Bucket List Journey: One Down, 

So Many More To Go! 

Crossing off the bucket list! 

Went fishing for the first time ever today! It was so much fun, I had a blast with the boyfriend. Took his boat out nice and early in the morning to Wizard lake and caught sooo many fish! Even he said that they were biting more than usual today ^_^ 

First time out on a boat like that, and first time fishing. Here's a few pictures of what our day was like. 

Road Trip Camwhoring 

Trying to look cool in the car :p 

Big fish! Ended up taking this bad boy homeeee 

Yum yum in my tum tum. Cooked up some sweet potato fries, edamame beans, and panko coated baked pike :) 

The fish was the minimum size it had to be to be take home, but it was still kinda small. After filleting it, we only had about 350 grams, hense the little bit of fish on my plate. None the less, tasting something we caught had a great taste of victory :D 

Definitely looking forward to going back out there this summer! 

Thoughts On My Mind 

• Finding enough work for the summer so I will be financially stable for the school year
• Some days I feel like I hate my job, but overall I'm still making money. Now that shifts are cut and it's a mystery of when things will be back to what it used to be, I'm financially worried. It's hard to save up, especially when I'm forking out thousands for a already planned and purchased vacation this summer.  

• Getting myself into my best shape in anticipation of my vacation summer 
• I started this new lifestyle diet change almost 3 months ago, and I am proud of where I am today. Sort of. On the scale, I've dropped 10 pounds and I've been able to keep it off so far. Figure wise, I've been getting complements about looking slimmer and more toned. But ultimately, in my head, there are dark days where I feel like I am not worthy :\ I feel the desire to be better, look better, and feel better - yet I can't seem to find enough motivation and inspiration to do it. Those days, I let me excuses become more powerful than my will power. And I am not proud of that. I want to be able to go on this vacation and let myself fully indulge without feeling guilty, because I know that I have worked very, very hard the last 4 months to deserve it. But at this rate, till today, I don't feel like I have worked hard enough to deserve that. Which is why I am going to let myself mope around for the last 10 minutes of this evening, and get up early and hit the gym HARD tomorrow and get the healthy, weight lifting, positive attitude me back :) 

• Getting myself ready for school mode - worried about what the courses will be like and the challenges I'm up against 
• Only a few of my close ones know that I had thoughts about not continuing school this upcoming year. Long story short, I have decided to give it one more year. Hopefully this year things will change, really be different, and I can prove to not so much others - but mostly to myself that I really can do it. Most importantly, I really hope to find out what I want to do with the rest of my life. Maybe nutrition and food science isn't for me - and that's okay. I've learned a lot the past two years from school and the people from school, so it's not like my time and money has gone to a waste exactly. I almost feel the urge to go to the library, borrow that organic chemistry textbook, and start making some que cards! 

BBQ Feast!

Like I said earlier, the boyfriend and I made a BBQ feast last night (not a really big one though).

We went grocery shopping at Wal-mart and ended up picking up things for:
Chicken kebabs
Spicy garlic shrimp kebabs
Cheddar and jalapeno smokies
Tuna salad wrap

Here's a peak at the finished products!

Our entire meal 

Chicken kebabs and cheddar and jalapeno smokies (insanely hot)

Spicy ginger marinated shrimp kebabs 

Tuna mix (pepper, lemon juice, celery, edamame pods and some mayo)

The tuna salad wrap was especially refreshing because it was moist and crisp. Very very refreshing :) 

We ended up having half a dozen skewers and half a bowl of tuna mix left over, so we decided to pack it for lunches the next day. Side note, I nearly DIED from eating that smokie. Waaaaay too spicy for me! I was expecting a nice kick in the taste, but it ended up being a round house kick xP 

Cooking Up A Feast On A Monday! 

And Other Updates

Boyfriend is on his way to pick me up to go grocery shopping, and we are going to have some fun with cooking tonight! So far what we have planned on the menu includes: 

Veggie and Tuna mix salad rolls 

Spicy ginger marinated shrimp skewers 

Some sort of protein on the grill

Veggie kebabs 

Fruit for dessert 

Stay tuned for the full scoop on dinner! 

