12 week transformation...day twenty-four

Yesterday was so much fun! My dad surprised me tickets to go see the LA Lakers take on the Indiana Pacers. Fun fact about me...I love to watch sports...especially basketball and baseball.

My dad and I left work early and grabbed some coffee before dinner. It is currently, DineLA week right now, so we were going to go to a restaurant participating in the event, but ended up just going to Wolfgang Puck. And confession...I went off my plan for dinner. I won't lie though...it was pretty much the best burger I have ever had in my life. Seriously. But you know...usually I go all crazy and eat everything in sight since I already "broke my plan" but this time I didn't. I ate only half my dinner and was done. This is huge for me. I am changing. :)

Breakfast
So this morning I am back on plan and ready to attack the day! I made a dark chocolate shake and made my way to work. Don't you just love cloudy and gloomy mornings? I do!

Morning Snack
I was busy creating this morning, so time flew by! I made a chai latte for my morning snack while still working away. I learning that I love designing.

Lunch
I made a turkey burger wrapped in lettuce for lunch today with broccoli on the side. Simple yet oh-so-delicious.

Afternoon Snack
For my snack this afternoon I had a bag of mixed berry cereal. I love this cereal...so good!

Dinner
I ate a quick strawberry crunch bar before dinner. I wasn't too hungry, so this was perfect.

Dessert
After church I came home and made a peanut butter milkshake. I can have one of these every night and never get tired of them.

So there is my day in a nutshell! Friday is almost here!!!

Oh, and PS...the Lakers lost...but it was still a super fun game! :D

xoxo,
Toni

12-week transformation...day nineteen

This was my prayer this morning...and all day really. Such a a beautiful song by Hillsong United. If you can, take a listen to it...it's called "Oceans".

Breakfast
Pretty standard morning for me...made a french vanilla shake and am pretty sure I drank it in record time. For some reason I was really hungry this morning.

Morning Snack
It was overcast this morning here in Orange County, CA and I was so happy to have to some (California) winter weather. And sipping on a warm calorie burn cappuccino just made it all the better.

Lunch
So my family went and got mexican food for lunch and I was all like..."I want a treat too!" So I went to chipotle and ordered a steak salad. So good! :)

Afternoon Snack
Mixed Berry Crunch Cereal!!! This is my favorite snack of all time...at least right now anyways. It tastes kind of like fruit loops...but way better for you! ;)

Dinner
For dinner I whipped up a peanut butter milkshake and drank it while getting ready for church. I also forgot to take a picture.

Dessert
During church I snacked on a cinnamon roll crunch bar. It is so good and satisfying.

Also, almost forgot! Today was a weigh-in day! I weighed in at 139.6! Finally back in the 130's! It took about a month to undo all the damage I did at Christmastime.

Well, that is all I have for now! And don't forget! February 14, 2014 is my launch date for my new website...Pretty in Pink Peonies!

xoxo,
Toni

day fifty-five...when you're at your lowest

I am sick...still. Most of my friends have come down with a cold this past week and I thought I was the lucky one who surpassed getting sick. I was wrong.

So anyways, I woke up this morning with a sore throat and just felt like my face was going to explode. I have to tell you since I couldn't last night, but as I was getting in my car yesterday morning, I turned KWVE on and Pastor Chuck Smith was teaching. It was too funny because as soon as I turned on the radio, Pastor Chuck was saying something to this effect: "Let's say you are not feeling well. Watch out because that is when the Enemy attacks. It is when we are at our lowest that he comes in and pounces." Well, there you have it...I better be in the Word today!

Breakfast
Nothing new to report for breakfast...except for the fact that is was a chilly 39 degrees! I am a wimpy Californian, I know. Once I did manage to leave my warm and cozy bed, I started to get ready and made a mocha shake and enhanced it even more by adding instant coffee to it.

Morning Snack
My new shipment of Medifast came in yesterday! I opened it up right away and decided to sip on a calorie burn cappuccino (which I ran out of a few days ago) for my morning snack. I was going to make a cup of coffee anyways, so why not just make it one of my meals. And although it was beyond divine, I did end up burning my tongue with the first sip...so that wasn't very fun.

