Heyyoohhhhhh

Hey everyone! Long time,  no blog! Not because I haven't been working out and what not, just because I have been busy.

I wanted to just basically wanted to check in! I have been keeping up with a workout regimen and have loosened up on my diet a bit! Considering I've officially lost 52lbs, I think I'm allowed to have a burger or something unhealthy every now and then! ;)

One thing A LOT of people have been asking me lately is, "How did you do it?!" When I answer with, "diet and exercise" - I get somewhat of a disappointed reaction almost every time. It's like they wanted my answer to be, "Oh! I found this great diet pill and I watch Netflix!"

NOT. GOING. TO. HAPPEN.

I don't understand the mentality of wanting this to just happen without any effort. I assure you that there is no pill/shake/superfood/vapor/whatever that will do this for you. I hate to break that to you, but it is true.

Oh, and another thing. The simple act of going into a gym, isn't going to make you lose weight either. I promise that walking into a gym, and sitting down on a machine to check your phone is not going to do a dang thing. It takes work, sweat, a certain amount of pain, motivation and willpower.

For example, I went into a fit of mild Irish rage last night when I got home from the gym. First of all, I did NOT want to go. I was whining like a baby about how I wanted to stay home and skip last night. My boyfriend Zac reminded me that I would just be pissed at myself later and he was right. So I went, came home, showered and sat down to putz around on my phone for a bit before bed. This woman had requested to follow me on Instagram, so I checked out her page. She was a girl who was claiming to have weighed 190lbs (around the same weight I was) and now she's lost 50lbs (also like I have) BUT there was something that really set me off. She claimed to have done it in 2 MONTHS and she claims she did it WITHOUT changing her diet or daily routine.

LYING LIAR THAT LIES. 

I have said it before and I'll say it again, I am NOT a nutritionist. I am NOT a personal trainer. I am NOT a professional in the health and fitness world. I also was not born yesterday.  You will not be able to eat whatever you want. You will not be able to sit on your ass and lose weight while taking a pill. This process, which sucks MAJORLY at times, takes work and strength. Not $79 a month on some Rasberry Extract Pill bullshit. Excuse my French.

Anyways - would you guys like me to post my diet and exercise plan? I have a lot of people asking and will gladly type out my day to day plan if you'd like! Give me your feedback and I will make my next move!

Have a great Wednesday!
-KG

I am HAPPY.

Happy Friday's Eve Friends!

I hope everyone is having a great week! I am FINALLY back on my grind and have been busting ass this week.

Now, while I say "busting ass"... I have dialed it back JUST a tad. When I started all of this, I was blessed to have a lot of company around me on hikes. Well, as life happens, schedules change and not everything is as it was, so my hikes have taken a bit of a hit because I refuse to do them alone. Why?? It's not safe and there are creepers out there. Now having said that, I have found ways to get my "steps" in. (Fitbit cheers you on to get more steps and I seem to have picked up the lingo.)

When I can't hike, I walk around the neighborhood with friends and/or my dog. I started a walk the other day, with the intention of going 3.5 miles max... I ended up loving my music so much and it was so nice outside I ended up going 6.5 miles. I also have a walking date with my daddio every week. You just have to find something you love to do, find some awesome music to do it to, and DO IT.

I was thinking today when I was out on a hike, that this whole thing has taught me SO much. I used to sit at home, and if I didn't want to go workout, I wouldn't. I would tell myself, "tomorrow" or "next Monday"... I would put that shit off until I couldn't anymore. Which is exactly what happened, and in hind sight, had I got off my ass sooner, I would have had a lot less work to do. Oh well... ya live and ya learn.

Today was one of those days that I did NOT want to do ANNNYYYTHHHINNNGGG. I got home from work, sat down on the couch and my little Bailey curled up in my lap. I started to sink into the couch and I had to stop myself. I knew if I let myself relax a bit, my walk was not going to happen. So I got up, took my pre workout and got my butt in gear.

Not only did I do it, I went farther than I had anticipated AND I added a level of intensity of running up every hill I faced both ways. I finished up 4 miles today and got in my car. Boom! That was it! Done! I could go home and relax now! It got me thinking, I am my biggest hurdle. The only person who is going to stop me from hiking or going to the gym, is me. The only person who is going to shovel a cheeseburger and sweet potato fries into my mouth, is me! I am my own worst enemy... or my own hero. It is up to me to make that choice.

I am my own hero.

I have saved myself. I saved myself from an unhealthy lifestyle. I saved myself from potential health issues down the road. I saved myself from laziness. I saved myself from myself. You don't realize how easy it is to fall into the "unhealthy" trap until you fall into it, face first, with a ship anchor tied around your waist. And you don't realize how much you're capable of until you climb the hell out of it. EVERYONE CAN DO THIS. Get in your own heads and make it happen. FOR YOU. 

My mom got me a mug years ago, and I drink tea out of it almost every day. It says:

"Change your thinking, change your ways."

Spot on, Mama. You nailed it. 

A LOT of people have been asking how I have received the progress that I have. Which here it is, 141.3lbs. Just over 40lbs down - Please remember - I am NOT a nutritionist or personal trainer. I am simply sharing what has worked for me over the last few months. 

Finally seeing those little abs come in! 

FOOD: 

Here is my first 2 weeks of meal prep. This instagram account is GREAT for meal prep 

When it comes to snacking, raw unsalted almonds and strawberries (or cherries which are in season right now...YAY!) are my favorite snacks!

WORKOUTS:

I go for some form of a walk or hike every day if I can. Whether it is 1 mile or 7, anything is SOMETHING. Plus it's a great way to clear your mind and get outside

After dinner, I hit the gym. 20 minutes on either the elliptical, treadmill or bike. I prefer the elliptical because everything below my hips cracks and pops like crazy and it seems to happen the least on it. After that, it's arms M/W/F and legs T/TH. (If you want specific details, shoot me an email - katiegreenksfo@gmail.com) I end every workout with 25 sit-ups on a buso ball followed by a 30 second plank with my feet on the buso ball. Repeat 4 rounds. 

