Liliana's Restaurant

Last night Chris and I went out for a date night. We decided to go to Liliana's Restaurant. It's a New Orlean's style restaurant and very nice. Chris works with the owner's dad too, which makes going there fun since we know we are supporting their family's business. If I remember correctly, the inspiration for the restaurant came from the owner's parents meeting in New Orleans. And the restaurant is named after the owner's daughter, Liliana. I think that is pretty cool.

We had been to Liliana's once before and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to be going there again. The menu is very different than most restaurant's I've been too. Most of the entrées are seafood based and I don't eat seafood. Last time we were there I had the Black Angus Filet and loved it; Chris had the pasta Liliana and loved it as well. While we thoroughly enjoyed our selection last time, we were both interested in trying something different this go around.

I ended up ordering the Vegetable Wellington (pictured above).This is a golden puff pastry filled with grilled vegetables and montrachet and drizzled with chimmichurri. Chris ordered the Jambalaya. Before coming to that decision I of course had to ask the waitress multiple times what some of the ingredients were in the menu - so many things I have never heard of before. The waitress said she really liked the Vegetable Wellington, so I decided to order it, and I am very happy I did. I loved it, maybe even more than the steak! Chris really liked the Jambalaya too. 

Overall, it was fun to go someplace a little different and get exceptional service and food. If you live in the Madison WI area or are visiting and looking for a new place to try I would definitely recommend Liliana's!

I didn't workout today. It has been a nice relaxing day with the gloomy weather outside.

I met my calorie goal yesterday, but I have to get my ab exercises in and drink 5 cups of water yet today! Did you workout today?

Improving Hydration

I am really bad about drinking enough water each day. I probably only drink about 3 cups of water. I know I should be drinking 8 cups every day, but I find it very challenging. Looking back, I have had a history of dehydration that should have prompted me to be better about my drinking habits.

When warm weather hits, I usually find myself low on energy, getting tired more easily, and feeling lightheaded very often. And when I was pregnant I was severely dehydrated, ending up on an IV at urgent care on Christmas Day! For months during my pregnancy my doctors didn't seem too concerned about my hydration since I wasn't vomiting. I am guessing they were assuming, due to my nutrition background, that I was drinking plenty of water (but I wasn't). Finally when my symptoms during pregnancy got worse the doctor demanded I be drinking 8 cups of water! UGH! I didn't know how I was going to do it. And throughout the rest of my pregnancy I never got to 8 cups - usually 6 on a good day.

After the pregnancy I really pushed myself and got myself to drink 8 cups of water. I really had to focus though. If I got distracted I would lose my focus and forget to drink water continuously through the day. Over time I have slipped back into my old ways.

When I started this challenge I was going to drink 8 cups of water along with burning 3500 calories each day. I succeeded for about a week with the water, but then got focused on other more interesting things.

Now that the warm weather is upon us I am going to try to drink more water. I think aiming for 8 cups right now is going to be too hard for me, so I am going to aim for 5 and then work my way up towards 8 slowly! Wish me good luck!

Do you stay well hydrated? What helps you drink more water throughout the day?

Maybe you drink 8 cups of water each day, but you aren't burning 3500 calories each day. Maybe the strategy I am using to get my water intake up, you can use to get your calorie burn up!

Spent 65 minutes on the elliptical again. 700 calories burned! I met my 3500 calorie goal! Still planning on working out during the weekend!

Successful Smoothie

Yesterday I decided to make my own homemade smoothie. I had tried Yoplait's smoothie mix a few months ago and I found out I liked Banana Strawberry Smoothies! But I wanted to see if I could make a healthier, more organic, less sugary version. I sliced a banana and cut 2/3 cup of strawberries in halves and put them in a freezer bag. Then I took plain Greek yogurt and divided it into an ice cube tray (once frozen I used 8 cubes). I blended the three frozen ingredients along with 3/4 cup of organic skim milk.  It tasted a little bitter so I added maybe a tsp of organic sugar, but it didn't change the bitterness. I didn't want to add more sugar so I drank it as it was. I really liked it, but it did have a bit of a bitter taste or after taste to it. We are thinking it's the Greek yogurt we are tasting....

What do you think? Any suggestions on how to make the smoothie more sweet without packing it with sugar? Do you think going with a flavored Greek yogurt would make a difference?

Spent about 65 minutes on the elliptical machine. Burned 700 calories! 700 calories left to go! Have you worked out yet today?

Spending Time Outside

It is such a beautiful day out in Madison, WI! Summer is my favorite season of the year - the sun, the hot days, the warm evenings, being poolside, and outdoor activities! It is all so much fun and I am so excited it is finally here!

Spending time outside naturally helps us upgrade our life. Being outside you will probably be walking or running around the yard or playground, or maybe gardening! Being outside naturally gets you active without trying! Even if you prefer to spend your summer days relaxing in the sun, you are still getting refresh air and not vegging out in front of the TV! So not only do the outdoors help us to become more active, it also helps us regulate our snacking tendencies!

