Dopey Challenge? Why NOT!

Have you heard runDisney latest news yet? Disney decided that the Goofy Challenge wasn't Goofy enough.  You heard me right! Disney felt that running 39.3 miles in two days wasn't challenging enough for the advance runner.  They added a new challenge, the Dopey Challenge.

The Dopey Challenge is a four day event that is promised a lot of smiles, magic and awesome memories.  The Challenge will start Thursday with a 5K and will end on Sunday with a Full Marathon.  Below is the list of races and distances :)

Thursday-5k
Friday-10k
Saturday-Half Marathon
Sunday-Full Marathon

Total Miles in Four Days-48.6 miles

Runners will receive 6 finisher medals.  Dopey Medal, Marathon Medal, Half Marathon Medal, Goofy's Race and a Half, 10K and 5k finisher medal! Awesome right :) Every runner loves medals so to get 6 in four days is well worth the training and the trip!

2013 was a lot of Goofy laughs but I feel that if I don't take this Dopey challenge I will regret it.  Plus, Dopey is probably the cutest guy Disney Character out there.  I hope his medal is just as sweet as him. 

I'm getting Dopey.... the Question is are you?

Thursday's Trade it in Tip #4

Source: dribbble.com viaGustavo on Pinterest

I must be crazy to ask you to skip the cheese. I love everything about cheese and all cheeses for that matter.  You serious can't go wrong with getting extra cheese on the pizza, cheese dip and cream cheese on bagels...Can you?  Cheese is full of unhealthy fats and processed crap.  Cheese is not great for your body and it is one of the top contributors in cellulite. 

Cheese was my best friend when I was fat and unhealthy.  I could eat a block of cheese if I had to..I like it that much! Lately, I have noticed that my body does better when I skip the cheese....especially, my belly!

To hear that cheese is one of the top contributors in cellulite makes me think differently about this product.  Last year I skipped the cheese for 40 days during lent.  Guess what happened? I lost 10 pounds and I felt amazing! I have been skipping the cheese now for almost 9 weeks.  I have absolutely no craving for colby jack, mozzarella or pepper jack cheese. 

I would bet if you eliminate cheese from your diet for a week and even a month you would notice a difference. Am I saying never eat cheese again? No... let's be honest cheese is in everything we eat.  You just have to be smart about your choices. 

Trade it in tip #4 ... HOLD THE CHEESE

~The reduced fat versions are higher in sodium
~Non-fat versions have added artificial ingredients to make up for flavor
~About 75 percent of the world's population is genetically unable to properly digest dairy products, but most don't know this until they are off it

Healthy Tip #1 Trade out White Bread for Wheat Bread
Healthy Tip #2 Pack your lunch and skip the drive thru
Healthy Tip #3 Drink more WATER  
Healthy Tip #4 Hold the Cheese 


Puig, Josette (2012-05-19). Frumpy To Fabulous: 1 Change a Week To a Healthier You! (Kindle Locations 256-261).  . Kindle Edition.

Wordless Wednesday

Source: twitter.com viaKate on Pinterest

Source: galleryeight.blogspot.com viaJanell on Pinterest

Revisiting my 21 Commandments

Source: dreamdelightinspire.com viaSarah on Pinterest

I haven't been doing so hot on my Happiness project.  Actually, I think I am completely failing at it this month.  I have been focusing on things that have been going on at school.  I am now the head Lacrosse coach for 7th-8th grade.  This was something that I didn't want to do but I literally have no choice.

I feel like my 21 commandments are kind of taking a back seat in my life.  That is not what I wanted this year to be about.  I wanted this year to be about new found focus, doing the things I love and trying to bring more happiness in my life.  I don't like failing at anything I do in life...even if it is a silly happiness project that I put together.

I needed to blog about this today because I am struggling with a decision about something. My 21 commandments remind me what I need to be doing....I need to be doing MORE of what I love and LESS of what I don't love.  It clearly is that simply!

