• 02Mar

  4 Stages of Chocolate

  Personal 4 Comments

  Going thru the 4 Stages of Grief this week i started to think about the 4 stages of Chocolate.

  1. Denial and Isolation (Isolate the chocolate by putting it higher in the cupboard, and deny that you’ll reach up there to get some)

  2. Anger (Why can’t I eat as much chocolate as i want with out gaining weight)

  3. Bargaining (well… today was a really bad day I’ll just have a few M&M’s, or that one piece of chocolate)

  4. Depression (What, I’m addicted to chocolate addiction!   That means I’ll have to do something about it)

  5. Acceptance (Yup, i have a chocolate addiction, and i deal with it by accepting it, and being acoutable when i decide to eat some, or lots =)

  All is well. The services for my sweet little niece was perfect. The sun even came out all day in her honor. Little cousins sang a beautiful song, and everyone seems at peace when all was said and done. Now we’re just praying for the big sister (well bigger at 2.6 lbs). She’s improved leaps and bounds. Their little fighters who have inspired us all.

  It really is amaizing how something so tragic can empower, inspire, incourage, and touch so many lives. Literally 100’s of lives have been touched by this little girl, and she only lived 16 days.

  Wow, I’m 27. How am i touching others lives. How can i inspire others. I know it first starts with beliving in myself, and empowering others to belive in themselves. But, there’s a lot i don’t know, and there will always be something new to learn.

  Thanks for being there, listening, cheering me on for the past 2 years. I’ve found friends i’ll have forever, and in a way i never thought possible. I’m grateful for each and every one of you.

  I’m heading out on a road trip with the boys this time for a week to visit my friend..more like sister. She’s the sister of the buddy i lost in January. We always bring the best out of each other. I’m looking forward to some much needed girl time, and great long talks about everything and anything.

  Love ya all – Krystal

  P.S. I lost 2 lbs last week…that makes 7 in two weeks!!! Yea!

• 25Feb

  Remember Your Destiny

  Personal 5 Comments

  So not dieting but changing your life-habits forever takes time and patience. Every time i set goals i get slammed. This time I’m taking it as a great way to find new ways to battle emotions… and this year has been crazy.

  Jan – Friend dies, and herniated disk
  Feb – Sister got married, other sister had twins, $5000 stolen out of checking account, and my niece died (one of the twins)

  “80% of the people you meet are dealing with some sort of tragedy that you may never even know about. Remember that before judging them, and remember your Destiny. Often your biggest Tragedy is the greatest part of helping you reach your Destiny.” – Tragedy or Destiny

  None of these are my biggest tragedy, but every single thing that happens, happens for a reason. Just like the sun doesn’t come up on accident, OK it doesn’t move at all bad analogy. Simply put I’m a better person for it all, and there is so much good that happened in balance, I just have to look for it.

  Jan – Hubby got promotion, and a raise
  Feb – No cold or flue bugs, nicer weather than usual, it took less that 24 hours to get all the stolen money back in our account, and looking forward to finding out how much we over paid in taxes.

  When everything hits (the good with the bad) it’s even a better reason to keep focused on the basics. Exercising daily, and not emotionally eating. It really helps me deal with stress and emotions.

  So what do i do instead. I get on my bike, strap my lap-top on with my favorite show and get a 50min cardio in for the day. Exactly what I’m going to go do right now. I did it the last three days and i want all 6 this week. Because, I will succeed!

  Done talking, time to get biking =)

• 19Feb

  Lost 5 lbs This Week

  Personal 4 Comments

  So…if you’ve been following close i announced that i had gained back my 15-20lbs that i lost last winter. I think it’s because i hadn’t made a permanent lifestyle change. I would set goals reach them, and then what.

  This week i had 3 very intense work outs, ate extremely healthy, and keep busy working instead of over eating out of winter boredom.

  I didn’t look at the scale, just kept chugin along and Voila!

  I made sure that i never got too hungry, and i made sure to drink plenty of water, eat plenty of lean low sodium protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats.

  When i was really craving a carb i would eat a low fat gram cracker. When i was craving chocolate i would eat a few coca covered almonds or drink a chocolate protein shake made with water. I feel great, and ready to see how next week goes. Yea, i do have sore muscles but that just means I’m getting the intensity i need out of my workouts.

  What are some tips or tricks you use when losing weight?

• 14Feb

  Healthy Snack Experiment Gone Right

  Personal 3 Comments

  Happy Valentines Day!

  Hope you all enjoy this V-day treat.

  So a few days back Marla found my site.  I found hers and loved it.  I’m taking control of my fitness along with my nutrition and decided to try one of her healthy snacks to help curb or even feed the craving.

