Centrepiece Project..........Mock-up #1

This past weekend I started one of my many projects before my Wedding Day!! This is the stuff that I really enjoy about wedding planning. But I feel I need some assistance and who better to ask then my fellow bloggers/followers.

Here is the project, Create centerpieces for round tables that hold 6-8 people. I will have a white table cloth with a damask runner seen here, black napkins and black chair linen. People always ask me what color's I am using in my wedding and the answer is difficult as I am not really using a color so much as a pattern, which is the damask pattern seen on the runner. My flowers however for my wedding will be red, the ties and pocket square's on the groomsmen are also deep red.

I can't decide if I want a short or tall centerpiece. All I know is I want it to have flowers. I think they will be silk as they will look exactly how I want them to.

Here is my centerpiece mock-up #1

• Short square vase, black ribbon wrapped around it with red silk flowers.

 I had a lazy weekend, and didn't workout. But I will be getting my fitness on tomorrow.

This past Friday I made some Thai Curried Butternut Squash soup that I seen on Jeanette's Healthy Living Blog. 

I also fudged and didn't toss them and they burnt a little bit......whoops

It was a little thick but that could be due to how large my squash was and sweet potato. To resolve this I added some more broth.

It was delish.

Has anyone tried these? I love Larabar's and was picking some up when I saw these Vega Whole Food Vibrancy Bars. I got the two kinds they had at the store Chocolate Decadence and Green Synergy. Both were sooo good. I loved the Chocolate Decadence more, but I have a sweet tooth. Will be picking up some more of these tonight.

Diet........The Break-Up

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I have been debating this for a few weeks now, I am at my ideal weight and have surpassed my goal. I am healthy, happy and enjoying my new lifestyle. When I started my weight loss, my goal was 130lbs. I am now 120lbs. So then why am I still dieting?  Let's be serious? Enough is enough. Dieting is a horrible word, no one likes it and I hate it.

I am ending it, and trust me dieting.....I don't want to be friends, in fact I don't ever want to see you again.

It's official I have removed you as a Facebook friend LOL

Now that is done and the awkwardness is fading. Let's discus what my new goals are:

1. Continue eating healthy, but increase my calorie intake- I know my body now, I know what amount I can and can't eat
2. Keep working out and getting in top shape - still need to look fab for my wedding
3. Be happy and not feel deprived - self explanatory for anyone who has been on a diet

I am really happy about this decision. I will continue to eat healthy and maintain what I have accomplished. I honestly feel so much better! With the wedding coming in just a little more then 6months and my wedding social just around the corner, this is one less stress and I wont miss it.


Last night's workout was my back. Each exercise is 3 set's of 12 reps.

• Pull up on assisted machine
• Row on machine
• DB Swiss ball raise

I then followed up with 20min on the stepper at resistance 6.

Now for the best part, my post-workout drink....The Green Monster as seen on Oh She Glows. She has many different versions. Mine was close to the the Classic Green Monster with a small handful of blueberries added.

The major modification I did was instead of chocolate nut butter or wheatgrass I used a scoop of my ISOFLEX Peanut Butter Chocolate protein powder. The result. AMAZING! I even had my fiance try some and he loved it. So check out Angela at Oh She Glows she rocks!

Yummy!!!!

Interview with Kim from Kimmy Conduct

 I have been getting a lot questions about who my trainer is and what she is all about. So instead of me telling people about her over and over again(though I don't mind as she's totally awesome), I sat down and asked her some questions that I felt would be helpful to people interested in starting a healthy lifestyle.

What most attracted me to training with Kim was that she has been down my journey too. She hasn't always been where she is now with her health and knows how it feels to struggle with weight.

So that being said, lets get to the interview!!

1.What is your personal experience with fitness and working out?

I started working out the unconventional way at home for a four months with the help of fitness DVD's, the WiiFit and my squeaky friend, the Elliptical.  I did lose a bit of weight but wasn't seeing the results I would of liked in the amount of time I dedicated to it.  I knew it was time to find a gym and get myself to a personal trainer.  I signed up immediately and started sessions with Amy that same week.  We saw one another for 3 sessions a week.  For the 6 months I was with Amy, I had lost a great deal of weight.  Alas, she quit her job and I stopped going to my gym.  I picked up getting healthy and fit when I met my second personal trainer and now boyfriend Sam a month later.  He made me a plan.  I followed it.  I lost even more weight: the lightest I had actually been since my high school days.  This was the point in my life where I knew I wanted to make a big of a difference in someone else's life like my trainers did.  I wanted to become a personal trainer.  So with that goal in mind, I set out to take the Personal Training Specialist course.  Now, I am loving what I do.

2. What is your training philosophy?

 My training philosophy is "Push it to the limits".  You really never know how far you can go without stepping over those many boundaries we all know and have.  One of my favourite quotes has got to be "You never know until you try."  Intensity has ever bit of how well you succeed.  That can be said with everything in life.  Give it your 100% and you'll go far.

3. What should someone do if they want to become fit and healthy?

 I highly recommend doing a lot of research online.  There are many great reference points out there pertaining to health and fitness.  The second thing I would recommend for someone who wants to get in tip top shape is to see a personal trainer or a dietitian.  These folks are experts in what they do and are able to get you where you want to be in a shorter period of time, compared to someone doing it on their own.

4. What are some misconceptions people have about exercising and getting in shape?

People think that CARDIO is the "be-all-end-all" of working out.  I am going to spell it out right now.  IT ISN'T.  Many think "if I go on the treadmill for 2 hours, I will lose all this fat".  Not true.  That is actually being counterproductive.  Doing more damage than good.  You need a good balance of both resistance training, cardiovascular training and flexibility training to be optimal.  Even if someone were just doing a weight resistance program, that person would lose more weight than the person just doing cardiovascular. Some food for thought.  

5. You are currently training to compete in the MABBA Novice Competition, tell us about that?

This is going to be my very first fitness competition ever.  I am feeling a mix of emotions leading up to the day.  I remember last year weighing in at approximately 145 lbs and saying to my boyfriend "I want to look like that" or "I want to be up there one day."  Now, weighing in at 127 lbs, I AM one of those girls.  I WILL be on that stage.  Hard work and dedication lead me to where I am today.  It has been quite a journey.  I hope it doesn't stop there.  Provincials...HERE I COME.  

6. How have you had to change your normal fitness routine to be ready for this?

My nutrition has never been as strict as it has been in the past leading up to this one day.  No spices.  No Flavouring.  Just my food...plain in it's simplicity  My workouts go anywhere from 6-7 days a week, sometimes cardiovascular in the morning and evening.  I am really bad for consuming water, so even that has increased tremendously.  Sleep is crucial for body repair and I am actually getting some decent zzz's this past week

7. What is the first thing you will eat after you compete?

PIZZA.  Thin crust or deep dish or BOTH.

8. If someone has more questions to ask you, how do they contact you?

You can contact me through my email at kimberlygho@gmail.com.  

You can also read about her journey on her blog at KimmyConduct