Train Day 2011; Tampa Union Station

Hello! This past Saturday was Train Day! Train Day is all about bringing life to the rich history of how trains have transformed America. The free event feature live entertainment, interactive & educational exhibits, kids’ activities, model trains & tours of Amtrak equipment.  I was probably the most excited person in Tampa for this event. I love the railways, even though I have never taken a train trip! This will be remedied ASAP.

Here is some photos from the day.

I’m shocked how cheap rail is. From Jacksonville to Charleston ROUND, w/ two nights in a hotel there, was UNDER $300 per person! I think it would be a perfect vacation! OR an awesome 5 day? Tweetup ;)

Here is some photos from the sleeping car they had on display.

Cabin window, bottom bunk folded up.

Bottom Bunk, folded up.

Sink, very tiny -cute!

The dining car downstairs.

Toilet/Shower combo, every man’s dream in life.

Overall the event was awesome. I had a great time, there was lots of swag. :) Please take some time to stop & check out  Tampa Union Station. It’s a beautiful building that was opened in 1912 & served railroad passengers through the Great Depression & both World Wars. In 1974—it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It’s a GORGEOUS building, with so many intricate details. It also makes you feel like you’re stepping back into time. :)

Also!!! attached is an amazing open space building called the “baggage building“. I have been posting that link everywhere, it would be an awesome stop for a coffee house, bar, restaurant, art gallery…etc. Tampa Union Station will anchor one end of a planned rehabilitation of Zack Street into an “avenue of the arts”.

ERGH; Week Two

Week two! I was down 5.5 pounds, total so far 10.5!

(That half pound really matters, eh? lol!)

I was actually kinda bummed at the weigh-in, I hoped for more of a loss than last week when I was just detoxing. If I had lost 5 pounds just “cutting back”, I had thought that I’d lose much more by being strict…!I was guessing 6-8 pounds, at least!

If I keep going, I’ll be at my goal weight in six more weeks. :) I expressed to the DR that I was really nervous about plateauing.  He said that shouldn’t be an issue & has “tricks” to fix it.

After the DR I went to Walgreen’s & bought one of every “health” bar that was under 200 calories. I’ve decided to eat those for breakfast, I think that will help me lose weight faster. (I haven’t been eating breakfast.) I also have been eating 1/2 chicken breast  & 2 cups of romaine per meal.  The only other thing I could think of doing besides that is splitting lunch/dinner into 4 meals. (More smaller meals a day?)

I did break diet once, I had 4 beers on Saturday night, but went right back on Sunday.

Also, funny story (which I have told a billion times), Gregg & I were at the movies this past Friday for Thor. Before the movie started I groaned, “I want popcorn :(” & he said, “Go get it, but when we get to your house I’m putting your before picture on your fridge” -I didn’t get popcorn :P (Thanks babe!)

Here is my app w/ the calories for the week two.

Mexican Lettuce “Taco” Wraps

I didn’t want to be left out of all the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, so I made some Mexican inspired lettuce wraps. The fresh salsa, “Market Fresh Chipotle Garlic Salsa” was from Wal-mart, & only $3. (& WAY yummy & ALL fresh stuff!) It’s only 5 calories per 2 tablespoons.  I’m not sure how to get it under 300 calories, unless you cut out the celery (20 calories per serving) but I really enjoyed the crunch! I also add an ungodly amount of Cayenne pepper, because I like it flaming hot. It also helps w/ my water intake, I drank 64 ounces of water while eating this. Oh, best part! I was STUFFED!

3 Day Hair

I used to wash my hair everyday. I used to feel SO icky if I didn’t. After reading sillygrrl.com for a few months now, I’ve seen her mention stretching out hair washings.

I wanted to get on board.  I hated my old routine of washing/conditioning/blow drying/flat iron/etc. -It was taking up over an hour+ a DAY!

My new routine is this:

Day 1:  Shampoo/Condition, blow dry, flat iron. At night, I pull my hair into a high bun. The secret here for me, is not twisting the hair before I wrap it into a bun.  I used to twist, twist, twist, then wrap it all around on top of my head. This did not work, it would be unmanageable the next day.

