I thought I’d share some quick updates on how my 90-day Visalus challenge has been going. I’ve been having two shakes a day, but I doctor them up with frozen fruit and other ingredients to make them a bit tastier–and more nutritious! Typically I’ll have a shake in the morning, a small lunch and a shake in the afternoon after my workout.

Here’s a pretty typical shake: 2 scoops Visalus shake powder (90 calories), several large frozen strawberries (50 calories), one cup unsweetened almond milk (35 calories), one teaspoon chia seeds (60 calories) and one tablespoon sunflower butter (100 calories). The result is a really filling, tasty, well-rounded breakfast for 335 calories. This holds me until lunch EASILY and has plenty of protein.

I mix up the shake in my Magic Bullet (love that thing).

Then I eat the smoothie in a bowl (a la Kath) along with some coffee (French Vanilla Keurig blend with vanilla soy milk, if you’re curious). The breakfast of champions.

So far I’ve definitely lost a few pounds since starting the Visalus shakes and I’m liking the program!

Overnight Oats Recipe

I’ve had a few requests for my overnight oats recipe and decided to capture it.

The cast of characters: Rolled oats (NOT quick oats), chia seeds, cacao nibs (optional), vanilla and almond milk.

I must stress this–chia seeds make overnight oats what they are. I suppose you could leave them out, but they add an amazing chewy texture that I find insanely addictive. Not to mention their tremendous health benefits! I typically buy them at Whole Foods, but any local health food store should carry them. *End Chia Seed PSA*

For my mix, I usually use 1/3 cup rolled oats, one tablespoon chia seeds, one teaspoon cacao nibs (another superfood), 3/4 cup almond milk and one teaspoon vanilla extract. Just combine all those together in a glass or bowl and let it do its thing overnight (or for a few hours, if you’re impatient like I am).

The end result in divine: doughy, chewy oats with chia seeds that have swelled up like tapioca pearls.

I recommend topping it with some granola for added crunch and sweetness. If you recall, I don’t use any sweetener in the oats themselves, so this is where I bring in that flavor. I also add berries and a teaspoon of sunflower butter. I like to leave most of the sunflower butter on the spoon so I can manage my ratio. I find when I mix it in, I hardly taste it–which doesn’t seem worth the calories to me.

The finished product!

I swear to you I’ve actually leapt out of bed with excitement about my overnight oats. If you haven’t tried it, you must do so immediately.

On Monday, I turned 27. I’m extremely excited about this development for a very simple reason: 27 is the best number ever.

• Jeff was born on March 27.
• Sydney, our dog, was born on September 27.
• Our good friend Roman (Jeff’s best man) was born on December 27.
• Jeff received his job offer that enabled us to move home to Indianapolis on April 27.

Just a few reasons why the number rocks my world. I have a feeling 27 will be the best year ever!

We had an absolutely fantastic weekend celebrating my favorite birthday. On Friday night, we hung out with our friends Neil and Jesse, playing games and drinking sweet tea vodka. On Saturday night, we officially celebrated with a group of friends at a delicious restaurant in downtown Indy called Black Market. I didn’t bring my camera, but we had an amazing spread of food–duck sliders, chickpea & kale fritters and beef tongue (surprisingly delicious) to start, followed by a chipotle flank steak for the main course and Greek yogurt panna cotta to finish. I will be making this at home very soon!

On Monday, my actual birthday, my brother and I hit an amusement park to ride some rollercoasters! His birthday is actually the day before mine, so it was a dual celebration. 23 and 27 for the win!

Then last night, Jeff and I had dinner at my parents’  house, where I received the BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER. Jeff and my dad collaborated to buy me a Nikon D3000 point-and-shoot DSLR camera!!!!!! I have a feeling this will take my blogging to a whole new level. Some pictures from the evening:

Of course my first shot was of Sydney and Jeff.

Then I snapped some shots of Sydney with one of my parents’ dogs, Bowie. I have a feeling dog photos will be a frequent recurrence!

Next I practiced some candid shots of my family, and then Jeff took a couple good ones of me with my parents.

