Way to go, Nicole!

Wow! I can’t believe how great Nicole Sullivan looks! In case you didn’t know, she just completed her goal of losing 35 pounds on Jenny Craig! She wanted to get rid of the weight she gained from her pregnancy, and boy does she look fantastic!

I’ve been following her blog on Jenny Craig and was so excited for her when I saw this she finished this past week! She looks phenomenal in that swimming suit, and she inspires me so I can stand up proud (and without a cover-up on) in my bikini when summer comes!

Watch her new commercial!

Check out her latest video blog!

Congrats Nicole!

Nicole Before (after her pregnancy)

Nicole After!

Nicole's in People Magazine!

Got stress? I do. I’ve found it doesn’t take much for me to get stressed and wake up the next day with a cramp in my neck and shoulders. For me, when I get stressed I put all my tension into my upper back. I always wonder what I can do to relieve it. It’s become somewhat of a problem recently because I can’t seem to unwind and it’s starting to affect how I interact with others (aka I’m short, snappy, and tense).

I’ve been on a mission to figure this out. I know many people do yoga to de-stress and feel more relaxed. I’ve done hot yoga (Bikram) before and I actually loved it. Although it didn’t relieve much stress for me, I noticed I slept better! I felt like yoga pointed me in the right direction to relieve tension.

I’ve tried coaxing various people to give me backrubs at night in exchange for the TV remote or homemade desserts, or working out later in the night to get it out of my system. I’ve tried it all, but at the end of the day my mind still goes a mile a minute before bed, and I ultimately wake up stressed and in pain.

I found this interesting meditation article from Shape magazine that I’m going to try this week. The article discusses what meditation can do for your health, like lower your blood pressure and increase creativity.

The article suggests doing one, simple technique everyday so it becomes a routine and a healthy habit. You should set a timer and start with giving yourself 5 minutes of meditation and slowly increase the time to 20 minutes. It’s important to breathe through your nose with your mouth closed, and focus on your breath and the movement of your stomach. If you’re like me and your mind starts to wander, they suggest trying to re-focus by bringing your mind back to your breathing (or try counting to ten or repeatedly saying a phrase like “peace”).

Shape also gives suggestions on how you can work with certain situations when you can’t get your body to relax or feel like you don’t have enough time to spare.

I really enjoyed discovering different techniques on meditation and how I can learn to control my body, breath, and mind. I’m going to try it tonight and for the rest of the week (if I remember!) and report back on how I start feeling afterwards! Until then, relax!

Quinoa-stuffed red bell peppers

Last night was my night for making dinner. Dinner is always a struggle for me. Although I love to cook, some days you just don’t feel like going to the store after work, and slaving away in the kitchen when you could plop on the couch and watch TV instead.

Alas, I decided to ignore the TV calling my name. I got my creative juices flowing and thought about what I could make for my boyfriend and his dad (who is gluten and dairy intolerant). Talk about a challenge, eh?

I decided instead of thinking of dinner as an annoyance, I’d think of it as relaxing instead. I wasn’t sure how this was going to happen because sometimes while cooking I get anxious and think, “Will I have everything ready at the same time? Will everyone like it? Is it completely gluten and dairy-free?” With all the questions rolling around in my head I can end up frustrated, stressed and moody.

So what did I do to change cooking from stressful to stress-free? I planned. On my lunch break I found an awesome (gluten-free) recipe for quinoa stuffed red bell peppers from Shape magazine and thought I’d pair it with rosemary and lemon chicken. This would be a great MOYM for JCers; they’re only 237 calories a serving, and are super filling! What did I do about dairy you ask? I simply left one of the red bell peppers without cheese before popping it in the oven. Presto!

My cooking experience was just how I had planned: relaxing. I got organized and everything came out at the same time! It’s incredible when you put your mind to something and decide, “Hey, I’m going to make this a fun experience and even though I’ve never made this dish before, it’s going to be an adventure!”

Everyone ended up loving the dinner, which made me feel like a success! From now on I’m going to try using cooking dinner as a relaxing activity after work. It’s better than sitting in front of TV with a bag of chips waiting for your delivery to arrive, and you burn a few calories in the process!

I did it! Sunday was the St. Patrick’s Day race, and I successfully ran the 5k!

I must say, I was completely terrified when I first got to the starting point. I didn’t sleep the night before out of pure terror I’d miss the race because of daylight savings. I got down to the start line at 7:40am and waited for my race to start at 8.

Although my friends were there to cheer me on, I felt completely out of my element. There were over 7,000 runners in the 5k alone, and 21,000 total (5k, 8k, and 15k combined). People were stretching in the streets, beside trees, and against lamp posts. As I stood there in my minute-mile section I started to get really anxious and thought, “What am I doing here? I’m not a runner”.

Seconds later the horn went off and it was my section’s time to go. All feeling of nausea and anxiety flew quickly out the window as I started jogging along with everyone in the streets downtown. I instantly felt a wave of confidence come over me. This was different from my daily jog down the street and back. I felt like I was a part of something. About halfway through, I passed my friends on the sidewalk. They screamed my name and cheered me on, and gave me another boost of confidence to keep going.

