Six Pack Bag

The wait is over! I promised you guys weeks ago a blog on a new product I have been using for a couple months and LOVE.

And I do want to start out by saying that the following post contains my 100% honest thoughts and opinions. I'm not being paid or asked to say any of it and that Six Pack Bags does not even know who I am or about my blog. (I don't think ANYONE knows about me or my blog but whatever).

So the product is one of the Meal Management bags by Six Pack Bags. I got the Expert Innovator Mini in Pink/Purple.  It comes in a few other colors like black/black, black/red, and red/grey.

Here is the front view.

When you open the front compartment, it has three shelves that fit the plastic meal containers that come with it and they are the perfect size for lunches. They are also BPA free, leak-proof, and microwave and dishwasher safe.

Front compartment open. (Look how cool that is!)

One of the cute containers

Also in the front compartment is a zippered pouch that holds the small reusable freezer pack that is included. (You get one large one and one small one)

Large and small reusable freezer packs

Zipper pouch in front compartment. 

There is another zipper on top of the bag and inside is another plastic container and this one is sectioned off, by removable dividers, into nine separate sections. I use it to keep my vitamins and supplements separated for each day.

Top compartment with another zipper pouch 

Divided container

You also access the pouch that holds the large freezer pack through the top zipper.

See? Right there behind the shelves

On either side of the bag are upright zippered pouches. I always stick my water bottle in one and it fits just fine. 

Just for reference, this water bottle is 28oz

The larger shaker type bottles also fit nicely 

And last but not least, on the back of the bag there is a strap that can be slipped over the handle of a roll-along suitcase for travelling. Oh, and the bag has loops on top that you can hook a shoulder strap to but the strap does not come with the Mini. It does, however, come with the larger sizes.

Wow...sorry about the paperwork in the background! 

I love this bag so, so, so, much and I truly believe that it has helped A LOT in my quest to eat healthier. Before I was just throwing whatever I could find in a regular lunch bag, but buying this bag motivated me to start planning out my meals. I'll have to remember to take some pics of the lunches I bring because I take it with me to work Every. Single. Day.

I think the Mini size is perfect for what I use it for. I put my lunch, snacks and water bottle in it and am good to go. The bigger ones, like the duffle bags, are more for traveling or even family picnics as they hold up to 6 meals!

If you guys have one or are thinking about getting one, let me know!

Good night Shirelings!

"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks."
-Hobbit

Next Step - Again!

OK! Not going to lie, the yoga thing did NOT work out for me.

The first day was amazing. I loved it. They went nice and slow, explained how to do each pose and how to breathe properly (which was always the hard thing for me in yoga) and I really did feel better afterward and all through the next day.

The second day? Complete 180. It was a different instructor and she went super fast and didn't explain anything and it was hard to follow. Oh, AND, apparently I needed a yoga block which it says NO WHERE to warn you ahead of time. But, I pushed through anyway.

Day three, same thing. Needed a yoga block and strap. That's it, I'm done.

So what now?

I used to do Kettlebell and it was fun and effective. So I think I'm going to pick that back up.
I like that you can get a whole body workout in minimal time with just the one KB and you can start with a light one and work your way up.

So to start, I'm going to do something that's straight forward and simple to follow.

5 exercises, 1 Kettlebell, Done. Simple and effective.

Once things FINALLY warm up around here (-22 this morning, ugh), I want to get out and start walking again. I live roughly 5 minutes from Crooked Creek State Park and am SO excited to get out on the hiking trails this summer. Who knows, maybe I'll start running again. We shall see.

Well, I'm out for now Shirelings. I WILL do a post on that new thing I told you about last post here soon.
Until then,

"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks."
-Hobbit

Next Step!

Here we are in a new month! How did January go for you guys???

I think I did really well considering how bad things were before.I mainly stayed within 1,300 to 1,800 calories everyday, straying only once or twice, and mostly "good" food.
I ate a LOT of fruits and veggies, fish, brown rice and other whole grains, and some chicken breast.

I'm not just making this up you guys, but I feel SOOOOOO much better already. I have more energy, I don't get bogged down at around 2:30 every afternoon, and I just FEEL good.

I took my measurements again just to keep track and see what kind of progress I'm making, if any.

They are as follows:

Bust: 38"

Chest: 33"

Waist: 30"

Hips: 40"

Thighs: 25"

Upper Arms: 12.5"

Forearms: 10"

Stomach: 37.5"

Now if you'll compare these to my old ones, you'll see that I've lost three inches overall.

DID YOU GET THAT??? 

Three inches overall in 21 days (not even a whole month) and I haven't worked out once. That's by changing my diet only.

Although, I have continued to have problems with my stress and anxiety levels. REALLY BAD.
So that brings me to my next step...

EXERCISE!!!!

Now once again I'm not going to just jump right in there going from a mostly sedentary life to doing, for example, INSANITY.

Taking my stress and anxiety into consideration, I have decided to take up yoga AND meditation.
I have been searching far and wide across the internet for a beginners routine and I came across
www.yogajournal.com.  I've been doing so much reading about the origins of yoga and bushing up on definitions and the like, but I also found this...

The 21 Day Yoga Challenge

They have both Beginner and Intermediate levels and videos to walk you through each day.

I am so excited to start this. I have my spare bedroom all de-cluttered and ready to be my "quiet room" for both yoga and my meditation.

I'll keep you guys posted on how things go!

Also, I have something new to show you!!! But that will be the next post ;)

"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks."

-Hobbit

Motivation Day!!!

Hello again Shirelings!!! And Happy Friday!!!

Today is going to be a Motivation Day because, I don't know about you but, I always tend to struggle on Fridays and through the weekend. Hopefully this post will help you push through.

