My Journey Down The Aisle
News Flash! For those of you who don’t know, Mike Hanley from The Training Studio & HanleyStrength.Com and I are getting hitched in June and beginning our life as a Super, Butt-Kickin Duo!
Changing lives, fighting lovehandles and sculpting tushes on a daily basis. 
BUT! That doesn’t mean that the hectic wedding planning and long days at the studio don’t take it’s toll on my energy levels just like the next working girl. When It finally comes down to that little window when I need to squeeze in the “me time” to make sure I feel and look my best for our big day, I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit lackluster. I’m also not going to name names by mentioning Holly, Jaime and Mara as Co-Bride-To-Be-Babes and the slew of beautiful ladies like Laura, Diesel, Nicole, Jackie, Amy, Jamie….the list goes on, who will be strolling down the aisle in honor of their Rock Star Friend status to the brides to be as well. Life’s a stage ladies! So lets team up and give it our best side!
I’m turning my blog into a support forum for ANYONE who wants to make changes, stay motivated, learn new diet and exercise tips and feel like they have a place to check in on a regular basis. Making sacrifices in your lifestyle to get results doesn’t have to be a drag. So let’s all keep putting our best foot forward “left together, right together, left together….” and make the journey down the aisle, or to the beach, or where ever your vision takes you-together!
My first results-driven tip? Start your food journal today! This is a must if you want to know what’s working and what’s not. Feel free to post your meals on the blog. It can help keep you feeling accountable and you will have someone to glance at it and offer suggestions. I started my log up today as well. I use a free online food journaling program called FitDay check it out. It won’t cost you a dime. Join The Journey AND the Body Blog for better strategies and more support! Post if you’re on board!
Tags: Bride to be tips, diet, exercise, fat loss, marlboro personal trainer, morganville personal trainer, motivation, nutrition support, weight loss
Very motivational Juliet! I’m going to start logging my food and checking in on a regular basis. Thanks for the info I get never get enough!
Awesome, Am! You’re going to do great. I just talked to Jamie G today too. She’s gonna get goin’ too. Should be fun! What did you have for dinner?
oops. I’m admin in case you were confused
wedding bells are ringing, time to get shredded for good old fun in the sun…….great post, and I will change you from admin to Jules:)
Nutrition appt. tonight. My scale hasn’t been moving… But hopefully the other numbers will
Thanks for setting this up. Time to kick it in higher gear.
Remember it’s the body and clothes that are your BEST indicators! Let me know how it goes tonight. High gear is right! I’ll post in a bit. I’m off to see a hotel for accommodations for guests…fun task in the wet rain lol
just had an awesome healthy lunch… 1 cup brown rice with 3.5 oz grilled shrimp.. threw in a little waldon farms hickory smoked bbq sauce (calorie and fat free) and some extra spicy mrs. dash (again calorie and fat free) for a little cajun flavor.. who said dieting for a show has to be boring and bland. its all about creativity!
One day down for diesel… taking it one day at a time. My goal is to have my old figure back by April 3rd 2010 ( Aliya, my daughter’s 1st birthday). Along the way, help my friend Jules stay on coarse and not have a major breakdown before her wedding. Go Jules!! Its nice to have someone for support.
That sounds Bangin! I didn’t know Mrs Dash had a spicy one! I have the others but I’d like it way better if it had actual flavor
I’ll keep an eye out for it.
LOL You’re nuts. No promises on the breakdown thing- you should have seen me schlepping around in the snowy sleet from hotel to hotel trying to find a place for us and guests. And no, just because I was running around doesn’t mean I skipped a meal. 1% Cottage Cheese and frozen berries happen to be very portable in winter, fish oils too!
At work and between classes, I geek out and make a huge production at lunchtime with real silverware and fancy paper party napkins. (Geek!) I make everything the night before and toss in Tupperware.
Today’s menu: Brown rice, spinach, broccoli, almonds, and chicken doused with paprika, cumin, tarragon, cayenne, black pepper, and a little lime juice for the main course.
For dessert: 3 lemon snaps.
Juliet, you know I love dessert, savor every bite, and don’t beat myself up about it — mentally, it’s half the battle! But, I promise not to overindulge since I already bought my dress!
Woah! Are looking for a part time job a personal chef? I know a very hungry chic with fancy tastes that would loooove to hire you and your nifty party-ware lol.
If anyone can eat a ginger snap, L, it’s you (even though you’re not a grandma and I must say the Gingersnap is QUITE the rage in the elderly community.) Just chase Red and Linc around the backyard for 5 minutes.
