Eating Clean, Is Not Hard Afterall

It’s officially the end of my second week since I said “enough is enough” and decided that it’s time to eat clean and have a better healthy lifestyle.

While I forgot to take a picture at my starting weight on day 1 of 230lbs. I managed to record it at some point during the first week and will continue to record my progress…for real this time. I will be accountable for my self–no excuses and no hiding.

Week 1 – Started eating clean on June 1, 2015

Week 2: June 8-12

So far in 2 weeks of eating clean, I have lost 6lbs. I have to admit that is damn good–who knew? And I didn’t even feel deprived per-say nor hungry. I don’t want to get over excited, but I can see myself through it to October 1st and beyond as a lifestyle. The greatest thing about this decision, it’s easier to apply it to my daughter because we don’t have to eat different things. We simply eat clean foods and it’s teaching her to make better choices as well.

I also decided to create my own hashtag on my instagram account ( #MsKiriGetFit) and snap pics of what I eat. Just to help me stay accountable. I don’t think I will do it for every meal but definitely to keep me inspired and motivated. I have to do this I don’t want to be in the 200’s ever again nor next summer. I have been doing this to myself for too long and I can not say hello to another summer with trying to cover up because I did not or failed to do something about it.

 

Mind Over Matter–I Must do this.

https://instagram.com/p/3YrT7lr1_-/?taken-by=mskirian
(My first meal in my journey to a healthier me)

Since my last half marathon last year in October, I have put on even more weight… A LOT of weight. I believe I was 218 lbs. then and now a whopping 230 lbs. as of yesterday–when stepping on the scale.

While having the need to train for longer distance, my body became hungrier and I simply lost control. After letting my body recover from the half marathon, I simply stopped cold turkey and I guess I gave up too along the way. I know it’s because while training for the 13.1 run I just knew I would lose weight, but it never occurred to me to strictly watch my calories and “EAT CLEAN”.

Instead of eating clean meals or snacks after training to carb up for a bit of energy. My boyfriend (who also trained with me to run 13.1 last year) and I would head out to pick up a pizza–I know right. We have totally lost it since then, but more so I think I have lost myself in food. I love food, I enjoy food, but I also desire to be a healthy fit person. But it’s so hard! I feel pathetic everyday, when I read or follow fitness and clean eating accounts on social media to motivate me, and still eat what I want and not what I should. I’m a hypocrite!

So about 2 weeks ago, I thought to myself I can not bring myself to turn another year older and still look the same or in this case even “bigger”. I for one, love seeing my physician–but refuse to make appointment till I weight 218 or less. Most importantly, I want to live long for my daughter and loved ones. I rather die for being old then to a health issue that could have been prevented. And the fact that turning 35 is around the corner, I just have to make it happen–I’m not getting any younger. So as of June 1st, I have started again to focus on being healthier for weight-loss. I have set my first goal for October 1st to show myself, that I can do it and bring a happier and healthier me. I don’t know what kind of transformation I can do in 4 months, because I lack motivation. But I am willing not to quit anymore and make better choices of what I eat.

I love myself, but most of all I love my family…”Mind Over Matter”…I must do this.

Growing up to Moms Music

I can remember vividly the music I grew up with. It happened every weekend, starting early on Saturday mornings.

I don’t know about everyones weekend rituals, but in my moms household it was turning her stereo first thing Saturday morning. Granted as a kid after a long week of school all you want to do is sleep in–but not in moms house. It meant lets start making the bed and go through my music tapes while I rearrange my jewelry box. As soon as I would hear her music in the mornings, I knew it was a matter of time before she came knocking on my door to get started on cleaning my room and chores. As annoying as it was to hear those songs in the morning, she exposed me to various artists she loved which I in turn learned to appreciate all types of music from latin music to jazz, country and all other genres.

Below are the top 5 I remember from artists my mom loved to play and my top 5 I liked for myself growing up.

MOMs TOP 5:

1. Vicente Fernandez – Las Mananitas

2. Anne Murray- Could I Have This Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE3z-6XO2Ds

3. Vikki Carr – Ni Princesa, Ni Esclava

4. Nat King Cole – Quizas Quizas

5. ABBA – Mamma Mia

 

My TOP 5:

1. Stevie Wonder- I just called to say I love you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwOU3bnuU0k

2. Magneto – Vuela Vuela

3. Gloria Estefan – Rhythm is gonna get you

4.  Madonna – Like a Virgin

5. Paula Abdul – Rush Rush

 

 

Prompt from the Daily Post at WordPress.com.

Moms Home Packed Lunch

Before my daughter started 3rd grade this school year. She and I were fed up with school lunches.  As I looked at monthly menu calendars sent home or asked about how her lunch was that particular day, they were always loaded with high carbohydrates, sugar, starch, and barely any protein.

So, this school year I have been making all her lunches. Now it is easier said then done, because you sometimes have to get more creative then you think. Or maybe because as a mom you simply want to give your kid a “Kick A**” lunch, that they give you props and acknowledgment at the end of the day.

Challenging part of making lunches for school could be because they are technically cold lunches that don’t need reheating. However, it has been 7 months now and I think it’s down packed to the lunches she enjoys the most.

• Ham, Turkey, Salami Sandwich, Mini Carrots w/Ranch Dressing, and Pomegranate.
• Tuna Salad, Clementine, Pineapple slices, and 4 Girl Scout Mint Thins
• Turkey Wrap, Pineapple, Carrots,

But some how she ALWAYS requests her favorite default to the Traditional Peanut Butter/Jelly Sandwich majority of the week. Well, I can only do my best.

