12-week transformation...day fifteen

 
Boy oh boy, it was a busy weekend. My parents and I put together an engagement party for my sister and her fiance, Gabriel this past Saturday night. It was a ton of work, but so worth it. I loved putting together such a fun and cute party and am so thankful for my dad and his impressive cooking skills. We cooked for about 25 people...it was a complete success!

Then yesterday, we attended a wedding in San Juan Capistrano for a sweet family friend. Here is a picture of me overlooking this gorgeous golf course in San Clemente. This is my I'm not quite ready for picture half-smile. ;D

I also took note of some good ideas to share with my sister! My mom and I are in full-on wedding planning mode. I loved this life-size version of jenga. It was not only entertaining to the people playing, but also entertaining for the people watching! She definitely needs to have this. There was also a game called toss across...the men seemed to love that one and all you really do is throw a bean bag across and try and to make it in a hole. So easy and simple but everyone loved it!

PS...the girl below actually got that piece out without the tower tumbling over! Mad skills right there!

Now, you are probably wondering if I stayed on plan this weekend and...yes...for the most part I did. I did have a few "off-plan" bites here and there, but nothing crazy. It was a fun and successful weekend overall. Praise the Lord!

Breakfast
Monday mornings are hard...especially after a busy weekend...you just want to throw your alarm across the room and sleep in for a few more hours. Obviously  I did not do that, and I got up and made my self a french vanilla shake and headed off to work.

Morning Snack
I was all munchie-like (yes I made that phrase up) after my breakfast, so my morning snack could not come fast enough. Thankfully, it did come around pretty quickly. I made a calorie burn cappuccino and enjoyed every sip.

Lunch
Lunch was a tad different for me...instead of having my lean and green meal, I had another one of my snacks. I had some things to do at lunchtime and I just didn't have enough time to eat a meal. So, I had some brown sugar cereal crunch cereal and munched on that for about a half hour or so. I just love these cereal meals!

Afternoon Snack
Next up was my very last chocolate chip cookie dough bar. At first I wasn't the biggest fan of these, but I slowly began to like them. Still don't really like them, but when I dip them in coffee, it tastes much better.

Dinner
I finally had my lean and green meal today! And it was a good one. I had a salad with boca crumbles in it. Funny story...I bought this bag of boca meatless crumbles the last time I was housesitting and accidentally left them in the freezer. As I returned a few days ago, I found them! They were still in the freezer! Yay!

Dessert
I ended this lovely Monday with a coffee milkshake. It was so perfect and much needed after a long day.

Well, that's all I have for today! But keep reading because I am going to be announcing my new website launch date! I will go into more detail about my new website soon, so be ready! :D

xoxo,
Toni

12-week transformation...day nine

I highly encourage you to attend Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa any night for the rest of the week and join together with the church in a time of prayer. I have gone the past two nights and it has been such a sweet time of prayer and fellowship.

As a random side note...I am creating a wedding website for my sister and her soon-to-be-husband and I think I may be switching over my blog to a new site. The website I am creating is pretty easy and it looks great and clean. I don't know yet...we will see. As for now, I are still here.

Breakfast
Nothing too special about breakfast this morning. Made my last french vanilla shake and headed off to work. I drank it pretty quickly though! Must have been hungry...or thirsty...or both.

Morning Snack
I will be honest...these hot drinks from medifast (chai latte and the calorie burn cappuccino) have really helped me to stay on the Take Shape for Life program. I feel like I am treating myself to a delicious coffee shop coffee drink everyday! Today I had the calorie burn cappuccino and loved every sip of it!

Lunch
I have a new burger from Trader Joe's! Last night I bought some turkey burgers and boy-oh-boy are they good! I think I have found a new favorite! I topped my romaine salad with a turkey burger, some shredded parmesan cheese, and light chipotle dressing. Delish!

Afternoon Snack
It is hot outside today, but that didn't stop me from having a coffee with a cookie dough chewy bar. These bars taste so good when dipped in the coffee. Not a fan of them by themselves, but dipped in coffee...amazing.

Dinner
Once again, I went to church tonight for the week of prayer. But before I left I had some honey mustard pretzel bites.

Dessert
By the time I got home, I was really hungry! So I made a brownie soft bake and drank it along with a ton of water and called it a night.

Don't forget! If you are in the area and are free any night this week, stop by Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and pray it up with fellow believers in Christ!