Kathy's 21 Commandments

1.  Mission I'm Possible
2.  Lead by example
3.  Notice the colors
4.  Talk to strangers
5.  Pay it forward
6.  Reach out
7.  Say NO first
8.  Play more
9.  Be Grateful
10. Hate is a strong word...Love without boundaries
11.  Be simply amazing
12.  Laugh without control and never stop smiling
13.  Don't wait till tomorrow
14. Hands folded works better than fingers crossed.
15.  Keep my heart open but hide the key for the right one
16.  Forgive myself and others as soon as possible
17. Let it Be....Let it Go
18.  Leave a new trail
19.  Believe
20.  Achieve
21. Be ME

Are you doing things that you don't love? 

Food Prep Sunday

Source: aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com viaJessica on Pinterest

This week is my spring break! I am traveling to my hometown to visit my parents and then heading to Indiana to hang out with my sister's family for a few days.  I use to not worry about food when I traveled but now it is the first thing I pack up. 

If I don't bring food with them when I travel..I literally will fail the whole week I am gone.  My parents are doing so much better about having healthy food in the house but I am such a picky eater so the foods they have I don't usually like.  Plus, I am vegan right now and my family is NO where near a vegan lifestyle.  My parents are use to be bringing home food....so I am not overly worry about them. 

My sister however might take it personally if I bring healthy food to her house.  She is a healthy person but again I am so picky and I want to have complete control over what I put in my mouth.  I will probably call her before I come over to let her know that I will be packing up my food just so she is aware.  This can be a touchy subject for some people....but if you handle the right way most people don't care. 

So this is what I will be packing up....

SNACKS
Kind bars (this is for emergency reasons only)
Cottage Cheese 1% Snacks for the evening and Whole Wheat Crackers to go with
Emeralds sweet and salty peanut butter almond mix with 7 twisted pretzels
Greek Yogurts with Fruit
Popcorn with sea salt

BREAKFAST
Quinoa Blueberry, Cranberry almond pancakes with egg whites and grapefruit.  Sugar Free Syrup

LUNCH
Shakeology, kale, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, banana, almond milk

DINNER
Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

I will be eating out with my sister I am sure at my favorite Mexican restaurant while I am there.  I am planning on eating dinner at my aunt's house for Easter so no meal planned for that.  I know my Parents will take me to subway for lunch on Sunday after church (if subway is open).  I have my splurge meals planned but I have extra foods just in case I am not please with my choices.  The important thing is always plan!!!!!!! If you don't eat it then you have food for the follow day or next week. 

Recipes below...
http://www.milkfreemom.com/vegan-quinoa-sweet-potato-chili/
http://www.aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com/2013/01/wheat-free-quinoa-pancakes.html

Thursday's Trade it in Tip #3

Source: google.com via Lori on Pinterest

I know I say it a lot but Water is a huge part of losing weight and overall health.  Water is to the human body as oil is to the car.  Our body is made up of 70% of water.. we lose up to two to three quarts of it every day through perspiration and other body functions.  This is why it is so important to replenish to ensure the right hydration levels to carry nutrients and waste to and from our cells and organs, lubricate our joints and regulate our body temperature.

A minimum of 64 ounces is needed a day but if you exercise or drink caffeine you will need more.  I drink a gallon of water a day and their are days I will drink up to two depending on my activity level.  A great way to test if you are drinking enough water is by the color of your urine.  It should be see-through! So if it looks like yellow Gatorade or lemonade...YOU NEED TO BE DRINKING MORE WATER!

I hear this a lot... but Kathy I have to go to the bathroom way to much!  Yes, you will need to "GO" more often when you increase your water intake but I can promise you this your body will adjust within a week or so.

Dehydration contributes to..
1. Lack of energy
2. Constipation
3. Hunger.. try drinking water when you are hungry.
4. Headaches and migraines
5. Muscle Pain
6. Cramps
7. Bloating
8. Weight Gain

Add Flavor to your water with..
1. cucumbers
2. strawberries
3. mint
4. pineapple

Healthy Tip #1 Trade out White Bread for Wheat Bread
Healthy Tip #2 Pack your lunch and skip the drive thru
Healthy Tip #3 Drink more WATER 

Wordless Wednesday

Source: Ruby on Pinterest

I understand that on a wordless Wednesday I normally don't say anything... But I have to explain this wordless Wednesday a bit.  I found out yesterday that I have an "under active" thyroid :( Which means that I have to be put on meds probably for the rest of my life. 

