Frappuccino Recipe!

Hugh Jackman once said “To me, the smell of the fresh-made coffee is one of the greatest inventions.” So does this quote pertain to you? For many people this coffee quote hits the nail on the head! However, with the high calorie Frappuccino that can taste good may not always be the best for a low calorie diet. However, I have found a low calorie, still delicious alternative to coffee and Frappuccino lovers everywhere that still want to have that sweet coffee craving cured and continue to live a healthy life. Please note that this drink does cut the calories in half, but it’s still a sweet treat that should be drank in moderation J

 

This is the Low-Calorie Yet Satisfying Frappuccino Recipe:

Prep time: 1 min

Cook time: 2 minutes

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 1½ cups crushed iced

• ¾ cup brewed coffee

• ¾ cup almond milk

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 3 tablespoons chocolate chips

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend for 30-40 seconds on high speed until ice is crushed and drink is smooth. Pour into a glass and ENJOY!  

Nutrition Facts Per Serving

Calories 220

Total Fat 10g

Saturated Fat 4g

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 20mg

Sodium 0mg

Total Carbohydrate 40g

Dietary Fiber 0g

Sugars 29g

Protein 4g

VS.

 STARBUCKS FRAPPUCCINO:

Nutrition Facts Per Serving (24 fl oz)

Calories 510	Calories from Fat 150
	% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g	26%
Saturated Fat 10g	50%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 60mg	20%
Sodium 0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 84g	29%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Sugars 81g
Protein 6g

Keep Calm and Go Kayaking!

                                                    

Good Afternoon everyone! Well it’s been almost a year since I packed all my belongings in to my little car and drove to Florida and changed my address to Florida!  Now, one of the many perks of living in Florida is that I can enjoy a beautiful sunny day of kayaking and see dolphins!  This is wonderful because I am able to get in a great workout, enjoy the beautiful weather and be with my amazing boyfriend!

So, Saturday afternoon West and I drove to New Smyrna Beach to enjoy a couple of hours of fun in the sun Kayaking! I have always loved to kayak. I enjoyed kayaking at our summer camp, just going along the pond breathing in fresh air, and steering through the sunny weather. So Saturday was no different, it turned out to be a gorgeous day. It felt great to be back in a kayak. I knew this would be a great arm work out as well. We also were able to walk around a sand bar for a little while and bonus west and I made it all the way down the sand bar then, decided to jog it back to our kayak. It was so nice and jogging on the soft sand through the shallow water was awesome.

                                                  

Now, after a wonderful day of kayaking, seeing dolphins up close, driving on the beach, and exploring the sand bar it got me thinking of what some of the wonderful health benefits are of kayaking.

There is a dolphin there, I’m sorry it’s so small.

So, here are some health benefits and I hope everyone takes the time sometime in their life time to enjoy a day or even a few hours of kayaking.

–          Improves your aerobic fitness

–          Increased strength and flexibility

–          Increased muscle strength especially in the arms, shoulders, and chest from using the paddle

–          You are able to increase your torso and leg strength since you rotate your torso with the movement of the paddle and you also put pressure on your legs to give your strength.

–          This is a low impact activity so if you have some joint issues you could after checking with your doctor still able able to kayak.

–          Also, depending on where you go and for how long kayaking can be a great form of meditation. If you are able to go on your own and just take in the fresh air, and paddle at your own pace you can feel relaxed and stress free!

–          And don’t forget to DRINK PLENTY OF WATER!

So, I hope everyone continues to stay motivated, drink water, and exercise when you can. I hope everyone enjoys this blog and don’t forget to like, share with your friends and family and if you have any questions please be sure to comment! J I appreciate everyone reading these blogs!

 

Would You Like Some Wine With That Cheese!?

                                                

Although we all may be on a new journey of a healthier lifestyle we my still want to enjoy an adult beverage or two every now and then. This is not a bad thing, and just like everything else the key is moderation and finding those healthier choices to fulfill your craving. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, drinking in moderation is defined as having “up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men.” From what we know our bodies treat alcohol as a toxin. Your body can only process so much, so quickly. So, although these drinks may be healthier options, it does not mean you should consume more. Clearly the motto the fewer the drinks, the fewer the calories, So, if you need to wind down from a hectic day, or are ready for a night out with some friends and want to enjoy a cocktail here are some tips and suggestions.

