Andrea & The Dudes.

So I thought it would be appropriate to start today's post off with that title. Andrea and the dudes haha. Sounds like a band name doesn't it? Well no, sorry, I didn't start a rock band, although many of you think I would be a great super star, these dudes aren't in front of the lime light.... They are my new gym buddies.

Since CRANK ended, I jumped right back in and signed up for 8 weeks of bootcamp. Why not right? I've done so well so far, making it to the gym 9 straight weeks in a row (probably my personal best since playing sports in school). Today was day four... I'm not gonna lie, I thought it would be semi easy seeing as though I seem to think I'm some body builder now that I've been working out for 9 weeks haha but NO THIS SHITS INTENSE. But back to my dudes, haha. So I walk into the first class on Monday at 6:15am, not knowing what to expect except maybe seeing some familiar faces, but what I got was a room full of dudes and me. Now normally I would be SUPER uncomfortable, but the minute I walked in the jokes were made that a girl was finally in this glass and I officially felt welcome. These dudes are great. They range from like a 23 year old to probably 40's-50's and they are strong as shit. Let me tell you haha. But I'm keeping right up there with them. It's great too because normally I would feel so awkward working out or even showing up in workout clothes because I feel like people are judging you. ESP GUYS. But not here, this is the first time I've ever felt comfortable in a room full of dudes. Hahahaha. But no, I really like it, I really love them. And I really feel like I'm getting pushed to better myself. I'm addicted to working out now and getting in shape and 100% getting rid of my fat wings on my arms haha. This isn't just for my wedding anymore. This is more than that. This is me making the decision to better my life, feeling better, feeling healthy and being in shape so that when the time comes, I will be alive a lot longer then my grandkids. (Because you know by then there will be some ridiculous way to live that long haha).

I'm still getting the pushback from friends, but its just going to have to be something that I get used to. A true friend will stick with you thru whatever is going on, even if its a big life change like this. (It doesn't help that work is so crazy and I don't have a life anymore) but people want to blame my change in wanting to workout on me shutting myself out when really, I've always put everyone else first, I've never put myself first, and you know what, I'm finally putting myself first and you're either in it with me and won't care if we don't talk daily, or you're out. It sounds harsh but for my own sanity I need to be like this. Welcome to the new me folks, love it or leave it. I'm still the amazing friend I've always been and ill be there if you ever need me but if my focus has shifted slightly, I'm sorry. I thank some amazing people who have helped me out over the past few days realizing that I just need to so me. I love you for it. (You know who you are).

Ok well anyways, for now, 4 days into 8 weeks, lets see if I make it through week 1 and we can celebrate.

Have an awesome day. And oh hey, a big FU to all those haters out there.

Suck it up and Suck it In!

Happy Thursday folks! It's been a while, but man, have things changed. It's so funny to me how I have done a complete 180 since my whole workout kick began 7 weeks ago. 

First, HILARIOUS... Let me tell you, I often sit there and tell myself, SUCK IT UP ANDREA, but don't forget to suck it in. My whole ENTIRE life, I have sucked my gut in. You wouldn't believe how big I really am if I let my chub go. As I sit here writing this post, I'm letting my suck in, out, and it feels weird!!! I've just naturally sucked in for probably 20 years, that when I'm skinny enough to not have to suck in, it's going to be hilarious! Not sure why I got on this topic, but yeah... Anyways.

So, back to this whole 180 degree change thing. Before I started this whole workout/diet thing, all I ever wanted to do was go to work, come home, relax, watch TV, or hang out with friends.... now, all I want to do is GO TO THE GYM! I am pumped. The gym I go to is amazing, and the classes I take, are amazing, and even after 7 weeks, after every class, I can't move. I'm sore in places I didn't know had muscles, and its hard for me to wake up the next morning. I literally get depressed now if I don't go to the gym almost everyday. I think that's so funny. I go from party girl, Andrea, to workout girl, Andrea. As fun as it has been, it's also been a struggle. People are different towards me now, they get upset with me, they can't just be happy for me... and then there are some people, I'm not going to name names, but I'm going to vent, that mock me, tell me how great of a job I am doing, and then lie straight to my face about things.. STOP, you are so annoying. You are pissing me off. This is not a f'ing joke to me. I have NEVER been skinny, EVER, in my whole entire life, and you doing these things that you are doing, it's making me mad. It's the most annoying thing when you work so damn hard at something, and others just mock and lie. I'm not doing this to just drop a few pounds, I'm doing this so that for once in my life, when I walk in front of 300 people, I don't feel like a fat ass, I don't feel like everyone is looking at ME because I'm the fat kid in the room. I'm doing this to make sure that I'm around for a long time, when my kids are having kids, and my kids kids are having kids. So stop, don't lie to me. Stop making this a game or a joke. Because it's not for me. 