Lastly...check out this full moon! I love it when the sun is setting and you can see the moon!

xoxo,
Toni

12-week transformation...day three

Well hello! Great quote, right? I just love it! Even if you had an off-plan day, today is a new day and a fresh start. Take advantage of it and stick with your plan! :)

So this morning I woke up feeling pretty good...had a little pep in my step! Well, okay, let's be real...I was really tired, but I was feeling good. It's funny though, because I had a dream I ate every junk food known to man...so waking up this morning and realizing I am still sticking to the plan felt pretty good.

Today is day three of my transformation and I am expecting a new shipment of Medifast to arrive hopefully next week. I always get all giddy when a new shipment comes in. I'm weird...it's okay, I know.

Breakfast
As I mentioned, I was feeling really good this morning, but I woke up with a growling stomach. Maybe it was all the imaginary food I ate in my dream last night...who knows. But either way, I was ready for my morning shake. I made a french vanilla shake and added some ice to it...because even though it was a chilling (for me anyways) morning, I still like my drinks icy cold.

Morning Snack
I was pretty good hunger wise by the time my morning snack came around. I just love the calorie-burn cappuccinos...feels like I am getting a delicious and creamy-smooth drink from a coffeeshop!

Lunch
Well...my lettuce is getting a tad worse as the days go by, but I was still able to pick through the bad pieces and create a mediocre salad that consisted of romaine lettuce, chopped chicken, parmesan cheese, and light chipotle dressing...not bad, but not great either.

Afternoon Snack
Did the same thing as yesterday and drank a coffee while enjoying a s'mores crunch bar...perfect and lovely pairing!

Dinner
I looooove cereal...I have heard that most people are not a fan of the Medifast cereals, but I just love them! The brown sugar cinnamon crunch cereal smells and tastes like french toast...how can you not like that? Beats me...I like it whether or not anyone else is a fan.

Dessert
Best dessert ever...well, not ever, but it was pretty good. I made a cookie dough milkshake using a chocolate chip soft bake packet and blending it with some water and ice. Easy peasy and delicious!

Hope your day is crazy fun and blessed...it's almost Friday!!!

xoxo,
Toni

12-week transformation...day two

So today's 12-week transformation challenge was all about recording what you eat and how much exercise you are doing throughout the day.

Well, as you know, I already record everything I eat, so that is one check down. However, I am slacking this week on exercise being out of town and my normal day to day routine. But when I do workout, I will always record it and let you know. I am doing quite a bit of walking around here though, so that is definitely burning calories.

Breakfast
Same old today for breakfast...just a dark chocolate shake with some ice in it.

Morning Snack
I was hit with the munchies immediately after drinking my shake, but thankfully there was a session, so my mom and I went in to listen and by the time it was done, it was time to eat again! The Lord is go good! Once I was able, I made a chai latte and drank it quite quickly...I guess I was hungry!

Lunch
I had to pick through the bad lettuce, but was able to put together a decent salad that included romaine lettuce, chicken, Parmesan cheese, and light chipotle dressing. Simple and delicious!

Afternoon Snack
I was lagging a bit by the afternoon so I made a cup of coffee and sipped on it while eating a cinnamon roll crunch bar. Seriously, the best pairing ever! Felt like I was eating a sinful pastry with my coffee. ☺

Dinner
The chili nacho cheese puffs are becoming one of my favorite meals! I love to munch on them while drinking some water...plus, it takes the hunger away...and keeps it away for some time!

Dessert
I did end up bringing my blender, so in my room I was able to blend up a peanut butter milkshake (using the peanut butter soft serve and blending it with water and ice). It was so perfect and hit the spot after a long day.

And what a long day it was! I am exhausted and cannot wait to put my head to my pillow...I hope you have a happy Wednesday!

PS...wasn't the sunset tonight just beautiful! Well...it sure was for me! Here is a picture of it...although it doesn't do it justice.

xoxo,
Toni

12-week transformation...day one

Today is day one of the 12-week transformation hosted by Take Shape For Life! If you haven't already signed up, you can do so by clicking here. You can also visit that link and find out more information about the challenge.

I technically signed up on New Year's Day but I got my first "day one" email today. I so excited and am feeling pretty motivated to keep going. This came a perfect time for me too...especially coming out of the holiday eating. I am thrilled to get back on track and stay on track!

Alright...so here is how my day one went!

Breakfast
I have to switch things up a bit on how I made my meals because I am working out of town and do not have all the luxuries of eating at home. With that said, I made a french vanilla shake by adding some water and ice to a bottle and shaking it up. I like my shakes freezing cold...in case you haven't noticed.

Morning Snack
I was hunnnnngry by the time my morning snack time came around. I was pretty excited to drink a calorie burn cappuccino to say the least...and it did not disappoint! It was divine.

