Monday Motivation: Amanda Wheeler!

Check out this gorgeous family! Wow (and they're Giants fans, that's pretty cool too!). Amanda's story caught me right away, and I was sucked in until I read through the entire thing. This is one amazing woman, my friends! Say hello to Amanda!

Amanda Wheeler

35 <-------- OUCH... did I just admit to that! 

Wife/MOM/ Full time Claims Rep Social Security Administration

 
Well girls, it's my turn.... My life is not the most exciting in the world, however, I feel like i am finally at a place in my life where I have something to say... (in a group like this)
 
I'm a 35 year old wife and mom. I've been with my (very HOT) husband JP for 10 years (married for 5), and we have one son, Matthew who is twenty months old. (WOW!)  I am the girl that ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a mommy to a lot of babies and stay at home with all of them, volunteer at their schools, and go to all the field trips ect. God however, had a different plan... As my husband and I tried to have a baby we suffered 3 miscarriages, finally figuring out that there was something wrong and this was not just mother natures way of saying "not yet". I went to a "DR HOUSE" style specialist... MEAN as the day is long, but brilliant!!!! After more surgeries, and tests than I can count he found out that I was an extra special person... with an extra uterus... yep... 2! Who knew! Well he did reconstructive surgery to make my 2 room condo in to a mansion (as he said) :-) and we were able to conceive Matthew. He will be our one and only. I have been told that at this point it's to dangerous for us to try for another for my own health. As far as I am concerned, one is enough! I love him more than anything, but as you know children are expensive, and we want to be able to take great care of him (and each other).
 
My weight has been an ongoing struggle most of my life. Being pregnant 3 times, miscarrying, going through depression and being on bed rest after surgeries didn't help. I was always the chubby kid that was gaining 5-10 pounds every year, and before I knew I was up to 207 pounds. Like most of you, I have tried every fad. Shakes, Adkins, Slimfast, liquid diets, anything. It all worked, but I couldn't STICK to anything. Nothing for me was LIFE LONG. Until I read a Monday Motivation from Erica. I swear Erica, that was my AH-HA moment. I was always losing the same 5-10 pounds over and over again (just like you had said,) and that's when I decided to make life long good decisions. starting with day 1, more water, no more mindless snacking, sticking to the MFP tracker for some direction. On days that I fall off the wagon, I get back up the very next day. Not weeks later after I have put the weight back on. Today I am down 23.4 pounds, and that has been in the last 3 months. I'm proud to say that next week I should be at 25 and will be at my 1/2 way mark! (I have Bon Jovi in my head as I say that... "OHHHHH We're half way there .. OH oh Living on a prayer!")
 
My average day allows 1200 calories. I have a hard boiled egg for breakfast and water, water, water! Lunch I have a Lean Cuisine meal. For a snack I sneak in the Dessert Light Yoplait Yogurt (90 calories). Then a sensible dinner. High protein, high fiber, low fat. That's my lifestyle. No measuring, no meal replacements, just sensible. I'm not really working out as much as I should, but I do when I can. With a full time job, I am away from my son all day already, so I hate the idea of leaving  him for longer. I do have a jogging stroller that I put him in when I jog. That would probably be my go to work out item. My go to beauty item is Sally Hanson's Leg Makeup. Its an immediate tan in a bottle. Because tan fat looks WAY better than NON-tanned fat :) 
 
The thing I am most proud of in life is something personal to me. I was raised in a bad home. I knew at a very young age I would do better for my family, and I have. I am not perfect, but I married a great man, we have a great home, great careers, and we put our family above all else. 
 
If any of you are struggling, the piece of advice that I have is all the pain we go through does serve a purpose. We may not understand it at the time, but it creates character, strength and the knowledge to know that YOU can CHOOSE a BETTER life for yourself.
 
Hang in there ladies! We will get to our goals together!


Thank you so much Amanda! I laughed immediately at your tan fat comment. My sister and I have been using that phrase since high school! Small changes make a BIG impact over time. Amanda has proven that. You're awesome!


If you'd like to be featured for Monday Motivation, please message me on FB or email cassie.baillie@gmail.com

-Cassie

Recipe Rave: Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Our first recipe submission is from Lauren! I'm so excited to share this. I plan on making pasta for dinner tonight, and I'm pretty sure I'll be adding this as a side dish. Better get to the store! If you haven't tried brussel sprouts, I highly suggest it. Glad to find another lover of the sprouts.Take it away Lauren!

Here's my new favorite way to eat Brussel Sprouts these days. Can't.stop.eating.them. I don't necessarily count the calories in this dish, but it's certainly easy enough to use less olive oil, fewer pecans/craisins/goat cheese. But it's clean eating, and it's usually my entire lunch, so I don't skimp.