Wow, anyways, rant over... Again, Andrea... SUCK IT UP. Stop the bitching. But unfortunately, it's hard to feel good when others are making you feel angry or mad. My new gym friends are awesome. I never feel like I'm annoying them with my questions (well maybe I'm just annoying them with my facebook posts in our RtB groups, but I'm just so excited to see results and be part of this AMAZEBALLS family...), I always feel like they are pushing me to do my best, and it just makes me feel a MILLION times better. I've never been one for gyms, I always feel self conscious, I feel like the meat heads stare at the over weight chick and say, "yep, she def needs to be in here", it's just not my thing... and when I stepped out of our small group at Crank and stepped into a larger group in boot camp, I felt fine. I felt like no matter what I look like, I fit in. I even wore SLEEVELESS SHIRTS! Omg, for you that know me the closest, you know that me wearing sleeveless shirts is like UNHEARD of. hahahaha... But for real, yes, I like working out, but I think the bigger picture is that I like working out with the people I have been working out with, they make me feel good about myself, and cheer me on for trying to do what I'm doing.... I just love it... I thank them for that, they will never really truly understand how appreciative I am of all of them over there at RtB, you will be the reason that I walk down that aisle next fall looking amazing... 

So we only have 2 classes left of the 8 weeks of CRANK and I will finally find out how much I have lost over this process... Its hard to believe that 8 weeks have passed, and yeah, it might not show that I have dropped a ton but I feel amazing, and its getting me geared up for the next 8 weeks of intense bootcamp. I am happy about that. Hopefully, come December when I am trying on dresses, I will finally see all the results that I have been working so hard at trying to achieve.

OH by the way - I'm down to a L/XL top and a 14/16 bottom! Slowly but surely I am getting there.... (down from XXL and 18/20)

Alright, enough for now - but let me leave you with an awesome quote, and a recipe since I don't want you guys to listen to me bitch the whole time, I actually want you to get something out of this blog!!!!

RECIPE TIMEEEEE!!!  

I found this amazing recipe this morning on Dashing Dish - It's for Skinny, buffalo chicken bites!! I cannot WAIT to try these. 

1 cup	Chicken, cooked and shredded
1/4 cup	Hot sauce
1/2 cup	Mozzarella cheese, grated
4 oz	Fat free cream cheese, microwaved 30 seconds to soften
1/4 tsp	Garlic powder
1/4 tsp	Onion powder
24	Wonton wrappers
Optional:	Additional mozzarella cheese for topping Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet pan with foil or parchment paper (for easy clean up) and spray with cooking spray.  In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, hot sauce, mozzarella cheese, and seasoning.  Add the shredded chicken and stir until well combined. Begin filling the wonton wrappers by placing about a tablespoon of filling in the center of each wrapper. You could use a little more or less, just try not to over-fill them, or the filling will ooze out the sides when you are baking them. To seal them shut, place your finger in the water…Then trace two of the corners with the water. Fold the wrapper in half to meet the two dry corners with the two wet corners. Press to seal the two sides together. (Note: the water acts like glue to seal the corners shut!) Continue filling until all of my wonton wrappers are filled. (Note: You may be able to fill even more than 24 wrappers depending on how much filling you use in each one!) When wonton wrappers are filled, give them a light spray with non-stick cooking spray and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese over the top of each one if desired. Lay buffalo chicken bites on prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden brown. Enjoy with hot sauce, or light greek yogurt mixed with dry ranch seasoning!

Day??? I lost count. And I hate CRANK.

