Wednesday Weigh-in Day!

Okay, whoops.  It's Thursday.  But shiz gets crazy.

So!  I've been maintaining a vegan diet, mostly low-fat other than some EVOO and avocado, two things I cannot give up.  Juicing, smoothies, vegetable soups, salads and veggie stir-frys.  :)

Numbers:

Dates:      Jan 1 /  Jan 8
Weights:  180.3 / 174.6
Chest:        41" / 41"
Waist:        34" / 32"
Bootie:       43" / 43"
Hips:       41.5" / 41"
Thighs:      26" / 25.5"


I haven't gotten much back into exercise yet because I have been sick this past week (feeling better the last couple of days.) -- Add to that how insanely cold it is, leaving the house is not so desirable, and neither is the treadmill in my basement where it's equally freezing.  BRrrrrrr!

And I should also say:  THANK YOU for all the sweet comments on my return to blogging!  I missed y'all too.




So, here are a few photos of my juicing / blending station and a bunch of the produce I have on hand right now.

 

So, tips on falling back in love with fruits and veggies?  That one is simple.  Cut everything else out of your diet for a while.  If you want to reset your tastebuds, you have to stop eating the things that make you feel like those foods aren't delicious.  The culprits for me are animal products and salt, primarily.  For a lot of people sweets would be included in that.

Take time off of processed foods and animal products.  Seriously.  You'll sit down to some cherry tomatoes, spinach and avocado with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and think, "HOLY SHIT, this tastes freaking amazing, where has this BEEN ALL MY LIFE?"  (I know, because that happened to me last week.)


Veggies have plenty of protein.  Add in some beans and or tofu, and you're set.  If it's cold and you're hungry, eat some oatmeal.  (Not the sugary flavored crap.  Plain + some cinnamon.  Add some agave nectar or a few slices of fresh fruit if you want a little sweetness.)  Drink some vanilla soy or almond milk.  It's *delicious.*


And hummus.  I can't say enough about hummus.  HUMMUS.  Did I mention I love hummus?  Because:  HUMMUUUUUUUUUS!

/ahem

On that note I enjoyed some "chocolate milk" juice this morning.  (Pictured first above; romaine lettuce +carrot in the juicer.  Seriously.  Tastes like friggin' chocolate milk.)  The 2nd juice there is a zippy snappy tangy juice made of:  2 oranges, 1 lemon, 1/2" ginger root, 2 carrots, 1 cucumber.  YUM!

So how are you guys doing?  New Years Resolutions?  Recommitting to healthy living?  New eating plans?  Tell me all about it.


xo,
~J

Holy crap. I'm back.

Hello my darlings.

It's been ***EIGHTEEN*** months since my last post.  Holy crap, indeed.

As you can imagine, it's been the same virtual roller coaster of the same 20 pounds.  And naturally, it's a new year and I am coming off of a multi-week bender of food and alcohol and whateverthefuckIwant.  Funny how the things I want in the moment only lead me to feeling the absolute worst as a result.

Prior to the last month or so, I was maintaining a pretty healthy lifestyle, though was still not achieving the body I really want.  On chase trips Skip and I will hike and eat veggies and hummus and mostly maintain a really healthy outlook.  It helps that he's vegan.

 

I have been reading back through this blog, an amazing chronicle and account of what I've gone through in weight loss and fitness and such over the last several years, and I was even finding myself ... inspired by myself.

My husband and I have chatted about this Ex Hot Girl blog thing several times over the last 18 months while I've been absent here.  (Meanwhile chasing and working like crazy,) and he encouraged me to come back but I never did.

Well, I'm back.

I'm back to blog more, to share with you my fitness and health goals, food issues and all of the things that I used to share with you.

Hopefully you'll run along with me and we'll renew our focus on ourselves together.


For me, it's back to low fat vegan / raw juicing and smoothies.  I had a great deal of success on this (You don't have to scroll too far back to find this, but it was at the end of 2011,) and I'm ready to reset things to where they should be.  Fall back in love with fruits and veggies again!

