!

So much has been going on.  Since the beginning of January, I have had heating problems at my business, and been without heat for a few days, just relying on space heaters.  To top it all off, I have had three separate water leaks through the ceiling and into my space that I rent for my business.  The first leak was the biggest and messiest (but we got it cleaned up ourselves quickly so there was very little damage except the ceiling tiles), the other two were minor, but persistent.  So, knock on wood, everything should be fixed now. I hope!!

I have managed to keep up with my workouts through all of these disasters, but my eating has been off (and by off I mean more junk than I should have).  Starting this past Monday, my friend who is a personal trainer is holding me accountable and I have to log in with her what I eat daily.  Somehow, just having to report to someone is what it takes to keep me in line.  So here's to getting myself back on track!!!

My Current Diet Motivation

Lately I have been struggling with my weightloss.  I just haven't been able to stick to my eating plan (I don't call it a diet), for the past few weeks, I have been indulging in things that I really shouldn't, and nibbling on all sorts of "goodies".  The scale has gradually been inching upwards. :(  I work so hard to get the pounds off, and then I let them creep back on, and then I get angry with myself.   My exercise is always great, it's my eating that I have trouble controlling.  I've been looking for a new sort of motivation.  Enter, DietBet.

I saw on Facebook, that an online friend was hosting a "dietbet".  I was curious, so I clicked on the link she provided and saw the Dietbet page.  On Dietbet, all who enter a "game", bet the required amount (this one was $25) and it gets entered into the pot.  When the game starts, you send a picture of your weight on the scale, then you have 4 weeks to lose 4% of your weight.  All of those who lose their 4%, get a share of the pot.  If you don't, the money you bet is left in the pot and you lose your money.
I'm fairly cheap, so this has been great incentive for me to stick to my eating plan so I lose weight - I don't want to lose my $25!  LOL!

So far, the Dietbet is working, the scale is moving in the right direction!  I am excited to see the scale moving in the right direction, that I am motivated to keep with it!  I still have 3 weeks left, and I can't wait to see how much I can lose by the end of the 4 weeks :)

/Workout Wednesday Link Up

The Weekly Chase #7 (Ooops, I missed a week) & The EnergyBits Winner!!

I guess I have been a bad girl.  I missed posting my weekly chase last week.  I have been crazy-busy, but kept to my workout schedule and eating plan (yay!!), but I was very lax with blogging.  Sorry about that.

I had a lot of work to do last week, but at least my "assistant"
 was very cute, even though she wasn't very helpful.

So, I am back on track, and here is my Weekly Chase #7

My goals for last week were:

Goal #1  Once again, I will aim for running 3x  this week. 
I only managed two runs this past week.

Goal #2  I promise to get on my treadmill at least once this week to get used to the old beast.
I had one run on the treadmill (not enjoyable), and one run outside in the wind and mud (it was better than when we had snow on the ground - yuk, way too early for snow)

Goal #3  I will get started again on a running plan and stick to it!!
I haven't started one yet. :(

Goal #4  This isn't fitness related, but another goal is to clean out my van before winter.  It's amazing how much stuff accumulates in your vehicles. 
My van is totally cleaned out and it really needed it!!  It's amazing what you find under the seats. 


My goals for this coming week are:

Goal #1  Keep to my diet plan & track all my food in MFP

Goal #2  Trying a new healthy and clean recipe

Goal #3  Run 3x this week and keep to my weights workouts (5x a week)

Goal #4  Keep up with my blog posts!!!



And now for the winner of the Energybits giveaway is........

Theresa from Go.Believe.Conquer  Congratulations Theresa!!  Please email me with your full mailing address and I will pass it on to Jonathan at Energybits and he will send you your prize.

"Energybits are only available at ENERGYbits.com, and Jonathan (their Brand Manager) has shared with me that he'd be happy to connect anyone with a current ambassador to share a discount on a bag of bits - you can email him at jlevitt@energybits.com"

 I am an affiliate for EnergyBits, and I receive a small percentage of the sales revenue when a sale results from a link or savings code on my site.

How I Got Started on my Fitness Journey

I have always been heavy, I have struggled all of my life with my weight.  Even when I am quite active, my weight has always been a problem.  I've crash dieted, and then proceeded to gain all of the weight back - plus extra.  That is until I was selected to be part of a fitness challenge on Fighter Diet's Facebook page last summer.  I was a little unsure, but decided to give it a try.

To find out about the program that got me my start in getting fit and healthy, click here: Fighter Diet

Fighter Diet worked for me - I didn't go hungry, and I had workouts all set out for me from Pauline's ebooks.  It was great to see progress, and I am still seeing progress! 

I highly recommend Fighter Diet to anyone who is not sure where to start with either diet and/or fitness.  It is a great plan, and it works!! 

Fighter Diet Greens

Links to my previous Fighter Diet Contest posts

http://www.fitandhealthyjourney.blogspot.ca/2013/01/fighter-diet-contest-very-late-update.html

http://www.fitandhealthyjourney.blogspot.ca/2012/10/week-7-check-in.html

http://www.fitandhealthyjourney.blogspot.ca/2012/09/fighter-diet-challenge-week-5-update.html

http://www.fitandhealthyjourney.blogspot.ca/2012/09/week-two-of-my-fighter-diet.html

http://www.fitandhealthyjourney.blogspot.ca/2012/08/week-one-fighter-diet-transformation.html





 I am an affiliate for Fighter Diet, and I receive a small percentage of the sales revenue when a sale results from a link or savings code on my site.

Week 4 Results of Fighter Diet

Week 4 of the Fighter Diet is done, and I lost 5lbs!  That makes a total of 13.5lbs for the whole 4 weeks!!  I can't wait to see what the next 8 weeks of the challenge brings :)

For those of you who don't know, I, along with 19 others, was picked to  follow Pauline Nordin's Fighter Diet program (diet and training) for 3 months.  I post my results on her Facebook page  and on my Facebook page My Journey to Getting Fit and Healthy, as well as here on my blog.

Left - Starting Fighter Diet    Right- After Week 4 on FD

The diet took some getting used to, but now I can easily prepare my meals for the week/day and don't even have to think about it.  I find I don't even crave some of the "bad" things that I used to.  My daughter had a bagel with cream cheese the other day and I watched her eating it and thought "that is something I don't eat", and that was that.  

I recently tried the Fighter Diet Greens drink as a supplement to my diet, and I love it.  It doesn't taste "grassy" like some green drinks I have tried before. 

I really, really love the workouts that Pauline provides too!  

I am excited about the next few weeks and to see where Fighter Diet can take me!

Fighter Diet Greens