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GO TO IT! AND KEEP READING MY SHIT!

Oh Jessica Simpson.

Ahhh so this morning I have a lot of things on my mind. First is this magazine article I read about Jessica Simpson just before I started writing. The cover reads as follows......

"Bullied for my weight, my diet struggle". Ok so that got my attention. I have mixed feelings towards Jessica Simpson anyways but here's what I really think...... You signed a 4 million dollar contact with weight watchers and you needed an excuse to explain why you didn't lose the weight as fast as j-HUD. Honestly yeah it might sound bitchy of me to say but it's what I think. Here's the other F'ed up thing..... The article talks about how she was constantly criticized for being fat.... Do you know what size she was at the time of these statements?!? A SIZE 4. A FREAKING SIZE FOUR ARE YOU KIDDING ME. If I'm a size 16 I must be a god damn whale! Shut the front door. Size 4. Anyways. She was making comments at the time like "what do you want from me I'm not a super model" well honey you're only 2 sizes off, where I have about 18 sizes to go. Really you are being called big for being a size 4, something is wrong with society then because that's messed up. Anyways. She gained the weight that she's currently taking off from when she was preggers. Here's the other thing, she admitted to over indulging during that time. To me that's a cop out. She knew she was going to have this WW deal once she had the baby so she thought hey, why not have ribs. She would have never gained all that weight if she would have just ate healthy while she was pregs. It's your ow fault honey. If you know you are prone to gain weight and be "criticized" why would you do that to yourself. AND ON TOP OF THAT I think weight watchers is a big piece of shit because gaining weight from having a baby and losing those pounds is way different then just being bigger like JHud and wanting to make a life change. Sorry but I think that's kind is bullshit. Anyways. Wow for some reason I'm angry. She's losing the weight because she's being paid to do so, being paid to be a size 2. And the complaining that people are "making fun of her" well sweetheart stop eating ribs and French fries and basically tubs of lard just because you can because your pregnant, and then shut up!

Sure it might seem like I'm bullying her or making fun of her too but I'm bothered. I think it's a cop out. She's getting paid to drop baby weight and being paid to write a story about being bullied when its much harder for real people to lose weight and real people get bullied in real life on the reg for being overweight but do they write articles about them? No. Deal with it Simpson. I'm sure you wipe your ass with dollar bills from all the money you make from your awesome hand bags but I don't want to hear about your million dollar weight struggles. Try losing weight with no money behind it where you actually have to PAY SOMEONE to help you and then write an article.

Anyways. I wanted to talk about other stuff today but this clearly took me on a tangent haha.

For now. Im drinking my protein shake wishing I had some ribs, and dreaming of the days when someone can pay me to be a real motivator instead of these stars. I haven't seen My favorite actress in the whole entire world, Melissa McCarthy come out with any articles about her weight except for ones where she embraces it. By the way I love the shit out of her. I'm trying so hard to figure out how to be as hilarious as she is haha so I can be in the bridesmaids sequel. I wonder if Juan will move to Hollywood so i can peruse my dream of being in some movies?!?! Hahahha.

Ok well that's it for now.

THE WORST SALADS!!!!!!

So after my bitching session last week, complaining about how I wanted to give up, I just said shut up Andrea... you've got this.. and moved on. So, back to bootcamp this morning, and boy was it a killer, if you don't know what burpee's are, you must learn, and you should try to do at least 10, and then maybe try 100 because we did WAY more then 100 today (the cards workout is not even a joke, it's a bitch, a big big ass kicking bitch).... Yeah, I'm badass I know. But the more burpees you do in a day, the more you can probably eat.. Brian burned over 1200 calories on this morning, which is how many calories I'm supposed to be eating in a day! Sheesh....

Anyways, I'm still waiting on weighing myself, I just really really REALLY don't want to. I just really don't. I like thinking I'm getting smaller, and then eventually in like 20 weeks ill get on the scale and say, wow yeah I'm so skinny now hahaha... Why can't scales just read "you've lost weight this week" or "you've gained weight this week, nice try, work harder next week" instead of telling you your actual weight? I need to invent that, someone write that down! 

