Coconut Cake and Treadmills

For the last few days, I have not been able to stop daydreaming about coconut cake.  I'm not sure why.  I've never made one... I don't think I've ever even tasted one.  But, nonetheless, I am craving one.  

I mean...

Doesn't this look heavenly?

Something about the absolute whiteness of it makes it look so perfect.

Does anyone have a good coconut cake recipe?  I have found several recipes online, but many of them are quite different from one another.  Never having even tasted a coconut cake, I'm not sure where to go with it.  

In other news, I ran for 3.1 miles today without taking a walking break.  I have only done that once before, during the Watermelon 5K.  I haven't been able to do it since, so I thought it was just a fluke.  But I did it today, despite the pain from yesterday's workout (I can't sit, stand, bend, walk, etc. without moaning.)  It's getting easier and easier, and I can tell I am really building up endurance.  According to the treadmill, I ran it in about 38 and a half minutes. Slower than my 5K time, even though I felt like I was running a lot faster.  I wonder how accurate treadmills really are.

Well, I am off to watch Monday night's DVRed The Bachelorette.  One of my reality TV guilty pleasures...

Strength Training

We pulled out the bench and weights today.  I haven't done any strength training in years, but this flab has just got to go.  So out it came!

In high school, I had a routine that I would follow.  I remember being so proud when I had defined triceps.  I named them.  If I ever get to that point again, I will probably do the same.  I figure if I make them feel important, they might stay around.

Unfortunately, since it had been so long, I really forgot everything about lifting weights so Jon and I did it together.  We did bench presses, squats, shoulder presses, deadlifts, push ups, and sit-ups.  It felt good, but I know that I will hurt tomorrow.  Worth it, though.  My goal is to wave and not have my arms wave back at me!  (Jon says enough push-ups will do the trick!)  

Today's photo is brought to you by my artsy-fartsy side.

After work, I undid all the good by going to P.F. Changs for dinner with some friends from work.  I love Chinese food.  I wish I didn't.

18 Pounds

I have lost 18 pounds since February 27th.  I can't believe it.

This the first time in my life where I have lost a significant amount of weight in a completely healthy way - eating real, healthy foods and exercising.  In my high school/college years I tried a lot of fad diets, some of them made up by me (like "I'm going to eat as little food as I can during the day so I can eat a lot of ice cream at night!" Yeah, that one didn't last long but I did lose a few pounds.  I must not have been eating enough ice cream).  There were many times where I did lose weight.  But I never kept it off, because I couldn't make my eating habits a lifestyle change.  It just didn't work for me when there were too many restrictions; not for the long haul.

But this time is different.  Over the past year, we have cut out fast food, fried food, and processed foods.  I am eating REAL food, and any of that real food that I want - I am just watching my portions carefully and only eating when I'm truly hungry.

This past week, I also began exercising regularly.  I made it to the gym 6 days last week, giving myself Sunday to rest.  I lost 3 pounds that week, and sweating felt great.  I never thought that I would say this, but I am truly enjoying it, and I look forward to going every afternoon.

On Saturday, Jon and I signed up for a 7 day guest pass at Bally Total Fitness.  The gym in our complex isn't too exciting, and I am interested in some classes.  We went on Saturday, and I went again today.

Don't mind the splattered lovebug guts on my window.

The class they were offering today after work was salsa.  I was planning on going, because I felt that I needed to try as many classes as possible to see if it was worth joining.  However, other than tap, I am a miserable dancer.  I can't move my hips to save my life.  So I was all in a panic, equating this dance class to going to the doctor.  I thought that I surely would not survive the class.  Until I realized that I didn't have to go.  So I didn't, and I enjoyed a calm, stress-free "jog" on the elliptical trainer.

 I think tomorrow's class is Boot Camp.  That sounds scary too.  I will try not to panic this time.

Tattle Tuesday

I have a confession.  Is it:

a) I don't like ice cream anymore.

b) I found something more interesting to blog about than food.

or c) I'm getting fat again.

I'll give you a hint.  It's c.

Lately, I have been having a terrible time with this whole "losing weight" thing.  I started out so committed and excited to fit into my skinny jeans again (you know, those jeans that were once [not too long ago, in fact] my fat jeans!), and kept it happy for a few weeks.

Someone: "Katie, do you want ice cream?"

Me: "No, I'll have an apple for dessert!!"

Someone: "Katie, do you want french fries?"

Me: "No, I'll feel bloated!  Yuck!"

Someone: "Katie, do you want to lay around and do nothing?"

Me: "No, let's go for a walk!"

I diligently measured and counted (while I know that's no way to live life, I need it for quite awhile to keep me on track), drank more than 8 glasses of water a day, and even went for a few walks (that's an accomplishment - I was born with an exercise allergy).  I lost 13.5 pounds!  But then we went away for a few days during Spring break, and I relaxed... a little too much.  And I have stayed pretty relaxed since then.  And now I feel bloated and yucky.  Waah.

Hmm, somehow I thought I would feel a bit lighter after I tattled on myself...

But moving on.  We had turkey burgers again tonight.  Last time we had them, there was so much smoke in the house that my eyes burned, so Jon had the amazing idea to use our George Foreman grill - outside on the balcony.  It worked fantastically!

No smoke for us!

The Maker's Diet

Tonight we went over to visit Jon's mom while his dad is out of town. We had a delicious dinner, watched American Idol, and talked about losing weight. She is so thoughtful - she knows that we are trying to eat healthier, and she gave us the gift of this book.

She has been reading it and has learned a lot, so I am excited to read and find out what it is all about! Thank you! ♥

Fatty no more!

Wow. I cannot believe that it is already March. This year is flying by!

I'm starting off the month of March in a much healthier way than I have started any other months recently. Since I got married, I have gradually been putting on more and more weight. Jon and I both enjoy food, probably a little too much, and so it's been like a wonderful party of delicious food since March of 2009. Good for the taste buds, bad for everything else! I'm guessing here, but I have probably gained at least 25 pounds in just 2 years. There have been many times that I have decided to try to lose weight, but then Jon or I cooks a delicious, not very low calorie meal, or we go grocery shopping and find something yummy, and it kind of goes out the window. Obviously, I haven't been very committed.

But Sunday morning I woke up and for some reason decided that enough was enough. I decided to begin writing down what I was eating on a daily basis (at least for awhile - this helps me because I tend to forget portion control and how much I am really eating), drinking more water, and begin an excerise regimen that I can stick too. So on Sunday we went for a 60 minute, 3.6 mile walk, and went for another 55 minute, 3.2 mile walk today. I found a website where I can record what I am eating and how much I am exercising, and I am hoping that it will help keep me on track. I know that weight loss is all about lifestyle changes, not "dieting" and calorie counting, but I need things like this to at least get me started and get past the first few weeks until it all becomes a habit. My goal is to lost about 50 pounds by September, which comes out to about 2 pounds a week. I know that this is completely do-able! The great part is that Jon and I are going to do this together - the family that gets fat together, loses weight together!

On a completely un-related note, we ran to Target for a few things tonight. I forced Jon into trying on a St. Patty's day tie. He felt sad wearing it, as you can see by the picture.

Sad husband is currently weighing my lunch for me so I know approximately how much I am eating. Sad husband is the best husband! ♥