You are what you eat

So... I have to say, Florida finally came through in the clutch. The sun was shining bright today and I spent a good 5 hours in the sun-- so much so, I think I changed my whole ethnicity (and burned my nose and shoulders too).  Honestly though, with 3 days left in the Sunshine state, I am so glad that Mr. Sun decided to make an appearance and not ruin the trip. 

Usually I'd be doing my weekly Insanity updates, but I'm behind a week on that due to this impromptu trip. Without getting further off track, today I've decided to share with you all my latest challenge-- my biggest change in eating habits. 

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June 1st is when I hit it hard with a strict 'diet' and exercise plan. I put quotes around diet, because when I say diet, I am referring to the foods that I eat on a daily basis, not your typical phony commercial crap. 

Insanity has a nice meal plan that comes with it, and I did use some ideas from it to create my personal meal plan, but the biggest things that I eliminated from my diet are Dairy and red meat. 

The purpose of my new found eating habits and exercise is solely because I am trying to drop about 5 pounds, in 12 weeks as well as gain lean muscle mass. 

The easiest way for me to describe to you all what I eat is by giving you some of the several meals I rotate through every day. 

Breakfast Options: 

• Whole grain english muffin, 2 egg whites, half banana 
• 1/2 cup whole wheat oatmeal, 1/2  cup strawberries, 1/2 cup blueberries
• Egg white omelet: 2 egg whites, 2 tablespoons of salsa, 4 slices of deli turkey chopped
• Egg white 'crepe': 2 egg whites whisked with 1 teaspoon of vanilla and cinnamon to taste, place in omelet pan, and fill with 1/2 cup strawberries. 
• 8 oz Almond Breeze, Coconut and Almond milk, and 1 cup of Cinnamon Burst Cherrieos 

Snack 1: 

• So Delicious Dairy Free Yogurt
• Banana 
• 1 Orange and 1/2 cup cherries 
• 1 cup of Cherrios dry 

Lunch:

• Spinach salad: 3 cups spinach, 1 cup chopped cucumber, 1 cup snow peas, 4 slices of deli cut turkey or chicken, 1 tablespoon light Italian dressing. 
• Protein Shake smoothie: 1 scoop of Jay Robb Whey Protein, 1 handfull of ice to taste, 1 cup of coconut almond milk, 1/2 cup blueberries 

Snack 2:

• 1 bag of Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop Popcorn (100 calories)
• 1 "baked" apple: chop up any type of apple, put in a microwaveable bowl, fill to top with water, add cinnamon and microwave for 4 minutes... instant 'baked' apple.. genius ?
• 1 cup of grapes
• Kashi Crunch Bar 
• 10-14 baby carrots 

Dinner :

(dinners will change drastically once I'm cooking for my husband and I, but for now here are some simple dinners if you are eating solo). 

• Salmon fillet, 7-10 asparagus spears, 1 cup of brown rice 
• Dinner omelet: 3 egg whites, 2-3oz of chopped chicken breast, green peppers, topped with 1-2 tablespoons of salsa. 
• Boneless skinless chicken breast, 1-2 cups of fresh green beans, 1 cup of quinoa 
• Summer Salad: 3 cups spinach, 2-3oz of chopped chicken breast, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1-2 tablespoons of raspberry vinaigrette 
• Red Beans and Rice: 1 cup brown rice, 1 cup kidney beans, 3-4oz chicken breast cubed. 

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Guidelines: 

1. Minimum 8 servings of fruits and veggies a day ( 1 serving = 1 cup)
2. 3 liters of water a day. Yes, I drink a lot of water (not drinking enough water leads to dehydration which leads to retaining water, which means bloating).
3. No dairy -- no cheese, no milk, no yogurt (that was a hard one). There really isn't a need to eat dairy, I get plenty of calcium through my almond milk as well as dairy free options like "So Delicious" brand. 
4. No red meat. Chicken, fish, and turkey are what I eat! 
5. No 'snack' foods. No cookies, no candy, no sugary goodness. 
6. No cheating, thats right. I don't believe in cheat days, why ? Because I got sick of feeling sorry for myself, If you aren't pleased with how you look, then do something about it and do it the right way. When you cheat on a meal plan or your exercise program, you are only cheating yourself. 
7. Might sound weird, but I brush my teeth after every time I eat. Nothing keeps you from wanting a snack then the minty fresh taste of Crest in your mouth! 