We put up our christmas decorations Sunday and I realized a fun new way to track if I am getting smaller or not... it's called the, "Can we fit into a full size tupperware" method. Step 1) Get into a tupperware, preferably the standard storage bin size. Step 2) try to get in as small of a ball as possible. Step 3) have someone close it on you. Try this at the beginning of your weight loss, 8 weeks in and 16 weeks in, and see if there's any difference! WORKS LIKE A CHARM! HAHAHA. I'm almost there... take a look: 

 See, I'm almost there. HAHAHA. Come a few more weeks we will be able to close that container and I will feel like I've accomplished something! HAHAHAHA. So funny.

No but really. This is weird, I totally know. But I was walking into the bathroom this morning to change at work and I stopped and I looked in the mirror, and I said damn, I am swimming in this shirt, I'm actually looking smaller these days. (this is the weird part) I had HAD to document this for my own sake HAHA... I literally went back to my desk, grabbed my phone and snapped a pic. Because I was proud of myself. HAHA. I was actually feeling good for a minute. It felt nice to be swimming in my shirt. (still didn't feel awesome when we were doing jacks this morning my my flab was bouncing all over, but maybe soon that won't be a problem).

I've got 33 days till I have to be in front of my mom and my friends in a wedding dress, and I'm shit scared. I really really hate shopping, let alone shopping with people watching me. Honestly, and this might sound horrible, but you know when you go wedding dress shopping and you see these shows where the mom cries and is just like wow my daughter is so beautiful, I want my mom to be like that. She's already said that she's going to cry, but I want her to cry because I want her to say, damn, andrea is beautiful.. and I know, I know, I am beautiful no matter what size, but it would be awesome if I was beautiful because I was smaller than I am now.  I would feel more comfortable about the whole wedding dress experience if I was... blah... only a few more weeks, I can do it.. the other thing I'm scared about is finding a dress I really want to try, but not even being able to fit my left thigh in the thing.  Some dresses are just so small, and I'm just scared I won't fit into anything! All I want, is to be able to fit, and zip, into one dress, just one. That's all I ask wedding dress gods, let me fit into one! :)

Since I feel like I want to give something back to the people reading this blog, I read the other day about the 7 salads you should never EVER eat, and it's funny because you think you are eating something healthy, but it's SHIT. Read below, and watch out next time you're ordering a salad you think is good for you!!!!!!!!!

BY THE WAY, I started a facebook page so I could share more info and stuff on the page instead of doing it on my own personal page, so go ahead and like me if you want, if not, that's ok too, but I'll be sad. BAHAHAH https://www.facebook.com/fromthicktothin

7 SALADS YOU SHOULD NEVER EAT

7. #7: WORST BUFFALO-STYLE SALAD: Friendly’s Kickin’ Buffalo Chicken Salad
1,180 calories, 95 g fat (19 g saturated), 2,090 mg sodiumDon’t be fooled by the lettuce—it’s simply a foil for the hunks of deep-fried meat, oily wing sauce, cheese, and cream-based blue cheese dressing. This salad is, in fact, more damaging than the hot wings that inspired it. (It has 66 percent more calories than a full order of Applebee's wings!) Instead, opt for the tuna melt and salad combo, the sole menu option to keep both calories and sodium in check.

EAT THIS INSTEAD!
Half Tuna Supermelt and side salad with Italian dressing
450 calories, 25 g fat (5 g saturated), 1,190 mg sodium




6. #6: WORST TEX-MEX SALAD: Baja Fresh Steak Tostada Salad
1,230 calories, 63 g fat (17 g saturated, 2 g trans), 2,380 mg sodium
Props to Baja Fresh for introducing lower-calorie entrées like Bare Burritos and Baja Ensaladas, but that doesn’t excuse the more nefarious offerings like the 2,000-calorie nachos and this fat-drenched salad that comes served in a deep-fried tortilla receptacle. Don’t let the novelty suck you in. There’s still nothing better than the Original Baja Tacos paired with a side of fiber-rich beans.