Day 2:  After I shower, I brush out & blow dry any bits that got wet while washing my face. After brushing out, I spray dry shampoo pretty much everywhere, focusing on an inch or so from my part.  I heat up my flat iron & fix any strays. I then make sure to run over the last 3-4 inches of my hair to make they ends smooth. :) On day 2 I use hairspray to kick up the volume. (I hate flat hair.) At night, I pull my hair into a high bun, just like day 1.

Day 3: My favorite day! Curly! I do the same as day 2, just after I dry shampooing I pin up the top section & start to curl the crap out of it. Let down the top layer, & curl the crap out of that. After countless Youtube videos & asking random people I see with curled hair, I think I have finally somewhat mastered curing my hair. I even spray it with hair spray while on the curling iron, which I’m sure I learned from my mother & is bad for your hair.  It doesn’t hold all day, even w/ loads of hairspray & dirty hair. Towards the end of the day, it’s just wavy/beach/crazy. :P I sleep however at night, since the next day…

…I repeat!

Shampoo/Conditioner- Aussie Volume at my place, Mane & Tail at Gregg’s. I also use Aussie’s 3 Minute Miracle every week or two focusing on my ends. (This stuff is amazing.)

Dry Shampoo- TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo. It’s cheap & effective. I’d like to try their waterless foam dry shampoo.

Hairspray- Aussie’s Sun-Touched Shine. It holds well & add some shininess. (Not greasy looking!!)

I love! this routine.

I have SO MUCH more time in the mornings. I can take longer showers, not be rushed & enjoy a cup of coffee while doing my hair. :) The extra time comes in handy now that I’m packing/preparing meals & shooting myself with a syringe every morning.

What is your hair care routine?

RFTB 6

♥ When I woke up today I thought it was Friday, then remembered it’s Wednesday. Gregg & I have planned to go to Tampa Bay Mineral and Science Club tonight to partake in a beading & chainmaille class. I’m really excited that we got our membership cards & are going! It’s only $2-3 a class! (per hour)

♥ Smashing Pumpkins’ released a new song- “Owata”!!! You can listen to it on the right side on my page. Also, the current band finally has secured rights to all the Pumpkins’ unreleased material, so we can expect remastered reissues of Gish, Siamese Dream &Pisces Iscariot by Christmas(!!!), complete with extra tracks. 2012 will bring Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness, The Aeroplane Flies High & Adore, while 2013 will see Machina I & Machina II reissued with the songs in the correct running order.

♥ I really love Cat vs Human. It’s a comic about a girl & her cats. =^..^= Also please see her other comic Doctor Cat MD.

♥ Suzie the Foodie made Chocolate Biscuit Cake which was Prince William’s grooms cake. It looks SO good. (This is just not my diet talking) Cookies + TONS OF CHOCOLATE + heavy cream= YUM!! Suzie’s blog is all around amazing, for sure worth subscribing & bookmarking.

♥ A really cute shelf made from a wooden magazine holder from IKEA. I wish I could find a place for this at my home, OR I didn’t have plaster walls that I’m terrified about drilling/nailing in. Crack! ($5 shelf!)

♥ Another cool project from Apartment Therapy DIY Small Space Pallet Garden. I’d also like this at my house, just where to put it?

♥ My boyfriend, Gregg, has a different spin on keeping up with his HCG diet. He made a food log blog.

Y’all know I love .gif’s right?

500

It’s pretty clear by now that I love The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  :)

I watched, “How Do You Know” last night, at one point in the movie there is a shot where Reese Witherspoon is looking into her bathroom mirror & there is inspirational quotes covering the surface. Wait, I found a screenshot. Just call me Queen Google :)

Anyways, I liked it. I think I’m going to work on something like that soon. Oh, btw, the movie was good, but I really like chick romantic comedies where there is nerdy/quirky guys. Paul Rudd is my new celebrity crush, he’s hot.

Last night I cooked fish for the first time in my life. It was tilapia, I just baked it with salt & pepper. I’m glad I found seafood that I can stomach. Also, bummer.  Oh, I must report that while in the final hour of work I started getting really woozy/dizzy. I had missed breakfast/lunch because I wanted to get to the doctor on time. Thankfully Gregg was at his appointment & dropped off some turkey jerky.  (Although THREE OUNCES is 234 calories!! WTH!) Once again, I felt immediately better & was okay to drive home.

Today I am prepared, I think the woozy/dizziness is from low blood sugar.

Here is what I have planned for the day:

8:15am- Egg w/ spinach mixed it. It’s one of my old standbys & I enjoy it immensely. 80 calories

11:15am- Orange; I cut it at home, I hate how sticky/messy/juicy they are. It’s my last one, next shopping trip I’m only getting apples.  70 calories

3:00- Salad w/ romaine & field greens. I added a bit of rec onion & 3 chopped up slices of turkey bacon. 243 calories

5:00- I made one of my favorite dishes!! Cucumber salad! (Thin sliced cucumbers/onion + apple cider vinegar) I realized last night that it was totally fine to eat.  43 calories

7:30- I cooked two 4oz. portions of fish yesterday so tonight would be easy. I’ll have a salad or if I’ m craving hot foods, I’ll have some sort of leafy greens. :) 148+ ?? calories

That’s the thing…

I’m already at 584 calories BEFORE I even add my side dish for dinner. I have to have protein in the AM, I do not want to feel like crap. I even brought an instant oatmeal packet to work, JUST in case I start feeling terrible. I don’t care if I go over 500 calories. I don’t even think anywhere on the sheet the DR gave us listed a calorie total.  I still think if I stay under 800, I’m fine. According to my height/weight I need to consume 1,337 calories to lose a pound a week. (Oh hell naw, I’m 1337!:)))) So, if I stick to under 800, I should be fine.

Shots

We had planned that Gregg come over very early (he has a busybusy day) & he’d shoot us both. Gregg came over & I chickened out. He was totally relaxed & filled the syringe up & shot his tummy. I knew I’d be emotional & need to “talk” & be hassled.  I just refused. Then after he left, I felt that I needed to do it, he was really brave.  I filled up the syringe & googled how to inject on You Tube. After watching 2-3 videos I just lifted up my shirt & did it. I was worried about it going in. But the needle is SO THIN, like a hair width.  I just realized a needle prick is laughable. So that’s that.

Here is a another Paulo Chelho quote that I made w/ a photo from Flickr.

magic/stars/miracles? Yes plz!

ERGH; Week One

One week is over!

I’m down five pounds! That’s pretty awesome, although I should be down a bit more. I had three drinks last night, and also ate a chicken wrap during a movie. So, I’m sure I should be at least a pound lower, hopefully I’ll have a BIG lost next week.

Today I met up with the doctor & received my HCG & needles. We have to inject ourselves! I’m terrified. I already talked to Gregg & he should be able to shoot me every morning. :)

We also have to log our foods now, but I’ve already been doing that with the Lose It! app. I’m aiming for under 800 calories a day this week.

They also measured me, my chest is 42 inches, WOOO Victoria Secret! :P

Midnight

Like the title says, it’s midnight.

I’m home.

This isn’t like me. If I’m awake, I’m going. I’m always out. Go, go, go! I’m always spending money, drinking far too much, making poor nutrition decisions.

Last night, on the way home I felt like I was going to pass out, Gregg took me to a drugstore & I picked up a protein bars. I felt better instantly. At the event, I ended up getting two free drink tickets, so I had two drinks.

I paid for both of those choices today, I was bloated & uncomfortable.

Tonight I had promised friends I’d go see a band that’s in town, but I just didn’t want to be tempted with the clear lack of willpower I have currently.

I made dinner (lentils, black beans, chicken, cilantro, onion…etc.) to take & share w/ Gregg at his office. I stayed drank a coffee + cinnamon + stevia =!!!!! & helped him prep some stuff for his day tomorrow.

In a side note, my random unknown reason hives are back with a more frequent than ever vengeance.

ERGH Update 1; Day 3

This is a continuation about Eating Right & Getting Healthy.

I’m feeling great today. However, it may be because I’m on my 5th cup of coffee. ( Thankfully I prefer my coffee black.)

This is how the days are going:
8:30AM- Wake up & drink big glass of water w/ half a lemon
9:00AM- Black coffee
9:45AM- Apple/Orange en route to work
1-2:00PM- Salad w/ cup of diced cucumbers, half a chicken breast & balsamic vinegar.
4-5:00PM- Apple/Orange
7:00PM- Half a chicken breast w/ about 3 cups of green veggies. (Kale/Brussels Sprouts/Broccoli)

I drink lots of water & herbal teas all day.

Last night I busted out the Rodney Yee Yoga DVD that I won from Doniree.com. It felt really great to do yoga, after my (at least) 6 month hiatus. I’m actually a bit sore in my arms today. Typically that would make me bummed out, because I internally consider myself a badass yogi, but I am okay with it. Delayed onset muscle soreness is pretty common after exercise and usually means your muscles are getting stronger!!! & I am EXCITED to be doing yoga again. I almost squealed when I noticed myself automatically going to ujjayi breathing! :)

Tonight I’m going to a “networking event” which typically means “drink & get wasted”. I guess this is testing my willpower. Maybe I’ll remember peoples names & stories unlike most “networking events”. I’ll report back.

Tomorrow I am going to write a post that isn’t a photo/diet crap/quote/cat related!

Eat Right, Get Healthy

Grocery Shopping for detox week; & Garbage food =^..^=

For my birthday Gregg got me & him a medical weight loss plan. I figured I’d blog about the whole process.

Last week I got a blood test to make sure everything was okay. Last night after work, I met up with the Doctor & Nutritionist.  After being weighed & measured (OMG, I’m 5′5″ NOT 5′7″ like I have had on my ID since I was 17!) they both asked me the standard questions, goal weight, lowest weight ever, and how long I sustained that.

I had to explain how I had lost 35 pounds last year through a VLCD detox & 2-3 hours a day at the gym… then how I had fallen off big time for a few reasons: 1. I plateaued extremely bad, I stayed at a weight for over a month w/ increased cardio/yoga & has uped my calories to under 1,200 a day. 2. I met an awesome man who I didn’t have issues that he’d “love me again” if I was thinner 3. I developed quite the active social (boozing) life.

Although all that sucked admitting to very in shape medical professionals, they honestly didn’t blink an eye. They said the weight I want to drop is reasonable – about 35 pounds. (15 being the weight I’ve gained back.)

This week, they put us on a detox which is basically eating clean. No junk, fast food…etc. This is to prepare my body for the HCG diet, which starts next Monday. I’m kinda bummed that it doesn’t involve appetite suppressants or stimulants of any kind, I admit that I enjoy being fidgety/strung-out. We’ll get shots of B12 too, I’m not sure what that is for other than increased energy.

Just reading online the whole thing is “iffy”, there is tons of good stuff, and just as equally as much bad. I’m optimistic about everything right now, but if anything changes I have no issues stopping HCG & just sticking to the diet that restricts calorie intake. It feels like the internet mostly is junked up with people trying to sell the HCG shots/pills OR something that works better, so they are discrediting HCG. I was explained that HCG doesn’t make you lose weight, it’s eating 500 calories a day that makes you drop weight, it apparently is a hormone that tells your body to break down fat verse muscle while losing weight.

Back to yesterday, I was given a supply of colon cleanse to take 3x a day, the light diet w/no calorie restrictions, just eating generally healthy -although today I am under 700 calories, because I’m a freak & enjoy counting calories & keeping them low. He also told me to pick up a book that will motivate me and keep me focused, Gregg picked up Tim Ferriss’ “4-Hour Body”, I’ve yet to pick mine. I meet with the DR/nutritionist next Monday to get a B12 & HCG shot.

After we went grocery shopping, mostly leafy greens, protein (boneless, skinless chicken breasts, fish) and some tea & etc. We bought a frozen pizza & PBR to send us off. There is no(!!!) drinking during the entire diet!

It’s late & I have a movie to finish, but I’ll be posting regularly about this now. Oh, also we took “before” pictures while I was writing blog post. I asked Gregg never to show me mine. :(

I have an account on Lose It!, so if you have one, feel free to add me @thatgirlallie.

Worth it

Perfection

This room is perfection!
I wish I could find more/where it’s from for more inspiration!

Please be true

Fairy Bread

This is a real thing.  According to Wikipedia, Fairy bread is a treat commonly served at children’s parties in Australia and New Zealand.  It’s just sliced white bread cut into triangles, spread with butter, and covered with sprinkles or nonpareils.

I plan on making this soon & going to try not to eat it for every meal.
August 21st is National Fairy Bread Day!