Believe in yourself. If YOU say you can't do something, and you believe that... then I hate to break it to you, but you're doomed. You can do ANYTHING. Trust me, if my lazy ass can do it, your lazy ass can do it. ;)

I want to close this by thanking all of you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me, messaging me, clicking "like", commenting, ALL of it. You guys have helped me more than you know through one of the hardest times and I feel that saying "thank you" isn't even close to enough. <3

Live Easy! 

KatieG

Talk about a bump in the road

Good morning!

It has been a while and I hope you all are doing well! I know I dropped off the blogging planet for a bit but I promise you I have a good reason...
...well, maybe not a GOOD reason, but a relatable one.

I have been DOWN.

• I've been down because of being sick. 
• I have been down because of this nutso weather we have been having. A gray sky can completely flop my mood for the worst. 
• I have been down because I felt like I came so far and all of a sudden came to a stop. 
• I have been down because I haven't been the best about my diet either. 

All of these things have had me in a funk and pissed off at myself.

I even had a donut... and didn't workout after eating said donut. But guess what? It was SO good and I'm not really TOO sorry about it.

Now, before you all start to think that I have completely failed myself or any of you, I have maintained my weight loss. I weighed in this morning at 144.1 lbs. I haven't been hiking as much, but I have been making sure to take 3 to 6 mile walks which have been nice. I was staying away from the gym because, well lets be honest, who the hell wants to be at a gym where the chick next to you is hacking up a lung? That would upset me, so I decided not to subject the rest of the world to it.

I can honestly say that yesterday and today are the first couple days where I have coughed and not coughed anything up. Sorry, gross I know but it is honest. It has been so frustrating to have come so far, been so active, then BAM, coming to a grinding halt. I just keep telling myself that I am not alone, and that I am not doomed. I can always start back up, which I am doing today and I am SO excited about it.

If you have ever hit a bump in the road in regards to fitness, or anything for that matter, don't give up. I assure you that there are people out there that are in the exact same boat and possibly without paddles.

Before I go, I have been asked about my meal prep, which I am back at hard core this week. Here is all the information you'll need to know.  Please keep in mind, I am not a nutritionist. I compiled my meal prep from a bunch of different sources and am sharing it because it has worked for me. 

GROCERY LIST (For the week)

• 2 - 3 Sweet potatoes (When looking at the sizes of the potatoes, keep in mind you're going to eat 1/2 cooked a day)
• 1 carton of eggs
• GNC Lean 25 Shakes (4 pack... I prefer chocolate and strawberry, NOT a fan of the banana) 
  
• Raw and Unsalted almonds - Trader Joe's sells pre-packaged bags of raw and unsalted almonds that makes it WAY easy to grab and go. 
• Chicken thighs
• Tilapia (I got the frozen ones from Costco) 

For dinner, I alternate between chicken and tilapia filets just to keep it interesting . 

• Broccoli florets 
• Asparagus 
• Carrots 
• Cherry tomatoes 
• Strawberries 
• Dark Chocolate Chips
• Blueberry Slim Life Yogi Tea 

BREAKFAST:

1 cup of Blueberry Slim Life Yogi Tea, 2 Hard boiled egg WHITES (yep, throw them yolks away) with 1/2 cup of cooked sweet potatoes (I cook them in coconut oil with a tiny bit of salt and pepper)

LUNCH:

1 of the GNC Lean 25 shakes and a hand full of raw almonds 

DINNER:

Chicken thigh or tilapia filet over sauteed broccoli, asparagus, carrots and cherry tomatoes. While it sounds like a lot of ingredients, use a small amount of each one. It keeps it interesting :) 

DESERT:

2 strawberries and 7 dark chocolate chips. (Why 7? Because it is my favorite number.)

Keep in mind, everyone is different. I have been eating like this and working out and it has been working for me. Remember, don't eat dinner too late. For example, I go to bed every night at 9:30 pm so I make sure that I have eaten dinner by 5:30 no later. You don't want to eat too close to bedtime.

Eating healthy and exercise are the keys to this whole thing. There is no magic pill or drink that will do it for you. I am glad to help anyone who may need it. You can always reach out to me on my facebook page or email me at: katiegreenksfo@gmail.com

Don't Worry, Be Happy.
KG

My Progress Photo

I wasn't going to post this but you know what...I change my mind. Here it is. I've been preaching to believe in yourself and be proud of yourself.  I'm not proud of what I looked like, but I am proud of what I have become. 37lbs down, some more toning to go. But progress is progress and here is mine. To everyone who has cheered me on and motivated me, thank you. I am a happier and healthier person. ❤️✌🏼

Sick of being sick

Hey everyone!

I know, I know... I'm the most unreliable blogger of life.  I'll let you guys in on what's been up.

So the last time I wrote,  it was May 22 and I was really sick. It started on May 19th/20th, I woke up for work and felt like absolute hell, had a sore throat and was fatigued. Whenever I feel like I am starting to get sick 3 things happen:

1. I panic. I panic especially with THAT kind of sick. A stomach bug is one thing... but my throat is my life. My voice is my job. 
2. I do what I call "blasting myself." I take every freaking remedy you can think of all day long. Emergen-c, local honey and lemon water, gargling salt water, sipping apple cider vinegar, taking cough suppressants, eating Mom's soup...you name it, I try it. 
3. I start to feel better and try to do something active to "sweat it out." Don't get me wrong, I usually feel great, but in hindsight, I should have been resting. 

After those 3 things go down, I go to bed with a prayer that I wake up the next morning in tip top shape. This was NOT the case with whatever has had me since that day. Here we are, June freaking 3rd, and I am stilllllllll fighting whatever has me. This isn't consistent in the slightest either and I heard it's going around so maybe some of you can relate.