We begin with a few “healthier” options when going out for a drink:

1. Vodka Soda- This is exactly what it’s called, no hidden ingredients. Although it’s not as fun as say a pina colada it has much less calories.
2. Manhattan- a bit more fun and tasty coming in at around 100-145 calories.

1. Sangria- Ingredients can include red win, lemon, lime, orange juice and more. Although this isn’t always a low calorie drink there are many benefits. If you can find ( there’s tons of sangria recipes out there) a sangria recipe with more fruit and less sugar then it is a great way to get your fruit in, quench your thirst and enjoy an adult beverage!

First, your best low calorie friend will be wine. With only 20 calories per ounce, no cholesterol, and no sodium or fat this is always a top contender. If you are in to a sweeter wine Sherry a sweeter wine will be 32 calories per ounce, still not terrible! J

Now, if you’re indulging over the weekend you can still have fun and not feel guilty. Hard liquors are a bit more in calories but here are some fun suggestions:  Use diet soda and tonic water for a mixer and try and stay away from Gin since it does have 119 calories per ounce.

Hard Liquor	Calories	Carbs	Per 1.5-oz Serving
Vermouth	32	0.2 g	64 calories, 0.4 g carbs
Coconut Rum	51	5.3 g	77 calories, 8 g carbs
Beefeater® Gin	65	0 g	98 calories, 0 g carbs
Rye Whiskey	69	0 g	104 calories, 0 g carbs
Scotch Whiskey	69	0 g	104 calories, 0 g carbs
White Rum	69	0 g	104 calories, 0 g carbs
Vodka	69	0 g	104 calories, 0 g carbs
Cognac	69	2 g	104 calories, 3 g carbs
Tequila	69	5.3 g	104 calories, 8 g carbs
Gilbey’s® Gin	79	0 g	119 calories, 0 g carbs

 

Wine	Calories	Carbs	Per 5-oz Serving
Chardonnay	20	0.4 g	100 calories, 2 g carbs
Pinot Grigio	20	0.4 g	100 calories, 2 g carbs
Zinfandel® White Wine	20	0.4 g	100 calories, 2 g carbs
Cabernet Sauvignon	20	0.8 g	100 calories, 4 g carbs
Merlot Red Wine	20	0.8 g	100 calories, 4 g carbs

 

 

                                                                              

Now, for the beer lovers don’t fret there are some choices for you as well. Beer is higher in calories but with choices such as “light” beer with 108 calories per 12 oz and 6 carbs still not a terrible choice.  I am personally not a huge fan of beer, but if you are here are some alternatives.

 

Beer	Calories	Carbs	Per 12-oz Serving
“Light” Beer	9	0.5 g	108 calories, 6 g carbs
Draft Beer	12	1.1 g	144 calories, 13.2 g carbs
Lager	14	1.1 g	168 calories, 13.2 g carbs
Ale	18	1.1 g	216 calories, 13.2 g carbs

 

Lastly, you can still enjoy the taste of a Margartia drink without the added alcohol and calories! It the Crystal Light Margarita Mix! And BONUS you can even enjoy appletini, and mojito flavors! So plan a girls night with crystal light, reality tv, and low calorie recipes! =) 

                                                 

                                                      

So, remember moderation, eat healthy small meals before you go out drinking, try and drink non-alcoholic drinks in between your alcoholic drink perhaps even water, enjoy and have fun! J

Say motivated, drink water, exercise when you can and live positively! Thank you all for reading my blogs, and don’t be afraid to like, and share my blog! J If you ever have any comments or suggestions just leave them and I’ll read them! 

Game Day Spinach-Artichoke Dip!

