Monday Accountability Report

I had class today (as usual on Mondays), so I couldn’t make it to the gym.

Fortunately, I managed to stick to my high protein, low(er) carb diet throughout the day, staying under 1,400 calories.

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The peas are a higher sugar/starchy vegetable, but they’re my favorite and I managed to NOT eat a cupcake or chocolate of any kind, which is an achievement all on its own.

Hope everyone had a great Monday!

Tori

Monday Detox!

To flush out a weekend of bad eating, I made myself a homemade cleansing water.

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I kept it simple, opting for just fresh lime, dried mint, a packet of stevia, a dash of cayenne pepper, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

I don’t believe in fasting or hardcore juice cleanses (your liver does the majority of the cleaning for you and fasting just kills your blood sugar levels), so I’m just sipping this throughout the day while I eat my clean, healthy food.

Hope everyone is off to a great week!

Bon appetit, my friends!

Tori

Sunday Accountability Report

Sunday was a work day, and so I was never able to sneak in a full workout. Fortunately, I got a 30 minute walk in beforehand, took FOUR quick walk breaks during the day, and got a long walk in after dinner.

Starting tomorrow, I’m going back to my strict diet (which was working before): Paleo, very low carb, and intensive cardio. I’m less than four weeks away from my birthday so it’s time to get serious.

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Glad I was able to enjoy lots of fruit with dinner! Going to keep it low sugar for the next few weeks, and I’m praying my cravings ease off quickly.

Bon appetit, my friends!

Tori

Saturday Accountability Report

Whoops!

I totally crashed last night and forgot to post my nutrition/fitness journal for the day. Ha!

Here’s how I did:

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I indulged (a lot), but I didn’t really feel that guilty. I’m kind of in a slump with my diet/nutrition, as I’ve been working out hard and not seeing results. I’m hoping that a few weeks of not caring will jump start my metabolism a bit and motivate me to get started strong on Monday.

I didn’t add this to my calorie counter (I had no idea what it contained), but it was delicious:

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Let’s pretend it was low-carb, low-calorie, and sin-free, mkay? 🙂

Bon appetit, my friends, and enjoy your Sunday!

Tori

Friday Accountability Report

We had a birthday in the office today so you know what that means: cookies, Publix cake, and snacks galore!

While I resisted the siren call of both the cookies and cake, I was sucked in by the sweet Chex Mix (such crunchy goodness) and a generous serving of Jif Mocha Cappuccino hazelnut spread (like Nutella, but even worse for you).

My dinner was healthy (but included bread – so not Paleo), but the post-dinner cupcake sort of sealed the deal on the calorie fiasco.

Fortunately, I did enough cardio today to cancel out, so let’s hope the damage isn’t too bad on the scale or the waist.

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Hope everyone had an awesome Friday night!

Bon appetit, my friends!

Tori

A Frightening Throwback Thursday #tbt

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All I can say is …yikes.

This was shortly after my pre-senior year haircut disaster and before I began any healthy attempts at weight loss. Even though you can’t see my body, you can definitely see the weight I was carrying in my face.

I’m pretty sure I was solidly over 210 lbs here.

It pains me to see this photo, as I know at this age I was deeply aware of my weight and the alienation/prejudice I faced because of it. I think back to how badly I felt about myself during this time and it makes me sad. Can you hug your former self? If it were possible, I absolutely would. Lord knows I needed it then.

Seeing this picture reminds me how far I’ve come, but also how aware I need to be about the feelings of others. It’s easy to judge someone in a single glance, but that surface judgment likely doesn’t do justice to their story, their circumstances, and their struggles. Seeing my old self reminds me to be more empathetic, and to recognize that everyone is on a journey of some kind; some just haven’t identified the road yet.

Be well, my friends, and enjoy the journey.

Bon appetit!

Tori

Wednesday Accountability Report

Whew! I’m exhausted after a long workout (cardio and strength), so my post will be short and sweet.

Here’s how I did for the day:

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While I’ve been a bit disappointed in my weight the last week or so, I must admit that I can see noticeable definition starting in my legs and I’ve officially maxed out the calf-press machine (400 lbs, 9 reps)!

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Don’t judge the bug bite: it’s Florida, it’s summer, and mosquitos are basically eating children whole. This is minor compared to how legs, arms, and exposed body parts look mid-summer.

I hope everyone had a great day, squeezed a workout in, and took good care of their bodies! And, if you enjoyed a few indulgences, good for you for taking care of your soul! :

Bon appetit, my friends!

Tori

Current Temptation: Raphsodic Bakery Cupcakes!

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These beautiful cupcakes are my current temptation.

Eighteen vegan, gluten-free, and DELICIOUS cupcakes are sitting in my fridge, begging to be devoured.

If you are vegan and/or following a gluten-free diet and live in the Orlando area, you NEED to check out Raphsodic Bakery on Mills Ave. Located right next to the Colonial/ST RD 50 intersection, this co-op is a haven of delectable treats and kind bakers.

I’ve always been greeted with a smile (and a free sample), and I’ve never made it out of the store without a box of goodies to savor for the week.

I can’t speak highly enough for the quality of their products, their customer service, and the overall warmth of their environment. In fact, when I called in my order last night (I pre-paid for two cupcake boxes after they announced a special on Facebook!), they threw in two free scones (also vegan and gluten-free) as a thank you for my repeat business.

Seriously, how amazing is that?

Regardless of what diet you’re on, Raphsodic Bakery is the place to go in Orlando when you’ve got a sweet tooth. So, what are you waiting for? Go check them out and tell them Victoria Elizabeth sent you! 🙂

Bon appetit, my friends!

Tori

Last Month

Uh oh. Today is June 11th. Crap.

That means I’m officially one month away from my thirtieth birthday.

For the first few weeks of my Dirty Thirty Weight Loss Challenge, I had been very strict with my diet and exercise and the weight poured off. I went from 131 to 125 in the span of 10 days (a little fast), but have since stalled out and even gone backward a bit.

I’ve been REALLY into sweets lately and it’s showing on the scale – I’ve been stalled between 127-128 for almost two weeks. Seeing the calendar today was exactly what I needed: a swift kick in the butt and a reminder that I’m not getting any younger. It will only getting harder to lose this weight the more I postpone it, so I need to kick myself into gear and finish what I’ve started.

Starting today, I’m back on clean eating (with a small, daily cheat permitted – I am human) and a rigorous exercise program.

My goals will be to stay under 1,300 calories, stay moderately low carb, and to burn at least 5,000 calories per week through my workouts. That means intense gym visits, but I know I can do it.

The goal: under 120 by 7/11/2014.

Let’s make it happen!

Bon appetit, my friends!

Tori