Life

March Yoga & Stretches Challenge Results

Leah Short — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 14:20:09 +0000

Welp, it was bound to happen eventually, but I’m surprised it was with this challenge. March’s challenge was to practice yoga once a week and stretch everyday. Sounds easy enough, but I failed at it…miserably. What happened? Read on. To catch up, read this post on my Year of 30-Day Challenges.

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February Gratitude Journal Challenge Results

Leah Short — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 16:04:21 +0000

Can you believe it’s the last day of February already? This year is flying by too fast, although I’ll admit I’m ready to hang up my winter coat and welcome in warmer weather. February’s challenge was to write down three things each day for which I was grateful. Sounds easy, right? This one was much harder than I expected! So, how’d it go? Read on. To catch up, read this post on my Year of 30-Day Challenges.

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January Reduce Sugar Challenge Results

Leah Short — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 12:30:20 +0000

I made it to the end! If I’m being honest, I’ve never been so happy to close out a month. To catch up, read this post on my Year of 30-Day Challenges. January was reduced sugar month and I’m so glad I did it first. I had a hard time deciding if this was a success or failure, but ultimately decided I succeeded in enough big areas to call it a win. So, how’d it go? Read on.

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January Reduce Sugar Mid-Month Update

Leah Short — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 14:27:49 +0000

Hi there! We’re about halfway through January, so I thought I’d give a mid-month update on how the reduce sugar 30-day challenge is going. Check out my Year of 30-Day Challenges post to see what I’m doing each month.

Overall, it hasn’t been too bad! What’s great about this plan is that it’s up to me to decide what I’m going to eat when it comes to sugar. I’m definitely eating fruit, but I’m not eating added sugar, refined sugar, or artificial sugar. The hardest part has been giving up my morning coffee and evening tea. It’s made me seriously think about quitting several times…but I’m pressing on!

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A Year of 30-Day Challenges

Leah Short — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 13:45:55 +0000

Do you make a resolution for the new year? I usually do, but nothing formal, and it’s almost always to lose weight. Honestly, after a day or two, I forget I made one. This year I’ve decided to challenge myself to something more meaningful, and to do it in monthly segments, so it’s not too daunting. Instead of making one empty resolution to last the entire year, I’m going to try A Year of 30-Day Challenges!

I chose about seven 30-day challenges on my own, but the last few were surprisingly hard. There are a lot of suggestions on the internet and I was pleased to find that I do some of them already, like making my bed every day. I got creative with a few of the later months to combine challenges from earlier months, hoping that it means some of these stick! Will you join me and make your own challenges? If you do, I’d love to hear about it in the comments or use #sohowsittaste30 so I can find you on social media. Happy 2018!

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Podcasts I’m Listening to Lately

Leah Short — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 16:17:31 +0000

I am years late to the podcast party, but certainly making up for lost time. My commute to and from work has gotten longer and longer over the years (sidenote: please stop moving to Nashville, we’re full), and there’s only so much of the same top 40 songs I can tolerate. Enter Serial (of course!). I heard all the buzz on this podcast when it first came out in 2014, but didn’t get into it until later in 2015. Hooked!

Serial started my love of crime/mystery podcasts and I haven’t looked back since, so you’ll see most of the podcasts on this list are of that genre. What podcasts do you love? Please share in the comments!

Crime / Mystery

Serial Season 1
A high school student disappears and is later found murdered. Her classmate and ex-boyfriend is accused.
(don’t bother with season 2, it was awful; there’s a season 3 on the way – yippee!)

Up and Vanished
An investigation into the disappearance of Tara Grinstead.
(this one is really good and ongoing…but it has a nice “solution” if you want a podcast that’s more than theory)

Stranglers
A fresh look on the Boston Strangler.
(a lot of theory here and accounts from people who think they interacted with him)

Criminal
Criminal is a podcast about crime. Stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.

Accused
When Elizabeth Andes was found murdered in her Ohio apartment in 1978, police and prosecutors decided within hours it was an open-and-shut case. Two juries disagreed. The Cincinnati Enquirer investigates: Was the right guy charged, or did a killer walk free?

