My Life's Biggest Project: Rule number 76: No excuses. Play like a champ

My Life's Biggest Project: Rule number 76: No excuses: "what does this picture have to do with anything? Refer to the title of today's post...hahahahahaha!!!! I know I know it's pretty late! But..."

Rule number 76: No excuses. Play like a champ

what does this picture have to do with anything? Refer to the title of today's post...hahahahahaha!!!!

I know I know it's pretty late! But I ended up hosting an impromtu Super Bowl party. My dear friend Kat text me and asked what my plans for the Super Bowl were today and I told her that I didn't have any and asked her what hers were. She does not have cable, but said that her boyfriend thought that they could probably stream it. I told her that was silly and that they were more than welcome to come over to my house and watch the game. So maybe I shouldn't call it a party, but instead maybe a small gathering of friends, as it was just Kat, her boyfriend Jason, my friend Chrystle and myself.

Anyway, I can't begin to tell you how much I did not care about who won this game, but as I said before the thing that kept me going was the comercials. The halftime show this year was quite a dissapointment though. So it was the comercials that I loved. My favorite I must say was the couple on a date and she is thinking in her head about how she wonders if he likes her, wants kids, wants to get married, basically planning their potential future. The guy on the other hand is thinking "I want to sleep with her, I want to sleep with her..." then the waiter comes down and sits down a Pepsi or Coke Zero, I don't even know what soda and then he starts thinking that he wants that drink. The woman says in her mind, don't you even think about it and then the guy with a sad and stunned look on his face reply's in thought, "no to which one". I laughed and laughed and laughed. What was your favorite commercial?

Well enough about the commercials and entertainment aspects of today, let's get down to something a little bit more serious. At the beginning of this blog project I told myself that I would blog about this particular journey for 100 days and it looks like we are just about there. February 8 to be exact will be the last of my daily blogs. Now that is not to say that I will not continue to blog, but it will probably be less frequent. As most of you know I am currently in my last semester of my masters program and I am having to put together my resume', try to find a job, take class, work and get my project together so that I am able to defend and hopefully pass that defense. This will be my life's biggest project at this current chapter in my life. It's crazy to think that in like three in a half months I will be done with this part of my life. Any of you feel that way.

Basically I am opening the floor to all of you. If there is something you want me to look into in particular or disucss in the next couple of days. Let me know and I will do so. What do you want to know? I'll tell you anything, or at least try to find the correct answers. My life is pretty much an open book at this time so I'd be more than happy to share it with you.

In reality 100 days is not that long of a time to make a full body transformation, but I was intrigued when I came across an article on CNN about people not seeing results. I decided to read "Why you're not seeing results" written by Madison Park, and this is what I found from the article. After talking to fitness experts these are the top four reasons the results aren't being seen and suggestions for the fix.

1) You're not changing what you eat.

"A lot of people hit the gym, but don't watch what they eat, said Jordan Yuam, who trains "Twilight" actor Taylor Lautner. They get impatient because they don't see dramatic changes in the first few weeks of working out."

"'When starting out an exercise program, if you want to see a successful outcome, you work on food first,' Yuam said."

"This means fewer calories, or at least better-quality nutrition. Eat foods like an apple or cottage cheese that take more energy for your body to digest, he suggested. There are too many junk foods packaged and marketed as health foods, Yuam said, so he recommends cutting back on processed foods."

"Fad diets don't work, especially the ones that require cutting out an entire food group like carbs or fats, Yuam said. Those don't work in the long run, because they're unsustainable."

"'You want long term,' he said, stressing a well-balanced diet."

"It doesn't have to be deprivation. If you really need that pizza slice or Chinese food, pick one meal in a week where you can have that guilty pleasure, and put it down on your calendar."

2) You're not having fun during your workout.

"'It has to be fun,' said Tracie Rogers, a spokeswoman for the American Council on Exercise. "If you're absolutely miserable and you dread going, you can find another option. There are too many options where you can find one to be fun and happy with."

"Rogers suggests asking friends and trying fitness options like Zumba, spin, kickboxing and sports leagues until you find what you like."

"'A lot of people think their only option is going to a giant gym,' Rogers said. "Some people are extremely overwhelmed and intimidated, so they never go. That's not the only option. There are boutiques doing all sorts of things. Shop around and see what feels right."

"Watching the clock during a fitness routine is a bad sign. It means your motivation isn't there."