So, I cough like a harp seal. Attractive, I know. For some reason I've done it since I was little. Go big or go home right? I usually cough so hard, that it causes my voice to say "F you" and take off. So I went to the doctor to suppress the cough to get my voice to come back. After taking 2 and a half days off (Thursday the 21st, then I was sent home at 5:30am Thursday the 28th and stayed home Friday the 29th) I was able to come back to work this Monday. My voice is almost back, but this cough is lingering like a friend who doesn't take social cues on when it's time to shut the party down. Another thing about having crap in your chest that sucks is that it makes working out a little difficult. 

I've been SO frustrated these last couple weeks. I haven't been able to do anything. Not to mention California, WTF is up with this gray weather?! It's depressing and not motivating. Plus it's June, so... summer up already, would ya?! Sheeeesh! And please, spare me of the "we're in a drought and need it." I know, I report the news on the drought every day and am aware. I also haven't noticed much rain, just crappy gray, depressing skies.

Anyways, it's been really frustrating being on such a life changing mission, and hitting a major hurdle right in the middle of it.  I was talking to my dad today and got a little spark of motivation. He reminded me that I started this mission in March, and have made major progress. Yes, I am down and out right now, but the second that I feel like I can run without having a coughing attack, you better believe I'll be back to it. Also, I haven't just been sitting around eating and doing nothing. I've gone on a few 4 mile walks, I've been doing squats and sit ups every day and I've been continuing to watch my diet. 

My weight this morning: 146.0 lbs! I'm down almost 46 lbs. Still not bad... still a ways to go, but still not bad. 

If you're as frustrated as I am, remind yourself that you won't be sick forever. Use this time to nourish your body and rest. Don't try to over do it because you'll only prolong the issue. And, even though I got depressed, I've been able to mentally overcome that.  Yes, this blows, but how awesome am I going to feel when I break out a crazy 6 mile hike and hit the gym later that night?! I'm going to be thrilled, the more rest I take now, the sooner that time will come. :) 

2 other things:

1. I would like to offer my most sincere THANK YOU to all of you who donated and shared the Fisher House Foundation donation page from our radiothon on May 22nd. If you haven't heard, we raised over $136,000 for the Fisher House Foundation, and it was all thanks to your immense generosity. So again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. Here's the release about that days show: KSFO, San Francisco Raises $135,000 for Fisher House Foundation. During the Memorial Day holiday weekend, Cumulus Media-owned news/talker KSFO, San Francisco’s morning show with Brian Sussman, Katie Green and Sheri Yee helped raise $136,000 for the Fisher House Foundation.  The “KSFO Morning Show” broadcast live from the Palo Alto Fisher House Friday morning from 5:00 am to 9:00 am and featured interviews with soldiers and their families who have used Fisher House’s services.  Listeners donated online and by phone during the live broadcast and throughout the Memorial Day weekend.  KSFO supported the fundraiser through on-air recorded and live promotional announcements, listings on KSFO.com and a message from Brian Sussman on the KSFO newsletter.  This is the fifth consecutive year for KSFO’s Memorial Day weekend fundraising effort.  KSFO has raised more than $600,000 for Fisher House Foundation over the past five years.  Sussman comments, “Once again the KSFO audience has revealed its profound patriotism!  This kind of generous giving is representative of the American spirit.”
2. As you may know, my friend Eugene Yoon, who you heard on the program with my other dear friend Arthur Renowitzky, is walking from the CA/Mexico border along the Pacific Coast Trail... 1,726 MILES! He is doing it to help raise money so Arthur can walk again.     Arthur was shot during a robbery in 2007 and was left in a coma for 23 days. When he came out of it he was paralyzed. I remember playing ball with Arthur and I remember him walking and I want to see that happen again. He needs our help, so if you're in the giving mood, please donate to his go fund me page here: http://www.gofundme.com/iwillwalk  - Thank you guys! 

Well, I'm going to call it a blog and have some dinner now. Thank you all, as always, for taking time to read my blog! You guys are zeeeeee best!

Don't Worry, Be Happy! 

KGreen

When you get sick in the middle of your fit journey...

Hey everyone!

Most importantly, today is our RADIOTHON for The Fisherhouse Foundation! Please donate if you can!

DONATE HERE

I know that it has been a while, but I have been sick and not able to do much. Plus with this weather, quite the damper has been put on my hiking.

I'm still working at it! I will post more later on!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
 kg

Comparison or Motivation...It's YOUR Choice

Why hello there! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day! A belated "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY" to all you Mama's out there. This weekend was awesome...although JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ I cheated a lot.

Like... alot. Mucho. Hella. Lots. It was OH SO GOOD.

Saturday was Oysterfest! It was A BLAST! I was in great company, listening to great music and eating great food! I had two beers, a little jambalaya and, of course, some oysters! It was such a wonderful day. On Mother's Day, I had dinner with my parents at this awesome Italian restaurant! We had calamari, a bean salad, roasted duck and a scoop of gelato. To say the least, it was amazing, but I was definitely concerned about the damage I had done and how far back I had set myself.

Surprisingly enough, I didn't gain or lose anything this weekend, which was a shocker. I was totally expecting to get on that scale and see an extra 3 lbs. Glad that didn't happen.

Weight Update: As of this morning, I weighed in at 155.1 lbs. :) 

Anyways - enough about me and my weekend, let's get to it.

I want to talk about something, a change, I noticed in myself this last week. For those of you who have followed me for a while, you'll know that I've struggled with my weight before. This has been an on and off battle more than once. This time, however, I am noticing something different.