Because you know what? We all binge, we all skip workouts, we eat the wrong foods, we eat too much food, or too little food...We are ALL human. We make mistakes. But DON'T EVER GIVE UP!!! Just acknowledge that you've strayed a little bit (don't beat yourself up over it and don't punish yourself in any way) just get right back in there!!!! You got this!

Do it for every time you've looked in the mirror and hated what you saw.
Do it for every time you've cried over your body.
Do it for the fit body.
Do it for the double-takes.
Do it for YOU!
Get healthy! Lose that weight! Build those muscles!

There's always that moment where you feel like giving up. Where all the hassle just doesn't seem worth it. THAT, my friends, is where the change really happens. Keep going. It took time to get out of shape, it's going to take just as long to get where you want to be. Be patient. 

Don't say, "Oh, well, I'll start tomorrow."

Today IS your tomorrow! It's up to YOU to shape it. 

Take control and seize every opportunity.

The power is in the choices YOU make each and every day. 

Eat Well, Live Well, BE Well!

If you guys are anything like me, then you know what it feels like to give up.

Let's find out together what it feels like when we don't.

Let's make it happen! Let's shock every single person that ever said we couldn't do it, or wouldn't do it! 

Sorry if I got a little preachy today...I just need a kick in the face every once in awhile so I figured maybe other people do too.

I hope this helps you either stay on track or get back on track. 

Stay with it you guys. It will be worth it in the end.

"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks."

-Hobbit

Ugh...

Well I did it.
I took my measurements.
And I STILL don't want to post them...But here goes anyway...(And, just to put things in proper perspective, I stand at 5'2 1/2".)

Oh, I can't believe I'm putting this out there for everyone to see.......

****Long, loud, frustrated groan****

Hobbit Heather's Measurements as of 1/12/2015:
Bust: 38"
Chest: 33"
Waist: 31"
Stomach: 39"
Hips: 41"
Thighs: 25"
Upper Arm: 13"
Forearm: 10"
Weight: 153


Well...There you have it folks. The extent of my squishiness.
I really really REALLY hope I can get this under control and loose some inches. I AM going to Florida this summer after all, and I'll be damned if I'm sitting on the beach all covered up.

But I think that's enough for now,
Goodnight my Shirelings.

"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks."
-Hobbit

Sorry!

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't been posting. I know I said I would do a post on Tuesday with all my measurements and everything, but the truth is....

I'M AFRAID!

I don't want to take my measurements, I don't want to step on the scale.
I know that I'm out of shape and heavier than I should be, but I don't want to know by how MUCH.

I'm nervous to put them out there for all to see.
I mean, I know I have to, but still. Ugh.


On another note, I've been doing pretty good so far!
Went pretty heavy with the fruits and veggies on Tuesday to try and get everything jump started.

For breakfast I had my Blueberry Pineapple Shake with vanilla Protein Powder.

Lunch was some sliced beets sprinkled with some course sea salt.

My afternoon snack was an orange bell pepper drizzled with a little bit of Sweet & Sour salad dressing.

I got a little off track with dinner because one of my friends made homemade Stromboli. But I only had a little, with a glass of low-fat chocolate milk.


Wednesday was another good day!

Breakfast - English Muffin with grape jelly
Morning Snack - Blueberry Pineapple shake (No Protein powder)
Lunch - Spinach Salad

Oh my goodness my salad was sooooo good!
I made it with baby spinach, orange bell pepper, tomato, carrots, apple, and dried cranberries! It didn't even need dressing (and I've never been able to eat salad without SOME kind of dressing).

Afternoon Snack - Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Dinner - Hot Sausage and Homemade BAKED breaded mushrooms. (I even made my own seasoned bread crumbs!)


THURSDAY

Breakfast - 1/2 Grapefruit
Morning Snack - English Muffin, Hard Boiled Egg
Lunch - Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Afternoon Snack - Orange
***I gave into my sweet tooth today...had a snack size Almond Joy.
Dinner - BST (Bacon, Spinach, Tomato) on Whole Grain bread with a little spicy brown mustard. Nom Nom!

I have been hitting around 1500-1600 calories a day so that's a LOT better than what I was eating before! So things seem to be on the right track :)

I AM going to post my stats next post...I PROMISE!
But until then, I'm out.

"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks."
-Hobbit

Eating Healthy

Hello again!

In my last few posts I've talked about portion control and how I'm going to start watching what I eat. I haven't yet talked about WHAT I'm going to eat. Well...Here we go!

I wrote out my grocery list yesterday and its definitely heavy on the fruits and veggies, which I have loved since I was little, I just never eat enough of them.

I keep seeing buzz about warm lemon water. I'm going to give it a try because a.) it's worth a shot and b.) either way, it's water and I intend to drink LOTS of water.

I plan on having smoothies for my breakfasts. I love ones with almond milk and fruits, they taste like dessert. But I have found a recipe for a green detox smoothie that packs in fruits and two green veggies first thing in the morning.

Green Detox Smoothie:
1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Chopped Cucumber
1 Cup Strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1 Banana
1 Apple (cored)
2 Cups Baby Spinach
Juice of half a lemon

I think having something healthy like this first thing in the morning sets you up to make better nutritional choices throughout the day.


I'm big on salads. They're easy to pack up the night before and just toss them in the lunch bag in the morning. I have a lovely chart on how to build a perfect salad.

I have so many good ideas for dinners that I found on Pinterest. You can find them on my Healthy Food = Healthy Body board. There are just way too many to post here.

I'm actually super excited to start eating healthier so I can start feeling better.
Tomorrow is Day 1. I'll definitely make a post with all my measurements and what I take for my meals.
Until then,

"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks."
-Hobbit