                                                                   

So, with foot ball season upon us I thought that this recipe would be a perfect healthy dip for any Sunday Game Day! So, ditch the high calorie dip and prepare this low calorie, healthy dip perfect with pretzels, veggies, or bakes pita chips! No one will even know the difference 😉 

This dip is packed with MANY healthy benefits beginning with spinach. Spinach is a nutrition mega star!  A good source of iron and It’s loaded with vitamins and minerals, some of which can be hard to find in other foods. I mean Popeye isn’t strong to the finish because he ate junk food now is he!? Next, we add artichoke a powerful and sometimes underestimated veggie! Artichoke hearts are packed with vitamins A, B, E, and K. It is filled with dietary fiber which is wonderful for the digestive system and helps one feel full, hence reduces food intake and is great for weight control! Then, we add garlic which is high in iron, calcium, and potassium. 

For added healthy bonus the recipe called for bacon pieces to add to the dip, I decided to microwave my Jennie-O’s turkey bacon! which add’s a crunchy bacon taste to the dip while keeping the low calorie, low fat ingredients! Also, instead of fat free mayo I added the olive oil mayonnaise, which gives the dip a wonderful taste and increases the healthy recipe that much more.

So, I hope everyone enjoys this recipe and perhaps come next game day you will whip up this wonderful dip for all your friends and family. I hope everyone continues to drink lots of water, exercise,  and stay motivated! If you have any suggestions or comments or perhaps want to share another healthy dip recipe with me please leave a comment and share! 

 

     

INGREDIENTS: 

1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise 

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 (8-ounce) package 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened 

1 (8-ounce) package fat-free cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

5 center-cut bacon slices, cooked and crumbled ( I used turkey bacon) 

1 (14-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry

 

Directions: 

Place mayonnaise, garlic, 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, and fat-free cream cheese in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended and creamy. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, bacon, artichoke hearts, and spinach. Spread mixture into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese or any cheese that’s still low calorie for a added taste on the top of this wonderful dip. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve with toasted pita chips, pretzels or veggies!  This recipe taste wonderful when its served warm! 

Squeaky Clean!

When I was younger I always remember that Sundays were cleaning day! I remember being woken up early (10am was early for me!) to the sound of my mom vacuuming. I did not always enjoy these days I sometimes complained but I normally just did as my mom said and went along with cleaning day. It felt great after knowing our house was clean, and so was my room!

Now, fast forward to present time; I love to clean! SAY WHAT?! I can officially say that thanks to my wonderful mom I really enjoy cleaning, I like to clean, and when I clean and get in the groove I go all out, and lastly, it has to be all the way clean with the help of loud music! The wonderful news is that since I enjoy cleaning I kill two birds with one stone and burn calories while dusting away the germs.

 

Sundays (thanks a lot mom) or Friday afternoons or even both are dedicated to cleaning for me. On these days I usually know that I will just be cleaning and maybe give myself a rest day and skip the gym because I learned just how many calories I can burn with one cleaning session and I hope and wish that more people know this information as well. Who knew that my love of cleaning my floors (down on my hands and knees scrubbing)  washing the floors and getting up and down for more water or more soap would allow me to burn up to 300 calories!  Crazy I know! But, when you really clean, do laundry, put clothes away, vacuum, and sweep you are engaging in high cardio exercise!

 

Some tips to shed the weight, burn calories, and dust off the germs: You can rack up those calories, and build muscle by vacuuming consistently for 20-45 minutes and switching between both arms half way through to make sure both arms are getting a full workout. Also, instead of complaining about doing the dishes ditch the dishwasher and scrub the dishes so they look brand new which can have you burning up to 160 calories in a half hour! (I have to work on this one I admit) lastly, with the fall weather coming up you can get outside and rack those leaves for at least an hour and burn up to 368 calories. According to the Boston University studies research has found that walking to the bus stop and cleaning your house can help you shed the pounds and even lower your cholesterol! Take a look at how the Boston University came up with these wonderful statistics and research and see why just cleaning your garage can help you lose weight:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2259324/Ten-minutes-exercise-good-hours-gym.html#ixzz2dmuIV88k 

This was too funny! 🙂

So, I’d like to thank my mom for waking me up on Sunday mornings to clean, showing me what products work the best, and how to be a cleanaholic! J But, truly I am happy that I can burn calories and keep my apartment clean and it feels so good after wards knowing I have a clean room and burned calories while doing so!