Quick update: Last few days has been tiring and busy with work. I realized I injured myself on Tuesday at the gym the next day when I could barely walk. I had to suffer like that for the next 2 days that I had to work. Reminder to self that I must look into the postures for proper squatting. I just can't ever seem to get it right. 

Following the recommended macros is still a huge miss :\ I am honestly really sucking at this. Gotta start looking for some tips. I've been trying to limit myself to less carbs, so I've been cutting down on the number of times I have my smoothies as well as the serving size too. 

I've also been rethinking about my diet plan. I'm still stuck in the stage where I would ideally like to lose another 10 pounds, but I would also like to look a little more lean by doing moderate weight lifting. As you might know, you cannot build a lot of muscle if you are not eating enough calories. Big dilemma here. 

Many many things to continue to work on during the summer! 

Thoughts for today: 

I can feel the difference, and I can most definitely see the difference. But when I start to think about how I really want to look, I lose sight of the progress I have made. Sure I don't have the big round booty yet. Nor do I have the flat stomach either. But that doesn't mean that I haven't been able to change my diet and my body for the better in the last 3 months. The journey has just begun, and there's still a lot of hard work to be done to reach those goals :) 

Protein Functions In Our Bodies 

Protein is needed to create hormones and enzymes, and is part of helping strengthen our immune system. 

Eating more protein does not necessarily mean you will build more muscle. Consuming too much protein is bad for your body because your body will adapt to burning the extra protein instead of carbs and fat for energy. Protein only helps build muscle if there is an increase in number of muscle contractile proteins, damaged tissues, and strength and anaerobic training. 

If you trying to lose fat but keep the muscle, you need enough protein to help build and prevent muscle from shrinking. Trying to lose weight without sacrificing muscle : building diet around high quality protein from lean meat, fish, eggs, poultry, and low-fat dairy products. 

According to something I read online, whey protein has the highest biological value of the proteins, at 100%. This means it is absorbed completely by the body. For this reason, I recommend you have a protein drink after your workout. One that contains a pure whey protein concentrate and/or isolate. These protein sources are broken down easily and digested rapidly in the body.

It is also important to keep your body fuelled with protein throughout the day. It is believed that doing so will help your muscles completely repair itself before your next workout. 

Balancing your meals with high protein foods, carbs and fat is important. Protein shakes are also a good source of protein. Here is a list of high protein foods that you can incorporate into your diet to help build muscle.

1. Chicken and Turkey Breast: for every 100 grams of chicken or turkey breast, there is 30 grams of protein. Since an average chicken breast weighs about 200 grams, each serving will contain ~60 grams of protein. 
2. Fish (Tuna, Salmon, Halibut): for every 100 grams of tuna, salmon, halibut, and snapper, there is a whooping 26 grams of protein. Cod has 24 grams and tilapia has 20 grams per 100 gram servings. 
3. Low Fat Mozzarella and Cottage Cheese: for every 28 gram slice, there is 10 grams of protein in parmesan, 9 grams of protein in mozeralla, and 6 grams in low fat cheddar cheese. 
4. Pork Loin Chops: 100 grams of pork loin chops contains 25 grams of protein. An average chop is about 135 grams, working out to 33 grams of protein per chop. 
5. Lean beef: A 100 gram serving of beef contains 36 grams of protein. Beef is also a great source of vitamin B12, and 100 grams a week is sufficient to maintain the B12 levels we need. 
6. Tofu: Holding 7 grams of protein per 100 gram serving, tofu is a good source of protein for vegetarians or if you're trying to consume meat alternative options. 
7. Beans: specifically soybeans, like edamame, it can hold up to 17 grams of protein per 100 grams. Black, fava, lima, white, and kidney beans contain more than 15 grams of protein per cup sized serving. 
8. Eggs: like beans, they are protein dense for small servings. Every 100 grams calls for 17 grams of protein, but each large egg only contains about 6 grams. 
9. Yogurt, milk, soymilk: a cup of either of these beverages can hold up to 14 grams of protein 
10. Nuts and seeds: these are not only a great source of protein, but also mono and polyunsaturated fats. 100 gram servings can hold up to 33 grams of protein. An ounce of peanuts has 7 grams, and an ounce of almonds, pistachios, or sunflower seeds have 6 grams. 

