Working Out and Weighing In Link Up

Today I am linking up for the first time from a real computer in 10 days!  Wow, this seems much easier this way.  

First, to start with the weigh in.  I am happy and somewhat reluctant to say I only gained about 2-3 pounds on vacation (I don't know the exact amount because I didn't weigh the morning before I left).   I am back to where I was when I go back from my first trip this summer, but I honestly expected it to be more because the trip was longer.  I'll take it as a win.  

Now, for the workout.  I am still doing interval training (actually today will be my first day back at it). 

 Here it is if you are interested.

  

Also, before I left I had started incorporating a Skinny Meg workout.  I broke the workout into two days because I am also trying to incorporate distance in my running. 

 

Upper Body via Original Skinny Meg Post

Push Up with a Row: 2 sets of 12

Upright Row: 2 sets of 12

Tricep Kickbacks: 3 sets of 12

Fly: 2 sets of 12

 

Lower Body via Original Skinny Meg Post

Squat with a Side Swing: 2 sets of 12 on each side

Frog Jump with a Curl: 2 sets of 12

Plie Squat with weights: 3 sets of 12

Reverse Lunge Jumps: 3 sets of 12 each side

 Weighted Lunges: 2 sets of 20 on each side
Squats with Overhead Press: 2 sets of 12

 

If you have questions about any of the moves press the link provided and hop on over to her original post, as she provides video, etc. explaining each move.  

I think all of it is adding up and working because I was able to start getting into goals jeans.

Now, for the newer stuff.  I am really considering training for a 10k or half-marathon.  

I am seriously considering doing the Fort 4 Fitness. 

 There are several reason I would love to do this one. 

1. I know many bloggers who are doing it and it would be great to meet some faces behind the blog.

2. It would hold me accountable.

3. It would give me something to train for.

With that being said, what apps has anyone used to train for distance running? 

 There are so many out there, some costing upwards of $10.00, which I don't care to pay if I know it is a good program. 

Let's Talk About Self-Worth. Shall We?

As some of you may know if you have read my "About Me" section I used to have an eating disorder.  It was a terribly dark time in my life and honestly, I still struggle daily with aspects of it.
The pressure to be thin and picture perfect in today's society is more than ever.  Women seem to be more accepted by appearance than poise, experience, etc.  I have struggled again and again with this, how do I define my self-worth.  How did I start making a change to make it about more than the number on the scale? Well....You are better than a number on a scale, the size of your jeans, or the way that one shirt makes you look.  All too often I think we down play the most important parts of us to the least important parts, the parts that can change all to easily, the parts that fade with time.  Do you judge your friends by their appearance or the way that they treat you and others, the beliefs they stand for, and the way they make you feel when your with them?  So, why is it that we tend to be so harsh on ourselves when really we are awesome people on the inside? 

our ill-constructed body image is effecting more than just us, we are effecting a smaller generation of girls. It scared me honestly, I know what I struggled with and how I still struggle and I can't image this innocent little girl already identifying her self worth by a number on the scale.

So, how is it that we should combat everything telling us looks are everything?  Here is my advice:

1. You are more than a number on a scale- Come on ladies, you know this.  We have all seen the pictures of five women that all weigh the same thing, but look different.  If you haven't, here you go: Click Me

2. How you treat people matters more than what you weigh!- I can't stress this enough.  How many of us have been belittled by someone?  Did you remember their size?  Or how they treated you and made you feel.  You make more of an impact on someone by how you treat  them, I promise.

 3. Don't use negative words to describe yourself.- I am bad about this one, I know.  I think many times I call myself things like "fatty" because I think I am beating someone to the punch.  I feel like if I say it before they have a chance to think it it isn't as bad.  But the reality?  The probably aren't seeing what I see.  I am my hardest critic, and I would dare to say you are yours.

4. Your weight is not your purpose in life. You weren't put on this earth to be perfect.  NO ONE IS! - It is about progress for you...not being perfect. Fortunately, there is no such thing as perfect, so quit reaching for it...you won't obtain it.  Just be the best you you can be. 

5.  Start the morning by telling yourself something you like about yourself or something you are proud of.- Before you look in the mirror, before you have the chance to put yourself down tell yourself the good in you.

