Carbin' Up!

So since increasing my carb intake, now I really don't even want them(okay, yeah, I do, just not like I used to)!  Hmmmm....funny how when you restrict yourself from them, they're all you crave! Back when I was keeping my carbs pretty low, all I wanted was rice and pasta and potatoes!

That's why I'm not a fan of restrictive diets or any nutrition plan that has you restrict yourself from any food group or says you "can't" have certain foods. They're not sustainable and you'll most likely have major cravings and then give in and end up bingeing! Restriction is NOT the way to go. Yeah, it's nice to be super shredded with nice abs...but it's just not sustainable for most people. Trust me, I've been there!

Yeah, I'm feeling a little bloated eating all this food and more carbs, and I definitely don't have abs right now, that's for sure...but it's okay! I'm learning to be okay with where my body naturally wants to be, plus my body needs the extra calories if I really want to GROW! Muscles like carbs. :) And what's most important to focus on instead of trying to get a 6 pack is being fit and strong! Who cares if you're super lean but unhealthy and miserable, right?

Well, today was leg day...so that means even more carbs! Today I'm having waffles and eggs for lunch and probably turkey and rice for dinner. :) Even though I've increased my carbs, I'm still not reaching my calories, so I think I'm going to start adding in whole milk with my protein shakes like I did for a while last year, just for an easy way to get my calories in. 

 Here's what I did for today's workout:

1)Ball leg curls: 2x12

1b)Standing calf raises: 4x8-10

2)Front squats: 95x6/115x6/125x5/125x5

3)Barbell hip thrusts:4x10 w/115lbs

4)Walking lunges: 4x10 w/25lb dbs

5)Hanging leg raises: 3x8 (toes all the way up to bar)

*1 arm KB swings x12 + 15 seconds of mountain climbers, 3x*

It was a good one! For some reason, I was really feeling those hip thrusts today! I mean, I don't think I've EVER had a burn like that in my glutes before! I love it! I added an extra set of squats, hip thrusts and lunges from the last 2 weeks. Figure with all these carbs in my system, I can up the volume a little! 

Needed to Hear This!!

"The mirror is not your audience. Bodybuilders...embrace your smallness. Models...it's not about perfection. Remember, abundant health is more of a byproduct of obedience than the ultimate goal. Our health is a means to praise the Lord, not a means to praise ourselves. Our bodies are meant to serve one another, not to be observed by one another. If we let our reflection be our refuge and strength, then we have no refuge and strength. I know it's crazy in this day and age, but let's be reckless. He gets the glory." 

- Jimmy Peña

Weekend Pics :)

I forgot to post this pic from Mother's day last weekend~

 

My little brother should've been in here, but he was in one of his moods!

 

We went out for pizza and then to Mom's and played some Catch Phrase-we love that game! :) Mom's doing good, just still having issues with one knee. She was basically told it may never get better, so she is a little upset about that. I'm still just glad she's alive and not a brain damaged or paralyzed!



So this weekend we finally had WARM weather-what I've been waiting for!! I spent most of my weekend right here, and it was lovely....

 

Saturday night we went to church and then down to the waterfront. It was such a pretty evening! I love this picture of the bridge as the sun was setting.

Sunday we went out to eat at our favorite restaurant, Cheddars! I had a really delicious meal-chicken and mushrooms over rice with green beans and mashed potatoes, and then we had some ice cream after that for dessert. :) I really crave ice cream when it starts getting warm out!

BEST ice cream right here!

 

And a couple more pics that are just too cute not to share:

Givin' Daddy some love!

He's so cute!

“The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”
― Oswald Chambers

Gotta Eat MORE!

Hey! Happy Friday!  Hope everyone had a good week!

I had a great upper body workout today! I did pullups, handstand pushups, 1 arm rows, DB chest presses, bicep curls, tricep pressdowns, and then finished up with some handstand practice. Fun! I love my workouts. I seriously don't know what my life would be like without lifting! It just makes me feel so good and puts me in a great mood!

For those who are interested, here are the workouts I did this week: http://lindsaystraininglog.blogspot.com/2013/05/may-13-18.html

So...I'm going to make a few tweaks to my nutrition. I haven't been tracking what I eat because I really don't like doing it, but I did the other day just because I wanted to make sure I was eating enough....and turns out, I'm not! Soooo I'm going to be adding in MORE carbs(even at dinner, ohmigoshI'mgonnagetsofat)and increase my calories back up to 2400-2500. I have got to get over this fear of getting fat that I have and just freakin' EAT! It's so dumb.

So...tell me what your workout was today! I'd love to hear it! :)

What Is There To Fear?

"My sheep recognize my voice;
I know them and they follow me."
John 10:27

Well, when God wants you to do something or teach you something, He sure does let you know!

In the past couple months, I've felt God speaking to me, calling me to go out and DO, to put my faith into action. But I've been trying to ignore Him, I'm not gonna lie. Because I'm scared. I'm scared of what He is going to want me to do. 

Fear is stopping me from surrendering completely to His will. I mean, it's just easier to float through life, taking the easy path, focusing just on myself and living my "happy little life" all about me...but I just feel that God is calling me to something more than that. And it's scary.

Lately, I keep hearing "mission trip"....those words just keep popping up everywhere: the radio, a church sermon, a book or something I've read, or online. I keep trying to ignore it and push it aside...but God is making it pretty obvious. I also feel that I need to get involved more in church in serving and volunteering, as well as getting involved in a group Bible study. All things that are out of my comfort zone!

I've always wanted to go on a missions trip some day...but when I think of all that it involves- the money, the time, the work, fear of the unknown, getting out of my comfort zone, interacting with people I don't know...all of those things terrify me.

I find myself often making excuses for why I can't do things. "I'm too shy", "I'm not a good speaker", "I don't have any talents or skills", "I'm not good around people"....hmmm...the same type of excuses that both Moses and Gideon used when God asked them to do something! But did that stop God from using them? No-God used them despite their excuses and weaknesses.

God knows the right path for me, and I can't let fear hold me back from surrendering to Him. If I believe and trust in who He is and know that He is with me every step of the way, what is there to fear? With His power in me, there is nothing I can't do. I have let fear and insecurity hold me back for too long. It's time to step out.

 But he said to me, “My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.”

-2 Corinthians 12:9

Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

Turkey Meatloaf

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground turkey(I used 93% lean)
• 1 egg + 1 white
• 1/2 cup ground oats
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced green pepper
• 1 T mustard
• 1/2 cup chunky salsa
• salt & pepper to taste
• garlic and onion powder
• (I didn't use the onion and green pepper!)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Combine all ingredients in bowl.
3. Mix thouroughly with hands.
4. Spray 9x13 baking dish with Pam.
5. Shape turkey mixture into a loaf shape and place in dish.
6. Bake for 1.5 hours.
7. Let set for 5 minutes before slicing.

I made this the other day and it turned out really good! Very easy and made for great meals during the week.