Changing my eating habits has helped SO much in the past month. Oh, and My Fitness Pal -- Yep I'm an addict. I track EVERYTHING -- literally, I track everything I eat in there, and my 'diary' is public-- so at the end of each day, you can see what I've ate, how mann calories I've consumed, how much exercise i've done and my progress. Use your smart phone to your advantage, it's a fantastic accountability tool. Add me on MFP: Leighanne53

Sponsor Spotlight

I can't believe it's that time again ... the last sponsor spotlight posts of the month!

Good Riddance June! 

Here are two lovely blog friends that you NEED to follow, if you don't already!

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Tiffany from Mrs. This and That

Hey Hart to Hart friends. My name is Tiffany from Mrs This and That. I blog about everyday life, crafts, home decor, DIY projects, recipes, family, pretty much anything and everything hence the name "Mrs this and that" :)   I would love for you to come on over and stop by my blog. I enjoy getting to know other bloggers and for me I like to see new blogs as well, so stop by leave a comment so I can check out your blog!  (wow that was a lot of blogs) Anywho I am so excited to meet you and cant wait to exchange conversations, crafts ideas, DIY projects, recipes and friendships! Look forward to meeting you!!

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Tori from The EdiTORIal 

Hey y'all! I'm Tori from The EdiTORIal and I'm so excited to be sponsoring Hart to Heart this month!

I'm a southern girl, raised in the heart of East Tennessee. I'm a full time college student. I have a wonderful southern gent of almost three years, a growing thirst for all things fashion, and an addiction to nail polish and beauty products. I'm semi-new to the blogging world but I would love for you to hop over and check it all out.

Birthday Boy...

Yes... I'm one of 'those'. Occasionally my dog is like my child. I dress him up, I tote him around in bags, and of course I'm going to celebrate his first birthday! 

I am so sad that I'm in Florida, instead of being with Gizmo on his birthday... sike. I'm pretty happy I'm in FL, and the birthday celebrating can wait. But I know you are dying to see some pictures of the little man over the time we have had him! 

So with that said, Happy 1st Birthday Gizmo!! 

Do what you love, love what you do.

Not only is this a great quote, from a great man... it is a quote that I strongly believe in, now more than ever. 

Before I get into the point of todays post, its good to have a little background on how I spent the first 4 months of marriage. After my husband and I got married, we knew that living in Alaska was a temporary situation. We would only be in our apartment for 4 short months, we would only be living together for 4 short months, and we would only have 4 short months to get to know the area and meet new people before we were torn apart and I would go back to Ohio and he would go to Afghanistan. 

So with the whole first month of August being spent moving in, and the month of December spent moving out, there was no point for me to get a full or let alone a part time job, to have to turn around and quit. So I essentially went from a full time student and active dancer, to a full time stay at home wife. 

Again, this was all temporary, but a drastic change for me which honestly made it at times difficult to be the happy newlywed couple we should have been. It's true-- life isn't always sunshine and butterflies. The thought of preparing for a 10 month deployment, put a damper on every month we were there. We had so many great times, but with everything going on, I could honestly say I would have done things differently if given a second chance. Not dwelling on the deployment and cherishing the time we had. BUT... you live and learn, and going through our first deployment together that was a huge lesson learned. 

So where am I going with this? The big picture is that over the past year not only have I grown and learned so much-- as well as traveled and done more than people will do in a lifetime, but my husband and I have grown as a couple. It is an awesome thing to see. Looking back and thinking how different we are now, for the better. 

Last week I chatted about how I was placed with the opportunity to coach pee-wee cheerleading in the fall when I get back to Alaska. I was THRILLED. So excited to work with the youth, do something that I love and to have a job to keep me plenty busy. 

Well.... Just last Friday I was presented with another great opportunity. I have been a dancer for 16 years. It has been the biggest part of my life from age 3. When I decided that I wanted to start working again once I got back to Alaska, I began e-maling and contacting dance studios in the area about teaching. I received a call from the head of Youth Activities on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (where we are going to be living) asking me to teach once I get back in August! 

THRILLED... is an understatement.  This wasn't a part of my "plan"  I had thought out for the next year, but this is far better than my "plan". Funny how things like that work out. 