  Cocoa Dusted Hazel-Nuggets

  I snagged  the recipe and then attempted to make it myself with almonds.  It turned out great I only had some of the ingredients but it all worked out and they taste delicious.  Not i just ate a cinnamon roll and have a sugar coma delicious but wow that was good and i still have energy and wont crash delicious.  Just the kind of recipes I’m looking for.

  I usually don’t like recipes in general, or they don’t work well with me.  Just to easy to mess something up, always feels more like a job.  But just like a job when it works out, there’s confidence to be had in the end.  So I’m confidently showing off my experiment.

  

  Almond-Cocoa-Almond

  1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

  1/4 tsp Almond Extract (Her’s called for Orange, Coffee, Coconut, or omit it)

  1 tbs Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

  1/2 Egg White (guesstimate)

  1/8 cup Agave Syrup, or Maple Syrup

  1/4 tsp Salt

  1 cup almonds

  Mix it all together and spread on wax/parchment paper

  Put in oven for 375 (i did 385 guessing that i was a higher altitude) stir every 10 min, just don’t let it burn.  You’ll know you can smell it.  20-30 min should do it for the almonds (with skin they tend to burn faster, or my rack was too high)

  Cocoa Dust

  2 tbs Sweetened Cocoa Powder -or-

  2 tsp Stevia Powder & 2 tbs Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

  When the Almonds are done toss them/mix them in the cocoa dust and surve warm or store in air tight container.

  -Thanks Marla

• 12Feb

  I’m Amazing

  Personal 2 Comments

  How often to you say that to your self? Well why not every day and often. It’s also a great response to “how did you do that?”. I’ve never tried it but my hubby tends to respond sarcastically that way all the time. But today (sarcasm aside) I’m amazing.

  I decided yesterday that today i would get up early and work out. (thanks to a great post by Stephanie). I’m kind of a nerd/athlete, and get way to excited about working out. I know that in the morning i always have a million reasons not to get out of bed early. So i wrote down reasons (something that I would care about before the sun came up) to get out of bed.

  Peace of Mind
  Regular Schedule
  Balance
  Energy
  Health
  Confidence…Ding Ding Ding We have a winner

  For me that is the numero uno thing that gets me up. My mind was wondering so much of all the possibilities and all my dreams that i couldn’t sleep. Then (don’t tell him i told you) my hubby started snoring (only when he has a bit of a cold). 5 hours later i was asleep. So asleep that i didn’t hear my alarm until the lyrics hit. I thought about how much sleep i got, then i thought how much better i would sleep tonight if i got up and exercised. I counted to 3 then got out of bed (I’ve done that since i was in High School. Now it’s to a point where i don’t want to break my record or let my self down.).

  Yea! I’m wasted, i won’t lie, but I’m happy and confident, just like the little piece of paper said on my night stand. Now, i just need to change my cell phone alarm to something that starts with music. Today Biz is doing a giveaway and all you have to do is leave your favorite motivational song. Well, my favorite is still “Suddenly I See” by KT Tunstall

  “The power to Be,
  The power to Give,
  The power to See…”

  Those three words inspire me to be greater, and get out of bed.  So I’ll try that tomorrow for my wake up call.  Yes, tomorrow.  Every day for the rest of my life.  To me that’s exciting, but i love working out, and i love the way i feel afterward.  I’m finally taking charge and making it happen.

  What are some tricks you use to reach fitness goals?

  Happy V-Day Love you all! – FS

• 10Feb

  Crazy, Crazy, Crazy, Crazy, Crazy, Peace

  Personal 6 Comments

  Some days…OK, most days are a little crazy at times.  My family motto growing up…”It’s better to be a little crazy, than boring.” I couldn’t agree more.  Even when times are crazy, there is still something to be said about growing and strengthening relationships, or your own personal mile stones that comes from all the crazy.

  Saturday one of my little sisters got married, Sunday my hubby’s brother threw a party for his new little girl, Monday my little guy turned 2, Tuesday my other little sister had her twins 2 weeks early 1.1 lbs, and 2.3 lbs (the difference in size was part of why they had to come early), Today i picked my Mom up from the airport and ran errands with her to help out my sister.  Tomorrow… Nothing…. Peace.

  A little peace goes a long way.  Part of why i love meditating/yoga.  My favorite thing to do is sun salutes moving into plank, then downward facing dog.  The patterned breathing really helps calm my nerves and slow me down long enough to remember what’s really important… Presence.  The hear the now this very moment.  Enjoy it.  Even when theirs possible heart ache ahead.  Stop for a while and just soak in the now.  Oh, that sure makes a nice oatmeal bath sound great, with a little relaxing music.

  Hope you all make some time this week to really enjoy the moments.  They are constantly happening.  I just need to slow down long enough to notice and enjoy.

