Sleep

I just want to say how important sleep is. I was up late studying for a final and only got 3 hours of sleep. I was not functioning after the final. Luckily, I got a 2 hour nap this afternoon, but now I don't want to do work.
I find that lavender oil helps. I also say the manta "calm,comfy, relax."

Tips

I found this video on YouTube today. She gives some great tips to lose weight. I agree with most of them. I have done most of them and I have lost 20 lbs. I need to try the glass of water when I wake up.

New recipe

I found this recipe a while ago and I have already made it a couple of times. It is really easy and tasty. My mom had me make it for a family dinner and everyone liked it.

http://damndelicious.net/2013/10/25/red-pepper-pasta-bake/

Stand still

For the past couple of weeks, my weight hasn't changed at all. Luckily, that also means that it has gone up. I need to do more than walk to and from class. 

I have decided that I should do more yoga or Pilates. There are great workouts online. Also, I may lift a weight while I watch tv with my housemates. I am sick of my jiggling arms. 

FROZEN FRUIT!

Have you ever wanted a certain piece of fruit, but it out of season? That is how I have been about peaches. Thank God for frozen fruit. I just bought a 4 lb bag of frozen pineapple, mango, strawberries, and peaches. I get most of my fruit and vegetable intake with my nutribullet. I just used some of it and it tastes like a smoothie from heaven. Now, I just hope my friends don't freak out about the huge bag that is now in our freezer. Hey, a couple of them have a ton of frozen meals in there! So, it shouldn't be a big deal, right?

Weight loss model

I was on pinterest the other day and I stumbled onto this. I have been wanting a visual of what my body MAY look like when I reach my goal. 

weight model

It is a lifestyle change!

Today, I just want to state something that my friend said to me. We were discussing diets and such, and I said something about the changes I have been making. She said to me, "What you are doing is a lifestyle change."
I have to agree now I think about me. I don't have to put in such an effort with fruits and veggies because it has become a habit. Also, my appetite is changing and I noticed that I am having less cravings. So here is a tip that I am sharing:

 

Halfway there

I know that it has been a while, but school has been crazy. The good news is that I still have stayed on track with my weight loss goal. As of today I have lost 16 pounds since June. The best part is that people are noticing the change. When I saw my friend at the start of the semester, that was the first thing that she noticed.
I haven't been able to do as much yoga as I would like, but the walking back and forth to campus is helping. There are days that I have walked 3 miles.
The one thing that I have noticed is the change that I have noticed is the appetite. Ever since I started, I try and eat a small meal every 3 hours. Then when I start to eat a larger meal, I notice that I get fuller quicker.
The nutribullet that I got have helped a great deal. I try to have one every weekday. It is a great way to get fruits and veggies. The best one that I made had:

• kale
• banana
• peaches
• raspberries
• oatmeal
• coconut water

The coconut water is great! It sweetens the drink, but doesn't have all the calories of orange juice.
I have found that cooking myself helps. I usually make enough that will last me a few days. one of my favorite things is to saute peppers, onions, and mushrooms. It is great with just about any dish.
I also have made meatloaf cupcakes. They are small and are a descent size to have a couple as a meal.
One meal that I want to try soon is a Quinoa Enchilada Casserole with chicken. 

Pilates

The other day I decided to try some Pilates. I found a ten minute workout that is suppose to help with thee waistline. Let me tell you I was sore the next morning. I will being doing this again and I highly recommend it. I will put the link below.

Pilates workout

A place to start

        For a while, I have not felt the greatest about myself. I am overweight and I don't have the greatest self esteem. So, this summer, I decided to make a change.
        Okay, I know that the summer is very close to over, but I want to share what I have done so far and what I plan to do in the future.
        The first thing I did was walking in the morning. Every once in a while, my neighbor's dog would join me. At the same time, I changed my eating habit, eating same portions every three hours.
       There were some days that I did not want to get up early, so I would go on the exercise bike that we have. Now I want to do more exercises that target certain areas.
       I also wanted to practice my cooking skills. I am great at making oatmeal because I have it every morning for breakfast. I have made kale chips, zucchini bites, and dark chocolate brownies made with bananas and applesauce. The next thing that I want to make is buffalo cauliflower.
       I have set a goal to lose 30 pounds. I have not set an end date because I don't want to make myself crazy. I have lose about 5.5 pounds since I started this in June. I probably could have lose more but I had family visiting from out of town. My sister probably would have had us eat pizza every nigh. I set my goal to 30 pounds because that would bring me down to a weight of below 200 pounds. I honestly haven't been that way since middle school.
      School starts up next week and I have to keep pushing myself. Luckily, I can walk at least a mile each day to get to class and home. There is a yoga studio town and there is a class for beginners and believe me I really need the help with yoga. Then my mom just bought me a nutribullet, so I can make smoothies very quickly if I am in a hurry. At least I have a plan.
      I may not be the best at yoga, but I am trying meditation. I need a way to stay positive throughout the semester. I have done it a couple of times and I do feel better.
    I found this site via Sierra Boggess, a Broadway actress and a very spiritual person and I look to her for inspiration: http://powerofpositivity.com/7-tips-how-to-train-your-brain-to-stay-positive/. I feel that I am part of the way there.
    I will post links to sites that I feel that have helped me through my journey.
    I will list one thing that I am grateful for: my mom. She has been very supportive in my journey so far.