I also got this sweet stack of recipe cards that are all holiday themed! I love it and cannot wait to try some of them!

Lunch
Back to the same old meal for lunch. I made a salad topped with a chili lime chicken burger and shredded Parmesan cheese as well as a drizzle of light chipotle ranch dressing. Simple but delicious.

I also paired my salad with a diet ginger ale...I needed a little splurge today.

Afternoon Snack
My stomach was rumbling by the time my next meal time came around. I ended up snacking on some brown sugar cinnamon cereal crunch for about 20 minutes. These not only fill you up buy they last a while too!

Oh...and I had another cup of coffee with the cereal...it's just one of those days. Isn't the white Christmas tree pretty! It's up in our office area and I love walking by it every time I use the restroom or walk to the kitchen.

Dinner
I was in the mood for some cheesy goodness tonight. So I whipped up a batch of macaroni and cheese and added a small pinch of shredded Parmesan cheese to thicken it up and give it a touch more flavor. The mac and cheese is pretty good when I add just the smallest thing to it. The picture looks fairly appetizing, right?! I think it looks a tad better than my other mac and cheese photos. :P

Dessert
Cut up a smores crunch bar to munch on after church tonight. I stayed for a while talking so it was a perfect "pop in your mouth" treat. No one noticed or at least cared (I think), which is a double bonus!

So, I will admit that I have had better days, but the Lord is still on the throne, so I have nothing to complain about...although I do admit to complaining several times today. I am praying that the Lord would change my heart and help me to be thankful in all things...the good and the bad.

xoxo,
Toni

day forty-seven...let go and let God

Not sure if you guys know this, but I have an etsy store where I design and sell typology art. Well, as of yesterday, I have officially made my first sale!

I was so excited! I have had my store on esty for a couple of months and nothing has happened. I soon forgot about it and then I receive my first order the customer orders not one but three prints! What's my point in all this? Well...

You know when people say that if you stress and obsess over something, it is never going to happen...but when you forget about it and are focused on the Lord is when something happens. Have you ever heard that? Well, you just did...by me. It is so true! When we become obsessed with our situation (in my case with the program Take Shape For Life), we are not going to go anywhere. Let go and let God. When we are able to let go and stop analyzing every little thing and allow God to worry about it, is when we will have victory.

I used to obsess over every little calorie, which only led me to binge eating and a food addiction. But once I started this program and let go of all my old "ways" I found success and balance. Food does not get to have priority in my life and thoughts...God does. I am so thankful I have finally let go of my flesh and allowed God to take the reigns. I highly encourage you to do the same.

Let go and let God.

Breakfast
Today was a good breakfast day. I had one of those shakes that just had the perfect consistency...the perfect amount of water and ice. Plus, how can you go wrong with a dark chocolate shake for breakfast? Feels like a sin...I mean, c'mon, I am having chocolate for breakfast.

Morning Snack
It was getting chilly over here in the offices at work today, so a piping hot calorie burn cappuccino was exactly what I needed. Warmed me up in no time. And being delicious helps too.

Lunch
It's funny how much I don't really care for non-Medifast food anymore. I look forward more to the Medifast meals more than I do the lean and green...unless I have some time and am able to get creative. ;) But today, time was not on my side so I had to make a quick salad topped with a veggie burger and shredded parmesan cheese and light Italian dressing. Not a fun recipe, but still really good though.

I caved again this afternoon and drank a cup of coffee. I don't know what it is! I just love having a cup of coffee in the afternoon...my Starbucks Verisimo machine doesn't help either. Instant coffee with a push of a button...really?

Afternoon Snack
About an hour after my coffee, it was time to eat my snack. I had some chili nacho puffs and a ton of water. These puffs are so good but spicy (to me)! So I will eat a few and then drink some water a little after to relieve the hint of spice on my tongue.

