Things I Ate Thursday

I take Instagram very seriously. I use seemingly endless hashtags, make my family wait to eat until I take a satisfactory picture of our food, and embarrass myself taking food pictures out in public.

Oh, Joffrey.

Not all of you will want to be subjected to my IG feed (connect with me over there if you want, I also share lots of cute animal pictures), so I will be doing a weekly round-up of what I ate that week here on the blog. The good, the bad, the meh. Consider it a (albeit incomplete) food journal- this is a weight loss blog, after all. On the subject of calories, I do try to stay around 1400 calories per day. Some days (especially if I've exercised) I'll go a little above, on rest days I might be a little below.

I like sharing my meals because I love showing people that a vegan diet isn't all grass and twigs.

Thursday- leftovers of this creamy curry (from the Oh She Glows cookbook)

Friday- mini burritos stuffed with mexican tofu scramble and avocado 

Saturday- we went to the Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival, where I failed to photograph my frito pie from the Vegtacular food truck (in my defense, I didn't know I was going to start a blog this week)

 Mustache pretzels are a thing

Monday- Queso Blanco bowl from Isa Does It

Tuesday (and Wednesday lunch)- 40 Clove Broccoli and Chickpeas from Appetite For Reduction

Tonight- Greek takeout, much yum. This veggie combo plate lasts at least two meals, so I will be having this again at some point over the weekend.

Looking over My Fitness Pal (connect with me if you're on there!), I actually did pretty well this week and ate right within my 1300-1500 range all week.

Those of you trying to lose weight, share your accomplishments!

What was your favorite meal this week?

Current favorite playlist

Pretty sure sharing my questionable taste in music is scarier than sharing my weight (which I'll get to when I eventually start weekly weigh-ins). But, in the spirit of keeping it real, my running playlist this week has been a revolving mix of the following...

best. soundtrack. ever.

Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol. 1

Most of the songs on here are just what I need to get my groove on while running, but my favorites are:
Hooked on a Feeling
Come and Get Your Love
I Want You Back
O-o-h Child

Oh, Tay-tay. Why do you always suck me in?

 Taylor Swift, 1989

I tried to resist T.S. I really did. But hot damn, does that girl know her shit. When Shake It Off comes on, I can't help but start dance running. I'm pretty sure I look like Phoebe.

Thankfully, I've been running on the treadmill, so I've spared my neighborhood the sight of my gracefulness.

 Meghan Trainor, Title


Pretty sure I'm the only person left in the free world who is not sick of All About that Bass. I really dig Meghan's modern doo-wop sound and I'm hoping she's not doomed to be a one or two-hit-wonder.

Some of my favorites:

 Title
Walkashame
Lips are Movin'
All About that Bass



I also throw in a random mix of Queen (Break Free, Somebody to Love) and Fall Out Boy (Immortals, Centuries).


What's on your running playlist right now?

Current Running Goals + Training Plan

I have many fitness goals, some small (adding strength training 2x/week), some huge (run a half marathon next year, hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon sometime in the next few years). 

I have big dreams.

My big goal for the first half of 2015 is to train for and run a 10k in my home state of Wisconsin in June. We've been planning a trip back for a few months, and I found out that the Bellin Run is planned for the weekend we're in town! I've heard that it's a great race, well-organized, and it's pretty cheap ($20).

And the shirt design is cute, which we all know is most important.

I realize this is a lofty goal considering I've never run longer than 2.5 miles. I've had the "Run Longer" plan (from the Runner's World website) for a while, and I started it this week! I'm notorious for starting training plans and quickly veering off course, or switching to another plan (#ADHDproblems), so I'm pretty determined to stick to this one.

Anyone ever use Runner's World Starting Line plans? I don't like paying for them (I'm kinda cheap) but I like how straightforward and easy to follow they are. The plan from the book "Run Your Butt Off" is what transformed me into a full-fledged runner, so I'm a believer.

