grey area

By the way, grey and grey are both acceptable spellings of the color.  Gray is typically used in America, and grey in Great Britain.  I like -ey.

It's about to get real, y'all.

There is an organization on campus that is basically geared toward empowering black women.  I was invited to two nights of speakers, and have immensely enjoyed both events.  I have a page filled with notes consisting of inspiring words, as well as advice.

Here's the thing.

I am not a black woman.  Obviously I have my own struggle--we all do, but I do not know the struggle of a black woman.  I am blessed to be in a relationship with an amazing black man--who does not know the struggle of a black woman.  

I have absolutely no frame of reference.  When the speaker would say things like There is nothing better than to be a black woman, I felt myself looking down at my feet.  I don't feel as if I have the right to throw out an Amen or anything as such.  I am not a black woman.

While I have the utmost respect for the sensational women who spoke to the organization, and those who are part of the organization, I have a difficult time relating to phrases like women of color.  

I'm beige--what does that mean?

I was raised to see no color.  I don't know if I have told you before, but I'm a military brat.  I've been exposed to every kind of color that people come in.  I often forget that Boyfriend is a different color than me, and has a different history than I do.  

Boyfriend is a leader around campus--he's involved in many organizations and employed by the school.  Some believe that a black woman should be by his side--that a white woman is inadequate.  I believe that NO woman could possibly love him and care for him as much as I do.  

I thought I would feel better after writing this, but I don't.  If any of you have any insight or anything that could help me (if you could even follow my thought process), as always, feel free to comment.

piece and love,

kayla

daily substitutions

First, I want to thank you all for the congratulations.  It means so much!

The only thing I have really cut out of my diet is fast food (Taco Bell) and soda.  And when I go out to eat, I order from the kids menu instead of clearing my adult size portion.  So here are some really simple substitutions that will save you so much, and you won't even know it.

My zucchini bread recipe calls for 1/2 C vegetable oil.  Let me tell you one thing.  1 TBSP of oil has 120 calories and 14 g of fat!  14!  For one tablespoon!  I don't know how many tablespoons are in 1/2 a cup, so I'll let you do the math.  Applesauce, on the otherhand, has 90 calories and 0 g of fat per 1/2 C.  

I don't have all the facts for everything else, but here you go.

Turkey sausage vs. Hot dogs

Turkey bacon vs. Bacon

Extra lean ground beef vs. Ground chuck

Wheat buns/bread vs. White buns/bread

Wheat pasta vs. White pasta

Green tea vs. Coffee

These are super simple substitutions that make my home healthier.  These things are not drastic.  Except maybe the tea part for you coffee drinkers.  And the extra lean mean takes a kick to my wallet, but with the money I'm saving from avoiding fast food, I can afford it.  If you keep healthy food in your home, you'll eat healthy food.

piece and love,

kayla

it's the first!

Drumroll, Please!

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I weighed in today for a grand total of 144.8.  That's a 10.4 loss in one month.  And averaging 1-2 inches all over.  I'm thrilled.  I can fit into my clothes now!!  It's like going shopping in my own closet.  

I was looking at the CDC website, and it said a healthy weight for someone of my height is 101 to 136.  

Before I tell you my goal weight, I want to tell you that I'm thinking about going into the Air Force when I graduate.  That means I have to be seriously fit.  SO...my goal is 125.  That's just ball park.  I will not be upset in the least if I don't make it to that.  My main focus is being able to run and lift.  But I feel like that will be a healthy size for me.  I know, I know.  I'm going to look like one of the skinny girls I make fun of.  Oh well.  I'm going to be a BEAST.  

I'll have some more food substitutions I use in my next post.  

piece and love,

kayla

gym snob

The funny thing about this is I go crazy with diet and exercise once a year, and then gain it all back.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  I have absolutely no right to be a gym snob!

Never the less

I can't stand the little girls who get on the elliptical with absolutely no resistance who go ridiculously fast.  

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There is something called a flywheel in these machines.  Once it gets going, it uses momentum to propel you forward.  On the lowest resistance you aren't doing any work--the machine is doing it for you!!  So while you're trying to look awesome going super fast, you're not doing anything for your body.  

I totally respect if you're doing stations or whatever and only want to do 10 minutes on the machine.  Don't get on, do a mile, and get off.  Go for time, not distance.  I think that's one of the most common mistakes for people in gyms.  Just go home.  I'm trying to put in work, and I'm wasting energy being annoyed with you.  

piece and love,

kayla

kitchen cooked croutons

I was trying to look up prices of a bag of croutons, but if you know me, you know I don't like research.  Any time I need to know anything, I ask Boyfriend to look it up for me.  ;)  Regardless, why would you want to buy something with 100 preservatives when you could use this?

And obviously some whole wheat bread.  One slice of bread makes nine croutons.  I mix a little bit of all of the above, toss in my bread squares, and throw them in my 425 oven.  Just leave them in there until they're as crunchy as you want.

Sorry about the glare, my camera ran out of juice.

piece and love,

kayla

meal replacement

I suppose I should update you on my shakes from this post.

I gave them to my mom.

I do vigorous exercise, and I just don't think they're meant for people who exercise as hard as I do.  By the third day I was so dizzy I couldn't even walk into the kitchen without holding on to something.  Here's my theory.  

The shakes were keeping me SO full, that I couldn't fit enough water into my body.  I was losing a ton of water as sweat, therefore, dehydrating.  I was miserable.

A friend told me I should use one scoop rather than two per shake, but by that time the thought of drinking another meal was nauseating.

Oh well.

The first of the month is getting closer!  Boyfriend had to get on the scale for class, and has lost 4 lbs.  :D  

piece and love,

kayla

yummy in my tummy

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Big news, guys.  Domino's was giving away a medium one topping pizza to students with a Domino's app for $2 today, and today only.  I don't have a smartphone, so Boyfriend and I cheated the system.  Oh well!  

Don't lose faith in me.  I'm still dieting, if you want to call it that.  I look at all the nutrition facts before I go anywhere.  I just couldn't possibly pass up a $2 pizza.  

So here's what I did.  

I got thin crust rather than hand tossed, saving me 390 calories.  I also got fresh green peppers rather than pepperoni, saving me 230 calories.  Those are two easy substitutions that saved me an entire meal's worth of calories!  These are the types of tricks I've adopted into my lifestyle to work towards a healthier me.  Indulgence is essential, but be smart about it.  

Click here for Domino's nutrition facts.

piece and love,

kayla