EAT THIS INSTEAD!
Original Baja Steak Tacos (2) with Pinto Beans

632 calories, 17 g fat (4 g saturated), 972 mg sodium

5. #5: WORST CLASSIC SALAD: Outback Steakhouse Aussie Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad with Honey Mustard
1,288 calories, 98 g fat (32 g saturated, 2.2 g trans), 2,096 mg sodiumCobb might as well stand for “Corrupted by Oil, Bread & Bacon.” These iconic salads’ toppings include croutons, cheese, bacon, and an oft-fried protein, and they tend to be topped with heavier dressings. In the case of Outback, this salad contains more fat than 64 ounces—that’s four pounds—of the chain’s Victoria Filet. The Shrimp Caesar is the lightest salad on the menu, and it comes with 25 grams of lean protein.

EAT THIS INSTEAD!
Shrimp Caesar Salad
554 calories, 39 g fat (11 g saturated), 1,382 mg sodium

4. #4: WORST CRUSTED SALAD: Applebee’s Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad
1,360 calories, 80 g fat (17 g saturated, 1 g trans), 2,640 mg sodium
Nuts can be a great salad topping, but because they’re calorie-dense, they should be applied judiciously. Applebee’s does not adhere to this advice. With this salad, the chain adds both crushed nuts and sugar-coated pecans. In addition, it adds deep-fried chicken and fat-heavy bleu cheese dressing. The total damage is more than a full day’s recommended fat intake and 117 grams of carbohydrates. You’d have to be nuts to eat that.

EAT THIS INSTEAD!
Seasonal Berry & Spinach Salad (with chicken)
620 calories, 31 g fat (9 g saturated, 0.5 g trans), 1,610 mg sodium

3. #3: WORST “HEALTHY” SALAD: California Pizza Kitchen Moroccan Chicken Salad (full)
1,370 calories, 12 g saturated fat, 1,040 mg sodiumAt 116 grams, this salad has more carbohydrates than most of the pasta dishes on the menu. Then there’s the saturated fat. With the exception of the Sicilian or the Meat Cravers, you could eat half of any thin crust pizza on the menu and take in the same amount or less. Try the new Quinoa and Arugula Salad instead. Despite being a seed, quinoa supplies the same amino acids as meat, making it an excellent vegetarian source of protein.

EAT THIS INSTEAD!
Quinoa and Arugula Salad
607 calories, 5 g saturated fat, 872 mg sodium

2. #2: WORST SPINACH SALAD: IHOP Chicken & Spinach Salad
1,530 calories, 111 g fat (30 g saturated, 2 g trans), 2,400 mg sodium
This is the improved version. IHOP’s previous effort at this same salad had 1,600 calories. Call it progress? We don't either. Despite being 70 calories lighter, this plate still manages to fit in more calories than 5 McDonald’s Cheeseburgers, not to mention a day’s worth of sodium. And athough this salad is by far the worst of IHOP’s greens, the others are far from ideal: With the single exception of the Chicken Caesar Salad—ordered without chicken, that is—none of the chain’s dinner salads fall below 1,000 calories. You’d do better to play it safe and order off the Simple & Fit menu.

EAT THIS INSTEAD!
Simple & Fit Grilled Balsamic-Glazed Chicken (served with a salad)
440 calories, 22 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 940 mg sodium

1. #1: WORST SALAD IN AMERICA: Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Chicken Salad
1,720 calories, 17 g saturated fat, 2,636 mg sodium
Tex-Mex salad iterations are rarely light, what with all the sour cream, guacamole, and creamy dressings. But wait—this salad can’t claim any of those usual culprits! The only two potentially troublesome toppings are cheese and tortilla strips, but how much damage could they possibly do? Well, based on these numbers—and the fact that their inclusion appears to be the main difference between the Santa Fe and the Skinnylicious salad below—a lot. Order accordingly.

EAT THIS INSTEAD!
Skinnylicious Spicy Chicken Salad
440 calories, 1 g saturated fat, 771 mg sodium

F-THIS. I want to give up.

What a FREAKING week it has been. I don't know why, but man, this has just been the week from hell. Do you ever have those? I mean honestly, I have them a lot.. but this week was just blah.

So. Yes. F-THIS. I want to give up... that's what I'm thinking and that's what I was thinking allllllll ALLLLLLLL night last night. Let me tell you why...