Hypo-Thyroidism has so many symptoms....I knew something was wrong with me since I been feeling extremely fatigue and exhausted .  Not to mention I do feel like I have been depressed lately and feel as if a fog has been placed on my brain.  I have been forgetting a lot of things but I felt it was just me being me.  Clearly.. it could have been this thyroid issue all along. 

I am excited to have some answers but I am a little upset that I have to be put on meds.  I kick my butt every single day and eat healthy all the time...I do this so I don't have to take meds like all the sick and unhealthy people out there.  However, this is something I can't eat away or run away :( It's genetics.  My Dad, Grandmother, Aunt and Sister all have thyroid issues. 

I am excited to regulate my energy levels again! If I can push hard when I am this tired then I have to push more when I am fully back! Watch out this girl is going to be unstoppable :)

Thursday's Trade it in Tip #2

I remember the days I would run to McDonald's or Taco Bell for a quick lunch or even after a super hard practice for a fast dinner.  The quick fix only gave me a big butt and terrible taste buds.  I don't even remember the last time I rolled up to a McDonald's to get anything other than a diet coke.  Even now that item has been removed from my diet....so McD's will no longer getting money from this girl. I can't lie :) I do love to go to Wendy's but that is maybe once every 2-3 months.  I love their fries!

So Thursday's Trade it in Tip is......

Pack your lunch and skip the drive thru

No time to pack lunch? Seriously...It takes a few minutes to throw together healthy foods into a brown paper bag.  Why in the world would you want to go anywhere where the meat is questionable? Do you really know what is in that meat or how they prepared it?! Seriously, think about it!

If you have ever seen Super Size me you might get where I am going with this.  It is unhealthy, not good for the heart and it just makes you feel like complete crap! If it is only the dollars meal...it is definitely crap...cheap crap! If you stuff crap into your body you will start looking like crap, feeling like crap and behaving like crap.  So don't eat the stuff!

It is actually cheaper to plan means yourself! Maybe a few of your coworkers will go on a rotating  schedule for lunch duties...You pack lunch on Monday for everyone, someone else does Tuesday...etc.  That way you don't have to plan every single day, you save money and you will eat less calories! Amazingly Awesome idea right there!

Stop fooling yourself....Healthy food is never served thru any kind of window!!

If you have to stop because you failed to plan pick Subway!! It is a perfect solution to a quick meal and it is also very healthy for you.  I eat subway once a week but I throw out the cheese and stick to mustard and a little light mayo.

Healthy Tip #1 Trade out White Bread for Wheat Bread
Healthy Tip #2 Pack your lunch and skip the drive thru

Don't forget to do both tips! Just because it is a new week doesn't mean you should go back to old habits like white bread!

Wordless Wednesday

:) Yep, I am signed up for another RunDisney race! I already have ideas for my outfit!!! Registration just opened... sign up and join in on some Disney fun!

March Week 1: Recap

Source: hungry-runner.com via Crystal on Pinterest

I have to admit this week was completely crazy for me! I swear I was on the go with no rest this week but that is how I function most of the time.  I haven't been feeling 100% the last few weeks.. I hate being sick but I also hate going to the doctor.  This week I finally decided to go :( He just told me I have a virus and there really isn't anything I can take to feel better.. JOY!

Monday: Off :( I stayed home from work and went to the doctor today. 

Tuesday: ChaLean Extreme Phase 3 (weight) Ran 6 miles =Burned 800 calories

Wednesday-Ran 3 miles, Leg workout, Turbo Fire with Ab work =Burned 848 calories

Thursday-ChaLean Extreme Phase 3 (weights), Turbo Fire, Ab Shredder, Yoga =Burned 550 calories

Friday-Ran 4 miles =Burned 459 calories

Saturday-Ran 4 miles and walked .5 miles =Burned 464 calories

Sunday-Unplanned off day... Didn't feel good :(

Total calories burned this week = 3,121

Lacrosse has started up which means that I have to make a schedule to ensure that ALL my workouts happen.  Plus, I started working a second job at the golf course....I do best when I am busy! This just means I have to plan my food, workouts and even my rest times :)

Thursday's Trade it in Tip #1

I went on my first real diet going into my Junior year of college.  Since that first diet I have had many ups and downs.  I was either giving 100% or failing 100%.  I honestly think I tried every diet out there..slim fast, weight watchers, diet pills and even went as far as starving myself.  My results were always different but my attitude never changed.

