I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack but Not With the Best News...Not With Bad News... Just Not the BEST News...

Hey everyone!

Holy smokes! The last time I wrote was July 15, 2015?! Shame on me! I've been busy and have been dealing with this little thing called life and some of the curve balls it has thrown my way.

As some of you know, my blog was centered about the crazy weight loss journey that I embarked on. I was close to 200lbs and managed to work out and diet myself back down to a healthy 125lbs. I was able to keep to that weight until around September of 2016...

Let me explain...

In November of 2015 I noticed that my skin was changing. I had these strange patches of red that were starting to pop up all over my body and I thought that I had developed dandruff because I was noticing flaking in my hair. If you find this gross, I apologize, but I have promised to always be honest on here... so that's what I'm doing.

This is NOT me nor is mine this severe but this is what psoriasis looks like

Turns out, I have psoriasis. I had no idea what it was or what it could/would turn into... but I found out shortly after that. I also found out that it's pretty common, affecting 1 in 6 people. I went to the doctor and was given topical treatments up the wazoo which resulted in a tedious nightly routine of having to put these creams/foams on. On top of that I was given multiple different shampoos that were supposed to treat my scalp. It helped for a little while but as it continued to spread, I realized that I needed to do more to keep this under control. I started light therapy...3 times a week... in an office that is 30 minutes out of my way. This threw a huge wrench into my daily workouts and naps because it was basically another hour and a half that I had to dedicate to the therapy.

(I'm sorry if this sounds like a lot of complaining... I know it's nothing compared to what some people have to deal with but again, just explaining my process)

After being sick of having my schedule totally screwed up, in October of 2016 I decided to give Otezla a try. It is a new medication on the market and it is a pill which was a huge selling point because I HATE SHOTS. 

Within a week of taking the pills... I was nauseous everyday throughout most of the day, my motivation was SHOT and I was totally depressed. With hopes that this would eventually go away, I continued to take the pills until December 13, 2016 when I just couldn't take it anymore. All of my muscle mass was gone, I had gained weight and my anxiety was out of control. Per advice from one of my doctors, I stopped taking Otezla. (Now I will say, this pill has worked for some people so if you're one of those folks, don't let my personal experiences ruin yours. This was just how it affected me.)

So here we are in February/March of 2017 and I am once again not stoked with my weight or how I look.

I have decided to bring back the lifestyle I had before all hell broke lose. I am going to get back on track and if you all don't mind, I would love to share this journey with you again.

Current weight: 136lbs with zero muscle.
Goal weight: 125lbs with lottttsa muscles. :)

You guys have always been such a support system, and for that I thank you.

The Journey Starts Now....

READY - SET - GO! 

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