S-Town
John despises his Alabama town and decides to do something about it. He asks a reporter to investigate the son of a wealthy family who’s allegedly been bragging that he got away with murder. But then someone else ends up dead, sparking a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and an unearthing of the mysteries of one man’s life.
(this is from the same people as Serial and it’s fantastic; I put it in crime / mystery, but it’s so much more!)

In the Dark
This one is about the abduction of Jacob Wetterling in 1989, how law enforcement mishandled the case, and how this led to the nation’s sex-offender registries.

Lore
Lore exposes the darker side of history, exploring the creatures, people, and places of our wildest nightmares.
(I was really into this one for a long time and then I got tired of it; still a great podcast)

Food Blogging

The Food Blogger Pro Podcast – I can’t say enough good things about this one; a must for food bloggers and most episodes apply to bloggers of any topic

The Chopped Podcast – I don’t listen to every episode of this one, but it’s got some great information; check out my buddy Southern Fatty‘s episode!

Political

MSNBC Rachel Maddow – Um, yeah, this administration has me paying attention to politics more than ever before. This podcast is available a few hours after the Rachel Maddow Show airs. I listen to this every single morning on my way to work. Great way to stay in the know and pay attention.

Sleep

Sleep with Me – I started listening to this podcast when I had major trouble sleeping. It’s a nonsensical podcast that is designed to literally put you to sleep. It works! This was a lifesaver for me on many restless nights.

Language

Coffee Break Spanish – OBSESSED. The podcast is free, but I loved it so much I bought the premium version for season one to get the extras. I actually listen to a lesson every morning while I’m having coffee and again on my walk breaks throughout the day. ¡Ahora hablo un poco de español!

Coffee Break Series – they have other languages too!

Life

Modern Love – This features the New York Times column, Modern Love, and is read by celebrities.

That wraps it up on what I’m currently listening to and what I’ve enjoyed in past podcasts. Drop me a line and let me know what to check out next!

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DIY Poo-Pourri “No. 2” Spray

Leah Short — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:57:03 +0000

This post has me giggling like a 12-year-old. Let’s talk about poo, shall we? Yep, I’m serious.

Pinterest has sucked me in again, but this time with success! I landed on the One Good Thing blog where she makes a DIY version of the Poo-Pourri Spray. Now I’ve never used that spray, so I can’t say how it compares, but let me tell you this stuff works.

At first I thought it was just like a room spray and you do your biz and the spray the room. Ok, so what’s the big deal?

Nope, you spray it in the toilet before biz time and by some magic it blocks the smell. For realsies.

The spray smells really good, too. It’s a mix of grapefruit, bergamot, and lemongrass essential oils. Wait, don’t leave! I’m not about to tout the magical healing powers of these oils and start selling them to you…I roll my eyes at that stuff. But I do think they smell amazing and it was kinda fun to try this little project.

I ordered the cheapie oils from Amazon and was pretty pleased with the quality. The brand that I used is not for consumption, but I think some of the more expensive ones are. I wasn’t planning on drinking the poo-pourri spray, so no worries there!

If you check out the post on One Good Thing, she’s made a cute printable for “No. 2 Spray” that you can add to your bottle. I didn’t get that fancy with mine.

*Please note: One of my sweet readers let me know that the citrus oils will eat through plastic, so it’s best to use a glass or stainless steel bottle. I’ve been using a plastic bottle for a few months and haven’t had any problems. I think the water dilutes it enough, but best to be in the know!

DIY Poo-Pourri “No. 2” Spray

Ingredients:

20 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil
20 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
20 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
2 ounces water
small spray bottle (I picked up a cheap one at Target in the travel toiletries section*)

*Please note: The citrus oils will eat through plastic, so it’s best to use a glass or stainless steel bottle. I've been using a plastic bottle for a few months and haven't had any problems. I think the water dilutes it enough, but best to be in the know!