Losing weight is HARD. It's like, let's completely change your whole lifestyle overnight so drastically that sometimes you just can't fucking handle it. And then of COURSE you just want to see results and when you don't see results you are like WTF?!?!? Why am I doing all this shit and not seeing any GD results??!?!?! Yeah, of course, these changes are for the better and you feel better, and you have more energy, and you are starting to get healthier, but at the same time you feel like if you ever "cheat" by eating something non-healthy, or if you miss a workout, all the work you have done is going to just disappear. I think like that all the time. So of course, these past 13 weeks I have been like, you can't miss a workout, you can't eat shitty, you can't do these things because the minute you do that, you will revert everything you have worked for. Of course I think all these negative things. Of course I just can't see the positive from all of this stuff, of COURSE all I want to do is eat a hamburger... but that's where it clicked.

Last night, after not working out yesterday, and thinking about not being able to workout today, I was thinking to myself, this is IT. I'm done. Why am I doing all of this stuff, why am I trying to better myself? It's hard, and I don't like the challenge and I want to eat whatever I want, drink whatever I want, get my life back instead of working out...... And of course, what do I do? We order a cheese burger from Gordon Biersch and a chicken sandwich (split it of course) and as I'm eating this, I'm like wow, I feel like shit. This does NOT taste good... What am I doing to myself. (I love Juan for not judging me for eating a cheeseburger by the way, he knows how hard this is for me and he pushes but yet isn't rude and mean about it and it's great). Anyways... after we eat that, we go to the Gap, I wanted to see what they had in season for the winter and I needed a new hat haha. Well, as we are there and I'm trying things on, I'm like wow, wait, hold the PHONE, am I really REALLY REALLLLLLLY actually fitting into these clothes that are HERE IN THE STORE ACTUALLY ON THE RACK?!?! IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING??? Yeah, of course, I know I've been dropping sizes and inches, but for the FIRST TIME in a REALLY long time, I felt really good. I didn't have to say, oh that shirt is really nice, what's the style number because I have to go online and fucking order it in an XXL because I'm fat and can't fit into it... same with dresses or pants... but nope, not this time, I was able to walk out of the store with a WHOLE outfit without having to order ANYTHING online. AHHHH I FELT SO GOOD. And I realized, this is what it's all about.

It's those moments, where you are feeling weak, and for me, I eat my feelings, but those are the times you have to sit back and really look at how far you have come and keep telling yourself over and over again that this isn't a sprint... it's NOT. It takes time, and as discouraged as you feel, you are better then where you were yesterday. Yesterday I was a size 18 and XXL for tops, today I'm a size 14-16 and a L or XL for tops... yeah, it might not seem a lot to most people, but for me that's huge. This whole thing is huge. IT'S HARD, it's discouraging, it's miserable.... but I HAVE to keep with it, HAVE HAVE HAVE... there is no giving up. This will take time, this will take effort and there's no more feeling sorry for myself...

Monday is the start of another week, and although I can't control if I have to stay late at work, I can control my schedule to make SURE I am at boot camp in the morning, eating healthy, and staying positive. I CAN DO IT. From THICK TO THIN BABY.

Ok anyways, I feel like if I proof-read this post it's not going to make any sense, so I'm sorry for that, but hopefully you get my point today. I'm not giving up, no matter how much I want to, I'm not.

And by the way, eating like shit makes me feel like shit now. And I LOVE IT. I never want to go back to the way I used to eat... Eat Clean, TRAIN DIRTY.

Happy Friday. Enjoy the weekend and let me leave you on this note,

All this political stuff makes me need a drink!

So to start, I am all SORTS of thrown off this week. I am sooooo OUT of it. Do you know those weeks where you just are like, F this shit. I'm done?!?!1 Thats me, this week. So much has gone wrong and there has been so much drama over the election that I'm just like, get me out of here right now. I need to be on a tropical island sipping tropical drinks given to me from the guys from Magic Mike, with my best friends... not here, in this dreary, sad, cold town. AND on top of all of that, yes, I have been working out, but for some reason my body is just like, ANDREA, I DON'T WANT TO WORK OUT THIS WEEK GIVE ME AN F'ING BREAK.

