30 Day Harry Potter Challenge - Day 3

Day 3: Which of the films have made you angry because they've ignored important parts of the book?

The only part I would have appreciated seeing was Dumbledore's funeral. I felt it was such a turning point for Harry and his decision to finish searching for the remaining Horcruxes. But, it is what it is. Movies are always different from the books, so I always tend to look at them as separate entities and enjoy them for their differences and their similarities.

xoxo,

Megan

30 Day Harry Potter Challenge - Day 2

I've been so bad about updating this! I really need to set aside a time every day for blogging! So hopefully this becomes as much of a routine as my fitness routine has!

Day 2: Your Favorite of the 8 movies

This one is going to be difficult for me because I can't just pic one movie that is my favorite. I have two favorites that I love for very different reasons.

 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite movie because I love the character of Siris Black in the series and I think his character was cast so well, that I really can't imagine anyone else playing Sirius. Well, Johnny Depp could have done the part very, very well, but still, Gary Oldman as Sirius has my heart!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is also my favorite because of how superbly Snape's death scene was done. Severus Snape is my absolutely favorite character in the series and the portrayal of Snape's love and loyalty was so well depicted in his death scene. No better love story could have been told in such a short span of time in all of literature and to capture that moment so purely and so wonderfully in the film was thoroughly pleasant to see.

xoxo,

Megan

Fit & Healthy Life

It's been quite a while since I've updated you all on my life in general and I apologize for that. Things are crazy here with school and keeping house and trying to get back in shape. So, I'm excited for the day that I'll be able to blog more frequently, even perhaps every day.

Anyway - I've been pretty good about my eating and working out. I'm getting to the point where working out is starting to become a habit. This morning I had every intention of not working out and focusing solely on the insane amounts of homework I'm behind on. Apparently, that little voice in the back of my head had another plan. I did get some homework done, but I also felt the nagging to get my work out in and let me tell you, the fact that working out is becoming a habit is a HUGE thing because I haven't been this active since I was in high school! It feels great!

For my workout today I did my abs and then started a new running routine. My ab routine consists of the following:

1. In-N-Outs: 25 reps
2. Forward Bicycles: 25 reps
3. Reverse Bicycles: 25 reps
4. Crunchy Frogs: 25 reps
5. Cross-Leg/Wide Leg Sit Ups: 25 reps
6. Scissors: 25 reps
7. Hip Butt Ups: 25 reps
8. Heels to the Heavens: 25 reps
9. Straight leg Sit Ups: 25 reps
10. V-Ups: 25 reps
11. Leg Climbers: 25 reps
12. Kayakers: 50 reps. 

It is definitely a tough ab workout, but the next day it feels great!! Please note, however, that I had to break up exercises 9 and 10 because my core and abs aren't strong enough to do Roll-Up V-Ups in one motion. But I will get there one day.

The running routine I started is called "Couch to 5K Running." Today I did day 1, which consisted of walking 5 minutes, then jogging for 2 minutes, and then walking for 5 minutes. I did this for thirty minutes and managed to burn 200 calories. As a person who never truly enjoyed running, I can say that my body is starting to feel the positive effects of it. I am actually excited about going to the gym tomorrow and doing it all over again!!

Before I end this update, I'm going to leave you all with an example of the menu I eat during the day. Sometimes it varies and sometimes it stays exactly the same. Trust me, the benefits are already paying off. I feel better over all and don't need as much sleep. It's truly great. Oh and by the way, I've completely cut out soda. I had a coke the other day because I had a headache, but that is the ONLY soda I've had in almost a month. I'm pretty impressed with myself because I used to have more than one soda a day.

Breakfast:

1. 2 eggs: 140 calories, 12 grams of protein. 
2. 2 cups of strawberries: 97 calories, 2 grams of protein, 6.1 grams of fiber
3. Olive oil (used for scrambling the eggs in): 120 calories

Pre-Workout:

1. Protein with 8 ounces of milk: 267 calories, 33 grams of protein
2. Banana:   105 calories, 1.3 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber.

Post-Workout

1. Kashi Go Lean Protein Bar: 200 calories, 5 grams of fiber, 10 grams of protein 

Lunch

1. Turkey Sandwich: 170 calories, 11 grams of protein
2. Plum: 35 calories, 1 gram fiber, 5 grams protein
3. Tortilla chips: 140 calories, 2 grams of protein, 1 gram of fiber
4. 4 tablespoons of Picante Salsa: 40 calories, 1 gram of fiber

Dinner

1. 4 ounces of Pork Chop (or some kind of other meat): 160 calories, 21 grams protein 
2. Baked Potato: 110 calories, 2 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein
3. Sunburst Tomatoes: 45 calories, 2 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of protein. 

I only have about one snack a day and that usually consists of Fiber 1 One bars. My favorite is Chocolate Peanut Butter and is only 90 calories. It's great because it gives me my chocolate fill but still gives me 5 grams of fiber! I highly recommend them!

Total Calorie Intake: 1,719 (I typically, for my own weight-loss goals, need to eat somewhere around or under 1840calories. Of course there are days where this is high or low, but don't let it get you down! Eating is essential to fitness).

Total Protein Intake: 101.3 grams (Essential to build up muscle and stay fuller longer)

Total Fiber Intake: 27.1 grams (Essential for good digestive health and to stay fuller longer)

I'll try to update again soon. 

xoxo,

Megan