xoxo - gossip girl

i am completely obsessed with gossip girl right now. im on season 3 and i cannot stop watching it! this is almost as bad as me and the o.c.


yesterday i worked out everything i ate over the weekend. i hope. haha.
i started with a mile run on the treadmill, followed by a 3-2-1 fit class, drove to the rec center and walked for 30 minutes, and then ended with a step n' sculpt class.
yep 2.5 hours of sweat. :)

this morning i had yummy protein pancakes.









protein pancakes [chocolate peanut butter flavored]
makes about 3 large pancakes

1/2 cup egg substitute
2 tbsp of almond milk (or any other non-dairy milk)
1 scoop whey chocolate peanut butter protein powder
1 tbsp flaxseed
1/2 scoop chia seeds
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/2 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract

mix everything together in a bowl and make these delicious pancakes.

"this is why you're fat"

Yes, that's the quote from hollywood trainer Jackie Warner.
As you all know, i'm pretty obsessed with jillian michaels. Well, Jackie Warner is about to be right up there. i know it's silly to love these popular trainers, but hello, look at their rockin' bodies. i mean..those abs! haha. i definitely think fit women look WAY better than the models you see on the runways.

i did jackie warner's power circuit training video yesterday. holy burn. im feeling it today. i really liked how short the circuits were and that there was a "power burn" at the end. i now have all of her work out dvds (christmas present) to add to my at-home fitness collection. i hope my neighbors who live below me don't get too upset.

i also got warner's book, "This Is Why You're Fat." A lot of the information that I've read so far, I already knew, but there's also some that I never really thought about. I think I'm really going to like it.

I'm also going to try to give up sugar. (definitely went through sugar overload this weekend). I know when i got to my dad's side Christmas (which isn't until January 8th) this will be hard to do so I'll just take a day off.

oh and guess what! I got a DSLR camera finally! from my very generous mother. :D once i learn how to properly use it, i will definitely be adding more zest to this blog and post more often too because i am really slacking.

<3

life is full of beauty.

i have neglected this for a month now.
it's been a crazy month to say the least.
during thanksgiving break, i worked 70 hours with both jobs. yeah. 70. nice paycheck though. :D
and now it's even crazier because finals are next week. and do you think i've written my 12 page paper for sociology of sexuality? nope. and do you think i've even glanced at what's going to be on my other tests? nope. im not very motivated right now. and im not sure why. im also extremely tired all the time too.
but not today.
maybe it's because i exercised twice today? and really got my heart rate up? and according to my polar watch, i burned 850 calories. holy cow, i think that's even more than i ate so far today. not that i care about the calorie intake or outtake for that matter. just as long as im eating healthy and getting much needed exercise in.

exercise is my way of waking up from this tired feeling. and so far, it's helping.
being lazy just makes me fall asleep. and not want to do anything at all. i dont want to be like that..ever. i already dont have much of a life as it is.

today i was thinking a lot about goals for 2011. the year is coming to an end..and even though i've only succeeded in one new years resolution my entire life (not eating french fries for a whole year) i really want to try and conquer the things i've wanted to do for so long.

so here are my goals for 2011. i may modify them later, but this is what i can think of right now:

1) run a half marathon. [i was watching the biggest loser this morning and they ran a marathon. 26.2 miles! if they can do it, i can do it. definitely. plus i really want to run another race with my mom and stick with her this time.]

2) eat greens everyday.

3) get rid of stuff i dont need [organize my closet]

4) cook a new recipe at least once a week. (and try different ethnic recipes every once in a while)

5) try a spin class! (i might actually do this before 2011)

6) do yoga at least 2-3 times a week.

7) hang out with friends at least once a week or every other. (it's sad..i never see them.)

8) start saving money again.

9) buy a bike for the spring!

10) get a DSLR camera

11) become a group exercise instructor (already applied!)

quite the list already. but it feels good to actually write those out.

<3

two years

yesterday was josh and i's two year anniversary. :) he got me beautiful roses [two - one for each year] & we went out to lunch, a movie, and he paid for me to get my hair done. it was a good day. i know it doesn't seem like we did anything special, but it was because we hardly hang out anymore since we are both so busy.

in other areas of my life, south beach is succeeding for me. i have already lost almost 6-7 pounds in less than a week. who knew giving up fruit and starches would do this? wow. amazed.

this morning i made "mock pancakes." ricotta cheese, egg whites, cinnamon, vanilla extract, sugar free syrup, and natural pb. mmm.

first day...success. :)

First day of south beach was a success. I am surprised I didn't give in at eat fruit or some kind of bread. I was definitely craving it though. hopefully this two weeks goes by fast because I already miss my apples.