In closing I hope everyone continues to stay motivated, drink lots of water, and try a new cleaning routine to burn some extra calories! Who knows you may learn to love it! Please like, share and comment if you have any cleaning routines you engage in or suggestions for me! Thank you to everyone that takes the time to read my blogs! 

 

 

let’s Celebrate- It’s My Birthday

That’s right ladies and gentleman it’s my Birthday! 25 years ago today I was brought in to this world. Now, I am not know exactly where I was born like what hospital or what time I came in to the world but, I do know that if it wasn’t for my incredible parents that decided to adopt me in to their family I wouldn’t be the women I am today or have all the wonderful things I do that I appreciate every day.

This is my Dad and I while still in Colombia before I flew all the way up north with him and my new family! I was born in South America!

Another year, and I must say that this past year has been amazing, crazy, fun, and a roller coaster of emotions sometimes. With all the wonderful things that will go on during my birthday weekend I decided that I would do what I enjoy and share it with all of you!

The Ingredients!

I wanted to enjoy a breakfast smoothie with of course still being healthy! So, I made up my own little birthday cake smoothie J I hope that someone out there will take the time on their special day to make this for themselves and indulge in a sweet smoothie without all the guilt! Or perhaps make it for someone else’s birthday.  This was easy, fun, healthy and bonus delicious!

Pouring the mixture in to my Disney cup! 🙂

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who is following my blog. It means so much to me to have viewers that take the time to read my blogs, quotes, and pictures. Everyone out there motivates me and inspires me to continue with my healthy lifestyle. It’s not always easy but, this blog really keeps me motivated and helps me find new healthy recipes, inspirational quotes, and improve my writing!

Yum! My Birthday Cake Smoothie!

This week I also received a birthday present that I ordered a couple weeks ago that came just I time for my birthday! (I didn’t plan it that way, lol) an active armband that hold my iPod or iPhone when I am working out. It’s pink and I love it!

I hope everyone continues to stay motivated, drink lots of water, exercise when you can even if its walking your dog for an extra 10 minutes! And perhaps surprise someone with this fun smoothie, or treat yourself J Please comment if you have any suggestions and share my blog with any of your friends that may be trying to lose weight themselves!

A Throw Back Thursday! Me after a great workout! Well, at least I know I worked out hard because I am not looking too cute lol

 

Let’s celebrate-It’s My Birthday!  

Ingredients:

Half or 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder

½ teaspoon of vanilla extract

½ a cup of almond milk you could even do a cup!

1 container of 100 calorie Yoplait greek yogurt- I used the lemon flavor.

A dash of rainbow sprinkles to go in the smoothie and then to top it off on your smoothie!

A cup of ice

Side note: I added two chunks of pineapple to have a little bit of a zing taste in this birthday cake smoothie! You could add banana, fresh lemon, or any fruit of your choice. It’s your smoothie after all!

Mix all the ingredients in a blender in to a smoothie consistency, Pour and ENJOY! 

Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe!

The Ingredients- Minus the peanut butter, which I used later.

Hello Everyone, with Halloween just a couple months away and the fall weather slowly but surely creeping it’s way in this smoothie is only fitting!  The recipe turned out so delicious and would be a wonderful healthy choice with the fall weather coming up soon! My boyfriend was pleasantly surprised as was I. I did change a few things which I mention below. I would also for the future only put a little peanut butter on the top not in the actual blender. Hands down a smoothie I would recreate again in the future!

For me, living in Florida this will be a recipe I will definitely try in the upcoming months to give me a little reminder of home. This recipe is filled with lots of nutritional value and BONUS it tastes great, and so easy to make. You can also play around with it a bit adding more bananas like I did, and perhaps making it thicker with more milk and turning it in to a parfait! I thought about adding Greek yogurt to get a thicker consistency and still keeping the nutritional value.

The most nutritional part of this smoothie is the main ingredient and the ingredient that gives this smoothie a kick in the right direction….The PUMPKIN! The pumpkin is not only a past time to carve during Halloween it’s one of the most nutritious fruits! Who would have thought?!    