"'It's about doing something for yourself,' said Rogers, a sports and exercise psychologist in Phoenix, Arizona. "A lot of us are busy with family, work and so many commitments. The workout time can be viewed as the one hour of the day you dedicate to yourself."

"Make exercise a social outing by participating in fitness classes and meeting with friends and trainers."

"If you take manageable steps and put the right people around you, you set yourself to be successful," Littrel said. "You have a better chance rather than going about it alone without guidance and support. There's much psychological support."

3) You're only doing cardio.

"Yuam said he hears complaints from people who say they don't see any changes after spending hours on the treadmill or elliptical machine."

"'For people who are sitting on exercise machines, they're not getting their heart rate up. They just are doing the motions. They're going to fail or leave the gym because why do something when you don't see results? They're not motivated anymore,' said Yuam, a fitness trainer and owner of Jordan's Virtual Fit Club in Valencia, California."

"'In the years of doing this, the most common error is, 'I have to do cardio. I have to do an hour of cardio,' " he said."

"Women tend to focus on cardio and neglect strength training, Yuam said."

"He suggests resistance training at least three times a week to his clients."

"The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least three days of the week for kids and two or more for adults."

"Strength training helps decrease body fat, increase lean muscle mass and more efficiently burn calories."

4) Your goal is unrealistic.

"Changing your fitness doesn't mean you have to vigorously work out seven days a week."

"'People don't have to conquer crazy goals all at one time,' Littrel said."

"Trying to go from a couch potato to an exercise warrior on a Spartan diet is unsustainable for most people. Once life gets busy or stressful, people drop all of these efforts and go back to unhealthy habits.Take the first step of working out even two days a week, and scale upward from there, Littrel said. Doing some physical exercise is better than nothing, with so many people battling obesity, he said."

"Set realistic goals and monitor your progress."

"Take a picture of yourself the first week, and then take another in the following weeks to track how you're doing, Yuam said."

This is the best advice I have been able to find for those known as "newbies". But also just remind yourself that this is something that you want and most importantly have faith in yourself. I'm off to bed, but I'll try to give you something good tomorrow. That is I am open to suggestion. Have a great night!!!

My Life's Biggest Project: Cut out the gut

My Life's Biggest Project: Cut out the gut: "I know that I've talked a lot about surgery in my posts, but as Americans we want results fast and when we don't get them we just stop. Usin..."

Cut out the gut

I know that I've talked a lot about surgery in my posts, but as Americans we want results fast and when we don't get them we just stop. Using weight loss surgeries tends to be a default plan mmore and more all the time. Technology has us spoiled. We are so use to getting what we want when we want it so fast that my generation has a tendency to just not want to work hard for anything. If we weren't given good genes we just say eff it. That is why surgery seems to be more and more appealing all the time. I speak from personal experinece when I say that surgery (not that I've had cosmetic or weight loss surgery of any kind. I am strictly speaking about general surgery) is absolutely no fun and not something that should be considered lightly at all.

The reason I bring up surgery again is because I see it in articles all the time. Just today there was an article in the Suntimes talking about it. I will copy bits and pieces of it so that you can read personal stories about it from different people. I think that it is something that should be researched and deeply thought out before making that kind of a decision. I also think that it should be a last resort after you have dedicated yourself to changing up your eating habits and good old exercise. So without further ado this is what the article had to say. You can make up your own mind about it.

Dr. Jeffrey Rosen: Surgery a tool, not a cure

"In some ways, Dr. Jeffrey Rosen sees the weight struggles of pop singer Carnie Wilson as a prime example of how tough such battles can be. In 1999, with her small frame carrying 300 pounds, Wilson was in the news for having gastric bypass surgery. While she got down to 150 pounds, she has gained a good portion of weight back, and her weight woes remained in the tabloids. Late last year, she was fired as a spokesperson for a diet plan after she didn’t stay on it and didn’t lose weight."

"As Rosen sees it, any successful fight to control weight means lifestyle changes. And a measure such as gastric bypass surgery is 'a tool to help improve someone’s health, not a cure,' he said." Rosen is the lead surgeon at LifeWeigh Bariatrics and LifeWeigh Health & Fitness, which has offices in Downers Grove and Merrillville, Ind. He’s been performing weight-loss surgeries for more than 12 years. While there are risks with any surgeries, Rosen said, statistics show that weight-loss procedures are as safe as gall bladder surgeries."