after work yesterday i took bodycombat and bodyjam. i really enjoyed bodycombat..maybe because i used to do taebo when i was younger with my mom so kickboxing has become a secret love of mine. [and punching invisible enemies helps me get out any stress.]

i liked bodyjam, but the choreography is so intense that i didn't get much of a workout because i was trying to follow what moves to do. the instructor said you have to take it at least 3 times before really being able to do it and i just dont really have time for that because it's only offered once a week at my gym.

i meant to wake up at 5:30 this morning to go to bodypump @ 6 but that didn't happen. instead i watched all my wednesday night shows online. hah :D

this morning i had 2 scrambled eggs, red and green bell peppers, mushrooms, and spinach for breakfast. along with my daily coffee + almond milk.

i decided to make some kale chips for a snack today & some boiled edamame. not sure what to pack for lunch yet but most likely soup because it's so freaking cold outside. iowa, your weather confuses me. last week it was 7O's and this week it has dropped 20 degrees!

south beach diet supercharged

i've been really upset at myself lately.
i have gained about 20 pounds in the last year. 20!
i know that i shouldn't look at my weight because most is probably muscle, but my clothes don't fit as nicely as they used to. especially my beloved jeans. i miss my jeans that wore last year.

so i have decided to try the south beach diet supercharged. now i don't look at it as a diet. i look at it as trying to help me eat a more balanced diet. right now i eat way too many carbohydrates and tend to binge eat at night. this could probably be the big culprit on why i have gained weight.

i exercise a LOT. but i'm going to try and focus on getting enough cardio and strength training rather than one or the other.

so i am starting in the middle of the week because i still had some fruit in the refrigerator to eat before i could start. [i have to give up fruit for a whole two weeks! ahh!]

today is day one.
for breakfast [sorry forgot to take a picture] i had mock pancakes.

1/2 C - Egg beaters
3 T Ground Flaxseed
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Vanilla
Sugar substitute
Cinnamon

Whisk egg beaters in Pyrex measuring cup. Add Flaxseed, Baking soda, vanilla, splenda and cinnamon. Let stand for about a minute and mix again slightly. Pour onto skillet spray with Pam and cook like regular pancake.

Makes 2 decent sized pancakes.

One of the pancakes was HUGE! they were nutty and delicious. :D
i topped them with 1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt, cinnamon, and i can't believe it's not butter spray. MMM.

i am somehow supposed to eat a minimum of 1/2 cup vegetables for breakfast too, but im stuffed! ill incorporate it into my mid morning snack somehow.

im so glad i can still have coffee. im dragging this morning.

after class i gotta work 1-5 and then im going to take bodycombat and bodyjam.

alter your attitude

this made me laugh.





watching the biggest loser right now while i drink my coffee and wait for class. i hate the "game" part of it. i just wish they were all individually trying to win.

for workouts today i am taking a step class and hopefully zumba but we'll see how it goes. :D

yesterday's lunch was a mexican-ish salad with kale, salsa, chedda chz, black olives, black beans, mushrooms, and tomatoes.

















todays breakfast was some bulgur wheat with green apple, cinnamon, almond milk, and a blob of natural pb. :D

and in that moment, we were infinite.

i love love love this book. i just hope hollywood doesn't ruin it for me.
but emma watson is amazing.
yes i am a harry potter fan.
:D
my friends & i are going to have a hp marathon before the new one comes out. and im dressing up. mmhmm. a lot of people have told me i look like luna lovegood.
lets compare shall we?



























im not sure that i see it...

anyway yesterday i made spinach enchiladas. delish. i dont have a picture, sorry. but they were yummy. :)

this morning im eating bulgur wheat with banana, raisins, almond milk, and almond butter. YAY.

today is going to be lonnnnnnnng. boo.

t-shirt timmmmmmme

haha the title is from jersey shore. yes i watch it. and yes i think it's obnoxious and stupid. and yes i am addicted.

zumba was awesome like always.
i tried some new machines for 25 minutes.
then 3-2-1 class... holy burn. instructor martha kicked my butt.

now im eating leftover eggplant parmesan. the seeds kinda freak me out... hah
and yummy spicy sauteed kale. :)

sauteed kale:

1 tbsp olive oil
1.5 garlic glove
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1 large bunch kale
1/2 tsp salt (kosher)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup vegetable stock or water

heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat for 10-15 seconds. add crushed red pepper and garlic clove for 30-45 seconds. add pieces of kale and it begins to wilt. continue to add for about 2 minutes and stir. add water, salt, and pepper, cover and cook for 4-5 minutes.

enjoy!