I have always hated the gym. I've tried them all. 24, Planet Fitness, Crossfit, MMA...you name it, I've tried it. I'm not too sure why, but I would get instantly uncomfortable and insecure. I hated when people would look at me. I would feel a knot in my stomach if a girl who was more fit than me would get on a machine near me. I would leave if I got overwhelmed. It was not my happy place, it was my hell and I never wanted to go back.  You know the saying that saying "misery loves company", well it's true, I was so comforted to know that I was not the only person who felt like this in a gym. Actually it was way more common than I had even imagined.

On this journey, I haven't really had a choice other than to go to the gym. Yes, I know, I hike all the time and do a lot of outdoor activities, but at the end of the day I have to go to the gym to get the full, well rounded, workout in that I need. So, needless to say, I had to sack up and deal.

If you're like I was, I highly recommend taking a look at a few gyms and picking one that suits you. For me, I found a near by, women only, gym that I LOVE. It is small, usually not too busy, no dudes (sorry guys, but it's just easier to get sweaty and gross when you're not there) and nice people all around.  This has made a MAJOR change in how I workout. I'm finally comfortable.

Another thing that I had to train myself to do, was NOT COMPARE. This was a big one. I'd see a girl with the body that I want, and I'd get upset. I'd be mad that I let myself get out of control. I was mad that she looked better than I did. I was annoyed that she chose to stand by me. Was she trying to make herself feel better? Was she laughing at me on the inside? OR was all of that in my mind and was she just working out like I was? I'm going to go with the last one. That didn't matter though, I was uncomfortable and that was all I could wrap my mind around at that moment in time.

If you're reading what I wrote above and totally relating, I'm glad. Not because you're struggling at the gym, but because there is a chance that I can help you. I thought about this last night while at the gym and working out in the same area as this chick that has a PERFECT body. When I say perfect, you can picture what I'm talking about. Lean, built, tight, thin - all of it. But something was different this time...

Rather than COMPARING myself to her, I used her as MOTIVATION. There is no use in sitting there wishing you looked like someone. There is no use in wasting energy being mad that you don't look like that. Use it as fuel. Also, try to think of this: You're already at the gym. That is the HARDEST part. Once you're there, you've already conquered the worst part of it all. So when you're in there, working your ass off, and someone walks in who has everything in the body department that you're looking to achieve, don't get discouraged because you're not there yet, use it to motivate you and look at them as a future image of yourself. I did this last night and found myself working out harder and accomplishing more.

If I can do this, anyone can do this. If you're struggling, you're not alone. This is a daily struggle. An example of that is the urge I had to buy that bag of Doritos at the store yesterday. I love Doritos... and so do my hips ;)

You guys are the best. Don't ever give up! We're all in this together! <3

-K to the G

Just Checking In!

Hey everyone!

Man, it has been a busy few days! I found myself not writing much because nothing had really changed.  A couple of posts ago, I wrote about being stuck. Well...this seems to be a regular occurrence. I've been losing a couple pounds, then nothing for a couple days, then another pound down, then nothing. It is quite frustrating. I'm just going to have to accept it though, because like I said before, this isn't going to happen over night.

I will tell you that I had a cheat day! I had a cheeseburger on Sunday! It was AMAZING. I couldn't even eat the whole thing right away, which was bizarre because I am used to being able to smash one of those things into my face! I savored every last bite. Until next time, Cheeseburger, until next time. <3

To give a quick weight update:
As of this morning I am 157.1lbs - still a ways away, but a lot closer than I was a month ago. :) 

If you're in need of a little motivation, or if you've had one of those "I am SO NOT working out today" days, try to push through! I had one of those days last night where I literally had to pep talk myself into going to the gym for my nightly workout. Sometimes this sucks, sometimes it's the LAST thing you want to to, but know that you need to do it! In reality, the LAST thing you want to do is NOT better yourself, right? So keep going. I'm hurting with you, I promise.

Happy Hump Day!
KG

A Different Topic Today: Anxiety

Why Yo Ho, Hello There!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic week so far! I wanted to check in with you guys on something a little different today. Again, as I have promised before, I try to be as open and honest with all of you and I feel like this is something that A LOT of people deal with, but are afraid to talk about.

I'm not too sure where to go with this... but I guess I'll just start with telling you about ME and then we can see where this ends up.

I have been dealing with anxiety for as long as I can remember. It was bizarre, however, because there was a period of time where I didn't know exactly what was happening with me, I just knew I hated it. From the time I was little to well into middle school, even freshman year of high school, I would have to have a "confession" of sorts with my parents before I could sleep. I would sit there and tell them every little thing from that day from what I considered to be "mean/bad thoughts," (IE: mentally talking shit about someone...not even doing it out loud, but in my mind) to getting answers wrong on a test. I would have to talk to them about ALL OF IT before I would be able to lay my head down to go to sleep.  My mom also always used to do this thing that I will never forget... it was called the "relaxation response." She would start from one part of my body and would tell me to relax it. From my toes to the tip of my head she would go through and name them so that I could focus on one at a time and make the tension in my body go away. (If you want to see where this came from, here is the link: Relaxation Response) It was a process... every night... for years... and for a while, without reason.