Dealing with Cholesterol 

Cholesterol has been an issue that affected the people around me, and from what I've learned research and my health classes the past couple years, I have gained a lot more knowledge about what cholesterol is and how to regulate it.

Cholesterol is a lipid fat produced by the liver, and it is vital for normal body functions. It is mainly carried by lipoproteins in our blood circulation.

There are 3 main types of lipoproteins:

• "LDL" Low Density Lipoproteins: also known as the "bad cholesterol", too much LDL's can cause a build up in arteries and increase the risk of arterial diseases. 
• "HDL" High Density Lipoproteins: known as the "good cholesterol", it is believed to help prevent arterial diseases by bringing cholesterol back to the liver to be broken down and expelled as waste. 
• Triglycerides: the form in which fat stores in adipose (fat) cells. 

Ways to lower cholesterol 

• Replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats: cutting down the use of butters and margarines and replacing your cooking fat with olive or canola oil is beneficial for lowering cholesterol because of the polyunsaturated fats. Choosing options with a lower percentage of fat, such as omega-3 rich fish over fatty red meats, can also help moderate your cholesterol levels. 
• Incorporating more fibre into your diet: foods like oatmeal that are high in fibre help drag cholesterol out of your body (waste elimination). Researching studies have shown that it can help decrease LDL's and maintain the levels of HDL. 
• Consuming red meat in extreme moderation: red meat is high in saturated fat, causing your body to convert this fat into cholesterol. Higher consumption of red meats is also linked to higher rates of colon diseases and cardiovascular diseases. 
• Cooking with garlic: garlic contains many antioxidants that help strengthen our immune system, as well as preventing the oxidation of LDL's. 
• Snacking on almonds and other nuts: almonds and nuts are packed full of monounsaturated fats, and can help lower the LDL's and increase the HDL's in our body. 

Most importantly, other than changing our dietary habits, is also making changes to our lifestyle. Moderate cardiovascular exercise such as moderate intensity running, jogging, or longer walks can help with weight loss and maintaining a healthy body weight. 

Counting Calories? Or Counting Macros? 

I've been looking at different posts on My Fitness Pal forums and watching youtube videos, and I became curious between the difference of counting calories and counting macronutrients. It seems that both way works for different people, but what really is the difference between the two methods? Does one benefit more than the other? Today I sat down and did some research, and I learned some interesting things. 

Since my new diet plan, I have started counting my calories. At first, it was hard to track everything I ate. It seemed like a very tedious task, but after a couple weeks, it became a natural habit to record things. It also made me realize how much more calorie dense some things were than I thought. 

I did a little bit of research and came across this blog. This advid blogger mentioned a LOT of things between the calories and macros, as well as how about the two different methods work and work together. 

Here is a summary of information I picked up from his blog:  

• Protein: 4 calories per gram 
• Carbohydrate: 4 calories per gram 
• Fat: 9 calories per gram 
• Alcohol: 7 calories per gram 
• Taking the weight of the specific macronutrient and multiplying it by the number of calories per gram of that macronutrient allows you to arrive at the number of calories in that food item. 

• To be more accurate with your food measurements, go to "Calorie King" for more detailed information. It is suggested to use grams or ounces to be more accurate than approximating the size of the portion.

He recommends counting macros over calories, not only because it's more accurate for when you're trying to build muscle, but also because it essentially ends up as counting calories as well (simple calculation conversion will give you calories). 

I think this is a good idea as well, because if you hit your macros accordingly, you can assume that you've hit your calorie needs for the day as well. On the contrary, if you hit your daily caloric needs, it doesn't mean that you've hit all the required macros. You may have had more calories from fat than protein, for example. 