punnnkins

my roommate's pumpkin is bigger than my head!

yeah so we are having people over tonight to carve pumpkins, drink yummy jello shots, and watch hocus pocus. second annual halloween night. :D
ill remember to take pictures.

breakfast was the usual bulgar wheat, almond butter, almond milk, raisins, banana, and cinnamon. this breakfast fills me up like no other.
but whenever i get my south beach diet book i won't be eating high carb foods for two weeks! Ahhhhhh. eggs for breakfast? im not that kind of person. oh well ill get through it.

i dont like calling the south beach diet a "diet" because i think its more of an eating lifestyle. the only reason im going to follow it is because i've gained about 20, yes 20, pounds in the last year. (i really dont know how i think it may have to do with my medication) but i just want to shed off the "excess" in order to feel comfortable and healthy again. none of my 13 pairs of jeans fit me like that did last year. some i cant even get up my thighs! lol.

ill be continuing to take my exercise classes because they make me feel better & refreshed. and speaking of.. im going to zumba in an hour and then a 3-2-1 training class at noon.
then cleaning and getting ready for the halloween festivities!

sharelle

........ahhh!

so i have two mid-term exams tomorrow.
that i am not ready for. at all.
i think ill wake up at 6 a.m. and study for as long as possible. i might even skip two classes. yay or nay? hmm... maybe i should.
=/

anyway after class i took my usual wednesday awesome intervals. awesome as usual. a lot of squats. love it.

then i made eggplant parmesan for lunch! i've never touched an eggplant before. i think i did pretty damn good and it was pretty tasty. [recipe was from a hungry girl cookbook.]

i also had two protein smoothies today...hahaha whoops. i loaded up on protein today.
i think it's a good thing though because i stopped eating a lot of meat again. (i used to vegetarian..now im more like a flexitarian.) i still eat meat occasionally but only if someone else makes it or if its already in something like pasta.
i still eat fish too.

i should start studying now. BYES.

wake up; it's no use pretending

iron and wine was amazing last night. as usual, he never ceases to amaze me. i always just zone into his voice.

currently i'm watching the biggest loser. i am so in love with this show. i am so in love with both bob and jillian. they are so motivational to everyone.

i had a delicious breakfast today. actual i have been eating this everyday for a week now. bulgar wheat, raisins, banana, cinnamon, almond milk, and a blob of almond butter.

















pretty soon i have to go to class. & afterwards i'm going to one of my favorite group exercise classes: awesome intervals. the instructor is probably in her 60's...but WOW she loves to dance, she loves to push us, she makes us laugh. it really is awesome; no pun intended.
the class is mostly step aerobics which get me to sweat my ass off..literally. along with lots of squats and arm toning.

i should really be studying for my two mid-term exams that i have tomorrow. ehh...
work & family institutions and research methods. yikes.

ill do that later... :)

who's seen jezebel?

the title is a lyric from iron & wine's jezebel. because.... i get to see them tonight. i'm so excited. even though i saw them at lollapalooza 2009. it was amazing.

anyway. i started a new blog. i needed a fresh start. and i feel like this one will explain me most. i am all about exercising. some think i'm obsessed, but im really not. i'm just obsessed with the feeling it gives me afterward. :)

my name is sharelle and i'm twenty-one years old. i go to the university of iowa, pursuing a double major in psychology and health & human physiology. i thought about doing something with psych, but i can't see myself being that happy with it because individuals are pretty depressing and i think i would start to go crazy. so instead, i decided i want to help others by something i know and that im extremely interested in: nutrition and exercise! woo. exciting. im going to be a younger version of jillian michaels. yep.

right now my life mostly consists of school, homework, work (as a service desk associate at a local gym & a shift manager at a coffeeshop in my hometown), taking group exercise classes, trying to run, learning how to cook my own meals, and sleep.

some interesting facts about me:
- i eat a jar of nut butter a week.
- i watch way too much tv (online since i dont have cable): project runway, antm, biggest loser, teen mom, real world, grey's anatomy, gossip girl, keeping up with the kardashians, and jersey shore. go ahead make fun, but i know you watch it too.
- i spend more money on groceries than on entertainment
- i gained 20 pounds in the last year. (AHHH. i think its mostly muscle.)
- i have generalized anxiety disorder and am prescribed with paxil which has made me EMOTIONLESS! sometimes good, sometimes not so good.
- i've got a brother in the philippines who doesn't have the greatest lifestyle. i eventually want to travel over there and bring him back to the states with me.
- i'm too scared to take a spin class.

thats all i cant think of right now. but im a really weird, awkward person who doesn't talk that much. haha

<3