A quick update then, on what I've been up to and where I am.  Like I mentioned, up and down between 160 and 180.  Currently:

Weight:  180.3 (fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck)
Chest: 41"
Waist: 34"
Bootie:  43"
Hips: 41.5"
Thighs: 26"


I actually started running in the late summer and found myself running 5k distances regularly.  I wasn't losing weight during that time, but felt really good.  I really was blown away that I had the need, the pull, the actual (wtf?) desire to run.  It baffled me.

 

 

But, as soon as the weather turned bad, I joined a gym to tide me over during the winter... and it just wasn't the same at ALL.  I discovered I absolutely loathe running on a treadmill.  I do enjoy the weights and the elliptical for some reason.  But, as of right now, I haven't been in about 3 weeks.  When I started I was there several times a week but lapsed over the holidays and not feeling well.  The sub zero temperatures in Milwaukee have also succeeded in keeping me in my house.  /sadface.


SO!  Here is a photo of my husband and I on New Years Eve this year, and a current shot of me before going out.  HElloooooo, MAC makeup.

SO.  Here we go.  Day one.  :)

xoxo,
~J

Quick Update!

I've had some people asking if I'm okay.  HA!  Apparently that means I've been a bad EHG and haven't updated here enough.  (Obviously.)

I'm around 175, struggling to lose and really just struggling to focus.  Chasing / eating / eating / eating - vegetarianism makes it easier to eat more bread and sugar, and I just have to get back to plant-based eating. I have been working on being more active, walking more, etc.

I have been head-first into spring with weddings and chasing, so I do apologize for the lack of updates.  :(  If you want to keep up with me otherwise, feel free to do so on Facebook or check out my photography blog for the latest work, or the new storm chasing site for the latest work & then the blog. :)


Speaking of chasing, I just got back from a trip to North Dakota, so of course I had to make sure to see Miss Marilee from The Hicks Mix.  Love that girl!  

Then, all the way back to Wisconsin chasing the storms home.

This one from a month ago, taken by my chase partner Skip Talbot.

Love,
~J

Oh, alcohol!

Well, I'm officially taking a little break from my social drinking.  A whole evening of drinking is equivalent to a whole day's worth of food... and I love drinking!  I do think that even with my healthy eating, the drinking was keeping too many calories in my body.  I definitely like to drink, I mean, DRINK when I drink... but that really adds up those calories.  For example:

5oz Pino Grigio = 114 calories
5oz Riesling = 112 calories
1 pint Magner's Cider = 210 calories
12oz Blue Moon = 171 calories
Vodka Cranberry = ~160 calories

So.  Imagine I drink my usual 4-6 glasses of wine on a drinking night.  And keep in mind they are LARGE glasses of wine, and absolutely not 5oz glasses.  That's probably around 1,000 calories just for the alcohol.  Or, if I drink five or so ciders... that's around 1,050 calories.

Add to that, after I drink, I always want to eat.  It's easier to go to a diner and get breakfast food, or to go to Taco Bell or eat pizza or something.

Cutting out liquor for a while is a very easy way to cut calories.  :)


In other news!

I just got back from a 3500 mile, 4-day storm chase.  We had a huge cooler with tons of fruit and veg in it, and made healthy choices otherwise when we could (ie: salad & baked potato at wendy's, or subway instead of McDonald's or some other garbage.) -- I also wound up with a 12-hour flu or something after eating some shrimp / baked potato and chips & queso.

(For the photos & such, visit my storm chasing blog here:  http://www.thefaceofastorm.com/ )

I'm doing the "Photogs who Lose it" weight loss group (locally) - and in two weeks I've gone from 171.8 to 169.2.  I would like to maintain that loss, around 1 pound per week would be fine with me.  Ultimately if I could drop another 10-13 pounds and be between 155 and 159 that'd be amazing.  Here's hoping!

Love,
Jenn

Veggie Pasta Spirals! GREAT Deal!

First of all, just a quick reminder to come "like" me over on Facebook!  While I might not post here ALL the time, I do post little tidbits, discussions, articles and deals over on the FB page. :)  https://www.facebook.com/ExHotGirl

Okay, all. Remember my spiral veggie pasta? Well, the tool I use is on Groupon today... it's normally $50 but right now it's $24!  I just wanted to share the deal with you guys, so CLICK HERE TO GET THE DEAL online!