"Wilson helped draw attention to and popularize the gastric bypass procedure; and from 2000 to 2003, Rosen said, his office was quite busy. Insurance companies became more restrictive in allowing claims in 2003, Rosen said, and there was a significant drop in business. However, in the last three years, many companies have eased restraints for obtaining weight-loss surgery and related treatments, which Rosen said can run from $10,000 to $50,000. Rosen said insurance firms are realizing that allowing such procedures can have a return on investment in just two years, the savings coming from reduced medical bills related to health issues of being overweight."

"What Rosen’s office stresses is a multidisciplinary approach to weight loss that includes working with registered dietitians and setting up an exercise plan along with doctor visits. In fact, LifeWeigh works with people who seek to lose weight without surgery, too."

Becky Firszt: A teacher learns a new lifestyle

"Lifelong Elgin resident Becky Firszt, 33, has been married for eight years and is the mother of two young children, Emma, 7, and Drew, 4. It’s because of her family that Firszt, a fourth-grade teacher in Elgin School District U46, decided to have gastric bypass surgery."

'“I decided I wanted to be involved with my kids, and I couldn’t keep up with them,” Firszt said. “I was unhappy, and I was always tired.”'

"Her feelings were tied to her weight and the ensuing health issues brought on by it."

“I have always been thick, but when I was a kid, I was involved in cheerleading, basketball and marching band in high school, which helped to keep my weight down,” she said. “I really struggled with losing weight after I had my kids. I could not drop any weight, and I kept packing on the pounds.”

"At 5 feet 5 inches tall, Firszt reached 300 pounds. She says she “finally decided to go ahead with the process after I came to find out I had Type 2 diabetes. I was so disappointed with myself being 32 and having this disease. How could I have done this to myself?”

"In August, Firszt had gastric bypass surgery and has lost 75 pounds thus far.

“Insurance insurance did pay for 90 percent, but I had to jump through a lot of hoops,” she said. Getting used to the diet was the biggest challenge, Firszt said. “The eating process after surgery was hard,” she said. “The surgeon puts you on a slow, progressive six-week diet. Each few weeks, you slowly add more food to your diet. The first few weeks were hard. I was so sick of eating pudding and Jell-0. But now I can almost eat anything (in small portions), and I am happy.”

"She also has been walking to get fit and soon will be adding some weight training to her exercise routine. Since surgery, she said she now has the diabetes under control. “This process has shown me how much I missed and to seize every moment of the day. Carpe diem!” she said."

There are several more personal stories in the article and I suggest you read them. It is a good article and important to hear what others have gone through. I hope that if you are considering this as an option at all you talk to people and research hard. I have lots to do so I'll let you go for now. TTFN...Ta-Ta-For-Now :)

My Life's Biggest Project: Are you ready for some football

My Life's Biggest Project: Are you ready for some football: "Oh Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner. Some people wait and wait for this day to come. I love super bowl parties and activities, b..."

Are you ready for some football

Oh Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner. Some people wait and wait for this day to come. I love super bowl parties and activities, but unless the Minesota Vikings or the Dallas Cowboys are playing I really truly could care less. I say this because I'm a college football fan. I really just want my Sooners to win everything, especially games against the Texas Longhorns, beyond that I don't really care so much about football. I however do enjoy the super bowl game for the pop culture side of everything.

You know what I'm talking about. The thing I love the super bowl game for is the advertisements and the half time show. What would the world be like without Janet Jackson's ta-ta scandle? I need to see what the next big thing will be that goes down in NFL history. I doubt there will be any female flashing due to the fact that the half time show is supposed to be performed by Usher, Slash and the Black Eyed Peas, unless Fergie decides to get down with her Feralicious self. Maybe Er-sher will have his shirt off the whole time. He's good for that you know.

The other thing that goes with football is of course snacks and beer. Allow me to tell you first how many calories you take in from normal football party favorites. Then I will offer some healthy options. I don't really know how hopping your parties will be on Sunday, but if you can get some peeps over this is some food for thought.