I surprised and impressed myself when I could see the finish line in sight. I thought, “I haven’t stopped running the entire time!” A couple of blocks before finish, my friends had caught up with me one last time. As I passed them I felt a surge of energy and excitement pass through my veins, and I sprinted the rest of the way to the finish!

I was so proud of myself for accomplishing my goals. I successfully completed a 5k, I ran the entire time, and surprised myself when I found out I ran the 3.1 miles in under 30 minutes! I felt like Valerie Bertinelli when she ran her first half-marathon! If you put your mind to it, you can succeed at anything! Looking back, I was so scared and terrified I almost let it get in the way of achieving my goal, but now all I can think about is the next race I’m going to run! I’ve found a new hobby and am excited to see what other goals I can set and achieve next!

Normally when I achieve a goal, whether it’s getting in exercise for the day or I lost a pound in a week, I like to reward myself. I don’t give myself a mere pat on the back, but instead I treat myself to something tangible and reinforce the good habit.

Like many people I know, I usually reward myself by getting a delicious dessert. Sweets and I have been in a steady relationship for years now (longer than any boyfriends have lasted!). I’ll either get cake from this phenomenal bakery in town or I’ll be sure to ask for the dessert menu when I’m out at a restaurant for dinner.

I’ve decided it’s time for a change. I need to rethink my rewarding strategy. I’ve realized that although desserts are yummy, they definitely can pack on the pounds over time. I began asking myself, “Why am I rewarding myself with sweets after I work out? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose and put me back to square one?”

After coming to this realization (which honestly, I probably knew deep down all along), I decided I need to come up with a different method for my reward system. I’ve wanted a new dress, manicure, and new workout shorts for a while now, why not reward myself with something like this? I’m going to start rewarding myself with something other than food.

I constantly think about what meal I’ll have next, what I’m going to make for dinner, what kind of cookies I can bake to bring to the office, or what kind of dessert I can have after I successfully worked out everyday of the week. This isn’t a healthy mindset to have. One afternoon I inquired about where we’d be going for dinner that night, and my friend said, “You know we’ll figure it out when it’s time for dinner. You think about your next meal too much. Relax. You’re going to have a next meal.”

It took that friend to make me realize how obsessed I’ve become. I’m not on death row or starving, so why do I need to think about what meal I’m going to have? I will have a next meal.

Once I start getting on the mindset that my life doesn’t have to revolve around desserts and food, I think I’ll see I don’t need to rely on these comfort foods as much. Jason Alexander just posted a great video blog about how he has come to the realization that comfort and joy are not the same thing. I could not agree with him more. I’m choosing joy from now on.

I’ve decided that after I RUN this race on Sunday I’m going to reward myself, but not with food. Maybe I’ll get those new workout shorts to prepare myself for spring and get motivated to continue my running…or maybe I’ll opt for that manicure!

My St. Patrick’s Day race is this weekend and I’m excited! I have never participated in a race before and I will be running with 21,000 people! A little intimidating, huh?

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how I got an allergy infection. To be honest, I made it an excuse to not run for a few days after I felt better. It wasn’t because I was lazy (ok, maybe a little) or didn’t want to run out of fear I’d get another infection. I made excuses simply because I was scared of the race itself.

I’ve been thinking; instead of being scared and nervous for this race, why not embrace it? After all, I decided to do this and it’s not like I was forced. I reminded myself of the reasons why I decided to sign up:

-To do something new

-Achieve a new goal

-Run a race without walking or stopping

-Support a local children’s hospital by signing up and participating

-Prove to myself I can do whatever I put my mind to

-Stop using asthma as an excuse for not running

-Jumpstart my running “career” for future races and longer distances

Another thought came to mind: Valerie. Valerie Bertinelli recently discussed in her new Jenny Craig blog and video post that she is headed to Italy on vacation, and is still committed to running the Boston marathon when she comes back. It was really motivating and inspirational because many of us (myself included) tend to put things in the way of accomplishing goals, not because we think we can’t, but because we’re scared.

I’ve been running everyday now for the past week and a half to prepare for this Sunday and I’m going to run again tonight! Wish me luck, and if anyone else is getting ready for a race or marathon I wish you luck too!

Val's turning the big 5-0!

I just read Good Housekeeping’s article about Valerie Bertinelli. I can’t believe she is almost 50; she doesn’t look it at all! I really hope I can look like that when I hit the big 5-0.

Her down-to-earth personality shined as I read about her struggles, obstacles she has overcome, family life, and accomplishments. She truly seems to be happy in her own skin now. She explained how Jenny Craig has helped many aspects of her life because she was able to understand why she had been overeating, and learn how to face the emotional problem rather than fill a void with jalapẽno cheese poppers! I recall so many times where I have eaten to solve my relationship woes, and Val is right, we have to learn different ways to deal and cope.

I loved Val’s video interview with the behind-the-scenes of her photo shoot. She looked so happy, healthy, and was embracing getting older. She talked about being grateful, learning to love and forgive. It made me realize how at any age we should be grateful for everything we have been given. She also taught me how truly important for us to forgive others, but most importantly, ourselves. If we can’t forgive ourselves how can we possibly learn to forgive others and move forward?