I also searched on youtube to see what some people recommended for counting macros, and I came across one useful video. According to the video, their method of calculating macros was derived from multiplying your weight with a "scale of intensity" between 12 to 15. 12 being working out 1-3 times a day with moderate intensity, and 15 being working out 5+ times a week with higher intensity of physical endurance. 

Typically, there are two methods: 40/40/20 and 50/30/20 (carbs/protein/fat) method. Myfitnesspal members recommend a 40/40/20 for maintenance or cutting phase, and the 50/30/20 for bulking. Here is what my macros would be broken down to in terms of grams and calories for a cutting phase. 

I am definitely going to try start counting my macros instead of my calories now. When I count my calories, I find that it's very easy to become obsessive over it. With macros, I think it would give me a more satisfactory feeling because I'll know that not only have I hit my caloric goal, I have also gotten an approximate "balance" of macronutrients for my changing body :) 

To start this new "diet" plan, my boyfriend and I went grocery shopping today! We ended up spending a LOT more than we planned, because we got a couple where if you spent $200 you get a free mini lawn chair.... I ended up buying a big suntanning lawn chair to rack up the bill :P 

Strawberries, blueberries, apples, lemons, mushrooms, extra lean ground beef patties, chicken filet breasts, natural pepperoni sticks, fat free and high protein yogurt, roti, and ristorante pizza :) 

I also pre-measured the weight of my chicken and beef, and also wrote down the macros on them so it'll be much easier to just record them as I'm cooking :) 

Wish me luck!! 

In Search for Good Veggie Dishes

I've been searching for good veggies dishes/ side dishes for the past two days, and I hit a road block for most of the time. 

When I cook my veggies, I'm used to two cooking methods: sauteed (pan fried) or baked. Things vary from sauteed peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini, to baked peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, and onions. Of course, you can't go cooking your veggies without the Mrs. Dash on deck :) As much as I like my veggies, things are starting to go bland, leading to my reason in searching for new recipes. 

I finally found a few recipes tonight, and I've included the photo of the item and a link to the recipe. Can't wait to get a chance to try them out! 

Lemon Green Beans

Green Beans with Toasted Pecans

Zucchini and Yellow Squash Gratin

Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower with Lemon and Garlic

Asparagus and Shiitake Stir-fry

Thoughts on Father's Day

I've been at work all day today, so I haven't had a chance to sit down and really think about my father. inside. Some days it gets really hard, and I find myself crying like a little girl. I miss the things we used to do, and the way he'd talk to me. I would just be laying there, thinking about a memory that sparked, and I would end up in tears nine out of 10 times. Most of all, I always end up asking myself "I wonder how life would be like today if Dad was still here". 

Saying that "things have been tough" is an understatement of how life has changed since my father left us almost 3 years ago. I went through changes that I'd never expected in life. It made me grow as a person. I became more mature, more responsible, and more caretaking for my mother. It feels like a phase that I have went through, and I came out as a different, but much stronger person. 

Gym Etiquette

Today I finally went back to the gym - it's about time! I don't know what came upon me the last week, but I was struggling quite a bit in terms of my fitness workouts and my eating habits. None the less, I have put this behind me. Hopefully IF it happens next time, I'll be able to handle it better. 

Today at the gym, there was this one older guy working out around me, and seeing the things he was doing really reminded me of "Gym Etiquette". To sum it up, he was following  close to none of those etiquettes. 

1. Phone Usage 

I think it's just polite to keep phone usage to minimal - whether that's to text or to talk on the phone. I personally, am not the greatest at this, because I often forget how to do a certain exercise properly. As a result, I have to pullout youtube and quickly search for the video. 

2. Hogging the Equipment

Sharing is caring. I think we've all known this for a long long time now. It just gets frustrating when people refuse to share equipment, or give you looks when you approach a machine they've just finished with! On certain days I like to do supersets throughout my workout. My little habit is I tend to leave my book and water bottle at one machine while I head off to the next machine. Never have I ever said no to someone who asked if they could use the unoccupied machine. I just kindly let them know that I'm doing supetsets, but they're free to use it while I'm away. If they ask to do more than just a couple sets, I've said okay and just took a 5 minute break. No big deal! 