I cut my brussel sprouts in quarters. I get them in bags at Trader Joes and I use about half the bag at a time. 

I add the oil and stir it really well. I find that I can use less oil if I make sure to get what I use all over all the pieces. Then I sprinkle it with some salt.

I roast them at 350 degrees for 15 minutes maybe? Not going to lie - I hardly keep track because I watch them like a hawk, so excited to eat them. I mainly decide they are done based upon their appearance. 

Then I add a handful of pecans, handful of craisins, and handful of goat cheese.

Then, I devour it like I may never eat again. 

Thanks again, Lauren! This really does look absoloutley incredible. I hope the rest of you consider trying it!

If you have a recipe that you just love, please share it with us! Just make sure you take pictures of your cooking process and send the information along to me at cassie.baillie@gmail.com.

-Cassie

Monday Motivation: Kelly Paquet

Welcome to our most recent installment of Monday Motivation! Today we're getting to know the lovely Kelly Paquet! Somehow I shuffled her interview away into the abyss of other "Kelly"emails, but at last, here she is! 

Name: Kelly Elizabeth Paquet - Age: 34 - Career: Program Coordinator for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Social Services

Tell us about yourself:

I have lived in Boston, MA since 2002. I moved up to MA from Florida, where I lived in Winter Park/Orlando and Bradenton/Sarasota from the age of 10. Before that I lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I was born. I married my husband November 13, 2010 in Cambridge, MA in a small ceremony of close family and friends. I found out I was pregnant in January 2011 and had Charlie on September 23, 2011.

What or who is your fitness inspiration? 

I’m inspired by moms who are able to make time to exercise.

What are you doing now to maintain an active lifestyle? 

I am currently doing the 30 Day Shred from Jillian Michaels, and I am planning to get back into running and biking. I would love to be able to go to the gym and do group classes, as I really enjoy them, but right now my schedule doesn't allow it.

What are foods, meals or snacks you would recommend to those looking to maintain a healthy diet? 

When I was doing really well losing weight, I would try to stick to a low calorie lunch. That way I could enjoy a nice dinner and dessert. I liked laughing cow cheeses, adding spinach to bulk up meals, and oatmeal and yogurt with granola for breakfasts. Also banana pancakes! Popcorn and fruit are good snacks too.

What does a sample menu of your day look like?

Breakfast: Coffee, Chobani Fat Free Yogurt, Banana with almond butter 

Lunch: Leftovers or a Healthy Choice meal with added spinach 

Snack: Rice cakes or popcorn 

Dinner: Varies greatly - we cook a lot and eat every kind of food. Could be fish one night and roast chicken the next.

Name one fitness item you absolutely have to have:

Double sports bras when I am running, good ear buds that stay in place and music! I finally just bought an arm band for my phone too!

What would be your best piece of advice you’d share with someone who might be struggling?

We all go through times when our health isn't our priority, but get back to it as soon as you can. Ultimately we want to make this a lifestyle! Joining Waist Management has been so helpful. It’s nice to have people to check in with on a daily basis. If you can try to commit to track your food for 30 days, you will see a difference. I haven't been committed in the past few months and my weight loss has stalled. At one point, I had tracked for 6 months in a row. None of us are perfect but we all fight the same fight together! We are fighting for our health, for our families and for ourselves!

When we aren’t working out, we’re normal people too. Name your favorite, feel good beauty product: 

I love a good body scrub, like this one I recently tried: GudonyaToo sMOOchy All Over Skin Exfoliator and Conditioner - Oh So Delicious.

What accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?

My marriage, having my son, getting my Masters Degree and Social Work Licensure, completing a sprint triathlon and a 10k.

Tell us about when you started running, why and what keeps you going. Any goals? 

I started running (this time) last April after I finished the 30 Day Shred in March. I was able to run 3 miles without a lot of training, so I just kept working on that. To be honest, I don't really love it like some people do, but I like being able to say I did it! My boss at work runs and was encouraging me to. She is also the one who got me to do the triathlon and the 10k. I wasn't really prepared for the 10k and managed to injure my foot, so I have not been running lately, but I go back and forth about wanting to run a Half marathon. Once my foot is sorted out, I will probably end up signing up for one, just so I can say I did it! I am hoping to do another triathlon this summer as well.

Thank you Miss Kelly! We sure love having you in our group. Keep up your hard work!

If you'd like to be apart of Monday Motivation, please contact me via Facebook or email me at cassie.baillie@gmail.com

-Cassie