Back on strong. Thanks for the support Jules… I have about 10lbs to go to fit in my wedding dress (in about 3 months) so I have no time for slacking… Im always on the road too. I actually add a half scoop of chocolate protein powder to my cottage cheese with frozen strawberries. It’s pretty good!! Any other suggestions of what to add to brown rice and chicken. I have been using low sodium soy sauce and making stir fry. But I’m definitely not a chef – I like simple!! (2 more days to cheat meal – is that bad that I think about that days in advance? lol)
Thanks….
just had the most delicious snack or meal 4 so i thought i would share. i serving of plain greek yogurt with 1/2 scoop of vanilla protein, 3/4 cups of blueberries and 5 almonds. closest thing to dessert that i’ve had all week!!! give it a try! i also like doing choc protein and raspberries to change it up.. if you close your eyes and think hard enough, its like chocolate mousse with raspberries!
HAHA!! i just realized I wrote cottage cheese!! I take that back!! I meant greek yogurt!! Oops!
Awesome Jaim, glad you’re back in your groove. I like adding minced onion and 7 pepper seasoning to chicken and rice dishes (both in shakers sold in the organic section of wegmans) I also like tossing in a bit of broccoli or chopped green pepper for crunch, fiber and a bit more satisfying. You can keep both pre cut in the fridge for easy access. Every now and then I use a bit if Feanks Wing sauce in my chicken and rice dishes. It actually tastes really good if u like spivey but don’t go nuts because the sodium is high
New idea!! I was eating too much PB so we switched one of my meals to having a Tbsp of olive oil. I measure it out, pour it on a plate and add Mrs. Dash onion and garlic seasoning. FOr my carb I use one of the better start english muffins. I dip it into the olive oil and seasoning, imagine its garlic bread, and its pretty good. Then I can have a piece of balsamic chicken..
Tried the Chocolate protein in the greek yogurt. Loved it, thanks for the tip.
PS everything does taste better when you close your eyes and think of sinful dessert
Jaime-cool idea, bet that little mix would taste great brushed over asparagus in a later night no carb meal!
Holly- funny. I made crystal light ice pops and thought the same thing. I don’t go nuts with the fake stuff but its refreshing, uniquely tart if you make them with pink lemonade and will keep idle hands busy after the final meal.
To add a little flavor to plain rice I like to add some sauteed mushrooms if I have the time. If not, Cumin is a really nice smokey flavor that works with a lot of different dishes.
Donnaaaaaa!
Good call. Just don’t accidentally mistake the cumin for cinnamon when you’re adding it to your oats…ahhhhem cough cough…you know who you are.
Flat-out help! If you see flatouts stocked in a grocery store anywhere can you let me know. Wegmans in marlboro had an entire row for them 3 weeks ago and now i can’t find one!
Is there anything comparable to them?
Holly-That happens time to time even at my Wegmans in Ocean.
Thomas’ Better Start-Light English muffin is comparable. Just a different style sandwich but they taste great.
5 grams protein, 26 carbs, 8 fiber, 1 fat- 100 total calories.
No funky after taste. They’re awesome.
Can someone tell me what Ezekiel bread is and where you find it? Also, can someone in phase 1 replace the Flatout with the Better-Start English Muffin? Not only are the Flatouts hard to find sometimes but they’re getting a little boring too.
Thanks.
Donna-Yes, you can replace a the Flat Out with a Better Start Light Eng Muffin. Ezekiel bread is an organic spelt bread found in a refrigerated organic section of either your local grocery store or health food specific store. The grains are harvested before they are fully matured and the theory is that this brings this bread product lower on the glycemic index. Some really love the crunchy-ish texture to the bread and others aren’t as big a fan. Steer clear of specialty varieties that have added sugar like raisins or other fruit.
I hope this isn’t too goofy. In an attempt to keep my gray matter from turning brown, I play a word game every morning called Cryptogram. Its a quote that you have to decipher. This is one quote that I found to be especially interesting and not a bad one to share:
“I CAN’T DO IT never yet accomplished anything, I WILL TRY has performed wonders.” unknown author
I hope you like it as much as I do.
Thought about tearing open that box of chocolate chip cookies in my pantry. Going to try and block it out. Going to bed.
I’m so hungry!!!! This week I have been struggling to get to the next meal!! trying to drink more!! any suggestions??
I don’t know if this okay, however, I’ve been making large batches of sauteed Kale and Collard Greens (Wegman’s has them in the bags all cut up and cleaned for you) and if I get hungry in between meals, I just heat up a small bowl of the greens. They heat up nicely in the microwave and they’re filling. Hope that helps.