After a tutorial on the different settings from my dad, a seasoned photographer, Jeff and I headed home. On the way to the car, we got caught in an intense downpour. By the time we’d walked the eight yards to the car, we were completely drenched! I couldn’t resist getting a pic of Sydney all wet and dejected.

I had an absolutely amazing 27th birthday, and I’m beyond excited for a year that includes marrying the most amazing man I’ve ever met. In short, bring it on!

Last week during a particularly brutal leg session, my trainer, Antonio, asked me what I’m doing nutritionally to get this weight off. He said I’ve been doing really well in my training–even “turning a corner,” as he put it–but he wanted to remind me that diet accounts for 70 percent of weight loss, or more. Truthfully, I hadn’t weighed myself since I started training a month ago. I think I’ve been terrified I haven’t lost any weight, and I didn’t want to confirm my suspicious and lose all this amazing new-found workout mojo.

I confessed I suspected that between our trip to California and numerous large dinners, not to mention countless drinks, I hadn’t lost any weight in the last month. Antonio told me he recently started a diet support group and wanted me to come to a meeting. At first I didn’t think I was interested–I have a ton of knowledge and all the tools I need to succeed at losing weight on my own. But then I had a powerful thought: So why haven’t I succeeded on my own? That thought alone, combined with Antonio reaching out to me, convinced me to go to the meeting.

I showed up and found a group of women from early 20s to late 50s, all different races and backgrounds. Everyone was sipping on smoothie concoctions Antonio was busy whipping up in the kitchen. I immediately realized it wasn’t just a support group–it was sponsored by a meal-replacement program called Visalus. Antonio asked several clients to attend the meeting to tell us about their experiences with the plan. Their stories blew me away. Several had lost over 70 pounds on the plan and said it worked for them like nothing else. Antonio invited us join together for a 90-day transformation challenge, in which we’d follow the Visalus program for 90 day, meeting once a week to share tips and advice and check in on our progress. The prize for the winner? 10 free training sessions! That’s a $400 value. I started to seriously consider the challenge. I mean, the wedding is in 75 days. The timing is pretty perfect.

During a break in the meeting, people were discussing different food options on the plan. Several things I overheard reminded me of experiences I’ve had at Weight Watchers meetings. I felt WAY overeducated on nutrition compared to the other attendees:

Woman A: “Have you ever tried Greek yogurt? It’s actually pretty good!”

Woman B: “No, I don’t like the taste, but the Light and Fit yogurts are really good.”

Woman A: “I even use greek yogurt as a sour cream replacement.”

Woman B: “Really? That is crazy! I never would have thought to do that.”

Woman A: “I’ve also tried putting some raw oatmeal in my smoothies.”

Woman C: “I’ve found fiber really helps me feel full. I eat at least one Fiber One bar a day.”

It’s really hard for me to relate to these conversations. I’ve been eating greek yogurt for countless years; I use it on everything; I can tell you its exact nutritional profile. I bet I would blow their minds with talk of green smoothies, chia seeds, coconut oil, nutritional yeast and millet. Not to mention the HFC and chemicals in their beloved processed foods.

So many weight loss programs hinge on the idea that all people are missing is knowledge. If only people knew about better options, they would have all the tools they need to lose weight. Sure, that’s probably true, but I think that logic is significantly flawed. Most people know what they need to do to lose weight; it’s just so freaking hard to do it sometimes.

I decided to embark on the 90 day challenge and give the Visalus products a try because I don’t feel I have very much to lose right now. I haven’t lost a pound despite working out more consistently than I have in years. I know dinners out and alcohol are holding me back. Quite frankly, I just can’t get married at this weight. The day just wouldn’t be as special if I still felt like total crap about myself. I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted on my progress.

Here’s a pic of me modeling a new yoga top I bought. Consider this something of a “before.”

This past weekend, our good friends Drew and Val threw a wine tasting party, a.k.a. we all just drank tons of wine and ate food. I made some “party bites” for the occasion: caprese salad bites and watermelon feta salad bites. I love this idea for parties because it’s so simple to just grab a toothpick and get back to the party.

For the caprese bites, I marinated halved grape tomatoes in a touch of Garlic Gold and salt and pepper. Then I cubed fresh mozzarella and tore off some fresh basil leaves. The watermelon ones were simply balled melon, pieces of feta and basil leaves. I love this recipe because it looks kind of fancy, but in reality it’s so simple anyone could make it.