6. Exercise to make yourself feel good about YOU!- This is one thing I have to remind myself of all the time, it really does make me feel better and changes the way I view myself. 

7. Realize that everyone struggles with their body image at some point.- No matter how skinny, no matter how big...everyone has issues with their body.  

8. Every body type has advantages.- If you have really nice legs... girl, rock those daisy dukes.  If you have curves...girl, rock that dress that enhances your hourglass figure.  You get the idea, every body type has advantages.  So, your jealous of her really nice legs?  Maybe she doesn't have the curves that look great in dresses. 

9. Need a pick-up?  Ask a friend or loved one what they love most about you. - I can guarantee it won't be your size.

10. Realize that no matter how much you disdain parts of yourself, there is someone who wishes they could be just like YOU!- Are you healthy?  Is one of your main concerns wanting to 'look' better?  Thank God for that, seriously.  

Words To Think About:

Yes, I want to lose weight, but I want to do it for me. To make me feel better about myself and to make myself happier.  I don't think that losing weight is my purpose in life, but I do think it can enhance my life by making me feel better about myself.  With that being said, as I improve myself physically I also always try to strive to improve myself intrinsically as well.

The ugly "A" word...

Acne.  Yep, I said it and I have a problem with it.  As in I hate it, and as in I have it.
Blah.  Overweight and acne?  Aren't you jealous?
I was one of those people in high school that never had to deal with that and never got all my friends struggle with it.  I didn't have to wash my face, I could wear whatever make up my heart fancied...and then I hit my 20s and something...changed.

It started as a simple break-out every now and then, nothing really more than occasionally bothersome.  Then it started to be small bumps on my forehead.  Finally, it got the the point that I wore a band-aid to work on my face {gasp}.  In my defense it was an inservice day with no kids.  After hearing multiple co-workers tease me, asking me things like, "Did you cut yourself shaving?"  (Are you kidding me?  Who thinks that is a good idea to say to someone who is clearly dealing with something bad enough to wear a Disney princess on their FACE?!)  I was talking to a co-worker and went ahead and addressed the elephant in the room telling her I was dealing with 2 really bad pimples in the same area and was trying to treat them with antibiotic cream (don't do that, evidently it makes it worse).  She said her daughter had the same issue and went and saw a dermatologist.

Me go to a dermatologist?  No....well, maybe it wouldn't hurt.

I felt like to going to  a dermatologist was admitting that I had acne...which hello, I did, but hadn't fully accepted the extent it was taking on my self-confidence.

Anyways, I made an appointment and the doctor addressed how bad I was for my own skin.  Here is what I learned:

• Your skin type is not determined by your face, but by all of your skin.  I always considered myself to have greasy skin because I got the T-zone grease, while the rest of my skin was dry...meaning I had dry skin and was treating it totally wrong.
• The stuff you see on TV, i.e. Proactive (which yes I tried and it made my skin worse...awful) is really bad for your skin. Your skin becomes dependent on it and if you try to go off of it your skin becomes worse. It also increases your chances of scarring tremendously.
• The best brands for you skin are Neutrogena, Dove, and Cetaphil.  My dermatologist even said to not get the kind made for acne, but instead go for the sensitive skin option.
• Don't use antibacticial creams on your face. They only address the surface and acne develops deep down.  Using the cream doesn't let the acne dry out, it actually lets the bacteria deep down multiply...eww.
• If you have acne, go to the doctor.  I dealt with it for a year or more.  More than a year of being embarrassed and self-conscious.  I went to the doctor and got what I needed. 
• P.S. My doctor said (while doing a scan for cancerous moles, etc.) that  I had pretty breast because the sun had never touched them....ummm, really?  You say that to clients?  Awkward. Moving on.

Yes, I went to work like that. 

The doctor prescribed two things for me:  Aczone and a very mild antibiotic (in pill form) and it has tremendously changed my face. 

So, if you have dealt with it know you aren't alone, but I highly recommend addressing it and going to the doctor. I promise it will help.

Vacation Teaser

Vacation is very close to ending and for some reason Blogger won't let me post my originally planned post for today.  So instead, I will once again update from my phone and give you guys a few pictures from vacation so far.  