Some people reeeeallllllyyyyyyy don't understand what anxiety is, how a panic attack feels or what it's like to feel like you've lost control. If you are with someone who deals with anxiety and panic attacks, trust me when I say that we understand it isn't always easy to be with us. You basically have to deal with something that comes without rhyme or reason, it just is and will be there. I will use my LEAST FAVORITE LINE OF ALL TIME --- "It is what it is." Now while I DESPISE that saying, it is true. Anxiety and panic "is what it is" and that's that.  As someone who deals with it quite a bit, I know that when I go into panic mode, that things are going to get ugly and quick. I also know that there is nothing that can be done to stop it. I know that I have to go through the processes of a panic attack.  First I get upset, usually over nothing, then I get mad because I'm upset for no reason...then comes the physical issues:

1. Palms start to sweat
2. Stomach ties into knots
3. Tingling in hands and feet
4. Feeling like I can't move
5. Crying
6. Exhaustion 

After a solid panic attack, I am exhausted. My muscles hurt like I just worked them out. My mind is tired. It is awful. If you are with someone who deals with anxiety/panic/depression, please read this... I love it and it puts a lot into perspective: 13 Things to Remember If You Love A Person With Anxiety

I think the reason that I'm writing this blog is because this happened to me yesterday and I felt that it helped me to know that I wasn't alone. I'm NOT the only person who deals with these things. Some people have asked me about if I'm nervous before taping Dance Party or before doing events for KSFO... the answer: HELL YES -- While I know that I have been doing this for years, without fail, before every event, I have a stomach full of knots and sweaty palms. It seems silly, but it's my reality. You guys make me nervous... LOL! ;) Not really, it's just me. Instead of dwelling on it and going "why am I this way?!" I'm choosing to embrace it and deal with it. I have no other choice. 

Now that I have rambled on about a personal problem for long enough, I'd love to tell you my new favorite remedy! 

EXERCISE!!!!!!

I know, I'm sure that you've heard it before. Exercise is the best medicine for anxiety and depression, but I must say, I AGREE! If you feel panic or anxiety coming on, go for a walk/run/bike ride or anything active. I give you my word, you will feel better.

This is all about bettering ourselves! Cheers to all you guys for all the love and support always! I appreciate all of you.

-Katie Green

Progress and A Word For My Haters

Heyyyyyohhhhhh! Happy Saturday!

As I sit here watching the Warrior game, I figured I'd make myself useful and check in!

I announced this on Facebook already, because I was excited and just couldn't wait, but I weighed in at 161.3lbs today! As I said on the FB post, I know when I started this blog, I said I was starting at a weight of 179.somethinglbs... but it turns out, after a visit to my doctor which came after I started the blog, I found out I was a whopping 190somethinglbs.

SO - that means as of today, I've pretty much lost 30 freaking lbs!!!! WHAT WHAAAAAT! I am SO excited. I took a progress picture, which I am still sitting on. It is intimidating to post photos like that. And while some people may not think so....yes, I am still a real person too. Stuff freaks me out, like posting pictures of that nature on the internet.

That leads me to the next thing I want to address. (Caution - EXPLICIT CONTENT AHEAD)

TO THE TROLLS: 

Yes, I know you're there. I've read your mean messages, regulated your rude/nasty comments and even responded to some of you with kindness. I tell you this... KEEP. IT. COMING. You fuel me. While you're sitting there in your mama's basement that you've converted into a perfect cave for you to sit on your ass, probably eating cheese puffs, saying rude shit about people, I am over here bettering myself.  It's people like you that make me so thrilled to be in the position I am in. I can publicly address people like you and I have a great group of followers who can back me on this. You can sit there and call me whatever the fuck you'd like, but know that I read your comments/messages and I go through a very specific series of feelings:

1. I laugh.  
2. Depending on how bad it is, I might get my feelings hurt. (Yes...like I said earlier... I am a person with feelings here too)
3. I laugh again
4. I tell a couple of my friends and we all talk about what an asshole you are
5. I actually feel SORRY for you. It is really sad to live a life where you actually take time out of your day to say something hurtful to someone you've never met, nor will you get the pleasure to meet in your life. 
6. I forget about you. That's right, your time is up. Over it. #byefelicia 

Phew! Apologies for the harshness there, but you know what? I promised to be as real with all of you as possible. That was real. Screw the haters. We're better than them anyways! 

Have a great rest of your weekend! 

-Katie G

Diet, Workout Routine and Struggles.

Hey All!!

That's a hell of a title huh? It's just a "tease" for this post. :)

First and foremost, I want to thank EVERYONE again for the continuous support and love that I have been receiving during this really crucial change in my life. I don't think I could be as successful as I have been without you guys.

ALRIGHTY - lets get to it!

I've been getting a lot of messages about my diet. When I first started this process, I was meal prepping 5 meals a day.  I posted exactly what I was prepping in my earlier posts. It has been about a month since I started, and I am now down to 4 meals a day! It is amazing how your body works. I used to snack and NEVER feel satisfied. Now, I can have a small snack and feel content or "held over" until my next meal! It really has been a difficult retraining my body that I don't need to eat until I feel FULL... I just need to eat to be content! If you need some tips, I found this article really helpful when I was getting started: Tips On How To Meal Prep

Another topic a lot of you are asking me about is my workout routine! I have a problem that I am finding is pretty common... I get BORED!! I get bored EASILY! If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you'll see that I have been hiking every single day! Something about being outside, wandering and reaching the top of a mountain really has been enjoyable and challenging! We are so blessed here in the Bay Area to be surrounded by trails and beautiful views! I highly recommend, if your schedule permits, fitting a hike into your day. Here are some photos from my hikes.

But back to my point - here is my workout schedule:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: Hike in the morning and gym after dinner with an ARM / AB set.
Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday: Hike in the morning and gym after dinner with a LEG / AB set.
REST ON SUNDAY

It hasn't been easy and there has been more than one occasion where I had to literally talk myself into doing what I needed to do. This is where the "Struggles" part of the blog starts... I recently updated you on how much I've lost. I have lost a couple more pounds since the last update, but I have stayed at that weight for a few days. When you're losing weight every day it is somewhat discouraging to see that stop while I have been sticking strictly to my diet. I know that I am doing what I need to do and that as long as I keep it up, I will reach my goal. I gotta tell you right this second though, it is a little frustrating.

Having said that, I promise you all, I won't give up!

Be Happy, Be True... Be YOU,
KG

I am irritated today...

Hey team!

Happy Friday's eve! Today's blog is going to be a little different. I totally need to vent to you guys today... I had a conversation with someone I know the other day about life and health and I found myself PISSED when I hung up the phone...