So with that said, I am a firm believer in doing what you love. Just when I thought I had found my 'thing'... and knew what I would be doing as a job until I am finished with my collegiate career, I am thrown back into the teaching world. 

Now more than ever, I am so excited to get back to Alaska! My husband and I are thrilled to explore every part of the wonderful state we have been blessed to be stationed in, and to live a 'normal' life, without having to worry about when the next time we will say goodbye is-- for a little while at least! 

High Five For Friday

Friday, Friday, I'm going to Florida this Friday!! 

Yes friends, I am en route to the sunshine state! 9 days of the beach, dance competitions, and sunshine!

Today, like every Friday I am linking up with Lauren, From My Grey Desk for some High Five for Friday fun! 

 

1. Holy smokes batman-- this deployment is almost OVER! 23% left to go... and we're already 6.5 months into this? 23% is nothing!!! 

2. My whole day Wednesday was spent teaching myself the ins and outs of my Nikon D60. Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, White Balance etc. etc. I read, pinterested and youtubed about it all! 

3. Finally got a chance to go to the Second Street Market, in Dayton. AMAZING. Doesn't compare to the farmers markets in Anchorage, but for Ohio I was impressed. 

4. Oh, did I mention the market had delicious crepes ? Yes you read that right, gluten free, and lactose free batter. It was a great day! 

5. Last but not least, I got a job! Well part-time. I'll be the assistant cheer coach for the pee-wee football cheerleaders this fall when I get back to Alaska! I was so thrilled to find out I got the job! I love coaching and working with the youth, so it will be a great experience! 

Have a very happy Friday friends! 

Sponsor Spotlight

June 20th... are you freaking kidding me?! June is almost over!!

It's Wednesday, which means its time for another Sponsor Spotlight from some lovely blog friends!

Make sure to stop by and tell them hello! It's always fun making new friends! 

Kristin from Kiss Laugh Dream 


Blog//Twitter

I'm a 20-something newly on my own after spending the last 6+ years in undergrad and grad school. 

I'm a physician assistant during the day, but my hobbies include photography, dance, and baking. I'm frugal (maybe my lack of real money for my entire life has something to do with that!) so I like to find inexpensive things to do or make and I love finding deals anywhere I can!

My blog is a mixture of all of my loves: medicine here and there, lots of photography, recipes, dance info, and DIY projects. 

Enjoy!




Lisa from Momma's Me Time 


Blog// Twitter

Hey there! I'm Lisa, the Momma behind Momma's Me Time. I created my blog as a way to grant me a little alone time. Because as we all know, life can get a little busy as a wife and a Momma. My blog gives me time to embrace the hobbies I love most, including crafts, fitness, and photography. it also allows me to share bits of my life as a stay at home mom of an adorable 3 year old boy, my views on faith, and our journey through life. I hope you will come by and share life's journey with us

Melissa from Eleven Sixty


Blog//Twitter

Hello everyone! My name is Melissa and I blog over at Eleven Sixty. I am fairly new to blogging and have really enjoyed this creative outlet for me to express myself and document this wonderful life I live.

I am 24 years old with plenty to blog about. A year ago I moved into my first home in Willoughby, Ohio with my fiancé, and we are getting married on September 15, 2012. I am a huge fan of DIY projects, interior design & home decor, cooking, photography, coffee, and pinning to my heart's content. You'll find that I write about all of these things and more.

Come stop by and say hello! I love meeting new women in this wonderful blogging community I am becoming a part of.

Busy Bee

As a good blogger should... I feel I have to explain myself! 

I have been crazy busy lately! Who would have thought that July would be so close! 

So hear are a few updates for you all: 

My weekend: My weekend was spent at my 16th dance recital. I was lucky enough to be in Ohio just long enough to learn a few dances to preform in our studio's annual recital. My Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were spent preforming, which was wonderful to be on the stage again -- but so weird, as I am now a dance veteran, and no longer considered one of the youngin's ... sad!

My Sunday: My Sunday was spent going out to eat with family for Fathers day! Had to share this picture of my dad and I because it truly cracks me up.

This week: This week ... well this week started operation "pack for alaska".  Long story short, while my husband was in Ohio we bought a 2nd car ... Randy the (dodge) Ram, to be specific. Getting a car from Ohio to Alaska, isn't easy. We finally found a shipping company which will let us ship personal belongings in the bed of the truck as long as we have a hard cover. Well...we didn't have one of those. So my mother in law and I searched high and low for a cover that didn't cost $700+ and came across one on the ever-so-handy Craigslist. So, my evening yesterday was spent at a complete strangers house, who so kindly sold us the cover and offered to install it (for free!!).