**If you're new around here or just stopping by I'd love it if you clicked around to get a better idea of what this little blog is about.

I will be back to regular blogging next week.  Thanks for baring with me through my trip.

Oat Protein Pancakes

Y'all, these are seriously soooo good!  My husband wanted pancakes, so I made him regular pancakes, but the I was left with a craving for some myself.  So, I did the natural thing and took to the internet.  

Here is what you need:

1 1/2 cups of old fashioned oats

1/2 scoop of protein powder of your choice (vanilla is recommended)

1 ripe banana, mashed 

1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk  (I added a tad more because I didn't include the cottage cheese)

1 egg

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Optional Ingredients (I did not use any of these):

1 TBSP flax seed

1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese

1/4 cup of sugar free chocolate chips

Directions:

1.  Place skillet or griddle on low-medium heat and spray with cooking spray.

2.  Mix all ingredients in a bowl mix on high for 2 minutes.

3. Place approximately 1/4 cup scoops in skillet and cook until brown on each side.

4. Enjoy

Weigh In Link Up

Okay, I decided to try to do this link up from my phone.  Wish me luck and expect typos.

I am currently on vacation and can't help notice the feeling if funk that has come over me after the first two or three days.  I say this because before vacation I was consistently losing weight and working out pretty intensely and actually enjoying it. {gasp}.

The first day we got out to go to a park I got dressed and walked by the mirror and for the first time in a long time didn't totally mind what I saw...

After a couple meals and no workouts I started to feel bloated and just ick in general which brought on all those feelings of worthlessness, etc.  There is this thing about recovering from an eating disorder, you're never really better.  And that knowledge has come front and center this trip.  You see, I'm gonna be really honest I have really really been fighting the urge to make myself  throw-up.  It is like this automatic trigger for me, I feel full my instinct is to make that feeling stop.  I don't have that healthy relationship with food where being full brings on a feeling of satisfaction...I actually hate the feeling of being full.
Don't you feel more normal now?
Anyways, I am trying to make healthy choices in food to combat those feelings.

I constantly battle with these feelings, it is like a battle for me everyday, but even more so when I feel like I am not in control of my eating, I.e. others wanting to eat out all the time, etc.  

It really is like an ugly demon that peeks its head just when you think you have a handle, just when you think you are completely better.  The thing is, you're never really better...and that is something I am going to have to deal with.  I promised if I blogged I would always be honest, and there it is, dysfunction and all.

I have realized that I need to do a post on my history with an eating disorder and all that came with it so my readers with bave a better handle on my journey, and I plan to when I get back from vacation, but if you want a little more insight now you can read "My Story".  

So here is my question...how do you handle vacation and dieting?
Do you just let yourself enjoy?  Or do you try to moderate?

So, sorry I didn't weigh in, but thought I would share my current weight loss experience.

Dreaming of a Dream Bedroom

 I'm on vacation and using post I had already written.
anywayyyyys...
p.s. for some reason it keeps saying posted Wednesday when I accidentally pressed publish and the "reverted back to draft".


Hey beauties, I am so excited to say that T and I found a door to make a headboard out of.  I blogged about it here.  So, I have been dreaming of our dream bedroom. 

I think having a bedroom you love is one of the most important parts of your home.  I know that most people won't see your bedroom and it may seem like a better investment to spend money elsewhere in your home, but I think of my bedroom as our place and kind of an escape from the rest of the world.  

 Here is my inspirations:

[One] I am in love with the idea of burlap curtains.  I found these that I am dying over them because not only are they burlap, but they have a pewter color block! 
[Two] I am a sucker for this color palette, and you could probably tell if you walked into my house.  Our bedroom is colonel blue, so I think lightening it up with furniture, fixtures and prints would be the perfect balance.
[Three] We have two windows that a vintage chest would fit perfectly nestled between some to die for burlap curtains!  I also love the pops of turquoise, yellow, and pink in this design.
[Four] This is the picture that started it all.  I came across this on Pinterest and was positive that this is what we had to do.  It fits my style perfectly.  The door is currently ordered!  Yay!