The more I work out the more I'm learning where my body needs work. Like yesterday, we were doing a mostly cardio workout, TONS of jump roping... well I noticed that I was feeling some SERIOUS pain in my feet, on like the outsides of my soles. It really sucked and it didn't feel good at all and it just made me want to quit. JUST QUIT. Ugh. Why isn't there a button where you can just be like - This hurts, Fix it, DONE. That's all I ask for??

I haven't worked out today but I feel like I'm just not going to feel it - I've been so stressed at work, and just in life that this week is just bad. One of those weeks where I feel like I'm not losing anything, I'm gaining and it's hard to keep my eye on the prize. Like to be 100% honest, there is a peanut butter cookie sitting on my desk staring at me like, hey, you need to eat me because you are depressed.... hopefully I won't give in, but the peanut butter gods are telling me to just dive in.

Anyways, with the election finally being over, and all the drama on FB of people saying absolutely horrible things, all I want to do is DRINK. So, fo you, I found some "healthier" options if you decide you need to go on an all night bender with some vods. I say FUCK Bethenny Frankel and her skinny girl cocktails, JUST MAKE YOUR OWN!

Now clearly, the best option is just straight up vods and wads, but if you need something with a little flavor, try some of these......

Watermelon Mojito: 100 Calories
A whole day of eating right can go down in the swirl of cocktail -- with crazy-high calories and weakened willpower. So we've put a few drinks on a diet, starting with the Cuban mojito. Instead of using sugar, use a wooden pestle or a big spoon to gently crush cubes of watermelon with fresh mint leaves. Add rum and sparkling water for a sweet mojito with half the usual calories.

Simple Margarita: 170 Calories
Skip the syrupy mixes in crazy colors and you'll trim hundreds of calories from this Mexican cocktail. Measure out the basics: one shot of tequila, lime juice to taste, and a splash of triple sec. Shake with ice and serve. Staying within the limits of moderate drinking -- one for women and up to two drinks per day for men -- is another way to watch your calories and your waistline.

Skinny Piña Colada: 229 Calories
Rum that's infused with a coconut flavor can cut about 300 calories from a piña colada. What's out? The sugary, coconut milk mix. Measure one shot of coconut rum. Then add fresh strawberries, a splash of agave syrup, and blend with ice. You get a tall, 12-ounce tropical cocktail for about the same calories as in a handful of pretzel twists.

Shochu Cosmo: 70 Calories
Make a super-slim cosmopolitan by replacing the vodka with shochu, a Japanese spirit with a smooth flavor. A 2-ounce serving has only about 35 calories. Add splashes of diet cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, and orange juice, and then toss in a martini shaker. This cosmo shakes out at half the calories of a traditional cosmopolitan.

Slim Berry Daiquiri: 145 Calories
Simple, unadorned berries can help slim down a strawberry daiquiri. Start with 1 cup of no-sugar-added berries, either fresh or frozen. You get intense berry flavor for just 50 calories, compared with 255 calories in berries frozen with syrup. Add rum, ice, and sweeten the deal with 1 teaspoon of stevia, a sugar substitute. Blend into a slim and delicious frozen concoction.

Slim the Gin and Tonic: 75 Calories
Did you know that tonic water has nearly as many calories as soda? Switch to diet tonic water for a skinny version of this favorite cocktail. Bubbly seltzer water is another option that can shave calories -- although it's really a different drink without the bitter nip of quinine in the tonic water. In that case, punch up the flavor with a squeeze of lime juice or a flavored seltzer.

Better Bellini: 120 Calories
Slim down Italy's festive Bellini by using just 2 ounces of peach nectar, about half the usual amount. Swirl the syrupy nectar together with 4 ounces of champagne and serve in a pretty, fluted glass. Mimosa lovers can try the same trick to cut the calories: use just half of the usual orange juice.

Asian Flavor Fusion: 90 Calories
Flavor-infused alcohols are a tasty way to limit juice mixes, which can be high calorie. Try ginger vodka and lime sparkling water for a fusion of Asian flavors at just 90 calories. Look for flavored seltzer or mineral waters that have no added calories.

Skinny Vodka Iced Tea: 80 Calories
The mix of lemonade and sweet iced tea, favored by golfer Arnold Palmer, becomes a popular cocktail when you add a shot of vodka. You can slice off half the calories in this tall, cool drink by using low-calorie lemonade and sweet-tea-flavored vodka. This specialty vodka is lower in calories than traditional types.