In other news, I've been battling the sodium and overeating as usual.  Back up to 174.8 as of Friday, so I have been juicing and eating small raw meals when I feel like I need to "chew" food.  I'm probably down two pounds (much of that water weight, undoubtedly.)

I will be meeting up with some business partners for a sushi meal today so I am glad I have shrunken my stomach, hopefully I won't overdo it.  I love sushi so much, it's tough!

SO.  Enjoy the deal!  Muah!

~J

Oh, Kelly Clarkson.

I'll admit that I skulk around skinnyvscurvy.com - it's one of my favorite websites because I like to torture myself by looking at beautiful celebrities.  Although really, the people who run the site represent lots of various body types as beautiful and don't bash, for the most part.

Anyhoo, I had noticed in a recent commercial that Kelly Clarkson was looking fuller these days, and then I happened upon this post.  Wow, wow.

Now, I will say, the shot on the left was right after American Idol when she was SUPER popular, and I noticed she LOST weight after American Idol.  Presumably because of the pressure, stardom, touring, publicity and I'd also guess, pressure from her label.  However, the difference is still stark.

Kelly, girl, I feel you.  If you all want to know the kind of up and down roller coaster that I am used to... it's a lot like Kelly Clarkson's battle with extra weight.  Up and down.  Up and down.  SO frustrating.

Oh, but did I mention... she's an amazing singer?  And her new album is great?  Because that's true, yo.  The girl can blow.

~J

Update...

Well, well, well.  Damn I've been gone a long time again.  I suck at this blogging thing lately!

Things have been extremely, unseasonably busy for me this winter.  I have been doing a lot of fashion shoots, and even had a storm chase a few days ago.  I have updated my storm website, you can visit it here:

www.thefaceofastorm.com

I also now have my fine art tornado prints for sale here:

Jennifer Brindley Fine Art

My weight has been steady around 170-173 I would guess.  I haven't been on the freaking treadmill in over a month, which I hope to get back on this week.  My month of March seems MUCH more open and less busy than last month was.  I also just got back from a trip to Denver, which involved less healthy eating... but I have been able to maintain a mostly vegetarian diet (not including fish/sushi on occasion.)

I look forward to getting back to my healthier routine.  It's an ebb and flow, isn't it?  :)

~J

Running Report

Oh, holy crap.  I haven't told you people.

I got a treadmill and I'm running again.  Can I tell you how much EASIER it is now that:

1.  I don't weigh 225 pounds... the extra weight off has made it so much easier at the start.
2.  I have a treadmill in my freaking basement, where it's cool, where it's right down the stairs and I don't have to get up and drive anywhere.

((You can see my entries from before, back in May 2009, when I started running but was heavier.  The numbers are pretty darn different.))


Yeah.  So, I'm on day two of running (day off for a much needed massage yesterday!) - and I am really excited to keep up on it.  Here is my report! :)

(PS, this "run" is much more a "jog," but I'm basically brand new to running / walking / exercise at this point.  I haven't been active in a long time, so I'm building up my strength slowly.)  :)


Day 2:  2.11 miles in 45m.
5m - walk - 2.8
9m - run - 3.4
5m - walk - 3.0
6m - run - 3.4
5m - walk - 3.0
4m - run - 3.6
5m - walk - 2.8
5m - walk - 3.0 (incline of 3)
1m - walk - 2.6 (incline of .5)
TOTAL = 45m
(ran 19m, walked 26m)
Estimated calories burned:  370


Day 1:  unknown miles in 35m.
2m - walk - 2.8
8m - run - 3.6
4m - walk - 3.0
4m - run - 3.6
5m - walk - 2.8
3m - run - 3.4
5m - walk - 2.6
TOTAL = 31m
(ran 15m, walked 16m)
Estimated calories burned:  224


On another note, I'm using the Lose it! app.  If anyone wants to be buddies on there, let me know.  I might not be perfect at tracking my food every day, but I will be weighing in at the very least. :)


Also, I should probably attempt to find my Polar watch / heart rate monitor.  It'll give me far better calculations on burned calories.  Or, I could wear my bodybugg... Decisions, decisions.

~J

Fed Up.