[Five] I found this lovely image on none other than Pinterest, but tracked it down to here.  I love, love, love maps, it is actually the theme I want to use for a possible future baby nursery (maps and hot air balloons).  Anyways, I love the idea of doing a series with locations maker, i.e. where we got married, where we met, etc.
[Six] Chevron rug in neutral tones, need I say more.  I found this rug here.
[Seven] I love the idea of multiple pillar candles in hurricane jars with burlap and lace details.
[Eight] I honestly can't remember where I found this image, but in keeping with the vintage/ re-purposed theme I love the idea of crates for bedside tables!  I found some at The Home Depot, here, for only $12 each!

[Nine] Who wouldn't love this print.  It is from Parada Creations Etsy Shop.
[Ten] I love that this would bring in a pop of color and softness to what I have already chosen.  Find it here Designs By Maria Etsy Shop.

[Eleven] I found this mirror here.  It is somewhat prices, and I have seen similar ones at Hobby Lobby much cheaper, but I love the white and turquoise chevron paired with the vintage frame design.
[Twelve] This beauty is also from Parada Creations Etsy Shop.

Keep Your Enemies Closer

Y'all, I have realized something with the whole weight loss thing. 

 I am my own worst enemy.   

The problem with being your own worst enemy is that you don't even realize you are doing it to yourself at times.  I mean if someone else put you down you are fully aware of that, but I put myself down ALL the time and think nothing of it.  Have you heard that quote "You become who you believe yourself to be"?  Well, if in my head I am constantly telling myself I am not good enough, I won't ever reach that goal, etc. that is what I become...my own worst enemy. 

I don't want to be that. 

 I want to be the one who knows I can do it when no one else thinks I can.

And you know what?  I am that person.  I know that I can do this, and will do this.   

I think often times, my problems come from setting goals that are so far away it is hard to see the tunnel, much less the light at the end of it.  I am that person who tells myself if I don't do at least an hour long workout it isn't good enough.  Well, that has done me well...not.  I would just end up getting overwhelmed with my inability for my body to do what my mind thought was worth while and not do anything. Yeah, 40 pounds sounds great, and it will be.  But from my point of view now, so does 5 or 10 pounds and that is what I need to focus on.  So, I plan to make small goals to keep me on track and see my success, little by little.

My goal is pretty simple, to lose 2 pounds a week.  I am going to focus on this journey week by week..NOT 40 pounds from now.  Don't get me wrong, 40 pounds will be great, but it isn't in the here and now.

T and I have pictures coming up in October

 (which I am NOT rescheduling again because I don't like the way I look).

There is 94 days until pictures, which is roughly 13 weeks.  

My big goal for now is to have lost 20 pounds by the time we take pictures. 

You see how I did that?  I gave myself some leverage room, it would be great to lose 26, but having been in this weight loss game for a while I know there are plateaus, birthdays, jobs...there is life in between this whole weight loss game.  I want to be realistic.

This plan does involve me weighing, but if the scale becomes and obstacle rather than a tool, then I won't weigh for a while and I will focus on how my clothes fit. 

For now, here is one of our engagement pictures taken last June.

  I want to look better than I did here. :)

Dangerously Good: No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Hey, if you want to follow my Disney trip while I'm away be sure to follow me on Instagram @katelyn_imperfectperfection

Now....

Ladies, I have found something ahhhh-mazing!  I was having cravings for something sweet and took to Pinterest.  These looked easy enough and I thought I would give them a try.  I couldn't have anticipated how easy and good they would be.  

 They are seriously so good, and equally easy. 

 They are:

No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars

via

Here is what you need:

1 1/2 cups of oats

1 cup of peanut butter

1/2 cup of honey

1 cup of protein of your choice

1/2 cup of chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

  Mix well and form into balls.

How freakin' easy is that?!

Happy Dance

Do any of my early followers remember these?????????????

This photo was taken in June.

Well, no they don't look perfect...actually, I wouldn't wear them out of the house, but I got those things buttoned and zipped without sucking in, without laying down, without doing a dance....I got them buttoned!!! 

{insert happy dance here}

And please don't judge the fact that my Great Dane had just demolished a roll of toliet paper in the background (< bad dog) I was too excited to take the time to clean it up and I knew my awesome readers would understand and not judge... and I had just woken up and have an awesome tie-dye shirt on (hence the reason my face isn't in it).  And finally, this is our guest bedroom that at this time is a hodgepodge of free furniture, hence the ugly TV table...
Now that we have all that out of the way...look!