Directions:

1. Fill the bottle with water and add the oils.

To use:

1. Shake every time before you spray it since the oil and water will never stay mixed.

2. Spray 3 to 4 sprays directly on the water in the toilet before biz time. The oils make a barrier on the water and offensive odors don't escape.

Source: One Good Thing

This post contains affiliate links.

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My Road to Getting Fit: The Workout Calendar

Leah Short — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 15:13:35 +0000

Hi everyone! Hope you’re enjoying your Saturday. I’ve got another tool in My Road to Getting Fit to share with you. It’s The Workout Calendar! I use this calendar to keep track of my workouts and to make sure I’m getting a variety and not doing the same workout, which can lead to burnout. I’m a big fan of making lists and keeping calendars. I use Ziplist and good old-fashioned notebooks for my compulsive list-making. I use Google Calendar for work and events, a cute paper calendar for my house, and this awesome magnetic calendar for my workout calendar. Sure you could use an electronic version, but this was another way that I could make getting fit more fun. I’ll walk you through how to set up your own, including the Word document template I created!

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My Road to Getting Fit: My Food Logs

Leah Short — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 14:47:42 +0000

Almost a month ago, I shared My Road to Getting Fit. I talked about what’s been working for me to get moving, eat better, and measure my success. I’m happy to report that I’m still going strong. I’m down another three pounds and I can finally see a difference in my body. Three pounds isn’t a stellar amount of weight to lose in an entire month, but I’ll tell you why I’m happy with it.

First, losing weight slowly means that I’m more likely to keep it off.
Second, I started incorporating strength and weight training into my exercise routine (instead of just cardio!) and I’m building muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. I take body measurements once a month, so that’s when I can really see how my journey is coming along. I’ve lost a total of six inches since I started in March!
Third, I feel awesome. I haven’t felt this good in years. I’m trying to make a lifestyle change, not a temporary fix. So the longer it takes me to accomplish my goal, the more these new, healthy habits are going to stick.
Last, there are foods I’m just not willing to cut out. I still have coffee with a little creamer every morning. I end my day with a few scoops of (lower calorie) ice cream almost every night. I’m not scared of butter or oil or anything with the word “cream” in it. I’m not going to deprive or starve myself just to lose weight faster.

I’ve received a few requests to see a sample of what I’m eating. I’m including a few screenshots of my day last Wednesday on LoseIt. I pretty much stick to the same few breakfasts and snacks, and vary my lunches and dinners. I cook some meals and use pre-packaged meals as well. It just depends on how much time I have!

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My Road to Getting Fit

Leah Short — Fri, 16 May 2014 12:49:10 +0000

I’ve been focusing on getting fit for almost two months, so I thought I’d share with you what’s been working for me. Back in March, it clicked that I needed to get myself in gear. For months I was going out to lunch at work almost every day and then going home to sit on the couch and watch TV. I was miserable, my clothes didn’t fit, I was tired all the time, and I felt awful. Time to make some changes!

Get Moving

I’m now almost 10 pounds down and feel amazing! Once I get focused, I’m a machine. I’m a cardio girl and have always loved aerobics classes. I recently joined a gym and their group fitness schedule changes daily, which is great for your body so you’re not doing the same workout over and over. I workout during my lunch or right after work, and it’s a nice break after sitting at a computer all day. Before I joined a gym, I would take a long walk during lunch. So if a gym isn’t for you, try getting outside and walking.

Which leads me to my next way to get moving….walking! I discovered Leslie Sansone’s walking DVDs years ago and swear by them. My body has started to crave movement and I’m enjoying it, so I’m keeping it up! I usually workout with one of Leslie’s DVDs in the evenings. It’s not just walking, it’s different moves like knees up, hamstring curls, kicking, side to side, etc. Here’s a breakdown of four of her DVDs that I’m absolutely loving lately:

Ultimate 5 Day Walk Plan

What I like about this one is that Monday through Friday, your workout is planned for you. One day you may do 1 mile, the next 3, and up to 5! At the end of your mile(s), there are daily strengthening workouts. You may do abs, arms, legs, etc. The best part is that you can customize your workout, too. You can pull up the DVD menu, click on different walks (they’re all one mile and designated by color), plus a warm up, plus a cool down, and add your strength session.

