100 Days

Making it Happen

According to How Stuff Works it only takes 21-30 days to make or break a habit! That's really not that bad if you can just force yourself to power through the first part then you're in the home stretch, right? Well knowing that and with my wedding date looming in that awkward 'oh there is still plenty of time' and 'it's going to be here before you know it' phase I decided to get in shape. Ok, you can stop laughing, I'm serious this time! Ever since my twenties I've always eaten healthy (I seriously just like it!) but working out has always come and gone in phases. I can't promise after the wedding bells have silenced that I'll keep it up but hey some time is better than never at all…

Check Out Give it 100, it's a really cool new website where people, like me, are trying to over come something (mine is pure laziness) or simply learn something new and are taking on the challenge for doing whatever it is they have chosen for 100 days. They upload 10 second videos from each day doing whatever they're doing and you can watch people progress and get better as the days go on, thought it was a pretty neat concept and talk about motivation! 

I don't know if I can commit to uploading a video every day but I did take before pictures, measurements and weighed myself. I never weigh myself so I'm only going to do 'check ins' every 20 days to map my progress. Working out every single day already seems like a daunting task but I'm only calling for working out at least 15 minutes a day. So the days I'm busy it'll be hard to make an excuse to not get in at least fifteen minutes, but the days I have more free time or on the weekend with the boy I can workout for longer. But fifteen minutes is the bare-bones minimum. I started this past Monday so I'm currently on day 3. . . only 97 more days to go. I'll post the progress and if I stick with it and it works I'll blog about the process and the results in the end!

100 Day Challenge Check In:

Day: One
Weight: 123 lbs
Bust: 32"
Waist: 24"
Hips: 36"
Arm: 10"
Thigh: 19"

Mood?: A little nervous, but excited to get in shape for the wedding

How Do You Feel?: Like I should have started this a long time ago

Notice Any Changes?: Haven't Started!

Wish Me Luck!

30 Day Squat Challenge

The Lazy Girl's Guide to Fitness

I found a 30-day squat challenge on Pinterest (I have a serious Pinterest problem, you can check out my boards here) and decided to take it on. I liked it because it was only a 30 day commitment and it was easy to fit into my busy schedule so it left me out of excuses! Oh back in my day I was ridiculously in to being fit and in shape, I did gymnastics, track, volleyball and went running on a regular basis. I worked out 6-7 days a week, and what's more I loved it. Welp, it's like I don't even know who that girl is anymore! Between busy schedules and the little down time I do get I just end up wanting to hang out with the boy, leaves minimal negotiation for a strict or even somewhat consistent work out schedule. Bottom line when it comes to working out. I'm just lazy!

Someday I'll get back to a regular routine. . . someday.

In the meantime I'll keep challenging myself to small routines and giving them the old college try! This one actually did make a difference and trust me I did NOT do any other working out (except a few block dash to catch a train) and since it fell directly over Thanksgiving I ate a little more unhealthily than I normally do, so for not much effort I'd say pretty good results. If you incorporated it into a normal routine I know it would do wonders for your legs!

 These are horrible pictures for which I apologize and London making an appearance in bottom left corner of the befores, but you can tell I got a little shape and definition in my thighs in the after photos! I could tell my legs were stronger and I really even felt like my stomach was flatter, so hey an added bonus! 

Here's the 30 Day Squat Challenge:

1. 50 squats
2. 55 squats
3. 60 squats
4. Rest
5. 70 squats
6. 75 squats
7. 80 squats
8. Rest
9. 100 squats
10. 105 squats
11. 110 squats
12. Rest
13. 130 squats
14. 135 squats
15. 140 squats
16. Rest
17. 150 squats
18. 155 squats
19. 160 squats
20. Rest
21. 180 squats
22. 185 squats
23. 190 squats
24. Rest
25. 220 squats
26. 225 squats
27. 230 squats
28. Rest
29. 240 squats
30. 250 squats

It starts you off nice and easy so there is no excuse not to give it a try! I just did it everyday before a shower and there were a couple days I forgot so I just made up for them on the next 'rest' day. Easy enough! 

Here are a couple more lazy girl tips to fitness:

• Take the stairs every chance you get, those few extra steps eventually add up!
• Cut out bread, skip the bun on that burger or switch to a whole wheat wrap instead of a sandwich
• Stock up on vegetables and lean protein like farm-free salmon
• Eat smaller portions through out the day and not heavy meals to boost your metabolism
• Do squats or other simple stretches while you wait for your coffee to brew in the morning  
• Opt for a tart green apple for a treat instead of a chocolate bar, will taste just as sweet!
• Replace all beverages with good ol' fashion water
• If it's reasonable choose to walk instead of driving or catching the subway

Staying healthy doesn't have to mean turning into a gym rat, you can make small choices everyday that make a BIG difference in your life and that are easy to stick too!

Vegetarian Twist on a Classic

An Old English Favourite

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

Along with being a Midwest Girl, I'm also an English one. I have dual-citizenship and am very proud of my English roots. Cottage Pie or also known commonly as 'Shepherd's Pie' is an English staple and one of my personal favourites growing up! Once you get the base of the recipe down it's so easy to substitute ingredients and make a million different varieties. Any night we had this as a kid I was always looking forward to it. It's great for a Fall time dinner because it's hearty and warm.

My version of the famous recipe is so veg-heads like myself can enjoy the old classic as well. It's also great to use for a healthier version for those of you watching what you eat or more health conscious, I have cut out all butter!

Here's What You Need:

• 1/2 cup Vegetable Broth (Or you can make your own like I did!)
• 4 Large Whole Potatoes
• 2 tbs Milk
• Olive/Vegetable oil
• 1.5 lbs Pack of Soy or tofu beef or sausage
• 2 cups of your favourite veggies diced. I used corn, carrots, onions, peas and zucchini (*cheap trick: grab a bag of frozen medley and viola!)
• Soy sauce and Teriyaki/Steak sauce or traditional Worcestershire sauce
• Salt, Pepper and any other seasonings of choice
• 9X13 greased pan

Here's What You've Got to Do:

1.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
2. Boil your whole potatoes (peeled or not- your choice!) in a large pot of water
3. Sauté your chopped veggies (you'll want to start with the tougher ones first like carrots) in a dollop of vegetable oil over medium heat. 
4. Mix in the other vegetables half way through cooking, continually stirring
5. Once all your veggies have started to cook mix in the tofu sausage, 2 teaspoons of soy sauce and 2 teaspoons of teriyaki sauce (or 1 tbs of worcestershire instead) continuing to stir as it cooks.
6. Once the tofu sausage has began to brown mix in half a cup of vegetable broth and let simmer
7. When your potatoes have finished cooking, start mashing them and add in salt, pepper, and any other seasonings to taste. (*Thyme is a good one) and a touch of milk until the potatoes are of a soft, mashable texture.
8. After you've greased the pan pour in the mixed tofu sausage and veggies, spread to fill the entire bottom of the pan.
9. Next, start putting on the mashed potatoes patting them down with a spoon as you go
10. Once the whole pan is covered with a layer of potatoes create peaks with a fork to insure parts will brown really nicely.
11. Stick in the oven until bubbling and browning (about 45 min) then take out and let cool for 5 minutes
12. Slice, Serve and Enjoy!

Made this veggie Shepherd's Pie for the boy for the first time this month and he loved it. 

It's now his new favourite as well. Try it out!

Yum. Yum. Yum.