July 19

Five On Friday, you ready?

Five On Friday

I mean how fast did this come this week?

[ONE]

It has been a while since we took pictures last, so I took a walk down memory lane this week.

I am kinda obsessed with professional pictures and it is something we will do often, especially when we have a mini.  For now, our next pictures are scheduled for October..which this girl is trying to slim down for. :)

[TWO]  

We got the door to make the DIY headboard I have been talking about!  Ahhh, I am so excited, so naturally I have been thinking bedroom inspiration (which I have a full post already written up on), but for now I will share a little sneak peek.

 [THREE] 

 I will be leaving for the most magical place on earth tomorrow...Disney World!

This is from the last time I was there...Yep, total kid at heart.

[FOUR]  

Chik-fil-A Cobb salad, have you tried it?  You should!  I love CFA anything, but since I have been trying to lose weight I need to scale back and make healthier selections.  As always, CFA is very accommodating, and if you ask for grilled chicken they will change it out.  

[FIVE] 

 This idea. I LOVE this idea.  I think it adds such a custom touch to this home.  I showed it to my husband and he loves it too...I feel another project coming one. We may do a deep dark chocolate brown as we have lots of neutral tones in our home.

via

[BONUS]

I blogged about my weight loss progress so far yesterday. {here}

For Your Viewing...Progress

Okay, I know in blogland your not supposed to post twice in one day, or so I have heard, but since I am doing the Five On Friday link-up tomorrow (you should too) I am going to go ahead and break a blogland rule and post twice in one day. {uh-oh}
 Y'all, I was going through some old memory cards and found a couple jewels well, just see for yourself.  I found some pictures from 2011 when I first started this weight loss thing the right way.  You know what the scary thing is?  I had lost about 20 pounds by the time the top pictures were taken.  I have searched for pictures of me at my biggest, and continue to do so...the problem?  Everything was on digital cameras and I deleted that shiz as soon as I got my finger to the delete button.  Anyways, I thought some of you might like to see some of the progress I have made to this point in this journey.  I am by no means done and have a long way to go.  Everyday is a mental battle for me of not wanting to workout and wanting to eat badly...and you know what, sometimes that part wins.  Sue me, I'm human.  But, on the days it gets really hard and I take time off, etc. I have to look at the fact that I am making progress, no matter how slow or miniscule it may seem at times.
*Please notice in the top pictures that even with my face angled up in both I still have a double chin.

  

The difference between these top pictures and the bottom pictures is about 40-50 pounds.

Here are a couple more that I worked on, but didn't think the pictures turned out big enough to really see a difference.

Yep, pillows are a chubby girls best friend when she sits on a couch and cameras are out!

And that dress was flattering.

These are all recent, as in last summer because we haven't had pictures taken since then, but I can still wear these clothes, so I am about the same size.

Sunsets, Puppies, and Wine

If I had one extra hour in the day... I would watch the sunset.  Sounds totally cliche and all, but it is something I don't stop to do.  Wait, let me add something! With wine in one hand and petting a dog with the other.  Okay, now I'm good.

I wish my name... was something more unique.  I mean I like Katelyn and all (like I have a choice), but not a days with all these edge unique names I wish I had something that wasn't a dime a dozen. 

I think anything chevron is... greatness.  I mean it pretty much takes up my life.  I have phone covers, phone backgrounds, shirts...you name it I got it in chevron. 

My last nightmare...was f'in horrifying.  I was on a plane (like I've said before I'm afraid to fly) and it starts going down...as in crashing. I swear it took me until 2 seconds from hitting the ground to wake up and I was in a cold sweat and sick after.

Sometimes... I want to a different career.

My last meal on earth would be... ahhh, pasta of any kind.  Actually, I'll take the Tour of Italy at Olive Garden.  Which I have never had because I would gain 10 pounds!

I would much rather... swim with sharks than fly.

Mayonnaise... is gross when they cake it on at a restaurant.  It is supposed to add flavor, NOT be the flavor!