• 04Feb

  Oh Sunny Day

  Personal 5 Comments

  Today is absolutely beautiful.  The house warmed up to over 75 with no heater on so i bundled up the boys and went to the park.  They had so much fun, and i got some much needed sunshine.  Just what the Dr ordered.  The back is healing faster than i thought but that means i still need to gradually become active and more important lift with my legs and always use my core.  I’m only on 1/4 of a pain killer and 1/2 a muscle relaxant today and it seams to just like yesterday.  I’m stretching like crazy but only using proper form and drinking lots of fluids.

  I keep getting more and more excuses/reasons/wake up calls to be in ultimate shape, not just “healthy” according to some BMI or fat % but back to athlete shape.  First when i was 16 with the knee and the Dr saying i should keep my weight at a healthy 145, then two years ago with the gallbladder and now i can’t eat fried foods anymore, and now with the back i needed to have a very strong core.  I guess it’s time to take get the message and stop playing around.  Exercise every day for the rest of my life.  I keep getting the feeling and for me that’s not a negative thing it’s a relief, and it is also the best way to help with my serotonin levels and keep my emotions in cheek to…which effect all aspects of health.  So wake up call given time and time again.  Time to do something about it.

• 03Feb

  Broccoli and Patience Update

  Personal 2 Comments

  Still doing great!  Taking it slow and letting my body do it’s job and heal.  With no anti-inflammatories it’s a little slow but the Dr put me on muscle relaxants that are keeping the spasms from making it worse.  It got better for a few days then i went to the gym and wore heals and the next morning it was right back to before and worse.  So, this time I’m takin’ it slow and doing lots of gentle yoga and drinking plenty of water.  I’ve just got to have patience and give it time.  Now i just have another excuse to be extremely healthy and strengthen my trunk/core.  You would think i’d get the hint by now =)

• 28Jan

  Hit 28 Lookin’ Fine

  Personal 3 Comments

  I’ve been MIA. Just trying to get back on my feet. Life tends to side swipe me now and then and i tend to be humbled and grow in ways i never thought possible…i’ll explain.

  A dear friend dies, and brother to my best friend (I’m part of the family) and i learn to cherish every moment and have no regrets.

  Every time i get sick I’m some how humbled in a strengthening way (if that makes sense).

  I woke up today and could barley walk. Something happened to my back. Definitely a joint thing, research says disk pinching nerves. With ulcer history i can’t take anti-inflamitories so i ate any food i had in my house that had natural anti-inflammatories and sure enough broccoli relived the pain for a few hours. Ok, not the point but suddenly in the middle of pain i realize that i can change. I can be a much more positive person…solution oriented, optimistic, accepting and loving of everyone, and just plain happy. Why the heck not. (yes i say heck, i’m from Utah that just how we talk here, oh and Holy Cow is another weird one)

  

  Weight Gain
  What? Yes, I’ve been avoiding the subject until i realized that most of my friends here on this site would completely understand and actually relate. I know exactly how i got where I’m at. I am officially addicted to chocolate and have only been exercising 1-2 times per week. I know I’m still in the “healthy” category but either way when the jeans start giving me the muffin top to the point that i either need new jeans or hoodies to hid it then i need to stop procrastinating and get back to healthy.

  Here we go. Hot at 28…why wait till 30 to have a great body. I know I’m happiest when exercising every day and that is the one thing that keeps my serotonin in check which i genetically don’t produce very well.

  For now I’m just waiting to see if my back gets worse or better. Using lots of heat, gentle stretching, and broccoli/healthy food/chocolate for pain =)

  

  Grateful Life Happens
  Welp, life happens, and it sure happens for a reason and I’m so great full for a mother that thought me to grow from it rather than let it get you down. Yes many of us have stretchmarks from growing via trials but honestly I’m grateful for mine. Tragedy…no destiny. All part of the plan, destiny, karma, fate… you name. It all plays a part of who i am.

• 11Jan

  “Not Dead Yet”: Will reasons motivate me?

  Personal 4 Comments

  Yes. I’m still a live. A good friend of mine passed suddenly in a ancient. I’ve been in Boston and just got back. All is well and i fell more motivated than ever to start living every day to fullest. It was actually the most humorous funeral i have ever been too. A major part of that had to do with the sense of humor my friend had. Lets just say it was the only viewing i’ve been to where they were wearing sun glasses.

  I need to be exercising every day. Not so i look good but so i can keep my mind healthy and stress levels low etc. Lots of reason but will reasons motivate me to do what needs to be done. Nope, honestly they wont. Yea they might for a week max but not for very long.

  What will motivate me for the next 3 months?
  Surfing
  Rock climbing
  New Jeans
  Running
  Getting My Physical Trainers license
  10,000

  Ok money motivates me the most. I’m going to check ans see if BFL has another challenge this year and go for it again.

  Hope you all enjoyed your new year.

  What motivates you?

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