3. Putting Weights Back

It is only courteous to put away something that you've used. This is something that all parents must teach their young ones. Sometimes it's confusing as to where different extra weights go, but at least take them off the cable and put it by the machine or on a hook. Putting on 3 extra 5lb flat bars and leaving it is just annoying for the next person who has to clean up after you. 

4. Dropping Weights (on the ground or on resistance machines) 

There is often certain areas of the gym that is meant for heavy weight lifting (and dropping). When you're throwing your dumbbell on the ground, not only is it annoying, it's dangerous. Not to mention the greater risk of you dropping it on your foot. For resistance machines, there's nothing more annoying than to hear someone's weights hitting the stack. Either you need to readjust the seat/height of the machine, or you're just not doing it right. 

5. Misuse of Gym Equipment

This happens the most often, but it's understandable. I've probably misused a few machines myself since I've started my new workout plan, but the key is to ask the fitness trainees on facility for help. Some machines are a little harder to navigate, but some things are just straight common sense. To see a man in his mid 20's attempting to bounce a medicine ball is just pathetic and annoying (this was something I witnessed today). 

6. Lack of Personal Hygiene

PLEASE use deoderant. There's nothing more disgusting than being in a tiny gym and having the person next to you stink up all the air around you. And you shouldn't just use deodorant at the gym - it should be a daily thing. Having a stank and breaking a sweat at the same time isn't the greatest combo. This also includes cleaning up after yourself and the machines you use. I have a bad habit of constantly wiping the sweat off my forehead when I'm using the treadmill. This often results in me touching the handle bars and leaving my sweat there. But no fret - I make sure I wipe it all down afterwards. 

To sum up the disturbance of my workout today, this gentlemen was hogging well over 5 different cable resistance machines. The way the gym is set up, the seated cable row, lat pulldown, and 3 different arm curl resistance machines are all in one area beside the dumbbell rack. This guy would essentially do random cycles within all 5 of these machines, AS WELL as swinging his dumbbells in front of the mirrors and letting the weights drop on the resistance machines. He had a bad attitude when it came to sharing, as when I went to use the unoccupied machines he would always give me a side glare. Not to mention he left all the extra weights on the machine too. And when he was finally done hogging everything, he proceeded to get up and just walk away, with no knowledge of the need to clean all the machines he had just used. Gross. 

He disappeared for a while on the other side of the gym afterwards, so I was able to finish off my workout - which was solid today :) 

Until next time! xoxo 

What The Truck!? - Food Truck Extravaganza

Some of my close friends are aware that I have a thing for food trucks. There's just something about the taste of their food and their mobile transportation that gives it more of a thrill than a normal dine in restaurant. 

I have seen many food truck eateries on the Food Channel Network, but I had yet to experience it in my own hometown. Last summer I got the opportunity to sample "Drift" and "Nomad" food truck's delicious food. It was a mesmerizing experience, and I definitely was looking forward to more of those events. 

Tonight, in the company of my boyfriend, we ventured off to Whyte Ave for our first big "Food Truck Eatery" event :D 

Tonight was What the Truck's Food Truck line up. It featured 12 different food trucks, including Drift, Nomad, Sailiin' On, Bully, and many more. 

Come take a look at what we had to eat tonight and what we think about it! 

Ahi Tuna Tortilla Rolls – Mexican-inspired tortilla stuffed rolls with mango, lime, cilantro, papaya, crème fresh served with sweet chili dipping sauce

Bully Food Truck 

These rolls were surprisingly good. At first, it seemed like just another kind of spring roll. But the order we got was very fresh (very hot!), and there was a good mix of tuna and the different mixings and spice to give it a good kick. Good choice for people who are fan's of spicy food! 

