Work does pay off!

I've learned so much since I started losing weight. I've learned to love myself, motivate myself, encourage other, lead by example, have basic health, and the list goes on and on. I think the best thing I have learned though is that no matter what, I have to keep pushing. I have to never give up no matter what it is that breaks me down, it could be school, family, work, anything. I have to push through the pit falls to get what I want.

Starting this journey I could barely run 1/4 of a mile without dying, now I can run over three miles and still have enough energy to lift weights! Before I wasn't able to do girl push-ups, now I can do a few sets of regular push-up (granted some aren't so pretty but I can still do em!:P). When I first started I had medical conditions, PCOS, I was at  high risk of diabetes, had constant knee and back pain, now PCOS is gone, there is no sign of diabetes in my future and the only reason my knees hurt is because of the weather change!

There are so many more changes that I can't even list because there are too many. I have grown into a stronger person, physically and mentally. My confidence has taken a 180 and I love myself! It feels so amazing to say that.

The struggles have been hard but I have pushed through all the pain to reach a goal. All the physical trials have led me to now, this quarter of school, I guess you could say the straight away of my weight loss.

Soo...

Over the last month and a half my weight had plateaued. I was a gym junkie, health freak that wasn't seeing results on the scale! Boy was that disappointing, but after getting help from my nutritionist and focusing more on my life as a whole I have been starting to see a change in the scale! GOOD CHANGES! I've been lifting weights, taking a cycling class, doing yoga and INSANITY. All that hard work is starting to show! This last week I reached a point in my weight loss journey that truly amazed me, I finally reached the 100 lb weight loss marker. I have lost 100 lbs!

I remember thinking back when I had lost 30 lbs telling myself "man it's going to be awesome when you lose 100 lbs!" Let me tell you, it feels way better than I imagined The way I look at life is completely different. More than just my weight has changed and THAT is what amazes me.

I pushed through my plateau, I pushed through every hard workout, I pushed past the people that didn't believe in me and showed them I still could.

The moment I stepped on the scale and saw 180 lbs was the moment I realized all my hard work was worth it. Every workout that I wanted to give up during and every time I decided to not give in to my temptation of bad food payed off. It feels so good to know that it really does work if you keep going and don't give up!

So with that said, I have 20 more lbs to lose. I wanna lose it by my birthday (Jan 15). Let me tell you, I'm going to work my butt off to see 160 on the scale the day before I leave for Vegas. But, don't get me wrong, if I don't reach my goal by Vegas, I know without a doubt in my mind that when I step on the plane I will be 100% confident with the work I did to reach whatever goal I'll be at. I never leave the gym or kitchen regretting anything, that's why I'm so confident that where ever I am, I know I will have worked hard for it.

I hope you guys are inspired to lead a happy healthy life! That's what matters.

Thank you for following my journey, I have 20 more lbs. I'm gunna keep pushin to reach it! WOOT!

Healthy Holiday Recipe: Light and Luscious Pumpkin Pie

Here's another healthy holiday recipe! Pumpkin pie. When I saw this in my cookbook I freaked out, I LOOOVE pumpkin pie and to see a recipe for one I can eat, well I was all over it. It's from "The ultimate low-calorie book" By Better Homes and Gardens

PREP: 30 minutes BAKE: 40 minutes OVEN: 450 F/ 375 F MAKE 10 servings

Ingredients: 
1 recipe Oil Pastry Sugar (recipe below)
1 15-ounce can pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup evaporated fat-free milk


Directions:

Oil Pastry Sugar: In a medium bowl stir together 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add 1/3 cup vegetable oil and 3 tablespoons fat-free milk at all once to flour mixture. Stir lightly with a for until combined. Shape into a ball. Makes 1 pastry.

Pie:

1) Preheat oven to 450 F. Prepare Oil Pastry. On a well-floured surface, slightly flatten pastry. Roll pastry from center to edges into a 12-in circle. Wrap pastry circle around rolling pin; unroll into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate. Crimp edge as desired. Do not prick pastry. Line pastry with a double thickness of foil. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 5 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 375 F

2) If desired, combine the reserved pastry scraps; flatten to 1/4  in thickness. Using desired cookie cutter, cut out shapes for top of pie. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. If desired, sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 7-10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack; cool.

3) For filling, in a medium bowl combine pumpkin, 1/3 cup sugar, honey, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg. Add egg and vanilla. Beat lightly with a fork just until combined. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.

4) To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of pie with foil. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until filling appears set (edges of filling may crack slightly).

5) Cool on wire rack. if desired, top with baked pastry cutouts. Cover and chill for 2 hrs.

Nutrition facts per serving: 196 cal, 8 g total fat, 28 g carb. 5 g protein.