Lunch
My lunch looks pretty good but unfortunately the lettuce was kinda wilted. Bummer! So I had to pick through the bad pieces and just eat the chicken and cheese and what was left of the crunchy lettuce. All is good though...I ate it and was satisfied.

Afternoon Snack
Lunch thankfully held me over until my afternoon snack, but I definitely had to add a coffee to drink with my cookie dough chewy bar...I was getting a little sleepy.

Dinner
I had breakfast for dinner! I love having breakfast for dinner...my favorite! So tonight, I ate some mixed berry cereal crunch.

After I ate my cereal, my mom and I went in to listen to Wayne Taylor. Such a wonderful message...the Lord totally spoke to me. Here is a panoramic shot I took during the study.

Dessert
To end the night, I heated up a brownie soft bake while drinking lots of (failed to drink 64 ounces today). I took a picture but it was just hideous...so I decided not to even post it. ;)

So there you have it. Day one of my 12-week transformation is complete!

xoxo,
Toni

missions day

Today was missions day at my church (Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa). It was so neat to see and hear from different missionaries around the world.

Right after church I had to get packed and head up to Murrieta, Ca to work the missions conference that is taking place this entire week (well until Friday). I am going to stay on plan and have packed all my Medifast meals as well as prepped some salad fixings (lettuce, chicken, light dressing, parmesan cheese) for my lean and green meals. I will keep you updated on the week as it goes on.

Today was technically day one and I did well...until about 7pm when I had just the worst cravings! It's funny though because I was talking with a dear friend who is going to be starting Take Shape For Life very soon, so we were discussing all the different meals, what I liked and didn't like, and how happy I was being on the program...then came those cravings. Thankfully, I stuck to my diet and did not cave into the evil food thoughts that were lurking about in my mind.

Breakfast
Woke up fairly early for a weekend and made a dark chocolate shake to sip on while I packed and prepped for the upcoming week.

Morning Snack
Before I left for church, I made one super fluffy chocolate pancake using a large biscuit cutter. By doing this, I can create a delicious cake like pancake. Love it!

Lunch
I didn't have my lean and green meal until dinnertime, so for lunch I made an iced chai latte. Yes, iced! It was the first time I made it, and I was not disappointed. I loved it and will be making it more often for sure. I also drank it on the way up to Murrita and totally forgot to take a picture of it. Oh well, next time!

Afternoon Snack
While setting up the resource room (we are working the book tables) I snacked on some honey mustard pretzel bites. I would eat one, set up some books, drink some water, and do it all over again until the bites were gone.

Dinner
Here is where my lean and green meal came into play. After we were done setting up, my mom and I went to Chipotle. I ended up getting a salad topped with steak, sauteed fajita vegetables, and some pico de gallo. This has to be one of my absolute favorite lean and green meals. Not only does it taste divine, but it is also filling.

Dessert
This is when my cravings started to rise and take over, but I chewed on a piece of gum and waited to eat my last meal of the day...a strawberry crunch bar. By the grace of the Lord, I made it through the night and am ready to see what tomorrow brings.

Blessings to you all! I will let you know how tomorrow goes!

xoxo,
Toni

pushing forward

Today was the first day I have felt totally back on plan. I had no cravings and was able to pass by candy and other goodies with ease. I thank the Lord! It feels great! I am packing to go and work at the Missions Conference in Murrieta, CA, so I am going to keep this post short. :)

Breakfast
Woke up around 9 this morning and watch the live streaming of the Take Shape For Life Conference going on in San Diego. Learned so much! While watching, I ate on a smores crunch bar along with some coffee.

Morning Snack
A little while later I made a french vanilla shake and drank that while cleaning the kitchen.

Lunch
After cleaning I went to the store to stock up for some lean and green meals to bring with me. I had a gift card to Rubios from Christmas and it is right next to the store, so my parents and I went there to grab a bite to eat. I ended up opting for the steak chopped salad with no chips or dressing. So good and filling!

Afternoon Snack
I wasn't really hungry at this point but had the munchies, so of course I still ate. I sipped on a coffee milkshake...I also added some extra instant coffee to give it a little boost.

Dinner
My stomach was growling by the time dinner rolled around so I ate some chili nacho cheese puffs while drinking a bunch of water.

Dessert
I went to church tonight, so after I got home it was time to eat my last meal of the day. I know coffee tends to keep you up, but it was cold outside and I was craving a cappucino. So I made a calorie burn cappuccino and am now calling it a night.

I will keep you all updated this week as I am away from home. Pray for me! :)

xoxo,
Toni