Philly Beef Yorkshire – AAA Alberta beef brisket slow roasted and dry rubbed with organic Doi Chaang coffee and Bully’s blend of spices, served with Yorkshire pudding cups, onions, peppers, Bully cheese sauce and pesto aioli

Bully Food Truck

My boyfriend had already stuck his face into this dish before I had a chance to snap the pic. It was a relatively good dish, except I've never had it before until today. I only had a couple bites because it was a little too heavy for my liking. The beef was juicy, as it was covered with quite a bit of sauce. My boyfriend ended up eating most of it. 

Mini Pork Belly Sandwich and Fries with Homemade Sauce 

Drift Food Truck 

This, is to DIE for. One of the best (mini) burgers I've tasted. The meat was cooked just right, not overcooked, and the mayo sauce they used along with the carrot and cilantro garnish just made it taste even better. The fries alone were tasteful. They used a kind of secret seasoning on their fries, top that off with their homemade ketchup and BAM! Mouth orgasm. I can honestly say that there hasn't been one thing from Drift that I've tried and didn't like :) 

Coconut Bacon BLT – smoked coconut bacon, lettuce, tomato, carrot and homemade roasted garlic vegan mayo in a flour tortilla

Sailiin' On Food Truck 

My boyfriend and I browsed the menu ahead of time, and we both agreed this was something we had to try. There's very few individuals who would turn down bacon. But COCONUT bacon!? Now that I've got to try. The bacon was nice and crispy, and it had a strong coconut taste, but not too powerful that it completely overpowered the bacon. Another mouth orgasm causing item! The other good part was for $8, it was beyond the size we expected it to be (imagine jumbo donair size in length) and plenty for us to share. 

Vanilla Liege Waffle – dipped in chocolate (dark chocolate)

Eva Sweet Food Truck 

The classic Eva Sweet waffle :) Even though we were beyond stuffed, we insisted on getting some dessert. Plus, I have missed getting these waffles on campus. The waffle was kind of hard, but taken that they are pre-made and "stored", I didn't have the highest expectation for it. And for only $3.50 at an event that charged at least $6 to $7 dollars per item, it seemed like a reasonable price to cure out sweet tooth :) 

Something I Noticed About Society (at work)...

As a student, the financial aspect of my life can get a little chaotic when it comes to that time of the year where I have to pay a lump of bills and tuition. Fortunately, I work in the restaurant service industry so things don't get too too bad. 

What I wanted to really discuss today are the people I encounter at work, as well as the few issues I've come across. 

The overly kind people

These people are just naturally too nice - we need more of these people in society. They thank you for everything - practically every time you stop by their table. 

The "woke up on wrong side of bed" people

Or also known as the not so friendly ones. It always throws me off when I encounter them, because it kind of makes it hard for me to do my job. I want to bring the best for your dining experience, and if you're constantly pulling a :|  face, it's hard for me to smile back without feeling like a bimbo. 

The stingy people

When it comes to stingy people, there are essentially two types: The people who eat like their they king but cheap out on their tip, and the people who are just straight up dirt cheap. I think a big part of society fails to recognize that some servers depend on tips for a living. With the whole "you're already getting paid by your employer" argument set aside, I'd like to shed some light on the not so great life of a server. 

In Canada, the government has regulated a "alcohol service minimum wage". What this is, for those of you who don't know, a minimum wage for any servers that serve alcohol at a regular basis. As a result, this allows restaurant owners to cut their costs by paying  a part of their employes lower wages. 

With that said, I dare to say that PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO TIP. The government did not simply enlist this minimum wage without knowing that servers are expected to get tipped. As for the amount, I truly believe that this depends on the atmosphere of the restaurant and the service of your server. 

The obnoxiously rude people

These individuals just drive you bonkers. Clearly they were raised being taught no manners, and they treat you like a slave. They don't ASK you for things, they COMMAND you. They don't thank you either, and have minimal patience. They expect you to be waiting by their table like a dog, awaiting their commands. 

