No Junk Food Challenge

Today we (H and B) decided to start a 21 day no junk food challenge. We got the picture off of Pinterest and had tried once before, but unfortunately we failed (and we didn't last very long either). So today we decided to start anew and hopefully make an impact in both of our lives. 

Today was very hard for both of us. We spent both Monday and Tuesday baking cupcakes for a school event, so we had a ton of leftovers. I did send most of them to The Open Door Mission, but I saved a few for my dad (but also because I forgot about this challenge). So all throughout the day I heard the cupcakes calling to me and it was so difficult to resist the urge. It's the first day and I'm already having major temptations and am on the verge of failing…again. (H)  I texted B in my time of weakness and she confessed that she too was struggling and both of us had inadvertently made minor boo-boos, but we encouraged each other and it was nice to know that we were not alone. 

Although today was hard, I managed to start the day off right with another day of Bootcamp and I managed to have a decent breakfast of 2 hard boiled eggs and 2 pieces of whole wheat toast. Today's Bootcamp went well (although I still struggled a lot), but luckily I did not throw up. I'd say I made some improvement. Not wanting to ruin the day I decided to try and replicate the famous Mango Smoothie from Panera. It didn't turn out exactly the same, but it was pretty tasty (however I regret the small amount I made because it did not fill me up. I didn't realize this until later when we were grocery shopping.) Anyways, I had planned to have a healthy, lean dinner of chicken, but unfortunately I ate some (a ton) smoked meat with BBQ sauce instead. (Not my proudest moment!) All I can say is there is always tomorrow and as the famous Rafiki once said….

So although I didn't totally reach my goal for today, I did manage to resist the temptation of the cupcakes and to not break my no junk food challenge (as far as I know). I know B wanted to write today, but something came up and she had to pass the baton on to me. Hopefully she will be able to write to you all tomorrow and you will get to see her personality a little bit. 

                                   Sincerely H

P.S. Here is the No Junk Food Challenge

Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

Just because you're on a dairy-free diet or someone in your family has dietary restrictions, doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the fun. 

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder,                   plus more for dusting 

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups water

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting 

DIRECTIONS

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit). Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners. Sift together cake flour, granulated sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.

2) With an electric mixer, mix together oil, vinegar, vanilla, and the water until combined. Add flour mixture and mix until smooth. (Batter will be very thin and runny.)

3) Divide batter evenly among lines cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tin halfway through, until a toothpick comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Turn out cupcakes onto a wire rack and let cool completely. 

4) Cupcakes can be stored up to 3 days at room temperature, or frozen up to 1 month, in airtight containers. Dust cupcakes with cocoa powder and confectioners' sugar just before serving. 

REVIEW

These are probably the best chocolate cupcakes we have ever tasted--no joke. They are super moist and the texture is so smooth. The flavor is really rich and you would not believe these are vegan. They are super delicious and we would recommend then to anybody. They are also extremely easy and quick to make. You don't need any special ingredients and it takes about 10-15 minutes to whip up a batch. Perfect for those days you're craving chocolate or sweets, but you don't want to overload on calories. 

                             Sincerely H and B

First Day of Bootcamp

Today was my (H) first day of Bootcamp. It is a Bootcamp run by a local Zumba studio in Omaha, run by my friend's mom. It is from 5:30am-6:30am, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for 4 weeks. 

Today we mostly did testing to see how many push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, and dips we could do. We then moved on to the actual workout. We ran, did several series of side steps/gallops non-stop back and forth (to work our legs) and then we ran up a hill doing a high-low workout, which is more productive in working more of our bodies. (Running combined with push-ups and then running combined with sit-ups.) We then did a partner challenge, which you can do with any number of people. One person stays at the bottom of the hill in a plank postion while the other bear crawls up the hill and runs back down. Then, they switch. Afterwards we stretched for awhile, which is very important after any workout. 

Today's workout was very hard for me (H). It really showed me what I already knew to be true--I am out of shape. About halfway through the workout I felt sick to my stomach like I was going to throw up. (And I do have to admit that I did in fact throw up after the workout was over.) 

