yogging

Readers of this fine blog often ask me how tall I am, and sometimes I'll answer in the comments or with a personal email. That's pretty silly of me, I realized, because I'm not sure how many people actually go back and read the comments section of a post after they comment. (I know I don't on other blogs.) Also, an email only gives the answer to that particular reader.

So here it is, folks. My height ...

www.nataliedee.com

5 feet 5 1/2 inches!

Exciting, I know. And not freakishly tall ... but I had you goin' for a second, right?

I calculated my BMI today and then crunched the numbers for what it was before I lost weight. (Thanks for the idea, Mama Laughlin!) Using my height and today's weight of 145, I am happily rockin' a 23.76 BMI, putting me in the Normal Weight category. Hollaaaaa! I'm healthy :) ME! Feels darn good.

Just think, I had a 35.92 BMI when I decided to improve my lifestyle. I was in the Obese Class 2 category. My risk of weight-related health problems and even death was SEVERE. Yikes yikes yikes. Scary. Not a good place to be. So happy I'll never be there again!

I don't think BMI ranges should be your only basis for healthiness, but I do find them to be a helpful guide. What do you think?

I'm thinking about going for a run after work. I kind of want to, but I kind of want to just take it easy before going to Alia's for dinner and Vampire Diaries. (That's right. I admit it. I watch that show.) HOWEVER, now that I think about it, I really NEED to go for a run because I have a 5K coming up in only a little more than three weeks!

I randomly jogged 3.1ish miles a couple of weeks ago, but when I went for a jog a week ago I I started walking after only a mile. I think it was just due to boredom, though, because it's not like my legs or lungs hurt. I'm gonna push myself today after work. Decided. No getting bored and walking.

Here's my run/walk schedule for the next few months:

• April 17: Challenge Obesity 5K run (Charities Challenge)
• May 1: Five-mile Walk for Animals (Animal Humane Society)
  Check out my page within team Applause for Paws! (shameless plug) http://tinyurl.com/yc3ke9w
• June 26: Time to Fly 5K run (Children's Cancer Research Fund)
  

Geesh, I've got my work cut out for me! But it's all worth it because they are fab causes :) Yay for helping people and animals!

Goals

1. My goal for the April 5K is to finish without walking. Keepin' it simple.
2. The five-mile walk in May will be a piece of cake compared to the 5Ks, so my goal isn't fitness-related. My goal is to raise at least $500 for my favorite cause, the Animal Humane Society.
3. My goal for the June 5K is to increase my speed. I'm not going to set an exact how-much-faster speed, but faster than my 33:47 from my first 5K last year.
   

www.nataliedee.com

Here's another reason why I should run after work: I have three, count 'em, THREE birthday's to celebrate this weekend. Party in the MSP!

Tomorrow evening I'll be celebrating the lovely Jennifer's birthday, which was actually yesterday. We're going downtown ... so drinks will be consumed and much fun will be had by all. Saturday afternoon I'm going to Dave & Buster's for Michelle's golden bday. I've never been there before, but I'm thinking I'll just be extra intense while playing the games and I'll burn some extra cals. (Kidding ... kind of.) And I'm not sure what we're doing Saturday evening for Leah's birthday, but it'll prob involve food and/or drinkies. Thanks for being born, my friends! Love y'all.

I've already made plans to attend Rollerdome on Sunday because I love rollerskating ... and I'll need to work off Friday and Saturday's funtimes :) And then I have dinner Sunday evening with the gals before the Michael Bublé concert. THE FUN NEVER ENDS!!!

Also, Twin Cities peeps, don't forget about the Open House with free stuff and drawings this Saturday. I'll be there for a little bit! Read more about it HERE in case you missed the deets.

And now it's time for me to peace out.

Open House in the Twin Cities!

So you know how I'm pretty into kickboxing? I've boasted about it here and here and here and here, so I don't see how you couldn't :)

I'm whipping up this post before tonight's class, and I'm excited to go. I had kinda a drab Monday and could really use it. You see, if I'm tired or in a bad mood before class, I still go and then VOILA! I'm energized and happy.

Some might say the same thing about working out in general, but that's not always true for me. I can enter the gym for a treadmill-and-weights workout and exit with the same crappy mood. Kickboxing's different. It doesn't feel like a workout! Well, my muscles would beg to differ, but what I mean is that it's so fun you don't dread it.

Do you have a particular workout about which you feel the same way? Hollaback and maybe I'll give that a shot, too. Any exercise that puts me in a good mood and doesn't feel like work is A-OK in my book.

ATTN: TWIN CITIANS

There's going to be an open house from 12-4 PM this Saturday, March 27, at my kung-fu studio (151 Silver Lake Road, New Brighton)!

But wait! There's more! This open house isn't just for American Kung-fu Studio, but it's also for Style 151, Tan I Am, and Mind, Body, Sole. Man oh man, this open house combines some of my favorite things: kickboxing, massages, getting my hair done, tanning, and freebies! Sounds like a great time. You really should go! (I'm talking to you, Mpls/St Paulies and Liz who lives in New Brighton.)

Here's the schedule for the day:

12-1:00 PM
chair massage; chiropractic exam; paraffin hand wax/foot bath detox; qigong healing

1-1:30 PM
kung Fu & self-defense demos

1:30-2:30 PM
chair massage; chiropractic exam; paraffin hand wax/foot bath detox; qigong healing

2:30-3:00 PM
kung Fu & self-defense demos

3:00-4:00 PM
chair massage; chiropractic exam; paraffin hand wax/foot bath detox; qigong healing

Along with free product samples and snacks, you can enter to win:

• 1 month free kickboxing or youth kung fu
• free hair product/$25 gift certificate at Style 151
• free month unlimited tans/free ultra bronz
• free bottle of tan lotion

I'm going to try my best to make it there in the early afternoon before hitting up Dave and Buster's for Michelle's birthday. I can't resist free stuff! I know the idea is to get new people into these businesses, but I REALLY want to win the free month of kickboxing :)

So, who's going? Mark it on your calendar now and do it. Kthxbye.

don't stop 'til you get enough

Hey hey hey! I've had a great week since my last post; how about you?? I've worked out 4 of the past 7 days. Go me!!!! Considering I'm usually a three-times-a-week girl, I'm pretty pumped about this.

I'm still doing the kickboxing thang Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and I'm lovin' every minute of it. Last night was big night in class. I GOT MY GLOVES!

In January I started off with bare hands, then after a week or two I stepped it up to some hand weights kinda like these.
And last night my instructor gave me my new weighted gloves! Woot woot!

I felt like a real part of the class once I switched from socks to my sweet black PUMAs, but now I'm REALLY real. I was punching harder than before, but let me tell you, they are A LOT hotter than the other weights. It was hotter than usual in the studio last night anyway (think sauna), and I was a sweatmonster. Sexy, I know, and soooo worth it. I'm seeing some arm muscles, my legs look better, I look thinner, and I FEEL stronger. It's amazing.

Onto my next whimsical adventure: Roller skating.

That's right, roller SKATING. No blades for this girl. I just don't like 'em. My parents bought me some inline skates in fourth grade, and I skated around the driveway that summer, but I just never really liked doing it.

Then last year Michelle invited me to Rollerdome at the Metrodome. We thought we'd have a choice to rent roller skates or blades, but that was false. It's sponsored by Rollerblade, after all, so blades are it.

Last March at Rollerdome (~173 lbs, btw)

I fell three times in about 1.5 hours. (Not bad for not doing it for 15 years, right? Haha just agree with me.) It was fun, but I was reminded that inline skates aren't for me.

So this year I bought a couple of Groupons for discounted Rollerdome. I knew I didn't really want to rent Rollerblades again, so I hit the interwebs and tried to find out who sells roller skates. Dick's Sporting Goods had a bunch online and, surprisingly, so did Target. I popped into the stores only to find that they don't stock them in store. And why would they?? Seriously, who roller skates?

Well, I do :) I went to Roller Garden, an indoor rink in St. Louis Park, and made my big purchase.

Take a look at these beauties!

I took them out for their inaugural run on Saturday at Rollerdome. Didn't fall once! I'm not fast or anything, but I REALLY enjoyed it. Michelle and I skated about 7 miles, and we're gonna do it again Sunday. Come on out if you live in the Cities!

Last Saturday at Rollerdome. (30 lbs less than last year!)

Now I just need my own helmet and wrist guards so I can venture outside on my own. Man, I'm gonna be the coolest kid in St. Paul this summer! Oh, roller skating, my new love :)

And now for something that totally surprised me.

It was GORGEOUS outside on Sunday, yet I had inside plans with friends. I got home around 7pm, threw on some workout clothes, and headed outside ... for a run! I figured out that I hadn't run outside in 4 or 5 months, let alone run at all. It had probably been 2 or 3 months since I'd hit the treadmill.

The conditions were perfect: The temp had cooled to the 50s, the sun was setting, there was a slight breeze, I was in a pretty great mood, my iPod was reading my mind. I didn't even walk first like I used to. I just started running. And then I couldn't stop!

I used mapmyrun.com when I got home and I had run 3.12 miles. HOLY CRAP, I'VE STILL GOT IT! That's a 5K, my friends. Thank you, kickboxing, for making me strong enough to handle an impromptu run! I'm thinking about hitting up my old Como Lake run this evening for funsies. (I hope stalkers don't read this.)

My regular workouts have finally kicked in, by the way. I started my kickboxing routine at the beginning of January and weighed 149-150. This morning I saw the lowest number I've seen in 10 years. 142.4 lbs. Wowza. (That means I'm down 76.8 lbs. Can't believe it.) I am hoping to be 139 by April 7 when I go to Mexico. Wasn't sure I would really do it, but now I know I will!!!!

What a great day :) Be love.

show me your teeth

hello hello, lovas! i seriously don't know how other bloggers post once a day (or more!). i find it difficult to post once a week, for cryin' out loud. i'm a busy gal ... and i simply don't have interesting stuff to ramble about all the time — believe it or not. to those of you who stick with me even though i post so sporadically, i salute you! (apparently i have 545 followers on google reader. whaaa? seriously?? neat :) speak up so we can be friends!)

www.nataliedee.com

so i had a dentist appt one month ago today. it was my first checkup/exam/cleaning thing in three years. yeah, i know. i don't like that i waited that long either, but i didn't have dental insurance until recently. excuses excuses.

anyway, i was worried. growing up, i had always been cavity-prone and the hygienist would always tell me about how my gums were no good. i brushed a lot, but i'd still get a cavity a year (or at least it seemed like that).

my senior year of high school was the low point. i was drinking maybe three 20-oz bottles of regular pepsi a day for about half the year. i was brushing my teeth a couple of times a day, but when dental exam time came around — seven cavities. that's what liquid satan will do to your teeth! not to mention the problems with caffeine i still have to this day and the stupid amount of empty calories i was ingesting.

i rarely drink the stuff anymore. i generally keep it to a possible mixed drink on the weekend, a special treat with lunch once or twice a month, or fountain cherry pepsi at the movies (which is also a rare occasion and fountain cherry pepsi is sooooo gooooooood). even then i opt for diet, although i know the drawbacks to fake sugar, too. long story short (too late): water is my homeboy!

but back to my most recent checkup. the dentist and hygienist could not believe i hadn't been to the dentist in three years — in a good way! my gums are fabulous. my teeth are sparkly white. i didn't have any cavities!!!! and apparently my teeth have very long roots, which the dentist and hygenist repeatedly complimented (thanks ... i grew them myself). the only probs i have are that some of my old fillings need to be repaired due to usual wear and tear and a newfound clenching problem i seem to have inherited. (thanks, mom.)

i still brush my teeth a couple of times a day. i've used a manual toothbrush all my life, but will be switching to an electric one soon. i admit that i don't floss every day, but i do it often. i only use a fluoride mouthwash when i happen to think of it (sooo it's pretty rare).

why are my teeth and gums suddenly superb??
what's changed???

my diet. that's right. my diet improved the quality of my teeth and gums.

the fact that i rarely drink sugary carbonated beverages anymore is a HUGE part of it! i've heard that your teeth are under attack for at least 30 minutes after sipping the stuff. not 30 minutes from your last sip, but from the time you begin drinking until 30 minutes after you finish the can/bottle/glass/whatever. if you like to draw out the time it takes you to drink each serving, that's a long time of tooth attack!!! moral: just don't drink the stuff, but if you choose to, get your fix and move on.

i also REALLY think that my gums improved because i eat more nutritiously now. since i decided to take control of my health 22 months ago, i eat more nutritiously and try to keep the junkier foods to a minimum. i began to focus even more on the nutritional aspects of food when i stopped eating meat 13.5 months ago. i eat so many more vegetables, fruit and whole foods now that my entire body has become more efficient and healthier — even my gums!

alright. enough about oral hygiene. just smile and share your love today, ok?!

ps did anyone notice i never used the words "pop" or "soda" until now? i personally use both words interchangeably, but i know some people (ahem, you know who you are) feel strongly about one or the other.

Always I Feel Like a Nut

My computer is back in action! (Thanks a billion trillion to Matt.) But more importantly, today is National Peanut Butter Lovers’ Day!!! So, in essence, it’s National ME Day (as if every day wasn’t already).

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/

In case you didn’t already know, my favorite food is peanut butter toast. Love it love it love it. Wanna marry it. Fo’ realz. Had peanut butter and banana toast twice last week for dinner, as a matter of fact. (I’m single; I do what I want.)

Aside from PB on toast, I really don’t use it for anything else. Of course there’s always PBJ sandies, but I prefer the crunch of toast to untoasted bread. Sometimes I’ll throw some strawberry jelly on my pb toast if I’m feelin’ crazy. I know a lot of people put PB in their oatmeal, but I’ve yet to go there. Oh! I LOVED peanut butter on English muffins when I was little, but again that’s a lot like pb toast … considering I toasted the muffins. I don’t much care for celery, but I could stand it with some pb slathered in the crevasse. No ants on a log for me, though, because I’m not a huge raisin fan unless they’re in cookies … but that’s another show.

Any peanut butter foods you think I NEED to try? Throw ’em at me.

I’ve tried many peanut butters in my day, but my fav is good ol’ creamy (not a crunchy girl) Jif. My mom was a choosy one, so I always find my way back to this tried and true friend. I purchased Natural Jif once because it was on sale, and here’s my review: meh. I could take it or leave it. I mean, I finished the jar, and the lower sugar content was nice, I suppose, but it wasn’t the taste that I long for.

Sometimes I think you just need to go for the real deal if you really like a food, otherwise you’ll compensate for the missing flavor by doing something bad. For instance, I think I used to put on MORE of the natural pb because I wanted MORE flavor. I should have just used the regular serving size of the sweeter stuff for, as it turns out, less calories. Lesson learned.

I found out it was National Peanut Butter Lovers’ Day right before I left for work. I was already running a tad late, so there was no time for making pb toast at home or scooping a serving size of pb into a little dish to bring to work. How handy was it that I got a single-serving, 90-cal packet of Barney Butter at the PriorFatGirl and Future PriorFatGirl Get-together this past Saturday!??! Barney Butter is almond butter, not peanut, but close enough, and I’ve always wanted to try it. I grabbed the packet and two pieces of 40-cal Village Hearth 12-grain bread and rushed out the door.

I utilized the toaster in my little work pantry for the first time then spread some Barney Butter goodness onto the slices. Verdict: Yum and simple!

I just saw that you can order 24 of these single-serving packets for less than $10 on Amazon. Not too shabby. Especially because it’s sooooo easy to go overboard on nut butters straight from the jar. (FYI Barney Butter also comes in jars, but I couldn't find it around Minnesota. At Woodman's in Wisconsin, though!) Almond butter is a nice alternative to peanut butter (attn: peanut-allergy friends), so if you haven’t tried it, go for it! Ah food is so fun :)

You might think you know how peanut butter is made, but I just found out the real way.

www.nataliedee.com

Baaahahahahaaa. A Natalie Dee comic strikes again. Surprise!

Enjoy the rest of the holiday. Celebrate all week like I probably will. Love!

my motherboard, my self

sorry i haven't posted in a week. i went back to wisco for morgan's birthday this weekend and have since discovered that my computer has a virus. a yucky one. one that's made my 'puter unusable. my mind instantly flashed to that episode of sex and the city where carrie's computer crashes and everyone keeps asking her when the last time she backed up her work was.

her answer was "um ... i don't do that." mine's the same.

however, unlike her fatal computer situ, mine will turn out fine. eventually. a friend is actually working on it right now. slowly but surely my pretty (PRODUCT) RED­™ laptop will be fixed. fingers crossed.

speaking of computers, apparently feb 12 was national clean out your computer day. i missed the memo. i could have gotten rid of the junk in my laptop trunk. i will definitely be doing that once i get my 'puter back.

and you know what i'll be doing with all my important files?? back back back it up. i encourage you to do the same.

prob won't do another post until i get my baby back :( until then, live well and be love.

ok ok, one more thing. tonight i'm going with a friend to her very first ww meeting! yaaaaay! you only get one body and you'd better take care of it. simple as that, right? right ;) i'm excited for my friend to be motivated enough to lose a few lbs and keep them off ... and maybe it'll kick me into high gear to lose my last 10 lbs before mexxx.

Phat Tuesday

I initially typed the title “Fat Tuesday” but abruptly halted and (in my head) waved my diva finger and said, “Nuh uh! I don’t think so!”

I’m not a fatty today. I feel great. I thoroughly enjoyed my pizza on Sunday. Yep, I ate it, but not even close to the whole thing. I’m in control! (Also, I’m totally out of my funk. It was only a one-day stint. Phew.) I rocked kickboxing last night, and I woke up feeling fit and healthy.

Do you ever have those days? I’m SO happy to finally be in a place where I wake up feeling fit and healthy most days. I encounter a couple of blah days a month, but, come on, I’m a woman. We have blah/fat/lovehandly/lessthanperfect days — be them in our head or not.

Anyway, today is not Fat Tuesday. It’s PHAT Tuesday!

Pretty Hot And Tempting indeed! Let’s work it, ladies and gents! Flaunt that sexay swagger. Smile just because you’re wonderful — and it’ll make people wonder what’s goin’ on in that pretty head of yours. Actually believe that compliment someone gives you instead of brushing it off. You’re here another day; embrace it! You are amazing. You are PHAT :)

Seriously, I cannot believe I just wrote a post centered around that word. If I don’t amuse you, at least I amuse myself!

Things I thought were neat today:

This article, including recipes, about one of my favorite fruits — the avocado! It’s not just about guacamole anymore … although guac makes me superduper happy. Clicky HERE to read.

This article about Kevin Smith (probably most well-known as playing Silent Bob) getting kicked off an airplane Saturday because they deemed him “too fat to fly.” There’s lots o’ drama surrounding this topic, and I very much enjoy Kevin Smith, soooo clicky HERE to read.

This article about Minnesota potholes. There are haikus. Seriously. Clicky HERE to read.

Peace, love and phat Tuesday to y’all!

happy pizza day to me

I weighed myself this morning, and, to my surprise, I weigh 145.6!!! That's the lightest I've seen in a month or so.

So why do I have the urge to order a pizza and breadsticks all for myself?

It could be the fact that I drank a beer (or four) last night and I'm craving greasy wonderfulness. Or that I'm just lying around bored today (but should be cleaning). Or that it's Valentine's Day and I'm feeling sad for my single self.

I'm a strong, confident woman who doesn't need a man in order to be happy.

But it doesn't hurt.

I'm not usually one to have pity parties about my lack of a boyfriend. I know that I'm young and I have plenty of time. It'll just happen when it happens. No big deal.

But I've fallen victim to the stupid Valentine's Day crapola. I've told myself it doesn't matter. I know I'll be over it as soon as I click "Publish Post."

It would just be really nice to hug a boy today. There's one boy in particular who I'd like to hug, but that's not gonna happen. He's probably bad for me anyway (but that's another issue entirely).

But back to the pizza. Evidently I still have the urge to feed my emotions with food. I never said my eating habits are perfect! I don't think eating like this every once in a while will hurt, just as long as it doesn't turn into a habit.

And it won't. I've worked too hard. I've come so far.

I guess it just illustrates the importance of letting yourself indulge every once in awhile. That's what makes this a realistic lifestyle. And it's not like I'll eat the entire pizza.

Or will I ..... muahahahahaaaaaa

Winner Winner Clementine Dinner!

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/

I lived in Wisconsin for 18 years and Minnesota for more than 7, so WHY on EARTH am I surprised at how cold it is every winter? I mean, I KNOW it’s cold outside, and I SEE the frigid temps on the bank signs as I’m driving, but I’m only fully aware of the temperature during the couple-minute walk into work. I actually talk to myself for the last 30 seconds or so of the walk to keep my mind off it. That must be a sight.

You know what’ll help me get through the winter? THAT FACT THAT I’M GOING TO MEXICO IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS! Jealous.

According to my calendar, one of the 10 things to be happy about today is “your desktop background.” How astute of my little page-a-day friend! My desktop is a picture of my Mexican vacay spot!


It’s where I went in April 2008 and where I’ll be exactly two years later — and (hopefully) 75-80 pounds lighter. Puerto Vallarta won’t even know what hit it!


And now, without further ado, the winners of the California Cuties!!!

Lea
Mary @ The Future Welterweight Champion of the World
ptg @ Destination: Athlete
Quix @ adjustedreality.com
sunflowerramos

Winners, please email me your address by Saturday afternoon so your coupons can be sent to you in a jiff!

Thanks for playing! Have a superduper day, loves!

why don't you put it on the blog?

January was a lucky month for me. I won THREE blog giveaways! (Sorry for hogging. I stopped entering once I got on a roll.) I should do another one of my own soon to pay it forward. By the way, have you entered my Cuties giveaway yet? It ends tomorrow (Tuesday) at 5 pm; get a move on!


My first prize was the book How It All Vegan! by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer. I used to read Becki’s old blog, but when she decided to transition into veganism, she started a fresh new blog — new VEGANnings. When Becki sent me the book, she also sent me some vegan bath soaps as a congrats for hitting my WW goal. What a sweetie! Although I haven’t tried any of the recipes from the book yet, I’m totally pumped to do so. I’ve just been too busy lately for new kitchen adventures. Soon soon.

My second prize was a HUGE box of Salba Smart products that I won from Christy at Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. Haven’t heard of Salba Smart products before? I hadn’t either! But I am SO glad that I did. The stats on Salba seeds are astounding.

(Kinda blurry, but I think you get it.)

So far I’ve tried both the organic yellow and blue corn tortilla chips and the medium salsa. EVERYTHING ROCKS! Just as I love chips with flax seeds, I love these products with Salba seeds. There’s just more depth of flavor. Nutty. That’s the word I was looking for. So good. If these products are sold in stores near you, BUY THEM. You won’t regret it.

The third prize I won last month was a SuperSampler Pack of Vitalicious wonderfulness — 20 VitaTops and 4 VitaBrownies. Jealous?!?!? I know I’m jealous of myself for winning them. Thank you, Heather from Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans, for hosting such a fab contest! I LOVE VitaTops. Banana Nut is my favorite flavor, but I also really like CranBran. Oh, who am I kidding? I love all the breakfast flavors! The chocolate ones are good (especially warmed up), but I’m definitely partial to the breakfasty ones. I just found out tonight that Banana Nut is sold at my Super Target. HOODIE HOO!

I can’t forget something else huge. I adopted my Norman one year ago! Not only did he become Edwyn’s BFF, but he made me an official cat lady. Seriously, I had two cats at 24 years old. I’m not ashamed of it anymore because I make crazy cat ladyness look gooooood :)

Here’s my little loverpie:

Speaking of cats, I got the CUTEST email the other day from The Black Kitteh. If you don’t follow Tail of Two Kittehs, you should. These Kittehs’ posts make me smile every day. But anyway — the email. (I hope she doesn’t mind that I’m sharing this with y’all, but it made my day!!!)

Thanks so much! Love love love the kittehs.

Before I go, here are some clicktastic links you MUST check out:

• My Cuties giveaway ends soon! (5pm Tuesday) Click HERE to enter.
• The spots for the PriorFatGirl and Future PriorFatGirl Get-together are almost filled, but not quite! If you wanna join the fun, check the deets HERE.
• I was featured last week on ThatsFit.com!!! Click HERE and enjoy :)
  
  I’ll announce the five Cuties winners on Wednesday. Until then, be love.
  
  PS This post’s title comes from Imma Be by the Black Eyed Peas. It’s my jam this week.
  

Orange you gonna enter my giveaway?

BURR BURR BURRRRRRRRR!!! No, that’s not what I scream every time the cold winter air surprises me. It’s the trumpets resounding!

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT TIME.
Three of them, to be exact.

UNO. After six weeks on Maintenance, I am officially a WW Lifetime Member! No more paying monthly fees for this lady! Nuh uh. Never again. Of course not having to pay anymore is a big deal, but there are many more things about this accomplishment that I should be celebrating.

1. I lost 70 pounds and they’re stayin’ off!
2. I knew what I wanted, stuck with it, and met a huge goal. It wasn’t easy sustaining motivation for more than 18 months, but since it had to do with my health and my LIFE, I made ME a priority. I’m happy to be a priority for the rest of my long, healthy life :)
3. I’ve acquired habits that are now part of my lifestyle, not just quick fixes for the time being. For instance, more often than not, I choose lower-cal, nutrient-rich options at restaurants and the grocery store because they just sound tastier, and I actually want to be active several times per week.
4. I feel fantastic. I can just feel my body working more efficiently. My mind is clearer. When I come upon a flight of stairs, I run up them because I can. I can’t help myself!
5. When I look in the mirror, I’m happy with what I see. Can’t ask for more than that, kids.

DOS. Since I’m not paying for WW anymore (maybe I already mentioned that …), I decided to use that money for something else rad and self-improving. I’m continuing with kickboxing class! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Can’t stop thinking about it, actually. I hope my friends don’t get sick of hearing about it because I tend to bring it up a lot.

This hasn’t happened yet, but it’s only a matter of time:

Friend: Hey, Amanda! Haven’t seen you in a while. Let’s meet up and grab a drink or something.
Me: Yeah yeah, sounds good. Speaking of kickboxing … my class rocks!

For you Twin Citians (Mpls/St Paulies? Twin Citiites?) looking to throw a new activity in your mix, you should swing by American Kung-Fu Studio in New Brighton or clicky around on its website … and then decide that it’s awesome and you want to hang chill kick it (literally) with me and my peeps.

This weekend, I think I’m gonna purchase some new shoes (should I have said kicks? too much) strictly dedicated for class.

Thinkin’ about scooping something like these:PUMA Etoile Cat

Or these:

PUMA Etoile

I think I'm more likely to find the first ones (or something similar) in a store, which is what I'd prefer. But I am reeeeaaaalllly diggin' the second ones. A lot. I'd probably need to order those online, though, and I don't know about that. But what do I know anyway?

TRES. GIVEAWAY TIME! I’d like to celebrate my WW Lifetime Membershipness and awesome feelings about life by offering you some Cuties! That’s right, those insanely awesome clementines I boasted about a few weeks ago. After I wrote that post, Cuties contacted me and suggested I offer you — my stellar readers — a great deal. As of today, there are nearly 86 days left of Cuties California mandarin season, so let’s get to it!

Already love Cuties? Been dying to try them but haven’t yet? Wanna score a 3-lb bag of Cuties FO’ FREE?? Of course you do! I’m choosing FIVE lucky winners, so enter your little heart out.


Orange you gonna enter my giveaway?*
Earn one entry per item. (Please leave a separate comment for each.)

1. Visit the Cuties site, learn some fun facts, and come back to tell me why you want your very own bag o’ Cuties.
2. Link to this contest on your blog and/or Facebook. And tell all your friends.
3. Add me to your blogroll!
4. Follow me on Google Reader. If you don’t have that, just promise you’ll add me to your Favorites or Bookmarks list :)

*Cuties are only sold in the United States, the majority of them being available west of the Mississippi River; please only enter if you can find them in stores near you. I will accept entries until 5:00pm on Tuesday, February 9, and I will announce five winners on Wednesday, February 10. Each winner will have 72 hours to email me his or her mailing address.

Wahoo! Great day. Love, Amandarin

Fresh Princess

Update on the GS cookie situ: I purchased four boxes that will be donated to the troops overseas. I was a Brownie back in the dizzle, so I wanted to support the program. I’m sure the troops will appreciate a little taste of home, too :)

No. That’s not my freezer. Thankfully.

When I began Weight Watchers, I relied pretty heavily on prepackaged foods. I usually made a packet of instant oatmeal for breakfast. I ate a frozen meal for lunch every day. I would often microwave a can of soup or another frozen meal for dinner. It was quick. It was easy. It was SAFE.

The nutrition information (and oftentimes the points value) is listed right on the package! How could I go wrong?

Well, it wasn’t really "wrong." But it wasn’t very right either.

Exactly one year ago tomorrow, I eliminated meat from my diet. I also decided around that time that I would focus more on fresh foods and assembling my own meals. I had no idea what my former eating habits were doing to my body. I didn't think about the effects of processed foods at all, actually. I didn’t realize how I USED to feel until my body started responding positively to my new way of life. Examples? Here ya go!

Fresh Food Favors
• Less sodium. Less bloating. Nuf said.
• Fruits and veggies are low-cal and very filling. I make a huge salad for lunch at work and am completely satisfied (and sometimes stuffed) until dinnertime. And all for 4-5 points!
• Multicolored produce = well-rounded nutrition. Along with lots of fiber, each color provides different vitamins and minerals. I try to get in four or five different colors of fruit and veggies per day. (Yesterday: banana, clementine, lettuce, tomato, peas, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, grapes. Nice work, me!)
• No acid reflux! I used to have acidy throat ALL THE TIME. No joke, I would swig from the Mylanta bottle morning, noon and night. It was complete agony 24/7. Sometimes I couldn’t sleep because I thought my throat was gonna burn off. NOT ANY MORE! It simply vanished when I changed my diet.

Meatless Miracles
• I #2 every day. Sometimes twice. It’s awesome.
• I don't feel lethargic after meals. A lot of people feel like taking a nap after lunch or couch potatoing it after dinner. Not me. I feel tip top.
• I rarely get sick or have headaches, which is a huge benefit in itself, but it also means that I rarely take medicine either.
• My meals are cheaper. Steak or lobster dinners can get pricey. Veg meals are generally more pocket friendly.
• I’m lowering my risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.
• I JUST FEEL HEALTHIER!

If you don’t want to give up meat entirely, how about just one day a week? Lots of people do Meatless Mondays and find health benefits in that, as well.

Speaking of eating fresh foods, I recently picked up a tiny quick-read called Food Rules by Michael Pollan. I already owned In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by him, and he’s also the author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. I am a firm believer in that we need to be knowledgeable about what we put in our mouths and how we treat our bodies. His books definitely help with this. (Don't be scurred, non-veggies; these books are helpful for all!)

I don’t usually watch Oprah, but I have my DVR set for tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) episode called “Before You Grocery Shop Again: Food 101 with Michael Pollan.” Alicia
Silverstone will also be on the show, and I’m looking forward to hearing what she says. I really want to pick up her book, The Kind Diet, because I appreciate her three-level approach to a plant-based diet and I’m interested in learning more. The founder of Chipotle (yuuuummm) will be on the show, too. They’ll all be discussing the documentary Food, Inc., which I’d advise everyone to see if they haven’t already.

I know this post is getting longish, but I realized that I haven’t put any real-life pics on here in awhile. Here are some January highlights!

NYE at Jen’s house.
I wore pink tights with this dress and was feelin’ fab!

Jenna, Me and Jacob out for pizza in Onalaska.
I’m standing next to two skinnies … and I felt skinny, too! Yay!

Morgan, Me, Jacob, Jenna and Phyllis at my former high school’s show choir competition to support our friend Brianna who directs one of the best show choirs EVER.

Me, Emily and Jen at the Pat McCurdy concert.
If you live in the Midwest, you need to catch a show. SO FUN!

Jenna, BJ, Me and Alia at BJ’s Moving-to-NY party.

We’ll miss you!

And one more …

Happy Veggiversary
to Me and Morgan!!!!

Love.