So the conversation started with her asking me how I was doing it. She wanted to know what I had done in my life to make the changes I had. She wanted to know what my diet entailed. She basically wanted the ins and outs of my game plan for weight loss.

I basically summed it up for her. I let her know that it took me having an internal moment with myself to commit to a change. I told her that I had a COMPLETE meltdown and finally made the choice. I told her how I spend Saturday's at various farmers markets and spend a couple hours on Sunday meal prepping. I also let her know that I had to retrain myself to not go with the "I'm too tired to workout today" option. I told her it won't be easy. I told her it would suck at times and that the first week is a bitch. I told her that with dedication, she can do this.

All of those things are true. This isn't easy. This does suck. I did have to retrain myself. I do meal prep. With dedication, this is doable. 

She proceeded to sing me a song about how stressed she is with work and how she's been waking up tired. (I'm the WRONNNNNGGG person to complain to about waking up for work... but I digress...) She told me how when she gets off work she's tired and wants to relax and not work out. She told me that she gets bored with food and that meal prep isn't an option because she won't eat it. She told me how she hurt her ankle a year ago and that the doctors told her she had limited workout options. The list went on for what felt like forever.

Now, while it looks like I am talking a boat load of shit, I'm not. I don't judge her for any of these things going on, but I also don't have a lot of sympathy for someone who is constantly complaining about her weight and health, but who isn't willing to do anything about it. I told her exactly what I write all the time, "THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN ON IT'S OWN." You will NOT be able to sit around and lose weight and get healthy. I am willing to help anyone, but please, don't come at me with a laundry list of reasons why you can't do the things I'm telling you work. I feel like that's like asking me if you should wear the blue dress or the red dress, I say blue and you go with red. THEN WHY DID YOU ASK!?

A lot of my frustration comes from how I was raised. I come from a very unique household. There is no "I CAN'T" where I come from. There are no excuses where I come from. That is part of why I was so depressed and frustrated with myself before I started my journey. I had fallen into the "I can't" mode and had started making excuses for myself. NO MORE, I SAY! NO MORE!

You might think that it is insanely insensitive of me to add that the doctors had told her she would have limited workout options to the excuse list. Well, I am NOT sorry for that. I believe doctors are miracle workers and that this world would be doomed with out them...BUT... they do not tell me what I can and can't do. Yes, sometimes and often an injury will change someones life to the point where they can't do the things they used to anymore. Sometimes doctors are right when they say that you won't be able to do what you used to be able to. At that point, all you can do is TRY. Do NOT give up because of that!  I also believe that it has a lot to do with the person. The person has to want to get better, stronger and possibly prove the doctors wrong. Now, before you think I'm a complete heartless biotch, let me explain.

My mom is a polio survivor. Polio attacked her legs, she had 11 surgeries by the time she was almost 13. She was told she would NEVER walk.

Welllll guess what?! She took the crutches she was using to walk, broke them, threw them in a creek and taught herself to walk. This wasn't an injury, this was POLIO. And she beat the shit out of it.  She is now a bartender and I don't think ever in my life I have heard her say "I can't." Hopefully that clears up why "I can't"ers and excuse makers really get my blood boiling. 

A LONG TIME AGO: MY MAMA AND ME GETTING OUR DANCE ON 

MY MAMA'S FOOT PRINTS IN THE SAND

NOT ONLY WALKING, BAR TENDING!! 

So, if you think something is holding you back, try to be stronger than it. If you want to do something, BELIEVE in yourself! TELL YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN, NOT THAT YOU CAN'T. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Especially yourself. Don't let YOU hold you back from being a better you. It takes dedication and patience for this process, and with those two things you CAN'T fail.

I'm sorry if this post came off a little rough around the edges. I just want everyone to be the best they can be and no let anything hold them back.

Also, if you're reading this and are in the giving mood - please donate what you can to my friend Arthur! He was paralyzed after we graduated high school by a robber with a gun. There is now technology that can get him walking and he needs our help to get it! PLEASE DONATE!

DONATE HERE: http://www.gofundme.com/iwillwalk?fb_action_ids=1086598344687220&fb_action_types=og.shares

Don't worry, Be happy,
KGreen

I Got Busy And Forgot to Write!

Ahhh! How quickly I get lost in my days and forget to write!

I hope all of you are doing great! I am! :)

I've been sticking strong to my goals and have been working my ass off sometimes twice a day! It is amazing how much support I am getting from friends, family, coworkers and even people I don't even know! This has been such an amazing ride and I'm glad that I have been able to develop a routine that is starting to feel normal to me!

I was at the gym last night thinking about this. I was thinking about how RIGHT NOW I am having to be very disciplined and careful with what I eat. RIGHT NOW I can't go get that burger and I can't go have that ice cream. I think the reason I'm thinking that way is because I feel like I want to do NOTHING to stop me from reaching my goal. Eventually I will be able to have a burger without any guilt because I will be able to look in the mirror, like what I see and I will have built myself to a level of fitness where I will be able to work off that burger. Now I know that I can work off that burger now, I just would rather not set myself back any further than I already have.

I know I announced this on my Facebook, but in case you missed it, I am officially DOWN 16 lbs!!

While I do still have a long ways to go, I am absolutely THRILLED at the fact that I feel so much better. If you're going through a similar process, remember even though you might not be able to see it right away, others do!! I realize that I can't see the changes... but it has been so cool having people tell me that they're noticing a difference! I just have to keep it up. I continue to tell myself that the only thing that can stop me... is me.

KEEP GOING - YOU GOT THIS!
KG

Just a little boost if you're feeling a little down...

Heyy everyone! Happy Friday's Eve!!

I had an awesome conversation with my dad yesterday about this whole change I have made in my life and I figured I'd share.