Here is a photo of the only one time I took a picture of her lunch. I was pretty satisfied with what I had packed for her.

TV Series and Music

I am a AMC “Walking Dead”  fan, I look forward to 9:00pm Sundays like no tomorrow. I have never been into TV shows like this, other then back when I was a kid and was hooked on “Full House”.

The last episode 12 of Walking Dead with Daryl and Beth the song you heard along with the burning down of the moonshine house caught my attention. So much that I looked it up, it’s by The Mountain Goats “Up The Wolves”. As I started searching for the song I thought about all the other great songs on various episodes. Then I remembered that I also watch “SuperNatural” on Netflix and how that show has some really awesome classic rock songs.  I find it very pleasing that these two shows expose me to artists and songs I may other wise never heard off. And as a graphic designer who sits at her desk all day with her earbuds in, I can’t help but to tap my foot along, and have coworkers ask “Wow, what are you listening to? You groovin over there”.

So I have listed the TOP 5 I like from both of the TV shows I have been following faithfully and hope you like them too.  Any songs you like from any particular shows you watch? Do share 🙂

The Walking Dead

1. The Mountain Goats – “Up The Wolves”
2. Jamie N. Commons – “Lead Me Home”
3. Feist X Timber Timbre – “Homage”
4. Karl Kimmel – “Black”
5. Ben Nichols – “The Last Pale Light in The West”

SuperNatural

1. Kansas – “Carry On My Wayward Son”
2. The Animals – “House of The Rising Sun”
3. Ozzy Osbourne – “Road to Nowhere”
4. Bon Jovi – “Wanted Dead or Alive”
5. Styx – “Renegade”

Mother-nature’s mood Swings

Yesterday, when I arrived in Baltimore MD it started to snow. It started to look really bad, you could say it was almost total white out and no visibility. BUT, mother nature made you look, lol. I took some shots on my walk and well it’s pretty black and white. Who would even think it had snowed earlier that morning. I simply just had to share.

(Left) Main road in Baltimore MD taken at 10am (Right) Taken at 5pm same day.

 

(Left) Taken in a Baltimore neighborhood at 10am (Right) Take same day at 5pm

Not A Olympic 3m Springboard Diver, But Strong Like Mom

That’s my moms ID card from the National Olympic Committee of Guatemala for the Pan American Games of Central America and the Caribbean.

May she rest in peace and that she is enjoying the glorious heavens of eternal youth and happiness. Sadly she passed away too soon at the age of 78 in 2011, and though I did not know how to take the news of my mother passing–eventually it did hit me but very late. Death of a loved one and experiencing it for the first time, is so unreal…

Being that I was her youngest/only child of her 2nd marriage. She was very protective of me and loved to keep me under her wings. She always had a reason for me not to leave home. Maybe it’s our Latin culture, that your kids leave when they are ready or yet when they marry. She use to say, “Why go pay rent, when you have it all right here with me”.  You got admit nothing beats free rent, lol.

Anyway, since her passing I have truly found myself as an adult, a woman, and a mom. She was always my backup for everything. However, once she passed I worried if I was really ready for this type of world without her as my bodyguard….and YES, she prepared me very well (Thanks Mom). I am just as strong minded as she is, a go-getter, and accomplish everything I set my mind to. Though I’m not quite a high diver athlete like her (I’m scared of heights), I did wish she would have seen me cross the finish line of my first half marathon in 2012. I wish she could have seen me these 2 past years as the PTA prez of my daughters school and  how I revamped and motivated parents to bring back family engagement events that had been absent for years–she would have truly been my biggest cheerleader. I find myself everyday to be more like her, a woman who not only wants to put her skills and talents to work for the better of her community and organizations but to continue developing them by being an active role model in the community, but most importantly for my 8 year old daughter, who will also grow up to be a strong Latina just like her mom, Mamita (grandma), and of her generation.

I am a sadden Corcoran Alumna

My girls and I on graduation day in the atrium of the 19th century Corcoran Gallery of art building.

As a graduate of class 2006, it saddens my heart to hear the public announcement that the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and it’s art institute will be taken over by the National Gallery of Art and George Washington University.

I remember as an undergraduate hearing how the school/gallery was experiencing financial troubles, and how among students we were puzzled–as to how that could be? Given that tuition was already at about $27k per school year and that we were truly the “starving artists”. I can even recall a Fine Arts student in a hallway stressing how he was going to pay for next semester and how he may not be able to come back. Honestly looking back and now 8 years later it’s obvious that this was inevitable.

I am a proud Corcoran Alumnae and even though the National Gallery of Art and George Washington University are fine institutes to take over. I still feel that somehow our “Corcoran Legacy” has or is now broken. I hope that this change unfolds positively and that it really turns out as the best solution for our beloved Corcoran Gallery and Art Institute.

Article from Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/gwu-plans-for-corcoran-college-merger/2014/02/21/9b9e0054-9b00-11e3-975d-107dfef7b668_story.html

My Class of 2006: Graphic Design

I must find my niche

I really don’t have any excuses to my inconsistent blogging. First I think life is hectic, but isn’t everyone who is a consistent blogger?

All the blogs I have read have catchy and awesome themes, being a mom, a traveler, a sports talker, personal recipes and etc. I guess I want to find that niche where I  can be unique in my own way. So lets try this again.