Normally people have things like Tortilla chips and guacomole (one of my favorites), well this little snack will cost you about 172 calories for about a one ounce serving of torilla chips and 21 grams of serving of guac. Buffalo wings are normally a thing seen at the parties and one wing with bleu cheese (which I think I would substitute for ranch) will cost you a total of 220 calories. One slice of cheese pizza will pack on about 240 calories. Those cute little pigs in a blanket add up to about 470 calories for only five of them. What is a football game without getting to throw one back, well one 12 oz can of Bud Light is going to add up to be about 110 calories and if you don't want any alcohol and decide to have a soda instead that will cost you approximently 140 calories for just one 12 oz can. So basically what I'm telling you is that if you have one of each of these things your entire caloric intake will be 1,352.

I found the answer to all of your problems in an article that gives you recipes for zucchini blossom quesidilla with guacomole dipping sauce, chile-baked fries and a sour cream dressing. First you need to collect you some ingredients which I will tell you what of and how much. Then we will discuss the directions word for word from the article. Here it goes.

You will need to go to the store and get the following:
 5 avocados, cubed
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 head garlic
5 zucchini with squash-blossoms, grated or cut into slices
1 block cheese of your choice, grated
2 poblano peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 red bell peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 green bell peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 yellow or orange bell peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
2 jalepeno peppers, de-veined and seeded, sliced lengthwise
5 eggs, beaten
3 lemons, sliced
5 limes, 2 juiced for guacamole, 3 sliced for bubbly water
3 oranges, sliced
1 bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped
1 bunch dill, chopped
1 bunch chives, chopped
Farmer’s Market (if possible) bought chips and salsa

1 bag of tortillas
1 teaspoon chili pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoon spicy mustard
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon hot sauce, or more if you like it spicy
2 liters of your favorite bubbly water: Soda, tonic, or sparkling
Butter
Salt/pepper to taste

Now here are the directions:
Zucchini Squash-Blossom Quesadillas: Slice the zucchini and squash-blossoms as thin as possible, or grate them into large, thin slices. Grate cheese. Add a little butter to a saute pan and allow the tortilla to slightly brown on one side. Add cheese and squash-blossoms to the quesadilla on one side. Fold the tortilla and brown on both sides. Repeat for the number of guests attending. Slice quesadillas into triangles. Serve with guacamole.

Guacamole: Cube five avocados. In a bowl, combine with Farmer’s Market bought salsa and chopped cilantro. Add one teaspoon of chili pepper and cumin, or match to your taste. Mash ingredients together with a fork or large spoon. Add salt and pepper to taste and the juice of two limes. Combine, refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve. Bonus Tip: pick up some chips from the Farmer’s Market too, in order to help finish off this yummy guacamole.

Chile Fries: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Your breading station will consist of three dishes. The cup of flour is the first station. You beaten eggs, milk, two tablespoons of flour and spicy mustard will be combined for the second station. In the third station, add the Parmesan or Romano cheese to the bread crumbs, with salt and pepper to taste. Drag your sliced peppers through station one, two and three: coat each slice first in flour, second in egg mixture, and third in bread crumb topping. Roast your coated chile fries on a nonstick baking pan for about 18 minutes; shake and toss them once during cooking time so as not to burn them. Remove from oven, allow to cool, and serve with the sour cream dipping sauce. For more ideas on the big game day, see more Rachael Ray recipes here.

Sour Cream Dipping Sauce: In a mixing bowl, combine two cloves of grated garlic with one cup of sour cream. Loosen with a splash of milk. Add in the white wine vinegar and hot sauce to taste. Mix in finely chopped fresh herbs: parsley, dill and chives. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve alongside you chile fries for extra dunking and dipping pleasure!

Instead of beer and soda you may just decide that you want something besides high quality H2O. Here is a healthy option:

Fruit-Infused Bubbly Water: In a large pitcher, combine your water with slices of lime, orange and lemon. You can separate the fruits into three different pitchers or combine them all in one, whichever you prefer. Test the taste: if it’s not sweet enough, add two tablespoons of sugar. Refrigerate and allow the mixture to combine the flavors for 30 minutes. Enjoy this super special drank...lol.

No matter who you are rooting for, I hope you are looking out for yourself. Try this out and let me know how you like it. I myself don't really care who wins. May the best team win :) If you have any other suggestions for good fooseball snacks let me know! Until then...bye bye bye!!!!

My Life's Biggest Project: Healthy, Wealthy & Wise

My Life's Biggest Project: Healthy, Wealthy & Wise: "I went to my doctors appointment today and even though my incision site has come open the doctor said that it was alright and that I should ..."