The party bites went over really well, and I just enjoyed some as a snack. Make these for your next pitch-in event!

Here in the Midwest, it has been utterly, miserably sweltering for the last week. Monday, I wrapped up work and went to an excellent kickbox class where I burned 800 calories and left positively dripping with sweat. I got home and threw some cubes sirloin in a teriyaki marinade and put some rice in the rice maker. After I showered, I cooked the beef and some broccoli, bell peppers and carrots in a stirfry. By the time dinner was ready, I was feeling faint from dehydration. Between the heat, the kickboxing and slaving over the hot stove, I was completely sweaty again. That when I decided I wasn’t using the stove again until this heat wave passed.

Really, sometimes the simplest dishes are the most delicious. I’ve been eating bean burritos in multigrain tortillas topped with plain yogurt and sriracha. I also made a simple side dish to eat all week: cucumbers and grape tomatoes tossed in balsamic, Garlic Gold and a bit of salt and pepper.

So simple, so satisfying. And no need to kill myself over a hot stove!

I’ve also been enjoying cantaloupe like nobody’s business. I may have eaten two melons myself in the last week. I have a great recipe for chilled melon soup coming soon!

When people talk about “body dysmorphia” or “body image issues,” they’re usually referring to the phenomenon of perceiving one’s body to be much larger than it actually is. People suffering from anorexia often report feeling several sizes larger than they actually are, and I think we’ve all seen the “distorted mirror” shot in educational videos that illustrates how people with body dysmorphia view themselves.

I think many people–especially in Western cultures–might have the opposite problem. I know I do. I generally feel pretty good about myself on most days, especially when wearing properly-fitting clothes. I consider myself attractive, and while of course there are plenty of things I don’t love about my body, on most days I feel good about the way I look. Until I see a picture of myself taken candidly, when I didn’t intentionally control the angles. Or when I step on the scale and realize I actually do have 50 pounds to lose.

I’m not saying it’s bad to feel good about myself, but it’s sometimes a slippery slope into the Land of Denial. If I’m not doing well on my diet and stop losing weight, I tell myself, “Oh well, I look pretty good. I’m just big boned. And besides, I carry it well. No one would ever guess I weigh as much as I do.” Those are EXCUSES.

The truth is I’m very overweight. No way (or weigh) around it. It’s just hard to create that sense of urgency to really get the weight off when I’m waffling between wanting to lose and accepting myself as overweight for life. I know I don’t want to live my life at this weight, but I keep sabotaging myself in small but important ways. That piece of bread with dinner? That small bowl of cereal as a late night snack? Having some candy at the movies? All of these little indiscretions give body just enough of a boost to avoid actually tapping into stored fat. If I really want this weight to come off, I need to be completely committed. And I think that requires admitting to myself that I don’t look or feel as good as I think I do.

Has anyone had similar issues?

As I mentioned last week, for the last five weeks I’ve been working from home. I have to admit I was slightly nervous about the transition, from a professional perspective. Would I be productive? Would I go crazy without face-to-face interaction? But thankfully, I have such good working relationships with all my colleagues, I really haven’t missed a single beat. I have calls that break up the day and pockets of time during which I need to finish projects, so the days have managed themselves. I’m even headed to Boston in mid-July for a few days to see my colleagues!

The improvement in our lifestyle since moving back to Indianapolis is absolutely astonishing. No more 14-hour days. Plenty of sleep every night. Full evenings spent together. I feel such a weight lifted from my shoulders. Work can still be stressful at times (like any job), but with enough sleep and a better balance everything feels manageable.

From an eating perspective, I knew I would love working from home. I’m a big advocate of “You Can’t Eat It If It’s Not There,” so the ability to completely control my food intake really appealed to me. Anyone who works in an office knows the constant stream of food can get overwhelming. I actually advocate for a “food-neutral” workplace policy, wherein people aren’t allowed to bring large amounts of unhealthy food into the workplace. If I don’t want to be taunted by baked goods on the counter, I shouldn’t have to be. Some might say that’s going too far, but certain food is addictive and (for some people) requires strict boundaries.