I thought her article was truly inspiring and put me in a great mood to kick-start my weekend! Thanks, Val!

Val's before and after!

Have you ever put motivational pictures on your fridge so you stay on track, and won’t grab that late-night pint of ice cream? I have!

I thought instead of putting a picture up to keep me from munching, I would put the Jenny Craig team up on JC Talk! This way they all act as reminders and inspiration on my online “communal fridge.”

Here are some awesome pictures to keep you  motivated along with links to Val, Sara, Nicole, and Jason’s video blogs, plus a behind-the-scenes too!

Valerie

• http://jennycraig.com/successstories/blog/valerie/100007
• http://www.youtube.com/jennycraig#p/u/33/3q056PjdYK8
• http://www.youtube.com/jennycraig#p/u/4/07NLLGW0p84

Sara

• http://jennycraig.com/successstories/blog/sara/saravlog2
• http://www.youtube.com/jennycraig#p/u/8/vDEb2zBBbk4

Nicole

• http://www.youtube.com/jennycraig#p/u/25/Wu_hBeTNfDE
• http://www.youtube.com/jennycraig#p/u/0/cIGp0v3liao

Jason

• http://www.youtube.com/jennycraig#p/u/9/fq1WC-9uh_c
• http://www.youtube.com/jennycraig#p/u/1/2DC8pE0LiJA

Behind the scenes with Valerie!

Sara in December

Sara in January

Nicole in October

Nicole in February

I’ve been trying to cook more to keep both my bank account and scale down, and let me tell you, it’s harder than I thought. It’s strange because I love to cook. I enjoy trying new recipes, foods and cuisine, and more than anything I like cooking for the people I love.

I thought it would be easy. My mindset was to go to work, get groceries after, and go home and make dinner. Simple, right? Wrong! There have been days where I got off early and going to the store afterwards was a breeze. But mostly there have been days when I get off later than usual, get stuck in traffic, weasel my way through the massive crowd at the grocery store, get stuck in more traffic, and by the time I get home am too tired to even lift a fork.

So how are we supposed to stay healthy by not eating out, and have enough strength and motivation to make dinner each night after a long day of work? I realized I had to strategize and come up with a plan. After much thought and take out (oops), I figured out what works best for me.

Sundays I plan my meals with my family or boyfriend (whoever) and come up with what we want to eat. If you’ve reached your halfway point with Jenny or have just met your goal and are starting to make more of your own meals, this is a great plan! You can get everything you need for a week’s worth of dinners in advance.

When I watched Nicole Sullivan’s recent video blog on Jenny Craig’s website I thought, “Wow, I know exactly how you feel! I’m excited about sitting as a family and eating together too!” It’s amazing how many families (whether it’s a couple or a family of eight) go through these same dilemmas. All it takes is sitting down and deciding that dinner time is family time and you can make it happen!

This can also be a fun way to interact with your family when deciding what meals you want during the week. If you’re on Jenny Craig you can make meals exciting by making a homemade version of what you’ll be having for dinner for the rest of your family! That way you are all eating the same kind of meal!

It’s also a great way to teach children good eating habits. By showing your children sitting at the table as a family is important, it builds a healthy habit. Children also learn the importance of eating healthy and nutritious food when they see you are making healthy choices with your Jenny meals, when you go to the grocery store together, help in the kitchen, and enjoy meals as a family!

So what’s on your plate tonight?

Are allergies bugging you as much as they are me? This past week was a nightmare. Although I absolutely love spring, when the seasons start to shift from winter, my allergies go crazy from all the budding flowers and pollen.

I made the big mistake of going on a run after work and a block after I started, realized I should turn around. But did I? Of course not. I finished my three mile run then came back with swollen eyes, a stuffed up nose, and an inflamed throat. Thank you, pollen!

As a result I have been sneezing and blowing my nose for the past week. Of course I put running outside and training for my race on hold as to not make it worse. I decided I’d take my workouts inside. It’s also important to build muscle when training for a race rather than just running alone.

As for the market, I went on Sunday morning and LOVED it; I can’t wait to go again! The best part was when I stopped by a honey stand and discovered how raw honey can help allergies, obesity, and insomnia amongst others. Local raw honey helps your allergies because the bees get nectar from local flowers, which helps you build immunity to the flowers and pollen in your area. Check out these interesting articles I found from howstuffworks.com and EatingWell magazine about how honey can help allergies!

If you get local raw honey from your local markets you are not only helping your allergies but your farmers as well. It’s a win, win situation! I’ve been adding this honey to my tea and in the morning either on my banana or replace butter and jam on my toast with it. You can also add it to your dinner, like with this honey-soy broiled salmon recipe Remember not to eat too much honey. It does contain sugar so you’ll want to limit yourself to three tablespoons a day. I must say, after trying local honey I will never go back to the store bought kind. It tastes more fresh and floral, and knowing that it was made locally instead of on a conveyer belt helps too.

Maybe Winnie the Pooh was onto something!