When I got home from work, I took out our nativity scene and set it up in our living room. Christmas decorating isn't complete without a nativity scene. I mean, Jesus is the reason for this season, so He must be present in the home. :)

Dinner
Confession. I had a cookie dough shake for dinner. Don't you worry...it was Medifast approved. What I did was take a chocolate chip soft bake and I blended it with some crushed ice and water. Sooo good! The chocolate chips stayed pretty chunky, so every once in a while I would sip up a couple. You must try this soon.

Dessert
I was at church when dessert time came around, but I was prepared! I took the bar out of the package and cut it into small pieces so it would be easy to pick up and eat without being a distraction to others around me. I took the picture before I hacked it up though. It's an oatmeal raisin crunch bar.

That's all for today. But remember...let go and let God. It is only then that you will be able to move forward. And just know I will be praying for you. Sure, I don't know everyone who reads this blog, but the Lord does and that's all that matters. He hears and He will answer.

xoxo,
Toni

day forty-one...thanksgiving road trip day one

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Can you believe it? This year has flown by. It seems like the older I get, the more quickly time moves. Weird, isn't it? I also posted a Thanksgiving recipe for a green bean casserole today...you can check it out here.

Anyways, my parents and I left on a road trip this afternoon to Bishop, CA. So I got up this morning and started my food preparations for the next couple of days. I started making my Thanksgiving dinner so I would have something "special" to eat tomorrow. As far as my other lean and green meals go, I figured I would find something along the way...even if it means I only get lettuce and a lean meat.

There were many temptations on the way to Bishop...I had to say no to chips, sandwiches, popcorn, fries, burgers, and worst of all, a cinnabon cinnamon roll. I won't lie, the smell of it was brutal. I actually had to chew a piece of gum just to keep my mouth moving and my mind occupied. It actually worked too...I made it through the day and stuck to my health plan. And as a bonus, the hotel we are staying at has a mini fridge and a microwave! So now I am able to cook and eat all my meals! The Lord is good!

Breakfast
I woke up this morning and made myself a strawberry shake while I planned out what I would need to pack for the next few days. I didn't sleep in too late today, so I got a somewhat early start on my eating for the day.

Morning Snack
As I was packing my clothes and food, I decided to take a break and bake a special Thanksgiving bread. I used an apple cinnamon oatmeal packet, added some baking powder and capella pumpkin drops, and baked it for about 20 minutes. It was delicious! How can you go wrong with mini pumpkin apple bread? I will post the recipe soon. :)

Lunch
I started making my Thanksgiving lean and green meal when I realized it was time to eat lunch. So I threw together a romaine salad and topped it with a pizza burger and light chipotle ranch dressing. PS...this dressing is divine!

Afternoon Snack
We were on the road by the time my afternoon snack came around. I brought some cups, so I just poured out my cheese pizza bites into the cup and attempted as best as I could to get a picture of it. I never realized how challenging it was to get a focused picture while in a moving car...it's challenging!

Dinner
My next meal was near the middle of our road trip and little after the cinnabon temptation. We were stuck in traffic, so it was a little bit easier to snap a focused picture. It was dark though, so it still came out all weird. Oh well...I guess you can kind of tell it is a lemon meringue crunch bar... ;)

Dessert
Still on the road, I ate my dessert. It was a good thing I pre-made my brownie in a cup because I wouldn't have been able to eat it otherwise. I remember this afternoon thinking, just cook it now, what can it hurt. I realize now that it was the Lord speaking to me. Thank you, Lord! By the way...I think because my brownie was at room temp rather than piping hot, it had a similar texture and taste to a piece of chocolate cake. It was really good actually! I will definitely be doing this more often! Excuse my poor excuse for a picture...this was the worst of them all.

Well, I am currently writing this in my hotel room—praise the Lord they have excellent wifi—and can't wait to tell you all about my adventures tomorrow! I pray you have a blessed night!

xoxo,
Toni

day thirty-nine...motivational monday

I saw this quote and just knew I had to share it. I am still truckin' along and I do at times get weary and want to eat a cake or something. Weight loss doesn't happen overnight, so I just need to remember that even though I may not be at my goal weight yet, and may still have a while to get there, I am one step closer to that goal. Every day counts. As long as I am sticking to the TSFL program, I am one day closer to my weight loss goal.

