Let's Get Our Lent On

You may remember last year I gave up meat for Lent.
It was also when I started CrossFit.
Man, I miss it so much!
I'm hoping that once I hit my goal weight, I will join CrossFit again.
Two years ago, I gave up sweets.
By far, giving up meat was 100% easier than giving up sweets, mostly because I worked for a bakery at the time and dessert is my weakness.
Well, this year, my crazy mother and I decided to eat clean for Lent.
6 whole weeks of no overly processed foods, no refined sugar, no fried foods, basically anything with a list of ingredients on the box.
It will suck.

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In preparation for the next 40 days of no junk, I did just the opposite last night.
I wanted to have "a last meal", if you will.
A hamburger seemed just right, but by the time I went out to order one, I was starving.
So, I did what many people do on a daily basis and I drove through McDonalds.
What a mistake.
I was up really late with an upset stomach, a headache, and bloating.
This is the type of feeling I'm hoping to avoid by eating real, whole, healthy foods.
My mom and I can put away some food, but for whatever reason, we can always stick with Lent.
Probably because there is a timeline and accountability.
For several months I've been trying to eat cleaner, but I could never stick with it.
My workouts are intense and long and I need way more calories than I'm getting and much cleaner fuel than what I'm putting into my body.
It's really frustrating to be working out like crazy and barely lose any weight, but obviously it's more important about what I eat than how much I work out.
All that to say, I'm really excited to see the results after it's over.
I'm hoping to continue with the clean eating lifestyle, but let's be honest, I'll definitely need a cupcake and a glass of wine after Lent is over.

Are you giving up anything for Lent?

Have you tried a clean eating lifestyle before?

I'll keep you updated!

XOXO

Starting the New Year Right

Even though I technically didn't write a list of New Years resolutions, I did decide to detoxify this first week of 2014 and eat healthier as a lifestyle.
I know, I know, it almost sounds like a resolution...
I've been following the Tone It Up 7 day slim down plan.

^^Blackened Alaskan halibut salad with apples, broccoli, and cherry zinfandel balsamic^^

Honestly, I like the general guideline of the plan; Eat 5 clean, small meals every 2-3 hours.
The plan keeps me on track because I have something to follow; However, it definitely is not enough calories for me, or almost anyone in my opinion.
The first day, I started getting really hungry around 4pm so I went home and had meal 4 and meal 5 shortly after.
By this time, my head was pounding, my stomach was rumbling, and I was HANGRY!
If you don't know what hangry is...you've probably never been on a diet.
I added up the calories at the end of the day and it was only 1,150 calories {I even added brown rice to meal 5 to get more calories!}
I'm sorry, but 1,000 calories is simply not enough.
I work out hard at least 4 days a week, including cardio and weight training circuits.
I literally leave the gym soaked because I'm working out so hard.
I can't be eating 1,000 calories and then burning off half of that at the gym.

It makes me sad that a lot of girls think they have to eat a very restrictive caloric diet in order to lose weight.
In my experience, all that does is make me hungry, upset, and I quit the diet in 2 days...or less.
I'm not saying this to offend anyone and I don't claim to be an expert.
I just know what works for me.
You know your body better than anyone else.
If you can eat a very low amount of calories and feel healthy, awesome!
I'm willing to guess that's not the case for most women, though.
What I'm really trying to get at is, yes, I want to be in better shape and look my best, but I want to live a healthy, balanced life and feel positive about myself.
That's what 2014 is all about for me.
Becoming the best version of myself.

Pinterest

That's all we can really do, right?

XOXO

Outfits I Love...

These are some outfits from Pinterest.

Where would I ever wear this to?

No clue, but I love it!

I want to wear this to a Christmas/New Years Party!

Perfection.

Such a cute date outfit.

I love this for the office.

I'm kind of obsessed with Lauren Conrad.

Her hair is gorgeous and I want it!

And her tan.

And that dress.

And...you get it!

My life might be complete if I owned this jacket.

Speaking of amazing sparkly outfits...

Have you seen the show Nashville?!

It's my jam right now!

I'm off to watch more as we speak.

XOXO

Motivation

Does anyone else find it hard to work full time, take graduate level classes, exercise, go to Bible study, cook, and still find time to blog?!

Or is it just me?

Cause I'll be honest, what's really taken a backseat is exercise and making healthy meals.

All the progress I've made over the past year I feel is gone.

It's a really frustrating time.

I've slacked off and gotten lazy.

I used to go the gym at least 4 times a week, plus play beach volleyball a few times a week.

I ate pretty healthy but didn't deprive myself.

Mostly, I'm just disappointed that I let myself gain back most of the weight.

I guess I wrote this because I'm looking for some motivation.

I've been reading a lot of health blogs lately, which helps, but I'm still having a hard time sticking with a regiment that works for me.

Anyways...I'm mostly just procrastinating from a paper right now...I should go get back to that.

Happy Sunday!

XOXO

Hodge-Podge

After not writing for a few weeks, I decided to write about all the randomness that has been going on in my life.

5 am has become my new wake up call time.

My new friend from work, Varity, and I have been going to the Y at 5:30.

The whole of this for me was to get in a second workout of the day.

For the most part, I have been working out two times a day now.

This has really helped in the weight loss department.

Another thing that has really been a huge change is giving up sugar and alcohol for 30 days.

Sometimes I wonder why I do these things to myself and then I remember that I've lost 5 pounds in 1 week and it's all worth it!

I got some sweet new running kicks the other day as a reward...

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12

I'm slightly upset that I didn't know the shoe came in pink online.

But I like the look of the blue shoe with pink laces.

The laces were free, by the way, because I told the guy I really wanted pink shoes and he felt bad so he gave me free pink laces!

What a gem!

Jason, Keoni, and I

The boys crashed our girls night on Friday.

We didn't really mind.

;)

Tomorrow I'm getting my hair done.

And in typical Lindsey fashion, I have no clue what I'm doing.

The above picture makes me want to keep my blonde locks, but it's Fall now and I'm thinking going darker would be nice for a change.

This is what I've come up with...

Decisions decisions...

Moving on.

Color Club Insta-This

I got SO many compliments on this color!

I love that it's bright and fun and something different for Fall.

That's about all the updating I can think of right now.

I promise to get back into this whole blogging thing.

I just needed a little break, but I miss you too much to stay away for long!

Happy Monday!

XOXO

This Just Happened

So, I was meeting my friend, Shawn, at the gym tonight.

Right before she got there she texted me...

Shawn: "I'm on my way.  I just had to finish my donut."

My response?

Lindsey: "Ok no problem.  I brought chocolate chips to eat while I run..."

Some people would be disgusted with us, but I think we're smart!  Eat the junk food before or during our run.  Then at least we burn it off...right?

I bet Marisa Miller eats candy when she runs too!

Marisa Miller in Shape Magazine February 2011

Marisa Miller Shape Magazine February 2011

She's pretty much my idol!

I took a picture of her to my hair dresser and got that color...obsessed much?

She's just so gorgeous and fit!

I love that she's not grossly skinny.

I bet if I was a Victoria's Secret model and got paid a kabajillion dollars I could look like that too...