Lemongrass Collins: 90 Calories
Enjoy the tart flavor of a Tom Collins without the syrupy mix, sugar, and other sweeteners that bartenders often swirl into your glass. Our skinny version starts with vanilla vodka, instead of gin. Vanilla carries a sweet flavor with very few calories. Add a splash of lime juice and a zero-calorie sparkling water flavored with lemongrass, mint, and vanilla.

NOW THIS IS IMPORTANT! READ THESE!! IT WILL HELP!!!!!!!

Skinny Cocktail Dos

• Choose fresh 100% juice rather than mixes.
• Use zero-calorie bubblers instead of soft drinks. Try flavored seltzer, sparkling water, or club soda.
• Fewer ingredients mean fewer calories.
• Pay attention. Moderation is key for your waistline and health.

Skinny Cocktail Don'ts

• Don't add creamed spirits or liqueurs. They double the calories in a cocktail.
• Don't use several shots in one drink. A Long Island iced tea has seven ingredients and 700 calories!
• Don't order an after-dinner drink, which is often sweet.
• Don't sip a sweet dessert wine, which has about 40 calories more than table wine.

Ok that's all for now, and of course, half that cookie is gone.. .WHERE'S MY WILL POWER?!?!?!?!
Love,
Andrea

Without you, I couldn't do it.

To the man sitting in front of me on the train this morning..... I don't know what I'm most upset about, the fact that you are eating a amazingly smelling chick-fil-a breakfast or that you won't share with me. Haha.

I think the worst thing about dieting and working out and getting in shape is watching others devour something that you want so badly. I'm sitting here, had just worked out, dreaming of the most delicious protein shake I get to have In about an hour when I get to the office. Sounds like heaven right? UGH KILL ME I WANT CHICK-FIL-A DAMNIT!!!!!

Anyways I'm so hungry, but that's not the point of today's post. Today I want to get all sappy and shit.

I never ever thought that writing this blog for myself would turn into something that has gotten me suck a positive response. When I started doing this maybe a year or so ago I even hesitated putting it on Facebook.... I was like really? Do I really want to put it all out there? Do I really want people knowing my sizes, my weight (which u still don't know yet :-P), horrid pictures of me? Do I? But then I did it and you know what, it wasn't that bad. And then I started being real and the responses I got were just awesome. And even now, the more I post the more I get inspiration. I think of this blog as more of an accountability blog instead of a motivational blog or just my horrible rantings, because now I know people are reading it and I'm being held accountable for my actions.

What people have said to me, the good, the bad (ahhhemmmm read prior blog posts haha) it's all been the most amazing support I could have ever even imagined. I don't need a million followers but a few good people saying a few good things just make it all so much more worth it. This positive response and the fact that I feel like something I might be saying might get someone back to the gym or even just get them thinking about how they are doing just makes me feel great. I've never been a person that felt like they have ever made a difference in ANYONE'S life or felt inspirational to ANYONE so the fact that I'm getting people to even read my blog makes me tear up.

I think the most notable one was from the amazing Sophie yesterday. She commented on my post about what I would tell my 12 year old self:

I've just started reading your blog and girl, I FEEL YOU. I look exactly as you do and have never been able to relate to someone so much. I have struggled with feeling horrid, feeling like people are staring at me because of my weight for my whole life. You can do it and I'm sure if you keep going the way you are, you will look absolutely stunning on your wedding day. Thanks for the motivation, all the way from Aus! :) Sophie

I think the reason I cried when I saw this was because she's not my friend, she's not someone I know, she's not
Someone who I have on Facebook that gets my updates about when I post, she found my blog and is a complete stranger and really likes it! That just makes me feel so good about what I'm doing.

So many of my amazing friends have had amazing things to say and it just makes me feel so great. I honestly couldn't do this without the MOTIVATION from you. So, to the most amazing people that take the time to read my horrifically written blog, I THANK YOU. YOU ARE THE REASON I DO THIS!!!

And I love you for it.

Ok, I'm done being sappy

Also I'm so excited that today is voting day just because I'm sick of all the fighting on Facebook! I mean come on, do we really need to fight about each others political views?!? No we don't. Everyone has the right to their own opinion and If your opinion and mine don't match, who gives a fuck! No need to get in personally heated debates about it. Today's the day that matters so get out there and vote for whoever you want! Just make it count.

Ok. Time to sleep for a few minutes. Happy Election Day everyone!

(Check out my emo thank you pic to you guys. So hot and emo)

I feel skinny today.

Ugh I did NOT want to get up and a) workout this morning or b) go to work. I still stick to my original statement that ill vote this Tuesday for the president who is going to give us 3 day weekends haha.

I've been having the problem of eating amazing during the week but then when it comes to the weekend it's like hey, lets eat carbs! This weekend we were running errands and it was freezing so obviously we went to Panera to get some soup and of course because I'm an idiot I didn't just get the soup I got it in the bread bowl and that came with the top of the bread bowl and then a side of bread! Talk about cheating. Jesus. But for some reason I just couldn't resist that bread. Ugh. And I know if Brian reads this he's going to kick my ass because he told me not to have diary or gluten, but I'm trying... I really am - I'm good during the week honestly, but then it's just so hard on the weekend - i need to be more disciplined. Im working on it I promise.... I mean COME ON ANDREA.

Anyways one more weird thing, I really hate jumping jacks. I mean really. Talk about the exercise where your shits flying all over. I mean seriously. Any they make jumping jacks so your not jumping up and down flailing your arms around while your tummy rolls shake like their in an earthquake. I mean come on! And then on top of that to see yourself in the mirror having that happen?!?! Ugh I'd rather be dead!


I feel like today is just a bunch of random thoughts from my scattered brain... and then of course, I will post something of some sort of use at the end, but for now, I'm just rambling.

So, back to the title of my post... I feel skinny today... I feel like I've got some swagger in my step today... i think mostly it's because I went to old navy this weekend and fit into clothes I never thought I could fit into... So I decided to wear them to work today, and damn do I just feel good about myself. Check me out <-----(also ignore my faces, i really hate taking pics of myself so I don't look normal and yeah, so, the weird thing is, if people from work read this, they are totally going to be like, dude that picture is from our work bathroom you are totally taking pics of yourself at work hahaha, yeah, well, it happens sorry!) Anyways, Do you know how good it feels to sometimes feel like WOW, I actually do feel like I'm not 200lbs today! Ahhhh I feel like nothing can stop me today. I feel like I'm seriously conquering this weight loss shit! Like GO ME! I'm feeling GREAT!!!

I need more outfits that make me feel good about myself! I think I've started buying things that fit better and make me feel better about myself, but shit, clothes are expensive and if I'm going to keep dropping lbs' I can't buy new clothes every time I drop a pant size. I'm going to have to figure that one out.

One more random thought for the day.....

You know when you lay down totally flat on your back and you put your hands on your sides and you feel super skinny? I want to be that thin when I'm standing up! When I do that, I just feel so little and i feel like the world is my oyster, and I totally TOTALLY take a second to dream about what I would be wearing or doing when I get thinner, and then I wake up, stand up, and realize, I was just laying down, and my size goes back to the way it was. Stupid skinny laying down!

OH the gym, omg the GYM I praise and LOVE made a commercial, and they released it today --- This is why I love it so much, I mean just watching the commercial makes you want to get your ass to the gym and get in GEAR! THIS IS WHY I WORK OUT AT RAISE THE BAR. Just look at the commercial and you will see how intense it is and how MUCH I LOVE IT! My amazing trainers are in it, some of my friends are in it - I Love it. Just watch it. And then come to a class with me! :)




Ok last thing - My most favorite thing in the world in the fall is a PSL from Starbucks, obviously... but damn, those things aren't healthy for you.... This is what Dashing Dish has to say:

Now wait one minute…Before you roll into Starbucks to enjoy one of these popular seasonal drinks, ask yourself if you really want to consume 380 calories 13 grams of fat and 49 grams of sugar in one coffee drink! Save money, (and the calories, fat and sugar) and make this ‘skinny’ version right in the comfort of your own home! I promise you will enjoy it just as much, and you can save yourself $5 bucks and a couple hundred calories! 

SO here is a better alternative from Dashing Dish:

Skinny Pumpkin Spiced Latte
Ingredients:
2 tbs Intant espresso powder (or 2 pkts Starbucks Instant Via Coffee)
1 tsp Pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 Cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup Sugar free maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar
2 cups Vanilla almond milk or skim milk
3-5 pkts Stevia (or sweetener to taste)

Optional: 2 tbs half and half (to make it even more rich and creamy) and/or fat free whipped topping for garnish

Method  
THE ESTIMATED TOTAL TIME TO MAKE THIS RECIPE IS 5-10 MINUTES.
1 Add all of the ingredients to a small sauce pan, stir to combine everything, and heat over medium heat, for about 1-3 minutes, or until very hot, (but be careful not to bring to a boil.)

2 Remove from heat and add to a blender to get milk nice and frothy! Blend on high until the milk begins to form small bubbles, about 1-2 minutes.

3 Divide the mixture between two mugs (or save half for later in the fridge). Add a splash of half and half if desired, and/or a squirt of whipped cream, a drizzle of sugar free caramel, and a dash of cinnamon on top! Enjoy!

Nutrition Breakdown
2 Servings
71 Calories per Serving (each serving is 1 1/2 cups)
4 g Fat
13 g Carbohydrate per Serving
3 g FIber per Serving
2 g Sugar per Serving
2 g Protein per Serving

OK ENJOY, LOVE YOU GUYS LOTS!

What I would tell my 12 year old self.

Lets first start out with this. I've been preaching in my blog about weight loss, and I use the word skinny all the time, but this morning I saw an Instagram from my college from Giuliva saying "being healthy and fit is so much more important than being skinny" and that's totally 100% true. All I want is to be healthy and in shape and along with that happening, drop some of these unwanted pounds. So, just so that you all know, I'm not trying to be Kendal Kardashian here (OMG have you SEEN how skinny she is. I mean girl eat a cheeseburger once and a while it won't kill you!) I just want to be at a healthy weight and in shape!

So, today... I wanted to give you guys an update on how much I lost so far, but I wasn't able to get to the gym yesterday to have Evie weigh me... yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.. really? Evie has to weigh you? Well, honestly, yes. The minute I look at the scale and see that dreaded number that I so very very much don't want to see, I get discouraged and want to quit. SO yeah, for now, until I've lost at LEAST 30-40 pounds, my eyes, will NOT be on a scale, and I will have to continue having Evie weigh me hahaha.... Childish, I know, but what are you going to do? I've come so far, I can't get discouraged now. So I will let you know maybe Monday whats been up - hopefully it's good! :) I want to know too!

Anyways... I've been thinking a lot on the train rides into work in the morning, and for some reason that whole idea of "What would you tell yourself if you could go back in time" came across my brain and I started thinking of some stuff as I go through this life style change that might have helped me not be as big as I am today...

Dear 12 year old Andrea......
A happy meal at McDonald's is not considered a "fully balanced meal" just because your burger has lettuce and onions on it and you're having orange hi-c doesn't mean you've hit all the food groups.

Don't stop playing basketball. The freshman 15 will hit, and you will regret not being on a collegiate sports team.

You might be bigger than all the other 12 year olds, but you are still beautiful and never forget that.

Watching the kids on saved by the bell or full house play outside on tv does not count as YOU playing outside.

That piece of candy you begged your parents to eat after each dinner WILL come back to haunt you when you are trying on prom dresses. You're hips WILL lie.

Just because you have a "double chin" doesn't mean you can't be in photos. You'll want to remember those days.

Less POG playing, more rollerblading.

Your dad WILL stop commenting on your weight. Well actually, scratch that, your 28 now and he still hasn't. :-P

No matter what you think about yourself, what you look like, how many friends you have, how many sleepovers you are invited to, or not invited to, you are a truly amazingly beautiful person and even though you aren't a size 0 at JCPennys, it doesn't matter because your life will be great and middle and high school are just a bump in the road and come college, your life will begin.

And lastly, stop eating Mario's pizza so much, yeah it's AH-MAZING but come your wedding day and after all the work you had to get to to fit into a size 8 dress, you will regret it :)

I wonder if the 12 year old me would bitch slap me and say GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF after I told her all this?!??

Happy Friday Friends!