10 years ago, I didn't think...I would have an anxiety disorder that runs my life someday.  Welcome to dysfunction.  P.S. I woke up to the Army Depot close to my house blowing stuff up and damn near had a heart attack thinking we were being bombed or something.  They should send out a public announcement for that stuff.

Selfishly... I want to move to Florida and work for Disney World.

 
My favorite show on TV right now... Suites. Have you watched it?  You should!  I also like any shameless reality TV.  Have you seen Pretty Wicked Moms? 

And, George Zimmerman...I don't know the ins and outs of that case so I am not going to make an ass of myself and comment on something I don't know all the facts for. 

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Working Out and Weighing In Link-Up

The last time I wrote to you about my fitness journey I was completely frustrated, like in tears frustrated.  I decided for now, I am going to take a break from the scale and focus on my progress in numbers that are viable and I can push myself to change right then and there. 

The first thing I am celebrating is getting a mile in in almost 10 minutes.  I remember when I used to only walk a mile and in was a solid 17 minutes. 

The second thing I am celebrating is 4 miles in almost 45 minutes (really it is closer to 46, but I like interval numbers like quarters...OCD probs).  4 miles, if I even got to that distance was at least an hour (walking, because I couldn't run).

 

I have been using interval training to increase distance and time. 

I love HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) for several reasons:

• It is great for increasing the time for a particular distance.
• It is heart healthy.
• It burns fat, not muscle.
• It is great for weight loss.
• It increases your metabolism.
• You can do it with no equipment (I use a treadmill)

 Here is what I started doing:

 I have since changed this and I am now warming up with a 1 mile jog at 5.5-6 (depending on how I feel) and then go into interval training.  For interval training I have been walking 1 minute at 3.9-4 and running 1 minute at 7.5.  I think I am going to keep speeds the same and work on increasing the amount of time I run.  I can run half a lap in 1 minute at 7.5, so my hope is to increase that to 2 minutes, then 4 and so on until I can run a mile at that speed.  

And here is an after workout picture, just because.  

Ummm, next time, please remind me that to avoid a doubt chin to angle the camera HIGHER than me.  Thanks.

So, here is to letting numbers on the scale go, for now, and celebrating the journey.

How you know you need to make a change...

Oh hey, done with the heavy entries for a while until I need to vent to y'all again.  After my mom giving me her t-shirts fiasco I started to think about all the things you do when you have gained weight, you know the things that go through your head, the things you hide?  Okay, only I do this...that's perfectly fine, too.  Let me make you feel a little more normal.

Here is the way you know it is time to make a change...Okay, these are completely me, but it feels better to say you:

1. You got t-shirts from my mom.  No, it wasn't a present.  Nice thinking though...maybe you should have looked at it like that and you would have felt better about yourself.  Okay, now someone pulled your arm...they were a present.  FOR. BEING. TOO. BIG. for your own clothes.  Err, no present here just fatty clothes.

2. You ran through the house like a wild Comanche after realizing you had left one of the only pairs of pants that didn't have an elastic waist in the dryer far too long for any good to come out of it.  By the way, they were completely dry when you got there...shit.

3. When going on vacation you got there and realized you didn't pack hardly anything for yourself besides dresses.  If you have ever gained weight you know dresses are forgiving much longer than normal clothes.

4. Your scale is completely broken.  I mean some numbers come up, but they aren't what you really weigh.

5. You get on the scale multiple times just to make sure that, yep, that was the real number you saw.  {Hence #4...broken I tell ya!}

6. When you put clothes up to be rung up you notice that the tag is showing with the size [gasp] and quickly turn it down.  Like the sales lady didn't see it when she rung it up, folded it for you, put it in the bag, etc.  

7. You're secretly glad when your husband picks a restaurant that has no healthy choices.  I mean you are hungry and it would be rude to make him eat alone.

8. You tell yourself that that 5 pounds, then that 10 pounds...umm 15?  Is because of you period. 
 For the record it stopped working at 10. 

9.  You hold up clothes that once fit and it even looks too small.   
You would only understand this if you have been in this situation.   

10. You referred to you black sweat pants as ummm, are you ready for this?  Dressy sweat pants.  
P.S. there is no such thing as dressy sweat pants.