Vanilla Cookie Protein Shake

I mentioned this recipe on my facebook fan page, but I am here to post the actual recipe!

I love protein shakes.  they are a great way to start your day, or a great way to end your workout!  There are so many recipes for different shakes.  Its one meal that should never get boring.

My favorite protein powder is any brand of vanilla.  I buy a big bag of it from my local warehouse store.  I have purchased it at Costco, and here in Roswell, I buy it at Sam's Club.  The bag is only around $20-25 or so, and it lasts for a really long time... hence, I cannot recall how much it costs for sure!

I personally do not like chocolate protein powder.  I also do not know anyone who does (that doesn't mean there aren't good recipes for chocolate protein powder). :)

Here is the recipe!

The powder I use.

8    oz    Skim or 1% milk
1/2 C     quick oats raw
1            banana
1 TBS    peanut butter
1 Scoop vanilla protein powder
however much ice you like.

Blend up all of the ingredients in a blender, and then add in the amount of ice that you like.  I put in a full tray.

I recommend using a heavy duty bar blender.  They don't have any problems chopping up that ice.  I would assume that a smoothy blender would do well also!

Yum yum!  I think I'll be having a Vanilla Cookie Protein Shake for my 4th meal today!

Happy losing!

Evelyn Campbell Curtis

Honest Weight Loss

You Are What You Say You Are:  The reason for my blog.

For the past seven years, I have been living in denial.  I have known about my weight gain, but I never really accepted it.  When I thought of myself, it was just like the skinny active me (from 10 years ago), in fact, I still do.  Then... then..., I would see a picture of myself, and how heart breaking it is.  I have become something I promised myself that I never would become.

I feel shame.
I feel embarrassment.
I feel self loathing.
I feel sad.
I feel undesirable.
I feel helpless.
I feel tired.
I feel determined to trim my figure.

But I also have been missing one thing:

WILL POWER

So I decided to become accountable.  I have made myself many promises.  All broken.  But with you, I will keep them.  I will answer to you.

No more denial.  No more putting it off.  Today is now, and it always will be; today, I will begin the change today!

Happy Losing!

Evelyn Campbell Curtis

It's All in a Name

I am sure that you have heard the saying, "You are what you eat."  Well, I like to say, "You are what you say you are."

I can't count how many times I have said, "I'm fat."  But what gets me, is that by me stating such a phrase, I am fully accepting that label as what defines me.

Further, when I set that label, I am not giving myself the chance for change.  I am hindering my own potential!... making me my own worst enemy.  A very strong enemy at that.

As children of God, and free agents to choose, we are beings to act, not to be acted upon.  We choose how we respond to adversity (Bednar, 2006).  So once we are armed with that understanding we are unstoppable!

The challenge today is accepting imperfection.  It is labeling ourselves as changeable.  As a child of God.

Happy Losing!

Evelyn Campbell Curtis

I Hope I Can Walk Tomorrow!

I don't know about all of you, but I love the feeling of soreness.  Sure it is uncomfortable, but it is a feeling that tells me that I am doing something to burn calories.

To be honest, yesterday, my workout was not that great.  I did some walking with my family, but I never did get my heart rate up.  It was a 'holiday' in town, and there was a parade.  Now that I got that off of my chest, onward and upward.  We all make mistakes and we all have excuses. The best thing to do is not to focus on those mistakes and excuses to the point where it keeps you from continuing on this difficult journey.

So back to my work out.  Today, my husband Jason and I went to a local park that has a paved path around it.  It happens to be a soccer complex.  It was a beautiful morning to be outside with its light breeze, and 65 degrees!

I feel like we really pushed ourselves.  I got home feeling happy (those endorphins rock)!

Here's what we did:

We took a brisk walk around the field to warm up (about 1/2 mile--by guessing), then we stretched really good. 
Then we jogged as far as we could around the track.  We made it about 3/8ths of the way around.  Not bad I felt, considering the weight I am pulling with me.  Then we continued to walk until we were about 1/2 of the way around the track.

At that point, we did sprints on one of the long soccer fields (I say long, because there are short fields for little league).  We sprinted "down and back" twice.  I tell you, it took a few minutes to catch my breath afterward!

After that, we did a body weight circuit.  Here is the list (we only did a portion or half of each of these-except the crunch exercises, which we did the full 20):

• 50 squats
• 10 squat jumps
• 20 pushups
• 20 lunges (10 on each side)
• Hold the plank for 60 seconds
• 50 jumping jacks
• 30 mountain climbers
• 20 ab cycles
• 20 crunches

The website that we took this circuit from is also listed under my list of exercise examples on the right hand side.

After that, we walked back to our car, drove home, then stretched (link to basic stretches).

How was your workout?  Are you drinking water throughout your workout?  That is important!

Happy losing!

Evelyn Campbell Curtis

PS I am running out of time this afternoon, so I will post some recipes in a day or two!