Speaking of snacking: The other great thing about summer are the fresh fruits and veggies. I don't know about you, but when summer hits I have my house full of watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, etc. I find myself snacking on low calorie nutrient packed foods, instead of higher calorie granola bars and cookies! Love it!

Since we are blessed to have such a beautiful day here, I am hoping to get out and go on a nice walk with my baby girl! I hope the weather stays nice (I hear rain is in the forecast).

Went to the gym this morning. I am starting to like staying on the elliptical for a full hour! 680 calories burned! 1400 calories remaining! I also did my lower body toning exercises to help strengthen my knees! What was your workout like today?

What's your favorite part of summer? What's your favorite summer activity?

When Motivation Kicks In...

My house is very rarely a disaster. It is also rarely spotless clean - with 2 cats there is kitty hair everywhere. I have been wanting to clean up, straighten up, vacuum, the usual; but I have been lacking the energy and motivation for the past week or so. Don't you hate that feeling! Finally, last night I reached my breaking point; I knew I was going to have to get my house back to the way I like it (and my husband had no ironed clothes for work). So after we got Nora to bed we were both on a mission. I vacuumed, dusted, etc; and he ironed!

Sometimes we don't  have the motivation to work hard to accomplish the things we want until we get to a breaking point. It was the same way with losing my baby weight after being pregnant. It took until Nora was 5 months old until I felt a true desire to work at getting my body back.

Have you experienced the same breaking point with your fitness goals? Or are you still waiting to get there? I have found through my own experience and through personal training, that you will never accomplish the goal you want to achieve until you are ready to dedicate yourself to it. So if you aren't ready, it's OK. But when you do get that burst of motivation, work hard and stay positive, knowing that each day is a new day you can work towards your goal!

Today I spent about 65 minutes on the elliptical machine and burned 710 calories. 2080 calories remaining for the week. I struggled for the first 30 minutes on the elliptical. I zoned into a segment on the Today Show or GMA and felt like time had flown by, but when I looked at the monitor I had only been working out for 12 minutes! UGH! I hate that! But I pushed myself to stay strong and to keep going - I WANTED TO GET TO MY 710 CALORIES AGAIN! I was motivated to reach that goal and I made sure I was going to get there.

Have you gotten to the gym yet today? What is your game plan for your workout? Whatever it is, stick with it and make it happen! You'll feel great once you accomplish that goal!

Week 11: Fit For Life

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I saw this clip on the Today show. US Representative Aaron Schock has teamed up with Men's Health and Women's Health Magazines to bring you the Fit For Life Summer Challenge. The Fit for Life Summer Challenge website has great workout ideas and an eating plan you can follow to help you towards your goal. 

Here is a link to the website: 

http://www.menshealth.com/fit-for-summer-challenge/

Whether you are interested in joining the Fit for Life Summer Challenge or not,  the resources on the website can help you with your own personal workouts or the 3500 Challenge!

Along with Aaron's interview on the Today show, they also have a great article: 5 ways to stick to your workout. Click on the link below to get to this article: 

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42936158/ns/today-today_health/t/tips-make-fitness-last-lifetime/

I think the Fit for Life Summer Challenge is great! The 3500 Challenge and Fit for Life, together can help you reach your fitness and health goals! 

Today I worked out on the elliptical - my favorite piece of fitness equipment! 710 calories burned! I also did my lower body toning exercises - leg press, hamstring curl, hip adduction and abduction! What did you do today for your workout routine?

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I am so excited for my first Mother's Day! Nora and I have our Mother's Day dresses on and I made Red Velvet Cupcakes for the first time.

The first time I had red velvet cake was in the hospital after having Nora. My mom brought us red velvet cake to celebrate! It was the most delicious thing I had ever eaten. Maybe the pain meds and the fact that I couldn't eat during labor all day made the cake taste even better than it normally would, but ever since, I have been in love with red velvet cake! I hope my cupcakes turn out half as good!

Besides having red velvet cupcakes on Mother's Day, we are bound to have a bunch of delicious food at my parent's house too! Calories here I come! I didn't workout this morning since I was busy baking and getting ready for the day - so my calorie intake will probably be higher than my calorie burn for the day.

It will be OK though. I will get back to my workout routine and normal healthy eating tomorrow. I'll get right back on track and my weight will balance back to normal. While I am OK with not working out today, there is a part of me that misses it and feels like I need it. Do you ever feel that way when you don't workout? It's a good feeling to have. It gives you the motivation you need to get back on track. If you don't have that burning desire to get back to the gym, force yourself to get there each day and eventually you will want to go. The 3500 challenge forced me to go and now I want to go - for myself and for the challenge. If you are lacking motivation, join the challenge with me tomorrow: Week 11!

As you know, I burned 3500 calories by the end of Friday, so I don't have any calories to report today! Excited for a new week tomorrow! Enjoy the beautiful weather on this beautiful Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers out there!