Brand New

I love a fresh start.  I love sitting down after New Year's Day and coming up with my resolutions.

This year, I had such a hard time with this.

I thought for days on end and could not come up anything.

And then, on January 5th I attended Church of the Highlands and heard about the Brand New series.

I immediately knew what my resolutions would consist of...starting over.

He really focused on the term new and improved.

Have you ever really thought about that phrase??

It's impossible to be NEW and IMPROVED...you are either new OR improved, not both.

He focused on the fact that resolutions are very short-lived and people rarely make it more than 6-8 weeks.

From the mouth of Chris Hodges himself, we don't need a  RESOLUTION...we need a REVOLUTION.

We don't need short-term goals, we need a brand new start....a revolution.

So friends, I know you've been dying to know my New Year's Resolution....

it's a REVOLUTION.

A new Steph.

A brand new start.

Instead of dieting,

I'm changing the way I eat.

Instead of trying to lose weight,

I'm changing my activies.

Instead of trying to be a better person,

I'm starting fresh with GOD.

I don't want to change my life for 6-8 weeks, I want a new life.

I'm going to stop trying and start doing.

In the past, I've been all talk and no action.

Happy brand new friends!!!

If you'd like to hear the sermons on this series...click here and enjoy.

Brand New

Weekly Recap

Week 3 and 4 Recap

 {Week 3} Weekly Average 1117Goal 1200 {Week 4}Weekly Average 1033Goal 1200 My weekly average is counting the calories burned while working out.I don't want anyone getting the idea that I'm not consuming enough calories. I'm doing pretty well with eating.  I crave apples and oranges during the days now.I almost always have an apple for snack and an orange with my lunch.I eat yoplait fat free yogurt every day at lunch.  Delish!I'm loving sandwich thins which are only 100 calories. This is still a work in progress for me.For example, I had IHOP for breakfast this morning.Started adding it into myfitnesspal before we got our food and I immediately lost my appetite.I know it is ok to splurge, but that food is so gross and afterwards I literally felt sick. I'm still trying to break the soda habit.This is the hardest thing for me and I look forward to my daily soda at lunch.I'm not sure I can kick this habit. I am absolutely loving zumba on Monday's and Wednesday's.I go to 2 classes in a row on both of these nights.Other than that, I am stumped on what to do.I need to start doing my home videos.I have turbo jam, 30 day shred, and zumba.That is my goal this week.  101 in 1001 update

13.  Visit friends in other states.I just booked my flight to Chicago for Spring Break.  I'm so excited to visit Shelbs and Evan and to see their new place. 62.  Try 50 new foods.I tried crab wontons this weekend.Yes, I almost threw up but I did try it.  Def NOT my thing. 67.  Print 50 pictures a month.I am so behind on this, but I did just print like 200 pictures. Yah!I'm deteremined to get caught up and get all my pics into picture albums. 96. Plan a trip with my closest girlfriends.NASHVILLE...post coming soon! 97.  Leave a 100% tip for someone.{3/6} 52 Weekly Resolutions that I've completed. Week 1-Make an anger punch list.I started making my bed daily.  It's amazing how much this affects my mood in the evenings when I come home to a nicely made bed. Week 3-Invest in a bag of impressive marshmellows.I took marshmellows to our craft party recently.  Not sure anyone ate any, but I did take them. I am hoping to buckle down this week.My goal is to work out 4-5 times a week. Happy Sunday lovelies!XoXo

Week 3 Recap

Weekly Average

1192

 (this is the average without subtracting what I burned each day)
Daily Goal

1200 Calories

I worked out so hard this week.  Even though I skipped working out on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

It's ok not to work out every day even though I do feel a little guilty for it.

My weight 3 weeks ago ranged between 121 and 122.

My weight this morning was 116.

I think the reason why that hasn't dropped more since last week is because I am working out hard and building muscle which weighs more than fat.

I loved elliptical machines in college, but I am pretty bored by them now.

I much prefer zumba, hiking, or walking/jogging outside.

I think this week I will try to mix it up a bit.

I found my tubro jam last week and I am getting my 30 day shred back from my sister this week.

I am hoping that planning this out ahead of time will help me to be accountable.

Monday-Zumba

Tuesday-Turbo Jam

Wednesday-Zumba

Thursday-walking/jogging

Friday-30 day shred

We all know how much I love marking things off of my list!  :)

Update on 101 in 1001

97.  I left a 100% tip for our waitress at my niece's birthday dinner. 2/6

Week 2 Recap

My Fitness Pal is my bff!

I love how easy it is to use.

I also love having friends that motivate me inspire me.

Are you on there?  Find me @ Sraustin123

Weekly Average

966 Calories

Daily Goal

1200 Calories

I have lost 4 pounds!!!  I am ecstatic about this!!

I am so proud of myself for eating so well this week.

Here is a breakdown of what I eat on most days

Breakfast-Honey Bunches of Oats with almonds

Vanilla Soy Milk

Coffee

Snack-green apple/orange

variety of nuts (almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds)

string cheese
water

Lunch-Yoplait Fat Free Strawberry Yogurt

Pita Chips

Sandwich or hard boiled eggs

Snack-orange/apple

Dinner-Changes a lot, but I have been more aware of my portions

and I try to eat more veggies.