I called him yesterday at work right before he was leaving for the gym. We were talking about my health, diet, exercise routine and just life in general. I was telling him that I feel better now than I really ever remember feeling before.  The thing that I find to be the coolest part of all of this is that I did it myself. No one can or will do this for me, so I had to do it myself. I'm succeeding in that which is REALLY a cool feeling.

I was also telling my dad how I can't SEE results yet, still just feeling them... That is something that has been bugging me quite a bit. I'm working my ass off and feeling like I should see more happening. I know I FEEL better, which is equally important, but you know what I mean. I'd love to see the inches disappearing. I know that will come, eventually. I just have to keep working hard.

After I got off the phone with my dad, I went straight to the gym, then from the gym I went on a 2 mile walk with my dog and friend, Erika. It's amazing how 4 weeks ago, you couldn't PAY me to come home from work and immediately go work out. I had mentally programmed myself to think that I was just "too tired" to do it. That was a sorry excuse that I am pissed I used for so long. Yes, my hours are quite the biotch. Yes, I AM tired all the time. But so what?! Working out more has actually BOOSTED my energy... imagine that!!

Things are good - I'm much happier and I know that I am on my way to my goal.

NOW.. one thing that I have been asked multiple times over the last week or so is exactly HOW MUCH I've lost so far...

I know that weight can be kind of a bogus game to play. Muscle weighs more than fat. So as I slim down with what I eat, I am gaining muscle by working out so much. Either way, the answer is 12 lbs! Yep! I am down 12 lbs since I started all of this. It's not a HUGE number, but it is a start and it makes me happy to think that I am on my way to a better me!

And as always, if you're reading this for motivation just know that you have to start somewhere and that starting is the hardest part! When you're starting you think about how LONG you're going to have to do this. You think about how hungry you're going to feel. You think about how tiring working out is and how sore you might get. Take it from me, SUCK IT UP.  Yes... all of those things I just listed will probably be true but put your head up and just do it. You'll feel SO much better, so much stronger and most importantly PROUD of yourself for taking the steps needed to improve yourself, which again, as I said, is something that only YOU can do.

Lets make today GREAT!!
KG

It is POURING and now I can't go on my hike!

Hey everyone!

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine was a little longer than usual because I had yesterday off which was wonderful!

I cheated again this weekend and am not proud of it! It's amazing how I have reprogrammed myself to almost the point of GUILT if I eat something bad for my body. I know that it's not a huge deal to have a cheat snack every now and then, but I know that until I feel good about myself, I won't feel good about eating crap.

I spent the day yesterday in San Francisco delivering oysters to restaurants with Zac. It was a lot of fun but left LOTS of opportunity for stopping in and trying some amazing food! If you're a listener of the morning show I co-host with Brian Sussman, you'll know what I'm talking about here... I started yesterday with a latte and half a locks bagel from LANA'S Coffee Roaster on Davis St. in SF! It was SO wonderful. The bagel with the cream cheese and salmon, capers and onion. NOM NOM NOM NOM!!! From there, we dropped off some oysters and went on our way. I had a mimosa at one point and even had a few french fries! All in all it was a wonderful day filled with sunshine and fun....and calories...

...which is why I went on TWO hikes yesterday too! :)

Nothing TOO major, but I am glad I was able to work off some of my delicious snacks!

Found this quote image this morning and I think it fits nicely!

Also - Here's my food prep for the week. Sorry it's a little late!

EARLY MORNING: 1 scoop protein powder and 2 cups of almond milk (original)

BREAKFAST: 1 hardboiled egg white, 1 full hard boiled egg and 1 bowl of oatmeal (1 cup oatmeal and 1/2 cup of water)

AFTERNOON: LEAN 25 GNC SHAKES (I bought strawberry and chocolate shakes) and a banana

DINNER: Greens with ground turkey (1 cup of greens and 4 oz of turkey) Greens usually means kale, chard, broccoli, spinach and asparagus.

Holler!
KG

FRIDAY! Woo!!

Hey Friends!

Sorry it has been a couple of days, I've been BUSY BUSY!

This week, I'm feeling the pain. I was feeling some guilt about cheating over the weekend so I felt like I had to work extra hard this week! I did too! I've been doing "two a days" all week!

Having said that, it is getting a little frustrating that I am not seeing results. I know that it takes time and that I won't see any major results for a while but... COME ON!! WAHHHH. I want to see them NOW! Hehe, I'm not entirely serious but anyone who has been here knows exactly what I'm talking about.  I just know that I must stick to what I am doing and eventually... some day... one day, I WILL see results and I'll like them!

This week has been filled with long walks and hikes with some of my dearest friends! Let's see... the last time I wrote was 3/31 which was Tuesday, so since then I:

1) took a 5 mile hike on Wednesday on the Berkeley Fire Trails with my girl Gina and we SLAYED that hill! We even pushed a little extra and climbed another REALLY steep hill. It was exhausting but so worth it. If you don't follow me on Instagram - here's the photo from that day!

2) walked the Bay Bridge Pedestrian trail with my Blerp! This was 7 miles total and it was beautiful! Funny though, we were going on and on about how it didn't feel like we had gone as far as we did. That conversation took place around the 4 mile mark. By the time we got to the car we were both complaining about THE BURRRRN. The burn that is so good and so bad at the same time. Either way it ruled! -- Again, if you don't follow my instagram, here's the photo from that day!

Overall things are great, I'm still sticking with it despite the frustrations of not being able to see it yet! I can do this. If you're doing this too, SO CAN YOU!

HAPPY FRIDAY!
Katie Green

Two Hikes, One Day

Hey all! This one will be short, I'm a little worn out today! Been staying strong with the diet! Made some chocolate dipped strawberries for treats! I just enjoyed one...A LOT! :) 

Went on two hikes today! 

First one was in Dublin:

Second one in CV: 

Going to take a cardio kickboxing class tomorrow! Should hurt quite a bit! Lol

Cheers friends!

KG

Agh Monday, You Bastard.