Ahhhhhh so as most of you know I started this new workout program this week with my old trainer, and pretty bad ass chick if you ask me, Evie. This is her to the left. She's mean as SHIT. But she gets the job done. Anyways.... let me tell you, I'm only 2 days in, and I feel like SHIT... SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT. Let's see how many times I can fit SHIT into the post. But the good kind of shit. The sore kind of shit. Not that, ugh I can't do this, SHIT, but the damn, I'm so out of shape SHIT. But at the same time, I love feeling sore. It makes me feel like I'm actually doing something when I'm at the gym from like 7:30-9pm everyday.... UGH.

So this crank program. It's legit. It's over at the new gym Evie works at called, Raise the Bar Strength and Conditioning. Now, I'm not going to lie, when I walked in there, I was like SHIT, I do NOT belong here... everyone was fit like no other... They had cut arms, 24 packs of abs, and here I walk in with big flabby arms and abs I haven't seen in decades! I was super intimidated, let me tell you. But then I started meeting everyone and the good thing is, I didn't feel judged. I felt like I belonged. Everyone is there for the same reason, to drop some LBS, get in shape, or just get more and more fit. I even wore a sleeveless shirt to my first class, and that's HUGE. I always wear sleeves because I hate these flabby arms! The CRANK class consists of 4 workout classes a week working on weight lifting, either upper or lower body, and then 2 30 minute cardio sessions a week, and that's IT. I thought, oh I'm taking this CRANK class I'm going to have to be in the gym like 9 times a week and I won't have a life and all that SHIT, but nope.. it's pretty simple.. well minus the work outs - dudes, yesterday we had to run suicides in the parking lot, I haven't run suicides in ummmmm I don't know 10 years since I played basketball? HAHAHA ("I do suicides on the tourrrr busssss, I do suicides on the private jet, you know what that mean, that I'm fly to death" - thanks kanye) it sucked. HAHAHAHA.

Along with the workouts, Evie put together a meal plan for us. As you can see, we get to eat every 2 hours, but this will be my diet for the next 8 weeks... andddddd pretty sure I won't be boozing it up. Oh well... no pain no gain right?!?!?! It's pretty awesome... so I guess I am complaining but also pumped about all of this.. this is the first time I've wanted to work out daily... Let's just hope this all works out because I'm sick of looking like I have a baby-on-board when I wear a maxi dress! HAHAHAH

Here is one of the recipes that Evie gave us - it's great, you should all try it esp before a workout!


Chile Chicken & Basil
Ingredients

1 lb Chicken breast
2 Serrano Chiles
1 tsp Light soy sauce
2 cups fresh basil
1 Tbsp fish sauce
3 Garlic cloves


Preparation
Chop garlic and chilies finely, add a pinch of salt, use back of spoon to scrape, make into paste. Sauté` paste in oil add chopped chicken breast. Add soy sauce, fish sauce, cook until chicken is done. Add basil until wilted, season with black pepper. Enjoy with 1 cup brown rice.

Ok, that's it for now!
Thanks for listening!!!!!!

Wednesday... Day 2, TRX, TRX and more TRX

Man, day 2 isn't as hard as I thought it would be... I woke up, and got ready for TRX class this morning... I'm sure all of you have heard me talk about TRX many times, because it's AHHH-MAZING. I take the TRX classes over at Balans on Mondays/Wed/Sat's - with probably the best instructor ever. If you don't know what TRX is, click the link above and check it out - it seriously is an awesome full-body workout. I'm addicted. I really hate working out, doing weight training, but this shit uses your whole body to work out - and it's AWESOMEEEEEE! :)

Today's class we did some interval training using the TRX, kettle bells, and your basic weights. In an hour long class I usually burn about 600 calories. I'll go back to the gym later today to do some cardio, but it's a great way to start the day.

It's actually kind of funny, because I love LOVE Balans, but I go to the 9:30am classes, and it's def filled with a bunch of stay-at-home moms. And good for them, but I'm def the black sheep... I'm again in another situation where everyone is a skinny little twig and I'm that fat chubby kid. Oh well, at least I'm at the gym right!

Here's a shot of how Balans has their studio set up, and the other is the lovely Evie trying to shake it as I take a pic. haha she's probably going to kill me for this if she ever sees it! hahaha

Oh, and GREAT FIND... Last night at Wegmans, I totally found this great little thing called a "Dole Shaker". All you do is add juice and you've got yourself a smoothie.... I def had one before my workout and it held me over till after my workout where I could have breakfast. I totally recommend them!!!

Tata for now - 

Fat Kid OUT!