What I’ve Been Eating

I’ve been eating TONS of overnight oats for breakfast. I combine raw oats, chia seeds, almond milk and cinnamon in a bowl and let it sit in the fridge overnight. The oats soak up the liquid and form a delicious, doughy, gooey mixture. I top it with a sprinkle of granola and almonds in the morning to add some crunch. It literally keeps me full for hours.

For lunch, I’ve been enjoying spinach/strawberry/almond salads and protein-packed smoothies. I go out to lunch with my mom or friends a couple times a week to break up my days, and I’ve been making pretty healthy choices.

I’m so happy to say I’ve been making dinner at least four nights a week. We relied much too heavily on eating out in Boston, and it’s just so much easier to control the nutritional content of meals when you’re preparing them yourself.

Gluten Update

One thing I’ve noticed is gluten doesn’t seem to be bothering me at all. A few months back,  I really thought I was developing a gluten insensitivity after experiencing several weeks of IBS-like symptoms. I’ve been eating moderate amounts of gluten the past few weeks and I feel absolutely fantastic. I’ve been staying away from processed foods, eating lots of fiber, watching my alcohol intake and getting lots of exercise, but I eat gluten basically every day and haven’t experienced any of the symptoms I discussed awhile back. I’m starting to think I mistook stress for a gluten issue. Now that my lifestyle is under control, the symptoms have disappeared.

Personal Training

I decided to hire a personal trainer! With the wedding in less than four months, it’s now or never to drop some pounds and tone up. I want to know I’ve done everything I possibly can to get in optimal shape. Also, from personal experience I know that spending money on something keeps me accountable. If I don’t show up for my ass kicking appointment, I’m out $30. Money talks, baby.

I also realized personal training will be a great way to familiarize myself with lots of great strength training exercises. Strength has been lacking from my routine, and its benefits are seriously alluring. For every pound of muscle you build, your body burns 50 more calories. I like that math! People who weight train generally have a much easier time maintaining fat loss because their bodies are burning more calories than those who’ve lost weight through diet alone.

I also have to credit one of my favorite bloggers, Emily Malone from Daily Garnish, for giving me the inspiration to take weight training seriously. Check out her post on the results she saw from weight training if you want a huge dose of motivation!

Well, the rest of my work day beckons! Later, friends!

Hello, Interwebs! So sorry for my hiatus. I  recently alluded to some big changes in our lives, which I think aptly explain my disappearance…

In the last three weeks, Jeff accepted an amazing new job, my company offered to let me work remotely, and we moved back to Indianapolis!

The last few years in Boston have been incredible, but I’ve been desperately homesick and growing increasingly weary of the frenetic, impatient way of life out here. So often we left the house at 7:15 a.m. and didn’t get home until after 9 or 10. It’s been a bit draining on our relationship and mental health. I’ve definitely been slacking on exercise due to our crazy pace, and I just don’t feel happy or healthy. As Angela might say, since living in Boston I’ve lost my glow.

A few months ago we decided to intensify our job search in hopes of moving back in late spring. With the wedding coming up in October, we felt it made more sense to get the move behind us and start new jobs in time to build up enough vacation days for the honeymoon.  My friend Karin (friend and sister of one of my bridesmaid, Rachel) works for a direct email and social media marketing company headquartered in downtown Indianapolis. I’d had my eye on this company for Jeff; it just seemed like a great fit for his skills and personality. In March, Karin basically marched into the HR department with a printed copy of Jeff’s resume and explained all the reasons they needed to hire him. A week later he had a phone interview, then two weeks later they flew him to Indianapolis for an in-person interview, then just a few days later, he received the job offer!

And even more surprisingly, my company offered to let me continue working full time from Indianapolis. I’ve set up a home office! I’m extremely excited to work from home. I’m planning to get more exercise every single day, plan and cook more meals, and get more rest. I think it will give me a lot more flexibility to focus on my healthy living goals, especially those 20 pounds I’d like to lose for the wedding!

So that’s the big news! We packed up our apartment, rented a townhouse on the southside of Indy and made a giant leap all within exactly 13 days. I’m so beyond happy and excited to be back. I have a lot to share related to working from home, so expect more posts very soon!