I learned a lot about myself today and I found the areas I need to work at more (which seem to be many). Sure I wondered "What did I get myself into?", but in order for me to change and feel comfortable in my skin, I needed to push myself no matter how uncomfortable it was, and I need to continue if I have any hope of change.  Today I really proved to myself that I can do more than I think and that if I put in the effort and push through the pain, I can make it out. (And of course it took a lot of praying and will take a lot more to get through the one hour workouts.)

It doesn't matter what shape you are in. Everyone is able to do something. We all have to start somewhere. Even if you can only do short periods at a time with rests in between or just a slower paced workout. As long as you are giving it your all and pushing through to the very last, you will make a difference and see improvement in the long run. It might not be immediate, but it is worth it. 

                                    Sincerely H

MEASUREMENTS:

Arm- 10 in.

Chest- 33 in.

Waist- 32 in.

Hips- 36 1/4 in .

Thigh- 21 3/4 in.

Calf- 13 1/8 in.

Fat Percent- 17.1%

BMI- 18.8

Feelings from the Beginning

     I've gotten to a point in my life where I am not happy at all. I can't stand what I've become or what I look like and I just don't like what has happened to me. It is really hard for me to do things or go places or wear certain things (pretty much anything not baggy) to the point where I hate looking at other people and seeing them and how they look and seeing me and how I look. I can't stand what I have done to myself or what I had to do to get to this point. The sad thing is that I didn't have to do very much, but I am going to have to do a whole lot to get away from it. Recently I have felt very depressed and sad and mad at myself and unable to control my feelings or what I want to do. My life has become a pity party and I want it to stop. I haven't been working out or eating right and I have sort of given up on any hope of not procrastinating. My life has taken a turn for the worse and I need to do something before it spins out of control. I need support. I cannot do this on my own. I am so thankful for my faith in God and the ability to call on Him whenever I need help. I don't know what I would do.I know what is bad for my body, but I can't help but feel like that would make my problems go away. I know what not to do and what could possibly kill me, but it seems to be the only option. I need help. I need guidance. I am stuck in a ditch and I cannot get out. I need someone to come with a rope and pull me out no matter how long it will take or how sore and dirty we become over the long struggle that is to come. I need someone who is right there who will jump in and push me up the rest of the way, because I have no more strength to carry on. I realize that I am going down a very dangerous path that could potentially lead to many bad and harmful things, but what I need more than criticism and skepticism and judgment is love, friendship, support and most of all accountability. I don't need you to tell me how thin you think I am or how much fatter you are because I don't care. That will not help change my thinking or help me to overcome this period in my life. Please, please, please help me in my journey and along the way. Be the one who brings the rope.

     In my life right at this moment I cannot look into a mirror without tearing myself apart for the way I look. I do not want to be a vicious monster or someone who no one wants to be around because I am always depressed. That is not the life I want to live. I know God has a plan for me and that He didn't make any mistakes, but I can't help but think if only He had made me thinner or smaller or not as much like me then my life would be better. What am I saying? How dare I question God? How could the creator of the universe mess up that much? He couldn't. This is all part of a plan. Whether it is to test me or to prepare me for something in the future, I need help to push past this and use it to make me stronger so that I may glorify God with everything I am and that I might be happy with what He has given me. I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me or to cry over my "misfortunes". Please just read this and understand that I am struggling and all I need right now is support, not a struggle.

Sincerely H

     This is something one of us (H) wrote earlier this year (January 2013). "At this point in my life, I was getting fed up with school and my life. I was filled with so much self-hate and I couldn't understand what was happening. I wrote this one night and sent it to my friend who immediately identified with me and showed true support. Having a friend so close has really been helpful to me in overcoming these feelings. I still deal with them and they have turned into anger, but I am currently working to change my life in a big way. My friend and I decided to start this blog mostly as a way to stay accountable and to support each other." If you identify with this in any way, have questions, or would like support, feel free to leave a comment or to email us. We can't guarantee a speedy response or the answer you want to hear, but we can tell you what we think and how we support you. We would love to know what you are going through and what you are doing to change it.