This is me after the holidays.

It's the truth.  I was previously down to around 161-163 pounds and progressing really nicely.  Then Thanksgiving and Christmas happened and I lost my shit.  I don't know how much I weigh right now but I'm right back in my fat pants (meaning my comfortably loose jeans are now tight fitting) and I'm seriously annoyed at myself.  I'd GUESS I'm around 173-175.  (yikes.)

*edit:  Weighed in the morning of 1/9/12 and I am actually 169.6.  The last weigh-in I had was 11/18/11 at 161.8.  So, in 7 weeks I gained nearly 8 pounds.  Damn, you, chocolate M&M's!

I was lookin' pretty good, doing some karaoke with friends and being confused by this old fangled thing...

Then, Thanksgiving - this is me with my adorable niece...

Then, out to eat, sniffing up a delicious vegetarian dish from a cool restaurant in Chicago:

Hosted a party for all the WI Pro Photographers and hanging out with my mentor, Dave Jackson:

Air guitar on the dance floor:

Beckoning someone to come limbo with us... (yes that is an outfit change.)

Overall good times:

Then came lots of food, sugar, cramming everything into my face, and suddenly I see the New Years Even photos, and I want to die.

So, it's back on track AGAIN.  We actually got a treadmill today which has been long overdue.  It'll arrive in the next few days and will be right downstairs so I can use it every day.  I'm going to give running another try.  I actually haven't done it since I was 220-ish pounds, so I am thinking it'll be a lot easier.

We also got a punching bag.  We all know that will get used, mkay?


So.  I'm sorry for sucking at updating and I'll be back now for a while.  I have lots of fun recipes for you - I still am juicing and I got a dehydrator for Christmas so there are tons of fun things with that as well.  I'm still vegetarian (except for sushi) and am trying again to go closer to a vegan route, cutting dairy out of my diet as well.

I'd like to be back down to my 160 lbs (ish) by Chaser Con in February, and by the time Chasing season starts (end of march / early april) I'd like to be able to comfortably run 2 - 3 miles.  :)


Love,
~Jenn

Update: Raw recipes and stuff!

Hello, loves!


Well, I'm still on track after the honeymoon return.  I'm down to 161.2 and skin is clearer by the day.  Here is a little current, and I'm putting it over the photos I took at the beginning of this whole journey about two months ago.

Enjoyed a nice green smoothie for breakfast, and Dan was fighting me for the last glass!  Simple:  grapes, spinach, pineapple and a little water.  Delish!

Also, I thought I'd share my RAW TACOS recipe.  I didn't make this recipe, I googled "raw tacos" and it's pretty much the same anywhere you look it up.  

Walnut Taco Mix
Ingredients:
1 cup raw walnuts
1 Tbsp. nama shoyu (raw, unpasteurized soy sauce)
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. EVOO

Directions:
1. Put all ingredients in a food processor and pulse just to mix. Don’t over-blend, or you will end up with walnut butter!

Cashew “Sour Cream” 
Ingredients: 
½ cup raw cashews
juice of ½ lemon
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
5 Tbsp. water (approx.)

(This didn't work so well for me because my blender is too big for this amount of food.  I ended up with more of a cashew nut crumble, which was equally as delicious, just not smooth and creamy.)

Salsa 
Two chopped roma tomatoes
½ orange and yellow bell pepper, chopped
¼ cup chopped cilantro

Salt/pepper to taste if you want

Other Goodies you'll need:
ripe avocados (about ½ per person)
Romaine leaves (or other big leafy greens)
limes for squeezing
extra cilantro for sprinkling

YUM YUM!

I have to run but I'll follow up with some more yummy recipes soon, including raw nori rolls and the recipe / tools for the zucchini pasta!

Honeymoon Report!

So - TONS to catch you guys up on.  

First of all - I'm on a Raw Restart because I went off the Raw food bandwagon while Dan and I were on our honeymoon!  We went to Orlando and did Disney, Animal Kingdom and Epcot.  (Epcot had the wine and food tour.  I mean... yeah.  DELISH.)