Overall, I wouldn't say I love my job. I'm doing my job because I simply need to make money for a living. On days when I've got happy customers, the day goes by faster. On days when I have a pool of obnoxious or stingy people, it honestly just becomes a pain in the ass to be there. My bottom line is, I'm here to do my job and make a living, not to be your personal slave. It would be appreciated if you treated us with more respect. At the end of the day, we're all human too.  :)

P.S. This image was too funny to not share

Today's Adventurous "Creation": Cauliflower (Crust) Pizza!

Firstly, this isn't something I "created". I simply googled the online recipe, and tweaked it to my liking :) The recipe that I followed can be found here. 

The Process

Step 1: Peel and wash the cauliflower. Since I didn't have a food processor, I used a small hand chopper to break up the cauliflower (somewhat long and tedious task)

Step 2: Once it is all chopped up, add an egg into the bowl and mix it in. If you are using a whole head of cauliflower, use one egg. Use half an egg if you are making a smaller pizza. 

Step 3: Once your have mixed the egg in, add in any spices that you desire. I always use my Mrs. Dash Sodium Free seasonings, because they are absolutely delish and sodium free! Today I used Garlic and Herbs, as well as a couple dashes of pepper. 

Step 4: Thoroughly mix all the spices in. You can put the "dough" onto a pizza pan, or just a regular baking sheet like I did (since I don't own a pizza pan). Be sure to grease the pan first! You can also line it with parchment paper just to be safe. 

Tip: Don't spread the dough to thin or else it will burn easily. 

Sprinkle extra seasoning on top if desired 

Step 5: Bake on 425 Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown 

Step 6: Remove pan from oven. Add on your choice of toppings. Today I added a few teaspoons of low sodium tomato sauce, low fat tex-mex cheese, grated carrots,  thinly sliced zuchinni's, and grilled chicken (seasoned with Mrs Dash's Garlic and Herb and Southwest Chicken). 

Tip: I cooked the chicken to about 80% because I didn't want super dried up chicken in the finished product. 

Step 7: Pop the pan back into the oven for another 8-10 minutes, until cheese is fully melted. Remove from oven, let it cool for a few minutes, and enjoy! 

Finished Product 

What My Typical Day Looks Like

I like routine when it comes to doing things during the day. It gives me this sense of control. On a typical day, I'd wake up and get ready for the gym. If I'm off to the gym by 10:30, it's usually around 1:00 by the time I'm home. 

Sneak peak into my workouts (curtsey of Lauren Gleisberg ) 

After coming back from the gym, I either go grab a sandwich at Safeway or make my own lunch at home. Then, from after lunch to before dinner, I call it "my own quality time". I do whatever I feel like I need to do: watch a movie, catch up on some dramas, read some books, play with my cat, nap, exc exc. 

The evening varies a lot, because on different days my schedule calls for different events. Closer to the weekends I'm usually either at work or with my family. During more of the weekdays, I'm usually spending time with my boyfriend and his family. We go out for movies, dinners, grocery shopping, walks in the park, all the fun stuff we must do to enjoy life fully :) 

Why I Love to Cook

Cooking gives me freedom. I get to choose what to cook, and how to cook it. It's like a painter who loves to paint. You give them a blank canvas - but for me you'd give me pots and pans. You'd give painters paint, but you'd give me fresh ingredients to cook with. And let the art begin. 

Here are a few pictures of the dishes I made (I mainly make chicken and fish dishes because it's my main sources of protein - but let's face it, it's also easy to make =P ) 

Grilled Chicken and Sauteed Shrimp on Whole Wheat Linguini 

Lemon and Dill Baked Salmon with Sauteed Asparagus and Baked Yam and Potato

Baked Haddock with Garlic and Herb Sauce, Grilled BBQ Chicken Breast, 

and Steamed Veggies 

I love to cook also because it gives me the sense of control. I'm in control of what I'm putting into my body. Ever since I started this new lifestyle change, I've become more concerned with what I'm ingesting. From processed sugars, extra chemicals and preservatives, all that junk. Grocery trips have now gone from 45 minutes to well over 90 minutes because I like to take my time to look and compare labels (my boyfriend secretly hates me because of that xP ) 

Lastly, it gives me the sense of independence. Paying for my own groceries, cooking my own meals (and sometimes even mom's), and being able to show people like my mom that she doesn't need to take care of me as much as she used to. 