I'm also getting in at least 3 workouts a week.

101 in 1001

62.  I tried a new food. 

Squash...it was actually very similar to zucchini.  I think I like it.

67.  Print 50 pictures a month.

I am very very behind on this one, but I did upload a ton of pics to my Shutterfly account this weekend.

I am slowly going to order them and hopefully catch up to where I will be able to mark this one as completed.

(I got a $20 credit for my birthday from Shutterfly.  :))

96.  Plan a girls trip.

A few freinds and I are trying to get together a trip to Nashville for our birthdays.

It's in the works...we will see!  My fingers are crossed!

97.  Leave a 100% tip for someone.

Saturday night, my friend Mandy and I went to dinner at Stix.

I was in a great mood, the food was delicious, and I decided to leave a good tip for our server.

Aother one marked off the list.

I am excited to see what the next week brings!

Happy Sunday lovelies!

XoXo

Wednesday Loves

It's Wednesday...the week is half way over and it feels like it just started.

Technically, I guess it did just start for me since I was off on Monday.

Wouldn't it be nice if every week was a 4 day week?

Anyways, I am linking up with Jamie for WILW and Michelle for Oh How Pinteresting...

these are 2 of my faves!

{BCS}

I'm absolutely ecstatic that Alabama won the BSC National Championship game Monday night!

I'm loving, even more, that it was a complete shutout.

We had a little get together at my friend, Heather's.

and had such a wonderful time watching this game with our fellow alums.

{Off day}

 I'm loving that my day off was very productive and started with a 2 hour hike, partially in the rain.

We are awesome like that!

{New Year, New You}

I'm loving how motivated I am lately...

I bought 3 groupons lately...

Livemocha

12 month online access to learn up to 32 different languages.

I'm thinking I will do good to learn Spanish, but the more the merrier. (Is that a word?)

I also bought this pedometer for $10.

I want to be able to count my steps and see how many calories I burn in a day. 

I also bought a groupon for $20 worth of organic groceries for $10.

I have been obsessing over eating organically lately.

By the way, I'm also loving MyFitnessPal and my new scale!

I have eaten so well the past couple of days and I'm pretty sure that I am building the foundation for the rest of my life...

I know that sounds corny, but I am so dedicated this time 

(unlike the millions of other times that I whine about being out of shape and eat healthy for about one day)

Please, leave me a comment if you are on MyFitnessPal so we can be friends!

{Giveaway}

I'm also loving this amazing giveaway!

Check it out.

OK, moving on...

Some pins that have really motivated me this week!

I love love love this!

During our hike on Monday, we were quoting this to motivate each other...

we were talking about how we wanted to be able to hike in our sports bras and feel skinny...

that is our goal for 2012!

How true is this...

Just for fun....

There are times that I have been so self-conscious about my freckles, but I have learned to embrace them.

I've always been told they are cute, so today I encourage you to embrace your freckles.

They are a part of YOU.

Happy happy Wednesday lovelies!

XoXo

New Year, New You

Write random and link up.

{Vacay}

My trip has come to an end. I'm on the train headed back to Birmingham.

I was so sad to leave, but I'm so ready to see Coral.

I will have a post about my trip later this week.

{Resolutions}

Listen to the entire bible...

if you have an iPhone download the app daily audio bible. It's amazing!

Get to my goal weight by working out an eating healthier.

Cut back on processed foods. Eat more fruits and veggies, drink less soda, and stay hydrated with my new water bottle.

Restart our sister bible study.

Go to church more.

{Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead}

I watched this documentary this past week and I was so inspired.

I'm going to do a 7 day fast on fruit and veggie juice only.

It's a great way to detox.

It's another one of my resolutions.

{The Bachelor}

Premier tonight!!! Enough said!

Happy Monday lovelies!!!!

XoXo

New Years Resolutions/Goals

Show us how you live 2010

1. Devotion Time - I bought a women's devotional that I started and want to continue throughout the rest of the year...I love it so far!! There is one verse/devotion for each day of the year.

2. Church - I want to find a more permanent church family...2 of my favorite churches are here in the Birmingham area and now that I am back here for good, I want to attend more and decide which one I would like to join.

3. Be healthier - Not only do I have to get in shape for Heather's wedding (less than 6 weeks away); I need to be healthier all around. I plan on trying to eat better and working out more. I am an awful runner, but I really wanna try to run. It's a great way to stay in shape and I think that it can be enjoyable once I get through the first few weeks.

4. Patience - I feel that I have a great deal of patience when it comes to certain aspects of my life (such as teaching and dealing with children), but I am SO impatient in other aspects (traffic/driving in general and with my boyfriend). I really want to work on this because I feel that there is no reason to stress about things that aren't important!

5. Money - I am a big spender!! I am not going to be working this semester since I am doing my student teaching and I need to make what money I do have last until I graduate. This is going to be tough, but it is possible! I plan on figuring out some sort of budget so hopefully I will get better with my money.

2010 here I come!

XoXo