Why Operation Pack-For-Alaska has to start so soon: ... oh yeah. Well funny story, I'm actually going to be out of the state for a total of 14 days between this week and July!  and during those 14 days Randy the Ram is getting picked up, and is starting his journey to Alaska 2 weeks before I do! 

Where I'm going: This week I head to TAMPA FlORIDA and SANIBEL ISLAND for 9 glorious days!! 

After that: Oh and just 10 days after that, I head to North Carolina/ Myrtle Beach, to see 2 of my great friend's I haven't seen in a year!

I am beyond excited for some vacation time, but this might be a little bit of poor planning on my part-- trying to go on vacation the same month I am making a cross country move! However fingers crossed, I will be 95% packed by the end of this week, and my month of July will be a relaxing one, where no packing will be involved!!

Have a fantastic Tuesday everyone!! Did I mention I get to meet my blog friend Shane, from Whispering Sweet Nothings, tonight for a coffee date?! SO excited!!!

One Year of Marriage

WOW... where has the year gone? Seriously, I have never had 365 Days flash before my eyes so quickly. 

You think about the concept of a year, and it seems like forever. Literally if I had to think about doing or planning or waiting for something that is a year away from now, I would probably cry, because it just seems so far away! 

However one year ago today, I married my best friend! Mind you, this is just the day we got married. There will be plenty of time dedicated to our *Wedding* anniversary, which takes place on July 29th. 

A short recap on the 'tale of two weddings'... my husband went to basic training in February of 2011, we received our orders to move to Alaska in May of 2011, with a PCS (moving) date of August 8th. Husband graduated basic training on June 16th, followed by 3 weeks of Airborne School, which didn't start until after July 4th, 2011... which put him coming 'home' to Ohio at the end of July.... hmm how were we going to get married, have a wedding, and move to Alaska within a week!?

The thing about moving to Alaska is it considered an over seas duty station. Which means, that all spouses and children have to be "command sponsored". It's an overly complicated process which takes WAY too long, that simply means you need a physical and a signature giving you the OK to move. 

If you've ever PCSed with the military, you know that nothing is ever easy. Especially when it comes to moving "over-seas". So, to get the process started early, and to make sure I had the OK to move to Alaska as well, we decided to get married at the courthouse in Georgia, after my husbands Turning Blue Ceremony (Special ceremony, for Infantry, which happens the day before Basic Training Graduation).

PROBLEM: .... the day of his graduation, I had to be back in Ohio by 6 PM for a dance performance. 

 SOLUTION: I would drive down to Georgia with the family, the day before the graduation, we would get married on the 16th, and I would immediately fly back to Ohio within 2 hours of getting married. 

Yep, thats right, I made a whirlwind trip from Ohio to Georgia, back to Ohio in less than 24 hours. 

To make a very long story short, everything went according to plan and I left Georgia that day a married lady! 

Fun Facts... We got married the same day as two of our best army friends... AND we got married "way down yonder on the Chatahoochie " .... no jokes. 

Pre Wedding at the Turning Blue, Ceremony 

Our anniversary twins, and two of our great friends! 

30 Minutes after the Turning Blue Ceremony... Way down yonder on the Chattahoochee (county courthouse). 

 MARRIED! 

In-laws! 

Now for two seconds let me get a little bit sappy. The past year has been an emotionally long one, regardless of how fast the time has seemed to fly by. There were days where I didn't know how anything was going to pan out, or how we were going to make things work, but looking back in hindsight, marrying this man has been the best decision of my life. When we first met 4 years ago, and someone would have said to me "You're going to be married to this guy in 4 years"... I would have said " I wish!" .... its true, I had a serious 'thing' for him since day 1.  I can't begin to put into words how much I love this man, and how amazing it is to be married to my best friend and partner in crime. He puts up with me, our rat/cat dog, and does everything he can to go above and beyond for others. I am counting down the days until we get to begin our lives together, for a little bit without having to do the goodbyes! He is the biggest blessing in my life, my number one fan, and I don't know how I could get through a day without him! 

I can't wait to have him back! (: