Getting Lean and Eating Clean

What a journey it was!  I can't believe that it was a month and a half ago that Kaisey and I got up on that stage and for better or worse, it was all right there... for everyone to see.  Looking back, I feel so completely blessed that not only was I able to compete and do something so crazy with my sister, but I had the support of my sweet husband.  I am so grateful!!! 

I've had a few emails asking about what I did for training and dieting, and seeing as I am terrible at writing back, I thought this would be a good way to share with people the journey we went on... the diet, the training and the crazy things we did to get there.

For the most part this was our diet:

1. 1/2 english muffin + whey protein + spinach smoothie (2 handfuls of spinach, 1/2 banana, strawberry crystal light and ice...easy way to get in the greens)
2. 3 egg whites + 1 whole egg + 1/2 english muffin + spinach smoothie
3. 1/2 c. steamed veggies + 4 oz. chicken/tuna
4. Balance bar or 1 apple + 1 scoop whey protein
5. Salad with chicken, tuna, ground turkey or other lean meat
6. (30 min before bed) either 1 scoop casin protein, 1/4 c. cottage cheese or greek yogurt

For the most part this was our workout regimin:

• 6 days a week AM: 1 hour of low intensity cardio
• 3 days a week PM:  1 hour of cardio full body circut training (squats, lunges, push ups, pull ups, leg lifts, sprints, jump rope, jumping squats and jumping lunges, dips, chest press, etc)
• If needed, I went back for a second hour of cardio in the evenings as well.

You have to mix things up to keep them interesting for whatever you are doing.  But the trick is to eat as little as possible, with keeping the same amount of intensity in the gym.  It is a trick, and sometimes I would eat too little and I wouldn't realize it until I was getting mad at Pat for something soooo dumb and then all of a sudden it would hit me that I had skipped a meal that day!

Healthy living is something that is hard to achieve... believe me!  I get it.  But when you start to notice little curves in your thighs or extra definition in your abs, it becomes all so worth it!  I would love to help anyone that has the desire to get on track.  Let me know if you have any questions, and I would love to give you my 2 cents... for whatever its worth! :)

Grandma Mitchell

What a woman.  She has been fighting an unknown degenerative disease for nearly 8 years and today she finally passed on to meet her creator.  I have so many wonderful memories with this amazing Grandma.  I will never forget the countless days and nights we spent at Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell's playing in the pool, playing games and watching movies.  She always made sure we were taken care of and having a good time.  She was so genuine and caring.  I moved in to live with them almost 3 years ago and lived there for a year and a half.  During that time, my friendship with her grew significantly.  Whenever I came home from dates, she would always ask how it went and was rooting for me to find someone that I would love enough, and love me enough, to marry.  She made me a promise that she would stick around until I got married.  She did just that.  Patrick and I got married 6 weeks ago, and she was in attendance.  It was so sad to see how far she had digressed.  She could hardly speak.  She didn't have hardly any mobility in her arms and legs.  She couldn't eat by herself, do her hair or makeup.  She longed to have some sort of independence, but had to depend on others for everything.  However, on the day of the wedding as I looked at her in the temple, she was so happy.  I couldn't help but feel joy and immediate hope for her return back to heaven.  I know that's where she has been longing to be and I am so grateful that she is out of that misery, pain and suffering. 

Grandma Mitchell was a woman of great worth, and I have no doubt that she is in a much better place now continuing her work. 

I love you so much Grandma and will miss you more than you know.

the beginning

We moved into our new apartment almost a month ago.  It has been so fun getting settled and starting to see things come together.  We're still getting there, but here it is so far.

This is before....

And after...