The pumpkin is filled with beta-carotene which is VERY HELPFUL to healthy eyes. It is also  a pro vitamin meaning it turns in to vitamin A! Vitamin A is very important for healthy teeth, soft tissue, the skin and most importantly your eyes! Pumpkin is also known for its immune-boosting powers; But this doesn’t mean you need to run off and get a fresh pumpkin to receive all the wonderful health benefits! I found out that One cup of canned pumpkin has seven grams of fiber and three grams of protein and contains only 80 calories and one gram of fat! Well, my Halloween just became that much sweeter!

So, I hope everyone continues to stay motivated, drink lots of water, exercise your worries away, and mixes up a cup of pumpkin smoothie! Comment if you ever tried anything similar to this or have any suggestions.

My Boyfriend trying the smoothie! He thought it was delicious! He’s so supportive and was very helpful! Thank you!

 

What You’ll Need: 

1/4 cup plain pumpkin puree (fresh or canned) I used Canned.
1/2 large frozen banana- I used 1 and a ½ bananas but, I would definitely just use one!
1 to 1 1/2 cups almond milk (great for flavor and thickness!) I used 1 and ½ use more if need be!
1 tablespoon chia seeds or almonds, that’s what I used.
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon- and I added some on top for my topping!
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

I also added a little spoonful of peanut butter for thickness and taste.

Optional Toppings:
Crumbled graham crackers
Peanut butter or Cinnamon

What to Do:

Blend all your ingredients in a blender, adding the almond milk as you go until it’s a smoothie like consistency!

Pour into glass and top with desired toppings! And ENJOY!

 

What’s On The Menu?!

Hello everyone! Well, I learned a couple of things this week. So, let’s jump right in to it.

One of the biggest things that have really helped me this week is planning meals. I was able to sit down on Sunday night and think about what I wanted to eat over the next few days. I knew that I wanted to have at least one night of red meat and lots of chicken with of course veggies and fruit. Even if I was able to think about the veggies I could have with each meat made me feel much better about my meal planning and what I was going to eat during the week. Tuesday night I made some think lean steaks on the grill and ate that with 2 corn tortilla wraps, black bean and water melon. It was such a high fiber, protein meal with a side of fruit and I felt great knowing I had planned it out. Before leaving for work in the afternoon I took out the steaks to thaw out in my sink, which was another great thing that may have been a small step for myself but a very helpful step. Taking out the food to thaw out hours before dinner really helped me because as soon as I got out of work I was able to cut down my time looking in the fridge wondering what I was going to have then eventually possibly picking something that may have been quick and not as healthy.

      So, I got home had the steaks ready to grill, poured my half a cup of black beans in a bowl and took out my 2 wraps.  Below you will find what I laid out for food and my potential meals for the week. Another wonderful thing I learned is that YOU CAN CHOOSE TO EAT HEALTHY when dining out. I got a phone call from my best friend and roommate in college that she was in town and wanted to meet for breakfast! First, I was so excited that I was going to see her because it had been about 3 years which is way too long and it would be so fun to catch up. Second, I thought in my head OK I am going out to eat so let’s see where we could go that won’t be to unhealthy. So I did a little research about the area we were going to go too, which I was somewhat familiar with. So, long story short we did not make it to the restaurant I picked but, we went to this cute little café and I was little nervous because I wasn’t sure what I would get. However, this café had the calories next to each meal and provided tons of healthy options! I was so happy J I ate egg whites with veggies, some potatoes, and lots of fruit! Meal planning is not always easy and takes time but, what I can say is it does help and with time I will get better.

 

I hope everyone continues to stay motivated, drink lots of water and perhaps dab in to the pool of meal planning! Even if it is just knowing what you will have the next day and planning that out and setting the food aside that is Amazing in itself!

So, this week was a great week with lots of gym time, meal planning, drinking lots of water, lean meat, veggies, pinterest searching and getting back on track!   

For lunch during the week, I had tuna, eggs with turkey bacon, and shakes! My recommendation is try new things! Even if it’s, making tortilla chips out of your wraps, or making your own guacamole. It all helps!  