Hey everyone! Happy Monday...said no one ever.

Well here we are again, starting a fresh week...but today I'm not feeling so fresh.

I got home late last night, but for a great reason. I was invited to Michael Savage's birthday party! It was a blast! Suss, Sheri and me met up and headed to the party which was filled with fun, laughs, wine and DELICIOUS food. It was so wonderful! I got home at around 9:00 which is usually when I'm winding down to get ready for bed. I was able to get in bed by around 9:50 but it is amazing how much of a difference 20 minutes makes when I've programmed myself to go to bed at 9:30. Anyways... wah. It was SO worth it, what a wonderful time!

I won't lie to you guys... I got to cheat on my diet a little last night. Granted, I didn't cheat TOO much. I had fish and veggies for dinner... but I could tell it was cooked in butter, which... you know what I'll say to that...WINNING! IT WAS SO GOOD! I even had a couple of bites of cake, which I will savor for a while! Now it's back to business!

Today I will be tackling another hill with my sistah from anothah mistah! We have made a promise to ourselves to go hiking every Monday! I'll make sure I post a picture tomorrow!

As for meal prep, here's the breakdown for this week. (Side note: I started this journey doing 5 meals a day, but lately that has been too much, so I only prepped 4 meals this week.)

EARLY MORNING: 2 Cups Almond Milk with 1 scoop of protein powder

BREAKFAST: 3 hardboiled egg whites, one hard boiled egg and 1/2 cup of sweet potatoes

(I workout between these two)

AFTERNOON: Chocolate Lean Shake from GNC

DINNER: Ground Turkey and greens 

I hope you all had a great weekend! Now, let's have a great week!

Hakuna Matata
KG

Happy Friday My Friends!

WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO! It's Friday! Who's excited?! Clearly I am!

I hope you all have had a wonderful week!

I have to brag a bit about how fantastic I am feeling lately! It is amazing how a lifestyle change can completely revitalize you! I thought, going into this, that this was going to be grueling and that I was going to feel like I was deprived of "good" food (good is in quotations because it wasn't good FOR me, it just tasted good) forever. Here we are almost 2 full weeks later and I have completely LOST my cravings! I don't want a coffee loaded with creamer anymore. I don't want to eat some big greasy meal only to feel like crap later. I don't want juice or soda. I don't want booze. I also find myself not wanting to follow my lazy pattern from before. I'm antsy and want to move! I have so much energy and feel so much clearer in my head, it is AMAZING!

I was talking to my friend yesterday on our evening walk about this whole thing. About how much I was dreading having to make change. People would tell me to just "wait until a month goes by" and see how much better I feel. Well... for me that sounds freaking terrible because I'm impatient and an only child and I want it NOW. :) I kid, but no really,  I wanted to see results and feel the change instantly. Needless to say, I let that go and just decided to do what I needed to do and check it out! Almost 2 whole weeks, and I am no longer struggling with it! If you're knowing that you need to make change but feel like the results will never come, please trust me here. THEY. WILL. COME. I started to feel better within the first few days. Even though I couldn't SEE anything, I could feel it. That is how it starts and it just gets easier from there. Yes, the first few days are rough. You'll drive by that Val's Burgers or that In N Out and want to stop SO BAD. You'll want to just stay on the couch and not go to the gym or go on that hike you promised yourself you would go on. DON'T DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS. Stay strong. You'll be a lot happier with yourself for NOT stopping to get that burger. You'll be a lot happier actually getting off your couch and going to the gym or taking that hike. Take my word for it. You'll feel so good when you finish your workout knowing that you were strong.

Another thing that I have been thinking is that a support system during this process is SO important. The first day... FIRST DAY of my meal prep, almost every single one of my best friends invited me to go eat some delicious thing with them! I wanted to go with all of them SO BADLY, but had to decline. In telling my girls why I couldn't go get donuts, sandwiches and gyros, they all responded the same way. CHEERING ME ON. They didn't make me feel bad for not going to go eat with them, but rather told me that they're proud of me for making a change and that they have full faith in me that I can do it. I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people all the time.

If you're one of those people who has supported me, whether it be my mom and dad, Zac, my girlie friends, my co workers or my listeners/viewers who have been following online, THANK YOU. You have contributed to my motivation to be a better me, and that means more than you know. So again, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

Here are a couple photos from my evening hike last night! Lake Chabot in CV

One day at a time. This is doable. <3
-KG

Today might have been the hardest yet.

Hey all!

So, after having a wonderful birthday, concluded with half of a red velvet cupcake, I found it almost impossible today to motivate myself.

I had one of those days where I kept telling myself, "Cmon Katie, you need to do something. Anything. COME ON." Well... MY PLAN was to go to this cardio class at 6:30. Needless to say, I didn't go. At 6:27 (My gym is down the street from mi casa) I decided I didn't want to do a class because the introvert in me kinda wanted to keep my lack of motivation to myself.

Then I took a moment with me. This might sound nuts, but sometimes it is the only way I can get myself to listen to my heart and not my mind. This process entails me stepping away for some alone time, taking a few deep breaths and kinda zoning out. It allows me to re focus and realize what I need to get done.

Did I take the class? Negative. BUT I did go to the gym, turned the treadmill up to 5, incline on 8 and went a mile. Oh, and I had 10 lb weights around my ankles.  Followed that up with an arm set and left the gym feeling good. This was your classic "dreading the gym but being thrilled that you did it" situation.  I really really really REALLY didn't want to go, at all, but I did it any way and am much happier that I did. I know if I didn't go, I would be sitting here feeling like crap.

Anywhoo...

Yesterday was rad. THANK YOU all so much for the birthday wishes, I was amazed by how many of you took time out of your day to do that. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

My friends and I went on a BEAUTIFUL hike in Dublin. Check out the view!

Don't Worry, Be Happy! 

-KG