5 Day Slim Down

This DVD is similar in that there are 5 walking workouts, but they vary in level. All of the workouts are one mile so you can customize a workout, but there’s no fancy menu to do it for you like in the DVD above. One walk is a classic mile, then there’s one for arms, one for legs, one for tummy, and finally a speed walk. I like to group two together, plus the warmup and cool down.

Belly Blasting Walk

This DVD is a two-mile walk that targets your belly (which is my hardest area to trim down). The two miles are fast, so get ready to sweat! There’s also two floor workouts specific for the belly.

Walk It Off in 30 Days

This DVD is awesome because it gives you a six-day plan. You do the walk on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and do the firm routine on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The walk on this one is a bit easier than some of the others, but you can add 1- or 2-pound weights while you walk.

With the four DVDs, you can see how I never get bored. I have so many walks and routines to choose from that I actually look forward to doing these workouts. Who am I? LOL Check your library to see if you can borrow a copy and try them out before you buy!

Eat Better

If you want to see results, you can’t do one thing (get moving) without the other (eat better). What works for me is counting calories. Don’t completely cut carbs, don’t just do a juice cleanse, and don’t deprive yourself. Having splurges every now and then is life. If you blow it out for one meal, get back on it for the next. You better believe I ate those Snickerdoodle Cupcakes and when my mom wanted BBQ for mother’s day lunch, I absolutely ordered a Redneck Taco AND pie! The key is not beating yourself up over it and getting back on track. By splurging every now and then, you won’t feel restricted. If you want some great low calorie recipes, check out my Low Calorie category. There are some amazing dishes that you won’t believe are low calorie. Counting calories really works for me, but the main goal is to eat better than you do now.

Measure Your Success

I mentioned counting calories is a method that really works for me when trying to lose weight. It’s pretty simple that you burn more calories than you consume to shed weight. I’m pretty much the queen of counting calories and there are several tools out there to make it easy and fun. Two of them that I use together are my Fitbit One and LoseIt.I started out with a Fitbit Ultra and upgraded to the Fitbit One with bluetooth syncing. It’s a gizmo you wear that tracks your movements and tells you the calories you’re burning, how many steps you’ve taken, floors you’ve climbed, and your distance. It can also track your sleeping patterns. I wear mine all the time. There’s a free mobile app that it syncs with so I can get my stats throughout the day. I can’t say enough about this company and their trackers. When you can see what you’re doing, it makes you want to reach that goal of 10,000 steps a day!

The Fitbit tracker will also sync to LoseIt. LoseIt is another app that you can use to track your food and activities. It can read my stats from my Fitbit so I don’t have to worry about entering exercises. I track my food throughout the day and it lets me know how many calories I’m consuming and how many I have left to make my goal. You can set your own daily calorie goal with how fast you want to lose weight. The interface is user-friendly and it has challenges you can join and create with other LoseIt users. I’m super competitive, so this was a huge motivator for me. I did have to pay for the premium version in order for my Fitbit to sync with it. There’s also MyFitnessPal that many of my friends recommend. It’s free and their food database is massive (better than LoseIt). The interface is crappy though, which turned me off.

I hope this post helps you start your journey or gives you some new motivation to continue moving and eating better. I’d love to hear your tips on staying motivated and what you’re doing to help shed a pound or two, or just get in shape. Feel free to ask me any questions as well. Now let’s get moving!

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, nutritionist, trainer, or health professional. Please consult your own health professional before starting a new diet and/or exercise program. What works for me, may not work for you. I’m simply sharing the tools that have brought me success. I’m not associated with any of the products/services mentioned above, nor did I receive compensation for this post. All opinions are solely my own, as always. This post contains affiliate links.

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