Remember that today. It can really apply to anything in your life. Just make it through the day and you will be one day closer to that goal. Even if you mess up...start again the next day or better yet, the next minute and continue going. Don't beat yourself up. We all make mistakes, but it also our choice to get back up and start walking forward again.

Breakfast
I am back to my normal schedule today (unlike yesterday). I woke up, got ready, and made myself a mocha shake. I think these shakes are one of the things keeping me going on TSFL. All of the flavors are so good!

Morning Snack
Because it was the first day back to work since the warehouse sale on Saturday, we had a lot of clean up to do. I was busy all morning, but I was able to take a quick break and eat an oatmeal raisin crunch bar. I love being busy...makes the time fly by! PS...these bars are amazing!

Lunch
Back to my normal salad today. I made a pizza burger and put it on top of some chopped romaine and mozzarella cheese. I then topped it all off with some light Italian dressing. It was really good! I thought I wouldn't be able to taste the cheese all that much, but it was very prominent in the meal. And I love cheese.

Afternoon Snack
The salad didn't hold me over all that well because I was hun-gry by the time my snack time came around. Whenever I do get hungry, I just tell myself that I am going to eat in an hour...so just hold on. I also drink some water and chew gum which seems to help.

So for my snack I had the nacho chili puffs and drank a ton of water while eating them...they had a spicy kick to them!

Dinner
I made some macaroni and cheese tonight but decided to put a twist on it. I sprinkled some parmesan cheese in it to help thicken it up...it worked too! After I cooked it in the microwave I put the dish under the broiler to attempt to brown the top...but it only burned. Whomp, Whomp. It was actually pretty good though! Kind of tasted like a grilled cheese sandwich.

Dessert
To end the night, I had a peanut butter milkshake. This is the best dessert! Can't believe I get to have milkshakes on the TSFL program and still lose weight! Love it.

I pray your day is blessed and that you will continue to strive toward your goals. Just take it day by day.

xoxo,
Toni

day thirty-eight...not enough time in the day

So in case you were wondering, Hunger Games: Catching Fire was really good. My friends, Kiera and Caleb and I went to see it last night. Caleb took this picture of us...we were trying to do the district 12 salute with a straight face, but just couldn't stop smiling and laughing. I almost did it, but failed. Oh well. We all had a fun night.

As a result of getting in late last night, I slept in this morning. By doing so I got a late start on my eating for the day. I didn't want to stay up really late just to get my 5 meals and 1 lean and green meal in, so I called my health coach and thankfully, she gave me a solution. She told me to eat my last two meals of the night together. Genius!

This is why I love the Take Shape for Life program. Without my health coach, I would have stayed up super late just to eat and go to bed or would have skipped my last meal of the day. So thankful for you, Charlotte! Thank you!

Breakfast
Like I mentioned earlier, I slept in this morning, so I had my first meal of the day around 10:30am. I spent the night at a friend's house so I just had a lemon meringue crunch bar, making it easy.

Afternoon Snack
I ate again after church, which was around 2pm. My eating times were all off today. I had the mixed berry crunch cereal.

Dinner
For my dinner, I made myself a veggie burger with mozzarella cheese and green bean "fries". This was actually really good and a nice change-up from my normal salad.

Dessert #1
Right before leaving for Sunday night church, I heated up a blueberry muffin and ate it in the car. It kind of overflowed in the microwave...still edible though.

Dessert #2
So I still had two more meals to eat before the end of the day and I didn't want to stay up until midnight just to eat. This is when I called my health coach and she told me to just eat the last two meals at the same time. So I made a coffee milkshake and a chocolate chip soft bake. I accidentally added warm water to the chocolate chip soft bake mix rather than cold, so the chocolate chips melted, making the cookie look dark brown. :P This was actually a really yummy pairing!

Well, that is all I have for today! Talk to you tomorrow!

xoxo,
Toni