How the Change All Began

I'm finding it a little hard to put all of my thoughts into words, because it's honestly a little hard to remember exactly where the change began. I guess I've always had it in me - the passion for exercising and eating good things because I know how beneficial these things can be for me. But the biggest change I've made recently is not just applying these things to my lifestyle once or twice -- it's a COMPLETE lifestyle change. 

To be fair, I'd like to tell you a little bit about myself from before (more details in the next blog post). I was a very active girl in high school. My friends all knew me for loving to play sports and get rough and break a sweat. I took phys-ed all three years of high school, and there wasn't one thing I regretted about it. 

The transition from high school to university was one of the few things that hit me the hardest, in regards to my health, my fitness level, my lifestyle, my relationships, and my mental health. 

With my grades going downhill, so did my health and my fitness level. I no longer had the time or the will to go to the gym because I would rather be sitting on my butt surfing the web. When I finally started getting my shit together and studying harder, I felt that I had to study and totally neglected working out and my eating habits. This did not result in me gaining the "freshmen 15", but I definitely noticed a change in the build of my body (more fat and less lean muscle), and resulted in a decline in my mental health state. 

In between that point and today, many many things have happened, but I'll save that for another day :) 

I remember taking time out of my studying to go to the gym at least once a week, or go for a run on the treadmill. But of course, as the semester progressed and the midterms and assignments came rolling in, my plan started to deviate. Until I met my current boyfriend :) 

Through him, we have somehow slowly started to motivate each other to be a better person - to be each other's better half. This past April, I decided that I was going to make a big change. I made the commitment to myself that I would workout EVERY day. Nothing on the huge scale. All the little things that I could do every day that would show progress in the long run - squats, lunges, baby bicep curls, 15 minutes jogs, exc. 

Another big thing that I changed was my diet and eating habits. I no longer waited until I was starving and stuffed my face -- I made sure I always had snacks/food on me and had smaller meals throughout the day. I stopped going to the SUB building and buying EDO, donairs, and subs and packed my own lunches. It was hard at first, because some of the food my mom ate was stuff I was trying to steer clear of. 

From there, my boyfriend and I started making our weekly grocery trips. He would buy the things he needs for his lunches (which I have influenced him to do :D ), and I would buy what I needed. This has allowed me more freedom to cook the things I like to eat :) 

REALITY CHECK>> A couple months have gone by now, and my workouts have gone from the little things I do at home to lifting weights at the gym. I spent almost 2 months "cutting" - measuring all the calories I was intaking, and making sure that I was meeting my daily caloric intake in order to lose weight. As a result, I have lost 10 pounds !! :) Now it's time to hit the gym and build all that lean muscle back :D 

I have a set of dumbbells and ankle weights at home, in case I can't make it to the gym or want to those few extra sets when I get home. 

We still do our grocery trips together. In gives us time to ourselves, and we make sure the things we purchase are in check with our goals and diet. My boyfriend and I often cook meals for each other too. 

The reason this is a "lifelong journey" is because this isn't going to stop once I reach my goal weight or body type. This is lifestyle change. It's only been a few months, but I have already learned so much. And there is still so much more out there that I want to learn about. This change is what's making me happier, and I'm going to keep doing it because of that exact reason -- happiness :)

A Little Bit About Myself

Welcome to my Blog! 

My name is Selina, and I am a third year student in Nutrition and Food Science Major. I have recently become a "gym-freak", due to the many changes that I have made the past few months (more about that later). 

My many hobbies include reading, working out, cooking food, eating delicious gourmet food, and watching online dramas of all kinds. 

I have created this blog to capture the many things that happen in my daily life - in search of happiness. I have never been a avid blogger, so please bare with me :)