This might be the longest blog post ever, just to warn you.  First, some honeymoon pics and food I ate there:

At Disney World they actually had a veggie burger option!  Holy crap, batman!  So I got that, no cheese, just pickles, lettuce, tomato and mustard on a whole wheat bun.  (Actually all their buns are whole wheat, imagine that?)  And I got an unsweetened iced tea, and they offer apple slices as an alternative side to fries!

This veggie burger, by the way, was freaking DELICIOUS.

There was a smoothie / ice cream stand and it was getting sort of warm.  Wouldn't you know it... they also offered raw pineapple.  HELLO!  That's awesome!  When I ordered it the guy seemed surprised, I don't think many people do.  But, I did and it was satisfying and healthy.

Dan, on the other hand, ate a cinnamon bun the size of his head.  I drank some water. ;)

Room service.  Amazing spinach salad with grilled peppers and goat cheese.  Okay, so I initially intended to stay vegan on this trip but I forgot about goat cheese.  And holy crappers was it delicious!

Downtown Disney (a block from our hotel!) -- They have this awesome place called Fresh A-Peel.  I had to get a photo and order a salad.  You got it right... smoothies and fresh salads.  The guy even added corn into mine when I asked.  Pretty sure that was a free bonus, y'all.

Character breakfast buffet at the hotel.  This is where I sort of stayed healthy but started to incorporate non-diet foods into my day.  That's a giant veggie omelet with no cheese (delish.)  Clockwise from there, the tiniest bit of corned beef hash (the chef makes it from scratch so I had to try it.)   Then some roasted potatoes (yum,) bacon (I HAD TO,) and a bit of a breakfast burrito.  Also delish.

I had to get some yummy melon in, too.

Epcot.  All the characters, and then... the food and wine festival.  And it started with Greece.  Griddled Greek cheese with pistachios and honey.  Sounds weird, but I'm telling you.  It was a miracle of food.

Hawaii.  Kalua pork slider with sweet and sour pineapple chutney and spicy mayo.

And from Hawaii... Tuna poke with seaweed salad and lotus root chips.

Argentina:  Beef empanada.  Crispy, delectable.

China:  Pork pot sticker, and caramel ginger ice cream (holy.)

Germany:  Nuernberger sausage in a pretzel roll.  I had a tiny bite of this but primarily it was Dan's.  I had the goulash soup.  Interesting!

We also stopped in the "Italy" and got Dan some chocolate mousse.  (His favorite dessert!)  And I got myself a ham and cheese croissant that was flaky and to die for.

I didn't take photos of all the food, unfortunately.  We also had:

Mexico:  Crispy shrimp taco

Scandinavia:  Swedish meatballs with lingonberries

South Africa:  Bunny Chow (vegetable curry served in a bread loaf)

Hops & Barley:  Pumpkin mousse with craisins and orange sauce

Portugal:  Calamari salad with fennel, smoked paprika and olive oil

Belgium:  Belgian waffle with berry compote and whipped cream (Dan's)

Then, later that night we bought the last bottle of champagne at the hotel shop and celebrated being married.  le sigh!

Animal kingdom - safari time!

Giant, very close to us, rhino!

Incredibly satisfying turkey sandwich on Focaccia bread with an apple side and a bottle of water.  Dan had a cheeseburger with apples and a mango shake.

Then, our "fancy!" dinner for our honeymoon celebration was our last night.  We went to Narcoosee's at the Floridian.  (Hello, GORGEOUS resort!)  The drinks were a perfect start to the night.  Dan got his classic mojito favorite, and I splurged with a key lime martini. 

/heart pounding - my Husband is so handsome.  It kills me.

For Dinner we had a full four courses plus a bottle and some glasses of wine, and coffee.  We were there 2.5 hours.  

Lobster Spring Roll

Heirloom Apple Salad

Shrimp and Crab Chowder (we each ate half the salad and soup to share them)

I got the Crab-crusted mahi mahi, and Dan got Filet Mignon.

Dessert was their famed almond crusted cheesecake, which is better than anything you've ever tasted.

They even decorated it for us:

SO!  There ends my saga on our vacation.  Pretty fun, eh?

And now that I'm at the end of this blog post, it's fifteen pages long and I realize I'd like to save the recipes and other info for next time.  Toodle-oo!

~J