NOT Belieber

My Brain on Running

Running makes me feel healthier both physically and mentally. When I run, my body feels strong and capable. That post-run high comes not only from brain chemistry, it also comes from knowing what my body has accomplished!

wearing a lot of pink helps too

Of course, running is just as much a mental exercise as it is physical. Runners know the mental game you sometimes have to play to get yourself through a workout- I'm queen of "run this speed until the end of this song, then you can slow down" or "make it to the first mile and if you feel like stopping you can". But running helps my mind in a different way. Exercise- especially running- makes my ADHD brain feel calm and focused. In fact, I've found it's just as effective as meds, with far better side effects. I definitely noticed the difference when I couldn't run for 4 months!

I was diagnosed with ADHD (Inattentive type) as an adult, mostly because I noticed lots of similarities between my son and I (he was diagnosed at 6 years old) that went beyond parental influence. When I brought my old report cards into the psychiatrist (in addition to discussing my current symptoms), it didn't take her long to find the hallmarks of ADHD; "excessive talking" and "does not work up to full potential" littered my records, from elementary through high school. I started taking Ritalin after my diagnosis (later making the switch to Concerta). The difference was insane.

my brain on ADHD meds

When I started working out, I noticed that even if I forgot to take meds, I was still able to focus and be efficient. And I didn't act like a super mellow, toned version of myself (which consistently weirded my husband out).

Don't worry, not everyone becomes a Squidward when they take ADHD meds

At this point, I've figured out strategies that work for me in addition to exercise. I will do a more detailed post on that at some point. I've found that simply having the diagnosis helps tremendously!

Anyone out there with ADHD or parenting a child with ADHD (or both)?
What have you found that's helped?



 ***Obviously I am not a medical professional and what works for me may not work for you. Always discuss any plans with your doctor before making changes***

Welcome!

Hey! I'm Julie- 33 year old wife, mother, vegan, homeschooler, runner, animal lover, desert rat, midwestern transplant, Canadian by birth. Apparently I like to make life difficult for myself (see: vegan homeschooler) but most of these lifestyle choices come from following my instincts. Please know that I am not preachy about my choices, they just happen to be right for me and my family.

I like superhero movies, true crime shows, and playing video games with my 10 year old son.

The day Mario Kart 8 came out was a pretty big day in our house.

I am a bona fide bookworm and will literally read anything. Instead of reading anything, I am re-reading the Harry Potter series for the 4th time.

I love spending time outside, and living in perpetually sunny Arizona allows me to do that to my heart's content.

well, most of the year

My Weight Loss Story

I started my journey (<---I hate that word!!!) to a healthier me at 275-ish lbs. On my small 5'4" frame, I was morbidly obese, and I felt much older than 30.

 

 

Over the next year or so I lost a little (5-10 lbs) but was still drastically overweight. I was fatigued, had arthritis (at 31!!!), asthma- and its friend, chronic bronchitis. Basically, I was single-handedly destroying my quality of life in exchange for quality time with my couch.

And food. Lots of food.

We ate out for every meal- no exaggeration

31st birthday

I got serious about losing the weight in March of 2013, and dropped 20 lbs in the first month and a half. I've had brief breaks (moving across the country, broken ankle) and plateaus, but I'm now down a total of 80 lbs.

With my old work ID

The Ankle Debacle

Although 2014 was supposed to be the year I lost the remaining 55 lbs, 2014 was instead the year of my first broken bone. In July (a month into a frustrating plateau), I passed out and broke my ankle. (Learn from my mistakes; make sure you stay hydrated when you have the stomach flu, and if you feel like you're going to pass out, for the love of all that is holy, lay down!!) This freak accident resulted in my having surgery, and I now sport a super ankle with titanium pins.

I once convinced a group of first graders that I am now part robot.

I'm finally back to my pre-injury fitness levels. I want this blog to not only document the rest of my weight loss, but also my journey to maintain. I'll share recipes, fitness goals, training plans, and random musings. Not only am I hoping this will provide me with some accountability, but I also hope to get inspiration from all of you!