BIKING!!!!!! 

A few steps forward... a setback

This is an interesting journey.  While I am excited to reshape the flab I call my body,  I have to be careful of my bad knee and listen when it tells me to lay off a bit.  It's been telling me this for the last 2 days.  I am unbelievably frustrated because I have lost 3lbs and BADLY want to continue the trend!  I decided that I will walk tonight if my knee isn't giving me too hard a time.  

The GOOD part is that I am doing pretty well when it comes to food!  I have noticed in the past,  that when I cut back the carbs and sweet stuff, I need it less.  I have broken the constant eating cycle now!  YAY!!!   :)  I'm turning down PIZZA and CAKE like it's NOTHING!  Here are a few items that are helping me along!!!   

 Nothing like some string cheese to zap your hunger at snack time!

Fudgsicles are DELICIOUS and low in calories.  

My trusty Luna Protein!  These do have a lot of carbs, but I eat this for breakfast.  

100 Calorie snacks of ALL kinds make you feel less deprived

Chick-Fil-A Chargrilled sandwich... no bread!!!

Just tried these!!  Wendy was right... they are VERY good and made of veggies! 

 Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich is good as well!  I had this with ONE of the buns...  ( I cheated a little)

 This can stand in for a strawberry ice cream craving!  YUM!

 This one is from Zaxby's.  It's very tasty even without the bread or fries!

 Jell-O Pudding... Oh how I love thee....

I know that it's not a big deal to most people... but to me, this day is HUGE!  I have a full gym at work.  Machines, weights, tv's, showers, lockers.  I have not used the gym in FOREVER.  I have gone down from time to time over the last few years, but have not gone on the weekend to REALLY work out in about 4 or 5 years!  I decided that I would today.  I woke at 7:15 and ate breakfast so that I could be READY!  I put on my shoes and I DID IT!  I thought I would give up before I made 30 minutes, but I pushed forward and gave it an HOUR of my day!  30 on the elliptical (311 calories) and 30 on the treadmill (135 calories.)  This is no HUGE deal for the fit.  I am NOT in the category of "THE FIT."  For me, this is FANTASTIC!!  I know that I can do it now.  I know that I have the ability.  HOORAY FOR ME!!!!  

 This photo is embarrassing and inspiring rolled into one!  Either way... I am proud of me today! 

- Shannon :)

I am about to go walk for a while. This will add nicely to my 2 fifteen minute breaks where I walked the treadmill at work! I am DOING this! I am proud of me!!! The trick is to not even consider the gym. Just put your shoes on and GO! Once you are there..... You may as well do something!!!! Less "think" and more "do!"

-Shannon :)

New motivation

I wake up every day with the realization that this is it, that there's only one shot at this life and I can either enjoy the ride and live it to its fullest and to my highest potential or I can stay the way I am. 

I have been thinking a LOT about this post, this blog, and how I want to handle my new journey. I want it to be surrounded with everything positive. When we look at ourselves and say ... "I should look like her," or "I should have abs like that," it turns me off of the whole journey. I am not perfect and certainly don't expect to be perfect any time soon, or ever. I am only me. I am not perfect. I am not great or awesome. BUT I am me. LITTLE, TINY me.

That is a pretty big thing. I owe some things to myself and my own body, and that is what this journey is about. It is not about what looks good on other people, who I should look like, or even what looks good on the runway. I would be naive to think that I would have hard-core abs at the end of all of this.  Instead, I want to gain a sense of who I am and what I like about myself. THAT is what this journey is about.

It is scary, it is exciting, and I hope it will be fun. But the end result is not cut abs (although that would be a huge perk!) The end is a love of oneself, body and soul, a sense of accomplishment, confidence, and the knowledge that Palmetto Diet Divas can kick butt! (as well as some clogging along the way - PDD!)

Plus, Shannon and I have some pretty amazing Halloween costumes planned. Just wait!

To go along with that article, these are some great fast food items that I recommend when you don't have time to 'plan' your meal. Also this is the first of two posts - I didn't add in other fast food items I want to include.

HEALTHY Fast food options

POPEYE’S CHICKEN:

·         Naked Chicken strips – (1 serving = 3 pieces)

2 grams of fat, 170 calories, 2 carbs, 26 grams of  protein

KFC:

·         Honey BBQ Sandwich

3.5 grams of fat, 320 calories, 47 carbs, 24 grams of protein

·         Honey BBQ Snackers

3 grams of fat, 210 calories, 32 carbs, 13 grams of protein

WENDY’S:

·         Small chili

6 grams of fat, 210 calories, 21 carbs, 17 grams of protein

·         Grilled Chicken Go Wrap

10 grams of fat, 260 calories, 25 carbs, 19 grams of protein

SUBWAY:

(THESE CALCULATIONS ARE BASED ON NO CHEESE OR DRESSING, BUT SUBWAY OFFERS RED WINE VINEGAR, FAT FREE ITALIAN DRESSING, AND FAT FREE RANCH)

·         Veggie Delite Salad

0 grams of fat, 50 calories, 9 carbs, 3 grams of protein

·         Turkey Breast Salad

2 grams of fat, 110 calories, 11 carbs, 12 grams of protein

·         Oven roasted chicken salad

2.5 grams of fat, 130 calories, 9 carbs, 19 grams of protein