 

Tuesday-Lean thin steaks, 2 corn tortilla wraps, watermelon

Wednesday- breakfast dining out! leftovers, tunas with rice and grapes

Thursday- Chicken and on a piece of bread for a sandwich with fruit and hummus

 Friday – salmon with veggies (green peppers and onions) and wheat garlic bread or red potatoes

Saturday- Eating out for lunch, salad for dinner.

Grocery List:

Fruit-apples, raspberries, watermelon, pineapple, and mango

Veggies- celery, lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, onions, mushrooms

Meat- chicken, chicken patties (weight watcher ones) hamburger, and pork

Hummus, thin pretzels, turkey bacon, turkey pepperoni, feta cheese, deli meat, greek 100 calorie yogurt, egg whites, egg beaters, turkey sausages, frozen veggies and fruit.

This was some stuff on my grocery list; we had a lot of stuff at the house already so this was what I needed. Just a little sneak peek to what I get.  

This is a website that can also give you helpful tips on meal planning: http://www.parade.com/1971/nisaburns/how-to-make-a-weekly-meal-plan/

Motivation Monday!

Motivation Monday! It was a busy day at work. As a nanny I am busy with school starting again! The kids had tons of papers, homework already, and lots to talk about. I can’t lie Mondays are harder for me to get started. But, I still made it to the gym! Did treadmill, bike and elliptical. A new blog is coming within the next couple of days, but I thought I’d motivate anyone reading this the ones that might be on the fence if they want to go to the gym. Well, I made and so CAN YOU! Even if its a walk, walking your dog, Zumba, or a half hour at the gym at least your moving! Now I can say I worked out on this Monday and can start off my week right.

Satisfying That Sweet Tooth!

So, we all know that when that sweet tooth kicks in we must at that very moment have something sweet! And for me it’s a bonus to have it chocolate as well. Of course we could opt to make regular brownies however, that would mean that the guilt of consuming 243 calories would kick in after we’re done eating a brownie (and that’s only if you can have one!) It seems as though that darn sweet tooth just doesn’t go away! So a solution to this dilemma is a low calorie “skinny” brownie! Who knew!? And I am sure some of you are thinking Alicia you said low calorie so that must mean it won’t taste good and may not be satisfying! You would be wrong! This brownie is still chocolaty, moist, and guilt free! Coming in at a total of 136 calories the SKINNY BROWNIE!  

 Ingredients:

non-stick olive oil cooking spray

2/3 cup honey

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup white whole-wheat flour

1/4 teaspoon  baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 egg, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Optional:

1/2 cup of any type nuts (walnuts)

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (These will add extra calories

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 baking pan with spray olive oil.
2. Measure the honey into a deep-sided small bowl and microwave on high power 45 seconds. Pour in the cocoa powder whisk and let cool.
3. Then in a bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.
4. Then add applesauce, oil, egg, and vanilla in to the bowl that you had the flour and such in until well combined. Whisk in the cooled honey-cocoa mixture until smooth. Stir in the walnuts and chocolate chips if you using them.
5. Add the batter to the prepared pan and spread out evenly. Bake until the surface looks dry around the edges and a toothpick in the center comes out. 25 minutes is what I did and it came out perfect! Don’t over bake.
6. Cool the pan on a wire rack. Once cool refrigerate for 20 minutes.  

                         Lastly, cut in to the moist brownies and ENJOY! 

 

 

The end result! moist, and delicious

 

My brother thought they were great, and he’s pretty picky!

 

It has been a great week being back on track, and I feel very happy with the blog posts I have already posted. My goal is to blog 2-3 times a week and this seems like a reasonable goal with school coming up and being busy with that and work. I will also be posting quotes and different articles I find on my Facebook.  A wonderful feeling that is giving me even more motivation is the fact that I have a total of 8 followers! To see these notifications come up on my phone makes me feel so great!  A few other things I have done is I downloaded a healthy eating out app so that when my boyfriend and I go out to dinner we can both look and see what will be low in calorie and high in protein! This week I did some biking, elliptical, treadmill, and swam by doing laps, and different exercises in the pool. Again, it feels great to be on track and now a big thing I will be working on is preparing my food for the week, or at least planning them so I don’t feel rushed in the mornings or during the week.