I hated feeling like I had to watch every single calorie I put in my mouth.  Which made me work out a lot...I completely OVER did it but I felt this was my only way to get me where I wanted to be and still eat the foods I craved. I would sometimes workout 2-3 hours a day followed by Chi Chi's for dinner.   :( NOT HEALTHY AT ALL.  I lost 30 pounds this way but I didn't learn a thing about nutrition or living a healthy lifestyle.

I remember hearing years ago that it takes 21 days to create or break habits.  I told myself that if I could start changing the way I view food that I could live a healthy lifestyle after all.  I knew the approach of going all in would only cause me to binge in the end.  So I had to take one day at a time, one week at a time and never look past that.  If I could change one thing once a week then I knew I could successful manage this new life I wanted.

This new way of life has allowed me to drop 50 pounds and build up my confidence that I have always longed for.  There are days that my fat girl thinking comes back but now I know how to tell her how to shut up.  I have decided to help you all by giving you one trade it in tip every Thursday.  I bet if you do a few you will see results and I guarantee you will feel better!  After all my goal is to make you all feel amazingly awesome!

It takes time to develop new habits but it is totally worth it! It is worth the struggle and all the craving that you may get.  Our bodies are our home! We don't want to put crap in our house we live in right? So why put crap in the only home that we should care for every single day??

Trade it in Tip #1

Trade in White Bread for Wheat Bread

Ever hear of the muffin top? White scratches are known to store in the midsection.  Who wants a muffin top? NOT ME!

White Breads are refined and has removed all nutrients that are healthy for us. Not to mention it is chemically bleached and stuffed with gluten, salt and sugar.  I know I don't want that stuff in my body especially anything that is bleached.. SICK!

Read the labels on the package! Some make you believe you are getting a healthy product but I can tell you most breads are NOT good for you.  Make sure the label reads pick up breads that say "Whole wheat or Whole grain."  If it the label reads "enriched or unbleached" then that brand has been processed...meaning it is not the best one for you!

Trade in the White crap and stick to the Wheat (Brown) Bread! I promise you that you will get use to the taste and soon you will not even crave the white stuff!

Source: harlemshake-videos.blogspot.ca via Sandy on Pinterest

Wordless Wednesday

Even Louie has his paws crossed for a lot of snow tonight :)

Cooking in Kathy's Kitchen.

Saturday's for me are all about looking for the perfect menu and writing a detailed grocery list for my food prep on Sunday.  Without this planning I would fail in the kitchen and in the gym every week.  I didn't do this last week but luckily I had enough healthy food on hand to keep me going. 

So what is cooking in my Kitchen this week??? 

Breakfast: Steel cut oats, 1/2 cup of blueberries and splenda brown sugar mixed together.  2 large eggs and 1/4 cup of Kroger liquid egg whites (2 servings).  1/2 avocado, spinach and tomato mixed in with the eggs :) A lot of food but I am super hungry in the morning after a hard workout.  

Source: thelemonbowl.com via Lesley on Pinterest

Snack 1: 1/2 cup cottage cheese and 10 whole wheat crackers. OR Greek Yogurt with fruit

Lunch: Shakeology with banana, 1 tbsp of PB, handful of kale and 1 cup of almond milk unsweetened. This is a super quick meal, healthy and keeps me going till my next snack.

Snack 2: Veggies with 2 tbsp of hummus

Source: google.com via Iss dich schlank - bleib schlank on Pinterest

Dinner: Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Chili with Asparagus OR Spinach Calzone with Asparagus

Snack: Undecided :)

This week I will share recipes! Keep an look out on Mission i'mPOSSIBLE Facebook page!

Make a menu and a list before you ever go to the grocery store!

What is cooking in your kitchen this week?